Volvér drops prices, eliminates ticket sales
In sum: You don't have to pay $175 to $250 a head anymore, you can book dinner on OpenTable, and Vetri regains the title as the most expensive restaurant in Philadelphia.
Going on six months, Volvér - the big-ticket Jose Garces experience at the Kimmel Center - is dispensing with its ticketing policy as it offers lower-priced options.
In sum: You don't have to pay north of $325 a head (with wine) anymore, you may book dinner on OpenTable, and Vetri regains the title as the most expensive restaurant in Philadelphia.
Through his rep, Garces told me that guests had told management that "it was a cumbersome and confusing process."
The Garces Group today released a statement that starting today, Volver would offer a six-course tasting menu for $75, or a 12-course tasting menu for $150, not including tax, tip and beverage. Volver's beverage pairing will be priced at $95 to start, plus tax and gratuity. (Vetri's tasting menu is $155.)
Starting Sept. 24, both the restaurant and Bar Volver will be open from 5 to 10 p.m. Wednesday to Saturday, and 4 to 9 p.m. Sunday. Reservations are only required for the dining room (and there's a 5 p.m. cut-off for same-day reservations; Bar Volvér does not require reservations.
"Our goal is to make every element of the Volvér experience a positive one, and we feel a traditional reservations system helps us better achieve that goal," he said. Now, odd-numbered parties can be seated. Volver's previous system had called for even numbers.
In lighter news, Bar Volvér will start a guest bartender series with the irrepressible Lê of Hop Sing Laundomat from 5 to 8 p.m. Sept. 24. He will feature Henry Box Brown and a few of his other popular cocktails such as the Nevermore, Fuggetaboutit, Railroad Judas, and Saigon Flip.