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Where to Eat Italian Food in Philadelphia
Philadelphiaâs restaurant scene is a melting pot, and while the city is beginning to discover new cultural cuisines previously unknown to the East Coast, one type of traditional fare is not going anywhere: Italian food. Made with love, Italian food is the ultimate comfort food. Not only do Phillyâs best Italian restaurants make you feel at home, but the innovative masterminds behind them are reinventing traditional Italian food with a few modern twists. Despite being zero percent Italian, spaghetti and meatballs is my favorite childhood meal, but Philadelphia helped me discover what authentic, homemade pasta should taste like. Itâs no wonder Philadelphia is the Italian food hub with its large Italian population, but any of these restaurants would impress even the pickiest Nonna. So dive into a plate of penne alla vodka, pour a glass of Barbera, and keep reading to learn where you should grab Italian tonight. Best Italian Restaurants in Philly
Fiorella817 Christian Street, Philadelphia, PA 19147 The cacio e pepe from Fiorella may be the most popular entree in Philadelphia. Although it sounds simplistic â after all, cacio e pape literally translates to cheese and pepper â this isnât a plain dish. Each bite of this photogenic pillow of pasta is like a dream come true. But donât sleep on the rest of the menu. The mozzarella in carrozza with tomato is pretty much a glorified mozzarella stick, but who said thatâs a bad thing? It may look like a King-Size Ultra Krabby Supreme with the works, double batter fried, on a stick, but donât ask for mayonnaise because the tomato sauce is, in my humble opinion, the most underrated part. Save room for the graham cracker panna cotta for dessert. Not to mention, they sell Barbera on tap, so keep the wine flowing. James Beard Award winner and executive chef Marc Vetri was trained in Italy, so you know Fiorella is legit. Vetri Cucina1312 Spruce St, Philadelphia, PA 19107 Marc Vetri does it again with Vetri Cucina, perhaps the most luxurious (and expensive) restaurant in Philly. I went here for my 21st birthday, and itâs more than a restaurant: itâs an experience. The small dining room (pre-COVID) provides an intimate atmosphere, but their outdoor âwinter houseâ is just as romantic. As you walk in and someone asks if they can take your coat and offer you a complimentary spritz, you know youâre about to have the best dinner of your life. Book your reservations in advance and be prepared to drop more $100 per person because the only option is their tasting menu. This menu is for the adventurous at heart, featuring items like foie gras or squid and artichoke galette. Although a surprise tasting menu might intimidate some diners, you can put your faith in the spinach gnocchi and sweet onion crepe. Little Nonnaâs1234 Locust St, Philadelphia, PA 19107 Little Nonnaâs will transport you to a bistro in Rome without leaving Philadelphia; the dim lighting and string lights draped around the interior and beautiful outside garden create the perfect ambiance for a romantic evening. The stracciatella with burrata, olives and grilled bread or mushroom arancini are great starters that will have you wanting more. Fun fact: this is where I had my first ever arancini, so Iâm a little biased. No matter what day of the week it is, order the Sunday gravy or Nonniâs spaghetti and meatballs. This mountain of pasta with golf-ball sized, fontina-stuffed meatballs is so tall, you canât see your date over it. Barbuzzo110 S 13th St, Philadelphia, PA 19107 A few blocks from Little Nonnaâs in the âGayborhoodâ is Barbuzzo, a Mediterranean/Italian fusion. This is the place to be for happy hour drinks and small bites after work (even if youâre working remotely). The roasted beet salad is so delicious, you almost donât believe itâs healthy. The sheepâs milk ricotta and Mediterranean olives are two other popular appetizers off the happy hour menu. If youâve been there for so long that now itâs dinnertime, order a pizza for the table. The salted caramel budino is their specialty dessert, but I swear by the roasted apple cinnamon bread pudding. While the portions are on the smaller size, Barbuzzoâs great happy hour deals and COVID-friendly outdoor setup