Pescatore is a neighborhood gem and you won't be disappointed. Try the grilled shrimp and crab meat Caesar flatbread. Outstanding flavors.,The homemade gnocchi is out of this world. Mussels red were excellent too. read more

Pescatore is a classy restaurant with pricey food going for an Italian theme. Minor and Major mistakes with the food was made, but overall it is not a bad experience. The service is unbelievably impressive and the cheesecake dessert was above average. Although, I would overall recommend trying another restaurant if you wanted a more authentic Italian dining experience. At Pescatore things are kept classy and professional. The polished restaurant can have you feeling illustrious. When you are seated, immediately your waiter provides you with refreshments and menus. The service is outstanding throughout your entire dining experience and it is not difficult to gain the attention of an employee if you require something to satisfy your needs. The menu has a variety of options to order for appetizers, salads, pastas, meat options, fish options, sides, and desserts. Also, a selection of specials for the night is presented by the waiters. Although Pescatore had many positive attributes, there were some negative points that came across during my experience. At the start of the meal with the free bread and our calamari appetizer, the bread was difficult to bite into because of how dense the thick piece of bread was and the fresh, non-fried calamari contained an overwhelming of pepper that left a foul taste in my mouth. Next, the entree of lobster di mare was presented very nicely, the wide noodles had a perfect texture, but when it came to the lobster, it was very gritty and was not pleasant to bite into. The dessert, on the other hand, had no issues! The strawberry cheesecake was piquant. The vivid taste of the strawberries in the cheesecake was the highlight of the meal. It could definitely leave you in a zesty mood like it did to me. Pescatore was on the more expensive side of restaurants considering most dishes were above the twenty dollar mark and ranged up to twenty- seven dollars. If you were to go out to eat with a larger amount people the price would climb higher and higher. The decor was very basic and dark, but the large, open windows make up for that. If you make the decision to go around the opening time of Pescatore. The atmosphere will be very hushed because a very little number of people will be there, so not many conversations will be occurring. Apart from that, the music selection in Pescatore did not match the theme of the restaurant. With songs like I Can't Help Myself (Sugar Pie, Honey Bunch) and (You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Women, I did not receive an Italian mood. read more

We stopped at NM on way home- so my husband started speaking to Mr Steve Schuster sales staff at the men's department . Next thing my husband is asking where to eat- Well the next thing we know we get in our car and call for a reservation for tonight at Pescatore Well what a delightful surprise - dinner was delicious -the Halibut was very fresh and very, very delicious . The service was excellent . What a lovely evening read more

Great byob. First time here. Split the octopus appetizer that had some white beans and a delicious aioli ...and tried the halibut special with a tomato, olive, capers romesco sauce on a bed of delicious sautéed spinach. My friend had the soft shell crap special. Specials were a bit pricier at $35 each but felt it was worth it. The menu had some lower price points but definitely plan to spend between 25-35 for entrees. Attentive service as well. All around good experience read more

I've now been to Pescatore twice and both times I have fully enjoyed myself. The dining room is a little dark, so it makes it hard to read the specials on the wall, but the atmosphere is great for a small Italian place. My service has been good both times-- attentive without being overbearing, and one night was a Friday, too. So good job there. I would definitely recommend making reservations on a Friday or Saturday night; I got there just before the dinner rush, luckily, or we would have been out of a table. The food is great! It is BYOB as well. The food is authentic Italian with an emphasis on the seafood dishes. The complimentary Parmigiano and homemade pesto with Italian bread is extremely enjoyable and they have a solid appetizer selection. Beware of the specials, though-- I ordered a flatbread caesar salad for two and it ended up being more expensive than my entree! I have ordered a pasta dish and a pork dish in my history of going to Pescatore and I was not disappointed either time. The pasta was clearly homemade and the meat sauce that it arrived with was absolute heaven (I love the tomato and meat sauces). I ordered it as a half dish, which came out in a perfectly sized portion. I have also ordered the stuffed pork chop. The meat was tender and stuffed with cheese, sausage, and broccoli rabe. It was topped with mushrooms. I was very impressed with the dish, and the sides of mashed potatoes and green beans were delicious as well. read more

