Park Place Café & Restaurant

I loooove Park Place. There are only 5ish tables. Only one seating a night. Super quaint. Real Records playing. Josh the host is amazing he is kind, he takes his time, he makes sure you’re comfortable and cared for. The chef is fabulous he cooks everything and actually forages some ingredients for every dish. Lots of love goes into each dish. There is no menu so you eat what your served- that’s the fun and adventure of it ! It may take you several months to get in. But it’s worth the wait. Call and leave a message and they will get back to you have patience ! It’s something different and special. It’s not a place to have food. It’s a place to experience enjoying good company and fine dining. Enjoy !

Let's start this off by saying the waitress has an amazing memory. Her description of the 3 fish specials and 2 meat specials was phenomenal. That was only the beginning. The foie gras crepe with reduced red maple syrup and truffles was nothing short of world changing. I feel like I should not say more, just go. That's all, just go….. another mazing meal same incredible experience

Brunch was exquisite and incredible. A true delight to visit. Park Place's unique menu offers all of your classic options but perfectly made. Best of all: They roast their own coffee and truly make the perfect cup.

This place deserves 20 stars! One of THE BEST places in the USA I have visited. The food is phenomenal: it’s creative, delicious, made to the table, and the presentation is UNBELIEVABLE! Incredible atmosphere, fresh wild flowered on a table, old-school soft jazz music played on a turn table (!!), and a cozy warm feeling of a small European restaurant - we felt like on a vacation abroad and not in NJ. Our server Francesca was just outstanding - she described every meal with such a passion that my partner and I wanted to order everything on the menu. Francesca takes pride in the restaurant and really is an amazing person. The other waiter, Jeff (sorry if we are wrong) was very friendly and accommodating. My partner and I could not stop saying “awe” with every new meal we ordered, and later we went to shake a hand to the chef, Philip Manganaro. It was a big pleasure and a big honor to meet all the staff members since the restaurant is truly a gem. We are DEFINITELY coming back and bringing a little present for Philip with us.

Park Place is a small cozy restaurant with a very talented chef/owner in downtown Merchantville. The food and service is impeccable. Everything is prepared with fresh ingredients. My friend had seared scallops with crispy pig face and spanish octopus. I enjoyed the ribeye steak and potatoes. We enjoyed flourless chocolate cake and egg nog ice cream.

Absolutely incredible all around. The service is unmatched, and each course was absolutely fantastic. Chef Phil took time out of his night to chat with us as well. Cannot wait to be back again!

Probably the best high concept food in South Jersey and competes with the best of Philadelphia. . Very intimate setting and attentive service. Plan to spend some time.

We've been here three or four times and every time it is truly a delight. Although it's relatively under the radar, I'd confidently say this is some of the best food in the Philadelphia area. When Michelin comes here this restaurant is deserving of some stars. I cannot sing enough praise this restaurant.

Park Place is a true gem in such a small town; I never thought I could get food this good around this area. Every dish feels like a top-notch dining experience, crafted by a world-class chef, so nothing round-around about it like the 'family-friendly' Applebees. This location is small and intimate, with just a couple of tables, which makes it perfect for an anniversary dinner or any special meal for two (maybe three at most). The attention to detail, quality of food, and cozy atmosphere make it absolutely worth it. A definite 5-star experience.

Don't be fooled by the menu listed here, the magical dishes are constantly changing. The chef is an artisan and he forages. Absolutely unique and unlike anything we have had. Bring wine and settle in for a tastings menu that will change your perspective on food experiences.

Food is authentic and creative. Who knew we had this special place in Merchantville. Service is top notch with accurate food knowledge.

We visited Park Place Cafe and Restaurant after a long-awaited reservation (two months out). It is a 6 course tasting menu, so all you need to do is show up. The four of us were impressed by how relaxed the atmosphere was. Places that offer tasting menus tend to be a little on the stuffy side. Not here! We were warmly greeted, and the journey began. -- Hamachi Loin Crudo - not much of a presentation but the buttery notes of the fish stole the show -- Bar Harbor Seaweed Butter Roasted Cod Loin - this was melt-in-your-mouth good -- Black Trumpet Mushroom Risotto - again, the presentation was underwhelming, but it was cooked perfectly -- Lard Seared Quail - juicy and flavorful -- Crispy Suckling Pig - nice texture with smoky notes -- Mascarpone Cheesecake - yes ma'am! Loved the blueberry puree In the spirit of Christmas, the chef provided us with eggnog and a few pieces of homemade torrone. Nice touch! We didn't realize you could customize your experience based on your culinary preferences (our friend made the reservation on our behalf), There was a seafood option (no meat) and had I known that I probably would have gone that route. But I enjoyed everything that was placed in front of me. The portions were just enough for me, but my husband was snackish when we got home. You won't leave stuffed. BYOB. Small parking lot in the back. Go on with your bad self, Merchantville!

