How is Pod restaurant rated?

Name: Pod
Address: 3636 Sansom Street, Philadelphia, PA, United States, 19104
Telephone: (215) 387-1803
Price range: $31 to $50
Rating: 4.3

Pod

4.3

2848 Reviews

$31 to $50

Asian

Top Tags:

Philadelphia restaurant impresario Stephen Starr's retro-modern offering, located in the town's "University City" neighborhood, lets its guests sip sake, beer, and colored cocktails while munching on fresh sushi, dim sum, and Pan-Asian entrees. The hip, contemporary, "starship-like" space was conceptualized by famed Manhattan designer David Rockwell and influenced by the films "Sleeper" and "2001: A Space Odyssey."

Not bookable

Unfortunately, this restaurant is not on the OpenTable reservation network. To see if they take reservations and have availability, please contact the restaurant directly or visit their website for more information.

Additional information

Dining style
Casual Elegant
Cuisines
Asian, Japanese, Sushi
Hours of operation
Mon–Thu 11:30 am–11:00 pm Fri 11:30 am–12:00 am Sat 5:00 pm–12:00 am Sun 5:00 pm–10:00 pm
Phone number
(215) 387-1803
Website
http://www.podrestaurant.com/
Payment options
AMEX, Mastercard, Visa
Dress code
Business Casual
Executive chef
Jonathan LaVoie (GM), Todd Lean (EC)
Private party facilities
Immerse yourself in a fun and futuristic dining experience at Pod on Penn’s Campus. Whether you want to throw a graduation bash or host a special birthday party, Pod offers several options for groups of varying sizes. Rent the whole restaurant, gather in the private room or settle into a cozy pod.
Private party contact
Diane Farina: (888) 353-2054

Location
3636 Sansom Street, Philadelphia, PA 19104
Neighborhood
University City
Cross street
Between 36th & 37th Streets on Sansom
Parking details
Pod offers valet parking seven days a week for $20 per vehicle. There are private, non-affiliated lots in the area and limited street parking available to our guests as well.
Public transit
Market-Frankford El, 34th Street Stop.
Additional
Banquet, Bar Dining, Bar/Lounge, Beer, BYO Wine, Corkage Fee, Counter Seating, Full Bar, Happy Hour, Late Night, Non-Smoking, Private Room, Wheelchair Access, Wine

