I've drank here quite a few times. The staff is always quick and friendly, and they have lychee drinks, which gives them an extra point from this southeast asian. Other than that, what can I say about Pod that isn't obvious from looking? Oh right, they serve "Asian Fusion" food. In PODS! I shit you not. Little tapas sized dishes circulate on a conveyor belt for you to dim-sum, brody, grab, claim, or snatch - whatever verb you prefer, for that particular part of the restaurant (the sushi bar? or sushi conveyor belt? I'm not sure what you'd call it) you kind of just get what you want and eat it right there. There are tables where you can sit down and order. I've never really done that, so I can't comment. I'm sure it's pleasant. Now that I think about it, the only time I've actually eaten here was for all you can eat sushi. Don't get me wrong, the sushi here is better than a run-of-the-mill shop, and there was all of it I could eat. However, I would probably not do this again because I could go to one of my preferred sushi joints and get as much as I should allow myself to eat for about the same price. On an aside, Pod's interior affected me in such a way that I actually took it as an inspiration for a setting in one of my stories. I don't HATE the look. It's just not for me. Or any of my male characters: "Everything was white, bathed in a pale red glow by dim sconces that lined the walls at shoulder height, demarcated by floor-length windows at regular intervals. Some of the panels lit up and changed color like a disco floor as people walked across the room. Personally, King would have left out the panels and kept the disco. He was partial to wide collars and flared slacks. However, he was not particularly partial to Cube. If an iPod were susceptible to crack addiction, King and his coworkers stumbled upon the botched abortion of its crack-lovechild. The decorations were far too loud for him to feel comfortable. In a place where everything stood up and screamed "Look at me!" King felt decidedly out of place - and not in the fun, interesting way where he could leverage his uniqueness in conversation. This was plain, old, useless high school awkwardness. At least the music was acceptable." And that's how I feel about the decor. Other than that, this place is alright by me. Pro-tip: Try the ginger rum shots. They taste much better than they sound.
(3)
Leigh O.
Yeah....over-rated. While the atmosphere of the restaurant is completely beautiful and modern, I'm not so sure that makes up for everything else. I'm a huge fan of Asian fusion so I've had my fair share everywhere I visit. Pod is just not that great. I've had completely tasteless soup here (I took it home to my nephews who stated it was the best ramen they ever had, which I'm sure doesn't speak much for it), potstickers are average. These are types of things I feel that a fusion restaurant should make effortlessly. I am a fan of the crab fried fried rice though. The drinks I could completely skip as well. I tried all of the "color" martinis and if I had to choose I'd recommend the red or green. Overall, if you're looking to just be trendy and cute to upload photos to instagram or something this place is cool. If you're looking for high quality and flavorful food then you should pass. It's also way overpriced for the quality of food.
(3)
Jeff L.
Pod is always a fun time. Been there countless times and there's a good reason I keep going back. It's such a fun atmosphere - a great place for a quick lunch date or a nice birthday dinner. The drinks are all awesome and the food is presented nicely and very tasty. The sushi is somewhat pricey (but expected) but also very good. The specialty rolls are really unique. I have really never had a dish I didn't like here, except maybe the Siu Mai for appetizer, which were way too salty. They also offer a all-you-can-eat sushi experience from season to season, but it's only offered after 9pm so the time isn't great since you end up waiting forever for them to make the food. The best part of Pod are, well, the pods themselves. Hard to get into unless you have a big party who will spend a lot on dinner, but you can get lucky if there's one open and no other seating. Lots of fun - definitely recommend giving this place a try!
(4)
Joey B.
Great food though a bit expensive. AWESOME atmosphere, decor, vibes, music, etc. I really, really recommend for casual/fun date or family outing. And....the service is incredible. A++
(5)
Keo N.
Over priced sushi and weak cocktails. Go for the entrees and wine.
(3)
Avi A.
Pod is most definitely a hot spot for all you yuppies out there.. and anyone else who wants to think they're a baller but really isn't :P Don't get me wrong, the food is quite delicious and the "multi-colored contemporary lounge" feel is certainly appealing to all of us college kids. The problem is that there's so much hype about this place, it's easy to get disappointed and end up spending your entire week's allowance on a few pieces of sushi and some pad thai ^^ o harro empty wallet! I would recommend going for lunch and getting the kaiseki express, which will cost you something like $13 - 15 and you get miso soup, rice, and a scrumptious piece of fish or meat. Occasionally, they'll be cunning and offer an all you can eat $25 sushi event, which only becomes a deal when you surpass your 25th piece... i dunno about you, but I'm pretty full after about 20 pieces of maki.. the width and length of my stomach prevents me from inhaling a whale.. which would actually be ideal in such a situation Try to be a little unconventional and order items outside of the sushi menu... the chilean sea bass is certainly worth a shot.. as well as the kobe beef burger. A nice place for a date.. and a great place for lunch... good replay value :) Expect to see the entire Penn community there when you go haha.. -Av
(4)
Lisa R.
I have been to eight Steven Starr restaurants, and this is the most run down. Everything is scuffed up, the sink in the bathroom didn't work, and you see a lot of chairs and odds and ends stacked up in the corner. The food is interesting in a cerebral way, but not in a finish your plate way. Staff and service was good, but some more eye to detail of upkeep probably needed.
(3)
Dave H.
Pod has a Jetsons-like feel to it, from the conveyor-belt sushi bar to the curtained area on the "bridge". The semi-private dining areas (pods) have controls that let you change the colors inside to a whim. Seating is ample for a medium-sized group. It was difficult to tune out the noise - in that way, Pod reminds me of a futuristic cafeteria. Service - Lan, Erin, Laurie) is MUCH better than your typical cafeteria luckily. The food generally looked better than it tasted. Presentation is top-notch and the sushi was fresh. Portions are big enough you can share with one or two others. While I'll overlook the high cost of food[1], I can't ignore quality. The sushi appetizer was a promising start to dinner but the Chilean sea bass I had was buttery as all hell. Imagine eating a stick of butter marinated in butter lathered in fat. (Sound redundant? The sea bass was redundant.) The Mongolian beef lacked any kick. The saving grace of the meal was the calamari! Tender and spicy, it was a treat after eating the other two dishes. Not worth the trip if you're looking for stellar food. Perhaps my expectations were too high but the food left an unsavory imprint on me. Upon reflection I'm just unhappy. Stop by for a drink or try their wasabi-crusted filet mignon (which I had another time, and wasn't half-bad). [1] Except for the sushi... don't ask.
(3)
Dan K.
Their menu leaves very little to be desired. A dish for every palate, if you will. The ambiance is awesome. I've eaten inside one of their color-changing "pods" and in the main dining area. Although I prefer dining inside the pod, the service was superb in either location. I was thoroughly impressed with the server's in-depth knowledge of the entire menu, both food and drink.
(5)
Becca I.
I didn't really know what to expect from an Asian restaurant named Pod. However, from the moment I walked in I liked Pod. They have a distinct theme and seem to stick with it throughout the dining experience. The food was great, I particularly enjoyed the crab fried rice and the spicy tuna rolls. The service was decent, although it was clear she was trying to upsell us and unhappy we didn't order drinks or dessert. I think it is a little bit overpriced, but i do not think that would stop me from coming back.
(4)
Stephanie Y.
I only really come here for happy hours on Friday. $5 cocktails and it's RIGHT across from work. Can't really beat that, especially on a hot summer day and you're waiting for that second hand to hit 5 o'clock. You know you already have your stuff gathered and with 1 fell swoop, you've locked your computer. You seat yourself, so no waiting is a plus and a waitress comes over, you just pick a color on the rainbow. Since I'm Asian, it tastes strong enough for me, especially since I start glowing after 1, but I will get a second. Enjoying the drinks while chatting with coworkers. Yes, the seats aren't very uncomfortable. Sometimes I'll order Pod's famous lobster roll to go. It's my fave. Food in general isn't bad, but a bit overpriced. Dang, it's only Wednesday. 2 more days ....
My boyfriend wanted to take me to pod to celebrate my new job. He was pretty excited to go here since his coworkers have been heralding this place for months. We arrived on Wednesday night and pod was pretty busy; we felt as if we'd traveled forward in time to this modern restaraunt. The hostesses greeted us and we were seated within 15 minutes of arrival. Our waiter was efficient. He was knowledgeable but curt; he had many tables but seemed to multi-task well. Our first course, the tempura sushi, was very good. We ordered macadamia chicken stir fry, which my boyfriend loved and garlic shrimp. I ordered the lemon cheesecake for dessert. It was simply divine. I recommend the pink martini although my boyfriend's Tokyo tea was just average. Overall I would return to pod. It would be cool to dine in one of the colored booths and sample more of the delicious items we saw at other tables and wizzing by in the hands of busy waiters. 4.5/5 for pod.
(4)
Chris M.
Pod does and always will hold a special place in my heart. About 9 years ago, I brought my then new girlfriend, now wife, on our first fancy date here (I think it was like to celebrate our one-month anniversary). We've been back here several times since, and I eat lunch here around one per month or so. The "futuristic" decor (I use the quotes because it hasn't changed in like a decade) is still pretty fun, with the big party booths with buttons allowing you to change the ambient lighting, and the small pod booths carved into the wall--not to mention the sushi conveyor belt. And the food is pretty excellent. If you're into sushi, I recommend ordering one these rolls, which used to be on the menu: mango, cream cheese, and salmon (basically a Philadelphia roll with mango), or the yellowtail, scallion, jalapeno roll. If sushi's not your thing, try the macadamia chicken stir fry. This place gets pretty packed around prime times, but you can often get a seat at the sushi conveyor belt, where you can either eat from the belt or order from the menu. The sushi on the belt is hit or miss, sometimes with a very limited selection. You may want to sit here, grab a small plate or two from the belt and order a roll or two from the waiter/waitress. If you haven't been here yet, you should definitely give it a try. It's a little gimmicky and a little pricey, but it's a cool experience.
(4)
Siv L.
Came here with a friend -- love the ambience but because UCity doesn't have many options for fine/trendy dining, the bar area gets pretty packed with "trendy" type people. The food here is good. The service is attentive. I think due to its location and the lack of options surrounding it, I can understand why people think it's overrated. Wouldn't recommend it for anyone looking for a no-nonsense good meal.
(3)
Richard B.
I was staying at the hotel next door and wanted somewhere close for dinner. Pod had decent reviews so I decided to give it a try. This place is very much form over substance. It is probably a fun place for drinks with friends but I wouldnt recommend it for dinner for an out-of-towner dining alone. I had the street noodles and the were decent but nothing to write home about.
(2)
Seb S.
Obviously the food is good and the place is cool but it's overrated. Go to MORIMOTO instead.
(3)
Penn Grad Student Z.
Overpriced, way below average food. The decor is really lame and overdone. It was like dining in a cheesy virgin america flight. The sushi tasted like the boxed pre-prepared sushi. Granted, it's hard to make anything good with Asian fusion. Save yourself some money and go to PF Changs.
(1)
Janice T.
Although a little pricey, Pod has a fun atmosphere and cool decor. Eating in the Pod with the different lights is also a fun experience. Good place for celebratory dinners with a group or a date. Could be a cool place for out of towners too. I've been there a few times while I was in college and service and food was always good.
(4)
Joe D.
Jetson's decor, overpriced, sometimes slow service... whatever. I loved coming here. first thing i see is the sushi conveyor belt and the green glowing spaceship surrounding a small bachelorette party, and i'm thinking, "i could live here". our server soon brought me a perfect martini so it was a great start! I needed to sate my pretentious side and ordered the kobe beef appetizer grilled on hot stone table side. $18 for three little pieces of beef was well worth feeding this foodie's ego. the meat was every bit as tender and delicious as i expected a $6 bite to be. my sea bass entree was off the charts good. it came with a serving of sweet japanese mashed potatoes that tasted like no mashed potato i've ever tasted. totally iron chef stuff going on. another drink for me and dessert for my lovely wife and we were gone. i am anxious to return again.
(5)
K C.
Food is rich, but in the way that makes you feel like ugh afterwards. Overpriced. Loud, drunk people at the front. Tries to be fancy, but really, isn't.
(2)
S K.
Nice server is all there was to this meal. Extremely unflavorful, tasteless food. The sweet pea and mushroom dumpling was thick and lacked texture and flavor. The udon noodle stirfry, similarly, was completely flavorless. The speciality sushi rolls were ok, but for $18 a roll, we've had much better at morimoto and fat salmon. The bokchoy side was fresh and refreshing, but a good side seldom counts for a good meal. The worst part - dessert. A Starr restaurant cannot afford to get something as basic as a chocolate lava cake wrong, but Pod did. It was barely warmed, completely dry, stale tasting and looked like a chocolate muffin that was picked up from Jo Shmo's bakery five days ago. At $45 per head without alcohol, this was one terrible pick.
(1)
Erin N.
Great place! I'm not sure why there are 3 $'s, it's 2 $'s to me. Lots of cool color changing lights with a really good atmosphere and feel. It's nice because if you want sushi but your friend doesn't, there's lots of different things to keep everyone happy. Try the cocktails in the drink menu, unique stuff. Though I didn't try an of the mock tails they had a great selection of stuff that sounded great. They hate conveyor belt sushi bar that looked really awesome. If you have a larger party, make a reservation and ask for the round tables that are semi private and light up. The only thing that I could say negative is the bathrooms. They aren't dirty or anything but it just gives you a weird feel because it's stainless steel toilets like you would see at subway station or something.
(5)
R H.
Very yummy! More the anything... I really enjoyed the ambiance and the decor!
(4)
Latanya T.
The decor is very futuristic, almost like your eating sushi with the jetsons :) A little over priced in my opinion but overall this place is great!
(4)
Taylor L.
Oh, Stephen Starr. How I love thee... This is the fifth Starr restaurant that I've visited since I started living in Philly, and I just continue to be impressed. What do I love the most about Starr restaurants? The fact that, despite how amazing the atmosphere is, the food always seems to be better (if this was not the case, I would most likely be discontinuing my quest). So, not surprisingly, I found the ambiance in Pod to be cool. I, personally, didn't like it as much as some of the other ones... but I won't let my personal preference for decor weigh into my evaluation of the quality. We didn't sit at the cool chairs at the bar, or in the color-changing pod-seating-area-things, so our table was rather plain and plastic-y. The food, though, was all around fantastorgasmical (and it came out rapidfire, which was nice because I came HUNGRY). Here were the highlights: - Chicken Lettuce Wraps. Can I order 500 more please and just eat these, and only these, for the next year of my life? Thanks. - Beef Short ribs (appetizer). I wouldn't have ordered these had the server not highly recommended them. WELL, I am thrilled I did!!!! The meat was a whole new level of flavorful, and was just falling apart, and practically melting in your mouth. They came on some udon noodles that were flavored similarly to the shortribs. Mmm!! - Ice Sculpture Sorbet (dessert): Four scoops of refreshing sorbet atop an ice sculpture to keep it cold. How cool is that? (I added a picture of this delectable dessert, in case you were curious) The other things that we ordered that were delicious, but just not as blow-your-mind were: - Chicken Potstickers - Chicken Macademia Stir Fry - Tofu and Udon stirfry ... and, what else? SAKE. "Demon Slayer" Sake, to be specific.
(4)
Richie D.
2nd time we were here. Great atmosphere. Waiters can be a bit stuffy and pretentious but that's Philly. Pod has a great selection of apps and drinks. We order all apps on many occasions at certain restaurants and this is prime for that. Can't get by all the app selections to order a main course, maybe next time.
(4)
Tina C.
Decent atmosphere, above average food, although a bit on the pricey side, but great cocktails and very prompt service. The clientele was very middle of the road even if the place tries to give off an edgey vibe. We went with 9 people and it worked out $65 per person with no dessert. I don't think it's one of Steven Starr's best restaurants. I would go to Morimoto than Pod.
(3)
Grace S.
Been here several times for evening receptions that served the usual sushi maki rolls and apps in small portions. Finally came here for lunch and still just Mehhhhh. Sushi combo for $16 is so overpriced for the 5-6 nigiri and 4 pieces of caifornia roll and no miso soup, no japanese salad. TONS of salt on the edamame (that by itself, was cooked well). The green tea for $4 is worth it--not your typical Japanese green tea tho (has moroccan mint + jasmine). This place is "anglosized" through and through. That's not a bad thing, it's just not an authentic Japanese restaurant. Perhaps the 18 pieces that come with the $14 maki combo is worth it...the udon noodles w/ tofu looked so bland and lifeless. Most ppl were ordering the $14 lunch special "bento boxes". The atmosphere was great though, totally packed from wall to wall with Wharton students, Wharton professors, professionals in the area...felt very much like the NYC business lunches that a lot of us left for grad school!
(2)
Ninh N.
I've been to POD several times but I recall one time last may. My sister and I ordered the wasabi filet, sushi and shrimp tom yum soup. Everything was delicious, unfortunately I found fruit flies in my soup. I didn't want to make a scene and told my waitress, she took it away and apologized. The manager (dark hair with glasses) comes up to me and apologizes and said "you know, its summer." was that the answer to why there was flies in my soup? They offered me another soup, I said no thank you. They offered free dessert but I didn't want any, and they refused to take the soup off my check. So I paid for the soup I didnt want to eat. The food here is good, unfortunately the incident that happened to me a year ago wasnt.
(1)
Hannah M.
Staff: All very friendly and helpful. This was what made me bump this from a 2-star to a 3-star. Atmosphere: The music was trendy and not too loud. You didn't have to shout over everyone. The dining area was too cramped though that I kept touching the table sitting next to me. Food: TL;DR Review: Glorified chinese takeout. Not worth the price. I started off with the sashimi - or so I thought. They brought out my meal (Duck duck udon) before the sashimi. The sashimi ended up being the best part of the meal, and at $6 for 2 pieces actually was a reasonable price. I would order it again. I tried some of my friend's sushi too - it was average. Not bad, but not outstanding. I've had better for less money. My entre, duck duck udon, was decent but they didn't specify that it was more of a soup in broth - it was so hot to eat and not what I wanted on a muggy day. I though it would be more of a salad. There were only a few pieces of duck in it and the dumplings/wontons tasted like take-out. Not really worth the $15 but the portion was VERY generous; enough to take half of it home for lunch the next day. The thing that irked me the most about this place is that they ran my credit card twice. Although one of them only went through and one of the charges stayed in pending and disappeared... this can be annoying. I'd stick with cash if you go here.
(3)
Nikki J.
I've been to Pod several times (most recent - last night). I've yet to have a negative experience. The food is always great, the drinks are always yummy, and the service is always 20% tip worthy. I love it here.
(5)
Gina L.
I went to this place on Saturday. The desing of the place was not the greatest, the plastic chairs were not the most comfortable, however, the food and the serve were great! We ordered albacore sushi and Rio Grande roll, they were excellent! Also, I ordered sea bass and japanese sweet potatoes, and it was great! My hubby ordered kobe skirt steak, it came without a side dish, which we did not realize, so the sever brought out wasabi mashed potatoes within minutes. It was great! For desert, we got their new item, cheesecake, it was delicious. The food may be a little on a high side, but it's worth it.
(4)
Stephy S.
I've always wondered what it would feel like to get drunk inside of a Mac computer and now I know! And it's pretty damn cool. I came here the other night after a very long night of party throwing, drinking, drinking and some more drinking and I really enjoyed it. From what I understand, it's usually a bit cooler and we hit it on an off night, but I still thought it was cool beans. I also had a chance to partake in one of my favorite hobbies. Yep, drunken bathroom photography. Maybe it's just me, but I love cool bathrooms. Sure, anyone can pop in a sink, screw in a light bulb and put in a toilet, but when a place takes the time to really create an atmosphere, well, they get much of my Blackberry Curve's camera attention! On this night I probably shot a good 15 pics in here and they all turned out really cool, IMHO. As for the food here, I didn't try it, unless you consider vodka a food, which i do. And limes, limes are food, right? :)
(4)
Anisha H.
AHHH My fav restaurant in Philly - I miss it sooo much!!!! ok yes it is definately not cheap but its a fun place to go with a group of friends. the place - they make you sit in Pods if you are a party more then six...and you can change the lights and its pretty kewl!! Sushi - they have a sushi train which is awesome...you see the chef making the fresh sushi in front of you and they put it on a train which you get to choose from....two thumbs up!! The food --- okk the fix menu in the pods...is TONZ of food!!! we went here with a bunch of friends - we were eight of us and we got through apps and the first course and had to pack the rest home!!! we were soo stuffed with the sushi and the apptz...we couldnt eat anymore.... it was sooo sooo good...but ofcourse we had room for the desert platter...lol Definately a great fun place to hang out to...and a great place to people watch ;)
(4)
Jen L.
Another Steven Starr restaurant? The place is neat-o, but I guess that can get old kind of fast. The bathrooms are kind of cool, and the 'pods', where they let larger groups sit, have mood lighting you can set yourself. If you're a small party, you can sit at the back bar/food area, where a little conveyor belt carries tiny plates of food round and round, you just grab what looks good. Sort of a serve yourself dim-sum, I guess. It's a different kind of experience, with lots of interesting choices off the menu, with a heavy focus on seafood. I liked the crab spring rolls A LOT, and also enjoyed the chicken potsticker dumplings. I was in a party of four, and we all ordered something different. The drinks are pricey, so be prepared to shell out the bucks if you imbibe. Four of us ate and drank for about $250, so that will give you an idea of what to expect.
(3)
Jen D.
If I just had to rate this place on decor, I'd give it 5 stars. The decor is what makes this place so interesting. Otherwise, it's overpriced asian fusion cuisine that doesn't taste very good.
(2)
Michelle K.
Get ready for more out of town reviews from me. Pod is a 3.5 star place, just as the Average Rating suggests. 4 stars for decor: yay for the chairs, the lights, and the martini-sipping well dressed crowd on a thursday night, but nay for the all-metal bathrooms that tried to go too futuristic. 5 stars for service: our waitress was attentive, answered q's, and most importantly was very professional when my friend realized she had ordered the wrong sushi rolls...and left us with the "wrong" food for free. So in the end we did get the right amount of food for our money! 3 stars for price 4 stars for food: i highly recommend the U love salmon2.0 rolls! (Smoked salmon wrapped tasmanian salmon and mango maki served with soy glaze and mango cream sauce). If you're not at the sushi bar, make sure to ask for a separate sushi menu so you're not limited to the combos (read: more expensive/complicated sushi) on the regular menu. If I lived in Philly, I wouldn't return too soon, but I was happy to find a decent restaurant in University City on our one night in town.
(4)
Matt L.
I love Pod. I really do. For 10 years, I've been going here for fresh sushi, well thought out cooked food, and fantastic drinks. In college, I was all about the sushi bar and happy hour. Then I discovered the bento box lunch. For $15 I could have a great meal and typically have enough food to take home for dinner as well. Plus, it's affordable for a nice meal with friends or to go pick a prof's brain about something. Then I came back for grad school and all of a sudden had a recruiting budget. This is where I got to know Pod. Pod Caesar? Best in the city. Seriously dee-lish. The teriyaki Kobe burger at lunch? Even my mom, who HATES Japanese food, liked this burger. The Tuna Hand Roll 3 ways? MMM...although I do chuckle like a 12 year old at the title. U-Love Salmon special? You're right, Pod... I do. And let's not forget the Bao goodness in the Duck two ways... Those of you who actually read my reviews (i.e. Ali E. and occasionally Monica) know I love me some steamed bread. So with that, a good friend of mine was in town, so I procured a 9:15 for me, him, Ali E, and her beau and we went for some all you can eat sushi. I got there a few minutes late, and they told me they couldn't find my rezzie and that I was the first to arrive. I go to check my coat and see a text from my friends that they're already seated. Hmm. Overwhelmed and somewhat rude host desk. Good start to the day. We sit and it's a hot trannie mess in the restaurant. HUGE plates of maki coming out left and right for the All you can eat festivities. In terms of selection -- they pretty much had all the basics. Not the cheap stuff. Good fresh salmon, snapper, bass (which is actually super tender and not fishy at all here), fluke, yellowtail. A few shellfishes I don't eat. Basically your choice of maki, hand roll, or nigiri. And if you want spicy? sure? crunchy? sure...well...sort of (my penn roll lacked that quaker crunch). I don't think we were aggressive enough with the ordering, what with the pay a-la-carte for everything you don't finish, but we ate well. Waits were long, as we were in the restaurant almost 3 hours for some sushi. But I was full as hell when I left and very pleased with my meal.
(4)
Alicia O.
I don't remember much about the sushi at Pod. It was good, but not amazing. I do remember the chairs, the bathroom doors, and the lighting. I guess that's the whole point. I would like to go back again and try the conveyor belt. There needs to be more conveyor belt sushi in Philly.
(2)
Anna Marie C.
again, this is one of those places i end up going to because it's close to work. it's a stephen starr japanese/asian restaurant. it's pretty, it's modern--but i've never gotten to sit in one of the pods... i've never been here for dinner, but as far as the lunch goes... the good: crab pad thai. but then again, i have a sick love for pad thai. desserts are usually good as well. the alright: the generic (but decent) calamari salad. the sushi. and frankly, most of the rest of the menu. the ugly: uf, it's pricey.
(4)
Debbie G.
Was just there last night for drinks and apps. It's a typical trendy, loungy kinda spot, but still somehow a comfortable place to kick back for a drink after work. One thing I have to mention was the waiting staff here is unexpectedly really nice. I assumed they wouldn't be from the looks of the place, but it was pleasant surprise to find out otherwise. The dishes are definitely overpricey, I have yet to try their fancier sushi rolls, but the shrimp tempura maki and edamame i got was just fine. I'll have to give this place the dinner test soon!
(3)
Ashley R.
I have been to Buddakan several times and I'm a bit obsessed, so I was pretty excited when a friend (with a $125 gift card! SCORE!) suggested Pod. Stephen Starr did a fantastic job with the layout. Sadly, we weren't seated in a pod, but we all agreed that we need to come back so we can get the chance to have dinner in one. Since we were going out drinking later, we all decided that sushi would be a bad idea, so we opted to share a few dishes. We ordered martini's and I chose the Blue Martini first, which tasted like tropical fruit. It was ok, not great. Since Pod serves the food as it is done, our Edamame came out first, which was nice, because we could sit and chat and have drinks while still munching on something. The Crab Spring Rolls, Butter Poached Lobster and Grilled Teryaki Salmon were all decent, but I don't think I'd order them again. Especially the lobster. The bok choy and tofu just didn't seem to work well with the lobster. However, the Asian Braised Short Ribs and Wasabi Crusted Filet were TO. DIE. FOR. Absolutely delicious. Loved the Udon noodles with the short ribs and the wasabi mashed potatoes that came with the Filet were delicious. So moral of the food story: stick to the red meat. While we were eating, the manager convinced my friend and I to try the Orange Martini after finishing our first round. It was ok. It was mixed with carrot juice and ginger...but it was a little heavy on the ginger and whatever spices they used. I think it would be a great drink to pair with some sushi, but it was a little tough to drink. To make it up to us, the manager brought over a free round of the Yellow Martini, which ended up being my favorite. I LOVE passionfruit, and the tartness of the drink was great. A friend ordered the green tea gin and tonic, which was seriously refreshing and delicious. We tried the Fluffernutter Spring Rolls and the sorbet, which was a perfect end to the night. We racked up a pretty serious bill by the end of the night, but luckily we had a nice friend to share her gift card with us. Next time, I don't plan on ordering as much, but dammit, I want to sit in a pod! And make sure you check out the bathrooms... they're definitely interesting...I felt like I was in an airplane. Kinda strange, but fun.
(4)
Austine C.
Dear Pod, I like your bathrooms and your crispy chicken seafood spring rolls, and how you were the backdrop for uniting a really good friend of mine together. Alas, I think this is a one night stand. First, let's talk about your sushi. I like my slab of fish cold and my rice warm and compressed. Yours? The fish and rice are both room temp and undecided. You should be ashamed that you have a faux conveyor belt...Japan would say, "No sake fo' you!" Secondly, your house salad is much too vinegar and no sesame seed oil. Don't you know that this is an essential ingredient for a typical salad? You really pay for the Starr decor and experience. Personally, I found it tawdry and a bit gimmicky. If you are in the mood for sushi, you may just want to find another escape pod.
(3)
Mia R.
HMMMMMM.... it was OK! yes, cool decor. yes, half decent waiter & other team members. yes, a bit too costly for a few items! peace & conservation
(3)
Mackenzie B.
Ate here for my birthday last New Year's Eve. Loved the atmosphere and design! (I'm an "art" person.) The food was great and the sushi was some of the best I've ever had, although the portions on the "surf & turf" meals were rather humble. I, myself, ordered a type of salad, can't really remember since it was so long ago, but it was delicious! When we got there we had to wait for 2 people in our party before they would actually seat us, so we didn't get to sit in one of the cool "pods" because another group arrived after us, but all their members were there - so they got the pod. (Grrrrr.) We had fun anyway sitting around having drinks, exploring the way cool airplane like bathrooms, and watching the funky Japanese cartoons they were playing. I would say it's definately an event to go here. The only sucky part - on street parking has meters no matter what time of day...
(4)
Liz Y.
I've been to Pod two times and each time it's been great! The first time was for lunch. We started with the yellow martinis and I had the kobe beef burger cooked medium which was really good! The all you can eat sushi was also phenomenal. I LOVE IT HERE! Also, if you're lucky, you may have the pleasure of meeting Mr. Yaeger :)
(5)
Martina M.
Pod has gone downhill. My lack of tolerance for incompetence was in full gear tonight. My children saved their allowances and bought me a gift cert to Pod to take me there for my birthday celebration. We booked a reservation and requested a Pod. After driving for 1.5 hours to get there, Not only did they not accommodate our pod request at 5pm, but they sat us in their empty restaurant with a view of the kitchen and dirty dish station! I was appauled, especially since our meal was well over $400. They eventually moved us after my several attempts to complain. the food was less than adaquate. Crab wontons were missing an ingredient. The waitress forgot about our rock shrimp tempura, and the rotari was overrated. Pod was a disaster!
(1)
Lillian C.
The food is overpriced and mediocre.
(2)
Ripp K.
My favorite sushi place in the city. I know other spots are more famous but in terms of price vs. quality this place is the poop. Creative food, excellent quality and just an all around great experience. I have had my birthday here twice with a huge group and a few times on a Monday or Tuesday my g/f and I have gone over and just sat at the sushi bar and pigged out.
(4)
Colleen L.
This has been the celebratory restaurant for my fiance and myself for a while. He would like me to say that it's his favorite restaurant. Pod isn't my favorite, but I've always had a fabulous dinner. My personal favorite dish is the wasabi-crusted filet mignon. I've never had sushi there that was not fresh, and we are sushi snobs. There are better places in the city if all you want is sushi, but you will not be let down by their selection or quality. Yes, the decor is modern (I like it). Yes, it's a Steven Star restaurant. Yes, it's slightly overpriced. All that aside, Pod is worth at least one visit.
(4)
Ben F.
wow, this place was awesome.... Decor, Staff, food A++++ Sit at the bar, they are amazing!
(5)
Jessica A.
I can here Saturday night for my friends birthday! And let me tell you, the food was absoultely amazing! The Sushi was very fresh and I ordered the Mandarin Shrimp stir fry - Awesome! I also tried the crab meat fried rice and it was also delicious!
(5)
Three R.
fun place, good price enjoyed it
(3)
regina c.
Been there twice. Once cause I made a mistake on the date. Great food good staff! wonderful Martini. Who would have thought carrot, orange and ginger would be so delicious. Can't wait to go back
(5)
Miranda S.
Excellent on a cold night hanging out at the bar having a cocktail with friends. I have debates with local friends that are native and non-native about this place. I think this place gets a bad rap at times because of it's Steven Star affiliation, it's UPenn location and the restaurant's futuristic-euro-asian moderna aesthetic. With those factors it's safe to say that some will hate this place and others will love it. I say go for the fun of the experience and know that you will be paying for it. It's a treat to use the bathrooms that light up accordingly or if you get a pod, playing with the lighting. Sushi is at an excellent level for Philly, but I did find Morimoto's to be slightly better in Old City. I did have an advantage here knowing two friends that were waiters here. The inside scoop at the time in 2006 was most of the staff were great people and that the boss/ manager was a hard person to work for. Naturally the staff has a mix of veterans and rookies. I would say overall the service is good. The location is also easy to get to by foot and trolley.
(4)
Statia M.
You know, when Pod first opened, it was actually good. I'm not exactly sure what happened. Maybe I've changed. Maybe living in CA made me more of a food snob. Especially when it comes to sushi. That said, I can't even tell you how disappointed I am at how much this restaurant has gone down hill. I think this place needs a complete revamp, including the menu. What used to be cute and trendy back in the day, is just now downright annoying. The drinks named after colors? I'm over it. I don't think the menu has changed one bit since it opened. We sat at the sushi bar, because it was pretty crowded and I didn't figure we would have a chance at getting a table. The sushi on the belt was very vanilla. Typical most ordered sushi and it was very bland, and stale. No pow at all. My husband and I ordered appetizers as our meals, because we figured we'd grab a few things off the belt. My "dinner" of crab spring rolls, took about 45 minutes. For spring rolls. When asking our server what the hold up was, she just kind of shrugged and said "that's weird, I mean, it was ordered" and then went on her merry way, as if to subliminally tell me that it wasn't her problem anymore. I get that it's a hopping place and that we're one of the chosen few who is lucky to grace us with your presence by working here, but get over yourself and fetch my dinner. I felt like that surreal scene in Garden State where Zach Braff arrives at his job. Bottom line: Pod is a total has been restaurant. And if you need any more proof of that, just check out the woman next to you, who is probably drinking her colored martini out of a straw.
(2)
T H.
This may be a typical "fusion" asian restaurant in a bad way. It does not do any one thing that well. Many of the fusion items seem to have their original flavors water down. The service is good and it is good for a group IF you can get one of the "pods" (otherwise, pretty noisy).
(3)
peter s.
Been here three or four times on Penn's dime. Consistently underwhelming, hype over quality. Lunch the other day was ramen soup, which was not as good as what you get out of a 59 cent bag -- inedibly salty, with dumplings that had clearly gone straight from the freezer to the microwave. I'm with the school that thinks Stephen Starr is net drag on the Philadelphia food scene, occupying the high end with a loud soundtrack rather than good food.
(1)
Phil S.
Chilean sea bass... and sushi. Yum!!
(5)
Kaitlin H.
I had a fantastic time at Pod. The service was amazing. All of the food was so so good. The decor is definitely a little strange, but that doesn't take away from the quality of the food. Everything we tried we love.. the crispy tuna, tofu lettuce wrap, and lobster truffle roll stood out to me. Even the dessert was fantastic! It is certainly pricey for the quantity but each dish we tried was awesome!
(4)
Mark L.
I didn't like this place because it was on Penn campus and tended to attract a certain subset of students. Food itself is good though and the place has a funky vibe.
(3)
Barkha G.
I have been living in University City for a year and half now and have meant to try POD for a while. I mean, we go to Center City at least twice a week, and hadn't tried the closest STARR restaurant to us. That said, happy we didn't make the rush. This restaurant is one of the most over-rated places I have tried in Philadelphia. I tried the Udon Noodle Soup...except...well its not a soup. Maybe they should change the name on the menu then ...hint hint. The noodles come plated and are very flavorful along with the savory mushrooms and tofu. I tried the White Peach-Mint soda which was very refreshing for a lunch spritzer. But nothing extraordinary. My friend had wanted to get her sushi wrapped in cucumber and the waitress originally said it was no problem, and then came back later to tell us it would be $8 more per roll. She was very apologetic, but for a place that is already overpriced, we found this a bit ridiculous that they couldn't accommodate such a request. We didn't care much for the ambiance either except that it is well "unique". For spending $$$, would expect better service and even better food.
(2)
Mark M.
The restaurant was really cool. I was sad that we only went for lunch, as the place probably really lights up at night. The place is stark white, with awesome colored lights all over the place. The sushi conveyor belt was pretty cool too. All the furniture is futuristic and plastic. I mean do I even need to say any more? I'd go there if it had HALF the stuff I explained! Also, the food is pretty good and you get a lot for what you pay for. Anyone who says its expensive must eat at McDonalds regularly. I'd definitely go back, but later on at night for the full experience.
(5)
Chihee K.
Ok, I'm giving Pod a higher rating now after having gone here for a fun celebration (accidentally) with friends for my birthday of all days. The orange martinis are good. Stick to those.
(2)
J. L.
We had a surprisingly bad experience at Pod in September so when we were asked to provide a review we were very honest. We immediately received an email from the manager at Pod, asking that we return so that they could make it right. We did return last Friday and had a terrific time. The food continues to impress, espeicially the new robota menu, and the service was great (thank you Bill). Great save Pod--the way a restaurant recovers from a bad experience speaks volumes and Pod impressed us all around.
(5)
Anh C.
Even though it is a Steven Starr restaurant, I cannot give it five stars. First, let's start with the environment which I absolutely adore. Very futuristic concept and my favorite part will have to be when I am accommodated in the "pods". Here guests are seated around a round white table in what is literally a pod. You are enabled with a pad in which you can control the lighting to change from colors all over the spectrum. Very fun. But down to the nitty gritty, I enjoyed meals at Pod several times already but it doesn't stand out to me as something I would miss if my friends were to stop choosing this venue for their birthday dinners. It is true to their genre of Asian fusion and if you are someone who likes to try everything at least once in your life or for a nice celebratory place, I'd say go right ahead and do so. If you're looking for a staple in your lists of restaurants and venues, I would just skip onto the next.
(4)
Charles F.
Best entree I've ever had, hands down. Chilean Seabass is now an addiction. Perfectly seared presented, this meal cannot be beat. Decor is cool and modern with PODs for group seating (you can change the color of the lights in the pods!). PRO- Decor, Seabass, drinks CON- Sushi was not my favorite. Rice was a bit dry. I'll go somewhere else for sushi and stick with the seabass
(4)
Jake S.
Good sushi. A little pricey.
(3)
Jason H.
I've been to Pod about 30 times since they opened over a decade ago, and I keep going back. Part of the reason is that the University City area can be a little lean on good restaurants in the immediate area of HUP/Penn. The theme is somewhat like a restaurant you'd see on the "Jetsons" with hard surfaces, futuristic tables and bar, and a general hip feeling overall. The menu is Asian-Fusion, and has flavors of Japanese, Thai, Vietnamese, and Chinese. The menu changes occasionally, but the format is generally family stye, and sharing is encouraged. There are some bento-box style entrees, but everything else is delivered to the center of the table and meant to be passed around. The sushi is a notch or two below Morimoto, but not by much; they have a good selection of sushi, sashimi, and rolls. The Pod Lobster and Shrimp Tempura rolls are standouts in my opinion. The seafood fried rice is great, and the crab spring rolls are to die for. Overall, a great place for a group or a small number of guests; they do have "Pod" circular booths (only two of them) for groups of six or greater. A good place; worth returning! -Jason
(4)
Ellie W.
The food here is good but too expensive (i.e. overpriced). However, I strongly recommend POD as a great place for cocktail drinks and appetizers. When I went here with my father for appetizers and drinks when I first came to Penn, we admired the cool "space-age" decor, and funky artistic lighting and media theme. The atmosphere makes this a fun place to get a drink with folks from out of town (and I've continued to suggest it for such occasions). They have a creative drink menu, and cool booths to sit and chat in, before going elsewhere for dinner. Don't get me wrong: POD is not a bad choice for dinner. My dishes are always tasty, and service is excellent. I almost always order a seafood entree for dinner. But I was disappointed by how loud the restaurant is for having group conversations, so I don't recommend it as a place to take invited speakers at Penn. Other nearby restaurants, like White Dog, Distrito, and so on, are better suited for group discourse. Nonetheless, at the end of the day, POD is a fun place to try in University City!
(4)
Diesel H.
incredible sushi. entrees are amazing. we have been here for parties [in the pod] and for dinner at a table probably a total of 8 times. We have never been disappointed. We have always been satisfied with our food and our services. We even had a party of 12 go in one time and had a $1300 bill after tip. It was worth the cash, worth the time and they did an incredible time keeping us ready for our next course and kept our drinks full. That can be a pretty hefty task, but they nailed it! I recommend ANY sushi. Their Kobe beef is pretty remarkable too. Calamari is on point. mmm their duck soup. Seriously, Stephen Starr, you've done it again.. another brilliant restaurant!
(5)
Iyad O.
Meh. Not bad, not great. The food is average. The waitress was great.
(2)
Shushmita M.
Fancy dinner out on campus! Great sushi and appetizers. the ambience is different and can be cool for the first time, but personally not my type of place to go back several times. Though we kept going back for drinks and late night appetizers here, my friend andI did have a bad experience with a waittress almost 3 years ago. The atmosphere can be a little too stuck up and snobby for my taste. Overall, I'd say food is good but definitely overrated place.
(3)
Sarah M.
I love it here. The atmosphere was awesome and the place was so trendy. The sushi was amazing. I will definitely be back. you should definitely make a reservation so you don't have to wait for a table because the place is popular. All the servers make sure you were taken care of. I recommend it!
(5)
Susanna L.
Pretty pricey, but I love how modern the decor is. It has nice soothing purple glow. Food was pretty good, I had the sashimi platter for two, and a couple of little side dishes like the chicken kabob, dumplings, and chicken fried rice. Our waiter was great, he came by every once in a while to check up on us and tell us what each plate was. its a great place for a nice date btw. Not very loud at all.
(4)
Krysta R.
Was here a couple of weeks ago with my two roomies. Wow! When u walk in, it's just such a kool place, very hip and futuristic. When we walked In we were promptly greeted, then escorted to our table which was surrounded by stylish chairs. We had no reservation btw and we were accommodated. This place was busy and still had great service from the waiter, which btw was very informative, knowledgeable and cute :) I forget what I got but we got it on time and was delicious!! Will definitely go back if I stayed here in Philly but I'm not. Of course, I still like my little hole in the wall sushi place in Downey,CA... I can't find any better place than that!
(4)
Nancy N.
This is one of our favorite places to order dinner from. They use high quality fresh ingredients, presentation is very nice and the temperature of the food is always right. I love their calamari salad and the Sea Bass dish is one of my All-time favorite dish in philly. I just wish it was closer to Center City, I would dine there in person. Currently we use Diningin to get our food from here.
(4)
Cat P.
Five years ago, I was high above Tokyo on the last floor of the Yodobashi department store in Akihabara at a small kaitenzushi (conveyor belt sushi) restaurant. My friends and I frequented this place during our time in Japan. The atmosphere inside this little restaurant was tense as the colored plates floated by us on the belt. The salarymen finished their sushi quickly and us gaijin (foreigners) were literally stuck screaming our orders at the chefs. Flash forward five years, though, and I find myself over 6,000 miles away from the Land of the Rising Sun, dining at Pod. The conveyor belt is still there, but the mood is more relaxed and there's no longer the need to scream at the wait staff. Pod was a wonderful trip down memory lane for me and I was excited to relive those days, even if it was just for an hour and a half. We started by immediately grabbing two plates of sushi off of the belt and ordering drinks (sake and a delicious Jack Daniel's cocktail made with cranberry juice, raspberries, and mint). It wasn't long before our appetizers came out. The peppers with bonito flakes had an addictive spicy crunch to them and I thought that they were a refreshing alternative to traditional edamame. The mushroom and sweet pea dumplings immediately hit the spot and I think we finished our dish in record time. We moved on to the shiro-aoi roll with white tuna and jalapenos. We also snagged the toro nigiri. Both of those dishes were nothing short of amazing. The meal ended with 4 sweet flavors of sorbet. A lot of the reviews here seem to compare Pod to Morimoto. While it irks me a bit to talk about another restaurant in my review, I enjoyed my time at Pod much more than Morimoto. I felt like we got more food here for the same price and it was more inventive (especially the sushi). I left Pod feeling genuinely satisfied, whereas I left the other place feeling slightly ripped-off. Overall, I think Pod gave us a fantastic meal and it left me feeling nostalgic. I see myself coming back here for more of those peppers with bonito flakes.
(4)
Bella H.
My boyfriend and I attended the university dining days event for dinner. The food was exceptional for a great price. You got four plates for $35. We got the california and spicy tuna for appetizers, miso soup and potstickers for dimsum, udon and chicken for entree, and the cake and springrolls for dessert. The only complaint was the service. Although it was a busy time, it felt like the server had more than she could handle. Our water glass was not refilled twice and the table took forever to be cleared. It felt as if our female server rarely checked in on us because we saw all the other servers more than we saw ours. Overall the food was good.
(3)
Tsolere A.
Great atmosphere, great service and delicious food! The maki rolls were great! Must visit!
(4)
Matthew D.
Absolutely one of the best sushi places I have found inside or outside of the city! We always try different menu items and have yet to be disappointed by anything. The edamame is always fresh, hot, and served with shaved salt, a unique and tasty touch! The Tom Kha was amazing and the spring rolls always come out piping hot and crispy with a light flavor. The next trip will include sampling their drink menu. Pod is on our list of places to go to satisfy that weekly sushi craving!
(5)
Vinny P.
"Just what do you think you're doing, Dave? " My first impression upon walking into Pod was 2001: A Space Odyssey. The mostly white and rounded edges everywhere, the mechanized everything and the lit "pods" scattered through the restaurant all made me feel like I was aboard the Discovery One. We sat at the bar with the conveyor belt. As sushi rolls (in different colored bowls) slowly crept, by, we examined our options. We grabbed a salmon roll and a yellowtail roll from the conveyor belt. The little plastic bowls contained about 3 pieces each. We ordered the roasted shishito peppers and the mushroom sweet pea dumplings. The dumplings were exquisite in that they were so delicate. My chopsticks ended up tearing the second one in half when I went to pick it up. It didn't change the enjoyment for me, they were perfect. The shishito peppers were also fun in that they were tossed with a soy-sake glaze and grated bonito. Lovely snack. The belt didn't satisfy all of our cravings so we ordered the Shiro-Aoi and the Oh Toro Tuna. Thankfully, my dining partner has good taste in sushi and has lived in Japan. Her recommendations were spot on and we enjoyed both of these immensely. I don't get over to u-city much but I was impressed by Pod. When I return, I'll dress a bit better and I'll bring a group and sit in one of the pods and change the lighting 15 times.
(4)
Jon D.
Meh. Averageeeee...and over-priced. Atmosphere and sushi conveyor belt: impressive Food: not so impressive Calamari salad: apparently Steve feels the need to have this same, boring, underwhelming, crappy salad on all of his menus. I've tried them at most of his places and the only version that is actually good can be found at Morimoto. Shrimp pad thai: Nice portion and presentation, plenty of shrimp, desired saltiness was there, but so was a red chili overload. I don't have an issue with hot stuff, but when it dominates every other flavor and becomes the only thing you can taste, that ruins it for me. Definitely not worth $18. My friend got the crab fried rice and said it was great. I didn't have any, but the presentation was there and the portion size was good. Passion Crème Brulee (Soup) tart: Flavor good, technique bad. This dish had a creative presentation, but as soon as I cut into it, the contents started flowing out like a volcano. I wouldn't have had an issue if they didn't charge 9 bucks for it, so point off for half assing it...the pastry chef at a busy place like this shouldn't be lacking the fundamentals, especially with a popular dish like crème brulee. Anyways, unique and very strong sour/sweet taste from the passion fruit, which was actually quite good. Although I could see the bananas, I definitely could not taste them. Thankfully, the coconut sorbet was delicious, light, and refreshing. Lastly, our waitress just plain sucked. My friend and I had just gotten out of neurodegenerative disease and apparently she wasn't too thrilled about waiting on two students. If I knew she was going to get the check from us and unashamedly stare at the tip section before we even left the table, the 20% we left would have been reduced to 2% (which should have been done in the first place). Apart from that loser, the hostess was very nice and friendly as was the manager who came over to ask how our dinner was (the shitty waitress did not). Tip: This place is only good if a) you come for lunch or b) you come with a group where you can order ten different things and share / try everything.
(3)
Julie W.
As a poor college student, I (and my wallet) feel very out of place when dining here. It just so seems that the price you pay and the quality/quantity of food that you get don't seem to match up quite well. I mean, a roll of sushi was $8+, and I don't recall anything special was added to compensate for the extra dollars. But I'll say, some of the drinks are pretty good. There are, however, other good things about this place - noticeably, the decor and set up of the place. I'll admit that I have yet to dine at a place like Pod - the sophisticated underground spaceship. Dining in it, you can't help but to look around and appreciate the aesthetic elements of the place. However, the sights still aren't quite worth the money. Overall, this could be a good place for a date or business affairs. It's easy to find and definitely attractive for newcomers.
(3)
Alison K.
The boyfriend and I went here last weekend for University Dining Days (have I mentioned how much I love these local restaurant week-type events?) It's a pretty cool place. I think I would have been more blown away by the decor if I hadn't read the Yelp reviews prior--the glowiness of the "pods" and the sushi conveyor belt might have been more impressive otherwise, though they were still pretty cool. Boyfriend had been here before in his Drexel undergrad days, but it was my first time. I decided to go with the UC Dining Days 3 courses/$30 deal. I had chicken pot stickers as a starter, which were pretty standard, nothing mind-blowing (and if you're doubting whether pot stickers can blow one's mind, it's entirely possible.) Next, I had the tofu stir-fry, which was super yummy, so much so that I saved half for lunch the next day. (Unfortunately, our server must have misheard or something because he never returned with the rest of it...and by the time I realized, it had probably been sitting in the kitchen for 20 minutes, so I probably didn't really want it anyway (though really I did and was pouting at lunch the next day.) But that's the passive-aggressive restaurant patron in me. Boyfriend had some sushi rolls (California, I think), miso soup, and kobe beef (which is cooked table-side, which is neat, if a little awkward, because we felt the need to stop our conversation in order to watch it cook...in silence. I thought it was yummy, but boyfriend thought it was good, not great. Moving on... DESSERT. HOLY MOLY. After much internal struggle (and external, for that matter, because I explained to both our server and my boyfriend that this was one of the most difficult dessert decisions I've ever been forced to make), I decided to go with the mocha brownie, instead of the vanilla bean mousse. It was REALLY GOOD. A dark chocolate brownie with a scoop of mocha ice cream, all served over a river of chocolate syrup. YUM. Boyfriend liked it, too. One downside (besides the lack of leftovers delivered--wah!) was the seating. I asked for a booth, and it's more like a seat against the wall. Boyfriend though it was a little uncomfortable for someone of his size (he's 6'2"ish, kind of built) because his one arm was sort of squished against the wall. Overall, I really enjoyed this place and will probably want to return at some point (particularly if we have a group big enough to get a pod!!)
(4)
DeWayne G.
First time here. I brought my wife here for her birthday. We enjoyed ourselves! The staff is knowledgeable! The set up is built on sharing your dishes. The atmosphere is chic and a little futuristic. You can't go wrong with any choice. If you have seafood allergies, this won't work for you! We will be back! It's on the University of Pennsylvania campus; however the crowd spans multiple age groups.
(5)
Shereen C.
The food here is solid but overpriced. Been here with groups a few times (last year) and thankfully didn't have to pay for myself. Sushi is not bad (though not great, either.) Lamb was good. Filet mignon was good. Chicken stir-fry was okay. Potsticker dumplings were disappointing. Tofu Lettuce Wraps were okay. Chicken Lettuce Wraps not as good. Baby Bok Choy was fine. Nothing special, but nothing wrong with it. Just veggies. They have some tasty cocktails and a pretty good variety of drinks in general. Decor is impressive. Very cool space-y theme with interesting lighting/media. If you're in a pod, you can change the colour of the pod's lighting, but anything other than plain white light is a tad unappetizing for eating. Service is always excellent. Very helpful. One time, another diner in my party spilled water all over my dress. Staff cleaned up the spill, then Manager gave me his card and offered to pay for dry cleaning. Wasn't necessary, but a much appreciated gesture. If I had an expense account and visitors to entertain somewhere close to UPenn, this is one of the places I'd be happy to take them. (The restaurant is pretty much right on campus.)
(3)
Adam Z.
I went here for lunch, and it was fantastic. The interior is very modern and cool. Everything we had was excellent, but the spicy tuna crispy rice and the chicken lettuce wraps were real standouts. I'm told that it can get overly crowded in the evenings, but lunch was very relaxed.
(5)
Wendy Y.
Meh. The decor seems really dated and unclean to me. I was expecting different from the pictures. The sushi we ordered was really disappointing. I'd rather get sushi from whole foods or wegmans. Grilled cauliflower and eggplant were ok. The best thing we had was the pork belly buns and unfiltered sake (soo good, but it was $45 for a 8 oz carafe).
(3)
Erin K.
Just visited last night for my first time for cousins bday dinner. I was more impressed that I thought I would've been. Interior is very modern and up beat. The food was delish (lump crab California rolls, crab spring rolls, seafood fried rice, calamari salad, and sae bass with mashed potatoes). Only down side was the noise. Way too loud for me but i definitely would visit again.
(4)
Melody W.
Amazing is the only way to describe the food here -- duck, Chilean sea bass, bento boxes, salads and cocktails -- I've never had anything I didn't thoroughly enjoy. The ambiance, however, truly scares the crap out of me. The way the space is lit and decorated, with compartmentalized, container-shaped spaces, and deep, primary colored bulbs that all seem to point directly in your face or on top of your head, I always feel like I've just been sucked onto an alien space ship, and I'm about to be experimentally probed. In the restrooms, tight, airplane-style cubbies only add to that awkward, uncomfortable feeling, like maybe there could be bodies cryogenically frozen and stored in some of them, to be used for future experiments. Maybe if you're a sci-fi buff, these details won't bug you at all; you may actually find them kinda cool/unique/futuristic. As for me, I'm considering doing only take-out orders from now on.
(4)
Brendan S.
Love this place. Very good food and great service. Explain the meals to you in great depth and tell you exactly what you are getting. Very cool looking place and in a cool place in the city.
(5)
Keith K.
The ultimate in Sushi ,the Rockin Spicy Tuna is the bomb!! The seafood fried rice or the crab fried rice with the crab rolls!!! Wash it down with the many specialty drinks.
(4)
Frances R.
This restaurant is awful for vegetarians. They have a couple of seemingly vegetarian entrees but when I tried to confirm with the waiter that they were vegetarian he said they were not. They had some fish product in them. I wonder how many vegetarians have eaten these entrees assuming they were ok. The only thing worse than a restaurant having no veg entrees is a restaurant having entrees that appear veg but are not and this fact is not on the menu. Shame on you, Pod and Stephen Starr!
(1)
Mariam H.
Let me preface this by saying I'm glad I went during dining days. It's not that the food was bad, per se, but it wasn't spectacular enough either to warrant the three dollar sign price tag. I ordered chicken potstickers as an appetizer, beef pad thai as an entree, and sorbet for dessert. With the dining days promotion, my meal was about $30 + tip/tax so together it came out to be about $40. The chicken potstickers were good, but not great. I felt as if I'd had the same quality, if not better, at other places for half the price. That's not to say there aren't a few really great dishes.The beef pad thai was actually very good, and the main highlight of my meal. The beef was flavorful and actually tasted like beef, which is not often the case for Asian restaurants. The noodles were perfect; not too thin, not too thick, not too hard, not too chewy. The portion size was also quite big - big enough for me to have to take some home. As for the ambience, I will admit, it does have a very cool futuristic and spaceship-esque vibe to it. My friends and I were seated in the round secluded "bubble" where you can change the lighting yourself. Though really cool at first, it soon became distracting and a bit disorienting. All in all, I'd say it's got a cool vibe, decent food, and a hefty price tag. If money is not a problem for you, I'd say try it once, otherwise, hit up any of the other amazing Asian fusion restaurants like Buddakan or Doma.
(3)
Briana J.
I'd been hearing about how delicious Pod is for years, and last weekend I finally tried it. I had heard that it looked "futuristic" and "trendy", but I was really not feeling that decor. I really reminded me of the expensive and cool furniture on the Sims and once I had that idea in my mind, I really could not get it out. I love that game, but let's be real, but some of that stuff is just... no. So once I decided that I would just stare at the sushi on the conveyor belt to distract me from the crazy lights and weird chairs (I was sitting at the sushi bar), I could focus on getting something to eat. I ordered the udon noodles with tofu, and the tofu was pretty bland (my friend tried some and almost spit it out) and all the flavor was at the bottom and made the noodles near the bottom overwhelmingly spicy compared to the rest. I thought it was okay, but I won't be trying that again. Maybe I'll come back here to try the sushi (if someone else pays for it), but otherwise, I don't see myself trying this place again. Also, I just went on Pod's website to remind myself of my order and Common's "Come Close" was playing. HAHA what? I'm so confused by this theme. That reminds me that Speed Racer was also on the TV when I was there.
(2)
Gina M.
AMAZING! Now, I have been to a million restaurants and this one is absolutely incredible. They have a conveyor belt of sushi for Christ's sake. It is a very stylish and chic place and always a good crowd. Is it cheap? NOT AT ALL. Is it good? AMAZING Service is great. Only problem is, they cut back their menu alot since last time I was there and that was a bit disappointing. But trust me, it is worth every pretty penny you will pay. You have to try it out.
(5)
Matt G.
Great ambiance, solid food, always nice service.
(4)
Teresa R.
Not a big sushi fan, but props are needed for this place! The interior and decor are so cool and bright, sushi bar in the back was awesome, actually enjoyed sushi for the first time in awhile and drinks are very good!!
(4)
Ken W.
Wow, now that was fun. On a business trip and staying at the Inn at the Penn, downstairs is this very unique restaurant. The interior is decorated with techno cubes and modules (sort of reminded of Tetris). All it needed was loud techno music to complete the picture. But what you get inside is friendly, attentive service, and great food (and no loud techno music either). I had the spicy tuna topped by huge rock shrimp and the pork buns - wonderfully prepared and very tasty. All accompanied by shirakabe gura tokubetsu sake. Drop by this restaurant if you have the chance and want a unique and pleasant experience. Oh and if you're old school anime fan, Kimba the White Lion plays continuously behind the sushi bar. How do you beat that!?
(4)
Mary N.
Love the drinks here. This is one of the best places to grab a drink near Penn. I lived a few blocks and found myself there twice a month. So why 3 stars?? The food and service blows. The food is below average for the price. The service is nothing to write home about. I find myself always in need of flagging down a server to get a refill on my small $10 drink. But I come back repeatedly because most place near Penn are beer and wine only.
(3)
James H.
The best to describe the food was OK. I wasn't impressed with it but at the same time it still tasted good and I enjoyed it. I am japanese, so I am a bit stingy about what counts as good sushi. This place had alright sushi. The ambiance was neat and very colorful. Since the food didn't really justify the price it felt like we were also paying for the ambiance. Overall, I would recommend this place for young adults who don't so much care about the food, but are there to have fun and drink at the bar.
(3)
Patience P.
Lackluster at best. It's a neat concept but things look old and dirty. The only thing that saved this place was the Chilean sea bass.
(2)
Krystle B.
This is a very trendy restaurant. They even have a conveyor belt sushi bar which is cool. The night we went, they had this sushi special that had rock shrimp on the top and it was amazing. All of the food was amazing though. I particularly liked the crab fried rice, short rib, and chicken ramen soup. I will definitely go back although the wait to order, as well as the wait to receive our food, was a little long. I may even invite a group and reserve one of the futuristic pods booths.
(4)
Ari P.
Mediocre overpriced sushi, good american food like rack of lamb. Ambiance is fun but the physical space is showing wear and tear.
(2)
Larisa G.
Hip place. Great service, very efficient and pleasant. We were seated right away and upgraded to POD seating which is the private room with weird lighting. Food is OK, but then again I may be spoiled by great food in NYC.
(4)
Kimberly P.
Pod is an enjoyable experience if only for the atmosphere. The space age dcor is both weird and a delight at the same time. If you have a group, definitely request a pod. These white orbs with changing lights are so entertaining you might forget that you were there for the food! The bathrooms follow the same theme and are just plain old cool. As to the food, the dessert and cocktails are great. The chocolate trio dessert is delish. I think that the food is nothing special, definitely overpriced and not attention grabbing. The only thing that I had that was attention grabbing was the vegetable tempura and that was because the batter that the veggies were fried in was completely and absolutely devoid of flavor. No spices at all. It was quite a weird experience. I would still recommend the Pod though because I am a huge fan of fun atmospheres. Grab a couple of friends, reserve a Pod and have a dessert night!
(4)
j w.
Took 19 year old daughter for birthday and were delighted with service and food. We had entrees, filet mignon with wasabi mashed potatoes and lamp chops. She had tuna sushi. Apps had spring rolls and sides mushrooms and crab fried rice. The entrees were great, fried rice perfect and sushi and spring rolls piping hot and fantastic. Waitress was right amount of attentive. Room reminds me me of movie Sleeper by Woody Allen. Prices a little high but par for a Starr restaurant. We will definitely be back.
(5)
johnny b.
Trendy but food was lacking. Two stars always means I'd only go back if someone else is paying or forced. Average at best. Good for people in suburbs that don't get out much. Go to Raw for better food.
(2)
Mr B.
Wow. I came here from Princeton, with high expectations. A sushi conveyor, Asian food, and pods? Wow, my expectations were high. I came here with my family, with the same expectations. I ordered pork dumplings with the regular sashimi. Great dumplings, lots of fresh sushi. Great food. I would come back for it any time, but the decor is literally out-of-this-world level awesome. We entered a pod, and I found out immediately that the colors were changeable. Throughout the course of our hour long meal, the color must have changed about...80, maybe 100 times. Techno music pumped through Pod's powerful subwoofers, and Astros Boy animes were showing. The seats were surprisingly comfortable. The bathrooms were weird and cool at the same time, but a little dirty. There was this weird rooms with phones and anime, must have been a phoning room. Service was slow, but friendly. I would so return. $200 + bill, though.
(5)
Annie P.
Calamari Salad is great as well as the signature rolls. This place has such a great atmosphere. Martini's are also on point.
(4)
Autumn B.
Not my favorite place for Sushi but the atmosphere is funky. Try to avoid them during Restaurant Week or if they have some kind of event going on because the staff and chefs are prone to meltdowns when it gets crazy.
(3)
Yu Ting Y.
expensive, overrated food.
(2)
Justin M.
I guess some people value lighting over quality of food because the food here is really just ok, and oh so overpriced for quality of ingredients. $14 soup with three bites of duck? The lunch Kaiseki express is the only thing of value, and you have to endure unhealthy choices if you go this route. AND DON'T EVEN THINK ABOUT GOING HERE IF YOU WANT GOOD SUSHI. Again, it's a place to blow cash and be seen at Penn, and that's the only reason it's still around.
(3)
Nitasha S.
I LOVE POD!!! The food is so great, their sake mojitos are amazing! The atmosphere is great, friendly staff, and interesting furniture.
(5)
Kate R.
Great experience! Our server was great! Food was delicious & fresh! Sushi was yummy. My husband had the kobe on river rocks for an appetizer and lamb lo mein, which were both really good. I had the scallops ramen, which I probably wouldn't order again because I don't particularly like soup, but for a soup it was really good. The ambiance was fun & energetic! Drinks were delicious! We would definitely go back!
(4)
Russ C.
I was a past my prime actor who was attempting to squeeze whatever was left out of my sponge of a career by committing to commercials in Tokyo. I am trapped in a mediocre stateside marriage and I was feeling lost, both in life and in Tokyo's culture. She was a newlywed who was questioning her decision, and her place in this world. By exploring Japan, she found herself falling deeper into a state of confusion. Together we rediscovered what is essential and what it is we are to get out of this life. We explored Tokyo's night life as she showed me that that there is still joy to be found. Engaging in deep conversations I unknowingly helped guide her towards self-actualization. We reconnected once we returned home. I had not seen her in months and was anxious to see how she was now faring. We met at Pod, where we could rekindle our Japanese experience both visually and emotionally. We sat on spongy seats which glowed neon upon contact and drank martinis that matched the light beneath us. It was painfully obvious that we are now both in different places. She has found her path to follow and I have learned to look back fondly upon my journey. She no longer needs my guidance and I no longer need her spontaneity. We'll always have Pod.
(4)
Erin R.
Drinks are really delicious. Everything else is just average, but incredibly over-priced!!! The atmosphere is cool, but not worth the price of the food. I'd recommend going here only for cocktails.
(3)
Rachel B.
Again with the pod reservation. They called the day before to confirm my reservation but did not tell me the pod wasnt guaranteed or that there is a fee if I want to guarantee it. Just tell your customers all of the information and we won't be so mad! On the bright side I love the food and drinks!
(3)
Jessica C.
I went to Pod tonight during the snowstorm with my roommate. I live real close to this place... so I've been here a few times already and haven't had a bad experience, but I'll only write about my experience from tonight's visit. Tonight I had a tuna-cucumber maki, which was really good. The tuna had so much flavor to it! I was a happy camper. My roommate got the shrimp tempura roll and she said it was pretty good. We also got chicken lettuce wraps and seafood fried rice, both delicious and light so it was perfect next to the maki. The peanut sauce that came with the lettuce wraps was sweet and perfect on top of the chicken. The seafood fried rice had chunks of lobster and scallops in it and I could not stop eating it. It was a large size too, between the two of us we only got through half of it, so of course we got it wrapped up to take home! Our waiter was nice and really helpful with the menu. I think he was wearing like a shimmer lip gloss. And of course, the atmosphere is cool, we sat at a 2 person table that is up against the wall on the side of the restaurant. I have never sat in the pods but I feel like they would give me a headache. The price wasn't bad, because we didn't get one of the main dishes. It came to like 25 for each of us. Not too shabby!
(4)
brian h.
I had to go into the memory vaults to write about this one (a nearly insurmountable task when you only have half a brain). One reason that I'm relying on memory is that I choose not to frequent this spot. The girls weren't bad looking, on my one and only Friday night visit. Posh places like this bar attract a certain type of girl...lovely to view, difficult to touch and, torture to talk to. They might as well be aliens visiting from another planet. Speaking of aliens, this bar looks like the inside of a fucking space ship! I'm a "meat & potatos" type of guy, I suppose. When I'm going out, I'm usually looking for a trad. pub, not the set from StarTrek. Be good or be gone.
(2)
Mia L.
I usually love this place, but after getting take out today I am very disappointed and might not come back, even though I have been eatIng here religiously for 7+yrs. I found a whole twig - yes,twig as in wood piece- in my $20 Pad Thai!!! On top of that the salad had whole chunks of shoots that were not edible and when I asked for the crab sushi like dish I ate there a month ago the hostess sold me a $20 piece of crab!!! I don't appreciate this and find it disrespectful just to get lower grade food because I ordered take out as I didn't have time to go there to sit and eat. Pod, you have truly made me sad today.
(1)
Claire O.
Duck two ways, and the braised beef short rib over udon noodles. It was all over!
(5)
Jacquelin K.
Pod, you get 3 stars because no matter how loaded any given rich person might be, your food is absurdly priced. I like to eat here with my ex so that I can rob him through Starr. Just kidding.... The rock shrimp is a favorite among my pals, and I'm a sucker for the sea bass. Pod looks cool from the outside, but let's face it--most of the seating inside won't blow your mind. Nothing special about the main seating area. I wouldn't come to Pod on a Saturday night; you won't be able to hear the people you're sitting with. It gets incredibly loud. I found myself at Pod constantly during my last semester at Penn, & those were some damn yummy meals. But I wouldn't make the trip to UCity to eat here now that I live downtown. If you're not sure about spending the dough here, save yourself some cash and do a test run at lunch. If you fall in love, make that dinner reservation!
(3)
Daniel D.
While a bit pricey, Pod is a great restaurant to take someone from out of town to. It's all about experience here. The atmosphere, design by Karim Rashid, is fun and funky. The service generally is great, and the food isn't bad. The cocktails are totally vibrant and funky, and there sushi bar rocks!
(4)
Michael F.
First time to pod and I sat at the sushi bar. Service was S L O W... so be prepared to wait. I was intrigued at the conveyer belt for sure. I was thinking "I'd love to have this in my house." For what purpose, I have no idea. The sushi on the conveyer belt, not so great. Not a whole lot different than the stuff sitting in your grocery sushi take out section. Now, on the other hand, some fresh made ordered rolls...really fresh a good. Folks sitting next to us had some really nice looking entrees coming out, calamari salad and a shrimp fried rice. Hmmm, maybe I should have taken that path...possibly next time.
(3)
Gaurav P.
Food Ordered: Macadamia Chicken Stir-fry (replace chicken with tofu) Vegetable Tempura Pad Thai (tofu) Veg Sushi Shrimp Sushi Tuna Sushi This is the place where you want to take your date. The lighting int he booth was pretty nice. You can change the lighting the way you want. They had different colors for different lights. We all really liked our food except for the Pad Thai. This was the first time I tried Sushi and I loved it.
(4)
Larry G.
Loved it! Service was excellent. Our server was attentive, but not overbearing. She offered suggestions on items, explained the menu in detail and had just the right touch. Food was superb! Loved, loved, loved the steamed pork buns. The lobster roll (pod lobster) is not to be missed either. Brown sugar butterscotch cake was a real hit too. Next time we'll go with a big group and sit in one of the pods. Looked fun.
(5)
Vivian H.
The decor is a little too much for me, and the alternating colors in the pods make everyone and their food look gross. They're also not very good with reservations in my experience. It would be a nice restaurant but it's frequented by so many students that it's pretty casual. Their food is actually really good though. They have a pretty extensive menu of Asian fusion dishes. I am a huge fan of their Glazed Chilean Sea Bass (w/ Japanese sweet potatoes), any of their reasonably-priced fried rice sides, and the Penn roll, which is just like a crunch spicy tuna but somehow really good. I've also been there for the $25 all-you-can-eat sushi after 9pm Tuesdays, which I think may be ending. It's a really nice place to go for AYCE sushi, and cheap, but you can only eat so much sushi off a limited menu before it gets boring.
(4)
Kchi S.
I wish they had half stars as this was not so bad as to be a 2 but not quite a 3 so bear that in mind when reading the following.... Let me start with the fact that I am not a fan of sushi. So my score does not include that part of their menu. I noticed that the prices are pretty high for what it looked like others got so take that for what it's worth. I went for a quick lunch and service was fast enough but lacking in personality. My companion's app did not come until after she had her entree but her food looked great and she said it was quite tasty. She had the chicken with lettuce wrap and eggplant app. Smelled good too! I had the seafood rice which was about 85% rice so to me it was a bit overpriced. I could have fed a small family from the amount of rice they served! The rice was colorful and looked good but flavor was non existent. This happens when you try to season precooked fish and shellfish - it absorbs nothing once cooked. I had to ask for several different sauces, on the side, to jazz it up and then it really became tasty. Odd to say this but they put too much rice into this dish. Think it would have been better instead to have a bit less rice and concentrated on flavor and a little bit more seafood. The atmosphere is colorful and modern futuristic but it left me cold. The chairs are shaped like the Jetson might have had and while they are not uncomfortable they add to the coldness of the space. The hard floors and walls seemed to amplify noise and tables were placed way too close. So much so a woman hardly had to turn her head to comment on our conversation (in a nice way). For those reasons it was simply not an enjoyable lunch for me.
(3)
Amy L.
Came here with a friend for the sushi class and we had to wait over an hour to get started. The manager offered us an app for free which was great. After some more waiting the manager offered us a free sushi roll from the belt but when we went to pay for our class they tried to charge us for the "free" roll. Mr. Kim was very busy but he was still very friendly while showing us how to make sushi.
(2)
Brad P.
I've got to hand it to Pod for inspiring very strong opinions. This place is a divider of men and women. It is contentious. It is Steven Starr's great experiment in toying with human emotion, offering stellar experiences to some diners and awful ones to others. Just read the other reviews here and you will see that customer satisfaction results from machinations akin to those developed with an infinite improbability drive. The battle lines are clear and now I will weigh in. The food at Pod is really good. The wasabi-crusted filet mignon is excellent. The portion size is laughable but the flavor itself is unique enough to make it my favorite menu item. The mandarin shrimp stir-fry is very good. The sushi is good. It isn't the best sushi in Philly but it does the trick. The decor balances between slick and campy. The balance is skewed by the following two factors- 1. Sunlight 2. Your Blood Alcohol Content For example: Sober during lunch - "Those plastic cube-seats are tacky." Tipsy at 6PM - "Hey this place is kinda cool." Drunk at 11PM - "oh my god I am in a space ship." On the action-movie-parallel-satisfaction-scale, this place is Iron Man.
(4)
Rin Z.
Pod is where Penn kids go when their parents come in from out of town to take them out. Pod is where Penn kids go when their parents come in from out of town to take them out. Pod is where Penn kids go when their parents come in from out of town to take them out. Pod is where Penn kids go when their parents come in from out of town to take them out.
(3)
Asuka N.
I've been to Pod a few times in the past - once for their lunch special, and the other times as an evening stop for sushi. The ambiance is very fusion-esque, with seats carved out into the walls and isolated booths that make it feel like you're in an exclusive section of a club. It can get crowded Thursday-Saturday nights, but generally speaking, getting a seat isn't too difficult. As for the food itself - the sushi has been hit and miss. One time, my girlfriend and I got the sushi special, and the fish was very well-prepared. Another time we came, and we must've gotten the last batch of fish that was a few days old - it had the dried-out, chewy texture that is a no-no for sushi. I am a fan of the miso soup, though; you get a huge bowl that is pretty well-flavored relative to most watery miso soups that are served at sushi joints. As for the lunch special, it's pretty well-priced (around $12 or so, I think) and has decent food. I had salmon teriyaki the one time I had it, which was marinaded well and was cooked firmly, but not overdone. Until the recent renovations around campus, this was one of the classier places to eat at Penn. It's not top-notch food, and they probably charge a little much for what it is, but it's a solid spot for a meal if you're willing to pay a few more bucks.
(3)
Kelly P.
I. LOVE. BOK. CHOY. this place won the hearts of many of my drexel/penn friends, but i must say, i just don't get it. (side note: i dont eat sushi. not sorry.) the back room has AWFUL acoustics. have been to pod multiple times with groups and it seems that no matter which seating area i'm in, including the pods, i can't hear a damn thing my fellow diners are saying. i'm not going to totally trash this place because i love their specialty cocktails and desserts. try the fluffernutter spring rolls, you can thank me later.
(3)
Troy J.
This is our first time visiting PA. This place is just adjacent to our hotel so we wondered in. I'm so glad we did. This restaurant will now be on our must do list when visiting Philly! The food is simply delicious!!! The wasabi crusted filet is absolutely wonderful. My husband and I have never experienced such a wonderful dining experience. Our waiter was Kellan, he was very informative adding the best customer service to our experience. We just loved it!!
(5)
Woo K.
Pod offers a unique culinary experience with its interesting decor and atmosphere. The best word to describe eating here would probably be "fun" and would be a great place to go with a group of friends. However, while quality of food at Pod is certainly good, it doesn't live up to how much you're paying for it. It's not the best sushi you'll find, but it'll certainly get the job done. I would definitely come here at least once, not for the food but for the unique atmosphere.
(3)
Olesya P.
I would not recommend this place. The only good thing- it is cool inside and service is good. The food is very expensive and NOT tasty at all. Since it is Japanese, I went there to eat good sushi, but even sushi from Walmart taste better. Also, portions extremely small, I payed 9 dollars for 2 little rolls that had nothing in it. . I would like to get some good food if I pay so much. Also, my plate was dirty. I would not go there ever again and would not recommend it to anyone.
(1)
Parker S.
Jetsons like decor meets asian food/sushi. I went with some friends and we ate psuedo family style. Everything was good but I couldn't tell you what I ate. I left the ordering up to everyone else aa the restaurant kicked my ADD into overdrive. There is funky lighting, anime playing on tv screens, a sushi conveyor belt, and bathrooms that seem like something I would find in a german techno club. With that said, you might understand that the vibe of the place is trendy. I can easily see how it would be too trendy for many people. I thought it was a pretty cool atmosphere but it did make it impossible for me to focus on much of anything. The service and food were good. Not the best food our service I've ever received but still much better than most places. My friends got a few drinks which they said were made well. I chose frim their limited but accrptavle beer list (all bottles- I ended up with a dogfish 90 minute). Overall its a good place if your looking for a specifically trendy place with good food and service. It is probably best suited fire a younger crowd, but the prices push the limit for what most younger people can afford.
(3)
Schuyler L.
Pod, you look so fancy from the outside! We sat at the sushi conveyor belt and it was really fun. It wasn't too busy the night we went so there weren't a lot going around, but what we tried was really good. On a busy night I can imagine you wouldn't need your server. The color of the plate matches a chart to give you the price. The sushi we ordered was good, not great. They were very accommodating in terms of menu items and the server was very very professional. I can see why Pod is priced as it is. It's in West Philly, but has UPenn prices.
(4)
Lenny Z.
Pod is a cutesy place. Just like the name, it is filled with pods, from the seats at the tables to the bathrooms. The staff was all very friendly and attentive. Our waitress began by inquiring about our allergies and took notes, and made sure to advise us through our meal. The bus boys always asked before taking anything away. And, the manager checked in on us. The food was pretty good. We had the shrimp and vegetable tempura, which was a very large portion. The tempura sauce was a little bit on the citrus side. Personally, I would have preferred it wasn't. I also had the miso soup. It was on the larger side, as it should be for $7. It tasted pretty good, but nothing to write home about. For my entree, I had the small sushi. This was actually pretty good for the price. There was about 7 pieces of sushi and two rolls, 6 pieces each. I really appreciated that the menu fully exposed what pieces of sushi I was getting. So often places post that it's the chef's selection and won't tell you what it is. This was topped off with the cheesecake, which was on the small side. But at this point I was so stuffed, it was best that way. All in all, the food was decent, but I've had better. I think the prices are more set as if it's one of the best in town, when average is more like it.
(3)
Yeqiao Z.
Tasty food, nice environment, good service, costs a lot.
(4)
Alexa S.
Here's a breakdown of the pros and cons of POD: Pros: 1. The atmosphere. I love fun, futuristic and modern places to eat. Being at Pod was like being in the sort of cool restaurant you'd see in a film. It has a really interesting atmosphere that isn't too pretentious, managing to seem posh yet casual at the same time. Eating here made me feel like a cool, sleek New Yorker! It was a fun experience. 2. Wait staff. Every waiter was friendly and helpful, refilling our drinks without request and patient in explaining menu options. Cons: 1. The food. This is a huge downside and if I dislike the food, not even a super cool atmosphere can make me return. There are MANY places throughout Philly and my home town area that are way better than Pod. The sushi selection was OK, with the [very pricey] lobster roll and the california roll both having good, quality meat, but the seasonings and spices used in the sushi tasted horrible! My shrimp tempura roll was overloaded with too much ginger, and it was far from easy to eat. It was almost...nauseating. I've never had that experience with sushi, not even raw. 2. The appetizers. Again, two major strikes against Pod. Not every app was bad, but the spring rolls, despite being recommended by the waiter, were bizarre tasting. The outside seemed powdery, so I almost felt like I was eating a pastry, not a spring roll. It's a fusion sushi place, so you're supposed to indulge a little when you go here. I don't mind healthy versions of recipes, but this one was simply gross. And again, the spring roll had a strange garlic-y, ginger flavor that made me nauseous along with the outer texture. 3. The PRICES. Wow. I've never spent so much on mediocre sushi and apps at a Japanese/fusion restaurant. You're essentially paying for the space ship-like, hipster atmosphere of Pod. The rock shrimp dish - another so-so app that had a very odd flavor - I got was over 15 dollars, and the sushi was expensive for what we got. I bemoan that Pod does not have food to match their awesome atmosphere. If only the food were better! I thought to myself. I would be back in a heartbeat. Sadly, I can say that the sushi and apps at Pod were likely the weirdest and most oddly seasoned [and in a bad way] dishes I've ever had at a sushi/fusion restaurant. This place will catch your eye with its cool, artsy vibe, but the food fails to deliver - and it will make you go broke to boot. Overall, avoid.
(2)
Emily S.
First of all the waitstaff here was the best. The food was also very very good. I was with a large group so we ordered everything from sushi to mashed potatoes & desserts. Everything was excellent - sushi rolls were high quality and freshly made. The atmosphere in here is pretty cool too - especially if you can sit in one of the Pods. The changing colors gets a little annoying after awhile ... and after a couple glasses of wine but overall it was a fun place.
(4)
Claudia P.
Enjoyed a great meal here with colleagues while in Philly recently on business. Service was outstanding! Waitress gave spot on recommendations - I highly recommend the dim sum items...we ordered family style & the pork belly sweet rolls, spare ribs, grape leaves, vegetable tempura and sake were amazing! Kids & college students mixed with couples on a Thursday night at this vibrant mod restaurant. Only reason I didn't score a 5 was because the sushi rolls left something to be desired. Overall a great find!
(4)
Walter K.
I've been on a Steven Starr kick recently, so when my Mom came into town, wanting to take me out, I decided to pick A restaurant that has easy enough parking, was expensive, but not too expensive, and a place that I've never been to. Pod, here we come. Upon entering, I was instantly impressed with the decor. All of the Starr restaurants that I've been to have a cool feeling, with Pod opting for neon lights, smooth flowing curves on all surfaces (chairs and ceiling included). Anime was playing on a screen in the background. There were three crowds: preppy college studs enjoying happy hour, small parties sitting around the long table with a built in conveyor belt on which small sushi dishes circulate, and small parties at tables. The service wasn't great, but I'm convinced that had mostly to do with our particular server, and was not representative of the restaurant as a whole. The menu has a not so varied far of Japanese, Chinese, and Thia dishes, sort of all combined. They use wasibi often and liberally, steer clear if you don't like it. I had the shrimp and scallop stiryfry. I liked my dish bestout of the rest at our table (Wasibi crusted filet mingnon, seseme crusted tuna, and veggie pad thia). Dessert was the best part, the sweet 18, which had 9 different bite sized desserts; coconut macaroon, chocolate covered banana, candied apricot, tofu donut, brownie bite, ect. Two of each, and perfect for a party of four. In the end, dinner was good, the place was kind of cool, but I just can't recommend it. If you're going to spend that kind of money, they're are many other places.
(2)
Carlos M.
It seemed stylish. Yet, we had to wait for the vip room thing even though we had a reserve (I think). Anyways, I can be a cheap guy at times. But, I can be willing to spend more if the money is worth it to me. Now, everything was super expensive, so out of the flood gates, it wasn't for me. I was there to have fun with my friends, that was it. Plus, I am not interested in sushi. Anyways, I had some shrimp. It was $12 I think. I had 3 Shrimp. Wasn't really worth it to me. I go to places to have good food, and to have fun with friends. I don't want to go to this place again, because I don't want to be wasting my money on really expensive food, that won't be really that worth it to me. I'm willing to shell out some more bucks at Han Dynasty (this is the only place I know of for now, hehe) It was meh to me.
(2)
Jana V.
I am rating the drinks, not the food, as I have never had food here. I want to hate this place, I really do. Sometimes you get swarms of teenage girls here and sometimes you get celebrities (like the dude from Entourage.) It's a strange place with a very -trying to be modern decor. However, it's practically the only place in U-city that you can get dressed up and go for a drink and lounge around. You can sit down, have some interesting cocktails, actually hear your friends over the lounge-type music, and you can be dressed in your trendy clothes and hang out. If that's what you're looking for, this is the place to go. The wait-staff is also very nice and attentive.
(4)
Katie N.
I have simple tastes when it comes to sushi so I will leave the detailed menu analysis to the other reviewers, but half the reason for me at least to come to Pod was for the experience as much as the food, and in the end neither knocked my socks off. The decor is cool....kind of like a futuristic airline terminal. But the ladies restrooms (which are modeled after airplane bathrooms by the way) left much to be desired in the cleanliness department the night I was there. (Got that Pod? For the amount we're paying, we shouldn't feel like we're in a REAL airplane) Pluses: Super friendly service (our waiter got a fat tip), deliciously addictive jewel-toned cocktails (I recommend the green one), and the fluffernutter spring rolls were delightful. I'm glad to have tried Pod, but I'm not necessarily in a rush to get back. Another one to check off the list!
(2)
Christina K.
Even though I've eaten here a few times with friends (a while back), I can't really remember how the food tasted. From what I can remember it was at the least palatable. However as far as upscale restaurants go, I do remember the portions being smaller than usual. The decor is pretty cool but the taste of the food is probably subpar for the price.
(3)
Faye S.
3.5 stars. I broke my own rule and went to a fusion sushi place and only ate rolls. =X I walked in, took in the cool decor, and immediately thought, "Err, this is going to be mediocre food at best." Experience has taught me the best places are the holes-in-the wall, and I'm usually skeptic of swank decor and frou frou. However, I wasn't disappointed! We sat at the conveyor belt and just kept grabbing stuff off as they chugged along happily in front of us. Spicy tuna was a hit, as were the other two rolls we got (which I don't know the names of. They're basically a much better spin-off of the California roll). The plates are color coded so you know how much your particular dish is. It is a bit overpriced for the amount you get (4 pieces), but I wasn't leaving hungry so I was happy. Oh yeah, we also tried the otoro and it was decent. Not great, but I've definitely had worse.
(3)
S G.
Love the futuristic ambience, love the asian fusion and the crazy color drinks.
(4)
Beth A.
We went here with another couple after rave reviews from several friends. First ...the food was superb. We had various sushi rolls (one ordered special and not on the menu and it was no problem) plus pad Thai noodles and a rice dish. Everything was superb. The service was also stellar. We made reservations online and although it was very crowded due to a function next door at U Penn...we were seated right away. The only bad thing was the bathrooms. Each is a separate room, like a Plane. That's not the problem...the issue was they were all filthy. We all used them and we all commented individually how disgusting they were. Hair and dirty papers on the floor, mess everywhere. They clearly had not been cleaned in quite awhile. They truly were just rank and it left a bad impression on the restaurant.
(4)
Dan C.
I came here in March for their Tuesday all-you-can-eat sushi deal. My group of 4 was fortunate to have gotten an extremely attentive waiter, who was nicely tipped. We came early, ate 210 pieces of maki/hand rolls/nigiri in 2 hours, and left extremely satisfied. That being said, I would never come here on a regular day. The food is mediocre considering how expensive it is.
(3)
brad C.
Accompanied a bunch of fairly discerning Asian palates to Pod last night. The lounge area has a cool vinyl seatscape, and the overall futuristic Daft Punk feel was echoed in the plastic covered menus. We had enough people (7) to be surprised with a "pod" table. After spending too much time playing with the lights (and nearly inducing multiple seizures), we settled on one of the least aggressive colors. We had a wonderful Caesar salad with a sesame seed dressing, a fairly uninspired and underdeveloped portion of lobster and miso, and really really good crab fried rice. My Samurai Jack drink let me down a bit. Tasty, but too many raspberry seeds to excavate from my mouth by the end of the night. While I wasn't blown away by the food, the overall dining experience including the atmosphere and staff was very good Brad's rating (out of 5): Price: 3 Food: 3 Drinks: 3 Decor: 5 Service: 5 Wild card: I think I've said this before, but Steven Starr knows his Caesar salads for SERIOUS
(4)
Bruce H.
POD is okay but not that great for the price. Definitely are better options in university city for the amount of money you spend. Plus you end up smelling like cooked food after you've been there because they clearly don't have great kitchen ventilation which bothers me a bit. I hate smelling like a restaurant. Their food is pretty good - their sea bass is delicious. The sushi bar is good. But overall, it's a lot of money for barely above average food.
(3)
Donna W.
Green Eyed Monster and Yellowtail.... a nice pairing. I've been here a few times for a quick bite and a full meal. I was satisfied each time. The decor leaves much to be desired.... very umpa lumpaish.... maybe a tad star trek meets mork and mindy. I just don't get it. To each his own!
(4)
Nirmal K.
Yes modern with hip crowd and pricey but some of the food is terrific that I go there for special occasions. Nice vegeterian options
(5)
Eugene H.
Food here is EXPENSIVE!! We tried out some sushi rolls and entrees which were pretty good. The kobe beef slices served on a hot rock was fun to try and it did melt in your mouth, but everything else here seemed way overpriced. On a side note, the bathrooms are totally designed like a bathroom in an airplane. Take that as you will.
(3)
Kimi K.
My favorite designed restaurant in Philly, but food are just average and pricey. The purple, blue, orange and green florescent lights make this place very modern and fancy. We didn't make a reservation, so we had to sit at the sushi bar. You can order food from the menu or choose rolls and sashimi from the rotating conveyor belt at the sushi bar. We tried bunch of rolls, and they were ok. Even though the food was just ok and pricey, I still recommend this place because I absolutely loooved the restaurant design and atmosphere. I would love to go back here for a girls night out!! Make a reservation for a booth!! It's for 6-8 people, and each booth has it's own color, and it looks marvelous. The each roll was pricey, but five of us shared and it came out about $20-25 average.
(3)
Jordan P.
A very unique and exciting restaurant. You will of course notice the decor and ambiance as soon as you enter. Very avant-garde and space-age, I was a huge fan, but I could see how some would see this detracting from the experience. The menu is a mix of traditional sushi and Asian (Japanese, Chinese, Vietnamese, etc.) dishes with some western European dishes as well. We ordered a combination and ate family-style, which was great because we all got to sample all the dishes. None of the dishes disappointed and we were very satisfied with the quantity and timing. I can't wait to go back again.
(5)
Abhijit G.
My absolute favorite place in Philly! Three must-haves: Pod Lobster (orgasmic good...) Rockin Spicy Tuna Chocolate pudding The staff is super nice. I am also able to get the chef to make me some off-the-menu concoction based on my individual fantasies! Very cool! Did I say that the ambiance just rocks!!! Hands down the best sushi rolls I have had --ever---Morimoto not withstanding!!
(5)
Joanne K.
Fun. I think it'd be a great place to go on a first date since there is definitely a lot to discuss about the restaurant itself, if conversation about other things lags: Anime, the Woody Allen film "Sleeper" (which is what the restaurant most reminded me of), the interesting menu, the sushi belt, the weird bathrooms, the pods themselves, the people watching... I went with a friend around 8 pm. If I went with a date, I'd go a little later ( 9 pm) since when we got there it was still pretty loud in the dining area and was a little hard to hear my friend (and the waiter). It could've also just been that we were sitting behind a (loud) group of roughly 20 people though. Maybe normally its better. I thought the food was a bit on the expensive side for what it was (pretty good, not great food), but the portions are pretty huge and if we would've shared entrees and appetizers we could've paid something far more reasonable for our dinner.
(4)
Ryan E.
It would be really easy to write a boring review about the boring food at Pod and also talk up the insanely expensive prices not to mention their mid-90s 'cosmo'ish cocktail list. I'll spare those details. Instead I'll tell you how I had a reservation for 9pm and was not seated until 10:15. I'll also tell you how the bar tenders don't know shit how to make a drink (I had plenty of time to get to know the bartenders while waiting for my seat at an overbooked restaurant. I might as well just continue this bitch session..... These places don't give a shit about food. They care about the almighty dollar so they'll overbook the place, charge astronomical prices. and rush you out. They're trying to hold on to a novelty as long as they can and convince the masses this is "cool" and worth spending your hard earned money. Don't be fooled. Pod is not worth your time.
(2)
L K.
Really bad attempt at fusion sushi... I like Stephen Starr's other restaurants in Philly (especially El Vez), as well as Buddakan in NYC, but this is just a disgrace to sushi lovers. I went here about a handful of times because friends wanted to try it out, but it was just bad food all around. As a sushi enthusiast, I was really disappointed, especially since I lived right near here and SO hoped for Pod to be good! The only good thing I can say about it is that the desserts are really unique and delicious, but skip the entrees and go straight for dessert!
(1)
Debbie N.
As a lover of Asian fusion cuisine, I was excited to find out that Pod was part of University City Dining Days. My first impression upon entering the restaurant is that Pod disappointedly sported a cheap modern look. I am all for modern decor, but cheap plastic tables and chairs? It was also loud. Like, REALLY loud. I had to lean across the table and scream in order to carry a conversation with my boyfriend. The food was decent. The beef and lettuce wraps were interesting, and the szechuan lamb chops were very well cooked. Although the food was okay, the restaurant failed at creating a nice dinner ambiance. Pod feels more like a university cafeteria - loud and full of drunken students. I left the restaurant with a pounding headache - and NOT from drinks.
(2)
Jay C.
We took some clients to POD and had a fantastic meal. We chose the Chef's tasting menu which afforded 5 of us an amazing spread of sushi, dim sum, fresh fish and meats that more than satisfied the team. Add in a gigantic bottle of Sake and you've got all the makings for a great night. Yes the ambiance is a little 'Tokyo 1998' with plastic and rounded edges coming at you from every angle but it works. Favorite dishes include the Sea Bass, Calamari Salad and Crab Fried Rice.
(4)
Alicia L.
This place has a great ambiance and is a really fun place to go in a large group, when you can get a pod and really enjoy the entire atmosphere. I've only ever tried sushi here but it set a really high standard for the rest of the sushi I've tried in the city; their maki maki maki was an amazing deal (it was $60 for about 45 pieces of sushi), it was easy to split between 3 or 4 people, and it was of excellent quality. The chicken lettuce wraps are a nice way to start the meal and are another great dish to share. Definitely not a place to go unless you are willing to spend a decent amount of money, but it is worth it.
(5)
cotie s.
A small caveat with my review is that my wife and friends dined at Pod a couple years ago. As far as decor and atmosphere I've never been to a restaurant like Pod. Spacey and plastic molding design everywhere you look, even the bathrooms are cool looking! The service was pretty goo and our food came out as it was made, so we all got to sample each other's selections. The sushi we ordered was good and the drinks were served quickly. I don't remember exactly what everyone else ordered, but I remember enjoying the food. The only snag was that the meal I ordered (duck) was disappointing. The duck was well seasoned and the skin crispy, though the duck meat was dried out and not moist as most duck I've had. Even when dipped in the sauces provided I was left unsatisfied. I would recommend Pod if you've never gone before because it is a place worth going to at least once. Personally, especially for the price, I probably won't go back.
(3)
Chelsea P.
Pod holds a special place in my heart because it's the first time I tried sushi. Loved it! Bias aside, it is a trendy little place with great food. I was here with a group and we got one of the circular rooms that change light colors when you hit the buttons on the side of the wall. Super fun! Felt like I was eating in a space ship :-)
(4)
Louis D.
On it's own, the food really wasn't bad. It wasn't the best japanese food I have ever had, but certainly would fall under the "nicer" category meals, and everything we ordered was fine. However, it was overpriced for what it was. The sushi tasted fresh and was interested, but was nothing special. Overall, I thought it was a little over the top, both in ambiance and food presentation. I probably won't be going back because I think one can get food as good or better without all the bells and whistles.
(3)
Lynn W.
The only great thing about this place is that it is close to the Wharton school. The wait can be long even with a reservation. I went there twice with a group of 6-7 people. Inevitably, at least one order is always late/missing. The food is good otherwise. I especially like their bok choy side dish
(2)
Dominique N.
The decor is great, the food was good, the lighting heavenly. The sexy sleek look of Pods interior would impress any out of town visitors or dates. But what dazzled me about this beauty were its restrooms. John, shitter, WC, or loo, Pod's bathrooms are proof of gods love of humans. These amazing unisex stalls are spacious enough for u-n-i-sex ;). How progressive that men, womyn, trans, and intersex, can all share the same queue without waiting in inequitably long lines. This is also a great convo topic to chat up some eye candy in line. My mother always says that the quality of a restaurant's bathroom will tell you about the cleanliness of its kitchen. Considering I felt like i could have comfortably eaten in those neon stalls, I think that is the highest compliment I can give pod. :)
(5)
M P.
Pod is great if a) someone else is paying or b) you're there for one drink/light meal/not going to spend a lot. The dinner menu is not worth what you pay for it, which is upwards of $30+/person. Mixed drinks can run as much as $10-12 and, though the ambiance is 'interesting', its a bit much. The decor looks like an early 90s interpretation of the indoor of a futuristic spaceship. The pods (private round table booths) are great, but you need at least 5 people to reserve one. They won't let you sit in them even during lunchtime on a weekday, when the place is relatively empty (I've tried twice now). Food-wise, the sushi is very good, the Kobe burger is tasty (and huge!), and the fries are crispy (if you're into crispy fries, you'll love it). The desert sampler is a fun way to try a little of everything, so I'd recommend saving room for it.
(3)
Terry C.
Snazzy interior design: CHECK Odd modular non-IKEA furniture: CHECK Retro and unobtrusive lighting: CHECK Chic wait staff and cute bartenders: CHECK and CHECK Conveyor belt endless maki: CHECK It has all of the conventions of a cheesy sushi establishment, but the food is good quality. Not only is it a sushi bar, they also offer a wide range of Pan-Asian foods to delight and indulge everyone in your party. The Crab Fried Rice is awesome, the crab rolls kick ass, and the noodle dishes are magnificent. Drinks here are good - but beware - anything that's named after a color will probably have you laid out by drink 4 or 5... I recommend the RED or ORANGE!
(4)
Brendan K.
Like eating on the set of 2001: A Space Odyssey. I eat lunch here about once a week and usually go for the Kaiseki express menu. The Kaiseki menu offers 5 different choices all with miso soup, house salad and rice and for between $12 and $15 dollars you can't beat it. It's also really fast, to the table in under 15 minutes. Sushi is reasonably priced and pretty good. They don't always give you an a la carte sushi menu so go ahead and ask for one. Good choice for a quick delicious lunch in the Penn area.
(4)
Stacey S.
A 2-word description of this place: "Morimoto Lite." Clean, colorful, modern atmosphere. Tried the eel roll, veggie tempura, double duck noodle bowl, lamb lo mein & a dessert of which I cannot remember. Service was good, food was decent- expensive yet worthy. (I am a huge fan of Morimoto's restaurant.)
(3)
Hien T.
Food was delicious. Some of us got sushi, some got udon noodles, and one got the kobe burger, and all were impressed with the tasted. Portion, however, can be on the smaller size. The deco was fantastic. We got to sit in the booth where you can change the colors of the light, which gave us lots of fun. We definitely will come back!!!
(4)
Vincent J.
Pod is not all that. I had been there some years back and loved it. Things have changed. The sushi was good, but there is much better in the city. The food dishes were lackluster. Small portions and big prices.I know times are tough, but yikes. To top it all off the service sucked. ( They really need to learn how to wait tables there)They are off my list.
I just tried Pod for the first time, and it was awesome! Inside the restaurant was very futuristic, on that note alone I was happy. The food was excellent, although not very filling. I really want to come back and try something else!
(4)
marykris g.
DO NOT GO TO ALL YOU CAN EAT Sushi I was really excited to hear about Pod's promotion for all you can eat sushi. I think in theory it was a great idea. However, in practice it was a nightmare. We had a reservation for 9:45pm, we were seated at 10pm. After following the strict orders about what you can and cannot order, we ordered with our waitress who I must say was really friendly. We waited an hour and ten minutes for 2 maki rolls, 1 hand roll and a few pieces of nigri. The manager came over and apologized for the wait and gave us free pot stickers. We decided not to wait another hour and a half for our second serving of "all you can eat sushi" and left. The staff was nice and only charged us $25 but it still was not worth the price or wait. As we left we could see probably 50 other tables that did not have food either. I would go back, but not for an all you can eat sushi night.
(1)
Aurora A.
I'm was visiting philly this weekend and had the occasion to eat at Pod. Boy was it an wonderful experience. we started with the crispy chicken wings (the name does it no justice) and they were some of the best wings i've ever tasted. The sauce was light, slightly sweet, and tangy. Our next taste was the cured salmon salad. Delicious. The next big WOW was the rocking spicy tuna roll. Now, i know my spicy tuna roll and this is no average encounter. They put a piece of shrimp tempura in a tiny ball of goodness on top of the roll. The flavors are so dead on, it's sick! But that's not even what blew my mind! The glazed chilean sea bass is blow-your-brains-out ridiculously delicious. Butter but light, sweet, perfection. Then i topped it all off with the pumpkin pie napolean. It was all amazing.
(5)
Jing G.
To be honest I don't know if this restaurant really earns a full 3 stars. I've been here a handful of times (I tend to give places a couple of tries) and at all times it has been just ok. One of the times I went was with a party. They did pretty well in accommodating us and serving us pretty quickly, but I remember the food was the usual unremarkable fusion, which generally can be underwhelming anyway. One of the more recent times I went I ordered something like the salmon and it came in a very average teriyaki sauce. The side of mushroom fried rice was a little bit above average. Never got to sit in one of the actual pods, but I can't imagine that sitting in a mini - room where you can control the lighting would make it THAT much better, unless you happen to be around 10 years old (no offense to anyone who DOES happen to find that the best restaurant invention ever.) The sushi conveyor belt may be one of the few available around here, but I'm pretty used to them from visiting back to Japan so often that the novelty factor just does not weigh into my rating at all. Overall, a cute place to go for something "novel" in terms of a restaurant concept, but expect just okay to a little-better-than-average food. It's fusion, but it's really not terribly creative at all. And by the way, the latest time I was there a server was apparently not assigned to us even though somebody seated us. We waited more than 10 minutes before we finally flagged down a random server. I almost left.
(3)
Carrie E.
Yep, it looks really cool inside, which kinda gets your hopes up that you're going to have the dining experience of a lifetime. But when foodtime comes along, well, let's just say that it's not bad but it's not great, either. If you like fancy drinks, waiters that ignore you to flirt with other waiters and a big bill, then this is the place for you. If not, then grab sushi and a sixpack and then sit on your porch. You'll have just as good (and maybe even better) of a time. And you won't have to listen to any stupid techno music while you're trying to have a conversation. PS. The bathrooms will make you feel like you're on a spaceship. So at least that's...interesting?
(3)
Emily P.
Oh, the camp! The camp! The horror! The camp! It's, like, soooo bad sixties-spaceship-mod-movie in there I can barely take it. Plastic chairs and all! - Oh Steven Starr, you really do pull out all the stops. The food was decent but nothing that couldn't be had at any respectable sushi joint. The drinks were... colorful. The menus were... plastic. (buh?!?!) ...Classy. Our waiter kind of forgot about us for a while, then came back with some long-winded story about being kidnapped by a group of Penn kids (yo, I know how they can be, but that diatribe didn't even make sense! and I totally saw you flirting with the other waiter - you could've been honest about it, I might have even found it endearing.) The bathrooms were intense. As soon as I walked in I felt like I was trippin' ballz. I mean shit, there's so much color and the texture on the walls + that lighting + shadows in a small modular space = holy crap, maybe we really ARE in space. Or maybe this is what an airplane bathroom would look like if you locked yourself inside and had only E and shrooms to eat. I bet this place would be fun if you actually *were* trippin' ballz. Go for a drink and lock yourself in the bathroom for a while. The sensory overload or sensory deprivation would be totally worth it.
(3)
Nash G.
During my first year in grad school at Penn, I lived in one of the towers across the street from Pod. I used to meet people there occasionally, only actually eating there a handful of times. The food wasn't bad, but it wasn't remarkable, either - especially given the price tag. If you're the type to want to hang out there, you won't care what anyone writes about it - forgive my heavy-handedness, but it was usually packed with the douchey-est subset of Penn undergrads you could imagine, probably fresh out of the Urban Outfitters around the corner and sporting their parents' Amex. I am getting chills just picturing it. I gave it an extra star just for having bathrooms I'd imagine having sex in. I mean, if I were the type. Just sayin'.
(2)
Miguel C.
I came in with a party of 6, and we each ordered an appetizer and a main dish to share family style. It was a Tuesday night, and the ambiance was nice - good for us to have a good chat. I particularly liked the fish dishes. Service was fairly timely. The final bill is on the pricier end, so I wouldn't go here very frequently. But once in a while is nice.
(3)
Jillian G.
The sushi is excellent here and not overpriced. Great place to take fellow diners that don't like sushi/"ew its raw fish!!"...there are many items to choose from to fit all types of palates. The decor is weird but whatever. It is slightly distracting to see UPenn kids bring their out of towner parents to the most "far out" restaurant in West Philly. I have overheard many "this is what its like on a spaceship" comments. ugh My favorite part of this restaurant is the martinis you order by color. I've had them all and the Blue is my favorite. Green is a close second. Pink is also good. hahaha
(4)
Heather D.
** 3.5 Stars ** Went here for a business lunch and was satisfied. The decor is quite remarkable, and despite looking otherwise, the chairs were actually comfortable! Most of the group got the lunch special, which includes an entree, miso soup, rice and salad. It was a lot of healthy food, but overall a bit bland. The service was also quite slow, especially for all the staff that was present. Seek this place out if you appreciate your servers to be eye-candy. This place seems most suited for a large group on a special occasion. The prices aren't unreasonable, and the decor creates a fun atmosphere. The menu seemed varied enough to satisfy a range of palates.
(3)
Alezander W.
I went here on a Friday night with my friends during the University City dining days period with my friends in late July. We didn't have a reservation, but were seated at the sushi conveyor belt. I love the colors and theme of the restaurant as well as how you can book a "pod" that changes color with the push of a button. Three of us ordered off of the special menu. Anyway, the appetizers ordered consisted of potstickers, california rolls, and I think egg rolls, perhaps. All were pleasant. For the entrees, my friend got the shrimp pad thai, which was in a huge bowl, one probably bigger than my face. The salmon I got was very small, but still quite deliciously fresh. My last friend ordered only a bowl of rice, but it was probably the biggest bowl of rice I've ever seen a restaurant give! For dessert, we all had brownies with coffee ice cream on the side and let's just say, it was the best brownie I've ever had! It was warm, gooey, and just so good. The plate was spotless when I was done with it. In total, the meal was about 100 dollars for four people, but it was definitely money well spent.
(4)
Elsie R.
Me & hubby chose pod for our first date in fifteen months. Great atmosphere, delicious sushi and killer drinks! Katie gave us great recommendations excellent service. I highly recommend you check out pod ASAP you won't regret it!
(5)
Gwen M.
So, you might say I'm eating my words here, given how much I hated Pod the first few times I visited. But no! I still think the restaurant side of things is overrated and kind of annoying. The sushi bar, however, is another story. The sushi is amazingly fresh and delicious, and they recently hired a new sushi chef who's incredible -- all of his specials that we've tried have been innovative, tasty, and reasonably priced. Between the rolls on the conveyer belt, the extensive sushi menu, the specials, and their willingness to make off-the-menu items at your request, it's hard to convince me to go anywhere else for dinner now.
(5)
Hannah C.
this place is truly an ultra-trendy, ultra-cool place to eat...especially if you get to sit in one of those pods. the place seems like its usually packed, so i would imagine that's why the service was a bit slow. but then again, i went with a party of 10. i really can't say anything bad about this place (well the bathrooms were really dirty) but...they had great drinks, great food, and especially great dessert trays. i want to go back again!
(5)
Patricia S.
When I go to Philly, this is my go-to sushi spot. The rolls are all very fresh and well presented. My fave, which I cannot for the life of me get anywhere else, is the salmon, cream cheese and mango roll. Not traditional at all, but I had it the first time I went and absolutely loved it. Try some of the random special ones, they're all good. The only hot food I've had was the calamari which was give or take, but I'd get it again if a friend suggested. Tip: Ask for the sushi menu. They never automatically give it to you for some reason. Eat in or take out. Worth the fairly reasonable price for the atmosphere and reliably good.
(4)
Caitlin C.
Happy hour to impress? You need to be here. Their drink menu is very cool (not for football guy fans, though) and the decor is like something out of Toyko with flat screens playing anime and a sushi conveyor belt. The food is incredible and as creative as the decor.
(5)
Danni S.
The best place i have been too who serves good asian food :-) the prices are very reasonable, the atmosphere is very relaxed, and the setup of the seats/couches makes you feel like your at home.
(5)
Zachariah Z.
As far as aesthetics go, this place will melt your mind. I was in PA for work a while back. I asked the hotel clerk "where can I score a decent plate of sashimi while having my face humped by anime robots?" Unfortunately, they couldn't locate such an environment, but were glad to suggest this gem of sushi restaurant. I was with a party of ten coworkers and were fortunate enough to also get the POD. The POD is one of two bright white, round rooms that anchor the place in the back of the restaurant. Its kinda like that one Kubrick film....God, i can't think of it. You know that one, with the little space ships and talking computers. I remember its set in the future. I'm really bad at pop culture. Anyways..... You sit a little higher up than the dining room floor, so you can look out, point and laugh at the rest of losers in the restaurant who didn't get to enjoy this experience. There are a series of 9 big buttons on the wall, arranged like the blocks on "Hollywood Squares". You may, at anytime, push these buttons and the ENTIRE room will change that color. It is not subtle, by any means. It is BRIGHT pink, purple, red etc. Be warned, eating Maki that looks florescent green doesn't help it go down any easier. I felt like projectile vomiting out the port holes, on to the other patrons of this fine establishment. That would have been embarrassing. Let's get serious for a second, sorry reader. Jeez. Where are my manners? Talking about vomit on a review for a sushi restaurant is not cooth. (Were you just wondering what "cooth" meant? No? I'll tell you anyways. It is a Scottish colloquialism, meaning to be polite or well mannered. I just googled that shit.) Let's get to the heart of the review. Not 5 stars because I have had better sushi, but it was not bad by any standard. It was actually quite good. But the brilliant design by the Rockwell Group made this an amazing experience that you will have to see for yourself.
(4)
Don C.
Dinner at POD was fairly enjoyable. As you can tell from their web site, it's studiously cool, which is neat to look at. But it's also very noisy, especially when the background music is blaring. The food was pretty good. I had a wide sampling. California rolls: solid Lettuce wraps (with chicken): tasty Steamed buns with shitake: good Udon noodle & tofu stir fry: good Miso glazed sea bass with Japanese sweet potatoes: if you can get past the weirdness of eating sticky smashed potatoes & fish, it's absolutely delicious Kung pao chicken & shrimp: tasty Pork dumplings: awesome It's not such a bargain for the quality of the food, but I definitely left feeling super stuffed. The service was great--attentive and frequent. I'd be happy to come here again, especially if I'm staying at the Inn at Penn, which is next door. But Philadelphia has lots of great restaurants that have better food for less money.
(3)
Toni J.
My husband and I went on a Friday night. The atmosphere was very modern and fun. We has the crab fried rice and Thai chicken wing special. Both were ver flavorful and delicious. Would definitely get both again. For drinks, we had the spiced pear martini (good, but I would rather vodka as opposed to Jim beam ). My husband had the apples N honey cocktail. He enjoyed it but wasn't strong enough for his taste. All in all, great experience, will definitely be back again.
(4)
Deb S.
Fantastic service, food and drinks. Great way to start the evening!! Loved the sushi and dumplings. Dessert was fantastic as were the margaritas.
(4)
Jodi S.
Went there for an early Saturday dinner. Calamari salad was outstanding. The dressing was good but delicious without it. BLT roll was good, not great but Bronzino was out of this world great!!! The staff was attentive without suffocating and management was obviously walking around to ensure a pleasant experience. This wasn't my first choice of restaurants this weekend but so glad I went and will be going back again for that Bronzino and great service!
(4)
Frank L C.
Haven't been in for a while, but I enjoyed lunch at Pod the other day and it is still one of Steven Starr's stars. The glowing interior, which reflects the basic lines of the parking garage that it was before resurrection as a restaurant, is lit creatively, which is not as distracting at lunchtime as it is in the evening (though the big flatscreen playing anime can be). The Express Bento lunches included Macadamia Chicken stir-fry and teriyaki chicken, served with brown (or white) rice, not-too-salty miso soup, and a crisp salad. There are many other things on the menu, from sushi to edamame, and a good bar selection. Evenings tend to be too loud for my taste, but if you have a largish group and can reserve one of the lighting-adjustable pods, it can be a very cool dinner.
(4)
Di P.
I had a hilarious Happy Hour here. Walked in to meet a bunch of coworkers who were there already, awkwardly positioned in Pod's "bar area." They have these red modular furniture that is neither comfortable or uncomfortable. It's just makes it hilarious for a group more than 3 to sit down, face each other and talk. Tried one of the happy hour drinks "white" which wasn't bad.
(3)
Maha P.
We went to Pod for my boyfriend's dad's birthday and it was fun. Loud and interesting lighting but I think that was the point. We had a great time nonetheless. The crab spring rolls were to die for. I ordered a spicy tuna roll which was delicious but I have surprisingly had better in Vermont, where we live. The desserts were great, we split the fluffernutter spring rolls and a salted caramel cake. All in all it was a great atmosphere, our waitress was so kind and attentive and hopefully the birthday boy had a good experience as well.
(4)
Yujia Z.
When u first come in here, u will like the environment here. I think it maybe more suitable to come after dinner for finding your night life or drinking with your friends. Foods here are so so and the price is a bit expensive. Wahhabi has no flavor.
(3)
Jeff B.
Sushi here is magical. Absolutely delicious. We also had Seafood fried rice. This was a little bland. Needed some soy sauce. My wife had a chicken Thai dish which was spicy. I had the spare ribs, the sauce was delicious but portions were small. Only 4 ribs. The atmosphere is very cool. If you make reservations well in advance you can get these private pod booths. Very cool. I give it a 4 star for the sushi.
(4)
Nancy P.
A gf and I signed up for the Sushi School that POD was offering for a limited time. We chose the 6-7:15 pm session. They sat us down by the conveyor belt and sushi area. We started off with some miso soup and salad. We waited quite a bit before Mr. Kim came around to greet us. Probably around 30 mins. I know the restaurant was getting fuller but it would have been nice to stick to the scheduled time. After the long wait, a server came around to offer us complimentary edamame for the long wait. So at least we had something to munch on while we waited..and waited. Mr. Kim finally came around and was very nice. He showed us how to make a California maki roll and a Tuna hand roll. They provided us with gloves and a rolling mat and all the ingredients. It was a short lesson though. After the maki roll, we had another long wait. So another server offered us something else to eat. We chose a roll off of the belt. After the lesson, we received some pineapple and guava sorbet. I'm not a fan of the guava at all. When we finally got the check, they charged us for two extra plates, aside from the class. Apparently the plate the Mr. Kim gave us the ingredients on during the lesson was counted as a plate, as well as the plate that the server offered to us. There was definitely bad communication on their part. After all was said and done, the service for the night was poor. While it seemed like they (multiple people) were trying to make up for the service, our main server showed a bad attitude. While Mr. Kim was nice, the entire class took 2 hrs instead of 1 hr. And the service left a bad taste in my mouth.
(2)
Megan M.
Decor is.now outdated. I would like.to .see things newer and cleaner. The.food wasn't good enough for the price I paid. Overall,.I'm didsapointed I spent that much money for OK food. The nice service was the best part of the meal, even if it was a bit slow.
(3)
Kristin W.
Pod was the first place I ever ate in Philadelphia and I never planned to return. But when Pod was unexpectedly announced as our dinner destination, I was willing to give it a try - and I'm glad I did. I have to say that, as I felt 7 years ago, I really don't think the sushi is a strength, so if you steer clear, you will be happier. I liked the Tempura Rock Shrimp (a little heavy on the breading), but the standout was that has changed my perception of Pod was the phenomenal Glazed Chilean Sea Bass.
(4)
Yiwen S.
after many years of successfully avoiding this place, i finally came back last month for a client dinner. because this was a client meeting, we splurged on the ordering, so this was the first time i'd had the opportunity to really sample a wide variety of things on the menu. while the menu is still ridiculously overpriced, you'll notice i upgraded my review from two stars to three stars. here's why: 1. some of the cooked food was actually fairly decent: udon stir-fry, pork dumplings, eggplant, short ribs 2. ambiance is still key here, and everything is cool-y themed 3. large space can easily accommodate large parties ....and that's about it. here's why it's not rated any higher: 1. sushi is still crap 2. overpriced, overpriced, overpriced! did i mention this place is overpriced? 3. despite the restaurant being over half empty on a thursday night, it was still hard to flag down service still wouldn't come here on my own dime. but on someone else's? perhaps, just perhaps.
(3)
Mike B.
Had an early dinner here while in Philadelphia with friends who had raved about this place. Decor was interesting. Seats were not comfortable for me. Shared lettuce wraps and rock shrimp for appetizers, then had calamari salad and rainbow sushi as my dinner. Food was very good and service was top notch. We split the spring roll desert which was surprisingly good. Will defiantly go back again when in the area.
(4)
Larry F.
Being on the center of Penn's campus and a favorite spot for professors to take students to lunch, I'm pretty darn glad this place exists! FOOD: 4/5 I'm a huge fan of Asian Fushion, so I've liked everything I've tried here. The Tempura Rock Shrimp is a decent treat. It's sweet with the candied walnut, and also crunchy and soft with the tempura shrimp. My favorite item on the menu would probably be the sashimi combo platter. It's served on a 3-tiered tray with different types of fish, and everything was fresh and well-prepared. The sushi here is pretty good as well, though somewhat pricey with a price tag of between $12-$18 per roll. My favorite one is TNT. I would recommend staying away from the kobe beef and lamb chops (although if I recall correctly, the menu has changed). $30 can be better spent on two rolls of sushi instead. AMBIANCE: 5/5 This is probably the reason why I like Pod. The food is good but there are other places in Philly where I can get good sushi. The ambiance is very contemporary, almost futuristic. It has a very spacious waiting area, and very colorful bar, and different seating arrangements. For group lunches, the special suite at the front works great, and the lights constantly change, so the appearance of the food change with it. For a one-on-one dinner, I would recommend staying away from the street side of the restaurant. Personally, because part of the restaurant is below street level, it makes me uncomfortable that I see people's feet while walking by right by my eyes. SERVICE: 4/5 Waiters and waitresses are nice. Food is served speedily. If asked, the waiters will describe the food and the way they are prepared. The waiters also make decent recommendations.
(4)
P E.
Went here with friends for sushi. Food was good but not knock your socks off. I'm not a big fan of yellowtail, but here it was good. Salmon and red tuna - OK. I've had sushi just as good elsewhere. Maybe because it was Tuesday? You are definitely paying for the ambiance and to hobnob with the University City hoi polloi. As you can tell from the pictures posted by others, this place will remind you of the opening scene of 2001: A Space Odyssey. Service was ok but a bit pretentious. Walked in at 400 for dinner. Asked if I had a reservation. Really?
(3)
Carly K.
I absolutely love Pod, mostly because of the fond memorie I have of meeting my dear friend here when she was in town for business. Pod kind of became our signature place, and we loved trying the variety of signature cocktails-we especially love the red and pink! There are two bigger areas with tables that really do look like pods, and the lights change colors every so often from bright red to pink to blue to yellow, etc. Really fun! We usually do small plates and appetizers, and of course, always order way too much fun. As cliche' as it seems, the pad thai is actually really delicious. The steamed buns, rock shrimp, and crab fried rice are go to items as well. For some reason, I have never tried the sushi here, which is bizarre, because I absolutely love the sushi and maki at Morimoto, another Starr place. The ambience is ultra contemporary with white everything. Generally I don't go for this type of vibe, but for some reason it works here. It's really a fun place.
(4)
Valentina L.
This place is unlike any other Asian restaurants. Decorations are very modern... Designs are unique!! Like it~
(4)
Roopa S.
My experiences at Pod thus far have been pretty lackluster, without taking into account the super awesome ambiance. Perhaps it's because I'm vegetarian, but you would think there would be several options for vegetarian diners at a place like this one. The menu is extensive for carnivores, with some veggie dishes scattered here and there. They are usually pretty nice about subbing out the meat in the noodle dishes, for example, but they can't do much about the actual sushi themselves. I've tried a couple of the vegetarian rolls (all super cheap but super small) and the Pad Thai (made vegetarian). I was hesitant about ordering Pad Thai from a restaurant that specializes in sushi, but it was incredibly tasty and the portion size was HUGE. Though it was expensive, there definitely is enough to share with someone else and still have leftovers fort he next day, which I loved. I think they switch out their rolls every so often, but I've tried the avocado based vegetarian roll here, which was yummy but too small (the price reflected that too-- I remember paying less than $5 for that dish). Overall, food is not great for vegetarians; I wish they had more options. But the ambiance is absolutely stellar and I love the little pods you can sit in with a group of about 6-8 people. It's super fun and hip. Probably won't be coming back on my accord just because I can find more vegetarian options elsewhere around campus, but still a nice spot to have on campus.
(3)
Debanshu S.
Excellent Sushi. The ambience is very unique. Lots of attention to detail. Servers were really courteous. I tried out the crab rice too and loved it. I found the serving quantity more than sufficient. Ymmv
(4)
Victoria C.
I came here for dinner on Friday, and it was great. Not too busy and the waitress was clearly in-training (which is totally fine) because we still got pretty good service. We started off with the chicken lettuce wraps. SO worth the 15 dollars. So much chicken, so many lettuce leaves. I would definitely order it again, since sushi can definitely get pricey. My friends ordered the crab fried rice and the frosty kobe fried rice. The beef was actually frozen when served! Personally I like the flavor of the crab fried rice more than that of the beef since the beef also adds a sort of dry texture to the dish. We also ordered a few sushi rolls. Nothing special about the rolls. I would actually skip the rolls because they seemed a bit overpriced for the portions, although the quality was indeed good. I tired the corn kabobs (not bad, although the shiso, which is Japanese mint, was super strong). TL;DR go for the lettuce wraps and fried rice. Cheaper, same quality sushi sushi can be found elsewhere.
(3)
Audrey G.
Really neat restaurant design! Everything was white, with colorful lighting and private "pods" where groups could dine. (Although most people had to sit in the main dining room) Came here with a big group for a university dinner, so we got a prepaid menu. However, the food wasn't too memorable. The sushi (CA roll and nigiri platter) was good, but the rice tasted kind of dry. The rest of our menu included a ginger salad, chicken potstickers, lettuce wraps, fried rice, and pad thai. I liked that they tried to add a twist to each dish, but nothing tasted that amazing. I think my favorite was actually the dessert sampler, which featured mochi ice cream, mocha brownie, and banana sorbet. Great service, but for such a futuristic/fancy looking restaurant, I expected the food to be more impressive.
(3)
Michael F.
Walking into Pod, I had high expectations. The atmosphere is top notch, and as I soon discovered, so is the service. Since we made a reservation, we didn't have to wait long for our table - a cute cutout for two in the main dinning area. Our waiter greeted us prompt, offered water, and asked if we'd like drinks. We passed on drinks and decided to review the menu. He came back to check on us in a few minutes, but we were helplessly lost and asked for a few more. Again he returned and when we still weren't ready, made it clear by his actions that he had no intent on rushing us. Still, at this point I caved and asked for recommendations - after all, I was there to eat! Crab Spring Rolls, Lobster Roll, and Rock n Spicy Tuna were then on their way. The food comes out as ready, with the spring rolls first. They were good, but nothing to rave about. The dipping sauce that accompanied them actually made more of an impression. Once the sushi rolls arrived, we quickly dug in. They too were good, but nothing amazing. The spicy tuna didn't have much spicy to it and the lobster was a bit chewy. We finished off with some Mochi ice cream for dessert. Now to run the formula rating in my head... great service, decent atmosphere, average food, and low value (price/food experience) means I see this one netting in the middle.
(3)
Morgan G.
I would like to post an update to my most recent review about Pod's management and my negative dining experience. After my previous review I was immediately contacted by Greg Root (part of Starr Restaurants Management team). He was extremely professional and apologetic about not getting in contact with me sooner. He offered me a full refund for the negative experience I had at this restaurant and assured me that they will continue to properly inspect their food and beverage offerings and ensure they are of top quality at all times. I couldn't have asked for him or any restaurant management team to have handled an unsatisfied customer any better! Due to the fact that I was contacted in such a professional way I look forward to giving Pod another shot- and I look forward to hopefully being able to update my review to reflect a better dining experience. I'm increasing my most recent review by two stars based strictly on how this situation was handled. I haven't found the time to go back yet but if yelp reviews were based solely on how management deals with customer satisfaction then this review would definitely warrant 5 stars!
(3)
Lol F.
The decoration is kinda in spaceship or something. The food is beauty and delicious! lack of one star is becasue... the price...miso soup $7?! really? I will try it next time~
(4)
Grace C.
It's ooookay. I would never elect to go here by myself, but with parties, yes. It's just that Steven Starr thing I'm not that big a fan of, prioritizing atmosphere over food. Yes, it's futuristic and trendy, with decent food, but that's all it is - decent. I've come a couple times for parties, and each time I've left satisfied but now wowed. I do give them points for their short rib robata, though. It's tender and flavorful, and I've always been a short rib fan. Their miso glazed sea bass is also pretty good. Sea bass is my number one favorite fish, and they do a good job with it. (It's also priced to match the flavor - expect to pay a pretty penny for this one.) Shrimp pad thai is okay. Something I could find in a less-expensive restaurant. Chocolate bread pudding for dessert is delicious. Follow it with the ice sculpture sorbets for a palate cleanser. Don't go for the fluffer nutter spring rolls, however - those were cloyingly sweet.
(3)
Nina d.
Everything was absolutely delicious!!!!! Tostada appetizer, Caeser salad, wasabi crusted filet mignon, lamb chops...so so good. Service was top notch as well. I'll be back again and again. Scrumptious!
(5)
Justine J.
This place was all right. The lobster roll was really good though. The crab spring rolls were horrible to me. The flavor balance was just off. The rock shrimp roll was all right. I did like the lychee mochi ice cream though - but its not like they made that.
(3)
Sasha Z.
Very interesting future alike place. I tried the udon noodle and fried tofu, pod lobster roll and Apple&Honey cocktail. The food is good but the drink is a lil bit strong taste tho
(3)
David K.
I went to Pod with my folks a few days ago, and we had a wonderful time. The variety and quality of the food was excellent, and the wait staff were fantastic. We ordered quite a bit of food, but the arrival of our dishes was well staggered so we never felt rushed to eat one thing before the next arrived. The sashimi was quite tasty, as was everything else we ordered. I notice that everyone has talked about the "trendy" atmosphere. I have no idea what that means, but the design is very creative, and the lighting is especially interesting. The plastic chairs were more comfortable than I would ever imagined was possible. Overall, an excellent experience. No complaints. Pro tip: Pod is right next door to a hotel with a valet, so it's very easy to get a cab.
(5)
Tempest M.
My first time visiting Pod was awesome. The service was great and the food was amazing. Every dish we tried was full of flavor with excellent texture. I had the pork belly buns and lamb meatballs. My friend had the asparagus and salmon. He automatically had a foodgasm upon tasting the asparagus. Pod has now replaced El Vez as my favorite Starr restaurant. The cocktails were also amazing. I can't remember the names but it's apparent you cannot go run no matter what you decide.
(5)
Cindy W.
I love a restaurant that has a great atmosphere, is fun and has great food, and that's what Pod is to me. In order for me to trek from NJ to Philly, and pay the bridge tolls $4 and the parking fees $15-20 and now gas... I want to be impressed when I come out. The decor of Pod is really futuristic, the hosts are cute and wait staff is great and friendly! this is the type of restaurant thats fun to get dressed up and go to. When my husband and I go out to dinner, we like to try everything so we usually order a few appetizers, then our meals and desserts. I think the last time we came here, we ordered the spring rolls, some tempura, a plate of sushi, and some pad thai and steak. Everything was seasoned great and tasty, and cooked to perfection. We have never been disappointed here, we always enjoy ourselves at the Pod!
(4)
Sneha D.
This is a classic go-to for my family for special occasions!
(5)
Joel F.
One of S. Starr's Philadelphia restaurants, and so comes with expectations higher than most restaurants in the city. Foodwise, it doesn't disappoint. There's a nice mix of traditional and creative sushi (e.g. lobster rolls, tuna handrolls 3-ways) which was all fresh and nicely done. Additionally, the menu has a whole page of dim sum (appetizers) and entree dishes drawing from Japanese, Chinese, and Thai influences....think Pad Thai, Steak Teriyaki, etc. We opted to get all sushi and dim sum and were very happy with our choices. What lost this place a star was its decor; it's pretty weird. The theme seems to be Japanese minimalism, with blank white walls, hard white chairs, and a cracked cement floor. This all gives a feeling of coldness to the dining room. Great food, great service, weird interior. But highly recommended!
(4)
Don M.
Weird place, good for novelty at best. Pod is "high design," but it's amazing how quickly the Wallpaper look has dated, but that's all you are paying for. Food is divided into two principle types: half-decent deep fried chinese (think updated general tso's) and subpar sushi. The price is ludicrous for a university area meal. I guess students have more cash on their hands than I did or perhaps just don't understand their loans, but seriously... I spent $40 for some awful sushi and some sake. I felt lousy about doing it. Lots of money, nothing to show for it. Would've eaten better at Au Bon Pain, no question.
(1)
Lindsay F.
I'm not sure why Pod is getting such so-so reviews--I really enjoy this place. Yes, the drinks are pretty overpriced ($12 for a guava margarita that is small is pretty absurd) and to be honest, I was not that impressed with the sushi I had. However, this place more than made up for it with its ambiance and food. I usually start out with the vegetable tempura or Thai lettuce wraps (the peanut dipping sauce is fabulous) and from there I get the filet mignon. I absolutely love the filet at Pod--it simply melts in my mouth and the truffled teriyake sauce is delicious. I'm usually too stuffed by dessert time, but when I can manage it, I usually opt for the creme brulee trio or the fluffernutter spring rolls. This place has a great vibe to it and the service is usually spot on. People need to give this place a chance--I think it delivers in terms of food, service and environment.
(4)
bernie v.
If you're looking for a "fun" place to go - POD should be a definite consideration. Funky decor, very friendly waitstaff, electronica music playing in the background - unfortunately the food is just ok. We had the kobe beef appetizer, the crab spring rolls, shrimp pad thai, and the rainbow roll. All were decent except for the rainbow roll - which I thought was kinda subpar. Maybe we'll go back to give it another chance later down the road, but if we're in the mood for a great dinner, we won't be coming here.
(3)
D J.
Pimp. Went there when it first openedin early 2000's. Was in the Diesel Boy video shoot for MTV
(4)
Alex C.
steve starr...hype asian fusion...hype real world philly hang out...hype It's a lot of hype, and the last one should probably have given it away. Of all the Steven Starr restaurants in Philly, I must say this one, in terms of food, is the most average and mundane. It's your typical wasabi mashed potatoes, westernized potstickers, and assorted fish steaks asian fusion restaurant. After that, Pod also offers a sushi bar and your typical Thai and Chinese stir-fry dishes. The portions are large and are done decently well, but I just expect more from a restaurant of this supposed caliber--more creativity, more daring entrees. Food-wise, it's just nothing terribly special for the price. During the multiple times that I've had recruiting dinners here or come here with friends to celebrate an occasion, I just haven't felt any change in the menu...maybe, a couple of specials...but besides that...it's been the same things repeated over and over again. The only thing that saves Pod from being relegated to the 2-star level is the fact that it has a cool bar and some fun cocktails. It's definitely a nice place to hang around and get a drink, and I prefer it much more as a pre or post-dinner cocktail lounge because I'd much rather go somewhere else for food. If you're in the mood for Steven Starr, Asian fusion, and cool atmosphere, go to Buddakan...it just feels more suave and I think the food tastes better there. Additionally, I hate the blue uniforms that they make the Pod staff wear.
(3)
Chris Y.
Hip atmosphere and a bit reminiscent of Stars Wars IV's watering hole (you know the one where Luke enters that bar with the big lip alien chick singing and then he severs some poor space rat's hand off). However a feeling of uneasiness shrouded my soul when the bill came, good thing my girl paid!
(4)
Matthew D.
Awesome environment! Great food - lots of 'raw' dishes... Must see if your in University City!
(4)
Richard T.
The food here is so-so with the sushi being the best thing here. The decor is great - what else would you expect from a Steven Starr restaurant. My recent trip here for someones birthday was the worst thing ever. We made a reservation in advance and when we got here the hostess mentioned that are table was ready. We were okay with that, but as the time past (40 minutes) we still weren't seated. As a result we decided to leave since apparently reservations doesn't count. One thing that was interesting as soon as we left the hostess said "fine if that's you're prerogative." I thought that was rude I will definitely not go there anymore.
(2)
Tiffany J.
because I love budakhan, this place barely measured up! The only thing exceptional was the Lobster sushi, everything else was just ok! This is like Budakhan's evil stepsister, I just don't think it has the same love! Now the decor is nice, very fancy and "futuristic" as one post said. But the bathroom...UGH! I could've died! I thought I was in an airplane bathroom with no windows or ventilation! I almost threw up in there! The one upside was that our waiter was the most gorgeous man alive! he made the night enjoyable! We went and tried 3 apps, 2 dinners, 2 desserts and 4 drinks, the drinks were good, the sushi: great, everything else, just average! this is my least favorite Steven Starr establishment!
(2)
Aire G.
this place is so unassuming from outside. if i hadn't been with someone who knew where they were going i would have walked right past it. It took me a moment to notice the little pods playing anime on the outside of the building and i was already excited. i walked into the building and as soon as i crossed the threshold i felt like i was in a completely different space. this place is awesome. it's colors are amazing, i love the decor. Although i didn't get pod experience this time because we didn't have enough people i still got to taste some colors. Red is definitely one of my favorites. the food was out of this world. the spring roll appetizers were amazing, the sushi was worth the price and the desert was out of this world. i have to go back just for the pod experience. hell i would go with 4 strangers to have it again~! a restaurant everyone needs to try before they die. maybe i'm just partial to any high class restaurant that shows anime
(5)
Summer A.
Hungry for sushi? Grab two or three of your friends and head over to Pod, an Asian "fusion" restaurant in the heart of the city. You'll feel like you're stepping into the pages of a magazine, given the modern feel of the...well, pod, that you're experiencing. I've only been there for lunch -- but I recommend the chicken lettuce wraps and a house salad (big enough for two to share) for starters! Just don't look to get too full from the fare. I definitely was ready to snack by the time I got back to my office. :-b
(4)
Shon C.
came to pod while visiting philly, mostly because it was right next door to our hotel. this place looks like a space-ship, so that's a plus. food was excellent, although a bit overpriced. really enjoyed the potsickers w/ mustard aioli, as well as the spicy tuna rolls topped with rock shrimp. the real reason to come here is really for the ambience - worth a visit at least once.
(3)
L S.
The martini's were good but not strong I had 2 and I still didin't have a buzz and I'm a "lightweight". I ordered the Chicken entree with carrots and snap peas it was very good. I would definitely go back!
(4)
Jasmin G.
The atmosphere is hot, and the drinks are good. They have a 'sushi conveyer belt' where the sushi keeps moving around the sushi bar and you just pick what you want..pretty sweet i recommend getting a few pieces of sushi and then splurging on the triple tier chocolate fondue dessert with some friends...its really good and only $15..
(5)
Chris B.
In brief - very overpriced mediocre sushi. But it wins some points back with a unique futuristic atmosphere, great location for Penn folks, and a fantastic crab fried race.
(3)
Marc M.
Disney Land Asian food for adults? If there were such a thing, Pod would be leading the way. Aside from trying to be too cool, the food is just mediocre. Now, I'm just as happy as the next man to eat mediocre food if it's at a mediocre price. So you see my dilemma - Pod's pricing is anything but mediocre. I have also received less than mediocre service and that's just down right annoying when the kitchen staff can at least aim for mediocre. Over rated and over stated - that's Pod.
(2)
stephanie x.
You can find better food elsewhere. The portions are very small. There were 4 of us and we split one of their plates of maki and nigiri, tempura combination, kobe beef appetizer, duck duck udon, and shumai (pork dumplings). We still all left a little hungry. It's a place to go just to experience the different flavors, but I recommend pre-eating. The fish on the nigiri was very nice and fatty and tasted like it just melted in your mouth. The maki however was unimpressive, tasted like something you can get for $6 from the local grocer. The tempura combination was pretty good and had a mix of shrimp, carrots, string beans, and potatoes. The kobe beef appetizer was not worth the price tag by any means. It's about 3 bites of thinly sliced beef, lacking any special flavor or texture. The guy who cooked it for us had a lot of difficulty using chopsticks. I was worried he was going to drop the beef when moving it from the rock to the serving plate, though he was very nice. They claim it's a popular dish, probably because they cook it for you tableside on a rock. The duck duck udon was decent. The duck meat and dumplings in the soup was a good flavor and tenderness. The shumai was terrible, loaded with salt. Any Chinatown restaurant can cook up a better shumai. The atmosphere has a futuristic space ship look to it. It's a comfortable place to eat. However, for a trendy and overpriced restaurant, the restrooms at this place do not match its dining room. Instead of having his and her bathrooms, they have these tiny rooms, about the size of a regular stall. While trying to stay with the futuristic theme, it only looks like a lavatory you find on an airplane - same size, look, and cramped feel, not to mention, dirty. Service is okay. They tend to "hover" since after all, you are paying for the service but consequently your conversation gets interrupted quite a bit. Our food plus sake for 2, and 1 cocktail, not including tip came out to $130. Ehh all around.
(2)
kay k.
Loved Pod, It was my first time there. The place was packed as usual. Make a reservation, if you're going with a large party. Great for after hours or lunch with a friend, which I did that day. I ate at the Sushi bar, which has sushi rotating on a conveyor belt on the table that you can grab and sample, prices vary for each sample by the plate color from I think $2-$6, the chart is on the tables. Very Very good. I think I'll go back just for the sushi bar and drinks. I had the macadamian nut chicken, it wasn't my favorite but it was one of their more popular dishes. I preferred the chicken and shrimp egg roll appetizer in wasabi mustard, my mouth waters just thinking about how good that was mmmmmmm. So yes Pod I'll be back and excellent excellent waitress service the bartenders could be more attentive, but i understand it was very very busy in there. Kudos to them as well.
(5)
Oski B.
I've come here a few times for work lunches. It's decent food, the staff is reasonably attentive, and the food comes out pretty quickly. If you go during the academic year, this place is crawling with undergrads charging another meal to their parents and Wharton kids spending they $100K+ in b-school loans that they've already taken out as they live in denial about the job market.
(3)
Meg B.
Had 3 great experiences at Pod. The service was great all three times I was there. I love the decor, very chic and modern yet very jetson like! Gotta love the convyer belt sushi bar and the fun pods. The bathrooms are modeled after an airplane bathroom ( yeah, it's interesting, not that appealing to me though!). What I can rave about: Lobster roll- Fabulous but I suggest getting one order and splitting it with a few people, may just be me but I find that if I have one or two rolls, I'm in heaven but having anymore is pushing it-they're very filling Lettuce wraps-even if you're not a fan of using the lettuce, get it for the beef and chicken stir fry alone! Sooo freakin good Crab spring rolls -also yummy and the sweet chili dipping sauce is a great compliment- these springrolls are very creamy and don't have much sprout and lettuce that you usually find in a spring roll- they remind me of the crab wontons that have disapeared from the continential menu ( tear tear) Pad Tai- I am an avid fan of pad tai and this is no disapointment! My only neg point is that they don't open until 5 on Saturdays so you can do lunch there.
(4)
steven c.
Had dinner there February this year and I have to say it was great. Before I compliment this place, First let me list the bad things because there's only a few. First the price, while the food is great the price was a bit costly, around 30-40 for an entree and 20ish for an appetizer. The second is the amount of space, it seems a bit cramped because on the dining floor there are 2 columns that go down to the end fo the restaurant and maybe about a foot or 2 between each table which seats 2. Other than that I loved the place, the ambiance is nice the dim lighting really sets the mood. Their special drinks are great as well! Me and my girlfriend got non alcoholic mixed drinks and they were delicious, possibly our favorite part of the night haha. Over all the food while not amazing is quite tasty and well worth a try if you're every in a spending mood. I highly recommend the place
(3)
Van M.
Service was excellent. Decor and Atmosphere was really fun and contemporary. The food was delicious. If you come to Philly, you need to check it out.
(4)
Erica M.
I came here for a friend's bday dinner and when we couldn't get a res for Buddakan she choose Pod. With all the hype surrounding other Steven Starr restaurants I thought Pod was a let down. To start we ordered 2 sushi rolls as an appetizer, salmon avocado and rock- in spicy tuna. Both rolls were fresh and definitely the highlight of the meal. I split the udon and tofu stir fry with my friend along with the mushroom and sweet pea dumplings. We both agreed the dumplings were a huge disappointment and we didn't even finish them. The udon was not what we expected, the noodles were tasty but the tofu was deep fried and looked like a crouton. It was pretty gross. For dessert we split the bread pudding that tasted more like a brownie. We polished it off so no real complaints, but definitely not your standard bread pudding. At the end of the meal we all agreed that Pod is not worth running back to. It was a fun place to go for a bday dinner but the food was average at best.
(3)
Anna G.
Went to POD last night for dinner and I have to tell you I will not eat there again. The food was good but not amazing. BUT what was most alarming was it is VERY over priced!!!! We order the sushi and sashimi platter that was $44...We were expecting some amazing pieces to come out...what we got was the average fish that we can order at any other sushi place.....less expensive as well!!!!! Not impressed at all!!!!!! And our server had zero personality!!!! Come on Mr. Starr...... The decor was fun and the music was great!!!!! So I give this just one star
(1)
Farah H.
Terrible service. Paid by cash at lunch today and was shortchanged by $20. When I told the waitress, she did not apologize for the oversight. Went back and finally got the correct change. But no apology or smile or anything. Brown rice in bento box smelled bad like it was stale. I have eaten here many times before and each time the service is going downhill. Such a shame. Will be telling the University of Pennsylvania staff and students to find a better choice for lunch meetings. Bad experience.
(1)
Nick O.
The trendy, white tables and primary color lighting will be hit or miss with people, but the food is pretty darn good for University City. Tips: 1) Order drinks! They have great-tasting martinis and a nice selection of asian beers and sakes (no soju though). They're pricy but worth it. 2) Seating is hit and miss, so make sure you request a certain spot. Maybe you'll like the window nooks, maybe you want the cozy chairs near the front, maybe you want one of the colored rooms. Pros: 1) Interesting ambiance 2) Sushi is decently cut and pretty fresh. 3) Lots of variety on the menu 4) Great drinks. Cons: 1) Sushi isn't the best cuts or the freshest for what they charge. One time I had a bone in my toro. 2) Some people will hate the ambiance. 3) Some seating is uncomfortable. Overall a good spot in University City and a great place for parties, but not my first choice in the area.
(3)
Tawny D.
Right off the bat, AWESOME. This was an absolute last-minute decision for a double date and we really couldn't have done better! (All 4 of us are in our early to mid 20's so the atmosphere is awesome for a Friday night chill spot before heading out to the bars) As soon as you walk in, you're struck by the decor (Stephen Starr rocks it) with the low ebbing, multi-color lights and upbeat tempo music. Our coats were checked right away and we were whisked off to our table. Our waitress was the absolute best (I wish I remembered her name so I could give her kudos on here!) and was very friendly and laid back. She knew the menu inside and out and was even able to efficiently describe some of the plating options to those who weren't familiar with the menu selections. She accurately described how the food would come out--as ready-- and we weren't left with any surprises, etc. She was able to offer drink options and parings as well, honestly, she really made our first experience at Pod what it was! On to the food, we ordered so many different things and shared that I really can't remember it all! My boyfriend and I shared the Chicken lettuce wraps (I was so pleased to see if came with bib lettuce, love it!), the seafood friend rice (everyone raves about the crab fried rice (agreed) but heck, this includes everything!), and the special wings of the night, which were in an awesome honey-teriyaki glaze. We then both got sushi and indulged in the drinks. I highly recommend the Blue (I don't do sweet cocktails, but trust me, this one does it and then some) while my boyfriend got their special drink of the night, their take on a lemon-grass mint julep. The couple we were with did the tempura rock shrimp ( uh YES) and then ordered a bunch of sushi as well. The rolls are cut large and packed thick so don't fret, however, if you are limiting your appetizers I may suggest ordering yourself two rolls just in case. I know they also got the Pad Thai and were able to substitute chicken for the regular shrimp with no problem. This bowl was LARGE, they ended up having to take that home (along with the fried rice) given how much there was. Now don't get me wrong, we LOVE leftovers, so this is absolutely fine and not a negative nod to the restaurant. Also, to be fair, our waitress did tell us that one order of either the crab or seafood friend rice would be enough for all of us to share (she was spot on!). Overall, great experience, the only reason I shied way from giving it 5 stars, was that some of the seating on the center of the main floor seemed a tad packed. The cubbies for 2 off to the side are awesome, as are the larger, private party rooms. Luckily, as a table of 4, we were given an end table so we had more room. I don't have a single negative thing to say and after writing this review, I'm certainly craving the seafood fried rice. Can't wait to come back again! *Side Note*: They DO NOT accept Discover. I am unsure of MasterCard/American Express. As usual, Visa is just fine.
(4)
Ayana P.
Pod is like so trendy. The man and I had dinner here last night. The place was packed. The hostess said it was because Penn students were on spring break. Anyway, it would be about an hour wait, but seats were available at the sushi bar. We're easy to please so we had no problem with the sushi bar. I'm actually glad I had the chance to experience that cool conveyer belt sushi bar thing they got going on there. This was my second time here and I was pleased again. Even though it's only a restaurant, Pod is a good time. It provides a lively futuristic atmosphere, a variety of menu options and cool drinks without smug.
(4)
Lucy G.
Very modern decor. They seated us promptly without a reservation which was a plus. Pretty extensive menu and I ordered a spicy salmon roll which was not on the menu. It was good, but not great. The salmon was a little bit fatty. We also got some seafood fried rice which was delicious. This place wasn't spectacular but it was good. If I'm by Penn and am looking for sushi, I'd likely go again. It was pretty expensive though -- two rolls and a fried rice came out to 36 dollars. Service was quick and polite. Our waiter was attentive, if a little on the hovery side, but he was very kind.
(4)
Arielle L.
My boyfriend and I went to Pod last night for date night and had a great experience! We started off with a sake flight and pork dumplings - YUM. With dinner I ordered their fresh soda - blood orange and pomegranate with an acai liqueur and it was delicious! We shared the sushi/sashimi sampler which was an excellent mix of two rolls (be careful - their spicy rolls are super spicy, which I loved, but might be too much if you're sensitive to spice) several different nigiri pieces, and a nice sample of sashimi as well. The fish was excellent - fresh, flavorful, and nicely sized pieces. We also got the seafood fried rice which was yummy - lobster, shrimp and scallops. The service was good too and the ambiance was really cool! Overall it was great and we left very stuffed! - a little pricey, but not terrible in comparison to similar restaurants (Morimoto, Buddakhan etc.)
(4)
Niyant S.
My fiance and I came here to celebrate 2 very important milestones: her 25th birthday and me successfully defending my thesis! To top it off, this is my 100th review, clearly another important milestone! This restaurant is very modern/trendy, and has a clear Asian influence to it (obviously, it is a Sushi restauran after all). After looking over the menu, my fiance and I both found that there were so many great options for the both of us, that it was hard to decided what to get. We spent a pretty long time deliberating over the menu, and asked the waitress for several suggestions as well. Finally, my fiance, who is vegetarian, settled on a mixed vegetable roll, the asparagus Robata (which refers to a Japanese style grill), and vegetable fried rice. I ordered the tuna hand roll 3 ways, and the short ribs Robata. My fiance enjoyed her meal, and in particular she really liked the asparagus and the rice. I was highly intrigued by meal, however. In particular, I had no idea what to expect with the tuna hand rolls, and much to my surprise, they came out looking like ice cream cones! Each one was either spicy tuna, tuna with cucumber, and tuna with avocado, and each one came with a different type of wrapping to it. They were all really good, and the only downside is that they were not like traditional rolls meant to be eaten with chopsticks, I actually ate them similar to how I would eat an ice cream cone! The best dish, however, were the perfectly cooked short ribs. They came out on this hot stone plate, and were skewered with 3 large chunks on each skewer. The meat was delicious, each bite practically melted in my mouth! I would highly recommend ordering these if you come to Pod.
(4)
Keli T.
Fun decor and very good food. A little expensive but the favors were great and the choices are different and creative. We loved the rock shrimp tempura and Japanese eggplant.
(4)
Michelle C.
Oh hey, Review 300. How you doin'? I was here last night with a group of five lovely ladies to celebrate the last "official" night of singledom for one of my girlfriends. You might know her, she's Philly yelper Jessica B.! Jess and I go way back. When I was in 7th grade, our township made the genius decision to cut costs by busing all the public and private school students together. At the time, I was fairly shy and very awkward, so I boarded the bus each afternoon filled with fear and panic. Fear that one of the public school kids would make fun of my red plaid uniform, panic that my skirt would somehow tuck itself into my underwear as I got up to exit the bus, branding me as a gigantic dork before I even had a fighting chance in high school. Day after day, I sat in the second or third row, not daring to turn around but always listening intently to every conversation going on behind me. I was awestruck by the curly haired girl who knew everyone and spoke freely - and loudly. One day, she broke the ice and started a conversation with me. I was convinced it was some kind of a setup so I proceeded with caution, but to my surprise, we ended up establishing a friendly association. Now, all these years later, my bus buddy is all grown up and getting hitched! What does this have to do with Pod, you ask? Absolutely nothing, other than the fact that it was Jess' choice for her bachelorette dinner and I felt like telling a little story. Walking into the restaurant, I looked around and instantly thought: futuristic IKEA. The floors are industrial looking and the furniture is all very white, with neon lights accenting throughout the room. I noticed many dates going on in the little wall nooks and was somewhat surprised. I think the likeliness of an alien probe would be greater than the conjuring up of any romantic feelings in that place. Our server greeted the table and took our drink orders, followed by our starters. We all needed a few extra minutes to decide on entrees. We started with rock shrimp tempura and butter poached lobster from the dim sum menu. The shrimp were very good, although the pecan halves and pineapple chunks were somewhat puzzling. The lobster dish was just okay. There was hardly enough for each girl to have a bite, and the tofu and vegetable accompaniments did absolutely nothing for the dish. We polished off the dim sum, while the menus continued to sit on our laps. Eventually, our server reappeared and we were able to place the order for our mains. At this point, I decided to visit the ladies', which actually turned out to be a hallway of unisex bathrooms. The stall looked exactly like an airplane bathroom, which definitely creeped me out. I took solace in the fact that the space was twice as large and I wouldn't have any reason to fear being sucked through the toilet. When I returned to the table, the food was already being delivered. This was surprising as we had just placed our orders, and our silverware had not even been replenished at that point. We sat, staring at our meals with hungry eyes. Finally, we received utensils and I got friendly with my wasabi crusted filet with wasabi mash. The steak was perfectly cooked, although I didn't detect any wasabi flavor. The potatoes were also a bit weak. I was expecting a kick, similar to the wasabi mash that is served at Buddakan, but the flavors were less intense. Still, the meal was very good, if a bit pricey at almost $30. I also had several bites of Jess' miso glazed sea bass and sweet potato puree, which was absolutely phenomenal. The fish tasted as though it had spent its life swimming in a sea of butter. Each bite was rich, with the perfect touch of sweetness from the miso glaze. It was around the end of our meal that our server decided to show up again. He made us laugh with his astrological predictions and witty banter, but I sure hope some of the food runners were getting a piece of his tip, because they really did most of the work. We passed on dessert in an effort to get the party started. It's unlikely that I will make the trek to University City just to return to Pod, although that sea bass alone might provide enough of a reason, should the craving strike.
(3)
Rob W.
Pod might be the definitive Asian fusion restaurant. Oddly shaped dining areas, glowing neon accent lights and sushi on a train are just a few things that makes Pod so unique and fun. The food is also wonderfully delicious. I munched on the Kobe beef rice and a vegetable tempura which were both delicious. The tempura was very crispy and the dipping sauce was nice and light. We also had the short rib robata which wasn't my favorite. Some of the beef was a little over cooked. I love the place but they need to drop the prices a few bucks before I come back, it's not the Pod of old Mr. Starr.
(4)
Hannah G.
Went to Pod for dinner on a Tuesday night. It was fairly busy, but not crowded. We were able to get seated right away. We had a sushi combo that included tuna, yellowtail, and salmon sashimi as well as a spicy tuna roll and a yellowtail + scallion roll. Nice presentation and tasty. We also had the seafood fried rice (lobster, shrimp, and scallops), which was really good. We were interested in trying something from the Japanese grill, so we had the grilled corn as well. I wasn't a huge fan of the spices used, but it was interesting to try. The cocktails we tried were OK, but not our taste -- a little overly sweet. The service was some of the best in the city. Both the hostess that sat us and our server were kind, attentive, and energetic. There are several other restaurants I'd like to try before coming back here for a meal, but the fantastic service will definitely bring me back for appetizers or a drink if I'm in the area.
(3)
Kati S.
I'm not really a sushi fan, but the BF loves it--so this place is a good compromise for us. I really enjoyed the crab spring rolls. Love, love, love the Green Martini. I had 3. Consequently, my recollection of the entree is a bit hazy...
(4)
Michael L.
So the Sushi is pretty good, I just personally couldn't get past the whole futuristic, science fiction atmosphere. I get that it is hip and posh, but I guess I like the traditional atmosphere and Japanese cultural environment. This looked like a scene out of that 70s Show .. But the Sushi.. like i said before... is pretty good. If closed my eyes, and just focused on nothing but the taste -- it was good; but the red seats, white tables, yellow lamp shades and all.. just wasn't feeling it. Will I go, yup; is it my first choice... nope. Would it be great for take-out.. absolutely!
(3)
Diane G.
great food, great ambience, fun place to eat! Been there several times - pricey but best bet is to order a bunch of dim sums and share. I think sometimes people criticize food because its expensive not because its not good - if it was cheaper they would say it was fabulous!
(4)
Nicole Y.
I love this place. Pod was one of my favorite restaurants to go to in Philly and is a great place to take out of town friends. The martinis are all very tasty and reasonably priced. The sushi is a little expensive, but is extremely good. I also really enjoyed the salads and soups here. They have a conveyor belt sushi bar where you can sit and pick individual rolls as they move by. The vibe there is really great - they have rooms that light up in different colors and generally your table/chairs have lights in them as well. There is usually Cowboy Bebop or something similar playing on the TV behind the sushi bar and they have great happy hour specials. It sometimes gets overrun with Penn students, but if you call ahead and make a reservation you won't have to worry about waiting very long. The only downside is parking nearby which can be difficult, particularly on the weekends.
(4)
Liz C.
I frequent this restaurant quite a bit, as it's the closest restaurant to my office. If you're looking for cheap food, this isn't really the place. But if you're looking for quality food with a cool atmosphere and good drinks, then this is perfect. A smattering of my favorites and not so favorites ... Faves: - Calamari Salad: it's HUGE, filling, delicious, light, but still indulgent. so good! - Salmon & Avocado Sushi - super fresh and delicious - Penn Roll - raw fish, but still accessable to those that are new to sushi. really yum. - Steamed Pork Belly Buns - there is nothing to say about this but yum. amazing. - Seafood Green Curry (lunch special) - lots of food for not a bad price. good flavor and big pieces of seafood - Lobster Roll - a bit over priced, but the presentation and taste are awesome and worth it if you feel like a splurge. - Shrimp Pad Thai - not super greasy like other places. clean excellent flavor. - Kobe Beef - this is prepared tableside on a hot rock. it's overpriced, but again, if you want to splurge, it's worth it for the taste and presentation. - Fluffernutter Egg Rolls - a decadent way to conclude your meal. be warned: it comes with 3, so if you both want 2 rolls each, you can ask for an additional. they are RICH, though, so I usually only want one. Not So Faves: - Tempura Rock Shrimp - not sure what I thought was going to come out, but I wasn't expecting a giant bowl of tiny fried shrimp covered in some sort of creamy sauce. it was good, but not awesome. Catapiller Roll - an eel, avocado and mango roll ... I don't know. I love all of those ingredients, but the last time that I had it, it tasted fishy to me. - Seafood Fried Rice - this is good, but a bit on the greasy side when compared to how light and non-greasy the rest of the more familiar Chinese dishes are. All in all, I think Pod is worth it. I've always had top notch service, it's great for large groups, it's great for private parties (you can have your own room or sit in one of the private crazy light pods!!) and the food is good. It's up to you how much you spend when you go ... you can get out of there for not so much or you can drop a crap ton of money. End of the day, I'm a fan. :)
(4)
Sean H.
