Vernick Fish Reviews

Every Christmas Eve for too many years my wife and I, and our very close friends (until he passed away, and then with his widow) have gone to a church of our liking and then either before, or after, went to a restaurant that we thought would be special. For many of those years we went to the restaurant at the Four Seasons Hotel in Philadelphia which we thought to be very special. When the Four Seasons closed a few years ago, to relocate at the new Comcast Technology Center,still to be be built, we tried a number restaurants, and settled on Vernick Food and Drink, a restaurant which has very high ratings, and which we found to be superb. When the Comcast Technology Center finally opened a couple of months ago one of the restaurants in the building was Vernick Fish. Same Chef somewhat different menu. How could we not go? The wait staff there was very helpful and caring; there is a cocktail bar which is part of the Four Seasons,high above the ground, with views of Philadelphia that should not be missed. At Vernick Fish,however, I, for example had an Octopus salad which had very little, but good, Octopus, and was drenched in a dressing that was over seasoned and overrode the favorable flavors of the salad itself. There was an inordinate wait between the first course and the main course. I had boiled Halibut which was good, but was covered in a soup like liquid, which just did not make it. The dessert was ok, but not great . Not what I would expect of this Chef. Because the restaurant has been opened for a short time only, and it was Christmas Eve, which can be difficult for a restaurant, especially a brand new one, I will give it another try but I was certainly disappointed .

I went to Vernick on a recommendation from hey friend who said it would be hard to get into but would be worth it. We were able to secure a table without a reservation on a Tuesday night. Service started out fine. We ordered salads and appetizers, both were very good. However, getting our main entrée took a bit longer than expected and it went downhill from there. The waitress never came and asked us for a second drink and never checked to see if we needed anything else. Once we were done eating, the waitress never came by and cleaned our table until we flagged her down. We had asked her to bring the check, which she did after making a round at all the tables but then we had to wait again and excessive amount of time for her to come back and collect the payment. This is despite offering the credit card when she came by with the bill. The Tom and five for the entire dinner with almost 3 hours. This was for one drink one round of drinks, appetizers, and entrées. No desserts. Overall it was a very underwhelming experience and I would not recommend Wernick to any of my friends or acquaintances at least not until the service gets better.

I had dinner here with two girlfriends and we shared plates "family style." The service was exceptional and the food was superb. My favorite was the tuna tartare witch just melted in my mouth and the flavors were sublime.

The trip to Vernick fish was planned months in advance as it took that long to get a great reservation that was at an usual dinner time vs. 10 or 11p offerings! This was a birthday celebration so I wanted to get dressed up and just enjoy all that Vernick Fish has to share with me! The decor is contemporary and fantastic! The service was even better...that made the evening sparkle! We decided to start with the warm shrimp cocktail and mussels dishes! Both were outstanding! The sauce on the warm shrimp cocktail was tangy with a lemon zest finish! The mussels were in a Bolognese Sauce that wasn't over powering! Our entree's were the Grilled Branzino and Grouper! Wow is all I have to say...seasoned well and the side of Blackened Cesar Broccoli topped off the meal! The cocktails were top notch and the red velvet cake was moist (most can't achieve that balance in red velvet)! Overall, I would come back and sit at the counter just to partake in sampling more of of menu items!

Located on the ground floor of the Four Seasons Hotel, and created by one of Philadelphia’s great chefs, it offers a terrific array of fish and shellfish presented creatively. All the fish and shellfish is fresh and delicious.

I have been fortunate to get to some pretty terrific seafood restaurants throughout the U.S. and in Europe, Asia and the Caribbean. I place Vernick Fish right at the top of my list. The ambiance is airy and all refined relaxation. Every member of the staff is friendly and professional without any air of pretense or obsequiousness. Our server Brandy was outstanding. But it is the food that really sets the place apart. I recently dined there with two work friends. We started with beautifully fried calamari, (reminiscent of food you might get at a shack on a beach, but definitely elevated to new heights), scallop crudo with Serrano pepper and grape that was out of this world, and smoked salmon with a quail egg and Parmesan (yes, it worked!). I could have made a complete dinner out of nothing but that dish. I next had a small plate of saffron pasta with tuna bolognese. It is now on my list of dishes I must try to recreate at home. That was followed by a perfectly seasoned striped bass in a lemongrass broth and snap peas. My dessert was a yuzu blueberry cake that was delicious and unique without being “out there.” I also had tastes of a Meyer lemon cheesecake, which was excellent, even though I generally think I have had my life’s quotient of cheesecake, and a chocolate hazelnut layer cake that was equal to the yuzu blueberry cake. If you are interested, plan ahead. Reservations fill up at least a couple weeks out, and we were there on a Wednesday. It will be a Philadelphia must whenever I am back in town.

