P.J. Clarke's At The Curtis Reviews

The burgers that made the chain famous are still fantastic. Entrees are all good and reasonably priced. Servers are fast and fun!

We were there for lunch with a good friend. Not the first visit. Here’s the story and it’s strange. We ordered from the brunch menu. After a reasonable wait the 3 brunches arrived but only one of three were what we ordered. OK afters checking what we ordered, our “correct” order arrived. One sandwich was so big that it was nearly impossible to bite into. My pancakes were more like thin crepes than buttermilk pancakes and rather than syrup, there were three globs of whipped cream on the plate. We talked to the manager and she was most apologetic. She comped 2 of the 3 brunches. There is an inconsistency in this restaurant. Some of our visits were good while others were like what is described here. The real curiosity is that after maybe 5 visits we’ve never had the same wait staff. We’d like to enjoy this place. It’s in a magnificent building and close to our home. Now if they could tighten up the staff and food preparation that would be nice. We’ll give a another chance maybe they’ll tighten up service by paying attention to the orders, quality of food and so forth.

Nice view of park across the street. I was there for a late lunch so it wasn't crowded at all. The clam chowder was rich and very good. A friend had a variety sampler with fried fish, fries, and onion straws. You were able to pick from a variety of items to make your own sampler. She enjoyed each item.

The atmosphere at this place was amazing and the staff were very welcoming. We met friends and family at the bar. Ryley served us; we made amazing drinks, and she was so helpful and friendly! This bar/restaurant is housed in The Curtis, which is just beautiful. It’s worth your time and money.

Loved the interior of this place. Waiter very friendly. It's a great place to go for drink with friends that you can actually hear each other and have a conversation.

Food was tasty and very nice view of park. Unfortunately my salmon was served raw not once but twice. The waitress argued with me that I had an champagne that was sparkling water, and the manager was made aware of the mistakes but still did check in nor offer to discount the meal or provide a free desert…anything. Very disappointing for a restaurant that charges $30+ per meal for lunch.

My family was anxious to try this New York restaurant because of its reputation. We were there on a Thursday evening and the bar area was very crowded and noisy with what seemed to be a holiday party. However, our table was in a quiet area, so we were able to carry on conversations with ease. Our problem began with the main courses. There were 2 orders of the lamb shank but only one was brought. We waited a bit and then all started on our meals, Eventually, our server brought a side order of cauliflower to supplement the missing lamb shank and stated that it would be brought soon. Although the complementary side dish was appreciated, we all felt that the server should have asked if that person wanted this dish or would have preferred something else, especially since it contained bacon, which many in our party do not eat. Eventually, the missing lamb shank arrived, with no explanation for the delay and by that time, everyone else had finished their meals. To make it more disappointing, neither I nor the person whose had the missing meal felt that the dish had much taste. The other items ordered seemed rather routine as well and just not worth the price. We did enjoy looking at the photographs on display as we left, but we don't intend to return. With so many excellent spots in Philadelphia, you don't have to settle for mediocrity.

This restaurant came into view as we were exiting Independence Square. We were getting hungry so we popped in for a little lunch. The lunch was very good, the service was very good and the food I'd say was a bit pricey. But sometimes it's worth it and I had one of the most delicious salads I've ever had. Very comfortable atmosphere.

I went here with my husband and son for Thanksgiving dinner. I was so hopeful. The turkey was so dry, it was inedible. It appears they cooked it and then reheated it in a pan and it had browning marks on both sides. The side dishes were better. My son and husband had prime rib and it was fine. Our service was severely lacking. We saw that we were supposed to get coffee or tea with our dinner, but no one offered it. Also, the desserts in a jar were not good. Please, just a slice of pie would have been appreciated.

Along with a friend, I had the best Happy Hour experience at P.J. Clarke's the other day. We had Oysters Rockefeller, Clams Casino, Lobster Rolls and Burger sliders and everything was great! Our server was amazing (think he served us once before) and honestly, we were both very happy all around. Happy Hour is also from 5 to 7 unlike others that end at 6, so that flexibility was appreciated. We live nearby and will be back again and again!

One can visit the Curtis Building as a landmark classic Philadelphia Building the go into P.J. Clark’s for a great meal. Style is everything here from highly polished floors to a good staff serving fine food from a fairly sized menu. Everyone works to make you comfortable. We eat there regularly and our family will be here to have our thanksgiving dinner there. Expect a good experience.

