Pearl

Approval Rate: 89%

89%Approval ratio

Reviews 68

Sort by:
  • by

    prizz1

    Wed Apr 01 2009

    I second the review below. Could not have said it better. The food is quite good, however the way you are treated from the moment you walk in the door is not worth a morsel.

  • by

    citysearch_543503681

    Tue Mar 17 2009

    I went to Pearl for restaurant week and was not disappointed. I was unsure what to expect, because most people seem to go for the nightclub...

  • by

    agentander

    Tue Mar 03 2009

    The problems start at the door. The bouncers are most rude, obnoxious, and disrespectful doormen that I have ever encountered. Once inside you will find the bartenders are slow, sluggish, and overcharge for drinks by tipping themselves. Management is cocky and has no respect for their customers. There are several great venues in Philadelphia to enjoy for dinner and nightlife but Pearl is not one of them. Do Not Visit Pearl even as a last resort.

  • by

    srobbins27

    Fri Feb 13 2009

    This was my first time dining at Akoya, my fiance and I went on Valentine's Day and I doubt we will return. The downstairs bar is a nice area to relax (albeit very small) and the drink menu had some eclectic choices and lots of sake options. Our food, as far as taste goes, was good. Portions are substantial. However, we ordered Peking Duck Spring Rolls, which have minced duck meat in them, and I bit into a gigantic piece of bone Now, I am not the type to complain or look for "freebies". I have been in the service industry and our waiter was very nice, so I made sure I was very polite when making him aware of the peice of bone, which I had wiped off and placed on my plate for him to see. I recieved a brief apology from the waiter, but to be honest, I expected the charge to be wiped off of the check. To my surprise, when the bill came, we were charged for the spring rolls. This was definetley dissapointing. On top of that, tables are VERY tightly packed together. One would have to... Read more

  • by

    phillygirl1183_031183

    Sat Feb 07 2009

    For my birthday my friends wanted to take me out to bar/lounge/restaurant type place. When they told me i was going to Pearl i thought ugh i dont want to go to another place like that! But as soon as i walked in the door i realized it was very different from any other place. It was very trendy and the atmosphere was great! Now it is my favorite place to go on a Friday and Saturday night! I even met my boyfriend there a few weeks ago! If you ever want to go to a good place in Philly, Pearl is a MUST.

  • by

    yoga221

    Fri Feb 06 2009

    My friends and I went to Pearl and had a Great night! We loved the martini list, the mojito was the best I have ever had. The food was great to share in a group, and the service was friendly and attentive. We are planning on going back in a few weeks!

  • by

    liveandlag

    Fri Feb 06 2009

    Recently, my friends and I went to Pearl for dinner. We had a great time and the drinks were ah-mazing! The DJ played some really great music and we couldnt stop dancing! We are deff going back next Friday night! We couldn't belive we haven't found Pearl before!

  • by

    artmay1

    Fri Feb 06 2009

    My wife and I recently went back to Pearl after they changed their menu and renamed the restaurant Akoya. We brought several friends and we all loved the changes that were made. We shared numerous appetizers with cocktails while we decided what to order as our entree. The women ordered several of their new martinis, which we all sampled and loved. Several of us could not decide whether to continue ordering more appetizers and salads or to order dinner. We then made a split decision with three of us ordering the short rib sliders, the hamachi tacos and the calamari salad. The other three of us ordered dinner. The lobster surf and turf was great as well as the Miso Pork Belly and the Orange Crispy Duck. We shared everything and no one was disappointed with what was ordered. Do not miss this restaurant, it is great.

  • by

    taranurin12831_37189

    Tue Jan 13 2009

    In Short The resto-lounge formerly known as Pearl has split in two to cultivate separate identities for the upstairs lounge, still called Pearl, and the first floor restaurant, dubbed Akoya. The décor has been transformed to create a much warmer setting with a new zebra-wood bar and a 35-foot abstract mural, whle the menu has also changed significantly, starting with a drastic reduction in prices. The food is still labeled Asian gastro, meaning that dishes derive from various individual Asian nations, but now you can order from an array of different sections: snacks, tempura, yakatori, small dishes, noodles and rice and hot dishes.

