My spouse and I visited
Greenhouse Enoteca for dinner two times on two different Saturday evening in August
and September 2019. The Greenhouse is open for dinner only on Tuesdays through
Saturdays (closed Sundays and Mondays). The restaurant does not accept
reservations for parties of less than 10 people, although they do utilize the
Yelp Waitlist app (which we did not use). On our first visit, we arrived
exactly at 5:00 pm and were seated immediately at a table, but on our second
visit, we arrived around 7:00 pm and could only find seats at the bar.
Greenhouse Enoteca opened in February
2019 in the space formerly occupied by Roth’s Florist on Tilghman Street in the
West End, across from Muhlenberg Elementary School and near the Jewish
Community Center (JCC). The owners have retained the florist’s greenhouse,
using it to grow their own herbs and vegetables. The interior features an
industrial-chic look, with concrete floors and bar top and lots of windows. A
wood-fired pizza oven in the front corner commands attention. The bar seats
about 16 people, with the remainder of diners placed at regular-height or
high-top tables. Seasonally, patrons can also dine on the front porch, which is
shielded from the busy street by a privacy fence. Parking is available in a
small lot (perhaps 10 spaces), or on the nearby streets. (The restaurant
advises not to park in the large apartment lot located off the alley in back of
the property.)
Greenhouse Enoteca serves
Italian cuisine. While we perused the menu, a server delivered thin strips of
seasoned pizza dough, along with oil for dipping (delicious!). Guests can
choose from pasta, pizza, and other entrees. On our first visit, we tried the shrimp
summer rolls (bland) and the beet carpaccio salad (tasty, accompanied by goat
cheese balls, blood oranges, and pistachios; however, the one of the types of beets
was a bit undercooked for our taste), followed by two pasta entrees (the cacio
e pepe was a bit different because it used smoked provolone and included
zucchini strips) and one of the night’s special pasta dishes. On our second
visit, we tried two of their pizzas. The restaurant produces its own wine,
although patrons can also order commerically available beer and spirits.
We enjoyed our dinners at
Greenhouse Enoteca; we are happy to have an upscale new dining establishment
nearby.
