Victor Cafe

We visited the Victor Cafe a couple of weeks ago. Pros: Singing Waitstaff, valet parking. Cons: bartender was noisy during singing more

Just a bad night all the way around. I have to laugh now, since there's nothing I can do, or did the owners offer after our visit to what myself and friends now refer to ""the night at the zoo"". Our reservation was 'lost', then we waited with the madam victor (apparently an elderly woman is the zoo keeper). After that torture we we squeezed at a diner like boothe that was the most cramped I've ever been in any restaurant. Our server (apparently didn't want to be there either), since she was absent except to take our order with several mistakes, and collect her money. The singers were good considering the music was so loud we could barely hear them. Cons: The place is a con in itself. Need I go on? more

What a great restaurant. Staff are young, personable, utterly attentive and fabulous singers on top of it all! Pros: THE FOOD, singing servers, fantastic atmosphere and decor. Great for groups. Cons: street parking not easy to find on sat nites but that's why they have valet service, not really a place for little ones more

We just got home from our wonderful meal at Victor Cafe. Even though we arrived early for our 7:30 reservation, we were seated right away. The overall ambiance of the place was romantic, warm and inviting. There were lots of old photos on the walls of opera greats from the past. Our waiter was very energetic and friendly with a wonderful tenor voice we later discovered. Every 15-20 minutes a waiter or bartender would ring the bell and sing an aria. All of the voices were lovely. Simon Cowell would be proud. The food was prompt and hot?and delicious. I highly recommend the Crespelle Capriccio appetizer, which is crabmeat in a bechamel sauce wrapped in prosciutto, baked, with a drizzle of balsamic reduction. It melted in my mouth. For our main course, we chose the veal piccatta and the Penne Prince Igor(penne with smoked salmon, caviar and asparagus in vodka sauce.) Both dishes were full of flavor and cooked to perfection?and arrived hot. For dessert, we both had the Warm Valrhona Chocolate cake with melted center, creme anglaise and gelato. A definite ?wow.? There wasn?t a drop left on either of our plates. We finished off our meal with a glass of Limoncello, the perfect end to a perfect meal. We will definitely return and bring friends and relatives. We will also plan to return for birthdays and anniversaries. We highly recommend this wonderful restaurant. Pros: Singing Waiters, Valet Parking, Melt in your mouth dishes Cons: Not every table has a great view of the singers more

EVERY CHRISTMAS SEASON A GROUP OF FRIENDS GO TO VICTOR'S & IT'S BEEN A TRADITION FOR THE PAST 6 YEARS, UNTIL NOW. I AM SO DISAPPOINTED (ALONG WITH MY LONG TIME FRIENDS)! SUCH CHAIOS, AND LACK OF MANAGEMENT, THERE IS NO RECOGNIZABLE FACES, AND WE WERE MADE TO FEEL LIKE CATTLE, AND HEARDED WITH THE OTHER (STEER), INTO THE LOUNGE EVEN THOUGH WE HAD RESERVATIONS WE WERE MADE TO WAIT FOR AN HOUR. THEN IT JUST WENT DOWN HILL FROM THERE. HOW COULD SUCH A 'TRADITION' GO SO BAD IN ONLY A YEAR? Pros: NOTHING AT ALL Cons: IMPERSONAL, COLD, AND CHAOTIC more

We went to Vitcor Cafe with 7 people for a long-overdue, child-free dinner with old friends. Our experience, on the whole, was uneven. We had a reservation but waited a considerable time in the bar. More of a lounge, this may have been my favorite place. Dark and intimate with French and Italian classics playing (albeit loudly) in the background, this would be the perfect place to meet for a covert little tryst. Anyway, when seated we were crammed against the wall in a too bright dining room. My husband could not even push back his chair. Food was uneven; my mussels in white wine were bland, but my husband's ceasar salad, dressed with real anchovies, was excellent. My veal scallopene, on the other hand, was rich and flavorful with mushrooms and ham (I think?), if a bit small. My husband's chicken with proscuitto was dry, the polenta runny and bland instead of rich and creamy. I'm fairly certain our baked chocolate dessert was burned on the bottom. The opera is fine, if you're into that sort of thing. On the plus side, they'll take a reservation, a service which seems to be going the way of the dinosaur lately. The question is: do you really want it? All in all, not a winning meal. I'd try other places first. Pros: cool lounge, reservations available Cons: crammed dining room, uneven kitchen more

