Nan Restaurant

I had gill salmon with read curry, it’s very good, yummy.

the guy who came up to take our order made some snarky quip about how we were underdressed for the place. i thought that was a little tacky, but whatever. we ordered the thai cabbage, crostini, and thai noodle to start. crostini was too oily. thai cabbage was just some salad mix with dressing that was too sweet. thai noodle was good, though. i would get that again.
entrees were pad thai without shrimp (my friend’s vegetarian) and a scallop dish. pad thai was a little too sweet in my opinion, and the scallops were a little overdone and too salty. definitely overpriced. and why can’t they turn up the lights a little? i’d go elsewhere if i could do it again. there’s far better thai food to be had at choo choo’s (and for far cheaper, too.)

I am very torn between 3 – 4 stars. But at the end of the day, I appreciate what they do and disagree with some of the lower-​ranked reviews here so I think they deserve a full 4 stars.
My friend and I wanted to go to a Thai restaurant in university city. She had been to one and thought it was okay, but having grown up in Thailand, I am a little more picky. So after a quick look at Unilocal reviews, I decided to come to Nan Restaurant.
First of all, Nan does not really look like a typical Thai restaurant. It has a very spring-​y feel, which I actually like, although my friend did not. There is a great divide in down the middle of the restaurant which holds all the BYO wine :)
Upon first look at the menu, I was a bit surprised at the prices. Granted, I now realize that it had 3 $ signs but I hadn’t really looked before I went. This price in University City seemed a little steep, which I guess explains why the guests were rather sparse at peak restaurant hour on a Friday night.
I had decided before I went to (I went to their website and took a quick look at their menu and was pleased that they had limited options, making my decision much easier) order the half duck, as I am a huge duck-​fan! My friend ordered the Pad-​Thai. The waiter informed me that the duck would take longer. (nice)
Many of the entrees, especially the more western shaped dishes come with a side of steamed vegetables and a square piece of buttered layered potato. It is very buttery and yummy. Julia Child would approve. My duck was also cooked to perfection and had the exquisite proportion of skin to meat (I am a firm believer in the skin to meat ratio in duck!) The sauce was a tiny bit too sweet and acidic for my taste but I still demolished it. The vegetable side dish really helped cut the acidity in my mouth.
My friend’s Pad Thai was a nice large portion, however I was a little disappointed in how soggy it was. Not in a bad way (despite my choice of word — soggy) a lot of Thai restaurants in America seem to do it this way. However the sauce was a little sweet for both our taste. I do think that most Americans would be fine with it though. So I asked for some ‘prik-​bon’ which is basically chill-​flakes and sprinkled that on the dish. And it was much better. I should also mention that there was a LOT of shrimp: D. It is also typical of Thai food to season to your own liking with fish sauce, chili flakes, sugar, peanuts etc, so it added to the ambiance of being in a Thai restaurant. LOL.
Service was good, maybe because I slipped out some Thai and the waiter was impressed but I do not think so as he did not come back and ask more about my Thai. The waitress continually came and refilled my water. And they did not come and ask how we liked the food. I do not like it whey they do that. Also! the waiter gets points for knowing my friend and I were Korean just from walking past our table a couple times.
This place is A-​OK in my book, and I would go again if I lived in Philly.
OH! and the Crème Brulee was ok. It was a little too custard heavy in my opinion but that’s ok. I wish they had fusion desserts as well.

My mother drove by this resturant and got a huge kick out of the fact that it’s named nan (she’s named nan). We decided to go for the laugh but were surprised when the food was just outstanding, everything we had was delicious, perfectly portioned (this place isn’t for people who frequent mcdonalds but it’s exactly enough food) and just generally fantastic.
The décor however. It’s like a doctors office waiting room but with a really really nice ceiling.
if you’re expecting hillbilly portions and high end décor this place isn’t for you. If you want really flavorful, simple and extraordinarily good food… Visit nan (my mom is a good cook but I’m talking about the restaurant)

