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White Dog Cafe - University City, Philadelphia, PA

White Dog Cafe - University City

4.7 (5724)
$31 to $50
American
3420 Sansom Street, Philadelphia, PA 19104

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A photo of White Dog Cafe - University City restaurant

White Dog Cafe - University City

4.7
$31 to $50
American
University City

Make a booking

2 people
19:00
Booked 98 times today
Experiences are available.

About this restaurant

  • Neighbourhood gem
  • Charming
  • Good for special occasions
Since 1983, White Dog Cafe University City has been a destination in the heart of the University of Pennsylvania's campus for dining, libations, and celebrations in a trio of Victorian brownstones. The first restaurant in Philadelphia to utilize environmentally sustainable, organic, and locally sourced foods from farms within a 50-mile radius, White Dog is renowned for its warm hospitality and innovative cuisine. The charming brownstones were completely renovated, providing a variety of dining rooms with whimsical dog decor, fixtures, and stunning artwork.

Additional information

  • Dining style
    Casual Elegant
  • Price
    $31 to $50
  • Cuisines
    American
  • Hours of Operation
    Mon–Thu 11:00–21:00 Fri 11:00–21:30 Sat 09:00–21:30 Sun 09:00–20:00
  • Phone number
  • Payment Options
    AMEX, Diners Club, Discover, Mastercard, Visa
  • Dress Code
    Casual Dress
  • Executive chef
    Albert Alvarado
  • Private party facilities
    We welcome you to explore our Private Dining options, perfect for any occasion.
  • Private party contact
    Casey Kyler: (484) 451-7412
  • Delivery & takeout
  • Area
    University City
  • Cross street
    On Sansom Street between 34th and 36th Street
  • Parking Details
    Metered Street Parking is available surrounding the restaurant. Penn garage is available on 34th Street and Ludlow.
  • Additional
    Banquet, Bar/Lounge, Beer, Cocktails, Corkage Fee, Delivery, Dog Friendly, Full Bar, Gender Neutral Restroom, Gluten-free Options, Happy Hour, Non-Smoking, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Private Room, Takeaway, Vegan, Weekend Brunch, Wine
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Experiences

  • Half Price Wine Night

    1 - 10 people

    Multiple dates available
    Enjoy half price wine bottles from our in house list with the purchase of an entree.

Private dining

Concierge
AI Beta

Our AI assistant, Concierge, is here to answer your questions about this restaurant.

Videos

Shared by creators who recently dined at this restaurant.

  • Profile image

    forkingphilly

    Cozy nights, festive lights, and farm-to-table comfort 🎄 I stopped by @whitedogphilly (University City) for seasonal dishes and holiday vibes. White Dog is an award-winning staple serving contemporary American cuisine since 1983, with most ingredients sourced from local farms within a 50-mile radius, and sustainably raised and thoughtfully prepared dishes. Bonus: their new holiday cocktails drop TODAY (the paw-print White Dog Sour is a must 🐾) What we ordered: • Sandy Ridge Farm deviled eggs • Phillips Mushroom Farms wild mushrooms • White Dog double cheddar burger (those truffle fries 😮‍💨) • Spicy Thai steak salad • Apple pie cream puff • Vanilla bean crème brûlée With five locations around Philly, this is the perfect spot for cozy, festive dining all season long. #christmasbar #phillyfood #phillyfoodies #christmasvibes #farmtotable

Videos are powered by Seekeasy. How this content is generated

Reviews

OpenTable reviews from verified diners

Reviews from people who have dined at White Dog Cafe - University City.