Featured in

The Best Bars for Foodies in Philadelphia

What 2,848 people are saying

Overall ratings and reviews

Reviews can only be made by diners who have eaten at this restaurant

4.3

4.3 based on all time ratings

4.4Food
4.2Service
4.2Ambience
4Value

Noise • Moderate

2,844 Reviews

L
Lefty
1 review
4.0
1 review
Dined on March 11, 2020
overall4food4service4ambience3
Always reliable and good for folks with dietary restrictions. That said, it is pricey for what you get and the interior really needs refurbishing.
Is this helpful?
SS
SS7392
Tampa
36 reviews
vip
5.0
36 reviews
Dined on March 8, 2020
overall5food4service4ambience4
Great experience.
Is this helpful?
SB
SBnPhilly
Philadelphia
21 reviews
4.0
21 reviews
Dined on March 4, 2020
overall4food4service5ambience5
an old favorite. never disappoints! great for a lunch meeting with colleagues.
Is this helpful?
OT
OpenTable Diner
Washington DC
3 reviews
5.0
3 reviews
Dined on March 1, 2020
overall5food5service5ambience5
We had a great time for my birthday dinner at Pod. Food, service - top notch! They even brought me dessert with a little sparkler for my birthday! Went to eat with a vegan and GF and it was easy for everyone to find sometime to eat. 5/5 stars!
Is this helpful?
l
lmbc7
New York Area
78 reviews
vip
5.0
78 reviews
Dined on February 29, 2020
overall5food5service5ambience4
We love Pod! Food is fresh and delicious, atmosphere is funky and service is great for a place that is typically super crowded and where tables are a bit too close together. We ordered a number of dishes for all of us to share and as promised, were brought out a few at a time so we weren’t overwhelmed or rushed. Our drinks came out in a very timely manner and water glasses refilled without asking. Always a great night out!
Is this helpful?
MV
MargieV
1 review
4.0
1 review
Dined on February 29, 2020
overall4food4service4ambience3
My friends and I went for a girls night out. We enjoyed the food we tried, which included a few apps and the shrimp pad Thai.
Is this helpful?
MM
MiMi
Philadelphia
56 reviews
vip
5.0
56 reviews
Dined on February 29, 2020
overall5food4service5ambience5
Love Pod! Food fresh & flavorful! Great ambiance
Is this helpful?
SB
ScottB
Philadelphia
2 reviews
5.0
2 reviews
Dined on February 28, 2020
overall5food5service5ambience5
We had a wonderful time, the food was excellent, the service was spot on, and the ambiance was legit. Would love to come back with a large enough group for our own Pod, 10/10 will come back. PS Cheesesteak Bao was a banger! Well done!
Is this helpful?
M
stevenM
Philadelphia
2 reviews
vip
3.0
2 reviews
Dined on February 26, 2020
overall3food4service1ambience3
main plates did not come out at one time. 15 minutes passed from the first plate until the last.
Is this helpful?
g
godurham
Philadelphia
9 reviews
4.0
9 reviews
Dined on February 26, 2020
overall4food5service5ambience4
Pod is an excellent choice for good food and atmosphere, whether the meal is private or professional!
Is this helpful?
H
Honey215
Philadelphia
22 reviews
vip
5.0
22 reviews
Dined on February 24, 2020
overall5food5service5ambience5
Pod was great, as always! My friends and I enjoyed various dishes we shared!
Is this helpful?
C
Confusion
Philadelphia
5 reviews
vip
5.0
5 reviews
Dined on February 23, 2020
overall5food5service5ambience4
Always a great meal.
Is this helpful?
CR
CarlyR
Philadelphia
3 reviews
5.0
3 reviews
Dined on February 21, 2020
overall5food5service5ambience5
Never a disappointment when I visit pod. Food is excellent and service is always wonderful!
Is this helpful?
SS
SS7392
Tampa
36 reviews
vip
4.0
36 reviews
Dined on February 18, 2020
overall4food4service4ambience4
Good place for Asian in University City -- good service and great location --
Is this helpful?
SS
SleepSocks
Philadelphia
6 reviews
4.0
6 reviews
Dined on February 16, 2020
overall4food4service5ambience3
Pod is always a fun place for dinner with friends - and we have been going since it opened in late 2000. The visual experience is fantastic. A fun, modern environment. Food is decent, but pricey. Unfortunately, it has not aged well since our last visit 3-4 years ago. Everything is worn down and could use some attention. For example, the "pod"s have buttons to change the lights for your local pod area. This time, we were met with burned out lights, old worn buttons, and everything had a "grunge" over it. For a restaurant that is based on futuristic white & clean lines, this grunge and age stands out. The owners need to close down for 24-48 hours and clean, paint, fix and tidy up the whole place. Food was average this time. Dishes were not perfected as they usually are, but just OK. Edamame should be served bright green, crisp and hot. What we got was microwaved, warm and limp. Tonkatsu, a normally euphoric dish, came out oily and more fatty than I've ever had before. It isn't past the point of return, it just needs a little love - don't we all.
Is this helpful?
OT
OpenTable Diner
Philadelphia
5 reviews
5.0
5 reviews
Dined on February 15, 2020
overall5food5service4ambience4
Excellent food, definitely worth a try (and even some return trips).
Is this helpful?
I
Ibad
Philadelphia
9 reviews
5.0
9 reviews
Dined on February 15, 2020
overall5food5service5ambience5
Top Nodge. Food was amazing, server Jeff was oustanding.
1 person found this helpful
P
Pete
Philadelphia
5 reviews
4.0
5 reviews
Dined on February 15, 2020
overall4food4service3ambience5
My partner and I went for Valentine's Day and had reserved in advance. We wanted to do the happy hour at the bar before our dinner but they didn't do HH that night, which was an eyeroll moment. Regardless, we had drinks at the bar. Don't get the sake flight. $18 for 3 tiny sake cups is not worth it. A glass of sake is also very small. You're better off ordering cocktails. 10 minutes before our reservation, we informed the table manager that we were there. However, we saw other people arrive and almost get seated right away. We waited 20 minutes. When we were finally called to get seated, they put us next to the kitchen hallway, which I refused to sit at. The other option the table manager thought she could sit us was the table next to the table manager's computer next to the front entrance, so I just gave her a look and she knew what that meant. We waited for another 15 minutes to get a proper table. Once seated, everything went smoothly. We split the lobster and duck fried rice with truffle oil. The lobster roll was okay for the price but it came with a truffle aioli sauce which was very good considering I abhor mayonnaise. The white fish sushi was forgettable. The octopus was okay - they chopped up the octopus leg into pieces so you never get that satisfaction of biting into a tender octopus leg. The scallops were good especially with the sweet corn compliment. We also had a bottle of brut rosé, but it should've been kept colder. No desert. The server was attentive but forgot to give us the pen when paying for the bill.
Is this helpful?
RA
RachelA
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on February 14, 2020
overall5food5service5ambience5
Phenomenal food & service. Really expensive for amount of food but worth it for a special occasion
Is this helpful?
WP
WhartonProf
Philadelphia
3 reviews
3.0
3 reviews
Dined on February 12, 2020
overall3food3service4ambience5
Great food but pork belly from the Robata grill can be hit or miss. Sometimes its amazing and succulent, other times, it is crazy dry. Yesterday I was served very dry pork belly. Kind of disappointing because it's one of my favorite dishes.