In short:
— Taste of food 5 stars, everything else more or less 1 star
— Absolutely fantastic Thai food in French sizes
— What I didn’t like? Abysmal service, incredible waiting time, tiny portions, unpleasant atmosphere
It wasn’t hard to give this place 3 stars, even though they don’t quite represent this place. I thought the food was quite awesome, and that alone makes me want to come back. We had the peking duck (at a thai place, really?), the pad thai and as an appetizer we shared the escargot dish, which I thought was quite a highlight. I love duck and the peking duck did not disappoint, but escargots in puff pastry are quite something special and it was cooked to perfection. For being a quasi-​French restaurant, the bread they serve is only okay here, but that appears to be the only food at this place which is not phenomenal. I knew that desserts here are supposed to be great too — maybe next time?
However I wonder if there is going to be a next time, because everything else contributed to a pretty disappointing dining experience. It started off with a waiter who didn’t know the specials. It’s not a big deal and I’ve seen that before, but this waiter came off as sloppy. We got seated at around 7.15pm when the restaurant was half-​empty, but for some reason it was 8.45pm — way after we finished the appetizers — when the entrées finally came up. When have I ever been at a small «fine dining restaurant» where it took this long? Needless to say that the waiters did not say a word about it, nor to come to our table even once to check on us. (There was somebody else who came to refill our water a few times.)
The interior of the place is basic, but the slightly wilting white roses actually make it look nice. It’s too bad that eating here does not really feel good because for some reason, people talk extremely loudly at other tables. At places with this kind of food, I am definitely not used to this. There is no way this restaurant could be called «romantic» in any way.
I consider coming back for their other dishes (salmon and venison, ahh!) and their desserts, but for the price, the unpleasantness of Nan is unfortunately a strong argument against it.

Phenomenal food. Probably overpriced since ambiance is not the greatest, but you can’t beat the food flavors

Went here recently for their University Dining Days. It was a great outing. As always the service was great & the food was awesome. This place could make me a convert to mustard. What I love about coming here over the years is that is consistently great. It is a quiet and laid back so you can have an meal with intimate conversation or celebrate with a circle of friends. Also Flo’s desserts are amazing. I dream about her pecan tart. Although the fruit tart on the DD menu was pretty special as well.

On a hot summer day, the 15 of us went out for lunch to a place that flirts with minimal decoration. But large peach roses lying on each table make it great for business and «business» type of meals.
Some of us started out with the cucumber and dill soup, which was too creamy and not cool enough though my eyes feasted.
I then segued into the spaghettini with jumbo crab meat — very rich and creamy ($ 13). The salmon and duck breast dishes were more expensive ($ 15 and 16) however it was a huge slab of fish that my friend got and his born-​in-​France taste buds were satisfied.
Portions are not dinner large, but neither are the prices ($ 8-​$ 16 for entrees). The lunch menu is not extensive (less than 18 dishes, including appetizers, entrees, and dessert), bee tee dubs.
Overall, this place resonates with pleasantness, so do come and try it for lunch.

THE ABSOLUTE BEST Thai/​French restaurant in PHILLY!!!
This food is incredible!
Make sure you try: crab cake, filet mignon, rhubarb/​strawberry pie, thai salad, beet salad, organic rack of Lamb, spaghetini, pad thai. Everything on the menu melts in your mouth and is perfectly balanced.
This restaurant is absolutely the finest surprise in West Philly dining. Highly recommend.

This place is unassuming, but honestly one of the best restaurants in Philadelphia. The owner/​chef is absolutely astounding and, as long as you don’t go during a crazy weekend like Parent’s weekend, service is top-​notch. I love that they always have fresh flowers as part of the table setting too!
You just can’t go wrong with their classics. I know pad thai is standard Thai fare but I swear I dream about the pad thai at Nan. Their shrimp are actually cooked to plump perfection, not the rubbery freezer shrimp you get at most cheap/​takeout places. Their salmon is also drool-​worthy — and not the kind of thing you have come to expect from catered weddings. Also love the crab spaghettini! And their specials (the ones I tried at least) were also phenomenal, although I just love their classics which are hard to top! AND moderately priced to top! What won’t you love?!
Please support this place because I really want them to succeed! I’ve moved away so I’d be sad to not see it the next time I visit!!!

We went to NAN a few years ago. NYC does not have anything like it any more. The closest to it’s taste in NYC was Vong by Jean George and it was my favorite restaurant of his. But it closed. We went before I was Unilocaling and my husband found it. He has a unique gift for hidden gems. It is a perfect date place and I think we went for lunch.
I had the duck and he had the pork tenderloin which was on the menu at the time. We gave a gift certificate for a Philadelphia resident and he was shocked first that we knew about it and secondly that such a restaurant existed in Philadelphia. It is very high end fusion and it is in an elegant room. I wish NYC had something like it! It is worth a trip if it is out of the way for you!