This was one of the most memorable dining experiences of my life! Phil's food brought me back to my senses. It was an immersive journey from start to finish. I am still sorting through and understanding the many thoughtful layers of flavor, aroma, texture, ideas, and concepts that went into these dishes. First, I want to say, we left very satisfied. From the perspective of eating out, this meal was filling and fun. But as someone who is deeply interested in food, this dinner reinvigorated my passion for cuisine, erasing years of jadedness that had developed in response to the onslaught of hipster chefs that are currently dominating the food space. This place is different. Ok, maybe I'm a bit biased, as I came down here to work with Chef Phil for a TV series I host called WildFed. It's a culinary adventure series on Outdoor Channel, where we hunt, fish, forage, and cook meals. I knew Phil was a forager, but I didn't really understand the caliber of chef he is. First, I'll just say Phil couldn't be any more humble or unassuming. I spent a day foraging in the field with him and never detected even a hint of the pretension I often associate with chefs at his level. I hadn't witnessed this in a chef of his abilities before. After filming with him, he invited me and the crew to experience what "he really does". It was a 7-course tasting menu that began with Hamachi and "essence of shagbark hickory". As soon as the plate arrived, with a long piece of hickory bark smoldering from one end -- filling my nostrils with delicious smoke -- I knew I was in for something different. Not different for the sake of being different, this was truly born of passion, sophistication, and meaning. All seven courses blew my mind. I was particularly struck by the squab with cherry blossoms and cherry bud syrup. Pink flower petals, pink syrup, and beautifully cooked bonless thigh of pigeon with a pink inner flesh that matched the rest of the plate. The flavors were sublime. We finished out with a spruce tip ice cream served with a spruce cone dressed in snowy confectionary sugar. It looked like winter and the first bite took me home for Christmas. Every plate was surprisingly simple, with just a few ingredients. Nothing was complicated or overly reaching. The ingredients speak for themselves. Knowing Phil is gathering these plants and mushrooms in the field adds another layer to the experience. These dishes were sublime. I can't recommend this experience enough. A word of warning. Come with no expectations. Phil has chosen to walk an alternative path through the world. He doesn't do things the way he is "supposed to", rather, he does things the way that feels right for him. It's incredibly refreshing, as long as you aren't expecting it to be like any other experience you've had before. Oh, and it's BYOB, so come prepared. The table is reserved for you. It's yours for the night, so lay your burdens at the door, and come prepared to settle in and relax. The entire experience was about 2.5 hours and left my team and me feeling euphoric. We started the long drive back to Maine buzzing with excitement. The car was filled with conversation stimulated by this masterfully prepared meal. Chef Manganaro is functioning on another level. Don't miss this opportunity!

Exceptional food, service and vibe! We had been hearing about Park Place and talking about going with a friend and his wife for a while - and we finally made it happen. And I already cannot wait to return. Everything was truly exceptional in a very chill environment. It's a tasting menu, so you learn a few days before your visit what you will be having. And I have to say, nothing disappointed. Despite the small team, service didn't miss a beat, either. If you are looking for some interesting, unique grub, you've found your place. BYOB. Cash only. I can't wait to come back!

Somewhat hidden on Park Avenue is the Park Place Cafe. It's hidden only by its facade because it takes months to get a reservation. It's a very small space with approximately 4 tables for 4 people and 1 table just for 2. At this time I think it may only be a Tasting Menu. There were 6 items on the menu - all picked by the Chef so you must be a little adventurous and trusting. We were taken there by friends and therefore I don't have any idea of the cost because there were no prices on the menu. I'm sure when you make your reservation those details will be explained. I guess at some point close to your reservation date, you can get a copy of the menu. But on to the delicious meal. All of the picks were fantastic. You can see our menu by clicking on the picture I included. All items were served individually, with the 2nd course not served until everyone had finished the first, etc. The selections ran from 2 different fish, a Kanpachi with Lard Roasted Ramp Bulbs, to a Wild Mushroom Infused Cream Sauce over Red Snapper. The Strozzapreti pasta with Pheasant Bolognese was probably the "winner" of the night. This was followed by Braised Rabbit Leg and a Venison Loin. All the sauces were different as well as delicious. A New Jersey Black Walnut Cake was served for dessert. Josh, our Server/Manager (and the only one serving all 5 tables) was really fun to talk to and was very personable. He kept the flow of entrees at a very comfortable pace. After dessert he invited us to go into the kitchen to meet Philip Manganaro, the Chef/Owner. It appears he works the kitchen by himself, a task that many Chefs could not do. If you have the patience to wait to snag a reservation, this is a spot to definitely try. It's a BYO.

