Parc - Revision history

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← Older revision		Revision as of 22:38, 23 April 2026
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	== History ==		== History ==

	~~Parc opened in~~ 2008 ~~as part of~~ [[Stephen Starr]]~~'s growing~~ restaurant empire. Starr, who won the James Beard Foundation's "Outstanding Restaurateur" award in 2017, designed Parc as a tribute to the grand cafés of Paris. The restaurant quickly became a Philadelphia institution, anchoring the east side of Rittenhouse Square.		In 2008, [[Stephen Starr]] opened Parc as part of his expanding restaurant empire. Starr, who won the James Beard Foundation's "Outstanding Restaurateur" award in 2017, designed Parc as a tribute to the grand cafés of Paris. The restaurant quickly became a Philadelphia institution, anchoring the east side of Rittenhouse Square.

	~~The interior was designed to evoke an authentic Parisian brasserie, with hand~~-laid tiles in ~~shades of~~ ecru and green~~, red~~ leather banquettes topped with frosted glass~~, and~~ the ~~aroma of freshly~~ baked breads ~~filling~~ the air. ~~The restaurant operates under~~ Chef Joe Monnich.		Hand-laid tiles in ecru and green cover the floors. Red leather banquettes topped with frosted glass line the dining rooms. Fresh-baked breads scent the air throughout the day. That's the interior Starr created to evoke an authentic Parisian brasserie. Chef Joe Monnich runs the kitchen.

	== Menu & Specialties ==		== Menu and Specialties ==

	~~Parc~~ serves classic French brasserie fare ~~throughout the day~~:		The restaurant serves classic French brasserie fare from breakfast through dinner, seven days a week:

	* '''French Onion Soup''' — ~~Arguably~~ the best in Philadelphia~~, with~~ rich broth, caramelized onions, crusty bread, and a generous layer of gratinéed Gruyère		* '''French Onion Soup''' — Many say it's the best in Philadelphia: rich broth, caramelized onions, crusty bread, and a generous layer of gratinéed Gruyère
	* '''Steak Frites''' — Classic bistro preparation		* '''Steak Frites''' — Classic bistro preparation
	* '''Croque Monsieur/Madame''' — Traditional French sandwiches		* '''Croque Monsieur/Madame''' — Traditional French sandwiches
	* '''Fresh Baked Breads''' — ~~Baked~~ in-house daily		* '''Fresh Baked Breads''' — Made in-house daily
	* '''Moules Frites''' — Mussels with fries		* '''Moules Frites''' — Mussels with fries
	* '''Oysters''' — Fresh selection at the raw bar		* '''Oysters''' — Fresh selection at the raw bar

	~~The menu spans breakfast, lunch, and dinner seven days~~ a ~~week~~, ~~making it suitable~~ for ~~everything from a quick coffee to~~ a leisurely three-course meal.		You can grab a quick coffee in the morning. Later, settle in for a leisurely three-course meal.

	== What Reviewers Say ==		== What Reviewers Say ==
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	== Vibe ==		== Vibe ==

	~~Parc~~'~~s atmosphere captures the essence of~~ a Parisian café:		Walking in, you're transported to a Parisian café. That's the whole point. Sidewalk tables overlook Rittenhouse Square, perfect for people-watching and soaking up the urban energy. The restaurant has two spaces: a casual front room and a more formal back dining room. Both are tiled, vintage, and zinc-barred.

	* '''Sidewalk seating''' — The prime tables overlook Rittenhouse Square, perfect for people-watching		From morning coffee through late dinner, it bustles. You'll find business lunches at noon, romantic dinners at night, tourists, and locals treating it like their neighborhood spot. Jane Jacobs, author of ''The Death and Life of Great American Cities'', famously praised Rittenhouse Square as "the perfect neighborhood." Parc embodies that urbane charm completely.
	* '''Two dining spaces''' — A casual front room and more formal back dining room
	* '''All-day energy''' — Bustling from morning coffee through late dinner
	* '~~''Parisian authenticity''' — Tile floors, zinc bar, vintage fixtures~~

	~~The restaurant draws a mix of~~ business lunches, romantic dinners, tourists, and locals ~~who treat~~ it as their neighborhood ~~café~~. Jane Jacobs, author of ''The Death and Life of Great American Cities'', famously praised Rittenhouse Square as "the perfect neighborhood" ~~— and~~ Parc embodies that urbane charm.

