The food was amazing. Some of the best spaghetti and meatball I've had in a while. Cute little spot in Italian market. The service was great, and the server was very attentive. I Iove that's it's family owned. And again the food was the star of the show read more

Cucina Maria - Spaghetti and meatballs. Ravioli - Italian Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

I was met by a beautiful empty restaurant and an Italian woman whose appearance reminds me why the Italians weren't considered white back in their day. The ambiance feels like Tony and Carmela's marriage would be happier if they came here more. The block is surrounded by parks. I've never been to Venice but the music makes me imagine that those boat rides with singers on the river collaborated to make the playlist. My order is taken with a neutrality that fits my serious need for immediate delicious food. Warm bread, olive oil, and butter are brought out and i am very satisfied. My food comes out before I can scarf down two olive oil drenched bread slices. The brandy cream sauce with scallops over spaghetti is a subtle but indulgent flavor. I asked for some Gorgonzola blue cheese which comes quickly served melted in some cream. I came in peckish with a big appetite and found myself and my partner completely full with food left over for $51. This is my fourth time having a experience just like this at cocina Maria and this place is now my go to for Italian seafood, attentive service, and competitive prices. read more

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Highly recommended! Excellent food, delicious pasta and all its dishes! I'll be back.The pasta is very good, a delicious sauce! All very good read more

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I ordered takeout. The ricotta/gargonzola gnocchi looked nothing like the photo I saw online. Texture was all off, almost tasted spoiled. So much sauce it was like soup. read more

Cucina Maria - Ricotta Gnocchi - Italian Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

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Everything was very good. Very slow night and I thought food could have come out a little quicker but overall great dinner! read more

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A beautiful meal. She cooks with love. the ricotta gnocchi was a standout. I highly recommend this wonderful restaurant.

Truly bad Italian food. The salad seemed to be like one would get at a Mexican - not Italian - restaurant. The pasta sauce tasted like it had been poured from a can- watery and tastless. A mountain of parmigiana cheese made the meal close to edible. Service was fine and the two young services were attentive. The actual restaurant needs work. Damaged walls, unwelcomeing lighting. All was just bad. read more

Delicious! But, we had ordered gnocchi and were given a completely different item. It was almost like lumps of cheese? We still enjoyed it nonetheless, but it is unfortunate that we did not get the chance to try the ravioli at this location. Maybe next time! read more

Great gem in South Philly! While in the area and sort of lost looking for an early ish dinner for my family - we stumbled on this place. They were super accommodating with our walk in request on a Saturday night and within seconds, we had a seat, a seat for my 3 yr old, and a place for my infant and stroller. They even had a kids menu! Service was friendly and attentive. We got the fried calamari to start ($16) which was just the right amount of crisp. I had scallops in a cream sauce over fettuccini ($25) which was also very delicious. My husband got the chicken parm which was huge while my daughter got spaghetti and meatballs which was flavorful and a huge kids portion that could probably feed about 4 toddlers. All in all - a really great place to have a nice quality Italian meal in South Philly! Highly recommend. read more

Cucina Maria - Fried Calamari - Italian Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

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To say the food is abysmal, is an understatement. Our appetizer- grilled calamari was 4 pieces about 4 inches big and thick , chewy tufts. We had to spit them out after about a minute of chewing. Rubbery and gross. Surrounded by few sprigs of arugula and tablespoon of tomatoes, doused with balsamic glaze. Ughhh we left it uneaten Sanchetti was tough as eraser pasta, with pork mince which looked like stale. Again tough and weird tasting.. Branzini with vegetables(ONLY broccoli) and crispy(boiled and mushy) potatoes, served with foamy tomato. Actual foam !! The fish was the worst. Stale, stiff and had a horrible taste We were in a mood for dessert so we walked to isigro couple of blocks over. Didn't wanna pay them any more money. Worst Italian food I've ever had "Authentic" Italian run by non italians... what's more to say read more

I had much higher hopes for this place, but we were for the most part not enthusiastic about our meals. Service was decent, but we were only 1 of two tables in the place between lunch and dinner service. We started with the fried calamari and the antipasto, both of which were really disappointing. The antipasto had minimal ingredients (far less than the price would indicate). The calamari was so rubbery, so much so that we did not finish it. They did bring out some bruschetta for the table before the meal, which was very tasty. The chicken parm was good, and the gorgonzola cream sauce was tasty but was pretty dry (not enough for the amount of pasta). The meatballs had a funky flavor to them. Not sure what it was, but some kind of citrus flavor profile. In any event, there are far better options for Italian food in South Philly, so we'll go back to those in the future. read more

