4. Restaurants

Will BYOB

1911 E Passyunk Ave, Philadelphia, PA, 19148
  • (215) 271-7683
  • Store is closed

Will BYOB Menu

  • Appetizers
  • Entrees

Healthy Meal suggestions for Will BYOB

  • Appetizers
  • Entrees

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  • Mortimer S.

    My second visit to Will was a bit disappointing to be honest. I was there last month for one of the Tuesday tasting menus, which was oyster in this case: Oysters and Pearls: Accurately described by the waitress as a "shameless" adaptation of Thomas Keller's dish. I haven't had Keller's version but I'm willing to bet it's considerably better than Kearse's, which didn't really have great flavor and there was a lot of grit in my oyster. It was a rather depressing mushy porridge and the caviar didn't add anything. Interesting to note that the chef offered "coffee and donuts," undoubtedly another copy of a Keller dish, on another tasting menu I saw on the website. I don't want to be an asshole but this guy needs to stop being so blatantly obvious about copying Keller's dishes (and I suspect those of other chefs). Amateurs imitate, professionals steal, it's true. But I'm worried these are liable to be imitations in most cases. The second course was oysters three ways, and this was a really excellent dish. If the whole meal were up to the level of this offering then we'd be in business here. Oysters were presented in their shells as pickled, poached (in butter) and compressed (marinated in a vacuum). Each had excellent flavor and provided a compliment to the other. This was basically a copy (as far as I could tell) of a three-way shellfish dish I had at Alinea this summer. But as long as the copy is successful you won't hear me complaining. Next there was an oyster "salad." The "salad" was written with "quotes" on the "menu," which Thomas Keller does "all the time" on his menus. "Just saying..." I also found this salad very disappointing. Basically just raw oysters with a bunch of raw vegetables that lacked flavor, especially those horrible raw radishes which chefs seem to love for the way they look but they taste like cardboard in my opinion. The artful brush of black trumpet mushroom puree (which was to function as the dressing I assume) was good but there wasn't enough of it to make the salad palatable. I believe it was in this dish that my sister also experienced oyster grit. Fourth was braised rabbit and oyster, well-described by a friend at the table as "good but not outstanding." But I enjoyed it, more or less. A clever take on pork and clams is how I was seeing it. The starch component was a sort of "stuffing" (the use of quotes is my own this time) and this was quite good. Personally I didn't care for the carrot cake dessert although the others seemed to like it. The cake was good but not great, and I really didn't like the whipped mascarpone, which didn't seem to have any sugar added to it, and it needed it. It also seemed to be whipped using some kind of special tecnique, which I'm sure is interesting, but it made it too foamy, like shaving cream. If you want to elevate the frosting of carrot cake go ahead, but I'm expecting it to be even better than the rich buttercreamy goodness that I enjoy from a normally-excellent carrot cake from a coffee shop. The service was excellent and the waitress was very friendly and knowledgeable. The plating is visually outstanding, but is the chef trying to bite off more than he can chew? I'll give Will another chance. I'm not saying this guy isn't a good chef in general. But consider this rating a warning; next time I'll expect much better execution in order for me not to abandon the idea of dining here completely with all the other places in town I've yet to try.

    (2)

  • Alessia K.

    My husband and I dined here for our first anniversary and it was perfect. They went so far as to print our menus with a "Happy Anniversary" tagline at the top...I get excited over very small details like that, but it was thoughtful nonetheless. The restaurant is tiny but lively. We tried the raw tuna and heirloom tomato salad for starters and both were phenomenal...so fresh and the vinaigrettes for both played up the flavors perfectly. For our meals I got the Parisian gnocchi and he got the duck. The gnocchi was pan seared so the outside was crisp but the inside was so fluffy and light. I don't eat duck but the fact that he ate it in about 5 minutes meant that he loved it. We also got the banana pudding dessert which was amazing. Our meals and experience were everything you would want for a special occasion dinner or any occasion really because the place is adorable and I would definitely go back and try everything else, except the duck.

    (5)

  • Patrick C.

    I just returned from Will BYOB and immediately sat down to write the review. We were there to celebrate my brother-in-law's birthday and it was a perfect night all around. The menu was personalized for his birthday and what a great dinner! I should note that our group are all foodies and pretty great cooks in our own right. I was initially apprehensive about being stuck into the prix fixe dinner but it was a great experience and introduction to the cuisine and artistry of Chef and owner Christopher "Will" Kearse. Every dish was sublime, fun, delicious and imaginative. Each dish had a touch of molecular gastronomy but the touches made sense and enhanced the dishes they graced. Burgundy escargots, foie gras torchon, light, airy Parisian (pate a choux-ish) gnocchi, Berkshire pork belly pave with the 63 degree egg - all phenomenal. The dishes were so good that we booked a New Year's Eve 8 course menu on the spot. The service was great and our server James was perfect. Knowledgeable, attentive, pleasant - definitely gets kudos for making the evening a great one. We took along our own homemade old vine zinfandel and merlot which were decanted for us, and he brought them out when appropriate. We were given a couple complimentary dishes from the chef (the foie gras torchon was one of them) and when James noticed that one of our party didn't finish her dessert - he offered to get her something else if it wasn't to her liking. Not the case at all, she was just sated and happily sipping coffee to end the night. The prix fixe at $45 a person is a great way to enjoy one of Philly's best restaurant experiences.

    (5)

  • Maurice R.

    I love this place! The food is outstanding. The service is superb. Yes, the portions are small, as they are supposed to be for a top quality cuisine. The chef is very creative and attentive to details. I have been to Will about 10 times, and I will keep coming back. Some of the unusual and creative flavors and ingredients I enjoyed at Will include persimmon, fava beans, black garlic, pistachio, cardamon, and sea urchin.

    (5)

  • Steve M.

    What a delightful little place! Will had a lot of buzz behind it, and that buzz turned out to have merit. They were a bit behind when we went, and they sent us next door to Noir for a drink before coming to get us when our table was ready. That doesn't sound like much, but it felt like really fantastic, personalized service. And the great service continued at dinner; our waiter was a delightful guy, and was excellent at describing the dishes when we had trouble deciding. And apparently the guy had taste, because the meal was delicious. What really stood out at Will was the cleanliness of flavors. Nothing too big and bold, nothing aggressive or abrasive. Everything was gentle tones and subtle combinations. Is it my favorite kind of food? No, I like taste explosions. But I enjoyed every bite at Will, so that's really saying something!

    (4)

  • Michael M.

    Would that Yelp would allow no-star reviews; alas, it does not. I'd like to tell you about the food, but we didn't get that far. We'd made the reservation weeks in advance. We went out of our way to go to South Philly from the 'burbs because I'd read so many glowing reviews of the place. We arrived at the appointed time and the place was full. Okay, that's happened before -- a restaurant can't always control pace of dining to the minute. After about 5 minutes of standing in the doorway of this closet sized joint, the head guy finally came over to speak with us. When he told us 10 minutes, we wandered the street for a bit and returned to "we're just giving a table the bill; just a few more minutes." Okay, back to waiting. About a half hour into the delay -- with that table gone -- the answer was we're going to split this four into twos for you. About 10 minutes after that, a party of four showed up and were seated in the table promised to us and another couple that had arrived after us, but before the 4. They say that first impressions are lasting impressions. Well in this case, they are forever impressions because I'm never bothering with this place again. Unavoidable delays I understand (although whether this was truly unavoidable or overbooking remains unresolved), but baldfaced lying to customers is simply unacceptable. I'm sure WillBYOB could care less about losing my business, but I encourage everybody I know (& those I don't) to avoid this place. In a city with dozens of indisputably great restaurants, we don't need a place that treats people like so much inventory to profit from.

    (1)

  • Rachel E.

    What a wonderful place! Every dish is concise, thoughtful and absolutely delicious. The service is fantastic as well. In my opinion it's one of the best restaurants in the city.

    (5)

  • Shashank M.

    This small unassuming place is the perfect little restaurant for a dinner with friends. It is pricy but well worth it! Amazing staff and great food. Will be back for the spring menu for sure!

    (5)

  • Thor T.

    There are a lot of good cooking ideas and good dishes on display in this little boîte of a restaurant humming with happy diners (actually "humming" might not be the right term since the cacophony is a bit of a problem in the small space where little has been done to temper the din when the restaurant is full). Top dishes: the earthy fall soup with peekytoe crab, a stellar appetizer of sweet sea scallops with several innovative accompaniments forming a lovely contrapuntal taste melody, a perfectly rendered and tasting Wagyu steak. My own selections came with flaws. The small foie gras piece served as a special appetizers had one side (the top) assertively seared while the bottom was practically raw and almost cold. The Hudson Valley dourade, while skillfully cooked, had a brackish, swampy taste that disappointed expectations of sweetly tasting fresh fish. In both cases, the sum of the various ingredients used on the plate was less than its interesting-sounding parts. The bread served was very good (a small slice per person), the butter that came with it rich but doled out so parsimoniously that I hardly got a tiny speck when my companions had tried the quail-egg sized portion. Still, Will is a place with attractive culinary sensibilities and I certainly want to go back and try other dishes and also try one of the ingredient-themed Tuesday evening meals. Service is attentive, competent, and nice, prices fair. I fully expect a five star meal here in the near future.

    (4)

  • Jessica B.

    I went to Will with some friends the night before Thanksgiving, I cannot, I repeat cannot rave enough about it! We ordered most of the menu minus a few things so we could all share and try everything. We were not disappointed by one plate. I love going out and have tried a lot of places in Philly, this is one of the best. To top it off its byob so when the check came we were pleasantly surprised at how low it was. As someone who is not a mushroom fan I could not get enough of the hen of the woods mushroom, it was perfectly crispy at parts soft at others and the sauce was beyond delicious. The scallops were seared just right nice and light and fresh. I am still thinking about how good the pork was, tender and fatty and crispy yum! We also had the special which was like sushi I can't remember exactly what it was though, except that it was amazing. If you go (and you should, NOW) please don't miss the sweet potato pottage, I can honestly say it was one of the best things I've ever eaten, I contemplated licking the bowl.... The standout in the entrees was the sirloin, the sauce was great and rich but more importantly the beef melted in my mouth. It was the first time I had skate but I can't imagine it being cooked better or being more tasty. The salmon was great but the sauce really stood out, and the pollard (so not a regular chicken dish) was an explosion of flavor! The banana pot de creme was the best dessert I've had in a very very long time and the chocolate cake was fun and is not to be missed. The noise didn't bother me like some others have said but we did go a little later. I can't wait to go back, I especially want to try one of the Tuesday menus! If you haven't been go and go now.

    (5)

  • Daniel M.

    Will was absolutely great. I went here on my birthday, and I guess my friends got them to put "Happy Birthday Daniel!" on the menu. It's the little things like this that count. I didn't even notice until after I ordered my dinner. Everything on the menu was great. I had the snails and octopus for an appetizer and the chicken for an entrée. Since most of the menu used French terms, I needed a lot of help from the waiter, and he didn't disappoint. Will is also a BYO, so definitely bring some wine if you decide to dine here. The only problem I had was that there was limited space. They take full advantage of the small room, and the staff frequently brushed up against me every time they needed to go to the kitchen. Also, because it's such a small restaurant, when it's full, it tends to get quite loud. On several occasions, I couldn't even hear what my friends were saying. If they had more room, I would easily give this place 5 stars. Definitely check this place out!

    (4)

  • Sarah S.

    Overall, I really enjoyed my dinner at Will BYOB. The food was good. the restaurant was tiny and cute. i thought the service could have been better, but overall, not bad. we ordered the following: Cheese plate - various cheeses, ham, pear - can't ever go wrong with this, imo Florida Lane Snapper Crudo - simple, clean, the snapper does not a lot of seasoning by itself so eat it with other components on the plate. Foie Gras Torchon - nice flavor. not my favorite sort of texture (pate-like) but my friend who doesn't like foie gras even liked it. Whole Roasted Hen of the Woods Mushroom - my fave app of the 3. earthy flavor. very meaty mushroom. Milk-Fed Poulard - chicken 4 ways - chicken was cooked well. moist. enjoyed the sides of shallots and potato. Pot de Créme - similar to a banana pudding with some sort of crumble on top. if you like banana flavor, you will like this dessert.

    (4)

  • caroline r.

    I wish the food tasted better. It was lovely, but the dishes seemed more composed to look beautiful rather than have the components work together to make something greater. I had the scallop dish and the skate dish. The scallop dish had table-side service of almond milk and parsley oil. I was not really sure why cool almond milk was poured around the dish, but the milk was too sweet compared to the bitter celery also decorating the plate. The hearts of palm would have been a good idea if they were executed correctly. The vegetable was too hard compared to the tender scallop. Though, the scallop was cooked perfectly (and maybe a little aggressively seasoned). In a similar vein of disappointment, the skate was over cooked and overly fishy-tasting. There was a dollop of something - that looked like butter - next to the skate, and I couldn't even tell what it was. It added a fatty, creamy, tasteless component next to the fresh clams. Apparently there was a black garlic sauce, but it was missed next to the butter thing and everything else muddling the plate. With the skate over-cooked, the clams took over the show. If there had been more clam sauce, perhaps the freshness of the clams would have been able to save the skate dish. This should have been called "fresh clams and butter". And I get what they were trying to do - something like a chowder perhaps? - but it was not executed properly. I didn't even want dessert. Not a good sign. The service was lovely though. Go if you want to look gorgeous next to gorgeous food. If you actually want to eat it, get really drunk.

    (2)

  • Mike H.

