Little Nonna’s
1234 Locust St, Philadelphia, PA, 19107
Little Nonna’s Menu
Sorry, We are updating this restaurant menu details.
Visit below restaurant in Philadelphia for healthy meals suggestion.
Sorry, We are updating this restaurant blood pressure menu details.
Sorry, We are updating this restaurant cholesterol menu details.
Sorry, we don't have Q&A for this restaurant.
Sorry, No Coupons available for this restaurant.
-
Address :
1234 Locust St
Philadelphia, PA, 19107 - Phone (215) 546-2100
- Website https://littlenonnas.com
- Click To Get Directions
Opening Hours
- Mon :11:30 am - 3:00pm
Specialities
- Takes Reservations : Yes
Delivery : No
Take-out : No
Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
Good For : Dinner
Parking : Street
Bike Parking : Yes
Good for Kids : No
Good for Groups : Yes
Attire : Casual
Ambience : Romantic
Noise Level : Average
Alcohol : Full Bar
Outdoor Seating : Yes
Wi-Fi : No
Has TV : No
Waiter Service : Yes
Caters : No
Categories
Italian Cuisine
The immense popularity of Italian cuisine globally isn't unknown. You can find an Italian Pizzeria around every corner of almost every city in the United States. Not to forget that in every house, people enjoy mac and cheese as comfort food. But it would be wrong to believe that Italian food starts with pizza and ends with good pasta as this Mediterranean country has much more to offer other than these two dishes. In Italian Cuisine, there is a high use of fresh tomatoes, all kinds of herbs, great quality of cheese, all types of meat, seafood and fresh handmade pasta. Many find it hard to believe that Italians have been making noodles long back.
Italian and Greek cuisines are always mistaken to be same, but they are poles apart. The primary difference between the two cuisines is the use of cheese in most of the Italian dishes. Italians love to cultivate their own cheese and process them as per their food requirement. It is believed that some cheese is so expensive that cheese producers secure them in lockers.
If you are bored eating the same old pasta or pizza, you can try some of the authentic Italian dishes like Risotto, Polenta, Ribollita, Lasagna, Fiorentina Steak, Bottarga, Ossobuco, Carbonara, Focaccia, Arancini and Supplì. Another item which Italians love to relish every morning is a good cup of Italian Coffee. Once you taste a freshly brewed cup of Italian Coffee, you might not visit Starbucks ever again. Authentic Italian food is made with heart and soul, so go find a restaurant where you can relish Italian cuisine in your city.
WE SERVE THE FOLLOWING STATES
Looky Weed - Buy Marijuana Online
Looky Weed is here to help you navigate the maze of legalized marijuana. We provide you with a complete dispensary directory.
Ankur D.
Our meal, in one word: Magical. Started with the Stracciatella. MUST GET. Perfectly grilled moist bread served with a side of liquidy/melty/herby/amazing-y cheese. Yes sir. Also got the Antipasto Board, which was DAMN good. Looks like it changes on the daily but you will never be disappointed. The Roasted Fig Bruschetta was also very good, but i felt that the bread was a little too oily for my taste. Amazing never the less. Did not get any entrees unfortunately, but all the plates that came out looked phenomenal. Apparently the meatballs are to die for, and they are the size of a basketballs so i would, at the minimum, get a side of those. The desert. Jesus Christ. Had the warm apple pie desert which was the PERFECT fall desert. Caramelized apples nestled in flaky salty crust topped with homemade creamy vanilla ice cream drizzled with a light flavorful caramel. Your stomach tells you to stop eating but your brain is in another dimension and you just keep on eating. But the star of the show was the Tiramisu. Descending from the desert gods themselves, this plate of goodness is beyond anything that you'll ever experience in your life, ever. So moist, so much flavor. Calling it perfect is an understatement. I'm literally salivating while I type this. Just get it and thank me later. Definitely going back. Also Valeria Safran herself was there, bussing tables, which was AWESOME. You don't see a lot of successful restaurateurs throwing on some elbow grease and cleaning tables too often, but its awesome when you do.
(5)Beth R.
Stopped by for lunch on a weekend and was pleased. The inside is so cute, with the strings of overhead lights reminiscent of South Philly side streets, and a collection of mix and match dishes on the tables. It's hard to impress with Italian fare, there are so many options on Philadelphia. The stuffed meatballs with polenta were delicious. I wished they had more of the dinner options available for lunch, I may need to go back.
(4)Jeff M.
We went here for dinner, the place looks very cool inside. In general, their appetizers were amazing and the entree's were good. The meatballs and risotto balls were my favorite. For entrees, I had the pork chop and the orecchiette. The pork was good and very different from any other pork chop I have ever had. The orecchiette was tasty, but I thought there were too many black olives tossed in there for the rest of the flavors. Both bottles of wine we had were also very good. Dessert was nothing special. I would stay away from the hazel nut cannoli- the hazel nut flavor overpowered everything else and the ricotta consistency was too smooth.
(4)Vincent G.
Ate here a few times and must say it is awesome. Small menu but flawless execution. Great service and cool ambiance. Definitely recommend this place if your tired of the same old Italian food and want to step outside the box.
(5)Emily M.
Stopped by Little Nonna's for restaurant week after hearing great things about it! The hype didn't disappoint. The decor is lovely and really makes you feel cozy and comfortable. Everyone who works there was great from the host to our great server! We started with the wine pairing ($20 for 3 glasses). The pours seemed a little small for the price but we enjoyed each wine we got, especially the dessert one we got at the end. We'd probably just get our own bottle next time or try some cocktails. For restaurant week, everyone starts out with the pulled mozzarella. This was just as amazing as everyone has already stated. I would come back to Little Nonna's just to eat more of this!! We then had the arancini (rice balls) which were absolutely perfect.. again, I'd come back for these alone. We also got the BVP meatball which was very good. For entrees we got the lamb pasta (I don't remember exactly what else was in it) and the gnocchi which were both... just like everything else.. absolutely excellent. For dessert, we got the apple crumble and the tiramisu. The crumble was definitely the winner.. the tiramisu was good but a little too drowned in whipped topping and not quite traditional enough for my tiramisu loving boyfriend. Overall, Little Nonna's was awesome and I can't wait to go back!
(5)Stefanie A.
Seriously. WOW. Even for restaurant week, this place impressed two picky broads. I like the Turney/Saffrran empire. Lolita was great. Jamonera is totally tasty. I might like Barbuzzo the least (except the budino, which is heavenly.) So I figured I'd enjoy their newest spot. Let me start by saying prettiest garden in the city. And huge. Menu is a series of items that are all appealing, and from what I ate, all are phenomenal. For resto week, you get garlic bread, white bean dip, roasted garlic, and olives. I was almost full from gorging myself on delicious dip and crusty yet soft bread by the time by appp got there. Which were risotto balls in truffled something. Truffled anything is excellent. My entree sounded good but run of the mill, but the lemony chicken smooshed with a brick (my interpretation) had tangy and sweet and complex flavors was super rich and somehow light, and accompanied by fried potato loveliness and artichokes I couldn't get enough of. Tiramisu was good, I think, but I was so full, it was hard to tell. The service was friendly, though a bit slow, which is probably par for the course given that they just opened and it was packed. Inside was dark and romantic and tiny. I imagine it gets loud up in there but when you're eating so well, who cares?
(5)Thor T.
Nostalgia is en vogue and Little Nonna, seemingly fully booked at all times, is living proof. On a cold day, we enjoyed sitting in the little patio in the back, warmed nicely by the effective patio heaters that made the 30s night into a summer evening. We started with the traditional "wedding soup" - a credible version with rich broth and good vegetables (senza pasta). The garlic bread ($5) could be much better if not served on the fluffy, insipid Sarcone rolls (has there ever been a more overpraised Philly product that those airy sponges? talking about living off your reputation!). The caesar salad was true to form and so was the plate of spaghetti and meatballs, salty but delicious. The special of grilled veal t-bone with vegetables was also good, especially the thin crispy prosciutto slices imparting an extra surge of porcine taste into the tender veal. The good quality prosciutto (it is from the outstanding award winning La Quercia producer in Iowa) also made a welcome appearance in other dishes. Less exciting was a plate of linguine vongole, using cherry stone clams. While the linguine were cooked right, the accompanying sauce was unable to provide much taste support to the cherry stone clams (how nice would it be to actually have real vongole veraci in that dish). The apple crostata dessert was very good and made for a good finale to the meal. Little Nonna's two-fisted cooking style serves up familiar favorites with much gusto. Everyone missing American Italian dishes will be finding them here, a bit embellished and very tasty.
(3)Breton B.
You'd hardly notice this place just opened. We went the Saturday after they opened and just like the other restaurants under this umbrella (Jamonera, Barbuzzo, Lolita) - this place was wildly successful with two very important things - food and ambience. Though a tad too dark, we enjoyed our vantage point. We sat at the bar overlooking the kitchen treating ourselves to a up close view of how crazily fast things get in a buzzing, albeit still new restaurant. Head chef Marcie Turney was hard at work and her team was pretty impressive at doling out consistently stellar looking dishes. Everything we had was spot-on - the B-V-P meatballs stuffed with fontina cheese over a cheesy polenta (10 out of 10), the eggplant parmesan (9 out of 10 and that's from someone who normally shies away from eggplant), the stuffed big-ass shell (I'm not sure "big-ass" was on the menu) 10 out of 10. The only narrow miss was the braciole - the meat was a tad dry and it was not as savory as the other dishes, but decent nonetheless. Washed it down with $4 Peronis, which I certainly enjoyed. No desserts this time around but I liked the look of the chocolate milk and assorted cookies...Something tells me this place will be around a little more than Fish and the Rhino Bar so I'll get my chance to be back. A great addition to 13th Street. A couple small problems: - If I'm sitting in my Italian grandmother's kitchen, I don't think I'd be listening to Pink and Michael Jackson. Or maybe I would, I don't know but the music sort of detracts from the atmosphere. It doesn't need to be all old-worldy but we weren't feeling hits from the 90s/2000s. - The pace is frenetic and somewhat understandably service slowed down a bit with the place filled to the brim but when he was there, he was attentive and helped alleviate our indecision on what plates to get.
(5)Michael S.
Was hoping for more after reading the reviews. My wife and I were in town for the Philly 1/2 marathon on Sunday. We knew we wanted a plate of pasta and found Little Nonna's on yelp. It was also only a 5min walk from our hotel. We tried to get a reservation on Opentable. That didn't work unless we wanted to eat at 10pm..must be good if you can't get in at a reasonable hr. We called the restaurant directly and they said there was a garden in the back with 40 seats no reservations. When we got there we were actually seated inside at the open kitchen bar. The waiter was pleasant and attentive at first seating but that was the highlight of the service. He went through the menu and recommended several dishes. We went with the Strachiatella (pulled salted mozzarella on grilled bread) and 2 plates of their spaghetti with b+v+p fontina filled meatballs. Waiter was taken back that we both wanted the same thing. Yes unusual for us to do that but again we were running 13mi the following morning and it sounded good. We didn't order any alcohol or wine, again running a half marathon wanted to feel our best. The waiter was terrible at keeping water filled. At one point he disappeared with the water container for over 20mins when he said he was refilling it. Our pulled mozzarella and grilled bread came. It was really good but a tad too salty. Both my wife and I commented on this. We are never shy of salt either. I will say it was served within 5 mins of ordering. The spaghetti and meatballs came 10 mins later from a waitress not our waiter and she at least was friendly. The spaghetti and meatballs was a nice sized dish with plenty of pasta and 2 nice sized meatballs. This dish was good as well. The one strange call out is on each of our plates one meatball had fontina oozing out the other meatball none could be found. There was a nice pepper finish to the meatball too. Not once during our meal did our waiter ask how our meal was or if we needed anything. He did present a dessert menu but we were too full. On our walk out the hostess and what looked like the mgr ignored us, not asking how everything was or at least say goodnight.....very strange. I know this is a newly opened restaurant but some service components are easy to control. Clean up the service and this is a 4 star review. I would go back since the food was good and try a few other dishes (and some adult beverages).
(3)Rachel H.
Lovely place but the food is sub par at best. The waitress was attentive. To other guests in the time we where there she visted the two other tables around us about 9 times. While she visted ours about 4 times. The cup for the drink is extremely small and I needed a refill at the most every 10 minutes.
(3)Emily D.
My husband and I had a absolutely wonderful date here in September. The food and service were both very good, but what would make me go back is the atmosphere at Little Nonna's. We went around 8:30/9 on a Wednesday, and it felt relaxed, cozy, and intimate. We didn't feel rushed, we ate multiple courses slowly, and smiled & laughed, and just had a great time. It was perfect. I would really recommend the sgroppino - vodka and prosecco in a small glass with a scoop of lemon basil water ice and a stripey paper straw. It was a wonderful and special drink that was unexpected and lovely.
(4)Jason T.
My wife and I dined here on 09-20-13; we had a reservation for 5:15 PM, arrived around that time and were promptly seated. We were greeted by an enthusiastic waitress, who took our requests for ice water. Our waitress returned to our table with our water and explained that the dishes at Little Nonna's were meant to be shared plates, she also advised that it was restaurant week, and that if we decided to order from that menu, the restaurant would appreciate it if the entire table ordered from the RW menu as well. This was a bit perplexing, as the RW menu was a bit limited with its choices, and we were also advised that the dishes would be slightly smaller after inquiring about the size of the dishes. After a heated debate, Wife and I decided to try this restaurant week thing out. Wife ordered stracciatella, swordfish and cannoli. I ordered meatballs, lemon chicken and tiramisu. We were advised that we'd receive marinated olives with white beans and garlic bread complimentary from the chef, due to ordering from the RW menu. Score! Our first course came, meatballs filled with fontina cheese, topped with Sunday gravy, sitting in polenta (No complaints from me, they were excellent), and stracciatella sitting in a full bodied olive oil. Which was very tasty, however the stracciatella came with bread that was salted, making this dish way too salty. Second course came hot and heavy after the first, lemon chicken, with crispy fingerling potatoes and marinated artichokes The chicken was extremely moist, and seasoned very liberally, which makes the dish slightly overbearing when it's eaten with the marinated chokes, and my wife's swordfish oreganata with had great taste and flavor, however might have been slightly overcooked. To continue the full onslaught of food, our desserts came, wife's cannoli, which again, for her seemed strangely over salted, I disagreed, and enjoyed the filling, however I quickly observed that the cannoli shells are too thin, and were cracking from just being handled, and my tiramisu which I thought was perfect. I don't drink espresso late at night, so it didn't matter to me if it was on the menu.
(5)Emily C.
I am a big fan of all of Marcie Turney & Valerie Safran's restaurants. Despite that, I went into Little Nonna's with fairly low expectations. That probably had something to do with the fact that it was newly opened when we went and I hadn't heard or read much about it. Regardless, I was pretty impressed. As usual, we way over ordered, but my group left very happy. The drink menu was underwhelming, but the food made up for it. The meatballs were great. So good in fact that after ordering the appetizer portion for our group, I ordered the spaghetti & meatballs as my main course. Worth a visit. We will likely be back to visit soon.
(4)S W.
Lovely place. Not crowded at all at lunch even tho Open Table showed it fully booked. The eggplant parm was excellent, crispy and fresh. The fig gorgonzola bruschetta was a treat. Portions were nicely sized. Service was firendly and efficient. Price were fair. But, like others, found some things just too salty. The shaved salad was nearly inedible. The meatball was also too salty. Will give it one more try because the plusses outweighed the minuses, but will ask for dressing on the side!
(3)Gordon M.
incredible. Sauce is delicious. Amazing meatballs. Try the "Sunday Gravy" Canolies were also superb. About 125 for three terrific dinners -- 4 beers - wine, coffee. Great surface. Ate in the garden.
(5)Steve M.
Freaking delicious. Ladies of 13th Street, you've done it again. Little Nonna's takes my favorite style of eating, small plates, and applies it to Americanized Italian food. Small dishes of spaghetti and linguine instead of the huge overflowing bowls you'd expect at a more traditional red sauce place. I will start with my only complaint, because the rest of this review is going to be a rave: There is no bar, and there are only four cocktails. I'm a guy who enjoys a cocktail, and I really dislike the four they have pre-mixed and pre-bottled. They have wine and a couple Italian beers in addition... but I'm a gin-before-dinner kind of guy and that just wasn't possible here. Not a dealbreaker, but I did dock it a star for that. On to the food: - B+V+P Meatballs: Probably the best meatballs I've ever eaten in my life. And I know I just said that a few weeks ago about Jerry's Bar, and those were great, but this time I mean it. Wow. Big, fall-apart-in-your-mouth, juicy, tender, fontina-stuffed meatballs. Get these. And then do what we did and get the spaghetti and meatballs too, so you can have more of them. - Stracciatella: Fresh-pulled mozzarella with olive oil and sea salt, just how it should be done. Pretty darn good, but I've still gotta give the crown to Garces Trading Company for their fresh-pulled mozzarella. - Garlic Bread: You can't go wrong here. Get it with your macaroni course and dip dip dipadelphia. - Spaghetti and Meatballs: This is the dish I was most excited for, and I was doubly excited once I knew what meatballs I was in store for. Al dente spaghetti cooked just the way I like it, a light tomato sauce, and those balls from heaven. Yes, I said it. Balls from heaven. - Pork Braciole: Unbelievably tender pork stuffed with fennel and provolone. I loved this dish. - Linguine Vongole: Exactly what you'd hope for when you order linguini in clam sauce... except with a bonus of cured pork cheek. Delicious and garlicky. Cozy and familiar. - Gorgonzola Bruschetta with fig: Everybody else loved this, but I'm not a big gorgonzola fan, so it's not really fair for me to comment.
(4)Barbara M.
Omg it's the best Italian restaurant I've ever been to! The amount is pretty decent ! Def try the veal porterhouse and shrimp scampi !!! They were soooooo good!!!!!
(5)Debra B.
Just had dinner here with my husband and four month old daughter. The hostess went out of her way to hold a table for us in the back garden that was tucked away and allowed room for our stroller. She was great and very helpful, as was our waitress. Food was great. Love the decor. Highly recommend.
(5)Robert P.
I went here during their opening weekend with a friend and had a wonderful time. The atmosphere was elegant and comforting. We sat at the outside patio, covered overhead by hanging flowers and lights, creating an intimate atmosphere that made you forget that you were in the middle of the city. We started with the Antipasta board. The excellent prosciutto and cheeses were matched with arugula, beets, oranges, and focaccia. For our main courses we had the Spaghetti & Meatballs and the Cavatelli with Squid. The cheese filled meatballs were a highlight although as whole this dish didn't wow me. The service was kind and courteous. Our server was well informed enough to answer all our questions. Although the restroom was clean and well decorated, I wish that there had been more than one. At times there was a long line. Overall a lovely Italian dining experience and I can't wait to go back!
(4)Matt B.
Why is there a group of people milling about in front of a restaurant at 4:45p in 25 degree weather? They're not even open, yet! Sunday Gravy is why. They serve it every day but Sunday gravy on Sunday felt extra special. There's a limited amount of this dish and when it's gone, it's gone. The tomatoes were San Marzano and the meats were meatballs, hot sausage, shortrib and maybe pork shoulder? The meatballs have little treasures of fontina cheese inside, what an amazing invention. They serve it in two bowls, one with gravy and pasta and the other is a wonderful meat sauce bowl. They then throw a portion of perfectly cooked broc rabe (with red pepper) on top of the meat bowl. The whole situation was unbelievable. Served with pasta of the day it's a reason to get someplace early. The decor of this place is like grandma's house. The china is mismatched but nice. There are baking pans and black and white pictures on the wall. The service was attentive. The garlic bread starter was awesome (pro tip, squeeze the bulb to get our the roasted garlic) and went well with the eggplant parm starter (fritte style strips not soggy at all). We also enjoyed a delightful shaved salad with fennel, celery, radish and loccatelli. Easy 5 stars and felt invigorated: ate Nonna's cooking and it wasn't so cold on the walk home.
(5)Noheli T.
After hearing some amazing reviews regarding LIttle Nonna's my guy and I decided ot give it a try for his birthday. We ordered the garlic bread the Negroni Glazed Lamb Ribs as appetizers. I personally loved the garlic bread more than the ribs, but both items were good. I should have stuck to my gut and ordered the Spaghetti and Meatballs as my entree, but instead I had the Linguine Vongole. The plate was good, but not mind blowing. My guy ordered the Sunday Gravy and he too thought that it was just ok. We also had 3 glasses of wine and the bill totaled to about $115, which blew me away. I honestly wasn't as over joyed with the meals, but the atmosphere was great. I'd definitely give it a second try and order their Spaghetti and Meatballs instead.
(3)Jasmine P.
I really enjoyed the ambiance and the delicious food. Very cute and perfect for a date night or intimate dinner with friends/family! I would highly recommend this place.
(5)Matthew H.
We visited Little Nonna's for the first time during restaurant week and it was good but I definitely wasn't wowed by anything that they served. I want to blame this on restaurant week but since the restaurant week menu was lifted straight from the regular menu I am not so sure. We started off with drinks, one getting the wine pairing and the other the Mulberry Street Sazerac. The wine pairing was interesting because it was a generic pairing and didn't actually take into account what you ordered so some of the wines didn't go well with the dish. The Sazerac was good and strong but came in a tiny mason jar, I drink a lot of liquor cocktails but even this seemed a little small for a $10 drink, I would rather pay a few bucks more and get a larger normal rocks glass. For the apps we went with the salad and the BVP meatball. I have heard amazing things about this meatball and while it was good it wasn't anything all that special, I didn't find myself going wow and wanting to tell everyone to order it. For the entrees we did the short ribs and the swordfish. Again both were ok but weren't great the short ribs were a little overcooked and grainy and the swordfish filets were very thin and because of that dried out a bit on the grill. The dessert were good, we did the apple crumble which was great and the pistachio cannolis. The cannolis were an interesting take, they had a very whipped filling that was very light but had almost no flavor. All in all I think that I would like to try Little Nonna's again not during restaurant week but considering I felt the same way about this place as I did Barbuzzo I am not sure it's worth the time.
(3)Tony P.
You'll enjoy the Sunday Gravy. The Garlic bread was light and tasty not over done with flavor. The Arancini were delicious as were the meatballs. Solid take on homemade Italian food.
(5)Huntington B.
After a long day of travel, this was the perfect meal. Sat outside in the garden. Charming and quiet. The meatballs were incredible. Garlic bread was yummy. The mussels were pretty good. Would definitely go back!
(4)Jenell S.
I loved, loved, loved Little Nonna's! Like the rest of their restaurants, the atmosphere is comfortable and chic and the food does not disappoint. I went with my boyfriend a few months ago and we shared a bunch of items off the menu. I am giving Little Nonna's 5-stars based on my experience with the appetizers/pasta alone. The only dish that I don't think I'd order again was a mixed seafood grill, which was a special so I don't think I'd even have the option to order it again. However, the rest of our dishes were outstanding. I could eat the stracciatella for days; served with warm grilled bread and a drizzle of olive oil, this dish was simple but executed WELL. I also really enjoyed the meatballs stuffed with cheese and the fusilli di pretti. This restaurant has definitely been bumped up on my list of Italian restaurants in Philly. Nice work Little Nonna's!
(5)Nancy H.
My party of 3 arrived on Saturday night without a reservation, and this small restaurant was packed. The host was nice and offered to seat us at a counter by the kitchen or on an outside patio. We opted for the patio even though it was a bit chilly. The outside area is somewhat enclosed so it wasn't as cold as it could be. There was very little lighting both inside and out so it seems like a good place for a romantic dinner (although the inside was super crowded so you may want to avoid busy dinner times with a date). The menu is short with only a couple of actual pasta choices - gnocchi or spaghetti. I asked the server about pasta options in case I had missed something, and she wasn't super helpful. She suggested that I place the menu closer to my candle so that I could read it better myself. After bringing our water, the server did not take our order and left us alone for a good ten minutes. Since we weren't thrilled with the outside seating, the slow service, the servers attitude, or the lack of menu options, we chose to leave and find another restaurant. Therefore, I have no idea if the actual food is good or not.
(3)Diane V.
My first time here and it was a very quaint environment. The restaurant was full at 8 pm and it was very hot inside. The wine list is very small (only 5 ) to choose from for white and no Sauvignon Blanc, my favorite. Only 2 beers to choose from! We ordered 2 appetizers to start, the mush risotto balls and the cannelloni beans. I really liked the risotto balls but the other came out cold and soggy . Just as soon as the waitress took those plates away, our dinner was brought over. We really felt rushed by our waitress. She would not leave us alone to enjoy just savoring our apps/ drinks until she got a dinner order. We just wanted to slow down, breathe, talk, relax but we couldn't. The pace was way too fast and I'm sorry but our waitress kept stroking her braids :( I got the fish picatta which was tasty but a little tough to cut (seared side too seared). My husband got meatball app and broc rabe which was good but he barely ate because the pace the restaurant had us on was too fast.
(3)Michael Y.
Flawless experience. Food was extraordinary. Drinks hit the spot. Atmosphere was perfection. And the service was impeccable. I somewhat hate how the owners have a monopoly on the businesses in the vacinity, but it's tough to argue with the quality of their work. Little Nonna's was one of the best Philadelphia dining experiences I've had all year. Even writing this, my mouth is watering to go back. (I also love the authentic South Philly tchotchkes on the walls).
(5)Star T.
I highly recommend the Glazed Lamb Ribs and the Cavatelli Nero. The desserts are also great though I preferred my Apple crostata to my friend's Milk & Cookies, Italiano. I'll certainly be back.
(4)Holly S.
Today my six of my colleagues had lunch at Little Nonna's. This place is good for small groups if you call ahead, but I would bring a larger group here unless you are planning on taking over the whole place. One of our colleagues had called ahead to find out what the corking fee was. $25 - yes twenty five dollars!! Well, considering the wine list starts at $50 a bottle for white up to $85+ for red, $25 is a bargain. Well, we were taking a lunch break from work and we decided against it anyway. The service was good, the food came out timely and none of our orders were screwed up. So they got the basics covered. We ordered garlic bread and fig bruschetta as appetizers, also there was an order of meatballs in there as an appy also. The appetizers looked good, smelled great and tasted phenomenal. Next came the entrees. I ordered the mushroom pasta dish, which I though was excellent, but a more refined palate might have complained about the salt, one watching their calories might have complained about the oil/butter at the bottom of the dish. Again, I found it to be excellent. Others at the table ordered chicken parm sandwiches, rigatoni and spaghetti and meatballs. All hearty comfort food choices. No one complained about their selection. All in all this was a pleasant experience and I would definitely go there again...Here are a few more interesting things to take note of. The wildcard at this restaurant was the french fries served with he sandwiches. Real french fries made from real sliced up potatoes. They were delicious and were a hit with the whole group. This restaurant seems to be right across the street from a methadone clinic. There are big signs saying no smoking, no loitering, no sitting. It was fun to watch people smoke, loiter and sit on the steps of that place while we were dining. Excellent people watching spot.
(4)Lindsay T.
This was a good meal -- Not bad but not great either, which was a bummer for me and my dining pals. We started off with the mushroom arancini (fried risotto balls) with a truffle sauce and the roasted beet and pear salad. Both were tasty options though the arancini could have been hotter and the portion was a bit small for the salad (especially for $10.) I order the Sunday Gravy, with my dining friends ordering the spaghetti and meatballs and the chestnut ravioli. Though all options were yummy, again we had temperature issues where nothing was hot enough. My braciole was a bit on the tough side however, the wide pasta noodles and meat gravy were the best thing on the plate. Unfortunately, I'm not sure I would go back to dine again as the experience was just mediocre.
(3)Erin W.
I would absolutely give Little Nonna a second try, but I was not terribly blown away by my first visit. We started with the garlic bread appetizer that had a lovely fresh garlic spread. I thought this was delicious, but the bread came out very very dark, I would say on the verge of burnt. I had the swordfish entree as my meal. I thought the fish was tasty, though a bit too salty and I found the accompanied vegetable proportions to be incredibly small. I really loved the environment. Our server was very friendly and attentive to our table. There are absolutely other things on the menu that I'd want to try, so I'll definitely go back.
(3)Jackie V.
As a lover of all things created by the ladies that own 13th st, I am very surprised to be giving this only 3 stars. I went for dinner on a friday night with Justin G, Colleen D, and Casey M with much anticipation. We decided to order a bunch of plates for the table to share and overall we were underwhelmed. It's possible that I am overly biased since I grew up with great italian cooking...but all four of us agreed there was nothing amazing about the food. I'd like to give it a try again in the future in the hopes that it was an off night but with so many great places to eat in Philly, it's not too likely. I still can't rave enough about Barbuzzo or Jamonera but Nonna's just didn't do it for me.
(3)Vicki S.
Food was great... Portions were huge...Get the arancini for sure. Service was a bit slow and not very attentive or friendly. Had a nice night with my girlfriends but not rushing to head back.
(3)Lauren I.
Cute little place, perfect for a date night. Loved the homey decor - just like grandma's house! We had the shaved salad, which was perfectly dressed and seasoned; a great appetizer. Also had the mushroom arancini - very tasty but not quite like what you'd find in Italy. A lot smaller and more cheesy - but still really delicious. Husband had the italian wedding soup which looked great and also the roasted chestnut ravioli - which he found to be too sweet, but I enjoyed. Service was great, it's a tiny place and I wished we had more of a private table (felt like we were sitting on top of the table next to us) but other than that, was a great dinner.
(3)Jodie S.
Ive been giving out a lot of 5 stars lately. Im not sure if its because im picking the right places or just getting lucky. Little Nonnas is small plate Italian fare and meant for sharing. The staff if knowledgable and friendly. There were two of us and we ordered the fresh mozzarella, shaved brussel salad and sunday gravy. I was in heaven. It was plenty of food and completely the right mix. What made the night even more special was sitting in their outside area. We were lucky enough to have great folks sitting on both sides of us and immensely enjoyed the homey laid back almost European cafe vibe. Before I realized it we had been there for 3 hours and it was wonderful.
(5)Laurie B.
The outdoor patio behind the building is very pleasant, and even its strange festooning with aprons, doilies, and other schmattahs strung along a clothes line does not detract from the atmosphere. Service was good, as was the food. We especially liked the polenta with mushrooms and the chicken with grilled artichokes, lemons, and potatoes. The kitchen's take on eggplant parmigiana, with Japanese eggplant, Thai basil, burrata, and not much marinara sauce, worked, but I would have preferred an old-fashioned, genuine nonna's eggplant parm to the restaurant's version of spaghetti and meatballs. Overly sauced and way too sweet, it too needs - in my opinion - to be updated. We will certainly come back, though my sense is that reservations and tables will soon be very hard to come by.
(4)Alexa R.
Barbuzzo is one of our favorite restaurants in Philly (probably in the world), so I did not give it a second thought when I made a reservation for Little Nonna's for our fourth anniversary dinner. The ambience and bathroom of Little Nonna's brought tears to my eyes as it reminded me so much of my Italian grandmother's house, complete with gold rimmed saucers and framed religious pictures. My husband and I started with the pulled mozzarella and salted bread, which I could have used a lot more of! We also had the fig bruschetta, which was devoured. For dinner, my husband had the spaghetti and meatballs and declared it, "THE BEST (HE) HAD EVER HAD!" (Don't tell my mother.) And I had the lemon chicken. We also ordered a side of the smashed fingerlings, which were awesome. They featured a combo of sweet and white potatoes and satisfied my need for more carbs. We were entirely too full from dinner to have dessert. Our server was not great - I think she was simply busy - but I expected her to be a bit more engaging.
(4)D. A.
Had a nice date here with my husband. They just opened this week and you can tell they are on their toes making sure everything is running smoothly. Server(s) were nice and attentive, food was delicious and atmosphere was fabulous. Cozy but not crowded. Beautiful and stylish yet comfortable. A must-visit. We enjoyed a classic menu of garlic bread, grilled caesar (the dressing, polenta plus being grilled was a great twist), stuffed shell, lemon chicken and apple crostata. I recommend them all. Loved the wine list too. Looking forward to another visit!
(4)lauren z.
I can see how ordering differently would result in more stars. I ordered the fig bruschetta and it is definitely a pass next time. The bread was too big, the fig was too big, the flavors didn't meld. It was a big disappointment for me. I had been looking forward to the pumpkin cannoli based on reviews-- unfortunately it has switched to hazelnut and was bad-- like we left half a cannoli on the plate bad. I got my husband some gnocchi for take out. It was OK, but not great. I know gnocchi is a potato pasta but this tasted very potato-y... kind of like if you got a side of rosemary roasted potatoes with the consistency of gnocchi. It was fine, but not what I expected. The meatballs, lemon chicken, and mozzarella appetizer were all very good. I saw someone else having the spaghetti and regret not getting that over the gnocchi. I think the key to getting a 4 or 5 star experience at little nonna's is all in the ordering: research and pick carefully!
(3)Fran H.
I wanted so badly to like this place! The atmosphere was tight ! The decor reminiscent of grandmom. The food mediocre. I had the stuffed shell. The pasta part was not fully cooked but the filling was good. The appetizer garlic bread had potential but the Texas toast square were like rubber not fresh and that spoiled the appetizer. Overall it is overpriced Olive Garden ! Sorry little nonnas I will try again but not for a long time.
(3)Jon C.
This was great, fun, beautiful garden, etc., just as everyone says -- and amazingly crowded already at 5:30 on a Saturday. Oren is an awesome server, and this is clearly going to be a hugely popular restaurant in the neighborhood -- lots of families, couples, dates, you name it. Pricing all the cocktails and glasses of wine at the same $10 is a great idea that more restaurants should pick up on. I'm mostly here to make one early suggestion, in case Marcie and Valerie are checking us out. If you're gonna serve those great spaghetti and meatballs -- and even the spaghetti and clams too -- people are gonna wanna put grated parmesan on the spaghetti. My family and I felt bad about asking for it, but we really wanted it so we did, and Oren could not have been more obliging. But having the server come over with a bowl and sprinkle a little more on the spaghetti doesn't really do it. Then, sure enough, the table next to us asked for the same thing. Think about letting people have some grated cheese on their table -- maybe just if they ask for it -- it would make the spaghetti and meatball experience here even better!
(4)Ashley B.
Went this evening for the Valentines Day Prix Fixe and was incredibly disappointed. After having been there the first week it opened (and loving it) service was terrible. We were rushed out so quickly and had to hunt the waitress down to order glasses of wine and coffees with dessert. My husband had never been before and it was a bad first impression. Food was decent, but to pay for the special menu, I wouldn't say it was worth it.
(2)Cindy S.
Little Nonna's is lovely. Great ambiance, attentive service, no frills $10 a glass wine list and tasty food. The meatballs are delicious (although they seemed to be missing the Fontina), the gnocchi was a treat and the cauliflower, oh that cauliflower. My friend who is an enthusiastic meat eater didn't touch his meatballs until he finished every bit of his cauliflower.
(4)Jessica S.
Yo sonzz this place is legit for reeaaaaalz. That spaghetti and meatballs was out of dis world, holla! I also gots the chicken and wowie wowie wow, me likey. Dessert is mad serious too dawg. You gots to go, you won't regret it for realz. PC.
(5)Christa M.
Ambiance is cute albeit it's next to a dilapidated building. Food ( eggplant parm and cheese appetizer) was underwhelming and not how the waitress made it out to be- very Italian American, heavy red sauce that tastes out of a can. Swordfish entree was served cold with broccoli that looked like it was of the frozen variety. Would not come back.
(2)Miller W.
OK.. here's the deal... some dishes great- Sirloin- Yummy. eggplant parm- fantastic. But, here's the problem: 1) service was dismal. Ordered a 2nd glass of wine to have with my steak. Yeah.. didnt arrive. 2) No espresso or cappuccino. It's an italian place. How can there not be espresso or cappuccino? Stupid. 3) Decor- eh- buco di beppo was more interesting (and that isnt a good thing). 4) Dessert- nothing grabbed us. Just serve a frozen budino or something. go all in on it. I'd go back because the food was good, But this is an italian food city.. and they didnt stand out. They'll do well as it is a tiny place. But you can do better. However, you do need to go at least once. In retrospect, the steak dish was so good, it is worth it. EDIT- rethought things and decided it was great. Food was quite good. especially compared to the next review I made.
(4)Stephen s.
Food and service are generally quite good here, however, restaurant management requires some real improvements to better serve their clients. Three issues from our recent visit: (1) Ravioli as a main course only included 4 small pieces, and no side dishes. When we complained, there was no response from the kitchen or the management. (2) No bread is served, so we ordered garlic bread for the table (5 of us). They only brought out 4 pieces. Price was not an issue here; we would have paid more for the extra pieces. (3) Apparently the staff felt we were taking too much time, and there were continual subtle (and not so subtle) hints to move it along, and then to leave after we were served dessert. For any restaurant aspiring to be top level, this is a serious mistake.
(3)Mark G.
My spouse and I had to try this little delight near the theatre where Jersey Boys were playing. Without reservations on a Friday we were assured we could be out of there in an hour and 15 minutes in time for the show. They were right; service was the highlight here. If your over 50 you cannot read the menu in this dark restaurant. The font and letters are teeny weeny. The meatball appetizer was everything we wanted it to be. The swordfish at $22 and Veal at $26 were as expected. No surprises. The apple something for dessert at $9 was overpriced. But the biggest surprise was the paltry pouring of the glass of wine for $10. DO NOT buy this. Go for the bottle. We estimate that we received 2 ounces of wine for $10. Tables are close together but not uncomfortable. I didn't make the mistake of reaching for bread from another's table like Ralph's on 9th st. Here you have to pay for bread so you know if it is yours or not.
