PHLReview
Serpico doesn’t belong on South Street. It doesn’t belong sandwiched between a take-out chicken spot and a 90’s-era shoe warehouse. And it definitely doesn’t belong on the same stretch that houses Pink PussyCat and Condom Kingdom.
Where Serpico does belong, we’re not really sure. Maybe on a really lived-in space station, like the kind that will exist when we destroy our planet and have to make a home in the sky. But instead of hiring the set designers from Star Wars to design it, we hired everyone on HGTV’s payroll. Wherever it exists in the future, we’ll be visiting, because in addition to having one of the best looking restaurant spaces in Philly, Serpico also makes some of the best tasting food.
photo credit: Max Grudzinski
The Japanese-influenced menu is full of dishes that are simply prepared using only a few ingredients, like enoki mushrooms, hamachi tartare, and Japanese eggplant. Everything put in front of you is beautiful, and will look like it could be on that scrolling slideshow of images that comes up when you stop watching your Apple TV for more than five minutes. And it all tastes just as good as it looks, which is harder to come by than you’d think. The raw diver scallops, for example, are sitting in a pool of buttermilk, which seems like it would be too heavy and creamy for the light scallops, but it’s topped with a bit of green yuzu that brings the whole thing together and makes you wish every scallop could taste like this.
Because of its location on South Street, though, people sometimes forget about Serpico, which is a shame since it’s genuinely a nice place to hang out. The black brick building that it’s housed in looks a little cold, but as soon as you go inside, you realize that it’s actually kind of cozy. It has homey touches like chalkboard walls with the specials written on them and a tiny bar with only six seats. It’s the kind of place that, if you happen to be walking by, you’ll want to stop in for a drink or two, even if you’re not in the mood for a whole meal.
All this being said, Serpico is pretty expensive, so it’s probably best for a special occasion or a date with someone you’re trying to impress. If you’re willing to shell out a few extra dollars, though, you won’t be disappointed. The bar is good, the food is exceptional, and even the neighborhood is fun if you know how to navigate it.
There’s even a small place in our heart for Condom Kingdom.