I came with 4 girls and usually we never finish our food. But when we had dinner here we had no left overs. We did a family style meal which gives us all the chance to try out all these delicious dishes. The best one I personally loved was the gnocchi platter. I would highly recommend this place. read more

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Finally tried this BYOB with my family after driving by it many times. Very modern look with solid choices of seafood and Italian. Saw on my way out that it is associated with Melograno, which makes sense because the homemade pasta here like Melograno was very good. We started with tuna and octopus, which were both great. Just wish the portion size was a little bigger. I went with the pasta special including pork and goat cheese. I was not disappointed as it had great flavor. Good to see new restaurants like this one appearing in the grad hospital area! read more

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My friend and I were long overdue for a dinner date and decided to check this place out. We had heard good things about it and had high hopes, but it ended up being the perfect example of a three-star experience. We made reservations for 6:30pm on a Thursday and arrived right on time. The restaurant was pretty empty, but quickly filled up as the night went on. It was a beautiful fall day so we decided to sit outside. Our waiter was kind enough to set a heating lamp up right beside our table just in case it got cooler as the night went on (which it did so this was much appreciated). Since L'anima is BYO, we brought along a bottle of champagne which our waiter popped for us as we skimmed the menu. After asking him some questions about the dishes, we decided to order the Panzanella (poached calamari) for an appetizer and we each got a pasta for our main. We also decided to share a side of charred Brussels sprouts. As much as I love calamari, I didn't really care for the Panzanella. It came over top a salad of fresh veggies with a red wine vinaigrette, but I thought it was still pretty flavorless. Maybe some extra vinaigrette would have saved this dish, but either way, I wouldn't order it again. Although I really struggled on choosing which main I wanted off of the pasta menu, I ended up going for the Pesto. This dish consisted of pappardelle pasta, sea scallops and toasted almonds tossed in a mint pesto, and honestly, it tasted just as good as it sounds. I thought it was flavorful and a good portion size. Although the Brussels sprouts weren't anything special, they were a nice side. If I was to return, I wouldn't mind getting these two dishes again. My dining partner and I shared a dessert to end our meal and chose the Cannoli Millefoglie which was so disappointing. This layered cannoli came with pistachio, candied orange, dark chocolate and aged balsamic which, in my opinion, just do not belong together. Although I'm a fan of these ingredients on their own, they just didn't compliment each other at all. I remember thinking I wish I had just let the Pesto be my last bite of the night, but instead I left with a sour taste in my mouth. I'm glad to have tried this restaurant, but I'm in no rush to return. If you are going to check it out, my advice would be to try their pasta because that was the only true winner in my book. read more

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Our server was so sweet. The pizza was a solid alternative to the larger chains around the area. They also serve wine now too! Cute restaurant too. read more

Wow. I just can't begin to share how amazing our experience was. Everything, from the service, the ambience, the vibe, was superb from the get go. But then the appetizers started coming out. I can't describe how delectable each appetizer was. We couldn't decide which was more perfect. The entrees just went over the top. The branzino was prepared so perfectly; I wish I could have it again tomorrow. The gnocchi was another big hit, as was the special of linguine with shrimp and chorizo. We were so thrilled, we can't wait to return! You will absolutely agree and this will become your new fav restaurant like it just became to the 8 of us tonight! read more

Excellent food and even better hospitality. Staff was incredibly accommodating to our large party on a recent Saturday. Can't wait to return. read more

This was a cute hidden gem that was unexpected with charming bistro lights. We ordered the calamari, cheese ravioli and margarita pizza. Definitely great filling options. The calamari had the wonderful addition of artichokes. I do wish the ravioli had a little more flavor but the pizza was delicious. Really liked that it also was a byob. read more

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BYOB Is always a plus! Dinner at this fabulous restaurant with my family. The server was friendly and recommended a few dishes including the specials. The Panzanella, Poached calamari over a salad & country bread with a red wine vinaigrette very tasty. My husband had the Baccala' alla Trasteverina, Seared cod with citrus boiled potatoes which he devoured. I had the Branzino Special also a delicious choice. Many good options on their menu to choose from and enjoy. read more