(3)Loy G.
charming little italian spot with romantic ambience. somehow successfully mixing grandma's style of doilies and flowery china with the modern flair of hipster filament light bulbs and the rustic open kitchen. okay so i'm a sucker for interior design and presentation. also, great service from our waitress with a fast working kitchen that has the food coming out expeditiously. we started with the fresh pulled mozzarella and buttered bread. this was the perfect appetizer that was definitely fresh, both the cheese and the bread. great flavors and mix of textures with toasted freshly baked bread with soft, melt in your mouth mozzarella and a mix of buttery and salty. yum for sure and the other appetizer options definitely intrigued me with the head on shrimp scampi and fig bruschetta. so i'll definitely be back for that. on the pasta part, we opted for the spaghetti meatballs (how can you not), and the linguine clams (also how can you not). first off, the pasta is nicely al dente however, not freshly homemade. i'd hope that "little granda ma ma" would have worked just as hard to deliver fresh pastas. i'd say that this would help push their dishes over the top. the sauce itself is good, but i want more, i want more! so i'd hope for a little extra red sauce if their "gravy" is the premise of this restaurant. perhaps a side of marinara and calamari would be a good way to highlight the gravy. in terms of the meatballs, they are huge and just what you would hope for. you get two and one of them seemed to be more "filled with cheese". not sure if this was a mistake or intentional but sure was good. the meatballs are of the spicy italian sausage variety so that's either good or bad depending on how you like your meatballs. i like that stuff, but my fiance who is a little opposed to spice wasn't too excited (i was more than happy to clean those off of her plate). the linguine clams itself was perfectly made and i might echo would be off to another level if made with fresh linguine. i really appreciate the generous sprinkling of fresh parsely and pieces of thin fried pancetta (bacon makes it better, i'll be sure to add this to my own home recipe). lastly finished with the apple crostada. pretty tasty and standard, but wish they had espresso and cappuccino. the cappuccino would definitely have topped off my home cooked italian experience. 3.5 star experience really but something else might make it a 5 star place... hmmmm. did i mention they need to make fresh pasta?!
(4)Anni D.
Like the rest of their restaurants, this place is pretty damn good. The food is delicious, the drinks are well made and the staff is super friendly. I will continue to support these businesses.
(4)Stephen R.
Dinner was fantastic. I recommend the Sunday Gravy before it runs out. Go in with a big appetite you will be going home with a lot of food.
(5)Eric P.
Beyond the classic atmosphere, adorable niches of vintage 40s/50's retro collectibles lies a fantastic experience waiting. My server was Lydia. The meal was perfect. Simply put. My spaghetti and meatballs was more than a I bargained for. 3 huge meatballs and a mound of sauce draped pasta gave me an excited twitch in my stomach. Post dinner the hazelnut cannoli is not too be missed. It tasted like Ferraro Roche candy but better and mini. Oh and btw, the cleanest bathroom in Philadelphia. All in all I will be back. As a baker and pastry chef of 16 years I am always happy to pass on fabulous restaurant when I find it.
(5)Samantha B.
Came for dinner this past Saturday night, and I was blown away. I'm not a huge lover of traditional Italian, but Little Nonna's made me a believer. The space is a great size, small but not cramped, and the lights and decorations are incredibly charming. To start we shared the Stracciatella and Meatballs. The grilled bread was the perfect accompaniment to the fresh mozzarella, and just as good as the grilled bread that I love so much from Barbuzzo. The meatballs were hands down the best I've ever had...a great blend of meats and spices. The polenta under the meatballs was creamy and delicious. For our entrees we split the Chestnut Ravioli and the 1/2 Chicken. The ravioli was unbelievable and I would have been happy with a big bowl. The chicken was also amazing, and the artichokes and potatoes that came with were equally tasty. We got the warm chocolate cake for the perfect end to the meal. I can't wait for a return trip to Little Nonna's...a top notch meal from start to finish. Turney and Saffran do it again!
(5)Meredith G.
I went to Little Nonna's this past Friday with a couple of my closest girlfriends to celebrate my birthday. Barbuzzo was my first choice, but no reservations could be found (2+ weeks in advance!) but I was informed that Little Nonna's is owned by the same people and I'm a sucker for italian food, so I couldn't say no. We were seated inside as soon as we got there and our waitress was the cutest, we seriously wanted to hug her as we were leaving. To drink I had the Sgroppino cocktail which did not disappoint, I'm a sucker for any cocktail with Prosecco in it and who can be mad about a scoop of lemon sorbet?! I ordered the garlic bread appetizer...seriously, the menu had me drooling at the thought of an entire roasted garlic bulb. The bread was perfect and the garlic was like butter. I could've eaten 3 more helpings of that app. For my main course, I had the pan-seared gnocchi. Again, i'm a sucker for truffle and pancetta. When it came out, it looked like a pretty big portion and I expected to be full from all of the carbs but it was not as filling as I thought it would be, which was a good thing! I ate every last bite. This means there was room for dessert. For dessert I ordered the apple crostata. I was so curious about "vanilla-thyme" ice cream and oh. my. god. It was a bite of heaven. I ate every last bite of this, too! I cannot wait to go back and try dishes like the spaghetti & meatballs, the burrata appetizer and the Sunday Gravy.
(5)Ade B.
This place has a great deal for Restaurant Week lunch. The meatballs, which are stuffed with cheese, are the best you will find in this city. The roast pork sandwich is outstanding, much better than the more famous roast pork sandwiches you can find elsewhere in the city. You can't go wrong with the Tiramisu or cannolli for dessert! I've also been here for dinner in the outdoor patio. It's a wonderful place for an outdoor meal if it's not too hot. The sunday Gravy is the high point of dinner. It includes a slowly braised beef shortrib, the meatball, and house-made hot fennel sausage in a sauce over some pasta. This is a 5 star restaurant!
(5)Kendrah R.
Pros: Good food. Cons: Inexcusably bad service. We had friends in from out of town for one night and wanted to show them that Philly is a great place to be. They certainly didn't get that impression from Little Nona. I guess it was a slow night because the restaurant was nearly empty when we ate here. The ratio of customers to staff was nearly one to one. Still, we had to ask for water refills four times throughout the meal. They never brought an appetizer. They never brought crab utensils for three of us who ordered crabs. Entrees arrived 15 minutes apart. We had to interact with five different waitstaff because nobody ever stopped by more than once to wait on us. It was really hard to have conversation and a relaxed dining experience when you are constantly in need of something and nobody is waiting on you to help. The food was good, particularly the ripe heirloom tomatoes, but not good enough to redeem itself from the horrible service. They eventually brought the appetizer during our meal and comped us for it as they knew they were really not keeping it together. A free late appetizer was not enough to make up for the debacle of this meal.
(2)Kat S.
Little Nonna's is the epitome of "Don't judge a book by it's cover". My friend brought me here last night and I was a little weary as it looked like a small, hole-in-the-wall place. It looked crowded, but we were sat immediately by the hostess. The front room is a warm and inviting space that features an open kitchen, where you can watch the staff at work. We rounded the corner and were escorted to their "Garden" space in the rear of the building. It was absolutely charming and cozy! There is a mix of iron tables & chairs, booths and picnic tables spread out under a moonlight clear roof (and twinkle lights!). The menu is not extensive, but it features so many delectable selections from Fig Bruschetta to Sunday Gravy (get it while it lasts) and an array of seafood dishes. We ordered the Sunday Gravy (Meatballs, Sausage and Short Ribs w/ Pasta) and Pan Seared Gnocchi. Both dishes were amazing and bursting with flavor. They were also a great portion and you didn't feel like you were overfed. For dessert, we got the Dark Chocolate Hazelnut Cake and the Lemon/Basil Sorbet. The chocolate cake was warm and enjoyable. The Lemon/Basil Sorbet was a huge hit! I would have loved to take some home! Overall we had a great experience at Little Nonna's and I've already recommended it to a few friends. I would definitely return and cannot wait to get more of the Lemon/Basil Sorbet.
(5)Millie C.
Awesome! The arancini was awesome, the Sunday Gravy was awesome, dessert was awesome- fantastic food. Can't WAIT to go back and stuff myself again. You have to pay for bread but man is it worth it!
(5)Justin T.
My wife and I have been here twice now and are both big fans. Our first time was for restaurant week. We loved it so much, that I asked to go back for my birthday. In general, I am not a huge Italian food fan but I love to find places that can overcome my general boredom with the typical greater Philadelphia Italian food scene. Little Nonna's definitely makes the cut. Two of our favorites are the BVP meatballs and Wild Mushroom Arancini. If you're there on a Sunday, don't miss the chance to try the Sunday Gravy. Adorable atmosphere, fabulous food, and great service ... what more can you ask for?
(4)Ashley T.
I've been meaning to try Little Nonna's for quite some time now. Ended up sitting in the back garden area which is a MUST! It's so pleasant and beautiful. We were given both the restaurant week menu and their regular menu. It's nice to know we had the option to order from either since most places during restaurant week only choose to serve that specific menu. The service here is great. The staff is attentive and they give you new utensils between your appetizer and entree. The replenish your water frequently and always speak to you with a smile. Great Customer Service. The food was delicious as well. The Stracciatella is amazing. I have never had this dish before. Lightly grilled bread and a dish full of italian market olives served with burrata cheese. So smooth and creamy OMG its so simple yet so good. Appetizers consisted of their famous meatballs (which are huge and filled with cheese uh YES PLEASE) and Mushroom Arancini risotto balls. I loved the risotto balls better, but man were both plates filling! Dinner was their gnocchi. I never had this type of dish before either and it was surprisingly good! The gnocchi was light and airy (came with mushrooms and pancetta bites). The best part of this dish is the truffle butter sauce its served with. Last but not least for dessert i had the pistachio cannoli's. I prefer the usual plain ricotta filled cannoli's instead of flavored ones, but it had chocolate ganache and pistachio piece sprinkles on it as well so i'd give it a 6/10 on my cannoli grading scale =) Definitely between the food and service and setting I fell in love with this place... My dinner would have been $45 but since its restaurant week it was only $35. Great deal! i can't wait to go back!
(4)Krystal H.
I had been hearing great things about this place for awhile now and, as a person who grew up in an Italian family, I was hesitant. When some friends suggested it for girls night out I went for it. The construction out front makes it easy to miss. Inside is charming with a side of kitsch. The seating out back was wonderful! It was beautiful and romantic. It was slightly too warm, though. I had been craving polenta for awhile so I went with the fontina stuffed meatballs (served over polenta), and the cucumber melon salad. The table shared the straccitella and for wine I went with the pecorino. A friend got the eggplant parm and I tasted that. The straccitella was good, but nothing too special. The cucumber melon salad was really nice. It was a decent size and was light and fresh. The meatballs were good, not great. The polenta was creamy and good. The best dish by far was the eggplant parm. The service was the biggest reason the place didn't get 5 stars out of me. Our waitress never one time smiled and was short with all of us. She brought what we asked for but was not at all friendly. It almost seemed like she was bothered that she had to serve us. Like maybe one of us is dating her ex-boyfriend or something. I will say that the place was packed. Every seat in the place was full. In sum, a 4 star rating at an Italian restaurant with meh service is about the highest rating you'll get outta me. I'm picky when it comes to Italian, because nobody makes it like gramma Gisella. I'll go back again to try the mussels, gnocchi, caprese, tiramisu and limoncello.
(4)Farha A.
Loved!!! I want to give this place 4.5 stars. The back patio is ADORABLE, romantic, and overall just a great vibe that I am in love with. I pass this place every day on my way to work and never knew it was so quaint and adorable. Food aside its the perfect place to come with friends or on a date especially during twilight hours/sunset Ordered the mussels which were in a good tomato sauce - it was slightly more tart than I would have liked but nevertheless delicious. The garlic bread here was the best I've ever had. It's $5 and worth every cent. They bring you this delicious toasted bread with fresh caramelized garlic and I basically couldn't eat my main course because I gorged out on this. For the main course, the spaghetti! Yummmm. DEFINITELY enough for 2 (maybe 3+ people). I was kind of annoyed that when us (as well as the people next to us) asked about the portion size, the waitress was misleading about how large the portion actually is. Luckily my friend and I only ordered 1 (and still couldn't finish it) but the people next to us were led to believe they needed to order more. But the meatballs were so delicious I guess I wouldn't have been mad if there was extra to take home. Highly recommended!!!!!!!!
(4)Aarti P.
You want cute, unique, quaint, comfortable, tasty, gem, value for money, relaxed, neighbourhood joint!! This is it. They say a picture is worth a thousand words, well then take a look at them.. My writ is simply not good enough, look at the pics and just go!
(4)Suzie L.
Recently had dinner here and the place is quite charming. We were seated promptly and provided with menus. Agreeing with a few helpers here with the slow service on a not so busy night. It took some time for the server to arrive and provide us with water. The server also forgot my drink so I had to request another one... Can't go wrong with any item on their menu. I ordered the arancini in which seemed like it wasn't cooked completely through as the cheese in the center was still cold block unless that was on purpose? I had the shred salad that had to be asked to remake due to heavy salt (I never request to send anything back), and the tomato salad in which the pesto was also heavily salted but was ok when we removed it off the cheese. The entrees were a lot better though. We had the spaghetti and meatballs (portions are very generous) and the gnocchi which was delicious. Since some of our entrees were a bit heavy on salt, and when we needed water, our water glasses were never replenished or replaced with another pitcher. Luckily by then we wanted to leave and go home so lucked out with being there another minute hoping to catch the servers attention. I don't know if they have limited servers on select areas of the restaurant to cater to the indoor and outdoor crowd but my dining experience was a bit upsetting dropping a good amount of $$ on mediocre service.
(3)Matt D.
There are some weeks when I have an unwavering craving for italian food, and this was one of them. Little Nonna's succeeds in bold new-italian cooking, but falls short in a few key traditional areas. We enjoyed the atmosphere here, which is clearly geared to put diners in a nostalgic, relaxed state with its strings of soft glowing lights, warm colors, and tasteful "grandma's house" vibe. It's a tight space, and borders on communal dining if you happen to be seated along the main wall. (This may be an odd comment for a review, but the bathroom situation here is challenging and worth noting. One bathroom for a crowded restaurant leads to a constant, uncomfortable line of fidgeting people in the dining room waiting to enter.) The menu does not overreach, and I liked that. The drink menu is particularly solid with everything broken into single-price groupings. We settled on a bottle of montepulciano and shared the wild mushroom arancini for an appetizer. They were perfectly done and probably my favorite plate of the night. We opted for the caesar salad to share before dinner, and I had mixed feelings on this one: The polenta croutons were great, but they were hot, which didn't go well with the salad. Maybe it's just me, but I don't like warm lettuce, and I found the dressing to be bland. Our shared main course was the Sunday Gravy with an extra meatball and an order of garlic bread. I thought the meatball was excellent and loved the fontina cheese in the middle, but the rest didn't impress. First of all, the pasta is not homemade, and at this price point, it should be. The garlic bread was a bit dry and the roasted garlic bulb was a little underdone and could not be spread on the bread. The rib meat had a great texture, but absolutely no flavor, and we received one bite sized piece of sausage (not one link, not a half link, but one piece of sausage). I politely asked for more sausage, which I was charged for. Fortunately, they removed the charge after I pointed it out on the bill. One thing I'm certain of is that my little Nonna would not charge extra for bread and sausage that should come with an italian Sunday staple. I don't mind a la carte restaurants and normally don't fault a place for its concept, but for a restaurant that exudes homeyness and comfort, we felt it was a bit of a guise for overpriced, somewhat inauthentic food.
(3)Stephanie S.
Can I go back? Like, now? This is an adorable little restaurant with amazing food. I could easily see myself coming here weekly if I lived in town. The Sunday gravy is amazing. I don't typically gravitate towards meatballs because I've had some not-so-good dry and flavorless ones. But you won't find those here. So much delicious, homey flavor. We also had the arancini, which were perfection (they come with a truffle aioli sauce). And the garlic bread. It comes with a whole head of roasted garlic to smother on your slice, should you desire. Your visit to Philly isn't complete if you don't come here. I'm obsessed.
(5)Kelly C.
came for restaurant week just last friday~ i can't believe Lil nonna's been here the whole time and i had no idea! so to start off: adorable restaurant! petite but the garden is a nice touch! i love all the items on the menu! so it was really hard to narrow it down.. thankfully, for restaurant week, i only had to narrow it down to 3! lol appetizer: B+V+P Meatball not bad! a ball the size of my girlie fist~ couldn't tell what was in the middle.. gravy? it was placed on top of a bed of polenta~ though, a little bit more marinara would've really hit the spot. this still doesn't beat the one they serve at barbuzzo though :P Entree: Grilled Seafood ok.. this was kinda disappointing. i love seafood and not that it wasn't grilled right.. but the quality was kinda meh. the calamari was fine.. the octopus was fine.. the tiger shrimp was ok.. the swordfish was meh. the fava beans were very good! sry but i would not get this again. not the biggest fan for frozen seafood-- the fish was the most apparent. i couldn't get myself to finish it. dessert: Tiramisu the lunch took longer than i expected so we bagged the desserts to go~ i had the tiramisu later that day and i enjoyed every last bite of it! it really hit the spot. i don't have much of a standard for desserts~ all i can say is that it was very good lol can't go wrong with that :) overall, cute spot in CC~ i would consider coming back for lunch since it's very close to my office. service was a little slow maybe it was busy during restaurant week, but i'll give it another try :)
(3)Christine V.
This is just about the cutest little Italian restaurant around! The have an indoor dining room that is dimly lit and gives off a very intimate and soothing vibe. In addition to the indoor area, they also have a much more laid back outdoor seating area. There are heat lamps so don't worry about it getting a little chilly. My friends and I came here for a birthday dinner, and we were seated outside. It was the perfect environment, and the decor outside was just lovely. When it gets a little darker, the mini lamps hung above the seating areas light up and gives you the perfect amount of light. Their menu is not extensive but everything sounds amazing.To start off the meal, we ordered the garlic bread. Absolutely delicious! It comes with a whole roasted garlic on the side so you can spread some of the roasted cloves onto your toasty, buttery bread for some added flavor. I ended up ordering one of their specials for the night: the house pappardelle with lamb ragu. The dish was flavored to perfection! The braised lamb with the resulting sauce accompanied with some broccoli rabe was the hearty meal that I needed. My friends ordered other pasta dishes and their gnocchi. I tried a bit of everything and was not disappointed in anything. The linguine alle vongole comes with a heaping amount of clams! And the fresh basil pesto added a light and refreshing component to the dish. Little Nonna's offers an inviting and warm environment to those it serves. The atmosphere is perfect for a date night or just a nice dinner with your friends. The food is nothing short of amazing and will leave you wanting to come back here for more. A beautiful gem serving up tasty Italian food in Philadelphia!
(5)Rob B.
Went as a single diner on Sunday night, one of their busier nights. There were four two tops free, but was told my only option was to sit at counter by the kitchen. My view was of a stack of plates and it was super loud. Not a pleasant experience. Food was good but hard to digest under the circumstances. Definitely skip if you're dining alone.
(1)Shirlana D.
Little Nonna's provides a taste of authentic yet original Italian cuisine. My pallet was awakened from the moment the meatballs & polenta appetizer was brought to the table by the welcoming server. The entree I had with Japanese eggplant parmesan was light and filling. The garlic bread was fresh, crisp & perfectly seasoned. This awesome meal was topped off with tiramisu. The tiramisu reminded me of my trip to Venice & the wonderful cuisine I experienced while visiting there in 2010. I am anxiously awaiting the opening of the restaurateur's new restaurant Bud & Marilyn! Look out Philly visitors & locals alike, for your taste buds will not be disappointed when you take Philadelphia s own tour of Italy at Little Nonna's restaurant :) For my foodie friends, this place MUST go on your list of places to visit.
(5)Violeta B.
Great cozy and dimly lit location. Easy to miss store front and currently blocked by construction. Reservations are highly recommended, as it is a small place and was completely full when we arrived for our 8:45 PM reservation on a Tuesday. Food was spectacular. The Shaved Vegetable Salad was crisp, fresh, and dressed lightly. It was topped of with the perfect amount of cheese, which added a nice sharp taste. The eggplant parmigian had a nice crunch, and a mix of savory flavors. For dinner I had the spaghetti and meatballs. It was HUGE. Big enough for sharing. The pasta was seasoned lightly and had a nice amount of sauce. The meatballs were incredible! The star of the plate!! They were seasoned deliciously with a blend of spices. There is a surprise in the middle that comes in the form of CHEESE. For dessert I had the Apple Crostata. It was an amazing blend of carameley goodness, with multiple flavor profiles in every bite-salty, sweet, and tart. The vanilla ice cream balanced it all out. Must try local philly favorite! #yum
(4)D. B.
Service in this restaurant even though very small was very good. Small tables hard to keep everything on it. The pasta was home style and good but the downfall was it had a strong burnt taste to it as well as the meatballs which were burned. The home made pasta was some of the best I ever had. Better than other home made pastas around the city and else where. very well priced for a great amount of food. would have given 4 stars if the sauce wasn't burnt. Will try again in the future.
(3)Grace L.
Another 13th street restaurant did not disappoint! After going to Lolita and Jamonera, Little Nonna's was last on my list. I came here for 3 other girlfriends for a Friday lunch on the first weekend they opened the garden, and was heartily satisfied. Firstly, the restaurant seems intimate enough for a small group yet accommodating for larger groups! The garden was not the most scenic (especially compared to that of Wedge & Fig), but it was pleasant regardless sitting outside in the sunshine. I don't quite remember our service, but was entertained by the beautiful serving plates and glasses. We ordered the Bruschetta, Eggplant Parmigiana, Swordfish Saltimbocca, Pan Seared Potato Gnocchi, and Ricotta. Each dish was cooked to perfection, and while the portions were not huge, they were perfect for sharing and tasting the delicious flavors. We did see that the spaghetti and sandwiches seemed like HUGE portions for their price, so perhaps that is the way the go if you're looking for most food for your buck (I am confident in the food quality of all menu items here). Overall, a delightful culinary experience; I cannot comment on the greatness of its traditional Italian food, but Little Nonna's did not disappoint when compared to its 13th street conterparts. It's wonderful that the four (five?) restaurants all have different cuisines too, and all excel at what they do. I think my ranking would have to be 1. Lolita 2. Little Nonna's 3. Jamonera 4. Barbuzzo.
(5)Amanda C.
Are you looking for inventive and high-quality Italian food in an intimate setting in the heart of Center City? I mean, who isn't? Little Nonna's has gotten acclaim, both in the Yelp world and in the professional review circuit, and I was eager to try it. We came for lunch - a great way to get a seat quick (especially on a week day, getting there right at 12.) Our server was quick to greet us and even quicker to get us our drinks. We sipped imported beer and cappuccinos while waiting for our food, which was presented on lovely antique plates. We tried the wild mushroom arancini and the B+V+P meatballs to start - both were perfect, the anancini with the most perfect truffle aioli. I had the eggplant parmesan as an entree, which came layered with spring greens, instead of pasta. It was the perfect mix of savory and subtle sweetness, and after sharing appetizers, was the perfect amount. Dining companions tried the pan seared gnocchi and braised shortrib sandwich - dishes I was lucky enough to try. I'm actually getting hungry just thinking about that sandwich. Even though I was stuffed after our entrees, we decided to share the tiramisu, which turned out to be a beautiful overstuffed bowl of cake and cream and my "I'll just have one bite" turned into 7 or 8. This was honestly one of the best lunches I've had in Philly, and I can't wait to come back for dinner sometime. I heard they have a lovely outdoor space, which will be the perfect place to enjoy another tiramisu!
(5)Sharee W.
The food is really good and and the portions are large. The spaghetti and meatballs could probably be split among several people. They have cute little outside garden area that's covered behind the restaurant. While it does protect from rain, it did get very hot and humid back there. It would help if there were some fans. They have decent variety of food.
(4)Kelli B.
The food was really good. The service felt a bit subpar like 6.5/7 out of 10. And the setting obviously was perfect. I will be definitely coming back.
(4)Andrew M.
Found this place on Yelp yesterday when looking for good Italian/Vegetarian restaurants in the area. They have both indoor and outdoor seating. We decided to sit in the patio area. It was a little hot but not too bad. Started the dinner with an order of their garlic bread. It was delicious! For the main course I had Nonna's Spaghetti & Meatballs and my friend had the Pan-Seared Potato Gnocchi. The spaghetti portion was huge!! The meatballs are stuffed with fontina cheese and were delicious! The Gnocchi was just okay. Glad I went with what I ordered. To top off the meal we had the Tiramisu, Blood Orange & Basil Water Ice, and the Hazelnut Cannoli. All three were delicious in different ways. The water ice was surprisingly refreshing. The tiramisu was some of the best I've ever had. Also, it was topped off it crumbled pizzelles. SO GOOD! One last thing to mention was the service. Our waitress was great. Additionally, the manager checked in with our table and you can tell they really care about the quality of the experience. 5/5!
(5)David A.
We lucked out and went here for a last minute lunch and got a table. Love the feel of this place and the food and service were both great. We shared a bunch of stuff and everything was delicious. Arancini, meatballs and a salad were great starters and my fish for my entree was perfect. A great spot.
(4)Allison G.
I ate here last Friday for restaurant week lunch with my coworkers. One of my coworkers is a really picky eater, so we picked this place reasoning that if she didn't like something off the restaurant week menu, she could always order something plain off the regular menu. We were a little disappointed when we sat down and they told us we all had to either order off the restaurant week menu or the regular menu. We ended up deciding on restaurant week. Some of my favorite selections were the mushroom risotto balls, the meatballs, and the pistachio cannoli. The decor is really cute and homey- fitting for an intimate Italian restaurant. Overall, the experience was pretty average.
(3)Nat M.
Good Italian food but not my favorite place in the city. The spaghetti and meatball dish was huge and could be shared easily. If you follow a low carb lifestyle then I'd recommend the Italian grilled dish. It is grilled seafood and veggies with cooked beans at the bottom. This description does not do it justice so check out the pictures. They also have Bronzino on the menu but I didn't get a chance to taste it.
(3)Dr N.
I can't believe this is considered "italian" food. garlic bread has sesame seeds, completely unauthentic. I got the spaghetti and meatballs. i thought that would be a solid dish but it was terrible!! Meatballs are burnt on the outside and a bit dry until you get the cheesy center which tries to make amends for the sorry situation. Pasta is disgusting, overcooked and BLAND. We also got some unwanted "friends" in our food. Short ribs and what seemed like other people's leftovers. Never returning again.
(1)Kira S.
Best meatballs I have ever had!
(5)Sherry H.
As promised to myself, I came back to Little Nonna's for Restaurant Week dinner, and it definitely did not disappointed one bit. I came with two others, and they seemed to really enjoy their meals, but I'll talk about what I order only here: WILD MUSHROOM ARANCINI // This will forever and always be my favorite, and I was so glad to see it on the restaurant week menu once more. Just think breaded and fried risotto balls with creamy mushroom and risotto inside that just warms the heart. BRAISED SHORT RIB // Short rib will always pull me in, and this one didn't disappoint; it was incredibly tender and pulled apart with just one poke of my fork. It was also MASSIVE and fed me for my next two meals. I can actually talk about all the desserts since we shared: PISTACHIO CANNOLI // Again, a brilliant classic. Dark chocolate is a great touch, and the shell isn't even the slightest soggy when it gets to your table. APPLE CRUMBLE // Delicious, homey, comforting; the thyme ice cream was also a great touch. Little Nonna's will definitely forever remain at the top of my to-go Restaurant Week restaurants! Can't wait to try it on a regular day.
(5)Libby P.
I really don't understand how this place currently has four stars. To echo other recent reviews, our service outside Saturday the 15th was atrocious. I had made reservations for a party of 3 with a preference of outdoor seating at 8:45 pm, and made a note that we were celebrating my mom's birthday. We arrived at 8:40 and waited awkwardly in the doorway until 9:05 when we were finally seated. The host/manager didn't even bother acknowledging us during the 25 minutes we waited as he dove behind my mom to get menus for other guests. I was relieved to finally be shown to a table, but lo and behold, our outdoor table seemed to be the only place on the patio that didn't have air flow. There were also at least 3 free four-tops outside when we were shown our table, so I have no idea why we were left waiting for our table for so long. We never received an apology. The wine was good (although way too expensive, but I'll place the blame on that with the PLCB) and the heirloom tomato salad and wild mushroom arancini were great. However, we were visiting for the pasta, and that's what was incredibly disappointing. The spaghetti and meatballs were more on the cold side than room temperature--I mean, the cheese inside of the meatballs was still solid! Ew. I don't even think a warmer temperature could've saved the dish, though, because I've made better red sauce from a jar of Ragu. My boyfriend's gnocchi was an impossibly small portion. I think there were maybe 10 on his plate? For a $17 dish, seems pretty stingy. My chitarra al nero was eh: also cold, and tasted more of capers than crab. We had fully anticipated ordering dessert with coffee but after how bad our entrees were, we went to Capogiro instead. My mom's birthday was never acknowledged by anyone in the staff. I will happily take my business to Amis instead.
(2)John R.
Little Nonna's 1234 Locust St, Philadelphia, PA 19107 (215) 546-2100 Little Nonna's is a welcome addition to the Midtown Village area of Philadelphia (12th/Locust) which features this venture by Marcie Turney and Valerie Safran, two prominent Philadelphia entrepreneurs who are also responsible for Grocery, Open House, Lolita, and Barbuzzo. The restaurant once seated inside has an immediate homey feel-- as the name would suggest. "Nonna" is Italian for grandmother. Gorgeous, Italian market incandescent bulbs on cables light the interior giving everything a warm orange glow, just like grandma's house. The walls are decorated with quaint country style portraits and the plating is purposefully mismatched--your plate will have a different look then mine--reinforcing the idea that this is just a casual meal at grandma's house and we are not in fact out at a restaurant. Outside is beautiful al fresco dining under glass skylights. Note the addition of a random picnic table that does not match the other tables at all. This purposeful design "flaw" highlights the sense of homeyness and "grandma's house" decor found consistently themed throughout the restaurant. UNCLE SAL'S CHOPPED SALAD $10 gem lettuce, roasted peppers, soppressata, crispy chickpeas, pepperoncini, locatelli*, olives, zesty italian dressing. Probably the most interesting items in the salad were the locatelli and fried chickpeas which were reminiscent of popcorn. *Locatelli has been a brand name synonymous with the best quality Pecorino Romano. Most famously known as a grating cheese. NONNI'S SPAGHETTI & MEATBALLS $16 B+V+P fontina stuffed meatballs, braised pork marinara, parmesan, basil. This is Little Nonna's signature dish and quite frankly enough for 2-3 people. The meatballs are fist sized and the pile of pasta is arguably the leaning Tower of Piza of pasta piles. Absolutely delicious, and my friend and I were able to quickly polish this dish off. GRILLED SWORDFISH $22 fava, shaved asparagus, radish, wild mushroom farro, salmoriglio. This was pleasing but nothing special. Swordfish was well cooked and tender and the accouterments were adequate to the task. Interesting fact: the Salmoriglio is a Southern Italian condiment made of lemon juice, olive oil, minced garlic, chopped oregano and parsley, salt and pepper. Those are the yellowish-green drops of sauce you see on the plate. As an aside, take note of the plate and compare it to the plate the spaghetti is on. The mismatched china is apparently china the owners found at antiques markets and it certainly produces the desired effect: a much less pretentious meal and much more like "supper at little nonna's [grandma's]." It would be foolish not to take a moment to appreciate how far the designers of this restaurant took the "grandma's house" theme. I recall my own grandmother's house having knick knack shelves just like these and random pieces of china hanging on her walls. It is eerily similar. In summary, a great intimate 40 seat restaurant featuring grandma's homestyle Italian cooking with modest pricing. Dinner for two came to $80 with tip. We did not drink however so that should be noted. The wine list after a brief perusal was extensive enough to satisfy any sommelier. All in all, I would recommend this restaurant and would return to eat there again.
(4)Mikaela W.
I'd like to dedicate this review to our AMAZING waitress at Nonna's, Lydia. She was super professional, attentive and friendly, and really made the visit step up one notch. Big thank you, Lydia! My colleague had extreme cravings for meat, whereas I prefer not to have meat, so after a quick yelp search we settled that Little Nonna's would have something for the both of us. The restaurant was full when we arrived at around 8pm a Monday, but we were promised a table would be free in 15-20min (just enough time for a quick drink in a bar up the street). I really loved the look of the restaurant, quaint and cute with a lot of small details to look at. Perfect for a date. I have to admit that the starters didn't blow me away -the mozzarella with charcoal grilled bread was really nice, but would have been better if not so cold. The broccoli dish was "interesting", we concluded. The main courses though, wow! I had the fish bbq and it was absolutely divine. The recommended wine really added an extra dimension. The veal with sweet potatoes fries was equally praised. We almost didn't have room for dessert, but decided to share a hazelnut cannoli. Perfect! I thiiiink we might have overstayed a bit, as it was completely empty when we left, but none of the staff made any comment or made us feel rushed. All of the staff made us feel very welcome and made sure that we had everything we wanted and needed. I would say they are the perfect crew for the restaurant, so the owners better hold on tight to them.
(5)Louisa B.
This place has really delicious hearty Italian meals. When it comes to meatballs and gravy its like grandma's cooking. However, this place is super small and does not accommodate parties of 5 or more. Staff is cold and have a "know it all" attitude. We got questioned when we only ordered dinner. The food was so good but will probably order take-out next time.
(4)Sophie P.
Came here for Saturday lunch. Half of us got the tasting menu and half of us ordered a la carte, but we shared everything. For starters we got gem Caesar, arancini, fig bruschetta, and garlic bread. The garlic bread was standard but good, but my favorite was the fig. For mains we got the spaghetti and meatballs, which was huge. We also got the seafood grill, eggplant parmigiana, gnocchi, casarecce, and meatballs with polenta. The pastas were cooked perfectly and the meatballs were hearty. We were stuffed but still managed to finish dessert, which was tiramisu and cannoli. I usually find cannoli too sweet, but I enjoyed the tiramisu.
(4)Rica C.
Stuffed meatballs - incredible Mushroom rice balls- wow All apps Are incredible- the buratta and grilled bread was the best free starter I've ever gotten at a restaurant. We ate in the out door garden for restaurant week, cute as hell but it was hot as hell. the amazing good made up for it. Although drinks are outrageously priced.
(5)Serena D.
Love this place! Stopped by here on a rainy night after a concert. This is a small but well organized place with nice ambiance. We were greeted and seated immediately. They have a nice option on the menu. We started with garlic bread and shaved vegetable salad, which both were amazing!!! They roasted the garlic, you spread the garlic on the bread, it's nice and creamy!! We also loved the fried locatelli in the salad!!! For entree, we ordered sunday gravy and mixed grill. The sunday gravy was very flavorful, but the seafood grill was just average. They had a special wine, which only costs like $40 a bottle. The only complain is that the place is so tiny that you have to squeeze in and out between tables. When the server is severing the next table, her butt is literally hanging on your table. And obviously, your conversation has no privacy at all. Overall, my friend and I had a great experience at Little Nonna's. The ambiance is good for a nice date night, but I'm not sure if it's good for a group of friends get together due to the limited space. Will go back for the yummy food for sure!
(4)John K.
Opening in the fall of last year, Little Nonna's was definitely one of the restaurants I had my sights set on. Comfort Italian food like Nonna used to make (assuming my Korean grandmother was Italian)? It's clear that Midtown Village was excited for another of Chef Turney's offerings. Pinot Grigio [$10] Zenato, Veneto, '12 Our friend started off with a glass of pinto grigio - easy drinking. Sgroppino [$10] Blood orange basil sorbet, vodka, prosecco If you're not in the mood for wine, but want something that's similarly easy to imbibe, go with this tipple. Sweet undertones and the tart essence of blood orange belie the vodka, with the prosecco providing some effervescence. Negroni [$10] Gin, campari, sweet vermouth I went with the negroni and I'm glad I did. Simple yet smooth, this was served in a mason jar. Roasted Pear & Beets [$10] Sheep's milk ricotta, walnut pesto, baby kale, mustard greens We started off with the ubiquitous beet salad, with the roasted pear providing additionally sweet accents. The mustard greens and pesto provided some pop. The ricotta was creamy and helped to bring this all together. Negroni Glazed Lamb Ribs [$12] Hazelnut-almond romesco, vinegar peppers, orange One of the standout dishes of the night and a clear customer favorite were the lamb ribs. The ribs were fall-off-the-bone tender, with the negroni glaze offering some subtly sweet tastes. The vinegar peppers and orange helped to give each bite some acidity. Wild Mushroom Arancini [$8] Crispy risotto balls, buffalo mozzarella, truffle aioli One of the GF's favorites had to be ordered. The rice balls were certainly crispy on the outside and the creamy blend within was nice with al dente rice studded throughout. And while the truffle didn't come through at all, the buffalo mozzarella helped to bring additional smoothness to each bite. Roasted Fig Bruschetta [$9] Gorgonzola dolce, celery hearts & leaves, hazelnuts I love me some gorgonzola dolce so had to order these bruschetta. Whole roasted figs were littered atop the bread, along with celery hearts and leaves. This complemented the sweet, funky essence of the cheese nicely. However, the weight of the ingredients lent itself to a soggy undercarriage. Eggplant Parmigiana [$11] Japanese eggplant, mixed basil pesto, marinara, burrata This offering of two strips of breaded Japanese eggplant were similar soggy, though the flavors of an eggplant caprese were there. Heirloom Squash Ravioli [$16] Wine soaked prunes, roasted almonds, sage brown butter, gorgonzola A special for the night was heirloom squash ravioli - which we couldn't pass up. Who can say no to brown butter sage sauce, especially when it's covering well-made ravioli filled with creamy squash. The roasted almonds offered texture and the gorgonzola gave some pop to each bite. Potato Gnocchi [$14] Wine soaked prunes, almond brown butter, sage, shaved gorgonzola The gnocchi came a bit later, though we were hoping for all of the pasta courses together. As expected, the gnocchi were pillowy and soft. However, the online menu noted an almond brown butter and what we were given was more of a tomato sauce. A bit confusing, but delicious nonetheless. Perhaps the online menu's ingredients were used in the special? Veal Porterhouse [$26] Crispy La Quercia prosciutto americano, marsala, sage, roasted sunchokes, grilled oyster mushroom wedge And while I was particularly excited about the veal porterhouse, it was simply decent. It could have used a bit more seasoning, though it was cooked well. The crispy prosciutto was definitely needed for the salt. The mammoth grilled oyster mushroom wedge was nice though - moist, juicy, and tender. I would skip this and definitely go for the showstopper, which is ... Sunday Gravy [$24] Pork braciole: sharp B+V+P meatball, Fiorella Bros. hot fennel sausage, 4 hour san marzano marinara The Sunday Gravy. This meritage of roasted meats included tender pork shoulder, firm spicy sausages, and one huge beef/veal/pork meatball, all stewed with a 4-hour San Marzano marinara. It's topped with a forest of broccoli rabe - your Nonna wants you to have some greens, si? It's served alongside some flat and wide macaroni noodles - al dente and topped with more of that marinara and cheese. Garlic Bread [$5] Roasted garlic butter, sea salt, Sarcone's seeded loaf And how can you have Sunday Gravy without some bread? Unfortunately, the garlic bread is extra and even worse, it was a bit soggy on the bottom, though crisp on the top. Hazelnut Cannoli [$9] Hazelnut ricotta, fudge, caramelized cocao nibs For dessert, we decided to select two offerings. The cannoli were nice, with the hazelnut ricotta offering subtly sweet cream amidst the texture of caramelized cocoa nibs. Water Ice [$6] Blood orange-basil-olive oil Do try one of their water ice. We had the blood orange-basil-olive oil, which was creamy, tart, light, and sweet. A nice palate cleanser for all that we had.
