Bec-Fin (Le)

The description on the menu did not relate to the actual courses themselves. The octopus was extremely well cooked and seasoned. The stuffed quail was well cooked but loaded with excessive amounts of garlic. The ""cheese course"" included one piece of dried up 3 year gouda as if it had been sliced many hours prior to our arrival. They replaced it for us with a Tomme which was decent. The dessert course was just ok. The descriptions were again much more exciting than the actual dessert. The wine list was marked up on average 5 times the actual cost of the wine. Another disappointment is that the first thing that shows up when you search on google for Le Bec Fin is ""Monday BYOB"" next to the name. This is no longer accepted, they did not allow it, nor did they even allow it with a corkage fee. more

I have had to opportunity and the privilege to dine at Georges Perrier's Le Bec Fin since I was young. My family has been going to Le Bec for as long as I can remember. It started with my father's daily lunches there and it evolved into a family tradition. When I was little, I was always astounded by the physical appearance of Le Bec Fin. From the outside, it looks like an ordinary building with a posh looking door. However, when one steps inside, they are immediately overwhelmed by the elegant gold (it was originally red) of the main dining hall. The turbo is my favorite dish and I have to request it before I arrive because it is now off the dish, but the staff is very flexible and is able to arrange enough turbo for me and my friends to enjoy. The escargot is also marvelously prepared in an incredible butter-garlic sauce. Finally, each meal is never complete without the infamous desert cart! Chef Perrier has worked hard for his well deserved stars! My only complaints? The cliental has changed quite a bit over the years. I used to be a weekly costumer and now I regrettably have not been to Le Bec in almost a year (although I am going in a few weeks). The last time I was there, the regulars had now been replaced with special occasion guests. The waitressing staff had completely turned over too (the old staff is now primarily working at Philadelphia's Water Works near Boat House Row). I miss the familiarity of the old Le Bec Fin; however, this place is still incredible. It would be a mistake to not visit! Pros: Elegant Atmosphere, Delicious Food, Friendly Staff Cons: The cliental has changed more

I had a great experience at Le Bec-Fin. I've always heard about it and the luxury it brings to those who could afford it. Aha - Restaurant week! A chance for us young working class! So my boyfriend & I decided to give it a try & got all dolled up. We had to push back our reservation an hour due to work, but they were very cordial & obliging on the phone. Pros: Elegant, formal & friendly Cons: Stale bread, unfilled water, It's a status thing. more

Having moved to Philadelphia recently we heard nothing but good things about Le Bec-Fin and how it was one of the top fine dining restaurant in the city. My husband and I decided to check it out on a Tuesday night in May 2009 for our 2 year wedding anniversary. I've dined at some of the best restaurants in the world such as The French Laundry, Benoit in Paris, and Grammercy Tavern (to name a few). I was severely disappointed with our experience at Le Bec-Fin across the board from the service to the presentation to the taste of the food itself. I don't even know where to begin. From the moment we arrived, we decided to order a drink before we picked a wine from the wine list. The server mentioned they had wide selection of cocktails and some beers available. When we asked what type of beer they offered, he could not remember was completely thrown off by our question. We also felt pressured to make our wine list selection quickly. There was a lack of seasoning in all our entrees. My husband had the scallop dish as an appetizer. The shellfish was not cleaned properly since there was still sand in the broth. We opted for the cheese course and the server could not give us a clear explanation of the cheese's origins. The restaurant's only saving grace that evening was the selection of wines from the wine list and the dessert cart. What happened here? Did I just go on an off night? more

food was delicious, decor was a little old-fashioned for me more

You are in Philadelphia - the best thing the city offers is dining experience. And of the restaurants, Le Bec Fin is the one most talked of. So go. more

awesoomee service. maybe a few too many waiters? they were everywhere. literally. the food was pretty good,... more

awesoomee service. maybe a few too many waiters? they were everywhere. literally. the food was pretty good, even though i expected it to be really ... more

awesoomee service. maybe a few too many waiters? they were everywhere. literally. the food was pretty good, even though i expected it to be really ... more

After a long respite (10 years), we finally returned to Le Bec Fin for a special occasion. I have to say that the place still has a romantic ambiance with its beautiful decor and decadent menu, but the service is lacking even more than before. A place of such caliber needs a more professional staff, and service that is more skillful and polished. For example, one waiter kept referring to my husband as ?madame? the entire evening. At first we thought it was a simple mistake, but he was quite serious, not knowing the French word for sir. Pros: Beautiful, romantic, great French cuisine Cons: Service is friendly but very inexperienced and unpolished more

