Sophia’s

This is a great place if you are willing to spend a little extra cash. The menu is small but has enough variety to satisfy any taste. The small menu also helps you make a decision. The drinks were excellent and our server was so wonderful I wanted to give him my number so that we could be friends.

I loved Salt and Pepper. I think it may have been my favorite restaurant, owing in part to a scallop appetizer that was sometimes on the menu (delicious), the chicken risotto dish, and the homemade, comfort desserts (e.g., apple pie) that they regularly offered. When I learned Salt and Pepper was to be no more, I was so disappointed. Naturally, when Sophia’s opened, I was anxious to see what replaced my go-​to place. I tried them in the first week of their new opening and the food was ok. I figured they were dealing with some growing pains and things would get better. Went back and, while the appetizers (meatballs and polenta) were delicious, I found the entrée’s less exciting. Tried again for a third time. Again the apps were quite good but the entrée’s were not. I ordered a chicken with spinach and fontina cheese dish (I think it is now off of the menu) that was inedible. My husband’s pork cheek was just ok. I really liked that Salt and Pepper offered upscale comfort food. It seems like a lot of folks prefer the new, fancier, genre of food. But, it’s just not for me.
Maybe we’ll try back later if the menu changes up, but all in all, I’m not in a rush to head back. That said, the waitstaff have always been great.

My friend and I went for happy hour on a Friday evening. Since they weren’t busy, they allowed us to sit at a table and still get the happy hour drink specials. We were 1 of 2 tables in the restaurant, but the acoustics were so bad, that we had trouble hearing each other across the table. The pear ginger martini didn’t have much flavor. I asked to have some syrup added, which, unfortunately, made it cloyingly sweet. The waitress never asked us if we wanted more drinks, so by the time I ordered the second, I was one minute too late for the computer to allow for the happy hour rate. The drinks and lack of offering another happy hour drink were what lost them the last star.
Fortunately, the dinner was fantastic, and I couldn’t bring myself to give less than 4 stars for that — hopefully, the restaurant will read this and take some of the critique to heart. I got the pork chop with swiss chard and peach mustard sauce. The chop was super tender and juicy (and a good size, too), and I loved that they asked how I wanted it cooked (medium rare, of course!) The chard was not at all bitter, and there was almost enough of that tasty sauce for the whole meal. My friend got the spaghetti and meatballs and was also thoroughly impressed. Our waitress really was very sweet, if not particularly customer-​service oriented regarding the happy hour specials.
Dessert came from a little pastry shop a few blocks away, and I wasn’t that impressed. The chocolate mousse on top was tasty, but seemed a bit dry, like it had been sitting too long. The chocolate cake base was definitely too dry and flavorless — that got left on the plate, as did the chunky coconut caramel sauce.
So, my recommendation would be to opt for an app before dinner, skip dessert, and stick with wine or beer.

Had a nice early dinner «date» with my daughter on our way to see Taylor Swift. Food was tasty, though unremarkable. The majority of the seating (and the kitchen) are on the second floor.
Ordered mussels, gazpacho, Sophia’s meatball, fish tacos, and one other dish that for the life of me I can’t remember. All were well prepared.
The menu on their website was nothing at all like the actual menu once we arrived at the restaurant.
Would not object to eating here again, but wouldn’t necessarily be my first choice either.

We went to Sophia’s with high hopes last friday but I have to say we felt a bit let down. We got the crabcakes and the sliders for the apps and they were average at best. The entrees though were very good, we got the steak frites (cooked medium rare) and the scallops. Both of the entrees were very good and the prices were very reasonable for what you got. I was expecting higher quality food for the apps and the menu that is posted on OpenTable and on Unilocal did not match with the menu we got at the restaurant. There were a few menu items that I was looking forward to that they didn’t have. I wouldn’t have had that expectation if they had kept their menu up to date. I want to give this place another try but might wait a bit.