(4)Tiffany F.
Last night was my first time at Little Nonna's. My boyfriend planned an awesome date night and this was our first stop. We were seated in the "garden" and upon first glance, it was breathtaking! So quaint and cozy. I was already impressed. I had ordered the Italian Lemonade cocktail and it was so refreshing and delicious! Honestly one of the best cocktails I've ever had. The thyme syrup was the perfect touch. We had done a bit of research prior to our visit and pretty much knew what we wanted based off of everyone's reviews. We started with the garlic bread and holy wow... It was the best garlic bread I've ever had. The way the raw garlic just spread so easily made this dish unreal. Highly recommend this for starters, but eat it while it's hot! We waited for our main dish to eat our second piece and wish we would have scarfed it down immediately. We had both ordered the Spaghetti and Meatballs and the portions are HUGE! We could have easily split it, seeing as we both had an ample amount of leftovers to take home (which I ate for lunch today, right before I typed this and it was still awesome!). The meatballs were INCREDIBLE. Cutting into them and seeing the cheese pour out from the center caused so much excitement for me. The only slight, tiny complaint that I have is that there was not enough sauce. Next time, I'll be sure to ask for extra, hoping they do that! Overall, the food was great, drinks were awesome as well, and the service was perfect! Our server came over to check on us the perfect amount and left us alone mostly, allowing us to thoroughly enjoy our time together. We will definitely be back to Little Nonna's!
(4)George H.
What an amazing place. Great, cozy little place. The food was unbelievable. I have had authentic Italian food before, and this place definitely serves it. The Garlic Bread is so tasty, and my salad (forgot the name, had the word Gem in it) was one of the best I've ever had. Lastly, the pasta sauce (gravy) was by far the best I have ever tasted in my 22 years of living mainly due to the braised beef that is slow cooked in it. Had it with the cheese filled meat balls. I can't wait to return to Philly to taste it all again!!!
(5)Marlena M.
It was a cute place, especially the lighted outdoor seating. I heard such great things about Little Nona's, but it was such a huge disappointment. The drink I got was reasonably priced at around $8 and tasted pretty good. It was served in a mason jar with a cute straw. However, the food was very disappointing. I ordered the eggplant sauce pasta. The sauce itself was ok--not particularly flavorful or unique, but the really awful part was the pasta itself. It was WAY overcooked and very mushy. I am sure that the chef must not have sampled the dish before sending it out, because it was honestly a disgrace. It is never nice to leave a restaurant feeling like you could have made a better version of a dish using jarred pasta sauce. The garlic bread (which they charge for) was the best part of the entire meal, but that isn't saying much since bread + garlic is almost always a winning combo. If you are going to have a meal that costs $30+ in Philly, there are far better options. Skip this place.
(2)Jessica W.
A Gem I first visited Little Nonna's in May. I had wanted to try the restaurant for months, and I was so happy with the experience. Reservations are absolutely necessary, as the space is small and fills quickly. Service was friendly, and the decor was welcoming. My boyfriend and I started with the Pickled Strawberry Bruschetta, very good. I had the Pork Chop Pizzaiola--this was amazing! He had the Sunday Gravy. As all reviews say, it's fantastic; try it. For dessert we tried the water ice, which was refreshing, and the sweet Apples Crostata. This is a great restaurant, and I look forward to returning.
(5)Caitlin C.
I came here on a Saturday evening for date night with my boyfriend. It was super easy to make a reservation and Little Nonnas is in an easy location to get to. We were seated at an adorable two top outside. The candle on the table and the lights above us made for a romantic setting. Started with the garlic bread, which was absolutely delicious. I ordered a dish with rigatoni, squash, sausage, and kale in a pumpkin cream sauce. I ate all of my dish and loved every bite. My boyfriend got the spaghetti and meatballs. The plate had so much food on it! I got to try some of the meatball, which had cheese in the middle. So good! Sadly, we were too full for dessert. The menu looked great though. I will be back and believe you should give it a go!
(5)Gina S.
Service was adequate . Reservation honored in a timely way. Food very disappointing. Linguini with clam and crab had no crab and very few clams. Sunday gravy had run out .spaghetti and meatballs were suggested. Meatballs were too heavy on the fennel , gravy tasted burnt. Overwhelming flavor of pepperoni. We won't be back.
(1)Bill B.
This was my first experience here and it was awesome! The service was outstanding. Staff constantly checked to make sure everything was OK and was very polite and helpful. The atmosphere is a small place that makes you feel that you are in your grandmother's home. The food was the star. The meatballs and soft polenta was outstanding. Te olive plate was equally good. I had the pan seared potato gnocchi and it tasted great. The kitchen staff do a phenomenal job in a small kitchen. This is a must stop if you have never been here.
(5)Molly G.
Went on Sunday night for dinner. We thought it was good, but not out of the park like their other places. It was actually restaurant week, which I usually hate due to lousy service and mediocre food, but this exceeded my expectations. We sat outside on the back patio which was very enjoyable. We started with the fresh pulled mozzarella and an b+p+v meatballs. The mozzarella was delicious but a tad on the salty side. The meatballs were good but I think they were a tad overcooked because the meat was a little dry. The fontina cheese inside the meatballs was a nice touch. For the main course I had the stuffed shells and my husband had the lemon chicken. The shell was a giant shell with lamb filling and a mint pesto sauce (in addition to red sauce). The mint was a very pronounced flavor, but not overpowering. I thought the chicken had great flavor but was on the dry side. The service was pretty good. The waitress checked in quite a but to see how we liked everything, but then was very slow with the bill. Then when the bill came age had charged us for an extra glass of wine. We tried tracking her down, but then got tired of waiting after 15 min so then we paid and left.
(3)Dave B.
My girlfriend and I went here to celebrate her birthday with her parents. We enjoyed this place from the moment we walked in. The vibe was casual but with an authentic Italian restaurant feel. I got the garlic bread appetizer which was phenomenal. My main course was the potato gnocchi which was also very good. I definitely recommend this place to anyone in Philadelphia looking for a good Italian dining experience.
(4)Kelly B.
Loved the decor and atmosphere - super cozy and well designed. Service was excellent too - attentive and professional. Decent amount of vegetarian options. However, although the food was really good, I can't say amazing because everything tasted too salty (especially the shrimp scampi and shaved salad.) Dessert fell a little flat too - good, but not amazing.
(4)Tracie P.
Had a terrific meal here last night with my girlfriend and two friends. The decor is adorable. They were clearly aiming for a grandma's kitchen vibe, and they nailed it. But it's still quaint and dim enough to be a cozy date spot. The food is served as it's ready and meant to be shared family style. Everything we had was delicious. I especially loved the mussels and the linguine vongole. If you're a mushroom fan, get the arancini. You also can't go wrong with the meatballs. The shell was also super tasty, and my girlfriend flipped for the lemon chicken. Service was prompt, and there was a nice wait between the starters and the main round of food. They have house made cocktails, wine and a few beers -- I had the sgroppino, which includes a scoop of water ice and was served in an adorable old school cocktail glass. Great atmosphere and even better food. We will definitely be back!
(5)Isaac W.
Yes, this place is pretty damn good. On a recent trip to Philly we ended up here per a friend's recommendation. We sat out in the patio and had a lovely server. Good service, good music, great food. Seriously- their take on the bruschetta was fantastic. Our entrees were both great, we both had great pastas, my date with the spaghetti and meatballs, and she declared them to be the best she's ever had. Dessert was fantastic as well.
(5)Lan H.
According to my most recent list of restaurants in my "Dinner in Philadelphia? YES!" list, I declared Pietro's as my favorite Italian restaurant in Philly. Hmm, when it comes to atmosphere, Little Nonna's surpasses Pietro's for its intimacy and loveliness. Wait, why wasn't Little Nonna's around for my first date in 2011?! Haha, I will let you go this time, Little Nonna's ;-) As for the food, I think that Little Nonna's take the points for simplicity, which is awesome considering that other Italian restaurants might start playing too much with the traditional recipes that the dishes are too complicated, muddling flavors...or even worse, other restaurants might even fail to execute the traditional recipes! But Pietro's take the points so far for the flavors. I only ever had the pan seared potato gnocchi at Little Nonna's so I can't fairly compare the two restaurants, but I would recommend Little Nonna's 100%, hands down, for the atmosphere. Seriously, experience it for yourself. Who cares if you don't have a significant other - go with whoever wants to feel special for once! :D
(5)Kelly G.
I'm giving this place two stars for ambiance. The lighting and the scene are delightful and cozy. The food, however, was quite disappointing. The wine selection is okay, not great. Three of us got the antipasti to share, which was weak. Three meats, no cheese, fennel, beans, two olives, a breadstick and pickles. Things I could've purchased myself at Whole Foods for $5 or less. There was nothing creative in the antipasti. The spaghetti and meatballs were okay. Meatballs were dry but stuffed with fontina, which I'm personally not a fan of that concept. Spaghetti was cooked very good. They were not packed, service was good. Overall, I was left with nothing to remember about this place and will probably stick to making my own pasta at home for some authentic Italian.
(2)Judy L.
The service is excellent. I went to the restaurant twice in one week. The polenta is the best I have ever tasted. Creamy, buttery, flavorful and complements the meatball that comes with the dish. So amazing. I also got the Sunday Gravy dish. If you are a fan of Italian meats, this is the dish for you. Short rib, meatball and sausage...YUM! The only dish that was average was the Arancini. I also got a pasta dish recommended by the waitress and it was amazing. It was short rib with pappardelle in a light cream sauce. I can't wait to go back!
(4)Jamie S.
Could not be cuter inside. Wild Mushroom arancini should not be missed. Loves the meatballs, though the pasta could have used a touch more salt. Fusilli was also very good. Prices are really reasonable if you aren't a huge eater and if you don't tap in to the booze.
(4)J K.
Eh. The ambiance is romantic - perfect for date-night & the service was efficient and friendly, but the food... Well, let's just say I've had better. I ordered the spaghetti & meatballs, while my date ordered the Sunday gravy. The portion sizes were huge! I did not like the meatballs (& neither did my date)... They didn't taste like meatballs! They tasted more like sausage? So for that reason alone I was disappointed. These meatballs definitely did not live up to their hype. The sauce for both of our meals lacked depth - it was missing something... garlic? basil? We couldn't quite put our fingers on it... We did get an order of the much raved about garlic bread, which we loved! And we very much enjoyed the bottle of red our server helped us pick out. We couldn't decide on one dessert, so we each opted to get our own. I got the cannolis which were delicious but were not served at the right temperature! They should have been served colder, as when they came to the table the filling was melting out of them! My date ordered the tiramisu, which he loved though I thought it was too sweet & was mostly whipped cream rather than the actual cake! I might come back to try the gnocchi, but with my favorite BYO Italian spot around the corner, probably not.
(3)Patrizia C.
Holy cow this place is the bomb! We had the arancini, the bruschetta and spaghetti and meatballs: delicious from start to finish. The service was great, the ambiance is adorable, overall this place is a gem and I can't wait to go back!
(5)Nunya B.
Went for Restaurant week with the girlfriend, great experience. This is our second time dining at Little Nonna's, the first was about a year ago (non rest. week). Our first visit wasn't impressive, we ordered the meatballs as everyone recommended and didn't understand why this was the flagship dish. We agreed they tasted almost hotdog-like. Everything else, especially the service, was definitely above average. Our most recent experience with the food, however, was fantastic. We picked the following from the fixed menu (not including the awesome complimentary stracciatella cheese and bread): Pumpkin and Farro salad, Mushroom Arancini, Potato Gnocchi, Braised Shortrib, Pistachio Cannoli and Apple Crumble. Stand outs were definitely the Arancini and the Shortrib. The first was light and crispy on the outside and creamy within. The shortrib was tender and comforting, the mashed potatoes pairing perfectly. As I mentioned from our previous visit, the service and décor are on point. Our waitress checked on us consistently, but unobtrusively. Our experience was the perfect mix of attentiveness and restraint. She also wiped our table multiple times between dishes (which actually makes a lot of sense with multiple courses). The atmosphere is cozy and classy, thoughtfully arranged to feel like both a hip restaurant and a nonna's house (in essence). I'd highly recommend trying this out. A perfect date spot and overall superb dining experience. I will tell you now, opinions will vary on some of the dishes. I'd say don't go for the meatballs, but then again, they have their allegiance. People are very touchy with Italian food; I could see how some of these interpretations might not fly with the purists or those expecting a stock version of their favorites. Either way, go for a meal. And if you aren't impressed, maybe give it another shot, like we did.
(4)A B.
Wow!! Little Nona's was divine from the period kitsch decor, to the candlelit tables, to the welcoming staff. And the food? Absolutely prepared with love. The shortrib was fork tender, the meatballs gorgeous, the winter salad full of texture and flavor, and the list goes on and on. Nona, we'll be back to visit again real soon.
(4)Michael W.
This place is awesome! This was the second time that I was there and I loved every part of it. We had the pleasure of sitting in the "Garden" in the back and it was perfect. The restaurant week menu was perfect. We started with the meatballs and they were amazing!! The BVP combo was on point! From there I had the Heirloom Tomato pasta and it was the freshest ever! So good. We finished it off with a pistachio cannoli that was delicious. I would definitely recommend Little Nonna's to anyone that is interested in a fantastic Italian meal.
(4)Laura G.
Good! Small, adorable and what you'd expect from this restaurant. Food was good but didn't wow me like barbuzzo. Cesar salad was Delish as well as the wild mushroom risotto balls (a little too salty). I had the Rigatoni in a Parmesan pumpkin sauce with spicy sausage,which I enjoyed. My friend had the spaghetti and meatballs which was pretty good and lasted her three days of leftovers!! Hazelnut cannoli was very great! Service was decent, waitress didn't know much about the wine though. Cute bathroom but chilly. Restaurant is cozy and adorable.
(4)Larissa G.
Dinner at Little Nonna's was everything a 5-star dinner should be. I made a reservation about three weeks in advance (for a Monday night) and our table was waiting when we arrived. If you have walked by this place on the street, you know that it is quaint and adorable, with a red and white awning and round bulb lights at the entrance. The inside is small and intimate with the grandma decor at the perfect level of kitsch and class. I like that its a place where people know you have to make a reservation and therefore there is no line out the door or crowd at the entrance. They don't make you feel rushed at all, even though they could definitely seat more hungry patrons the second your party is done eating. Now, I'll just say that the spaghetti and meatballs are what dreams are made of. It may sound like a simple or childlike dish, but it was insanely good. The meatballs have three meats and are stuffed with fontina cheese. I don't eat meat often, but those were seriously amazing, as was the noodles and sauce. I split that dish and also the "Sunday Gravy" with my boyfriend. I digress in that I don't even know exactly what it was (some giant flat noodles with red sauce and pork in one little bowl and a meatball with sausage in the other mismatched bowl?). We also started with the garlic bread (seriously, who knew garlic bread could be so good?!?!!) and the buffalo mozzarella, which are both solid choices. We didn't do drinks or dessert, so I can't speak on those, but I am going to go out on a limb (ha) and say they're great too. I can't wait for my next opportunity to eat here, but come hungry! I don't think I have been that full in a long time...
(5)Julie N.
Came in for dinner with a group of girlfriends the other week. This is a very small, but very cute little place. We were seated on time and menus were brought out rather quickly. We started with the eggplant parmigiana, wild mushroom arancini, and the steamed mussels. For entrees, we had the spaghetti and meatballs and the Italian seafood grill. I have to say - for a person who doesn't really like cheese, I thoroughly enjoyed the eggplant and the arancini. They were pretty delicious!!! The mussels were good and meaty, but the bowl for shells could have been bigger. There were only a couple pieces of grilled bread that came with it - I wish they offered bread with your dinner to dip. The dinner portions were pretty large! The spaghetti and meatballs were good but I mean, how can you mess it up? It's not really all that to write home about. The seafood grill was a solid 3 - I didn't think there was much seafood in there and the swordfish was a bit overlooked and dry, but the artichokes were great. Service was pretty slow and the place wasn't all that packed to warrant our wait for drinks. Our second drink order was totally forgotten until we asked them what happened to it. To sum it up: decent food but blah service. I would try another place before coming back for seconds.
(3)Heather S.
People sure seem to love this place, my friends included, but I thought it sucked! We showed up for our 6pm reservations and were promptly seated. Cute covered patio with heat lamps awaited us. My table ordered the mussels, mozzarella and meatball appetizers. Mussels, tasty sauce and tasty mollusk. The mozzarella was okay. It didn't have the texture I was expecting. The mouth feel just wasn't there & not very creamy. It could've come from the grocery store IMO. The prosciutto served with the mozz was dried out. Dried out like it was sitting out. The meatballs, which I'll have to take the word of everyone else b/c I'm gluten-free, looked burnt and according to the other guests were also very bready. The entree specials looked great! My mom was dying for the lobster pasta special that was highly recommended, but oops all out. Remember folks our reservation was at 6pm, so at 6:30 when the special was gone moms was more than a little disappointed. Still she quickly recovered & ordered the Italian mixed grill. Poor woman gets her dish and the shrimp have a strong iodine flavor. She said the rest was tasty. I got the pork chop that they suggested I get medium and it wasn't. My pork was well done & meh. That was just my personal taste so if you love pork you may feel differently. The other two guests had the Sunday gravy. The sauce was great and the brisket too. Again bready and burnt meatballs. I guess that sums up our experience. Oh well, won't be back.
(2)Julie H.
Had a truly enjoyable dinner at Little Nonna's. We ordered several antipasti items - the wild mushroom arancini, steamed mussels, and the garlic bread. All divine, but the steamed mussels were by far my favorite. The broth had a great slow burn-quality and the bread had butter essentially oozing out of every crevice. My cholesterol levels are probably ridiculously high right now, but it was worth it. We also ordered Uncle Sal's chopped salad to help cleanse the palate, but unfortunately this was a disappointment. The "zesty" italian dressing was way too sour and greens were pretty bitter and lacked something to counter-balance the flavor. For our entrees, we ordered the sunday gravy and the spaghetti and meatballs. The portion sizes were impressive, but the actual dishes tasted just ok. Good, but nothing to tell your mother about. What you should tell your mother about, however, is the tiramisu. Airy and sweet but not overwhelmingly so. I'm not really a dessert person, but next time I'm ordering one just for myself. Service was friendly and perfectly timed. They have a private garden that would be great for a small gathering. The ambience is charming and the attention to detail is evident. We will definitely be back.
(4)Patrick R.
Everything was absolutely fantastic ! We started with the strawberry bruschetta which may sound a little different but was great with the strawberry adding a little sweetness to tomato, basil, and pesto. My wife had the spaghetti and meatball entree with a portion big enough to satisfy 3 or 4 people with meatball the size of baseballs. I ordered the Sunday Gravy, which was spectacular and would give any Italian grandmother a run for her money, complete with meatball, sausage, beef shortrib, and broccoli raab. We finished our meal with hazelnut cannollis which were creamy, crunchy, and delicious. A rustic atmosphere in a quaint, charming space, We will definitely be visiting Little Nonna's again, I highly recommend trying them out!
(5)Brian S.
Little Nonna's is great! While I kind of envisioned Little Nonna's as being a Barbuzzo Lite, it was not the case at all. The food, service, and atmosphere were all spectacular. We stopped by on a cold Saturday afternoon and were seated promptly. We started with the vegetable antipasta (very similar to what they serve at Barbuzzo and equally delicious) and the garlic bread which consisted of four large pieces of bread with a while roasted garlic clove allowing us to spread more garlic on it. Both are must-gets. For our main course my wife enjoyed the spaghetti and meatballs which I helped her eat. It was an enourmous plate of pasta and if it weren't for my age, my bum knee, and the fact that it was 20 degress outside I would be all ready to run a marathon. The sauce had a smoky flavor to it and lots of meat in the sauce. It came with two large fontina stuffed meatballs. Probably teh best spaghetti I have ever eaten. I had a special on the menu which was a mixed seafood grill featuring grilled swordfish, calamari, a head-on shrimp, and beans and onions. It was really good too but not overly filling. For dessert we had the infamous apple crostata and the warm apple spice cake. Both were very yummy and we kept going back and forth trying to figure out which one was better. So my advice to you: order both.
(5)Ainsley A.
Marcie Turney and Valerie Safran have done it again. My mom, sister and I dined here during Center City's restaurant week and had the most amazing meal I have had in Philadelphia to date. We ordered the Garlic Bread to start: not only was it at the perfect crisp, it was served with a full head of roasted garlic. One would think that the garlic flavor would be overpowering when combining the garlic bread with fresh garlic, but no- it creates a symphony of different flavors. What adds to this dish is the contrast between the soft creaminess of the garlic and the crisp crunch of the perfectly grilled homemade Sarcone's bread. The BVP meatballs (pork, veal, beef) are rested on top of homemade polenta and then topped with Nonna's homemade San Marzano "gravy" (red sauce). For those of you that don't know, San Marzano is a type of tomato which has a full texture and rich taste. I didn't think anyone could top my mother's red sauce, but this beats it by a mile. As soon as you take the first bite of the BVP meatball, you find a surprise inside- fontina cheese. Its like you just won the taste bud lottery! The wild mushroom arancini was as good, if not better than the arancini that I ate in Rome. The truffle oil paired with the creamy buffalo mozzarella took a traditional dish to a gourmet level. The restaurant week menu does differ from the everyday menu- the specialty pasta dishes my family had were just as detail-oriented as the appetizers: top notch and full of intense flavors that brought each dish together nicely. What is nice about this restaurant is that it uses local food from restaurants nestled within the iconic Italian Market. Sarcone's Bakery supplies the bread, Fiorella's supplies the sausage, and Claudio's (my favorite place in the world) supplies the cheese and various other antipasti items. The atmosphere of this restaurant is quaint and intimate. It transports you back to Grandma's house but with a new age twist. Tea lights hang from the ceiling and gives you the feel as if you are in an intimate rustic backyard setting. I would recommend this restaurant to anyone- whether it be date night, dining out with your family, or just experiencing it by yourself.
(5)Suzanne H.
Last but not least......some guys we sat next to at the Crow and the Pitcher suggested this place when I said I wanted authentic East Coast Italian. It's not like anyone's grandma's place I've been to, it was way better.... We got reservations for Sunday night a couple hours ahead. Got seated at appointed time. Had a great waitress, very helpful and friendly. It wasn't too loud or crowded for me--after you've eaten in Manhattan restaurants, nothing seems loud or crowded.... Anyway, she suggest the gnocchi, and I'm sooooo glad I went with it. It was awesome with capital A. I'll tell you what it wasn't--it wasn't mushy or pasty, and it was kind of charred, a little brown like it had been sautéed or roasted or something. I LOVED it. I would order it again and again. Oh yeah, we had the risotto balls for appetizer--I've had those at other places and always been disappointed. But, when it comes to food, I'm an optimist and I ordered them, and they melted in your mouth. Just what I always hoped risotto balls would be.... Hubs had spaghetti and meatballs, he ate about 1/2 of it....huge portion....he said the meatballs were great--I don't eat beef, so couldn't try them.....:( Another great place. Phillie food was awesome, we had no clue it was such a foodie town. What fun we had. Hope to come back and eat here again.....
(5)Jemma C.
I'm a little baffled at the glowing reviews. Don't get me wrong, there's nothing to hate here but there's also nothing to love! The dining room was unatmospheric and freezing! Perhaps dinner and a table in the courtyard on a warmer day would make me see this place in a new light but for now it's an average place for an average lunch.
(3)Ryan Z.
This was one of my most enjoyable meals of the past year. This is one of those places when I wanted to lick the plates and try absolutely everything on the menu. The gnocchi, pork chop, and cherry crumble were particularly memorable. Service was excellent. The dining room was very small so reservations are a must.
(5)Tonia B.
We went to Little Nonna's at the suggestion of the concierge. The food was divine and the drinks were exceptional. The snot sphere is cozy and the wait staff was very attentive. It is a great place for a date with someone you want to build memories with. We truly enjoyed every bite!
(5)Mini P.
I decided to take my husband here for his 30th birthday dinner and I am so happy that I did. It was one of the coldest nights in Philly and this place was so warm and comforting to walk into. It is small, cozy and intimate. The decor makes you kind of feel like you are in grandma's kitchen. I guess that's why its called Little Nonna's (Little Grandma in Italian). We started of with a Sgroppino which is one of the best cocktails I have ever had the pleasure of drinking. It consists of a scoop of blood orange basil sorbet topped with vodka and prosecco. Such a lovely fun little drink! We then stuck with some whites for the rest of the evening with a glass of Vermantino and Pinot. We went with two appetizers. Straccciatella and Italian olives which is fresh pulled mozzarella in olive oil and sea salt with olives. It was served with warm grilled pieces of bread. Our second appetizer was wild mushroom arancini which is crispy risotto balls with Buffalo mozzarella, mushrooms and a truffle aioli sauce. Both of our choices where spot on! So delicious and packed with flavor. We ordered the special to share which was a beet ravioli filled with yummy cheeses and the chicken al matone. The chicken was seared with lemon, garlic and oregano and came with grilled artichokes and crispy fingerling potatoes. This chicken was by far one of the best chickens I have ever eaten. It had that "Grandma made this" flavor to it. Desserts where tiramisu and apple crostada. Both exactly what they should be. Nothing more and nothing less. I love how they served the tiramisu in a tea cup and saucer. Very nice touch. I also loved the random plates that all of our food was served on. None of them matched. I can dig it! The service was good. My only complaint is that when I made the reservation, I added a note asking them to please put a candle or write happy birthday on my husbands dessert and that was never done. But the food was so good that I forgive them. If you want to indulge and eat some Italian elegance with a homey touch then this is def the spot. A little pricey but worth it.
(5)Anthony R.
Great little Italian restaurant right off of Broad street in Philly. Staff was excellent. I recommend the wild mushroom arancini and the gravy (lots of food). Staff was very attentive and did a good job recommending food and drinks. We sat out in the heated garden area on a nice warm December evening and it was very pleasant, Definitely a good place to have on your list if in the area.
(5)CJ C.
Small mom and pop type venue with impeccable service and exquisite food. I went here for restaurant week with a group of friends. The menu had something for everyone and the wine pairings with each course were well chosen and plentiful. I got the wild rice arancini and the braised short ribs and was not disappointed in the slightest. I will definitely be returning.
(5)Sarah A.
Little Nonna's, though right on the street, seems to be tucked away in a world of its own. I actually walked right past it (albeit from the opposite side of the street) before realizing I'd ventured too far. Stepping inside, the walls are rustic wood with nice lighting fixtures. It's a typical restaurant for the neighborhood: brushing elbows and sharing conversation with fellow diners. The food: Piping hot (where warranted) and delicious. The "B+V+P Meatball," which was served with soft polenta, san marzano gravy, and fontina (some nestled within the meatball itself) was terrific: the gravy really pulled it together. The "Stracciatella" pulled fresh mozzarella, olive oil, sea salt, grilled italian loaf was warm and gooey. The "Rigatoni" with fennel sausage, broccoli rabe, pecorino, and chile was flavorful and perfectly al dente. The "Pistachio Cannoli" with a pistachio ricotta filling and caramelized cacao nibs was delightfully crunchy and hardly sweet. And the "Apple Crumble" was total comfort food. The service: Prompt and polite. In sum: Not much "twist" going on here, which I generally prefer when dining out, but solid, "all-American" Italian cuisine.
(4)Chris S.
A great spot, came during restaurant week and they had a specialty menu. It's a small kitchen and dining area, but with a great atmosphere. Server was very accommodating for our group of 7. Ordered the buffalo mozzarella, shaved brussels salad, short-rib for dinner, and a cannoli to end the evening. A very very good meal, not a dish put in front of me that I didn't enjoy. The only reason I didn't give a 5 star rating was because the meal didn't amaze me. I would recommend this place to anyone, and would definitely go back again.
(4)Gautam T.
Little Nonna's was the last restaurant we needed to visit to complete Philadelphias version of restaurant row (please let me know if there is another part of town with the same amount of restaurants). We came for a late dinner (the servers probably hated us) and it was delicious. Let me see we tried the charcuterie plate; cheese was amazing, the cured meats were pretty standard, We got this mushroom dish that was absolutely awesome! and we got something the mozzeralla cheese salad; way too much mozzerella for two people. I swear how do italians eat so much cheese? I felt like my arteries were clogging up as I chewed the mozzeralla. For the entree I went with Gnocchi (because I am on a mission to find the best Gnocchi) sadly i didn't think it was the best. For dessert went with the standard Tiramisu which was stellar to say the least.
(4)A G.
Great menu. Even greater specials. Preparation was a bit off. (Go easy on the salt and on how long you cook the pasta, please.) Adorable spot, but was disappointed that "outside" is actually covered with a plexiglass roof and therefor stuffy rather than airy. Servers were pleasant and attentive. I look forward to going back.
(4)Sarah L.
Spaghetti and meatballs... Sounds plane Jane doesn't it? NOPE! Not at Little Nonnas!!!! My mouth was overjoyed after eating here. I'm not going to try anything new here because the pasta and meatballs are so satisfying everytime! The desserts are also delightful. If you are there during warmer weather, sit out in the courtyard. You def don't feel like your in philly when you sit there
(5)L H.
Average/less than average Italian fare. Reserved a two-top for Friday night. Small restaurant, and unfortunately cold night so every time someone opened the door to enter/exit, an unpleasant blustery chill went through the space no matter where you were seated. Enjoyed the glass of Sangiovese I ordered to start. We were told by friends to try the meatballs so we did. They were served very hot, which I loved (particularly because it was so cold in the restaurant). The meatballs themselves were large, somewhat dry, and not as flavorful as I would've hoped. They're also stuffed with cheese in the center, which I was ambivalent about. So I make a pretty incredible meatball recipe at home with ground turkey, sweet/spicy Italian sausage, grana, prosciutto ... which are admittedly much better than those at Little Nonna's. Entrees were even more disappointing - we tried the veal and linguine vongole. The pasta was a heaping serving of slightly overdone noodles, a smattering of dry/yellow-ish looking clams, and worst of all...dill. Such a strange flavor combination. With any good linguine vongole, you need only a few components.... white wine, garlic, red pepper flakes, clam juice, parsley, maybe some lemon... but definitely not dill. Honestly, the dill just ruined it for me. I ate it because I was hungry, not because I was enjoying it. The veal was equally disappointing - overcooked, tasteless, and served lukewarm. Dessert - pumpkin cake with some kind of semi-molten caramel center. The cake itself was very dry. A nice straciatella gelato was served on top, which I liked. Maybe we ordered the wrong things on the menu that night - I would've liked to try the arancini if we were to do it again. But based on this initial impression, we won't be going back.
(2)Stephen M.
Yeah, buddy! This is the real Italian deal! A little classy restaurant with five men cranking out the best tasting dishes I have had in a long time! Visiting Philly from NY required something different from a Cheesesteak. Paired with a fab red wine, every single dish was amazing and the service was impeccable! First place I will hit when back in town!
(5)Ed K.
They were not flexible on a side order of pasta because it was Restaurant Week. U need to have good food and common sense. Esp when ur customers live in neighborhood. Others near by accommodate customers requests. Went there
(2)Thuy C.
I came in during this year's restaurant week by myself for a nice lunch. This place is charming like you've walked into an Italian grandmother's kitchen. My server Kerry was absolutely great! Actually all the staffs were great, attentive, quick, organized and knowledgable. I started with the BVP meatballs: they were salty, savory, decadent, juicy, stuffed with fontina and sitting on creamy polenta. For my main course I had today's macaroni special which came with smokey pork paired with bitter broccoli rabe, and briney olives, it really worked well together. I asked for red pepper flakes to add an extra kick, yum. For dessert, I had the tiramisu which came in a little tea cup with w a dollop of fresh whipped cream on top and Pizzelle crumbles, it was very satisfying even though I was so full from my pasta. This place is small, intimate, has great service and vibe but most of all the food is packed with great flavors.
(3)Lisa O.
I do not even know where to begin. Little's Nonna's has generously volunteered to be a part of Dining Out for Life (an annual event where restaurants contribute a third of their proceeds to AIDS research) for the last two years. I have been lucky enough to be their ambassador for these last two years. My fiance and I fell in love with this restaurant after I volunteered there last year and have made it our "date night" spot ever since. Everything from the atmosphere, to the food, to the service is absolutely impeccable. I was raised in an Italian family and know good Italian food -- this place has it. If you are in the area, I HIGHLY recommend dining here. You will not regret it. The menu is constantly changing and everything we've ever eaten there has been outrageously good. Little Nonna's is the epitome of a great establishment owned by people with kind and giving hearts -- come here ASAP!!
(5)Felicia C.
My friend and I enjoyed a dinner here for Restaurant Week. We received Stracciatella cheese with toasted bread and olives for the table, and then we each ordered an appetizer, entree, and dessert. The meatball appetizer was two large meatballs with sauce and polenta, and those meatballs were incredible. The arancini appetizer was four small and delicately toasted arancini balls. Both entrees were very good. My pasta was cooked perfectly al dente, a rare find. The sauce had an almost gamey meat taste that was surprising but delicious. Even the polenta was great, and I don't like polenta! Our desserts were awesome. My friend had the tiramisu, which was as big as an ice cream sundae. I had the cannoli, which was actually two cannolis, flavored with anise and pistachios. I recommend this restaurant, and would love to go back there myself and sit in the beautiful little garden area.
(5)Katie P.
I'd honestly rate this a 3 1/2 stars.. everything was just the way it should be. I don't think there were any stand out dishes- nothing made me say 'wow'. This was a quintessential Italian restaurant, you'll leave happy and full, but note that they aren't reinventing the wheel here... Also the place looks adorable.
(3)Lauren D.
Had dinner here with three girlfriends (all of our first time here). First off we liked the extensive wine list and the servers were very knowledgeable and gave recommendations. We started with the fig bruschetta which was delicious but was good for only 3 ppl. We all ordered a different entree- 3 "macaronis"/pasta dishes and one salad and appetizer duo. We ended up sharing off each others plates because it was all amazing! My clam and crab linguine was perfect! Plenty of seafood in the dish--def not disappointed, and I loved the grilled corn and other unique additions. Yum! Server was attentive, food was quick, outdoor patio is ADORABLE with clear covered roof, twinkle lights strung all around etc. We'll all be back with our husbands!
(4)Lisa P.
Small space but there is outdoor dining that we can't see from inside the main dining room. Open kitchen, attentive staff. Menu is not overwhelming, but I would like to see a few more Italian favorites on the dinner menu, like eggplant parm or bracciole. We ordered the charcuterie tray, thinly sliced mortadella/hot cappy/prosciutto with a dollop of gorgonzola dolce and pickled vegetables that were spicy hot but tasty. I would have liked a bit more bread to go with the 9 slices of meat. I ordered the spaghetti and meatballs, I came here specifically for this dish to taste the meatballs I've read so much about. My husband had the Sunday dinner which sounds like a lot of food; pasta of the day with pieces of short rib, meatball, sausage and some other meat(s), but the bowl of pasta was about as big as a cereal bowl, not much to make a meal out of, with the meat served on the side. In the end it was enough, but also would have liked some bread to clean up the meaty gravy that was left in the bowl. The meatballs are moist, as big as tennis balls and tasty. I would go back just to eat the meatballs. Since we weren't stuffed from dinner, we knew we'd have room for dessert. This was the 1st time my husband didn't even share his dessert with me...ever. He had tira misu, served in a coffee/tea cup that was apparently so delicious he couldn't spare to share a taste. I had the black cherry carambola, delicious cherry crumb style slice of pie with a side of ice cream. Yum. Served with LaColumbe coffee and we were good to go. Youngish 30-something crowd, so maybe they don't realize that some of us need reading glasses to read the menu and even then, with dim lighting and small font size and the menu tucked inside a plastic sheath, we really were not able to read every dish or its description. This is not specific to this location, most of our Center City dining turns out like this. If only each establishment would have a few large print menus for us 50+ who have disposable income, it would be so helpful.