Pod isn't some life-altering experience, I have to say. It is, however, the best option on Penn's campus if you are looking for something a little nicer than your average food court experience. I always get the chicken lettuce wraps and the chicken and macadamia stir-fry, though the wasabi-encrusted filet mignon is awesome as well. I can't comment on the sushi, as I still wasn't into sushi when I last went. I hear that it's quite good, though. The drinks are great here! We spent many a night tasting the full rainbow of colorful drinks on offer at Pod. If you happen to be in the neighborhood, Pod is definitely worth a try. The only thing I miss is the basil fried rice, which disappeared a few years back. :-(
(4)
Hoa T.
So I came back here for the $25 all you can eat sushi. I'm pretty sure that we ordered 80% of all the things on the AYCE menu. The fish were fabulously fresh and decadent. For the nigiri, I love how the rice portion was not huge like some other AYCE places. Personal favorites of mine is the Penn roll and the yellowtail jalapenos roll/hand roll. There were also drink specials for the night, so you can get a martini or beer with your sushi. I love this place. FYI the rule of AYCE is that you have to finish everything on your plate or it will be counted at full menu price. There is no sharing with people not getting AYCE. It's only on Tuesday starting at 7PM.
(5)
Jessica M.
My first impressions of Pod were mixed. I thought the atmosphere was kinda cool, but also trying too hard. Then I was seated at one of the tables on the main floor where felt like I was in some kind of weird, dimly lit futuristic high school cafeteria. My dining companion noted that she felt oddly exposed. That's pretty much where the mixed feelings ended, though, because from that point on, I have nothing but love. We ordered from the University City Dining Days prix fixe menu. For $30, I was able to choose an appetizer, an entree, and was served a "pastry chef's selection" for dessert. We were also offered $5 sake mojitos, which was a nice touch and a great compliment to all of the food. Since, like the Continental, food is served as it's prepared, my friend and I ordered together and shared everything. Food came out at a perfect, leisurely-but-not-too-slow pace, so we had time to enjoy and digest everything. Our waiter was totally friendly and attentive, which I have found to be unusual when ordering from prix fixe menus. As for the food: From the dim sum menu, we chose the shrimp dumplings and the vegetable maki. Each dumpling was stuffed with a whole piece of juicy shrimp and they were served with a side of lime-chili dipping sauce. Yum! The maki were also delicious, stuffed with avocado, cucumber and asparagus - and since everything is made to order, they had no problem leaving out the carrot to accommodate my food allergy. For the main course we chose the Sezchuan lamb chops and the miso glazed Chilean sea bass. The lamb chops were slightly overcooked (they were small and we ordered them medium-rare) but flavorful, and they were served atop a pile of sesame Shanghai noodles. We both agreed the noodles were kind of boring and unnecessary to the dish. They weren't bad, but we left most of them on the plate. The sea bass was the stand out dish of the night. The fish was cooked perfectly, and was buttery yet light, making us wish we had both ordered it because we could have eaten twice as much. It was served over mashed sweet potatoes, which seemed like it wouldn't go but turned out to be the perfect addition. Dessert ended up being a piece of pumpkin pie napoleon (layered ginger spice cake, cinnamon white chocolate mousse, crispy rice pastry and pumpkin custard) and a trio of sorbets (banana-passionfruit, blueberry and raspberry). The napoleon was delicious, and though the sorbets tasted really good, they were underwhelming next to the cake. The menu offered was a perfect introduction to Pod restaurant. I can't wait to go back, and my friend and I are even considering going again this week while they are still running the prix fixe!
(4)
Adam C.
I'm sure it's great if you're a trendy hipster living in U City, but if you want really good Asian food, save your money and go get it. Of course, it seems like a pretty cool place to hang out if you don't mind overpriced drinks and good tasting food if you get hungry.
(2)
Shin Yi L.
Pod usually never fails and it's one of my favorite places to go on campus. I usually order sushi rolls or get the seafood fried rice + bok choy. The bok choy here is typically top-notch and way better than even chinese restaurants in Chinatown. My friends and I usually order the bok choy to share even if we each order our own mains. Today was a disaster: I took one bite and didn't want to eat the rest. It was overcooked and not flavorful. When I told the server, she did not charge me for it (which is great) but I left feeling sad/disappointed that a good dish is ruined!
(2)
Ellen W.
Well... The GOOD: I'll start by saying the food was TASTY, slightly overpriced for SMALLISH ENTREES. Chicken lettuce wraps, yum. Shrimp pad thai, yum. Salad with fresh spring mix lettuce greens, yum. Appetizers ok priced. My teenage daughter and her friend had a GENEROUS bowl of miso soup with micro cubes of tofu in it. They have a tasting menu offered on the standard menu, one at $45 and one for $60 I believe which is nice. The BAD: (and I mean REALLY BAD!)-the WAITRESS KATIE!!! the waitress was truly the WORST I've ever had. She came to the table WITHOUT an enthusiastic greeting. BUT when we needed some guidance with ordering, she was QUICK to be IRRITATED and RUDE, and to blow off her duties of hospitality and service as 1) SHE SNIPPED, "you want me to give you a few more minutes to work this out???!!!!". It was a Wednesday nite at 8:30, so there wasn't a crowd. And the silly minimum of 6 people to a pod (we had 5!) shouldn't be an issue when catering to a new customer visiting from out-of-town on a non-busy evening, c'mon. But, as it was, there were MORE HORRIBLE SARCASTIC REMARKS from KATIE, the WAITRESS. 2)when we told katie we asked another employee to help us get the iced tea we ordered 15 minutes earlier, trying to guide her to that girl, she BARKED, "there are a LOT of females that work here!!", implying 'how the hell am I supposed to know which girl you talked to!'. And 3)when we FINALLY got our entrees, which seemed to take a while, and after we had to REMIND ANOTHER waiter that we never received our sushi appetizers, our AWFUL, INATTENTIVE waitress KATIE finally came by and instead of asking how we liked our foods, she SNIPPED YET AGAIN!!, "well then, I'll get out of you way and let you to it!!!". SOME NERVE she had. so, RUDENESS by WAITRESS caused a potential perfect meal, into a BIG 2 star BUMMER!! Inappropriate comments made us feel UNCOMFORTABLE and DISPLEASED. will not rush to ever return.
(2)
Eric W.
I don't know what is better: the happy hour, the authentic sushi bar, or the Asian fusion food. The staff is friendly, and they appreciate regulars. Chef Takae is very skilled and willing to make create new things to people's tastes. Try this place at least three times to see which you like best.
(5)
MJ L.
The miso fish dish was quite good. The bathrooms are weird and not practical.
(4)
Alex M.
So I have always heard good things about Pod from friends so I figured I would give it a shot. The interior has a neat feel, very much like Morimoto. The bathrooms were probably the weirdest thing about this place. Its just one giant unisex bathroom with like 10 doors on either side of a hall way. The doors have an opaque soft front that is all squishy and idk, its just weird. Anyways, besides the novelty of the decor, the food wasnt anything too special. Granted, I did only have the sushi, which if you do get, make sure to try the crunchy spicy yellow tail. Honestly, though, the person I went with wasn't super adventurous so I didn't venture too far from the basics so Pod will definitely deserve another visit and another chance to impress me.
(3)
Alicia J.
I had low expectations for Pod. I know that several departments at Penn take their faculty candidates, invited speakers etc. etc. to this place and I also heard several times that the food is not so great. Indeed, I have had better sushi in my life, and for aforementioned low expectations the sushi wasn't really that bad. The fish tasted fresh (except for the way too dry shrimp) and the rice was well-done. But 16$ for a sushi platter is totally not worth it. One other aspect that absolutely irked me was that the menu clearly states that there would be one tamago sushi in the platter but it wasn't. It was the same thing for another person in our party who got the sushi deluxe platter but since she didn't complain I figured I wouldn't either. I was also surprised at how stylish/modern/trendy the atmosphere was. It was noisy, the interior design is rather boring, the seats were not particularly comfortable and worst of all, the stylish white furniture looked dirty and old. If you take your "VIPs" here shouldn't you pick a place with more... dignity? On the brighter side, service has been excellent throughout the entire time and somebody was kind enough to take our coats as soon as we got here. As one of the very few restaurants I have ever seen, I also like how they set the table with chopsticks and fork/knife so that you can pick one of them without embarrassing yourself.
(2)
Alexa M.
I'm went here last night to eat dinner with my family for my birthday. Don't let the great interior design of the restaurant fool you.. While you may be enjoying your time in a futuristic themed place remember you came there to enjoy a delicious meal. Our meals were anything but delicious.. Pod is known for sushi and let me just say I've never had such terrible sushi in my life i got a shrimp tempura roll, spicy tuna, lump crab California and a dynamite roll.. All very common rolls.. But the shrimp tastes like an old hotdog wrapped in rice.. And the rice tasted as if it had glue in it. The dynamite roll was SLIMY and nothing in it. California roll tasted off and tuna rolls had completely wrong seasonings. The rest of my family got fried rice and pad Thai, they were not pleased at all. This place is over priced and does not know how to create an enjoyable meal.. I will never go back again.
(1)
Nelson S.
On first glance this place looks like its trying too hard. Anytime you have a modern almost futuristic theme it tends to look dated quickly... kind of like how Tomorrowland probably looked futuristic for about 5 minutes. The plastic chairs are not comfortable and the wait staff looks like they are on Star Trek. But the food did not disappoint. We had a few of the nightly specials... a sushi roll with chilean sea bass on top, a soup with scallops and lobster, and a steak dish... and they were all awesome. And have the Samurai Jack. Great drink.
(4)
Tina C.
Fabulous sushi!! Crab fried frice is also amazing!! They have wonderful cocktails as well. Awesome atmosphere and just a really cool place overrall!
(4)
Heather M.
Went during University City Dining Days and got to try a lot of the menu, which was great. The saki mojito was really good. The other great dishes were the Pod Lobster Roll and the Creme Fraiche Cheesecake. The portions were really generous, which was surprising. I had high expectations, which were met for the most part, but for amazing sushi I would definitely go to Morimoto instead. I would probably give this a 3.5 if I could.
(4)
Elaine T.
(clear throat) I am going to start my first review on yelp with this awesome place in philly. Forgive for my bad English since I am Chinese and I can't do better (jk). I was in Philly for business around the Upenn area. A friend of mine who lives in Philly brought me there, which is happen to be right next to the hotel I am saying (Inn at Penn). It has a good location, neighborhood of Upenn and Drexel university. When I first went in there, I started to love it. They have really cool decorations, fancy cool chairs/booths that look really modern, and colored lights all over the restaurant that creates a vivid yet relaxing atmosphere. Also they have TV screens showing Japanese anime, which I think is kinda cute. In addition, they have the conveyor sushi belt. Though we didn't get a chance to sit there, but I've never encountered any place with that in Atlanta so I think that's cool. They had a wide selection of drinks, some are asian fusion, e.g. sake mojito, drinks with calpico and yuzu etc. I had a 'green', which is lime and honeydew. I love fruity drinks in general so obviously I loved it. We ordered chicken lettuce wrap, rainbow roll and pad thai. I was at first skeptical about american asian fusion restaurants because I can be picky about asian food. But i think this place is actually pretty good for asian fusion food. Rainbow roll is pretty standard quality. LOVE their lettuce wrap. It contains chicken stir fry that you wrap it around with lettuce. Compared to other american chinese food places which basically just tastes sweet and soy saucy, I think they did make it quite authentic in flavor; with a little twist in incorporating the lettuce wrap. Pad thai was not amazing, but I like the fact that they add little bit of spiciness compared to other pad thais I had before in america. Service was good. The server checked on us five times while we were eating. ;P Yes, you can say this place is pricy just for the food,. But it's in neighborhood with hotels so you can't really complain too much. Still I'd say it's a nice place to hang out once a while, and I would recommend people who are traveling like me to go there.
(4)
Olena S.
I've been to this place a couple of times, and the food is good depending on what you order. I'm kind of a picky eater so I won't hold that against the place, but there were only a couple of dishes that I liked (the sea bass is AMAZING). The place itself was pretty cool, more of a futuristic design - especially with the bathrooms! It's a cool place overall.
(3)
Albert C.
Basically they've got some decent decoration and you're paying completely for the atmosphere on everything you order. The food is terribly overpriced, which is amusing considering it's in the University district. Japanese fusion - inconsistently good, also with regard to service time it's great for lunch and early dinner or later in the evening, but terrible at dinner. I say it's decent for lunch because the pricing obviously comes down and is slightly better for an expensive lunch. Also I think because of volume of business the food is better during that time.
(2)
Dustin M.
Will agree with the mixed reviews below. The food is OK, atmosphere is unique, but hit 40 and you could care less, though the sake mojito was great... for $10 unfortunately. Neat place to try, but I wouldn't go back.
(2)
Jen L.
We brought our friend here for dinner for her birthday and I wished that we had taken her elsewhere. The food was not impressive, and the decor was just as disappointing. Although it is one of the Stephen Starr restaurants, it seems as though not much thought or effort was put into creating it. I wished we had gone to Jones instead to have brunch for dinner because I wouldn't have been left with an unsatisfied appetite.
(1)
Michelle E.
I love Pod. So, when I first heard about the "All you can eat" special, I made a reservation that day. In fact, my parents, and a few friends made reservations right away,too. When the day finally arrived for our all you an eat experience (I read a few negative reviews on here in the days prior to my reservation, but got a great report from friends who attended the night before) the restaurant was bustling with a great crowd. It felt more like a weekend night out than a Thursday. My friends and I were celebrating my new job- so the $5 Pink martini's were an added bonus to the all you can eat special. Management and our waiter were great, too. They sent edamame and shu mi to the table!! They explained the rules to us, and after much discussion at the table, only 2 of us ordered the special. I was amazed at the amount of sushi that my friends ate, and how quickly it came out-considering how crowded the restaurant was. I had my standard pod Caesar, which is my favorite salad in the city, and my other friend had the short rib dim sum- which was fabulous. Ive had a similar dish at continental- but the one a pod blows the Continental one away- its on par with the short rib at buddakan (my 2nd favorite Starr restaurant). The meal ended with what our table touted as the highlight of the meal- fluffernutter spring rolls and sesame cheesecake- UNBELIEVABLE! All in all, great job, Pod. You are trying something new, competing with restaurant week, and we had a great time, and a great meal. Cant wait to go back!
(5)
T L.
The ambiance of this place was cooool! We ordered U Love Salmon & tuna tartare as appetizers, and both were delicious! For entrees, we got pork tenderloin & kobe steak - FREAKIN' DELICIOUS! The kobe steak was perfect with so much flavor! We're still craving it, haha! For drinks, we got the pink & green martinis. All this came out to be $110 pre-tip, and it wasn't too bad. The portion might not be as big compared to the price, but the taste makes up for it. We will DEFINITELY be back for more kobe steak!!
(5)
Ryan C.
POD is all about the atmosphere. You'll feel like you're in that Janet/Michael Jackson Video "Scream." I've never sat in the 'POD"'s with their changeable colored lighting, they always put me in the back with the not-so-hip people. I feel this place is a bit touristy as well. Anyway, the drinks are unique. The food is fine. A bit pricey though.
(3)
caitlin p.
My brother said this was the freshest, best fish he had had outside of Tokyo. Plus the interior looks like the rec dec of the original starship Enterprise. The happy hour colored drinks are amazing- I challenge anyone to "drink the rainbow"! You can get 6 yellowfin tuna sushi for 6 bucks, so its a great snack with drinks. I just wish they had better beer- not the same old shitty Asahi. The $7 salads were huge! and get the dressing on the side, it was swimming in it.
(4)
Myra B.
We ordered sushi seatle(not recommended-overprice too) & spicy tuna roll was ok. House salad, sweet & sour chicken were above average however the crab fried rice was excellent. Overall the restaurant was nice but a bit overpriced.
(3)
Justin K.
Are you looking for delicious Japanese/Pan Asian fusion food and Sushi in a semi futuristic eating venue? Then POD is the place for you! Featuring a neat-o dining area with funky coloring, little rooms (Pod's) you can be seated in, or the main dining area (the centerpiece of which is the Sushi Conveyor Belt) POD is HIP. Theres a tv screen above the conveyor belt that shows movies and old timey cartoons, not to mention the tasty and strangely named Cocktails (Yellow, Blue, Green, Orange, etc etc is the naming scheme...plus they have one called Samurai Jack!) But if your also looking some pretty decent food to go with your hipness, then you can't go that wrong here. The Sushi is pretty decent if nothing spectacular, but you do get to pull it off a moving conveyor belt, which adds to the fun if you sit at the Sushi Bar. All the other food I've had here has been fairly delicious as well, with the Duck 2 Ways a definite highlight (the pan seared Duck Breast portion was especially juicy). But then again I'm a sucker for Duck (a Ducker?). But if you eat only one thing here ever for the rest of your life, make sure its the Fluffernutter Spring Rolls. These delectable little slices of heaven are so delicious you might permanently lose your sight. Gooey Marshmallow, Sweet Chocolate, and A salty sweet Peanut Butter dipping Sauce meld together into a messy yet amazing combination that will make you think that Spring Rolls were meant to be a dessert. Pod is pretty good, don't let people scare you away with comments about things like "expensive food", or "hot waitresses".
(4)
Sari G.
My ABSOLUTE favorite!!! If I had to choose a last meal it would be here. I have been eating here for years and years and it is always consistent. I feel it is way more laid back than most Steven Starr restaurants maybe because of it's location of Penn's campus. The futuristic decor, light up seats, sushi conveyor belt, subtle but funky music, and of course light up your own "pods" are just too fun! I usually get the spicy tempura rock shrimp with candied walnuts and pineapple, the crab spring rolls, and I ask for a side of wasabi mash. For vegetarians, the Pad Thai is also yummy as well. The wasabi crusted filet which used to be a favorite of mine for a brief moment when I ate meat was awesome and I found it better here than at Buddahkan. We usually get a sushi roll that is on special for the night although all of their rolls are yummy and they even have some unique to Philly like a Penn roll. I drink either a "pink" or a "yellow" as the martinis are named for a color depending on ingredients. There's always Sapporo or good old sake. It's not totally over priced and really the $12 martinis are what adds up so if you're worried about price, go and just split meals even appetizers like we do because it's really enough food and we often have left overs. It's great for groups but remember to ask for a Pod as they reserve them for large parties! I also find it romantic as well; I always have a special night out here with the hubby. A Philly must eat!
(5)
Kathy W.
Let me just say that this place has grown on me. I used to get conned into ordering off of their limited main menu, but now I know the trick. This place is only worth it if you go for sushi! They have a convertible sushi bar, which is so much fun to eat off of. I usually just get 6 pieces of sushi and a seafood fried rice on the side. It adds up to around $50 and that's including tip. Still a splurge for me, but it's worth being a nice treat every once in a while.
(3)
Javier O.
From the Decor to the conveyor belts and pods, this place is visually pleasing. The food is also very pleasing.
(5)
Michael C.
I would give this .25 stars if yelp allowed me to. if you're looking for a restaurant that strives for decor, but lacks in tasty dishes, this place isn't for you. The scene is pathetically decorated in their attempt for modern decor and yes, their food is NOT worth the price you pay. I could have had a better Japanese meal that cost me $10 this junk. Philly in general is terrible in sushi and this restaurant hits rock bottom. Go to Fuji instead down on Chestnut I believe. Steven Starr is a disgrace as a restauranteur.
(1)
Jenny K.
I was in Philly for a night for a conference and my hotel was adjacent to Pod. It was my first experience dining alone. I sat at the bar which was equipped with a conveyor belt with passing dishes of sushi. I didn't dare grab a plate off the belt being the skeptic that I am. Plus, the plates didn't look very appetizing ~ just ordinary salmon/tuna sushi and philadelphia rolls. I ordered the lobster roll and it was just average although it was presented very nicely. I felt as if I was in an episode of the Jetsons and the food was just eh, but I had a great waiter who brought me a complimentary dessert because I was there alone. Hey, if dining alone means free food, I'm dining alone more often! It's a fun place to try out at least once.
(2)
Chris T.
miso black cod
(4)
Lindsey R.
I have been dieing to check out pod. So last week I had the chance. Atmosphere is amazing however dishes seemed over priced. Food was ok. The Salmon was a must try. However small portions and high prices left me a little disappointed. I'm guessing you pay mostly for the atmosphere.
(3)
Pong C.
Went back for the first time since my undergrad days. Just had drinks for happy hour. Good for the memories, nothing else. I remember the food being all style and no substance, at least you can't really mess up alcohol.
(3)
jen m.
from the moment i walked into this place, i knew i was going to fall in love stephen starr, the man behind some 10+ restaurants in the philly area including the lovely pod. i wholeheartedly admit that the food i had there was pretty standard fare and therefore overpriced for what it was, but who can beat the ambiance and decor? this is the reason for the high rating. pod is like this wacked out futuristic looking restaurant complete with unisex bathrooms where each stall looks like an airplane bathroom, but with a bit more room. the staircase looks like an escalator that doesn't move. the lighting is all over the place btwn the various colors you can choose if you are sitting a pod and the other colors going on in the restaurant itself. the specialty drinks themselves are named by color, each with their own slightly exotic ingredients/mix. i am not a native to philly and therefore i am was the prime candidate for this place. it's fun and pricey and not a place to go to over and over. but as a tourist being shown around the area and being taken to a plethora of awesome restaurants (mostly from mr. starr himself), this is definitely a good spot to check out.
(4)
Kingsley S.
All you can eat Sushi is a great deal and lots of fun. Both food and service were excellent. The selection and flexibility of the all you can eat sushi made it easy and fun. The cost - $25 was reasonable and fair. The Tuna, Salmon, Yellowtail, Shrimp and Eel were all excellent. Also had crab fried rice and pork dumplings. Both exceeded expectation.
(4)
Gilad D.
Right as you enter the door you start to smile. The decor is beautiful and unique, the staff are extra friendly and when the food comes, it only gets better. Soups, salads, wraps and sushi - all presented nicely and great taste. If you have some time for lunch around campus - this is the place to go!
(4)
Sheri N.
this place was cool looking.. very future-esque. i think i had some soup, potstickers, and a roll.. i was real sick that time.. coughing up my lungs and pushing 'em back style. i sat at the bar as i was on a solo holiday, and the sushi chef was nice enough to give me tea that would help out my cough. he also gave me a couple stashes to take back to home, or in that case my hotel room. i'd go back here again! yumm!
(5)
Jason Z.
Not bad for a sushi fix, but definitely not Japanese (not even close)--more asian-fusion. Cool decor (kind of like Morimoto-lite)--but that's all gimmick as far as I'm concerned. If you want a quick, reasonably-priced maki-hit, then head for the conveyor-belt sushi bar (note to earlybirds: the good stuff doesn't start coming around until 7 or 8pm). If you're looking for overpriced (but decent) asian-fusion dining, then get a table. Seems to attract a crowd that thinks it's trendier than it probably is. I suppose it's still the hippest place within walking distance of a Penn dorm room. For real sushi though, head to one of the Japanese restaurants in Center City. And for a truly memorable Japanese Stephen Starr experience, I'd say to go instead to Morimoto (home of the Iron Chef), where the food is amazing, and not all that much more expensive (depending on what you get).
(3)
Laurel M.
I ate here several months ago (my life, pre-Yelp), and I normally wouldn't review something not totally fresh in my memory, but I have to add my 2 cents in because I feel like after reading others' reviews I must have been to a Pod in an alternate universe. The food. I barely remember it. And thats a real bad thing for a place like Pod. I can remember dishes from restaurants I've eaten at well over a year or more ago. But Pod's food to me was almost completely unmemorable. What I do remember is simply not being happy with my food in general. If I'm paying a higher than average price for my food, you better believe I want an at least somewhat positive semi-memorable meal! What I do very clearly remember was the HORRENDOUS, TERRIBLE, SLOW, and UNFRIENDLY service. Yeah the food was pricier than average, but as far as trendy and/or Starr restaurants go in Philadelphia, you could easily spend much more money at many other restaurants, and on top of that, your money would be much better spent! The decor was funky, I'll give it that. Very cool. I remember while being here constantly having the overwhelming feeling of just wanting to jump out of my seat and run as far away as possible. I did not enjoy my experience very much at all. I could not get out of there fast enough. I was going to give it 3 stars because the food isn't 100% fresh in my memory, but I just can't let myself do that. Overall, I didn't think it was 3 stars good in any way! It would take alot of cajoling to get me to ever return!
(2)
Rupam C.
I had a proper meal at Pod many years ago. Since then, upon the recommendation of my friend I've gone here for dessert - Aka the Fondue platter. I've gone back for the Fondue Platter 3 times since my original trip, and its always yummy. Great if you want to take a date for dessert, or in my case a girls night out capped off with chocolate and all things sweet. The platter comes with three dipping sauces, chocolate, caramel, and berry, and unlike other fondue places, like the Melting Pot, it comes with other fun things beyond the usual strawberries and marshmallows. Like sugared donuts and rice krispy treats. I always admire the revolving sushi bar, I'm sure its good, but alas I am now out of philly and far from my dear pod.
(4)
Alex M.
Pod is the hot, stuck up girl with nothing really interesting to say. now, there's something to be said for this kind of girl. i visit frequently (the restaurant not the girl), usually with guests from out of town. its atmosphere is fun, especially if you get a pod where you can annoy the crap out of your fellow diners by changing the lighting in your pod to green or purple. look for the color that will make your food look like toxic waste. seriously though, the food is average and VERY expensive but its worth a visit.
(3)
Chris L.
Another Stephen Starr restaurant. I came here for the sushi and it was pretty good. However, I'm not sure if it justifies the high price that you have to pay for it. It's good, but you can probably get the same quality sushi at other places for a lot cheaper. They have a sushi conveyor belt at the restaurant, which I think is really cool. Other than that... just another place that stands out since it's Stephen Starr...
(3)
Sharon G.
No love in this food and the decor is "meh" (as yelp says).
(2)
R U.
I was here a while ago with several friends. "I've experienced better" pretty much sums up the whole experience here. The food isn't bad; in fact some of their dishes (e.g. the sea bass) are pretty tasty. However, the portion sizes at Pod are painfully small. Their Kobe Skirt Steak, for example, is advertised as being a "family style" entree. When the steak is served, it's tiny. In fact, we collected all the strips and formed it into a ball. We probably got two ping pong ball sized portions of steak for $33. Seriously? Even meals aboard airplanes are more generous. And as a friend pointed out, even Oliver got more when he begged for scraps. Again, the food quality here isn't bad if you can afford it. But if you're looking for a good restaurant that won't leave you feeling ripped off, Pod is not the place to go. The meal came out to about $45 per person and we really did not order much at all (no drinks, no appetizers, no desserts, etc.), which probably explained why we were all still hungry afterwards.
(2)
Tony R.
Excellent menu and perfect place for a date! Customer service is perfect as was the food. Well worth the prices they charge.
(4)
Alicia O.
my godsisters and i went for lunch today and i was impressed. its a very trendy place with a conveyour belt loaded with yummy sushi at the sushi bar. we had a table in the all white restaurant dining room. the drinks were yummy. i had a mocktail of ginger and mango. YUM! and our food was very tasty. the house salad was a typical asian salad but great portion size for 3 people. the dynamite roll was sooooooooooooooooooooooooooo good and its pricey so i only ordered one. the other sushi was fresh and good but nothing too distinctive about it. a good eat for sushi!! for dessert. omg the chocolate bread pudding was amazing. to die for. and i will be back if only for that!
(4)
Erin P.
Don't sit in the "pods" at pod. The ambient color changes can really throw off your sense of food perception. Sit in the main dining room with normal lighting sp you can enjoy your food. Calamari salad: bleh. Not enough calamari. Too many greens. Too much fluorescence. Bland dressing. Next. Toro sushi roll: this was delicious but I have no idea what colors it was, which would have been nice. Duck 2 Ways (pan seared duck breast and duck confit with sun-dried cherry bao bun): This was so amazing. Why don't I eat duck more often? I've never had a duck I didn't like. The duck "pan" tasted exactly like what I used to grab for lunch in Tokyo-soft, tender, fluffy, meaty. The pan seared breast was caramelized nicely all around the outside and (I am pretty sure that) it was as rare as we wanted it. Tasty. Day-glo. Fluffer Nutter spring roles with peanut butter. NOM! What does nom mean anyway? So many people I know use this word and I am now jumping on the bandwagon because I can only assume that it means, "Utterly delicious and mouth-watering." The moral of the story here is: go to pod (once, maybe twice) and sit in a normal seat with normal light. For food's sake. For the love of food. Or sit at the kaiten-zushi and pick exactly what you want from their fine sushi menu as it glides by.
(2)
Erica M.
Today was my third and best time at Pod. I'm not sure why I haven't reviewed before, but here it is. Tonight I went for dinner with a group of 9. The food was better than I remembered for my 2 past lunches (the udon noodles I had last time were just way too salty). Tonight I had the pleasure of ordering food for 9 people to share on someone else's credit card. SCORE! We had a wide variety of foods. We started with the chicken and seafood spring rolls, rock shrimp, a salad, and chicken lettuce wraps. Out of those dishes the spring rolls were definitely my favorite. We got the large sushi/sashimi platter and the fish was excellent. Very fresh. For entrees we tried the crab fried rice, lamb lo mein, wasabi crusted filet, and sea bass. I ordered the wasabi crusted filet medium and it definitely came out closer to well-done, which was especially disappointing because they sliced it so they had to have seen the fully brown center. The sea bas was definitely my favorite of the entrees. For dessert we tried the lemon cheesecake, chocolate bread pudding, and creme brulee. All of the desserts were delicious. I'm not a huge fan of the ambiance (the colored pods kinda hurt my eyes and the bathrooms feel like an airplane bathroom). But overall it was good food and a great go-to for high-end food in University City.
(4)
Elena D.
Loveeeeeee the sushi! AMAzIng decore and ambience! The staff is nice. The music is loungie and the movies the play at lunch by the sushi train are halarious! I actually think the entire idea is brilliant. It seriosly feels like you are in some sort of spaceship. The drinks are great and if you sit in one of the pods you can pretend like you are five and change the color of the pod and lighting :)
(5)
Tracy P.
Going into Pod I had high expectations. I've heard good reviews from friends, and their menu was really appealing to me. Walking into the futuristic atmosphere was really fun. I loved all of the furniture and the different colored lights. And the "pod" seating they had looked really fun as well. It had a very 5th Element feel. As for the food I ordered the miso soup, which to me at $7 was really high to me. The soup itself was really bland. It tasted pretty watered down to me as well. I make better miso myself at home! The plus to the soup was that they give you alot of it. I kept it simple with the sushi, I had an eel avocado roll, and I grabbed a philly roll from the belt. I wasn't impressed at all by their selection, and I felt like the rolls weren't creative at all and overpriced. I don't mind paying alot if the quality is there, but it was lacking. The two that I had were really mediocre and actually kind of warm. My friend grabbed a California roll that had obviously been sitting out for awhile because the avocado was spotting. It was disgusting. Yuck! On to the stuff I liked... I had a plum margarita, ish was bangin' haha. But I'm a sucker for anything made with plum wine, and the tequila was heavy handed. Much appreciated. Also, my friend and I split a piece of their yuzu lemon cheesecake. Omg! Amazingggg! My only issue with that was when it was gone, I wanted more! Our server was really nice and attentive, I think her name was Jenny, but I could be wrong. She was imformative and helpful, and also super cute. And I loved how she was really attentive, yet still gave us our space. I hate being hovered over. I don't think I'll actually go back to Pod for dinner, but I think I'll definitely return for drinks and desert sometime.
I had lunch at Pod for the first time this week. Overall, it was decent but overpriced. I wouldn't recommend Pod since there are many Asian fusion restaurants similar to Pod that have better prices or ambiance or both, but I can see how it might be popular with students from Penn or others who are in the area. It seemed like most of the people having lunch were grad students. The cauliflower appetizer was surprisingly good. It was two skewers of grilled cauliflower marinated in some type of balsamic sauce. The menu said it was balsamic, but to me it tasted more like soy sauce with a bit of sugar. It was similar to crispy brussel sprout dishes I've had in the past that are salty and sweet at the same time. The salmon avocado roll fine - pretty standard but made with brown rice. Vegan Stephen was another interesting one. Instead of laying salmon or other fish on top of the rolls, the chef layered tomato, roasted pepper and avocado on the roll to make it look like any other sushi roll. Great way to include vegetarians/vegans. The decor probably would have looked nicer at night.
(3)
Laura S.
I was pleasantly surprised by my dinner experience at Pod. I hadn't been for over 4 years and remembered it as overpriced and pretentious, and the food didn't make an impression. My return visit was anything but. Pod, I was wrong - I apologize! And I apologize to myself for denying us this delicious food on outdated information. The service was really stellar. I came with a large party (16 people) for a birthday celebration, they put us in a private room at the back of the restaurant. It only took about 10 minutes to get us seated and we were able to order drinks and hang out in the cute lounge area in the front or the restaurant while we waited. Our waiter was phenomenal and did a great job taking care of our group. His drink recommendations and descriptions were also spot-on - try the green martini! I ate a ridiculous amount of food, and everything I tried ranged from good to excellent. The "robata" menu selections - cooked on a 1000 degree grill - were excellent; I shared the cauliflower with friends. The bok choy was also good, although not as innovative. For my entree I had the wasabi-crusted filet mignon. The steak was absolutely perfectly cooked and the glaze was phenomenal. I thought the mashed potatoes could have used more wasabi, they were a little bland. I sampled the tofu lettuce wraps, they had great flavor and the serving size was huge - plenty to share with friends as an appetizer or entree. Desserts were surprisingly good. The mocha brownie was very dense, I couldn't eat more than a bite but oh what a bite it was. The vanilla bean mousse was lighter and just as flavorful. Overall, an excellent dinner and experience. I'll be back!
(4)
Nicey J.
I like.. I went here for a birthday lunch .. and the service was great the food was great.. apparently my friend got some bad uni.. well not bad as in not fresh but it was a little off..no questions asked the guy took it off our check and told the sushi chefs? about it so they could figure out what was going on with it.. I like the prompt response.. the sushi was great.. the bok choy ? AMAZING and I'm VERY picky about bok choy and theres was delish.. I will be back pod especially since it's nice out and I can walk to you from work
(4)
Michaelia K.
This is what sushi bars will look like in the future. Okay, not really. But it does have a whole futuristic vibe going on, especially given the name "Pod" (Was that given to it before the iPod? Who knows.) It's all kinds of wonderful/weird as they have a great Asian fusion menu, fabulous drinks (HELLO Wasabi Bloody Mary), and awesome bathrooms (I'm a sucker for quirks) while they try to transform you to the set of The Jetsons. My friend and I visited our other best friend who goes to UPenn, and per his suggestion we went here for my friend's birthday. He lived right on campus, and it seriously is a hop, jump and skip away from his place as it's in the heart of University City. So depending on the night you go, you could end up with a lot of undergrads and their parents... Of the Stephen Starr restaurants in Philly, I was thrilled this is the one we ended up going to! Make sure you make a reservation because it can end up getting packed. And try to resist the urge to robot-speak when ordering.
(4)
Nancy S.
I came for the new late-night happy hour. Starts from 9pm to close. $5 maki's and $6 signature cocktails. My date and I really enjoyed the chicken dumplings and shrimp tempura.
(4)
Ren M.
For Christmas this year, my grandmother bought me the most awesome/ridiculous dress I've ever owned. It's this little black dress covered with shiny reflective rectangles, and I look like a disco ball every time I wear it. I had worn it for New Years, but was searching for an opportunity again. Knowing that, and being a big innovative design enthusiast himself, my boyfriend chose Pod for our anniversary. The place definitely has atmosphere down. The bar stools were the squishiest, most comfortable backless chairs I've ever sat upon. The lighting was neat-o with the led's everywhere. I didn't personally notice any color changing except in the larger group pods, but maybe that was causing too many seizures to the majority of guests and was phased out. Honestly, it felt like I showed up to the party a little late. The restaurant has been open for a while and it didn't have quite the zing I imagine it once had. The bathroom pods were getting a little decrepit, and more like their more commonly used counter parts (port-a-potties). I also didn't like being unable to cross my legs under the table. For that much money I like to have some freedom of mobility. As for the food: Kobe dim sum was obviously tasty, the food runner cooked it for us on a hot stone, which was kind of exciting, wasabi and teriyaki on the side. Are teriyaki, soy sauce, and wasabi the only asian condiments though? I mean, it's fusion, right, any other ideas? Crab fried rice was tasty. Make sure you like onion. I do. Small sushi plate was more than enough for two people. But I mean...it's sushi. I prefer Vic in rittenhouse, for half the price... Macadamia chicken was good. But it was just like any other chinese place's cashew chicken, just with macadamia nuts instead. And dessert was fluffernutter spring rolls. Very clever, Pod. Those were good too. Dark chocolate dipping sauce on the side. To sum up, if you're going to Pod, you're paying for a hyped up atmosphere and excellent service. I love having 6 different people keeping my space clean and ready for more food. And everyone was friendly and good at their job. But the food is definitely not worth the price. It was not bad, but it definitely wasn't great. The food at Pod just lacks the WOW factor. I'd say save your money, and head over to the Barbary if you really want the light show. My dress matched their disco ball perfectly too, and the bottles of Yuengling are a $1.50 cheaper.
(3)
Anthony W.
I didn't really eat anything I was more so hanging out with a couple of buds. They ate and drank, I was actually full from Mad Mex down the street, but... that's how we ended up here to begin with. We came from Mad Mex and were intrigued by Pod sunken in modernist style. If I wasn't full I would've gotten some Pho. I'm curious how good it is though because it costs almost 3 times as much as a regular Viet Pho spot. The decor and vibe were interesting. I don't like the general seating, but the space was varied. There were little party booths, couches, in the wall platform seats, and I think there was even a VIP section at the end. We watched Speed Racer at the rotobar while my buds ate sushi. Overall, it's really a novel sort of place. The service was good, but it wasn't that crowded either.
(3)
Jarrod B.
I've read a couple of bad reviews of Pod and I can't understand why. I went for an early dinner on a Sunday during University City's restaurant week. It wasn't crowded at all, and we were seated soon after we arrived. The decor can be described as retro-futuristic resembling modern design as if imagined by an artist during the 1960s. My date and I were seated by the far back wall at a table that was a little too low; my date complained that she couldn't cross her legs. Other than that, Pod is very open and visually appealing. The bathrooms are exit replicas of those found on airplanes or tour buses, albeit a little larger. Pod's cuisine is the all-too-popular "Asian Fusion" found in most large American cities today and unfortunately it doesn't impress at times. For starters, we had the underwhelming Penn Roll and the very delicious Pork Dumplings. The main courses consisted of the Sea Bass for myself and the Lamb Chops for my date. The Sea Bass was absolutely amazing although the glaze proved to be a bit too sweet towards the end. The Chops were good but didn't impress like the Sea Bass. For dessert, we had this butterscotch crumb cake which was ok. Our drinks were pretty good however, with me having a sake mojito and a japanese stout and my date having a drink with whiskey and fresh raspberries. Pod is definitely a place that has to be tried as it provides a unique atmoshere, interesting drinks and food that's sure to impress novice foodies.
(3)
Heta P.
Steven Starr, I want to like you- I really do. You've monopolized the Philly restaurant scene but your food is mediocre at best. My sister and I dined here the other night. I really don't understand how anyone can appreciate the decor of this restaurant, it aims to be trendy and new age but is incredibly tacky. I felt like I walked into Austin Powers' Philadelphia satellite office. As for the food, meh. I would have expected fresher fish, I could tell my salmon was defrosted minutes before it was cooked and the tuna sushi was warm and squishy. I've had better supermarket sushi. The service also sucked, our waitress spilled my beer and didn't offer to get me a new one or take it off the bill. She was spastic and cleared a plate that wasn't finished.
(2)
Soojung C.
All you can eat sushi on Tuesday nights after 9 p.m for $25. Make reservations!
(3)
Ida C.
I still remember the sell-lunch that launched my post-college career... THE SETTING: POD Restaurant in a futuristic private pod dining area with color changing lights. In retrospect, I wonder if the recruiters spent the lunch lamenting the fact that they'd extended an offer to me, a simpleton glutton fascinated by the color changing controls and capable of consuming vast quantities of food. THE FOOD: In an effort to "sell" us on the jobs, the recruiters ordered a good portion of the menu, but for me, the stand outs were: 1. Lettuce Wraps with Chicken and Beef ($16) - I've always loved lettuce wraps, but these were truly exceptional with a great peanut sauce. There is a nice smoky flavor from wok-searing and the marinade is really yummy! 2. Tempura Rock Shrimp ($15) - With pineapple and candied walnuts, this type of rock shrimp dish is now on a lot of menus, but I believe that POD's version may be the original! In any event the grilled pineapple is still rather unique and delicious 3. Crab Spring Rolls ($16) - Sure these are pricey spring rolls, but if you are on the expense account, this is a good choice! 4. Calamari Salad ($11) - Crispy fried calamari features generously in this salad with mixed greens and a lemongrass dressing 5. Glazed Chilean Sea Bass ($28) - Oh yes, more please! The fish is excellent, but my favorite is the mashed Japanese sweet potatoes. Buttery, sweet, creamy and fluffy, I dare not venture a guess as to the multitude of sinful ingredients hidden within its secret recipe After ending the extravagant lunch with the Chocolate Chocolate Chocolate dessert, it was an easy decision to accept the job! THE DRINKS: I've revisted POD many times through the years. I can fondly recall attempting to drink the rainbow with my partners in crime during the $5 happy hour. My favorites are pink (champagne, pineapple and cranberry) and yellow (passion fruit vodka, yuzu and grapefruit). PARTING THOUGHT: Although many things on the menu are delicious, my all time favorite meal is still the Lettuce Wraps with Chicken and Beef and a side of Japanese Sweet Potatoes (they usually do it for ~$4)
(4)
Heather L.
There's better sushi, and definitely cheaper sushi, but the ambiance (2001 without the crazy computer and creepy StarBaby) and the cocktails (Zen and tonic! Blood orange sidecar!) and the amazing desserts (FLUFFERNUTTER SPRING ROLLS) are worth a special-occasion visit. If you're sitting at the conveyor-belt-sushi-bar, head for the far end; the belt moves clockwise and if you're at the near end it can be an evening of "edamame, edamame, california roll, california roll, edamame... is there any tuna in the house??" Service can get slow on a Saturday night - and if sushi keeps appearing before you it can be easy to lose count of how many plates you've eaten.
(4)
Zachary D.
Cool decor, fun lighting, and great service make up for only mediocre food. The place looks cool. There are fun colored lights and futuristic tables and chairs. My group sat in one of the pods, which allowed us privacy for our conversations while still being able to look out at the restaurant. And, the pod even lets you change the lighting color, which we found amusing. The service was attentive and polite. On the other hand, my sushi was not great. To be fair, it was not bad either. But, the fish was just not of as high quality as I would hope for a trendy restaurant like Pod.
This was my second time to Pod. My party and I went on a Tuesday night . We put in a reservation, yet had to wait almost twenty minutes for a table. One hostess was on the phone while the other just stared awkwardly. We waited to be greeted for another fifteen minutes. The server who greeted us was sparse to be seen and we waited over a half hour for all of the food to come to the table. I ordered a glass of wine with dinner and was never told that the bar was 86'd on the house pinot grigio, instead they just gave me a more expensive glass of wine. I would have been okay with the ordering the other wine, but would have preferred being aware of the change with my order. The food was well prepared (and took some time) but the service could use work! My first experience, as I remember, was better than this experience.
(2)
Carla C.
I wasn't sure quite what to expect. You walk in + it just looks so modern, overly touristly... yet the majority of diners look like locals + alot of college students. This surprised me because this place is a little pricey + seems to exceed a typical student budget. I was pleasantly surprised at every dish I tried. Everything was so good. And what you think was generic... they added their own flavor to it + just made it that much better. - The Chicken Potstickers are good, but the taste nothing out of the ordinary. If anything, the quality of ingredients is really good. - The Crispy Chicken + Seafood Spring Rolls are fried perfectly, not too oily, and presentation is pretty. - The Crab Fried Rice is to die for. Honestly. So delicious. And they do not skimp on the crabmeat, no sir. - The Vegetable Fried Rice was surprisingly really flavorful. I say this because there is no real main ingredient/protein here like there is for the Crab Fried Rice. Probably the best veggie fried rice I've ever had. The delicious food comes at a price, though. Drinks are also a little expensive. You can definitely order things + stay within budget. It's just kind of hard to when everything is so good. I am definitely coming back here on my next trip to Philadelphia. And this time, I will request a reservation to sit in a pod!
(5)
Kate S.
Everything I've ever gotten here has been delicious and I'm a big fan of the pink martinis Def $$$ but I make sure someone else is paying for the check! Be sure to make reservations ahead of time as it can get quite packed at lunch and dinnertime during the academic year And like most Stephen Starr restaurants, don't bring your grandparents or someone hard of hearing as it is def a trendy, loud ambient music type place--save your intimate conversations for another restaurant
(4)
BJ W.
Pod is 3.5 stars and I think this place is over-rated so I'm rating it three stars. Don't be fooled by the trendy atmosphere. The sushi is so-so and the prices are expensive, but it's probably still the best sushi on this side of the river. You usually have to make a reservation, especially if coming with a group. The Penn Roll is average on a good day and inconsistent, but the Rockin' Spicy Tuna is a great roll. I'd recommend coming just for the banana spring rolls. They have a full bar available and its a cool atmosphere to go out with a group or on a date. I've had really great service here and I've had bad service here. Sometimes there is a long wait for your food - 45-60 minutes. I wish they would expand their sushi menu and deliver.
(3)
Elise S.
The service was great but the food, especially the seafood rice was very bland and I would suggest that they remove it from the menu. The "pod" seating was interesting but I didn't like that the waiter kept changing the lights. Finally, the waiter said the food is normally shared family style but the portions aren't large enough. Don't try to manage it.
(1)
Brian C.
Pod is a place to go for the ambience. Ambience is great, but unfortunately I also really like food... and the food here is so-so. This is a good place to bring a bunch of friends, sit in a "pod", push the multi-colored light panels until you feel like throwing up, and soak in the music, the anime, and the mood. As for the food though, one time I sat at the rotating sushi belt and a lot of the sushi and dishes that came off the belt just didn't taste very fresh. When you eat raw foods, the quality of the it really needs to be good. We actually didn't finish the food we took off the belt. That's a big deal given that the food here definitely isn't cheap. I had the tuna hand roll 3 ways. The skin on some of the hand rolls were kind of weird, I wanted just the regular nori, but I think it was a tofu skin or something. It does come with one wrapped in nori though. The vegetable fried rice was okay, not stellar, but probably one of the better dishes. I guess I would say Pod is a trendy place to see and be seen, but if you want really good Japanese food, this isn't it.
(2)
Meg S.
I've come more than a few times, and each time has been consistently great. The chicken lettuce wraps and the yellowtail sushi are particular favorites, but I can't say I've had anything that wasn't really really good. Service is very professional as well. It has an interesting ambience, and if you have a group, definitely try to call a few days ahead and get one of the group 'pods'...otherwise you'll sit outside your entire meal feeling jealous as they change the colors inside. The only reason why it isn't 5 stars is because I've had similar quality sushi for cheaper and the ambience can feel really gimmicky the 5th or 6th time you come.
(4)
Yun W.
This is your typical mid-high end Asian fusion restaurant targeting out-of-town business travelers staying at the Inn at Penn. The menu is a pretty standard mix of Asian cuisine options (sushi, rice & noodles, stir fry, dim sum), and the quality is reliable and generally good although pricey. Out of the sushi options, my favorite is the rainbow roll which offers a fresh assortment of white tuna, yellowtail, tuna, and salmon. The noodle and rice dishes are also good, but not particularly remarkable. Service is friendly and generally prompt. Overall, the trendy ambiance and extensive drink offerings are really what give this place its character and keep it going, making it a great choice for recruiting and business dinners.
(3)
Alex X.
Wanna feel like you are in/from outer space? This place is it in University city area. It is hidden on a T street and not really out in the open. Unusual food. Unusual ambience due to the lighting perhaps. A perfect place to take your alien dates. Been here twice. Unique experience. You should try it at least once.
(4)
Rachel A.
I can't say no to a man with tattoos and my experience at Pod was purely orgasmic. The food at Pod is amazing and reasonably priced, if not underpriced. It is economical bliss. I expected to pay way more and for appetizers, sushi, drinks and desserts for two. Our bill topped at $84 bucks. Not too bad. Killer ambiance and surprise after surprise, I find myself thinking about Pod time and time again. Pod is futuristic, offers everything traditional with a twist and is unpretentious. The place is like an outer space playground with ever changing colored lights, bubble ceilings, and white on white interior. The sushi boat is a world of its own and if you fancy anime, the screens are like windows of cartoons. I saw waitresses carry out birthday desserts with sparklers. It was like Fourth of July. The service is excellent (welcoming, accommodating, quick, and knowledgeable). Everything thumbs up. The ultra hot weather called for mocktails, one Cucumber and Apple Spritzer and one White Peach and Mint Soda. Both were refreshing and full of fresh fruit. We ordered the special Lobster Ramen appetizer, Tonkatsu Sandwich, and the Rockin Spicy Tuna. The Lobster Ramen was not soupy but had a creamy rich broth-like dressing. The lobster chunks were huge and tender, the vegetable medley offered crunch and the ramen was very fresh and not over cooked. The Tonkatsu Sandwich could easily rival David Chang's pork steamed buns. The Rockin Spicy Tuna was haute sushi. Sprinkled with black sesame seeds and prepared like little works of art, the spicy tuna was like a sushi hors d'oevre. It was topped with popcornlike tempura rock shrimp and microgreens. This all created for a filling meal but without hesitation we ordered dessert. If Pod's tactic to get people to order dessert was to send in a tattooed dessert man instead of our friendly waitress, then it surely worked. We were set on Chocolate Chocolate Chocolate (chocolate toffee bread pudding, chocolate shot with salted rim, and chocolate tart) but when the tattoo guy told us about the special Chocolate Flan we had to make our dessert choice Chocolate times 4. The tattooed guy was evil in a good way. Death by chocolate all the way at Pod. No worries, you will live to tell the tale of sweet decadence. I could easily devote a whole review to these desserts. Instead, just trust the smile on my face that they were all exquisite. I will add that the Chocolate Flan was light rather than rich and was complimented by an Early Grey Tea coulis and black cherries. I'd make a two hour trip to Philly from NYC just to indulge at Pod. It was really that good. For the formal writeup on Pod: spamisbetterfried.blogsp…
(5)
Herbie H.
I've been to Pod a number of times before (always for lunch) and always had a great time. I usually get the Kobe Beef Burger (which is absolutely incredible.) I met my aunt here for lunch, walked in, and was immediately overwhelmed by the number of people waiting to be seated. I think the hosts were also overwhelmed and after waiting for 10 minutes, we took it upon ourselves to sit at the bar and order our food there. I had the Seared Ahi Tuna Kaiseki Express lunch and my aunt had the Macadamia Chicken Stir Fry Kaiseki Express lunch. The portions were lunch appropriate and didn't leave me feeling hungry or over-full. Aside from the service being seated, our server (and bar tender) was attentive and very friendly. I'd love to go back for dinner.
(4)
Danielle O.
Food is good. More sushi needed. Restaurant needs a good cleaning. Bathrooms were disgusting. Had a new server in training he was ok. The trainer/server Rose, never smiled. Seemed annoyed. Some of us were served and ate entire dinner while others waited for salads. When I asked the server several times where our salads were she said they were coming out as an entre or they were spacing out our food because we ordered so much food or some other excuse. When we were finished our dinners, or some of us were, the salads finally came out. Not worth the money. Needs cleaning Servers are unfriendly. Won't be going back anytime soon
(2)
Michelle B.
I came from Miami to visit my sister in Philadelphia She suggested coming to Pod would be a good idea Since she knows I love anything that has to do with Asia I said, okay, it better be good or.. see ya! And she said, trust me, everyone in Miami will want to be ya It's kind of expensive, but I can't complain about their shrimp tempura The waiter was really nice, and would show up like abracadabra! The place looked really modern, like movies The 5th Element, Tron...etcetera I guess the only thing missing was a capybara in a fedora I'm just kidding, ha ha Til next time, Philadelphia, sayonara!
(4)
Ted C.
HTTFG!!! = Hail to the Food Gods! This place is vibeing! Neat-o lights and decor! Cool personal bathrooms with green vacancy lights and mood lighting inside. My work team went here for a outting and I swear we tried everything on the menu from appetizers to desserts. There wasn't a single thing I didn't love. The two items that stood out was the Calamari Salad and Cappuccino/Coffee Ice Cream Brownie Dessert. I swear I ate myself to death here. Thank god I wasn't paying through, prices are slight above average. Nonetheless, this is just about the coolest place to bring somebody. There is also a separate Sushi Bar with a conveyor-belt.... the real deal. This place is great all around from food; to service; to decor. :D
(5)
Jen I.
I wasn't a huge fan of the decor. It's all white and cold and while I know that it's supposed to have a slick feel to it that' not my scene. Moving on to the food, this is where the 4 stars come into play. Service was really nice and quick and I was really happy that they offered a number of veggie/vegan options. The vegan stephen roll was great as was the grilled cauliflower and the veggie dumplings.
(4)
Naz O.
I went back and forth when trying to decide if I should give 3 or 4 stars to Pod. I'll just list the pros and cons and you can decide for yourself: Pros: -great food: extensive menu and delicious -fast service -takes reservations Cons: -I would say that Pod is on the pricier side for what it is. It tries to present itself as an upscale place, but I would say that besides the interior design (and diners I guess), there isn't much that's upscale about this place. -There is definitely a ventilation problem. Whenever I eat here, I leave smelling like fish and/or fried food myself (clothes and hair). So don't go here if you have just showered, because you'll need to shower again when you leave.
(3)
Alexandra B.
Not impressed with this place whatsoever. I had heard so much about POD and how unique the place is and that the food is to die for...but really I don't agree. Yes POD, your sushi is fresh and your presentation is outstanding but I feel like your completely over-rated. I can get fresh sushi at many places in the city with out paying the "cool factor charge". Your drinks are interesting but also I am not impressed. I felt like I was back in high school with "rich kids who think they are cool" surrounded me while i was eating there...If i wanted that I would have stayed in the suburbs of NYC..no thank you, you guys have def created a scene here to say the least. Also, I feel like you have the strangest hours, I have found myself wanted to go there many times before but you were never open? I'm obsessed with Asian Fusion may go back just because location. MAYBE ( I have heard that POD does a $25 all you can eat on Tuesday nights)
(3)
Pauline S.
I absolutely love their sodas. I came here a year ago for my birthday and tried a bunch of specialty rolls, one with a lobster head. I also tried the duck two ways, which was not impressive.
I went here for the first time, and I thought the food was great. We had a large party and we ate family style, we shared everything. The highlight for me was the lobster roll, I'm drooling just thinking about it. The crab fried rice was also delicious. Honestly, everything was pretty good! Our server was also great, she knew everything about the menu and timed the serving perfectly. We never felt overwhelmed. I thought it may have been a little overpriced, but the food was decent. All in all, I would come back here again, but it isn't on the top of my list.
(4)
Carl S.
I have been restaurant hopping in Philly and this was the only restaurant I found to be overated. I think you pay too much for what you're getting. The food quality and presentation was so-so. The ambience is really unique. The bathroom stalls remind me of the airline restrooms. I went there with a group and we sat inside one of the "pods". There's a wall of buttons that change the light colors and it was all overwhelming to see and enjoy our food. We ordered a variety of food that was recommended to try. I had the galbi tacos which was too flavorful. The lettuce wraps was boring in taste. The udon noodle and tofu sitr fry was just as boring as the lettuce wraps. The kobe beef was too little. The spicy tuna crispy rice was good, but not as amazing as I had hoped. When it came time for dessert, we got the ice sculpture. Based on the name, I was thinking something visually appealing. But when we got our dessert, is was a few small ice cream scoops piled on a cylindrical block of ice. Very unimpressive. For the flavors, there was carrot, guava, pineapple, and others I cant remember. Honestly, I could only taste 2 flavors: guava and pineapple. Thats why I only remember so few. If you're paying this much, you expect good flavors and quality. However, I could walk into another mom and pops and get the same thing for less. I know its a asian fusion restaurant, but you're better off eating at an authentic asian restaurant that masters these dishes. This review is just based on my opinion and my experience. There is definitely more on the menu I have not tried. Service was also very welcoming.
(2)
HR Muffinstuff M.
Food was great. A bit pretentious and the wine prices are unusually high.
(4)
Julie G.
I thoroughly enjoyed my evening at Pod, even though I didn't get to experience it from an actual pod (which I hear is pretty rad). I went with one of my friends and we sat in a two-seater booth that was basically like a wall cubby, so it felt kind of cool as well. When you walk in, there is a really hip kind of swanky vibe to this place, so I course was feeling it. I especially liked the anime videos playing above the sushi bar and the large multicolor lights that resembled bubble gum on the ceilings. To start my friend and I shared the crab spring rolls, which were pretty unique, as I've never had anything like them before. As a main course, we shared the sushi/sashimi tower, which was very fresh and just enough food for two people ($65, so quite reasonable). The drinks were creative and tasty and the owner (or manager, I can't recall at this point) bought us a round on him (thank you!). I would highly recommend Pod to anyone looking for a unique time and great meal in Philly.
(5)
Jen L.
What a gem in University City! After a long day at work in the area, the yellow martini (passionfruit vodka in yuzu juice) was just what the doctor ordered, literally. I tried the pork belly steamed buns, which tasted akin to David Chang's Momofuku buns. The Shiro-Aoi roll was delightful ... the spicy white tuna and yellowtail were "melt in my mouth" delicious, and the jalapeno slices added a nice kick. For dessert, definitely recommend the chocolate bread pudding. As an added bonus, the interior decor is quite chic and futuristic with just a touch of Asian kitch meets Clockwork Orange Milk Bar. I'm definitely a fan.
(5)
Jen K.
I've only ever paid for Pod twice, because usually I go when a Wharton professor takes us students out for lunch. This place is essentially really overpriced Americanized Asian fusion plus very average sushi. For example, they make General Tso's chicken, throw in some nuts, slap it with a fancier name ("macadamia chicken stir-fry") and charge you $19 for it. Ridiculous. I suppose you are paying for the ambience and the experience. Don't come here unless a Penn professor is treating you, your parents are treating you, or a date is treating you. Otherwise you're getting ripped off by Steven Starr big time.
(2)
Jennifer M.
Very nice lunch spot. I got the shrimp pad thai which was $18! Luckily, I was able to save some for dinner to compensate the cost. Service was friendly and attentive. Location is right next to the Inn at Penn, making it convenient for students to take their parents out for a nice lunch or dinner. Atmosphere is definitely futuristic. It's like eating in the Jetsons era! I say, a solid 3.5 stars. The menu items reminded me of some of the items offered at Continental Midtown, such as their shoestring fries, calamari salad, and sea bass. I'll try the sushi next!
(3)
Christine B.
When I was at Penn, POD was my go to spot for date night. At the time, it was definitely one of the nicest restaurants in University City. Now, older and wiser, it's still good, I'm just not as impressed as I once was. When a friend suggested it for dinner, I jumped on the chance to go back. I used to always get the pineapple shrimp tempura, and I'm happy to report that it is still delicious. That's really the only think I need to order here. The spicy sauce is kind of reminiscent of sushi spicy sauce and with the sweet chunks of pineapple and the crunchy walnuts it makes for a terrific dish both in taste and texture. I also tried some sushi, the spicy crunchy yellowtail, and spicy tuna. The yellowtail was pretty good, it had slices of jalapeno in it, but was kind of falling apart. The spicy tuna was very disappointing. I really couldn't taste any spice, and the tuna itself wasn't that great. Overall, the sushi was just meh, which is disappointing because its on the pricier side. Also tasted the kobe beef which is pretty awesome. Who doesn't love having meat cooked on a rock at the table?
(3)
Rachel P.
The only plus about this place with the decor. The inside was filled with colorful lights and cool furniture. Definitely suited for a younger crowd. I came with a group of 10+ girls so we got a private room "bubble". It was so fun to play with the different colored buttons placed around the room that changed the entire bubble's color. The food was...eh. My friends and I got a mix of sushi dishes and little meals. First, they were extremely overpriced. The food was good but definitely not worth the high price tags. It was nice to visit and see the place, but I would not go back because the food did not meet my expectations.
(3)
Jay S.
Excellent atmosphere and food quality. The lobster rolls were fantastic. Also enjoyed the wasabi filet and sea bass. Service was great as well. Definitely great for date night. Also the Bok Choy, Pad Thai, and chicken pot stickers were very good as well.
(4)
Carrie P.
I love coming here and especially when you can get a POD for a big party. We had a blast for girls night! You can either share meals or be selfish. Some highlights are: rock shrimp tempura, crab fried rice, calamari salad, and lettuce wraps. The drinks are delicious. Try the rising sun martini. Lastly, check out the bathrooms. Weird I know but they are so cool!! Parking is very simple in this part of town. It's a must go for Asian fusion.
(5)
R R.
Excellent food and service, did not disappoint in the least. The vibrant and colorful atmosphere lend itself to less intimate occasions, but it does not take away from the experience. Great place to enjoy with friends
(5)
Jamie C.
This restaurant was really fun. The ambiance is really cool with different lights of colors everywhere with a very modern feel. The food is awesome. They had these amazing lettuce wraps with chicken and soy/ginger sauce. We also ordered edamame, chicken dumplings, seafood rice, and sides of cauliflower, eggplant, and asparagus. Everything was great and the service was wonderful. Will definitely be returning next time I'm in Philly!
(5)
Peng Y.
Interesting environment and full of scifi atmosphere. Food is not too much. Tastes ok but not impressive
(3)
Danan R.
Came for lunch with a group of 8 and the actual pod was a bit small although they did allow us to check our bags. The lunch specials were very solid and the sea bass was certainly good, and came with a side of salad, miso soup, and choice of white or brown rice. The Penn roll was also fantastic as was the crispy tuna rice. I loved the crispy tuna rice, which is essentially a form of box sushi without the seaweed. The sashimi platter also looked very fresh and came with 8 pieces of generously portioned fish, even the exotic hamachi. The stir fried macadamia nut chicken was just meh and very saucy, salty, and heavy, as it was made with deep fried chicken. I wasn't a personal fan but it may be a dish for you if you are a General Tso's chicken person! I did like the sizzling garlic mushrooms, though, which were served in a savory garlic soy sauce and comprised of a good mix of shitake, oyster, and enoki mushrooms. The vegetable tempura is also a great starter, and the pieces are actually small so you can sample a variety. Service was great albeit slow (it took 20 minutes to get our food). Prices were fair too and the lunch specials are about $15. They did forget to bring me my miso soup so be sure to check!
(3)
Michael B.
I come here a lot for lunch and business dinners and always love it. Always super fresh favors. The wagyu burger is the best burger I've ever had! If you come for dinner, get the wasabi filet.
(5)
Michael G.
Ok the food is great from sushi to noodles and meat dishes. But price wise I could drive downtown or back to nyc and eat cheaper. The portions make up for the price it's a good size portion for the meat dishes and noodle dishes we got but the sushi rolls are 6 pieces and normal size no bargain on the sushi. The sushi tasted fresh I got the lobster roll with 6 pieces at $18 but luckily my family ordered 2 other dishes Macadamia Chicken dish and Chicken pad Thai they were huge in portion size and they couldn't finish it begging me to help them eat it. The sushi here isn't cheap, in NYC I get better prices on the UES then here in Philly. Its a younger crowd joint if you ask me that have no appetite. And deep pockets I'm not cheap but I like value with my purchases.
(3)
Al L.
Wishing Yelp had a 0 star rating. I just attempted to make a birthday reservation at POD two days in advance. While trying to reserve a POD, I was promptly told by Vickie that PODs are only available on a first come basis unless I went through food and beverage to pay some type of exoberant food and beverage minimum. I have come here several times over the years and have never once sat in a POD because I was told that it was for party's of 4 or more only. I promptly canceled my reservation and have decided to never come back here again. Steven Starr needs to design a restaurant and retrain his staff on what the word RESERVATION means. They are overpriced and over hyped. If you value location and value , do not patronize this establishment. Try Yakitori Boy. Sushi there is much better and so is the service. Thank you for the early birthday gift POD
(1)
Srujana Y.
The first thing you will notice about POD is its modern ambience with dim yet colorful lighting. This place is a bit expensive but that's the price for the cool atmosphere! I have been to POD on numerous occasions for either lunch or dinner. Their food is usually very good. Since I am a vegetarian, I am gonna recommend some of the items I really love: Grilled asparagus and cauliflower from the Robata grill Shiitake steamed buns Udon noodle and tofu stir fry Wasabi veg fried rice POD has a good selection of cocktails and mocktails. Among the mocktails I really like the mango-ginger soda, while my husband likes the white peach and mint soda. Great staff as well as service. One of the times we visited POD was for my husband's birthday, I secretly told the staff about it and he got a surprise birthday cake with fireworks. :D :D YAY!
(4)
Claire F.
Visited this past Saturday on a date. I was impressed by the chic atmosphere and unusual decor. I was not as impressed by the staff - they seemed inexperienced and their casual wear didn't match the restaurant's style. I wouldn't say service was attentive. But, when the food was delivered, I forgot all of my fussy thoughts about the service that were floating through my head. My date and I threw down (our waitress called us champs). At one point, I considered leaving my date and running off to be with the lamb chops because I was that in love with them. I lost track of time and space when I tasted the accompanying noodles. In summary, amazing food, impressive date spot, a little too loud for intimate date night conversations, but I mentally noted that it's the perfect spot for a big birthday dinner party.
(4)
Courtney F.
Pod is an experience from the moment you walk through the door! Super chic and modern decor with futuristic vibe complete down to the music. I had the POD lobster rolls, chicken dumplings and split the crab fried rice with a friend. All of which were delish!
(4)
Amanda B.
Pod is the coolest. Hands down my favorite hip spot when I come to Philly for vacation. I had the nicest waiter, let him choose my dinner and he got me the special cocktail and plate, and it was knock down delicious and had fantastic presentation. The atmosphere is just chic and I love it.
(5)
Carlos R.
A very trendy and modern Asian Future place I frequented while visiting Philadelphia. When I first walked in, I felt like I was visiting Asia again. This place has everything: very colorful lighting, private "pods" for relatively large groups, a sushi bar w/ conveyor belt, the works. The food is quite good. As expected, plenty of choice. A few negatives: it fills up very quickly on weekend nights, has music that can be loud, and seems to replay the same anime movie on the screens. But otherwise, good fun.
(4)
Cynthia X.
I like the fusion-ness of this place! It's proximity to the UPenn campus makes it popular for school events - the two occasions for which I came. One was a professor dinner, and the other a pre-interview dinner w/ the interviewer... So both times I couldn't concentrate too much on the food.. However, coming with a large group meant trying lots of things, my favorite is probably the pork belly buns. Sushi platters were good, but not memorable. Scallop fried rice was tasty, so was the chicken karage, edamame, udon, beef fried rice.. Etc etc. all good, but not memorable. Mochi ice cream is yummy :), but you can go to trader joes and get the same. Oh, and this place is Veg friendly!
(3)
Zaneta P.
Despite all the mix reviews about Pod, I personally enjoyed my trip there. First of all I loveee the whole decoration of the place, the futuristic design to the animated feel! Staff and waiting time was bit slow the day I went but it was also a full house, so it's a partial blame. Anyways, for appetizer we had the Shrimp Tempura Roll, honestly couldn't say it a anything special. It wasn't bad but it just didn't stand out. On to the entree, I had the Wasabi Crusted Filet Mignon and my boyfriend had the Ginger Lamb Chops and can I say these two dishes were amazing! I'm seriously salivating while writing this review (late review) portion could of been bigger but nonetheless they were two very delicious dish. For dessert I honestly do not remember what we had because it just wasn't that memorable... Lol
Interesting to say the least. Decor is very futuristic and when I first walked in it looked more like a club, than a restaurant. I definitely recommend sitting at the sushi bar. The rotating plates can be s really good deal and the chef will make new plates fresh if you ask. Dining off the main menu is too expensive and doesn't offer enough of a portion in my opinion. Drink menu is great and reasonably priced.
(3)
Craig D.
(4) ~ Very good Food & service. Really like the modern look;) OUR MENU: * Thai Chile Avocado Margarita = (4.5) Very Good! * Spicy Tuna Crispy Rice = (4) very good * Frosty Kobe Beef Fried Rice = (4) very good...Please note the Beef is served cold. * Garlic Mushrooms(side) = (4) very good...enough to share;) * Fruit Toban Yaki(dessert) = (4) very good NOTE: Street/Metered Parking.
(4)
Johnny B.
Pod is like Virgin America airlines mixed with a womb mixed with a sushi restaurant. I've been here for all you can eat sushi and I recall enjoying myself, but recently I got take out and I was sorely underwhelmed. I got four rolls and all were bad. This is the first time in my life that I could eat only a few bites of sushi and had to stop. I might come for drinks or if there was a special deal, but I was not impressed, Pod. I will not be back!
(2)
Colleen Z.
Lovely space, great service and good food. We met for drinks and appetizers on a week day afternoon. We were able to take advantage of happy hour specials. All was great. I love the look and feel of the place. I'll be back.
(4)
Jackie S.
So went to Pod Saturday night and it definitely has a vibe... the service was spot on and the sushi was good, and underwhelming. Was hoping for a bit more. I would consider myself to be a sushi guru and ths place delivered everywhere but on the sushi itself. Overall I really enjoyed the experience. Fat Salmon and Vic are amazing!
(4)
RB B.
Had a wonderful meal here for my sister-in-law's birthday. I had quite a wait because even with a reservation, the tables in the pods are first come first serve. Standouts were the udon with crispy tofu, tempura shrimp, spicy tuna on crispy rice, and pad thai. Great sushi as well....the vegan roll is delicious and I had to do a double take since they make the veggies look like fish! Desserts were very good, too.
(4)
Mike F.
Under whelming is the best description I have for POD. The food is 3-star, the prices are 4-star and the atmosphere is 5-star (but getting dated and worn). It's everything you'd expect from an old-school Steven Star restaurant.
(3)
Reva S.
You are basically paying for the atmosphere and the good service. Food is just ok.
(3)
Wilcox W.
This place was absolutely amazing. Everything was good. Literally every single thing we ordered. Blown away. Best restaurant in philly
(5)
Megan A.
Took my boyfriend here for his birthday in June, and was really excited because all the pictures online make this place look so cool. However, we went while it was still light outside and honestly it was nothing special. Everything is made out of plastic and looks cheap. It might be a totally different experience when it's dark out, but I can't attest to that. Also, the food is very expensive. Our meal came out to about $100 and we were still hungry. I got the chicken lettuce wraps and I've had such better lettuce wraps for much cheaper elsewhere. He got the wasabi steak and while he said it was good, it was tiny. We also split the chicken dumplings and they were just ok. Overall a disappointing experience but I would be willing to go back to give it another chance if I went with a big group and if it were later at night.
(2)
Jeremy S.
Gourmet asian fusion Every dish was flavorful A bit on the pricy side but nice ambience and good for celebrations Tastefully presented foods Changing menu
(5)
Abeer H.
Plastic inventive trendy decor and the seating feels cafeteria style, with no privacy. And it can get crowded depending on when you go. However, the sushi is great - fresh and delicious.
(4)
Andrew N.
The sushi here is not the best. I ordered the chef special and it came it brown rice. What a terrible mistake. I hate when they use brown rice on sushi. Even though it's more healthy it doesn't taste like sushi anymore. The bathrooms are each their own stalls in a colorful hallway.
(3)
Leroy F.
The Pod .. For me it's my go to place for sushi. It gets no better I love this place the staff, the location and the FOOD !
(5)
Miranda S.
This place attracted me because it looks like the restaurant of "the Future" courtesy of Austin Powers or the Jetsons. Service is super friendly and knowledgeable, and there are lots of great vegan/vegetarian choices. I I shared the mushroom-sweet pea dumplings, and my only complaint is there weren't enough of these tasty morsels. My main course was the Vegan Stephen roll, which looks exactly like fish sushi but is packed with a variety of savory plant flavors. Yum.
(4)
Kathleen Y.
I was just here on Friday with two friends and I was pretty unimpressed. While the futuristic, mod decor was kind of cool, it wasn't that different from places in New York I had already been to (It had the same chairs as Spice on University Pl.) Sadly, the food in the restaurant was not as good as these other restaurants. We all split the chicken dumpling and the sweet and sour pork dumplings (each about ~$9) which were actually pretty good (but not phenomenal.) For an entree, I ordered the wasabi crusted filet mignon with wasabi mashed potatoes ($29!) I'm not sure how it was screwed up, but the outside was very well done, but the inside was so rare that it made me fear eating it. At least the mashed potatoes were okay. My sister had a $25 sashimi plate that was "decent, but not the best." Our other friend had the crispy grilled pork tenderloin ($19) that was surprisingly 75% fried outside. Tastewise, it was reminiscent of a chicken nugget. Our drinks were okay, but nothing great once again. At the end of the meal, we felt we had just wasted a whole bunch of money on our food and cab fare to West Philly.
(2)
Lindsay T.
honestly, wasn't what it cracked up to be. the bathrooms are cool, the calamari salad is good, the sea bass is good, the pad thai is so-so.
(3)
R R.
i went here a long time ago and wouldn't go back. the food wasn't good and the decor is insulting.
(2)
Zoran M.
Food is good. Solid selection of beer. The decor is questionable and the place is always crowded. It is definitely a nice place for dinner with a larger group.
(4)
Sally f.
by far the coolest looking resturant in philly. you really feel like you are in a spaceship. the food is top rate and service is fast. prices kinda high, but i may have a lower budget than you. worth the experience. no free parking in the area though.
(5)
Jon F.
good, but overpriced and completely ridiculous. this place belongs in LA, along with steven starr.
(4)
shilpa p.
i love pod. it's a little pricey, but i don't mind going for sushi and dessert. the music is totally cool and i like the pink drink at the bar (tell them to go heavy on the champagne, i love champagne). i recommend the fondue tower. so yum.
(5)
Mike P.
I love Pod. The interior looks like Japan exploded inside there. Drinks and food are great. Also the service is fantastic. Once after a tough exam five of us needed a drink, so we needed over to Pod, and even though we were pretty ragged looking in our exam gear they treated us really well
(5)
Kap N.
the food is good here.
(4)
Keith R.
Starr's pan Asian restaurant near the Penn campus is a great mix of Asian cuisines with fresh ingredients. You are struck by the white furnishings as you walk in, and the funky lights offer a scene that I'm sure was cutting edge a few years ago. The place looks a little passe now, but that doesn't affect the food. The sushi is high quality and there are ample selections of dim sum, more "traditional" chinese dishes, and a few other asian dishes such as crab pad thai. The food was great, well prepared, and bursting with flavor. The miso seabass was so soft it melted off my chopsticks. Pod has many innovative takes on more traditional dishes like mushroom dumplings in a marsala like sauce and the aforementioned crab pad thai. I wasn't thrilled with the dessert menu but the wait staff let us try a small portion of the toffee-chocolate bread pudding, which was incredible. The worst part of the restaurant was trying to figure out what to order since the menu is so good. The truth be told though, the worst part of the Pod is the prices which are very high even for the large portions. Service was extremely attentive, there are a large selection of cocktails and wine as well.
(4)
Hank C.
Located on the University of Pennsylvania's campus, this is a Stephen Starr-designed restaurant, and hence, more attention was paid to making the experience overall. Pods with color-changing buttons (to adjust the colors of the lights in the pod) are available for groups (make sure to call and reserve to get them). Bathrooms here are the glass-door, micro-bathrooms, nice, usually clean. Staff are dressed in particular uniforms, paying attention to those who are the staff whom you order from, clean your tables, and serve you drinks are all a bit different, and the hostesses at the door usually are dressed a-kin to fashionable business bouncers. A bar space with red-plastic cushioned seats serves decent drinks, although the space is perhaps more interesting than the drinks are strong. The moving sushi bar isn't bad, although the selection can be a bit repetitive - ask the chefs if you want something specific (pay by plate color). The regular dishes aren't bad, most of them Asian-fusion related, including dishes like the pineapple and ham fried rice and the deep fried crab. Noodles were probably the best dishes, and the duck had a lukewarm reception at the table. You can valet park at the hotel or in a garage at 38th & Walnut.
(3)
D.R. S.
we stopped by mid- afternoon to avoid the dinner chaos. Good location, excellent service, gorgeous interior, and super fresh food. Attention to detail in every aspect! Love this place!
(4)
Mindy T.
Went here for my buddy's birthday. The crispy rice tuna is AMAZING. Everything else was mediocre. We ordered miso soup, stir fry udon, pad thai, and misc. sushi. The miso soup tasted like any other coming straight from a packet, and the server actually took it away while we were still working on it. So we notified them and they brought us out a new one. My udon was okay, had more taste than my girlfriend's pad thai. Sushi was just okay too. The only thing that left us yearning for more was the crispy rice tuna. We savored every last bite of it. As for dessert, I had the chocolate cake. It was very chocolate-y indeed. I couldn't finish it all and gave it to my friend, which he ended up devouring. I really like the atmosphere, it was set up in a way that reminded me of Morimoto's. We had a great time here with all of our friends, and we did leave with a full stomach. If we were to come back, it would be for you know what... CRISPY RICE TUNA!
(3)
Gwendolyn P.
I am surprised it doesn't appear that I reviewed this before since I have been here a few times. I really love the cool sleek environment and the service is on point and very professional. I love the kaiten (revolving ) sushi which is reminiscent of the time that I spent in Japan. The menu is eclectic and great for sharing if you go with a group. I have tried probably most of the menu and there was not one single thing I did't like! The rock shrimp is great, the dumplings are great, the pad thai delicious and so on and so forth.
(5)
Nary K.
I have been to Pod numerous times and I'm never disappointed. The menu changes from time to time but the food remains remarkable. I always try the calamari salad (this time, it was made with Kale and I loved it!). The crispy tuna rice is always good. For my "big plate" option, I chose lamb chops, which were amazing! And for dessert, we had mochi icecream and doughnuts with raspberry cream sauce; to die for! My advice? Pod is a must try! Great for couples, groups and families!
(5)
Erin M.
Thanks, Pod, for making eating here such a delight for a vegan like me! I am so happy with the amount of choices that I can make on the menu, and the fact that they will make a few things vegan for me upon request! When I ate here a couple of weeks ago, I told my server I was vegan, so she made sure to veganize my side order of roasted asparagus (I think it normally has fish sauce in it or something). It was quite delicious, as was the Vegan Stephen sushi. I almost sent it back because I thought it was fish when it arrived. The tomato looks suspiciously like raw salmon! But, no, all vegan here, and full of fresh vegetables and stuffed with tempura'd veggies. Delicious! For lunch today, I decided to go with an old standby: tofu lettuce wraps. These are very decadent. Deep fried tofu in a sweet and savory Asian sauce, with sprouts and onions, a side of peanutty sauce and some fresh butter lettuce leaves. I love that you can roll them up yourself. Fun lunch. And delicious. Thanks, Pod!
(5)
Ron H.
For sushi, its trendy and minimal selection, but this isnt really a "sushi" restaurant. Pod is an trendy Japanese restaurant. Bright colors in all white, light up bar, booths and seats change color slowly ((or by choice in the group pods), and Japanimation plays over the sushi bar while a conveyor belt of color coded plates whisks past you.
(4)
Lindsay H.
So my biggest love for Pod is actually there lunch Express bento special. For some time now, I felt it was unfair of me to review this place since I've only been for lunch but hey, each lunch is so tasty that I just needed to share with the yelp community! I have enjoyed their pad thai, sushi and dumpings but hands down the Express bento Miso glazed chilean seabass lunch special is what to get! It's unreal. The fish is always perfectly cooked and has such a delicious salty/sweet flavor that makes it melt in your mouth. This paired with some rice, miso soup and a side salad makes this arguably the best lunch in U-city. Unfortunately, I rarely have enough space to eat this much but if you do, definitely try it!
(4)
Nakia Y.
I went to POD during Ucity dinning days (unaware until i got there that it was actually going on), but anyway: everytime i go to POD i have an awesome experience. from the decor to the service i am never disappointed. The seafood rice my date ordered wasnt up to the normal POD standard but everything else we ordered made up for it. Oh and this was the first time that the manager actually came over to the table and talked to us (which is always a plus) making sure that everything was to our liking. and kudos to the waitress because she was friendly, courteous, and provided us with A1 customer service the entire night.
(4)
Lily N.
I was very disappointed. My server was nice, but the food was terribly salty. Rolls are good but salty. The stir fry is very salty and horribly tasted. The chef should really do something about using too much salt. Also the wait is too long. It was a bad experience for me.
(1)
Amanda C.
Listen, Philly, I don't know where this 3.5 stars business came from, but Pod has made it's way into my 5 star (nay, 6! nay, 10!) favorites. We go for birthdays, anniversaries and most recently Christmas Eve. Not only do they go out of their way to make every occasion special, their day-to-day service and quality menu is a great reason to make Pod an any day restaurant, not just a holiday treat. We go big when we come to Pod. It's tough not to order more than we do, and we inevitably leave stuffed anyway. But it's a happy full, not a gross, greasy, carb-y full. Last time we went, we got: 1) Lobster roll (with truffle teriyaki sauce...COME ON.) 2) Wagyu beef (cooked on a hot stone..in front of you!) 3) Steamed pork belly buns (no joke.) 4) Mushroom ramen (a special! The most incredible special.) 5) Robata grill - Japanese eggplant, asparagus, cauliflower (all amazing) 6) Peppermint chocolate sundae (another Christmas special) 7) Fluffernutter spring rolls (crispy, fluffy, peanut-buttery and to die for) We basically were transported straight to an eternal heaven. It's like that every time we go. The dishes are inventive, the quality is supreme and the flavors are bold. The service is hands down some of the best I've encountered - the waitstaff are on point with remembering details from the last time we came, making recommendations and timing the meal perfectly. To top it all off, the cocktails are delicious. We will keep coming back to Pod for as long as they'll have us.
(5)
Dana D.
Love Pod. One of my favorite restaurants in Philly. It's been around forever and I've been going here ever since it opened. Food is always delicious. The atmosphere is my favorite out of any restaurant I've been to. It's so much fun and so trendy. This is a perfect place to go before a night out. Sitting in the pod changes the entire experience from cool to amazing. The pods are so much fun, you can change the color of the pod to whatever you want. The service is always great, I don't think I've ever had a bad experience at this place and I have been here 20+ times. The drinks are yummy, They added a new spicy martini I forgot the name but it is one of my new favorites. I love this place and would highly recommend it to all of my friends and family.
(5)
Laura G.
I came here on a Thursday afternoon for lunch. I've been here numerous times for lunch and each time is has been good. I cannot speak for their dinner, so my review is strictly for lunch. I am not a huge Stephen Starr fan BUT Pod is definitely one to check out. We ordered edamame to start and it was so large. Definitely enough for 4-5 people. We both order bento boxes. I ordered the Sea Bass which was perfectly cooked and the miso glaze was wonderful. The box itself was extremely big, I had enough left overs for a second lunch. These are also very reasonably priced. The restaurant has always been pretty empty for lunch and you definitely don't need reservations. I highly recommend checking it out if you're in the UCITY area.
(5)
Josh G.
I love it here! Amazing food, great service, and a fantastic time with friends. One of my highlights of Philly.
(4)
Jacqueline O.
Last night I came here for my sisters birthday. It was great. We sat in one of the large private pons and enjoyed a delicious meal with great drinks. She had called ahead to order off a set menu and it was incredible. They started with salad, Sushi, dumplings, fish on sweet potatoes with rice (to die for) chicken lettuce wraps, and then desert which was marshal low and peanut butter spring rolls, ice cream in a delicious putty shell and hot lava cake . It was so much food and each thing that came out was better than the last. I would recommend this place for large groups and I would record ordering ahead. Everything came out on time and we were never waiting. What a great place. Only thing was it did seem to be a little dead outside our pod. But with the private rooms it is like you are the only people there and it was a blast. Not to mention it changes colors as you push the buttons around you.
(4)
Ada W.
The decor of this place is super cute! And it's definitely great for a big group to have their private space in the few pods they have in the restaurant. The service is great and they were very attentive to our needs. The service was really fast but they didn't rush us out like most restaurants do which is a plus for me. We had the special tempura shrimp and jalapeno roll, short ribs from the robata grill, chicken potstickers and spicy lobster. They were all good but not great. I guess I expected more given how great the food is in other Stephen Starr restaurants. But I will definitely recommend this place and I will come back again if I crave for sushi or Asian food.
(4)
Alexis J.
*Later Yelp* I've only been here once, but I love this place mainly for the atmosphere. It just has a cool, swanky vibe. The food is pretty good too. I had the lamb chops, uzuu lemon cheesecake for dessert and a lychee martini, I believe. All were pretty good...although the lamb may have been a bit too salty. I remember the service being satisfactory as well.
(3)
Grace L.
Although I am a huge fan of the design (the restaurant feels clean, sleek, and modern), the food was extremely subpar. My friend and I were seated promptly at a cute window seat, and handed beautifully created drink and food menus. Our waiter was prompt, pleasant, and filled up our waters consistently. However, our experience went downhill from there. I ordered the shortrib bento box, and while I enjoyed my miso soup immensely (it was full of flavor, in contrast to normal watery broth that asian restaurants usually serve), I could barely eat my salad (and I love salad!) or main dish. The first bite of the shortrib was decent, since the meat was cooked well, but the rest of it was much too salty and doused in gooey soy sauce concoction. My friend ordered a salmon avocado roll, which looked small but she said it was fine. Finally, we shared chicken lettuce wraps; I enjoyed the peanut sauce, but again, the meat was much too salty and covered in more sauce! I ate one bite and let my friend take the rest home. Will not be returning if I am paying with my own money; thankfully, many Penn professors take their students out to lunch here for free, so it would be worth it to come then.
(2)
Monica H.
Friends and I went to Pod for a birthday last weekend because we saw pictures of the amazing interior of the restaurant. The service was all very good and our waitress was super helpful and seemed to have the whole menu and all the specials memorized by heart. The interior had a futuristic feel which was very new and different. The food however, was just okay for the price. (We tried basic and specialty rolls). While the presentation and quality was very nice, the rolls just seemed to lack flavor. The cocktails seemed to sound very complex and tasty on the menu, but it was also just alright for $11. All in all it is a good place to try and experience once, but i feel as though you are really paying more for the atmosphere than anything else.
(3)
Minaz M.
For the price, I think it deserves only 3 stars. It's a more fancy and better quality chinatown-type-food restaurant. Don't get me wrong - the food was good but it wasn't good enough for the price. I love Amada & Zahav & Morimoto - the food at those places is AWESOME and well worth the money! We had the white tiger roll sushi, which was good. The karaage (fried chicken) reminded us of KFC! It was certainly very well cooked but it was just fried chicken. The sizzling garlic mushrooms were really good. The lamb and the crab fried rice were alright. I wouldn't go back!
(3)
Kristy Y.
The food here is okay, there's nothing great about it. I think it's more for someone who wants a pretty plate dinner. However it is a nice spot to have drinks with friends. If you want sushi, I would suggest you to go to an actual sushi restaurant.
(3)
Rob P.
Had dinner there this week with a party of 10. I've dined there several times since they opened. Initially, the novelty of the interior design really contributed to the overall dining experience. Now, the place is dirty and worn- even visible with the dim nighttime lighting. The "Pod" our party occupied was dirty and worn. Some of our dishes/utensils were not clean. The bathrooms were atrocious. We had to move our chairs every-time the server brought food just to let her pass. Awkward and uncomfortable. If this were a local chinese restaurant with associated pricing, one would overlook the condition of the place and accept the mediocrity of the dishes. I would advise closing and reinventing this place.
(2)
Ms S.
I was worried that the whole conveyer thing would be weird, but actually it is a great concept and is great in between your other orders. It is extremely clean fish and comes delivered in a pod so you don't have to worry about someone sneezing or giving you Ebola while its traveling around in circles. The place is very clean and the staff is friendly. I'll definitely be back
(5)
Connie J.
Great food, lovely decor. Will go again!
(4)
Faustina K.
Ok so this would not be my first choice of dining, simply because I'm not a big fan of sushi...BUT I was impressed by the decor and the modern feel of this place! It's very modern. I can see it being a good place for a date night or even just a girls night to somewhere u meet for lunch meetings! Service was good! Our waiter was very friendly and attentive! Explained the menu well, and encouraged out to try new things. Which I thought was great! As for the food! Ehhh! I decided to just go with the shrimp tempura! The menu didn't have anything that interested me, and after tasting my friends rice, which was very blah! I was eased with my order! I may give it another try! We'll see!
(3)
Saloni G.
Since Pod is right near the middle of campus, I've come to Pod a few times during my time at Penn. My go-to dishes are usually the: 1) Wasabi Vegetable Rice - I get it without egg and it still tastes great! The wasabi is not too overpowering but still enough to give a kick. The rice is subtly flavorful and light. 2) Udon Noodle and Tofu Stir Fry - I love this dish! The tofu is made to be marshmallow-style which I have always been a fan of. The udon noodles are marinated in this great sauce which is still light but definitely feeling. It's not greasy at all so I order it every time! 3) Cauliflower Robata - I've had this once or twice as it is more of a side than an entree. The cauliflower always comes out nicely grilled and is a great dish for sharing on the side. I've also had the mochi which is always popular with whomever I come with. Pod can be a little pricey so I don't occasion it that often but I'm always pleased when I do come!
(4)
RJ T.
Very fun, trendy sushi restaurant right near campus. I was here solo at the sushi bar, but if you come with a big group, you can sit in one of their "pods" which is a cool atmosphere. I ordered the crispy rice spicy tuna which was great and then the rock shrimp spicy tuna roll which was amazing. Pro-tip: go a little early for lunch, like 11:30/11:45 - the place gets PACKED at noon on the dot and if you are eating at the sushi bar, you get the freshest first picks :)
(5)
Emily D.
Only rating two stars to balance out the ratings. Place is very pretty, but you're paying a pretty penny for the atmosphere. Food is OK. Service is OK. Drinks are OK. A nice place to meet with old friends to sit a while and chat. Dress up to enhance your time. This place is instagram worthy (aesthetically excellent!), though if youre really hungry for some on-point food, you can easily get more bang for your buck somewhere in Chinatown.
(2)
Cara T.
I visited Pod for the first time recently for a friends birthday. This friend is a quarter Japanese and so it was decided among us that we would go to Pod...for Japanese. Now I'm not a sushi fan. I tend to lean towards the Chinese side of Asian cuisine, nonetheless, I was excited to visit another Stephen Starr spot. We entered with one goal in mind...securing a pod. We wanted to eat in one!! You can book one in advance if you agree to spend a set dollar amount. We couldn't promise we would spend that much so we had no reservation, only hope. When we got there, we told the hostess we were interested in a pod and she said if one was available or opened up, we could have it. We told her we would wait at the bar...and we did....for 45 minutes until our glorious pod was free. The fun thing about partying in the pod is that you basically have a private room. You can change the color of the room by pressing buttons on the wall. After a few minutes, our eyes were so warped from the lights, we couldn't tell what color was what. In fact, at the end of the night, our friend gave his coat back to coat check saying that the coat wasn't his....that his coat was a different color. Turns out his eyes were just messed up. I ordered the Kobe beef cooked table side and it was delicious. The ribs were tangy. The drinks were tasty. I hear the sushi was excellent. It was a great experience overall. I'd go there again if someone invited me. It is pricey to eat in basically white Ikea decor with fancy lights, so be prepared.
(4)
Danielle P.
Great service, trendy and just plain cool decor, and the best sushi in West Philly. If you're in the University City area and you need to get your fix, this is a great option. They had some interesting specials, all of the usual sushi, and japanese dishes. My family enjoyed yellowtail, tuna, salmon, and some specialty rolls, as well as the fried rice. All good quality. They took care of my food allergies and I didn't get sick from any of the food allergies I worry about when dining at an Asian restaurant (shellfish, soy, wheat!) I wouldn't go out of your way to come here, but it's definitely a great option if you go to school at Penn or Drexel or if you're visiting!
(4)
Jenny K.
Pod is the perfect place for a date or a girls night out. Everything is cute and chill. I love the lychee martini here. The crab fried rice is my personal favorite. Be sure to call ahead for a 5+ group and request to sit in a pod
(4)
Elisabet R.
Love everything but the sushi rolls. The drinks are great, the ambiance is modern, and the servers are great (as in most Stephen Starr restaurants). The hot plates are wonderful-- the udon soup, baby bok choy and Kobe beef fried rice are a must! The miso glazed sea bass and spare ribs are delicious as well. Not to big a fan of the desserts as most are pretty to look at but not as tasty as they sound on paper.
(3)
Jake A.
Someone here put a good catch phrase on this place: the pod is instagram worthy. Want to go to a party and have a variety of lights and music blaring while dining on sushi? The pod is for you. Selfie away on instagram and the world will nod. For the others who want just a relaxing dinner out with that someone special, you might want to look elsewhere. A few of us old friends decided to hook up here and we were very delighted that we were promptly seated. I loved the futuristic perspective of the place. Even the bathrooms look like it would fit well in a scene out of back to the future. Weird but very modernistic and sophisticated. It really felt like they had a clear vision when they put this together. Now to the food and service. The service was exceptional. Everything was rolling in exquisitely and we were treated like we were guests of the Queen of England. The food is where I totally lost it. I didn't like my sushi nor the lamb chops. My friends liked their choices but we came in late, so I can't help but wonder if we were just stuck in a bad time slot for the chef's plans. I must say that the dessert was good though. I don't think that my review does justice since I'm speaking just for myself and not for my group. Some of my friends in the group really liked the place. I think I'd be more comfortable in a conventional or traditional restaurant. But that might just be me.
(3)
Robert S.
Delicious sushi and a very cool and hip atmosphere. When you walk into Pod you immediately notice that it isn't like many other sushi spots you've been too. It has a very modern and trendy feel to it. The food is fantastic and it's some of, if not the best sushi around. When I dined here the other day with some friends I went with the Rockin Spicy Tuna Roll and the Frosty Kobe Fried Rice. The Frost Rice bowl is a cool dish that actually comes with uncooked beef and it cooks once it's brought to your table due to the heat given off by the rice and egg. I also went with the Sake Mojito which was real tasty and refreshing. I recommend dining at Pod and if you come with a group make sure to request to eat in a pod.
(4)
Rick B.
Great place to go to celebrate. The environment looks like a futuristic scene from the 90s but the food is timeless. Half the menu is for sushi, the other half for cooked food. I say come here for celebration because you will be prepared to spend money. The price is fair for the amazing quality of food and I wasn't feeling any regrets about the portion size. I tried both the sushi and cooked items from the menu. I recommend the spider roll and lettuce wraps. Washed it down with a Sake Mojito. I would love to come here again and try more.
(4)
Pete S.
Great spot. You couldn't ask more for food and service. Amanda was our server she was spot on. All her helpers were better then great. The only reason why I couldn't give it a 5 is I got seated 25 minutes after my reservation and it wasn't that busy. I noticed the girls at the front forgot about us. The manager was very diligent on the floor checking on every table . If anywhere needs a little work it's the hostes. Your gps will bring you to the front street unless you use your iPhone which brings you to the front door. Great job pod keep up the great work.
(4)
Keisha F.
Love POD! The food is great, trendy atmosphere and the service is awesome. (Johnathan our server was the best!) I'll definitely be back!
(5)
Seb G.
I was lucky enough to have the opportunity to taste many different plates thanks to being invited by a very generous host. All I can say is WOW. It's not only one of the most visually appealing restaurants I've seen in terms of style and decor but the food was unforgetable. Every single plate was exquisite; even the tofu, and I hate tofu. Pod is the best asian restaurant I have ever been inside or heard of. I would definitely recommend it if you find yourself in Philadelphia. Apparently a lot of celebrities frequent this spot.
(5)
James C.
Pod is great for the atmosphere and the food quality is A-OK. It might be on the pricey end if you are just looking for a quick bite to eat with friends or something. I always try to get the pad thai since I think that is the most bang for the buck and then some sushi. All the special rolls are good. Sushi is always fresh and top quality. Overall it is a decent place.
(4)
Tiffany H.
Literally the best sea bass I've ever had. Order it.
(4)
Barbara W.
I've been to Pod many times, and enjoy their high quality of food. However, the portion sizes have always disappointed me. I went for lunch on a week-day and ordered one of their Bento Box lunch specials - I picked seared tuna - as the protein. I received 4 very thin slices of tuna on top of a small salad plus the rest of the bento box (Miso soup, brown rice, salad and pickled vegetables). The tuna was good quality, and cooked perfectly (rare +), but my bento had no soup and instead had 2 salads. Although I eventually received my soup, service was a sloppy. Our waiter spilled water all over me and the chair next to me, and promised to send someone to clean it up, that person never came. I've also had positive service experiences at Pod, but I have never been too impressed with the creativity of the dishes. The restaurant has modern/chic/upscale flair, but the food to me is just mediocre.
(2)
Mal S.
Best fancy restaurant in Philadelphia sushi was amazing the pad Thai was great the salad calamari was fantastic and the fried rice was awesome!!!
(5)
Nicole L.
I've only been here for some drinks and socializing. The atmosphere and prices make it the "hang out place for the rich/cool kids on campus." The atmosphere and vibe is not so much my style, too modern and sterile feeling. Lots of college kids come here to see and be seen.
(3)
rich k.
Although the food is ok the restaurant needs updating. The bathrooms could use a thorough cleaning. Sorry about the three stars but it's definite stepped backwards.
(3)
Pam A.
Consistently good. I happen to eat here fairly often, and I try to mix it up, but when I come back to the sushi its consistently above average. I had the duck duck udon as well this time, it was a bit bland, but the duck won tons inside were delish. Its never cheap, and well, it feels like the Wharton/Penn dining hall. The only time drinks are affordable is happy hour, and then they are a great deal.
(3)
Andy B.
Walking in, the atmosphere got me very excited for the experience. Menu looked great also. Although we made a reservation, we had to wait 20 mins for our table. When the waitress asks our table about allergies, I was happy because normally I have to awkwardly bring up I am allergic to shellfish. The wait for 5 sushi rolls was nearly an hour. As they finally came out, all different rolls were mixed on the same plate (shellfish and non). The waitress apologized and said she didn't inform the chef about the allergy (we all make mistakes). She said she would expedite my rolls and they would be out soon. 10 minutes, 15 minutes, 20, 30, 35 minutes later my two rolls came out. At this point, everyone at the table ate (annoyed). While my other friends watch me eat, one orders a 2nd glass of Chardonnay; she does not specify the type. Throughout dinner she orders 2 more glasses. As we get our bill, we realized the waitress ordered her the most expensive chardonnay at 17$ a glass. There was a cheaper glass at $8. The waitress explained that they were out of the cheaper wine, so the waitress took it upon herself to charge her $68 for 4 glasses of wine, without asking? After a complaint they comp-ed us ONE glass of wine. Another thing, the bathrooms were filthy. There were plenty of people working, at leaset ONE person could have kept them up. There are like 10 individual bathroom pods. One sink was clogged, toilet paper was all over the ground. One sink would not run water. I felt like they were glorified port-a-pottys. Overall: Atmosphere (aside from bathroom) is great. Food was good. Drinks over priced. Food over priced. Wait was so long. Service was horrible.
(1)
Josh Q.
This place is a solid Asian Fusion place, and I was pleasantly surprised that all the dishes were delicious, no matter the original cuisine. The sushi was fresh, the pad thai was the perfect blend of savory and sweet, and the taro spring rolls are the perfect way to end your meal. I know that many Penn students have an aversion to this place, but I never understood why. If it's only because the food is more expensive than other restaurants, then I think that is unfair. While somewhat pricy, I think it is still one of the cheaper Starr restaurants and offers very tasty options throughout the menu.
(4)
Dave M.
Wow...this place is overpriced, the portions are minuscule, and the staff was rude and extremely sluggish. The bill was $70 for two and we left hungry. The favors were above average, I'll admit, but nothing spectacular. Buyer beware!
(1)
Tom B.
As I mentioned in my previous review, I imagined that Pod would have a pretty cool vibe going when the place was busy... Back in the day, I could only imagine such a thing because the place was practically empty during my first visit, despite the fact that it was at 7pm on a Thursday night (and it wasn't any busier by the time I left). Fortunately, I've been able to confirm my suspicions over the course of a couple visits since then. Went for dinner, went for lunch... Both times the place was packed, and the atmosphere was entirely different, much more comfortable and exciting. Oh, and the Rockin' Spicy Tuna roll is one of the best I've ever had in all my sushi eating days.
(4)
lena n.
Okay I came back to Pod for the food because it was delicious, however this time, I was sort of disappointed. First, we wanted to rsvp the "pod rooms" however, everybody was told different stories when me and my friends tried to book it. We got - the pod rooms are not rsvp, it is first come first serve,....then somebody got - it is $700 to rsvp....so it just got us all confused. So we said forget the room we just want a table - nope couldn't do that either. Soo we said just go and just sit near the bar where there was seating for waiting but we were not guaranteed seatings for our party of 10, which was fine to us. Therefore, we sat near the bar and ordered our food there. There are no tables there, so we basically had the food on our laps eating it, which still did not bothered us because we basically agreed to go even though we were not guareenteed seating. Now this was all for a surprised bday party in which we bought our own cake because this is her fave type of cake, and here comes the BAD PART - they charge $3 per person if you bring in outside cakes. dun dun dun....how STUPID. ARE YOU KIDDING ME?! who the hell does that!?!? First off, people have different liking to cakes and who in the world does not bring a cake to a restaurant for their friends BIRTHDAY!?!?! That just pissed us all off NOW. So at this time we said eff it, lets just pay and go. Sat there in their waiting section for 2 hours, ate, wasnt able to eat the cake, and left. I thought was RIDICULOUS. OH ANOTHER BAD THING - we were charge gratuity on our checks for 20%!!! Can you tell me why they would do that if we are not even sitting at a table?!! I would have done the mininum which is 18% because we didnt get a full service dining experience. I'm sorry, i'm not a cheap tipper but that really pissed me off even more. I would like to tip what I want to tip, not what you tell me to. Oh and one more thing - they changed how they put the calamari salad which is my fave dish there - they took out the calamari and left it separate from the salad which is pretty stupid because then it wouldnt be called the calamari salad now!!! Sorry I dont think I'll be back for awhile.
Pod was recommended HIGHLY to me by a friend from the Philly area. I made a reservation 2 days before I even headed there because it sounded so amazing. I was not disappointed in any way. Great food, perfect cocktails, EXCELLENT service, awesome atmosphere and design...from start to finish, Pod exceeded my expectations. We ordered the crab spring rolls, which were probably some of the most delicious crab spring rolls I have ever had, as well as a large sushi and sashimi platter. EVERYTHING was perfect. Such an enjoyable experience. You stay classy, Pod.
(5)
Lauren O.
As a student (read "dirt poor") I rarely get the opportunity to dine at Pod, so when the opportunities arises I jump...as high as I possibly can. Pod's a favorite for happy hours (the cocktails are color-coded, it's the perfect excuse to "taste the rainbow") and lunch. The crab fried rice "side" is more than enough for a meal...you can easily split this with a friend and still be stuffed. The crab spring rolls are also a favorite. The Kedeki express lunch "boxes" are fabulous...might not be enough if you're starving but definitely a good option if you're craving miso soup plus something else. Pod is drastically overpriced but with food this good, they know they can get away with it. If you're on a budget, I suggest going at lunch and splitting with friends...best way to sample different things and not have blown your electric bill on dinner. Oh yeah...getting a group then sitting in one of the 'pods' is a must! I love love love playing with the lights.
(4)
Andre B.
Really neat little place. Trendy and fun, great for people in their 20-30's! Good food in a casual atmosphere. Most people that go there are going to school in the city. We had sushi and dim sum and it was all great! Try the Robata Steak, you wont be disappointed! Martinis are also awesome!
(4)
Andrew T.
Mediocre, or "A-OK" as Yelp defines 3-stars, pretty much sums up this place. If you walk in here and notice that it seems a bit busy, leave. The restaurant, kitchen, sushi bar, and wait staff simply fall apart when it gets busy. For instance, after waiting 10 minutes for our waiter to greet us, my dining companion ordered a burger while I ordered sushi. My food came out 10-15 minutes after her's did. With no explanation. It was fun watching her eat her burger while I played with my sushi-less chopsticks. Beyond for that, the food is average, drinks are average, ambiance is average, and this review is getting pretty average. The end.
(3)
Ben M.
Five stars if you sit in one of the pods, they're super awesome. The food is really four stars though, some great stuff, but nothing too jaw-dropping. Good selection and as with most Stephen Starr's restaurants some creative menu items and a nice mix of cultural cuisine even under the blanket of Asian cooking.
(5)
Minh C.
Came there for lunch yesterday and I must say Starr restaurants live up to their reputation. It had a hip twisty atmosphere, and a very unique menu. I personally ordered the udon with tofu stir fry which was absolutely delicious. My only complaints about it was that it was served in an oversized bowl, no biggie and the tofu had a great texture but a little bland and the udon was a little overdone. The edamame they served enough to feed 4, which was amazing.
(3)
Lydia T.
totally worth the money...if it was still 2004. The food is definitiely decent, well beyond decent, but not worth the money. Maybe they are just getting by from Penn and Drexel parents. Fried rice is good, macadamia chicken good. Oh and go there at night, then you will see why they charge so much...for the neon lights.
(3)
Caroline H.
Eh. I know...sad to say. Made a reservation because of the UC Dining Days promo which entitles each person 3 courses for $30, good deal right? Wrong. So here's the lowdown. I don't know how many of you have dined at restaurants during dining days or restaurant week but every time I have (which is 10+ times) you are each entitled to each choose 1 app, 1 entree, and 1 dessert choice--This is NOT so at Pod. Our server came over and informed our party of 3 that we were to choose only 2 apps, 2 entrees and 2 desserts but that the portions would be adjusted to the number of people at the table. I was not a happy camper especially since I wanted to try things that no one else at my table would eat :( and the portions were the same size as the table next to us of 2 people. I'm not complaining that they were small portions (I was full at the end of the meal) but still I feel like it's almost false advertising or that the stipulations should have been noted previously because I definitely would have chosen to dine at another restaurant (i.e. Distrito-which I dined at last UC dining days and had SO many choices and were able to try a ton for the $30 price tag) had I known this. Anyways on to the food, we had the beef and chicken lettuce wraps, chicken potstickers, shrimp pad thai, macadamia chicken stir fry, brown sugar cake and vanilla mousse. -The lettuce wraps were my favorite by far..however the lettuce was so small that nothing would fit in it so we ended up just eating the filling with a fork. -The potstickers were well...potstickers nothing fabulous. -Shrimp pad thai - this was sad. Honestly it tasted like the stuff you make out of the box from the asian section of the supermarket. -The chicken stir fry was tasty but once again nothing special. -The 2 very small pieces of cake (for 3 people mind you) were delish, the brown sugar cake was my fav. I wish they would have given us more. This was no deal for $30/person. It would have been cheaper to order the same items a la carte...yes I priced it out. So thank you Pod for charging me more for a mediocre so called dining "deal" when I'm trying to save money.
(2)
Mihir P.
I thought that I had reviewed Pod many years ago but I do remember my experience there. I love the atmosphere but the super white decor needed some bleaching. I do appreciate the Kaiten-zushi belt so you can eat quickly but it also just looks so cool. My friend ordered the Pod Caesar salad which I thought was a lame attempt at "fusion" cuisine; wasabi in the Caesar dressing - I think not. I do recommend the potstickers and sushi.
(3)
Rich D.
Just walked out of CHOP and was foraging for some lunch... And I found said lunch in a futuristic place called Pod that serves Asian fusion. Great lunch menu and I went with the Macadamia Nut Chicken served with a Soy / Kelp Miso and a Ginger Salad. Place was very cool and reminded me of the Milk Bar in A Clockwork Orange. All they need to complete it would be some nude spigots and a bit o' the Ludwig Van...
(4)
Mary B.
I've heard a lot of great things about stephan starr restaurants and i was in town visiting family so we decided to come here. the decor here is so modern, chic, and hip!! i give this place 3 stars is because the food was okay. All the sushi rolls we had were good, but nothing really stood out to me. my family from philly seem to really enjoy it, but i guess my san diegan tastebuds doesn't agree as much.
(3)
Noell M.
I have been coming to POD for about 8 years now. This was my first Stephen Starr restaurant and even after all this time it is still one of my favorites. My outlook of POD has changed over the years. At first I thought it was for "special occasion" dining and that you had to get all "fancied up" to go. Now I feel it is more casual and relaxed.....in fact, most of time when I go it is on a whim or a last minute change of plans. Like all of the Starr restaurants, POD really embraces its theme through its food and aesthetic. The theme of POD (at least what I think it is) is a super chill, futuristic, dining hall filled with color, music, and a cool quirkiness. The interior of the restaurant reminds me of a blank canvas. Add in the music and colored lighting (mentioned above) with the aroma of delectable food and POD is transformed into a cleverly crafted piece of artwork. Sushi, seafood, poultry, salads, and steaks are all represented on the Asian fusion menu. My favorite dishes are the Wasabi Crusted Fillet Mignon, the Macadamia Chicken Stir Fry, and the POD Caesar Salad ( which is large enough to split). For a drink I usually go with Pink- champagne, pineapple and cranberry juice. A great place to go for a few drinks (take a moment and sit on the funky red bar furniture), with a group, on a date or just to people watch! I highly recommend if you enjoy other Starr restaurants!
(4)
David T.
I like this place a lot. The interiors are neat, the bar looks cool, and the constant anime (or daft punk videos) playing on the screen behind the sushi bar is awesome. Great place for a date if you don't mind the noise. Drinks-wise, the sake mojitos are bangin. Remember to ask for a double. As for the food, pretty much everything I've eaten here has been ridiculously tasty. My favorite by far is the duck two ways. Roasted duck breast cooked perfectly, accompanied by duck served in a bao bun? All about it. The sauce is great, too. Their special sushi rolls are creative and delicious; I love the shiro-aoi - spicy white tuna and avocado topped with hamachi and jalapeño. Other menu standouts include the braised beef short rib over udon noodles (meat is unbelievably tender), and the lettuce wraps. Definitely a good place to try if you're down with S. Starr and you like Asian fusion.
(4)
Nicholas W.
What a cool place! The decor inside is like walking into a Miami nightclub; well what I imagine one would look like if I went. There are cool neon lights, all white decor, and really friendly hostesses and waitstaff. My wife and I stopped in without a reservation and were seated at the sushi bar, which we had no issues with. They have some interesting things on the menu, but nothing really strikes you as different or cutting-edge, just your typical sushi rolls and sashimi. The prices are also similar to other sushi restaurants, but maybe a little more....typically $12-$20 for specialty rolls. You really can't go wrong with anything on the menu, but don't be surprised if you aren't astounded by the flavors, because some of the rolls are lacking in that category.
(3)
Aaron R.
This place is ok. Its trendy, and makes reasonable cocktails. The sushi is not good, and the noodle dishes are fine, but greasy and nothing special. A reasonable choice if you are in the area, but I wouldn't go out of my way to come here.
(3)
I.E. C.
Wow. I was sufficiently underwhelmed with Pod. To start off, when we arrived they lost our reservation and apologized because their system had crashed. They sat us within 15 minutes or so, so we did not think it was a big deal. However, the service was excruciatingly slow. The Kobe skirt steak was good, but nothing special for $29. The portion was also extremely small. We ordered a variety of sushi rolls and all them fell apart because they were wrapped poorly. I would never go back to this place. It's definitely not a place you should go out of your way for. If I lived in University City, I could see it being fun to grab a drink with friends, but other than that, totally overhyped and overpriced.
(2)
Jenni I.
If you have a group, request a "pod" when you make your reservation. The atmosphere is great without the addition of the exclusive seating -- but it sure adds to the fun. The food is always fresh and delicious. I definitely recommend the dessert sampler. It comes in fun little boxes, too. The cocktails here are really different, too. I highly recommend the Pink.
(5)
Sonya S.
Really cool design/decor. Amazing cocktails & food... their sushi is very, very good.
(5)
Sunia T.
I love this place. Great service with an amazingly trendy and classy atmosphere. Every time i come here, i order something different and am never disappointed. I love their wok charred items and how they pretty much have every meat and vegetable available wok charred. I really cannot rave enough about the atmosphere of this restaurant though, it is extremely sexy.
(5)
Molly O.
The food tasted great and the service is nice but I'm pretty sure that they use MSG. I had the worst allergic reaction about a couple hours after dinner and MSG is what triggers it. Avoid eating here if you break out in hives and get a swollen tongue from MSG. I had the garlic shrimp with broccoli, and tried some of my coworker's crab fried rice. If you do have this allergy, make sure you don't have what I had!
(1)
EricaLynn J.
The secret here is that there's better "asian fusion" food elsewhere in the city. There really is. But I urge you to visit Pod, for the ambiance alone. It's like nowhere you've ever been before. If you are lucky, you will get there at a time where you can actually sit in one of the pods. I will only say this about the pods: you can choose your own lighting, and there's 8 different colors to choose from... one of them being the most ridiculous orangey-pink ever. And it makes your food look completely different. I'm telling you, it's a scene. And even though there *is* better food out there, that does not mean that Pod doesn't come through. It does, and then some. It's *great* food. Just not *the best*. But you need to experience Pod. Also, Pod is extremely accommodating. I had a party of 15 that soon turned into a party of 25 for New Years Eve a few years ago. We didn't even make a reservation. We all just kind of sauntered in, with the expectation that we'd probably be turned away (we just had to try.) Not only did Pod accommodate us, but they handled our big crowd beautifully and we were tended to in a professional, friendly manner. On New Years Eve! Props to Pod. Good work.
(4)
Marcus D.
I had high hopes for Pod. The decor is out of this world. Seriously. It was like walking into "2001: A Space Odyssey" or for you old school Disneyland fans, the Adventure Thru Inner Space. Yes, I totally just aged myself. Unfortunately, the super-cool interior was not matched by the food or the service. Our server was aloof and generally not interested in our dining experience. The food was mediocre, at best. We started with sushi, opting for a roll that they call "Double Impact." While it sounds truly bad-ass, it was nothing special. Sadly, this would be as good as the food got. For our main entree, we shared the sea bass and the wasabi-encrusted filet mignon. Blah, blah, blah. Cutting our losses, we skipped dessert and finished the meal with something we knew we could count on......drinks in the bar. The square foam chairs (you have to see them to understand) were a great place to enjoy the vibe and the unique decor of the restaurant. If the rating was based on decor and concept alone, I'd go 5-stars all the way. But, it is a restaurant, and the food just failed to live up to expectations. Thus, 3-stars is all I have to offer Pod.
(3)
pauline l.
Over-rated for sure. The sushi and sashimi are wholly unremarkable. The servers aren't particularly good at service. I admit that on my most recent visit, I needed a "special" accommodation -- showed up for my lunchtime reservation for four with five in tow, but it wasn't so unreasonable that they could have just seated us at a bigger table. It wasn't that busy. But no, they squeezed us in a spot for four, and then reprimanded us for leaving stuff in the aisles -- we just didn't have the space to fit our legs, feet and backpack underneath our table. The Thai Chicken Salad is really gross... the flavors are really strong, but not in a good way. Just tastes like stale sesame or something. At some point in the fall, I had fallen in love with the sake mojito -- probably because I was drinking on a law firm's dime -- but this last time I went there it just tasted like drinking a glass of sugar. The experience/decor would be cooler, I guess, except I used to live in a part of the world where futuristic/mod-looking restaurant concepts just aren't that unusual. Oh and the airport themed bathrooms really suck.
(2)
Fujiko D.
This place is so overrated. Every time someone thought it was a (very) special occasion at work, we would go to Pod. I would order something that I had never tried before. It would taste good, not memorable. I would look at all the chic white chairs and random neon glowing and be a little disappointed about modern fusion Asian whatever. I did go once with a sales rep after a business transaction, and he went to town with the chutoru sushi and shared. Yes, it was delicious, but duh. It better be at $18 a pair. It's like a kid bragging to his friends that he brought a hooker to the prom... The place is trying to hard. Not only that but it's giving out this faux vibe to get this message out that they are in, but I'm just not feeling it. Yes, I am capable of boiling a bowl of soybeans in their pods and adding salt. Thanks for marketing it as edamame and marking it up 10X over since it sounds Asian. I only went for work lunches. Maybe the too cool for school kids only came out for dinner? Maybe I'm just not into the whole concept of grouping a hodgepodge of "Asian" food and making it "modern." Sushi was sushi before this country existed. Three stars since I can't complain about the food or excellent service, but didn't really dig the vibe.
(3)
Chris F.
Cool chairs, but not for sitting. So on a recent weeknight I drove out to University City with a recently-acquitted & bail-remitted friend to celebrate and I brought up this establishment. Always eager to try something Starr, we moseyed on in without reservations to grab a bite to eat. Big mistake, as there was some fundraiser being held that night and the place was packed. The only available seats were at the sushi bar, so we grabbed what looked to be Playskool barstools and put the meat in the seat. To be fair the rest of the restaurant had what looked to be relatively normal chairs and was decorated rather interestingly. I had never seen a sushi conveyor belt outside of television so I was eager to watch the interlocking metal plates ferry around different sushi concoctions right in front of the bar. After we put in our order my friend & I grabbed a couple sushi plates off the belt and had at it. As we were coming in just for dinner, we were not given a menu describing what each individual sushi entree was (Japanese roulette I suppose) even though we sat at the sushi bar. The plates, however, were easy to find the price of, as they were color coded to a menu solely listing prices. As the night was to be celebratory, I ordered the kobe beef cooked tableside on Japanese river rocks with ponzu and wasabi appetizer. Whilst cooking the fat/juices from the meat hit me more than a few times, which complemented the growing pain in my lower back from the kids furniture barstool. The kobe beef dish itself was okay, it seemed to be merely a presentation thing. Fifteen dollars should get you more than four slivers of beef, but I digress. My main entree wasn't very memorable, it was some fish special, and my friend wasn't too happy with his miso soup either. Between ye & me, I don't think he had the faintest idea what he was ordering. Next time I go I'm getting the Chilean Sea Bass for sure, as I've had it at Continental, and I'm skipping the beef on the rocks.
(3)
Sonia S.
This is the second time I've dined at Pod. The food was even better than the first time. I took two out of town guests for dinner who love Japanese food and I thought they would like the atmosphere. Pod was a big hit with everyone. Staff was very accommodating and our waitress was very helpful answering our questions about the items on the menu.
(4)
Candace C.
So I originally gave Pod a 2 star review because I think it is below average for the quality of food. But, let me qualify that, if Wharton/Penn Law/ [insert your favorite corporate account] is paying, then its actually a pretty good restaurant. ok granted free food is generally always (more) delicious but truthfully the food isn't all that bad. It is pricey and not the best value for Philadelphia dining, but certain items are actually pretty good! For example, the crab spring rolls are delicate and savory, a real treat, but for $16 (or $14), I can eat better food in philly. Also, who pays that much for salted edamame beans? I had the lunch sushi combo which was very average sushi and not that expensive because it was on the lunch menu. The appetizers are much more creative and inventive. If I wasn't paying, I'd give Pod a solid 3.5 stars. But since recruiting season is over (just kidding!), Pod isn't a place I'll likely come back to. I'd rather save my money and try out buddakhan, sampan, or morimotos
(3)
Z J.
DO NOT GO TO "ALL YOU CAN EAT SUSHI" WEEK I'm currently at my table in pod, suffering through their awful attempt at all you can eat sushi. We were seated at our reservation time, 9pm, and we have spent about ten minutes eating our first plates of sushi, and 2.5hours waiting while the restaurant grinds to a stop. It is completely packed, and totally unprepared for this. People have been waiting hours with nothing, and although some are being comped appetizers by an obviously nervous and overwhelmed staff, the general mood is tense and aggravated. The small amount of sushi that actually made it to our table was good, and the staff is doing well considering, especially our waitress - but the whole situation is a mess and has alienated us and I imagine most of the other patrons. (Table next to us is discussing walking out right now) They are not equipped for this. What probably started at some pr guy's desk as a way to drum up mid week business has ended up as a huge disaster. As I'm typing this people have left, walked out, and turned away round three of free appetizers in disgust
(1)
Ed C.
$18 for a Manhattan? They were good, but really, $14 would have felt pricey and almost justified, but $18 is just insulting. I will not be going back.
(1)
Chrissy R.
Despite the fact that the prices here are a little out of my range, I love going to Pod for drinks. I've never had the food, so I can't speak on it, but I've heard from a friend that it's not bad. My favorite thing about this place, obviously, is the atmosphere. My friends and I love to hang out on those gaudy red plastic block things they have in the bar area and just chill while we have our drinks. The lighting in this place is obviously the main attraction -- everything lights up! You can change the lighting colors if you're sitting in one of the booths eating, there are circle lights all over the ceilings and floors, and the little tiny table/chair combos in the bar area light up when you sit on them [great for hours of giggles when you're further into the drinks]. It's bright and fun without being overwhelming, which, IMO, is difficult to do. The service here is pretty good, too. I've never had to wait long for a drink, and the bartenders are *always* really nice and fun and flirty [both guys and girls]. The drinks are SO much fun, too. They have a lot of specialty "girly" drinks, and while I'm usually a whiskey and coke kinda girl, I can't stay away from their pom-tinis. The special drinks are good to try out at least once, just to say you did. :)
(4)
Serge B.
If you review this place, you have to do it independently of the horrible attitude that the PENN kids bring to the (futuristic) table. There's no need to get up to the bar and start shooting scotch to impress some girls [end rant]. Now for the restaurant itself: the sushi's decent but not great and consistency varies depending on how busy they are (they're always busy). I will say that the spicy bloody mary is a bold and inspired choice of a drink and that the bartenders are friendly even when surrounded by a terrible crowd. A bit better food and a lot more crowd control and this place can add a star or two.
(3)
Tiffany F.
Mocktails anyone?
(4)
Shannon N.
This was one of my favorite places when I was living back in the Philadelphia area (2003-5). It was in University City so it was not so close to the usual party area of Old City (which could be a good/bad thing, take your pick) so the crowd was more of the Penn/Drexel students and some other urbanites who were willing to venture to this part of town. The front lounge part was always crowded, and I was a huge fan of the sit-down/light-up white short stools that lined that front section (Fatty that I am, I even broke one once; I had pulled the plug out of the socket by accident-sorry). I even had a birthday here and the 7 of us girls piled into the 1st pod on the left side and irritated fellow patrons by constantly pushing the 9 colored light pad. The macadamia chicken stir fry was a hit as always, and their version of caesar salad was pretty enjoyable also. Pod was also the first place I ever tried edamame. This was on a Tuesday so it wasn't too hard to obtain one of those dining pods, but we had a fun time and the staff was really pleasant also. I would return when in the area, hoping not much has changed.
(4)
G D.
Loved the experience. The ambience is just great with a very trendy contemporary feel to it. If you are a party with 6 or more you can sit in one of the pods which is sort of a private area but still feel like you are in the middle of the restaurant. I enjoyed the sushi, especially the lobster roll.The crab fried rice that we ordered was delicious. Overall a good experience and would definitely like to go again.
(4)
Jean C.
I wish I could give them 3 1/2 stars because although I enjoyed my dinner, I'm not sure I'm an all out fan as of yet. The decor is cool, very 60's mod style. I like the "pod rooms" except for the one that's at the front of the restaurant. The bathrooms are pretty cool: there are individual stalls that show a green or red light depending on occupancy. I started with a carrot ginger martini that was quite the tasty juice cocktail, without any alcohol. Very weak. The meals are family style, so my friend and I ordered the pork shumai with white soy dipping sauce, crab fried rice, szechuan lamb chops with shanghai noodles, and the Chilean Sea Bass with Japanese sweet potatoes. The meal was really good, with plenty of crab fried rice left over. The nitpick was that the lamb chop was a little over cooked, but still tasty. The sea bass was well cooked, very flaky and great tasting. The shumai was awesome, with just a little kick at the end: great texture and very tasty. The crab fried rice was good, there was actually quite a bit of crab in the dish! Our server was really good, personable and attentive rounding out a very good dining experience.
(4)
Caroline C.
As others have reported: the all you can eat sushi experience is a shit show. We arrived for our 9:30 reservation and were told it might be 20 minutes before we were seated. So, right there, you get off to a bad start. After about 30 minutes we were suddenly told that we couldn't stand where we were standing and ushered to another area. Another ten minutes passed before we were seated. It was, at one point, suggested that we buy drinks to pass the time. One key way to keep hungry, hungry people from being in foul moods when made to wait? Comp them a stinkin' beverage, don't suggest that they happily endure your unpreparedness Eventually we were seated. And our waiter promptly asked us what we wanted to drink and took our order, but the fact that one of our party was allergic to shrimp threw a new wrench into the works. While, having had limited food service experience, I understand that this sort of 'all you can eat' deal necessarily leads to a frenzied environment, it truly seems like they could have prepared for the possibility that someone with an allergy might want to participate. They hadn't...and originally told my friend that they could not guarantee that any sushi wasn't contaminated, but that she was free to order off the kitchen menu, which was, you know, not what she came and waited 40 minutes to do. The situation was positively resolved, but it wasn't without a fair amount of tension and stress. The sushi itself was fine considering the strain all the sushi chefs were under (you don't go to an all you can eat sushi experience expecting the most perfectly rolled maki of your life). I don't want to sound too grumpy, I do understand that this restuarant probably functions much better under normal circumstances...but the fact that we weren't comped a roll or drink after a 40 minute wait and a 10 minute period in which one of our party might not have been able to eat without risking her life is, well, really annoying. (All that said: our waiter was great and management did the best they could, I'm sure) The end.
(2)
michelle r.
Went there last Sunday. It was incredible. Nick our server at the bar area was very informative about the drinks. Drinks were incredible. I love it here. Can't complain about anything. If you havent been here I would check it out.
(5)
Rose N.
I worked here for a year. Although I ate a lot of their food all the time, I still loved it and craved for it. I thought everything on their menu was great, excluding a few items. The atmosphere is very hip, fun and futuristic. It got extremely busy on the weekends so you must make reservations; and don't be so picky with the seating. The window pods are so crammed. Hmmm... where should I start? Sushi here is awesome; made by some of the best sushi chefs around. I love the sushi bar with the rotating conveyor belt, it so much fun sitting there. House salad- has a great ginger soy dressing. Lettuce wraps- great! Tonkatsu sandwich- ehhh. Short-ribs- so tender. Duck duck soup- delicious. Grilled kobe skirt steak- packed with flavor. Chilean sea bass- light and buttery. Pad thai- one of the best. Crab fried rice- everyone loves it here. Drinks and cocktails are also fabulous here.
(4)
Robyn H.
Finally got a chance to go to Pod. My bf has been there before, and didn't particularly like it, hence.... I haven't gone, since he's basically my "eating out" partner. Tonight, I insisted we try it. It was ok. We both agreed that we're tired of restaurants that LOOK LIKE Pod. We've been to so many of them, and after a while they all morph into one and the same and become a blur. Most of these restaurants rely too much on the decor and then don't deliver when it comes to good food. Pod was ok in that department. I ordered Spicy Tuna Rolls and Seared Scallop Ramen. Both were good, albeit. a little spicy!! He ordered Szechuan Lamb Chops, and said they were delicious. For dessert, we had the Butterscotch cake with herbal tea..... good as well. Overall, I'd have to say Pod was just so-so. Kind of expensive, in my opinion, for what I had. (Really just Oodles of Noodles with Scallops!) LOL Well, if nothing else, I finally get to cross Pod off of my list of places to try.
(3)
Megan T.
I LOVE Pod. One of my favorite things about Pod is that it is what you want it to be. If you're with your family, it's a family place. But if you're with friends for a cocktail, it's a trendy bar. The menu is is as large as the portions! The set up is ultra modern, most of which you can see from Samsom Street looking down. The prices aren't all that bad considering it's upscale ambiance. My one complaint is that there are few healthy options (I'm a big fan of large salads). I highly suggest getting a big group together, and you'll get one of their exciting "pods" where you can control the color, and most significantly, you'll feel important.
(3)
Ney-ney L.
Very bad hostess skills/costumer service! My friends and I had 8:30pm reservations on a Tuesday for dining days/restaurant week, which also happens to be their all you can eat sushi night. Despite arriving at 8:15pm, we did NOT get seated until 9:15pm!!!! I checked in with the hostess THREE TIMES and every time she asked for my name! Her excuse: "we're really busy!" Seriously?? Here's a thought-if you do NOT have the table to HONOR a RESERVATION...DON'T ACCEPT THE RESERVATION!!! When our table was finally ready the hostess approached the two guys behind us and said my name. They replied, "that's not us." She responded, "That's OK, follow me." I stepped in to say that she was looking for me. We were then placed at a table for five people because the hostess thought we were a party of five even though the reservation CLEARLY said for THREE. Once seated, my friends and I opted for the $30 set meal for the dining/days: choice of one appetizer, one entree, one dessert per person. Our waitress informed us that because we were three people we were only allowed to chose two appetizers and two entrees but we still had to pay $30/person. ??? Basically they wanted to cheat us out of one appetizer and one entree. We complained (felt more like begging) to have what the menu was advertised for and got our wish. I feel that if I waited 45-60min for a table WITH a reservation, that just bad business. Don't insult me by trying to get away with cheating me out of two dishes! Especially after you didn't honor my reservation! Aside from that, the food was good but not worth all that hassle. My advice: if you insist on dinning here...don't waste your time with a reservation and avoid going there when they have specials. Apparently management cannot handle "busy" times or honor reservations; nor can they honor their advertised specials without kicking up a fuss!
(2)
Michelle G.
I honestly wish that I could give this place negative stars. That's how much I dislike Pod. My boyfriend and I went there for our friend's birthday, she had made a reservation for 4 and we expected to be seated as soon as possible. We walked a couple blocks from where we parked our cars and saw that the place was jammed packed and figured "eh, okay we have to wait. Big deal." Well an hour and a half went by, and the hostess finally came back to us and apologized because she "forgot" about us. She rushed us to our seats (we were seated near the rotary) and we received a complimentary appetizer. I forgot what it was, but it was something small and not very flavorful. Anyway, we all ordered our food and to be honest with you I don't remember what we ordered... this has to have been almost two years ago. I remember that our food took forever to come out. I think I had wasabi crusted something, but all I remember is that my food was DRY, my boyfriend's food was TINY (one bite and he was done.. no joke), my friends food was undercooked, and her boyfriend's food was soggy. We figured that it took us an hour and a half to be seated, it would probably take two hours for our food to be recooked. We just paid our enormous bill (for less than mediocre food) just to be done with everything. Even to this day I am STILL disgusted. Needless to say, I haven't been back since, if you want sushi go to Sushi Land in Bryn Mawr. The food is cheaper and tastes better, plus you won't have to wait over an hour to be seated :)
(1)
Enjella L.
A festival of lights~! As you've read with the other reviews - you will fall in love with the decor. Futuristic, Miami-esque, like a MAC Computer, Modern, etc etc. It is all of that. I do think it is a little ill placed - I would much rather enjoy Pod if it was in Center City or Olde City but come to think of it..as I'm writing this I realize that if Pod was situated elsewhere - it might not pull off the same vibe b/c of its customers? Anyways, I love this restaurant. It's fun, trendy (for Philly), & sassy. The food is good, but the sea bass was way too watery & sweet. I haven't tried their sushi here - but I have tried their appetizers, entrees, drinks (stiff from what I recall) & dessert. The dessert is why I made additional trips back - with dates, with family, any chance I could get. I'm not sure if they still have it but if they do - order the 3 tier fondue dessert. Mini Cookies, cakes, chocolates, hello~! So for kicks & yelp - I visited the restaurant's website to see if they still had this dessert - well I guess they call it Pod Sweet 18 now. Not sure how much they price it now but back in 2002-2004 - it was $12. I didn't like their bathroom - the stalls are too small. This place is good for groups of friends to hang out or to go on a date. Not so much for a family meal.
(4)
J M.
Pod is finally on its way back up after years of phoning it in. New sushi chef and revised menu are big help. Had the robata items and sea bass, both excellent. Prices are still high for the portions. The ambiance and decor still seem cool (when the place is full), even after all these years.
(4)
Rob R.
If I were to rate this place purely on the type of customers it attracts (besides me, of course), it would get 1-star. The unfortunate reality of being an upscale "japanese" restaurant near the University of Pennsylvania seems to attract the worst kind of people. You know, those that valet park their Lexus, but don't tip their coat room attendants. Okay, moving on to more important things... the food here is great. Another Starr restaurant done right. The interior is reminiscent of an Apple store and the music makes you think you're walking into a trend New York nightclub. Wait, I thought I was moving on to more important things... The menu is filled with "new" and "exotic" offerings. Although my weapon of choice is the conveyor belt sushi bar. For $2-5 a plate, you can pick the sushi you want, when you want it. The sushi chefs work diligently behind the bar to whip up your favorites (and they even take special orders). Overall, if you're looking to impress your new Penn undergrad hottie GF, this is the place to bring her to. The food is decent, but you'll pay for it. The atmosphere will put you both in a place where you can really enjoy each other's company. If you're into a more modest sushi experience, I would recommend Misu (locations in Old City and Universtiy City).
(3)
Alyssa M.
I really enjoy Pod's sushi. I've been there twice, and in my opinion, it tops the list for the freshest and tastiest sushi I've ever had. I've also tried the Crab Pad Thai (usually comes with shrimp but you can request crab)...it was OK, nothing to rave home about but they give you a lot! You can definitely share their noodle entrees. But oh...that sushi is so good. I could eat their spicy tuna all day :-). Sitting at the sushi bar is cool because you can view and try a variety of sushi on the conveyor belt. If you don't want to sit at the sushi bar, make sure you make a reservation. The 'All You Can Eat Sushi' is a good deal if you can throw back a lot of raw fish---just make sure you read ALL the rules. All and All....Good Sushi, Cool Atmosphere, Give it a try :-)
(4)
Kim C.
Went on a Saturday night with friends. Turns out they have specials on Saturday nights, and on the evening I went, the special was a $35 13-piece tuna/toro platter. $35 for a plate that includes 7 pieces of toro? A STEAL. It was super tasty--fresh, clean, yum. The other stuff we tried included: -wild mushroom fried rice (yum) -ramen (meh) -crab fried rice (yum) -spicy tuna rolls (no surprises here) -other assorted specialty rolls (average.) But the four stars is for the special... will definitely have to make a trip back on a weekend, because apparently they don't offer weekday menu additions.
(4)
J. Christopher E.
Been here several times. Food always very good and probably my favorite Starr restaurant (some Starr restaurants I hate!). Best to make a reservation or you'll get stuck at the more sucky instead of the more better tables. If you can't get a good table, better to sit at the sushi bar where you can also order from the regular menu. Can't think of anything I don't like to eat here - all good.
(4)
Yong H.
This place is epic fail! Tries way too cool to look trendy but ends up hella lame. For groups, there's these illuminated rooms with neon lights and windows so the entire restaurant can stare you while they eat and make comments about how ridiculous the whole thing is. As for the food, its not that great either. I suppose I shouldn't expect much from a "fusion" restaurant but the sushi here not only costs 3x as much but tastes 3x worse than sushi you get elsewhere. The stirfrys and such tasted abit too salty with not much asian flavoring at all. We also got this udon dish pork dish, which literally tasted like boiled salted udons dipped in oil and a chunk of roast pork(although it was tender). Also, the busboys here are like sharks, relentlessly coming to your table to ask if you're done with a plate, even if theres still food left. We literally got asked 3 times in a span of 10 minutes if we were done with our sushi plate that still had 4 pieces of sushi on it. I'd be more understanding if it was busy and they were trying to accomodate the people waiting but the place was half empty! Will not recommend this place, except to people that piss me off
(2)
Meghann p.
I went on a date a few weeks ago and from the last time i was there the sushi was a lot better...we ordered lots of appetizers and drinks with each appetizer group. I think the drink prices are way over priced for what you get. Service was good for the meal.
(4)
Young P.
Sushi is to die for here. As soon as it hit my mouth, the fish just melted and the only explanation is that it was FRESH not frozen like most b-listed sushi shacks around the area. The other fusioned entrees have an interesting asian twist ie, wasabi mashed po's and etc... all worth giving a try. This was my second time here and I've enjoyed the food both times but my 2 grievances from each visit: The first visit: we went while it was still light outside and I could see the dinginess of the tables and decor (this is not a problem in the dark with all the cool neon lights) The second visit: Supposedly a frequent visitor @ POD who actually looked more like a homeless man was harassing us through the peephole in our booth asking us questions like, "Are you oriental?" We mentioned our concern to the hostess who simply brushed it off saying he was "harmless". Way to ruin our $300 dining experience oh hostess...
(4)
Michael B.
Pod is a fun restaurant with great food, decent service, and a trendy atmosphere. It is located in University City, which is a fun area of Philadelphia. If your in the mood for a little bit of sushi, a little bit of Asian fusion, or both, this is the place for you. It is not cheap, but again, worth the price for fun/special occasions.
(4)
Stephanie L.
My favorite sushi place in the city. My boyfriend and I have become regulars here and come about once or twice a month when we want good and fresh sushi ! Not only is there sushi great but their entrees are also just as good. Definately recommend for a date night or to Come with friends for a night out ! Service has always been very friendly too :-)
(5)
Jessica G.
Asian Fusion Food. That is what they call it. I do not, however, know what they are "fusing" it with. It's pretty much just asian food, some of which is deconstructed... maybe they call it asian fusion because non-asian people are making it? Because that's the feeling I get. I am impressed by the uber-cool, artsy presentation of the food, but not its content or flavor. None of the ingredients used here are much higher quality than at most restaurants. It is all the same-old, but at a higher price and with a fancy presentation. Speaking of fancy presentation, the inside decor.. it is the trendiest thing I've ever seen. It is like disgustingly trendy. To give you an idea, the character Tom Haverford of the show Parks & Rec would love this place. He would love it when the attractive, snobbish hostesses turn up their noses and behave rudely to everyone with the misfortune of inspiring their disdain. I do not. We have, mostly, had good service from the wait-staff and that's worth mentioning. But also worth mentioning is that there have been times that they have been incredibly rude. And yes, I can see why this place is popular and often packed.. and I can assure you that it is not because of the quality, taste, or price of their food. If you're really a fan of asian food, you could do so much better. If you are a fan of very hip, very trendy decor & artistic food presentation, then you could go to Buddakan instead.
(2)
Patrick C.
Sort of like any other Stephen Starr restaurant. Heavy on concept, cool decor, ok food. What sets Pod apart from every other restaurant that I have ever been to, however, is the fact that they are very bad at accommodating guests with seafood allergies. I asked the waitress if there was any shellfish in the dish I ordered, (specifically saying "crab" and "lobster") she said no, and I ended up eating a few pieces of sushi that I now realize were heavy on the king crab legs. I'm not deathly allergic, but I did spend the rest of the night scratching insatiable itches on the toilet. And what really seals my one-star rating is the fact that the manager was downright rude to me when I stopped by the next day to civilly complain about my experience. I've generally found Stephen Starr restaurants to be underwhelming, but this experience was positively painful.
(1)
Teddy M.
High Class Restaurant with High Class Service. Too bad the food wasn't as good as I expected. My first time I went there, I thought I should try many different kinds of food from the menu and I ordered this appetizer called "Kobe Beef" for $18. I said to myself, that should be a damn good appetizer. So I ordered that and others I couldn't remember the names. Guess what? For Kobe Beef...a server walked out with this stone stove and 3 slice of beef uncooked. He brought it to the table and asked us, how do you like your meat? Confuddled, I said, medium cooked. Confuddled because I thought it would be a fair price for a plate of beef or something, not literally 3 sliced beef that cost $18. I know it's a high class restaurant but I'm not spending $18 for 3 sliced beef that I could get from any grocery store and cook it myself. Other than that, the environment was nice and the sushi was good.
(3)
Georgianne V.
Went last night to Pod with some friends. The style of the place of the place is fun and for me that is part of the experience. I found the entrance when you first arrive a bit awkward and it seems awkward for the staff that work there, so that was strange. We had some starters and I really loved the flavor of everything, especially the tempura rock shrimp. For my dinner I had the Soy/Ginger Chicken. The presentation was very nice and the sauce really made the dish. My only issue was the chicken was a bit more undercooked than I like, just a bit pink in the center. The crab rice was delicious and I could have a made meal just out of that. For desert my husband and I shared the fluffernutter spring rolls which were both yummy and fun!! We had a fantastic waiter who was very attentive and to my amazement, no matter how much we ordered at one time, he never wrote anything down! :o) Although we had fun and I enjoyed the funky decor and food, I probably would not be in a rush to go back. To me it's a place that once you see it, you move on. I'm sure it's a fun hang out for the students who live near by but I wonder how they afford it, as everything was pretty expensive!
(3)
lyndsey F.
Impromptu dinner with the hubs last night. After a nice (albeit crowded) skate around the rink at Penn, we decided to head to Pod. Johnny had never been and I hadn't been since the days of spending Sallie Maes money on things like expensive sushi and chanel makeup. We got there around 7 and were seated immeadiately. I understand that the Penn kids aren't back yet, but for a pretty hip restaurant on a Saturday night it was pretty swift service. The hostesses were fairly cold, but I'm pretty sure that they are trained to be that way. It is Starr after all, they all have their schichts. Our waiter was friendly and aside from the incredibly large diamond in his ear (which to me was really annoying) gave us good suggestions for drinks. I got the yellow martini, which was something like yuzu, passionfruit, and grapefruit. It was really sweet, but it had a great flavor (and it was good for cooling my mouth off after a huge bite of jalapeno seeds, more to come...) and hubs got the Samauri Jack which was honey, mint and raspberries I think. They even substituted J&B for the Jack Daniels that they usually serve! The hubs has a rather severe aversion to Jack Daniels for some reason, but loved the cocktail with J&B instead. To eat we splurged a little and got the MAKIMAKIMAKI which is comprised of 60 pieces of assorted maki. It has the yellowtail jalapeno, which was delicious aside from one piece that made my mouth burn so much that I had to down my entire martini to salvage my tastebuds. Also: crispy spicy tuna (yum!), eel & avo (yum), salmon & cream cheese (not my fave, but still good), some veggie rolls and a rainbow roll on top which was fab. Also, they have the most delicious soy sauce in the entire city. I just love it. I would say that all in all we had a really great time, but then again sometimes it depends on the company you keep as well. xo
(4)
Paige N.
My sushi was absolutely fantastic! However, I'm not sure people come here for the food. The decor was both cool and distracting. Considering you are eating raw fish, I can't imagine eating in one of the "pods" as they are colored with LED's in blue, purple etc. Loved the Godzilla movies playing on the multiple tv's though...all in all a great exprience.
(4)
Melmoth K.
Reviewing Pod is like writing a review for the movie "2001: A Space Odyssey": theoretically, yeah, OK, I guess I have no real reason to argue with you if you say that this is what life will be like in the future, but I'm not all that sure I want to deal with it all at once, tonight, while I'm just out to try to enjoy myself and make with the chit-chat over dinner. First off, it turns out everyone will have bad hearing in the future and therefore need to yell at the top of their lungs while eating. Second, Pod seems to have predicted how inflation will devalue the dollar by 2050 and priced things accordingly. So while Pod might deserve big ups for what it does today, you might not be in the mood for it just now...or maybe next week either...or maybe...ever? But if their service (wow!) and food (tasty bits!) are any indication of what the future is like, may we all live long and prosper. Hopefully by then we'll be accustomed to the yelling, the technicolor backlights, and the price of sushi.
(3)
Lona W.
This place was pretty good. I came here with a group of friends of 9-10 people for my friend's birthday and the prices were very fair. Our bill didn't come out to be much! It was a little under $200 for 9-10 people! The sushi was pretty good, although it is a Stephen Starr restaurant. But the interior design and ambiance was very nice.
(3)
Ian R.
I went here for dinner tonight with my friend Riley. I had been here once before, so I kind of knew what to expect. It's a super trendy, miami-esque atmosphere. It's very futuristic and overall it just has a neat look. The appearance is one of my favorite things about this restaurant. Now, let's get to the food. There are two kitchens, a sushi based one and non-sushi based one. Any dish from each of the kitchens are GREAT. Tonight, we had the TNT roll, the Spicy Yellowtail roll and a bowl of edamame. The portions they give you are a good size-- we couldn't even finish the bowl of edamame. Each sushi roll came with 8 pieces. The quality of the sushi was outstanding. Everything was extremely fresh and delicious. In addition to our meals, we also had a couple of drinks. The first was called the Rising Sun. It had great flavor, it was like a mix of lemon and berries. Then we had long island iced teas-- which are not on the menu. We asked our server if they had them and he was more than happy to tell us that the bar could accommodate us if we wanted them. We ordered them and they were excellent! A little strong, but that's expected with long islands. Overall, I will be returning to Pod, one of Philadelphia's hippest restaurants. One plus I forgot to mention: It's extemely easy to find cheap street parking here because of it's location in UCity.
(5)
Jennifer D.
If you're looking for great sushi this is not the place for you. If you're looking for ambiance and excellent service this place is great. Although it is called Pods there are only two actual pods (both looked like they were for parties of 4 or more). Service was excellent and extremely attentive. The food however was mediocre. Our Philly friends told us this was some celeb chefs restaurant but honestly we've had better sushi in suburban NJ. On a side note their mixed drinks were great!
(3)
Tom M.
Attention vegans! The tofu lettuce wrap with peanut sauce and the Vegan Stephen. You'll be thrilled you did! Pod is such a great place for a sit-down meal in West Philly. I have been going there for ten years now. I am so happy they have two great vegan dishes for me to enjoy!
(5)
Gabby S.
Love everything about this place ! The vibe inside , the way it is set up . The pod room , rock shrimp , wasabi steak , crab rice , and of course the sushi :)
(5)
Emily G.
Too "chic" and trendy for my taste. I'm definitely more interested in a more classic atmosphere. For a trendy place though, it was fun. The atmosphere was very futuristic, and the staff was helpful.
(3)
Ilana R.
Had not been here in years and probably will not come back. Good and level of ambiance and servers has changed and not for the best. It used to be one of my favorite places to get amazing sushi and drinks. Now it was just mediocre and very expensive. Loud with too many young students creating a club like scene rather than a restaurant. Should just be converted into a great hip lounge serving interesting Japanese dishes.
(3)
Britt S.
I was at a conference at Wharton and stopped by Pod looking for some good sushi. I found the entire experience a bit perplexing. The vibe and decor leaned so far towards modern lounge-y that it shocked me upon walking in. Should I have dressed up for this? Did I accidentally stroll into a nightclub in my search for dinner? Loud music. Friendly servers. Average food. Pricey for what you're getting. Nothing to write home about. That is, unless you're into ultra sleek white spaceship-looking furniture.
(2)
S P.
Pan-asian cuisine with excellent wait staff and service. Sushi is great. Expect to pay above average for this establishment.
(5)
Karen M.
The sea bass with miso glaze is phenomenal! We love the edamame with Dead Sea salt. The rainbow roll is delicious. The decor is beautiful, with circular pods for groups. Love the conveyor belt which displays sushi you can grab as it comes around. Beautiful place.
(5)
Giavanna G.
My boyfriend and I went there for Valentines Day.The decor was beautiful as usual.It was my first time back in 4 years and it was just as delish.I would have gave it five stars but the sushi rolls were lacking in size for such a high price.The food is really amazing,it's a shame because you have to order a lot of food in order to get full.My boyfriend had the ramen and it was a great portion and really good.Also stay for dessert because everything is great.The drinks are also a bit over priced so I recommend bringing a bottle before hand.It is definitely a cool spot to go to at least once!
(4)
Kristin N.
Finally got around to eating here, after working in its proverbial backyard for years. The decor is futuristic and fun; the bathrooms are reminiscent of airplane's. But you aren't reading this for a bathroom review, so on to the food. We came for lunch with a party of 8...the place was packed! We started with dumplings, edamame and tempura, all of which we inhaled. My sushi loving co-workers enjoyed their selections. 3 of us got sea bass bento boxes, which were delish. I had a white peach/mint soda....could have inhaled 3 of those suckers. The prices are somewhat high for lunch, but I wasn't paying ;o) Our service was slow and kind of spotty. All in all, a very nice respite from the workplace grind!
(4)
Toni B.
Super posh and trendy. I love the rock shrimp appetizer and the dessert tiers. Oh, and their fried rice is awesome too! Pricey, not going to lie, but definitely worth the splurge in my book! Pods are cool, but the color changing sometimes makes me sick, lol. I always stick to one color. Fun for groups and one-on-one.
(4)
Ying Z.
A bit run down and dirty with expensive, mediocre food. Will probably not return any time soon
(2)
Brad H.
I came here for a birthday lunch with one of my good friends. The company was great, and our servers were really nice and helpful, but I was pretty underwhelmed with everything else about this restaurant. The atmosphere was tacky, the food was mediocre, and the prices were ridiculous. ATMOSPHERE: You walk into pod and feel like you are stepping onto the set of a low-budget movie set in the future on a distant galaxy. Based on the pictures that other yelpers have posted, it looks like this place may look a little better at night, but during the day it looked pretty silly. My friend and I were seated in what can only be described as a window sill. The table was extremely small and we had no elbow room. A piece of my sushi fell off of the table at one point because it was so cramped. EDAMAME: The edamame was fine here and I think edamame is pretty hard to mess up but the only portion that they offer is for $7 and comes with way too much. It would have been enough edamame for 4 or 5 people but is almost impossible to eat with just two of us. It felt like very little thought was put into the portion size. There should have been a $3 option with less than half of the food. PENN ROLL: This was basically a regular spicy tuna roll that had a lot of rice and was $10. Very bad value and mediocre taste. Too much rice. OVERALL: I personally found very little redeeming about this place other than the service (everyone I met in there was very very nice). But service alone isn't enough for me to even give this place 3 stars. I would personally skip this place unless you really want something close to the UPenn campus. There are much better sushi options elsewhere.
(2)
Carlo J.
Good food! Great Service! Parking was valet, the wagyu beef appetizer was amazing(Pricey but its worth it.) sushi was alright, could have been better. But overall dinner was good!
(4)
Lea T.
Love the unique sushi rolls featured here as well as the rotating band around the sushi bar. Menu features some larger dishes but also many small plate options ideal for large groups and sharing. Kobe fried rice is my favorite as well as the Kobe steak cooked tableside on a hot rock. Great atmosphere inside, ideal for a night out or first date
(4)
lena n.
Okay I came back to Pod for the food because it was delicious, however this time, I was sort of disappointed. First, we wanted to rsvp the "pod rooms" however, everybody was told different stories when me and my friends tried to book it. We got - the pod rooms are not rsvp, it is first come first serve,....then somebody got - it is $700 to rsvp....so it just got us all confused. So we said forget the room we just want a table - nope couldn't do that either. Soo we said just go and just sit near the bar where there was seating for waiting but we were not guaranteed seatings for our party of 10, which was fine to us. Therefore, we sat near the bar and ordered our food there. There are no tables there, so we basically had the food on our laps eating it, which still did not bothered us because we basically agreed to go even though we were not guareenteed seating. Now this was all for a surprised bday party in which we bought our own cake because this is her fave type of cake, and here comes the BAD PART - they charge $3 per person if you bring in outside cakes. dun dun dun....how STUPID. ARE YOU KIDDING ME?! who the hell does that!?!? First off, people have different liking to cakes and who in the world does not bring a cake to a restaurant for their friends BIRTHDAY!?!?! That just pissed us all off NOW. So at this time we said eff it, lets just pay and go. Sat there in their waiting section for 2 hours, ate, wasnt able to eat the cake, and left. I thought was RIDICULOUS. OH ANOTHER BAD THING - we were charge gratuity on our checks for 20%!!! Can you tell me why they would do that if we are not even sitting at a table?!! I would have done the mininum which is 18% because we didnt get a full service dining experience. I'm sorry, i'm not a cheap tipper but that really pissed me off even more. I would like to tip what I want to tip, not what you tell me to. Oh and one more thing - they changed how they put the calamari salad which is my fave dish there - they took out the calamari and left it separate from the salad which is pretty stupid because then it wouldnt be called the calamari salad now!!! Sorry I dont think I'll be back for awhile.
Pod was recommended HIGHLY to me by a friend from the Philly area. I made a reservation 2 days before I even headed there because it sounded so amazing. I was not disappointed in any way. Great food, perfect cocktails, EXCELLENT service, awesome atmosphere and design...from start to finish, Pod exceeded my expectations. We ordered the crab spring rolls, which were probably some of the most delicious crab spring rolls I have ever had, as well as a large sushi and sashimi platter. EVERYTHING was perfect. Such an enjoyable experience. You stay classy, Pod.
(5)
Sunia T.
I love this place. Great service with an amazingly trendy and classy atmosphere. Every time i come here, i order something different and am never disappointed. I love their wok charred items and how they pretty much have every meat and vegetable available wok charred. I really cannot rave enough about the atmosphere of this restaurant though, it is extremely sexy.
(5)
Tiffany F.
Mocktails anyone?
(4)
Caroline H.
Eh. I know...sad to say. Made a reservation because of the UC Dining Days promo which entitles each person 3 courses for $30, good deal right? Wrong. So here's the lowdown. I don't know how many of you have dined at restaurants during dining days or restaurant week but every time I have (which is 10+ times) you are each entitled to each choose 1 app, 1 entree, and 1 dessert choice--This is NOT so at Pod. Our server came over and informed our party of 3 that we were to choose only 2 apps, 2 entrees and 2 desserts but that the portions would be adjusted to the number of people at the table. I was not a happy camper especially since I wanted to try things that no one else at my table would eat :( and the portions were the same size as the table next to us of 2 people. I'm not complaining that they were small portions (I was full at the end of the meal) but still I feel like it's almost false advertising or that the stipulations should have been noted previously because I definitely would have chosen to dine at another restaurant (i.e. Distrito-which I dined at last UC dining days and had SO many choices and were able to try a ton for the $30 price tag) had I known this. Anyways on to the food, we had the beef and chicken lettuce wraps, chicken potstickers, shrimp pad thai, macadamia chicken stir fry, brown sugar cake and vanilla mousse. -The lettuce wraps were my favorite by far..however the lettuce was so small that nothing would fit in it so we ended up just eating the filling with a fork. -The potstickers were well...potstickers nothing fabulous. -Shrimp pad thai - this was sad. Honestly it tasted like the stuff you make out of the box from the asian section of the supermarket. -The chicken stir fry was tasty but once again nothing special. -The 2 very small pieces of cake (for 3 people mind you) were delish, the brown sugar cake was my fav. I wish they would have given us more. This was no deal for $30/person. It would have been cheaper to order the same items a la carte...yes I priced it out. So thank you Pod for charging me more for a mediocre so called dining "deal" when I'm trying to save money.
(2)
Mihir P.
I thought that I had reviewed Pod many years ago but I do remember my experience there. I love the atmosphere but the super white decor needed some bleaching. I do appreciate the Kaiten-zushi belt so you can eat quickly but it also just looks so cool. My friend ordered the Pod Caesar salad which I thought was a lame attempt at "fusion" cuisine; wasabi in the Caesar dressing - I think not. I do recommend the potstickers and sushi.
(3)
Minh C.