As I walked down Passyunk with a friend, she wanted to duck into Sophia’s as a place she’s always wanted to try. We sat at a table in the bar area and over the next two hours caught up on our lives. What I thought was great about Sophia’s was the quiet, the deft service, and the delicious food that made us want to stay and talk.
They had a diverse drink selection, which while small was thoughtful. I tried a summer beer that I had never heard of. My friend went with a martini and white wine. The mussels was ample as an appetizer and served as a full meal. Adding chorizo and olives to the broth was a decadent choice of the kitchen. And perfect for me, who likes strong, salty flavors. My friend had the tuna tacos, which she seemed to like.
The service seemed unusually warm and attentive, without being distracting. The server smiled as we first-​timers fumbled over the menu. I thought the total experience was great, as evidenced by mood improving 100% after having been there.

I don’t spend a ton of time on EPass. It’s not that I don’t like it I just don’t make it down there that often. So last Thursday when boo got a reservation there for dinner with some friends of ours I figured I’d head down early, scope the scene and maybe grab a drink till everyone came.
Well… it just happened to be the hottest day of the year and due to my lack of familiarity with the area I walked right by the restaurant and didn’t realize it for about 10 blocks at which point I sweating like Michael Jordan during the flu game. Using the Unilocal app map I navigated my way back up the street until I found my destination.
Upon entering the host set me up at the bar next to a fan and I sat there expelling any internal water I’d been holding onto. It took me like 5 minutes before I was ready to order and my core temperature was back under a hundo. The gentleman who sat me mentioned something about central air being added soon but I was kinda dizzy and not really paying attention.
After that little «episode» I was able to talk to the bartender and he gave me the list of cocktails and said all the drinks were $ 6 except for an amazing sounding sangria called Bartrum’s Garden which has all kinds of cool herbs in it which was $ 4. The bartender walked me through the drinks and I started with a bourbon drink that had cinnamon and cloves in it. It was very good, almost tasted like a new twist on a Manhattan. Second I moved to the Sicilian, this is moneymaker right here. It was an orange liquor with a few other things that I seriously could have drank all night. Not too sweet, crisp, and refreshing. At this point I had basically replaced all my fluids with booze and started to get chatty so I talked to three bros that were sitting at the bar along with the bartender and the five of us had a great time.
Finally boo and the dinner guests came and we were ready to be seated. We went back to the cozy dining room and gave our waiter our drink orders. The dining room felt a lot a big version of my grandmother’s dining room growing up. It wasn’t overly fancy but it was familiar and understated in the best way. Unfortunately it was also about 80 degrees. I run hot so for someone else it may have felt ok but I began making it rain again.
To start off with we got two orders of the Unilocal famous meatballs on polenta. The meatballs them self were tasty but I wasn’t as impressed as some other people but the polenta was like nothing I’d ever tasted. So so good. Next came the hard part, what entrée to order. Everything sounded great but I decided on the Seafood & Shellfish Paella with saffron rice. Boo got the soft shell crabs always a good decision. I believe the other guests got the same thing but after the meatballs I ordered a Bluecoat dirty martini so things got a bit hazy.
My paella must have been finished first because it wasn’t quite as hot as everyone else’s dishes but surprisingly it didn’t really take away from the flavor. Lots of shrimp, fish, and mussels and the rice melted in your mouth. Boo’s crabs were unreal too, it was my first experience with them but certainly won’t be my last.
When the dessert menu came around we opted to go next door to Capogiro, not because Sophia’s menu was lacking but basically I was having a Three Mile Island type meltdown in my corner seat. The staff at Sophia’s could not be friendlier and I can’t wait for another excuse to go back. If the next time I go they have central air, best believe they’re getting five stars!

Crab cakes & avocado: delicious, sliders with bacon and Brie: delicious, stuffed chicken: delicious, ravioli with crab: delicious!

