Italian food is one of the world’s favorite cuisines and the residents of Philadelphia are lucky enough to have some of America’s top Italian restaurants right on their doorstep. Ranging from cozy, intimate eateries to ultra-chic modern restaurants, when it comes to enjoying authentic Italian food you’re spoiled for choice in Philadelphia! The following are some of the most popular Italian restaurants in Philly:
Little Nonna’s, 1234 Locust Street.
Founded by Marcie Turney and Valerie Safran, Little Nonna’s in Midtown Village is an 80-seat restaurant with a beautiful outdoor garden. Serving lunch and dinner each day, Little Nonna’s serves delightful starters and a magnificent range of mains, including fish, grilled meats, pasta and gnocchi dishes as well as healthy eating salads and vegetarian options.
Thanks to great customer service and a superb menu, Little Nonna’s was awarded the ‘Best of Philly’ in 2003 and in 2004 was highly praised in the Philadelphia Magazine. So if you’ve never visited Little Nonna’s, make sure you reserve yourself a table in the very near future. The restaurant also runs a Pick Up service and home deliveries for customers who’d like to enjoy a special meal at home.
Pietro’s Italian, 1714 Walnut Street.
Pietro’s is a block away from my apartment. This elegant, family-run restaurant has a fantastic menu that’s bursting with genuine Italian classics and a lovely wine list to help you pair your meal with the perfect wine. Originally founded by the current owner’s uncle more than 60 years ago, Pietro’s Italian serves homemade pizzas, pasta dishes and a delicious range of side dishes and desserts.
You can drop by for lunch or dinner or, if you prefer, you can order a home delivery. If you’re planning to eat in the restaurant it’s always worth making a reservation because it can get pretty busy, especially on the weekends.
Giorgio On Pine, 1328 Pine Street.
Giorgio On Pine is a traditional Italian restaurant that has a laid-back atmosphere and a friendly, helpful team of waiters who are always on hand to give you tips about the latest specials on the menu. The bring-your-own-wine establishment is located right in the heart of the city center and serves a seasonal menu that includes traditional Roman cuisine as well as vegetarian and gluten-free options for customers with special dietary requirements.
If you’re arranging a celebration or group event you can take advantage of Giorgio On Pine’s popular catering services and impress your guests with delicious Italian cuisine. This wonderfully rustic Italian restaurant is perfect for family occasions or a romantic evening for two.
Vetri Cucina, 1312 Spruce Street.
After mastering his culinary craft in some of America’s top kitchens, Chef Marc Vetri returned to his hometown of Philadelphia in 1998 to set up his own restaurant. Immediately earning great acclaim in Philly, Vetri Cucina is often considered to be one of the most influential Italian restaurants in the US.
Specializing in handmade pasta, gourmet Italian cuisine and unique flavor combinations, the Vetri Cucina exudes an understated sophistication in everything it does. The intimate setting and the heavenly seasonal menu make the Vetri Cucina the perfect place to celebrate a special event or simply savor some of the finest Italian food in the city.
Giuseppe & Sons, 1523 Sansom Street.
With low lighting and a menu full of red-sauce dishes, seafood, grilled meats and handmade pasta, the ultra-chic restaurant offers its customers a truly unforgettable experience. The restaurant’s bar serves a great selection of wine, beers and cocktails while the chef, Michael Schulson, really brings his own personal twist to Italian cuisine.
For an intimate group dining experience, you can book a private party for any size of group above 11 people. Simply fill out the online form to find out more about the catering options that are available for private group events.
Alice Pizza And Restaurant, 235 South 15th Street.
Originally founded in Rome more than 30 years ago, Alice Pizza’s creator, Domenico Giovanni, moved to America and has set up more than 100 restaurants in the US since he arrived. Domenico Giovanni established the Philly restaurant with the help of Mario Longo and has enjoyed great success in the city.
The eatery serves a wide selection of pizzas and pasta dishes as well as delicious espresso and gelato for your dessert. Alice Pizza also has a fully stocked bar that serves Italian wines, beer and locally sourced American craft beers.