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Your shrimp Alla Vodka pasta was an absolute delight! Each bite was a symphony of flavors, with the succulent shrimp perfectly complementing the creamy, vodka-infused sauce. The pasta itself was cooked to perfection, achieving that ideal balance between tender and al dente. What truly sets this dish apart is the chef's mastery in creating a sauce that's rich, velvety, and bursting with flavor. The vodka adds a subtle yet distinctive kick, elevating the dish to a whole new level of sophistication. Every ingredient seemed to harmonize flawlessly, creating a culinary experience that I won't soon forget. Moreover, the portion size was generous, ensuring that each mouthful was a gratifying experience. The presentation was also impeccable, showcasing the vibrant colors and textures of the dish in an enticing manner. Overall, your shrimp Alla Vodka pasta surpassed all expectations, delivering a gastronomic journey that left me utterly satisfied. It's a testament to the culinary prowess of the restaurant and a dish I'll eagerly return for time and time again. Bravo to the chef for crafting such a masterpiece! And Teresa is such a sweetheart. The owner, she works hard even sent me home with a pint of her homemade balsamic ! It was to die for. Me and my wife had it drizzled in our appetizer of stuffed mushrooms topped with creamy sauce and lump crab!! This lady has to be from the old country To my SP Italiano familia sorry if I spelled "alla vodka wrong" read more

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Came here on the StrEats of Philly food tour and so glad that they introduced us to this place. The spinach gnocchi with blush sauce is the best gnocchi I have ever had. I can't put it into words but you MUST order the gnocchi. This place is BYOB so our group enjoyed a few bottles of red wine we brought with us. This place will be a must for me anytime I'm in Philly. read more

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This restaurant is owned by the chef who learned Italian cuisine from an Italian chef for 22 years . You can read more of the story in Inquirer online. Just Google Cucina Maria and you'll find the story. I have the privilege to talk to her husband, who was super nice and friendly. He brought out the food from the kitchen. Our waiter was a quiet young gentleman who once in a while came over to make sure that we were ok. Complimentary bread was fresh, homemade, and light with a nice crust. It's served with olive oil and fresh marinara. I can easily eat the whole basket. Appetizers: Fried calamari. Definitely get it. Calamari was fresh, not chewy, and the breading was light and crunchy. It's served with fresh marinara wit crushed red pepper. Portobello with Gorgonzola. Super creamy and great Gorgonzola flavor. I cannot see the portobello because it's completely covered in cream. Great to dunk your bread to clean up the plate. Entrée I picked salmon. It's served with broccoli, potatoes, peppers in wine sauce. I don't like salty food so it's perfect for me. Make sure you squeeze the lemon to add more flavor. My husband had creamy fettuccine with scallops. I had a bite and it was delicious. Pasta was fresh and had great flavor. My friend has mushroom risotto but she said it was kinda bland so she asked for cheese and salt. Dessert Nutella cheesecake was decent To conclude, service was great. Food came right away. I recommend getting the pasta dish as the entree. read more

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I wish I took a picture of the food. It was amazing. I had the arugula salad, Bronzino, grilled calamari, spinach gnocchi, and the bread was crazy good with the tomato sauce. It was a perfect environment. And the service was amazing!l read more

To be fair, I should know better than order seafood on a Sunday. Our group started with the calamari, clams, and mussels. The calamari was ok, but could have stayed in the fryer for another minute and the portion was rather small. The accompanying sauce was excellent though. The mussels in red sauce and clams in white wine sauce seamed a bit over date. The star of the night however was the veal chop. Stuffed with prosciutto and cheese served with your choice of fresh house made pasta. The chop was seasoned beautifully and cooked medium rare. The pasta I chose was a beet fettuccine that was absolutely perfect. The service is good and not overbearing that pairs well with the ambiance that is straight out of a Godfather movie. Don't forget to BYO and consider an Uber as parking in this area at times can be difficult. read more

Today, I had linguine and clams with red sauce (which I requested), and it was fabulous!! Yum yum!!! read more

Cucina Maria - The atmosphere is great!! - Italian Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Great lil' BYOB! I've loved everything I've eaten there but the gnocchi is especially fantastic.