I want to preface this by saying I didn’t get to even eat the food so this star has no bearing on it.
I woke up yesterday morning, on my birthday (which happens to also be Mother’s Day) and my boyfriend and I decided to stroll down Passyunk Ave for a pretty early birthday brunch. Now I knew it was Mother’s Day so I didn’t bother with any spots that looked packed. We walked by Sophia’s, there were about 6 tables open, it looks charming and I liked the menu so we stopped in. As soon as I walked in the bartender said to us «Its Mother’s Day and we are absolutely slammed but maybe we can take you.» Which was weird because there were open tables everywhere and 3 servers just standing around. Then a server came up to me and said «Unless you have reservations its doubtful we can take you because its Mother’s Day and we are slammed but let’s check for you.» Then a third server came up to me and said «Look, its Mother’s Day, you should know to have reservations if you want to go out to eat, look around, we are slammed but you can dine at the bar.»
I graciously refused their offers to accommodate me. They were all very rude, not busy at all and left me feeling pretty unspecial because I was a woman without children in tow. If they really couldn’t take us they should have told us right away and acted friendly about it, rather than acting like paying customers were ridiculous to expect to eat at their restaurant. Service accounts for at least half a diner’s experience at a restaurant, so I am only giving them a star. Go dine at a place that treats you well and wants your money.

We went there for Easter Brunch, their inaugural brunch run. It was fantastic. One of us had the breakfast croissant, another had the giant blueberry pancakes and I went with the eggs Benedict. Rave reviews all around. Pancakes were light and fluffy and the blueberries were perfect. Croissant was filled with fluffy eggs and bacon and avocado. And my Benedict was spot on. We also really enjoyed the creative cocktails. The carrot mimosa was fresh and delectable. And the smoky Bloody Mary was the bomb! I had three! Happy Happy! Can’t wait to try Sophia’s for dinner!

I brought my fiancé here for a quiet dinner this past Friday, as she was having a case of hives at the time and thought that she could use a stress-​free night out. The service that we experienced led me to believe that the staff understands what a cool place and pleasant atmosphere they have there. In particular, I was impressed with the upscale décor juxtaposed with the throwback 90’s pop rock playing over the speakers. Some people may not appreciate that, but that was the music that I grew up on, so it made the evening that much more enjoyable for me. The one drawback that keeps this from being a five star review is that their portions are very small. I had the tuna tacos for an appetizer and the salmon for my entrée. Both were terrific, in particular the tuna tacos.

I wasn’t sure what to expect when we came here on a whim this past Saturday night, but it ended up being one of the best dining experiences we have had in quite some time. The allure of a good cocktail is what brought us here, of all the fine establishments along the Avenue, and the possibility of mostly avoiding gluten which isn’t easily done at the abundant Italian joints nearby.
I haven’t had either of these criteria met and so vastly exceeded in as long as I can remember. We booked a table for two online around 7 pm for 9:00. We arrived a few minutes late but the table wasn’t quite ready. The pleasant hostess pointed us to the bar and took our coats while we waited. Luckily, there was a small bar table at the window that was available– it was bumpin in there. I got an «On London Thyme» cocktail and he went with a classic mojito. At $ 11, I was a bit hesitant, but the description sounded boozy enough to warrant the price tag, and the tall, icy glass of tart-​sweet tangerine fizzy pow-​to-​the-​face liquid happiness was absolutely freaking phenomenal. It was almost too pretty to drink. Can you tell I liked it? I had two. I was drunk when I got home. E also enjoyed his mojitos.
It was 9:30 by the time our table opened up but I was in total chill mode. Our server was super friendly in a relaxed way, not a wound-​up neurotic way like you find so often. She explained the menu and that you can course things however you wish, sharing was encouraged, but it isn’t «small plates» really. The cheesesteak soup dumplings that appeared on early versions of the menu I found online were no longer there. Thank goodness. We opted for the meatballs and polenta starter, based on reviews, and a ceasar salad to share. The meatballs might be the best thing I’ve put in my mouth in as long as I can remember. The polenta they’re nestled in is the creamiest version I’ve ever had, the meatballs themselves are super tender and flavourful, the perfect amount of tomato sauce… good lord. We used the table bread to wipe the dish clean. It was also a big portion– a person could probably order just this and be satisfied. E doesn’t even like polenta and he loved this. The ceasar salad was pretty good, the 7-​minute-​egg was spot-​on, but the dressing needed a bit more garlic of anchovy or lemon or something. It was lacking a bit of kick. This is literally the only food-​based criticism I could find for our whole evening. Again, a large portion and really high-​quality ingredients, we certainly weren’t disappointed and we ate most of it.
We decided to each pick an entrée and a side dish to go with it. E went with the paella and a side of peas and carrots. What an epic pile of beautiful seafood! I stole a few bites and it was almost as good as my homemade seafood paella. The rice was crispy and well-​seasoned, not mushy or too crunchy. So much seafood– octopus, mussels, scallops, and shrimp. I went with the trumpet mushroom crusted veal tenderloin that was served with quinoa, and a side of the roasted brussels sprouts with bacon. I never order veal, but one doesn’t often see a veal tenderloin being offered, and the quinoa sealed the deal. By the way, there were several entrée options that were served with non-​gluten grain components. The plate arrived with three beautiful medallions, cooked medium-​rare per request, on a bed of quinoa blended with toasted pine nuts, and a beautiful green puddle of sauce that turned out to be an herbaceous beurre blanc (which the server knew and explained as soon as I inquired, good work girlfriend). I ate it all. It was so damn good! The brussels sprouts were also excellent, perfectly roasted brown and bacony.
Feeling gluttonous, and knowing the desserts came from the much-​lauded Belle Cakery, we got a piece of dark chocolate cheesecake to go. We found our appetites for it later that night and it was as good a piece of cheesecake I can remember eating in a long while– the «whiskey caramel» actually tasted pleasantly of whiskey.
I was a bit nervous about the bill because we had been so extravagant in our ordering, but the subtotal was only $ 101, much less than I had feared (granted, we paid for the first round of drinks at the bar). I thought that was totally reasonable for such an awesome meal and great service. I didn’t even mind listening to the impromptu double-​date that was happening as two d-​baggy dudes talked across the room at each other right behind us. This place is high on the list for a revisit!

