Comments on: Nectar, Berwyn http://mainlinedine.com/rest/nectar.html Finally, a restaurant guide for Philadelphia's Main Line and suburbs Sun, 01 Aug 2010 01:57:12 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.1 hourly 1 By: d day http://mainlinedine.com/rest/nectar.html#comment-54252 d day Mon, 19 Apr 2010 20:59:43 +0000 http://www.mainlinedine.com/rest1/nectar.html#comment-54252 I ate at Nectar a couple weeks ago and had a great food experience but there is a glaring issue at this place that really needs correction. Let me start by saying I am a bar mgr for a philly gastro pub that has a very good cocktail and wine list, so I do know this part of the biz very well. My friend who know I'm into wine, asked me to order a bottle for the table, no too expensive they said. What I saw was truely an awful list that cleary takes adavantage of the consumer here. Everything was marked up 3 to 4 times, and the wine selection was really lousy and not creative like the food. To prove the point, they had BV Pinot Noir by the glass, and charged around 8.50 per glass and 41 per bottle. Not terrible unless you know from dealing with vendors that this wine cost $6.99 per bottle. Worse was Redwood creek Chardonnay, same price as above but this wine is sold in 1.5 liter jugs at the plcb store, and is not a wine of quality. The worst offense came in the bottle selection however. They had William Hill Cab 05 Napa Valley for $79 per bottle. The company that sells this is Cpital Wine and Spirits, and was closing out this wine for 9.99 per bottle. Thats almost an 8 time markup!!! I know this, because I bought some in February, and sold it for 7 per glass and 30 per bottle. While the food was really good here, whoever is in charge of the wines is a criminal who has no palate, and no snense of fairness. Do youself a favor when eating here, eat well and drink cocktails or beer...or just elsewhere. I ate at Nectar a couple weeks ago and had a great food experience but there is a glaring issue at this place that really needs correction. Let me start by saying I am a bar mgr for a philly gastro pub that has a very good cocktail and wine list, so I do know this part of the biz very well.
My friend who know I’m into wine, asked me to order a bottle for the table, no too expensive they said. What I saw was truely an awful list that cleary takes adavantage of the consumer here. Everything was marked up 3 to 4 times, and the wine selection was really lousy and not creative like the food. To prove the point, they had BV Pinot Noir by the glass, and charged around 8.50 per glass and 41 per bottle. Not terrible unless you know from dealing with vendors that this wine cost $6.99 per bottle. Worse was Redwood creek Chardonnay, same price as above but this wine is sold in 1.5 liter jugs at the plcb store, and is not a wine of quality. The worst offense came in the bottle selection however. They had William Hill Cab 05 Napa Valley for $79 per bottle. The company that sells this is Cpital Wine and Spirits, and was closing out this wine for 9.99 per bottle. Thats almost an 8 time markup!!! I know this, because I bought some in February, and sold it for 7 per glass and 30 per bottle. While the food was really good here, whoever is in charge of the wines is a criminal who has no palate, and no snense of fairness. Do youself a favor when eating here, eat well and drink cocktails or beer…or just elsewhere.

]]> By: Sandie http://mainlinedine.com/rest/nectar.html#comment-17715 Sandie Sun, 28 Dec 2008 20:15:47 +0000 http://www.mainlinedine.com/rest1/nectar.html#comment-17715 I love Nectar, but the lack of bar space while waiting to be seated is so annoying. It's too bad they can't turn a portion of the upstairs dining tables that overlook the bar/dining area into an upstairs bar. That would be perfect! I love Nectar, but the lack of bar space while waiting to be seated is so annoying. It’s too bad they can’t turn a portion of the upstairs dining tables that overlook the bar/dining area into an upstairs bar. That would be perfect!

]]> By: Mary Murray http://mainlinedine.com/rest/nectar.html#comment-15752 Mary Murray Wed, 08 Oct 2008 15:06:13 +0000 http://www.mainlinedine.com/rest1/nectar.html#comment-15752 I took my mother for her birthday lunch at Nectar, because I thought it would be a special place for her. Thelobster fried rice (a $6.00 surcharge over the fixed price lunch)--was very dry and disappointing. The nice mushroom soup had a goat cheese "crouton" --which was about the size of a large pea. Service was spotty, although the place was only moderately full...initially we got our water and ordered, but after that, it was a parade of different servers, one who never picked up the appetizer dishes before the main course was brought, and after delivering the check,no one even picked it up after quite a wait. I would never spend the money to go here for dinner, although I give it points for atmosphere. Pretty place with innovative menu, but over-rated for quality of food and service and over-priced. I took my mother for her birthday lunch at Nectar, because I thought it would be a special place for her. Thelobster fried rice (a $6.00 surcharge over the fixed price lunch)–was very dry and disappointing. The nice mushroom soup had a goat cheese “crouton” –which was about the size of a large pea. Service was spotty, although the place was only moderately full…initially we got our water and ordered, but after that, it was a parade of different servers, one who never picked up the appetizer dishes before the main course was brought, and after delivering the check,no one even picked it up after quite a wait. I would never spend the money to go here for dinner, although I give it points for atmosphere. Pretty place with innovative menu, but over-rated for quality of food and service and over-priced.

