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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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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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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Really good Italian spot! Service was good. Inside was cute. We sat on the patio which was great on a breezy summer night. Everyone in my party got cocktails and enjoyed them. For the table, we split the focaccia which was amazing. Best part of the meal. We also split the carrots which had great flavor. For an entree, I got the agnolotti. It was very heavy on the cheese and cream, would have liked more mushroom. Husband got the mafaldine bolognese Bianca which I thought was amazing. Everyone else in our party also enjoyed their food. Portion sizes were perfect. read more

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On the pricy side but worth it. We ordered Burrata, Tuna Crudo, Ravioli, Polenta, and Branzino. Their dishes come with a complex palate, you will taste layers of flavors. Our favorites are the Ravilloli and Tuna Crudo. We will for sure come back, maybe for the tasting menu. read more

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

Very good! Spent my birthday dinner there and had a great time! This is very fine Italian dining and the dishes come as is. read more

Via Locusta - Cacio E Pepe pasta, Roadted Heirloom carrots, and an Espresso Martini - Italian Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

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This has to be one of the best restaurants in Philly that up until my visit, I'd never heard of or passed by (hint: per the name, it's on Locust Street). I got the tasting menu plus some happy hour extras and everything was fantastic. The red snapper crudo and tuna crudo were extremely flavorful and the octopus spiedini was particularly good with the salsa verde sauce it comes with. The happy hour menu is solid and has some items that don't overlap with the dinner menu. If you're coming for dinner, I would recommend coming early for some good but discounted food and drink! read more

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A great dining experience with the family for my mom's birthday. For a holiday weekend, the restaurant ambiance was bustling, so you know it's a popular spot! The service was great and the food was fantastic. We started out with the focaccia bread which was warm and sweet. The Caesar salad was refreshing, the red snapper crudo was deliciously seasoned, and the octopus was perfectly cooked and charred. The ravioli sauce was so delicious, the squid ink pasta had a delicious kick, the pork bolognese was hearty and flavorful, and the cacio el Pepe with truffle was just top notch. We also ordered the scallop special which was fantastic. For dessert we got all three options: affogato, pear tart with gelato, and the chocolate mousse which were out of this world. By far my favorite was the pear tart with gelato. Highly recommend! read more

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Cute outdoor seating area, great service and good variety of food. Their fresh focaccia bread is the most popular and it definitely didn't disappoint- crusty, fluffy, amazing aroma from the herbs, paired with creamy honey butter~ simple but delicious. We tried an app, sweet and savory brunch items and the pasta, all had great flavors and nice portion. Also with good drink selections. The potato side was very crispy and flavored generous amount of Parmesan cheese. The spaghetti was a bit too salty, but I love the thicker noodles and good amount of sauce - light but hearty. The pancakes were mediocre, could have been thicker and fluffier, but the hazelnut pairing with banana and caramel was clever. Will definitely be back again! read more

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Not sure what the hype about this place is - if this restaurant is representative of the Philly food scene, then that's pretty disappointing. We got 3 pastas: the squid ink chitarra, mafaldine bolognese bianca, and cacio e pepe. They started by bringing us the chitarra, which sounded interesting in a good way on the menu, but which tasted interesting in a bad way in our mouths. The squid and sauce were fishier than we expected, and the noodles were clearly undercooked, as they were super dry and hard. Midway through the chitarra, they brought the cacio e pepe. This was one of the less tasty cacio e pepes we've eaten - the cheesy flavor was overwhelmed by this strange, almost caramel-like sweetness. After we'd finished the chitarra and cacio e pepe, they cleared our plates, and our server asked if we wanted dessert menus. We had to remind her that we still had the bolognese coming. She went back to check, and then returned to tell us it was on its way. She'd clearly forgotten to put it in with our initial order. 15 minutes later, the bolognese came. This was the best pasta of the 3, and it was still not cooked very well - there were some interesting flavors, but the entire dish was way too salty. It kind of reminded me of the food at Massara in New York. Also, in all 3 pastas, the noodles and sauce were not integrated at all - the sauce would slide off of the noodles immediately, forcing us to take a forkful of noodles, and follow it up with a little bit of sauce separately. We will definitely not return. This was a pretty bad introduction to the Schulson restaurant network. And, for what it's worth, if you do a cursory search of Schulson on Reddit, there are lots of locals in the r/PhillyEats subreddit who have an extremely negative impression of Schulson as a person - from being dismissive in hiring interviews to literally spitting on (assaulting!) homeless people outside of his other restaurant, Harp & Crown. P.S. this is clearly Schulson's attempt at a restaurant like Via Carota in Philadelphia, but it's a sad one. read more

