You can tell the people who work here love their job. They are friendly, engaging and thoughtful. I write this after waiting 20 minutes for my lunch before being told they were out of my selection. I started writing my yelp review in my head immediately. Yet over the next 30 minutes the staff was so friendly, comped part of our meal, and seemed genuinely concerned that my family and have a good time, I pretty much forgot about the initial wait and confusion. The menu is basic cafe food, and was overall very good. The all day breakfast menu looked great too. If you are looking for a simple, relaxed food surrounded by parks and museums in Fairmont, definitely give this place a try.
(4)
Cece D.
The staff is engaged and delightful. The location is convenient to the Please Touch Museum, the Mann Music Center and the Philadelphia Zoo. The cafe itself is clean, welcoming and charmingly historic. I have eaten there several times and most recently noticed an "upgrade" in food quality. I was lucky enough to be invited to a party under the tent and was excited to find that the tent was available for rent in season. The food at the party was anything but standard fare, the food was amazing and plentiful. Need to find an excuse to celebrate next season. Bottom line, I Will Go Back In a Philadelphia Heartbeat CeCe
(4)
Shaq J.
i would like to write a zero but i can't. the only reason it has a star is that i liked one of the servers. i went for mothers day brunch because my mom always wanted to eat there so i made reservations. The food was served cold and the salmon was ice cold and they told me that the fish was to be served at room temp which i personally never heard of. they had none of the burners on under the food. i asked the waiter to warm my fish and she brought me the same cold fish trying to say she put it in the broiler. i made a suggestion that they should have eggs made to order next year and the manager and another server told me it was impossible to do and flagged me off. (I know from experience lots of small restaurants and culinary art schools make eggs to order). the restaurant has only twelve tables. After setting for a while and barely eating because we didn't have much time to go somewhere else, they practically ran us out the restaurant. they brought me three checks with out me even asking for one and the server kept coming back to ask if i wanted a check. i wouldn't go back they may be better when it is not a buffet
(1)
N M.
We came here last weekend for brunch and I have to say was pleased for the most part. Good food, AMAZING house. The historical ambiance alone was enough to keep us happy. I would love to see what it's like in the winter with everything covered in snow. Must be beautiful. Friendly, attentive service. Overall, a very nice experience!
(4)
Megan M.
We didn't know what to expect at first given that this cafe occupies a government-owned historical building in Fairmount Park. We were a little worried that it would be a lame concession run by some faceless food service. What a nice surprise! We walked in to see and smell good food. The employees were friendly, but not in a phony ingratiating manner. The atmosphere is pretty and relaxed, with tall ceilings and seating dispersed throughout a couple different rooms with tall windows and historical artwork. There was some confusion/delay about seating as it seemed there was no official host or hostess. Considering that there were no mobs of people to fight with in line for a mediocre brunch in CC, this was of little import. The food was good to better with the eggs being fluffy and cooked to perfection. The omelettes had fresh mushrooms and other fresh vegetables. The coffee was fantastic. A nice slow breakfast for the two of us came to $26. I think this is pretty reasonable, if not quite a bargain, considering the alternatives for weekend brunch (see: long long lines, mediocre food, crappy service, cramped accomodations).
(4)
Tracy N.
I first visited the Cafe in July. It was very busy and I had to wait quite a while for my food. I gave it another chance and was pleasantly surprised. Even though it was busy the staff made me feel like I was the only one in the Cafe.The food came out much faster and was great. I found out that they have a new chef. Great place to visit when you are in Fairmount Park.
(4)
Dana S.
Few places can accomodate my strange requests... For instance, "Do you have soy milk? Oh, great. Yes, a latte... But, can you put it in a really interesting mug? I noticed bizarre tea cups over there..." Aside from indulging my proclivities, Centennial Cafe has a great selection of sandwiches (and dutifully so, breads for said sammies), salads, and coffee/tea drinks that make this a great spot for a casual lunch scenario. I had their tuna salad on multigrain baguette, and it was the perfect mushy tuna vs perfectly-toasted bread combo. My favorite part about this place is the bizarre decor... Vinyl tablecloths that sent me into a tailspin through time....Envisioning family picnics at my Grandma's house (think mayo-centric everything, "punch" hinged on lime sherbet, and ambrosia salad... yeah, we went there). Just a fun spot in general with lots of windows, and odd items to stare at during conversational lulls (see sorcerer/barbershop wind chime/whirlygig thingie if you do indeed visit). I'll definitely be back for breakfast, as the menu included some items that sounded interesting, and the latte was a huge success. Great prices, too. Lovesies, D
(4)
James M.
