Michael's La Veranda Rstrnt

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30 N Columbus Blvd (at Chestnut Street)
Philadelphia, PA 19106

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(215) 351-1898
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Michael's La Veranda Rstrnt - Philadelphia, PA
Reviews
( 12 )
( 3 )
( 0 )
( 3 )
( 9 )

Best

Eaten here at least 50 times over the past 6 years....only bad experience was filet mignon ordered rare and cooked medium/medium well (too browned). I shyly sent the tray back, a...

Worst

The food here is pretty much what I'd expect to get at a local diner. The sauces are from a can (if not, they sure taste like it) and the food is very bland and not cooked to per...

Editorial review from Citysearch 9/9/2013

Very nice location and I like their parking space, the foods were competitive in taste. more

The Rudest Service Ever 9/5/2010

This was the worst service I've had at a restaurant of this supposed caliber. Just plain rude, forgot what was ordered, didn't seem to care. The food was substandard and the prices were inflated. more

Nice location, great food, great service!! 1/26/2010

Eaten here at least 50 times over the past 6 years....only bad experience was filet mignon ordered rare and cooked medium/medium well (too browned). I shyly sent the tray back, and afterwards received my meal as ordered. Received the check and noticed the entree was missing, compliments of Tony the manager. I didn't ask for this (and honestly comped drinks or appetizer would have sufficed just fine)....but these guys appreciate good people and understand what quality service is about. A great restaurant not only has consistently great service, but also knows how to handle problems with class. This place certainly does that. Probably top 2 Italian Restaurant in Philadelphia....it's a hair pricey but is certainly worth every penny!! Pros: Great food and service Cons: Can't take home the cooks and food inventory. more

great italin restaurant 10/6/2009

great food,great atmosphere,i will go back. Pros: best in phila. more

Wonderful restaurant 6/11/2009

Yesterday I went to LaVeranda's for the first time. I had always heard the food was terrific! Well, what I had heard was so true. From the moment I entered, I was greeted warmly by the staff. Our server was absolutely terrific! My dinner was equally as great! I will be a returning customer!\r \r And, being from South Philly originally, I welcome good Italian food when eating out. Of course nothing beats my mom's cooking -- but this restaurant comes very close. \r P.S. I just loved those complimentary long hot peppers! Pros: Next best thing to my Mom's cooking! more

Like being in Italy 2/28/2009

Classic Italian menu,like in Italy. Grilled fish, homemade pasta, great service. Definately worth this visit more

Best Seafood and Pasta! 11/29/2008

I have never written a review before but was very motivated to set the record straight when I saw two unfavorable, and in my opinion, UNFAIR reviews posted for La Veranda. We, too, are well traveled (Italy and beyond) and have dined in many fine restaurants abroad and in the States and to be honest, La Veranda remains one of our favorites year after year. On first impression many years ago, we were so impressed, we actually hosted our wedding reception there! Our guests still rave about the food (wood fire grilled Salmon and Chicken Piccata.) \r Put simply, the food is wonderful and everything we have had there has been prepared to perfection. The prices are actually quite reasonable for many dishes and of course, more expensive for others - depending on your order. My husband had the most amazing spaghetti bolognese for around $14.00 and I had one of the fish specials - Dover Sole - for $46.00. The fish was de-boned and served at our table by our experienced waiter. Oh, try the grilled calamari for a delicious appetizer.\r We are not food snobs or anything, but we expect an excellent meal when we go out to a nice restaurant and that is what we always get at this restaurant. Consistently high quality food and service - worth every penny (and calorie!) Pros: Lighting, Service, Views more

This was the worst experience Ive ever had... 9/24/2008

I would not recommend anyone to eat here.. The food was horrible !! And the service was beyond slow.... save urself and go somewhere else!! Pros: it looked like a nice place Cons: everything else.. more

Huge Rip-off 8/23/2008

I travel all over the world, and have been to Italy more times than I can remember, so I know a bit about Italian food and good restaurants. I don't expect Italian restaurants in America to be as good as in Italy (although some exist), but I also don't expect to be charged three times the price for food that's far worse than in Italy! Just as an example, my caprese salad had tomatoes that had obviously been kept in the refrigerator, giving them a white, mushy texture in the middle. But they still expected me to pay $13 for this! And my veal with asparagus, parmesan cheese in a marsala sauce featured asparagus from a can: there's no way it was fresh, and it cost $27.00! The same high price/lousy quality was true of all the dinners in my party that night. If you want Olive Garden quality, save a lot of money and go to Olive Garden. The only justification for such high prices is an exceptional location and view, and I don't consider the Ben Franklin Bridge and the Campbell's Soup Factory in Camden to qualify under those criteria! Pros: Nice waterfront location, although that doesn't justify the prices. Cons: Mediocre food charged at exorbitant rates more