  • by

    rowlanl11

    Fri Dec 12 2008

    the thong song only begins to describe the wretched music that my friends and i were forced to endure on a random saturday night. to put it bluntly, i wanted to spoon out my own eyeballs. in the time span of 30 minutes, i heard 6 kanye west songs, basically everything he's ever put out that's popular. please hire a new DJ. only to be followed by $10 dollars to get upstairs and a $3 coat check. who on earth charges that much to hang up a damn coat!!!! then when one of my friends wanted to smoke a cigarette outside she wasn't allowed to take her coat unless she was willing to pay the three bucks again. the crowd was amateur at best, from the coked up gotti boys to the grandfathers checking out the hussies in shorts (on a night where it was 20 degress outside) i was more entertained than ever. these characters offered constant conversation due to their tragic fashion, music, and taste in significant others. on a lighter note, the staff of pearl was quite pleasant and accomodati... Read more

  • by

    citysearch5345_86634

    Sat Nov 29 2008

    My girlfriends took me out for some fun. They brought me to Pearl Nightlife and I had a blast. The music was pumpin' (thats what the kids sa...

  • by

    citysearch8588_37501

    Wed Nov 12 2008

    A self-important restaurant/nightclub; food was mediocre; velvet ropes outside make you think you should be honoroed to go upstairs where it...

  • by

    barbydoll4

    Sat Oct 25 2008

    A really great little restaurant tucked away in Rittenhouse Square. The food and service were impeccable and the place is lovely. It is a bot crowded and loud but that is overcome by the fine food and service. Do make reservations early.

  • by

    devint1

    Fri Oct 24 2008

    The best advice you may ever receive in your life... DONT. WASTE. YOUR. TIME. Oh, and no stars is not an option.

  • by

    nicoledanielle_1512e5

    Sun Oct 12 2008

    I Dont trust anyone with my hair, but Nicole from Pearl Salon did a fabulous job! She took my hair from long and straight to a short asymetrical cut... It looked really good...not choppy like some of the aline cuts I have seen around town!!! The salon is very clean and comfortable to be in... I would recommend it to anyone!

  • by

    wanlass1a7ff7

    Sat Sep 20 2008

    I highly recommend Pearl salon, and in particular I recommend Nicole Stewart as a hair stylist. She has been cutting my hair for a few years now, and I never cease to be amazed both by her cheerful, friendly, considerate manner and her expertise as a hair stylist. She listens very attentively to her clients' hairdressing needs, and you can always feel confident that the results will be exactly what you want. This makes for a very relaxing and rewarding experience. I can't say enough good things about Nicole as a hair dresser! I will also add that the Pearl salon is very bright, sunny, spacious, clean, and well-run, and this, too, makes a trip there very enjoyable.

  • by

    bodega991293b3

    Wed Aug 13 2008

    This was my 1st time going to the Pearl Salon . I had my haircut by Nikki , best haircut that I have had in a long time . I had a pretty extreme change - went from long hair (past shoulders) to very short hair . I love my hair ! Nikki was wonderful , very nice and fun person to talk to . I would tell anyone to go see Nikki .

  • by

    sdianag1302db

    Wed Jun 25 2008

    I've been straightening my hair for years and have had both "name-brand" and no-name Japanese straighteners used. I've also had them done in crazy posh expensive salons and small shops in the various places I've lived and have come to the conclusion that the most important part is the stylist! I had friends back home telling me about the Brazilian Keratin Treatment and was interested in trying a new straightener. After searching the web, I found Eleni at Pearl and booked a consultation. Unfortunately, I don't have the ideal hair type for the Brazilian and wasn't going to get to try it. I was however, really comfortable with Eleni and booked a traditional Japanese style straightener. She was meticulous without being painfully slow AND my hair is in the best condition it has been in for a very long time. I have no idea what brand she used; I only know that this girl knows how to straighten hair!!!

