Terra

This review is for Tavern, which is apparently the new name for Terra.
We came here on the recommendation from a friend about their burgers. Everything we ordered on the menu was delicious, the wine was a generous pour and delicious and the staff was friendly and courteous. We really had a great time and left knowing we would be coming back as often as we could. Very cozy and charming spot especially in the winter months too.
They serve food till 3am is well on the weekends, which is also a bonus.

Ended up checking out Terra for a late Sunday dinner. Tucked away on a side street that is more like an alley, I was very impressed with the interior of the place. The décor is that of a wine bar and can make for a very romantic setting. Our server was extremely personable and efficient. He was the highlight of the night. The food was so-​so. The spring rolls looked tasty, but were bland and served lukewarm. The same could be said for the cavatelli primavera, which I was very much looking forward to, but ended up being somewhat plain and average. I wouldn’t mind stopping back for a few drinks, but I’d recommend elsewhere for a meal if you’re looking to get blown away.

The waiter/​bartender and my party of 3 were the only patrons of Terra on a Sunday night for dinner around 6 PM. The atmosphere reminds you of being in a ship with all the wood panelling and wood ceilings, but somehow it has a romantic feel too. The food was just so-​so. I had the caesar salad which was overdressed and the butternut squash soup, which, while good, was huge. It was like a cauldron of soup that I just couldn’t seem to get to the bottom of. The chicken meal looked good, as did the seafood pasta, but the spring rolls were completely tasteless, unfortunately.
The best part of this place was our waiter, Leo?, who was really sweet and attentive. I would probably come back to have an app and some wine from their huge cellar, since it’s within a 30 second walk from my front door.

I want to say all good things but I was very disappointed
To see the table of 5 next to us have the same
Orders of burgers and fries come out looking
So nicley presented with the fries in the cute
Little fry basket all fresh… and some how our
Order, which was taken 10 minutes after theirs
Came out by the same waiter at the same time.
We had no fry baskets for our fries (which the waiter
Just shrugged his shoulders when I commented)
And our burgers looked like they were sitting
Under a heat lamp and the fries were just thrown
On the plate. Just telling you like I saw it
Unilocal. You asked and this is what happen to me
While trying to impress a date. Sucked for me.

Went here for dinner with two very good friends. Once you find terra you’re in for a nice surprise, The interior is adorable, It’s a great place to go if you want to sit, chat and catch up. Our server was very nice and helped me make a good menu selection. got the veggie lasagne and its to die for! Drinks were well priced, I will certainly be back!

Terra seems to be a well-​kept secret with a fairly quiet Saturday night crowd in the intimate space. We started with appetizers of Mac & Cheese (tasty with the pretzel giving a nice crunch), Spring Rolls (a little too fried for my taste), and Deviled Eggs (where the devil is mustard with a kick), which were more satisfying than the complimentary bread which we suspected had been reheated. We were very pleased with our entrees: there was a generous portion of fresh Pan Seared Scallops, and the Pan Seared Black Sea Bass was very tasty.

Very cute ambience (once you can actually find the restaurant) but the very small menu is unexciting and bland. The execution is no better. I’d stop in for a drink again if I was in the neighborhood, but I’d save my money for dinner somewhere else.

First you should know I am someone who is gluten intolerant (been that way for 30 years). This is one of the, if not the, best meals I have had ever! I wanted something simple for dinner so got the angus burger with smoked gouda, OMG amazing!
I was there with two friends, one from San Fran and one from Philly. We ended up getting the Olive small plate and Port Belly special before our meal. Being a total foodie who watches Top Chef, Lived in Toronto, travels to NY, DC, Vancouver, etc. this is one of the best pork bellies I had ever tasted.
As for what my companions had, I have no idea what they had for dinner since mine was amazing. To be able to eat a burger, with bread (gluten free) was such a treat.
The Chef and staff were so helpful and so accommodating. I think they were even better than some of my own family members when it came to taking gluten intolerance/​Celiac into account.
The staff, the ambiance, wine list and overall experience were wonderful. Even though I don’t smoke, I felt like having a cigarette after the meal since I felt so satisfied! Defiantly a place I will go back to.

