Opus 251 masters art of fine dining

Nestled just off of Rittenhouse Square in the Philadelphia Art Alliance, Opus 251 is a work of art in itself.

Serving exquisite American cuisine with a touch of Mediterranean and Asian influences, Opus 251 provides an elegant and romantic dining experience.

For appetizers, my guest ordered the foie gras pain perdu ($15), which came with a colorful melange of orange and buttermilk squash and red fruit, with the foie gras served in a seared white torsch. The resulting combination was an enjoyable medley of sweet and sour flavors.

I selected the baby spinach and tomato salad ($10), featuring crispy sweetbread croutons -- a light starter that would allow room for the filling courses to follow.

Executive chef Adam DeLosso provides a variety of both seafood and meat entrees based on seasonal availability, ranging from pan-roasted halibut with truffled gnocchi and English peas-scallop vermouth nage ($26) to organic free range chicken ($22).

I chose the Pennsylvania venison loin ($27), served in artistically presented slices of buttery-soft meat, covered in a rich wild mushrooms, bitter chocolate sauce and comforting spinach spaetzel.

My companion ordered the double-cut lambchop, which proved a perfect combination for the mint and green onion stuffing, tomato jam, fingerling potatoes, caramelized apple and onion-lamb jus that accompanied it.

Eating outdoors in Opus 251's garden patio offers what is easily one of the city's most romantic experiences, complete with statues, ambient lighting and soft music. But even in colder weather, the two indoor dining rooms set inside the historic Wetherill mansion leave nothing to be desired.

The dessert menu forces the happy dilemma of so many tantalizing options, it is difficult to decide on just one.

After much consideration, I passed up the creme brulee and apple crumble for the velvety-rich neapolitan mousse bombe ($7), which featured chocolate, vanilla and strawberry mousse inside a heavenly chocolate shell. My companion selected the white chocolate and mandarin orange gateau ($7) that offered a nice, but not overpowering citrus flavor.

For the budget-conscious, Opus 251 also offers a prix fixe option, allowing diners to select one entree and either one appetizer or one dessert for $32. A smaller version is also available for lunch for $16 -- a bargain for one of the city's masterpiece restaurants.

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