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L'anima had risen to the top of my Yelp "must try" list from the recent raving reviews of this new establishment. I also agree, it's very good and worth checking out. We made reservations, it was pretty packed. The huge outside patio was stunning, but it was too hot outside so I'd rather eat in air conditioning. So, we did! Problem with inside, is it's soooo loud. Everyone's voices carried and echoed uncomfortably loud at times. Food was delicious. Service was ok. We had a few different servers we had to track down at times which isn't ideal, but we weren't in a rush, so it was fine. For food we had: Pulpo- was good, not my favorite octopus dish I've had, given the bland garnishes but the pulpo itself was cooked perfectly! Pesto- Pasta with scallops. Again, scallops cooked perfectly. Loved this dish alot, I just wish the pesto was stronger. Cacio ePepe- Favorite dish of the night.. this was very authentic Italian like I used to get when I visited Italy. It was absolutely delicious. Thick rich sauce, and fresh made pasta. LOVED it! Cheese Crepe- it was stuffed with ricotta and other cheeses, and mushrooms, and baked. Another favorite dish of the night... I LOVED this so much and it was more unique than the other dishes. Beef Flatbread- we ordered this as additional later, because the 4 dishes we had first wasn't enough to fill us up (3 people). The portions were a tad small, so if you want the best bang for your buck, order the flatbread! It was also delicious, lemon and truffle were great. then we were stuffed. I love this place is BYOB .. but they didn't have large enough ice bins to keep 2 bottles cold.. so bring reds lol. Also we had to ask twice for the ice bin, so either they had a short supply, or they were too busy and forgot we asked. Overall a very good new restaurant.. I'm glad I went! read more

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Went here for a friend's birthday dinner in the middle of a sudden storm so no one was there and we didn't feel guilty hogging a table for eight for almost two hours. Everything we got was excellent. We ended up sharing several appetizers including a flatbread which I highly recommend. I believe the whole group enjoyed everything we ordered. Here's what I remember: Rustico antipasti: elegant selection of meats and cheeses Reginae flatbread: very solid Caprese Di Alici: I didn't eat this but just group loved it. Buffalo mozzarella app Brussels sprouts appetizer special: can't go wrong Vaccinara: I got this dish. So yummy. Pesto: only get it you love pesto. My pesto crazed friend thought it was slightly overwhelming. She enjoyed it but it is not subtle. I think we ended up getting a bunch of specials as well. Would def go again. The pastas were good and we got some nice desserts as a surprise for my friend. Most importantly: BYOB! read more

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Amazing service everyone is so friendly and great neighborhood spot! Food was terrific - sitting by the window was great!!

Awesome dishes and great customer service. Being a BYOB allowed us to splurge on different dishes. We will be back.

So impressed with the quality of the food! The scallops in the pesto were melt-in-your-mouth perfection and the sauce was fresh and bright - a great summer dish to try. My sister got the squid ink gnocchi, and the little pillows were fluffy and the savory sauce kept me going in to steal bites off of her plate. There was a good amount and variey of seafood in the dish as well: shrimp, razor clam, squid, and a flaky white fish. Our table also got the polpo as an appetizer. The octopus was crusted with a nice crisp texture and the meat cut like butter with my knife. The lemon oil and olives provided a nice contrast of acid and salt to the dish - I recommend! Dessert was pretty solid, but I think I was too full to really appreciate the tiramisu and the strawberry gelato profiterol. Well-made though! Service was good overall as well. The hostess was sweet and the waiters were attentive. Overall, I have to say I want to come back to try the other dishes because everything seemed solid, and the other guests all seemed satisfied and happy with their experiences! I'm only in town for a week, and this has been a stand-out among all the restaurants I've been checking out. read more

L'Anima - Pesto - Italian Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

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Had a wonderful experience at L'anima! Made mid week early evening reservations and was still expecting to be some glitches in the evening since they hadn't even been open three weeks. However, my entire party was blown away by not only excellent service but delicious food! We ordered the special appetizer and then two apps, two pastas and two sides (for 3) and had exactly enough. Everything tasted incredible fresh, unique and homemade. The atmosphere inside is really cute and modern. Outside has a great porch with colorful furniture and the perfect spot to be in the shade. Of course the major bonus here- it's BYOB! Can't wait for my return, which will definitely be soon. read more

L'Anima - Sea bass crudo special - Italian Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Ambience was great, service was great but the food not so much, My fiancée got sick after, we though everything was kind of room temperature not hot at all, Very basic flavor, maybe it was late I know is hard times to work, very uncomfortable, hopefully next time we can experience better food. read more

A favorite neighborhood spot in grad hospital. Unique Roman inspired Italian food in a gorgeous environment. Love the staff here too. Never disappointed and very reasonable prices for a more upscale feeling restaurant. Definitely recommend read more

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Super enjoyable "nouveau Italian" dinner! The octopus appetizer was one of the best I've ever had, light, perfectly prepared, and lightly but effectively sauced To showcase the texture of the octopus. The salads were all excellent, and my main course of a breaded swordfish - which could be something funky if not done right - wound up being excellent. It's a more modern-looking establishment than many in this area, but it really is beautiful on the inside, and the service was top-notch. read more

Went here for my bday. Staff was so nice and loved the food! We had a special pasta, gnocchi, and the pesto pasta. They even cut the cake for us read more