  • by

    ranict1

    Mon Jun 16 2008

    We were at Pearl on Saturday night for dinner. The food was really good. The entrees took a little longetr than I would have liked but they were worth the wait. We ended up ordering an extra rock shrimp tempura for the table and an extra hamachi. Both Awesome. The drinks were really good as well. The asian mojito was something i had never had before and I tasted my friends margarita which was amazing. As we were finishing our meal, our server asked us if we planned on extending the night in the upstairs lounge, We obviously accepted. Next thing we know we are being escorted upstairs to a completely different scene. Probably about 150 people. Awesome DJ. Good loocking people. Girls dancing everywhere. It was really cool...even for Philly. The night was topped off by Shia Lebeouf (from the movie transformers) walking right by me and asking me where the bathrooms are. I pointed and he left. A second later, i looked up, and Michael Bay was standing right next to me. I gu... Read more

  • by

    grub751

    Wed May 28 2008

    Just visited Pearl for the first time and was totally blown away. Went in after work with some girlfriends to have a few drinks. We were having such a great time we ended up staying for dinner. The Hamachi was to die for as was the Tempura Rock Shrimp and the main courses were even better. I recommend the Lobster (which had this amazing ginger butter crust on top) and the Scallops. This is my new favorite spot!!!!

  • by

    huney1

    Wed May 28 2008

    pearl was a mouthwatering experience, the food was superb and the attention to detail was impeccable and the service and wait staff were excellent, a great evening for all. the fish was delicious.

  • by

    phillygrl7

    Tue May 27 2008

    I am glad I disregarded previous negative reviews about this place. I have to disagree with a lot of the poor reviews prior to this one. My experience started with a more than gracious welcome and consisted of excellent food. The menu caters to people that are a little more conservative( like someone at my table) to the more adventurous eaters. The server was extremely knowledgeable about the menu and even asked us if we had any food allergies. The chilled carrot soup amuse was to die for, probably one of the most incredible things that was brought to the table. The tuna tartar with house made japanese sweet potato chips and the grilled hamachi were perfect starters. My boyfriend wouldn't let me try his wok chicken, i took that as a good sign, but i tasted the lamb and the scallops and they were unbelievable. I am not a big cocktail fan but from what i recall they were inventive and little on the pricey side. I guess sometimes you get what you pay for. After the entrees we ... Read more

  • by

    hardtoplse

    Tue May 27 2008

    Usually when I hear pan-asian, my eyes glaze over and I stay far away. My good friend wanted to celebrate his birthday with 7 of his friends and I have to say that I am glad I didn't miss out. We went on a friday night and it was busy but not overly crowded. We waited about 20 minutes for our table which is fine, considering the reservation was made last minute. The manager sent out some kumomoto oyster tempura with osetra caviar to compensate for the short wait. After that, we gave our server, adam, complete control of our order. Calamari salad, rock shrimp tempura, hamachi sashimi and flash grilled hamachi were the most memorable. Followed by a killer pad thai, wasabi lamb chops, pistachio truffled scallops and braised king prawns. They brought out a seven layer chocolate cake for dessert with candles in addition to a tamarind peanut butter ice cream. Overall it was an incredible experience, food and service were inventive, well seasoned, knowlegdable and quick. Later on,... Read more

  • by

    cityman111

    Tue May 27 2008

    My girlfriend and I went to try this new restaurant in philly looking for a place to get good food and get some drinks for my birthday. I couldn't have asked for a better night! As appetizers we ordered the short ribs and the duck spring roll to split. The ribs were so tender and juicy and they literally fell right off the bone and the spring rolls were the best i have ever had. She got the chicken Caesar salad and i gave it a try, I thought it was delicious with the combination of crunchy dried noodles, juicy chicken and dried pear. I had to get the filet, because it was my birthday and i felt the obligation to treat myself. It was made just the way i like it (medium rare) tender and juicy. We split the 7 layer chocolate cake and i was simply blown away. We stayed for some drinks and went upstairs to listen to the dj. The atmosphere overall, was very relaxed, tasteful and stylish.

  • by

    citychick5

    Tue May 27 2008

    This place is awesome. The food is really good and they have a great bar scene. I have been to Pearl 6 or 7 times and there is always a great crowd!! The drinks are fabulous and they get some great DJ's from NY and the West Coast on the weekends. I would definitely recommend Pearl if you are looking for a great place to eat or somewhere to hang out and have a good time.