	== Key Details ==		== Key Details ==
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	}}		}}

	Parc sits at the corner of 18th and Walnut Streets, directly on [[Rittenhouse Square]]:		Parc sits at the corner of 18th and Walnut Streets, directly on [[Rittenhouse Square]]. Several ways to get there:

	* '''Walking''' — On the east side of Rittenhouse Square at 18th and Walnut		* '''Walking''' — On the east side of Rittenhouse Square at 18th and Walnut
	* '''SEPTA Subway''' — Walnut-Locust Station (Broad Street Line), 2 blocks east		* '''SEPTA Subway''' — Walnut-Locust Station (Broad Street Line), 2 blocks east
	* '''SEPTA Bus''' — Routes 9, 12, 21, 42 along Walnut/Chestnut		* '''SEPTA Bus''' — Routes 9, 12, 21, 42 run along Walnut and Chestnut
	* '''Parking''' — Street parking ~~limited~~; garages at 1616 Walnut or Rittenhouse Claridge		* '''Parking''' — Street parking's tight; try garages at 1616 Walnut or Rittenhouse Claridge

	== About Stephen Starr ==		== About Stephen Starr ==

	[[Stephen Starr]] is one of America's most prolific restaurateurs. ~~Founded~~ in 1995, ~~STARR Restaurants operates~~ dozens of concepts across Philadelphia, New York, Washington D.C., and beyond. ~~Starr's~~ Rittenhouse Square portfolio includes Parc, [[Borromini]] (Italian), and [[El Vez]] (Mexican). ~~He won the~~ James Beard ~~Award for~~ Outstanding Restaurateur in 2017.		[[Stephen Starr]] is one of America's most prolific restaurateurs. He founded STARR Restaurants in 1995, and it's now operating dozens of concepts across Philadelphia, New York, Washington D.C., and beyond. His Rittenhouse Square portfolio includes Parc, [[Borromini]] (Italian), and [[El Vez]] (Mexican). The James Beard Foundation honored him with the Outstanding Restaurateur award in 2017.

	== See Also ==		== See Also ==

Gritty: Automated upload via Philadelphia.Wiki content pipeline

2025-12-23T18:52:19Z

Automated upload via Philadelphia.Wiki content pipeline

New page

{{Infobox Restaurant
| name = Parc
| address = 227 S 18th Street
| neighborhood = Rittenhouse Square
| phone = (215) 545-2262
| website = https://parc-restaurant.com
| cuisine = French
| price_range = $$$
| rating = 4.8
| reviews = 18,368
| established = 2008
}}

'''Parc''' is a French brasserie at 227 S 18th Street overlooking [[Rittenhouse Square]], widely considered one of Philadelphia's most iconic restaurants. Opened in 2008 by restaurateur [[Stephen Starr]], Parc transports diners to Belle Époque Paris with its authentic bistro atmosphere, sidewalk café seating, and classic French cuisine. With a 4.8-star rating from over 18,000 reviews, it consistently ranks among the city's most beloved dining destinations.

== History ==

Parc opened in 2008 as part of [[Stephen Starr]]'s growing restaurant empire. Starr, who won the James Beard Foundation's "Outstanding Restaurateur" award in 2017, designed Parc as a tribute to the grand cafés of Paris. The restaurant quickly became a Philadelphia institution, anchoring the east side of Rittenhouse Square.

The interior was designed to evoke an authentic Parisian brasserie, with hand-laid tiles in shades of ecru and green, red leather banquettes topped with frosted glass, and the aroma of freshly baked breads filling the air. The restaurant operates under Chef Joe Monnich.