(4)Mini M.
Cute italian restaurant in center city. The food was very tasty and the portions were a decent size for the price. My only complaints are 1) the waiter seemed to be rushing us through dinner and 2) we were seated at the table in front of the main door so that every time the door opened (which was frequent) a blast of cold air hit us. Overall I had a decent experience here and will probably return. The decor and atmosphere of the restaurant are fantastic and perfect for small groups.
(4)Alison G.
Best meatballs I've ever had! Garlic bread is also amazing, with fresh roasted garlic and buttery bread.
(4)Rosa O.
I had low expectations for this small Italian spot in Philly. Once I had the fabulous punch I knew I made the right choice. It came out in a cute soda bottle and it was so delicious. I didnt think anyone could make meatballs better than me. OMG. The polenta was PERFECT. Ths texture was amazing and the sauce flavorful. The meatball itself was seasoned well with hints of anise and fennel. I didnt even get my dinner course and am already a huge fan...
(5)Mike G.
After my 2nd meal here, I can say Marcie Turney has a Midas touch. Of course that's no secret. Both times stoping in without a reservation, I was able to get seated on a busy night at the "bar" which is actually a slim counter along the open kitchen. Each time this happened, my friend and I found it especially great to watch the dishes being prepared and even share some conversation with the line cooks. So, the entertainment is just a bonus. The food is really really great. I personally do not gravitate towards Italian restaurants, especially if touted as "homey". The dishes here though, are not just true Italian American, they're wonderfully prepared with nuanced care I find at Barbuzzo or Jamonera. Turney's menus are consistent in quality. The B V P meatball is something I had to order again, on my return. It was great to share, each time. Also the Risotto Aranchini (also found at barbuzzo?) were pure heaven. So glad to see it offered here. My friend and I ordered the swordfish and the short rib entrees and they were both really good though if I had to offer one criticism, the short rib was just a tiny bit saltier than I'd expected, though inhaled nonetheless. To be honest, this was restaurant week and since we were both starving, my friend and I didn't expect to leave so content. It was very similar to that of my own family's big meals so I am convinced that Little Nonna's is the perfect balance of authentic "home cooked" Italian and contemporary cuisine. The atmosphere was perfecto and the staff all very friendly. So for a place I was less than excited to see open, I am in love. Now Im just waiting for Cher to slap me and say "Snap out of it!" alls moonstruck ;)
(4)Melissa R.
YES! A new (to us) place to love. We went during restaurant week and it was so amazing. Our waitress convinced (ok, it didn't take much convincing) to also do the wine tasting menu-it was totally worth it. Food was stellar: amazing salads. The chicken was so frigging tasty that I didn't want it to be over, and the tiramisu! With the crunchy, yummy, crumbled pizzelle on top. SO GOOD. Service was relaxed enough that we didn't feel rushed, even on a night where they were booked solid, yet attentive enough that our courses were well timed and water was refilled. Can't wait to go back!
(5)Shaun E.
Wow. Started with the garlic bread, which came with a side of roasted garlic. Then had the gnocchi. Neither could have possibly been better.
(5)Josh L.
Nice little hole in the wall. Even though I came here with business colleagues, it would be a great place for a date. It is dimly lit, cozy with a great vibe. Got seated right away, the staff was very friendly with great timing. Had the spaghetti and meatballs as it was recommended. It's so good that you'll need a solid nap after. P.S The meatballs have a surprise in the middle. Would definitely recommend.
(5)Andrea T.
We had -the straciatella and italian olives, the olives were soooo good. One of them we only got one of, so i asked our waitress for more and she brought us 4! -wild mushroom arancini. I love arancini, even bad arancini. Except trader joes arancini is subpar. This was gorgeous and even had some sort of secret white sauce. Divine. -roasted fig bruschetta. sharon was over the moon, it just didn't do it for me. The figs were too mushy, the bread was soggy and the blue cheese a bit too pungent. I wouldn't get this next time, but if i went with sharon i'm sure we would have to. -shaved salad. This was brilliant. Proof that simple can be magnificent. I love fennel and brussel sprouts, but this was just magical. Almost slaw like and the locatelli just gave it the perfect notes. -fusili di pretti, was good a little oily, but good. not sure i'd get it again -pumpkin cannoli, very good, but wouldn't get again unless i was in a cannoli mood -warm chocolate hazelnut cake with banana straciatella ice cream...........fucking insane........fresh hot cake from the oven....this was perfection and i dont even like chocolate cake! -VALPOLICELLA, TENUTA MONTICELLO, VENETO, '09 we had a bottle of this and it was a very drinkable red, and i'm not fond of italian wine. Definitely cannot wait to go back!
(5)Brittany P.
Four stars just because our server was more interested in the table of her friends next to us. went for restaurant week, lunch special was $20 and I honestly couldn't even touch my Second course because I was so full. Split everything among the group and everything I tried was awesome! Compliments to the chef. Awesome outdoor garden seating area. Cut inside too!
(4)Tom G.
I came here for lunch during Restaurant Week, and was immediately charmed by the cozy atmosphere, hanging lights and full tables. We grabbed two seats at the chef's table, next to the small, open kitchen. It was fun seeing the cooks efficiently prepare and plate the meals -- we could see that a lot of care was put into each dish. For appetizers, we shared the stracciatella (pulled mozzarella, olive oil and grilled bread) and wild mushroom arancini (lightly fried rice balls). They were amazing -- my first bites of each were transporting and delicious. The charred bread was fantastic with the mozzarella and olive oil, one of the rare times something being slightly burned made the whole dish better. The arancini, which I never had before, was crispy on the outside, and flavorful and soft on the inside; the shaved cheese on top made it even better. The rigatoni with sausage and broccoli rabe was also good, if familiar. The wild mushroom lasagna came with some cherry tomatoes, cooked literally on the vine. The mushrooms were well-cooked, but the overall dish was a little dry. The desserts were great: The pistachio cannoli was creamy and delicious. The tiramisu was great, sweet without overwhelming, and had crushed waffles cookies sprinkled on top, which added a nice crunch. Our servers were attentive, always making sure we had enough water, and providing clean silverware for each course. We had a great time at a reasonable price ($20 per person), and hope to come back again some day, even if it's not Restaurant Week!
(5)Samantha T.
This little byo was like sitting in my grandparents' dining room. It's small & cozy. The service was fast and friendly. The food was PHENOMENAL!!!! It was wonderful for a date night. I can't wait to go back!
(5)Lilli C.
On a Monday night this place was packed, and there was absolutely no place to stand while waiting for our table. We were basically blocking the doorway and hovering over a table of 4 eating. Luckily we didn't have to wait too long for our table and the food was good and the service here was really friendly. The pulled fresh mozzarella with a thick cut grilled Italian loaf was awesome. The fig bruschetta was just okay...I wasn't too fond of the celery hearts with the fig and it also came on the same thick Italian loaf as the mozzarella, that after eating both of those, I was actually pretty stuffed. For my entree I got the eggplant parm and the bvp meatballs which were both awesome, but the timing of the food was a bit off. I got my entree a full 10 minutes before my friend's. I especially loved the fontina that was stuffed into the meatballs. For dessert we split the hazelnut cannoli which was not very good...the shell tasted like a soggy sugar cone. I will definitely be back just for the meatballs and the mozzarella!
(4)Reesha G.
Cozy, warmly lit, and satisfying. Our server was supportive of vegetarian dietary questions, but otherwise terse. We had the shaved Brussels sprout salad (stellar), broccoli rabe (garlic for days! but I love that), and the gnocchi (the accompaniment was delightful, the gnocchi so-so). I felt that Italian bread should have come with the main course instead of as a $5 side, but we felt it was both essential and delicious. The highlight was the apple crostata, which had pecorino in its crust and was the best idea I've ever had. Overall it was a splurge, but we left content!
(4)Melissa P.
Have you ever had a meatball that just tasted like actual different meats, and was deliciously spiced and flavored, and ginormously huge, and amazing? I have. but only at Little Nonna's. I have some rules about going out to eat. I don't like to go out for Italian (I feel like I could make it at home?) and if I do, it better be BYOB or someone else picking the place, and I'm sure as hell not ordering something like spaghetti and meatballs. So how did I end up choosing this place for our monthly girl's dinner and raving about their spaghetti? What can I say, I'm a sucker for Marcie Turney, I love to check out new places, and I follow my fellow yelpers' reviews. So those rules outweighed my other rules and there we were. VIBE We were 6 and they wouldn't take that number on Opentable, but I called and they said they could seat us at a high top, which ended up being perfect. The decor is adorable and the atmosphere is perfect for a date or a group of friends catching up. FOOD Food is served as it comes out so I would recommend going family style. The menu has changed (no butternut squash lasagna or stuffed shell when we were there) so don't get too attached to the online menu. We ended up pretty much eating family style and got the antipasto board (a good sized starter, but not mindblowing), the roasted fig bruschetta, the gnocchi (really good), several orders of the BVP Spaghetti and Meatballs (amazing), the cavatelli nero (really interesting, and great flavor), and the linguine vongole (also great). Portions were big, but not overwhelming, and everything was great. RECAP We had a wonderful meal, drank some bottles of wine, laughed, talked loudly, probably annoyed everyone around us, and the evening was just magical. My only gripe is that for Italian food, it's kind of expensive. With a few bottles of wine we ended up paying around $50 each, granted we may have over ordered a bit, but still. Highly recommend.
(4)Dana S.
SUPER DELICIOUS FOOD. Came here with my friend for a catch-up dinner and it was a great pick. The interior is very quaint and the staff is very attentive. I had the traditional spaghetti and meatballs and we ordered the roasted asparagus bruschetta as an app. It was all good but I especially loved the bruschetta. The portions were generous. I also was very impressed they didn't rush us a we lingered a little after settling the check. (I tried not to be that annoying table but when you haven't seen some one in a little while, it happens a little). Definitively would recommend to friends. It's small so it can and will fill up fast. There is also an outdoor seating option which I would love to investigate next time I there.
(4)Elaine L.
Too many things to say with too few words. Summary: holy goodness yum!! The last time I came here, I loved their seared gnocchi dish and the Sunday dinner special. Their meatballs are ridiculously good as their arancini is!! We got to sit outside the garden patio which is a great place to hang out in the spring and summer time. Staff was great and I loved this place - will have to come back again!
(5)Althea B.
This place is an absolute GEM! Excellent service and Food! Had the wild mushroom arancini, and clam linguini (added shrimp), last but certainly not least was the apple toastada with thyme ice cream. The food was absolutely amazing. I will make a special trip back to Philadelphia to eat at Little Nomna's again!!!
(5)Steve S.
Great spot, excellent food and service, I would definitely go back. Had the special chopped salad which was outstanding. Spaghetti and meatballs enough for 2 people for sure, but really, really good. Small restaurant so make a reservation. Really nice experience.
(4)Louis D.
Delicious, perfect little Italian spot, I go the Sunday gravy.. it was fantastic! the staff was very friendly and helpful. the tables are close so you can get to know your table neighbor like an old aunt or uncle.. Would go back.! make reservation! Fun homemade drinks too.
(5)Carla F.
I think this is a cool little addition to the 13th street restaurant scene. I wanted to like it even more than I did but ultimately this is just a good little restaurant serving italian food. We sat inside so we missed out on their supposedly amazing and romantic outdoor area. The garlic bread and arancini were amazing. We split a number of pastas and they were all good. Definitely a good place to check out, not sure that I am dying to return......
(4)Grant S.
This is such a gem! Went here for my birthday dinner and they truly served an experience. Our server Kaylee really knew the menu and wine list. Took her recommendation for wine and it was spot on! For an appetizer we had garlic bread and their meatballs. I am a good Italian boy and NO ONE has meatballs better than grandma but these were pretty damn close! For dinner I had grilled sausage peppers and onions item on their specials menu. The server told us they make the sausage in house and it is always different. The meal was excellent but of course since it was my birthday i had to have dessert and I ordered the tiramisu... one word WOW! For me the attention to detail in every aspect of the meal was amazing and Kaylee is truly an asset to the restaurant. She cares about her customers and made the experience one to remember! I'll be back!
(5)Christopher D.
Visited last night and I must say I was underwhelmed. Definitely a small cramped space where you were conscious of your neighbors at the next table over. Very small menu and if you DC doesn't eat pork, you rapidly have very few choices to choose from (even less if you are a vegetarian). Wine list was reasonable, but it was a joke that they said they had italian sodas when they had flavored pellegrino. Make your own italian sodas already. Had the beet, and pear salad with kale and riccotta. Nothing to write home about. The Lamb rib appetizer was good meat but definitely over cooked. The mains were better. Branzino special was well cooked, and nice vegetables with it. The calamari pasta dish was well flavored, very nice pasta. All in all for 80 dollars plus tip not a bad meal. It is definitely not a "comfortable" space to dine in. I wish they would remove one table spread the tables out more and improve the menu choices. Going to be a while before I return for dinner here.
(3)J K.
Its hard to find a restaurant where you can get good spaghetti and meatballs. Little Nonna's serves up a huge plate of them, for $16, and the portion could easily be shared by 2 people. The meatballs are B+V+P Ibeef veal and pork) which makes them really tasty. The sauce had a bit of zing as well, and was very concentrated. Definitely worth coming back for these! We also enjoyed the wild mushroom arancini appetizer which came with 4 large arancini for $8. There was an extra charge for garlic bread (I forget how much) but it was excellent, crispy and came with a whole head of roasted garlic to smear onto it just in case the bread wasn't garlicky enough! I wasn't as thrilled with the Ricotta Cavatelli, mainly because of the overpowering amount of salty olives in the dish. The olive flavor competed with the duck sausage and just resulted in a dish that was just too strong flavored for my taste. Our party of two definitely ordered too much food, and couldn't finish it though we wanted to. This would be a good place to come with a party of four, and share a couple of appetizers and entrees. If the portion of the spaghetti and meatballs is any indication, the "sunday gravy" at $24 would likely serve 3-4 people. Service was superior, the room is cutely decorated, though the tables are rather close together and it gets noisy. Overall, recommend this place and will be back for more meatballs!
(4)Ariel G.
Excellent! Adorable, cozy and the food was terrific. Perfect date spot.
(5)Marlo T.
Went to Little Nonna's for the second time ever and was so excited they were participating in Restaurant Week. When we arrived we were late (about 30 minutes) but I had called ahead to give them notice. When we got there we had to wait for our table (which I expected because we were late); however there is no room to wait. It's very crowded and people are coming and going with a revolving door. It would be really nice if they had a bar to wait and get a drink. After 20 or so minutes, we were able to get a table outside in the garden which was absolutely delightful. The lights and atmosphere was so cute, but like i said the place was packed and it made it difficult to hear one another at our 4-top table. We were "greeted" by a waitress if "greet" is even the right word to use. This waitress was miserable, didn't introduce herself, didn't crack a smile even when saying hello to our table. She got us waters, came back, and then immediately asked us what we wanted to eat -- not even taking our drink order first. Then, I didn't like that you didn't have a choice or some of the table ordering from restaurant week, some ordering from menu. All had to order restaurant week or not. We all went with the restaurant week menu which was nice because we all could try 1 of the 4 selections offered and we all shared. The food came out so fast and every single thing was just as I remembered it being the first time - absolutely delicious. From the starter course of the Straciatella and grilled bread with olives to the Tiramisu at the ending, we were satisfied. I would go back any day for the B+V+M meatballs and my lemon chicken. The food absolutely made up for the poor service from our waitress.
(3)Jenny B.
Loved it as much as I loved barbuzzo. First of all, the interior is gorgeous. They have these awesome lights hanging from the ceiling that add a romantic spin. The space is cozy and vintage. Our party sat inside, but you can also sit in the garden area. I went with five other people so we ordered a bunch of things and shared. In terms of the appetizers, the mussels were great. Also the Cesar salad was fresh and flavorful, especially the freshly ground pepper with crunchy romaine was an awesome combination! My brother got the meat balls and loved it. My cousins got the gnocchi and loved it as well. The best part however..was the dessert! We had the cheesecake, apple crostada with ice-cream and hazelnut cannoli. The hazlenut cannoli is a MUST. Imagine all the flavors of nutella made into a fancy cannoli......sooooooo goood. The only minus would be the wine which was mediocre, but overall worth a visit!
(5)J.V. L.
Super cute interior, great service, and delicious food. Little Nonna's is perfect for dinner with a few girl friends, as well as for a romantic date. I've already been a few times and recommended it to friends & family in the area. Everything was delicious, but highlights included the Wild Mushroom Arancini, Eggplant Parmigiana, and Spaghetti & Meatballs. Also, I was pleasantly surprised by the large portions (the Spaghetti dish could easily be shared between 2-3 people). I only wish the weather had been nicer so we could sit outside - seems like the terrace is beautiful!
(5)Jennifer S.
Very cute small restaurant with a romantic atmosphere, but can be a little bit too dimly lit to read the menu. The meatballs with cheese is amazing as an appetizer. I got the pan seared gnocci and it was so good.
(4)Jennifer M.
I have a huge crush on this restaurant! HUGE. The place is tiny, but cozy. Unfortunately, there weren't available tables, but our party of three were able to sit at the counter. (Silly of me to come during opening week, but I couldn't resist!). Eating at the counter did have its perks. I was able to salivate over the food as it was being prepared. And Marcie Turney was in the house, so we got to see all the action! Bottles of wine were $40, so we treated ourselves to the Greco. Tasty! Our dinner selections included: Stracciatella (ah-mazing, and yes, you better order more bread); BVP meatballs (This appetizer disappeared pretty fast, so if you need to share, then order more); Stuffed Shell (ONE ginormous shell filled with lots of ricotta and finished with a mint pesto to make it interesting); Gnocchi (just ok for me); and a side of mushrooms and polenta (two things I love together - this side was rich in delicious flavor). The pace of our dinner was on point, which was good because I was worried about table space since we were at the counter. Nevertheless, our appetizers were cleared way before the entrees came out. We were so full from dinner that we didn't have enough room for dessert. No problem there since I didn't see anything special that I wanted to try! Hoping they'll expand their dessert menu! So yes, I will certainly be back. Dining at the counter wasn't so bad, but I definitely want more room at a table so we can try out the other selections!
(4)Shauna G.
I love my parents. But if Marcie Turney and Valerie Safran offered to adopt me as their child if I never spoke to them again, I wouldn't even think twice. Oh to be able to eat from their delicious restaurants all the time... sigh... and sorry mom and dad. The atmosphere at Little Nonna's is a 10. We ate out on the patio and what was probably my favorite thing was the hanging laundry on the side wall. Great touch. Don't even get me started on the meatballs... mmm mmm mmm. B + V + P + Shauna = BFFs. It was definitely the highlight of the meal. And because I feel the need to always put my food in competition with each other and rank things and make lists, I will now list in order of taste preference the other things that I ate (from the Restaurant Week lunch menu): 2. Orecchiette 3. Tiramisu 4. Shaved Salad 5. Chicken Parm Sandwich 6. Pistachio Cannoli Yum! Well done on your new place, ladies!
(4)Stella H.
Food was okay, but the service was a mess. We went in for lunch and were the 2nd table there, placed our orders and received our salad and eggplant parm appetizer as the place filled up with more people we waited more than 45 minutes for our entrees. Many tables received their entrees before us, but some tables asked for their food to go because they couldn't wait any longer. The servers were crowding around the kitchen at some point waiting. I have no idea what was going on in the kitchen, but will never go back there for mediocre Italian food.
(2)Meredith B.
Best meatball of my life. I am going to continue to try and figure out what is in those delicious balls from God. Everytime I have a meatball from now on I'm going to be thinking of *those* meatballs. Ok now that I got that out, lets talk about the rest of Little Nonna's. I could go on for hours about how amazingly perfect those balls were. We were some of the lucky ones... Saturday night reservations on opening weekend (thank you Lindsay H.)! We were seated immediately. Although the restaurant itself is small... we had a good amount of table space and we did not feel cramped at our table. When it comes to the cocktails, this is really my only quasi-complaint. I'd almost it rather be a BYO. There are four options for cocktails on the menu (two of which have Campari... so if you're not into that....). We had asked if you could just order a "standard" cocktail (like gin tonic or vodka tonic) but we were told that since the kitchen is so small all drinks are premade. Which (I will say), when they came out they were uber cute... but in the end I think I'd have almost preferred a BYO. We ordered: B+V+P MEATBALLS - like I said before... best meatballs of my life. I'm going to inquire if they do takeout and delivery (they're that good). Don't come to Little Nonna's and not get the meatballs. ROASTED FIG BRUSCHETTA - amazing! The sweet fig with the soft creamy contrast of the cheese made this a sweet with some savory bruschetta on top of mouthwatering bread. GARLIC BREAD - we needed something to mop up the sauces with. What I love about this is it came with a head of roasted garlic to just smear on (my mouth is watering just thinking about it). TODAY'S STRACIATELLA - Ours was amazing... but given it's "todays" I have no clue what you're going to get... but I have a feeling it'll be a great choice. PORK BRACIOLE MARINARA LINGUINE VONGOLE (which I was so busy hogging all the possible extra meatball chunks I was too full to even try). SPAGHETTI & MEATBALLS - seriously any reason to get more meatballs is fully indorsed by me. I gotta believe most people skip over spaghetti and meatballs when at a restaurant... don't do that here. Please don't do that here... order these. Next time I'd like to order (a few things we didn't get): HEAD ON SHRIMP SCAMPI "HOT LITTLE ITALIAN" PEPPERONI MARINARA MUSSELS BUTTERNUT SQUASH LASAGNA NONNI'S STUFFED SHELL Ok so I noticed I basically just listed everything on the menu I didn't order the first time. Clearly I loved my meal and experience here and hope to be back very soon. Congrats to the chef and owner... they're doing something right. Can't wait to sneak on over there for their new lunch hours!
(5)Umesh K.
We sat in the back and had a friendly visit by Santa. The meatballs were delicious as well as the garlic bread. We were having a great time. However, we heard the sound of food falling on the ground. We looked over and a little kid had thrown up violently. I guess too much eggnog. However, the waitresses moved fast, asked us if we wanted to be moved and were real pros through the whole thing. A memorable lunch, delicious with an unfortunate turn of events.
(5)Ron H.
After a disappointing meal and a 3star rating, I continue to hear about how great the food was so I went back two more times...should have taken my own advice and stayed away. We went in with a group of four and order most of the items on the menu. Every red sauced item here had the same "gravy", and it tasted like pepperoni oil. I was suprised because the previous visit (on a Tuesday night), I thought the sauce was fresh and bright with strong fresh tomato flavors. Now, it was like they let the sauce continue to simmer for the entire week with chunks of pepperoni until it resembled a thick tomato paste. The pepperoni marina mussel dish was too garlicky, although the bread was nice...but then again, how bad is your kitchen if they mess up toasting the actual bread! The overall flavor of pepperoni is overpowering and dipping your bread in the sauce gives the taste of eating pepperoni pizza...not what you want from a mussel dish. Head on Shrimp Scampi was overcooked and the shrimp bodies were starting to br mushy, to the point where the bodies were falling off from the heads on their own in the dish. I bite was enough to leave the rest of the dish just sit. Roasted Pear and Beets salad was actually very good, well half of the dish was at least. The smaller cuts of beets were cooked well, however the larger pieces were undercooked and still bitter. The ricotta was also a little too bland to go with the beet flavor and the dish should have been made with a more pungent goat cheese The shaved salad with brussel sprouts was a unique flavor, leaning well towards the bitter side, but something safe to order if you like bitter greens. Spaghetti and meatballs comes with the same BVP meatballs from the appetizer menu. A gooey cheese center couldn't save the bland meatball flavor this evening. I don't think the fontina cheese is the best cheese to use (if a cheese should be used at all), but none of the criticism matters since the pepperoni heavy red sauce overpowers the whole dish. The Sunday Gravy is the same red sauce with short rib, meatballs, sausage and whatever other scraps are around the kitchen. Thick (too thick!), and overly flavored with pepperoni, the meats were ruined and after 2 bites you were full. The pasta varies with each night, but the wide tube noodle I had was thick like gnocchi and overcooked. It was heavy and filling, but not in a good way, after 2 bites, it was like eating oatmeal. The food comes out when ready, encouraging you to share, but the pace is all over with 3 dishes arriving at a time, and then 20 minutes till another single dish. It just doesn't have the pace or flow of a traditional tapas place but none of the benefits of a family style service at many smaller Italian places. Overall, this place is a continuing disappointment. I had hoped that my previous visit was an off night and that on a Saturday night, they would be bringing their A-Game; instead I found one of the most disappointing meals I've had this year. I would have rather had a can of Chef-Boy-R-Dee. My Italian guest commented "I never thought I'd say I'd rather be eating at Maggiano's", so take my comments with a grain of salt and eat here at your own risk.
(1)Elizabeth S.
Little Nonna's is truly a gem. The atmosphere is adorable, the food is amazing (you will not leave hungry), and the service is wonderful. One of my favorite things about LN are those hand bottled cocktails! This place is very special-- whether for a date night or small group. I recommend the meatballs (obv), wild mushroom arancini (omg), garlic bread, stracciatella, and now my mouth is watering.
(5)Erica T.
Little nonnas is a small and quant restaurant. The service was ok, i wouldn't say my best or worse experience. Our server seemed distracted and somewhat short with my party when we was serving us. My bf heard her even say "oh boy, these guys are probably going to be hard to deal with", this was just bc when we were done eating we stack the dishes together for her to take away. Anyways, the food was pretty good. I dont think its was amazing but it wasn't that bad. For starters we had the mussels and the gnocchi. The mussels were good but the gnocchi was amazing. Thats definitely something I'd order again. For entrees we had the pork chop, the lobster spaghetti, the chicken and the sunday gravy. My bf said the pork chop was delicious. I had the lobster spaghetti, i thought it was ok but the lobster was a little cold and the pasta was a little too aldente for me. My sister had the chicken which she said was good but the vegetables that were served with it was way to charred for her. My brother in law had the sunday gravy which was just a side of pasta and a bowl of spaghetti sauce on top of meats. He said it was good and filling. So overall the dinner was alright but no it hasnt made its way on to my need to dine at places in philadelphia.
(3)Wonah S.
I have been dying to come to Little Nonna's for many of my friends had awesome experiences here. My friend and I came at the end of December and we decided to go all out. We ordered garlic bread, cauliflower piccata, arancini as our starter and then got gnocchi and its famous spaghetti and meatballs. My favorite for the night was cauliflower piccata. It was very interesting as I didn't know that vegetables can be cooked in that way and the consistency of the sauce went really well with the texture of cauliflowers. I overall really enjoyed dinner but I personally did not really enjoy spaghetti and meatballs. The meatballs were very overwhelming and dry and the sauce lost its tomato flavor and was closer to barbecue sauce. It might be what it's supposed to be like but I definitely don't recommend it to someone who prefers soft and tender meatballs with more tomato-y sauce. I would definitely come again to try other options available!
(4)Gina D.
I recently went to Little's Nonna's for Center City restaurant week. I always love to try places I have never been during Restaurant week. The food was very good but nothing outstanding. The issue I have an what is making me write a review are three issues things in particular. 1:) We had bread put on our table. There were three of us and they put three pieces of bread in a bowl, when I asked for more, the waitress looked annoyed and then when I got the bill I was actually charge two dollars for more bread, which is ridiculous. 2.) I asked about the blood orange water ice dessert, I was told its really ripe and refreshing and its really just blood orange water ice.... Well, when I got my water ice, It was so disgusting.... It had olive oil and basil in it. The waitress never told me that during the initial description. It's really gross. 3.) Once we were done eating the dessert, we really felt like we were being rushed out of the restaurant. This is very common at barbuzzo, here and other restaurants of the same owner. We were asked to or three times if we wanted to pay. That shouldn't be. So we walked around the block and had more drinks elsewhere. I hate feeling rushed and do not think a restaurant should make someone feel like they want them to leave. Because of my experience I would not go back and the food was really just ok.
(3)Ann V.
Dinner at Little Nonna's was phenomenal. The boyfriend and I came here last night due to restaurant week but we actually wandered off and ordered off their regular menu instead. Everything we had was great. - Garlic bread - loved that I was able to spread the roasted garlic onto the already flavorful bread. Made it extra delicious. - Escarole salad - I love any salad that has fruit and cheese in it. - Meatballs - they were bigger than I expect. Was definitely one of my faves of the night. - Linguine Vongole - it was pretty good but i've had better. It's usually my go to dish at any italian restaurant. - Lemon Chicken - I usually hate chicken. It's my least favorite thing to ever eat but they did a really great job. They have changed the way I look at chicken forever. Mmm... - Tiramisu - this was not on the regular menu and was only offered for the resteraunt week folks but with request, we were able to have some. BEST EVER! They really need to get this on the menu asap. I had a wonderful time and really enjoyed my night. Oh and if it's nice out, request to sit outdoors. It's way cute out there.
(5)Shannon P.
The food enthusiast boo of mine planned a reservation weeks in advance for opening night of Little Nonna's. Unfortunately I reap the yelp rewards, but the previous sentence credits the discovery all to him. The restaurant is cozy and cute without being overbearingly grandmotherly. Two tiered wall shelves filled with thrifty flea marketed tea cup towers and blue milk glass surround the dining room, food is served on mismatched china...it's like you're at Nonna's. Our order consisted of the shaved salad, meatball appetizer, baked shell entree, and braceola entree (which I pronounced "brack-ee-ol-ah" and was immediately corrected by too cool for school boo...it's pronounced "brah-jzoohl"). By far the best part our meal was the meatballs. Stuffed with fontina cheese and served with homemade "gravy" they were a big and satisfying appetizer. If you like them so so much, you can get them on top of spaghetti as an entree. The shaved salad was a perfect accompaniment highlighted with shreds of pecorino. I hadn't had stuffed shells out at a restaurant before so I was excited to see Marcie's take on them. Her take? One massive sized stuffed shell served with lamb neck ragu, ricotta, and the freshest mint pesto I've ever had. The shell came from South Philly so we can't hold Marcie responsible for the hard outer edge that sometimes comes from cooking your shells too long. Aside from some crispy exteriors, we were happy with our order. The braceola was more sausage like than we expected and served with a salty delicious broccoli rabe. We were pretty full by the time we dug into that and I ate the rest for lunch the following day. For desert we were adventurous and ordered the tomato water ice served with basil ice cream. It was fun to eat, but it's not that sweet (hey I rhymed!). It tastes like tomatoes as the name might hint, but when combined with the basil cream it's ridiculous. I felt like I was tasting the smell of when I stick my face into my tomato plant on my deck. Because I do this. Because it smells so freaking good. I want to go back and try the Caesar salad and the Vongole, which scared me at first because it's served with open full cherry stone clams - but in fact they are not that large. Little Nonna's is a great take on Italian and makes good traditional date with little opportunities to take food risks. Plus the outdoor seating is romantically lit and private. Check it out!
(5)Lindsay H.
Finally, the day has come! I have been waiting for the opening of little Nonna's for some time and let's just say...the ladies of thirteenth street have done it yet again. This upscale italian "red sauce" restaurant is everything you want it to be. Quaint, delicious, inviting, and homey without feeling too much like you're in someone's living room. The food is generally meant to share so that's what my table of four did. To start, I will say, I was not crazy about the drinks. They don't have a full bar and I didn't love my cocktail....next time, I'll stick to wine. I get that it's a small place but still. That being said, we started our first course with the roasted fig bruschetta with Gorgonzola, the meatballs, the garlic bread, the mozzarella and the grilled caesar. I mean, everything was great. There wasn't one dish I didn't love. The standouts for me were the meatballs, the brushcetta and the mozzarella and basically all of the bread I ate during the meal. I will say, you can not go with out ordering these meatballs. They're made with pork, beef, veal, stuffed with fontina and absolutely heaven. Order them. For the next course, we tried the vongole, the spaghetti and meatballs (clearly we need more meatballs) and the braciole. I loved all of the dishes but the braciole was unbelievable. It was so tender, I didn't even need a knife to cut through the pork. I'm still in shock over that. How did they get it THAT tender? I would definitely order that again. By that point, we were all stuffed and satisfied beyond our wildest dreams that the only answer is to come back and try the rest of the amazing looking menu. Philly needed an amazing upscale red sauce place and lets just say they've got it now!
(4)Kim S.
Garlic bread is a must. There are lots options on their menu it was hard to decide but honestly there wasn't anything we weren't unhappy with. A cute, intimate restaurant, if they allow you to go upstairs to their patio seating get a table there bc it is adorably quaint! Some of their pasta dishes were not sauced enough for me as well as on the chewy side but overall really good.
(4)S W.
Cozy place. Excellent Italian fare. We has the antipasto, linguini with clams, and Sunday gravy. All were very good. Nice valpolcella wine as well, I thought the wine was a bit pricey for what it was at $50 per bottle. Service was outstanding. Friendly and attentive waitress had good recommendations. Highly recommended.
(5)Emma S.
My fiance and I ate here last night and fell in love with Little Nonna's. We sat outside in the corner seat and it was so cozy and romantic. We shared the antipasta special that was literally mouthwatering-ly tasty. I had the spaghetti and meatballs which were amazing (and I'll be eating it all weekend :-)) and my fiance had the Linguine Alle Vongole that was absolutely delicious. We had absolutely wonderful customer service and enjoyed every single minute of being there. We were celebrating our "one year to wedding" date and I can't imagine spending it anywhere else. They even gave us a complimentary glass of champagne because they knew we were celebrating. Such a lovely touch and was very appreciated! Absolutely incredible food, customer service and ambiance- even the bathroom was perfect! We will be back very soon!!
(5)Kim L.
This cute little Italian-American spot has it all: great-for-sharing small plates, a cozy atmosphere, outdoor seating, and creative and yummy cocktails! Considering that it just opened last Wednesday, I was impressed by how well-run it already was - service was spot-on and the plates came out quickly, as they were ready (as we were told they would)! They have a quaint little backyard garden with white lights hanging overhead, that seats about 40 for walk-in patrons. The seating is in between buildings, so there is no street noise - quiet and comfortable! Their cocktails come pre-bottled so the flavors can all mix together. I had the amaro y dulce - citrus vodka, campari, aperol, grapefruit juice, lemon, and basil syrup. It was light and refreshing. My dining partner had the don pompelo, which was a bit more boozy but still delicious, a mix of rum, grapefruit cello, luxardo maraschino liquor, and fresh lime. Our waitress suggested ordering 2 plates per person, so my DP and I shared 4 plates and were stuffed afterwards. I wish I would have saved room for dessert, but there's always next time! Food: Wild mushroom arancini - this was hands down our favorite dish and next time we might order two of this plate! The textures and flavors of the mushroom and risotto, combined with the crunchy breadcrumbs on the outside... still thinking about it. Good thing there were an even number (four) or I'm pretty sure we would have fought over it! B+V+P (beef, veal, pork) meatballs - two big, flavorful meatballs stuffed with fontina cheese and served with light marinara and polenta. Eggplant parmesan - served as two long, thin slices of eggplant and covered with creamy pesto, marinara, and burrata cheese. Delicious. Nonni's stuffed shell - the biggest stuffed shell I've ever seen, packed to the brim with ricotta, lamb, and roasted celery root. We were so full by this point that we struggled to finish it! There's still so much on the menu that I want to try. Can't wait to come back, absolutely delicious!
(4)Dredge K.
Plusses: it's a very small space so the ambiance is quaint and charming, i especially liked the opening plates that reminded me of my childhood they have many wine bottles at $40 our server was super sweet and was helpful in suggesting wine based on what we ordered, we also did not feel rushed overall, i found the prices reasonable, it was about $90 per person with 3 courses, wine, and cocktails Wishes: among our ten savory dishes only one stood out: the beet salad appetizer i found the restaurant too dark. which might be nice for a romantic dinner, but i was with a group of 5. i thought that my swordfish on skewers looked like tofu in the low lighting the mussels were good but tiny the eggplant parmigiana was an elegant, pared down version of italian mall food i loved as a child, but could be better if the dish was made even lighter (both the fried eggplant and the tomato sauce) their chicken under a brick was not as good as my own, and half of the potatoes that came with it were so charred i wondered if they were grape leaves (they were literally blackened shards) Other Annoyances: we were hosting guest lecturers for a local college and used the tax exempt credit card from the school that they did not accept (first time ever a restaurant did not accept a tax exempt credit card with the tax exempt number printed on it in philly) they asked us to put our umbrellas in a tub at the front and they went missing
(1)Cara F.
We stumbled on on friday night. Amazingly, there were seats at the chef's bar. It's a very pretty space. Smaller than their other restaurants. The music was exactly at the right volume. you can hear it, but you can hear each other. First: for the love of god- skip the weird "sazerac". they have pre-bottled cocktail's in cute soda bottles. I'm not sure what I was served, but it tasted like bad cough syrup mixed with Mountain Dew. Stick with the Montepulciano and you'll be fine. Next- get the meatballs. I don't even love meatballs, but these babies were tender- not overly compressed, and came with a delicious ooze of fontina in the middle. The sauce is really perfect. What is not perfect is that they don't serve bread. They can "sell" it to you ( the waiters words). thank you Mr really nice chef behind the counter. He noticed my displeasure and comped me 2 slices. Next- the most delicious eggplant parm I ever ate. I honestly wanted to lick the plate. Then we had a well composed salad involving grilled broccoli raab and polenta croutons. not overdressed or underdressed. just right. At this point, we were full. 2 apps and a salad. save your money and stop there. it's enough. but we had ordered a mixed grill of head-on shrimp, swordfish, spicy sausage and cannellini. really lemony and bright. Believe me- I enjoyed for breakfast and lunch on saturday. Yup- we'll go back.