I went here with a party of 4 for restaurant week because the menu looked great. Though I’d been to Tavern on Camac a few times I’d never noticed this little restaurant tucked away underneath it. The atmosphere and décor are impressive. The bartender/​waiter was very helpful and attentive. The food was fine, but nothing I’d brag about. I found it to be inconsistent in seasoning. I got the arugula salad for starters and it was very salty. The chicken satay looked good, but seemed to be lacking good seasoning — I was looking around for a salt shaker. Then I had the fried catfish with grits and squash. The fish portions were plentiful and perfectly cooked, but again I could have used a little more seasoning on the entire dish. For dessert I had the chocolate cake with bacon and peanut butter sauce. The peanut butter sauce made the dessert worth it! Don’t get me wrong, the clearly homemade cake was good, but the peanut butter and bacon made it great!
Others in my party were pleased with some courses and disappointed with others as well. Most of us decided we probably wouldn’t go there again.

Had dinner at dinner on Saturday night before a show. I chose this out of the way place hidden away on Camac Street to avoid the crowded theater usual haunts.
Was very pleasantly surprised by the décor which was somewhat trendy with wood, indirect lighting and a cozy atmosphere which felt comfortable in a suit or jeans.
The wine list is limited but the selections were appropriate.
The menu is divided into small plates (tapas) and large plates (entres). There are only a handful of selections and a few specials which is fine by me as long as they are good.
I had the NY Strip Steak on a bed of a garlic mashed potatoes and the small plate we started with was the humus which was tasty and plentiful.
My steak was done properly as ordered and was tender and flavorful.
The prices were reasonable and the service was attentive. I would definitely recommend Chef Eric Parasekvas new place as a romantic hide away or a pre-​theater option. The Forrest is only a couple blocks away.
Check it out if you are looking for a cool new place in Philly.

Fiancé and I ate there for the first time and loved the décor– wood, initmate feel. But thought the food was a miss. Started off with the deviled eggs (nothing to write home about, my mom makes better) and the cobb salad which was so salty it was inedible– and I love salt! For entrees I had the prosciutto pizza which was decent but not mind-​blowing and fiancé had the ribs. Ribs were cooked perfectly with a tasty sauce but the cole slaw and cornbread fell flat. There was just nothing super special about the dish. The dessert however was the highlight– apple cobbler with pepper ice cream. So unique and a party of flavors in my mouth. If the rest of the dishes were at that level, this place would be awesome. Unfortunately though the ice cream alone is not enough to warrant a return visit.

1^st time here. Went for a Restaurant Week meal the other day. It was fantastic. All our dishes were cooked perfectly, however the mashed potatoes were only slightly warm. Service was pleasant and efficient. Want to go back when their full menu is available.

Found Terra thru Unilocal because my first choices Barbuzzo, Lolita and El Vez were all long waits.
My girlfriend and I decided to share a small plate and a large plate.
We went with the Guacamole to start. It’s made with goat cheese & bacon. The portion was very small to say the least. Could have probably fit the whole guacamole portion onto one chip. The chips were fresh and homemade. The guac was good but needed salt.
We chose the Orecchiette DISH for dinner but they were out of Orecchiette pasta so the substitute was rigatoni.
For $ 20, this dish is a BIG disappointment. While it was not horrible, the dish overall was very bland. Also, the portion was small as well. Seems like portions are a problem here. I could understand if prices were reasonable but small portions and large prices do not sit well with me!

Hmph. Wanted a nice relaxed dinner for a celebration and was completely underwhelmed and over salted.
When we first walked in, the flooring really through me for a loop. All I could think of were sweaty gym socks as it reminded me of some middle school multi-​purpose room.
Service is Sloooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooow. In fact I could write 23 reviews of this place before they get out the apps I ordered 10 mins ago. In all fairness, it was restaurant week, but it took 1hr 45 mins to get through 3 courses. No thanks.
I’m not sure if they Chef was having a down day or what, but everything was oversalted and that’s hard for me to say when I love salty/​savory food. Never had that happen before, but even the coleslaw on my BBQ duck sandwich was salty. My meal tasted a lot like jerky found at Wawa.
TL;DR Don’t bother.

The fact that Chef Eric was on «Chopped» was enough to get me in the door, but it was really Bartender Tony that kept me here. :-)
Details:
I stroll in here on an ice-​cold Saturday night, in search of a warm and cozy respite. And «warm and cozy» is the perfect way to describe Terra. Tucked in the basement of the Tavern on Camac, Terra probably seats around 20 people tops. The interior feels like a log cabin (with a bar), and you’d also never know that there’s a bustling lounge and club upstairs.
There were only a few other patrons when I arrived — all of whom were chatting up the bartender like regulars. It turns out that Bartender Tony is incredibly friendly with everyone (not just the regulars) and included me in the party as if I were a local. Awesome.
While a liquid dinner of gin+sodas sounded awfully tempting, I decided to supplement by booze consumption with Terra’s famous brisket sandwich. I’m not exaggerate when I say that this ‘wich was home to the juiciest and most tender brisket that I’ve ever had the pleasure of tasting. And the fries? Crispy, golden perfection. No wonder Chef Eric was invited to compete on reality tv.
Everything about Terra was charming and perfect — from the ambiance, to the service, to the food, to the drinks. If I actually lived in the neighborhood, Terra would easily be my choice to be my regular hangout. In the meantime, I’ll have to appreciate it from afar.
(You Philadelphians have no excuse, though — get your asses in here!)

