Plenty

I work on Passyunk Ave. and while there are so many awesome restaurants, there are very few that do lunch. When I grow weary of my usual haunts, I try and branch out to some of the other cafes nearby. I had only been in Plenty one time prior to the renovations, and that was just for a quick cup of coffee, so my experience are based off their recent update of their offerings.
The décor of the place is very hipster-​café chic. Filament bulbs and all. But it’s very clean and cozy so I have no qualms. The service situation is a bit — odd. As a few other reviewers mentioned they have a weird mix of kind of table service kind of not. I’ve only actually eaten inside the place once, and at their bar none the less — but it was still a bit awkward. Outside of that every employee has been friendly.
I just need to know Plenty — are your sandwiches made from gold? Do you import your produce straight from the rainforests of South America? One sandwich can run you 9.50−11 bucks. This isn’t so far of what I’m used to spending on lunch on the avenue, but I am typically accustomed to receiving perhaps a bag of chips or a side salad with my sandwich for ten bucks. Nope — if you order take out you literally get one panini sized sandwich for $ 10. If you eat in, they’ll throw in a salad — which I think is kind of crappy considering all you have to do for a takeout order is put the damn thing together and hand it over to me when I walk in. The most recent time I inquired why that was the protocol and the barista was nice enough to have one packed up for me. However, this clearly isn’t the standard. Also, how does it take 30 minutes for one sandwich to be made? I can only assume it’s because it needs to be chiseled from the blocks of marble in the back room.
The food itself is good. I’ve mostly stuck to their sandwich selection, and they’ve been tasty and interesting. Albeit again — a bit on the smaller side for the price. I’ve only once stepped in for a drink, and that was only because every other bar on the Avenue was packed. I sat at the bar so I didn’t have an issue with service. It’s a unique idea — having a coffeshop/​bar hybrid, but it’s a little lost as to what exactly it wants to be.
Overall, for a casual lunch goer it’s not my favorite. It seems like a nice option for a quiet drink when all the other places are packed on Passyunk, or a quick cup of coffee. But with the weird service situation and the overpriced food menu, I’d say try one of the other local cafes in the area.

Post Reno review.
Staff not very welcoming. Organize your process and spell it out for clients upon entering. (A little tip for first impressions).
Ordering made you, the customer, feel awkward. Table or counter service? No direction was given.
Prices high for what you get. No rush to go back. Plenty of other places on the Ave that wanna provide a welcoming atmosphere which I will gladly spend my money at, expensive or not.
Pretentious atmosphere. Don’t care for it.

I had a large panini from Plenty for lunch one day. The café was a lot quieter than I expected it to be during the lunch hour, there were only a few other people in the store and I was the only person that sat at the counter/​bar. The server took my order quickly and my sandwich came out within ten minutes. The sandwich was a little too much bread and not a lot of filling but it was still extremely flavorful and tasty!
The décor of Plenty reminded me of an urban garden feel with rustic wood touches. I can only hope that is indicative of their farm fresh ingredients.
I don’t get down to the Passyunk Ave. area all that often but I am looking forward to giving the new QV Plenty a try when they open!

I was a regular here until it closed in the late summer for renovations. It reopened not too long ago and it now has a liquor license, so I stopped in with my husband and our friend for brunch on a Sunday morning. I was excited to see the changes!
When we walked in we were greeted by a staffer who seemed to be directing people to tables. I asked if they have table ordering service now or if you still order at the counter. She said it’s still counter service, but we could order from her if we wanted. I wasn’t asking for special service, I just thought maybe the concept was changed now, and her vibe made me feel like an idiot.
Most of the tables are tables for two, so we had to move two tables together. We ordered at the counter and while we were there, the employee I just mentioned came up to us and handed us menus. Her presence was unnecessary and I wasn’t sure of her role.
The woman behind the counter was someone who worked there before the place closed for renovations. She appeared to be really frazzled even though there were only a couple of people in there. And I was horrified when she sneezed… into her hand. Then proceeded to handle coffee cups and stuff. Seriously, someone should tell her not to do this! Sneeze into your elbow!
One employee seemed to be amping up the friendliness really high, maybe to make up for this place’s rep for bad service. A smile never left his face, and he even refilled the water glasses of a couple who were standing up to put their coats on!
Finally, the food. My husband and friend enjoyed what they ordered, although I can’t remember what that was. I had a yogurt parfait, which was disappointing because it was so small. For the price I expected more. I also ordered a mimosa. Whoa, disappointing. It was $ 8 so I had to think about whether I really even wanted it for that price. When I received it, I could tell it was mostly juice. Plus, the glass wasn’t filled enough. When I tasted it, sure enough, I could barely detect any champagne. Lesson learned. My husband enjoyed his Korean bloody mary, though.
The bill ended up being around $ 60 for three people. I was astounded. I think they raised their prices now that they have a liquor license. (by the way, only my husband and I ordered drinks, our friend didn’t.) For some reason I added a 20 percent tip then I kicked myself later. It’s not even a full-​service restaurant, there are no servers, and the employees we did encounter were just… off.
Since it has a new liquor license and mostly new staff now, maybe they’re just working out the kinks. I’ll probably give it another try in a few months or so.

