Garces Trading Company

I'm writing this review now bc the episode of keeping up with the Kardashians I'm watching is boring. I came here for a few drinks before dinner in the area. Initially as you walk in front of this place you feel like you're walking into a fucking department store. Double doors with a foyer and then more doors and then the entrance of this giant room that is (I already forgot the name of the place fml) this place. There is a large candle-lit dining area for dinner and dining. We elected to take a sharp left to the bar that is also dimly lit. Happy hour menu is legit. $4 beers. $5 house wine. $6 cock(tails). Even more importantly is a number of food items for $5. Charcuterie and cheese and a few small plates. I went with a House red wine and a small plate "masala vadai". My co-happy-hourer ordered an ipa. After ordering food the bartender welcomely arrived with a container of sliced rustic bread and some evoo. She brought to our attention a giant counter covered with balsamic vinegars behind us. Huh. A few extra pieces of info: the cocktail menu contains a daily special and a bunch of sangrias that looked delicious however I have been trying to limit the silent killer that is sugar in my diet. Also on Mondays happy hour is all night (if I heard correctly). The masala vadai was black, crispy and fried lentil "fritters" with allegedly harissa aioli however you could've fooled me bc I did not detect any harissa flavor or spice. These were just alright. This place has a dope drink and small plate happy hour menu and delightful ambiance. I would suggest checking it out, the food didn't blow me away tho.

We went here because they were able to accommodate a last minute reservation for 10 people. The staff was very nice and the food was good but definitely nothing special. They had a special corner for our private party. The table ordered a variety of dishes including mussels, minestrone soup, duck salad, meatballs, cauliflower, fries, cheese board, meat board, as well as entrees like the lamb pasta, carbonara pasta, and steak. The carbonara pasta, mussels, cheese board and minestrone soup were the best. Everything else was just okay. They had enough vegetarian options to find stuff to eat. I would have liked it if the staff refilled our water more often not just when asked. With all the awesome choices in Philly, I was underwhelmed and would probably not return. It wasn't bad but just nothing that wowed me.

Wow. This place blew my mind away. I was here with a friend for a fancier dinner to celebrate us graduating college. The place itself wasn't as big as I expected, but the seating was very comfortable and intimate. We split the small cauliflower plate (which was AMAZING!), and I had the seared scallops that came with a chowder and potato confit. I have to admit, I thought the scallops were oversalted, but they were cooked beautifully. The chowder pairing was also genius. I'm so glad I had a chance to try out Garces Trading Company before leaving Philly. Also grateful to be coming back here with my parents to celebrate graduation week! :)

Garces Trading Company has a fantastic ambience. Great for a low-key celebration or just yummy classy food - I'd put it on the same level as Barbuzzo, Gran Caffe L'Aquila and/or Bud & Marilyn's. Great variety on their menu and their carbonara was to DIE FOR. So so so good. The texture of the pasta was perfectly al dente, there was a runny egg in the middle that is absolutely delicious when mixed in with all the other ingredients. Price was reasonable too - $16 for the carbonara, $15 for the other pork pasta dish. The interior design had a modern, rustic feel and we sat on a high top table in the back while there were still regular tables in another section of the restaurant. Bathrooms were clean, waitress was a little grumpy so I took off a star but they also offer 15% off your bill if you come for SIPS! We came right at 7 unfortunately, but there's always next time!

While this restaurant is far from inexpensive, it is a nice less-expensive Jose Garces restaurant. The atmosphere is bright and has almost a French-bistro feel in the decor. We chose this restaurant for Mother's Day dinner as my mom enjoys fine-dining and this place offers two levels of chef's tables. We discovered once we were in the restaurant that the whole table had to participate in the chef's tasting menu as it is served family-style. We chose the $40 option (chicken and pasta as opposed to steak and seafood), and two of us at the table had the wine pairings to go with the meal. Overall, I enjoyed the food. Each course came with 2-3 dishes to try and they were very good. I didn't care for the chicken and pasta course as I found them both to be overly salty. The lost star comes from the service. Our main waitress was very good, however the people bringing our courses were a bit brisk. When I am doing a tasting menu, I want a little explanation of the courses (which we got in the briefest ways in a gruff, hard-to-hear manner). I would also like a little explanation as to why each wine pairs with each dish, but there was none of that. I feel that if a restaurant is going to offer a tasting menu, some care to presentation and information should be given.

My meal here left me feeling conflicted. As we were waiting for our table I got a chance to check out the bar area and sample some of the olive oils that they sell. Selling the oils, vinegars, and dipping sauces that are served in the restaurant is a cute concept . The feel of the restaurant was a little impersonal for my taste. The place was crowded, with high noise levels and while the staff and servers were friendly, they seemed scattered and a bit unfocused. I'm not sure if this was due to a restaurant week crowd or not. The cheese and dipping sauces were very good including the house made mozzarella. My second course was masala vadai (black lentil fritters), also very good. I wasn't crazy about my main course of Tuscan fusilli that they prepared vegetarian for me.

Huge fan of Garces foods so my friends and I met here for SIPS but were disappointed that the menu was quite limited. Although it was limited, the food was on point as expected. We had a couple orders of the meatballs and masala vadai. Highly recommended! It was pretty nice that we had the option of choosing all cheeses instead of the full the charcuterie board-the vegetarians of the group appreciated this. We sat outdoors but the inside dinner dining experience looked pretty fantastic-maybe I'll give that a try in the future. We did end up having more friends tag along and the staff was very friendly and super accommodating.

