Via Locusta has been on my radar every time I've visited Philadelphia, and I was so excited to finally try it, especially since my husband was in town with me this time. Making a reservation online was quick and easy, though I've know it gets very busy on weekends and during the summer. Even though we had reserved a table, we grabbed a sit at the bar (our favorite way to do it). Great decision! Our waitress, Alex, was fantastic. She was incredibly knowledgeable about the menu and went beyond just listing items, she shared her personal favorites and honest perspectives, which really helped us make our decisions. We started with a bottle of Super Tuscan, which was just what we were looking for (and at a great price id say). Their wine list is great, and they have a full bar too. I've heard they're known for their focaccia, but we didn't try it this time... definitely on the list for next visit. For food, we had the Bufala Mozzarella with zucchini/mint on sourdough toast to start. So fresh and flavorful. Then we shared the Crab Pasta and the NY Strip. Both were delicious. The portions aren't huge, but they were perfect for us to share and left us totally satisfied. We were way too full for dessert, but everything we saw coming out looked amazing, next time for sure. They also have a $56 per person family-style option (2 appetizers, a pasta, a secondi, and a contorni), which honestly sounds like a great deal. Definitely something we want to try next time. The space is modern and fits perfectly in Rittenhouse. So happy to finally check this one off my list... and definitely a spot I'll keep coming back to whenever I'm in Philly. read more

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We got the sourdough focaccia bread with honey butter and eggplant dip. I loved the bread; it was soft on the inside and had a nice crust on the outside and it was delicious especially with the honey butter! We got an additional eggplant dip which, on the other hand, was extremely salty and not worth adding in at all. We also ordered the hazelnut budino; and found it to be subpar. Skip it in my opinion, it was like a very runny mousse with hazelnuts - it did not have enough depth or thickness and lacked any pudding like texture. If you are really craving for a good Budino, save your money and head over to Barbuzzo instead. read more

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Via Locusta absolutely earned a return visit. I started with the Basilica made with Hendrick's subtly sweet, crisp, and superb. And please forgive me... after a full day of travel I was so ravishingly hungry that I completely forgot to photograph the grilled octopus with jalapeño and olives, which paired surprisingly well together. The crispy artichoke hearts were fine, nothing to write home about, but the mafaldine bolognese with pork was creamy, rich, and delightful. The branzino sealed the deal beautifully. Dessert? But of course...we had the Gianduja Budino with chocolate, hazelnut crunch, and cocoa amaro was decadent, but the affogato quietly stole my heart, vanilla gelato, espresso, and a shortbread cookie. Simple. Perfect. read more

Via Locusta - Espresso martini - Italian Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

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I was looking for some authentic Italian that would wow me as a foodie and Via Locusta came just short of accomplishing that. The atmosphere is fun and funky, the diners all seemed to be enjoying themselves. The inside is gorgeous however right at the front door is terribly uneven brick and I almost turned my ankle. We started to order the Chefs Table but realized that would be too much food. I tried the carrots as an appetizer and I just couldn't get enough. I could have eaten two plates. I also ordered the fig ravioli and, sadly, I wasn't as I had hoped. The balance of fig to Gorgonzola cheese wasn't quite there. It need a bit more sweet and less oil. The ravioli looked very oily and overcooked. The taste wasn't great, I bit into large peppercorns many times and it was overpowering and changed the taste of the dish. Service was impeccable however friendliness and being in the weeds doesn't go together. I will say everyone seemed to be working very well together and expediting dishes out of the kitchen. I would definitely recommend Via Locusta to anyone visiting Philly however I would also suggest they try somewhere else first. read more

Via Locusta - Cauliflower side dish - Italian Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

My favorite Italian in Philly yet! The ambiance, the food, the drinks, everything was amazing. The outside seating and open doors to see into the inside of the building create such a beautiful and inviting setting. All plates were cleared and I can't wait to go back to try different dishes and drinks! read more

