Enable JavaScript to run this app.
Skip to main content
OpenTable logo
Solarium - White Dog Cafe - University City, Philadelphia, PA

White Dog Cafe - University City

4.6 (5586)
$31 to $50
American
3420 Sansom Street, Philadelphia, PA 19104

Make a reservation

2 people
7:00 PM
Booked 70 times today
Experiences are available.

About this restaurant

  • Charming
  • Neighborhood gem
  • Good for special occasions
A varied menu with seasonal & local ingredients served in a stylish room with dog-lover decor.

Additional information

  • Dining style
    Casual Elegant
  • Price
    $31 to $50
  • Cuisines
    American
  • Hours of operation
    Mon–Thu 11:00 am–9:00 pm Fri 11:00 am–9:30 pm Sat 9:00 am–9:30 pm Sun 9:00 am–8:00 pm
  • Phone number
  • Payment options
    AMEX, Diners Club, Discover, Mastercard, Visa
  • Dress code
    Casual Dress
  • Executive chef
    Albert Alvarado
  • Private party facilities
    We welcome you to explore our Private Dining options, perfect for any occasion.
  • Delivery & takeout
  • Neighborhood
    University City
  • Cross street
    On Sansom Street between 34th and 36th Street
  • Parking details
    Metered Street Parking is available surrounding the restaurant. Penn garage is available on 34th Street and Ludlow.
  • Additional
    Banquet, Bar/Lounge, Beer, Cocktails, Corkage Fee, Delivery, Dog Friendly, Full Bar, Gender Neutral Restroom, Gluten-free Options, Happy Hour, Non-Smoking, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Private Room, Takeout, Vegan, Weekend Brunch, Wine
Gift card

Gift card

Send gift cards instantly by email or print to present in person.

Send a gift card

Experiences

  • Half Price Wine Night

    Multiple dates available
    Enjoy half price wine bottles from our in house list with the purchase of an entree.

What 5,586 people are saying

White Dog Cafe - University City reviews from people who’ve dined at this restaurant. Based on recent rating.

Overall ratings and reviews

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

4.6
4.6 based on recent ratings
  • 4.5Food
  • 4.5Service
  • 4.6Ambience
  • 4.2Value

NoiseModerate

Loved For

  • Philadelphia

    Most Booked

Review summary

AI-generated from verified diner reviews
White Dog Cafe - University City offers a "must go" dining experience in Philadelphia with delicious dishes, a charming decor, and consistently friendly service. Known for exceptional food, including standout items like the truffle burger, it provides a vibrant atmosphere close to campus. Whether celebrating special occasions or enjoying a casual meal, White Dog impresses with its inviting ambiance and attentive staff.
5,586 Reviews
  1. greg VIP

    Washington, D.C. Area7 reviews

    5.0

    Dined 2 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Great lunch. Beautiful space, fun menu and good service.

    Is this helpful?

  2. mark

    Philadelphia County10 reviews

    4.0

    Dined 2 days ago

    1. Overall 4
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Hanger steak and eggs special was great. Pork belly with it. Bloody Mary was pedestrian.

    Is this helpful?

  3. Rick

    Philadelphia County3 reviews

    5.0

    Dined 4 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    I really loved it. My buddy and I are both in our 70s though and those young people were just making so much noise. We could barely hear each other. I guess that's what you have to put up with when you go to a wonderful place like that!

    Is this helpful?

  4. Dena

    Fort Lauderdale4 reviews

    5.0

    Dined on June 6, 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Soooo good. Here for 4 days but will definitely be back.

    Is this helpful?

  5. Laurie

    California Central Coast12 reviews

    5.0

    Dined on June 5, 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    A definite “must go” when in Philadelphia! Food, ambience, waitstaff…all awesome. Second visit and will go back again and again!

    Is this helpful?

  6. Olenga

    Philadelphia County38 reviews

    3.0

    Dined on June 5, 2025

    1. Overall 3
    2. Food 3
    3. Service 4
    4. Ambience 5
    We went for lunch. Service and seating was good. However the quality of my food wasn’t as good as in the past. I used to look forward to the burger. This burger was pretty tasteless. Not worth $25. I noticed they’re no longer listing a farm for the beef, so maybe cost cutting hit beef purchasing.

    Is this helpful?

  7. Russell

    Philadelphia County7 reviews

    3.0

    Dined on June 4, 2025

    1. Overall 3
    2. Food 3
    3. Service 4
    4. Ambience 4
    Veggie burger was a bit too salty. But overall, we enjoyed a salad with tofu and a less salty veggie burger. Always fun place to take visitors. Good vibe.

    Is this helpful?

