I should preface by saying that I know the GM and me and my 3 other guests were hooked up pretty well as far as the check goes. With that said, the place has beautiful decor, nothing over the top, and it doesn't feel stuffy and old like other fancy restaurants in center city. The bartender knew what he was doing (my sweet tea lemonade cocktail was delicious) and the appetizers were pretty good from what I can remember. Nothing spectacular there. If you're gonna eat here, skip the appetizers and opt for entree and dessert, which I'll get to in a bit. For the entrees, I got red snapper, served with the skin still on and some kind of seafood paste-stuffed empanadas on the side which were peppery but really interesting in taste. The snapper was cooked perfectly and it was so tender and delicious. My boyfriend got a seafood hot pot and I was jealous I didn't because it smelled and looked amazing. Now for the best part. Dessert. I expect most restaurants to serve the basics like cheesecakes and chocolate lava cakes. So when the waiter pointed out the dessert that was on special for the night, we had to try it. It was a chocolate gnocchi, which sounds crazy but it was honest to god the best dessert I've ever had. It had the consistency of a gnocchi but it was really a velvety, almost mousse-like chocolate. And instead of pasta sauce was this creamy and light vanilla sauce. Amazing. Overall, I give it 4 stars for the superb service, perfectly cooked fish and amazing dessert. I knock it down a star simply because I know that the bill would have been a bit out of my price range had we not been discounted.
(4)
Tina F.
Came here for our Valentines dinner. We were' aware that it was a prefix valentines dinner, nobody told us when we made reservation. Anyhow, the ambience is very quiet and intimate which I like. The prefix was $75 per person for 3 course meal (pricey). I had the veal milanese and bf had the New York strip. We ended up spending about $230 with drinks and cocktails. They're drinks are really good. I liked the Blissful Martini. I wouldn't recommend this for an every day thing. I liked the ambience, but I wouldn't go there again. The food was okay, it wasn't "WOW"
(3)
Ed K.
Always consistent food and great service. We had the new tuna roll app...great! Crab cake has no filler! Wait staff is very attentive. Kitchen always tries to accommodate
(4)
Scott P.
Excellent dinner. I had a sweet potato soup and the lamb loin. The latter was so juicy and tender it melted in my mouth. And the rice with feta sauce was delicious.
Tried this place for the first time a few days ago after walking past it almost every day for a year. I have to say it was overall a great experience. First of all, the service was amazing. The owner Chris is very welcoming and friendly. He came over and entertained us while we waited for our food and he honestly is a great guy. Made sure we had everything we wanted. The server was also very good We had the Bliss burger which is has two burger patties. Very tasty meat with great buns. We also had the grilled cheese with Tomato basil soup. Have to say it was one of the best grilled cheese sandwiches I have ever had. Prices are reasonable. We had two beers, an appetizer and two main courses and the bill was around 50 bucks. I would highly recommend this place.
(5)
Jason H.
I've been to Bliss on a number of occasions over the past seven years or so, and each time I want to really like it, and each time I leave somewhat disappointed. The food always seems just a bit "off" in one way or another. I can't really say it's "bad" but just not what I'd expect, and not what really makes my night. It seems that things are either over or under-seasoned, a little on the pedestrian side, not quite cooked right, or just don't taste as you'd expect or hope. You'll have to try it for yourself and see if you have a different opinion...it might just be me.
(2)
Jung K.
So it isn't bad, but it certainly isn't that good. Went for Restaurant Week as a last minute meal with an old friend. The hostess upon first greeting was kind of nasty, and sat me at the table. Was not greeted for literally 10 minutes for water or anything. (It didn't seem like they were that busy either? There were empty tables all around me). The server was nice, but when I asked that I get something from the regular menu (added on to the $35 RW price) due to some of the appetizers having mango (allergy) - she said she was told not to even ask the chef. I understand that it woul dbe impossible to accomodate to everyone, but when I am literally offering more money to order from the regular menu... appetizer: white bean and vegetable soup wih truffle oil. Barely any truffle oil, and it looked like progresso soup with way too many beans in it. entree: veal medallions with sauteed escarole. The veal was overcooked and pretty tough to chew, since I usually prefer my meat medium rare. The escarole, however, was the biggest disappointment. They chopped it in half to 'sautee' it, but it was wilted and soggy by the time it was presented to me. Dessert: saving grace - I had the hazelnut and pistachio gelato. yummy, nothing special. Probably will not be returning, if the prices of what they offer tastes anything like what was presented at RW.
(2)
Jc Minion G.
The place is conveniently located to the convention center . The restaurant is small and very cozy . Service was amazing . The food was superb . We had lunch . Tried the burger , salmon , and the grilled cheese and tomato soup . All great choices . We definitively recommend
(5)
Mark P.
While planning the perfect date night with a wonderful lady, I found Bliss. It's proximity to the Academy of Music is what first drew my attention. I liked the look if the menu so I gave them a call to set up reservations. I mentioned that I was trying to impress a lovely lady and the man on the phone ( I didn't get his name, regrettably) was soooooo helpful!! He told me not to worry about a thing, he would make sure that things went smoothly. AND HE DID!! We arrived and were seated at a corner table and were treated so well!! Service was friendly, food was absolutely fantastic (especially the duck!!!) and the setting lent itself perfectly to our perfect night. I plan on returning to this gem of a restaurant as soon as I can! I can't thank them enough.
(4)
Mike C.
Always walk by this place and it's empty. Figured the food and/or menu sucked. Finally decided to give it a try. The menu was actually very appealing. Ordered a Cobb Salad which was decent. Girlfriend ordered another salad with chicken added. She said it was just OK. Her salad was the size of a side salad at any other restaurant but ended up costing about 16$ once chicken was added. Moral of story: good menu but small portions and over priced. Food about average. Server was super friendly and good.
(3)
Maggie R.
My boyfriend and I went to Bliss for our anniversary. I was hesitant because I normally don't like expensive restaurants or fancy food, and the "casually elegant" dress code threw me off. The dining room was relatively small and plainly decorated. We were seated along the wall. My seat faced the windows, which were all open to allow in the breeze (which was nice), but the street lights were very bright, so it was difficult to look across the table. If there had been a shade to pull down even just a few inches, it would have been wonderful. The food was incredible. We ordered the short rib ravioli for our appetizer. The beef was so tender, and the pasta was delicious. Then we each ordered the filet mignon with mascarpone hash brown, sauteed brussel sprouts, and black bean puree. The filet was cooked to perfection. For dessert we had the creme brulee, which was probably somewhere in the top 5 best creme brulees I've ever had. As for drinks, I had the strongest long island iced tea of my life. It made me physically recoil at first. I also had a chocolate martini with dessert, which was to die for. I'd definitely recommend Bliss to anyone looking to celebrate a special occasion, but I think the prices are a bit high for a normal night out.
(4)
Michelle M.
My daughter (age 13) and I went for a special night out. They were more than welcoming to her - it's nice to see an upscale place treat a teenager that way. Our meals were both excellent - she had the filet mignon and I ordered the lamb porterhouse. Both were cooked perfectly. My side dish of goat cheese polenta was amazing, I couldn't stop eating it! The server was personable and attentive. We also spoke with the owner extensively and he was a down to earth, funny guy. Overall a great experience.
(5)
Carla F.
I live not too far from Bliss and walk by it often. It is a simple place with a nice interior in a neighborhood that has a lot of variety. It doesn't stand out but seems to have a pleasant atmosphere in the nicer weather when the windows/doors can be open to Broad St. I took advantage of the LivingSocial voucher as well given that it was nearby. I thought their menu looked great and had a tough time deciding exactly what I wanted. I ended up with the poached pear salad which was very nice. My mother had their soup of the day which was a ridiculously good, and yet seemingly healthy, cream of asparagus soup. For my main meal I had a salmon sandwich and it was excellent. The salmon was juicy and flavorful. I wish the atmosphere in this place was a bit more lively. I think the food could definitely sustain this place but without much in the way of customers, I'm not sure how successful this restaurant will continue to be.
(4)
Nikki J.
We had dinner in November before attending the Marian Anderson Awards. As we looked at many of the other restaurants in the area before choosing here, it was a great choice. Location was perfect before attending any of the theaters in the area. And although we made sure to give ourselves enough time, the restaurant was very good at time management before the theater. The restaurant is small, but you never feel too close to the other patrons. There were 4 of us for dinner and we had the Short Ribs, Pork, Sea Bass and Crab cake entrees. Everything was so good, we shared it all. This place is great for a date or with family. We will definitely go again. PS - we even saw local celebrity Mike Jerrick from Fox29. Thanks Bliss for making it a great night.
(4)
S K.
Have only dined once 2014 but loved it! Our group dined for a celebration and all had a variety of dishes which were very good. The service was excellent and food is great! from appetizers to dessert. Rave reviews to this place....delish with a nice atmosphere. Also a good bar to grab a cocktail. Great location to dine before a show.
(5)
Reem C.
I work near this restaurant and I've considered eating here on numerous occasions. Yesterday, I decided to try it for lunch. My first experience will also be my last. I ordered the glazed salmon and my wife had the lobster risotto. My dish was okay. The salmon was overcooked. The lobster risotto should have been called risotto with a pinch of lobster. We ordered diver scallops as an appetizer and received three scallops that were a little bit bigger than the size of a 50 cent coin. I'm not even sure why our waiter brought out two appetizer plates. It was completely unnecessary. Given the quality of the food and the dishes, Bliss is overpriced. If you want to spend good money on a dish, go somewhere else. Bliss is not worth the price.
(2)
Rosa C.
My boyfriend and I went to Bliss with a Livingsocial deal and we both agree that it was a good experience. I really like the ambiance of the restaurant, with its wall size ocean backdrop and its extended outdoor seating that expands the seating space. Our reservation was for 8:30 on a Thursday night, and it was relatively quiet, with a few people at surrounding tables and a middle age couple at the bar. A server came around with two choices of complimentary bread. The bread was warm and the butter was delicious. We ordered the shrimp spring rolls for appetizer, which I definitely recommend. The dip that it comes with, can't remember what it is now, is sweet and kind of weird, so I opted to eat the rest of the spring rolls sans dip. Entree-wise, my boyfriend ordered the pork tenderloins and I ordered the duck. Both were very tender and perfectly seasoned. Note that we were also very hungry by this time. The duck was seriously tender, though, and I thoroughly enjoyed my dish. The sauteed spinach and mushrooms underneath the pieces of duck were also cooked just right. For dessert, we shared a creme brulee. What the menu and our server failed to mention, however, was that the creme brulee was chocolate. We were pleasantly surprised, however, but maybe they should've put that on the menu. I thought that the creme brulee was the perfect amount of sweetness and was a lovely way to end our meal. All in all, we had an enjoyable meal in a lovely setting, and although the food was on the pricier side, I would definitely consider coming back.
(4)
Colleen L.
Amazing.
(5)
Melissa P.
Went with a groupon and we were thoroughly unimpressed. The waiter was hard to understand and not very attentive, despite the fact that we were basically the only people in the restaurant. We split a few dishes and they didn't really understand and they came out staggered which was really awkward. The salad was really ordinary and the portions were tiny. Overpriced, not worth it. Would never go back, and it's not even worth it with a groupon (which I rarely say).
(1)
Kristen R.
Horrible. I went for their Valentine's day menu. I waited this long to write a review, because had I written it right after I dined, I would have had some not pretty things to say. First, it was expensive, which was expected, but for the quality of food we received, it was not okay. I ordered the lobster risotto, which had overcooked lobster and crunchy, undercooked risotto rice. I couldn't have been more upset. My date and I barely ate our meals, and then felt obligated to take home our leftovers because our server was so nice. My date and I promptly discarded our leftovers in the nearest trashcan. The only thing that was nice, was the free glass of champagne. Avoid this restaurant. Also, a note on ambiance. This restaurant attracts a much older crowd. Being a 20 something, I definitely felt out of place.
(1)
Stephanie D.
I was also kind of shocked that Bliss was rated on the low side! We enjoy Bliss and find that the food is consistent and well made. My review isn't about everyday eating though, it's in reference to the great little midday cocktail reception that Chris Nonni put together for our wedding guests after our ceremony. It was a tricky time, 1-3pm on a Saturday in September, and we were so happy that Bliss could accomodate a capacity of 100 people during that time frame as many other restaurants could not. We put together a heavy hors d'oeuvres table with some additional butlered selections, all of which ended up being delicious, a perfect temperature, and well-received by everyone. There were three wine selections which all ended up pairing beautifully with the food. For decor, we worked with Nature's Gallery on two behemoth white orchid arrangements which sat on either side of the bar and little jars of white flowers on the tables around the restaurant, which looked quite lovely with the refreshing ocean themed triad of art pieces on the wall. Throughout the party, the staff that attended our guests were cheerful and assertive, and were kind enough to make a little plate of everything for me while I was being ushered here and there to greet guests (I had completely forgotten about this particular need all day). We look forward to going back as soon as we can get back to the city, and really encourage anyone needing a private event space to consider Bliss. In addition to the main seating downstairs, they have a second floor mezzanine area which would be perfect for a private party.
(4)
Monica L.
PROS: Large portions, good ingredients,"fancy" setting CONS: Everything else, almost The food could be better. The lobster risotto and seafood hot pot contained fine ingredients. Alas, the combination/execution of ingredients was terrible. The flavors and textures of each dish clashed to the point where our appetites died within a couple of bites. Plus, the service was bad/unprofessional.
(2)
Allison N.
I am all about zany. If quirky and unusual can be used to describe my experience, then it's pretty much a guarantee that I'm gonna give that something five stars....5 million thumbs up.....43 snaps in a circle. Something in planet weird aligned to make everything occur how it should have during my evening at Bliss. In particular, the universe decided to give me Kevin as my waiter. Im pretty sure his name was Kevin. Boisterous, sarcastic, flirty, a little touch feely, a lot giving of hard-timey....but at the same time, really really seems to love and know his chef's food. He also seemed to know a lot about the town and the places we should go based on what he could gather about our personalities. I wish I could have hired him on as a personal person to ensure I had a good time wherever the world decides to take me in the future. I'm a vegetarian....and while Bliss doesn't really have a lot on the menu that caters to vegetarians, the one dish that they do offer WAS EFFING AMAZEBALLS!!!! It was a pasta dish just wam bam thank you ma'am chalk full of flavor. holy crap. I could have horked down more than just the appetizer size portion I ordered. I needed to slap somebody to express how good that was.
(5)
Sari A.
The 28$ for 3 courses menu with Yelp check in, caught my eye. However, it was unmemorable night. This is not based solely on food, it's based on the whole experience. 1/ I was not a fan of the dull atmosphere. 2/ I was not impressed with the food. 3/ The waiter was professional, friendly and informative. 4/ They did not honor the offer. Two Yelps
I'v been to Bliss many times over the years. Every time, I was absolutely delighted with the delicious food that was prepared and presented with tremendous imagination. This past Thursday, I had the Bliss Burger. Outstanding. I went back Saturday and had another. I am no so-called Foody", but I know great food that is interesting, tasty, wholesome and plentiful and that is presented creatively when I see and taste it. The prices are very reasonable. When you go and if it is a nice day, sit outside and enjoy the sights of center city.
Just ate here and was shocked with the portions and prices. Was unable to finish my meal, the chicken sandwich was delicious and tried the crab cake sandwich and that was great as well. The service was great, was immediately seated and served. Definitely recommending this place. Ambience was relaxing. Probably not a good place for kids though but great for couples and groups. Thanks Bliss for an excellent lunch!!!
(5)
Jerard C.
Before I even get to the food I have to start by telling you about the service. Our waitress was very attentive and accommodating especially when we told her that we were celebrating a birthday. She said she had the perfect idea to help us out, but I don't think she or anyone else thought that her fellow waiter would be serenading our table with a Portuguese version of "Happy Birthday". That's what he gets for being late to his own birthday dinner. Now for the food, I started with the crunchy ahi tuna roll appetizer. Normally you wouldn't think that a non-Japanese restaurant would be the place for sushi, but I was pleasantly surprised with how much I enjoyed it. I also took advantage of a special soup that was available that night. It was a sausage and bean puree that I found to be delicious, especially as a compliment to the cold tuna roll. For my main course I couldn't pass up the beef tenderloin (even though the scallops were calling my name). The meat was very juicy and tender and not very fatty at all. It was served over mashed potatoes which were also delicious. For dessert I chose the warm apple tart with vanilla gelato. It was good, nothing spectacular, but the Portuguese birthday celebration definitely helped. I noticed that many of the other options included gelato as well. Also worth mentioning is the parking lot right next door. Be sure to have them validate your parking ticket so you get the 50% discount before you head home.