(4)Dianne L.
They added tax 10% (actually it should be 8%) and tips 20% automatically. And they didn't try to explain the way of calculation when we had troubles. I don't know why they did it but including me, my friends were upset. I felt I was swindled by them. Even though food was nice, I'm still really really upset.
(1)Barbara F.
Just ate there last night and already plotting when is the soonest I can go back. First of all, the interior was decorated on the perfect cusp of pretty, kitsch, and authentic. We had to wait maybe 10-minutes or so for our table to be ready -- which frankly I enjoyed bc it was so fun checking out the decorations -- and once we were seated we were given a complimentary order of the roasted bread with mozzarella.Apparently this was an apology from the hostess for having to wait. ?!?!?!? We've waited 15x as long elsewhere, and not even given the word "sorry". Yes, the appetizer was delicious, but we also were surprised at the gesture when the wait wasn't even bad. So I guess, that's my round-about way of saying the service was fantastic. Three of us shared the (starter bread and mozzarella) eggplant parm, mussels, sunday gravy, spaghetti and meatballs, and under-brick chicken, and it was all FANTASTIC. The biggest problem was that my stomach couldn't hold more food. (This ultimately ended up as a plus though, because this led to left-overs, which then led to an again-delicious breakfast.) I seriously was pleasantly surprised at how good it was here, and am jealous of Valerie and Marcie's foresight and execution.
(5)A M.
It took me a while, but I finally got a reservation here for two people - I made the reservation 4 days before the date I wanted to go and still had limited options for times available. It was worth the wait and frustration. I got the Shaved Salad, Nonni's Stuffed Shell, Broccoli Rabe and the Blood Orange - Basil - Olive Oil Water Ice. All were very good. My dad got the Baby Gem Caesar, the Linguine Vongole and the Milk & Cookies for dessert. Everything was delicious and our only complaint is that the pastas may have had slightly too much salt! I really liked the water ice - it was very refreshing! And the "milk" was yummy too! I would definitely get the stuffed shell again! We sat next to the window, which was by the front door and I was surprised how warm I was! And the service was great! The other thing I'm not thrilled with is that my dad's main dish came out first and he was almost done by the time I got mine! I would highly recommend this place, especially for a romantic date night! I can't wait to go back again.
(4)Johan W.
I took my girlfriend for dinner here and the place is great for a date. I don't really like Italian food, but this place was great. The sunday gravy. Get it. Great addition to the Marcie Turney and Valerie Saftran empire.
(5)Lauren M.
So. Delicious. Made a reservation for a Monday night @ 1830. Table was ready upon arrival. Menu: Sicilian Rum Punch and Sgroppino for beverages, B+V+P meatballs and Straciatella Mozzerella for appetizers, Sunday Gravy and Pork Chop Pizzaiola for entrees, and Tiramisu for dessert. Meal was outstanding from start to finish, service was prompt and attentive. Entrees were sent out early and we received an unprompted comp of our dessert. Portions were huge, as we had enough for dinner @ home for the following night.
(5)Monava C.
Amazingly flavorful. I've had lunch twice and plan to enjoy dinner there, very very soon. I must try everything on the menu.
(5)Michele F.
Nice little place with outdoor seating. Went early on a recent Friday night. Sat outside in the courtyard. Nice area deocorated to look like Nonna's backyard with her "laundry" hanging from a clothesline on the wall. Prices are reasonable for a center city restaurant. We got the antipasto platter (where the chef makes the selections) and it was delicious! Also highly recommend the garlic bread. It's simple but perfectly done. I could have made a meal of it and a glass of wine. Hubby had seafood and said it was good. I had the spaghetti and meatballs and although good, it had a slight "burnt" taste to it (I think another reviewer also commented on this) which I was not a fan of. Service was very good until the very end when it got a little slow when the restaurant became busy. Would definitely recommend. Great place to eat before the theater.
(4)Katie P.
The ambiance of this restaurant is fantastic. The decor is really adorable, and it feels really inviting. The service was also excellent. We were seated near the door to the garden, which kept opening and closing, letting in a lot of cold air. Without us saying anything, they comped us not one, not two, but THREE free desserts! We had the apple crostata, pumpkin spice cake, and hazelnut cannoli. Everything tasted amazing, but the apple crostata was especially good. The combination of apple/thyme/vanilla/pecorino was never something I would've put together, but it worked so well. Other standouts include the meatball appetizer (OMG) and the grilled bread. Our main dishes were good (Sunday gravy and rigatoni con zucca) but surprisingly not the highlights. Given the service, atmosphere, and meatballs though, we'll definitely be back!
(4)Irene G.
Outstanding! Our friends had come here before and suggested it as our meal before seeing Alton Brown. The menu has a little bit for everyone and it was incredible! We sat outback which they had covered and had those outdoor heaters. Beautiful setting and warm. We started with the white bean bruschetta, straciatella, mussels (you can't miss the mussels) and shaved brussel sprouts salad. We also had one of every cocktail and they are delicious. Our mains were grilled swordfish (my husband can't wait to go back for this), casarecce (pork cheek), rigattoni con zucca, and the gnocci. They were a great size (not ridiculous, thank you!) and every bite was delicious. Dessert - pumpkin spice cake (too good to share), blood orange basil sorbet, tiramisu (wow!) and hazelnut cannoli. Everything was delicious, it's impossible to recommend just one. Can't wait to go back!
(5)Lay M.
I came here for my birthday and fell in love the cute cozy place. The food was delicious. I definitely recommend to try out the Sunday gravy.
(4)Joshua W.
Went and tried the spaghetti and meatballs...awesome! great sauce and really great meatballs stuffed with cheese really made this, usually boring, dish something special. not too expensive and a pretty decent wine list...going to make it the new regular italian spot
(5)Tracy S.
I loved this place & no joke, they seriously have the best croutons EVER! These croutons were amazing little bites of fresh baked cheese-filled garlic bread goodness. My mouth is watering thinking about them. The polenta is absolutely outstanding & you must have the meatballs appetizer, they're classic Sunday Gravy Italian with an original twist. The service is also stellar! Nonna's has become extremely popular, rightfully so, but with that comes crowds, the restaurant itself is on the smaller side & is a little cramped; I wouldn't even say it's a negative, It actually adds to the overall vibrant, homey Italian ambiance. I really felt like I was at my Great Nonna's as a child for Sunday dinner. We can't wait to go back!
(5)Anisha C.
Ah the empire. Little Nonnas in my opinion in the cream of the 13th-street crop. Came here for the first time in summer, and just recently for restaurant week, and really enjoyed myself both times. Summer eating is optimal with the outdoor patio that is tucked away behind the restaurant - to not hear any outside street noise and covered in twinkly lights. The ambiance is that of a small Italian grandmothers home, from the decor of aprons and old photos, to the perfectly mismatched and used silverware and plates, you can see that everything has been thought about. Much appreciated! Food highlights : my god, the arancini balls. The small bites they bring out before your actual meal - grilled bread, with fresh pulled mozzarella, olives, and so many other treats. Gnocci! And I had the apple crumble for dessert - absolutely divine. Another addition to the list of places in the Philly food rotation!
(4)Reba K.
a friend and i came for lunch and got the b+v+p meatballs antipasti, the favas + pecorino insalata, and roast pork + sharp sandwich. my favorite thing was the polenta that came with the b+v+p meatballs; creamy, cheesy, pillowy. however, the tomato sauce that was poured all over the dish was entirely too overpowering for the delicacy of the polenta, and the meatballs were the biggest disappointment - chunky and dry. the flavor of the salad was acidic and wonderful, but the ingredients were not very well-balanced: there were not enough leafy greens for the harder elements of the dish (cheese cubes, fava beans, english peas). the pork in the sandwich was very tender, but the french fries they were served with were so salty i felt positively offended. the worst part of the meal were the huge fleas in the restaurant that kept flying around our food. it was impossible to eat in peace. someone needs to show the owner the apple cider vinegar in a bottle trick.
(3)Emily S.
Sunday. Gravy. Little Nonna's makes this amazing, slow cooked Sunday dinner style mix of fresh pasta, broccoli rabe, slightly spicy red gravy, meatballs, sausage and brisket. I literally dreamed about eating the leftovers! My husband had spaghetti, which was homemade and delicious, and we had a great, not-very-overpriced bottle of wine. Service was excellent: friendly and unpretentious. Ambience is lovely -- not too squeezed in. We were really happy with Little Nonna's and will definitely return. Highly recommended!
(5)J G.
Kaylee was wonderful, friendly, great suggestions, there when we needed her. Food great- Loved the seafood grill.
(5)Briana C.
Great atmosphere, service, and food. I could eat the fresh pulled mozzarella and fava beans every day. The arancini was perfectly crispy and creamy. We got the Sunday Gravy and gnocchi as entrees. My partner loved all of the meat in the Sunday Gravy - the sausage, brisket, and meatball. I actually only thought the meatball was remarkable and could have done without the brisket and sausage but heavy meats are not really my thing. The gnocchi were the best I've ever eaten - they were pan seared and browned on the outside but were so soft and delicious. The blood orange-basil-olive oil sorbet was the perfect ending - very unique flavors. The only thing I though were meh were the cocktails - but I've never particularly liked the cocktails at any of the Turney-Safran restaurants. 3 cocktails + 2 appetizers + 2 entrees + 1 dessert came out to about 100 bucks, well worth every penny. I can't wait to go back.
(5)Jim R.
This was our second visit and it was as enjoyable as the first. The first time around was in warmer weather and we had dinner on the outback patio. It's a very nice setting and all 4 of us enjoyed what we chose that night. This time around, it being November, the patio was closed and the 2 of us had the table by the window where we got both a view of Locust street as well as the entire restaurant and again, the food was fantastic. The room has a very cozy atmosphere and the staff very friendly and helpful. Thinking that what we were going to order would be large portions, we passed on appetizers and just had entrees. The "Sunday Gravy" was slowly simmered pork braciole; a meatball stuffed with cheese along with hot fennel sausage in a san marzano marinara. It was served with a flat wide pasta which we had never seen before. The flavors were bold but not overpowering and were delicious. I chose one of that nights specials - the Mixed Seafood Grill, which had toothpick-skewered Swordfish and Sausages surrounded by Grilled Calamari, large Head-on Shrimp over a Tuscan bean salad with kale (?) leaves. It was very very good. With an order of toasted garlic bread and 2 beers, the bill came to around $70 before tip. Be sure to make reservations. We were there on a Sunday night and every table was taken the entire time we were there. Walk-ins had to be turned away. We will definitely be going back again - and we were correct about only ordering the entrees, we had enough leftovers for lunch the next day.
(4)Beth K.
As long as you can sit in the back garden, this place gets 5 stars just for atmosphere - the fact that the food is so delicious is almost a bonus. But it is delicious: comfort food meets creative cuisine. I've been twice and have had terrific service both times - friendly, attentive waitresses. I just wish they had a wider vegetarian selection - the veggie small plates were delicious, but there aren't enough of them to go more than once in a while.
(5)Jeff D.
I travel to Philadelphia regularly and I always eat here, sometimes on more than one night. It is that good. I am an "0ut of town regular". Highly recommend.
(5)Barrett L.
Little Nonna's, the newest addition to the Safran/Turney mini-empire, occupies the former Fish space on 12th. Less buzzy and more intimate than it's noisy sister Barbuzzo, Little Nonna's pays homage to the classic pasta-and-red sauce dishes of Italian Grandmothers everywhere. The menu mixes classic standbys like Spaghetti and Meatballs and Linguine Vognole with contemporary plates such as Pear and Beet Salad and Negroni Glazed Lamb Ribs. The low lighting and cozy setting make the space feel smaller than it should be (space is already at a premium), but the food more than makes up for the experience. Coming here with the BF and his family, we started with the Pear and Beet Salad as well as a special appetizer (Mozzarella in Pesto with Pepperoni). The salad was light and delightful, while the mozzarella was dripping in oil, rich with flavor, and perfect for sopping up with the grilled bread. For dinner, the BF and I split the Sunday Gravy (rigatoni in red sauce served with a variety of meats that had been simmering in the same sauce) and Squid Ink Cavatelli. The meats, a combination of pork shoulder, sausage, and the cheese-filled beef-pork-veal meatballs, were incredibly juicy and flavorful, although a bit heavy on the salt. The lighter seafood pasta, in comparison, was the perfect foil to the heavy red sauce. Perfectly al dente pasta in a light oil-based sauce with grilled calamari rings to boot. The service was a bit slow and the kitchen may have been a little heavy handed on the salt, but overall the food is solid and pretty representative of the Safran/Turney style. It's a nice place for a date, an intimate group dinner, or even pre-theater. On the whole, a nice addition to the neighborhood and sure to make good use of the location.
(4)Mimi W.
I went here with my boyfriend for my birthday dinner. Service was good but food was okay. We ordered an appetizer of meatballs, which were delicious. I had the linguine with clams which just tasted like a lot of butter and oil. My boyfriend had the veal and he said it was just okay. The tiramisu dessert was delicious. I think the inside of the restaurant is really cute but the food is just okay.
(3)Penelope M.
Was super excited to try this place & happened to get a reservation during restaurant week, score! There were 4 of us so we pretty much had everything on the restaurant week menu. The meatballs atop polenta was very flavorful although a bit too spicy for one in our party and I do like a bit of crunch on the outside of my meatball whereas these didn't have that but overall the flavor & portion size were spot on. The lemon chicken was hands down the best I have ever had, that and the tiramisu were my 2 favorites of the evening. Only complaint is regarding the pistachio cannolis, 2 in my party didn't like them at all and one is a pasty chef, she said the filling was too soft and whatever pistachio flavoring they used for the cream had too much of it which gave them a medicinal flavor. Will certainly be visting again soon.
(4)Tara S.
I chose Little Nonna's for my birthday dinner and I'm so glad I did. We requested to sit in the outside garden area, which was so cozy and romantic. The seating was a little tight so at times I felt like I was in my neighbor's conversation, but it wasn't such a big deal. We had the straciatella for an appetizer (fantastic), I had the meatballs and my partner had the gnocchi. As soon as our plates came out I had a serious case of food envy. The meatballs weren't bad but they weren't great - I probably wouldn't recommend them. For desert I had the warm cherry crumble, which was out of this world. My partner had the espresso soda float, which was interesting and really delicious. Overall, I'd love to come to this place again!
(4)Jay S.
Nice place located in the Gayborhood section of Philadelphia. Went there Saturday night with a party of four and had a great meal. Service was a little slow and server had little personality otherwise would have given a five star rating. While the menu was rather limited, the food was delicious. Our table ordered the gnocchi (home made), Sunday Gravey, meatball and palenta, eggplant, mushrooms, broccoli rabe, and deserts. Wine selection was good.
(4)Jean T.
Loved sitting in the covered patio!! The lights and decor were so cute. We ordered the spaghetti and meatballs and the rigotoni for dinner. The portions are HUGE. I feel like we could have just shared the spaghetti and meatballs instead of ordering two entrees. The butternut squash rigotoni was delicious, but I could only finish half. The meatballs were tasty, but I wouldn't call it the BEST. Had no room for dessert unfortunately because we were too full!
(4)Neil S.
My experience with Little Nonna's is limited to takeout during lunch, but this place earns four-stars for serving me one of the greatest chicken parmesan sandwiches I've had in quite some time. I called in an order around one and it arrived in my hands in seven minutes flat. Nonna's chicken pepperoni parmesan starts on a classic, butter-toasted Sarcone's roll that has a firm but yielding exterior crunch that gives way to a tender crumb. It's cut on a sharp diagonal and holds a comically large, rectangular cutlet of breaded chicken. The cutlet sprawls over the limits of the bread, which makes eating difficult, but is fried perfectly and is thus crispy and tender. Its breading carries ample seasoning and flavor. The "pepperoni marinara" sauce that gently blankets the cutlet strikes a great balance between tomato sweetness and cured meat spiciness. Crowning the whole creation are tender slices of pepperoni, toothsome roasted peppers, and a smattering of creamy, rich buffalo mozzarella. The latter ingredient is unusual enough on a $18 gourmet pizza, let alone an $11 low-rent favorite. A generous handful of garlic-parmesan fries accompanied the sandwich. Though a little limp from travel, the otherwise average fries benefited from a pleasantly savory kick from the grated cheese. The portion of the dish was huge; I am a big eater but could only down three-fourths of the monstrosity. Even that proportion of sandwich demanded a 30 minute post-meal nap. Split it with a friend if you have things to do afterwards. Though lack of sufficient funds bars me from dinner service at Little Nonna's, I eagerly anticipate trying more of this place's rather affordable lunch menu.
(4)Bri H.
The first (and maybe only) thing you need to know is that the meatballs are the best you'll ever eat (sorry vegetarians!). Little Nonna's is super cute and cozy. My party of 4 had a reservation for 9:30pm on Saturday and we did have to wait a bit for a table. It was cold out so we kind of awkwardly stood in the doorway with the other people waiting for their tables. Luckily the food made up for this. Aside from the amazing meatballs, we started out with some garlic bread (whose main purpose was to sop up all the delicious red sauce & oozing fontina cheese from the meatballs). I chose the ravioli with braised duck for my entree & I got to sample the fusili, swordfish piccata and Sunday Gravy. The Sunday Gravy with braciole was probably my favorite. Although everything here is good, I think the red sauce dishes are the best. I topped off my meal with the pumpkin canolli, which satisfied both my cannoli craving and fall dessert craving. I'm sure I'll return to Little Nonna's, and this time I'm not sharing those meatballs!
(4)Rebecca S.
This is one of those places where it doesn't even matter what you order because everything on the menu is exceptional. Great for summer time dining as there is indoor and outdoor seating. The service was spot on. Knowledgeable staff, attentive and friendly. I felt very comfortable, while still enjoying the upscale environment. It's my new favorite restaurant in Philly. I would recommend this place to anyone.
(5)Steve I.
I would like to list the highlights of our meal then deal with some of the things that resulted in the three star rating. The service was excellent. Friendly and attentive throughout the evening. The water glasses were always full, the food arrived quickly the table was cleared and cleaned after each course. The antipasti were clearly the hit of the night and had we stopped with them this would be a five star rating. The wild mushroom Arancini were delicious. Crisp and tasty with the truffle aioli. The lamb ribs in a honey balsamic glaze with fruit could not have been better, meaty and moist. Now for some of the misses. My Negroni served in a small Mason jar with a giant ice cube was watery and tasteless. The shaved salad was a great idea with fennel celery root and Brussels sprouts had a heavy hand with the Lemon juice. The following items suffered from too much salt: the Stracciatella, the Sunday gravy and the Lemon Chicken entrees. Also , please do not charge for bread in this type of setting, it distracts from the Nonna atmosphere. For dessert the Apple crostata was outstanding and the Cannoli were crunchy and filled with the Pumpkin filling an excellent seasonal treat. There are so many choices for this type of food in the city who do it better. Sorry but I don't think we will return.
(3)Jaclyn B.
The service was very good. Unfortunately, I didn't enjoy one dish. The broccoli rabe was far too bitter for my liking. I know broccoli rabe is bitter by nature, but it was pungent. The bruschetta was so oily. The spaghetti and meatballs were cooked wonderfully, but had an extremely surprising, and unwelcoming smokey flavor. This restaurant could be pretty great, with the romantic ambiance....However, the food and drinks seem to be trying way too hard to be different. Everything was VERY fragrant and SALTY. I don't get the amazing reviews? I suppose the food and drink could just not be my taste?
(2)Elizabeth B.
YUM. This romantic spot fed me twice in one week and I walked away stuffed and satisfied each time. I first went for a friend's birthday dinner, and then again later that week with my mom. The restaurant is warm, dark, and unpretentious. While romantic, it's fairly small and the tables are close together, so don't expect privacy. Top picks on the menu include nearly everything I tried: garlic bread, stracciatella & Italian olives, wild mushroom arancini, the shaved salad, fusili de pretti, and the tiramisu. I also tried the gnocchi off my friend's plate, and while delicious, I don't think I could handle that entire buttery plate as my entree. I actually think that the arancini and the fusili - which I had at both meals - seemed better the second time around, although that might have something to do with the lower alcohol intake on that latter date. I'd recommend going for the wine over their pre-bottled cocktails :) Our server (the same both times) was well-versed on the menu and knowledgeable about their wines. Definitely call ahead for a reservation as this place fills up!
(4)Emily H.
Did not disappoint. Heard great things about this place and was so excited. We went prior to a Book of Mormon performance. The place was hopping at 530 on a Tuesday! The bar situation was a little unusual but the drinks were delicious. We started with the arancini which is the best thing I have had in several months. Everyone at the table enjoyed it. They were really rich so the portion was perfect. We also had garlic bread with an entire head of roasted garlic. It was delicious and the presentation was nice. Also tried the fig and gorg bruschetta that was very good along with the mussels that were huge. The portions after apps left us stuffed even before dinner. The two pasta dishes we had, gnocchi and cavatelli were both okay. A little under seasoned. The eggplant parm was delicious and the presentation was great. My dad ordered the Sunday gravy. It was delicious. He said the short ribs were a little tough but the sauce and meat were amazing. Overall we loved it and will be back!
(5)Amber T.
Tried out Little Nonna's with a friend on Friday. I was excited to try it based on glowing recomendations it had been given by friends. To be honest, I was mostly unimpressed. The place is definitely small and LOUD. you're practically sitting on top of each other. I'm glad I wasn't on a date. The menu isn't large and the entrees all start at $16. They serve some alcohol and also let you B.Y.O.B. BUT they charge a $25 uncorking fee which I think is outrageous. We got an order of the garlic bread as an app which was yummy. My friend got the "Sunday Gravy" which was a little pricier but def delicious! I got the shrimp and linguine but without the jalopenos and it was exactly what I wanted. We also put a lot of consideration into getting the spaghetti and meatballs which looked and smelled great as well. We looked at the dessert menu but decided not to get anything. They tried to put a twist on a lot of Italian classics that made them not sound so appealing. I was also disappointed they didn't have any type of coffee on the dessert menu. Overall, the service was friendly and good. The food was very yummy I was just slightly disappointed by the limited selection and noise level. Especially for the price.
(3)Rae P.
This is a fantastic addition to the Turney/Safran empire, one I am happy to support wholeheartedly. Is a lot of the food sort of heavy and indulgent? Yes. Will you leave emanating the scent of garlic, which may last for days? Probably. Is it worth it? Yes. My favorite item on the menu is probably the Shrimp Scampi - luscious head-on prawns with white beans in a garlicky sauce that you HAVE to sop up with extra bread. Wow. Second to that is the classic Spaghetti and Meatballs. It's comforting and it's done right, with a little hidden molten center of fontina in the meatballs and perfect al dente pasta smothered in Sunday Gravy. The only thing I ordered that left me disappointed was the polenta with mushrooms: surprisingly one-note, I found it really unexciting to have a totally earthy-tasting dish without any kind of complementary flavors. All in all, this place makes a really wonderful spot to indulge in comfort food and catch up over a delicious Negroni. The backyard, decorated with tumbling vines and Nonna's slips on a laundry line, is open for walk-ins, and even has larger tables for a group of more than 4.
(4)Jacki G.
Eh. I was overhyped to try here, and was slightly disappointed. The place is incredibly small, and I knew it wasn't going to be the best dining experience when we were sat by the draft of the open door which rushed in the cold January air. Cocktail: the sgroppino was fabulous! The sorbet was so fresh and flavorful. Very string too! Apps: the garlic bread was yummy! Nothing phenomenal but good. The fig bruschetta was great too, but I wasn't a fan of how overwhelming the Gorgonzola was. It took away from the other flavors of the dish. The arancini were meh; rather bland and flavorless. It almost tasted frozen to me; it was definitely the loser of the night. The fresh mozzarella was the star of the night: creamy, salty, briney goodness. It literally melted in my mouth. We each had a pasta dish. The gnocchi were yummy; I loved the crunchiness that came from the pan sear. The fusili were ok; I'm just not a big fan of oily sauces. The spaghetti and meatballs were great, though. The portion was gigantic; however, I was a bit surprised that the meatball tasted more like hot Italian sausage than a classic meatball. The service was great, though. Our server was knowledgable, personable and friendly. I usually never leave a restaurant like this stuffed, but I felt like I was going to explode when we were done eating. $100 for three people including drinks is a great price, too. You really get a lot of food for a fair price. Don't get me wrong, it was good, but I felt like the food here was oversold and under delivered. I guess I expected more from this empire (I could eat at Barbuzzo daily!) Would I return? Highly unlikely. There are just too many other choices in Philly which are equivalent in price that have much more to offer.
(2)Jules C.
The food was delicious and the service was attentive. Neither of which were surprising. The reason for the 4 stars instead of 5 was due to the fact that we sat in the "garden" and sweated out the meal. The solarium like seating area has a heavy acrylic cover of some sort that would apparently allow for seating in rain or adverse weather but it was a beautiful night to sit in a garden and our table probably downed a case of water in our time there to stay hydrated. Hopefully they rethink that soon.
(4)Brandon K.
It's a rather small place but I like the atmosphere. The server wasn't bad but not great. We had the STRACIATELLA for an app. The cheese and olives were good but the bread really tasted kind of burnt. The Ceasar salad was recommended to us by our cab driver and it was actually very good. The croutons are not what you expect and they are amazing. I had the spaghetti and meatballs for dinner and I was let down. I've had the meatballs from Barbuzzo (which they also own) and they are amazing but these were dry and over cooked. The sauce was also kind of dry and had a very smokey flavor which I didn't expect. It was like pulled pork in red sauce and I didn't see or taste any basil. My girlfriend had the ORECCHIETTI. It had good flavor but the "house made duck sausage" was really nowhere to be seen. A friend had the Gnocchi and they were actually very good. Nice flavor and the ingredients complimented each other well. All in all the dinner was just Ok. I feel like Little Nonna's is trying too hard to be different rather than putting out better quality Italian food especially when asking $16 for spaghetti and meatballs.
(2)Ana L.
Absolutely gorgeous garden seating under the stars, and scrumptious Italian food. Had the cavatelli, spaghetti marinara, gnocchi, shrimp linguini as main dishes for our party. Dessert included cheesecake in a cute mason jar, tiramisu (with a kick of rum), and cookies with chocolate. Definitely not your run of the mill Italian fare!
(5)Karen B.
those who love heavy italian food will go crazy for little nonna's, but if you're lukewarm about italian cuisine (like i am), this place underwhelms. if i'm going to splurge on a mountain of calories, i want it to be worthwhile -- all the food here tastes good but leaves me feeling like i have a brick in my stomach and need to take a nice, long nap. i've eaten here twice in the past week and the mussels have stood out the most (i was bummed today to see that they aren't on the lunch menu). the italian wedding soup is good, but i'm a purist when it comes to wedding soup and this version is not traditional, so i was a little disappointed. the sgroppino knocked my socks off, as did the tiramisu. business is booming and it's cramped inside. on both occasions here i saw people struggling to get in and out of their seats (i felt especially bad for a woman who was using a walker today) -- so if you're not particularly nimble, this place could be uncomfortable for you.
(3)Anthony S.
I came to Little Nonna's for the first time shortly after it opened last year--I'm Italian and call my grandma Nonna, so I was emotionally invested in this place just based on the name. I enjoyed the experience so much that I wanted to come back this year for my birthday dinner. Of all the dishes I've had, the garlic bread is by far my favorite. A roasted head of garlic for you to schmear on perfectly grilled bread--nothing beats it. This past time I had the pan-seared gnocchi, which was very light and fluffy, but not very pan-seared. I expected there to be some sort of brown, crispy surface to the gnocchi, but that was missing entirely. Still delicious, but a misleading name to the dish. For desert we split mascarpone cheesecake and the apple crostata, with the latter being my favorite of the two. I finished up with a cup of the La Colombe Corsica coffee, which was a little bitter even after added cream. Above all, the environment here is hard to beat. The inside is dark and quaint, and the garden is covered and has beautiful string lights overhead.
(5)Denise P.
Best Italian meal I've ever had! I'm a huge fan of Ralph's in south Philly, but this was amazing.....felt like I was in my grandmas kitchen! From the Arancini to the Sunday gravy to the cannolis it was outstanding!
(5)Anand S.
Awesome little Italian joint I got to experience when I visited Philly and would highly recommend it to anyone who's in town. I had the pici alla norma and it was just so well done. The sauce was one of the bests I've ever had and I will definitely make sure to come back next time I'm in town again
(5)Olivia R.
Little Nonna's was such a cute restaurant to come for restaurant week. The garden in the back was a wonderful place to spend an afternoon lunch. They have a clothesline and a beer garden table and benches that add authenticity to the atmosphere and make it seem like you are in someone's back yard in Europe. The food was very good. I particularly liked the ricotta stracciatella. The blueberry thyme water ice was more like sorbet but the flavors were unexpected and delicious. Fun atmosphere, great service, good food.
(4)Esther C.
I came here with my friend for dinner and was seated in the heated outdoor garden. When we first sat down we were on fire. We were sitting right next to the lamp and it was really hot an unpleasant. Our server came to greet us shortly and he was very nice and attentive. He asked if we wanted the heat lamp lower and we happily agreed. The garden had so much ambiance outside and is very romantic. We ordered the potato gnocchi, garlic bread, and BVP spaghetti and meatballs. The garlic bread and gnocchi was heavenly. It was very flavorful and delicious. Truffle butter is used in the gnocchi BVP stands for beef, pork, and veal. The BVP meatballs are featured in multiple parts of the menu, and as a non-veal eater it eliminated a few choices. I did try a bite from my friend's dish and when they are all combined the taste isn't as strong, but I definitely would not have ordered it on my own. It was pretty good like any other meatball would taste. For two people we were stuffed from our meal. After we paid, our server was attentive enough to offer us water again which was definitely appreciated. I would definitely go again.
(4)Amanda N.
Wow if I could rate that mussel dish alone.. it would be a 10 star dish. It's as if they knew I was coming and made the most heavenly dish to help me regain my will to eat after recuperating from a stomach virus. That appetizer was to die for.. mussels with an amazing spicy sauce plus corn, tomatoes, sausage, and tons of fresh herbs topped with a huge jalapeno. It was magnificient. Our main dishes were a bit too heavy and salty for us (the chicken and the sunday gravy) but I would come back for that appetizer and to try other dishes just to eat those heavenly mussels again in that cute patio. Such an amazing environment out there. It has a nice cover so don't be shy if the weather isn't perfect.. it's a must!
(4)Mindy L.
Soooooo good, best meatballs I have ever had, pasta was amazing and the tiramisu was off the hook! My new fave!
(5)Claudia L.
I have many Italian friens who are very picky about Italian restaurants. Little Nonna's was their favorite, expressed from a few. The service (our server was Kerry, wonderful girl!!) was great and timing was perfect. The decor and atmosphere is great. My friend and I sat at the Chef's counter which I think is the best seat in the house. I love cooking so watching the kitchen was like porn to me. The food was very good and had a beautiful presentation. However, although the menu struck every heart string in me, the overall taste was not as great as I had expected it to be. We ordered the White Bean Bruschetta which was good. I ordered the Grilled Seafood dinner. It was EXTREMELY over-salted. Almost to the point that I could not eat it. My friend ordered the meatballs with the Sunday gravy (she's Italian). She was disappointing. Dessert, however, was not disappointed. We ordered the Warm Pumpkin Spice Cake and the Apple Crostata. BOTH WERE AMAZING. At the end of the day, when it comes down to it, it's whether or not I tell friends "OMG you HAVE to go there!". Sadly, Little Nonna's didn't make the cut. I'm not saying I would never go back (say if I were invited for an occasion) but I would initiate or recommend going there. Perhaps the simplicity of true Italian cooking needs to be revisited. Don't fix what's not broke.
(3)Sara N.
I grasp the appeal of Little Nonna's (cozy ambiance, Sunday-at-grandma's comfort menu), but a lunchtime meal failed to impress me. The B+V+P meatballs were dry as they were flavorless, lying on top of the lukewarm gravy and polenta. The garlic bread (not complimentary, but an extra 5 bucks) and pan-seared gnocchi were adequate dishes, but not even close enough to tempt me for a return to Little Nonna's.
(2)Christina H.
Went to Little Nonna's on a Friday evening and was seated immediately on the patio. I love the ambiance of this restaurant - it's perfect for a date night. The menu is not very extensive, but offers variety. The portions are generous in size. The garlic bread was delicious. I ordered the Italian mixed grill for my entree and was not disappointed. For dessert I had the tiramisu and it was probably the best tiramisu I've ever had. I will definitely be back!
(5)Lauren C.
I love this place. My fascination begins with the decor; it looks just like my grandmothers house, only without the mothball smell, and much more organized and chic. I definitely get/appreciate what they were going for though. I came here a few weeks ago with some coworkers that were visiting town and wanted some good authentic Italian food, but they needed to pay with a credit card for the sake of the ol' expense report. This destination was perfect. One of my colleagues isn't a big fan of bold red wine, so our waitress helped us select a lighter pinot-noir-esque bottle that we scored for $40. We began with an order of the garlic bread to insure that there would be no post-dinner hook-ups (j/k- all committed ladies!) We also got an order of the straciatella which is buratta (cheese) and olives with some more bread. Together, the starters went together beautifully. From there, we branched out. I went for the linguine and clams. While I'm no expert on seafood, I could tell that the clams were slightly overdone. They were on the chewier side. Also, I wish my dish had some more sauce- while it had enough to coat the noodles, i would have liked to have had something left in my plate at the end. It was really light. That being said it was also pretty tasty and enjoyable. I would just order something different when i come back next time. It wasn't a deterrent to returning. We decided to pass on desert as we were all stuffed. That being said, it was a really garlicky and successful dinner for my colleagues and I. The service was great, the food was delicious, and the place couldn't have been cuter (or located more perfectly for a fun after-dinner cocktail).
(4)Dan S.
Wow! I'm surely impressed by Little Nonna's. I've been here a couple times now and can't get over how delicious everything was. You have to mention the atmosphere, the place is so intimate and plain cute. The inside is decorated perfectly and the outdoor garden is an escape from center city. To start off, you must get the garlic bread. Perfectly crunchy pieces of bread will arrive with a whole bulb of roasted garlic! Yum. They also have some delicious pastas including the casarecce with greens and pork cheek and the gnocchi with maitake. One of my favorite dishes was the Italian seafood grill. It consisted of a medley of fresh cooked seafood in salsa verde with beans. Don't forget to try a cocktail, they're oh so good!
(5)Kelsey D.
We sat outside in the garden with the most beautiful ambiance! The food was amazing especially the garlic bread and the eggplant parmesan. I would definitely recommend this place to anyone!
(5)Steve S.
Fantastic in every way. Our server Lydia was exceptional. The food was amazing: Shaved Root Salad - omg, one of the best salads ever, really that damn good. Garlic Bread - slightly better than mine - and mine is really good. Sautéed Brocoli Rabe w/ beans - really good. Pork Shank dish - so damn good. Spagetti and Meatballs - very unique flavors (smokey), tasted absolutely delicious! No surprise, but the girls have hit another home run. We've eaten in all of their establishments several dozen times - and you just can't get a bad meal. They clearly have a goal of excellence in everything they do - and every time we go they achieve that goal.
(5)Derek W.
I don't usually jump for Restaurant Week specials, as sometimes restaurants seem (oddly!) to resist putting their best foot forward for value seekers. Not so at Little Nonna's, which included most of the stars from their regular menu among the RW selections and turned out a panoply of tasty and inventive dishes that had us pining for our next visit. Sitting in the lush, atmospheric, enclosed garden, somewhat removed from the din of the Friday night rush, was quite delightful, as was our server, who apologized profusely that she could not accommodate a couple of fairly substantial substitutions on account of dietary restrictions. Even with a few limiting factors we found plenty to nosh on, starting with the hand-pulled mozzarella, olives, and grilled bread. The bread was a particular treat, all singed with smoky flavor from the fire. I ordered seconds. Our shaved salad was a big hit, and it presented an interesting challenge to pick out the blissfully subtle flavors imparted by the shaved radishes, celery root, and Brussels sprouts. It reminded me of how much fresh taste you get from thinly shaved vegetables and I appreciated the lightness of olive oil and lemon dressing and the not-to-light coat of crumbled locatelli. The heirloom tomato panzanella was a colorful bright red, purple, green, and white (from unadvertised beans) and contained soft croutons instead of torn bread and a solid dressing. Our entree was a masterfully prepared chicken under a brick ("al mattone," as the Italians say), the best way to keep skin crisp and flesh moist, and it worked beautifully. A heap of charred fingerling potatoes (white, purple, and sweet) made the dish a hearty, saline extravaganza. We brought perfect balance to our dessert course with one rich and one "light" choice. The tiramisu was a tad dry, but the espresso layer and the indulgent, coffee-infused mascarpone made up for it. The palate cleanser was a bowl of blood orange and basil water ice, an excellent night cap after a rich and robust meal. Little Nonna's is helmed by the same star chef/owner who brought Philly Barbuzzo, and it will be worth going back on a slightly less frenetic night to take in more of the scene and the savory food.
(4)Andrea D.
Wonderful Italian meal! We shared the Sunday gravy, spaghetti and meatballs and Italian grill. The entrees were superb. Tiramisu was fantastic service was great. Would highly recommend!
(5)Annie G.
Little Nonna's is incredibly charming and delicious. I went for restaurant week but I'm dying to go back and try everything on the menu. The arancini are awesome!! The string lights inside make for a very nice atmosphere, and there is a patio out back if you enjoy al fresco dining. Overall a great experience.
