Philadelphia: Brasserie Perrier (October 1996)

French food becomes comfortable in the chic Walnut Street restaurant Brasserie Perrier. Opened in 1997 by Georges Perrier, famous for his work at the renowned Le Bec Fin, Brasserie Perrier is an exploration of international cuisine with enough versatility and authenticity to please any palate. The classic Art Deco interior is bright and lively and boasts a pleasant aroma of rich soups and sweet desserts. The bar and lounge is a perfect retreat for a smart cocktail and tasty after-work treat, while the formal dining room offers a more lavish culinary experience for Brasserie Perrier’s loyal patrons.  City natives, recent transplants, and everyday tourists can all agree on one unfortunate food fact – a good French meal is hard to come by in the City of Brotherly Love. While delectable Italian bistros and hearty pub grub can be found on every corner, the sophisticated European fare of France is trickier to locate. While Le Bec-Fin reigns supreme as a five-star favorite, most diners lack the sufficient funds to nosh on its world-famous cuisine on a regular basis. Luckily, Brasserie Perrier offers a wonderful alternative for French food lovers
of all tastes and backgrounds. Georges Perrier, owner and founder of Le Bec-Fin, decided to open a morecasual restaurant in January 1997, and the result has been met with a loyal following ever since. Renowned as the leader of Philadelphia’s restaurant revolution,Perrier received his culinary training at La Pyramide in Paris and brought that knowledge back to Philadelphia in the late 1960s. Soon after its opening in 1970, Le Bec-Fin staked its claim as the city’s finest restaurant, but after years of commercial success, Perrier’s taste began to lean more towards easygoing than extravagant. Brasserie Perrier opened its doors more than a decade ago, and its consistent popularity has as much to do with the food as does its location. Situated in the heart of Philadelphia’s busiest restaurant and shopping locale,
Walnut Street is an easy walk from the business district and an ideal resting point for the city’s many shopaholics. It also caters to the wealthy Rittenhouse crowd, making it a hotspot for people-watching.  Brasserie Perrier walks a fine line between homey and haute, maintaining a menu of classic French comfort food in a decidedly upscale setting. Designed in a classic Art Deco-style, the bar and lounge area is filled with colorful banquettes and silver leaf ceilings for those interested in a more casual atmosphere, while the formal 100-seat dining area located in the back of the restaurant is a more elegant option for patrons.  The menu is a
cornucopia of traditional French fare with a twist, an obvious reflection of head Chef Chris Scarduzio’s versatility and creativity. Perrier met Scarduzio in 1995 at the Germantown Cricket Club where he was dishing up the area’s best omelettes, and he would later be handpicked by Perrier to join in the restaurant’s opening.
Scarduzio began as a sous-chef, but after two years, he took the reins as executive chef and is now a partner. Scarduzio’s simple yet elegant style reflects Perrier’s vision in full – French food doesn’t have to be formal. While Brassier Perrier isn’t an inexpensive French dining option, it’s a far cry from its extravagant counterpart,
Le Bec-Fin. World-class ingredients, perfectly-sized portions and more modest prices make this venue stand apart from the rest. And even though Brasserie Perrier can’t quite live up to the title of “brasserie” because of its indulgent tendencies, it remains one of Philadelphia’stop French restaurants and will continue to do so for
years to come.