An elegant hideaway featuring a diverse global menu, perfect for a leisurely brunch or an exquisite chef's tasting experience, complete with stellar service.
"The Rittenhouse. Ever heard of it? It’s been the city’s most acclaimed hotel since 1989, its name synonymous with luxury and elegance. Coldplay and Beyoncé stay here when they’re in town, and rumor has it Oprah keeps a set of Baccarat dog bowls in-house for when she and the pups visit. You get the idea. Lacroix, the hotel restaurant, has bigfoot-sized shoes to fill (and based on its setting, the anticipation of mind-blowing food). But its technical prowess and exceptional service doesn’t quite balance out the lackluster dishes and stiff atmosphere. photo credit: Phillip Gabriel Entering Lacroix on the 2nd floor of the hotel, you’re immediately hit by the grandeur of it all. The ceilings are high, the room has a soft glow, and the entire space looks out onto a fantastic view of Rittenhouse Square below. There’s a bar and lounge area for a (slightly) more casual meal, and a few steps down, the velvet-laden, white table-clothed main dining room. It all makes for a very beautiful, very boring scene. Everyone from the attentive, knowledgeable servers to the couples overlooking the park speak in hushed tones, like they all know about a maximum-volume rule that you’re not privy to, while a soundtrack of '90s-era smooth jazz compounds the stunted energy in the room. The restaurant calls itself “international,” but the menu—broken up into vegetables or meats—is largely French, with hints of Japanese. Order a la carte or give “carte blanche” to the chef, but either way, plan to spend at least $200 a head. Some dishes are indeed fantastic: the veloutè of asparagus with black truffle and poached egg was velvety and downright drinkable, and we fought over who got to finish the risotto of new potatoes with kaluga caviar. But far too many dishes are forgettable, and remind us of an AI model—incredibly technical and beautiful to look at, with little depth below the surface. photo credit: Craig Fineburg Lacroix certainly isn’t blazing new trails in the world of fine dining, but if you’re comfortable with the price tag, it is a beautiful but muted place to eat some well-executed dishes filled with luxury ingredients. And hey—if it’s good enough for Oprah’s dogs, it’s (occasionally) good enough for us. Food Rundown The menu here changes seasonally, but these are the types of dishes you can expect. photo credit: Craig Fineburg Aubergine With Basil And Blackberry We really want to like this dish. It sounds interesting and looks gorgeous, but the eggplant was tough and didn’t meld with the other flavors on the plate. Much like Bennifer, it just doesn’t work. photo credit: Craig Fineburg Risotto Of New Potatoes With Kaluga Caviar And Chive This risotto is rich and creamy, balanced beautifully by the salty caviar. Easily our favorite dish here. photo credit: Craig Fineburg Grilled Lobster With Beef Fat And Wild Berries photo credit: Craig Fineburg Raw Beef With Herbes De Provence, Egg Yolk, And Sucrine" - Alison B. Kessler
"This grand Rittenhouse restaurant hosts a lively all-day brunch (from 11:30 am to 5 pm) includes seasonal Thanksgiving favorites (such as smoked ham with maple mustard rosemary glaze, pumpkin pie terrine, gratin of brussels sprouts) and more for $150 per person ($75 per child 8 and under). Reservations online are encouraged." - Ernest Owens
"Lacroix on Rittenhouse Square has all the trappings of a fancy *ss restaurant: sommeliers dying to tell you about vine temperatures, more bookshelves than a public library branch, French mother sauces and Japanese cooking techniques, and chandeliers with both candles and bulb lighting. It's admittedly stiff, but the food often makes up for the snooze. You’re going to encounter matsutake mushroom, pine oil, tournedos rossini, American wagyu, and bordelaise. You'll also feel your bank account getting slimmer as the night goes on. But if you want Fancy with a capital F, you’ll be pleased. " - candis mclean, alison kessler
"Lacroix is an international (but heavily French) restaurant on the second floor of The Rittenhouse Hotel. While it’s not the most exciting spot, it’s spacious, beautiful, and has fantastic views of Rittenhouse Square. Try the root vegetable carpaccio, beef tartare with potato chips and smoked paprika, or the juicy steak au poivre if you have a nice-sized group to share it with. There are plenty of tables and large booths where your coworkers can pass around oysters, or you can reserve the private dining room for politely pretending that you haven’t heard your boss tell the same story a thousand times. " - candis mclean
"Lacroix is an international—but heavily French—restaurant on the second floor of The Rittenhouse Hotel, and it is fancy with a capital F. Sommeliers whisper-talk about vine temperatures, dishes are adorned with French mother sauces, and chandeliers glow with both candles and bulbs. The room is admittedly stiff, but the food often makes up for the snooze. You’re going to have things like risotto of new potatoes with Kaluga caviar and chive that disintegrate in your mouth, perfect Parisian gnocchi with foie gras and trumpet mushrooms, and tender, nicely gamey quail with brussels sprouts. If you need a safe, luxurious place, this is it." - alison kessler
