50 Best Italian Restaurants in Philadelphia

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

“Great restaurant - highly recommended“

“Not child friendly need more option“

“My buddy took me here on Friday, and as a lifelong Philadelphian that now lives in Denver, this place was all you could hope for and more. 10/10 food, ambiance, service, vibes, evvvvvverything. We sat at the bar and got half the menu. The ravioli ABSOLUTELY lives up to the hype. One of the best, most unique things I’ve ever eaten.“

“The food is excellent! I had the duck and my husband ordered the veal and there was a LOT of food. Even the dessert was very, very good. I'd recommend trying the restaurant if you want great food and outstanding service. It is a bit stark inside due to the concrete/cement flooring but still worth the visit.“

“Irwin’s has some of the best cocktails I’ve had in years and an inventive menu that kept my eyes wide. To boot, the restaurant itself is an aesthetic masterpiece and atmospherically unbeatable. The perfect spot for splurging with friends or getting mommy and daddy to front the bill. I will say the pasta was curiously not as good as the mains and mezze, which you wouldn’t necessarily want of an Italian spot, but maybe that’s just because the latter two were so spectacular. I’ll be back.“

“Chris and the team set up a perfect space for our small wedding dinner. It was intimate, cozy, and lots of fun. They know so much about the food and wine they serve and they love to share it.

Most importantly, the food (and wine) was truly INCREDIBLE. A meal we and all of our guests will never forget.
Thank you for everything, y'all! ?

? Shannon Collins Photography“

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

“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 the most unique dinner experiences ever.

I figured it was a dinner and a 'show'.

The head chef introduced herself and the team and explained what the night would look like.

There was a set menu which is changed every 2 weeks to guarantee freshness and a nice experience for people that dine there. They also had 2 add-ons which you're welcome to complete your dining experience with, and we totally added it and no regrets.

Interestingly enough, this would be the first and last time we ever taste this menu as it will be shortly changed.

Everything was so mouthwateringly delicious, and each ingredient was carefully plated for each dish. The ladies and gentlemen, know what they're doing and you can tell in the preparation and heart and soul in this restaurant.

The night ended with a mini sourdough chocolate chip cookie and complimentary Chex Mex rendered in duck fat. Just

Definitely would come back again. Your tastebuds will thank you.“

“So many tempting items on the menu! We enjoyed a wonderful selection of Italian specialities, many with seafood - all expertly prepared. My favorite was their lasagna. Our server was equally terrific, she asked us about any specific dietary preferences, allergies, etc. She also asked about our timeline, as we were to attend a concert at the Met. Even the decor was impressive. Although a bit more expensive than we usually spend, we will indeed return again as the experience was well worth it. We parked in the Aldi garage.“

“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.“

“Most delicious pizza, I love it!“

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

“The service, ambience, venue was top notch. The quality of the food was excellent. I had the Stracchetti and the pasta was underdone as were the shallots in the sauce do they were a little crunchy.my companion had the parpadelle bolognese and said it was pretty good. I took home what I didn't eat. I think it'll be great once it's reheated. The dish just needed a little more cook time.“

“The good is absolutely amazing“

“First time there and everything was very nice…the food was great and service was fantastic! Looking forward to going back again soon! Thank you for a great time!“

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

“We got there for our 5 pm reservation. Very few people were there, and we thought we should have made the reservation for later. By 5:30, the place was packed! Glad we went earlier. Anyhow, the atmosphere is warm and inviting. The service was great (even with the crowd). And the food was delicious! I'll recommend this restaurant to my friends.“

“Amazing food! Start with the Caesar salad.“

“We had a beautiful time celebrating a family friends wedding service was the best so was the food.“

“I have been to many course meals, but this is the top 5 best restaurants I have ever been to. Philadelphia is so lucky to have Elma. Amazing food, incredible service and hospitality. I was reminded of childhood meals and reveled in the incredible blend of flavors and textures. I will absolutely be coming back to dine at the incredible Elma.“

“Me and my friends met here for restaurant week and the amount of food we receive for the $40 restaurant week menu was more than we expected. The food was delicious. The ambience was amazing. Our waitress was friendly and nice. The only negative was there is no street parking and the lot was $30“

“The homemade pasta is really excellent. The texture was perfectly toothsome. I got the cacio e pepperoncini (vegan option) and it was quite good, though the sauce wasn’t my favorite. It felt very oily and I’m not sure if that’s a product of veganizing the sauce. I loved the tangy spice of the pepperoncini though.

The shishito peppers were good, but fairly standard blistered peppers like I’ve had at many other restaurants. The almond / mint sauce was quite nice though.

The plates are generously portioned.

