Best Restaurants for Outdoor Dining in University City

Delicious entrees. Comfortable but elegant setting. Absolutely splendid servers!

We were greeted, seated and then treated to a lovely dining experience. We started with a couple of the specialty cocktails-Romarin and Nouveau Basilic: their pour was generous as our drinks lasted through our meals. A bonus of a basket of bread was brought to our table, such a rarity! Baguette, sourdough and what seamed a seasonal bread with cranberry and walnuts with beurre---seemed such a treat! Our waiter was attentive and made well informed dinner suggestions after asking us our preferences and we enjoyed the beef bourguignon; duck a l'orange and roasted chicken. Parc has made our top 10 list of places to eat while in Philly!

The food and service were great! I would have liked if the waiter slowed down a bit when telling us about the specials as none of us at the table really understood him

We headed to El Vez for brunch, and let me start by saying: make a reservation. This spot is popular—and for good reason. While dinner reservations can be hard to snag, brunch turned out to be the perfect choice. The moment we walked in, we were transported. The decor is warm, colorful, and vibrant—everything you’d hope for in a great Mexican restaurant. There’s a cozy, welcoming vibe, but it’s also lively and buzzing with energy. The eclectic touches, like the low-rider bike suspended over the dining area, add just the right amount of whimsy without feeling over the top. It’s the kind of space that makes you want to stay and soak it all in. Now, onto the food—because wow. We started with the Macho Nachos, and let me just say, these are nachos done right. Served on a pizza-style pan, every single chip was covered in toppings—no sad, bare nachos at the bottom here. We went with chicken and chorizo for our proteins, and the combination was perfect. The chicken was tender and flavorful, the chorizo added a spicy kick, and everything was brought together with gooey melted cheese, fresh guacamole, and tangy salsa. It’s easily one of the best nacho dishes I’ve ever had. For the main course, we ordered the Steak Burrito and Huevos Rancheros. The burrito was phenomenal—the steak inside was unbelievably tender, and you could taste the care that went into seasoning it just right. Each bite melted in your mouth. The huevos rancheros were just as impressive, with eggs so fresh they practically stole the show. Paired with the perfect mix of beans, tortillas, and salsa, it was hearty and satisfying without being too heavy. We couldn’t resist trying their Blood Orange Margaritas, which were as refreshing as they were delicious. They were perfectly balanced—tangy, sweet, and just strong enough to keep us in that happy brunch mood. The service at El Vez was another highlight. The staff were warm, friendly, and attentive without being overbearing. They made us feel right at home

Absolutely AMAZING! As someone who bought their sausage from Fiorella’s I am blown away by how much of the original charm they kept. This was our 2nd visit and it did not disappoint. First visit was outside, tonight we were indoors. So happy I requested indoors. While enjoying dinner I really got a chance to look around and reminisce about old Fiorella Sausage and my visits as a young girl and a married woman. Oh and those monkfish arancini… delish. The rigatoni with Fiorella sausage and the ricotta gnocchi to die for. Everything was wonderful. Can not wait to go back.