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Everything we had was amazing! We stopped in for happy hour and each dish was delicious. We had pork and octopus (both were seasoned perfectly and incredibly tender) topped with salsa verde. We also tried the grilled fig toast and wild mushroom toast. Each bite was amazing. The ricotta in both toasts was creamy and the perfect balance of sweet and salty. The standout dish was agnolotti. I will be coming back to order this again because it was that incredible. We sat outside and though it was warm, there was shade and we were comfortable. Our server was attentive, professional, and very polite/friendly. She was great! read more

Via Locusta - fig toast grilled octopus zucchini fritta Agnolotti - Italian Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

I love the ambiance of this place - it's dark and intimate. The focaccia with honey butter was AMAZING! I would definitely get it again. My friend enjoyed her lamb campanelle and I loved my agnolotti. The portion for the agnolotti was kind of small, but overall still a great dish. I would return here! read more

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Exquisite food! Clean flavors, finely prepared, unusually delicious. Well worth a trip. But service and infrastructure a little spotty. Quite loud, inside and out. One very poorly lit toilet for the whole restaurant. Outdoor tables are warped, and the uneven surfaces make drinks and sauces spill -- all the worse as the tables are mesh so anything spilled or dripped ends up on your clothes. One person's main dish and part of dessert was forgotten- to be fair, the main dish was made complementary. Some desserts and dishes brought without saucers or making it even more prone to spills. read more

I came here for a little birthday hangout. It was happy hour and there were such great deals on food! My favorite was the focaccia bread. It was so good! We tried an assortment of items off the happy hour menu as well as dessert (off the happy hour menu). The wait staff is so nice! They kept refilling our water glasses even after we paid. That's good service and manners. read more

Via Locusta - Get the focaccia bread - Italian Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

The restaurant is extremely beautifully decorated. The owners have a chain in the area and all of their restaurants look beautiful in the inside. The atmosphere is perfect for girls night out or date night. The food are American Italian classics homemade lemoncello stands out for the 1 month brew made in house that reminded me of Sicilian summers. The affogato was also incredible. (*we did end up requesting a new server after an unfriendly greeting and would not return due to unfriendly service-food wasn't good enough to tolerate disrespectful staff) read more

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Service was attentive, personable, quick! , and informative. Our server knew the menu inside and out. Food was DELISH. We had the baby gem ceasar, focaccia ( straight from heaven!), hamachi crudo, and sparkling water. For mains hubby had the branzino and I had the cacio e pepe. Loveee the decor- very meat packing district NYC; exposed brick, subway tile, dark wood. Soft lighting. Make sure to park in the lot right down the block to avoid issues! read more

Via Locusta - Hubby @ Via Locusta - Italian Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

A really fine restaurant where food and service are excellent with ambiance and setting just a bit lacking. There is a sizable grouping of sidewalk chalets along the curb, full on this hot Saturday. Inside, the small space and high ceilings fight to be sure that the temperature outside is comparable to that inside, which the AC can't remedy. The vibe of the space, small with little to support the food. Devoid of decorating or frankly, music. The food held up the bargain. Gem Caesar salad is flecked with cheese and bright lemony dressing which is delightful but no notable anchovies. The octopus is served with fava beans and a few cuts of meat, very tasty. Pasta rules. Basic and scrumptious. The Cacia y pepper is fantastic. The spaghetti with crab perfectly portioned with nice spice. Pasta pomodoro bright and flavorful. Server covers some ground bustling cocktails and bussing. Out table of 5 in the middle of it all with three 70s era mirrors adorning the wall and little else. read more

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Great food and ambiance. It's very cozy inside and the servers were very nice. I became obsessed with focaccia after eating here and it's all I could think about. read more

Via Locusta - Italian Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

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Staff were so incredibly friendly! The ambiance is beauful and they have a nice drink menu. While the atmosphere was nice, the food that I tried was a bit disappointing. The foccacia was incredibly dry and I was surprised this got rave reviews. I guess it could have been nice but I think the piece I had was just dry. Very ordinary. The mushroom pasta was incredibly salty. Staff were kind and understanding and I got another order. This was still so salty and inedible. I was so thirsty! I was pretty bummed because I was looking forward to eating here and the food was just a bummer. I needed to find somewhere else to eat. The wait was a bit long (maybe 40 minutes lol) so this topped with the really salty food just made the experience underwhelming and disappointing. read more