Clark’s is in the Curtis Building and the Building and the restaurant is big. Our first experiences were “OK but expensive”. The quality of food and service was erratic, lately it’s improving. Yesterday I had tomato soup with “interestingly” grilled chess croutons. Very good. The fish tacos were quite good. The dessert, an apple cobbler had more ice cream than cobbler. So now it’s less erratic. Visiting the building is worth the food and it’s erraticness. With time I think they’ll match prices with similar restaurants in area.

Be sure to check your bill! Stopped in for Buck and Shuck happy hour. Ordered 6 oysters. When we got home, looked at the bill and saw the mustached bartender charged us $22 for a dozen oysters. $18 for a Cosmo. Yikes!

near the independence hall, very large place, refined mix and American bar, very expensive, appetizers around $20-35, very attentive service, very noisy inside, I wouldn't stop to eat.

My boyfriend & I passed by this place on our way to the Maxfield Parish mosaic inside the lobby of the Curtis Center building where the restaurant is located. It had a nice outdoor seating area tucked along the side of the building with a view of the park behind Independence Hall. So on our way out from seeing the mosaic, we decided to ask the hostess if we were in time for the happy hour specials listed on the board. It was 6:25 when we asked and happy hour ended at 6:30 but true to her word, she got a server right over, he got our order in just in time, and it was the perfect evening refreshment before continuing on our roaming of the old town. We had the Buffalo Chicken Wings and Blistered Shishito Peppers for snacks with a beer. The outdoor area sweetly caters to dogs - there are biscuits in a jar at the hostess' desk and water bowls for canine patrons. The staff we met was friendly, attentive and accommodating, even noticing and fixing a wobbly table before we said anything. When I asked directions to the restroom, I was graciously shown the way. The inside of the restaurant and bar match the grandeur of the Curtis Center building and looked very inviting.

The food was just not very good. Too many great restaurants in Philadelphia to ever return. They are new...............so it would be nice if they can solve the noise problems and do much better job with the food.

Great service, great food - the oyster bar is fantastic .... great location .... the waiters and bartender are knowledgeable, super friendly and attentive without being intrusive ..... highly recommend the oyster bar .... they have a fantastic Gin&Tonic selection also, highlighting the locally made gin , and recommending the tonic to pair it with.

PJ Clarke's looked like the place. Outside, European-style seating with views of Independence Square and Indepence Hall. White tablecloths. Good-looking food. Except it wasn't. Outside was half empty. I was seated quickly at a table. Ordered a glass of wine. 25 minutes later, the glass of wine appeared. I ordered an appetizer. 15 minutes later, a delicious shrimp cocktail arrived. I ordered another glass of wine. 40 minutes later, the waiter came back and asked where my wine was. I told her, I have no idea. The staff were trying their best but the restaurant is run horribly. One bar inside. One runner for food and drinks. Yes, that's right. While there are two or three waiters or waitresses for outside, there's one runner for drinks and food. It's like management have never worked in a restaurant before. They're half-full and can't competently run the restaurant. The waitress was gracious and sincere in her apologies. It wasn't her fault. I tipped her well. It was the management's fault. All things considered, don't go here.

Really could not find much to enjoy at P.J.Clarkes when we went with friends on a recent Saturday night. It's an attractive enough room, but our server was not very professional or well-versed in the menu. When one of our party returned her wine because she said it tasted funny, she got attitude from the bartender who brought over the replacement. Food was just OK, so all in all very disappointed in what we had hoped would be a much better experience.

Visited with 4 adults and 2 babies- they were very accommodating. Great cocktails and a nice selection of draft beers. Had some oysters that were delicious. The burgers were good and the pastrami sandwich was excellent. Went to the lounge after lunch and just relaxed, very nice atmosphere and good service

Nice decor with plenty of tables near large windows. Excellently food at reasonable prices. My husband loved the Shepard’s pie. Attentive wait staff with a friendly host. Thank you, Chris.