  • by

    simonjake1

    Sun May 25 2008

    Finally, a place in Philly has gotten it right. My friends and I have been looking for a place downtown where we could eat as well as stay and hang out. Pearl delivered. We had a 9:00 res on a Friday night. We did have to wait about twenty minutes before we sat down. Not a big deal as we had some drinks at the bar. Once we sat in the dining room we realized the scene was exactly what Philly has been lacking. A very New York feel. The right people, the right music, and the right ambiance. Simply put, the food blew us away. We ordered a Zensai, which is a raw bar sampler. All of the seafood was fresh and the unique asian inspired sauces distinguished it from the run of the mill raw bar you can find at so many other places. We ordered a bunch of apps also. The Hamachi, tempura short rib, and peking duck spring roll were all very good. Also, I have never seen them at any other restaurant in Philly. They also have the basics: calamari salad, asian chicken caesar and dumpl... Read more

  • by

    jlittman77

    Sun May 18 2008

    All I can say Is the whole time I was there it was the worst , most pretentious place I have been too . There was nothing good about it from start to finish. i do not recommend this place to anyone unless they want to waste alot of money and have a dreadful time.

  • by

    aghajan11

    Thu May 15 2008

    Shut this place down! Worst bar on the East Coast. Do not go there! Management: Terrible (they had no comments) Security: Terrible Staff: Terrible Food: Terrible Prices: Terrible (trying too hard to be something they are not) Bartenders: Terrible (and ugly) (and dont know how to make drinks) Decor: Terrible (and again, trying too hard to be something they are not) If you see a line in front, its not because they are popular or overcrowded, it's because they are (one more time) Terrible and trying too hard to be something they are not!!!! I'm counting the days till this place shuts down and something else opens that's not soo embarrassing to the city of Philadelphia! -Terrible!

  • by

    mlennon1119570_1701

    Wed May 14 2008

    All I can say is Philly is not New York so stop trying to be! The service was beyond horrible. The bartender Lisa was phony and was wacked on some serious street medications . She was slurring and drooling and stumbling behind the bar . The food was some bad asian fusion not high end it was just like hot pockets.What a bad night period!

  • by

    sms2751

    Tue May 13 2008

    Overpriced, nothing special, rude and unfriendly. I think explains bar and the staff in the most politically correct way. Did not have dinner, so I will give them one star for that (or if i could a half a star) since I can't say the dinner was terrible, but everything else about the place is not worth a repeat visit. I would love to see the owners change things around. After all, unless they see reviews like this, they won't make any efforts to change.

  • by

    norak821

    Tue May 13 2008

    My friends and I had the worst experience at Pearl! We went there for a friend's birthday. After we were made to wait outside in the rain for no reason, we were told we could only stay downstairs where it was EMPTY, even though the party was upstairs and we were on the list. We decided to leave since there was no reasoning with the staff. As we were leaving, one of the bouncers told us $20 each would get us upstairs. We didn't want to disappoint out friend so we paid and went up. Once there, we tried making the best of it , but it was difficult to overlook the fact that with drinks going for $14 each that this place was incredibly overpriced for no reason. The decor isn't anything great, the music was standard, and clearly the staff was not experienced enough to know how to handle large crowds on a Saturday night. We were so disgusted with the service that one of our friends took the time to email Pearl describing out experience the following day. We never received a response!... Read more

  • by

    suburbmike

    Sun May 11 2008

    I'm very surprised by the complaints of rudeness and inhospitable. To me, the opposite was the first thing that stood out. I am aware that not everyone's experience is going to be the same, but I was in there once for dinner and once for the club and both times I was extremely impressed with how friendly the people in there were. It felt like every single time my wife and I passed someone that works there, we were greeted in some polite way or another. As far as the bouncers go, two separate times when we were walking through the crowd (it does get a little too crowded), one of them saw us and escorted us to where we were going. I have been reading reviews a while on this site but I have never written one. I had to jump in about this place because we were genuinely impressed with all of it, but most especially the hospitality. I do not want to take anything away from the food or general atmosphere but the service is honestly great. I absolutely recommend pearl for dinner or a l... Read more

  • by

    shermeela1

    Sun May 11 2008

    Intrigued by the possibility of a fashionable new spot on the oh-so-blah Chestnut Street, my husband and I ventured out to Pearl on a Friday night. Their website boasted a cool, loungey setting, great drinks and inspiring food, so we gave it a try. We entered the foyer to be greeted by two friendly faces, a hostess and a gentleman wearing a suit too haute for Chestnut Street. We walked passed the relaxed bar and were seated at a nice table. Looking around I couldn't help but notice that aside for the blue lighting in the room, there was almost no decor. We ordered 6 appetizers as the entrees didn't seem that appealing. The appetizers were good but very far from great. One was a spring roll that was about as basic as any Chinese restaurant could make. The rest were interesting, but none worth raving about. The friendly waiter brought almost all the food at once so we finished dinner in less than 40 minutes. The drinks were good- they have a list of sweet martinis (I thought they w... Read more

