Balcony Reviews

We had a business lunch buffet at the Balcony. Food was excellent and the variety was quite good.The tableside service could have been better. I wanted a cup of coffee, but after seeing how other guests were served their coffee, with coffee sloshed all over the tray and the server holding the coffee mug with her hand over the mug, grasping it by the rims, I decided I would not ask for coffee for myself.

Runny fake eggs, overcooked bacon, undercooked sausage - and still charged 14.00. Only had skim and 1% milk - could get omelet cooked but did not smell good at all. I felt like I needed to take over the kitchen area.

The Balcony is the new name for the renovated restaurant at The Doubletree Philadelphia, formally The Academy. The restaurant serves breakfast and dinner. For dinner the two stand-outs are their tomato soup and macaroni and cheese – I tried them both. Entries included salmon, which is what I enjoyed. Didn’t have room for dessert. My server/bartender was Junior - A+ ! For breakfast I had their buffet each day for three days. Impressively well stocked throughout the buffet and open late – until 11am weekdays and 1pm on weekends. Typical fair – fresh fruit, yoghurt, pastries, cereals, waffles, eggs, potatoes, breakfast meets. A secret – ask your server and you can get eggs or omelets made to order. From wherever you sit you have a view of Broad Street and the beautiful and colorful new chandelier in the Lobby.

We are staying at the Doubletree Hotel, and went to the Balcony for breakfast today. The buffet selection is pretty limited, but it’s the service that was truly off-putting. Our waitress didn’t bring us water or coffee (there was no self service for these items) the entire time we were sitting there. Then the hostess yelled at my teenage daughter for trying to leave without paying, while was still at the table, ready to pay. They were behind unprofessional, and we’ll never go back.

Breakfast was included in our hotel reservation so we ate here each day. We were very pleased with the omelet station and all the food at this restaurant. It overlooks the lobby. There are lots of choices here. Service was excellent.

It was in our hotel and they offer a buffet but we went with individual meals. Expensive and average food.

I made reservationns for Valentine's for my husband and I at Balcony. I am so happy that I did. The staff was very friendly. The food was delicious. The decorations were romantic ie: flowers and candles on the tables. They had a prefixed menu which was simply delicious. I suggest this restaurant for any couple who wants an experience where they can enjoy each other and enjoy a divinely cooked meal.

Our two mornings which we ate the buffet breakfast the food was excellent. The made to order omelette was perfect each morning.

the Breakfast was great did Buffet 2 dsy in a row, the Eggs Benedict was very good and very different made with lamb? but really good.

Spent a week here for a recent conference. One evening we had a hosted event in the balcony restaurant. There were different stations from cheese steak to loaded potato skins to salad bars and everything in between! The desserts were excellent however after having them at 2 other functions they were no longer impressive. The servers were a bit par as they seemed to be constantly pushing themselves into you even during private conversations. Again overall not a bad experience.

We had breakfast here while staying at the Doubletree on Broad Street. Omelets were prepared to order, and tasted very good. Fresh fruit was very sweet, great variety of breakfast food to suit anyone's taste. Good service also.

Right in the hotel, clean and bright. Fruit fresh, breads and pastries very good. Full hot buffet second day was somewhat disappointing - pancakes hard, home fried potatoes soft, sausage greasy. Service good.

Great choice of breakfasts. There is cold buffet- fruit, yoghurt, cereals and fruit juice. Hot food - order a freshly made omelettes, made while you watch, or a fry with chefs daily cakes. Also a choice of breads and pastry such as croissants.

The Balcony restaurant is at the DoubleTree Hotel, which is conveniently located in Philly's theater district. So, its location and nice atmosphere are a big plus. Plus, it's menu is reasonably priced compared to the other neighboring restaurants. HOWEVER, the food and service were mediocre at best. Our party of 4 arrived at 6:15, and we told the waitress that we were going to a show at 7:30. We only ordered entrees-- nothing else. So, we had plenty of time-- right? WRONG!! Our order arrived at 7pm! I was mostly concerned about the time because we still had to pick up our tickets at the Will Call window. Yet, the only thing worse than the food arriving late was that both turkey entrees were not hot, and my braised short rib was bland. (I never add salt to my food, but I did for this meal.) Three of us left food on our plates and no one asked for a doggy bag. Even though the waitress apologized and gave us the "hotel discount" for the turkey entrees, I was most disappointed with the slow service and the so-so food-- especially since this is a Hilton brand hotel restaurant that's located on the main street of a major city. It's just inexcusable!! Fortunately, we got to our seats about 60 seconds before the program started, and the show was excellent.

