50 Best Italian Restaurants in Philadelphia

“Outstanding service and dining experience. Phenomenal food. BYOB!“

“Excellent Food & Amazing Service 👍👍“

“Great restaurant - highly recommended“

“Great atmosphere and chill vibe. Sat next to wonderful people at the bar to chat and chuckle with. Food was fabulous. I loved the octopus, split the ravioli w/my friend-awesome, meatballs were great. My friend loved her gnochetti rage and we split the ricotta cheesecake-WOW!! That’s all I can say-WOW! Albert made my day, lots of personality-love him!! Our bartender Nick, also great, full of personality and fun. Can’t wait to go back!“

“Not child friendly need more option“

“Been eating there since I was a kid with family in the market. Now live in Key West for last 30 years but specifically make sure each time I come up to see family I go to Villa Di Roma, clams casino, asparagus, gravy and the people there that run it all family. Amazing piece of the food history of the Italian market that is a must try anytime.“

“Our server Claudio deserves a pat on the back and a raise if possible. His genuine enthusiasm made our dining experience a memorable one. We would come back just to be seated in his section and talk Eagles football. Given the current sad state of the service industry, Claudio stands heads and shoulders above all others. We need more like him. Two thumbs up.“

“one of my favorite restaurants in Philadelphia and beyond. delicious and creative dishes, kind and present service, a thoughtful and complex wine list and beverage program in a very unique space overlooking south philly.

i’ve been here numerous times with different parties and i’ve always had a great experience. it’s also one of the few restaurants I can consistently get in with a last-minute reservation or walk-in while still feeling the place is lively and bumping every time I’m there. it’s a delicate balance and they nail it consistently. chef Michael’s food is excellent, bev director Michael has put together an awesome program and chef Ervis is such a handsome and gentle man who also happens to make great pastas. what a combo.

I love Irwin’s.“

“Best dining experience in Philly and this is coming from a Philly resident. Everything was perfectly seasoned, the music selection was fabulous, the ambiance was lovely, the service was top notch, and the dishes were creative and absolutely delicious. Super seasonal and fresh. Highly recommend!“

“Both the food and the service are Excellent.“

“Food was delicious and staff was friendly“

“Awesome experience! Great food! Excellent service!“

“Great atmosphere, fun pasta options and perfect service!“

“Fantastic dining experience our server Sean Martin was amazing.“

“This was one of our most memorable dinners of 2025 so far — everything we ordered was delicious.

We started with the marinated tomatoes with stracciatella and the focaccia, then had the Thai basil tagliatelle with crab and the breaded pork chop as mains, and finished with the corn brûlée and blueberry pâte à choux for dessert.

The marinated tomatoes with the focaccia were an excellent pairing, and the tagliatelle was a surprisingly delightful fusion — spicy, flavorful, and very well balanced. The pork chop was excellent too: juicy and flavorful, though slightly undercooked near the bone. The corn brûlée was fantastic, while the pâte à choux was the only dish that didn’t quite hit the mark.

Overall, the food was outstanding and the space was very cozy. Our only wish was for slightly better ventilation in the restaurant, but otherwise, it was an amazing dining experience.“

“My fiancé and I went to Cicala on Saturday night before a comedy show at The Met. It was our first time there and I was very impressed with the intimate atmosphere. It was perfect for a date night. Our waitress, Breanna C, was fantastic. One of the first things she asked is what brought us there today and once we mentioned we were seeing a show, she provided her recommendations for how to time everything so we would not be rushing to make it to the show on time. Breanna was very knowledgeable and helpful with the menu. She also provided honest recommendations, which was appreciated. The food was delicious and portion sizes were perfect. We had a great experience!“