Is this helpful?
OT
OpenTable Diner
New York Area
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on February 8, 2020
overall5food5service5ambience5
We had a party of 7 (2 adults 3 teens and 2 children). We were given a seat in one of the pods. It was cozy and private for our little group. Kids loved being able to press the colored buttons and change colors of the lights during dinner. Loved the atmosphere and everything we ordered was amazing...little plates/appetizers to the entrees. Our waiter was very friendly and helpful with our ordering when we told him it was our first time. Food came out quick which is always a plus when you are with kids. Will definitely return!
Is this helpful?
JH
JasmineH
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on February 7, 2020
overall5food5service5ambience5
I love the food!!!! I think this will be a weekly thing 🥰🥰🥰🥰
Is this helpful?
TS
TabSsudoku
Baltimore
10 reviews
5.0
10 reviews
Dined on February 7, 2020
overall5food5service5ambience5
Great time again at Pod! Celebrated a friends birthday, but Pod is now a regular go to spot whenever I’m in town for conferences. Our server Peter was great, and able to assist with all of our needs. The food is always delicious. I had my favorite the crab spring rolls. I highly recommend Pod, for a total and excellent experience!
Is this helpful?
JL
JLD1
San Francisco
5 reviews
4.0
5 reviews
Dined on February 7, 2020
overall4food4service5ambience4
Convenient location to Penn
Is this helpful?
OT
OpenTable Diner
New York Area
14 reviews
4.0
14 reviews
Dined on February 5, 2020
overall4food5service4ambience5
Perfect place to celebrate our sons' birthday! Very "nouveau" and a new experience for them at 21 and 25. The food was really good and ambiance was inviting. We would definitely go back.
Is this helpful?
OT
OpenTable Diner
San Francisco
2 reviews
5.0
2 reviews
Dined on February 4, 2020
overall5food5service5ambience5
What a wonderful dining experience service was great and food was fresh and delicious.
Is this helpful?
LZ
LeeZ
Philadelphia
4 reviews
vip
4.0
4 reviews
Dined on February 2, 2020
overall4food5service3ambience2
Really nice gluten free options. We really enjoyed our meal. We have been going to Pod since it opened.
Is this helpful?
SC
SalvatoreC
New York Area
21 reviews
vip
5.0
21 reviews
Dined on February 1, 2020
overall5food4service5ambience5
My wife and I took our 11 year old granddaughter for her birthday celebration dinner. We all enjoyed the novelty of the conveyor belt sushi. Jeff, our waiter was extremely attentive even if he had to approach from behind us as we sat at the bar. All of the kitchen and sushi offerings were great. Don’t miss the Robata spareribs. In true Starr style when I was asked about how the food was and offered the comment that the lobster tail was a little soft, I was informed that the charge for it was removed when the check was delivered. Kudos to the management at Pod for running a great restaurant.
1 person found this helpful
HL
HelloLittleone
1 review
4.0
1 review
Dined on January 31, 2020
overall4food5service4ambience5
The food was amazing. And ambiance was great but the lighting in most seatings were dark that we needed flashlights to read the menu. A man in a table next me shared a laugh because we were both reading the menu with our phone flashlights.
Is this helpful?
OT
OpenTable Diner
1 review
4.0
1 review
Dined on January 31, 2020
overall4food4service5ambience4
Our party enjoyed everything. My only complaint would be the lighting. It is very poor.
Is this helpful?
OC
OneChevyTwoMinds
Philadelphia
3 reviews
5.0
3 reviews
Dined on January 31, 2020
overall5food5service5ambience5
We were greeted and seated expeditiously our server was very attentive and help this place an order being though it was our first time there they explained everything in great detail the Ambiance was very nice the music was good we had a great time the portions of the plates for moderate it left us fulfilled but not full all in all a great eating experience and a great night out with my spouse
Is this helpful?
OT
OpenTable Diner
Philadelphia
2 reviews
4.0
2 reviews
Dined on January 26, 2020
overall4food4service5ambience3
Small booth. Temperature on the cool side. Noisy neighbors. Food a little above average. Very nice server.
Is this helpful?
G
Getta
Philadelphia
1 review
4.0
1 review
Dined on January 26, 2020
overall4food4service4ambience5
It was too far away. I would recommend if they are closer for the atmospere. I ordered scallops and I got 4 small scallops and that was it. It was not an appetizer but sure looked like one. Didn't even come with rice and that was over $22 as a meal.
Is this helpful?
BP
BriannaP
Philadelphia
11 reviews
vip
4.0
11 reviews
Dined on January 25, 2020
overall4food4service4ambience4
Took my 14 year old daughter and 4 of her friends to celebrate her birthday. It was great for teens and the food was really good.
Is this helpful?
OT
OpenTable Diner
Philadelphia
4 reviews
2.0
4 reviews
Dined on January 25, 2020
overall2food2service1ambience4
The service was very slow. We couldn’t find our server and wanted to order more drinks. Water refills toke a while. But the food was good except for the dumpling ramen, that was very salty.
Is this helpful?
IT
ITOK
Philadelphia
1 review
vip
3.0
1 review
Dined on January 25, 2020
overall3food2service2ambience3
I’ve been here several times and this has been by far the worst experience I have had. The waiter took forever to take our order and the food was super salty. In fact one of my favorite dishes the short rib lo-mein had a horrible after taste so we sent it back. I don’t know what happened last night but it wasn’t a good experience
1 person found this helpful
DB
DocBob
Philadelphia
19 reviews
vip
3.0
19 reviews
Dined on January 24, 2020
overall3food4service1ambience4
We have been to Pod at least a dozen times over the years. The last two times we had to wait 35 minutes for cocktails. We asked for additional dressing for our food as I had throat surgery and must make the food slippery. Not provided despite offered when we requested. The more expensive of 2 similar fatty sashimi was half gristle. 2 drinks + 2 desserts + 5 dim sum + tip =$155 Is it worth it? No longer
Is this helpful?
c
cimprichr
Philadelphia
10 reviews
4.0
10 reviews
Dined on January 24, 2020
overall4food5service2ambience3
WE FREQUENT THIS RESTAURANT, AND REALLY ENJOY THE FOOD. THERE MUST HAVE NOT BEEN ENOUGH WAITERS . WE WAITED OVER 15 MINUTES FOR OUR WINE ORDER, WHICH WAS THEN LONG IN COMING. ALTHOUGH WE TOLD OUR SERVER WE HAD TICKETS AT ANNENBERG SEVERAL TIMES, COFFEE AND THE BILL WERE LONG IN COMING. WE FINALLY HAD TO STAND UP TO GET HER ATTENTION. WE WILL, OF COURSE , BE BACK, BUT BETWEEN THE NOISE AND SERVICE, IT WAS NOT A PLEASANT MEAL.
Is this helpful?
CD
ChristineD
Philadelphia
1 review
1.0
1 review
Dined on January 19, 2020
overall1food1service3ambience1
Atmosphere was like we were in 1999. Menu was difficult to read, way overpriced, and food was not very good. I would not go back there, nor would I recommend it to anyone. Sorry we chose Pod to go to.
Is this helpful?
C
Claude
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on January 18, 2020
overall5food5service5ambience5
Excellent and creative Asian fusion cuisine. Unique progressive atmosphere. Service came with typical Philly attitude which I enjoy. They have kept the menu fresh after many years. The wagyu cooked on a river rock table side is a real treat
Is this helpful?

