Ben was an excellent server, attentive and funny to boot.
Everyone in my party ordered one item from a different section of the menu and then we split everything. The grilled asparagus with poached egg was great. The poached pear salad wasn't bad-it's hard to go wrong with bleu cheese and bits. The tarfufo pizza was just right, which can primarily be attributed to the truffle oil. Â I also dipped the tartufo in the left-over poached egg yolk. YUM. The vegetable panino was a tad dry, but decent.
Finally, I would recommend the outdoor dining space when the weather permits it.
I really wanted to like Chestnut 7. Unfortunately nothing was very likable. Â The service was really bad, the food was only average and not what I was expecting with the big bar, and huge TVs. Â Seems like Chestnut 7 is still figuring out what they do well. Â While their figuring it out, I hope they at least compensate with better service!
Review Source:Our friends & hosts for the weekend suggested Chestnut 7 for Sunday brunch, and I was really disappointed. Smoked salmon eggs Benedict was dry, Italian pork panini was average at best, my son's order of "Mickey Mouse Pancakes" was a single, flat, overcooked one, and service from the kitchen was pretty slow. It was all a little pricey, to boot (including $6 for that single pancake!).
We'll certainly be back in the neighborhood to visit these friends, but I'll be hard-pressed to return to this place for a meal.
From the reviews I read the food was actually better than I was expecting, though the service was truly awful.
The menu is nothing like what I saw from other yelp reviewers. They no longer have burgers or veggie burgers on the menu, no nachos, wings or cheesesteak spring rolls. They now exclusively serve an Italian menu. The meatball panini while the meatballs were flavorful was served on sliced white bread instead of the advertised ciabatta.
Again, I state the service was awful. We were essentially ignored for the evening until we were finished eating and it was time for the check. Â When the check was brought we were overcharged for a drink that we never had.
The outdoor dining patio is great and the restaurant has a lot of potential..
Chestnut 7... Get it together and stop the identity crisis you are going through.
Restaurant review from 6/1/2013- dinner on patio
It's one of the places to eat in adorable Chestnut Hill.
My family and I made last-minute reservations here after my brother's graduation due to the general indecisive nature of my family.
I think everything was just okay if I think about it without comparing it to anything. If I compare it to other restaurants in Philadelphia, I would say...
My salad was basically a big bag of arugula dumped on a plate for $11. The beer list is small and not much to choose from. The service was alright, and the atmosphere seemed better in the bar area, or maybe even better outside.
I could see possibly coming back to dine outside and try a pizza, but not much else. I wanted to really like this place because I adore Chestnut Hill and need more excuses to hang out there!
I took my mom and sister out on the Saturday before Mother's Day. I made a reservation and we got there on time. They seated us at a small table in their large party room where there was large group (which was a little awkward and secluded). It took a long time for them to take our drink orders and there was another long wait to receive our drinks. Â They weren't even busy or anything. We ordered our food and waited another long wait. It was over 45 minutes from the time we sat down to the time we started eating. My mom and I both got paninis which were supposed to be on focaccia bread but they used sliced white bread without even telling us. Plus, the "paninis" were basically two sandwiches stacked together. My sister ordered fries as a side and when the entrees came out, we asked if the fries were coming. No one came to tell us that it was forgotten and we could tell it was forgotten because 10 minutes later, piping hot, undercooked fries were brought to our table. My mom ordered a mimosa and the amount they gave was like a third of the glass - not sure if this is normal, but it seemed like a pitiful amount to me. We all had glasses of water too, and my sister's glass was cracked and my mom's glass had lipstick marks. It was such a bad place to go for Mother's Day that it was almost comical.
Review Source:A DUMP!  Went with my wife and daughter on a beautiful Friday evening.  30 minute wait for outdoor tables, and we were seated at an indoor  table between bathroom and kitchen doors.  Plenty of indoor seating, so asked for a better table - got attitude from the grumpy waitress, maybe 19 years old.  Ordered drinks from new table, they came, and there was red lipstick on the rim of my glass. Nice. The glass had not been washed!  Do they save  the dirty glasses for  patrons who ask for a different table?  Told our "server" and split.  Went two blocks  to Chestnut Hill Hotel - better food, service, prices, and value!  CH7 is  A DUMP!