While Terra has food for anyone, I was blown away by Chef Eric’s ability and willingness to accommodate my food allergies. I emailed ahead that I was coming with a friend who also has Celiac. I can’t have dairy either. Eric made exquisite meals for both of us — beef filets pan seared instead of cross-​contaminated on the grill. He created gluten free versions of all the sauces.
The wonderful attention to detail and delicious food inspired me to bring my three children — all also gluten and dairy sensitive, and wrote ahead asking that he make a dessert they could eat. Eric did not disappoint. Fabulous gluten free dairy free versions of entrees from the menu after butternut squash purée soup. And then a dessert Eric invented for my children — cinnamon funnel cake with almond ice «cream» and chocolate sauce.
Terra will always be our first choice for food in Philly.

I have visited this small subterranean restaurant several times over the years — its much better than in the past. You walk down stairs from the alley (Camac Street) to Terra, part of Tavern on Camac. You can hear the piano from the piano bar upstairs, which is not unpleasant. Also you hear chairs scraping and footsteps overhead as bar patrons walk around the bar. We were the only diners on a Sunday at 7:30 — the server was also the bartender and he said Sunday’s are slow, which is fine with me as we had the entire place to ourselves. The restaurant is small — seats 34 max — and looks out at the basement bar in an adjacent room, which was populated with a few senior citizens, kvetching about their cable TV (we heard their entire conversation since the dining room was so quiet due to the lack of customers). The room is attractively decorated and has soft lighting. Food was great I thought — my partner had the buger/​fries combo and the guacamole appetizer (they list «small plates» and «large plates» rather than appetizers and entrees). I had the scallops with a small brick of polenta in the center of the plate surrounded by a circle of scallops (is 5 scallops a bit miserly? — I wished there were a couple more) and for an appetizer the spinich salad. Everything was very tasty. We asked about coffee but the server said he would have to make a pot so we skipped it. There didn’t appear to be any desserts — not listed on the menu or mentioned by the server. Thats Ok with me but my partner likes something sweet with coffee after dinner. I would come back. Total tab with 2 glasses of inexpensive Chardonnay was $ 70.00 before tip. Not bad for Center City.

Been here several times (usually for the specialty menus) and always been a win. Relaxed homey atmosphere and complex-​yet-​not-​fussy eats that never fail to satisfy. Pork/​cheddar spring rolls and prosicutto pizza are essential apps. Brie burger is unique and funky (in a good way), roast chicken with honey mustard spatzl is comfort food heaven and have never has a fish dish I didn’t love here. Desserts are inventive (but not «too cute») and worth a night cap trip on their own.

Went to Terra twice in one week– once on a Saturday night and once for Happy Hour. The bar area is incredibly small and a «crowd» of 20 people could overwhelm the place. But we had a good time despite having to maneuver around people for most of the night. If you like a lot of personal, space you may not like this much. But it’s fun to shuttle up and down stairs from Terra to Tavern on Camac.
Had a celebrity sighting while I was there. I saw Michael Musto from the Village Voice. Apparently, he comes to Philly quite often so people didn’t seem too impressed.
I can’t say anything about the food. I had one appetizer at Happy Hour and it was quite good. The dining room is small and appealing. I’d like to check it out for dinner sometime.

Terra. perhaps it’s the name or the friendly folk that work there, but it remind me of growing up in Portland.
the place is well hidden under tavern on camac. i think my cohort and i were the only non-​men there.
the food was well made. the chef was über flexible and made substitutions for us. the fries with rosemary are to die for. really. i could eat those by the bucketfuls. burger was good (and even reheated)…and my friend raved that it was one of the best tuna steaks she’s ever had.
i can def see this place becoming one of my favorites if i lived in the area. but it’s difficult to decide among the slew of very good new american restaurants that just keep popping up.
so yo, those of you who live in the area, keep on supporting it, so i can go back again.