The squid ink pasta, agnolotti, and focaccia. Those are my favorites. The squid ink pasta has a good portion of squid ink in it, making it perfectly chewy. The porcini flavor in the agnolotti is amazing and it has the perfect sauce pairing. The focaccia is crazy. The honey butter that goes with it is perfect too. read more

One of the best happy hours in the city! Came as a walk-in at 5pm on a Thursday and was seated immediately. The meatballs were well seasoned, the honey butter with the focaccia was not too sweet, and the fig toast was well balanced with the smoothest ricotta I've ever had. Vibes were immaculate. read more

We went here for girls' night and the food did not disappoint! They offer an array of classic Italian food with a cozy atmosphere. We started off with some appetizers that were just too good I couldn't get a picture of them! We got the Foccacia, fried zucchini, and the octopus. The only downfall to our experience was our dinner felt rushed by the service team. Our food was taken away before we were finished, even after mentioning 3-4 times that we were still working on our dishes. According to the website, it doesn't seem they have a time limit with how long you can be there, however, it felt like they wanted us out fast so they can bring the next group in. Overall, we would come here again for the food, however, I hope we will be able to enjoy our time without feeling rushed. read more

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Having read some wonderful reviews we had fairly high expectations for our meal but unfortunately were let down. We ordered a couple burrata and a couple pizza for our starters. They were just average. All 5 of us had pasta dishes and no one was really impressed. I also found it odd that we could not order appetizers while still looking at the menu. Our Server said we had to order complete, which was the first time I was ever told this. The final topper was when the server knocked my daughter's wine onto her lap, and really didn't come across as that sorry. I certainly will not be back. read more

We have been trying to get to Via Locusta for happy hour for a few weeks and finally made it last Friday. Happy hour is only available at the bar, so it's usually full, because it's a great deal. Cheap beers and wine. Great small bites that are pretty fairly priced. The bar itself is a great place to sit. High ceilings and a good staff. Left very happy! Will be back. read more

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Finally dined at Via Locusta and it was amazing. Our server was very patient as we were a group of old friends catching up. Anyways, we started with the Focaccia and Burrata and it was great (you have to order both as they don't come together, which is strange?! The server said the Burrata doesn't come with bread. It was delicious nonetheless). I had the Agnolotti and it was soooo good. My only complaint is that it wasn't a bigger portion!! Excited to return and try more the menu! read more

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Went to via locusta for the first time and I was very pleasantly surprised. They are one of the few restaurants that have Saturday happy hour (in the entire restaurant, not just the bar)! My friends and I walked in at 5:15pm and were quickly seated outside (they have a great heater system in the outdoor booths). The happy hour menu is quite extensive. My friends and I shared ~8 small dishes and each got a drink. In the end the bill was less than $100 with tip. The meat/seafood skewers are pretty small, but they have lots of carb-based dishes that will fill you up. Our waitress (wish I remembered her name!) was also so attentive and generally fun. I will definitely be back for another happy hour soon! read more

Via Locusta - Honey butter foccacia - Italian Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

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Went for brunch and lived it! The food and the drinks and the service are all excellent. Will definitely be back for dinner and happy hour! read more

Really great place for high end Italian dinner. Focaccia and whipped honey butter was so good we ordered a second round. Pasta tasted so fresh, the agnolotti was particularly remarkable. Cocktails were very good and complimented the meal well. Ambience inside was dark (in a good way) and classy read more

Via Locusta - Reggio cocktail, Focaccia with whipped honey butter and cacio e pepe - Italian Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