makes up for it. Trattoria Carina2201 Spruce St, Philadelphia, PA 19103 Nestled in the heart of Rittenhouse Square, Trattoria Carinaâs teal striped awnings and colorful floral arrangements are picturesque. The owners of Pub and Kitchen and Diving Horse in Avalon, New Jersey are behind this Italian trattoria and BYOB. Theyâre known for having the best espresso martini in the city, and while Iâm not a big fan of martinis, I am a fan of theirs. But theyâre renowned for more than just their cocktails. Their chicken parmesan is bigger than my head and can easily be enough to share (or you can eat all by yourself). If you can handle a little heat, try their crab arrabiata, which translates to angry in Italian. Via Locusta1723 Locust St, Philadelphia, PA 19103 Sitting outside in one of Via Locustaâs partitioned âdining roomsâ makes you feel like you have the whole restaurant to yourself. Start off with the aperitivo, which means âappetizerâ in Spanish and is the most Instagrammable drink off the menu. Youâve probably heard the hype about this new Schulson Collective and the rosemary focaccia; itâs worth it. If you go here and donât get the focaccia, did you really go at all? If the chicken milanese sandwich âhalfâ is really only half, Iâm afraid to ask whatâs the whole. The bruschetta and seasonal fried cauliflower are also cheap eats that are perfect for broke college students like myself. As the weather warms up, Via Locusta is your next happy hour destination. Wm. Mulherinâs Sons1355 N Front St, Philadelphia, PA 19122 Finally, a Fishtown restaurant makes the list. I wish I could check into Wm. Mulherinâs Sons hotel permanently. Although Fishtown is pretty out of the way for me, this restaurant is so out of this world that itâs worth the trip. Inside, their quaint and cozy decor will make you feel right at home, while outside, their scenic garden will make you forget about the chaos unfolding all around. Whether you go classic with a margherita pie or unorthodox with the âspicy Jawnâ (pepperoni, hot coppa, caciocavallo, sharp provolone, long hots, tomato), you canât go wrong. Oh, and their ricotta pancakes were one of the last brunches I got before the start of the pandemic, so this place gives me nostalgia. Crybaby Pasta627 S 3rd St, Philadelphia, PA 19147 Crybaby Pasta in Queen Village is one of those restaurants that smells so good while youâre waking by that you feel like a cartoon character floating toward the smell. The menu isnât big, but they only have the best: spaghetti, rigatoni, eggplant parmesan, etc. âDonât cry, we have wine,â it says on their website. And fear not, they sell it by the glass and the bottle. Although indoor dining is currently prohibited due to COVID-19, their outdoor cafe is cute and photogenic, and they offer takeout and delivery so you can eat all the pasta you want while crying at your favorite romcom. Panorama14 N Front St, Philadelphia, PA 19106 Panorama in Old City loves wine almost as much as I do. Not only do they have a wine club and an extensive wine list, but they also have wine flights. These flights donât look like your traditional flight: the glasses hang on an ornate candle holder. And itâs a good deal: you get five 1.5 oz samples of wine for $39. While you probably came for the drinks, you also need to try the food (not just because itâs mandated in Pennsylvania right now thanks to Governor Wolf). Panorama offers half and full sized entree portions of pasta like cavatelli, lasagna and tortellini, so you can have a little bit of everything. Cheesy desserts are my favorites, and while I would usually choose tiramisu or ricotta cake over ice cream, Franklin Fountain, another Old City staple, is the cherry on top. Giorgioâs on Pine1328 Pine St, Philadelphia, PA 19107 Once again, the name gives away the location, or at least the street; Giogioâs on Pine is a rustic BYO serving authentic Italian food in Society Hill. Although the atmosphere is casual, this is nothing short of fine dining. Bring your best bottle of red and enjoy a piping hot plate of gnocchi or gluten-free ziti from the gluten-free menu on one of those unusually cold April days. Reservations arenât required but are recommended. While the restaurant is small and easy to miss, the cuisine at this hidden gem is sure to grab your