My fiancé and I had the pleasure of dining here last night, as a "do-over" from the absolutely horrendous dinner experience we had at Hokka Hokka on his birthday (that review will follow...ugh). This made up for it and then some! The staff is incredibly friendly and professional, and you can tell that a lot of love is put into the restaurant. I love the BYOB aspect. First, we shared the burrata special appetizer with the balsamic-fig reduction and the stuffed long hots. Both were very flavorful and were a great start to the dinner. My only issue was that the burrata had a little bit of a "refrigerator taste" to it. The long hots were nice and spicy, which my fiancé greatly appreciated. The complimentary bread, cheese, and pesto were nice as well. The pesto is a little more chimichurri-like than I've had before, and it was very tasty. For entrees, I had the braised short ribs from the menu, and my honey had the halibut special with claims. Both were lovely. My meat was melt-in-your-mouth tender, and the Portobello ravioli was perfect al dente deliciousness. His halibut was equally good. We cleaned our plates. I had told the manager, who also happened to be our server, beforehand that this was a make-up birthday dinner. We were waiting for them to bring dessert menus, because we definitely wanted to try their tiramisu. Well, one of the servers brought out a huge piece topped with whipped cream and a candle for my fiancé! This was very kind of them, and we were not expecting it. The tiramisu, no lie, is the best I have ever tasted. I have had many tiramisus, even in Italy. I have made it myself from scratch, and I hate to say it, but theirs is better than mine. I joked that I wanted them to make a tiramisu wedding cake for us. (Maybe I am not joking!) I finished with a cappuccino which was the perfect ending to this wonderful meal. I think I just found my new favorite BYO! read more

Delicious! You can't go wrong. We ordered for a party of 6- flatbread Cesar with crab, long hots, soft shells, lobster and crab franchaise, scallops, pasta Pescatore, and meatballs. Desserts amazing too. We loved every bite. read more

Went here for the first time Saturday night. Food was delicious, highly recommended the stuffed long hots! Server was friendly. For a BYO, I usually feel like I save $, didn't feel that way. Menu is pricey, but it's expected for a small restaurant with quality food. Will be back. read more

Pescatore is a family-run BYOB nestled in the theater area of Bala_Cynwyd. As often as I go, which is probably 5 times a year, I have yet to have anything short of fantastic food. The pumpkin gnocchi is particularly good, but the meat selection is what draws me there. Wait staff is amazing - good training! The atmosphere is very cozy and, best of all, the warm and friendly reception, quite atypical for the Main Line, is a breath of fresh air. read more

Wonderful experience and delicious food! We recently gave a baby shower for our daughter and her husband at Pescatore. We live out of state and planning a shower from a distance without knowing restaurants in the area was a challenge. Based on reviews we decided on Pescatore BYOB. It was a great decision. Nikki was very helpful and we were very pleased with the results. The antipasto set up was very nice. The tomato salad, fried peppers, cheeses and olives were a hit. Our salads and entrees were very tasty, service was excellent ! I would highly recommend this restaurant!! read more

Food is decent, not very imaginative. Overall the dishes have a "heavy" feeling to them. It's homestyle enough that you want to finish what you've been given but not so special. Most of the dishes you could make as well at home. Also as you can see from their desserts, they tend to garnish heavily which I find annoying. read more

I'm only giving it a star because there's no option to give it 0 stars. We ordered takeout. Food was left on a cold windowsill and was icy cold. Noel the manager had an awful attitude. When I pointed out my order was incorrect, she could not have cared any less. I pointed out that it was incorrectly written on the slip, she responded that was how it was done. When I expressed that this was the 3rd time our takeout order was wrong she was totally unfazed. Last time we will ever eat there which is disappointing. read more

Delicious food. Excellent service. My hubby had the Spinach Gnocchi & it was incredible! I had the scallops & risotto which was tasty. The cannolis were fantastic. We came here for my Master's graduation celebration & it was the perfect place for us. We will come back here next time we return to Philly! read more

Pescatore is a very good Italian BYOB out in the suburbs. The food is really good, the staff is knowledgeable and attentive, and the decor is upscale yet with a casual vibe. Also, it is right across from the Bala theater, so a perfect dinner & movie night. Appetizers: Nonna's meatballs, crab meat wrapped with prosciutto Pasta: any of the homemade pastas are good (gnocchi, ravioli, fettuccine) Entrees: Pork chop italiano (stuffed with sausage and broccoli rabe), veal pavarotti (veal with shrimp and prosciutto) Fish: definitely have good fish here, check the specials read more

