LOVED the food and our experience. The dining area is very cute and we tried four different pastas…read more(all very good). The portions are fair for the price, however I would have liked to add parm to some dishes but that wasn't offered. My favorite pasta was either the gnocchi with mushrooms or the squid ink with seafood (the special, not a staple menu item). Honestly the waitstaff was my favorite part of this experience! They were knowledgeable of everything on the menu and had great recommendations. The tiramisu wasn't the most photogenic, but my favorite thing we had.

Good overall. I got the portabello appetizer and the special pasta (squid ink spaghetti with…read moreseafood) and my husband got the beet salad and a seafood dish. It is nice to have dairy free options for him (the cheese was separate in his salad). The mussels in my pasta were a little sandy but it was fairly mild. Service was good.

Le Virtu has been an institution in South Philly for many years serving up regional Abruzzo style…read morepasta and specialties. We made reservations for 9pm on a Monday, arrived a few mins late but had no trouble getting our orders in and having plenty of time to enjoy our meal. Plenty of outdoor seating in addition to the intimate seats inside. Our server recommended an appetizer - the pork belly skewers which were phenomenal. They were tender without relying on a large fat cap and seasoned so well. Each bite was a treat. For our mains we went with: lamb chops, shrimp tagliatelle (Saffron Cavatelli) and the lamb ragu pasta (Maccheroncini alla Chitarra). Lamb chops, cooked to a tender medium. The pastas were cooked al dente with the tagliatelle highlighting fresh cherry tomatoes and the ragu highlighting savory lamb and peperoncino. My first time trying Abruzzo cuisine but won't be my last - the peperoncinos add a subtle but refreshing touch of spice.

A friend suggested a dinner meeting at this location in South Philly. It's Italian section and this…read morewas Italian food for sure. The theme is from Abruzzi region. Interestingly enough each region in Italy has different dialect and different food specialties. We started with a sausage and vegetables appetizer and the chef sent a pistachio spread, both were wonderful. We ordered some breads for our table at $4 per basket consisting of sliced round bread and focaccia. A small plate with olive oil came with it. We needed more little oils and baskets of bread Starters - I had a radicchio salad, not my favorite but fresh. Has a sharp taste to it. Crisp white and red. It was lite. Then we had some sides on the table to pick at. I loved the roasted potatoes and the mushrooms. Great taste. We also had broccoli rabi, which I love but thought it needed more garlic. For our main courses we all went for pasta. I had the Amatriciana special made with fresh tomato and guanciale. Very good. Two people had spicey type fusilli. One had a macheriana which he loved. The service was great. Very attentive and polite. The drinks were good. The wine was from some good Italian wineries. The drinks could have been larger and were priced a little high but that didn't stop us from indulging. For desert we split a tiramisu and zeppole for the table. The zeppole was exceptional, loved the yellow crème and I followed it with espresso and anisette. We were happy. The bill was steep, so be prepared. But we were not lacking anything and walked away with full bellies and smiles.

Vibes: historic (feels like a time capsule), intimate, almost homey; bring a friend or two…read more Tasting notes: - Baked ricotta with olives and dried sausage: ricotta was sweet and milky; excellent pairing with fragrant olives and slices of salami - Mushrooms with polenta: big, tender, meaty slices of portobello in a salty sauce that was picked up nicely by the polenta cake - Broccoli rabe: slightly garlicky, almost creamed texture with minimal bitterness; surprisingly addicting - Spinach ravioli with red pepper sauce: perfectly al dente and filled pillows with smooth, sweet, fragrant sauce - Calamari pasta: my favorite of the night in terms of seafood-forward, umami-rich, broth-ljke sauce - Octopus: easily forkable in terms of tenderness; indulgent because of the olive oil bath - Tiramisu: well-layered and structured - Chocolate pudding: extremely smooth and deep in chocolate flavor - Rice pudding cake: aromatic, creamy and light Other thoughts: - Very friendly, attentive service from three excellent waitstaff - Above meal was perfectly satisfying for 3 hungry adults - While we were informed that there is one chef, certainly did not feel like there was much of a lull between dishes Other thoughts: a lovely hidden gem of an Italian BYOB! Come for the experience!