Well, this evening started out incredibly well. (and finished well, too, no worries there) I noticed other reviewers talking about the bartender. This place just hired Katie Loeb, one of Philly’s finest, so it appears that you’re going to be taken care of any way you look at it! The bar itself, like the rest of the restaurant, is rather small with not a lot of storage for the alcohol, so they must choose wisely. The specialty drink menu is well-​thought and each of the 4 drinks our group had was great! Some Like it Hot was very cool (haha), it had tequila, some spice, some fruitiness, the imbiber wanted another! I had their special Manhattan, it had star anise and cinnamon in it. Quite good.
The restaurant itself is tiny, seating maybe 20, not including the outdoor part, which is also small, but not open at this time of year for obvious reasons. The ambience is warm and cozy, the service professional and friendly. The chef is Christopher Lee, of Striped Bass and Salt and Pepper. So you have some big names here turning out… well, just great food and drink. And the prices are fair and reasonable. They divide their menu into two parts, Rustic and Modern American. Both had great dishes. None are incredibly unique but all were excellent.
The four of us had 8 different things which we all shared, and rather than describe them all, I’ll say that all were very very good, extremely well executed and nothing fussy about them. Some standouts were the Paella, nice crispy rice (that’s the way it’s supposed to be!), a great assortment of perfectly cooked seafood, and it wasn’t overly rich and heavy. The meatballs over polenta, an appetizer, were fantastic. The polenta was very creamy with an unctuous texture to it.
They have food to please all palates, one of the apps was sliders with brie and bacon. Just gorgeous, especially the little buns, which had a nice brown glazed top. They even have a side of fries with cheese on it and a remoulade dipping sauce. We had that one too.

We had a 7:30pm reservation on a Saturday night. We first sat at the bar for some pre-​dinner drinks. The bartenders were great. (very friendly). They made some nice concoctions. They didn’t have the largest beer list but but I found my happy medium. All the staff members seem to jive well together, nice teamwork in action. Happy staff vibes are felt by the customer, trust me.
All our appetizers were delish’. We all wished that the mini tuna tacos were a little larger. (they were tasty but just too small for our liking). I would suggest 86’ing the Cheese Steak Dumpling Soup app, it looks out of place on the menu. (just my opinion… who knows, maybe that is a big seller)
Everyone enjoyed their entrée’s. My Skate fish was great, it had a light coating (cornmeal maybe?) that was perfect. The sides of Brussels Sprouts (w/​bacon) as well as the root vegetables were excellent. Kate loved her pasta dish. Others in our party enjoyed their duck, Lamb and scallops.
Our server was excellent. He seemed to be fairly new (well, he indicated that we were his first large party that he has served) but he handled his business! He gave us the right mix of attention and space. Our water glasses were continually refreshed in a timely manner (so were our plates).
My only suggestion is that they consider to participate in the auto Valet discount similar to the other restaurants.
Well played Sophia, we will return.