(5)Steven R.
Interesting place. Small and cozy. Smaller menu with old world Italian fare. It was very good. The meatball was great. I think it was fried, but it had a rich smoky taste. One of the best I have had. The broccoli range was salty but still good. My pork chop was excellent. It was an enjoyable meal and they had multiple Italian wines for 40 bucks a bottle.
(4)Sneha K.
I came here with a couple of friends for a Restaurant Week Lunch. We were seated in their outdoor garden area which was really cozy and quiet despite the construction happening next door. Could definitely be a great date spot! For the first course I tried the Stracciatella, which was bread with ricotta. I tried my friend's Wild Mushroom Arancini too which I thought was extremely delicious. For the entree, I ordered the Orecciette with feta and mushrooms. It was pretty good but not too impressive. For dessert, I ordered the Tiramisu which was served in a cup with whipped cream. I didn't quite enjoy it (I'm usually a huge Tiramisu fan). It was way too creamy with too little cake. It was also very heavy. Overall, the ambiance and service at Little Nonna's was A+ but the food was average.
(3)Joanne a.
My boyfriend and I were in the mood for Italian food and had no idea where to go as we were only visiting for the weekend. After sifting through the reviews on Yelp of other restaurants we finally settled on Little Nonna's. Little did we know we were in for a treat! The moment we walked in the place was PACKED; good sign of great food. We had made a reservation through Yelp so we did not have to wait to be seated. Our table was in the beautifully lit outdoor covered garden area; very romantic and very warm by the outdoor space heaters. We parked our car in the lot across the street and used ParkMobile (very expensive lot). If you can find street parking- DO IT! We ordered the garlic bread (a roasted garlic lover's dream), Little Gem Kales Caesar salad (polenta croutons were amazing), and Spaghetti & Meatballs dish. We shared all of the above and left very satisfied. This place is a must for date night!
(5)Beth K.
Great food for the price and a great date spot.
(4)Erin B.
Little Nonna's is a small Italian restaurant that feels like your grandmother's house, very kitchy with cute plates and vases and such all around the walls. i kind of wanted to take home all the little tchotchkes that were in the bathroom (which was also clean and cute and spacious). The atmosphere was nice, the service was great (our server was very friendly), and the food was delicious. we ordered only 2 dishes between 4 of us -the chicken and the Sunday gravy- but the Sunday gravy was the table favorite. The burrata appetizer was spectacular, and the white beans were also very tasty. There was not a bad thing that we ordered. The chicken dish was very moist and flavorful and not plain or simple at all. Everything was seasoned properly and bursting with flavor. We did take home leftovers because the portion sizes were large (although not too comically large that a reasonable person couldn't finish it). For dessert we ordered two things but i only remember the hazelnut cannoli which was mind blowing and i wish i could eat one every day of my life. forever. i did have to ask for water, like a hundred times. just a pet peeve of mine because i feel as though your glass should always be filled. especially when you ask again. and again.
(4)Anne K.
This place is SO cute - it definitely has a real cozy, homey kind of feel to it. I loved all the mismatched plates (that I'm sure were painstakingly selected) and the twinkling lights. My friend and I came here for dinner and we decided to share an app and an entree because we weren't feeling terribly hungry. Well guess what - we still had leftovers, because Little Nonna's is like that Italian grandmother you never had, who wants to make sure you're eating well because you've still got some inches to grow into. We had the mussels as our appetizer, which could easily be shared between 2-3 people. The broth had some heat to it and we were pleasantly surprised by how spicy it was. We also shared the spaghetti and meatballs, which was crazy delicious even a few days later after we nuked it in the microwave. The meatballs have a melted core of fontina cheese, which I really enjoyed.
(5)Amy P.
We dropped in on Little Nonna's a little past noon for their lunch special on a Saturday. Seating was plentiful in the 40-seat establishment, which was surprising for me, veteran of several long waits at commonly-owned Barbuzzo. Lunch special was a $20 3-course meal, and we shared our dishes. Apps were superb, with a super savory mushroom arancini with truffle aioli and bruschetta spread with bufala mozz and piled high (very high--not for the inflexible jaw) with julienned vegetables and citrus. Our entrees were both excellent, but not as memorable as the apps--cheese-filled, juicy meatball with the perfect touch of red pepper over polenta, and a seafood-and-sausage pasta with a delicate but flavorful tomato sauce (that seemed to separate a little and the watery dredges made a mess of my take-out bag). Dessert was also very strong, though my otherwise splendid tiramisu was decidedly lacking the advertised espresso flavor. Atmosphere was homey and well-done. Although the workload was light, service was attentive and extremely pleasant! Of particular note were the robust portion sizes, which easily provided the two of us with a second meal, all for $20! The pacing of the 3 courses was not too long, and not too short, keeping us entertained. Overall, Little Nonna's was a thoroughly enjoyable meal and a fantastic value.
(4)Luba P.
Super adorable Italian place to go to for lunch. It was not crowded so we got seats right away. All of the food was pretty good. My favorite was the tiramisu out of everything we got. I thought the swordfish was way too salty but others loved it. The fried risotto balls were also pretty unique. The gnochii was actually sweet and seemed to have brown sugar on it, so it was delicious but heavy. Overall this is an adorable place to go for a date. I also love that the portions aren't huge and prices really reasonable.
(4)BostonBestEats X.
REVIEW OF EASTER SUNDAY DINNER: We finally made it to Little Nonna's, for Sunday dinner (they opened early at 3PM for Easter), and we had an excellent meal. We started with a couple of the house-bottled cocktails, which were both very tasty and refreshing: SICILIAN RUM PUNCH: Rum, Amaretto, fresh-squeezed pineapple, lime, blood orange ($10)--ordered 2 of these, it was so good. ITALIAN LEMONADE: Citrus vodka, house-squeezed lemonade, thyme syrup ($10). For two people, we shared the following (see photos), which was so much food that we couldn't really finish the single water ice we eventually ordered for dessert: GARLIC BREAD: Scarone's seeded loaf, roasted garlic butter, sea salt ($5)--It's not the best garlic bread I've ever had, and I would prefer it to be crisper. But I liked the roasted garlic for spreading. B+V+P MEATBALLS: Fontina-stuffed beef/veal/pork meatballs, soft polenta, San Marzano gravy ($11)--I'm guessing this might be Little Nonna's signature dish, and it was indeed very good. However, I thought it was rather heavily spiced for my taste, and because of that, I could see it being something you would feel strongly about one way or the other. Interestingly, when the meatballs were cut open, there seemed to be a lot less cheese in the center than in the photo accompanying Craig LaBan's review, so perhaps they cut it back due to his comments. STEAMED MUSSELS: Fiorella's hot fennel sausage, charred corn, roasted long hots, garlic, white wine, basil ($12)--Excellent, right up until the moment I bit off half of the long hot and started hiccuping uncontrollably. Showoffs deserve what they get! RICOTTA CAVATELLI: Housemade duck sausage, olives, garlic, broccoli rabe, smoked ricotta salata ($14)--Also excellent, this was my second favorite dish. I loved the texture of the perfectly cooked pasta. ITALIAN SEAFOOD GRILL: Calamari, Gulf shrimp, roasted peppers, swordfish-zucchini speidini, white beans, salsa verde, lemon ($24)--My favorite dish, this had it all: tender shrimp, acidic artichoke, perfectly cooked calamari, excellent grilled bread for sopping up the juices...I will order this every single time I visit. LEG OF LAMB: We didn't actually have this special, although it was sitting eye-level on the counter staring at us all afternoon, and it looked very tempting. But I'll post a photo of it anyway. WATER ICE: Blood orange, basil ($6)--Well-made, and easily large enough for two. I'm sure many will like it, but it seemed just a bit unbalanced for my taste, with an awful lot of basil, covering up the citrus, and it was pretty sweet too. WINE LIST: Fairly short, but with a good range of styles, and affordable. Didn't recognize many of the names, but I did enjoy a glass of Montepulciano ($10). Good stems. Attractive, somewhat homey space, and I especially liked the missmatched "Italian grandmother" dinnerware. The noise level was moderately energetic, but not excessive, despite the full house. And I didn't find the space at all cramped, unlike some other commentators. But of course we sat at the kitchen counter (which is not reservable, and available on a first-come, first-served basis). However, you can look at the photo below, and judge for yourself. I gather they also have an ~40 seat patio, but I'm not sure if that was open yet. $126 (not counting tip), which I think was reasonable for the quality and quantity of food we enjoyed (considering we left stuffed to the gills!). Service was excellent, although there was not a great deal of interaction with the 4 chefs in the kitchen. All the plates stacked in front of us tended to inhibit any possibility of conversation. I think making that counter a bit more open would be desirable (3 of the 5 high-top seats were unoccupied the entire time we were there). Easy parking at an open-air lot a block away on the corner of Locust & 13th. This is actually only the second time I've been to a Val-Mar restaurant (the other being, Lolita before it closed for remodeling). I have to say I was very impressed. Whether this really is a genuine ode to red sauce South Philly, I can't say for sure. I don't really go to those types of places, since none of them ever seem to be sufficiently praised by anyone who isn't already biased by having grown up with them. But I did find Little Nonna's plenty good enough to stand on it's own, irrespective of whatever historical influences it may or may not have been inspired by.
(4)Michelle C.
Last night, my girlfriends and I enjoyed a very carb-heavy meal at Little Nonna's, and I loved every bite. We had an 8pm reservation and were seated just a few minutes later, after a table was cleared. There's not a whole lot of space going on, so I was happy to be seated in the aisle as opposed to trying to squeeze between tables into the banquette side. I started with a sgroppino (vodka, prosecco and a scoop of blood orange basil sorbet) - absolutely delightful! Later in the meal I switched to a glass of white wine. It was then that I noticed that all beverages are a flat ten dollars. Good stuff. Food-wise, we started with the shaved salad. But let's be real. If you're eating at Little Nonna's you aren't looking to be diet-conscious. Don't kid yourself. Skip the salad and save that room for the good stuff. Like the garlic bread, with spreadable roasted garlic. It's even more delicious when dipped into the sauce left over from the pepperoni marinara mussels. In fact, we shamelessly ordered a second round of that delicious bread. The arancini were also a hit at my table, though I thought the insides were a tad dry. For the main course, we shared three pasta dishes: spaghetti and meatballs (so good, though I typically like a little more sauce on my pasta), fusilli di pretti (surprisingly yet delightfully spicy!), and gnocchi (loved the sear on these little nuggets). Having stuffed ourselves silly with the starters, we ended up with leftovers. Which I got to take home. Happy day! Dessert was not an option, though I probably would have opted for another sgroppino to finish out the meal if there was just a bit more room (probably for the best that there wasn't). Many thanks to our lovely server, Oren, for putting up with our many questions throughout the meal (I'm still trying to figure out where I know you from!). Can't wait to get back for round two.
(5)H. I.
Decided to try Little Nonna's on a whim and was very pleased! We managed to snag 2 counter seats without a reservation. The restaurant was packed around 8 pm on a Thursday evening. The space is tiny and intimate. I love the twinkle lights strung across the restaurant. Delicious smells are pouring out of the open kitchen which is separated by rustic copper pots hanging from the ceiling. It's got an old school feel with a modern twist. We split the mushroom arancini, side of garlic bread, eggplant parmesan and linguine alle vongole. Everything was delicious, and my friend would go as far as saying "this is the best eggplant parmesan in Philly!". The linguine was tossed in a wonderful garlic sauce and the mushroom arancini and eggplant parmesan were so savory! To finish, we ordered the tiramisu, but it looks like you can't go wrong with anything on the dessert menu. The only reason I give it 4 stars instead of 5 is that many of the menu items contain pork, so the dietary restriction can be limiting for some. This is a great spot for a date or small group of friends (4-5).
(4)Justin L.
Little Nonna's had been on my fiancee and I's Philly bucket list...finally we made the plunge on Friday. The simplistic yet delicious menu did not dissapoint. Mushroom arancini and broccoli rabe were both tasty appetizers to share. We were hoping to get the shaved brussels sprout salad, but didn't. Was a wise move after seeing the size of the entrees. If you are looking to stuff your face, go for the Sunday Gravy, or anything else on the menu. If you like steaming hot meat smothered with deliciousness, this should be your pick. Could only eat about half of it, so looking forward to tasting how leftovers are today. Fortunately, everything else coming out of the kitchen and hitting tables looked equally as good. My fiancee is vegetarian and she got a pasta dish with a vegetarian marina sauce. To wash the food down, we tasted a few different glasses of wine including the chianti and masciarelli, and the sazerac. All were great.
(4)Reetu B.
Beautiful back patio and very friendly staff : thats only reason for 3 stars.... can't say same thing about food. Spaghetti was ok but no one in our group liked the meatballs and sunday gravy.
(3)Natalya S.
Best tiramisu: delicate, moist, and fluffy. Amazing clam linguine, particularly the sauce it came in. their speciality cocktails were delicious (had the punch and the lemonade, both great). Tried my boyfriends spaghetti and meatballs, probably the best I'll ever have.
(5)A B.
Great ambience and even greater food. We went to little Nonna's on a Friday evening. Our waitress was very friendly and charming. We were seated right away. The staff was attentive. We ordered kale and pear salad, which was fantastic. We both ordered spaghetti and meatballs and an order of garlic bread. The food was delicious!!!! The garlic bread was amazing. The bread came with toasted garlic gloves, again delicious We would recommend this place to anyone. Keep it up Little Nonna's!
(5)Joanne T.
The duo team of Marcie Turney and Valerie Safran has yet to let me down. I've enjoyed Barbuzzo and Jamonera so on a rainy night we decided on a little italian with Nonna's. I prefer coming to smaller establishments on weekdays; in my opinion their less crowded, not as noisy, and you get better service. I made a 9p reservation and there was multiple seatings available. We got the table right next to the window. It was such a lovely atmosphere. An impromptu date night that went from drinks to desserts. I ordered the rum punch but preferred the flavors of the sazerac better. The straciatella just melted in my mouth. I seriously would have just been happy with the grilled bread that accompanied it. I opted for the potato gnocchi and the guy got sunday gravy. I loved that the gnocchi was pan seared. The mushrooms were delightful and the sauce I could've literally just slurped, but held back! The guy enjoyed his meat filled entree. That bread catches up with you. We both had leftovers to enjoy the day after. No complaints here. Their tiramisu was freaking great. The crushed pizzelle was a nice touch. I liked that they served it in a cup. No worries about making a huge mess on a plate to get every bite. Definitely try this place for an intimate italian dinner. Don't forget they have outdoor seatings as well.
(5)Beth L.
Loved this place. It has the most amazing meatballs and spaghetti that my daughters loved. I had the gnochi which was really great and the garlic bread is beyond good.
(5)Veronica C.
Found this place because of restaurant week in philly. It turned out that someone must have recommended it to me cuz I bookmarked it long before restaurant week this time! Had BVP meatball as first course, Italian seafood grill mix as main course and tiramisu as desert. Loved them all! I was sooooo satisfied. I will take my parents to there when they come to visit me!! Definitely be my go to again place! Tips: it does not has a very obvious sign outside. You may just walk pass it without notice.
(5)Jeff H.
An Italian restaurant getting five stars from me? That's a rarity. I'm kinda bored with Italian food ... but Little Nonna's is awesome. First it looks cute - especially its rear outside courtyard replete with a clothesline. At night white lights illuminate. Don't worry about the rain - it is all under Plexiglas cover. Now the food. I ate the best meatball that I have ever eaten anywhere in the world. This meatball is large and incredibly tasty and served over a bed of polenta. The seafood mixed grill which consisted of swordfish, calamari, and shrimp was also tasty. Add a little pepper and it comes even more to life. For desert, a pistachio cannoli perfectly his the spot. Service was friendly and competent. Little Nonna's deserves those five stars,
(5)Edward M.
Lunched here recently with a couple of fun friends and we shared our various dishes so we all got to sample several items. Impressively, they were all delicious (maybe we were just lucky...). For starters, we tried the arancini and the bruschetta. The mushroom arancini were freshly fried (and, thus, hot with a crispy crust) and served with cheese shavings and some (literally) awesome sauce. It was difficult to divvy up the last of four balls into three even pieces, but we somehow managed. The flavorfull bruschetta had a healthy dollop of beets, other veggies, and more. We then got a trio of entrees. The shortrib sandwich included a fair helping of succulent beef inside a fresh, crisp on the outside, bakery roll and came with a salad of non-iceberg-lettuce greens and more cheese shavings. The eggplant parmigiana was just the right amount of crispy, cheesy, and tomato-saucy and accompanied by fresh greens. And the wild mushroom gnocchi had its own different awesome sauce. We almost licked the plates clean. For dessert, we sampled the tiramisu, which arrives in a fancy teacup and is presented a bit like an ice cream sundae. Its rich zabaglione cream soaking the cake ensured its complete consumption. The drink selection is not large, but has fine options, like the Moretti lager, and various wines and cocktails. Our server was polite and professional and regularly refilled our water glasses. The decor might be described as cool basement party. Prices are on the high side for lunch, though reasonable.
(5)Joanna N.
This place lived up to my long awaited expectations. Didn't get a chance to squeeze in a reservation for dinner service, but a friend and I were near here during lunch hour so we decided to see if there were any seats. I would definitely suggest coming here for lunch. Although it was a little busier on the inside, we sat in the garden and were the only ones out there our entire meal. The patio was absolutely beautiful. But now to the food. We both started with a cocktail and the. Recieved the lunch tasting menu (which is another reason I would recommend lunch here 3 courses for 20 dollars. You couldn't beat it). The cocktails were fabulous. I had the punch, which you could tell was crafted with fresh fruit juices, then I had arancini as an appetizer, meatballs and polenta as my entree, and a hazelnut canolli for dessert. Everything was fantastic; my personal favorite was the stuffed meatballs (when combined with their gravy... it was heaven). And lastly, I will leave a little comment about the service which was delightful and attentive even though I was so entranced by my meal I didn't pay nearly as much attention to her as she deserved. Little Nonnas covered all the bases, and I will certainly be back.
(5)Ang R.
Delightful little spot off 13th Street. Have the Sunday Gravy - we split it. So good. Service was excellent. Tables are close together - I don't mind but some might not like that. Really cozy. Delicious food. Great neighborhood.
(5)Meaghan H.
Loved everything about Little Nonna's!!! Everything from the location to the wonderful staff this place is a top notch. I loved that there was a parking lot right across the street which is great. But the best part was without a doubt sitting out in "Nonna's" backyard under the lights enjoying a fantastic meal. We took advantage of the tasting menu and loved it!! $20.00 for 3 courses and each one better than the next.
(5)Courtney J.
I have had good meals at both Lolita and Barbuzzo which are owned by the same people as Little Nonna's, so I thought there was a good chance I'd like Little Nonna's. Sadly this was not the case. We were seated at a little table by the window. It was a Friday night, so the place was crowded. The server said we should probably order one to two appetizers to share and a main course each. I thought the linguini with clams sounded good. I thought that surely the pasta must be homemade as this is supposed to be an Italian restaurant. I asked just to be sure, and the server told me, "No, it isn't, but the pasta is imported from Italy." This should have been a red flag. I mean most dried pasta at the grocery store is imported from Italy. Dried pasta tastes way different from fresh. I should have just walked out at this point. It is just sad when an Italian restaurant can't do that. I can boil dried pasta at home easily and cheaply. The reason I eat out is to try things that I can't do with either the time I have or the equipment I have available in my kitchen. We ordered the beets with fresh cheese and herbs and the wild mushroom arancini which was risotto balls with buffalo mozerella. The beets were just beets with a small amount of crumbled cheese and a couple tears off of a basil leaf. I like beets, so they were good, but nothing I couldn't do at home quickly. The risotto balls were a major disappointment. The truffled aioli had no truffle flavor, and the inside of the balls were mushy and I didn't get any of the lovely creamy buffalo mozzarella flavor I was looking forward to tasting. The outside was crispy, and that was the only thing this dish really had going for it. My main course was very disappointing. It was very salty and the sauce just tasted like overly salty lemons. The swordfish was full of tiny little sharp bones in every bite which made it not so fun to eat. The shaved fennel on top added some nice texture, but that was really all it had going for it. For $22, I was disappointed. On a positive note, the server was friendly, and we always had plenty of water. I feel that Little Nonna's needs to step up their game as there are many Italian American joints in town with a lower price point that are just as good or better. Our total was around $78 with tax and tip for two people, and we only had water and no dessert. At this price point, you should be making your own pasta and making sure you aren't serving filets of seafood that are full of tiny bones.
(2)Laura H.
Not Classic Italian food, but delicious nonetheless. For apps, we had the Meatballs, fig bruschetta and shaved salad. Solid dishes, nothing mind blowing. Entrées: squid ink pasta, gnocchi and grilled seafood platter. Presentation was A+, taste wise the show stopper was the oyster mushroom, roasted corn and truffle butter gnocchi! The apple crostata was SO good.
(4)Eunni C.
So so so good. I love their salad and Italian seafood grill. I have been there multiple times but once I had just ok meal. My seafood grill was overly cooked that day. I hated the texture of my rubbery calamari and dry swordfish that day. Last night I asked the server that I prefer not over cooked seafood. She was so kind and said she will make sure. And my dish was phenomenon. Was sooooo good and the best grilled seafood I had. I was super satisfied. We also got shaved sprout salad, garlic bread, meatball and vongole pasta. They were all delicious. We really enjoyed them all. I can eat there everyday.
(5)Ken M.
We were seated in the outside courtyard, very cozy! (a little tight but intimate). If you can, go with a party of at least 4 people so you can family-style some of the offerings! The food was excellent. When first trying an Italian restaurant, I usually like to test the waters with standbys such as a Sunday Gravy. -The Sicilian Rum Punch, house-bottled cocktail was excellent. Kate enjoyed her Sangiovese. - Octopus appetizer: This was fantastic! From what I remember, it came with minced cucumbers, red onion, capers, arugula, etc. I wish they had this on the regular menu. - Baby Caesar salad: This was very good. I think it was a little heavy-handed with the cheese. However, the polenta croutons were excellent! - Spaghetti & Meatballs: very good - Sunday Gravy: excellent/simplistic. The leftovers were delish' - Garlic bread: very good, I would of liked a little less butter...let the garlic shine instead. Our server Kaylee was excellent. She was professional, personable and funny. She sensed our needs and was always one step ahead of us. Our water glasses were refreshed in a timely manner. We felt the prices were very reasonable. Suggestions: The courtyard has a greenhouse style enclosure. So, it was very hot/stuffy. Maybe install a few low-profile ceiling fans up in here? It would go nice with the theme. We are looking forward to returning. I see other items on the menu that are calling my name.
(4)Aaliyah P.
If you haven't had Nonnas yet you are missing out. Came here for lunch a few weeks back with my mom, aunt, and grandma. My mom loves Italian food so i figured Little Nonnas was a good option. I sent the menu a few days in advance to make sure it would be a smooth ordering process for everyone. We arrived a few minutes after our reservation and there were still a few open outdoor tables available. After being seated at a four top our server came out and went over some specials. The seafood grill was right up my alley and i was able to subtract the calamari for an extra head on prawn. Since the sun was out and i was on my first day of stay-cation i figured a bit of day drinking was in order. Though there are several drink options that peaked my interest , the bulleit rye sazerac was my choice and it was perfectly made. We started our meal with the house made stracciatella with olive oil, sea salt and an assortment of olives. This was the perfect way to begin our meal. The stracciatella came along with some char grilled bread that was the perfect vessel for dipping and sopping up the cheese and oil. Our entrees arrived and silence fell over the table . Everyone including my grandma ordered the chicken and i opted for the seafood grill. the chicken appeared to be a decent size breast and partial thigh. The chicken looked moist and everyone agreed it was perfectly cooked. The trio of potatoes were a nice addition. The mixed seafood grill was perfect. Large skewer of swordfish and squash was laid over a "salad" of beans and onions. The prawns rounded out this lunch and made it the perfect lunch time option. For dessert we ordered the apple like tart with the pecorino cheese crust. Desserts with a little more savory elements have been on my radar recently. Im definitely a fan of this dessert and would order this again.
(5)Melanie R.
Delicious!! I was so excited to find this place on yelp. I ran my thought by the hotel staff before I completed my reservation, and they also highly recommended it. It is very small...so reservations are highly recommended. If you don't have a reservation, you may be waiting outside on the sidewalk for a while. We had the fried green tomatoes to start with grilled bread, and the house spaghetti and meatballs for the entrée. The meatballs were huge...two came with each dish. They had a mixture of meats, and were filled with fontina cheese. I thought the sauce was great...you could taste a light basil and oregano. My description is really not doing this dish justice. The noodles tasted handmade to me...and the dish was just the right size. We all three finished our plates. Lots of wine choices, however this is not the place for fancy mixed liquor drinks. They don't carry too many bar type drinks. Stick to the wine...have three glasses, like I did! This is a great taste of Philly. I was so happy I found this restaurant. Sadly, we saved no room for dessert. Maybe next time.
(4)SC C.
--5 stars. Was there 8/15/15. Reservation for 10pm. The total bill was 61.63 - 2 spaghetti and meatballs, 2 pinot grigio's, garlic bread. The spaghetti was like a high school cafeteria food - bland, unsalted, overcooked, dry, old, stale. The meatballs - b
(1)Vidushi B.
Went here for restaurant week lunch, but they also have a $20 lunch special otherwise as well. Overall, had a pretty good experience. We were seated in the outdoor garden, which is super cute - nice wooden tables, globe lights, cozy. I had the Wild Mushrrom Arancini, which are fried risotto balls. They were delicious - I liked the mix of the mushroom and cheese and risotto a lot. Definitely recommend them. For my main, I had the rigatoni, which I also enjoyed, but I wouldn't say it was a standout; it was a pretty standard aribiatta sauce/sausage/pasta combo. I got the tiramisu for dessert. If you know me, you know I'm a tiramisu connoisseur. I think it was pretty good, probably an 8/10 - it was a good combination of creamy and cakey. Definitely not as light as could be though, but overall would recommend.
(4)Mike N.
Expensive, forces virtually everyone to get the spaghetti and meatballs. The spaghetti was good at best, the meatballs were good but the sauce tasted "burnt". I got their expensive beef short rib and the quantity was of an appetizer. I had to eat from my friend's plates to fill up. Almost all the dishes are pork which I can't eat for health reasons. It seems that the food here makes almost everyone go to the bathroom and they only have one bathroom. The guy behind me was pounding on the door and actually tried to start a fight with me while I was leaving (I guess 4th of july white trash visiting the city?). The interior and patio are extremely nice but it's not worth the price. I'd say $12 for the spaghetti would have been a good deal.
(3)Madelyn F.
Little Nonna's is cute as a button in decor and the food is absolutely delish. Having sampled the garlic toast, which by the way, is served with the whole roasted head of garlic on the side (in case you don't really care to kiss your date that night) was great. We also tried the wonderful arancini, the spaghetti & meatballs, and the Italian Mixed Grill (all sorts of goodies from land & sea), but my absolute favorite (and it may sound silly because it's just a salad) was the heirloom tomato caprese! Plump, sweet heirloom tomatoes dance on a plate of fresh pesto, garlic/ balsamic reduction, an amazing dome of fresh mozzarella and topped with crispy prosciutto... Yes, I said crispy. Just go... Make a reservation already. You're welcome.
(5)Ashley S.
Ended up at Little Nonna's outdoor seating tucked away in the city. Can't say enough good things about their service, food, wine and ambiance! We were spoiled. Can't wait to visit again! Make sure to get the garlic bread and wine with dinner ;)
(5)Alyssa R.
I really wanted to like this place, and had heard so many great things I was really excited for my first time. However, I have to say I was disappointed in the taste of the food. Everything was just ok. We started with the Straciatella and the shaved brussel sprouts salad. The straciatella was good, probably the only really good thing to our meal. The bread was great, but I've had better at other Philly restaurants. I am a huge brussel sprouts fan but there was something weird with this salad, I had trouble finishing it. I was not a fan. I then had the spaghetti and meatballs. I had heard so much about these meatballs I couldn't wait to try. They were big like everyone says but thats about it. The taste left something to be desired. I dont know but Ive had better frozen meatballs. The sauce on the pasta was just ok also, not sure why but I did not like it. I couldn't finish it. And I eat Italian food regularly, and always finish my plate. I am pretty easy to please with italian food, there was just some flavor in everything I tried, I did not like. Which was unusual. We then had dessert. The tiramisu was good. We had an apple thing that was just meh. The wine was good. But that's about it. Cute decor inside. Waitress was nice. However, I would not return.
(2)Flora W.
One of the best Italian restaurants in Philly. I love their pastas. We wanted to try their special menu, Lobster Spaghetti, but they ran out of it. So I had Bronzino Alla Piastra and my friend had Vongole Spaghetti. First time to try their fish menu and it was outstanding! My friend also kept saying that the Vongole is so good. Plus, the Garlic Bread is my favorite!
(5)Katie R.
This is a great Italian option just east of Center City in Philadelphia. It fits right into the standard "great little restaurant" category in Philly - small restaurant, tables close together, seems to be family-owned, and GREAT good. I was here for dinner with a friend, and it was exactly the right atmosphere for that kind of meal. Friendly atmosphere, good service. It's not a BYO, which is a bit odd for this kind of restaurant in this area, but whatevs - it's still good! As always in Philly, no parking. Best bet is walking or uber.
(4)Amir F.
This is my fav restaurant put out by Marcie and Valerie. I'm one of the few that enjoy the food more than Barbuzzo. Must-haves are the Caesar salad (with polenta croutons that are OUT of this world!), arancini balls with cheese and truffle oil, and the meatballs. Decor is meh, but the food is worth it.
(5)Roopa S.
Definitely one of the best Italian dinners I've had in the city so far. I came here for a restaurant week lunch and was absolutely flabbergasted by the quality of all the dishes on the menu (we basically tried everything because the options were limited *no complaints there* and my friend and I love splitting). From the pulled mozzarella to the arancini to the orecchiette, and finally the chocolate pistachio cannoli... everything was droolworthy and impeccably prepared. The ambiance in the restaurant is unbelievably cute as well. Would go back in a heartbeat.
(4)Anna P.
Loved my dish which was the linguine in clam sauce. It was flavorful and a very nice portion size. We were seated at the chefs counter since they were busy on a wed night. I would normally enjoy this however the plates are stacked high right in front of you and you have to look in between them to admire the 4 chefs/cooks perform a culinary ballet in such a small space. Side note: my friend ordered the special ravioli "entree" and the 6 tiny ravioli were better as an app than entree.
(4)Nancy W.
Restaurant very clean / bathroom Service are awesome Food are so good ( I prefer only green salad no meet but it's fine ) Tiramisu are the besssssssssttttttttt
(5)Noah G.
I really don't like to double up on restaurants unless they are the best of the best. In a city like Philadelphia there are so many amazing places that when you average a dinner out once a week you're sure to miss a ton if you start going to the same spots over and over again. That being said when my mother popped in a bit unexpectedly I decided I'd like to take her to LN's even though I'd been therea few months earlier. My first time here was fine, the service was great, my drinks were plentiful and the mussels we awesome. My meal was ok but all in all it made for a fine night. This second time around things were a bit different. Our party of five arrived at 8:00 and we were promptly sat. After pouring our water and giving us our menus we waited about ten minutes or so before our drink orders were taken. With my family this is a cardinal sin. You can wait on the food but don't keep our drinks from us! We got a bottle of wine and a few of us got cocktails. Then we waited again before we ordered appetizers. We asked that the garlic bread come out when it was was ready however this ended up being at the same time as our entrees. I went with the spaghetti and meatballs just as I had the first time I'd been there. It was fine, I wish we would have had some more cheese to sprinkle on top to enhance the flavor. The best dish was probably the clams and linguine my little brother got. If I make it back here this will most likely be my play along with the mussels. The food was fine, everyone loved the decor and atmosphere but boo summed up our waiter perfectly when she said he was half-assed. Out of any of the Turney / Saffron spots I've been this is the first time I've ever had half assed service.
(3)Kyle S.
My boyrfiend and I went here last night since he had always wanted to go, and we were very impressed. The service was excellent, and the food was flavorful and hearty - exactly what we wanted on a chilly Sunday night. After taking a glance at the small mountains of pasta and meatballs the size of pool balls being served at the table next to us, we opted to forego appetizers and instead just get a bottle of wine (we got the Montepulciano di Abbruzzo, which was flavorful, smooth, and not too robust. In other words, a great dinner wine). I decided after no deliberation whatsoever to get the Sunday gravy, and my boyfriend got the grilled veal scallopini. A surprisingly short amount of time later, before me sat a plate of pasta whose shape I cannot accurately describe covered in red sauce, and a plate of hot fennel sausage, broocoli rabe, beef shortrib, and one massive meatball, smothered in thick red sauce. The meatball was stuffed with cheese. The shortrib could be cut with a fork. I ate every bite, it was so delicious. I am very, very particular when it comes to Italian food, and I was extremely satisfied. My boyfriend's veal was very tender, and he raved about his dish as much as I raved about mine. We will certainly be back, since we both are dying to try the spaghetti and meatballs.
(5)Jada L.
I took my mom here for Mother's Day dinner. We could not have had a better experience. We were fortunate enough to sit on the terrace, which is highly recommended. We were also fortunate enough to have Kaylee as our server. My mom and I ordered a ton of food. We started with the Straciatella (it was ok) and Arancini (excellent). I do not eat veal, but I HAD to try the Sunday Gravy. I think if I were to never have veal again (which is the plan), I will be ok. It was worth putting my personal beliefs aside for this dish! The meatball was SO delicious (yes, I feel guilty). We did order two other dishes: Gnocchi and Cavatelli. Between the two, I enjoyed the cavatelli the most. My mom and I loved our experience here. We cannot wait to try Marcie and Valerie's other restaurants.
(5)Millie C.
Awesome! The arancini was awesome, the Sunday Gravy was awesome, dessert was awesome- fantastic food. Can't WAIT to go back and stuff myself again. You have to pay for bread but man is it worth it!
(5)Justin T.
My wife and I have been here twice now and are both big fans. Our first time was for restaurant week. We loved it so much, that I asked to go back for my birthday. In general, I am not a huge Italian food fan but I love to find places that can overcome my general boredom with the typical greater Philadelphia Italian food scene. Little Nonna's definitely makes the cut. Two of our favorites are the BVP meatballs and Wild Mushroom Arancini. If you're there on a Sunday, don't miss the chance to try the Sunday Gravy. Adorable atmosphere, fabulous food, and great service ... what more can you ask for?
(4)Ang R.
Delightful little spot off 13th Street. Have the Sunday Gravy - we split it. So good. Service was excellent. Tables are close together - I don't mind but some might not like that. Really cozy. Delicious food. Great neighborhood.
(5)Meaghan H.
Loved everything about Little Nonna's!!! Everything from the location to the wonderful staff this place is a top notch. I loved that there was a parking lot right across the street which is great. But the best part was without a doubt sitting out in "Nonna's" backyard under the lights enjoying a fantastic meal. We took advantage of the tasting menu and loved it!! $20.00 for 3 courses and each one better than the next.
(5)Amir F.
This is my fav restaurant put out by Marcie and Valerie. I'm one of the few that enjoy the food more than Barbuzzo. Must-haves are the Caesar salad (with polenta croutons that are OUT of this world!), arancini balls with cheese and truffle oil, and the meatballs. Decor is meh, but the food is worth it.
(5)Beth L.
Loved this place. It has the most amazing meatballs and spaghetti that my daughters loved. I had the gnochi which was really great and the garlic bread is beyond good.
(5)Veronica C.
Found this place because of restaurant week in philly. It turned out that someone must have recommended it to me cuz I bookmarked it long before restaurant week this time! Had BVP meatball as first course, Italian seafood grill mix as main course and tiramisu as desert. Loved them all! I was sooooo satisfied. I will take my parents to there when they come to visit me!! Definitely be my go to again place! Tips: it does not has a very obvious sign outside. You may just walk pass it without notice.
(5)Jeff H.
An Italian restaurant getting five stars from me? That's a rarity. I'm kinda bored with Italian food ... but Little Nonna's is awesome. First it looks cute - especially its rear outside courtyard replete with a clothesline. At night white lights illuminate. Don't worry about the rain - it is all under Plexiglas cover. Now the food. I ate the best meatball that I have ever eaten anywhere in the world. This meatball is large and incredibly tasty and served over a bed of polenta. The seafood mixed grill which consisted of swordfish, calamari, and shrimp was also tasty. Add a little pepper and it comes even more to life. For desert, a pistachio cannoli perfectly his the spot. Service was friendly and competent. Little Nonna's deserves those five stars,
(5)Edward M.
Lunched here recently with a couple of fun friends and we shared our various dishes so we all got to sample several items. Impressively, they were all delicious (maybe we were just lucky...). For starters, we tried the arancini and the bruschetta. The mushroom arancini were freshly fried (and, thus, hot with a crispy crust) and served with cheese shavings and some (literally) awesome sauce. It was difficult to divvy up the last of four balls into three even pieces, but we somehow managed. The flavorfull bruschetta had a healthy dollop of beets, other veggies, and more. We then got a trio of entrees. The shortrib sandwich included a fair helping of succulent beef inside a fresh, crisp on the outside, bakery roll and came with a salad of non-iceberg-lettuce greens and more cheese shavings. The eggplant parmigiana was just the right amount of crispy, cheesy, and tomato-saucy and accompanied by fresh greens. And the wild mushroom gnocchi had its own different awesome sauce. We almost licked the plates clean. For dessert, we sampled the tiramisu, which arrives in a fancy teacup and is presented a bit like an ice cream sundae. Its rich zabaglione cream soaking the cake ensured its complete consumption. The drink selection is not large, but has fine options, like the Moretti lager, and various wines and cocktails. Our server was polite and professional and regularly refilled our water glasses. The decor might be described as cool basement party. Prices are on the high side for lunch, though reasonable.