Exceptional service and outstanding food quality added to an unforgettable dining experience. We were celebrating a special occasion and the entire staff from the Managers to the waitstaff made our evening even more special. The inventiveness of the menu and the quality of the ingredients used created dishes that were absolutely delicious. We will return.

We had a wonderful meal in this new restaurant in Philadelphia. Fresh oysters are varied and delicious. If I can't be in New Orleans for Oysters Rockefeller, try the Oysters Philadelphia - outrageous flavor without the cream! YUM! We had black sea bass, and Halibut - both perfectly cooked. Wine list diverse! Dessert plain but really tasty and worth the calories. Only concern we had - would have stayed longer but at 28 degrees outside the restaurant gets very cold nearer the windows. Next time, I'll bring a heavy coat or ask to sit nearer the kitchen, and there will be next time!!! Loved it!

We came here on a Tuesday evening for dinner. We were seated promptly and ordered a rose sparkling champagne and a drink called Home in Devil’s Pocket. We enjoyed the drinks very much. For our first course we ordered the razor clams & the oysters Philly. Both were very good. The portions were large for small plates. Our next course was the octopus carpaccio & smoked king salmon with quail egg. They were, again, delicious and very imaginative. The octopus was so tender and perfectly dressed. It was a large portion as well. The king salmon was tender as well, and came three pieces to an order. If it was four pieces to the order it would have been perfect. The sommelier who assisted us with our wine was very helpful. Our waiter, Jonas, was not as attentive as we would have liked. My husband ordered the sardine special of the day only to find out that they had run out of sardines. Jonas brought him a menu to order something else, but then Jonas disappeared for a good amount of time. In the meantime my dish arrived and I had to wait for my husband’s newly ordered dish to arrive. Not a gigantic deal, but annoying. Overall we were very pleased with the food. We will return soon.

First time at Vernick Fish, absolutely loved it. Really nice vibe, relaxed atmosphere, first class service. We ate family style and tried 8 dishes, plus sides. I would order every single one again. Ordered a bottle of Cabernet Sauvignon which they didn’t have, and sommelier recommended an alternative which was excellent...and substantially cheaper....when does that ever happen? We visit Philly 5-6 times a year and this is the best experience we’ve had. Highly recommended

First off, let me say, the food is excellent. Not Michelin star, but quite good. From there it goes down hill. You'd think that a place charging over $150 a person for dinner would at least have tablecloths - nope! Service was pleasant, but nothing more. I ordered a bottle of wine from their list and was brought the wrong vintage. For $150/person, they should keep their wine list up to date. No offer to check and see if they actually had the advertised vintage. Finally, there was the bill - a 20 percent “Service Charge” which is applied to the entire bill including the sales tax and liquor tax! No mention of a service charge on the menu. Thus, after paying the customary “Tip” of 20 percent (also applied to the sales and liquor tax), I later realized I’d paid 40 percent in gratuities. I’d say, that’s over the top for any restaurant. Would I return? Not a chance. If Kamala Harris was president, she'd be coming after this place for price gouging.

I enjoyed my early dinner at this Vernick’s Fish restaurant. Great ambiance and very impressive restaurant layout and look. There seabass with sour broth is so good that will make you come back. They have a unique taste of their butter that goes with their bread!!! Highly recommended

The front staff was amazing: we happened upon this on a Friday night with our two boys and they got us in right away. We were a party of 5. The front staff were friendly and went above and beyond to make sure we were comfortable with the menu before we sat. The drinks, appetizers and dessert were divine, but the minute we sat down and met Megan then it ALL went downhill fast. Had we not had her, I would most definitely give this place a 4.5. She was condescending the minute she saw that we had two children with us-by the way they sat quietly and ate dinner without missing a beat. They have eaten in five star restaurants several times and are well behaved, but she immediately had an attitude. Pregnant or not, her behavior was awful. I asked about a cocktail she would recommended and what she recommended and she actively scoffed at me and then randomly recommended something. We had the octopus small plate, beef carpaccio, raw oysters and clams and two entrees (The Seabass was so so...), four signature beverages, two kids dinners, dessert and coffee and while we loved the food- if We come back and she’s working, I would NEVER give it a second thought to say “not her” I felt sorry for those that had her at the same time as us or after us because she clearly was annoyed that we were her assigned to her table. If your looking for a nice appetizer, try the octopus and beef carpaccio...and the Tonic Cocktail, but please do yourself a favor...avoid Megan J if your looking for a pleasant experience.