Came there for lunch yesterday and I must say Starr restaurants live up to their reputation. It had a hip twisty atmosphere, and a very unique menu. I personally ordered the udon with tofu stir fry which was absolutely delicious. My only complaints about it was that it was served in an oversized bowl, no biggie and the tofu had a great texture but a little bland and the udon was a little overdone. The edamame they served enough to feed 4, which was amazing.
(3)
Lydia T.
totally worth the money...if it was still 2004. The food is definitiely decent, well beyond decent, but not worth the money. Maybe they are just getting by from Penn and Drexel parents. Fried rice is good, macadamia chicken good. Oh and go there at night, then you will see why they charge so much...for the neon lights.
(3)
David T.
I like this place a lot. The interiors are neat, the bar looks cool, and the constant anime (or daft punk videos) playing on the screen behind the sushi bar is awesome. Great place for a date if you don't mind the noise. Drinks-wise, the sake mojitos are bangin. Remember to ask for a double. As for the food, pretty much everything I've eaten here has been ridiculously tasty. My favorite by far is the duck two ways. Roasted duck breast cooked perfectly, accompanied by duck served in a bao bun? All about it. The sauce is great, too. Their special sushi rolls are creative and delicious; I love the shiro-aoi - spicy white tuna and avocado topped with hamachi and jalapeño. Other menu standouts include the braised beef short rib over udon noodles (meat is unbelievably tender), and the lettuce wraps. Definitely a good place to try if you're down with S. Starr and you like Asian fusion.
(4)
Nicholas W.
What a cool place! The decor inside is like walking into a Miami nightclub; well what I imagine one would look like if I went. There are cool neon lights, all white decor, and really friendly hostesses and waitstaff. My wife and I stopped in without a reservation and were seated at the sushi bar, which we had no issues with. They have some interesting things on the menu, but nothing really strikes you as different or cutting-edge, just your typical sushi rolls and sashimi. The prices are also similar to other sushi restaurants, but maybe a little more....typically $12-$20 for specialty rolls. You really can't go wrong with anything on the menu, but don't be surprised if you aren't astounded by the flavors, because some of the rolls are lacking in that category.
(3)
Aaron R.
This place is ok. Its trendy, and makes reasonable cocktails. The sushi is not good, and the noodle dishes are fine, but greasy and nothing special. A reasonable choice if you are in the area, but I wouldn't go out of my way to come here.
(3)
I.E. C.
Wow. I was sufficiently underwhelmed with Pod. To start off, when we arrived they lost our reservation and apologized because their system had crashed. They sat us within 15 minutes or so, so we did not think it was a big deal. However, the service was excruciatingly slow. The Kobe skirt steak was good, but nothing special for $29. The portion was also extremely small. We ordered a variety of sushi rolls and all them fell apart because they were wrapped poorly. I would never go back to this place. It's definitely not a place you should go out of your way for. If I lived in University City, I could see it being fun to grab a drink with friends, but other than that, totally overhyped and overpriced.
(2)
Jenni I.
If you have a group, request a "pod" when you make your reservation. The atmosphere is great without the addition of the exclusive seating -- but it sure adds to the fun. The food is always fresh and delicious. I definitely recommend the dessert sampler. It comes in fun little boxes, too. The cocktails here are really different, too. I highly recommend the Pink.
(5)
Sonya S.
Really cool design/decor. Amazing cocktails & food... their sushi is very, very good.
(5)
EricaLynn J.
The secret here is that there's better "asian fusion" food elsewhere in the city. There really is. But I urge you to visit Pod, for the ambiance alone. It's like nowhere you've ever been before. If you are lucky, you will get there at a time where you can actually sit in one of the pods. I will only say this about the pods: you can choose your own lighting, and there's 8 different colors to choose from... one of them being the most ridiculous orangey-pink ever. And it makes your food look completely different. I'm telling you, it's a scene. And even though there *is* better food out there, that does not mean that Pod doesn't come through. It does, and then some. It's *great* food. Just not *the best*. But you need to experience Pod. Also, Pod is extremely accommodating. I had a party of 15 that soon turned into a party of 25 for New Years Eve a few years ago. We didn't even make a reservation. We all just kind of sauntered in, with the expectation that we'd probably be turned away (we just had to try.) Not only did Pod accommodate us, but they handled our big crowd beautifully and we were tended to in a professional, friendly manner. On New Years Eve! Props to Pod. Good work.
(4)
Nicole L.
I've only been here for some drinks and socializing. The atmosphere and prices make it the "hang out place for the rich/cool kids on campus." The atmosphere and vibe is not so much my style, too modern and sterile feeling. Lots of college kids come here to see and be seen.
(3)
rich k.
Although the food is ok the restaurant needs updating. The bathrooms could use a thorough cleaning. Sorry about the three stars but it's definite stepped backwards.
(3)
Marcus D.
I had high hopes for Pod. The decor is out of this world. Seriously. It was like walking into "2001: A Space Odyssey" or for you old school Disneyland fans, the Adventure Thru Inner Space. Yes, I totally just aged myself. Unfortunately, the super-cool interior was not matched by the food or the service. Our server was aloof and generally not interested in our dining experience. The food was mediocre, at best. We started with sushi, opting for a roll that they call "Double Impact." While it sounds truly bad-ass, it was nothing special. Sadly, this would be as good as the food got. For our main entree, we shared the sea bass and the wasabi-encrusted filet mignon. Blah, blah, blah. Cutting our losses, we skipped dessert and finished the meal with something we knew we could count on......drinks in the bar. The square foam chairs (you have to see them to understand) were a great place to enjoy the vibe and the unique decor of the restaurant. If the rating was based on decor and concept alone, I'd go 5-stars all the way. But, it is a restaurant, and the food just failed to live up to expectations. Thus, 3-stars is all I have to offer Pod.
(3)
Serge B.
If you review this place, you have to do it independently of the horrible attitude that the PENN kids bring to the (futuristic) table. There's no need to get up to the bar and start shooting scotch to impress some girls [end rant]. Now for the restaurant itself: the sushi's decent but not great and consistency varies depending on how busy they are (they're always busy). I will say that the spicy bloody mary is a bold and inspired choice of a drink and that the bartenders are friendly even when surrounded by a terrible crowd. A bit better food and a lot more crowd control and this place can add a star or two.
(3)
pauline l.
Over-rated for sure. The sushi and sashimi are wholly unremarkable. The servers aren't particularly good at service. I admit that on my most recent visit, I needed a "special" accommodation -- showed up for my lunchtime reservation for four with five in tow, but it wasn't so unreasonable that they could have just seated us at a bigger table. It wasn't that busy. But no, they squeezed us in a spot for four, and then reprimanded us for leaving stuff in the aisles -- we just didn't have the space to fit our legs, feet and backpack underneath our table. The Thai Chicken Salad is really gross... the flavors are really strong, but not in a good way. Just tastes like stale sesame or something. At some point in the fall, I had fallen in love with the sake mojito -- probably because I was drinking on a law firm's dime -- but this last time I went there it just tasted like drinking a glass of sugar. The experience/decor would be cooler, I guess, except I used to live in a part of the world where futuristic/mod-looking restaurant concepts just aren't that unusual. Oh and the airport themed bathrooms really suck.
(2)
Fujiko D.
This place is so overrated. Every time someone thought it was a (very) special occasion at work, we would go to Pod. I would order something that I had never tried before. It would taste good, not memorable. I would look at all the chic white chairs and random neon glowing and be a little disappointed about modern fusion Asian whatever. I did go once with a sales rep after a business transaction, and he went to town with the chutoru sushi and shared. Yes, it was delicious, but duh. It better be at $18 a pair. It's like a kid bragging to his friends that he brought a hooker to the prom... The place is trying to hard. Not only that but it's giving out this faux vibe to get this message out that they are in, but I'm just not feeling it. Yes, I am capable of boiling a bowl of soybeans in their pods and adding salt. Thanks for marketing it as edamame and marking it up 10X over since it sounds Asian. I only went for work lunches. Maybe the too cool for school kids only came out for dinner? Maybe I'm just not into the whole concept of grouping a hodgepodge of "Asian" food and making it "modern." Sushi was sushi before this country existed. Three stars since I can't complain about the food or excellent service, but didn't really dig the vibe.
(3)
Pam A.
Consistently good. I happen to eat here fairly often, and I try to mix it up, but when I come back to the sushi its consistently above average. I had the duck duck udon as well this time, it was a bit bland, but the duck won tons inside were delish. Its never cheap, and well, it feels like the Wharton/Penn dining hall. The only time drinks are affordable is happy hour, and then they are a great deal.
(3)
Dave M.
Wow...this place is overpriced, the portions are minuscule, and the staff was rude and extremely sluggish. The bill was $70 for two and we left hungry. The favors were above average, I'll admit, but nothing spectacular. Buyer beware!
(1)
Chris F.
Cool chairs, but not for sitting. So on a recent weeknight I drove out to University City with a recently-acquitted & bail-remitted friend to celebrate and I brought up this establishment. Always eager to try something Starr, we moseyed on in without reservations to grab a bite to eat. Big mistake, as there was some fundraiser being held that night and the place was packed. The only available seats were at the sushi bar, so we grabbed what looked to be Playskool barstools and put the meat in the seat. To be fair the rest of the restaurant had what looked to be relatively normal chairs and was decorated rather interestingly. I had never seen a sushi conveyor belt outside of television so I was eager to watch the interlocking metal plates ferry around different sushi concoctions right in front of the bar. After we put in our order my friend & I grabbed a couple sushi plates off the belt and had at it. As we were coming in just for dinner, we were not given a menu describing what each individual sushi entree was (Japanese roulette I suppose) even though we sat at the sushi bar. The plates, however, were easy to find the price of, as they were color coded to a menu solely listing prices. As the night was to be celebratory, I ordered the kobe beef cooked tableside on Japanese river rocks with ponzu and wasabi appetizer. Whilst cooking the fat/juices from the meat hit me more than a few times, which complemented the growing pain in my lower back from the kids furniture barstool. The kobe beef dish itself was okay, it seemed to be merely a presentation thing. Fifteen dollars should get you more than four slivers of beef, but I digress. My main entree wasn't very memorable, it was some fish special, and my friend wasn't too happy with his miso soup either. Between ye & me, I don't think he had the faintest idea what he was ordering. Next time I go I'm getting the Chilean Sea Bass for sure, as I've had it at Continental, and I'm skipping the beef on the rocks.
(3)
Sonia S.
This is the second time I've dined at Pod. The food was even better than the first time. I took two out of town guests for dinner who love Japanese food and I thought they would like the atmosphere. Pod was a big hit with everyone. Staff was very accommodating and our waitress was very helpful answering our questions about the items on the menu.
(4)
Candace C.
So I originally gave Pod a 2 star review because I think it is below average for the quality of food. But, let me qualify that, if Wharton/Penn Law/ [insert your favorite corporate account] is paying, then its actually a pretty good restaurant. ok granted free food is generally always (more) delicious but truthfully the food isn't all that bad. It is pricey and not the best value for Philadelphia dining, but certain items are actually pretty good! For example, the crab spring rolls are delicate and savory, a real treat, but for $16 (or $14), I can eat better food in philly. Also, who pays that much for salted edamame beans? I had the lunch sushi combo which was very average sushi and not that expensive because it was on the lunch menu. The appetizers are much more creative and inventive. If I wasn't paying, I'd give Pod a solid 3.5 stars. But since recruiting season is over (just kidding!), Pod isn't a place I'll likely come back to. I'd rather save my money and try out buddakhan, sampan, or morimotos
(3)
Z J.
DO NOT GO TO "ALL YOU CAN EAT SUSHI" WEEK I'm currently at my table in pod, suffering through their awful attempt at all you can eat sushi. We were seated at our reservation time, 9pm, and we have spent about ten minutes eating our first plates of sushi, and 2.5hours waiting while the restaurant grinds to a stop. It is completely packed, and totally unprepared for this. People have been waiting hours with nothing, and although some are being comped appetizers by an obviously nervous and overwhelmed staff, the general mood is tense and aggravated. The small amount of sushi that actually made it to our table was good, and the staff is doing well considering, especially our waitress - but the whole situation is a mess and has alienated us and I imagine most of the other patrons. (Table next to us is discussing walking out right now) They are not equipped for this. What probably started at some pr guy's desk as a way to drum up mid week business has ended up as a huge disaster. As I'm typing this people have left, walked out, and turned away round three of free appetizers in disgust
(1)
Ed C.
$18 for a Manhattan? They were good, but really, $14 would have felt pricey and almost justified, but $18 is just insulting. I will not be going back.
(1)
Chrissy R.
Despite the fact that the prices here are a little out of my range, I love going to Pod for drinks. I've never had the food, so I can't speak on it, but I've heard from a friend that it's not bad. My favorite thing about this place, obviously, is the atmosphere. My friends and I love to hang out on those gaudy red plastic block things they have in the bar area and just chill while we have our drinks. The lighting in this place is obviously the main attraction -- everything lights up! You can change the lighting colors if you're sitting in one of the booths eating, there are circle lights all over the ceilings and floors, and the little tiny table/chair combos in the bar area light up when you sit on them [great for hours of giggles when you're further into the drinks]. It's bright and fun without being overwhelming, which, IMO, is difficult to do. The service here is pretty good, too. I've never had to wait long for a drink, and the bartenders are *always* really nice and fun and flirty [both guys and girls]. The drinks are SO much fun, too. They have a lot of specialty "girly" drinks, and while I'm usually a whiskey and coke kinda girl, I can't stay away from their pom-tinis. The special drinks are good to try out at least once, just to say you did. :)
(4)
Ilana R.
Had not been here in years and probably will not come back. Good and level of ambiance and servers has changed and not for the best. It used to be one of my favorite places to get amazing sushi and drinks. Now it was just mediocre and very expensive. Loud with too many young students creating a club like scene rather than a restaurant. Should just be converted into a great hip lounge serving interesting Japanese dishes.
(3)
Britt S.
I was at a conference at Wharton and stopped by Pod looking for some good sushi. I found the entire experience a bit perplexing. The vibe and decor leaned so far towards modern lounge-y that it shocked me upon walking in. Should I have dressed up for this? Did I accidentally stroll into a nightclub in my search for dinner? Loud music. Friendly servers. Average food. Pricey for what you're getting. Nothing to write home about. That is, unless you're into ultra sleek white spaceship-looking furniture.
(2)
Shannon N.
This was one of my favorite places when I was living back in the Philadelphia area (2003-5). It was in University City so it was not so close to the usual party area of Old City (which could be a good/bad thing, take your pick) so the crowd was more of the Penn/Drexel students and some other urbanites who were willing to venture to this part of town. The front lounge part was always crowded, and I was a huge fan of the sit-down/light-up white short stools that lined that front section (Fatty that I am, I even broke one once; I had pulled the plug out of the socket by accident-sorry). I even had a birthday here and the 7 of us girls piled into the 1st pod on the left side and irritated fellow patrons by constantly pushing the 9 colored light pad. The macadamia chicken stir fry was a hit as always, and their version of caesar salad was pretty enjoyable also. Pod was also the first place I ever tried edamame. This was on a Tuesday so it wasn't too hard to obtain one of those dining pods, but we had a fun time and the staff was really pleasant also. I would return when in the area, hoping not much has changed.
(4)
G D.
Loved the experience. The ambience is just great with a very trendy contemporary feel to it. If you are a party with 6 or more you can sit in one of the pods which is sort of a private area but still feel like you are in the middle of the restaurant. I enjoyed the sushi, especially the lobster roll.The crab fried rice that we ordered was delicious. Overall a good experience and would definitely like to go again.
(4)
Jean C.
I wish I could give them 3 1/2 stars because although I enjoyed my dinner, I'm not sure I'm an all out fan as of yet. The decor is cool, very 60's mod style. I like the "pod rooms" except for the one that's at the front of the restaurant. The bathrooms are pretty cool: there are individual stalls that show a green or red light depending on occupancy. I started with a carrot ginger martini that was quite the tasty juice cocktail, without any alcohol. Very weak. The meals are family style, so my friend and I ordered the pork shumai with white soy dipping sauce, crab fried rice, szechuan lamb chops with shanghai noodles, and the Chilean Sea Bass with Japanese sweet potatoes. The meal was really good, with plenty of crab fried rice left over. The nitpick was that the lamb chop was a little over cooked, but still tasty. The sea bass was well cooked, very flaky and great tasting. The shumai was awesome, with just a little kick at the end: great texture and very tasty. The crab fried rice was good, there was actually quite a bit of crab in the dish! Our server was really good, personable and attentive rounding out a very good dining experience.
(4)
Jay S.
Excellent atmosphere and food quality. The lobster rolls were fantastic. Also enjoyed the wasabi filet and sea bass. Service was great as well. Definitely great for date night. Also the Bok Choy, Pad Thai, and chicken pot stickers were very good as well.
(4)
Carrie P.
I love coming here and especially when you can get a POD for a big party. We had a blast for girls night! You can either share meals or be selfish. Some highlights are: rock shrimp tempura, crab fried rice, calamari salad, and lettuce wraps. The drinks are delicious. Try the rising sun martini. Lastly, check out the bathrooms. Weird I know but they are so cool!! Parking is very simple in this part of town. It's a must go for Asian fusion.
(5)
Olesya P.
I would not recommend this place. The only good thing- it is cool inside and service is good. The food is very expensive and NOT tasty at all. Since it is Japanese, I went there to eat good sushi, but even sushi from Walmart taste better. Also, portions extremely small, I payed 9 dollars for 2 little rolls that had nothing in it. . I would like to get some good food if I pay so much. Also, my plate was dirty. I would not go there ever again and would not recommend it to anyone.
(1)
Lindsay H.
So my biggest love for Pod is actually there lunch Express bento special. For some time now, I felt it was unfair of me to review this place since I've only been for lunch but hey, each lunch is so tasty that I just needed to share with the yelp community! I have enjoyed their pad thai, sushi and dumpings but hands down the Express bento Miso glazed chilean seabass lunch special is what to get! It's unreal. The fish is always perfectly cooked and has such a delicious salty/sweet flavor that makes it melt in your mouth. This paired with some rice, miso soup and a side salad makes this arguably the best lunch in U-city. Unfortunately, I rarely have enough space to eat this much but if you do, definitely try it!
(4)
Nakia Y.
I went to POD during Ucity dinning days (unaware until i got there that it was actually going on), but anyway: everytime i go to POD i have an awesome experience. from the decor to the service i am never disappointed. The seafood rice my date ordered wasnt up to the normal POD standard but everything else we ordered made up for it. Oh and this was the first time that the manager actually came over to the table and talked to us (which is always a plus) making sure that everything was to our liking. and kudos to the waitress because she was friendly, courteous, and provided us with A1 customer service the entire night.
(4)
Lily N.
I was very disappointed. My server was nice, but the food was terribly salty. Rolls are good but salty. The stir fry is very salty and horribly tasted. The chef should really do something about using too much salt. Also the wait is too long. It was a bad experience for me.
(1)
Elsie R.
Me & hubby chose pod for our first date in fifteen months. Great atmosphere, delicious sushi and killer drinks! Katie gave us great recommendations excellent service. I highly recommend you check out pod ASAP you won't regret it!
(5)
Frances R.
This restaurant is awful for vegetarians. They have a couple of seemingly vegetarian entrees but when I tried to confirm with the waiter that they were vegetarian he said they were not. They had some fish product in them. I wonder how many vegetarians have eaten these entrees assuming they were ok. The only thing worse than a restaurant having no veg entrees is a restaurant having entrees that appear veg but are not and this fact is not on the menu. Shame on you, Pod and Stephen Starr!
(1)
Jen K.
I've only ever paid for Pod twice, because usually I go when a Wharton professor takes us students out for lunch. This place is essentially really overpriced Americanized Asian fusion plus very average sushi. For example, they make General Tso's chicken, throw in some nuts, slap it with a fancier name ("macadamia chicken stir-fry") and charge you $19 for it. Ridiculous. I suppose you are paying for the ambience and the experience. Don't come here unless a Penn professor is treating you, your parents are treating you, or a date is treating you. Otherwise you're getting ripped off by Steven Starr big time.
(2)
Vichet O.
I've drank here quite a few times. The staff is always quick and friendly, and they have lychee drinks, which gives them an extra point from this southeast asian. Other than that, what can I say about Pod that isn't obvious from looking? Oh right, they serve "Asian Fusion" food. In PODS! I shit you not. Little tapas sized dishes circulate on a conveyor belt for you to dim-sum, brody, grab, claim, or snatch - whatever verb you prefer, for that particular part of the restaurant (the sushi bar? or sushi conveyor belt? I'm not sure what you'd call it) you kind of just get what you want and eat it right there. There are tables where you can sit down and order. I've never really done that, so I can't comment. I'm sure it's pleasant. Now that I think about it, the only time I've actually eaten here was for all you can eat sushi. Don't get me wrong, the sushi here is better than a run-of-the-mill shop, and there was all of it I could eat. However, I would probably not do this again because I could go to one of my preferred sushi joints and get as much as I should allow myself to eat for about the same price. On an aside, Pod's interior affected me in such a way that I actually took it as an inspiration for a setting in one of my stories. I don't HATE the look. It's just not for me. Or any of my male characters: "Everything was white, bathed in a pale red glow by dim sconces that lined the walls at shoulder height, demarcated by floor-length windows at regular intervals. Some of the panels lit up and changed color like a disco floor as people walked across the room. Personally, King would have left out the panels and kept the disco. He was partial to wide collars and flared slacks. However, he was not particularly partial to Cube. If an iPod were susceptible to crack addiction, King and his coworkers stumbled upon the botched abortion of its crack-lovechild. The decorations were far too loud for him to feel comfortable. In a place where everything stood up and screamed "Look at me!" King felt decidedly out of place - and not in the fun, interesting way where he could leverage his uniqueness in conversation. This was plain, old, useless high school awkwardness. At least the music was acceptable." And that's how I feel about the decor. Other than that, this place is alright by me. Pro-tip: Try the ginger rum shots. They taste much better than they sound.
(3)
Leigh O.
Yeah....over-rated. While the atmosphere of the restaurant is completely beautiful and modern, I'm not so sure that makes up for everything else. I'm a huge fan of Asian fusion so I've had my fair share everywhere I visit. Pod is just not that great. I've had completely tasteless soup here (I took it home to my nephews who stated it was the best ramen they ever had, which I'm sure doesn't speak much for it), potstickers are average. These are types of things I feel that a fusion restaurant should make effortlessly. I am a fan of the crab fried fried rice though. The drinks I could completely skip as well. I tried all of the "color" martinis and if I had to choose I'd recommend the red or green. Overall, if you're looking to just be trendy and cute to upload photos to instagram or something this place is cool. If you're looking for high quality and flavorful food then you should pass. It's also way overpriced for the quality of food.
(3)
Jeff L.
Pod is always a fun time. Been there countless times and there's a good reason I keep going back. It's such a fun atmosphere - a great place for a quick lunch date or a nice birthday dinner. The drinks are all awesome and the food is presented nicely and very tasty. The sushi is somewhat pricey (but expected) but also very good. The specialty rolls are really unique. I have really never had a dish I didn't like here, except maybe the Siu Mai for appetizer, which were way too salty. They also offer a all-you-can-eat sushi experience from season to season, but it's only offered after 9pm so the time isn't great since you end up waiting forever for them to make the food. The best part of Pod are, well, the pods themselves. Hard to get into unless you have a big party who will spend a lot on dinner, but you can get lucky if there's one open and no other seating. Lots of fun - definitely recommend giving this place a try!
(4)
Joey B.
Great food though a bit expensive. AWESOME atmosphere, decor, vibes, music, etc. I really, really recommend for casual/fun date or family outing. And....the service is incredible. A++
(5)
Keo N.
Over priced sushi and weak cocktails. Go for the entrees and wine.
(3)
Avi A.
Pod is most definitely a hot spot for all you yuppies out there.. and anyone else who wants to think they're a baller but really isn't :P Don't get me wrong, the food is quite delicious and the "multi-colored contemporary lounge" feel is certainly appealing to all of us college kids. The problem is that there's so much hype about this place, it's easy to get disappointed and end up spending your entire week's allowance on a few pieces of sushi and some pad thai ^^ o harro empty wallet! I would recommend going for lunch and getting the kaiseki express, which will cost you something like $13 - 15 and you get miso soup, rice, and a scrumptious piece of fish or meat. Occasionally, they'll be cunning and offer an all you can eat $25 sushi event, which only becomes a deal when you surpass your 25th piece... i dunno about you, but I'm pretty full after about 20 pieces of maki.. the width and length of my stomach prevents me from inhaling a whale.. which would actually be ideal in such a situation Try to be a little unconventional and order items outside of the sushi menu... the chilean sea bass is certainly worth a shot.. as well as the kobe beef burger. A nice place for a date.. and a great place for lunch... good replay value :) Expect to see the entire Penn community there when you go haha.. -Av
(4)
Shin Yi L.
Pod usually never fails and it's one of my favorite places to go on campus. I usually order sushi rolls or get the seafood fried rice + bok choy. The bok choy here is typically top-notch and way better than even chinese restaurants in Chinatown. My friends and I usually order the bok choy to share even if we each order our own mains. Today was a disaster: I took one bite and didn't want to eat the rest. It was overcooked and not flavorful. When I told the server, she did not charge me for it (which is great) but I left feeling sad/disappointed that a good dish is ruined!
(2)
Dave H.
Pod has a Jetsons-like feel to it, from the conveyor-belt sushi bar to the curtained area on the "bridge". The semi-private dining areas (pods) have controls that let you change the colors inside to a whim. Seating is ample for a medium-sized group. It was difficult to tune out the noise - in that way, Pod reminds me of a futuristic cafeteria. Service - Lan, Erin, Laurie) is MUCH better than your typical cafeteria luckily. The food generally looked better than it tasted. Presentation is top-notch and the sushi was fresh. Portions are big enough you can share with one or two others. While I'll overlook the high cost of food[1], I can't ignore quality. The sushi appetizer was a promising start to dinner but the Chilean sea bass I had was buttery as all hell. Imagine eating a stick of butter marinated in butter lathered in fat. (Sound redundant? The sea bass was redundant.) The Mongolian beef lacked any kick. The saving grace of the meal was the calamari! Tender and spicy, it was a treat after eating the other two dishes. Not worth the trip if you're looking for stellar food. Perhaps my expectations were too high but the food left an unsavory imprint on me. Upon reflection I'm just unhappy. Stop by for a drink or try their wasabi-crusted filet mignon (which I had another time, and wasn't half-bad). [1] Except for the sushi... don't ask.
(3)
Dan K.
Their menu leaves very little to be desired. A dish for every palate, if you will. The ambiance is awesome. I've eaten inside one of their color-changing "pods" and in the main dining area. Although I prefer dining inside the pod, the service was superb in either location. I was thoroughly impressed with the server's in-depth knowledge of the entire menu, both food and drink.
(5)
Becca I.
I didn't really know what to expect from an Asian restaurant named Pod. However, from the moment I walked in I liked Pod. They have a distinct theme and seem to stick with it throughout the dining experience. The food was great, I particularly enjoyed the crab fried rice and the spicy tuna rolls. The service was decent, although it was clear she was trying to upsell us and unhappy we didn't order drinks or dessert. I think it is a little bit overpriced, but i do not think that would stop me from coming back.
(4)
Stephanie Y.
I only really come here for happy hours on Friday. $5 cocktails and it's RIGHT across from work. Can't really beat that, especially on a hot summer day and you're waiting for that second hand to hit 5 o'clock. You know you already have your stuff gathered and with 1 fell swoop, you've locked your computer. You seat yourself, so no waiting is a plus and a waitress comes over, you just pick a color on the rainbow. Since I'm Asian, it tastes strong enough for me, especially since I start glowing after 1, but I will get a second. Enjoying the drinks while chatting with coworkers. Yes, the seats aren't very uncomfortable. Sometimes I'll order Pod's famous lobster roll to go. It's my fave. Food in general isn't bad, but a bit overpriced. Dang, it's only Wednesday. 2 more days ....
My boyfriend wanted to take me to pod to celebrate my new job. He was pretty excited to go here since his coworkers have been heralding this place for months. We arrived on Wednesday night and pod was pretty busy; we felt as if we'd traveled forward in time to this modern restaraunt. The hostesses greeted us and we were seated within 15 minutes of arrival. Our waiter was efficient. He was knowledgeable but curt; he had many tables but seemed to multi-task well. Our first course, the tempura sushi, was very good. We ordered macadamia chicken stir fry, which my boyfriend loved and garlic shrimp. I ordered the lemon cheesecake for dessert. It was simply divine. I recommend the pink martini although my boyfriend's Tokyo tea was just average. Overall I would return to pod. It would be cool to dine in one of the colored booths and sample more of the delicious items we saw at other tables and wizzing by in the hands of busy waiters. 4.5/5 for pod.
(4)
Chris M.
Pod does and always will hold a special place in my heart. About 9 years ago, I brought my then new girlfriend, now wife, on our first fancy date here (I think it was like to celebrate our one-month anniversary). We've been back here several times since, and I eat lunch here around one per month or so. The "futuristic" decor (I use the quotes because it hasn't changed in like a decade) is still pretty fun, with the big party booths with buttons allowing you to change the ambient lighting, and the small pod booths carved into the wall--not to mention the sushi conveyor belt. And the food is pretty excellent. If you're into sushi, I recommend ordering one these rolls, which used to be on the menu: mango, cream cheese, and salmon (basically a Philadelphia roll with mango), or the yellowtail, scallion, jalapeno roll. If sushi's not your thing, try the macadamia chicken stir fry. This place gets pretty packed around prime times, but you can often get a seat at the sushi conveyor belt, where you can either eat from the belt or order from the menu. The sushi on the belt is hit or miss, sometimes with a very limited selection. You may want to sit here, grab a small plate or two from the belt and order a roll or two from the waiter/waitress. If you haven't been here yet, you should definitely give it a try. It's a little gimmicky and a little pricey, but it's a cool experience.
(4)
Siv L.
Came here with a friend -- love the ambience but because UCity doesn't have many options for fine/trendy dining, the bar area gets pretty packed with "trendy" type people. The food here is good. The service is attentive. I think due to its location and the lack of options surrounding it, I can understand why people think it's overrated. Wouldn't recommend it for anyone looking for a no-nonsense good meal.
(3)
Richard B.
I was staying at the hotel next door and wanted somewhere close for dinner. Pod had decent reviews so I decided to give it a try. This place is very much form over substance. It is probably a fun place for drinks with friends but I wouldnt recommend it for dinner for an out-of-towner dining alone. I had the street noodles and the were decent but nothing to write home about.
(2)
Seb S.
Obviously the food is good and the place is cool but it's overrated. Go to MORIMOTO instead.
(3)
Penn Grad Student Z.
Overpriced, way below average food. The decor is really lame and overdone. It was like dining in a cheesy virgin america flight. The sushi tasted like the boxed pre-prepared sushi. Granted, it's hard to make anything good with Asian fusion. Save yourself some money and go to PF Changs.
(1)
Janice T.
Although a little pricey, Pod has a fun atmosphere and cool decor. Eating in the Pod with the different lights is also a fun experience. Good place for celebratory dinners with a group or a date. Could be a cool place for out of towners too. I've been there a few times while I was in college and service and food was always good.
(4)
S K.
Nice server is all there was to this meal. Extremely unflavorful, tasteless food. The sweet pea and mushroom dumpling was thick and lacked texture and flavor. The udon noodle stirfry, similarly, was completely flavorless. The speciality sushi rolls were ok, but for $18 a roll, we've had much better at morimoto and fat salmon. The bokchoy side was fresh and refreshing, but a good side seldom counts for a good meal. The worst part - dessert. A Starr restaurant cannot afford to get something as basic as a chocolate lava cake wrong, but Pod did. It was barely warmed, completely dry, stale tasting and looked like a chocolate muffin that was picked up from Jo Shmo's bakery five days ago. At $45 per head without alcohol, this was one terrible pick.
(1)
Erin N.
Great place! I'm not sure why there are 3 $'s, it's 2 $'s to me. Lots of cool color changing lights with a really good atmosphere and feel. It's nice because if you want sushi but your friend doesn't, there's lots of different things to keep everyone happy. Try the cocktails in the drink menu, unique stuff. Though I didn't try an of the mock tails they had a great selection of stuff that sounded great. They hate conveyor belt sushi bar that looked really awesome. If you have a larger party, make a reservation and ask for the round tables that are semi private and light up. The only thing that I could say negative is the bathrooms. They aren't dirty or anything but it just gives you a weird feel because it's stainless steel toilets like you would see at subway station or something.
(5)
Taylor L.
Oh, Stephen Starr. How I love thee... This is the fifth Starr restaurant that I've visited since I started living in Philly, and I just continue to be impressed. What do I love the most about Starr restaurants? The fact that, despite how amazing the atmosphere is, the food always seems to be better (if this was not the case, I would most likely be discontinuing my quest). So, not surprisingly, I found the ambiance in Pod to be cool. I, personally, didn't like it as much as some of the other ones... but I won't let my personal preference for decor weigh into my evaluation of the quality. We didn't sit at the cool chairs at the bar, or in the color-changing pod-seating-area-things, so our table was rather plain and plastic-y. The food, though, was all around fantastorgasmical (and it came out rapidfire, which was nice because I came HUNGRY). Here were the highlights: - Chicken Lettuce Wraps. Can I order 500 more please and just eat these, and only these, for the next year of my life? Thanks. - Beef Short ribs (appetizer). I wouldn't have ordered these had the server not highly recommended them. WELL, I am thrilled I did!!!! The meat was a whole new level of flavorful, and was just falling apart, and practically melting in your mouth. They came on some udon noodles that were flavored similarly to the shortribs. Mmm!! - Ice Sculpture Sorbet (dessert): Four scoops of refreshing sorbet atop an ice sculpture to keep it cold. How cool is that? (I added a picture of this delectable dessert, in case you were curious) The other things that we ordered that were delicious, but just not as blow-your-mind were: - Chicken Potstickers - Chicken Macademia Stir Fry - Tofu and Udon stirfry ... and, what else? SAKE. "Demon Slayer" Sake, to be specific.
(4)
Grace S.
Been here several times for evening receptions that served the usual sushi maki rolls and apps in small portions. Finally came here for lunch and still just Mehhhhh. Sushi combo for $16 is so overpriced for the 5-6 nigiri and 4 pieces of caifornia roll and no miso soup, no japanese salad. TONS of salt on the edamame (that by itself, was cooked well). The green tea for $4 is worth it--not your typical Japanese green tea tho (has moroccan mint + jasmine). This place is "anglosized" through and through. That's not a bad thing, it's just not an authentic Japanese restaurant. Perhaps the 18 pieces that come with the $14 maki combo is worth it...the udon noodles w/ tofu looked so bland and lifeless. Most ppl were ordering the $14 lunch special "bento boxes". The atmosphere was great though, totally packed from wall to wall with Wharton students, Wharton professors, professionals in the area...felt very much like the NYC business lunches that a lot of us left for grad school!
(2)
R H.
Very yummy! More the anything... I really enjoyed the ambiance and the decor!
(4)
Latanya T.
The decor is very futuristic, almost like your eating sushi with the jetsons :) A little over priced in my opinion but overall this place is great!
(4)
Michael F.
First time to pod and I sat at the sushi bar. Service was S L O W... so be prepared to wait. I was intrigued at the conveyer belt for sure. I was thinking "I'd love to have this in my house." For what purpose, I have no idea. The sushi on the conveyer belt, not so great. Not a whole lot different than the stuff sitting in your grocery sushi take out section. Now, on the other hand, some fresh made ordered rolls...really fresh a good. Folks sitting next to us had some really nice looking entrees coming out, calamari salad and a shrimp fried rice. Hmmm, maybe I should have taken that path...possibly next time.
(3)
Gaurav P.
Food Ordered: Macadamia Chicken Stir-fry (replace chicken with tofu) Vegetable Tempura Pad Thai (tofu) Veg Sushi Shrimp Sushi Tuna Sushi This is the place where you want to take your date. The lighting int he booth was pretty nice. You can change the lighting the way you want. They had different colors for different lights. We all really liked our food except for the Pad Thai. This was the first time I tried Sushi and I loved it.
(4)
Larry G.
Loved it! Service was excellent. Our server was attentive, but not overbearing. She offered suggestions on items, explained the menu in detail and had just the right touch. Food was superb! Loved, loved, loved the steamed pork buns. The lobster roll (pod lobster) is not to be missed either. Brown sugar butterscotch cake was a real hit too. Next time we'll go with a big group and sit in one of the pods. Looked fun.
(5)
Vivian H.
The decor is a little too much for me, and the alternating colors in the pods make everyone and their food look gross. They're also not very good with reservations in my experience. It would be a nice restaurant but it's frequented by so many students that it's pretty casual. Their food is actually really good though. They have a pretty extensive menu of Asian fusion dishes. I am a huge fan of their Glazed Chilean Sea Bass (w/ Japanese sweet potatoes), any of their reasonably-priced fried rice sides, and the Penn roll, which is just like a crunch spicy tuna but somehow really good. I've also been there for the $25 all-you-can-eat sushi after 9pm Tuesdays, which I think may be ending. It's a really nice place to go for AYCE sushi, and cheap, but you can only eat so much sushi off a limited menu before it gets boring.
(4)
Keli T.
Fun decor and very good food. A little expensive but the favors were great and the choices are different and creative. We loved the rock shrimp tempura and Japanese eggplant.
(4)
Michelle C.
Oh hey, Review 300. How you doin'? I was here last night with a group of five lovely ladies to celebrate the last "official" night of singledom for one of my girlfriends. You might know her, she's Philly yelper Jessica B.! Jess and I go way back. When I was in 7th grade, our township made the genius decision to cut costs by busing all the public and private school students together. At the time, I was fairly shy and very awkward, so I boarded the bus each afternoon filled with fear and panic. Fear that one of the public school kids would make fun of my red plaid uniform, panic that my skirt would somehow tuck itself into my underwear as I got up to exit the bus, branding me as a gigantic dork before I even had a fighting chance in high school. Day after day, I sat in the second or third row, not daring to turn around but always listening intently to every conversation going on behind me. I was awestruck by the curly haired girl who knew everyone and spoke freely - and loudly. One day, she broke the ice and started a conversation with me. I was convinced it was some kind of a setup so I proceeded with caution, but to my surprise, we ended up establishing a friendly association. Now, all these years later, my bus buddy is all grown up and getting hitched! What does this have to do with Pod, you ask? Absolutely nothing, other than the fact that it was Jess' choice for her bachelorette dinner and I felt like telling a little story. Walking into the restaurant, I looked around and instantly thought: futuristic IKEA. The floors are industrial looking and the furniture is all very white, with neon lights accenting throughout the room. I noticed many dates going on in the little wall nooks and was somewhat surprised. I think the likeliness of an alien probe would be greater than the conjuring up of any romantic feelings in that place. Our server greeted the table and took our drink orders, followed by our starters. We all needed a few extra minutes to decide on entrees. We started with rock shrimp tempura and butter poached lobster from the dim sum menu. The shrimp were very good, although the pecan halves and pineapple chunks were somewhat puzzling. The lobster dish was just okay. There was hardly enough for each girl to have a bite, and the tofu and vegetable accompaniments did absolutely nothing for the dish. We polished off the dim sum, while the menus continued to sit on our laps. Eventually, our server reappeared and we were able to place the order for our mains. At this point, I decided to visit the ladies', which actually turned out to be a hallway of unisex bathrooms. The stall looked exactly like an airplane bathroom, which definitely creeped me out. I took solace in the fact that the space was twice as large and I wouldn't have any reason to fear being sucked through the toilet. When I returned to the table, the food was already being delivered. This was surprising as we had just placed our orders, and our silverware had not even been replenished at that point. We sat, staring at our meals with hungry eyes. Finally, we received utensils and I got friendly with my wasabi crusted filet with wasabi mash. The steak was perfectly cooked, although I didn't detect any wasabi flavor. The potatoes were also a bit weak. I was expecting a kick, similar to the wasabi mash that is served at Buddakan, but the flavors were less intense. Still, the meal was very good, if a bit pricey at almost $30. I also had several bites of Jess' miso glazed sea bass and sweet potato puree, which was absolutely phenomenal. The fish tasted as though it had spent its life swimming in a sea of butter. Each bite was rich, with the perfect touch of sweetness from the miso glaze. It was around the end of our meal that our server decided to show up again. He made us laugh with his astrological predictions and witty banter, but I sure hope some of the food runners were getting a piece of his tip, because they really did most of the work. We passed on dessert in an effort to get the party started. It's unlikely that I will make the trek to University City just to return to Pod, although that sea bass alone might provide enough of a reason, should the craving strike.
(3)
Hannah G.
Went to Pod for dinner on a Tuesday night. It was fairly busy, but not crowded. We were able to get seated right away. We had a sushi combo that included tuna, yellowtail, and salmon sashimi as well as a spicy tuna roll and a yellowtail + scallion roll. Nice presentation and tasty. We also had the seafood fried rice (lobster, shrimp, and scallops), which was really good. We were interested in trying something from the Japanese grill, so we had the grilled corn as well. I wasn't a huge fan of the spices used, but it was interesting to try. The cocktails we tried were OK, but not our taste -- a little overly sweet. The service was some of the best in the city. Both the hostess that sat us and our server were kind, attentive, and energetic. There are several other restaurants I'd like to try before coming back here for a meal, but the fantastic service will definitely bring me back for appetizers or a drink if I'm in the area.
(3)
Kati S.
I'm not really a sushi fan, but the BF loves it--so this place is a good compromise for us. I really enjoyed the crab spring rolls. Love, love, love the Green Martini. I had 3. Consequently, my recollection of the entree is a bit hazy...
(4)
Michael L.
So the Sushi is pretty good, I just personally couldn't get past the whole futuristic, science fiction atmosphere. I get that it is hip and posh, but I guess I like the traditional atmosphere and Japanese cultural environment. This looked like a scene out of that 70s Show .. But the Sushi.. like i said before... is pretty good. If closed my eyes, and just focused on nothing but the taste -- it was good; but the red seats, white tables, yellow lamp shades and all.. just wasn't feeling it. Will I go, yup; is it my first choice... nope. Would it be great for take-out.. absolutely!
(3)
Diane G.
great food, great ambience, fun place to eat! Been there several times - pricey but best bet is to order a bunch of dim sums and share. I think sometimes people criticize food because its expensive not because its not good - if it was cheaper they would say it was fabulous!
(4)
Nicole Y.
I love this place. Pod was one of my favorite restaurants to go to in Philly and is a great place to take out of town friends. The martinis are all very tasty and reasonably priced. The sushi is a little expensive, but is extremely good. I also really enjoyed the salads and soups here. They have a conveyor belt sushi bar where you can sit and pick individual rolls as they move by. The vibe there is really great - they have rooms that light up in different colors and generally your table/chairs have lights in them as well. There is usually Cowboy Bebop or something similar playing on the TV behind the sushi bar and they have great happy hour specials. It sometimes gets overrun with Penn students, but if you call ahead and make a reservation you won't have to worry about waiting very long. The only downside is parking nearby which can be difficult, particularly on the weekends.
(4)
Rob W.
Pod might be the definitive Asian fusion restaurant. Oddly shaped dining areas, glowing neon accent lights and sushi on a train are just a few things that makes Pod so unique and fun. The food is also wonderfully delicious. I munched on the Kobe beef rice and a vegetable tempura which were both delicious. The tempura was very crispy and the dipping sauce was nice and light. We also had the short rib robata which wasn't my favorite. Some of the beef was a little over cooked. I love the place but they need to drop the prices a few bucks before I come back, it's not the Pod of old Mr. Starr.
(4)
Liz C.
I frequent this restaurant quite a bit, as it's the closest restaurant to my office. If you're looking for cheap food, this isn't really the place. But if you're looking for quality food with a cool atmosphere and good drinks, then this is perfect. A smattering of my favorites and not so favorites ... Faves: - Calamari Salad: it's HUGE, filling, delicious, light, but still indulgent. so good! - Salmon & Avocado Sushi - super fresh and delicious - Penn Roll - raw fish, but still accessable to those that are new to sushi. really yum. - Steamed Pork Belly Buns - there is nothing to say about this but yum. amazing. - Seafood Green Curry (lunch special) - lots of food for not a bad price. good flavor and big pieces of seafood - Lobster Roll - a bit over priced, but the presentation and taste are awesome and worth it if you feel like a splurge. - Shrimp Pad Thai - not super greasy like other places. clean excellent flavor. - Kobe Beef - this is prepared tableside on a hot rock. it's overpriced, but again, if you want to splurge, it's worth it for the taste and presentation. - Fluffernutter Egg Rolls - a decadent way to conclude your meal. be warned: it comes with 3, so if you both want 2 rolls each, you can ask for an additional. they are RICH, though, so I usually only want one. Not So Faves: - Tempura Rock Shrimp - not sure what I thought was going to come out, but I wasn't expecting a giant bowl of tiny fried shrimp covered in some sort of creamy sauce. it was good, but not awesome. Catapiller Roll - an eel, avocado and mango roll ... I don't know. I love all of those ingredients, but the last time that I had it, it tasted fishy to me. - Seafood Fried Rice - this is good, but a bit on the greasy side when compared to how light and non-greasy the rest of the more familiar Chinese dishes are. All in all, I think Pod is worth it. I've always had top notch service, it's great for large groups, it's great for private parties (you can have your own room or sit in one of the private crazy light pods!!) and the food is good. It's up to you how much you spend when you go ... you can get out of there for not so much or you can drop a crap ton of money. End of the day, I'm a fan. :)
(4)
Sean H.
Pod isn't some life-altering experience, I have to say. It is, however, the best option on Penn's campus if you are looking for something a little nicer than your average food court experience. I always get the chicken lettuce wraps and the chicken and macadamia stir-fry, though the wasabi-encrusted filet mignon is awesome as well. I can't comment on the sushi, as I still wasn't into sushi when I last went. I hear that it's quite good, though. The drinks are great here! We spent many a night tasting the full rainbow of colorful drinks on offer at Pod. If you happen to be in the neighborhood, Pod is definitely worth a try. The only thing I miss is the basil fried rice, which disappeared a few years back. :-(
(4)
Hoa T.
So I came back here for the $25 all you can eat sushi. I'm pretty sure that we ordered 80% of all the things on the AYCE menu. The fish were fabulously fresh and decadent. For the nigiri, I love how the rice portion was not huge like some other AYCE places. Personal favorites of mine is the Penn roll and the yellowtail jalapenos roll/hand roll. There were also drink specials for the night, so you can get a martini or beer with your sushi. I love this place. FYI the rule of AYCE is that you have to finish everything on your plate or it will be counted at full menu price. There is no sharing with people not getting AYCE. It's only on Tuesday starting at 7PM.
(5)
Alicia J.
I had low expectations for Pod. I know that several departments at Penn take their faculty candidates, invited speakers etc. etc. to this place and I also heard several times that the food is not so great. Indeed, I have had better sushi in my life, and for aforementioned low expectations the sushi wasn't really that bad. The fish tasted fresh (except for the way too dry shrimp) and the rice was well-done. But 16$ for a sushi platter is totally not worth it. One other aspect that absolutely irked me was that the menu clearly states that there would be one tamago sushi in the platter but it wasn't. It was the same thing for another person in our party who got the sushi deluxe platter but since she didn't complain I figured I wouldn't either. I was also surprised at how stylish/modern/trendy the atmosphere was. It was noisy, the interior design is rather boring, the seats were not particularly comfortable and worst of all, the stylish white furniture looked dirty and old. If you take your "VIPs" here shouldn't you pick a place with more... dignity? On the brighter side, service has been excellent throughout the entire time and somebody was kind enough to take our coats as soon as we got here. As one of the very few restaurants I have ever seen, I also like how they set the table with chopsticks and fork/knife so that you can pick one of them without embarrassing yourself.
(2)
Tina C.
Fabulous sushi!! Crab fried frice is also amazing!! They have wonderful cocktails as well. Awesome atmosphere and just a really cool place overrall!
(4)
Heather M.
Went during University City Dining Days and got to try a lot of the menu, which was great. The saki mojito was really good. The other great dishes were the Pod Lobster Roll and the Creme Fraiche Cheesecake. The portions were really generous, which was surprising. I had high expectations, which were met for the most part, but for amazing sushi I would definitely go to Morimoto instead. I would probably give this a 3.5 if I could.
(4)
Jessica M.
My first impressions of Pod were mixed. I thought the atmosphere was kinda cool, but also trying too hard. Then I was seated at one of the tables on the main floor where felt like I was in some kind of weird, dimly lit futuristic high school cafeteria. My dining companion noted that she felt oddly exposed. That's pretty much where the mixed feelings ended, though, because from that point on, I have nothing but love. We ordered from the University City Dining Days prix fixe menu. For $30, I was able to choose an appetizer, an entree, and was served a "pastry chef's selection" for dessert. We were also offered $5 sake mojitos, which was a nice touch and a great compliment to all of the food. Since, like the Continental, food is served as it's prepared, my friend and I ordered together and shared everything. Food came out at a perfect, leisurely-but-not-too-slow pace, so we had time to enjoy and digest everything. Our waiter was totally friendly and attentive, which I have found to be unusual when ordering from prix fixe menus. As for the food: From the dim sum menu, we chose the shrimp dumplings and the vegetable maki. Each dumpling was stuffed with a whole piece of juicy shrimp and they were served with a side of lime-chili dipping sauce. Yum! The maki were also delicious, stuffed with avocado, cucumber and asparagus - and since everything is made to order, they had no problem leaving out the carrot to accommodate my food allergy. For the main course we chose the Sezchuan lamb chops and the miso glazed Chilean sea bass. The lamb chops were slightly overcooked (they were small and we ordered them medium-rare) but flavorful, and they were served atop a pile of sesame Shanghai noodles. We both agreed the noodles were kind of boring and unnecessary to the dish. They weren't bad, but we left most of them on the plate. The sea bass was the stand out dish of the night. The fish was cooked perfectly, and was buttery yet light, making us wish we had both ordered it because we could have eaten twice as much. It was served over mashed sweet potatoes, which seemed like it wouldn't go but turned out to be the perfect addition. Dessert ended up being a piece of pumpkin pie napoleon (layered ginger spice cake, cinnamon white chocolate mousse, crispy rice pastry and pumpkin custard) and a trio of sorbets (banana-passionfruit, blueberry and raspberry). The napoleon was delicious, and though the sorbets tasted really good, they were underwhelming next to the cake. The menu offered was a perfect introduction to Pod restaurant. I can't wait to go back, and my friend and I are even considering going again this week while they are still running the prix fixe!
(4)
Adam C.
I'm sure it's great if you're a trendy hipster living in U City, but if you want really good Asian food, save your money and go get it. Of course, it seems like a pretty cool place to hang out if you don't mind overpriced drinks and good tasting food if you get hungry.
(2)
Alicia O.
my godsisters and i went for lunch today and i was impressed. its a very trendy place with a conveyour belt loaded with yummy sushi at the sushi bar. we had a table in the all white restaurant dining room. the drinks were yummy. i had a mocktail of ginger and mango. YUM! and our food was very tasty. the house salad was a typical asian salad but great portion size for 3 people. the dynamite roll was sooooooooooooooooooooooooooo good and its pricey so i only ordered one. the other sushi was fresh and good but nothing too distinctive about it. a good eat for sushi!! for dessert. omg the chocolate bread pudding was amazing. to die for. and i will be back if only for that!
(4)
Ellen W.
Well... The GOOD: I'll start by saying the food was TASTY, slightly overpriced for SMALLISH ENTREES. Chicken lettuce wraps, yum. Shrimp pad thai, yum. Salad with fresh spring mix lettuce greens, yum. Appetizers ok priced. My teenage daughter and her friend had a GENEROUS bowl of miso soup with micro cubes of tofu in it. They have a tasting menu offered on the standard menu, one at $45 and one for $60 I believe which is nice. The BAD: (and I mean REALLY BAD!)-the WAITRESS KATIE!!! the waitress was truly the WORST I've ever had. She came to the table WITHOUT an enthusiastic greeting. BUT when we needed some guidance with ordering, she was QUICK to be IRRITATED and RUDE, and to blow off her duties of hospitality and service as 1) SHE SNIPPED, "you want me to give you a few more minutes to work this out???!!!!". It was a Wednesday nite at 8:30, so there wasn't a crowd. And the silly minimum of 6 people to a pod (we had 5!) shouldn't be an issue when catering to a new customer visiting from out-of-town on a non-busy evening, c'mon. But, as it was, there were MORE HORRIBLE SARCASTIC REMARKS from KATIE, the WAITRESS. 2)when we told katie we asked another employee to help us get the iced tea we ordered 15 minutes earlier, trying to guide her to that girl, she BARKED, "there are a LOT of females that work here!!", implying 'how the hell am I supposed to know which girl you talked to!'. And 3)when we FINALLY got our entrees, which seemed to take a while, and after we had to REMIND ANOTHER waiter that we never received our sushi appetizers, our AWFUL, INATTENTIVE waitress KATIE finally came by and instead of asking how we liked our foods, she SNIPPED YET AGAIN!!, "well then, I'll get out of you way and let you to it!!!". SOME NERVE she had. so, RUDENESS by WAITRESS caused a potential perfect meal, into a BIG 2 star BUMMER!! Inappropriate comments made us feel UNCOMFORTABLE and DISPLEASED. will not rush to ever return.
(2)
Eric W.
I don't know what is better: the happy hour, the authentic sushi bar, or the Asian fusion food. The staff is friendly, and they appreciate regulars. Chef Takae is very skilled and willing to make create new things to people's tastes. Try this place at least three times to see which you like best.
(5)
MJ L.
The miso fish dish was quite good. The bathrooms are weird and not practical.
(4)
Alex M.
So I have always heard good things about Pod from friends so I figured I would give it a shot. The interior has a neat feel, very much like Morimoto. The bathrooms were probably the weirdest thing about this place. Its just one giant unisex bathroom with like 10 doors on either side of a hall way. The doors have an opaque soft front that is all squishy and idk, its just weird. Anyways, besides the novelty of the decor, the food wasnt anything too special. Granted, I did only have the sushi, which if you do get, make sure to try the crunchy spicy yellow tail. Honestly, though, the person I went with wasn't super adventurous so I didn't venture too far from the basics so Pod will definitely deserve another visit and another chance to impress me.
(3)
Alexa M.
I'm went here last night to eat dinner with my family for my birthday. Don't let the great interior design of the restaurant fool you.. While you may be enjoying your time in a futuristic themed place remember you came there to enjoy a delicious meal. Our meals were anything but delicious.. Pod is known for sushi and let me just say I've never had such terrible sushi in my life i got a shrimp tempura roll, spicy tuna, lump crab California and a dynamite roll.. All very common rolls.. But the shrimp tastes like an old hotdog wrapped in rice.. And the rice tasted as if it had glue in it. The dynamite roll was SLIMY and nothing in it. California roll tasted off and tuna rolls had completely wrong seasonings. The rest of my family got fried rice and pad Thai, they were not pleased at all. This place is over priced and does not know how to create an enjoyable meal.. I will never go back again.
(1)
Elaine T.
(clear throat) I am going to start my first review on yelp with this awesome place in philly. Forgive for my bad English since I am Chinese and I can't do better (jk). I was in Philly for business around the Upenn area. A friend of mine who lives in Philly brought me there, which is happen to be right next to the hotel I am saying (Inn at Penn). It has a good location, neighborhood of Upenn and Drexel university. When I first went in there, I started to love it. They have really cool decorations, fancy cool chairs/booths that look really modern, and colored lights all over the restaurant that creates a vivid yet relaxing atmosphere. Also they have TV screens showing Japanese anime, which I think is kinda cute. In addition, they have the conveyor sushi belt. Though we didn't get a chance to sit there, but I've never encountered any place with that in Atlanta so I think that's cool. They had a wide selection of drinks, some are asian fusion, e.g. sake mojito, drinks with calpico and yuzu etc. I had a 'green', which is lime and honeydew. I love fruity drinks in general so obviously I loved it. We ordered chicken lettuce wrap, rainbow roll and pad thai. I was at first skeptical about american asian fusion restaurants because I can be picky about asian food. But i think this place is actually pretty good for asian fusion food. Rainbow roll is pretty standard quality. LOVE their lettuce wrap. It contains chicken stir fry that you wrap it around with lettuce. Compared to other american chinese food places which basically just tastes sweet and soy saucy, I think they did make it quite authentic in flavor; with a little twist in incorporating the lettuce wrap. Pad thai was not amazing, but I like the fact that they add little bit of spiciness compared to other pad thais I had before in america. Service was good. The server checked on us five times while we were eating. ;P Yes, you can say this place is pricy just for the food,. But it's in neighborhood with hotels so you can't really complain too much. Still I'd say it's a nice place to hang out once a while, and I would recommend people who are traveling like me to go there.
(4)
Olena S.
I've been to this place a couple of times, and the food is good depending on what you order. I'm kind of a picky eater so I won't hold that against the place, but there were only a couple of dishes that I liked (the sea bass is AMAZING). The place itself was pretty cool, more of a futuristic design - especially with the bathrooms! It's a cool place overall.
(3)
Erin P.
Don't sit in the "pods" at pod. The ambient color changes can really throw off your sense of food perception. Sit in the main dining room with normal lighting sp you can enjoy your food. Calamari salad: bleh. Not enough calamari. Too many greens. Too much fluorescence. Bland dressing. Next. Toro sushi roll: this was delicious but I have no idea what colors it was, which would have been nice. Duck 2 Ways (pan seared duck breast and duck confit with sun-dried cherry bao bun): This was so amazing. Why don't I eat duck more often? I've never had a duck I didn't like. The duck "pan" tasted exactly like what I used to grab for lunch in Tokyo-soft, tender, fluffy, meaty. The pan seared breast was caramelized nicely all around the outside and (I am pretty sure that) it was as rare as we wanted it. Tasty. Day-glo. Fluffer Nutter spring roles with peanut butter. NOM! What does nom mean anyway? So many people I know use this word and I am now jumping on the bandwagon because I can only assume that it means, "Utterly delicious and mouth-watering." The moral of the story here is: go to pod (once, maybe twice) and sit in a normal seat with normal light. For food's sake. For the love of food. Or sit at the kaiten-zushi and pick exactly what you want from their fine sushi menu as it glides by.
(2)
Erica M.
Today was my third and best time at Pod. I'm not sure why I haven't reviewed before, but here it is. Tonight I went for dinner with a group of 9. The food was better than I remembered for my 2 past lunches (the udon noodles I had last time were just way too salty). Tonight I had the pleasure of ordering food for 9 people to share on someone else's credit card. SCORE! We had a wide variety of foods. We started with the chicken and seafood spring rolls, rock shrimp, a salad, and chicken lettuce wraps. Out of those dishes the spring rolls were definitely my favorite. We got the large sushi/sashimi platter and the fish was excellent. Very fresh. For entrees we tried the crab fried rice, lamb lo mein, wasabi crusted filet, and sea bass. I ordered the wasabi crusted filet medium and it definitely came out closer to well-done, which was especially disappointing because they sliced it so they had to have seen the fully brown center. The sea bas was definitely my favorite of the entrees. For dessert we tried the lemon cheesecake, chocolate bread pudding, and creme brulee. All of the desserts were delicious. I'm not a huge fan of the ambiance (the colored pods kinda hurt my eyes and the bathrooms feel like an airplane bathroom). But overall it was good food and a great go-to for high-end food in University City.
(4)
Elena D.
Loveeeeeee the sushi! AMAzIng decore and ambience! The staff is nice. The music is loungie and the movies the play at lunch by the sushi train are halarious! I actually think the entire idea is brilliant. It seriosly feels like you are in some sort of spaceship. The drinks are great and if you sit in one of the pods you can pretend like you are five and change the color of the pod and lighting :)
(5)
Tracy P.
Going into Pod I had high expectations. I've heard good reviews from friends, and their menu was really appealing to me. Walking into the futuristic atmosphere was really fun. I loved all of the furniture and the different colored lights. And the "pod" seating they had looked really fun as well. It had a very 5th Element feel. As for the food I ordered the miso soup, which to me at $7 was really high to me. The soup itself was really bland. It tasted pretty watered down to me as well. I make better miso myself at home! The plus to the soup was that they give you alot of it. I kept it simple with the sushi, I had an eel avocado roll, and I grabbed a philly roll from the belt. I wasn't impressed at all by their selection, and I felt like the rolls weren't creative at all and overpriced. I don't mind paying alot if the quality is there, but it was lacking. The two that I had were really mediocre and actually kind of warm. My friend grabbed a California roll that had obviously been sitting out for awhile because the avocado was spotting. It was disgusting. Yuck! On to the stuff I liked... I had a plum margarita, ish was bangin' haha. But I'm a sucker for anything made with plum wine, and the tequila was heavy handed. Much appreciated. Also, my friend and I split a piece of their yuzu lemon cheesecake. Omg! Amazingggg! My only issue with that was when it was gone, I wanted more! Our server was really nice and attentive, I think her name was Jenny, but I could be wrong. She was imformative and helpful, and also super cute. And I loved how she was really attentive, yet still gave us our space. I hate being hovered over. I don't think I'll actually go back to Pod for dinner, but I think I'll definitely return for drinks and desert sometime.
I had lunch at Pod for the first time this week. Overall, it was decent but overpriced. I wouldn't recommend Pod since there are many Asian fusion restaurants similar to Pod that have better prices or ambiance or both, but I can see how it might be popular with students from Penn or others who are in the area. It seemed like most of the people having lunch were grad students. The cauliflower appetizer was surprisingly good. It was two skewers of grilled cauliflower marinated in some type of balsamic sauce. The menu said it was balsamic, but to me it tasted more like soy sauce with a bit of sugar. It was similar to crispy brussel sprout dishes I've had in the past that are salty and sweet at the same time. The salmon avocado roll fine - pretty standard but made with brown rice. Vegan Stephen was another interesting one. Instead of laying salmon or other fish on top of the rolls, the chef layered tomato, roasted pepper and avocado on the roll to make it look like any other sushi roll. Great way to include vegetarians/vegans. The decor probably would have looked nicer at night.
(3)
Laura S.
I was pleasantly surprised by my dinner experience at Pod. I hadn't been for over 4 years and remembered it as overpriced and pretentious, and the food didn't make an impression. My return visit was anything but. Pod, I was wrong - I apologize! And I apologize to myself for denying us this delicious food on outdated information. The service was really stellar. I came with a large party (16 people) for a birthday celebration, they put us in a private room at the back of the restaurant. It only took about 10 minutes to get us seated and we were able to order drinks and hang out in the cute lounge area in the front or the restaurant while we waited. Our waiter was phenomenal and did a great job taking care of our group. His drink recommendations and descriptions were also spot-on - try the green martini! I ate a ridiculous amount of food, and everything I tried ranged from good to excellent. The "robata" menu selections - cooked on a 1000 degree grill - were excellent; I shared the cauliflower with friends. The bok choy was also good, although not as innovative. For my entree I had the wasabi-crusted filet mignon. The steak was absolutely perfectly cooked and the glaze was phenomenal. I thought the mashed potatoes could have used more wasabi, they were a little bland. I sampled the tofu lettuce wraps, they had great flavor and the serving size was huge - plenty to share with friends as an appetizer or entree. Desserts were surprisingly good. The mocha brownie was very dense, I couldn't eat more than a bite but oh what a bite it was. The vanilla bean mousse was lighter and just as flavorful. Overall, an excellent dinner and experience. I'll be back!
(4)
Jay C.
We took some clients to POD and had a fantastic meal. We chose the Chef's tasting menu which afforded 5 of us an amazing spread of sushi, dim sum, fresh fish and meats that more than satisfied the team. Add in a gigantic bottle of Sake and you've got all the makings for a great night. Yes the ambiance is a little 'Tokyo 1998' with plastic and rounded edges coming at you from every angle but it works. Favorite dishes include the Sea Bass, Calamari Salad and Crab Fried Rice.
(4)
Michaelia K.
This is what sushi bars will look like in the future. Okay, not really. But it does have a whole futuristic vibe going on, especially given the name "Pod" (Was that given to it before the iPod? Who knows.) It's all kinds of wonderful/weird as they have a great Asian fusion menu, fabulous drinks (HELLO Wasabi Bloody Mary), and awesome bathrooms (I'm a sucker for quirks) while they try to transform you to the set of The Jetsons. My friend and I visited our other best friend who goes to UPenn, and per his suggestion we went here for my friend's birthday. He lived right on campus, and it seriously is a hop, jump and skip away from his place as it's in the heart of University City. So depending on the night you go, you could end up with a lot of undergrads and their parents... Of the Stephen Starr restaurants in Philly, I was thrilled this is the one we ended up going to! Make sure you make a reservation because it can end up getting packed. And try to resist the urge to robot-speak when ordering.
(4)
Nancy S.
I came for the new late-night happy hour. Starts from 9pm to close. $5 maki's and $6 signature cocktails. My date and I really enjoyed the chicken dumplings and shrimp tempura.
(4)
Ren M.
For Christmas this year, my grandmother bought me the most awesome/ridiculous dress I've ever owned. It's this little black dress covered with shiny reflective rectangles, and I look like a disco ball every time I wear it. I had worn it for New Years, but was searching for an opportunity again. Knowing that, and being a big innovative design enthusiast himself, my boyfriend chose Pod for our anniversary. The place definitely has atmosphere down. The bar stools were the squishiest, most comfortable backless chairs I've ever sat upon. The lighting was neat-o with the led's everywhere. I didn't personally notice any color changing except in the larger group pods, but maybe that was causing too many seizures to the majority of guests and was phased out. Honestly, it felt like I showed up to the party a little late. The restaurant has been open for a while and it didn't have quite the zing I imagine it once had. The bathroom pods were getting a little decrepit, and more like their more commonly used counter parts (port-a-potties). I also didn't like being unable to cross my legs under the table. For that much money I like to have some freedom of mobility. As for the food: Kobe dim sum was obviously tasty, the food runner cooked it for us on a hot stone, which was kind of exciting, wasabi and teriyaki on the side. Are teriyaki, soy sauce, and wasabi the only asian condiments though? I mean, it's fusion, right, any other ideas? Crab fried rice was tasty. Make sure you like onion. I do. Small sushi plate was more than enough for two people. But I mean...it's sushi. I prefer Vic in rittenhouse, for half the price... Macadamia chicken was good. But it was just like any other chinese place's cashew chicken, just with macadamia nuts instead. And dessert was fluffernutter spring rolls. Very clever, Pod. Those were good too. Dark chocolate dipping sauce on the side. To sum up, if you're going to Pod, you're paying for a hyped up atmosphere and excellent service. I love having 6 different people keeping my space clean and ready for more food. And everyone was friendly and good at their job. But the food is definitely not worth the price. It was not bad, but it definitely wasn't great. The food at Pod just lacks the WOW factor. I'd say save your money, and head over to the Barbary if you really want the light show. My dress matched their disco ball perfectly too, and the bottles of Yuengling are a $1.50 cheaper.
(3)
Anthony W.
I didn't really eat anything I was more so hanging out with a couple of buds. They ate and drank, I was actually full from Mad Mex down the street, but... that's how we ended up here to begin with. We came from Mad Mex and were intrigued by Pod sunken in modernist style. If I wasn't full I would've gotten some Pho. I'm curious how good it is though because it costs almost 3 times as much as a regular Viet Pho spot. The decor and vibe were interesting. I don't like the general seating, but the space was varied. There were little party booths, couches, in the wall platform seats, and I think there was even a VIP section at the end. We watched Speed Racer at the rotobar while my buds ate sushi. Overall, it's really a novel sort of place. The service was good, but it wasn't that crowded either.
(3)
Jarrod B.
I've read a couple of bad reviews of Pod and I can't understand why. I went for an early dinner on a Sunday during University City's restaurant week. It wasn't crowded at all, and we were seated soon after we arrived. The decor can be described as retro-futuristic resembling modern design as if imagined by an artist during the 1960s. My date and I were seated by the far back wall at a table that was a little too low; my date complained that she couldn't cross her legs. Other than that, Pod is very open and visually appealing. The bathrooms are exit replicas of those found on airplanes or tour buses, albeit a little larger. Pod's cuisine is the all-too-popular "Asian Fusion" found in most large American cities today and unfortunately it doesn't impress at times. For starters, we had the underwhelming Penn Roll and the very delicious Pork Dumplings. The main courses consisted of the Sea Bass for myself and the Lamb Chops for my date. The Sea Bass was absolutely amazing although the glaze proved to be a bit too sweet towards the end. The Chops were good but didn't impress like the Sea Bass. For dessert, we had this butterscotch crumb cake which was ok. Our drinks were pretty good however, with me having a sake mojito and a japanese stout and my date having a drink with whiskey and fresh raspberries. Pod is definitely a place that has to be tried as it provides a unique atmoshere, interesting drinks and food that's sure to impress novice foodies.
(3)
Heta P.
Steven Starr, I want to like you- I really do. You've monopolized the Philly restaurant scene but your food is mediocre at best. My sister and I dined here the other night. I really don't understand how anyone can appreciate the decor of this restaurant, it aims to be trendy and new age but is incredibly tacky. I felt like I walked into Austin Powers' Philadelphia satellite office. As for the food, meh. I would have expected fresher fish, I could tell my salmon was defrosted minutes before it was cooked and the tuna sushi was warm and squishy. I've had better supermarket sushi. The service also sucked, our waitress spilled my beer and didn't offer to get me a new one or take it off the bill. She was spastic and cleared a plate that wasn't finished.
(2)
Ida C.
I still remember the sell-lunch that launched my post-college career... THE SETTING: POD Restaurant in a futuristic private pod dining area with color changing lights. In retrospect, I wonder if the recruiters spent the lunch lamenting the fact that they'd extended an offer to me, a simpleton glutton fascinated by the color changing controls and capable of consuming vast quantities of food. THE FOOD: In an effort to "sell" us on the jobs, the recruiters ordered a good portion of the menu, but for me, the stand outs were: 1. Lettuce Wraps with Chicken and Beef ($16) - I've always loved lettuce wraps, but these were truly exceptional with a great peanut sauce. There is a nice smoky flavor from wok-searing and the marinade is really yummy! 2. Tempura Rock Shrimp ($15) - With pineapple and candied walnuts, this type of rock shrimp dish is now on a lot of menus, but I believe that POD's version may be the original! In any event the grilled pineapple is still rather unique and delicious 3. Crab Spring Rolls ($16) - Sure these are pricey spring rolls, but if you are on the expense account, this is a good choice! 4. Calamari Salad ($11) - Crispy fried calamari features generously in this salad with mixed greens and a lemongrass dressing 5. Glazed Chilean Sea Bass ($28) - Oh yes, more please! The fish is excellent, but my favorite is the mashed Japanese sweet potatoes. Buttery, sweet, creamy and fluffy, I dare not venture a guess as to the multitude of sinful ingredients hidden within its secret recipe After ending the extravagant lunch with the Chocolate Chocolate Chocolate dessert, it was an easy decision to accept the job! THE DRINKS: I've revisted POD many times through the years. I can fondly recall attempting to drink the rainbow with my partners in crime during the $5 happy hour. My favorites are pink (champagne, pineapple and cranberry) and yellow (passion fruit vodka, yuzu and grapefruit). PARTING THOUGHT: Although many things on the menu are delicious, my all time favorite meal is still the Lettuce Wraps with Chicken and Beef and a side of Japanese Sweet Potatoes (they usually do it for ~$4)
(4)
Heather L.
There's better sushi, and definitely cheaper sushi, but the ambiance (2001 without the crazy computer and creepy StarBaby) and the cocktails (Zen and tonic! Blood orange sidecar!) and the amazing desserts (FLUFFERNUTTER SPRING ROLLS) are worth a special-occasion visit. If you're sitting at the conveyor-belt-sushi-bar, head for the far end; the belt moves clockwise and if you're at the near end it can be an evening of "edamame, edamame, california roll, california roll, edamame... is there any tuna in the house??" Service can get slow on a Saturday night - and if sushi keeps appearing before you it can be easy to lose count of how many plates you've eaten.
(4)
Ashley R.
I have been to Buddakan several times and I'm a bit obsessed, so I was pretty excited when a friend (with a $125 gift card! SCORE!) suggested Pod. Stephen Starr did a fantastic job with the layout. Sadly, we weren't seated in a pod, but we all agreed that we need to come back so we can get the chance to have dinner in one. Since we were going out drinking later, we all decided that sushi would be a bad idea, so we opted to share a few dishes. We ordered martini's and I chose the Blue Martini first, which tasted like tropical fruit. It was ok, not great. Since Pod serves the food as it is done, our Edamame came out first, which was nice, because we could sit and chat and have drinks while still munching on something. The Crab Spring Rolls, Butter Poached Lobster and Grilled Teryaki Salmon were all decent, but I don't think I'd order them again. Especially the lobster. The bok choy and tofu just didn't seem to work well with the lobster. However, the Asian Braised Short Ribs and Wasabi Crusted Filet were TO. DIE. FOR. Absolutely delicious. Loved the Udon noodles with the short ribs and the wasabi mashed potatoes that came with the Filet were delicious. So moral of the food story: stick to the red meat. While we were eating, the manager convinced my friend and I to try the Orange Martini after finishing our first round. It was ok. It was mixed with carrot juice and ginger...but it was a little heavy on the ginger and whatever spices they used. I think it would be a great drink to pair with some sushi, but it was a little tough to drink. To make it up to us, the manager brought over a free round of the Yellow Martini, which ended up being my favorite. I LOVE passionfruit, and the tartness of the drink was great. A friend ordered the green tea gin and tonic, which was seriously refreshing and delicious. We tried the Fluffernutter Spring Rolls and the sorbet, which was a perfect end to the night. We racked up a pretty serious bill by the end of the night, but luckily we had a nice friend to share her gift card with us. Next time, I don't plan on ordering as much, but dammit, I want to sit in a pod! And make sure you check out the bathrooms... they're definitely interesting...I felt like I was in an airplane. Kinda strange, but fun.
(4)
Austine C.
Dear Pod, I like your bathrooms and your crispy chicken seafood spring rolls, and how you were the backdrop for uniting a really good friend of mine together. Alas, I think this is a one night stand. First, let's talk about your sushi. I like my slab of fish cold and my rice warm and compressed. Yours? The fish and rice are both room temp and undecided. You should be ashamed that you have a faux conveyor belt...Japan would say, "No sake fo' you!" Secondly, your house salad is much too vinegar and no sesame seed oil. Don't you know that this is an essential ingredient for a typical salad? You really pay for the Starr decor and experience. Personally, I found it tawdry and a bit gimmicky. If you are in the mood for sushi, you may just want to find another escape pod.
(3)
Mia R.
HMMMMMM.... it was OK! yes, cool decor. yes, half decent waiter & other team members. yes, a bit too costly for a few items! peace & conservation
(3)
Mackenzie B.
Ate here for my birthday last New Year's Eve. Loved the atmosphere and design! (I'm an "art" person.) The food was great and the sushi was some of the best I've ever had, although the portions on the "surf & turf" meals were rather humble. I, myself, ordered a type of salad, can't really remember since it was so long ago, but it was delicious! When we got there we had to wait for 2 people in our party before they would actually seat us, so we didn't get to sit in one of the cool "pods" because another group arrived after us, but all their members were there - so they got the pod. (Grrrrr.) We had fun anyway sitting around having drinks, exploring the way cool airplane like bathrooms, and watching the funky Japanese cartoons they were playing. I would say it's definately an event to go here. The only sucky part - on street parking has meters no matter what time of day...
(4)
Liz Y.
I've been to Pod two times and each time it's been great! The first time was for lunch. We started with the yellow martinis and I had the kobe beef burger cooked medium which was really good! The all you can eat sushi was also phenomenal. I LOVE IT HERE! Also, if you're lucky, you may have the pleasure of meeting Mr. Yaeger :)
(5)
Martina M.
Pod has gone downhill. My lack of tolerance for incompetence was in full gear tonight. My children saved their allowances and bought me a gift cert to Pod to take me there for my birthday celebration. We booked a reservation and requested a Pod. After driving for 1.5 hours to get there, Not only did they not accommodate our pod request at 5pm, but they sat us in their empty restaurant with a view of the kitchen and dirty dish station! I was appauled, especially since our meal was well over $400. They eventually moved us after my several attempts to complain. the food was less than adaquate. Crab wontons were missing an ingredient. The waitress forgot about our rock shrimp tempura, and the rotari was overrated. Pod was a disaster!
(1)
Lillian C.
The food is overpriced and mediocre.
(2)
Ripp K.
My favorite sushi place in the city. I know other spots are more famous but in terms of price vs. quality this place is the poop. Creative food, excellent quality and just an all around great experience. I have had my birthday here twice with a huge group and a few times on a Monday or Tuesday my g/f and I have gone over and just sat at the sushi bar and pigged out.
(4)
Colleen L.
This has been the celebratory restaurant for my fiance and myself for a while. He would like me to say that it's his favorite restaurant. Pod isn't my favorite, but I've always had a fabulous dinner. My personal favorite dish is the wasabi-crusted filet mignon. I've never had sushi there that was not fresh, and we are sushi snobs. There are better places in the city if all you want is sushi, but you will not be let down by their selection or quality. Yes, the decor is modern (I like it). Yes, it's a Steven Star restaurant. Yes, it's slightly overpriced. All that aside, Pod is worth at least one visit.
(4)
Ben F.
wow, this place was awesome.... Decor, Staff, food A++++ Sit at the bar, they are amazing!
(5)
Miranda S.
Excellent on a cold night hanging out at the bar having a cocktail with friends. I have debates with local friends that are native and non-native about this place. I think this place gets a bad rap at times because of it's Steven Star affiliation, it's UPenn location and the restaurant's futuristic-euro-asian moderna aesthetic. With those factors it's safe to say that some will hate this place and others will love it. I say go for the fun of the experience and know that you will be paying for it. It's a treat to use the bathrooms that light up accordingly or if you get a pod, playing with the lighting. Sushi is at an excellent level for Philly, but I did find Morimoto's to be slightly better in Old City. I did have an advantage here knowing two friends that were waiters here. The inside scoop at the time in 2006 was most of the staff were great people and that the boss/ manager was a hard person to work for. Naturally the staff has a mix of veterans and rookies. I would say overall the service is good. The location is also easy to get to by foot and trolley.
(4)
Statia M.
You know, when Pod first opened, it was actually good. I'm not exactly sure what happened. Maybe I've changed. Maybe living in CA made me more of a food snob. Especially when it comes to sushi. That said, I can't even tell you how disappointed I am at how much this restaurant has gone down hill. I think this place needs a complete revamp, including the menu. What used to be cute and trendy back in the day, is just now downright annoying. The drinks named after colors? I'm over it. I don't think the menu has changed one bit since it opened. We sat at the sushi bar, because it was pretty crowded and I didn't figure we would have a chance at getting a table. The sushi on the belt was very vanilla. Typical most ordered sushi and it was very bland, and stale. No pow at all. My husband and I ordered appetizers as our meals, because we figured we'd grab a few things off the belt. My "dinner" of crab spring rolls, took about 45 minutes. For spring rolls. When asking our server what the hold up was, she just kind of shrugged and said "that's weird, I mean, it was ordered" and then went on her merry way, as if to subliminally tell me that it wasn't her problem anymore. I get that it's a hopping place and that we're one of the chosen few who is lucky to grace us with your presence by working here, but get over yourself and fetch my dinner. I felt like that surreal scene in Garden State where Zach Braff arrives at his job. Bottom line: Pod is a total has been restaurant. And if you need any more proof of that, just check out the woman next to you, who is probably drinking her colored martini out of a straw.
(2)
T H.
This may be a typical "fusion" asian restaurant in a bad way. It does not do any one thing that well. Many of the fusion items seem to have their original flavors water down. The service is good and it is good for a group IF you can get one of the "pods" (otherwise, pretty noisy).
(3)
peter s.
Been here three or four times on Penn's dime. Consistently underwhelming, hype over quality. Lunch the other day was ramen soup, which was not as good as what you get out of a 59 cent bag -- inedibly salty, with dumplings that had clearly gone straight from the freezer to the microwave. I'm with the school that thinks Stephen Starr is net drag on the Philadelphia food scene, occupying the high end with a loud soundtrack rather than good food.
(1)
Phil S.
Chilean sea bass... and sushi. Yum!!
(5)
Barkha G.
I have been living in University City for a year and half now and have meant to try POD for a while. I mean, we go to Center City at least twice a week, and hadn't tried the closest STARR restaurant to us. That said, happy we didn't make the rush. This restaurant is one of the most over-rated places I have tried in Philadelphia. I tried the Udon Noodle Soup...except...well its not a soup. Maybe they should change the name on the menu then ...hint hint. The noodles come plated and are very flavorful along with the savory mushrooms and tofu. I tried the White Peach-Mint soda which was very refreshing for a lunch spritzer. But nothing extraordinary. My friend had wanted to get her sushi wrapped in cucumber and the waitress originally said it was no problem, and then came back later to tell us it would be $8 more per roll. She was very apologetic, but for a place that is already overpriced, we found this a bit ridiculous that they couldn't accommodate such a request. We didn't care much for the ambiance either except that it is well "unique". For spending $$$, would expect better service and even better food.
(2)
Mark M.
The restaurant was really cool. I was sad that we only went for lunch, as the place probably really lights up at night. The place is stark white, with awesome colored lights all over the place. The sushi conveyor belt was pretty cool too. All the furniture is futuristic and plastic. I mean do I even need to say any more? I'd go there if it had HALF the stuff I explained! Also, the food is pretty good and you get a lot for what you pay for. Anyone who says its expensive must eat at McDonalds regularly. I'd definitely go back, but later on at night for the full experience.
(5)
Chihee K.
Ok, I'm giving Pod a higher rating now after having gone here for a fun celebration (accidentally) with friends for my birthday of all days. The orange martinis are good. Stick to those.
(2)
J. L.
We had a surprisingly bad experience at Pod in September so when we were asked to provide a review we were very honest. We immediately received an email from the manager at Pod, asking that we return so that they could make it right. We did return last Friday and had a terrific time. The food continues to impress, espeicially the new robota menu, and the service was great (thank you Bill). Great save Pod--the way a restaurant recovers from a bad experience speaks volumes and Pod impressed us all around.
(5)
Anh C.
Even though it is a Steven Starr restaurant, I cannot give it five stars. First, let's start with the environment which I absolutely adore. Very futuristic concept and my favorite part will have to be when I am accommodated in the "pods". Here guests are seated around a round white table in what is literally a pod. You are enabled with a pad in which you can control the lighting to change from colors all over the spectrum. Very fun. But down to the nitty gritty, I enjoyed meals at Pod several times already but it doesn't stand out to me as something I would miss if my friends were to stop choosing this venue for their birthday dinners. It is true to their genre of Asian fusion and if you are someone who likes to try everything at least once in your life or for a nice celebratory place, I'd say go right ahead and do so. If you're looking for a staple in your lists of restaurants and venues, I would just skip onto the next.
(4)
Kimberly P.
Pod is an enjoyable experience if only for the atmosphere. The space age dcor is both weird and a delight at the same time. If you have a group, definitely request a pod. These white orbs with changing lights are so entertaining you might forget that you were there for the food! The bathrooms follow the same theme and are just plain old cool. As to the food, the dessert and cocktails are great. The chocolate trio dessert is delish. I think that the food is nothing special, definitely overpriced and not attention grabbing. The only thing that I had that was attention grabbing was the vegetable tempura and that was because the batter that the veggies were fried in was completely and absolutely devoid of flavor. No spices at all. It was quite a weird experience. I would still recommend the Pod though because I am a huge fan of fun atmospheres. Grab a couple of friends, reserve a Pod and have a dessert night!
(4)
j w.
Took 19 year old daughter for birthday and were delighted with service and food. We had entrees, filet mignon with wasabi mashed potatoes and lamp chops. She had tuna sushi. Apps had spring rolls and sides mushrooms and crab fried rice. The entrees were great, fried rice perfect and sushi and spring rolls piping hot and fantastic. Waitress was right amount of attentive. Room reminds me me of movie Sleeper by Woody Allen. Prices a little high but par for a Starr restaurant. We will definitely be back.
(5)
johnny b.
Trendy but food was lacking. Two stars always means I'd only go back if someone else is paying or forced. Average at best. Good for people in suburbs that don't get out much. Go to Raw for better food.
(2)
Mr B.
Wow. I came here from Princeton, with high expectations. A sushi conveyor, Asian food, and pods? Wow, my expectations were high. I came here with my family, with the same expectations. I ordered pork dumplings with the regular sashimi. Great dumplings, lots of fresh sushi. Great food. I would come back for it any time, but the decor is literally out-of-this-world level awesome. We entered a pod, and I found out immediately that the colors were changeable. Throughout the course of our hour long meal, the color must have changed about...80, maybe 100 times. Techno music pumped through Pod's powerful subwoofers, and Astros Boy animes were showing. The seats were surprisingly comfortable. The bathrooms were weird and cool at the same time, but a little dirty. There was this weird rooms with phones and anime, must have been a phoning room. Service was slow, but friendly. I would so return. $200 + bill, though.
(5)
Annie P.
Calamari Salad is great as well as the signature rolls. This place has such a great atmosphere. Martini's are also on point.
(4)
Autumn B.
Not my favorite place for Sushi but the atmosphere is funky. Try to avoid them during Restaurant Week or if they have some kind of event going on because the staff and chefs are prone to meltdowns when it gets crazy.
(3)
Yu Ting Y.
expensive, overrated food.
(2)
Russ C.
I was a past my prime actor who was attempting to squeeze whatever was left out of my sponge of a career by committing to commercials in Tokyo. I am trapped in a mediocre stateside marriage and I was feeling lost, both in life and in Tokyo's culture. She was a newlywed who was questioning her decision, and her place in this world. By exploring Japan, she found herself falling deeper into a state of confusion. Together we rediscovered what is essential and what it is we are to get out of this life. We explored Tokyo's night life as she showed me that that there is still joy to be found. Engaging in deep conversations I unknowingly helped guide her towards self-actualization. We reconnected once we returned home. I had not seen her in months and was anxious to see how she was now faring. We met at Pod, where we could rekindle our Japanese experience both visually and emotionally. We sat on spongy seats which glowed neon upon contact and drank martinis that matched the light beneath us. It was painfully obvious that we are now both in different places. She has found her path to follow and I have learned to look back fondly upon my journey. She no longer needs my guidance and I no longer need her spontaneity. We'll always have Pod.
(4)
Erin R.
Drinks are really delicious. Everything else is just average, but incredibly over-priced!!! The atmosphere is cool, but not worth the price of the food. I'd recommend going here only for cocktails.
(3)
Rachel B.
Again with the pod reservation. They called the day before to confirm my reservation but did not tell me the pod wasnt guaranteed or that there is a fee if I want to guarantee it. Just tell your customers all of the information and we won't be so mad! On the bright side I love the food and drinks!
(3)
Jessica C.
I went to Pod tonight during the snowstorm with my roommate. I live real close to this place... so I've been here a few times already and haven't had a bad experience, but I'll only write about my experience from tonight's visit. Tonight I had a tuna-cucumber maki, which was really good. The tuna had so much flavor to it! I was a happy camper. My roommate got the shrimp tempura roll and she said it was pretty good. We also got chicken lettuce wraps and seafood fried rice, both delicious and light so it was perfect next to the maki. The peanut sauce that came with the lettuce wraps was sweet and perfect on top of the chicken. The seafood fried rice had chunks of lobster and scallops in it and I could not stop eating it. It was a large size too, between the two of us we only got through half of it, so of course we got it wrapped up to take home! Our waiter was nice and really helpful with the menu. I think he was wearing like a shimmer lip gloss. And of course, the atmosphere is cool, we sat at a 2 person table that is up against the wall on the side of the restaurant. I have never sat in the pods but I feel like they would give me a headache. The price wasn't bad, because we didn't get one of the main dishes. It came to like 25 for each of us. Not too shabby!
(4)
Jacquelin K.
Pod, you get 3 stars because no matter how loaded any given rich person might be, your food is absurdly priced. I like to eat here with my ex so that I can rob him through Starr. Just kidding.... The rock shrimp is a favorite among my pals, and I'm a sucker for the sea bass. Pod looks cool from the outside, but let's face it--most of the seating inside won't blow your mind. Nothing special about the main seating area. I wouldn't come to Pod on a Saturday night; you won't be able to hear the people you're sitting with. It gets incredibly loud. I found myself at Pod constantly during my last semester at Penn, & those were some damn yummy meals. But I wouldn't make the trip to UCity to eat here now that I live downtown. If you're not sure about spending the dough here, save yourself some cash and do a test run at lunch. If you fall in love, make that dinner reservation!
(3)
Daniel D.
While a bit pricey, Pod is a great restaurant to take someone from out of town to. It's all about experience here. The atmosphere, design by Karim Rashid, is fun and funky. The service generally is great, and the food isn't bad. The cocktails are totally vibrant and funky, and there sushi bar rocks!
(4)
Don M.
Weird place, good for novelty at best. Pod is "high design," but it's amazing how quickly the Wallpaper look has dated, but that's all you are paying for. Food is divided into two principle types: half-decent deep fried chinese (think updated general tso's) and subpar sushi. The price is ludicrous for a university area meal. I guess students have more cash on their hands than I did or perhaps just don't understand their loans, but seriously... I spent $40 for some awful sushi and some sake. I felt lousy about doing it. Lots of money, nothing to show for it. Would've eaten better at Au Bon Pain, no question.
(1)
Lindsay F.
I'm not sure why Pod is getting such so-so reviews--I really enjoy this place. Yes, the drinks are pretty overpriced ($12 for a guava margarita that is small is pretty absurd) and to be honest, I was not that impressed with the sushi I had. However, this place more than made up for it with its ambiance and food. I usually start out with the vegetable tempura or Thai lettuce wraps (the peanut dipping sauce is fabulous) and from there I get the filet mignon. I absolutely love the filet at Pod--it simply melts in my mouth and the truffled teriyake sauce is delicious. I'm usually too stuffed by dessert time, but when I can manage it, I usually opt for the creme brulee trio or the fluffernutter spring rolls. This place has a great vibe to it and the service is usually spot on. People need to give this place a chance--I think it delivers in terms of food, service and environment.
(4)
bernie v.
If you're looking for a "fun" place to go - POD should be a definite consideration. Funky decor, very friendly waitstaff, electronica music playing in the background - unfortunately the food is just ok. We had the kobe beef appetizer, the crab spring rolls, shrimp pad thai, and the rainbow roll. All were decent except for the rainbow roll - which I thought was kinda subpar. Maybe we'll go back to give it another chance later down the road, but if we're in the mood for a great dinner, we won't be coming here.
(3)
D J.
Pimp. Went there when it first openedin early 2000's. Was in the Diesel Boy video shoot for MTV
(4)
Alex C.
steve starr...hype asian fusion...hype real world philly hang out...hype It's a lot of hype, and the last one should probably have given it away. Of all the Steven Starr restaurants in Philly, I must say this one, in terms of food, is the most average and mundane. It's your typical wasabi mashed potatoes, westernized potstickers, and assorted fish steaks asian fusion restaurant. After that, Pod also offers a sushi bar and your typical Thai and Chinese stir-fry dishes. The portions are large and are done decently well, but I just expect more from a restaurant of this supposed caliber--more creativity, more daring entrees. Food-wise, it's just nothing terribly special for the price. During the multiple times that I've had recruiting dinners here or come here with friends to celebrate an occasion, I just haven't felt any change in the menu...maybe, a couple of specials...but besides that...it's been the same things repeated over and over again. The only thing that saves Pod from being relegated to the 2-star level is the fact that it has a cool bar and some fun cocktails. It's definitely a nice place to hang around and get a drink, and I prefer it much more as a pre or post-dinner cocktail lounge because I'd much rather go somewhere else for food. If you're in the mood for Steven Starr, Asian fusion, and cool atmosphere, go to Buddakan...it just feels more suave and I think the food tastes better there. Additionally, I hate the blue uniforms that they make the Pod staff wear.
(3)
Chris Y.
Hip atmosphere and a bit reminiscent of Stars Wars IV's watering hole (you know the one where Luke enters that bar with the big lip alien chick singing and then he severs some poor space rat's hand off). However a feeling of uneasiness shrouded my soul when the bill came, good thing my girl paid!
(4)
Matthew D.
Awesome environment! Great food - lots of 'raw' dishes... Must see if your in University City!
(4)
Richard T.
The food here is so-so with the sushi being the best thing here. The decor is great - what else would you expect from a Steven Starr restaurant. My recent trip here for someones birthday was the worst thing ever. We made a reservation in advance and when we got here the hostess mentioned that are table was ready. We were okay with that, but as the time past (40 minutes) we still weren't seated. As a result we decided to leave since apparently reservations doesn't count. One thing that was interesting as soon as we left the hostess said "fine if that's you're prerogative." I thought that was rude I will definitely not go there anymore.
(2)
Tiffany J.
because I love budakhan, this place barely measured up! The only thing exceptional was the Lobster sushi, everything else was just ok! This is like Budakhan's evil stepsister, I just don't think it has the same love! Now the decor is nice, very fancy and "futuristic" as one post said. But the bathroom...UGH! I could've died! I thought I was in an airplane bathroom with no windows or ventilation! I almost threw up in there! The one upside was that our waiter was the most gorgeous man alive! he made the night enjoyable! We went and tried 3 apps, 2 dinners, 2 desserts and 4 drinks, the drinks were good, the sushi: great, everything else, just average! this is my least favorite Steven Starr establishment!
(2)
Aire G.
this place is so unassuming from outside. if i hadn't been with someone who knew where they were going i would have walked right past it. It took me a moment to notice the little pods playing anime on the outside of the building and i was already excited. i walked into the building and as soon as i crossed the threshold i felt like i was in a completely different space. this place is awesome. it's colors are amazing, i love the decor. Although i didn't get pod experience this time because we didn't have enough people i still got to taste some colors. Red is definitely one of my favorites. the food was out of this world. the spring roll appetizers were amazing, the sushi was worth the price and the desert was out of this world. i have to go back just for the pod experience. hell i would go with 4 strangers to have it again~! a restaurant everyone needs to try before they die. maybe i'm just partial to any high class restaurant that shows anime
(5)
Summer A.
Hungry for sushi? Grab two or three of your friends and head over to Pod, an Asian "fusion" restaurant in the heart of the city. You'll feel like you're stepping into the pages of a magazine, given the modern feel of the...well, pod, that you're experiencing. I've only been there for lunch -- but I recommend the chicken lettuce wraps and a house salad (big enough for two to share) for starters! Just don't look to get too full from the fare. I definitely was ready to snack by the time I got back to my office. :-b
(4)
Shon C.
came to pod while visiting philly, mostly because it was right next door to our hotel. this place looks like a space-ship, so that's a plus. food was excellent, although a bit overpriced. really enjoyed the potsickers w/ mustard aioli, as well as the spicy tuna rolls topped with rock shrimp. the real reason to come here is really for the ambience - worth a visit at least once.
(3)
L S.
The martini's were good but not strong I had 2 and I still didin't have a buzz and I'm a "lightweight". I ordered the Chicken entree with carrots and snap peas it was very good. I would definitely go back!
(4)
Marc M.
Disney Land Asian food for adults? If there were such a thing, Pod would be leading the way. Aside from trying to be too cool, the food is just mediocre. Now, I'm just as happy as the next man to eat mediocre food if it's at a mediocre price. So you see my dilemma - Pod's pricing is anything but mediocre. I have also received less than mediocre service and that's just down right annoying when the kitchen staff can at least aim for mediocre. Over rated and over stated - that's Pod.
(2)
Oski B.
I've come here a few times for work lunches. It's decent food, the staff is reasonably attentive, and the food comes out pretty quickly. If you go during the academic year, this place is crawling with undergrads charging another meal to their parents and Wharton kids spending they $100K+ in b-school loans that they've already taken out as they live in denial about the job market.
(3)
stephanie x.
You can find better food elsewhere. The portions are very small. There were 4 of us and we split one of their plates of maki and nigiri, tempura combination, kobe beef appetizer, duck duck udon, and shumai (pork dumplings). We still all left a little hungry. It's a place to go just to experience the different flavors, but I recommend pre-eating. The fish on the nigiri was very nice and fatty and tasted like it just melted in your mouth. The maki however was unimpressive, tasted like something you can get for $6 from the local grocer. The tempura combination was pretty good and had a mix of shrimp, carrots, string beans, and potatoes. The kobe beef appetizer was not worth the price tag by any means. It's about 3 bites of thinly sliced beef, lacking any special flavor or texture. The guy who cooked it for us had a lot of difficulty using chopsticks. I was worried he was going to drop the beef when moving it from the rock to the serving plate, though he was very nice. They claim it's a popular dish, probably because they cook it for you tableside on a rock. The duck duck udon was decent. The duck meat and dumplings in the soup was a good flavor and tenderness. The shumai was terrible, loaded with salt. Any Chinatown restaurant can cook up a better shumai. The atmosphere has a futuristic space ship look to it. It's a comfortable place to eat. However, for a trendy and overpriced restaurant, the restrooms at this place do not match its dining room. Instead of having his and her bathrooms, they have these tiny rooms, about the size of a regular stall. While trying to stay with the futuristic theme, it only looks like a lavatory you find on an airplane - same size, look, and cramped feel, not to mention, dirty. Service is okay. They tend to "hover" since after all, you are paying for the service but consequently your conversation gets interrupted quite a bit. Our food plus sake for 2, and 1 cocktail, not including tip came out to $130. Ehh all around.
(2)
kay k.
Loved Pod, It was my first time there. The place was packed as usual. Make a reservation, if you're going with a large party. Great for after hours or lunch with a friend, which I did that day. I ate at the Sushi bar, which has sushi rotating on a conveyor belt on the table that you can grab and sample, prices vary for each sample by the plate color from I think $2-$6, the chart is on the tables. Very Very good. I think I'll go back just for the sushi bar and drinks. I had the macadamian nut chicken, it wasn't my favorite but it was one of their more popular dishes. I preferred the chicken and shrimp egg roll appetizer in wasabi mustard, my mouth waters just thinking about how good that was mmmmmmm. So yes Pod I'll be back and excellent excellent waitress service the bartenders could be more attentive, but i understand it was very very busy in there. Kudos to them as well.
(5)
Alex M.
Pod is the hot, stuck up girl with nothing really interesting to say. now, there's something to be said for this kind of girl. i visit frequently (the restaurant not the girl), usually with guests from out of town. its atmosphere is fun, especially if you get a pod where you can annoy the crap out of your fellow diners by changing the lighting in your pod to green or purple. look for the color that will make your food look like toxic waste. seriously though, the food is average and VERY expensive but its worth a visit.
(3)
Meg B.
Had 3 great experiences at Pod. The service was great all three times I was there. I love the decor, very chic and modern yet very jetson like! Gotta love the convyer belt sushi bar and the fun pods. The bathrooms are modeled after an airplane bathroom ( yeah, it's interesting, not that appealing to me though!). What I can rave about: Lobster roll- Fabulous but I suggest getting one order and splitting it with a few people, may just be me but I find that if I have one or two rolls, I'm in heaven but having anymore is pushing it-they're very filling Lettuce wraps-even if you're not a fan of using the lettuce, get it for the beef and chicken stir fry alone! Sooo freakin good Crab spring rolls -also yummy and the sweet chili dipping sauce is a great compliment- these springrolls are very creamy and don't have much sprout and lettuce that you usually find in a spring roll- they remind me of the crab wontons that have disapeared from the continential menu ( tear tear) Pad Tai- I am an avid fan of pad tai and this is no disapointment! My only neg point is that they don't open until 5 on Saturdays so you can do lunch there.
(4)
steven c.
Had dinner there February this year and I have to say it was great. Before I compliment this place, First let me list the bad things because there's only a few. First the price, while the food is great the price was a bit costly, around 30-40 for an entree and 20ish for an appetizer. The second is the amount of space, it seems a bit cramped because on the dining floor there are 2 columns that go down to the end fo the restaurant and maybe about a foot or 2 between each table which seats 2. Other than that I loved the place, the ambiance is nice the dim lighting really sets the mood. Their special drinks are great as well! Me and my girlfriend got non alcoholic mixed drinks and they were delicious, possibly our favorite part of the night haha. Over all the food while not amazing is quite tasty and well worth a try if you're every in a spending mood. I highly recommend the place
(3)
Albert C.
Basically they've got some decent decoration and you're paying completely for the atmosphere on everything you order. The food is terribly overpriced, which is amusing considering it's in the University district. Japanese fusion - inconsistently good, also with regard to service time it's great for lunch and early dinner or later in the evening, but terrible at dinner. I say it's decent for lunch because the pricing obviously comes down and is slightly better for an expensive lunch. Also I think because of volume of business the food is better during that time.
(2)
Dustin M.
Will agree with the mixed reviews below. The food is OK, atmosphere is unique, but hit 40 and you could care less, though the sake mojito was great... for $10 unfortunately. Neat place to try, but I wouldn't go back.
(2)
Jen L.
We brought our friend here for dinner for her birthday and I wished that we had taken her elsewhere. The food was not impressive, and the decor was just as disappointing. Although it is one of the Stephen Starr restaurants, it seems as though not much thought or effort was put into creating it. I wished we had gone to Jones instead to have brunch for dinner because I wouldn't have been left with an unsatisfied appetite.
(1)
Michelle E.
I love Pod. So, when I first heard about the "All you can eat" special, I made a reservation that day. In fact, my parents, and a few friends made reservations right away,too. When the day finally arrived for our all you an eat experience (I read a few negative reviews on here in the days prior to my reservation, but got a great report from friends who attended the night before) the restaurant was bustling with a great crowd. It felt more like a weekend night out than a Thursday. My friends and I were celebrating my new job- so the $5 Pink martini's were an added bonus to the all you can eat special. Management and our waiter were great, too. They sent edamame and shu mi to the table!! They explained the rules to us, and after much discussion at the table, only 2 of us ordered the special. I was amazed at the amount of sushi that my friends ate, and how quickly it came out-considering how crowded the restaurant was. I had my standard pod Caesar, which is my favorite salad in the city, and my other friend had the short rib dim sum- which was fabulous. Ive had a similar dish at continental- but the one a pod blows the Continental one away- its on par with the short rib at buddakan (my 2nd favorite Starr restaurant). The meal ended with what our table touted as the highlight of the meal- fluffernutter spring rolls and sesame cheesecake- UNBELIEVABLE! All in all, great job, Pod. You are trying something new, competing with restaurant week, and we had a great time, and a great meal. Cant wait to go back!
(5)
T L.
The ambiance of this place was cooool! We ordered U Love Salmon & tuna tartare as appetizers, and both were delicious! For entrees, we got pork tenderloin & kobe steak - FREAKIN' DELICIOUS! The kobe steak was perfect with so much flavor! We're still craving it, haha! For drinks, we got the pink & green martinis. All this came out to be $110 pre-tip, and it wasn't too bad. The portion might not be as big compared to the price, but the taste makes up for it. We will DEFINITELY be back for more kobe steak!!
(5)
Ryan C.
POD is all about the atmosphere. You'll feel like you're in that Janet/Michael Jackson Video "Scream." I've never sat in the 'POD"'s with their changeable colored lighting, they always put me in the back with the not-so-hip people. I feel this place is a bit touristy as well. Anyway, the drinks are unique. The food is fine. A bit pricey though.
(3)
caitlin p.
My brother said this was the freshest, best fish he had had outside of Tokyo. Plus the interior looks like the rec dec of the original starship Enterprise. The happy hour colored drinks are amazing- I challenge anyone to "drink the rainbow"! You can get 6 yellowfin tuna sushi for 6 bucks, so its a great snack with drinks. I just wish they had better beer- not the same old shitty Asahi. The $7 salads were huge! and get the dressing on the side, it was swimming in it.
(4)
Myra B.
We ordered sushi seatle(not recommended-overprice too) & spicy tuna roll was ok. House salad, sweet & sour chicken were above average however the crab fried rice was excellent. Overall the restaurant was nice but a bit overpriced.
(3)
Justin K.
Are you looking for delicious Japanese/Pan Asian fusion food and Sushi in a semi futuristic eating venue? Then POD is the place for you! Featuring a neat-o dining area with funky coloring, little rooms (Pod's) you can be seated in, or the main dining area (the centerpiece of which is the Sushi Conveyor Belt) POD is HIP. Theres a tv screen above the conveyor belt that shows movies and old timey cartoons, not to mention the tasty and strangely named Cocktails (Yellow, Blue, Green, Orange, etc etc is the naming scheme...plus they have one called Samurai Jack!) But if your also looking some pretty decent food to go with your hipness, then you can't go that wrong here. The Sushi is pretty decent if nothing spectacular, but you do get to pull it off a moving conveyor belt, which adds to the fun if you sit at the Sushi Bar. All the other food I've had here has been fairly delicious as well, with the Duck 2 Ways a definite highlight (the pan seared Duck Breast portion was especially juicy). But then again I'm a sucker for Duck (a Ducker?). But if you eat only one thing here ever for the rest of your life, make sure its the Fluffernutter Spring Rolls. These delectable little slices of heaven are so delicious you might permanently lose your sight. Gooey Marshmallow, Sweet Chocolate, and A salty sweet Peanut Butter dipping Sauce meld together into a messy yet amazing combination that will make you think that Spring Rolls were meant to be a dessert. Pod is pretty good, don't let people scare you away with comments about things like "expensive food", or "hot waitresses".
(4)
Sari G.
My ABSOLUTE favorite!!! If I had to choose a last meal it would be here. I have been eating here for years and years and it is always consistent. I feel it is way more laid back than most Steven Starr restaurants maybe because of it's location of Penn's campus. The futuristic decor, light up seats, sushi conveyor belt, subtle but funky music, and of course light up your own "pods" are just too fun! I usually get the spicy tempura rock shrimp with candied walnuts and pineapple, the crab spring rolls, and I ask for a side of wasabi mash. For vegetarians, the Pad Thai is also yummy as well. The wasabi crusted filet which used to be a favorite of mine for a brief moment when I ate meat was awesome and I found it better here than at Buddahkan. We usually get a sushi roll that is on special for the night although all of their rolls are yummy and they even have some unique to Philly like a Penn roll. I drink either a "pink" or a "yellow" as the martinis are named for a color depending on ingredients. There's always Sapporo or good old sake. It's not totally over priced and really the $12 martinis are what adds up so if you're worried about price, go and just split meals even appetizers like we do because it's really enough food and we often have left overs. It's great for groups but remember to ask for a Pod as they reserve them for large parties! I also find it romantic as well; I always have a special night out here with the hubby. A Philly must eat!
(5)
Kathy W.
Let me just say that this place has grown on me. I used to get conned into ordering off of their limited main menu, but now I know the trick. This place is only worth it if you go for sushi! They have a convertible sushi bar, which is so much fun to eat off of. I usually just get 6 pieces of sushi and a seafood fried rice on the side. It adds up to around $50 and that's including tip. Still a splurge for me, but it's worth being a nice treat every once in a while.
(3)
Jenny K.
I was in Philly for a night for a conference and my hotel was adjacent to Pod. It was my first experience dining alone. I sat at the bar which was equipped with a conveyor belt with passing dishes of sushi. I didn't dare grab a plate off the belt being the skeptic that I am. Plus, the plates didn't look very appetizing ~ just ordinary salmon/tuna sushi and philadelphia rolls. I ordered the lobster roll and it was just average although it was presented very nicely. I felt as if I was in an episode of the Jetsons and the food was just eh, but I had a great waiter who brought me a complimentary dessert because I was there alone. Hey, if dining alone means free food, I'm dining alone more often! It's a fun place to try out at least once.
(2)
Chris T.
miso black cod
(4)
Lindsey R.
I have been dieing to check out pod. So last week I had the chance. Atmosphere is amazing however dishes seemed over priced. Food was ok. The Salmon was a must try. However small portions and high prices left me a little disappointed. I'm guessing you pay mostly for the atmosphere.
(3)
Pong C.
Went back for the first time since my undergrad days. Just had drinks for happy hour. Good for the memories, nothing else. I remember the food being all style and no substance, at least you can't really mess up alcohol.
(3)
jen m.
from the moment i walked into this place, i knew i was going to fall in love stephen starr, the man behind some 10+ restaurants in the philly area including the lovely pod. i wholeheartedly admit that the food i had there was pretty standard fare and therefore overpriced for what it was, but who can beat the ambiance and decor? this is the reason for the high rating. pod is like this wacked out futuristic looking restaurant complete with unisex bathrooms where each stall looks like an airplane bathroom, but with a bit more room. the staircase looks like an escalator that doesn't move. the lighting is all over the place btwn the various colors you can choose if you are sitting a pod and the other colors going on in the restaurant itself. the specialty drinks themselves are named by color, each with their own slightly exotic ingredients/mix. i am not a native to philly and therefore i am was the prime candidate for this place. it's fun and pricey and not a place to go to over and over. but as a tourist being shown around the area and being taken to a plethora of awesome restaurants (mostly from mr. starr himself), this is definitely a good spot to check out.
(4)
Kingsley S.
All you can eat Sushi is a great deal and lots of fun. Both food and service were excellent. The selection and flexibility of the all you can eat sushi made it easy and fun. The cost - $25 was reasonable and fair. The Tuna, Salmon, Yellowtail, Shrimp and Eel were all excellent. Also had crab fried rice and pork dumplings. Both exceeded expectation.
(4)
Gilad D.
Right as you enter the door you start to smile. The decor is beautiful and unique, the staff are extra friendly and when the food comes, it only gets better. Soups, salads, wraps and sushi - all presented nicely and great taste. If you have some time for lunch around campus - this is the place to go!
(4)
Jason Z.
Not bad for a sushi fix, but definitely not Japanese (not even close)--more asian-fusion. Cool decor (kind of like Morimoto-lite)--but that's all gimmick as far as I'm concerned. If you want a quick, reasonably-priced maki-hit, then head for the conveyor-belt sushi bar (note to earlybirds: the good stuff doesn't start coming around until 7 or 8pm). If you're looking for overpriced (but decent) asian-fusion dining, then get a table. Seems to attract a crowd that thinks it's trendier than it probably is. I suppose it's still the hippest place within walking distance of a Penn dorm room. For real sushi though, head to one of the Japanese restaurants in Center City. And for a truly memorable Japanese Stephen Starr experience, I'd say to go instead to Morimoto (home of the Iron Chef), where the food is amazing, and not all that much more expensive (depending on what you get).
(3)
Laurel M.
I ate here several months ago (my life, pre-Yelp), and I normally wouldn't review something not totally fresh in my memory, but I have to add my 2 cents in because I feel like after reading others' reviews I must have been to a Pod in an alternate universe. The food. I barely remember it. And thats a real bad thing for a place like Pod. I can remember dishes from restaurants I've eaten at well over a year or more ago. But Pod's food to me was almost completely unmemorable. What I do remember is simply not being happy with my food in general. If I'm paying a higher than average price for my food, you better believe I want an at least somewhat positive semi-memorable meal! What I do very clearly remember was the HORRENDOUS, TERRIBLE, SLOW, and UNFRIENDLY service. Yeah the food was pricier than average, but as far as trendy and/or Starr restaurants go in Philadelphia, you could easily spend much more money at many other restaurants, and on top of that, your money would be much better spent! The decor was funky, I'll give it that. Very cool. I remember while being here constantly having the overwhelming feeling of just wanting to jump out of my seat and run as far away as possible. I did not enjoy my experience very much at all. I could not get out of there fast enough. I was going to give it 3 stars because the food isn't 100% fresh in my memory, but I just can't let myself do that. Overall, I didn't think it was 3 stars good in any way! It would take alot of cajoling to get me to ever return!
(2)
Rupam C.
I had a proper meal at Pod many years ago. Since then, upon the recommendation of my friend I've gone here for dessert - Aka the Fondue platter. I've gone back for the Fondue Platter 3 times since my original trip, and its always yummy. Great if you want to take a date for dessert, or in my case a girls night out capped off with chocolate and all things sweet. The platter comes with three dipping sauces, chocolate, caramel, and berry, and unlike other fondue places, like the Melting Pot, it comes with other fun things beyond the usual strawberries and marshmallows. Like sugared donuts and rice krispy treats. I always admire the revolving sushi bar, I'm sure its good, but alas I am now out of philly and far from my dear pod.
(4)
R U.
I was here a while ago with several friends. "I've experienced better" pretty much sums up the whole experience here. The food isn't bad; in fact some of their dishes (e.g. the sea bass) are pretty tasty. However, the portion sizes at Pod are painfully small. Their Kobe Skirt Steak, for example, is advertised as being a "family style" entree. When the steak is served, it's tiny. In fact, we collected all the strips and formed it into a ball. We probably got two ping pong ball sized portions of steak for $33. Seriously? Even meals aboard airplanes are more generous. And as a friend pointed out, even Oliver got more when he begged for scraps. Again, the food quality here isn't bad if you can afford it. But if you're looking for a good restaurant that won't leave you feeling ripped off, Pod is not the place to go. The meal came out to about $45 per person and we really did not order much at all (no drinks, no appetizers, no desserts, etc.), which probably explained why we were all still hungry afterwards.
(2)
Tony R.
Excellent menu and perfect place for a date! Customer service is perfect as was the food. Well worth the prices they charge.
(4)
Kathleen Y.
I was just here on Friday with two friends and I was pretty unimpressed. While the futuristic, mod decor was kind of cool, it wasn't that different from places in New York I had already been to (It had the same chairs as Spice on University Pl.) Sadly, the food in the restaurant was not as good as these other restaurants. We all split the chicken dumpling and the sweet and sour pork dumplings (each about ~$9) which were actually pretty good (but not phenomenal.) For an entree, I ordered the wasabi crusted filet mignon with wasabi mashed potatoes ($29!) I'm not sure how it was screwed up, but the outside was very well done, but the inside was so rare that it made me fear eating it. At least the mashed potatoes were okay. My sister had a $25 sashimi plate that was "decent, but not the best." Our other friend had the crispy grilled pork tenderloin ($19) that was surprisingly 75% fried outside. Tastewise, it was reminiscent of a chicken nugget. Our drinks were okay, but nothing great once again. At the end of the meal, we felt we had just wasted a whole bunch of money on our food and cab fare to West Philly.
(2)
Lindsay T.
honestly, wasn't what it cracked up to be. the bathrooms are cool, the calamari salad is good, the sea bass is good, the pad thai is so-so.
(3)
R R.
i went here a long time ago and wouldn't go back. the food wasn't good and the decor is insulting.
(2)
Zoran M.
Food is good. Solid selection of beer. The decor is questionable and the place is always crowded. It is definitely a nice place for dinner with a larger group.
(4)
Sally f.
by far the coolest looking resturant in philly. you really feel like you are in a spaceship. the food is top rate and service is fast. prices kinda high, but i may have a lower budget than you. worth the experience. no free parking in the area though.
(5)
Jon F.
good, but overpriced and completely ridiculous. this place belongs in LA, along with steven starr.
(4)
Keith R.
Starr's pan Asian restaurant near the Penn campus is a great mix of Asian cuisines with fresh ingredients. You are struck by the white furnishings as you walk in, and the funky lights offer a scene that I'm sure was cutting edge a few years ago. The place looks a little passe now, but that doesn't affect the food. The sushi is high quality and there are ample selections of dim sum, more "traditional" chinese dishes, and a few other asian dishes such as crab pad thai. The food was great, well prepared, and bursting with flavor. The miso seabass was so soft it melted off my chopsticks. Pod has many innovative takes on more traditional dishes like mushroom dumplings in a marsala like sauce and the aforementioned crab pad thai. I wasn't thrilled with the dessert menu but the wait staff let us try a small portion of the toffee-chocolate bread pudding, which was incredible. The worst part of the restaurant was trying to figure out what to order since the menu is so good. The truth be told though, the worst part of the Pod is the prices which are very high even for the large portions. Service was extremely attentive, there are a large selection of cocktails and wine as well.
(4)
Dana D.
Love Pod. One of my favorite restaurants in Philly. It's been around forever and I've been going here ever since it opened. Food is always delicious. The atmosphere is my favorite out of any restaurant I've been to. It's so much fun and so trendy. This is a perfect place to go before a night out. Sitting in the pod changes the entire experience from cool to amazing. The pods are so much fun, you can change the color of the pod to whatever you want. The service is always great, I don't think I've ever had a bad experience at this place and I have been here 20+ times. The drinks are yummy, They added a new spicy martini I forgot the name but it is one of my new favorites. I love this place and would highly recommend it to all of my friends and family.
(5)
Laura G.
I came here on a Thursday afternoon for lunch. I've been here numerous times for lunch and each time is has been good. I cannot speak for their dinner, so my review is strictly for lunch. I am not a huge Stephen Starr fan BUT Pod is definitely one to check out. We ordered edamame to start and it was so large. Definitely enough for 4-5 people. We both order bento boxes. I ordered the Sea Bass which was perfectly cooked and the miso glaze was wonderful. The box itself was extremely big, I had enough left overs for a second lunch. These are also very reasonably priced. The restaurant has always been pretty empty for lunch and you definitely don't need reservations. I highly recommend checking it out if you're in the UCITY area.
(5)
Josh G.
I love it here! Amazing food, great service, and a fantastic time with friends. One of my highlights of Philly.
(4)
Gabby S.
Love everything about this place ! The vibe inside , the way it is set up . The pod room , rock shrimp , wasabi steak , crab rice , and of course the sushi :)
(5)
Emily G.
Too "chic" and trendy for my taste. I'm definitely more interested in a more classic atmosphere. For a trendy place though, it was fun. The atmosphere was very futuristic, and the staff was helpful.
(3)
Kristin N.
Finally got around to eating here, after working in its proverbial backyard for years. The decor is futuristic and fun; the bathrooms are reminiscent of airplane's. But you aren't reading this for a bathroom review, so on to the food. We came for lunch with a party of 8...the place was packed! We started with dumplings, edamame and tempura, all of which we inhaled. My sushi loving co-workers enjoyed their selections. 3 of us got sea bass bento boxes, which were delish. I had a white peach/mint soda....could have inhaled 3 of those suckers. The prices are somewhat high for lunch, but I wasn't paying ;o) Our service was slow and kind of spotty. All in all, a very nice respite from the workplace grind!
(4)
Toni B.
Super posh and trendy. I love the rock shrimp appetizer and the dessert tiers. Oh, and their fried rice is awesome too! Pricey, not going to lie, but definitely worth the splurge in my book! Pods are cool, but the color changing sometimes makes me sick, lol. I always stick to one color. Fun for groups and one-on-one.
(4)
Ying Z.
A bit run down and dirty with expensive, mediocre food. Will probably not return any time soon
(2)
Brad H.
I came here for a birthday lunch with one of my good friends. The company was great, and our servers were really nice and helpful, but I was pretty underwhelmed with everything else about this restaurant. The atmosphere was tacky, the food was mediocre, and the prices were ridiculous. ATMOSPHERE: You walk into pod and feel like you are stepping onto the set of a low-budget movie set in the future on a distant galaxy. Based on the pictures that other yelpers have posted, it looks like this place may look a little better at night, but during the day it looked pretty silly. My friend and I were seated in what can only be described as a window sill. The table was extremely small and we had no elbow room. A piece of my sushi fell off of the table at one point because it was so cramped. EDAMAME: The edamame was fine here and I think edamame is pretty hard to mess up but the only portion that they offer is for $7 and comes with way too much. It would have been enough edamame for 4 or 5 people but is almost impossible to eat with just two of us. It felt like very little thought was put into the portion size. There should have been a $3 option with less than half of the food. PENN ROLL: This was basically a regular spicy tuna roll that had a lot of rice and was $10. Very bad value and mediocre taste. Too much rice. OVERALL: I personally found very little redeeming about this place other than the service (everyone I met in there was very very nice). But service alone isn't enough for me to even give this place 3 stars. I would personally skip this place unless you really want something close to the UPenn campus. There are much better sushi options elsewhere.
(2)
Carlo J.
Good food! Great Service! Parking was valet, the wagyu beef appetizer was amazing(Pricey but its worth it.) sushi was alright, could have been better. But overall dinner was good!
(4)
Lea T.
Love the unique sushi rolls featured here as well as the rotating band around the sushi bar. Menu features some larger dishes but also many small plate options ideal for large groups and sharing. Kobe fried rice is my favorite as well as the Kobe steak cooked tableside on a hot rock. Great atmosphere inside, ideal for a night out or first date
(4)
Danan R.
Came for lunch with a group of 8 and the actual pod was a bit small although they did allow us to check our bags. The lunch specials were very solid and the sea bass was certainly good, and came with a side of salad, miso soup, and choice of white or brown rice. The Penn roll was also fantastic as was the crispy tuna rice. I loved the crispy tuna rice, which is essentially a form of box sushi without the seaweed. The sashimi platter also looked very fresh and came with 8 pieces of generously portioned fish, even the exotic hamachi. The stir fried macadamia nut chicken was just meh and very saucy, salty, and heavy, as it was made with deep fried chicken. I wasn't a personal fan but it may be a dish for you if you are a General Tso's chicken person! I did like the sizzling garlic mushrooms, though, which were served in a savory garlic soy sauce and comprised of a good mix of shitake, oyster, and enoki mushrooms. The vegetable tempura is also a great starter, and the pieces are actually small so you can sample a variety. Service was great albeit slow (it took 20 minutes to get our food). Prices were fair too and the lunch specials are about $15. They did forget to bring me my miso soup so be sure to check!
(3)
Michael B.
I come here a lot for lunch and business dinners and always love it. Always super fresh favors. The wagyu burger is the best burger I've ever had! If you come for dinner, get the wasabi filet.
(5)
Michael G.
Ok the food is great from sushi to noodles and meat dishes. But price wise I could drive downtown or back to nyc and eat cheaper. The portions make up for the price it's a good size portion for the meat dishes and noodle dishes we got but the sushi rolls are 6 pieces and normal size no bargain on the sushi. The sushi tasted fresh I got the lobster roll with 6 pieces at $18 but luckily my family ordered 2 other dishes Macadamia Chicken dish and Chicken pad Thai they were huge in portion size and they couldn't finish it begging me to help them eat it. The sushi here isn't cheap, in NYC I get better prices on the UES then here in Philly. Its a younger crowd joint if you ask me that have no appetite. And deep pockets I'm not cheap but I like value with my purchases.
(3)
Al L.
Wishing Yelp had a 0 star rating. I just attempted to make a birthday reservation at POD two days in advance. While trying to reserve a POD, I was promptly told by Vickie that PODs are only available on a first come basis unless I went through food and beverage to pay some type of exoberant food and beverage minimum. I have come here several times over the years and have never once sat in a POD because I was told that it was for party's of 4 or more only. I promptly canceled my reservation and have decided to never come back here again. Steven Starr needs to design a restaurant and retrain his staff on what the word RESERVATION means. They are overpriced and over hyped. If you value location and value , do not patronize this establishment. Try Yakitori Boy. Sushi there is much better and so is the service. Thank you for the early birthday gift POD
(1)
Srujana Y.
The first thing you will notice about POD is its modern ambience with dim yet colorful lighting. This place is a bit expensive but that's the price for the cool atmosphere! I have been to POD on numerous occasions for either lunch or dinner. Their food is usually very good. Since I am a vegetarian, I am gonna recommend some of the items I really love: Grilled asparagus and cauliflower from the Robata grill Shiitake steamed buns Udon noodle and tofu stir fry Wasabi veg fried rice POD has a good selection of cocktails and mocktails. Among the mocktails I really like the mango-ginger soda, while my husband likes the white peach and mint soda. Great staff as well as service. One of the times we visited POD was for my husband's birthday, I secretly told the staff about it and he got a surprise birthday cake with fireworks. :D :D YAY!
(4)
Claire F.
Visited this past Saturday on a date. I was impressed by the chic atmosphere and unusual decor. I was not as impressed by the staff - they seemed inexperienced and their casual wear didn't match the restaurant's style. I wouldn't say service was attentive. But, when the food was delivered, I forgot all of my fussy thoughts about the service that were floating through my head. My date and I threw down (our waitress called us champs). At one point, I considered leaving my date and running off to be with the lamb chops because I was that in love with them. I lost track of time and space when I tasted the accompanying noodles. In summary, amazing food, impressive date spot, a little too loud for intimate date night conversations, but I mentally noted that it's the perfect spot for a big birthday dinner party.
(4)
Courtney F.
Pod is an experience from the moment you walk through the door! Super chic and modern decor with futuristic vibe complete down to the music. I had the POD lobster rolls, chicken dumplings and split the crab fried rice with a friend. All of which were delish!
(4)
Amanda B.
Pod is the coolest. Hands down my favorite hip spot when I come to Philly for vacation. I had the nicest waiter, let him choose my dinner and he got me the special cocktail and plate, and it was knock down delicious and had fantastic presentation. The atmosphere is just chic and I love it.
(5)
Carlos R.
A very trendy and modern Asian Future place I frequented while visiting Philadelphia. When I first walked in, I felt like I was visiting Asia again. This place has everything: very colorful lighting, private "pods" for relatively large groups, a sushi bar w/ conveyor belt, the works. The food is quite good. As expected, plenty of choice. A few negatives: it fills up very quickly on weekend nights, has music that can be loud, and seems to replay the same anime movie on the screens. But otherwise, good fun.
(4)
Zaneta P.
Despite all the mix reviews about Pod, I personally enjoyed my trip there. First of all I loveee the whole decoration of the place, the futuristic design to the animated feel! Staff and waiting time was bit slow the day I went but it was also a full house, so it's a partial blame. Anyways, for appetizer we had the Shrimp Tempura Roll, honestly couldn't say it a anything special. It wasn't bad but it just didn't stand out. On to the entree, I had the Wasabi Crusted Filet Mignon and my boyfriend had the Ginger Lamb Chops and can I say these two dishes were amazing! I'm seriously salivating while writing this review (late review) portion could of been bigger but nonetheless they were two very delicious dish. For dessert I honestly do not remember what we had because it just wasn't that memorable... Lol
Interesting to say the least. Decor is very futuristic and when I first walked in it looked more like a club, than a restaurant. I definitely recommend sitting at the sushi bar. The rotating plates can be s really good deal and the chef will make new plates fresh if you ask. Dining off the main menu is too expensive and doesn't offer enough of a portion in my opinion. Drink menu is great and reasonably priced.
(3)
Craig D.
(4) ~ Very good Food & service. Really like the modern look;) OUR MENU: * Thai Chile Avocado Margarita = (4.5) Very Good! * Spicy Tuna Crispy Rice = (4) very good * Frosty Kobe Beef Fried Rice = (4) very good...Please note the Beef is served cold. * Garlic Mushrooms(side) = (4) very good...enough to share;) * Fruit Toban Yaki(dessert) = (4) very good NOTE: Street/Metered Parking.
(4)
Johnny B.
Pod is like Virgin America airlines mixed with a womb mixed with a sushi restaurant. I've been here for all you can eat sushi and I recall enjoying myself, but recently I got take out and I was sorely underwhelmed. I got four rolls and all were bad. This is the first time in my life that I could eat only a few bites of sushi and had to stop. I might come for drinks or if there was a special deal, but I was not impressed, Pod. I will not be back!
(2)
Colleen Z.
Lovely space, great service and good food. We met for drinks and appetizers on a week day afternoon. We were able to take advantage of happy hour specials. All was great. I love the look and feel of the place. I'll be back.
(4)
Jackie S.
So went to Pod Saturday night and it definitely has a vibe... the service was spot on and the sushi was good, and underwhelming. Was hoping for a bit more. I would consider myself to be a sushi guru and ths place delivered everywhere but on the sushi itself. Overall I really enjoyed the experience. Fat Salmon and Vic are amazing!
(4)
Megan A.
Took my boyfriend here for his birthday in June, and was really excited because all the pictures online make this place look so cool. However, we went while it was still light outside and honestly it was nothing special. Everything is made out of plastic and looks cheap. It might be a totally different experience when it's dark out, but I can't attest to that. Also, the food is very expensive. Our meal came out to about $100 and we were still hungry. I got the chicken lettuce wraps and I've had such better lettuce wraps for much cheaper elsewhere. He got the wasabi steak and while he said it was good, it was tiny. We also split the chicken dumplings and they were just ok. Overall a disappointing experience but I would be willing to go back to give it another chance if I went with a big group and if it were later at night.
(2)
Jeremy S.
Gourmet asian fusion Every dish was flavorful A bit on the pricy side but nice ambience and good for celebrations Tastefully presented foods Changing menu
(5)
Abeer H.
Plastic inventive trendy decor and the seating feels cafeteria style, with no privacy. And it can get crowded depending on when you go. However, the sushi is great - fresh and delicious.
(4)
Andrew N.
The sushi here is not the best. I ordered the chef special and it came it brown rice. What a terrible mistake. I hate when they use brown rice on sushi. Even though it's more healthy it doesn't taste like sushi anymore. The bathrooms are each their own stalls in a colorful hallway.
(3)
Leroy F.
The Pod .. For me it's my go to place for sushi. It gets no better I love this place the staff, the location and the FOOD !
(5)
Miranda S.
This place attracted me because it looks like the restaurant of "the Future" courtesy of Austin Powers or the Jetsons. Service is super friendly and knowledgeable, and there are lots of great vegan/vegetarian choices. I I shared the mushroom-sweet pea dumplings, and my only complaint is there weren't enough of these tasty morsels. My main course was the Vegan Stephen roll, which looks exactly like fish sushi but is packed with a variety of savory plant flavors. Yum.
(4)
Don C.
Dinner at POD was fairly enjoyable. As you can tell from their web site, it's studiously cool, which is neat to look at. But it's also very noisy, especially when the background music is blaring. The food was pretty good. I had a wide sampling. California rolls: solid Lettuce wraps (with chicken): tasty Steamed buns with shitake: good Udon noodle & tofu stir fry: good Miso glazed sea bass with Japanese sweet potatoes: if you can get past the weirdness of eating sticky smashed potatoes & fish, it's absolutely delicious Kung pao chicken & shrimp: tasty Pork dumplings: awesome It's not such a bargain for the quality of the food, but I definitely left feeling super stuffed. The service was great--attentive and frequent. I'd be happy to come here again, especially if I'm staying at the Inn at Penn, which is next door. But Philadelphia has lots of great restaurants that have better food for less money.
(3)
Frank L C.
Haven't been in for a while, but I enjoyed lunch at Pod the other day and it is still one of Steven Starr's stars. The glowing interior, which reflects the basic lines of the parking garage that it was before resurrection as a restaurant, is lit creatively, which is not as distracting at lunchtime as it is in the evening (though the big flatscreen playing anime can be). The Express Bento lunches included Macadamia Chicken stir-fry and teriyaki chicken, served with brown (or white) rice, not-too-salty miso soup, and a crisp salad. There are many other things on the menu, from sushi to edamame, and a good bar selection. Evenings tend to be too loud for my taste, but if you have a largish group and can reserve one of the lighting-adjustable pods, it can be a very cool dinner.
(4)
Di P.
I had a hilarious Happy Hour here. Walked in to meet a bunch of coworkers who were there already, awkwardly positioned in Pod's "bar area." They have these red modular furniture that is neither comfortable or uncomfortable. It's just makes it hilarious for a group more than 3 to sit down, face each other and talk. Tried one of the happy hour drinks "white" which wasn't bad.
(3)
Maha P.
We went to Pod for my boyfriend's dad's birthday and it was fun. Loud and interesting lighting but I think that was the point. We had a great time nonetheless. The crab spring rolls were to die for. I ordered a spicy tuna roll which was delicious but I have surprisingly had better in Vermont, where we live. The desserts were great, we split the fluffernutter spring rolls and a salted caramel cake. All in all it was a great atmosphere, our waitress was so kind and attentive and hopefully the birthday boy had a good experience as well.
(4)
Yujia Z.
When u first come in here, u will like the environment here. I think it maybe more suitable to come after dinner for finding your night life or drinking with your friends. Foods here are so so and the price is a bit expensive. Wahhabi has no flavor.
(3)
Jeff B.
Sushi here is magical. Absolutely delicious. We also had Seafood fried rice. This was a little bland. Needed some soy sauce. My wife had a chicken Thai dish which was spicy. I had the spare ribs, the sauce was delicious but portions were small. Only 4 ribs. The atmosphere is very cool. If you make reservations well in advance you can get these private pod booths. Very cool. I give it a 4 star for the sushi.
(4)
Diesel H.
incredible sushi. entrees are amazing. we have been here for parties [in the pod] and for dinner at a table probably a total of 8 times. We have never been disappointed. We have always been satisfied with our food and our services. We even had a party of 12 go in one time and had a $1300 bill after tip. It was worth the cash, worth the time and they did an incredible time keeping us ready for our next course and kept our drinks full. That can be a pretty hefty task, but they nailed it! I recommend ANY sushi. Their Kobe beef is pretty remarkable too. Calamari is on point. mmm their duck soup. Seriously, Stephen Starr, you've done it again.. another brilliant restaurant!
(5)
Iyad O.
Meh. Not bad, not great. The food is average. The waitress was great.
(2)
Nancy P.
A gf and I signed up for the Sushi School that POD was offering for a limited time. We chose the 6-7:15 pm session. They sat us down by the conveyor belt and sushi area. We started off with some miso soup and salad. We waited quite a bit before Mr. Kim came around to greet us. Probably around 30 mins. I know the restaurant was getting fuller but it would have been nice to stick to the scheduled time. After the long wait, a server came around to offer us complimentary edamame for the long wait. So at least we had something to munch on while we waited..and waited. Mr. Kim finally came around and was very nice. He showed us how to make a California maki roll and a Tuna hand roll. They provided us with gloves and a rolling mat and all the ingredients. It was a short lesson though. After the maki roll, we had another long wait. So another server offered us something else to eat. We chose a roll off of the belt. After the lesson, we received some pineapple and guava sorbet. I'm not a fan of the guava at all. When we finally got the check, they charged us for two extra plates, aside from the class. Apparently the plate the Mr. Kim gave us the ingredients on during the lesson was counted as a plate, as well as the plate that the server offered to us. There was definitely bad communication on their part. After all was said and done, the service for the night was poor. While it seemed like they (multiple people) were trying to make up for the service, our main server showed a bad attitude. While Mr. Kim was nice, the entire class took 2 hrs instead of 1 hr. And the service left a bad taste in my mouth.
(2)
Megan M.
Decor is.now outdated. I would like.to .see things newer and cleaner. The.food wasn't good enough for the price I paid. Overall,.I'm didsapointed I spent that much money for OK food. The nice service was the best part of the meal, even if it was a bit slow.
(3)
Kristin W.
Pod was the first place I ever ate in Philadelphia and I never planned to return. But when Pod was unexpectedly announced as our dinner destination, I was willing to give it a try - and I'm glad I did. I have to say that, as I felt 7 years ago, I really don't think the sushi is a strength, so if you steer clear, you will be happier. I liked the Tempura Rock Shrimp (a little heavy on the breading), but the standout was that has changed my perception of Pod was the phenomenal Glazed Chilean Sea Bass.
(4)
Yiwen S.
after many years of successfully avoiding this place, i finally came back last month for a client dinner. because this was a client meeting, we splurged on the ordering, so this was the first time i'd had the opportunity to really sample a wide variety of things on the menu. while the menu is still ridiculously overpriced, you'll notice i upgraded my review from two stars to three stars. here's why: 1. some of the cooked food was actually fairly decent: udon stir-fry, pork dumplings, eggplant, short ribs 2. ambiance is still key here, and everything is cool-y themed 3. large space can easily accommodate large parties ....and that's about it. here's why it's not rated any higher: 1. sushi is still crap 2. overpriced, overpriced, overpriced! did i mention this place is overpriced? 3. despite the restaurant being over half empty on a thursday night, it was still hard to flag down service still wouldn't come here on my own dime. but on someone else's? perhaps, just perhaps.
(3)
Larry F.
Being on the center of Penn's campus and a favorite spot for professors to take students to lunch, I'm pretty darn glad this place exists! FOOD: 4/5 I'm a huge fan of Asian Fushion, so I've liked everything I've tried here. The Tempura Rock Shrimp is a decent treat. It's sweet with the candied walnut, and also crunchy and soft with the tempura shrimp. My favorite item on the menu would probably be the sashimi combo platter. It's served on a 3-tiered tray with different types of fish, and everything was fresh and well-prepared. The sushi here is pretty good as well, though somewhat pricey with a price tag of between $12-$18 per roll. My favorite one is TNT. I would recommend staying away from the kobe beef and lamb chops (although if I recall correctly, the menu has changed). $30 can be better spent on two rolls of sushi instead. AMBIANCE: 5/5 This is probably the reason why I like Pod. The food is good but there are other places in Philly where I can get good sushi. The ambiance is very contemporary, almost futuristic. It has a very spacious waiting area, and very colorful bar, and different seating arrangements. For group lunches, the special suite at the front works great, and the lights constantly change, so the appearance of the food change with it. For a one-on-one dinner, I would recommend staying away from the street side of the restaurant. Personally, because part of the restaurant is below street level, it makes me uncomfortable that I see people's feet while walking by right by my eyes. SERVICE: 4/5 Waiters and waitresses are nice. Food is served speedily. If asked, the waiters will describe the food and the way they are prepared. The waiters also make decent recommendations.
(4)
P E.
Went here with friends for sushi. Food was good but not knock your socks off. I'm not a big fan of yellowtail, but here it was good. Salmon and red tuna - OK. I've had sushi just as good elsewhere. Maybe because it was Tuesday? You are definitely paying for the ambiance and to hobnob with the University City hoi polloi. As you can tell from the pictures posted by others, this place will remind you of the opening scene of 2001: A Space Odyssey. Service was ok but a bit pretentious. Walked in at 400 for dinner. Asked if I had a reservation. Really?
(3)
Carly K.
I absolutely love Pod, mostly because of the fond memorie I have of meeting my dear friend here when she was in town for business. Pod kind of became our signature place, and we loved trying the variety of signature cocktails-we especially love the red and pink! There are two bigger areas with tables that really do look like pods, and the lights change colors every so often from bright red to pink to blue to yellow, etc. Really fun! We usually do small plates and appetizers, and of course, always order way too much fun. As cliche' as it seems, the pad thai is actually really delicious. The steamed buns, rock shrimp, and crab fried rice are go to items as well. For some reason, I have never tried the sushi here, which is bizarre, because I absolutely love the sushi and maki at Morimoto, another Starr place. The ambience is ultra contemporary with white everything. Generally I don't go for this type of vibe, but for some reason it works here. It's really a fun place.
(4)
Valentina L.
This place is unlike any other Asian restaurants. Decorations are very modern... Designs are unique!! Like it~
(4)
Roopa S.
My experiences at Pod thus far have been pretty lackluster, without taking into account the super awesome ambiance. Perhaps it's because I'm vegetarian, but you would think there would be several options for vegetarian diners at a place like this one. The menu is extensive for carnivores, with some veggie dishes scattered here and there. They are usually pretty nice about subbing out the meat in the noodle dishes, for example, but they can't do much about the actual sushi themselves. I've tried a couple of the vegetarian rolls (all super cheap but super small) and the Pad Thai (made vegetarian). I was hesitant about ordering Pad Thai from a restaurant that specializes in sushi, but it was incredibly tasty and the portion size was HUGE. Though it was expensive, there definitely is enough to share with someone else and still have leftovers fort he next day, which I loved. I think they switch out their rolls every so often, but I've tried the avocado based vegetarian roll here, which was yummy but too small (the price reflected that too-- I remember paying less than $5 for that dish). Overall, food is not great for vegetarians; I wish they had more options. But the ambiance is absolutely stellar and I love the little pods you can sit in with a group of about 6-8 people. It's super fun and hip. Probably won't be coming back on my accord just because I can find more vegetarian options elsewhere around campus, but still a nice spot to have on campus.
(3)
Debanshu S.
Excellent Sushi. The ambience is very unique. Lots of attention to detail. Servers were really courteous. I tried out the crab rice too and loved it. I found the serving quantity more than sufficient. Ymmv
(4)
Victoria C.
I came here for dinner on Friday, and it was great. Not too busy and the waitress was clearly in-training (which is totally fine) because we still got pretty good service. We started off with the chicken lettuce wraps. SO worth the 15 dollars. So much chicken, so many lettuce leaves. I would definitely order it again, since sushi can definitely get pricey. My friends ordered the crab fried rice and the frosty kobe fried rice. The beef was actually frozen when served! Personally I like the flavor of the crab fried rice more than that of the beef since the beef also adds a sort of dry texture to the dish. We also ordered a few sushi rolls. Nothing special about the rolls. I would actually skip the rolls because they seemed a bit overpriced for the portions, although the quality was indeed good. I tired the corn kabobs (not bad, although the shiso, which is Japanese mint, was super strong). TL;DR go for the lettuce wraps and fried rice. Cheaper, same quality sushi sushi can be found elsewhere.
(3)
Audrey G.
Really neat restaurant design! Everything was white, with colorful lighting and private "pods" where groups could dine. (Although most people had to sit in the main dining room) Came here with a big group for a university dinner, so we got a prepaid menu. However, the food wasn't too memorable. The sushi (CA roll and nigiri platter) was good, but the rice tasted kind of dry. The rest of our menu included a ginger salad, chicken potstickers, lettuce wraps, fried rice, and pad thai. I liked that they tried to add a twist to each dish, but nothing tasted that amazing. I think my favorite was actually the dessert sampler, which featured mochi ice cream, mocha brownie, and banana sorbet. Great service, but for such a futuristic/fancy looking restaurant, I expected the food to be more impressive.
(3)
Jake A.
Someone here put a good catch phrase on this place: the pod is instagram worthy. Want to go to a party and have a variety of lights and music blaring while dining on sushi? The pod is for you. Selfie away on instagram and the world will nod. For the others who want just a relaxing dinner out with that someone special, you might want to look elsewhere. A few of us old friends decided to hook up here and we were very delighted that we were promptly seated. I loved the futuristic perspective of the place. Even the bathrooms look like it would fit well in a scene out of back to the future. Weird but very modernistic and sophisticated. It really felt like they had a clear vision when they put this together. Now to the food and service. The service was exceptional. Everything was rolling in exquisitely and we were treated like we were guests of the Queen of England. The food is where I totally lost it. I didn't like my sushi nor the lamb chops. My friends liked their choices but we came in late, so I can't help but wonder if we were just stuck in a bad time slot for the chef's plans. I must say that the dessert was good though. I don't think that my review does justice since I'm speaking just for myself and not for my group. Some of my friends in the group really liked the place. I think I'd be more comfortable in a conventional or traditional restaurant. But that might just be me.
(3)
Robert S.
Delicious sushi and a very cool and hip atmosphere. When you walk into Pod you immediately notice that it isn't like many other sushi spots you've been too. It has a very modern and trendy feel to it. The food is fantastic and it's some of, if not the best sushi around. When I dined here the other day with some friends I went with the Rockin Spicy Tuna Roll and the Frosty Kobe Fried Rice. The Frost Rice bowl is a cool dish that actually comes with uncooked beef and it cooks once it's brought to your table due to the heat given off by the rice and egg. I also went with the Sake Mojito which was real tasty and refreshing. I recommend dining at Pod and if you come with a group make sure to request to eat in a pod.
(4)
Rick B.
Great place to go to celebrate. The environment looks like a futuristic scene from the 90s but the food is timeless. Half the menu is for sushi, the other half for cooked food. I say come here for celebration because you will be prepared to spend money. The price is fair for the amazing quality of food and I wasn't feeling any regrets about the portion size. I tried both the sushi and cooked items from the menu. I recommend the spider roll and lettuce wraps. Washed it down with a Sake Mojito. I would love to come here again and try more.
(4)
Barbara W.
I've been to Pod many times, and enjoy their high quality of food. However, the portion sizes have always disappointed me. I went for lunch on a week-day and ordered one of their Bento Box lunch specials - I picked seared tuna - as the protein. I received 4 very thin slices of tuna on top of a small salad plus the rest of the bento box (Miso soup, brown rice, salad and pickled vegetables). The tuna was good quality, and cooked perfectly (rare +), but my bento had no soup and instead had 2 salads. Although I eventually received my soup, service was a sloppy. Our waiter spilled water all over me and the chair next to me, and promised to send someone to clean it up, that person never came. I've also had positive service experiences at Pod, but I have never been too impressed with the creativity of the dishes. The restaurant has modern/chic/upscale flair, but the food to me is just mediocre.
(2)
Mal S.
Best fancy restaurant in Philadelphia sushi was amazing the pad Thai was great the salad calamari was fantastic and the fried rice was awesome!!!
(5)
Michael F.
Walking into Pod, I had high expectations. The atmosphere is top notch, and as I soon discovered, so is the service. Since we made a reservation, we didn't have to wait long for our table - a cute cutout for two in the main dinning area. Our waiter greeted us prompt, offered water, and asked if we'd like drinks. We passed on drinks and decided to review the menu. He came back to check on us in a few minutes, but we were helplessly lost and asked for a few more. Again he returned and when we still weren't ready, made it clear by his actions that he had no intent on rushing us. Still, at this point I caved and asked for recommendations - after all, I was there to eat! Crab Spring Rolls, Lobster Roll, and Rock n Spicy Tuna were then on their way. The food comes out as ready, with the spring rolls first. They were good, but nothing to rave about. The dipping sauce that accompanied them actually made more of an impression. Once the sushi rolls arrived, we quickly dug in. They too were good, but nothing amazing. The spicy tuna didn't have much spicy to it and the lobster was a bit chewy. We finished off with some Mochi ice cream for dessert. Now to run the formula rating in my head... great service, decent atmosphere, average food, and low value (price/food experience) means I see this one netting in the middle.
(3)
Morgan G.
I would like to post an update to my most recent review about Pod's management and my negative dining experience. After my previous review I was immediately contacted by Greg Root (part of Starr Restaurants Management team). He was extremely professional and apologetic about not getting in contact with me sooner. He offered me a full refund for the negative experience I had at this restaurant and assured me that they will continue to properly inspect their food and beverage offerings and ensure they are of top quality at all times. I couldn't have asked for him or any restaurant management team to have handled an unsatisfied customer any better! Due to the fact that I was contacted in such a professional way I look forward to giving Pod another shot- and I look forward to hopefully being able to update my review to reflect a better dining experience. I'm increasing my most recent review by two stars based strictly on how this situation was handled. I haven't found the time to go back yet but if yelp reviews were based solely on how management deals with customer satisfaction then this review would definitely warrant 5 stars!
(3)
Lol F.
The decoration is kinda in spaceship or something. The food is beauty and delicious! lack of one star is becasue... the price...miso soup $7?! really? I will try it next time~
(4)
Grace C.
It's ooookay. I would never elect to go here by myself, but with parties, yes. It's just that Steven Starr thing I'm not that big a fan of, prioritizing atmosphere over food. Yes, it's futuristic and trendy, with decent food, but that's all it is - decent. I've come a couple times for parties, and each time I've left satisfied but now wowed. I do give them points for their short rib robata, though. It's tender and flavorful, and I've always been a short rib fan. Their miso glazed sea bass is also pretty good. Sea bass is my number one favorite fish, and they do a good job with it. (It's also priced to match the flavor - expect to pay a pretty penny for this one.) Shrimp pad thai is okay. Something I could find in a less-expensive restaurant. Chocolate bread pudding for dessert is delicious. Follow it with the ice sculpture sorbets for a palate cleanser. Don't go for the fluffer nutter spring rolls, however - those were cloyingly sweet.
(3)
David K.
I went to Pod with my folks a few days ago, and we had a wonderful time. The variety and quality of the food was excellent, and the wait staff were fantastic. We ordered quite a bit of food, but the arrival of our dishes was well staggered so we never felt rushed to eat one thing before the next arrived. The sashimi was quite tasty, as was everything else we ordered. I notice that everyone has talked about the "trendy" atmosphere. I have no idea what that means, but the design is very creative, and the lighting is especially interesting. The plastic chairs were more comfortable than I would ever imagined was possible. Overall, an excellent experience. No complaints. Pro tip: Pod is right next door to a hotel with a valet, so it's very easy to get a cab.
(5)
Tempest M.
My first time visiting Pod was awesome. The service was great and the food was amazing. Every dish we tried was full of flavor with excellent texture. I had the pork belly buns and lamb meatballs. My friend had the asparagus and salmon. He automatically had a foodgasm upon tasting the asparagus. Pod has now replaced El Vez as my favorite Starr restaurant. The cocktails were also amazing. I can't remember the names but it's apparent you cannot go run no matter what you decide.
(5)
Jake S.
Good sushi. A little pricey.
(3)
Jason H.
I've been to Pod about 30 times since they opened over a decade ago, and I keep going back. Part of the reason is that the University City area can be a little lean on good restaurants in the immediate area of HUP/Penn. The theme is somewhat like a restaurant you'd see on the "Jetsons" with hard surfaces, futuristic tables and bar, and a general hip feeling overall. The menu is Asian-Fusion, and has flavors of Japanese, Thai, Vietnamese, and Chinese. The menu changes occasionally, but the format is generally family stye, and sharing is encouraged. There are some bento-box style entrees, but everything else is delivered to the center of the table and meant to be passed around. The sushi is a notch or two below Morimoto, but not by much; they have a good selection of sushi, sashimi, and rolls. The Pod Lobster and Shrimp Tempura rolls are standouts in my opinion. The seafood fried rice is great, and the crab spring rolls are to die for. Overall, a great place for a group or a small number of guests; they do have "Pod" circular booths (only two of them) for groups of six or greater. A good place; worth returning! -Jason
(4)
Ellie W.
The food here is good but too expensive (i.e. overpriced). However, I strongly recommend POD as a great place for cocktail drinks and appetizers. When I went here with my father for appetizers and drinks when I first came to Penn, we admired the cool "space-age" decor, and funky artistic lighting and media theme. The atmosphere makes this a fun place to get a drink with folks from out of town (and I've continued to suggest it for such occasions). They have a creative drink menu, and cool booths to sit and chat in, before going elsewhere for dinner. Don't get me wrong: POD is not a bad choice for dinner. My dishes are always tasty, and service is excellent. I almost always order a seafood entree for dinner. But I was disappointed by how loud the restaurant is for having group conversations, so I don't recommend it as a place to take invited speakers at Penn. Other nearby restaurants, like White Dog, Distrito, and so on, are better suited for group discourse. Nonetheless, at the end of the day, POD is a fun place to try in University City!
(4)
Cat P.
Five years ago, I was high above Tokyo on the last floor of the Yodobashi department store in Akihabara at a small kaitenzushi (conveyor belt sushi) restaurant. My friends and I frequented this place during our time in Japan. The atmosphere inside this little restaurant was tense as the colored plates floated by us on the belt. The salarymen finished their sushi quickly and us gaijin (foreigners) were literally stuck screaming our orders at the chefs. Flash forward five years, though, and I find myself over 6,000 miles away from the Land of the Rising Sun, dining at Pod. The conveyor belt is still there, but the mood is more relaxed and there's no longer the need to scream at the wait staff. Pod was a wonderful trip down memory lane for me and I was excited to relive those days, even if it was just for an hour and a half. We started by immediately grabbing two plates of sushi off of the belt and ordering drinks (sake and a delicious Jack Daniel's cocktail made with cranberry juice, raspberries, and mint). It wasn't long before our appetizers came out. The peppers with bonito flakes had an addictive spicy crunch to them and I thought that they were a refreshing alternative to traditional edamame. The mushroom and sweet pea dumplings immediately hit the spot and I think we finished our dish in record time. We moved on to the shiro-aoi roll with white tuna and jalapenos. We also snagged the toro nigiri. Both of those dishes were nothing short of amazing. The meal ended with 4 sweet flavors of sorbet. A lot of the reviews here seem to compare Pod to Morimoto. While it irks me a bit to talk about another restaurant in my review, I enjoyed my time at Pod much more than Morimoto. I felt like we got more food here for the same price and it was more inventive (especially the sushi). I left Pod feeling genuinely satisfied, whereas I left the other place feeling slightly ripped-off. Overall, I think Pod gave us a fantastic meal and it left me feeling nostalgic. I see myself coming back here for more of those peppers with bonito flakes.
(4)
Bella H.
My boyfriend and I attended the university dining days event for dinner. The food was exceptional for a great price. You got four plates for $35. We got the california and spicy tuna for appetizers, miso soup and potstickers for dimsum, udon and chicken for entree, and the cake and springrolls for dessert. The only complaint was the service. Although it was a busy time, it felt like the server had more than she could handle. Our water glass was not refilled twice and the table took forever to be cleared. It felt as if our female server rarely checked in on us because we saw all the other servers more than we saw ours. Overall the food was good.
(3)
Tsolere A.
Great atmosphere, great service and delicious food! The maki rolls were great! Must visit!
(4)
Matthew D.
Absolutely one of the best sushi places I have found inside or outside of the city! We always try different menu items and have yet to be disappointed by anything. The edamame is always fresh, hot, and served with shaved salt, a unique and tasty touch! The Tom Kha was amazing and the spring rolls always come out piping hot and crispy with a light flavor. The next trip will include sampling their drink menu. Pod is on our list of places to go to satisfy that weekly sushi craving!
(5)
Vinny P.
"Just what do you think you're doing, Dave? " My first impression upon walking into Pod was 2001: A Space Odyssey. The mostly white and rounded edges everywhere, the mechanized everything and the lit "pods" scattered through the restaurant all made me feel like I was aboard the Discovery One. We sat at the bar with the conveyor belt. As sushi rolls (in different colored bowls) slowly crept, by, we examined our options. We grabbed a salmon roll and a yellowtail roll from the conveyor belt. The little plastic bowls contained about 3 pieces each. We ordered the roasted shishito peppers and the mushroom sweet pea dumplings. The dumplings were exquisite in that they were so delicate. My chopsticks ended up tearing the second one in half when I went to pick it up. It didn't change the enjoyment for me, they were perfect. The shishito peppers were also fun in that they were tossed with a soy-sake glaze and grated bonito. Lovely snack. The belt didn't satisfy all of our cravings so we ordered the Shiro-Aoi and the Oh Toro Tuna. Thankfully, my dining partner has good taste in sushi and has lived in Japan. Her recommendations were spot on and we enjoyed both of these immensely. I don't get over to u-city much but I was impressed by Pod. When I return, I'll dress a bit better and I'll bring a group and sit in one of the pods and change the lighting 15 times.
(4)
Jon D.
Meh. Averageeeee...and over-priced. Atmosphere and sushi conveyor belt: impressive Food: not so impressive Calamari salad: apparently Steve feels the need to have this same, boring, underwhelming, crappy salad on all of his menus. I've tried them at most of his places and the only version that is actually good can be found at Morimoto. Shrimp pad thai: Nice portion and presentation, plenty of shrimp, desired saltiness was there, but so was a red chili overload. I don't have an issue with hot stuff, but when it dominates every other flavor and becomes the only thing you can taste, that ruins it for me. Definitely not worth $18. My friend got the crab fried rice and said it was great. I didn't have any, but the presentation was there and the portion size was good. Passion Crème Brulee (Soup) tart: Flavor good, technique bad. This dish had a creative presentation, but as soon as I cut into it, the contents started flowing out like a volcano. I wouldn't have had an issue if they didn't charge 9 bucks for it, so point off for half assing it...the pastry chef at a busy place like this shouldn't be lacking the fundamentals, especially with a popular dish like crème brulee. Anyways, unique and very strong sour/sweet taste from the passion fruit, which was actually quite good. Although I could see the bananas, I definitely could not taste them. Thankfully, the coconut sorbet was delicious, light, and refreshing. Lastly, our waitress just plain sucked. My friend and I had just gotten out of neurodegenerative disease and apparently she wasn't too thrilled about waiting on two students. If I knew she was going to get the check from us and unashamedly stare at the tip section before we even left the table, the 20% we left would have been reduced to 2% (which should have been done in the first place). Apart from that loser, the hostess was very nice and friendly as was the manager who came over to ask how our dinner was (the shitty waitress did not). Tip: This place is only good if a) you come for lunch or b) you come with a group where you can order ten different things and share / try everything.