As a Hilton Honors Diamond the breakfast at all hotels is included in the pricing. Here we received a voucher for breakfast that said "breakfast buffet". We waited to be seated, then had to ask for menus and then noticed the breakfast buffet (which was nice but normal for DoubbleTree) was priced at $17. My wife told the waiter she only wanted a $6 item off the menu instead of the buffet. The answer was "ok, but that will be $6 since the voucher is only good for the buffet". This did not compute and so unlike any Hilton property we have stayed at before.

It's a wonderful breakfast buffet with $12 pitchers of Mimosas!! It's probably their busiest time of the year at this hotel and you can see that they work hard to provide the best service they can. The servers are all hospitable and work hard to make sure all of the guests requests and needs are met and or exceeded.

The balcony Served A buffet Breakfast That was Pretty Good. there were plenty of selections to pick from.

The Brunch on Saturday and Sunday mornings is quite nice. There is an egg station with made to order eggs and omelets. There are also other hot dishes as well as nice fruit, cereal and bread selections.

Good selection of healthy and less healthy options.Plenty of fresh fruit.great choice of breads,cakes etc and then cooked food.Keenan makes a great omelette .other options also available.Bacon while tasty is very fatty but then you don't get same bacon as at home.Chefs choice changed every day.

It was ok for a bite before attending a show at the Kimmel Center. My wife ordered fish which she liked while I ordered a steak that left something to be desired. I may be a snob living in Las Vegas for I expect a good quality piece of meat when I order a steak, but this wasn't. I guess it was ok for the price, and our server was pleasant although absent most of the meal, but I wouldn't go back with so many other choices in the area that I didn't try.

We had breakfast and this restaurant while we were staying in Philadelphia. We went every day we were there and enjoyed made to order omelettes, waffles, bacon, cereals, yogurts, fruits and juices, coffee. The waitstaff is very kind and attentive. I like tomato juice and they personally got me V-8. Each morning we had a lovely view.

Went here for breakfast and didn't have the most pleasant experience. I'm going to cut them a little slack because there was a wedding party at the restaurant and it was clear the management didn't know how to handle the sheer volume. I was seated but then when I went to the buffet, they almost gave my table away! Then, once I had my food, I had to literally flag down a waiter just to get some OJ and coffee. But the food was great! The omelette station was awesome.

Huge buffet covering anything you can imagine for breakfast, plus eggs, pancakes or other items by request from the kitchen. Balcony overlooks hotel lobby with great views of the city.

Several selections on this buffet but I thought it was pricey for the quality. But it is convenient to begin the day if you are staying at the Doubletree Hilton. Was not the worst I have ever had? The service was actually very good!

This serves good food at reasonable prices and it is in the hotel - always a bonus. I only had appetizer and soup but they werer good and reasonably priced.

Nice variety of breakfast offered in the Buffet; also can order a la carte. Love the omelet station on Sudays!