== Menu & Specialties ==

Parc serves classic French brasserie fare throughout the day:

* '''French Onion Soup''' — Arguably the best in Philadelphia, with rich broth, caramelized onions, crusty bread, and a generous layer of gratinéed Gruyère
* '''Steak Frites''' — Classic bistro preparation
* '''Croque Monsieur/Madame''' — Traditional French sandwiches
* '''Fresh Baked Breads''' — Baked in-house daily
* '''Moules Frites''' — Mussels with fries
* '''Oysters''' — Fresh selection at the raw bar

The menu spans breakfast, lunch, and dinner seven days a week, making it suitable for everything from a quick coffee to a leisurely three-course meal.

== What Reviewers Say ==

{{quote|The French onion soup is arguably the best in the city, combining a rich broth with onions, crusty bread, and a shocking amount of Gruyère gratinéed over the top.|Philadelphia Magazine}}

{{quote|Best French Onion soup ever. Incredible bread. Delicious French brasserie food.|Yelp reviewer}}

{{quote|Despite occasional noise, the friendly and attentive staff and authentic French atmosphere make it a standout choice for any occasion.|OpenTable reviewer}}

== Vibe ==

Parc's atmosphere captures the essence of a Parisian café:

* '''Sidewalk seating''' — The prime tables overlook Rittenhouse Square, perfect for people-watching
* '''Two dining spaces''' — A casual front room and more formal back dining room
* '''All-day energy''' — Bustling from morning coffee through late dinner
* '''Parisian authenticity''' — Tile floors, zinc bar, vintage fixtures

The restaurant draws a mix of business lunches, romantic dinners, tourists, and locals who treat it as their neighborhood café. Jane Jacobs, author of ''The Death and Life of Great American Cities'', famously praised Rittenhouse Square as "the perfect neighborhood" — and Parc embodies that urbane charm.

== Key Details ==

{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Detail !! Information
|-
| '''Address''' || 227 S 18th Street, Philadelphia, PA 19103
|-
| '''Neighborhood''' || [[Rittenhouse Square]]
|-
| '''Price Range''' || $$$ ($40–60 typical)
|-
| '''Reservations''' || Recommended via [https://www.opentable.com/parc OpenTable]
|-
| '''Service Options''' || Dine-in, Outdoor seating, Takeout, Delivery
|-
| '''Good For''' || Business lunch, Date night, People-watching, Brunch
|-
| '''Accessibility''' || Wheelchair accessible
|-
| '''Payment''' || Credit cards, Debit cards
|}

== Getting There ==

{{Location map
| address = 227 S 18th Street, Philadelphia, PA 19103
}}

Parc sits at the corner of 18th and Walnut Streets, directly on [[Rittenhouse Square]]:

* '''Walking''' — On the east side of Rittenhouse Square at 18th and Walnut
* '''SEPTA Subway''' — Walnut-Locust Station (Broad Street Line), 2 blocks east
* '''SEPTA Bus''' — Routes 9, 12, 21, 42 along Walnut/Chestnut
* '''Parking''' — Street parking limited; garages at 1616 Walnut or Rittenhouse Claridge

== About Stephen Starr ==

[[Stephen Starr]] is one of America's most prolific restaurateurs. Founded in 1995, STARR Restaurants operates dozens of concepts across Philadelphia, New York, Washington D.C., and beyond. Starr's Rittenhouse Square portfolio includes Parc, [[Borromini]] (Italian), and [[El Vez]] (Mexican). He won the James Beard Award for Outstanding Restaurateur in 2017.