(3)
Julie W.
As a poor college student, I (and my wallet) feel very out of place when dining here. It just so seems that the price you pay and the quality/quantity of food that you get don't seem to match up quite well. I mean, a roll of sushi was $8+, and I don't recall anything special was added to compensate for the extra dollars. But I'll say, some of the drinks are pretty good. There are, however, other good things about this place - noticeably, the decor and set up of the place. I'll admit that I have yet to dine at a place like Pod - the sophisticated underground spaceship. Dining in it, you can't help but to look around and appreciate the aesthetic elements of the place. However, the sights still aren't quite worth the money. Overall, this could be a good place for a date or business affairs. It's easy to find and definitely attractive for newcomers.
(3)
Alison K.
The boyfriend and I went here last weekend for University Dining Days (have I mentioned how much I love these local restaurant week-type events?) It's a pretty cool place. I think I would have been more blown away by the decor if I hadn't read the Yelp reviews prior--the glowiness of the "pods" and the sushi conveyor belt might have been more impressive otherwise, though they were still pretty cool. Boyfriend had been here before in his Drexel undergrad days, but it was my first time. I decided to go with the UC Dining Days 3 courses/$30 deal. I had chicken pot stickers as a starter, which were pretty standard, nothing mind-blowing (and if you're doubting whether pot stickers can blow one's mind, it's entirely possible.) Next, I had the tofu stir-fry, which was super yummy, so much so that I saved half for lunch the next day. (Unfortunately, our server must have misheard or something because he never returned with the rest of it...and by the time I realized, it had probably been sitting in the kitchen for 20 minutes, so I probably didn't really want it anyway (though really I did and was pouting at lunch the next day.) But that's the passive-aggressive restaurant patron in me. Boyfriend had some sushi rolls (California, I think), miso soup, and kobe beef (which is cooked table-side, which is neat, if a little awkward, because we felt the need to stop our conversation in order to watch it cook...in silence. I thought it was yummy, but boyfriend thought it was good, not great. Moving on... DESSERT. HOLY MOLY. After much internal struggle (and external, for that matter, because I explained to both our server and my boyfriend that this was one of the most difficult dessert decisions I've ever been forced to make), I decided to go with the mocha brownie, instead of the vanilla bean mousse. It was REALLY GOOD. A dark chocolate brownie with a scoop of mocha ice cream, all served over a river of chocolate syrup. YUM. Boyfriend liked it, too. One downside (besides the lack of leftovers delivered--wah!) was the seating. I asked for a booth, and it's more like a seat against the wall. Boyfriend though it was a little uncomfortable for someone of his size (he's 6'2"ish, kind of built) because his one arm was sort of squished against the wall. Overall, I really enjoyed this place and will probably want to return at some point (particularly if we have a group big enough to get a pod!!)
(4)
DeWayne G.
First time here. I brought my wife here for her birthday. We enjoyed ourselves! The staff is knowledgeable! The set up is built on sharing your dishes. The atmosphere is chic and a little futuristic. You can't go wrong with any choice. If you have seafood allergies, this won't work for you! We will be back! It's on the University of Pennsylvania campus; however the crowd spans multiple age groups.
(5)
Shereen C.
The food here is solid but overpriced. Been here with groups a few times (last year) and thankfully didn't have to pay for myself. Sushi is not bad (though not great, either.) Lamb was good. Filet mignon was good. Chicken stir-fry was okay. Potsticker dumplings were disappointing. Tofu Lettuce Wraps were okay. Chicken Lettuce Wraps not as good. Baby Bok Choy was fine. Nothing special, but nothing wrong with it. Just veggies. They have some tasty cocktails and a pretty good variety of drinks in general. Decor is impressive. Very cool space-y theme with interesting lighting/media. If you're in a pod, you can change the colour of the pod's lighting, but anything other than plain white light is a tad unappetizing for eating. Service is always excellent. Very helpful. One time, another diner in my party spilled water all over my dress. Staff cleaned up the spill, then Manager gave me his card and offered to pay for dry cleaning. Wasn't necessary, but a much appreciated gesture. If I had an expense account and visitors to entertain somewhere close to UPenn, this is one of the places I'd be happy to take them. (The restaurant is pretty much right on campus.)
(3)
Adam Z.
I went here for lunch, and it was fantastic. The interior is very modern and cool. Everything we had was excellent, but the spicy tuna crispy rice and the chicken lettuce wraps were real standouts. I'm told that it can get overly crowded in the evenings, but lunch was very relaxed.
(5)
Wendy Y.
Meh. The decor seems really dated and unclean to me. I was expecting different from the pictures. The sushi we ordered was really disappointing. I'd rather get sushi from whole foods or wegmans. Grilled cauliflower and eggplant were ok. The best thing we had was the pork belly buns and unfiltered sake (soo good, but it was $45 for a 8 oz carafe).
(3)
Erin K.
Just visited last night for my first time for cousins bday dinner. I was more impressed that I thought I would've been. Interior is very modern and up beat. The food was delish (lump crab California rolls, crab spring rolls, seafood fried rice, calamari salad, and sae bass with mashed potatoes). Only down side was the noise. Way too loud for me but i definitely would visit again.
(4)
Melody W.
Amazing is the only way to describe the food here -- duck, Chilean sea bass, bento boxes, salads and cocktails -- I've never had anything I didn't thoroughly enjoy. The ambiance, however, truly scares the crap out of me. The way the space is lit and decorated, with compartmentalized, container-shaped spaces, and deep, primary colored bulbs that all seem to point directly in your face or on top of your head, I always feel like I've just been sucked onto an alien space ship, and I'm about to be experimentally probed. In the restrooms, tight, airplane-style cubbies only add to that awkward, uncomfortable feeling, like maybe there could be bodies cryogenically frozen and stored in some of them, to be used for future experiments. Maybe if you're a sci-fi buff, these details won't bug you at all; you may actually find them kinda cool/unique/futuristic. As for me, I'm considering doing only take-out orders from now on.
(4)
Andy B.
Walking in, the atmosphere got me very excited for the experience. Menu looked great also. Although we made a reservation, we had to wait 20 mins for our table. When the waitress asks our table about allergies, I was happy because normally I have to awkwardly bring up I am allergic to shellfish. The wait for 5 sushi rolls was nearly an hour. As they finally came out, all different rolls were mixed on the same plate (shellfish and non). The waitress apologized and said she didn't inform the chef about the allergy (we all make mistakes). She said she would expedite my rolls and they would be out soon. 10 minutes, 15 minutes, 20, 30, 35 minutes later my two rolls came out. At this point, everyone at the table ate (annoyed). While my other friends watch me eat, one orders a 2nd glass of Chardonnay; she does not specify the type. Throughout dinner she orders 2 more glasses. As we get our bill, we realized the waitress ordered her the most expensive chardonnay at 17$ a glass. There was a cheaper glass at $8. The waitress explained that they were out of the cheaper wine, so the waitress took it upon herself to charge her $68 for 4 glasses of wine, without asking? After a complaint they comp-ed us ONE glass of wine. Another thing, the bathrooms were filthy. There were plenty of people working, at leaset ONE person could have kept them up. There are like 10 individual bathroom pods. One sink was clogged, toilet paper was all over the ground. One sink would not run water. I felt like they were glorified port-a-pottys. Overall: Atmosphere (aside from bathroom) is great. Food was good. Drinks over priced. Food over priced. Wait was so long. Service was horrible.
(1)
Josh Q.
This place is a solid Asian Fusion place, and I was pleasantly surprised that all the dishes were delicious, no matter the original cuisine. The sushi was fresh, the pad thai was the perfect blend of savory and sweet, and the taro spring rolls are the perfect way to end your meal. I know that many Penn students have an aversion to this place, but I never understood why. If it's only because the food is more expensive than other restaurants, then I think that is unfair. While somewhat pricy, I think it is still one of the cheaper Starr restaurants and offers very tasty options throughout the menu.
(4)
Mindy T.
Went here for my buddy's birthday. The crispy rice tuna is AMAZING. Everything else was mediocre. We ordered miso soup, stir fry udon, pad thai, and misc. sushi. The miso soup tasted like any other coming straight from a packet, and the server actually took it away while we were still working on it. So we notified them and they brought us out a new one. My udon was okay, had more taste than my girlfriend's pad thai. Sushi was just okay too. The only thing that left us yearning for more was the crispy rice tuna. We savored every last bite of it. As for dessert, I had the chocolate cake. It was very chocolate-y indeed. I couldn't finish it all and gave it to my friend, which he ended up devouring. I really like the atmosphere, it was set up in a way that reminded me of Morimoto's. We had a great time here with all of our friends, and we did leave with a full stomach. If we were to come back, it would be for you know what... CRISPY RICE TUNA!
(3)
Gwendolyn P.
I am surprised it doesn't appear that I reviewed this before since I have been here a few times. I really love the cool sleek environment and the service is on point and very professional. I love the kaiten (revolving ) sushi which is reminiscent of the time that I spent in Japan. The menu is eclectic and great for sharing if you go with a group. I have tried probably most of the menu and there was not one single thing I did't like! The rock shrimp is great, the dumplings are great, the pad thai delicious and so on and so forth.
(5)
Tina C.
Decent atmosphere, above average food, although a bit on the pricey side, but great cocktails and very prompt service. The clientele was very middle of the road even if the place tries to give off an edgey vibe. We went with 9 people and it worked out $65 per person with no dessert. I don't think it's one of Steven Starr's best restaurants. I would go to Morimoto than Pod.
(3)
Nicey J.
I like.. I went here for a birthday lunch .. and the service was great the food was great.. apparently my friend got some bad uni.. well not bad as in not fresh but it was a little off..no questions asked the guy took it off our check and told the sushi chefs? about it so they could figure out what was going on with it.. I like the prompt response.. the sushi was great.. the bok choy ? AMAZING and I'm VERY picky about bok choy and theres was delish.. I will be back pod especially since it's nice out and I can walk to you from work
(4)
Zachary D.
Cool decor, fun lighting, and great service make up for only mediocre food. The place looks cool. There are fun colored lights and futuristic tables and chairs. My group sat in one of the pods, which allowed us privacy for our conversations while still being able to look out at the restaurant. And, the pod even lets you change the lighting color, which we found amusing. The service was attentive and polite. On the other hand, my sushi was not great. To be fair, it was not bad either. But, the fish was just not of as high quality as I would hope for a trendy restaurant like Pod.
(3)
Walter K.
I've been on a Steven Starr kick recently, so when my Mom came into town, wanting to take me out, I decided to pick A restaurant that has easy enough parking, was expensive, but not too expensive, and a place that I've never been to. Pod, here we come. Upon entering, I was instantly impressed with the decor. All of the Starr restaurants that I've been to have a cool feeling, with Pod opting for neon lights, smooth flowing curves on all surfaces (chairs and ceiling included). Anime was playing on a screen in the background. There were three crowds: preppy college studs enjoying happy hour, small parties sitting around the long table with a built in conveyor belt on which small sushi dishes circulate, and small parties at tables. The service wasn't great, but I'm convinced that had mostly to do with our particular server, and was not representative of the restaurant as a whole. The menu has a not so varied far of Japanese, Chinese, and Thia dishes, sort of all combined. They use wasibi often and liberally, steer clear if you don't like it. I had the shrimp and scallop stiryfry. I liked my dish bestout of the rest at our table (Wasibi crusted filet mingnon, seseme crusted tuna, and veggie pad thia). Dessert was the best part, the sweet 18, which had 9 different bite sized desserts; coconut macaroon, chocolate covered banana, candied apricot, tofu donut, brownie bite, ect. Two of each, and perfect for a party of four. In the end, dinner was good, the place was kind of cool, but I just can't recommend it. If you're going to spend that kind of money, they're are many other places.
(2)
Carlos M.
It seemed stylish. Yet, we had to wait for the vip room thing even though we had a reserve (I think). Anyways, I can be a cheap guy at times. But, I can be willing to spend more if the money is worth it to me. Now, everything was super expensive, so out of the flood gates, it wasn't for me. I was there to have fun with my friends, that was it. Plus, I am not interested in sushi. Anyways, I had some shrimp. It was $12 I think. I had 3 Shrimp. Wasn't really worth it to me. I go to places to have good food, and to have fun with friends. I don't want to go to this place again, because I don't want to be wasting my money on really expensive food, that won't be really that worth it to me. I'm willing to shell out some more bucks at Han Dynasty (this is the only place I know of for now, hehe) It was meh to me.
(2)
Jana V.
I am rating the drinks, not the food, as I have never had food here. I want to hate this place, I really do. Sometimes you get swarms of teenage girls here and sometimes you get celebrities (like the dude from Entourage.) It's a strange place with a very -trying to be modern decor. However, it's practically the only place in U-city that you can get dressed up and go for a drink and lounge around. You can sit down, have some interesting cocktails, actually hear your friends over the lounge-type music, and you can be dressed in your trendy clothes and hang out. If that's what you're looking for, this is the place to go. The wait-staff is also very nice and attentive.
(4)
Katie N.
I have simple tastes when it comes to sushi so I will leave the detailed menu analysis to the other reviewers, but half the reason for me at least to come to Pod was for the experience as much as the food, and in the end neither knocked my socks off. The decor is cool....kind of like a futuristic airline terminal. But the ladies restrooms (which are modeled after airplane bathrooms by the way) left much to be desired in the cleanliness department the night I was there. (Got that Pod? For the amount we're paying, we shouldn't feel like we're in a REAL airplane) Pluses: Super friendly service (our waiter got a fat tip), deliciously addictive jewel-toned cocktails (I recommend the green one), and the fluffernutter spring rolls were delightful. I'm glad to have tried Pod, but I'm not necessarily in a rush to get back. Another one to check off the list!
(2)
Christina K.
Even though I've eaten here a few times with friends (a while back), I can't really remember how the food tasted. From what I can remember it was at the least palatable. However as far as upscale restaurants go, I do remember the portions being smaller than usual. The decor is pretty cool but the taste of the food is probably subpar for the price.
(3)
Faye S.
3.5 stars. I broke my own rule and went to a fusion sushi place and only ate rolls. =X I walked in, took in the cool decor, and immediately thought, "Err, this is going to be mediocre food at best." Experience has taught me the best places are the holes-in-the wall, and I'm usually skeptic of swank decor and frou frou. However, I wasn't disappointed! We sat at the conveyor belt and just kept grabbing stuff off as they chugged along happily in front of us. Spicy tuna was a hit, as were the other two rolls we got (which I don't know the names of. They're basically a much better spin-off of the California roll). The plates are color coded so you know how much your particular dish is. It is a bit overpriced for the amount you get (4 pieces), but I wasn't leaving hungry so I was happy. Oh yeah, we also tried the otoro and it was decent. Not great, but I've definitely had worse.
(3)
S G.
Love the futuristic ambience, love the asian fusion and the crazy color drinks.
(4)
Beth A.
We went here with another couple after rave reviews from several friends. First ...the food was superb. We had various sushi rolls (one ordered special and not on the menu and it was no problem) plus pad Thai noodles and a rice dish. Everything was superb. The service was also stellar. We made reservations online and although it was very crowded due to a function next door at U Penn...we were seated right away. The only bad thing was the bathrooms. Each is a separate room, like a Plane. That's not the problem...the issue was they were all filthy. We all used them and we all commented individually how disgusting they were. Hair and dirty papers on the floor, mess everywhere. They clearly had not been cleaned in quite awhile. They truly were just rank and it left a bad impression on the restaurant.
(4)
Dan C.
I came here in March for their Tuesday all-you-can-eat sushi deal. My group of 4 was fortunate to have gotten an extremely attentive waiter, who was nicely tipped. We came early, ate 210 pieces of maki/hand rolls/nigiri in 2 hours, and left extremely satisfied. That being said, I would never come here on a regular day. The food is mediocre considering how expensive it is.
(3)
brad C.
Accompanied a bunch of fairly discerning Asian palates to Pod last night. The lounge area has a cool vinyl seatscape, and the overall futuristic Daft Punk feel was echoed in the plastic covered menus. We had enough people (7) to be surprised with a "pod" table. After spending too much time playing with the lights (and nearly inducing multiple seizures), we settled on one of the least aggressive colors. We had a wonderful Caesar salad with a sesame seed dressing, a fairly uninspired and underdeveloped portion of lobster and miso, and really really good crab fried rice. My Samurai Jack drink let me down a bit. Tasty, but too many raspberry seeds to excavate from my mouth by the end of the night. While I wasn't blown away by the food, the overall dining experience including the atmosphere and staff was very good Brad's rating (out of 5): Price: 3 Food: 3 Drinks: 3 Decor: 5 Service: 5 Wild card: I think I've said this before, but Steven Starr knows his Caesar salads for SERIOUS
(4)
Bruce H.
POD is okay but not that great for the price. Definitely are better options in university city for the amount of money you spend. Plus you end up smelling like cooked food after you've been there because they clearly don't have great kitchen ventilation which bothers me a bit. I hate smelling like a restaurant. Their food is pretty good - their sea bass is delicious. The sushi bar is good. But overall, it's a lot of money for barely above average food.
(3)
Donna W.
Green Eyed Monster and Yellowtail.... a nice pairing. I've been here a few times for a quick bite and a full meal. I was satisfied each time. The decor leaves much to be desired.... very umpa lumpaish.... maybe a tad star trek meets mork and mindy. I just don't get it. To each his own!
(4)
Nirmal K.
Yes modern with hip crowd and pricey but some of the food is terrific that I go there for special occasions. Nice vegeterian options
(5)
Eugene H.
Food here is EXPENSIVE!! We tried out some sushi rolls and entrees which were pretty good. The kobe beef slices served on a hot rock was fun to try and it did melt in your mouth, but everything else here seemed way overpriced. On a side note, the bathrooms are totally designed like a bathroom in an airplane. Take that as you will.
(3)
Kimi K.
My favorite designed restaurant in Philly, but food are just average and pricey. The purple, blue, orange and green florescent lights make this place very modern and fancy. We didn't make a reservation, so we had to sit at the sushi bar. You can order food from the menu or choose rolls and sashimi from the rotating conveyor belt at the sushi bar. We tried bunch of rolls, and they were ok. Even though the food was just ok and pricey, I still recommend this place because I absolutely loooved the restaurant design and atmosphere. I would love to go back here for a girls night out!! Make a reservation for a booth!! It's for 6-8 people, and each booth has it's own color, and it looks marvelous. The each roll was pricey, but five of us shared and it came out about $20-25 average.
(3)
Joanne K.
Fun. I think it'd be a great place to go on a first date since there is definitely a lot to discuss about the restaurant itself, if conversation about other things lags: Anime, the Woody Allen film "Sleeper" (which is what the restaurant most reminded me of), the interesting menu, the sushi belt, the weird bathrooms, the pods themselves, the people watching... I went with a friend around 8 pm. If I went with a date, I'd go a little later ( 9 pm) since when we got there it was still pretty loud in the dining area and was a little hard to hear my friend (and the waiter). It could've also just been that we were sitting behind a (loud) group of roughly 20 people though. Maybe normally its better. I thought the food was a bit on the expensive side for what it was (pretty good, not great food), but the portions are pretty huge and if we would've shared entrees and appetizers we could've paid something far more reasonable for our dinner.
(4)
Ryan E.
It would be really easy to write a boring review about the boring food at Pod and also talk up the insanely expensive prices not to mention their mid-90s 'cosmo'ish cocktail list. I'll spare those details. Instead I'll tell you how I had a reservation for 9pm and was not seated until 10:15. I'll also tell you how the bar tenders don't know shit how to make a drink (I had plenty of time to get to know the bartenders while waiting for my seat at an overbooked restaurant. I might as well just continue this bitch session..... These places don't give a shit about food. They care about the almighty dollar so they'll overbook the place, charge astronomical prices. and rush you out. They're trying to hold on to a novelty as long as they can and convince the masses this is "cool" and worth spending your hard earned money. Don't be fooled. Pod is not worth your time.
(2)
L K.
Really bad attempt at fusion sushi... I like Stephen Starr's other restaurants in Philly (especially El Vez), as well as Buddakan in NYC, but this is just a disgrace to sushi lovers. I went here about a handful of times because friends wanted to try it out, but it was just bad food all around. As a sushi enthusiast, I was really disappointed, especially since I lived right near here and SO hoped for Pod to be good! The only good thing I can say about it is that the desserts are really unique and delicious, but skip the entrees and go straight for dessert!
(1)
Debbie N.
As a lover of Asian fusion cuisine, I was excited to find out that Pod was part of University City Dining Days. My first impression upon entering the restaurant is that Pod disappointedly sported a cheap modern look. I am all for modern decor, but cheap plastic tables and chairs? It was also loud. Like, REALLY loud. I had to lean across the table and scream in order to carry a conversation with my boyfriend. The food was decent. The beef and lettuce wraps were interesting, and the szechuan lamb chops were very well cooked. Although the food was okay, the restaurant failed at creating a nice dinner ambiance. Pod feels more like a university cafeteria - loud and full of drunken students. I left the restaurant with a pounding headache - and NOT from drinks.
(2)
cotie s.
A small caveat with my review is that my wife and friends dined at Pod a couple years ago. As far as decor and atmosphere I've never been to a restaurant like Pod. Spacey and plastic molding design everywhere you look, even the bathrooms are cool looking! The service was pretty goo and our food came out as it was made, so we all got to sample each other's selections. The sushi we ordered was good and the drinks were served quickly. I don't remember exactly what everyone else ordered, but I remember enjoying the food. The only snag was that the meal I ordered (duck) was disappointing. The duck was well seasoned and the skin crispy, though the duck meat was dried out and not moist as most duck I've had. Even when dipped in the sauces provided I was left unsatisfied. I would recommend Pod if you've never gone before because it is a place worth going to at least once. Personally, especially for the price, I probably won't go back.
(3)
Chelsea P.
Pod holds a special place in my heart because it's the first time I tried sushi. Loved it! Bias aside, it is a trendy little place with great food. I was here with a group and we got one of the circular rooms that change light colors when you hit the buttons on the side of the wall. Super fun! Felt like I was eating in a space ship :-)
(4)
Louis D.
On it's own, the food really wasn't bad. It wasn't the best japanese food I have ever had, but certainly would fall under the "nicer" category meals, and everything we ordered was fine. However, it was overpriced for what it was. The sushi tasted fresh and was interested, but was nothing special. Overall, I thought it was a little over the top, both in ambiance and food presentation. I probably won't be going back because I think one can get food as good or better without all the bells and whistles.
(3)
Lynn W.
The only great thing about this place is that it is close to the Wharton school. The wait can be long even with a reservation. I went there twice with a group of 6-7 people. Inevitably, at least one order is always late/missing. The food is good otherwise. I especially like their bok choy side dish
(2)
Dominique N.
The decor is great, the food was good, the lighting heavenly. The sexy sleek look of Pods interior would impress any out of town visitors or dates. But what dazzled me about this beauty were its restrooms. John, shitter, WC, or loo, Pod's bathrooms are proof of gods love of humans. These amazing unisex stalls are spacious enough for u-n-i-sex ;). How progressive that men, womyn, trans, and intersex, can all share the same queue without waiting in inequitably long lines. This is also a great convo topic to chat up some eye candy in line. My mother always says that the quality of a restaurant's bathroom will tell you about the cleanliness of its kitchen. Considering I felt like i could have comfortably eaten in those neon stalls, I think that is the highest compliment I can give pod. :)
(5)
M P.
Pod is great if a) someone else is paying or b) you're there for one drink/light meal/not going to spend a lot. The dinner menu is not worth what you pay for it, which is upwards of $30+/person. Mixed drinks can run as much as $10-12 and, though the ambiance is 'interesting', its a bit much. The decor looks like an early 90s interpretation of the indoor of a futuristic spaceship. The pods (private round table booths) are great, but you need at least 5 people to reserve one. They won't let you sit in them even during lunchtime on a weekday, when the place is relatively empty (I've tried twice now). Food-wise, the sushi is very good, the Kobe burger is tasty (and huge!), and the fries are crispy (if you're into crispy fries, you'll love it). The desert sampler is a fun way to try a little of everything, so I'd recommend saving room for it.
(3)
Terry C.
Snazzy interior design: CHECK Odd modular non-IKEA furniture: CHECK Retro and unobtrusive lighting: CHECK Chic wait staff and cute bartenders: CHECK and CHECK Conveyor belt endless maki: CHECK It has all of the conventions of a cheesy sushi establishment, but the food is good quality. Not only is it a sushi bar, they also offer a wide range of Pan-Asian foods to delight and indulge everyone in your party. The Crab Fried Rice is awesome, the crab rolls kick ass, and the noodle dishes are magnificent. Drinks here are good - but beware - anything that's named after a color will probably have you laid out by drink 4 or 5... I recommend the RED or ORANGE!
(4)
Brendan K.
Like eating on the set of 2001: A Space Odyssey. I eat lunch here about once a week and usually go for the Kaiseki express menu. The Kaiseki menu offers 5 different choices all with miso soup, house salad and rice and for between $12 and $15 dollars you can't beat it. It's also really fast, to the table in under 15 minutes. Sushi is reasonably priced and pretty good. They don't always give you an a la carte sushi menu so go ahead and ask for one. Good choice for a quick delicious lunch in the Penn area.
(4)
Stacey S.
A 2-word description of this place: "Morimoto Lite." Clean, colorful, modern atmosphere. Tried the eel roll, veggie tempura, double duck noodle bowl, lamb lo mein & a dessert of which I cannot remember. Service was good, food was decent- expensive yet worthy. (I am a huge fan of Morimoto's restaurant.)
(3)
Hien T.
Food was delicious. Some of us got sushi, some got udon noodles, and one got the kobe burger, and all were impressed with the tasted. Portion, however, can be on the smaller size. The deco was fantastic. We got to sit in the booth where you can change the colors of the light, which gave us lots of fun. We definitely will come back!!!
(4)
Vincent J.
Pod is not all that. I had been there some years back and loved it. Things have changed. The sushi was good, but there is much better in the city. The food dishes were lackluster. Small portions and big prices.I know times are tough, but yikes. To top it all off the service sucked. ( They really need to learn how to wait tables there)They are off my list.
I just tried Pod for the first time, and it was awesome! Inside the restaurant was very futuristic, on that note alone I was happy. The food was excellent, although not very filling. I really want to come back and try something else!
(4)
marykris g.
DO NOT GO TO ALL YOU CAN EAT Sushi I was really excited to hear about Pod's promotion for all you can eat sushi. I think in theory it was a great idea. However, in practice it was a nightmare. We had a reservation for 9:45pm, we were seated at 10pm. After following the strict orders about what you can and cannot order, we ordered with our waitress who I must say was really friendly. We waited an hour and ten minutes for 2 maki rolls, 1 hand roll and a few pieces of nigri. The manager came over and apologized for the wait and gave us free pot stickers. We decided not to wait another hour and a half for our second serving of "all you can eat sushi" and left. The staff was nice and only charged us $25 but it still was not worth the price or wait. As we left we could see probably 50 other tables that did not have food either. I would go back, but not for an all you can eat sushi night.
(1)
Aurora A.
I'm was visiting philly this weekend and had the occasion to eat at Pod. Boy was it an wonderful experience. we started with the crispy chicken wings (the name does it no justice) and they were some of the best wings i've ever tasted. The sauce was light, slightly sweet, and tangy. Our next taste was the cured salmon salad. Delicious. The next big WOW was the rocking spicy tuna roll. Now, i know my spicy tuna roll and this is no average encounter. They put a piece of shrimp tempura in a tiny ball of goodness on top of the roll. The flavors are so dead on, it's sick! But that's not even what blew my mind! The glazed chilean sea bass is blow-your-brains-out ridiculously delicious. Butter but light, sweet, perfection. Then i topped it all off with the pumpkin pie napolean. It was all amazing.
(5)
Jing G.
To be honest I don't know if this restaurant really earns a full 3 stars. I've been here a handful of times (I tend to give places a couple of tries) and at all times it has been just ok. One of the times I went was with a party. They did pretty well in accommodating us and serving us pretty quickly, but I remember the food was the usual unremarkable fusion, which generally can be underwhelming anyway. One of the more recent times I went I ordered something like the salmon and it came in a very average teriyaki sauce. The side of mushroom fried rice was a little bit above average. Never got to sit in one of the actual pods, but I can't imagine that sitting in a mini - room where you can control the lighting would make it THAT much better, unless you happen to be around 10 years old (no offense to anyone who DOES happen to find that the best restaurant invention ever.) The sushi conveyor belt may be one of the few available around here, but I'm pretty used to them from visiting back to Japan so often that the novelty factor just does not weigh into my rating at all. Overall, a cute place to go for something "novel" in terms of a restaurant concept, but expect just okay to a little-better-than-average food. It's fusion, but it's really not terribly creative at all. And by the way, the latest time I was there a server was apparently not assigned to us even though somebody seated us. We waited more than 10 minutes before we finally flagged down a random server. I almost left.
(3)
Carrie E.
Yep, it looks really cool inside, which kinda gets your hopes up that you're going to have the dining experience of a lifetime. But when foodtime comes along, well, let's just say that it's not bad but it's not great, either. If you like fancy drinks, waiters that ignore you to flirt with other waiters and a big bill, then this is the place for you. If not, then grab sushi and a sixpack and then sit on your porch. You'll have just as good (and maybe even better) of a time. And you won't have to listen to any stupid techno music while you're trying to have a conversation. PS. The bathrooms will make you feel like you're on a spaceship. So at least that's...interesting?
(3)
Emily P.
Oh, the camp! The camp! The horror! The camp! It's, like, soooo bad sixties-spaceship-mod-movie in there I can barely take it. Plastic chairs and all! - Oh Steven Starr, you really do pull out all the stops. The food was decent but nothing that couldn't be had at any respectable sushi joint. The drinks were... colorful. The menus were... plastic. (buh?!?!) ...Classy. Our waiter kind of forgot about us for a while, then came back with some long-winded story about being kidnapped by a group of Penn kids (yo, I know how they can be, but that diatribe didn't even make sense! and I totally saw you flirting with the other waiter - you could've been honest about it, I might have even found it endearing.) The bathrooms were intense. As soon as I walked in I felt like I was trippin' ballz. I mean shit, there's so much color and the texture on the walls + that lighting + shadows in a small modular space = holy crap, maybe we really ARE in space. Or maybe this is what an airplane bathroom would look like if you locked yourself inside and had only E and shrooms to eat. I bet this place would be fun if you actually *were* trippin' ballz. Go for a drink and lock yourself in the bathroom for a while. The sensory overload or sensory deprivation would be totally worth it.
(3)
Nash G.
During my first year in grad school at Penn, I lived in one of the towers across the street from Pod. I used to meet people there occasionally, only actually eating there a handful of times. The food wasn't bad, but it wasn't remarkable, either - especially given the price tag. If you're the type to want to hang out there, you won't care what anyone writes about it - forgive my heavy-handedness, but it was usually packed with the douchey-est subset of Penn undergrads you could imagine, probably fresh out of the Urban Outfitters around the corner and sporting their parents' Amex. I am getting chills just picturing it. I gave it an extra star just for having bathrooms I'd imagine having sex in. I mean, if I were the type. Just sayin'.
(2)
Miguel C.
I came in with a party of 6, and we each ordered an appetizer and a main dish to share family style. It was a Tuesday night, and the ambiance was nice - good for us to have a good chat. I particularly liked the fish dishes. Service was fairly timely. The final bill is on the pricier end, so I wouldn't go here very frequently. But once in a while is nice.
(3)
Jillian G.
The sushi is excellent here and not overpriced. Great place to take fellow diners that don't like sushi/"ew its raw fish!!"...there are many items to choose from to fit all types of palates. The decor is weird but whatever. It is slightly distracting to see UPenn kids bring their out of towner parents to the most "far out" restaurant in West Philly. I have overheard many "this is what its like on a spaceship" comments. ugh My favorite part of this restaurant is the martinis you order by color. I've had them all and the Blue is my favorite. Green is a close second. Pink is also good. hahaha
(4)
Heather D.
** 3.5 Stars ** Went here for a business lunch and was satisfied. The decor is quite remarkable, and despite looking otherwise, the chairs were actually comfortable! Most of the group got the lunch special, which includes an entree, miso soup, rice and salad. It was a lot of healthy food, but overall a bit bland. The service was also quite slow, especially for all the staff that was present. Seek this place out if you appreciate your servers to be eye-candy. This place seems most suited for a large group on a special occasion. The prices aren't unreasonable, and the decor creates a fun atmosphere. The menu seemed varied enough to satisfy a range of palates.
(3)
Alezander W.
I went here on a Friday night with my friends during the University City dining days period with my friends in late July. We didn't have a reservation, but were seated at the sushi conveyor belt. I love the colors and theme of the restaurant as well as how you can book a "pod" that changes color with the push of a button. Three of us ordered off of the special menu. Anyway, the appetizers ordered consisted of potstickers, california rolls, and I think egg rolls, perhaps. All were pleasant. For the entrees, my friend got the shrimp pad thai, which was in a huge bowl, one probably bigger than my face. The salmon I got was very small, but still quite deliciously fresh. My last friend ordered only a bowl of rice, but it was probably the biggest bowl of rice I've ever seen a restaurant give! For dessert, we all had brownies with coffee ice cream on the side and let's just say, it was the best brownie I've ever had! It was warm, gooey, and just so good. The plate was spotless when I was done with it. In total, the meal was about 100 dollars for four people, but it was definitely money well spent.
(4)
Zachariah Z.
As far as aesthetics go, this place will melt your mind. I was in PA for work a while back. I asked the hotel clerk "where can I score a decent plate of sashimi while having my face humped by anime robots?" Unfortunately, they couldn't locate such an environment, but were glad to suggest this gem of sushi restaurant. I was with a party of ten coworkers and were fortunate enough to also get the POD. The POD is one of two bright white, round rooms that anchor the place in the back of the restaurant. Its kinda like that one Kubrick film....God, i can't think of it. You know that one, with the little space ships and talking computers. I remember its set in the future. I'm really bad at pop culture. Anyways..... You sit a little higher up than the dining room floor, so you can look out, point and laugh at the rest of losers in the restaurant who didn't get to enjoy this experience. There are a series of 9 big buttons on the wall, arranged like the blocks on "Hollywood Squares". You may, at anytime, push these buttons and the ENTIRE room will change that color. It is not subtle, by any means. It is BRIGHT pink, purple, red etc. Be warned, eating Maki that looks florescent green doesn't help it go down any easier. I felt like projectile vomiting out the port holes, on to the other patrons of this fine establishment. That would have been embarrassing. Let's get serious for a second, sorry reader. Jeez. Where are my manners? Talking about vomit on a review for a sushi restaurant is not cooth. (Were you just wondering what "cooth" meant? No? I'll tell you anyways. It is a Scottish colloquialism, meaning to be polite or well mannered. I just googled that shit.) Let's get to the heart of the review. Not 5 stars because I have had better sushi, but it was not bad by any standard. It was actually quite good. But the brilliant design by the Rockwell Group made this an amazing experience that you will have to see for yourself.
(4)
Ninh N.
I've been to POD several times but I recall one time last may. My sister and I ordered the wasabi filet, sushi and shrimp tom yum soup. Everything was delicious, unfortunately I found fruit flies in my soup. I didn't want to make a scene and told my waitress, she took it away and apologized. The manager (dark hair with glasses) comes up to me and apologizes and said "you know, its summer." was that the answer to why there was flies in my soup? They offered me another soup, I said no thank you. They offered free dessert but I didn't want any, and they refused to take the soup off my check. So I paid for the soup I didnt want to eat. The food here is good, unfortunately the incident that happened to me a year ago wasnt.
(1)
Jessica A.
I can here Saturday night for my friends birthday! And let me tell you, the food was absoultely amazing! The Sushi was very fresh and I ordered the Mandarin Shrimp stir fry - Awesome! I also tried the crab meat fried rice and it was also delicious!
(5)
Three R.
fun place, good price enjoyed it
(3)
regina c.
Been there twice. Once cause I made a mistake on the date. Great food good staff! wonderful Martini. Who would have thought carrot, orange and ginger would be so delicious. Can't wait to go back
(5)
Hannah M.
Staff: All very friendly and helpful. This was what made me bump this from a 2-star to a 3-star. Atmosphere: The music was trendy and not too loud. You didn't have to shout over everyone. The dining area was too cramped though that I kept touching the table sitting next to me. Food: TL;DR Review: Glorified chinese takeout. Not worth the price. I started off with the sashimi - or so I thought. They brought out my meal (Duck duck udon) before the sashimi. The sashimi ended up being the best part of the meal, and at $6 for 2 pieces actually was a reasonable price. I would order it again. I tried some of my friend's sushi too - it was average. Not bad, but not outstanding. I've had better for less money. My entre, duck duck udon, was decent but they didn't specify that it was more of a soup in broth - it was so hot to eat and not what I wanted on a muggy day. I though it would be more of a salad. There were only a few pieces of duck in it and the dumplings/wontons tasted like take-out. Not really worth the $15 but the portion was VERY generous; enough to take half of it home for lunch the next day. The thing that irked me the most about this place is that they ran my credit card twice. Although one of them only went through and one of the charges stayed in pending and disappeared... this can be annoying. I'd stick with cash if you go here.
(3)
Nikki J.
I've been to Pod several times (most recent - last night). I've yet to have a negative experience. The food is always great, the drinks are always yummy, and the service is always 20% tip worthy. I love it here.
(5)
Gina L.
I went to this place on Saturday. The desing of the place was not the greatest, the plastic chairs were not the most comfortable, however, the food and the serve were great! We ordered albacore sushi and Rio Grande roll, they were excellent! Also, I ordered sea bass and japanese sweet potatoes, and it was great! My hubby ordered kobe skirt steak, it came without a side dish, which we did not realize, so the sever brought out wasabi mashed potatoes within minutes. It was great! For desert, we got their new item, cheesecake, it was delicious. The food may be a little on a high side, but it's worth it.
(4)
Stephy S.
I've always wondered what it would feel like to get drunk inside of a Mac computer and now I know! And it's pretty damn cool. I came here the other night after a very long night of party throwing, drinking, drinking and some more drinking and I really enjoyed it. From what I understand, it's usually a bit cooler and we hit it on an off night, but I still thought it was cool beans. I also had a chance to partake in one of my favorite hobbies. Yep, drunken bathroom photography. Maybe it's just me, but I love cool bathrooms. Sure, anyone can pop in a sink, screw in a light bulb and put in a toilet, but when a place takes the time to really create an atmosphere, well, they get much of my Blackberry Curve's camera attention! On this night I probably shot a good 15 pics in here and they all turned out really cool, IMHO. As for the food here, I didn't try it, unless you consider vodka a food, which i do. And limes, limes are food, right? :)
(4)
Anisha H.
AHHH My fav restaurant in Philly - I miss it sooo much!!!! ok yes it is definately not cheap but its a fun place to go with a group of friends. the place - they make you sit in Pods if you are a party more then six...and you can change the lights and its pretty kewl!! Sushi - they have a sushi train which is awesome...you see the chef making the fresh sushi in front of you and they put it on a train which you get to choose from....two thumbs up!! The food --- okk the fix menu in the pods...is TONZ of food!!! we went here with a bunch of friends - we were eight of us and we got through apps and the first course and had to pack the rest home!!! we were soo stuffed with the sushi and the apptz...we couldnt eat anymore.... it was sooo sooo good...but ofcourse we had room for the desert platter...lol Definately a great fun place to hang out to...and a great place to people watch ;)
(4)
Jen L.
Another Steven Starr restaurant? The place is neat-o, but I guess that can get old kind of fast. The bathrooms are kind of cool, and the 'pods', where they let larger groups sit, have mood lighting you can set yourself. If you're a small party, you can sit at the back bar/food area, where a little conveyor belt carries tiny plates of food round and round, you just grab what looks good. Sort of a serve yourself dim-sum, I guess. It's a different kind of experience, with lots of interesting choices off the menu, with a heavy focus on seafood. I liked the crab spring rolls A LOT, and also enjoyed the chicken potsticker dumplings. I was in a party of four, and we all ordered something different. The drinks are pricey, so be prepared to shell out the bucks if you imbibe. Four of us ate and drank for about $250, so that will give you an idea of what to expect.
(3)
Jen D.
If I just had to rate this place on decor, I'd give it 5 stars. The decor is what makes this place so interesting. Otherwise, it's overpriced asian fusion cuisine that doesn't taste very good.
(2)
Michelle K.
Get ready for more out of town reviews from me. Pod is a 3.5 star place, just as the Average Rating suggests. 4 stars for decor: yay for the chairs, the lights, and the martini-sipping well dressed crowd on a thursday night, but nay for the all-metal bathrooms that tried to go too futuristic. 5 stars for service: our waitress was attentive, answered q's, and most importantly was very professional when my friend realized she had ordered the wrong sushi rolls...and left us with the "wrong" food for free. So in the end we did get the right amount of food for our money! 3 stars for price 4 stars for food: i highly recommend the U love salmon2.0 rolls! (Smoked salmon wrapped tasmanian salmon and mango maki served with soy glaze and mango cream sauce). If you're not at the sushi bar, make sure to ask for a separate sushi menu so you're not limited to the combos (read: more expensive/complicated sushi) on the regular menu. If I lived in Philly, I wouldn't return too soon, but I was happy to find a decent restaurant in University City on our one night in town.
(4)
Matt L.
I love Pod. I really do. For 10 years, I've been going here for fresh sushi, well thought out cooked food, and fantastic drinks. In college, I was all about the sushi bar and happy hour. Then I discovered the bento box lunch. For $15 I could have a great meal and typically have enough food to take home for dinner as well. Plus, it's affordable for a nice meal with friends or to go pick a prof's brain about something. Then I came back for grad school and all of a sudden had a recruiting budget. This is where I got to know Pod. Pod Caesar? Best in the city. Seriously dee-lish. The teriyaki Kobe burger at lunch? Even my mom, who HATES Japanese food, liked this burger. The Tuna Hand Roll 3 ways? MMM...although I do chuckle like a 12 year old at the title. U-Love Salmon special? You're right, Pod... I do. And let's not forget the Bao goodness in the Duck two ways... Those of you who actually read my reviews (i.e. Ali E. and occasionally Monica) know I love me some steamed bread. So with that, a good friend of mine was in town, so I procured a 9:15 for me, him, Ali E, and her beau and we went for some all you can eat sushi. I got there a few minutes late, and they told me they couldn't find my rezzie and that I was the first to arrive. I go to check my coat and see a text from my friends that they're already seated. Hmm. Overwhelmed and somewhat rude host desk. Good start to the day. We sit and it's a hot trannie mess in the restaurant. HUGE plates of maki coming out left and right for the All you can eat festivities. In terms of selection -- they pretty much had all the basics. Not the cheap stuff. Good fresh salmon, snapper, bass (which is actually super tender and not fishy at all here), fluke, yellowtail. A few shellfishes I don't eat. Basically your choice of maki, hand roll, or nigiri. And if you want spicy? sure? crunchy? sure...well...sort of (my penn roll lacked that quaker crunch). I don't think we were aggressive enough with the ordering, what with the pay a-la-carte for everything you don't finish, but we ate well. Waits were long, as we were in the restaurant almost 3 hours for some sushi. But I was full as hell when I left and very pleased with my meal.
(4)
Alicia O.
I don't remember much about the sushi at Pod. It was good, but not amazing. I do remember the chairs, the bathroom doors, and the lighting. I guess that's the whole point. I would like to go back again and try the conveyor belt. There needs to be more conveyor belt sushi in Philly.
(2)
Anna Marie C.
again, this is one of those places i end up going to because it's close to work. it's a stephen starr japanese/asian restaurant. it's pretty, it's modern--but i've never gotten to sit in one of the pods... i've never been here for dinner, but as far as the lunch goes... the good: crab pad thai. but then again, i have a sick love for pad thai. desserts are usually good as well. the alright: the generic (but decent) calamari salad. the sushi. and frankly, most of the rest of the menu. the ugly: uf, it's pricey.
(4)
Debbie G.
Was just there last night for drinks and apps. It's a typical trendy, loungy kinda spot, but still somehow a comfortable place to kick back for a drink after work. One thing I have to mention was the waiting staff here is unexpectedly really nice. I assumed they wouldn't be from the looks of the place, but it was pleasant surprise to find out otherwise. The dishes are definitely overpricey, I have yet to try their fancier sushi rolls, but the shrimp tempura maki and edamame i got was just fine. I'll have to give this place the dinner test soon!
(3)
Danielle P.
Great service, trendy and just plain cool decor, and the best sushi in West Philly. If you're in the University City area and you need to get your fix, this is a great option. They had some interesting specials, all of the usual sushi, and japanese dishes. My family enjoyed yellowtail, tuna, salmon, and some specialty rolls, as well as the fried rice. All good quality. They took care of my food allergies and I didn't get sick from any of the food allergies I worry about when dining at an Asian restaurant (shellfish, soy, wheat!) I wouldn't go out of your way to come here, but it's definitely a great option if you go to school at Penn or Drexel or if you're visiting!
(4)
Jenny K.
Pod is the perfect place for a date or a girls night out. Everything is cute and chill. I love the lychee martini here. The crab fried rice is my personal favorite. Be sure to call ahead for a 5+ group and request to sit in a pod
(4)
Seb G.
I was lucky enough to have the opportunity to taste many different plates thanks to being invited by a very generous host. All I can say is WOW. It's not only one of the most visually appealing restaurants I've seen in terms of style and decor but the food was unforgetable. Every single plate was exquisite; even the tofu, and I hate tofu. Pod is the best asian restaurant I have ever been inside or heard of. I would definitely recommend it if you find yourself in Philadelphia. Apparently a lot of celebrities frequent this spot.
(5)
James C.
Pod is great for the atmosphere and the food quality is A-OK. It might be on the pricey end if you are just looking for a quick bite to eat with friends or something. I always try to get the pad thai since I think that is the most bang for the buck and then some sushi. All the special rolls are good. Sushi is always fresh and top quality. Overall it is a decent place.
(4)
Tiffany H.
Literally the best sea bass I've ever had. Order it.
(4)
Tom B.
As I mentioned in my previous review, I imagined that Pod would have a pretty cool vibe going when the place was busy... Back in the day, I could only imagine such a thing because the place was practically empty during my first visit, despite the fact that it was at 7pm on a Thursday night (and it wasn't any busier by the time I left). Fortunately, I've been able to confirm my suspicions over the course of a couple visits since then. Went for dinner, went for lunch... Both times the place was packed, and the atmosphere was entirely different, much more comfortable and exciting. Oh, and the Rockin' Spicy Tuna roll is one of the best I've ever had in all my sushi eating days.
(4)
Cynthia X.
I like the fusion-ness of this place! It's proximity to the UPenn campus makes it popular for school events - the two occasions for which I came. One was a professor dinner, and the other a pre-interview dinner w/ the interviewer... So both times I couldn't concentrate too much on the food.. However, coming with a large group meant trying lots of things, my favorite is probably the pork belly buns. Sushi platters were good, but not memorable. Scallop fried rice was tasty, so was the chicken karage, edamame, udon, beef fried rice.. Etc etc. all good, but not memorable. Mochi ice cream is yummy :), but you can go to trader joes and get the same. Oh, and this place is Veg friendly!
(3)
Jodi S.
Went there for an early Saturday dinner. Calamari salad was outstanding. The dressing was good but delicious without it. BLT roll was good, not great but Bronzino was out of this world great!!! The staff was attentive without suffocating and management was obviously walking around to ensure a pleasant experience. This wasn't my first choice of restaurants this weekend but so glad I went and will be going back again for that Bronzino and great service!
(4)
Shushmita M.
Fancy dinner out on campus! Great sushi and appetizers. the ambience is different and can be cool for the first time, but personally not my type of place to go back several times. Though we kept going back for drinks and late night appetizers here, my friend andI did have a bad experience with a waittress almost 3 years ago. The atmosphere can be a little too stuck up and snobby for my taste. Overall, I'd say food is good but definitely overrated place.
(3)
Sarah M.
I love it here. The atmosphere was awesome and the place was so trendy. The sushi was amazing. I will definitely be back. you should definitely make a reservation so you don't have to wait for a table because the place is popular. All the servers make sure you were taken care of. I recommend it!
(5)
Susanna L.
Pretty pricey, but I love how modern the decor is. It has nice soothing purple glow. Food was pretty good, I had the sashimi platter for two, and a couple of little side dishes like the chicken kabob, dumplings, and chicken fried rice. Our waiter was great, he came by every once in a while to check up on us and tell us what each plate was. its a great place for a nice date btw. Not very loud at all.
(4)
shilpa p.
i love pod. it's a little pricey, but i don't mind going for sushi and dessert. the music is totally cool and i like the pink drink at the bar (tell them to go heavy on the champagne, i love champagne). i recommend the fondue tower. so yum.
(5)
Mike P.
I love Pod. The interior looks like Japan exploded inside there. Drinks and food are great. Also the service is fantastic. Once after a tough exam five of us needed a drink, so we needed over to Pod, and even though we were pretty ragged looking in our exam gear they treated us really well
(5)
Kap N.
the food is good here.
(4)
Jacqueline O.
Last night I came here for my sisters birthday. It was great. We sat in one of the large private pons and enjoyed a delicious meal with great drinks. She had called ahead to order off a set menu and it was incredible. They started with salad, Sushi, dumplings, fish on sweet potatoes with rice (to die for) chicken lettuce wraps, and then desert which was marshal low and peanut butter spring rolls, ice cream in a delicious putty shell and hot lava cake . It was so much food and each thing that came out was better than the last. I would recommend this place for large groups and I would record ordering ahead. Everything came out on time and we were never waiting. What a great place. Only thing was it did seem to be a little dead outside our pod. But with the private rooms it is like you are the only people there and it was a blast. Not to mention it changes colors as you push the buttons around you.
(4)
Ada W.
The decor of this place is super cute! And it's definitely great for a big group to have their private space in the few pods they have in the restaurant. The service is great and they were very attentive to our needs. The service was really fast but they didn't rush us out like most restaurants do which is a plus for me. We had the special tempura shrimp and jalapeno roll, short ribs from the robata grill, chicken potstickers and spicy lobster. They were all good but not great. I guess I expected more given how great the food is in other Stephen Starr restaurants. But I will definitely recommend this place and I will come back again if I crave for sushi or Asian food.
(4)
Grace L.
Although I am a huge fan of the design (the restaurant feels clean, sleek, and modern), the food was extremely subpar. My friend and I were seated promptly at a cute window seat, and handed beautifully created drink and food menus. Our waiter was prompt, pleasant, and filled up our waters consistently. However, our experience went downhill from there. I ordered the shortrib bento box, and while I enjoyed my miso soup immensely (it was full of flavor, in contrast to normal watery broth that asian restaurants usually serve), I could barely eat my salad (and I love salad!) or main dish. The first bite of the shortrib was decent, since the meat was cooked well, but the rest of it was much too salty and doused in gooey soy sauce concoction. My friend ordered a salmon avocado roll, which looked small but she said it was fine. Finally, we shared chicken lettuce wraps; I enjoyed the peanut sauce, but again, the meat was much too salty and covered in more sauce! I ate one bite and let my friend take the rest home. Will not be returning if I am paying with my own money; thankfully, many Penn professors take their students out to lunch here for free, so it would be worth it to come then.
(2)
Monica H.
Friends and I went to Pod for a birthday last weekend because we saw pictures of the amazing interior of the restaurant. The service was all very good and our waitress was super helpful and seemed to have the whole menu and all the specials memorized by heart. The interior had a futuristic feel which was very new and different. The food however, was just okay for the price. (We tried basic and specialty rolls). While the presentation and quality was very nice, the rolls just seemed to lack flavor. The cocktails seemed to sound very complex and tasty on the menu, but it was also just alright for $11. All in all it is a good place to try and experience once, but i feel as though you are really paying more for the atmosphere than anything else.
(3)
Charles F.
Best entree I've ever had, hands down. Chilean Seabass is now an addiction. Perfectly seared presented, this meal cannot be beat. Decor is cool and modern with PODs for group seating (you can change the color of the lights in the pods!). PRO- Decor, Seabass, drinks CON- Sushi was not my favorite. Rice was a bit dry. I'll go somewhere else for sushi and stick with the seabass
(4)
Ari P.
Mediocre overpriced sushi, good american food like rack of lamb. Ambiance is fun but the physical space is showing wear and tear.
(2)
Larisa G.
Hip place. Great service, very efficient and pleasant. We were seated right away and upgraded to POD seating which is the private room with weird lighting. Food is OK, but then again I may be spoiled by great food in NYC.
(4)
Kate R.
Great experience! Our server was great! Food was delicious & fresh! Sushi was yummy. My husband had the kobe on river rocks for an appetizer and lamb lo mein, which were both really good. I had the scallops ramen, which I probably wouldn't order again because I don't particularly like soup, but for a soup it was really good. The ambiance was fun & energetic! Drinks were delicious! We would definitely go back!
(4)
brian h.
I had to go into the memory vaults to write about this one (a nearly insurmountable task when you only have half a brain). One reason that I'm relying on memory is that I choose not to frequent this spot. The girls weren't bad looking, on my one and only Friday night visit. Posh places like this bar attract a certain type of girl...lovely to view, difficult to touch and, torture to talk to. They might as well be aliens visiting from another planet. Speaking of aliens, this bar looks like the inside of a fucking space ship! I'm a "meat & potatos" type of guy, I suppose. When I'm going out, I'm usually looking for a trad. pub, not the set from StarTrek. Be good or be gone.
(2)
Soojung C.
All you can eat sushi on Tuesday nights after 9 p.m for $25. Make reservations!
(3)
Nelson S.
On first glance this place looks like its trying too hard. Anytime you have a modern almost futuristic theme it tends to look dated quickly... kind of like how Tomorrowland probably looked futuristic for about 5 minutes. The plastic chairs are not comfortable and the wait staff looks like they are on Star Trek. But the food did not disappoint. We had a few of the nightly specials... a sushi roll with chilean sea bass on top, a soup with scallops and lobster, and a steak dish... and they were all awesome. And have the Samurai Jack. Great drink.
(4)
Jordan P.
A very unique and exciting restaurant. You will of course notice the decor and ambiance as soon as you enter. Very avant-garde and space-age, I was a huge fan, but I could see how some would see this detracting from the experience. The menu is a mix of traditional sushi and Asian (Japanese, Chinese, Vietnamese, etc.) dishes with some western European dishes as well. We ordered a combination and ate family-style, which was great because we all got to sample all the dishes. None of the dishes disappointed and we were very satisfied with the quantity and timing. I can't wait to go back again.
(5)
Alicia L.
This place has a great ambiance and is a really fun place to go in a large group, when you can get a pod and really enjoy the entire atmosphere. I've only ever tried sushi here but it set a really high standard for the rest of the sushi I've tried in the city; their maki maki maki was an amazing deal (it was $60 for about 45 pieces of sushi), it was easy to split between 3 or 4 people, and it was of excellent quality. The chicken lettuce wraps are a nice way to start the meal and are another great dish to share. Definitely not a place to go unless you are willing to spend a decent amount of money, but it is worth it.
(5)
Patricia S.
When I go to Philly, this is my go-to sushi spot. The rolls are all very fresh and well presented. My fave, which I cannot for the life of me get anywhere else, is the salmon, cream cheese and mango roll. Not traditional at all, but I had it the first time I went and absolutely loved it. Try some of the random special ones, they're all good. The only hot food I've had was the calamari which was give or take, but I'd get it again if a friend suggested. Tip: Ask for the sushi menu. They never automatically give it to you for some reason. Eat in or take out. Worth the fairly reasonable price for the atmosphere and reliably good.
(4)
Kaitlin H.
I had a fantastic time at Pod. The service was amazing. All of the food was so so good. The decor is definitely a little strange, but that doesn't take away from the quality of the food. Everything we tried we love.. the crispy tuna, tofu lettuce wrap, and lobster truffle roll stood out to me. Even the dessert was fantastic! It is certainly pricey for the quantity but each dish we tried was awesome!
(4)
Mark L.
I didn't like this place because it was on Penn campus and tended to attract a certain subset of students. Food itself is good though and the place has a funky vibe.
(3)
Justin M.
I guess some people value lighting over quality of food because the food here is really just ok, and oh so overpriced for quality of ingredients. $14 soup with three bites of duck? The lunch Kaiseki express is the only thing of value, and you have to endure unhealthy choices if you go this route. AND DON'T EVEN THINK ABOUT GOING HERE IF YOU WANT GOOD SUSHI. Again, it's a place to blow cash and be seen at Penn, and that's the only reason it's still around.
(3)
Nitasha S.
I LOVE POD!!! The food is so great, their sake mojitos are amazing! The atmosphere is great, friendly staff, and interesting furniture.
(5)
Mia L.
I usually love this place, but after getting take out today I am very disappointed and might not come back, even though I have been eatIng here religiously for 7+yrs. I found a whole twig - yes,twig as in wood piece- in my $20 Pad Thai!!! On top of that the salad had whole chunks of shoots that were not edible and when I asked for the crab sushi like dish I ate there a month ago the hostess sold me a $20 piece of crab!!! I don't appreciate this and find it disrespectful just to get lower grade food because I ordered take out as I didn't have time to go there to sit and eat. Pod, you have truly made me sad today.
(1)
Claire O.
Duck two ways, and the braised beef short rib over udon noodles. It was all over!
(5)
Javier O.
From the Decor to the conveyor belts and pods, this place is visually pleasing. The food is also very pleasing.
(5)
Michael C.
I would give this .25 stars if yelp allowed me to. if you're looking for a restaurant that strives for decor, but lacks in tasty dishes, this place isn't for you. The scene is pathetically decorated in their attempt for modern decor and yes, their food is NOT worth the price you pay. I could have had a better Japanese meal that cost me $10 this junk. Philly in general is terrible in sushi and this restaurant hits rock bottom. Go to Fuji instead down on Chestnut I believe. Steven Starr is a disgrace as a restauranteur.
(1)
Chris L.
Another Stephen Starr restaurant. I came here for the sushi and it was pretty good. However, I'm not sure if it justifies the high price that you have to pay for it. It's good, but you can probably get the same quality sushi at other places for a lot cheaper. They have a sushi conveyor belt at the restaurant, which I think is really cool. Other than that... just another place that stands out since it's Stephen Starr...
(3)
Sharon G.
No love in this food and the decor is "meh" (as yelp says).
(2)
Rachel A.
I can't say no to a man with tattoos and my experience at Pod was purely orgasmic. The food at Pod is amazing and reasonably priced, if not underpriced. It is economical bliss. I expected to pay way more and for appetizers, sushi, drinks and desserts for two. Our bill topped at $84 bucks. Not too bad. Killer ambiance and surprise after surprise, I find myself thinking about Pod time and time again. Pod is futuristic, offers everything traditional with a twist and is unpretentious. The place is like an outer space playground with ever changing colored lights, bubble ceilings, and white on white interior. The sushi boat is a world of its own and if you fancy anime, the screens are like windows of cartoons. I saw waitresses carry out birthday desserts with sparklers. It was like Fourth of July. The service is excellent (welcoming, accommodating, quick, and knowledgeable). Everything thumbs up. The ultra hot weather called for mocktails, one Cucumber and Apple Spritzer and one White Peach and Mint Soda. Both were refreshing and full of fresh fruit. We ordered the special Lobster Ramen appetizer, Tonkatsu Sandwich, and the Rockin Spicy Tuna. The Lobster Ramen was not soupy but had a creamy rich broth-like dressing. The lobster chunks were huge and tender, the vegetable medley offered crunch and the ramen was very fresh and not over cooked. The Tonkatsu Sandwich could easily rival David Chang's pork steamed buns. The Rockin Spicy Tuna was haute sushi. Sprinkled with black sesame seeds and prepared like little works of art, the spicy tuna was like a sushi hors d'oevre. It was topped with popcornlike tempura rock shrimp and microgreens. This all created for a filling meal but without hesitation we ordered dessert. If Pod's tactic to get people to order dessert was to send in a tattooed dessert man instead of our friendly waitress, then it surely worked. We were set on Chocolate Chocolate Chocolate (chocolate toffee bread pudding, chocolate shot with salted rim, and chocolate tart) but when the tattoo guy told us about the special Chocolate Flan we had to make our dessert choice Chocolate times 4. The tattooed guy was evil in a good way. Death by chocolate all the way at Pod. No worries, you will live to tell the tale of sweet decadence. I could easily devote a whole review to these desserts. Instead, just trust the smile on my face that they were all exquisite. I will add that the Chocolate Flan was light rather than rich and was complimented by an Early Grey Tea coulis and black cherries. I'd make a two hour trip to Philly from NYC just to indulge at Pod. It was really that good. For the formal writeup on Pod: spamisbetterfried.blogsp…
(5)
Herbie H.
I've been to Pod a number of times before (always for lunch) and always had a great time. I usually get the Kobe Beef Burger (which is absolutely incredible.) I met my aunt here for lunch, walked in, and was immediately overwhelmed by the number of people waiting to be seated. I think the hosts were also overwhelmed and after waiting for 10 minutes, we took it upon ourselves to sit at the bar and order our food there. I had the Seared Ahi Tuna Kaiseki Express lunch and my aunt had the Macadamia Chicken Stir Fry Kaiseki Express lunch. The portions were lunch appropriate and didn't leave me feeling hungry or over-full. Aside from the service being seated, our server (and bar tender) was attentive and very friendly. I'd love to go back for dinner.
(4)
Meg S.
I've come more than a few times, and each time has been consistently great. The chicken lettuce wraps and the yellowtail sushi are particular favorites, but I can't say I've had anything that wasn't really really good. Service is very professional as well. It has an interesting ambience, and if you have a group, definitely try to call a few days ahead and get one of the group 'pods'...otherwise you'll sit outside your entire meal feeling jealous as they change the colors inside. The only reason why it isn't 5 stars is because I've had similar quality sushi for cheaper and the ambience can feel really gimmicky the 5th or 6th time you come.
(4)
Yun W.
This is your typical mid-high end Asian fusion restaurant targeting out-of-town business travelers staying at the Inn at Penn. The menu is a pretty standard mix of Asian cuisine options (sushi, rice & noodles, stir fry, dim sum), and the quality is reliable and generally good although pricey. Out of the sushi options, my favorite is the rainbow roll which offers a fresh assortment of white tuna, yellowtail, tuna, and salmon. The noodle and rice dishes are also good, but not particularly remarkable. Service is friendly and generally prompt. Overall, the trendy ambiance and extensive drink offerings are really what give this place its character and keep it going, making it a great choice for recruiting and business dinners.
(3)
Alex X.
Wanna feel like you are in/from outer space? This place is it in University city area. It is hidden on a T street and not really out in the open. Unusual food. Unusual ambience due to the lighting perhaps. A perfect place to take your alien dates. Been here twice. Unique experience. You should try it at least once.
(4)
Danielle O.
Food is good. More sushi needed. Restaurant needs a good cleaning. Bathrooms were disgusting. Had a new server in training he was ok. The trainer/server Rose, never smiled. Seemed annoyed. Some of us were served and ate entire dinner while others waited for salads. When I asked the server several times where our salads were she said they were coming out as an entre or they were spacing out our food because we ordered so much food or some other excuse. When we were finished our dinners, or some of us were, the salads finally came out. Not worth the money. Needs cleaning Servers are unfriendly. Won't be going back anytime soon
(2)
Ted C.
HTTFG!!! = Hail to the Food Gods! This place is vibeing! Neat-o lights and decor! Cool personal bathrooms with green vacancy lights and mood lighting inside. My work team went here for a outting and I swear we tried everything on the menu from appetizers to desserts. There wasn't a single thing I didn't love. The two items that stood out was the Calamari Salad and Cappuccino/Coffee Ice Cream Brownie Dessert. I swear I ate myself to death here. Thank god I wasn't paying through, prices are slight above average. Nonetheless, this is just about the coolest place to bring somebody. There is also a separate Sushi Bar with a conveyor-belt.... the real deal. This place is great all around from food; to service; to decor. :D
(5)
Jen I.
I wasn't a huge fan of the decor. It's all white and cold and while I know that it's supposed to have a slick feel to it that' not my scene. Moving on to the food, this is where the 4 stars come into play. Service was really nice and quick and I was really happy that they offered a number of veggie/vegan options. The vegan stephen roll was great as was the grilled cauliflower and the veggie dumplings.
(4)
Naz O.
I went back and forth when trying to decide if I should give 3 or 4 stars to Pod. I'll just list the pros and cons and you can decide for yourself: Pros: -great food: extensive menu and delicious -fast service -takes reservations Cons: -I would say that Pod is on the pricier side for what it is. It tries to present itself as an upscale place, but I would say that besides the interior design (and diners I guess), there isn't much that's upscale about this place. -There is definitely a ventilation problem. Whenever I eat here, I leave smelling like fish and/or fried food myself (clothes and hair). So don't go here if you have just showered, because you'll need to shower again when you leave.
(3)
Jennifer M.
Very nice lunch spot. I got the shrimp pad thai which was $18! Luckily, I was able to save some for dinner to compensate the cost. Service was friendly and attentive. Location is right next to the Inn at Penn, making it convenient for students to take their parents out for a nice lunch or dinner. Atmosphere is definitely futuristic. It's like eating in the Jetsons era! I say, a solid 3.5 stars. The menu items reminded me of some of the items offered at Continental Midtown, such as their shoestring fries, calamari salad, and sea bass. I'll try the sushi next!
(3)
Woo K.
Pod offers a unique culinary experience with its interesting decor and atmosphere. The best word to describe eating here would probably be "fun" and would be a great place to go with a group of friends. However, while quality of food at Pod is certainly good, it doesn't live up to how much you're paying for it. It's not the best sushi you'll find, but it'll certainly get the job done. I would definitely come here at least once, not for the food but for the unique atmosphere.
I went here for the first time, and I thought the food was great. We had a large party and we ate family style, we shared everything. The highlight for me was the lobster roll, I'm drooling just thinking about it. The crab fried rice was also delicious. Honestly, everything was pretty good! Our server was also great, she knew everything about the menu and timed the serving perfectly. We never felt overwhelmed. I thought it may have been a little overpriced, but the food was decent. All in all, I would come back here again, but it isn't on the top of my list.
(4)
K C.
Food is rich, but in the way that makes you feel like ugh afterwards. Overpriced. Loud, drunk people at the front. Tries to be fancy, but really, isn't.
(2)
Richie D.
2nd time we were here. Great atmosphere. Waiters can be a bit stuffy and pretentious but that's Philly. Pod has a great selection of apps and drinks. We order all apps on many occasions at certain restaurants and this is prime for that. Can't get by all the app selections to order a main course, maybe next time.
(4)
Carl S.
I have been restaurant hopping in Philly and this was the only restaurant I found to be overated. I think you pay too much for what you're getting. The food quality and presentation was so-so. The ambience is really unique. The bathroom stalls remind me of the airline restrooms. I went there with a group and we sat inside one of the "pods". There's a wall of buttons that change the light colors and it was all overwhelming to see and enjoy our food. We ordered a variety of food that was recommended to try. I had the galbi tacos which was too flavorful. The lettuce wraps was boring in taste. The udon noodle and tofu sitr fry was just as boring as the lettuce wraps. The kobe beef was too little. The spicy tuna crispy rice was good, but not as amazing as I had hoped. When it came time for dessert, we got the ice sculpture. Based on the name, I was thinking something visually appealing. But when we got our dessert, is was a few small ice cream scoops piled on a cylindrical block of ice. Very unimpressive. For the flavors, there was carrot, guava, pineapple, and others I cant remember. Honestly, I could only taste 2 flavors: guava and pineapple. Thats why I only remember so few. If you're paying this much, you expect good flavors and quality. However, I could walk into another mom and pops and get the same thing for less. I know its a asian fusion restaurant, but you're better off eating at an authentic asian restaurant that masters these dishes. This review is just based on my opinion and my experience. There is definitely more on the menu I have not tried. Service was also very welcoming.
(2)
HR Muffinstuff M.
Food was great. A bit pretentious and the wine prices are unusually high.
(4)
Julie G.
I thoroughly enjoyed my evening at Pod, even though I didn't get to experience it from an actual pod (which I hear is pretty rad). I went with one of my friends and we sat in a two-seater booth that was basically like a wall cubby, so it felt kind of cool as well. When you walk in, there is a really hip kind of swanky vibe to this place, so I course was feeling it. I especially liked the anime videos playing above the sushi bar and the large multicolor lights that resembled bubble gum on the ceilings. To start my friend and I shared the crab spring rolls, which were pretty unique, as I've never had anything like them before. As a main course, we shared the sushi/sashimi tower, which was very fresh and just enough food for two people ($65, so quite reasonable). The drinks were creative and tasty and the owner (or manager, I can't recall at this point) bought us a round on him (thank you!). I would highly recommend Pod to anyone looking for a unique time and great meal in Philly.
(5)
Jen L.
What a gem in University City! After a long day at work in the area, the yellow martini (passionfruit vodka in yuzu juice) was just what the doctor ordered, literally. I tried the pork belly steamed buns, which tasted akin to David Chang's Momofuku buns. The Shiro-Aoi roll was delightful ... the spicy white tuna and yellowtail were "melt in my mouth" delicious, and the jalapeno slices added a nice kick. For dessert, definitely recommend the chocolate bread pudding. As an added bonus, the interior decor is quite chic and futuristic with just a touch of Asian kitch meets Clockwork Orange Milk Bar. I'm definitely a fan.
(5)
Christine B.
When I was at Penn, POD was my go to spot for date night. At the time, it was definitely one of the nicest restaurants in University City. Now, older and wiser, it's still good, I'm just not as impressed as I once was. When a friend suggested it for dinner, I jumped on the chance to go back. I used to always get the pineapple shrimp tempura, and I'm happy to report that it is still delicious. That's really the only think I need to order here. The spicy sauce is kind of reminiscent of sushi spicy sauce and with the sweet chunks of pineapple and the crunchy walnuts it makes for a terrific dish both in taste and texture. I also tried some sushi, the spicy crunchy yellowtail, and spicy tuna. The yellowtail was pretty good, it had slices of jalapeno in it, but was kind of falling apart. The spicy tuna was very disappointing. I really couldn't taste any spice, and the tuna itself wasn't that great. Overall, the sushi was just meh, which is disappointing because its on the pricier side. Also tasted the kobe beef which is pretty awesome. Who doesn't love having meat cooked on a rock at the table?
(3)
Rachel P.
The only plus about this place with the decor. The inside was filled with colorful lights and cool furniture. Definitely suited for a younger crowd. I came with a group of 10+ girls so we got a private room "bubble". It was so fun to play with the different colored buttons placed around the room that changed the entire bubble's color. The food was...eh. My friends and I got a mix of sushi dishes and little meals. First, they were extremely overpriced. The food was good but definitely not worth the high price tags. It was nice to visit and see the place, but I would not go back because the food did not meet my expectations.
(3)
Kchi S.
I wish they had half stars as this was not so bad as to be a 2 but not quite a 3 so bear that in mind when reading the following.... Let me start with the fact that I am not a fan of sushi. So my score does not include that part of their menu. I noticed that the prices are pretty high for what it looked like others got so take that for what it's worth. I went for a quick lunch and service was fast enough but lacking in personality. My companion's app did not come until after she had her entree but her food looked great and she said it was quite tasty. She had the chicken with lettuce wrap and eggplant app. Smelled good too! I had the seafood rice which was about 85% rice so to me it was a bit overpriced. I could have fed a small family from the amount of rice they served! The rice was colorful and looked good but flavor was non existent. This happens when you try to season precooked fish and shellfish - it absorbs nothing once cooked. I had to ask for several different sauces, on the side, to jazz it up and then it really became tasty. Odd to say this but they put too much rice into this dish. Think it would have been better instead to have a bit less rice and concentrated on flavor and a little bit more seafood. The atmosphere is colorful and modern futuristic but it left me cold. The chairs are shaped like the Jetson might have had and while they are not uncomfortable they add to the coldness of the space. The hard floors and walls seemed to amplify noise and tables were placed way too close. So much so a woman hardly had to turn her head to comment on our conversation (in a nice way). For those reasons it was simply not an enjoyable lunch for me.
(3)
Brad P.
I've got to hand it to Pod for inspiring very strong opinions. This place is a divider of men and women. It is contentious. It is Steven Starr's great experiment in toying with human emotion, offering stellar experiences to some diners and awful ones to others. Just read the other reviews here and you will see that customer satisfaction results from machinations akin to those developed with an infinite improbability drive. The battle lines are clear and now I will weigh in. The food at Pod is really good. The wasabi-crusted filet mignon is excellent. The portion size is laughable but the flavor itself is unique enough to make it my favorite menu item. The mandarin shrimp stir-fry is very good. The sushi is good. It isn't the best sushi in Philly but it does the trick. The decor balances between slick and campy. The balance is skewed by the following two factors- 1. Sunlight 2. Your Blood Alcohol Content For example: Sober during lunch - "Those plastic cube-seats are tacky." Tipsy at 6PM - "Hey this place is kinda cool." Drunk at 11PM - "oh my god I am in a space ship." On the action-movie-parallel-satisfaction-scale, this place is Iron Man.
(4)
Rin Z.
Pod is where Penn kids go when their parents come in from out of town to take them out. Pod is where Penn kids go when their parents come in from out of town to take them out. Pod is where Penn kids go when their parents come in from out of town to take them out. Pod is where Penn kids go when their parents come in from out of town to take them out.
(3)
Asuka N.
I've been to Pod a few times in the past - once for their lunch special, and the other times as an evening stop for sushi. The ambiance is very fusion-esque, with seats carved out into the walls and isolated booths that make it feel like you're in an exclusive section of a club. It can get crowded Thursday-Saturday nights, but generally speaking, getting a seat isn't too difficult. As for the food itself - the sushi has been hit and miss. One time, my girlfriend and I got the sushi special, and the fish was very well-prepared. Another time we came, and we must've gotten the last batch of fish that was a few days old - it had the dried-out, chewy texture that is a no-no for sushi. I am a fan of the miso soup, though; you get a huge bowl that is pretty well-flavored relative to most watery miso soups that are served at sushi joints. As for the lunch special, it's pretty well-priced (around $12 or so, I think) and has decent food. I had salmon teriyaki the one time I had it, which was marinaded well and was cooked firmly, but not overdone. Until the recent renovations around campus, this was one of the classier places to eat at Penn. It's not top-notch food, and they probably charge a little much for what it is, but it's a solid spot for a meal if you're willing to pay a few more bucks.
(3)
Kelly P.
I. LOVE. BOK. CHOY. this place won the hearts of many of my drexel/penn friends, but i must say, i just don't get it. (side note: i dont eat sushi. not sorry.) the back room has AWFUL acoustics. have been to pod multiple times with groups and it seems that no matter which seating area i'm in, including the pods, i can't hear a damn thing my fellow diners are saying. i'm not going to totally trash this place because i love their specialty cocktails and desserts. try the fluffernutter spring rolls, you can thank me later.
(3)
Parker S.
Jetsons like decor meets asian food/sushi. I went with some friends and we ate psuedo family style. Everything was good but I couldn't tell you what I ate. I left the ordering up to everyone else aa the restaurant kicked my ADD into overdrive. There is funky lighting, anime playing on tv screens, a sushi conveyor belt, and bathrooms that seem like something I would find in a german techno club. With that said, you might understand that the vibe of the place is trendy. I can easily see how it would be too trendy for many people. I thought it was a pretty cool atmosphere but it did make it impossible for me to focus on much of anything. The service and food were good. Not the best food our service I've ever received but still much better than most places. My friends got a few drinks which they said were made well. I chose frim their limited but accrptavle beer list (all bottles- I ended up with a dogfish 90 minute). Overall its a good place if your looking for a specifically trendy place with good food and service. It is probably best suited fire a younger crowd, but the prices push the limit for what most younger people can afford.
(3)
Schuyler L.
Pod, you look so fancy from the outside! We sat at the sushi conveyor belt and it was really fun. It wasn't too busy the night we went so there weren't a lot going around, but what we tried was really good. On a busy night I can imagine you wouldn't need your server. The color of the plate matches a chart to give you the price. The sushi we ordered was good, not great. They were very accommodating in terms of menu items and the server was very very professional. I can see why Pod is priced as it is. It's in West Philly, but has UPenn prices.
(4)
Lenny Z.
Pod is a cutesy place. Just like the name, it is filled with pods, from the seats at the tables to the bathrooms. The staff was all very friendly and attentive. Our waitress began by inquiring about our allergies and took notes, and made sure to advise us through our meal. The bus boys always asked before taking anything away. And, the manager checked in on us. The food was pretty good. We had the shrimp and vegetable tempura, which was a very large portion. The tempura sauce was a little bit on the citrus side. Personally, I would have preferred it wasn't. I also had the miso soup. It was on the larger side, as it should be for $7. It tasted pretty good, but nothing to write home about. For my entree, I had the small sushi. This was actually pretty good for the price. There was about 7 pieces of sushi and two rolls, 6 pieces each. I really appreciated that the menu fully exposed what pieces of sushi I was getting. So often places post that it's the chef's selection and won't tell you what it is. This was topped off with the cheesecake, which was on the small side. But at this point I was so stuffed, it was best that way. All in all, the food was decent, but I've had better. I think the prices are more set as if it's one of the best in town, when average is more like it.
(3)
Yeqiao Z.
Tasty food, nice environment, good service, costs a lot.
(4)
Alexa S.
Here's a breakdown of the pros and cons of POD: Pros: 1. The atmosphere. I love fun, futuristic and modern places to eat. Being at Pod was like being in the sort of cool restaurant you'd see in a film. It has a really interesting atmosphere that isn't too pretentious, managing to seem posh yet casual at the same time. Eating here made me feel like a cool, sleek New Yorker! It was a fun experience. 2. Wait staff. Every waiter was friendly and helpful, refilling our drinks without request and patient in explaining menu options. Cons: 1. The food. This is a huge downside and if I dislike the food, not even a super cool atmosphere can make me return. There are MANY places throughout Philly and my home town area that are way better than Pod. The sushi selection was OK, with the [very pricey] lobster roll and the california roll both having good, quality meat, but the seasonings and spices used in the sushi tasted horrible! My shrimp tempura roll was overloaded with too much ginger, and it was far from easy to eat. It was almost...nauseating. I've never had that experience with sushi, not even raw. 2. The appetizers. Again, two major strikes against Pod. Not every app was bad, but the spring rolls, despite being recommended by the waiter, were bizarre tasting. The outside seemed powdery, so I almost felt like I was eating a pastry, not a spring roll. It's a fusion sushi place, so you're supposed to indulge a little when you go here. I don't mind healthy versions of recipes, but this one was simply gross. And again, the spring roll had a strange garlic-y, ginger flavor that made me nauseous along with the outer texture. 3. The PRICES. Wow. I've never spent so much on mediocre sushi and apps at a Japanese/fusion restaurant. You're essentially paying for the space ship-like, hipster atmosphere of Pod. The rock shrimp dish - another so-so app that had a very odd flavor - I got was over 15 dollars, and the sushi was expensive for what we got. I bemoan that Pod does not have food to match their awesome atmosphere. If only the food were better! I thought to myself. I would be back in a heartbeat. Sadly, I can say that the sushi and apps at Pod were likely the weirdest and most oddly seasoned [and in a bad way] dishes I've ever had at a sushi/fusion restaurant. This place will catch your eye with its cool, artsy vibe, but the food fails to deliver - and it will make you go broke to boot. Overall, avoid.
(2)
Emily S.
First of all the waitstaff here was the best. The food was also very very good. I was with a large group so we ordered everything from sushi to mashed potatoes & desserts. Everything was excellent - sushi rolls were high quality and freshly made. The atmosphere in here is pretty cool too - especially if you can sit in one of the Pods. The changing colors gets a little annoying after awhile ... and after a couple glasses of wine but overall it was a fun place.
(4)
Claudia P.
Enjoyed a great meal here with colleagues while in Philly recently on business. Service was outstanding! Waitress gave spot on recommendations - I highly recommend the dim sum items...we ordered family style & the pork belly sweet rolls, spare ribs, grape leaves, vegetable tempura and sake were amazing! Kids & college students mixed with couples on a Thursday night at this vibrant mod restaurant. Only reason I didn't score a 5 was because the sushi rolls left something to be desired. Overall a great find!
(4)
Saloni G.
Since Pod is right near the middle of campus, I've come to Pod a few times during my time at Penn. My go-to dishes are usually the: 1) Wasabi Vegetable Rice - I get it without egg and it still tastes great! The wasabi is not too overpowering but still enough to give a kick. The rice is subtly flavorful and light. 2) Udon Noodle and Tofu Stir Fry - I love this dish! The tofu is made to be marshmallow-style which I have always been a fan of. The udon noodles are marinated in this great sauce which is still light but definitely feeling. It's not greasy at all so I order it every time! 3) Cauliflower Robata - I've had this once or twice as it is more of a side than an entree. The cauliflower always comes out nicely grilled and is a great dish for sharing on the side. I've also had the mochi which is always popular with whomever I come with. Pod can be a little pricey so I don't occasion it that often but I'm always pleased when I do come!
(4)
RJ T.
Very fun, trendy sushi restaurant right near campus. I was here solo at the sushi bar, but if you come with a big group, you can sit in one of their "pods" which is a cool atmosphere. I ordered the crispy rice spicy tuna which was great and then the rock shrimp spicy tuna roll which was amazing. Pro-tip: go a little early for lunch, like 11:30/11:45 - the place gets PACKED at noon on the dot and if you are eating at the sushi bar, you get the freshest first picks :)
(5)
Emily D.
Only rating two stars to balance out the ratings. Place is very pretty, but you're paying a pretty penny for the atmosphere. Food is OK. Service is OK. Drinks are OK. A nice place to meet with old friends to sit a while and chat. Dress up to enhance your time. This place is instagram worthy (aesthetically excellent!), though if youre really hungry for some on-point food, you can easily get more bang for your buck somewhere in Chinatown.
(2)
Rich D.
Just walked out of CHOP and was foraging for some lunch... And I found said lunch in a futuristic place called Pod that serves Asian fusion. Great lunch menu and I went with the Macadamia Nut Chicken served with a Soy / Kelp Miso and a Ginger Salad. Place was very cool and reminded me of the Milk Bar in A Clockwork Orange. All they need to complete it would be some nude spigots and a bit o' the Ludwig Van...
(4)
Mary B.
I've heard a lot of great things about stephan starr restaurants and i was in town visiting family so we decided to come here. the decor here is so modern, chic, and hip!! i give this place 3 stars is because the food was okay. All the sushi rolls we had were good, but nothing really stood out to me. my family from philly seem to really enjoy it, but i guess my san diegan tastebuds doesn't agree as much.
(3)
Tom M.
Attention vegans! The tofu lettuce wrap with peanut sauce and the Vegan Stephen. You'll be thrilled you did! Pod is such a great place for a sit-down meal in West Philly. I have been going there for ten years now. I am so happy they have two great vegan dishes for me to enjoy!
(5)
Minaz M.
For the price, I think it deserves only 3 stars. It's a more fancy and better quality chinatown-type-food restaurant. Don't get me wrong - the food was good but it wasn't good enough for the price. I love Amada & Zahav & Morimoto - the food at those places is AWESOME and well worth the money! We had the white tiger roll sushi, which was good. The karaage (fried chicken) reminded us of KFC! It was certainly very well cooked but it was just fried chicken. The sizzling garlic mushrooms were really good. The lamb and the crab fried rice were alright. I wouldn't go back!
(3)
Kristy Y.
The food here is okay, there's nothing great about it. I think it's more for someone who wants a pretty plate dinner. However it is a nice spot to have drinks with friends. If you want sushi, I would suggest you to go to an actual sushi restaurant.
(3)
Rob P.
Had dinner there this week with a party of 10. I've dined there several times since they opened. Initially, the novelty of the interior design really contributed to the overall dining experience. Now, the place is dirty and worn- even visible with the dim nighttime lighting. The "Pod" our party occupied was dirty and worn. Some of our dishes/utensils were not clean. The bathrooms were atrocious. We had to move our chairs every-time the server brought food just to let her pass. Awkward and uncomfortable. If this were a local chinese restaurant with associated pricing, one would overlook the condition of the place and accept the mediocrity of the dishes. I would advise closing and reinventing this place.
(2)
Ms S.
I was worried that the whole conveyer thing would be weird, but actually it is a great concept and is great in between your other orders. It is extremely clean fish and comes delivered in a pod so you don't have to worry about someone sneezing or giving you Ebola while its traveling around in circles. The place is very clean and the staff is friendly. I'll definitely be back
(5)
Connie J.
Great food, lovely decor. Will go again!
(4)
Faustina K.
Ok so this would not be my first choice of dining, simply because I'm not a big fan of sushi...BUT I was impressed by the decor and the modern feel of this place! It's very modern. I can see it being a good place for a date night or even just a girls night to somewhere u meet for lunch meetings! Service was good! Our waiter was very friendly and attentive! Explained the menu well, and encouraged out to try new things. Which I thought was great! As for the food! Ehhh! I decided to just go with the shrimp tempura! The menu didn't have anything that interested me, and after tasting my friends rice, which was very blah! I was eased with my order! I may give it another try! We'll see!
(3)
Alexandra B.
Not impressed with this place whatsoever. I had heard so much about POD and how unique the place is and that the food is to die for...but really I don't agree. Yes POD, your sushi is fresh and your presentation is outstanding but I feel like your completely over-rated. I can get fresh sushi at many places in the city with out paying the "cool factor charge". Your drinks are interesting but also I am not impressed. I felt like I was back in high school with "rich kids who think they are cool" surrounded me while i was eating there...If i wanted that I would have stayed in the suburbs of NYC..no thank you, you guys have def created a scene here to say the least. Also, I feel like you have the strangest hours, I have found myself wanted to go there many times before but you were never open? I'm obsessed with Asian Fusion may go back just because location. MAYBE ( I have heard that POD does a $25 all you can eat on Tuesday nights)
(3)
Pauline S.
I absolutely love their sodas. I came here a year ago for my birthday and tried a bunch of specialty rolls, one with a lobster head. I also tried the duck two ways, which was not impressive.
(3)
Caroline C.
As others have reported: the all you can eat sushi experience is a shit show. We arrived for our 9:30 reservation and were told it might be 20 minutes before we were seated. So, right there, you get off to a bad start. After about 30 minutes we were suddenly told that we couldn't stand where we were standing and ushered to another area. Another ten minutes passed before we were seated. It was, at one point, suggested that we buy drinks to pass the time. One key way to keep hungry, hungry people from being in foul moods when made to wait? Comp them a stinkin' beverage, don't suggest that they happily endure your unpreparedness Eventually we were seated. And our waiter promptly asked us what we wanted to drink and took our order, but the fact that one of our party was allergic to shrimp threw a new wrench into the works. While, having had limited food service experience, I understand that this sort of 'all you can eat' deal necessarily leads to a frenzied environment, it truly seems like they could have prepared for the possibility that someone with an allergy might want to participate. They hadn't...and originally told my friend that they could not guarantee that any sushi wasn't contaminated, but that she was free to order off the kitchen menu, which was, you know, not what she came and waited 40 minutes to do. The situation was positively resolved, but it wasn't without a fair amount of tension and stress. The sushi itself was fine considering the strain all the sushi chefs were under (you don't go to an all you can eat sushi experience expecting the most perfectly rolled maki of your life). I don't want to sound too grumpy, I do understand that this restuarant probably functions much better under normal circumstances...but the fact that we weren't comped a roll or drink after a 40 minute wait and a 10 minute period in which one of our party might not have been able to eat without risking her life is, well, really annoying. (All that said: our waiter was great and management did the best they could, I'm sure) The end.
(2)
michelle r.
Went there last Sunday. It was incredible. Nick our server at the bar area was very informative about the drinks. Drinks were incredible. I love it here. Can't complain about anything. If you havent been here I would check it out.
(5)
Rose N.
I worked here for a year. Although I ate a lot of their food all the time, I still loved it and craved for it. I thought everything on their menu was great, excluding a few items. The atmosphere is very hip, fun and futuristic. It got extremely busy on the weekends so you must make reservations; and don't be so picky with the seating. The window pods are so crammed. Hmmm... where should I start? Sushi here is awesome; made by some of the best sushi chefs around. I love the sushi bar with the rotating conveyor belt, it so much fun sitting there. House salad- has a great ginger soy dressing. Lettuce wraps- great! Tonkatsu sandwich- ehhh. Short-ribs- so tender. Duck duck soup- delicious. Grilled kobe skirt steak- packed with flavor. Chilean sea bass- light and buttery. Pad thai- one of the best. Crab fried rice- everyone loves it here. Drinks and cocktails are also fabulous here.
(4)
Cindy W.
I love a restaurant that has a great atmosphere, is fun and has great food, and that's what Pod is to me. In order for me to trek from NJ to Philly, and pay the bridge tolls $4 and the parking fees $15-20 and now gas... I want to be impressed when I come out. The decor of Pod is really futuristic, the hosts are cute and wait staff is great and friendly! this is the type of restaurant thats fun to get dressed up and go to. When my husband and I go out to dinner, we like to try everything so we usually order a few appetizers, then our meals and desserts. I think the last time we came here, we ordered the spring rolls, some tempura, a plate of sushi, and some pad thai and steak. Everything was seasoned great and tasty, and cooked to perfection. We have never been disappointed here, we always enjoy ourselves at the Pod!
(4)
Sneha D.
This is a classic go-to for my family for special occasions!
(5)
Joel F.
One of S. Starr's Philadelphia restaurants, and so comes with expectations higher than most restaurants in the city. Foodwise, it doesn't disappoint. There's a nice mix of traditional and creative sushi (e.g. lobster rolls, tuna handrolls 3-ways) which was all fresh and nicely done. Additionally, the menu has a whole page of dim sum (appetizers) and entree dishes drawing from Japanese, Chinese, and Thai influences....think Pad Thai, Steak Teriyaki, etc. We opted to get all sushi and dim sum and were very happy with our choices. What lost this place a star was its decor; it's pretty weird. The theme seems to be Japanese minimalism, with blank white walls, hard white chairs, and a cracked cement floor. This all gives a feeling of coldness to the dining room. Great food, great service, weird interior. But highly recommended!
(4)
Robyn H.
Finally got a chance to go to Pod. My bf has been there before, and didn't particularly like it, hence.... I haven't gone, since he's basically my "eating out" partner. Tonight, I insisted we try it. It was ok. We both agreed that we're tired of restaurants that LOOK LIKE Pod. We've been to so many of them, and after a while they all morph into one and the same and become a blur. Most of these restaurants rely too much on the decor and then don't deliver when it comes to good food. Pod was ok in that department. I ordered Spicy Tuna Rolls and Seared Scallop Ramen. Both were good, albeit. a little spicy!! He ordered Szechuan Lamb Chops, and said they were delicious. For dessert, we had the Butterscotch cake with herbal tea..... good as well. Overall, I'd have to say Pod was just so-so. Kind of expensive, in my opinion, for what I had. (Really just Oodles of Noodles with Scallops!) LOL Well, if nothing else, I finally get to cross Pod off of my list of places to try.
(3)
Megan T.
I LOVE Pod. One of my favorite things about Pod is that it is what you want it to be. If you're with your family, it's a family place. But if you're with friends for a cocktail, it's a trendy bar. The menu is is as large as the portions! The set up is ultra modern, most of which you can see from Samsom Street looking down. The prices aren't all that bad considering it's upscale ambiance. My one complaint is that there are few healthy options (I'm a big fan of large salads). I highly suggest getting a big group together, and you'll get one of their exciting "pods" where you can control the color, and most significantly, you'll feel important.
(3)
Ney-ney L.
Very bad hostess skills/costumer service! My friends and I had 8:30pm reservations on a Tuesday for dining days/restaurant week, which also happens to be their all you can eat sushi night. Despite arriving at 8:15pm, we did NOT get seated until 9:15pm!!!! I checked in with the hostess THREE TIMES and every time she asked for my name! Her excuse: "we're really busy!" Seriously?? Here's a thought-if you do NOT have the table to HONOR a RESERVATION...DON'T ACCEPT THE RESERVATION!!! When our table was finally ready the hostess approached the two guys behind us and said my name. They replied, "that's not us." She responded, "That's OK, follow me." I stepped in to say that she was looking for me. We were then placed at a table for five people because the hostess thought we were a party of five even though the reservation CLEARLY said for THREE. Once seated, my friends and I opted for the $30 set meal for the dining/days: choice of one appetizer, one entree, one dessert per person. Our waitress informed us that because we were three people we were only allowed to chose two appetizers and two entrees but we still had to pay $30/person. ??? Basically they wanted to cheat us out of one appetizer and one entree. We complained (felt more like begging) to have what the menu was advertised for and got our wish. I feel that if I waited 45-60min for a table WITH a reservation, that just bad business. Don't insult me by trying to get away with cheating me out of two dishes! Especially after you didn't honor my reservation! Aside from that, the food was good but not worth all that hassle. My advice: if you insist on dinning here...don't waste your time with a reservation and avoid going there when they have specials. Apparently management cannot handle "busy" times or honor reservations; nor can they honor their advertised specials without kicking up a fuss!
(2)
Michelle G.
I honestly wish that I could give this place negative stars. That's how much I dislike Pod. My boyfriend and I went there for our friend's birthday, she had made a reservation for 4 and we expected to be seated as soon as possible. We walked a couple blocks from where we parked our cars and saw that the place was jammed packed and figured "eh, okay we have to wait. Big deal." Well an hour and a half went by, and the hostess finally came back to us and apologized because she "forgot" about us. She rushed us to our seats (we were seated near the rotary) and we received a complimentary appetizer. I forgot what it was, but it was something small and not very flavorful. Anyway, we all ordered our food and to be honest with you I don't remember what we ordered... this has to have been almost two years ago. I remember that our food took forever to come out. I think I had wasabi crusted something, but all I remember is that my food was DRY, my boyfriend's food was TINY (one bite and he was done.. no joke), my friends food was undercooked, and her boyfriend's food was soggy. We figured that it took us an hour and a half to be seated, it would probably take two hours for our food to be recooked. We just paid our enormous bill (for less than mediocre food) just to be done with everything. Even to this day I am STILL disgusted. Needless to say, I haven't been back since, if you want sushi go to Sushi Land in Bryn Mawr. The food is cheaper and tastes better, plus you won't have to wait over an hour to be seated :)
(1)
Enjella L.
A festival of lights~! As you've read with the other reviews - you will fall in love with the decor. Futuristic, Miami-esque, like a MAC Computer, Modern, etc etc. It is all of that. I do think it is a little ill placed - I would much rather enjoy Pod if it was in Center City or Olde City but come to think of it..as I'm writing this I realize that if Pod was situated elsewhere - it might not pull off the same vibe b/c of its customers? Anyways, I love this restaurant. It's fun, trendy (for Philly), & sassy. The food is good, but the sea bass was way too watery & sweet. I haven't tried their sushi here - but I have tried their appetizers, entrees, drinks (stiff from what I recall) & dessert. The dessert is why I made additional trips back - with dates, with family, any chance I could get. I'm not sure if they still have it but if they do - order the 3 tier fondue dessert. Mini Cookies, cakes, chocolates, hello~! So for kicks & yelp - I visited the restaurant's website to see if they still had this dessert - well I guess they call it Pod Sweet 18 now. Not sure how much they price it now but back in 2002-2004 - it was $12. I didn't like their bathroom - the stalls are too small. This place is good for groups of friends to hang out or to go on a date. Not so much for a family meal.
(4)
J M.
Pod is finally on its way back up after years of phoning it in. New sushi chef and revised menu are big help. Had the robata items and sea bass, both excellent. Prices are still high for the portions. The ambiance and decor still seem cool (when the place is full), even after all these years.
(4)
Rob R.
If I were to rate this place purely on the type of customers it attracts (besides me, of course), it would get 1-star. The unfortunate reality of being an upscale "japanese" restaurant near the University of Pennsylvania seems to attract the worst kind of people. You know, those that valet park their Lexus, but don't tip their coat room attendants. Okay, moving on to more important things... the food here is great. Another Starr restaurant done right. The interior is reminiscent of an Apple store and the music makes you think you're walking into a trend New York nightclub. Wait, I thought I was moving on to more important things... The menu is filled with "new" and "exotic" offerings. Although my weapon of choice is the conveyor belt sushi bar. For $2-5 a plate, you can pick the sushi you want, when you want it. The sushi chefs work diligently behind the bar to whip up your favorites (and they even take special orders). Overall, if you're looking to impress your new Penn undergrad hottie GF, this is the place to bring her to. The food is decent, but you'll pay for it. The atmosphere will put you both in a place where you can really enjoy each other's company. If you're into a more modest sushi experience, I would recommend Misu (locations in Old City and Universtiy City).
(3)
Alyssa M.
I really enjoy Pod's sushi. I've been there twice, and in my opinion, it tops the list for the freshest and tastiest sushi I've ever had. I've also tried the Crab Pad Thai (usually comes with shrimp but you can request crab)...it was OK, nothing to rave home about but they give you a lot! You can definitely share their noodle entrees. But oh...that sushi is so good. I could eat their spicy tuna all day :-). Sitting at the sushi bar is cool because you can view and try a variety of sushi on the conveyor belt. If you don't want to sit at the sushi bar, make sure you make a reservation. The 'All You Can Eat Sushi' is a good deal if you can throw back a lot of raw fish---just make sure you read ALL the rules. All and All....Good Sushi, Cool Atmosphere, Give it a try :-)
(4)
Kim C.
Went on a Saturday night with friends. Turns out they have specials on Saturday nights, and on the evening I went, the special was a $35 13-piece tuna/toro platter. $35 for a plate that includes 7 pieces of toro? A STEAL. It was super tasty--fresh, clean, yum. The other stuff we tried included: -wild mushroom fried rice (yum) -ramen (meh) -crab fried rice (yum) -spicy tuna rolls (no surprises here) -other assorted specialty rolls (average.) But the four stars is for the special... will definitely have to make a trip back on a weekend, because apparently they don't offer weekday menu additions.
(4)
J. Christopher E.
Been here several times. Food always very good and probably my favorite Starr restaurant (some Starr restaurants I hate!). Best to make a reservation or you'll get stuck at the more sucky instead of the more better tables. If you can't get a good table, better to sit at the sushi bar where you can also order from the regular menu. Can't think of anything I don't like to eat here - all good.
(4)
Yong H.
This place is epic fail! Tries way too cool to look trendy but ends up hella lame. For groups, there's these illuminated rooms with neon lights and windows so the entire restaurant can stare you while they eat and make comments about how ridiculous the whole thing is. As for the food, its not that great either. I suppose I shouldn't expect much from a "fusion" restaurant but the sushi here not only costs 3x as much but tastes 3x worse than sushi you get elsewhere. The stirfrys and such tasted abit too salty with not much asian flavoring at all. We also got this udon dish pork dish, which literally tasted like boiled salted udons dipped in oil and a chunk of roast pork(although it was tender). Also, the busboys here are like sharks, relentlessly coming to your table to ask if you're done with a plate, even if theres still food left. We literally got asked 3 times in a span of 10 minutes if we were done with our sushi plate that still had 4 pieces of sushi on it. I'd be more understanding if it was busy and they were trying to accomodate the people waiting but the place was half empty! Will not recommend this place, except to people that piss me off
(2)
Meghann p.
I went on a date a few weeks ago and from the last time i was there the sushi was a lot better...we ordered lots of appetizers and drinks with each appetizer group. I think the drink prices are way over priced for what you get. Service was good for the meal.
(4)
Young P.
Sushi is to die for here. As soon as it hit my mouth, the fish just melted and the only explanation is that it was FRESH not frozen like most b-listed sushi shacks around the area. The other fusioned entrees have an interesting asian twist ie, wasabi mashed po's and etc... all worth giving a try. This was my second time here and I've enjoyed the food both times but my 2 grievances from each visit: The first visit: we went while it was still light outside and I could see the dinginess of the tables and decor (this is not a problem in the dark with all the cool neon lights) The second visit: Supposedly a frequent visitor @ POD who actually looked more like a homeless man was harassing us through the peephole in our booth asking us questions like, "Are you oriental?" We mentioned our concern to the hostess who simply brushed it off saying he was "harmless". Way to ruin our $300 dining experience oh hostess...
(4)
Michael B.
Pod is a fun restaurant with great food, decent service, and a trendy atmosphere. It is located in University City, which is a fun area of Philadelphia. If your in the mood for a little bit of sushi, a little bit of Asian fusion, or both, this is the place for you. It is not cheap, but again, worth the price for fun/special occasions.
(4)
Stephanie L.
My favorite sushi place in the city. My boyfriend and I have become regulars here and come about once or twice a month when we want good and fresh sushi ! Not only is there sushi great but their entrees are also just as good. Definately recommend for a date night or to Come with friends for a night out ! Service has always been very friendly too :-)
(5)
Jessica G.
Asian Fusion Food. That is what they call it. I do not, however, know what they are "fusing" it with. It's pretty much just asian food, some of which is deconstructed... maybe they call it asian fusion because non-asian people are making it? Because that's the feeling I get. I am impressed by the uber-cool, artsy presentation of the food, but not its content or flavor. None of the ingredients used here are much higher quality than at most restaurants. It is all the same-old, but at a higher price and with a fancy presentation. Speaking of fancy presentation, the inside decor.. it is the trendiest thing I've ever seen. It is like disgustingly trendy. To give you an idea, the character Tom Haverford of the show Parks & Rec would love this place. He would love it when the attractive, snobbish hostesses turn up their noses and behave rudely to everyone with the misfortune of inspiring their disdain. I do not. We have, mostly, had good service from the wait-staff and that's worth mentioning. But also worth mentioning is that there have been times that they have been incredibly rude. And yes, I can see why this place is popular and often packed.. and I can assure you that it is not because of the quality, taste, or price of their food. If you're really a fan of asian food, you could do so much better. If you are a fan of very hip, very trendy decor & artistic food presentation, then you could go to Buddakan instead.
(2)
Patrick C.
Sort of like any other Stephen Starr restaurant. Heavy on concept, cool decor, ok food. What sets Pod apart from every other restaurant that I have ever been to, however, is the fact that they are very bad at accommodating guests with seafood allergies. I asked the waitress if there was any shellfish in the dish I ordered, (specifically saying "crab" and "lobster") she said no, and I ended up eating a few pieces of sushi that I now realize were heavy on the king crab legs. I'm not deathly allergic, but I did spend the rest of the night scratching insatiable itches on the toilet. And what really seals my one-star rating is the fact that the manager was downright rude to me when I stopped by the next day to civilly complain about my experience. I've generally found Stephen Starr restaurants to be underwhelming, but this experience was positively painful.
(1)
Teddy M.
High Class Restaurant with High Class Service. Too bad the food wasn't as good as I expected. My first time I went there, I thought I should try many different kinds of food from the menu and I ordered this appetizer called "Kobe Beef" for $18. I said to myself, that should be a damn good appetizer. So I ordered that and others I couldn't remember the names. Guess what? For Kobe Beef...a server walked out with this stone stove and 3 slice of beef uncooked. He brought it to the table and asked us, how do you like your meat? Confuddled, I said, medium cooked. Confuddled because I thought it would be a fair price for a plate of beef or something, not literally 3 sliced beef that cost $18. I know it's a high class restaurant but I'm not spending $18 for 3 sliced beef that I could get from any grocery store and cook it myself. Other than that, the environment was nice and the sushi was good.
(3)
Georgianne V.
Went last night to Pod with some friends. The style of the place of the place is fun and for me that is part of the experience. I found the entrance when you first arrive a bit awkward and it seems awkward for the staff that work there, so that was strange. We had some starters and I really loved the flavor of everything, especially the tempura rock shrimp. For my dinner I had the Soy/Ginger Chicken. The presentation was very nice and the sauce really made the dish. My only issue was the chicken was a bit more undercooked than I like, just a bit pink in the center. The crab rice was delicious and I could have a made meal just out of that. For desert my husband and I shared the fluffernutter spring rolls which were both yummy and fun!! We had a fantastic waiter who was very attentive and to my amazement, no matter how much we ordered at one time, he never wrote anything down! :o) Although we had fun and I enjoyed the funky decor and food, I probably would not be in a rush to go back. To me it's a place that once you see it, you move on. I'm sure it's a fun hang out for the students who live near by but I wonder how they afford it, as everything was pretty expensive!
(3)
lyndsey F.
Impromptu dinner with the hubs last night. After a nice (albeit crowded) skate around the rink at Penn, we decided to head to Pod. Johnny had never been and I hadn't been since the days of spending Sallie Maes money on things like expensive sushi and chanel makeup. We got there around 7 and were seated immeadiately. I understand that the Penn kids aren't back yet, but for a pretty hip restaurant on a Saturday night it was pretty swift service. The hostesses were fairly cold, but I'm pretty sure that they are trained to be that way. It is Starr after all, they all have their schichts. Our waiter was friendly and aside from the incredibly large diamond in his ear (which to me was really annoying) gave us good suggestions for drinks. I got the yellow martini, which was something like yuzu, passionfruit, and grapefruit. It was really sweet, but it had a great flavor (and it was good for cooling my mouth off after a huge bite of jalapeno seeds, more to come...) and hubs got the Samauri Jack which was honey, mint and raspberries I think. They even substituted J&B for the Jack Daniels that they usually serve! The hubs has a rather severe aversion to Jack Daniels for some reason, but loved the cocktail with J&B instead. To eat we splurged a little and got the MAKIMAKIMAKI which is comprised of 60 pieces of assorted maki. It has the yellowtail jalapeno, which was delicious aside from one piece that made my mouth burn so much that I had to down my entire martini to salvage my tastebuds. Also: crispy spicy tuna (yum!), eel & avo (yum), salmon & cream cheese (not my fave, but still good), some veggie rolls and a rainbow roll on top which was fab. Also, they have the most delicious soy sauce in the entire city. I just love it. I would say that all in all we had a really great time, but then again sometimes it depends on the company you keep as well. xo
(4)
Paige N.
My sushi was absolutely fantastic! However, I'm not sure people come here for the food. The decor was both cool and distracting. Considering you are eating raw fish, I can't imagine eating in one of the "pods" as they are colored with LED's in blue, purple etc. Loved the Godzilla movies playing on the multiple tv's though...all in all a great exprience.
(4)
Melmoth K.
Reviewing Pod is like writing a review for the movie "2001: A Space Odyssey": theoretically, yeah, OK, I guess I have no real reason to argue with you if you say that this is what life will be like in the future, but I'm not all that sure I want to deal with it all at once, tonight, while I'm just out to try to enjoy myself and make with the chit-chat over dinner. First off, it turns out everyone will have bad hearing in the future and therefore need to yell at the top of their lungs while eating. Second, Pod seems to have predicted how inflation will devalue the dollar by 2050 and priced things accordingly. So while Pod might deserve big ups for what it does today, you might not be in the mood for it just now...or maybe next week either...or maybe...ever? But if their service (wow!) and food (tasty bits!) are any indication of what the future is like, may we all live long and prosper. Hopefully by then we'll be accustomed to the yelling, the technicolor backlights, and the price of sushi.
(3)
Lona W.
This place was pretty good. I came here with a group of friends of 9-10 people for my friend's birthday and the prices were very fair. Our bill didn't come out to be much! It was a little under $200 for 9-10 people! The sushi was pretty good, although it is a Stephen Starr restaurant. But the interior design and ambiance was very nice.
(3)
Ian R.
I went here for dinner tonight with my friend Riley. I had been here once before, so I kind of knew what to expect. It's a super trendy, miami-esque atmosphere. It's very futuristic and overall it just has a neat look. The appearance is one of my favorite things about this restaurant. Now, let's get to the food. There are two kitchens, a sushi based one and non-sushi based one. Any dish from each of the kitchens are GREAT. Tonight, we had the TNT roll, the Spicy Yellowtail roll and a bowl of edamame. The portions they give you are a good size-- we couldn't even finish the bowl of edamame. Each sushi roll came with 8 pieces. The quality of the sushi was outstanding. Everything was extremely fresh and delicious. In addition to our meals, we also had a couple of drinks. The first was called the Rising Sun. It had great flavor, it was like a mix of lemon and berries. Then we had long island iced teas-- which are not on the menu. We asked our server if they had them and he was more than happy to tell us that the bar could accommodate us if we wanted them. We ordered them and they were excellent! A little strong, but that's expected with long islands. Overall, I will be returning to Pod, one of Philadelphia's hippest restaurants. One plus I forgot to mention: It's extemely easy to find cheap street parking here because of it's location in UCity.
(5)
Jennifer D.
If you're looking for great sushi this is not the place for you. If you're looking for ambiance and excellent service this place is great. Although it is called Pods there are only two actual pods (both looked like they were for parties of 4 or more). Service was excellent and extremely attentive. The food however was mediocre. Our Philly friends told us this was some celeb chefs restaurant but honestly we've had better sushi in suburban NJ. On a side note their mixed drinks were great!
(3)
Jasmin G.
The atmosphere is hot, and the drinks are good. They have a 'sushi conveyer belt' where the sushi keeps moving around the sushi bar and you just pick what you want..pretty sweet i recommend getting a few pieces of sushi and then splurging on the triple tier chocolate fondue dessert with some friends...its really good and only $15..
(5)
Chris B.
In brief - very overpriced mediocre sushi. But it wins some points back with a unique futuristic atmosphere, great location for Penn folks, and a fantastic crab fried race.
(3)
Abhijit G.
My absolute favorite place in Philly! Three must-haves: Pod Lobster (orgasmic good...) Rockin Spicy Tuna Chocolate pudding The staff is super nice. I am also able to get the chef to make me some off-the-menu concoction based on my individual fantasies! Very cool! Did I say that the ambiance just rocks!!! Hands down the best sushi rolls I have had --ever---Morimoto not withstanding!!
(5)
Gwen M.
So, you might say I'm eating my words here, given how much I hated Pod the first few times I visited. But no! I still think the restaurant side of things is overrated and kind of annoying. The sushi bar, however, is another story. The sushi is amazingly fresh and delicious, and they recently hired a new sushi chef who's incredible -- all of his specials that we've tried have been innovative, tasty, and reasonably priced. Between the rolls on the conveyer belt, the extensive sushi menu, the specials, and their willingness to make off-the-menu items at your request, it's hard to convince me to go anywhere else for dinner now.
(5)
Hannah C.
this place is truly an ultra-trendy, ultra-cool place to eat...especially if you get to sit in one of those pods. the place seems like its usually packed, so i would imagine that's why the service was a bit slow. but then again, i went with a party of 10. i really can't say anything bad about this place (well the bathrooms were really dirty) but...they had great drinks, great food, and especially great dessert trays. i want to go back again!
(5)
Troy J.
This is our first time visiting PA. This place is just adjacent to our hotel so we wondered in. I'm so glad we did. This restaurant will now be on our must do list when visiting Philly! The food is simply delicious!!! The wasabi crusted filet is absolutely wonderful. My husband and I have never experienced such a wonderful dining experience. Our waiter was Kellan, he was very informative adding the best customer service to our experience. We just loved it!!
(5)
R R.
Excellent food and service, did not disappoint in the least. The vibrant and colorful atmosphere lend itself to less intimate occasions, but it does not take away from the experience. Great place to enjoy with friends
(5)
Jamie C.
This restaurant was really fun. The ambiance is really cool with different lights of colors everywhere with a very modern feel. The food is awesome. They had these amazing lettuce wraps with chicken and soy/ginger sauce. We also ordered edamame, chicken dumplings, seafood rice, and sides of cauliflower, eggplant, and asparagus. Everything was great and the service was wonderful. Will definitely be returning next time I'm in Philly!
(5)
Giavanna G.
My boyfriend and I went there for Valentines Day.The decor was beautiful as usual.It was my first time back in 4 years and it was just as delish.I would have gave it five stars but the sushi rolls were lacking in size for such a high price.The food is really amazing,it's a shame because you have to order a lot of food in order to get full.My boyfriend had the ramen and it was a great portion and really good.Also stay for dessert because everything is great.The drinks are also a bit over priced so I recommend bringing a bottle before hand.It is definitely a cool spot to go to at least once!
(4)
Peng Y.
Interesting environment and full of scifi atmosphere. Food is not too much. Tastes ok but not impressive
(3)
Caitlin C.
Happy hour to impress? You need to be here. Their drink menu is very cool (not for football guy fans, though) and the decor is like something out of Toyko with flat screens playing anime and a sushi conveyor belt. The food is incredible and as creative as the decor.
(5)
Danni S.
The best place i have been too who serves good asian food :-) the prices are very reasonable, the atmosphere is very relaxed, and the setup of the seats/couches makes you feel like your at home.
(5)
RB B.
Had a wonderful meal here for my sister-in-law's birthday. I had quite a wait because even with a reservation, the tables in the pods are first come first serve. Standouts were the udon with crispy tofu, tempura shrimp, spicy tuna on crispy rice, and pad thai. Great sushi as well....the vegan roll is delicious and I had to do a double take since they make the veggies look like fish! Desserts were very good, too.
(4)
Mike F.
Under whelming is the best description I have for POD. The food is 3-star, the prices are 4-star and the atmosphere is 5-star (but getting dated and worn). It's everything you'd expect from an old-school Steven Star restaurant.
(3)
Reva S.
You are basically paying for the atmosphere and the good service. Food is just ok.
(3)
Wilcox W.
This place was absolutely amazing. Everything was good. Literally every single thing we ordered. Blown away. Best restaurant in philly
(5)
Keith K.
The ultimate in Sushi ,the Rockin Spicy Tuna is the bomb!! The seafood fried rice or the crab fried rice with the crab rolls!!! Wash it down with the many specialty drinks.
(4)
Alexis J.
*Later Yelp* I've only been here once, but I love this place mainly for the atmosphere. It just has a cool, swanky vibe. The food is pretty good too. I had the lamb chops, uzuu lemon cheesecake for dessert and a lychee martini, I believe. All were pretty good...although the lamb may have been a bit too salty. I remember the service being satisfactory as well.
(3)
Sheri N.
this place was cool looking.. very future-esque. i think i had some soup, potstickers, and a roll.. i was real sick that time.. coughing up my lungs and pushing 'em back style. i sat at the bar as i was on a solo holiday, and the sushi chef was nice enough to give me tea that would help out my cough. he also gave me a couple stashes to take back to home, or in that case my hotel room. i'd go back here again! yumm!
(5)
Cara T.
I visited Pod for the first time recently for a friends birthday. This friend is a quarter Japanese and so it was decided among us that we would go to Pod...for Japanese. Now I'm not a sushi fan. I tend to lean towards the Chinese side of Asian cuisine, nonetheless, I was excited to visit another Stephen Starr spot. We entered with one goal in mind...securing a pod. We wanted to eat in one!! You can book one in advance if you agree to spend a set dollar amount. We couldn't promise we would spend that much so we had no reservation, only hope. When we got there, we told the hostess we were interested in a pod and she said if one was available or opened up, we could have it. We told her we would wait at the bar...and we did....for 45 minutes until our glorious pod was free. The fun thing about partying in the pod is that you basically have a private room. You can change the color of the room by pressing buttons on the wall. After a few minutes, our eyes were so warped from the lights, we couldn't tell what color was what. In fact, at the end of the night, our friend gave his coat back to coat check saying that the coat wasn't his....that his coat was a different color. Turns out his eyes were just messed up. I ordered the Kobe beef cooked table side and it was delicious. The ribs were tangy. The drinks were tasty. I hear the sushi was excellent. It was a great experience overall. I'd go there again if someone invited me. It is pricey to eat in basically white Ikea decor with fancy lights, so be prepared.
(4)
Lauren O.
As a student (read "dirt poor") I rarely get the opportunity to dine at Pod, so when the opportunities arises I jump...as high as I possibly can. Pod's a favorite for happy hours (the cocktails are color-coded, it's the perfect excuse to "taste the rainbow") and lunch. The crab fried rice "side" is more than enough for a meal...you can easily split this with a friend and still be stuffed. The crab spring rolls are also a favorite. The Kedeki express lunch "boxes" are fabulous...might not be enough if you're starving but definitely a good option if you're craving miso soup plus something else. Pod is drastically overpriced but with food this good, they know they can get away with it. If you're on a budget, I suggest going at lunch and splitting with friends...best way to sample different things and not have blown your electric bill on dinner. Oh yeah...getting a group then sitting in one of the 'pods' is a must! I love love love playing with the lights.
(4)
Andre B.
Really neat little place. Trendy and fun, great for people in their 20-30's! Good food in a casual atmosphere. Most people that go there are going to school in the city. We had sushi and dim sum and it was all great! Try the Robata Steak, you wont be disappointed! Martinis are also awesome!
(4)
Andrew T.
Mediocre, or "A-OK" as Yelp defines 3-stars, pretty much sums up this place. If you walk in here and notice that it seems a bit busy, leave. The restaurant, kitchen, sushi bar, and wait staff simply fall apart when it gets busy. For instance, after waiting 10 minutes for our waiter to greet us, my dining companion ordered a burger while I ordered sushi. My food came out 10-15 minutes after her's did. With no explanation. It was fun watching her eat her burger while I played with my sushi-less chopsticks. Beyond for that, the food is average, drinks are average, ambiance is average, and this review is getting pretty average. The end.
(3)
Ben M.
Five stars if you sit in one of the pods, they're super awesome. The food is really four stars though, some great stuff, but nothing too jaw-dropping. Good selection and as with most Stephen Starr's restaurants some creative menu items and a nice mix of cultural cuisine even under the blanket of Asian cooking.
(5)
Hank C.
Located on the University of Pennsylvania's campus, this is a Stephen Starr-designed restaurant, and hence, more attention was paid to making the experience overall. Pods with color-changing buttons (to adjust the colors of the lights in the pod) are available for groups (make sure to call and reserve to get them). Bathrooms here are the glass-door, micro-bathrooms, nice, usually clean. Staff are dressed in particular uniforms, paying attention to those who are the staff whom you order from, clean your tables, and serve you drinks are all a bit different, and the hostesses at the door usually are dressed a-kin to fashionable business bouncers. A bar space with red-plastic cushioned seats serves decent drinks, although the space is perhaps more interesting than the drinks are strong. The moving sushi bar isn't bad, although the selection can be a bit repetitive - ask the chefs if you want something specific (pay by plate color). The regular dishes aren't bad, most of them Asian-fusion related, including dishes like the pineapple and ham fried rice and the deep fried crab. Noodles were probably the best dishes, and the duck had a lukewarm reception at the table. You can valet park at the hotel or in a garage at 38th & Walnut.
(3)
D.R. S.
we stopped by mid- afternoon to avoid the dinner chaos. Good location, excellent service, gorgeous interior, and super fresh food. Attention to detail in every aspect! Love this place!
(4)
Noell M.
I have been coming to POD for about 8 years now. This was my first Stephen Starr restaurant and even after all this time it is still one of my favorites. My outlook of POD has changed over the years. At first I thought it was for "special occasion" dining and that you had to get all "fancied up" to go. Now I feel it is more casual and relaxed.....in fact, most of time when I go it is on a whim or a last minute change of plans. Like all of the Starr restaurants, POD really embraces its theme through its food and aesthetic. The theme of POD (at least what I think it is) is a super chill, futuristic, dining hall filled with color, music, and a cool quirkiness. The interior of the restaurant reminds me of a blank canvas. Add in the music and colored lighting (mentioned above) with the aroma of delectable food and POD is transformed into a cleverly crafted piece of artwork. Sushi, seafood, poultry, salads, and steaks are all represented on the Asian fusion menu. My favorite dishes are the Wasabi Crusted Fillet Mignon, the Macadamia Chicken Stir Fry, and the POD Caesar Salad ( which is large enough to split). For a drink I usually go with Pink- champagne, pineapple and cranberry juice. A great place to go for a few drinks (take a moment and sit on the funky red bar furniture), with a group, on a date or just to people watch! I highly recommend if you enjoy other Starr restaurants!
(4)
Brendan S.
Love this place. Very good food and great service. Explain the meals to you in great depth and tell you exactly what you are getting. Very cool looking place and in a cool place in the city.
(5)
Mariam H.
Let me preface this by saying I'm glad I went during dining days. It's not that the food was bad, per se, but it wasn't spectacular enough either to warrant the three dollar sign price tag. I ordered chicken potstickers as an appetizer, beef pad thai as an entree, and sorbet for dessert. With the dining days promotion, my meal was about $30 + tip/tax so together it came out to be about $40. The chicken potstickers were good, but not great. I felt as if I'd had the same quality, if not better, at other places for half the price. That's not to say there aren't a few really great dishes.The beef pad thai was actually very good, and the main highlight of my meal. The beef was flavorful and actually tasted like beef, which is not often the case for Asian restaurants. The noodles were perfect; not too thin, not too thick, not too hard, not too chewy. The portion size was also quite big - big enough for me to have to take some home. As for the ambience, I will admit, it does have a very cool futuristic and spaceship-esque vibe to it. My friends and I were seated in the round secluded "bubble" where you can change the lighting yourself. Though really cool at first, it soon became distracting and a bit disorienting. All in all, I'd say it's got a cool vibe, decent food, and a hefty price tag. If money is not a problem for you, I'd say try it once, otherwise, hit up any of the other amazing Asian fusion restaurants like Buddakan or Doma.
(3)
Briana J.
I'd been hearing about how delicious Pod is for years, and last weekend I finally tried it. I had heard that it looked "futuristic" and "trendy", but I was really not feeling that decor. I really reminded me of the expensive and cool furniture on the Sims and once I had that idea in my mind, I really could not get it out. I love that game, but let's be real, but some of that stuff is just... no. So once I decided that I would just stare at the sushi on the conveyor belt to distract me from the crazy lights and weird chairs (I was sitting at the sushi bar), I could focus on getting something to eat. I ordered the udon noodles with tofu, and the tofu was pretty bland (my friend tried some and almost spit it out) and all the flavor was at the bottom and made the noodles near the bottom overwhelmingly spicy compared to the rest. I thought it was okay, but I won't be trying that again. Maybe I'll come back here to try the sushi (if someone else pays for it), but otherwise, I don't see myself trying this place again. Also, I just went on Pod's website to remind myself of my order and Common's "Come Close" was playing. HAHA what? I'm so confused by this theme. That reminds me that Speed Racer was also on the TV when I was there.
(2)
Gina M.
AMAZING! Now, I have been to a million restaurants and this one is absolutely incredible. They have a conveyor belt of sushi for Christ's sake. It is a very stylish and chic place and always a good crowd. Is it cheap? NOT AT ALL. Is it good? AMAZING Service is great. Only problem is, they cut back their menu alot since last time I was there and that was a bit disappointing. But trust me, it is worth every pretty penny you will pay. You have to try it out.
(5)
Matt G.
Great ambiance, solid food, always nice service.
(4)
Teresa R.
Not a big sushi fan, but props are needed for this place! The interior and decor are so cool and bright, sushi bar in the back was awesome, actually enjoyed sushi for the first time in awhile and drinks are very good!!
(4)
Ken W.
Wow, now that was fun. On a business trip and staying at the Inn at the Penn, downstairs is this very unique restaurant. The interior is decorated with techno cubes and modules (sort of reminded of Tetris). All it needed was loud techno music to complete the picture. But what you get inside is friendly, attentive service, and great food (and no loud techno music either). I had the spicy tuna topped by huge rock shrimp and the pork buns - wonderfully prepared and very tasty. All accompanied by shirakabe gura tokubetsu sake. Drop by this restaurant if you have the chance and want a unique and pleasant experience. Oh and if you're old school anime fan, Kimba the White Lion plays continuously behind the sushi bar. How do you beat that!?
(4)
Mary N.
Love the drinks here. This is one of the best places to grab a drink near Penn. I lived a few blocks and found myself there twice a month. So why 3 stars?? The food and service blows. The food is below average for the price. The service is nothing to write home about. I find myself always in need of flagging down a server to get a refill on my small $10 drink. But I come back repeatedly because most place near Penn are beer and wine only.
(3)
James H.
The best to describe the food was OK. I wasn't impressed with it but at the same time it still tasted good and I enjoyed it. I am japanese, so I am a bit stingy about what counts as good sushi. This place had alright sushi. The ambiance was neat and very colorful. Since the food didn't really justify the price it felt like we were also paying for the ambiance. Overall, I would recommend this place for young adults who don't so much care about the food, but are there to have fun and drink at the bar.
(3)
Patience P.
Lackluster at best. It's a neat concept but things look old and dirty. The only thing that saved this place was the Chilean sea bass.
(2)
Krystle B.
This is a very trendy restaurant. They even have a conveyor belt sushi bar which is cool. The night we went, they had this sushi special that had rock shrimp on the top and it was amazing. All of the food was amazing though. I particularly liked the crab fried rice, short rib, and chicken ramen soup. I will definitely go back although the wait to order, as well as the wait to receive our food, was a little long. I may even invite a group and reserve one of the futuristic pods booths.
(4)
Van M.
Service was excellent. Decor and Atmosphere was really fun and contemporary. The food was delicious. If you come to Philly, you need to check it out.
(4)
Lucy G.
Very modern decor. They seated us promptly without a reservation which was a plus. Pretty extensive menu and I ordered a spicy salmon roll which was not on the menu. It was good, but not great. The salmon was a little bit fatty. We also got some seafood fried rice which was delicious. This place wasn't spectacular but it was good. If I'm by Penn and am looking for sushi, I'd likely go again. It was pretty expensive though -- two rolls and a fried rice came out to 36 dollars. Service was quick and polite. Our waiter was attentive, if a little on the hovery side, but he was very kind.
(4)
Erica M.
I came here for a friend's bday dinner and when we couldn't get a res for Buddakan she choose Pod. With all the hype surrounding other Steven Starr restaurants I thought Pod was a let down. To start we ordered 2 sushi rolls as an appetizer, salmon avocado and rock- in spicy tuna. Both rolls were fresh and definitely the highlight of the meal. I split the udon and tofu stir fry with my friend along with the mushroom and sweet pea dumplings. We both agreed the dumplings were a huge disappointment and we didn't even finish them. The udon was not what we expected, the noodles were tasty but the tofu was deep fried and looked like a crouton. It was pretty gross. For dessert we split the bread pudding that tasted more like a brownie. We polished it off so no real complaints, but definitely not your standard bread pudding. At the end of the meal we all agreed that Pod is not worth running back to. It was a fun place to go for a bday dinner but the food was average at best.
(3)
Anna G.
Went to POD last night for dinner and I have to tell you I will not eat there again. The food was good but not amazing. BUT what was most alarming was it is VERY over priced!!!! We order the sushi and sashimi platter that was $44...We were expecting some amazing pieces to come out...what we got was the average fish that we can order at any other sushi place.....less expensive as well!!!!! Not impressed at all!!!!!! And our server had zero personality!!!! Come on Mr. Starr...... The decor was fun and the music was great!!!!! So I give this just one star
(1)
Farah H.
Terrible service. Paid by cash at lunch today and was shortchanged by $20. When I told the waitress, she did not apologize for the oversight. Went back and finally got the correct change. But no apology or smile or anything. Brown rice in bento box smelled bad like it was stale. I have eaten here many times before and each time the service is going downhill. Such a shame. Will be telling the University of Pennsylvania staff and students to find a better choice for lunch meetings. Bad experience.
(1)
Nick O.
The trendy, white tables and primary color lighting will be hit or miss with people, but the food is pretty darn good for University City. Tips: 1) Order drinks! They have great-tasting martinis and a nice selection of asian beers and sakes (no soju though). They're pricy but worth it. 2) Seating is hit and miss, so make sure you request a certain spot. Maybe you'll like the window nooks, maybe you want the cozy chairs near the front, maybe you want one of the colored rooms. Pros: 1) Interesting ambiance 2) Sushi is decently cut and pretty fresh. 3) Lots of variety on the menu 4) Great drinks. Cons: 1) Sushi isn't the best cuts or the freshest for what they charge. One time I had a bone in my toro. 2) Some people will hate the ambiance. 3) Some seating is uncomfortable. Overall a good spot in University City and a great place for parties, but not my first choice in the area.
(3)
Tawny D.
Right off the bat, AWESOME. This was an absolute last-minute decision for a double date and we really couldn't have done better! (All 4 of us are in our early to mid 20's so the atmosphere is awesome for a Friday night chill spot before heading out to the bars) As soon as you walk in, you're struck by the decor (Stephen Starr rocks it) with the low ebbing, multi-color lights and upbeat tempo music. Our coats were checked right away and we were whisked off to our table. Our waitress was the absolute best (I wish I remembered her name so I could give her kudos on here!) and was very friendly and laid back. She knew the menu inside and out and was even able to efficiently describe some of the plating options to those who weren't familiar with the menu selections. She accurately described how the food would come out--as ready-- and we weren't left with any surprises, etc. She was able to offer drink options and parings as well, honestly, she really made our first experience at Pod what it was! On to the food, we ordered so many different things and shared that I really can't remember it all! My boyfriend and I shared the Chicken lettuce wraps (I was so pleased to see if came with bib lettuce, love it!), the seafood friend rice (everyone raves about the crab fried rice (agreed) but heck, this includes everything!), and the special wings of the night, which were in an awesome honey-teriyaki glaze. We then both got sushi and indulged in the drinks. I highly recommend the Blue (I don't do sweet cocktails, but trust me, this one does it and then some) while my boyfriend got their special drink of the night, their take on a lemon-grass mint julep. The couple we were with did the tempura rock shrimp ( uh YES) and then ordered a bunch of sushi as well. The rolls are cut large and packed thick so don't fret, however, if you are limiting your appetizers I may suggest ordering yourself two rolls just in case. I know they also got the Pad Thai and were able to substitute chicken for the regular shrimp with no problem. This bowl was LARGE, they ended up having to take that home (along with the fried rice) given how much there was. Now don't get me wrong, we LOVE leftovers, so this is absolutely fine and not a negative nod to the restaurant. Also, to be fair, our waitress did tell us that one order of either the crab or seafood friend rice would be enough for all of us to share (she was spot on!). Overall, great experience, the only reason I shied way from giving it 5 stars, was that some of the seating on the center of the main floor seemed a tad packed. The cubbies for 2 off to the side are awesome, as are the larger, private party rooms. Luckily, as a table of 4, we were given an end table so we had more room. I don't have a single negative thing to say and after writing this review, I'm certainly craving the seafood fried rice. Can't wait to come back again! *Side Note*: They DO NOT accept Discover. I am unsure of MasterCard/American Express. As usual, Visa is just fine.
(4)
Ayana P.
Pod is like so trendy. The man and I had dinner here last night. The place was packed. The hostess said it was because Penn students were on spring break. Anyway, it would be about an hour wait, but seats were available at the sushi bar. We're easy to please so we had no problem with the sushi bar. I'm actually glad I had the chance to experience that cool conveyer belt sushi bar thing they got going on there. This was my second time here and I was pleased again. Even though it's only a restaurant, Pod is a good time. It provides a lively futuristic atmosphere, a variety of menu options and cool drinks without smug.
(4)
Arielle L.
My boyfriend and I went to Pod last night for date night and had a great experience! We started off with a sake flight and pork dumplings - YUM. With dinner I ordered their fresh soda - blood orange and pomegranate with an acai liqueur and it was delicious! We shared the sushi/sashimi sampler which was an excellent mix of two rolls (be careful - their spicy rolls are super spicy, which I loved, but might be too much if you're sensitive to spice) several different nigiri pieces, and a nice sample of sashimi as well. The fish was excellent - fresh, flavorful, and nicely sized pieces. We also got the seafood fried rice which was yummy - lobster, shrimp and scallops. The service was good too and the ambiance was really cool! Overall it was great and we left very stuffed! - a little pricey, but not terrible in comparison to similar restaurants (Morimoto, Buddakhan etc.)
(4)
Niyant S.
My fiance and I came here to celebrate 2 very important milestones: her 25th birthday and me successfully defending my thesis! To top it off, this is my 100th review, clearly another important milestone! This restaurant is very modern/trendy, and has a clear Asian influence to it (obviously, it is a Sushi restauran after all). After looking over the menu, my fiance and I both found that there were so many great options for the both of us, that it was hard to decided what to get. We spent a pretty long time deliberating over the menu, and asked the waitress for several suggestions as well. Finally, my fiance, who is vegetarian, settled on a mixed vegetable roll, the asparagus Robata (which refers to a Japanese style grill), and vegetable fried rice. I ordered the tuna hand roll 3 ways, and the short ribs Robata. My fiance enjoyed her meal, and in particular she really liked the asparagus and the rice. I was highly intrigued by meal, however. In particular, I had no idea what to expect with the tuna hand rolls, and much to my surprise, they came out looking like ice cream cones! Each one was either spicy tuna, tuna with cucumber, and tuna with avocado, and each one came with a different type of wrapping to it. They were all really good, and the only downside is that they were not like traditional rolls meant to be eaten with chopsticks, I actually ate them similar to how I would eat an ice cream cone! The best dish, however, were the perfectly cooked short ribs. They came out on this hot stone plate, and were skewered with 3 large chunks on each skewer. The meat was delicious, each bite practically melted in my mouth! I would highly recommend ordering these if you come to Pod.
This was my second time to Pod. My party and I went on a Tuesday night . We put in a reservation, yet had to wait almost twenty minutes for a table. One hostess was on the phone while the other just stared awkwardly. We waited to be greeted for another fifteen minutes. The server who greeted us was sparse to be seen and we waited over a half hour for all of the food to come to the table. I ordered a glass of wine with dinner and was never told that the bar was 86'd on the house pinot grigio, instead they just gave me a more expensive glass of wine. I would have been okay with the ordering the other wine, but would have preferred being aware of the change with my order. The food was well prepared (and took some time) but the service could use work! My first experience, as I remember, was better than this experience.
(2)
Carla C.
I wasn't sure quite what to expect. You walk in + it just looks so modern, overly touristly... yet the majority of diners look like locals + alot of college students. This surprised me because this place is a little pricey + seems to exceed a typical student budget. I was pleasantly surprised at every dish I tried. Everything was so good. And what you think was generic... they added their own flavor to it + just made it that much better. - The Chicken Potstickers are good, but the taste nothing out of the ordinary. If anything, the quality of ingredients is really good. - The Crispy Chicken + Seafood Spring Rolls are fried perfectly, not too oily, and presentation is pretty. - The Crab Fried Rice is to die for. Honestly. So delicious. And they do not skimp on the crabmeat, no sir. - The Vegetable Fried Rice was surprisingly really flavorful. I say this because there is no real main ingredient/protein here like there is for the Crab Fried Rice. Probably the best veggie fried rice I've ever had. The delicious food comes at a price, though. Drinks are also a little expensive. You can definitely order things + stay within budget. It's just kind of hard to when everything is so good. I am definitely coming back here on my next trip to Philadelphia. And this time, I will request a reservation to sit in a pod!
(5)
Kate S.
Everything I've ever gotten here has been delicious and I'm a big fan of the pink martinis Def $$$ but I make sure someone else is paying for the check! Be sure to make reservations ahead of time as it can get quite packed at lunch and dinnertime during the academic year And like most Stephen Starr restaurants, don't bring your grandparents or someone hard of hearing as it is def a trendy, loud ambient music type place--save your intimate conversations for another restaurant
(4)
BJ W.
Pod is 3.5 stars and I think this place is over-rated so I'm rating it three stars. Don't be fooled by the trendy atmosphere. The sushi is so-so and the prices are expensive, but it's probably still the best sushi on this side of the river. You usually have to make a reservation, especially if coming with a group. The Penn Roll is average on a good day and inconsistent, but the Rockin' Spicy Tuna is a great roll. I'd recommend coming just for the banana spring rolls. They have a full bar available and its a cool atmosphere to go out with a group or on a date. I've had really great service here and I've had bad service here. Sometimes there is a long wait for your food - 45-60 minutes. I wish they would expand their sushi menu and deliver.
(3)
Brian C.
Pod is a place to go for the ambience. Ambience is great, but unfortunately I also really like food... and the food here is so-so. This is a good place to bring a bunch of friends, sit in a "pod", push the multi-colored light panels until you feel like throwing up, and soak in the music, the anime, and the mood. As for the food though, one time I sat at the rotating sushi belt and a lot of the sushi and dishes that came off the belt just didn't taste very fresh. When you eat raw foods, the quality of the it really needs to be good. We actually didn't finish the food we took off the belt. That's a big deal given that the food here definitely isn't cheap. I had the tuna hand roll 3 ways. The skin on some of the hand rolls were kind of weird, I wanted just the regular nori, but I think it was a tofu skin or something. It does come with one wrapped in nori though. The vegetable fried rice was okay, not stellar, but probably one of the better dishes. I guess I would say Pod is a trendy place to see and be seen, but if you want really good Japanese food, this isn't it.
(2)
Nary K.
I have been to Pod numerous times and I'm never disappointed. The menu changes from time to time but the food remains remarkable. I always try the calamari salad (this time, it was made with Kale and I loved it!). The crispy tuna rice is always good. For my "big plate" option, I chose lamb chops, which were amazing! And for dessert, we had mochi icecream and doughnuts with raspberry cream sauce; to die for! My advice? Pod is a must try! Great for couples, groups and families!
(5)
Erin M.
Thanks, Pod, for making eating here such a delight for a vegan like me! I am so happy with the amount of choices that I can make on the menu, and the fact that they will make a few things vegan for me upon request! When I ate here a couple of weeks ago, I told my server I was vegan, so she made sure to veganize my side order of roasted asparagus (I think it normally has fish sauce in it or something). It was quite delicious, as was the Vegan Stephen sushi. I almost sent it back because I thought it was fish when it arrived. The tomato looks suspiciously like raw salmon! But, no, all vegan here, and full of fresh vegetables and stuffed with tempura'd veggies. Delicious! For lunch today, I decided to go with an old standby: tofu lettuce wraps. These are very decadent. Deep fried tofu in a sweet and savory Asian sauce, with sprouts and onions, a side of peanutty sauce and some fresh butter lettuce leaves. I love that you can roll them up yourself. Fun lunch. And delicious. Thanks, Pod!
(5)
Ron H.
For sushi, its trendy and minimal selection, but this isnt really a "sushi" restaurant. Pod is an trendy Japanese restaurant. Bright colors in all white, light up bar, booths and seats change color slowly ((or by choice in the group pods), and Japanimation plays over the sushi bar while a conveyor belt of color coded plates whisks past you.
(4)
Michelle B.
I came from Miami to visit my sister in Philadelphia She suggested coming to Pod would be a good idea Since she knows I love anything that has to do with Asia I said, okay, it better be good or.. see ya! And she said, trust me, everyone in Miami will want to be ya It's kind of expensive, but I can't complain about their shrimp tempura The waiter was really nice, and would show up like abracadabra! The place looked really modern, like movies The 5th Element, Tron...etcetera I guess the only thing missing was a capybara in a fedora I'm just kidding, ha ha Til next time, Philadelphia, sayonara!
(4)
Amy L.
Came here with a friend for the sushi class and we had to wait over an hour to get started. The manager offered us an app for free which was great. After some more waiting the manager offered us a free sushi roll from the belt but when we went to pay for our class they tried to charge us for the "free" roll. Mr. Kim was very busy but he was still very friendly while showing us how to make sushi.
(2)
Lisa R.
I have been to eight Steven Starr restaurants, and this is the most run down. Everything is scuffed up, the sink in the bathroom didn't work, and you see a lot of chairs and odds and ends stacked up in the corner. The food is interesting in a cerebral way, but not in a finish your plate way. Staff and service was good, but some more eye to detail of upkeep probably needed.
(3)
Joe D.
Jetson's decor, overpriced, sometimes slow service... whatever. I loved coming here. first thing i see is the sushi conveyor belt and the green glowing spaceship surrounding a small bachelorette party, and i'm thinking, "i could live here". our server soon brought me a perfect martini so it was a great start! I needed to sate my pretentious side and ordered the kobe beef appetizer grilled on hot stone table side. $18 for three little pieces of beef was well worth feeding this foodie's ego. the meat was every bit as tender and delicious as i expected a $6 bite to be. my sea bass entree was off the charts good. it came with a serving of sweet japanese mashed potatoes that tasted like no mashed potato i've ever tasted. totally iron chef stuff going on. another drink for me and dessert for my lovely wife and we were gone. i am anxious to return again.
(5)
Toni J.
My husband and I went on a Friday night. The atmosphere was very modern and fun. We has the crab fried rice and Thai chicken wing special. Both were ver flavorful and delicious. Would definitely get both again. For drinks, we had the spiced pear martini (good, but I would rather vodka as opposed to Jim beam ). My husband had the apples N honey cocktail. He enjoyed it but wasn't strong enough for his taste. All in all, great experience, will definitely be back again.
(4)
Deb S.
Fantastic service, food and drinks. Great way to start the evening!! Loved the sushi and dumplings. Dessert was fantastic as were the margaritas.
(4)
Mike B.
Had an early dinner here while in Philadelphia with friends who had raved about this place. Decor was interesting. Seats were not comfortable for me. Shared lettuce wraps and rock shrimp for appetizers, then had calamari salad and rainbow sushi as my dinner. Food was very good and service was top notch. We split the spring roll desert which was surprisingly good. Will defiantly go back again when in the area.
(4)
Nina d.
Everything was absolutely delicious!!!!! Tostada appetizer, Caeser salad, wasabi crusted filet mignon, lamb chops...so so good. Service was top notch as well. I'll be back again and again. Scrumptious!
(5)
Justine J.
This place was all right. The lobster roll was really good though. The crab spring rolls were horrible to me. The flavor balance was just off. The rock shrimp roll was all right. I did like the lychee mochi ice cream though - but its not like they made that.
(3)
Sasha Z.
Very interesting future alike place. I tried the udon noodle and fried tofu, pod lobster roll and Apple&Honey cocktail. The food is good but the drink is a lil bit strong taste tho
(3)
Elise S.
The service was great but the food, especially the seafood rice was very bland and I would suggest that they remove it from the menu. The "pod" seating was interesting but I didn't like that the waiter kept changing the lights. Finally, the waiter said the food is normally shared family style but the portions aren't large enough. Don't try to manage it.
(1)
Molly O.
The food tasted great and the service is nice but I'm pretty sure that they use MSG. I had the worst allergic reaction about a couple hours after dinner and MSG is what triggers it. Avoid eating here if you break out in hives and get a swollen tongue from MSG. I had the garlic shrimp with broccoli, and tried some of my coworker's crab fried rice. If you do have this allergy, make sure you don't have what I had!
(1)
S P.
Pan-asian cuisine with excellent wait staff and service. Sushi is great. Expect to pay above average for this establishment.
(5)
Karen M.
The sea bass with miso glaze is phenomenal! We love the edamame with Dead Sea salt. The rainbow roll is delicious. The decor is beautiful, with circular pods for groups. Love the conveyor belt which displays sushi you can grab as it comes around. Beautiful place.
(5)
Amanda C.
Listen, Philly, I don't know where this 3.5 stars business came from, but Pod has made it's way into my 5 star (nay, 6! nay, 10!) favorites. We go for birthdays, anniversaries and most recently Christmas Eve. Not only do they go out of their way to make every occasion special, their day-to-day service and quality menu is a great reason to make Pod an any day restaurant, not just a holiday treat. We go big when we come to Pod. It's tough not to order more than we do, and we inevitably leave stuffed anyway. But it's a happy full, not a gross, greasy, carb-y full. Last time we went, we got: 1) Lobster roll (with truffle teriyaki sauce...COME ON.) 2) Wagyu beef (cooked on a hot stone..in front of you!) 3) Steamed pork belly buns (no joke.) 4) Mushroom ramen (a special! The most incredible special.) 5) Robata grill - Japanese eggplant, asparagus, cauliflower (all amazing) 6) Peppermint chocolate sundae (another Christmas special) 7) Fluffernutter spring rolls (crispy, fluffy, peanut-buttery and to die for) We basically were transported straight to an eternal heaven. It's like that every time we go. The dishes are inventive, the quality is supreme and the flavors are bold. The service is hands down some of the best I've encountered - the waitstaff are on point with remembering details from the last time we came, making recommendations and timing the meal perfectly. To top it all off, the cocktails are delicious. We will keep coming back to Pod for as long as they'll have us.
(5)
Krysta R.
Was here a couple of weeks ago with my two roomies. Wow! When u walk in, it's just such a kool place, very hip and futuristic. When we walked In we were promptly greeted, then escorted to our table which was surrounded by stylish chairs. We had no reservation btw and we were accommodated. This place was busy and still had great service from the waiter, which btw was very informative, knowledgeable and cute :) I forget what I got but we got it on time and was delicious!! Will definitely go back if I stayed here in Philly but I'm not. Of course, I still like my little hole in the wall sushi place in Downey,CA... I can't find any better place than that!
(4)
Nancy N.
This is one of our favorite places to order dinner from. They use high quality fresh ingredients, presentation is very nice and the temperature of the food is always right. I love their calamari salad and the Sea Bass dish is one of my All-time favorite dish in philly. I just wish it was closer to Center City, I would dine there in person. Currently we use Diningin to get our food from here.
(4)
Pete S.
Great spot. You couldn't ask more for food and service. Amanda was our server she was spot on. All her helpers were better then great. The only reason why I couldn't give it a 5 is I got seated 25 minutes after my reservation and it wasn't that busy. I noticed the girls at the front forgot about us. The manager was very diligent on the floor checking on every table . If anywhere needs a little work it's the hostes. Your gps will bring you to the front street unless you use your iPhone which brings you to the front door. Great job pod keep up the great work.
(4)
Keisha F.
Love POD! The food is great, trendy atmosphere and the service is awesome. (Johnathan our server was the best!) I'll definitely be back!
(5)
Elisabet R.
Love everything but the sushi rolls. The drinks are great, the ambiance is modern, and the servers are great (as in most Stephen Starr restaurants). The hot plates are wonderful-- the udon soup, baby bok choy and Kobe beef fried rice are a must! The miso glazed sea bass and spare ribs are delicious as well. Not to big a fan of the desserts as most are pretty to look at but not as tasty as they sound on paper.
Takes Reservations : Yes Delivery : No Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Dinner Parking : Street Bike Parking : Yes Wheelchair Accessible : Yes Good for Kids : No Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Ambience : Trendy Noise Level : Average Alcohol : Full Bar Outdoor Seating : No Wi-Fi : No Has TV : Yes Waiter Service : Yes Caters : No
Vichet O.
I've drank here quite a few times. The staff is always quick and friendly, and they have lychee drinks, which gives them an extra point from this southeast asian. Other than that, what can I say about Pod that isn't obvious from looking? Oh right, they serve "Asian Fusion" food. In PODS! I shit you not. Little tapas sized dishes circulate on a conveyor belt for you to dim-sum, brody, grab, claim, or snatch - whatever verb you prefer, for that particular part of the restaurant (the sushi bar? or sushi conveyor belt? I'm not sure what you'd call it) you kind of just get what you want and eat it right there. There are tables where you can sit down and order. I've never really done that, so I can't comment. I'm sure it's pleasant. Now that I think about it, the only time I've actually eaten here was for all you can eat sushi. Don't get me wrong, the sushi here is better than a run-of-the-mill shop, and there was all of it I could eat. However, I would probably not do this again because I could go to one of my preferred sushi joints and get as much as I should allow myself to eat for about the same price. On an aside, Pod's interior affected me in such a way that I actually took it as an inspiration for a setting in one of my stories. I don't HATE the look. It's just not for me. Or any of my male characters: "Everything was white, bathed in a pale red glow by dim sconces that lined the walls at shoulder height, demarcated by floor-length windows at regular intervals. Some of the panels lit up and changed color like a disco floor as people walked across the room. Personally, King would have left out the panels and kept the disco. He was partial to wide collars and flared slacks. However, he was not particularly partial to Cube. If an iPod were susceptible to crack addiction, King and his coworkers stumbled upon the botched abortion of its crack-lovechild. The decorations were far too loud for him to feel comfortable. In a place where everything stood up and screamed "Look at me!" King felt decidedly out of place - and not in the fun, interesting way where he could leverage his uniqueness in conversation. This was plain, old, useless high school awkwardness. At least the music was acceptable." And that's how I feel about the decor. Other than that, this place is alright by me. Pro-tip: Try the ginger rum shots. They taste much better than they sound.
(3)Leigh O.
Yeah....over-rated. While the atmosphere of the restaurant is completely beautiful and modern, I'm not so sure that makes up for everything else. I'm a huge fan of Asian fusion so I've had my fair share everywhere I visit. Pod is just not that great. I've had completely tasteless soup here (I took it home to my nephews who stated it was the best ramen they ever had, which I'm sure doesn't speak much for it), potstickers are average. These are types of things I feel that a fusion restaurant should make effortlessly. I am a fan of the crab fried fried rice though. The drinks I could completely skip as well. I tried all of the "color" martinis and if I had to choose I'd recommend the red or green. Overall, if you're looking to just be trendy and cute to upload photos to instagram or something this place is cool. If you're looking for high quality and flavorful food then you should pass. It's also way overpriced for the quality of food.
(3)Jeff L.
Pod is always a fun time. Been there countless times and there's a good reason I keep going back. It's such a fun atmosphere - a great place for a quick lunch date or a nice birthday dinner. The drinks are all awesome and the food is presented nicely and very tasty. The sushi is somewhat pricey (but expected) but also very good. The specialty rolls are really unique. I have really never had a dish I didn't like here, except maybe the Siu Mai for appetizer, which were way too salty. They also offer a all-you-can-eat sushi experience from season to season, but it's only offered after 9pm so the time isn't great since you end up waiting forever for them to make the food. The best part of Pod are, well, the pods themselves. Hard to get into unless you have a big party who will spend a lot on dinner, but you can get lucky if there's one open and no other seating. Lots of fun - definitely recommend giving this place a try!
(4)Joey B.
Great food though a bit expensive. AWESOME atmosphere, decor, vibes, music, etc. I really, really recommend for casual/fun date or family outing. And....the service is incredible. A++
(5)Keo N.
Over priced sushi and weak cocktails. Go for the entrees and wine.
(3)Avi A.
Pod is most definitely a hot spot for all you yuppies out there.. and anyone else who wants to think they're a baller but really isn't :P Don't get me wrong, the food is quite delicious and the "multi-colored contemporary lounge" feel is certainly appealing to all of us college kids. The problem is that there's so much hype about this place, it's easy to get disappointed and end up spending your entire week's allowance on a few pieces of sushi and some pad thai ^^ o harro empty wallet! I would recommend going for lunch and getting the kaiseki express, which will cost you something like $13 - 15 and you get miso soup, rice, and a scrumptious piece of fish or meat. Occasionally, they'll be cunning and offer an all you can eat $25 sushi event, which only becomes a deal when you surpass your 25th piece... i dunno about you, but I'm pretty full after about 20 pieces of maki.. the width and length of my stomach prevents me from inhaling a whale.. which would actually be ideal in such a situation Try to be a little unconventional and order items outside of the sushi menu... the chilean sea bass is certainly worth a shot.. as well as the kobe beef burger. A nice place for a date.. and a great place for lunch... good replay value :) Expect to see the entire Penn community there when you go haha.. -Av
(4)Lisa R.
I have been to eight Steven Starr restaurants, and this is the most run down. Everything is scuffed up, the sink in the bathroom didn't work, and you see a lot of chairs and odds and ends stacked up in the corner. The food is interesting in a cerebral way, but not in a finish your plate way. Staff and service was good, but some more eye to detail of upkeep probably needed.
(3)Dave H.
Pod has a Jetsons-like feel to it, from the conveyor-belt sushi bar to the curtained area on the "bridge". The semi-private dining areas (pods) have controls that let you change the colors inside to a whim. Seating is ample for a medium-sized group. It was difficult to tune out the noise - in that way, Pod reminds me of a futuristic cafeteria. Service - Lan, Erin, Laurie) is MUCH better than your typical cafeteria luckily. The food generally looked better than it tasted. Presentation is top-notch and the sushi was fresh. Portions are big enough you can share with one or two others. While I'll overlook the high cost of food[1], I can't ignore quality. The sushi appetizer was a promising start to dinner but the Chilean sea bass I had was buttery as all hell. Imagine eating a stick of butter marinated in butter lathered in fat. (Sound redundant? The sea bass was redundant.) The Mongolian beef lacked any kick. The saving grace of the meal was the calamari! Tender and spicy, it was a treat after eating the other two dishes. Not worth the trip if you're looking for stellar food. Perhaps my expectations were too high but the food left an unsavory imprint on me. Upon reflection I'm just unhappy. Stop by for a drink or try their wasabi-crusted filet mignon (which I had another time, and wasn't half-bad). [1] Except for the sushi... don't ask.
(3)Dan K.
Their menu leaves very little to be desired. A dish for every palate, if you will. The ambiance is awesome. I've eaten inside one of their color-changing "pods" and in the main dining area. Although I prefer dining inside the pod, the service was superb in either location. I was thoroughly impressed with the server's in-depth knowledge of the entire menu, both food and drink.
(5)Becca I.
I didn't really know what to expect from an Asian restaurant named Pod. However, from the moment I walked in I liked Pod. They have a distinct theme and seem to stick with it throughout the dining experience. The food was great, I particularly enjoyed the crab fried rice and the spicy tuna rolls. The service was decent, although it was clear she was trying to upsell us and unhappy we didn't order drinks or dessert. I think it is a little bit overpriced, but i do not think that would stop me from coming back.
(4)Stephanie Y.
I only really come here for happy hours on Friday. $5 cocktails and it's RIGHT across from work. Can't really beat that, especially on a hot summer day and you're waiting for that second hand to hit 5 o'clock. You know you already have your stuff gathered and with 1 fell swoop, you've locked your computer. You seat yourself, so no waiting is a plus and a waitress comes over, you just pick a color on the rainbow. Since I'm Asian, it tastes strong enough for me, especially since I start glowing after 1, but I will get a second. Enjoying the drinks while chatting with coworkers. Yes, the seats aren't very uncomfortable. Sometimes I'll order Pod's famous lobster roll to go. It's my fave. Food in general isn't bad, but a bit overpriced. Dang, it's only Wednesday. 2 more days ....
(4)A E.
Perhaps this is an issue of unreasonable managed expectations. When I heard that there was a Stephen Starr restaurant in University City, I wanted to go. That doubled in intensity when I realized that it was a sushi bar and that it was spitting distance from where I work but it seemed as if one excuse followed another and I pushed it off. However, one day I found myself so busy that I worked through lunch and found myself with a few dollars in my pocket so I decided to finally make a trip and catch the place during Happy Hour. Now, I understand that this leaves me with a slightly skewed perspective. There is a likely chance that the best dishes are the extremely expensive ones that a foodie on a very real budget had to avoid, and I can appreciate that. However, when they set a menu, any menu, they are choosing to give something to the public and I believe that a fair critique can be performed on those grounds as long as I acknowledge the scope of my meal. First off, I have to talk about the service. I really don't have a single negative thing to say, I really don't. As much of a Snarkasaurus Rex that I tend to be, the servers, bartender and hostess all attended to me quickly, professionally and cheerfully. Granted, it was still quiet, but I've languished at too many bars to expect this to come automatically. I'm really not a fan of the décor, but that's just me. I'm usually ok with futuristic design, but it seemed a little overblown and it didn't really contribute to the meal experience in any way. As for the food...well, I was unimpressed. The Shrimp Tempura roll was kind of dry and seemed to lack balance, the Chicken Potstickers were alright but unspectacular while being paired with mustard sauce which really didn't work. The steamed bun itself was delicious, but the mushrooms that it came with seemed extremely salty and led to an unbalanced dish. After careful consideration, I think I've determined where I have issue: it's the quality of high end grocery store ready to eat meals. I don't hate those, and I'll get them from time to time when I'm tired, but I don't seek them out. I would never seek out any of the dishes I had that day, and I sure as hell wouldn't pay the full, non-happy hour price.