  8. Frank

    Philadelphia County11 reviews

    5.0

    Dined on June 1, 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    The services and food were incredible. We were celebrating our anniversary, and they gave us a great table and a free dessert. I'll definitely go back.
    White Dog Cafe - University CityResponded on June 4, 2025
    Hi Frank, Thank you so much for the wonderful five-star review! I’m thrilled to hear you had an incredible anniversary celebration with us—it's great to know the service, food, and special touches made the evening memorable. We’d be honored to welcome you back anytime! Kindly, Jackson Cramer Manager

    Is this helpful?

  9. Sima

    Unspecified1 review

    3.0

    Dined on June 1, 2025

    1. Overall 3
    2. Food 4
    3. Service 3
    4. Ambience 4
    In all fairness the restaurant was slammed all at once w patrons waiting to be seated. We had a reservation and were swiftly led to our table. It would have been a better experience had our drinks not taken 40 minutes to deliver. We also found that waiters are required to clear dishes from the table as well. This takes the wait staff away from their job of checking on and bringing food and drinks out. The wait staff was delightful. We will try again and hopefully have a much better experience.

    Is this helpful?

  10. Joan

    Philadelphia County12 reviews

    3.0

    Dined on May 30, 2025

    1. Overall 3
    2. Food 3
    3. Service 4
    4. Ambience 3
    White Dog is one of only 2 restaurants that is conveniently situated if one wants to have dinner before a Penn Live Arts performance. That is why I went there with a friend yet again. We ate outside with music that was not calming & too loud. Sadly, WD continually underperforms in terms of creative and great cuisine. My friend and I shared 3 apps & drinks. One app was pretty good--an eggplant fritter - but the toast with asparagus & stracciatella was disppointingly devoid of flavor & was on tasteless white bread. The calamari fritti special seemed to have a cornmeal crust that didnt fully cover the squid resulting in a rather soggy result and arrived almist cold. I am used to perfectly prepared squid every summer in southern Italy so I am unforgiving regarding squid. My husband, myself, & our son who is an artist had eaten inside only a couple of weeks ago. My son & I had the salmon entree and my husband had the chicken. All three were acceptable. My son noticed the framed "art" & lighting were poorly executed. Every time I go, I miss founder Judy Wick's discerning hand. Why can't White Dog return to a stellar standard? Is it profit over quality only?

    Is this helpful?

FAQs

White Dog Cafe - University City offers takeout which you can order by calling the restaurant at (215) 386-9224.

White Dog Cafe - University City is rated 4.6 stars by 5586 OpenTable diners.

White Dog Cafe - University City does offer gift cards which you can purchase here.

Yes, you can generally book this restaurant by choosing the date, time and party size on OpenTable.

  1. Home
  2. United States
  3. Philadelphia County
  4. Philadelphia
  5. University City

Make a reservation

2 people
7:00 PM
Booked 70 times today
Experiences are available.
Google Map for White Dog Cafe - University City

3420 Sansom Street, Philadelphia, PA 19104

Additional information

  • Cross street
    On Sansom Street between 34th and 36th Street
  • Neighborhood
    University City
  • Hours of operation
    Mon–Thu 11:00 am–9:00 pm Fri 11:00 am–9:30 pm Sat 9:00 am–9:30 pm Sun 9:00 am–8:00 pm
  • Price
    $31 to $50
  • Cuisines
    American
  • Dining style
    Casual Elegant
  • Dress code
    Casual Dress
  • Parking details
    Metered Street Parking is available surrounding the restaurant. Penn garage is available on 34th Street and Ludlow.
  • Payment options
    AMEX, Diners Club, Discover, Mastercard, Visa
  • Executive chef
    Albert Alvarado
  • Additional
    Banquet, Bar/Lounge, Beer, Cocktails, Corkage Fee, Delivery, Dog Friendly, Full Bar, Gender Neutral Restroom, Gluten-free Options, Happy Hour, Non-Smoking, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Private Room, Takeout, Vegan, Weekend Brunch, Wine
  • Delivery & takeout
Gift card

Gift card

Send gift cards instantly by email or print to present in person.

Send a gift card
OpenTable
  • About Us
  • Blog
  • Careers
  • Press
More
Businesses
  • Restaurant reservation software
  • Industry insights
  • Hospitality resources
  • Marketing resources
  • Operation resources
  • How to open a restaurant
  • For restaurants
  • For restaurant groups
Join us on
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of Use
  • Cookies and Interest-Based Ads
  • Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information
  • Cookie Preferences
Copyright © 2025 OpenTable, Inc. 1 Montgomery St Ste 500, San Francisco CA 94104 - All rights reserved.
OpenTable is part of Booking Holdings, the world leader in online travel and related services.
Booking Logo
Priceline Logo
KAYAK Logo
Agoda Logo
OpenTable Logo