I'm sorry. I really wanted to like this restaurant -- I really did -- but unfortunately, I was extremely underwhelmed. Maybe there was too much hype due to the rave Yelp reviews and José Garces's status as an Iron Chef. Whatever the case may be, the only thing dazzling was the cost of the meal and how few people were in this restaurant on a Thursday night. Look, the steak frites weren't bad. The seared scallops weren't bad. But the cauliflower appetizer was whole other story. It was cold and bland. And isn't that the challenge of making a cauliflower dish, to turn something that starts off cold and bland into something that is warm and delicious. Ok, maybe it doesn't have to be warm, but in this case, warm would've helped. This brings me to the famous fusilli carbonara. Not terrible, except the egg on top was poached too hard. When I broke the egg, the yolk was too solid to spill out onto the pasta and mix with the pecorino to create the signature sauce which is the very essence of carbonara. Not to mention, it was drastically under-seasoned. Very disappointing. And to top it all off, when my dinner companion requested the dessert menu, we were presented with the most boring list of after-dinner treats I have seen in a long time: basically a caramel pot de creme, a dark chocolate mousse, a parfait, and a bowl of ice cream. It was like every dessert on the list was a variation on a bowl of sweetened cream. We chose the ice cream (which we never do) because it seemed like it was the most exciting dish of the bunch (which it never is). And it was just BAD! The ice cream was not only off in flavor, it was full of ice crystals! Afterwards, my dinner companion laughed: "I would've rather wasted those calories on a microwaved Trader Joe's lava cake." I don't know, maybe this was an off night, or maybe I ordered the wrong dishes. Whatever the case may be, I probably won't be back for dinner. This meal was a just a bit too expensive to be this forgettable. Maybe for brunch, since many reviewers claim that this is the meal in which GTC excels.

I was really stoked to try Garces Trading Company since Chef Garces is an Iron Chef but much like the show, there were some definite highs and lows. As we walked in, the interior decor was beautiful but the restaurant was empty. Not a good sign when restaurants around were fully packed. Philly diners are savvy enough to know what's good and this was telling. The food itself was disappointing especially for the price. The presentation was beautiful but we found the food to be underwhelming in taste.  Could it be that I had my expectations too high because of Chef Garces' reputation as an Iron Chef? Maybe it's because this restaurant focuses on French cuisine whereas his other restaurants highlight what he does best such as tapas. Either way, I think the Chairman is calling Iron Chef Garces to allez cuisine back to the kitchen.

DELICIOUS! I was blown away by the execution and quality of the food here. Came with a group of girls for brunch and we opted to get the Brunch Prix Fix which included coffee or tea, pastries, a small appetizer and then an entrée, all for $22. Well worth it! The Basket of home-made pastries was accompanied with this delicious jam and cream. Everything was fresh and soft. A great start. I then got the country pate, which was a huge portion of pate for one person. I had to devour the whole thing. The focaccia and the salty pate was just a great combination. As for the main entrée, I got the popular Lyonnaise duck salad. Beautiful presentation, plenty of duck confit. Everything was so nicely balanced. I will say that the best thing I ate there, or perhaps one of the best things I've ever eaten, was something I did not order: the Quiche Du Jour. AMAZING! I tried a bite of my friend's and was so glad that I did. The egg was like a custard, soft and silky. I wished I had ordered that instead honestly because I've never tasted a more delicious Quiche. They usually come out stiff and dry but this was so moist to the bite. I wish I could just call them up to ask how they got it so custardy. Two thumbs up for sure. The restaurant itself was very rustic and clean. A great space for groups or small parties. I would 100% go back if I were in Philly again.

We were in town for a short trip, and had dinner here with a friend. We were able to book our reservation on Open Table, and were happy to see that you can BYOB 1 bottle of wine per two people. They have a full bar as well. I loved the area, loved the decor..kind of a whimsical farmer's market, and it was hard for me to decide what I wanted...which is a good sign. When we arrived, they had to prepare our table, so we had to wait a few minutes. No biggie as my friend was running a little late. Once we were seated, it did take a while for the server to greet us. I think he was not informed to be honest. He warmly greeted us, and the manager brought over a complimentary plate of olives four our wait. Nice touch. For our appetizer we ordered the meatballs. For our mains, I ordered the seafood pasta, and my hubby got the Steak Frites. Both were really good. They also bring out complimentary bread beforehand, and there is olive oil on the table. I would eat here again. The service was great, and there are other items on the menu that I would like to try. My only issue was the restroom...it was gross. I couldn't do it. Great for dinner/brunch with friends or a romantic evening.

The pasta at this place was amazing The ingredients used really brought a simple pasta dish beyond what was expected. Really a great culinary experience in its own right. But what really set this place apart was the plethora of oils and vinegar to sample. Each oil and vinegar had a unique taste and characteristic and I found myself getting up to try every single one to ensure that I was finding the one that was for me. All of them were great and I wish more places would offer this many options for something that is really only meant for dipping bread. The service was fantastic and very knowledgeable. Would love to try this place again to get some of their other menu items.

We had dinner here on the Saturday night of Memorial Day Weekend, and our experience started off great but left much to be desired by the end. The restaurant itself is a cool space, and we were lucky to be seated in a set-off wine room that I imagine is usually used for private parties, but just has three regular tables when there are no events scheduled. Our food started off great -- we split the masala vadai and the meatballs, both delicious, and also tried a bunch of the oils and vinegars they have lining one counter. You can sample as many as you'd like, and they range from somewhat standard to quite unique, so that was fun. Entrees were not as consistently good. We tried the steak frites with bearnaise (awesome), the roasted chicken (good, not incredible), and the scallops. The flavors in the scallops dish were good, but both scallops orders at our table arrived cold, and they were still cold even after we asked them to reheat. Our waiter was really friendly and welcoming and provided recommendations of things to do/see/eat around Philly, which was great. That being said, we had almost a 25 minute wait between the time our appetizers were cleared and our entrees arrived. I'd give Garces another shot down the line, but there are definitely other Philly restaurants to try before I return.