(3)Monique C.
My boyfriend wanted to take me to pod to celebrate my new job. He was pretty excited to go here since his coworkers have been heralding this place for months. We arrived on Wednesday night and pod was pretty busy; we felt as if we'd traveled forward in time to this modern restaraunt. The hostesses greeted us and we were seated within 15 minutes of arrival. Our waiter was efficient. He was knowledgeable but curt; he had many tables but seemed to multi-task well. Our first course, the tempura sushi, was very good. We ordered macadamia chicken stir fry, which my boyfriend loved and garlic shrimp. I ordered the lemon cheesecake for dessert. It was simply divine. I recommend the pink martini although my boyfriend's Tokyo tea was just average. Overall I would return to pod. It would be cool to dine in one of the colored booths and sample more of the delicious items we saw at other tables and wizzing by in the hands of busy waiters. 4.5/5 for pod.
(4)Chris M.
Pod does and always will hold a special place in my heart. About 9 years ago, I brought my then new girlfriend, now wife, on our first fancy date here (I think it was like to celebrate our one-month anniversary). We've been back here several times since, and I eat lunch here around one per month or so. The "futuristic" decor (I use the quotes because it hasn't changed in like a decade) is still pretty fun, with the big party booths with buttons allowing you to change the ambient lighting, and the small pod booths carved into the wall--not to mention the sushi conveyor belt. And the food is pretty excellent. If you're into sushi, I recommend ordering one these rolls, which used to be on the menu: mango, cream cheese, and salmon (basically a Philadelphia roll with mango), or the yellowtail, scallion, jalapeno roll. If sushi's not your thing, try the macadamia chicken stir fry. This place gets pretty packed around prime times, but you can often get a seat at the sushi conveyor belt, where you can either eat from the belt or order from the menu. The sushi on the belt is hit or miss, sometimes with a very limited selection. You may want to sit here, grab a small plate or two from the belt and order a roll or two from the waiter/waitress. If you haven't been here yet, you should definitely give it a try. It's a little gimmicky and a little pricey, but it's a cool experience.
(4)Siv L.
Came here with a friend -- love the ambience but because UCity doesn't have many options for fine/trendy dining, the bar area gets pretty packed with "trendy" type people. The food here is good. The service is attentive. I think due to its location and the lack of options surrounding it, I can understand why people think it's overrated. Wouldn't recommend it for anyone looking for a no-nonsense good meal.
(3)Richard B.
I was staying at the hotel next door and wanted somewhere close for dinner. Pod had decent reviews so I decided to give it a try. This place is very much form over substance. It is probably a fun place for drinks with friends but I wouldnt recommend it for dinner for an out-of-towner dining alone. I had the street noodles and the were decent but nothing to write home about.
(2)Seb S.
Obviously the food is good and the place is cool but it's overrated. Go to MORIMOTO instead.
(3)Penn Grad Student Z.
Overpriced, way below average food. The decor is really lame and overdone. It was like dining in a cheesy virgin america flight. The sushi tasted like the boxed pre-prepared sushi. Granted, it's hard to make anything good with Asian fusion. Save yourself some money and go to PF Changs.
(1)Janice T.
Although a little pricey, Pod has a fun atmosphere and cool decor. Eating in the Pod with the different lights is also a fun experience. Good place for celebratory dinners with a group or a date. Could be a cool place for out of towners too. I've been there a few times while I was in college and service and food was always good.
(4)Joe D.
Jetson's decor, overpriced, sometimes slow service... whatever. I loved coming here. first thing i see is the sushi conveyor belt and the green glowing spaceship surrounding a small bachelorette party, and i'm thinking, "i could live here". our server soon brought me a perfect martini so it was a great start! I needed to sate my pretentious side and ordered the kobe beef appetizer grilled on hot stone table side. $18 for three little pieces of beef was well worth feeding this foodie's ego. the meat was every bit as tender and delicious as i expected a $6 bite to be. my sea bass entree was off the charts good. it came with a serving of sweet japanese mashed potatoes that tasted like no mashed potato i've ever tasted. totally iron chef stuff going on. another drink for me and dessert for my lovely wife and we were gone. i am anxious to return again.
(5)K C.
Food is rich, but in the way that makes you feel like ugh afterwards. Overpriced. Loud, drunk people at the front. Tries to be fancy, but really, isn't.
(2)S K.
Nice server is all there was to this meal. Extremely unflavorful, tasteless food. The sweet pea and mushroom dumpling was thick and lacked texture and flavor. The udon noodle stirfry, similarly, was completely flavorless. The speciality sushi rolls were ok, but for $18 a roll, we've had much better at morimoto and fat salmon. The bokchoy side was fresh and refreshing, but a good side seldom counts for a good meal. The worst part - dessert. A Starr restaurant cannot afford to get something as basic as a chocolate lava cake wrong, but Pod did. It was barely warmed, completely dry, stale tasting and looked like a chocolate muffin that was picked up from Jo Shmo's bakery five days ago. At $45 per head without alcohol, this was one terrible pick.
(1)Erin N.
Great place! I'm not sure why there are 3 $'s, it's 2 $'s to me. Lots of cool color changing lights with a really good atmosphere and feel. It's nice because if you want sushi but your friend doesn't, there's lots of different things to keep everyone happy. Try the cocktails in the drink menu, unique stuff. Though I didn't try an of the mock tails they had a great selection of stuff that sounded great. They hate conveyor belt sushi bar that looked really awesome. If you have a larger party, make a reservation and ask for the round tables that are semi private and light up. The only thing that I could say negative is the bathrooms. They aren't dirty or anything but it just gives you a weird feel because it's stainless steel toilets like you would see at subway station or something.
(5)R H.
Very yummy! More the anything... I really enjoyed the ambiance and the decor!
(4)Latanya T.
The decor is very futuristic, almost like your eating sushi with the jetsons :) A little over priced in my opinion but overall this place is great!
(4)Taylor L.
Oh, Stephen Starr. How I love thee... This is the fifth Starr restaurant that I've visited since I started living in Philly, and I just continue to be impressed. What do I love the most about Starr restaurants? The fact that, despite how amazing the atmosphere is, the food always seems to be better (if this was not the case, I would most likely be discontinuing my quest). So, not surprisingly, I found the ambiance in Pod to be cool. I, personally, didn't like it as much as some of the other ones... but I won't let my personal preference for decor weigh into my evaluation of the quality. We didn't sit at the cool chairs at the bar, or in the color-changing pod-seating-area-things, so our table was rather plain and plastic-y. The food, though, was all around fantastorgasmical (and it came out rapidfire, which was nice because I came HUNGRY). Here were the highlights: - Chicken Lettuce Wraps. Can I order 500 more please and just eat these, and only these, for the next year of my life? Thanks. - Beef Short ribs (appetizer). I wouldn't have ordered these had the server not highly recommended them. WELL, I am thrilled I did!!!! The meat was a whole new level of flavorful, and was just falling apart, and practically melting in your mouth. They came on some udon noodles that were flavored similarly to the shortribs. Mmm!! - Ice Sculpture Sorbet (dessert): Four scoops of refreshing sorbet atop an ice sculpture to keep it cold. How cool is that? (I added a picture of this delectable dessert, in case you were curious) The other things that we ordered that were delicious, but just not as blow-your-mind were: - Chicken Potstickers - Chicken Macademia Stir Fry - Tofu and Udon stirfry ... and, what else? SAKE. "Demon Slayer" Sake, to be specific.
(4)Richie D.
2nd time we were here. Great atmosphere. Waiters can be a bit stuffy and pretentious but that's Philly. Pod has a great selection of apps and drinks. We order all apps on many occasions at certain restaurants and this is prime for that. Can't get by all the app selections to order a main course, maybe next time.
(4)Tina C.
Decent atmosphere, above average food, although a bit on the pricey side, but great cocktails and very prompt service. The clientele was very middle of the road even if the place tries to give off an edgey vibe. We went with 9 people and it worked out $65 per person with no dessert. I don't think it's one of Steven Starr's best restaurants. I would go to Morimoto than Pod.
(3)Grace S.
Been here several times for evening receptions that served the usual sushi maki rolls and apps in small portions. Finally came here for lunch and still just Mehhhhh. Sushi combo for $16 is so overpriced for the 5-6 nigiri and 4 pieces of caifornia roll and no miso soup, no japanese salad. TONS of salt on the edamame (that by itself, was cooked well). The green tea for $4 is worth it--not your typical Japanese green tea tho (has moroccan mint + jasmine). This place is "anglosized" through and through. That's not a bad thing, it's just not an authentic Japanese restaurant. Perhaps the 18 pieces that come with the $14 maki combo is worth it...the udon noodles w/ tofu looked so bland and lifeless. Most ppl were ordering the $14 lunch special "bento boxes". The atmosphere was great though, totally packed from wall to wall with Wharton students, Wharton professors, professionals in the area...felt very much like the NYC business lunches that a lot of us left for grad school!
(2)Ninh N.
I've been to POD several times but I recall one time last may. My sister and I ordered the wasabi filet, sushi and shrimp tom yum soup. Everything was delicious, unfortunately I found fruit flies in my soup. I didn't want to make a scene and told my waitress, she took it away and apologized. The manager (dark hair with glasses) comes up to me and apologizes and said "you know, its summer." was that the answer to why there was flies in my soup? They offered me another soup, I said no thank you. They offered free dessert but I didn't want any, and they refused to take the soup off my check. So I paid for the soup I didnt want to eat. The food here is good, unfortunately the incident that happened to me a year ago wasnt.
(1)Hannah M.
Staff: All very friendly and helpful. This was what made me bump this from a 2-star to a 3-star. Atmosphere: The music was trendy and not too loud. You didn't have to shout over everyone. The dining area was too cramped though that I kept touching the table sitting next to me. Food: TL;DR Review: Glorified chinese takeout. Not worth the price. I started off with the sashimi - or so I thought. They brought out my meal (Duck duck udon) before the sashimi. The sashimi ended up being the best part of the meal, and at $6 for 2 pieces actually was a reasonable price. I would order it again. I tried some of my friend's sushi too - it was average. Not bad, but not outstanding. I've had better for less money. My entre, duck duck udon, was decent but they didn't specify that it was more of a soup in broth - it was so hot to eat and not what I wanted on a muggy day. I though it would be more of a salad. There were only a few pieces of duck in it and the dumplings/wontons tasted like take-out. Not really worth the $15 but the portion was VERY generous; enough to take half of it home for lunch the next day. The thing that irked me the most about this place is that they ran my credit card twice. Although one of them only went through and one of the charges stayed in pending and disappeared... this can be annoying. I'd stick with cash if you go here.
(3)Nikki J.
I've been to Pod several times (most recent - last night). I've yet to have a negative experience. The food is always great, the drinks are always yummy, and the service is always 20% tip worthy. I love it here.
(5)Gina L.
I went to this place on Saturday. The desing of the place was not the greatest, the plastic chairs were not the most comfortable, however, the food and the serve were great! We ordered albacore sushi and Rio Grande roll, they were excellent! Also, I ordered sea bass and japanese sweet potatoes, and it was great! My hubby ordered kobe skirt steak, it came without a side dish, which we did not realize, so the sever brought out wasabi mashed potatoes within minutes. It was great! For desert, we got their new item, cheesecake, it was delicious. The food may be a little on a high side, but it's worth it.
(4)Stephy S.
I've always wondered what it would feel like to get drunk inside of a Mac computer and now I know! And it's pretty damn cool. I came here the other night after a very long night of party throwing, drinking, drinking and some more drinking and I really enjoyed it. From what I understand, it's usually a bit cooler and we hit it on an off night, but I still thought it was cool beans. I also had a chance to partake in one of my favorite hobbies. Yep, drunken bathroom photography. Maybe it's just me, but I love cool bathrooms. Sure, anyone can pop in a sink, screw in a light bulb and put in a toilet, but when a place takes the time to really create an atmosphere, well, they get much of my Blackberry Curve's camera attention! On this night I probably shot a good 15 pics in here and they all turned out really cool, IMHO. As for the food here, I didn't try it, unless you consider vodka a food, which i do. And limes, limes are food, right? :)
(4)Anisha H.
AHHH My fav restaurant in Philly - I miss it sooo much!!!! ok yes it is definately not cheap but its a fun place to go with a group of friends. the place - they make you sit in Pods if you are a party more then six...and you can change the lights and its pretty kewl!! Sushi - they have a sushi train which is awesome...you see the chef making the fresh sushi in front of you and they put it on a train which you get to choose from....two thumbs up!! The food --- okk the fix menu in the pods...is TONZ of food!!! we went here with a bunch of friends - we were eight of us and we got through apps and the first course and had to pack the rest home!!! we were soo stuffed with the sushi and the apptz...we couldnt eat anymore.... it was sooo sooo good...but ofcourse we had room for the desert platter...lol Definately a great fun place to hang out to...and a great place to people watch ;)
(4)Jen L.
Another Steven Starr restaurant? The place is neat-o, but I guess that can get old kind of fast. The bathrooms are kind of cool, and the 'pods', where they let larger groups sit, have mood lighting you can set yourself. If you're a small party, you can sit at the back bar/food area, where a little conveyor belt carries tiny plates of food round and round, you just grab what looks good. Sort of a serve yourself dim-sum, I guess. It's a different kind of experience, with lots of interesting choices off the menu, with a heavy focus on seafood. I liked the crab spring rolls A LOT, and also enjoyed the chicken potsticker dumplings. I was in a party of four, and we all ordered something different. The drinks are pricey, so be prepared to shell out the bucks if you imbibe. Four of us ate and drank for about $250, so that will give you an idea of what to expect.
(3)Jen D.
If I just had to rate this place on decor, I'd give it 5 stars. The decor is what makes this place so interesting. Otherwise, it's overpriced asian fusion cuisine that doesn't taste very good.
(2)Michelle K.
Get ready for more out of town reviews from me. Pod is a 3.5 star place, just as the Average Rating suggests. 4 stars for decor: yay for the chairs, the lights, and the martini-sipping well dressed crowd on a thursday night, but nay for the all-metal bathrooms that tried to go too futuristic. 5 stars for service: our waitress was attentive, answered q's, and most importantly was very professional when my friend realized she had ordered the wrong sushi rolls...and left us with the "wrong" food for free. So in the end we did get the right amount of food for our money! 3 stars for price 4 stars for food: i highly recommend the U love salmon2.0 rolls! (Smoked salmon wrapped tasmanian salmon and mango maki served with soy glaze and mango cream sauce). If you're not at the sushi bar, make sure to ask for a separate sushi menu so you're not limited to the combos (read: more expensive/complicated sushi) on the regular menu. If I lived in Philly, I wouldn't return too soon, but I was happy to find a decent restaurant in University City on our one night in town.
(4)Matt L.
I love Pod. I really do. For 10 years, I've been going here for fresh sushi, well thought out cooked food, and fantastic drinks. In college, I was all about the sushi bar and happy hour. Then I discovered the bento box lunch. For $15 I could have a great meal and typically have enough food to take home for dinner as well. Plus, it's affordable for a nice meal with friends or to go pick a prof's brain about something. Then I came back for grad school and all of a sudden had a recruiting budget. This is where I got to know Pod. Pod Caesar? Best in the city. Seriously dee-lish. The teriyaki Kobe burger at lunch? Even my mom, who HATES Japanese food, liked this burger. The Tuna Hand Roll 3 ways? MMM...although I do chuckle like a 12 year old at the title. U-Love Salmon special? You're right, Pod... I do. And let's not forget the Bao goodness in the Duck two ways... Those of you who actually read my reviews (i.e. Ali E. and occasionally Monica) know I love me some steamed bread. So with that, a good friend of mine was in town, so I procured a 9:15 for me, him, Ali E, and her beau and we went for some all you can eat sushi. I got there a few minutes late, and they told me they couldn't find my rezzie and that I was the first to arrive. I go to check my coat and see a text from my friends that they're already seated. Hmm. Overwhelmed and somewhat rude host desk. Good start to the day. We sit and it's a hot trannie mess in the restaurant. HUGE plates of maki coming out left and right for the All you can eat festivities. In terms of selection -- they pretty much had all the basics. Not the cheap stuff. Good fresh salmon, snapper, bass (which is actually super tender and not fishy at all here), fluke, yellowtail. A few shellfishes I don't eat. Basically your choice of maki, hand roll, or nigiri. And if you want spicy? sure? crunchy? sure...well...sort of (my penn roll lacked that quaker crunch). I don't think we were aggressive enough with the ordering, what with the pay a-la-carte for everything you don't finish, but we ate well. Waits were long, as we were in the restaurant almost 3 hours for some sushi. But I was full as hell when I left and very pleased with my meal.
(4)Alicia O.
I don't remember much about the sushi at Pod. It was good, but not amazing. I do remember the chairs, the bathroom doors, and the lighting. I guess that's the whole point. I would like to go back again and try the conveyor belt. There needs to be more conveyor belt sushi in Philly.
(2)Anna Marie C.
again, this is one of those places i end up going to because it's close to work. it's a stephen starr japanese/asian restaurant. it's pretty, it's modern--but i've never gotten to sit in one of the pods... i've never been here for dinner, but as far as the lunch goes... the good: crab pad thai. but then again, i have a sick love for pad thai. desserts are usually good as well. the alright: the generic (but decent) calamari salad. the sushi. and frankly, most of the rest of the menu. the ugly: uf, it's pricey.
(4)Debbie G.
Was just there last night for drinks and apps. It's a typical trendy, loungy kinda spot, but still somehow a comfortable place to kick back for a drink after work. One thing I have to mention was the waiting staff here is unexpectedly really nice. I assumed they wouldn't be from the looks of the place, but it was pleasant surprise to find out otherwise. The dishes are definitely overpricey, I have yet to try their fancier sushi rolls, but the shrimp tempura maki and edamame i got was just fine. I'll have to give this place the dinner test soon!
(3)Ashley R.
I have been to Buddakan several times and I'm a bit obsessed, so I was pretty excited when a friend (with a $125 gift card! SCORE!) suggested Pod. Stephen Starr did a fantastic job with the layout. Sadly, we weren't seated in a pod, but we all agreed that we need to come back so we can get the chance to have dinner in one. Since we were going out drinking later, we all decided that sushi would be a bad idea, so we opted to share a few dishes. We ordered martini's and I chose the Blue Martini first, which tasted like tropical fruit. It was ok, not great. Since Pod serves the food as it is done, our Edamame came out first, which was nice, because we could sit and chat and have drinks while still munching on something. The Crab Spring Rolls, Butter Poached Lobster and Grilled Teryaki Salmon were all decent, but I don't think I'd order them again. Especially the lobster. The bok choy and tofu just didn't seem to work well with the lobster. However, the Asian Braised Short Ribs and Wasabi Crusted Filet were TO. DIE. FOR. Absolutely delicious. Loved the Udon noodles with the short ribs and the wasabi mashed potatoes that came with the Filet were delicious. So moral of the food story: stick to the red meat. While we were eating, the manager convinced my friend and I to try the Orange Martini after finishing our first round. It was ok. It was mixed with carrot juice and ginger...but it was a little heavy on the ginger and whatever spices they used. I think it would be a great drink to pair with some sushi, but it was a little tough to drink. To make it up to us, the manager brought over a free round of the Yellow Martini, which ended up being my favorite. I LOVE passionfruit, and the tartness of the drink was great. A friend ordered the green tea gin and tonic, which was seriously refreshing and delicious. We tried the Fluffernutter Spring Rolls and the sorbet, which was a perfect end to the night. We racked up a pretty serious bill by the end of the night, but luckily we had a nice friend to share her gift card with us. Next time, I don't plan on ordering as much, but dammit, I want to sit in a pod! And make sure you check out the bathrooms... they're definitely interesting...I felt like I was in an airplane. Kinda strange, but fun.
(4)Austine C.
Dear Pod, I like your bathrooms and your crispy chicken seafood spring rolls, and how you were the backdrop for uniting a really good friend of mine together. Alas, I think this is a one night stand. First, let's talk about your sushi. I like my slab of fish cold and my rice warm and compressed. Yours? The fish and rice are both room temp and undecided. You should be ashamed that you have a faux conveyor belt...Japan would say, "No sake fo' you!" Secondly, your house salad is much too vinegar and no sesame seed oil. Don't you know that this is an essential ingredient for a typical salad? You really pay for the Starr decor and experience. Personally, I found it tawdry and a bit gimmicky. If you are in the mood for sushi, you may just want to find another escape pod.
(3)Mia R.
HMMMMMM.... it was OK! yes, cool decor. yes, half decent waiter & other team members. yes, a bit too costly for a few items! peace & conservation
(3)Mackenzie B.
Ate here for my birthday last New Year's Eve. Loved the atmosphere and design! (I'm an "art" person.) The food was great and the sushi was some of the best I've ever had, although the portions on the "surf & turf" meals were rather humble. I, myself, ordered a type of salad, can't really remember since it was so long ago, but it was delicious! When we got there we had to wait for 2 people in our party before they would actually seat us, so we didn't get to sit in one of the cool "pods" because another group arrived after us, but all their members were there - so they got the pod. (Grrrrr.) We had fun anyway sitting around having drinks, exploring the way cool airplane like bathrooms, and watching the funky Japanese cartoons they were playing. I would say it's definately an event to go here. The only sucky part - on street parking has meters no matter what time of day...
(4)Liz Y.
I've been to Pod two times and each time it's been great! The first time was for lunch. We started with the yellow martinis and I had the kobe beef burger cooked medium which was really good! The all you can eat sushi was also phenomenal. I LOVE IT HERE! Also, if you're lucky, you may have the pleasure of meeting Mr. Yaeger :)
(5)Martina M.
Pod has gone downhill. My lack of tolerance for incompetence was in full gear tonight. My children saved their allowances and bought me a gift cert to Pod to take me there for my birthday celebration. We booked a reservation and requested a Pod. After driving for 1.5 hours to get there, Not only did they not accommodate our pod request at 5pm, but they sat us in their empty restaurant with a view of the kitchen and dirty dish station! I was appauled, especially since our meal was well over $400. They eventually moved us after my several attempts to complain. the food was less than adaquate. Crab wontons were missing an ingredient. The waitress forgot about our rock shrimp tempura, and the rotari was overrated. Pod was a disaster!
(1)Lillian C.
The food is overpriced and mediocre.
(2)Ripp K.
My favorite sushi place in the city. I know other spots are more famous but in terms of price vs. quality this place is the poop. Creative food, excellent quality and just an all around great experience. I have had my birthday here twice with a huge group and a few times on a Monday or Tuesday my g/f and I have gone over and just sat at the sushi bar and pigged out.
(4)Colleen L.
This has been the celebratory restaurant for my fiance and myself for a while. He would like me to say that it's his favorite restaurant. Pod isn't my favorite, but I've always had a fabulous dinner. My personal favorite dish is the wasabi-crusted filet mignon. I've never had sushi there that was not fresh, and we are sushi snobs. There are better places in the city if all you want is sushi, but you will not be let down by their selection or quality. Yes, the decor is modern (I like it). Yes, it's a Steven Star restaurant. Yes, it's slightly overpriced. All that aside, Pod is worth at least one visit.
(4)Ben F.
wow, this place was awesome.... Decor, Staff, food A++++ Sit at the bar, they are amazing!
(5)Jessica A.
I can here Saturday night for my friends birthday! And let me tell you, the food was absoultely amazing! The Sushi was very fresh and I ordered the Mandarin Shrimp stir fry - Awesome! I also tried the crab meat fried rice and it was also delicious!
(5)Three R.
fun place, good price enjoyed it
(3)regina c.
Been there twice. Once cause I made a mistake on the date. Great food good staff! wonderful Martini. Who would have thought carrot, orange and ginger would be so delicious. Can't wait to go back
(5)Miranda S.
Excellent on a cold night hanging out at the bar having a cocktail with friends. I have debates with local friends that are native and non-native about this place. I think this place gets a bad rap at times because of it's Steven Star affiliation, it's UPenn location and the restaurant's futuristic-euro-asian moderna aesthetic. With those factors it's safe to say that some will hate this place and others will love it. I say go for the fun of the experience and know that you will be paying for it. It's a treat to use the bathrooms that light up accordingly or if you get a pod, playing with the lighting. Sushi is at an excellent level for Philly, but I did find Morimoto's to be slightly better in Old City. I did have an advantage here knowing two friends that were waiters here. The inside scoop at the time in 2006 was most of the staff were great people and that the boss/ manager was a hard person to work for. Naturally the staff has a mix of veterans and rookies. I would say overall the service is good. The location is also easy to get to by foot and trolley.
(4)Statia M.
You know, when Pod first opened, it was actually good. I'm not exactly sure what happened. Maybe I've changed. Maybe living in CA made me more of a food snob. Especially when it comes to sushi. That said, I can't even tell you how disappointed I am at how much this restaurant has gone down hill. I think this place needs a complete revamp, including the menu. What used to be cute and trendy back in the day, is just now downright annoying. The drinks named after colors? I'm over it. I don't think the menu has changed one bit since it opened. We sat at the sushi bar, because it was pretty crowded and I didn't figure we would have a chance at getting a table. The sushi on the belt was very vanilla. Typical most ordered sushi and it was very bland, and stale. No pow at all. My husband and I ordered appetizers as our meals, because we figured we'd grab a few things off the belt. My "dinner" of crab spring rolls, took about 45 minutes. For spring rolls. When asking our server what the hold up was, she just kind of shrugged and said "that's weird, I mean, it was ordered" and then went on her merry way, as if to subliminally tell me that it wasn't her problem anymore. I get that it's a hopping place and that we're one of the chosen few who is lucky to grace us with your presence by working here, but get over yourself and fetch my dinner. I felt like that surreal scene in Garden State where Zach Braff arrives at his job. Bottom line: Pod is a total has been restaurant. And if you need any more proof of that, just check out the woman next to you, who is probably drinking her colored martini out of a straw.
(2)T H.
This may be a typical "fusion" asian restaurant in a bad way. It does not do any one thing that well. Many of the fusion items seem to have their original flavors water down. The service is good and it is good for a group IF you can get one of the "pods" (otherwise, pretty noisy).
(3)peter s.
Been here three or four times on Penn's dime. Consistently underwhelming, hype over quality. Lunch the other day was ramen soup, which was not as good as what you get out of a 59 cent bag -- inedibly salty, with dumplings that had clearly gone straight from the freezer to the microwave. I'm with the school that thinks Stephen Starr is net drag on the Philadelphia food scene, occupying the high end with a loud soundtrack rather than good food.
(1)Phil S.
Chilean sea bass... and sushi. Yum!!
(5)Kaitlin H.
I had a fantastic time at Pod. The service was amazing. All of the food was so so good. The decor is definitely a little strange, but that doesn't take away from the quality of the food. Everything we tried we love.. the crispy tuna, tofu lettuce wrap, and lobster truffle roll stood out to me. Even the dessert was fantastic! It is certainly pricey for the quantity but each dish we tried was awesome!
(4)Mark L.
I didn't like this place because it was on Penn campus and tended to attract a certain subset of students. Food itself is good though and the place has a funky vibe.
(3)Barkha G.
I have been living in University City for a year and half now and have meant to try POD for a while. I mean, we go to Center City at least twice a week, and hadn't tried the closest STARR restaurant to us. That said, happy we didn't make the rush. This restaurant is one of the most over-rated places I have tried in Philadelphia. I tried the Udon Noodle Soup...except...well its not a soup. Maybe they should change the name on the menu then ...hint hint. The noodles come plated and are very flavorful along with the savory mushrooms and tofu. I tried the White Peach-Mint soda which was very refreshing for a lunch spritzer. But nothing extraordinary. My friend had wanted to get her sushi wrapped in cucumber and the waitress originally said it was no problem, and then came back later to tell us it would be $8 more per roll. She was very apologetic, but for a place that is already overpriced, we found this a bit ridiculous that they couldn't accommodate such a request. We didn't care much for the ambiance either except that it is well "unique". For spending $$$, would expect better service and even better food.
(2)Mark M.
The restaurant was really cool. I was sad that we only went for lunch, as the place probably really lights up at night. The place is stark white, with awesome colored lights all over the place. The sushi conveyor belt was pretty cool too. All the furniture is futuristic and plastic. I mean do I even need to say any more? I'd go there if it had HALF the stuff I explained! Also, the food is pretty good and you get a lot for what you pay for. Anyone who says its expensive must eat at McDonalds regularly. I'd definitely go back, but later on at night for the full experience.
(5)Chihee K.
Ok, I'm giving Pod a higher rating now after having gone here for a fun celebration (accidentally) with friends for my birthday of all days. The orange martinis are good. Stick to those.
(2)J. L.
We had a surprisingly bad experience at Pod in September so when we were asked to provide a review we were very honest. We immediately received an email from the manager at Pod, asking that we return so that they could make it right. We did return last Friday and had a terrific time. The food continues to impress, espeicially the new robota menu, and the service was great (thank you Bill). Great save Pod--the way a restaurant recovers from a bad experience speaks volumes and Pod impressed us all around.
(5)Anh C.
Even though it is a Steven Starr restaurant, I cannot give it five stars. First, let's start with the environment which I absolutely adore. Very futuristic concept and my favorite part will have to be when I am accommodated in the "pods". Here guests are seated around a round white table in what is literally a pod. You are enabled with a pad in which you can control the lighting to change from colors all over the spectrum. Very fun. But down to the nitty gritty, I enjoyed meals at Pod several times already but it doesn't stand out to me as something I would miss if my friends were to stop choosing this venue for their birthday dinners. It is true to their genre of Asian fusion and if you are someone who likes to try everything at least once in your life or for a nice celebratory place, I'd say go right ahead and do so. If you're looking for a staple in your lists of restaurants and venues, I would just skip onto the next.
(4)Charles F.
Best entree I've ever had, hands down. Chilean Seabass is now an addiction. Perfectly seared presented, this meal cannot be beat. Decor is cool and modern with PODs for group seating (you can change the color of the lights in the pods!). PRO- Decor, Seabass, drinks CON- Sushi was not my favorite. Rice was a bit dry. I'll go somewhere else for sushi and stick with the seabass
(4)Jake S.
Good sushi. A little pricey.
(3)Jason H.
I've been to Pod about 30 times since they opened over a decade ago, and I keep going back. Part of the reason is that the University City area can be a little lean on good restaurants in the immediate area of HUP/Penn. The theme is somewhat like a restaurant you'd see on the "Jetsons" with hard surfaces, futuristic tables and bar, and a general hip feeling overall. The menu is Asian-Fusion, and has flavors of Japanese, Thai, Vietnamese, and Chinese. The menu changes occasionally, but the format is generally family stye, and sharing is encouraged. There are some bento-box style entrees, but everything else is delivered to the center of the table and meant to be passed around. The sushi is a notch or two below Morimoto, but not by much; they have a good selection of sushi, sashimi, and rolls. The Pod Lobster and Shrimp Tempura rolls are standouts in my opinion. The seafood fried rice is great, and the crab spring rolls are to die for. Overall, a great place for a group or a small number of guests; they do have "Pod" circular booths (only two of them) for groups of six or greater. A good place; worth returning! -Jason
(4)Ellie W.
The food here is good but too expensive (i.e. overpriced). However, I strongly recommend POD as a great place for cocktail drinks and appetizers. When I went here with my father for appetizers and drinks when I first came to Penn, we admired the cool "space-age" decor, and funky artistic lighting and media theme. The atmosphere makes this a fun place to get a drink with folks from out of town (and I've continued to suggest it for such occasions). They have a creative drink menu, and cool booths to sit and chat in, before going elsewhere for dinner. Don't get me wrong: POD is not a bad choice for dinner. My dishes are always tasty, and service is excellent. I almost always order a seafood entree for dinner. But I was disappointed by how loud the restaurant is for having group conversations, so I don't recommend it as a place to take invited speakers at Penn. Other nearby restaurants, like White Dog, Distrito, and so on, are better suited for group discourse. Nonetheless, at the end of the day, POD is a fun place to try in University City!
(4)Diesel H.
incredible sushi. entrees are amazing. we have been here for parties [in the pod] and for dinner at a table probably a total of 8 times. We have never been disappointed. We have always been satisfied with our food and our services. We even had a party of 12 go in one time and had a $1300 bill after tip. It was worth the cash, worth the time and they did an incredible time keeping us ready for our next course and kept our drinks full. That can be a pretty hefty task, but they nailed it! I recommend ANY sushi. Their Kobe beef is pretty remarkable too. Calamari is on point. mmm their duck soup. Seriously, Stephen Starr, you've done it again.. another brilliant restaurant!
(5)Iyad O.
Meh. Not bad, not great. The food is average. The waitress was great.
(2)Shushmita M.
Fancy dinner out on campus! Great sushi and appetizers. the ambience is different and can be cool for the first time, but personally not my type of place to go back several times. Though we kept going back for drinks and late night appetizers here, my friend andI did have a bad experience with a waittress almost 3 years ago. The atmosphere can be a little too stuck up and snobby for my taste. Overall, I'd say food is good but definitely overrated place.
(3)Sarah M.
I love it here. The atmosphere was awesome and the place was so trendy. The sushi was amazing. I will definitely be back. you should definitely make a reservation so you don't have to wait for a table because the place is popular. All the servers make sure you were taken care of. I recommend it!
(5)Susanna L.
Pretty pricey, but I love how modern the decor is. It has nice soothing purple glow. Food was pretty good, I had the sashimi platter for two, and a couple of little side dishes like the chicken kabob, dumplings, and chicken fried rice. Our waiter was great, he came by every once in a while to check up on us and tell us what each plate was. its a great place for a nice date btw. Not very loud at all.
(4)Krysta R.
Was here a couple of weeks ago with my two roomies. Wow! When u walk in, it's just such a kool place, very hip and futuristic. When we walked In we were promptly greeted, then escorted to our table which was surrounded by stylish chairs. We had no reservation btw and we were accommodated. This place was busy and still had great service from the waiter, which btw was very informative, knowledgeable and cute :) I forget what I got but we got it on time and was delicious!! Will definitely go back if I stayed here in Philly but I'm not. Of course, I still like my little hole in the wall sushi place in Downey,CA... I can't find any better place than that!
(4)Nancy N.
This is one of our favorite places to order dinner from. They use high quality fresh ingredients, presentation is very nice and the temperature of the food is always right. I love their calamari salad and the Sea Bass dish is one of my All-time favorite dish in philly. I just wish it was closer to Center City, I would dine there in person. Currently we use Diningin to get our food from here.
(4)Cat P.
Five years ago, I was high above Tokyo on the last floor of the Yodobashi department store in Akihabara at a small kaitenzushi (conveyor belt sushi) restaurant. My friends and I frequented this place during our time in Japan. The atmosphere inside this little restaurant was tense as the colored plates floated by us on the belt. The salarymen finished their sushi quickly and us gaijin (foreigners) were literally stuck screaming our orders at the chefs. Flash forward five years, though, and I find myself over 6,000 miles away from the Land of the Rising Sun, dining at Pod. The conveyor belt is still there, but the mood is more relaxed and there's no longer the need to scream at the wait staff. Pod was a wonderful trip down memory lane for me and I was excited to relive those days, even if it was just for an hour and a half. We started by immediately grabbing two plates of sushi off of the belt and ordering drinks (sake and a delicious Jack Daniel's cocktail made with cranberry juice, raspberries, and mint). It wasn't long before our appetizers came out. The peppers with bonito flakes had an addictive spicy crunch to them and I thought that they were a refreshing alternative to traditional edamame. The mushroom and sweet pea dumplings immediately hit the spot and I think we finished our dish in record time. We moved on to the shiro-aoi roll with white tuna and jalapenos. We also snagged the toro nigiri. Both of those dishes were nothing short of amazing. The meal ended with 4 sweet flavors of sorbet. A lot of the reviews here seem to compare Pod to Morimoto. While it irks me a bit to talk about another restaurant in my review, I enjoyed my time at Pod much more than Morimoto. I felt like we got more food here for the same price and it was more inventive (especially the sushi). I left Pod feeling genuinely satisfied, whereas I left the other place feeling slightly ripped-off. Overall, I think Pod gave us a fantastic meal and it left me feeling nostalgic. I see myself coming back here for more of those peppers with bonito flakes.
(4)Bella H.
My boyfriend and I attended the university dining days event for dinner. The food was exceptional for a great price. You got four plates for $35. We got the california and spicy tuna for appetizers, miso soup and potstickers for dimsum, udon and chicken for entree, and the cake and springrolls for dessert. The only complaint was the service. Although it was a busy time, it felt like the server had more than she could handle. Our water glass was not refilled twice and the table took forever to be cleared. It felt as if our female server rarely checked in on us because we saw all the other servers more than we saw ours. Overall the food was good.
(3)Tsolere A.
Great atmosphere, great service and delicious food! The maki rolls were great! Must visit!
(4)Matthew D.
Absolutely one of the best sushi places I have found inside or outside of the city! We always try different menu items and have yet to be disappointed by anything. The edamame is always fresh, hot, and served with shaved salt, a unique and tasty touch! The Tom Kha was amazing and the spring rolls always come out piping hot and crispy with a light flavor. The next trip will include sampling their drink menu. Pod is on our list of places to go to satisfy that weekly sushi craving!
(5)Vinny P.
"Just what do you think you're doing, Dave? " My first impression upon walking into Pod was 2001: A Space Odyssey. The mostly white and rounded edges everywhere, the mechanized everything and the lit "pods" scattered through the restaurant all made me feel like I was aboard the Discovery One. We sat at the bar with the conveyor belt. As sushi rolls (in different colored bowls) slowly crept, by, we examined our options. We grabbed a salmon roll and a yellowtail roll from the conveyor belt. The little plastic bowls contained about 3 pieces each. We ordered the roasted shishito peppers and the mushroom sweet pea dumplings. The dumplings were exquisite in that they were so delicate. My chopsticks ended up tearing the second one in half when I went to pick it up. It didn't change the enjoyment for me, they were perfect. The shishito peppers were also fun in that they were tossed with a soy-sake glaze and grated bonito. Lovely snack. The belt didn't satisfy all of our cravings so we ordered the Shiro-Aoi and the Oh Toro Tuna. Thankfully, my dining partner has good taste in sushi and has lived in Japan. Her recommendations were spot on and we enjoyed both of these immensely. I don't get over to u-city much but I was impressed by Pod. When I return, I'll dress a bit better and I'll bring a group and sit in one of the pods and change the lighting 15 times.
(4)Jon D.
Meh. Averageeeee...and over-priced. Atmosphere and sushi conveyor belt: impressive Food: not so impressive Calamari salad: apparently Steve feels the need to have this same, boring, underwhelming, crappy salad on all of his menus. I've tried them at most of his places and the only version that is actually good can be found at Morimoto. Shrimp pad thai: Nice portion and presentation, plenty of shrimp, desired saltiness was there, but so was a red chili overload. I don't have an issue with hot stuff, but when it dominates every other flavor and becomes the only thing you can taste, that ruins it for me. Definitely not worth $18. My friend got the crab fried rice and said it was great. I didn't have any, but the presentation was there and the portion size was good. Passion Crème Brulee (Soup) tart: Flavor good, technique bad. This dish had a creative presentation, but as soon as I cut into it, the contents started flowing out like a volcano. I wouldn't have had an issue if they didn't charge 9 bucks for it, so point off for half assing it...the pastry chef at a busy place like this shouldn't be lacking the fundamentals, especially with a popular dish like crème brulee. Anyways, unique and very strong sour/sweet taste from the passion fruit, which was actually quite good. Although I could see the bananas, I definitely could not taste them. Thankfully, the coconut sorbet was delicious, light, and refreshing. Lastly, our waitress just plain sucked. My friend and I had just gotten out of neurodegenerative disease and apparently she wasn't too thrilled about waiting on two students. If I knew she was going to get the check from us and unashamedly stare at the tip section before we even left the table, the 20% we left would have been reduced to 2% (which should have been done in the first place). Apart from that loser, the hostess was very nice and friendly as was the manager who came over to ask how our dinner was (the shitty waitress did not). Tip: This place is only good if a) you come for lunch or b) you come with a group where you can order ten different things and share / try everything.
(3)Julie W.
As a poor college student, I (and my wallet) feel very out of place when dining here. It just so seems that the price you pay and the quality/quantity of food that you get don't seem to match up quite well. I mean, a roll of sushi was $8+, and I don't recall anything special was added to compensate for the extra dollars. But I'll say, some of the drinks are pretty good. There are, however, other good things about this place - noticeably, the decor and set up of the place. I'll admit that I have yet to dine at a place like Pod - the sophisticated underground spaceship. Dining in it, you can't help but to look around and appreciate the aesthetic elements of the place. However, the sights still aren't quite worth the money. Overall, this could be a good place for a date or business affairs. It's easy to find and definitely attractive for newcomers.
(3)Alison K.
The boyfriend and I went here last weekend for University Dining Days (have I mentioned how much I love these local restaurant week-type events?) It's a pretty cool place. I think I would have been more blown away by the decor if I hadn't read the Yelp reviews prior--the glowiness of the "pods" and the sushi conveyor belt might have been more impressive otherwise, though they were still pretty cool. Boyfriend had been here before in his Drexel undergrad days, but it was my first time. I decided to go with the UC Dining Days 3 courses/$30 deal. I had chicken pot stickers as a starter, which were pretty standard, nothing mind-blowing (and if you're doubting whether pot stickers can blow one's mind, it's entirely possible.) Next, I had the tofu stir-fry, which was super yummy, so much so that I saved half for lunch the next day. (Unfortunately, our server must have misheard or something because he never returned with the rest of it...and by the time I realized, it had probably been sitting in the kitchen for 20 minutes, so I probably didn't really want it anyway (though really I did and was pouting at lunch the next day.) But that's the passive-aggressive restaurant patron in me. Boyfriend had some sushi rolls (California, I think), miso soup, and kobe beef (which is cooked table-side, which is neat, if a little awkward, because we felt the need to stop our conversation in order to watch it cook...in silence. I thought it was yummy, but boyfriend thought it was good, not great. Moving on... DESSERT. HOLY MOLY. After much internal struggle (and external, for that matter, because I explained to both our server and my boyfriend that this was one of the most difficult dessert decisions I've ever been forced to make), I decided to go with the mocha brownie, instead of the vanilla bean mousse. It was REALLY GOOD. A dark chocolate brownie with a scoop of mocha ice cream, all served over a river of chocolate syrup. YUM. Boyfriend liked it, too. One downside (besides the lack of leftovers delivered--wah!) was the seating. I asked for a booth, and it's more like a seat against the wall. Boyfriend though it was a little uncomfortable for someone of his size (he's 6'2"ish, kind of built) because his one arm was sort of squished against the wall. Overall, I really enjoyed this place and will probably want to return at some point (particularly if we have a group big enough to get a pod!!)
(4)DeWayne G.
First time here. I brought my wife here for her birthday. We enjoyed ourselves! The staff is knowledgeable! The set up is built on sharing your dishes. The atmosphere is chic and a little futuristic. You can't go wrong with any choice. If you have seafood allergies, this won't work for you! We will be back! It's on the University of Pennsylvania campus; however the crowd spans multiple age groups.
(5)Shereen C.
The food here is solid but overpriced. Been here with groups a few times (last year) and thankfully didn't have to pay for myself. Sushi is not bad (though not great, either.) Lamb was good. Filet mignon was good. Chicken stir-fry was okay. Potsticker dumplings were disappointing. Tofu Lettuce Wraps were okay. Chicken Lettuce Wraps not as good. Baby Bok Choy was fine. Nothing special, but nothing wrong with it. Just veggies. They have some tasty cocktails and a pretty good variety of drinks in general. Decor is impressive. Very cool space-y theme with interesting lighting/media. If you're in a pod, you can change the colour of the pod's lighting, but anything other than plain white light is a tad unappetizing for eating. Service is always excellent. Very helpful. One time, another diner in my party spilled water all over my dress. Staff cleaned up the spill, then Manager gave me his card and offered to pay for dry cleaning. Wasn't necessary, but a much appreciated gesture. If I had an expense account and visitors to entertain somewhere close to UPenn, this is one of the places I'd be happy to take them. (The restaurant is pretty much right on campus.)
(3)Adam Z.
I went here for lunch, and it was fantastic. The interior is very modern and cool. Everything we had was excellent, but the spicy tuna crispy rice and the chicken lettuce wraps were real standouts. I'm told that it can get overly crowded in the evenings, but lunch was very relaxed.
(5)Wendy Y.
Meh. The decor seems really dated and unclean to me. I was expecting different from the pictures. The sushi we ordered was really disappointing. I'd rather get sushi from whole foods or wegmans. Grilled cauliflower and eggplant were ok. The best thing we had was the pork belly buns and unfiltered sake (soo good, but it was $45 for a 8 oz carafe).
(3)Erin K.
Just visited last night for my first time for cousins bday dinner. I was more impressed that I thought I would've been. Interior is very modern and up beat. The food was delish (lump crab California rolls, crab spring rolls, seafood fried rice, calamari salad, and sae bass with mashed potatoes). Only down side was the noise. Way too loud for me but i definitely would visit again.
(4)Melody W.
Amazing is the only way to describe the food here -- duck, Chilean sea bass, bento boxes, salads and cocktails -- I've never had anything I didn't thoroughly enjoy. The ambiance, however, truly scares the crap out of me. The way the space is lit and decorated, with compartmentalized, container-shaped spaces, and deep, primary colored bulbs that all seem to point directly in your face or on top of your head, I always feel like I've just been sucked onto an alien space ship, and I'm about to be experimentally probed. In the restrooms, tight, airplane-style cubbies only add to that awkward, uncomfortable feeling, like maybe there could be bodies cryogenically frozen and stored in some of them, to be used for future experiments. Maybe if you're a sci-fi buff, these details won't bug you at all; you may actually find them kinda cool/unique/futuristic. As for me, I'm considering doing only take-out orders from now on.
(4)Brendan S.
Love this place. Very good food and great service. Explain the meals to you in great depth and tell you exactly what you are getting. Very cool looking place and in a cool place in the city.
(5)Keith K.
The ultimate in Sushi ,the Rockin Spicy Tuna is the bomb!! The seafood fried rice or the crab fried rice with the crab rolls!!! Wash it down with the many specialty drinks.
(4)Frances R.
This restaurant is awful for vegetarians. They have a couple of seemingly vegetarian entrees but when I tried to confirm with the waiter that they were vegetarian he said they were not. They had some fish product in them. I wonder how many vegetarians have eaten these entrees assuming they were ok. The only thing worse than a restaurant having no veg entrees is a restaurant having entrees that appear veg but are not and this fact is not on the menu. Shame on you, Pod and Stephen Starr!
(1)Mariam H.
Let me preface this by saying I'm glad I went during dining days. It's not that the food was bad, per se, but it wasn't spectacular enough either to warrant the three dollar sign price tag. I ordered chicken potstickers as an appetizer, beef pad thai as an entree, and sorbet for dessert. With the dining days promotion, my meal was about $30 + tip/tax so together it came out to be about $40. The chicken potstickers were good, but not great. I felt as if I'd had the same quality, if not better, at other places for half the price. That's not to say there aren't a few really great dishes.The beef pad thai was actually very good, and the main highlight of my meal. The beef was flavorful and actually tasted like beef, which is not often the case for Asian restaurants. The noodles were perfect; not too thin, not too thick, not too hard, not too chewy. The portion size was also quite big - big enough for me to have to take some home. As for the ambience, I will admit, it does have a very cool futuristic and spaceship-esque vibe to it. My friends and I were seated in the round secluded "bubble" where you can change the lighting yourself. Though really cool at first, it soon became distracting and a bit disorienting. All in all, I'd say it's got a cool vibe, decent food, and a hefty price tag. If money is not a problem for you, I'd say try it once, otherwise, hit up any of the other amazing Asian fusion restaurants like Buddakan or Doma.
(3)Briana J.
I'd been hearing about how delicious Pod is for years, and last weekend I finally tried it. I had heard that it looked "futuristic" and "trendy", but I was really not feeling that decor. I really reminded me of the expensive and cool furniture on the Sims and once I had that idea in my mind, I really could not get it out. I love that game, but let's be real, but some of that stuff is just... no. So once I decided that I would just stare at the sushi on the conveyor belt to distract me from the crazy lights and weird chairs (I was sitting at the sushi bar), I could focus on getting something to eat. I ordered the udon noodles with tofu, and the tofu was pretty bland (my friend tried some and almost spit it out) and all the flavor was at the bottom and made the noodles near the bottom overwhelmingly spicy compared to the rest. I thought it was okay, but I won't be trying that again. Maybe I'll come back here to try the sushi (if someone else pays for it), but otherwise, I don't see myself trying this place again. Also, I just went on Pod's website to remind myself of my order and Common's "Come Close" was playing. HAHA what? I'm so confused by this theme. That reminds me that Speed Racer was also on the TV when I was there.
(2)Gina M.
AMAZING! Now, I have been to a million restaurants and this one is absolutely incredible. They have a conveyor belt of sushi for Christ's sake. It is a very stylish and chic place and always a good crowd. Is it cheap? NOT AT ALL. Is it good? AMAZING Service is great. Only problem is, they cut back their menu alot since last time I was there and that was a bit disappointing. But trust me, it is worth every pretty penny you will pay. You have to try it out.
(5)Matt G.
Great ambiance, solid food, always nice service.
(4)Teresa R.
Not a big sushi fan, but props are needed for this place! The interior and decor are so cool and bright, sushi bar in the back was awesome, actually enjoyed sushi for the first time in awhile and drinks are very good!!
(4)Ken W.
Wow, now that was fun. On a business trip and staying at the Inn at the Penn, downstairs is this very unique restaurant. The interior is decorated with techno cubes and modules (sort of reminded of Tetris). All it needed was loud techno music to complete the picture. But what you get inside is friendly, attentive service, and great food (and no loud techno music either). I had the spicy tuna topped by huge rock shrimp and the pork buns - wonderfully prepared and very tasty. All accompanied by shirakabe gura tokubetsu sake. Drop by this restaurant if you have the chance and want a unique and pleasant experience. Oh and if you're old school anime fan, Kimba the White Lion plays continuously behind the sushi bar. How do you beat that!?
(4)Mary N.
Love the drinks here. This is one of the best places to grab a drink near Penn. I lived a few blocks and found myself there twice a month. So why 3 stars?? The food and service blows. The food is below average for the price. The service is nothing to write home about. I find myself always in need of flagging down a server to get a refill on my small $10 drink. But I come back repeatedly because most place near Penn are beer and wine only.
(3)James H.
The best to describe the food was OK. I wasn't impressed with it but at the same time it still tasted good and I enjoyed it. I am japanese, so I am a bit stingy about what counts as good sushi. This place had alright sushi. The ambiance was neat and very colorful. Since the food didn't really justify the price it felt like we were also paying for the ambiance. Overall, I would recommend this place for young adults who don't so much care about the food, but are there to have fun and drink at the bar.
(3)Patience P.
Lackluster at best. It's a neat concept but things look old and dirty. The only thing that saved this place was the Chilean sea bass.
(2)Krystle B.
This is a very trendy restaurant. They even have a conveyor belt sushi bar which is cool. The night we went, they had this sushi special that had rock shrimp on the top and it was amazing. All of the food was amazing though. I particularly liked the crab fried rice, short rib, and chicken ramen soup. I will definitely go back although the wait to order, as well as the wait to receive our food, was a little long. I may even invite a group and reserve one of the futuristic pods booths.
(4)Ari P.
Mediocre overpriced sushi, good american food like rack of lamb. Ambiance is fun but the physical space is showing wear and tear.
(2)Larisa G.
Hip place. Great service, very efficient and pleasant. We were seated right away and upgraded to POD seating which is the private room with weird lighting. Food is OK, but then again I may be spoiled by great food in NYC.
(4)Kimberly P.
Pod is an enjoyable experience if only for the atmosphere. The space age dcor is both weird and a delight at the same time. If you have a group, definitely request a pod. These white orbs with changing lights are so entertaining you might forget that you were there for the food! The bathrooms follow the same theme and are just plain old cool. As to the food, the dessert and cocktails are great. The chocolate trio dessert is delish. I think that the food is nothing special, definitely overpriced and not attention grabbing. The only thing that I had that was attention grabbing was the vegetable tempura and that was because the batter that the veggies were fried in was completely and absolutely devoid of flavor. No spices at all. It was quite a weird experience. I would still recommend the Pod though because I am a huge fan of fun atmospheres. Grab a couple of friends, reserve a Pod and have a dessert night!
(4)j w.
Took 19 year old daughter for birthday and were delighted with service and food. We had entrees, filet mignon with wasabi mashed potatoes and lamp chops. She had tuna sushi. Apps had spring rolls and sides mushrooms and crab fried rice. The entrees were great, fried rice perfect and sushi and spring rolls piping hot and fantastic. Waitress was right amount of attentive. Room reminds me me of movie Sleeper by Woody Allen. Prices a little high but par for a Starr restaurant. We will definitely be back.
(5)johnny b.
Trendy but food was lacking. Two stars always means I'd only go back if someone else is paying or forced. Average at best. Good for people in suburbs that don't get out much. Go to Raw for better food.
(2)Mr B.
Wow. I came here from Princeton, with high expectations. A sushi conveyor, Asian food, and pods? Wow, my expectations were high. I came here with my family, with the same expectations. I ordered pork dumplings with the regular sashimi. Great dumplings, lots of fresh sushi. Great food. I would come back for it any time, but the decor is literally out-of-this-world level awesome. We entered a pod, and I found out immediately that the colors were changeable. Throughout the course of our hour long meal, the color must have changed about...80, maybe 100 times. Techno music pumped through Pod's powerful subwoofers, and Astros Boy animes were showing. The seats were surprisingly comfortable. The bathrooms were weird and cool at the same time, but a little dirty. There was this weird rooms with phones and anime, must have been a phoning room. Service was slow, but friendly. I would so return. $200 + bill, though.
(5)Annie P.
Calamari Salad is great as well as the signature rolls. This place has such a great atmosphere. Martini's are also on point.
(4)Autumn B.
Not my favorite place for Sushi but the atmosphere is funky. Try to avoid them during Restaurant Week or if they have some kind of event going on because the staff and chefs are prone to meltdowns when it gets crazy.
(3)Yu Ting Y.
expensive, overrated food.
(2)Justin M.
I guess some people value lighting over quality of food because the food here is really just ok, and oh so overpriced for quality of ingredients. $14 soup with three bites of duck? The lunch Kaiseki express is the only thing of value, and you have to endure unhealthy choices if you go this route. AND DON'T EVEN THINK ABOUT GOING HERE IF YOU WANT GOOD SUSHI. Again, it's a place to blow cash and be seen at Penn, and that's the only reason it's still around.
(3)Nitasha S.
I LOVE POD!!! The food is so great, their sake mojitos are amazing! The atmosphere is great, friendly staff, and interesting furniture.
(5)Kate R.
Great experience! Our server was great! Food was delicious & fresh! Sushi was yummy. My husband had the kobe on river rocks for an appetizer and lamb lo mein, which were both really good. I had the scallops ramen, which I probably wouldn't order again because I don't particularly like soup, but for a soup it was really good. The ambiance was fun & energetic! Drinks were delicious! We would definitely go back!
(4)Russ C.
I was a past my prime actor who was attempting to squeeze whatever was left out of my sponge of a career by committing to commercials in Tokyo. I am trapped in a mediocre stateside marriage and I was feeling lost, both in life and in Tokyo's culture. She was a newlywed who was questioning her decision, and her place in this world. By exploring Japan, she found herself falling deeper into a state of confusion. Together we rediscovered what is essential and what it is we are to get out of this life. We explored Tokyo's night life as she showed me that that there is still joy to be found. Engaging in deep conversations I unknowingly helped guide her towards self-actualization. We reconnected once we returned home. I had not seen her in months and was anxious to see how she was now faring. We met at Pod, where we could rekindle our Japanese experience both visually and emotionally. We sat on spongy seats which glowed neon upon contact and drank martinis that matched the light beneath us. It was painfully obvious that we are now both in different places. She has found her path to follow and I have learned to look back fondly upon my journey. She no longer needs my guidance and I no longer need her spontaneity. We'll always have Pod.
(4)Erin R.
Drinks are really delicious. Everything else is just average, but incredibly over-priced!!! The atmosphere is cool, but not worth the price of the food. I'd recommend going here only for cocktails.
(3)Rachel B.
Again with the pod reservation. They called the day before to confirm my reservation but did not tell me the pod wasnt guaranteed or that there is a fee if I want to guarantee it. Just tell your customers all of the information and we won't be so mad! On the bright side I love the food and drinks!
(3)Jessica C.
I went to Pod tonight during the snowstorm with my roommate. I live real close to this place... so I've been here a few times already and haven't had a bad experience, but I'll only write about my experience from tonight's visit. Tonight I had a tuna-cucumber maki, which was really good. The tuna had so much flavor to it! I was a happy camper. My roommate got the shrimp tempura roll and she said it was pretty good. We also got chicken lettuce wraps and seafood fried rice, both delicious and light so it was perfect next to the maki. The peanut sauce that came with the lettuce wraps was sweet and perfect on top of the chicken. The seafood fried rice had chunks of lobster and scallops in it and I could not stop eating it. It was a large size too, between the two of us we only got through half of it, so of course we got it wrapped up to take home! Our waiter was nice and really helpful with the menu. I think he was wearing like a shimmer lip gloss. And of course, the atmosphere is cool, we sat at a 2 person table that is up against the wall on the side of the restaurant. I have never sat in the pods but I feel like they would give me a headache. The price wasn't bad, because we didn't get one of the main dishes. It came to like 25 for each of us. Not too shabby!
(4)brian h.
I had to go into the memory vaults to write about this one (a nearly insurmountable task when you only have half a brain). One reason that I'm relying on memory is that I choose not to frequent this spot. The girls weren't bad looking, on my one and only Friday night visit. Posh places like this bar attract a certain type of girl...lovely to view, difficult to touch and, torture to talk to. They might as well be aliens visiting from another planet. Speaking of aliens, this bar looks like the inside of a fucking space ship! I'm a "meat & potatos" type of guy, I suppose. When I'm going out, I'm usually looking for a trad. pub, not the set from StarTrek. Be good or be gone.
(2)Mia L.
I usually love this place, but after getting take out today I am very disappointed and might not come back, even though I have been eatIng here religiously for 7+yrs. I found a whole twig - yes,twig as in wood piece- in my $20 Pad Thai!!! On top of that the salad had whole chunks of shoots that were not edible and when I asked for the crab sushi like dish I ate there a month ago the hostess sold me a $20 piece of crab!!! I don't appreciate this and find it disrespectful just to get lower grade food because I ordered take out as I didn't have time to go there to sit and eat. Pod, you have truly made me sad today.
(1)Claire O.
Duck two ways, and the braised beef short rib over udon noodles. It was all over!
(5)Jacquelin K.
Pod, you get 3 stars because no matter how loaded any given rich person might be, your food is absurdly priced. I like to eat here with my ex so that I can rob him through Starr. Just kidding.... The rock shrimp is a favorite among my pals, and I'm a sucker for the sea bass. Pod looks cool from the outside, but let's face it--most of the seating inside won't blow your mind. Nothing special about the main seating area. I wouldn't come to Pod on a Saturday night; you won't be able to hear the people you're sitting with. It gets incredibly loud. I found myself at Pod constantly during my last semester at Penn, & those were some damn yummy meals. But I wouldn't make the trip to UCity to eat here now that I live downtown. If you're not sure about spending the dough here, save yourself some cash and do a test run at lunch. If you fall in love, make that dinner reservation!
(3)Daniel D.
While a bit pricey, Pod is a great restaurant to take someone from out of town to. It's all about experience here. The atmosphere, design by Karim Rashid, is fun and funky. The service generally is great, and the food isn't bad. The cocktails are totally vibrant and funky, and there sushi bar rocks!
(4)Michael F.
First time to pod and I sat at the sushi bar. Service was S L O W... so be prepared to wait. I was intrigued at the conveyer belt for sure. I was thinking "I'd love to have this in my house." For what purpose, I have no idea. The sushi on the conveyer belt, not so great. Not a whole lot different than the stuff sitting in your grocery sushi take out section. Now, on the other hand, some fresh made ordered rolls...really fresh a good. Folks sitting next to us had some really nice looking entrees coming out, calamari salad and a shrimp fried rice. Hmmm, maybe I should have taken that path...possibly next time.
(3)Gaurav P.
Food Ordered: Macadamia Chicken Stir-fry (replace chicken with tofu) Vegetable Tempura Pad Thai (tofu) Veg Sushi Shrimp Sushi Tuna Sushi This is the place where you want to take your date. The lighting int he booth was pretty nice. You can change the lighting the way you want. They had different colors for different lights. We all really liked our food except for the Pad Thai. This was the first time I tried Sushi and I loved it.
(4)Larry G.
Loved it! Service was excellent. Our server was attentive, but not overbearing. She offered suggestions on items, explained the menu in detail and had just the right touch. Food was superb! Loved, loved, loved the steamed pork buns. The lobster roll (pod lobster) is not to be missed either. Brown sugar butterscotch cake was a real hit too. Next time we'll go with a big group and sit in one of the pods. Looked fun.
(5)Vivian H.
The decor is a little too much for me, and the alternating colors in the pods make everyone and their food look gross. They're also not very good with reservations in my experience. It would be a nice restaurant but it's frequented by so many students that it's pretty casual. Their food is actually really good though. They have a pretty extensive menu of Asian fusion dishes. I am a huge fan of their Glazed Chilean Sea Bass (w/ Japanese sweet potatoes), any of their reasonably-priced fried rice sides, and the Penn roll, which is just like a crunch spicy tuna but somehow really good. I've also been there for the $25 all-you-can-eat sushi after 9pm Tuesdays, which I think may be ending. It's a really nice place to go for AYCE sushi, and cheap, but you can only eat so much sushi off a limited menu before it gets boring.
(4)Kchi S.
I wish they had half stars as this was not so bad as to be a 2 but not quite a 3 so bear that in mind when reading the following.... Let me start with the fact that I am not a fan of sushi. So my score does not include that part of their menu. I noticed that the prices are pretty high for what it looked like others got so take that for what it's worth. I went for a quick lunch and service was fast enough but lacking in personality. My companion's app did not come until after she had her entree but her food looked great and she said it was quite tasty. She had the chicken with lettuce wrap and eggplant app. Smelled good too! I had the seafood rice which was about 85% rice so to me it was a bit overpriced. I could have fed a small family from the amount of rice they served! The rice was colorful and looked good but flavor was non existent. This happens when you try to season precooked fish and shellfish - it absorbs nothing once cooked. I had to ask for several different sauces, on the side, to jazz it up and then it really became tasty. Odd to say this but they put too much rice into this dish. Think it would have been better instead to have a bit less rice and concentrated on flavor and a little bit more seafood. The atmosphere is colorful and modern futuristic but it left me cold. The chairs are shaped like the Jetson might have had and while they are not uncomfortable they add to the coldness of the space. The hard floors and walls seemed to amplify noise and tables were placed way too close. So much so a woman hardly had to turn her head to comment on our conversation (in a nice way). For those reasons it was simply not an enjoyable lunch for me.
(3)Amy L.
Came here with a friend for the sushi class and we had to wait over an hour to get started. The manager offered us an app for free which was great. After some more waiting the manager offered us a free sushi roll from the belt but when we went to pay for our class they tried to charge us for the "free" roll. Mr. Kim was very busy but he was still very friendly while showing us how to make sushi.
(2)Brad P.
I've got to hand it to Pod for inspiring very strong opinions. This place is a divider of men and women. It is contentious. It is Steven Starr's great experiment in toying with human emotion, offering stellar experiences to some diners and awful ones to others. Just read the other reviews here and you will see that customer satisfaction results from machinations akin to those developed with an infinite improbability drive. The battle lines are clear and now I will weigh in. The food at Pod is really good. The wasabi-crusted filet mignon is excellent. The portion size is laughable but the flavor itself is unique enough to make it my favorite menu item. The mandarin shrimp stir-fry is very good. The sushi is good. It isn't the best sushi in Philly but it does the trick. The decor balances between slick and campy. The balance is skewed by the following two factors- 1. Sunlight 2. Your Blood Alcohol Content For example: Sober during lunch - "Those plastic cube-seats are tacky." Tipsy at 6PM - "Hey this place is kinda cool." Drunk at 11PM - "oh my god I am in a space ship." On the action-movie-parallel-satisfaction-scale, this place is Iron Man.
(4)Rin Z.
Pod is where Penn kids go when their parents come in from out of town to take them out. Pod is where Penn kids go when their parents come in from out of town to take them out. Pod is where Penn kids go when their parents come in from out of town to take them out. Pod is where Penn kids go when their parents come in from out of town to take them out.
(3)Asuka N.
I've been to Pod a few times in the past - once for their lunch special, and the other times as an evening stop for sushi. The ambiance is very fusion-esque, with seats carved out into the walls and isolated booths that make it feel like you're in an exclusive section of a club. It can get crowded Thursday-Saturday nights, but generally speaking, getting a seat isn't too difficult. As for the food itself - the sushi has been hit and miss. One time, my girlfriend and I got the sushi special, and the fish was very well-prepared. Another time we came, and we must've gotten the last batch of fish that was a few days old - it had the dried-out, chewy texture that is a no-no for sushi. I am a fan of the miso soup, though; you get a huge bowl that is pretty well-flavored relative to most watery miso soups that are served at sushi joints. As for the lunch special, it's pretty well-priced (around $12 or so, I think) and has decent food. I had salmon teriyaki the one time I had it, which was marinaded well and was cooked firmly, but not overdone. Until the recent renovations around campus, this was one of the classier places to eat at Penn. It's not top-notch food, and they probably charge a little much for what it is, but it's a solid spot for a meal if you're willing to pay a few more bucks.
(3)Kelly P.
I. LOVE. BOK. CHOY. this place won the hearts of many of my drexel/penn friends, but i must say, i just don't get it. (side note: i dont eat sushi. not sorry.) the back room has AWFUL acoustics. have been to pod multiple times with groups and it seems that no matter which seating area i'm in, including the pods, i can't hear a damn thing my fellow diners are saying. i'm not going to totally trash this place because i love their specialty cocktails and desserts. try the fluffernutter spring rolls, you can thank me later.
(3)Troy J.
This is our first time visiting PA. This place is just adjacent to our hotel so we wondered in. I'm so glad we did. This restaurant will now be on our must do list when visiting Philly! The food is simply delicious!!! The wasabi crusted filet is absolutely wonderful. My husband and I have never experienced such a wonderful dining experience. Our waiter was Kellan, he was very informative adding the best customer service to our experience. We just loved it!!
(5)Woo K.
Pod offers a unique culinary experience with its interesting decor and atmosphere. The best word to describe eating here would probably be "fun" and would be a great place to go with a group of friends. However, while quality of food at Pod is certainly good, it doesn't live up to how much you're paying for it. It's not the best sushi you'll find, but it'll certainly get the job done. I would definitely come here at least once, not for the food but for the unique atmosphere.
(3)Olesya P.
I would not recommend this place. The only good thing- it is cool inside and service is good. The food is very expensive and NOT tasty at all. Since it is Japanese, I went there to eat good sushi, but even sushi from Walmart taste better. Also, portions extremely small, I payed 9 dollars for 2 little rolls that had nothing in it. . I would like to get some good food if I pay so much. Also, my plate was dirty. I would not go there ever again and would not recommend it to anyone.
(1)Parker S.
Jetsons like decor meets asian food/sushi. I went with some friends and we ate psuedo family style. Everything was good but I couldn't tell you what I ate. I left the ordering up to everyone else aa the restaurant kicked my ADD into overdrive. There is funky lighting, anime playing on tv screens, a sushi conveyor belt, and bathrooms that seem like something I would find in a german techno club. With that said, you might understand that the vibe of the place is trendy. I can easily see how it would be too trendy for many people. I thought it was a pretty cool atmosphere but it did make it impossible for me to focus on much of anything. The service and food were good. Not the best food our service I've ever received but still much better than most places. My friends got a few drinks which they said were made well. I chose frim their limited but accrptavle beer list (all bottles- I ended up with a dogfish 90 minute). Overall its a good place if your looking for a specifically trendy place with good food and service. It is probably best suited fire a younger crowd, but the prices push the limit for what most younger people can afford.
(3)Schuyler L.
Pod, you look so fancy from the outside! We sat at the sushi conveyor belt and it was really fun. It wasn't too busy the night we went so there weren't a lot going around, but what we tried was really good. On a busy night I can imagine you wouldn't need your server. The color of the plate matches a chart to give you the price. The sushi we ordered was good, not great. They were very accommodating in terms of menu items and the server was very very professional. I can see why Pod is priced as it is. It's in West Philly, but has UPenn prices.
(4)Lenny Z.
Pod is a cutesy place. Just like the name, it is filled with pods, from the seats at the tables to the bathrooms. The staff was all very friendly and attentive. Our waitress began by inquiring about our allergies and took notes, and made sure to advise us through our meal. The bus boys always asked before taking anything away. And, the manager checked in on us. The food was pretty good. We had the shrimp and vegetable tempura, which was a very large portion. The tempura sauce was a little bit on the citrus side. Personally, I would have preferred it wasn't. I also had the miso soup. It was on the larger side, as it should be for $7. It tasted pretty good, but nothing to write home about. For my entree, I had the small sushi. This was actually pretty good for the price. There was about 7 pieces of sushi and two rolls, 6 pieces each. I really appreciated that the menu fully exposed what pieces of sushi I was getting. So often places post that it's the chef's selection and won't tell you what it is. This was topped off with the cheesecake, which was on the small side. But at this point I was so stuffed, it was best that way. All in all, the food was decent, but I've had better. I think the prices are more set as if it's one of the best in town, when average is more like it.
(3)Yeqiao Z.
Tasty food, nice environment, good service, costs a lot.
(4)Alexa S.
Here's a breakdown of the pros and cons of POD: Pros: 1. The atmosphere. I love fun, futuristic and modern places to eat. Being at Pod was like being in the sort of cool restaurant you'd see in a film. It has a really interesting atmosphere that isn't too pretentious, managing to seem posh yet casual at the same time. Eating here made me feel like a cool, sleek New Yorker! It was a fun experience. 2. Wait staff. Every waiter was friendly and helpful, refilling our drinks without request and patient in explaining menu options. Cons: 1. The food. This is a huge downside and if I dislike the food, not even a super cool atmosphere can make me return. There are MANY places throughout Philly and my home town area that are way better than Pod. The sushi selection was OK, with the [very pricey] lobster roll and the california roll both having good, quality meat, but the seasonings and spices used in the sushi tasted horrible! My shrimp tempura roll was overloaded with too much ginger, and it was far from easy to eat. It was almost...nauseating. I've never had that experience with sushi, not even raw. 2. The appetizers. Again, two major strikes against Pod. Not every app was bad, but the spring rolls, despite being recommended by the waiter, were bizarre tasting. The outside seemed powdery, so I almost felt like I was eating a pastry, not a spring roll. It's a fusion sushi place, so you're supposed to indulge a little when you go here. I don't mind healthy versions of recipes, but this one was simply gross. And again, the spring roll had a strange garlic-y, ginger flavor that made me nauseous along with the outer texture. 3. The PRICES. Wow. I've never spent so much on mediocre sushi and apps at a Japanese/fusion restaurant. You're essentially paying for the space ship-like, hipster atmosphere of Pod. The rock shrimp dish - another so-so app that had a very odd flavor - I got was over 15 dollars, and the sushi was expensive for what we got. I bemoan that Pod does not have food to match their awesome atmosphere. If only the food were better! I thought to myself. I would be back in a heartbeat. Sadly, I can say that the sushi and apps at Pod were likely the weirdest and most oddly seasoned [and in a bad way] dishes I've ever had at a sushi/fusion restaurant. This place will catch your eye with its cool, artsy vibe, but the food fails to deliver - and it will make you go broke to boot. Overall, avoid.
(2)Emily S.
First of all the waitstaff here was the best. The food was also very very good. I was with a large group so we ordered everything from sushi to mashed potatoes & desserts. Everything was excellent - sushi rolls were high quality and freshly made. The atmosphere in here is pretty cool too - especially if you can sit in one of the Pods. The changing colors gets a little annoying after awhile ... and after a couple glasses of wine but overall it was a fun place.
(4)Claudia P.
Enjoyed a great meal here with colleagues while in Philly recently on business. Service was outstanding! Waitress gave spot on recommendations - I highly recommend the dim sum items...we ordered family style & the pork belly sweet rolls, spare ribs, grape leaves, vegetable tempura and sake were amazing! Kids & college students mixed with couples on a Thursday night at this vibrant mod restaurant. Only reason I didn't score a 5 was because the sushi rolls left something to be desired. Overall a great find!
(4)Walter K.
I've been on a Steven Starr kick recently, so when my Mom came into town, wanting to take me out, I decided to pick A restaurant that has easy enough parking, was expensive, but not too expensive, and a place that I've never been to. Pod, here we come. Upon entering, I was instantly impressed with the decor. All of the Starr restaurants that I've been to have a cool feeling, with Pod opting for neon lights, smooth flowing curves on all surfaces (chairs and ceiling included). Anime was playing on a screen in the background. There were three crowds: preppy college studs enjoying happy hour, small parties sitting around the long table with a built in conveyor belt on which small sushi dishes circulate, and small parties at tables. The service wasn't great, but I'm convinced that had mostly to do with our particular server, and was not representative of the restaurant as a whole. The menu has a not so varied far of Japanese, Chinese, and Thia dishes, sort of all combined. They use wasibi often and liberally, steer clear if you don't like it. I had the shrimp and scallop stiryfry. I liked my dish bestout of the rest at our table (Wasibi crusted filet mingnon, seseme crusted tuna, and veggie pad thia). Dessert was the best part, the sweet 18, which had 9 different bite sized desserts; coconut macaroon, chocolate covered banana, candied apricot, tofu donut, brownie bite, ect. Two of each, and perfect for a party of four. In the end, dinner was good, the place was kind of cool, but I just can't recommend it. If you're going to spend that kind of money, they're are many other places.
(2)Carlos M.
It seemed stylish. Yet, we had to wait for the vip room thing even though we had a reserve (I think). Anyways, I can be a cheap guy at times. But, I can be willing to spend more if the money is worth it to me. Now, everything was super expensive, so out of the flood gates, it wasn't for me. I was there to have fun with my friends, that was it. Plus, I am not interested in sushi. Anyways, I had some shrimp. It was $12 I think. I had 3 Shrimp. Wasn't really worth it to me. I go to places to have good food, and to have fun with friends. I don't want to go to this place again, because I don't want to be wasting my money on really expensive food, that won't be really that worth it to me. I'm willing to shell out some more bucks at Han Dynasty (this is the only place I know of for now, hehe) It was meh to me.
(2)Jana V.
I am rating the drinks, not the food, as I have never had food here. I want to hate this place, I really do. Sometimes you get swarms of teenage girls here and sometimes you get celebrities (like the dude from Entourage.) It's a strange place with a very -trying to be modern decor. However, it's practically the only place in U-city that you can get dressed up and go for a drink and lounge around. You can sit down, have some interesting cocktails, actually hear your friends over the lounge-type music, and you can be dressed in your trendy clothes and hang out. If that's what you're looking for, this is the place to go. The wait-staff is also very nice and attentive.
(4)Katie N.
I have simple tastes when it comes to sushi so I will leave the detailed menu analysis to the other reviewers, but half the reason for me at least to come to Pod was for the experience as much as the food, and in the end neither knocked my socks off. The decor is cool....kind of like a futuristic airline terminal. But the ladies restrooms (which are modeled after airplane bathrooms by the way) left much to be desired in the cleanliness department the night I was there. (Got that Pod? For the amount we're paying, we shouldn't feel like we're in a REAL airplane) Pluses: Super friendly service (our waiter got a fat tip), deliciously addictive jewel-toned cocktails (I recommend the green one), and the fluffernutter spring rolls were delightful. I'm glad to have tried Pod, but I'm not necessarily in a rush to get back. Another one to check off the list!
(2)Christina K.
Even though I've eaten here a few times with friends (a while back), I can't really remember how the food tasted. From what I can remember it was at the least palatable. However as far as upscale restaurants go, I do remember the portions being smaller than usual. The decor is pretty cool but the taste of the food is probably subpar for the price.
(3)Faye S.
3.5 stars. I broke my own rule and went to a fusion sushi place and only ate rolls. =X I walked in, took in the cool decor, and immediately thought, "Err, this is going to be mediocre food at best." Experience has taught me the best places are the holes-in-the wall, and I'm usually skeptic of swank decor and frou frou. However, I wasn't disappointed! We sat at the conveyor belt and just kept grabbing stuff off as they chugged along happily in front of us. Spicy tuna was a hit, as were the other two rolls we got (which I don't know the names of. They're basically a much better spin-off of the California roll). The plates are color coded so you know how much your particular dish is. It is a bit overpriced for the amount you get (4 pieces), but I wasn't leaving hungry so I was happy. Oh yeah, we also tried the otoro and it was decent. Not great, but I've definitely had worse.
(3)S G.
Love the futuristic ambience, love the asian fusion and the crazy color drinks.
(4)Beth A.
We went here with another couple after rave reviews from several friends. First ...the food was superb. We had various sushi rolls (one ordered special and not on the menu and it was no problem) plus pad Thai noodles and a rice dish. Everything was superb. The service was also stellar. We made reservations online and although it was very crowded due to a function next door at U Penn...we were seated right away. The only bad thing was the bathrooms. Each is a separate room, like a Plane. That's not the problem...the issue was they were all filthy. We all used them and we all commented individually how disgusting they were. Hair and dirty papers on the floor, mess everywhere. They clearly had not been cleaned in quite awhile. They truly were just rank and it left a bad impression on the restaurant.
(4)Dan C.
I came here in March for their Tuesday all-you-can-eat sushi deal. My group of 4 was fortunate to have gotten an extremely attentive waiter, who was nicely tipped. We came early, ate 210 pieces of maki/hand rolls/nigiri in 2 hours, and left extremely satisfied. That being said, I would never come here on a regular day. The food is mediocre considering how expensive it is.
(3)brad C.
Accompanied a bunch of fairly discerning Asian palates to Pod last night. The lounge area has a cool vinyl seatscape, and the overall futuristic Daft Punk feel was echoed in the plastic covered menus. We had enough people (7) to be surprised with a "pod" table. After spending too much time playing with the lights (and nearly inducing multiple seizures), we settled on one of the least aggressive colors. We had a wonderful Caesar salad with a sesame seed dressing, a fairly uninspired and underdeveloped portion of lobster and miso, and really really good crab fried rice. My Samurai Jack drink let me down a bit. Tasty, but too many raspberry seeds to excavate from my mouth by the end of the night. While I wasn't blown away by the food, the overall dining experience including the atmosphere and staff was very good Brad's rating (out of 5): Price: 3 Food: 3 Drinks: 3 Decor: 5 Service: 5 Wild card: I think I've said this before, but Steven Starr knows his Caesar salads for SERIOUS
(4)Bruce H.
POD is okay but not that great for the price. Definitely are better options in university city for the amount of money you spend. Plus you end up smelling like cooked food after you've been there because they clearly don't have great kitchen ventilation which bothers me a bit. I hate smelling like a restaurant. Their food is pretty good - their sea bass is delicious. The sushi bar is good. But overall, it's a lot of money for barely above average food.
(3)Donna W.
Green Eyed Monster and Yellowtail.... a nice pairing. I've been here a few times for a quick bite and a full meal. I was satisfied each time. The decor leaves much to be desired.... very umpa lumpaish.... maybe a tad star trek meets mork and mindy. I just don't get it. To each his own!
(4)Nirmal K.
Yes modern with hip crowd and pricey but some of the food is terrific that I go there for special occasions. Nice vegeterian options
(5)Eugene H.
Food here is EXPENSIVE!! We tried out some sushi rolls and entrees which were pretty good. The kobe beef slices served on a hot rock was fun to try and it did melt in your mouth, but everything else here seemed way overpriced. On a side note, the bathrooms are totally designed like a bathroom in an airplane. Take that as you will.
(3)Kimi K.
My favorite designed restaurant in Philly, but food are just average and pricey. The purple, blue, orange and green florescent lights make this place very modern and fancy. We didn't make a reservation, so we had to sit at the sushi bar. You can order food from the menu or choose rolls and sashimi from the rotating conveyor belt at the sushi bar. We tried bunch of rolls, and they were ok. Even though the food was just ok and pricey, I still recommend this place because I absolutely loooved the restaurant design and atmosphere. I would love to go back here for a girls night out!! Make a reservation for a booth!! It's for 6-8 people, and each booth has it's own color, and it looks marvelous. The each roll was pricey, but five of us shared and it came out about $20-25 average.
(3)Jordan P.
A very unique and exciting restaurant. You will of course notice the decor and ambiance as soon as you enter. Very avant-garde and space-age, I was a huge fan, but I could see how some would see this detracting from the experience. The menu is a mix of traditional sushi and Asian (Japanese, Chinese, Vietnamese, etc.) dishes with some western European dishes as well. We ordered a combination and ate family-style, which was great because we all got to sample all the dishes. None of the dishes disappointed and we were very satisfied with the quantity and timing. I can't wait to go back again.
(5)Abhijit G.
My absolute favorite place in Philly! Three must-haves: Pod Lobster (orgasmic good...) Rockin Spicy Tuna Chocolate pudding The staff is super nice. I am also able to get the chef to make me some off-the-menu concoction based on my individual fantasies! Very cool! Did I say that the ambiance just rocks!!! Hands down the best sushi rolls I have had --ever---Morimoto not withstanding!!
(5)Joanne K.
Fun. I think it'd be a great place to go on a first date since there is definitely a lot to discuss about the restaurant itself, if conversation about other things lags: Anime, the Woody Allen film "Sleeper" (which is what the restaurant most reminded me of), the interesting menu, the sushi belt, the weird bathrooms, the pods themselves, the people watching... I went with a friend around 8 pm. If I went with a date, I'd go a little later ( 9 pm) since when we got there it was still pretty loud in the dining area and was a little hard to hear my friend (and the waiter). It could've also just been that we were sitting behind a (loud) group of roughly 20 people though. Maybe normally its better. I thought the food was a bit on the expensive side for what it was (pretty good, not great food), but the portions are pretty huge and if we would've shared entrees and appetizers we could've paid something far more reasonable for our dinner.
(4)Ryan E.
It would be really easy to write a boring review about the boring food at Pod and also talk up the insanely expensive prices not to mention their mid-90s 'cosmo'ish cocktail list. I'll spare those details. Instead I'll tell you how I had a reservation for 9pm and was not seated until 10:15. I'll also tell you how the bar tenders don't know shit how to make a drink (I had plenty of time to get to know the bartenders while waiting for my seat at an overbooked restaurant. I might as well just continue this bitch session..... These places don't give a shit about food. They care about the almighty dollar so they'll overbook the place, charge astronomical prices. and rush you out. They're trying to hold on to a novelty as long as they can and convince the masses this is "cool" and worth spending your hard earned money. Don't be fooled. Pod is not worth your time.
(2)L K.
Really bad attempt at fusion sushi... I like Stephen Starr's other restaurants in Philly (especially El Vez), as well as Buddakan in NYC, but this is just a disgrace to sushi lovers. I went here about a handful of times because friends wanted to try it out, but it was just bad food all around. As a sushi enthusiast, I was really disappointed, especially since I lived right near here and SO hoped for Pod to be good! The only good thing I can say about it is that the desserts are really unique and delicious, but skip the entrees and go straight for dessert!
(1)Debbie N.
As a lover of Asian fusion cuisine, I was excited to find out that Pod was part of University City Dining Days. My first impression upon entering the restaurant is that Pod disappointedly sported a cheap modern look. I am all for modern decor, but cheap plastic tables and chairs? It was also loud. Like, REALLY loud. I had to lean across the table and scream in order to carry a conversation with my boyfriend. The food was decent. The beef and lettuce wraps were interesting, and the szechuan lamb chops were very well cooked. Although the food was okay, the restaurant failed at creating a nice dinner ambiance. Pod feels more like a university cafeteria - loud and full of drunken students. I left the restaurant with a pounding headache - and NOT from drinks.
(2)Jay C.
We took some clients to POD and had a fantastic meal. We chose the Chef's tasting menu which afforded 5 of us an amazing spread of sushi, dim sum, fresh fish and meats that more than satisfied the team. Add in a gigantic bottle of Sake and you've got all the makings for a great night. Yes the ambiance is a little 'Tokyo 1998' with plastic and rounded edges coming at you from every angle but it works. Favorite dishes include the Sea Bass, Calamari Salad and Crab Fried Rice.
(4)Alicia L.
This place has a great ambiance and is a really fun place to go in a large group, when you can get a pod and really enjoy the entire atmosphere. I've only ever tried sushi here but it set a really high standard for the rest of the sushi I've tried in the city; their maki maki maki was an amazing deal (it was $60 for about 45 pieces of sushi), it was easy to split between 3 or 4 people, and it was of excellent quality. The chicken lettuce wraps are a nice way to start the meal and are another great dish to share. Definitely not a place to go unless you are willing to spend a decent amount of money, but it is worth it.
(5)cotie s.
A small caveat with my review is that my wife and friends dined at Pod a couple years ago. As far as decor and atmosphere I've never been to a restaurant like Pod. Spacey and plastic molding design everywhere you look, even the bathrooms are cool looking! The service was pretty goo and our food came out as it was made, so we all got to sample each other's selections. The sushi we ordered was good and the drinks were served quickly. I don't remember exactly what everyone else ordered, but I remember enjoying the food. The only snag was that the meal I ordered (duck) was disappointing. The duck was well seasoned and the skin crispy, though the duck meat was dried out and not moist as most duck I've had. Even when dipped in the sauces provided I was left unsatisfied. I would recommend Pod if you've never gone before because it is a place worth going to at least once. Personally, especially for the price, I probably won't go back.
(3)Chelsea P.
Pod holds a special place in my heart because it's the first time I tried sushi. Loved it! Bias aside, it is a trendy little place with great food. I was here with a group and we got one of the circular rooms that change light colors when you hit the buttons on the side of the wall. Super fun! Felt like I was eating in a space ship :-)
(4)Louis D.
On it's own, the food really wasn't bad. It wasn't the best japanese food I have ever had, but certainly would fall under the "nicer" category meals, and everything we ordered was fine. However, it was overpriced for what it was. The sushi tasted fresh and was interested, but was nothing special. Overall, I thought it was a little over the top, both in ambiance and food presentation. I probably won't be going back because I think one can get food as good or better without all the bells and whistles.
(3)Lynn W.
The only great thing about this place is that it is close to the Wharton school. The wait can be long even with a reservation. I went there twice with a group of 6-7 people. Inevitably, at least one order is always late/missing. The food is good otherwise. I especially like their bok choy side dish
(2)Dominique N.
The decor is great, the food was good, the lighting heavenly. The sexy sleek look of Pods interior would impress any out of town visitors or dates. But what dazzled me about this beauty were its restrooms. John, shitter, WC, or loo, Pod's bathrooms are proof of gods love of humans. These amazing unisex stalls are spacious enough for u-n-i-sex ;). How progressive that men, womyn, trans, and intersex, can all share the same queue without waiting in inequitably long lines. This is also a great convo topic to chat up some eye candy in line. My mother always says that the quality of a restaurant's bathroom will tell you about the cleanliness of its kitchen. Considering I felt like i could have comfortably eaten in those neon stalls, I think that is the highest compliment I can give pod. :)
(5)M P.
Pod is great if a) someone else is paying or b) you're there for one drink/light meal/not going to spend a lot. The dinner menu is not worth what you pay for it, which is upwards of $30+/person. Mixed drinks can run as much as $10-12 and, though the ambiance is 'interesting', its a bit much. The decor looks like an early 90s interpretation of the indoor of a futuristic spaceship. The pods (private round table booths) are great, but you need at least 5 people to reserve one. They won't let you sit in them even during lunchtime on a weekday, when the place is relatively empty (I've tried twice now). Food-wise, the sushi is very good, the Kobe burger is tasty (and huge!), and the fries are crispy (if you're into crispy fries, you'll love it). The desert sampler is a fun way to try a little of everything, so I'd recommend saving room for it.
(3)Terry C.
Snazzy interior design: CHECK Odd modular non-IKEA furniture: CHECK Retro and unobtrusive lighting: CHECK Chic wait staff and cute bartenders: CHECK and CHECK Conveyor belt endless maki: CHECK It has all of the conventions of a cheesy sushi establishment, but the food is good quality. Not only is it a sushi bar, they also offer a wide range of Pan-Asian foods to delight and indulge everyone in your party. The Crab Fried Rice is awesome, the crab rolls kick ass, and the noodle dishes are magnificent. Drinks here are good - but beware - anything that's named after a color will probably have you laid out by drink 4 or 5... I recommend the RED or ORANGE!
(4)Brendan K.
Like eating on the set of 2001: A Space Odyssey. I eat lunch here about once a week and usually go for the Kaiseki express menu. The Kaiseki menu offers 5 different choices all with miso soup, house salad and rice and for between $12 and $15 dollars you can't beat it. It's also really fast, to the table in under 15 minutes. Sushi is reasonably priced and pretty good. They don't always give you an a la carte sushi menu so go ahead and ask for one. Good choice for a quick delicious lunch in the Penn area.
(4)Stacey S.
A 2-word description of this place: "Morimoto Lite." Clean, colorful, modern atmosphere. Tried the eel roll, veggie tempura, double duck noodle bowl, lamb lo mein & a dessert of which I cannot remember. Service was good, food was decent- expensive yet worthy. (I am a huge fan of Morimoto's restaurant.)
(3)Hien T.
Food was delicious. Some of us got sushi, some got udon noodles, and one got the kobe burger, and all were impressed with the tasted. Portion, however, can be on the smaller size. The deco was fantastic. We got to sit in the booth where you can change the colors of the light, which gave us lots of fun. We definitely will come back!!!
(4)Vincent J.
Pod is not all that. I had been there some years back and loved it. Things have changed. The sushi was good, but there is much better in the city. The food dishes were lackluster. Small portions and big prices.I know times are tough, but yikes. To top it all off the service sucked. ( They really need to learn how to wait tables there)They are off my list.
(2)mike b.
Over it. There is quite a bit of good sushi here in Philly. We are even luckier that even more really good asian cuisine abounds. With that in mind give Pod a miss. First of the place is way, way over the top. Moreover, it seems like time has aged what was once perhaps a flashy nouveau-outer-space electric Tokyo punk themed dining experience into something less fun, less interesting and somewhat passé. I mean there were a number of weird moves happening. Japanese cartoons playing on the wall, ala carte sushi conveyor belt, weird neon lights, and bathrooms that looked like out houses on acid, all worked in concert to create a strange and contrived vibe. Seriously, you can skip this, trust me. . . I mean, I like Daft Punk as much as the next guy, maybe even a bit more, but not while I'm making conversation over some spicy tuna rolls and a martini. The fish is good and the rolls are well made. But, you can find that pretty much any where. Why pay through the nose for fare that can be found elsewhere and for a cheaper price. Oh and apparently it was birthday night because every ten minutes or so someone would let fly another raucous happy birthday ditty and scream. That really added to the ambiance. Swing and a miss Steve. Next time I want sushi, I'll be at Vic's.
(2)A L.
I just tried Pod for the first time, and it was awesome! Inside the restaurant was very futuristic, on that note alone I was happy. The food was excellent, although not very filling. I really want to come back and try something else!
(4)marykris g.
DO NOT GO TO ALL YOU CAN EAT Sushi I was really excited to hear about Pod's promotion for all you can eat sushi. I think in theory it was a great idea. However, in practice it was a nightmare. We had a reservation for 9:45pm, we were seated at 10pm. After following the strict orders about what you can and cannot order, we ordered with our waitress who I must say was really friendly. We waited an hour and ten minutes for 2 maki rolls, 1 hand roll and a few pieces of nigri. The manager came over and apologized for the wait and gave us free pot stickers. We decided not to wait another hour and a half for our second serving of "all you can eat sushi" and left. The staff was nice and only charged us $25 but it still was not worth the price or wait. As we left we could see probably 50 other tables that did not have food either. I would go back, but not for an all you can eat sushi night.
(1)Aurora A.
I'm was visiting philly this weekend and had the occasion to eat at Pod. Boy was it an wonderful experience. we started with the crispy chicken wings (the name does it no justice) and they were some of the best wings i've ever tasted. The sauce was light, slightly sweet, and tangy. Our next taste was the cured salmon salad. Delicious. The next big WOW was the rocking spicy tuna roll. Now, i know my spicy tuna roll and this is no average encounter. They put a piece of shrimp tempura in a tiny ball of goodness on top of the roll. The flavors are so dead on, it's sick! But that's not even what blew my mind! The glazed chilean sea bass is blow-your-brains-out ridiculously delicious. Butter but light, sweet, perfection. Then i topped it all off with the pumpkin pie napolean. It was all amazing.
(5)Jing G.
To be honest I don't know if this restaurant really earns a full 3 stars. I've been here a handful of times (I tend to give places a couple of tries) and at all times it has been just ok. One of the times I went was with a party. They did pretty well in accommodating us and serving us pretty quickly, but I remember the food was the usual unremarkable fusion, which generally can be underwhelming anyway. One of the more recent times I went I ordered something like the salmon and it came in a very average teriyaki sauce. The side of mushroom fried rice was a little bit above average. Never got to sit in one of the actual pods, but I can't imagine that sitting in a mini - room where you can control the lighting would make it THAT much better, unless you happen to be around 10 years old (no offense to anyone who DOES happen to find that the best restaurant invention ever.) The sushi conveyor belt may be one of the few available around here, but I'm pretty used to them from visiting back to Japan so often that the novelty factor just does not weigh into my rating at all. Overall, a cute place to go for something "novel" in terms of a restaurant concept, but expect just okay to a little-better-than-average food. It's fusion, but it's really not terribly creative at all. And by the way, the latest time I was there a server was apparently not assigned to us even though somebody seated us. We waited more than 10 minutes before we finally flagged down a random server. I almost left.
(3)Carrie E.
Yep, it looks really cool inside, which kinda gets your hopes up that you're going to have the dining experience of a lifetime. But when foodtime comes along, well, let's just say that it's not bad but it's not great, either. If you like fancy drinks, waiters that ignore you to flirt with other waiters and a big bill, then this is the place for you. If not, then grab sushi and a sixpack and then sit on your porch. You'll have just as good (and maybe even better) of a time. And you won't have to listen to any stupid techno music while you're trying to have a conversation. PS. The bathrooms will make you feel like you're on a spaceship. So at least that's...interesting?
(3)Emily P.
Oh, the camp! The camp! The horror! The camp! It's, like, soooo bad sixties-spaceship-mod-movie in there I can barely take it. Plastic chairs and all! - Oh Steven Starr, you really do pull out all the stops. The food was decent but nothing that couldn't be had at any respectable sushi joint. The drinks were... colorful. The menus were... plastic. (buh?!?!) ...Classy. Our waiter kind of forgot about us for a while, then came back with some long-winded story about being kidnapped by a group of Penn kids (yo, I know how they can be, but that diatribe didn't even make sense! and I totally saw you flirting with the other waiter - you could've been honest about it, I might have even found it endearing.) The bathrooms were intense. As soon as I walked in I felt like I was trippin' ballz. I mean shit, there's so much color and the texture on the walls + that lighting + shadows in a small modular space = holy crap, maybe we really ARE in space. Or maybe this is what an airplane bathroom would look like if you locked yourself inside and had only E and shrooms to eat. I bet this place would be fun if you actually *were* trippin' ballz. Go for a drink and lock yourself in the bathroom for a while. The sensory overload or sensory deprivation would be totally worth it.
(3)Nash G.
During my first year in grad school at Penn, I lived in one of the towers across the street from Pod. I used to meet people there occasionally, only actually eating there a handful of times. The food wasn't bad, but it wasn't remarkable, either - especially given the price tag. If you're the type to want to hang out there, you won't care what anyone writes about it - forgive my heavy-handedness, but it was usually packed with the douchey-est subset of Penn undergrads you could imagine, probably fresh out of the Urban Outfitters around the corner and sporting their parents' Amex. I am getting chills just picturing it. I gave it an extra star just for having bathrooms I'd imagine having sex in. I mean, if I were the type. Just sayin'.
(2)Miguel C.
I came in with a party of 6, and we each ordered an appetizer and a main dish to share family style. It was a Tuesday night, and the ambiance was nice - good for us to have a good chat. I particularly liked the fish dishes. Service was fairly timely. The final bill is on the pricier end, so I wouldn't go here very frequently. But once in a while is nice.
(3)Jillian G.
The sushi is excellent here and not overpriced. Great place to take fellow diners that don't like sushi/"ew its raw fish!!"...there are many items to choose from to fit all types of palates. The decor is weird but whatever. It is slightly distracting to see UPenn kids bring their out of towner parents to the most "far out" restaurant in West Philly. I have overheard many "this is what its like on a spaceship" comments. ugh My favorite part of this restaurant is the martinis you order by color. I've had them all and the Blue is my favorite. Green is a close second. Pink is also good. hahaha
(4)Heather D.
** 3.5 Stars ** Went here for a business lunch and was satisfied. The decor is quite remarkable, and despite looking otherwise, the chairs were actually comfortable! Most of the group got the lunch special, which includes an entree, miso soup, rice and salad. It was a lot of healthy food, but overall a bit bland. The service was also quite slow, especially for all the staff that was present. Seek this place out if you appreciate your servers to be eye-candy. This place seems most suited for a large group on a special occasion. The prices aren't unreasonable, and the decor creates a fun atmosphere. The menu seemed varied enough to satisfy a range of palates.
(3)Alezander W.
I went here on a Friday night with my friends during the University City dining days period with my friends in late July. We didn't have a reservation, but were seated at the sushi conveyor belt. I love the colors and theme of the restaurant as well as how you can book a "pod" that changes color with the push of a button. Three of us ordered off of the special menu. Anyway, the appetizers ordered consisted of potstickers, california rolls, and I think egg rolls, perhaps. All were pleasant. For the entrees, my friend got the shrimp pad thai, which was in a huge bowl, one probably bigger than my face. The salmon I got was very small, but still quite deliciously fresh. My last friend ordered only a bowl of rice, but it was probably the biggest bowl of rice I've ever seen a restaurant give! For dessert, we all had brownies with coffee ice cream on the side and let's just say, it was the best brownie I've ever had! It was warm, gooey, and just so good. The plate was spotless when I was done with it. In total, the meal was about 100 dollars for four people, but it was definitely money well spent.
(4)Elsie R.
Me & hubby chose pod for our first date in fifteen months. Great atmosphere, delicious sushi and killer drinks! Katie gave us great recommendations excellent service. I highly recommend you check out pod ASAP you won't regret it!
(5)Gwen M.
So, you might say I'm eating my words here, given how much I hated Pod the first few times I visited. But no! I still think the restaurant side of things is overrated and kind of annoying. The sushi bar, however, is another story. The sushi is amazingly fresh and delicious, and they recently hired a new sushi chef who's incredible -- all of his specials that we've tried have been innovative, tasty, and reasonably priced. Between the rolls on the conveyer belt, the extensive sushi menu, the specials, and their willingness to make off-the-menu items at your request, it's hard to convince me to go anywhere else for dinner now.
(5)Hannah C.
this place is truly an ultra-trendy, ultra-cool place to eat...especially if you get to sit in one of those pods. the place seems like its usually packed, so i would imagine that's why the service was a bit slow. but then again, i went with a party of 10. i really can't say anything bad about this place (well the bathrooms were really dirty) but...they had great drinks, great food, and especially great dessert trays. i want to go back again!
(5)Patricia S.
When I go to Philly, this is my go-to sushi spot. The rolls are all very fresh and well presented. My fave, which I cannot for the life of me get anywhere else, is the salmon, cream cheese and mango roll. Not traditional at all, but I had it the first time I went and absolutely loved it. Try some of the random special ones, they're all good. The only hot food I've had was the calamari which was give or take, but I'd get it again if a friend suggested. Tip: Ask for the sushi menu. They never automatically give it to you for some reason. Eat in or take out. Worth the fairly reasonable price for the atmosphere and reliably good.
(4)Caitlin C.
Happy hour to impress? You need to be here. Their drink menu is very cool (not for football guy fans, though) and the decor is like something out of Toyko with flat screens playing anime and a sushi conveyor belt. The food is incredible and as creative as the decor.
(5)Danni S.
The best place i have been too who serves good asian food :-) the prices are very reasonable, the atmosphere is very relaxed, and the setup of the seats/couches makes you feel like your at home.
(5)Zachariah Z.
As far as aesthetics go, this place will melt your mind. I was in PA for work a while back. I asked the hotel clerk "where can I score a decent plate of sashimi while having my face humped by anime robots?" Unfortunately, they couldn't locate such an environment, but were glad to suggest this gem of sushi restaurant. I was with a party of ten coworkers and were fortunate enough to also get the POD. The POD is one of two bright white, round rooms that anchor the place in the back of the restaurant. Its kinda like that one Kubrick film....God, i can't think of it. You know that one, with the little space ships and talking computers. I remember its set in the future. I'm really bad at pop culture. Anyways..... You sit a little higher up than the dining room floor, so you can look out, point and laugh at the rest of losers in the restaurant who didn't get to enjoy this experience. There are a series of 9 big buttons on the wall, arranged like the blocks on "Hollywood Squares". You may, at anytime, push these buttons and the ENTIRE room will change that color. It is not subtle, by any means. It is BRIGHT pink, purple, red etc. Be warned, eating Maki that looks florescent green doesn't help it go down any easier. I felt like projectile vomiting out the port holes, on to the other patrons of this fine establishment. That would have been embarrassing. Let's get serious for a second, sorry reader. Jeez. Where are my manners? Talking about vomit on a review for a sushi restaurant is not cooth. (Were you just wondering what "cooth" meant? No? I'll tell you anyways. It is a Scottish colloquialism, meaning to be polite or well mannered. I just googled that shit.) Let's get to the heart of the review. Not 5 stars because I have had better sushi, but it was not bad by any standard. It was actually quite good. But the brilliant design by the Rockwell Group made this an amazing experience that you will have to see for yourself.
(4)Don C.
Dinner at POD was fairly enjoyable. As you can tell from their web site, it's studiously cool, which is neat to look at. But it's also very noisy, especially when the background music is blaring. The food was pretty good. I had a wide sampling. California rolls: solid Lettuce wraps (with chicken): tasty Steamed buns with shitake: good Udon noodle & tofu stir fry: good Miso glazed sea bass with Japanese sweet potatoes: if you can get past the weirdness of eating sticky smashed potatoes & fish, it's absolutely delicious Kung pao chicken & shrimp: tasty Pork dumplings: awesome It's not such a bargain for the quality of the food, but I definitely left feeling super stuffed. The service was great--attentive and frequent. I'd be happy to come here again, especially if I'm staying at the Inn at Penn, which is next door. But Philadelphia has lots of great restaurants that have better food for less money.
(3)Toni J.
My husband and I went on a Friday night. The atmosphere was very modern and fun. We has the crab fried rice and Thai chicken wing special. Both were ver flavorful and delicious. Would definitely get both again. For drinks, we had the spiced pear martini (good, but I would rather vodka as opposed to Jim beam ). My husband had the apples N honey cocktail. He enjoyed it but wasn't strong enough for his taste. All in all, great experience, will definitely be back again.
(4)Deb S.
Fantastic service, food and drinks. Great way to start the evening!! Loved the sushi and dumplings. Dessert was fantastic as were the margaritas.
(4)Jodi S.
Went there for an early Saturday dinner. Calamari salad was outstanding. The dressing was good but delicious without it. BLT roll was good, not great but Bronzino was out of this world great!!! The staff was attentive without suffocating and management was obviously walking around to ensure a pleasant experience. This wasn't my first choice of restaurants this weekend but so glad I went and will be going back again for that Bronzino and great service!
(4)Frank L C.
Haven't been in for a while, but I enjoyed lunch at Pod the other day and it is still one of Steven Starr's stars. The glowing interior, which reflects the basic lines of the parking garage that it was before resurrection as a restaurant, is lit creatively, which is not as distracting at lunchtime as it is in the evening (though the big flatscreen playing anime can be). The Express Bento lunches included Macadamia Chicken stir-fry and teriyaki chicken, served with brown (or white) rice, not-too-salty miso soup, and a crisp salad. There are many other things on the menu, from sushi to edamame, and a good bar selection. Evenings tend to be too loud for my taste, but if you have a largish group and can reserve one of the lighting-adjustable pods, it can be a very cool dinner.
(4)Di P.
I had a hilarious Happy Hour here. Walked in to meet a bunch of coworkers who were there already, awkwardly positioned in Pod's "bar area." They have these red modular furniture that is neither comfortable or uncomfortable. It's just makes it hilarious for a group more than 3 to sit down, face each other and talk. Tried one of the happy hour drinks "white" which wasn't bad.
(3)Maha P.
We went to Pod for my boyfriend's dad's birthday and it was fun. Loud and interesting lighting but I think that was the point. We had a great time nonetheless. The crab spring rolls were to die for. I ordered a spicy tuna roll which was delicious but I have surprisingly had better in Vermont, where we live. The desserts were great, we split the fluffernutter spring rolls and a salted caramel cake. All in all it was a great atmosphere, our waitress was so kind and attentive and hopefully the birthday boy had a good experience as well.
(4)Yujia Z.
When u first come in here, u will like the environment here. I think it maybe more suitable to come after dinner for finding your night life or drinking with your friends. Foods here are so so and the price is a bit expensive. Wahhabi has no flavor.
(3)Jeff B.
Sushi here is magical. Absolutely delicious. We also had Seafood fried rice. This was a little bland. Needed some soy sauce. My wife had a chicken Thai dish which was spicy. I had the spare ribs, the sauce was delicious but portions were small. Only 4 ribs. The atmosphere is very cool. If you make reservations well in advance you can get these private pod booths. Very cool. I give it a 4 star for the sushi.
(4)Nancy P.
A gf and I signed up for the Sushi School that POD was offering for a limited time. We chose the 6-7:15 pm session. They sat us down by the conveyor belt and sushi area. We started off with some miso soup and salad. We waited quite a bit before Mr. Kim came around to greet us. Probably around 30 mins. I know the restaurant was getting fuller but it would have been nice to stick to the scheduled time. After the long wait, a server came around to offer us complimentary edamame for the long wait. So at least we had something to munch on while we waited..and waited. Mr. Kim finally came around and was very nice. He showed us how to make a California maki roll and a Tuna hand roll. They provided us with gloves and a rolling mat and all the ingredients. It was a short lesson though. After the maki roll, we had another long wait. So another server offered us something else to eat. We chose a roll off of the belt. After the lesson, we received some pineapple and guava sorbet. I'm not a fan of the guava at all. When we finally got the check, they charged us for two extra plates, aside from the class. Apparently the plate the Mr. Kim gave us the ingredients on during the lesson was counted as a plate, as well as the plate that the server offered to us. There was definitely bad communication on their part. After all was said and done, the service for the night was poor. While it seemed like they (multiple people) were trying to make up for the service, our main server showed a bad attitude. While Mr. Kim was nice, the entire class took 2 hrs instead of 1 hr. And the service left a bad taste in my mouth.
(2)Megan M.
Decor is.now outdated. I would like.to .see things newer and cleaner. The.food wasn't good enough for the price I paid. Overall,.I'm didsapointed I spent that much money for OK food. The nice service was the best part of the meal, even if it was a bit slow.
(3)Kristin W.
Pod was the first place I ever ate in Philadelphia and I never planned to return. But when Pod was unexpectedly announced as our dinner destination, I was willing to give it a try - and I'm glad I did. I have to say that, as I felt 7 years ago, I really don't think the sushi is a strength, so if you steer clear, you will be happier. I liked the Tempura Rock Shrimp (a little heavy on the breading), but the standout was that has changed my perception of Pod was the phenomenal Glazed Chilean Sea Bass.
(4)Yiwen S.
after many years of successfully avoiding this place, i finally came back last month for a client dinner. because this was a client meeting, we splurged on the ordering, so this was the first time i'd had the opportunity to really sample a wide variety of things on the menu. while the menu is still ridiculously overpriced, you'll notice i upgraded my review from two stars to three stars. here's why: 1. some of the cooked food was actually fairly decent: udon stir-fry, pork dumplings, eggplant, short ribs 2. ambiance is still key here, and everything is cool-y themed 3. large space can easily accommodate large parties ....and that's about it. here's why it's not rated any higher: 1. sushi is still crap 2. overpriced, overpriced, overpriced! did i mention this place is overpriced? 3. despite the restaurant being over half empty on a thursday night, it was still hard to flag down service still wouldn't come here on my own dime. but on someone else's? perhaps, just perhaps.
(3)Mike B.
Had an early dinner here while in Philadelphia with friends who had raved about this place. Decor was interesting. Seats were not comfortable for me. Shared lettuce wraps and rock shrimp for appetizers, then had calamari salad and rainbow sushi as my dinner. Food was very good and service was top notch. We split the spring roll desert which was surprisingly good. Will defiantly go back again when in the area.
(4)Larry F.
Being on the center of Penn's campus and a favorite spot for professors to take students to lunch, I'm pretty darn glad this place exists! FOOD: 4/5 I'm a huge fan of Asian Fushion, so I've liked everything I've tried here. The Tempura Rock Shrimp is a decent treat. It's sweet with the candied walnut, and also crunchy and soft with the tempura shrimp. My favorite item on the menu would probably be the sashimi combo platter. It's served on a 3-tiered tray with different types of fish, and everything was fresh and well-prepared. The sushi here is pretty good as well, though somewhat pricey with a price tag of between $12-$18 per roll. My favorite one is TNT. I would recommend staying away from the kobe beef and lamb chops (although if I recall correctly, the menu has changed). $30 can be better spent on two rolls of sushi instead. AMBIANCE: 5/5 This is probably the reason why I like Pod. The food is good but there are other places in Philly where I can get good sushi. The ambiance is very contemporary, almost futuristic. It has a very spacious waiting area, and very colorful bar, and different seating arrangements. For group lunches, the special suite at the front works great, and the lights constantly change, so the appearance of the food change with it. For a one-on-one dinner, I would recommend staying away from the street side of the restaurant. Personally, because part of the restaurant is below street level, it makes me uncomfortable that I see people's feet while walking by right by my eyes. SERVICE: 4/5 Waiters and waitresses are nice. Food is served speedily. If asked, the waiters will describe the food and the way they are prepared. The waiters also make decent recommendations.
(4)P E.
Went here with friends for sushi. Food was good but not knock your socks off. I'm not a big fan of yellowtail, but here it was good. Salmon and red tuna - OK. I've had sushi just as good elsewhere. Maybe because it was Tuesday? You are definitely paying for the ambiance and to hobnob with the University City hoi polloi. As you can tell from the pictures posted by others, this place will remind you of the opening scene of 2001: A Space Odyssey. Service was ok but a bit pretentious. Walked in at 400 for dinner. Asked if I had a reservation. Really?
(3)Carly K.
I absolutely love Pod, mostly because of the fond memorie I have of meeting my dear friend here when she was in town for business. Pod kind of became our signature place, and we loved trying the variety of signature cocktails-we especially love the red and pink! There are two bigger areas with tables that really do look like pods, and the lights change colors every so often from bright red to pink to blue to yellow, etc. Really fun! We usually do small plates and appetizers, and of course, always order way too much fun. As cliche' as it seems, the pad thai is actually really delicious. The steamed buns, rock shrimp, and crab fried rice are go to items as well. For some reason, I have never tried the sushi here, which is bizarre, because I absolutely love the sushi and maki at Morimoto, another Starr place. The ambience is ultra contemporary with white everything. Generally I don't go for this type of vibe, but for some reason it works here. It's really a fun place.
(4)Valentina L.
This place is unlike any other Asian restaurants. Decorations are very modern... Designs are unique!! Like it~
(4)Roopa S.
My experiences at Pod thus far have been pretty lackluster, without taking into account the super awesome ambiance. Perhaps it's because I'm vegetarian, but you would think there would be several options for vegetarian diners at a place like this one. The menu is extensive for carnivores, with some veggie dishes scattered here and there. They are usually pretty nice about subbing out the meat in the noodle dishes, for example, but they can't do much about the actual sushi themselves. I've tried a couple of the vegetarian rolls (all super cheap but super small) and the Pad Thai (made vegetarian). I was hesitant about ordering Pad Thai from a restaurant that specializes in sushi, but it was incredibly tasty and the portion size was HUGE. Though it was expensive, there definitely is enough to share with someone else and still have leftovers fort he next day, which I loved. I think they switch out their rolls every so often, but I've tried the avocado based vegetarian roll here, which was yummy but too small (the price reflected that too-- I remember paying less than $5 for that dish). Overall, food is not great for vegetarians; I wish they had more options. But the ambiance is absolutely stellar and I love the little pods you can sit in with a group of about 6-8 people. It's super fun and hip. Probably won't be coming back on my accord just because I can find more vegetarian options elsewhere around campus, but still a nice spot to have on campus.
(3)Debanshu S.
Excellent Sushi. The ambience is very unique. Lots of attention to detail. Servers were really courteous. I tried out the crab rice too and loved it. I found the serving quantity more than sufficient. Ymmv
(4)Victoria C.
I came here for dinner on Friday, and it was great. Not too busy and the waitress was clearly in-training (which is totally fine) because we still got pretty good service. We started off with the chicken lettuce wraps. SO worth the 15 dollars. So much chicken, so many lettuce leaves. I would definitely order it again, since sushi can definitely get pricey. My friends ordered the crab fried rice and the frosty kobe fried rice. The beef was actually frozen when served! Personally I like the flavor of the crab fried rice more than that of the beef since the beef also adds a sort of dry texture to the dish. We also ordered a few sushi rolls. Nothing special about the rolls. I would actually skip the rolls because they seemed a bit overpriced for the portions, although the quality was indeed good. I tired the corn kabobs (not bad, although the shiso, which is Japanese mint, was super strong). TL;DR go for the lettuce wraps and fried rice. Cheaper, same quality sushi sushi can be found elsewhere.
(3)Audrey G.
Really neat restaurant design! Everything was white, with colorful lighting and private "pods" where groups could dine. (Although most people had to sit in the main dining room) Came here with a big group for a university dinner, so we got a prepaid menu. However, the food wasn't too memorable. The sushi (CA roll and nigiri platter) was good, but the rice tasted kind of dry. The rest of our menu included a ginger salad, chicken potstickers, lettuce wraps, fried rice, and pad thai. I liked that they tried to add a twist to each dish, but nothing tasted that amazing. I think my favorite was actually the dessert sampler, which featured mochi ice cream, mocha brownie, and banana sorbet. Great service, but for such a futuristic/fancy looking restaurant, I expected the food to be more impressive.
(3)Michael F.
Walking into Pod, I had high expectations. The atmosphere is top notch, and as I soon discovered, so is the service. Since we made a reservation, we didn't have to wait long for our table - a cute cutout for two in the main dinning area. Our waiter greeted us prompt, offered water, and asked if we'd like drinks. We passed on drinks and decided to review the menu. He came back to check on us in a few minutes, but we were helplessly lost and asked for a few more. Again he returned and when we still weren't ready, made it clear by his actions that he had no intent on rushing us. Still, at this point I caved and asked for recommendations - after all, I was there to eat! Crab Spring Rolls, Lobster Roll, and Rock n Spicy Tuna were then on their way. The food comes out as ready, with the spring rolls first. They were good, but nothing to rave about. The dipping sauce that accompanied them actually made more of an impression. Once the sushi rolls arrived, we quickly dug in. They too were good, but nothing amazing. The spicy tuna didn't have much spicy to it and the lobster was a bit chewy. We finished off with some Mochi ice cream for dessert. Now to run the formula rating in my head... great service, decent atmosphere, average food, and low value (price/food experience) means I see this one netting in the middle.
(3)Morgan G.
I would like to post an update to my most recent review about Pod's management and my negative dining experience. After my previous review I was immediately contacted by Greg Root (part of Starr Restaurants Management team). He was extremely professional and apologetic about not getting in contact with me sooner. He offered me a full refund for the negative experience I had at this restaurant and assured me that they will continue to properly inspect their food and beverage offerings and ensure they are of top quality at all times. I couldn't have asked for him or any restaurant management team to have handled an unsatisfied customer any better! Due to the fact that I was contacted in such a professional way I look forward to giving Pod another shot- and I look forward to hopefully being able to update my review to reflect a better dining experience. I'm increasing my most recent review by two stars based strictly on how this situation was handled. I haven't found the time to go back yet but if yelp reviews were based solely on how management deals with customer satisfaction then this review would definitely warrant 5 stars!
(3)Lol F.
The decoration is kinda in spaceship or something. The food is beauty and delicious! lack of one star is becasue... the price...miso soup $7?! really? I will try it next time~
(4)Grace C.
It's ooookay. I would never elect to go here by myself, but with parties, yes. It's just that Steven Starr thing I'm not that big a fan of, prioritizing atmosphere over food. Yes, it's futuristic and trendy, with decent food, but that's all it is - decent. I've come a couple times for parties, and each time I've left satisfied but now wowed. I do give them points for their short rib robata, though. It's tender and flavorful, and I've always been a short rib fan. Their miso glazed sea bass is also pretty good. Sea bass is my number one favorite fish, and they do a good job with it. (It's also priced to match the flavor - expect to pay a pretty penny for this one.) Shrimp pad thai is okay. Something I could find in a less-expensive restaurant. Chocolate bread pudding for dessert is delicious. Follow it with the ice sculpture sorbets for a palate cleanser. Don't go for the fluffer nutter spring rolls, however - those were cloyingly sweet.
(3)Nina d.
Everything was absolutely delicious!!!!! Tostada appetizer, Caeser salad, wasabi crusted filet mignon, lamb chops...so so good. Service was top notch as well. I'll be back again and again. Scrumptious!
(5)Justine J.
This place was all right. The lobster roll was really good though. The crab spring rolls were horrible to me. The flavor balance was just off. The rock shrimp roll was all right. I did like the lychee mochi ice cream though - but its not like they made that.
(3)Sasha Z.
Very interesting future alike place. I tried the udon noodle and fried tofu, pod lobster roll and Apple&Honey cocktail. The food is good but the drink is a lil bit strong taste tho
(3)David K.
I went to Pod with my folks a few days ago, and we had a wonderful time. The variety and quality of the food was excellent, and the wait staff were fantastic. We ordered quite a bit of food, but the arrival of our dishes was well staggered so we never felt rushed to eat one thing before the next arrived. The sashimi was quite tasty, as was everything else we ordered. I notice that everyone has talked about the "trendy" atmosphere. I have no idea what that means, but the design is very creative, and the lighting is especially interesting. The plastic chairs were more comfortable than I would ever imagined was possible. Overall, an excellent experience. No complaints. Pro tip: Pod is right next door to a hotel with a valet, so it's very easy to get a cab.
(5)Tempest M.
My first time visiting Pod was awesome. The service was great and the food was amazing. Every dish we tried was full of flavor with excellent texture. I had the pork belly buns and lamb meatballs. My friend had the asparagus and salmon. He automatically had a foodgasm upon tasting the asparagus. Pod has now replaced El Vez as my favorite Starr restaurant. The cocktails were also amazing. I can't remember the names but it's apparent you cannot go run no matter what you decide.
(5)Cindy W.
I love a restaurant that has a great atmosphere, is fun and has great food, and that's what Pod is to me. In order for me to trek from NJ to Philly, and pay the bridge tolls $4 and the parking fees $15-20 and now gas... I want to be impressed when I come out. The decor of Pod is really futuristic, the hosts are cute and wait staff is great and friendly! this is the type of restaurant thats fun to get dressed up and go to. When my husband and I go out to dinner, we like to try everything so we usually order a few appetizers, then our meals and desserts. I think the last time we came here, we ordered the spring rolls, some tempura, a plate of sushi, and some pad thai and steak. Everything was seasoned great and tasty, and cooked to perfection. We have never been disappointed here, we always enjoy ourselves at the Pod!
(4)Sneha D.
This is a classic go-to for my family for special occasions!
(5)Joel F.
One of S. Starr's Philadelphia restaurants, and so comes with expectations higher than most restaurants in the city. Foodwise, it doesn't disappoint. There's a nice mix of traditional and creative sushi (e.g. lobster rolls, tuna handrolls 3-ways) which was all fresh and nicely done. Additionally, the menu has a whole page of dim sum (appetizers) and entree dishes drawing from Japanese, Chinese, and Thai influences....think Pad Thai, Steak Teriyaki, etc. We opted to get all sushi and dim sum and were very happy with our choices. What lost this place a star was its decor; it's pretty weird. The theme seems to be Japanese minimalism, with blank white walls, hard white chairs, and a cracked cement floor. This all gives a feeling of coldness to the dining room. Great food, great service, weird interior. But highly recommended!
(4)Don M.
Weird place, good for novelty at best. Pod is "high design," but it's amazing how quickly the Wallpaper look has dated, but that's all you are paying for. Food is divided into two principle types: half-decent deep fried chinese (think updated general tso's) and subpar sushi. The price is ludicrous for a university area meal. I guess students have more cash on their hands than I did or perhaps just don't understand their loans, but seriously... I spent $40 for some awful sushi and some sake. I felt lousy about doing it. Lots of money, nothing to show for it. Would've eaten better at Au Bon Pain, no question.
(1)Lindsay F.
I'm not sure why Pod is getting such so-so reviews--I really enjoy this place. Yes, the drinks are pretty overpriced ($12 for a guava margarita that is small is pretty absurd) and to be honest, I was not that impressed with the sushi I had. However, this place more than made up for it with its ambiance and food. I usually start out with the vegetable tempura or Thai lettuce wraps (the peanut dipping sauce is fabulous) and from there I get the filet mignon. I absolutely love the filet at Pod--it simply melts in my mouth and the truffled teriyake sauce is delicious. I'm usually too stuffed by dessert time, but when I can manage it, I usually opt for the creme brulee trio or the fluffernutter spring rolls. This place has a great vibe to it and the service is usually spot on. People need to give this place a chance--I think it delivers in terms of food, service and environment.
(4)bernie v.
If you're looking for a "fun" place to go - POD should be a definite consideration. Funky decor, very friendly waitstaff, electronica music playing in the background - unfortunately the food is just ok. We had the kobe beef appetizer, the crab spring rolls, shrimp pad thai, and the rainbow roll. All were decent except for the rainbow roll - which I thought was kinda subpar. Maybe we'll go back to give it another chance later down the road, but if we're in the mood for a great dinner, we won't be coming here.
(3)D J.
Pimp. Went there when it first openedin early 2000's. Was in the Diesel Boy video shoot for MTV
(4)Alex C.
steve starr...hype asian fusion...hype real world philly hang out...hype It's a lot of hype, and the last one should probably have given it away. Of all the Steven Starr restaurants in Philly, I must say this one, in terms of food, is the most average and mundane. It's your typical wasabi mashed potatoes, westernized potstickers, and assorted fish steaks asian fusion restaurant. After that, Pod also offers a sushi bar and your typical Thai and Chinese stir-fry dishes. The portions are large and are done decently well, but I just expect more from a restaurant of this supposed caliber--more creativity, more daring entrees. Food-wise, it's just nothing terribly special for the price. During the multiple times that I've had recruiting dinners here or come here with friends to celebrate an occasion, I just haven't felt any change in the menu...maybe, a couple of specials...but besides that...it's been the same things repeated over and over again. The only thing that saves Pod from being relegated to the 2-star level is the fact that it has a cool bar and some fun cocktails. It's definitely a nice place to hang around and get a drink, and I prefer it much more as a pre or post-dinner cocktail lounge because I'd much rather go somewhere else for food. If you're in the mood for Steven Starr, Asian fusion, and cool atmosphere, go to Buddakan...it just feels more suave and I think the food tastes better there. Additionally, I hate the blue uniforms that they make the Pod staff wear.
(3)Chris Y.
Hip atmosphere and a bit reminiscent of Stars Wars IV's watering hole (you know the one where Luke enters that bar with the big lip alien chick singing and then he severs some poor space rat's hand off). However a feeling of uneasiness shrouded my soul when the bill came, good thing my girl paid!
(4)Matthew D.
Awesome environment! Great food - lots of 'raw' dishes... Must see if your in University City!
(4)Richard T.
The food here is so-so with the sushi being the best thing here. The decor is great - what else would you expect from a Steven Starr restaurant. My recent trip here for someones birthday was the worst thing ever. We made a reservation in advance and when we got here the hostess mentioned that are table was ready. We were okay with that, but as the time past (40 minutes) we still weren't seated. As a result we decided to leave since apparently reservations doesn't count. One thing that was interesting as soon as we left the hostess said "fine if that's you're prerogative." I thought that was rude I will definitely not go there anymore.
(2)Tiffany J.
because I love budakhan, this place barely measured up! The only thing exceptional was the Lobster sushi, everything else was just ok! This is like Budakhan's evil stepsister, I just don't think it has the same love! Now the decor is nice, very fancy and "futuristic" as one post said. But the bathroom...UGH! I could've died! I thought I was in an airplane bathroom with no windows or ventilation! I almost threw up in there! The one upside was that our waiter was the most gorgeous man alive! he made the night enjoyable! We went and tried 3 apps, 2 dinners, 2 desserts and 4 drinks, the drinks were good, the sushi: great, everything else, just average! this is my least favorite Steven Starr establishment!
(2)Aire G.
this place is so unassuming from outside. if i hadn't been with someone who knew where they were going i would have walked right past it. It took me a moment to notice the little pods playing anime on the outside of the building and i was already excited. i walked into the building and as soon as i crossed the threshold i felt like i was in a completely different space. this place is awesome. it's colors are amazing, i love the decor. Although i didn't get pod experience this time because we didn't have enough people i still got to taste some colors. Red is definitely one of my favorites. the food was out of this world. the spring roll appetizers were amazing, the sushi was worth the price and the desert was out of this world. i have to go back just for the pod experience. hell i would go with 4 strangers to have it again~! a restaurant everyone needs to try before they die. maybe i'm just partial to any high class restaurant that shows anime
(5)Summer A.
Hungry for sushi? Grab two or three of your friends and head over to Pod, an Asian "fusion" restaurant in the heart of the city. You'll feel like you're stepping into the pages of a magazine, given the modern feel of the...well, pod, that you're experiencing. I've only been there for lunch -- but I recommend the chicken lettuce wraps and a house salad (big enough for two to share) for starters! Just don't look to get too full from the fare. I definitely was ready to snack by the time I got back to my office. :-b
(4)Shon C.
came to pod while visiting philly, mostly because it was right next door to our hotel. this place looks like a space-ship, so that's a plus. food was excellent, although a bit overpriced. really enjoyed the potsickers w/ mustard aioli, as well as the spicy tuna rolls topped with rock shrimp. the real reason to come here is really for the ambience - worth a visit at least once.
(3)L S.
The martini's were good but not strong I had 2 and I still didin't have a buzz and I'm a "lightweight". I ordered the Chicken entree with carrots and snap peas it was very good. I would definitely go back!
(4)Jasmin G.
The atmosphere is hot, and the drinks are good. They have a 'sushi conveyer belt' where the sushi keeps moving around the sushi bar and you just pick what you want..pretty sweet i recommend getting a few pieces of sushi and then splurging on the triple tier chocolate fondue dessert with some friends...its really good and only $15..
(5)Chris B.
In brief - very overpriced mediocre sushi. But it wins some points back with a unique futuristic atmosphere, great location for Penn folks, and a fantastic crab fried race.
(3)Marc M.
Disney Land Asian food for adults? If there were such a thing, Pod would be leading the way. Aside from trying to be too cool, the food is just mediocre. Now, I'm just as happy as the next man to eat mediocre food if it's at a mediocre price. So you see my dilemma - Pod's pricing is anything but mediocre. I have also received less than mediocre service and that's just down right annoying when the kitchen staff can at least aim for mediocre. Over rated and over stated - that's Pod.
(2)stephanie x.
You can find better food elsewhere. The portions are very small. There were 4 of us and we split one of their plates of maki and nigiri, tempura combination, kobe beef appetizer, duck duck udon, and shumai (pork dumplings). We still all left a little hungry. It's a place to go just to experience the different flavors, but I recommend pre-eating. The fish on the nigiri was very nice and fatty and tasted like it just melted in your mouth. The maki however was unimpressive, tasted like something you can get for $6 from the local grocer. The tempura combination was pretty good and had a mix of shrimp, carrots, string beans, and potatoes. The kobe beef appetizer was not worth the price tag by any means. It's about 3 bites of thinly sliced beef, lacking any special flavor or texture. The guy who cooked it for us had a lot of difficulty using chopsticks. I was worried he was going to drop the beef when moving it from the rock to the serving plate, though he was very nice. They claim it's a popular dish, probably because they cook it for you tableside on a rock. The duck duck udon was decent. The duck meat and dumplings in the soup was a good flavor and tenderness. The shumai was terrible, loaded with salt. Any Chinatown restaurant can cook up a better shumai. The atmosphere has a futuristic space ship look to it. It's a comfortable place to eat. However, for a trendy and overpriced restaurant, the restrooms at this place do not match its dining room. Instead of having his and her bathrooms, they have these tiny rooms, about the size of a regular stall. While trying to stay with the futuristic theme, it only looks like a lavatory you find on an airplane - same size, look, and cramped feel, not to mention, dirty. Service is okay. They tend to "hover" since after all, you are paying for the service but consequently your conversation gets interrupted quite a bit. Our food plus sake for 2, and 1 cocktail, not including tip came out to $130. Ehh all around.
(2)kay k.
Loved Pod, It was my first time there. The place was packed as usual. Make a reservation, if you're going with a large party. Great for after hours or lunch with a friend, which I did that day. I ate at the Sushi bar, which has sushi rotating on a conveyor belt on the table that you can grab and sample, prices vary for each sample by the plate color from I think $2-$6, the chart is on the tables. Very Very good. I think I'll go back just for the sushi bar and drinks. I had the macadamian nut chicken, it wasn't my favorite but it was one of their more popular dishes. I preferred the chicken and shrimp egg roll appetizer in wasabi mustard, my mouth waters just thinking about how good that was mmmmmmm. So yes Pod I'll be back and excellent excellent waitress service the bartenders could be more attentive, but i understand it was very very busy in there. Kudos to them as well.
(5)Oski B.
I've come here a few times for work lunches. It's decent food, the staff is reasonably attentive, and the food comes out pretty quickly. If you go during the academic year, this place is crawling with undergrads charging another meal to their parents and Wharton kids spending they $100K+ in b-school loans that they've already taken out as they live in denial about the job market.
(3)Meg B.
Had 3 great experiences at Pod. The service was great all three times I was there. I love the decor, very chic and modern yet very jetson like! Gotta love the convyer belt sushi bar and the fun pods. The bathrooms are modeled after an airplane bathroom ( yeah, it's interesting, not that appealing to me though!). What I can rave about: Lobster roll- Fabulous but I suggest getting one order and splitting it with a few people, may just be me but I find that if I have one or two rolls, I'm in heaven but having anymore is pushing it-they're very filling Lettuce wraps-even if you're not a fan of using the lettuce, get it for the beef and chicken stir fry alone! Sooo freakin good Crab spring rolls -also yummy and the sweet chili dipping sauce is a great compliment- these springrolls are very creamy and don't have much sprout and lettuce that you usually find in a spring roll- they remind me of the crab wontons that have disapeared from the continential menu ( tear tear) Pad Tai- I am an avid fan of pad tai and this is no disapointment! My only neg point is that they don't open until 5 on Saturdays so you can do lunch there.
(4)steven c.
Had dinner there February this year and I have to say it was great. Before I compliment this place, First let me list the bad things because there's only a few. First the price, while the food is great the price was a bit costly, around 30-40 for an entree and 20ish for an appetizer. The second is the amount of space, it seems a bit cramped because on the dining floor there are 2 columns that go down to the end fo the restaurant and maybe about a foot or 2 between each table which seats 2. Other than that I loved the place, the ambiance is nice the dim lighting really sets the mood. Their special drinks are great as well! Me and my girlfriend got non alcoholic mixed drinks and they were delicious, possibly our favorite part of the night haha. Over all the food while not amazing is quite tasty and well worth a try if you're every in a spending mood. I highly recommend the place
(3)Van M.
Service was excellent. Decor and Atmosphere was really fun and contemporary. The food was delicious. If you come to Philly, you need to check it out.
(4)Erica M.
I came here for a friend's bday dinner and when we couldn't get a res for Buddakan she choose Pod. With all the hype surrounding other Steven Starr restaurants I thought Pod was a let down. To start we ordered 2 sushi rolls as an appetizer, salmon avocado and rock- in spicy tuna. Both rolls were fresh and definitely the highlight of the meal. I split the udon and tofu stir fry with my friend along with the mushroom and sweet pea dumplings. We both agreed the dumplings were a huge disappointment and we didn't even finish them. The udon was not what we expected, the noodles were tasty but the tofu was deep fried and looked like a crouton. It was pretty gross. For dessert we split the bread pudding that tasted more like a brownie. We polished it off so no real complaints, but definitely not your standard bread pudding. At the end of the meal we all agreed that Pod is not worth running back to. It was a fun place to go for a bday dinner but the food was average at best.
(3)Anna G.
Went to POD last night for dinner and I have to tell you I will not eat there again. The food was good but not amazing. BUT what was most alarming was it is VERY over priced!!!! We order the sushi and sashimi platter that was $44...We were expecting some amazing pieces to come out...what we got was the average fish that we can order at any other sushi place.....less expensive as well!!!!! Not impressed at all!!!!!! And our server had zero personality!!!! Come on Mr. Starr...... The decor was fun and the music was great!!!!! So I give this just one star
(1)Farah H.
Terrible service. Paid by cash at lunch today and was shortchanged by $20. When I told the waitress, she did not apologize for the oversight. Went back and finally got the correct change. But no apology or smile or anything. Brown rice in bento box smelled bad like it was stale. I have eaten here many times before and each time the service is going downhill. Such a shame. Will be telling the University of Pennsylvania staff and students to find a better choice for lunch meetings. Bad experience.
(1)Nick O.
The trendy, white tables and primary color lighting will be hit or miss with people, but the food is pretty darn good for University City. Tips: 1) Order drinks! They have great-tasting martinis and a nice selection of asian beers and sakes (no soju though). They're pricy but worth it. 2) Seating is hit and miss, so make sure you request a certain spot. Maybe you'll like the window nooks, maybe you want the cozy chairs near the front, maybe you want one of the colored rooms. Pros: 1) Interesting ambiance 2) Sushi is decently cut and pretty fresh. 3) Lots of variety on the menu 4) Great drinks. Cons: 1) Sushi isn't the best cuts or the freshest for what they charge. One time I had a bone in my toro. 2) Some people will hate the ambiance. 3) Some seating is uncomfortable. Overall a good spot in University City and a great place for parties, but not my first choice in the area.
(3)Tawny D.
Right off the bat, AWESOME. This was an absolute last-minute decision for a double date and we really couldn't have done better! (All 4 of us are in our early to mid 20's so the atmosphere is awesome for a Friday night chill spot before heading out to the bars) As soon as you walk in, you're struck by the decor (Stephen Starr rocks it) with the low ebbing, multi-color lights and upbeat tempo music. Our coats were checked right away and we were whisked off to our table. Our waitress was the absolute best (I wish I remembered her name so I could give her kudos on here!) and was very friendly and laid back. She knew the menu inside and out and was even able to efficiently describe some of the plating options to those who weren't familiar with the menu selections. She accurately described how the food would come out--as ready-- and we weren't left with any surprises, etc. She was able to offer drink options and parings as well, honestly, she really made our first experience at Pod what it was! On to the food, we ordered so many different things and shared that I really can't remember it all! My boyfriend and I shared the Chicken lettuce wraps (I was so pleased to see if came with bib lettuce, love it!), the seafood friend rice (everyone raves about the crab fried rice (agreed) but heck, this includes everything!), and the special wings of the night, which were in an awesome honey-teriyaki glaze. We then both got sushi and indulged in the drinks. I highly recommend the Blue (I don't do sweet cocktails, but trust me, this one does it and then some) while my boyfriend got their special drink of the night, their take on a lemon-grass mint julep. The couple we were with did the tempura rock shrimp ( uh YES) and then ordered a bunch of sushi as well. The rolls are cut large and packed thick so don't fret, however, if you are limiting your appetizers I may suggest ordering yourself two rolls just in case. I know they also got the Pad Thai and were able to substitute chicken for the regular shrimp with no problem. This bowl was LARGE, they ended up having to take that home (along with the fried rice) given how much there was. Now don't get me wrong, we LOVE leftovers, so this is absolutely fine and not a negative nod to the restaurant. Also, to be fair, our waitress did tell us that one order of either the crab or seafood friend rice would be enough for all of us to share (she was spot on!). Overall, great experience, the only reason I shied way from giving it 5 stars, was that some of the seating on the center of the main floor seemed a tad packed. The cubbies for 2 off to the side are awesome, as are the larger, private party rooms. Luckily, as a table of 4, we were given an end table so we had more room. I don't have a single negative thing to say and after writing this review, I'm certainly craving the seafood fried rice. Can't wait to come back again! *Side Note*: They DO NOT accept Discover. I am unsure of MasterCard/American Express. As usual, Visa is just fine.
(4)Ayana P.
Pod is like so trendy. The man and I had dinner here last night. The place was packed. The hostess said it was because Penn students were on spring break. Anyway, it would be about an hour wait, but seats were available at the sushi bar. We're easy to please so we had no problem with the sushi bar. I'm actually glad I had the chance to experience that cool conveyer belt sushi bar thing they got going on there. This was my second time here and I was pleased again. Even though it's only a restaurant, Pod is a good time. It provides a lively futuristic atmosphere, a variety of menu options and cool drinks without smug.
(4)Lucy G.
Very modern decor. They seated us promptly without a reservation which was a plus. Pretty extensive menu and I ordered a spicy salmon roll which was not on the menu. It was good, but not great. The salmon was a little bit fatty. We also got some seafood fried rice which was delicious. This place wasn't spectacular but it was good. If I'm by Penn and am looking for sushi, I'd likely go again. It was pretty expensive though -- two rolls and a fried rice came out to 36 dollars. Service was quick and polite. Our waiter was attentive, if a little on the hovery side, but he was very kind.
(4)Arielle L.
My boyfriend and I went to Pod last night for date night and had a great experience! We started off with a sake flight and pork dumplings - YUM. With dinner I ordered their fresh soda - blood orange and pomegranate with an acai liqueur and it was delicious! We shared the sushi/sashimi sampler which was an excellent mix of two rolls (be careful - their spicy rolls are super spicy, which I loved, but might be too much if you're sensitive to spice) several different nigiri pieces, and a nice sample of sashimi as well. The fish was excellent - fresh, flavorful, and nicely sized pieces. We also got the seafood fried rice which was yummy - lobster, shrimp and scallops. The service was good too and the ambiance was really cool! Overall it was great and we left very stuffed! - a little pricey, but not terrible in comparison to similar restaurants (Morimoto, Buddakhan etc.)
(4)Niyant S.
My fiance and I came here to celebrate 2 very important milestones: her 25th birthday and me successfully defending my thesis! To top it off, this is my 100th review, clearly another important milestone! This restaurant is very modern/trendy, and has a clear Asian influence to it (obviously, it is a Sushi restauran after all). After looking over the menu, my fiance and I both found that there were so many great options for the both of us, that it was hard to decided what to get. We spent a pretty long time deliberating over the menu, and asked the waitress for several suggestions as well. Finally, my fiance, who is vegetarian, settled on a mixed vegetable roll, the asparagus Robata (which refers to a Japanese style grill), and vegetable fried rice. I ordered the tuna hand roll 3 ways, and the short ribs Robata. My fiance enjoyed her meal, and in particular she really liked the asparagus and the rice. I was highly intrigued by meal, however. In particular, I had no idea what to expect with the tuna hand rolls, and much to my surprise, they came out looking like ice cream cones! Each one was either spicy tuna, tuna with cucumber, and tuna with avocado, and each one came with a different type of wrapping to it. They were all really good, and the only downside is that they were not like traditional rolls meant to be eaten with chopsticks, I actually ate them similar to how I would eat an ice cream cone! The best dish, however, were the perfectly cooked short ribs. They came out on this hot stone plate, and were skewered with 3 large chunks on each skewer. The meat was delicious, each bite practically melted in my mouth! I would highly recommend ordering these if you come to Pod.
(4)Keli T.
Fun decor and very good food. A little expensive but the favors were great and the choices are different and creative. We loved the rock shrimp tempura and Japanese eggplant.
(4)Michelle C.
Oh hey, Review 300. How you doin'? I was here last night with a group of five lovely ladies to celebrate the last "official" night of singledom for one of my girlfriends. You might know her, she's Philly yelper Jessica B.! Jess and I go way back. When I was in 7th grade, our township made the genius decision to cut costs by busing all the public and private school students together. At the time, I was fairly shy and very awkward, so I boarded the bus each afternoon filled with fear and panic. Fear that one of the public school kids would make fun of my red plaid uniform, panic that my skirt would somehow tuck itself into my underwear as I got up to exit the bus, branding me as a gigantic dork before I even had a fighting chance in high school. Day after day, I sat in the second or third row, not daring to turn around but always listening intently to every conversation going on behind me. I was awestruck by the curly haired girl who knew everyone and spoke freely - and loudly. One day, she broke the ice and started a conversation with me. I was convinced it was some kind of a setup so I proceeded with caution, but to my surprise, we ended up establishing a friendly association. Now, all these years later, my bus buddy is all grown up and getting hitched! What does this have to do with Pod, you ask? Absolutely nothing, other than the fact that it was Jess' choice for her bachelorette dinner and I felt like telling a little story. Walking into the restaurant, I looked around and instantly thought: futuristic IKEA. The floors are industrial looking and the furniture is all very white, with neon lights accenting throughout the room. I noticed many dates going on in the little wall nooks and was somewhat surprised. I think the likeliness of an alien probe would be greater than the conjuring up of any romantic feelings in that place. Our server greeted the table and took our drink orders, followed by our starters. We all needed a few extra minutes to decide on entrees. We started with rock shrimp tempura and butter poached lobster from the dim sum menu. The shrimp were very good, although the pecan halves and pineapple chunks were somewhat puzzling. The lobster dish was just okay. There was hardly enough for each girl to have a bite, and the tofu and vegetable accompaniments did absolutely nothing for the dish. We polished off the dim sum, while the menus continued to sit on our laps. Eventually, our server reappeared and we were able to place the order for our mains. At this point, I decided to visit the ladies', which actually turned out to be a hallway of unisex bathrooms. The stall looked exactly like an airplane bathroom, which definitely creeped me out. I took solace in the fact that the space was twice as large and I wouldn't have any reason to fear being sucked through the toilet. When I returned to the table, the food was already being delivered. This was surprising as we had just placed our orders, and our silverware had not even been replenished at that point. We sat, staring at our meals with hungry eyes. Finally, we received utensils and I got friendly with my wasabi crusted filet with wasabi mash. The steak was perfectly cooked, although I didn't detect any wasabi flavor. The potatoes were also a bit weak. I was expecting a kick, similar to the wasabi mash that is served at Buddakan, but the flavors were less intense. Still, the meal was very good, if a bit pricey at almost $30. I also had several bites of Jess' miso glazed sea bass and sweet potato puree, which was absolutely phenomenal. The fish tasted as though it had spent its life swimming in a sea of butter. Each bite was rich, with the perfect touch of sweetness from the miso glaze. It was around the end of our meal that our server decided to show up again. He made us laugh with his astrological predictions and witty banter, but I sure hope some of the food runners were getting a piece of his tip, because they really did most of the work. We passed on dessert in an effort to get the party started. It's unlikely that I will make the trek to University City just to return to Pod, although that sea bass alone might provide enough of a reason, should the craving strike.
(3)Rob W.
Pod might be the definitive Asian fusion restaurant. Oddly shaped dining areas, glowing neon accent lights and sushi on a train are just a few things that makes Pod so unique and fun. The food is also wonderfully delicious. I munched on the Kobe beef rice and a vegetable tempura which were both delicious. The tempura was very crispy and the dipping sauce was nice and light. We also had the short rib robata which wasn't my favorite. Some of the beef was a little over cooked. I love the place but they need to drop the prices a few bucks before I come back, it's not the Pod of old Mr. Starr.
(4)Hannah G.
Went to Pod for dinner on a Tuesday night. It was fairly busy, but not crowded. We were able to get seated right away. We had a sushi combo that included tuna, yellowtail, and salmon sashimi as well as a spicy tuna roll and a yellowtail + scallion roll. Nice presentation and tasty. We also had the seafood fried rice (lobster, shrimp, and scallops), which was really good. We were interested in trying something from the Japanese grill, so we had the grilled corn as well. I wasn't a huge fan of the spices used, but it was interesting to try. The cocktails we tried were OK, but not our taste -- a little overly sweet. The service was some of the best in the city. Both the hostess that sat us and our server were kind, attentive, and energetic. There are several other restaurants I'd like to try before coming back here for a meal, but the fantastic service will definitely bring me back for appetizers or a drink if I'm in the area.
(3)Kati S.
I'm not really a sushi fan, but the BF loves it--so this place is a good compromise for us. I really enjoyed the crab spring rolls. Love, love, love the Green Martini. I had 3. Consequently, my recollection of the entree is a bit hazy...
(4)Michael L.
So the Sushi is pretty good, I just personally couldn't get past the whole futuristic, science fiction atmosphere. I get that it is hip and posh, but I guess I like the traditional atmosphere and Japanese cultural environment. This looked like a scene out of that 70s Show .. But the Sushi.. like i said before... is pretty good. If closed my eyes, and just focused on nothing but the taste -- it was good; but the red seats, white tables, yellow lamp shades and all.. just wasn't feeling it. Will I go, yup; is it my first choice... nope. Would it be great for take-out.. absolutely!
(3)Diane G.
great food, great ambience, fun place to eat! Been there several times - pricey but best bet is to order a bunch of dim sums and share. I think sometimes people criticize food because its expensive not because its not good - if it was cheaper they would say it was fabulous!
(4)Nicole Y.
I love this place. Pod was one of my favorite restaurants to go to in Philly and is a great place to take out of town friends. The martinis are all very tasty and reasonably priced. The sushi is a little expensive, but is extremely good. I also really enjoyed the salads and soups here. They have a conveyor belt sushi bar where you can sit and pick individual rolls as they move by. The vibe there is really great - they have rooms that light up in different colors and generally your table/chairs have lights in them as well. There is usually Cowboy Bebop or something similar playing on the TV behind the sushi bar and they have great happy hour specials. It sometimes gets overrun with Penn students, but if you call ahead and make a reservation you won't have to worry about waiting very long. The only downside is parking nearby which can be difficult, particularly on the weekends.
(4)Liz C.
I frequent this restaurant quite a bit, as it's the closest restaurant to my office. If you're looking for cheap food, this isn't really the place. But if you're looking for quality food with a cool atmosphere and good drinks, then this is perfect. A smattering of my favorites and not so favorites ... Faves: - Calamari Salad: it's HUGE, filling, delicious, light, but still indulgent. so good! - Salmon & Avocado Sushi - super fresh and delicious - Penn Roll - raw fish, but still accessable to those that are new to sushi. really yum. - Steamed Pork Belly Buns - there is nothing to say about this but yum. amazing. - Seafood Green Curry (lunch special) - lots of food for not a bad price. good flavor and big pieces of seafood - Lobster Roll - a bit over priced, but the presentation and taste are awesome and worth it if you feel like a splurge. - Shrimp Pad Thai - not super greasy like other places. clean excellent flavor. - Kobe Beef - this is prepared tableside on a hot rock. it's overpriced, but again, if you want to splurge, it's worth it for the taste and presentation. - Fluffernutter Egg Rolls - a decadent way to conclude your meal. be warned: it comes with 3, so if you both want 2 rolls each, you can ask for an additional. they are RICH, though, so I usually only want one. Not So Faves: - Tempura Rock Shrimp - not sure what I thought was going to come out, but I wasn't expecting a giant bowl of tiny fried shrimp covered in some sort of creamy sauce. it was good, but not awesome. Catapiller Roll - an eel, avocado and mango roll ... I don't know. I love all of those ingredients, but the last time that I had it, it tasted fishy to me. - Seafood Fried Rice - this is good, but a bit on the greasy side when compared to how light and non-greasy the rest of the more familiar Chinese dishes are. All in all, I think Pod is worth it. I've always had top notch service, it's great for large groups, it's great for private parties (you can have your own room or sit in one of the private crazy light pods!!) and the food is good. It's up to you how much you spend when you go ... you can get out of there for not so much or you can drop a crap ton of money. End of the day, I'm a fan. :)
(4)Sean H.
Pod isn't some life-altering experience, I have to say. It is, however, the best option on Penn's campus if you are looking for something a little nicer than your average food court experience. I always get the chicken lettuce wraps and the chicken and macadamia stir-fry, though the wasabi-encrusted filet mignon is awesome as well. I can't comment on the sushi, as I still wasn't into sushi when I last went. I hear that it's quite good, though. The drinks are great here! We spent many a night tasting the full rainbow of colorful drinks on offer at Pod. If you happen to be in the neighborhood, Pod is definitely worth a try. The only thing I miss is the basil fried rice, which disappeared a few years back. :-(
(4)Hoa T.
So I came back here for the $25 all you can eat sushi. I'm pretty sure that we ordered 80% of all the things on the AYCE menu. The fish were fabulously fresh and decadent. For the nigiri, I love how the rice portion was not huge like some other AYCE places. Personal favorites of mine is the Penn roll and the yellowtail jalapenos roll/hand roll. There were also drink specials for the night, so you can get a martini or beer with your sushi. I love this place. FYI the rule of AYCE is that you have to finish everything on your plate or it will be counted at full menu price. There is no sharing with people not getting AYCE. It's only on Tuesday starting at 7PM.
(5)Jessica M.
My first impressions of Pod were mixed. I thought the atmosphere was kinda cool, but also trying too hard. Then I was seated at one of the tables on the main floor where felt like I was in some kind of weird, dimly lit futuristic high school cafeteria. My dining companion noted that she felt oddly exposed. That's pretty much where the mixed feelings ended, though, because from that point on, I have nothing but love. We ordered from the University City Dining Days prix fixe menu. For $30, I was able to choose an appetizer, an entree, and was served a "pastry chef's selection" for dessert. We were also offered $5 sake mojitos, which was a nice touch and a great compliment to all of the food. Since, like the Continental, food is served as it's prepared, my friend and I ordered together and shared everything. Food came out at a perfect, leisurely-but-not-too-slow pace, so we had time to enjoy and digest everything. Our waiter was totally friendly and attentive, which I have found to be unusual when ordering from prix fixe menus. As for the food: From the dim sum menu, we chose the shrimp dumplings and the vegetable maki. Each dumpling was stuffed with a whole piece of juicy shrimp and they were served with a side of lime-chili dipping sauce. Yum! The maki were also delicious, stuffed with avocado, cucumber and asparagus - and since everything is made to order, they had no problem leaving out the carrot to accommodate my food allergy. For the main course we chose the Sezchuan lamb chops and the miso glazed Chilean sea bass. The lamb chops were slightly overcooked (they were small and we ordered them medium-rare) but flavorful, and they were served atop a pile of sesame Shanghai noodles. We both agreed the noodles were kind of boring and unnecessary to the dish. They weren't bad, but we left most of them on the plate. The sea bass was the stand out dish of the night. The fish was cooked perfectly, and was buttery yet light, making us wish we had both ordered it because we could have eaten twice as much. It was served over mashed sweet potatoes, which seemed like it wouldn't go but turned out to be the perfect addition. Dessert ended up being a piece of pumpkin pie napoleon (layered ginger spice cake, cinnamon white chocolate mousse, crispy rice pastry and pumpkin custard) and a trio of sorbets (banana-passionfruit, blueberry and raspberry). The napoleon was delicious, and though the sorbets tasted really good, they were underwhelming next to the cake. The menu offered was a perfect introduction to Pod restaurant. I can't wait to go back, and my friend and I are even considering going again this week while they are still running the prix fixe!
(4)Adam C.
I'm sure it's great if you're a trendy hipster living in U City, but if you want really good Asian food, save your money and go get it. Of course, it seems like a pretty cool place to hang out if you don't mind overpriced drinks and good tasting food if you get hungry.
(2)Shin Yi L.
Pod usually never fails and it's one of my favorite places to go on campus. I usually order sushi rolls or get the seafood fried rice + bok choy. The bok choy here is typically top-notch and way better than even chinese restaurants in Chinatown. My friends and I usually order the bok choy to share even if we each order our own mains. Today was a disaster: I took one bite and didn't want to eat the rest. It was overcooked and not flavorful. When I told the server, she did not charge me for it (which is great) but I left feeling sad/disappointed that a good dish is ruined!
(2)Ellen W.
Well... The GOOD: I'll start by saying the food was TASTY, slightly overpriced for SMALLISH ENTREES. Chicken lettuce wraps, yum. Shrimp pad thai, yum. Salad with fresh spring mix lettuce greens, yum. Appetizers ok priced. My teenage daughter and her friend had a GENEROUS bowl of miso soup with micro cubes of tofu in it. They have a tasting menu offered on the standard menu, one at $45 and one for $60 I believe which is nice. The BAD: (and I mean REALLY BAD!)-the WAITRESS KATIE!!! the waitress was truly the WORST I've ever had. She came to the table WITHOUT an enthusiastic greeting. BUT when we needed some guidance with ordering, she was QUICK to be IRRITATED and RUDE, and to blow off her duties of hospitality and service as 1) SHE SNIPPED, "you want me to give you a few more minutes to work this out???!!!!". It was a Wednesday nite at 8:30, so there wasn't a crowd. And the silly minimum of 6 people to a pod (we had 5!) shouldn't be an issue when catering to a new customer visiting from out-of-town on a non-busy evening, c'mon. But, as it was, there were MORE HORRIBLE SARCASTIC REMARKS from KATIE, the WAITRESS. 2)when we told katie we asked another employee to help us get the iced tea we ordered 15 minutes earlier, trying to guide her to that girl, she BARKED, "there are a LOT of females that work here!!", implying 'how the hell am I supposed to know which girl you talked to!'. And 3)when we FINALLY got our entrees, which seemed to take a while, and after we had to REMIND ANOTHER waiter that we never received our sushi appetizers, our AWFUL, INATTENTIVE waitress KATIE finally came by and instead of asking how we liked our foods, she SNIPPED YET AGAIN!!, "well then, I'll get out of you way and let you to it!!!". SOME NERVE she had. so, RUDENESS by WAITRESS caused a potential perfect meal, into a BIG 2 star BUMMER!! Inappropriate comments made us feel UNCOMFORTABLE and DISPLEASED. will not rush to ever return.
(2)Eric W.
I don't know what is better: the happy hour, the authentic sushi bar, or the Asian fusion food. The staff is friendly, and they appreciate regulars. Chef Takae is very skilled and willing to make create new things to people's tastes. Try this place at least three times to see which you like best.
(5)MJ L.
The miso fish dish was quite good. The bathrooms are weird and not practical.
(4)Alex M.
So I have always heard good things about Pod from friends so I figured I would give it a shot. The interior has a neat feel, very much like Morimoto. The bathrooms were probably the weirdest thing about this place. Its just one giant unisex bathroom with like 10 doors on either side of a hall way. The doors have an opaque soft front that is all squishy and idk, its just weird. Anyways, besides the novelty of the decor, the food wasnt anything too special. Granted, I did only have the sushi, which if you do get, make sure to try the crunchy spicy yellow tail. Honestly, though, the person I went with wasn't super adventurous so I didn't venture too far from the basics so Pod will definitely deserve another visit and another chance to impress me.