The Smoked Salmon sandwich (on ciabatta with scrambled eggs, caramelized onions, and dill cream) was out of this world! The service was also excellent and I really enjoyed the atmosphere.

I am so glad I stopped here. The New Orleans sandwich is amazing. All of the ingredients are fresh and the staff is very friendly and knowledgeable of the menu. My new place go to place for food and his drinks.

Great location next to another favorite of mine, Doggie Style! Nice outdoor seating for people watching with cool modern orange metal chairs and little bistro tables. The baristas look at you dead-​eyed and have zero personality but they’re fast and polite so who cares, really? It IS Passayunk, after all, home of so many bearded Indie hipsters and their charmingly punk rock meets boho female counterparts, so it fits with the neighborhood vibe of trying to look effortlessly bored by everything mainstream. Best iced lattes in the neighborhood.

Stopped in here yesterday with a friend to have breakfast. We both ordered the pancetta hash topped with eggs. My friend had ciabatta with hers (that’s how it is designed) and I opted for multi-​grain toast. I also asked that the green peppers be omitted. There was no problem with either of my requests, the server was friendly and obliging.
My friend ordered tea, I had a latte, which was well-​made. I also picked up what Plenty calls a French Puff, which tasted very much like cake donut batter baked in a muffin cup, then rolled in cinnamon sugar (if you’ve ever had one, they are delicious). It was light and tender and moist.
The restaurant is very clean. I will definitely return.

This seemed like a really cozy place to stop and get some coffee before my hair appointment. I was totally charmed upon walking in and totally turned off as soon as I interacted with the barista. As other reviews have stated, this barista wasn’t the least bit friendly. We had some questions about the menu and he provided some totally smug answers. Considering that our order was average, I wouldn’t recommend this place at all. The rude staff isn’t worth it. You can definitely do better elsewhere. I won’t be returning.

Super friendly staff, solid coffee/​espresso, and tasty sandwiches.
This place is more for the meat-​eating and vegetarian types (unless just popping in for coffee). Vegans do have options, they just may be limited depending on the current menu.
Only advice? Tone down the Panera-​esque modern jazz.

Our family is looking to move to the area soon so we stopped before brunch while house hunting.
Everyone was friendly enough. The place is very clean and has a great vibe.
Food was excellent and the coffee was good too. This is a spot I will be frequenting when we move to the area this summer.

After two recent visits (one to each location) I’ve gotta say my trips here are done. Similar situations both times — off days (holiday, day after) where they have too few people working and/​or are out of many menu items, the people that are working are not at all friendly or will even so much as speak, the food takes forever, etc. Just plain grumpy and I don’t get it.
Was hoping these were isolated events but seems to be a trend here. Their sandwiches are decent, but in this day and age in Philly you can find similar in so any places it’s not worth the prices or lack of customer service here.

I have not been to the Passyunk Square neighborhood in awhile, and I can’t believe what I have been missing! This restaurant is a gem — something I would definitely recommend for tea/​coffee or lunch!
I had a Chai latte! Which was delicious and perfectly hot! For lunch I enjoyed a salad which was huge — I could have easily made two meals out of it!
My lunch date ordered the grilled Caprese which looked delicious as well! We lingered over lunch and it was nice not to feel rushed. The café definitely attracts the work from home types madly typing away on there I-​devices.
They have a lovely front window seat as well as outdoor seating that is just perfect for people watching. Despite being a little on the expensive side I would certainly try this place again! Increased prices come with up and coming neighborhoods!

Plenty has been on the decline since changing ownership and becoming a mini-chain.The excellent Tasso Ham sandwich is effectively no longer on the menu, now called the «New Orleans.» I made the mistake of ordering the «New Orleans» today not realizing that it was the same ham. Imagine putting really sweet fig jam on bread, then imagine adding sliced apple to that already sweet jam. Then imagine putting spicy ham on top of that. Is that going to taste good? No it will not. Just because you put something spicy and something sweet together doesn’t mean they will automatically «balance» each other. I still ate it all but that’s because I didn’t eat anything at all today until 5 p.m. Sometimes sweet jams like that are fine with meat but it had better be a more neutral meat like turkey. There’s nothing «New Orleans» about the sandwich. They took a perfectly good sandwich, ruined it, and made it more expensive. After tax it was $ 11.34 which I think is just too much. Wish I would have gone to Paesano’s instead or gotten a slice of pizza, etc.
Portions are smaller than they originally were, prices have been raised a couple times, the renovating they did doesn’t look great, the baked goods are mediocre and the chairs at the tables are small, weird and uncomfortable. It’s a tie between this place and Bodhi Coffee for the city’s worst chairs chosen exclusively for design aesthetic rather than functionality. I’ve been here «plenty» of times over the past few years and now I think I’ve had enough.