Came for lunch and the lunch specials were clutch. The Agnolotti was my personal favorite, but we also loved the gnocchi and meatballs. BYOB and the ambiance was very colorful yet intimate. The owner served us and she was fantastic with recommendations. We felt this was a lucky find. read more

This is my friend's favorite local Italian restaurant. We shared the ricotta gnocchi with porcini sauce and spinach gnocchi with marinara. The gnocchi and sauces are homemade, and that's evident. The gnocchi is soft, smooth, and dense, and they nailed the porcini sauce. It was so good my friend stopped eating the spinach gnocchi. The only critique is it wasn't salted enough for me, but adding the parmesan made it perfect. I'm now craving it. read more

Quaint restaurant with homemade everything! From the bread to the appetizers to the entrees, everything was flavorful and delightful. The steamed clams and calamaris were fresh and delicious. The lobster raviolis and spaghetti with marinara sauce were amazing. Will return. read more

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I was underwhelmed with the service which was surprising because my family was one of two guest in the dining area and the staff only came by once. The food was pretty good but nothing special. The food for the price is about average for italian food but I wouldn't go out of my way for it read more

PAST-TA PEPPER PLEASE Sharing this gem that was featured in @phillyinquirer from the last east coast trip, in . We had the best time walking around South Philly and bumping into Cucina Maria, a gem of a family-owned spot. It's really rare that we see ANYTHING 4.9 on Google so we had to explore We we're the only guests given it was already 2:30pm. the vibe is truly homey Italian : handmade pastas, fresh, checkered table tops and old-school menus You know what I mean! We ordered a chicken Parm (comes with noodles) and a spinach gnocchi (highly recommended online. The noodles/spaghetti was superb, nice and fresh. Not too bitey but actually more refreshing with the light tomato sauce . The gnocchi was on the softer pillowy side + larger pieces, something I've never seen before All in all a great meal. Server was new but still fantastic. We tried to help him out as much as possible (poor guy!) @midwestmunching on Instagram for more read more

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The food is wonderful. Very fresh and expertly prepared. The owner is a lovely woman. I highly recommend this place. read more

Cucina Maria - Grilled Calamari - Italian Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

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I came here with a friend. We both have mixed reviews. She enjoyed it. I did not. We did however agree on one thing, the decor needs an overhaul. My suggestion? Get rid of all of the dollar store/ five below decorations. I'm serious. Just get rid of them all together. Please also get rid of the red lights regardless of whether or not it's Valentine's Day. It truly comes across as very tacky. It's a BYOB. That's helpful. One waiter. We guessed his age to be around 16 years old. Our service was that of what you would think today is 16-year-old would provide. I ordered the muscles. While they were very large, I did not like that I could smell them when they came to the table. I asked before ordering the bread if it would come to the table warm. He replied, yes. The bread was not warmed. I sent it back. It came back slightly warmed. I ordered the steak. My other suggestion is to make it 4 ounces smaller. Charge a few dollars fewer. It was not cooked to my expectations, which was medium rare. It was well done. I returned it. Asked for the manager. Another teenager came to our table. I suggest if you want to be taken seriously, you keep the teenagers in the back. She enjoyed the bread. I did not. She had a shrimp pasta, which she really enjoyed. The other patrons were all young that I could tell. We are in our 50s. read more

How are there not more reviews on this gem of a very local feel BYOB restaurant. What a find! Calamari was perfectly cooked. I had the pesto stuffed cheese ravioli over a tomato sauce which was super tasty. We had a couple of deserts that we all loved. I'm struggling to remember all of the dishes we had as I probably had too much wine. What I can say is we were raving about the food. Our waiter was the biggest disappointment. He has been there only a month which I'm ok with, but he lacked basic waiter skills. Not going to get into the details, but they should work with him. Regardless, I will definitely be back!! read more

Cucina Maria - Pesto stuffed ravioli - Italian Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

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I'm from Philly originally and came in to visit family. Two of our group of seven needed gluten free options and this place said they had homemade pasta options. We had a great meal, and the vibe was perfect for us. Definitely not pretentious and felt very down-home. The story is amazing. The current chef started out washing dishes and was an immigrant who took over from the mama who had been cooking there for like 40 years. Everything was really tasty and would highly recommend. The standouts were the chicken parm and the gnocchi. read more