Was extremely disappointed in overall service. Ordered a Steak, Salmon, and Mac & Cheese as entrée- and a couple of sides- Mashed potatoes, French fries. When the sides are the only items that were served hot that should tell you something about it. I went to the Front Desk after we sat for a good period of time before someone even acknowledge us. Long story short, the Maitre'd (who is/was actually a waitress-but because she was hurt was working the door) sent the Manager over, to "see how things were". I (because I didn't want to make a scene) I said fine walked away and then came back a second time and said "are you sure everything is alright here, I was told there is a problem": FYI- Manager, you should learn how to approach a customer with tact. If you were roaming the dinning room and actually looking at the tables as you walked through the Dinning Room instead of having your head look straight ahead you could learn something from the Guest's experience by looking at the plates. Also when leaving an establishment it is pretty sad when the Manager doesn't say "Good Night, or Thank you" but when the people at the Hostess Stand doesn't even say good night that is "BAD"

I am trying to like this place but it is just not possible. It’s located only a few blocks from my house, has a great out door space and beautiful inside bar area. The food continues to be challenging and the service inconsistent. Boxed wine choices at $14.00 a glass (or maybe just a cheap bottle) and really bad food. It’s a shame because these guys can do better. They have several restaurants and know the food business. I just can’t buy any love here. Please, if you are listening-give us what we are willing to pay for!

Previously a fan of PJ’s (elsewhere) but feel obliged to write this review given the awful behavior of the waiter - unlike anything I have experienced at a restaurant - who clearly has no place in a hospitality based job Food was also notably worse than other PJ’s

We enjoyed dinner and drinks here after a show at the Red Rum theater in the Curtis. We a nice bar, lounge restaurant. We just walked in without researching on a Saturday night. Really nice wait staff and service. Cool ambiance and atmosphere. Televisions over the bar and tables. We enjoyed the warm zucchini chips, trio burgers, and brownie sundae. We liked the drinks too, St. germaine fizz, and Alagash beer. Definitely check out the lobby and the arched hallway.

I met someone here after work and had a nice two hour dinner on a Wednesday night. The place wasn't too crowded (about 1/3 full), the server was very attentive, and then food was pretty good. We were able to get a reservation, not knowing how crowded it would be on a Wednesday night, fairly easy on OpenTable. I would recommend the Brussel sprout sides w/ bacon, very tasty. We also had fish and chips that were very good. Overall a good overall dining experience.

Have been there twice since its much anticipated opening. Very disappointing. Cocktails were a very light pour (maybe new bartenders?). Had their signature cadillac burger. A little larger than an average fast food burger but at $18 whoa momma! Oysters at $3.50 per are very expensive in a town were buck-a-shuck is common. Atmosphere is old Philly sports decor with large screen TVs in bar so has the potential to be a great game day watching place. Menu is somewhat limited (told it would grow as kitchen became more accustomed to serving). In a town that has many great restaurants there is little need for a place that's average at best. Will wait another month or two an give it another try otherwise its back to a dozen other places around Washington Square that are miles ahead of this place. Good Luck!

Oooo went here with my cousin and literally the cutest place ever! First and foremost the service was great! Our server was this kind gentleman who was super nice and knowledgeable. This place has cute mocktails as well. My highlight was those fluffy pancakes! Sooooo good! A must try. I’ll definitely be coming back. Oysters were really good too.

When venerated New York establishments branch out into Philadelphia, they're almost always on their A-game. P.J. Clarke's was a surprising and disappointing exception. Failures all around: a) Reservations: though ours were made in-person and over a week earlier, they somehow had trouble finding us at the host stand. Five minutes of idle time in a cramped lobby as they futz with the computer (in view of an entirely empty dining room) is not a promising first impression. b) Food and service: indifferent at best. Yes, my filet was done properly, but nothing I couldn't have cooked at home. Small portions; no bread on the table. Careless waitstaff as well: no one should have to wait 10 minutes for a spoon after ordering chowder. c) Atmosphere: too dim for anyone to read the menu, an easily avoidable annoyance. But the dealbreaker was the noise level. Absolutely intolerable. The needlessly loud music brought out the worst in the patrons: everyone's shouting, just to be heard. Normal conversation was utterly impossible, so we ate and left quickly. At $180 for the very simplest of meals for three (one entree, one side; no alcohol, dessert or appetizer), it was way beyond reasonable.

We enjoy going to Philadelphia because of the great restaurants, however this was a disappointment. The service was extremely slow...to the point I had to get other servers and busboys to get out server to come to us. We found our food very salty including the spinach. We wont return and if you expecting anything above average food you will be disapointed as well.