This cafe has a sign outside, "voted best breakfast in the park" and it may very well be. We stopped in on a Saturday when the zoo was too crowded, and the pancakes and French toast were very good. It's a simple menu, and I'd stick with the classics. And it's modest in decor and setting, with plastic utensils that look like silver etc. But the service was very friendly, and kid-friendly too. My wife had taken our little one outside to stretch his legs while waiting for food prep. And the waitress went out and signaled when everything was set. We'd go back, as it makes for good pre or post game at the zoo or the please touch museum. Beware of weird opening hours.
(4)
lexi a.
CLOSED. Because it's not clear from this Yelp page, I just wanted to point out that the Centennial Cafe is permanently closed.
(1)
Rahsaan T.
We finally made it here after talking about it for a year. If you want fresh food for a good price, this is your place. We had the farmers omelette and the western omelette. Both were a good size and filling. The waitress provided good customer service and was attentive. Just enough not to be annoying. The water wasn't very good, so I ordered a cranberry juice. No complaints here. Go and enjoy.
(4)
Joey M.
Happened to pass this place on the road and thought it looked interesting for brunch Signs say "bird watch and eat.." "..in a historical building..." Menu is kinda sparse and not really a 'brunch' menu per se I ordered the Caprese (mozerella, tomato and lettuce with dressing) sandwich which was just "ok" My guest ordered the BBQ brisket sandwich which she stated was good but messy She referred to this restaurant as a "glorified cafeteria" (ie: kinda pricy for what it is and the food comes served on cafeteria trays!)
(3)
Brian E.
We stopped in for lunch after going to Shofuso Japanese House and Garden. We got there about 45 minutes before they were closing. The staff was very friendly and accommodating. The Mandarin oranges on my wife's salad tasted off, so we asked for a new one and they did so right away. My chicken sandwich on toasted sourdough was delicious. It's in a charming old house with high ceilings. It's very casual, so don't expect a fine dining experience. But a nice place to grab a bite if you're in Fairmount Park.
(4)
Jaime R.
A great place. After visiting the Japanese House and Garden we decided to try this place with all my family. The service was superb. The food was incredible good (especially the Challah French Toast with berries compote). The Tavern ham Melt and the omelet were good as well. The prices are reasonable and the ambiance on West Fairmount Park is the best location to have a brunch.
(5)
Nina G.
Its a gorgeous building restored and quaint . Very welcoming server and brewed fresh coffee for me and my client. I drove past the building an noticed a sign in the lawn saying they had breakfast. I promised myself to come back to this place since I am a sucker for old buildings that have been restored. Whether they are inhabited or not ;) Very warm with high ceiling, walls adorned with various things such as china tea cups and plates, nostalgia and painting, but not over done like some places. TALL ceilings, hard wood floors, out door seating and porch seating. The kitchen was adorably miniature in comparison to a lot of places. Because this is a restored building, there is only but so much they can do as far as expanding the kitchen and keeping up with code. With THAT being said, there is NOT a dish washing machine, so everything is served with 'Fancy' plastic plates and utensils , as well as paper and plastic cups. This didn't deter me in the slightest. The atmosphere was quiet and filled with a sweet , aromatic scent from the pastries upon entering , in combination with the food that their single chef had been prepping in the morning from scratch. Our server was very sweet and welcoming, the menu is small , but with enough choices to satisfy. A regular dish of 2 eggs with hash browns and toast, was $6. A few more $'s than a local diner, but with the ambiance and being able to have breakfast in such a wonderful place, was worth it. This will be a weekly place for me to go with my client.
(4)
Lauren Rose H.