I generally do not like giving 2 star ratings to small owned business but they need to figure it out. The place itself is really really small maybe less tables where they can actually focus on service. We were a large party which is never easy but the things that could be fixed were easy. We had to ask for bread and water several times and anytime we did apparently we got on the servers nerves because when he did bring it he basically threw it at the table. The bread was actually good but they did not serve with butter or oil (odd) appetizers were pretty good and came out timely. Our entrees were just ok and there was very little food actually on the plate and we had to ask for salt. The steaks ordered were almost comical, flavor was getting there but just not executed properly. We had one persons entree that came out when everyone was done eating, it was chicken parm probably the easiest dish on the menu. I wouldn't go again but would suggest to fix the little things it could be much better. read more

This place is amazing! Delicious, homemade food at a reasonable price. The chef provided wonderful service, describing the menu options and customizing the dishes to our liking. The restaurant is unassuming from the outside but elegant within. read more

Cucina Maria - Italian Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

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This is a charming restaurant with very good homemade food, reminiscent of Mama's kitchen. There is only one reason for this three star review, but it is problematic enough to warrant it: the soup. This restaurant charges $15 for a very small bowl of soup. To make matters worse, it does not put the price of the daily soup on the menu. Although delicious, it is outrageous to charge this for a small bowl of soup--particularly when a hefty and delicious entree portion of pasta is $20. Four soups= $60!! OUTRAGEOUS...and dare I say, a ripoff--which seriously detracted from what was otherwise a very delicious and pleasant dining experience. read more

My mother and I came here for lunch and we couldn't believe how amazing the food was. Our waitress was so kind and attentive. We had the bruschetta, gnocchi, ravioli, and the tomato/mozzarella dish. This was the BEST Italian food we have ever had. The waitress told us that she hand-cuts the gnocchi and makes the bread herself. We're not kidding when we say it is the best. Everything was bursting with flavor and was made with the freshest ingredients. It was all delicious but our favorites were the gnocchi and the bruschetta. Such an amazing lady and talented chef. A true hidden gem in south Philly. So excited to come back. read more

Meatballs were simple and delicious. Shrimp and crab raviolis were amazing: the flavor was sharp! You will not be disappointed with the food and the ambience. The proprietor is super sweet and knows her menu by heart! read more

My wife and I returned to Cucina Maria this afternoon. Once again, everything was fabulous. Upon entering you see this immaculate restaurant with perfectly decorated tables (with fresh flowers). This was certainly a glimpse into what our early dinner would be like. We started off with Gnocchi and grilled calamari which were both cooked to perfection, Gnocchi are homemade as are all of the pasta dishes - it matters. We each wanted spaghetti claims and they were fresh. The spaghetti was done al dente. The white wine sauce was tasty and not too overwhelming. Dessert was a homemade cannoli and tiramisu. Both were fresh and very tasty. Bravo to Joanna, who is an outstanding chef!!! The service is friendly and knowledgeable. Maggie was a terrific and personable server. It is quite evident to us that this restaurant is truly a gem. If you are ever in Southy Philly, it is a must destination for a great meal. Bravo to all!!! read more

The food was extremely inconsistent. Their "gnocchi" in Gorgonzola sauce arrived terribly overcooked (not to mention that we'd ordered the gnocchi in mushroom sauce and they'd brought the wrong dish). The "gnocchi" was mushy and the sauce was a creamy mess. The server acknowledged the issues and offered us a replacement. We had the seafood over linguine , which was very good. The mussels and the shrimp over broccoli rabbe were good . read more

My family used to go to this restaurant when it was Cucina Forte, and always had wonderful meals. It is under new ownership, by the chef who cooked at the old restaurant. Tonight, we visited for the first time, and were delighted. It's an inviting, colorful environment, perfect for this rainy evening. The waiter was attentive, knowledgeable, and friendly. He took care of us like family. And the chef herself came to our table and described the numerous specials of the day. To We ordered everything from delicious mixed greens with homemade balsamic vinaigrette, to chicken parmesan with the pasta of your choice, salmon on a bed of vegetables, and chicken rollatini, plus an appetizer of eggplant stuffed with crabmeat. Every dish was truly home cooked with love and attention to fresh ingredients. We were so satisfied that dessert wasn't needed. I encourage everyone seeking the ideal South Philly ristorante to visit Cucina Maria. Bring your appetite, along with your family and friends! read more

