Vernick

Ever since it received raving reviews from a foodie friend, Vernick has been high on my list of must-visit restaurants in Philly. I finally got the chance to go with a friend, who’s also been dying to go, and it was an incredible treat. The venue was classy and minimalist in a neat yet modern sort of way. The lighting was dim, but not overly so, and candles were lit on every table. Overwhelmed by fabulous reviews on yelp and a very eclectic menu, we ended up ordering something from every section.

Before our dishes came, the waiter surprised us with a complimentary teacup of mushroom soup. Usually I dislike mushrooms, but the soup was actually really tasty and nicely set the stage for more good food.

Mushroom soup

Our first two dishes came from the “On Toast” and “Raw” parts of the menu. The beef tartare with fresh horseradish came on a textured sourdough loaf. It was a perfect balance between the stinging spiciness of horseradish with tender beef and hints of cheese sprinkled throughout. There was enough tartare on the bread that it stood out as the main attraction, but was still nicely supplemented by the chewy bread. But the real star came next: the tuna poke with macadamia nuts and sweet soy sauce was out of this world. Based on a classic Hawaiian tuna poke, the flavors were at once intense and subtle in their variations. The fish was soft and smooth, full of a sweet yet tangy essence and was perfectly complemented by bursts of flavor from poppy seeds. The nuts and assorted vegetables were soaked in the sweet sauce as well. It was devastating when we finished it.  

Tuna Poke

Beef Tartare

The next dish to come was our small plate – tagliatelle, braised duck, and chanterelles. Having had a similar dish at Salento (which was decent), this one surpassed my expectations. The duck was tender, contrasting nicely with the pasta, which had just enough resistance, and was coated in savory sauce. The warmth from the dish was really comforting on a chilly autumn night.

Tagliatelle & Duck

The waiter saved our crispy potatoes & shishito peppers vegetable plate for last, along with our large plate of pork blade steak, onion marmalade, and sautéed mustard greens. Throughout our experience he was very knowledgeable about the dishes, how to pair them, and was very helpful (and correct). The potatoes were basically normal fried potato pieces seasoned with spices. They were good, but not particularly special. The peppers were more flavorful and surprised my friend by not being spicy. Our pork steak was really great. Cooked medium rare, full of flavor, with a crispy outer layer and tender meat on the inside, it was covered with a dark pile of marinated onions. The mustard greens weren’t our favorite; they were slightly bitter and a little overly salty. Plus, with all the other great things to eat, we didn’t want to use up too much stomach space.

Pork Blade Steak

Crispy Potatoes and Peppers

Finally, we got to dessert. I had originally heard many great things about the blueberry pie, but our waiter informed us that it would be extremely expensive and environmentally unfriendly to get blueberries during this season. But instead of blueberry pie they had a decadent chocolate pecan pie. The crust was absolutely perfect and always my favorite part of a pie. It had just the right level of flakiness and crispiness that filled us with warmth and happiness.

Chocolate Pecan Pie

Overall, we were extremely happy, very impressed, and full (although we could always eat more).