attention right away. Osteria640 North Broad St, Philadelphia, PA 19130 One of the countryâs most acclaimed Italian restaurants and another Schulson Collective, Osteria has an award-winning menu of antipasti, homemade pasta and Neapolitan pizza. With its glass-enclosed outdoor patio and private dining rooms, Osteria has the perfect vibes for a romantic date or a lively (COVID-safe) party. Their new menu features some uncommon entrees like scallop crudo, potato puree, chicken liver rigatoni and duck sugo fazzoletti. Their drink menu, on the other hand, has some quintessential Italian wines like Prosecco and Chianti. Not to mentionâ¦they have happy hour! Come between 4:00 pm and 6:00 pm Wednesday through Saturday or 3:00 pm to 5:00 pm on Sunday for $5 cocktails, $6 plates of pasta and $9 pizzas. Ralphâs Italian Restaurant760 S 9th St, Philadelphia, PA 19147 In the heart of the Bella Vista lies Ralphâs, a fifth-generation family-owned Italian restaurant and 7-time winner of Best of Philly. Ralphâs has survived the Great Depression, prohibition, two World Wars and now the COVID-19 pandemic. Family and authentic Italian cooking are at the backbone of Ralphâs, and it shows in the quality of their food, like their âfamousâ veal parmesan, shrimp scampi and cannoli cake. Not only has Ralphâs served celebrities like Taylor Swift and Ed Sheeran, but theyâve also welcomed Presidents Theodore Roosevelt and Joe Biden into their dining room. Yes, you heard me right: you can sit at the same table as T-Swift. Palizzi Social Club1408 S 12th St, Philadelphia, PA 19147 For over 100 years, Palizzi Social Club has been a 30-seat members-only hotspot for decadent Italian food and good times in a South Philly rowhome. Members arenât allowed to reveal much information about this mysterious speakeasy, but one thing they are permitted to rave about is the food. While the food at dark, small bars tends to take a backseat to the drinks, the lamb chops, braciola and spumoni are just a few of the stars of the show. Want to impress your friends? Become a member. Or befriend a member and navigate your way to the elusive neon sign. Villa di Roma936 S 9th St, Philadelphia, PA 19147 A few blocks from Ralphâs is Villa di Roma, another family-owned restaurant and popular tourist destination for people on the lookout for authentic Italian cuisine in the Italian Market. Currently offering indoor dining, Villa di Roma has a large menu and even larger portions of pastas like baked ziti or manicotti and entrees like chicken marsala or veal piccanti. Donât feel comfortable sitting inside just yet? They also have takeout and to-go cocktails, one of the few perks of the pandemic. Villa di Roma is a no-frills type of restaurant, serving affordable and traditional Italian food. But if youâre celebrating a milestone in your life, Villa di Roma will make your day extra special. Le Virtu1927 E Passyunk Ave, Philadelphia, PA 19148 Last but not least is Le Virtu, a South Philly eatery. that literally means âthe virtues.â Inspired by the region of Abruzzo in Italy, Le Virtu is for the âvirtuousâ diner who is looking for a friendly, laid-back environment. A sit-down restaurant and trattoria, Le Virtu offers dinner every night, brunch every weekend and family-sized meals to-go. From a wide selection of salumi and formaggi to squid-ink maccheroncini and pappardelle, Le Virtu has something for everyone. Despite the abundance of restaurants on Passyunk Avenue, Le Virtu stands out from the crowd. Final ThoughtsNo, this wonât be the pasta and gelato you enjoyed while studying abroad in Rome. But Philadelphia has a thriving Italian scene, and no matter what neighborhood youâre in, you shouldnât have to walk far to find some quality Italian grub. Cutting out carbs? Had pasta every day this week? Check out some of our recommendations for best Thai food in Philadelphia! Obviously this isnât an all inclusive list, and Iâm still crossing things off my bucket list, so leave me a comment telling me your favorite Italian bistro and Iâll check it out! The post Where to Eat Italian Food in Philadelphia appeared first on Restaurant Clicks. https://restaurantclicks.com/best-italian-restaurants-philadelphia/via Blogger Where to Eat Italian Food in Philadelphia
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