Maison 208

I recently dined at the newly opened Maison 208 in Philadelphia with my husband and another couple. We arrived ahead of our reservation and decided to have a drink at The Social, the restaurant’s upstairs bar. The space boasts a retractable glass roof with a stunning view of the neighboring building’s mural. Unfortunately, we experienced a long wait and confused waitress, which set the evening off on a negative note. The manager offered a round of complimentary cocktails at our dinner seating, which was appreciated.

We finished our cocktails just in time to go downstairs for our dinner reservation. Shortly after we were seated, our waiter came to the table with menus. There are separate food and cocktail menus for downstairs and upstairs. He explained the menu and brought us our complimentary drinks, a refreshing sparkling wine cocktail.

The menu boasts French-influenced New American cuisine. I knew I wanted to start with the chilled tomato soup with cucumber and melon. The broth was light and refreshing. At the waiter’s suggestion, my husband and I split the island lollipop, a beef and rice ball. The texture was dense and the mixture of rice and beef was uneven. Some of the entrees are sized to share, so my husband and I decided to share the pork shank with haricot verts on the side. The beans were cooked nicely and finished with fresh herbs. The pork shank was disappointing. Our waiter described the dish as being slow-cooked and tender, though it was anything but. The piece was tough and fatty.

Other diners, including our friends, seemed to experience similar problems. While there are no doubt growing pains at Maison 208, the restaurant’s prime location will continue to attract diners. I have hope time will improve the restaurant.

Maison 208

208 S. 13^th Street

Philadelphia, PA 19107

tel 215 999 1020