    Great location. Every bite was spectacular. 1st App - Had the Wyona(? - Cape Cod) oysters with the Champagne sorbet and green apple gel(?), they were the best oysters in a land locked city ever. 2nd App - Pork belly with beets, cabbage slaw, and apples was an awesome combo, the cabbage cut through the fat of the perfectly cooked, crispy, fatty, pork belly. Entree - Duet of Duck (breast and confit) with fall vegetables was spot on. Dessert - Black out chocolate cake with cherries was a perfect ending. Even better was the fact that this is a BYOB. Chef's are to be commended, will return soon. Service was attentive, but not overly oppressive (a rare feat these days). Small miss-step with the French Press, didn't steep long enough, and pressed the plunger way too quick, coffee was weak, but easy to overlook that minor flaw.

    (5)

  • Pink T.

    Wow. I was delighted by Will. The plates are complex, original, contain just the right amount of food science magic, and are beautifully presented. Modern preparation of classic French food without being gimmicky. It is clear that the cooks put a lot of thought, hard work, and precise technique into their food. Each element of each plate is a decision, and Will executes well. Some highlights: -coq au vin. Just amazing. Sous vide (and some other techniques) chicken two ways. Creamy grits with liver mousse. A bunch of other unknown magic on the plate. One of the best single plates I've had in Philly. -sweet potato soup. Subtle heat. Caraway seed and crunchy rice. Rich. Super complex flavors. Great texture. I'm writing the chefs for the recipe. -desserts were all delicious. Pot de creme with caramel gelee topping was divine. Way more to the desserts than meets the eye. Just a great meal. A must try.

    (5)

  • Cameron B.

    Every dish was perfectly crafted and plated as pieces of art. We had black truffle shaved over the escargot which were tender and delicious. The coq au vin was our favorite entree. It featured chicken cooked 5 different ways each completely different then the rest. the goat cheese cheesecake was the perfect end to our meal. Don't forget to bring a bottle of wine!

    (5)

  • Ned C.

    Getting to the location from conshohocken on a friday night took a while but man the food was worth it. I had some seriously crazy good food and i liked the ambiance. I think they could up their 'A' game just every so slightly by better glassware as they are BYOB but no complaints on the food. definitely a top 50 philly restaurant.

    (5)

  • Stephen H.

    This small south Philly BYOB delivers both tasty and interesting plates. The chef seems to put considerable thought into the combinations of elements in each dish. The result is not only a solid entree but an original eating experience. My chicken dish had chicken two ways, a poached breast which had the warm comfort of chicken soup, and a seared piece of dark meat which packed a flavor punch. Sunchokes were another aspect of the plate. I have never had a sunchoke before, and enjoyed them, They literally brought something new to the table for me. The service was friendly, and they apologized for the little extra time between apps. and entree. I was there to enjoy my dinning experience and I always bring more than enough wine so I was happy not to have food rushed out for table turn over. I will Will again. I am looking forward to another creative plate and maybe a chance to try something new.

    (4)

  • Colin M.

    Went to the last tasting on the 18th, French cheese theme. Mimolette puffs, Mimolette gnocchi with porcini broth, compressed persimmon salad-Saint Maure, braised short rib-blue D'Auvergne, sheep Brie-pumpkin paste-mustard seed-chamomile-kale chip. The reason to go to Will isn't to try the newest BYO, the best rated, the best value, or it's "culinary sensibilities"--go to have something truly different. The puffs were a great awakening; something crispy, smooth, and the Mimolette maintained a surprisingly airy texture. The gnocchi were playful and technically flawless; a gentle crispness is broken and you're thrown into the main attraction of Mimolette--fragrant, sweet, earthy. Porcini broth comes in and takes you back down the ladder. I had too much broth on one bite and my mouth was overwhelmed--lesson learned. The compressed persimmon salad was the most surprising dish, but I can imagine why some would not like it. Compressed persimmon, watercress, pickled radish, and shaved fennel together were varried in texture and flavor--as individual bites, they each had a pleasant note, but were not meant to stand alone. The compressed persimmon was worthy of its own dish. The Saint Maure looked like a designated driver--sitting alone, not touching anything--but the deep, almost bitter grassy flavor allowed the raw veggies to shine. The braised short rib was the crowd-pleaser dish and although I'm a sucker for plates like this, it was a technical marvel: the short rib was tender, juicy but not gushing, lovely crispy outside, and no knife necessary. The blue D'Auvergne was morphed into a gelatinous bulb sitting atop a roasted garlic tapenade plate ornament. Again, a playful dish that asks you to somehow eat like a child--get everything, from everywhere, swirl your short rib through the tapenade, cut the D'Auvergne bulb and meet me up here--but do it in small bites and with sure, mature motions...hilarious. The Sheep's Brie is a testament to the French perspective of having something salacious without it being a lava cake or caramel/sea-salt. The pumpkin paste, chamomile glaze, mustard seeds, and kale chips tasted great together but take one out of the equation and you have a delightful plate to study. Sheep's Brie+pumpkin paste+chamomile=a clean and happy finish.

    (4)

  • Adrienne C.

    Super promising start - I can't wait to see what they put out as they finish working through some of the initial service kinks. The food is amazing. AMAZING. The scallop app is to die for - I could literally eat a whole jar of the uni creme. The pork belly is also delicious. In terms of entrees, the braised short rib was my favorite, followed by the cod. My friend had the skate, which she said was a tad salty. The chocolate bouchon was super rich and decadent - you cannot go wrong with malt ice cream. The only slight dings are that we had an 8:45 reservation and didn't get seated until almost 9:15. However, they were super nice and apologetic, and provided us with sweet potato soup when we sat down. Also, there was a bit of a wait between the apps and entrees. Neither dings were that big of an issue, and the waitstaff is great. Highly recommend checking this spot out - what a great new addition to the restaurant scene!

    (4)

  • Alicia K.

    Wonderful service, the waitress was the best thing about the restaurant. Very attentive to answering questions and special accomodations. The food looked better than it tasted. It really was very well presented but fell flat in the flavor area. Also the prices were very high for the quality.

    (3)

  • Dana M.

    We went here for New Years Eve with a 5 course set menu. The staff was very friendly, and the service was great. Since its a french inspired byob, you have to like or appreciate that type of food. I give it 3 stars because I didn't particular like some of the courses. I would have preferred if they had offered a choice to pick from for each course. The first two courses were very good. The whole Roasted Hen of the Woods mushroom had a great flavor. I ordered the scallops that were cooked perfect, but my boyfriend's short rib was very dry. The 4th course was a large wedge of Robiola di Latte. It was delicious to taste, but too much to eat as a course. And I was disappointed in the Milk Chocolate Pot de Créme. I didn't like the sour flavor of the passion fruit with the chocolate. It didn't taste good together. Overall I would go back again if there was something on the menu I wanted to try and I would avoid a set menu.

    (3)

  • Fredric B.

    My wife and I and another couple had dinner at Will BYOB last evening. The food was outstanding -- truly fit for foodies. Unfortunately, the entire experience was less than outstanding. The problem is the extreme noise level. (If it were not for the extreme noise level, this would be one of the best restaurants in the city.) The place is tiny, the walls are hard, and there's no sound deadening. The noise level was so high that it interfered with conversation and detracted from the excellence of the food. The food deserves a much better atmosphere. I also found our waiter to be gratuitously obsequious, which seemed like he was trying to call attention to himself rather than being simply polite and competent. Others of our party didn't mind this, so maybe it's not really a problem.

    (4)

  • E A.

    This has all the potential of becoming another great Philly byob but misses the mark in a few places. We had good service...not as warm and welcoming as Bibou , Fond or Little Fish but certainly prompt and courteous. The issue here is the food. As far as presentation goes...everything is beautiful. The problem is that the food seems to be overly thought out/ over-chefed and unnecessarily complex. This would be okay if the portions were adequate and the food was exceptional. But the portions are unusually small even for fine restaurants. I'm not really sure why... Everything was good but not amazing or memorable. When you see a presentation like that you expect the food to be something special... It was not. For the price, there are so many better options that unless I see an improvement in the ratings here, I doubt we will be back.

    (3)

  • Philip K.

    Another excellent meal at Will. Went this time for my wife's birthday and got the same great results as last time. Even booked it during the week for 1000 opentable points.

    (5)

  • Jeff M.

    Everything was pretty memorable. I had a ricotta dumping appetizer and Dourade for an entree and both were very good. For dessert, the chocolate bouchon was really good and came in a fun bowl. One of the main entrees (it was a price fixe menu the night we went) was chicken prepared four different ways. It was the least exciting of what we had, but not bad. Good coffee.

    (4)

  • Richard F.

    So, this was my second time at Will. First time was just the two of us. This time, we brought along seven dear friends! Hence, I can only imagine how our group of nine must have tested the kitchen. I know that restaurants, especially smaller restaurants, don't like large groups all ordering a la carte. It tests the kitchen in terms of all the dishes coming out at the same time. Well, Chef Chris and his staff were astonishing. We never felt rushed and they never seemed overwhelmed in any way. Major kudos, just for that fact alone! And, just like the last time, the food lived up to the reputation...and then some. At least two of our friends said it was one of the best meals of their lives - generous portions, imaginative presentation and preparations, superb service. Since we were such a large group, I won't detail all the dishes we had. Let me simply say that this was a dinner for the ages.

    (5)

  • Katie P.

    I have been to Will twice now and both times it has been nothing short of incredible. I didn't know dinner could be such an experience. The food is literally indescribable, with the most interesting and fresh ingredients. Each course was somehow better than the next. I cannot recommend Will more highly. Their customer service and staff is as excellent as the food. Christopher Kearse is brilliant and his dishes are inspired. I can't wait to go back again, and I can say with confidence that this is my favorite restaurant in Philadelphia!

    (5)

  • Mike W.

    Chef Chris takes food perfection to a higher level. Every detail is sumptuously addressed. Food flavors I never knew existed explode first from the visuals on your plate, then one experiences his magnificent food flavors in your palate. The servers and lead server Doug, are experienced, knowledgeable, and enhance the dining experience. I have visited three times in the last six week, each time my expectations were exceeded. And I cannot wait to return. Highly recommend this unique byob Resturant.

    (5)

  • Hannah M.

    Pros: Really inventive, interesting menu, but the food was more interesting than it was delicious. Also, the staff seemed a little annoyed at customers asking for simple requests (more water, etc.)

    (4)

  • Carlo D.

    Great food no complaints.

    (4)

  • michael b.

    Will's aspirations outstrip its capability. I love what the chef is trying to do, but everything was a near miss. Flavors that don't quite come together, dishes sometimes overwrought. I think this could be a great place if the chef toned down his ambitions. The service was a miss as well. Our table was not ready but we were told one was opening up soon. I have a hip problem that makes standing difficult. I said we might leave rather than wait. The waiter said, "whatever you want" in a slightly officious tone. The table did vacate quickly, but the two servers took there time in cleaning and setting the table. When it finally was ready, the waitress waved at us and pointed at the table. Hardly professional

    (3)

  • Paul C.

    another wonderful restaurant in passayunk section of philly...restaurant was very tiny...tasty food... but biggest disappointment was the portion of food...too small of portion for the price...

    (3)

  • Guy C.

    Three of us had dinner at Will BYOB last week and we all left hungry, including a friend that literally eats like a bird. The portions are artfully arranged but don't eat here if you have a normal appetite. As for the food, it's like so many other new trendy expensive(for what you get) places that try to intimidate you with silly descriptions on the menu that make you wish you had Julia Child along to intrepret. Meanwhile, it's mostly cheap ingredients with fancy (in this case French) names. And when did "Skate" become something expensive and worthy of a $27 price tag? The waiter we had was so over-the-top pretentious that we almost walked out immediately but it was raining and we had nothing else reserved on a Sat. night so we drank our wine and tried our best to tune him out. Parking anywhere near this place is a needle-in a haystack deal at best. We all agreed it was the last time we'd eat there. I'd say don't have the "wool" (or skate) pulled over your eyes. Save your dollars($$$$) for something better; much, much better, almost anywhere else.This is Philadelphia. Shame on Will!

    (1)

  • Felicia N.

    Amazing quality, attention to detail, presentation, atmosphere &service and byob what more could you want??? Welcome to the neighborhood !!!!

    (5)

  • Fran H.

    Will for starters is a Center City type restaurant in a low socioeconomic South Philly. The food was different and unique. Presentation was beautiful. It did not wow me as I had hoped it would. The price is medium to high for the blah decor plain jane place. The restaurant seats about 26 tightly. Plan on hearing your neighbors conversations. Oh also plan on leaving hungry plates are small. Food good not great !

    (3)

  • Bob S.

    The food and service was 5 star but the portions overall very small. We had the prix fix Sunday meal consisting of a delicious sweet potato soup. This was followed by 4 to 5 toasted gnocchi. Very good but yes, 4-5 of them which were gone in 2 bites. The next course was pork belly that was very good and pretty meaty but lacking in enough of a sauce. It was an appetizer portion. The dessert was a variation of chocolate pudding with caramel dipped popcorn and a dollop of banana ice cream.It also very nice and decent portion. We also had a foie gras torchon supplement for $15, a very fair price and good amount and presentation. My criticism is that it was very light colored and buttery and really delicious, but I felt was lacking in enough of the liver flavor. They charged us $100 more than they should have when we got the check. Thank goodness, I examined it before paying.

    (3)

  • Dustin M.

    We went about a month into operation. The only major issue that we had was the noise level but our server assured us that they were working on a solution. The plating was some of the nicest that I have ever seen. It was just beautiful. We started with the Whole Roasted Hen of the Woods Mushroom disch and the Barnegat Light Scallops. Both were really good but the uni (sea urchin) cream that came with the scallops was just amazing. Our table then had the gnocchi, chicken, skate and short rib. They were all really good. The chicken was my favorite but I think the rest of the table preferred the skate. Desert was the Pot de Creme (awesome) and Goats Milk Cheesecake (also really good). I'm really looking forward to going back in a few months when it will be running like a well oiled machine.

