Jansen — Restaurant in Philadelphia

A long time patron of Jansen, I inquired about hosting my partner’s 50th surprise in their garden patio oasis… much to my thrill, they’re becoming quite adept at hosting parties (either sit down OR cocktail style). I opted for a cocktail style event and it was just PERFECT. A detail oriented person, I was very pleased working with Jerri Banks (event manager). She was outstanding in all communication via email and phone. She didn’t miss a beat. Indulged my every ask. And made great recommendations based on her extensive history in the business.

Jansen provided signature cocktails based on my request, with a stunning collection of beer and wine options. They were excellent about offering mocktails to our zero-proof preferring friends and family. The food was the standard - outstanding - as it always is when we’re dining privately. The new pastry chef did not disappoint with a lovely array of desserts (and the special birthday cake was delicious!) Service was perfect.

My “day of” communication with the general manager, Zac, was perfect. He absolutely helped me to pull off a several month long planned event as a surprise, and it surely was!

We feel very special when we dine at Jansen and we value that as much as we value the culinary experience. The staff are all very friendly and personable. David Jansen runs an impressive operation, highlighted by sheer consistency in every aspect of the experience.

It’s my go-to place for dinner, especially when welcoming family and friends to the neighborhood. We are most lucky to have this kind of establishment only a few blocks away from our home.

We love you all at Jansen and look forward to continued patronage.

PS if you’d like to see some photos, I’ve included them on my...

My dining experience at Jansen was outstanding, earning a perfect ten out of ten. The waitstaff were both attentive and personable, contributing to a welcoming atmosphere. The menu featured flavorful drinks and distinctive, well-crafted dishes that impressed me thoroughly. This meal has placed Jansen at the top of my list for the best restaurants in Philadelphia.

I started with the appetizer special of the day, the big eye tuna bonbon, delicately wrapped in avocado and resting on a flavorful sauce. It was an excellent choice—the tuna was fresh, of sushi-grade quality, and each bite was enhanced by the delicious sauce. For my main course, I chose the sautéed halibut. Cooking halibut can be challenging as it often becomes tough, but here it was cooked to perfection. It was served over roasted sunchokes with pieces of lobster and a black garlic cream that added depth to the dish.

For my drinks, I started with the Smoke and Mirraha. Which is their take on a mezcal and old fashioned, highly recommend. I finished with an espresso martini, which they make the liquor in-house with vodka and it is easily a top 3 best espresso martini in Philadelphia.

As a special celebration of discovering whether we were having a boy or a girl, I requested a dessert that could reveal the gender with either blue or pink filling. The chef creatively prepared a delightful cannoli cone with a surprise filling, making the celebration even more special.

I highly recommend Jansen, not only for an exceptional meal but also for a memorable fine dining experience outside the downtown city...

Let me preface this by saying our good friends live just around the corner from Jansen, have dined here between 10 and 20 times and rave about it. They find the food excellent.

However we had an interesting meal here. Jansen undoubtedly holds so much promise, yet for us they did not deliver on it.

The tuna crudo w cara cara orange (with a large hunk of battered, fried avocado) was a flop, and noticeably fishy.

The lobster arancini special had no discernible lobster meat, taste or texture, and the arugula was overdressed. The kale salad was unappetizing messy/awkward to eat. As were the oysters. My intent is not to be mean-spirited here but instead to offer truthful constructive criticism.

However the venison osso bucco was excellent, as in I would not change a thing and happily eat that dish 10 times over. So damn plate and spoon lickin’ good.

I can’t help but wonder what happened here.

I will say the staff were truly skilled professionals that made us feel well taken care of. Our server was knowledgeable about the menu, helpful yet very laid-back,

We left in a good mood, even if the meal was just so-so, glad we checked Jansen out. I would go back again for the quaint, intimate vibe, service, drinks and maybe to split an entree and try a few apps sans seafood. But, the meal itself was underwhelming. Staff and good company made up for the food that...