(5)
Brenda F.
We went for dinner before the ballet tonight. We had 6pm reservations for three people before a 7:30 show. At 7:10, we still didn't have our meals. When they arrived, we scarfed them down in record time and ran. They comped our two drinks, but we still paid $150 for a terrible experience. We have been here many times before, but I doubt we will be back. ps - tell the chef when he speaks bad about customers from the kitchen, we can hear him.
ABSOLUTE MUST GO!!! One thing I learned after my own experience (as a former waitress and a very satisfied Bliss patron) and reading those of others: A good way to tell if a place is actually good is try it not during prime hours. If they manage to screw up even when it's not busy, then we've got issues. I think I found of my favorite go-to places. We went there for the first time after a long walk on a Friday around noon and both tried the 3 course! It comes with: 1. soup of the day or salad (beet or pear) 2. chicken,salmon, or crab cake 3. gelato or sorbet This place is an absolute paradox to me. I hate carrots, but I liked their caramelized carrots in the chicken dish. I also don't like crab cakes, but I loved their crab cake. I don't like beets either,but I liked their beet salad. I am not crazy about walnuts, but I also really liked their candied walnuts in the pear salad. The poached pear salad (with gorgonzola mousse, candied walnuts, mixed greens, and vanilla bean-pear dressing and balsamic reduction) was amazing. the roasted beet salad (with creamy goat cheese, arugula, and white balsamic-beet vinaigrette) was also a winner. Usually beets have this earthy taste I am not a fan of, but they must have really knew how to prepare it because it was great. There salad of the day that day was watermelon salad(with feta cheese) - which sounded amazing, but it didn't come in the 3-course. I should have asked if I could get it anyway and pay a surcharge. The salad portions in the 3-course was also really big. I was really surprised. The chicken herb de provence (with purple Peruvian mashed potatoes and caramelized carrots were so delicious. My chicken was a little over cooked, but it was still REALLY good. The jumbo crab cake was fantastic. It was topped wth lemon sabayon, and came with asparagus and this kiwi puree sauce. YUM. Like I said, I typically do not like crab cakes. But the crab cakes here are so freaking good. It's pretty much all crab. Usually, crab cakes I have had are 90% cornmeal and 10% crab. Here, it's like literally a crab-cake. For dessert (2 scoops per person), we had goat cheese/fig gelato, blood orange sorbet, and this ginger sorbet. The goat cheese was really subtle and was amazing. It is rare for me to want to lick my bowls clean. The three course meal was VERY generous in their portions. We both picked our dishes clean, and left feeling really content and not stuffed. Also, I was not lethargic either - which probably means they did not use a lot of lard, butter, oil, and other fillers. The vegetables are very fresh - you can especially tell by the salad. No browning or anything. The service was also exceptional. I love the owner also - he was phenomenal. I have never had such a pleasant encounter with the store owner or manager my entire life. This is definitely a clean, friendly, and a delicious place. I cannot wait to come back to try other stuff, like cheesesteak empanadas!
(5)
Margaret W.
Enthusiastic service punctuates the varied and quite frankly delicious menu offerings. Unique cheeses, ahi tuna roll, granny smith apple celery soup and the dessert crisp with the vanilla gelato atop was a wonderful way to wrap up my meal. Than you chef. I will be back soon. Best meal Ive had in Philly.
(5)
Bradley T.
My wife and I decided on Bliss for some pre-concert cocktails and a nosh or two. Wow are we glad that we did! From start to finish we both truly enjoyed the atmosphere as well as the staff! We were immediately greeted by the General Manager Chris who actually asked us if we had a seating preference. This was a nice change from having someone dictate where we should be seated. We were very fortunate that they have added chicken meatballs to the menu as they came out "compliments of the Chef". Outstanding and the sauce/gravy was equally delicious yet not overpowering. We advised the GM that we were "in town" to see Shania Twain and at one point we recognized her voice emanating faintly in the background! We then realized he had put on the Shania Pandora station. It is little things like this that make a HUGE difference in service industries. Thanks Chris! Our waitress was Haley and she was on point! I had the ahi tuna appetizer and it was phenomenal! Dinner was equally delectable as my wife ordered a salad (the name is slipping my mind) but it had grapes and perhaps feta and she raved about it the rest of the evening. This was odd considering my wife NEVER orders salad. I had the Bliss burger but opted to have it without the roll, and boy that was a smart move on my part. A double burger topped with tomato,cheese,carmelized onions,a fried egg, and pork roll. Cooked to perfection! We are always on the lookout for new spots and trust me when I tell you, Bliss has earned everyone of the stars awarded by us! Chris and staff: Thanks again for a great kickoff to an outstanding night!
(5)
Deb A.
I was in Philadelphia for a conference and found Bliss near my hotel. I had the veggie stir-fry and it was tasty, veggies were fresh and it was more than I could eat. Good variety on menu but a little on the pricey side for food. Decent wine selection in the $8-10 range. I would have preferred a higher priced, better quality wine with the meal I had. But I am from N. CA so wine is important. The waiter announced to each guest that they have a new chef and are rolling out a new menu at end of the week.
(4)
Jeanne M.
I have been to Bliss numerous times for brunch before going to a show at the Academy. I want to love this place because they have a nice menu and I have had a good meal there before but I give it 2 stars because it is consistently bad. Last month my friend ordered the eggs Benedict ( no longer on the menu) with a well done egg and meat both came out rare so she sent it back and they nuked it making it barely edible. Last week I ordered the burger, medium rare and it came out well done. My friend ordered her burger medium and it was done more than mine which means it was a bit crunchy. The wait staff should be aware what they are serving. They have a new menu but I am doubtful that they can live up to the challenge.
(2)
Dia S.
I went there the other day for lunch and had a very pleasant time. The food was okay, maybe I ordered something off the menu that wasn't a special. The location is great and it had always looked wonderful in the summer with the tables and outdoor seating. The place was not packed at all in fact we were the only customers in at the time. Regardless, I was in good company and had an excellent time. The service was also just okay. I feel as though with a little spark this place could really be a happening spot. I would definitely come back, this time for dinner and possible have drinks after at bellevue 19 which is right next door. Recommended.
(3)
Michael T.
Visited this place on thursday night July 25 about 730. Plenty of seating available and definitely did not need to make the reservation. Used a groupon for dinner. Started with the grilled octopus for an app. which was nothing special, somewhat bland thought it was cooked well and tender it definitely could have used something to bring it up a notch. My girlfriend ordered the hanger steak, medium which came out a little over cooked, the chimichurri sauce was delightful and the steak itself was nothing to brag about. I on the other hand had the pan seared half chicken which was amazing to say the least. Portion size was excellent and it was tender and juicy. The sides provided (mushroom and pea risotto, and spinach) were excellent as well. Our server Kevin, was extremely friendly, knowledgeable and on point. I'll give it a 4 star for my entre and the service, its probably a 3.5 in reality. Also the bread that was served beforehand is in need of changing, it is extremely bland. Ive had better starter bread from franchise restaurants.
(4)
Kimberly L.
PHENOMENAL!!!!!! Bliss must have gotten a new chef because I ate there last night and I can't say enough about how amazing the food was!!! Divine is a perfect description. We sat at the bar and it couldn't have been better. We had a quail egg salad, tortellIni special (which melted in my mouth), and the best crab cake I have ever eaten in my entire life!! All food came out hot and was executed perfectly. The staff is best trained staff. They are all so friendly and on point. The bartender was great. I cannot say enough great things about Bliss!!
(5)
P C.
I splited some appetizers and main dishes with friend. The Chilean Sea bass was overcooked and under seasoned. The garnish vegetables were clearly made from frozen. The lobster in the lobster risotto smelled weird. The appetizers we had were also under average. Food was extremely over priced for the quality. The waiter was hard to understand and didn't seem to know much about the food.
(1)
Caitlin C.
I've known about this restaurant for some time, and now all of a sudden every one things it's cool. This is exactly what happened with Maroon 5. Located right on Broad Street, large windows give passersby a view of the floor to ceiling water-ripple photos. This place won't save you too much dough, and the plates are meticulously arranged and displayed. This is a great place for a date. And if you are particularly comfortable with your party (or just particularly self-confident), indulge in the Bliss' short ribs.
(5)
Jason A.
Went for lunch and had the Kobe burger. It came well done even though I had asked for it medium-well. Can't complain though really because it was delicious! The service was quick and personal; the soup, breadsticks and fries were also really good. Also, I didn't think the prices were really all that outrageous for being in such a prime location. Also, a well known politician showed up which should be a good sign, right?
(4)
Kristin C.
I had eaten at Bliss in recent years on business trips to Philly. There were a couple of lovely dinners (eaten at the bar, chatting with another patron and a fantastic bartender before a performance a couple of blocks away) and one nice lunch with a friend. The most recent of those experiences was about a year and a half ago and wow, have things changed (and definitely NOT for the better). I was in Philadelphia a week or two ago, again on business. I had plans to meet a client for a weekday lunch and when thinking of possible options, I recalled Bliss. My client is a celiac and can't eat gluten/wheat. I looked online and saw that Bliss' lunch menu had a number of gluten free options that looked quite tasty (including a risotto, pork stir fry, etc.). Additionally, the online menu (found here, still as of July 5, 2010: bliss-restaurant.com/lme… ), indicated that there was also a two course prix fixe lunch menu available in addition to the regular lunch menu. All of these options, combined with the easy location, seemed to make Bliss a no-brainer. I passed along the link to the menu to my client. She was excited and thanked me for considering her dietary restrictions and said that she thought it was perfect. I made the reservation via OpenTable. When I showed up a few minutes early for my reservation, the restaurant was completely empty, save one person. A nice gentleman indicated that I should sit wherever I liked. However, when I picked a corner table far away from the open windows (It was really hot that day), he said that I could sit anywhere but there since that was held for a regular (I can't remember if anyone was seated there throughout out meal). I perused the menu while waiting for my dining companion and was disheartened to find it very different than the one posted online (that is still posted online as I currently type). The risotto was gone and there were very few obviously gluten-free options. When she arrived, she was a bit disappointed with this discovery as well since it would mean that there would need to be lots of questions asked of the waiter, possible changes requested in menu items, etc. My client also asked about the prix-fixe menu that was mentioned (and still is) on their website. He said that there wasn't one. I mentioned that it was on the website and he just shrugged. Similarly, he didn't seem to know the specifics of the menu items very well. When my companion had questions, he didn't seem to have answers (for any of them, including if a sauce was roux-based or not), nor did he volunteer to go ask the chef. We had to tell him to go ask. My client ended up having to make several alterations to her dish. I settled on a salmon dish. I asked how the salmon was prepared, indicating that I'd like it medium rare. He said that was how the chef does it. We split a salad first. It was decent enough, but the pears were mealy and didn't seem fresh. Then our main courses came. The kitchen did get her requests correct and the item was (blessedly) gluten free. The dish placed in front of me contained the saddest, most unappetizing piece of fish I had ever seen. It was served (oddly) skin-side up. The skin had not been cooked properly (and it looked like it took a couple of tries to do anything to it). It was a light brown-grayish, curled mess. The salmon was most certainly not medium rare (It was definitely done) and about a quarter inch of the fish closest to the skin was gray and disgusting looking. I should have complained, but I didn't want to at a business meeting. The sauce included with the dish was cloying and thick and the rice wasn't particularly well-cooked. Because of all of this, I was too embarrassed to ask my client how her dish was. After some really pleasant and tasty experiences before, I don't know what has happened at this place with regard to both food (especially) and service. The price paid was nearly comical (or rather depressing) for what was received. It was simply terrible. I travel to Philadelphia often for work and will definitely not be returning to Bliss. I'll be telling others to avoid it as well. What a disappointment!
(1)
Carrie C.
I really wanted to like Bliss more than I actually did. This is not to say it was not a great dining experience, it just wasn't extraordinary. The evening started with the boy and I arriving almost 30 minutes early for our 7pm reservation because we were hungry, and we were seated immediately after checking our coats and bags. I started with the sweet potato soup, which came out almost immediately and was a creamy, sweet, and fresh start to the meal. We were served warm focaccia as well, which was good, but not too flavorful. For entrees, we had the "Lobster Risotto, Asparagus, Sundried Tomato Pesto" and the "Duck Breast, Duck Confit Stuffed Crepe, Sauteed Spinach, Caramelized Apple, Au Jus." It took a while to get the plates out to us, so by the time they arrived, we were very excited. My boyfriend liked the duck (which we got medium rare), stating that it was tender with a juicy layer of fat around the meat. The duck confit was sweetened with a little bit of apple, which was a nice touch. The lobster risotto was a pleasant, mild-flavored dish with a GENEROUS amount of lobster meat. However, neither one of us was blown away by our dishes and felt like the flavors really weren't as bold and developed as they could have been. For dessert, we ordered the "Hot Apple Crisp w/ Vanilla Gelato," which was the perfect mix of sweet, tart, and crispy. I would recommend this if you're a fan of apple dessert. Overall, a fine dining experience with great service and beautiful, a calm ambiance. However, the food was not amazing, and I do not really have an urge to go back soon, but I am glad that I tried it.
(3)
Janice T.
I came here for restaurant week and was pleasantly surprised. I had the cheese plate as my appetizer which was very good. I tried the monkfish as my entree and thought it was very well cooked and paired well with the slices of tomato and spinach in the sauce it came with. I don't see the monkfish on the regular restaurant menu on the website though. I didn't really care for the fig pie I had for dessert but it didn't deter me from rating the restaurant any less. Kevin was an excellent waiter by the way!
(4)
Vincent J.
Tourist Trap at it's best is how I can describe this place. I give it one star because of the waiter who made the meal 1 star instead of a 1/2 star. I was dragged back because someone wanted to try this place again, even after I told them that my last meal there several years ago was bad. Moving on, the prices are just way over priced, $ 10 for a horrible beet salad that looked like it was made the night before and tasted like it, $10 for a glass of bad Chardonnay, it tasted like Pino. The roll was good, but they gave you a thimble of butter to but on the roll. I ordered the Red Snapper which was just flat out bad and the other ingredients just don't work with it. That was $28. Take you money else where and have a better and cheaper meal. To all of you coming from out of town, I apologize for this place. Philly has many better places to go to,
(1)
Jess D.
So we wandered over to Bliss (Living Social Deal in Hand!) to sit along Broad Street on a beautiful Fall evening. Despite being a Saturday Bliss wasn't crowded at all which always makes me somewhat uneasy. To start off our server was impossible to understand. I am very patient but this man's accent was way too thick and we ended up asking a different server to tell us the specials. We started out with Shrimp Spring Rolls and a Steak & Mushroom Flatbread. The Shrimp Rolls weren't very good and they hardly gave us 4 bites for and $9 appetizer. The sauce they were served with tasted way too acidic (like straight champagne or something). The Flatbread on the other hand, was very delicious. It had just the right amount of each ingredient. For our entree we had the Seafood Pot with Thai seasoning. It was just OK. There wasn't nearly enough seafood or other substance to really fill us up but the flavors that were there were pretty good. All in all I doubt I'd return to Bliss unless we have another Living Social Deal but it was far from a bad dining experience. With so many wonderful places nearby I doubt we'll return to Bliss again.
(3)
SLydia K.
I randomly decided to go here on a slow summer afternoon with a male friend of mine and was immediately welcomed by a very friendly older man who seemed to be the manager. He said we could sit anywhere because the restaurant was pretty much empty so we sat outside because it was nice. My friend got a burger which looked very juicy and he loved it and kept saying it was one of the best burgers he had ever had, which coming from a guy who works as a butcher for a living should mean a lot. I got a cranberry salad which was very good and had the perfect sweetness to it.