== See Also ==

* [[Rittenhouse Square]]
* [[Stephen Starr]]
* [[French Restaurants in Philadelphia]]
* [[Center City]]

== References ==
<references />

== External Links ==

* [https://parc-restaurant.com Official Website]
* [https://parc-restaurant.com/menus Menu]
* [https://www.opentable.com/parc Make a Reservation] (OpenTable)

{{#seo:
|title=Parc - French Brasserie in Rittenhouse Square Philadelphia
|description=Parc is Stephen Starr's iconic French brasserie on Rittenhouse Square, serving classic bistro fare since 2008. Known for French onion soup, sidewalk seating, and Parisian atmosphere. 4.8 stars.
|keywords=Parc Philadelphia, Rittenhouse Square restaurants, French restaurant Philadelphia, Stephen Starr restaurants, brunch Philadelphia, best French onion soup
|type=Article
}}

[[Category:Restaurants]]
[[Category:French Restaurants]]
[[Category:Rittenhouse Square]]
[[Category:Center City]]
[[Category:Stephen Starr Restaurants]]

← Older revision		Revision as of 05:06, 18 September 2026
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	Occupying the physical address of 227 S 18th Street in Philadelphia, the French brasserie '''Parc''' features a menu and design constructed to closely emulate a traditional Belle Époque Parisian bistro. Restaurateur [[Stephen Starr]] opened the establishment in 2008.		Occupying the physical address of 227 S 18th Street in [[Philadelphia]], the French brasserie '''Parc''' features a menu and design constructed to closely emulate a traditional Belle Époque Parisian bistro. Restaurateur [[Stephen Starr]] opened the establishment in 2008.

	It faces [[Rittenhouse Square]].		It faces [[Rittenhouse Square]].
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	In 2008, [[Stephen Starr]] finalized the property as a major expansion of his STARR Restaurants portfolio. The entrepreneur designed the space as a direct tribute to the grand cafés of Paris. He later won the James Beard Foundation's "Outstanding Restaurateur" award in 2017.<ref>[https://www.jamesbeard.org/awards/starr-restaurants "Stephen Starr"], ''James Beard Foundation'', 2017.</ref> Parc anchored the east side of Rittenhouse Square rapidly. It drew massive crowds.		In 2008, [[Stephen Starr]] finalized the property as a major expansion of his STARR Restaurants portfolio. The entrepreneur designed the space as a direct tribute to the grand cafés of Paris. He later won the James Beard Foundation's "Outstanding Restaurateur" award in 2017.<ref>[https://www.jamesbeard.org/awards/starr-restaurants "Stephen Starr"], ''James Beard Foundation'', 2017.</ref> Parc anchored the east side of Rittenhouse Square rapidly. It drew massive crowds.

	Architectural elements intentionally evoke a true Parisian brasserie. The property displays hand-laid tiles in ecru and green alongside zinc bars and vintage fixtures. Two main spaces await diners. A casual front room stays heavily occupied from morning until night. Meanwhile, a formal back dining room contains frosted glass and red leather banquettes.		Architectural elements intentionally evoke a true Parisian brasserie. The property displays hand-laid tiles in ecru and green alongside zinc bars and vintage fixtures. Two main spaces await diners. A casual front room stays heavily occupied from morning until night. Meanwhile, a formal back dining room contains frosted glass and red leather banquettes.

	Sidewalk tables face Rittenhouse Square directly to draw upon the rich local urban energy and supply a vibrant vantage point for outside observers seeking a relaxing afternoon escape. Author Jane Jacobs famously praised Rittenhouse Square as "the perfect neighborhood," an urbane charm within her influential book ''The Death and Life of Great American Cities''. Parc folds this exact atmosphere straight onto its outdoor dining patio.		Sidewalk tables face Rittenhouse Square directly to draw upon the rich local urban energy and supply a vibrant vantage point for outside observers seeking a relaxing afternoon escape. Author Jane Jacobs famously praised Rittenhouse Square as "the perfect neighborhood," an urbane charm within her influential book ''The Death and Life of Great American Cities''. Parc folds this exact atmosphere straight onto its outdoor dining patio.
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	== Reception ==		== Reception ==

	Parc invariably claims a top spot among Philadelphia's most popular dining destinations.		Parc invariably claims a top spot among Philadelphia's most popular dining destinations.