Review Source:We have eaten at Chestnut 7 several times, both for lunch and dinner. I prefer to go when the weather is good so we can sit out on the patio. The food is much better than it used to be when Solaris was at this location but still some dishes tend to be mediocre. It's best to stick with the safe standards like burger and fries. It is child friendly and the bar has a good selection of drinks (not to say that I always think of children and alcohol together, lol).
Review Source:I went here for a friend's birthday outing. Â The front of the place was packed because there was what appeared to be a twenty year high school reunion that night.
We were mostly there for drinks. Â I started with the Basil Mint Collins. Â It faintly tasted of mint and was kind of watered down. Â It was disappointing and definitely not worth $12! Â My husband enjoyed his Fancy Manhattan though (also $12). Â I tasted it, and it was strong as a Manhattan should be. Â They definitely didn't skip on the booze there.
I ordered the Chestnut 7 cocktail ($11), hoping it would be better since it was named after the place. Â This tasted much better! Â It was pineapple infused vodka with pineapple juice and basil. I've had pineapple infused vodka at places and liked it before, but the difference here was the addition of basil which gave it a little kick. Â Even though the taste was good, the drink was weak. Â I don't understand why they even need to add pineapple juice because places like Capital Grille or Del Frisco's have cocktails that are just pineapple infused vodka. Â They are sweet enough and really don't need anything added. Â I would have liked this drink better if it was just the vodka with the basil. Â
I started to get hungry and ordered a pizza. Â I got the Tarfufo which was a pizza with a "mushroom medley", two kinds of cheese, garlic, and truffle oil. Â They had me at truffle oil, as truffles are my weakness. Â The pizza arrived and it was hot and didn't take too long to come out of the kitchen. Â It tasted fine, but was basically a cheese pizza with a little truffle oil. Â The mushrooms were sparse and far and few in between. Â
As another reviewer mentioned, the dining room looks nice and well-kept, however the bathroom is another story. Â It was messy, and doors on either stall would not close and kept flying open. If they're going to charge $12 for a watered down drink, you think they could put working locks on the stalls. Â
I feel like Audry K.'s review summarizes my feelings on this place. Â I don't think I'll come here again unless I'm meeting my friend and that's where she wants to go. Â The prices are way too high for what you get. Â
F.Y. I. - Parking on the street seems to be free after 8 PM, although I'm not 100%. Â The sign was a little unclear, but the bartender told us he thought that was the case. Â We didn't get a ticket anyway. Â Before that, you should bring some quarters to feed the meter.
Been here several times and have always left happy!!
Food is great! Love the hummus platter and we've had several good specials here!
Service has always been friendly and accommodating. Nice bar atmosphere, yet still kid friendly enough and the patio is great for nicer days/evenings.
Love all their events... specialty tap nights, live music and planning on checking out brunch with Santa!
As someone who lives and works in Chestnut Hill I must say that this place is a breath of fresh air. For years Chestnut Hill was stagnant with average restaurants and bars. Once CH7 opened its doors things began to change for the better.
CH7 keeps things fresh and new. From their constantly rotating taps to their menu specials, things are always changing. Their staff is friendly and personable. I especially like the their tap takeover events where they host a craft brewery to come in and serve their arsenal of beers. Also you can find a decent raw bar menu for those nights that you are craving oysters. The outdoor seating is a major plus too.
Best dish on their menu is the southwestern steak frites!
I don't usually complain about prices, but this place is really off the mark: Â $14 dollar burgers, $7.00 well drinks, and $6.00 canned beer? Â I had some decent oysters from the raw bar, that listed no price. Â Who knows what I paid for those. Â Saw a shrimp cocktail listed for $2.50, and was quickly cautioned by waiter that price was per shrimp. Â You can't be serious. Â Pricing a shrimp cocktail, per shrimp, at multiple bucks a piece? Â Look out Vegas, with your 99 cent shrimp cocktails. Here comes Chestnut Hill! Â I'm waiting for $2 a piece wing night during Cowboys games.