(4)
John K.
This was our second time coming for the lunch prix fixe. First off, they would not honor our living social deal (which was fine). The more egregious error(s) had to do with the fact that there were lobster shells in the lobster risotto ... the stuffed chicken was well overdone ... and the breadsticks were stale. The salads were pretty good and the gelato was excellent! I will be willing to give Bliss another chance since the first time around, the dining experience was much better. But hopefully we won't run into this problem again. Service was very good.
(2)
Karl M.
Bliss is the perfect place to dine before a show (Kimmel, PTC, etc). Food is good and is reasonably priced. I have had the Miso Salmon, Braised Shortribs and Roasted Chicken. All were wonderful. I think the "bad" reviews of Bliss are a thing of the past.
(5)
David C.
We've gone here for dinner a couple of times, because it's close to the Academy of Music, which we frequent. Food is consistently top quality and service is always first class. We will be back soon.
(4)
Hoa T.
I have such mixed feelings about this place. I have dined here for lunch and dinner. Both times, I found something that I liked but then it was over shadowed by mediocrity of another part of meal. For lunch I had the tuna roll and the hot pot with thai sauce. The tuna roll was horrendous. You can find better in a supermarket. But then I was impressed with the hot pot. The seafood were fresh and the thai sauce has great flavors and depth. I then came back to dinner a few days later (had a groupon that I need to use before it expires). I ordered the Miso Glazed Atlantic Salmon, Asian Fried Rice, Bok Choy. The salmon was cooked perfectly. But then the fried rice ruined the whole thing by being dried and overcooked. Sigh...so much potential.
Conveniently located just a block from the Kimmel Center, we stopped by for a pre-theater dinner. We were a little worried about only having 1.5 hours, but our waiter assured us that they're used to the theater crowd and we'd be out with time to spare. We started with the Ahi Tuna Rolls (okay, but needed a higher fish:rice ratio) and the Homemade Gnocchi (so fresh and delicious!). My entree was the Short Ribs special, which had been cooked for 24 hours - tender and great flavor and served with delicious Leek Mashed Potatoes.
(4)
Jason N.
Great restaurant... Not too big.. on Broad st.. Ave of the Arts.. BIGGG Cheese plate.. delicious Hot Seafood Bowl...-- Bring your date or spouse.. Not really a family restaurant, but we always bring our 2 kids, Mateo and Alana :)
(4)
Jenear C.
I have read many of the reviews and I guess people should start going for Lunch. I love the salmon sandwich, flat bread, salads and salmon with butternut squash risotto. The owner always takes the time to ask about the food and service.
(4)
Richsrd B K.
Came here during restaurant week. It looks like people either love the place or hate it. I am in the "love" category. Maybe it is because they just got a new chef (January 2014). The food was interesting and excellent - and the staff couldn't have been nicer or more helpful. Certainly with the new chef for those who were disappointed it's worth another try.
(4)
Nisa G.
This is one of my favorite places on broad st. I have been dining here for about two years. My six year old son loves the crab gnudi. Yes, the six year old. The scallops are great. Honestly, I haven't tried anything here that did not disappoint. The ingredients are always fresh, the food cooked perfectly. Service is impeccable. I am in my twenties, but I love the working professional crowd. Nice atmosphere. Great place to impress a date, or meet a friend for a cocktail while people watching. Bliss will always be one of my faves!!!
(4)
Steven S.
Wow. Visited 10/29/2011 for the second time against my will. My will RULES. First, we were placed at the worst table in the house, and we had a reservation: second floor, all the way in the back, and directly above the door. Every time the door opened, we had some heinous curtain waft across our table. The table was packed into the very back corner of the second floor. Um, guys? I know you're trying to pack some seats, but PLEASE lose this table. When the people from the SECOND worst table (behind us but somehow angled so the curtain waft was slightly less worse) left, we were "rewarded" with that table. Not that that helped the service. Our waiter was very kind/nice, but we couldn't tell what the soup of the day - or ANY of the specials - were, because his accent was so heavy. Cream of spinach? Cream of asparagus? OK ... let's just skip the soup. Or any of the specials for that matter, because we flat out could not understand the dude. Again, nice guy, just couldn't understand anything he said. He seemed new, which bothered us even more. Come on: you blew the table ... can you give us a guy we can understand? I feel bad for this place, because the food was pretty good: grilled flatbread (although the flatbread could have been "grilled") and duck breast/confit for me (serviceable, but I love me some duck); salad and scallops for the lady. All in all, not bad. Unfortunately, poor service continued throughout the meal. Then, the final nail in Bliss's coffin. The waiter places the check on the table with our entree plates still on the table. Actually, I think my wife was still eating. No dessert, no coffee, no dice. And by the time we left (we were hitting the theater, anyway), the place was half-empty. No reason to rush us out ... these people clearly had no clue. I was concerned about going there from our first visit, because they also stuck us on the second floor. Can't remember what season it was, but it was definitely summer at Bliss that day. It was so hot I sweated through the entire meal. Sorry, Bliss ... not again, and we live close and eat out frequently. I wanted to like you on the second pass, but it was worse than the first visit. Seems like the lunch crowd had better luck here.
(1)
Dave H.
Perhaps it was the dishes we ordered, maybe it was the darkness of the restaurant, but my dinner date and I were supremely underwhelmed and unimpressed with Bliss. From the appetizer, to our entrees, to the dessert, Bliss was not bliss (sorry, I couldn't resist) - all bark and no bite. The high prices didn't help me warm up to the average fare. Positives: Our server (Evan) was good and our bartender (forgot her name) was also friendly. Of course, the interior is nicer than my photos portray, I only had a point-and-shoot on me that night...
(3)
Ed H.
I was surprised to see this place reviewed so harshly. My brunch experience was five-star: Everything was freshly made to order, the restaurant itself is well-appointed, the owner is friendly and the service is attentive and aims to please. I can't say anything about dinner, but I can recommend the eggs benedict (Canadian bacon replaced with with filet mignon). My guess is that once you filter out reviews from the Groupon and Living Social haters --who rarely have an appreciative word for any restaurant-- you'd see a better showing. Other reviewers from three or four years ago said this place needed help. From what I've seen, at least at brunch time, that turnaround has taken place, and I'd predict the Yelp scores will soon reflect that fact. Meanwhile, enjoy the lack of crowds here at brunch, at least until the Yelp rating catches up with the current, positive state of affairs...
(5)
Danielle H.
My boyfriend and I went here on a Saturday night at 8 pm, so a little after normal dinner rush but still a weekend. It was quiet and nicely lit, well, quiet except for the loud pair next to us but it had an overall soothing environment, with nice decor. We were on the back wall which is a little tight for space especially when your neighbors are annoying, but still not that bad. Our waitress was nice and the service was surprisingly fast. We ordered the dijon encrusted Chilean sea bass with freekeh risotto and peas, the filet minon with lobster mash potato and asparagus, and the "s'more" for dessert. My sea bass was nicely crusted and cooked perfectly, the risotto was great and the peas came with onions and bacon mixed in which I wish were done a little more but were still good. The filet actually came out medium rare like he asked, and the mash had a good amount of lobster pieces. Our dessert was amazing and so pretty! the peanut butter gelato was creamy and flavorful and the marshmallow was homemade. But because they toasted the top right on the plate, it stuck to it a little. The ganache on top was good as well. The biggest drawback was my first drink, which didn't have much flavor. The chocolate martini was great though, and none of them skimped on alcohol.
(5)
Fresh Focus P.
We went here before the orchestra on a Saturday night. We were greeted by afriendly well dressed Hostess. We sat upstairs. In my opinion, the tables were too wide, leaving us too far apart from each other! If you don't like the person you are dining with so much, or they have offensive perfume or cologne, then this might work perfectly for you! Our waiter was efficient and friendly but we had a hard time understanding his accent. We ordered two apps...1. gnocci, had little sauce and not much flavor. The chicken sliced on top was completely flavorless... did they just boil it? it was not seasoned at all. 2. Crab ravioli... looked great, but was terribly disappointing. It had a slightly off taste to it..fishy taste? we each ate one, and were both afraid to eat the last one for fear it might cause stomach problems later. When our server checked in with us, we did tell him that we didn't like the crab one, and he did take a portion of the cost of it off our bill, but not the whole cost. Main course, I had the salmon. It was just OK. again, not much flavor and skimpy on the sauce. It was supposed to have ginger but i d idn't taste anything. The risotto w as pretty plain also...Upon leaving, we were addressed by our hostess, thanking us and wishing us a pleasant night . ( every place of business should do this always) in summary, it was unremarkable. Pretty bland. Not bad, but not great either! We were definitely disappointed with the food. Not worth the calories, and I am pretty sure I would not go back. However, my company was great so all ended well.
(2)
Andrew T.
Service: One anecdote tells it all. Immediately upon sitting down, the waiter greeted us by chastising one of my dining partners by saying, "Didn't your mother ever teach you not to use your cell phone at the dinner table?" If we weren't starving, we would have walked right out on the spot. Food: Another anecdote. A heavy dose of salt and pepper was necessary for every dish to be edible. I can't remember the last time I've needed to use either at a restaurant. Ambiance: The music playing during dinner made my entire dinner party wonder if we had walked into a funeral reception. Price: Needless to say, they were outrageous for what we got. In fact, if I hadn't felt like I had been robbed by the end of the meal, I probably would have felt bad enough for this restaurant to not write a review to begin with.
(1)
Brian B.
I recently visited Bliss a few weeks ago. We were greeted at the door and we were sat immediately at the time of our reservation. Our waitress was fantastic the atmosphere was very nice and the bartender poured a fantastic chocolate martini. The manager came to our table and was making sure everything was running smooth. For starters we each got a salad. I do not recall what my wife had but I had the Poached Pears, Mixed Greens, Candied Walnuts, Blue Cheese, Vanilla Bean with Pear Dressing salad. It was one of the best salads I ever had and I don't get to excited about salads. For our entree my wife had the crab cakes. Of course i had to try them. They were cooked to perfection. If you like crab cakes you will definitely need to try these. I had a special of the night which was a short rib. The short rib was done in a red wine sauce and was easy to cut with a fork and melted in your mouth. We also had the most delicious lemon dessert. I can not explain exactly what was in it but it was delicious and I am not a huge fan of lemon desserts. I highly recommend a visit to Bliss especially if you are in town for a show!
(5)
Jason B.
Let's skip right to the end of the meal. Shall we? Green tea should not be steeped in boiling water. Yeah, this's one of those reviews. Take it for what you will. Small detail to some, perhaps indicative of something larger to others. Ignorance? Indifference? Ineptitude? What? Not serving green tea at the correct temperature speaks volumes. (If you can't prepare it properly, don't have it on your menu.) Does not inspire confidence.
(2)
Lydia H.
Bliss, noun. 1. complete happiness 2. paradise, heaven Enough said? We dined at Bliss on Friday night before a show, and certainly experienced a blissful meal. Our waiter was one of the best I have ever had. He was mindful of the time to make sure we had an enjoyable dining experience while making it to our show with plenty of time. The food was wonderful - the pear salad with candied walnuts and vanilla bean dressing was out of this world, and our waiter happily substituted goat cheese for blue cheese upon my request. I enjoyed the lobster risotto - decadent and delicious. All of our meals were wonderful and the wine was excellent. A definite must-go for pre-theater or just a night on the town!
(5)
Brittany S.
The food was pretty good,i've had better but the waiter and the owner were fantastic and really funny I enjoyed myself as did my mother & grandmother
(4)
Rick N.
Server was very nice, unfortunately she was clearly used to apologizing for the food. The food was terrible. The flat bread was room temperature pita-like bread. We had to order 4 different bottles of wine because the first 3 they didn't have. There were 6 of us and all of our entrees were awful. This place got excellent reviews several years ago, and it is clear it just went down hill. I hope they bring this place back to the quality it used to be!
(1)
Tom R.
First off, let me say that I don't normally give bad reviews of restaurants. And I'm also pretty sheepish about speaking up and sending a plate back. But this was the worst restaurant experience I've ever had. My wife and I were given a $100 gift card to Bliss, so we decided to try it out last night. It was awkward from the very beginning. It was Saturday night and the place was pretty empty. Despite the open seats all over the restaurant, the hostess showed us to a seat in the corner that was literally next to a drink stand covered in rags. Since the restaurant was empty-ish, we asked if it would be OK to move to another table. She proceeded to set up another table directly next to (about 2 feet away from) another couple. In an empty restaurant. Awkward, but whatever. We proceeded to order an appetizer, a salad, two entrees and drinks. The appetizer (some sort of sushi roll dish) came out promptly but tasted as if it had been sitting in the back of a fridge all day. It clearly was not fresh sushi, as the menu described. (Apparently this place is a sushi joint for lunch?) Anyway, I didn't want to make a big deal of it when the waiter returned to ask how everything was, but we ended up being honest with him and he insisted on taking it back. He returned a few minutes later to say that there's nothing they can do -- it's just the way the dish is prepared. He was generous and offered to bring us something else but we declined. Not a huge deal, but strange after the seating situation. Our entrees came and were decent. I was a bit concerned when the waiter asked me if I wanted my pork tenderloin cooked rare, but hey, it tasted OK. (Still alive 12 hours later.) My wife had the duck, but wasn't impressed. It seemed a bit overpriced for what you got. At this point, we were just ready to go home. The check came, so we gave the server our gift card and credit card (the bill was just over $100). The manager then appeared at our table and told us that the balance on the gift card was $0. What?!?! I tried to keep my cool and explain that this was a gift from someone and I didn't know what to do. He suggested that I call the person that gave me the card, before realizing that this would be awkward. At this point, I really really just wanted to go home and put this experience behind me, but I also didn't want to shell out $100+ for an awful experience. In the end, the manager was gracious and told us he would restore the card to $100. We paid, got our coats and left. Weird stuff. In the end, I would say the manager and our server were definitely kind and gracious. Not exactly apologetic for anything, but kind nonetheless. Still, I would never go back to this place. Maybe this was just a series of rare, unfortunate events, but it left a bad taste in my mouth (bad pun?).
(2)
Rachel G.
I had a business lunch at Bliss recently, and realized that I totally forgot about this gem. I recall having a lovely dinner here a few years ago, and I hadn't returned in a long time. Something about Broad Street makes me forget that Bliss is tucked away down the street from Cap Grille, Ruth's Chris, and other carnivorous spots. The atmosphere is Asian-inspired and very natural, and dining for lunch is really nice with lots of sunlight beaming in the windows. I had delectable diver scallops on crispy polenta cakes with spinach and a roasted red pepper coulis. It was quite yummy. Good-sized portion with just enough food. I didn't walk out with "food coma" either (which is a good thing). Bliss's menu is diverse. I would like to try their dinner entrees. There is a lobster risotto that has my name on it...plus lamb chops, duck breast...etc. Heads up - I hear they're starting half-price sushi, bar menu and kobe burger for happy hour, weekdays 4p-6p. Sweet deal!
(4)
Melany W.
We went to Bliss tonight before a show. We had 5:00 reservations. I was disappointed to say the least. The service was so slow that I was worried that 2 hours wasn't going to be long enough to make the show. And I was right. Our waitress had 3 tables. She doted on the other two tables and almost forgot about us. We had to ask for bread because we were really hungry watching the other tables (that arrived at the same time as we did) enjoy their meals while we waited for our waitress to come take our order. We each ordered salads costing $10 each. They came out with 3 of the smallest salads that we had ever seen. They had hardly any dressing either. My daughter ordered the flat bread with filet mignon and balsamic reduction. It had maybe 5 tiny pieces of meat with a teaspoon of drizzled balsamic vinegar. My crab cakes weren't bad but also small. We were all still hungry after eating and decided to order dessert. But that never happened. We waited for almost 25 minutes for our server to come. By then we had to leave to catch our show. So for $160 before the tip, we left annoyed and hungry. I have worked in the food service industry for almost 14 years and understand an occasional mishap. But this was some of the worst service I have ever gotten. I would not go back there even if someone else was buying. Save your money....way overpriced what you get.
(1)
Neka T.
I had a good experience here, the food was good I had a filet and the drinks were good as well. I will say what they have in food, they lack in service. Our waitress just totally disappeared for long stretches of time and it was not crowded at all. I'd go again for the location.