Definitely like the food here, it’s always tasty, but after visiting some other spots in the area I’m not sure how frequently I’ll be coming back to Plenty. The prices are a bit higher than other places and I can do without the free side of smug the staff dishes up. It’s nice inside, the menu has something for everyone; I just know I can get more value for my money elsewhere.

The distance between good and great is the longest stretch of road in the restaurant world. Which makes it a shame Plenty gave up that ground when the Tasso Ham sandwich was unceremoniously dropped from its chalkboard, and is the reason behind the 1 star deduction.
The ingredients that warmed your soul must’ve burned a peppery hole through Plenty’s budget; the guys behind the counter said it was 86’d into the grave because people were turned off by the heat. Plenty remains a good spot to get a sandwich, but it lost what set it apart.

I’m unimpressed with this joint all around. The first time I wet in they had very little on their menu. It makes sense as it seems they’re farm to table, however… The name is Plenty.
The second time I went I ordered just a plain ham sandwich with spicy ground mustard and 2 fancy sodas and a bag of chips for 19 goddamn dollars. Literally ham mustard and bread. I was confused surely they meant $ 9. No? Ok.
I don’t think I’ll be heading in anytime soon.

Plenty. This joint is the «order at the counter, and your food is brought to your table» type of place. I was expecting a plenty better experience here than I had this morning. Unfortunately, it was less than par.
My friend ordered a 12 ounce coffee; I ordered a 16 ounce. We received our coffees in the same mugs (instead of the paper cups) for different prices. Interesting. I also read in the reviews that yummy fruity water is available at the counter. There was none today.
The credit card payment system is «high-​tech» and automatically asks you at the counter, before you’ve received your food, how much you want to tip. I chose 15% but later realized that there was no reason to tip so big for a lack of any sort of service at this establishment. The one girl that was working the counter dropped our food at our tables without asking if we needed anything else or if we wanted a warm-​up of coffee (I expected that since I was forced to leave a tip, I would’ve received some sort of service here). Also, we were never again spoken to by the employees the rest of the morning.
While dining, we noticed that there were lots of crumbs on the floor under the tables. Additionally, when we got up to drop off our dishes in the dish bucket — it was overflowing and there were flies circulating! Giving the benefit of the doubt, they must have been understaffed today.
The positive: The food was really yummy, made to order, fresh, and satisfying! I had a smoked salmon and egg breakfast sandwich, and my friend had the brisket sandwich. Both great!
Sadly, I’m thinking I won’t be returning.

Plenty has quickly become one of our favorite weekly coffee/​breakfast/​lunch/​dinner spots and we have a lot of great things to say about them!
The staff are all polite although sometimes the wait time can exceed what most people would consider normal. There is a sign on the door that they are hiring so I imagine that that has something to do with it. Doesn’t bother us that much.
The food is fresh and consistent – which I should know since I think I have eaten 25+ Pesto Chicken Panino Sandwiches from there (including one tonight). We have also had the brisket, Pulled Pork, Salmon, Veggie, Korean Beef, Salads, and Pancakes. YUM!
Although the food is more expensive than most «delis», the fact that they accept Level Up is a huge bonus as far as we are concerned. It’s a BYOB so that helps and although we usually leave some type of tip it’s not a typical sit down restaurant – more like a coffee shop/​deli hybrid. Overall I would say it’s well worth the $ 10 per sandwich when I consider that all of the ingredients are local, organic, etc. (or at least I think so…)
I’ve ordered several lattes and mochas and have only a few notes to make. I like to drink flavored lattes which is not exactly an option here (vanilla specifically). I also occasionally like whipped cream as opposed to typical milk or cream which is also not available. :(Oh well. It’s not the end of the world.
The only «major» complaint that I have (which is certainly not major) is that their to-​go cups don’t have lids… can be dangerous since it’s always fresh, hot brew.
Overall I will give it 4 stars – even though I rave about it so much and go there so often that it’s more like 4.5 (and I usually round up).

I’ve been hitting up Plenty a bit more regularly and I’m a huge fan. Ever since they changed up the space a bit and added more tables, there is a cozy, café type of feel. There’s wifi so you can get some work done, great coffee and delicious sandwiches. There are even breakfast options.
My favorite sandwich remains the tasso ham but I also order the turkey and the tuna pretty often. Careful with the turkey if you’re watching your waistline — they sneak mayo on there to keep it from being too dry, but the last time I was there, mayo wasn’t listed as one of the ingredients even though it was on the sandwich.
The guy who has been working the counter most often during my visits has always been super pleasant. The giant jug of complimentary water flavored with fruit is a really nice touch. I just love this place. Check it out if you haven’t already!