When a friend suggested meeting up at a relatively new Roman restaurant on Carpenter Street in the Grad Hospital neighborhood, I wasn't expecting at all what I found. I expected it to be located in one of the many row homes or a former corner business that make up most of this old neighborhood Instead I discovered that L'anima is a sleek & stylish new eatery on the ground floor of a new building with an expansive outdoor plaza for warmer weather dining & drinking. Well L'anima looks really good both inside and out. The greeting was friendly as was the service throughout the dinner. A delicious and generous basket of breads and olive oils began the meal. But what I was really looking forward to and the reason for eating at L'anima was the Cacio e Pepe. Yes this classic Roman dish is expertly prepared here and it did not disappoint. It tasted just like a cacio e pepe you would eat in the Eternal City. Anyway to be honest, L'anima is a little bit off of the beaten track unless you live in the vicinity, but it's well worth seeking out if you enjoy fresh Roman cuisine. Just don't forget to order the Cacio e Pepe. read more

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I had been looking for outside dining and this was one on the options. I previously had this restaurant on my list of BYOBs to visit for quite some time, and I am so glad that glad that I finally made it. The appetizers, the pasta, our steak and pork chop entrées, and ending it with the olive cake desert make it a perfect evening! The ambience, food, and service were all great, and we will definitely be back. read more

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Superb pasta, cute outdoor patio seating. Great for date night or dinner with friends.

Happened to be in the neighborhood on an early winter Friday night and was drawn to L'Anima's festive white lights and outdoor tent with glowing heaters. And then knew it was meant to be when we then scored a parking spot across the street. The two of us shared 2 apps (polpette and polpo), plus their gnocchi with maitake mushrooms and pancetta, and wild boar paparadelle. The octopus was grilled and served in a tasty briny olive/tomato sauce with small scoops of polenta. My gnocchi (made in house) was ethereally light and the sauce delicious (though I would have loved a higher ratio of maitake mushrooms v. pancetta). And the housemade paparadelle was perfectly al dente pasta swirled in a luxurious wild boar sauce spiced faintly with cinnamon. The only thing I would not order again was the meatballs -- they were too dense (too much breadcrumbs?) and tasted slightly rubbery and rewarmed and topped with sauce, rather than tender from simmering. Service and ambience was excellent, prices are reasonable ($20 range), and byob is always a +. Definitely a **** 1/2 dinner! read more

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Seriously a great restaurant. The food was incredible the ambiance was so nice and the kitchen is in the main dining room. I cant get over how great it is that on top of the food being amazing, the staff being so attentive, and it being so cool in there, it was byob! read more

L'Anima - Special ! mushroom with truffle oil pasta in back is another special, lamb chops w brussel sprouts - Italian Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

For those that don't live here, know that many restaurants are BYOB, ya gotta bring your own wine. After running over to a wine shop a mile away, had a wonderful dinner. The other downside is parking, but is this neighborhood best to ride share it in/out. Food review Cozze, Mussels In tomato sauce and chili oil: A Pesto: Pappardelle, sea scallops , mint pesto: A Gamberoni: fried shrimp, artichoke and capers mayo: B read more

L'Anima - Pesto, Pappardelle lemon scented arugula mint pesto seared sea scallops toasted almonds pecorino romano - Italian Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

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The staff here is incredible. Had a small party for a friends birthday here and they went above and beyond to make sure we had a great time. The food was delicious (highly recommend the squid ink pasta and their fried burrata special - phenomenal!). They really make you feel like family here. The vibes and staff really take this place up 10 notches! And please take them up on their specials! They know what they are doing! read more

Solid BYOB in an area of the city that is under-represented when it comes to dining establishments. The decor is modern and the space gets plenty of light. There is ample outdoor seating and they have cute lighting that makes it feel super cozy. One thing to note: The bathrooms are not clearly marked and they are so dark! Also, the hooks on the doors are super high...I had to stand on my tip-toes to hang up my purse, which I found rather annoying. When we dined here, we found the service to be great and the food just okay. The calamari appetizer was good, but nothing you can't get at most places in the city. For entrees, I had the steak, which was alright...the fries piled on top made them rather soggy and while it was good, it wasn't outstanding. My husband had the Nero di Seppia, which he stated was a solid 3/5. For dessert, we had tiramisu, which was the best part of the meal, in my opinion, although they could stand to go lighter on the cocoa powder. Overall, a decent BYO, especially if you live nearby and don't feel like cooking. read more

My first visit here was excellent. I thought the food was really good (octopus, steak, carbonara). But after coming back the second and third time I've become less impressed. The flavors were just a bit lacking with each subsequent visit. I think the carbonara is the only thing I find consistently good here. read more

Very cute inside and out. Food is excellent and surprisingly not expensive. We got a mussel appetizer, scallop pasta, etc. Each dish was about $15 each. Would recommend the pistachio read more