I decided to take myself to an early "something" on a Sunday. Drinks? Dinner? I was trying to figure it out because, well, Sunday. I WANT a happy hour but are there any happy hours on Sunday? Yes! Via Locusta! I have had this place bookmarked so I'm sure I would have made it here sooner or later, but if you like to sit at a beautiful bar, ALONE, with food and delicious made cocktails (sometimes that's me) or if you want to hang at a beautiful bar with delicious everything and a few pals, AND you are sure you won't find happy hour on Sunday...Via Locusta! This is a sweet intimate place with a candle- lit bar with a killer happy hour. Try the bergamot or Valencia cocktail. Both are absolutely delicious. Order the focaccia with the honey butter. The bread is fluffy, salty and delicious and the sweet and salty combo here is what you will need. The agnolotti is a tasty explosion! Pillowy pasta with deep, flavorful parmigiana and truffle. I am already planning a full on dinner here, but happy hour was truly happy. Don't skip this one. (Great service at the bar, by the way) read more

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This is a great place for an Italian meal with plenty of vegetarian options. The interior is cozy and dimly lit. There is both indoor and outdoor seating and in warmer weather the windows/doors are open for fresh air. The mushroom agnolotti was rich, creamy and had a delicious truffle flavor. The focaccia bread was warm and soft and paired well with the honey butter. I wouldn't get the Mozzarella fritters again since they are fried and a bit bland for my liking. Overall, Via Locusta was a great dining experience with a good ambience, delicious Italian food and good service. read more

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Chose this restaurant over some of Philly's more well-known spots after hearing it was a hidden gem. Big mistake. I was especially excited about the focaccia with honey butter because I love bread, and cacio e Pepe. This was a big part of the reason I chose this restaurant. We sat down, ordered drinks, and were told they were out of focaccia. Cacio e Pepe wasn't even on the menu? Disappointing, but fine. 20 min later I watched focaccia get brought out to tables that sat down and ordered after us. And Cacio e Pepe that wasn't even on the menu??? Not fine. The drinks were listed at $13-$14, which seemed reasonable. Our waitress asked if we wanted Espolòn or Casamigos tequila - obviously I said Casamigos. What she failed to mention was that the upgrade would bring the drinks to $21 each. A $7 difference per drink would have been nice to know upfront. If this had been the only thing to go wrong I wouldn't have cared. But I'm mad now. To top it off, I got in line for the restroom (one tiny stall, 10-minute wait) and was told there was already someone waiting and that I needed to stand in a spot that was completely in the way. Fine but annoyed. While standing there, I look over into the kitchen and see focaccia being prepped. 40 min later???!!! That was the last straw, I texted my boyfriend and we left. Didn't even use the restroom because it was taking too long. We were there maybe an hour and ten minutes total. Between the focaccia situation, the surprise drink prices, and the bathroom line awkwardness, this was one of the worst dining experiences I've had. Do not recommend. Disappointing because I had high hopes and the restaurant itself was very cute. read more

Top tier food spot. Just go in and order a bunch of dishes and enjoy tbh. It's that good. Also, the bread is a must ... goes great with everything. read more

Came here on a Friday night for happy hour around 4:30pm and there were still plenty of spots available. The interior is cozy and romantic with low lighting. It's perfect place for a date night. We ordered 1. Chicken Spiedini (which is basically chicken skewers) 2. Stuffed peppers with tuna 3. Focaccia bread with honey butter 4. Fried zucchini 5. Agnolotti (reminds me of tiny raviolis) Their portions size are very small so you can easily order many happy hour dishes if sharing amongst two people. Our favorite is the stuffed pepper and the zucchini fries. The chicken Spiedini had barely any seasoning. It wasn't ever warm when they served it. Would not recommend that dish. The agnolotti was good but nothing spectacular. The sauce paired with it was boring. The focaccia bread with honey butter was good but it was not the best focaccia bread I've had. It's nice to order it to dip with other sauces also. We ate it with the stuffed pepper salsa verde sauce and it was delicious. We were still hungry after these small bites. We ended up going to another happy hour afterwards but would love to come back and try their regular menu someday! read more

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Great time here at Via Locusta! We had made a reservation and found decent parking nearby. When you arrive, the bar is right in front of you and then check in podium to the left. Our table was still being prepared when we arrived so we sat at the bar and enjoyed a drink. After about 10 minutes post arrival we were led to our table. There's a decent selection of vegetarian pastas to try, our party of 3 chose one each and shared. We also got the focaccia bread, roasted beets, and burrata for our appetizers. We enjoyed our apps first and they were delicious! Everything had great flavor and freshness and they paired well with one another. We all enjoyed the pastas too! We had ordered the cacio e pepe, pumpkin tortellini, and agnolotti! They were all delicious and distinct in their flavor profile. I felt the service was great, checked in on well and we weren't rushed at all between plates or even making decisions from all the options. Definitely looking forward to more visits! read more