Excellent Oysters! I also recommend the scallops. Excellent customer service. I plan to come back and try more menu items.

Food and service very good but the sterile lack of charm space made an unmemorable evening.My seat raced s parking garage and constant headlights from garage users were numbing.We will never return

Amazing meal and service. Started w the octopus carpaccio, the salmon w quail eggs, broiled oysters Philadeliphia, sole, scrumptious, and the beignets and spicey crab ragout.... ALL were absolutely AMAZING. Corinne was simply outstanding and took care of every question and need. This was our first time and will definitely be back. A place to go in Philly. Congratulations to GV on the excellence w this restaurant.

We had a terrific meal at Vernick Fish. Everything we had was delicious but the whole dorade was one of the best dishes we've had in ages. Not cheap but well worth it.

Loved Vernick Fish. While I always heard mixed reviews about this place (mainly from my friends), had to experience for myself. Let's start with the restaurant itself, don't think it could be any more gorgeous! Stunning design, open, beautiful and inviting. Every detail was thought through. The lighting is spectacular. I could not get enough of just the space. We ordered a bunch of appetizers and then a roasted whole Dorado to split as a main dish. I'd say my only disappointment was the $18 sourdough with sardines. Dare I say that it was not the best bread? Sardines were very good, fresh, definitely not out of a can. The Dorado was spectacular - from presentation to flavor to the rice it was stuffed with, we could not stop eating it. I think it was devoured in one bite. Previously, I've only had this fish once, in Portugal and have not seen it on the menu of an American restaurant. Was pleasantly surprised. I'd like to also point out that the service is absolutely top notch. I wish I remembered the name of our server, but sadly, I do not. He was so pleasant. One of these servers that you want to have a conversation with, but also doesn't linger too long. He gave us so many suggestions about food and wine. We did have a Vernick gift card, which surprisingly they did not take. Something about the restaurant not being of the same entity. Oh well. The meal, while not cheap, was definitely worth it and I would recommend this place to everyone!

Great seafood and drinks!! Highly recommended! Bottom of Comcast building. Go up to roof level bar to see entire city from above

the place is beautiful,food preparation was wonderful, great place. we were seat4d promptly and never felt rushed. it was super combo of fine dining without being snooty

A refreshing change from the same old/ same old restaurants. Classic, up-scale casual with an up date. A mix of classic and modern. Food fits the theme and is outstanding (try the Milanese Swordfish). Service was friendly and efficient. Full service bar. Valet parking on site and other public lots near by.

I had a superb experience at Vernick Fish, it ticked all boxes. The restaurant, long, skinny & lined on one side with windows, has a very elegant, contemporary design, its immaculate, open kitchen showcasing the chefs at work. I came for lunch & the menu was fairly concise (which I like). It offers an array of oysters, a raw bar & a handful of main dishes. Food was superb - ultra fresh & zinging with flavour. Don’t miss the shrimps in horseradish from the raw bar. Service was attentive but unobtrusive. Really good choice in Philly.

Haven’t been to FISH in a while and it has only gotten better. I truly appreciate that you are never crowded in, there is space between the tables. The food was exceptional and the service friendly, warm, and efficient. Great in every way.

The restaurant is stunning. I love the lighting and the bar is long and inviting. Staff is very professional and welcoming as well. We shared delicious crudos to start. For entrees, the swordfish tonkatsu style is absolutely fabulous. The scallops are lovely as well. We had an interesting bottle of Greek white wine with dinner. The basque cheesecake was a perfect dessert to finish. We were there a long time and were not rushed. I would return!