“celebrated my daughter's 16th birthday last night and everything was perfect.“

“Went to Adelina's five months ago the week they opened. It was a disappointing experience on multiple fronts and my review said as much. Last night was completely different and I thought it was important to say so. The service was attentive. The wine list was expanded and had more affordable options. But the star of the night was the food. Eggplant fritters were crispy outside and pillowy inside and came with a delicious complementary dipping sauce. A charcuterie board is not usually something that excites me. But the selections we tried were transportative. The pecorino tartufo with our Pinot noir were the perfect pair. The other meats and cheese we tried made every bite a party. Our entree selection was the lasagne, which we didn't realize was vegetarian. The dish completely won us over. Inventive and flavorful, the lasagne in not like something you've had before and is a must try! I'm so glad we came back and gave Adelina's another try. Cheers!“

“This place was as magical as we had hoped. The atmosphere is like noplace I have been in Philly before. The staff were incredible and seemed to sincerely enjoy being a part of this place. It really felt like we were getting a glimpse of something special that won’t be there forever.“

“My best friend brought me to this hidden gem last summer for my birthday and surprised me with a return visit this year — and I swear, it just keeps getting better. Hands down, this might be the best Italian in Philly. The food doesn’t just sit pretty on the plate — it jumps out, grabs you by the soul, and gives you a warm, savory hug. Every bite is a bold, beautiful explosion of flavor that hits you in the heart and the taste buds. This place isn’t just dinner — it’s a love story in pasta form.“

“Cute spot for a drink. Interesting mix of drink options and prices were quite reasonable for the area. The seating is a bit limited but we were lucky enough to grab a seat right by the bar. Bartenders were super friendly and quick. Didn't get any food but the sandwiches around us looked interesting and would consider coming back to try these.“

“The good is absolutely amazing“

“The dinner that I enjoyed at MSC falls within the top 1% of meals I’ve had in Philly. The flavors, ingredients, and presentation were all hitting at an elite level. The shrimp cocktail was a beautifully strange rendition (shrimp cubes???!), but also one of the tastiest. The focaccia speck toast hit salty and sweet notes perfectly. I loved how bottarga acted as a parm/salty element in the crab gemelli alla vodka, which featured perfectly al dente pasta. Scallops couldn’t have been more luscious and tender, and the series of sauces worked together in perfect harmony. Based on the panna cotta and budino, I’m certain dessert should never be missed. The team is warm and inviting, including the head chef who came out and spoke with us briefly. Can’t wait to return!“

“I was visiting from out of the area and grabbed a slice, and it was absolutely delicious! The young lady at the counter was super helpful and friendly as well. Definitely recommend.“

“Great covered outdoor patio along with tasty food - perfect combination.“

“Ate there yesterday and friendly Atmosphere, very friendly and excellent food“

“Amazing homemade lasagna and the cocktails were great as well“

“Incredible food, wonderful staff and service. We loved our date night here! Highly recommend.“

“My all time favorite Philly restaurant! Delicious food, amazing service, and the best atmosphere in Fitler Square! 10/10!“

“Capped off the end of our vacation with wonderful dinner here. Raluca the hostess and Cosmin our server were so accommodating and friendly. Our food and wine were beyond excellent and showed the true skill of the chef. Thanks to all for the best way to end our vacation!“

“my fiance and I were in Philly (from Maine) and she treated me to Osteria for my birthday dinner. The service was amazing throughout the meal, I wish I got the servers name as he was really an incredibly friendly young man who clearly knew the menu very well. The atmosphere is wonderful and the interior is just lovely. In terms of the food, I had the wild boar bolognese which was a special that night, and it was AMAZING!! Really, all the food was impeccable, from the focaccia to our mains. Super pleased and the next time I’m in town, I will most definitely be coming back!!“

“We had a great last night in Philly. The food, location, and our server, Tyler was friendly, courteous, and had a good sense of humor to handle 3 Southern woman. Thank you!“

“This place was a true dining experience! The staff to the chefs was truly amazing. I recommend the tasting menu, it allows you to understand the authenticity and story of Tulip Pasta & Wine Bar through their food. My boyfriend and I enjoyed ourselves so much we plan to take our moms to experience the same enjoyment we did. Can’t wait to be back“

“it feels like a restaurant in Paris France but more friendly service and welcoming“

“Excellent food & service , been here many times, Love it ❤️👍“

“It was a wonderful experience the service was great the food was great !!!!! Highly recommend!!!!!“