    (4)

  • Patty G.

    OK, so Will BYOB was delightful. First Course: Joe's scallop appetizer was perfectly cooked and beautifully presented, with a puff of uni mousse, and an almond milk sauce poured at table. Tiny braised fennel bulbs and slices of fresh heart of palm provided pleasant contrast. The rabbit and fois gras terrine was freaking incredible - delicate shreds of rabbit meat suspended in a fois gras mousse so light it dissolved on your tongue. Watermelon radish, plums and beets each complemented the terrine in a different way. I could have eaten ten of those! Next they gave us a palate cleanser of a nice bright peach and mango sorbet that was sprinkled with ground orchid root. Wow! I had never tasted orchid root before, and it was very aromatic - almost perfumey. It had a flavor you could smell more than taste, and it reminded me of violet candies, and it really brought out the brightness of the fruit sorbet nicely. (Also, it came in a lovely porcelain spoon that was so cute, I want to get a set and have a dinner party just to feature them.) Second Course: The Joe had the black sea bass, which was seared to crispy skin perfection. To be honest, I don't remember what else was going on there, because I was too focused on my skate.(Mmmm...skate. If you have never ordered it, Will is the place to try it. Skate is a member of the ray family, and it has a delicate white flesh that has a flaky texture similar to jumbo lump crab, and a slightly sweet flavor.) Mine was golden brown and crisp around the edges, and was served with a black pepper gastrique, cippolini onions, salsify, and a truly lovely celery root puree. It may sound like there was a lot going on with that dish, but each individual element was so subtle, that it all worked together really well. Nothing overpowering, each supporting the subtle flavor of the skate. Dessert: The Joe and I are not normally three-course eaters. I'm usually way too full, and I don't have much of a sweet tooth anyway. But Will had the portion size and pacing down so well that we both had room, and I'm really glad we did! Will's desserts were also stunning, inventive, and beautifully presented. Joe ordered the sour cherry clafoutis with Cremont. The clafoutis were characteristically moist dense little cakes studded with sour cherries, and the Cremont was a delicious cow and goat milk cheese with a smooth, rich texture similar to a triple-creme brie, and a pleasant salty spike. The cheese didn't really do it for him, but I loved it, so I traded him for my banana pot de creme. This was a perfect banana custard with a thin layer of salted caramel gelee over top, and a crispy walnut crumble - think of a toffee-covered walnut - crushed and sprinkled on top. The pot de creme had little dollops of cardamom cream on it, and when you dug through all the layers, it was a delicious symphony - but still not too cloyingly sweet or overpowering. I loved that about Will's desserts - they were not overly sweet. The service was attentive without being clingy. The manager and our waitress were both very friendly and informative. They obviously knew the food well, and were kind enough to let me go back to the spotless kitchen and meet the chef, Chris Kearse. All I could do was stammer thanks and congratulations, because I was so blown away by the experience. Kearse's team (two other cooks) did a great job, and provided us with a very special anniversary dinner, indeed!

    (5)

  • Sam W.

    Dropped in on a random recommendation and couldn't be more pleased with the food, service and ambiance! I didn't expect to walk away thinking that was one of my better dining experiences, yet, somehow, That's exactly how I left. I will be back and certainly spread the word of this great new addition to Philly!

    (5)

  • Beth K.

    A very good byob with an obviously talented chef. My husband & I really enjoyed our meal here & I would have certainly given them 5 stars if it hadn't been for the noise level inside the restaurant. Hopefully they will be able to address this issue in the coming weeks. Things to note: very small so you will need reservation especially on Friday or Saturday nights. Go very early or late in the evening to avoid the higher decibel levels...

    (4)

  • Anya R.

    Will BYOB is wonderful! From the service to the food everything was spectacular. We started with octopus and tomato salad - both outstanding. We then had the red drum and the beef for entrees - both were excellent! Chocolate cake to finish off was also spectacular. Highly recommended.

    (5)

  • Alexandra M.

    Recommended to us by our foodie friends, we definitely were not disappointed. We loved everything about this meal for our anniversary--from the quaint, simple interior, to the excellent service, to the outstanding 5 courses (we went a little crazy), we were blown away. Bonus: they keep your white wine chilled in the back while you are eating and constantly refill glasses without breaking conversation. Beautifully done.

    (5)

  • Liz P.

    I met several friends for dinner at Will last night. One of my friends was running late and ended up getting to the restaurant about an hour after our reservation. The wait staff patiently refilled our glasses of water (and wine), answered our questions about the menu, and reassured us that the late arrival was not messing up their other reservations. The presentation of our food (apps, entrees, and desserts) was beautiful and we all agreed that everything we ordered was delicious. I will definitely be going back.

    (5)

  • Brad N.

    I usually never order chicken out at a restaurant because it's something (boring) that I can cook at home. The exception is a true French restaurant. My entree was chicken cooked 3 ways which, if i remember correctly, was a poached breast (which, to quote another yelper, "had the warm comfort of chicken soup"), a seared piece of dark meat which reminded me of pork belly, and something that looked like a chicken sausage. Delicious.

    (5)

  • Charles R.

    Would be 5 stars except for 2 things, but I'll get to that later. Passyunk is really busy with a restaurant almost every other doorway, so it's nice to have valet parking on almost every block. The valet was $8 except for Will, which doesn't participate so they charge $15. To me it's still better than driving around for 15 minutes trying to find a spot. The place is very small, probably 38 seats, but the noise level was not bad. The pekytoe crab was small, but very good. The Hen of the Woods mushroom was a large mushroom with great taste. The best item to for an appetizer was the Spring Pea Veloute. Creamy, well seasoned with slices of cucumber at the bottom. The boeuf was two slices of very tender beef that had an indian spice taste to the dish. The gnochhi was as good as there is in philly, The special for the evening was lamb ragu on cavatelli was great. The lamb special was probably the largest portion of the 4, and while the portions are moderate a big eater will leave here wanting more. The dark chocolate dessert looked very rich and I was told it was as good as the the rest of the dishes. Here's the 2 drawbacks. One, the air conditioning is almost none existent and they finally opened the front door to get some air flow. If you get a hot, humid night it could be really stuffy in there. The chairs are not very comfortable. They take Visa and MC only. Wonderful, innovative food with unique ingrediants and seasonings.

    (4)

  • Renee P.

    Truly innovative and perfectly prepared food. Loved the bistro style and atmosphere and the creativity of all courses. This young chef is going FAR! Be sure to get there before it goes bigger, which I hope it never does because right now it is obvious that everything is prepared to order with true attention to every detail of every dish. The BYO keeps the cost down and the prices are incredibly reasonable for this type and quality of food. Will BYOB is the best deal in town!! GO.

    (5)

  • Ellen F.

    So delicious! Four of us enjoyed: hen of the woods mushrooms, beet-cured salmon, and Barnegat Light scallops as starters, followed by: skate, striped bass, and braised short ribs. Yes, we managed dessert: warm chocolate cake with creme fraiche ice cream, goat cheese cheese cake with ginger sorbet, and banana salt caramel pots de creme. Service was attentive and friendly. The only negative is the noise level. There is nothing to absorb sound, making it difficult to hear each other at the table. Once this is remedied, it will be even more enjoyable. Thank you, Chef Kearse and staff for a wonderful meal. We will be back!

    (4)

  • Justin S.

    I came here very shortly after they opened, and they were running smoothly like they had been opened for years. Our meal was really great. I plan to return here soon.

    (5)

  • Ellie C.

    I was more than excited to try Will. The ambiance, and service were great, however the food was underwhelming. My husband and I ordered the snails, and each had the monkfish as entrees. The entrees were overcooked, and without seasoning, the rest of the dish was trying to offer texture, however it left a lot to be desired.We are so disappointed!

    (1)

  • Mike C.

    New Years Eve tasting menu was delicious. I went for the 530 seating and added the oyster with champagne Chantilly foam and caviar as well as the foie gras. Splendid.

    (5)

  • Matt G.

    Wow was I blown away! My girlfriend and I went in for dinner after hearing some excellent reviews from friends. I wasn't sure what to expect since I'm not accustom to such a high end dinning experience. The food was not only excellent, the presentation was beautiful. Each dish was full of flavors I've never experienced. I had the gnocchi with shiitake mushrooms with a pumpkin sauce which was amazing. My girlfriend had thee scallops.. Also excellent. We finished up with dessert. I had a banana custard (I can't recall the name), she had the goat cheese cake dish. They were both amazing. Out total came in around $60 for two soups, two entrees, two desserts, a coffee, and a tea. I would've expected to pay double that for the quality of service, food, and presentation offered. I forgot to mention our waitress was incredibly helpful and patient with us. What a great experience. I personally recommend Will BYOB to everyone. We will definitely be back soon!!

    (5)

  • Melissa V.

    I don't get the name of this place but it is otherwise a perfectly executed restaurant in every regard. We did the chef tasting menu and loved every course. Solid respectful service. Clean and cute ambiance. Will definitely be back. Hat off to the kitchen staff for turning out one outstanding dish after another.

    (5)

  • Nancy O.

    Amazing service, amazing food, seasonal ingredients, menus are always changing. I don't write reviews until I go to a place few times, 'cause consistency is key. Lucky nights don't count. But this place is indeed consistent, BYOB style makes our lives even better. Cozy ambient.

    (5)

  • Lucy Y.

    I came here when I was in town, & had an awesome dinner! Parking was pretty easy as there were meters all around, & we scored one quickly. The neighborhood is cute, & we saw a few other interesting looking restaurants nearby as well. We made a reservation for an early-ish dinner on a Friday night, and were seated immediately upon arrival. Ambience was dressy casual, & intimate. Our server poured the 2 wines that we brought, and explained the menu. Shortly after we ordered, chewy bread arrived with a delicious Basil Jam that had almost a honey consistency. Then - the food: Husdon Valley Foie Gras & Rabbit Peekytoe Crab Stuffed Squash Blossom Short Rib Gnocchi Duck Breast Though everything was really yummy, the Duck Breast was definitely my fave. DUCK BREAST!!! Desserts were very good: Financier Chocolate Bouchon Pot de Creme Banana Our server was warm and gracious from hello all the way through to when he brought us individually wrapped madelines as a parting goodie. Yum!! I'm a huge Tom Collicchio fan - and his Craft restaurant in LA sends diners home with a little wrapped baked goodie too. So sweet! This was a great choice for dinner, and I'd happily come back when I'm back in town!

    (5)

  • C T.

    I enjoyed my dinner here. Cute little place. Our waiter was perfect. The food was great! over all a great restaurant but its not outstanding. The presentation of the food is very good. I had the chicken 4 ways i really enjoyed my dish and would give it 5 stars. However sampling some of my friends dishes they weren't as great.

    (4)

  • Jonathan B.

    will Byob puts together great dishes but can't compete with the other Byob options in Philadelphia The atmosphere is pretentious, the portions are small, and the dishes are overpriced. We started with the hen of the mushroom app and the crudo. The mushroom dish was recommended but wasn't special. The crudo was good, but neither was worth the price. I had the Mahi Mahi entree, which was bland. Overall you can do better in philly

    (3)

  • Jennifer M.

    Yes! Very much, yes! If asked if I would dine here, that would be my answer! Our group of 8 came here over the weekend for a friend's birthday (very nice touch in adding her name to the menu!). The place is extremely cozy, but where Will lacks in space, it makes up for it with large, bold flavors in the menu. We were given the $65 four-course prixe menu. I started off with the sweet pea gazpacho, the red wine poached jidori egg, milk-fed poulard, and ended with the banana pot de creme. The gazpacho was an excellent first course. The soup poured bright green, and it was so refreshing! Whatever added crunchy texture to the dish was a nice surprise. The poached egg was interesting. Creamy and buttery, and great mushroom flavor. The poulard cooked four ways was great, but not my favorite. Breast, thigh, crispy chicken skin, and chicken sausage. For being the main entree, I wanted a bigger portions and more flavor. The chicken was moist, though! The desserts were my absolute favorite!The banana pot de creme! Oh, I could eat that for days! I also tasted the rich chocolate cake other diners had, and it was fantastically dressed in coconut and a mango creme. Service was attentive, friendly, and quick to pour more wine for the group. (That is always necessary). It was a great meal, and judging by the near empty plates, all seem to have enjoyed each bite. Great way to spend someone's birthday!

    (4)

  • John R.

    Will BYOB 1911 E Passyunk Ave, Philadelphia, PA 19148 | (215) 271-7683 | willbyob.com Will BYOB is an intimate house-converted-to-restaurant establishment specializing in both authentic classical French cuisine and its modern accouterments. They offer a simple a la carte menu with a special prix fixe menu on Sundays that is four courses. We decided on the tasting menu. The meal began with a delicious Plowshare Farms Pumpkin Potage. Pumpernickel. Uni Creme, Onion Confiture. The uni creme is the edible part of the sea urchin and deliciously balances the sweetness of the pumpkin potage. Burgundian snails glazed with garlic butter in a country ham Dashi emulsion. Steamed cauliflower, truffle of spinach puree, oyster jus. Dashi refers to stock made from fish and kelp, used in Japanese cooking. Delicious to say the least, and I am not one to be into eating snails. However, that being considered, I cleared my plate rather quickly...in 1-2 minutes to be exact. Whole Roasted Hen of the Woods Mushroom, better known as the Japanese name maitake mushroom, which means "dancing mushroom". Ricotta, Madeira, Petite Herbs. Madeira is a fortified Portuguese wine made in the Madeira Islands. Served with some edible marigolds. The mushroom tastes fresh and delicious and not chewy like one would expect a mushroom to be. It was a delight to eat that while I started cautiously, it turned out to be one of the best dishes of the evening. The meal was interrupted before the main course with a lovely palate cleanser in the form of a mango sherbet. Delicious. Main course: Florida Cobia Sunchokes. Shishito Peppers. Matsutake Mushroom. Red Wine Bouillon. Very similar to tuna. A very diverse fish. Honey miso surrounds the fish. Miso is a fermented rice based sauce. It added just the flavor the dish needed. Again, another home run at Will BYOB. Dessert: Crème Fraiche Coffee Cake. Chocolate Cremeux, Greek Yogurt, Red Wine Caramel.