4.7

4.7
(5724)
  • 4.6Food
  • 4.7Service
  • 4.6Ambience
  • 4.3Value

Noise • Moderate

Loved For

  • Philadelphia

    Most Booked

Review summary

AI-generated from verified diner reviews
White Dog Cafe - University City offers an "excellent" dining experience with "delicious food" and "attentive service." Guests appreciate the "unique decor" and "charming atmosphere," making it a "great spot" near UPenn. Highlights include a "diverse brunch menu" and "farm-to-table" options. Reservations are recommended for a seamless visit.
5,724 Reviews
  1. sarah Gold

    London155 reviews

    4.0

    Dined 1 day ago

    1. Overall 4
    2. Food 4
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 4
    I loved the decor, service was great & food delicious. There was a big table that was very noisy & that meant we couldn’t hear each other talk

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  2. Charlie Gold

    Philadelphia County35 reviews

    5.0

    Dined 3 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Excellent dinner (both the duck and fish). This place always delivers and is better than you think it would be for a university area restaurant. Vow to return more often. Great diverse menu too.

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  3. Sheila Gold

    Philadelphia County28 reviews

    4.0

    Dined 3 days ago

    1. Overall 4
    2. Food 4
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 4
    Service was great. I love all of the White Dog locations, but I’m a little sad to see the University City location is starting to feel like it could use a bit of updating - it’s still great though. Food overall was perfect - we loved all of the dishes we ordered except for the omelette with the goat cheese/bacon/grilled tomatoes. The flavor wasn’t my favorite (maybe a little too sweet?) but still very good. Overall, you can’t go wrong choosing the White Dog!
    White Dog Cafe - University CityResponded 2 days ago
    Hey Sheila! Thanks so much for the love and for being such a loyal White Dog fan! So glad you enjoyed the service and most of your dishes. We hear you on the omelete – totally get that the flavor combo wasn't quite your thing! And thanks for the heads up about the University City spot – we really appreciate the feedback and will pass it along to the team. Can't wait to have you back in Philadelphia soon!

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  4. Dina

    Greater Boston2 reviews

    5.0

    Dined 4 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 4
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    White Dog is a vibe. The staff is attentive and professional. The food was delicious. I gave 4 stars because it need more GF options. Over all definitely would go back. The inside is creative and sexy. Loved it.
    White Dog Cafe - University CityResponded 2 days ago
    Hey Dina! Thanks so much for the love! We're thrilled you enjoyed the vibe and delicious food at White Dog Cafe in Philadelphia. Our team works hard to create that welcoming atmosphere, and we're so glad it showed! We hear you on wanting more gluten-free options – really appreciate that feedback and we're always working to improve our menu. Can't wait to see you back in University City soon!

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  5. Emanuele

    New York State1 review

    5.0

    Dined 4 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 4
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Every time we find ourselves in university city. We make it a point to always have brunch at the white dog.
    White Dog Cafe - University CityResponded 2 days ago
    Hey Emanuele! Thank you so much for making White Dog Cafe a regular part of your University City visits! We're thrilled that brunch with us has become a must-do tradition whenever you're in Philadelphia. Your loyalty means the world to our team, and we can't wait to welcome you back for many more memorable brunches at our Sansom Street location!

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  6. Jeffrey

    Philadelphia County31 reviews

    4.0

    Dined 4 days ago

    1. Overall 4
    2. Food 4
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Went for an early brunch. All was great. The dishes (Brunch board, pancake platter) were great and tasty. Quiet as a church service but it was only 9:30 AM. By the time we left the later-earlier crowd were make their way in. A place we continue coming back to for all the right reasons.

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  7. Jen

    New York City4 reviews

    5.0

    Dined 5 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 3
    4. Ambience 5
    Fantastic restaurant. Great food, awesome decor, and interesting converted brownstone building with multiple dining rooms with different themes. Highly recommended.
    White Dog Cafe - University CityResponded 3 days ago
    Hey Jen! Thank you so much for this wonderful review! We're thrilled you enjoyed your dining experience at our University City location in Philadelphia. It's great to hear you appreciated the food and our historic restaurant! The character of our space is something we take great pride in. We're so grateful for your recommendation and can't wait to welcome you back soon! Cheers, White Dog Cafe Management

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  8. Alyssa

    San Francisco Bay Area1 review

    5.0

    Dined 6 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Cute spot, accommodating as I was dining with my infant daughter. Lovely staff, good recommendations and delicious food!
    White Dog Cafe - University CityResponded 5 days ago
    Thank you so much for this wonderful feedback! We're thrilled you enjoyed your visit to our Philadelphia location and that our staff made you and your infant daughter feel welcome. It's great to hear our team's recommendations hit the mark and that you found the food delicious! We look forward to serving you both again soon at White Dog Cafe in University City.