Great menu choices and service at this location. Highly recommend this restaurant for a great place to stop and grab a bite to eat.

We had another fantastic meal at PJ's. My husband stuck with the happy hour fare (raw bar and sliders) and I had the salmon chopped salad (with the salmon cooked to order). We took a slice of cheesecake home for a snack with our morning tea the next day--AND IT WAS FANTASTIC! Our waiter, Beau, provided great table service.

I just want to say that the brunch we attended with our job was amazing! Marcus and (the waitress with the brown hair ponytail) were so kind and attentive during our event Sunday June 30, 2024. I especially appreciate that Marcus came over and helped to heat up my buffet plate because I was working and couldn't eat it right away, he came back and made sure we had new silverware, waters etc you name it! He was a rockstar!!!! I know that groups can be taxing, but even though we stayed late and had a planned brunch, he went above and beyond and so did the rest of the staff, kudos!

I went with a few friends on a Saturday night with the intention of having fries as a snack but can you really go to P J Clarke's without having a burger? The answer is no. My burger was absolutely perfect and our server was wonderful too. Highly recommend!

Joined some friends for an impromptu birthday lunch at this relatively new upscale pub/restaurant. We were greeted immediately by a pleasant hostess and seated promptly in one of the several rooms in this quite lovely newcomer. Our waitress arrived right away and service seemed prompt and it was, but an order was wrong . Sadly it was for the "birthday person" who had asked several questions prior to ordering, so one might assume our waitress would have checked the orders from the kitchen. The guests waited for the correct lunch to arrive. Yes this was an interruption and perhaps we could have overlooked this, but the food, for the most part, was just average at best. With so many pubs in the city, PJ Clark's has the potential for being so much better.

I usually don't complain about menu prices, but I thought this place was a poor value. The food and drinks were fine, and the ambience and service were good, but the prices were high for what was served. The smaller-than-average burger and fries in the photo on the left were $19. A 12-ounce beer on tap, not a pint, was $8. It is in a beautiful historic building next to Independence Hall in a small area that does not have a lot of other restaurants, so that may explain why they set their prices higher. That doesn't mean they should, though.

Attended our grandson's wedding rehearsal dinner. The service was excellent. We had the chicken, mashed potatoes, and salad. Excellent meal. Might be the best chicken I've ever had. Loved the atmosphere.

They just opened, a couple of weeks ago but you would never know it. They were preparing for a private party in the bar area, but found a corner for us to watch Iowa play Wisconsin. There wasn't a table so they brought out two tables from the back and set us up with our own private dining area. Above and beyond what I was expecting. Service was some of the best I have received anywhere.

We hosted a company holiday event here last night. Everything was wonderful. The food, the atmosphere and the service were all excellent. The event planning process was easy and my contact Roger was helpful and responsive. Our team has visited PJ Clarkes before for happy hour and dinners and we will definitely return.

We waited two years for P.J. Clarke’s to open and went for dinner Sunday September 16th. What a disappointment. The Restaurant menue and wine list were were quite limited. My hamburger was just Ok, but my wife’s seafood dish was served cold and barely edible. We pointed this out to the manager who offered a free desert. See ya, there are too many great restaurants in and around Society Hill and PJ Cksrke’s does not make the cut.

This place is a neighborhood gem. cannot understand why it's never busy except in the bar area. They have phenomenal raw bar offerings. The bar area(s) are gorgeous and also includes lounge area comfy seating. The entire restaurant is spectacularly gorgeous with white linen service. Wonderful wait staff. Menu has something for everyone but mainly American food. There are some more expensive items like the ribeye, but that is very delicious snd much less expensive than the local upscale steakhouses. There are also many affordable and delicious entrees in the mid-twenties. We had incredible crab cakes totally loaded with nothing but huge chunks of solid blue crab and no filler. Very well priced. Great cocktails and wines. Fantastic steakhouse type burger options. Most delicious skinny pommes frites fries. Excellent chopped and Caesar salad and brownie sundae for dessert. Very convenient to all historic attractions. Independence Hall next door. Located in Curtis center. Be sure to see the magnificent ceramic glass mural in the lobby. in the mid-twenties. We had incredible crab cakes totally loaded with nothing but huge chunks of solid blue crab and no filler. Very well priced. Great cocktails and wines. Fantastic steakhouse type burger options. Most delicious skinny pommes frites fries. Excellent chopped and Caesar salad and brownie sundae for dessert. Very convenient to all historic attractions. Independence Hall next door. Located in Curtis center. Be sure to see the magnificent ceramic glass mural in the lobby. We have been here several times since they opened and they've been expanding the menu, offering more affordable options etc. They also have buck a shuck oyster happy hours.