Came here for restaurant week and I have to say that we were a bit disappointed; when the dessert was your favorite part of the evening (unless you're a sweets junkie which I absolutely am not) you know that your dinner was a little lackluster.We came here after hearing from friends that they had a mediocre experience but would try it again so we found ourselves here for the first time and we also should have known that we could have made pizza at home and been just as happy when a Garces restaurant still has a lot of reservations and open tables DURING RESTAURANT WEEK. Our meals were fine (a little cold, but fine), our server was fine, and the ambiance was nice. When we have so many options to go to in center city I don't know if we'll be back and I certainly won't give my friends a tip to try here unfortunately.

GTC was my second foray into the realm of Chef Garces restaurants, the first being Amada. While I thought Amada was outstanding and outside the box, GTC was a little disappointing to me. The food was adequate. The Masala vadai was dry and crumbly. Fusilli carbonara was basically raw, and when I brought that up to the staff they told me that's how it's supposed to be. I like al dente pasta, but I don't like raw pasta dough. Unacceptable. We split a short rib lasagna which was delicious but also was an incredibly small portion. Poulet roti was good but the portion was MINUSCULE for the price. Pan roasted scallops were tasty and succulent. All in all I was unimpressed with this restaurant experience because of how inconsistent the product was.

The decor in this place was top notch! Every detail reminded me the early days of the age of exploration and the like of companies such as the east India trading company. Loved the attention to detail that brought this about. The food was very good. The roasted cauliflower had tremendous flavor, but I was very surprised it was served cold (but got used to this and didn't take away from the flavor). The potted duck was an experience. Basically a large shot glass filed with the ingredients listed on the menu, and wasn't the prettiest plate to look at but very unique flavor. The Spaniard sandwich was also very tasty and filling with a nice helping of avocado. Can't go wrong with this. The first bite of the French toast was incredibly rich and decadent. It could only be rightfully described as divine by which taking a bite I felt I was leaving my body and transcending into a state of nirvana. Since the dish is rather sweet I could only have so many bites, but If here with a group definitely a good dish to split amongst the table. Would certainly come back and recommend to friends.

This place has such yummy breakfast. I went with a big party and we didn't have to wait for more than five minutes. Many people in our party got the prefix brunch and were very satisfied. I got the godly Steak & Eggs and they were AMAZING. The dish came with salad, something similar to a potato latke but thicker, and delicious sauce with a hint of truffle. Very yummyyyy & highly recommend

The food was nothing to write home about. Was it bad: no, but it also wasn't great. I ordered the veggie pasta (which wasn't on the menu) and the pasta was good, but had just peas in a creamy sauce. We started with an indian appetizer that was tasty but again I wasn't over the moon about. Duck mousse was also ordered and seemed to be enjoyed ( I don't eat that). The sangria was pretty good. The staff was very slow to refill water, in fact I had to ask for water when food was cleared. I probably won't be back.

I was blown away at my experience at Garces Trading Company. Everything was amazing. Here's my story. It was a Saturday and my crew and I went to the Rocky Steps which was a 20-minute walk from our hotel. Anywho, we climbed the top and they decided to stay back because they were in "awe" after reaching the top. (by awe I mean, winded from being out of shape) Myself, as a student athlete decided to gets the steppin because I was so damn inspired by the view, so I jogged back to the hotel by my lonesome. Right when I got back in I looked at my sweaty face in the mirror and thought, "Scotty, you're a beast, a wolf". I spritzed some cologne and put on my deodorant and decided to get some quick takeout...........Let's just say my athletic stamina is a lot better than my sense of direction. I got lost and stumbled in here. Best stumbling experience ever! I noticed the name Garces (from Food Network) and was like, dang.....he's the Iron Chef - Jose Garces!!!. So I walked in to get a seat, expecting to not be let in because I was a sweaty man-beast wearing a tank top (but I did smell nice) & right from the get-go, they took care of me! I was greeted by a nice gentleman with long dark hair in a ponytail, really good guy. I told him I was a fan of Garces on Iron Chef and he answered lots of questions about the place. You can definitely tell that Jose Garces runs a great business, he was very enthusiastic about taking care of people and passionate about everything. I told him I was from Detroit and he was pretty cool about that. Great conversationalist. The atmosphere was really nice. Nice wooden tables, nothing pretentious like marble plated tables with 24k gold lamps made from the Ark of the Covenant or anything, just a beautifully designed place to eat; a place where food is the star and not the decor. Loved it. The waiter was really helpful. I asked him for recommendations and he was very helpful. I was craving pasta and he said that his rankings are just like the order they are in on the menu. The pappardelle w/lamb ragu being the first on the list, followed by the carbonara, then the seafood one, then the lasagna in 4th. I took his advice and was ever-so pleased. The service was top notch. Onto the food. Minestra Soup - Lovely dish. It was very fresh. I eat soup 365 days a year & people be like, "Yo G, soup in the summer?" My answer is YES. The Minestra Soup at Garces Trading Co is the perfect summer soup. a beautiful broth of tomato and fennel with beans and fresh herbs and a few aromatic vegetables. In a way, it kind of reminded me of my mother's (r.i.p.) Tom Yum. You would have a nice crisp broth with perfect flavor was the foundation, but then you add the fresh herbs that unleash their flavoring as they get warmed by the heat. The textures in this one were amazing. Delicious broth perfect for soaking the nice bread they serve it with. A++ Pappardelle with Lamb Ragu - Great dish. The pasta here is "Call ET" out of this world good. Very fresh. Very rustic dish. Lovely, tasty, and warm. I would describe this dish as comfort food overload. A beautifully meaty and savory experience. The fresh pasta grabs onto the meat juices like a perfect marriage. There are beautiful chunks of lamb. The meat is tasty and ever so tender; flavorful and gentle. The meat literally melts on the tip of your tongue as you chew the fresh peas and the perfectly cooked noodles which swam in a perfect sea of flavor, served just for you. I would describe this dish as the love child of my Aunt's Pot Roast & Thai Rard Na. What they have here is a beautiful dish. One perfect for carbo-loading before a game or unwinding & celebrating after. I am very gracious that they let me come in looking like a savage, but they treated me no different. I really felt bad about dining alone in a tank top, man, I was so embarrassed about being underdressed, but they took care of me anyway. In Detroit, places as nice as this wouldn't even give me a chance. Philly is a cool city and this place is one that makes it cool. While I do feel bad for being underdressed, nobody treated me bad or any different because of it. I was treated the very same way as the table with 5 suits and dresses right to the left of me. For this, for the great staff, the cool atmosphere, for the amazing food, I give this place 6 out of 5 Yelp stars - it blew me away.