Another Schulson restaurant I think is tasty and beautiful? Wow wow wow let us pull our jaws off of the floor. First thing: maybe the best French 75 I've ever had in my life? Nothing on the cocktail menu was screaming at me so I went this route and did not regret it. My date and I both had two. Second thing: we sat outside in the middle of winter and didn't freeze. We were not the only ones dining outside so this is great in a pinch if you're out of options and it's pouring rain. Third thing: Everything we ate was so stellar. The bread with bee pollen was a great way to start the meal, the carrots with goat cheese and dill (recommended by our serve) were perfection, and my pasta dish really blew me away. I went with the mafaldine bolognese and it was great. So comforting and rich while still being balanced. My date's "gnudi" ate like a dumpling and tasted like dessert?! Delicious. Our server was prompt and kind, host staff was very accomodating, and I think under normal circumstances (not Valentine's weekend) you'll be able to get a rez or snag a bar seat. I cannot wait for many more meals outside this summer and thank the fantastic team at Via Locusta for showing my friend and I a wonderful (chilly!) evening. read more

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Stopped by for happy hour! We had the most amazing waitress! She alone made the meal amazing. We ordered a few small plates of the regular and happy hour menu. Food was good, nothing that I loved: We got lucky in a lovely day in April and say outside. read more

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I think this is a really cute restaurant in Rittenhouse! Cute interior and ambience, outdoor seating as well. It is small inside so you might need a reservation but I was able to get one easily. I liked how the food is affordable $20s range, but it is definitely small portions (I think my duck tortellini came with like 5 total). So the bill can definitely add up. I wasn't a fan of the bread and honey butter here even though it is something they are known for, I think there is better focaccia in the city. I'd still recommend for a date night or girls night out! I haven't tried their happy hour yet but that could be the move read more

Truly, one of the best Italian meals I've had. I made reservations online and was seated at a small table in the middle of the restaurant, a little crowded on a Friday evening but very swanky and modern-romantic (idk what that means but you get the gist). My bf and I decided to do the Chef's Tasting (2 apps, 2 pastas, 1 main, 1 side, 1 dessert) and HOLY COW. For the price, you get so much food and get to try so many different items. I'd absolutely go back again just to sample other pastas and main dishes- everything was that delicious. Do not be intimidated by the squid ink pasta- it was incredibly flavorful with a little kick. Unreal. I was mopping up the sauce with the fresh focaccia bread, never downplay the mopping technique no matter how fancy the date. We didn't think we'd make it through to dessert, but splitting the affogato was heaven-sent. Go! Go! Go! read more

Decided to try this place out to celebrate my boyfriend's birthday and it was one of our best and favorite dining experiences to date. Our server, Ebony, truly made the experience one of a kind and made great suggestions, and was just such a light. Nothing elevates a dining experience more than being waited on by someone who loves their job, loves the food, and takes the time to talk to guests while sharing her joy for life. Talking to her and eating there truly felt meant to be. Now onto the food - every one of our courses was a hit. The foccacia comes with the tasting and then you can choose between 2 primi and one of the other courses, or 1 primi and 2 pasta, then 1 of the other courses. We opted for two pastas. The foccacia with honey butter was to die for with excellent presentation, with a neat honeycomb pattern over the butter. From the primi, we chose the heirloom roasted carrots, which had a unique flavor that I didn't know carrots could have! The ravioli and cacio e pepe were perfectly al dente, and the cacio e pepe wasn't overly peppery. The chicken was cooked perfectly, accompanied by escarole and raisins, and so juicy, which was served alongside our contorni choice of asparagus paired with delicious tomato pesto sauce. For our dessert choice, we decided on the affogato, and it was a perfect palette cleanse after a delicious meal that didn't make us feel overly full. For two, the tasting menu is $56/person ($61/each if you choose the NY strip as your main), and with 2 drinks each our total came out to $160, which I felt was extremely reasonable and so worth it for our entire experience. I urge you to give this place a try and if you can be seated with Ebony, it will truly elevate your experience. read more