Staff and manager are very unaccommodating and rude. We were coming here for our anniversary dinner — I got pulled over on the way and it caused us to be running late. The reservation was for 5:45 PM. I called the restaurant and let them know that we were running late and trying to find parking at 5:55 PM. I didn’t have time to call earlier as I was dealing with being pulled over. I let them know I was finding parking, why I was late, and that I’d be in there shortly. The person on the phone advised that it was okay. The restaurant has a 15-minute grace period, meaning we would be okay until 6 PM. We ended up walking in at 6:03 PM and went to the front desk to check in for our table. They told us they can’t seat us at our reserved table because we were past the 15-minute grace period and that we’d have to sit at the bar or counter in front of the kitchen. What’s crazy is that I went out of my way to over communicate with them that I was going to be late and they assured me it was fine, only to show up at the restaurant and be denied our table. I reminded them of the call we had just a few minutes ago and the situation that caused me to be late. There were 4 staff and a manger at the host stand for this, and all of them just gave me a snark look when I said this, didn’t reply with anything, and just said they can offer us the counter seat. The restaurant was 75% unoccupied at this time and no one was waiting for a table. I understand that the restaurant has policies and wants to follow them, but refusing to seat us at our table after everything I went through that night, having an almost completely empty restaurant, taking all possible steps to communicate with them prior to my arrival, telling me it was okay on the phone, AND the restaurant knowing that we were repeat customers and it was our special anniversary dinner… it’s a disgrace. Something funny worth noting — we ended up sitting at the counter seat and only got 1 or 2 things and left all within an hour, and as we were walking out, the restaurant was still more than 50% unoccupied. Simple deduction skills show that we wouldn’t have interrupted any of their later reservations with the timeline we were operating with. We ended up going somewhere else after to get a full meal. Also, I thought it was funny that when we walked in the first front door, the manager looked me up and down through the window with a nasty judgmental look, for I assume what I was wearing? Mind you, I have worn nearly this same exact outfit to places such as Morimoto, Jean-Georges, Barclay Prime, Volvér, etc. with no one even batting an eye or making me feel uncomfortable. Meanwhile, the wait staff at Vernick Fish wears jeans? Comical. It is clear that Vernick Fish staff and management are petty and don’t care about the customer. I hope the literal 3 minutes you saved by not seating us at our table was worth losing thousands of dollars of repeat business. I was shocked to receive this kind of experience at a Four Seasons establishment. If you care about your experience and how a restaurant treats you, avoid this place. Either that, or just make sure that any life situations that are out of your control don’t occur when you have a reservation with them :)

Outstanding food and service! Ceviche was wonderfully marinated and presented. Bronzino was delicious. Pasta was served at optimal tenderness. Service was excellent and the extras were appreciated and perfect pairings.

STAY AWAY ALL NON CAUCASIAN CUSTOMERS! YOU WILL BE DISCRIMINATED AGAINST! Your business will be more appreciated someplace else, other than here at VERNICK FISH or JG Skyhigh @FOUR SEASONS! With racism awareness going on around the World, never have I ever imagined that I would be DISCRIMINATED against for being an ASIAN at a reputable brand like FOUR SEASONS. My husband and I (both Asian) decided to stay at Four Seasons for Valentine's day weekend. I made a reservation a week in advance under my name to dine at both restaurants in Four Seasons, JG Skyhigh & Vernick Fish and was very excited. Boy, was I wrong. I felt that we were discriminated against because when we first checked in with the hostess at JG Skyhigh, they sat us at a small table right behind the bar stools, a few steps away from the entrance with a lot of foot traffic When asked to be seated somewhere else, they took us downstairs and seated us right by the register. The table next to us was an Asian male, then the table next to him was an African American couple, while all customers seated in the "more desirable" area were clearly Caucasians. We tried overlooking the fact that they were being racist and didn't mention anything because it was our first night, Valentine's day weekend, and we just wanted to enjoy our time together. Our second night (2/13 Saturday) when we arrived at Vernick Fish and checked in with the hostess, everything seemed to be ok until they seated us at the doorway, segregated from the main dining room, while all Caucasians were dining in the main area. Again, unhappy with the seating, I asked the hostess if we could move our table to the one's main dining area. She answered that there was no table available. Waitress came by, and we let her know that we felt discriminated against because we saw 2 couples(Caucasian) that came in after us seated at the main dining area. She then told us that she will talk to the manager - he never came by, the hostess came back and advised that there's a table that just opened up and we can be moved. AFTER we expressed to the waitress that WE FELT DISCRIMINATED AGAINST AND WANTED TO SPEAK TO THE MANAGER, A TABLE MAGICALLY OPENED UP... I went ahead and asked for the manager again, he came by, barely apologetic, explaining that no way that they are trying to discriminate. At this point, we were VERY UNHAPPY and EXTREMELY DISAPPOINTED with the treatment we received from BOTH RESTAURANTS AT FOUR SEASONS HOTEL, we left to dine at Ritz Carlton instead. Thank you so much Four Seasons Philadelphia for our unforgettable Valentine's day weekend. We definitely won't be coming back to give you our business. #StopAsianHate #Racist #Racism #Educateyourself

