Diners right at home amidst elegance, perfection

Walking through the outer door of Marigold Dining Room, the china set in an antique armoire immediately illustrates the restaurant's quaint yet illustrious atmosphere. Even before entering the restaurant, established in 1934, it was clear by the atmosphere alone that the dinner would provide a home-like experience. With paintings adorning the walls, family pictures across the mantle of a defunct fireplace and dimmed candle-like lights, the restaurant at 45th Street and Larchwood Avenue was a joy, even before my guest and I had received our food. I began my meal with elegantly decorated quesadillas adorned in cheese sauce ($4.95) while my guest opted for the clam chowder ($3.95) -- the soup of the day. Like the rest of our dinner, the seemingly simple food was not only tasty but also cooked to perfection -- the texture in each of the dishes left our mouths watering for more.

Marigold 501 S. 45th Street (215) 222-3699 Fare: American and Continental

My guest's clam chowder had a light broth with an overwhelming amount of clam, leaving her full even before our main courses arrived. Between courses, we were treated to seasoned breads and our BYOB beverage. A house salad with a well-seasoned vinaigrette accompanies each of seven main courses on the menu -- chef specials are also a choice every night. For the main course, I selected the grilled 10-ounce center-cut sirloin strip steak ($18.95), seasoned with red wine sauce with roasted shallots -- it was probably the best steak I have ever eaten. The sauce added moisture to an already-succulent meat and also provided an ideal dipping sauce to the accompanying creamy mashed potatoes. My guest elected to make the night a shellfish double-header by selecting the crab cakes ($15.95) for the main course. The two cakes were delicate, sweet and again contained a large quantity of the essential element -- namely crab. Despite having an exquisitely presented and cooked meal up to this point, the chocolate amaretto mousse ($3.95) is reason alone to make the trek west past Penn's campus. Undoubtedly the best dessert of any kind that has graced my lips, the mousse's fluffy texture melted in my mouth. Encased in a chocolate crust that would have been good on its own, Marigold's chocolate mousse was the single best dessert I have ever tasted. The dessert is served in a unique, quaint style that is consistent with the rest of the restaurant -- with an elegant side of whipped cream on a decorated plate. Combining its atmosphere, selection of foods and the chef's talent in each of the dishes, Marigold provides an ideal and unique atmosphere that distinguishes itself from the rest of West Philadelphia's restaurants.