On my day off, decided to go check out one of Jose Garces' restaurants for lunch during Philly Restaurant week. $20 for a 3 course lunch. The decor has an open space area reminiscent of a loft with a monochromatic color palette. Subway tiles accent the walls and columns throughout the space which gives it an upscale terminal/market vibe. Light fixtures are a mix of recess, track, and two styles of industrial wrought iron pendant lights. An adjoining wine shop with a vast selection of reds & whites from across the globe. As well as specialty tasting olive oil and vinegar bar. The only negative is that there is one bathroom for men & women and there was a steady line throughout our visit. The food was excellent. The Spaniard sandwich was flavorful and filling. The grilled chicken was tender and succulent. The bread was similiar to Challah with a firm yet fluffy texture. The accompanying condiments of applewood bacon, roma tomatoes and romesco aioli subtly complimented the chicken with sweet and tart flavors fusing together. Mouth FIREWORKS !!!! The homemade chips made me want a whole bag due to the slightly crispy, dark yet lightness. (Reminded me of old school Wise potato chips). Due to a stuffed tummy, the desserts were packed to go. Macoroons and a marscapone, huckleberry cake. Presentation of the cake in a round shot size glass was special in a simple and "fru fru" way.

Brunch is 4 stars! This is my second time coming and i really enjoyed the brunch menu. We ordered the chicken sandwich and steak platter for the two of us. The steak was large and done medium rare. The only gripe I had about the dish was the amout of aioli sauce they put on it. I love aioli, but sometimes it distracts from the taste of the steak itself. The two large potato latke/hash browns were delicious! Crispy and very filling. The chicken sandwich was an average chicken sandwich. Nothing too special about it. Now thinking back, we should have ordered from the brunch menu, which featured a 2 course brunch with drinks and dessert for $25. Thats on the bucket list for next time!

"Chef!! you rocked it on Iron Chef, man...." Stopped by on a stroll...chilly day. Early lunch time. A slice of citrine lemon cake and one very excellent cup of coffee. It's pricy here---- just warning ya. Sells wines, charcuterie, cheeses, desserts, sandwiches, vinegars, special oils. For eat-in or take-out.

We wanted to get dinner before heading to the ballet and chose this awesome spot. The inside is so lovely. Spacious and well lit! We got a table with the high chairs right next to the mirror walls. Our waiter promptly greeted us and we got drinks and bread! There is olive oil on the table and several type of balsamic vinegar for you to try. The blackberry one was on point! Some favorites of the night: the lyonnaise salad (warm delicious duck with a light and crispy salad and a perfectly poached egg on top), the short rib lasagna (tasty sauce with plenty of meat) and the moules frites (white wine and leak sauce is rich and creamy, also dip your duck fat fried fries in there for an instant taste buds explosion). The lemon tart for dessert was the cherry on top. The only dish that was a miss for me was the scallops with mushroom risotto. They were a bit overcooked and did not taste that great. Also the macarons for desert were lacking flavors. Of note: the main dishes are on the smaller side which allows you to order some appetizers and desserts to complete your dinner. Overall good and pleasant dining experience!

I'm still very much a fan of Garces Trading Company. Armed with a pretty hefty gift card, my husband and I had a fantastic dinner on a recent Saturday night. The place was packed, so reservations are clearly a must for the weekend. Our server was very knowledgeable about the wine list and made great suggestions. We shared a bunch of starters including some cheese and charcuterie, housemade mozzarella and olives. Olives are on so many menus as a small plate and don't differ much from place to place. Not at GTC: their olives were addictive. There were three types including a green sort that had a rich, almost cheesy flavor. I feel like our server said they were Castelvetranos but I can't be positive. Maybe it was just a super fresh batch, but they were incredible. For dinner, I had to go with the steak frites. I couldn't decide on the sauce so our server suggested a sampling of all three, which was music to my ears! As always, this dish was a home run. My husband had the trout, which is always delicious as well. We skipped dessert in favor of more wine and some espresso to finish. Looking forward to our next visit!