BEWARE!!! My husband and friends had a horrible experience here. We sat outside and our entire meal was served in paper cups, plastic utensils and Styrofoam plates. That alone I feel is a reason not to eat here. Who can cut food with plastic utensils? The server seemed stressed and confused our order multiple times. 3 people got either a different order or something screwed up on their breakfast plates. I ordered a salad and it was the last thing to come out. And then to top it all off we got a bill and paid for the meal and while we were at our cars the server came running out explaining she had given us the wrong check and our NEW check (which was correct) but considerable higher in price. Sorry lady, if you can't get things right its generally NOT the customer who has to pay. Food was just okay anyway. This is a place I would never go back to.
(1)
Mike D.
A great hidden secret of the area. The restaurant building itself is an old house from 1876 with a ton of history. There are only three seating areas so I assume it may be hard to get a table at times. The staff was beyond friendly. They were very engaging and were very prompt. While the menu is slightly limited, the food was excellent. I had the scrambled eggs and lox, and the salmon was very fresh. Their muffins and cakes were also nice and fresh. It was $9.50 for my meal alone, but it was definitely worth it.
(5)
Chris M.
This is a destination. Relatively new to the breakfast/brunch cafe scene..this place deserves your attention. Food was quick, and delicious. Plenty of parking and options on the menu. If you like Sabrinas, Honeys, et al, go here. If you like great coffee, friendly service, eclectic & diverse menu set in beautiful Fairmount Park? Go Here. Despite being in the dearth of winter, todays visit was great. Cant wait to see this place in warmer weather, with its outdoor seating on the patio in the midst of Fairmount Park. The "Ohio State House" is located an ear shot from the Please Touch Museum (former Memorial Hall). This historical site (one of two buildings remaining from the Centennial Exposition) is a unique setting for this cafe, and a short drive from CC or burbs. My thought after leaving? The Centennial Cafe DESERVES to survive. Go, and you will be happy.
(5)
Bill T.
This was a very pleasant surprise. A reasonably priced, good quality breakfast in a really cool old house with lots of interesting history, BUT I felt like we were eating on an airplane because it is all disposable plates, cups and silverware - you know the kind (other than the coffee cups) that look real until you pick them up and then you wonder if the knife can actually cut anything. Anyway - they have a sign outside "Voted Best Breakfast in the Park" - so my guess is the good Park authorities said they had to use disposables, or it is a better business model. Back to the food - it was very good and VERY plentiful. We got egg white omelets and they were almost big enough for two - good sides as well. Sourdough bread or rye - both good, fresh quality. The waitress was very attentive and helpful. This is a place we'll visit again, but I have a question -- when did they have a poll for Best Breakfast Eateries in Fairmount Park? Hey, are there any other breakfast restaurants in Fairmount Park??? Then there is the venue - The Ohio House - built for the Centennial Exposition and located on States Drive (get it?). Well if you don't, go there, have a good meal, and learn about USA history & Philly's awesome role back in 1876.
(4)
Robyn H.
This place has new owners and now serves "average" food. I ate there today, and my $9.00 sandwich was AWFUL. The bread was dry and old and so was the turkey. None of the ingredients in the sandwich were fresh. My coconut brownie was dried out and at least 2 weeks old, but they still over-charged me for it. The place was empty! After tasting that sandwich, I see why. It's NOTHING like it used to be. There were 2 people in the place, and they both either worked there or owned the place. On top of that, the woman that worked there wasn't very friendly. I won't return to Centennial unless they get a total revamp. If they don't, I give them until December before the place is shut down.
(1)
Lindsay D.
This is such a cute place and I'm kind of surprised that it's surviving since there's not much around. I went for brunch today with my cousin. She ordered a ham and cheese omelet and sourdough toast ($7.95) and i ordered a "Centennial Rotondo" ($8.95) from their Specials menu. It was a tortilla with cheddar, eggs, avocado, sour cream, salsa, and bacon (I subbed mushrooms). Something different from my normal straight-off-the-menu omelets. We were one of the only tables in the place (granted, it was noon on a Tuesday). It was a cute place. A historic building, the Ohio House, it looks like someone just rounded up some mismatched tables and placed them wherever there was space. I liked it. It was cheery and comfy and all decorated for the holidays. The service seemed to take a little longer than it should have but that could easily have been because I was hungry. Brunch showed up. Her omelet had a generous amount of ham. It was fluffy but didn't seem very big. My Spanish egg concoction was good but also on the small side. The food was piled on the tortilla so that I couldn't easily close it but it just wasn't big overall. A good place and I might stop in again sometime but there are so many brunch places I've yet to sink my teeth into!