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Nice ambiance, especially sitting outside, but food was nothing very special. My favorite was the crudo but I had had higher hopes for the pasta since that's what theyre known for read more

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Came here on a weekday evening for dinner with friends. We started off sharing the Foccacia with honey butter and bee pollen, which was some of the best bread I've had. The honey butter served on the side was actually mouthwateringly good, a little sweet and a little salty. I also got the Cacio E Pepe, which was creamy with the right amount of black pepper but maybe a bit too much salt. Service was okay, a little bit slow, but I really liked being able to sit outside and watch people walk by on a warm spring day. Would come here again if someone else wanted to try it - veggie options are pretty good in the pastas and sides category but not as many mains. read more

Via Locusta - Cacio E Pepe - Italian Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

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Food here is delicious!!! I recommend the chef's tasting menu if you are there with a party of 2-3. You get your money's worth and get to try some amazing dishes! Happy hour is also great. If not doing these, it can be a little pricy for the portions. The service is great in my experience, wait staff is experienced and attentive. read more

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Very good Italian food. Glad it's in my neighborhood and for the record it's so much better than borromini. Usually sit at the bar and the bartenders are super nice and helpful. Wish there bathroom situation was better kind of strange there's only a single bathroom for a restaurant like that. But whatever not the end of the world. read more

Visited for the last time last night and had a great experience overall. Our server, Ren, was incredibly welcoming and did a great job introducing the menu and guiding us through our choices. Since it was late and we'd been eating all day, we decided to skip the tasting menu and share a few dishes instead. Ren thoughtfully suggested pairings based on what we ordered and ensured our courses came out in a way that made sense, even swapping out plates and silverware between rounds small touches that really elevated the experience. The first round was the clear winner: Focaccia with butter, Burrata, Heirloom Carrots, and Tagliatelle Pomodoro. The carrots were bright and flavorful, the butter with the focaccia was absolutely decadent, and the pomodoro was simple, fresh, and perfectly done. I would happily order this entire set again. The second round included the Agnolotti, Pork Chop, and Crispy Cauliflower. The Agnolotti was rich in the best way and paired well with the pork chop, which unfortunately fell flat in comparison slightly overcooked and lacking in flavor. The cauliflower was also underwhelming and under-seasoned; I wouldn't order it again. Despite a few misses, we had a great time and I'd definitely recommend this spot especially for the first set of dishes. If you go, ask for Ren! read more

My bf & I went to Via Locusta for HH, suggested by one of my friends & it was delicious! We sat at the bar and had 2 drinks which were good! Everything came out super quick. I really enjoyed the focaccia bread with honey butter. It was fluffy, soft, and warm. So perfect for sharing! Everything is decently priced as well. The skewers (peppers $5, octopus $7) were seasoned well.The fritto mixto was nice and crispy, with a good batter ratio. The toasts were good, not my favorite, but shareable for 2 people. The agnolotti was delicious, creamy and fragrant. I believe their HH is 4-6pm, and I definitely recommend! read more

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The service here was good but felt a bit rushed to me. I get that's the vibe here so I accept that. All the food was pretty good but the focaccia was probably my favorite thing. Drinks were good as well. Ambiance wise might not go back for sit down dinner but all around solid read more

Via Locusta - Gnudi - Italian Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

I came to Via Locusta a few years back when they had first opened and wasn't impressed. That changed when I returned this week. Focaccia came out warm and fluffy very quickly after we ordered and lived up to its hype. The cacio e Pepe may very well be the best I've ever had. Potatoes were perfectly crispy and broccolini was a bit thick and tough to cut but amazing flavor to go with our entrees. Our server, Manny, was super attentive and friendly, even offering to turn on the heater outside when we first sat down. I'm excited to bring out of town friends to try this place out when they come to visit and have future date nights here! read more