BRUNCH REVIEW: My sister and I stopped in on a rainy afternoon for some post shopping brunch. She rarely comes to the city so I know I had to pick somewhere good, and I'm happy to report she approved! DEAL There is a $22 brunch special which includes unlimited coffee, pastries, and 2 dishes, but we decided that (although a great deal) that would be way too much food. The waiter said it would only really be worth it for the coffee and pastries because otherwise it's not a deal. FOOD We split the fresh mozarella as an appetizer (delicious). Pro tip: try not to eat all your bread before the mozarella comes. Warning: that will be difficult. Next up we split the baked eggs in spicy tomato stew which came with toast with olive tapenade. Not a big olive fan but I really enjoyed this. Try to save some bread for the stew too. This was really good and I definitely recommend getting it. Kind of like shakshouka without the peppers + cheese and guanciale, but we don't remember any meat really, so it must not have been much. We also split the Tarte Flambee flatbread (eggs, bacon, white onions, creme fraiche) which was also delicious. We took home leftovers and felt very satisfied. Service was good, but not overly friendly (going for that authentic french bistro feel maybe?) Not too crowded and they take opentable reservations which was nice. Definitely recommend for a fancier brunch! It was a bit pricier than Sabrina's/Day by Day/Green Eggs and some of my other go-to spots but definitely worth it!

We came here on Friday night (St. Patrick's Day!) and had a great time. The ambience was definitely classy (we spotted a few couples on their dates) but also relaxing. The service was a bit on a slow side but on a bright side it felt like the meal experience was quite peaceful. Their beverage offerings were broad and everyone of us enjoyed our drinks. They also served bread with various flavored olive oil. (We only got one for our table though. I wish our waitress emphasized that we could try others!) The food was great, but there's no dish that wowed me. We shared Cauliflower dish as the appetizer. As a cauliflower addict, I really like the way they cooked it and the black garlic pesto gave a nice taste. Recommended dishes were Pappardelle with Lamb Ragu, Short Rib Lasagna, Pan Roasted Scallops, and Wagyu Bavette. I got the first one with duck fat fries. The pappardelle was just okay, while the fries were disappointing. One friend got Tuscan Fusilli Carbonara which turned out to be pretty good. It usually comes with raw eggs, but they were happy to cook the eggs together with the dish as requested. The fusili was nicely chewy. We were too full to order desserts in the end, but a couple options (like lemon tart with blackberry compote) sound so good that I want to come back to try. Come here for some classy nights with friends, a romantic date, or just olive oil/vinegar tasting.

Came to Garces Trading Company around 1pm with one other person. Lots of space in a big open restaurant- no need for a reservation during lunch time. We both went with the Santa Maria Express- an antipasta/soup + sandwich for 14.50 which is absolutely a steal. You first get bread with over 20 olive oils + vinegars to try. Our personal favorites were the strawberry balsamic vinegar + the honey serrano vinegar but there's a huge assortment to try. For our antipasta, we went with the home made mozzarella & the wild mushroom pizza. The home made mozzarella is absolutely delicious & a must order; creamy & chewy with a perfect consistency and pairs well with their bread. The wild mushroom pizza was good but had a very lemon-y flavor which was odd- overall it was enjoyable but not something I would go back to the restaurant to try. For our sandwiches, we both got the Spaniard; grilled chicken, romesco aioli & bacon. The star of this sandwich is the bread- the outer crust is crispy but the inner portions are wonderfully soft and put you into carb heaven. The grilled chicken was tender without being rubbery & the romesco aioli ensures that the sandwich is as far from dry as possible and there's no need for further condiments. All in all, great food and would definitely come here again. And you get 10% off with a student or employee ID!

After having been here five times (twice for lunch, once for dinner, and twice for weekend brunch), I'd say it's about time for me to write a review. My favorite dish here, hands down, is the funghi pizza - mushrooms and cheese baked on crispy flatbread taste good for any meal (and luckily it's offered on all of the menus). It also still tastes great reheated in your oven at home if you happen to take the rest of your pizza to go! Other favorites are the cubano sandwich (served at brunch/lunch), as well as the chef's selection of cheeses. I know pretty much nothing about cheese so I can't remember the three kinds that we were served, but they came with truffle lavender honey and garlic dulce de leche on the side that were very, very yummy. One of the things I love most about Garces is that it also has a mini marketplace for meats, cheeses, desserts, and condiments inside the restaurant. Being the shameless person that I am, the first thing I do when they serve bread is trot off to the row of condiments and grab a couple of sample cups to try their 10+ varieties of olive oil, truffle oil, and vinegar. My favorites so far are the balsamic vinegar, which tastes sweeter than other balsamic vinegars I've had, and the blood orange infused olive oil. The service here can be a bit slow at times, but you can kill that time by browsing around the marketplace. Definitely a great lunch spot, it's also a good place to pop by and pick up desserts (like macarons!) or bottles of fancy condiments.

This was a really great quick dinner eat. When the bread was served, we had the choice to use the olive oil on the table or go to the olive oil bar and try out the other flavors. Super unique and fun. For appetizer, I had the homemade mozzarella and it tasted amazing!!!! For the main course, I had the trout. It was pretty bland but not bad. Overall, definitely worth trying.

Service was a little slow. Homemade mozzarella was great! Warm with live oil salt and pepper. Duck fries were good. Cheese steak was too salty.

I've been to Garces for dinner and brunch. Dinner was good but the REAL winner here is brunch. We went on a Saturday morning around 11:15 and Garces was about ¾ full. I made a reservation but if you were to walk in, you'd most likely be fine. The décor is modern-rustic, which Garces does well. They've got the whole relaxed-trendy vibe aesthetic down. We did not order the brunch deal but if you're hungry, I would suggest it - it's an absolute steal. $25 for a brunch cocktail, coffee or tea, a basket of homemade pastries for the table and a first and second course. Unfortunately, I was wedding dress shopping and didn't want to have a pound of food in my stomach but any other day of the year, you know where to find me. We ordered a pitcher of the special sangria, the quiche of the day, the baked eggs, the pane panelle sandwich and everyone had cappuccinos at the end of the meal. Everything was amazing - the quiche in particular. It was so light and fluffy; I would definitely order it again. The cappuccinos took a really long time to get to the table but I can forgive them for being busy on a Saturday. Last but not least, they found out I was wedding dress shopping and brought a mini chocolate cake at the end of the meal with a candle. It's hard not to love Garces after such great service.

