P.S. & Co. — Restaurant in Philadelphia

5+ STARS: When you go to P.S. and Co you aren’t just walking into a restaurant, you’re walking into a home. You instantly feel welcomed by the rustic brick walls and the liveliness of the plant decor. All of the staff is kind and respectful and makes sure you’re acknowledged once you enter. Not to mention the mouth-watering desserts you’ll see in the case all handmade by the amazing pastry chefs. They are next to none…from the classic tahini chocolate chip cookie, the fresh key lime tart, cinnamon roll, banana bread or decadent sweet cupcakes…(to name a few of my favs!) every single thing is amazing!! You won’t regret anything, I promise you that. Even take a treat to go! ;)

• their new ice cream sundaes and Caramel Delight cookies are INSANE (taste just like the Girl Scout cookies…but even better)! The amaranth bowl or the grilled cheese (on special, not on the regular menu) are so hearty as well. My usual go-to’s if I’m not changing it up that day. You know that what you’re eating when you visit is not only feeding your body, but your mind as well. The ingredients are all clean, organic, plant-rich, gluten-free and vegan — you can leave knowing you’re fueling yourself and treating yourself all in one — because we all deserve to FEEL good when we eat. I personally am gluten and dairy intolerant, so knowing I can order every single thing on the menu truly makes me the happiest. I frequent P.S. almost every weekend after my group run with my team, Achilles - I have brought so many people over the past 1.5 years and every single person has been more impressed than the last. They all know I need “my fix” when I’m in the city. They all say this is my Disney World. Andrea, the owner, is the sweetest soul. So accommodating to all — truly wanting to serve others in a way that is meaningful to her. She makes sure you always feel like you have a seat at the table, with the brightest smile on her face. And Meghan, one of the wait staff who I adore, always makes sure we are taken care of. She is attentive, kind, and answers any questions we may have if I bring a new friend. I look forward to seeing her whenever I’m in! All of this to say - if you want great food, a calm atmosphere, and an experience that is truly different, come here! …my only regret — not knowing...

Oof! This is a tough review to write.

We were planning to spend hundreds of dollars on special order cakes, but we wanted to first audition the flavors. Instead we ended up auditioning the customer service.

We placed a huge takeout order for sweets prior to making the trip to Philly, and we even called on our way. The person who answered the phone (who turned out to be the owner) was super cheerful and chill, and said that our order was all set. YAY! Leveled up excitement!!!

We again confirmed our order was ready when we sat down for brunch. Sometime while we were eating, though, our order was given to a different customer. We were informed of this right as we paid the check, and we had to wait while they remade the order. Sadly the most coveted cake slice could not be replaced because they had run out of it. Our server was as nice and apologetic as possible, and she offered a refund (still waiting on that) and a different flavor of cake slice (which was pretty mid).

We were polite and gracious about it all but undeniably bummed because that cake was the primary reason we were making this trip. The worst part is that afterwards we realized the owner was mingling by the counter during the whole fiasco, including while I was standing there all awkward and sad as our order was remade. She was so happy to talk to me on the phone when things were going well, but apparently she didn’t want to face me after making a mistake. It made the whole thing so much worse! It also makes me question the integrity of the place. I know it sucks to make mistakes, but we all do it, and how we handle the aftermath is really what matters most.

Despite the mistake and the blow-off, I still really appreciate what they’re doing there. Most of what we tried was very yummy (expensive but yummy), and clean eating is crucial for good health. So yes, give them a try for a snack or a meal! However the execution — and the vibe — clearly need some work. I would be hesitant to place a catering order or to count on them for a special occasion after what we experienced. Hopefully it’s just...

I rarely review but I was blown away by the food I had today at PS & Co. I will mention that I'm not a vegan and was always skeptical of how vegan food would taste but this is simply DELICIOUS food. No amount of preconceived notions or biases could cloud my judgement about what I tasted. This place makes food that somehow feels both healthy and decadent?!?! I think I'm going to change how I look at food forever.

So what did I try?

I had a green special cold pressed juice which was so fresh, clean and delicious.

The Açaí Bowl was really good and looks like art before, during and after you spoon through it. It's almost like a smoothie in a bowl with all these great textures for toppings. You feel like you are eating a rainbow.

The Forbidden Burrito is one of the best new dishes I've tried in a while. Not because it tries to be super fancy, but because you can individually pick out each flavor with a single bite while also melding in perfect symphony. It's delicious in several ways. After sinking your teeth through the tortilla, if you concentrate (and you should) you can taste the different layers of the rice, sautéed kale, cheese, creamy avocado and roasted mushrooms individually. But if you can keep yourself from inhaling the whole thing, you'll notice that the flavors all blend into just balanced warm yumminess. I also had these great sides to go along with it, extra pickled jalapeños and chimichurri sauce. I had to save the second half because I was starting to get full and wanted room for dessert.

Finally, dessert! I had a lovely key lime tart that was the perfect amount of sweet and tart with great texture to the filling and crust. And I graciously split a Sundae brownie with this Earl Grey sauce that despite being very full at this point I had no problem scarfing down. I don't understand how something vegan can taste so good but I love being proven wrong in this way.

I am already thinking about the leftover half of the forbidden burrito as I write this review. I can't wait to go back and try more...