If you appreciate great food you. will. love. Nan.
After three entrees and two appetizers we walked away wondering how we had just experienced absolute perfection. I’m completely serious in saying that every ingredient came through in taste, perfectly complimented each other, and was perfectly balanced in all five dishes. There is real talent in that kitchen. Perfection like those dishes is no accident. Eat great food like this before you die.

the restaurant
From the moment BEFORE I walked in to this restaurant, I was worried. Outside, as I walked in the cold, I almost walked right by it because the name is faded. Still, how bad could it be? No one at the door to seat me? Seat myself? Why not? I’ve been driving all day and I’m tired. I seat myself. I wait over ten minutes for a glass of water. This is just the beginning.
the appetizer
The restaurant advertises as a «French/​Thai» restaurant. It is American food at its worst moment. I ordered an appetizer… just because I was so hungry that I wanted food right away. I ordered the Chicken Satay [spelled «Sate» on the menu]. Wait. Wait. Wait. Yes, continue waiting… because if you’re hungry… you can forget about eating right away. What was on my plate to represent Chicken Satay? Three small parts of a chicken breast swimming in sticky peanut sauce. Note: I will add that I grew up in the restaurant business so I know that this came from a can.
the main meal
I thought I was going to faint from sheer hunger by the time the main meal arrived. Chicken Curry. Oh. My. God. What the waiter brought to the table was several small breasts of chicken in a slightly watery PEANUT SAUCE. Do they think that people can’t tell the difference? Dinner was a surprise for my guest and believe me, it was.
the waiter
In between the appetizer and the main meal, the dirty plates were on the table and the waiter came by. I asked, as he poured water in my glass, «Could you remove the plates?» He was getting ready to walk away. I couldn’t believe that he didn’t just pick them up. He said, «I pour water first, then take away plates.» O.K. So take the damn plates away. He walked away and did not take the dirty plates with him. Minutes passed and again, hungry, I waited.
I was disappointed. So was my guest… also a chef from New York. Before I could leave the check (without a tip), my guest stated to the waiter… «Just so you know… that is peanut sauce on the plate not curry.» The waiter replied, «I’ll tell the chef.» My guest said, «I’m sure he knows.»

Really great for lunch! There is a good selection of substantial cheap meals ($ 7.95 pad thai, thai noodle, thai curry) and a list of more expensive meals ($ 14 crab meat creamy spaghettini). All are so delicious! If you like squid or octopus, their octopus appetizer was amazing – it is dressed in the typical vinegary Thai salad dressing. The restaurant décor is very nice and although it’s small, there’s plenty of seating and big groups can be accommodated. The staff is so sweet and it’s such a pleasant meal on a weekday. Definitely check it out since dinner here is significantly more expensive!

Nan will always be my favorite restaurant in Philadelphia.
My best friend and I found this gem on a Thursday night about two years ago. We were really hungry and we were looking for cheap eats. From the outside décor, we thought Nan would be the perfect place for a quick bite in a somewhat sketchy looking restaurant.
Lo and behold our great surprise when we entered and it was gorgeous. It’s a quaint place, great for couples but also very accommodating for groups as well. My friend and I were quickly seated and menus were graciously brought to us by the owner of the restaurant.
The first time we went, I tried the duck and my friend tried a crab dish. Honestly we don’t remember exactly what they were called but it was highly recommended and we just went for it.
Hands down, some of the best food I’ve ever tasted. We fell in love.
And then we found out that it was a BYOB. Cue the wedding bells, we decided that this was going to our monthly place and we were never going to cheat on it.
My friend and I go there monthly, we always get seated by the same waiter who is also the owner, we always bring a bottle of champagne, and we always order the special of the day. We have never been disappointed.
I can say that it is a bit pricey. Dinner usually rounds out to about 80 – 100 dollars for the two of us but it’s honestly VERY very well deserved. Excellent customer service, and excellent food. Will always be our favorite and our cherished tradition.
I hope Nan never renovates its outside décor because too many people would storm our hidden gem.