We loved this restaurant! The service was great. We got served right away and we didn't have a reservation. Delicious food. We love opera and the waiters and waitresses voices were incredible. We will definitely go there again as we had a most enjoyable evening. Pros: Service, entertainment, food Cons: Parking more

What a restaurant! You not only get great food, but you hear the best operatic voices ever. We had great service as well. We went there with friends who were delighted with the food and the entertainment. We are definitely going there again. more

let me begin by saying that i was reading review prior to making my reservation since i'd had a dissappointing evening at another s. phila italian restaurant, i wanted to see how victor's was i hadn't been in months. after reading the reviews, i almost reconsidered, i now know i should have. now i am aware that since jan 06 the victor's that i'd known for the past decade it 'gone' & what remains is not even in the same league. nothing is the same, the staff are polite, but young and unfamiliar with the basics. as for the hostess, she was 12 if she was a day, and her assistant, a drunk old man, well what a mess. like i've suggested to another greedy owner; you get what you pay for and that means employees as well as dinner. Pros: lounge (upstairs) away from the 'restaurant' Cons: where to begin? more

victor cafe is italian fair mixed with some italian opera! exciting! we started off with some cheesy crab meet wrapped in proscuitto and drizzled with a balsalmic glaze and lemon juice. very yummy. a perfect mix of rich and tart. for our entrees we shared some homemade tortellini and chicken stuffed with more proscuitto on a bed of polenta. mmm. although i had room for desert, my date surprisingly did not. while we were eating we were serenaded by the wait staff singing opera arias. the ambiance is unparalleled. Pros: ambiance, food, entertainment more

I too have been a Victor patron. I also have noticed changes, and they aren't for the better, but the singers who have been there throughout are still as amazing as ever, in singing as well as service. If you have not been there prior to these changes than you don't know what you've missed.I have so I don't think the authors of the prior reviewers are""cranky"" folks, but sad ""folks"", and as well they should be since there is a major void, without the 'usual suspects' who are an important part of the VICTOR. So, even though the great personalities & voices of the young Sinatra and the distinguished bartender, and the most attentive and outgoing manager are no longer @ the Victor Cafe, there are still some talented long time singers who I hope won't disappear as well. Also, where are the awesome threesome? Pros: Singing, Singing, Service more

I came across the negative reviews here just minutes before leaving to meet some dear friends. It was our first time there and we were very pleasantly surprised. Just opera, but it was grand and the food was very, very good too. I'm not an opera fan but looked forward to hearing the talented waiter and waitresses. Even the hostess sang a song. Many of them showed acting skill too! They had tremendous personalities. Our waitress was just super--wonderful personality and voice too! The place was not busy and perhaps the two cranky reviews might have something to do with it. If you are not addicted to the former bartender's and former manager's voices, then you will love it. And try the creme brulee--two of us said simultaneously it was the best we ever had in our lives. It has a little pistachio in it! Pros: Atmosphere, service, creme brulee Cons: parking more