Sunday, was at a Surprise Birthday Party at Pescatore, on BALA Avenue. What an "Awesome Restaurant"!! The absolute Best in the area! Tommy the Chef and Owner sure knows about Great Food and Warm Hospitality! What a Good Time and Great Food! BTW, BYOB,, Ask For Frank, at Pescatore, He Is, THE MAN.........LOVE, LOVE LOVED IT,,, read more

The gnocchi. If there's one reason to go it is this dish. The gnocchi itself is light and fluffy, but it rests in the most delicious sauce I've ever tasted bar none. It was unreal, the depth of flavor that came through, like it had been slowly simmered for hours on end to extract every ounce of richness from it's components. Seriously, my first bite I stopped and just was amazed at how complex, balanced, and flavorful this sauce was, leaving you with just that warm feeling of a perfect meal. It's been 3 months so I'll update once we go back (and we will), but for now that sauce still haunts me, and the memory of a well executed and homey meal with a flaky trout drizzled with a tart lemon sauce and rich chicken livers to start. Service was wonderful, with our waiter recommending great combinations while describing each dish with knowledge that came with true study and appreciation of the food. read more

We live around the corner and have had two meals here so far. Very enjoyable, neighborhood BYO, with a relaxed bistro ambiance. Professional, welcoming and unfussy service. The meatball app is enormous -- could split it 4 ways if you just want a taste. Steamed littleneck clams were fresh and plentiful, if a bit salty (highly reduced white wine and sausage broth which did not need the salt added, since littlenecks are typically quite salty themselves). The entrees are similarly ample and we found the seafood and fish quite fresh -- all the fish comes directly from the Philly market that budded off this new restaurant. The menu itself is classic italian-seafood with handmade pasta -- familiar, enjoyable, undemanding. The salads are the weak point in this menu: in August, in a region known for its glorious produce, it's wrong to serve refrigerated, long-haul tomatoes. Locally-sourced produce is needed to match the just-off-the-boat quality of the fish and bring the whole menu to the same level. read more

This restaurant was recommended by a friend who is a long time west Philly resident. I was told it was about a half mile from my apartment and that it was a bit of a hidden treasure. Not having to find parking in Center City where most of the good restaurants are was a plus so we gave it a shot. The atmosphere is cute and cozy and our waitress was nothing short of great. We ordered the meatball appetizer for the table which was delicious. The bread with pesto and cheese that is complimentary was also very good. For our entrees we ordered the crab mac n cheese, the gnocchi and the scallops with risotto. The gnocchi blew my mind. It was clearly made fresh and the spinach, tomatoes and crab complimented the dish perfectly. I could not stop eating it. The scallops my mom ordered were very fresh and perfectly cooked as well as the risotto under them. The only thing that was "just ok" was the crab mac n cheese. It was fine but very little crab meat. For the price and the way the dish is advertised i would've expected much more crab. All in all a great place for quality Italian. read more

See all

Fantastic food here. It's byob. I ordered the grilled calamari for an appetizer and it was wonderful. Got the mixed seafood plate for my entree. The scallops were cooked perfectly. We were so full we couldn't order dessert, but the table next to us got the chocolate cake which looked delicious! read more

Tonight was my first time here and it was delightful. The staff was friendly. Soothing atmosphere. I loved the bread and the pesto olive oil and the cheese that came with them. The caesar salad on flatbread with seafood was okay. Not the best. They were right to tell us it was enough for two. But I loved my entree: braised short ribs and risotto. My dining mates' entrees - spinach ravioli and fettuccine bolognese - looked very tasty. The chocolate cake which was enough for all three of us to share was moist and delicious. I docked one star because I was not a big fan of the caesar salad and at one point the service was a little pokey. But all in all a positive experience. I live in the neighborhood and I tend to neglect Bala Avenue but I will return to this restaurant. read more

Absolutely amazing. I highly recommend this restaurant. The food was authentic and delicious. Our waiter, Giovanni was a true professional and his service was top notch. You just can't go wrong here. Every dish we had all three courses were outstanding. read more

