Derek's Restaurant Group

\r \r A great concept (reasonable Bistro) which falls short on execution. I have had the occasion to have cold soup, lack luster service, and mixed up meals at Derek's. For such a great looking place with lots of vibe, the food is really very poor. The one thing that has been common about my 3 visits is that their food is always lacking in something...correct texture, warmth, spice, timing with other meals, etc. If you must go....go for the wine or atmosphere, but not for the food. As a traveler I know good restaurants and good food, I can say that Derek's has some work to do to be described as good in either category. \r \r more

I was so excited to get the cheesecake for dessert but when I received it, "oh my" I was beyond disapointed!! It was horrible to say the least. 4 biscut looking pieces of cheesecake that tasted nothing like what a cheesecake should taste like. PASS on this dessert and save yourself the $8.00! Instead order a keylime martini! Pros: Nice beer and wine list, pet friendly, outside seating Cons: cheesecake more

I was so excited to get the cheesecake for dessert but when I received it, ""oh my"" I was beyond disapointed!! It was horrible to say the least. 4 biscut looking pieces of cheesecake that tasted nothing like what a cheesecake should taste like. PASS on this dessert and save yourself the $8.00! Instead order a keylime martini! Pros: Nice beer and wine list, pet friendly, outside seating Cons: cheesecake more

I have been a lunch-time regular here for quite some time, and don't understand the rave reviews. On any given weekend, the staff is inattentive, the menu a bore and if you are unlucky enough to be seated in the back of the room you'll notice dirty floors, broken, creaky banquets and a fly or two might buzz by your entree. I try to avoid Derek's as much as possible. Pros: Location, location, location Cons: Poor service, unclean dining room more

I have been a lunch-time regular here for quite some time, and don't understand the rave reviews. On any given weekend, the staff is inattentive, the menu a bore and if you are unlucky enough to be seated in the back of the room you'll notice dirty floors, broken, creaky banquets and a fly or two might buzz by your entree. I try to avoid Derek's as much as possible. Pros: Location, location, location Cons: Poor service, unclean dining room more

Derek's billed the event as "Only a total of 150 tickets will be sold to assure you enjoy your drink, food, and atmosphere and are not standing in lines or shoulder to shoulder with people." Upon arriving, we were forced to stand shoulder to shoulder with the waitstaff, constantly dodging the trays and carafe's they were carrying. So much for the uncrowded and relaxing evening that was promised. As we left, several more people were arriving. Had we stayed, we would have had to fight them just to find a seat as everyone had supposedly "exclusive" tickets. The only positive was that Zesty's down the street was much less crowded and its waitstaff took care of us. In fairness, while I was extremely disappointed as we had brought several out-of-town guests, Derek's did promise us a refund for the tickets that we purchased without too much of a hassle. Pros: Derek's offered to refund us for the tickets Cons: No seating after buying exclusive tickets, told to stand in corridors dodging waitresses and waiters more

Derek's billed the event as ""Only a total of 150 tickets will be sold to assure you enjoy your drink, food, and atmosphere and are not standing in lines or shoulder to shoulder with people."" Upon arriving, we were forced to stand shoulder to shoulder with the waitstaff, constantly dodging the trays and carafe's they were carrying. So much for the uncrowded and relaxing evening that was promised. As we left, several more people were arriving. Had we stayed, we would have had to fight them just to find a seat as everyone had supposedly ""exclusive"" tickets. The only positive was that Zesty's down the street was much less crowded and its waitstaff took care of us. In fairness, while I was extremely disappointed as we had brought several out-of-town guests, Derek's did promise us a refund for the tickets that we purchased without too much of a hassle. Pros: Derek's offered to refund us for the tickets Cons: No seating after buying exclusive tickets, told to stand in corridors dodging waitresses and waiters more