High-end casual dining that will only break the bank if you let it, Garces Trading Co. is perfect for a classy date night out. Garces Trading Co. strikes that perfect balance between offering an upscale dinner experience without a whiff of pretentiousness or entree prices that makes your wallet cry out in terror. A Jose Garces creation influenced by his travels through Western Europe, you see the French, Spanish, and Italian influences throughout the entire menu and even in the classy yet congenial wine bar feel of the place. My girlfriend and I came for dinner during the week, and although we made reservations ahead of time, you can usually just show up and get a table. After weighing the Chef's Tasting ($40-55 per person), my girlfriend and I began with Charcuterie & Cheese board, selecting the $15 option to pick three cheeses/meats - Country Pâte, and two cheeses, one goat cheese and the other a blue cheese blend of goat and cow milk. I loved the blue cheese served with local honey the best, followed by the goat cheese with sweet mashed figs, and the Country Pâte with its own sauce to compliment. If you like fancy meats and cheese, it's a must order. We also got the marinated olives ($5) topped with Thyme and, strangely, orange shavings, which I wasn't a fan of at all. For our main course we ordered the Pan Roasted Scallops ($24) and the Salmon Nicoise ($18). The salmon was a bit too overcooked for my taste and cooked inconsistently, although even with these nit picks it was still very favorable. The scallops was the better of the two dishes. Yes you only get three half dollar size pan seared scallops, but it's surprisingly filling with the savory pine nuts and scallop jus (a thin gravy or sauce made from meat juices). These were perfectly prepared, and the rich and flavorful jus really added to the dish. We paired both dishes with the Pinot Grigio, Al Verdi, Molise, Italy 2014. All in all, we really enjoyed our dinner, and the bill only came to a little over $100 for all that great food. Fans of good western European food and/or wine will find a lot to like at Garces Trading Co.

I haven't given 2 stars before, so this was difficult for me and I've been waiting a couple days to post this... Short version: drinks: good, service: great, but the food was totally mediocre and I would never come here again for anything other than an overpriced happy hour. Longer version: We came here on Thursday night. It was raining and about 6:30ish but we got a table right away. The place was relatively empty, which should have been our first clue. The setup inside is nice, but it is small. If you wanted to bring a large party you should definitely call ahead. We ordered our drinks (I got the cherry whiskey drink and it was noms) and the cheese plate. The jams were the best thing about the cheese plate. We went with the option of getting 3 cheeses selected by the chef. We're not really into soft cheeses so we just had that as a stipulation. The plate came out with 3 cheeses, but we're pretty sure none of them were on the menu or maybe we just couldn't understand the guy who brought them out (super thick spanish? accent). I could have overlooked a surprise platter if any of them were really good, but they weren't. They were all really bland cheeses. No super nutty or smoky flavors, nothing interesting. We've walked by this place before with folks outside enjoying drinks and cheese looking super happy, so maybe we just had raised expectations. I don't know. But I was really disappointed. We then ordered the Margherita pizza to share. It's sicilian, so we knew it would be thick. And the menu indicated pepperoni (which, the excellent server pointed out to us as well since typically margherita pizzas don't have meat), which was fine. But the pizza literally came out looking like a Stouffer's frozen dinner had been popped in the microwave. The dish it was in was metal but looked exactly like one of the black plastic microwavable dishes you'd get with freezer aisle pizza. Just rip the plastic off, microwave, and you've got 100% authentic Garce's Trading Post pizza. It was okay pizza. I wasn't impressed with the oils and vinegar station (you can sample flavored oils and vinegars with your bread basket), but there was an interesting maple one that, when paired with jam from our mediocre cheese platter and bread from the free bread basket on our table, tasted like breakfast. But I'd have not missed it at all had our pizza had more of a presentation on it. I'm sorry I had to post a 2-star review here. But I get upset when I pay $30/person for one drink and sharing some light snacks before a show only to find out I could have gone to Super Fresh and gotten the same exact experience. The server was over the top though. He was the ginger fellow.

Considering that I've been living in the city for god knows how many years, I felt like it was very unPhiladelphian of me to not have eaten at Garces yet. We honestly just ended up here because every restaurant in the city (that I actually wanted to eat at) unfortunately didn't have a table available. We got seated immediately and the waiter was absolutely fantastic. He explained the entire menu and made everything sound so good! We ordered a bunch of plates, which unfortunately came out so fast that we didn't have enough room on our table... Poor planning by their staff. It almost became uncomfortable trying to get something onto my plate because I was so afraid of knocking something else off the table. Homemade mozzarella: apparently this is made to order and one of their specialties. Our waiter described it similar to a burrata. Unfortunately the whole cheese was just hard and cold and extremely difficult to piece apart (nowhere close to a burrata). Masala Vadai: this basically reminded me of four falafel balls on toothpicks. It was dry with barely any sauce, and not much flavor so I don't really know where they got the masala part from. Unfortunately we also had to scarfed them down because we didn't have any room on our table for others plates they brought. GTC meatballs: these were actually pretty good, and probably the best part of our meal. Vegetable Ministra: this was a super watered-down, tasteless soup with a ton of beans... I tried dipping their bread into the soup but unfortunately its all plain AF Carbonara pasta: The pasta itself is fresh, but the over dish is is tasteless. The peas taste like they were frozen, the sauce is tasteless, and I think there might of been like two slivers of meat... If that. I just put a ton of salt and pepper on the dish and try to make the most of it. I think I had grand expectations for a restaurant that is well known in the city, but unfortunately it fell wayyyy short. I was honestly quite surprised by how bland everything was, when Distrito (another Garces restaurant) is like magic. 2 stars - One for the great staff and one for the atmosphere

I loved the cheeses, the different olive oils and vinegar that you can try with bread. This was very exciting and why I give it a 5. The mozzarella appetizer was all very good. I got the celery remoulade, which was a bit too tangy for my tastes. I would give the remoulade a 3.5/5.