(4)
Danielle P.
This place was such a huge disappointment. I've been wanting to go because it looks nice, and it's a cute place. That is until you walk in and realize that they serve the coffee in paper cups and the food on plastic plates with plastic knives and forks. Plus the coffee came out luke warm. Then on top of that the service was terrible. There were 6 of us, and they brought the food out about 10-15 mins apart. Those of us who had food tried to wait, but then our food was getting cold, so we started eating and we were about halfway done by the time the last plate came out. Then they just got a lot of little things wrong. One of us got scrambled eggs instead of fried. We had to ask for them to bring something to put on the toast like butter or jam, and that took forever. We ordered glasses of water that never came. The pancakes were good, but the eggs with toast was just very ordinary. The toast was soggy. How do you mess up breakfast? Or just toast for that matter? I'm never going back here!
(1)
Connie W.
Visiting from out of town and looking for a unique cafe for breakfast and to do some computer work, I happened upon this gem (with Yelp's help). Warm, welcoming atmosphere and employees and great food.
(5)
David L.
I made a random visit to the Cafe on Mother's Day with my wife and daughter. We happened upon a Mother's Day brunch buffet (the big fella loves buffets! lol). The staff was excellent and friendly. The manager was there and had everything and everyone on point. The food was excellent. The eggs were REAL eggs (as opposed to those powdered or frozen banquet eggs), they had turkey sausage, the chilled grilled salmon was delicious. The potatoes were great. My wife's only complain was that the food wasnt as warm as she liked it (she likes everything super hot), but the staff was more than willing to warm up her plate. They had plenty of pastries and desserts. The servers were friendly and helpful. My daughter asked one server if there was any vanilla cake and she said "Yes, but it has pineapples in it". She turned and left and a few seconds later, returned with a few slices on a plate. It kind of caught us off guard because she was very busy, but it was a very sweet gesture. I have nothing but good things to say about The Centennial Cafe. I'm reserving a star only because I'd like to get a feel for the place on a normal day. But other than that, kudos!
(4)
sidney g.
We all ordered different omelets. They were great! Service was also great. We will be back.
(5)
Tom Q.
This place seems destined to fail, which is too bad. Maybe with the new museum right across the street it will be saved. The food is OK, the prices a bit high for the offering, but the setting is pretty awesome. Quiet and relaxing without pushing you out the door. I don't know much about the area, but imagine this would be a great place to have a wedding or event, and a nice place to grab a cup of coffee on a weekend morning. Good luck to them.
(3)
TJ T.
The Centennial Cafe boasts an excellent location in the middle of Fairmount park, just a few hundred yards away from the Mann Center. The Ohio house, over a hundred years old, houses this unique eatery and event space. The Centennial is markedly more home-spun and down-to-earth than fancier brunch establishments downtown.The decor lacks pizazz: a mixed collection of made in China table cloths and nick knacks, coupled with anonymous antique chairs. The seating is clustered, perhaps inevitable while retrofitting an old house into a modern a la carte restaurant. The food and table service could be a bit better, especially considering the prices, which, though not outrageous, are not commensurate with the level of service and attention to detail provided to customers. However, the food is good, homemade, American breakfast, and considering the experience (a foray into the park), I would recommend the Centenial to a friend, with the caveat that the restaurant has some simple ways in which it could improve itself.
(4)
matthew l.
The Ohio house, built by the state of Ohio for the 1876 Philadelphia Centennial is an architectural masterpiece that has been lovingly maintained. It sits in full view of thousands of cars passing daily on their way to the West River Drive and the Expressway. I always thought it was wasted just sitting there . Why not... yep why not indeed. The restaurant is in. Small but cheery interior with the table for about 8 in the alcove much sought after for a family breakfast, it needs to be reserved. Very good breakfasts, but their deal is BBQ and excellent it is with the brisket very good indeed. Great coffee and sweets. i think it caught on quick enough and gets enough action so that it will be around as long as the operators want it to, which is very good news.
Sorry, Store hours have not been updated. If you are the owner of this restaurants. Please update the store hours.