(4)
Anne M.
Had a great time, the service was really friendly, the food is great, the menu is inventive and the atmosphere, although a little minimal, is very pleasant. Not sure why the other reviews are so mediocre but they ceratinly seemed to have turned a new leaf when I was there around Christmas.
(4)
Danielle M.
The food was medioker here for the price, but the service was what stole the show! The bartender was friendly and attentive, and I had great conversation with the other patrons! Normally a single girl would feel uncomfortable going into a place like this alone, but I felt welcomed and not like a peice of meat! Cheers to Bliss restaurant!
(3)
Adrienne S.
My boyfriend was like a child everytime we passed Bliss. He always points and states that "we have got to go there". We finally went...not really impressed. I had the lobster risotto-it was so dry. Certainly not what I had in mind for risotto. My boyfriend had the duck and I enjoyed it much more than my own meal. The service was good, but the later it got the more anxious our waiter got. We left at 10pm, which is a full hour before they close, but maybe our waiter had somewhere to be because he kept looking at us as we chatted after the meal. I did not hate Bliss, but I would not recommend it to friends either. In a city full of wonderful restaurants I can think of many more places to send them. For the price ($100+ for two people) I was disappointed.
(2)
Bonnie C.
I took my mom and brother here to eat because it was the first place I found. We walked in at 1:45 in the afternoon and had no problem being seated by a friendly older gentleman who I'm going to guess is the manager. I ordered a Kobe burger cooked rare. It was pretty good for a $11 burger. The patty was juicy and warm with a red center. I don't know if I liked it so much because I was starving and anything would've tasted fantastic to me at that point or if it was because it was really that good. My brother liked his chicken ceasar salad. I didn't think it was mind blowing but it was decent. My mom ordered the crab cakes. Again, decent but not mind blowing. The place is clean and trendy. I liked the way it was decorated and the colors they used. Service was sluggish and sometimes I had to wonder if the waiter remembered what I had asked him for. I don't think it was intentional because he was the only waiter I saw working. Would I go back if I was in the area? Mmmm.....probably not. Nothing really stood out on the menu and I wasn't blown away by what I had eaten.
(2)
Christopher R.
Very nice Center City lunch spot. I'd have no problem coming back here on a nice spring/summer day and grabbing a bite to eat outside. Everything I ate here was excellent, but although I have a difficult time quantifying exactly how, could have been just slightly better in order to receive a 5 star review. I mean, even the breadsticks were phenomenal. We started with a couple orders of spring rolls, which were very good., but just "very good" and not exceeding that. I followed that with a Kobe beef burger. It was very flavorful and juicy, but the bun was too hard and slightly too small and so I had a difficult time avoiding making a huge mess. The fries were good but by no means the best I've had recently. I was disappointed that my pickle was just a plain ol' pickle. (Honestly, no pickle is going to match Misconduct Tavern for me right now.) The service was quick, attentive and incredibly helpful. High marks for the staff at Bliss, even if the food didn't blow my mind.
(4)
Amelia B.
Used to be so much better under the old owner. Maybe they can't get a good chef because the current owner is such an oddball. We dine here once a month pre-theater or lunch if everywhere else is booked--we can't walk too far. Food and service are up and down, but consistantly. The now-owner is obnoxious and a real distraction. He picked up a cell phone call at our table when he was going on and on and on with us while we were trying to eat. No sense of management. More than once we've witnessed him yell harshly and loudly at staff in a very ignorant way--from across the dining room. My advice: AVOID. Unless you want some laughs.
(1)
Chelsea P.
Had a great lunch experience here with co-workers. Enjoyed the food immensely, and the atmosphere was great :-)
(4)
Melissa V.
The crab cakes are delicious! Great service. Good location too. Give this place a try!
(5)
Rose B.
Nice atmosphere (very 60's), good food (not spectacular...just good), however, very good service (would be a 4 for this alone.) Had the scallops as an appetizer and my husband had the walnut salad. He had the lamb...which was very good... I had the lobster risoto. It was good... just not great. The waiter, Vance, was really nice and very accommodating. He knew just when to come over and didn't hover. It was a relaxing dinner experience .... I made the reservation on "OpenTable" and placed a comment that this dinner was for our anniversary. Our waiter made sure to acknowledge this and offered his congrats... I had the "Creme Brulee" for dessert... the pudding was wonderful and the sugar glaze on top was really good. They brewed a fresh pot of coffee for us ...it was the perfect ending to our meal. Since this establishment is near all of Academy of Music and other venues, I would definitely consider this restaurant when attending a show...
(4)
Ariela M.
This place is convenient to the theaters, but besides that there was nothing particularly special about it, and there are certainly many better restaurants in the immediate vicinity if you need somewhere for pre-theater dining. I actually went around 8PM (so after the pre-theater crowd) and besides one other couple, we were all alone in the restaurant....that should have been our first sign. The hostess was very nice, but she seated us at a table which seemed to be directly under an air conditioner, and it was freezing! They moved us to a warmer table when we asked, and were nice about it, but instead of pouring us new glasses of water at that table, they took away the empty glasses at that table, and brought over the ones from our first table - I thought it was a bit tacky. The bread they brought was very dry and tough as well as being plain white rolls- basically like someone left out some dinner rolls too long. We got the gnocchi for an appetizer, and there was nothing special about it. The pasta was a bit heavy, the sauce was too creamy, and it was VERY salty...basically the opposite of the way gnocchi is supposed to be (light and fluffy, never too salty). I got the chicken as my entree, and it somehow managed to come out both slightly underdone but also tough - not sure how that happened! The red pepper sauce was flavorful, but also much too creamy - almost an alfredo sauce rather than a juice, which certainly did not go well with the chicken. My boyfriend got the duck breast, which was also nothing special, and the pesto risotto (which sounded amazing and I was excited for) was also disappointing - no good flavor, just salty. Overall, I was disappointed - the service was maybe 3.5/5 (they were nice but nothing great) and the food was a 2/5. The atmosphere was also a 2/5 - the servers kept talking with one another at the bar right behind us, and the fact that there was only one other couple there kind of creeped me out. It was not a horrible experience, but definitely not a good/memorable one either - I would not come back.
(2)
Steve W.
Great atmosphere and interesting food. I went for pre-theatre lunch and had a delicious Kobe burger.
(4)
Colleen M.
Went to Bliss on Saturday, Oct. 20th for lunch before the ballet. Everything was perfect. Our reservation was for 3 but another decided to join us and all was OK with the staff. Lovely table, GREAT WAITER, Kevin, told us all the specials, etc. was attentive but not annoying. Food was very good. First time there and I would definitely go again (as would my friends).
(5)
Avi A.
I was not at all impressed by this place. The menu wasn't eye opening and my swordfish was overcooked. Ended up spending a lot for an average meal. The restaurant itself isn't that exciting either.
(2)
Sarah R.
My boyfriend and I saw The Nutcracker back in December and were looking for somewhere to go beforehand. He had been to Bliss before and it was exactly how he described it: "It's okay, I mean it's small and the food is decent" Pros: *Near the theaters *Decent food *Clean Cons: *This place would have gone out of business a long time ago if it wasn't for the fact that it's in the theater district. At the price you pay, you should get better food. It was okay, I just expect more for the price. *We had to ask for bread, both times from the guy with the bread basket, it wasn't brought to your table, which was weird. *Our server asked if we were going to a show, which I thought "Great! She knows we aren't here to linger because we have to be somewhere!" but the food came in a timely manner but the check didn't. Which made me nervous because I didn't want to be late. Bottom Line: If you are seeing a show, go somewhere you will spend the same amount of money for better food.
(2)
Jeffrey P.
After not being to Bliss in over a year, my Wife and I dined with them this past Thursday was pretty disappointed. The service was the most troubling. Our waiter Jamie did a pretty good job, but overall it seemed like the staff just wanted to "hang out" and people watch through the windows. A few too many swear words and stories about their weekend was a turn off. The Bartender's boyfriend dropped in and drinks came to a grinding halt for almost 20 minutes while they were being way to affectionate in the dinning room. The food was a expected, the Lobster Risotto was cooked perfectly, but as with every other dish, it was woefully under seasoned and under salted. For the food and service, the prices Bliss charges is absurd. And for the love of God, turn on the lights in the dinning room!
(2)
Varun G.
When we walked into Bliss there was no host at the door to seat us. After waiting a few minutes, I went through the curtains and had to go ask to the bartender to be seated. The waitress was nice and we finally ordered our food. The food came out and it was barely warm. The food itself wasn't that good either. I won't be back.
(1)
Danielle M.
Went with a party of 3 for New Year's Eve. We were running late due to traffic at and the hostess was very friendly when we called in to advise we would be late. The menu was pre-fix. The stand out items were the butter squash soup and the spring rolls. I was underwhelmed by the entrees. My snapper had too much of a fishy taste and the couscous was dry. Desert was standard, nothing out of this world but tasty. What left me most upset at the end of the evening was when we received our bill. No one at the table was drinking alcohol and we had diet cokes throughout the night. We were very surprised to see that we were charged for every single refill we had. We were disappointed that we were not informed of this and it was not on the menu.
(2)
Justin F.
My girlfriend and I were taken out to this restaurant by another couple and were pleased with out experience. I had homemade alfredo for my first course and halibut for my main course. My girlfriend had the tuna sashimi and the steak special for her main course. We both enjoyed our meals and even had a little bit to take home afterwards. Although our waiter was a little quirky, he was very knowledgeable about the menu and very prompt with his service. This is a great place for a date or a night out .
(4)
Stephen R.
Dining at bliss was the worst dining experience I've ever had in Philadelphia. I made my reservation with the owner (who is crazy and wrote the time and party size incorrectly). He assured me that my family would be impressed and told he he would call the following day to see how everything was (he did not). If the dish served was not raw it was void of flavor or mediocre at best. Take this restaurant off your list to try!!
(1)
Laur T.
Bliss offers a good menu for a leisure lunch or business lunch. We often came by when we tired of the typical Italian fare/ Palm Restaurant (next door)'s offerings. We especially loved the al fresco dining area which was a great way to relax over a lovely meal.
(4)
Gary S.
Great location right on Broad Street near all the cultural venues, the Bellvue, UArts, etc. Beautiful, classy decor, excellent service and very good food. May not be one of the premier restaurants in Philly, but it is certainly an excellent choice for lunch or dinner (or drinks) if you need something in this neighborhood. Not every place can be Vetri or Amada. Every dish I have had here has been very fine - scallops, crab cake, steak, etc. Definitely second the praise for the breadsticks! They have a very nice wine list and selections by the glass. Owner/host Christ Dmitri is often around and really is on top of things, and a very warm and gracious host.
(4)
Abbas R.
Great date spot. Trendy and classy with good food. Great portions to and there waiters and waitresses are all nice but the actual service can be sluggish at times. You will need a reservation especially on weekends and make sure you dont come in scrubby clothes. Everything taste amazing non the less, from the appetizers to the main course and of course the desert.
(4)
Charon W.
Let me start by saying that Bliss is a lovely venue. The soft lighting makes for great ambience. The jazz, the candle light the seating and the curtains all create a wonderful vibe. Unfortunately that's the only good thing about the restaraunt I've been waiting for the chance to eat at Bliss for a very long time and am really disappointed that my experience fell way short of my expectation. I ordered pork dumplings for my first course, they were prepared well but came in a bowl of some sort of broth that was incredibly salty, for my second corse I had the roasted duck, cooked well. I expected a crispier skin but received a well seasoned over cooked piece of meat that didn't look the least bit appetizing even in the low lighting. Finally after all that, I ordered creme brule for dessert and was disheartened to find it cold and runny on the inside and way too hard and thick on top. I am so very sorry to give this place such a low rating because the staff was extremely accomodating and the atmosphere was great but when there are a total of 7 diners on a Saturday night I expect a cook to take his time and create a meal that's near perfection and don't get me started on the trifold Scott papertowels in the ladies room...
(2)
Ally G.
I took my parents when they came to visit me. Their cheesesteak is very interesting. If yummy, frou-frou food is what your searching for... this is the place! The atmosphere is also very relaxing...
(3)
Steph H.
Ok, I'll start off with saying I'm a college student and I hardly have the kind of money to go to a place like Bliss on my own dollar. With that being said, I came here during graduation weekend with a friend's family. Bliss is ... blissful. I had a steak and It pretty much melted in my mouth. The cocktails were delightful as was the waitress. Would bring my mama D here if she were paying.
(4)
gus s.
Meh pretty much says it. This is the kind of restaurant that would be good in a small college town, but is not up to par in the Philly dining scene. They need a reinfusion of creativity. As other reviewers say, at this point, the food quality does not warrant the prices. None of the food was terrible; the only big problem was that I had to send back the first two glasses of wine I ordered, because both tasted like cough syrup. I was about to give up and order a beer but the bartender opened a new bottle of chianti which was fine. Who knows how long the others had been sitting around.
(2)
ashley m.
i have been to bliss a couple of months ago was not so impressed. but a coworker told me that they had a new chef and a new menu so we tried bliss . i most say wow food was great i had the duck dish and my boyfriend had chicken food was great .i will be back very soon
(5)
Steve G.
The food was good, however the portions were fairly small. I had the Tuna Carpaccio appetizer which was one 4"x6" sliver of tuna. The Duck entree with figs and sweet potato was also good but again smaller than I would have expected. The Chocolate Creme dessert was very tasty but I felt it was very unoriginal for an upscale restaurant. It was essentially chocolate pudding with a dab of whipped cream and chocolate shavings on top. The drinks are extremely pricey, starting at $6 for average beers. Our server Gerald was good, on top of the water and checking in a few times without being too obtrusive. One other downside was that we were seated at the table immediately next to the entrance (where there is quite a draft) even though there were multiple other tables for two still available. Overall, my meal was good but I wouldn't go back because I don't feel you get much for what you pay for.
Takes Reservations : Yes Delivery : No Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Dinner Parking : Garage, Street, Validated Bike Parking : Yes Wheelchair Accessible : Yes Good for Kids : No Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Dressy Ambience : Classy Noise Level : Quiet Alcohol : Full Bar Outdoor Seating : Yes Wi-Fi : No Has TV : Yes Waiter Service : Yes Caters : Yes
Andrea F.
I should preface by saying that I know the GM and me and my 3 other guests were hooked up pretty well as far as the check goes. With that said, the place has beautiful decor, nothing over the top, and it doesn't feel stuffy and old like other fancy restaurants in center city. The bartender knew what he was doing (my sweet tea lemonade cocktail was delicious) and the appetizers were pretty good from what I can remember. Nothing spectacular there. If you're gonna eat here, skip the appetizers and opt for entree and dessert, which I'll get to in a bit. For the entrees, I got red snapper, served with the skin still on and some kind of seafood paste-stuffed empanadas on the side which were peppery but really interesting in taste. The snapper was cooked perfectly and it was so tender and delicious. My boyfriend got a seafood hot pot and I was jealous I didn't because it smelled and looked amazing. Now for the best part. Dessert. I expect most restaurants to serve the basics like cheesecakes and chocolate lava cakes. So when the waiter pointed out the dessert that was on special for the night, we had to try it. It was a chocolate gnocchi, which sounds crazy but it was honest to god the best dessert I've ever had. It had the consistency of a gnocchi but it was really a velvety, almost mousse-like chocolate. And instead of pasta sauce was this creamy and light vanilla sauce. Amazing. Overall, I give it 4 stars for the superb service, perfectly cooked fish and amazing dessert. I knock it down a star simply because I know that the bill would have been a bit out of my price range had we not been discounted.
(4)Tina F.
Came here for our Valentines dinner. We were' aware that it was a prefix valentines dinner, nobody told us when we made reservation. Anyhow, the ambience is very quiet and intimate which I like. The prefix was $75 per person for 3 course meal (pricey). I had the veal milanese and bf had the New York strip. We ended up spending about $230 with drinks and cocktails. They're drinks are really good. I liked the Blissful Martini. I wouldn't recommend this for an every day thing. I liked the ambience, but I wouldn't go there again. The food was okay, it wasn't "WOW"
(3)Ed K.