Truly a hidden gem! I came here on a double date, recommended by our friend who made the reservations. It was 6 courses and everything was just perfect. According to our friend, each menu is customized to your liking and everything is locally sourced so it is super fresh and you can taste it too. The first two courses were fish. My fiance doesn't like fish unless it is sushi/sashimi but he loved it here. There was also baby goat with their homemade tomato sauce and parmesan cheese and had a slight kick to it. This was probably my second favorite, next to the seared hamachi with pickled mustard greens. The other fish dish was breaded fluke. It was so lightly breaded and perfectly fried to give it that nice crunch when you initially bite in without the breading breaking off in all different directions. This is not your Long John Silvers fish 'n chips. The quail with wine berry jam was also delicious, and I think was the winner at my table. I don't tend to gravitate towards sweet and savory which was why it wasn't my top two,but I'd definitely eat it again. Duck leg with honey comb and duck bone reduction - another favorite of the table. I absolutely loved the novelty, creativity, and presentation. Again, not a sweet/savory kinda gal, so I broke rules and ate honeycomb and duck pretty much separately. Would I eat this dish again? Absolutely. Sugar cookie foie gras with juneberry preserves - sounds exotic? Because it is. I saw foie gras with sweet on sweet?! But it works. The foie gras was sandwiched between two sugar cookies. I am in love with the creativity of this. Dessert was a flourless chocolate torte. Unfortunately, I considered myself finicky (not in a good way) with desserts. You won't really see me snacking on sweets thats not sugary beverages/soda or sour patch. So I would say the chocolate torte was my least favorite. That absolutely does not mean it's not good, I just don't eat tortes like I refuse to touch cilantro. When I go to other restaurants,I almost never order dessert on my own volition unless it sounds super unique like sage ice cream, so take my dessert comment with a grain of salt. BYOB with great service. Small place, intimate environment. The only complaint that we unanimously had was towards the end of 9ur dinner was when wine club came which was like 10 people so it got very loud in such a small setting.

The most excellent cuisine in the Philadelphia area! This 4-table find is the home of James Beard award chef Phil Manganaro. Everything was OUTSTANDING

It's been 2 years since I wrote my 1st review about Park Place so I thought I would start by stating if you STILL haven't dined at Park Place, what are you waiting for!? Chef Phil and Francesca make you feel at home every time you dine with them. Food is cooked to order - be patient - as your patience WILL be rewarded with the food that is presented to you. If you lick your plate, I won't judge. Chef Phil creates innovative dishes, forging local ingredients such as mushrooms, flowers, etc., and sharing top quality meats, oils, fish - you name it! It's always an incredible evening dining at Park Place. Perhaps I'll see you there!

This place was discovered by my wife. My cousin lives in Newark, Delaware and we live outside of Trenton so we generally look in the Cherry Hill area for a central location. This a small interior space with an plain unassuming front leading into the restaurant. There are only about 10 tables in the restaurant. Plain wooden tables with heavy wooden chairs fill the interior. We were the only diners there for lunch. There is a turntable in an old entertainment console. There are several boxes of old records left by patrons which play in the background. The brunch menu had about 6/7 offerings including French toast, pancakes and several egg offerings. There were several sandwich choices including a BLT, pig cheeks and duck confit. The chef has classical French training. He previously worked for Steven Starr in Philadelphia before opening this place with his partner. His partner works the front of the house and he handles the back of the house. All breads used are prepared on the premises. I also ordered ginger soda. I was expecting a bottle of gourmet ginger soda. What I received was a homemade ginger soda. The fresh ginger was obvious but not overpowering. It was quite good. We ordered an assortment of foods including two egg dishes, smoked salmon sandwich, the duck confit sandwich and the pig cheeks sandwich. My cousin's husband and I split our sandwiches. His duck confit was clearly the winner of the two. Although our server advised me that there was lots of fat in the pig cheeks there more fat than meet which was a disappointment. We did opt for some desserts which are all homemade. Espresso ice cream and dark chocolate were served with little wafers/cookies. I chose a crepe filled with a ricotta crepe and dusted with chocolate and powdered sugar. It was not heavy at all. The restaurant technically closed at one point but the front of the house person stayed to do some work so we stayed and chatted. The chef leaves to go and buy ingredients for tonight's dinner. Our server told us that dinner is very busy. In fact reservations are booked at least a month in advance. This is a charming little place with excellent food. We'll definitely be coming here for dinner soon.

Park Place came highly recommended by a family member, so we figured we'd give it a try. Called in the afternoon for reservations that night, but thanks to our attempt at last minute plans, we were told they didn't have any availability. We quickly got a call back, however, with the hostess offering us availability at their "community table", a big table, she said, with one couple on the other end, and flowers, and we "wouldn't even know they were there". It was either that or another restaurant, so we decided to give it a shot and made the reservation. ` We walked in for our reservations and were surprised at how small the place was. Our recommender told us it was small, but it was even smaller than expected. Directly to my right we saw the "community table" - a square table that could fit no more than two people on a side and another couple already seated at one of the corners. I almost walked out then and there, and probably should have, but we had the reservation and figured we'll see how it goes. We sat with the other couple, my wife next to him and his wife at a right angle across from me. Idle conversation at first, they were a little too friendly with the man grabbing our wine bottle to check our wine selection and resting his arm on the back of my wife's chair. We had our appetizers; then, another couple came in and sat opposite the others, so I now had someone directly next to me at the table. The first couple wrapped it up and left, and we were left with our entrees and the talkative other couple. The food itself was good, maybe a notch better than good. The community table really killed our experience, however. The hostess made it sound like it was a big table with one other couple at the other end, and we "wouldn't even know they were there". Not accurate at all. Not that big a table, two other couples, and we definitely knew they were there. Food: B Atmosphere at the Community Table: D