(3)Alicia J.
I had low expectations for Pod. I know that several departments at Penn take their faculty candidates, invited speakers etc. etc. to this place and I also heard several times that the food is not so great. Indeed, I have had better sushi in my life, and for aforementioned low expectations the sushi wasn't really that bad. The fish tasted fresh (except for the way too dry shrimp) and the rice was well-done. But 16$ for a sushi platter is totally not worth it. One other aspect that absolutely irked me was that the menu clearly states that there would be one tamago sushi in the platter but it wasn't. It was the same thing for another person in our party who got the sushi deluxe platter but since she didn't complain I figured I wouldn't either. I was also surprised at how stylish/modern/trendy the atmosphere was. It was noisy, the interior design is rather boring, the seats were not particularly comfortable and worst of all, the stylish white furniture looked dirty and old. If you take your "VIPs" here shouldn't you pick a place with more... dignity? On the brighter side, service has been excellent throughout the entire time and somebody was kind enough to take our coats as soon as we got here. As one of the very few restaurants I have ever seen, I also like how they set the table with chopsticks and fork/knife so that you can pick one of them without embarrassing yourself.
(2)Alexa M.
I'm went here last night to eat dinner with my family for my birthday. Don't let the great interior design of the restaurant fool you.. While you may be enjoying your time in a futuristic themed place remember you came there to enjoy a delicious meal. Our meals were anything but delicious.. Pod is known for sushi and let me just say I've never had such terrible sushi in my life i got a shrimp tempura roll, spicy tuna, lump crab California and a dynamite roll.. All very common rolls.. But the shrimp tastes like an old hotdog wrapped in rice.. And the rice tasted as if it had glue in it. The dynamite roll was SLIMY and nothing in it. California roll tasted off and tuna rolls had completely wrong seasonings. The rest of my family got fried rice and pad Thai, they were not pleased at all. This place is over priced and does not know how to create an enjoyable meal.. I will never go back again.
(1)Nelson S.
On first glance this place looks like its trying too hard. Anytime you have a modern almost futuristic theme it tends to look dated quickly... kind of like how Tomorrowland probably looked futuristic for about 5 minutes. The plastic chairs are not comfortable and the wait staff looks like they are on Star Trek. But the food did not disappoint. We had a few of the nightly specials... a sushi roll with chilean sea bass on top, a soup with scallops and lobster, and a steak dish... and they were all awesome. And have the Samurai Jack. Great drink.
(4)Tina C.
Fabulous sushi!! Crab fried frice is also amazing!! They have wonderful cocktails as well. Awesome atmosphere and just a really cool place overrall!
(4)Heather M.
Went during University City Dining Days and got to try a lot of the menu, which was great. The saki mojito was really good. The other great dishes were the Pod Lobster Roll and the Creme Fraiche Cheesecake. The portions were really generous, which was surprising. I had high expectations, which were met for the most part, but for amazing sushi I would definitely go to Morimoto instead. I would probably give this a 3.5 if I could.
(4)Elaine T.
(clear throat) I am going to start my first review on yelp with this awesome place in philly. Forgive for my bad English since I am Chinese and I can't do better (jk). I was in Philly for business around the Upenn area. A friend of mine who lives in Philly brought me there, which is happen to be right next to the hotel I am saying (Inn at Penn). It has a good location, neighborhood of Upenn and Drexel university. When I first went in there, I started to love it. They have really cool decorations, fancy cool chairs/booths that look really modern, and colored lights all over the restaurant that creates a vivid yet relaxing atmosphere. Also they have TV screens showing Japanese anime, which I think is kinda cute. In addition, they have the conveyor sushi belt. Though we didn't get a chance to sit there, but I've never encountered any place with that in Atlanta so I think that's cool. They had a wide selection of drinks, some are asian fusion, e.g. sake mojito, drinks with calpico and yuzu etc. I had a 'green', which is lime and honeydew. I love fruity drinks in general so obviously I loved it. We ordered chicken lettuce wrap, rainbow roll and pad thai. I was at first skeptical about american asian fusion restaurants because I can be picky about asian food. But i think this place is actually pretty good for asian fusion food. Rainbow roll is pretty standard quality. LOVE their lettuce wrap. It contains chicken stir fry that you wrap it around with lettuce. Compared to other american chinese food places which basically just tastes sweet and soy saucy, I think they did make it quite authentic in flavor; with a little twist in incorporating the lettuce wrap. Pad thai was not amazing, but I like the fact that they add little bit of spiciness compared to other pad thais I had before in america. Service was good. The server checked on us five times while we were eating. ;P Yes, you can say this place is pricy just for the food,. But it's in neighborhood with hotels so you can't really complain too much. Still I'd say it's a nice place to hang out once a while, and I would recommend people who are traveling like me to go there.
(4)Olena S.
I've been to this place a couple of times, and the food is good depending on what you order. I'm kind of a picky eater so I won't hold that against the place, but there were only a couple of dishes that I liked (the sea bass is AMAZING). The place itself was pretty cool, more of a futuristic design - especially with the bathrooms! It's a cool place overall.
(3)Albert C.
Basically they've got some decent decoration and you're paying completely for the atmosphere on everything you order. The food is terribly overpriced, which is amusing considering it's in the University district. Japanese fusion - inconsistently good, also with regard to service time it's great for lunch and early dinner or later in the evening, but terrible at dinner. I say it's decent for lunch because the pricing obviously comes down and is slightly better for an expensive lunch. Also I think because of volume of business the food is better during that time.
(2)Dustin M.
Will agree with the mixed reviews below. The food is OK, atmosphere is unique, but hit 40 and you could care less, though the sake mojito was great... for $10 unfortunately. Neat place to try, but I wouldn't go back.
(2)Jen L.
We brought our friend here for dinner for her birthday and I wished that we had taken her elsewhere. The food was not impressive, and the decor was just as disappointing. Although it is one of the Stephen Starr restaurants, it seems as though not much thought or effort was put into creating it. I wished we had gone to Jones instead to have brunch for dinner because I wouldn't have been left with an unsatisfied appetite.
(1)Michelle E.
I love Pod. So, when I first heard about the "All you can eat" special, I made a reservation that day. In fact, my parents, and a few friends made reservations right away,too. When the day finally arrived for our all you an eat experience (I read a few negative reviews on here in the days prior to my reservation, but got a great report from friends who attended the night before) the restaurant was bustling with a great crowd. It felt more like a weekend night out than a Thursday. My friends and I were celebrating my new job- so the $5 Pink martini's were an added bonus to the all you can eat special. Management and our waiter were great, too. They sent edamame and shu mi to the table!! They explained the rules to us, and after much discussion at the table, only 2 of us ordered the special. I was amazed at the amount of sushi that my friends ate, and how quickly it came out-considering how crowded the restaurant was. I had my standard pod Caesar, which is my favorite salad in the city, and my other friend had the short rib dim sum- which was fabulous. Ive had a similar dish at continental- but the one a pod blows the Continental one away- its on par with the short rib at buddakan (my 2nd favorite Starr restaurant). The meal ended with what our table touted as the highlight of the meal- fluffernutter spring rolls and sesame cheesecake- UNBELIEVABLE! All in all, great job, Pod. You are trying something new, competing with restaurant week, and we had a great time, and a great meal. Cant wait to go back!
(5)T L.
The ambiance of this place was cooool! We ordered U Love Salmon & tuna tartare as appetizers, and both were delicious! For entrees, we got pork tenderloin & kobe steak - FREAKIN' DELICIOUS! The kobe steak was perfect with so much flavor! We're still craving it, haha! For drinks, we got the pink & green martinis. All this came out to be $110 pre-tip, and it wasn't too bad. The portion might not be as big compared to the price, but the taste makes up for it. We will DEFINITELY be back for more kobe steak!!
(5)Ryan C.
POD is all about the atmosphere. You'll feel like you're in that Janet/Michael Jackson Video "Scream." I've never sat in the 'POD"'s with their changeable colored lighting, they always put me in the back with the not-so-hip people. I feel this place is a bit touristy as well. Anyway, the drinks are unique. The food is fine. A bit pricey though.
(3)caitlin p.
My brother said this was the freshest, best fish he had had outside of Tokyo. Plus the interior looks like the rec dec of the original starship Enterprise. The happy hour colored drinks are amazing- I challenge anyone to "drink the rainbow"! You can get 6 yellowfin tuna sushi for 6 bucks, so its a great snack with drinks. I just wish they had better beer- not the same old shitty Asahi. The $7 salads were huge! and get the dressing on the side, it was swimming in it.
(4)Myra B.
We ordered sushi seatle(not recommended-overprice too) & spicy tuna roll was ok. House salad, sweet & sour chicken were above average however the crab fried rice was excellent. Overall the restaurant was nice but a bit overpriced.
(3)Justin K.
Are you looking for delicious Japanese/Pan Asian fusion food and Sushi in a semi futuristic eating venue? Then POD is the place for you! Featuring a neat-o dining area with funky coloring, little rooms (Pod's) you can be seated in, or the main dining area (the centerpiece of which is the Sushi Conveyor Belt) POD is HIP. Theres a tv screen above the conveyor belt that shows movies and old timey cartoons, not to mention the tasty and strangely named Cocktails (Yellow, Blue, Green, Orange, etc etc is the naming scheme...plus they have one called Samurai Jack!) But if your also looking some pretty decent food to go with your hipness, then you can't go that wrong here. The Sushi is pretty decent if nothing spectacular, but you do get to pull it off a moving conveyor belt, which adds to the fun if you sit at the Sushi Bar. All the other food I've had here has been fairly delicious as well, with the Duck 2 Ways a definite highlight (the pan seared Duck Breast portion was especially juicy). But then again I'm a sucker for Duck (a Ducker?). But if you eat only one thing here ever for the rest of your life, make sure its the Fluffernutter Spring Rolls. These delectable little slices of heaven are so delicious you might permanently lose your sight. Gooey Marshmallow, Sweet Chocolate, and A salty sweet Peanut Butter dipping Sauce meld together into a messy yet amazing combination that will make you think that Spring Rolls were meant to be a dessert. Pod is pretty good, don't let people scare you away with comments about things like "expensive food", or "hot waitresses".
(4)Sari G.
My ABSOLUTE favorite!!! If I had to choose a last meal it would be here. I have been eating here for years and years and it is always consistent. I feel it is way more laid back than most Steven Starr restaurants maybe because of it's location of Penn's campus. The futuristic decor, light up seats, sushi conveyor belt, subtle but funky music, and of course light up your own "pods" are just too fun! I usually get the spicy tempura rock shrimp with candied walnuts and pineapple, the crab spring rolls, and I ask for a side of wasabi mash. For vegetarians, the Pad Thai is also yummy as well. The wasabi crusted filet which used to be a favorite of mine for a brief moment when I ate meat was awesome and I found it better here than at Buddahkan. We usually get a sushi roll that is on special for the night although all of their rolls are yummy and they even have some unique to Philly like a Penn roll. I drink either a "pink" or a "yellow" as the martinis are named for a color depending on ingredients. There's always Sapporo or good old sake. It's not totally over priced and really the $12 martinis are what adds up so if you're worried about price, go and just split meals even appetizers like we do because it's really enough food and we often have left overs. It's great for groups but remember to ask for a Pod as they reserve them for large parties! I also find it romantic as well; I always have a special night out here with the hubby. A Philly must eat!
(5)Kathy W.
Let me just say that this place has grown on me. I used to get conned into ordering off of their limited main menu, but now I know the trick. This place is only worth it if you go for sushi! They have a convertible sushi bar, which is so much fun to eat off of. I usually just get 6 pieces of sushi and a seafood fried rice on the side. It adds up to around $50 and that's including tip. Still a splurge for me, but it's worth being a nice treat every once in a while.
(3)Javier O.
From the Decor to the conveyor belts and pods, this place is visually pleasing. The food is also very pleasing.
(5)Michael C.
I would give this .25 stars if yelp allowed me to. if you're looking for a restaurant that strives for decor, but lacks in tasty dishes, this place isn't for you. The scene is pathetically decorated in their attempt for modern decor and yes, their food is NOT worth the price you pay. I could have had a better Japanese meal that cost me $10 this junk. Philly in general is terrible in sushi and this restaurant hits rock bottom. Go to Fuji instead down on Chestnut I believe. Steven Starr is a disgrace as a restauranteur.
(1)Jenny K.
I was in Philly for a night for a conference and my hotel was adjacent to Pod. It was my first experience dining alone. I sat at the bar which was equipped with a conveyor belt with passing dishes of sushi. I didn't dare grab a plate off the belt being the skeptic that I am. Plus, the plates didn't look very appetizing ~ just ordinary salmon/tuna sushi and philadelphia rolls. I ordered the lobster roll and it was just average although it was presented very nicely. I felt as if I was in an episode of the Jetsons and the food was just eh, but I had a great waiter who brought me a complimentary dessert because I was there alone. Hey, if dining alone means free food, I'm dining alone more often! It's a fun place to try out at least once.
(2)Chris T.
miso black cod
(4)Lindsey R.
I have been dieing to check out pod. So last week I had the chance. Atmosphere is amazing however dishes seemed over priced. Food was ok. The Salmon was a must try. However small portions and high prices left me a little disappointed. I'm guessing you pay mostly for the atmosphere.
(3)Pong C.
Went back for the first time since my undergrad days. Just had drinks for happy hour. Good for the memories, nothing else. I remember the food being all style and no substance, at least you can't really mess up alcohol.
(3)jen m.
from the moment i walked into this place, i knew i was going to fall in love stephen starr, the man behind some 10+ restaurants in the philly area including the lovely pod. i wholeheartedly admit that the food i had there was pretty standard fare and therefore overpriced for what it was, but who can beat the ambiance and decor? this is the reason for the high rating. pod is like this wacked out futuristic looking restaurant complete with unisex bathrooms where each stall looks like an airplane bathroom, but with a bit more room. the staircase looks like an escalator that doesn't move. the lighting is all over the place btwn the various colors you can choose if you are sitting a pod and the other colors going on in the restaurant itself. the specialty drinks themselves are named by color, each with their own slightly exotic ingredients/mix. i am not a native to philly and therefore i am was the prime candidate for this place. it's fun and pricey and not a place to go to over and over. but as a tourist being shown around the area and being taken to a plethora of awesome restaurants (mostly from mr. starr himself), this is definitely a good spot to check out.
(4)Kingsley S.
All you can eat Sushi is a great deal and lots of fun. Both food and service were excellent. The selection and flexibility of the all you can eat sushi made it easy and fun. The cost - $25 was reasonable and fair. The Tuna, Salmon, Yellowtail, Shrimp and Eel were all excellent. Also had crab fried rice and pork dumplings. Both exceeded expectation.
(4)Gilad D.
Right as you enter the door you start to smile. The decor is beautiful and unique, the staff are extra friendly and when the food comes, it only gets better. Soups, salads, wraps and sushi - all presented nicely and great taste. If you have some time for lunch around campus - this is the place to go!
(4)Sheri N.
this place was cool looking.. very future-esque. i think i had some soup, potstickers, and a roll.. i was real sick that time.. coughing up my lungs and pushing 'em back style. i sat at the bar as i was on a solo holiday, and the sushi chef was nice enough to give me tea that would help out my cough. he also gave me a couple stashes to take back to home, or in that case my hotel room. i'd go back here again! yumm!
(5)Jason Z.
Not bad for a sushi fix, but definitely not Japanese (not even close)--more asian-fusion. Cool decor (kind of like Morimoto-lite)--but that's all gimmick as far as I'm concerned. If you want a quick, reasonably-priced maki-hit, then head for the conveyor-belt sushi bar (note to earlybirds: the good stuff doesn't start coming around until 7 or 8pm). If you're looking for overpriced (but decent) asian-fusion dining, then get a table. Seems to attract a crowd that thinks it's trendier than it probably is. I suppose it's still the hippest place within walking distance of a Penn dorm room. For real sushi though, head to one of the Japanese restaurants in Center City. And for a truly memorable Japanese Stephen Starr experience, I'd say to go instead to Morimoto (home of the Iron Chef), where the food is amazing, and not all that much more expensive (depending on what you get).
(3)Laurel M.
I ate here several months ago (my life, pre-Yelp), and I normally wouldn't review something not totally fresh in my memory, but I have to add my 2 cents in because I feel like after reading others' reviews I must have been to a Pod in an alternate universe. The food. I barely remember it. And thats a real bad thing for a place like Pod. I can remember dishes from restaurants I've eaten at well over a year or more ago. But Pod's food to me was almost completely unmemorable. What I do remember is simply not being happy with my food in general. If I'm paying a higher than average price for my food, you better believe I want an at least somewhat positive semi-memorable meal! What I do very clearly remember was the HORRENDOUS, TERRIBLE, SLOW, and UNFRIENDLY service. Yeah the food was pricier than average, but as far as trendy and/or Starr restaurants go in Philadelphia, you could easily spend much more money at many other restaurants, and on top of that, your money would be much better spent! The decor was funky, I'll give it that. Very cool. I remember while being here constantly having the overwhelming feeling of just wanting to jump out of my seat and run as far away as possible. I did not enjoy my experience very much at all. I could not get out of there fast enough. I was going to give it 3 stars because the food isn't 100% fresh in my memory, but I just can't let myself do that. Overall, I didn't think it was 3 stars good in any way! It would take alot of cajoling to get me to ever return!
(2)Rupam C.
I had a proper meal at Pod many years ago. Since then, upon the recommendation of my friend I've gone here for dessert - Aka the Fondue platter. I've gone back for the Fondue Platter 3 times since my original trip, and its always yummy. Great if you want to take a date for dessert, or in my case a girls night out capped off with chocolate and all things sweet. The platter comes with three dipping sauces, chocolate, caramel, and berry, and unlike other fondue places, like the Melting Pot, it comes with other fun things beyond the usual strawberries and marshmallows. Like sugared donuts and rice krispy treats. I always admire the revolving sushi bar, I'm sure its good, but alas I am now out of philly and far from my dear pod.
(4)Alex M.
Pod is the hot, stuck up girl with nothing really interesting to say. now, there's something to be said for this kind of girl. i visit frequently (the restaurant not the girl), usually with guests from out of town. its atmosphere is fun, especially if you get a pod where you can annoy the crap out of your fellow diners by changing the lighting in your pod to green or purple. look for the color that will make your food look like toxic waste. seriously though, the food is average and VERY expensive but its worth a visit.
(3)Chris L.
Another Stephen Starr restaurant. I came here for the sushi and it was pretty good. However, I'm not sure if it justifies the high price that you have to pay for it. It's good, but you can probably get the same quality sushi at other places for a lot cheaper. They have a sushi conveyor belt at the restaurant, which I think is really cool. Other than that... just another place that stands out since it's Stephen Starr...
(3)Sharon G.
No love in this food and the decor is "meh" (as yelp says).
(2)R U.
I was here a while ago with several friends. "I've experienced better" pretty much sums up the whole experience here. The food isn't bad; in fact some of their dishes (e.g. the sea bass) are pretty tasty. However, the portion sizes at Pod are painfully small. Their Kobe Skirt Steak, for example, is advertised as being a "family style" entree. When the steak is served, it's tiny. In fact, we collected all the strips and formed it into a ball. We probably got two ping pong ball sized portions of steak for $33. Seriously? Even meals aboard airplanes are more generous. And as a friend pointed out, even Oliver got more when he begged for scraps. Again, the food quality here isn't bad if you can afford it. But if you're looking for a good restaurant that won't leave you feeling ripped off, Pod is not the place to go. The meal came out to about $45 per person and we really did not order much at all (no drinks, no appetizers, no desserts, etc.), which probably explained why we were all still hungry afterwards.
(2)Tony R.
Excellent menu and perfect place for a date! Customer service is perfect as was the food. Well worth the prices they charge.
(4)Alicia O.
my godsisters and i went for lunch today and i was impressed. its a very trendy place with a conveyour belt loaded with yummy sushi at the sushi bar. we had a table in the all white restaurant dining room. the drinks were yummy. i had a mocktail of ginger and mango. YUM! and our food was very tasty. the house salad was a typical asian salad but great portion size for 3 people. the dynamite roll was sooooooooooooooooooooooooooo good and its pricey so i only ordered one. the other sushi was fresh and good but nothing too distinctive about it. a good eat for sushi!! for dessert. omg the chocolate bread pudding was amazing. to die for. and i will be back if only for that!
(4)Erin P.
Don't sit in the "pods" at pod. The ambient color changes can really throw off your sense of food perception. Sit in the main dining room with normal lighting sp you can enjoy your food. Calamari salad: bleh. Not enough calamari. Too many greens. Too much fluorescence. Bland dressing. Next. Toro sushi roll: this was delicious but I have no idea what colors it was, which would have been nice. Duck 2 Ways (pan seared duck breast and duck confit with sun-dried cherry bao bun): This was so amazing. Why don't I eat duck more often? I've never had a duck I didn't like. The duck "pan" tasted exactly like what I used to grab for lunch in Tokyo-soft, tender, fluffy, meaty. The pan seared breast was caramelized nicely all around the outside and (I am pretty sure that) it was as rare as we wanted it. Tasty. Day-glo. Fluffer Nutter spring roles with peanut butter. NOM! What does nom mean anyway? So many people I know use this word and I am now jumping on the bandwagon because I can only assume that it means, "Utterly delicious and mouth-watering." The moral of the story here is: go to pod (once, maybe twice) and sit in a normal seat with normal light. For food's sake. For the love of food. Or sit at the kaiten-zushi and pick exactly what you want from their fine sushi menu as it glides by.
(2)Erica M.
Today was my third and best time at Pod. I'm not sure why I haven't reviewed before, but here it is. Tonight I went for dinner with a group of 9. The food was better than I remembered for my 2 past lunches (the udon noodles I had last time were just way too salty). Tonight I had the pleasure of ordering food for 9 people to share on someone else's credit card. SCORE! We had a wide variety of foods. We started with the chicken and seafood spring rolls, rock shrimp, a salad, and chicken lettuce wraps. Out of those dishes the spring rolls were definitely my favorite. We got the large sushi/sashimi platter and the fish was excellent. Very fresh. For entrees we tried the crab fried rice, lamb lo mein, wasabi crusted filet, and sea bass. I ordered the wasabi crusted filet medium and it definitely came out closer to well-done, which was especially disappointing because they sliced it so they had to have seen the fully brown center. The sea bas was definitely my favorite of the entrees. For dessert we tried the lemon cheesecake, chocolate bread pudding, and creme brulee. All of the desserts were delicious. I'm not a huge fan of the ambiance (the colored pods kinda hurt my eyes and the bathrooms feel like an airplane bathroom). But overall it was good food and a great go-to for high-end food in University City.
(4)Elena D.
Loveeeeeee the sushi! AMAzIng decore and ambience! The staff is nice. The music is loungie and the movies the play at lunch by the sushi train are halarious! I actually think the entire idea is brilliant. It seriosly feels like you are in some sort of spaceship. The drinks are great and if you sit in one of the pods you can pretend like you are five and change the color of the pod and lighting :)
(5)Tracy P.
Going into Pod I had high expectations. I've heard good reviews from friends, and their menu was really appealing to me. Walking into the futuristic atmosphere was really fun. I loved all of the furniture and the different colored lights. And the "pod" seating they had looked really fun as well. It had a very 5th Element feel. As for the food I ordered the miso soup, which to me at $7 was really high to me. The soup itself was really bland. It tasted pretty watered down to me as well. I make better miso myself at home! The plus to the soup was that they give you alot of it. I kept it simple with the sushi, I had an eel avocado roll, and I grabbed a philly roll from the belt. I wasn't impressed at all by their selection, and I felt like the rolls weren't creative at all and overpriced. I don't mind paying alot if the quality is there, but it was lacking. The two that I had were really mediocre and actually kind of warm. My friend grabbed a California roll that had obviously been sitting out for awhile because the avocado was spotting. It was disgusting. Yuck! On to the stuff I liked... I had a plum margarita, ish was bangin' haha. But I'm a sucker for anything made with plum wine, and the tequila was heavy handed. Much appreciated. Also, my friend and I split a piece of their yuzu lemon cheesecake. Omg! Amazingggg! My only issue with that was when it was gone, I wanted more! Our server was really nice and attentive, I think her name was Jenny, but I could be wrong. She was imformative and helpful, and also super cute. And I loved how she was really attentive, yet still gave us our space. I hate being hovered over. I don't think I'll actually go back to Pod for dinner, but I think I'll definitely return for drinks and desert sometime.
(3)Craig O.
I've been here 3 or 4 times and am writing based on my most recent visit. Generally I enjoy my trip to POD and usually sit in the "POD" areas where they have colorful lights you can change which is a lot of fun for the group. It can take some time to get your eyes used to the changes however. We had dinner on a Monday night. The restaurant wasn't very busy yet service was still slow. It took about 15 minutes to get seated (even though we had a reservation), 15 minutes for our server to show up to the table, and 15 minutes to get our drink order in. Luckily we weren't in a huge rush. We did have to get up after we were seated to go find our server. She was chatting with the bartender most of the night. We decided to go with the tasting menu for 5...even though there were 7 of us. There was still WAY to much food. Not a huge problem from a customer standpoint, but you are full before the entrées even come to the table. Even though we were spending almost $400 on dinner, we barely saw our server. She came. We were never asked for drink refills until dessert. I sat most of the night w/ an empty beer glass. It blows my mind when servers don't want to build up tip money. The food was decent, there was just too much of it. I wouldn't recommend the tasting menu. Too much food. No place to put it on the table. You see the bus boy more than you see the server. I'll probably skip POD in the future. Nothing spoils a business meeting more than being angry that the server isn't at your table enough to attend to your clients needs.
(2)Wendy H.
I had lunch at Pod for the first time this week. Overall, it was decent but overpriced. I wouldn't recommend Pod since there are many Asian fusion restaurants similar to Pod that have better prices or ambiance or both, but I can see how it might be popular with students from Penn or others who are in the area. It seemed like most of the people having lunch were grad students. The cauliflower appetizer was surprisingly good. It was two skewers of grilled cauliflower marinated in some type of balsamic sauce. The menu said it was balsamic, but to me it tasted more like soy sauce with a bit of sugar. It was similar to crispy brussel sprout dishes I've had in the past that are salty and sweet at the same time. The salmon avocado roll fine - pretty standard but made with brown rice. Vegan Stephen was another interesting one. Instead of laying salmon or other fish on top of the rolls, the chef layered tomato, roasted pepper and avocado on the roll to make it look like any other sushi roll. Great way to include vegetarians/vegans. The decor probably would have looked nicer at night.
(3)Laura S.
I was pleasantly surprised by my dinner experience at Pod. I hadn't been for over 4 years and remembered it as overpriced and pretentious, and the food didn't make an impression. My return visit was anything but. Pod, I was wrong - I apologize! And I apologize to myself for denying us this delicious food on outdated information. The service was really stellar. I came with a large party (16 people) for a birthday celebration, they put us in a private room at the back of the restaurant. It only took about 10 minutes to get us seated and we were able to order drinks and hang out in the cute lounge area in the front or the restaurant while we waited. Our waiter was phenomenal and did a great job taking care of our group. His drink recommendations and descriptions were also spot-on - try the green martini! I ate a ridiculous amount of food, and everything I tried ranged from good to excellent. The "robata" menu selections - cooked on a 1000 degree grill - were excellent; I shared the cauliflower with friends. The bok choy was also good, although not as innovative. For my entree I had the wasabi-crusted filet mignon. The steak was absolutely perfectly cooked and the glaze was phenomenal. I thought the mashed potatoes could have used more wasabi, they were a little bland. I sampled the tofu lettuce wraps, they had great flavor and the serving size was huge - plenty to share with friends as an appetizer or entree. Desserts were surprisingly good. The mocha brownie was very dense, I couldn't eat more than a bite but oh what a bite it was. The vanilla bean mousse was lighter and just as flavorful. Overall, an excellent dinner and experience. I'll be back!
(4)Nicey J.
I like.. I went here for a birthday lunch .. and the service was great the food was great.. apparently my friend got some bad uni.. well not bad as in not fresh but it was a little off..no questions asked the guy took it off our check and told the sushi chefs? about it so they could figure out what was going on with it.. I like the prompt response.. the sushi was great.. the bok choy ? AMAZING and I'm VERY picky about bok choy and theres was delish.. I will be back pod especially since it's nice out and I can walk to you from work
(4)Michaelia K.
This is what sushi bars will look like in the future. Okay, not really. But it does have a whole futuristic vibe going on, especially given the name "Pod" (Was that given to it before the iPod? Who knows.) It's all kinds of wonderful/weird as they have a great Asian fusion menu, fabulous drinks (HELLO Wasabi Bloody Mary), and awesome bathrooms (I'm a sucker for quirks) while they try to transform you to the set of The Jetsons. My friend and I visited our other best friend who goes to UPenn, and per his suggestion we went here for my friend's birthday. He lived right on campus, and it seriously is a hop, jump and skip away from his place as it's in the heart of University City. So depending on the night you go, you could end up with a lot of undergrads and their parents... Of the Stephen Starr restaurants in Philly, I was thrilled this is the one we ended up going to! Make sure you make a reservation because it can end up getting packed. And try to resist the urge to robot-speak when ordering.
(4)Nancy S.
I came for the new late-night happy hour. Starts from 9pm to close. $5 maki's and $6 signature cocktails. My date and I really enjoyed the chicken dumplings and shrimp tempura.
(4)Ren M.
For Christmas this year, my grandmother bought me the most awesome/ridiculous dress I've ever owned. It's this little black dress covered with shiny reflective rectangles, and I look like a disco ball every time I wear it. I had worn it for New Years, but was searching for an opportunity again. Knowing that, and being a big innovative design enthusiast himself, my boyfriend chose Pod for our anniversary. The place definitely has atmosphere down. The bar stools were the squishiest, most comfortable backless chairs I've ever sat upon. The lighting was neat-o with the led's everywhere. I didn't personally notice any color changing except in the larger group pods, but maybe that was causing too many seizures to the majority of guests and was phased out. Honestly, it felt like I showed up to the party a little late. The restaurant has been open for a while and it didn't have quite the zing I imagine it once had. The bathroom pods were getting a little decrepit, and more like their more commonly used counter parts (port-a-potties). I also didn't like being unable to cross my legs under the table. For that much money I like to have some freedom of mobility. As for the food: Kobe dim sum was obviously tasty, the food runner cooked it for us on a hot stone, which was kind of exciting, wasabi and teriyaki on the side. Are teriyaki, soy sauce, and wasabi the only asian condiments though? I mean, it's fusion, right, any other ideas? Crab fried rice was tasty. Make sure you like onion. I do. Small sushi plate was more than enough for two people. But I mean...it's sushi. I prefer Vic in rittenhouse, for half the price... Macadamia chicken was good. But it was just like any other chinese place's cashew chicken, just with macadamia nuts instead. And dessert was fluffernutter spring rolls. Very clever, Pod. Those were good too. Dark chocolate dipping sauce on the side. To sum up, if you're going to Pod, you're paying for a hyped up atmosphere and excellent service. I love having 6 different people keeping my space clean and ready for more food. And everyone was friendly and good at their job. But the food is definitely not worth the price. It was not bad, but it definitely wasn't great. The food at Pod just lacks the WOW factor. I'd say save your money, and head over to the Barbary if you really want the light show. My dress matched their disco ball perfectly too, and the bottles of Yuengling are a $1.50 cheaper.
(3)Anthony W.
I didn't really eat anything I was more so hanging out with a couple of buds. They ate and drank, I was actually full from Mad Mex down the street, but... that's how we ended up here to begin with. We came from Mad Mex and were intrigued by Pod sunken in modernist style. If I wasn't full I would've gotten some Pho. I'm curious how good it is though because it costs almost 3 times as much as a regular Viet Pho spot. The decor and vibe were interesting. I don't like the general seating, but the space was varied. There were little party booths, couches, in the wall platform seats, and I think there was even a VIP section at the end. We watched Speed Racer at the rotobar while my buds ate sushi. Overall, it's really a novel sort of place. The service was good, but it wasn't that crowded either.
(3)Jarrod B.
I've read a couple of bad reviews of Pod and I can't understand why. I went for an early dinner on a Sunday during University City's restaurant week. It wasn't crowded at all, and we were seated soon after we arrived. The decor can be described as retro-futuristic resembling modern design as if imagined by an artist during the 1960s. My date and I were seated by the far back wall at a table that was a little too low; my date complained that she couldn't cross her legs. Other than that, Pod is very open and visually appealing. The bathrooms are exit replicas of those found on airplanes or tour buses, albeit a little larger. Pod's cuisine is the all-too-popular "Asian Fusion" found in most large American cities today and unfortunately it doesn't impress at times. For starters, we had the underwhelming Penn Roll and the very delicious Pork Dumplings. The main courses consisted of the Sea Bass for myself and the Lamb Chops for my date. The Sea Bass was absolutely amazing although the glaze proved to be a bit too sweet towards the end. The Chops were good but didn't impress like the Sea Bass. For dessert, we had this butterscotch crumb cake which was ok. Our drinks were pretty good however, with me having a sake mojito and a japanese stout and my date having a drink with whiskey and fresh raspberries. Pod is definitely a place that has to be tried as it provides a unique atmoshere, interesting drinks and food that's sure to impress novice foodies.
(3)Heta P.
Steven Starr, I want to like you- I really do. You've monopolized the Philly restaurant scene but your food is mediocre at best. My sister and I dined here the other night. I really don't understand how anyone can appreciate the decor of this restaurant, it aims to be trendy and new age but is incredibly tacky. I felt like I walked into Austin Powers' Philadelphia satellite office. As for the food, meh. I would have expected fresher fish, I could tell my salmon was defrosted minutes before it was cooked and the tuna sushi was warm and squishy. I've had better supermarket sushi. The service also sucked, our waitress spilled my beer and didn't offer to get me a new one or take it off the bill. She was spastic and cleared a plate that wasn't finished.
(2)Soojung C.
All you can eat sushi on Tuesday nights after 9 p.m for $25. Make reservations!
(3)Ida C.
I still remember the sell-lunch that launched my post-college career... THE SETTING: POD Restaurant in a futuristic private pod dining area with color changing lights. In retrospect, I wonder if the recruiters spent the lunch lamenting the fact that they'd extended an offer to me, a simpleton glutton fascinated by the color changing controls and capable of consuming vast quantities of food. THE FOOD: In an effort to "sell" us on the jobs, the recruiters ordered a good portion of the menu, but for me, the stand outs were: 1. Lettuce Wraps with Chicken and Beef ($16) - I've always loved lettuce wraps, but these were truly exceptional with a great peanut sauce. There is a nice smoky flavor from wok-searing and the marinade is really yummy! 2. Tempura Rock Shrimp ($15) - With pineapple and candied walnuts, this type of rock shrimp dish is now on a lot of menus, but I believe that POD's version may be the original! In any event the grilled pineapple is still rather unique and delicious 3. Crab Spring Rolls ($16) - Sure these are pricey spring rolls, but if you are on the expense account, this is a good choice! 4. Calamari Salad ($11) - Crispy fried calamari features generously in this salad with mixed greens and a lemongrass dressing 5. Glazed Chilean Sea Bass ($28) - Oh yes, more please! The fish is excellent, but my favorite is the mashed Japanese sweet potatoes. Buttery, sweet, creamy and fluffy, I dare not venture a guess as to the multitude of sinful ingredients hidden within its secret recipe After ending the extravagant lunch with the Chocolate Chocolate Chocolate dessert, it was an easy decision to accept the job! THE DRINKS: I've revisted POD many times through the years. I can fondly recall attempting to drink the rainbow with my partners in crime during the $5 happy hour. My favorites are pink (champagne, pineapple and cranberry) and yellow (passion fruit vodka, yuzu and grapefruit). PARTING THOUGHT: Although many things on the menu are delicious, my all time favorite meal is still the Lettuce Wraps with Chicken and Beef and a side of Japanese Sweet Potatoes (they usually do it for ~$4)
(4)Heather L.
There's better sushi, and definitely cheaper sushi, but the ambiance (2001 without the crazy computer and creepy StarBaby) and the cocktails (Zen and tonic! Blood orange sidecar!) and the amazing desserts (FLUFFERNUTTER SPRING ROLLS) are worth a special-occasion visit. If you're sitting at the conveyor-belt-sushi-bar, head for the far end; the belt moves clockwise and if you're at the near end it can be an evening of "edamame, edamame, california roll, california roll, edamame... is there any tuna in the house??" Service can get slow on a Saturday night - and if sushi keeps appearing before you it can be easy to lose count of how many plates you've eaten.
(4)Zachary D.
Cool decor, fun lighting, and great service make up for only mediocre food. The place looks cool. There are fun colored lights and futuristic tables and chairs. My group sat in one of the pods, which allowed us privacy for our conversations while still being able to look out at the restaurant. And, the pod even lets you change the lighting color, which we found amusing. The service was attentive and polite. On the other hand, my sushi was not great. To be fair, it was not bad either. But, the fish was just not of as high quality as I would hope for a trendy restaurant like Pod.
(3)Delicious B.
How do you spell HYPE? The neo futuristic décor and lighting is dramatic and not what one would expect in West Philly. Reminds me of BLT Steak and Lever Brothers in NYC. Drinks at bar just ok. Service at bar and dining room barely professional. Food--- average at best sushi-- think local Chinese restaurant that added a sushi bar. A high end Beni Hana maybe? Sell rating. Cool place for a cocktail-- that is it.
(1)Molly S.
This was my second time to Pod. My party and I went on a Tuesday night . We put in a reservation, yet had to wait almost twenty minutes for a table. One hostess was on the phone while the other just stared awkwardly. We waited to be greeted for another fifteen minutes. The server who greeted us was sparse to be seen and we waited over a half hour for all of the food to come to the table. I ordered a glass of wine with dinner and was never told that the bar was 86'd on the house pinot grigio, instead they just gave me a more expensive glass of wine. I would have been okay with the ordering the other wine, but would have preferred being aware of the change with my order. The food was well prepared (and took some time) but the service could use work! My first experience, as I remember, was better than this experience.
(2)Carla C.
I wasn't sure quite what to expect. You walk in + it just looks so modern, overly touristly... yet the majority of diners look like locals + alot of college students. This surprised me because this place is a little pricey + seems to exceed a typical student budget. I was pleasantly surprised at every dish I tried. Everything was so good. And what you think was generic... they added their own flavor to it + just made it that much better. - The Chicken Potstickers are good, but the taste nothing out of the ordinary. If anything, the quality of ingredients is really good. - The Crispy Chicken + Seafood Spring Rolls are fried perfectly, not too oily, and presentation is pretty. - The Crab Fried Rice is to die for. Honestly. So delicious. And they do not skimp on the crabmeat, no sir. - The Vegetable Fried Rice was surprisingly really flavorful. I say this because there is no real main ingredient/protein here like there is for the Crab Fried Rice. Probably the best veggie fried rice I've ever had. The delicious food comes at a price, though. Drinks are also a little expensive. You can definitely order things + stay within budget. It's just kind of hard to when everything is so good. I am definitely coming back here on my next trip to Philadelphia. And this time, I will request a reservation to sit in a pod!
(5)Kate S.
Everything I've ever gotten here has been delicious and I'm a big fan of the pink martinis Def $$$ but I make sure someone else is paying for the check! Be sure to make reservations ahead of time as it can get quite packed at lunch and dinnertime during the academic year And like most Stephen Starr restaurants, don't bring your grandparents or someone hard of hearing as it is def a trendy, loud ambient music type place--save your intimate conversations for another restaurant
(4)BJ W.
Pod is 3.5 stars and I think this place is over-rated so I'm rating it three stars. Don't be fooled by the trendy atmosphere. The sushi is so-so and the prices are expensive, but it's probably still the best sushi on this side of the river. You usually have to make a reservation, especially if coming with a group. The Penn Roll is average on a good day and inconsistent, but the Rockin' Spicy Tuna is a great roll. I'd recommend coming just for the banana spring rolls. They have a full bar available and its a cool atmosphere to go out with a group or on a date. I've had really great service here and I've had bad service here. Sometimes there is a long wait for your food - 45-60 minutes. I wish they would expand their sushi menu and deliver.
(3)Elise S.
The service was great but the food, especially the seafood rice was very bland and I would suggest that they remove it from the menu. The "pod" seating was interesting but I didn't like that the waiter kept changing the lights. Finally, the waiter said the food is normally shared family style but the portions aren't large enough. Don't try to manage it.
(1)Brian C.
Pod is a place to go for the ambience. Ambience is great, but unfortunately I also really like food... and the food here is so-so. This is a good place to bring a bunch of friends, sit in a "pod", push the multi-colored light panels until you feel like throwing up, and soak in the music, the anime, and the mood. As for the food though, one time I sat at the rotating sushi belt and a lot of the sushi and dishes that came off the belt just didn't taste very fresh. When you eat raw foods, the quality of the it really needs to be good. We actually didn't finish the food we took off the belt. That's a big deal given that the food here definitely isn't cheap. I had the tuna hand roll 3 ways. The skin on some of the hand rolls were kind of weird, I wanted just the regular nori, but I think it was a tofu skin or something. It does come with one wrapped in nori though. The vegetable fried rice was okay, not stellar, but probably one of the better dishes. I guess I would say Pod is a trendy place to see and be seen, but if you want really good Japanese food, this isn't it.
(2)Meg S.
I've come more than a few times, and each time has been consistently great. The chicken lettuce wraps and the yellowtail sushi are particular favorites, but I can't say I've had anything that wasn't really really good. Service is very professional as well. It has an interesting ambience, and if you have a group, definitely try to call a few days ahead and get one of the group 'pods'...otherwise you'll sit outside your entire meal feeling jealous as they change the colors inside. The only reason why it isn't 5 stars is because I've had similar quality sushi for cheaper and the ambience can feel really gimmicky the 5th or 6th time you come.
(4)Yun W.
This is your typical mid-high end Asian fusion restaurant targeting out-of-town business travelers staying at the Inn at Penn. The menu is a pretty standard mix of Asian cuisine options (sushi, rice & noodles, stir fry, dim sum), and the quality is reliable and generally good although pricey. Out of the sushi options, my favorite is the rainbow roll which offers a fresh assortment of white tuna, yellowtail, tuna, and salmon. The noodle and rice dishes are also good, but not particularly remarkable. Service is friendly and generally prompt. Overall, the trendy ambiance and extensive drink offerings are really what give this place its character and keep it going, making it a great choice for recruiting and business dinners.
(3)Alex X.
Wanna feel like you are in/from outer space? This place is it in University city area. It is hidden on a T street and not really out in the open. Unusual food. Unusual ambience due to the lighting perhaps. A perfect place to take your alien dates. Been here twice. Unique experience. You should try it at least once.
(4)Rachel A.
I can't say no to a man with tattoos and my experience at Pod was purely orgasmic. The food at Pod is amazing and reasonably priced, if not underpriced. It is economical bliss. I expected to pay way more and for appetizers, sushi, drinks and desserts for two. Our bill topped at $84 bucks. Not too bad. Killer ambiance and surprise after surprise, I find myself thinking about Pod time and time again. Pod is futuristic, offers everything traditional with a twist and is unpretentious. The place is like an outer space playground with ever changing colored lights, bubble ceilings, and white on white interior. The sushi boat is a world of its own and if you fancy anime, the screens are like windows of cartoons. I saw waitresses carry out birthday desserts with sparklers. It was like Fourth of July. The service is excellent (welcoming, accommodating, quick, and knowledgeable). Everything thumbs up. The ultra hot weather called for mocktails, one Cucumber and Apple Spritzer and one White Peach and Mint Soda. Both were refreshing and full of fresh fruit. We ordered the special Lobster Ramen appetizer, Tonkatsu Sandwich, and the Rockin Spicy Tuna. The Lobster Ramen was not soupy but had a creamy rich broth-like dressing. The lobster chunks were huge and tender, the vegetable medley offered crunch and the ramen was very fresh and not over cooked. The Tonkatsu Sandwich could easily rival David Chang's pork steamed buns. The Rockin Spicy Tuna was haute sushi. Sprinkled with black sesame seeds and prepared like little works of art, the spicy tuna was like a sushi hors d'oevre. It was topped with popcornlike tempura rock shrimp and microgreens. This all created for a filling meal but without hesitation we ordered dessert. If Pod's tactic to get people to order dessert was to send in a tattooed dessert man instead of our friendly waitress, then it surely worked. We were set on Chocolate Chocolate Chocolate (chocolate toffee bread pudding, chocolate shot with salted rim, and chocolate tart) but when the tattoo guy told us about the special Chocolate Flan we had to make our dessert choice Chocolate times 4. The tattooed guy was evil in a good way. Death by chocolate all the way at Pod. No worries, you will live to tell the tale of sweet decadence. I could easily devote a whole review to these desserts. Instead, just trust the smile on my face that they were all exquisite. I will add that the Chocolate Flan was light rather than rich and was complimented by an Early Grey Tea coulis and black cherries. I'd make a two hour trip to Philly from NYC just to indulge at Pod. It was really that good. For the formal writeup on Pod: spamisbetterfried.blogsp…
(5)Herbie H.
I've been to Pod a number of times before (always for lunch) and always had a great time. I usually get the Kobe Beef Burger (which is absolutely incredible.) I met my aunt here for lunch, walked in, and was immediately overwhelmed by the number of people waiting to be seated. I think the hosts were also overwhelmed and after waiting for 10 minutes, we took it upon ourselves to sit at the bar and order our food there. I had the Seared Ahi Tuna Kaiseki Express lunch and my aunt had the Macadamia Chicken Stir Fry Kaiseki Express lunch. The portions were lunch appropriate and didn't leave me feeling hungry or over-full. Aside from the service being seated, our server (and bar tender) was attentive and very friendly. I'd love to go back for dinner.
(4)Danielle O.
Food is good. More sushi needed. Restaurant needs a good cleaning. Bathrooms were disgusting. Had a new server in training he was ok. The trainer/server Rose, never smiled. Seemed annoyed. Some of us were served and ate entire dinner while others waited for salads. When I asked the server several times where our salads were she said they were coming out as an entre or they were spacing out our food because we ordered so much food or some other excuse. When we were finished our dinners, or some of us were, the salads finally came out. Not worth the money. Needs cleaning Servers are unfriendly. Won't be going back anytime soon
(2)Michelle B.
I came from Miami to visit my sister in Philadelphia She suggested coming to Pod would be a good idea Since she knows I love anything that has to do with Asia I said, okay, it better be good or.. see ya! And she said, trust me, everyone in Miami will want to be ya It's kind of expensive, but I can't complain about their shrimp tempura The waiter was really nice, and would show up like abracadabra! The place looked really modern, like movies The 5th Element, Tron...etcetera I guess the only thing missing was a capybara in a fedora I'm just kidding, ha ha Til next time, Philadelphia, sayonara!
(4)Ted C.
HTTFG!!! = Hail to the Food Gods! This place is vibeing! Neat-o lights and decor! Cool personal bathrooms with green vacancy lights and mood lighting inside. My work team went here for a outting and I swear we tried everything on the menu from appetizers to desserts. There wasn't a single thing I didn't love. The two items that stood out was the Calamari Salad and Cappuccino/Coffee Ice Cream Brownie Dessert. I swear I ate myself to death here. Thank god I wasn't paying through, prices are slight above average. Nonetheless, this is just about the coolest place to bring somebody. There is also a separate Sushi Bar with a conveyor-belt.... the real deal. This place is great all around from food; to service; to decor. :D
(5)Jen I.
I wasn't a huge fan of the decor. It's all white and cold and while I know that it's supposed to have a slick feel to it that' not my scene. Moving on to the food, this is where the 4 stars come into play. Service was really nice and quick and I was really happy that they offered a number of veggie/vegan options. The vegan stephen roll was great as was the grilled cauliflower and the veggie dumplings.
(4)Naz O.
I went back and forth when trying to decide if I should give 3 or 4 stars to Pod. I'll just list the pros and cons and you can decide for yourself: Pros: -great food: extensive menu and delicious -fast service -takes reservations Cons: -I would say that Pod is on the pricier side for what it is. It tries to present itself as an upscale place, but I would say that besides the interior design (and diners I guess), there isn't much that's upscale about this place. -There is definitely a ventilation problem. Whenever I eat here, I leave smelling like fish and/or fried food myself (clothes and hair). So don't go here if you have just showered, because you'll need to shower again when you leave.
(3)Alexandra B.
Not impressed with this place whatsoever. I had heard so much about POD and how unique the place is and that the food is to die for...but really I don't agree. Yes POD, your sushi is fresh and your presentation is outstanding but I feel like your completely over-rated. I can get fresh sushi at many places in the city with out paying the "cool factor charge". Your drinks are interesting but also I am not impressed. I felt like I was back in high school with "rich kids who think they are cool" surrounded me while i was eating there...If i wanted that I would have stayed in the suburbs of NYC..no thank you, you guys have def created a scene here to say the least. Also, I feel like you have the strangest hours, I have found myself wanted to go there many times before but you were never open? I'm obsessed with Asian Fusion may go back just because location. MAYBE ( I have heard that POD does a $25 all you can eat on Tuesday nights)
(3)Pauline S.
I absolutely love their sodas. I came here a year ago for my birthday and tried a bunch of specialty rolls, one with a lobster head. I also tried the duck two ways, which was not impressive.
(3)Jleigh V.
My fiancé and I ate here over the weekend, he wanted to surprise me with a fantastic fancy center city meal...my suggestion....NEVER EVER eat here unless you want them to rob you of your money and unable to stomach your meal! our bill (for just 2) was over $200 and the most horrible food i have had in the wonderful city of philly. we asked our server to suggest an appetizer since it was our first experience here, upon his suggestion of what is best we ordered spicy rock shrimp (friend shrimp with walnuts and pineapple) honestly...did my best to force 3 pieces of shrimp (no shrimp inside btw..just tempura & batter) and i couldn't even make that! it was doused in a ridiculous amount of mayo to point where there was more mayo on my fork than shrimp! didn't even know that was possible. we both ordered sushi for our dinner...yellow fine tuna sashimi = low tied hard fish I had to spit it out and i love me some fish I mean I eat raw oysters so usually i can bare it...not this time. blue fin tuna was hard, salmon sashimi = fishy unusually slimy, one good piece was your standard eel an avocado..nothing special...nothing completely terrible i mean i get the same exact roll from the grocery store and it's better there. My fiancé had a crab california roll...couldn't find the crab anywhere! His 2nd roll said baked crab and chili aioli hand roll...no where does it say, then covered in fish eggs which he cannot even attempt to eat, they wouldn't take the roll back my next suggestion...drink before you go or don't drink at all....3 single vodka and coke's (small 5 ounce glass filled to the brim with ice) = $52.00 I ordered a fruitie margarita...it was as if someone played a middle school joke on me and poured 3 table spoons full of salt (not to mention I asked for no salt rim) into the drink...my stomach shriveled up while drinking! maybe we should have ordered rice and beans and stuck to your standard filet...who knows but for the amount of money you spend, the thought the atmosphere is fancy but people walk in in sweats, and the food being so below average....stay away it's a waste of your time, money and effort
(1)Erin D.
I went here for the first time, and I thought the food was great. We had a large party and we ate family style, we shared everything. The highlight for me was the lobster roll, I'm drooling just thinking about it. The crab fried rice was also delicious. Honestly, everything was pretty good! Our server was also great, she knew everything about the menu and timed the serving perfectly. We never felt overwhelmed. I thought it may have been a little overpriced, but the food was decent. All in all, I would come back here again, but it isn't on the top of my list.
(4)Carl S.
I have been restaurant hopping in Philly and this was the only restaurant I found to be overated. I think you pay too much for what you're getting. The food quality and presentation was so-so. The ambience is really unique. The bathroom stalls remind me of the airline restrooms. I went there with a group and we sat inside one of the "pods". There's a wall of buttons that change the light colors and it was all overwhelming to see and enjoy our food. We ordered a variety of food that was recommended to try. I had the galbi tacos which was too flavorful. The lettuce wraps was boring in taste. The udon noodle and tofu sitr fry was just as boring as the lettuce wraps. The kobe beef was too little. The spicy tuna crispy rice was good, but not as amazing as I had hoped. When it came time for dessert, we got the ice sculpture. Based on the name, I was thinking something visually appealing. But when we got our dessert, is was a few small ice cream scoops piled on a cylindrical block of ice. Very unimpressive. For the flavors, there was carrot, guava, pineapple, and others I cant remember. Honestly, I could only taste 2 flavors: guava and pineapple. Thats why I only remember so few. If you're paying this much, you expect good flavors and quality. However, I could walk into another mom and pops and get the same thing for less. I know its a asian fusion restaurant, but you're better off eating at an authentic asian restaurant that masters these dishes. This review is just based on my opinion and my experience. There is definitely more on the menu I have not tried. Service was also very welcoming.
(2)HR Muffinstuff M.
Food was great. A bit pretentious and the wine prices are unusually high.
(4)Julie G.
I thoroughly enjoyed my evening at Pod, even though I didn't get to experience it from an actual pod (which I hear is pretty rad). I went with one of my friends and we sat in a two-seater booth that was basically like a wall cubby, so it felt kind of cool as well. When you walk in, there is a really hip kind of swanky vibe to this place, so I course was feeling it. I especially liked the anime videos playing above the sushi bar and the large multicolor lights that resembled bubble gum on the ceilings. To start my friend and I shared the crab spring rolls, which were pretty unique, as I've never had anything like them before. As a main course, we shared the sushi/sashimi tower, which was very fresh and just enough food for two people ($65, so quite reasonable). The drinks were creative and tasty and the owner (or manager, I can't recall at this point) bought us a round on him (thank you!). I would highly recommend Pod to anyone looking for a unique time and great meal in Philly.
(5)Jen L.
What a gem in University City! After a long day at work in the area, the yellow martini (passionfruit vodka in yuzu juice) was just what the doctor ordered, literally. I tried the pork belly steamed buns, which tasted akin to David Chang's Momofuku buns. The Shiro-Aoi roll was delightful ... the spicy white tuna and yellowtail were "melt in my mouth" delicious, and the jalapeno slices added a nice kick. For dessert, definitely recommend the chocolate bread pudding. As an added bonus, the interior decor is quite chic and futuristic with just a touch of Asian kitch meets Clockwork Orange Milk Bar. I'm definitely a fan.
(5)Jen K.
I've only ever paid for Pod twice, because usually I go when a Wharton professor takes us students out for lunch. This place is essentially really overpriced Americanized Asian fusion plus very average sushi. For example, they make General Tso's chicken, throw in some nuts, slap it with a fancier name ("macadamia chicken stir-fry") and charge you $19 for it. Ridiculous. I suppose you are paying for the ambience and the experience. Don't come here unless a Penn professor is treating you, your parents are treating you, or a date is treating you. Otherwise you're getting ripped off by Steven Starr big time.
(2)Jennifer M.
Very nice lunch spot. I got the shrimp pad thai which was $18! Luckily, I was able to save some for dinner to compensate the cost. Service was friendly and attentive. Location is right next to the Inn at Penn, making it convenient for students to take their parents out for a nice lunch or dinner. Atmosphere is definitely futuristic. It's like eating in the Jetsons era! I say, a solid 3.5 stars. The menu items reminded me of some of the items offered at Continental Midtown, such as their shoestring fries, calamari salad, and sea bass. I'll try the sushi next!
(3)Christine B.
When I was at Penn, POD was my go to spot for date night. At the time, it was definitely one of the nicest restaurants in University City. Now, older and wiser, it's still good, I'm just not as impressed as I once was. When a friend suggested it for dinner, I jumped on the chance to go back. I used to always get the pineapple shrimp tempura, and I'm happy to report that it is still delicious. That's really the only think I need to order here. The spicy sauce is kind of reminiscent of sushi spicy sauce and with the sweet chunks of pineapple and the crunchy walnuts it makes for a terrific dish both in taste and texture. I also tried some sushi, the spicy crunchy yellowtail, and spicy tuna. The yellowtail was pretty good, it had slices of jalapeno in it, but was kind of falling apart. The spicy tuna was very disappointing. I really couldn't taste any spice, and the tuna itself wasn't that great. Overall, the sushi was just meh, which is disappointing because its on the pricier side. Also tasted the kobe beef which is pretty awesome. Who doesn't love having meat cooked on a rock at the table?
(3)Rachel P.
The only plus about this place with the decor. The inside was filled with colorful lights and cool furniture. Definitely suited for a younger crowd. I came with a group of 10+ girls so we got a private room "bubble". It was so fun to play with the different colored buttons placed around the room that changed the entire bubble's color. The food was...eh. My friends and I got a mix of sushi dishes and little meals. First, they were extremely overpriced. The food was good but definitely not worth the high price tags. It was nice to visit and see the place, but I would not go back because the food did not meet my expectations.
(3)Jay S.
Excellent atmosphere and food quality. The lobster rolls were fantastic. Also enjoyed the wasabi filet and sea bass. Service was great as well. Definitely great for date night. Also the Bok Choy, Pad Thai, and chicken pot stickers were very good as well.
(4)Carrie P.
I love coming here and especially when you can get a POD for a big party. We had a blast for girls night! You can either share meals or be selfish. Some highlights are: rock shrimp tempura, crab fried rice, calamari salad, and lettuce wraps. The drinks are delicious. Try the rising sun martini. Lastly, check out the bathrooms. Weird I know but they are so cool!! Parking is very simple in this part of town. It's a must go for Asian fusion.
(5)R R.
Excellent food and service, did not disappoint in the least. The vibrant and colorful atmosphere lend itself to less intimate occasions, but it does not take away from the experience. Great place to enjoy with friends
(5)Jamie C.
This restaurant was really fun. The ambiance is really cool with different lights of colors everywhere with a very modern feel. The food is awesome. They had these amazing lettuce wraps with chicken and soy/ginger sauce. We also ordered edamame, chicken dumplings, seafood rice, and sides of cauliflower, eggplant, and asparagus. Everything was great and the service was wonderful. Will definitely be returning next time I'm in Philly!
(5)Peng Y.
Interesting environment and full of scifi atmosphere. Food is not too much. Tastes ok but not impressive
(3)Danan R.
Came for lunch with a group of 8 and the actual pod was a bit small although they did allow us to check our bags. The lunch specials were very solid and the sea bass was certainly good, and came with a side of salad, miso soup, and choice of white or brown rice. The Penn roll was also fantastic as was the crispy tuna rice. I loved the crispy tuna rice, which is essentially a form of box sushi without the seaweed. The sashimi platter also looked very fresh and came with 8 pieces of generously portioned fish, even the exotic hamachi. The stir fried macadamia nut chicken was just meh and very saucy, salty, and heavy, as it was made with deep fried chicken. I wasn't a personal fan but it may be a dish for you if you are a General Tso's chicken person! I did like the sizzling garlic mushrooms, though, which were served in a savory garlic soy sauce and comprised of a good mix of shitake, oyster, and enoki mushrooms. The vegetable tempura is also a great starter, and the pieces are actually small so you can sample a variety. Service was great albeit slow (it took 20 minutes to get our food). Prices were fair too and the lunch specials are about $15. They did forget to bring me my miso soup so be sure to check!
(3)Michael B.
I come here a lot for lunch and business dinners and always love it. Always super fresh favors. The wagyu burger is the best burger I've ever had! If you come for dinner, get the wasabi filet.
(5)Michael G.
Ok the food is great from sushi to noodles and meat dishes. But price wise I could drive downtown or back to nyc and eat cheaper. The portions make up for the price it's a good size portion for the meat dishes and noodle dishes we got but the sushi rolls are 6 pieces and normal size no bargain on the sushi. The sushi tasted fresh I got the lobster roll with 6 pieces at $18 but luckily my family ordered 2 other dishes Macadamia Chicken dish and Chicken pad Thai they were huge in portion size and they couldn't finish it begging me to help them eat it. The sushi here isn't cheap, in NYC I get better prices on the UES then here in Philly. Its a younger crowd joint if you ask me that have no appetite. And deep pockets I'm not cheap but I like value with my purchases.
(3)Al L.
Wishing Yelp had a 0 star rating. I just attempted to make a birthday reservation at POD two days in advance. While trying to reserve a POD, I was promptly told by Vickie that PODs are only available on a first come basis unless I went through food and beverage to pay some type of exoberant food and beverage minimum. I have come here several times over the years and have never once sat in a POD because I was told that it was for party's of 4 or more only. I promptly canceled my reservation and have decided to never come back here again. Steven Starr needs to design a restaurant and retrain his staff on what the word RESERVATION means. They are overpriced and over hyped. If you value location and value , do not patronize this establishment. Try Yakitori Boy. Sushi there is much better and so is the service. Thank you for the early birthday gift POD
(1)Srujana Y.
The first thing you will notice about POD is its modern ambience with dim yet colorful lighting. This place is a bit expensive but that's the price for the cool atmosphere! I have been to POD on numerous occasions for either lunch or dinner. Their food is usually very good. Since I am a vegetarian, I am gonna recommend some of the items I really love: Grilled asparagus and cauliflower from the Robata grill Shiitake steamed buns Udon noodle and tofu stir fry Wasabi veg fried rice POD has a good selection of cocktails and mocktails. Among the mocktails I really like the mango-ginger soda, while my husband likes the white peach and mint soda. Great staff as well as service. One of the times we visited POD was for my husband's birthday, I secretly told the staff about it and he got a surprise birthday cake with fireworks. :D :D YAY!
(4)Claire F.
Visited this past Saturday on a date. I was impressed by the chic atmosphere and unusual decor. I was not as impressed by the staff - they seemed inexperienced and their casual wear didn't match the restaurant's style. I wouldn't say service was attentive. But, when the food was delivered, I forgot all of my fussy thoughts about the service that were floating through my head. My date and I threw down (our waitress called us champs). At one point, I considered leaving my date and running off to be with the lamb chops because I was that in love with them. I lost track of time and space when I tasted the accompanying noodles. In summary, amazing food, impressive date spot, a little too loud for intimate date night conversations, but I mentally noted that it's the perfect spot for a big birthday dinner party.
(4)Courtney F.
Pod is an experience from the moment you walk through the door! Super chic and modern decor with futuristic vibe complete down to the music. I had the POD lobster rolls, chicken dumplings and split the crab fried rice with a friend. All of which were delish!
(4)Amanda B.
Pod is the coolest. Hands down my favorite hip spot when I come to Philly for vacation. I had the nicest waiter, let him choose my dinner and he got me the special cocktail and plate, and it was knock down delicious and had fantastic presentation. The atmosphere is just chic and I love it.
(5)Carlos R.
A very trendy and modern Asian Future place I frequented while visiting Philadelphia. When I first walked in, I felt like I was visiting Asia again. This place has everything: very colorful lighting, private "pods" for relatively large groups, a sushi bar w/ conveyor belt, the works. The food is quite good. As expected, plenty of choice. A few negatives: it fills up very quickly on weekend nights, has music that can be loud, and seems to replay the same anime movie on the screens. But otherwise, good fun.
(4)Cynthia X.
I like the fusion-ness of this place! It's proximity to the UPenn campus makes it popular for school events - the two occasions for which I came. One was a professor dinner, and the other a pre-interview dinner w/ the interviewer... So both times I couldn't concentrate too much on the food.. However, coming with a large group meant trying lots of things, my favorite is probably the pork belly buns. Sushi platters were good, but not memorable. Scallop fried rice was tasty, so was the chicken karage, edamame, udon, beef fried rice.. Etc etc. all good, but not memorable. Mochi ice cream is yummy :), but you can go to trader joes and get the same. Oh, and this place is Veg friendly!
(3)Zaneta P.
Despite all the mix reviews about Pod, I personally enjoyed my trip there. First of all I loveee the whole decoration of the place, the futuristic design to the animated feel! Staff and waiting time was bit slow the day I went but it was also a full house, so it's a partial blame. Anyways, for appetizer we had the Shrimp Tempura Roll, honestly couldn't say it a anything special. It wasn't bad but it just didn't stand out. On to the entree, I had the Wasabi Crusted Filet Mignon and my boyfriend had the Ginger Lamb Chops and can I say these two dishes were amazing! I'm seriously salivating while writing this review (late review) portion could of been bigger but nonetheless they were two very delicious dish. For dessert I honestly do not remember what we had because it just wasn't that memorable... Lol
(4)Valeria B.
Philly is a great city and Pod - Asian Fusion was not a disappointment. I had the Thai grape leaves which were fine. The sautéed mushrooms were out of this world tasty!!! Shrimp Pad Thai very well worth the drive to Philly from Trenton NJ. Also, if you're wanting a nutritious alcoholic beverage you must have the Thai chili avocado martini. I felt healthy drinking it :-) The bathrooms were cleans and futuristic and staff very attentive.
(4)Lindsey B.
Interesting to say the least. Decor is very futuristic and when I first walked in it looked more like a club, than a restaurant. I definitely recommend sitting at the sushi bar. The rotating plates can be s really good deal and the chef will make new plates fresh if you ask. Dining off the main menu is too expensive and doesn't offer enough of a portion in my opinion. Drink menu is great and reasonably priced.
(3)Craig D.
(4) ~ Very good Food & service. Really like the modern look;) OUR MENU: * Thai Chile Avocado Margarita = (4.5) Very Good! * Spicy Tuna Crispy Rice = (4) very good * Frosty Kobe Beef Fried Rice = (4) very good...Please note the Beef is served cold. * Garlic Mushrooms(side) = (4) very good...enough to share;) * Fruit Toban Yaki(dessert) = (4) very good NOTE: Street/Metered Parking.
(4)Johnny B.
Pod is like Virgin America airlines mixed with a womb mixed with a sushi restaurant. I've been here for all you can eat sushi and I recall enjoying myself, but recently I got take out and I was sorely underwhelmed. I got four rolls and all were bad. This is the first time in my life that I could eat only a few bites of sushi and had to stop. I might come for drinks or if there was a special deal, but I was not impressed, Pod. I will not be back!
(2)Colleen Z.
Lovely space, great service and good food. We met for drinks and appetizers on a week day afternoon. We were able to take advantage of happy hour specials. All was great. I love the look and feel of the place. I'll be back.
(4)Jackie S.
So went to Pod Saturday night and it definitely has a vibe... the service was spot on and the sushi was good, and underwhelming. Was hoping for a bit more. I would consider myself to be a sushi guru and ths place delivered everywhere but on the sushi itself. Overall I really enjoyed the experience. Fat Salmon and Vic are amazing!
(4)RB B.
Had a wonderful meal here for my sister-in-law's birthday. I had quite a wait because even with a reservation, the tables in the pods are first come first serve. Standouts were the udon with crispy tofu, tempura shrimp, spicy tuna on crispy rice, and pad thai. Great sushi as well....the vegan roll is delicious and I had to do a double take since they make the veggies look like fish! Desserts were very good, too.
(4)Mike F.
Under whelming is the best description I have for POD. The food is 3-star, the prices are 4-star and the atmosphere is 5-star (but getting dated and worn). It's everything you'd expect from an old-school Steven Star restaurant.
(3)Reva S.
You are basically paying for the atmosphere and the good service. Food is just ok.
(3)Wilcox W.
This place was absolutely amazing. Everything was good. Literally every single thing we ordered. Blown away. Best restaurant in philly
(5)Megan A.
Took my boyfriend here for his birthday in June, and was really excited because all the pictures online make this place look so cool. However, we went while it was still light outside and honestly it was nothing special. Everything is made out of plastic and looks cheap. It might be a totally different experience when it's dark out, but I can't attest to that. Also, the food is very expensive. Our meal came out to about $100 and we were still hungry. I got the chicken lettuce wraps and I've had such better lettuce wraps for much cheaper elsewhere. He got the wasabi steak and while he said it was good, it was tiny. We also split the chicken dumplings and they were just ok. Overall a disappointing experience but I would be willing to go back to give it another chance if I went with a big group and if it were later at night.
(2)Jeremy S.
Gourmet asian fusion Every dish was flavorful A bit on the pricy side but nice ambience and good for celebrations Tastefully presented foods Changing menu
(5)Abeer H.
Plastic inventive trendy decor and the seating feels cafeteria style, with no privacy. And it can get crowded depending on when you go. However, the sushi is great - fresh and delicious.
(4)Andrew N.
The sushi here is not the best. I ordered the chef special and it came it brown rice. What a terrible mistake. I hate when they use brown rice on sushi. Even though it's more healthy it doesn't taste like sushi anymore. The bathrooms are each their own stalls in a colorful hallway.
(3)Leroy F.
The Pod .. For me it's my go to place for sushi. It gets no better I love this place the staff, the location and the FOOD !
(5)Miranda S.
This place attracted me because it looks like the restaurant of "the Future" courtesy of Austin Powers or the Jetsons. Service is super friendly and knowledgeable, and there are lots of great vegan/vegetarian choices. I I shared the mushroom-sweet pea dumplings, and my only complaint is there weren't enough of these tasty morsels. My main course was the Vegan Stephen roll, which looks exactly like fish sushi but is packed with a variety of savory plant flavors. Yum.
(4)Kathleen Y.
I was just here on Friday with two friends and I was pretty unimpressed. While the futuristic, mod decor was kind of cool, it wasn't that different from places in New York I had already been to (It had the same chairs as Spice on University Pl.) Sadly, the food in the restaurant was not as good as these other restaurants. We all split the chicken dumpling and the sweet and sour pork dumplings (each about ~$9) which were actually pretty good (but not phenomenal.) For an entree, I ordered the wasabi crusted filet mignon with wasabi mashed potatoes ($29!) I'm not sure how it was screwed up, but the outside was very well done, but the inside was so rare that it made me fear eating it. At least the mashed potatoes were okay. My sister had a $25 sashimi plate that was "decent, but not the best." Our other friend had the crispy grilled pork tenderloin ($19) that was surprisingly 75% fried outside. Tastewise, it was reminiscent of a chicken nugget. Our drinks were okay, but nothing great once again. At the end of the meal, we felt we had just wasted a whole bunch of money on our food and cab fare to West Philly.
(2)Lindsay T.
honestly, wasn't what it cracked up to be. the bathrooms are cool, the calamari salad is good, the sea bass is good, the pad thai is so-so.
(3)R R.
i went here a long time ago and wouldn't go back. the food wasn't good and the decor is insulting.
(2)Zoran M.
Food is good. Solid selection of beer. The decor is questionable and the place is always crowded. It is definitely a nice place for dinner with a larger group.
(4)Sally f.
by far the coolest looking resturant in philly. you really feel like you are in a spaceship. the food is top rate and service is fast. prices kinda high, but i may have a lower budget than you. worth the experience. no free parking in the area though.
(5)Jon F.
good, but overpriced and completely ridiculous. this place belongs in LA, along with steven starr.
(4)shilpa p.
i love pod. it's a little pricey, but i don't mind going for sushi and dessert. the music is totally cool and i like the pink drink at the bar (tell them to go heavy on the champagne, i love champagne). i recommend the fondue tower. so yum.
(5)Mike P.
I love Pod. The interior looks like Japan exploded inside there. Drinks and food are great. Also the service is fantastic. Once after a tough exam five of us needed a drink, so we needed over to Pod, and even though we were pretty ragged looking in our exam gear they treated us really well
(5)Kap N.
the food is good here.
(4)Keith R.
Starr's pan Asian restaurant near the Penn campus is a great mix of Asian cuisines with fresh ingredients. You are struck by the white furnishings as you walk in, and the funky lights offer a scene that I'm sure was cutting edge a few years ago. The place looks a little passe now, but that doesn't affect the food. The sushi is high quality and there are ample selections of dim sum, more "traditional" chinese dishes, and a few other asian dishes such as crab pad thai. The food was great, well prepared, and bursting with flavor. The miso seabass was so soft it melted off my chopsticks. Pod has many innovative takes on more traditional dishes like mushroom dumplings in a marsala like sauce and the aforementioned crab pad thai. I wasn't thrilled with the dessert menu but the wait staff let us try a small portion of the toffee-chocolate bread pudding, which was incredible. The worst part of the restaurant was trying to figure out what to order since the menu is so good. The truth be told though, the worst part of the Pod is the prices which are very high even for the large portions. Service was extremely attentive, there are a large selection of cocktails and wine as well.
(4)Hank C.
Located on the University of Pennsylvania's campus, this is a Stephen Starr-designed restaurant, and hence, more attention was paid to making the experience overall. Pods with color-changing buttons (to adjust the colors of the lights in the pod) are available for groups (make sure to call and reserve to get them). Bathrooms here are the glass-door, micro-bathrooms, nice, usually clean. Staff are dressed in particular uniforms, paying attention to those who are the staff whom you order from, clean your tables, and serve you drinks are all a bit different, and the hostesses at the door usually are dressed a-kin to fashionable business bouncers. A bar space with red-plastic cushioned seats serves decent drinks, although the space is perhaps more interesting than the drinks are strong. The moving sushi bar isn't bad, although the selection can be a bit repetitive - ask the chefs if you want something specific (pay by plate color). The regular dishes aren't bad, most of them Asian-fusion related, including dishes like the pineapple and ham fried rice and the deep fried crab. Noodles were probably the best dishes, and the duck had a lukewarm reception at the table. You can valet park at the hotel or in a garage at 38th & Walnut.
(3)D.R. S.
we stopped by mid- afternoon to avoid the dinner chaos. Good location, excellent service, gorgeous interior, and super fresh food. Attention to detail in every aspect! Love this place!
(4)Mindy T.
Went here for my buddy's birthday. The crispy rice tuna is AMAZING. Everything else was mediocre. We ordered miso soup, stir fry udon, pad thai, and misc. sushi. The miso soup tasted like any other coming straight from a packet, and the server actually took it away while we were still working on it. So we notified them and they brought us out a new one. My udon was okay, had more taste than my girlfriend's pad thai. Sushi was just okay too. The only thing that left us yearning for more was the crispy rice tuna. We savored every last bite of it. As for dessert, I had the chocolate cake. It was very chocolate-y indeed. I couldn't finish it all and gave it to my friend, which he ended up devouring. I really like the atmosphere, it was set up in a way that reminded me of Morimoto's. We had a great time here with all of our friends, and we did leave with a full stomach. If we were to come back, it would be for you know what... CRISPY RICE TUNA!
(3)Gwendolyn P.
I am surprised it doesn't appear that I reviewed this before since I have been here a few times. I really love the cool sleek environment and the service is on point and very professional. I love the kaiten (revolving ) sushi which is reminiscent of the time that I spent in Japan. The menu is eclectic and great for sharing if you go with a group. I have tried probably most of the menu and there was not one single thing I did't like! The rock shrimp is great, the dumplings are great, the pad thai delicious and so on and so forth.
(5)Nary K.
I have been to Pod numerous times and I'm never disappointed. The menu changes from time to time but the food remains remarkable. I always try the calamari salad (this time, it was made with Kale and I loved it!). The crispy tuna rice is always good. For my "big plate" option, I chose lamb chops, which were amazing! And for dessert, we had mochi icecream and doughnuts with raspberry cream sauce; to die for! My advice? Pod is a must try! Great for couples, groups and families!
(5)Erin M.
Thanks, Pod, for making eating here such a delight for a vegan like me! I am so happy with the amount of choices that I can make on the menu, and the fact that they will make a few things vegan for me upon request! When I ate here a couple of weeks ago, I told my server I was vegan, so she made sure to veganize my side order of roasted asparagus (I think it normally has fish sauce in it or something). It was quite delicious, as was the Vegan Stephen sushi. I almost sent it back because I thought it was fish when it arrived. The tomato looks suspiciously like raw salmon! But, no, all vegan here, and full of fresh vegetables and stuffed with tempura'd veggies. Delicious! For lunch today, I decided to go with an old standby: tofu lettuce wraps. These are very decadent. Deep fried tofu in a sweet and savory Asian sauce, with sprouts and onions, a side of peanutty sauce and some fresh butter lettuce leaves. I love that you can roll them up yourself. Fun lunch. And delicious. Thanks, Pod!
(5)Ron H.
For sushi, its trendy and minimal selection, but this isnt really a "sushi" restaurant. Pod is an trendy Japanese restaurant. Bright colors in all white, light up bar, booths and seats change color slowly ((or by choice in the group pods), and Japanimation plays over the sushi bar while a conveyor belt of color coded plates whisks past you.
(4)Lindsay H.
So my biggest love for Pod is actually there lunch Express bento special. For some time now, I felt it was unfair of me to review this place since I've only been for lunch but hey, each lunch is so tasty that I just needed to share with the yelp community! I have enjoyed their pad thai, sushi and dumpings but hands down the Express bento Miso glazed chilean seabass lunch special is what to get! It's unreal. The fish is always perfectly cooked and has such a delicious salty/sweet flavor that makes it melt in your mouth. This paired with some rice, miso soup and a side salad makes this arguably the best lunch in U-city. Unfortunately, I rarely have enough space to eat this much but if you do, definitely try it!
(4)Nakia Y.
I went to POD during Ucity dinning days (unaware until i got there that it was actually going on), but anyway: everytime i go to POD i have an awesome experience. from the decor to the service i am never disappointed. The seafood rice my date ordered wasnt up to the normal POD standard but everything else we ordered made up for it. Oh and this was the first time that the manager actually came over to the table and talked to us (which is always a plus) making sure that everything was to our liking. and kudos to the waitress because she was friendly, courteous, and provided us with A1 customer service the entire night.
(4)Lily N.
I was very disappointed. My server was nice, but the food was terribly salty. Rolls are good but salty. The stir fry is very salty and horribly tasted. The chef should really do something about using too much salt. Also the wait is too long. It was a bad experience for me.
(1)Amanda C.
Listen, Philly, I don't know where this 3.5 stars business came from, but Pod has made it's way into my 5 star (nay, 6! nay, 10!) favorites. We go for birthdays, anniversaries and most recently Christmas Eve. Not only do they go out of their way to make every occasion special, their day-to-day service and quality menu is a great reason to make Pod an any day restaurant, not just a holiday treat. We go big when we come to Pod. It's tough not to order more than we do, and we inevitably leave stuffed anyway. But it's a happy full, not a gross, greasy, carb-y full. Last time we went, we got: 1) Lobster roll (with truffle teriyaki sauce...COME ON.) 2) Wagyu beef (cooked on a hot stone..in front of you!) 3) Steamed pork belly buns (no joke.) 4) Mushroom ramen (a special! The most incredible special.) 5) Robata grill - Japanese eggplant, asparagus, cauliflower (all amazing) 6) Peppermint chocolate sundae (another Christmas special) 7) Fluffernutter spring rolls (crispy, fluffy, peanut-buttery and to die for) We basically were transported straight to an eternal heaven. It's like that every time we go. The dishes are inventive, the quality is supreme and the flavors are bold. The service is hands down some of the best I've encountered - the waitstaff are on point with remembering details from the last time we came, making recommendations and timing the meal perfectly. To top it all off, the cocktails are delicious. We will keep coming back to Pod for as long as they'll have us.
(5)Dana D.
Love Pod. One of my favorite restaurants in Philly. It's been around forever and I've been going here ever since it opened. Food is always delicious. The atmosphere is my favorite out of any restaurant I've been to. It's so much fun and so trendy. This is a perfect place to go before a night out. Sitting in the pod changes the entire experience from cool to amazing. The pods are so much fun, you can change the color of the pod to whatever you want. The service is always great, I don't think I've ever had a bad experience at this place and I have been here 20+ times. The drinks are yummy, They added a new spicy martini I forgot the name but it is one of my new favorites. I love this place and would highly recommend it to all of my friends and family.
(5)Laura G.
I came here on a Thursday afternoon for lunch. I've been here numerous times for lunch and each time is has been good. I cannot speak for their dinner, so my review is strictly for lunch. I am not a huge Stephen Starr fan BUT Pod is definitely one to check out. We ordered edamame to start and it was so large. Definitely enough for 4-5 people. We both order bento boxes. I ordered the Sea Bass which was perfectly cooked and the miso glaze was wonderful. The box itself was extremely big, I had enough left overs for a second lunch. These are also very reasonably priced. The restaurant has always been pretty empty for lunch and you definitely don't need reservations. I highly recommend checking it out if you're in the UCITY area.
(5)Josh G.
I love it here! Amazing food, great service, and a fantastic time with friends. One of my highlights of Philly.
(4)Jacqueline O.
Last night I came here for my sisters birthday. It was great. We sat in one of the large private pons and enjoyed a delicious meal with great drinks. She had called ahead to order off a set menu and it was incredible. They started with salad, Sushi, dumplings, fish on sweet potatoes with rice (to die for) chicken lettuce wraps, and then desert which was marshal low and peanut butter spring rolls, ice cream in a delicious putty shell and hot lava cake . It was so much food and each thing that came out was better than the last. I would recommend this place for large groups and I would record ordering ahead. Everything came out on time and we were never waiting. What a great place. Only thing was it did seem to be a little dead outside our pod. But with the private rooms it is like you are the only people there and it was a blast. Not to mention it changes colors as you push the buttons around you.
(4)Ada W.
The decor of this place is super cute! And it's definitely great for a big group to have their private space in the few pods they have in the restaurant. The service is great and they were very attentive to our needs. The service was really fast but they didn't rush us out like most restaurants do which is a plus for me. We had the special tempura shrimp and jalapeno roll, short ribs from the robata grill, chicken potstickers and spicy lobster. They were all good but not great. I guess I expected more given how great the food is in other Stephen Starr restaurants. But I will definitely recommend this place and I will come back again if I crave for sushi or Asian food.
(4)Alexis J.
*Later Yelp* I've only been here once, but I love this place mainly for the atmosphere. It just has a cool, swanky vibe. The food is pretty good too. I had the lamb chops, uzuu lemon cheesecake for dessert and a lychee martini, I believe. All were pretty good...although the lamb may have been a bit too salty. I remember the service being satisfactory as well.
(3)Grace L.
Although I am a huge fan of the design (the restaurant feels clean, sleek, and modern), the food was extremely subpar. My friend and I were seated promptly at a cute window seat, and handed beautifully created drink and food menus. Our waiter was prompt, pleasant, and filled up our waters consistently. However, our experience went downhill from there. I ordered the shortrib bento box, and while I enjoyed my miso soup immensely (it was full of flavor, in contrast to normal watery broth that asian restaurants usually serve), I could barely eat my salad (and I love salad!) or main dish. The first bite of the shortrib was decent, since the meat was cooked well, but the rest of it was much too salty and doused in gooey soy sauce concoction. My friend ordered a salmon avocado roll, which looked small but she said it was fine. Finally, we shared chicken lettuce wraps; I enjoyed the peanut sauce, but again, the meat was much too salty and covered in more sauce! I ate one bite and let my friend take the rest home. Will not be returning if I am paying with my own money; thankfully, many Penn professors take their students out to lunch here for free, so it would be worth it to come then.
(2)Monica H.
Friends and I went to Pod for a birthday last weekend because we saw pictures of the amazing interior of the restaurant. The service was all very good and our waitress was super helpful and seemed to have the whole menu and all the specials memorized by heart. The interior had a futuristic feel which was very new and different. The food however, was just okay for the price. (We tried basic and specialty rolls). While the presentation and quality was very nice, the rolls just seemed to lack flavor. The cocktails seemed to sound very complex and tasty on the menu, but it was also just alright for $11. All in all it is a good place to try and experience once, but i feel as though you are really paying more for the atmosphere than anything else.
(3)Minaz M.
For the price, I think it deserves only 3 stars. It's a more fancy and better quality chinatown-type-food restaurant. Don't get me wrong - the food was good but it wasn't good enough for the price. I love Amada & Zahav & Morimoto - the food at those places is AWESOME and well worth the money! We had the white tiger roll sushi, which was good. The karaage (fried chicken) reminded us of KFC! It was certainly very well cooked but it was just fried chicken. The sizzling garlic mushrooms were really good. The lamb and the crab fried rice were alright. I wouldn't go back!
(3)Kristy Y.
The food here is okay, there's nothing great about it. I think it's more for someone who wants a pretty plate dinner. However it is a nice spot to have drinks with friends. If you want sushi, I would suggest you to go to an actual sushi restaurant.
(3)Rob P.
Had dinner there this week with a party of 10. I've dined there several times since they opened. Initially, the novelty of the interior design really contributed to the overall dining experience. Now, the place is dirty and worn- even visible with the dim nighttime lighting. The "Pod" our party occupied was dirty and worn. Some of our dishes/utensils were not clean. The bathrooms were atrocious. We had to move our chairs every-time the server brought food just to let her pass. Awkward and uncomfortable. If this were a local chinese restaurant with associated pricing, one would overlook the condition of the place and accept the mediocrity of the dishes. I would advise closing and reinventing this place.
(2)Ms S.
I was worried that the whole conveyer thing would be weird, but actually it is a great concept and is great in between your other orders. It is extremely clean fish and comes delivered in a pod so you don't have to worry about someone sneezing or giving you Ebola while its traveling around in circles. The place is very clean and the staff is friendly. I'll definitely be back
(5)Connie J.
Great food, lovely decor. Will go again!
(4)Faustina K.
Ok so this would not be my first choice of dining, simply because I'm not a big fan of sushi...BUT I was impressed by the decor and the modern feel of this place! It's very modern. I can see it being a good place for a date night or even just a girls night to somewhere u meet for lunch meetings! Service was good! Our waiter was very friendly and attentive! Explained the menu well, and encouraged out to try new things. Which I thought was great! As for the food! Ehhh! I decided to just go with the shrimp tempura! The menu didn't have anything that interested me, and after tasting my friends rice, which was very blah! I was eased with my order! I may give it another try! We'll see!
(3)Saloni G.
Since Pod is right near the middle of campus, I've come to Pod a few times during my time at Penn. My go-to dishes are usually the: 1) Wasabi Vegetable Rice - I get it without egg and it still tastes great! The wasabi is not too overpowering but still enough to give a kick. The rice is subtly flavorful and light. 2) Udon Noodle and Tofu Stir Fry - I love this dish! The tofu is made to be marshmallow-style which I have always been a fan of. The udon noodles are marinated in this great sauce which is still light but definitely feeling. It's not greasy at all so I order it every time! 3) Cauliflower Robata - I've had this once or twice as it is more of a side than an entree. The cauliflower always comes out nicely grilled and is a great dish for sharing on the side. I've also had the mochi which is always popular with whomever I come with. Pod can be a little pricey so I don't occasion it that often but I'm always pleased when I do come!
(4)RJ T.
Very fun, trendy sushi restaurant right near campus. I was here solo at the sushi bar, but if you come with a big group, you can sit in one of their "pods" which is a cool atmosphere. I ordered the crispy rice spicy tuna which was great and then the rock shrimp spicy tuna roll which was amazing. Pro-tip: go a little early for lunch, like 11:30/11:45 - the place gets PACKED at noon on the dot and if you are eating at the sushi bar, you get the freshest first picks :)
(5)Emily D.
Only rating two stars to balance out the ratings. Place is very pretty, but you're paying a pretty penny for the atmosphere. Food is OK. Service is OK. Drinks are OK. A nice place to meet with old friends to sit a while and chat. Dress up to enhance your time. This place is instagram worthy (aesthetically excellent!), though if youre really hungry for some on-point food, you can easily get more bang for your buck somewhere in Chinatown.
(2)Cara T.
I visited Pod for the first time recently for a friends birthday. This friend is a quarter Japanese and so it was decided among us that we would go to Pod...for Japanese. Now I'm not a sushi fan. I tend to lean towards the Chinese side of Asian cuisine, nonetheless, I was excited to visit another Stephen Starr spot. We entered with one goal in mind...securing a pod. We wanted to eat in one!! You can book one in advance if you agree to spend a set dollar amount. We couldn't promise we would spend that much so we had no reservation, only hope. When we got there, we told the hostess we were interested in a pod and she said if one was available or opened up, we could have it. We told her we would wait at the bar...and we did....for 45 minutes until our glorious pod was free. The fun thing about partying in the pod is that you basically have a private room. You can change the color of the room by pressing buttons on the wall. After a few minutes, our eyes were so warped from the lights, we couldn't tell what color was what. In fact, at the end of the night, our friend gave his coat back to coat check saying that the coat wasn't his....that his coat was a different color. Turns out his eyes were just messed up. I ordered the Kobe beef cooked table side and it was delicious. The ribs were tangy. The drinks were tasty. I hear the sushi was excellent. It was a great experience overall. I'd go there again if someone invited me. It is pricey to eat in basically white Ikea decor with fancy lights, so be prepared.
(4)Danielle P.
Great service, trendy and just plain cool decor, and the best sushi in West Philly. If you're in the University City area and you need to get your fix, this is a great option. They had some interesting specials, all of the usual sushi, and japanese dishes. My family enjoyed yellowtail, tuna, salmon, and some specialty rolls, as well as the fried rice. All good quality. They took care of my food allergies and I didn't get sick from any of the food allergies I worry about when dining at an Asian restaurant (shellfish, soy, wheat!) I wouldn't go out of your way to come here, but it's definitely a great option if you go to school at Penn or Drexel or if you're visiting!
(4)Jenny K.
Pod is the perfect place for a date or a girls night out. Everything is cute and chill. I love the lychee martini here. The crab fried rice is my personal favorite. Be sure to call ahead for a 5+ group and request to sit in a pod
(4)Elisabet R.
Love everything but the sushi rolls. The drinks are great, the ambiance is modern, and the servers are great (as in most Stephen Starr restaurants). The hot plates are wonderful-- the udon soup, baby bok choy and Kobe beef fried rice are a must! The miso glazed sea bass and spare ribs are delicious as well. Not to big a fan of the desserts as most are pretty to look at but not as tasty as they sound on paper.
(3)Jake A.
Someone here put a good catch phrase on this place: the pod is instagram worthy. Want to go to a party and have a variety of lights and music blaring while dining on sushi? The pod is for you. Selfie away on instagram and the world will nod. For the others who want just a relaxing dinner out with that someone special, you might want to look elsewhere. A few of us old friends decided to hook up here and we were very delighted that we were promptly seated. I loved the futuristic perspective of the place. Even the bathrooms look like it would fit well in a scene out of back to the future. Weird but very modernistic and sophisticated. It really felt like they had a clear vision when they put this together. Now to the food and service. The service was exceptional. Everything was rolling in exquisitely and we were treated like we were guests of the Queen of England. The food is where I totally lost it. I didn't like my sushi nor the lamb chops. My friends liked their choices but we came in late, so I can't help but wonder if we were just stuck in a bad time slot for the chef's plans. I must say that the dessert was good though. I don't think that my review does justice since I'm speaking just for myself and not for my group. Some of my friends in the group really liked the place. I think I'd be more comfortable in a conventional or traditional restaurant. But that might just be me.
(3)Robert S.
Delicious sushi and a very cool and hip atmosphere. When you walk into Pod you immediately notice that it isn't like many other sushi spots you've been too. It has a very modern and trendy feel to it. The food is fantastic and it's some of, if not the best sushi around. When I dined here the other day with some friends I went with the Rockin Spicy Tuna Roll and the Frosty Kobe Fried Rice. The Frost Rice bowl is a cool dish that actually comes with uncooked beef and it cooks once it's brought to your table due to the heat given off by the rice and egg. I also went with the Sake Mojito which was real tasty and refreshing. I recommend dining at Pod and if you come with a group make sure to request to eat in a pod.
(4)Rick B.
Great place to go to celebrate. The environment looks like a futuristic scene from the 90s but the food is timeless. Half the menu is for sushi, the other half for cooked food. I say come here for celebration because you will be prepared to spend money. The price is fair for the amazing quality of food and I wasn't feeling any regrets about the portion size. I tried both the sushi and cooked items from the menu. I recommend the spider roll and lettuce wraps. Washed it down with a Sake Mojito. I would love to come here again and try more.
(4)Pete S.
Great spot. You couldn't ask more for food and service. Amanda was our server she was spot on. All her helpers were better then great. The only reason why I couldn't give it a 5 is I got seated 25 minutes after my reservation and it wasn't that busy. I noticed the girls at the front forgot about us. The manager was very diligent on the floor checking on every table . If anywhere needs a little work it's the hostes. Your gps will bring you to the front street unless you use your iPhone which brings you to the front door. Great job pod keep up the great work.
(4)Keisha F.
Love POD! The food is great, trendy atmosphere and the service is awesome. (Johnathan our server was the best!) I'll definitely be back!
(5)Seb G.
I was lucky enough to have the opportunity to taste many different plates thanks to being invited by a very generous host. All I can say is WOW. It's not only one of the most visually appealing restaurants I've seen in terms of style and decor but the food was unforgetable. Every single plate was exquisite; even the tofu, and I hate tofu. Pod is the best asian restaurant I have ever been inside or heard of. I would definitely recommend it if you find yourself in Philadelphia. Apparently a lot of celebrities frequent this spot.
(5)James C.
Pod is great for the atmosphere and the food quality is A-OK. It might be on the pricey end if you are just looking for a quick bite to eat with friends or something. I always try to get the pad thai since I think that is the most bang for the buck and then some sushi. All the special rolls are good. Sushi is always fresh and top quality. Overall it is a decent place.
(4)Tiffany H.
Literally the best sea bass I've ever had. Order it.
(4)Barbara W.
I've been to Pod many times, and enjoy their high quality of food. However, the portion sizes have always disappointed me. I went for lunch on a week-day and ordered one of their Bento Box lunch specials - I picked seared tuna - as the protein. I received 4 very thin slices of tuna on top of a small salad plus the rest of the bento box (Miso soup, brown rice, salad and pickled vegetables). The tuna was good quality, and cooked perfectly (rare +), but my bento had no soup and instead had 2 salads. Although I eventually received my soup, service was a sloppy. Our waiter spilled water all over me and the chair next to me, and promised to send someone to clean it up, that person never came. I've also had positive service experiences at Pod, but I have never been too impressed with the creativity of the dishes. The restaurant has modern/chic/upscale flair, but the food to me is just mediocre.
(2)Mal S.
Best fancy restaurant in Philadelphia sushi was amazing the pad Thai was great the salad calamari was fantastic and the fried rice was awesome!!!
(5)Nicole L.
I've only been here for some drinks and socializing. The atmosphere and prices make it the "hang out place for the rich/cool kids on campus." The atmosphere and vibe is not so much my style, too modern and sterile feeling. Lots of college kids come here to see and be seen.
(3)rich k.
Although the food is ok the restaurant needs updating. The bathrooms could use a thorough cleaning. Sorry about the three stars but it's definite stepped backwards.
(3)Pam A.
Consistently good. I happen to eat here fairly often, and I try to mix it up, but when I come back to the sushi its consistently above average. I had the duck duck udon as well this time, it was a bit bland, but the duck won tons inside were delish. Its never cheap, and well, it feels like the Wharton/Penn dining hall. The only time drinks are affordable is happy hour, and then they are a great deal.
(3)Andy B.
Walking in, the atmosphere got me very excited for the experience. Menu looked great also. Although we made a reservation, we had to wait 20 mins for our table. When the waitress asks our table about allergies, I was happy because normally I have to awkwardly bring up I am allergic to shellfish. The wait for 5 sushi rolls was nearly an hour. As they finally came out, all different rolls were mixed on the same plate (shellfish and non). The waitress apologized and said she didn't inform the chef about the allergy (we all make mistakes). She said she would expedite my rolls and they would be out soon. 10 minutes, 15 minutes, 20, 30, 35 minutes later my two rolls came out. At this point, everyone at the table ate (annoyed). While my other friends watch me eat, one orders a 2nd glass of Chardonnay; she does not specify the type. Throughout dinner she orders 2 more glasses. As we get our bill, we realized the waitress ordered her the most expensive chardonnay at 17$ a glass. There was a cheaper glass at $8. The waitress explained that they were out of the cheaper wine, so the waitress took it upon herself to charge her $68 for 4 glasses of wine, without asking? After a complaint they comp-ed us ONE glass of wine. Another thing, the bathrooms were filthy. There were plenty of people working, at leaset ONE person could have kept them up. There are like 10 individual bathroom pods. One sink was clogged, toilet paper was all over the ground. One sink would not run water. I felt like they were glorified port-a-pottys. Overall: Atmosphere (aside from bathroom) is great. Food was good. Drinks over priced. Food over priced. Wait was so long. Service was horrible.
(1)Josh Q.
This place is a solid Asian Fusion place, and I was pleasantly surprised that all the dishes were delicious, no matter the original cuisine. The sushi was fresh, the pad thai was the perfect blend of savory and sweet, and the taro spring rolls are the perfect way to end your meal. I know that many Penn students have an aversion to this place, but I never understood why. If it's only because the food is more expensive than other restaurants, then I think that is unfair. While somewhat pricy, I think it is still one of the cheaper Starr restaurants and offers very tasty options throughout the menu.
(4)Dave M.
Wow...this place is overpriced, the portions are minuscule, and the staff was rude and extremely sluggish. The bill was $70 for two and we left hungry. The favors were above average, I'll admit, but nothing spectacular. Buyer beware!
(1)Tom B.
As I mentioned in my previous review, I imagined that Pod would have a pretty cool vibe going when the place was busy... Back in the day, I could only imagine such a thing because the place was practically empty during my first visit, despite the fact that it was at 7pm on a Thursday night (and it wasn't any busier by the time I left). Fortunately, I've been able to confirm my suspicions over the course of a couple visits since then. Went for dinner, went for lunch... Both times the place was packed, and the atmosphere was entirely different, much more comfortable and exciting. Oh, and the Rockin' Spicy Tuna roll is one of the best I've ever had in all my sushi eating days.
(4)lena n.
Okay I came back to Pod for the food because it was delicious, however this time, I was sort of disappointed. First, we wanted to rsvp the "pod rooms" however, everybody was told different stories when me and my friends tried to book it. We got - the pod rooms are not rsvp, it is first come first serve,....then somebody got - it is $700 to rsvp....so it just got us all confused. So we said forget the room we just want a table - nope couldn't do that either. Soo we said just go and just sit near the bar where there was seating for waiting but we were not guaranteed seatings for our party of 10, which was fine to us. Therefore, we sat near the bar and ordered our food there. There are no tables there, so we basically had the food on our laps eating it, which still did not bothered us because we basically agreed to go even though we were not guareenteed seating. Now this was all for a surprised bday party in which we bought our own cake because this is her fave type of cake, and here comes the BAD PART - they charge $3 per person if you bring in outside cakes. dun dun dun....how STUPID. ARE YOU KIDDING ME?! who the hell does that!?!? First off, people have different liking to cakes and who in the world does not bring a cake to a restaurant for their friends BIRTHDAY!?!?! That just pissed us all off NOW. So at this time we said eff it, lets just pay and go. Sat there in their waiting section for 2 hours, ate, wasnt able to eat the cake, and left. I thought was RIDICULOUS. OH ANOTHER BAD THING - we were charge gratuity on our checks for 20%!!! Can you tell me why they would do that if we are not even sitting at a table?!! I would have done the mininum which is 18% because we didnt get a full service dining experience. I'm sorry, i'm not a cheap tipper but that really pissed me off even more. I would like to tip what I want to tip, not what you tell me to. Oh and one more thing - they changed how they put the calamari salad which is my fave dish there - they took out the calamari and left it separate from the salad which is pretty stupid because then it wouldnt be called the calamari salad now!!! Sorry I dont think I'll be back for awhile.
(2)Rob V.
I really wanted to like Pod.. I really, really did. It was highly recommended by our server at Continental Mid-town and we were intrigued by it from several visits to Mad Mex next door. I knew that the Borgata's Chef Michael Shulson, who now owns Izakaya, used to work here and has quite the pedigree. The menu of Pan-Asian fusion cooking, of which I am usually a fan, looked delicious and intriguing. I had no idea that Pod had been around for more than ten years, as it looks brand new from the outside. Unfortunately for us, like Cirque du Soleil's 'Dralion' that we saw earlier that day, we left sorely disappointed. I'm getting ahead of myself here though..... I wasn't sure what to think of the ultra-modern, multi-colored, almost futuristic look of the bar and dining room. Quite honestly, while I was intrigued from afar, once inside I was kind of put off by the whole concept. Then, inexplicably, the place grew on me. It reminded me of a sophisticated, underground spaceship dining room.. chock full of odd, off kilter furniture and big party booths with buttons that allow the guests to change the ambient lighting and smaller "pod" booths carved into the wall; not to mention a CONVEYOR BELT of endless sushi at the sushi bar! I think the same reasons I generally enjoy Stephen Starr's restaurants are the same ones for which other's don't.. the ultra-modern dining rooms, the young, boisterous crowds, the forward thinking cuisine.. I really 'get' it and just think some others do not. That being said, the food here fell flat. Flat on it's face. This was one case where style certainly didn't equal substance. I honestly didn't remember what entrée or appetizer I ordered and had to text my lovely girlfriend for a lot of the details of this review. We boxed up almost the entire Pad Thai to bring home with us and I felt utterly disappointed about the experience. But let's back up a bit and discuss our meal. We entered and were seated immediately in the dining room at a table for two.. no wait. The restaurant was rather quiet, but it was a bitter cold night in late February. I recall them having some special 'mock' tails and we both really enjoyed our 'Vanilla & Ginger Soda' or whatever they were at the time. Unfortunately, at the time I am writing this review, they are apparently no longer on the menu. Our server was quite knowledgeable and made some recommendations as far as appetizers. We started off with the Crab Spring Rolls with sweet chili dipping sauce and Dim Sum Pork Dumplings with white soy dipping sauce. Both entrees were poorly executed and lacking in flavor, especially the Crab Spring Rolls. The only thing that made the Spring Rolls edible was the sweet chili dipping sauce. Yuck. The Dim Sum Pork Dumplings were only slightly better, and again, enhanced only by an overly salty dipping sauce. Very disappointed with our appetizers we pulled back on our ordering, whereas we normally would have splurged. We decided to share the Shrimp Pad Thai Noodles with red chili, peanuts, and mixed vegetables. The dish came out cool instead of piping hot, and the noodles were poorly and unevenly cooked. After only a few bites, I believe an overly aggressive busboy came to remove the plate and box up our entrée. Speaking of the busboys.. man alive! They are like vultures circling your table relentlessly asking if you're done with your dish, even when there is still food left on the plate! It happened to us not only with both appetizers, but with our entrée as well! It made for a very uncomfortable and rushed meal.. one in which I am in no hurry to return to. I'd like to say I'd be a little more tolerant of this behavior if it was a Friday night and the place had a two-plus hour wait, but as it was, it was a freezing cold night in the middle of February and the place was nearly deserted! Let us enjoy our meal for crying out loud! This is the first meal in a really, really long time that I was disappointed by. Disappointed may not even be a strong enough word, and two stars is REALLY stretching it. Service was good if super rushed, the 'mock' tails were tasty, and the décor grew on me, but overall.. the place was a definite "eh". The menu looked SO good online, the sushi, the cocktails, the sea bass entrée, the mandarin shrimp stir fry, crab fried rice, the Kobe steak appetizer cooked on a hot stone.. just a big letdown in my book. Okay, okay, so we didn't drink, I didn't do sushi, and we skipped the appetizer we really wanted because of it's size. We may have to revisit this place in the future to fairly judge it.. but it's going to be a long time before we make it back.
(2)Kristen O.
Pod was recommended HIGHLY to me by a friend from the Philly area. I made a reservation 2 days before I even headed there because it sounded so amazing. I was not disappointed in any way. Great food, perfect cocktails, EXCELLENT service, awesome atmosphere and design...from start to finish, Pod exceeded my expectations. We ordered the crab spring rolls, which were probably some of the most delicious crab spring rolls I have ever had, as well as a large sushi and sashimi platter. EVERYTHING was perfect. Such an enjoyable experience. You stay classy, Pod.
(5)Lauren O.
As a student (read "dirt poor") I rarely get the opportunity to dine at Pod, so when the opportunities arises I jump...as high as I possibly can. Pod's a favorite for happy hours (the cocktails are color-coded, it's the perfect excuse to "taste the rainbow") and lunch. The crab fried rice "side" is more than enough for a meal...you can easily split this with a friend and still be stuffed. The crab spring rolls are also a favorite. The Kedeki express lunch "boxes" are fabulous...might not be enough if you're starving but definitely a good option if you're craving miso soup plus something else. Pod is drastically overpriced but with food this good, they know they can get away with it. If you're on a budget, I suggest going at lunch and splitting with friends...best way to sample different things and not have blown your electric bill on dinner. Oh yeah...getting a group then sitting in one of the 'pods' is a must! I love love love playing with the lights.
(4)Andre B.
Really neat little place. Trendy and fun, great for people in their 20-30's! Good food in a casual atmosphere. Most people that go there are going to school in the city. We had sushi and dim sum and it was all great! Try the Robata Steak, you wont be disappointed! Martinis are also awesome!
(4)Andrew T.
Mediocre, or "A-OK" as Yelp defines 3-stars, pretty much sums up this place. If you walk in here and notice that it seems a bit busy, leave. The restaurant, kitchen, sushi bar, and wait staff simply fall apart when it gets busy. For instance, after waiting 10 minutes for our waiter to greet us, my dining companion ordered a burger while I ordered sushi. My food came out 10-15 minutes after her's did. With no explanation. It was fun watching her eat her burger while I played with my sushi-less chopsticks. Beyond for that, the food is average, drinks are average, ambiance is average, and this review is getting pretty average. The end.
(3)Ben M.
Five stars if you sit in one of the pods, they're super awesome. The food is really four stars though, some great stuff, but nothing too jaw-dropping. Good selection and as with most Stephen Starr's restaurants some creative menu items and a nice mix of cultural cuisine even under the blanket of Asian cooking.
(5)Minh C.
Came there for lunch yesterday and I must say Starr restaurants live up to their reputation. It had a hip twisty atmosphere, and a very unique menu. I personally ordered the udon with tofu stir fry which was absolutely delicious. My only complaints about it was that it was served in an oversized bowl, no biggie and the tofu had a great texture but a little bland and the udon was a little overdone. The edamame they served enough to feed 4, which was amazing.
(3)Lydia T.
totally worth the money...if it was still 2004. The food is definitiely decent, well beyond decent, but not worth the money. Maybe they are just getting by from Penn and Drexel parents. Fried rice is good, macadamia chicken good. Oh and go there at night, then you will see why they charge so much...for the neon lights.
(3)Caroline H.
Eh. I know...sad to say. Made a reservation because of the UC Dining Days promo which entitles each person 3 courses for $30, good deal right? Wrong. So here's the lowdown. I don't know how many of you have dined at restaurants during dining days or restaurant week but every time I have (which is 10+ times) you are each entitled to each choose 1 app, 1 entree, and 1 dessert choice--This is NOT so at Pod. Our server came over and informed our party of 3 that we were to choose only 2 apps, 2 entrees and 2 desserts but that the portions would be adjusted to the number of people at the table. I was not a happy camper especially since I wanted to try things that no one else at my table would eat :( and the portions were the same size as the table next to us of 2 people. I'm not complaining that they were small portions (I was full at the end of the meal) but still I feel like it's almost false advertising or that the stipulations should have been noted previously because I definitely would have chosen to dine at another restaurant (i.e. Distrito-which I dined at last UC dining days and had SO many choices and were able to try a ton for the $30 price tag) had I known this. Anyways on to the food, we had the beef and chicken lettuce wraps, chicken potstickers, shrimp pad thai, macadamia chicken stir fry, brown sugar cake and vanilla mousse. -The lettuce wraps were my favorite by far..however the lettuce was so small that nothing would fit in it so we ended up just eating the filling with a fork. -The potstickers were well...potstickers nothing fabulous. -Shrimp pad thai - this was sad. Honestly it tasted like the stuff you make out of the box from the asian section of the supermarket. -The chicken stir fry was tasty but once again nothing special. -The 2 very small pieces of cake (for 3 people mind you) were delish, the brown sugar cake was my fav. I wish they would have given us more. This was no deal for $30/person. It would have been cheaper to order the same items a la carte...yes I priced it out. So thank you Pod for charging me more for a mediocre so called dining "deal" when I'm trying to save money.
(2)Mihir P.
I thought that I had reviewed Pod many years ago but I do remember my experience there. I love the atmosphere but the super white decor needed some bleaching. I do appreciate the Kaiten-zushi belt so you can eat quickly but it also just looks so cool. My friend ordered the Pod Caesar salad which I thought was a lame attempt at "fusion" cuisine; wasabi in the Caesar dressing - I think not. I do recommend the potstickers and sushi.
(3)Rich D.
Just walked out of CHOP and was foraging for some lunch... And I found said lunch in a futuristic place called Pod that serves Asian fusion. Great lunch menu and I went with the Macadamia Nut Chicken served with a Soy / Kelp Miso and a Ginger Salad. Place was very cool and reminded me of the Milk Bar in A Clockwork Orange. All they need to complete it would be some nude spigots and a bit o' the Ludwig Van...
(4)Mary B.
I've heard a lot of great things about stephan starr restaurants and i was in town visiting family so we decided to come here. the decor here is so modern, chic, and hip!! i give this place 3 stars is because the food was okay. All the sushi rolls we had were good, but nothing really stood out to me. my family from philly seem to really enjoy it, but i guess my san diegan tastebuds doesn't agree as much.
(3)Noell M.
I have been coming to POD for about 8 years now. This was my first Stephen Starr restaurant and even after all this time it is still one of my favorites. My outlook of POD has changed over the years. At first I thought it was for "special occasion" dining and that you had to get all "fancied up" to go. Now I feel it is more casual and relaxed.....in fact, most of time when I go it is on a whim or a last minute change of plans. Like all of the Starr restaurants, POD really embraces its theme through its food and aesthetic. The theme of POD (at least what I think it is) is a super chill, futuristic, dining hall filled with color, music, and a cool quirkiness. The interior of the restaurant reminds me of a blank canvas. Add in the music and colored lighting (mentioned above) with the aroma of delectable food and POD is transformed into a cleverly crafted piece of artwork. Sushi, seafood, poultry, salads, and steaks are all represented on the Asian fusion menu. My favorite dishes are the Wasabi Crusted Fillet Mignon, the Macadamia Chicken Stir Fry, and the POD Caesar Salad ( which is large enough to split). For a drink I usually go with Pink- champagne, pineapple and cranberry juice. A great place to go for a few drinks (take a moment and sit on the funky red bar furniture), with a group, on a date or just to people watch! I highly recommend if you enjoy other Starr restaurants!
(4)David T.
I like this place a lot. The interiors are neat, the bar looks cool, and the constant anime (or daft punk videos) playing on the screen behind the sushi bar is awesome. Great place for a date if you don't mind the noise. Drinks-wise, the sake mojitos are bangin. Remember to ask for a double. As for the food, pretty much everything I've eaten here has been ridiculously tasty. My favorite by far is the duck two ways. Roasted duck breast cooked perfectly, accompanied by duck served in a bao bun? All about it. The sauce is great, too. Their special sushi rolls are creative and delicious; I love the shiro-aoi - spicy white tuna and avocado topped with hamachi and jalapeño. Other menu standouts include the braised beef short rib over udon noodles (meat is unbelievably tender), and the lettuce wraps. Definitely a good place to try if you're down with S. Starr and you like Asian fusion.
(4)Nicholas W.
What a cool place! The decor inside is like walking into a Miami nightclub; well what I imagine one would look like if I went. There are cool neon lights, all white decor, and really friendly hostesses and waitstaff. My wife and I stopped in without a reservation and were seated at the sushi bar, which we had no issues with. They have some interesting things on the menu, but nothing really strikes you as different or cutting-edge, just your typical sushi rolls and sashimi. The prices are also similar to other sushi restaurants, but maybe a little more....typically $12-$20 for specialty rolls. You really can't go wrong with anything on the menu, but don't be surprised if you aren't astounded by the flavors, because some of the rolls are lacking in that category.
(3)Aaron R.
This place is ok. Its trendy, and makes reasonable cocktails. The sushi is not good, and the noodle dishes are fine, but greasy and nothing special. A reasonable choice if you are in the area, but I wouldn't go out of my way to come here.
(3)I.E. C.
Wow. I was sufficiently underwhelmed with Pod. To start off, when we arrived they lost our reservation and apologized because their system had crashed. They sat us within 15 minutes or so, so we did not think it was a big deal. However, the service was excruciatingly slow. The Kobe skirt steak was good, but nothing special for $29. The portion was also extremely small. We ordered a variety of sushi rolls and all them fell apart because they were wrapped poorly. I would never go back to this place. It's definitely not a place you should go out of your way for. If I lived in University City, I could see it being fun to grab a drink with friends, but other than that, totally overhyped and overpriced.
(2)Jenni I.
If you have a group, request a "pod" when you make your reservation. The atmosphere is great without the addition of the exclusive seating -- but it sure adds to the fun. The food is always fresh and delicious. I definitely recommend the dessert sampler. It comes in fun little boxes, too. The cocktails here are really different, too. I highly recommend the Pink.
(5)Sonya S.
Really cool design/decor. Amazing cocktails & food... their sushi is very, very good.
(5)Sunia T.
I love this place. Great service with an amazingly trendy and classy atmosphere. Every time i come here, i order something different and am never disappointed. I love their wok charred items and how they pretty much have every meat and vegetable available wok charred. I really cannot rave enough about the atmosphere of this restaurant though, it is extremely sexy.
(5)Molly O.
The food tasted great and the service is nice but I'm pretty sure that they use MSG. I had the worst allergic reaction about a couple hours after dinner and MSG is what triggers it. Avoid eating here if you break out in hives and get a swollen tongue from MSG. I had the garlic shrimp with broccoli, and tried some of my coworker's crab fried rice. If you do have this allergy, make sure you don't have what I had!
(1)EricaLynn J.
The secret here is that there's better "asian fusion" food elsewhere in the city. There really is. But I urge you to visit Pod, for the ambiance alone. It's like nowhere you've ever been before. If you are lucky, you will get there at a time where you can actually sit in one of the pods. I will only say this about the pods: you can choose your own lighting, and there's 8 different colors to choose from... one of them being the most ridiculous orangey-pink ever. And it makes your food look completely different. I'm telling you, it's a scene. And even though there *is* better food out there, that does not mean that Pod doesn't come through. It does, and then some. It's *great* food. Just not *the best*. But you need to experience Pod. Also, Pod is extremely accommodating. I had a party of 15 that soon turned into a party of 25 for New Years Eve a few years ago. We didn't even make a reservation. We all just kind of sauntered in, with the expectation that we'd probably be turned away (we just had to try.) Not only did Pod accommodate us, but they handled our big crowd beautifully and we were tended to in a professional, friendly manner. On New Years Eve! Props to Pod. Good work.
(4)Marcus D.
I had high hopes for Pod. The decor is out of this world. Seriously. It was like walking into "2001: A Space Odyssey" or for you old school Disneyland fans, the Adventure Thru Inner Space. Yes, I totally just aged myself. Unfortunately, the super-cool interior was not matched by the food or the service. Our server was aloof and generally not interested in our dining experience. The food was mediocre, at best. We started with sushi, opting for a roll that they call "Double Impact." While it sounds truly bad-ass, it was nothing special. Sadly, this would be as good as the food got. For our main entree, we shared the sea bass and the wasabi-encrusted filet mignon. Blah, blah, blah. Cutting our losses, we skipped dessert and finished the meal with something we knew we could count on......drinks in the bar. The square foam chairs (you have to see them to understand) were a great place to enjoy the vibe and the unique decor of the restaurant. If the rating was based on decor and concept alone, I'd go 5-stars all the way. But, it is a restaurant, and the food just failed to live up to expectations. Thus, 3-stars is all I have to offer Pod.
(3)pauline l.
Over-rated for sure. The sushi and sashimi are wholly unremarkable. The servers aren't particularly good at service. I admit that on my most recent visit, I needed a "special" accommodation -- showed up for my lunchtime reservation for four with five in tow, but it wasn't so unreasonable that they could have just seated us at a bigger table. It wasn't that busy. But no, they squeezed us in a spot for four, and then reprimanded us for leaving stuff in the aisles -- we just didn't have the space to fit our legs, feet and backpack underneath our table. The Thai Chicken Salad is really gross... the flavors are really strong, but not in a good way. Just tastes like stale sesame or something. At some point in the fall, I had fallen in love with the sake mojito -- probably because I was drinking on a law firm's dime -- but this last time I went there it just tasted like drinking a glass of sugar. The experience/decor would be cooler, I guess, except I used to live in a part of the world where futuristic/mod-looking restaurant concepts just aren't that unusual. Oh and the airport themed bathrooms really suck.
(2)Fujiko D.
This place is so overrated. Every time someone thought it was a (very) special occasion at work, we would go to Pod. I would order something that I had never tried before. It would taste good, not memorable. I would look at all the chic white chairs and random neon glowing and be a little disappointed about modern fusion Asian whatever. I did go once with a sales rep after a business transaction, and he went to town with the chutoru sushi and shared. Yes, it was delicious, but duh. It better be at $18 a pair. It's like a kid bragging to his friends that he brought a hooker to the prom... The place is trying to hard. Not only that but it's giving out this faux vibe to get this message out that they are in, but I'm just not feeling it. Yes, I am capable of boiling a bowl of soybeans in their pods and adding salt. Thanks for marketing it as edamame and marking it up 10X over since it sounds Asian. I only went for work lunches. Maybe the too cool for school kids only came out for dinner? Maybe I'm just not into the whole concept of grouping a hodgepodge of "Asian" food and making it "modern." Sushi was sushi before this country existed. Three stars since I can't complain about the food or excellent service, but didn't really dig the vibe.
(3)Chris F.
Cool chairs, but not for sitting. So on a recent weeknight I drove out to University City with a recently-acquitted & bail-remitted friend to celebrate and I brought up this establishment. Always eager to try something Starr, we moseyed on in without reservations to grab a bite to eat. Big mistake, as there was some fundraiser being held that night and the place was packed. The only available seats were at the sushi bar, so we grabbed what looked to be Playskool barstools and put the meat in the seat. To be fair the rest of the restaurant had what looked to be relatively normal chairs and was decorated rather interestingly. I had never seen a sushi conveyor belt outside of television so I was eager to watch the interlocking metal plates ferry around different sushi concoctions right in front of the bar. After we put in our order my friend & I grabbed a couple sushi plates off the belt and had at it. As we were coming in just for dinner, we were not given a menu describing what each individual sushi entree was (Japanese roulette I suppose) even though we sat at the sushi bar. The plates, however, were easy to find the price of, as they were color coded to a menu solely listing prices. As the night was to be celebratory, I ordered the kobe beef cooked tableside on Japanese river rocks with ponzu and wasabi appetizer. Whilst cooking the fat/juices from the meat hit me more than a few times, which complemented the growing pain in my lower back from the kids furniture barstool. The kobe beef dish itself was okay, it seemed to be merely a presentation thing. Fifteen dollars should get you more than four slivers of beef, but I digress. My main entree wasn't very memorable, it was some fish special, and my friend wasn't too happy with his miso soup either. Between ye & me, I don't think he had the faintest idea what he was ordering. Next time I go I'm getting the Chilean Sea Bass for sure, as I've had it at Continental, and I'm skipping the beef on the rocks.
(3)Sonia S.
This is the second time I've dined at Pod. The food was even better than the first time. I took two out of town guests for dinner who love Japanese food and I thought they would like the atmosphere. Pod was a big hit with everyone. Staff was very accommodating and our waitress was very helpful answering our questions about the items on the menu.
(4)Candace C.
So I originally gave Pod a 2 star review because I think it is below average for the quality of food. But, let me qualify that, if Wharton/Penn Law/ [insert your favorite corporate account] is paying, then its actually a pretty good restaurant. ok granted free food is generally always (more) delicious but truthfully the food isn't all that bad. It is pricey and not the best value for Philadelphia dining, but certain items are actually pretty good! For example, the crab spring rolls are delicate and savory, a real treat, but for $16 (or $14), I can eat better food in philly. Also, who pays that much for salted edamame beans? I had the lunch sushi combo which was very average sushi and not that expensive because it was on the lunch menu. The appetizers are much more creative and inventive. If I wasn't paying, I'd give Pod a solid 3.5 stars. But since recruiting season is over (just kidding!), Pod isn't a place I'll likely come back to. I'd rather save my money and try out buddakhan, sampan, or morimotos
(3)Z J.
DO NOT GO TO "ALL YOU CAN EAT SUSHI" WEEK I'm currently at my table in pod, suffering through their awful attempt at all you can eat sushi. We were seated at our reservation time, 9pm, and we have spent about ten minutes eating our first plates of sushi, and 2.5hours waiting while the restaurant grinds to a stop. It is completely packed, and totally unprepared for this. People have been waiting hours with nothing, and although some are being comped appetizers by an obviously nervous and overwhelmed staff, the general mood is tense and aggravated. The small amount of sushi that actually made it to our table was good, and the staff is doing well considering, especially our waitress - but the whole situation is a mess and has alienated us and I imagine most of the other patrons. (Table next to us is discussing walking out right now) They are not equipped for this. What probably started at some pr guy's desk as a way to drum up mid week business has ended up as a huge disaster. As I'm typing this people have left, walked out, and turned away round three of free appetizers in disgust
(1)Ed C.
$18 for a Manhattan? They were good, but really, $14 would have felt pricey and almost justified, but $18 is just insulting. I will not be going back.
(1)Chrissy R.
Despite the fact that the prices here are a little out of my range, I love going to Pod for drinks. I've never had the food, so I can't speak on it, but I've heard from a friend that it's not bad. My favorite thing about this place, obviously, is the atmosphere. My friends and I love to hang out on those gaudy red plastic block things they have in the bar area and just chill while we have our drinks. The lighting in this place is obviously the main attraction -- everything lights up! You can change the lighting colors if you're sitting in one of the booths eating, there are circle lights all over the ceilings and floors, and the little tiny table/chair combos in the bar area light up when you sit on them [great for hours of giggles when you're further into the drinks]. It's bright and fun without being overwhelming, which, IMO, is difficult to do. The service here is pretty good, too. I've never had to wait long for a drink, and the bartenders are *always* really nice and fun and flirty [both guys and girls]. The drinks are SO much fun, too. They have a lot of specialty "girly" drinks, and while I'm usually a whiskey and coke kinda girl, I can't stay away from their pom-tinis. The special drinks are good to try out at least once, just to say you did. :)
(4)Serge B.
If you review this place, you have to do it independently of the horrible attitude that the PENN kids bring to the (futuristic) table. There's no need to get up to the bar and start shooting scotch to impress some girls [end rant]. Now for the restaurant itself: the sushi's decent but not great and consistency varies depending on how busy they are (they're always busy). I will say that the spicy bloody mary is a bold and inspired choice of a drink and that the bartenders are friendly even when surrounded by a terrible crowd. A bit better food and a lot more crowd control and this place can add a star or two.
(3)Tiffany F.
Mocktails anyone?
(4)Shannon N.
This was one of my favorite places when I was living back in the Philadelphia area (2003-5). It was in University City so it was not so close to the usual party area of Old City (which could be a good/bad thing, take your pick) so the crowd was more of the Penn/Drexel students and some other urbanites who were willing to venture to this part of town. The front lounge part was always crowded, and I was a huge fan of the sit-down/light-up white short stools that lined that front section (Fatty that I am, I even broke one once; I had pulled the plug out of the socket by accident-sorry). I even had a birthday here and the 7 of us girls piled into the 1st pod on the left side and irritated fellow patrons by constantly pushing the 9 colored light pad. The macadamia chicken stir fry was a hit as always, and their version of caesar salad was pretty enjoyable also. Pod was also the first place I ever tried edamame. This was on a Tuesday so it wasn't too hard to obtain one of those dining pods, but we had a fun time and the staff was really pleasant also. I would return when in the area, hoping not much has changed.
(4)G D.
Loved the experience. The ambience is just great with a very trendy contemporary feel to it. If you are a party with 6 or more you can sit in one of the pods which is sort of a private area but still feel like you are in the middle of the restaurant. I enjoyed the sushi, especially the lobster roll.The crab fried rice that we ordered was delicious. Overall a good experience and would definitely like to go again.
(4)Jean C.
I wish I could give them 3 1/2 stars because although I enjoyed my dinner, I'm not sure I'm an all out fan as of yet. The decor is cool, very 60's mod style. I like the "pod rooms" except for the one that's at the front of the restaurant. The bathrooms are pretty cool: there are individual stalls that show a green or red light depending on occupancy. I started with a carrot ginger martini that was quite the tasty juice cocktail, without any alcohol. Very weak. The meals are family style, so my friend and I ordered the pork shumai with white soy dipping sauce, crab fried rice, szechuan lamb chops with shanghai noodles, and the Chilean Sea Bass with Japanese sweet potatoes. The meal was really good, with plenty of crab fried rice left over. The nitpick was that the lamb chop was a little over cooked, but still tasty. The sea bass was well cooked, very flaky and great tasting. The shumai was awesome, with just a little kick at the end: great texture and very tasty. The crab fried rice was good, there was actually quite a bit of crab in the dish! Our server was really good, personable and attentive rounding out a very good dining experience.
(4)Caroline C.
As others have reported: the all you can eat sushi experience is a shit show. We arrived for our 9:30 reservation and were told it might be 20 minutes before we were seated. So, right there, you get off to a bad start. After about 30 minutes we were suddenly told that we couldn't stand where we were standing and ushered to another area. Another ten minutes passed before we were seated. It was, at one point, suggested that we buy drinks to pass the time. One key way to keep hungry, hungry people from being in foul moods when made to wait? Comp them a stinkin' beverage, don't suggest that they happily endure your unpreparedness Eventually we were seated. And our waiter promptly asked us what we wanted to drink and took our order, but the fact that one of our party was allergic to shrimp threw a new wrench into the works. While, having had limited food service experience, I understand that this sort of 'all you can eat' deal necessarily leads to a frenzied environment, it truly seems like they could have prepared for the possibility that someone with an allergy might want to participate. They hadn't...and originally told my friend that they could not guarantee that any sushi wasn't contaminated, but that she was free to order off the kitchen menu, which was, you know, not what she came and waited 40 minutes to do. The situation was positively resolved, but it wasn't without a fair amount of tension and stress. The sushi itself was fine considering the strain all the sushi chefs were under (you don't go to an all you can eat sushi experience expecting the most perfectly rolled maki of your life). I don't want to sound too grumpy, I do understand that this restuarant probably functions much better under normal circumstances...but the fact that we weren't comped a roll or drink after a 40 minute wait and a 10 minute period in which one of our party might not have been able to eat without risking her life is, well, really annoying. (All that said: our waiter was great and management did the best they could, I'm sure) The end.
(2)michelle r.
Went there last Sunday. It was incredible. Nick our server at the bar area was very informative about the drinks. Drinks were incredible. I love it here. Can't complain about anything. If you havent been here I would check it out.
(5)Rose N.
I worked here for a year. Although I ate a lot of their food all the time, I still loved it and craved for it. I thought everything on their menu was great, excluding a few items. The atmosphere is very hip, fun and futuristic. It got extremely busy on the weekends so you must make reservations; and don't be so picky with the seating. The window pods are so crammed. Hmmm... where should I start? Sushi here is awesome; made by some of the best sushi chefs around. I love the sushi bar with the rotating conveyor belt, it so much fun sitting there. House salad- has a great ginger soy dressing. Lettuce wraps- great! Tonkatsu sandwich- ehhh. Short-ribs- so tender. Duck duck soup- delicious. Grilled kobe skirt steak- packed with flavor. Chilean sea bass- light and buttery. Pad thai- one of the best. Crab fried rice- everyone loves it here. Drinks and cocktails are also fabulous here.
(4)Robyn H.
Finally got a chance to go to Pod. My bf has been there before, and didn't particularly like it, hence.... I haven't gone, since he's basically my "eating out" partner. Tonight, I insisted we try it. It was ok. We both agreed that we're tired of restaurants that LOOK LIKE Pod. We've been to so many of them, and after a while they all morph into one and the same and become a blur. Most of these restaurants rely too much on the decor and then don't deliver when it comes to good food. Pod was ok in that department. I ordered Spicy Tuna Rolls and Seared Scallop Ramen. Both were good, albeit. a little spicy!! He ordered Szechuan Lamb Chops, and said they were delicious. For dessert, we had the Butterscotch cake with herbal tea..... good as well. Overall, I'd have to say Pod was just so-so. Kind of expensive, in my opinion, for what I had. (Really just Oodles of Noodles with Scallops!) LOL Well, if nothing else, I finally get to cross Pod off of my list of places to try.
(3)Megan T.
I LOVE Pod. One of my favorite things about Pod is that it is what you want it to be. If you're with your family, it's a family place. But if you're with friends for a cocktail, it's a trendy bar. The menu is is as large as the portions! The set up is ultra modern, most of which you can see from Samsom Street looking down. The prices aren't all that bad considering it's upscale ambiance. My one complaint is that there are few healthy options (I'm a big fan of large salads). I highly suggest getting a big group together, and you'll get one of their exciting "pods" where you can control the color, and most significantly, you'll feel important.
(3)Ney-ney L.
Very bad hostess skills/costumer service! My friends and I had 8:30pm reservations on a Tuesday for dining days/restaurant week, which also happens to be their all you can eat sushi night. Despite arriving at 8:15pm, we did NOT get seated until 9:15pm!!!! I checked in with the hostess THREE TIMES and every time she asked for my name! Her excuse: "we're really busy!" Seriously?? Here's a thought-if you do NOT have the table to HONOR a RESERVATION...DON'T ACCEPT THE RESERVATION!!! When our table was finally ready the hostess approached the two guys behind us and said my name. They replied, "that's not us." She responded, "That's OK, follow me." I stepped in to say that she was looking for me. We were then placed at a table for five people because the hostess thought we were a party of five even though the reservation CLEARLY said for THREE. Once seated, my friends and I opted for the $30 set meal for the dining/days: choice of one appetizer, one entree, one dessert per person. Our waitress informed us that because we were three people we were only allowed to chose two appetizers and two entrees but we still had to pay $30/person. ??? Basically they wanted to cheat us out of one appetizer and one entree. We complained (felt more like begging) to have what the menu was advertised for and got our wish. I feel that if I waited 45-60min for a table WITH a reservation, that just bad business. Don't insult me by trying to get away with cheating me out of two dishes! Especially after you didn't honor my reservation! Aside from that, the food was good but not worth all that hassle. My advice: if you insist on dinning here...don't waste your time with a reservation and avoid going there when they have specials. Apparently management cannot handle "busy" times or honor reservations; nor can they honor their advertised specials without kicking up a fuss!
(2)Michelle G.
I honestly wish that I could give this place negative stars. That's how much I dislike Pod. My boyfriend and I went there for our friend's birthday, she had made a reservation for 4 and we expected to be seated as soon as possible. We walked a couple blocks from where we parked our cars and saw that the place was jammed packed and figured "eh, okay we have to wait. Big deal." Well an hour and a half went by, and the hostess finally came back to us and apologized because she "forgot" about us. She rushed us to our seats (we were seated near the rotary) and we received a complimentary appetizer. I forgot what it was, but it was something small and not very flavorful. Anyway, we all ordered our food and to be honest with you I don't remember what we ordered... this has to have been almost two years ago. I remember that our food took forever to come out. I think I had wasabi crusted something, but all I remember is that my food was DRY, my boyfriend's food was TINY (one bite and he was done.. no joke), my friends food was undercooked, and her boyfriend's food was soggy. We figured that it took us an hour and a half to be seated, it would probably take two hours for our food to be recooked. We just paid our enormous bill (for less than mediocre food) just to be done with everything. Even to this day I am STILL disgusted. Needless to say, I haven't been back since, if you want sushi go to Sushi Land in Bryn Mawr. The food is cheaper and tastes better, plus you won't have to wait over an hour to be seated :)
(1)Enjella L.
A festival of lights~! As you've read with the other reviews - you will fall in love with the decor. Futuristic, Miami-esque, like a MAC Computer, Modern, etc etc. It is all of that. I do think it is a little ill placed - I would much rather enjoy Pod if it was in Center City or Olde City but come to think of it..as I'm writing this I realize that if Pod was situated elsewhere - it might not pull off the same vibe b/c of its customers? Anyways, I love this restaurant. It's fun, trendy (for Philly), & sassy. The food is good, but the sea bass was way too watery & sweet. I haven't tried their sushi here - but I have tried their appetizers, entrees, drinks (stiff from what I recall) & dessert. The dessert is why I made additional trips back - with dates, with family, any chance I could get. I'm not sure if they still have it but if they do - order the 3 tier fondue dessert. Mini Cookies, cakes, chocolates, hello~! So for kicks & yelp - I visited the restaurant's website to see if they still had this dessert - well I guess they call it Pod Sweet 18 now. Not sure how much they price it now but back in 2002-2004 - it was $12. I didn't like their bathroom - the stalls are too small. This place is good for groups of friends to hang out or to go on a date. Not so much for a family meal.
(4)J M.
Pod is finally on its way back up after years of phoning it in. New sushi chef and revised menu are big help. Had the robata items and sea bass, both excellent. Prices are still high for the portions. The ambiance and decor still seem cool (when the place is full), even after all these years.
(4)Rob R.
If I were to rate this place purely on the type of customers it attracts (besides me, of course), it would get 1-star. The unfortunate reality of being an upscale "japanese" restaurant near the University of Pennsylvania seems to attract the worst kind of people. You know, those that valet park their Lexus, but don't tip their coat room attendants. Okay, moving on to more important things... the food here is great. Another Starr restaurant done right. The interior is reminiscent of an Apple store and the music makes you think you're walking into a trend New York nightclub. Wait, I thought I was moving on to more important things... The menu is filled with "new" and "exotic" offerings. Although my weapon of choice is the conveyor belt sushi bar. For $2-5 a plate, you can pick the sushi you want, when you want it. The sushi chefs work diligently behind the bar to whip up your favorites (and they even take special orders). Overall, if you're looking to impress your new Penn undergrad hottie GF, this is the place to bring her to. The food is decent, but you'll pay for it. The atmosphere will put you both in a place where you can really enjoy each other's company. If you're into a more modest sushi experience, I would recommend Misu (locations in Old City and Universtiy City).
(3)Alyssa M.
I really enjoy Pod's sushi. I've been there twice, and in my opinion, it tops the list for the freshest and tastiest sushi I've ever had. I've also tried the Crab Pad Thai (usually comes with shrimp but you can request crab)...it was OK, nothing to rave home about but they give you a lot! You can definitely share their noodle entrees. But oh...that sushi is so good. I could eat their spicy tuna all day :-). Sitting at the sushi bar is cool because you can view and try a variety of sushi on the conveyor belt. If you don't want to sit at the sushi bar, make sure you make a reservation. The 'All You Can Eat Sushi' is a good deal if you can throw back a lot of raw fish---just make sure you read ALL the rules. All and All....Good Sushi, Cool Atmosphere, Give it a try :-)
(4)Kim C.
Went on a Saturday night with friends. Turns out they have specials on Saturday nights, and on the evening I went, the special was a $35 13-piece tuna/toro platter. $35 for a plate that includes 7 pieces of toro? A STEAL. It was super tasty--fresh, clean, yum. The other stuff we tried included: -wild mushroom fried rice (yum) -ramen (meh) -crab fried rice (yum) -spicy tuna rolls (no surprises here) -other assorted specialty rolls (average.) But the four stars is for the special... will definitely have to make a trip back on a weekend, because apparently they don't offer weekday menu additions.
(4)J. Christopher E.
Been here several times. Food always very good and probably my favorite Starr restaurant (some Starr restaurants I hate!). Best to make a reservation or you'll get stuck at the more sucky instead of the more better tables. If you can't get a good table, better to sit at the sushi bar where you can also order from the regular menu. Can't think of anything I don't like to eat here - all good.
(4)Yong H.
This place is epic fail! Tries way too cool to look trendy but ends up hella lame. For groups, there's these illuminated rooms with neon lights and windows so the entire restaurant can stare you while they eat and make comments about how ridiculous the whole thing is. As for the food, its not that great either. I suppose I shouldn't expect much from a "fusion" restaurant but the sushi here not only costs 3x as much but tastes 3x worse than sushi you get elsewhere. The stirfrys and such tasted abit too salty with not much asian flavoring at all. We also got this udon dish pork dish, which literally tasted like boiled salted udons dipped in oil and a chunk of roast pork(although it was tender). Also, the busboys here are like sharks, relentlessly coming to your table to ask if you're done with a plate, even if theres still food left. We literally got asked 3 times in a span of 10 minutes if we were done with our sushi plate that still had 4 pieces of sushi on it. I'd be more understanding if it was busy and they were trying to accomodate the people waiting but the place was half empty! Will not recommend this place, except to people that piss me off
(2)Meghann p.
I went on a date a few weeks ago and from the last time i was there the sushi was a lot better...we ordered lots of appetizers and drinks with each appetizer group. I think the drink prices are way over priced for what you get. Service was good for the meal.
(4)Young P.
Sushi is to die for here. As soon as it hit my mouth, the fish just melted and the only explanation is that it was FRESH not frozen like most b-listed sushi shacks around the area. The other fusioned entrees have an interesting asian twist ie, wasabi mashed po's and etc... all worth giving a try. This was my second time here and I've enjoyed the food both times but my 2 grievances from each visit: The first visit: we went while it was still light outside and I could see the dinginess of the tables and decor (this is not a problem in the dark with all the cool neon lights) The second visit: Supposedly a frequent visitor @ POD who actually looked more like a homeless man was harassing us through the peephole in our booth asking us questions like, "Are you oriental?" We mentioned our concern to the hostess who simply brushed it off saying he was "harmless". Way to ruin our $300 dining experience oh hostess...
(4)Michael B.
Pod is a fun restaurant with great food, decent service, and a trendy atmosphere. It is located in University City, which is a fun area of Philadelphia. If your in the mood for a little bit of sushi, a little bit of Asian fusion, or both, this is the place for you. It is not cheap, but again, worth the price for fun/special occasions.
(4)Stephanie L.
My favorite sushi place in the city. My boyfriend and I have become regulars here and come about once or twice a month when we want good and fresh sushi ! Not only is there sushi great but their entrees are also just as good. Definately recommend for a date night or to Come with friends for a night out ! Service has always been very friendly too :-)
(5)Jessica G.
Asian Fusion Food. That is what they call it. I do not, however, know what they are "fusing" it with. It's pretty much just asian food, some of which is deconstructed... maybe they call it asian fusion because non-asian people are making it? Because that's the feeling I get. I am impressed by the uber-cool, artsy presentation of the food, but not its content or flavor. None of the ingredients used here are much higher quality than at most restaurants. It is all the same-old, but at a higher price and with a fancy presentation. Speaking of fancy presentation, the inside decor.. it is the trendiest thing I've ever seen. It is like disgustingly trendy. To give you an idea, the character Tom Haverford of the show Parks & Rec would love this place. He would love it when the attractive, snobbish hostesses turn up their noses and behave rudely to everyone with the misfortune of inspiring their disdain. I do not. We have, mostly, had good service from the wait-staff and that's worth mentioning. But also worth mentioning is that there have been times that they have been incredibly rude. And yes, I can see why this place is popular and often packed.. and I can assure you that it is not because of the quality, taste, or price of their food. If you're really a fan of asian food, you could do so much better. If you are a fan of very hip, very trendy decor & artistic food presentation, then you could go to Buddakan instead.
(2)Patrick C.
Sort of like any other Stephen Starr restaurant. Heavy on concept, cool decor, ok food. What sets Pod apart from every other restaurant that I have ever been to, however, is the fact that they are very bad at accommodating guests with seafood allergies. I asked the waitress if there was any shellfish in the dish I ordered, (specifically saying "crab" and "lobster") she said no, and I ended up eating a few pieces of sushi that I now realize were heavy on the king crab legs. I'm not deathly allergic, but I did spend the rest of the night scratching insatiable itches on the toilet. And what really seals my one-star rating is the fact that the manager was downright rude to me when I stopped by the next day to civilly complain about my experience. I've generally found Stephen Starr restaurants to be underwhelming, but this experience was positively painful.
(1)Teddy M.
High Class Restaurant with High Class Service. Too bad the food wasn't as good as I expected. My first time I went there, I thought I should try many different kinds of food from the menu and I ordered this appetizer called "Kobe Beef" for $18. I said to myself, that should be a damn good appetizer. So I ordered that and others I couldn't remember the names. Guess what? For Kobe Beef...a server walked out with this stone stove and 3 slice of beef uncooked. He brought it to the table and asked us, how do you like your meat? Confuddled, I said, medium cooked. Confuddled because I thought it would be a fair price for a plate of beef or something, not literally 3 sliced beef that cost $18. I know it's a high class restaurant but I'm not spending $18 for 3 sliced beef that I could get from any grocery store and cook it myself. Other than that, the environment was nice and the sushi was good.
(3)Georgianne V.
Went last night to Pod with some friends. The style of the place of the place is fun and for me that is part of the experience. I found the entrance when you first arrive a bit awkward and it seems awkward for the staff that work there, so that was strange. We had some starters and I really loved the flavor of everything, especially the tempura rock shrimp. For my dinner I had the Soy/Ginger Chicken. The presentation was very nice and the sauce really made the dish. My only issue was the chicken was a bit more undercooked than I like, just a bit pink in the center. The crab rice was delicious and I could have a made meal just out of that. For desert my husband and I shared the fluffernutter spring rolls which were both yummy and fun!! We had a fantastic waiter who was very attentive and to my amazement, no matter how much we ordered at one time, he never wrote anything down! :o) Although we had fun and I enjoyed the funky decor and food, I probably would not be in a rush to go back. To me it's a place that once you see it, you move on. I'm sure it's a fun hang out for the students who live near by but I wonder how they afford it, as everything was pretty expensive!
(3)lyndsey F.
Impromptu dinner with the hubs last night. After a nice (albeit crowded) skate around the rink at Penn, we decided to head to Pod. Johnny had never been and I hadn't been since the days of spending Sallie Maes money on things like expensive sushi and chanel makeup. We got there around 7 and were seated immeadiately. I understand that the Penn kids aren't back yet, but for a pretty hip restaurant on a Saturday night it was pretty swift service. The hostesses were fairly cold, but I'm pretty sure that they are trained to be that way. It is Starr after all, they all have their schichts. Our waiter was friendly and aside from the incredibly large diamond in his ear (which to me was really annoying) gave us good suggestions for drinks. I got the yellow martini, which was something like yuzu, passionfruit, and grapefruit. It was really sweet, but it had a great flavor (and it was good for cooling my mouth off after a huge bite of jalapeno seeds, more to come...) and hubs got the Samauri Jack which was honey, mint and raspberries I think. They even substituted J&B for the Jack Daniels that they usually serve! The hubs has a rather severe aversion to Jack Daniels for some reason, but loved the cocktail with J&B instead. To eat we splurged a little and got the MAKIMAKIMAKI which is comprised of 60 pieces of assorted maki. It has the yellowtail jalapeno, which was delicious aside from one piece that made my mouth burn so much that I had to down my entire martini to salvage my tastebuds. Also: crispy spicy tuna (yum!), eel & avo (yum), salmon & cream cheese (not my fave, but still good), some veggie rolls and a rainbow roll on top which was fab. Also, they have the most delicious soy sauce in the entire city. I just love it. I would say that all in all we had a really great time, but then again sometimes it depends on the company you keep as well. xo
(4)Paige N.
My sushi was absolutely fantastic! However, I'm not sure people come here for the food. The decor was both cool and distracting. Considering you are eating raw fish, I can't imagine eating in one of the "pods" as they are colored with LED's in blue, purple etc. Loved the Godzilla movies playing on the multiple tv's though...all in all a great exprience.
(4)Melmoth K.
Reviewing Pod is like writing a review for the movie "2001: A Space Odyssey": theoretically, yeah, OK, I guess I have no real reason to argue with you if you say that this is what life will be like in the future, but I'm not all that sure I want to deal with it all at once, tonight, while I'm just out to try to enjoy myself and make with the chit-chat over dinner. First off, it turns out everyone will have bad hearing in the future and therefore need to yell at the top of their lungs while eating. Second, Pod seems to have predicted how inflation will devalue the dollar by 2050 and priced things accordingly. So while Pod might deserve big ups for what it does today, you might not be in the mood for it just now...or maybe next week either...or maybe...ever? But if their service (wow!) and food (tasty bits!) are any indication of what the future is like, may we all live long and prosper. Hopefully by then we'll be accustomed to the yelling, the technicolor backlights, and the price of sushi.
(3)Lona W.
This place was pretty good. I came here with a group of friends of 9-10 people for my friend's birthday and the prices were very fair. Our bill didn't come out to be much! It was a little under $200 for 9-10 people! The sushi was pretty good, although it is a Stephen Starr restaurant. But the interior design and ambiance was very nice.
(3)Ian R.
I went here for dinner tonight with my friend Riley. I had been here once before, so I kind of knew what to expect. It's a super trendy, miami-esque atmosphere. It's very futuristic and overall it just has a neat look. The appearance is one of my favorite things about this restaurant. Now, let's get to the food. There are two kitchens, a sushi based one and non-sushi based one. Any dish from each of the kitchens are GREAT. Tonight, we had the TNT roll, the Spicy Yellowtail roll and a bowl of edamame. The portions they give you are a good size-- we couldn't even finish the bowl of edamame. Each sushi roll came with 8 pieces. The quality of the sushi was outstanding. Everything was extremely fresh and delicious. In addition to our meals, we also had a couple of drinks. The first was called the Rising Sun. It had great flavor, it was like a mix of lemon and berries. Then we had long island iced teas-- which are not on the menu. We asked our server if they had them and he was more than happy to tell us that the bar could accommodate us if we wanted them. We ordered them and they were excellent! A little strong, but that's expected with long islands. Overall, I will be returning to Pod, one of Philadelphia's hippest restaurants. One plus I forgot to mention: It's extemely easy to find cheap street parking here because of it's location in UCity.
(5)Jennifer D.
If you're looking for great sushi this is not the place for you. If you're looking for ambiance and excellent service this place is great. Although it is called Pods there are only two actual pods (both looked like they were for parties of 4 or more). Service was excellent and extremely attentive. The food however was mediocre. Our Philly friends told us this was some celeb chefs restaurant but honestly we've had better sushi in suburban NJ. On a side note their mixed drinks were great!
(3)Tom M.
Attention vegans! The tofu lettuce wrap with peanut sauce and the Vegan Stephen. You'll be thrilled you did! Pod is such a great place for a sit-down meal in West Philly. I have been going there for ten years now. I am so happy they have two great vegan dishes for me to enjoy!
(5)Gabby S.
Love everything about this place ! The vibe inside , the way it is set up . The pod room , rock shrimp , wasabi steak , crab rice , and of course the sushi :)
(5)Emily G.
Too "chic" and trendy for my taste. I'm definitely more interested in a more classic atmosphere. For a trendy place though, it was fun. The atmosphere was very futuristic, and the staff was helpful.
(3)Ilana R.
Had not been here in years and probably will not come back. Good and level of ambiance and servers has changed and not for the best. It used to be one of my favorite places to get amazing sushi and drinks. Now it was just mediocre and very expensive. Loud with too many young students creating a club like scene rather than a restaurant. Should just be converted into a great hip lounge serving interesting Japanese dishes.
(3)Britt S.
I was at a conference at Wharton and stopped by Pod looking for some good sushi. I found the entire experience a bit perplexing. The vibe and decor leaned so far towards modern lounge-y that it shocked me upon walking in. Should I have dressed up for this? Did I accidentally stroll into a nightclub in my search for dinner? Loud music. Friendly servers. Average food. Pricey for what you're getting. Nothing to write home about. That is, unless you're into ultra sleek white spaceship-looking furniture.
(2)S P.
Pan-asian cuisine with excellent wait staff and service. Sushi is great. Expect to pay above average for this establishment.
(5)Karen M.
The sea bass with miso glaze is phenomenal! We love the edamame with Dead Sea salt. The rainbow roll is delicious. The decor is beautiful, with circular pods for groups. Love the conveyor belt which displays sushi you can grab as it comes around. Beautiful place.
(5)Giavanna G.
My boyfriend and I went there for Valentines Day.The decor was beautiful as usual.It was my first time back in 4 years and it was just as delish.I would have gave it five stars but the sushi rolls were lacking in size for such a high price.The food is really amazing,it's a shame because you have to order a lot of food in order to get full.My boyfriend had the ramen and it was a great portion and really good.Also stay for dessert because everything is great.The drinks are also a bit over priced so I recommend bringing a bottle before hand.It is definitely a cool spot to go to at least once!
(4)Kristin N.
Finally got around to eating here, after working in its proverbial backyard for years. The decor is futuristic and fun; the bathrooms are reminiscent of airplane's. But you aren't reading this for a bathroom review, so on to the food. We came for lunch with a party of 8...the place was packed! We started with dumplings, edamame and tempura, all of which we inhaled. My sushi loving co-workers enjoyed their selections. 3 of us got sea bass bento boxes, which were delish. I had a white peach/mint soda....could have inhaled 3 of those suckers. The prices are somewhat high for lunch, but I wasn't paying ;o) Our service was slow and kind of spotty. All in all, a very nice respite from the workplace grind!
(4)Toni B.
Super posh and trendy. I love the rock shrimp appetizer and the dessert tiers. Oh, and their fried rice is awesome too! Pricey, not going to lie, but definitely worth the splurge in my book! Pods are cool, but the color changing sometimes makes me sick, lol. I always stick to one color. Fun for groups and one-on-one.
(4)Ying Z.
A bit run down and dirty with expensive, mediocre food. Will probably not return any time soon
(2)Brad H.
I came here for a birthday lunch with one of my good friends. The company was great, and our servers were really nice and helpful, but I was pretty underwhelmed with everything else about this restaurant. The atmosphere was tacky, the food was mediocre, and the prices were ridiculous. ATMOSPHERE: You walk into pod and feel like you are stepping onto the set of a low-budget movie set in the future on a distant galaxy. Based on the pictures that other yelpers have posted, it looks like this place may look a little better at night, but during the day it looked pretty silly. My friend and I were seated in what can only be described as a window sill. The table was extremely small and we had no elbow room. A piece of my sushi fell off of the table at one point because it was so cramped. EDAMAME: The edamame was fine here and I think edamame is pretty hard to mess up but the only portion that they offer is for $7 and comes with way too much. It would have been enough edamame for 4 or 5 people but is almost impossible to eat with just two of us. It felt like very little thought was put into the portion size. There should have been a $3 option with less than half of the food. PENN ROLL: This was basically a regular spicy tuna roll that had a lot of rice and was $10. Very bad value and mediocre taste. Too much rice. OVERALL: I personally found very little redeeming about this place other than the service (everyone I met in there was very very nice). But service alone isn't enough for me to even give this place 3 stars. I would personally skip this place unless you really want something close to the UPenn campus. There are much better sushi options elsewhere.
(2)Carlo J.
Good food! Great Service! Parking was valet, the wagyu beef appetizer was amazing(Pricey but its worth it.) sushi was alright, could have been better. But overall dinner was good!
(4)Lea T.
Love the unique sushi rolls featured here as well as the rotating band around the sushi bar. Menu features some larger dishes but also many small plate options ideal for large groups and sharing. Kobe fried rice is my favorite as well as the Kobe steak cooked tableside on a hot rock. Great atmosphere inside, ideal for a night out or first date
(4)lena n.
Okay I came back to Pod for the food because it was delicious, however this time, I was sort of disappointed. First, we wanted to rsvp the "pod rooms" however, everybody was told different stories when me and my friends tried to book it. We got - the pod rooms are not rsvp, it is first come first serve,....then somebody got - it is $700 to rsvp....so it just got us all confused. So we said forget the room we just want a table - nope couldn't do that either. Soo we said just go and just sit near the bar where there was seating for waiting but we were not guaranteed seatings for our party of 10, which was fine to us. Therefore, we sat near the bar and ordered our food there. There are no tables there, so we basically had the food on our laps eating it, which still did not bothered us because we basically agreed to go even though we were not guareenteed seating. Now this was all for a surprised bday party in which we bought our own cake because this is her fave type of cake, and here comes the BAD PART - they charge $3 per person if you bring in outside cakes. dun dun dun....how STUPID. ARE YOU KIDDING ME?! who the hell does that!?!? First off, people have different liking to cakes and who in the world does not bring a cake to a restaurant for their friends BIRTHDAY!?!?! That just pissed us all off NOW. So at this time we said eff it, lets just pay and go. Sat there in their waiting section for 2 hours, ate, wasnt able to eat the cake, and left. I thought was RIDICULOUS. OH ANOTHER BAD THING - we were charge gratuity on our checks for 20%!!! Can you tell me why they would do that if we are not even sitting at a table?!! I would have done the mininum which is 18% because we didnt get a full service dining experience. I'm sorry, i'm not a cheap tipper but that really pissed me off even more. I would like to tip what I want to tip, not what you tell me to. Oh and one more thing - they changed how they put the calamari salad which is my fave dish there - they took out the calamari and left it separate from the salad which is pretty stupid because then it wouldnt be called the calamari salad now!!! Sorry I dont think I'll be back for awhile.
(2)Rob V.
I really wanted to like Pod.. I really, really did. It was highly recommended by our server at Continental Mid-town and we were intrigued by it from several visits to Mad Mex next door. I knew that the Borgata's Chef Michael Shulson, who now owns Izakaya, used to work here and has quite the pedigree. The menu of Pan-Asian fusion cooking, of which I am usually a fan, looked delicious and intriguing. I had no idea that Pod had been around for more than ten years, as it looks brand new from the outside. Unfortunately for us, like Cirque du Soleil's 'Dralion' that we saw earlier that day, we left sorely disappointed. I'm getting ahead of myself here though..... I wasn't sure what to think of the ultra-modern, multi-colored, almost futuristic look of the bar and dining room. Quite honestly, while I was intrigued from afar, once inside I was kind of put off by the whole concept. Then, inexplicably, the place grew on me. It reminded me of a sophisticated, underground spaceship dining room.. chock full of odd, off kilter furniture and big party booths with buttons that allow the guests to change the ambient lighting and smaller "pod" booths carved into the wall; not to mention a CONVEYOR BELT of endless sushi at the sushi bar! I think the same reasons I generally enjoy Stephen Starr's restaurants are the same ones for which other's don't.. the ultra-modern dining rooms, the young, boisterous crowds, the forward thinking cuisine.. I really 'get' it and just think some others do not. That being said, the food here fell flat. Flat on it's face. This was one case where style certainly didn't equal substance. I honestly didn't remember what entrée or appetizer I ordered and had to text my lovely girlfriend for a lot of the details of this review. We boxed up almost the entire Pad Thai to bring home with us and I felt utterly disappointed about the experience. But let's back up a bit and discuss our meal. We entered and were seated immediately in the dining room at a table for two.. no wait. The restaurant was rather quiet, but it was a bitter cold night in late February. I recall them having some special 'mock' tails and we both really enjoyed our 'Vanilla & Ginger Soda' or whatever they were at the time. Unfortunately, at the time I am writing this review, they are apparently no longer on the menu. Our server was quite knowledgeable and made some recommendations as far as appetizers. We started off with the Crab Spring Rolls with sweet chili dipping sauce and Dim Sum Pork Dumplings with white soy dipping sauce. Both entrees were poorly executed and lacking in flavor, especially the Crab Spring Rolls. The only thing that made the Spring Rolls edible was the sweet chili dipping sauce. Yuck. The Dim Sum Pork Dumplings were only slightly better, and again, enhanced only by an overly salty dipping sauce. Very disappointed with our appetizers we pulled back on our ordering, whereas we normally would have splurged. We decided to share the Shrimp Pad Thai Noodles with red chili, peanuts, and mixed vegetables. The dish came out cool instead of piping hot, and the noodles were poorly and unevenly cooked. After only a few bites, I believe an overly aggressive busboy came to remove the plate and box up our entrée. Speaking of the busboys.. man alive! They are like vultures circling your table relentlessly asking if you're done with your dish, even when there is still food left on the plate! It happened to us not only with both appetizers, but with our entrée as well! It made for a very uncomfortable and rushed meal.. one in which I am in no hurry to return to. I'd like to say I'd be a little more tolerant of this behavior if it was a Friday night and the place had a two-plus hour wait, but as it was, it was a freezing cold night in the middle of February and the place was nearly deserted! Let us enjoy our meal for crying out loud! This is the first meal in a really, really long time that I was disappointed by. Disappointed may not even be a strong enough word, and two stars is REALLY stretching it. Service was good if super rushed, the 'mock' tails were tasty, and the décor grew on me, but overall.. the place was a definite "eh". The menu looked SO good online, the sushi, the cocktails, the sea bass entrée, the mandarin shrimp stir fry, crab fried rice, the Kobe steak appetizer cooked on a hot stone.. just a big letdown in my book. Okay, okay, so we didn't drink, I didn't do sushi, and we skipped the appetizer we really wanted because of it's size. We may have to revisit this place in the future to fairly judge it.. but it's going to be a long time before we make it back.