Vernick Fish restaurant located in the new four seasons in downtown Philadelphia absolutely gorgeous beautiful restaurant the service is above par the fish and menu is excellent highly recommend if you’re in Philly to go to this restaurant you will not be disappointed

Found the decor ok, wouldn’t recommend the outdoor seating. Interesting menu. Very good service. The Striped Jack crudités was an excellent mix of flavors & textures. Try the Asparagus “Greek” salad liked the vinaigrette with a bit of Thai pepper kick. Scallops au poivre spent a couple of seconds too long on the griddle. Swordfish Milanase good, but the wonderful crust overpowered the fish. Deserts from a good source. Coffee ok. Good food, but not the best value. It’s not Vernick Food and Drink.

Absolutely wonderful food with a glorious ambience. The service was fine. We had a great evening here with non stop raw fish options! Our favorites were everything under "raw" on the menu, charred grilled cabbage, squid ink spaghetti and the Branzino. The dessert (key lime) was fine. Would come back here anytime and easily order the exact same apps, entrees, and sides. Probably will skip the dessert! Their drink menu is also wonderful with great bubbly options! Tip: make options well in advance! Cancellation policy and fee apply

In a sentence: this is how it's done. It was quite busy and lively when we visited at 8 pm on a Friday evening but they found two seats for us at the 'chef's table' ---the bar-like seating right in front of the grille where you can watch the chefs at work. And they work quickly, quietly, professionally, masterfully. The appetizers were wonderful. Tuna tartare was fresh and ample and the oysters very nice. I then had porgy fish on jasmine rice with a bit of andouille sausage; the dish was bursting with flavor. She had Bronzino with avocado cream drizzle, oh my! Both were hot and freshly prepared and delightful. The service was attentive and timely. Every server was warm and helpful, even as this hot-new-restaurant in town was really busy; no attitude, very professional. Kudos all around. This is textbook spectacular.

The main courses were limited and heavier on non-fish seafood, despite the ‘Fish’ in its name. The sole offering was $125, therefore an unlikely choice. The grilled sea bass was delicious but drowned in a tasty broth- grilled and seasoned Ed would have been preferred. The carmelized broccoli was tasty but could have been tastier. The server was very thoughtful and pleasant, even putting a birthday candle on a dessert when she noticed a guest reading a birthday card. However, it was hard to get her to bring the bill and, then, to get her back to pay the bill. No offer was made to refill the quite small cups of coffee. The place is very pretty/casual. We will not return because if the limited main course menu.

We had two business dinners back to back here. The service was attentive, cordial, charming, simply perfect. We tried all the tartares (spicy tuna, salmon, scallop) and the halibut ceviche. Superb oyster selection. Delightful salt and vinegar potatoes (such an easy plate, so yummy). And then masterpieces for entrees: sea bass, dover sole (pictured). This is a solid, reliable fish restaurant. Well done.

Winged it for Friday night fare while on a weekend getaway in town. Peeked in and liked the feel of the space. Swanky space. Grabbed a high top for two and ended up happily having a much finer dinner than we might have planned. Spicy tuna tartare, Smoked salmon, and porgy were all yummy. Wait staff was very friendly and helpful sorting out so many delicious menu selections.

Vernick fish is just 3 months old,located on the ground floor of the Comcast building.....if you would like great seafood done right,book a reservation ...The Dover sole for 2 is perfect..oysters from both coasts are wonderful....just be prepared to pay a lot.Worth the price for a special event

One of the best meals I’ve had in my life. We sat at the chefs counter and had a great view of the dish preparation. Must visit when in Philly. Here are the dishes we enjoyed: - tuna tar tar - crab spaghetti - crispy shrimp - blackened scallops - cheesecake

Made online reservations after reading about this restaurant. Advised them that this was our anniversary dinner and of the various dietary restrictions my wife has. Our server, Erica, greeted us with champagne, wished us a very happy anniversary and proceeded to lead us on a fantastic journey in our dining experience. If I could I would give this place 10 stars, since the service the atmosphere and the dining experience was absolutely amazing!!!