We pushed our Valentine's dinner to Thursday night and our options were open. I saw the menu for this new restaurant and it was the lucky choice of the night. They have an easy location to find with it's own parking lot. There is so much to love about this restaurant with your first steps inside. The strung up lights add to the ambiance, the beautiful plants hung up on the wall, the sweet vinyl record player near the front door (which by the way we were told we can bring our own to play during dinner), the intimate dinning room that has just a handful of tables.. all of the little details made this a very cozy place to enjoy an incredible meal. Being a BYOB, we brought along a bottle of Pinot Noir and they promptly set up wine glasses for us, along with water glasses. Our server came along and let us know of the specials and thus began our meal. We started out with the Chicken Live Pâté. I COULDN'T HAVE LOVED THIS MORE IF THEY TRIED. Loved. Seriously. First off, the presentation was great. The pâté came in this glass teacup, good portion size too. Grilled bread was the main vehicle and two accompaniments: pear w/ thyme compote and caramelized onions. My heart was melting with each bite. Brilliant job on this. Can you tell I like Pâté? ;) For the entrees, he went with one of the specials, Icelandic Cod. Elegantly cooked, the Cod was so flavorful, light and flaky. I went with the Duck Breast and it was perfect. The skin was crisp, the meat medium rare and juicy. The duck confit mixed in with with kale & carrots, and the sauce.. I could eat this at least 4 times a week. We added a side of spatzle, since it's another favorite of mine and rarely on menus. This dish was light and buttery, with herbs mixed in. It was an excellent side dish. I was full after this but magically had room for some desserts. He went with the hot doughnut holes -glazed (as per recommended by the staff), which were served in like a snifter. These babies were hot, crispy on the outside, light doughy soft on the inside. VERY good choice. The lemon cake helped me end the night. The cake itself was dense, but moist, with a light fresh whipped cream and the best crunch contrast from the praline bites sprinkled on top. We were told to come back to try their brunch, and the words of sausage and gravy has us hooked. I'm excited to get back here and try out the rest of the menu!

Now I know why this place had such a good rating. The food is A-mazing, ordered the mushroom omelette that was stuffed with cheese and bacon and it was awesome. The omelette itself was super fluffy and light and the bacon was top notch. Also something unique to me was that the home fries were not little chopped up greasy strands of potatoes but actual potatoes seasoned to perfection. I was also able to sneak a piece of the fried chicken and French toast and what an amazing combo. The dish blended very well to my surprise and I may have to get that next time. Honestly I cannot get over how cool this place was . Service check, food check, atmosphere check. I see no reason not to stop by here. Next time I will have to check out dinner.

Amazing but true. This is not only the best new restaurant in the Philly area, it is a very strong contender for the best...period! Eminently worth the trip across the bridge into terra incognita, otherwise known to some as New Jersey. And don't forget to bring your best wine.

Myself and six of my girlfriends went here for our lunch break today... I had read a news article about this restaurant back when they opened and had wanted to try it for a while. I'm so glad we did! First impressions: Clean, sweetly decorated with fresh plants, nice music playing on a record player, and the kindest waitress you could ask for. The food: A few of us had the BLT on Milkbread, I had the Herb Omelette, Nicoise Salad, and one had the Chicken Pate. We all devoured our food, and it was a rare moment where each of us finished every bite on our plates. The food was so fresh and thoughtfully cooked. Our hats off to the chef! Dessert: We all sprung for several desserts which we shared between us. Our favorite was the warm donut holes in the glaze sauce - wow, it was tremendous! And we really enjoyed the walnut butter churned ice cream. The Bathroom: Very clean, nice hand soap and nicely decorated. Only drawback was the trash was piled high and there are some obvious construction issues with the floor and the floorboards around the door. Overall - Absolutely a 5 Star experience! We are all going to go back for lunch again and we are looking forward to going back for dinner as well!

Gone but not forgotten!!! The pandemic put a knife in their hearts! This was the best restaurants in Merchantville!! A true loss

This place was so wonderful. We called ahead and discussed a dinner tasting menu and immediately were impressed with the individualized super attentive customer service. The chef personally called us back to help plan our menu. They even tailored our evening to fit a time schedule. The place is quaint with a great atmosphere. The food was really delicious, it surprised us how this small place in a small town could serve us food that was comparable if not better than some of the best restaurants in larger cities. Go now before this place becomes too popular.

Delicious! A great find!! Service and food was top notch. Had the halibut for dinner, was cooked to perfection with a sauce to die for! Highly recommend.

This is more of a 2.5 star review. We were sat right away and immediately I began to sweat. They had their door open thus there wasn't any AC on. Why? Well, the restaurant was filled with smoke from the kitchen. It remained this way for our entire stay. On their menu they advertize homemade sodas and so I ordered one. The rootbeer, and my fiance ordered the lemon soda. She liked hers, but mine left a lot to be desired. It tasted like a diet coke that had all of its ice melt into it. So, watered down soda. it didn't have any of the rootbeer taste I was hoping for. As for the food, I ordered their pig special and the fiance ordered the bolognese. She initially ordered the ribeye but then our server told us it takes 28 minutes to cook. Uh, what? Why does it take 28 minutes to cook a steak? Not wanting to wait that long, she changed her order. After about 20-25 minutes our meals arrived and I was immediately visually upset. My $32 meal was about the size of an appetizer. For the price I was expecting... more? It tasted fine, but I was still pretty hungry after I was done. Literally ate it in about 2 minutes it was that small of a portion. When I spend good money I don't want to be hungry after my meal. I should be satisfied. The bolognese was also a fairly small portion. We declined dessert fearing it would be too small of a portion and went elsewhere. Overall, I'm happy we tried this place but considering I didn't enjoy nearly anything I more than likely won't be back.

