La Terrasse $$$

Nestled on a narrow side street near the heart of Penn’s [2] bustling campus, La Terrasse offers an alternative to the post-adolescent energy of the college scene that dominates many nearby bars and restaurants. Instead, it caters more to the faculty, staff, grad students, and locals, with a mature selection of wines and food.

It opened in 1966 and began as a French bistro, one of the first in Philadelphia [3], but its menu has evolved and diversified into what they now call Mediterranean.

Popular for lunch, post-work drinks, and dinner, the menu includes offerings like littleneck clams, apple-and-brie salad, seared tuna, and seared duck breast. The lunch menu features well-constructed sandwiches with a variety of tasty spreads and ingredients.