  • by

    susie1021

    Thu May 08 2008

    Went here on a Saturday night around 10:30 or 11ish. Should have known by the number of bouncers outside that it was dead, went in anyway. First floor, dead, completely empty, ordered a drink and decided to head upstairs. There were some people there, not many which was fine b/c it was tight and small upstairs. So, my friend and I decided we would people watch while drinking our $14 drinks which clearly had a splash of vodka in them. We find out the club has been open for only 2 months and with those prices and weak drinks, doubt they will make it another 2 months. I will have to agree w/the other review, the bouncers are rude and told us that we couldn't stand by the table b/c the group who had reserved it were coming over. Maybe you should have enough room to actually call it a VIP area and you wouldn't have to tell people to move over, rude, really rude. Then again, amatuers will only think they are big shots just b/c they ordered bottle service. Skip this place, plenty of ... Read more

  • by

    dhansen159

    Mon May 05 2008

    Excited to see a new restaurant in my neighborhood and had to give it a try. Was not until the end of my meal that I learned this was another Stein family creation. Once again tremendous food, great service and a wonderful design. Might of just found my new favorite place!!

  • by

    mardorfman

    Wed Apr 30 2008

    My wife and I have eaten dinner at Pearl 4 times and have loved every meal we have had. You should not miss this new restaurant as we believe it one of the best in the City. Each time we have eaten there we try a different appetizer as well as a different main course. I have yet to find another restaurant that I like better. Pearl is now our favorite restaurant in the City of Philadelphia.

  • by

    afs917071

    Tue Apr 29 2008

    I went with a group of friends the other night and we had a really good time. To be honest I really did not know what to expect but I heard good things so I decided to give it a try. We all thought that the food was really good and it definitely had a fun vibe. The place gets really busy around 10:30 so I would recommend coming early to beat the crowds.

  • by

    realestare

    Tue Apr 29 2008

    My husband and I just went to Pearl for his birthday. We always like to try the newest reataurants and this place seemed to be getting a lot buzz so we decided to give it a try. We had to wait a half and hour for our table but we ended up running into some old friends so the time passed pretty quickly. We thought that the menu looked really good and we could not decide at first what to get but we decided on the scallops and the wasabi crusted lamb chops. I do not normally order scallops but the table next to us ordered them and they smelled really good. They were amazing! My husband's lamb chops were equally good. My only complaint was the portion size for the scallops was not that big and I was still hungry when I finished. We had cheesecake for dessert and it was excellent. After dinner we met up with some friends and had a couple of drinks in the upstairs lounge. It was a nice mix of 20 something (kids) and 40 something (adults). We had a really good time. My husband a... Read more

  • by

    hungryman8

    Mon Apr 28 2008

    I went to pearl with high expectations and was not impressed. They are trying to go super up scale but the food was average at best and very over priced. Nothing special at all....pretty basic menu with a little asian fusion nonsense that every place is doing. The place kinda "got going" at about midnight and was ok. The house pearl vodka gave me the worst hangover i had in years. Specify vodka!!! because the pearl vodka will make you sick. Hate to say it but if you are going for this kind of feel.......starr does it better. Still waiting for a real restaurant to come to the ritt area. Oh yeah, and the review comparing this place to nobu and other top nyc restaurants was clearly written by an owner not someone writing an honest review.