We stumbled upon Park Place Cafe by sheer accident, a crazy lucky find. It was packed, but two seats were available at a community table so we grabbed them. Best dining decision in ages. Everything was superb. Littleneck clams in saffron leek broth and Pancetta bread soup were both divine appetizers. American red snapper with radishes in an Amoro reduction was perfection, and duck confit was equally delicious. Liquid chocolate and shortbread cookies was an even better dessert than imagined. To top it off, we made fast friends with our dining companions who were a delightful couple that loved good food, wine & unusual dessert beers. Park Place Cafe has only been open for 3 weeks. Go now. When the food is this good word spreads fast.

After several rave reviews from friends, and the Philly inquirer review, we were really excited to try Park Place, but were a bit disappointed. On the positive side, the food was good, and the atmosphere is cute. However, we didn't find the food particularly exciting, particularly for the price, and the portions were on the small side. The ventilation doesn't seem to be that good for the kitchen, so we left smelling like grease and smoke (we sat nearest the kitchen, but the place is small so I think it would be similar elsewhere). The service was adequate, but it was a bit difficult to get refills on coffee several times. In general, it was ok, but we don't plan to return.

We've been waiting to try this place since it opened and it was worth the wait. We went for lunch but showed up and it was the brunch menu (still incredible). I thought it was so cute that the coffee was served in china tea cups. I had the duck confit sandwich with arugula and french dressing on toasted bread and my husband had the breakfast burger. Sooo good. The staff was really friendly. I saw someone else's dessert it looked great but l was too stuffed to try one. Can't wait to go back for dinner!

Amazing food. Attentive, helpful service. Creative menu. We went for dinner on a Friday night and absolutely loved every moment and every bite. The mushroom soup was amazing, as was the salmon special. The hot glazed doughnut hole dessert was a lovely treat. Can't wait to go back for brunch.

I went in on Mother's day so I knew it was going to be busy. And it actually wasn't. Got in and greeted by a guy who asked if we had reservations. We said no and he said they could only sit us outside which was kind of cold outside. But then a lady came and said that we could be sitted inside. But food is over priced and not that good. And my chicken was burnt and undercooked. Like how is thay even possible?! I told our waiter that and ahpwed him the pinkness and said "oh no it's cooked" I was so annoyed I just paid and left.

Amazing food, great service, great atmosphere. A total gem hidden in a very small town.

I'm a foodie, one who worked in fine dining restaurant for a long time and I am a very tough customer. We came in for a late brunch on Sunday. We were one of the few late tables, we never felt rushed even though we were the last table to leave. I ordered the duck confit sandwich and it was DEVINE! My fiancée got the schnitzel and it was delish. Our friends got eggs and the French toast, and I have to say that was the best French toast I ever tried (my duck sandwich was even better if you can believe it). We love Park Place and can't wait to go back! Staff was super friendly, service was on point, great atmosphere, 5 stars all the way!

Ok. A few things. One: plan on spending a LONG night. Our reservation was 640. It was 815 when we got our salad. I think they are trying to convince you this is a European experience. Nope. Just a bad one. Lived in Europe. This is not. I'm not really sure why this is so highly rated. We had high hopes. When we finally got our meal it was really bad. I won't go into details except to say not good. They did comp us and we left. To each his own. Just really. It's not all that. Sorry. I wanted so much to like this place but no.

Phenomenally creative. In my opinion, Chef Phil is the most creative chef in the greater Philadelphia market. The flavors and tastes are spectacular. On a recent Friday night we had elk loin, pig face and hamachi crudo. But it's the preparation and creativity that blow you away. The combination of tastes is unlike anything I have ever experienced. Anyone who enjoys and values a unique dining experience should try Park Place. Arguably it's probably not for everyone. I think you need to be adventuresome. Park Place is worth every dollar and is memorable. It's been over two weeks and I am still savoring the experience. #1 in south Jersey and right up there in the Philadelphia market.

We have had the pleasure of dining at Park Place 5 or 6 times. We have brought friends and family so we can watch their reactions as they experience the exquisite culinary creations. The attention to detail and the use of fresh sourced ingredients is evident in every delicious bite. Francesca is a delightful host and guide through the ever changing array of wonderful choices. Chef Phil and Francesca both make you feel so at home and they work so hard at making sure you have an enjoyable experience. Pasta is freshly made. Only the finest and freshest seafood is offered. The lamb dishes are to die for. But that pistachio ice cream OMG. If you want to salivate before your next visit pull up their Facebook page and look at the photos of the daily offerings. Dare you. (A colleague at work has a photo of the pistachio ice as his screen saver just to torment me. Go and enjoy)

Special place for all foodies! Eclectic and exciting menu. Neighborhood bistro with community and chef's tables. Nothing like it in the philly area. Fabulous owners dedicated to making all welcome

Amazing surprise! We are local and love that we can walk there. The cappicino was great and my husband loved the fresh brewed coffee. We came in for brunch with our 3 year old who is very picky. He loved his french toast as we loved our dishes as well. Price was reasonable for flavorful dishes, very attentive and sweet service and relaxing atmosphere. Its a diamond in the ruff.