This was my first time at Vernick Fish. My girlfriends surprised me with 60th birthday dinner. Our server was Erica. Erica knew every dish and every spice/flavor on the entire menu. She was so enthusiastic and made my birthday dinner an experience that we all will remember. She never wrote one thing down and was excellent at explaining the dishes to ensure that everyone was comfortable with their order. The food was excellent, the service top-notch and the whole experience was just that "an experience" - not just a dinner. Erica was the best servers I have ever encountered!!

The food is outstanding, service impeccable and ambiance contemporary chic. They use flavors in new and exciting ways that as a foodie I truly appreciated. To experience that, you must try the octopus carpaccio appetizer and hen of the woods with tahini dressing vegetable. As a person with a gluten sensitivity, it was welcoming to me that they are well versed on ensuring they meet any standard of gluten concern and had many dishes were absolutely no modifications were needed. If you have a special occasion for dining be sure to share this with them. They added special touches to our meal as it was a special anniversary dinner. The extra attention made the evening that much more memorable.

I traveled alone the weekend of 2/24/2022, I went to Vernick Fish on a suggestion from a Philly friend and sat at the bar. I'll never, ever go again, let me explain: While the two appetizers I ordered were good, they were tiny. So was the overpriced $21 glass of below average wine I bought, it was a very small pour. They had three red wine choices on the menu, and no cabernet! What?! I was ignored by the bartenders, I think because they assumed I wasn't going to tip as high as a two-top. I had to ask for water three times before I received it, I felt like I was begging. I asked three times to have a $10 bill cashed so I could give the coat check girl a tip. It never happened. Instead of having dinner, I paid my $65 bill and went to Capital Grill where the food was great and the bar service was awesome.

When I made the reservation there was only bar seating left. But when I called, a nice woman told me she'd note that I'd like a table if one was available. When we arrived, there were several tables for 2 available. So the reservation process didn't make sense. The service was lovely. We both had 1 appetizer and different fish entrees. One was excellent (but expensive and a la carte). The other was unimpressive; the sauce that came with the fish (which was well cooked) was too savory for a mild white fish and the accompanying rice was bland. As a side note, there was a man seated next to us who ordered the Bronzino. I was shocked to see that he was served a thin, long strip of fish which seemed like an appallingly small portion.

We had lunch at Vernick after a day of shopping during the recent holiday season. We have eaten at the original Vernicks so were looking forward to a great meal. The design of the Resturant is lovely, very comfortable and not too loud. The oysters (all east coast for this gal) were lovely and my husband’s octopus was the best we’ve had in a long time. Well presented and well cooked. The rest of the meal was good. My daughter ordered the chocolate cake with earl grey ice cream. That was a hit. The only issue we had was regarding the service. It was not great. The servers did not help each other and it made for a long wait for plates to be cleared. Will we go back? Not sure. It’s a pricey Resturant; the service should be impeccable.

Best were the small plates of raw fish, which were superb, if pricey. Atmosphere was sleek and attractive, however, like the service it was without any warmth. Worst part was the $40+ "large plate" of scallops which consisted of three smallish scallops and felt like a big rip-off.

We dined at recently-opened Vernick Fish in the Four Seasons Philadelphia. It was truly spectacular dining on every plate. Our party of five shared nearly ten smaller plates, followed by a grilled bronzino and swordfish. Everything was perfectly fresh and portion sizes were spot on. The basics are just that — basic, but there is a special and savory element to each plate that elevates those basics to the sublime. For example, we had a slightly smoked salmon, accompanied by a quail egg that was flashed fried and finished with Parmesan. It burst open in your mouth! The octopus carpaccio was paper thin and truly delicious, as was the Jack with a crema and caviar. We finished with a wonderful flourless chocolate torte, a slice each of key lime pie and carrot cake pie. I can’t say enough good things.

As fish lovers, we were excited to have a fine dining seafood meal. I must be gluten free and the options available to me were quite limiting, along with the ability to modify the options. It was surprising that a restaurant of fine dining caliber would not plan a menu with flexibility for food allergies. It was baffling how most of the dishes had gluten and were unable to make modifications. More importantly, all 3 of us felt the salt stood out in each of our dishes opposed to the taste of seafood. The dishes categorized as large were the same size as the dishes categorized as small, but for twice the cost. Our positive feedback is that services was good and our server must have picked up on our disappointment. We had no intentions of expressing our disappointment, but the server asked us. We were honest as outlined above, they did provide a discount.