Gran Caffe L’Aquila, 1716 Chestnut Street.
Gran Caffe L’Aquila is a restaurant, gelato, coffee house and grocery store, all in one! This caffe was designed and built in Italy and shipped to Philadelphia. The cafe is based on a historic cafe that was located at Piazza Duomo in Abruzzo, Italy. The perfect one-stop destination for all things related to top-quality Italian cuisine, if you’ve never come across this remarkable establishment before, you’ve really been missing out.
The restaurant has a magnificent menu that includes the restaurant’s signature entrees of house-cured meat platters and main courses such as Gnocchi alla Bava, Carbonara, fresh Monkfish with tomato and garlic and Wild Boar with hot pepper meatballs. The restaurant also offers home delivery and Pick-Up options for its customers.
Osteria, 640 North Broad Street.
This beautiful restaurant serves thin-crust pizzas, homemade pasta and wood-grilled meats in a lovely dining area that is surrounded by hanging plants. The dining area has an organically rustic atmosphere and is the ideal haven from the busy city outside. Since opening its doors in 2007, the Osteria restaurant has become one of America’s most critically acclaimed Italian restaurants with the head chef, Jeff Michaud, winning the James Beard Foundation Award for Best Chef in the Mid-Atlantic region in 2010.
Some of the restaurant’s highlight dishes include the Lombara pizza with baked egg, Bito cheese, Mozzarella and Cotechino sausage, the Tomahawk pork chop and the chicken liver Rigatoni with Cipollini onions and sage.
Osteria also runs a daily happy hour at the bar where you can enjoy beers, wines and cocktails at a bargain price. The restaurant is the perfect venue for any special occasion, including large group events. Just make sure you book your table in advance because the Osteria can fill up pretty quickly in the evenings. If you’d prefer to have an unforgettable family dinner at home, you can order a home delivery from Osteria on any night of the week.
Barbuzzo, 110 South 13th Street.
Barbuzzo is an Italian and Mediterranean restaurant and bar that only uses farm-fresh ingredients to create a magnificent range of dishes on its rustic-styled menu. Serving wood-burning oven pizzas and homemade pasta dishes as well as classic Italian cuisines such as grilled octopus, parsnip ravioli with duck ragu and Uovo Pizza with brussels leaves, truffle farm eggs and guanciale, Barbuzzo is one of Philly’s best-kept secrets.
The menu is extremely reasonably priced and the bar serves authentic Italian wines, craft beers and cocktails. You can also order a Pick-Up or delivery if you’re not eating in the restaurant.
Pizzeria Vetri, Rittenhouse Square.
With 2 city center locations, Pizzeria Vetri serves simple Italian cuisine using the freshest ingredients and slow fermentation techniques to make the finest pizzas with a perfect crust. All of the pizzas are cooked in the open kitchens so you can enjoy watching the show as your meal is made using traditional Italian methods.
The menu changes with the seasons to make use of locally sourced ingredients and includes lovely dishes such as roasted lamb, spinach mushroom Calzone and side dishes of seasonal vegetables. Great for families, couples and medium-sized groups, Pizzeria Vetri is a wonderful place to enjoy quality time together while savoring excellent Italian cuisine.
Maggiano’s Little Italy, 1201 Filbert Street.
Serving lunch and dinner each day, Maggiano’s Little Italy is located in the city center, just a short distance from many of Philly’s top tourist attractions. The menu is inspired by traditional Italian-American dishes and is served in a laid-back, family-friendly atmosphere.
There’s a separate lunch, dinner, family and children’s menu to browse with some of the highlights including Italian meatballs, stuffed mushrooms, Calamari fritti and Balsamic tomato Bruschetta. If you’d prefer to eat at home, you can order a home delivery from Maggiano’s on any day of the week.
Philadelphia Has Great Italian Restaurants.
Philadelphia has the second-largest Italian-American community in the US and what’s more, the city has a long-standing reputation for being home to some of the nation’s best Italian restaurants. As a result, Philly’s residents can enjoy an excellent selection of authentic Italian cuisine that is made using fresh, locally sourced ingredients at a price that won’t break the bank.