Possibly the worst service I've ever experienced. Sat at the bar for lunch. Server seemed pained even to come over and greet me, and never even said "hello." Took 15 more minutes for him to come back and take the order. I've been there a couple of times previously, and the service was never above mediocre, but this was terrible. I never felt so unwelcome in any restaurant. The food was okay, but very expensive for what you get, both in quality and quantity. I won't be back.

Service was fantastic - knowledgeable, friendly and welcoming. Food was spot on, great burgers and huge selection of fun bites to share with the group. If you're into Raw bar go for it, nice selection of oysters. Offers good variety of specialty and classic cocktails, draft list has an amazing selection of craft and local beers. Gorgeous restaurant, highly recommend checking in out!

I was pleased with the lunch menu and ordered the roasted mahi mahi fish tacos. Very subtly seasoned and according to waitress one of the most ordered items on the menu. I can see why. I also ordered the grapefruit ginger spritz, an alcohol free beverage. Would have liked a bit more ginger, but was a pleasant taste and would order again. The dessert menu was a bit heavy so I completed the meal with a latte. I loved this restaurant. The lunch time service was excellent, the venue full but noise level was low. My knee surgeon has a practice in the building, so I will definitely return.

Went to p j Clarke’s to ring out the 2018 year. Reservations we easy to get. Walk in at appointed time and was greeted by a not so friendly hostess. Seated waiter was polite but not overly enthusiastic. Took our order and never saw him again. Food was marginal. Can’t do much to trout. Food limited. Fish and two asparagus???? Dessert was horrible. Had a blondie Sunday. I needed a hacksaw to cut the brownie that was how stale it was. No flavor. Sorry but pj Clarke will Be left in 2018. Don’t think we will revisit in the near future. Food was not worth the money we paid

On our way to our table I already knew something was not right. It was 8 pm on a Saturday night and the huge bar area is totally empty. The salon were we were taken, same thing. Red flag. Just in case let's play safe I thought, so my buddy and I went for the ribeye and our wives had lobster cold salad whatever. We ordered some humus platter and potato crispers. Humus was ok. 30 minutes later the food arrived. I was expecting medium cooked ribeye and my friend medium well. He gets a medium ribeye, acceptable, mine was beyond well done. Sent it back. 15 minutes later I get a RAW steak sealed on both sides. The manager asks me to check it before leaving. I chose to lie and take the cow product home for Sunday football since the girls had finished the poorly presented lettuce, egg and the smallest, shrimp looking half lobster tail I have ever seen. We had three house wines, one beer. Our waitress knew we were disappointed and didn't even asked if we wanted anything while eating or after. Not even dessert or an after dinner shot? Night out cut short. Personally, the worst three hundred dollars dinning experience in the city of brotherly love.

Very attractive interior with a view of Washington Square. However, you need more than that to make it work. When we arrived there was nobody at the reception desk. We were seated near a very large noisy group of people drinking. The service and food were quite average considering the prices. There was no soap in the rest room which means that the kitchen and wait staff could not wash their hands. Yuk. I was looking forward to eating there based on my experience at the NYC Lincoln Center restaurant but was very disappointed,

I have had a few visits to PJ Clarke’s after work and I have enjoyed the food (oysters; sliders; fries & Tabouli Salad! The Happy Hour begins @ 5p PJ’s has Classic Cocktails (Gimlets; Manhattan’s); nice wine selection and average beers on tap! I recommend if you are in the area..stop in for to check it out for yourself…I think you will be pleased!

After graduation, our graduation wanted to eat lunch at this superb restaurant for our party of 6. The quantity and quality of the food was wonderful, but with prices to match: ~$42 for food and drinks for lunch.