I'd heard such raves about Le Bec-Fin that I was really looking forward to dinner. What a letdown! The service was perfunctory - as though someone had told the servers what elements were important without explaining why. For instance, they were rigorous about making sure that all of the plate covers were removed simultaneously - even though they didn't have enough servers to do so for our table of ten, meaning that one server would lean over two people, practically resting on their shoulders. It was incredibly awkward. Also, bread was hard and cold, served with cold butter; water glasses weren't filled; just little things that should be basics for a five-star restaurant. Even the food was not terrific. In deciding between appetizers, I asked the waiter for a recommendation, and he talked up the crab cake as a specialty. Was he kidding? It tasted like every crab cake I've eaten everywhere - at least I think it did, but it was hard to tell since it was SWIMMING in sauce (and surrounded by overcooked green beans). Roasted chicken with hazelnut mashed potatoes was fine but nothing special. On the plus side, the wine list was outstanding and the dessert cart was very good. Overall, though, I can't imagine how this got a five-star rating. Pros: Wine list, dessert cart, ambience Cons: Service, majority of the food more

Le Bec-Fin was another five stars restaurant that I had the pleasure of trying. I ate there for a total of thee times. One of those times was for lunch since it is way less expensive than dinner. Just so you know they have pre-fixe menus for both lunch and dinner. If you are lucky, Le Bec-Fin sometimes take part in Restaurant Week, but since their name is never on the list, you have to call them to find out. The food there is amazing. A simple salmon appertizer would somehow come out as the best salmon you have ever tasted. This place lives up to its reputation, and the service is impeccable. Pros: Food, service, atmosphere Cons: pricey more

I went for lunch with a couple of my friends. While the food was truly superb (I had the duck and my girlfriend has the lamb), I can't say the same for the service. Not that is was bad per se, but seemed a bit lackluster and unpolished. The waiters were more concerned with taking the silver tops off our plate then with making sure we had silverware to eat with. Waited for about 20 minutes for coffee. We were done with our desserts and still hadn't received our coffee. Maybe it was an off day. I will come back again though. Pros: Excellent food, amazing dessert cart Cons: inattentive waiters more

Le Bec-Fin is truly an international gastronomical destination! You get what you pay for at this 5-star jewel. Pros: Service, Food more

It really depends on your previous dining experiences how you will feel about LeBec Fin. First, you will no doubt have excellent food and excellent service. I do feel indignified for saying this, but I just can't help but compare it to years back - I think the food and service was a little better (geez, when I read this, I sound like a snob and don't mean to). When we used to go, I would walk out and say ""I can't wait until our next trip here"", and now I don't think that as much. But I do love it still and especially the dessert cart - if you love dessert (and are there really people who don't?!), you must come here for the dessert cart alone. You get a tasting of whatever desserts you want to try (it's included in the price) and it's suberb. (I have to say that when we went for lunch a couple weeks ago, I was a little disappointed in the dessert cart - seemed to have a lot of the same desserts and not a variety. Bottom line - we still love it, just not as much as we used to. Pros: Service, food, wine (although they did not have Chablis Premier Cru!) Cons: No cons - just not as GREAT as it once was more

This is the finest french food I have had anywhere. The preparation and quality of food is marvelous. After having a day of stress we went here and they made us feel like Queens for a Day. more

THis is the quintessential restaurant in Philadelphia for fine dining. After having a great day of fitness and some shopping my husband and I had dinner at Le Bec Fin and it was marvelous. The food is to die for and the staff is just great. more

LOVE THIS RESTAURANT. WE GO HERE SEVERAL TIMES A YEAR AND THE FOOD AND SERVCIE ARE JUST GREAT. THE PLACE IS PRICEY BUT IF YOU CAN AFFORD THE VERY BEST THIS IS THE PLACE TO GO. I ESPECIALLY ENJOY THEIR EXTENSIVE WIN LIST AND THE DESSERTS ARE UNREAL. Pros: GREAT FOOD, GOOD SERVICE Cons: PRICEY more

We had the best lunch. The dessert cart is fabulous. Loved the decor. My husband complained that the portions were too small. The service was flawless. Pros: Food, Service Cons: Expensive, Parking more

Excellent food and service, but beware a possibly *very* unclassy attitude. A friend and I went to this restaurant to get dessert for takeout; we waited in the vestibule as suggested. A manager coming from the floor below was overheard by my friend to say, ""What on earth are *they* doing here?"" in a snooty tone, due to our casual dress. To this day, I find such a display shocking in the worst possible way. I do not dress formally to pick up a takeout order from an establishment. Establishments with class, of course, never make a person feel remotely unwelcome. I would say visit Le Bec Fin with slight caution. N.B. Of the many restaurants I have visited in Philadelphia, only at this restaurant and at its ""sister"" restaurant, Brasserie Perrier, have I ever encountered snootiness. Pros: food, wine, service Cons: staff's lack of class, extremely expensive more