We have been dining here while visiting from another state at least annually for the last 13 years. The food and service have been consistently excellent and we have had large family gatherings in a private room here. All family members were very pleased with food quality, selection and service. Highly recommended !!!
Sandy
The food was excellent appetizers thru dessert. The Brenzino was delicious. Relaxed atmosphere with great service.
Bill
Legitimately the best grilled calamari and ciambotte EVER Sometimes I just want another order of each rather than even get to the delicious entrée.  but I didn't. I had a spectacular braised short rib with homemade pasta that was very good. The service was on point as always.
Alfidis Joaquin
Excellent place, very good service, exquisite pasta
Ernest Thomas (Randy Jr)
So look—when you get invited to lunch with your boss, his boss, and the big boss, you don’t come empty-headed or empty-stomached. You come ready to represent and ready to eat. We pulled up to Spasso Italian Grill in Old City, Philly—because apparently when execs break bread, they do it with taste.
Let me just say this: Spasso is him.
In a post-COVID world where most places barely remember how to do lunch right, Spasso said, “Let me show you how we used to do it when the food came from the soul and not the freezer.” Ain’t no chain energy here—this is straight Italy, no passport required.
I ordered what looked like a humble plate of linguine in red sauce with seafood, but baby, that thing hit like Sunday morning on the third stanza of Total Praise. The noodles were homemade, soft but not mushy—had that little bounce to them, like they was tryna two-step in the sauce. And the sauce? Rich. Simple. Tomato-forward. Tasted like somebody’s auntie been simmerin’ it since 9am with the windows open and a Luther Vandross playlist on repeat.
The seafood wasn’t stingy either. Full chunks of flavor in every bite. Not chopped up mystery meat. This was seafood with a name and a résumé.
Even the bread came with style—roasted red peppers, parmesan, oil, and some lil marinated veggies that honestly made me pause and reflect on how blessed I was. That bread alone deserved a praise break.
Then came the cappuccino… listen. It showed up with a lil’ foam hat, cinnamon dusted on top like it had somewhere special to be. Smooth, comforting, and grown. No sugar needed. Just vibes.
We did have cannolis too—but I ain’t get a pic ‘cause the moment was too good to interrupt with a phone. Just know it was crispy on the outside, creamy on the inside, and balanced like a good choir director. Sweet—but not too sweet.
Would I go again? Without a doubt. Should you go? Only if you’re ready for real Italian food and not that reheated stuff folks try to pass off in the microwave.
Spasso is where you go when you want lunch to mean something. When you wanna eat food that got memory, history, and respect in it. Ain’t nothin’ fancy—just food done right, with care and culture.
That’s my kind of spot.
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Cannoli
dennis kilderry
I have been here many times, very consistent. Great Italian food.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 5
Mark
The food is always top notch. Our server cosmic is number one. We request him all the time when we go there. That's our number one place in downtown Philadelphia.
Jerold Grupp
Very nice. Families with well behaves children were there.. obviously they came there often. Nice sized portions.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Veal Parmigiana
Michael
The service is outstanding. My go to restaurant with a really great Italian menu. Highly recommended.
Benjamin Fisher
I can't speak for myself about the food cuz I do doordash but when I've delivered to the people they said the food is really good
This is one of those rare unique places where no matter what you order it’s gonna be suuuuper delicious! 100/10
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Vladimir Li
Best pasta place ☝️
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 4
Rose
We went here to celebrate a friend graduating from Drexel. We had the Tuesday Wednesday dinner special. We thought the portions might be smaller. They were still huge. Great service. Just a wonderful experience overall.
We have been dining here while visiting from another state at least annually for the last 13 years. The food and service have been consistently excellent and we have had large family gatherings in a private room here. All family members were very pleased with food quality, selection and service. Highly recommended !!!
The food was excellent appetizers thru dessert. The Brenzino was delicious. Relaxed atmosphere with great service.
Legitimately the best grilled calamari and ciambotte EVER Sometimes I just want another order of each rather than even get to the delicious entrée.  but I didn't. I had a spectacular braised short rib with homemade pasta that was very good. The service was on point as always.
Excellent place, very good service, exquisite pasta
So look—when you get invited to lunch with your boss, his boss, and the big boss, you don’t come empty-headed or empty-stomached. You come ready to represent and ready to eat. We pulled up to Spasso Italian Grill in Old City, Philly—because apparently when execs break bread, they do it with taste.
Let me just say this: Spasso is him.
In a post-COVID world where most places barely remember how to do lunch right, Spasso said, “Let me show you how we used to do it when the food came from the soul and not the freezer.” Ain’t no chain energy here—this is straight Italy, no passport required.
I ordered what looked like a humble plate of linguine in red sauce with seafood, but baby, that thing hit like Sunday morning on the third stanza of Total Praise. The noodles were homemade, soft but not mushy—had that little bounce to them, like they was tryna two-step in the sauce. And the sauce? Rich. Simple. Tomato-forward. Tasted like somebody’s auntie been simmerin’ it since 9am with the windows open and a Luther Vandross playlist on repeat.
The seafood wasn’t stingy either. Full chunks of flavor in every bite. Not chopped up mystery meat. This was seafood with a name and a résumé.
Even the bread came with style—roasted red peppers, parmesan, oil, and some lil marinated veggies that honestly made me pause and reflect on how blessed I was. That bread alone deserved a praise break.
Then came the cappuccino… listen. It showed up with a lil’ foam hat, cinnamon dusted on top like it had somewhere special to be. Smooth, comforting, and grown. No sugar needed. Just vibes.
We did have cannolis too—but I ain’t get a pic ‘cause the moment was too good to interrupt with a phone. Just know it was crispy on the outside, creamy on the inside, and balanced like a good choir director. Sweet—but not too sweet.
Would I go again? Without a doubt.
Should you go? Only if you’re ready for real Italian food and not that reheated stuff folks try to pass off in the microwave.
Spasso is where you go when you want lunch to mean something. When you wanna eat food that got memory, history, and respect in it. Ain’t nothin’ fancy—just food done right, with care and culture.
That’s my kind of spot.
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Cannoli
I have been here many times, very consistent. Great Italian food.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 5
The food is always top notch. Our server cosmic is number one. We request him all the time when we go there. That's our number one place in downtown Philadelphia.
Very nice. Families with well behaves children were there.. obviously they came there often. Nice sized portions.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Veal Parmigiana
The service is outstanding. My go to restaurant with a really great Italian menu. Highly recommended.
I can't speak for myself about the food cuz I do doordash but when I've delivered to the people they said the food is really good
Atmosphere: 5
Restaurantji Recommends
This is one of those rare unique places where no matter what you order it’s gonna be suuuuper delicious! 100/10
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Best pasta place ☝️
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 4
We went here to celebrate a friend graduating from Drexel. We had the Tuesday Wednesday dinner special. We thought the portions might be smaller. They were still huge. Great service. Just a wonderful experience overall.
Wonderful service. Historic building.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Great Italian food. Would go again
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 5
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