    (5)

  • Kat S.

    Will is such a gem. Service was amazing, food really high end and atmosphere casual yet upscale. The $45 tasting menu is a steal. Kudos to the staff who dealt with our sparkling red with aplomb. We will be back! This is why we live in Passyunk!

    (5)

  • John P.

    This is one of the best restaurants I have been to in a long time. In fact, it was the best meal I have had since Le Bec Fin was in its prime. My wife and I went to the Sunday night tasting menu, so I cannot testify to the regular meal, but it was superb. We have a five course price fixed dinner. Each course was perfectly sized, and you were not rushed through the meal. The waiter cleared the table after each course and did not immediately put the next course down, giving you time for conversation and enjoyments. Just as you might be starting to think that it was time for the next course, it arrived.

    (5)

  • Jody P.

    During restaurant week I had dinner that was both beautifully presented and extraordinary tasting. This is a great place to go if you are into rich, warm flavors. The gnocchi and the snails were the two stand out dishes for the evening. Normally not that into the creatures, my dinner date was pleasantly surprised that she liked the snails too. They had a pleasant texture that was similar to the mushrooms that they were cooked with, and were bathed in a perfect red wine sauce. The gnocchi will make any potato fan swoon with delight. They are rich, creamy, and umami filled. Props to the service. They were very patient while I waited for my friend, knowledgeable, and attentive.

    (5)

  • Nazee Z.

    I was left very underwhelmed by restaurant week at Will. The way that I usually operate is someone gets the dish that everyone wants (the 72-hr short rib) and someone gets the fun dish that everyone wants to try (the kampachi, mahi mahi, and pot de creme). In this restaurant, I've learned: do not be adventerous! We tried all of the dishes at will and I'll start off with appetizers: the soup was surprisingly delicious! I was a bit concerned about the combination of celery and apple, however, the creamy base was delicious. There was some type of foam thing on top that I have no idea what it was, but the whole combination was great. The kampachi was ok. I found the portions to be ridiculously small and the whole combination of flavors was good, but nothing that seriously impressed me. I was presented with a dish that contained three slices of fish no bigger than my pinky nail, 5 almonds, 2 thinly sliced beets, and a couple very thin slices of heart of palm. The whole dish did not present itself well, and was kind of all over the place. The snails however, were my favorite! The sauce was rich and comparable to a marsala sauce. Mmmm. For the main course, I got the mahi mahi, which I was impressed with! The lentils alongside it were very well seasoned and tasty. The fish itself was very tasty, but I feel it was a bit undercooked. Whatever, we'll call it sushi. The 72-hr short rib was of course amazing. However, the gnocchi was a straight BUST. It did not have the typical chewy, soft texture of gnocchi, but a weird apple like crunch to it. Tasty, but eh. Not impressed. Also, the portions were absurdly small! I felt like I needed a pizza afterwards! For dessert, the coffee cake was of course great, but the pot de creme (which was essentially creme brulee) was also very unimpressive! There was a strange licorice after taste that was such a turn off. The beginning tastes were great--banana, creme, and crumble topping, but the after taste was unbearable. Coffee however was delicious! and the service was great. But I don't think I'd come here again.

    (3)

  • Jim R.

    Sorry - just couldn't give it a 4 star rating, 3.5 but not a 4! The staff, the room, the food presentation were all great but when half the entrees were just good + well. . . We went on an evening when only the $65 Prix Fixe 4 course menu was available - which in itself was not a drawback, with the offerings sounding fantastic. The Sweet Pea Gazpacho was absolutely amazing, as was the Whole Roasted Hen of the Woods Mushroom and the Milk-fed Chicken. Although sounding exciting, the Red Wine Poached Jidori Egg with Asparagus & Morel Mushrooms was lacking a kick of flavor, as was the somewhat bland Spring Garlic Parisian Gnocchi. Both desserts were good and the Decaf coffee very good. With half our choices amazing, we will stop back again to give it another try. Remember, it's a BYO.

    (3)

  • Diana F.

    I came to Will for east Passyunk restaurant week with 3 other friends. The menu options they had for this event looked yummy on paper. I had the soup which was amazing, my friends went for the snails, more adventurous I suppose.. I also had the short rib, small portion and quite tasty. Dessert was ok, but the service and the place Itself was lovely and very good. Our waiter was very nice and informative of the fancy dishes

    (4)

  • Beth S.

    Had an unexpected free night a few weeks ago and decided to check out Will BYOB. It's a shame I'm just now getting around to writing a review, but I couldn't go without giving props where props are due! We did not have reservations but called ahead, and they were able to accommodate us immediately. The person on the phone was very friendly. We dined on a Sunday night (perhaps that's why they had room for us), and they offered a pre-fixe menu. The service was great, and they obviously worked well together as a team. It's always nice to see that. They were knowledgeable about the menu items, and explained the pre-fixe menu very clearly. Attentive without being overbearing. My boyfriend guzzles water, and we didn't have to wait for more. They were great about pouring our wine, and made sure to keep us both at an even pace (we don't necessarily care about this, but some people are crazy about that so it's nice to see they make the effort to do so!). We both got different items for each course and shared so that we could taste more things. We also opted to add the tasting pasta course, which was delicious just like everything else. Highly recommend adding this course, it didn't put us over the edge. All of the portions were just the right size and the flavors worked together very well. The chilled soup was perhaps my favorite. Presentation was gorgeous for each dish. Dessert was divine. There was no price listed on the menu (except the supplements), or at least none that we noticed, but it turned out to be very affordable! A great little gem we stumbled upon. Looking forward to returning!

    (5)

  • Alisa A.

    This is my favorite place in the city! We ordered a variety of items off the menu and shared them. The atmosphere is perfect and I feel right at home!

    (5)

  • Noah G.

    One of the things I like to do is watch movies without knowing anything about them. I go in blind and then even if theyre mediocre I think they're ok because I didn't really have expectations anyways. When my brother came in from San Francisco and boo made a reservation for us at Will BYOB I took the same approach as I do with movies. I didn't Yelp it, didn't look at the menu and just went in blind. Will exceeded any expectations I could have had. The 28 seat dining room is small but there was still enough space that the next table over isn't knocking into you. That's huge. The menu is one page with 5 or 6 six appetizers and 5 or 6 entrees which works for me because I can never decide what I want. I started with the sweetbreads, good lawd were they amazing!! They were in some sort of carmelized onion sauce that was beyond belief. It was a small dish but had substance, just like an appetizer should. For my entree I went with the duck dish. Calling it a duck dish is butchering what it actually was but by the time it came we were about 4 bottles of vino deep. It was cooked perfect. It sat on fennel but the flavor wasn't overpowering. It was super complex, I almost felt like my pallet didn't deserve it but it was sooo good. The desert was fine, nothing too memorable but the whole experience was amazing. It was the best meal I've had since we went to Bibou a couple of years back. The service was friendly and attentive and knew the dishes inside and out. We'll definitely be back and will probably try the tasting menu for $65. Will BYOB is a huge win.

    (5)

  • Sarah P.

    After hearing rave reviews of Will BYOB from a friend, my mom made a reservation here to celebrate my birthday this weekend. She was so excited to try this place that she neglected to notice that French bistros like this one usually have nothing for a vegetarian like me to eat! Sure enough, after making the reservation, she noticed a dearth of vegetarian options on their 4-course Sunday tasting menu and decided to call back and cancel. However, they assured her they would be able to create a meal to fit my dietary restrictions, and suggested that we come try it out. I have to say, I was very impressed with how accommodating and professional they were about meeting my dietary requirements. Whether in France or back home in the states, I have encountered plenty of anti-vegetarian snobbery at similar establishments. I've definitely had to deal with the "if you don't eat meat, why did you come here" attitude. There was NONE of that here! The staff handled themselves with grace and made me feel welcome and well taken care of. Service was outstanding. Everyone here is so passionate about the food, the feeling is contagious. When our waiter brought out each dish, he went through all of the ingredients and explained exactly which components they had substituted for vegetarian alternatives on my plate. It was comforting to know that the chef paid close attention to subbing out chicken stock or gelatin and made sure to notify me if any alterations were made. Now, on to the quality of the food itself. Oh. my. lord. The amuse bouche was a plate of airy chickpea puffs, late harvest tomato, and gooseberries, with flash-fried quinoa to add some pleasant crunchy texture. The dish was gorgeously plated and just as enjoyable to eat as to look at. The second course, the Pumpkin Potage, was my favorite. It was elegantly served with pear foam (fancy!) but it tasted just as warm and soulful as home cooking. I could honestly have eaten a bucket of it, but I know a place as nice as this doesn't have a super-size option. For my main, they prepared a whole Hen of the Woods roasted mushroom. I am not usually a huge mushroom fan, but this dish converted me into a believer. The mushroom was savory, salty umami perfection. I was pleased to see vegetables celebrated and respected just as much as meat. The dessert course, an olive oil cake, was perfectly moist when combined with poached pear and ice cream. As a nice touch, they printed out special menus for my family with a personalized happy birthday message for me at the top! How cute! I would definitely take someone here (especially someone I wanted to impress) for a special occasion.

    (5)

  • Kelly T.

    Will is probably my favorite restaurant in Philly. The food is beyond delicious, the ingredients and presentation are creative and always in season, and the service at this small establishment is impeccable. While the chef tends to get creative on some dishes (I'm recalling a delicious roast chicken dish that came formed into chicken medallions of some sort that sort of tasted like bacon they were so rich), even the most simple of dishes is mindblowing. On one visit here, I had the roasted Hen of the Wood mushroom. It was very simple and had very few ingredients, but it was beautifully done and perfectly roasted. I have tried and tried to re-create this dish at home to no avail. The dishes here and all ingredients used are seasonal, so check the menu before your visit to see what is on offer. If you ever see the Hen of the Woods mushroom, take my advice and book the first available reservation! This is THE RESTAURANT I recommend to friends and where I take people I want to impress with the Philly food scene. It's BYOB, so bring your own wine or pick up some beer from the Bottle Shop a few doors down before your meal.

    (5)

  • Fifi Y.

    Certainly no complaints about the service this time! Another great meal at Will. I am a huge fan of short rib - it's basically my go-to item in the winter because it's a guaranteed hearty meal that will warm you right up. Will deserves a shout out for theirs - it is hands down one of the best I've ever had. Cooked perfectly, and a really really high quality piece of meat. Flavor was spot on - I usually find short rib to be too salty, but this was perfect! Also, had a bite of the duck and it was awesome. Will continues to be one of the best meals in the city!

    (5)

  • Jr. F.

    came in with a group of 7 adults and a baby on Friday night, and we absolutely loved it. What delicious food and excellent service. Will be back for sure, and have been raving about it to all of my co-workers. The BOH and FOH should be proud, the product they are delivering is spot on.

    (5)

  • Katie F.

    Eat here. Wow. Everything was delicious and the staff was fantastic from the moment I made the reservation to the end of the meal. It's a cozy little restaurant. I was shocked with how loud it was when we first walked in but we sat in the back corner which helped. Now for the good stuff: they started us with bread and a caviar butter with lemon zest. I had the whole roasted mushroom for my first course and the dorade for my second. Between courses they brought out a sorbet palate cleanser. We split two desserts and they sent us off with two packaged up lemon poppyseed cookies. Every bite, of every course, was satisfying. After dinner they took us to the kitchen and we got a chance to chat with the chef. A great night all around.

    (5)

  • Emily W.

    Fantastic food and great service! The restaurant is pretty tiny and the acoustics aren't great, but the decor is cozy and inviting. And the food is just beautiful. Between the two of us, we split 3 appetizers, 2 entrees, and 2 desserts (around $140). We didn't leave undo-the-belt-buckle stuffed, but we left very satisfied and excited to see what they will do to their menu for the fall. Favorites: Chilled corn soup- bursting with flavors of summer and the crispy quinoa took it to a whole new level...not to mention the tender lobster nugget. Roasted Maitake/ Hen of the Woods- there's a reason this thing has been on their menu for so long. Beef with Escargot- beef was perfectly cooked, although greedy us wished the portion could have been a little bigger. The little lobster mushroom bites were much appreciated. Chocolate Bouchon- After my first bite, I stopped talking to my boyfriend and became totally absorbed in this totally awesome dessert. One of my favorite chocolate desserts in the city. Banana Pot de Creme- they got the texture of this spot on. I'm thinking I'll have to learn how to make this to get my boyfriend to eat more bananas... The octopus and dorade were nice tasting dishes, but just didn't stand out like the rest. And I love octopus so I had pretty high expectations. The portion was just a little small and a little too sweet. The dorade was cooked nicely, but the sauce could have used a little zing from some acid. I also had some really salty bites of radish and pepper. Overall, a delicious and fun experience!

    (4)

  • Lisa L.

    Went on a Friday nite at the last minute and managed to nab the last table available. The place is small but comfortable. Two of us dined and each ordered the 5 course tasting menu. We agreed (and my dining friend is a professional chef) that hands down, it was one of the best meals either of us have ever eaten in a restaurant. It was everything I want a tasting menu to be: delicious, courses were unique but complementary of each other, visually beautiful, creative and I'd be remiss not to mention the impeccable service. Absolutely 2 thumbs up!