	Critics agree entirely. High user ratings appear perpetually on multiple dining platforms alongside intensive critical praise. ''Philadelphia Magazine'' praised the Best French Onion Soup rather extensively. The publication declared the dish is "arguably the best in the city," because of the shocking volume of Gruyère cheese alongside the incredibly rich broth.<ref>[https://www.phillymag.com/foobooz/best-french-onion-soup-philadelphia/ "Where to Get the Best French Onion Soup in Philadelphia"], ''Philadelphia Magazine'', 2023.</ref>		Critics agree entirely. High user ratings appear perpetually on multiple dining platforms alongside intensive critical praise. ''[[Philadelphia Magazine]]'' praised the Best French Onion Soup rather extensively. The publication declared the dish is "arguably the best in the city," because of the shocking volume of Gruyère cheese alongside the incredibly rich broth.<ref>[https://www.phillymag.com/foobooz/best-french-onion-soup-philadelphia/ "Where to Get the Best French Onion Soup in Philadelphia"], ''Philadelphia Magazine'', 2023.</ref>

	Crowdsourced reviews on platforms such as Yelp and OpenTable emphasize the location's reputation for deep culinary consistency. Patrons frequently commend the attentive staff alongside the authentic atmospheric design and high-quality bread baked in house. The dining rooms can experience intense noise levels at peak hours. Reviewers consistently note the lively Parisian ambiance and reliable brasserie fare as major strengths, framing the establishment as a standout choice for casual dates and formal business meetings alike.		Crowdsourced reviews on platforms such as Yelp and OpenTable emphasize the location's reputation for deep culinary consistency. Patrons frequently commend the attentive staff alongside the authentic atmospheric design and high-quality bread baked in house. The dining rooms can experience intense noise levels at peak hours. Reviewers consistently note the lively Parisian ambiance and reliable brasserie fare as major strengths, framing the establishment as a standout choice for casual dates and formal business meetings alike.
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	}}		}}

	Parc operates at 227 S 18th Street right at the corner of 18th and Walnut Streets within the [[Center City]] district of Philadelphia.		Parc operates at 227 S 18th Street right at the corner of 18th and Walnut Streets within the [[Center City]] district of Philadelphia.

	The property sits on the eastern edge of [[Rittenhouse Square]]. Public transit reaches the address easily. The SEPTA Broad Street Line's Walnut-Locust Station sits just two blocks east. It takes very little walking. Multiple SEPTA bus routes run east and west along the adjacent Walnut and Chestnut Streets to drop off passengers. These bus lines involve the 9, 12, 21, and 42. Street parking in the immediate vicinity is typically scarce for drivers. Nearby parking garages are available at 1616 Walnut Street and the Rittenhouse Claridge.		The property sits on the eastern edge of [[Rittenhouse Square]]. Public transit reaches the address easily. The [[SEPTA Broad Street Line]]'s Walnut-Locust Station sits just two blocks east. It takes very little walking. Multiple SEPTA bus routes run east and west along the adjacent Walnut and Chestnut Streets to drop off passengers. These bus lines involve the 9, 12, 21, and 42. Street parking in the immediate vicinity is typically scarce for drivers. Nearby parking garages are available at 1616 Walnut Street and the Rittenhouse Claridge.

	Multiple service models exist here. Management coordinates indoor dining, outdoor patio seating, takeout, and delivery operations daily. Parc generally hits a medium to high price point. Most regular meals cost an average of $40 to $60. The establishment accepts major credit and debit cards while functioning as a fully wheelchair accessible environment. High popularity persists for weekend brunch, weekday business lunches, and evening date nights. Staff strongly recommend reservations. Guests book these tables through platforms such as OpenTable.		Multiple service models exist here. Management coordinates indoor dining, outdoor patio seating, takeout, and delivery operations daily. Parc generally hits a medium to high price point. Most regular meals cost an average of $40 to $60. The establishment accepts major credit and debit cards while functioning as a fully wheelchair accessible environment. High popularity persists for weekend brunch, weekday business lunches, and evening date nights. Staff strongly recommend reservations. Guests book these tables through platforms such as OpenTable.