The burger was hard packed and pre-formed. Â I kept thinking, it must have been frozen; and didn't taste like it couldn't be. Â I could hit Village Whiskey, get much better food and drinks, and save a significant amount of money. Â I guess I'm paying for the better decor and atmosphere here...
I did notice that kids eats free on Sundays. Â If they are charging this much for this fare, I'd hate to see the scraps they'll throw at your kids for no charge. Â Definitely skip this place. Â If you thought this part of town didn't offer much, these people are reinforcing this opinion, with extreme prejudice.
This place seems to pretend to be a delicious, happening spot.. but it's kind of a downer. I've been here 3-4 times in the past few months, and each experience has been exactly "meh."
Portions are big, service is decent, the place is pretty clean and spacious (with outdoor seating). Prices are okay also.
But the food is.. salty.. just overall unimpressive. The height of the meal will probably occur as the waitress/waiter is putting it on the table. Pizzas, burgers, chicken burgers, salads.. I've tried it all and can say it was 'alright' at best.
It's fine for a weekday when you just want to grab something quick (but not healthy or relatively cheap).. but I wouldn't pick this place to gather with friends or coworkers.
Fries: meh! (no go for me.)
Honesty, shocked at the low reviews here. I notice people bitching about the layout of the place and that they cant find anything on the menu? Get real. Unfortunately for 7 Chestnuts 3 star Yelp rating, any yahoo with the palate of a dung beetle and the dining experience of an Inuit only on campus for a week of seal clubbing school can get a Yelp account and start hacking away at the good nature of decent establishments.
Stopped here after walking our labs on the Valley Green trail. Honestly I wasn't really expecting much of anything really since we were sitting outside with the dogs and just wanted a peaceful dinner.
The Bridget burger; I fancy myself a burger aficionado. I've had all "the" burgers from Royal Tavern, Standard tap, Parc Meridien (NY), Village Whiskey and so on and so on so I wasn't really thinking ANYTHING about this burger from Chestnut Hill I was about to eat - just because I was starving and in the area. Wow - PLEASANTLY surprised. Really good quality beef and a taste that meshed greasiness (the good kind) with a great shitake sauce. It immediately ranked in my top 8 burgers of all time. Absolutely loved it!
Tartufo 13; The GF had this. While I don't consider myself really a brick oven pizza type person I have to say, this pizza was quite tasty and addicting.
Cozy little pigs; Sausage wrapped in puffed pastry. Pretty good I have to say. First time I had something like that  and it was pretty good.
I felt the service was fantastic. The server brought a bowl of water for he dogs and we only saw him when we needed something. Very professional. I would eat here again in a heartbeat.
Went here for brunch on Saturday and was stunned at how good the food was. We had a perfect eggs benedict (potatoes were outstanding...how often do you say that?), a burger (great roll, the fries were incredible with Montreal steak seasoning), and a short rib pizza that had so much flavor and a good crust. Food was dirt cheap by DC standards. Only downside was that it was dead on a beautiful Saturday day at lunchtime. Â Do yourself a favor and help fill it up because the food was absolutely delicious.
Review Source:I've been here twice now and each visit, the service was horrible. Â The first time we showed up about 10 minutes after our reservation time and had to wait about 45 minutes we could be seated because they fell behind in patrons, even though the restaurant was not at full capacity. Then we were seated, it took about 25 minutes for someone to come by and get our drink orders and they didn't even ask about food. Â Finally someone came by for food orders, but since it was going to take about an hour to get any substantial we just ordered 2 appetizers which took about 40 minutes to come to our table.
The second time we went it took about 2 hours from sitting to finally paying the bill. and the 2 hours was not because we wanted a long dinner, it took 2 hours because the organization of the restaurant is poor. Â The food is good when it finally comes, but unless you have about 2.5 hours to devout to dinner, it would not recommend coming here.
Don't bother! Went in on a Tuesday night and the place was relatively (though not overly) crowded. Took at least 15 mins to get a glass of wine, placed an order for the octopus salad and couple pizzas. 1/2 hour later got the salad. Had to go to the bar to get my own drink refilled. 1.5 hours later we left, disappointed. Ended up at Chestnut Grille a block down and had a lovely meal.