I live in the neighborhood and I've given this place three tries now, all for lunch. I really want to like it here. I know there is a lot of thought and effort being put into what they do, but I've honestly been let down each time. Let me start with the positives--delicious coffee. I will always go back here for the coffee. It's also a lovely little place with great music on vinyl. The sodas were cool, and again there is serious effort being put in here. Now to the food: Back in the Spring, I had the pea shoot salad. The salad was composed entirely of pea shoots and peas--honestly I expected some greens, radishes or other seasonal vedge, but it was all pea components. The shoots were like 7 inches long and very awkward to eat, and then you had to chase the peas around the dish with your utensils to finish it off. The dressing was meh and the whole thing was just overall anticlimactic. It was awkward to eat and the logistics of it were clearly not thought out. That may sound inconsequential, but that is an extremely important element of a dish, especially a mediocre one. The next thing I had there was a breakfast burger. Again, logistics. The burger was so tall you couldn't fit your mouth around it. My first bite everything shot out of the back of the burger, and I had to finish the rest of it with my utensils. Not that big of a deal, but I still had my first impression of their plate logistics (pea shoots) on the mind. The meat was totally hammered. I mean extra well done hockey puck, no pink in the burger. I wasn't asked for a temperature on it, and didn't specify because I thought "Oh maybe it's just a thin patty", but it wasn't. A thick patty like that should never be automatically cooked to well and they should know that. The home fries were ok. Coffee on point as usual. Finally, I tried to go the conservative route and get an omelette. I think it was a foraged mushroom omelette. Instead of having the ingredients mixed throughout the egg in the omelette, it was like an egg burrito wrapped around the mushrooms. Kind of a letdown. Some bites had mushrooms, others didn't. If it were my first impression I'd maybe have reacted differently, but it was my third and probably my last--at least for lunch. I read the Laban review, and I was pretty surprised honestly. His writeup was aimed towards their dinner menu, and I feel I owe it to myself and the restaurant to go back there for dinner, but as I said I'm probably done here for lunch. I want to see this place work, I really do, but my advice to them would be to focus less on including every buzzword possible on the menu (Wild! Foraged! Pig Face!), and focus more on delivering well thought out plates to people that are executed properly.

One of the most incredible meals I have ever had! Francesca and everyone make this place what it is and they are some of the most lovely people I have ever come across. You are welcomed into this little restaurant and you feel right at home. For an appetizer we had the pheasant tortellini which was one of the best things I have ever eaten in my entire life. The tortellini were cooked to perfection and the broth was flavorful ... I wanted to lick the bowl. For our entrees we ordered the fish special: served over squid ink and octopus with pig face. As well as the Colorado lamb special: served with figs and truffle. The fish was perfectly cooked and every single component of this dish was artistically designed to compliment each other. The squid ink balsamic was incredible and the pig face added the perfect saltiness and crunch. I could probably go on for days, weeks maybe even months about this dish. Next, the Colorado lamb. So perfectly cooked and flavorful. The sweetness of the figs balanced the earthiness of the lamb and truffles. Again, artistically composed. For dessert, we both had the melted chocolate. If you are a chocolate lover... this is your dessert. So rich and flavorful, you will get lost in this absolutely simple ... but perfectly executed dessert. I especially recommend this for a chilly night! As I'm writing this, my mouth is watering and I'm planning my next visit. If that does not say enough about this place, I'm not sure what will! Do yourself a favor and call for a reservation ASAP!

Great review a terrific place great food service outstanding quality one of the best restaurants I've been to in a long long time wouldn't miss it will be going back often got to try their lunch on Fridays

Went in this place with an appitite hoping it was as one friend suggested., they liked the food, I was a little shocked about the prices,for where it's at you would assume they would be less than triple digits here .. I can go to Haddon twp to Bruno's for less... The food was not as good just fair....

PROS: Food excellent, fresh, eclectic. CONS: 1. PRICEY...ordered the scallop special...3(yes, 3!) sea scallops (perfectly cooked) but $39!! 2. PRICEY... salad special...greens with apple slices...$15. 3. Service slow..took 3 hours for dinner. 4.No bread or crudities to keep us engaged while waiting for the long coming salad and entrees. 5.No sides, no rice/pots/veges -included with entrée..just the "protein", as the server said. Sides were $5, but not a great selection...ppotatoe, radishes, mixed green, beets..Would have liked some spinach or something with the meal. 6. Noisy...there were 7 specials the waitress had to recite. We could barely hear her. With so many additions, just put them on the blackboard or provide a separate menu.