    (5)

  • Jung K.

    Chris Kearse, as always, culinary genius. They have a special tasting menu once a month, focusing on a specific ingredient. Just in time for fall, we went for the pumpkin tasting menu! Every dish that came out was beautifully plated, tasted delicious, and wasn't redundant in flavors or taste. The tiny restaurant is BYOB, yet wasn't uncomfortably cramped. Personally, I loved the appetizer with pumpkin, apple foam (I am pro foam everything), as well as the consumme with mushroom. Quail stuffed with pumpkin stuffing, and kampachi sashimi in a stone bowl with some pumpkin seeds and asian pear, cut out in little stars. Would definitely return for future tasting menus, or even a la carte. Continuing the kudos and popular opinion of food coma happiness!

    (5)

  • Drew D.

    Plating, presentation, service, flavor and creativity are what Will BYOB is all about. Rounding out a lovely ambiance and over the top thoughtfulness. The flavors chef puts together are bright, fresh and unexpected.

    (5)

  • Leve S.

    This restaurant offers great food prepared and presented with exquisite technique. Unfortunately, the dishes I tried just did not work for me. They involved too many ingredients that did not all blend well as if someone put a lot of notes on a music sheet but did not manage to create harmony. I visited this place twice. Once I had the Foie gras/rabbit terrine. The rabbit terrine was great and the presentation was beautiful but my taste buds were overwhelmed. I had shaved celery, some spicy green leaf I can no longer recall, rhubarb pickle, another pickle made of something else, sweet coconut puree, sweet hazelnut preserve, thinly sliced beets, and plums on my plate, and I am sure I forgot to list something. While everything was done really well, this combination somehow reminded me of my wife's meals before we leave for a holiday: everything from the fridge must be used up! Another time I got a dish that had a tiny piece of lamb steak wrapped in lamb sausage placed on a bed of lamb stew. All of them were superbly done. Any of them would have been grand on their own in a larger portion so that I could have enjoyed them longer. The three presented together like this were just crying for some lamb schnitzel to complete the list of all possible ways lamb can be made. The staff was great both times. I did not like the pretentious ways of our waitress, though, and how she started walking away as I was trying to make up my mind about what kind of water I wanted. I know, simple question, but waiting staff should, well, just wait. I think the ambiance is nice for an intimate dinner or a night out for a group. If you dine with someone to whom you are not that close, however, you may find yourself uncomfortably squeezed between them and the wall.

    (3)

  • Marta N.

    I was excited to try it here, but it left me feeling slightly hungry. Love the byob restaurants, and this place is both french and fusion. Very small and intimate, yet cozy. The service was spot on, and our dishes delightful. Ordered the trout, sweetbreads, and duck. The portions were a tad small, but you pay for flavor here. I would go while this place is not on the radar. It will continue to grow in popularity as the years go by.

    (4)

  • Nissa G.

    This little gem lives up to its reputation! Had a delicious dinner here, ambiance was great for being so small, didn't feel like people were in my space. Inventive dishes and techniques, well cooked, just the right portions. They even accommodated my food issues without making me feel like I was a pain in the ass! Stout cake dessert was amazeballs, and they send you home with yummy little cookies to eat later! Definitely going back.

    (5)

  • Chris W.

    Chris Kearse's food is fantastic. It is as nuanced and inventive as any in the city. I hope to go back many times. The service at Will was the only slight blemish on our evening.. We dined on a busy night, so it's perfectly understandable that there would be a level of hustle. Unfortunately, our waitress rattled through intros without taking a breathe, barely paused to let us ask questions, was incomprehensible during presentation of the dishes, asked us about the food before we could take a bite, and forgot an entire course. We should have been allowed to savor not only food this good but the entire experience. We lost out on some of the latter. I'll go back again for sure. This time it will be a sleepy weeknight.

    (4)

  • Jessica S.

    Pretty fantastic food in a neighborhood not short on fantastic food. The restaurant probably has like, 30 seats max. And there is nowhere to wait, so try not to go early for your reservation, especially if it's freezing outside. I did not have this problem, however I feel like it could make some people chilly. Needless to say, super cozy, but not ridiculously close tables. The service was very prompt, casual and helpful-we were both opting for pescetarian dishes and got great recommendations. Honestly, the menu is very short, about 5 options for small places, 5 options for mains, and 1 or 2 specials. I liked my dishes but wasn't blown away by them. The escargot dish didn't have enough actual snail. Maybe 3 total. In the world of upscale BYOBs in Philadelphia, I would probably pick somewhere else to return to before returning to Will. Don't get me wrong, this food was excellent, but honestly this review stems from the level of competition out there.

    (3)

  • Sara N.

    Great find! A modern take on french flavors. Every dish was flavorful and complex and the presentation was very appeasing. The menu changes seasonally and its a byob!! All senses were satisfied here, I especially liked the atmosphere, which was very relaxed. Music was low enough and relaxing but enhanced the dinning experience. Friendly and knowledgeable staff without being overly catering. Hitting all the notes isn't always easy but this place didn't miss a beat. We'll definitely be back.

    (5)

  • Cameron P.

    Not sure if 3.5 or 4 stars is more appropriate. This is a very small restaurant in a converted row home. It is a BYO so make sure to bring wine. The staff was knowledgeable and attentive but a little pretentious. We have had the Wagyu beef, steelhead trout, Bergundy snails, and skate wing. The flavored are rich and intense. The portions are small. I like the concept but feel it is slightly overpriced for the amount you get and the atmosphere may be a little stuffy for some. Definitely a good date night spot.

    (4)

  • Mandy L.

    Everything was amazing from service to food. Our server recommended the tasting menu in which the chef picks food from the menu. We chose that and I am very happy we did. First we had the lobster bisque amazing and decadent. Then the snails which were great too. We had a mushroom dish which of course was amazing. For entree we had the beef which was cooked to perfection. For dessert we had three different dishes which were all equally tasty on their own right. I would highly recommend this place to anyone. Amazing food, great service and cozy and quaint atmosphere.

    (5)

  • H. I.

    Charming, cozy, TINY modern french BYOB. Best to make a reservation. This isn't the place to come if you're starving and ready to attack a buffet. This IS the place to come to appreciate Chef Christopher Kearse's incredible, delicate and imaginative presentation of ingredients and flavors. The E. Passyunk restaurant week menu was delicious. It was my first time eating at Will and I hope to be back soon. The inside is decorated simply with high bookshelves on one wall with items you'd find in a chic french cottage. Service is on point: prompt, courteous and enhancing the meal and experience. They also let us linger long after our meal was over. Great experience!

    (5)

  • Lauren C.

    Everything from the chef's tasting menu was delicious. I can't wait to go back. I recommend Will to everyone.

    (5)

  • Meg S.

    I came here for Passyunk Restaurant Week a few weeks back and was really disappointed. It literally was one of those "nothing to write home about" situations (hence not reviewing immediately, as I usually do...). The vibe is much more casual than I anticipated from the reviews-a young crowd for sure. The service was able to talk me through my options for my dairy allergy (which I appreciate) but the waitress was a bit over the top in explaining how I "should have called before" to mention it. I understand I probably should have but this restaurant literally has about 30 chairs tops. I've gone to places across the price spectrum and it's sad when I feel like a food-truck owner can handle explaining his menu better. The food had extremely small portions (I ended up eating more food once I got home) and nothing was fantastic. All of it was completely fine; at these prices, I should feel a bit more than nonchalance at dinner.

    (2)

  • Liza X.

    What a wonderful little restaurant! I went here for Valentines day. Be aware that you must make reservations to eat here, it's high suggested because its very small. We had the 8pm reservation by luck because we put our names down in case anyone would cancel. Sure enough someone did! My date and I arrived about 5 minutes late because parking was not the easiest and it was cold and snowy. The hostess was very nice and professional about our lateness. On Vday they do a pre fixed menu of four courses...Soup, a choice of waygu tartar or lobster ravioli. Then a choice of mahi mahi or duck. Then a choice of coffee cake or Guinness cake with bacon ice cream. My date and I ordered the opposite of each others so we could try everything. The soup was a celery root base cream soup with pear foam, sunflower seeds..it was incredible. The next the tartar was topped with a quail egg and scallions..and homemade chips to go along with it. The ravioli was two large pieces stuffed with lobster and topped with mushrooms. Slightly to salty for my pallet, but i enjoyed it never the less. After they served two types of sorbets to cleanse our pallets. The fish was topped with sweet mussels. The mussels were bland and the fish was again too salty but it was cooked to perfection. Still can't complain! The duck was fatty and crispy almost like peking duck that has not been cooked all the time through. The desserts were not your typical ideas of cakes. The coffee cake was dry but the crumble sat on top of the cake with a scoop of vanilla ice cream. The Guiness cake which i liked more then mine, was sweeter. I could of lived without the desserts though. At the end the waitress gave us both a baggie with two Madeline cookies. I sat there trying to finish my wine...Try Teliani Valley Kindzmarauli 2012 from the Country of Georgia, I bought mine at whole foods for 15, it's a sweet red. super tasty and easy to drink...but the hostess kindly told us we had a party waiting for our table, we asked for a picture and she took one in a rush and we got up and left. Aside from the busy vday craze...It was a great place..I will definitely be coming back! :)

    (4)

  • Ray S.

    Went for the champagne tasting menue this evening. Very pleased with the service. The courses were elegant and flavours complimented each other. The only course I disagreed with was the dessert. Too tart and not balanced enough to finish the perfect courses leading up. The cheese course was amazing with a flax seed tuile, and the octopus starter was perfectly glazed and tender. Would definitely come back for more. 5 out of 5 for this small byo.

    (5)

  • Jonny R.

    Brilliant spot. This strip on Passyunk Avenue is getting legendary. It's a small, boutique-y bistro that is serious about its food. Emily was a great server and friendly too--iced our beers (eight-year-old Interlude, five-year-old Rodenbach Grand Cru). An small plate, a large plate, and a dessert is more than enough food, but we snuck in another one too. Snails, octopus, hen of the woods mushroom. Venison (special) and 48-hour prime rib for the entrees. Delicious all around. One of the best BYOs in town.

    (5)

  • J. Christopher E.

    A friend was visiting town and so I decided to give this place a try. Fantastic place, fantastic staff, and fantastic food. I was blown away by everything. Their menu changes with the seasons and I'm hoping to go back to try the Fall menu. Also, very funny - the background music was Jens Lekman. I love Jens Lekman - I hope they keep this background music.

    (4)

  • Mark M.

    This is THE most exciting and a genuinely "great food" place located in Philly. I actually made a reservation here because one of my foodie friends kept raving about this place. So, I decided to try it out for a big day event and let me tell you that none of us were disappointed! First of all, it's spot on as a French-bistro/amazing-ness/fusion styled food restaurant. I started with a great burgundy escargot app. To say it was great was an understatement. My other friends order the pork belly and the scallop app; both were really really light and a great starter dish. As for entrees, I pretty much only eat fish so I ordered the Dourade. It was light, flaky and not overly oily or dry. That's a BIG plus because Dourade is super finicky and is a hard fish to get right (that's why you don't see it a great deal on lower-level restaurant menus). My other friends ordered the Poulard (super moist chicken and really juicy), the sirloin (prepared perfectly to order) and the salmon (requested to be medium to medium-rare per the chef and DIVINE). The desserts were absolutely awesome and because it was a BDay meal the whole menu was customized for my partner's meal. I am SO impressed with this restaurant and will be again ASAP. Check it out and enjoy. I'm so proud to live in Philly when I can visit places like this!

    (5)

  • Serena S.

    I wanted to try Will ever since reading about Chef Kearse in City Paper 2 years ago. I had a reconstructive jaw operation when I was 16 and it was traumatic, emotionally challenging, and one of the worst times in my life. But I only had 1 operation. Chef Kearse has had over 20. He could have given up on himself, his family, his life but instead he funneled his energy and passion into the culinary arts. His dedication to his craft is exceptional. Who are these reviewers who complain about portion sizes? Are they used to Olive Garden where a plate of food could serve a small family in Uzbekistan? Will's portion sizes were perfect. I had room for dessert, which was delicious. I ordered the banana salted caramel pot de creme. The appetizer, a shiitake mushroom dish with many other ingredients was love at first bite. I knew I was in for an amazing meal/dining experience. I had the lavender spiced duck, which was also incredible, possibly the best duck I've ever had. All the dishes were beautifully presented and I could taste the attention to detail. Service was excellent. Everything ran smoothly. Even on a busy Saturday night, I never felt like we waited too long for anything. I asked if I could meet the chef, something I rarely if ever do when dining out. Chef Kearse is warm, really nice and completely unpretentious. Looks like I have a new favorite restaurant in Philly.

    (5)

  • Sharon J.

    We ate there last night and had the Sunday prix fixe menu. It was fantastic. Service was spot on but the best part was the food. Each dish had a blend of unusual and delicious flavors that worked so well together. The smoked trout, as a first course, was presented on a toasted piece of house-made pumpernickle bread that really complemented the fish. The second course, that I chose, of poularde with bacon marmalade was so good, we asked for more bread to soak up all the wonderful sauce. Our friends had the duck breast with mushrooms and snails. I always thought I didn't like snails. My taste of that dish definitely changed my mind. Guess they need to be cooked well, as this chef can. They were outstanding. You have to try this restaurant! You will be in heaven.

    (5)

  • Kristin H.