Always consistent food and great service. We had the new tuna roll app...great! Crab cake has no filler! Wait staff is very attentive. Kitchen always tries to accommodate
(4)Scott P.
Excellent dinner. I had a sweet potato soup and the lamb loin. The latter was so juicy and tender it melted in my mouth. And the rice with feta sauce was delicious.
(5)Kiki S.
My boyfriend and I went to Bliss for a Valentine's Day dinner, at the suggestion of a friend. They had roses for guests. And we were seated quickly. Our waitress was Rebekah and she was awesome; so attentive and friendly. We arrived a bit early for the 4-course prix fixe menu; but they allowed us to order from it anyway. The amuse-bouche, oyster with cilantro, was absolutely delicious and had us craving seconds and thirds. The lobster soup second course left an unpleasant after taste; so they allowed us to order the beet salad (boyfriend) and Hudson Valley foie gras (me) instead. Both were awesome. For the third course, we had the 28-day aged ribeye for two, medium rare. It was cooked perfectly was and so tender. And then we topped it off with the cheescake and strawberry consommé. We've already made plans to return and try items on the regular menu.
(5)Ryan R.
Tried this place for the first time a few days ago after walking past it almost every day for a year. I have to say it was overall a great experience. First of all, the service was amazing. The owner Chris is very welcoming and friendly. He came over and entertained us while we waited for our food and he honestly is a great guy. Made sure we had everything we wanted. The server was also very good We had the Bliss burger which is has two burger patties. Very tasty meat with great buns. We also had the grilled cheese with Tomato basil soup. Have to say it was one of the best grilled cheese sandwiches I have ever had. Prices are reasonable. We had two beers, an appetizer and two main courses and the bill was around 50 bucks. I would highly recommend this place.
(5)Jason H.
I've been to Bliss on a number of occasions over the past seven years or so, and each time I want to really like it, and each time I leave somewhat disappointed. The food always seems just a bit "off" in one way or another. I can't really say it's "bad" but just not what I'd expect, and not what really makes my night. It seems that things are either over or under-seasoned, a little on the pedestrian side, not quite cooked right, or just don't taste as you'd expect or hope. You'll have to try it for yourself and see if you have a different opinion...it might just be me.
(2)Jung K.
So it isn't bad, but it certainly isn't that good. Went for Restaurant Week as a last minute meal with an old friend. The hostess upon first greeting was kind of nasty, and sat me at the table. Was not greeted for literally 10 minutes for water or anything. (It didn't seem like they were that busy either? There were empty tables all around me). The server was nice, but when I asked that I get something from the regular menu (added on to the $35 RW price) due to some of the appetizers having mango (allergy) - she said she was told not to even ask the chef. I understand that it woul dbe impossible to accomodate to everyone, but when I am literally offering more money to order from the regular menu... appetizer: white bean and vegetable soup wih truffle oil. Barely any truffle oil, and it looked like progresso soup with way too many beans in it. entree: veal medallions with sauteed escarole. The veal was overcooked and pretty tough to chew, since I usually prefer my meat medium rare. The escarole, however, was the biggest disappointment. They chopped it in half to 'sautee' it, but it was wilted and soggy by the time it was presented to me. Dessert: saving grace - I had the hazelnut and pistachio gelato. yummy, nothing special. Probably will not be returning, if the prices of what they offer tastes anything like what was presented at RW.
(2)Jc Minion G.
The place is conveniently located to the convention center . The restaurant is small and very cozy . Service was amazing . The food was superb . We had lunch . Tried the burger , salmon , and the grilled cheese and tomato soup . All great choices . We definitively recommend
(5)Mark P.
While planning the perfect date night with a wonderful lady, I found Bliss. It's proximity to the Academy of Music is what first drew my attention. I liked the look if the menu so I gave them a call to set up reservations. I mentioned that I was trying to impress a lovely lady and the man on the phone ( I didn't get his name, regrettably) was soooooo helpful!! He told me not to worry about a thing, he would make sure that things went smoothly. AND HE DID!! We arrived and were seated at a corner table and were treated so well!! Service was friendly, food was absolutely fantastic (especially the duck!!!) and the setting lent itself perfectly to our perfect night. I plan on returning to this gem of a restaurant as soon as I can! I can't thank them enough.
(4)Mike C.
Always walk by this place and it's empty. Figured the food and/or menu sucked. Finally decided to give it a try. The menu was actually very appealing. Ordered a Cobb Salad which was decent. Girlfriend ordered another salad with chicken added. She said it was just OK. Her salad was the size of a side salad at any other restaurant but ended up costing about 16$ once chicken was added. Moral of story: good menu but small portions and over priced. Food about average. Server was super friendly and good.
(3)Maggie R.
My boyfriend and I went to Bliss for our anniversary. I was hesitant because I normally don't like expensive restaurants or fancy food, and the "casually elegant" dress code threw me off. The dining room was relatively small and plainly decorated. We were seated along the wall. My seat faced the windows, which were all open to allow in the breeze (which was nice), but the street lights were very bright, so it was difficult to look across the table. If there had been a shade to pull down even just a few inches, it would have been wonderful. The food was incredible. We ordered the short rib ravioli for our appetizer. The beef was so tender, and the pasta was delicious. Then we each ordered the filet mignon with mascarpone hash brown, sauteed brussel sprouts, and black bean puree. The filet was cooked to perfection. For dessert we had the creme brulee, which was probably somewhere in the top 5 best creme brulees I've ever had. As for drinks, I had the strongest long island iced tea of my life. It made me physically recoil at first. I also had a chocolate martini with dessert, which was to die for. I'd definitely recommend Bliss to anyone looking to celebrate a special occasion, but I think the prices are a bit high for a normal night out.
(4)Michelle M.
My daughter (age 13) and I went for a special night out. They were more than welcoming to her - it's nice to see an upscale place treat a teenager that way. Our meals were both excellent - she had the filet mignon and I ordered the lamb porterhouse. Both were cooked perfectly. My side dish of goat cheese polenta was amazing, I couldn't stop eating it! The server was personable and attentive. We also spoke with the owner extensively and he was a down to earth, funny guy. Overall a great experience.
(5)Carla F.
I live not too far from Bliss and walk by it often. It is a simple place with a nice interior in a neighborhood that has a lot of variety. It doesn't stand out but seems to have a pleasant atmosphere in the nicer weather when the windows/doors can be open to Broad St. I took advantage of the LivingSocial voucher as well given that it was nearby. I thought their menu looked great and had a tough time deciding exactly what I wanted. I ended up with the poached pear salad which was very nice. My mother had their soup of the day which was a ridiculously good, and yet seemingly healthy, cream of asparagus soup. For my main meal I had a salmon sandwich and it was excellent. The salmon was juicy and flavorful. I wish the atmosphere in this place was a bit more lively. I think the food could definitely sustain this place but without much in the way of customers, I'm not sure how successful this restaurant will continue to be.
(4)Nikki J.
We had dinner in November before attending the Marian Anderson Awards. As we looked at many of the other restaurants in the area before choosing here, it was a great choice. Location was perfect before attending any of the theaters in the area. And although we made sure to give ourselves enough time, the restaurant was very good at time management before the theater. The restaurant is small, but you never feel too close to the other patrons. There were 4 of us for dinner and we had the Short Ribs, Pork, Sea Bass and Crab cake entrees. Everything was so good, we shared it all. This place is great for a date or with family. We will definitely go again. PS - we even saw local celebrity Mike Jerrick from Fox29. Thanks Bliss for making it a great night.
(4)S K.
Have only dined once 2014 but loved it! Our group dined for a celebration and all had a variety of dishes which were very good. The service was excellent and food is great! from appetizers to dessert. Rave reviews to this place....delish with a nice atmosphere. Also a good bar to grab a cocktail. Great location to dine before a show.
(5)Reem C.
I work near this restaurant and I've considered eating here on numerous occasions. Yesterday, I decided to try it for lunch. My first experience will also be my last. I ordered the glazed salmon and my wife had the lobster risotto. My dish was okay. The salmon was overcooked. The lobster risotto should have been called risotto with a pinch of lobster. We ordered diver scallops as an appetizer and received three scallops that were a little bit bigger than the size of a 50 cent coin. I'm not even sure why our waiter brought out two appetizer plates. It was completely unnecessary. Given the quality of the food and the dishes, Bliss is overpriced. If you want to spend good money on a dish, go somewhere else. Bliss is not worth the price.
(2)Rosa C.
My boyfriend and I went to Bliss with a Livingsocial deal and we both agree that it was a good experience. I really like the ambiance of the restaurant, with its wall size ocean backdrop and its extended outdoor seating that expands the seating space. Our reservation was for 8:30 on a Thursday night, and it was relatively quiet, with a few people at surrounding tables and a middle age couple at the bar. A server came around with two choices of complimentary bread. The bread was warm and the butter was delicious. We ordered the shrimp spring rolls for appetizer, which I definitely recommend. The dip that it comes with, can't remember what it is now, is sweet and kind of weird, so I opted to eat the rest of the spring rolls sans dip. Entree-wise, my boyfriend ordered the pork tenderloins and I ordered the duck. Both were very tender and perfectly seasoned. Note that we were also very hungry by this time. The duck was seriously tender, though, and I thoroughly enjoyed my dish. The sauteed spinach and mushrooms underneath the pieces of duck were also cooked just right. For dessert, we shared a creme brulee. What the menu and our server failed to mention, however, was that the creme brulee was chocolate. We were pleasantly surprised, however, but maybe they should've put that on the menu. I thought that the creme brulee was the perfect amount of sweetness and was a lovely way to end our meal. All in all, we had an enjoyable meal in a lovely setting, and although the food was on the pricier side, I would definitely consider coming back.
(4)Colleen L.
Amazing.
(5)Melissa P.
Went with a groupon and we were thoroughly unimpressed. The waiter was hard to understand and not very attentive, despite the fact that we were basically the only people in the restaurant. We split a few dishes and they didn't really understand and they came out staggered which was really awkward. The salad was really ordinary and the portions were tiny. Overpriced, not worth it. Would never go back, and it's not even worth it with a groupon (which I rarely say).
(1)Kristen R.
Horrible. I went for their Valentine's day menu. I waited this long to write a review, because had I written it right after I dined, I would have had some not pretty things to say. First, it was expensive, which was expected, but for the quality of food we received, it was not okay. I ordered the lobster risotto, which had overcooked lobster and crunchy, undercooked risotto rice. I couldn't have been more upset. My date and I barely ate our meals, and then felt obligated to take home our leftovers because our server was so nice. My date and I promptly discarded our leftovers in the nearest trashcan. The only thing that was nice, was the free glass of champagne. Avoid this restaurant. Also, a note on ambiance. This restaurant attracts a much older crowd. Being a 20 something, I definitely felt out of place.
(1)Stephanie D.
I was also kind of shocked that Bliss was rated on the low side! We enjoy Bliss and find that the food is consistent and well made. My review isn't about everyday eating though, it's in reference to the great little midday cocktail reception that Chris Nonni put together for our wedding guests after our ceremony. It was a tricky time, 1-3pm on a Saturday in September, and we were so happy that Bliss could accomodate a capacity of 100 people during that time frame as many other restaurants could not. We put together a heavy hors d'oeuvres table with some additional butlered selections, all of which ended up being delicious, a perfect temperature, and well-received by everyone. There were three wine selections which all ended up pairing beautifully with the food. For decor, we worked with Nature's Gallery on two behemoth white orchid arrangements which sat on either side of the bar and little jars of white flowers on the tables around the restaurant, which looked quite lovely with the refreshing ocean themed triad of art pieces on the wall. Throughout the party, the staff that attended our guests were cheerful and assertive, and were kind enough to make a little plate of everything for me while I was being ushered here and there to greet guests (I had completely forgotten about this particular need all day). We look forward to going back as soon as we can get back to the city, and really encourage anyone needing a private event space to consider Bliss. In addition to the main seating downstairs, they have a second floor mezzanine area which would be perfect for a private party.
(4)Monica L.
PROS: Large portions, good ingredients,"fancy" setting CONS: Everything else, almost The food could be better. The lobster risotto and seafood hot pot contained fine ingredients. Alas, the combination/execution of ingredients was terrible. The flavors and textures of each dish clashed to the point where our appetites died within a couple of bites. Plus, the service was bad/unprofessional.
(2)Allison N.
I am all about zany. If quirky and unusual can be used to describe my experience, then it's pretty much a guarantee that I'm gonna give that something five stars....5 million thumbs up.....43 snaps in a circle. Something in planet weird aligned to make everything occur how it should have during my evening at Bliss. In particular, the universe decided to give me Kevin as my waiter. Im pretty sure his name was Kevin. Boisterous, sarcastic, flirty, a little touch feely, a lot giving of hard-timey....but at the same time, really really seems to love and know his chef's food. He also seemed to know a lot about the town and the places we should go based on what he could gather about our personalities. I wish I could have hired him on as a personal person to ensure I had a good time wherever the world decides to take me in the future. I'm a vegetarian....and while Bliss doesn't really have a lot on the menu that caters to vegetarians, the one dish that they do offer WAS EFFING AMAZEBALLS!!!! It was a pasta dish just wam bam thank you ma'am chalk full of flavor. holy crap. I could have horked down more than just the appetizer size portion I ordered. I needed to slap somebody to express how good that was.
(5)Sari A.
The 28$ for 3 courses menu with Yelp check in, caught my eye. However, it was unmemorable night. This is not based solely on food, it's based on the whole experience. 1/ I was not a fan of the dull atmosphere. 2/ I was not impressed with the food. 3/ The waiter was professional, friendly and informative. 4/ They did not honor the offer. Two Yelps
(2)Lea T.
Now that I've tried Bliss for both lunch and dinner I feel like I can make a fair judgment. Although the menu is limited I enjoy their options. For the price point I think its a better deal for lunch, especially with their 3 course option for $23. The location at 15th and Broad is very appealing especially for patrons stopping by the Academy of Music who want to grab dinner before a show. For Lunch: The Soup of the Day was a big bowl of delicious Pumpkin Pear puree and the Wild Boar Ragu appetizer was big enough for an entrée portion. Both the Bliss salad and Fennel salad where a good portion with the option to add Grilled Chicken or Salmon. The Crispy Chicken Sandwich came on a great seeded baguette with provolone, sautéed spinach, and arugula pesto. My brother really enjoyed his Steak Frites that was cooked perfectly. For Dinner: The Seared Scallops and Hanger Steak with Stuffed Poblano Pepper were great entrees, despite the sautéed spinach side dish lacking flavor. Service on both visits was attentive and its great to have the option of using Opentable to make reservations. The restaurant never seems too crowded or loud which is alo a nice feature. I would happily come back for lunch, maybe to try the Bliss Burger.
(4)jim l.
I'v been to Bliss many times over the years. Every time, I was absolutely delighted with the delicious food that was prepared and presented with tremendous imagination. This past Thursday, I had the Bliss Burger. Outstanding. I went back Saturday and had another. I am no so-called Foody", but I know great food that is interesting, tasty, wholesome and plentiful and that is presented creatively when I see and taste it. The prices are very reasonable. When you go and if it is a nice day, sit outside and enjoy the sights of center city.
(5)Nicole M.
Let me start with this-ask for Kevin to sing in Portuguese if it's anyone's birthday! This little gem is in the heart of Philly's theaters and conveniently located directly next to a parking garage. Ask the restaurant for a coupon if they have any left. Our server, Rebecca (from Kentucky) was a gem. So friendly and attentive. The Manfriend and I started with a round of ginger mojitos which was a solid pick. The birthday boy and his little lady selected a bottle off of their rather extensive wine list. Glug glug. I started with their special bean and sausage soup that was topped with cheese. Delish. My dish was followed by their tomato and fresh mozz flatbread. Also delish. Are you seeing a pattern? And FINALLY a beautiful bunch of scallops was placed in front of me and I died and went to heaven. I mean these bad boys were cooked perfectly and not a speck of sand to be munched on. There were four but I could have eaten 10. So yummy. Like the true fat kids we are, everyone ordered dessert. They have a great selection of sorbets and gelatos. So naturally, I got ginger gelato and creme brûlée. The end. Happy dining. We highly recommend this place!