Friends who live in Philadelphia told us that this was their favorite restaurant. They must’ve been pulling my leg. The portion of halibut was small, the swordfish tasted like it was deep-fried, and was the thinnest cut of swordfish I have ever had and the prices were not cheap. The space however, is very attractive and there is a nice buzz. One thing is for sure, I will not be returning.

We started out for a cocktail and added oysters (amazing) and with the help of our bartender Jon (delightful and incredibly knowledgeable) added small plates of fish paired with a rare Mescal - what an experience - finished off with a heavenly chocolate moose with sour cherries paired Antico Torino… what an enchanting evening!

I rarely write reviews, and I rarely feel the need to put a restaurant down due to a bad experience because I understand everyone has bad days, mistakes happen, and hospitality is a tough industry. That being said, my personal experience made me not only hate the food that was delicious, I really haven’t felt this type of behavior working with clients in the hospitality industry or just dining in top establishments all over the world. The behavior at the establishment was in simplest terms curt and dismissive. From when we were seated, the host gave us one word answers, barely looked at us when we said thank you they walked away without any acknowledgement, tone of voice was condescending etc.Perhaps we weren’t dressed nice enough for their restaurant and are the type to judge by its cover. They weren’t busy, plenty of tables open. The best way to describe it is almost an icky feeling you get when you start to question internally if it has to do with race or if there’s something more serious going on as we didn’t do anything to warrant the behavior. It’s worth calling out that we happily spent for a full meal, were polite and pleasant the entirety of the time, and tipped 20 as we always do but as a collective group had a gross overall feeling coming out of the dinner based on the tones of the host seating us and our server and won’t be coming back, which is unfortunate considering the ties and friends that spend time at four seasons and recommended us to eat there. I think the servers name Sarah and the manager was a brunette who probably needs a hug (I tried to give her a compliment to no avail so skip trying that).

We really wanted to love this place, as my daughter loves swordfish. There is very limited selection here. The staff was great, and it was worthwhile just not a homerun....

This is a must go to restaurant in Philly. Tough to get a reservation - 60 day advance is only way - but worth the effort. Must must must have the fluke w/ brown butter and hazelnut - ah-mazing. We shared small plates and that was perfect. Atmosphere is great and music from their sound system was even good.

My wife and I had dinner at Vernick Fish the other night, and it was fantastic from start to finish. We began with cocktails upstairs at SkyHigh, then headed downstairs for dinner. The transition was seamless and set the tone for a great evening. We arrived a few minutes early and waited at the bar until our table was ready. We’d been here once before in 2021 for an early summer evening dinner outside. That meal was delicious, but dining indoors this time felt far more distinct and intimate. The room really elevates the experience. The dining room is gorgeous, with an open kitchen and a spacious, modern layout. It’s a fairly large restaurant that reminds me of places you’d find in Chicago, where restaurants can feel open and contemporary in a way that’s harder to achieve in New York. The space still feels fresh and polished. Our server was excellent, kind, professional, knowledgeable, and refreshingly honest. We shared the Yellowfin tuna crudo, the endive & baby gem salad with amazing vegetables and a perfectly applied dressing, the chilled shrimp salad with spaghetti squash in a bright lime dressing, and the roasted 14 oz prime ribeye. Everything was excellent and very fresh, with the shrimp salad standing out as especially unique. The steak was ordered medium-rare, which here means very rare. It wasn’t wrong; we didn’t send it back, and we devoured the entire thing. With hindsight, I would have ordered it medium. The potato that came with the steak was delicious, and we appreciated the server noting we didn’t need to order extra sides. We didn’t drink alcohol, just a few Diet Cokes in classic glass bottles. The total came to about $230, including tip, which felt appropriate for the quality, service, and setting. The crowd was lively and diverse, with a mix of couples and larger groups. This is an excellent choice for a business dinner or a more intimate night out. On a previous visit, I had the Swordfish Milanese, which is also delicious and may be nearing the end of its run on the menu. We enjoy The Vernick, but this style of meal is more our preference. Vernick Fish feels perfectly on brand with the attached Four Seasons Hotel Philadelphia. Separately, we’re looking forward to visiting the Vernick Coffee Bar, which we’ve heard great things about, and appreciate that it’s also part of the broader Comcast Center complex. Highly recommended!

Everything we ordered was just delicious. From the fresh fish to the terrific service, this place is one of my favorites of all time. We sat at the bar and our bartender added to our dining experience with her knowledge and sense of humor.