Possibly best Bronzino I have ever had. Came for happy hour one day and then dinner a few days later. Absolutely fabulous from the food, to the drinks and the atmosphere. Definitely recommend the sashimi tacos as well. Bar tender is so friendly, too!

Had a nice Sunday dinner here a few weeks back with a group of friends. I little pricey for South Philly Passyunk, but worth it. Along with Paradiso, it’s a nicer, romantic, intimate spot you may pay a bit more for… but has class and sophistocation. I tried the Manhattan on a reccomendation, and it was amazing! My boyfriend had the mojito and liked it. The wine list is impressive.
My meal was the goat cheese salad (great) and the tuna tartare appetizer. I’m a small girl, and this was enough to fill me. Ok, I indulged in a pre-​dinner roll too, which was worth it! The chardonnay was great, and friends at the table drank the passion red wine — also great! Others at the table raved about the meatballs. I’m not a meat eater so I took their word for it. I did have a bite of the scallops, also good.
I really liked the coziness of the place, both the dining room & bar. The staff was friendly and accomodating.

Happy hour at Sophia’s– I am so lucky to live in this neighborhood. Chat with Ray, the best bartender who makes a kick butt Sidecar and really wants to know what his customers want to see at the bar.
If you are a scotch drinker then be sure to mention it to him. Ray, I hope you have a happy hour special of a dirty martini.
We tried the meatballs and polenta, and when my friend said he doesn’t eat polenta but totally finished everything, you know it is just that good.
I will definitely be a regular here.

This is an excellent restaurant! Myself and a small group of friends decided to check this restaurant out. The service was outstanding. Our waiter was very attentive and met all of our needs. He was able to explain every dish on the menu. We started off with the cheese plate (of course) with the octopus and ravioli. All VERY delicious! The ravioli was out of this world amazing! For our second course we had the house burger, the pork tenderloin and the pappardelle! The second course was just as tasty as the first! They are rather large portions so we treated them as tapas and shared everything! High recommended!
If you’re interested in wine, the O.P.P was fantastic!

Another stroll down Passyunk, led my boyfriend and I to a late dinner at Sophia’s. We were standing outside peaking at their in window menu when two diners came out exclaiming how great the food was. All I can say now is, I feel mislead. The restaurant itself is beautiful, the staff is all seemingly friendly, the bar is stocked and the drinks are fantastic however the food is just okay. Every plate we tried seemed like something was missing or just off. Thank heaven for dessert. The pastry chef they are working with right now knows what he/​she is doing! Yum. Btw I normally don’t mention cost in my reviews as I don’t mind paying for quality however I’m still trying to wrap my head around our bill. Either our 1 dessert was $ 35 or we were overcharged.

Sophia’s (formerly known as Salt and Pepper) is a nice addition to the revitalized East Passyunk neighborhood. It opened about a week ago and is still developing its menu. The restaurant is pretty large with two floors and a full bar. Upon entering, we were greeted by a super nice host who led us to our table and introduced us to a super nice waitress. Every worker that we encountered in the restaurant was very, very nice. The menu had about 5 appetizers and 5 entrees. We started with a tasty arugula and fennel salad which came with parmesan cheese, pears, and pomegranate. We had the grilled branzino for our entrée. The branzino came with bak choy, soy sauce, and some other Asian flavorings. It was ok. I thought it was missing something. We finished dinner with a decent warm apple café and homemade vanilla ice cream prepared by the owner of Belle Cakery. I think this restaurant has a lot of promise moving forward as it is still developing its menu and has not had an official grand opening as Sophia’s. Worth noting is its a bit on the pricey side and is not byob.