THE LAST COUPLE TIMES AT VICTOR I THOUGHT IT WAS MY IMAGINATION, BUT I READ THE TWO PRIOR REVIEWS, AND AS DIFFERENT AS THEY ARE I'D HAVE TO AGREE WITH BOTH(IN THE ORDER WRITTEN)! I AS WELL HAD BEEN A FREQUENT PATRON OF 'VICTOR', BUT WILL NO LONGER BE DINING THERE. IN SUCH A SHORT TIME(NEW YEAR)SUCH A TRADITION HAS DISAPPEARED, I DIDN'T UNDERSTAND AS I'M SURE OTHER PATRONS WOULD AGREE, WHY AND WHO WOULD TRY TO CHANGE PERFECTION? SUCH A SHAME, BECAUSE I'D BROUGHT FRIENDS AND FAMILY WORLDWIDE TO THIS ""EXPERIENCE"", AND NOW IT NO LONGER IS AN EXPERIENCE, UNLESS YOU WANT TO FEEL TENSION, AND MUSIC SO LOUD THAT YOU CAN'T EVEN CONVERSE BETWEEN ARIAS.TALENT THAT DOES'NT COMPARE TO THE RECENT PAST. I'D HOPE THAT ONE DAY SOON, THINGS RETURN TO THE 'HOME FEELING' THAT VICTOR'S HELD AS NO OTHER. Cons: WAIT W. RESERVATION, CHAIOS/CLUTTER, VOICES AREN'T AS GOOD more

March 18, For years I've been going to Victor's at least 2 times per month. Told guests they'd hear ""that's life"", or ""mac the knife"", and at least 2 broadway hits from the outstanding bartender, and come to find neither of them are employed there any longer, and after being told the manager has been sick for weeks, I find out she isn't employed there any longer. Why would someone try to fix something that wasn't broken? I was told that ownership is changing, that's fine; but don't change the ""atmosphere"", which was stressful to say the least, it's just sad. I have never been so disappointed in an evening as I've been THAT evening. Victor's has lost our business, and I am sure many others forever. What were you thinking? R. Cohen, M.D. Cons: EVERYTHING CHANGED, SLOW TO SEAT, UNORGANIZED more

Thank you Greg DiStefano, owner; Michelle DeLuca, manager; and Bill Mayo, gifted voice and performer for the most wonderful evening ever, on January 6, 2006. The food, drinks, service, and ambience at Victor Cafe are of the highest standards of any restaurant I have ever visited. When at Victor Cafe, it is obvious that the owner, Greg, cares and tends to every detail. The manager, Michelle, is an amazing woman who handles every visibible situation and those invisible situations behind the scenes. And, the gifted voice and performer, Bill, endears himself to everyone and when he opens his mouth to sing every woman in the room can't help but fall in love. Pros: Upbeat Environment, Fun-loving Staff, Exceptional Food more

never went until a cousin's 40th birthday dinner. from the moment i stepped in the door i felt like i'd been there 1000 X'S, and that i was SPECIAL! the greeter, a firey blonde was sooo personable, you felt her enegy, it made me get excited to be there. as soon as we sat this youg man sang a frank sinatra song that made me cry, then a young woman sang something in italian, that left me breathless-this continued all evening. the greeter from the door, was walking through the dining area & asking customers how everything was-i was impressed, today you don't get that kind of concern ANYWHERE, i was later told she was the manager- not surprising-she was right out there in the grit of it with the singers. to top all that the food was outstanding! when i think of my night i smile Pros: made to feel VIP, singing,singing, warm & friendly more

Absolutely the best!!! The food was fantastic, the prices were average. We were in a hurry and from out of town, our cabbie suggested Victor Cafe.We were accomodated without reservation and served quickly to make the show we were in town for. I was so pleasantly surprised by the singing staff. I can't wait to go back when I'm not rushed. Pros: excellent service, delicious food, comparable prices more

My family and I had the most wonderful dining experience at Victor's. To hear the beautiful voices, the range of talent, and the opera was astounding! The food was another high point. We also loved the beautiful second floor! Outstanding and a Thank You to all the singer/servers! more

Victors was a wonderful dining experience. Like none other I have enjoyed more Pros: Wonderful Entertainme, Great Food Cons: Parking more

I was with my new beau, and he took me to Victor's without any preamble. We walked in to find a woman in white blouse and black skirt singing like a bird to a rapt audience. It took a few minutes to realize the waitstaff were all vocal whiz kids and we'd be treated to great service, great arias, and good food for the next hour or so. What can I say?--the boyfriend impressed me with this choice, and we're heading for the one-year anniversary! Pros: unique, entertaining, wonderful staff Cons: parking a bit dicey, too few pasta dishes more