I really really wanted this to be one of those experiences I'd want to live over again and again…read morebut it just wasn't. The reservations are nearly impossible to get, which admittedly is one of the reasons I was so interested to begin with, but also not easy to obtain. The staff and location were very nice but the long wait for dinner, though expected and informed about, was just hard to get past. The food was all okay but nothing that I need to go back for another time. It would have almost been cooler if they structured their seatings like HerPlace and make it more of like a themed event type of dinner but I understand that may be hard with the limited kitchen space. I'd go back if someone asked me and got the invite but I wouldn't go out of my way for the difficult reservation again over somewhere new.

Went to Buco Doro Ristorante on the last day of Restaurant Week 1/31/26 in Center City Philly…read more Had a delicious lunch. We started with bread served with butter and the option of olive oil, which was already on the table. The Caesar salad was very good, with fresh greens and a peppery Caesar dressing. For lunch, I had the penne alla vodka with prosciutto. I really liked the vodka sauce and the prosciutto cubes. The cappuccino was perfect as well, especially on a cold day. The wait staff was friendly. The restaurant's walls were painted with scenes of Italy, along with additional artwork. Will definitely be back.

We were invited to a surprise birthday dinner here and Buca D'oro did a tremendous job hosting!…read moreUpon arriving, guests walk down a flight of stairs into the restaurant. Very unique and immediately set the mood for the rest of the night. The restaurant feels homey and historic. Lots of brickwork and beautiful artwork covers much of the walls. The bar is large with plenty of seats to accommodate numerous guests if you'd like to enjoy a cocktail prior to or after dinner. We arrived around 6pm on a Saturday night and despite the bar being somewhat empty, the rest of the restaurant was filled with patrons. We were shown to our private room by wonderful staff, who went above and beyond the entire night to ensure all ~40 of the guests at our party had an enjoyable experience. Prior to arriving, my wife and I looked through the menu and pictures to get an idea of what we would have liked to eat. The bone-in veal chop, lamb chops, chicken parm all looked like things I would love but we figured the hosts would pick a prefix menu with the party being as large as it was. We started with drinks at the bar: Espresso Martini & Rye Manhattan. The drinks were very reasonably priced especially for being in the city (to be honest they're even reasonable for around my hometown in South Jersey as well) ranging from $13-15 dollars on the cocktail list. After the first round of drinks, I decided to switch up from the Manhattan to an Old Fashioned. We enjoyed all of the drinks we ordered (although I would recommend the Rye Manhattan over the Old Fashioned) and I loved the martini glasses. They were sleek, elegant, and felt great in my hand. The young woman who spent much of her time tending to our party also worked behind the bar, relayed the menu and entree options, took orders, and helped serve. She was phenomenal. There were plates of the most delicious and soft bread spaced out on the tables with many bottles of olive oil scattered throughout for dipping. Everything was served family style aside from the entrees. We were started with Fried Calamari and an antipasto spread with cured meats, olives, cheese. LOVED both! Then came a classic Caesar salad and an arugula salad with balsamic dressing. Both very good, but the Caesar was great! Then we were served two different pasta dishes, Gnocchi Gorgonzola and a Penne in marinara. Again, both good but I would 100% recommend the gnocchi as would my wife. All of this food was served prior to us receiving our entrees. We had 3 options to choose from between the following: Veal Saltimbocca, Chicken Parm, and Salmon over Spinach. I decided on the Veal Saltimbocca and couldn't have been happier with my selection. The veal was pounded extremely thin, was cooked to perfection, and served in a delicious and refreshing white wine sauce. My wife went with the Chicken Parm which she was incredibly pleased with as well. We tried each other's entrees and agreed you can't go wrong with either. Our friends ordered the Salmon (which they also loved) and while I never eat salmon, I know I would have enjoyed that as well just by the looks and how it was cooked. After we were finished with our meals, we were served 3 different slices of cakes. A chocolate mousse (which was my favorite!), a blueberry cheesecake, and some kind of pistachio cake. I'm not much of a dessert person but I thoroughly enjoyed all 3 cakes we were served and feel most would enjoy them if ordered. After dinner I sent my mom (who lives in NJ) pictures of the restaurant and the food who then sent the pictures to her brother (who lives in the city) and they've already started discussing plans on visiting La Buca D'oro soon! Dinner and service exceeded our expectations. The menu prices, in my opinion, were very low for the quality of food/drinks we were served. On top of the food being spectacular, the atmosphere was cozy, romantic, and one of a kind.