(5)Courtney J.
I have had good meals at both Lolita and Barbuzzo which are owned by the same people as Little Nonna's, so I thought there was a good chance I'd like Little Nonna's. Sadly this was not the case. We were seated at a little table by the window. It was a Friday night, so the place was crowded. The server said we should probably order one to two appetizers to share and a main course each. I thought the linguini with clams sounded good. I thought that surely the pasta must be homemade as this is supposed to be an Italian restaurant. I asked just to be sure, and the server told me, "No, it isn't, but the pasta is imported from Italy." This should have been a red flag. I mean most dried pasta at the grocery store is imported from Italy. Dried pasta tastes way different from fresh. I should have just walked out at this point. It is just sad when an Italian restaurant can't do that. I can boil dried pasta at home easily and cheaply. The reason I eat out is to try things that I can't do with either the time I have or the equipment I have available in my kitchen. We ordered the beets with fresh cheese and herbs and the wild mushroom arancini which was risotto balls with buffalo mozerella. The beets were just beets with a small amount of crumbled cheese and a couple tears off of a basil leaf. I like beets, so they were good, but nothing I couldn't do at home quickly. The risotto balls were a major disappointment. The truffled aioli had no truffle flavor, and the inside of the balls were mushy and I didn't get any of the lovely creamy buffalo mozzarella flavor I was looking forward to tasting. The outside was crispy, and that was the only thing this dish really had going for it. My main course was very disappointing. It was very salty and the sauce just tasted like overly salty lemons. The swordfish was full of tiny little sharp bones in every bite which made it not so fun to eat. The shaved fennel on top added some nice texture, but that was really all it had going for it. For $22, I was disappointed. On a positive note, the server was friendly, and we always had plenty of water. I feel that Little Nonna's needs to step up their game as there are many Italian American joints in town with a lower price point that are just as good or better. Our total was around $78 with tax and tip for two people, and we only had water and no dessert. At this price point, you should be making your own pasta and making sure you aren't serving filets of seafood that are full of tiny bones.
(2)Laura H.
Not Classic Italian food, but delicious nonetheless. For apps, we had the Meatballs, fig bruschetta and shaved salad. Solid dishes, nothing mind blowing. Entrées: squid ink pasta, gnocchi and grilled seafood platter. Presentation was A+, taste wise the show stopper was the oyster mushroom, roasted corn and truffle butter gnocchi! The apple crostata was SO good.
(4)J.V. L.
Super cute interior, great service, and delicious food. Little Nonna's is perfect for dinner with a few girl friends, as well as for a romantic date. I've already been a few times and recommended it to friends & family in the area. Everything was delicious, but highlights included the Wild Mushroom Arancini, Eggplant Parmigiana, and Spaghetti & Meatballs. Also, I was pleasantly surprised by the large portions (the Spaghetti dish could easily be shared between 2-3 people). I only wish the weather had been nicer so we could sit outside - seems like the terrace is beautiful!
(5)Joanna N.
This place lived up to my long awaited expectations. Didn't get a chance to squeeze in a reservation for dinner service, but a friend and I were near here during lunch hour so we decided to see if there were any seats. I would definitely suggest coming here for lunch. Although it was a little busier on the inside, we sat in the garden and were the only ones out there our entire meal. The patio was absolutely beautiful. But now to the food. We both started with a cocktail and the. Recieved the lunch tasting menu (which is another reason I would recommend lunch here 3 courses for 20 dollars. You couldn't beat it). The cocktails were fabulous. I had the punch, which you could tell was crafted with fresh fruit juices, then I had arancini as an appetizer, meatballs and polenta as my entree, and a hazelnut canolli for dessert. Everything was fantastic; my personal favorite was the stuffed meatballs (when combined with their gravy... it was heaven). And lastly, I will leave a little comment about the service which was delightful and attentive even though I was so entranced by my meal I didn't pay nearly as much attention to her as she deserved. Little Nonnas covered all the bases, and I will certainly be back.
(5)Ken M.
We were seated in the outside courtyard, very cozy! (a little tight but intimate). If you can, go with a party of at least 4 people so you can family-style some of the offerings! The food was excellent. When first trying an Italian restaurant, I usually like to test the waters with standbys such as a Sunday Gravy. -The Sicilian Rum Punch, house-bottled cocktail was excellent. Kate enjoyed her Sangiovese. - Octopus appetizer: This was fantastic! From what I remember, it came with minced cucumbers, red onion, capers, arugula, etc. I wish they had this on the regular menu. - Baby Caesar salad: This was very good. I think it was a little heavy-handed with the cheese. However, the polenta croutons were excellent! - Spaghetti & Meatballs: very good - Sunday Gravy: excellent/simplistic. The leftovers were delish' - Garlic bread: very good, I would of liked a little less butter...let the garlic shine instead. Our server Kaylee was excellent. She was professional, personable and funny. She sensed our needs and was always one step ahead of us. Our water glasses were refreshed in a timely manner. We felt the prices were very reasonable. Suggestions: The courtyard has a greenhouse style enclosure. So, it was very hot/stuffy. Maybe install a few low-profile ceiling fans up in here? It would go nice with the theme. We are looking forward to returning. I see other items on the menu that are calling my name.
(4)Sara N.
I grasp the appeal of Little Nonna's (cozy ambiance, Sunday-at-grandma's comfort menu), but a lunchtime meal failed to impress me. The B+V+P meatballs were dry as they were flavorless, lying on top of the lukewarm gravy and polenta. The garlic bread (not complimentary, but an extra 5 bucks) and pan-seared gnocchi were adequate dishes, but not even close enough to tempt me for a return to Little Nonna's.
(2)Aaliyah P.
If you haven't had Nonnas yet you are missing out. Came here for lunch a few weeks back with my mom, aunt, and grandma. My mom loves Italian food so i figured Little Nonnas was a good option. I sent the menu a few days in advance to make sure it would be a smooth ordering process for everyone. We arrived a few minutes after our reservation and there were still a few open outdoor tables available. After being seated at a four top our server came out and went over some specials. The seafood grill was right up my alley and i was able to subtract the calamari for an extra head on prawn. Since the sun was out and i was on my first day of stay-cation i figured a bit of day drinking was in order. Though there are several drink options that peaked my interest , the bulleit rye sazerac was my choice and it was perfectly made. We started our meal with the house made stracciatella with olive oil, sea salt and an assortment of olives. This was the perfect way to begin our meal. The stracciatella came along with some char grilled bread that was the perfect vessel for dipping and sopping up the cheese and oil. Our entrees arrived and silence fell over the table . Everyone including my grandma ordered the chicken and i opted for the seafood grill. the chicken appeared to be a decent size breast and partial thigh. The chicken looked moist and everyone agreed it was perfectly cooked. The trio of potatoes were a nice addition. The mixed seafood grill was perfect. Large skewer of swordfish and squash was laid over a "salad" of beans and onions. The prawns rounded out this lunch and made it the perfect lunch time option. For dessert we ordered the apple like tart with the pecorino cheese crust. Desserts with a little more savory elements have been on my radar recently. Im definitely a fan of this dessert and would order this again.
(5)Melanie R.
Delicious!! I was so excited to find this place on yelp. I ran my thought by the hotel staff before I completed my reservation, and they also highly recommended it. It is very small...so reservations are highly recommended. If you don't have a reservation, you may be waiting outside on the sidewalk for a while. We had the fried green tomatoes to start with grilled bread, and the house spaghetti and meatballs for the entrée. The meatballs were huge...two came with each dish. They had a mixture of meats, and were filled with fontina cheese. I thought the sauce was great...you could taste a light basil and oregano. My description is really not doing this dish justice. The noodles tasted handmade to me...and the dish was just the right size. We all three finished our plates. Lots of wine choices, however this is not the place for fancy mixed liquor drinks. They don't carry too many bar type drinks. Stick to the wine...have three glasses, like I did! This is a great taste of Philly. I was so happy I found this restaurant. Sadly, we saved no room for dessert. Maybe next time.
(4)SC C.
--5 stars. Was there 8/15/15. Reservation for 10pm. The total bill was 61.63 - 2 spaghetti and meatballs, 2 pinot grigio's, garlic bread. The spaghetti was like a high school cafeteria food - bland, unsalted, overcooked, dry, old, stale. The meatballs - b
(1)Vidushi B.
Went here for restaurant week lunch, but they also have a $20 lunch special otherwise as well. Overall, had a pretty good experience. We were seated in the outdoor garden, which is super cute - nice wooden tables, globe lights, cozy. I had the Wild Mushrrom Arancini, which are fried risotto balls. They were delicious - I liked the mix of the mushroom and cheese and risotto a lot. Definitely recommend them. For my main, I had the rigatoni, which I also enjoyed, but I wouldn't say it was a standout; it was a pretty standard aribiatta sauce/sausage/pasta combo. I got the tiramisu for dessert. If you know me, you know I'm a tiramisu connoisseur. I think it was pretty good, probably an 8/10 - it was a good combination of creamy and cakey. Definitely not as light as could be though, but overall would recommend.
(4)Mike N.
Expensive, forces virtually everyone to get the spaghetti and meatballs. The spaghetti was good at best, the meatballs were good but the sauce tasted "burnt". I got their expensive beef short rib and the quantity was of an appetizer. I had to eat from my friend's plates to fill up. Almost all the dishes are pork which I can't eat for health reasons. It seems that the food here makes almost everyone go to the bathroom and they only have one bathroom. The guy behind me was pounding on the door and actually tried to start a fight with me while I was leaving (I guess 4th of july white trash visiting the city?). The interior and patio are extremely nice but it's not worth the price. I'd say $12 for the spaghetti would have been a good deal.
(3)Meredith G.
I went to Little Nonna's this past Friday with a couple of my closest girlfriends to celebrate my birthday. Barbuzzo was my first choice, but no reservations could be found (2+ weeks in advance!) but I was informed that Little Nonna's is owned by the same people and I'm a sucker for italian food, so I couldn't say no. We were seated inside as soon as we got there and our waitress was the cutest, we seriously wanted to hug her as we were leaving. To drink I had the Sgroppino cocktail which did not disappoint, I'm a sucker for any cocktail with Prosecco in it and who can be mad about a scoop of lemon sorbet?! I ordered the garlic bread appetizer...seriously, the menu had me drooling at the thought of an entire roasted garlic bulb. The bread was perfect and the garlic was like butter. I could've eaten 3 more helpings of that app. For my main course, I had the pan-seared gnocchi. Again, i'm a sucker for truffle and pancetta. When it came out, it looked like a pretty big portion and I expected to be full from all of the carbs but it was not as filling as I thought it would be, which was a good thing! I ate every last bite. This means there was room for dessert. For dessert I ordered the apple crostata. I was so curious about "vanilla-thyme" ice cream and oh. my. god. It was a bite of heaven. I ate every last bite of this, too! I cannot wait to go back and try dishes like the spaghetti & meatballs, the burrata appetizer and the Sunday Gravy.
(5)Kendrah R.
Pros: Good food. Cons: Inexcusably bad service. We had friends in from out of town for one night and wanted to show them that Philly is a great place to be. They certainly didn't get that impression from Little Nona. I guess it was a slow night because the restaurant was nearly empty when we ate here. The ratio of customers to staff was nearly one to one. Still, we had to ask for water refills four times throughout the meal. They never brought an appetizer. They never brought crab utensils for three of us who ordered crabs. Entrees arrived 15 minutes apart. We had to interact with five different waitstaff because nobody ever stopped by more than once to wait on us. It was really hard to have conversation and a relaxed dining experience when you are constantly in need of something and nobody is waiting on you to help. The food was good, particularly the ripe heirloom tomatoes, but not good enough to redeem itself from the horrible service. They eventually brought the appetizer during our meal and comped us for it as they knew they were really not keeping it together. A free late appetizer was not enough to make up for the debacle of this meal.
(2)Kat S.
Little Nonna's is the epitome of "Don't judge a book by it's cover". My friend brought me here last night and I was a little weary as it looked like a small, hole-in-the-wall place. It looked crowded, but we were sat immediately by the hostess. The front room is a warm and inviting space that features an open kitchen, where you can watch the staff at work. We rounded the corner and were escorted to their "Garden" space in the rear of the building. It was absolutely charming and cozy! There is a mix of iron tables & chairs, booths and picnic tables spread out under a moonlight clear roof (and twinkle lights!). The menu is not extensive, but it features so many delectable selections from Fig Bruschetta to Sunday Gravy (get it while it lasts) and an array of seafood dishes. We ordered the Sunday Gravy (Meatballs, Sausage and Short Ribs w/ Pasta) and Pan Seared Gnocchi. Both dishes were amazing and bursting with flavor. They were also a great portion and you didn't feel like you were overfed. For dessert, we got the Dark Chocolate Hazelnut Cake and the Lemon/Basil Sorbet. The chocolate cake was warm and enjoyable. The Lemon/Basil Sorbet was a huge hit! I would have loved to take some home! Overall we had a great experience at Little Nonna's and I've already recommended it to a few friends. I would definitely return and cannot wait to get more of the Lemon/Basil Sorbet.
(5)Ade B.
This place has a great deal for Restaurant Week lunch. The meatballs, which are stuffed with cheese, are the best you will find in this city. The roast pork sandwich is outstanding, much better than the more famous roast pork sandwiches you can find elsewhere in the city. You can't go wrong with the Tiramisu or cannolli for dessert! I've also been here for dinner in the outdoor patio. It's a wonderful place for an outdoor meal if it's not too hot. The sunday Gravy is the high point of dinner. It includes a slowly braised beef shortrib, the meatball, and house-made hot fennel sausage in a sauce over some pasta. This is a 5 star restaurant!
(5)Ashley T.
I've been meaning to try Little Nonna's for quite some time now. Ended up sitting in the back garden area which is a MUST! It's so pleasant and beautiful. We were given both the restaurant week menu and their regular menu. It's nice to know we had the option to order from either since most places during restaurant week only choose to serve that specific menu. The service here is great. The staff is attentive and they give you new utensils between your appetizer and entree. The replenish your water frequently and always speak to you with a smile. Great Customer Service. The food was delicious as well. The Stracciatella is amazing. I have never had this dish before. Lightly grilled bread and a dish full of italian market olives served with burrata cheese. So smooth and creamy OMG its so simple yet so good. Appetizers consisted of their famous meatballs (which are huge and filled with cheese uh YES PLEASE) and Mushroom Arancini risotto balls. I loved the risotto balls better, but man were both plates filling! Dinner was their gnocchi. I never had this type of dish before either and it was surprisingly good! The gnocchi was light and airy (came with mushrooms and pancetta bites). The best part of this dish is the truffle butter sauce its served with. Last but not least for dessert i had the pistachio cannoli's. I prefer the usual plain ricotta filled cannoli's instead of flavored ones, but it had chocolate ganache and pistachio piece sprinkles on it as well so i'd give it a 6/10 on my cannoli grading scale =) Definitely between the food and service and setting I fell in love with this place... My dinner would have been $45 but since its restaurant week it was only $35. Great deal! i can't wait to go back!
(4)Krystal H.
I had been hearing great things about this place for awhile now and, as a person who grew up in an Italian family, I was hesitant. When some friends suggested it for girls night out I went for it. The construction out front makes it easy to miss. Inside is charming with a side of kitsch. The seating out back was wonderful! It was beautiful and romantic. It was slightly too warm, though. I had been craving polenta for awhile so I went with the fontina stuffed meatballs (served over polenta), and the cucumber melon salad. The table shared the straccitella and for wine I went with the pecorino. A friend got the eggplant parm and I tasted that. The straccitella was good, but nothing too special. The cucumber melon salad was really nice. It was a decent size and was light and fresh. The meatballs were good, not great. The polenta was creamy and good. The best dish by far was the eggplant parm. The service was the biggest reason the place didn't get 5 stars out of me. Our waitress never one time smiled and was short with all of us. She brought what we asked for but was not at all friendly. It almost seemed like she was bothered that she had to serve us. Like maybe one of us is dating her ex-boyfriend or something. I will say that the place was packed. Every seat in the place was full. In sum, a 4 star rating at an Italian restaurant with meh service is about the highest rating you'll get outta me. I'm picky when it comes to Italian, because nobody makes it like gramma Gisella. I'll go back again to try the mussels, gnocchi, caprese, tiramisu and limoncello.
(4)Farha A.
Loved!!! I want to give this place 4.5 stars. The back patio is ADORABLE, romantic, and overall just a great vibe that I am in love with. I pass this place every day on my way to work and never knew it was so quaint and adorable. Food aside its the perfect place to come with friends or on a date especially during twilight hours/sunset Ordered the mussels which were in a good tomato sauce - it was slightly more tart than I would have liked but nevertheless delicious. The garlic bread here was the best I've ever had. It's $5 and worth every cent. They bring you this delicious toasted bread with fresh caramelized garlic and I basically couldn't eat my main course because I gorged out on this. For the main course, the spaghetti! Yummmm. DEFINITELY enough for 2 (maybe 3+ people). I was kind of annoyed that when us (as well as the people next to us) asked about the portion size, the waitress was misleading about how large the portion actually is. Luckily my friend and I only ordered 1 (and still couldn't finish it) but the people next to us were led to believe they needed to order more. But the meatballs were so delicious I guess I wouldn't have been mad if there was extra to take home. Highly recommended!!!!!!!!
(4)Aarti P.
You want cute, unique, quaint, comfortable, tasty, gem, value for money, relaxed, neighbourhood joint!! This is it. They say a picture is worth a thousand words, well then take a look at them.. My writ is simply not good enough, look at the pics and just go!
(4)Suzie L.
Recently had dinner here and the place is quite charming. We were seated promptly and provided with menus. Agreeing with a few helpers here with the slow service on a not so busy night. It took some time for the server to arrive and provide us with water. The server also forgot my drink so I had to request another one... Can't go wrong with any item on their menu. I ordered the arancini in which seemed like it wasn't cooked completely through as the cheese in the center was still cold block unless that was on purpose? I had the shred salad that had to be asked to remake due to heavy salt (I never request to send anything back), and the tomato salad in which the pesto was also heavily salted but was ok when we removed it off the cheese. The entrees were a lot better though. We had the spaghetti and meatballs (portions are very generous) and the gnocchi which was delicious. Since some of our entrees were a bit heavy on salt, and when we needed water, our water glasses were never replenished or replaced with another pitcher. Luckily by then we wanted to leave and go home so lucked out with being there another minute hoping to catch the servers attention. I don't know if they have limited servers on select areas of the restaurant to cater to the indoor and outdoor crowd but my dining experience was a bit upsetting dropping a good amount of $$ on mediocre service.
(3)Matt D.
There are some weeks when I have an unwavering craving for italian food, and this was one of them. Little Nonna's succeeds in bold new-italian cooking, but falls short in a few key traditional areas. We enjoyed the atmosphere here, which is clearly geared to put diners in a nostalgic, relaxed state with its strings of soft glowing lights, warm colors, and tasteful "grandma's house" vibe. It's a tight space, and borders on communal dining if you happen to be seated along the main wall. (This may be an odd comment for a review, but the bathroom situation here is challenging and worth noting. One bathroom for a crowded restaurant leads to a constant, uncomfortable line of fidgeting people in the dining room waiting to enter.) The menu does not overreach, and I liked that. The drink menu is particularly solid with everything broken into single-price groupings. We settled on a bottle of montepulciano and shared the wild mushroom arancini for an appetizer. They were perfectly done and probably my favorite plate of the night. We opted for the caesar salad to share before dinner, and I had mixed feelings on this one: The polenta croutons were great, but they were hot, which didn't go well with the salad. Maybe it's just me, but I don't like warm lettuce, and I found the dressing to be bland. Our shared main course was the Sunday Gravy with an extra meatball and an order of garlic bread. I thought the meatball was excellent and loved the fontina cheese in the middle, but the rest didn't impress. First of all, the pasta is not homemade, and at this price point, it should be. The garlic bread was a bit dry and the roasted garlic bulb was a little underdone and could not be spread on the bread. The rib meat had a great texture, but absolutely no flavor, and we received one bite sized piece of sausage (not one link, not a half link, but one piece of sausage). I politely asked for more sausage, which I was charged for. Fortunately, they removed the charge after I pointed it out on the bill. One thing I'm certain of is that my little Nonna would not charge extra for bread and sausage that should come with an italian Sunday staple. I don't mind a la carte restaurants and normally don't fault a place for its concept, but for a restaurant that exudes homeyness and comfort, we felt it was a bit of a guise for overpriced, somewhat inauthentic food.
(3)Stephanie S.
Can I go back? Like, now? This is an adorable little restaurant with amazing food. I could easily see myself coming here weekly if I lived in town. The Sunday gravy is amazing. I don't typically gravitate towards meatballs because I've had some not-so-good dry and flavorless ones. But you won't find those here. So much delicious, homey flavor. We also had the arancini, which were perfection (they come with a truffle aioli sauce). And the garlic bread. It comes with a whole head of roasted garlic to smother on your slice, should you desire. Your visit to Philly isn't complete if you don't come here. I'm obsessed.
(5)Kelly C.
came for restaurant week just last friday~ i can't believe Lil nonna's been here the whole time and i had no idea! so to start off: adorable restaurant! petite but the garden is a nice touch! i love all the items on the menu! so it was really hard to narrow it down.. thankfully, for restaurant week, i only had to narrow it down to 3! lol appetizer: B+V+P Meatball not bad! a ball the size of my girlie fist~ couldn't tell what was in the middle.. gravy? it was placed on top of a bed of polenta~ though, a little bit more marinara would've really hit the spot. this still doesn't beat the one they serve at barbuzzo though :P Entree: Grilled Seafood ok.. this was kinda disappointing. i love seafood and not that it wasn't grilled right.. but the quality was kinda meh. the calamari was fine.. the octopus was fine.. the tiger shrimp was ok.. the swordfish was meh. the fava beans were very good! sry but i would not get this again. not the biggest fan for frozen seafood-- the fish was the most apparent. i couldn't get myself to finish it. dessert: Tiramisu the lunch took longer than i expected so we bagged the desserts to go~ i had the tiramisu later that day and i enjoyed every last bite of it! it really hit the spot. i don't have much of a standard for desserts~ all i can say is that it was very good lol can't go wrong with that :) overall, cute spot in CC~ i would consider coming back for lunch since it's very close to my office. service was a little slow maybe it was busy during restaurant week, but i'll give it another try :)
(3)Christine V.
This is just about the cutest little Italian restaurant around! The have an indoor dining room that is dimly lit and gives off a very intimate and soothing vibe. In addition to the indoor area, they also have a much more laid back outdoor seating area. There are heat lamps so don't worry about it getting a little chilly. My friends and I came here for a birthday dinner, and we were seated outside. It was the perfect environment, and the decor outside was just lovely. When it gets a little darker, the mini lamps hung above the seating areas light up and gives you the perfect amount of light. Their menu is not extensive but everything sounds amazing.To start off the meal, we ordered the garlic bread. Absolutely delicious! It comes with a whole roasted garlic on the side so you can spread some of the roasted cloves onto your toasty, buttery bread for some added flavor. I ended up ordering one of their specials for the night: the house pappardelle with lamb ragu. The dish was flavored to perfection! The braised lamb with the resulting sauce accompanied with some broccoli rabe was the hearty meal that I needed. My friends ordered other pasta dishes and their gnocchi. I tried a bit of everything and was not disappointed in anything. The linguine alle vongole comes with a heaping amount of clams! And the fresh basil pesto added a light and refreshing component to the dish. Little Nonna's offers an inviting and warm environment to those it serves. The atmosphere is perfect for a date night or just a nice dinner with your friends. The food is nothing short of amazing and will leave you wanting to come back here for more. A beautiful gem serving up tasty Italian food in Philadelphia!
(5)Rob B.
Went as a single diner on Sunday night, one of their busier nights. There were four two tops free, but was told my only option was to sit at counter by the kitchen. My view was of a stack of plates and it was super loud. Not a pleasant experience. Food was good but hard to digest under the circumstances. Definitely skip if you're dining alone.
(1)Shirlana D.
Little Nonna's provides a taste of authentic yet original Italian cuisine. My pallet was awakened from the moment the meatballs & polenta appetizer was brought to the table by the welcoming server. The entree I had with Japanese eggplant parmesan was light and filling. The garlic bread was fresh, crisp & perfectly seasoned. This awesome meal was topped off with tiramisu. The tiramisu reminded me of my trip to Venice & the wonderful cuisine I experienced while visiting there in 2010. I am anxiously awaiting the opening of the restaurateur's new restaurant Bud & Marilyn! Look out Philly visitors & locals alike, for your taste buds will not be disappointed when you take Philadelphia s own tour of Italy at Little Nonna's restaurant :) For my foodie friends, this place MUST go on your list of places to visit.
(5)Violeta B.
Great cozy and dimly lit location. Easy to miss store front and currently blocked by construction. Reservations are highly recommended, as it is a small place and was completely full when we arrived for our 8:45 PM reservation on a Tuesday. Food was spectacular. The Shaved Vegetable Salad was crisp, fresh, and dressed lightly. It was topped of with the perfect amount of cheese, which added a nice sharp taste. The eggplant parmigian had a nice crunch, and a mix of savory flavors. For dinner I had the spaghetti and meatballs. It was HUGE. Big enough for sharing. The pasta was seasoned lightly and had a nice amount of sauce. The meatballs were incredible! The star of the plate!! They were seasoned deliciously with a blend of spices. There is a surprise in the middle that comes in the form of CHEESE. For dessert I had the Apple Crostata. It was an amazing blend of carameley goodness, with multiple flavor profiles in every bite-salty, sweet, and tart. The vanilla ice cream balanced it all out. Must try local philly favorite! #yum
(4)D. B.
Service in this restaurant even though very small was very good. Small tables hard to keep everything on it. The pasta was home style and good but the downfall was it had a strong burnt taste to it as well as the meatballs which were burned. The home made pasta was some of the best I ever had. Better than other home made pastas around the city and else where. very well priced for a great amount of food. would have given 4 stars if the sauce wasn't burnt. Will try again in the future.
(3)Roopa S.
Definitely one of the best Italian dinners I've had in the city so far. I came here for a restaurant week lunch and was absolutely flabbergasted by the quality of all the dishes on the menu (we basically tried everything because the options were limited *no complaints there* and my friend and I love splitting). From the pulled mozzarella to the arancini to the orecchiette, and finally the chocolate pistachio cannoli... everything was droolworthy and impeccably prepared. The ambiance in the restaurant is unbelievably cute as well. Would go back in a heartbeat.
(4)Grace L.
Another 13th street restaurant did not disappoint! After going to Lolita and Jamonera, Little Nonna's was last on my list. I came here for 3 other girlfriends for a Friday lunch on the first weekend they opened the garden, and was heartily satisfied. Firstly, the restaurant seems intimate enough for a small group yet accommodating for larger groups! The garden was not the most scenic (especially compared to that of Wedge & Fig), but it was pleasant regardless sitting outside in the sunshine. I don't quite remember our service, but was entertained by the beautiful serving plates and glasses. We ordered the Bruschetta, Eggplant Parmigiana, Swordfish Saltimbocca, Pan Seared Potato Gnocchi, and Ricotta. Each dish was cooked to perfection, and while the portions were not huge, they were perfect for sharing and tasting the delicious flavors. We did see that the spaghetti and sandwiches seemed like HUGE portions for their price, so perhaps that is the way the go if you're looking for most food for your buck (I am confident in the food quality of all menu items here). Overall, a delightful culinary experience; I cannot comment on the greatness of its traditional Italian food, but Little Nonna's did not disappoint when compared to its 13th street conterparts. It's wonderful that the four (five?) restaurants all have different cuisines too, and all excel at what they do. I think my ranking would have to be 1. Lolita 2. Little Nonna's 3. Jamonera 4. Barbuzzo.
(5)Amanda C.
Are you looking for inventive and high-quality Italian food in an intimate setting in the heart of Center City? I mean, who isn't? Little Nonna's has gotten acclaim, both in the Yelp world and in the professional review circuit, and I was eager to try it. We came for lunch - a great way to get a seat quick (especially on a week day, getting there right at 12.) Our server was quick to greet us and even quicker to get us our drinks. We sipped imported beer and cappuccinos while waiting for our food, which was presented on lovely antique plates. We tried the wild mushroom arancini and the B+V+P meatballs to start - both were perfect, the anancini with the most perfect truffle aioli. I had the eggplant parmesan as an entree, which came layered with spring greens, instead of pasta. It was the perfect mix of savory and subtle sweetness, and after sharing appetizers, was the perfect amount. Dining companions tried the pan seared gnocchi and braised shortrib sandwich - dishes I was lucky enough to try. I'm actually getting hungry just thinking about that sandwich. Even though I was stuffed after our entrees, we decided to share the tiramisu, which turned out to be a beautiful overstuffed bowl of cake and cream and my "I'll just have one bite" turned into 7 or 8. This was honestly one of the best lunches I've had in Philly, and I can't wait to come back for dinner sometime. I heard they have a lovely outdoor space, which will be the perfect place to enjoy another tiramisu!
(5)Sharee W.
The food is really good and and the portions are large. The spaghetti and meatballs could probably be split among several people. They have cute little outside garden area that's covered behind the restaurant. While it does protect from rain, it did get very hot and humid back there. It would help if there were some fans. They have decent variety of food.
(4)Kelli B.
The food was really good. The service felt a bit subpar like 6.5/7 out of 10. And the setting obviously was perfect. I will be definitely coming back.
(4)Andrew M.
Found this place on Yelp yesterday when looking for good Italian/Vegetarian restaurants in the area. They have both indoor and outdoor seating. We decided to sit in the patio area. It was a little hot but not too bad. Started the dinner with an order of their garlic bread. It was delicious! For the main course I had Nonna's Spaghetti & Meatballs and my friend had the Pan-Seared Potato Gnocchi. The spaghetti portion was huge!! The meatballs are stuffed with fontina cheese and were delicious! The Gnocchi was just okay. Glad I went with what I ordered. To top off the meal we had the Tiramisu, Blood Orange & Basil Water Ice, and the Hazelnut Cannoli. All three were delicious in different ways. The water ice was surprisingly refreshing. The tiramisu was some of the best I've ever had. Also, it was topped off it crumbled pizzelles. SO GOOD! One last thing to mention was the service. Our waitress was great. Additionally, the manager checked in with our table and you can tell they really care about the quality of the experience. 5/5!
(5)David A.
We lucked out and went here for a last minute lunch and got a table. Love the feel of this place and the food and service were both great. We shared a bunch of stuff and everything was delicious. Arancini, meatballs and a salad were great starters and my fish for my entree was perfect. A great spot.
(4)Allison G.
I ate here last Friday for restaurant week lunch with my coworkers. One of my coworkers is a really picky eater, so we picked this place reasoning that if she didn't like something off the restaurant week menu, she could always order something plain off the regular menu. We were a little disappointed when we sat down and they told us we all had to either order off the restaurant week menu or the regular menu. We ended up deciding on restaurant week. Some of my favorite selections were the mushroom risotto balls, the meatballs, and the pistachio cannoli. The decor is really cute and homey- fitting for an intimate Italian restaurant. Overall, the experience was pretty average.
(3)Nat M.
Good Italian food but not my favorite place in the city. The spaghetti and meatball dish was huge and could be shared easily. If you follow a low carb lifestyle then I'd recommend the Italian grilled dish. It is grilled seafood and veggies with cooked beans at the bottom. This description does not do it justice so check out the pictures. They also have Bronzino on the menu but I didn't get a chance to taste it.
(3)Dr N.
I can't believe this is considered "italian" food. garlic bread has sesame seeds, completely unauthentic. I got the spaghetti and meatballs. i thought that would be a solid dish but it was terrible!! Meatballs are burnt on the outside and a bit dry until you get the cheesy center which tries to make amends for the sorry situation. Pasta is disgusting, overcooked and BLAND. We also got some unwanted "friends" in our food. Short ribs and what seemed like other people's leftovers. Never returning again.
(1)Kira S.
Best meatballs I have ever had!
(5)Sherry H.
As promised to myself, I came back to Little Nonna's for Restaurant Week dinner, and it definitely did not disappointed one bit. I came with two others, and they seemed to really enjoy their meals, but I'll talk about what I order only here: WILD MUSHROOM ARANCINI // This will forever and always be my favorite, and I was so glad to see it on the restaurant week menu once more. Just think breaded and fried risotto balls with creamy mushroom and risotto inside that just warms the heart. BRAISED SHORT RIB // Short rib will always pull me in, and this one didn't disappoint; it was incredibly tender and pulled apart with just one poke of my fork. It was also MASSIVE and fed me for my next two meals. I can actually talk about all the desserts since we shared: PISTACHIO CANNOLI // Again, a brilliant classic. Dark chocolate is a great touch, and the shell isn't even the slightest soggy when it gets to your table. APPLE CRUMBLE // Delicious, homey, comforting; the thyme ice cream was also a great touch. Little Nonna's will definitely forever remain at the top of my to-go Restaurant Week restaurants! Can't wait to try it on a regular day.
(5)Libby P.
I really don't understand how this place currently has four stars. To echo other recent reviews, our service outside Saturday the 15th was atrocious. I had made reservations for a party of 3 with a preference of outdoor seating at 8:45 pm, and made a note that we were celebrating my mom's birthday. We arrived at 8:40 and waited awkwardly in the doorway until 9:05 when we were finally seated. The host/manager didn't even bother acknowledging us during the 25 minutes we waited as he dove behind my mom to get menus for other guests. I was relieved to finally be shown to a table, but lo and behold, our outdoor table seemed to be the only place on the patio that didn't have air flow. There were also at least 3 free four-tops outside when we were shown our table, so I have no idea why we were left waiting for our table for so long. We never received an apology. The wine was good (although way too expensive, but I'll place the blame on that with the PLCB) and the heirloom tomato salad and wild mushroom arancini were great. However, we were visiting for the pasta, and that's what was incredibly disappointing. The spaghetti and meatballs were more on the cold side than room temperature--I mean, the cheese inside of the meatballs was still solid! Ew. I don't even think a warmer temperature could've saved the dish, though, because I've made better red sauce from a jar of Ragu. My boyfriend's gnocchi was an impossibly small portion. I think there were maybe 10 on his plate? For a $17 dish, seems pretty stingy. My chitarra al nero was eh: also cold, and tasted more of capers than crab. We had fully anticipated ordering dessert with coffee but after how bad our entrees were, we went to Capogiro instead. My mom's birthday was never acknowledged by anyone in the staff. I will happily take my business to Amis instead.
(2)John R.
Little Nonna's 1234 Locust St, Philadelphia, PA 19107 (215) 546-2100 Little Nonna's is a welcome addition to the Midtown Village area of Philadelphia (12th/Locust) which features this venture by Marcie Turney and Valerie Safran, two prominent Philadelphia entrepreneurs who are also responsible for Grocery, Open House, Lolita, and Barbuzzo. The restaurant once seated inside has an immediate homey feel-- as the name would suggest. "Nonna" is Italian for grandmother. Gorgeous, Italian market incandescent bulbs on cables light the interior giving everything a warm orange glow, just like grandma's house. The walls are decorated with quaint country style portraits and the plating is purposefully mismatched--your plate will have a different look then mine--reinforcing the idea that this is just a casual meal at grandma's house and we are not in fact out at a restaurant. Outside is beautiful al fresco dining under glass skylights. Note the addition of a random picnic table that does not match the other tables at all. This purposeful design "flaw" highlights the sense of homeyness and "grandma's house" decor found consistently themed throughout the restaurant. UNCLE SAL'S CHOPPED SALAD $10 gem lettuce, roasted peppers, soppressata, crispy chickpeas, pepperoncini, locatelli*, olives, zesty italian dressing. Probably the most interesting items in the salad were the locatelli and fried chickpeas which were reminiscent of popcorn. *Locatelli has been a brand name synonymous with the best quality Pecorino Romano. Most famously known as a grating cheese. NONNI'S SPAGHETTI & MEATBALLS $16 B+V+P fontina stuffed meatballs, braised pork marinara, parmesan, basil. This is Little Nonna's signature dish and quite frankly enough for 2-3 people. The meatballs are fist sized and the pile of pasta is arguably the leaning Tower of Piza of pasta piles. Absolutely delicious, and my friend and I were able to quickly polish this dish off. GRILLED SWORDFISH $22 fava, shaved asparagus, radish, wild mushroom farro, salmoriglio. This was pleasing but nothing special. Swordfish was well cooked and tender and the accouterments were adequate to the task. Interesting fact: the Salmoriglio is a Southern Italian condiment made of lemon juice, olive oil, minced garlic, chopped oregano and parsley, salt and pepper. Those are the yellowish-green drops of sauce you see on the plate. As an aside, take note of the plate and compare it to the plate the spaghetti is on. The mismatched china is apparently china the owners found at antiques markets and it certainly produces the desired effect: a much less pretentious meal and much more like "supper at little nonna's [grandma's]." It would be foolish not to take a moment to appreciate how far the designers of this restaurant took the "grandma's house" theme. I recall my own grandmother's house having knick knack shelves just like these and random pieces of china hanging on her walls. It is eerily similar. In summary, a great intimate 40 seat restaurant featuring grandma's homestyle Italian cooking with modest pricing. Dinner for two came to $80 with tip. We did not drink however so that should be noted. The wine list after a brief perusal was extensive enough to satisfy any sommelier. All in all, I would recommend this restaurant and would return to eat there again.
(4)Mikaela W.