(5)D B.
Just ate here and was shocked with the portions and prices. Was unable to finish my meal, the chicken sandwich was delicious and tried the crab cake sandwich and that was great as well. The service was great, was immediately seated and served. Definitely recommending this place. Ambience was relaxing. Probably not a good place for kids though but great for couples and groups. Thanks Bliss for an excellent lunch!!!
(5)Jerard C.
Before I even get to the food I have to start by telling you about the service. Our waitress was very attentive and accommodating especially when we told her that we were celebrating a birthday. She said she had the perfect idea to help us out, but I don't think she or anyone else thought that her fellow waiter would be serenading our table with a Portuguese version of "Happy Birthday". That's what he gets for being late to his own birthday dinner. Now for the food, I started with the crunchy ahi tuna roll appetizer. Normally you wouldn't think that a non-Japanese restaurant would be the place for sushi, but I was pleasantly surprised with how much I enjoyed it. I also took advantage of a special soup that was available that night. It was a sausage and bean puree that I found to be delicious, especially as a compliment to the cold tuna roll. For my main course I couldn't pass up the beef tenderloin (even though the scallops were calling my name). The meat was very juicy and tender and not very fatty at all. It was served over mashed potatoes which were also delicious. For dessert I chose the warm apple tart with vanilla gelato. It was good, nothing spectacular, but the Portuguese birthday celebration definitely helped. I noticed that many of the other options included gelato as well. Also worth mentioning is the parking lot right next door. Be sure to have them validate your parking ticket so you get the 50% discount before you head home.
(5)Brenda F.
We went for dinner before the ballet tonight. We had 6pm reservations for three people before a 7:30 show. At 7:10, we still didn't have our meals. When they arrived, we scarfed them down in record time and ran. They comped our two drinks, but we still paid $150 for a terrible experience. We have been here many times before, but I doubt we will be back. ps - tell the chef when he speaks bad about customers from the kitchen, we can hear him.
(1)Matt D.
I'm going to go against the grain with this review, but there's no way I can give Bliss less than five stars. We had relatively early reservations on a Friday before going to see a show, and we were armed with a great Groupon. They seated us at a perfect table in the window and the service was impeccable from start to finish. We began with two appetizers, the scallop ceviche and the beef/crab carpaccio. Prior to their arrival, some wonderful varieties of bread, olives, and oil landed at the table along with two heavy pours of wine, which were both very good (but we enjoyed the hard finishing merlot better). The scallop dish was extremely fresh and vibrant with cherry tomatoes, cucumber, pesto, tobiko, and local scallops, while the carpaccio balanced it with the surprisingly nice mix of crab and beef topped with a wonderful light dressing. The scallop dish could easily be a light entree during the spring or summer. The star of the evening was the lamb porterhouse entree. It was a huge, thick cut seared perfectly, and the dry rub was an excellent peppery blend. It was served with creamy polenta and sautéed spinach. Nearly a perfect dish. Based on our experience I would be more than willing to recommend Bliss to anyone for a pre-theater dinner, and I am left scratching my head looking at some of the horrible reviews below.
(5)Justine J.
ABSOLUTE MUST GO!!! One thing I learned after my own experience (as a former waitress and a very satisfied Bliss patron) and reading those of others: A good way to tell if a place is actually good is try it not during prime hours. If they manage to screw up even when it's not busy, then we've got issues. I think I found of my favorite go-to places. We went there for the first time after a long walk on a Friday around noon and both tried the 3 course! It comes with: 1. soup of the day or salad (beet or pear) 2. chicken,salmon, or crab cake 3. gelato or sorbet This place is an absolute paradox to me. I hate carrots, but I liked their caramelized carrots in the chicken dish. I also don't like crab cakes, but I loved their crab cake. I don't like beets either,but I liked their beet salad. I am not crazy about walnuts, but I also really liked their candied walnuts in the pear salad. The poached pear salad (with gorgonzola mousse, candied walnuts, mixed greens, and vanilla bean-pear dressing and balsamic reduction) was amazing. the roasted beet salad (with creamy goat cheese, arugula, and white balsamic-beet vinaigrette) was also a winner. Usually beets have this earthy taste I am not a fan of, but they must have really knew how to prepare it because it was great. There salad of the day that day was watermelon salad(with feta cheese) - which sounded amazing, but it didn't come in the 3-course. I should have asked if I could get it anyway and pay a surcharge. The salad portions in the 3-course was also really big. I was really surprised. The chicken herb de provence (with purple Peruvian mashed potatoes and caramelized carrots were so delicious. My chicken was a little over cooked, but it was still REALLY good. The jumbo crab cake was fantastic. It was topped wth lemon sabayon, and came with asparagus and this kiwi puree sauce. YUM. Like I said, I typically do not like crab cakes. But the crab cakes here are so freaking good. It's pretty much all crab. Usually, crab cakes I have had are 90% cornmeal and 10% crab. Here, it's like literally a crab-cake. For dessert (2 scoops per person), we had goat cheese/fig gelato, blood orange sorbet, and this ginger sorbet. The goat cheese was really subtle and was amazing. It is rare for me to want to lick my bowls clean. The three course meal was VERY generous in their portions. We both picked our dishes clean, and left feeling really content and not stuffed. Also, I was not lethargic either - which probably means they did not use a lot of lard, butter, oil, and other fillers. The vegetables are very fresh - you can especially tell by the salad. No browning or anything. The service was also exceptional. I love the owner also - he was phenomenal. I have never had such a pleasant encounter with the store owner or manager my entire life. This is definitely a clean, friendly, and a delicious place. I cannot wait to come back to try other stuff, like cheesesteak empanadas!
(5)Margaret W.
Enthusiastic service punctuates the varied and quite frankly delicious menu offerings. Unique cheeses, ahi tuna roll, granny smith apple celery soup and the dessert crisp with the vanilla gelato atop was a wonderful way to wrap up my meal. Than you chef. I will be back soon. Best meal Ive had in Philly.
(5)Bradley T.
My wife and I decided on Bliss for some pre-concert cocktails and a nosh or two. Wow are we glad that we did! From start to finish we both truly enjoyed the atmosphere as well as the staff! We were immediately greeted by the General Manager Chris who actually asked us if we had a seating preference. This was a nice change from having someone dictate where we should be seated. We were very fortunate that they have added chicken meatballs to the menu as they came out "compliments of the Chef". Outstanding and the sauce/gravy was equally delicious yet not overpowering. We advised the GM that we were "in town" to see Shania Twain and at one point we recognized her voice emanating faintly in the background! We then realized he had put on the Shania Pandora station. It is little things like this that make a HUGE difference in service industries. Thanks Chris! Our waitress was Haley and she was on point! I had the ahi tuna appetizer and it was phenomenal! Dinner was equally delectable as my wife ordered a salad (the name is slipping my mind) but it had grapes and perhaps feta and she raved about it the rest of the evening. This was odd considering my wife NEVER orders salad. I had the Bliss burger but opted to have it without the roll, and boy that was a smart move on my part. A double burger topped with tomato,cheese,carmelized onions,a fried egg, and pork roll. Cooked to perfection! We are always on the lookout for new spots and trust me when I tell you, Bliss has earned everyone of the stars awarded by us! Chris and staff: Thanks again for a great kickoff to an outstanding night!
(5)Deb A.
I was in Philadelphia for a conference and found Bliss near my hotel. I had the veggie stir-fry and it was tasty, veggies were fresh and it was more than I could eat. Good variety on menu but a little on the pricey side for food. Decent wine selection in the $8-10 range. I would have preferred a higher priced, better quality wine with the meal I had. But I am from N. CA so wine is important. The waiter announced to each guest that they have a new chef and are rolling out a new menu at end of the week.
(4)Jeanne M.
I have been to Bliss numerous times for brunch before going to a show at the Academy. I want to love this place because they have a nice menu and I have had a good meal there before but I give it 2 stars because it is consistently bad. Last month my friend ordered the eggs Benedict ( no longer on the menu) with a well done egg and meat both came out rare so she sent it back and they nuked it making it barely edible. Last week I ordered the burger, medium rare and it came out well done. My friend ordered her burger medium and it was done more than mine which means it was a bit crunchy. The wait staff should be aware what they are serving. They have a new menu but I am doubtful that they can live up to the challenge.
(2)Dia S.
I went there the other day for lunch and had a very pleasant time. The food was okay, maybe I ordered something off the menu that wasn't a special. The location is great and it had always looked wonderful in the summer with the tables and outdoor seating. The place was not packed at all in fact we were the only customers in at the time. Regardless, I was in good company and had an excellent time. The service was also just okay. I feel as though with a little spark this place could really be a happening spot. I would definitely come back, this time for dinner and possible have drinks after at bellevue 19 which is right next door. Recommended.
(3)Michael T.
Visited this place on thursday night July 25 about 730. Plenty of seating available and definitely did not need to make the reservation. Used a groupon for dinner. Started with the grilled octopus for an app. which was nothing special, somewhat bland thought it was cooked well and tender it definitely could have used something to bring it up a notch. My girlfriend ordered the hanger steak, medium which came out a little over cooked, the chimichurri sauce was delightful and the steak itself was nothing to brag about. I on the other hand had the pan seared half chicken which was amazing to say the least. Portion size was excellent and it was tender and juicy. The sides provided (mushroom and pea risotto, and spinach) were excellent as well. Our server Kevin, was extremely friendly, knowledgeable and on point. I'll give it a 4 star for my entre and the service, its probably a 3.5 in reality. Also the bread that was served beforehand is in need of changing, it is extremely bland. Ive had better starter bread from franchise restaurants.
(4)Kimberly L.
PHENOMENAL!!!!!! Bliss must have gotten a new chef because I ate there last night and I can't say enough about how amazing the food was!!! Divine is a perfect description. We sat at the bar and it couldn't have been better. We had a quail egg salad, tortellIni special (which melted in my mouth), and the best crab cake I have ever eaten in my entire life!! All food came out hot and was executed perfectly. The staff is best trained staff. They are all so friendly and on point. The bartender was great. I cannot say enough great things about Bliss!!
(5)P C.
I splited some appetizers and main dishes with friend. The Chilean Sea bass was overcooked and under seasoned. The garnish vegetables were clearly made from frozen. The lobster in the lobster risotto smelled weird. The appetizers we had were also under average. Food was extremely over priced for the quality. The waiter was hard to understand and didn't seem to know much about the food.
(1)Caitlin C.
I've known about this restaurant for some time, and now all of a sudden every one things it's cool. This is exactly what happened with Maroon 5. Located right on Broad Street, large windows give passersby a view of the floor to ceiling water-ripple photos. This place won't save you too much dough, and the plates are meticulously arranged and displayed. This is a great place for a date. And if you are particularly comfortable with your party (or just particularly self-confident), indulge in the Bliss' short ribs.
(5)Jason A.
Went for lunch and had the Kobe burger. It came well done even though I had asked for it medium-well. Can't complain though really because it was delicious! The service was quick and personal; the soup, breadsticks and fries were also really good. Also, I didn't think the prices were really all that outrageous for being in such a prime location. Also, a well known politician showed up which should be a good sign, right?
(4)Kristin C.
I had eaten at Bliss in recent years on business trips to Philly. There were a couple of lovely dinners (eaten at the bar, chatting with another patron and a fantastic bartender before a performance a couple of blocks away) and one nice lunch with a friend. The most recent of those experiences was about a year and a half ago and wow, have things changed (and definitely NOT for the better). I was in Philadelphia a week or two ago, again on business. I had plans to meet a client for a weekday lunch and when thinking of possible options, I recalled Bliss. My client is a celiac and can't eat gluten/wheat. I looked online and saw that Bliss' lunch menu had a number of gluten free options that looked quite tasty (including a risotto, pork stir fry, etc.). Additionally, the online menu (found here, still as of July 5, 2010: bliss-restaurant.com/lme… ), indicated that there was also a two course prix fixe lunch menu available in addition to the regular lunch menu. All of these options, combined with the easy location, seemed to make Bliss a no-brainer. I passed along the link to the menu to my client. She was excited and thanked me for considering her dietary restrictions and said that she thought it was perfect. I made the reservation via OpenTable. When I showed up a few minutes early for my reservation, the restaurant was completely empty, save one person. A nice gentleman indicated that I should sit wherever I liked. However, when I picked a corner table far away from the open windows (It was really hot that day), he said that I could sit anywhere but there since that was held for a regular (I can't remember if anyone was seated there throughout out meal). I perused the menu while waiting for my dining companion and was disheartened to find it very different than the one posted online (that is still posted online as I currently type). The risotto was gone and there were very few obviously gluten-free options. When she arrived, she was a bit disappointed with this discovery as well since it would mean that there would need to be lots of questions asked of the waiter, possible changes requested in menu items, etc. My client also asked about the prix-fixe menu that was mentioned (and still is) on their website. He said that there wasn't one. I mentioned that it was on the website and he just shrugged. Similarly, he didn't seem to know the specifics of the menu items very well. When my companion had questions, he didn't seem to have answers (for any of them, including if a sauce was roux-based or not), nor did he volunteer to go ask the chef. We had to tell him to go ask. My client ended up having to make several alterations to her dish. I settled on a salmon dish. I asked how the salmon was prepared, indicating that I'd like it medium rare. He said that was how the chef does it. We split a salad first. It was decent enough, but the pears were mealy and didn't seem fresh. Then our main courses came. The kitchen did get her requests correct and the item was (blessedly) gluten free. The dish placed in front of me contained the saddest, most unappetizing piece of fish I had ever seen. It was served (oddly) skin-side up. The skin had not been cooked properly (and it looked like it took a couple of tries to do anything to it). It was a light brown-grayish, curled mess. The salmon was most certainly not medium rare (It was definitely done) and about a quarter inch of the fish closest to the skin was gray and disgusting looking. I should have complained, but I didn't want to at a business meeting. The sauce included with the dish was cloying and thick and the rice wasn't particularly well-cooked. Because of all of this, I was too embarrassed to ask my client how her dish was. After some really pleasant and tasty experiences before, I don't know what has happened at this place with regard to both food (especially) and service. The price paid was nearly comical (or rather depressing) for what was received. It was simply terrible. I travel to Philadelphia often for work and will definitely not be returning to Bliss. I'll be telling others to avoid it as well. What a disappointment!
(1)Carrie C.
I really wanted to like Bliss more than I actually did. This is not to say it was not a great dining experience, it just wasn't extraordinary. The evening started with the boy and I arriving almost 30 minutes early for our 7pm reservation because we were hungry, and we were seated immediately after checking our coats and bags. I started with the sweet potato soup, which came out almost immediately and was a creamy, sweet, and fresh start to the meal. We were served warm focaccia as well, which was good, but not too flavorful. For entrees, we had the "Lobster Risotto, Asparagus, Sundried Tomato Pesto" and the "Duck Breast, Duck Confit Stuffed Crepe, Sauteed Spinach, Caramelized Apple, Au Jus." It took a while to get the plates out to us, so by the time they arrived, we were very excited. My boyfriend liked the duck (which we got medium rare), stating that it was tender with a juicy layer of fat around the meat. The duck confit was sweetened with a little bit of apple, which was a nice touch. The lobster risotto was a pleasant, mild-flavored dish with a GENEROUS amount of lobster meat. However, neither one of us was blown away by our dishes and felt like the flavors really weren't as bold and developed as they could have been. For dessert, we ordered the "Hot Apple Crisp w/ Vanilla Gelato," which was the perfect mix of sweet, tart, and crispy. I would recommend this if you're a fan of apple dessert. Overall, a fine dining experience with great service and beautiful, a calm ambiance. However, the food was not amazing, and I do not really have an urge to go back soon, but I am glad that I tried it.
(3)Janice T.
I came here for restaurant week and was pleasantly surprised. I had the cheese plate as my appetizer which was very good. I tried the monkfish as my entree and thought it was very well cooked and paired well with the slices of tomato and spinach in the sauce it came with. I don't see the monkfish on the regular restaurant menu on the website though. I didn't really care for the fig pie I had for dessert but it didn't deter me from rating the restaurant any less. Kevin was an excellent waiter by the way!
(4)Vincent J.