My friends and I love Dereks on a weeknight. There's a food and drink special Monday through Thursday nights, usually a cocktail and a small entree for around $5 each. The restaurant and bar are much quieter on these nights, and its a great place to have a cocktail with friends after a busy workday. Overall a little overpriced when there arent specials, and the bar is a weird mix on the weekends. If you know when to go, it can be a great experience. Pros: Cocktails and Wine List, Great Prix Fixe Cons: Sometimes overpriced more

My friends and I love Dereks on a weeknight. There's a food and drink special Monday through Thursday nights, usually a cocktail and a small entree for around $5 each. The restaurant and bar are much quieter on these nights, and its a great place to have a cocktail with friends after a busy workday. Overall a little overpriced when there arent specials, and the bar is a weird mix on the weekends. If you know when to go, it can be a great experience. I'm updating my review with more recent comments: My boyfriend and I ususally make this our "date-night" restaurant on Fridays. We've had pretty good luck; we've always gotten friendly servers who are knowledgeble about the menu and the wine list, we've always been really pleased with the food, and most of the time, we both opt for the 3 for $30. We went to Derek's about two weeks ago, only to find our favorite things on the menu and wine list gone. The server informed us they "like to keep the menu fresh". I was disappointed with the new pasta choice (chicken with pesto over spinach linguine) on the prix fixe menu. The pesto was too oily, there was too much pesto for the amount of pasta on the plate, and it was bland. I know it costs the restaurant less to make, but the chicken ravioli was much better. We wont stop going here, but we definetly wont be here quite as much. Pros: Cocktails and Wine List, Great Prix Fixe Cons: Sometimes overpriced more

My girlfriend and I went to Philadelphia for the weekend and decided on Derek's. Let me start of by saying that everyone was super nice. The hostess especially!!! After being 1 hour late for our reservation (traffic) the hostess catered to our every need. She even carried out a conversation as she greeted us. on top of all that, she sat us in the bar came back like 2 minutes later and told us she had a much better seat where it would be more comfortable and it would be quieter. Our server was actually delightful as well. Pros: Service Cons: Bland Steak more

My girlfriend and I went to Philadelphia for the weekend and decided on Derek's. Let me start of by saying that everyone was super nice. The hostess especially!!! After being 1 hour late for our reservation (traffic) the hostess catered to our every need. She even carried out a conversation as she greeted us. on top of all that, she sat us in the bar came back like 2 minutes later and told us she had a much better seat where it would be more comfortable and it would be quieter. Our server was actually delightful as well. As for the food, I would say just average. I am defiantly a food connoisseur and it takes a lot to impress me. My first mistake was ordering a steak when I wasn't eating at a steak restaurant. The appetizers where delicious so maybe we should have had something else to eat. I am really writing to rave about the perfect service and delightful experience in Philadelphia. Pros: Service Cons: Bland Steak more

I live in the general neighborhood and I can afford [thank god] to eat out every meal. I also eat out in many different cities because I travel for a living. Sometimes, I can not wait to get home so I can eat at Derek's. It is just like having my own restaurant! They are so accomodating to me and my friends. If they have it they will make whatever I want. I especially love the mix and match small plates and I almost always order one of Derek's specials. Everybody is so nice here[I guess they know where thier bread is buttered,! I tip pretty well!] I can sit in the dining room at a nice intimate booth and have a formal wine dinner with a date, or I can have a burger at the bar watching the Phillies lose anither one with the boys. This is my favorite place in Philly, Manayunk, and The Main Line. Pros: Everbody is so friendly, the food is always interesting more

I live in the general neighborhood and I can afford [thank god] to eat out every meal. I also eat out in many different cities because I travel for a living. Sometimes, I can not wait to get home so I can eat at Derek's. It is just like having my own restaurant! They are so accomodating to me and my friends. If they have it they will make whatever I want. I especially love the mix and match small plates and I almost always order one of Derek's specials. Everybody is so nice here[I guess they know where thier bread is buttered,! I tip pretty well!] I can sit in the dining room at a nice intimate booth and have a formal wine dinner with a date, or I can have a burger at the bar watching the Phillies lose anither one with the boys. This is my favorite place in Philly, Manayunk, and The Main Line. Pros: Everbody is so friendly, the food is always interesting Cons: none more