First time here and I was excited to try it based on the reviews. But not a winner for me. You'll either love it or not care for it, and I'm clearly in the minority camp. The good: nice little unique place, easy parking, fresh, creative, and very tasty food, interesting menu, friendly small staff, and the chef sent out a few little extras for us--nice touch. The not-so-good: very overpriced ($40 for a fish dish in Merchantville NJ???), the service is painfully slow and somewhat "off" (20 mins to be given a menu and you'll need 3 hours for dinner), the portions are relatively small, and the value just isn't there. Nice place to try, and I'd return if invited by someone else but would not book this place again on my own. The regulars love it and keep coming back for more so that will keep this small place going!

My husband and I are locals and were thrilled when Park Place Cafe' opened. We have dined there many times and it is always a 5 star meal. Every plate of food is served with love and perfection! The menu items change with the season and are always unique, interesting and ridiculously tasty!! The wait staff and Francesca are friendly, accommodating and very knowledgeable. The atmosphere is cool, eclectic, upscale, hip..must experience it to understand! And the Chef is amazing, every plate of food served is a work of art. We were there on Mothers Day and enjoyed a beautiful meal outside in the warm sun so not sure what the one reviewer was speaking of.

Love this restaurant! Really inventive, fresh, thoughtful and delicious food! Amazing service. Love it! Small and intimate but relaxed and casual at the same time.

I've used Yelp to decide where to eat but I have never felt the need to add a review. Last night my fiance and I ate at Park Place and for the first time I feel compelled to write something that will hopefully inform others but mostly will remind myself how great the experience was. 1. First Impressions: We showed up for an 8pm reservation on a Saturday night. We live right down the road but if I didn't have it plugged into Google maps I probably would have missed it. There is a single red light outside the restaurant and no light on the small signage above the door. The space is small, very small. Maybe six four seaters and a six seater. This also means it's loud. As soon we walked in we were greeted by the high volume of people drinking, eating, and having a good time. This is not the place to go for a super intimate dinner, or if you don't want your conversation overheard by the table next to you. It feels a little communal, but in a cozy way. Throughout the evening we found ourselves speaking loudly to match and probably add to the noise of the room. For us, this wasn't a problem. 2. The Staff: The wait staff were friendly, prompt, and extremely well versed on what they were serving. It appears there is one main waitress/hostess and a sort of assistant host who backs her up. From what we gathered the main hostess was either the chefs wife or partner. There was never a moment where we felt forgotten about or where our water glasses were not full. After every course someone would come talk to us about the dish, make sure we were happy, answer any questions about the ingredients, or just make friendly small talk. When the hostess went over the menu she did so with incredible detail. 3. The Food: Obviously the food should be the star of the show, and it did not disappoint. We ordered three small plates to start which later I will explain was probably too ambitious. -Calves Tongue Cavatelli: unexpected and delicious. The nuttiness of the filling paired with pine nuts and a simple brown butter to let the flavors shine. Clearly homemade pasta was tender without feeling soggy. -Fois Gras Crepe: an incredible amount of cool creamy fois fras wrapped inside a warm crepe drizzled in (house made) maple syrup and huge shavings of black truffle. This was just ridiculously decadent and rich. Should have split between four but we devoured it. -Grilled Ocotopus with Pig Face: first experience with pig face for us. Very crispy and bacony. Octopus was cooked well with an interesting broccoli rabe puree underneath. It was very good yet was somehow our least favorite dish. This should speak to the quality of the other dishes. -Duck with duck confit - I was able to snag a bite before my fiance basically inhaled it. Skin was crispy, confit was tender and stringy, and the sauce was the perfect balance of tart and salty. -Short Ribs: the steak knire was completely unnecessary. I could have eaten it with just a spoon, as it was falling apart off my fork. Paired with escargot which tasted of (hand fed?) Basil. I could not finish the short ribs. Not for lack of quality but because we had ordered a ridiculous amount of food for two people. That did not stop us from ordering dessert though. -Flourless Chocolate Tort: dense and soaked in chocolate sauce with pistachios. A little heavy after the meal we ate but super tasty. -Affogato: my go-to. The hand churned ice cream stole the show. 4. Overall: We had just an incredible dining experience. There was zero pretentiousness for the sake of being pretentious. The food was not ugly, but it wasn't plated to be art either. This stuff just begs to be eaten. We didn't take a single picture all night, mostly due to being too busy enjoying the efforts of the chef. Between the two of us we have been to nearly every hyped up restaurant in the area, but we both agreed this was our favorite. The food and the atmosphere just spoke to our tastes in a way we haven't found anywhere else. Of course for a dinner with these ingredients you will pay a price. This place is not cheap. Expect to pay more than $100 (we spent $150) for two people for dinner if you want to try a bunch of stuff like we did. So glad we found this place, Brian and Kate.

Great food, nice service and atmosphere here at Park Place called at the last minute for a reservation and Francisco called me back within ten minutes after a cancellation at a perfect time. The staff goes out of their way to explain the menu and specials on the daily menu. I will not wait long to have dinner here again. Desert was first class also don't leave without trying one of these excellent items.