A very pleasant surprise! Excellent Italian food, pleasant comfortable atmosphere, reasonably priced, and love the BYOB! My first time at this new incarnation under new management. I came with a group of 5 friends and out-of-town professional colleagues - and so I wanted it to be good food that would be a good a reflection of the unique South Philly Italian BYOB scene (rather than going to another upscale fancy fine dining experience with too-precious creations and too-small portions). No disappointment - this was traditional, delicious, satisfying and everyone was happy. The restaurant is modest but comfortable and tables not too close together (we came on a Tuesday night and it was almost empty). Service was friendly but not intrusive, and very pleasant. Food was great: shared as appetizers several types of gnocchi (which are huge) with different sauces (pesto, parmesian); excellent fried calamari; delicious meatballs. Everyone enjoyed their entrees, and I can vouch for the veal saltimbocca. Deserts were equally satisfying. All in all, very delicious! I came here occasionally when it was Cucina Forte and the food was very good, though sometimes the service was not friendly. I had not realized it closed and then re-opened as Cucina Maria now owned by the chef from Cucina Forte. So it has retained the good food, and we had a more pleasant experience than my last few times at CF. Definitely a place I will return to for excellent satisfying food, a comfortable meal, and great value. read more

ABSOLUTELY AMAZING!! We came here after having been turned away from a more know Italian restaurant a few minutes away but MAN am I super thankful that we stumbled upon this place!! Immediately upon entering we were greeted by Del, one of the best servers I've ever had! (I work in restaurants so I've met a few servers!) She was the epitome of top notch server! She told us all about the delicious specials. So we ordered the burratta salad, meatballs and my fiancé got the fresh crab stuffed mushroom... YUM. Everything was just absolutely amazing! So fresh, so delicious, perfectly seasoned.. omg! For dinner me and my daughter got the burratta pasta special (home made pasta!) with grilled chicken and my fiancé got a duck special with pasta.. absolutely amazing. I can't even stress to you how fresh the pasta was, cooked perfectly Al Dente.. and the impeccable service from Del.. we closed the night with Nutella cheesecake, a cannoli, ricotta cheesecake and chocolate mousse. We have now found our favorite new place in Philly! Very reasonably priced, great size portions, BYOB, and the best customer service I've experienced in a long time!!! I will 100000000% be back as long as Del is my server!!! You will not be disappointed!!! read more

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i am a recent transplant (from the west coast) to Philadelphia and don't quite have the lay of the land yet. i happened to land in bella vista and have made it a goal to try all the nearby restaurants. cucina maria is a 4-minute walk from me and they happen to be open for lunch. as i have a friend in from LA, it was the perfect opportunity to try it! and it's a BYOB, so even better! all i can say is cucina maria is a great all-around experience. the restaurant is cozy and immaculate. the service is warm and friendly. most importantly, the food is delicious and great attention is paid to plating. here's what we had: 1. antipasto salad 2. spaghetti and clams 3. grilled seafood salad over mixed greens our meal began with two generous servings of bruschetta on perfectly grilled bread---and compliments of the house. the bruschetta wasn't soggy (which oftentimes happens) and the bread, as mentioned, was toasted to perfection and topped with fresh tomatoes. the antipasto salad was a gorgeous composed plate full of colorful roasted peppers, slivers of Italian cured meats, and hunks of cheese. we ate everything on the plate. the two entrees, which we shared, were so good. the pasta was definitely handmade, though whether it was made there i don't know. it had the pleasant chew and bite that fresh pasta is known for. the grilled seafood salad was stunning to look at and each bite was so good. the plate was filled with generous portions of grilled shrimp, scallop, salmon, and calamari. the calamari, which can easily go rubbery, was tender and nicely grilled. prices for the quality of food and level of service were very reasonable. i'm so happy that i tried it and even happier that it's a 4-minute walk from me. i will definitely be back. read more

I am super excited to come back here! The food is delicious and the service is is great! You can tell they use quality ingredients. Even their bread was amazing. It is BYOB so it's great for a dinner with friends and family. read more

This is a real gem of a restaurant. I came here with a group of people and everyone was raving about the food and service. Our waiter (the owner's son) was delightful and friendly. The food was fresh and the servings large. It is BYOB, so grab wine or beer on your way there. Bonus: they have gluten-free pasta, which is not always easy to find. read more