    The dinner I had at Will last night was one of the best I've ever had the pleasure of consuming. You know it's good when all you and your dining partner can talk about is the food in front of you! The whole experience here was excellent. For appetizers, my dude and I ordered the Chilled Jersey Corn Bisque and the Spanish Rock Octopus (for all the courses, we would try each other's dishes and switch). The Corn Bisque was my pick, so it was the first thing I tasted...I think we quickly realized at that point how great the rest of the meal was going to be! What I loved most about the Corn Bisque was the silky texture of the bisque itself; if they ran out of the scallop boudin, black garlic or corn shoots, this was wonderful in itself! Everything above complimented this and themselves all together. Dragging my spoon through the black garlic and then picking up other ingredients within the bowl really took the flavor to a special place. The Octopus was also quite good. Sometimes, I can feel a little grossed out by all the little legs, but it was prepared so well, I didn't even give them a second thought! The method in which the octopus itself was cooked gave it a wonderful flavor. The thing I enjoyed about it the most was the green sauce that I believe was the "green tomato" part. I was beginning to notice the theme of a little extra something-somethin' flavor on the side of the dishes at this point. So many opportunities for flavor for one fork! The main course for us was the Brook Trout and the Red Drum. Although tempted by two very amazing-sounding vegetarian options, it is difficult for me to pass up an opportunity to try fish when it sounds like it's going to be delightful: it was! My first time trying a red drum fish was a hit! Upon hitting my fork and knife, the fish fell apart in a wonderful way. The vegetables were young, fresh, and I loved the way the squash mingled with the sauce provençale, which was rich in a not-super overwhelming way. The Brook Trout was amazing. I love that they are extending fava beans into late summer! My favorite part of this dish is something I decided would be called "flavor bombs": arranged over top of the trout among the beans, pine nuts, and tomato confit was something that looked like half of a thin bean membrane with a tasty chilled creme substance injected into it. Make sure to have a piece of fish on your fork when you encounter this, woo! So good. At this point in our dinner, the nice couple seated next to us chatted us up about what we ordered and how much they enjoyed their meals. We learned that they had selected the exact same dishes as we did, swap the Bisque for the Heirloom Tomato Salad (which is what I almost ordered). We raved on with them for a few minutes. Although dude and I are not big "desert people", they said that it was not to be missed. So, we went with the Lemon-Olive Oil Financier and the Pot de Crème, the Pot de Crème being so well liked here on yelp that I definitely made sure that this was something we tried. Hello! That is a wonderful little desert. It wasn't overly sweet, which I like, and every component of banana, salted rum caramel, and walnut had an equal presence in the combination. It was the Lemon-Olive Oil Financier that did it for me -- I may be a little biased because I am always trying to get lavender to work in food, and the folks at Will are doing it really well here. The whole process of having it served and consuming it was even engaging. One minute, our server was talking about it and placing it on the table, and the next, the big dollop of lavender-infused creme sitting atop of the financier had deflated and distributed itself within the other parts of the desert (I had to ask our server about how the lavender had been integrated into the dollop. He said it had something to do with liquid nitrogen? Don't quote me on this, it was a very interesting and complex answer and I had just split a bottle of wine). The cake itself was amazing, as was the cheese-like stuff next to it, as was the corn ice cream, as was the blueberry compote-type stuff. I wish that I could talk about this one more, but between the two of us, it was not on my plate for very long. It was the best desert I've ever had! I will certain return for this and update this portion in a more articulate way. Everything else: the service was super professional. The decor is minimal, which is actually kind of nice for a smaller space like that. That said, I felt like I had enough personal bubble to myself. And we left feeling insanely full. Whoever complains about the small portions here must have two stomaches. Because we also had delicious bread with arugula butter and the yummy complimentary cookies did us in at the end (we went home to digest and couldn't even watch Bob's Burgers on Netflix). Congratulations to my new favorite restaurant in Philly on their one year anniversary! BRB ASAP OK?

    (5)

  • Jason H.

    I tried Will BYOB for the first time yesterday with my girlfriend. It's a very small place with maybe 10 tables and 30 seats or so. The room is cozy, but nothing too exceptional. The entire place seems very clean, especially the bathroom, which is always a good sign that the parts of the restaurant you can't see are also as clean. Our server was very pleasant, and very knowledgeable about the menu, the ingredients, and the Philly restaurant scene in general. She really made the night flawless, and was both accommodating and unobtrusive. As someone that really enjoys the avant garde food scene, the unusual ingredients and preparations were really a treat. I wouldn't go so far as to call this "molecular gastronomy" type of cooking, but Chef Kearse has worked or staged at Tru, Alinea, WD-50, and Lacroix, all exceptional establishments with forward-thinking menus, and Will does not disappoint in this respect. Every dish we had was artfully prepared and delicious. The portions aren't huge, and my date and I each had one appetizer and one entree, and also shared another appetizer as well. We did not have dessert, and left feeling satisfied but not overly indulged. I anticipate a return visit to Will in the very near future; definitely worth a try if you haven't gone.

    (5)

  • Kristine D.

    My husband and I have been eager to try Will for months. So when it was time for my husband to find a restaurant for my birthday, there was only one place we both wanted to go to. He was able to call and get a reservation very easily and let them know it was my birthday.When we arrived, we were greeted by first names and sat at a table near the window overlooking Passyunk Avenue. Our server, Eric, was attentive, personable and obviously loved his job. He was very good and explaining the menu then talking us through the courses. The food is french inspired and the serving size hits the spot. Each course (4 courses) varies completely from the last and there was no overlap in ingredients, presentation or style. Each course was it's own unique adventure. I am pretty sure the menu varies depending on the season, so you may want to call ahead or check the website for the current menu. Highlights of my meal were the Corn and Quinoa soup. It was a cold soup with cooked three times quinoa that was drizzled with sugar (it was crunchy and sweet and delicious), with lobster. The lobster is plated in the soup bowl, so its really lovely looking, then they pour the cold broth over it. Absolutely amazing. My Duck was cooked perfectly, as was my husbands beef. We tried both the deserts, the olive oil cake and the mango custard, but the mango custard stood out to me more. I also cannot forget to mention the saffron butter with bread, and the first appetizer of beets. I forget what cheese was served with the beets, but combined, they made an excellent starter. Since it was my birthday, the owner sent out a special appetizer of foie gras. It was mixed with rabbit meat and served with bread and a pesto sauce, I believe. They also put a special Happy Birthday message on the menu for us! This was absolutely the most personal and special experience we have ever had a restaurant and it seems like Will shoots for that. Every other person that walked in the door was greeted like they were regulars (maybe they were, maybe it was their first time as well!). I feel like Will holds their reputation within the community to a different standard than most of the other places on Passyunk Avenue. This is a place for the locals, and a place visitors should come to to experience the true beauty of living in Passyunk Square.

    (5)

  • Jonny J.

    I had the most amazing experience with Will BYOB. I made a Friday reservation for 7 pm and told the hostess that I was going to ask my girlfriend to marry me that night before our arrival. So she said that she would print congratulations on the top of the menu with both of our names. On the day of the proposal things didn't exactly go as planned, timeline wise, and there was no avoiding being late for our reservation. I called 2 hours before our reservation and told them of the issue and they assured me that the table would be ready for us no matter what time we arrived! For such a small restaurant to say this is proof of their dedication to customer service (and all around amazingness)! Upon our arrival (around 8 pm) we were immediately seated and treated like kings the entire time we were there. Our appetizers, main course, and dessert were all mind blowing. We were given a complimentary oyster appetizer, which are now the best oysters I've ever had. We were also given a complimentary sorbet, which was delicious as well. If I were to go over each dish individually this review would be monstrous, all plates presented beautifully and tasted (as already said) amazing. The atmosphere is very intimate, I think there are only like 7-10 tables (various sizes) in the entire place. I thought the noise level was fine and had no problems carrying on a conversation with my fiance. All around a fantastic place especially for celebrating a special event. I will be returning in the future, maybe for our first anniversary!

    (5)

  • Michele R.

    Everything was delish Smoked mushroom app awesome needed just a bit more ricotta Kimachi app wonderful Short rib great Entire restaurant staff was attentive and nice Dessert had the cheese loved it

    (5)

  • Walter K.

    Will BYOB is a gem, it's one of the best places that I've been in a while. No surprise that they won best new restaurant shortly after opening. The space is small; I believe this is best enjoyed with two people who are willing to share bites from each plate. I'm not going to endorse any particular dish because the small and ever changing menu allows for every single option to be superb. The service is perfect, attentive without being pushy. The food is delightful. I'm already looking for another reason to visit. To top it off, the prices are excellent compared to the quality. Bottom Line: Affordable and excellent fine dining.

    (5)

  • Kathleen K.

    Ya know when you have high expectations for a place and they're so high that you start to lower them? And then you don't even really want to try it because now you just assume you'll be disappointed? I do it all the time... and I did it with Will, which was a mistake What a fantastic experience. A wonderful cozy little BYOB with very nice and professional service. Not to mention the food! So fantastic. My only complaint is that there was only one vegetarian option. The menu was small so I can't really fault them for that, though. It was a bit pricy, so we will probably only be back on special occasions or when we're feelin fancy

    (5)

  • Ann G.

    I'm always afraid when I eat in a place like this that the food will be all fluff and no substance, but happily this was not the case! Good: --$45 prix fixe Sunday menu which does mostly give you a choice between 2 items (and a few more with a supplement --BYOB (I'm not from Philly, so this is fun for me) --the service: excellent really. patient with lots of questions and friendly and efficient and couldn't ask for more --taking into account a food "aversion" (not an allergy, but a strong hate) --THE FOOD. all of it was delicious, particularly our olive cake dessert with poached figs and the duck with fennel and (surprise!) the sweetbreads (which can so easily be a texture disaster --comfortable seating and nice ambiance Bad: --nothing, really. perhaps just a touch too loud Regret not being local or else I would make this a Sunday night regular thing.

    (5)

  • Matthew H.

    This is the second time that we have been to Will and it was even better than the first time. We arrived a few minutes before our reservation and they sat us immediately. The service was attentive but not overly so and the food was extremely good as usual. The highlights were the Kampachi crudo for a 1st course and then the Halibut for the entrée. The chocolate bouchon cake was also pretty tasty as well. We brought a few bottles of wine and some scotch and as usual the staff at Will was very accommodating with this. We will definitely be visiting Will again soon. I have been reading some of the other reviews on here and it sounds like most people don't have gripes about the food but about the portions. The portions are consistent with a fine dining restaurant that is French inspired. I would say that if you want big heaping portions you should head to one of the many Italian restaurants in the area. And yes if you have a major food allergy you should tell the staff prior to you arriving. If you want a fantastic meal with a chef that has received numerous accolades and worked at one of the premiere restaurants in the country (French Laundry) then this is the place for you.

    (5)

  • Liz V.

    Food was amazing and expertly crafted. There seemed to be a theme of radishes that carried through the dishes. The presentation was some of the best I've ever seen. We ordered the whole roasted hen of the woods mushroom and beet cured salmon as starters. Both were excellent and the crispy chicken skin with the salmon was delish. We shared the gnocchi and it was much larger than expected (size of the gnocchi that is) and I loved the tomato butter sauce. For entrees we had the culotte de boeuf and the duck breast. The skin was perfectly crispy on the duck and the steak was cooked to perfection. The service was excellent but on the edge of annoying. It was nice to sit outside. Would love to try there Sunday prix fixe or Tuesday tasting menu.

    (5)

  • Jessica W.

    I'm going to keep this brief, because the food speaks for itself. Currently, Will is the best restaurant in Philly. And I don't say that lightly. We've been to Will a number of times since they open and we have never been disappointed. The staff is professional, the space is cozy, and the food...is incredible. Their menu changes seasonally, but you can always count on a to-die-for foie gras and perfectly cooked fish (the chef's specialty). And to top it all off, it's BYO. I mean, what could be better?? Given all the press, reservations are hard to come by (especially on weekends), but trust me--it's worth the wait.

    (5)

  • Erin F.

    We wanted to try Will for a long time and finally got in for their $45 Sun night four courses. We walked in and were the only people there so we had our choice of tables. I noticed right away that they were playing alternative music that really fit the mood of the restaurant: cool, trendy, fun, yet calm. From Snow Patrol to Death Cab to Coldplay, we really enjoyed the playlist. On to the food.... Each course was artfully prepared and DELICIOUS! It started with the chestnut + parsnip soup. We usually order different things so that we try everything on the menu but two dishes really stood out for us and they were awesome. Both of us ordered the gnocchi because the description sold us from the start. Homemade, perfectly cooked gnocchi in a light and tasty sauce with brussel sprouts. I want to say that they were lightly crispy. Next we had the cobia and clams. The cobia was probably the best piece of fish I have ever eaten in my life. And I am really picky about fish. It was AMAZING. Desserts were also great. We tried both. One was a banana pudding type thing with salted caramel. Excellent. And the other was a plate with a bunch of different things like chocolate ganache and sorbet. I will definitely recommend Will to anyone who is looking for an excellent meal in a relaxed yet upscale setting. To top it off the service was excellent. We will be back!!!

    (5)

  • Abie G.

    I've been at Will BYOB 3 times already and never got disappointed!! Every time we go there we order the whole menu (almost) and enjoy every bit of it!

    (5)

  • Lilli C.

    The food was so beautiful I almost didn't want to eat it. , but when I did, it tasted as good as it looked. I was a bit skeptical about the red snapper crudo with passion fruit , but it was amazing. The passion fruit was subtle and offered the snapper a bit of brightness. The suckling pork shoulder was so tender it just melted in your mouth and the pot de creme was decadent and delicious with salted caramel and buttery walnut crumbles (it was quite a big portion and big enough to share, but it was so delicious I ate it all). The interior was very small but cozy and cute. The service was really friendly and they take credit cards which is usually unusual for a BYO. I will definitely be back again. This is probably my new favorite BYO in the city.

    (5)

  • Kim S.