FAQs

Pod is rated 4.3 stars by 2848 OpenTable diners.

Not bookable

3636 Sansom Street, Philadelphia, PA 19104

Additional information

Cross street
Between 36th & 37th Streets on Sansom
Neighborhood
University City
Hours of operation
Mon–Thu 11:30 am–11:00 pm Fri 11:30 am–12:00 am Sat 5:00 pm–12:00 am Sun 5:00 pm–10:00 pm
Cuisines
Asian, Japanese, Sushi
Dining style
Casual Elegant
Dress code
Business Casual
Parking details
Pod offers valet parking seven days a week for $20 per vehicle. There are private, non-affiliated lots in the area and limited street parking available to our guests as well.
Public transit
Market-Frankford El, 34th Street Stop.
Payment options
AMEX, Mastercard, Visa
Executive chef
Jonathan LaVoie (GM), Todd Lean (EC)
Additional
Banquet, Bar Dining, Bar/Lounge, Beer, BYO Wine, Corkage Fee, Counter Seating, Full Bar, Happy Hour, Late Night, Non-Smoking, Private Room, Wheelchair Access, Wine

Website
http://www.podrestaurant.com/
Phone number
(215) 387-1803
Private party facilities
Immerse yourself in a fun and futuristic dining experience at Pod on Penn’s Campus. Whether you want to throw a graduation bash or host a special birthday party, Pod offers several options for groups of varying sizes. Rent the whole restaurant, gather in the private room or settle into a cozy pod.
Private party contact
Diane Farina: (888) 353-2054

Featured in

The Best Bars for Foodies in Philadelphia

Pod

Not bookable

Additional information

The Best Bars for Foodies in Philadelphia

Overall ratings and reviews

FAQs

How is Pod restaurant rated?

Not bookable

Additional information

Featured in

The Best Bars for Foodies in Philadelphia