I am the Managing Director of Philomel Concerts, Inc. I want to thank Derek's for generously offering lunches to all of our musicians during their grouling rehearsals before all of our concert weekends, throughout the year. Derek's is not just a fantastic place to eat and mingle in downtown Manayunk, it is a generous hand to small nonprofits that need all the help they can get. So for this we thank you!!!! Pros: Great food, Smart Ambience, Wonderful owners more

I am the Managing Director of Philomel Concerts, Inc. I want to thank Derek's for generously offering lunches to all of our musicians during their grouling rehearsals before all of our concert weekends, throughout the year. Derek's is not just a fantastic place to eat and mingle in downtown Manayunk, it is a generous hand to small nonprofits that need all the help they can get. So for this we thank you!!!! Pros: Great food, Smart Ambience, Wonderful owners more

It was a sunny Sunday, my friend and I snagged an outside table. We ordered calamari, and two salads for a light lunch- it was crowded, so we figure order something easy so they can't mess it up! Well, the table was crooked, so all the drinks and food kept sliding off the table. The calamari was good- however- I don't know where they went to get our lettuce, but it look over an hour to get our food! The couple next to us ordered after us and got their food first!! We had to track down our waiter to locate our food, we also asked for the check in advance, bc we were meeting some friends (We figured 2 hours would be enough to get a small appetizer and quick salad, apparently not) We had to remind the waiter twice for our check- the service was a disgrace. Pros: drinks, outside seating, the weather? Cons: service is everything more

It was a sunny Sunday, my friend and I snagged an outside table. We ordered calamari, and two salads for a light lunch- it was crowded, so we figure order something easy so they can't mess it up! Well, the table was crooked, so all the drinks and food kept sliding off the table. The calamari was good- however- I don't know where they went to get our lettuce, but it look over an hour to get our food! The couple next to us ordered after us and got their food first!! We had to track down our waiter to locate our food, we also asked for the check in advance, bc we were meeting some friends (We figured 2 hours would be enough to get a small appetizer and quick salad, apparently not) We had to remind the waiter twice for our check- the service was a disgrace. Pros: drinks, outside seating, the weather? Cons: service is everything more

I went in for brunch and it was excellant! The best brunch I've had in a long time. It seemed fairly busy and the staff was always in the right place at the right time. The Steak & Eggs were great, lots of flavor; and the Eggs Bene was a great twist on the good o'l stand by. Oh, and although I was too full to "thouroughly" enjoy the Bloody Mary special, $15 bottomless bloody mary's and any item from the brunch menu, they were delicious! From what I hear one of the Chefs created the recipe? :) Pros: friendly, excellant food, great wine list more

I went in for brunch and it was excellant! The best brunch I've had in a long time. It seemed fairly busy and the staff was always in the right place at the right time. The Steak & Eggs were great, lots of flavor; and the Eggs Bene was a great twist on the good o'l stand by. Oh, and although I was too full to ""thouroughly"" enjoy the Bloody Mary special, $15 bottomless bloody mary's and any item from the brunch menu, they were delicious! From what I hear one of the Chefs created the recipe? :) Pros: friendly, excellant food, great wine list more

First off, any bar that is non-smoking is right for me. I love the fact that i can hang all night, watch sports, and then go home and not smell like cigarette smoke! I think that this place has it all for me. I can have a burger or pizza at the bar, or have a four course dinner in the beautiful dining room. The people are a bit older and more sophisticated than the rest of Main Street.[Have they gotten younger, or are we just getting older?] I dig the small plate menu and am so happy that I can sample many things and not be overwhelmed by so much food. The waitresses are also pretty hot, a bonus! Pros: non smoking, huge wine list, very freindly Cons: crowded more