Vernick Fish

We went there for our anniversary! The place was great, our server was really nice. The ceviche was really delicious, the fish was grilled to perfection, one of the best grilled fish we ever had. The desert was also really good. We loved this place and would definitely be back, recommend it highly, we were happy with everything.

A beautiful restaurant and ambiance. We sat at the counter which was a very cool experience to watch the food being prepared. But cons to that were hearing the staff bicker about wrong orders which was odd… also the kitchen is small and the food took a very long time to come out. And when the food came out it was burnt and tasted like burnt oil more than it did fish. The waiter was friendly and comped our drinks and the entree but it was a little disappointing to have the fish be so poorly done at Vernick “fish”. Probably won’t go back but the cocktails were good and the wait staff was friendly.

My fiancé and I had such a special experience for our anniversary dinner here. The food was delicious and the service was top notch - our server was so educated on the menu and was able to paint a detailed picture of all the flavors when we had questions about items on the menu. We also ate at the counter in front of the kitchen, and while some diners might not like these seats, it has become our favorite seats in every restaurant we go to. Watching the chefs prepare all the dishes makes for such a fun dining experience and conversation with whomever you’re dining with. So glad that we decided to come here for our anniversary!

Fantastic restaurant. Decor, service, food. Everything is impeccable. Wonderful raw bar selection with their own unique take on sauces. Appetizers and entrees were refined yet tasty. Steak was done to perfection. Highly recommend. I would definitely come back here to eat again.

Found this restaurant late on a Sunday night after many restaurants were closed at 9pm. It was an expensive find, but well worth it! We walked in without a reservation and we're given two choices. The bar or the Chef's Table. The bar looked very inviting but the hostess recommended the Chef's Table if we wanted a unique experience and didn't mind hearing the cooks chatter. It was an amazing experience for several reasons. First, we were the only customers at the Chef's Table. Second the chef gave us a comp Salmon Crudo that was delightful. Finally our server was extremely knowledgeable about the menu and recommended the Crudo special which was also amazing! I had the crispy jerk sea bream fish and my wife enjoyed her sea bass. I would highly recommend visiting this restaurant while in Center City Philly! The combination of the quality of the food, first class service, and funky atmosphere was truly an enjoyable dining experience! We will be back!

I often find fine dining restaurants overpriced and pretentious. This could not be further from the truth at Vernick Fish. Each dish was light, flavorful, and perfectly cooked. The highlights of our meal were the red snapper ceviche, and the sea bass. Service was truly exceptional. Our plates were cleared and tables wiped down after every course and our server was always attentive, bringing out food at the perfect time. I can confidently say, Vernick Fish is one of the few establishments worth the hefty price tag. pictured: red snapper ceviche, sardines on toast, sea bass, key lime pie

The reputation and price of Vernick Fish make it a place that really has to impress me in order to come back or leave a good review... but at the end of the day there is nowhere I've been with a raw bar that can match what Vernick Fish is offering! If you're looking for thoughtful crudos or raw offerings, this is the best I've had and I keep coming back. I've been maybe a half-dozen times at this point and the most consistent thing I can mention is the quality of the service. Particularly the bartenders who are attentive, friendly, knowledgeable, and do a lot of extra touches to make the experience memorable. The ambiance matches the quality of the service in most cases, with tasteful seating arrangements, carefully lit spaces, and the feeling that you are enjoying a special occasion (even if it's just a normal night out). The exception I'll mention is that the vibes simply are a bit off at lunch time; the great lighting at night instead starts to feel stiff and corporate and awkward during the daytime. All that to say, I'd recommend visiting at night and especially pulling up a seat at the bar. As I mentioned earlier, the food is at its best if you order from the raw bar and small plates. Most restaurants don't ever convince me on oysters but every variety here has been a stunner with clear flavors, quality, and a great assortment of accoutrement that will help you enjoy your oysters however you prefer. The shrimp cocktail is the single best shrimp I have ever had in my life, and blows any other in the city out of the water. It is a MUST try. Finally, the crudos and ceviche are the culinary peaks that really highlight the skill from the kitchen. While all are great, my favorite was the yellowtail crudo which paired a rich and strong slice of fish with tangy yuzu, chili oil, basil, and was balanced perfectly with an amazingly fresh snow pea bite. While every entree I've had has been thoughtful and high quality, I don't think they actually measure up to the "wow" factor of the raw options. I've tried two different scallop dishes and a pasta, and although they're well made I don't think I'd recommend them based on their price. Similarly, the fried octopus starter was a beautiful looking and intricate but didn't hit a total home run. Desserts are very solid. The chocolate cake was decadent and luxurious, but the surprising star was actually just the very inexpensive gelato/sorbet scoops. The chocolate sorbet may be the best I've ever had, and I'm not really a frozen desserts person. If you are a dessert wine or port enjoyer, I thoroughly enjoyed the port recommended to me by the bartender! While it's clear that Vernick Fish has earned its reputation and delivers quality and consistent experiences, it's hard to not talk about the elephant in the room of the prices. This place is NOT cheap, and doesn't show the prices on their online menu, so you just have to be prepared to spend a lot. The crudos are 4 bites for $25-$30. Entrees are $45+ even if they're small, such as 3 scallops. Drinks are a premium as well, with cocktails and wines in the $20-$30 range. Everyone's tolerance for price varies; to me the raw bar and crudo are justified since they can't be beaten. As far as entrees and drinks are concerned, they're good but may not be worth the premium. My recommendation would be to have a drink beforehand, and sit at the bar for just the best things the restaurant offers.

The restaurant is kinda of connected to the hotel, but I'm not sure if they're affiliated with each other. I'm usually suspicious of hotel-affiliated restaurants, they're usually disappointing but this one is an exception. As far as seafood goes, they know what they're doing. All were cooked the right way. My favorite was the red snapper ceviche. The addition of puff corn in the mix really made it pop. The kimchi fried rice was a gamble but it was surprisingly good. The kimchi flavor was not overpowering and the gochujang was a nice touch. The crispy octopus was also properly done. Their cappucino is also quite smooth. Service was quite professional. The price point was a little higher than other similar quality establishments, but still within reason