Diner Food 7/27/2008

The food here is pretty much what I'd expect to get at a local diner. The sauces are from a can (if not, they sure taste like it) and the food is very bland and not cooked to perfection. On the upside, at least the atmosphere is nice (especially if you eat outside on a nice night). If they can improve their food, this could be a terrific place. For now, it might be worth coming just for drinks/dessert. Pros: atmosphere Cons: food more

Avoid This Restaurant Due To the Rude and Crude Owner 5/16/2008

We had a most unpleasant and discourteous experience from a man who represented himself as a manager who we later found out was one of the owners of La Veranda. My uncle had asked him a simple question of why we were being charged for onions and tomatoes when they were always served to us prior without being charged. His curt and obnoxious answer was that may have been in the past but you are being charged now. He left the table muttering, ""That f""ing guy"" after my uncle paid about $300.00 for the food bill which was quite exorbanant to begin with. This man should be reprimanded by the restaurant association. With an attitude like this, he will drive his business into the ground. Our waiter on the other hand was very engaging and a true professional. Of course, there was nothing he could do to correct the poor customer service from the owner. I believe this should be addressed to the owner who apparently believes the customer is not right. He lost a customer who has been a weekly patron of this restaurant for many years due to his rudeness and lack of customer service. more

College Graduation Dinner 5/12/2008

Worst experience ever. Reservations at 7:30Pm. At 8:15 they pour water and bring us 5 pieces of bruschetta for 7 people. 8:50 they take our order. 9:20 they bring the salad. 10:15 they bring the entree. Pasta was barely luke warm. Filet mignon ordered ""medium"" but came out well done. So 1 person got to watch the rest of us eat. I've had better meals at a pizza parlor. Finished dinner at 10:35. Waiter asked if we wanted dessert. I told him no. I probably would of needed a vacation day to wait for that. Service is TERRIBLE. Food is MEDIOCORE. Wouldn't go back again if it was free. The sad part is that we were celebrating my daughter's graduation from college that same day. La veranda definitely made it memorable.........\r Pros: Nice Location Cons: Service absolutely stinks more

best restaurant in philly 4/13/2008

I highly reccomend this place. I've enjoyed it everytime i've been there. The service is great. The food is great,atmosphere was great and the view was great. I can't understand why someone wouldn't like this place. Pros: friendly people more

Excellent 12/10/2007

I thought that the food was excellent, good portions and great service. The wine list is pricey but the Zinfandel at $28 per bottle was excellent. Atmosphere wonderful and all around wonderful evening. Hi Omar! Pros: valet parking a bargain and convenient Cons: can't think of any more

great great time over and over again 11/5/2007

la veranda and the lounge they have upstairs is phenominal. everything from the sevice, to the food, and the atmosphere has been outstanding everytime my girlfriend and I have been there. this is a great place especially for young couples to go and enjoy their time together. the lounge upstairs is a great experience because you don't have to deal with the college crowds and the party crowd that is in old city. this past weekend was about the 6th time my girlfriend and I have been there in the past year and everything was excellent again. i don't understand how these people can say this place is not great, i ordered a porter house from the grill they have displayed up front of the restuarant and i think it was better than any steak i've gotten from the capital grille. saturday night i didn't have a reservation so i had to wait a little for a table but the owner bought my girlfriend and i a drink while we waited at the bar and gave us some fruit at the end of our meal. he also arranged a table for us upstairs which was a great time, don't let these other people fool you, la veranada is a great place for young couples to go and have a romantic dinner on the water Pros: food, service, decor Cons: i forgot to make a resveration and you need one on weekend nights more

This place is a joke. Prices are higher than normal, food is the worst I ever had, I would not recommend this establishment to anyone, not even my worst enemy. 11/2/2007