The folks at Chestnut gave us our appetizer and wine gratis, but I won't be going back on account of the horrendous service.
Wife and I went in for brunch on a lazy sunday. Everything started out great and the ambiance is nice. But they got our order wrong, forgot our request for more coffee, and billed us for the wrong order twice. Maybe it was just the sunday staff but it got more sour an experience as the meal went on.
Food was good though. We had the french toast and one with peaches.
I didn't give this one star, because the staff is friendly and I feel they really ARE trying. It's just that...it's mediocre at best. Nothing works for me here. The tables are too high and awkward, there's really nothing on the menu that I have to have, and of the 2 times I've been here, the food was pretty lame both occasions. I honestly think applebees has better food. But, like I said, the staff is nice and they do have a great outdoor space with plenty of tables. Sorry CH7, I really wanted to like you.
Review Source:in the space formerly known as solaris, i had a wonderful lunch here with a dear friend
haven't spent too much time on the hill since i stopped working here, so it was a nice surprise to see new things/new construction/less vacant store fronts
chestnut 7 features a nice airy interior with outdoor seating on a side terrace
there is a decent little menu, good beer selection and a very knowledgeable server, whose name escapes me, who was more than happy to talk beer with us - he brought us a few samples which were delicious
we ordered sandwiches
the veggie burger with side salad was really good
the bbq pulled pork served with house made kettle chips and slaw could have used a bit more of a kick, but it was still tasty
good brioche bun on both sandwiches
all in all, a decent place for a casual lunch or after work drinks/nosh
I was there on a Friday night, and we (a party of 2) had no wait at 7:00pm.
Cons:
- I ordered the flank steak, and it was very underdone. I didn't send it back (because I used to work in a restaurant in my youth, and know what can happen to the food when people are irritated). Â
- The place is loud. Like, I-can't-hear-part-of-your-sentence loud. Â The music was way too high inside, especially when they dim the lights...giving the illusion of intimacy. No one was at the bar, and it was a bunch of couples and families shouting at each other.
- The bathrooms. It's like they refurbished the whole place and just thought 'let's leave the bathrooms looking like a car garage."
Pros:
- There is plenty of seating - I hate when you want to go to a place and they have a really small room...this place is nicely sized, so you can easily usually get a seat.
- The waitress was very nice and great at her job. She was attentive but not intrusive, offered helpful suggestions but was not pushy.
- The hummus plate is amazing for an appetizer - greatly portioned (easily for 2-3), great flavors, and wonderfully fresh. (red pepper hummus, warm pita breads, olives, feta cheese, cucumber...
This place has a lot of potential, it just seems like they need to get their act together a little...tighten up the quality controls in the kitchen, and tone down the music. Â The demographic is kind of younger professionals for typical chestnut hill (35 or so), couples, families and it has a preppy vibe of clientele. Their menu is what I would call 'modern american,' and it's a little pricey, but not bad for what you get.
I'm rooting for it, and hope to see it come up a bit more as it matures...otherwise their fussy clientele will go elsewhere.
We've been here quite a few times since it's opened and we've enjoyed it every time. The burgers are delicious and the salads are unique and tasty. Go on a nice day and sit outdoors!
They also have a decent beer selection and the last time we were there, our waiter was fantastic! The fries are seasoned and are quite tasty.
I don't know why, but our experiences here just haven't matched up with most yelpers. This is one of those places we keep reeeeeeally trying to like, especially because it's near to us and we love Chestnut Hill, and it's got a great outdoor dining space.
We've tried four times and agreed today that nope, this would be it for us. We've tried several things on the menu and today went during brunch. Ordered a bloody mary and beer (sucky beer selection, btw). We decided on soups and salads because nothing on the Brunch menu really struck us. My hubs had to send his salad back (which, as a chef he NEVER does) because the dressing was so sickeningly sweet ( I tried it and agreed). My Chop salad was rather blah and although I ordered it with chicken, it was that bizarre, pressed/processed chicken that makes me want to gag. Our French Onion soup was good, not great. Only thing on the menu for kids was...yep, you guessed it: pizza, chicken fingers or mac and cheese (this is starting to SERIOUSLY drive me nuts...NO, really, kids DO eat more than these 3 toddler food groups). Our kiddo didn't order anything because she's just as sick of seeing this shit on the menu as we are.