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Lovely ambiance, great food and great service. The food is very light on the stomach yet very flavorful. We enjoyed every single thing we ordered. Their zero proof mocktails are also great read more

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Great experience! The staff was wonderful and explained the gluten free menu to be in depth and I was quite appreciative of that. Lovely cocktail menu and my drink was delicious! The restaurant is very pretty and had a chill feel to it. It wasn't crowded while we were there but I could see that it could get loud and tight if it were super busy. The focaccia was LEGIT and the butter was delightful! A MUST! The pasta is homemade and even had several GF options. Worth a visit! read more

Came for Sunday brunch. Love that the outdoor patio has a/c. Drinks and food were all very good, just a lot of carbs and not very meaty dishes. Service was great as well read more

Via Locusta - Italian Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

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The service is great, the ambiance is great, considering the outdoor seating in center city, and the food is phenomenal. We did the chef's tasting and started with the focaccia and octopus. Although it seems just liked bread and butter, the focaccia was perfect. The sweet honey and butter is to die for! It really opens up your appetite and is a great starter. The octopus is also fantastic and wasn't rubbery, it was the perfect texture and that arrabbiata sauce gave it a nice little kick. We then got our next dish, the squid ink chitarra. It was my first time having squid ink pasta and I can say it imparted a seafood flavor but it wasn't overbearing at all. It was savory for sure and worked well with the calamari. For my first time, I'd say it was delicious. As for the NY strip, you can't go wrong with it. It's protein that's always welcome during any dinner. There were other items we ordered too but these were the most memorable. I'd say the chef's tasting was a good experience for our party but it might be worth it to order the items separately depending on your situation. All in all, I'm glad I came here! read more

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Is it possible to have one of the best and worst pasta dishes at the same time? We did at Via Locusta. We ordered the Sweet Potato Ravioli, which was a spectacular dish. The raviolis were perfectly cooked and the sweet potato inside was creamy and dreamy! However, our dreams were quickly shattered with the Spaghetti and (no) Crab. First, there was no crab - maybe a few slivers (sorry the attached picture is blurry). The dish was full of cherry tomatoes and basil, and spaghetti noodles - that's it. In addition, the sauce was something foreign - definitely not Italian-it was like eating a poor version of Pad Thai. We finished with the chocolate mousse which was very good! It was an interesting meal - disappointed with one dish - and I would like to mention, we went during Happy Hour (you're limited to 1 hour at your table if you order food) which has only a few drinks listed. read more

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I have visited Via Locusta several times, and was so happy to return here for dinner recently! We got to sit outside with my dog which was pleasant experience. One thing about Via locusta is that it offers delicious and refreshing cocktails. We ordered the Valencia which was composed of vodka, lime & blood orange. It was tart & citrusy and I definitely loved it. Also got the Reggio which was a classic blend of whiskey and lemon. For appetizers we ordered the focaccia with honey butter (A MUST!!!), beet salad (comes with apples, ricotta, capers & walnut) and zucchini fritto. I always love a good beet salad & was impressed with Via Locusta's beet salad, and the zucchini fritto was lightly fried 'zoodles' served with a lemon sauce. Surprisingly really liked the zucchini dish too. For our main course we ordered the squid ink chitarra & chicken alla griglia. The squid ink pasta was served with calamari and tomatoes, would rate it a 8.5/10. The chicken had a slightly crispy skin with tender meat inside, and was served with pan fried escarole and raisins. While it was good, it did not blow me away . Would not order the chicken again though. We also ordered the crispy honey cauliflower. I liked the cauliflower but wish it was a little spicy, would have loved a sweet and spicy cauliflower! Overall a great experience at Via locusta with quick, friendly & attentive service! Definitely recommend especially in nicer weather so that you can sit outside. read more

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I really enjoy the ambiance indoors and outdoors at Via Locusta! Delicious drinks, tasty homemade pasta dishes and friendly service what more could you ask for! Came here last night for dinner with friends and we were very pleased with our outdoor table as well as our pasta dishes. Did I mention that they also have a fabulous happy hour that you'd be a fool not to utilize! Below is everything we ordered: Appetizers: - Focaccia with honey butter - Burrata - Zucchini fries - Roasted carrots Pasta Entrees: - Mafaldine Bologense Bianca (my favorite!) - Squid Ink Pasta - Ricotta Gnudi - Short Rib Ravioli read more