The absolute worst food in Philadelphia. This place should not be allowed to operate. I have had better food in pizza shops. The host Tony is rude and not accommodating. My seafood dish was foul smelling, when I brought it to there attention the response was unprofessional. I would recommend not eating at this place, don?t be fooled be the appearance. Also the night club upstairs is frequented by thugs and undesirable people I wouldn?t be caught dead in this place. Pros: bad food Cons: nice decor more

TERRIBLE FOOD; TERRIBLE SERVICE. GO SOMEWHERE ELSE! 9/30/2007

Our dinner at La Veranda was terrible. What a disappointment. This is supposed to be a 5 star restaurant. I've had better meals at pizza parlors. The service was very slow and the waiter was very unfriendly. The food was awful. I had a veal dish that was just ok - for $40. My husband ordered surf and turf which was smothered in some kind of sauce. He sent it back and asked for it plain. When it came back it was overcooked and ice cold. In fact all the food was served cold. Our friends were equally unhappy with the food. I have never written a review before, but think people should know beforehand when they are spending this much money for a meal and the food is terrible. I would never recommend this restaurant to anyone. Cons: EVERYTHING more

The absolute worst. 7/30/2007

I usually do not take the time to review places, but I just had to in this case. Our dinner at La Veranda was the absolute worst. I am not a picky person at all but there was not one good thing about this place. This is supposed to be a nice restaurant but the service is zero. The waiter came to our table first time 35 min after we had sat down. He did not introduce himself and only asked if we were going to get a bunch of drinks. He was cold and unfriendly. We ordered 2 bottles of wine. When we did not see the waiter for another 20 min, my husband went to ask for another waiter. The new waiter came over, didn?t introduce himself and stood there waiting for our order. We asked if he was our new waiter and he said yes. We asked what happened to the other waiter and he said: ""He's busy."" Strange. It would have been nice if anyone would have told us from the beginning that they are understaffed or whatever the problem was and be nice about it. The 2nd waiter barely said 5 words during the entire dinner. The food was nothing to talk about. Bread was stale. Lobster ravioli was fishy and my husband didn't even eat it and ate half of my gnocchis that were just ok. I am amazed by the attitude and not caring of this restaurant. What a disappointment. Would not recommend to anyone. Pros: nice view Cons: horrible service, food just ok more

Great Food, Romantic. Also, the club upstairs- Great lounge for couples who like a touch of CLASS!!!! 7/12/2007

La Veranda is amazing. The service is top notch, the food is top notch. It is also very romantic and the club upstairs is great for young couples like myself who like a lounge with a touch of class. It definitely warrants a five star rating. If anyone has made a negative comment. THEY DON'T GET OUT MUCH!!!!!\r \r Robyn B T!! more

Don't even think about it... 7/10/2007

The Service was prompt and courteous however the food was disappointing from the martini my wife and I started out with down to the dessert. The main course was a total waste... My wife had lamb which was bland and void of any taste what so ever. I had a lobster raviolli that sat in a red sauce that was very hard to eat because of the aroma of bacon or ham mixed into it. It later made me sick. The cake we ordered for dessert looked exactly like the dessert tray they presented to us to choose from. The items were old and stale we couldn't eat any of it....I would never visit this restaurant again. Pros: Service, Ambience, Parking, Price Cons: Food, Drinks, more
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Menu for Michael's La Veranda Rstrnt


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Italian restaurant, located at Pier 3--Penn's Landing, serves filet mignon, grilled tuna steak, stuffed veal, lobster linguini and gnocchi.

Owner Message
  • La Veranda - known for its delicious Italian food, its incredible water view, and its superior service - is located at Penn's Landing. This eatery welcomes reservations for small romantic dinners and intimate gatherings. They also offer three banquet rooms for large private parties, where you and your guests can revel in their menu, unique atmosphere and extensive bar and wine list. As their chefs prepare your steaks and chops on a wood-burning grill, you are able to dine outside on the veranda with its beautiful view of the river and Ben Franklin Bridge.

Editorial
  • Upscale Italian restaurant, located at Pier 3--Penn's Landing, serves filet mignon, grilled tuna steak, stuffed veal, lobster linguini and gnocchi.

  • 10/9/2006 Provided by Citysearch
Additional information
  • Hours: Mon-Thu 11:30am-10pm Fri-Sat 11:30am-11:30pm Sun 1pm-10pm
  • Payments: Master Card, Visa, American Express, Discover
  • Neighborhoods: Penn's Landing, Center City
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