Those new to the Philadelphia food scene typically associate the city with cheesesteaks and hoagies. But when they finally set foot on the streets, the air of high–culture cuisine is hard to miss. Among the most famous symbols of high–culture Philly is restaurateur and culinary icon Stephen Starr, whose food empire is so large it’s impossible to eat out and not know his name.
From the hanging chairs in Continental Midtown, to the ten–foot–tall Buddha statue in Buddakan, it’s clear that food isn’t the only aspect of his restaurants that are to die for. Interior design is a key feature of the empire, as Starr strives to take his customers on global—and at times other–worldly—journeys by playing with both their gustatory and visual senses. But to truly unlock the keys to the castle of Starr Properties, foodies must complete the Starr initiation stages by dining at his most famous restaurants—El Vez, Parc, and Morimoto—whose menus are far from the only appealing aspect.
I practically grew up in El Vez. With the eclectic atmosphere of stop–motion photo boxes and tchotchkes on the walls, colorful light strips hanging from the ceiling, and the iconic low–rider bike spinning in the middle of the bar coloring the days of my childhood. Some of my earliest memories took place on the corner of 13th and Sansom, and I’ve got countless photo strips of me aging in their film booth to prove it. El Vez, named after the renowned Mexican Elvis–impersonator Robert Lopez, had its 20th anniversary last year, and yet, the interior is as timeless as ever.
Mexican–inspired and Vegas at heart, the restaurant is full of velvet Hollywood–esque booths that strike the eye the minute you walk in. The spirit of the restaurant is ever–youthful and elevates the already awe–striking food. From their famous margaritas to the steak tacos I get every single time, the restaurant promises its customers a constant flavor party in their mouths. But what’s flavor without an exciting ambiance to elevate your experience? Starr takes the next step and projects his salivating flavors onto the walls, creating dashing visuals that make the food taste even better. The moment you step through the red–curtained entrance, you’re brought into a Mex–eclectic world which is self–proclaimed to be “as bright and boisterous as a joyride in a Tijuana taxi,” and are hit with the fact that you never want to leave.
About half–a–mile away, right next to Rittenhouse Square, is Parc, Starr’s French pièce–de–résistance and the highest grossing restaurant in Philly. Standing in its grandeur on 18th and Locust streets, pedestrians are lured inside by the smell of butter and fresh bread, only to be met with a 45–minute wait time. The place is incredibly popular, and almost always requires a reservation made in advance, unless you’re lucky enough to snag a seat when other customers are off at work.
Just like El Vez, the food is life–changing, and classic menu items like the steak frites and the soupe à l’oignon bring French flavors directly from Paris to your mouth. Such food paired with their ever growing wine menu stands to be one of the best meals you can have in the city. But, the strikingly–French design of the restaurant is just as impressive. Walking down Locust Street, you may find yourself feeling as if you’ve stumbled through a portal right onto Champs–Élysées. Parc’s completely full terrasse tables and rattan chairs line its surrounding sidewalks while Edith Piaf's soft voice streams through the air. Each and every item in the restaurant was directly sourced and imported from France, making the restaurant an exact replica of any large brasserie you’d find along Parisian streets.
From the doors, to the spherical lights, to even the exit signs, Parc was meticulously constructed by Shawn Housman Design—who also designed Starr’s Butcher and Singer and Continental—to create an authentic French experience. The tiles are worn in as though they’d been stepped on by thousands of kitten heels and the jukebox in the parlor is full of every iconic French cabaret album you can think of. Even more so, the entire bar top was imported from France. The authenticity of the place is jaw–dropping yet completely expected from Starr, who seeks to transport his customers into a new world at each of his restaurants.
This new world is no better found than at his world famous Japanese restaurant, Morimoto, named after their legendary Iron Chef, Masaharu Morimoto. Located on 8th and Chestnut streets, right near Washington Square, the outdoor white facade is incredibly unassuming and easily dismissed. But, the moment you step through the glass doors, you’re brought into a futuristic world of Japanese cuisine.
The room is almost like a spaceship, blending modern and organic architecture styles to create a new and out–of–this–world experience. Designed by Karim Rashid and opened in 2001, the restaurant is full of LED–lit glass booths, date–night chairs, and lime green tables, along with the curving grooves in the walls, constantly changing in glow and color. The walls are lined with curved and circular panels, allowing the lights to create intricate shadows across the walls. The highlight, of course, of the restaurant’s design is the questionably phallic lamp you’ll find on every table that is hilariously similar to something you’d have in your bedside drawer—a common comment whispered under customers' breaths when they sit down and the hostess walks away.
Incredibly impressive in its own right, Morimoto provides an upstairs wooden lounge for its waitlist members to drink to their hearts delight as they look over the dining room from a birds eye view. With options like omakase, luxury Japanese alcohol, and an à–la–carte menu to fill your stomach, Morimoto makes for quite the night, even if your wallet is drained by the end of it.
As one of the food capitals of the country, the Philly food scene has expanded much over the past 20 years, and Stephen Starr certainly plays a role. With over 40 restaurants to his name, the restaurateur has invited interior designers, international chefs, and cultural experts to bring his unique dreams of immersive dining into reality. El Vez, Parc, and Morimoto are among his most famous projects, but the dream doesn’t end there. Set to start construction soon, Starr’s new Italian restaurant Borromini will be built on the other side of Rittenhouse in the former Barnes & Noble building on 18th and Walnut streets.
Borromini is Parc–esque by nature, intending to transport its customers to a trattoria along the streets of Rome through the same method of sourcing and importing directly from the country. The excitement and anxiety is real among Philly food fans for both the menu and interior of this new project. But rest assured—if his current masterpieces tell us anything, it’s that whatever Starr does next is gonna be just as incredible, Borromini included.