Different but excellent food. Would like to have had meat and fish cooked a little more. Best pistachio ice cream anywhere. Food as good as any place in South Jersey. Service was good. Not cheap but it was tremendous.BYOB does keep the cost down Somewhat

Where do I begin? This quaint, unassuming, yet incredibly charming little restaurant is an absolute diamond in the middle of Merchantville. From start to finish, every morsel of food was rich with detail to flavor to texture to presentation. Francesca is equally warm and friendly. You can taste the love and dedication of Chef Phil's passion throughout the entire meal. Here's is a list of everything we tried: Hamachi crudo w/ frshley shaved black truffle; Red snapper crudo; Charred octopus w/ crispy pig face (hello!); Chicken liver pate was divine; Porcini mushroom soup; Fettucine vongole (yes, pasta was fresh and clam sauce was perfectly seasoned); Veal cheek special (melt in your mouth); Braised short rib (not sure how that was since my son inhaled it); 55 day old dry aged ribeye was incredible ; Duck breast w/ confit-a must; happy endings: sweet ricotta crepe, chocolate torte; homemade vanilla bean ice cream. What can I say, but check out my photos even they do not do them any justice.

Simply amazing. There is no other way to put it. As a new local resident in East Pennsauken/Merchantville, I was so excited when I had seen that a new restaurant was opening just down the street from us on Park Ave. Park Place is an adorable, intimate, casual restaurant with the menu of an upscale fine dining restaurant. It just works so well for the quaint downtown of Merchantville! There are maybe 6-8 tables in the single room of the restaurant and I just know it's a matter of time before this place has a 2 week wait to get in. It's byob which was also a huge plus. We started with a special appetizer, the lamb and ricotta tortellini which was so incredible I was actually upset when we finished it. We ordered the 55 Day Aged Ribeye and the Braised Short Rib entrees. They were both exquisite. Expertly prepared and delicious from start to finish. We both agreed that these were easily the best meals we had enjoyed in a LONG time. After such fantastic appetizer and entrees, we couldn't leave without sampling their dessert. We had the lemon cake that was made with limoncello and served with fresh whipped cream and it was the perfect ending to an amazing meal. They also make great espresso and coffee drinks! We enjoyed talking to their fantastic staff and chef/owner Phil after our meal and are so excited to have such a fantastic restaurant in town. We cannot wait to come back!

This was such an awesome experience for my moms birthday. As a group of 8 plus the kids we were delighted to have a reservation here for brunch. We ordered so much food and every bit of it was so tasty. As a quaint place to dine there isn't a whole lot of room but that's ok, it's a quaint place! Our group ordered the French toast fried chicken, western omelet, the blt on milk toast, pancakes, and the breakfast burger Believe me, nobody wanted to leave anything on their plates. BLT was piled high with bacon and Bibb lettuce. The milk toast is a staple on their menu and it was delicious in the sandwich. It comes with a side of home fries that are truly home fries. Not made in a machine someplace but chopped up right here in the kitchen. The French toast fried chicken was unbelievable. Half a chicken and a few slices of French toast is more than you can handle for brunch! The French toast itself is delicious but the powdered sugar on the homemade fried chicken was a spectacular touch to a chicken that was already super tasty. My son got a combination of eggs and a pancake, I've never seen a pancake look more like a cake ever in my life! It was so light and fluffy with a properly brown outside? it was so delicious I had to have some myself! My grandma had the western omelette and she genuinely loved it. Just the right size for her not overwhelming with a side of home fries, a great brunch staple item done well! Their fresh squeezed orange juice in carafes on our table was just the right touch for us as we brought our own champagne for breakfast mimosas! Since we were celebrating my moms birthday, they offered to slice the cake for us in the back. Most restaurants when they offered to do this the slices come out with crumbly edges and they don't look very pretty. Here at park place, even though they didn't make the cake, the slices came out looking professionally done, perfect slices, no mess! Their chef really did take great care of our group and you can certainly tell that they take great pride in what they do. As an added bonus to the whole experience, a record player playing classics on the radio is a nice touch and the fact that the chef came out a couple of times to talk to tables and just say hello is an amazing touch. I can't wait to come back here and try their dinner!

High hopes but disappointed in brunch. Over easy egg was a fully cooked hard yolk, and side of ham was literally one thin deli slice of ham you'd get on a hoagie :( but service was so warm and welcoming!

I was looking for places on Yelp for dinner in the area the other day to see if there was anything new, and that's how I came across Park Place. I didn't recognize the name, and when I clicked on the profile I was amazed at all the 5-star reviews. We stayed a little more local for dinner, but we decided to check it out for brunch this morning. The restaurant is a super cozy space in a building just off the main intersection of downtown Merchantville decorated with hip, quirky decor and a working record player putting out subtle but atmospheric music. Just as unique as the building is the menu, with things like fried chicken and french toast and "pig face", which tastes a bit like pork rinds. After getting tea our and coffee in little vintage cups, we orded the mushroom omlette and chilaquiles verdes (and yes, pig face too, which made for a great addition). Overall the food was delicious, the space relaxing, and the vibe just right. It's an awesome random find, and I can't wait to go back and try their dinner options.

This is the best restaurant in South Jersey. Period, end of conversation. Chef Phil is a Picasso in the kitchen and co-owner Francesca is amazing in handling the front of the house.