Where this restaurant is really off the mark is the service. EVERY time we come here we have to get up and go to ask for things ourselves, or the server forgets something (like silverware (!)or to come back and check in), or they're just...not good servers. Today's guys was nice and all ,but just chipper in all the wrong ways...he came by and asked us "how's the water"...uhhh...really?? I had to ask several times for a Glass for my water (though I'm not shy about chugging my Pellegrino out of the bottle-AT HOME), and just made dumb comments, like when my husband was done with his soup, "wow! you're done?! you must have really liked it! OK! " ummm..just shut up, dude. Â
Bottom line.."meh. I've experienced better" and for what they're supposed to be...we'll find another fabulous outdoor dining space elsewhere with good food, great atmosphere, badass drinks and beer selection...I just. know. it.
Came here for brunch with my family, including a wheelchair and a toddler in a high chair and had a great experience!
Not only were they incredibly helpful with our motley crue, the food and drinks were great. a very respectable bloody mary, DELISH breakfast pizza (definitely enough for 2 people to share) and great reviews on the crepes with strawberries as well.
all in all, I was very pleased with this new addition to the ave and will be back for dinner.
Have been here several times now and always have a great time. Burgers and pizzas are both excellent, almost surprisingly so. I was expecting bar food, but what I have had is legitimately good. Their wings and pork nacho appetizer are good as well, but we typically skip the appetizers because the burger and fries are so filling.
My only complaint would be an unimpressive beer list, but I always find something good. I will continue to go back here for as long as I live in chestnut hill.
I was surprised to find that Solaris Grille is now Chestnut 7. Â Dinner for 2. Â I liked the remodel, cutting out the bar wall really opened up the place. Â The website and menu reference cajun and southern cooking. Â The decor is of sports (old school baseball and rowing teams in philly), maps and boat diagram. Â You can make it cajun, and make reference it without going all mardi gras.
On the other hand, the wait staff needs to be trained better.  It took my companion 20 minutes to get her drink order, after it was requested twice.  No water on the table until the meal was served.  I asked if they had specials, the waitress said they didn't  have a pasta special and they were out of the fish special.  Saturday night at 7:30 and you are out?  Not acceptable.  I asked if they had soups.  Waitress said 2, no soup was on the menu and no price was quoted.  After requesting change of a $20, I got back 15 $1s (and a 5).  I questioned this and she said that was all they had.  Excuse me?  A full bar and restaurant and you can't score a $10 bill?
Now onto the food. Â I ordered the french onion. Â What cheese there was was burnt and they put some kind of dried sticks of herbs, possibly chives on top. Â This made it harder to eat. Â Soup itself was blah. Â My friend had cheesesteak rolls. Â Undersized for the money. Â The zucchini with tomato sauce looked to have been under-sauced and in the microwave.
I asked how long the restaurant has been Chestnut 7. Â I was told since July 2011. Â If they had just been opened 2-3 months, I could excuse these issues as a learning curve, but they need to get better fast.
I went here for my birthday. Â It had opened a month prior and had been receiving good reviews so I thought it would be a good idea to try it. Â The former business (Solaris) was a bomb and was glad it closed. Â Chestnut 7 is easily better than most other places in Chestnut Hill, and I would totally go back.
We had the chorizo dip to start along with cheesesteak spring rolls and the special app of the night, swordfish ceviche. Â The dip was TO DIE FOR! Â We couldn't stop eating it. Â The spring rolls were as good as they can be and the ceviche, while good, wasn't my cup of tea. Â They used coconut milk to ease the acidity and I'm not the biggest fan of coconut anything.