Specialities
Takes Reservations : No Delivery : No Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Breakfast, Brunch Parking : Private Lot Wheelchair Accessible : Yes Good for Kids : Yes Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Ambience : Casual Noise Level : Quiet Alcohol : No Outdoor Seating : Yes Has TV : No Waiter Service : Yes Caters : Yes
Bill B.
You can tell the people who work here love their job. They are friendly, engaging and thoughtful. I write this after waiting 20 minutes for my lunch before being told they were out of my selection. I started writing my yelp review in my head immediately. Yet over the next 30 minutes the staff was so friendly, comped part of our meal, and seemed genuinely concerned that my family and have a good time, I pretty much forgot about the initial wait and confusion. The menu is basic cafe food, and was overall very good. The all day breakfast menu looked great too. If you are looking for a simple, relaxed food surrounded by parks and museums in Fairmont, definitely give this place a try.
(4)Cece D.
The staff is engaged and delightful. The location is convenient to the Please Touch Museum, the Mann Music Center and the Philadelphia Zoo. The cafe itself is clean, welcoming and charmingly historic. I have eaten there several times and most recently noticed an "upgrade" in food quality. I was lucky enough to be invited to a party under the tent and was excited to find that the tent was available for rent in season. The food at the party was anything but standard fare, the food was amazing and plentiful. Need to find an excuse to celebrate next season. Bottom line, I Will Go Back In a Philadelphia Heartbeat CeCe
(4)Shaq J.
i would like to write a zero but i can't. the only reason it has a star is that i liked one of the servers. i went for mothers day brunch because my mom always wanted to eat there so i made reservations. The food was served cold and the salmon was ice cold and they told me that the fish was to be served at room temp which i personally never heard of. they had none of the burners on under the food. i asked the waiter to warm my fish and she brought me the same cold fish trying to say she put it in the broiler. i made a suggestion that they should have eggs made to order next year and the manager and another server told me it was impossible to do and flagged me off. (I know from experience lots of small restaurants and culinary art schools make eggs to order). the restaurant has only twelve tables. After setting for a while and barely eating because we didn't have much time to go somewhere else, they practically ran us out the restaurant. they brought me three checks with out me even asking for one and the server kept coming back to ask if i wanted a check. i wouldn't go back they may be better when it is not a buffet
(1)N M.
We came here last weekend for brunch and I have to say was pleased for the most part. Good food, AMAZING house. The historical ambiance alone was enough to keep us happy. I would love to see what it's like in the winter with everything covered in snow. Must be beautiful. Friendly, attentive service. Overall, a very nice experience!
(4)Megan M.
We didn't know what to expect at first given that this cafe occupies a government-owned historical building in Fairmount Park. We were a little worried that it would be a lame concession run by some faceless food service. What a nice surprise! We walked in to see and smell good food. The employees were friendly, but not in a phony ingratiating manner. The atmosphere is pretty and relaxed, with tall ceilings and seating dispersed throughout a couple different rooms with tall windows and historical artwork. There was some confusion/delay about seating as it seemed there was no official host or hostess. Considering that there were no mobs of people to fight with in line for a mediocre brunch in CC, this was of little import. The food was good to better with the eggs being fluffy and cooked to perfection. The omelettes had fresh mushrooms and other fresh vegetables. The coffee was fantastic. A nice slow breakfast for the two of us came to $26. I think this is pretty reasonable, if not quite a bargain, considering the alternatives for weekend brunch (see: long long lines, mediocre food, crappy service, cramped accomodations).
(4)Tracy N.
I first visited the Cafe in July. It was very busy and I had to wait quite a while for my food. I gave it another chance and was pleasantly surprised. Even though it was busy the staff made me feel like I was the only one in the Cafe.The food came out much faster and was great. I found out that they have a new chef. Great place to visit when you are in Fairmount Park.
(4)Dana S.