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I did not know Via Locusta did brunch! So this was an awesome surprise. Not only was the espresso martini amazing, I think the omelette was one of the best I've ever had! Sitting outside and people/dog watching with my friend and enjoying brunch made for the perfect Sunday! Only downsides were service being a little slow, and long line for the single stall bathroom. But brunch is definitely worth it and I can't wait to come back to try more items on the menu! read more

Via Locusta - Cheese omelette - Italian Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

We love this place! The food is simply delicious, it's good for kids or for a date night, the staff is nice and attentive and the ambiance is excellent. Can't wait to go back! read more

The food here was fantastic. We had the focaccia, which came with a honey butter that I wanted to eat with a spoon. We also had the asparagus and two pastas- the tagliatelle and the spaghetti with crab. The tagliatelle had a creamy tomato sauce that we dipped into with the bread- delicious. The spaghetti with crab was flavorful and fresh. Our waitress was kind and the ambiance was great for a nice date. Prices were totally reasonable. Would definitely come again next time we're in Philly! read more

Via Locusta - Focaccia - Italian Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

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I've admittedly never come to Via Locusta for their regular menu, but this is my favorite happy hour spot in center city. Their small bites are all really well priced, and while they are quite small, I like it that way because it gives you the opportunity to try a lot of different things. My personal favorites on the happy hour menu are the agnolotti, focaccia, and meatballs, but honestly everything is I recently went with friends and we ordered practically everything on the menu (doubles of our favorites), some of them ordered drinks, and we left stuffed with a bill that was ~$30 each including tax and tip. A total steal for a nice early dinner in the city if you ask me! read more

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Can't say anything bad about this place at all; maybe except for the chair. The indoor chair was a tad bit uncomfortable for me . All the food was so good! My friend and I did the tasting menu and finished stuffed up. The focaccia was so soft and warm and the honey butter was amazing! The ceasar salad and the potatoes were had were good too - crispy and yet soft. We had 2 pastas: cacio de pepe and agnolloti -- they both were so good. Pasta was perfectly cooked and seasoned. Cacio de pepe was my favorite but there was nothing bad with the agnolloti, it was delicious with the truffle! We also had the steak which was perfectly cooked and juicy. We chose the chocolate mousse for dessert and it was also delicious. Their drinks valencia and espresso martini were also really good. Sweet and also strong. The whole experience was great. Thanks to Caitlyn for making it such an amazing experience! read more

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An unexpected turn of events led to us grabbing an impromptu dinner at Via Locusta. Fortunately, my husband and I arrived early enough that evening to secure a table without a reservation. When you go to a Schulson restaurant, you pretty much have to go with the tasting menu if they offer one. It's the best bang for your buck. Our server let us know we could substitute one of the appetizers for a pasta dish, so we did. From the tasting menu, my husband and I ordered the tuna crudo, the duck cannelloni, the squid ink chitarra, the NY Strip (for an additional $5/person), and a side of roasted cauliflower. - Tuna crudo was fresh, but the other ingredients served with it were very random and did not complement the tuna. From our experience at Via Locusta and Bar Lesieur, the two crudos we had been very mediocre. - The presentation of the duck cannelloni was different and served differently from what we expected, but in a good way. It was creative and delicious. I highly recommend it. - The squid ink chitarra was more predictable. It was still good, though, and the calamari it came with was cooked perfectly. - The NY Strip could have been prepared rarer, but the flavors were good. It was simple, served with a chimichurri sauce. For the price, this was a great deal for steak. - Roasted cauliflower was prepared well. After having the roasted cauliflower side at Harp & Crown, I was worried this would not taste good, but I'm glad I was wrong. Overall, I give Via Locusta a solid 4 stars. You can always count on Michael Schulson for great service and good food. read more

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