Vegetarian options: They have a few vegetarian options that are clearly labeled. They also have clear labels for dishes that can be made vegetarian or vegan.“

“As per always, our eating experience was outstanding in every way. We enjoy bringing friends here, as each and every one of them also enjoys the meal and the service (shout out to Carlos?). Every dish is delicious, there are no wrong picks.“

“Warm and friendly, relaxed atmosphere. George I’ll assume the owner/manager, came out and chatted with us. Shared the history and that everything is made fresh like in your own kitchen and the pasta is mass daily. Very very perfectly seasoned and moist, everything ♥️ Thank you George. Max & Gary.“

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

“The food is excellent !!!!!“

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

“Went for happy hour a few weeks ago with my friends- the pizza is decent and worth the price; we were disappointed that the whipped ricotta toast was only served on a half slice of bread… I don’t think it would’ve killed them to make it a full slice for $6. the meatballs only came with 2 as well. The drinks were decent“

“The owners are such nice people and the food is soooo good they have my favorite pizza and Stromboli’s I’ve ever eaten! Also the baked ziti, and meatballs are phenomenal and so is the eggplant parm. I’ve had a bunch of other stuff and all was top notch food I only listed my personal favorites“

“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.“

“Outstanding food and service“

“Illata has become our favorite Fitler Square restaurant, and we've been in the neighborhood for 22 years. It's a little gem, nestled on Gray's Ferry Ave just steps from South Street. The staff is extraordinarily pleasant and helpful, and the food is - in a word- exquisite. All delicious, all prepared beautifully, a very balanced menu of seafood, red meat and vegetarian options. Their desserts are divine!
But perhaps the most amazing, and extremely reasonable addition, to the menu is their sourdough bread- hearty and flavorful, with a perfect slightly chewy feel on the tongue. We've taken to order some to go!
Don't miss this extraordinary experience.
Fred and Marnie Henretig“

“Fantastic atmosphere with family style dining. The food was amazing. Classic Italian dishes with modern flare. This first generation Italian American was impressed.“

“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.“

“Only good things to say about Fiore! Their coffees and pastries are amazing, but their cacio e pepe is my favorite. It is on the smaller side, so you likely won't get a seat on a weekend morning, but it's worth waking up early for!“

“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.“

“Was very nice people friendly“

“I truly loved this place. I tasted pizzas I had never heard of and they were amazingly delicious. The chocolate “pizza—different crust more like a pastry) was “to die for”. I ate way too much but it was worth it. I would highly recommend it as a delicious and unique experience well worth eating way too much!!! They were all so good it was hard to decide what I liked best, all of which I had never tried or heard of before. Try it out and I don’t think you could be anything but delighted!“

“Awesome!! Never had a bad meal!! Wine was excellent as well…friendly staff ❤️“

“I can’t say enough amazing things about Messina Club! I went for the first time last night to celebrate a friend’s birthday and we all loved our dinner and time there. The food is so delicious - we had the salmon toast, Messina salad, all 3 pastas and the scallops and each dish was full of flavor and the ingredients are so fresh. Do NOT skip out on the panna cotta. Wow. The best mix of salty and sweet and chocolate :) the cherry on top was the impeccable and warm service. We felt so welcomed and the intimate knowledge about the wine from our server was so helpful! Bonus was also the 90s hip hop playing. We look forward to coming back here. One of the best dining experiences I’ve had in Philly. Truly.“

“Family owned and run and the best team works here.

Best pizza in the city. Best pizza I’ve ever had. I’ve been eating here for 30+ years and I have yet to be disappointed.

The spinach tomato white pie has no equal.

Nobody makes crust like they do. Nobody knows how to balance the cheese vs sauce like they do.

Call in on Wednesday and order your dough. It’s worth the work, the wait, the trip.

I love One Bite but they were robbed IMO. 10/10“

“Everything we ordered was amazing, but special mention to the beets and burrata salad and pistachio pizza. The beet salad has forced me to reconsider my opinion of beets, with a drizzle of thick balsamic and the addition of burrata cheese this dish shines with its simple and delicious flavors. The pistachio pizza really delivered with a unique flavor combination and perfectly baked dough. The pizza oven and pizza chefs at Stellas are second to none and for my money this is the best pizza in Philly.

Kid-friendliness: Our kid was so enamored with the pizza oven right in view of the main dining room. His interest in watching the pizzas get cooked entertained him for the whole wait for his food.“

“Thrilled to have an extension of the original in center city. We’ve been multiple times; the food is always delicious and the staff is outstanding. Pizza is top notch. Chef Sean (sp?) is incredibly sweet to our daughter. They go out of their way to make it special. Highly recommend.“