Al Fresco Dining in Philadelphia
Foobooz's 2011 Top 50 Bars
Philly's 20 Best Drinks
2011 Best of Philly in Food
The Very Best Pizza in Philly
50 Best Places to Eat in Philadelphia
Tale of the Tape: The Dandelion
Posted by Foobooz on January 3rd, 2011
HughE Dillon | Philly Chit Chat
Stephen Starr’s English pub, the Dandelion opened on New Year’s Eve. The  bar is offering authentic British fare in a brilliantly appointed maze of rooms.
The Space
- Occupies two former residences at 18th and Sansom.
- 135-seats
- Architect, Richard Stokes
- Shawn Hausman Design
- Parc
- Butcher & Singer
- Chateau Marmont (Los Angeles)
- The Standard (Los Angeles)
- Decorative items found during numerous trips to England
- Two levels, five rooms, 2 bars
- Working fireplaces
- Life-size cow overlooks downstairs bar
- Dog Room is decorated exclusively in a dog theme
- Sunroom looks over 18th Street
The Food
- Chef Robert Aikens
- England native
- Began his career cooking at Michelin-starred Le Gavroche in London
- At 22 became the sous chef at The Point Resort, in the Adirondack Mountains
- Returned to London in 2007 to work alongside his twin brother—the celebrated chef of the Michelin star, eponymous restaurant, Tom Aikens
- Assisted in the opening of Tom’s Kitchen, a casual, British-style brasserie with European and American influences
- Highlights
- Dinner and Lunch (Dinner Menu)
- Winter root vegetable soup with local cheddar and buttermilk bread croutons
- Cumberland sausages with mashed potato and onion gravy
- Beer battered fish and chips
- Rabbit pie with cipollini onions, oyster mushrooms and grain mustard
- Expect a sandwiches section with the likes of hot roast beef on the lunch menu
- Brunch (Coming Soon)
- Full English Breakfast comprised of two eggs any style, grilled tomato, portobello mushrooms, fried bread, baked beans, smoked bacon, Cumberland sausage and black pudding.
- Tea (3pm to 5pm, Coming Soon)
- A full selection of English teas offered in portions of 2, 4 or 6 cups.
- Berkshire pork pate with wheat toast and shallot pear chutney
- selection of cakes, scones and biscuits served on traditional tiered serving trays
- Pudding (Dessert)
- Baked ginger Guinness cake
- Treacle apple & raisin tart
- Sticky toffee pudding
- Sundays & Bank Holidays family style roasts are available:
- Roast Rib of Beef with Yorkshire pudding, watercress, roast potatoes, vegetable, beef gravy and horseradish sauce
- Roast Free-Range Chicken with bread sauce, bacon rolls, roast potatoes, vegetable and gravy
The Drink
- Three rotating casks of beer
- Served authentically at cellar temperature.
- UK and British style drafts available in 10-ounce glasses and Imperial pints (20-ounces).
- British heavy bottle selection
The Dandelion
124 S 18th St
215-558-2500
More on the Dandelion
- The Dandelion in Pictures [Meal Ticket]
- Sneak peek at Dandelion [Meal Ticket]
- Dandelion’s La Frieda Burger is Iffy, But the Lifesize Cow is a Go [Grub Street]
- Dandelion, Serafina and the Ritz Carlton [Philly Chit Chat]
Dandelion
124 S 18th St, Philadelphia, PA
Related Tags: Center-City-West, Dandelion, gastropub, Rittenhouse-Square, Tale of the Tape
January 3rd, 2011 at 4:56 pm
I went here on New Years Day and it was delicious! Loved the decor, decent wine and beer list, and my whole group was incredibly happy with their meals. The Duck Bolognese was what I had and I loved every bite!
January 4th, 2011 at 8:24 am
I have a tough time getting too excited about English food but I will have to go for breakfast one of these days. Starr gets some criticism for creating Epcot versions of foreign restaurants but I think that the feel of Parc is pretty much exactly correct and I bet that Dandilion is as well.
January 4th, 2011 at 11:50 am
Im excited to go this weekend. Hopefully they put that joke shop the bards to rest once and for all.
January 4th, 2011 at 12:19 pm
We went for dinner on New Year’s Day with my Scottish husband and Scottish in-laws … all three gave it a big thumbs up for authenticity which, trust me, is saying a lot for those 3! The Shepherd’s Pie was delicious and a great portion size since it can be quite heavy. I had the pork belly over green lentils which was so good, though I’m not a huge fan of mustard mash which is served on the side. The pates and cheese board were also a big hit (honestly – I can’t wait to just go back for wine and chicken and duck liver parfait by the fire!)
Our one complaint was the sticky toffee pudding that didn’t come out as hot as it should have but my Scottish father in law was quick to let them know how it should be served and we were offered another immediately.
I know that the hubby and I will be back quite often if the food stays up to this level!
January 22nd, 2011 at 1:41 pm
was there last night. Food was great, had the pate appetizer which was delicious and hte pork bellies which were perfectly cooked. THe one tip, DO NOT SEAT in the downstairs bar, for some befuddling reason they allow people to come in the corner door and it instantly freezes the whole streetside half of hte donwstairs bar. I don’t understand why they allow that door to open when they have a perfect foyered entrance jsut feet away, I can only imagin it is some sort of fire code.
Regardless, made the seating very unpleasent.
January 27th, 2011 at 2:11 pm
Was there one time just for drinks was a disappointment, for once, he needs to have a REAL BAR AREA – forget the tables for dining, isn’t there enough dining tables in the other rooms??? AND PLEASE PLEASE spend some cash on proper glassware for the beers, take a lesson from Monks, Eulogy, etc.
January 27th, 2011 at 4:28 pm
I liked the beer and the food but yeah, the layout really sucks. Forget the downstairs bar…there’s no “there” there.