Copabanana University City — Restaurant in Philadelphia

I wouldn’t go back... nah!

The only reason it even got two stars from me was because my date enjoyed her food. But everything from the service, to the look of the place, to the food just wasn’t good.

We were walking around in that area, which is our normal thing to just kick it and converse, and we stumbled upon this place and she wanted to try it. I told her it’s okay, but I’ve only been to the one on South Street. They had outdoor seating, it was a nice night, so we made the move.

First mistake on our end, was allowing them to sit us outside at the edge of the sidewalk next to the street. At first, no cars were there and then cars began to pull up and park and it was just annoying and not the best view for the night. The table was not balanced. We literally had to find rocks to slide under the legs to keep it from moving all over. The table also wasn’t the cleanest and it was just old. They had a bin on the table filled with condiments — which just felt unsanitary and didn’t look presentable at all.

Our waitress was boring. I don’t want to be mean, but you’re working at a “cool place” like Copabanana so I’d figure the staff would be more alive to match the energy in that neighborhood. Especially being in University City in the middle of a college town. I don’t know if she had a ton of other tables, but it was also impossible to track her down. My friend even made a joke that she must be disappearing through a trap door somewhere because she would just vanish.

We get our food. I got some Chicken Mahi Mahi meal with a spicy salad on top, is how they described it. Peep the photo. That meal was $16? Where’s the salad? Now now, these are things that kill me at restaurants. Food portion and quality versus pricing. Do better please. Then her meal, she enjoyed, but it was just a salad so. She ended adding some salmon to it, and the lady said it would be about $4 extra. It was $6. Like... so her meal was $15, as well.

We didn’t eat inside, but we did step inside to get the hostess to seat us. It just felt old and outdated and it wasn’t clean or appealing looking. They seriously need to shut down operations and do a complete makeover. It just doesn’t match the area.

That’s about it from me. The price, the food, the look, the staff just...

🌟 Pierce – Owner of Copabanana (in the Making)! 🌟

Every now and then, you encounter a server so phenomenal that you start wondering if they might actually own the place—enter Pierce, our host with the most on Wednesday, June 25, 2025. From the second we were greeted to the last goodbye, Pierce embodied the gold standard of service. If Copabanana had a Hall of Fame, his photo would already be framed—twice.

Pierce didn’t just provide service—he curated an experience. His energy was electric, his timing impeccable, and his recommendations? Spot. On. With the perfect blend of charisma, attentiveness, and that effortlessly cool Copa vibe, he had us smiling from start to finish. Honestly, it felt less like being served and more like being hosted by a close friend who just happens to run one of the best spots in town.

One moment that captured his vibe perfectly? His shirt—boldly (and truthfully) declaring: “I need a HUGe Margarita!!!!!!!!!” It wasn’t just a funny slogan, it was practically the mood of the day. While we only had water, Pierce somehow made that feel like VIP bottle service—yes, he’s that good.

What made this encounter all the more special is how Pierce seamlessly elevated every part of our meal with his genuine personality. He navigated our table like a pro—charming, confident, and always a step ahead. It’s no wonder we left thinking: “Owner in the making? More like already running the show.”

We also have to shout out Chris, the incredible manager who clearly knows how to build a team of stars—and who leads with the same warmth and hospitality that keeps us coming back. And of course, we can’t forget Shane, who’s just been promoted to full-time bartender thanks (in part!) to the last glowing review we wrote—yes, written by us, not Shane…trust but verify, people. 😉

So here it is, Copa: lightning struck twice. First Shane, now Pierce. If there’s a secret Copa training academy, enroll us—we want in on whatever magic’s happening behind...

I come here quite often , but visiting yesterday left a very bad taste in my mouth! I was highly disappointed! Okay first upon arrival with a friend , we sat at the bar which was at the very end of the bar and close to the door. Upon sitting there was a very big trash can by my seat, no biggie just moved it…. There was about 4 people behind the bar ( barmaids and servers) no one asked us anything . I ended up asking for menus and asking about the HH specials, the young lady with braids gave off a nasty attitude but everyone has a bad day so I’m like I’ll just order from someone else. After sitting there about 10 mins no one checked on us, offered us water or put a bar napkin down to acknowledge us. So we decided to leave. After leaving and driving about 10 minutes to our next destination, my girlfriend noticed she left her bag on the hook at our seat under the bar. Immediately we call the number on the website. We was told they don’t see the bag, they asked for a description and said if someone return it , they’ll be in contact. We still decided to return because it wasn’t that crowded and it was about two large party sitting behind us, plus the security was very close to us, so maybe someone saw something. When we get there, we are told they didn’t see it , nor do they have the bag! A young gentleman that was sitting behind us said, I saw them take the bag to the back. At that point my girlfriend and I are baffled and confused! So she just blurted out! “ get my bad from the back” then someone ironically brings it to the front after saying describe it lol. A joke right! This was a terrible experience and highly unprofessional!!!! I will not be...