Excellent service & excellent food with great atmosphere. A great selection of fresh oysters Accompanied by 4 different sauces which my husband enjoyed. We both had the grilled halibut which was cooked perfectly & the braised greens that came with it were done in a very uniquely tasty way. I never had collard greens that were so good. My husband enjoyed the chocolate ganache cake & I had a yummy shortbread with a layer of caramel & dark chocolate.

We had a lovely dinner here with attentive service and excellent entrees. I had skate wing, a fish rarely found on menus and my wife had the grilled bronzino with tomatillo & avocado salsa. Highly recommended.

We enjoyed our experience at Vernick Fish, mostly because of excellent service (Hyemin) and perfectly prepared small plates from the kitchen. The menu was specially designed for Valentine's Day, and the portions were prepared for sharing. We enjoyed the varied menu, bottle of wine and excellent conversation. Though we had made reservations many weeks prior to the 14th, we still got stuck sitting between the two service stations. If you are planning to go to Vernick Fish, try to sit in the bar area or kitchen view area. Our table was similar to being in a diner - though the service and food certainly was not.

Restaurant in the Four Seasons. Hip and popular spot. Service was excellent, seafood as well. The restaurant offers a variety of seafood prepared in unique ways. We enjoyed the Cod, Grilled sea bass, and turbot, a white fish similar to sole. All excellent as well as the appetisers. Certainly expensive, though worth the money and experience.

Dined here for an early Valentines Day (Wednesday night) dinner. I was really excited about going because I absolutely love fish. The quality of everything is high but most of my hot food came out cold. Both of our halibut entrees were cold. So they warmed up some more of the broth that is comes in and poured it over it. And So then it was lukewarm, not hot. And they only did it for mine bc I said something, they didn’t bring my husband any hot broth?? That said, the quality of the fish and flavors were fantastic. My cold fried cauliflower side was ok and the cold fried salt & vinegar potatoes were bitter as hell. I wished they had more healthy side options. I love cauliflower and potatoes but both were fried...why would I want that with my steamed fish??! But the fish doesn’t come with anything so you have to order a side. The hamachi appetizer was the absolute BEST!! I could have eaten that all night. I am chalking this off the an “off night” when it comes to the cold food. I think the quality of the food is exceptional and I will go back.

Was told it was a must try restaurant, was a bit put off by the entrance and the formality of the host. When we were seated and I saw the menu (only three non seafood entrees) I got even more concerned. From the moment our server greeted us until the moment we left we could not have been made to feel more welcome or more comfortable. She was incredibly familiar with everything on the menu and was able to describe everything in terms that made sense. She had a great sense of humor and was very attentive. Every item we had was “off the hook” and that Included our chocolate cake ala mode for dessert. The spicy tuna tartare was our absolute favorite. Will be back next time I am in Philadelphia

It's annoying to have a bad meal at a restaurant but it really irks me to have a bad meal at an expensive exclusive restaurant. So the menus has recently changed. Maybe that is the issue? I was ok with the philadelphia style oysters. Tuna tartare was too salty to eat, and watery on top of the toast. The swordfish katsu was not paired well with the curry sauce. It was such a basic curry and didnt really go with the fish at all. The bass was sent back, and the grouper with hot sauce and grits was a strange combination. Overall, I suggest rethinking the menu.

The rating is based on service, food, portion sizes and prices. Let’s start with what’s good. The food itself was excellent. Everyone at the table (4 of us) agreed that each of our dishes was excellent. The prices were what one would expect from a high end restaurant, that’s fine, but the portions were tiny, almost laughably small. The service was pretty bad too. We had to waive over our server and she seemed to resent serving us. Maybe just having a bad day…don’t know. In any case I would not recommend this restaurant.

Vernick Fish is a nice restaurant in the lower lobby of the Four Seasons in Philadelphia. The seafood was all good, but nothing was that memorable either. For the money, there are probably better restaurants for seafood in Philly.

We dined in Vernick Fish based on the reveiws on Trip Advisor (and we were staying at the Four Season's) - wonderful and delicious meal and our waitress was amazing. The name of the restaurant holds true - if you are looking for a non-fish item on the menu , there aren't many so this restaurant is definitely not for someone who does not enjoy fish! Interesting and different menu options and our waitress was amazing - I have several food allergies and I really believe our waitress new every ingredient in every dish on the menu. The portions were actually large and the small plates can easily be shared. Would return in a heartbeat if we return to Philly!