Great for my weeknight out with coworkers! Cozy little BYOB in Bala. I really liked the meatball appetizer and my main entree was cooked to perfection. The chef sent out an extra dessert because he overheard that one of us was with child. They paced the meal very nicely and let us sit in the corner table and talk well after the meal was eaten. Definitely a do-over! read more

Holy cannoli. This place my husband and I went for a celebration and it was so delicious. It's BYOB, but they will bring a cooler bag with ice to your table for you. We had the shrimp Caesar flatbread as an appetizer. I could have eaten this as my meal. The flatbread was delicious. I ordered the crab mac and cheese as my entree and wow! It was the best macaroni and cheese I've ever had. The crab was melt in your mouth delicious and their bechamel on the pasta? The staff was knowledgeable and very gracious. I think we had 3-4 people assisting us in total because it seems they all pitch in to help each other. We will most certainly be returning to pescatore for future celebrations! It was an excellent experience! read more

Had dinner there and the food was amazing. The flatbread salad with shrimp and salad was my appetizer and it was big enough to share. I choose the lobster ravioli with scallops and the scallops were cooked to perfection. I can't wait to go back and try the soft crabs. read more

We went tonight to Pescatore at a friend's suggestion. At first we were a bit worried by the number of blue-haireds in attendance, wondering if the food would appeal to our 30+ year younger palates. The food was delicious - we shared the very large caeser salad flat bread which came with lightly breaded shrimp and crab. My husband had the lamb chop special - six meaty chops crusted with black pepper, and I had the bronzino special - dipped in a light coating of egg with a caper, lemon wine sauce. Both were delicious and very sizable portions. The fish was incredibly fresh, light and moist, truly a spectacular dish. It was very noisy inside, but our waitress said they are planning to install more fabric-covered ceiling fixtures (what are those things called anyway?) to reduce the cacophony. Overall we highly recommend this BYOB and we'll definitely be back. read more

The best! We held our parent's 60th birthday party here and from start to finish, Frank was the best to work with. He was prompt, consistent, and helpful. Fast forward to our actual meal and it was flawless. The staff were incredible, the portions were perfect, and everyone was raving - most importantly, our parents! Thanks to Pescatore for an incredible dining experience and a memorable night for our family. We look forward to dining here again in the future!!! read more

This place is wonderful. I enjoyed the bread with pesto as everyone seems to. We had their signature salad which was huge! It was almost big enough for our entrees. Easy to split with a group. Lots of lump crab. Light dressing. We had seafood entrees. Seafood grill mix was great, and again huge. Scallops were perfectly done. Lobster tail was so big I had to take it home. Veal medallion with grand mariner was tender and tasty. Service was excellent. They waited while we ate leisurely. The only downfall is the tables are a bit close and the noise level was a bit higher than one would like for an intimate dinner. read more

The menu is vast and has many good choices. The food and service was excellent. The noise level is a bit too loud due to the high ceiling and wood floor. Overall I give this restaurant 4 out of 5 stars. read more

Amazing food and service. I love BYOB!! Tom the owner is very friendly and down to earth. He's always around to help out with his staff and greet his customer. I totally recommend this place to those who love great Italian food. read more

We had an amazing seafood dinner here, me and two colleagues from work. The service was excellent, the food awesome, and it's a cute little place. Can't wait to go back next time I'm in Philly. read more

Outstanding Restaurant!!!! My favorite Italian restaurant the pasta is outstanding and Ive never had a problem with the service.I highly recommend getting one of their pasta dishes because it is made fresh.Ive eaten here a few times and have never had a bad service or meal read more

We came there for restaurant week and upgraded from the $30 to $38 menu to get the specials: fish and scallops. The fish which was recommended by the waitress was just okay. The scallops were divine. The pesto and parmesan for the bread was just amazing. The hot links app was very spicy. Our waitress was great, very attentive and friendly. I have recommended to friends and will definitely be back! I love the BYO option. read more

Solid Italian food, they have the staples down. Their salads are enormous and tasty. Its great that they are a byob, because, their prices are a little high. I would definitely say - GO, and be prepared to take home a doggy bag..and scout the room for local celeb tv types! read more