My spouse and I dined at the Balcony on Broad at the Philadelphia Doubletree for breakfast on a Monday morning in early January 2018 (New Year’s Day, to be exact). The restaurant is open daily from 6:00 am until 10:00 am (extended until 11:00 am on weekends). The hotel generously extended breakfast time for an additional hour on the holiday. Previously called the Academy Café, the Balcony opened in the summer of 2011. The restaurant is located on the second-floor mezzanine of the hotel, and many tables offer great views of the Avenue of the Arts and Academy of Music through the adjacent four-story glass atrium of the hotel. Seating is staggered on slightly different levels and in specially designed “nooks” in order to allow maximum views. As we entered the restaurant, a gentleman manning the drink service bar took our names and maintained a list until a table became available. At this service bar, samples of a mimosa and a bloody mary were visible, and the bloodies garnished with lemon, lime, and celery were tempting enough for us to order. (Initially, we tried to order two drinks as we waited for our table, but we were rebuffed and told that we had to be seated first.) Disappointingly, when the drinks arrived at our table, they contained absolutely no garnish! Talk about false advertising! My spouse thought that the drinks were included as part of the buffet, although I did not and expected to pay extra for the drinks. (I was right, and they were priced at about $12.00 each.) Balcony serves both a breakfast buffet and an a la carte menu. A continental breakfast runs $12.95, or you can include hot options as well for $17.95. Note that the cost of a plated/delivered entrée costs nearly as much as the buffet. Various stations offered cold options like juices, yogurt, cereal, fruit, and pastries, as well as hot selections like scrambled eggs, breakfast meats, and oatmeal. A made-to-order omelet station is also available. We did not notice any pancakes, waffles, French toast, or other hot carb options on the buffet. We enjoyed our breakfast on the Balcony.

This is a breakfast restaurant in the hotel. You could order off the menu or eat the buffet which included a made to order omelet. The omelet chef was very polite and interesting to talk to. The food was good and the view out the windows overlooking the lobby was a pleasant surprise. The wait staff seemed a bit off to begin with, serving me a Coke that was flat, but she did pick it up a bit as the meal wore on.

The breakfast buffet receives 4 stars for presentation and cleanliness, 3 stars for variety and 3 stars for service which was a little spotty. We had to track someone down for orange juice and milk for the cereal. However, I ordered from the menu and the Eggs Benedict and coffee were both 4 stars. For the restaurant ambience - 5 stars. Light and open, with lots of glass, it afforded lovely views. I adored the murals on two walls, one of ballerinas and one of the Mummers Parade. Glad we enjoyed breakfast here before leaving Philly.

I've been coming here for 3 years and the service is horrible! They have the same help and they stand around and talk to each other but won't bring you coffee or water. But when your ready to leave they come up and chat to try and get a tip. The hostesses are good but the waiters are bad. Food is usually consistent but not worth the $$.

The staff here are really accommodating and there is a nice selection for breakfast. There are made-to-order omelets, eggs, potatoes, 2 kinds of sausage, crispy bacon, fruit, breads and muffins, hot and cold cereals, juices, coffee, etc. One day we had mini-crepes and one day we had grits. If something isn't available, like ketchup, just ask and you will be taken care of in a minute. There really should be something for everyone at this buffet breakfast.

Very pleasant moment and very good food. I highly recommend, I will definitely come back. Dishes made on time. Incredible

Excellent service, very professional staff. Happy to serve and appreciative that we chose Doubletree. Genuine care not fake. Food excellent but it was the service that would make us return

Balcony, the main restaurant at the Doubletree Hotel, was formerly the Academy Cafe. After renovation, it re-opened not so long ago. We went to try out the Thanksgiving Day Menu. Food was very satisfying on the whole: kitchen used good quality ingredients and the portions were huge! Service was friendly, professional, if a little slow at times. Extensive Wine List, with a good selection of mid-priced bottles. Restaurant is spacious and has nice ambience: we were happy to be seated at a corner table looking out towards the Avenue of the Arts.

The breakfast buffet was excellent. The chef will make you an omelette with your choice of ingredients. Good service.

Breakfast buffet was average and a typical buffet as far as hotels go. I will say all the servers are excellent and attentive. Very friendly and helpful even though it's a buffet.

This had a nice selection, although not really a brunch, it did have bacon, sausage, scrambled eggs, omelette station, 4 kinds of juices, different croissants, breads and muffins, oatmeal, cereal, fruit. The selection was quite nice.

Stopped in for breakfast at 6:30am and I was the only guest. I was greeted warmly and offered a newspaper. The breakfast meal was included in my hotel room rate so I stopped at the buffet. Lots of choices and the waiter told me that he would make an omelette for me...I requested a cheddar cheese 3 egg omelette. It was made quickly while I selected toast and bacon and potatoes. The buffet included fresh fruit and cereals and healthy choices. My waiter poured fresh coffee and cranberry juice. Additional customers stopped in and the staff was responsive to each guest.