Tourist Trap at it's best is how I can describe this place. I give it one star because of the waiter who made the meal 1 star instead of a 1/2 star. I was dragged back because someone wanted to try this place again, even after I told them that my last meal there several years ago was bad. Moving on, the prices are just way over priced, $ 10 for a horrible beet salad that looked like it was made the night before and tasted like it, $10 for a glass of bad Chardonnay, it tasted like Pino. The roll was good, but they gave you a thimble of butter to but on the roll. I ordered the Red Snapper which was just flat out bad and the other ingredients just don't work with it. That was $28. Take you money else where and have a better and cheaper meal. To all of you coming from out of town, I apologize for this place. Philly has many better places to go to,
(1)Jess D.
So we wandered over to Bliss (Living Social Deal in Hand!) to sit along Broad Street on a beautiful Fall evening. Despite being a Saturday Bliss wasn't crowded at all which always makes me somewhat uneasy. To start off our server was impossible to understand. I am very patient but this man's accent was way too thick and we ended up asking a different server to tell us the specials. We started out with Shrimp Spring Rolls and a Steak & Mushroom Flatbread. The Shrimp Rolls weren't very good and they hardly gave us 4 bites for and $9 appetizer. The sauce they were served with tasted way too acidic (like straight champagne or something). The Flatbread on the other hand, was very delicious. It had just the right amount of each ingredient. For our entree we had the Seafood Pot with Thai seasoning. It was just OK. There wasn't nearly enough seafood or other substance to really fill us up but the flavors that were there were pretty good. All in all I doubt I'd return to Bliss unless we have another Living Social Deal but it was far from a bad dining experience. With so many wonderful places nearby I doubt we'll return to Bliss again.
(3)SLydia K.
I randomly decided to go here on a slow summer afternoon with a male friend of mine and was immediately welcomed by a very friendly older man who seemed to be the manager. He said we could sit anywhere because the restaurant was pretty much empty so we sat outside because it was nice. My friend got a burger which looked very juicy and he loved it and kept saying it was one of the best burgers he had ever had, which coming from a guy who works as a butcher for a living should mean a lot. I got a cranberry salad which was very good and had the perfect sweetness to it.
(4)John K.
This was our second time coming for the lunch prix fixe. First off, they would not honor our living social deal (which was fine). The more egregious error(s) had to do with the fact that there were lobster shells in the lobster risotto ... the stuffed chicken was well overdone ... and the breadsticks were stale. The salads were pretty good and the gelato was excellent! I will be willing to give Bliss another chance since the first time around, the dining experience was much better. But hopefully we won't run into this problem again. Service was very good.
(2)Karl M.
Bliss is the perfect place to dine before a show (Kimmel, PTC, etc). Food is good and is reasonably priced. I have had the Miso Salmon, Braised Shortribs and Roasted Chicken. All were wonderful. I think the "bad" reviews of Bliss are a thing of the past.
(5)David C.
We've gone here for dinner a couple of times, because it's close to the Academy of Music, which we frequent. Food is consistently top quality and service is always first class. We will be back soon.
(4)Hoa T.
I have such mixed feelings about this place. I have dined here for lunch and dinner. Both times, I found something that I liked but then it was over shadowed by mediocrity of another part of meal. For lunch I had the tuna roll and the hot pot with thai sauce. The tuna roll was horrendous. You can find better in a supermarket. But then I was impressed with the hot pot. The seafood were fresh and the thai sauce has great flavors and depth. I then came back to dinner a few days later (had a groupon that I need to use before it expires). I ordered the Miso Glazed Atlantic Salmon, Asian Fried Rice, Bok Choy. The salmon was cooked perfectly. But then the fried rice ruined the whole thing by being dried and overcooked. Sigh...so much potential.
(3)Rich B.
Nice menu for the price. Shrimp spring Rolls were excellent. Crab Cake entree good, but was not served hot. Filet Mignon was bland. Creme Brûlée was average. not finished off to order. Made earlier. Service was great.
(3)Kristin W.
Conveniently located just a block from the Kimmel Center, we stopped by for a pre-theater dinner. We were a little worried about only having 1.5 hours, but our waiter assured us that they're used to the theater crowd and we'd be out with time to spare. We started with the Ahi Tuna Rolls (okay, but needed a higher fish:rice ratio) and the Homemade Gnocchi (so fresh and delicious!). My entree was the Short Ribs special, which had been cooked for 24 hours - tender and great flavor and served with delicious Leek Mashed Potatoes.
(4)Jason N.
Great restaurant... Not too big.. on Broad st.. Ave of the Arts.. BIGGG Cheese plate.. delicious Hot Seafood Bowl...-- Bring your date or spouse.. Not really a family restaurant, but we always bring our 2 kids, Mateo and Alana :)
(4)Jenear C.
I have read many of the reviews and I guess people should start going for Lunch. I love the salmon sandwich, flat bread, salads and salmon with butternut squash risotto. The owner always takes the time to ask about the food and service.
(4)Richsrd B K.
Came here during restaurant week. It looks like people either love the place or hate it. I am in the "love" category. Maybe it is because they just got a new chef (January 2014). The food was interesting and excellent - and the staff couldn't have been nicer or more helpful. Certainly with the new chef for those who were disappointed it's worth another try.
(4)Nisa G.
This is one of my favorite places on broad st. I have been dining here for about two years. My six year old son loves the crab gnudi. Yes, the six year old. The scallops are great. Honestly, I haven't tried anything here that did not disappoint. The ingredients are always fresh, the food cooked perfectly. Service is impeccable. I am in my twenties, but I love the working professional crowd. Nice atmosphere. Great place to impress a date, or meet a friend for a cocktail while people watching. Bliss will always be one of my faves!!!
(4)Steven S.
Wow. Visited 10/29/2011 for the second time against my will. My will RULES. First, we were placed at the worst table in the house, and we had a reservation: second floor, all the way in the back, and directly above the door. Every time the door opened, we had some heinous curtain waft across our table. The table was packed into the very back corner of the second floor. Um, guys? I know you're trying to pack some seats, but PLEASE lose this table. When the people from the SECOND worst table (behind us but somehow angled so the curtain waft was slightly less worse) left, we were "rewarded" with that table. Not that that helped the service. Our waiter was very kind/nice, but we couldn't tell what the soup of the day - or ANY of the specials - were, because his accent was so heavy. Cream of spinach? Cream of asparagus? OK ... let's just skip the soup. Or any of the specials for that matter, because we flat out could not understand the dude. Again, nice guy, just couldn't understand anything he said. He seemed new, which bothered us even more. Come on: you blew the table ... can you give us a guy we can understand? I feel bad for this place, because the food was pretty good: grilled flatbread (although the flatbread could have been "grilled") and duck breast/confit for me (serviceable, but I love me some duck); salad and scallops for the lady. All in all, not bad. Unfortunately, poor service continued throughout the meal. Then, the final nail in Bliss's coffin. The waiter places the check on the table with our entree plates still on the table. Actually, I think my wife was still eating. No dessert, no coffee, no dice. And by the time we left (we were hitting the theater, anyway), the place was half-empty. No reason to rush us out ... these people clearly had no clue. I was concerned about going there from our first visit, because they also stuck us on the second floor. Can't remember what season it was, but it was definitely summer at Bliss that day. It was so hot I sweated through the entire meal. Sorry, Bliss ... not again, and we live close and eat out frequently. I wanted to like you on the second pass, but it was worse than the first visit. Seems like the lunch crowd had better luck here.
(1)Dave H.
Perhaps it was the dishes we ordered, maybe it was the darkness of the restaurant, but my dinner date and I were supremely underwhelmed and unimpressed with Bliss. From the appetizer, to our entrees, to the dessert, Bliss was not bliss (sorry, I couldn't resist) - all bark and no bite. The high prices didn't help me warm up to the average fare. Positives: Our server (Evan) was good and our bartender (forgot her name) was also friendly. Of course, the interior is nicer than my photos portray, I only had a point-and-shoot on me that night...
(3)Ed H.
I was surprised to see this place reviewed so harshly. My brunch experience was five-star: Everything was freshly made to order, the restaurant itself is well-appointed, the owner is friendly and the service is attentive and aims to please. I can't say anything about dinner, but I can recommend the eggs benedict (Canadian bacon replaced with with filet mignon). My guess is that once you filter out reviews from the Groupon and Living Social haters --who rarely have an appreciative word for any restaurant-- you'd see a better showing. Other reviewers from three or four years ago said this place needed help. From what I've seen, at least at brunch time, that turnaround has taken place, and I'd predict the Yelp scores will soon reflect that fact. Meanwhile, enjoy the lack of crowds here at brunch, at least until the Yelp rating catches up with the current, positive state of affairs...
(5)Danielle H.
My boyfriend and I went here on a Saturday night at 8 pm, so a little after normal dinner rush but still a weekend. It was quiet and nicely lit, well, quiet except for the loud pair next to us but it had an overall soothing environment, with nice decor. We were on the back wall which is a little tight for space especially when your neighbors are annoying, but still not that bad. Our waitress was nice and the service was surprisingly fast. We ordered the dijon encrusted Chilean sea bass with freekeh risotto and peas, the filet minon with lobster mash potato and asparagus, and the "s'more" for dessert. My sea bass was nicely crusted and cooked perfectly, the risotto was great and the peas came with onions and bacon mixed in which I wish were done a little more but were still good. The filet actually came out medium rare like he asked, and the mash had a good amount of lobster pieces. Our dessert was amazing and so pretty! the peanut butter gelato was creamy and flavorful and the marshmallow was homemade. But because they toasted the top right on the plate, it stuck to it a little. The ganache on top was good as well. The biggest drawback was my first drink, which didn't have much flavor. The chocolate martini was great though, and none of them skimped on alcohol.
(5)Fresh Focus P.
We went here before the orchestra on a Saturday night. We were greeted by afriendly well dressed Hostess. We sat upstairs. In my opinion, the tables were too wide, leaving us too far apart from each other! If you don't like the person you are dining with so much, or they have offensive perfume or cologne, then this might work perfectly for you! Our waiter was efficient and friendly but we had a hard time understanding his accent. We ordered two apps...1. gnocci, had little sauce and not much flavor. The chicken sliced on top was completely flavorless... did they just boil it? it was not seasoned at all. 2. Crab ravioli... looked great, but was terribly disappointing. It had a slightly off taste to it..fishy taste? we each ate one, and were both afraid to eat the last one for fear it might cause stomach problems later. When our server checked in with us, we did tell him that we didn't like the crab one, and he did take a portion of the cost of it off our bill, but not the whole cost. Main course, I had the salmon. It was just OK. again, not much flavor and skimpy on the sauce. It was supposed to have ginger but i d idn't taste anything. The risotto w as pretty plain also...Upon leaving, we were addressed by our hostess, thanking us and wishing us a pleasant night . ( every place of business should do this always) in summary, it was unremarkable. Pretty bland. Not bad, but not great either! We were definitely disappointed with the food. Not worth the calories, and I am pretty sure I would not go back. However, my company was great so all ended well.
(2)Andrew T.
Service: One anecdote tells it all. Immediately upon sitting down, the waiter greeted us by chastising one of my dining partners by saying, "Didn't your mother ever teach you not to use your cell phone at the dinner table?" If we weren't starving, we would have walked right out on the spot. Food: Another anecdote. A heavy dose of salt and pepper was necessary for every dish to be edible. I can't remember the last time I've needed to use either at a restaurant. Ambiance: The music playing during dinner made my entire dinner party wonder if we had walked into a funeral reception. Price: Needless to say, they were outrageous for what we got. In fact, if I hadn't felt like I had been robbed by the end of the meal, I probably would have felt bad enough for this restaurant to not write a review to begin with.
(1)Brian B.
I recently visited Bliss a few weeks ago. We were greeted at the door and we were sat immediately at the time of our reservation. Our waitress was fantastic the atmosphere was very nice and the bartender poured a fantastic chocolate martini. The manager came to our table and was making sure everything was running smooth. For starters we each got a salad. I do not recall what my wife had but I had the Poached Pears, Mixed Greens, Candied Walnuts, Blue Cheese, Vanilla Bean with Pear Dressing salad. It was one of the best salads I ever had and I don't get to excited about salads. For our entree my wife had the crab cakes. Of course i had to try them. They were cooked to perfection. If you like crab cakes you will definitely need to try these. I had a special of the night which was a short rib. The short rib was done in a red wine sauce and was easy to cut with a fork and melted in your mouth. We also had the most delicious lemon dessert. I can not explain exactly what was in it but it was delicious and I am not a huge fan of lemon desserts. I highly recommend a visit to Bliss especially if you are in town for a show!
(5)Jason B.
Let's skip right to the end of the meal. Shall we? Green tea should not be steeped in boiling water. Yeah, this's one of those reviews. Take it for what you will. Small detail to some, perhaps indicative of something larger to others. Ignorance? Indifference? Ineptitude? What? Not serving green tea at the correct temperature speaks volumes. (If you can't prepare it properly, don't have it on your menu.) Does not inspire confidence.
(2)Lydia H.
Bliss, noun. 1. complete happiness 2. paradise, heaven Enough said? We dined at Bliss on Friday night before a show, and certainly experienced a blissful meal. Our waiter was one of the best I have ever had. He was mindful of the time to make sure we had an enjoyable dining experience while making it to our show with plenty of time. The food was wonderful - the pear salad with candied walnuts and vanilla bean dressing was out of this world, and our waiter happily substituted goat cheese for blue cheese upon my request. I enjoyed the lobster risotto - decadent and delicious. All of our meals were wonderful and the wine was excellent. A definite must-go for pre-theater or just a night on the town!
(5)Brittany S.
The food was pretty good,i've had better but the waiter and the owner were fantastic and really funny I enjoyed myself as did my mother & grandmother
(4)Rick N.
Server was very nice, unfortunately she was clearly used to apologizing for the food. The food was terrible. The flat bread was room temperature pita-like bread. We had to order 4 different bottles of wine because the first 3 they didn't have. There were 6 of us and all of our entrees were awful. This place got excellent reviews several years ago, and it is clear it just went down hill. I hope they bring this place back to the quality it used to be!
(1)Tom R.
First off, let me say that I don't normally give bad reviews of restaurants. And I'm also pretty sheepish about speaking up and sending a plate back. But this was the worst restaurant experience I've ever had. My wife and I were given a $100 gift card to Bliss, so we decided to try it out last night. It was awkward from the very beginning. It was Saturday night and the place was pretty empty. Despite the open seats all over the restaurant, the hostess showed us to a seat in the corner that was literally next to a drink stand covered in rags. Since the restaurant was empty-ish, we asked if it would be OK to move to another table. She proceeded to set up another table directly next to (about 2 feet away from) another couple. In an empty restaurant. Awkward, but whatever. We proceeded to order an appetizer, a salad, two entrees and drinks. The appetizer (some sort of sushi roll dish) came out promptly but tasted as if it had been sitting in the back of a fridge all day. It clearly was not fresh sushi, as the menu described. (Apparently this place is a sushi joint for lunch?) Anyway, I didn't want to make a big deal of it when the waiter returned to ask how everything was, but we ended up being honest with him and he insisted on taking it back. He returned a few minutes later to say that there's nothing they can do -- it's just the way the dish is prepared. He was generous and offered to bring us something else but we declined. Not a huge deal, but strange after the seating situation. Our entrees came and were decent. I was a bit concerned when the waiter asked me if I wanted my pork tenderloin cooked rare, but hey, it tasted OK. (Still alive 12 hours later.) My wife had the duck, but wasn't impressed. It seemed a bit overpriced for what you got. At this point, we were just ready to go home. The check came, so we gave the server our gift card and credit card (the bill was just over $100). The manager then appeared at our table and told us that the balance on the gift card was $0. What?!?! I tried to keep my cool and explain that this was a gift from someone and I didn't know what to do. He suggested that I call the person that gave me the card, before realizing that this would be awkward. At this point, I really really just wanted to go home and put this experience behind me, but I also didn't want to shell out $100+ for an awful experience. In the end, the manager was gracious and told us he would restore the card to $100. We paid, got our coats and left. Weird stuff. In the end, I would say the manager and our server were definitely kind and gracious. Not exactly apologetic for anything, but kind nonetheless. Still, I would never go back to this place. Maybe this was just a series of rare, unfortunate events, but it left a bad taste in my mouth (bad pun?).