I returned to Garces Trading Co. a few days ago and I had an experience that made me rethink every 5-star rating I've ever given out. Our group of four sat down for a meal, a round of drinks and some dessert. The experience was truly excellent, we were given great seats in the wine room, our waiter, Leo, was extremely attentive and accommodating, and the atmosphere was perfect (I really enjoyed the tasteful Christmas decor). Of the dishes and drinks we ordered, I couldn't pick a bad selection. But, the one that truly stood out (and the reason I'm writing an updated review) is the Tuscan Fusilli Alla Carbonara. I can't remember ever tasting a dish so delicious. It's a pretty simple dish, long fusilli pasta, guanciale (it's like bacon), pecorino, peas, and black pepper. The result of that combo is a deliciously cheesy, bacon-y dish that really hits the spot without leaving you feeling heavy. Also, at only $16, this isn't anywhere near the most expensive option on the menu. Go to Garces Trading Co., eat the Carbonara, be in Heaven.

Always good for a casual lunch or dinner. I always order apps and rarely entrees . Very French Mediterranean. Get the cheese and meat boards. Olives and salads are very go to! The bread is excellent. Happy hour is crowed so get there early if you want a seat.

Visited during Restaurant Week 2016 and I have to say this was one my least favorites, out of all the restaurants I tried this week! We made reservations for 8:30pm and arrived on time but ended up having to wait 20-30min to be seated. This wasn't too bad since it was busy and I was thinking what the heck, if it's this busy the food my be great! Wrong! Ambience: I would say it was very "European Chic" meets winery! The place was well lit with nice wood tables and nice wood barn doors, leading to what appeared to be some sort of wine cellar and a area for dining. The crowd was lively and loud on this particular night, I constantly had to lean in hold a conversation with my dinner mate. I enjoyed the different olive oils you could try at the bar area as you waited to be seated. As well as their array of different oils and sauces you could buy and enjoy at home. This helped with us having to wait to be seated! Food Presentation: Nothing really to write home about as the food look good on the plate, but no over the top artistry, which is ok too! Taste: we started with bread that was given out to the table. Some sort of country style bread to use with the olive oil that was left out for the table. They ran out of the country style bread and started bringing of some thick sliced bread--which I called "Pound Cake Bread" because it look like a slice of pound cake and had a sweet buttery taste--I'm glad they ran out because this I enjoyed more than the food. First Course--we started with the chef's selection of cheese: Manchega was my favorite but my friend like the cheese that was similar to Brie and then house made Mozzarella, this was just ok for me! However, I did enjoy the Lavender Honey and the Roasted Garlic sauces that were paired w/ the cheeses. Second Course-- Meatballs and Pork gravy,Parmesan, and basil. Also, the Masala Vadai, black lentil, pickled Cauliflower, and smoked tomato aioli--again just ok for me. The black lentil was good. Third Course---I tried the Pan Roasted Scallops--these were cooked well and tasted ok. Fourth Course--chocolate cake and hazel nut ice cream, again just ok for me! Server: was great as he offered and gave me a complimentary beer, since we waited so long to be seated. I'm guessing he felt bad. Overall it was a full house and he had a huge party to attend to at another table. So he, and other staff seem to be scattered all over this night! I'm hoping management plan better for next RW. Revisit: No time soon! Food wasn't that great for me!

Leo, our server for lunch during restaurant week was awesome. He saw how much fun we were having and professionally encouraged us to have more fun. The food was fantastic. We were super surprised by how flavorful and enjoyable the pane panelle sandwich was, who knew chickpeas could be soooooo good. Best meal, best service, best overall experience during that week hands down.

Went here tonight for the first time, and was not disappointed by the food. Everything was delicious. We got here during happy hour and enjoyed some of the bar menu items, homemade mozzarella was incredible! We also had the marinated olives, duck liver mousse, and some cheese selections. This was enjoyed with bread and multiple samplings of the olive oils and vinegars they have for tastings. So fun. We then enjoyed the moules with pomme frites and the fusilli carbonara. This was served with a soft boiled egg on top. Delicious. The only thing that keeps me from giving 5stars is the energy in the place. Or lack thereof. It's not cozy unless you sit at the bar (which we did). The vibe is a little too open and almost sterile for my liking. That aside, the food and waitstaff were great! I would go again, but definitely sit at the bar.

3.5 rounded up ~ Drinks - 4 stars I got the Regent Punch and my sister got their Signature Red Bloody Mary $9 Both were made really well. Mine was potent with cognac flavor, but nice and sweet so it was easy to drink. The bloody mary was really flavorful and delicious Food was all around A-OK $10 Funghi Flatbread was pretty good, but it's hard to go wrong with adding some mushrooms and truffle oil to flatbread , nothing really exceptional $5 bacon (3 STRIPS!) and $5 duck fat frites were underwhelming -- (needed dat cheese sauce ;) ) I got the duck confit salad , which was also a little underwhelming. I really liked the mustard that came with it, that added a lot to the flavor. The duck was tender, but not extremely flavorful. TIP: Try out all those oils when you first go in! That's what boosted this 3.5 to a 4 star.