    Meh. So I was really psyched to come here but postponed it until their local restaurant week- you know how some restaurants try to show off to impress new customers? This wasn't the case. Skimpy serving portions, not enough seasoning and pretentious. Tiny space too. Again not a terrible meal but this place isn't worth the hype. I was really underwhelmed and won't be returning. Btw I had to get nachos down at the cantina afterwards to get a fulfilling meal.

    (3)

  • Adam F.

    Top notch fine dining. Quintessential South Philly BYOB with Modern French / American fare. Do the tasting menu if you can --- corn soup, escargot, beef dish (awesome). Bring a bottle of fancy wine and enjoy a great meal.

    (5)

  • Chad B.

    Wanted to love it more. Nothing wrong (besides the duck) but nothing stuck out either. Space is intimate. Service was solid. Food is presented beautifully.....stunning really. Just wish the flavors matched. Best dish of the night was the chestnut soup...very tasty but we had some very very very very chewy duck. Fish and beef entrees were solid...but unspectacular. Not sure we will rush back. Good meal. Not great. Nothing to make us hurry back.

    (3)

  • Lew H.

    Our reservation was late because the previous patrons were slow to leave, I know why. I had the duck, which was some of the best prepared fowl I've had. The service was exceptional and the prices reasonable for the quality of food they presented you. We are just visiting Philly, but this restaurant will be on the list again.

    (5)

  • Brian M.

    First, my typical disclaimer before these types of reviews: I did not grow up eating in fancy restaurants. I do not know classic French preparation techniques, what the requirements are for a Michelin star, and didn't even know what foie gras was this time two years ago. So, I'm pretty much just like you. Will is an interesting place. As I think I've said for other spots on Passyunk it's well suited for the neighborhood. I'll explain. Service. Everywhere on Passyunk seems to have great service, and Will follows suit. I think I overheard one waitress explaining an affiliation with Stateside, so perhaps it's the same group of completely pleasant, slightly edgy women that rotate around down there. Food. High-end yet approachable. Had the foie gras torchon, read about the preparation pre-meal and was given something a bit unexpected. Essentially a 3/4 inch thick tube of foie (I understand with additional salts, sugar) offset by delicately prepared flavors of beet, almond, etc. Twas good, but foie gras is good and can't say this did anything to improve/enhance that experience. Get the hen of the woods mushroom as my lovely girlfriend did. Awesome. Entrees were pork shoulder for me, a beef tenderloin on special for my girlfriend. Pork should was excellent, truly enjoyed it (the type of dish where you eat slow, savor every bite) but didn't blow me away for some reason looking back a few days afterward. Worth ordering but not something I'd say is holy crap the absolute best I have ever had anywhere type of thing. Again, girlfriend made the better decision with the tenderloin. No knife (or teeth) require to break this one down. Very, very well prepared. Oh, dessert. Pot de Creme. Almost forgot about it. Yeah. I say Will is approachable because of the overall feel, and price. Total bill was around $100 which is not bad at all for this type of preparation. Granted it's BYO, and if I paid another $50+ for a bottle of wine in house I may have had a different feeling about my experience here the BYO policy is huge, will allow Will to be more accessible to more people which is great, obviously. Give it a try. I don't see anyone walking away disappointed, or truly blown away either for that matter.

    (4)

  • Kai C.

    This cute little restaurant is located on an equally cute row of restaurants on East Passayunk in South Philly. I ate dinner here with a couple of friends and we shared a couple of appetizers: the kampachi crudo and roasted hen of the woods mushrooms. Both were delicious - the yuzu sauce served with the kampachi crudo reminded me of some vietnamese food flavors and the hen of the woods was nicely seasoned and roasted. I ordered the milk fed poulet. I was not as big as a fan of the entree dish as it was chicken parts served four ways: chicken liver, crispy thigh, chicken breast and chicken sausage. My other two friends ordered the pork belly and the fluke entrees and seemed pretty happy with their food. The pricing of the food is on the higher end with apps in the mid-teens and entrees in the mid-twenties pricing range, but the restaurant is BYOB, so you still save on the wine if you choose to bring it.

    (4)

  • Devy S.

    I stumbled upon Will BYOB from the fact that I've passed through this little dainty restaurant at East Passyunk and decided to go on a Sunday evening with my gf. Will has fixed tasting menu every Sundays and ala carte on the rest of the days. Overall, we had really fantastic experience dining at Will. The nuances were romantic and fitting dim lighting, service was attentive but not overbearing. Good space between the tables. Okay, here is the most important part : foods were awesome. We had the entire tasting menu with additional rabbit terrine+ foei gras with pistachio tuile/blood orange. It was worth the money. Appetizer : Sweet Potato+ Apple Potage - Banyuls | Pecans & Pumpernickel | Asian Pears --amazing!! I should say this was my favorite part. White Miso Cavatelli - Black Olive| Mussels | Piperade - really enjoyed the piperade with enough hints of the mussels. Duck Confit Royale - Lentils Du Puy | Potato Mousseline | Alliums -- A little too heavy but great taste. Entree : Rhode Island Skate Wing with Fennel Moutarde | Yuzu | Chickpea Panisse --beautifully well balanced entree, pretty dish too! 72 Hour Beef Rib Steak with Parsnip Creme | Glazed Salsify | Pumpkin -- very soft and tender, nicely cooked to rare medium - servers didn't ask our preferences but it worked just fine for us. Dessert : Almond Financier with Pineapple | Black Sesame Buttercream | Roasted Banana -- Not too sweet! which suits me, love the dessert especially the black sesame buttercream. Bergamot Creme Brulee with Szechuan Biscuit -- the creme brulee has very lemony taste. I didn't care that much for the szechuan biscuit. Overall , I feel as if the tasting menu were built based on Light vs. Heavy! I'd definitely come back to Will BYOB without any doubt.

    (5)

  • Katherine A.

    We went back for a second time this weekend and love this place. Hands down one of the best in Philly. Awesome food; get the hen of the woods mushroom..... And great service. They actually called me 15minutes before our reservation to let me know not to rush as our table wasn't going to be ready right on time. Cannot wait to go back!

    (5)

  • BostonBestEats X.

    This is part 1 of a 2-part review of opening night, 24 August 2012, at the highly anticipated Will BYOB. Part 2 is appended below (click link). The consensus is that Christopher Kearse is a chef of enormous potential. He's worked at many of the finest restaurants in the world (The French Laundry, Charlie Trotter's, Tru, Alinea), and some of Philly's best (Lacroix, Blackfish, Pumpkin, the latter most recently). He also has a very inspirational story about how discovering cooking helped him overcome a tragic event in his life (must read): citypaper.net/food/chef-… And now he faces a new challenge, opening his very first restaurant, appropriately named "Will" (also his middle name). Thanks to a fortuitous exchange on Twitter, we were able to book a table for 4 (D, A, C, me) a few weeks before bookings opened to the public, and last night was finally the night to see what Chef Chris had been working on. On schedule I might add (a rarity for a restaurant opening!). I rarely go to restaurant openings, the last was Le Bec Fin 2.0, preferring to let things settle down, but you almost wouldn't know that this was opening night by how smoothly things went. By our 7PM reservation, the restaurant was largely full, and within an hour it was packed, including the few small tables on the sidewalk out front. [Now, I won't say there were not a few small hiccups in service and food, but given the nature of an opening night, and a sold out one at that, I prefer to ignore these for the moment. It is also an energetic and tiny space (about the size of Bibou, but it feels even smaller), and I worry about what the noise level will be on a busy winter night when the windows can't be opened.] Will is a perfect example of what Philly does better than any other city in the world: a small, casual, "it's all about the food" BYOB. Just down the block from Le Virtu (of the patio with a big mural fame), Will has 30 seats inside, and large windows swinging open onto East Passyunk Ave (EPX), which has become the hottest restaurant row in the city. Charmingly appointed with flowers and a few tables out front, and clean, simple minimalism inside (see photos), as I said, the focus is on the food the way I like it to be. From the short menu (5 apps, 5 entrées, 4 desserts, a tasting menu to start soon on Tuesdays and Prix Fix on Sundays), the 4 of us decided to share all 5 of the appetizers, and then individually order entrees and desserts (see photos). This was the perfect amount of food. Appetizers ($11-14, and big enough to be easily shared by 4 if you order several): 1) Pork belly, Purple Mustard, Turnip, Petit Leeks, Baby Lettuces - pork belly is always a great start to the meal, and this was a fine example, although it paled next to the following dish. 2) Sweet Corn Veloute, King Crab, Vadouvan, Shisito Pepper - everyone's favorite dish of the night, this was rich, velvety, and intensely flavorful ("I could eat this every day for every meal" was a comment heard from E & S at the next table, with whom we shared wines) [Amusingly, E & S had each independently made reservations for opening night...fortunately it turned out they both intended to invite each other! :-D ] 3) Summer Market Vegetables (Pickled, Raw, Cooked), Champagne Vinaigrette - beautiful to look at, the carrot puree was pure goodness, with a pumpernickel dirt to provide an interesting contrast 4) Barnegate Light Scallop, Wild Fennel, Almond, Heart of Palm, Uni Crème - perfectly cooked scallops, with the sum being even greater, lovely dish 5) Rabbit Rillette, Red Plum, Pistachio, Black Pepper Gastrique, Clover - Chef Chris is known for his plating technique, and that was certainly on display. This was probably our second favorite app. Entrées ($22-27): 6) Milk Fed Poulard, Greenmarket Bean Cassoulet, Goat Milk Gnudi, Cipollini Onion - This was my entrée. Julia Child and I agree a good chicken is something special, and this was a good chicken! Perfectly cooked, with wonderful Gnudi. One little quibble was the Cipollinis, seared on one side but otherwise almost raw (apparently intentionally, since E had the same), as wine-destroying as a mouthful of wasabi would have been. 7) Wagyu Sirloin, Potato Fondant, Ruby Carrots, Foie Gras, Red Wine Béarnaise - I didn't try this, but based on comments from the two who did, this may have been the entree of the evening. 8) Rhode Island Skate, Artichoke, Garlic Scapes, Manila Clam -flavorful with a nice sear on the outside, although I would prefer it to be less well done, a la Le Bernardin, but that is just a personal preference. This was a very good dish, although the artichokes had some tough leaves remaining on the outside. Click link below for Part 2 of my review (desserts, wines, service)...

    (5)

  • Don R.

    It seems playing gift card roulette can be rather difficult these days. So with Game of Thrones less than 4 hours from start time, we ventured over The Wall (or Washington really) down Passyunk Ave towards Will BYOB. And before I begin, let me first apologize to the gentleman exiting the establishment while we were walking in. It just so happens that not everybody sporting a tie on Sunday smiling is in the restaurant business, so again, my sincerest apology for that. Bring on the...Tasting Menu? Ok, sure why not. Apparently, whatever's easier for the chef these days. After some eye straining and flipping over my menu a few times like I normally do, I made my selections. Now the service was impeccable and that's about the only area that truly shines here. The waitstaff was pleasant, competent and not even the fact that I think my protein was Raven will take away from their abilities (note to all Phila wait staff poachers). So if you're ever in the mood to enjoy Tap or Pellegrino continuously without ordering fare, I highly recommend Will Bring your Own Dinner. And for those in Philadephia celebrating the minimal treasures of a radish slice placed ever so slightly against 2 slices of asparagus drowning in a small puddle of ....something.. You will feel right at home. And lastly before I go on a tangent, If you are leaving the gym on a quest to feast on small parts of a whole entire meal, this place might be for you. And again I get it. May not be my cup of drizzle but I get it. Now, after a hardy asparagus or two and having already memorized the entire menu which I originally thought was left behind at the printer...what was that? Honey? did my ears deceive me? Did I hear a waiter beside me just serve his table Lapin with Fois Gras? I can barely pronounce it but I've had it and know it's good and between that and a radish shedding, I'll take the rabbit. Then it hit me. So wait, I'm maneuvering a cold half dollar sized portion of bœuf like a Wildling north of The Wall and another table is enjoying the spoils of Casterly Rock? I'd rather be thrown out a castle tower head first. Keeping my calm and my proverbial sword in it's sheath, I summoned this waiter to my table for a moment of clarity. Good sir, Is it possible that there were other choices besides my wife's plate of tuna that would make the cat in those fancy feast commercials walk away in a cloud of indifference? Now I know there are many chefs who enjoy cooking for their friends and their families and like to put on a "little portion" show but here's a little piece of advice. Make sure your second restaurant isn't the size of a shoe box where other tables can't hear what they're missing. We promptly left before dessert, dodged the offer of another gift card/bullet and without making a scene. Nice gesture, but I wouldn't wish this place on a Lannister. Staff was great though. Wave through the window.

    (1)

  • Kristin C.

    Small place, small menu but everything was excellent. BYO! We got the snails and mushrooms as an appetizer. Both lovely. For main course I got the scallop and my guest got the short rib. I don't eat red meat so I can't speak for his dish but he practically licked it clean. My scallop dish was small but it was perfectly cooked and delicious. I enjoyed the decor inside and the clean bathroom. Our server was very friendly. As mentioned, it's small inside so as long as you don't mind being close to your neighbor it's worth going here. He dessert cookies are complimentary. I didn't care for them. Ill definitely be back! Thank you!

    (5)

  • Matthew Z.