For dinner I had their Steak Frites... It was amazing! Â Cooked perfectly and seasoned very well, it made for a very nice birthday dinner. Â In addition, the prices for everything were very good. Â My friends also thoroughly enjoyed their meals, especially the pulled pork. Â
Our server was full of energy and funnier than hell. Â My one complaint is that this place is loud. Â There are no walls, like their was in the previous iteration and the bar is dead center of the main dining area. Â I'm not sure what the atmosphere is like in the other rooms (there are two), but I'm sure they were quieter. Â They also have outdoor dining, which was really the only good thing about Solaris. Â I'll definitely have to stop back soon!
UPDATE, ONE DAY LATER:
Went back for another business lunch. This time I ordered the tomato bisque. Delicious, but merely warm. I sent it back and it came back only a bit warmer. My partner ordered the veggie burger (which she loved) with a salad. The salad had no dressing and needed to go back.
Two days in a row, kitchen troubles. My partner said she overheard similar complaints in the ladies' loo. The people in the kitchen need to get their act together, or it's Solaris II.
So far so good on this place! We had the honor of coming here one of the first nights it was open. Great little space - we came in at the end of September when it was still warm so we could sit outside. Patio space is so cute! Hubs and I really enjoyed sitting out there. The second time we sat bar-side and the third time we sat in the back dining room, great ambiance throughout the whole restaurant. We both tried the margarita pizza the first time, and we had the chocolate cake (with the exploding melted chocolate and vanilla ice cream... uh YUM) and it was dee-lish. We left full and happy, for sure. Extra points for the waiter who carded me the day after my birthday here, you made me feel really young ;)
The second time we came in we ordered the soup of the day + fish, and I got the veggie burger. Great fries! I wished there was some veggies on my veggie burger, but the burger and bun tasted very fresh so I didn't miss the lettuce/tomato much anyways.
Third time's a charm, we ordered the special. Husband decided on the pizza again and I got the cavatelli in the white wine sauce. (cue the song yummy yummy I've got love in my tummy) Really the only way to finish our third and most-awesome-yet meal was to get the chocolate cake again.
Service was fast and pretty friendly. My only gripe is that it was a bit loud for my taste, and the wait staff has been tasked with obsessing over the happiness of their customers. Each time our waiters came back 4 and 5 times while we were eating - the last time we were there hubs had to actually say "Thanks for checking on us - we should be  ok for a little while!". I suppose though an overly attentive staff is better than an non-attentive one, right? :)
I know it took me three months, but I wanted to try everything first before writing it. Â I can honestly say I've had about 60% of the menu by now and have not been disappointed by a single thing. Â Let me give you some of my favorite's from each.
Starters: If you are looking for something for yourself, the cheesesteak springroll or the mac and cheese would be a good bet. Â Both are a good size. Â Could be shared, but can definitely be eaten by one person. Â The cheesesteak springroll may just blow your mind though. Â So hot and juicy and that spicy ketchup is perfect with it. Â Now if you're looking to split something, I'd suggest the wings or the memphis nachos. Â The nachos are exactly what they sound like and they're outstanding. Â The wings are done with a jerk rub and are baked. Â The dry rub is great, but don't expect saucy wings that you've had elsewhere. They're a little pricy for my taste, but they're very good. Â
Salads: I got a caesar and my fiance has ordered the cobb (picture posted). Â Meat of your choice can be added to your salad for a little extra. Â I got chicken on the caesar and it was really good. Â I don't know if they make the dressing in house, but it was great.
Sandwiches: I highly recommend the Bridget's burger. Â It's a big, juicy patty, smothered in melted pepperjack, topped with two thick slices of bacon and this incredible sake-shiitake sauce. Â The sauce is a game-changer. Â You'll find yourself trying to mop up every last bit of it with your burger as you eat.
Pizza: It's crazy how good these pizzas are. Â Probably the best pizzas around and its not even a pizza joint. Â The classic margherita pizza has a ton of flavor and is great to split with one other as a meal or a even a bunch of friends as an appetizer. Â I also really liked the short rib pizza. Â Has a awesome blend of flavors that you probably haven't had on a pizza before.