Few places can accomodate my strange requests... For instance, "Do you have soy milk? Oh, great. Yes, a latte... But, can you put it in a really interesting mug? I noticed bizarre tea cups over there..." Aside from indulging my proclivities, Centennial Cafe has a great selection of sandwiches (and dutifully so, breads for said sammies), salads, and coffee/tea drinks that make this a great spot for a casual lunch scenario. I had their tuna salad on multigrain baguette, and it was the perfect mushy tuna vs perfectly-toasted bread combo. My favorite part about this place is the bizarre decor... Vinyl tablecloths that sent me into a tailspin through time....Envisioning family picnics at my Grandma's house (think mayo-centric everything, "punch" hinged on lime sherbet, and ambrosia salad... yeah, we went there). Just a fun spot in general with lots of windows, and odd items to stare at during conversational lulls (see sorcerer/barbershop wind chime/whirlygig thingie if you do indeed visit). I'll definitely be back for breakfast, as the menu included some items that sounded interesting, and the latte was a huge success. Great prices, too. Lovesies, D
(4)James M.
This cafe has a sign outside, "voted best breakfast in the park" and it may very well be. We stopped in on a Saturday when the zoo was too crowded, and the pancakes and French toast were very good. It's a simple menu, and I'd stick with the classics. And it's modest in decor and setting, with plastic utensils that look like silver etc. But the service was very friendly, and kid-friendly too. My wife had taken our little one outside to stretch his legs while waiting for food prep. And the waitress went out and signaled when everything was set. We'd go back, as it makes for good pre or post game at the zoo or the please touch museum. Beware of weird opening hours.
(4)lexi a.
CLOSED. Because it's not clear from this Yelp page, I just wanted to point out that the Centennial Cafe is permanently closed.
(1)Rahsaan T.
We finally made it here after talking about it for a year. If you want fresh food for a good price, this is your place. We had the farmers omelette and the western omelette. Both were a good size and filling. The waitress provided good customer service and was attentive. Just enough not to be annoying. The water wasn't very good, so I ordered a cranberry juice. No complaints here. Go and enjoy.
(4)Joey M.
Happened to pass this place on the road and thought it looked interesting for brunch Signs say "bird watch and eat.." "..in a historical building..." Menu is kinda sparse and not really a 'brunch' menu per se I ordered the Caprese (mozerella, tomato and lettuce with dressing) sandwich which was just "ok" My guest ordered the BBQ brisket sandwich which she stated was good but messy She referred to this restaurant as a "glorified cafeteria" (ie: kinda pricy for what it is and the food comes served on cafeteria trays!)
(3)Brian E.
We stopped in for lunch after going to Shofuso Japanese House and Garden. We got there about 45 minutes before they were closing. The staff was very friendly and accommodating. The Mandarin oranges on my wife's salad tasted off, so we asked for a new one and they did so right away. My chicken sandwich on toasted sourdough was delicious. It's in a charming old house with high ceilings. It's very casual, so don't expect a fine dining experience. But a nice place to grab a bite if you're in Fairmount Park.
(4)Jaime R.
A great place. After visiting the Japanese House and Garden we decided to try this place with all my family. The service was superb. The food was incredible good (especially the Challah French Toast with berries compote). The Tavern ham Melt and the omelet were good as well. The prices are reasonable and the ambiance on West Fairmount Park is the best location to have a brunch.
(5)Nina G.
Its a gorgeous building restored and quaint . Very welcoming server and brewed fresh coffee for me and my client. I drove past the building an noticed a sign in the lawn saying they had breakfast. I promised myself to come back to this place since I am a sucker for old buildings that have been restored. Whether they are inhabited or not ;) Very warm with high ceiling, walls adorned with various things such as china tea cups and plates, nostalgia and painting, but not over done like some places. TALL ceilings, hard wood floors, out door seating and porch seating. The kitchen was adorably miniature in comparison to a lot of places. Because this is a restored building, there is only but so much they can do as far as expanding the kitchen and keeping up with code. With THAT being said, there is NOT a dish washing machine, so everything is served with 'Fancy' plastic plates and utensils , as well as paper and plastic cups. This didn't deter me in the slightest. The atmosphere was quiet and filled with a sweet , aromatic scent from the pastries upon entering , in combination with the food that their single chef had been prepping in the morning from scratch. Our server was very sweet and welcoming, the menu is small , but with enough choices to satisfy. A regular dish of 2 eggs with hash browns and toast, was $6. A few more $'s than a local diner, but with the ambiance and being able to have breakfast in such a wonderful place, was worth it. This will be a weekly place for me to go with my client.
(4)Lauren Rose H.