The food here is cheap but not that amazing. My friend really wanted to try it so I accompanied him. The curry was a bit watery for my taste but the squid salad was very nicely seasoned. They also have escargot but I wished that they had used a little ginger in the cooking process. The seafood itself was very fresh. Overall, a good value but I have had better food. It’s good for a quick lunch if you’re near Penn and want Thai fusion.

Nan is not an Indian restaurant — they serve Thai and French and Thai-​French and French-​Thai dishes.
Fun fact: Nan is a city and province in Northern Thailand.
I’ve lived just blocks from Nan for five years and did not consider entering this restaurant, its exterior so closeted and uninviting. I can’t imagine Nan gets much foot traffic. The interior feels isolated from the outside, so much so that after awhile I forgot what city I was in. That intersection has improved considerably over the last few years but I imagine there is some intent on the owner’s part to keep things serene.
Another fun fact: The median age of Nan’s clientele is among the oldest of any restaurant in Philadelphia. Upon entering you will wonder where these people came from — are there really that many older residents in UC or did they drive from the burbs?
Nan is a very quiet restaurant and an excellent spot for conversation even on a Saturday night. Nan would be a great place to take your parents, unless you don’t wish to actually speak to them, in which case Distrito might be a better bet.
Everyone enjoyed their meal at my table. The soup and duck I ordered were both very good. Dinner prices for the rarer creatures are pretty steep but this is a BYO so take advantage of that. Very attentive service.

I have held off from writing about Nan since I joined Unilocal for a single reason; I honestly can not do it justice with words. But here goes…
Nan is a pearl in the Philadelphia fine dinning scene and I have frequented its unobsequious corner location at 40^th and Chestnut for the better part of a decade. In that time, Chef/​owner Kamol Phutlek, who hails from Northern Thailand, has changed little on his menus other then daily specials. The man in not influenced by fads with ridiculous names such as «localvorism» and he does not make seasonal menu changes to keep up any food scene. No, this mans menu is a finely woven tapestry, perfected over time to take into account the entire dining experience from start to finish in such a manor so that when you leave the table, dollar for dollar, you had the best meal in town and he can pay his rent. A rent and a bill kept reasonable, I presume, due to the restaurants location.
Nans business model aside, Chef Phutlek’s years of restaurant experience here in Philadelphia, namely at swank places such as La Bech Fin and La Panetiere, have refined his Northern Thai cuisine to include a distinctive French flair that runs through nearly every dish at Nan. With Thai classics, such as Pad Thai and Chicken Satay, being perhaps the only exceptions. Chef Phutlek creations, such as an Escargots in a puff pastry with beurre blanc sauce or Pepper-​crusted Filet Mignon in wine sauce with lasagna-​structured garlic potatoes, can only be rivaled at Nan by the Hostesses talents both as Floor manager and Dessert Chef.
Known as simply Flow, the hostess at Nan, does clearly more then host.
She seems to to be the staff’s queen bee. Doing what needs done and keeping the atmosphere of Nan pleasurable. I won’t presume all the responsibilities she may have, but one thing is clear, dessert is her fouetté. Her crème brûlée can make you weep and her Molten Chocolate Cake, which is served warm and fresh with a creamy white chocolate sauce on one side, and a tangy raspberry sauce on the other will make guest appearances in your dreams for weeks after eating it.
P.S.
This is a BYO, so do not forget a nice wine.

Underrated, overlooked, and completely awesome.
Nan is the best place to go for a reasonably priced weekday lunch in University City. Most of their items are about $ 7.95(unless they’ve upped their prices recently) and are all delicious. The Chicken Yellow Curry is divine and I highly recommend you try it.
People tend to avoid Nan because it looks to fancy schmancy, but it easily competes with other local restaurants for your lunch dollar. Give it a try.

Hit this place up for lunch a while back. I had heard great things, both from friends and from Zagat (which gave it a staggering 26 for food, I believe). I went in expecting great things… and was disappointed.
For a 1pm lunch, the place was surprisingly empty. The décor was simple, if a bit cheap looking. Slightly stained white linens and a simple rose met us at the table. After about 5 minutes we got our orders taken. I got the chicken curry ($ 7). The food took a while to come out, but I wasn’t impressed at all. A very watery Thai curry with some standard veggies and overcooked chicken. This is the Nan people raved about?
I might try it again for lunch sometime if I’m near Penn, but I don’t see any desire to go out of my way to go.