FAQs

House Notes

Carolyn’s moves with rhythm. Our dining room is intimate, our menu seasonal, and our evenings designed with intention. Below you’ll find details to help you plan your visit.

General

  • Wednesday & Thursday: 5:00pm – 9:00pm
    Friday & Saturday: 5:00pm – 10:00pm

    Our kitchen serves until closing, with last call for food 15 minutes prior. The bar follows the same schedule.

    We are closed Sunday through Tuesday.

  • 2015 Walnut Street
    Between 20th and 21st Street in Philadelphia.

  • We operate a phone-light system so our team can remain focused on the dining room.

    Text is best, and we will respond as soon as possible.

  • Paid street parking is available on Walnut Street and nearby blocks. Parking garages are also located near 20th Street and Samson Street.

    We recommend allowing additional time for parking.

  • You can reach us by phone or text at 267-341-9939 or by email at hello@carolynsvietnamese.com.

    We operate a phone-light system so our team can remain focused on the dining room. Text is best, and we will respond as soon as possible.escription

Reservations

  • Carolyn’s is an intimate dining room with limited seating. Reservations are strongly encouraged.

    Reservations open 30 days in advance for parties of up to four guests.

    We are unable to increase table sizes once booked.

  • Reservations for parties of up to four guests open on OpenTable 30 days in advance. If you need to modify an existing reservation, please do so directly through OpenTable.

  • A $10–$20 per-person deposit is required to secure your reservation.

    The full deposit is automatically refunded upon check-in. Cancellations made at least 12 hours in advance will receive a full refund.

    Refunds typically appear within 5–7 business days.

  • We welcome walk-ins nightly on a first-come, first-served basis.

    Bar seating offers the full dining experience and is available without a reservation. Table availability for walk-ins is limited and not guaranteed.

Waitlist (Online & Nightly)

  • If reservations are unavailable, guests may add themselves to the OpenTable waitlist. Our team reviews availability regularly and will contact you if space opens.

  • If walk-in seats are filled, guests may join the in-person waitlist. We will text you when your seats are ready and hold them for approximately 10 minutes.

  • During peak service hours, reservations are typically allotted:

    • 90 minutes for parties of two

    • Up to 2 hours for parties of four

    This allows us to honor all reservations and maintain the flow of the evening.

Dining & Experience

  • Carolyn’s is a chef-driven restaurant with a menu designed for sharing. Dishes are served as they are ready and paced by the kitchen.

    We accommodate allergies when possible; however, we do not offer substitutions or modifications.

  • We can accommodate most allergies. Due to the size of our kitchen, we cannot guarantee against cross-contact or the use of designated cookware for specific allergens.

    Guests are encouraged to note allergies when booking.

  • We welcome guests of all ages.

    Please note that we do not offer a children’s menu, high chairs, or booster seats. If dining with children, we recommend noting this in your reservation.

  • At this time, we do not offer takeout. Our menu is designed to be experienced in the dining room.

  • Guests may bring up to two (2) 750ml bottles of wine.

    Corkage fee: $10 per bottle.

Group Dining

  • Carolyn's can accommodate parties of up to eight guests. Due to our intimate dining room, we recommend submitting your request at least 45 days in advance.

  • Parties of five or more are served our family-style prix fixe menu, which features a curated selection of seasonal dishes from the kitchen and includes dessert. Beverages are available à la carte and are not included in the prix fixe.  To inquire about a group reservation, please submit the form on our Contact page and we will follow up regarding availability.

  • Yes. A $50 per person deposit is required to secure reservations for parties of five or more. This deposit is non-refundable within 48 hours of your reservation.  Standard reservations for parties of up to four guests require a $10–20 per person deposit, fully refunded at check-in.

Service Charge

  • A 3% back-of-house service charge is added to all bills. This charge goes directly to our kitchen team and is separate from any gratuity left for your server.

Reservations