Stopped in for a cocktail before going out on a Saturday night. I got a compari and soda. They had an amazing selection of appetifs. They made an interesting orange recommendation for my friend and she loved it. The atmosphere was relaxing and the lighting flattering. Bar stools were padded and comfortable. Bar filled up steadily. Service was great. read more

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One of the best happy hours in Philadelphia! Great vegetarian options. Loved the shishito peppers, focaccia and pasta! Great ambiance with nice indoor and outdoor seating read more

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Great food! The BEST Caesar salad I've ever had. Service was a 4/5... could have been a little more attentive but overall, we had a great time. We sat outside and it was cold even with the heaters on, so I'd recommend sitting inside. read more

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A good choice if PARC is not available Food. Very good Atmosphere- medium Service- so so read more

A cute little spot that was a lovely pick for a midweek double date. We got a few small plates to start, but the agnolotti stole the show. It had depth, texture, and cooked to perfection. The cacio e pepe was a little to peppery for our taste but it was still delicious! Our server, Monica, was incredibly sweet and a great guide for our first visit to Via Locusta. Can't wait to come back! read more

Via Locusta - Agnolotti, our favorite dish - Italian Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

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Fabulous experience, from service to food. I reserved an outside table as that was the only available option, and they offered an inside spot before I even ask. The RW tasting menu is a good deal. But it's well worth it to upgrade to regular tasting menu for 15 extra, which gives you one more appetizer, upgraded protein, and more selections for dessert. The food was fresh, tasty and the portion was generous. Focaccia was so good! I am usually not into ravioli, but I liked theirs. The ice cream in affogato was not very sweet (my highest praise for dessert). Steak was really good too, especially with the pickled onion. However I will do medium rare instead of medium next time. The grapefruit cocktail was very refreshing. Enjoyed everything and will recommend to friends. read more

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We had an amazing time at Via Locusts, and we didn't usually go out for Italian food. My partner and I both did the tasting menu. We had heard a lot about the focaccia, and it lived up to the hype. It was soft and wonderfully fluffy. The accompanying butter was a nice touch, if a bit sweet. I had the Occhio drink, which was delicious. It was delicately spicy, more of an aftertaste of spiciness that was pleasant. My partner had a glass of prosecco that they enjoyed. We enjoyed the red snapper crudo and the heirloom carrots were somewhat savory in an interesting way. The squid ink chitarra had a generous amount of squid and sauce, in my picture you can barely see the black pasta. The squid pieces had a nice bite to them without being chewy, it was delicious. We also had the roasted cauliflower, which was good but not noteworthy. We had the NY strip, which was good with the sauce on top; however it tasted unseasoned otherwise, and the steak was our least favorite part of dinner. We probably shouldn't have ordered steak in an Italian restaurant. For dessert we had a chocolate hazelnut mousse that was mostly bland and had a salty crunchy chocolate layer. I wouldn't order it again if I return to this restaurant. read more

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Great restaurant in Rittenhouse to visit for the summer! We sat outside for dinner as the weather was nice and had a great time. The focaccia app with honey butter is a must order. The bread is fresh and soft and paired nicely with the butter. The Caesar salad was a bit lacking in flavor for us, even though it was coating in dressing. The squid ink pasta was delicious. Would recommend if you like red sauce pasta and seafood. Overall good place and would like to visit for happy hour as I've heard a lot about their specials. read more

Via Locusta - Italian Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

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Gone here a few times for brunch. Every time the service has been super personable, light hearted, lovely and charismatic. I can't remember their name, but they had fun piercings and big curly dyed hair. The crudo, this restaurant group (Schulson Collective) remains consistent in producing great raw fish appetizers at almost all of their restaurants. Clearly a background in East Asian culinary. The snapper crudo was impeccable. Lots of yummy pasta and a swanky interior, with beautiful greenery and outdoor seating area. Alex at the bar is also an absolute treat, one of my favorite bartenders in the city, wonderful personality. Great brunch spot, or evening dinner date! read more