Perfectly splendid. Love the food here and as always byob is the bang for your buck! The pasta is made in house (OMG) and always fire. Wait staff is always on point providing any detail to the meal you need. Had the pappardelle with wild boar which is the go too and was fire per usual. The specials are usually great too depending on your mood. Olive cake is great and if you don't know about olive oil cake it may sound weird but is a great desert. read more

Tasty Italian food with nice ambiance. The service was great and very accommodating with our large group. Dessert there was also great if you have the room for it after the entrees! read more

L'Anima - Vaccinara - Italian Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Just had dinner there with a group of friends; everyone loved it. We ate family style, and shared salads, a pizza, and several pastas. All were great. Service was pleasant and efficient, the space is very attractive, and the patio, where we dined, is charming. Definitely recommended! And, the cherry on top: it's BYOB. read more

Lanima was delicious. We started with the grilled octopus and I had nero di sepia (squid ink pasta) My date had the vaccinate (pappardelle with boar). I would have to say polpo app was my favorite and I could have enjoyed that as a meal! The pasta was good but turned my mouth black! (This was a first date so it was a bit awkward, save that dish for not a date). I would not order it again aside from my mouth turning black. Next time I would try the pesto. That looked fabulous! The pappardelle was delicious and the boar provided some great flavor. The pasta was delicious in both dishes and tasted homemade which is key. For dessert we had the cannoli and some gelato. The dessert was fabulous and presentation was gorgeous. Our waiter whose name I forget was amazing. He was very personable and provided great recommendations. He was from NC if you go in ask for the waiter from NC. Lanima is also BYOB! read more

Our group of 6 had a wonderful first time here and enjoyed eating outside. BYOB made our bill feel very inexpensive and we enjoyed 3 appetizers and 5 entrees between us. It's a reasonable, middle of the road Italian spot. Don't go expecting a gourmet meal and you won't be disappointed. The menu has a fair amount of vegetarian options, which was important for a member in our party. We enjoyed a few of the specials too. Pizza was tasty! We enjoyed the pesto pasta with scallops too. The inside was extremely loud (and 50% of the tables were open) when we first arrived and were deciding whether to sit outside or in. Looks like they do BYOB brunch so we will be back for that! read more

The vibe of this place is awesome. It's a pretty space, well decorated, and BYO which is a plus. Service was solid, our waiter was attentive and friendly. Unfortunately the biggest gripe I have is with the food- it was pretty much a parade of mediocre dishes. The eggplant appetizer special was pretty flavorless, as was the tuna crudo appetizer. My friend had the octopus and said the accompanying items (potatoes etc) weren't even cooked. For mains- the pinza was okay, nothing to rave about. My friend's pappardelle pesto was truly flavorless, and overall the food was really disappointing. read more

I live right by this place and am so grateful I do!! This place is a great sit down/dine out place. The ambiance is great, and when you order out the food is still just as good. I love the caccio e pepe here- the pasta is cooked just right and seasoned perfectly. I also ordered the tuna crudo (refreshing), and their squid ink pasta (yum yummy yum). My only word of caution is to order at least one more entree extra if you're starving. The portions are medium/small and I've found myself wishing I ordered another pasta before! read more

Staff was very warm and accommodating. Had the grilled Berkshire Pork Chop Gorgonzola Polenta grilled Radicchio Blueberry Balsamic reduction. It was out of this world perfect. Hope I have a chance to return before leaving Philly. read more

I pass this place all the time and it is usually packed with people eating outside. After eating here recently, I do not understand why the crowds come in. The food was pretty basic and was just not exciting. Also, the bread was HARD, which is just wrong in an Italian restaurant. The service was the best part of a bad experience. I just think there are so many other great restaurants in the area, I will not be returning. read more

We ordered for pick up. Had a lengthy discussion about food that was pescatarian due to a guest that doesn't eat meat. When we picked up the food I expected the order to be correct, so we took it and left. When we got home, the dish we talked about at length while ordering was not included. I called and expressed my concern as the only person that did not receive her meal was our guest. They understood and said they left it off. When I went to pick it up I was charged for the plate and told that they were sorry I hadn't recognized their error. Customer service on take out is severely lacking. Their mistake became ours and the food quality didn't make up for it. Everything else was mediocre at best. Not worth the hassle for take out and because of it, we won't visit again. read more

Great place! Small portions and definitely pricey but great outdoor seating and definitely quieter and less crowded than rittenhouse squ read more

L'Anima - Squid Ink Tonnarelli Tuna - Italian Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

What a cute spot! Grad hospital is so lucky to have a local neighborhood spot that is reasonable & delicious. We found this place on yelp bc we were looking for BYO in the area and this was excellent. We split the Fritturina -- so good. Then I had the Nero di Seppia (the pasta with squid ink sauce) and my fiance had the Vaccinara (pasta with oxtail ragu). Both of us were extremely pleased with our dishes. Will have to come back! read more