(2)Rachel G.
I had a business lunch at Bliss recently, and realized that I totally forgot about this gem. I recall having a lovely dinner here a few years ago, and I hadn't returned in a long time. Something about Broad Street makes me forget that Bliss is tucked away down the street from Cap Grille, Ruth's Chris, and other carnivorous spots. The atmosphere is Asian-inspired and very natural, and dining for lunch is really nice with lots of sunlight beaming in the windows. I had delectable diver scallops on crispy polenta cakes with spinach and a roasted red pepper coulis. It was quite yummy. Good-sized portion with just enough food. I didn't walk out with "food coma" either (which is a good thing). Bliss's menu is diverse. I would like to try their dinner entrees. There is a lobster risotto that has my name on it...plus lamb chops, duck breast...etc. Heads up - I hear they're starting half-price sushi, bar menu and kobe burger for happy hour, weekdays 4p-6p. Sweet deal!
(4)Melany W.
We went to Bliss tonight before a show. We had 5:00 reservations. I was disappointed to say the least. The service was so slow that I was worried that 2 hours wasn't going to be long enough to make the show. And I was right. Our waitress had 3 tables. She doted on the other two tables and almost forgot about us. We had to ask for bread because we were really hungry watching the other tables (that arrived at the same time as we did) enjoy their meals while we waited for our waitress to come take our order. We each ordered salads costing $10 each. They came out with 3 of the smallest salads that we had ever seen. They had hardly any dressing either. My daughter ordered the flat bread with filet mignon and balsamic reduction. It had maybe 5 tiny pieces of meat with a teaspoon of drizzled balsamic vinegar. My crab cakes weren't bad but also small. We were all still hungry after eating and decided to order dessert. But that never happened. We waited for almost 25 minutes for our server to come. By then we had to leave to catch our show. So for $160 before the tip, we left annoyed and hungry. I have worked in the food service industry for almost 14 years and understand an occasional mishap. But this was some of the worst service I have ever gotten. I would not go back there even if someone else was buying. Save your money....way overpriced what you get.
(1)Neka T.
I had a good experience here, the food was good I had a filet and the drinks were good as well. I will say what they have in food, they lack in service. Our waitress just totally disappeared for long stretches of time and it was not crowded at all. I'd go again for the location.
(4)Anne M.
Had a great time, the service was really friendly, the food is great, the menu is inventive and the atmosphere, although a little minimal, is very pleasant. Not sure why the other reviews are so mediocre but they ceratinly seemed to have turned a new leaf when I was there around Christmas.
(4)Danielle M.
The food was medioker here for the price, but the service was what stole the show! The bartender was friendly and attentive, and I had great conversation with the other patrons! Normally a single girl would feel uncomfortable going into a place like this alone, but I felt welcomed and not like a peice of meat! Cheers to Bliss restaurant!
(3)Adrienne S.
My boyfriend was like a child everytime we passed Bliss. He always points and states that "we have got to go there". We finally went...not really impressed. I had the lobster risotto-it was so dry. Certainly not what I had in mind for risotto. My boyfriend had the duck and I enjoyed it much more than my own meal. The service was good, but the later it got the more anxious our waiter got. We left at 10pm, which is a full hour before they close, but maybe our waiter had somewhere to be because he kept looking at us as we chatted after the meal. I did not hate Bliss, but I would not recommend it to friends either. In a city full of wonderful restaurants I can think of many more places to send them. For the price ($100+ for two people) I was disappointed.
(2)Bonnie C.
I took my mom and brother here to eat because it was the first place I found. We walked in at 1:45 in the afternoon and had no problem being seated by a friendly older gentleman who I'm going to guess is the manager. I ordered a Kobe burger cooked rare. It was pretty good for a $11 burger. The patty was juicy and warm with a red center. I don't know if I liked it so much because I was starving and anything would've tasted fantastic to me at that point or if it was because it was really that good. My brother liked his chicken ceasar salad. I didn't think it was mind blowing but it was decent. My mom ordered the crab cakes. Again, decent but not mind blowing. The place is clean and trendy. I liked the way it was decorated and the colors they used. Service was sluggish and sometimes I had to wonder if the waiter remembered what I had asked him for. I don't think it was intentional because he was the only waiter I saw working. Would I go back if I was in the area? Mmmm.....probably not. Nothing really stood out on the menu and I wasn't blown away by what I had eaten.
(2)Christopher R.
Very nice Center City lunch spot. I'd have no problem coming back here on a nice spring/summer day and grabbing a bite to eat outside. Everything I ate here was excellent, but although I have a difficult time quantifying exactly how, could have been just slightly better in order to receive a 5 star review. I mean, even the breadsticks were phenomenal. We started with a couple orders of spring rolls, which were very good., but just "very good" and not exceeding that. I followed that with a Kobe beef burger. It was very flavorful and juicy, but the bun was too hard and slightly too small and so I had a difficult time avoiding making a huge mess. The fries were good but by no means the best I've had recently. I was disappointed that my pickle was just a plain ol' pickle. (Honestly, no pickle is going to match Misconduct Tavern for me right now.) The service was quick, attentive and incredibly helpful. High marks for the staff at Bliss, even if the food didn't blow my mind.
(4)Amelia B.
Used to be so much better under the old owner. Maybe they can't get a good chef because the current owner is such an oddball. We dine here once a month pre-theater or lunch if everywhere else is booked--we can't walk too far. Food and service are up and down, but consistantly. The now-owner is obnoxious and a real distraction. He picked up a cell phone call at our table when he was going on and on and on with us while we were trying to eat. No sense of management. More than once we've witnessed him yell harshly and loudly at staff in a very ignorant way--from across the dining room. My advice: AVOID. Unless you want some laughs.
(1)Chelsea P.
Had a great lunch experience here with co-workers. Enjoyed the food immensely, and the atmosphere was great :-)
(4)Melissa V.
The crab cakes are delicious! Great service. Good location too. Give this place a try!
(5)Rose B.
Nice atmosphere (very 60's), good food (not spectacular...just good), however, very good service (would be a 4 for this alone.) Had the scallops as an appetizer and my husband had the walnut salad. He had the lamb...which was very good... I had the lobster risoto. It was good... just not great. The waiter, Vance, was really nice and very accommodating. He knew just when to come over and didn't hover. It was a relaxing dinner experience .... I made the reservation on "OpenTable" and placed a comment that this dinner was for our anniversary. Our waiter made sure to acknowledge this and offered his congrats... I had the "Creme Brulee" for dessert... the pudding was wonderful and the sugar glaze on top was really good. They brewed a fresh pot of coffee for us ...it was the perfect ending to our meal. Since this establishment is near all of Academy of Music and other venues, I would definitely consider this restaurant when attending a show...
(4)Ariela M.
This place is convenient to the theaters, but besides that there was nothing particularly special about it, and there are certainly many better restaurants in the immediate vicinity if you need somewhere for pre-theater dining. I actually went around 8PM (so after the pre-theater crowd) and besides one other couple, we were all alone in the restaurant....that should have been our first sign. The hostess was very nice, but she seated us at a table which seemed to be directly under an air conditioner, and it was freezing! They moved us to a warmer table when we asked, and were nice about it, but instead of pouring us new glasses of water at that table, they took away the empty glasses at that table, and brought over the ones from our first table - I thought it was a bit tacky. The bread they brought was very dry and tough as well as being plain white rolls- basically like someone left out some dinner rolls too long. We got the gnocchi for an appetizer, and there was nothing special about it. The pasta was a bit heavy, the sauce was too creamy, and it was VERY salty...basically the opposite of the way gnocchi is supposed to be (light and fluffy, never too salty). I got the chicken as my entree, and it somehow managed to come out both slightly underdone but also tough - not sure how that happened! The red pepper sauce was flavorful, but also much too creamy - almost an alfredo sauce rather than a juice, which certainly did not go well with the chicken. My boyfriend got the duck breast, which was also nothing special, and the pesto risotto (which sounded amazing and I was excited for) was also disappointing - no good flavor, just salty. Overall, I was disappointed - the service was maybe 3.5/5 (they were nice but nothing great) and the food was a 2/5. The atmosphere was also a 2/5 - the servers kept talking with one another at the bar right behind us, and the fact that there was only one other couple there kind of creeped me out. It was not a horrible experience, but definitely not a good/memorable one either - I would not come back.
(2)Steve W.
Great atmosphere and interesting food. I went for pre-theatre lunch and had a delicious Kobe burger.
(4)Colleen M.
Went to Bliss on Saturday, Oct. 20th for lunch before the ballet. Everything was perfect. Our reservation was for 3 but another decided to join us and all was OK with the staff. Lovely table, GREAT WAITER, Kevin, told us all the specials, etc. was attentive but not annoying. Food was very good. First time there and I would definitely go again (as would my friends).
(5)Avi A.
I was not at all impressed by this place. The menu wasn't eye opening and my swordfish was overcooked. Ended up spending a lot for an average meal. The restaurant itself isn't that exciting either.
(2)Sarah R.
My boyfriend and I saw The Nutcracker back in December and were looking for somewhere to go beforehand. He had been to Bliss before and it was exactly how he described it: "It's okay, I mean it's small and the food is decent" Pros: *Near the theaters *Decent food *Clean Cons: *This place would have gone out of business a long time ago if it wasn't for the fact that it's in the theater district. At the price you pay, you should get better food. It was okay, I just expect more for the price. *We had to ask for bread, both times from the guy with the bread basket, it wasn't brought to your table, which was weird. *Our server asked if we were going to a show, which I thought "Great! She knows we aren't here to linger because we have to be somewhere!" but the food came in a timely manner but the check didn't. Which made me nervous because I didn't want to be late. Bottom Line: If you are seeing a show, go somewhere you will spend the same amount of money for better food.
(2)Jeffrey P.
After not being to Bliss in over a year, my Wife and I dined with them this past Thursday was pretty disappointed. The service was the most troubling. Our waiter Jamie did a pretty good job, but overall it seemed like the staff just wanted to "hang out" and people watch through the windows. A few too many swear words and stories about their weekend was a turn off. The Bartender's boyfriend dropped in and drinks came to a grinding halt for almost 20 minutes while they were being way to affectionate in the dinning room. The food was a expected, the Lobster Risotto was cooked perfectly, but as with every other dish, it was woefully under seasoned and under salted. For the food and service, the prices Bliss charges is absurd. And for the love of God, turn on the lights in the dinning room!
(2)Varun G.
When we walked into Bliss there was no host at the door to seat us. After waiting a few minutes, I went through the curtains and had to go ask to the bartender to be seated. The waitress was nice and we finally ordered our food. The food came out and it was barely warm. The food itself wasn't that good either. I won't be back.
(1)Danielle M.
Went with a party of 3 for New Year's Eve. We were running late due to traffic at and the hostess was very friendly when we called in to advise we would be late. The menu was pre-fix. The stand out items were the butter squash soup and the spring rolls. I was underwhelmed by the entrees. My snapper had too much of a fishy taste and the couscous was dry. Desert was standard, nothing out of this world but tasty. What left me most upset at the end of the evening was when we received our bill. No one at the table was drinking alcohol and we had diet cokes throughout the night. We were very surprised to see that we were charged for every single refill we had. We were disappointed that we were not informed of this and it was not on the menu.
(2)Justin F.
My girlfriend and I were taken out to this restaurant by another couple and were pleased with out experience. I had homemade alfredo for my first course and halibut for my main course. My girlfriend had the tuna sashimi and the steak special for her main course. We both enjoyed our meals and even had a little bit to take home afterwards. Although our waiter was a little quirky, he was very knowledgeable about the menu and very prompt with his service. This is a great place for a date or a night out .
(4)Stephen R.
Dining at bliss was the worst dining experience I've ever had in Philadelphia. I made my reservation with the owner (who is crazy and wrote the time and party size incorrectly). He assured me that my family would be impressed and told he he would call the following day to see how everything was (he did not). If the dish served was not raw it was void of flavor or mediocre at best. Take this restaurant off your list to try!!
(1)Laur T.
Bliss offers a good menu for a leisure lunch or business lunch. We often came by when we tired of the typical Italian fare/ Palm Restaurant (next door)'s offerings. We especially loved the al fresco dining area which was a great way to relax over a lovely meal.
(4)Gary S.
Great location right on Broad Street near all the cultural venues, the Bellvue, UArts, etc. Beautiful, classy decor, excellent service and very good food. May not be one of the premier restaurants in Philly, but it is certainly an excellent choice for lunch or dinner (or drinks) if you need something in this neighborhood. Not every place can be Vetri or Amada. Every dish I have had here has been very fine - scallops, crab cake, steak, etc. Definitely second the praise for the breadsticks! They have a very nice wine list and selections by the glass. Owner/host Christ Dmitri is often around and really is on top of things, and a very warm and gracious host.
(4)Abbas R.
Great date spot. Trendy and classy with good food. Great portions to and there waiters and waitresses are all nice but the actual service can be sluggish at times. You will need a reservation especially on weekends and make sure you dont come in scrubby clothes. Everything taste amazing non the less, from the appetizers to the main course and of course the desert.
(4)Charon W.
Let me start by saying that Bliss is a lovely venue. The soft lighting makes for great ambience. The jazz, the candle light the seating and the curtains all create a wonderful vibe. Unfortunately that's the only good thing about the restaraunt I've been waiting for the chance to eat at Bliss for a very long time and am really disappointed that my experience fell way short of my expectation. I ordered pork dumplings for my first course, they were prepared well but came in a bowl of some sort of broth that was incredibly salty, for my second corse I had the roasted duck, cooked well. I expected a crispier skin but received a well seasoned over cooked piece of meat that didn't look the least bit appetizing even in the low lighting. Finally after all that, I ordered creme brule for dessert and was disheartened to find it cold and runny on the inside and way too hard and thick on top. I am so very sorry to give this place such a low rating because the staff was extremely accomodating and the atmosphere was great but when there are a total of 7 diners on a Saturday night I expect a cook to take his time and create a meal that's near perfection and don't get me started on the trifold Scott papertowels in the ladies room...
(2)Ally G.
I took my parents when they came to visit me. Their cheesesteak is very interesting. If yummy, frou-frou food is what your searching for... this is the place! The atmosphere is also very relaxing...
(3)Steph H.
Ok, I'll start off with saying I'm a college student and I hardly have the kind of money to go to a place like Bliss on my own dollar. With that being said, I came here during graduation weekend with a friend's family. Bliss is ... blissful. I had a steak and It pretty much melted in my mouth. The cocktails were delightful as was the waitress. Would bring my mama D here if she were paying.
(4)gus s.
Meh pretty much says it. This is the kind of restaurant that would be good in a small college town, but is not up to par in the Philly dining scene. They need a reinfusion of creativity. As other reviewers say, at this point, the food quality does not warrant the prices. None of the food was terrible; the only big problem was that I had to send back the first two glasses of wine I ordered, because both tasted like cough syrup. I was about to give up and order a beer but the bartender opened a new bottle of chianti which was fine. Who knows how long the others had been sitting around.
(2)ashley m.
i have been to bliss a couple of months ago was not so impressed. but a coworker told me that they had a new chef and a new menu so we tried bliss . i most say wow food was great i had the duck dish and my boyfriend had chicken food was great .i will be back very soon
(5)Steve G.
The food was good, however the portions were fairly small. I had the Tuna Carpaccio appetizer which was one 4"x6" sliver of tuna. The Duck entree with figs and sweet potato was also good but again smaller than I would have expected. The Chocolate Creme dessert was very tasty but I felt it was very unoriginal for an upscale restaurant. It was essentially chocolate pudding with a dab of whipped cream and chocolate shavings on top. The drinks are extremely pricey, starting at $6 for average beers. Our server Gerald was good, on top of the water and checking in a few times without being too obtrusive. One other downside was that we were seated at the table immediately next to the entrance (where there is quite a draft) even though there were multiple other tables for two still available. Overall, my meal was good but I wouldn't go back because I don't feel you get much for what you pay for.
(3)