Food quality was in line with a spot inside the hotel. The wait staff was super attentive for a buffet.

My friend and I came here before a 7pm ballet on a Saturday night. The restaurant was not at all crowded, probably 7 tables total. We sat down at 5:50pm. We ordered food and drinks by 6pm. I ordered soup and crab cakes while my friend ordered the steak. Drinks came out pretty quickly and were good. About 15 minutes later, a bread basket was brought over. Then came the wait. Around 6:30pm, the waiter came over to say our food would be out shortly. We were cutting it a little close but since the restaurant is right across the street from the Academy of Music, we figured we could make it. Then came 6:45 and still no food. We asked the waiter if it would be out soon since we had 7pm tickets. He said it would be, but made no attempt to apologize for the wait or seem at all interested in the fact that we now had 15 mins to eat, pay the bill and walk across the street. Finally the food came out.......at 6:55pm. We immediately handed over our cards to pay the bill so we could inhale our food. I think it was good, but it was very hard to tell. We signed our checks and ran out, just making the beginning of the ballet. I am so disappointed with this place, since the Standing O downstairs is so great. I will not be going back to the Balcony again.

On the Mezzanine of the Doubletree, this is a good place for breakfast to get started in the morning .. The buffet breakfast is great with a full array of dishes, both hot and cold, along with good coffee. Efficient service in a very pleasant setting.

We enjoyed a "bed and breakfast" package on our last visit to this Doubletree Hotel and we were not disappointed! We especially liked the omelettes freshly prepared while we waited. The gentleman who made them was so delightful! I am so sorry I do not remember his name in order to give him a more personal "shout-out".

We had a very enjoyable breakfast. We did the buffet which included both cold and hot food. Our server brought us juice and coffee. In addition to the buffet food we were able to order custom omelets and pancakes which were served with warm maple syrup(all included with buffet). All the food was fresh and tasty. Our server gave us excellent service. We were guests at the hotel so this was very convenient for us.

Inside of the Doubletree Hotel. This is a very nice hotel restaurant. Breakfast was tasty and well-prepared.

Very good buffet with eggs cooked to order. Food was very good, great that they limit the items to the basic. There is good variety and anyone can get a good breakfast here. Very niece restaurant with very good staff. Food was very well supplied and hot. The bacon was fully cooked which is unusual for any buffet

Ate here before a show at the Academy if Music. Cocktails were good but for some reason they had to get one of them downstairs and it took a while to get it. Appetizers were very good- had an arugula and goat cheese flatbread as well as lobster Mac and cheese. I had a chicken Caesar salad. It was ok but the $7 to add the chicken was a lot since it was super dry. My husband had a flat iron steak sandwich which is served open faced. He enjoyed it. Would've had dessert but since everything took so long we didn't have time. Service with Justin was very good!

Good breakfast if not especially fast service. The table location overlooking the lobby was fantastic. Plus there are two tables with a view of city hall.

We had a great weekend at the Doubletree and went to the Balcony for breakfast. It was fun - a typical hotel restaurant. No special dishes, nothing fancy - but a good solid breakfast. A bonus was excellent service. I often wonder how much to tip at a buffet (when the servers did little) but here they were amazingly friendly and brought drinks quickly and checked in frequently.

Nothing says good morning like good service and a satisfying breakfast. Options at the Balcony were quite vast – fruit, hot and cold cereal, several fruit juices (cranberry, orange, apple, grapefruit), breads (muffins, cakes), made-to-order omelets, yogurt, ham/bacon/sausage, etc. If you are visiting Philly and need to fuel up, the breakfast bar is the perfect place to start. I sampled a little bit of everything over our 4 night stay but as a vegetarian, my options were limited. You may be asking why the excellent rating. Here is why: fist bumps, high 5’s and kudos to the cook that gave the scrambled eggs an extra special touch. Everyday, something was added to give it a different spin – cheese and tomatoes, cheese and zucchini, etc. – and I found myself looking forward to the next morning for a new creation! You ROCK! Sending a shout out of thanks to Kent, Aaron and Malcolm for their quick and attentive service. You set the tone every morning with kind greetings, smiles, energy, and hospitality!