]]> By: suzanne http://mainlinedine.com/rest/nectar.html#comment-14176 suzanne Mon, 18 Aug 2008 02:50:44 +0000 http://www.mainlinedine.com/rest1/nectar.html#comment-14176 So LT, as put out as you are by Beverly's review...are you an employee of Nectar?? I like a review that is no holds barred (how do you know shots were involved anyway???) So LT, as put out as you are by Beverly’s review…are you an employee of Nectar?? I like a review that is no holds barred
(how do you know shots were involved anyway???)

]]> By: LT http://mainlinedine.com/rest/nectar.html#comment-14174 LT Mon, 18 Aug 2008 01:38:40 +0000 http://www.mainlinedine.com/rest1/nectar.html#comment-14174 Wow it sounds like someone needs to chill. Ok, you had a bad experience at Nectar and I get that but relax. By the way, maybe a couple less shots after dinner and you would not have been sick. p.s. "no one puts baby in the corner" Wow it sounds like someone needs to chill. Ok, you had a bad experience at Nectar and I get that but relax. By the way, maybe a couple less shots after dinner and you would not have been sick. p.s. “no one puts baby in the corner”

]]> By: LT http://mainlinedine.com/rest/nectar.html#comment-14173 LT Mon, 18 Aug 2008 01:36:52 +0000 http://www.mainlinedine.com/rest1/nectar.html#comment-14173 Wow it sounds like someone needs to chill. Ok you had a bad experience at Nectar and I get that but relax. By the way maybe a couple less shots after dinner and you would have not been sick. Please Chill. Wow it sounds like someone needs to chill. Ok you had a bad experience at Nectar and I get that but relax. By the way maybe a couple less shots after dinner and you would have not been sick. Please Chill.

]]> By: Beverly http://mainlinedine.com/rest/nectar.html#comment-14141 Beverly Sun, 17 Aug 2008 13:30:44 +0000 http://www.mainlinedine.com/rest1/nectar.html#comment-14141 I give Nectar a 0/5. Thank you, staff, for the WORST dining experience I have ever had! Here's what happened: 1) They have mandatory valet--the restaurant is on ROUTE 30!!! Not the city. 2) We arrived at 6:00 when the restaurant was still fairly empty, yet we were seated in the BACK CORNER, away from windows, and right next to the server's station. My back was literally leaning against curtains the whole time, which smelled bad. 3) My 2 friends ordered the filet mignon and the salmon filet, both of which were $24, but the smallest pieces of meat I have ever seen! They were quite literally half of the size of a normal portion of meat. Also, they came with NO sides/vegetables of any kind 4) My friend who ordered the salmon was not happy with her dish, because it was served to her VERY rare (this is usually fine for me, but she likes it cooked all the way). So after 5 minutes of trying to get the server's attention, she asked her to take it back and "cook it all the way through, please". The waitress returned 3 minutes later with the fish still very red and raw in the middle. It took another 10 minutes to summon her attention, and my friend showed her very specifically that she wanted the middle of the fish to match the color on the outside of the fish. The server said "ok", and brought it back 5 minutes later, with it looking just the same. My friend cut it open and said, "I'm sorry, this just isn't what I wanted." Then, the server stood there and stared at her, DIDN'T apologize, and DIDN'T offer to get the manager! Finally my friend ordered something else--the spring rolls, which were not very good. 5) I had ordered sushi for my dinner--the yellowtail scallion roll, and the nectar roll, both of which were very good. However, 2 hours later when I was out with friends, I came down with the most violent case of food poisoning I have ever had. I had not eaten anything unusual prior to the sushi, or anything at all afterwards, so I am very certain that I got the food poisoning from the food at Nectar. In conclusion: PLEASE don't go there!!! It is a pretentious, overpriced, unfriendly, uncooperative restaurant that gave me food poisoning! I give Nectar a 0/5. Thank you, staff, for the WORST dining experience I have ever had! Here’s what happened:

1) They have mandatory valet–the restaurant is on ROUTE 30!!! Not the city.
2) We arrived at 6:00 when the restaurant was still fairly empty, yet we were seated in the BACK CORNER, away from windows, and right next to the server’s station. My back was literally leaning against curtains the whole time, which smelled bad.
3) My 2 friends ordered the filet mignon and the salmon filet, both of which were $24, but the smallest pieces of meat I have ever seen! They were quite literally half of the size of a normal portion of meat. Also, they came with NO sides/vegetables of any kind
4) My friend who ordered the salmon was not happy with her dish, because it was served to her VERY rare (this is usually fine for me, but she likes it cooked all the way). So after 5 minutes of trying to get the server’s attention, she asked her to take it back and “cook it all the way through, please”. The waitress returned 3 minutes later with the fish still very red and raw in the middle. It took another 10 minutes to summon her attention, and my friend showed her very specifically that she wanted the middle of the fish to match the color on the outside of the fish. The server said “ok”, and brought it back 5 minutes later, with it looking just the same. My friend cut it open and said, “I’m sorry, this just isn’t what I wanted.” Then, the server stood there and stared at her, DIDN’T apologize, and DIDN’T offer to get the manager! Finally my friend ordered something else–the spring rolls, which were not very good.
5) I had ordered sushi for my dinner–the yellowtail scallion roll, and the nectar roll, both of which were very good. However, 2 hours later when I was out with friends, I came down with the most violent case of food poisoning I have ever had. I had not eaten anything unusual prior to the sushi, or anything at all afterwards, so I am very certain that I got the food poisoning from the food at Nectar.

In conclusion: PLEASE don’t go there!!! It is a pretentious, overpriced, unfriendly, uncooperative restaurant that gave me food poisoning!

]]> By: Gastro http://mainlinedine.com/rest/nectar.html#comment-8983 Gastro Tue, 25 Mar 2008 14:41:04 +0000 http://www.mainlinedine.com/rest1/nectar.html#comment-8983 Nectar, or "Mini Buddakan", alike most of the restaurants in the main line that attempt to transport the "city" dining experience to the comforts of our safe main line streets, fails miserably. It may seem like a gastronomic heaven to the immobile or those who go to "LA" Bec Fin all the time (it's Le Bec Fin, my friend). However, from it's pretentious decor to the supermarket sushi, Nectar misses every step. It's like the movie, "The Field of Dreams" - "...if you build it, then they will come". Well, let's build another one. A better one. Nectar, or “Mini Buddakan”, alike most of the restaurants in the main line that attempt to transport the “city” dining experience to the comforts of our safe main line streets, fails miserably.

It may seem like a gastronomic heaven to the immobile or those who go to “LA” Bec Fin all the time (it’s Le Bec Fin, my friend). However, from it’s pretentious decor to the supermarket sushi, Nectar misses every step.

It’s like the movie, “The Field of Dreams” – “…if you build it, then they will come”. Well, let’s build another one. A better one.

]]> By: JVRC http://mainlinedine.com/rest/nectar.html#comment-7527 JVRC Tue, 01 Jan 2008 15:05:49 +0000 http://www.mainlinedine.com/rest1/nectar.html#comment-7527 Ah the Nectar. Went to Nectar for the first time on New Year's Eve. Oops. Service was not so great. Valet parking service was good though. The high noise level was terrible. Sushi that we got for 1st course was great. Wok jasmine tea smoked duck, sundried tomato, chinese eggplant and leeks was an overpriced moo shu pork style dish, just no pancakes. Very oily, yukky. The other entrees were okay. The "spicy" shrimp, scallop, beef dish had zero for spice and I mean zero heat. Desserts were cute. On the way out, we had to squeeze through person upon person. I felt bad for those seated in the bar unless they wanted tons of action and backsides. I would try it again on a less busy night and keep it to sushi. Ah the Nectar. Went to Nectar for the first time on New Year’s Eve. Oops. Service was not so great. Valet parking service was good though. The high noise level was terrible. Sushi that we got for 1st course was great. Wok jasmine tea smoked duck, sundried tomato, chinese eggplant and leeks was an overpriced moo shu pork style dish, just no pancakes. Very oily, yukky. The other entrees were okay. The “spicy” shrimp, scallop, beef dish had zero for spice and I mean zero heat. Desserts were cute.

On the way out, we had to squeeze through person upon person. I felt bad for those seated in the bar unless they wanted tons of action and backsides.

I would try it again on a less busy night and keep it to sushi.

]]> By: Gringo http://mainlinedine.com/rest/nectar.html#comment-6902 Gringo Mon, 19 Nov 2007 16:17:08 +0000 http://www.mainlinedine.com/rest1/nectar.html#comment-6902 Nectar is like a present that has a beautiful wrapping but dissapoints you when you open it. The place an the atmosphere are great, the presentation of the dishes is good, but the food is not worth even half of it's prize. We tried several dishes and none of them satisfied us in terms of taste or texture, and some dishes, like the duck, were re-heated. The one thing I would recommend this place would be for a drink, these were good and quite creative. Nectar is like a present that has a beautiful wrapping but dissapoints you when you open it. The place an the atmosphere are great, the presentation of the dishes is good, but the food is not worth even half of it’s prize. We tried several dishes and none of them satisfied us in terms of taste or texture, and some dishes, like the duck, were re-heated. The one thing I would recommend this place would be for a drink, these were good and quite creative.

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