Entrees: Â There are many I still want to try, but if you like jambalaya then get this one. Â It's not an enormous portion, but if you had an appetizer or salad it should fill you up. Â So much flavor to it. Â Great way to warm up on a chilly night. Â
Desserts: I've had every single one of them and loved them all. Â Bananas Foster is their claim to fame from what I'm told. Â Chocolate lava cake is amazing. Â Definitely ask about what kind of bread pudding they're serving that week. Â My personal favorite is the Jewish apple cake a la mode. Â So very warm and the combination of apples, vanilla ice cream, and whipped cream is my weakness. Â Love it.
I love this place and love taking friends here. Â It has a great location, awesome patio seating, and really cool decor inside. Â Personally I think, and I think many would agree, Antony is the best bartender in town and he works like every night. Â Guys knows everyone's name. Â Real friendly staff. Â Know a bunch of them by name now. Â Love the food. Â Love being able to just come and hang out. Â A bunch of TVs that can be seen from any seat and they always got the local games on. They also just expanded to serving brunch and open around noon now instead of five.
With that being said, I have a few areas where I think they can improve. Â These come from personal experience and hearing from others. Â It can get quite loud. Â Apparently since they took out the walls from Salaris, there is nothing to absorb sound. Â Second, I love the prices of the pizzas, salads, entrees, and desserts but I think the appetizers are a little high in price. Â They would really benefit from more starters in the $5-$9 range. Â Drinks also are high in price. Â I feel like I'm paying $2 too much for each drink. Â They could use a few beers in the $3 to $4 range and some mixed drinks in the $5 to $6 range. Â That's the only thing deterring me from being here all night Fridays and Saturdays. Would also love some happy hour specials.
Love CH7. Â Think it has something to offer for everyone. Â Can't recommend it enough.
It's really a solid 3.5 stars.
Came here for brunch a few weekends ago to enjoy the beautiful weather in Chestnut Hill. Sat at one of the high tops next to the bar with a perfect view of a TV to catch some of the Eagles game! My choices for brunch were the French Onion Soup and the Crab Cake sandwich. Hubs ordered the short rib grits and fried egg. But first, let's review the Bloody Mary I ordered. This is a favorite cocktail of mine that I can drink any time of day! Their version was a classic, and no complaints! The perfect amount of spices with a little kick! Nice!
Menu served up comfort foods, and it was above average. As for the grits dish, there was way too much grits. I think it took up the whole plate. (Maybe they made too much and decided to just serve up the whole pot? I'll never know.) Made the meal kinda bland.
Service was average. I saw the hostess cleaning up tables, which I noticed was the reason a big family was waiting to be seated.
I'd come here if I were back in the area. Hopefully I'll have a better experience!
Chestnut 7 comes from the mold of Kc's Alley and they are both owned by the same person. Â CH7 is right in the heart of Chestnut Hill on Germantown Ave. Â I stopped by on a Thursday night in October on the way back from the Flyers game. Â There was a small crowd inside and there were plenty of seats at the bar and tables available. Â
The bar is located in the front of the building and is a decent size. Â There are 3-4 TV's above the middle of the bar and another two TV's on either end of the main room. Â They have about 7 beers on tap but the selection was pretty weak. Â There are a bunch of wood tables that line the perimeter of the outer walls. Â This bar would be a cool spot to have a low key night with friends.
I will update this review when I get a chance to try the food.
Chestnut 7 is a welcome addition to the Chestnut Hill dining scene. Â It's a nice middle ground between the finer dining restaurants and sports bars/pubs that are popular in the area. My new favorite place to take friends when they're in the area!
Pros:
-Excellent ambience; mixed crowd, a comfortable place to dine, drink and catch up with friends
-Imaginative menu that incorporates comfort food classics with New American touches. Things to try: short rib pizza, Alley fries, burgers, mac and cheese, bananas foster for dessert. Their brunch menu looks really tasty as well!
-Varied beer, wine and cocktail list, incorporating a mix of local and seasonal craft beer, an accessible wine list, and a few signature cocktails; something for everyone
Cons:
-The service is still a little off, but since they opened not that long ago, I think they're just working out the kinks still. Servers/bartenders are either a bit over-attentive or not enough so, but again, not really a criticism, just something to be mindful of, because they are still new.
I went here with my husband one night for a date. Â We had a pretty good experience there- no complaints at all (except that it was cold!)
