There may be no Michelin-star restaurants in Philadelphia, but one definitely rises to the occasion. With its focus on quality ingredients and elegant dishes, this restaurant looks and feels like one. My wife and I went to Laurel for a special date night and loved the small dining room with a truly wonderful ambiance. We were seated as soon as we arrived, and the night began.

First up on the menu was the bigeye tuna with young ginger, aji dulce ponzu, and benne seeds. This dish highlighted the tuna elegantly and was a refreshing way to start the evening. Next was a highlight for my wife and me: Bowfin caviar, Egg L’Arpège, Maple Egg Mousse, and Sourdough Brioche. For me, this was the star of the appetizer dishes. The saltiness of the caviar, the sweetness of the mousse, and the buttery brioche all complemented each other nicely, making it my favorite dish of the night. Following that was the poached Maine lobster, lancaster sungolds, and sauce choron. This dish was very light and refreshing, even with the sauce choron, which is a type of béarnaise sauce. It also featured a cracker-like element that added a nice textural component to the dish.

Next came the main protein dishes. First was the black bass, sweet corn, chanterelles (type of mushroom), daylily kimchi, and fig leaf. The fish was well-cooked and, paired with the other elements, created a well-balanced dish. The main protein dish was the slow-roasted veal, eggplant miso, smoked barley, and blackened cherries. Despite its darkened appearance, it did not disappoint in flavor. I really enjoyed the smokiness of the dish overall, and the veal was tender and just fell apart. We decided to add the supplemental A5 Waygu beef with cheesy potatoes because why not? This was my wife’s and my first time trying Waygu, and it did not disappoint. For those who have not tried it, it has the flavor of beef but the texture of butter. It was well worth it.

Finally, we had our dessert course, which featured almond namelaka, peach sorbet, and lemon verbena. This dish was vibrant and refreshing, and it was a perfect way to end the night. We also received a special chocolate treat as we were celebrating our anniversary, which was a nice gesture.

Laurel’s fine dining experience was elevated and deserving of high praise due to its focus on quality ingredients and a combination of cooking techniques. The staff also added to the experience with their willingness to cater to our needs and provided us with the extra treat at the end. Next time you’re in Philadelphia, definitely check out Laurel, and if you want to see pictures of our meal, go to the Restaurant Gallery section on the website!