This place and Ilir earned my heart. Amazing homemade pasta. One of the best Italian places I've…read moreever tried. So good, and the portions are really big. The dessert is also a 10/10. 100% recommend.

One of my favorite under-the-radar BYOBs in Rittenhouse. Bistro La Baia nails the combination of…read moregreat food, attentive service, and a fair price point. The grilled octopus salad was outstanding, my veal was excellent, and my wife's pasta was amazing. The staff is warm, accommodating, and genuinely cares about the experience. Loved it and will be back!!

We had been wanting to come here for a very long time as we are huge fans of Southwark and it…read moreultimately not only didn't disappoint but exceeded our expectations. Small, super intimate table with people who quickly became friends. The service was personable, friendly, funny (?), but also so professional. It was a tasting menu that was clearly thought out with a delightful wine pairing in a way that wasn't pretentious in the slightest, as some are. The meal never felt rushed and we certainly left feeling as if we had enough food.

The food, the service and the setting were amazing. An impactful dining experience that addresses…read morethe foodies's most intimate look into a high-end kitchen. we were blown away by the quality of the food. the explanations and knowledge gained about the food prepared and served. the chef and staff were friendly and attentive. They answered questions and made sure all aspects of the dining experience were taken care of.

14 of us had dinner. The food was great. We did family style with all the appetizers. So good…read more Service was great. The lemon cake . I am still thinking about it so good

Service was great--this place is small but elegant. Nevertheless, dress is casual to classy. It…read moreisn't noisy like some of the big historic Italian eateries but the food is truly delicious. We had the shrimp and cannellini and it was tasty and filling. The eggplant appetizer was light and flavorful. Everything is homemade and flavorful without being trapped by too much cheese! The lemon cake was To. Die. For.

worth 5 Michelin stars....I'm a winemaker (Villa Milagro Vineyards) so I "got" tastebuds! And they…read morehave NEVER been more indulged than last night at Gnocchi. Everything about this small gem of a restaurant screams FANTASTIC! We were greeted like family by staff sitting outside in the heat of this 4th of July weekend. Invited in, we ordered a simple house salad to start. Nothing about it was simple except that it was simply THE best house salad we ever had. The usual mixed green - but laced with cucumbers thinly sliced and rolled to look like garnish; tiny croutons (really about 1/8inch squares) that gave great crunch without overpowering the salad, shaved carrots and bite size yellow tomatoes sweet like candy. Then the dressing! Light, perfectly balanced with no one element overpowering any other. Next, we had mussels for which we requested the hottest sauce. Not one was overcooked or rubbery. Each was so delicate and fresh that it melted in your mouth. And the marinara!!!!! We were grateful for the perfectly toasted pieces of Italian bread to soak it up as we wiped down the bowl to get the last drops. For our mains, I had the Boursin gnocchi in an alfredo sauce. To begin, I love Boursin - its delicate blend of spices combined to create its own flavor profile. Covered in Gnocchi's velvety alfredo, it was an exquisite explosion of subtleness that left you wanting more as you wondered how could something so simple make you crave more. My daughter's salmon was served with roasted brussels sprouts in a corn reduction. Her comment - I have never had salmon cooked to such perfection that the texture melts in your mouth. And that corn reduction? A kind of "down-home" goodness of the best southern creamed corn you have ever tasted. Every dish we had at Gnocchi had layer upon layer of flavor melded like a fine aged red wine. And best of all was our chance to chat with owners Maria and Ryan. Maria is one of the MOST welcoming people ever created. She oozes love and hospitality. And Chef Ryan! This guy would make any Iron Chef tremble - both from fear of losing to him and anticipation to taste his creations. You want a 4 star experience in a laid back, homey atmosphere......go to Gnocchi. We will be back.

We were a table of 10. Long time customers. We had no idea they changed hands. Greeting and table…read morewere great. Unfortunately, 7 out of 10 main courses were incorrect. They served everyone who ordered gnocchi ala vodka, fra diablo instead. They insisted it was ala vodka. They then replaced them with Alfredo. What upsets me is the fact that they tried to tell us the fra diablo was, in fact, ala vodka. After all of us being more than patient, they refused to own their mistakes and couldn't be accommodating in any way. Come on people now! Bring back the chef table and Mossimo! Sad but true.