The place centers around a bar, so it looks like a good place to go with friends when you just want drinks & snacks. Â We sat at a tablet right next to the bar, so it felt like sitting on the sidelines, sort of. Â We played with the idea of going there to watch a game sometime, but there really aren't that many tv's, so the chance that the game I want to watch being visible wherever I'm seated is pretty nil. Â
The menu was small- but the good kind, where there's still plenty of options. Â You know those restaurants that have 12 page menus and are filled with 3 or 4 foods arranged in different orders, essentially? Â This is a way better alternative. Â There is something for everyone on the menu, even if it is smaller. Â I had a tough time deciding between a few options, but when I saw the Margarita Pizza walking by, I knew I needed to have one. Â We also ordered the hummus plate, which arrived quickly and was tasty & fresh. Â
Service was fast & friendly. Â There were lots-o-people ready to snatch up dirty dishes off the table. Â ...me thinks there was a prize for every dirty dish brought to the back (kinda like cans & bottles). Â
Overall, I was totally pleased by my dining experience and would go so far to bring out-of-towners for catching up & drinks, etc. Â
**Bonus** outdoor seating!
On a recent visit to Philly my friend and I at at Chestnut 7. It was very good and the service was great. It was very busy and we had a little wait but I was visiting a friend so there was no rush for us.
We had the calamari to start and it was very good. It had all kinds of fun things in it- including dried bananas!
I had a chicken dish and it was amazing. My friend had the gumbo and loved it. It was a casual place but the food screamed FANCY!
Two visits so far:
First with my girlfriends. It was a Friday night, so there was a bit of a wait for a table, but not too bad. We split the calamari, which was delicious and we really enjoyed the sweet/spicy glaze as a nice change from breading and marinara sauce. The hummus plate was large, pretty and great for sharing. I enjoyed the ricotta pizza (though picky me would have preferred if they'd blanched and peeled the tomatoes first so slices could more easily be bitten into). Two others enjoyed the short rib pizza. The calamari and sangria were both missing items that were cited on the menu, so it was odd they hadn't mentioned they were short of ingredients.
Tonight my husband and I went for some burgers. He got the Bridget's burger and I got the house-made veggie burger (well-spiced black bean burger) with pepper jack and barbecue sauce. Burgers were good, fries were crisp.
So far service is still a bit off, but they're new and trying hard, so I'm sure they'll smooth that out.
They've opened up the place from its Solaris set-up, added TVs for watching games, and are redoing the garden seating.
Menu has a few sandwiches, a few pizzas, a few entrees, a few entree salads with choice of proteins, and several apps. Simple but nice. Great price point for a neighborhood restaurant. We'll be back.
Sneak peek: I hear they'll be starting Sunday brunch.
Have been waiting for awhile for this to open and was not disappointed!  The staff was so friendly and genuinely glad to have you there.  Started out with a couple Victory Summer Loves.  They have a small but good on tap beer selection.  Looks like they will be rotating a few.  For an app we had the Chorizo Fundito.  it was not the traditional kind you get at a Mexican restaurant.  It was thinner but excellent with warm tortilla chips and sour cream and great guacamole on the side.  I had the veggie burger b/c they said it was housemade.  It was a black bean based veggie burger, seasoned very well, topped with cheese with onion, tomato and lettuce.  It was extremely filing  and yummy!  The fires on the side were wonderful too.  They seemed lighter than I am used to and were topped with sea salt.
Husband got the Chestnut 7 burger and said it was very good. Â What was funny was that he always orders med-rare for burgers b/c most places then give you medium - not Chestnut 7. Â They cooked it EXACTLY right. Â :) Â So it was a tiny bit rare for him but he even said he cannot complain b/c it was exactly what he asked for. Â Keep that in mind when you order steak there. Â I am sure they will do an excellent job with it.
We were seated at a large table that could be a community table when it is crowed.  We saw one couple asked to be moved from one and I made sure they say my eye roll. The decor is open and airy.  Love the prints on the walls and even more than that LOVE that they got rid of a wall!  Makes the place seem so much larger than  before.  Looking forward to going back to try the entrees and maybe sit outside.
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