(2)Kristen O.
Pod was recommended HIGHLY to me by a friend from the Philly area. I made a reservation 2 days before I even headed there because it sounded so amazing. I was not disappointed in any way. Great food, perfect cocktails, EXCELLENT service, awesome atmosphere and design...from start to finish, Pod exceeded my expectations. We ordered the crab spring rolls, which were probably some of the most delicious crab spring rolls I have ever had, as well as a large sushi and sashimi platter. EVERYTHING was perfect. Such an enjoyable experience. You stay classy, Pod.
(5)Sunia T.
I love this place. Great service with an amazingly trendy and classy atmosphere. Every time i come here, i order something different and am never disappointed. I love their wok charred items and how they pretty much have every meat and vegetable available wok charred. I really cannot rave enough about the atmosphere of this restaurant though, it is extremely sexy.
(5)Tiffany F.
Mocktails anyone?
(4)Caroline H.
Eh. I know...sad to say. Made a reservation because of the UC Dining Days promo which entitles each person 3 courses for $30, good deal right? Wrong. So here's the lowdown. I don't know how many of you have dined at restaurants during dining days or restaurant week but every time I have (which is 10+ times) you are each entitled to each choose 1 app, 1 entree, and 1 dessert choice--This is NOT so at Pod. Our server came over and informed our party of 3 that we were to choose only 2 apps, 2 entrees and 2 desserts but that the portions would be adjusted to the number of people at the table. I was not a happy camper especially since I wanted to try things that no one else at my table would eat :( and the portions were the same size as the table next to us of 2 people. I'm not complaining that they were small portions (I was full at the end of the meal) but still I feel like it's almost false advertising or that the stipulations should have been noted previously because I definitely would have chosen to dine at another restaurant (i.e. Distrito-which I dined at last UC dining days and had SO many choices and were able to try a ton for the $30 price tag) had I known this. Anyways on to the food, we had the beef and chicken lettuce wraps, chicken potstickers, shrimp pad thai, macadamia chicken stir fry, brown sugar cake and vanilla mousse. -The lettuce wraps were my favorite by far..however the lettuce was so small that nothing would fit in it so we ended up just eating the filling with a fork. -The potstickers were well...potstickers nothing fabulous. -Shrimp pad thai - this was sad. Honestly it tasted like the stuff you make out of the box from the asian section of the supermarket. -The chicken stir fry was tasty but once again nothing special. -The 2 very small pieces of cake (for 3 people mind you) were delish, the brown sugar cake was my fav. I wish they would have given us more. This was no deal for $30/person. It would have been cheaper to order the same items a la carte...yes I priced it out. So thank you Pod for charging me more for a mediocre so called dining "deal" when I'm trying to save money.
(2)Mihir P.
I thought that I had reviewed Pod many years ago but I do remember my experience there. I love the atmosphere but the super white decor needed some bleaching. I do appreciate the Kaiten-zushi belt so you can eat quickly but it also just looks so cool. My friend ordered the Pod Caesar salad which I thought was a lame attempt at "fusion" cuisine; wasabi in the Caesar dressing - I think not. I do recommend the potstickers and sushi.
(3)Minh C.
Came there for lunch yesterday and I must say Starr restaurants live up to their reputation. It had a hip twisty atmosphere, and a very unique menu. I personally ordered the udon with tofu stir fry which was absolutely delicious. My only complaints about it was that it was served in an oversized bowl, no biggie and the tofu had a great texture but a little bland and the udon was a little overdone. The edamame they served enough to feed 4, which was amazing.
(3)Lydia T.
totally worth the money...if it was still 2004. The food is definitiely decent, well beyond decent, but not worth the money. Maybe they are just getting by from Penn and Drexel parents. Fried rice is good, macadamia chicken good. Oh and go there at night, then you will see why they charge so much...for the neon lights.
(3)David T.
I like this place a lot. The interiors are neat, the bar looks cool, and the constant anime (or daft punk videos) playing on the screen behind the sushi bar is awesome. Great place for a date if you don't mind the noise. Drinks-wise, the sake mojitos are bangin. Remember to ask for a double. As for the food, pretty much everything I've eaten here has been ridiculously tasty. My favorite by far is the duck two ways. Roasted duck breast cooked perfectly, accompanied by duck served in a bao bun? All about it. The sauce is great, too. Their special sushi rolls are creative and delicious; I love the shiro-aoi - spicy white tuna and avocado topped with hamachi and jalapeño. Other menu standouts include the braised beef short rib over udon noodles (meat is unbelievably tender), and the lettuce wraps. Definitely a good place to try if you're down with S. Starr and you like Asian fusion.
(4)Nicholas W.
What a cool place! The decor inside is like walking into a Miami nightclub; well what I imagine one would look like if I went. There are cool neon lights, all white decor, and really friendly hostesses and waitstaff. My wife and I stopped in without a reservation and were seated at the sushi bar, which we had no issues with. They have some interesting things on the menu, but nothing really strikes you as different or cutting-edge, just your typical sushi rolls and sashimi. The prices are also similar to other sushi restaurants, but maybe a little more....typically $12-$20 for specialty rolls. You really can't go wrong with anything on the menu, but don't be surprised if you aren't astounded by the flavors, because some of the rolls are lacking in that category.
(3)Aaron R.
This place is ok. Its trendy, and makes reasonable cocktails. The sushi is not good, and the noodle dishes are fine, but greasy and nothing special. A reasonable choice if you are in the area, but I wouldn't go out of my way to come here.
(3)I.E. C.
Wow. I was sufficiently underwhelmed with Pod. To start off, when we arrived they lost our reservation and apologized because their system had crashed. They sat us within 15 minutes or so, so we did not think it was a big deal. However, the service was excruciatingly slow. The Kobe skirt steak was good, but nothing special for $29. The portion was also extremely small. We ordered a variety of sushi rolls and all them fell apart because they were wrapped poorly. I would never go back to this place. It's definitely not a place you should go out of your way for. If I lived in University City, I could see it being fun to grab a drink with friends, but other than that, totally overhyped and overpriced.
(2)Jenni I.
If you have a group, request a "pod" when you make your reservation. The atmosphere is great without the addition of the exclusive seating -- but it sure adds to the fun. The food is always fresh and delicious. I definitely recommend the dessert sampler. It comes in fun little boxes, too. The cocktails here are really different, too. I highly recommend the Pink.
(5)Sonya S.
Really cool design/decor. Amazing cocktails & food... their sushi is very, very good.
(5)EricaLynn J.
The secret here is that there's better "asian fusion" food elsewhere in the city. There really is. But I urge you to visit Pod, for the ambiance alone. It's like nowhere you've ever been before. If you are lucky, you will get there at a time where you can actually sit in one of the pods. I will only say this about the pods: you can choose your own lighting, and there's 8 different colors to choose from... one of them being the most ridiculous orangey-pink ever. And it makes your food look completely different. I'm telling you, it's a scene. And even though there *is* better food out there, that does not mean that Pod doesn't come through. It does, and then some. It's *great* food. Just not *the best*. But you need to experience Pod. Also, Pod is extremely accommodating. I had a party of 15 that soon turned into a party of 25 for New Years Eve a few years ago. We didn't even make a reservation. We all just kind of sauntered in, with the expectation that we'd probably be turned away (we just had to try.) Not only did Pod accommodate us, but they handled our big crowd beautifully and we were tended to in a professional, friendly manner. On New Years Eve! Props to Pod. Good work.
(4)Nicole L.
I've only been here for some drinks and socializing. The atmosphere and prices make it the "hang out place for the rich/cool kids on campus." The atmosphere and vibe is not so much my style, too modern and sterile feeling. Lots of college kids come here to see and be seen.
(3)rich k.
Although the food is ok the restaurant needs updating. The bathrooms could use a thorough cleaning. Sorry about the three stars but it's definite stepped backwards.
(3)Marcus D.
I had high hopes for Pod. The decor is out of this world. Seriously. It was like walking into "2001: A Space Odyssey" or for you old school Disneyland fans, the Adventure Thru Inner Space. Yes, I totally just aged myself. Unfortunately, the super-cool interior was not matched by the food or the service. Our server was aloof and generally not interested in our dining experience. The food was mediocre, at best. We started with sushi, opting for a roll that they call "Double Impact." While it sounds truly bad-ass, it was nothing special. Sadly, this would be as good as the food got. For our main entree, we shared the sea bass and the wasabi-encrusted filet mignon. Blah, blah, blah. Cutting our losses, we skipped dessert and finished the meal with something we knew we could count on......drinks in the bar. The square foam chairs (you have to see them to understand) were a great place to enjoy the vibe and the unique decor of the restaurant. If the rating was based on decor and concept alone, I'd go 5-stars all the way. But, it is a restaurant, and the food just failed to live up to expectations. Thus, 3-stars is all I have to offer Pod.
(3)Serge B.
If you review this place, you have to do it independently of the horrible attitude that the PENN kids bring to the (futuristic) table. There's no need to get up to the bar and start shooting scotch to impress some girls [end rant]. Now for the restaurant itself: the sushi's decent but not great and consistency varies depending on how busy they are (they're always busy). I will say that the spicy bloody mary is a bold and inspired choice of a drink and that the bartenders are friendly even when surrounded by a terrible crowd. A bit better food and a lot more crowd control and this place can add a star or two.
(3)pauline l.
Over-rated for sure. The sushi and sashimi are wholly unremarkable. The servers aren't particularly good at service. I admit that on my most recent visit, I needed a "special" accommodation -- showed up for my lunchtime reservation for four with five in tow, but it wasn't so unreasonable that they could have just seated us at a bigger table. It wasn't that busy. But no, they squeezed us in a spot for four, and then reprimanded us for leaving stuff in the aisles -- we just didn't have the space to fit our legs, feet and backpack underneath our table. The Thai Chicken Salad is really gross... the flavors are really strong, but not in a good way. Just tastes like stale sesame or something. At some point in the fall, I had fallen in love with the sake mojito -- probably because I was drinking on a law firm's dime -- but this last time I went there it just tasted like drinking a glass of sugar. The experience/decor would be cooler, I guess, except I used to live in a part of the world where futuristic/mod-looking restaurant concepts just aren't that unusual. Oh and the airport themed bathrooms really suck.
(2)Fujiko D.
This place is so overrated. Every time someone thought it was a (very) special occasion at work, we would go to Pod. I would order something that I had never tried before. It would taste good, not memorable. I would look at all the chic white chairs and random neon glowing and be a little disappointed about modern fusion Asian whatever. I did go once with a sales rep after a business transaction, and he went to town with the chutoru sushi and shared. Yes, it was delicious, but duh. It better be at $18 a pair. It's like a kid bragging to his friends that he brought a hooker to the prom... The place is trying to hard. Not only that but it's giving out this faux vibe to get this message out that they are in, but I'm just not feeling it. Yes, I am capable of boiling a bowl of soybeans in their pods and adding salt. Thanks for marketing it as edamame and marking it up 10X over since it sounds Asian. I only went for work lunches. Maybe the too cool for school kids only came out for dinner? Maybe I'm just not into the whole concept of grouping a hodgepodge of "Asian" food and making it "modern." Sushi was sushi before this country existed. Three stars since I can't complain about the food or excellent service, but didn't really dig the vibe.
(3)Pam A.
Consistently good. I happen to eat here fairly often, and I try to mix it up, but when I come back to the sushi its consistently above average. I had the duck duck udon as well this time, it was a bit bland, but the duck won tons inside were delish. Its never cheap, and well, it feels like the Wharton/Penn dining hall. The only time drinks are affordable is happy hour, and then they are a great deal.
(3)Dave M.
Wow...this place is overpriced, the portions are minuscule, and the staff was rude and extremely sluggish. The bill was $70 for two and we left hungry. The favors were above average, I'll admit, but nothing spectacular. Buyer beware!
(1)Chris F.
Cool chairs, but not for sitting. So on a recent weeknight I drove out to University City with a recently-acquitted & bail-remitted friend to celebrate and I brought up this establishment. Always eager to try something Starr, we moseyed on in without reservations to grab a bite to eat. Big mistake, as there was some fundraiser being held that night and the place was packed. The only available seats were at the sushi bar, so we grabbed what looked to be Playskool barstools and put the meat in the seat. To be fair the rest of the restaurant had what looked to be relatively normal chairs and was decorated rather interestingly. I had never seen a sushi conveyor belt outside of television so I was eager to watch the interlocking metal plates ferry around different sushi concoctions right in front of the bar. After we put in our order my friend & I grabbed a couple sushi plates off the belt and had at it. As we were coming in just for dinner, we were not given a menu describing what each individual sushi entree was (Japanese roulette I suppose) even though we sat at the sushi bar. The plates, however, were easy to find the price of, as they were color coded to a menu solely listing prices. As the night was to be celebratory, I ordered the kobe beef cooked tableside on Japanese river rocks with ponzu and wasabi appetizer. Whilst cooking the fat/juices from the meat hit me more than a few times, which complemented the growing pain in my lower back from the kids furniture barstool. The kobe beef dish itself was okay, it seemed to be merely a presentation thing. Fifteen dollars should get you more than four slivers of beef, but I digress. My main entree wasn't very memorable, it was some fish special, and my friend wasn't too happy with his miso soup either. Between ye & me, I don't think he had the faintest idea what he was ordering. Next time I go I'm getting the Chilean Sea Bass for sure, as I've had it at Continental, and I'm skipping the beef on the rocks.
(3)Sonia S.
This is the second time I've dined at Pod. The food was even better than the first time. I took two out of town guests for dinner who love Japanese food and I thought they would like the atmosphere. Pod was a big hit with everyone. Staff was very accommodating and our waitress was very helpful answering our questions about the items on the menu.
(4)Candace C.
So I originally gave Pod a 2 star review because I think it is below average for the quality of food. But, let me qualify that, if Wharton/Penn Law/ [insert your favorite corporate account] is paying, then its actually a pretty good restaurant. ok granted free food is generally always (more) delicious but truthfully the food isn't all that bad. It is pricey and not the best value for Philadelphia dining, but certain items are actually pretty good! For example, the crab spring rolls are delicate and savory, a real treat, but for $16 (or $14), I can eat better food in philly. Also, who pays that much for salted edamame beans? I had the lunch sushi combo which was very average sushi and not that expensive because it was on the lunch menu. The appetizers are much more creative and inventive. If I wasn't paying, I'd give Pod a solid 3.5 stars. But since recruiting season is over (just kidding!), Pod isn't a place I'll likely come back to. I'd rather save my money and try out buddakhan, sampan, or morimotos
(3)Z J.
DO NOT GO TO "ALL YOU CAN EAT SUSHI" WEEK I'm currently at my table in pod, suffering through their awful attempt at all you can eat sushi. We were seated at our reservation time, 9pm, and we have spent about ten minutes eating our first plates of sushi, and 2.5hours waiting while the restaurant grinds to a stop. It is completely packed, and totally unprepared for this. People have been waiting hours with nothing, and although some are being comped appetizers by an obviously nervous and overwhelmed staff, the general mood is tense and aggravated. The small amount of sushi that actually made it to our table was good, and the staff is doing well considering, especially our waitress - but the whole situation is a mess and has alienated us and I imagine most of the other patrons. (Table next to us is discussing walking out right now) They are not equipped for this. What probably started at some pr guy's desk as a way to drum up mid week business has ended up as a huge disaster. As I'm typing this people have left, walked out, and turned away round three of free appetizers in disgust
(1)Ed C.
$18 for a Manhattan? They were good, but really, $14 would have felt pricey and almost justified, but $18 is just insulting. I will not be going back.
(1)Chrissy R.
Despite the fact that the prices here are a little out of my range, I love going to Pod for drinks. I've never had the food, so I can't speak on it, but I've heard from a friend that it's not bad. My favorite thing about this place, obviously, is the atmosphere. My friends and I love to hang out on those gaudy red plastic block things they have in the bar area and just chill while we have our drinks. The lighting in this place is obviously the main attraction -- everything lights up! You can change the lighting colors if you're sitting in one of the booths eating, there are circle lights all over the ceilings and floors, and the little tiny table/chair combos in the bar area light up when you sit on them [great for hours of giggles when you're further into the drinks]. It's bright and fun without being overwhelming, which, IMO, is difficult to do. The service here is pretty good, too. I've never had to wait long for a drink, and the bartenders are *always* really nice and fun and flirty [both guys and girls]. The drinks are SO much fun, too. They have a lot of specialty "girly" drinks, and while I'm usually a whiskey and coke kinda girl, I can't stay away from their pom-tinis. The special drinks are good to try out at least once, just to say you did. :)
(4)Ilana R.
Had not been here in years and probably will not come back. Good and level of ambiance and servers has changed and not for the best. It used to be one of my favorite places to get amazing sushi and drinks. Now it was just mediocre and very expensive. Loud with too many young students creating a club like scene rather than a restaurant. Should just be converted into a great hip lounge serving interesting Japanese dishes.
(3)Britt S.
I was at a conference at Wharton and stopped by Pod looking for some good sushi. I found the entire experience a bit perplexing. The vibe and decor leaned so far towards modern lounge-y that it shocked me upon walking in. Should I have dressed up for this? Did I accidentally stroll into a nightclub in my search for dinner? Loud music. Friendly servers. Average food. Pricey for what you're getting. Nothing to write home about. That is, unless you're into ultra sleek white spaceship-looking furniture.
(2)Shannon N.
This was one of my favorite places when I was living back in the Philadelphia area (2003-5). It was in University City so it was not so close to the usual party area of Old City (which could be a good/bad thing, take your pick) so the crowd was more of the Penn/Drexel students and some other urbanites who were willing to venture to this part of town. The front lounge part was always crowded, and I was a huge fan of the sit-down/light-up white short stools that lined that front section (Fatty that I am, I even broke one once; I had pulled the plug out of the socket by accident-sorry). I even had a birthday here and the 7 of us girls piled into the 1st pod on the left side and irritated fellow patrons by constantly pushing the 9 colored light pad. The macadamia chicken stir fry was a hit as always, and their version of caesar salad was pretty enjoyable also. Pod was also the first place I ever tried edamame. This was on a Tuesday so it wasn't too hard to obtain one of those dining pods, but we had a fun time and the staff was really pleasant also. I would return when in the area, hoping not much has changed.
(4)G D.
Loved the experience. The ambience is just great with a very trendy contemporary feel to it. If you are a party with 6 or more you can sit in one of the pods which is sort of a private area but still feel like you are in the middle of the restaurant. I enjoyed the sushi, especially the lobster roll.The crab fried rice that we ordered was delicious. Overall a good experience and would definitely like to go again.
(4)Jean C.
I wish I could give them 3 1/2 stars because although I enjoyed my dinner, I'm not sure I'm an all out fan as of yet. The decor is cool, very 60's mod style. I like the "pod rooms" except for the one that's at the front of the restaurant. The bathrooms are pretty cool: there are individual stalls that show a green or red light depending on occupancy. I started with a carrot ginger martini that was quite the tasty juice cocktail, without any alcohol. Very weak. The meals are family style, so my friend and I ordered the pork shumai with white soy dipping sauce, crab fried rice, szechuan lamb chops with shanghai noodles, and the Chilean Sea Bass with Japanese sweet potatoes. The meal was really good, with plenty of crab fried rice left over. The nitpick was that the lamb chop was a little over cooked, but still tasty. The sea bass was well cooked, very flaky and great tasting. The shumai was awesome, with just a little kick at the end: great texture and very tasty. The crab fried rice was good, there was actually quite a bit of crab in the dish! Our server was really good, personable and attentive rounding out a very good dining experience.
(4)Jay S.
Excellent atmosphere and food quality. The lobster rolls were fantastic. Also enjoyed the wasabi filet and sea bass. Service was great as well. Definitely great for date night. Also the Bok Choy, Pad Thai, and chicken pot stickers were very good as well.
(4)Carrie P.
I love coming here and especially when you can get a POD for a big party. We had a blast for girls night! You can either share meals or be selfish. Some highlights are: rock shrimp tempura, crab fried rice, calamari salad, and lettuce wraps. The drinks are delicious. Try the rising sun martini. Lastly, check out the bathrooms. Weird I know but they are so cool!! Parking is very simple in this part of town. It's a must go for Asian fusion.
(5)Olesya P.
I would not recommend this place. The only good thing- it is cool inside and service is good. The food is very expensive and NOT tasty at all. Since it is Japanese, I went there to eat good sushi, but even sushi from Walmart taste better. Also, portions extremely small, I payed 9 dollars for 2 little rolls that had nothing in it. . I would like to get some good food if I pay so much. Also, my plate was dirty. I would not go there ever again and would not recommend it to anyone.
(1)Lindsay H.
So my biggest love for Pod is actually there lunch Express bento special. For some time now, I felt it was unfair of me to review this place since I've only been for lunch but hey, each lunch is so tasty that I just needed to share with the yelp community! I have enjoyed their pad thai, sushi and dumpings but hands down the Express bento Miso glazed chilean seabass lunch special is what to get! It's unreal. The fish is always perfectly cooked and has such a delicious salty/sweet flavor that makes it melt in your mouth. This paired with some rice, miso soup and a side salad makes this arguably the best lunch in U-city. Unfortunately, I rarely have enough space to eat this much but if you do, definitely try it!
(4)Nakia Y.
I went to POD during Ucity dinning days (unaware until i got there that it was actually going on), but anyway: everytime i go to POD i have an awesome experience. from the decor to the service i am never disappointed. The seafood rice my date ordered wasnt up to the normal POD standard but everything else we ordered made up for it. Oh and this was the first time that the manager actually came over to the table and talked to us (which is always a plus) making sure that everything was to our liking. and kudos to the waitress because she was friendly, courteous, and provided us with A1 customer service the entire night.
(4)Lily N.
I was very disappointed. My server was nice, but the food was terribly salty. Rolls are good but salty. The stir fry is very salty and horribly tasted. The chef should really do something about using too much salt. Also the wait is too long. It was a bad experience for me.
(1)Elsie R.
Me & hubby chose pod for our first date in fifteen months. Great atmosphere, delicious sushi and killer drinks! Katie gave us great recommendations excellent service. I highly recommend you check out pod ASAP you won't regret it!
(5)Frances R.
This restaurant is awful for vegetarians. They have a couple of seemingly vegetarian entrees but when I tried to confirm with the waiter that they were vegetarian he said they were not. They had some fish product in them. I wonder how many vegetarians have eaten these entrees assuming they were ok. The only thing worse than a restaurant having no veg entrees is a restaurant having entrees that appear veg but are not and this fact is not on the menu. Shame on you, Pod and Stephen Starr!
(1)Jen K.
I've only ever paid for Pod twice, because usually I go when a Wharton professor takes us students out for lunch. This place is essentially really overpriced Americanized Asian fusion plus very average sushi. For example, they make General Tso's chicken, throw in some nuts, slap it with a fancier name ("macadamia chicken stir-fry") and charge you $19 for it. Ridiculous. I suppose you are paying for the ambience and the experience. Don't come here unless a Penn professor is treating you, your parents are treating you, or a date is treating you. Otherwise you're getting ripped off by Steven Starr big time.
(2)Vichet O.
I've drank here quite a few times. The staff is always quick and friendly, and they have lychee drinks, which gives them an extra point from this southeast asian. Other than that, what can I say about Pod that isn't obvious from looking? Oh right, they serve "Asian Fusion" food. In PODS! I shit you not. Little tapas sized dishes circulate on a conveyor belt for you to dim-sum, brody, grab, claim, or snatch - whatever verb you prefer, for that particular part of the restaurant (the sushi bar? or sushi conveyor belt? I'm not sure what you'd call it) you kind of just get what you want and eat it right there. There are tables where you can sit down and order. I've never really done that, so I can't comment. I'm sure it's pleasant. Now that I think about it, the only time I've actually eaten here was for all you can eat sushi. Don't get me wrong, the sushi here is better than a run-of-the-mill shop, and there was all of it I could eat. However, I would probably not do this again because I could go to one of my preferred sushi joints and get as much as I should allow myself to eat for about the same price. On an aside, Pod's interior affected me in such a way that I actually took it as an inspiration for a setting in one of my stories. I don't HATE the look. It's just not for me. Or any of my male characters: "Everything was white, bathed in a pale red glow by dim sconces that lined the walls at shoulder height, demarcated by floor-length windows at regular intervals. Some of the panels lit up and changed color like a disco floor as people walked across the room. Personally, King would have left out the panels and kept the disco. He was partial to wide collars and flared slacks. However, he was not particularly partial to Cube. If an iPod were susceptible to crack addiction, King and his coworkers stumbled upon the botched abortion of its crack-lovechild. The decorations were far too loud for him to feel comfortable. In a place where everything stood up and screamed "Look at me!" King felt decidedly out of place - and not in the fun, interesting way where he could leverage his uniqueness in conversation. This was plain, old, useless high school awkwardness. At least the music was acceptable." And that's how I feel about the decor. Other than that, this place is alright by me. Pro-tip: Try the ginger rum shots. They taste much better than they sound.
(3)Leigh O.
Yeah....over-rated. While the atmosphere of the restaurant is completely beautiful and modern, I'm not so sure that makes up for everything else. I'm a huge fan of Asian fusion so I've had my fair share everywhere I visit. Pod is just not that great. I've had completely tasteless soup here (I took it home to my nephews who stated it was the best ramen they ever had, which I'm sure doesn't speak much for it), potstickers are average. These are types of things I feel that a fusion restaurant should make effortlessly. I am a fan of the crab fried fried rice though. The drinks I could completely skip as well. I tried all of the "color" martinis and if I had to choose I'd recommend the red or green. Overall, if you're looking to just be trendy and cute to upload photos to instagram or something this place is cool. If you're looking for high quality and flavorful food then you should pass. It's also way overpriced for the quality of food.
(3)Jeff L.
Pod is always a fun time. Been there countless times and there's a good reason I keep going back. It's such a fun atmosphere - a great place for a quick lunch date or a nice birthday dinner. The drinks are all awesome and the food is presented nicely and very tasty. The sushi is somewhat pricey (but expected) but also very good. The specialty rolls are really unique. I have really never had a dish I didn't like here, except maybe the Siu Mai for appetizer, which were way too salty. They also offer a all-you-can-eat sushi experience from season to season, but it's only offered after 9pm so the time isn't great since you end up waiting forever for them to make the food. The best part of Pod are, well, the pods themselves. Hard to get into unless you have a big party who will spend a lot on dinner, but you can get lucky if there's one open and no other seating. Lots of fun - definitely recommend giving this place a try!
(4)Joey B.
Great food though a bit expensive. AWESOME atmosphere, decor, vibes, music, etc. I really, really recommend for casual/fun date or family outing. And....the service is incredible. A++
(5)Keo N.
Over priced sushi and weak cocktails. Go for the entrees and wine.
(3)Avi A.
Pod is most definitely a hot spot for all you yuppies out there.. and anyone else who wants to think they're a baller but really isn't :P Don't get me wrong, the food is quite delicious and the "multi-colored contemporary lounge" feel is certainly appealing to all of us college kids. The problem is that there's so much hype about this place, it's easy to get disappointed and end up spending your entire week's allowance on a few pieces of sushi and some pad thai ^^ o harro empty wallet! I would recommend going for lunch and getting the kaiseki express, which will cost you something like $13 - 15 and you get miso soup, rice, and a scrumptious piece of fish or meat. Occasionally, they'll be cunning and offer an all you can eat $25 sushi event, which only becomes a deal when you surpass your 25th piece... i dunno about you, but I'm pretty full after about 20 pieces of maki.. the width and length of my stomach prevents me from inhaling a whale.. which would actually be ideal in such a situation Try to be a little unconventional and order items outside of the sushi menu... the chilean sea bass is certainly worth a shot.. as well as the kobe beef burger. A nice place for a date.. and a great place for lunch... good replay value :) Expect to see the entire Penn community there when you go haha.. -Av
(4)Shin Yi L.
Pod usually never fails and it's one of my favorite places to go on campus. I usually order sushi rolls or get the seafood fried rice + bok choy. The bok choy here is typically top-notch and way better than even chinese restaurants in Chinatown. My friends and I usually order the bok choy to share even if we each order our own mains. Today was a disaster: I took one bite and didn't want to eat the rest. It was overcooked and not flavorful. When I told the server, she did not charge me for it (which is great) but I left feeling sad/disappointed that a good dish is ruined!
(2)Dave H.
Pod has a Jetsons-like feel to it, from the conveyor-belt sushi bar to the curtained area on the "bridge". The semi-private dining areas (pods) have controls that let you change the colors inside to a whim. Seating is ample for a medium-sized group. It was difficult to tune out the noise - in that way, Pod reminds me of a futuristic cafeteria. Service - Lan, Erin, Laurie) is MUCH better than your typical cafeteria luckily. The food generally looked better than it tasted. Presentation is top-notch and the sushi was fresh. Portions are big enough you can share with one or two others. While I'll overlook the high cost of food[1], I can't ignore quality. The sushi appetizer was a promising start to dinner but the Chilean sea bass I had was buttery as all hell. Imagine eating a stick of butter marinated in butter lathered in fat. (Sound redundant? The sea bass was redundant.) The Mongolian beef lacked any kick. The saving grace of the meal was the calamari! Tender and spicy, it was a treat after eating the other two dishes. Not worth the trip if you're looking for stellar food. Perhaps my expectations were too high but the food left an unsavory imprint on me. Upon reflection I'm just unhappy. Stop by for a drink or try their wasabi-crusted filet mignon (which I had another time, and wasn't half-bad). [1] Except for the sushi... don't ask.
(3)Dan K.
Their menu leaves very little to be desired. A dish for every palate, if you will. The ambiance is awesome. I've eaten inside one of their color-changing "pods" and in the main dining area. Although I prefer dining inside the pod, the service was superb in either location. I was thoroughly impressed with the server's in-depth knowledge of the entire menu, both food and drink.
(5)Becca I.
I didn't really know what to expect from an Asian restaurant named Pod. However, from the moment I walked in I liked Pod. They have a distinct theme and seem to stick with it throughout the dining experience. The food was great, I particularly enjoyed the crab fried rice and the spicy tuna rolls. The service was decent, although it was clear she was trying to upsell us and unhappy we didn't order drinks or dessert. I think it is a little bit overpriced, but i do not think that would stop me from coming back.
(4)Stephanie Y.
I only really come here for happy hours on Friday. $5 cocktails and it's RIGHT across from work. Can't really beat that, especially on a hot summer day and you're waiting for that second hand to hit 5 o'clock. You know you already have your stuff gathered and with 1 fell swoop, you've locked your computer. You seat yourself, so no waiting is a plus and a waitress comes over, you just pick a color on the rainbow. Since I'm Asian, it tastes strong enough for me, especially since I start glowing after 1, but I will get a second. Enjoying the drinks while chatting with coworkers. Yes, the seats aren't very uncomfortable. Sometimes I'll order Pod's famous lobster roll to go. It's my fave. Food in general isn't bad, but a bit overpriced. Dang, it's only Wednesday. 2 more days ....
(4)A E.
Perhaps this is an issue of unreasonable managed expectations. When I heard that there was a Stephen Starr restaurant in University City, I wanted to go. That doubled in intensity when I realized that it was a sushi bar and that it was spitting distance from where I work but it seemed as if one excuse followed another and I pushed it off. However, one day I found myself so busy that I worked through lunch and found myself with a few dollars in my pocket so I decided to finally make a trip and catch the place during Happy Hour. Now, I understand that this leaves me with a slightly skewed perspective. There is a likely chance that the best dishes are the extremely expensive ones that a foodie on a very real budget had to avoid, and I can appreciate that. However, when they set a menu, any menu, they are choosing to give something to the public and I believe that a fair critique can be performed on those grounds as long as I acknowledge the scope of my meal. First off, I have to talk about the service. I really don't have a single negative thing to say, I really don't. As much of a Snarkasaurus Rex that I tend to be, the servers, bartender and hostess all attended to me quickly, professionally and cheerfully. Granted, it was still quiet, but I've languished at too many bars to expect this to come automatically. I'm really not a fan of the décor, but that's just me. I'm usually ok with futuristic design, but it seemed a little overblown and it didn't really contribute to the meal experience in any way. As for the food...well, I was unimpressed. The Shrimp Tempura roll was kind of dry and seemed to lack balance, the Chicken Potstickers were alright but unspectacular while being paired with mustard sauce which really didn't work. The steamed bun itself was delicious, but the mushrooms that it came with seemed extremely salty and led to an unbalanced dish. After careful consideration, I think I've determined where I have issue: it's the quality of high end grocery store ready to eat meals. I don't hate those, and I'll get them from time to time when I'm tired, but I don't seek them out. I would never seek out any of the dishes I had that day, and I sure as hell wouldn't pay the full, non-happy hour price.
(3)Monique C.
My boyfriend wanted to take me to pod to celebrate my new job. He was pretty excited to go here since his coworkers have been heralding this place for months. We arrived on Wednesday night and pod was pretty busy; we felt as if we'd traveled forward in time to this modern restaraunt. The hostesses greeted us and we were seated within 15 minutes of arrival. Our waiter was efficient. He was knowledgeable but curt; he had many tables but seemed to multi-task well. Our first course, the tempura sushi, was very good. We ordered macadamia chicken stir fry, which my boyfriend loved and garlic shrimp. I ordered the lemon cheesecake for dessert. It was simply divine. I recommend the pink martini although my boyfriend's Tokyo tea was just average. Overall I would return to pod. It would be cool to dine in one of the colored booths and sample more of the delicious items we saw at other tables and wizzing by in the hands of busy waiters. 4.5/5 for pod.
(4)Chris M.
Pod does and always will hold a special place in my heart. About 9 years ago, I brought my then new girlfriend, now wife, on our first fancy date here (I think it was like to celebrate our one-month anniversary). We've been back here several times since, and I eat lunch here around one per month or so. The "futuristic" decor (I use the quotes because it hasn't changed in like a decade) is still pretty fun, with the big party booths with buttons allowing you to change the ambient lighting, and the small pod booths carved into the wall--not to mention the sushi conveyor belt. And the food is pretty excellent. If you're into sushi, I recommend ordering one these rolls, which used to be on the menu: mango, cream cheese, and salmon (basically a Philadelphia roll with mango), or the yellowtail, scallion, jalapeno roll. If sushi's not your thing, try the macadamia chicken stir fry. This place gets pretty packed around prime times, but you can often get a seat at the sushi conveyor belt, where you can either eat from the belt or order from the menu. The sushi on the belt is hit or miss, sometimes with a very limited selection. You may want to sit here, grab a small plate or two from the belt and order a roll or two from the waiter/waitress. If you haven't been here yet, you should definitely give it a try. It's a little gimmicky and a little pricey, but it's a cool experience.
(4)Siv L.
Came here with a friend -- love the ambience but because UCity doesn't have many options for fine/trendy dining, the bar area gets pretty packed with "trendy" type people. The food here is good. The service is attentive. I think due to its location and the lack of options surrounding it, I can understand why people think it's overrated. Wouldn't recommend it for anyone looking for a no-nonsense good meal.
(3)Richard B.
I was staying at the hotel next door and wanted somewhere close for dinner. Pod had decent reviews so I decided to give it a try. This place is very much form over substance. It is probably a fun place for drinks with friends but I wouldnt recommend it for dinner for an out-of-towner dining alone. I had the street noodles and the were decent but nothing to write home about.
(2)Seb S.
Obviously the food is good and the place is cool but it's overrated. Go to MORIMOTO instead.
(3)Penn Grad Student Z.
Overpriced, way below average food. The decor is really lame and overdone. It was like dining in a cheesy virgin america flight. The sushi tasted like the boxed pre-prepared sushi. Granted, it's hard to make anything good with Asian fusion. Save yourself some money and go to PF Changs.
(1)Janice T.
Although a little pricey, Pod has a fun atmosphere and cool decor. Eating in the Pod with the different lights is also a fun experience. Good place for celebratory dinners with a group or a date. Could be a cool place for out of towners too. I've been there a few times while I was in college and service and food was always good.
(4)S K.
Nice server is all there was to this meal. Extremely unflavorful, tasteless food. The sweet pea and mushroom dumpling was thick and lacked texture and flavor. The udon noodle stirfry, similarly, was completely flavorless. The speciality sushi rolls were ok, but for $18 a roll, we've had much better at morimoto and fat salmon. The bokchoy side was fresh and refreshing, but a good side seldom counts for a good meal. The worst part - dessert. A Starr restaurant cannot afford to get something as basic as a chocolate lava cake wrong, but Pod did. It was barely warmed, completely dry, stale tasting and looked like a chocolate muffin that was picked up from Jo Shmo's bakery five days ago. At $45 per head without alcohol, this was one terrible pick.
(1)Erin N.
Great place! I'm not sure why there are 3 $'s, it's 2 $'s to me. Lots of cool color changing lights with a really good atmosphere and feel. It's nice because if you want sushi but your friend doesn't, there's lots of different things to keep everyone happy. Try the cocktails in the drink menu, unique stuff. Though I didn't try an of the mock tails they had a great selection of stuff that sounded great. They hate conveyor belt sushi bar that looked really awesome. If you have a larger party, make a reservation and ask for the round tables that are semi private and light up. The only thing that I could say negative is the bathrooms. They aren't dirty or anything but it just gives you a weird feel because it's stainless steel toilets like you would see at subway station or something.
(5)Taylor L.
Oh, Stephen Starr. How I love thee... This is the fifth Starr restaurant that I've visited since I started living in Philly, and I just continue to be impressed. What do I love the most about Starr restaurants? The fact that, despite how amazing the atmosphere is, the food always seems to be better (if this was not the case, I would most likely be discontinuing my quest). So, not surprisingly, I found the ambiance in Pod to be cool. I, personally, didn't like it as much as some of the other ones... but I won't let my personal preference for decor weigh into my evaluation of the quality. We didn't sit at the cool chairs at the bar, or in the color-changing pod-seating-area-things, so our table was rather plain and plastic-y. The food, though, was all around fantastorgasmical (and it came out rapidfire, which was nice because I came HUNGRY). Here were the highlights: - Chicken Lettuce Wraps. Can I order 500 more please and just eat these, and only these, for the next year of my life? Thanks. - Beef Short ribs (appetizer). I wouldn't have ordered these had the server not highly recommended them. WELL, I am thrilled I did!!!! The meat was a whole new level of flavorful, and was just falling apart, and practically melting in your mouth. They came on some udon noodles that were flavored similarly to the shortribs. Mmm!! - Ice Sculpture Sorbet (dessert): Four scoops of refreshing sorbet atop an ice sculpture to keep it cold. How cool is that? (I added a picture of this delectable dessert, in case you were curious) The other things that we ordered that were delicious, but just not as blow-your-mind were: - Chicken Potstickers - Chicken Macademia Stir Fry - Tofu and Udon stirfry ... and, what else? SAKE. "Demon Slayer" Sake, to be specific.
(4)Grace S.
Been here several times for evening receptions that served the usual sushi maki rolls and apps in small portions. Finally came here for lunch and still just Mehhhhh. Sushi combo for $16 is so overpriced for the 5-6 nigiri and 4 pieces of caifornia roll and no miso soup, no japanese salad. TONS of salt on the edamame (that by itself, was cooked well). The green tea for $4 is worth it--not your typical Japanese green tea tho (has moroccan mint + jasmine). This place is "anglosized" through and through. That's not a bad thing, it's just not an authentic Japanese restaurant. Perhaps the 18 pieces that come with the $14 maki combo is worth it...the udon noodles w/ tofu looked so bland and lifeless. Most ppl were ordering the $14 lunch special "bento boxes". The atmosphere was great though, totally packed from wall to wall with Wharton students, Wharton professors, professionals in the area...felt very much like the NYC business lunches that a lot of us left for grad school!
(2)R H.
Very yummy! More the anything... I really enjoyed the ambiance and the decor!
(4)Latanya T.
The decor is very futuristic, almost like your eating sushi with the jetsons :) A little over priced in my opinion but overall this place is great!
(4)Michael F.
First time to pod and I sat at the sushi bar. Service was S L O W... so be prepared to wait. I was intrigued at the conveyer belt for sure. I was thinking "I'd love to have this in my house." For what purpose, I have no idea. The sushi on the conveyer belt, not so great. Not a whole lot different than the stuff sitting in your grocery sushi take out section. Now, on the other hand, some fresh made ordered rolls...really fresh a good. Folks sitting next to us had some really nice looking entrees coming out, calamari salad and a shrimp fried rice. Hmmm, maybe I should have taken that path...possibly next time.
(3)Gaurav P.
Food Ordered: Macadamia Chicken Stir-fry (replace chicken with tofu) Vegetable Tempura Pad Thai (tofu) Veg Sushi Shrimp Sushi Tuna Sushi This is the place where you want to take your date. The lighting int he booth was pretty nice. You can change the lighting the way you want. They had different colors for different lights. We all really liked our food except for the Pad Thai. This was the first time I tried Sushi and I loved it.
(4)Larry G.
Loved it! Service was excellent. Our server was attentive, but not overbearing. She offered suggestions on items, explained the menu in detail and had just the right touch. Food was superb! Loved, loved, loved the steamed pork buns. The lobster roll (pod lobster) is not to be missed either. Brown sugar butterscotch cake was a real hit too. Next time we'll go with a big group and sit in one of the pods. Looked fun.
(5)Vivian H.
The decor is a little too much for me, and the alternating colors in the pods make everyone and their food look gross. They're also not very good with reservations in my experience. It would be a nice restaurant but it's frequented by so many students that it's pretty casual. Their food is actually really good though. They have a pretty extensive menu of Asian fusion dishes. I am a huge fan of their Glazed Chilean Sea Bass (w/ Japanese sweet potatoes), any of their reasonably-priced fried rice sides, and the Penn roll, which is just like a crunch spicy tuna but somehow really good. I've also been there for the $25 all-you-can-eat sushi after 9pm Tuesdays, which I think may be ending. It's a really nice place to go for AYCE sushi, and cheap, but you can only eat so much sushi off a limited menu before it gets boring.
(4)Keli T.
Fun decor and very good food. A little expensive but the favors were great and the choices are different and creative. We loved the rock shrimp tempura and Japanese eggplant.
(4)Michelle C.
Oh hey, Review 300. How you doin'? I was here last night with a group of five lovely ladies to celebrate the last "official" night of singledom for one of my girlfriends. You might know her, she's Philly yelper Jessica B.! Jess and I go way back. When I was in 7th grade, our township made the genius decision to cut costs by busing all the public and private school students together. At the time, I was fairly shy and very awkward, so I boarded the bus each afternoon filled with fear and panic. Fear that one of the public school kids would make fun of my red plaid uniform, panic that my skirt would somehow tuck itself into my underwear as I got up to exit the bus, branding me as a gigantic dork before I even had a fighting chance in high school. Day after day, I sat in the second or third row, not daring to turn around but always listening intently to every conversation going on behind me. I was awestruck by the curly haired girl who knew everyone and spoke freely - and loudly. One day, she broke the ice and started a conversation with me. I was convinced it was some kind of a setup so I proceeded with caution, but to my surprise, we ended up establishing a friendly association. Now, all these years later, my bus buddy is all grown up and getting hitched! What does this have to do with Pod, you ask? Absolutely nothing, other than the fact that it was Jess' choice for her bachelorette dinner and I felt like telling a little story. Walking into the restaurant, I looked around and instantly thought: futuristic IKEA. The floors are industrial looking and the furniture is all very white, with neon lights accenting throughout the room. I noticed many dates going on in the little wall nooks and was somewhat surprised. I think the likeliness of an alien probe would be greater than the conjuring up of any romantic feelings in that place. Our server greeted the table and took our drink orders, followed by our starters. We all needed a few extra minutes to decide on entrees. We started with rock shrimp tempura and butter poached lobster from the dim sum menu. The shrimp were very good, although the pecan halves and pineapple chunks were somewhat puzzling. The lobster dish was just okay. There was hardly enough for each girl to have a bite, and the tofu and vegetable accompaniments did absolutely nothing for the dish. We polished off the dim sum, while the menus continued to sit on our laps. Eventually, our server reappeared and we were able to place the order for our mains. At this point, I decided to visit the ladies', which actually turned out to be a hallway of unisex bathrooms. The stall looked exactly like an airplane bathroom, which definitely creeped me out. I took solace in the fact that the space was twice as large and I wouldn't have any reason to fear being sucked through the toilet. When I returned to the table, the food was already being delivered. This was surprising as we had just placed our orders, and our silverware had not even been replenished at that point. We sat, staring at our meals with hungry eyes. Finally, we received utensils and I got friendly with my wasabi crusted filet with wasabi mash. The steak was perfectly cooked, although I didn't detect any wasabi flavor. The potatoes were also a bit weak. I was expecting a kick, similar to the wasabi mash that is served at Buddakan, but the flavors were less intense. Still, the meal was very good, if a bit pricey at almost $30. I also had several bites of Jess' miso glazed sea bass and sweet potato puree, which was absolutely phenomenal. The fish tasted as though it had spent its life swimming in a sea of butter. Each bite was rich, with the perfect touch of sweetness from the miso glaze. It was around the end of our meal that our server decided to show up again. He made us laugh with his astrological predictions and witty banter, but I sure hope some of the food runners were getting a piece of his tip, because they really did most of the work. We passed on dessert in an effort to get the party started. It's unlikely that I will make the trek to University City just to return to Pod, although that sea bass alone might provide enough of a reason, should the craving strike.
(3)Hannah G.
Went to Pod for dinner on a Tuesday night. It was fairly busy, but not crowded. We were able to get seated right away. We had a sushi combo that included tuna, yellowtail, and salmon sashimi as well as a spicy tuna roll and a yellowtail + scallion roll. Nice presentation and tasty. We also had the seafood fried rice (lobster, shrimp, and scallops), which was really good. We were interested in trying something from the Japanese grill, so we had the grilled corn as well. I wasn't a huge fan of the spices used, but it was interesting to try. The cocktails we tried were OK, but not our taste -- a little overly sweet. The service was some of the best in the city. Both the hostess that sat us and our server were kind, attentive, and energetic. There are several other restaurants I'd like to try before coming back here for a meal, but the fantastic service will definitely bring me back for appetizers or a drink if I'm in the area.
(3)Kati S.
I'm not really a sushi fan, but the BF loves it--so this place is a good compromise for us. I really enjoyed the crab spring rolls. Love, love, love the Green Martini. I had 3. Consequently, my recollection of the entree is a bit hazy...
(4)Michael L.
So the Sushi is pretty good, I just personally couldn't get past the whole futuristic, science fiction atmosphere. I get that it is hip and posh, but I guess I like the traditional atmosphere and Japanese cultural environment. This looked like a scene out of that 70s Show .. But the Sushi.. like i said before... is pretty good. If closed my eyes, and just focused on nothing but the taste -- it was good; but the red seats, white tables, yellow lamp shades and all.. just wasn't feeling it. Will I go, yup; is it my first choice... nope. Would it be great for take-out.. absolutely!
(3)Diane G.
great food, great ambience, fun place to eat! Been there several times - pricey but best bet is to order a bunch of dim sums and share. I think sometimes people criticize food because its expensive not because its not good - if it was cheaper they would say it was fabulous!
(4)Nicole Y.
I love this place. Pod was one of my favorite restaurants to go to in Philly and is a great place to take out of town friends. The martinis are all very tasty and reasonably priced. The sushi is a little expensive, but is extremely good. I also really enjoyed the salads and soups here. They have a conveyor belt sushi bar where you can sit and pick individual rolls as they move by. The vibe there is really great - they have rooms that light up in different colors and generally your table/chairs have lights in them as well. There is usually Cowboy Bebop or something similar playing on the TV behind the sushi bar and they have great happy hour specials. It sometimes gets overrun with Penn students, but if you call ahead and make a reservation you won't have to worry about waiting very long. The only downside is parking nearby which can be difficult, particularly on the weekends.
(4)Rob W.
Pod might be the definitive Asian fusion restaurant. Oddly shaped dining areas, glowing neon accent lights and sushi on a train are just a few things that makes Pod so unique and fun. The food is also wonderfully delicious. I munched on the Kobe beef rice and a vegetable tempura which were both delicious. The tempura was very crispy and the dipping sauce was nice and light. We also had the short rib robata which wasn't my favorite. Some of the beef was a little over cooked. I love the place but they need to drop the prices a few bucks before I come back, it's not the Pod of old Mr. Starr.
(4)Liz C.
I frequent this restaurant quite a bit, as it's the closest restaurant to my office. If you're looking for cheap food, this isn't really the place. But if you're looking for quality food with a cool atmosphere and good drinks, then this is perfect. A smattering of my favorites and not so favorites ... Faves: - Calamari Salad: it's HUGE, filling, delicious, light, but still indulgent. so good! - Salmon & Avocado Sushi - super fresh and delicious - Penn Roll - raw fish, but still accessable to those that are new to sushi. really yum. - Steamed Pork Belly Buns - there is nothing to say about this but yum. amazing. - Seafood Green Curry (lunch special) - lots of food for not a bad price. good flavor and big pieces of seafood - Lobster Roll - a bit over priced, but the presentation and taste are awesome and worth it if you feel like a splurge. - Shrimp Pad Thai - not super greasy like other places. clean excellent flavor. - Kobe Beef - this is prepared tableside on a hot rock. it's overpriced, but again, if you want to splurge, it's worth it for the taste and presentation. - Fluffernutter Egg Rolls - a decadent way to conclude your meal. be warned: it comes with 3, so if you both want 2 rolls each, you can ask for an additional. they are RICH, though, so I usually only want one. Not So Faves: - Tempura Rock Shrimp - not sure what I thought was going to come out, but I wasn't expecting a giant bowl of tiny fried shrimp covered in some sort of creamy sauce. it was good, but not awesome. Catapiller Roll - an eel, avocado and mango roll ... I don't know. I love all of those ingredients, but the last time that I had it, it tasted fishy to me. - Seafood Fried Rice - this is good, but a bit on the greasy side when compared to how light and non-greasy the rest of the more familiar Chinese dishes are. All in all, I think Pod is worth it. I've always had top notch service, it's great for large groups, it's great for private parties (you can have your own room or sit in one of the private crazy light pods!!) and the food is good. It's up to you how much you spend when you go ... you can get out of there for not so much or you can drop a crap ton of money. End of the day, I'm a fan. :)
(4)Sean H.
Pod isn't some life-altering experience, I have to say. It is, however, the best option on Penn's campus if you are looking for something a little nicer than your average food court experience. I always get the chicken lettuce wraps and the chicken and macadamia stir-fry, though the wasabi-encrusted filet mignon is awesome as well. I can't comment on the sushi, as I still wasn't into sushi when I last went. I hear that it's quite good, though. The drinks are great here! We spent many a night tasting the full rainbow of colorful drinks on offer at Pod. If you happen to be in the neighborhood, Pod is definitely worth a try. The only thing I miss is the basil fried rice, which disappeared a few years back. :-(
(4)Hoa T.
So I came back here for the $25 all you can eat sushi. I'm pretty sure that we ordered 80% of all the things on the AYCE menu. The fish were fabulously fresh and decadent. For the nigiri, I love how the rice portion was not huge like some other AYCE places. Personal favorites of mine is the Penn roll and the yellowtail jalapenos roll/hand roll. There were also drink specials for the night, so you can get a martini or beer with your sushi. I love this place. FYI the rule of AYCE is that you have to finish everything on your plate or it will be counted at full menu price. There is no sharing with people not getting AYCE. It's only on Tuesday starting at 7PM.
(5)Alicia J.
I had low expectations for Pod. I know that several departments at Penn take their faculty candidates, invited speakers etc. etc. to this place and I also heard several times that the food is not so great. Indeed, I have had better sushi in my life, and for aforementioned low expectations the sushi wasn't really that bad. The fish tasted fresh (except for the way too dry shrimp) and the rice was well-done. But 16$ for a sushi platter is totally not worth it. One other aspect that absolutely irked me was that the menu clearly states that there would be one tamago sushi in the platter but it wasn't. It was the same thing for another person in our party who got the sushi deluxe platter but since she didn't complain I figured I wouldn't either. I was also surprised at how stylish/modern/trendy the atmosphere was. It was noisy, the interior design is rather boring, the seats were not particularly comfortable and worst of all, the stylish white furniture looked dirty and old. If you take your "VIPs" here shouldn't you pick a place with more... dignity? On the brighter side, service has been excellent throughout the entire time and somebody was kind enough to take our coats as soon as we got here. As one of the very few restaurants I have ever seen, I also like how they set the table with chopsticks and fork/knife so that you can pick one of them without embarrassing yourself.
(2)Tina C.
Fabulous sushi!! Crab fried frice is also amazing!! They have wonderful cocktails as well. Awesome atmosphere and just a really cool place overrall!
(4)Heather M.
Went during University City Dining Days and got to try a lot of the menu, which was great. The saki mojito was really good. The other great dishes were the Pod Lobster Roll and the Creme Fraiche Cheesecake. The portions were really generous, which was surprising. I had high expectations, which were met for the most part, but for amazing sushi I would definitely go to Morimoto instead. I would probably give this a 3.5 if I could.
(4)Jessica M.
My first impressions of Pod were mixed. I thought the atmosphere was kinda cool, but also trying too hard. Then I was seated at one of the tables on the main floor where felt like I was in some kind of weird, dimly lit futuristic high school cafeteria. My dining companion noted that she felt oddly exposed. That's pretty much where the mixed feelings ended, though, because from that point on, I have nothing but love. We ordered from the University City Dining Days prix fixe menu. For $30, I was able to choose an appetizer, an entree, and was served a "pastry chef's selection" for dessert. We were also offered $5 sake mojitos, which was a nice touch and a great compliment to all of the food. Since, like the Continental, food is served as it's prepared, my friend and I ordered together and shared everything. Food came out at a perfect, leisurely-but-not-too-slow pace, so we had time to enjoy and digest everything. Our waiter was totally friendly and attentive, which I have found to be unusual when ordering from prix fixe menus. As for the food: From the dim sum menu, we chose the shrimp dumplings and the vegetable maki. Each dumpling was stuffed with a whole piece of juicy shrimp and they were served with a side of lime-chili dipping sauce. Yum! The maki were also delicious, stuffed with avocado, cucumber and asparagus - and since everything is made to order, they had no problem leaving out the carrot to accommodate my food allergy. For the main course we chose the Sezchuan lamb chops and the miso glazed Chilean sea bass. The lamb chops were slightly overcooked (they were small and we ordered them medium-rare) but flavorful, and they were served atop a pile of sesame Shanghai noodles. We both agreed the noodles were kind of boring and unnecessary to the dish. They weren't bad, but we left most of them on the plate. The sea bass was the stand out dish of the night. The fish was cooked perfectly, and was buttery yet light, making us wish we had both ordered it because we could have eaten twice as much. It was served over mashed sweet potatoes, which seemed like it wouldn't go but turned out to be the perfect addition. Dessert ended up being a piece of pumpkin pie napoleon (layered ginger spice cake, cinnamon white chocolate mousse, crispy rice pastry and pumpkin custard) and a trio of sorbets (banana-passionfruit, blueberry and raspberry). The napoleon was delicious, and though the sorbets tasted really good, they were underwhelming next to the cake. The menu offered was a perfect introduction to Pod restaurant. I can't wait to go back, and my friend and I are even considering going again this week while they are still running the prix fixe!
(4)Adam C.
I'm sure it's great if you're a trendy hipster living in U City, but if you want really good Asian food, save your money and go get it. Of course, it seems like a pretty cool place to hang out if you don't mind overpriced drinks and good tasting food if you get hungry.
(2)Alicia O.
my godsisters and i went for lunch today and i was impressed. its a very trendy place with a conveyour belt loaded with yummy sushi at the sushi bar. we had a table in the all white restaurant dining room. the drinks were yummy. i had a mocktail of ginger and mango. YUM! and our food was very tasty. the house salad was a typical asian salad but great portion size for 3 people. the dynamite roll was sooooooooooooooooooooooooooo good and its pricey so i only ordered one. the other sushi was fresh and good but nothing too distinctive about it. a good eat for sushi!! for dessert. omg the chocolate bread pudding was amazing. to die for. and i will be back if only for that!
(4)Ellen W.
Well... The GOOD: I'll start by saying the food was TASTY, slightly overpriced for SMALLISH ENTREES. Chicken lettuce wraps, yum. Shrimp pad thai, yum. Salad with fresh spring mix lettuce greens, yum. Appetizers ok priced. My teenage daughter and her friend had a GENEROUS bowl of miso soup with micro cubes of tofu in it. They have a tasting menu offered on the standard menu, one at $45 and one for $60 I believe which is nice. The BAD: (and I mean REALLY BAD!)-the WAITRESS KATIE!!! the waitress was truly the WORST I've ever had. She came to the table WITHOUT an enthusiastic greeting. BUT when we needed some guidance with ordering, she was QUICK to be IRRITATED and RUDE, and to blow off her duties of hospitality and service as 1) SHE SNIPPED, "you want me to give you a few more minutes to work this out???!!!!". It was a Wednesday nite at 8:30, so there wasn't a crowd. And the silly minimum of 6 people to a pod (we had 5!) shouldn't be an issue when catering to a new customer visiting from out-of-town on a non-busy evening, c'mon. But, as it was, there were MORE HORRIBLE SARCASTIC REMARKS from KATIE, the WAITRESS. 2)when we told katie we asked another employee to help us get the iced tea we ordered 15 minutes earlier, trying to guide her to that girl, she BARKED, "there are a LOT of females that work here!!", implying 'how the hell am I supposed to know which girl you talked to!'. And 3)when we FINALLY got our entrees, which seemed to take a while, and after we had to REMIND ANOTHER waiter that we never received our sushi appetizers, our AWFUL, INATTENTIVE waitress KATIE finally came by and instead of asking how we liked our foods, she SNIPPED YET AGAIN!!, "well then, I'll get out of you way and let you to it!!!". SOME NERVE she had. so, RUDENESS by WAITRESS caused a potential perfect meal, into a BIG 2 star BUMMER!! Inappropriate comments made us feel UNCOMFORTABLE and DISPLEASED. will not rush to ever return.
(2)Eric W.
I don't know what is better: the happy hour, the authentic sushi bar, or the Asian fusion food. The staff is friendly, and they appreciate regulars. Chef Takae is very skilled and willing to make create new things to people's tastes. Try this place at least three times to see which you like best.
(5)MJ L.
The miso fish dish was quite good. The bathrooms are weird and not practical.
(4)Alex M.
So I have always heard good things about Pod from friends so I figured I would give it a shot. The interior has a neat feel, very much like Morimoto. The bathrooms were probably the weirdest thing about this place. Its just one giant unisex bathroom with like 10 doors on either side of a hall way. The doors have an opaque soft front that is all squishy and idk, its just weird. Anyways, besides the novelty of the decor, the food wasnt anything too special. Granted, I did only have the sushi, which if you do get, make sure to try the crunchy spicy yellow tail. Honestly, though, the person I went with wasn't super adventurous so I didn't venture too far from the basics so Pod will definitely deserve another visit and another chance to impress me.
(3)Alexa M.
I'm went here last night to eat dinner with my family for my birthday. Don't let the great interior design of the restaurant fool you.. While you may be enjoying your time in a futuristic themed place remember you came there to enjoy a delicious meal. Our meals were anything but delicious.. Pod is known for sushi and let me just say I've never had such terrible sushi in my life i got a shrimp tempura roll, spicy tuna, lump crab California and a dynamite roll.. All very common rolls.. But the shrimp tastes like an old hotdog wrapped in rice.. And the rice tasted as if it had glue in it. The dynamite roll was SLIMY and nothing in it. California roll tasted off and tuna rolls had completely wrong seasonings. The rest of my family got fried rice and pad Thai, they were not pleased at all. This place is over priced and does not know how to create an enjoyable meal.. I will never go back again.
(1)Elaine T.
(clear throat) I am going to start my first review on yelp with this awesome place in philly. Forgive for my bad English since I am Chinese and I can't do better (jk). I was in Philly for business around the Upenn area. A friend of mine who lives in Philly brought me there, which is happen to be right next to the hotel I am saying (Inn at Penn). It has a good location, neighborhood of Upenn and Drexel university. When I first went in there, I started to love it. They have really cool decorations, fancy cool chairs/booths that look really modern, and colored lights all over the restaurant that creates a vivid yet relaxing atmosphere. Also they have TV screens showing Japanese anime, which I think is kinda cute. In addition, they have the conveyor sushi belt. Though we didn't get a chance to sit there, but I've never encountered any place with that in Atlanta so I think that's cool. They had a wide selection of drinks, some are asian fusion, e.g. sake mojito, drinks with calpico and yuzu etc. I had a 'green', which is lime and honeydew. I love fruity drinks in general so obviously I loved it. We ordered chicken lettuce wrap, rainbow roll and pad thai. I was at first skeptical about american asian fusion restaurants because I can be picky about asian food. But i think this place is actually pretty good for asian fusion food. Rainbow roll is pretty standard quality. LOVE their lettuce wrap. It contains chicken stir fry that you wrap it around with lettuce. Compared to other american chinese food places which basically just tastes sweet and soy saucy, I think they did make it quite authentic in flavor; with a little twist in incorporating the lettuce wrap. Pad thai was not amazing, but I like the fact that they add little bit of spiciness compared to other pad thais I had before in america. Service was good. The server checked on us five times while we were eating. ;P Yes, you can say this place is pricy just for the food,. But it's in neighborhood with hotels so you can't really complain too much. Still I'd say it's a nice place to hang out once a while, and I would recommend people who are traveling like me to go there.
(4)Olena S.
I've been to this place a couple of times, and the food is good depending on what you order. I'm kind of a picky eater so I won't hold that against the place, but there were only a couple of dishes that I liked (the sea bass is AMAZING). The place itself was pretty cool, more of a futuristic design - especially with the bathrooms! It's a cool place overall.
(3)Erin P.
Don't sit in the "pods" at pod. The ambient color changes can really throw off your sense of food perception. Sit in the main dining room with normal lighting sp you can enjoy your food. Calamari salad: bleh. Not enough calamari. Too many greens. Too much fluorescence. Bland dressing. Next. Toro sushi roll: this was delicious but I have no idea what colors it was, which would have been nice. Duck 2 Ways (pan seared duck breast and duck confit with sun-dried cherry bao bun): This was so amazing. Why don't I eat duck more often? I've never had a duck I didn't like. The duck "pan" tasted exactly like what I used to grab for lunch in Tokyo-soft, tender, fluffy, meaty. The pan seared breast was caramelized nicely all around the outside and (I am pretty sure that) it was as rare as we wanted it. Tasty. Day-glo. Fluffer Nutter spring roles with peanut butter. NOM! What does nom mean anyway? So many people I know use this word and I am now jumping on the bandwagon because I can only assume that it means, "Utterly delicious and mouth-watering." The moral of the story here is: go to pod (once, maybe twice) and sit in a normal seat with normal light. For food's sake. For the love of food. Or sit at the kaiten-zushi and pick exactly what you want from their fine sushi menu as it glides by.
(2)Erica M.
Today was my third and best time at Pod. I'm not sure why I haven't reviewed before, but here it is. Tonight I went for dinner with a group of 9. The food was better than I remembered for my 2 past lunches (the udon noodles I had last time were just way too salty). Tonight I had the pleasure of ordering food for 9 people to share on someone else's credit card. SCORE! We had a wide variety of foods. We started with the chicken and seafood spring rolls, rock shrimp, a salad, and chicken lettuce wraps. Out of those dishes the spring rolls were definitely my favorite. We got the large sushi/sashimi platter and the fish was excellent. Very fresh. For entrees we tried the crab fried rice, lamb lo mein, wasabi crusted filet, and sea bass. I ordered the wasabi crusted filet medium and it definitely came out closer to well-done, which was especially disappointing because they sliced it so they had to have seen the fully brown center. The sea bas was definitely my favorite of the entrees. For dessert we tried the lemon cheesecake, chocolate bread pudding, and creme brulee. All of the desserts were delicious. I'm not a huge fan of the ambiance (the colored pods kinda hurt my eyes and the bathrooms feel like an airplane bathroom). But overall it was good food and a great go-to for high-end food in University City.
(4)Elena D.
Loveeeeeee the sushi! AMAzIng decore and ambience! The staff is nice. The music is loungie and the movies the play at lunch by the sushi train are halarious! I actually think the entire idea is brilliant. It seriosly feels like you are in some sort of spaceship. The drinks are great and if you sit in one of the pods you can pretend like you are five and change the color of the pod and lighting :)
(5)Tracy P.
Going into Pod I had high expectations. I've heard good reviews from friends, and their menu was really appealing to me. Walking into the futuristic atmosphere was really fun. I loved all of the furniture and the different colored lights. And the "pod" seating they had looked really fun as well. It had a very 5th Element feel. As for the food I ordered the miso soup, which to me at $7 was really high to me. The soup itself was really bland. It tasted pretty watered down to me as well. I make better miso myself at home! The plus to the soup was that they give you alot of it. I kept it simple with the sushi, I had an eel avocado roll, and I grabbed a philly roll from the belt. I wasn't impressed at all by their selection, and I felt like the rolls weren't creative at all and overpriced. I don't mind paying alot if the quality is there, but it was lacking. The two that I had were really mediocre and actually kind of warm. My friend grabbed a California roll that had obviously been sitting out for awhile because the avocado was spotting. It was disgusting. Yuck! On to the stuff I liked... I had a plum margarita, ish was bangin' haha. But I'm a sucker for anything made with plum wine, and the tequila was heavy handed. Much appreciated. Also, my friend and I split a piece of their yuzu lemon cheesecake. Omg! Amazingggg! My only issue with that was when it was gone, I wanted more! Our server was really nice and attentive, I think her name was Jenny, but I could be wrong. She was imformative and helpful, and also super cute. And I loved how she was really attentive, yet still gave us our space. I hate being hovered over. I don't think I'll actually go back to Pod for dinner, but I think I'll definitely return for drinks and desert sometime.
(3)Craig O.
I've been here 3 or 4 times and am writing based on my most recent visit. Generally I enjoy my trip to POD and usually sit in the "POD" areas where they have colorful lights you can change which is a lot of fun for the group. It can take some time to get your eyes used to the changes however. We had dinner on a Monday night. The restaurant wasn't very busy yet service was still slow. It took about 15 minutes to get seated (even though we had a reservation), 15 minutes for our server to show up to the table, and 15 minutes to get our drink order in. Luckily we weren't in a huge rush. We did have to get up after we were seated to go find our server. She was chatting with the bartender most of the night. We decided to go with the tasting menu for 5...even though there were 7 of us. There was still WAY to much food. Not a huge problem from a customer standpoint, but you are full before the entrées even come to the table. Even though we were spending almost $400 on dinner, we barely saw our server. She came. We were never asked for drink refills until dessert. I sat most of the night w/ an empty beer glass. It blows my mind when servers don't want to build up tip money. The food was decent, there was just too much of it. I wouldn't recommend the tasting menu. Too much food. No place to put it on the table. You see the bus boy more than you see the server. I'll probably skip POD in the future. Nothing spoils a business meeting more than being angry that the server isn't at your table enough to attend to your clients needs.
(2)Wendy H.
I had lunch at Pod for the first time this week. Overall, it was decent but overpriced. I wouldn't recommend Pod since there are many Asian fusion restaurants similar to Pod that have better prices or ambiance or both, but I can see how it might be popular with students from Penn or others who are in the area. It seemed like most of the people having lunch were grad students. The cauliflower appetizer was surprisingly good. It was two skewers of grilled cauliflower marinated in some type of balsamic sauce. The menu said it was balsamic, but to me it tasted more like soy sauce with a bit of sugar. It was similar to crispy brussel sprout dishes I've had in the past that are salty and sweet at the same time. The salmon avocado roll fine - pretty standard but made with brown rice. Vegan Stephen was another interesting one. Instead of laying salmon or other fish on top of the rolls, the chef layered tomato, roasted pepper and avocado on the roll to make it look like any other sushi roll. Great way to include vegetarians/vegans. The decor probably would have looked nicer at night.
(3)Laura S.
I was pleasantly surprised by my dinner experience at Pod. I hadn't been for over 4 years and remembered it as overpriced and pretentious, and the food didn't make an impression. My return visit was anything but. Pod, I was wrong - I apologize! And I apologize to myself for denying us this delicious food on outdated information. The service was really stellar. I came with a large party (16 people) for a birthday celebration, they put us in a private room at the back of the restaurant. It only took about 10 minutes to get us seated and we were able to order drinks and hang out in the cute lounge area in the front or the restaurant while we waited. Our waiter was phenomenal and did a great job taking care of our group. His drink recommendations and descriptions were also spot-on - try the green martini! I ate a ridiculous amount of food, and everything I tried ranged from good to excellent. The "robata" menu selections - cooked on a 1000 degree grill - were excellent; I shared the cauliflower with friends. The bok choy was also good, although not as innovative. For my entree I had the wasabi-crusted filet mignon. The steak was absolutely perfectly cooked and the glaze was phenomenal. I thought the mashed potatoes could have used more wasabi, they were a little bland. I sampled the tofu lettuce wraps, they had great flavor and the serving size was huge - plenty to share with friends as an appetizer or entree. Desserts were surprisingly good. The mocha brownie was very dense, I couldn't eat more than a bite but oh what a bite it was. The vanilla bean mousse was lighter and just as flavorful. Overall, an excellent dinner and experience. I'll be back!
(4)Jay C.
We took some clients to POD and had a fantastic meal. We chose the Chef's tasting menu which afforded 5 of us an amazing spread of sushi, dim sum, fresh fish and meats that more than satisfied the team. Add in a gigantic bottle of Sake and you've got all the makings for a great night. Yes the ambiance is a little 'Tokyo 1998' with plastic and rounded edges coming at you from every angle but it works. Favorite dishes include the Sea Bass, Calamari Salad and Crab Fried Rice.
(4)Michaelia K.
This is what sushi bars will look like in the future. Okay, not really. But it does have a whole futuristic vibe going on, especially given the name "Pod" (Was that given to it before the iPod? Who knows.) It's all kinds of wonderful/weird as they have a great Asian fusion menu, fabulous drinks (HELLO Wasabi Bloody Mary), and awesome bathrooms (I'm a sucker for quirks) while they try to transform you to the set of The Jetsons. My friend and I visited our other best friend who goes to UPenn, and per his suggestion we went here for my friend's birthday. He lived right on campus, and it seriously is a hop, jump and skip away from his place as it's in the heart of University City. So depending on the night you go, you could end up with a lot of undergrads and their parents... Of the Stephen Starr restaurants in Philly, I was thrilled this is the one we ended up going to! Make sure you make a reservation because it can end up getting packed. And try to resist the urge to robot-speak when ordering.
(4)Nancy S.
I came for the new late-night happy hour. Starts from 9pm to close. $5 maki's and $6 signature cocktails. My date and I really enjoyed the chicken dumplings and shrimp tempura.
(4)Ren M.
For Christmas this year, my grandmother bought me the most awesome/ridiculous dress I've ever owned. It's this little black dress covered with shiny reflective rectangles, and I look like a disco ball every time I wear it. I had worn it for New Years, but was searching for an opportunity again. Knowing that, and being a big innovative design enthusiast himself, my boyfriend chose Pod for our anniversary. The place definitely has atmosphere down. The bar stools were the squishiest, most comfortable backless chairs I've ever sat upon. The lighting was neat-o with the led's everywhere. I didn't personally notice any color changing except in the larger group pods, but maybe that was causing too many seizures to the majority of guests and was phased out. Honestly, it felt like I showed up to the party a little late. The restaurant has been open for a while and it didn't have quite the zing I imagine it once had. The bathroom pods were getting a little decrepit, and more like their more commonly used counter parts (port-a-potties). I also didn't like being unable to cross my legs under the table. For that much money I like to have some freedom of mobility. As for the food: Kobe dim sum was obviously tasty, the food runner cooked it for us on a hot stone, which was kind of exciting, wasabi and teriyaki on the side. Are teriyaki, soy sauce, and wasabi the only asian condiments though? I mean, it's fusion, right, any other ideas? Crab fried rice was tasty. Make sure you like onion. I do. Small sushi plate was more than enough for two people. But I mean...it's sushi. I prefer Vic in rittenhouse, for half the price... Macadamia chicken was good. But it was just like any other chinese place's cashew chicken, just with macadamia nuts instead. And dessert was fluffernutter spring rolls. Very clever, Pod. Those were good too. Dark chocolate dipping sauce on the side. To sum up, if you're going to Pod, you're paying for a hyped up atmosphere and excellent service. I love having 6 different people keeping my space clean and ready for more food. And everyone was friendly and good at their job. But the food is definitely not worth the price. It was not bad, but it definitely wasn't great. The food at Pod just lacks the WOW factor. I'd say save your money, and head over to the Barbary if you really want the light show. My dress matched their disco ball perfectly too, and the bottles of Yuengling are a $1.50 cheaper.
(3)Anthony W.
I didn't really eat anything I was more so hanging out with a couple of buds. They ate and drank, I was actually full from Mad Mex down the street, but... that's how we ended up here to begin with. We came from Mad Mex and were intrigued by Pod sunken in modernist style. If I wasn't full I would've gotten some Pho. I'm curious how good it is though because it costs almost 3 times as much as a regular Viet Pho spot. The decor and vibe were interesting. I don't like the general seating, but the space was varied. There were little party booths, couches, in the wall platform seats, and I think there was even a VIP section at the end. We watched Speed Racer at the rotobar while my buds ate sushi. Overall, it's really a novel sort of place. The service was good, but it wasn't that crowded either.
(3)Jarrod B.
I've read a couple of bad reviews of Pod and I can't understand why. I went for an early dinner on a Sunday during University City's restaurant week. It wasn't crowded at all, and we were seated soon after we arrived. The decor can be described as retro-futuristic resembling modern design as if imagined by an artist during the 1960s. My date and I were seated by the far back wall at a table that was a little too low; my date complained that she couldn't cross her legs. Other than that, Pod is very open and visually appealing. The bathrooms are exit replicas of those found on airplanes or tour buses, albeit a little larger. Pod's cuisine is the all-too-popular "Asian Fusion" found in most large American cities today and unfortunately it doesn't impress at times. For starters, we had the underwhelming Penn Roll and the very delicious Pork Dumplings. The main courses consisted of the Sea Bass for myself and the Lamb Chops for my date. The Sea Bass was absolutely amazing although the glaze proved to be a bit too sweet towards the end. The Chops were good but didn't impress like the Sea Bass. For dessert, we had this butterscotch crumb cake which was ok. Our drinks were pretty good however, with me having a sake mojito and a japanese stout and my date having a drink with whiskey and fresh raspberries. Pod is definitely a place that has to be tried as it provides a unique atmoshere, interesting drinks and food that's sure to impress novice foodies.
(3)Heta P.
Steven Starr, I want to like you- I really do. You've monopolized the Philly restaurant scene but your food is mediocre at best. My sister and I dined here the other night. I really don't understand how anyone can appreciate the decor of this restaurant, it aims to be trendy and new age but is incredibly tacky. I felt like I walked into Austin Powers' Philadelphia satellite office. As for the food, meh. I would have expected fresher fish, I could tell my salmon was defrosted minutes before it was cooked and the tuna sushi was warm and squishy. I've had better supermarket sushi. The service also sucked, our waitress spilled my beer and didn't offer to get me a new one or take it off the bill. She was spastic and cleared a plate that wasn't finished.
(2)Ida C.
I still remember the sell-lunch that launched my post-college career... THE SETTING: POD Restaurant in a futuristic private pod dining area with color changing lights. In retrospect, I wonder if the recruiters spent the lunch lamenting the fact that they'd extended an offer to me, a simpleton glutton fascinated by the color changing controls and capable of consuming vast quantities of food. THE FOOD: In an effort to "sell" us on the jobs, the recruiters ordered a good portion of the menu, but for me, the stand outs were: 1. Lettuce Wraps with Chicken and Beef ($16) - I've always loved lettuce wraps, but these were truly exceptional with a great peanut sauce. There is a nice smoky flavor from wok-searing and the marinade is really yummy! 2. Tempura Rock Shrimp ($15) - With pineapple and candied walnuts, this type of rock shrimp dish is now on a lot of menus, but I believe that POD's version may be the original! In any event the grilled pineapple is still rather unique and delicious 3. Crab Spring Rolls ($16) - Sure these are pricey spring rolls, but if you are on the expense account, this is a good choice! 4. Calamari Salad ($11) - Crispy fried calamari features generously in this salad with mixed greens and a lemongrass dressing 5. Glazed Chilean Sea Bass ($28) - Oh yes, more please! The fish is excellent, but my favorite is the mashed Japanese sweet potatoes. Buttery, sweet, creamy and fluffy, I dare not venture a guess as to the multitude of sinful ingredients hidden within its secret recipe After ending the extravagant lunch with the Chocolate Chocolate Chocolate dessert, it was an easy decision to accept the job! THE DRINKS: I've revisted POD many times through the years. I can fondly recall attempting to drink the rainbow with my partners in crime during the $5 happy hour. My favorites are pink (champagne, pineapple and cranberry) and yellow (passion fruit vodka, yuzu and grapefruit). PARTING THOUGHT: Although many things on the menu are delicious, my all time favorite meal is still the Lettuce Wraps with Chicken and Beef and a side of Japanese Sweet Potatoes (they usually do it for ~$4)
(4)Heather L.
There's better sushi, and definitely cheaper sushi, but the ambiance (2001 without the crazy computer and creepy StarBaby) and the cocktails (Zen and tonic! Blood orange sidecar!) and the amazing desserts (FLUFFERNUTTER SPRING ROLLS) are worth a special-occasion visit. If you're sitting at the conveyor-belt-sushi-bar, head for the far end; the belt moves clockwise and if you're at the near end it can be an evening of "edamame, edamame, california roll, california roll, edamame... is there any tuna in the house??" Service can get slow on a Saturday night - and if sushi keeps appearing before you it can be easy to lose count of how many plates you've eaten.
(4)Ashley R.
I have been to Buddakan several times and I'm a bit obsessed, so I was pretty excited when a friend (with a $125 gift card! SCORE!) suggested Pod. Stephen Starr did a fantastic job with the layout. Sadly, we weren't seated in a pod, but we all agreed that we need to come back so we can get the chance to have dinner in one. Since we were going out drinking later, we all decided that sushi would be a bad idea, so we opted to share a few dishes. We ordered martini's and I chose the Blue Martini first, which tasted like tropical fruit. It was ok, not great. Since Pod serves the food as it is done, our Edamame came out first, which was nice, because we could sit and chat and have drinks while still munching on something. The Crab Spring Rolls, Butter Poached Lobster and Grilled Teryaki Salmon were all decent, but I don't think I'd order them again. Especially the lobster. The bok choy and tofu just didn't seem to work well with the lobster. However, the Asian Braised Short Ribs and Wasabi Crusted Filet were TO. DIE. FOR. Absolutely delicious. Loved the Udon noodles with the short ribs and the wasabi mashed potatoes that came with the Filet were delicious. So moral of the food story: stick to the red meat. While we were eating, the manager convinced my friend and I to try the Orange Martini after finishing our first round. It was ok. It was mixed with carrot juice and ginger...but it was a little heavy on the ginger and whatever spices they used. I think it would be a great drink to pair with some sushi, but it was a little tough to drink. To make it up to us, the manager brought over a free round of the Yellow Martini, which ended up being my favorite. I LOVE passionfruit, and the tartness of the drink was great. A friend ordered the green tea gin and tonic, which was seriously refreshing and delicious. We tried the Fluffernutter Spring Rolls and the sorbet, which was a perfect end to the night. We racked up a pretty serious bill by the end of the night, but luckily we had a nice friend to share her gift card with us. Next time, I don't plan on ordering as much, but dammit, I want to sit in a pod! And make sure you check out the bathrooms... they're definitely interesting...I felt like I was in an airplane. Kinda strange, but fun.
(4)Austine C.
Dear Pod, I like your bathrooms and your crispy chicken seafood spring rolls, and how you were the backdrop for uniting a really good friend of mine together. Alas, I think this is a one night stand. First, let's talk about your sushi. I like my slab of fish cold and my rice warm and compressed. Yours? The fish and rice are both room temp and undecided. You should be ashamed that you have a faux conveyor belt...Japan would say, "No sake fo' you!" Secondly, your house salad is much too vinegar and no sesame seed oil. Don't you know that this is an essential ingredient for a typical salad? You really pay for the Starr decor and experience. Personally, I found it tawdry and a bit gimmicky. If you are in the mood for sushi, you may just want to find another escape pod.
(3)Mia R.
HMMMMMM.... it was OK! yes, cool decor. yes, half decent waiter & other team members. yes, a bit too costly for a few items! peace & conservation
(3)Mackenzie B.
Ate here for my birthday last New Year's Eve. Loved the atmosphere and design! (I'm an "art" person.) The food was great and the sushi was some of the best I've ever had, although the portions on the "surf & turf" meals were rather humble. I, myself, ordered a type of salad, can't really remember since it was so long ago, but it was delicious! When we got there we had to wait for 2 people in our party before they would actually seat us, so we didn't get to sit in one of the cool "pods" because another group arrived after us, but all their members were there - so they got the pod. (Grrrrr.) We had fun anyway sitting around having drinks, exploring the way cool airplane like bathrooms, and watching the funky Japanese cartoons they were playing. I would say it's definately an event to go here. The only sucky part - on street parking has meters no matter what time of day...
(4)Liz Y.
I've been to Pod two times and each time it's been great! The first time was for lunch. We started with the yellow martinis and I had the kobe beef burger cooked medium which was really good! The all you can eat sushi was also phenomenal. I LOVE IT HERE! Also, if you're lucky, you may have the pleasure of meeting Mr. Yaeger :)
(5)Martina M.
Pod has gone downhill. My lack of tolerance for incompetence was in full gear tonight. My children saved their allowances and bought me a gift cert to Pod to take me there for my birthday celebration. We booked a reservation and requested a Pod. After driving for 1.5 hours to get there, Not only did they not accommodate our pod request at 5pm, but they sat us in their empty restaurant with a view of the kitchen and dirty dish station! I was appauled, especially since our meal was well over $400. They eventually moved us after my several attempts to complain. the food was less than adaquate. Crab wontons were missing an ingredient. The waitress forgot about our rock shrimp tempura, and the rotari was overrated. Pod was a disaster!
(1)Lillian C.
The food is overpriced and mediocre.
(2)Ripp K.
My favorite sushi place in the city. I know other spots are more famous but in terms of price vs. quality this place is the poop. Creative food, excellent quality and just an all around great experience. I have had my birthday here twice with a huge group and a few times on a Monday or Tuesday my g/f and I have gone over and just sat at the sushi bar and pigged out.
(4)Colleen L.
This has been the celebratory restaurant for my fiance and myself for a while. He would like me to say that it's his favorite restaurant. Pod isn't my favorite, but I've always had a fabulous dinner. My personal favorite dish is the wasabi-crusted filet mignon. I've never had sushi there that was not fresh, and we are sushi snobs. There are better places in the city if all you want is sushi, but you will not be let down by their selection or quality. Yes, the decor is modern (I like it). Yes, it's a Steven Star restaurant. Yes, it's slightly overpriced. All that aside, Pod is worth at least one visit.
(4)Ben F.
wow, this place was awesome.... Decor, Staff, food A++++ Sit at the bar, they are amazing!
(5)Miranda S.
Excellent on a cold night hanging out at the bar having a cocktail with friends. I have debates with local friends that are native and non-native about this place. I think this place gets a bad rap at times because of it's Steven Star affiliation, it's UPenn location and the restaurant's futuristic-euro-asian moderna aesthetic. With those factors it's safe to say that some will hate this place and others will love it. I say go for the fun of the experience and know that you will be paying for it. It's a treat to use the bathrooms that light up accordingly or if you get a pod, playing with the lighting. Sushi is at an excellent level for Philly, but I did find Morimoto's to be slightly better in Old City. I did have an advantage here knowing two friends that were waiters here. The inside scoop at the time in 2006 was most of the staff were great people and that the boss/ manager was a hard person to work for. Naturally the staff has a mix of veterans and rookies. I would say overall the service is good. The location is also easy to get to by foot and trolley.
(4)Statia M.
You know, when Pod first opened, it was actually good. I'm not exactly sure what happened. Maybe I've changed. Maybe living in CA made me more of a food snob. Especially when it comes to sushi. That said, I can't even tell you how disappointed I am at how much this restaurant has gone down hill. I think this place needs a complete revamp, including the menu. What used to be cute and trendy back in the day, is just now downright annoying. The drinks named after colors? I'm over it. I don't think the menu has changed one bit since it opened. We sat at the sushi bar, because it was pretty crowded and I didn't figure we would have a chance at getting a table. The sushi on the belt was very vanilla. Typical most ordered sushi and it was very bland, and stale. No pow at all. My husband and I ordered appetizers as our meals, because we figured we'd grab a few things off the belt. My "dinner" of crab spring rolls, took about 45 minutes. For spring rolls. When asking our server what the hold up was, she just kind of shrugged and said "that's weird, I mean, it was ordered" and then went on her merry way, as if to subliminally tell me that it wasn't her problem anymore. I get that it's a hopping place and that we're one of the chosen few who is lucky to grace us with your presence by working here, but get over yourself and fetch my dinner. I felt like that surreal scene in Garden State where Zach Braff arrives at his job. Bottom line: Pod is a total has been restaurant. And if you need any more proof of that, just check out the woman next to you, who is probably drinking her colored martini out of a straw.
(2)T H.
This may be a typical "fusion" asian restaurant in a bad way. It does not do any one thing that well. Many of the fusion items seem to have their original flavors water down. The service is good and it is good for a group IF you can get one of the "pods" (otherwise, pretty noisy).
(3)peter s.
Been here three or four times on Penn's dime. Consistently underwhelming, hype over quality. Lunch the other day was ramen soup, which was not as good as what you get out of a 59 cent bag -- inedibly salty, with dumplings that had clearly gone straight from the freezer to the microwave. I'm with the school that thinks Stephen Starr is net drag on the Philadelphia food scene, occupying the high end with a loud soundtrack rather than good food.
(1)Phil S.
Chilean sea bass... and sushi. Yum!!
(5)Barkha G.
I have been living in University City for a year and half now and have meant to try POD for a while. I mean, we go to Center City at least twice a week, and hadn't tried the closest STARR restaurant to us. That said, happy we didn't make the rush. This restaurant is one of the most over-rated places I have tried in Philadelphia. I tried the Udon Noodle Soup...except...well its not a soup. Maybe they should change the name on the menu then ...hint hint. The noodles come plated and are very flavorful along with the savory mushrooms and tofu. I tried the White Peach-Mint soda which was very refreshing for a lunch spritzer. But nothing extraordinary. My friend had wanted to get her sushi wrapped in cucumber and the waitress originally said it was no problem, and then came back later to tell us it would be $8 more per roll. She was very apologetic, but for a place that is already overpriced, we found this a bit ridiculous that they couldn't accommodate such a request. We didn't care much for the ambiance either except that it is well "unique". For spending $$$, would expect better service and even better food.
(2)Mark M.
The restaurant was really cool. I was sad that we only went for lunch, as the place probably really lights up at night. The place is stark white, with awesome colored lights all over the place. The sushi conveyor belt was pretty cool too. All the furniture is futuristic and plastic. I mean do I even need to say any more? I'd go there if it had HALF the stuff I explained! Also, the food is pretty good and you get a lot for what you pay for. Anyone who says its expensive must eat at McDonalds regularly. I'd definitely go back, but later on at night for the full experience.
(5)Chihee K.
Ok, I'm giving Pod a higher rating now after having gone here for a fun celebration (accidentally) with friends for my birthday of all days. The orange martinis are good. Stick to those.
(2)J. L.
We had a surprisingly bad experience at Pod in September so when we were asked to provide a review we were very honest. We immediately received an email from the manager at Pod, asking that we return so that they could make it right. We did return last Friday and had a terrific time. The food continues to impress, espeicially the new robota menu, and the service was great (thank you Bill). Great save Pod--the way a restaurant recovers from a bad experience speaks volumes and Pod impressed us all around.
(5)Anh C.
Even though it is a Steven Starr restaurant, I cannot give it five stars. First, let's start with the environment which I absolutely adore. Very futuristic concept and my favorite part will have to be when I am accommodated in the "pods". Here guests are seated around a round white table in what is literally a pod. You are enabled with a pad in which you can control the lighting to change from colors all over the spectrum. Very fun. But down to the nitty gritty, I enjoyed meals at Pod several times already but it doesn't stand out to me as something I would miss if my friends were to stop choosing this venue for their birthday dinners. It is true to their genre of Asian fusion and if you are someone who likes to try everything at least once in your life or for a nice celebratory place, I'd say go right ahead and do so. If you're looking for a staple in your lists of restaurants and venues, I would just skip onto the next.
(4)Kimberly P.
Pod is an enjoyable experience if only for the atmosphere. The space age dcor is both weird and a delight at the same time. If you have a group, definitely request a pod. These white orbs with changing lights are so entertaining you might forget that you were there for the food! The bathrooms follow the same theme and are just plain old cool. As to the food, the dessert and cocktails are great. The chocolate trio dessert is delish. I think that the food is nothing special, definitely overpriced and not attention grabbing. The only thing that I had that was attention grabbing was the vegetable tempura and that was because the batter that the veggies were fried in was completely and absolutely devoid of flavor. No spices at all. It was quite a weird experience. I would still recommend the Pod though because I am a huge fan of fun atmospheres. Grab a couple of friends, reserve a Pod and have a dessert night!
(4)j w.
Took 19 year old daughter for birthday and were delighted with service and food. We had entrees, filet mignon with wasabi mashed potatoes and lamp chops. She had tuna sushi. Apps had spring rolls and sides mushrooms and crab fried rice. The entrees were great, fried rice perfect and sushi and spring rolls piping hot and fantastic. Waitress was right amount of attentive. Room reminds me me of movie Sleeper by Woody Allen. Prices a little high but par for a Starr restaurant. We will definitely be back.
(5)johnny b.
Trendy but food was lacking. Two stars always means I'd only go back if someone else is paying or forced. Average at best. Good for people in suburbs that don't get out much. Go to Raw for better food.
(2)Mr B.
Wow. I came here from Princeton, with high expectations. A sushi conveyor, Asian food, and pods? Wow, my expectations were high. I came here with my family, with the same expectations. I ordered pork dumplings with the regular sashimi. Great dumplings, lots of fresh sushi. Great food. I would come back for it any time, but the decor is literally out-of-this-world level awesome. We entered a pod, and I found out immediately that the colors were changeable. Throughout the course of our hour long meal, the color must have changed about...80, maybe 100 times. Techno music pumped through Pod's powerful subwoofers, and Astros Boy animes were showing. The seats were surprisingly comfortable. The bathrooms were weird and cool at the same time, but a little dirty. There was this weird rooms with phones and anime, must have been a phoning room. Service was slow, but friendly. I would so return. $200 + bill, though.
(5)Annie P.
Calamari Salad is great as well as the signature rolls. This place has such a great atmosphere. Martini's are also on point.
(4)Autumn B.
Not my favorite place for Sushi but the atmosphere is funky. Try to avoid them during Restaurant Week or if they have some kind of event going on because the staff and chefs are prone to meltdowns when it gets crazy.
(3)Yu Ting Y.
expensive, overrated food.
(2)Russ C.
I was a past my prime actor who was attempting to squeeze whatever was left out of my sponge of a career by committing to commercials in Tokyo. I am trapped in a mediocre stateside marriage and I was feeling lost, both in life and in Tokyo's culture. She was a newlywed who was questioning her decision, and her place in this world. By exploring Japan, she found herself falling deeper into a state of confusion. Together we rediscovered what is essential and what it is we are to get out of this life. We explored Tokyo's night life as she showed me that that there is still joy to be found. Engaging in deep conversations I unknowingly helped guide her towards self-actualization. We reconnected once we returned home. I had not seen her in months and was anxious to see how she was now faring. We met at Pod, where we could rekindle our Japanese experience both visually and emotionally. We sat on spongy seats which glowed neon upon contact and drank martinis that matched the light beneath us. It was painfully obvious that we are now both in different places. She has found her path to follow and I have learned to look back fondly upon my journey. She no longer needs my guidance and I no longer need her spontaneity. We'll always have Pod.
(4)Erin R.
Drinks are really delicious. Everything else is just average, but incredibly over-priced!!! The atmosphere is cool, but not worth the price of the food. I'd recommend going here only for cocktails.
(3)Rachel B.
Again with the pod reservation. They called the day before to confirm my reservation but did not tell me the pod wasnt guaranteed or that there is a fee if I want to guarantee it. Just tell your customers all of the information and we won't be so mad! On the bright side I love the food and drinks!
(3)Jessica C.
I went to Pod tonight during the snowstorm with my roommate. I live real close to this place... so I've been here a few times already and haven't had a bad experience, but I'll only write about my experience from tonight's visit. Tonight I had a tuna-cucumber maki, which was really good. The tuna had so much flavor to it! I was a happy camper. My roommate got the shrimp tempura roll and she said it was pretty good. We also got chicken lettuce wraps and seafood fried rice, both delicious and light so it was perfect next to the maki. The peanut sauce that came with the lettuce wraps was sweet and perfect on top of the chicken. The seafood fried rice had chunks of lobster and scallops in it and I could not stop eating it. It was a large size too, between the two of us we only got through half of it, so of course we got it wrapped up to take home! Our waiter was nice and really helpful with the menu. I think he was wearing like a shimmer lip gloss. And of course, the atmosphere is cool, we sat at a 2 person table that is up against the wall on the side of the restaurant. I have never sat in the pods but I feel like they would give me a headache. The price wasn't bad, because we didn't get one of the main dishes. It came to like 25 for each of us. Not too shabby!
(4)Jacquelin K.
Pod, you get 3 stars because no matter how loaded any given rich person might be, your food is absurdly priced. I like to eat here with my ex so that I can rob him through Starr. Just kidding.... The rock shrimp is a favorite among my pals, and I'm a sucker for the sea bass. Pod looks cool from the outside, but let's face it--most of the seating inside won't blow your mind. Nothing special about the main seating area. I wouldn't come to Pod on a Saturday night; you won't be able to hear the people you're sitting with. It gets incredibly loud. I found myself at Pod constantly during my last semester at Penn, & those were some damn yummy meals. But I wouldn't make the trip to UCity to eat here now that I live downtown. If you're not sure about spending the dough here, save yourself some cash and do a test run at lunch. If you fall in love, make that dinner reservation!
(3)Daniel D.
While a bit pricey, Pod is a great restaurant to take someone from out of town to. It's all about experience here. The atmosphere, design by Karim Rashid, is fun and funky. The service generally is great, and the food isn't bad. The cocktails are totally vibrant and funky, and there sushi bar rocks!
(4)Don M.
Weird place, good for novelty at best. Pod is "high design," but it's amazing how quickly the Wallpaper look has dated, but that's all you are paying for. Food is divided into two principle types: half-decent deep fried chinese (think updated general tso's) and subpar sushi. The price is ludicrous for a university area meal. I guess students have more cash on their hands than I did or perhaps just don't understand their loans, but seriously... I spent $40 for some awful sushi and some sake. I felt lousy about doing it. Lots of money, nothing to show for it. Would've eaten better at Au Bon Pain, no question.
(1)Lindsay F.
I'm not sure why Pod is getting such so-so reviews--I really enjoy this place. Yes, the drinks are pretty overpriced ($12 for a guava margarita that is small is pretty absurd) and to be honest, I was not that impressed with the sushi I had. However, this place more than made up for it with its ambiance and food. I usually start out with the vegetable tempura or Thai lettuce wraps (the peanut dipping sauce is fabulous) and from there I get the filet mignon. I absolutely love the filet at Pod--it simply melts in my mouth and the truffled teriyake sauce is delicious. I'm usually too stuffed by dessert time, but when I can manage it, I usually opt for the creme brulee trio or the fluffernutter spring rolls. This place has a great vibe to it and the service is usually spot on. People need to give this place a chance--I think it delivers in terms of food, service and environment.
(4)bernie v.
If you're looking for a "fun" place to go - POD should be a definite consideration. Funky decor, very friendly waitstaff, electronica music playing in the background - unfortunately the food is just ok. We had the kobe beef appetizer, the crab spring rolls, shrimp pad thai, and the rainbow roll. All were decent except for the rainbow roll - which I thought was kinda subpar. Maybe we'll go back to give it another chance later down the road, but if we're in the mood for a great dinner, we won't be coming here.
(3)D J.
Pimp. Went there when it first openedin early 2000's. Was in the Diesel Boy video shoot for MTV
(4)Alex C.
steve starr...hype asian fusion...hype real world philly hang out...hype It's a lot of hype, and the last one should probably have given it away. Of all the Steven Starr restaurants in Philly, I must say this one, in terms of food, is the most average and mundane. It's your typical wasabi mashed potatoes, westernized potstickers, and assorted fish steaks asian fusion restaurant. After that, Pod also offers a sushi bar and your typical Thai and Chinese stir-fry dishes. The portions are large and are done decently well, but I just expect more from a restaurant of this supposed caliber--more creativity, more daring entrees. Food-wise, it's just nothing terribly special for the price. During the multiple times that I've had recruiting dinners here or come here with friends to celebrate an occasion, I just haven't felt any change in the menu...maybe, a couple of specials...but besides that...it's been the same things repeated over and over again. The only thing that saves Pod from being relegated to the 2-star level is the fact that it has a cool bar and some fun cocktails. It's definitely a nice place to hang around and get a drink, and I prefer it much more as a pre or post-dinner cocktail lounge because I'd much rather go somewhere else for food. If you're in the mood for Steven Starr, Asian fusion, and cool atmosphere, go to Buddakan...it just feels more suave and I think the food tastes better there. Additionally, I hate the blue uniforms that they make the Pod staff wear.
(3)Chris Y.
Hip atmosphere and a bit reminiscent of Stars Wars IV's watering hole (you know the one where Luke enters that bar with the big lip alien chick singing and then he severs some poor space rat's hand off). However a feeling of uneasiness shrouded my soul when the bill came, good thing my girl paid!
(4)Matthew D.
Awesome environment! Great food - lots of 'raw' dishes... Must see if your in University City!
(4)Richard T.
The food here is so-so with the sushi being the best thing here. The decor is great - what else would you expect from a Steven Starr restaurant. My recent trip here for someones birthday was the worst thing ever. We made a reservation in advance and when we got here the hostess mentioned that are table was ready. We were okay with that, but as the time past (40 minutes) we still weren't seated. As a result we decided to leave since apparently reservations doesn't count. One thing that was interesting as soon as we left the hostess said "fine if that's you're prerogative." I thought that was rude I will definitely not go there anymore.
(2)Tiffany J.
because I love budakhan, this place barely measured up! The only thing exceptional was the Lobster sushi, everything else was just ok! This is like Budakhan's evil stepsister, I just don't think it has the same love! Now the decor is nice, very fancy and "futuristic" as one post said. But the bathroom...UGH! I could've died! I thought I was in an airplane bathroom with no windows or ventilation! I almost threw up in there! The one upside was that our waiter was the most gorgeous man alive! he made the night enjoyable! We went and tried 3 apps, 2 dinners, 2 desserts and 4 drinks, the drinks were good, the sushi: great, everything else, just average! this is my least favorite Steven Starr establishment!
(2)Aire G.
this place is so unassuming from outside. if i hadn't been with someone who knew where they were going i would have walked right past it. It took me a moment to notice the little pods playing anime on the outside of the building and i was already excited. i walked into the building and as soon as i crossed the threshold i felt like i was in a completely different space. this place is awesome. it's colors are amazing, i love the decor. Although i didn't get pod experience this time because we didn't have enough people i still got to taste some colors. Red is definitely one of my favorites. the food was out of this world. the spring roll appetizers were amazing, the sushi was worth the price and the desert was out of this world. i have to go back just for the pod experience. hell i would go with 4 strangers to have it again~! a restaurant everyone needs to try before they die. maybe i'm just partial to any high class restaurant that shows anime
(5)Summer A.
Hungry for sushi? Grab two or three of your friends and head over to Pod, an Asian "fusion" restaurant in the heart of the city. You'll feel like you're stepping into the pages of a magazine, given the modern feel of the...well, pod, that you're experiencing. I've only been there for lunch -- but I recommend the chicken lettuce wraps and a house salad (big enough for two to share) for starters! Just don't look to get too full from the fare. I definitely was ready to snack by the time I got back to my office. :-b
(4)Shon C.
came to pod while visiting philly, mostly because it was right next door to our hotel. this place looks like a space-ship, so that's a plus. food was excellent, although a bit overpriced. really enjoyed the potsickers w/ mustard aioli, as well as the spicy tuna rolls topped with rock shrimp. the real reason to come here is really for the ambience - worth a visit at least once.
(3)L S.
The martini's were good but not strong I had 2 and I still didin't have a buzz and I'm a "lightweight". I ordered the Chicken entree with carrots and snap peas it was very good. I would definitely go back!
(4)Marc M.
Disney Land Asian food for adults? If there were such a thing, Pod would be leading the way. Aside from trying to be too cool, the food is just mediocre. Now, I'm just as happy as the next man to eat mediocre food if it's at a mediocre price. So you see my dilemma - Pod's pricing is anything but mediocre. I have also received less than mediocre service and that's just down right annoying when the kitchen staff can at least aim for mediocre. Over rated and over stated - that's Pod.
(2)Oski B.
I've come here a few times for work lunches. It's decent food, the staff is reasonably attentive, and the food comes out pretty quickly. If you go during the academic year, this place is crawling with undergrads charging another meal to their parents and Wharton kids spending they $100K+ in b-school loans that they've already taken out as they live in denial about the job market.
(3)stephanie x.
You can find better food elsewhere. The portions are very small. There were 4 of us and we split one of their plates of maki and nigiri, tempura combination, kobe beef appetizer, duck duck udon, and shumai (pork dumplings). We still all left a little hungry. It's a place to go just to experience the different flavors, but I recommend pre-eating. The fish on the nigiri was very nice and fatty and tasted like it just melted in your mouth. The maki however was unimpressive, tasted like something you can get for $6 from the local grocer. The tempura combination was pretty good and had a mix of shrimp, carrots, string beans, and potatoes. The kobe beef appetizer was not worth the price tag by any means. It's about 3 bites of thinly sliced beef, lacking any special flavor or texture. The guy who cooked it for us had a lot of difficulty using chopsticks. I was worried he was going to drop the beef when moving it from the rock to the serving plate, though he was very nice. They claim it's a popular dish, probably because they cook it for you tableside on a rock. The duck duck udon was decent. The duck meat and dumplings in the soup was a good flavor and tenderness. The shumai was terrible, loaded with salt. Any Chinatown restaurant can cook up a better shumai. The atmosphere has a futuristic space ship look to it. It's a comfortable place to eat. However, for a trendy and overpriced restaurant, the restrooms at this place do not match its dining room. Instead of having his and her bathrooms, they have these tiny rooms, about the size of a regular stall. While trying to stay with the futuristic theme, it only looks like a lavatory you find on an airplane - same size, look, and cramped feel, not to mention, dirty. Service is okay. They tend to "hover" since after all, you are paying for the service but consequently your conversation gets interrupted quite a bit. Our food plus sake for 2, and 1 cocktail, not including tip came out to $130. Ehh all around.
(2)kay k.
Loved Pod, It was my first time there. The place was packed as usual. Make a reservation, if you're going with a large party. Great for after hours or lunch with a friend, which I did that day. I ate at the Sushi bar, which has sushi rotating on a conveyor belt on the table that you can grab and sample, prices vary for each sample by the plate color from I think $2-$6, the chart is on the tables. Very Very good. I think I'll go back just for the sushi bar and drinks. I had the macadamian nut chicken, it wasn't my favorite but it was one of their more popular dishes. I preferred the chicken and shrimp egg roll appetizer in wasabi mustard, my mouth waters just thinking about how good that was mmmmmmm. So yes Pod I'll be back and excellent excellent waitress service the bartenders could be more attentive, but i understand it was very very busy in there. Kudos to them as well.
(5)Alex M.
Pod is the hot, stuck up girl with nothing really interesting to say. now, there's something to be said for this kind of girl. i visit frequently (the restaurant not the girl), usually with guests from out of town. its atmosphere is fun, especially if you get a pod where you can annoy the crap out of your fellow diners by changing the lighting in your pod to green or purple. look for the color that will make your food look like toxic waste. seriously though, the food is average and VERY expensive but its worth a visit.
(3)Meg B.
Had 3 great experiences at Pod. The service was great all three times I was there. I love the decor, very chic and modern yet very jetson like! Gotta love the convyer belt sushi bar and the fun pods. The bathrooms are modeled after an airplane bathroom ( yeah, it's interesting, not that appealing to me though!). What I can rave about: Lobster roll- Fabulous but I suggest getting one order and splitting it with a few people, may just be me but I find that if I have one or two rolls, I'm in heaven but having anymore is pushing it-they're very filling Lettuce wraps-even if you're not a fan of using the lettuce, get it for the beef and chicken stir fry alone! Sooo freakin good Crab spring rolls -also yummy and the sweet chili dipping sauce is a great compliment- these springrolls are very creamy and don't have much sprout and lettuce that you usually find in a spring roll- they remind me of the crab wontons that have disapeared from the continential menu ( tear tear) Pad Tai- I am an avid fan of pad tai and this is no disapointment! My only neg point is that they don't open until 5 on Saturdays so you can do lunch there.
(4)steven c.
Had dinner there February this year and I have to say it was great. Before I compliment this place, First let me list the bad things because there's only a few. First the price, while the food is great the price was a bit costly, around 30-40 for an entree and 20ish for an appetizer. The second is the amount of space, it seems a bit cramped because on the dining floor there are 2 columns that go down to the end fo the restaurant and maybe about a foot or 2 between each table which seats 2. Other than that I loved the place, the ambiance is nice the dim lighting really sets the mood. Their special drinks are great as well! Me and my girlfriend got non alcoholic mixed drinks and they were delicious, possibly our favorite part of the night haha. Over all the food while not amazing is quite tasty and well worth a try if you're every in a spending mood. I highly recommend the place
(3)Albert C.
Basically they've got some decent decoration and you're paying completely for the atmosphere on everything you order. The food is terribly overpriced, which is amusing considering it's in the University district. Japanese fusion - inconsistently good, also with regard to service time it's great for lunch and early dinner or later in the evening, but terrible at dinner. I say it's decent for lunch because the pricing obviously comes down and is slightly better for an expensive lunch. Also I think because of volume of business the food is better during that time.
(2)Dustin M.
Will agree with the mixed reviews below. The food is OK, atmosphere is unique, but hit 40 and you could care less, though the sake mojito was great... for $10 unfortunately. Neat place to try, but I wouldn't go back.
(2)Jen L.
We brought our friend here for dinner for her birthday and I wished that we had taken her elsewhere. The food was not impressive, and the decor was just as disappointing. Although it is one of the Stephen Starr restaurants, it seems as though not much thought or effort was put into creating it. I wished we had gone to Jones instead to have brunch for dinner because I wouldn't have been left with an unsatisfied appetite.
(1)Michelle E.
I love Pod. So, when I first heard about the "All you can eat" special, I made a reservation that day. In fact, my parents, and a few friends made reservations right away,too. When the day finally arrived for our all you an eat experience (I read a few negative reviews on here in the days prior to my reservation, but got a great report from friends who attended the night before) the restaurant was bustling with a great crowd. It felt more like a weekend night out than a Thursday. My friends and I were celebrating my new job- so the $5 Pink martini's were an added bonus to the all you can eat special. Management and our waiter were great, too. They sent edamame and shu mi to the table!! They explained the rules to us, and after much discussion at the table, only 2 of us ordered the special. I was amazed at the amount of sushi that my friends ate, and how quickly it came out-considering how crowded the restaurant was. I had my standard pod Caesar, which is my favorite salad in the city, and my other friend had the short rib dim sum- which was fabulous. Ive had a similar dish at continental- but the one a pod blows the Continental one away- its on par with the short rib at buddakan (my 2nd favorite Starr restaurant). The meal ended with what our table touted as the highlight of the meal- fluffernutter spring rolls and sesame cheesecake- UNBELIEVABLE! All in all, great job, Pod. You are trying something new, competing with restaurant week, and we had a great time, and a great meal. Cant wait to go back!
(5)T L.
The ambiance of this place was cooool! We ordered U Love Salmon & tuna tartare as appetizers, and both were delicious! For entrees, we got pork tenderloin & kobe steak - FREAKIN' DELICIOUS! The kobe steak was perfect with so much flavor! We're still craving it, haha! For drinks, we got the pink & green martinis. All this came out to be $110 pre-tip, and it wasn't too bad. The portion might not be as big compared to the price, but the taste makes up for it. We will DEFINITELY be back for more kobe steak!!
(5)Ryan C.
POD is all about the atmosphere. You'll feel like you're in that Janet/Michael Jackson Video "Scream." I've never sat in the 'POD"'s with their changeable colored lighting, they always put me in the back with the not-so-hip people. I feel this place is a bit touristy as well. Anyway, the drinks are unique. The food is fine. A bit pricey though.
(3)caitlin p.
My brother said this was the freshest, best fish he had had outside of Tokyo. Plus the interior looks like the rec dec of the original starship Enterprise. The happy hour colored drinks are amazing- I challenge anyone to "drink the rainbow"! You can get 6 yellowfin tuna sushi for 6 bucks, so its a great snack with drinks. I just wish they had better beer- not the same old shitty Asahi. The $7 salads were huge! and get the dressing on the side, it was swimming in it.
(4)Myra B.
We ordered sushi seatle(not recommended-overprice too) & spicy tuna roll was ok. House salad, sweet & sour chicken were above average however the crab fried rice was excellent. Overall the restaurant was nice but a bit overpriced.
(3)Justin K.
Are you looking for delicious Japanese/Pan Asian fusion food and Sushi in a semi futuristic eating venue? Then POD is the place for you! Featuring a neat-o dining area with funky coloring, little rooms (Pod's) you can be seated in, or the main dining area (the centerpiece of which is the Sushi Conveyor Belt) POD is HIP. Theres a tv screen above the conveyor belt that shows movies and old timey cartoons, not to mention the tasty and strangely named Cocktails (Yellow, Blue, Green, Orange, etc etc is the naming scheme...plus they have one called Samurai Jack!) But if your also looking some pretty decent food to go with your hipness, then you can't go that wrong here. The Sushi is pretty decent if nothing spectacular, but you do get to pull it off a moving conveyor belt, which adds to the fun if you sit at the Sushi Bar. All the other food I've had here has been fairly delicious as well, with the Duck 2 Ways a definite highlight (the pan seared Duck Breast portion was especially juicy). But then again I'm a sucker for Duck (a Ducker?). But if you eat only one thing here ever for the rest of your life, make sure its the Fluffernutter Spring Rolls. These delectable little slices of heaven are so delicious you might permanently lose your sight. Gooey Marshmallow, Sweet Chocolate, and A salty sweet Peanut Butter dipping Sauce meld together into a messy yet amazing combination that will make you think that Spring Rolls were meant to be a dessert. Pod is pretty good, don't let people scare you away with comments about things like "expensive food", or "hot waitresses".
(4)Sari G.
My ABSOLUTE favorite!!! If I had to choose a last meal it would be here. I have been eating here for years and years and it is always consistent. I feel it is way more laid back than most Steven Starr restaurants maybe because of it's location of Penn's campus. The futuristic decor, light up seats, sushi conveyor belt, subtle but funky music, and of course light up your own "pods" are just too fun! I usually get the spicy tempura rock shrimp with candied walnuts and pineapple, the crab spring rolls, and I ask for a side of wasabi mash. For vegetarians, the Pad Thai is also yummy as well. The wasabi crusted filet which used to be a favorite of mine for a brief moment when I ate meat was awesome and I found it better here than at Buddahkan. We usually get a sushi roll that is on special for the night although all of their rolls are yummy and they even have some unique to Philly like a Penn roll. I drink either a "pink" or a "yellow" as the martinis are named for a color depending on ingredients. There's always Sapporo or good old sake. It's not totally over priced and really the $12 martinis are what adds up so if you're worried about price, go and just split meals even appetizers like we do because it's really enough food and we often have left overs. It's great for groups but remember to ask for a Pod as they reserve them for large parties! I also find it romantic as well; I always have a special night out here with the hubby. A Philly must eat!
(5)Kathy W.
Let me just say that this place has grown on me. I used to get conned into ordering off of their limited main menu, but now I know the trick. This place is only worth it if you go for sushi! They have a convertible sushi bar, which is so much fun to eat off of. I usually just get 6 pieces of sushi and a seafood fried rice on the side. It adds up to around $50 and that's including tip. Still a splurge for me, but it's worth being a nice treat every once in a while.
(3)Jenny K.
I was in Philly for a night for a conference and my hotel was adjacent to Pod. It was my first experience dining alone. I sat at the bar which was equipped with a conveyor belt with passing dishes of sushi. I didn't dare grab a plate off the belt being the skeptic that I am. Plus, the plates didn't look very appetizing ~ just ordinary salmon/tuna sushi and philadelphia rolls. I ordered the lobster roll and it was just average although it was presented very nicely. I felt as if I was in an episode of the Jetsons and the food was just eh, but I had a great waiter who brought me a complimentary dessert because I was there alone. Hey, if dining alone means free food, I'm dining alone more often! It's a fun place to try out at least once.
(2)Chris T.
miso black cod
(4)Lindsey R.
I have been dieing to check out pod. So last week I had the chance. Atmosphere is amazing however dishes seemed over priced. Food was ok. The Salmon was a must try. However small portions and high prices left me a little disappointed. I'm guessing you pay mostly for the atmosphere.
(3)Pong C.
Went back for the first time since my undergrad days. Just had drinks for happy hour. Good for the memories, nothing else. I remember the food being all style and no substance, at least you can't really mess up alcohol.
(3)jen m.
from the moment i walked into this place, i knew i was going to fall in love stephen starr, the man behind some 10+ restaurants in the philly area including the lovely pod. i wholeheartedly admit that the food i had there was pretty standard fare and therefore overpriced for what it was, but who can beat the ambiance and decor? this is the reason for the high rating. pod is like this wacked out futuristic looking restaurant complete with unisex bathrooms where each stall looks like an airplane bathroom, but with a bit more room. the staircase looks like an escalator that doesn't move. the lighting is all over the place btwn the various colors you can choose if you are sitting a pod and the other colors going on in the restaurant itself. the specialty drinks themselves are named by color, each with their own slightly exotic ingredients/mix. i am not a native to philly and therefore i am was the prime candidate for this place. it's fun and pricey and not a place to go to over and over. but as a tourist being shown around the area and being taken to a plethora of awesome restaurants (mostly from mr. starr himself), this is definitely a good spot to check out.
(4)Kingsley S.
All you can eat Sushi is a great deal and lots of fun. Both food and service were excellent. The selection and flexibility of the all you can eat sushi made it easy and fun. The cost - $25 was reasonable and fair. The Tuna, Salmon, Yellowtail, Shrimp and Eel were all excellent. Also had crab fried rice and pork dumplings. Both exceeded expectation.
(4)Gilad D.
Right as you enter the door you start to smile. The decor is beautiful and unique, the staff are extra friendly and when the food comes, it only gets better. Soups, salads, wraps and sushi - all presented nicely and great taste. If you have some time for lunch around campus - this is the place to go!
(4)Jason Z.
Not bad for a sushi fix, but definitely not Japanese (not even close)--more asian-fusion. Cool decor (kind of like Morimoto-lite)--but that's all gimmick as far as I'm concerned. If you want a quick, reasonably-priced maki-hit, then head for the conveyor-belt sushi bar (note to earlybirds: the good stuff doesn't start coming around until 7 or 8pm). If you're looking for overpriced (but decent) asian-fusion dining, then get a table. Seems to attract a crowd that thinks it's trendier than it probably is. I suppose it's still the hippest place within walking distance of a Penn dorm room. For real sushi though, head to one of the Japanese restaurants in Center City. And for a truly memorable Japanese Stephen Starr experience, I'd say to go instead to Morimoto (home of the Iron Chef), where the food is amazing, and not all that much more expensive (depending on what you get).
(3)Laurel M.
I ate here several months ago (my life, pre-Yelp), and I normally wouldn't review something not totally fresh in my memory, but I have to add my 2 cents in because I feel like after reading others' reviews I must have been to a Pod in an alternate universe. The food. I barely remember it. And thats a real bad thing for a place like Pod. I can remember dishes from restaurants I've eaten at well over a year or more ago. But Pod's food to me was almost completely unmemorable. What I do remember is simply not being happy with my food in general. If I'm paying a higher than average price for my food, you better believe I want an at least somewhat positive semi-memorable meal! What I do very clearly remember was the HORRENDOUS, TERRIBLE, SLOW, and UNFRIENDLY service. Yeah the food was pricier than average, but as far as trendy and/or Starr restaurants go in Philadelphia, you could easily spend much more money at many other restaurants, and on top of that, your money would be much better spent! The decor was funky, I'll give it that. Very cool. I remember while being here constantly having the overwhelming feeling of just wanting to jump out of my seat and run as far away as possible. I did not enjoy my experience very much at all. I could not get out of there fast enough. I was going to give it 3 stars because the food isn't 100% fresh in my memory, but I just can't let myself do that. Overall, I didn't think it was 3 stars good in any way! It would take alot of cajoling to get me to ever return!
(2)Rupam C.
I had a proper meal at Pod many years ago. Since then, upon the recommendation of my friend I've gone here for dessert - Aka the Fondue platter. I've gone back for the Fondue Platter 3 times since my original trip, and its always yummy. Great if you want to take a date for dessert, or in my case a girls night out capped off with chocolate and all things sweet. The platter comes with three dipping sauces, chocolate, caramel, and berry, and unlike other fondue places, like the Melting Pot, it comes with other fun things beyond the usual strawberries and marshmallows. Like sugared donuts and rice krispy treats. I always admire the revolving sushi bar, I'm sure its good, but alas I am now out of philly and far from my dear pod.
(4)R U.
I was here a while ago with several friends. "I've experienced better" pretty much sums up the whole experience here. The food isn't bad; in fact some of their dishes (e.g. the sea bass) are pretty tasty. However, the portion sizes at Pod are painfully small. Their Kobe Skirt Steak, for example, is advertised as being a "family style" entree. When the steak is served, it's tiny. In fact, we collected all the strips and formed it into a ball. We probably got two ping pong ball sized portions of steak for $33. Seriously? Even meals aboard airplanes are more generous. And as a friend pointed out, even Oliver got more when he begged for scraps. Again, the food quality here isn't bad if you can afford it. But if you're looking for a good restaurant that won't leave you feeling ripped off, Pod is not the place to go. The meal came out to about $45 per person and we really did not order much at all (no drinks, no appetizers, no desserts, etc.), which probably explained why we were all still hungry afterwards.
(2)Tony R.
Excellent menu and perfect place for a date! Customer service is perfect as was the food. Well worth the prices they charge.
(4)Kathleen Y.
I was just here on Friday with two friends and I was pretty unimpressed. While the futuristic, mod decor was kind of cool, it wasn't that different from places in New York I had already been to (It had the same chairs as Spice on University Pl.) Sadly, the food in the restaurant was not as good as these other restaurants. We all split the chicken dumpling and the sweet and sour pork dumplings (each about ~$9) which were actually pretty good (but not phenomenal.) For an entree, I ordered the wasabi crusted filet mignon with wasabi mashed potatoes ($29!) I'm not sure how it was screwed up, but the outside was very well done, but the inside was so rare that it made me fear eating it. At least the mashed potatoes were okay. My sister had a $25 sashimi plate that was "decent, but not the best." Our other friend had the crispy grilled pork tenderloin ($19) that was surprisingly 75% fried outside. Tastewise, it was reminiscent of a chicken nugget. Our drinks were okay, but nothing great once again. At the end of the meal, we felt we had just wasted a whole bunch of money on our food and cab fare to West Philly.
(2)Lindsay T.
honestly, wasn't what it cracked up to be. the bathrooms are cool, the calamari salad is good, the sea bass is good, the pad thai is so-so.
(3)R R.
i went here a long time ago and wouldn't go back. the food wasn't good and the decor is insulting.
(2)Zoran M.
Food is good. Solid selection of beer. The decor is questionable and the place is always crowded. It is definitely a nice place for dinner with a larger group.
(4)Sally f.
by far the coolest looking resturant in philly. you really feel like you are in a spaceship. the food is top rate and service is fast. prices kinda high, but i may have a lower budget than you. worth the experience. no free parking in the area though.
(5)Jon F.
good, but overpriced and completely ridiculous. this place belongs in LA, along with steven starr.
(4)Keith R.
Starr's pan Asian restaurant near the Penn campus is a great mix of Asian cuisines with fresh ingredients. You are struck by the white furnishings as you walk in, and the funky lights offer a scene that I'm sure was cutting edge a few years ago. The place looks a little passe now, but that doesn't affect the food. The sushi is high quality and there are ample selections of dim sum, more "traditional" chinese dishes, and a few other asian dishes such as crab pad thai. The food was great, well prepared, and bursting with flavor. The miso seabass was so soft it melted off my chopsticks. Pod has many innovative takes on more traditional dishes like mushroom dumplings in a marsala like sauce and the aforementioned crab pad thai. I wasn't thrilled with the dessert menu but the wait staff let us try a small portion of the toffee-chocolate bread pudding, which was incredible. The worst part of the restaurant was trying to figure out what to order since the menu is so good. The truth be told though, the worst part of the Pod is the prices which are very high even for the large portions. Service was extremely attentive, there are a large selection of cocktails and wine as well.
(4)Dana D.
Love Pod. One of my favorite restaurants in Philly. It's been around forever and I've been going here ever since it opened. Food is always delicious. The atmosphere is my favorite out of any restaurant I've been to. It's so much fun and so trendy. This is a perfect place to go before a night out. Sitting in the pod changes the entire experience from cool to amazing. The pods are so much fun, you can change the color of the pod to whatever you want. The service is always great, I don't think I've ever had a bad experience at this place and I have been here 20+ times. The drinks are yummy, They added a new spicy martini I forgot the name but it is one of my new favorites. I love this place and would highly recommend it to all of my friends and family.
(5)Laura G.
I came here on a Thursday afternoon for lunch. I've been here numerous times for lunch and each time is has been good. I cannot speak for their dinner, so my review is strictly for lunch. I am not a huge Stephen Starr fan BUT Pod is definitely one to check out. We ordered edamame to start and it was so large. Definitely enough for 4-5 people. We both order bento boxes. I ordered the Sea Bass which was perfectly cooked and the miso glaze was wonderful. The box itself was extremely big, I had enough left overs for a second lunch. These are also very reasonably priced. The restaurant has always been pretty empty for lunch and you definitely don't need reservations. I highly recommend checking it out if you're in the UCITY area.
(5)Josh G.
I love it here! Amazing food, great service, and a fantastic time with friends. One of my highlights of Philly.
(4)Gabby S.
Love everything about this place ! The vibe inside , the way it is set up . The pod room , rock shrimp , wasabi steak , crab rice , and of course the sushi :)
(5)Emily G.
Too "chic" and trendy for my taste. I'm definitely more interested in a more classic atmosphere. For a trendy place though, it was fun. The atmosphere was very futuristic, and the staff was helpful.
(3)Kristin N.
Finally got around to eating here, after working in its proverbial backyard for years. The decor is futuristic and fun; the bathrooms are reminiscent of airplane's. But you aren't reading this for a bathroom review, so on to the food. We came for lunch with a party of 8...the place was packed! We started with dumplings, edamame and tempura, all of which we inhaled. My sushi loving co-workers enjoyed their selections. 3 of us got sea bass bento boxes, which were delish. I had a white peach/mint soda....could have inhaled 3 of those suckers. The prices are somewhat high for lunch, but I wasn't paying ;o) Our service was slow and kind of spotty. All in all, a very nice respite from the workplace grind!
(4)Toni B.
Super posh and trendy. I love the rock shrimp appetizer and the dessert tiers. Oh, and their fried rice is awesome too! Pricey, not going to lie, but definitely worth the splurge in my book! Pods are cool, but the color changing sometimes makes me sick, lol. I always stick to one color. Fun for groups and one-on-one.
(4)Ying Z.
A bit run down and dirty with expensive, mediocre food. Will probably not return any time soon
(2)Brad H.
I came here for a birthday lunch with one of my good friends. The company was great, and our servers were really nice and helpful, but I was pretty underwhelmed with everything else about this restaurant. The atmosphere was tacky, the food was mediocre, and the prices were ridiculous. ATMOSPHERE: You walk into pod and feel like you are stepping onto the set of a low-budget movie set in the future on a distant galaxy. Based on the pictures that other yelpers have posted, it looks like this place may look a little better at night, but during the day it looked pretty silly. My friend and I were seated in what can only be described as a window sill. The table was extremely small and we had no elbow room. A piece of my sushi fell off of the table at one point because it was so cramped. EDAMAME: The edamame was fine here and I think edamame is pretty hard to mess up but the only portion that they offer is for $7 and comes with way too much. It would have been enough edamame for 4 or 5 people but is almost impossible to eat with just two of us. It felt like very little thought was put into the portion size. There should have been a $3 option with less than half of the food. PENN ROLL: This was basically a regular spicy tuna roll that had a lot of rice and was $10. Very bad value and mediocre taste. Too much rice. OVERALL: I personally found very little redeeming about this place other than the service (everyone I met in there was very very nice). But service alone isn't enough for me to even give this place 3 stars. I would personally skip this place unless you really want something close to the UPenn campus. There are much better sushi options elsewhere.
(2)Carlo J.
Good food! Great Service! Parking was valet, the wagyu beef appetizer was amazing(Pricey but its worth it.) sushi was alright, could have been better. But overall dinner was good!
(4)Lea T.
Love the unique sushi rolls featured here as well as the rotating band around the sushi bar. Menu features some larger dishes but also many small plate options ideal for large groups and sharing. Kobe fried rice is my favorite as well as the Kobe steak cooked tableside on a hot rock. Great atmosphere inside, ideal for a night out or first date
(4)Danan R.
Came for lunch with a group of 8 and the actual pod was a bit small although they did allow us to check our bags. The lunch specials were very solid and the sea bass was certainly good, and came with a side of salad, miso soup, and choice of white or brown rice. The Penn roll was also fantastic as was the crispy tuna rice. I loved the crispy tuna rice, which is essentially a form of box sushi without the seaweed. The sashimi platter also looked very fresh and came with 8 pieces of generously portioned fish, even the exotic hamachi. The stir fried macadamia nut chicken was just meh and very saucy, salty, and heavy, as it was made with deep fried chicken. I wasn't a personal fan but it may be a dish for you if you are a General Tso's chicken person! I did like the sizzling garlic mushrooms, though, which were served in a savory garlic soy sauce and comprised of a good mix of shitake, oyster, and enoki mushrooms. The vegetable tempura is also a great starter, and the pieces are actually small so you can sample a variety. Service was great albeit slow (it took 20 minutes to get our food). Prices were fair too and the lunch specials are about $15. They did forget to bring me my miso soup so be sure to check!
(3)Michael B.
I come here a lot for lunch and business dinners and always love it. Always super fresh favors. The wagyu burger is the best burger I've ever had! If you come for dinner, get the wasabi filet.
(5)Michael G.
Ok the food is great from sushi to noodles and meat dishes. But price wise I could drive downtown or back to nyc and eat cheaper. The portions make up for the price it's a good size portion for the meat dishes and noodle dishes we got but the sushi rolls are 6 pieces and normal size no bargain on the sushi. The sushi tasted fresh I got the lobster roll with 6 pieces at $18 but luckily my family ordered 2 other dishes Macadamia Chicken dish and Chicken pad Thai they were huge in portion size and they couldn't finish it begging me to help them eat it. The sushi here isn't cheap, in NYC I get better prices on the UES then here in Philly. Its a younger crowd joint if you ask me that have no appetite. And deep pockets I'm not cheap but I like value with my purchases.
(3)Al L.
Wishing Yelp had a 0 star rating. I just attempted to make a birthday reservation at POD two days in advance. While trying to reserve a POD, I was promptly told by Vickie that PODs are only available on a first come basis unless I went through food and beverage to pay some type of exoberant food and beverage minimum. I have come here several times over the years and have never once sat in a POD because I was told that it was for party's of 4 or more only. I promptly canceled my reservation and have decided to never come back here again. Steven Starr needs to design a restaurant and retrain his staff on what the word RESERVATION means. They are overpriced and over hyped. If you value location and value , do not patronize this establishment. Try Yakitori Boy. Sushi there is much better and so is the service. Thank you for the early birthday gift POD
(1)Srujana Y.
The first thing you will notice about POD is its modern ambience with dim yet colorful lighting. This place is a bit expensive but that's the price for the cool atmosphere! I have been to POD on numerous occasions for either lunch or dinner. Their food is usually very good. Since I am a vegetarian, I am gonna recommend some of the items I really love: Grilled asparagus and cauliflower from the Robata grill Shiitake steamed buns Udon noodle and tofu stir fry Wasabi veg fried rice POD has a good selection of cocktails and mocktails. Among the mocktails I really like the mango-ginger soda, while my husband likes the white peach and mint soda. Great staff as well as service. One of the times we visited POD was for my husband's birthday, I secretly told the staff about it and he got a surprise birthday cake with fireworks. :D :D YAY!
(4)Claire F.
Visited this past Saturday on a date. I was impressed by the chic atmosphere and unusual decor. I was not as impressed by the staff - they seemed inexperienced and their casual wear didn't match the restaurant's style. I wouldn't say service was attentive. But, when the food was delivered, I forgot all of my fussy thoughts about the service that were floating through my head. My date and I threw down (our waitress called us champs). At one point, I considered leaving my date and running off to be with the lamb chops because I was that in love with them. I lost track of time and space when I tasted the accompanying noodles. In summary, amazing food, impressive date spot, a little too loud for intimate date night conversations, but I mentally noted that it's the perfect spot for a big birthday dinner party.
(4)Courtney F.
Pod is an experience from the moment you walk through the door! Super chic and modern decor with futuristic vibe complete down to the music. I had the POD lobster rolls, chicken dumplings and split the crab fried rice with a friend. All of which were delish!
(4)Amanda B.
Pod is the coolest. Hands down my favorite hip spot when I come to Philly for vacation. I had the nicest waiter, let him choose my dinner and he got me the special cocktail and plate, and it was knock down delicious and had fantastic presentation. The atmosphere is just chic and I love it.
(5)Carlos R.
A very trendy and modern Asian Future place I frequented while visiting Philadelphia. When I first walked in, I felt like I was visiting Asia again. This place has everything: very colorful lighting, private "pods" for relatively large groups, a sushi bar w/ conveyor belt, the works. The food is quite good. As expected, plenty of choice. A few negatives: it fills up very quickly on weekend nights, has music that can be loud, and seems to replay the same anime movie on the screens. But otherwise, good fun.
(4)Zaneta P.
Despite all the mix reviews about Pod, I personally enjoyed my trip there. First of all I loveee the whole decoration of the place, the futuristic design to the animated feel! Staff and waiting time was bit slow the day I went but it was also a full house, so it's a partial blame. Anyways, for appetizer we had the Shrimp Tempura Roll, honestly couldn't say it a anything special. It wasn't bad but it just didn't stand out. On to the entree, I had the Wasabi Crusted Filet Mignon and my boyfriend had the Ginger Lamb Chops and can I say these two dishes were amazing! I'm seriously salivating while writing this review (late review) portion could of been bigger but nonetheless they were two very delicious dish. For dessert I honestly do not remember what we had because it just wasn't that memorable... Lol
(4)Valeria B.
Philly is a great city and Pod - Asian Fusion was not a disappointment. I had the Thai grape leaves which were fine. The sautéed mushrooms were out of this world tasty!!! Shrimp Pad Thai very well worth the drive to Philly from Trenton NJ. Also, if you're wanting a nutritious alcoholic beverage you must have the Thai chili avocado martini. I felt healthy drinking it :-) The bathrooms were cleans and futuristic and staff very attentive.
(4)Lindsey B.
Interesting to say the least. Decor is very futuristic and when I first walked in it looked more like a club, than a restaurant. I definitely recommend sitting at the sushi bar. The rotating plates can be s really good deal and the chef will make new plates fresh if you ask. Dining off the main menu is too expensive and doesn't offer enough of a portion in my opinion. Drink menu is great and reasonably priced.
(3)Craig D.
(4) ~ Very good Food & service. Really like the modern look;) OUR MENU: * Thai Chile Avocado Margarita = (4.5) Very Good! * Spicy Tuna Crispy Rice = (4) very good * Frosty Kobe Beef Fried Rice = (4) very good...Please note the Beef is served cold. * Garlic Mushrooms(side) = (4) very good...enough to share;) * Fruit Toban Yaki(dessert) = (4) very good NOTE: Street/Metered Parking.
(4)Johnny B.
Pod is like Virgin America airlines mixed with a womb mixed with a sushi restaurant. I've been here for all you can eat sushi and I recall enjoying myself, but recently I got take out and I was sorely underwhelmed. I got four rolls and all were bad. This is the first time in my life that I could eat only a few bites of sushi and had to stop. I might come for drinks or if there was a special deal, but I was not impressed, Pod. I will not be back!
(2)Colleen Z.
Lovely space, great service and good food. We met for drinks and appetizers on a week day afternoon. We were able to take advantage of happy hour specials. All was great. I love the look and feel of the place. I'll be back.
(4)Jackie S.
So went to Pod Saturday night and it definitely has a vibe... the service was spot on and the sushi was good, and underwhelming. Was hoping for a bit more. I would consider myself to be a sushi guru and ths place delivered everywhere but on the sushi itself. Overall I really enjoyed the experience. Fat Salmon and Vic are amazing!
(4)Megan A.
Took my boyfriend here for his birthday in June, and was really excited because all the pictures online make this place look so cool. However, we went while it was still light outside and honestly it was nothing special. Everything is made out of plastic and looks cheap. It might be a totally different experience when it's dark out, but I can't attest to that. Also, the food is very expensive. Our meal came out to about $100 and we were still hungry. I got the chicken lettuce wraps and I've had such better lettuce wraps for much cheaper elsewhere. He got the wasabi steak and while he said it was good, it was tiny. We also split the chicken dumplings and they were just ok. Overall a disappointing experience but I would be willing to go back to give it another chance if I went with a big group and if it were later at night.
(2)Jeremy S.
Gourmet asian fusion Every dish was flavorful A bit on the pricy side but nice ambience and good for celebrations Tastefully presented foods Changing menu
(5)Abeer H.
Plastic inventive trendy decor and the seating feels cafeteria style, with no privacy. And it can get crowded depending on when you go. However, the sushi is great - fresh and delicious.
(4)Andrew N.
The sushi here is not the best. I ordered the chef special and it came it brown rice. What a terrible mistake. I hate when they use brown rice on sushi. Even though it's more healthy it doesn't taste like sushi anymore. The bathrooms are each their own stalls in a colorful hallway.
(3)Leroy F.
The Pod .. For me it's my go to place for sushi. It gets no better I love this place the staff, the location and the FOOD !
(5)Miranda S.
This place attracted me because it looks like the restaurant of "the Future" courtesy of Austin Powers or the Jetsons. Service is super friendly and knowledgeable, and there are lots of great vegan/vegetarian choices. I I shared the mushroom-sweet pea dumplings, and my only complaint is there weren't enough of these tasty morsels. My main course was the Vegan Stephen roll, which looks exactly like fish sushi but is packed with a variety of savory plant flavors. Yum.
(4)Don C.
Dinner at POD was fairly enjoyable. As you can tell from their web site, it's studiously cool, which is neat to look at. But it's also very noisy, especially when the background music is blaring. The food was pretty good. I had a wide sampling. California rolls: solid Lettuce wraps (with chicken): tasty Steamed buns with shitake: good Udon noodle & tofu stir fry: good Miso glazed sea bass with Japanese sweet potatoes: if you can get past the weirdness of eating sticky smashed potatoes & fish, it's absolutely delicious Kung pao chicken & shrimp: tasty Pork dumplings: awesome It's not such a bargain for the quality of the food, but I definitely left feeling super stuffed. The service was great--attentive and frequent. I'd be happy to come here again, especially if I'm staying at the Inn at Penn, which is next door. But Philadelphia has lots of great restaurants that have better food for less money.
(3)Frank L C.
Haven't been in for a while, but I enjoyed lunch at Pod the other day and it is still one of Steven Starr's stars. The glowing interior, which reflects the basic lines of the parking garage that it was before resurrection as a restaurant, is lit creatively, which is not as distracting at lunchtime as it is in the evening (though the big flatscreen playing anime can be). The Express Bento lunches included Macadamia Chicken stir-fry and teriyaki chicken, served with brown (or white) rice, not-too-salty miso soup, and a crisp salad. There are many other things on the menu, from sushi to edamame, and a good bar selection. Evenings tend to be too loud for my taste, but if you have a largish group and can reserve one of the lighting-adjustable pods, it can be a very cool dinner.
(4)Di P.
I had a hilarious Happy Hour here. Walked in to meet a bunch of coworkers who were there already, awkwardly positioned in Pod's "bar area." They have these red modular furniture that is neither comfortable or uncomfortable. It's just makes it hilarious for a group more than 3 to sit down, face each other and talk. Tried one of the happy hour drinks "white" which wasn't bad.
(3)Maha P.
We went to Pod for my boyfriend's dad's birthday and it was fun. Loud and interesting lighting but I think that was the point. We had a great time nonetheless. The crab spring rolls were to die for. I ordered a spicy tuna roll which was delicious but I have surprisingly had better in Vermont, where we live. The desserts were great, we split the fluffernutter spring rolls and a salted caramel cake. All in all it was a great atmosphere, our waitress was so kind and attentive and hopefully the birthday boy had a good experience as well.
(4)Yujia Z.
When u first come in here, u will like the environment here. I think it maybe more suitable to come after dinner for finding your night life or drinking with your friends. Foods here are so so and the price is a bit expensive. Wahhabi has no flavor.
(3)Jeff B.
Sushi here is magical. Absolutely delicious. We also had Seafood fried rice. This was a little bland. Needed some soy sauce. My wife had a chicken Thai dish which was spicy. I had the spare ribs, the sauce was delicious but portions were small. Only 4 ribs. The atmosphere is very cool. If you make reservations well in advance you can get these private pod booths. Very cool. I give it a 4 star for the sushi.
(4)Diesel H.
incredible sushi. entrees are amazing. we have been here for parties [in the pod] and for dinner at a table probably a total of 8 times. We have never been disappointed. We have always been satisfied with our food and our services. We even had a party of 12 go in one time and had a $1300 bill after tip. It was worth the cash, worth the time and they did an incredible time keeping us ready for our next course and kept our drinks full. That can be a pretty hefty task, but they nailed it! I recommend ANY sushi. Their Kobe beef is pretty remarkable too. Calamari is on point. mmm their duck soup. Seriously, Stephen Starr, you've done it again.. another brilliant restaurant!
(5)Iyad O.
Meh. Not bad, not great. The food is average. The waitress was great.
(2)Nancy P.
A gf and I signed up for the Sushi School that POD was offering for a limited time. We chose the 6-7:15 pm session. They sat us down by the conveyor belt and sushi area. We started off with some miso soup and salad. We waited quite a bit before Mr. Kim came around to greet us. Probably around 30 mins. I know the restaurant was getting fuller but it would have been nice to stick to the scheduled time. After the long wait, a server came around to offer us complimentary edamame for the long wait. So at least we had something to munch on while we waited..and waited. Mr. Kim finally came around and was very nice. He showed us how to make a California maki roll and a Tuna hand roll. They provided us with gloves and a rolling mat and all the ingredients. It was a short lesson though. After the maki roll, we had another long wait. So another server offered us something else to eat. We chose a roll off of the belt. After the lesson, we received some pineapple and guava sorbet. I'm not a fan of the guava at all. When we finally got the check, they charged us for two extra plates, aside from the class. Apparently the plate the Mr. Kim gave us the ingredients on during the lesson was counted as a plate, as well as the plate that the server offered to us. There was definitely bad communication on their part. After all was said and done, the service for the night was poor. While it seemed like they (multiple people) were trying to make up for the service, our main server showed a bad attitude. While Mr. Kim was nice, the entire class took 2 hrs instead of 1 hr. And the service left a bad taste in my mouth.
(2)Megan M.
Decor is.now outdated. I would like.to .see things newer and cleaner. The.food wasn't good enough for the price I paid. Overall,.I'm didsapointed I spent that much money for OK food. The nice service was the best part of the meal, even if it was a bit slow.
(3)Kristin W.
Pod was the first place I ever ate in Philadelphia and I never planned to return. But when Pod was unexpectedly announced as our dinner destination, I was willing to give it a try - and I'm glad I did. I have to say that, as I felt 7 years ago, I really don't think the sushi is a strength, so if you steer clear, you will be happier. I liked the Tempura Rock Shrimp (a little heavy on the breading), but the standout was that has changed my perception of Pod was the phenomenal Glazed Chilean Sea Bass.
(4)Yiwen S.
after many years of successfully avoiding this place, i finally came back last month for a client dinner. because this was a client meeting, we splurged on the ordering, so this was the first time i'd had the opportunity to really sample a wide variety of things on the menu. while the menu is still ridiculously overpriced, you'll notice i upgraded my review from two stars to three stars. here's why: 1. some of the cooked food was actually fairly decent: udon stir-fry, pork dumplings, eggplant, short ribs 2. ambiance is still key here, and everything is cool-y themed 3. large space can easily accommodate large parties ....and that's about it. here's why it's not rated any higher: 1. sushi is still crap 2. overpriced, overpriced, overpriced! did i mention this place is overpriced? 3. despite the restaurant being over half empty on a thursday night, it was still hard to flag down service still wouldn't come here on my own dime. but on someone else's? perhaps, just perhaps.
(3)Larry F.
Being on the center of Penn's campus and a favorite spot for professors to take students to lunch, I'm pretty darn glad this place exists! FOOD: 4/5 I'm a huge fan of Asian Fushion, so I've liked everything I've tried here. The Tempura Rock Shrimp is a decent treat. It's sweet with the candied walnut, and also crunchy and soft with the tempura shrimp. My favorite item on the menu would probably be the sashimi combo platter. It's served on a 3-tiered tray with different types of fish, and everything was fresh and well-prepared. The sushi here is pretty good as well, though somewhat pricey with a price tag of between $12-$18 per roll. My favorite one is TNT. I would recommend staying away from the kobe beef and lamb chops (although if I recall correctly, the menu has changed). $30 can be better spent on two rolls of sushi instead. AMBIANCE: 5/5 This is probably the reason why I like Pod. The food is good but there are other places in Philly where I can get good sushi. The ambiance is very contemporary, almost futuristic. It has a very spacious waiting area, and very colorful bar, and different seating arrangements. For group lunches, the special suite at the front works great, and the lights constantly change, so the appearance of the food change with it. For a one-on-one dinner, I would recommend staying away from the street side of the restaurant. Personally, because part of the restaurant is below street level, it makes me uncomfortable that I see people's feet while walking by right by my eyes. SERVICE: 4/5 Waiters and waitresses are nice. Food is served speedily. If asked, the waiters will describe the food and the way they are prepared. The waiters also make decent recommendations.
(4)P E.
Went here with friends for sushi. Food was good but not knock your socks off. I'm not a big fan of yellowtail, but here it was good. Salmon and red tuna - OK. I've had sushi just as good elsewhere. Maybe because it was Tuesday? You are definitely paying for the ambiance and to hobnob with the University City hoi polloi. As you can tell from the pictures posted by others, this place will remind you of the opening scene of 2001: A Space Odyssey. Service was ok but a bit pretentious. Walked in at 400 for dinner. Asked if I had a reservation. Really?
(3)Carly K.
I absolutely love Pod, mostly because of the fond memorie I have of meeting my dear friend here when she was in town for business. Pod kind of became our signature place, and we loved trying the variety of signature cocktails-we especially love the red and pink! There are two bigger areas with tables that really do look like pods, and the lights change colors every so often from bright red to pink to blue to yellow, etc. Really fun! We usually do small plates and appetizers, and of course, always order way too much fun. As cliche' as it seems, the pad thai is actually really delicious. The steamed buns, rock shrimp, and crab fried rice are go to items as well. For some reason, I have never tried the sushi here, which is bizarre, because I absolutely love the sushi and maki at Morimoto, another Starr place. The ambience is ultra contemporary with white everything. Generally I don't go for this type of vibe, but for some reason it works here. It's really a fun place.
(4)Valentina L.
This place is unlike any other Asian restaurants. Decorations are very modern... Designs are unique!! Like it~
(4)Roopa S.
My experiences at Pod thus far have been pretty lackluster, without taking into account the super awesome ambiance. Perhaps it's because I'm vegetarian, but you would think there would be several options for vegetarian diners at a place like this one. The menu is extensive for carnivores, with some veggie dishes scattered here and there. They are usually pretty nice about subbing out the meat in the noodle dishes, for example, but they can't do much about the actual sushi themselves. I've tried a couple of the vegetarian rolls (all super cheap but super small) and the Pad Thai (made vegetarian). I was hesitant about ordering Pad Thai from a restaurant that specializes in sushi, but it was incredibly tasty and the portion size was HUGE. Though it was expensive, there definitely is enough to share with someone else and still have leftovers fort he next day, which I loved. I think they switch out their rolls every so often, but I've tried the avocado based vegetarian roll here, which was yummy but too small (the price reflected that too-- I remember paying less than $5 for that dish). Overall, food is not great for vegetarians; I wish they had more options. But the ambiance is absolutely stellar and I love the little pods you can sit in with a group of about 6-8 people. It's super fun and hip. Probably won't be coming back on my accord just because I can find more vegetarian options elsewhere around campus, but still a nice spot to have on campus.
(3)Debanshu S.
Excellent Sushi. The ambience is very unique. Lots of attention to detail. Servers were really courteous. I tried out the crab rice too and loved it. I found the serving quantity more than sufficient. Ymmv
(4)Victoria C.
I came here for dinner on Friday, and it was great. Not too busy and the waitress was clearly in-training (which is totally fine) because we still got pretty good service. We started off with the chicken lettuce wraps. SO worth the 15 dollars. So much chicken, so many lettuce leaves. I would definitely order it again, since sushi can definitely get pricey. My friends ordered the crab fried rice and the frosty kobe fried rice. The beef was actually frozen when served! Personally I like the flavor of the crab fried rice more than that of the beef since the beef also adds a sort of dry texture to the dish. We also ordered a few sushi rolls. Nothing special about the rolls. I would actually skip the rolls because they seemed a bit overpriced for the portions, although the quality was indeed good. I tired the corn kabobs (not bad, although the shiso, which is Japanese mint, was super strong). TL;DR go for the lettuce wraps and fried rice. Cheaper, same quality sushi sushi can be found elsewhere.
(3)Audrey G.
Really neat restaurant design! Everything was white, with colorful lighting and private "pods" where groups could dine. (Although most people had to sit in the main dining room) Came here with a big group for a university dinner, so we got a prepaid menu. However, the food wasn't too memorable. The sushi (CA roll and nigiri platter) was good, but the rice tasted kind of dry. The rest of our menu included a ginger salad, chicken potstickers, lettuce wraps, fried rice, and pad thai. I liked that they tried to add a twist to each dish, but nothing tasted that amazing. I think my favorite was actually the dessert sampler, which featured mochi ice cream, mocha brownie, and banana sorbet. Great service, but for such a futuristic/fancy looking restaurant, I expected the food to be more impressive.
(3)Jake A.
Someone here put a good catch phrase on this place: the pod is instagram worthy. Want to go to a party and have a variety of lights and music blaring while dining on sushi? The pod is for you. Selfie away on instagram and the world will nod. For the others who want just a relaxing dinner out with that someone special, you might want to look elsewhere. A few of us old friends decided to hook up here and we were very delighted that we were promptly seated. I loved the futuristic perspective of the place. Even the bathrooms look like it would fit well in a scene out of back to the future. Weird but very modernistic and sophisticated. It really felt like they had a clear vision when they put this together. Now to the food and service. The service was exceptional. Everything was rolling in exquisitely and we were treated like we were guests of the Queen of England. The food is where I totally lost it. I didn't like my sushi nor the lamb chops. My friends liked their choices but we came in late, so I can't help but wonder if we were just stuck in a bad time slot for the chef's plans. I must say that the dessert was good though. I don't think that my review does justice since I'm speaking just for myself and not for my group. Some of my friends in the group really liked the place. I think I'd be more comfortable in a conventional or traditional restaurant. But that might just be me.
(3)Robert S.
Delicious sushi and a very cool and hip atmosphere. When you walk into Pod you immediately notice that it isn't like many other sushi spots you've been too. It has a very modern and trendy feel to it. The food is fantastic and it's some of, if not the best sushi around. When I dined here the other day with some friends I went with the Rockin Spicy Tuna Roll and the Frosty Kobe Fried Rice. The Frost Rice bowl is a cool dish that actually comes with uncooked beef and it cooks once it's brought to your table due to the heat given off by the rice and egg. I also went with the Sake Mojito which was real tasty and refreshing. I recommend dining at Pod and if you come with a group make sure to request to eat in a pod.
(4)Rick B.
Great place to go to celebrate. The environment looks like a futuristic scene from the 90s but the food is timeless. Half the menu is for sushi, the other half for cooked food. I say come here for celebration because you will be prepared to spend money. The price is fair for the amazing quality of food and I wasn't feeling any regrets about the portion size. I tried both the sushi and cooked items from the menu. I recommend the spider roll and lettuce wraps. Washed it down with a Sake Mojito. I would love to come here again and try more.
(4)Barbara W.
I've been to Pod many times, and enjoy their high quality of food. However, the portion sizes have always disappointed me. I went for lunch on a week-day and ordered one of their Bento Box lunch specials - I picked seared tuna - as the protein. I received 4 very thin slices of tuna on top of a small salad plus the rest of the bento box (Miso soup, brown rice, salad and pickled vegetables). The tuna was good quality, and cooked perfectly (rare +), but my bento had no soup and instead had 2 salads. Although I eventually received my soup, service was a sloppy. Our waiter spilled water all over me and the chair next to me, and promised to send someone to clean it up, that person never came. I've also had positive service experiences at Pod, but I have never been too impressed with the creativity of the dishes. The restaurant has modern/chic/upscale flair, but the food to me is just mediocre.
(2)Mal S.
Best fancy restaurant in Philadelphia sushi was amazing the pad Thai was great the salad calamari was fantastic and the fried rice was awesome!!!
(5)Michael F.
Walking into Pod, I had high expectations. The atmosphere is top notch, and as I soon discovered, so is the service. Since we made a reservation, we didn't have to wait long for our table - a cute cutout for two in the main dinning area. Our waiter greeted us prompt, offered water, and asked if we'd like drinks. We passed on drinks and decided to review the menu. He came back to check on us in a few minutes, but we were helplessly lost and asked for a few more. Again he returned and when we still weren't ready, made it clear by his actions that he had no intent on rushing us. Still, at this point I caved and asked for recommendations - after all, I was there to eat! Crab Spring Rolls, Lobster Roll, and Rock n Spicy Tuna were then on their way. The food comes out as ready, with the spring rolls first. They were good, but nothing to rave about. The dipping sauce that accompanied them actually made more of an impression. Once the sushi rolls arrived, we quickly dug in. They too were good, but nothing amazing. The spicy tuna didn't have much spicy to it and the lobster was a bit chewy. We finished off with some Mochi ice cream for dessert. Now to run the formula rating in my head... great service, decent atmosphere, average food, and low value (price/food experience) means I see this one netting in the middle.
(3)Morgan G.
I would like to post an update to my most recent review about Pod's management and my negative dining experience. After my previous review I was immediately contacted by Greg Root (part of Starr Restaurants Management team). He was extremely professional and apologetic about not getting in contact with me sooner. He offered me a full refund for the negative experience I had at this restaurant and assured me that they will continue to properly inspect their food and beverage offerings and ensure they are of top quality at all times. I couldn't have asked for him or any restaurant management team to have handled an unsatisfied customer any better! Due to the fact that I was contacted in such a professional way I look forward to giving Pod another shot- and I look forward to hopefully being able to update my review to reflect a better dining experience. I'm increasing my most recent review by two stars based strictly on how this situation was handled. I haven't found the time to go back yet but if yelp reviews were based solely on how management deals with customer satisfaction then this review would definitely warrant 5 stars!
(3)Lol F.
The decoration is kinda in spaceship or something. The food is beauty and delicious! lack of one star is becasue... the price...miso soup $7?! really? I will try it next time~
(4)Grace C.
It's ooookay. I would never elect to go here by myself, but with parties, yes. It's just that Steven Starr thing I'm not that big a fan of, prioritizing atmosphere over food. Yes, it's futuristic and trendy, with decent food, but that's all it is - decent. I've come a couple times for parties, and each time I've left satisfied but now wowed. I do give them points for their short rib robata, though. It's tender and flavorful, and I've always been a short rib fan. Their miso glazed sea bass is also pretty good. Sea bass is my number one favorite fish, and they do a good job with it. (It's also priced to match the flavor - expect to pay a pretty penny for this one.) Shrimp pad thai is okay. Something I could find in a less-expensive restaurant. Chocolate bread pudding for dessert is delicious. Follow it with the ice sculpture sorbets for a palate cleanser. Don't go for the fluffer nutter spring rolls, however - those were cloyingly sweet.
(3)David K.
I went to Pod with my folks a few days ago, and we had a wonderful time. The variety and quality of the food was excellent, and the wait staff were fantastic. We ordered quite a bit of food, but the arrival of our dishes was well staggered so we never felt rushed to eat one thing before the next arrived. The sashimi was quite tasty, as was everything else we ordered. I notice that everyone has talked about the "trendy" atmosphere. I have no idea what that means, but the design is very creative, and the lighting is especially interesting. The plastic chairs were more comfortable than I would ever imagined was possible. Overall, an excellent experience. No complaints. Pro tip: Pod is right next door to a hotel with a valet, so it's very easy to get a cab.
(5)Tempest M.
My first time visiting Pod was awesome. The service was great and the food was amazing. Every dish we tried was full of flavor with excellent texture. I had the pork belly buns and lamb meatballs. My friend had the asparagus and salmon. He automatically had a foodgasm upon tasting the asparagus. Pod has now replaced El Vez as my favorite Starr restaurant. The cocktails were also amazing. I can't remember the names but it's apparent you cannot go run no matter what you decide.
(5)Jake S.
Good sushi. A little pricey.
(3)Jason H.