  • by

    beth09291

    Fri Apr 25 2008

    I went to Pearl last Friday night and it was absolutely to die for. You walk up to the building and it has tinted windows so you know you are in for a treat and you?re just excited to go in. Then you get seated and it is lighted by blue lights and candles to keep the atmosphere light and fun. We started with the Shrimp cocktail and the Pork Dumplings and they were amazing, they were the best I ever had. Then as our main course we had the fillet and the tuna they were both very delicious and I have to tell you the presentation of all there dishes is just exquisite. A thing that I really enjoyed was the spacious seating and instead of annoying booths your tables are separated by a curtain of beads. The attire of the staff is also trendy and yet classy at the same time and they were very knowledgeable about the foods and willing to help you make great choices in food and drink. You do see an owner or two walking through the dining room making sure everything is going smoothly which is als... Read more

  • by

    lssnum11

    Thu Apr 17 2008

    My friends and I finally tried Akoya, Pearl's new restaurant, and we had a really positive experience. We loved the menu, there were so many choices, and it was really affordable. We got a ton of small plates to share and split a couple of larger entrees. We especially liked the lobster pad thai, the surf and turf (for only $25!!), the rock shrimp, and their version of the Philly roll. We also really loved their drinks - our faves were the asian mohito and sangria!! We will definitely go back!!

  • by

    contributo_1881022002

    Wed Apr 09 2008

    In Short By separating its 2nd-floor lounge from its downstairs restaurant (now called Akoya), Pearl has emerged as a leaner, cleaner nightclub for the bold-face names set. With an extensive martini and scotch list, and European bottle service that doesn't quit, this is where ou'll find a scene that mimics Paris, Milan and New York. DJ's spin nightly, sometimes inspiring a few scenesters to dance, and a VIP room parts the haves from the have-mores.

  • by

    williamwegman1_614d9

    Sat Apr 05 2008

    I had a great time with the staff at Pearl. My brow waxing went well and I am sure to come back for my other waxing needs and hair cuts in the coming weeks. You would be a fool to not go to Pearl Salon.

  • by

    jackjump17cd71

    Sat Apr 05 2008

    I had a great time having my hair done. Mellisa was more than professional about how she wanted to do my hair and I was sooooo happy about the results. Come see her and the other's at Pearl. They are amazing!!!!

  • by

    jackjump1a9ad2

    Sat Apr 05 2008

    I had a wonderful time with the Pearl staff! Lois did my brows, Melissa did my Hair and my feet were done by... I can't actually remember but she was amazing. I didn't want to walk out. Go to Pearl and get your total salon package!

  • by

    williamwegman1_0ca2d

    Sat Apr 05 2008

    I went into Pearl Salon and was welcomed with open arms. Well, not arms per say, but at least welcomed with wide smiles and on time scheduling. I was walked right into the asthetican area and Lois did a wonderful job with my waxing. She was very professional and very friendly. I will be sure to suggest her to my friends as I am now and will return for my waxing needs.

  • by

    jparagary1942a_b

    Sat Apr 05 2008

    I was so pleased by the staff and job done on my hair last week at Pearl Salon. My hair looks wonderful and I thought that Nikki was a pleasure to talk with about all my daily troubles. The rest of the salon with their friendly staff, I believe Lois who is their asthetican, was very inviting and I scheduled an appointment to have my brows done next week. She was so nice. I look forward to coming back again and again.

  • by

    theseth1b3025

    Thu Apr 03 2008

    Being a guy you sometimes wonder about how you're going to be received by seemingly female-friendly salons. I have a hard time finding just the right place to have work done for skin and hair. I do most of my facial stuff myself but when it comes to the "privates" you have to contact a professional. Tucked back in a little strip mall along Watt avenue, Pearl Salon has some of the friendliest and most genuine staff I've come across. A brightly lit entryway, open floor plan, sparkling floors with a tropical, Florida/Hawaii-style decor welcomes you as you walk through the door of Pearl. A friendly face is always there to meet you as you walk in. I went to get work done for my skin and hair. I made an appointment, showed up and came away with a superior salon experience with plans to return soon.

  • by

    ambermlane771b_ce44

    Thu Mar 27 2008

    Melissa has been cutting my hair for years now, and she knows what she's doing. Not only does she have the best haircuts, you can guarentee you'll enjoy the time your in her chair! She's great! I always get compliments afterward.

  • by

    viv20081e2b1d

    Sat Mar 22 2008

    I am a transplant from the Bay area and have lived here for 2 years. I have searched and searched for that one hair stylist to trust and style my hair. After searching the web and reading Pearl's great reviews; I decided to trust Meslissa to cut and style my hair. Right from the start , I felt very comfortable with her. She definately listened to what I wanted and gave me a great cut,and new style....I love it! I had compliments right away. I recommend her and Pearl to all my friends and family. Vivian