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  9. Maureen

    Philadelphia County6 reviews

    5.0

    Dined 7 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Janelle was an outstanding server. She was knowledgeable, friendly, attentive, & really made our time there a pleasure.
    White Dog Cafe - University CityResponded 5 days ago
    Hey Maureen! Thank you so much for taking the time to share your wonderful experience at White Dog Cafe in Philadelphia! We're thrilled to hear that Janelle provided you with such exceptional service. Her knowledge, friendliness, and attentiveness truly represent what we strive for in creating memorable dining experiences for our guests. We'll be sure to pass along your kind words to her – it will absolutely make her day! We look forward to welcoming you back soon. Cheers, White Dog Cafe Management

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  10. Louise

    Philadelphia County13 reviews

    5.0

    Dined on 1 November 2026

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Service was good food was very good. Prices are reasonable we enjoyed our experience at the Philadelphia White Dog Cafe
    White Dog Cafe - University CityResponded on 3 November 2026
    Hey Louise! Thank you for taking the time to leave us a review. We are happy to hear you enjoyed your experience at White Dog Cafe University City! Please come back and visit us soon!. Cheers, White Dog Cafe Management

    Is this helpful?

Additional information

  • Dining style
    Casual Elegant
  • Price
    $31 to $50
  • Cuisines
    American
  • Hours of Operation
    Mon–Thu 11:00–21:00 Fri 11:00–21:30 Sat 09:00–21:30 Sun 09:00–20:00
  • Phone number
  • Payment Options
    AMEX, Diners Club, Discover, Mastercard, Visa
  • Dress Code
    Casual Dress
  • Executive chef
    Albert Alvarado
  • Private party facilities
    We welcome you to explore our Private Dining options, perfect for any occasion.
  • Private party contact
    Casey Kyler: (484) 451-7412
  • Delivery & takeout
  • Area
    University City
  • Cross street
    On Sansom Street between 34th and 36th Street
  • Parking Details
    Metered Street Parking is available surrounding the restaurant. Penn garage is available on 34th Street and Ludlow.
  • Additional
    Banquet, Bar/Lounge, Beer, Cocktails, Corkage Fee, Delivery, Dog Friendly, Full Bar, Gender Neutral Restroom, Gluten-free Options, Happy Hour, Non-Smoking, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Private Room, Takeaway, Vegan, Weekend Brunch, Wine
Gift card

Gift card

Send gift cards instantly by email or print to present in person.

Send a gift card

FAQs

Yes, White Dog Cafe - University City offers outdoor seating; guests report finding tables outside and dining there on pleasant evenings.

Casual dress is the guide, comfortable, neat clothing is appropriate and nothing formal is required.

Yes, White Dog's cozy, multi‑room layout and intimate dining rooms, plus guests celebrating birthdays and special occasions, make it well suited to a special evening.

Guests commonly describe the portions as generous, reviewers note the food comes in very nice, satisfying servings.

White Dog Cafe, University City feels cozy and eclectic, set across three renovated Victorian brownstones with whimsical dog-themed decor; its many small dining rooms create intimate nooks, so some spaces are lively while others are quietly comfortable.

How FAQ content is generated

  1. Home
  2. United States
  3. Philadelphia County
  4. Philadelphia
  5. University City

Make a booking

A photo of White Dog Cafe - University City restaurant

White Dog Cafe - University City

4.7
$31 to $50
American
University City

Make a booking

2 people
19:00
Booked 98 times today
Experiences are available.
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