Parc

The story

Crafted with passion, served with love

A Parisian Café on Rittenhouse Square

Right on the edge of one of Philadelphia's most beloved public squares, Parc delivers French cuisine with the relaxed energy of a genuine Parisian café. The premise is straightforward and executed with conviction: from the first croissant of the morning to the last glass of wine at dinner, the experience is grounded in the rhythms and pleasures of French bistro culture.

From Viennoiserie to Brasserie Classics

The day begins with proper viennoiserie — croissants, pain au chocolat, raspberry pistachio danish — alongside egg dishes that run from a simple three-minute egg with brioche mouillettes to Eggs Norwegian with smoked salmon, poached eggs, and hollandaise. It's the kind of breakfast menu that makes leaving the table feel like an inconvenience.

Come lunch and dinner, the French cuisine broadens into full brasserie territory. The fruits de mer selection — oysters, littleneck clams, shrimp and lobster cocktails, and two formats of plateau — anchors the menu with a classic seafood counter sensibility. Hors d'oeuvres range from escargots with hazelnut butter and crispy frog legs with persillade to seared foie gras with honeycrisp apple and maple glaze, and a steak tartare built on chopped filet with capers and quail egg.

Main courses hold to the canon: moules frites, trout amandine, steak au poivre, beef bourguignon with root vegetables and pommes purée, and a half roast chicken with jus de poulet. A rotating series of daily specials adds further depth — Friday brings a bouillabaisse, Wednesday a lobster risotto, Thursday a lapin à la moutarde — giving regulars a reason to return throughout the week.

Recognition and the Wine List

Parc's wine program has earned the Wine Spectator Award of Excellence, a recognition that reflects the care put into pairing a broad, well-chosen list with a menu this classically French. The selection supports everything from a light lunch tartine to a full dinner of steak frites or Mediterranean sea bass.

The Atmosphere

Parc captures what the restaurant itself calls the joie de vivre of Paris — not as an affectation, but as a genuine operating principle. Outdoor seating along the square reinforces the café feel, while the interior maintains the warmth and bustle of a proper brasserie. It's a place equally suited to a solo breakfast at the bar and a long weekend dinner with friends.