I've been to Pod about 30 times since they opened over a decade ago, and I keep going back. Part of the reason is that the University City area can be a little lean on good restaurants in the immediate area of HUP/Penn. The theme is somewhat like a restaurant you'd see on the "Jetsons" with hard surfaces, futuristic tables and bar, and a general hip feeling overall. The menu is Asian-Fusion, and has flavors of Japanese, Thai, Vietnamese, and Chinese. The menu changes occasionally, but the format is generally family stye, and sharing is encouraged. There are some bento-box style entrees, but everything else is delivered to the center of the table and meant to be passed around. The sushi is a notch or two below Morimoto, but not by much; they have a good selection of sushi, sashimi, and rolls. The Pod Lobster and Shrimp Tempura rolls are standouts in my opinion. The seafood fried rice is great, and the crab spring rolls are to die for. Overall, a great place for a group or a small number of guests; they do have "Pod" circular booths (only two of them) for groups of six or greater. A good place; worth returning! -Jason
(4)Ellie W.
The food here is good but too expensive (i.e. overpriced). However, I strongly recommend POD as a great place for cocktail drinks and appetizers. When I went here with my father for appetizers and drinks when I first came to Penn, we admired the cool "space-age" decor, and funky artistic lighting and media theme. The atmosphere makes this a fun place to get a drink with folks from out of town (and I've continued to suggest it for such occasions). They have a creative drink menu, and cool booths to sit and chat in, before going elsewhere for dinner. Don't get me wrong: POD is not a bad choice for dinner. My dishes are always tasty, and service is excellent. I almost always order a seafood entree for dinner. But I was disappointed by how loud the restaurant is for having group conversations, so I don't recommend it as a place to take invited speakers at Penn. Other nearby restaurants, like White Dog, Distrito, and so on, are better suited for group discourse. Nonetheless, at the end of the day, POD is a fun place to try in University City!
(4)Cat P.
Five years ago, I was high above Tokyo on the last floor of the Yodobashi department store in Akihabara at a small kaitenzushi (conveyor belt sushi) restaurant. My friends and I frequented this place during our time in Japan. The atmosphere inside this little restaurant was tense as the colored plates floated by us on the belt. The salarymen finished their sushi quickly and us gaijin (foreigners) were literally stuck screaming our orders at the chefs. Flash forward five years, though, and I find myself over 6,000 miles away from the Land of the Rising Sun, dining at Pod. The conveyor belt is still there, but the mood is more relaxed and there's no longer the need to scream at the wait staff. Pod was a wonderful trip down memory lane for me and I was excited to relive those days, even if it was just for an hour and a half. We started by immediately grabbing two plates of sushi off of the belt and ordering drinks (sake and a delicious Jack Daniel's cocktail made with cranberry juice, raspberries, and mint). It wasn't long before our appetizers came out. The peppers with bonito flakes had an addictive spicy crunch to them and I thought that they were a refreshing alternative to traditional edamame. The mushroom and sweet pea dumplings immediately hit the spot and I think we finished our dish in record time. We moved on to the shiro-aoi roll with white tuna and jalapenos. We also snagged the toro nigiri. Both of those dishes were nothing short of amazing. The meal ended with 4 sweet flavors of sorbet. A lot of the reviews here seem to compare Pod to Morimoto. While it irks me a bit to talk about another restaurant in my review, I enjoyed my time at Pod much more than Morimoto. I felt like we got more food here for the same price and it was more inventive (especially the sushi). I left Pod feeling genuinely satisfied, whereas I left the other place feeling slightly ripped-off. Overall, I think Pod gave us a fantastic meal and it left me feeling nostalgic. I see myself coming back here for more of those peppers with bonito flakes.
(4)Bella H.
My boyfriend and I attended the university dining days event for dinner. The food was exceptional for a great price. You got four plates for $35. We got the california and spicy tuna for appetizers, miso soup and potstickers for dimsum, udon and chicken for entree, and the cake and springrolls for dessert. The only complaint was the service. Although it was a busy time, it felt like the server had more than she could handle. Our water glass was not refilled twice and the table took forever to be cleared. It felt as if our female server rarely checked in on us because we saw all the other servers more than we saw ours. Overall the food was good.
(3)Tsolere A.
Great atmosphere, great service and delicious food! The maki rolls were great! Must visit!
(4)Matthew D.
Absolutely one of the best sushi places I have found inside or outside of the city! We always try different menu items and have yet to be disappointed by anything. The edamame is always fresh, hot, and served with shaved salt, a unique and tasty touch! The Tom Kha was amazing and the spring rolls always come out piping hot and crispy with a light flavor. The next trip will include sampling their drink menu. Pod is on our list of places to go to satisfy that weekly sushi craving!
(5)Vinny P.
"Just what do you think you're doing, Dave? " My first impression upon walking into Pod was 2001: A Space Odyssey. The mostly white and rounded edges everywhere, the mechanized everything and the lit "pods" scattered through the restaurant all made me feel like I was aboard the Discovery One. We sat at the bar with the conveyor belt. As sushi rolls (in different colored bowls) slowly crept, by, we examined our options. We grabbed a salmon roll and a yellowtail roll from the conveyor belt. The little plastic bowls contained about 3 pieces each. We ordered the roasted shishito peppers and the mushroom sweet pea dumplings. The dumplings were exquisite in that they were so delicate. My chopsticks ended up tearing the second one in half when I went to pick it up. It didn't change the enjoyment for me, they were perfect. The shishito peppers were also fun in that they were tossed with a soy-sake glaze and grated bonito. Lovely snack. The belt didn't satisfy all of our cravings so we ordered the Shiro-Aoi and the Oh Toro Tuna. Thankfully, my dining partner has good taste in sushi and has lived in Japan. Her recommendations were spot on and we enjoyed both of these immensely. I don't get over to u-city much but I was impressed by Pod. When I return, I'll dress a bit better and I'll bring a group and sit in one of the pods and change the lighting 15 times.
(4)Jon D.
Meh. Averageeeee...and over-priced. Atmosphere and sushi conveyor belt: impressive Food: not so impressive Calamari salad: apparently Steve feels the need to have this same, boring, underwhelming, crappy salad on all of his menus. I've tried them at most of his places and the only version that is actually good can be found at Morimoto. Shrimp pad thai: Nice portion and presentation, plenty of shrimp, desired saltiness was there, but so was a red chili overload. I don't have an issue with hot stuff, but when it dominates every other flavor and becomes the only thing you can taste, that ruins it for me. Definitely not worth $18. My friend got the crab fried rice and said it was great. I didn't have any, but the presentation was there and the portion size was good. Passion Crème Brulee (Soup) tart: Flavor good, technique bad. This dish had a creative presentation, but as soon as I cut into it, the contents started flowing out like a volcano. I wouldn't have had an issue if they didn't charge 9 bucks for it, so point off for half assing it...the pastry chef at a busy place like this shouldn't be lacking the fundamentals, especially with a popular dish like crème brulee. Anyways, unique and very strong sour/sweet taste from the passion fruit, which was actually quite good. Although I could see the bananas, I definitely could not taste them. Thankfully, the coconut sorbet was delicious, light, and refreshing. Lastly, our waitress just plain sucked. My friend and I had just gotten out of neurodegenerative disease and apparently she wasn't too thrilled about waiting on two students. If I knew she was going to get the check from us and unashamedly stare at the tip section before we even left the table, the 20% we left would have been reduced to 2% (which should have been done in the first place). Apart from that loser, the hostess was very nice and friendly as was the manager who came over to ask how our dinner was (the shitty waitress did not). Tip: This place is only good if a) you come for lunch or b) you come with a group where you can order ten different things and share / try everything.
(3)Julie W.
As a poor college student, I (and my wallet) feel very out of place when dining here. It just so seems that the price you pay and the quality/quantity of food that you get don't seem to match up quite well. I mean, a roll of sushi was $8+, and I don't recall anything special was added to compensate for the extra dollars. But I'll say, some of the drinks are pretty good. There are, however, other good things about this place - noticeably, the decor and set up of the place. I'll admit that I have yet to dine at a place like Pod - the sophisticated underground spaceship. Dining in it, you can't help but to look around and appreciate the aesthetic elements of the place. However, the sights still aren't quite worth the money. Overall, this could be a good place for a date or business affairs. It's easy to find and definitely attractive for newcomers.
(3)Alison K.
The boyfriend and I went here last weekend for University Dining Days (have I mentioned how much I love these local restaurant week-type events?) It's a pretty cool place. I think I would have been more blown away by the decor if I hadn't read the Yelp reviews prior--the glowiness of the "pods" and the sushi conveyor belt might have been more impressive otherwise, though they were still pretty cool. Boyfriend had been here before in his Drexel undergrad days, but it was my first time. I decided to go with the UC Dining Days 3 courses/$30 deal. I had chicken pot stickers as a starter, which were pretty standard, nothing mind-blowing (and if you're doubting whether pot stickers can blow one's mind, it's entirely possible.) Next, I had the tofu stir-fry, which was super yummy, so much so that I saved half for lunch the next day. (Unfortunately, our server must have misheard or something because he never returned with the rest of it...and by the time I realized, it had probably been sitting in the kitchen for 20 minutes, so I probably didn't really want it anyway (though really I did and was pouting at lunch the next day.) But that's the passive-aggressive restaurant patron in me. Boyfriend had some sushi rolls (California, I think), miso soup, and kobe beef (which is cooked table-side, which is neat, if a little awkward, because we felt the need to stop our conversation in order to watch it cook...in silence. I thought it was yummy, but boyfriend thought it was good, not great. Moving on... DESSERT. HOLY MOLY. After much internal struggle (and external, for that matter, because I explained to both our server and my boyfriend that this was one of the most difficult dessert decisions I've ever been forced to make), I decided to go with the mocha brownie, instead of the vanilla bean mousse. It was REALLY GOOD. A dark chocolate brownie with a scoop of mocha ice cream, all served over a river of chocolate syrup. YUM. Boyfriend liked it, too. One downside (besides the lack of leftovers delivered--wah!) was the seating. I asked for a booth, and it's more like a seat against the wall. Boyfriend though it was a little uncomfortable for someone of his size (he's 6'2"ish, kind of built) because his one arm was sort of squished against the wall. Overall, I really enjoyed this place and will probably want to return at some point (particularly if we have a group big enough to get a pod!!)
(4)DeWayne G.
First time here. I brought my wife here for her birthday. We enjoyed ourselves! The staff is knowledgeable! The set up is built on sharing your dishes. The atmosphere is chic and a little futuristic. You can't go wrong with any choice. If you have seafood allergies, this won't work for you! We will be back! It's on the University of Pennsylvania campus; however the crowd spans multiple age groups.
(5)Shereen C.
The food here is solid but overpriced. Been here with groups a few times (last year) and thankfully didn't have to pay for myself. Sushi is not bad (though not great, either.) Lamb was good. Filet mignon was good. Chicken stir-fry was okay. Potsticker dumplings were disappointing. Tofu Lettuce Wraps were okay. Chicken Lettuce Wraps not as good. Baby Bok Choy was fine. Nothing special, but nothing wrong with it. Just veggies. They have some tasty cocktails and a pretty good variety of drinks in general. Decor is impressive. Very cool space-y theme with interesting lighting/media. If you're in a pod, you can change the colour of the pod's lighting, but anything other than plain white light is a tad unappetizing for eating. Service is always excellent. Very helpful. One time, another diner in my party spilled water all over my dress. Staff cleaned up the spill, then Manager gave me his card and offered to pay for dry cleaning. Wasn't necessary, but a much appreciated gesture. If I had an expense account and visitors to entertain somewhere close to UPenn, this is one of the places I'd be happy to take them. (The restaurant is pretty much right on campus.)
(3)Adam Z.
I went here for lunch, and it was fantastic. The interior is very modern and cool. Everything we had was excellent, but the spicy tuna crispy rice and the chicken lettuce wraps were real standouts. I'm told that it can get overly crowded in the evenings, but lunch was very relaxed.
(5)Wendy Y.
Meh. The decor seems really dated and unclean to me. I was expecting different from the pictures. The sushi we ordered was really disappointing. I'd rather get sushi from whole foods or wegmans. Grilled cauliflower and eggplant were ok. The best thing we had was the pork belly buns and unfiltered sake (soo good, but it was $45 for a 8 oz carafe).
(3)Erin K.
Just visited last night for my first time for cousins bday dinner. I was more impressed that I thought I would've been. Interior is very modern and up beat. The food was delish (lump crab California rolls, crab spring rolls, seafood fried rice, calamari salad, and sae bass with mashed potatoes). Only down side was the noise. Way too loud for me but i definitely would visit again.
(4)Melody W.
Amazing is the only way to describe the food here -- duck, Chilean sea bass, bento boxes, salads and cocktails -- I've never had anything I didn't thoroughly enjoy. The ambiance, however, truly scares the crap out of me. The way the space is lit and decorated, with compartmentalized, container-shaped spaces, and deep, primary colored bulbs that all seem to point directly in your face or on top of your head, I always feel like I've just been sucked onto an alien space ship, and I'm about to be experimentally probed. In the restrooms, tight, airplane-style cubbies only add to that awkward, uncomfortable feeling, like maybe there could be bodies cryogenically frozen and stored in some of them, to be used for future experiments. Maybe if you're a sci-fi buff, these details won't bug you at all; you may actually find them kinda cool/unique/futuristic. As for me, I'm considering doing only take-out orders from now on.
(4)Andy B.
Walking in, the atmosphere got me very excited for the experience. Menu looked great also. Although we made a reservation, we had to wait 20 mins for our table. When the waitress asks our table about allergies, I was happy because normally I have to awkwardly bring up I am allergic to shellfish. The wait for 5 sushi rolls was nearly an hour. As they finally came out, all different rolls were mixed on the same plate (shellfish and non). The waitress apologized and said she didn't inform the chef about the allergy (we all make mistakes). She said she would expedite my rolls and they would be out soon. 10 minutes, 15 minutes, 20, 30, 35 minutes later my two rolls came out. At this point, everyone at the table ate (annoyed). While my other friends watch me eat, one orders a 2nd glass of Chardonnay; she does not specify the type. Throughout dinner she orders 2 more glasses. As we get our bill, we realized the waitress ordered her the most expensive chardonnay at 17$ a glass. There was a cheaper glass at $8. The waitress explained that they were out of the cheaper wine, so the waitress took it upon herself to charge her $68 for 4 glasses of wine, without asking? After a complaint they comp-ed us ONE glass of wine. Another thing, the bathrooms were filthy. There were plenty of people working, at leaset ONE person could have kept them up. There are like 10 individual bathroom pods. One sink was clogged, toilet paper was all over the ground. One sink would not run water. I felt like they were glorified port-a-pottys. Overall: Atmosphere (aside from bathroom) is great. Food was good. Drinks over priced. Food over priced. Wait was so long. Service was horrible.
(1)Josh Q.
This place is a solid Asian Fusion place, and I was pleasantly surprised that all the dishes were delicious, no matter the original cuisine. The sushi was fresh, the pad thai was the perfect blend of savory and sweet, and the taro spring rolls are the perfect way to end your meal. I know that many Penn students have an aversion to this place, but I never understood why. If it's only because the food is more expensive than other restaurants, then I think that is unfair. While somewhat pricy, I think it is still one of the cheaper Starr restaurants and offers very tasty options throughout the menu.
(4)Mindy T.
Went here for my buddy's birthday. The crispy rice tuna is AMAZING. Everything else was mediocre. We ordered miso soup, stir fry udon, pad thai, and misc. sushi. The miso soup tasted like any other coming straight from a packet, and the server actually took it away while we were still working on it. So we notified them and they brought us out a new one. My udon was okay, had more taste than my girlfriend's pad thai. Sushi was just okay too. The only thing that left us yearning for more was the crispy rice tuna. We savored every last bite of it. As for dessert, I had the chocolate cake. It was very chocolate-y indeed. I couldn't finish it all and gave it to my friend, which he ended up devouring. I really like the atmosphere, it was set up in a way that reminded me of Morimoto's. We had a great time here with all of our friends, and we did leave with a full stomach. If we were to come back, it would be for you know what... CRISPY RICE TUNA!
(3)Gwendolyn P.
I am surprised it doesn't appear that I reviewed this before since I have been here a few times. I really love the cool sleek environment and the service is on point and very professional. I love the kaiten (revolving ) sushi which is reminiscent of the time that I spent in Japan. The menu is eclectic and great for sharing if you go with a group. I have tried probably most of the menu and there was not one single thing I did't like! The rock shrimp is great, the dumplings are great, the pad thai delicious and so on and so forth.
(5)Tina C.
Decent atmosphere, above average food, although a bit on the pricey side, but great cocktails and very prompt service. The clientele was very middle of the road even if the place tries to give off an edgey vibe. We went with 9 people and it worked out $65 per person with no dessert. I don't think it's one of Steven Starr's best restaurants. I would go to Morimoto than Pod.
(3)Nicey J.
I like.. I went here for a birthday lunch .. and the service was great the food was great.. apparently my friend got some bad uni.. well not bad as in not fresh but it was a little off..no questions asked the guy took it off our check and told the sushi chefs? about it so they could figure out what was going on with it.. I like the prompt response.. the sushi was great.. the bok choy ? AMAZING and I'm VERY picky about bok choy and theres was delish.. I will be back pod especially since it's nice out and I can walk to you from work
(4)Zachary D.
Cool decor, fun lighting, and great service make up for only mediocre food. The place looks cool. There are fun colored lights and futuristic tables and chairs. My group sat in one of the pods, which allowed us privacy for our conversations while still being able to look out at the restaurant. And, the pod even lets you change the lighting color, which we found amusing. The service was attentive and polite. On the other hand, my sushi was not great. To be fair, it was not bad either. But, the fish was just not of as high quality as I would hope for a trendy restaurant like Pod.
(3)Walter K.
I've been on a Steven Starr kick recently, so when my Mom came into town, wanting to take me out, I decided to pick A restaurant that has easy enough parking, was expensive, but not too expensive, and a place that I've never been to. Pod, here we come. Upon entering, I was instantly impressed with the decor. All of the Starr restaurants that I've been to have a cool feeling, with Pod opting for neon lights, smooth flowing curves on all surfaces (chairs and ceiling included). Anime was playing on a screen in the background. There were three crowds: preppy college studs enjoying happy hour, small parties sitting around the long table with a built in conveyor belt on which small sushi dishes circulate, and small parties at tables. The service wasn't great, but I'm convinced that had mostly to do with our particular server, and was not representative of the restaurant as a whole. The menu has a not so varied far of Japanese, Chinese, and Thia dishes, sort of all combined. They use wasibi often and liberally, steer clear if you don't like it. I had the shrimp and scallop stiryfry. I liked my dish bestout of the rest at our table (Wasibi crusted filet mingnon, seseme crusted tuna, and veggie pad thia). Dessert was the best part, the sweet 18, which had 9 different bite sized desserts; coconut macaroon, chocolate covered banana, candied apricot, tofu donut, brownie bite, ect. Two of each, and perfect for a party of four. In the end, dinner was good, the place was kind of cool, but I just can't recommend it. If you're going to spend that kind of money, they're are many other places.
(2)Carlos M.
It seemed stylish. Yet, we had to wait for the vip room thing even though we had a reserve (I think). Anyways, I can be a cheap guy at times. But, I can be willing to spend more if the money is worth it to me. Now, everything was super expensive, so out of the flood gates, it wasn't for me. I was there to have fun with my friends, that was it. Plus, I am not interested in sushi. Anyways, I had some shrimp. It was $12 I think. I had 3 Shrimp. Wasn't really worth it to me. I go to places to have good food, and to have fun with friends. I don't want to go to this place again, because I don't want to be wasting my money on really expensive food, that won't be really that worth it to me. I'm willing to shell out some more bucks at Han Dynasty (this is the only place I know of for now, hehe) It was meh to me.
(2)Jana V.
I am rating the drinks, not the food, as I have never had food here. I want to hate this place, I really do. Sometimes you get swarms of teenage girls here and sometimes you get celebrities (like the dude from Entourage.) It's a strange place with a very -trying to be modern decor. However, it's practically the only place in U-city that you can get dressed up and go for a drink and lounge around. You can sit down, have some interesting cocktails, actually hear your friends over the lounge-type music, and you can be dressed in your trendy clothes and hang out. If that's what you're looking for, this is the place to go. The wait-staff is also very nice and attentive.
(4)Katie N.
I have simple tastes when it comes to sushi so I will leave the detailed menu analysis to the other reviewers, but half the reason for me at least to come to Pod was for the experience as much as the food, and in the end neither knocked my socks off. The decor is cool....kind of like a futuristic airline terminal. But the ladies restrooms (which are modeled after airplane bathrooms by the way) left much to be desired in the cleanliness department the night I was there. (Got that Pod? For the amount we're paying, we shouldn't feel like we're in a REAL airplane) Pluses: Super friendly service (our waiter got a fat tip), deliciously addictive jewel-toned cocktails (I recommend the green one), and the fluffernutter spring rolls were delightful. I'm glad to have tried Pod, but I'm not necessarily in a rush to get back. Another one to check off the list!
(2)Christina K.
Even though I've eaten here a few times with friends (a while back), I can't really remember how the food tasted. From what I can remember it was at the least palatable. However as far as upscale restaurants go, I do remember the portions being smaller than usual. The decor is pretty cool but the taste of the food is probably subpar for the price.
(3)Faye S.
3.5 stars. I broke my own rule and went to a fusion sushi place and only ate rolls. =X I walked in, took in the cool decor, and immediately thought, "Err, this is going to be mediocre food at best." Experience has taught me the best places are the holes-in-the wall, and I'm usually skeptic of swank decor and frou frou. However, I wasn't disappointed! We sat at the conveyor belt and just kept grabbing stuff off as they chugged along happily in front of us. Spicy tuna was a hit, as were the other two rolls we got (which I don't know the names of. They're basically a much better spin-off of the California roll). The plates are color coded so you know how much your particular dish is. It is a bit overpriced for the amount you get (4 pieces), but I wasn't leaving hungry so I was happy. Oh yeah, we also tried the otoro and it was decent. Not great, but I've definitely had worse.
(3)S G.
Love the futuristic ambience, love the asian fusion and the crazy color drinks.
(4)Beth A.
We went here with another couple after rave reviews from several friends. First ...the food was superb. We had various sushi rolls (one ordered special and not on the menu and it was no problem) plus pad Thai noodles and a rice dish. Everything was superb. The service was also stellar. We made reservations online and although it was very crowded due to a function next door at U Penn...we were seated right away. The only bad thing was the bathrooms. Each is a separate room, like a Plane. That's not the problem...the issue was they were all filthy. We all used them and we all commented individually how disgusting they were. Hair and dirty papers on the floor, mess everywhere. They clearly had not been cleaned in quite awhile. They truly were just rank and it left a bad impression on the restaurant.
(4)Dan C.
I came here in March for their Tuesday all-you-can-eat sushi deal. My group of 4 was fortunate to have gotten an extremely attentive waiter, who was nicely tipped. We came early, ate 210 pieces of maki/hand rolls/nigiri in 2 hours, and left extremely satisfied. That being said, I would never come here on a regular day. The food is mediocre considering how expensive it is.
(3)brad C.
Accompanied a bunch of fairly discerning Asian palates to Pod last night. The lounge area has a cool vinyl seatscape, and the overall futuristic Daft Punk feel was echoed in the plastic covered menus. We had enough people (7) to be surprised with a "pod" table. After spending too much time playing with the lights (and nearly inducing multiple seizures), we settled on one of the least aggressive colors. We had a wonderful Caesar salad with a sesame seed dressing, a fairly uninspired and underdeveloped portion of lobster and miso, and really really good crab fried rice. My Samurai Jack drink let me down a bit. Tasty, but too many raspberry seeds to excavate from my mouth by the end of the night. While I wasn't blown away by the food, the overall dining experience including the atmosphere and staff was very good Brad's rating (out of 5): Price: 3 Food: 3 Drinks: 3 Decor: 5 Service: 5 Wild card: I think I've said this before, but Steven Starr knows his Caesar salads for SERIOUS
(4)Bruce H.
POD is okay but not that great for the price. Definitely are better options in university city for the amount of money you spend. Plus you end up smelling like cooked food after you've been there because they clearly don't have great kitchen ventilation which bothers me a bit. I hate smelling like a restaurant. Their food is pretty good - their sea bass is delicious. The sushi bar is good. But overall, it's a lot of money for barely above average food.
(3)Donna W.
Green Eyed Monster and Yellowtail.... a nice pairing. I've been here a few times for a quick bite and a full meal. I was satisfied each time. The decor leaves much to be desired.... very umpa lumpaish.... maybe a tad star trek meets mork and mindy. I just don't get it. To each his own!
(4)Nirmal K.
Yes modern with hip crowd and pricey but some of the food is terrific that I go there for special occasions. Nice vegeterian options
(5)Eugene H.
Food here is EXPENSIVE!! We tried out some sushi rolls and entrees which were pretty good. The kobe beef slices served on a hot rock was fun to try and it did melt in your mouth, but everything else here seemed way overpriced. On a side note, the bathrooms are totally designed like a bathroom in an airplane. Take that as you will.
(3)Kimi K.
My favorite designed restaurant in Philly, but food are just average and pricey. The purple, blue, orange and green florescent lights make this place very modern and fancy. We didn't make a reservation, so we had to sit at the sushi bar. You can order food from the menu or choose rolls and sashimi from the rotating conveyor belt at the sushi bar. We tried bunch of rolls, and they were ok. Even though the food was just ok and pricey, I still recommend this place because I absolutely loooved the restaurant design and atmosphere. I would love to go back here for a girls night out!! Make a reservation for a booth!! It's for 6-8 people, and each booth has it's own color, and it looks marvelous. The each roll was pricey, but five of us shared and it came out about $20-25 average.
(3)Joanne K.
Fun. I think it'd be a great place to go on a first date since there is definitely a lot to discuss about the restaurant itself, if conversation about other things lags: Anime, the Woody Allen film "Sleeper" (which is what the restaurant most reminded me of), the interesting menu, the sushi belt, the weird bathrooms, the pods themselves, the people watching... I went with a friend around 8 pm. If I went with a date, I'd go a little later ( 9 pm) since when we got there it was still pretty loud in the dining area and was a little hard to hear my friend (and the waiter). It could've also just been that we were sitting behind a (loud) group of roughly 20 people though. Maybe normally its better. I thought the food was a bit on the expensive side for what it was (pretty good, not great food), but the portions are pretty huge and if we would've shared entrees and appetizers we could've paid something far more reasonable for our dinner.
(4)Ryan E.
It would be really easy to write a boring review about the boring food at Pod and also talk up the insanely expensive prices not to mention their mid-90s 'cosmo'ish cocktail list. I'll spare those details. Instead I'll tell you how I had a reservation for 9pm and was not seated until 10:15. I'll also tell you how the bar tenders don't know shit how to make a drink (I had plenty of time to get to know the bartenders while waiting for my seat at an overbooked restaurant. I might as well just continue this bitch session..... These places don't give a shit about food. They care about the almighty dollar so they'll overbook the place, charge astronomical prices. and rush you out. They're trying to hold on to a novelty as long as they can and convince the masses this is "cool" and worth spending your hard earned money. Don't be fooled. Pod is not worth your time.
(2)L K.
Really bad attempt at fusion sushi... I like Stephen Starr's other restaurants in Philly (especially El Vez), as well as Buddakan in NYC, but this is just a disgrace to sushi lovers. I went here about a handful of times because friends wanted to try it out, but it was just bad food all around. As a sushi enthusiast, I was really disappointed, especially since I lived right near here and SO hoped for Pod to be good! The only good thing I can say about it is that the desserts are really unique and delicious, but skip the entrees and go straight for dessert!
(1)Debbie N.
As a lover of Asian fusion cuisine, I was excited to find out that Pod was part of University City Dining Days. My first impression upon entering the restaurant is that Pod disappointedly sported a cheap modern look. I am all for modern decor, but cheap plastic tables and chairs? It was also loud. Like, REALLY loud. I had to lean across the table and scream in order to carry a conversation with my boyfriend. The food was decent. The beef and lettuce wraps were interesting, and the szechuan lamb chops were very well cooked. Although the food was okay, the restaurant failed at creating a nice dinner ambiance. Pod feels more like a university cafeteria - loud and full of drunken students. I left the restaurant with a pounding headache - and NOT from drinks.
(2)cotie s.
A small caveat with my review is that my wife and friends dined at Pod a couple years ago. As far as decor and atmosphere I've never been to a restaurant like Pod. Spacey and plastic molding design everywhere you look, even the bathrooms are cool looking! The service was pretty goo and our food came out as it was made, so we all got to sample each other's selections. The sushi we ordered was good and the drinks were served quickly. I don't remember exactly what everyone else ordered, but I remember enjoying the food. The only snag was that the meal I ordered (duck) was disappointing. The duck was well seasoned and the skin crispy, though the duck meat was dried out and not moist as most duck I've had. Even when dipped in the sauces provided I was left unsatisfied. I would recommend Pod if you've never gone before because it is a place worth going to at least once. Personally, especially for the price, I probably won't go back.
(3)Chelsea P.
Pod holds a special place in my heart because it's the first time I tried sushi. Loved it! Bias aside, it is a trendy little place with great food. I was here with a group and we got one of the circular rooms that change light colors when you hit the buttons on the side of the wall. Super fun! Felt like I was eating in a space ship :-)
(4)Louis D.
On it's own, the food really wasn't bad. It wasn't the best japanese food I have ever had, but certainly would fall under the "nicer" category meals, and everything we ordered was fine. However, it was overpriced for what it was. The sushi tasted fresh and was interested, but was nothing special. Overall, I thought it was a little over the top, both in ambiance and food presentation. I probably won't be going back because I think one can get food as good or better without all the bells and whistles.
(3)Lynn W.
The only great thing about this place is that it is close to the Wharton school. The wait can be long even with a reservation. I went there twice with a group of 6-7 people. Inevitably, at least one order is always late/missing. The food is good otherwise. I especially like their bok choy side dish
(2)Dominique N.
The decor is great, the food was good, the lighting heavenly. The sexy sleek look of Pods interior would impress any out of town visitors or dates. But what dazzled me about this beauty were its restrooms. John, shitter, WC, or loo, Pod's bathrooms are proof of gods love of humans. These amazing unisex stalls are spacious enough for u-n-i-sex ;). How progressive that men, womyn, trans, and intersex, can all share the same queue without waiting in inequitably long lines. This is also a great convo topic to chat up some eye candy in line. My mother always says that the quality of a restaurant's bathroom will tell you about the cleanliness of its kitchen. Considering I felt like i could have comfortably eaten in those neon stalls, I think that is the highest compliment I can give pod. :)
(5)M P.
Pod is great if a) someone else is paying or b) you're there for one drink/light meal/not going to spend a lot. The dinner menu is not worth what you pay for it, which is upwards of $30+/person. Mixed drinks can run as much as $10-12 and, though the ambiance is 'interesting', its a bit much. The decor looks like an early 90s interpretation of the indoor of a futuristic spaceship. The pods (private round table booths) are great, but you need at least 5 people to reserve one. They won't let you sit in them even during lunchtime on a weekday, when the place is relatively empty (I've tried twice now). Food-wise, the sushi is very good, the Kobe burger is tasty (and huge!), and the fries are crispy (if you're into crispy fries, you'll love it). The desert sampler is a fun way to try a little of everything, so I'd recommend saving room for it.
(3)Terry C.
Snazzy interior design: CHECK Odd modular non-IKEA furniture: CHECK Retro and unobtrusive lighting: CHECK Chic wait staff and cute bartenders: CHECK and CHECK Conveyor belt endless maki: CHECK It has all of the conventions of a cheesy sushi establishment, but the food is good quality. Not only is it a sushi bar, they also offer a wide range of Pan-Asian foods to delight and indulge everyone in your party. The Crab Fried Rice is awesome, the crab rolls kick ass, and the noodle dishes are magnificent. Drinks here are good - but beware - anything that's named after a color will probably have you laid out by drink 4 or 5... I recommend the RED or ORANGE!
(4)Brendan K.
Like eating on the set of 2001: A Space Odyssey. I eat lunch here about once a week and usually go for the Kaiseki express menu. The Kaiseki menu offers 5 different choices all with miso soup, house salad and rice and for between $12 and $15 dollars you can't beat it. It's also really fast, to the table in under 15 minutes. Sushi is reasonably priced and pretty good. They don't always give you an a la carte sushi menu so go ahead and ask for one. Good choice for a quick delicious lunch in the Penn area.
(4)Stacey S.
A 2-word description of this place: "Morimoto Lite." Clean, colorful, modern atmosphere. Tried the eel roll, veggie tempura, double duck noodle bowl, lamb lo mein & a dessert of which I cannot remember. Service was good, food was decent- expensive yet worthy. (I am a huge fan of Morimoto's restaurant.)
(3)Hien T.
Food was delicious. Some of us got sushi, some got udon noodles, and one got the kobe burger, and all were impressed with the tasted. Portion, however, can be on the smaller size. The deco was fantastic. We got to sit in the booth where you can change the colors of the light, which gave us lots of fun. We definitely will come back!!!
(4)Vincent J.
Pod is not all that. I had been there some years back and loved it. Things have changed. The sushi was good, but there is much better in the city. The food dishes were lackluster. Small portions and big prices.I know times are tough, but yikes. To top it all off the service sucked. ( They really need to learn how to wait tables there)They are off my list.
(2)mike b.
Over it. There is quite a bit of good sushi here in Philly. We are even luckier that even more really good asian cuisine abounds. With that in mind give Pod a miss. First of the place is way, way over the top. Moreover, it seems like time has aged what was once perhaps a flashy nouveau-outer-space electric Tokyo punk themed dining experience into something less fun, less interesting and somewhat passé. I mean there were a number of weird moves happening. Japanese cartoons playing on the wall, ala carte sushi conveyor belt, weird neon lights, and bathrooms that looked like out houses on acid, all worked in concert to create a strange and contrived vibe. Seriously, you can skip this, trust me. . . I mean, I like Daft Punk as much as the next guy, maybe even a bit more, but not while I'm making conversation over some spicy tuna rolls and a martini. The fish is good and the rolls are well made. But, you can find that pretty much any where. Why pay through the nose for fare that can be found elsewhere and for a cheaper price. Oh and apparently it was birthday night because every ten minutes or so someone would let fly another raucous happy birthday ditty and scream. That really added to the ambiance. Swing and a miss Steve. Next time I want sushi, I'll be at Vic's.
(2)A L.
I just tried Pod for the first time, and it was awesome! Inside the restaurant was very futuristic, on that note alone I was happy. The food was excellent, although not very filling. I really want to come back and try something else!
(4)marykris g.
DO NOT GO TO ALL YOU CAN EAT Sushi I was really excited to hear about Pod's promotion for all you can eat sushi. I think in theory it was a great idea. However, in practice it was a nightmare. We had a reservation for 9:45pm, we were seated at 10pm. After following the strict orders about what you can and cannot order, we ordered with our waitress who I must say was really friendly. We waited an hour and ten minutes for 2 maki rolls, 1 hand roll and a few pieces of nigri. The manager came over and apologized for the wait and gave us free pot stickers. We decided not to wait another hour and a half for our second serving of "all you can eat sushi" and left. The staff was nice and only charged us $25 but it still was not worth the price or wait. As we left we could see probably 50 other tables that did not have food either. I would go back, but not for an all you can eat sushi night.
(1)Aurora A.
I'm was visiting philly this weekend and had the occasion to eat at Pod. Boy was it an wonderful experience. we started with the crispy chicken wings (the name does it no justice) and they were some of the best wings i've ever tasted. The sauce was light, slightly sweet, and tangy. Our next taste was the cured salmon salad. Delicious. The next big WOW was the rocking spicy tuna roll. Now, i know my spicy tuna roll and this is no average encounter. They put a piece of shrimp tempura in a tiny ball of goodness on top of the roll. The flavors are so dead on, it's sick! But that's not even what blew my mind! The glazed chilean sea bass is blow-your-brains-out ridiculously delicious. Butter but light, sweet, perfection. Then i topped it all off with the pumpkin pie napolean. It was all amazing.
(5)Jing G.
To be honest I don't know if this restaurant really earns a full 3 stars. I've been here a handful of times (I tend to give places a couple of tries) and at all times it has been just ok. One of the times I went was with a party. They did pretty well in accommodating us and serving us pretty quickly, but I remember the food was the usual unremarkable fusion, which generally can be underwhelming anyway. One of the more recent times I went I ordered something like the salmon and it came in a very average teriyaki sauce. The side of mushroom fried rice was a little bit above average. Never got to sit in one of the actual pods, but I can't imagine that sitting in a mini - room where you can control the lighting would make it THAT much better, unless you happen to be around 10 years old (no offense to anyone who DOES happen to find that the best restaurant invention ever.) The sushi conveyor belt may be one of the few available around here, but I'm pretty used to them from visiting back to Japan so often that the novelty factor just does not weigh into my rating at all. Overall, a cute place to go for something "novel" in terms of a restaurant concept, but expect just okay to a little-better-than-average food. It's fusion, but it's really not terribly creative at all. And by the way, the latest time I was there a server was apparently not assigned to us even though somebody seated us. We waited more than 10 minutes before we finally flagged down a random server. I almost left.
(3)Carrie E.
Yep, it looks really cool inside, which kinda gets your hopes up that you're going to have the dining experience of a lifetime. But when foodtime comes along, well, let's just say that it's not bad but it's not great, either. If you like fancy drinks, waiters that ignore you to flirt with other waiters and a big bill, then this is the place for you. If not, then grab sushi and a sixpack and then sit on your porch. You'll have just as good (and maybe even better) of a time. And you won't have to listen to any stupid techno music while you're trying to have a conversation. PS. The bathrooms will make you feel like you're on a spaceship. So at least that's...interesting?
(3)Emily P.
Oh, the camp! The camp! The horror! The camp! It's, like, soooo bad sixties-spaceship-mod-movie in there I can barely take it. Plastic chairs and all! - Oh Steven Starr, you really do pull out all the stops. The food was decent but nothing that couldn't be had at any respectable sushi joint. The drinks were... colorful. The menus were... plastic. (buh?!?!) ...Classy. Our waiter kind of forgot about us for a while, then came back with some long-winded story about being kidnapped by a group of Penn kids (yo, I know how they can be, but that diatribe didn't even make sense! and I totally saw you flirting with the other waiter - you could've been honest about it, I might have even found it endearing.) The bathrooms were intense. As soon as I walked in I felt like I was trippin' ballz. I mean shit, there's so much color and the texture on the walls + that lighting + shadows in a small modular space = holy crap, maybe we really ARE in space. Or maybe this is what an airplane bathroom would look like if you locked yourself inside and had only E and shrooms to eat. I bet this place would be fun if you actually *were* trippin' ballz. Go for a drink and lock yourself in the bathroom for a while. The sensory overload or sensory deprivation would be totally worth it.
(3)Nash G.
During my first year in grad school at Penn, I lived in one of the towers across the street from Pod. I used to meet people there occasionally, only actually eating there a handful of times. The food wasn't bad, but it wasn't remarkable, either - especially given the price tag. If you're the type to want to hang out there, you won't care what anyone writes about it - forgive my heavy-handedness, but it was usually packed with the douchey-est subset of Penn undergrads you could imagine, probably fresh out of the Urban Outfitters around the corner and sporting their parents' Amex. I am getting chills just picturing it. I gave it an extra star just for having bathrooms I'd imagine having sex in. I mean, if I were the type. Just sayin'.
(2)Miguel C.
I came in with a party of 6, and we each ordered an appetizer and a main dish to share family style. It was a Tuesday night, and the ambiance was nice - good for us to have a good chat. I particularly liked the fish dishes. Service was fairly timely. The final bill is on the pricier end, so I wouldn't go here very frequently. But once in a while is nice.
(3)Jillian G.
The sushi is excellent here and not overpriced. Great place to take fellow diners that don't like sushi/"ew its raw fish!!"...there are many items to choose from to fit all types of palates. The decor is weird but whatever. It is slightly distracting to see UPenn kids bring their out of towner parents to the most "far out" restaurant in West Philly. I have overheard many "this is what its like on a spaceship" comments. ugh My favorite part of this restaurant is the martinis you order by color. I've had them all and the Blue is my favorite. Green is a close second. Pink is also good. hahaha
(4)Heather D.
** 3.5 Stars ** Went here for a business lunch and was satisfied. The decor is quite remarkable, and despite looking otherwise, the chairs were actually comfortable! Most of the group got the lunch special, which includes an entree, miso soup, rice and salad. It was a lot of healthy food, but overall a bit bland. The service was also quite slow, especially for all the staff that was present. Seek this place out if you appreciate your servers to be eye-candy. This place seems most suited for a large group on a special occasion. The prices aren't unreasonable, and the decor creates a fun atmosphere. The menu seemed varied enough to satisfy a range of palates.
(3)Alezander W.
I went here on a Friday night with my friends during the University City dining days period with my friends in late July. We didn't have a reservation, but were seated at the sushi conveyor belt. I love the colors and theme of the restaurant as well as how you can book a "pod" that changes color with the push of a button. Three of us ordered off of the special menu. Anyway, the appetizers ordered consisted of potstickers, california rolls, and I think egg rolls, perhaps. All were pleasant. For the entrees, my friend got the shrimp pad thai, which was in a huge bowl, one probably bigger than my face. The salmon I got was very small, but still quite deliciously fresh. My last friend ordered only a bowl of rice, but it was probably the biggest bowl of rice I've ever seen a restaurant give! For dessert, we all had brownies with coffee ice cream on the side and let's just say, it was the best brownie I've ever had! It was warm, gooey, and just so good. The plate was spotless when I was done with it. In total, the meal was about 100 dollars for four people, but it was definitely money well spent.
(4)Zachariah Z.
As far as aesthetics go, this place will melt your mind. I was in PA for work a while back. I asked the hotel clerk "where can I score a decent plate of sashimi while having my face humped by anime robots?" Unfortunately, they couldn't locate such an environment, but were glad to suggest this gem of sushi restaurant. I was with a party of ten coworkers and were fortunate enough to also get the POD. The POD is one of two bright white, round rooms that anchor the place in the back of the restaurant. Its kinda like that one Kubrick film....God, i can't think of it. You know that one, with the little space ships and talking computers. I remember its set in the future. I'm really bad at pop culture. Anyways..... You sit a little higher up than the dining room floor, so you can look out, point and laugh at the rest of losers in the restaurant who didn't get to enjoy this experience. There are a series of 9 big buttons on the wall, arranged like the blocks on "Hollywood Squares". You may, at anytime, push these buttons and the ENTIRE room will change that color. It is not subtle, by any means. It is BRIGHT pink, purple, red etc. Be warned, eating Maki that looks florescent green doesn't help it go down any easier. I felt like projectile vomiting out the port holes, on to the other patrons of this fine establishment. That would have been embarrassing. Let's get serious for a second, sorry reader. Jeez. Where are my manners? Talking about vomit on a review for a sushi restaurant is not cooth. (Were you just wondering what "cooth" meant? No? I'll tell you anyways. It is a Scottish colloquialism, meaning to be polite or well mannered. I just googled that shit.) Let's get to the heart of the review. Not 5 stars because I have had better sushi, but it was not bad by any standard. It was actually quite good. But the brilliant design by the Rockwell Group made this an amazing experience that you will have to see for yourself.
(4)Ninh N.
I've been to POD several times but I recall one time last may. My sister and I ordered the wasabi filet, sushi and shrimp tom yum soup. Everything was delicious, unfortunately I found fruit flies in my soup. I didn't want to make a scene and told my waitress, she took it away and apologized. The manager (dark hair with glasses) comes up to me and apologizes and said "you know, its summer." was that the answer to why there was flies in my soup? They offered me another soup, I said no thank you. They offered free dessert but I didn't want any, and they refused to take the soup off my check. So I paid for the soup I didnt want to eat. The food here is good, unfortunately the incident that happened to me a year ago wasnt.
(1)Jessica A.
I can here Saturday night for my friends birthday! And let me tell you, the food was absoultely amazing! The Sushi was very fresh and I ordered the Mandarin Shrimp stir fry - Awesome! I also tried the crab meat fried rice and it was also delicious!
(5)Three R.
fun place, good price enjoyed it
(3)regina c.
Been there twice. Once cause I made a mistake on the date. Great food good staff! wonderful Martini. Who would have thought carrot, orange and ginger would be so delicious. Can't wait to go back
(5)Hannah M.
Staff: All very friendly and helpful. This was what made me bump this from a 2-star to a 3-star. Atmosphere: The music was trendy and not too loud. You didn't have to shout over everyone. The dining area was too cramped though that I kept touching the table sitting next to me. Food: TL;DR Review: Glorified chinese takeout. Not worth the price. I started off with the sashimi - or so I thought. They brought out my meal (Duck duck udon) before the sashimi. The sashimi ended up being the best part of the meal, and at $6 for 2 pieces actually was a reasonable price. I would order it again. I tried some of my friend's sushi too - it was average. Not bad, but not outstanding. I've had better for less money. My entre, duck duck udon, was decent but they didn't specify that it was more of a soup in broth - it was so hot to eat and not what I wanted on a muggy day. I though it would be more of a salad. There were only a few pieces of duck in it and the dumplings/wontons tasted like take-out. Not really worth the $15 but the portion was VERY generous; enough to take half of it home for lunch the next day. The thing that irked me the most about this place is that they ran my credit card twice. Although one of them only went through and one of the charges stayed in pending and disappeared... this can be annoying. I'd stick with cash if you go here.
(3)Nikki J.
I've been to Pod several times (most recent - last night). I've yet to have a negative experience. The food is always great, the drinks are always yummy, and the service is always 20% tip worthy. I love it here.
(5)Gina L.
I went to this place on Saturday. The desing of the place was not the greatest, the plastic chairs were not the most comfortable, however, the food and the serve were great! We ordered albacore sushi and Rio Grande roll, they were excellent! Also, I ordered sea bass and japanese sweet potatoes, and it was great! My hubby ordered kobe skirt steak, it came without a side dish, which we did not realize, so the sever brought out wasabi mashed potatoes within minutes. It was great! For desert, we got their new item, cheesecake, it was delicious. The food may be a little on a high side, but it's worth it.
(4)Stephy S.
I've always wondered what it would feel like to get drunk inside of a Mac computer and now I know! And it's pretty damn cool. I came here the other night after a very long night of party throwing, drinking, drinking and some more drinking and I really enjoyed it. From what I understand, it's usually a bit cooler and we hit it on an off night, but I still thought it was cool beans. I also had a chance to partake in one of my favorite hobbies. Yep, drunken bathroom photography. Maybe it's just me, but I love cool bathrooms. Sure, anyone can pop in a sink, screw in a light bulb and put in a toilet, but when a place takes the time to really create an atmosphere, well, they get much of my Blackberry Curve's camera attention! On this night I probably shot a good 15 pics in here and they all turned out really cool, IMHO. As for the food here, I didn't try it, unless you consider vodka a food, which i do. And limes, limes are food, right? :)
(4)Anisha H.
AHHH My fav restaurant in Philly - I miss it sooo much!!!! ok yes it is definately not cheap but its a fun place to go with a group of friends. the place - they make you sit in Pods if you are a party more then six...and you can change the lights and its pretty kewl!! Sushi - they have a sushi train which is awesome...you see the chef making the fresh sushi in front of you and they put it on a train which you get to choose from....two thumbs up!! The food --- okk the fix menu in the pods...is TONZ of food!!! we went here with a bunch of friends - we were eight of us and we got through apps and the first course and had to pack the rest home!!! we were soo stuffed with the sushi and the apptz...we couldnt eat anymore.... it was sooo sooo good...but ofcourse we had room for the desert platter...lol Definately a great fun place to hang out to...and a great place to people watch ;)
(4)Jen L.
Another Steven Starr restaurant? The place is neat-o, but I guess that can get old kind of fast. The bathrooms are kind of cool, and the 'pods', where they let larger groups sit, have mood lighting you can set yourself. If you're a small party, you can sit at the back bar/food area, where a little conveyor belt carries tiny plates of food round and round, you just grab what looks good. Sort of a serve yourself dim-sum, I guess. It's a different kind of experience, with lots of interesting choices off the menu, with a heavy focus on seafood. I liked the crab spring rolls A LOT, and also enjoyed the chicken potsticker dumplings. I was in a party of four, and we all ordered something different. The drinks are pricey, so be prepared to shell out the bucks if you imbibe. Four of us ate and drank for about $250, so that will give you an idea of what to expect.
(3)Jen D.
If I just had to rate this place on decor, I'd give it 5 stars. The decor is what makes this place so interesting. Otherwise, it's overpriced asian fusion cuisine that doesn't taste very good.
(2)Michelle K.
Get ready for more out of town reviews from me. Pod is a 3.5 star place, just as the Average Rating suggests. 4 stars for decor: yay for the chairs, the lights, and the martini-sipping well dressed crowd on a thursday night, but nay for the all-metal bathrooms that tried to go too futuristic. 5 stars for service: our waitress was attentive, answered q's, and most importantly was very professional when my friend realized she had ordered the wrong sushi rolls...and left us with the "wrong" food for free. So in the end we did get the right amount of food for our money! 3 stars for price 4 stars for food: i highly recommend the U love salmon2.0 rolls! (Smoked salmon wrapped tasmanian salmon and mango maki served with soy glaze and mango cream sauce). If you're not at the sushi bar, make sure to ask for a separate sushi menu so you're not limited to the combos (read: more expensive/complicated sushi) on the regular menu. If I lived in Philly, I wouldn't return too soon, but I was happy to find a decent restaurant in University City on our one night in town.
(4)Matt L.
I love Pod. I really do. For 10 years, I've been going here for fresh sushi, well thought out cooked food, and fantastic drinks. In college, I was all about the sushi bar and happy hour. Then I discovered the bento box lunch. For $15 I could have a great meal and typically have enough food to take home for dinner as well. Plus, it's affordable for a nice meal with friends or to go pick a prof's brain about something. Then I came back for grad school and all of a sudden had a recruiting budget. This is where I got to know Pod. Pod Caesar? Best in the city. Seriously dee-lish. The teriyaki Kobe burger at lunch? Even my mom, who HATES Japanese food, liked this burger. The Tuna Hand Roll 3 ways? MMM...although I do chuckle like a 12 year old at the title. U-Love Salmon special? You're right, Pod... I do. And let's not forget the Bao goodness in the Duck two ways... Those of you who actually read my reviews (i.e. Ali E. and occasionally Monica) know I love me some steamed bread. So with that, a good friend of mine was in town, so I procured a 9:15 for me, him, Ali E, and her beau and we went for some all you can eat sushi. I got there a few minutes late, and they told me they couldn't find my rezzie and that I was the first to arrive. I go to check my coat and see a text from my friends that they're already seated. Hmm. Overwhelmed and somewhat rude host desk. Good start to the day. We sit and it's a hot trannie mess in the restaurant. HUGE plates of maki coming out left and right for the All you can eat festivities. In terms of selection -- they pretty much had all the basics. Not the cheap stuff. Good fresh salmon, snapper, bass (which is actually super tender and not fishy at all here), fluke, yellowtail. A few shellfishes I don't eat. Basically your choice of maki, hand roll, or nigiri. And if you want spicy? sure? crunchy? sure...well...sort of (my penn roll lacked that quaker crunch). I don't think we were aggressive enough with the ordering, what with the pay a-la-carte for everything you don't finish, but we ate well. Waits were long, as we were in the restaurant almost 3 hours for some sushi. But I was full as hell when I left and very pleased with my meal.
(4)Alicia O.
I don't remember much about the sushi at Pod. It was good, but not amazing. I do remember the chairs, the bathroom doors, and the lighting. I guess that's the whole point. I would like to go back again and try the conveyor belt. There needs to be more conveyor belt sushi in Philly.
(2)Anna Marie C.
again, this is one of those places i end up going to because it's close to work. it's a stephen starr japanese/asian restaurant. it's pretty, it's modern--but i've never gotten to sit in one of the pods... i've never been here for dinner, but as far as the lunch goes... the good: crab pad thai. but then again, i have a sick love for pad thai. desserts are usually good as well. the alright: the generic (but decent) calamari salad. the sushi. and frankly, most of the rest of the menu. the ugly: uf, it's pricey.
(4)Debbie G.
Was just there last night for drinks and apps. It's a typical trendy, loungy kinda spot, but still somehow a comfortable place to kick back for a drink after work. One thing I have to mention was the waiting staff here is unexpectedly really nice. I assumed they wouldn't be from the looks of the place, but it was pleasant surprise to find out otherwise. The dishes are definitely overpricey, I have yet to try their fancier sushi rolls, but the shrimp tempura maki and edamame i got was just fine. I'll have to give this place the dinner test soon!
(3)Danielle P.
Great service, trendy and just plain cool decor, and the best sushi in West Philly. If you're in the University City area and you need to get your fix, this is a great option. They had some interesting specials, all of the usual sushi, and japanese dishes. My family enjoyed yellowtail, tuna, salmon, and some specialty rolls, as well as the fried rice. All good quality. They took care of my food allergies and I didn't get sick from any of the food allergies I worry about when dining at an Asian restaurant (shellfish, soy, wheat!) I wouldn't go out of your way to come here, but it's definitely a great option if you go to school at Penn or Drexel or if you're visiting!
(4)Jenny K.
Pod is the perfect place for a date or a girls night out. Everything is cute and chill. I love the lychee martini here. The crab fried rice is my personal favorite. Be sure to call ahead for a 5+ group and request to sit in a pod
(4)Seb G.
I was lucky enough to have the opportunity to taste many different plates thanks to being invited by a very generous host. All I can say is WOW. It's not only one of the most visually appealing restaurants I've seen in terms of style and decor but the food was unforgetable. Every single plate was exquisite; even the tofu, and I hate tofu. Pod is the best asian restaurant I have ever been inside or heard of. I would definitely recommend it if you find yourself in Philadelphia. Apparently a lot of celebrities frequent this spot.
(5)James C.
Pod is great for the atmosphere and the food quality is A-OK. It might be on the pricey end if you are just looking for a quick bite to eat with friends or something. I always try to get the pad thai since I think that is the most bang for the buck and then some sushi. All the special rolls are good. Sushi is always fresh and top quality. Overall it is a decent place.
(4)Tiffany H.
Literally the best sea bass I've ever had. Order it.
(4)Tom B.
As I mentioned in my previous review, I imagined that Pod would have a pretty cool vibe going when the place was busy... Back in the day, I could only imagine such a thing because the place was practically empty during my first visit, despite the fact that it was at 7pm on a Thursday night (and it wasn't any busier by the time I left). Fortunately, I've been able to confirm my suspicions over the course of a couple visits since then. Went for dinner, went for lunch... Both times the place was packed, and the atmosphere was entirely different, much more comfortable and exciting. Oh, and the Rockin' Spicy Tuna roll is one of the best I've ever had in all my sushi eating days.
(4)Cynthia X.
I like the fusion-ness of this place! It's proximity to the UPenn campus makes it popular for school events - the two occasions for which I came. One was a professor dinner, and the other a pre-interview dinner w/ the interviewer... So both times I couldn't concentrate too much on the food.. However, coming with a large group meant trying lots of things, my favorite is probably the pork belly buns. Sushi platters were good, but not memorable. Scallop fried rice was tasty, so was the chicken karage, edamame, udon, beef fried rice.. Etc etc. all good, but not memorable. Mochi ice cream is yummy :), but you can go to trader joes and get the same. Oh, and this place is Veg friendly!
(3)Jodi S.
Went there for an early Saturday dinner. Calamari salad was outstanding. The dressing was good but delicious without it. BLT roll was good, not great but Bronzino was out of this world great!!! The staff was attentive without suffocating and management was obviously walking around to ensure a pleasant experience. This wasn't my first choice of restaurants this weekend but so glad I went and will be going back again for that Bronzino and great service!
(4)Shushmita M.
Fancy dinner out on campus! Great sushi and appetizers. the ambience is different and can be cool for the first time, but personally not my type of place to go back several times. Though we kept going back for drinks and late night appetizers here, my friend andI did have a bad experience with a waittress almost 3 years ago. The atmosphere can be a little too stuck up and snobby for my taste. Overall, I'd say food is good but definitely overrated place.
(3)Sarah M.
I love it here. The atmosphere was awesome and the place was so trendy. The sushi was amazing. I will definitely be back. you should definitely make a reservation so you don't have to wait for a table because the place is popular. All the servers make sure you were taken care of. I recommend it!
(5)Susanna L.
Pretty pricey, but I love how modern the decor is. It has nice soothing purple glow. Food was pretty good, I had the sashimi platter for two, and a couple of little side dishes like the chicken kabob, dumplings, and chicken fried rice. Our waiter was great, he came by every once in a while to check up on us and tell us what each plate was. its a great place for a nice date btw. Not very loud at all.
(4)shilpa p.
i love pod. it's a little pricey, but i don't mind going for sushi and dessert. the music is totally cool and i like the pink drink at the bar (tell them to go heavy on the champagne, i love champagne). i recommend the fondue tower. so yum.
(5)Mike P.
I love Pod. The interior looks like Japan exploded inside there. Drinks and food are great. Also the service is fantastic. Once after a tough exam five of us needed a drink, so we needed over to Pod, and even though we were pretty ragged looking in our exam gear they treated us really well
(5)Kap N.
the food is good here.
(4)Jacqueline O.
Last night I came here for my sisters birthday. It was great. We sat in one of the large private pons and enjoyed a delicious meal with great drinks. She had called ahead to order off a set menu and it was incredible. They started with salad, Sushi, dumplings, fish on sweet potatoes with rice (to die for) chicken lettuce wraps, and then desert which was marshal low and peanut butter spring rolls, ice cream in a delicious putty shell and hot lava cake . It was so much food and each thing that came out was better than the last. I would recommend this place for large groups and I would record ordering ahead. Everything came out on time and we were never waiting. What a great place. Only thing was it did seem to be a little dead outside our pod. But with the private rooms it is like you are the only people there and it was a blast. Not to mention it changes colors as you push the buttons around you.
(4)Ada W.
The decor of this place is super cute! And it's definitely great for a big group to have their private space in the few pods they have in the restaurant. The service is great and they were very attentive to our needs. The service was really fast but they didn't rush us out like most restaurants do which is a plus for me. We had the special tempura shrimp and jalapeno roll, short ribs from the robata grill, chicken potstickers and spicy lobster. They were all good but not great. I guess I expected more given how great the food is in other Stephen Starr restaurants. But I will definitely recommend this place and I will come back again if I crave for sushi or Asian food.
(4)Grace L.
Although I am a huge fan of the design (the restaurant feels clean, sleek, and modern), the food was extremely subpar. My friend and I were seated promptly at a cute window seat, and handed beautifully created drink and food menus. Our waiter was prompt, pleasant, and filled up our waters consistently. However, our experience went downhill from there. I ordered the shortrib bento box, and while I enjoyed my miso soup immensely (it was full of flavor, in contrast to normal watery broth that asian restaurants usually serve), I could barely eat my salad (and I love salad!) or main dish. The first bite of the shortrib was decent, since the meat was cooked well, but the rest of it was much too salty and doused in gooey soy sauce concoction. My friend ordered a salmon avocado roll, which looked small but she said it was fine. Finally, we shared chicken lettuce wraps; I enjoyed the peanut sauce, but again, the meat was much too salty and covered in more sauce! I ate one bite and let my friend take the rest home. Will not be returning if I am paying with my own money; thankfully, many Penn professors take their students out to lunch here for free, so it would be worth it to come then.
(2)Monica H.
Friends and I went to Pod for a birthday last weekend because we saw pictures of the amazing interior of the restaurant. The service was all very good and our waitress was super helpful and seemed to have the whole menu and all the specials memorized by heart. The interior had a futuristic feel which was very new and different. The food however, was just okay for the price. (We tried basic and specialty rolls). While the presentation and quality was very nice, the rolls just seemed to lack flavor. The cocktails seemed to sound very complex and tasty on the menu, but it was also just alright for $11. All in all it is a good place to try and experience once, but i feel as though you are really paying more for the atmosphere than anything else.
(3)Charles F.
Best entree I've ever had, hands down. Chilean Seabass is now an addiction. Perfectly seared presented, this meal cannot be beat. Decor is cool and modern with PODs for group seating (you can change the color of the lights in the pods!). PRO- Decor, Seabass, drinks CON- Sushi was not my favorite. Rice was a bit dry. I'll go somewhere else for sushi and stick with the seabass
(4)Ari P.
Mediocre overpriced sushi, good american food like rack of lamb. Ambiance is fun but the physical space is showing wear and tear.
(2)Larisa G.
Hip place. Great service, very efficient and pleasant. We were seated right away and upgraded to POD seating which is the private room with weird lighting. Food is OK, but then again I may be spoiled by great food in NYC.
(4)Kate R.
Great experience! Our server was great! Food was delicious & fresh! Sushi was yummy. My husband had the kobe on river rocks for an appetizer and lamb lo mein, which were both really good. I had the scallops ramen, which I probably wouldn't order again because I don't particularly like soup, but for a soup it was really good. The ambiance was fun & energetic! Drinks were delicious! We would definitely go back!
(4)brian h.
I had to go into the memory vaults to write about this one (a nearly insurmountable task when you only have half a brain). One reason that I'm relying on memory is that I choose not to frequent this spot. The girls weren't bad looking, on my one and only Friday night visit. Posh places like this bar attract a certain type of girl...lovely to view, difficult to touch and, torture to talk to. They might as well be aliens visiting from another planet. Speaking of aliens, this bar looks like the inside of a fucking space ship! I'm a "meat & potatos" type of guy, I suppose. When I'm going out, I'm usually looking for a trad. pub, not the set from StarTrek. Be good or be gone.
(2)Soojung C.
All you can eat sushi on Tuesday nights after 9 p.m for $25. Make reservations!
(3)Nelson S.
On first glance this place looks like its trying too hard. Anytime you have a modern almost futuristic theme it tends to look dated quickly... kind of like how Tomorrowland probably looked futuristic for about 5 minutes. The plastic chairs are not comfortable and the wait staff looks like they are on Star Trek. But the food did not disappoint. We had a few of the nightly specials... a sushi roll with chilean sea bass on top, a soup with scallops and lobster, and a steak dish... and they were all awesome. And have the Samurai Jack. Great drink.
(4)Jordan P.
A very unique and exciting restaurant. You will of course notice the decor and ambiance as soon as you enter. Very avant-garde and space-age, I was a huge fan, but I could see how some would see this detracting from the experience. The menu is a mix of traditional sushi and Asian (Japanese, Chinese, Vietnamese, etc.) dishes with some western European dishes as well. We ordered a combination and ate family-style, which was great because we all got to sample all the dishes. None of the dishes disappointed and we were very satisfied with the quantity and timing. I can't wait to go back again.
(5)Alicia L.
This place has a great ambiance and is a really fun place to go in a large group, when you can get a pod and really enjoy the entire atmosphere. I've only ever tried sushi here but it set a really high standard for the rest of the sushi I've tried in the city; their maki maki maki was an amazing deal (it was $60 for about 45 pieces of sushi), it was easy to split between 3 or 4 people, and it was of excellent quality. The chicken lettuce wraps are a nice way to start the meal and are another great dish to share. Definitely not a place to go unless you are willing to spend a decent amount of money, but it is worth it.
(5)Patricia S.
When I go to Philly, this is my go-to sushi spot. The rolls are all very fresh and well presented. My fave, which I cannot for the life of me get anywhere else, is the salmon, cream cheese and mango roll. Not traditional at all, but I had it the first time I went and absolutely loved it. Try some of the random special ones, they're all good. The only hot food I've had was the calamari which was give or take, but I'd get it again if a friend suggested. Tip: Ask for the sushi menu. They never automatically give it to you for some reason. Eat in or take out. Worth the fairly reasonable price for the atmosphere and reliably good.
(4)Kaitlin H.
I had a fantastic time at Pod. The service was amazing. All of the food was so so good. The decor is definitely a little strange, but that doesn't take away from the quality of the food. Everything we tried we love.. the crispy tuna, tofu lettuce wrap, and lobster truffle roll stood out to me. Even the dessert was fantastic! It is certainly pricey for the quantity but each dish we tried was awesome!
(4)Mark L.
I didn't like this place because it was on Penn campus and tended to attract a certain subset of students. Food itself is good though and the place has a funky vibe.
(3)Justin M.
I guess some people value lighting over quality of food because the food here is really just ok, and oh so overpriced for quality of ingredients. $14 soup with three bites of duck? The lunch Kaiseki express is the only thing of value, and you have to endure unhealthy choices if you go this route. AND DON'T EVEN THINK ABOUT GOING HERE IF YOU WANT GOOD SUSHI. Again, it's a place to blow cash and be seen at Penn, and that's the only reason it's still around.
(3)Nitasha S.
I LOVE POD!!! The food is so great, their sake mojitos are amazing! The atmosphere is great, friendly staff, and interesting furniture.
(5)Mia L.
I usually love this place, but after getting take out today I am very disappointed and might not come back, even though I have been eatIng here religiously for 7+yrs. I found a whole twig - yes,twig as in wood piece- in my $20 Pad Thai!!! On top of that the salad had whole chunks of shoots that were not edible and when I asked for the crab sushi like dish I ate there a month ago the hostess sold me a $20 piece of crab!!! I don't appreciate this and find it disrespectful just to get lower grade food because I ordered take out as I didn't have time to go there to sit and eat. Pod, you have truly made me sad today.
(1)Claire O.
Duck two ways, and the braised beef short rib over udon noodles. It was all over!
(5)Javier O.
From the Decor to the conveyor belts and pods, this place is visually pleasing. The food is also very pleasing.
(5)Michael C.
I would give this .25 stars if yelp allowed me to. if you're looking for a restaurant that strives for decor, but lacks in tasty dishes, this place isn't for you. The scene is pathetically decorated in their attempt for modern decor and yes, their food is NOT worth the price you pay. I could have had a better Japanese meal that cost me $10 this junk. Philly in general is terrible in sushi and this restaurant hits rock bottom. Go to Fuji instead down on Chestnut I believe. Steven Starr is a disgrace as a restauranteur.
(1)Chris L.
Another Stephen Starr restaurant. I came here for the sushi and it was pretty good. However, I'm not sure if it justifies the high price that you have to pay for it. It's good, but you can probably get the same quality sushi at other places for a lot cheaper. They have a sushi conveyor belt at the restaurant, which I think is really cool. Other than that... just another place that stands out since it's Stephen Starr...
(3)Sharon G.
No love in this food and the decor is "meh" (as yelp says).
(2)Rachel A.
I can't say no to a man with tattoos and my experience at Pod was purely orgasmic. The food at Pod is amazing and reasonably priced, if not underpriced. It is economical bliss. I expected to pay way more and for appetizers, sushi, drinks and desserts for two. Our bill topped at $84 bucks. Not too bad. Killer ambiance and surprise after surprise, I find myself thinking about Pod time and time again. Pod is futuristic, offers everything traditional with a twist and is unpretentious. The place is like an outer space playground with ever changing colored lights, bubble ceilings, and white on white interior. The sushi boat is a world of its own and if you fancy anime, the screens are like windows of cartoons. I saw waitresses carry out birthday desserts with sparklers. It was like Fourth of July. The service is excellent (welcoming, accommodating, quick, and knowledgeable). Everything thumbs up. The ultra hot weather called for mocktails, one Cucumber and Apple Spritzer and one White Peach and Mint Soda. Both were refreshing and full of fresh fruit. We ordered the special Lobster Ramen appetizer, Tonkatsu Sandwich, and the Rockin Spicy Tuna. The Lobster Ramen was not soupy but had a creamy rich broth-like dressing. The lobster chunks were huge and tender, the vegetable medley offered crunch and the ramen was very fresh and not over cooked. The Tonkatsu Sandwich could easily rival David Chang's pork steamed buns. The Rockin Spicy Tuna was haute sushi. Sprinkled with black sesame seeds and prepared like little works of art, the spicy tuna was like a sushi hors d'oevre. It was topped with popcornlike tempura rock shrimp and microgreens. This all created for a filling meal but without hesitation we ordered dessert. If Pod's tactic to get people to order dessert was to send in a tattooed dessert man instead of our friendly waitress, then it surely worked. We were set on Chocolate Chocolate Chocolate (chocolate toffee bread pudding, chocolate shot with salted rim, and chocolate tart) but when the tattoo guy told us about the special Chocolate Flan we had to make our dessert choice Chocolate times 4. The tattooed guy was evil in a good way. Death by chocolate all the way at Pod. No worries, you will live to tell the tale of sweet decadence. I could easily devote a whole review to these desserts. Instead, just trust the smile on my face that they were all exquisite. I will add that the Chocolate Flan was light rather than rich and was complimented by an Early Grey Tea coulis and black cherries. I'd make a two hour trip to Philly from NYC just to indulge at Pod. It was really that good. For the formal writeup on Pod: spamisbetterfried.blogsp…
(5)Herbie H.
I've been to Pod a number of times before (always for lunch) and always had a great time. I usually get the Kobe Beef Burger (which is absolutely incredible.) I met my aunt here for lunch, walked in, and was immediately overwhelmed by the number of people waiting to be seated. I think the hosts were also overwhelmed and after waiting for 10 minutes, we took it upon ourselves to sit at the bar and order our food there. I had the Seared Ahi Tuna Kaiseki Express lunch and my aunt had the Macadamia Chicken Stir Fry Kaiseki Express lunch. The portions were lunch appropriate and didn't leave me feeling hungry or over-full. Aside from the service being seated, our server (and bar tender) was attentive and very friendly. I'd love to go back for dinner.
(4)Meg S.
I've come more than a few times, and each time has been consistently great. The chicken lettuce wraps and the yellowtail sushi are particular favorites, but I can't say I've had anything that wasn't really really good. Service is very professional as well. It has an interesting ambience, and if you have a group, definitely try to call a few days ahead and get one of the group 'pods'...otherwise you'll sit outside your entire meal feeling jealous as they change the colors inside. The only reason why it isn't 5 stars is because I've had similar quality sushi for cheaper and the ambience can feel really gimmicky the 5th or 6th time you come.
(4)Yun W.
This is your typical mid-high end Asian fusion restaurant targeting out-of-town business travelers staying at the Inn at Penn. The menu is a pretty standard mix of Asian cuisine options (sushi, rice & noodles, stir fry, dim sum), and the quality is reliable and generally good although pricey. Out of the sushi options, my favorite is the rainbow roll which offers a fresh assortment of white tuna, yellowtail, tuna, and salmon. The noodle and rice dishes are also good, but not particularly remarkable. Service is friendly and generally prompt. Overall, the trendy ambiance and extensive drink offerings are really what give this place its character and keep it going, making it a great choice for recruiting and business dinners.
(3)Alex X.
Wanna feel like you are in/from outer space? This place is it in University city area. It is hidden on a T street and not really out in the open. Unusual food. Unusual ambience due to the lighting perhaps. A perfect place to take your alien dates. Been here twice. Unique experience. You should try it at least once.
(4)Danielle O.
Food is good. More sushi needed. Restaurant needs a good cleaning. Bathrooms were disgusting. Had a new server in training he was ok. The trainer/server Rose, never smiled. Seemed annoyed. Some of us were served and ate entire dinner while others waited for salads. When I asked the server several times where our salads were she said they were coming out as an entre or they were spacing out our food because we ordered so much food or some other excuse. When we were finished our dinners, or some of us were, the salads finally came out. Not worth the money. Needs cleaning Servers are unfriendly. Won't be going back anytime soon
(2)Ted C.
HTTFG!!! = Hail to the Food Gods! This place is vibeing! Neat-o lights and decor! Cool personal bathrooms with green vacancy lights and mood lighting inside. My work team went here for a outting and I swear we tried everything on the menu from appetizers to desserts. There wasn't a single thing I didn't love. The two items that stood out was the Calamari Salad and Cappuccino/Coffee Ice Cream Brownie Dessert. I swear I ate myself to death here. Thank god I wasn't paying through, prices are slight above average. Nonetheless, this is just about the coolest place to bring somebody. There is also a separate Sushi Bar with a conveyor-belt.... the real deal. This place is great all around from food; to service; to decor. :D
(5)Jen I.
I wasn't a huge fan of the decor. It's all white and cold and while I know that it's supposed to have a slick feel to it that' not my scene. Moving on to the food, this is where the 4 stars come into play. Service was really nice and quick and I was really happy that they offered a number of veggie/vegan options. The vegan stephen roll was great as was the grilled cauliflower and the veggie dumplings.
(4)Naz O.
I went back and forth when trying to decide if I should give 3 or 4 stars to Pod. I'll just list the pros and cons and you can decide for yourself: Pros: -great food: extensive menu and delicious -fast service -takes reservations Cons: -I would say that Pod is on the pricier side for what it is. It tries to present itself as an upscale place, but I would say that besides the interior design (and diners I guess), there isn't much that's upscale about this place. -There is definitely a ventilation problem. Whenever I eat here, I leave smelling like fish and/or fried food myself (clothes and hair). So don't go here if you have just showered, because you'll need to shower again when you leave.
(3)Jennifer M.
Very nice lunch spot. I got the shrimp pad thai which was $18! Luckily, I was able to save some for dinner to compensate the cost. Service was friendly and attentive. Location is right next to the Inn at Penn, making it convenient for students to take their parents out for a nice lunch or dinner. Atmosphere is definitely futuristic. It's like eating in the Jetsons era! I say, a solid 3.5 stars. The menu items reminded me of some of the items offered at Continental Midtown, such as their shoestring fries, calamari salad, and sea bass. I'll try the sushi next!
(3)Woo K.
Pod offers a unique culinary experience with its interesting decor and atmosphere. The best word to describe eating here would probably be "fun" and would be a great place to go with a group of friends. However, while quality of food at Pod is certainly good, it doesn't live up to how much you're paying for it. It's not the best sushi you'll find, but it'll certainly get the job done. I would definitely come here at least once, not for the food but for the unique atmosphere.
(3)Jleigh V.
My fiancé and I ate here over the weekend, he wanted to surprise me with a fantastic fancy center city meal...my suggestion....NEVER EVER eat here unless you want them to rob you of your money and unable to stomach your meal! our bill (for just 2) was over $200 and the most horrible food i have had in the wonderful city of philly. we asked our server to suggest an appetizer since it was our first experience here, upon his suggestion of what is best we ordered spicy rock shrimp (friend shrimp with walnuts and pineapple) honestly...did my best to force 3 pieces of shrimp (no shrimp inside btw..just tempura & batter) and i couldn't even make that! it was doused in a ridiculous amount of mayo to point where there was more mayo on my fork than shrimp! didn't even know that was possible. we both ordered sushi for our dinner...yellow fine tuna sashimi = low tied hard fish I had to spit it out and i love me some fish I mean I eat raw oysters so usually i can bare it...not this time. blue fin tuna was hard, salmon sashimi = fishy unusually slimy, one good piece was your standard eel an avocado..nothing special...nothing completely terrible i mean i get the same exact roll from the grocery store and it's better there. My fiancé had a crab california roll...couldn't find the crab anywhere! His 2nd roll said baked crab and chili aioli hand roll...no where does it say, then covered in fish eggs which he cannot even attempt to eat, they wouldn't take the roll back my next suggestion...drink before you go or don't drink at all....3 single vodka and coke's (small 5 ounce glass filled to the brim with ice) = $52.00 I ordered a fruitie margarita...it was as if someone played a middle school joke on me and poured 3 table spoons full of salt (not to mention I asked for no salt rim) into the drink...my stomach shriveled up while drinking! maybe we should have ordered rice and beans and stuck to your standard filet...who knows but for the amount of money you spend, the thought the atmosphere is fancy but people walk in in sweats, and the food being so below average....stay away it's a waste of your time, money and effort
(1)Erin D.
I went here for the first time, and I thought the food was great. We had a large party and we ate family style, we shared everything. The highlight for me was the lobster roll, I'm drooling just thinking about it. The crab fried rice was also delicious. Honestly, everything was pretty good! Our server was also great, she knew everything about the menu and timed the serving perfectly. We never felt overwhelmed. I thought it may have been a little overpriced, but the food was decent. All in all, I would come back here again, but it isn't on the top of my list.
(4)K C.
Food is rich, but in the way that makes you feel like ugh afterwards. Overpriced. Loud, drunk people at the front. Tries to be fancy, but really, isn't.
(2)Richie D.
2nd time we were here. Great atmosphere. Waiters can be a bit stuffy and pretentious but that's Philly. Pod has a great selection of apps and drinks. We order all apps on many occasions at certain restaurants and this is prime for that. Can't get by all the app selections to order a main course, maybe next time.
(4)Carl S.
I have been restaurant hopping in Philly and this was the only restaurant I found to be overated. I think you pay too much for what you're getting. The food quality and presentation was so-so. The ambience is really unique. The bathroom stalls remind me of the airline restrooms. I went there with a group and we sat inside one of the "pods". There's a wall of buttons that change the light colors and it was all overwhelming to see and enjoy our food. We ordered a variety of food that was recommended to try. I had the galbi tacos which was too flavorful. The lettuce wraps was boring in taste. The udon noodle and tofu sitr fry was just as boring as the lettuce wraps. The kobe beef was too little. The spicy tuna crispy rice was good, but not as amazing as I had hoped. When it came time for dessert, we got the ice sculpture. Based on the name, I was thinking something visually appealing. But when we got our dessert, is was a few small ice cream scoops piled on a cylindrical block of ice. Very unimpressive. For the flavors, there was carrot, guava, pineapple, and others I cant remember. Honestly, I could only taste 2 flavors: guava and pineapple. Thats why I only remember so few. If you're paying this much, you expect good flavors and quality. However, I could walk into another mom and pops and get the same thing for less. I know its a asian fusion restaurant, but you're better off eating at an authentic asian restaurant that masters these dishes. This review is just based on my opinion and my experience. There is definitely more on the menu I have not tried. Service was also very welcoming.
(2)HR Muffinstuff M.
Food was great. A bit pretentious and the wine prices are unusually high.
(4)Julie G.
I thoroughly enjoyed my evening at Pod, even though I didn't get to experience it from an actual pod (which I hear is pretty rad). I went with one of my friends and we sat in a two-seater booth that was basically like a wall cubby, so it felt kind of cool as well. When you walk in, there is a really hip kind of swanky vibe to this place, so I course was feeling it. I especially liked the anime videos playing above the sushi bar and the large multicolor lights that resembled bubble gum on the ceilings. To start my friend and I shared the crab spring rolls, which were pretty unique, as I've never had anything like them before. As a main course, we shared the sushi/sashimi tower, which was very fresh and just enough food for two people ($65, so quite reasonable). The drinks were creative and tasty and the owner (or manager, I can't recall at this point) bought us a round on him (thank you!). I would highly recommend Pod to anyone looking for a unique time and great meal in Philly.
(5)Jen L.
What a gem in University City! After a long day at work in the area, the yellow martini (passionfruit vodka in yuzu juice) was just what the doctor ordered, literally. I tried the pork belly steamed buns, which tasted akin to David Chang's Momofuku buns. The Shiro-Aoi roll was delightful ... the spicy white tuna and yellowtail were "melt in my mouth" delicious, and the jalapeno slices added a nice kick. For dessert, definitely recommend the chocolate bread pudding. As an added bonus, the interior decor is quite chic and futuristic with just a touch of Asian kitch meets Clockwork Orange Milk Bar. I'm definitely a fan.
(5)Christine B.
When I was at Penn, POD was my go to spot for date night. At the time, it was definitely one of the nicest restaurants in University City. Now, older and wiser, it's still good, I'm just not as impressed as I once was. When a friend suggested it for dinner, I jumped on the chance to go back. I used to always get the pineapple shrimp tempura, and I'm happy to report that it is still delicious. That's really the only think I need to order here. The spicy sauce is kind of reminiscent of sushi spicy sauce and with the sweet chunks of pineapple and the crunchy walnuts it makes for a terrific dish both in taste and texture. I also tried some sushi, the spicy crunchy yellowtail, and spicy tuna. The yellowtail was pretty good, it had slices of jalapeno in it, but was kind of falling apart. The spicy tuna was very disappointing. I really couldn't taste any spice, and the tuna itself wasn't that great. Overall, the sushi was just meh, which is disappointing because its on the pricier side. Also tasted the kobe beef which is pretty awesome. Who doesn't love having meat cooked on a rock at the table?
(3)Rachel P.
The only plus about this place with the decor. The inside was filled with colorful lights and cool furniture. Definitely suited for a younger crowd. I came with a group of 10+ girls so we got a private room "bubble". It was so fun to play with the different colored buttons placed around the room that changed the entire bubble's color. The food was...eh. My friends and I got a mix of sushi dishes and little meals. First, they were extremely overpriced. The food was good but definitely not worth the high price tags. It was nice to visit and see the place, but I would not go back because the food did not meet my expectations.
(3)Kchi S.
I wish they had half stars as this was not so bad as to be a 2 but not quite a 3 so bear that in mind when reading the following.... Let me start with the fact that I am not a fan of sushi. So my score does not include that part of their menu. I noticed that the prices are pretty high for what it looked like others got so take that for what it's worth. I went for a quick lunch and service was fast enough but lacking in personality. My companion's app did not come until after she had her entree but her food looked great and she said it was quite tasty. She had the chicken with lettuce wrap and eggplant app. Smelled good too! I had the seafood rice which was about 85% rice so to me it was a bit overpriced. I could have fed a small family from the amount of rice they served! The rice was colorful and looked good but flavor was non existent. This happens when you try to season precooked fish and shellfish - it absorbs nothing once cooked. I had to ask for several different sauces, on the side, to jazz it up and then it really became tasty. Odd to say this but they put too much rice into this dish. Think it would have been better instead to have a bit less rice and concentrated on flavor and a little bit more seafood. The atmosphere is colorful and modern futuristic but it left me cold. The chairs are shaped like the Jetson might have had and while they are not uncomfortable they add to the coldness of the space. The hard floors and walls seemed to amplify noise and tables were placed way too close. So much so a woman hardly had to turn her head to comment on our conversation (in a nice way). For those reasons it was simply not an enjoyable lunch for me.
(3)Brad P.
I've got to hand it to Pod for inspiring very strong opinions. This place is a divider of men and women. It is contentious. It is Steven Starr's great experiment in toying with human emotion, offering stellar experiences to some diners and awful ones to others. Just read the other reviews here and you will see that customer satisfaction results from machinations akin to those developed with an infinite improbability drive. The battle lines are clear and now I will weigh in. The food at Pod is really good. The wasabi-crusted filet mignon is excellent. The portion size is laughable but the flavor itself is unique enough to make it my favorite menu item. The mandarin shrimp stir-fry is very good. The sushi is good. It isn't the best sushi in Philly but it does the trick. The decor balances between slick and campy. The balance is skewed by the following two factors- 1. Sunlight 2. Your Blood Alcohol Content For example: Sober during lunch - "Those plastic cube-seats are tacky." Tipsy at 6PM - "Hey this place is kinda cool." Drunk at 11PM - "oh my god I am in a space ship." On the action-movie-parallel-satisfaction-scale, this place is Iron Man.
(4)Rin Z.
Pod is where Penn kids go when their parents come in from out of town to take them out. Pod is where Penn kids go when their parents come in from out of town to take them out. Pod is where Penn kids go when their parents come in from out of town to take them out. Pod is where Penn kids go when their parents come in from out of town to take them out.
(3)Asuka N.
I've been to Pod a few times in the past - once for their lunch special, and the other times as an evening stop for sushi. The ambiance is very fusion-esque, with seats carved out into the walls and isolated booths that make it feel like you're in an exclusive section of a club. It can get crowded Thursday-Saturday nights, but generally speaking, getting a seat isn't too difficult. As for the food itself - the sushi has been hit and miss. One time, my girlfriend and I got the sushi special, and the fish was very well-prepared. Another time we came, and we must've gotten the last batch of fish that was a few days old - it had the dried-out, chewy texture that is a no-no for sushi. I am a fan of the miso soup, though; you get a huge bowl that is pretty well-flavored relative to most watery miso soups that are served at sushi joints. As for the lunch special, it's pretty well-priced (around $12 or so, I think) and has decent food. I had salmon teriyaki the one time I had it, which was marinaded well and was cooked firmly, but not overdone. Until the recent renovations around campus, this was one of the classier places to eat at Penn. It's not top-notch food, and they probably charge a little much for what it is, but it's a solid spot for a meal if you're willing to pay a few more bucks.
(3)Kelly P.
I. LOVE. BOK. CHOY. this place won the hearts of many of my drexel/penn friends, but i must say, i just don't get it. (side note: i dont eat sushi. not sorry.) the back room has AWFUL acoustics. have been to pod multiple times with groups and it seems that no matter which seating area i'm in, including the pods, i can't hear a damn thing my fellow diners are saying. i'm not going to totally trash this place because i love their specialty cocktails and desserts. try the fluffernutter spring rolls, you can thank me later.
(3)Parker S.
Jetsons like decor meets asian food/sushi. I went with some friends and we ate psuedo family style. Everything was good but I couldn't tell you what I ate. I left the ordering up to everyone else aa the restaurant kicked my ADD into overdrive. There is funky lighting, anime playing on tv screens, a sushi conveyor belt, and bathrooms that seem like something I would find in a german techno club. With that said, you might understand that the vibe of the place is trendy. I can easily see how it would be too trendy for many people. I thought it was a pretty cool atmosphere but it did make it impossible for me to focus on much of anything. The service and food were good. Not the best food our service I've ever received but still much better than most places. My friends got a few drinks which they said were made well. I chose frim their limited but accrptavle beer list (all bottles- I ended up with a dogfish 90 minute). Overall its a good place if your looking for a specifically trendy place with good food and service. It is probably best suited fire a younger crowd, but the prices push the limit for what most younger people can afford.
(3)Schuyler L.
Pod, you look so fancy from the outside! We sat at the sushi conveyor belt and it was really fun. It wasn't too busy the night we went so there weren't a lot going around, but what we tried was really good. On a busy night I can imagine you wouldn't need your server. The color of the plate matches a chart to give you the price. The sushi we ordered was good, not great. They were very accommodating in terms of menu items and the server was very very professional. I can see why Pod is priced as it is. It's in West Philly, but has UPenn prices.
(4)Lenny Z.
Pod is a cutesy place. Just like the name, it is filled with pods, from the seats at the tables to the bathrooms. The staff was all very friendly and attentive. Our waitress began by inquiring about our allergies and took notes, and made sure to advise us through our meal. The bus boys always asked before taking anything away. And, the manager checked in on us. The food was pretty good. We had the shrimp and vegetable tempura, which was a very large portion. The tempura sauce was a little bit on the citrus side. Personally, I would have preferred it wasn't. I also had the miso soup. It was on the larger side, as it should be for $7. It tasted pretty good, but nothing to write home about. For my entree, I had the small sushi. This was actually pretty good for the price. There was about 7 pieces of sushi and two rolls, 6 pieces each. I really appreciated that the menu fully exposed what pieces of sushi I was getting. So often places post that it's the chef's selection and won't tell you what it is. This was topped off with the cheesecake, which was on the small side. But at this point I was so stuffed, it was best that way. All in all, the food was decent, but I've had better. I think the prices are more set as if it's one of the best in town, when average is more like it.
(3)Yeqiao Z.
Tasty food, nice environment, good service, costs a lot.
(4)Alexa S.
Here's a breakdown of the pros and cons of POD: Pros: 1. The atmosphere. I love fun, futuristic and modern places to eat. Being at Pod was like being in the sort of cool restaurant you'd see in a film. It has a really interesting atmosphere that isn't too pretentious, managing to seem posh yet casual at the same time. Eating here made me feel like a cool, sleek New Yorker! It was a fun experience. 2. Wait staff. Every waiter was friendly and helpful, refilling our drinks without request and patient in explaining menu options. Cons: 1. The food. This is a huge downside and if I dislike the food, not even a super cool atmosphere can make me return. There are MANY places throughout Philly and my home town area that are way better than Pod. The sushi selection was OK, with the [very pricey] lobster roll and the california roll both having good, quality meat, but the seasonings and spices used in the sushi tasted horrible! My shrimp tempura roll was overloaded with too much ginger, and it was far from easy to eat. It was almost...nauseating. I've never had that experience with sushi, not even raw. 2. The appetizers. Again, two major strikes against Pod. Not every app was bad, but the spring rolls, despite being recommended by the waiter, were bizarre tasting. The outside seemed powdery, so I almost felt like I was eating a pastry, not a spring roll. It's a fusion sushi place, so you're supposed to indulge a little when you go here. I don't mind healthy versions of recipes, but this one was simply gross. And again, the spring roll had a strange garlic-y, ginger flavor that made me nauseous along with the outer texture. 3. The PRICES. Wow. I've never spent so much on mediocre sushi and apps at a Japanese/fusion restaurant. You're essentially paying for the space ship-like, hipster atmosphere of Pod. The rock shrimp dish - another so-so app that had a very odd flavor - I got was over 15 dollars, and the sushi was expensive for what we got. I bemoan that Pod does not have food to match their awesome atmosphere. If only the food were better! I thought to myself. I would be back in a heartbeat. Sadly, I can say that the sushi and apps at Pod were likely the weirdest and most oddly seasoned [and in a bad way] dishes I've ever had at a sushi/fusion restaurant. This place will catch your eye with its cool, artsy vibe, but the food fails to deliver - and it will make you go broke to boot. Overall, avoid.
(2)Emily S.
First of all the waitstaff here was the best. The food was also very very good. I was with a large group so we ordered everything from sushi to mashed potatoes & desserts. Everything was excellent - sushi rolls were high quality and freshly made. The atmosphere in here is pretty cool too - especially if you can sit in one of the Pods. The changing colors gets a little annoying after awhile ... and after a couple glasses of wine but overall it was a fun place.
(4)Claudia P.
Enjoyed a great meal here with colleagues while in Philly recently on business. Service was outstanding! Waitress gave spot on recommendations - I highly recommend the dim sum items...we ordered family style & the pork belly sweet rolls, spare ribs, grape leaves, vegetable tempura and sake were amazing! Kids & college students mixed with couples on a Thursday night at this vibrant mod restaurant. Only reason I didn't score a 5 was because the sushi rolls left something to be desired. Overall a great find!
(4)Saloni G.
Since Pod is right near the middle of campus, I've come to Pod a few times during my time at Penn. My go-to dishes are usually the: 1) Wasabi Vegetable Rice - I get it without egg and it still tastes great! The wasabi is not too overpowering but still enough to give a kick. The rice is subtly flavorful and light. 2) Udon Noodle and Tofu Stir Fry - I love this dish! The tofu is made to be marshmallow-style which I have always been a fan of. The udon noodles are marinated in this great sauce which is still light but definitely feeling. It's not greasy at all so I order it every time! 3) Cauliflower Robata - I've had this once or twice as it is more of a side than an entree. The cauliflower always comes out nicely grilled and is a great dish for sharing on the side. I've also had the mochi which is always popular with whomever I come with. Pod can be a little pricey so I don't occasion it that often but I'm always pleased when I do come!
(4)RJ T.
Very fun, trendy sushi restaurant right near campus. I was here solo at the sushi bar, but if you come with a big group, you can sit in one of their "pods" which is a cool atmosphere. I ordered the crispy rice spicy tuna which was great and then the rock shrimp spicy tuna roll which was amazing. Pro-tip: go a little early for lunch, like 11:30/11:45 - the place gets PACKED at noon on the dot and if you are eating at the sushi bar, you get the freshest first picks :)
(5)Emily D.
Only rating two stars to balance out the ratings. Place is very pretty, but you're paying a pretty penny for the atmosphere. Food is OK. Service is OK. Drinks are OK. A nice place to meet with old friends to sit a while and chat. Dress up to enhance your time. This place is instagram worthy (aesthetically excellent!), though if youre really hungry for some on-point food, you can easily get more bang for your buck somewhere in Chinatown.
(2)Rich D.
Just walked out of CHOP and was foraging for some lunch... And I found said lunch in a futuristic place called Pod that serves Asian fusion. Great lunch menu and I went with the Macadamia Nut Chicken served with a Soy / Kelp Miso and a Ginger Salad. Place was very cool and reminded me of the Milk Bar in A Clockwork Orange. All they need to complete it would be some nude spigots and a bit o' the Ludwig Van...
(4)Mary B.
I've heard a lot of great things about stephan starr restaurants and i was in town visiting family so we decided to come here. the decor here is so modern, chic, and hip!! i give this place 3 stars is because the food was okay. All the sushi rolls we had were good, but nothing really stood out to me. my family from philly seem to really enjoy it, but i guess my san diegan tastebuds doesn't agree as much.
(3)Tom M.
Attention vegans! The tofu lettuce wrap with peanut sauce and the Vegan Stephen. You'll be thrilled you did! Pod is such a great place for a sit-down meal in West Philly. I have been going there for ten years now. I am so happy they have two great vegan dishes for me to enjoy!
(5)Minaz M.
For the price, I think it deserves only 3 stars. It's a more fancy and better quality chinatown-type-food restaurant. Don't get me wrong - the food was good but it wasn't good enough for the price. I love Amada & Zahav & Morimoto - the food at those places is AWESOME and well worth the money! We had the white tiger roll sushi, which was good. The karaage (fried chicken) reminded us of KFC! It was certainly very well cooked but it was just fried chicken. The sizzling garlic mushrooms were really good. The lamb and the crab fried rice were alright. I wouldn't go back!
(3)Kristy Y.
The food here is okay, there's nothing great about it. I think it's more for someone who wants a pretty plate dinner. However it is a nice spot to have drinks with friends. If you want sushi, I would suggest you to go to an actual sushi restaurant.
(3)Rob P.
Had dinner there this week with a party of 10. I've dined there several times since they opened. Initially, the novelty of the interior design really contributed to the overall dining experience. Now, the place is dirty and worn- even visible with the dim nighttime lighting. The "Pod" our party occupied was dirty and worn. Some of our dishes/utensils were not clean. The bathrooms were atrocious. We had to move our chairs every-time the server brought food just to let her pass. Awkward and uncomfortable. If this were a local chinese restaurant with associated pricing, one would overlook the condition of the place and accept the mediocrity of the dishes. I would advise closing and reinventing this place.
(2)Ms S.
I was worried that the whole conveyer thing would be weird, but actually it is a great concept and is great in between your other orders. It is extremely clean fish and comes delivered in a pod so you don't have to worry about someone sneezing or giving you Ebola while its traveling around in circles. The place is very clean and the staff is friendly. I'll definitely be back
(5)Connie J.
Great food, lovely decor. Will go again!
(4)Faustina K.
Ok so this would not be my first choice of dining, simply because I'm not a big fan of sushi...BUT I was impressed by the decor and the modern feel of this place! It's very modern. I can see it being a good place for a date night or even just a girls night to somewhere u meet for lunch meetings! Service was good! Our waiter was very friendly and attentive! Explained the menu well, and encouraged out to try new things. Which I thought was great! As for the food! Ehhh! I decided to just go with the shrimp tempura! The menu didn't have anything that interested me, and after tasting my friends rice, which was very blah! I was eased with my order! I may give it another try! We'll see!
(3)Alexandra B.
Not impressed with this place whatsoever. I had heard so much about POD and how unique the place is and that the food is to die for...but really I don't agree. Yes POD, your sushi is fresh and your presentation is outstanding but I feel like your completely over-rated. I can get fresh sushi at many places in the city with out paying the "cool factor charge". Your drinks are interesting but also I am not impressed. I felt like I was back in high school with "rich kids who think they are cool" surrounded me while i was eating there...If i wanted that I would have stayed in the suburbs of NYC..no thank you, you guys have def created a scene here to say the least. Also, I feel like you have the strangest hours, I have found myself wanted to go there many times before but you were never open? I'm obsessed with Asian Fusion may go back just because location. MAYBE ( I have heard that POD does a $25 all you can eat on Tuesday nights)
(3)Pauline S.
I absolutely love their sodas. I came here a year ago for my birthday and tried a bunch of specialty rolls, one with a lobster head. I also tried the duck two ways, which was not impressive.
(3)Caroline C.
As others have reported: the all you can eat sushi experience is a shit show. We arrived for our 9:30 reservation and were told it might be 20 minutes before we were seated. So, right there, you get off to a bad start. After about 30 minutes we were suddenly told that we couldn't stand where we were standing and ushered to another area. Another ten minutes passed before we were seated. It was, at one point, suggested that we buy drinks to pass the time. One key way to keep hungry, hungry people from being in foul moods when made to wait? Comp them a stinkin' beverage, don't suggest that they happily endure your unpreparedness Eventually we were seated. And our waiter promptly asked us what we wanted to drink and took our order, but the fact that one of our party was allergic to shrimp threw a new wrench into the works. While, having had limited food service experience, I understand that this sort of 'all you can eat' deal necessarily leads to a frenzied environment, it truly seems like they could have prepared for the possibility that someone with an allergy might want to participate. They hadn't...and originally told my friend that they could not guarantee that any sushi wasn't contaminated, but that she was free to order off the kitchen menu, which was, you know, not what she came and waited 40 minutes to do. The situation was positively resolved, but it wasn't without a fair amount of tension and stress. The sushi itself was fine considering the strain all the sushi chefs were under (you don't go to an all you can eat sushi experience expecting the most perfectly rolled maki of your life). I don't want to sound too grumpy, I do understand that this restuarant probably functions much better under normal circumstances...but the fact that we weren't comped a roll or drink after a 40 minute wait and a 10 minute period in which one of our party might not have been able to eat without risking her life is, well, really annoying. (All that said: our waiter was great and management did the best they could, I'm sure) The end.
(2)michelle r.
Went there last Sunday. It was incredible. Nick our server at the bar area was very informative about the drinks. Drinks were incredible. I love it here. Can't complain about anything. If you havent been here I would check it out.
(5)Rose N.
I worked here for a year. Although I ate a lot of their food all the time, I still loved it and craved for it. I thought everything on their menu was great, excluding a few items. The atmosphere is very hip, fun and futuristic. It got extremely busy on the weekends so you must make reservations; and don't be so picky with the seating. The window pods are so crammed. Hmmm... where should I start? Sushi here is awesome; made by some of the best sushi chefs around. I love the sushi bar with the rotating conveyor belt, it so much fun sitting there. House salad- has a great ginger soy dressing. Lettuce wraps- great! Tonkatsu sandwich- ehhh. Short-ribs- so tender. Duck duck soup- delicious. Grilled kobe skirt steak- packed with flavor. Chilean sea bass- light and buttery. Pad thai- one of the best. Crab fried rice- everyone loves it here. Drinks and cocktails are also fabulous here.
(4)Cindy W.
I love a restaurant that has a great atmosphere, is fun and has great food, and that's what Pod is to me. In order for me to trek from NJ to Philly, and pay the bridge tolls $4 and the parking fees $15-20 and now gas... I want to be impressed when I come out. The decor of Pod is really futuristic, the hosts are cute and wait staff is great and friendly! this is the type of restaurant thats fun to get dressed up and go to. When my husband and I go out to dinner, we like to try everything so we usually order a few appetizers, then our meals and desserts. I think the last time we came here, we ordered the spring rolls, some tempura, a plate of sushi, and some pad thai and steak. Everything was seasoned great and tasty, and cooked to perfection. We have never been disappointed here, we always enjoy ourselves at the Pod!
(4)Sneha D.
This is a classic go-to for my family for special occasions!
(5)Joel F.
One of S. Starr's Philadelphia restaurants, and so comes with expectations higher than most restaurants in the city. Foodwise, it doesn't disappoint. There's a nice mix of traditional and creative sushi (e.g. lobster rolls, tuna handrolls 3-ways) which was all fresh and nicely done. Additionally, the menu has a whole page of dim sum (appetizers) and entree dishes drawing from Japanese, Chinese, and Thai influences....think Pad Thai, Steak Teriyaki, etc. We opted to get all sushi and dim sum and were very happy with our choices. What lost this place a star was its decor; it's pretty weird. The theme seems to be Japanese minimalism, with blank white walls, hard white chairs, and a cracked cement floor. This all gives a feeling of coldness to the dining room. Great food, great service, weird interior. But highly recommended!
(4)Robyn H.
Finally got a chance to go to Pod. My bf has been there before, and didn't particularly like it, hence.... I haven't gone, since he's basically my "eating out" partner. Tonight, I insisted we try it. It was ok. We both agreed that we're tired of restaurants that LOOK LIKE Pod. We've been to so many of them, and after a while they all morph into one and the same and become a blur. Most of these restaurants rely too much on the decor and then don't deliver when it comes to good food. Pod was ok in that department. I ordered Spicy Tuna Rolls and Seared Scallop Ramen. Both were good, albeit. a little spicy!! He ordered Szechuan Lamb Chops, and said they were delicious. For dessert, we had the Butterscotch cake with herbal tea..... good as well. Overall, I'd have to say Pod was just so-so. Kind of expensive, in my opinion, for what I had. (Really just Oodles of Noodles with Scallops!) LOL Well, if nothing else, I finally get to cross Pod off of my list of places to try.
(3)Megan T.
I LOVE Pod. One of my favorite things about Pod is that it is what you want it to be. If you're with your family, it's a family place. But if you're with friends for a cocktail, it's a trendy bar. The menu is is as large as the portions! The set up is ultra modern, most of which you can see from Samsom Street looking down. The prices aren't all that bad considering it's upscale ambiance. My one complaint is that there are few healthy options (I'm a big fan of large salads). I highly suggest getting a big group together, and you'll get one of their exciting "pods" where you can control the color, and most significantly, you'll feel important.
(3)Ney-ney L.
Very bad hostess skills/costumer service! My friends and I had 8:30pm reservations on a Tuesday for dining days/restaurant week, which also happens to be their all you can eat sushi night. Despite arriving at 8:15pm, we did NOT get seated until 9:15pm!!!! I checked in with the hostess THREE TIMES and every time she asked for my name! Her excuse: "we're really busy!" Seriously?? Here's a thought-if you do NOT have the table to HONOR a RESERVATION...DON'T ACCEPT THE RESERVATION!!! When our table was finally ready the hostess approached the two guys behind us and said my name. They replied, "that's not us." She responded, "That's OK, follow me." I stepped in to say that she was looking for me. We were then placed at a table for five people because the hostess thought we were a party of five even though the reservation CLEARLY said for THREE. Once seated, my friends and I opted for the $30 set meal for the dining/days: choice of one appetizer, one entree, one dessert per person. Our waitress informed us that because we were three people we were only allowed to chose two appetizers and two entrees but we still had to pay $30/person. ??? Basically they wanted to cheat us out of one appetizer and one entree. We complained (felt more like begging) to have what the menu was advertised for and got our wish. I feel that if I waited 45-60min for a table WITH a reservation, that just bad business. Don't insult me by trying to get away with cheating me out of two dishes! Especially after you didn't honor my reservation! Aside from that, the food was good but not worth all that hassle. My advice: if you insist on dinning here...don't waste your time with a reservation and avoid going there when they have specials. Apparently management cannot handle "busy" times or honor reservations; nor can they honor their advertised specials without kicking up a fuss!
(2)Michelle G.
I honestly wish that I could give this place negative stars. That's how much I dislike Pod. My boyfriend and I went there for our friend's birthday, she had made a reservation for 4 and we expected to be seated as soon as possible. We walked a couple blocks from where we parked our cars and saw that the place was jammed packed and figured "eh, okay we have to wait. Big deal." Well an hour and a half went by, and the hostess finally came back to us and apologized because she "forgot" about us. She rushed us to our seats (we were seated near the rotary) and we received a complimentary appetizer. I forgot what it was, but it was something small and not very flavorful. Anyway, we all ordered our food and to be honest with you I don't remember what we ordered... this has to have been almost two years ago. I remember that our food took forever to come out. I think I had wasabi crusted something, but all I remember is that my food was DRY, my boyfriend's food was TINY (one bite and he was done.. no joke), my friends food was undercooked, and her boyfriend's food was soggy. We figured that it took us an hour and a half to be seated, it would probably take two hours for our food to be recooked. We just paid our enormous bill (for less than mediocre food) just to be done with everything. Even to this day I am STILL disgusted. Needless to say, I haven't been back since, if you want sushi go to Sushi Land in Bryn Mawr. The food is cheaper and tastes better, plus you won't have to wait over an hour to be seated :)
(1)Enjella L.
A festival of lights~! As you've read with the other reviews - you will fall in love with the decor. Futuristic, Miami-esque, like a MAC Computer, Modern, etc etc. It is all of that. I do think it is a little ill placed - I would much rather enjoy Pod if it was in Center City or Olde City but come to think of it..as I'm writing this I realize that if Pod was situated elsewhere - it might not pull off the same vibe b/c of its customers? Anyways, I love this restaurant. It's fun, trendy (for Philly), & sassy. The food is good, but the sea bass was way too watery & sweet. I haven't tried their sushi here - but I have tried their appetizers, entrees, drinks (stiff from what I recall) & dessert. The dessert is why I made additional trips back - with dates, with family, any chance I could get. I'm not sure if they still have it but if they do - order the 3 tier fondue dessert. Mini Cookies, cakes, chocolates, hello~! So for kicks & yelp - I visited the restaurant's website to see if they still had this dessert - well I guess they call it Pod Sweet 18 now. Not sure how much they price it now but back in 2002-2004 - it was $12. I didn't like their bathroom - the stalls are too small. This place is good for groups of friends to hang out or to go on a date. Not so much for a family meal.
(4)J M.
Pod is finally on its way back up after years of phoning it in. New sushi chef and revised menu are big help. Had the robata items and sea bass, both excellent. Prices are still high for the portions. The ambiance and decor still seem cool (when the place is full), even after all these years.
(4)Rob R.
If I were to rate this place purely on the type of customers it attracts (besides me, of course), it would get 1-star. The unfortunate reality of being an upscale "japanese" restaurant near the University of Pennsylvania seems to attract the worst kind of people. You know, those that valet park their Lexus, but don't tip their coat room attendants. Okay, moving on to more important things... the food here is great. Another Starr restaurant done right. The interior is reminiscent of an Apple store and the music makes you think you're walking into a trend New York nightclub. Wait, I thought I was moving on to more important things... The menu is filled with "new" and "exotic" offerings. Although my weapon of choice is the conveyor belt sushi bar. For $2-5 a plate, you can pick the sushi you want, when you want it. The sushi chefs work diligently behind the bar to whip up your favorites (and they even take special orders). Overall, if you're looking to impress your new Penn undergrad hottie GF, this is the place to bring her to. The food is decent, but you'll pay for it. The atmosphere will put you both in a place where you can really enjoy each other's company. If you're into a more modest sushi experience, I would recommend Misu (locations in Old City and Universtiy City).
(3)Alyssa M.
I really enjoy Pod's sushi. I've been there twice, and in my opinion, it tops the list for the freshest and tastiest sushi I've ever had. I've also tried the Crab Pad Thai (usually comes with shrimp but you can request crab)...it was OK, nothing to rave home about but they give you a lot! You can definitely share their noodle entrees. But oh...that sushi is so good. I could eat their spicy tuna all day :-). Sitting at the sushi bar is cool because you can view and try a variety of sushi on the conveyor belt. If you don't want to sit at the sushi bar, make sure you make a reservation. The 'All You Can Eat Sushi' is a good deal if you can throw back a lot of raw fish---just make sure you read ALL the rules. All and All....Good Sushi, Cool Atmosphere, Give it a try :-)
(4)Kim C.
Went on a Saturday night with friends. Turns out they have specials on Saturday nights, and on the evening I went, the special was a $35 13-piece tuna/toro platter. $35 for a plate that includes 7 pieces of toro? A STEAL. It was super tasty--fresh, clean, yum. The other stuff we tried included: -wild mushroom fried rice (yum) -ramen (meh) -crab fried rice (yum) -spicy tuna rolls (no surprises here) -other assorted specialty rolls (average.) But the four stars is for the special... will definitely have to make a trip back on a weekend, because apparently they don't offer weekday menu additions.
(4)J. Christopher E.
Been here several times. Food always very good and probably my favorite Starr restaurant (some Starr restaurants I hate!). Best to make a reservation or you'll get stuck at the more sucky instead of the more better tables. If you can't get a good table, better to sit at the sushi bar where you can also order from the regular menu. Can't think of anything I don't like to eat here - all good.
(4)Yong H.
This place is epic fail! Tries way too cool to look trendy but ends up hella lame. For groups, there's these illuminated rooms with neon lights and windows so the entire restaurant can stare you while they eat and make comments about how ridiculous the whole thing is. As for the food, its not that great either. I suppose I shouldn't expect much from a "fusion" restaurant but the sushi here not only costs 3x as much but tastes 3x worse than sushi you get elsewhere. The stirfrys and such tasted abit too salty with not much asian flavoring at all. We also got this udon dish pork dish, which literally tasted like boiled salted udons dipped in oil and a chunk of roast pork(although it was tender). Also, the busboys here are like sharks, relentlessly coming to your table to ask if you're done with a plate, even if theres still food left. We literally got asked 3 times in a span of 10 minutes if we were done with our sushi plate that still had 4 pieces of sushi on it. I'd be more understanding if it was busy and they were trying to accomodate the people waiting but the place was half empty! Will not recommend this place, except to people that piss me off
(2)Meghann p.
I went on a date a few weeks ago and from the last time i was there the sushi was a lot better...we ordered lots of appetizers and drinks with each appetizer group. I think the drink prices are way over priced for what you get. Service was good for the meal.
(4)Young P.
Sushi is to die for here. As soon as it hit my mouth, the fish just melted and the only explanation is that it was FRESH not frozen like most b-listed sushi shacks around the area. The other fusioned entrees have an interesting asian twist ie, wasabi mashed po's and etc... all worth giving a try. This was my second time here and I've enjoyed the food both times but my 2 grievances from each visit: The first visit: we went while it was still light outside and I could see the dinginess of the tables and decor (this is not a problem in the dark with all the cool neon lights) The second visit: Supposedly a frequent visitor @ POD who actually looked more like a homeless man was harassing us through the peephole in our booth asking us questions like, "Are you oriental?" We mentioned our concern to the hostess who simply brushed it off saying he was "harmless". Way to ruin our $300 dining experience oh hostess...
(4)Michael B.
Pod is a fun restaurant with great food, decent service, and a trendy atmosphere. It is located in University City, which is a fun area of Philadelphia. If your in the mood for a little bit of sushi, a little bit of Asian fusion, or both, this is the place for you. It is not cheap, but again, worth the price for fun/special occasions.
(4)Stephanie L.
My favorite sushi place in the city. My boyfriend and I have become regulars here and come about once or twice a month when we want good and fresh sushi ! Not only is there sushi great but their entrees are also just as good. Definately recommend for a date night or to Come with friends for a night out ! Service has always been very friendly too :-)
(5)Jessica G.
Asian Fusion Food. That is what they call it. I do not, however, know what they are "fusing" it with. It's pretty much just asian food, some of which is deconstructed... maybe they call it asian fusion because non-asian people are making it? Because that's the feeling I get. I am impressed by the uber-cool, artsy presentation of the food, but not its content or flavor. None of the ingredients used here are much higher quality than at most restaurants. It is all the same-old, but at a higher price and with a fancy presentation. Speaking of fancy presentation, the inside decor.. it is the trendiest thing I've ever seen. It is like disgustingly trendy. To give you an idea, the character Tom Haverford of the show Parks & Rec would love this place. He would love it when the attractive, snobbish hostesses turn up their noses and behave rudely to everyone with the misfortune of inspiring their disdain. I do not. We have, mostly, had good service from the wait-staff and that's worth mentioning. But also worth mentioning is that there have been times that they have been incredibly rude. And yes, I can see why this place is popular and often packed.. and I can assure you that it is not because of the quality, taste, or price of their food. If you're really a fan of asian food, you could do so much better. If you are a fan of very hip, very trendy decor & artistic food presentation, then you could go to Buddakan instead.
(2)Patrick C.
Sort of like any other Stephen Starr restaurant. Heavy on concept, cool decor, ok food. What sets Pod apart from every other restaurant that I have ever been to, however, is the fact that they are very bad at accommodating guests with seafood allergies. I asked the waitress if there was any shellfish in the dish I ordered, (specifically saying "crab" and "lobster") she said no, and I ended up eating a few pieces of sushi that I now realize were heavy on the king crab legs. I'm not deathly allergic, but I did spend the rest of the night scratching insatiable itches on the toilet. And what really seals my one-star rating is the fact that the manager was downright rude to me when I stopped by the next day to civilly complain about my experience. I've generally found Stephen Starr restaurants to be underwhelming, but this experience was positively painful.
(1)Teddy M.
High Class Restaurant with High Class Service. Too bad the food wasn't as good as I expected. My first time I went there, I thought I should try many different kinds of food from the menu and I ordered this appetizer called "Kobe Beef" for $18. I said to myself, that should be a damn good appetizer. So I ordered that and others I couldn't remember the names. Guess what? For Kobe Beef...a server walked out with this stone stove and 3 slice of beef uncooked. He brought it to the table and asked us, how do you like your meat? Confuddled, I said, medium cooked. Confuddled because I thought it would be a fair price for a plate of beef or something, not literally 3 sliced beef that cost $18. I know it's a high class restaurant but I'm not spending $18 for 3 sliced beef that I could get from any grocery store and cook it myself. Other than that, the environment was nice and the sushi was good.
(3)Georgianne V.
Went last night to Pod with some friends. The style of the place of the place is fun and for me that is part of the experience. I found the entrance when you first arrive a bit awkward and it seems awkward for the staff that work there, so that was strange. We had some starters and I really loved the flavor of everything, especially the tempura rock shrimp. For my dinner I had the Soy/Ginger Chicken. The presentation was very nice and the sauce really made the dish. My only issue was the chicken was a bit more undercooked than I like, just a bit pink in the center. The crab rice was delicious and I could have a made meal just out of that. For desert my husband and I shared the fluffernutter spring rolls which were both yummy and fun!! We had a fantastic waiter who was very attentive and to my amazement, no matter how much we ordered at one time, he never wrote anything down! :o) Although we had fun and I enjoyed the funky decor and food, I probably would not be in a rush to go back. To me it's a place that once you see it, you move on. I'm sure it's a fun hang out for the students who live near by but I wonder how they afford it, as everything was pretty expensive!
(3)lyndsey F.
Impromptu dinner with the hubs last night. After a nice (albeit crowded) skate around the rink at Penn, we decided to head to Pod. Johnny had never been and I hadn't been since the days of spending Sallie Maes money on things like expensive sushi and chanel makeup. We got there around 7 and were seated immeadiately. I understand that the Penn kids aren't back yet, but for a pretty hip restaurant on a Saturday night it was pretty swift service. The hostesses were fairly cold, but I'm pretty sure that they are trained to be that way. It is Starr after all, they all have their schichts. Our waiter was friendly and aside from the incredibly large diamond in his ear (which to me was really annoying) gave us good suggestions for drinks. I got the yellow martini, which was something like yuzu, passionfruit, and grapefruit. It was really sweet, but it had a great flavor (and it was good for cooling my mouth off after a huge bite of jalapeno seeds, more to come...) and hubs got the Samauri Jack which was honey, mint and raspberries I think. They even substituted J&B for the Jack Daniels that they usually serve! The hubs has a rather severe aversion to Jack Daniels for some reason, but loved the cocktail with J&B instead. To eat we splurged a little and got the MAKIMAKIMAKI which is comprised of 60 pieces of assorted maki. It has the yellowtail jalapeno, which was delicious aside from one piece that made my mouth burn so much that I had to down my entire martini to salvage my tastebuds. Also: crispy spicy tuna (yum!), eel & avo (yum), salmon & cream cheese (not my fave, but still good), some veggie rolls and a rainbow roll on top which was fab. Also, they have the most delicious soy sauce in the entire city. I just love it. I would say that all in all we had a really great time, but then again sometimes it depends on the company you keep as well. xo
(4)Paige N.
My sushi was absolutely fantastic! However, I'm not sure people come here for the food. The decor was both cool and distracting. Considering you are eating raw fish, I can't imagine eating in one of the "pods" as they are colored with LED's in blue, purple etc. Loved the Godzilla movies playing on the multiple tv's though...all in all a great exprience.
(4)Melmoth K.
Reviewing Pod is like writing a review for the movie "2001: A Space Odyssey": theoretically, yeah, OK, I guess I have no real reason to argue with you if you say that this is what life will be like in the future, but I'm not all that sure I want to deal with it all at once, tonight, while I'm just out to try to enjoy myself and make with the chit-chat over dinner. First off, it turns out everyone will have bad hearing in the future and therefore need to yell at the top of their lungs while eating. Second, Pod seems to have predicted how inflation will devalue the dollar by 2050 and priced things accordingly. So while Pod might deserve big ups for what it does today, you might not be in the mood for it just now...or maybe next week either...or maybe...ever? But if their service (wow!) and food (tasty bits!) are any indication of what the future is like, may we all live long and prosper. Hopefully by then we'll be accustomed to the yelling, the technicolor backlights, and the price of sushi.
(3)Lona W.
This place was pretty good. I came here with a group of friends of 9-10 people for my friend's birthday and the prices were very fair. Our bill didn't come out to be much! It was a little under $200 for 9-10 people! The sushi was pretty good, although it is a Stephen Starr restaurant. But the interior design and ambiance was very nice.
(3)Ian R.
I went here for dinner tonight with my friend Riley. I had been here once before, so I kind of knew what to expect. It's a super trendy, miami-esque atmosphere. It's very futuristic and overall it just has a neat look. The appearance is one of my favorite things about this restaurant. Now, let's get to the food. There are two kitchens, a sushi based one and non-sushi based one. Any dish from each of the kitchens are GREAT. Tonight, we had the TNT roll, the Spicy Yellowtail roll and a bowl of edamame. The portions they give you are a good size-- we couldn't even finish the bowl of edamame. Each sushi roll came with 8 pieces. The quality of the sushi was outstanding. Everything was extremely fresh and delicious. In addition to our meals, we also had a couple of drinks. The first was called the Rising Sun. It had great flavor, it was like a mix of lemon and berries. Then we had long island iced teas-- which are not on the menu. We asked our server if they had them and he was more than happy to tell us that the bar could accommodate us if we wanted them. We ordered them and they were excellent! A little strong, but that's expected with long islands. Overall, I will be returning to Pod, one of Philadelphia's hippest restaurants. One plus I forgot to mention: It's extemely easy to find cheap street parking here because of it's location in UCity.
(5)Jennifer D.
If you're looking for great sushi this is not the place for you. If you're looking for ambiance and excellent service this place is great. Although it is called Pods there are only two actual pods (both looked like they were for parties of 4 or more). Service was excellent and extremely attentive. The food however was mediocre. Our Philly friends told us this was some celeb chefs restaurant but honestly we've had better sushi in suburban NJ. On a side note their mixed drinks were great!
(3)Jasmin G.
The atmosphere is hot, and the drinks are good. They have a 'sushi conveyer belt' where the sushi keeps moving around the sushi bar and you just pick what you want..pretty sweet i recommend getting a few pieces of sushi and then splurging on the triple tier chocolate fondue dessert with some friends...its really good and only $15..
(5)Chris B.
In brief - very overpriced mediocre sushi. But it wins some points back with a unique futuristic atmosphere, great location for Penn folks, and a fantastic crab fried race.
(3)Abhijit G.
My absolute favorite place in Philly! Three must-haves: Pod Lobster (orgasmic good...) Rockin Spicy Tuna Chocolate pudding The staff is super nice. I am also able to get the chef to make me some off-the-menu concoction based on my individual fantasies! Very cool! Did I say that the ambiance just rocks!!! Hands down the best sushi rolls I have had --ever---Morimoto not withstanding!!
(5)Gwen M.
So, you might say I'm eating my words here, given how much I hated Pod the first few times I visited. But no! I still think the restaurant side of things is overrated and kind of annoying. The sushi bar, however, is another story. The sushi is amazingly fresh and delicious, and they recently hired a new sushi chef who's incredible -- all of his specials that we've tried have been innovative, tasty, and reasonably priced. Between the rolls on the conveyer belt, the extensive sushi menu, the specials, and their willingness to make off-the-menu items at your request, it's hard to convince me to go anywhere else for dinner now.
(5)Hannah C.
this place is truly an ultra-trendy, ultra-cool place to eat...especially if you get to sit in one of those pods. the place seems like its usually packed, so i would imagine that's why the service was a bit slow. but then again, i went with a party of 10. i really can't say anything bad about this place (well the bathrooms were really dirty) but...they had great drinks, great food, and especially great dessert trays. i want to go back again!
(5)Troy J.
This is our first time visiting PA. This place is just adjacent to our hotel so we wondered in. I'm so glad we did. This restaurant will now be on our must do list when visiting Philly! The food is simply delicious!!! The wasabi crusted filet is absolutely wonderful. My husband and I have never experienced such a wonderful dining experience. Our waiter was Kellan, he was very informative adding the best customer service to our experience. We just loved it!!
(5)R R.
Excellent food and service, did not disappoint in the least. The vibrant and colorful atmosphere lend itself to less intimate occasions, but it does not take away from the experience. Great place to enjoy with friends
(5)Jamie C.
This restaurant was really fun. The ambiance is really cool with different lights of colors everywhere with a very modern feel. The food is awesome. They had these amazing lettuce wraps with chicken and soy/ginger sauce. We also ordered edamame, chicken dumplings, seafood rice, and sides of cauliflower, eggplant, and asparagus. Everything was great and the service was wonderful. Will definitely be returning next time I'm in Philly!
(5)Giavanna G.
My boyfriend and I went there for Valentines Day.The decor was beautiful as usual.It was my first time back in 4 years and it was just as delish.I would have gave it five stars but the sushi rolls were lacking in size for such a high price.The food is really amazing,it's a shame because you have to order a lot of food in order to get full.My boyfriend had the ramen and it was a great portion and really good.Also stay for dessert because everything is great.The drinks are also a bit over priced so I recommend bringing a bottle before hand.It is definitely a cool spot to go to at least once!
(4)Peng Y.
Interesting environment and full of scifi atmosphere. Food is not too much. Tastes ok but not impressive
(3)Caitlin C.
Happy hour to impress? You need to be here. Their drink menu is very cool (not for football guy fans, though) and the decor is like something out of Toyko with flat screens playing anime and a sushi conveyor belt. The food is incredible and as creative as the decor.
(5)Danni S.
The best place i have been too who serves good asian food :-) the prices are very reasonable, the atmosphere is very relaxed, and the setup of the seats/couches makes you feel like your at home.
(5)RB B.
Had a wonderful meal here for my sister-in-law's birthday. I had quite a wait because even with a reservation, the tables in the pods are first come first serve. Standouts were the udon with crispy tofu, tempura shrimp, spicy tuna on crispy rice, and pad thai. Great sushi as well....the vegan roll is delicious and I had to do a double take since they make the veggies look like fish! Desserts were very good, too.
(4)Mike F.
Under whelming is the best description I have for POD. The food is 3-star, the prices are 4-star and the atmosphere is 5-star (but getting dated and worn). It's everything you'd expect from an old-school Steven Star restaurant.
(3)Reva S.
You are basically paying for the atmosphere and the good service. Food is just ok.
(3)Wilcox W.
This place was absolutely amazing. Everything was good. Literally every single thing we ordered. Blown away. Best restaurant in philly
(5)Keith K.
The ultimate in Sushi ,the Rockin Spicy Tuna is the bomb!! The seafood fried rice or the crab fried rice with the crab rolls!!! Wash it down with the many specialty drinks.
(4)Alexis J.
*Later Yelp* I've only been here once, but I love this place mainly for the atmosphere. It just has a cool, swanky vibe. The food is pretty good too. I had the lamb chops, uzuu lemon cheesecake for dessert and a lychee martini, I believe. All were pretty good...although the lamb may have been a bit too salty. I remember the service being satisfactory as well.
(3)Sheri N.
this place was cool looking.. very future-esque. i think i had some soup, potstickers, and a roll.. i was real sick that time.. coughing up my lungs and pushing 'em back style. i sat at the bar as i was on a solo holiday, and the sushi chef was nice enough to give me tea that would help out my cough. he also gave me a couple stashes to take back to home, or in that case my hotel room. i'd go back here again! yumm!
(5)Cara T.
I visited Pod for the first time recently for a friends birthday. This friend is a quarter Japanese and so it was decided among us that we would go to Pod...for Japanese. Now I'm not a sushi fan. I tend to lean towards the Chinese side of Asian cuisine, nonetheless, I was excited to visit another Stephen Starr spot. We entered with one goal in mind...securing a pod. We wanted to eat in one!! You can book one in advance if you agree to spend a set dollar amount. We couldn't promise we would spend that much so we had no reservation, only hope. When we got there, we told the hostess we were interested in a pod and she said if one was available or opened up, we could have it. We told her we would wait at the bar...and we did....for 45 minutes until our glorious pod was free. The fun thing about partying in the pod is that you basically have a private room. You can change the color of the room by pressing buttons on the wall. After a few minutes, our eyes were so warped from the lights, we couldn't tell what color was what. In fact, at the end of the night, our friend gave his coat back to coat check saying that the coat wasn't his....that his coat was a different color. Turns out his eyes were just messed up. I ordered the Kobe beef cooked table side and it was delicious. The ribs were tangy. The drinks were tasty. I hear the sushi was excellent. It was a great experience overall. I'd go there again if someone invited me. It is pricey to eat in basically white Ikea decor with fancy lights, so be prepared.
(4)Lauren O.
As a student (read "dirt poor") I rarely get the opportunity to dine at Pod, so when the opportunities arises I jump...as high as I possibly can. Pod's a favorite for happy hours (the cocktails are color-coded, it's the perfect excuse to "taste the rainbow") and lunch. The crab fried rice "side" is more than enough for a meal...you can easily split this with a friend and still be stuffed. The crab spring rolls are also a favorite. The Kedeki express lunch "boxes" are fabulous...might not be enough if you're starving but definitely a good option if you're craving miso soup plus something else. Pod is drastically overpriced but with food this good, they know they can get away with it. If you're on a budget, I suggest going at lunch and splitting with friends...best way to sample different things and not have blown your electric bill on dinner. Oh yeah...getting a group then sitting in one of the 'pods' is a must! I love love love playing with the lights.
(4)Andre B.
Really neat little place. Trendy and fun, great for people in their 20-30's! Good food in a casual atmosphere. Most people that go there are going to school in the city. We had sushi and dim sum and it was all great! Try the Robata Steak, you wont be disappointed! Martinis are also awesome!
(4)Andrew T.
Mediocre, or "A-OK" as Yelp defines 3-stars, pretty much sums up this place. If you walk in here and notice that it seems a bit busy, leave. The restaurant, kitchen, sushi bar, and wait staff simply fall apart when it gets busy. For instance, after waiting 10 minutes for our waiter to greet us, my dining companion ordered a burger while I ordered sushi. My food came out 10-15 minutes after her's did. With no explanation. It was fun watching her eat her burger while I played with my sushi-less chopsticks. Beyond for that, the food is average, drinks are average, ambiance is average, and this review is getting pretty average. The end.
(3)Ben M.
Five stars if you sit in one of the pods, they're super awesome. The food is really four stars though, some great stuff, but nothing too jaw-dropping. Good selection and as with most Stephen Starr's restaurants some creative menu items and a nice mix of cultural cuisine even under the blanket of Asian cooking.
(5)Hank C.
Located on the University of Pennsylvania's campus, this is a Stephen Starr-designed restaurant, and hence, more attention was paid to making the experience overall. Pods with color-changing buttons (to adjust the colors of the lights in the pod) are available for groups (make sure to call and reserve to get them). Bathrooms here are the glass-door, micro-bathrooms, nice, usually clean. Staff are dressed in particular uniforms, paying attention to those who are the staff whom you order from, clean your tables, and serve you drinks are all a bit different, and the hostesses at the door usually are dressed a-kin to fashionable business bouncers. A bar space with red-plastic cushioned seats serves decent drinks, although the space is perhaps more interesting than the drinks are strong. The moving sushi bar isn't bad, although the selection can be a bit repetitive - ask the chefs if you want something specific (pay by plate color). The regular dishes aren't bad, most of them Asian-fusion related, including dishes like the pineapple and ham fried rice and the deep fried crab. Noodles were probably the best dishes, and the duck had a lukewarm reception at the table. You can valet park at the hotel or in a garage at 38th & Walnut.
(3)D.R. S.
we stopped by mid- afternoon to avoid the dinner chaos. Good location, excellent service, gorgeous interior, and super fresh food. Attention to detail in every aspect! Love this place!
(4)Noell M.
I have been coming to POD for about 8 years now. This was my first Stephen Starr restaurant and even after all this time it is still one of my favorites. My outlook of POD has changed over the years. At first I thought it was for "special occasion" dining and that you had to get all "fancied up" to go. Now I feel it is more casual and relaxed.....in fact, most of time when I go it is on a whim or a last minute change of plans. Like all of the Starr restaurants, POD really embraces its theme through its food and aesthetic. The theme of POD (at least what I think it is) is a super chill, futuristic, dining hall filled with color, music, and a cool quirkiness. The interior of the restaurant reminds me of a blank canvas. Add in the music and colored lighting (mentioned above) with the aroma of delectable food and POD is transformed into a cleverly crafted piece of artwork. Sushi, seafood, poultry, salads, and steaks are all represented on the Asian fusion menu. My favorite dishes are the Wasabi Crusted Fillet Mignon, the Macadamia Chicken Stir Fry, and the POD Caesar Salad ( which is large enough to split). For a drink I usually go with Pink- champagne, pineapple and cranberry juice. A great place to go for a few drinks (take a moment and sit on the funky red bar furniture), with a group, on a date or just to people watch! I highly recommend if you enjoy other Starr restaurants!
(4)Brendan S.
Love this place. Very good food and great service. Explain the meals to you in great depth and tell you exactly what you are getting. Very cool looking place and in a cool place in the city.
(5)Mariam H.
Let me preface this by saying I'm glad I went during dining days. It's not that the food was bad, per se, but it wasn't spectacular enough either to warrant the three dollar sign price tag. I ordered chicken potstickers as an appetizer, beef pad thai as an entree, and sorbet for dessert. With the dining days promotion, my meal was about $30 + tip/tax so together it came out to be about $40. The chicken potstickers were good, but not great. I felt as if I'd had the same quality, if not better, at other places for half the price. That's not to say there aren't a few really great dishes.The beef pad thai was actually very good, and the main highlight of my meal. The beef was flavorful and actually tasted like beef, which is not often the case for Asian restaurants. The noodles were perfect; not too thin, not too thick, not too hard, not too chewy. The portion size was also quite big - big enough for me to have to take some home. As for the ambience, I will admit, it does have a very cool futuristic and spaceship-esque vibe to it. My friends and I were seated in the round secluded "bubble" where you can change the lighting yourself. Though really cool at first, it soon became distracting and a bit disorienting. All in all, I'd say it's got a cool vibe, decent food, and a hefty price tag. If money is not a problem for you, I'd say try it once, otherwise, hit up any of the other amazing Asian fusion restaurants like Buddakan or Doma.
(3)Briana J.
I'd been hearing about how delicious Pod is for years, and last weekend I finally tried it. I had heard that it looked "futuristic" and "trendy", but I was really not feeling that decor. I really reminded me of the expensive and cool furniture on the Sims and once I had that idea in my mind, I really could not get it out. I love that game, but let's be real, but some of that stuff is just... no. So once I decided that I would just stare at the sushi on the conveyor belt to distract me from the crazy lights and weird chairs (I was sitting at the sushi bar), I could focus on getting something to eat. I ordered the udon noodles with tofu, and the tofu was pretty bland (my friend tried some and almost spit it out) and all the flavor was at the bottom and made the noodles near the bottom overwhelmingly spicy compared to the rest. I thought it was okay, but I won't be trying that again. Maybe I'll come back here to try the sushi (if someone else pays for it), but otherwise, I don't see myself trying this place again. Also, I just went on Pod's website to remind myself of my order and Common's "Come Close" was playing. HAHA what? I'm so confused by this theme. That reminds me that Speed Racer was also on the TV when I was there.
(2)Gina M.
AMAZING! Now, I have been to a million restaurants and this one is absolutely incredible. They have a conveyor belt of sushi for Christ's sake. It is a very stylish and chic place and always a good crowd. Is it cheap? NOT AT ALL. Is it good? AMAZING Service is great. Only problem is, they cut back their menu alot since last time I was there and that was a bit disappointing. But trust me, it is worth every pretty penny you will pay. You have to try it out.
(5)Matt G.
Great ambiance, solid food, always nice service.
(4)Teresa R.
Not a big sushi fan, but props are needed for this place! The interior and decor are so cool and bright, sushi bar in the back was awesome, actually enjoyed sushi for the first time in awhile and drinks are very good!!
(4)Ken W.
Wow, now that was fun. On a business trip and staying at the Inn at the Penn, downstairs is this very unique restaurant. The interior is decorated with techno cubes and modules (sort of reminded of Tetris). All it needed was loud techno music to complete the picture. But what you get inside is friendly, attentive service, and great food (and no loud techno music either). I had the spicy tuna topped by huge rock shrimp and the pork buns - wonderfully prepared and very tasty. All accompanied by shirakabe gura tokubetsu sake. Drop by this restaurant if you have the chance and want a unique and pleasant experience. Oh and if you're old school anime fan, Kimba the White Lion plays continuously behind the sushi bar. How do you beat that!?
(4)Mary N.
Love the drinks here. This is one of the best places to grab a drink near Penn. I lived a few blocks and found myself there twice a month. So why 3 stars?? The food and service blows. The food is below average for the price. The service is nothing to write home about. I find myself always in need of flagging down a server to get a refill on my small $10 drink. But I come back repeatedly because most place near Penn are beer and wine only.
(3)James H.
The best to describe the food was OK. I wasn't impressed with it but at the same time it still tasted good and I enjoyed it. I am japanese, so I am a bit stingy about what counts as good sushi. This place had alright sushi. The ambiance was neat and very colorful. Since the food didn't really justify the price it felt like we were also paying for the ambiance. Overall, I would recommend this place for young adults who don't so much care about the food, but are there to have fun and drink at the bar.
(3)Patience P.
Lackluster at best. It's a neat concept but things look old and dirty. The only thing that saved this place was the Chilean sea bass.
(2)Krystle B.
This is a very trendy restaurant. They even have a conveyor belt sushi bar which is cool. The night we went, they had this sushi special that had rock shrimp on the top and it was amazing. All of the food was amazing though. I particularly liked the crab fried rice, short rib, and chicken ramen soup. I will definitely go back although the wait to order, as well as the wait to receive our food, was a little long. I may even invite a group and reserve one of the futuristic pods booths.
(4)Van M.
Service was excellent. Decor and Atmosphere was really fun and contemporary. The food was delicious. If you come to Philly, you need to check it out.
(4)Lucy G.
Very modern decor. They seated us promptly without a reservation which was a plus. Pretty extensive menu and I ordered a spicy salmon roll which was not on the menu. It was good, but not great. The salmon was a little bit fatty. We also got some seafood fried rice which was delicious. This place wasn't spectacular but it was good. If I'm by Penn and am looking for sushi, I'd likely go again. It was pretty expensive though -- two rolls and a fried rice came out to 36 dollars. Service was quick and polite. Our waiter was attentive, if a little on the hovery side, but he was very kind.
(4)Erica M.
I came here for a friend's bday dinner and when we couldn't get a res for Buddakan she choose Pod. With all the hype surrounding other Steven Starr restaurants I thought Pod was a let down. To start we ordered 2 sushi rolls as an appetizer, salmon avocado and rock- in spicy tuna. Both rolls were fresh and definitely the highlight of the meal. I split the udon and tofu stir fry with my friend along with the mushroom and sweet pea dumplings. We both agreed the dumplings were a huge disappointment and we didn't even finish them. The udon was not what we expected, the noodles were tasty but the tofu was deep fried and looked like a crouton. It was pretty gross. For dessert we split the bread pudding that tasted more like a brownie. We polished it off so no real complaints, but definitely not your standard bread pudding. At the end of the meal we all agreed that Pod is not worth running back to. It was a fun place to go for a bday dinner but the food was average at best.
(3)Anna G.
Went to POD last night for dinner and I have to tell you I will not eat there again. The food was good but not amazing. BUT what was most alarming was it is VERY over priced!!!! We order the sushi and sashimi platter that was $44...We were expecting some amazing pieces to come out...what we got was the average fish that we can order at any other sushi place.....less expensive as well!!!!! Not impressed at all!!!!!! And our server had zero personality!!!! Come on Mr. Starr...... The decor was fun and the music was great!!!!! So I give this just one star
(1)Farah H.
Terrible service. Paid by cash at lunch today and was shortchanged by $20. When I told the waitress, she did not apologize for the oversight. Went back and finally got the correct change. But no apology or smile or anything. Brown rice in bento box smelled bad like it was stale. I have eaten here many times before and each time the service is going downhill. Such a shame. Will be telling the University of Pennsylvania staff and students to find a better choice for lunch meetings. Bad experience.
(1)Nick O.
The trendy, white tables and primary color lighting will be hit or miss with people, but the food is pretty darn good for University City. Tips: 1) Order drinks! They have great-tasting martinis and a nice selection of asian beers and sakes (no soju though). They're pricy but worth it. 2) Seating is hit and miss, so make sure you request a certain spot. Maybe you'll like the window nooks, maybe you want the cozy chairs near the front, maybe you want one of the colored rooms. Pros: 1) Interesting ambiance 2) Sushi is decently cut and pretty fresh. 3) Lots of variety on the menu 4) Great drinks. Cons: 1) Sushi isn't the best cuts or the freshest for what they charge. One time I had a bone in my toro. 2) Some people will hate the ambiance. 3) Some seating is uncomfortable. Overall a good spot in University City and a great place for parties, but not my first choice in the area.
(3)Tawny D.
Right off the bat, AWESOME. This was an absolute last-minute decision for a double date and we really couldn't have done better! (All 4 of us are in our early to mid 20's so the atmosphere is awesome for a Friday night chill spot before heading out to the bars) As soon as you walk in, you're struck by the decor (Stephen Starr rocks it) with the low ebbing, multi-color lights and upbeat tempo music. Our coats were checked right away and we were whisked off to our table. Our waitress was the absolute best (I wish I remembered her name so I could give her kudos on here!) and was very friendly and laid back. She knew the menu inside and out and was even able to efficiently describe some of the plating options to those who weren't familiar with the menu selections. She accurately described how the food would come out--as ready-- and we weren't left with any surprises, etc. She was able to offer drink options and parings as well, honestly, she really made our first experience at Pod what it was! On to the food, we ordered so many different things and shared that I really can't remember it all! My boyfriend and I shared the Chicken lettuce wraps (I was so pleased to see if came with bib lettuce, love it!), the seafood friend rice (everyone raves about the crab fried rice (agreed) but heck, this includes everything!), and the special wings of the night, which were in an awesome honey-teriyaki glaze. We then both got sushi and indulged in the drinks. I highly recommend the Blue (I don't do sweet cocktails, but trust me, this one does it and then some) while my boyfriend got their special drink of the night, their take on a lemon-grass mint julep. The couple we were with did the tempura rock shrimp ( uh YES) and then ordered a bunch of sushi as well. The rolls are cut large and packed thick so don't fret, however, if you are limiting your appetizers I may suggest ordering yourself two rolls just in case. I know they also got the Pad Thai and were able to substitute chicken for the regular shrimp with no problem. This bowl was LARGE, they ended up having to take that home (along with the fried rice) given how much there was. Now don't get me wrong, we LOVE leftovers, so this is absolutely fine and not a negative nod to the restaurant. Also, to be fair, our waitress did tell us that one order of either the crab or seafood friend rice would be enough for all of us to share (she was spot on!). Overall, great experience, the only reason I shied way from giving it 5 stars, was that some of the seating on the center of the main floor seemed a tad packed. The cubbies for 2 off to the side are awesome, as are the larger, private party rooms. Luckily, as a table of 4, we were given an end table so we had more room. I don't have a single negative thing to say and after writing this review, I'm certainly craving the seafood fried rice. Can't wait to come back again! *Side Note*: They DO NOT accept Discover. I am unsure of MasterCard/American Express. As usual, Visa is just fine.
(4)Ayana P.
Pod is like so trendy. The man and I had dinner here last night. The place was packed. The hostess said it was because Penn students were on spring break. Anyway, it would be about an hour wait, but seats were available at the sushi bar. We're easy to please so we had no problem with the sushi bar. I'm actually glad I had the chance to experience that cool conveyer belt sushi bar thing they got going on there. This was my second time here and I was pleased again. Even though it's only a restaurant, Pod is a good time. It provides a lively futuristic atmosphere, a variety of menu options and cool drinks without smug.
(4)Arielle L.
My boyfriend and I went to Pod last night for date night and had a great experience! We started off with a sake flight and pork dumplings - YUM. With dinner I ordered their fresh soda - blood orange and pomegranate with an acai liqueur and it was delicious! We shared the sushi/sashimi sampler which was an excellent mix of two rolls (be careful - their spicy rolls are super spicy, which I loved, but might be too much if you're sensitive to spice) several different nigiri pieces, and a nice sample of sashimi as well. The fish was excellent - fresh, flavorful, and nicely sized pieces. We also got the seafood fried rice which was yummy - lobster, shrimp and scallops. The service was good too and the ambiance was really cool! Overall it was great and we left very stuffed! - a little pricey, but not terrible in comparison to similar restaurants (Morimoto, Buddakhan etc.)
(4)Niyant S.
My fiance and I came here to celebrate 2 very important milestones: her 25th birthday and me successfully defending my thesis! To top it off, this is my 100th review, clearly another important milestone! This restaurant is very modern/trendy, and has a clear Asian influence to it (obviously, it is a Sushi restauran after all). After looking over the menu, my fiance and I both found that there were so many great options for the both of us, that it was hard to decided what to get. We spent a pretty long time deliberating over the menu, and asked the waitress for several suggestions as well. Finally, my fiance, who is vegetarian, settled on a mixed vegetable roll, the asparagus Robata (which refers to a Japanese style grill), and vegetable fried rice. I ordered the tuna hand roll 3 ways, and the short ribs Robata. My fiance enjoyed her meal, and in particular she really liked the asparagus and the rice. I was highly intrigued by meal, however. In particular, I had no idea what to expect with the tuna hand rolls, and much to my surprise, they came out looking like ice cream cones! Each one was either spicy tuna, tuna with cucumber, and tuna with avocado, and each one came with a different type of wrapping to it. They were all really good, and the only downside is that they were not like traditional rolls meant to be eaten with chopsticks, I actually ate them similar to how I would eat an ice cream cone! The best dish, however, were the perfectly cooked short ribs. They came out on this hot stone plate, and were skewered with 3 large chunks on each skewer. The meat was delicious, each bite practically melted in my mouth! I would highly recommend ordering these if you come to Pod.
(4)Delicious B.
How do you spell HYPE? The neo futuristic décor and lighting is dramatic and not what one would expect in West Philly. Reminds me of BLT Steak and Lever Brothers in NYC. Drinks at bar just ok. Service at bar and dining room barely professional. Food--- average at best sushi-- think local Chinese restaurant that added a sushi bar. A high end Beni Hana maybe? Sell rating. Cool place for a cocktail-- that is it.
(1)Molly S.
This was my second time to Pod. My party and I went on a Tuesday night . We put in a reservation, yet had to wait almost twenty minutes for a table. One hostess was on the phone while the other just stared awkwardly. We waited to be greeted for another fifteen minutes. The server who greeted us was sparse to be seen and we waited over a half hour for all of the food to come to the table. I ordered a glass of wine with dinner and was never told that the bar was 86'd on the house pinot grigio, instead they just gave me a more expensive glass of wine. I would have been okay with the ordering the other wine, but would have preferred being aware of the change with my order. The food was well prepared (and took some time) but the service could use work! My first experience, as I remember, was better than this experience.
(2)Carla C.
I wasn't sure quite what to expect. You walk in + it just looks so modern, overly touristly... yet the majority of diners look like locals + alot of college students. This surprised me because this place is a little pricey + seems to exceed a typical student budget. I was pleasantly surprised at every dish I tried. Everything was so good. And what you think was generic... they added their own flavor to it + just made it that much better. - The Chicken Potstickers are good, but the taste nothing out of the ordinary. If anything, the quality of ingredients is really good. - The Crispy Chicken + Seafood Spring Rolls are fried perfectly, not too oily, and presentation is pretty. - The Crab Fried Rice is to die for. Honestly. So delicious. And they do not skimp on the crabmeat, no sir. - The Vegetable Fried Rice was surprisingly really flavorful. I say this because there is no real main ingredient/protein here like there is for the Crab Fried Rice. Probably the best veggie fried rice I've ever had. The delicious food comes at a price, though. Drinks are also a little expensive. You can definitely order things + stay within budget. It's just kind of hard to when everything is so good. I am definitely coming back here on my next trip to Philadelphia. And this time, I will request a reservation to sit in a pod!
(5)Kate S.
Everything I've ever gotten here has been delicious and I'm a big fan of the pink martinis Def $$$ but I make sure someone else is paying for the check! Be sure to make reservations ahead of time as it can get quite packed at lunch and dinnertime during the academic year And like most Stephen Starr restaurants, don't bring your grandparents or someone hard of hearing as it is def a trendy, loud ambient music type place--save your intimate conversations for another restaurant
(4)BJ W.
Pod is 3.5 stars and I think this place is over-rated so I'm rating it three stars. Don't be fooled by the trendy atmosphere. The sushi is so-so and the prices are expensive, but it's probably still the best sushi on this side of the river. You usually have to make a reservation, especially if coming with a group. The Penn Roll is average on a good day and inconsistent, but the Rockin' Spicy Tuna is a great roll. I'd recommend coming just for the banana spring rolls. They have a full bar available and its a cool atmosphere to go out with a group or on a date. I've had really great service here and I've had bad service here. Sometimes there is a long wait for your food - 45-60 minutes. I wish they would expand their sushi menu and deliver.
(3)Brian C.
Pod is a place to go for the ambience. Ambience is great, but unfortunately I also really like food... and the food here is so-so. This is a good place to bring a bunch of friends, sit in a "pod", push the multi-colored light panels until you feel like throwing up, and soak in the music, the anime, and the mood. As for the food though, one time I sat at the rotating sushi belt and a lot of the sushi and dishes that came off the belt just didn't taste very fresh. When you eat raw foods, the quality of the it really needs to be good. We actually didn't finish the food we took off the belt. That's a big deal given that the food here definitely isn't cheap. I had the tuna hand roll 3 ways. The skin on some of the hand rolls were kind of weird, I wanted just the regular nori, but I think it was a tofu skin or something. It does come with one wrapped in nori though. The vegetable fried rice was okay, not stellar, but probably one of the better dishes. I guess I would say Pod is a trendy place to see and be seen, but if you want really good Japanese food, this isn't it.
(2)Nary K.
I have been to Pod numerous times and I'm never disappointed. The menu changes from time to time but the food remains remarkable. I always try the calamari salad (this time, it was made with Kale and I loved it!). The crispy tuna rice is always good. For my "big plate" option, I chose lamb chops, which were amazing! And for dessert, we had mochi icecream and doughnuts with raspberry cream sauce; to die for! My advice? Pod is a must try! Great for couples, groups and families!
(5)Erin M.
Thanks, Pod, for making eating here such a delight for a vegan like me! I am so happy with the amount of choices that I can make on the menu, and the fact that they will make a few things vegan for me upon request! When I ate here a couple of weeks ago, I told my server I was vegan, so she made sure to veganize my side order of roasted asparagus (I think it normally has fish sauce in it or something). It was quite delicious, as was the Vegan Stephen sushi. I almost sent it back because I thought it was fish when it arrived. The tomato looks suspiciously like raw salmon! But, no, all vegan here, and full of fresh vegetables and stuffed with tempura'd veggies. Delicious! For lunch today, I decided to go with an old standby: tofu lettuce wraps. These are very decadent. Deep fried tofu in a sweet and savory Asian sauce, with sprouts and onions, a side of peanutty sauce and some fresh butter lettuce leaves. I love that you can roll them up yourself. Fun lunch. And delicious. Thanks, Pod!
(5)Ron H.
For sushi, its trendy and minimal selection, but this isnt really a "sushi" restaurant. Pod is an trendy Japanese restaurant. Bright colors in all white, light up bar, booths and seats change color slowly ((or by choice in the group pods), and Japanimation plays over the sushi bar while a conveyor belt of color coded plates whisks past you.
(4)Michelle B.
I came from Miami to visit my sister in Philadelphia She suggested coming to Pod would be a good idea Since she knows I love anything that has to do with Asia I said, okay, it better be good or.. see ya! And she said, trust me, everyone in Miami will want to be ya It's kind of expensive, but I can't complain about their shrimp tempura The waiter was really nice, and would show up like abracadabra! The place looked really modern, like movies The 5th Element, Tron...etcetera I guess the only thing missing was a capybara in a fedora I'm just kidding, ha ha Til next time, Philadelphia, sayonara!
(4)Amy L.
Came here with a friend for the sushi class and we had to wait over an hour to get started. The manager offered us an app for free which was great. After some more waiting the manager offered us a free sushi roll from the belt but when we went to pay for our class they tried to charge us for the "free" roll. Mr. Kim was very busy but he was still very friendly while showing us how to make sushi.
(2)Lisa R.
I have been to eight Steven Starr restaurants, and this is the most run down. Everything is scuffed up, the sink in the bathroom didn't work, and you see a lot of chairs and odds and ends stacked up in the corner. The food is interesting in a cerebral way, but not in a finish your plate way. Staff and service was good, but some more eye to detail of upkeep probably needed.
(3)Joe D.
Jetson's decor, overpriced, sometimes slow service... whatever. I loved coming here. first thing i see is the sushi conveyor belt and the green glowing spaceship surrounding a small bachelorette party, and i'm thinking, "i could live here". our server soon brought me a perfect martini so it was a great start! I needed to sate my pretentious side and ordered the kobe beef appetizer grilled on hot stone table side. $18 for three little pieces of beef was well worth feeding this foodie's ego. the meat was every bit as tender and delicious as i expected a $6 bite to be. my sea bass entree was off the charts good. it came with a serving of sweet japanese mashed potatoes that tasted like no mashed potato i've ever tasted. totally iron chef stuff going on. another drink for me and dessert for my lovely wife and we were gone. i am anxious to return again.
(5)Toni J.
My husband and I went on a Friday night. The atmosphere was very modern and fun. We has the crab fried rice and Thai chicken wing special. Both were ver flavorful and delicious. Would definitely get both again. For drinks, we had the spiced pear martini (good, but I would rather vodka as opposed to Jim beam ). My husband had the apples N honey cocktail. He enjoyed it but wasn't strong enough for his taste. All in all, great experience, will definitely be back again.
(4)Deb S.
Fantastic service, food and drinks. Great way to start the evening!! Loved the sushi and dumplings. Dessert was fantastic as were the margaritas.
(4)Mike B.
Had an early dinner here while in Philadelphia with friends who had raved about this place. Decor was interesting. Seats were not comfortable for me. Shared lettuce wraps and rock shrimp for appetizers, then had calamari salad and rainbow sushi as my dinner. Food was very good and service was top notch. We split the spring roll desert which was surprisingly good. Will defiantly go back again when in the area.
(4)Nina d.
Everything was absolutely delicious!!!!! Tostada appetizer, Caeser salad, wasabi crusted filet mignon, lamb chops...so so good. Service was top notch as well. I'll be back again and again. Scrumptious!
(5)Justine J.
This place was all right. The lobster roll was really good though. The crab spring rolls were horrible to me. The flavor balance was just off. The rock shrimp roll was all right. I did like the lychee mochi ice cream though - but its not like they made that.
(3)Sasha Z.
Very interesting future alike place. I tried the udon noodle and fried tofu, pod lobster roll and Apple&Honey cocktail. The food is good but the drink is a lil bit strong taste tho
(3)Elise S.
The service was great but the food, especially the seafood rice was very bland and I would suggest that they remove it from the menu. The "pod" seating was interesting but I didn't like that the waiter kept changing the lights. Finally, the waiter said the food is normally shared family style but the portions aren't large enough. Don't try to manage it.
(1)Molly O.
The food tasted great and the service is nice but I'm pretty sure that they use MSG. I had the worst allergic reaction about a couple hours after dinner and MSG is what triggers it. Avoid eating here if you break out in hives and get a swollen tongue from MSG. I had the garlic shrimp with broccoli, and tried some of my coworker's crab fried rice. If you do have this allergy, make sure you don't have what I had!
(1)S P.
Pan-asian cuisine with excellent wait staff and service. Sushi is great. Expect to pay above average for this establishment.
(5)Karen M.
The sea bass with miso glaze is phenomenal! We love the edamame with Dead Sea salt. The rainbow roll is delicious. The decor is beautiful, with circular pods for groups. Love the conveyor belt which displays sushi you can grab as it comes around. Beautiful place.
(5)Amanda C.
Listen, Philly, I don't know where this 3.5 stars business came from, but Pod has made it's way into my 5 star (nay, 6! nay, 10!) favorites. We go for birthdays, anniversaries and most recently Christmas Eve. Not only do they go out of their way to make every occasion special, their day-to-day service and quality menu is a great reason to make Pod an any day restaurant, not just a holiday treat. We go big when we come to Pod. It's tough not to order more than we do, and we inevitably leave stuffed anyway. But it's a happy full, not a gross, greasy, carb-y full. Last time we went, we got: 1) Lobster roll (with truffle teriyaki sauce...COME ON.) 2) Wagyu beef (cooked on a hot stone..in front of you!) 3) Steamed pork belly buns (no joke.) 4) Mushroom ramen (a special! The most incredible special.) 5) Robata grill - Japanese eggplant, asparagus, cauliflower (all amazing) 6) Peppermint chocolate sundae (another Christmas special) 7) Fluffernutter spring rolls (crispy, fluffy, peanut-buttery and to die for) We basically were transported straight to an eternal heaven. It's like that every time we go. The dishes are inventive, the quality is supreme and the flavors are bold. The service is hands down some of the best I've encountered - the waitstaff are on point with remembering details from the last time we came, making recommendations and timing the meal perfectly. To top it all off, the cocktails are delicious. We will keep coming back to Pod for as long as they'll have us.
(5)Krysta R.
Was here a couple of weeks ago with my two roomies. Wow! When u walk in, it's just such a kool place, very hip and futuristic. When we walked In we were promptly greeted, then escorted to our table which was surrounded by stylish chairs. We had no reservation btw and we were accommodated. This place was busy and still had great service from the waiter, which btw was very informative, knowledgeable and cute :) I forget what I got but we got it on time and was delicious!! Will definitely go back if I stayed here in Philly but I'm not. Of course, I still like my little hole in the wall sushi place in Downey,CA... I can't find any better place than that!
(4)Nancy N.
This is one of our favorite places to order dinner from. They use high quality fresh ingredients, presentation is very nice and the temperature of the food is always right. I love their calamari salad and the Sea Bass dish is one of my All-time favorite dish in philly. I just wish it was closer to Center City, I would dine there in person. Currently we use Diningin to get our food from here.
(4)Pete S.
Great spot. You couldn't ask more for food and service. Amanda was our server she was spot on. All her helpers were better then great. The only reason why I couldn't give it a 5 is I got seated 25 minutes after my reservation and it wasn't that busy. I noticed the girls at the front forgot about us. The manager was very diligent on the floor checking on every table . If anywhere needs a little work it's the hostes. Your gps will bring you to the front street unless you use your iPhone which brings you to the front door. Great job pod keep up the great work.
(4)Keisha F.
Love POD! The food is great, trendy atmosphere and the service is awesome. (Johnathan our server was the best!) I'll definitely be back!
(5)Elisabet R.
Love everything but the sushi rolls. The drinks are great, the ambiance is modern, and the servers are great (as in most Stephen Starr restaurants). The hot plates are wonderful-- the udon soup, baby bok choy and Kobe beef fried rice are a must! The miso glazed sea bass and spare ribs are delicious as well. Not to big a fan of the desserts as most are pretty to look at but not as tasty as they sound on paper.
(3)