BEWARE!!! My husband and friends had a horrible experience here. We sat outside and our entire meal was served in paper cups, plastic utensils and Styrofoam plates. That alone I feel is a reason not to eat here. Who can cut food with plastic utensils? The server seemed stressed and confused our order multiple times. 3 people got either a different order or something screwed up on their breakfast plates. I ordered a salad and it was the last thing to come out. And then to top it all off we got a bill and paid for the meal and while we were at our cars the server came running out explaining she had given us the wrong check and our NEW check (which was correct) but considerable higher in price. Sorry lady, if you can't get things right its generally NOT the customer who has to pay. Food was just okay anyway. This is a place I would never go back to.
(1)Mike D.
A great hidden secret of the area. The restaurant building itself is an old house from 1876 with a ton of history. There are only three seating areas so I assume it may be hard to get a table at times. The staff was beyond friendly. They were very engaging and were very prompt. While the menu is slightly limited, the food was excellent. I had the scrambled eggs and lox, and the salmon was very fresh. Their muffins and cakes were also nice and fresh. It was $9.50 for my meal alone, but it was definitely worth it.
(5)Chris M.
This is a destination. Relatively new to the breakfast/brunch cafe scene..this place deserves your attention. Food was quick, and delicious. Plenty of parking and options on the menu. If you like Sabrinas, Honeys, et al, go here. If you like great coffee, friendly service, eclectic & diverse menu set in beautiful Fairmount Park? Go Here. Despite being in the dearth of winter, todays visit was great. Cant wait to see this place in warmer weather, with its outdoor seating on the patio in the midst of Fairmount Park. The "Ohio State House" is located an ear shot from the Please Touch Museum (former Memorial Hall). This historical site (one of two buildings remaining from the Centennial Exposition) is a unique setting for this cafe, and a short drive from CC or burbs. My thought after leaving? The Centennial Cafe DESERVES to survive. Go, and you will be happy.
(5)Bill T.
This was a very pleasant surprise. A reasonably priced, good quality breakfast in a really cool old house with lots of interesting history, BUT I felt like we were eating on an airplane because it is all disposable plates, cups and silverware - you know the kind (other than the coffee cups) that look real until you pick them up and then you wonder if the knife can actually cut anything. Anyway - they have a sign outside "Voted Best Breakfast in the Park" - so my guess is the good Park authorities said they had to use disposables, or it is a better business model. Back to the food - it was very good and VERY plentiful. We got egg white omelets and they were almost big enough for two - good sides as well. Sourdough bread or rye - both good, fresh quality. The waitress was very attentive and helpful. This is a place we'll visit again, but I have a question -- when did they have a poll for Best Breakfast Eateries in Fairmount Park? Hey, are there any other breakfast restaurants in Fairmount Park??? Then there is the venue - The Ohio House - built for the Centennial Exposition and located on States Drive (get it?). Well if you don't, go there, have a good meal, and learn about USA history & Philly's awesome role back in 1876.
(4)Robyn H.
This place has new owners and now serves "average" food. I ate there today, and my $9.00 sandwich was AWFUL. The bread was dry and old and so was the turkey. None of the ingredients in the sandwich were fresh. My coconut brownie was dried out and at least 2 weeks old, but they still over-charged me for it. The place was empty! After tasting that sandwich, I see why. It's NOTHING like it used to be. There were 2 people in the place, and they both either worked there or owned the place. On top of that, the woman that worked there wasn't very friendly. I won't return to Centennial unless they get a total revamp. If they don't, I give them until December before the place is shut down.
(1)Lindsay D.
This is such a cute place and I'm kind of surprised that it's surviving since there's not much around. I went for brunch today with my cousin. She ordered a ham and cheese omelet and sourdough toast ($7.95) and i ordered a "Centennial Rotondo" ($8.95) from their Specials menu. It was a tortilla with cheddar, eggs, avocado, sour cream, salsa, and bacon (I subbed mushrooms). Something different from my normal straight-off-the-menu omelets. We were one of the only tables in the place (granted, it was noon on a Tuesday). It was a cute place. A historic building, the Ohio House, it looks like someone just rounded up some mismatched tables and placed them wherever there was space. I liked it. It was cheery and comfy and all decorated for the holidays. The service seemed to take a little longer than it should have but that could easily have been because I was hungry. Brunch showed up. Her omelet had a generous amount of ham. It was fluffy but didn't seem very big. My Spanish egg concoction was good but also on the small side. The food was piled on the tortilla so that I couldn't easily close it but it just wasn't big overall. A good place and I might stop in again sometime but there are so many brunch places I've yet to sink my teeth into!