The restaurant that we planned on going to for lunch was closed, so we came across P J Clarke's and decided to give it a try. We were not disappointed! The service was amazing, from the greeting at the entrance to the waitress to the bus boy and everyone we walked by - very friendly, professional and attentive while not being intrusive. The food was equally excellent. I had the lobster roll, which was to die for, and my friend had a burger, which she said was the best she ever had (and she has had a lot of them!) The raw bar looked awesome, although we did not try it. The atmosphere was very nice, and clean, white table cloths and indoor or outdoor seating. And the Tiffany mural near the restaurant is a masterpiece well worth seeing.

My husband and I popped in for a late evening supper on Saturday. Our server Charles was delightful and knowledgeable. The food was nice but it is not a fine dining restaurant so didn’t expect a gourmet meal. Enjoyed the Albariño by the glass. It was very boisterous due to a baseball game being shown on tv but despite finding it hard to hold a conversation , it added to the atmosphere. Nice way to end the evening

A great hapy hour and a wonderful staff. everyone so friendly. happy hour a buy! Raw bar a must to try! thought the place was upscale and it was nice. later went to table for our dinner and what a pleasant suprize that was. Food was soooo good. a mush try if in the area. drinks a little on the high side, but happy hour is a buy like i earlier said.

We had another lovely meal at P.J. Clarke's--taking advantage of their happy hour menu (for my husband) and regular menu (for me). We had perfect service from our waiter, Ian. The manager, Tim, also came out to greet us and wish us a happy Thanksgiving. We concluded the meal with a very sharable New York-style cheesecake--YUM!

I just wrote a detailed review which somehow got lost. Simply stated the place is overpriced, for mediocre food in small portions. Go to one of the many other good high end lunch restaurants in Philly. Or go to the original PJ’s in NYC. You cannot replicate a place like PJ’s. You probably won’t get a chance to get to this Philly location because based on the number of people in the restaurant at 12:15 it appears that many potential patrons have already caught on.

Stopped in the Curtis building to see the fabulous Tiffany mural and just happened to stumble across PJ Clark's. Their sign advertised the best Bloody Mary ever so we took a chance. It was indeed delicious and a good size topped with celery hot pepper cucumber tomato carrot and cornichon. I was surprised when the bill came though, two for $33. It's a lovely setting so I wasn't expecting corner.bar prices. Lots of neat stuff on the walls and absolutely spotlessly clean. We plan to go back during weekday happy hour for buck a shuck oysters. Brunch menu looked good that we weren't hungry at the time. Staff very nice and professional.

If your visiting Philadelphia and are looking for a place for lunch near the Liberty Bell and Independence Hall , PJ Clarke’s is a good choicegood choice

We did a private cocktail/dinner party for 55 on Wednesday night and it was sensational. We worked by phone with Thea and with Eileen to figure out what we really wanted to happen and it happened exactly that way. Food was great, bar was gracious and staff made everyone feel at home and welcome. Frankly, it was like having a party at home. Oh yes, we are from New York City and were having this party in a foreign city, Philadelphia. For anyone wanting to do such a party, let me aim you at P.J. Clarke's. What nice people. Final note, we stayed absolutely in budget.

A new favorite! Awesome bar area with sofas and comfortable chairs in separate area. Incredible sushi bar and beautiful dining room. The building itself is gorgeous, complete with a glass mural in the lobby. The space is historical yet redone for comfort. Atmosphere is quiet but fun. Dinner was excellent, maybe a bit overpriced. We will certainly be back and bring friends.

We had looked forward to the opening of a great neighborhood dining spot. The atmosphere is fine, although extremely noisy, and reminiscent of Shoyer's of yesteryear. There is an extensive raw bar, and the service is friendly. Unfortunately, that is where it ends. The menu is limited, the portions are small to average, and the prices are high. The white wine is sparingly served by the glass and priced high for average Pinot Grigio. When the manager was questioned about the shorting, we were told that the glass was too big. A Diet Coke is $4, but it is is only a 6 ounce bottle. The chowder was fine, but the crab cake sandwich at $22 or $24 was so-so and not very much to eat. Portions are average to below average. The pricing may be fine for New York but not Philadelphia. The menu needs to be more varied, and there should be increased attention to the preparation. Worth a second visit, not sure. An over $100 tab for one glass of house wine, a diet coke, one soup, one salad, and two crab cake sandwiches is not good. Management needs to regroup, if the restaurant is to survive on Washington Square.