This is one of many times I wish Yelp have half stars because this is really a 4.5 star to which I'd happily return. Five stars for: - the lovely simple but inviting and warm atmosphere, friendly but not overbearing service; -delicious summer cocktails (my husband had the Edgar Allen Poe cocktail with rye, absinthe, lemon juice, thyme, and ginger beer; I enjoyed the blue coat gin, lillet Blanc, grapefruit, and Rose brut cocktail); and -the star of the evening, the Saffron Trenette with shrimp, clams, tomato, and bottarga. This was the best seafood pasta dish I think I've ever had. And I've had a lot. It had a seafood gravy that was luscious yet light, and seeped into the fettuccine. Just divine. I couldn't get enough. It paired perfectly with the Vinho Verde. Slightly less incredible yet still delicious were: -the roasted carrots over a subtle yoghurt sauce; -the lentil fritters which were just perfectly crispy almost falafels paired wonderfully with a pickled cauliflower, though I think the fritters lacked seasoning and just a bit more salt would have made them unforgettable; and - the salmon Nicoise which was beautifully presented and light, but wasn't particularly memorable.

We went here for restaurant week and I liked that the special menu was the only option at the time, as you knew they were going to put extra effort into the dishes. They had a cheese and meat board options as the first course, which was the perfect option as there were two of us. They served us bread right before and did not tell us that was the bread that was also meant for our cheese board, which would have been nice to know. They do let you try a variety of balsamic and olive oils that you can pour yourself which was fun. We both ordered the mussels next, and the sauce was absolutely wonderful, we both wanted to scrape our bowls clean. At least four of the shells weren't open, so I do wish that the kitchen staff had been more thorough in checking. I ordered the carbonara, which was mouth-watering delicious. I'm not a huge pasta person and the sauce was addicting. I ended up eating the leftovers first thing the next morning. The chocolate mousse was disappointing, as it was not as rich as I hoped, and the pistachio on top did not taste like anything. Four stars is the perfect overall rating for this place. Our server was wonderful, but he was very busy and running around the whole time. The food was very good, but it was not very unique or earth shattering for the reputation of the chef. The beers are at least $10 and the wine selection lacks variety.

This was a fabulous meal and pretty affordable for a nice night out. It wasn't too crowded on a Saturday night so I assume you can get in without a reservation. We had a cheese mixto platter with the olives to start. Our main courses were the scallops and the special pasta of the evening which were both fantastic. They have great cocktails and tasty desserts too!

Came in for dinner. Service was great and the food wasn't too bad either. Ordered the meatballs, cheese tray with meats and fresh mozzarella. I thought the meatballs were my favorite. Four come to an order and they are served with a delicious gravy. The fresh mozzarella was ok but a little too stretchy and oily for my taste. The dining atmosphere is nice and I really enjoyed the music. Our server was knowledgeable about the menu and took good care of us. Worth a visit if you are in the area.

The concept is cool and the atmosphere is nice. The food -It's OK. But we were not impressed by any means. We choose the chefs tasting menu. First came a cheese board and dish of olives. Neither were very good. Next beet salad and cauliflower appetizer. I was looking forward to these and they could have been great but again no wow, no flavor, nothing special. Pasta came next with light cheese sauce and peas ? I'm feeling like I should have stayed home. Then salty strips of trout, why ? Then steak and fries. So the fries were the best part but I did not come out for fries !!!! Won't be back with all the other fantastic places in Philly we have been.

Not what I expected. I was really excited to try this place out, the brunch menu looked awesome and they have outdoor seating. I was very underwhelmed by the food. We started off with bread, there was no butter or oil that came with it. We then got the mozzarella which was so disappointing, it was chewy and very hard to eat it since it was one huge chunk of it served in a bowl. I got the house sangria which was okay. For my main course I got the pancakes which were not very appealing.

Great ambiance and great happy hour apps. Came here and loved it. Would have liked a few more options for apps, and longer HH hours. Other than that, Great service, unique dishes. We will be back!

I just got back from dinner with wife at this fantastic Garces spot. The bar is the place to be. I mean, the tables are fine, but I like to sit side by side. Anyway, that's besides the point. The service was fantastic. Water and our first glasses of wine came out promptly. The wine list is great; there are lots of offering from the Iberian Peninsula but you'll find other great wines from regions ranging from Austria to California and everything in between. Though I did not partake, the cocktail list is drool-inducing. As for the food, it is executed perfectly. Why is it so hard to find properly cooked al dente pasta? Graces does it well. We also had the mozzarella. And the cauliflower? Deliciously prepared with just the right seasoning. I asked for more bread to soak up all the deliciousness left on the plates. We were getting full but our intention was to order the steak. I'll leave that for our next visit, which will likely earn Garces Trading another star. Also, Sari A recommended the truffle pizza as I was ordering dessert. I was sooo very tempted but it was just not possible tonight! Ok, another item added to the list for our next visit. Desserts were fantastic. Again, more items to add to the growing list for our next visit. I really enjoyed Sunday dinner at Garces TC. We will be back for more!

I heard good things about this place from friends. I was surprised that it wasn't super full. Parking is really difficult to find because of city sips and free parking on Wed. I really liked the fresh mozzarella. The Funghi Pizza was also really good! Wasn't a fan of the pasta. Would I come here again? Maybe. I guess it depends on the situation especially since parking is hard to find.