    In reading the other reviews, I'm wondering what restaurant they went to. I'll start by saying the staff was unobtrusive but attentive. All were pleasant and there was no sense of being rushed. Unfortunately, that's about the best I can say for Will BYOB, other than a friend's comment about how clean the restroom was. The restaurant is very small and crowded when the 8 or so tables are occupied. It was very loud when full. So loud I could barely hear the person sitting next to me. I assume it was the same for everyone else as the volume level just continued to escalate as people would talk louder so they could be heard. One of my dining companions joked after dinner saying be sure to tell people to eat before you come here or make two reservations so you can go and get some food after you eat here. Right on - it was no joke. I have never been served such meager portions. My friend went for the foie gras appetizer and you could see her disappointment after the first bite. She said it was bland and was no comparison to what she was used to having in France on a recent vacation. My other friend and I each ordered the vegetable plate appetizer. I asked what it included before ordering and it sounded like a varied and interesting selection. It was varied - unrecognizable as any vegetables we knew or thought would be on the plate. The various seasonings and puree tasted somewhere between awful and just weird. I suspect I had the best entree. It was the scallops. Some unusual spices but they were perfectly cooked. Tender and fresh. Another entree at the table was what was described as a 1 pound lobster (although just the tail). I know the size of a one pound lobster and unless it was top heavy, a good portion of the tail didn't make it to the plate. At $39 or so you'd think it might be something other than a small cookie sized piece of lobster on a plate with some greens. The other entree was the beef short ribs. I was told it was good, but it sounded more like one of those polite "oh it's good" comments. She left half on her plate and looked none too interested in taking it home. By this time joking about the unidentifiable food, small portions, and "unusual" spices became our way of making the best out of the situation. It was time for dessert. I declined since I'd had enough surprise ingredients for the evening, but the others put their orders in. One was the pot de creme. I tasted it and was disappointed but not surprised. The top layer was something that reminded me of aspic, but one of my friends identified the gel as banana. It had an undertone of some spice I didn't recognize and didn't like. The second dessert was goat cheese cheesecake (? - if not cheesecake it was goat cheese something). It looked like the foie gras (seriously, they could have been twins) and had various accompaniments that had us all guessing as to what they were. It is the wait staff that saved the rating from being a 1 star. (sorry guys, if I was just rating you it'd be a 4 star!) Philadelphia has a tremendous amount of varied and excellent restaurants. Spend your money wisely and try them.

    (2)

  • Nicole H.

    Every month or so a group of my friends try to meet up to have dinner at a restaurant we haven't been to but have been dying to try (we call ourselves the 'Supper Club' but we're not nearly legitimate enough to warrant a name) - this month's pick was Will BYOB. Boy was it a good one! We've been to a lot of new, rave review type places and Will may have been the best meal yet. I split the Oyster appetizer with a friend and they were DELISH. I love love love oysters and usually am disappointed by them when I'm paying more than a dollar per (why on earth are these things $2.50 or more each at every restaurant everywhere? Too bad I love them so much I can't help ordering them), but these were well worth it. They had a great dollop of sauce - sorry, can't remember what it was but it was light green - that made the oysters flavor stand out in a fantastic way. For my main dish, I chose the Duck and was not disappointed. It wasn't fatty or chewy like some duck I've had, and was served with a medley of vegetables that were also super tasty. And the dessert (which I don't always order...not a huge dessert person myself) was also super tasty. I swear, I kept waiting to be let down by something they served, but everything was just so fantastic. I can't forget to also mention how great the service was. Our waiter Mario was funny, personable and very educated on the dishes. I love asking what dish a server recommends, and when they respond with a reason and explain the intricacies of the dish I am very impressed. Mario did just that and then some, with great recs and great overal service. Definitely hoping to get back to Will soon - and if you're considering trying it out...GO NOW!

    (5)

  • Jacob T.

    Will BYO is a delicious, French-inspired, tiny South Philly BYO--plain and simple. My girlfriend and I dinned with another couple last week and we're pleasantly surprised. The intimate space was modestly decorated, which is typically a good sign when visiting a BYO, as the food will likely speak for itself. My girlfriend and I shared a whole, roasted Hen of the Wood mushroom and Kona Kampachi Crudo for our apps--both excellent choices. Never before have I been presented with an entire Hen of the Wood and it did not disappoint. Earthy, tender, perfectly seasoned, the mushroom was a real treat. I enjoyed it so much so, that I forgot to share. This would have been a big no no, but when I looked over at my girlfriend, she was already thru with the crudo. No harm, no foul. For entrees we ordered the Rhode Island Skate and Culotte de BÅ“uf. The skate was a delight. Perfectly cooked, it had the texture of scallop, seared in a sweet, yet perfectly balanced artichoke and truffle pan sauce. The beef was also excellent, yet VERY small. Again, a perfect cook--on the rarer side of medium--in a tasty onion, marrow, and escargot demiglace. Thru and thru, everything was excellent. My only knock is that this place is PRICEY for such small portions. Our 4 dishes (2 apps and 2 entrees), with no booze, ran us over $120 with tax and tip. We left happy, yet hungry. How French...

    (4)

  • Anne D.

    We spent a lovely evening last night at WILL. I will be dreaming of eating the Chestnut & Parsnip soup I ate last night for at least a few weeks. The BYOB is small but not suffocating. It has a lovely ambiance and great music. The staff were very pleasant and attentive. We had a party of 5 so we experienced almost everything on the menu and everything was a winner. I still think I won with the above mentioned soup. I'll admit I was slightly put off by having to sign a contract to hold my reservation but I just had to do the same with a Vetri reservation recently so I guess this is becoming more common place. All in all, this is a great place to try. Perfect for a romantic date or a quaint group of friends.

    (5)

  • george k.

    Actually, this a 4.5 star review. We had dinner recently at Will. It was our 2nd time. At the first dinner, we felt that the dinner was "interesting" with all of the ingredients but did not find it delicious. Chef Kearse is very creative, always trying to match various flavors. At this dinner, everything clicked. The flavors were outstanding. My wife Karin had the roasted hen of the wood mushroom. The applewood smoked riccota was an excellent touch, offset by the madiera and various herbs. I had the foie gras and rabbit terrine with 2 figs, pecan pistou, apple, fennel and edible flowers. Rich and tasty. The pecan added a nutty touch of sweetness. Karin had the roasted garlic gnocchi parisian, with mushrooms, cauliflower and banyul emulsion. I had the skate wing, fresh and cooked to perfection. Add some chartreuse bullion, mushrooms, peppers and sunchokes. Everything tasted delicious, balanced with a variety of flavors. We did not order dessert but the dessert menu looked good. Our server Eric was professional, knowledgeable and very accommodating. Service was excellent. He asked if we wanted to meet Chef Kearse and we did. A wonderful dinner.

    (4)

  • Beth M.

    To add to the chorus, Will BYO is excellent. I had my first meal there this evening, and it did not disappoint. The food can be a little complicated with many complex ingredients, but I love that sort of thing so was very impressed. The service was excellent; my only suggestion is that the wait staff should remind you what you're eating when it's served so you can fully appreciate the artistry. I was very full after an entree for myself and splitting three apps with a friend. My entree (the poulard) was a significantly bigger portion than my friend's dourade, so not sure if she felt the same. Although some have critiqued the portion size for the price, I think you are getting what you pay for -- exquisite food and and normal-sized portions that allow you to try many things. You save buckets by BYOing, so spend the money where it counts: on the food. If you're looking for a gallon of gnocchi in cream sauce for $6.95, this is not the place for you. But if you're looking for some of the most inventive food in Philly that is not stuffy or gimmicky, Will BYO is a must-eat.

    (5)

  • Kristen M.

    Just came back from our meal, the food was incredible. Perfect French food, intimate atmosphere. Our group was having a lovely dining experience until the end when a member of the waitstaff, not our waiter, demanded our napkins off our laps and even went so far to grab my fathers from his lap. We sat stunned, looking at each other as we have never experienced such treatment. If we wanted the rude Parisian attitude, we would have gone to Paris. Please don't forget that you are a French restaurant in South Philly.

    (3)

  • Robert W.

    This is my first Yelp review and I would never go home and write a review about a restaurant, until now. My GF and I ate at Will over 2 months ago and I can't stop thinking about it. I think that warrants me sitting down and relaying my experience. We made a last minute reservation @ Will and were seated at the most romantic table in the room. The one by the window. We looked at the menu and couldn't decide what to get because it looked so fresh and exciting, too many choices. I went out on a limb and asked if we could try a tasting menu and after conferring with the chef our server affirmed that we could(how cool is that). We had 6 courses of pure genius. The flavors and combinations were ambitious and progressive, unlike anything I could've imagined. The plating was modern and fresh. The service was refined and friendly without being stuffy or intimidating. -Creme Fraiche Gelato (so creamy and fresh) -Rabbit/Fois Gras Terrine/Kumquats/Maple/Chichory Cracker (beautiful and so tasty) each successive course complimented the previous. The desserts were amazing as well. peanut butter powder (what?!?!) I can't wait to go back and dine again. Seriously. Amazing. -Went back for Easter dinner with the family. My pops said that it was in the top 3 meals he's ever had in his 70+ years of traveling and dining. Best meal I've ever had.(Period) I'm having a hard time eating @ other restaurants because nothing comes close to the atmosphere and cuisine found here.

    (5)

  • Kristin W.

    We had high expectations about Will, but had very mixed feelings about our evening. The restaurant is small and can be noisy with little room between tables. I started with the Sweet Potato and Apple Potage, which had a great flavor, but just a few pieces of lump crab. My entree was the Pork Shoulder, which came out as an unappetizingly perfectly rectangular slab with flavor that did not impress me. The special Truffled Mashed potatoes were fantastic and did not skimp on the truffle flavor. We tried the Pot de Creme for dessert, but found it to be quite heavy without being absolutely delicious.

    (3)

  • Terry M.

    My girlfriend and I had dinner here two weeks ago, and it was better than I had even anticipated. Let me preface this by saying any time I want to do something special with her, I start by doing some research, making sure where we're going is top notch... Through that I learned that the owner/chef has worked in some of the county's top restaurants (ie: The French Laundry), and he has brought every bit of knowledge with him here to Will. To start, she had the Kampachi Crudo, I had the Foie Gras Torchon. Both incredible. As good as the Foie Gras was, I could have eaten ten plates of the Kampachi. We followed those up with the Beef Short Rib and Milk-Fed Poulard, and they were both also great. Following the entrees, we were offered dessert, and not being a huge fan of sweets, I decided to go with the cheese plate. Again, delicious, and much more in substance than the name on the menu let on. All that said, my favorite part of it all was when I got up to use the rest room and got a peek into the kitchen... As I stood waiting, I looked in and saw the chef plating everything (literally) with a pair of tweezers. I've eaten in a lot of very good restaurants in my day, but seeing this was a first. The presentations were the best I've ever seen, the flavors were unsurpassed and the service was knowledgeable but not pretentious. This is a place I can't wait to get back to.

    (5)

  • Ovidiu M.

    After an excellent meal last November, we returned for a birthday dinner. We had a reservation for 7:45, but to make sure we are punctual we showed up a little early. I never imagined it would be more than an hour latter to be seated. A very exuberant hostess/waitress greeted us and asked us to wait outside while setting the table (I had a chance to see to empty small tables, next to each other, which I thought would be easy to combine). Alas, we were asked to wait just a bit, or maybe return soon, since the table that was assigned to us was finishing their entrees. We returned 20 minutes later and had to wait another 30 minutes outside, to be seated at 8:33, 48 minutes past our reservation. True, the staff was apologetic, but I would have expected a free appetizer, something comped, anything to show that they truly felt sorry for their poor planning. We had a few appetizers: the mushroom - excellent, soup - very good, a ceviche - nice. Based on recommendations, three of us chose the duck, and I must say, it was not that fine. It seemed a bit overcooked, and the manner of cooking was not traditional, but more like slow temperature, very uniformly applied, almost like steamed. Deserts were rather unspectacular, with my hazelnut chocolate cake dry (it felt old), more like crumbs spread on the plate with a bit of frozen yogurt on top. In short, it lost the edge, and considering the price, the very long wait with a reservation, and the number of excellent restaurants in the vicinity and all around Philly, we will not be back.

    (2)

  • Aaliyah P.

    Putting my experience into words took some time but i think i got it right. I had been wanting to go to WILL for months and a good friend and I finally made a lady date and ventured down to E-Pssynk a few weeks back for what i expected to be an unforgettable meal. We both had our feelings about the menu none of the app appealed to me and none of the entrees appealed to her so she ordered 2 apps and i ordered an entree. I decided on the gnocchi and was not overly impressed. The spring gnocchi was a laughable size for 24.00 and one the listed ingredients mushrooms lacked as well i think i counted 2 or 3. The texture was pretty spot on for the pasta and the presentation was beautiful but looks only get you so far. I did sample the mushroom app my friend ordered and was blown away it was amazing and had i known it would have been so good i would have ordered two of those. Dessert made up for this meal in big way. We split the cheese board and it was the perfect way to end the meal. after finishing our french press coffee the check came with two madeline cookies and warm regards, Service was spot on we never wanted for refills on water or our wine i will say that this place offers slower service so come prepared to be here a while. I may wait until the seasons change to re try Will for now sadly its 3 stars.

    (3)

  • Geronimo G.

    Pretty good spendy BYO, lovely staff, lovely location, would come back. A bit noisy. Appetizers are more expensive than entree prices would suggest. Of three dishes, one was superb (mushroom app), one was quite good (sea bream), one was good (tomato app), and one was not so good (rabbit foie gras terrine).

    (4)

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Map

Opening Hours

  • Tue
  • Mon :Closed

Specialities

  • Takes Reservations : Yes
    Delivery : No
    Take-out : No
    Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
    Good For : Dinner
    Parking : Street
    Bike Parking : Yes
    Good for Kids : No
    Good for Groups : No
    Attire : Casual
    Ambience : Romantic
    Noise Level : Average
    Alcohol : No
    Outdoor Seating : No
    Wi-Fi : No
    Has TV : No
    Waiter Service : Yes
    Caters : No

Will BYOB

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