This is a difficult rating because I've been to via locusta twice now, and the food is very good. The first time I got the chef's tasking menu, which was wonderful. The second time I got the red snapper crudo and the cacio e Pepe. What is bringing the rating down is this second time. Between the first visit and second, I was diagnosed with celiac disease, which I always specify to restaurants and then describe like a severe gluten allergy (a lot of places don't know what it is. Via locusta has very poor allergen protocols, which is sad because they were listed by the inquirer as a gluten free friendly option. They asked me if they needed to change the pasta water... yes. I'm glad they asked, but would you ask that if it was a a peanut allergy and you had just cooked a pasta with peanuts- probably not and if you would, that's also concerning. I emphasized to them that I could have no cross contamination whatsoever, so new pot as well as new water, etc. Well I ended up getting very sick, so I doubt they have much in the way of protocols in the kitchen. Now if you have no food intolerances or allergies, it's a fun place. I highly recommend the snapper crudo, which was delicious. I can't separate the intense side effects from the pasta, so I can't recommend it. read more

Fun happy hour, good vibes, def recommend a reservation - the place was packed by later in the evening. indoor and outdoor seating. we did some apps from the HH menu and then got pastas for dinner which were all amazing! read more

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Took the whole family here and everyone left happy (and full). They have something for picky eaters and foodies alike, which is rare. Extra points for the kid-friendly menu. read more

My friends and I visited via locusta for some end-of-semester happy hour and we had a fantastic time. If you are looking for a happy hour with some good vibes, definitely try out via locusta! They also take reservations for happy hour and you can be seated at a regular table. If you've never been to via locusta happy houI, I recommend bringing one or two friends and ordering one of every plate on their happy hour menu! However, if you don't want to order everything, there were definitely plates that tasted better than the others. So, without further ado, here are my thoughts on each plate on the happy hour menu: Focaccia bread - you can probably tell from the other reviews that their focaccia bread is a fan favorite, and I 100% agree. If there's one thing you get from the happy hour menu, it's this!! The bread comes with 3 spreads; I absolutely loved the honey butter and the jam-like spread. I wasn't the biggest fan of the cheese spread, but it was nice to try. Fried zucchini- my friends and I were surprised at how much we liked the fried zucchini. They weren't too oily, and the aioli was a great dip. I really enjoyed these despite them being a bit soggy. Chicken milanese half sandwich - eh, I've had better chicken milanese sandwiches. It was too crunch and you couldn't really taste the chicken . Grilled short rib - the flavor was immaculate and the meat was thin but almost too chewy. Bruschetta - very refreshing and easy to eat. If you are looking for something simple to have on the side, would definitely recommend getting this. This wasn't anything extraordinary but it tasted great nonetheless. Pizza fritti - these were fun, bite-sized sides. The flavor and texture felt like a mix between crab rangoon and the fried sugar donuts from chinese restaurants. Agnolotti - yes, this was served on a napkin. This tasted absolutely delicious and I was most sad about how small this plate was. Veal slider - while the veal was a bit dry, I thought the flavor was great. Definitely preferred this over the chicken milanese sandwich. All in all, I recommend getting the focaccia bread, fried zucchini, and agnolotti from their happy hour menu. If you want a refreshing side, the bruschetta is a great choice as well! read more

Via Locusta - fried zucchini, agnolotti, grilled short rib - Italian Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

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In Philly at Rittenhouse Square for a conference. Sat at the bar. Bartenders were very friendly and fast. Happy Hour drinks were so cheap ($6) and they had lots of small plate food options for $6-$11. Food was fresh and delicious. Drinks were very tasty too. read more

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Gahhh! I have been here twice in two weeks for the gluten free version of Spaghetti (Fusilli) and Crab. It's been delicious both times and I have gotten two meals out of the generous single serving size. I love how beautiful the inside is. Modern, classy. Perfect for a date night and your friends with a gluten allergy can eat without worry. Service was friendly at the table the first time. We sat outside the first time which was very comfortable. Our bartender recently (sat at the bar) was a bit curt and only spoke to us perfunctorily. The sweet potato filled tortellini were a tad too sweet per my friend, but the server definitely warned her. Excited to return for happy hour and drinks. Love this place! read more