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Stephen Starr is now running the food operations at the world famous Art Museum. (Photo by E. Savaria for the PCVB)

On Sunday, August 1, Starr Restaurants Catering Group took over the day-to-day food and catering operations at the Philadelphia Museum of Art, including its four main eateries: The Museum Cafe – the main visitor cafeteria at the Museum; the Balcony Cafe – a smaller cafe overlooking the West Entrance Foyer; the Perelman Cafe – the main cafeteria in the Perelman Building Annex; and the Museum Restaurant – the Museum’s fine dining destination.

The Museum’s three cafes are currently open and feature new menus by Starr Catering, while the Museum Restaurant is currently closed for renovations and will re-open at the end of the month with a new design and a new menu from Starr. (Targeted opening date: August 31.)

All four eateries will be tied together by a common theme: the cafes and restaurant as well as their respective menus will all have a distinct French and European influence.

The Museum Cafe is going to become a kind of gourmet market, with subways tiles and chalkboard art to accentuate that feel. The new menu, which is already rolling, plays to that theme.

There is an all day made-to-order omelet station (e.g. The Florentine, with artichokes, spinach, herbs and gruyere); composed salads like tuna nicoise, duck and farro, or a seasonal market chopped salad; and hot and pressed sandwiches like the Baguette Provencal that’s so popular at Parc, a Le Club sandwich with turkey and bacon, or a roast beef with a horseradish aioli and watercress.

Enjoy a en plein air luncheon inspired by Renoir. (Photo by M. McClellan)

There is also a cheese and charcuterie option, where guests can get fresh cut cheeses, just-sliced cured meats with fresh breads, gourmet mustards and pickled vegetables.

Read more about a new dining options including a special Renoir-inspired “en plein air luncheon” below.

There are also hot items: a rotisserie station, with chicken; a number of hot, bi-weekly changing items like beef bourguignon and branzino with fennel onion confit; and classics like macaroni gratin and pomme puree.

The cafe also has an impressive selection of pastries: Macaroons, croissants, muffins, profiteroles, assorted cookies, biscotti, etc.

Upstairs in the Balcony Café, there is La Colombe French Press coffee, tea from local shop Premium Steap, a selection of the grab-and-go salads, parfaits, sweets and sandwiches. Similar offerings are available in the Perelman Annex at Perelman café.

For the Late Renoir exhibition currently on view at the Museum, the Museum Cafe is offering an “en plein air luncheon,” a galvanized bucket is filled with tea towels, charcuterie, cheese, a baguette and macaroons, for $30 that guest can take outside to enjoy on the museum grounds or eat inside the cafe.

Stephen Starr himself had this to say about his company’s collaboration with the Art Museum: “We are extremely excited about the partnership between STARR and the Philadelphia Museum of Art. As the Museum is an acclaimed cultural institution in the city, we are honored to be the new provider of food and beverage services for museum visitors, donors, corporate conventions, staff and friends. We look forward to providing a stellar STARR experience that is complementary to the renowned exhibitions and amenities offered at the Philadelphia Museum of Art.”

Stay tuned for more on the new Museum Restaurant, scheduled to open at the end of the month.

Philadelphia Museum of Art [Visit Philly]
Starr Restaurants [Facebook]