“Third time at this restaurant. Always have a great time. Great food, Always a hit with friends and family.“

“Came for espresso and sat at the espresso bar. All the gentlemen at the bar were pleasant to chat with. The espresso tasted great. It’s roasted in house and the quality of the espresso machine makes the 5 star quality beverage. True Italian experience.“

“The food and service is always fabulous! The Blackened Salmon was to die for! A shout out to Riley for being a great server and her recommendation for the salmon! My very favorite restaurant in Philly since 1993!!!“

“My pizza steak was sooooo good, down to the last bite!!!“

“It was fine, manager was nice enough to serve us while the server was busy. Food was delicious.

Was pleasantly surprised by the meatballs, chicken parm sandwich and pan fried mortadella.

Would prefer other options rather than just fries with the sandwich.

Bathroom needs to be cleaned a little better.“

“Delicious pizza, wonderful appetizers, great drinks, excellent customer service, and awesome open kitchen. They helped make my 30th birthday perfect. 💚“

“Outstanding food and service“

“I moved to the neighborhood from Brooklyn recently. One day while walking around, I passed this unassuming place. The only indication that it was open was a chair outside with a bouquet of flowers to pin down a paper menu to the chair. The menu looked divine.

A few days later I walked past, showing my partner that the place almost seemed closed from the outside but was very cute inside. Someone who worked there came out as we were looking and was very kind, asking us if we had reservations yet. We said no but booked immediately.

The first time I visited, I had the sourdough, Marinated Mussels (hakurei turnips, miso, chili oil), Carrot (crab, brown butter), Shrimp (peaches, coppa, toasted marcona almonds), and Gnudi (corn& basil). It was an entirely no-skips meal. The mussels came cold, out of their shell, and the sauce was incredible. The “carrot” was more like a crab cake with coconut, brown butter, and an unidentifiable but delightful citrus. A perfect balance of rich & light. The gnudi seemed simple, but the lightly spicy sauce really pulled all the ingredients together. Finally, the shrimp with peaches really knocked my socks off. Lots of places will make “seasonal” menus but not put the effort into making sure that produce is top notch. The peaches would’ve been delicious on their own, but with the rest of the dish, they really shined.

The second time I went (just a few weeks later) I got the Chicory Salad (anchovy, buttermilk, comte), the Steelhead Trout (sungold tomato, perilla), and a tuna crudo special. I also re-ordered the bread, the carrot with crab, and the gnudi. Everything was just as good as last time, and the new additions were truly worth trying. Something as simple as a chicory salad can be so hit or miss - but WOW!

For dessert we had the cherry brown butter tart with crème fraiche. No complaints at all here.

Now I’ve rambled on plenty about the delicious food, which I will be back for very soon, but I truly haven’t ever been to a place with better service. The workers are extremely attentive and kind. I felt like I’ve known everyone there for a long time.

Thank you, Illata, for being such a wonderful neighborhood spot.“

“Was very nice people friendly“

“We did the tasting menu and were absolutely blown away by the exquisite flavors of each course. The wine pairing complemented each dish perfectly. The staff and chefs were exceptional as well.“

“Delicious food. Friendly staff. A great place for dinner.“

“I just attended my niece's graduation party there. AMAZING PIZZA !!!! They put out a variety of pizzas on a buffet table. A crispy crust (I went right for the corner pieces) with cheese down 1st. I enjoyed them all, but my favorites were the sausage, the pepperoni, the white pie with onions pork belly and sprouts and the spinach and ricotta. Can't wait to go back !!!“

“Have been for both breakfast and the dinner tasting menu. The breakfast sandwiches are simple and effective, paired with awesome Italian baked goods.
The dinner was lights out, awesome menu with inventive and delicious dishes. Great experience and perfect for a date night or small group.“

“Amazing food, nice staff, ok prices, long wait time, but they do everything from spinning the dough through to cooking the pizza in front of you which is cool.
A section of the pizza was unfortunately burned, but otherwise it was great!“