(4)Danielle P.
This place was such a huge disappointment. I've been wanting to go because it looks nice, and it's a cute place. That is until you walk in and realize that they serve the coffee in paper cups and the food on plastic plates with plastic knives and forks. Plus the coffee came out luke warm. Then on top of that the service was terrible. There were 6 of us, and they brought the food out about 10-15 mins apart. Those of us who had food tried to wait, but then our food was getting cold, so we started eating and we were about halfway done by the time the last plate came out. Then they just got a lot of little things wrong. One of us got scrambled eggs instead of fried. We had to ask for them to bring something to put on the toast like butter or jam, and that took forever. We ordered glasses of water that never came. The pancakes were good, but the eggs with toast was just very ordinary. The toast was soggy. How do you mess up breakfast? Or just toast for that matter? I'm never going back here!
(1)Connie W.
Visiting from out of town and looking for a unique cafe for breakfast and to do some computer work, I happened upon this gem (with Yelp's help). Warm, welcoming atmosphere and employees and great food.
(5)David L.
I made a random visit to the Cafe on Mother's Day with my wife and daughter. We happened upon a Mother's Day brunch buffet (the big fella loves buffets! lol). The staff was excellent and friendly. The manager was there and had everything and everyone on point. The food was excellent. The eggs were REAL eggs (as opposed to those powdered or frozen banquet eggs), they had turkey sausage, the chilled grilled salmon was delicious. The potatoes were great. My wife's only complain was that the food wasnt as warm as she liked it (she likes everything super hot), but the staff was more than willing to warm up her plate. They had plenty of pastries and desserts. The servers were friendly and helpful. My daughter asked one server if there was any vanilla cake and she said "Yes, but it has pineapples in it". She turned and left and a few seconds later, returned with a few slices on a plate. It kind of caught us off guard because she was very busy, but it was a very sweet gesture. I have nothing but good things to say about The Centennial Cafe. I'm reserving a star only because I'd like to get a feel for the place on a normal day. But other than that, kudos!
(4)sidney g.
We all ordered different omelets. They were great! Service was also great. We will be back.
(5)Tom Q.
This place seems destined to fail, which is too bad. Maybe with the new museum right across the street it will be saved. The food is OK, the prices a bit high for the offering, but the setting is pretty awesome. Quiet and relaxing without pushing you out the door. I don't know much about the area, but imagine this would be a great place to have a wedding or event, and a nice place to grab a cup of coffee on a weekend morning. Good luck to them.
(3)TJ T.
The Centennial Cafe boasts an excellent location in the middle of Fairmount park, just a few hundred yards away from the Mann Center. The Ohio house, over a hundred years old, houses this unique eatery and event space. The Centennial is markedly more home-spun and down-to-earth than fancier brunch establishments downtown.The decor lacks pizazz: a mixed collection of made in China table cloths and nick knacks, coupled with anonymous antique chairs. The seating is clustered, perhaps inevitable while retrofitting an old house into a modern a la carte restaurant. The food and table service could be a bit better, especially considering the prices, which, though not outrageous, are not commensurate with the level of service and attention to detail provided to customers. However, the food is good, homemade, American breakfast, and considering the experience (a foray into the park), I would recommend the Centenial to a friend, with the caveat that the restaurant has some simple ways in which it could improve itself.
(4)matthew l.
The Ohio house, built by the state of Ohio for the 1876 Philadelphia Centennial is an architectural masterpiece that has been lovingly maintained. It sits in full view of thousands of cars passing daily on their way to the West River Drive and the Expressway. I always thought it was wasted just sitting there . Why not... yep why not indeed. The restaurant is in. Small but cheery interior with the table for about 8 in the alcove much sought after for a family breakfast, it needs to be reserved. Very good breakfasts, but their deal is BBQ and excellent it is with the brisket very good indeed. Great coffee and sweets. i think it caught on quick enough and gets enough action so that it will be around as long as the operators want it to, which is very good news.
(3)