I'd like to dedicate this review to our AMAZING waitress at Nonna's, Lydia. She was super professional, attentive and friendly, and really made the visit step up one notch. Big thank you, Lydia! My colleague had extreme cravings for meat, whereas I prefer not to have meat, so after a quick yelp search we settled that Little Nonna's would have something for the both of us. The restaurant was full when we arrived at around 8pm a Monday, but we were promised a table would be free in 15-20min (just enough time for a quick drink in a bar up the street). I really loved the look of the restaurant, quaint and cute with a lot of small details to look at. Perfect for a date. I have to admit that the starters didn't blow me away -the mozzarella with charcoal grilled bread was really nice, but would have been better if not so cold. The broccoli dish was "interesting", we concluded. The main courses though, wow! I had the fish bbq and it was absolutely divine. The recommended wine really added an extra dimension. The veal with sweet potatoes fries was equally praised. We almost didn't have room for dessert, but decided to share a hazelnut cannoli. Perfect! I thiiiink we might have overstayed a bit, as it was completely empty when we left, but none of the staff made any comment or made us feel rushed. All of the staff made us feel very welcome and made sure that we had everything we wanted and needed. I would say they are the perfect crew for the restaurant, so the owners better hold on tight to them.
(5)Louisa B.
This place has really delicious hearty Italian meals. When it comes to meatballs and gravy its like grandma's cooking. However, this place is super small and does not accommodate parties of 5 or more. Staff is cold and have a "know it all" attitude. We got questioned when we only ordered dinner. The food was so good but will probably order take-out next time.
(4)Sophie P.
Came here for Saturday lunch. Half of us got the tasting menu and half of us ordered a la carte, but we shared everything. For starters we got gem Caesar, arancini, fig bruschetta, and garlic bread. The garlic bread was standard but good, but my favorite was the fig. For mains we got the spaghetti and meatballs, which was huge. We also got the seafood grill, eggplant parmigiana, gnocchi, casarecce, and meatballs with polenta. The pastas were cooked perfectly and the meatballs were hearty. We were stuffed but still managed to finish dessert, which was tiramisu and cannoli. I usually find cannoli too sweet, but I enjoyed the tiramisu.
(4)Rica C.
Stuffed meatballs - incredible Mushroom rice balls- wow All apps Are incredible- the buratta and grilled bread was the best free starter I've ever gotten at a restaurant. We ate in the out door garden for restaurant week, cute as hell but it was hot as hell. the amazing good made up for it. Although drinks are outrageously priced.
(5)Serena D.
Love this place! Stopped by here on a rainy night after a concert. This is a small but well organized place with nice ambiance. We were greeted and seated immediately. They have a nice option on the menu. We started with garlic bread and shaved vegetable salad, which both were amazing!!! They roasted the garlic, you spread the garlic on the bread, it's nice and creamy!! We also loved the fried locatelli in the salad!!! For entree, we ordered sunday gravy and mixed grill. The sunday gravy was very flavorful, but the seafood grill was just average. They had a special wine, which only costs like $40 a bottle. The only complain is that the place is so tiny that you have to squeeze in and out between tables. When the server is severing the next table, her butt is literally hanging on your table. And obviously, your conversation has no privacy at all. Overall, my friend and I had a great experience at Little Nonna's. The ambiance is good for a nice date night, but I'm not sure if it's good for a group of friends get together due to the limited space. Will go back for the yummy food for sure!
(4)John K.
Opening in the fall of last year, Little Nonna's was definitely one of the restaurants I had my sights set on. Comfort Italian food like Nonna used to make (assuming my Korean grandmother was Italian)? It's clear that Midtown Village was excited for another of Chef Turney's offerings. Pinot Grigio [$10] Zenato, Veneto, '12 Our friend started off with a glass of pinto grigio - easy drinking. Sgroppino [$10] Blood orange basil sorbet, vodka, prosecco If you're not in the mood for wine, but want something that's similarly easy to imbibe, go with this tipple. Sweet undertones and the tart essence of blood orange belie the vodka, with the prosecco providing some effervescence. Negroni [$10] Gin, campari, sweet vermouth I went with the negroni and I'm glad I did. Simple yet smooth, this was served in a mason jar. Roasted Pear & Beets [$10] Sheep's milk ricotta, walnut pesto, baby kale, mustard greens We started off with the ubiquitous beet salad, with the roasted pear providing additionally sweet accents. The mustard greens and pesto provided some pop. The ricotta was creamy and helped to bring this all together. Negroni Glazed Lamb Ribs [$12] Hazelnut-almond romesco, vinegar peppers, orange One of the standout dishes of the night and a clear customer favorite were the lamb ribs. The ribs were fall-off-the-bone tender, with the negroni glaze offering some subtly sweet tastes. The vinegar peppers and orange helped to give each bite some acidity. Wild Mushroom Arancini [$8] Crispy risotto balls, buffalo mozzarella, truffle aioli One of the GF's favorites had to be ordered. The rice balls were certainly crispy on the outside and the creamy blend within was nice with al dente rice studded throughout. And while the truffle didn't come through at all, the buffalo mozzarella helped to bring additional smoothness to each bite. Roasted Fig Bruschetta [$9] Gorgonzola dolce, celery hearts & leaves, hazelnuts I love me some gorgonzola dolce so had to order these bruschetta. Whole roasted figs were littered atop the bread, along with celery hearts and leaves. This complemented the sweet, funky essence of the cheese nicely. However, the weight of the ingredients lent itself to a soggy undercarriage. Eggplant Parmigiana [$11] Japanese eggplant, mixed basil pesto, marinara, burrata This offering of two strips of breaded Japanese eggplant were similar soggy, though the flavors of an eggplant caprese were there. Heirloom Squash Ravioli [$16] Wine soaked prunes, roasted almonds, sage brown butter, gorgonzola A special for the night was heirloom squash ravioli - which we couldn't pass up. Who can say no to brown butter sage sauce, especially when it's covering well-made ravioli filled with creamy squash. The roasted almonds offered texture and the gorgonzola gave some pop to each bite. Potato Gnocchi [$14] Wine soaked prunes, almond brown butter, sage, shaved gorgonzola The gnocchi came a bit later, though we were hoping for all of the pasta courses together. As expected, the gnocchi were pillowy and soft. However, the online menu noted an almond brown butter and what we were given was more of a tomato sauce. A bit confusing, but delicious nonetheless. Perhaps the online menu's ingredients were used in the special? Veal Porterhouse [$26] Crispy La Quercia prosciutto americano, marsala, sage, roasted sunchokes, grilled oyster mushroom wedge And while I was particularly excited about the veal porterhouse, it was simply decent. It could have used a bit more seasoning, though it was cooked well. The crispy prosciutto was definitely needed for the salt. The mammoth grilled oyster mushroom wedge was nice though - moist, juicy, and tender. I would skip this and definitely go for the showstopper, which is ... Sunday Gravy [$24] Pork braciole: sharp B+V+P meatball, Fiorella Bros. hot fennel sausage, 4 hour san marzano marinara The Sunday Gravy. This meritage of roasted meats included tender pork shoulder, firm spicy sausages, and one huge beef/veal/pork meatball, all stewed with a 4-hour San Marzano marinara. It's topped with a forest of broccoli rabe - your Nonna wants you to have some greens, si? It's served alongside some flat and wide macaroni noodles - al dente and topped with more of that marinara and cheese. Garlic Bread [$5] Roasted garlic butter, sea salt, Sarcone's seeded loaf And how can you have Sunday Gravy without some bread? Unfortunately, the garlic bread is extra and even worse, it was a bit soggy on the bottom, though crisp on the top. Hazelnut Cannoli [$9] Hazelnut ricotta, fudge, caramelized cocao nibs For dessert, we decided to select two offerings. The cannoli were nice, with the hazelnut ricotta offering subtly sweet cream amidst the texture of caramelized cocoa nibs. Water Ice [$6] Blood orange-basil-olive oil Do try one of their water ice. We had the blood orange-basil-olive oil, which was creamy, tart, light, and sweet. A nice palate cleanser for all that we had.
(4)Tiffany F.
Last night was my first time at Little Nonna's. My boyfriend planned an awesome date night and this was our first stop. We were seated in the "garden" and upon first glance, it was breathtaking! So quaint and cozy. I was already impressed. I had ordered the Italian Lemonade cocktail and it was so refreshing and delicious! Honestly one of the best cocktails I've ever had. The thyme syrup was the perfect touch. We had done a bit of research prior to our visit and pretty much knew what we wanted based off of everyone's reviews. We started with the garlic bread and holy wow... It was the best garlic bread I've ever had. The way the raw garlic just spread so easily made this dish unreal. Highly recommend this for starters, but eat it while it's hot! We waited for our main dish to eat our second piece and wish we would have scarfed it down immediately. We had both ordered the Spaghetti and Meatballs and the portions are HUGE! We could have easily split it, seeing as we both had an ample amount of leftovers to take home (which I ate for lunch today, right before I typed this and it was still awesome!). The meatballs were INCREDIBLE. Cutting into them and seeing the cheese pour out from the center caused so much excitement for me. The only slight, tiny complaint that I have is that there was not enough sauce. Next time, I'll be sure to ask for extra, hoping they do that! Overall, the food was great, drinks were awesome as well, and the service was perfect! Our server came over to check on us the perfect amount and left us alone mostly, allowing us to thoroughly enjoy our time together. We will definitely be back to Little Nonna's!
(4)CJ C.
Small mom and pop type venue with impeccable service and exquisite food. I went here for restaurant week with a group of friends. The menu had something for everyone and the wine pairings with each course were well chosen and plentiful. I got the wild rice arancini and the braised short ribs and was not disappointed in the slightest. I will definitely be returning.
(5)Marlena M.
It was a cute place, especially the lighted outdoor seating. I heard such great things about Little Nona's, but it was such a huge disappointment. The drink I got was reasonably priced at around $8 and tasted pretty good. It was served in a mason jar with a cute straw. However, the food was very disappointing. I ordered the eggplant sauce pasta. The sauce itself was ok--not particularly flavorful or unique, but the really awful part was the pasta itself. It was WAY overcooked and very mushy. I am sure that the chef must not have sampled the dish before sending it out, because it was honestly a disgrace. It is never nice to leave a restaurant feeling like you could have made a better version of a dish using jarred pasta sauce. The garlic bread (which they charge for) was the best part of the entire meal, but that isn't saying much since bread + garlic is almost always a winning combo. If you are going to have a meal that costs $30+ in Philly, there are far better options. Skip this place.
(2)Jessica W.
A Gem I first visited Little Nonna's in May. I had wanted to try the restaurant for months, and I was so happy with the experience. Reservations are absolutely necessary, as the space is small and fills quickly. Service was friendly, and the decor was welcoming. My boyfriend and I started with the Pickled Strawberry Bruschetta, very good. I had the Pork Chop Pizzaiola--this was amazing! He had the Sunday Gravy. As all reviews say, it's fantastic; try it. For dessert we tried the water ice, which was refreshing, and the sweet Apples Crostata. This is a great restaurant, and I look forward to returning.
(5)Caitlin C.
I came here on a Saturday evening for date night with my boyfriend. It was super easy to make a reservation and Little Nonnas is in an easy location to get to. We were seated at an adorable two top outside. The candle on the table and the lights above us made for a romantic setting. Started with the garlic bread, which was absolutely delicious. I ordered a dish with rigatoni, squash, sausage, and kale in a pumpkin cream sauce. I ate all of my dish and loved every bite. My boyfriend got the spaghetti and meatballs. The plate had so much food on it! I got to try some of the meatball, which had cheese in the middle. So good! Sadly, we were too full for dessert. The menu looked great though. I will be back and believe you should give it a go!
(5)Jennifer S.
Very cute small restaurant with a romantic atmosphere, but can be a little bit too dimly lit to read the menu. The meatballs with cheese is amazing as an appetizer. I got the pan seared gnocci and it was so good.
(4)Steve S.
Fantastic in every way. Our server Lydia was exceptional. The food was amazing: Shaved Root Salad - omg, one of the best salads ever, really that damn good. Garlic Bread - slightly better than mine - and mine is really good. Sautéed Brocoli Rabe w/ beans - really good. Pork Shank dish - so damn good. Spagetti and Meatballs - very unique flavors (smokey), tasted absolutely delicious! No surprise, but the girls have hit another home run. We've eaten in all of their establishments several dozen times - and you just can't get a bad meal. They clearly have a goal of excellence in everything they do - and every time we go they achieve that goal.
(5)Brian S.
Little Nonna's is great! While I kind of envisioned Little Nonna's as being a Barbuzzo Lite, it was not the case at all. The food, service, and atmosphere were all spectacular. We stopped by on a cold Saturday afternoon and were seated promptly. We started with the vegetable antipasta (very similar to what they serve at Barbuzzo and equally delicious) and the garlic bread which consisted of four large pieces of bread with a while roasted garlic clove allowing us to spread more garlic on it. Both are must-gets. For our main course my wife enjoyed the spaghetti and meatballs which I helped her eat. It was an enourmous plate of pasta and if it weren't for my age, my bum knee, and the fact that it was 20 degress outside I would be all ready to run a marathon. The sauce had a smoky flavor to it and lots of meat in the sauce. It came with two large fontina stuffed meatballs. Probably teh best spaghetti I have ever eaten. I had a special on the menu which was a mixed seafood grill featuring grilled swordfish, calamari, a head-on shrimp, and beans and onions. It was really good too but not overly filling. For dessert we had the infamous apple crostata and the warm apple spice cake. Both were very yummy and we kept going back and forth trying to figure out which one was better. So my advice to you: order both.
(5)Ainsley A.
Marcie Turney and Valerie Safran have done it again. My mom, sister and I dined here during Center City's restaurant week and had the most amazing meal I have had in Philadelphia to date. We ordered the Garlic Bread to start: not only was it at the perfect crisp, it was served with a full head of roasted garlic. One would think that the garlic flavor would be overpowering when combining the garlic bread with fresh garlic, but no- it creates a symphony of different flavors. What adds to this dish is the contrast between the soft creaminess of the garlic and the crisp crunch of the perfectly grilled homemade Sarcone's bread. The BVP meatballs (pork, veal, beef) are rested on top of homemade polenta and then topped with Nonna's homemade San Marzano "gravy" (red sauce). For those of you that don't know, San Marzano is a type of tomato which has a full texture and rich taste. I didn't think anyone could top my mother's red sauce, but this beats it by a mile. As soon as you take the first bite of the BVP meatball, you find a surprise inside- fontina cheese. Its like you just won the taste bud lottery! The wild mushroom arancini was as good, if not better than the arancini that I ate in Rome. The truffle oil paired with the creamy buffalo mozzarella took a traditional dish to a gourmet level. The restaurant week menu does differ from the everyday menu- the specialty pasta dishes my family had were just as detail-oriented as the appetizers: top notch and full of intense flavors that brought each dish together nicely. What is nice about this restaurant is that it uses local food from restaurants nestled within the iconic Italian Market. Sarcone's Bakery supplies the bread, Fiorella's supplies the sausage, and Claudio's (my favorite place in the world) supplies the cheese and various other antipasti items. The atmosphere of this restaurant is quaint and intimate. It transports you back to Grandma's house but with a new age twist. Tea lights hang from the ceiling and gives you the feel as if you are in an intimate rustic backyard setting. I would recommend this restaurant to anyone- whether it be date night, dining out with your family, or just experiencing it by yourself.
(5)Suzanne H.
Last but not least......some guys we sat next to at the Crow and the Pitcher suggested this place when I said I wanted authentic East Coast Italian. It's not like anyone's grandma's place I've been to, it was way better.... We got reservations for Sunday night a couple hours ahead. Got seated at appointed time. Had a great waitress, very helpful and friendly. It wasn't too loud or crowded for me--after you've eaten in Manhattan restaurants, nothing seems loud or crowded.... Anyway, she suggest the gnocchi, and I'm sooooo glad I went with it. It was awesome with capital A. I'll tell you what it wasn't--it wasn't mushy or pasty, and it was kind of charred, a little brown like it had been sautéed or roasted or something. I LOVED it. I would order it again and again. Oh yeah, we had the risotto balls for appetizer--I've had those at other places and always been disappointed. But, when it comes to food, I'm an optimist and I ordered them, and they melted in your mouth. Just what I always hoped risotto balls would be.... Hubs had spaghetti and meatballs, he ate about 1/2 of it....huge portion....he said the meatballs were great--I don't eat beef, so couldn't try them.....:( Another great place. Phillie food was awesome, we had no clue it was such a foodie town. What fun we had. Hope to come back and eat here again.....
(5)Jemma C.
I'm a little baffled at the glowing reviews. Don't get me wrong, there's nothing to hate here but there's also nothing to love! The dining room was unatmospheric and freezing! Perhaps dinner and a table in the courtyard on a warmer day would make me see this place in a new light but for now it's an average place for an average lunch.
(3)Ryan Z.
This was one of my most enjoyable meals of the past year. This is one of those places when I wanted to lick the plates and try absolutely everything on the menu. The gnocchi, pork chop, and cherry crumble were particularly memorable. Service was excellent. The dining room was very small so reservations are a must.
(5)Tonia B.
We went to Little Nonna's at the suggestion of the concierge. The food was divine and the drinks were exceptional. The snot sphere is cozy and the wait staff was very attentive. It is a great place for a date with someone you want to build memories with. We truly enjoyed every bite!
(5)A G.
Great menu. Even greater specials. Preparation was a bit off. (Go easy on the salt and on how long you cook the pasta, please.) Adorable spot, but was disappointed that "outside" is actually covered with a plexiglass roof and therefor stuffy rather than airy. Servers were pleasant and attentive. I look forward to going back.
(4)Sarah L.
Spaghetti and meatballs... Sounds plane Jane doesn't it? NOPE! Not at Little Nonnas!!!! My mouth was overjoyed after eating here. I'm not going to try anything new here because the pasta and meatballs are so satisfying everytime! The desserts are also delightful. If you are there during warmer weather, sit out in the courtyard. You def don't feel like your in philly when you sit there
(5)Mini P.
I decided to take my husband here for his 30th birthday dinner and I am so happy that I did. It was one of the coldest nights in Philly and this place was so warm and comforting to walk into. It is small, cozy and intimate. The decor makes you kind of feel like you are in grandma's kitchen. I guess that's why its called Little Nonna's (Little Grandma in Italian). We started of with a Sgroppino which is one of the best cocktails I have ever had the pleasure of drinking. It consists of a scoop of blood orange basil sorbet topped with vodka and prosecco. Such a lovely fun little drink! We then stuck with some whites for the rest of the evening with a glass of Vermantino and Pinot. We went with two appetizers. Straccciatella and Italian olives which is fresh pulled mozzarella in olive oil and sea salt with olives. It was served with warm grilled pieces of bread. Our second appetizer was wild mushroom arancini which is crispy risotto balls with Buffalo mozzarella, mushrooms and a truffle aioli sauce. Both of our choices where spot on! So delicious and packed with flavor. We ordered the special to share which was a beet ravioli filled with yummy cheeses and the chicken al matone. The chicken was seared with lemon, garlic and oregano and came with grilled artichokes and crispy fingerling potatoes. This chicken was by far one of the best chickens I have ever eaten. It had that "Grandma made this" flavor to it. Desserts where tiramisu and apple crostada. Both exactly what they should be. Nothing more and nothing less. I love how they served the tiramisu in a tea cup and saucer. Very nice touch. I also loved the random plates that all of our food was served on. None of them matched. I can dig it! The service was good. My only complaint is that when I made the reservation, I added a note asking them to please put a candle or write happy birthday on my husbands dessert and that was never done. But the food was so good that I forgive them. If you want to indulge and eat some Italian elegance with a homey touch then this is def the spot. A little pricey but worth it.
(5)Anthony R.
Great little Italian restaurant right off of Broad street in Philly. Staff was excellent. I recommend the wild mushroom arancini and the gravy (lots of food). Staff was very attentive and did a good job recommending food and drinks. We sat out in the heated garden area on a nice warm December evening and it was very pleasant, Definitely a good place to have on your list if in the area.
(5)Michael W.
This place is awesome! This was the second time that I was there and I loved every part of it. We had the pleasure of sitting in the "Garden" in the back and it was perfect. The restaurant week menu was perfect. We started with the meatballs and they were amazing!! The BVP combo was on point! From there I had the Heirloom Tomato pasta and it was the freshest ever! So good. We finished it off with a pistachio cannoli that was delicious. I would definitely recommend Little Nonna's to anyone that is interested in a fantastic Italian meal.
(4)Sarah A.
Little Nonna's, though right on the street, seems to be tucked away in a world of its own. I actually walked right past it (albeit from the opposite side of the street) before realizing I'd ventured too far. Stepping inside, the walls are rustic wood with nice lighting fixtures. It's a typical restaurant for the neighborhood: brushing elbows and sharing conversation with fellow diners. The food: Piping hot (where warranted) and delicious. The "B+V+P Meatball," which was served with soft polenta, san marzano gravy, and fontina (some nestled within the meatball itself) was terrific: the gravy really pulled it together. The "Stracciatella" pulled fresh mozzarella, olive oil, sea salt, grilled italian loaf was warm and gooey. The "Rigatoni" with fennel sausage, broccoli rabe, pecorino, and chile was flavorful and perfectly al dente. The "Pistachio Cannoli" with a pistachio ricotta filling and caramelized cacao nibs was delightfully crunchy and hardly sweet. And the "Apple Crumble" was total comfort food. The service: Prompt and polite. In sum: Not much "twist" going on here, which I generally prefer when dining out, but solid, "all-American" Italian cuisine.
(4)Chris S.
A great spot, came during restaurant week and they had a specialty menu. It's a small kitchen and dining area, but with a great atmosphere. Server was very accommodating for our group of 7. Ordered the buffalo mozzarella, shaved brussels salad, short-rib for dinner, and a cannoli to end the evening. A very very good meal, not a dish put in front of me that I didn't enjoy. The only reason I didn't give a 5 star rating was because the meal didn't amaze me. I would recommend this place to anyone, and would definitely go back again.
(4)Gautam T.
Little Nonna's was the last restaurant we needed to visit to complete Philadelphias version of restaurant row (please let me know if there is another part of town with the same amount of restaurants). We came for a late dinner (the servers probably hated us) and it was delicious. Let me see we tried the charcuterie plate; cheese was amazing, the cured meats were pretty standard, We got this mushroom dish that was absolutely awesome! and we got something the mozzeralla cheese salad; way too much mozzerella for two people. I swear how do italians eat so much cheese? I felt like my arteries were clogging up as I chewed the mozzeralla. For the entree I went with Gnocchi (because I am on a mission to find the best Gnocchi) sadly i didn't think it was the best. For dessert went with the standard Tiramisu which was stellar to say the least.
(4)Olivia R.
Little Nonna's was such a cute restaurant to come for restaurant week. The garden in the back was a wonderful place to spend an afternoon lunch. They have a clothesline and a beer garden table and benches that add authenticity to the atmosphere and make it seem like you are in someone's back yard in Europe. The food was very good. I particularly liked the ricotta stracciatella. The blueberry thyme water ice was more like sorbet but the flavors were unexpected and delicious. Fun atmosphere, great service, good food.
(4)L H.
Average/less than average Italian fare. Reserved a two-top for Friday night. Small restaurant, and unfortunately cold night so every time someone opened the door to enter/exit, an unpleasant blustery chill went through the space no matter where you were seated. Enjoyed the glass of Sangiovese I ordered to start. We were told by friends to try the meatballs so we did. They were served very hot, which I loved (particularly because it was so cold in the restaurant). The meatballs themselves were large, somewhat dry, and not as flavorful as I would've hoped. They're also stuffed with cheese in the center, which I was ambivalent about. So I make a pretty incredible meatball recipe at home with ground turkey, sweet/spicy Italian sausage, grana, prosciutto ... which are admittedly much better than those at Little Nonna's. Entrees were even more disappointing - we tried the veal and linguine vongole. The pasta was a heaping serving of slightly overdone noodles, a smattering of dry/yellow-ish looking clams, and worst of all...dill. Such a strange flavor combination. With any good linguine vongole, you need only a few components.... white wine, garlic, red pepper flakes, clam juice, parsley, maybe some lemon... but definitely not dill. Honestly, the dill just ruined it for me. I ate it because I was hungry, not because I was enjoying it. The veal was equally disappointing - overcooked, tasteless, and served lukewarm. Dessert - pumpkin cake with some kind of semi-molten caramel center. The cake itself was very dry. A nice straciatella gelato was served on top, which I liked. Maybe we ordered the wrong things on the menu that night - I would've liked to try the arancini if we were to do it again. But based on this initial impression, we won't be going back.
(2)Stephen M.
Yeah, buddy! This is the real Italian deal! A little classy restaurant with five men cranking out the best tasting dishes I have had in a long time! Visiting Philly from NY required something different from a Cheesesteak. Paired with a fab red wine, every single dish was amazing and the service was impeccable! First place I will hit when back in town!
(5)Ed K.
They were not flexible on a side order of pasta because it was Restaurant Week. U need to have good food and common sense. Esp when ur customers live in neighborhood. Others near by accommodate customers requests. Went there
(2)Thuy C.
I came in during this year's restaurant week by myself for a nice lunch. This place is charming like you've walked into an Italian grandmother's kitchen. My server Kerry was absolutely great! Actually all the staffs were great, attentive, quick, organized and knowledgable. I started with the BVP meatballs: they were salty, savory, decadent, juicy, stuffed with fontina and sitting on creamy polenta. For my main course I had today's macaroni special which came with smokey pork paired with bitter broccoli rabe, and briney olives, it really worked well together. I asked for red pepper flakes to add an extra kick, yum. For dessert, I had the tiramisu which came in a little tea cup with w a dollop of fresh whipped cream on top and Pizzelle crumbles, it was very satisfying even though I was so full from my pasta. This place is small, intimate, has great service and vibe but most of all the food is packed with great flavors.
(3)Lisa O.
I do not even know where to begin. Little's Nonna's has generously volunteered to be a part of Dining Out for Life (an annual event where restaurants contribute a third of their proceeds to AIDS research) for the last two years. I have been lucky enough to be their ambassador for these last two years. My fiance and I fell in love with this restaurant after I volunteered there last year and have made it our "date night" spot ever since. Everything from the atmosphere, to the food, to the service is absolutely impeccable. I was raised in an Italian family and know good Italian food -- this place has it. If you are in the area, I HIGHLY recommend dining here. You will not regret it. The menu is constantly changing and everything we've ever eaten there has been outrageously good. Little Nonna's is the epitome of a great establishment owned by people with kind and giving hearts -- come here ASAP!!
(5)Felicia C.
My friend and I enjoyed a dinner here for Restaurant Week. We received Stracciatella cheese with toasted bread and olives for the table, and then we each ordered an appetizer, entree, and dessert. The meatball appetizer was two large meatballs with sauce and polenta, and those meatballs were incredible. The arancini appetizer was four small and delicately toasted arancini balls. Both entrees were very good. My pasta was cooked perfectly al dente, a rare find. The sauce had an almost gamey meat taste that was surprising but delicious. Even the polenta was great, and I don't like polenta! Our desserts were awesome. My friend had the tiramisu, which was as big as an ice cream sundae. I had the cannoli, which was actually two cannolis, flavored with anise and pistachios. I recommend this restaurant, and would love to go back there myself and sit in the beautiful little garden area.
(5)Katie P.
I'd honestly rate this a 3 1/2 stars.. everything was just the way it should be. I don't think there were any stand out dishes- nothing made me say 'wow'. This was a quintessential Italian restaurant, you'll leave happy and full, but note that they aren't reinventing the wheel here... Also the place looks adorable.
(3)Lauren D.
Had dinner here with three girlfriends (all of our first time here). First off we liked the extensive wine list and the servers were very knowledgeable and gave recommendations. We started with the fig bruschetta which was delicious but was good for only 3 ppl. We all ordered a different entree- 3 "macaronis"/pasta dishes and one salad and appetizer duo. We ended up sharing off each others plates because it was all amazing! My clam and crab linguine was perfect! Plenty of seafood in the dish--def not disappointed, and I loved the grilled corn and other unique additions. Yum! Server was attentive, food was quick, outdoor patio is ADORABLE with clear covered roof, twinkle lights strung all around etc. We'll all be back with our husbands!
(4)Lisa P.
Small space but there is outdoor dining that we can't see from inside the main dining room. Open kitchen, attentive staff. Menu is not overwhelming, but I would like to see a few more Italian favorites on the dinner menu, like eggplant parm or bracciole. We ordered the charcuterie tray, thinly sliced mortadella/hot cappy/prosciutto with a dollop of gorgonzola dolce and pickled vegetables that were spicy hot but tasty. I would have liked a bit more bread to go with the 9 slices of meat. I ordered the spaghetti and meatballs, I came here specifically for this dish to taste the meatballs I've read so much about. My husband had the Sunday dinner which sounds like a lot of food; pasta of the day with pieces of short rib, meatball, sausage and some other meat(s), but the bowl of pasta was about as big as a cereal bowl, not much to make a meal out of, with the meat served on the side. In the end it was enough, but also would have liked some bread to clean up the meaty gravy that was left in the bowl. The meatballs are moist, as big as tennis balls and tasty. I would go back just to eat the meatballs. Since we weren't stuffed from dinner, we knew we'd have room for dessert. This was the 1st time my husband didn't even share his dessert with me...ever. He had tira misu, served in a coffee/tea cup that was apparently so delicious he couldn't spare to share a taste. I had the black cherry carambola, delicious cherry crumb style slice of pie with a side of ice cream. Yum. Served with LaColumbe coffee and we were good to go. Youngish 30-something crowd, so maybe they don't realize that some of us need reading glasses to read the menu and even then, with dim lighting and small font size and the menu tucked inside a plastic sheath, we really were not able to read every dish or its description. This is not specific to this location, most of our Center City dining turns out like this. If only each establishment would have a few large print menus for us 50+ who have disposable income, it would be so helpful.
(4)Mini M.
Cute italian restaurant in center city. The food was very tasty and the portions were a decent size for the price. My only complaints are 1) the waiter seemed to be rushing us through dinner and 2) we were seated at the table in front of the main door so that every time the door opened (which was frequent) a blast of cold air hit us. Overall I had a decent experience here and will probably return. The decor and atmosphere of the restaurant are fantastic and perfect for small groups.
(4)Alison G.
Best meatballs I've ever had! Garlic bread is also amazing, with fresh roasted garlic and buttery bread.
(4)Rosa O.
I had low expectations for this small Italian spot in Philly. Once I had the fabulous punch I knew I made the right choice. It came out in a cute soda bottle and it was so delicious. I didnt think anyone could make meatballs better than me. OMG. The polenta was PERFECT. Ths texture was amazing and the sauce flavorful. The meatball itself was seasoned well with hints of anise and fennel. I didnt even get my dinner course and am already a huge fan...
(5)Mike G.
After my 2nd meal here, I can say Marcie Turney has a Midas touch. Of course that's no secret. Both times stoping in without a reservation, I was able to get seated on a busy night at the "bar" which is actually a slim counter along the open kitchen. Each time this happened, my friend and I found it especially great to watch the dishes being prepared and even share some conversation with the line cooks. So, the entertainment is just a bonus. The food is really really great. I personally do not gravitate towards Italian restaurants, especially if touted as "homey". The dishes here though, are not just true Italian American, they're wonderfully prepared with nuanced care I find at Barbuzzo or Jamonera. Turney's menus are consistent in quality. The B V P meatball is something I had to order again, on my return. It was great to share, each time. Also the Risotto Aranchini (also found at barbuzzo?) were pure heaven. So glad to see it offered here. My friend and I ordered the swordfish and the short rib entrees and they were both really good though if I had to offer one criticism, the short rib was just a tiny bit saltier than I'd expected, though inhaled nonetheless. To be honest, this was restaurant week and since we were both starving, my friend and I didn't expect to leave so content. It was very similar to that of my own family's big meals so I am convinced that Little Nonna's is the perfect balance of authentic "home cooked" Italian and contemporary cuisine. The atmosphere was perfecto and the staff all very friendly. So for a place I was less than excited to see open, I am in love. Now Im just waiting for Cher to slap me and say "Snap out of it!" alls moonstruck ;)
(4)Melissa R.
YES! A new (to us) place to love. We went during restaurant week and it was so amazing. Our waitress convinced (ok, it didn't take much convincing) to also do the wine tasting menu-it was totally worth it. Food was stellar: amazing salads. The chicken was so frigging tasty that I didn't want it to be over, and the tiramisu! With the crunchy, yummy, crumbled pizzelle on top. SO GOOD. Service was relaxed enough that we didn't feel rushed, even on a night where they were booked solid, yet attentive enough that our courses were well timed and water was refilled. Can't wait to go back!
(5)Shaun E.
Wow. Started with the garlic bread, which came with a side of roasted garlic. Then had the gnocchi. Neither could have possibly been better.
(5)Josh L.
Nice little hole in the wall. Even though I came here with business colleagues, it would be a great place for a date. It is dimly lit, cozy with a great vibe. Got seated right away, the staff was very friendly with great timing. Had the spaghetti and meatballs as it was recommended. It's so good that you'll need a solid nap after. P.S The meatballs have a surprise in the middle. Would definitely recommend.
(5)Andrea T.
We had -the straciatella and italian olives, the olives were soooo good. One of them we only got one of, so i asked our waitress for more and she brought us 4! -wild mushroom arancini. I love arancini, even bad arancini. Except trader joes arancini is subpar. This was gorgeous and even had some sort of secret white sauce. Divine. -roasted fig bruschetta. sharon was over the moon, it just didn't do it for me. The figs were too mushy, the bread was soggy and the blue cheese a bit too pungent. I wouldn't get this next time, but if i went with sharon i'm sure we would have to. -shaved salad. This was brilliant. Proof that simple can be magnificent. I love fennel and brussel sprouts, but this was just magical. Almost slaw like and the locatelli just gave it the perfect notes. -fusili di pretti, was good a little oily, but good. not sure i'd get it again -pumpkin cannoli, very good, but wouldn't get again unless i was in a cannoli mood -warm chocolate hazelnut cake with banana straciatella ice cream...........fucking insane........fresh hot cake from the oven....this was perfection and i dont even like chocolate cake! -VALPOLICELLA, TENUTA MONTICELLO, VENETO, '09 we had a bottle of this and it was a very drinkable red, and i'm not fond of italian wine. Definitely cannot wait to go back!
(5)Brittany P.
Four stars just because our server was more interested in the table of her friends next to us. went for restaurant week, lunch special was $20 and I honestly couldn't even touch my Second course because I was so full. Split everything among the group and everything I tried was awesome! Compliments to the chef. Awesome outdoor garden seating area. Cut inside too!
(4)Tom G.
I came here for lunch during Restaurant Week, and was immediately charmed by the cozy atmosphere, hanging lights and full tables. We grabbed two seats at the chef's table, next to the small, open kitchen. It was fun seeing the cooks efficiently prepare and plate the meals -- we could see that a lot of care was put into each dish. For appetizers, we shared the stracciatella (pulled mozzarella, olive oil and grilled bread) and wild mushroom arancini (lightly fried rice balls). They were amazing -- my first bites of each were transporting and delicious. The charred bread was fantastic with the mozzarella and olive oil, one of the rare times something being slightly burned made the whole dish better. The arancini, which I never had before, was crispy on the outside, and flavorful and soft on the inside; the shaved cheese on top made it even better. The rigatoni with sausage and broccoli rabe was also good, if familiar. The wild mushroom lasagna came with some cherry tomatoes, cooked literally on the vine. The mushrooms were well-cooked, but the overall dish was a little dry. The desserts were great: The pistachio cannoli was creamy and delicious. The tiramisu was great, sweet without overwhelming, and had crushed waffles cookies sprinkled on top, which added a nice crunch. Our servers were attentive, always making sure we had enough water, and providing clean silverware for each course. We had a great time at a reasonable price ($20 per person), and hope to come back again some day, even if it's not Restaurant Week!
(5)Samantha T.
This little byo was like sitting in my grandparents' dining room. It's small & cozy. The service was fast and friendly. The food was PHENOMENAL!!!! It was wonderful for a date night. I can't wait to go back!
(5)Lilli C.
On a Monday night this place was packed, and there was absolutely no place to stand while waiting for our table. We were basically blocking the doorway and hovering over a table of 4 eating. Luckily we didn't have to wait too long for our table and the food was good and the service here was really friendly. The pulled fresh mozzarella with a thick cut grilled Italian loaf was awesome. The fig bruschetta was just okay...I wasn't too fond of the celery hearts with the fig and it also came on the same thick Italian loaf as the mozzarella, that after eating both of those, I was actually pretty stuffed. For my entree I got the eggplant parm and the bvp meatballs which were both awesome, but the timing of the food was a bit off. I got my entree a full 10 minutes before my friend's. I especially loved the fontina that was stuffed into the meatballs. For dessert we split the hazelnut cannoli which was not very good...the shell tasted like a soggy sugar cone. I will definitely be back just for the meatballs and the mozzarella!
(4)Reesha G.
Cozy, warmly lit, and satisfying. Our server was supportive of vegetarian dietary questions, but otherwise terse. We had the shaved Brussels sprout salad (stellar), broccoli rabe (garlic for days! but I love that), and the gnocchi (the accompaniment was delightful, the gnocchi so-so). I felt that Italian bread should have come with the main course instead of as a $5 side, but we felt it was both essential and delicious. The highlight was the apple crostata, which had pecorino in its crust and was the best idea I've ever had. Overall it was a splurge, but we left content!
(4)Melissa P.
Have you ever had a meatball that just tasted like actual different meats, and was deliciously spiced and flavored, and ginormously huge, and amazing? I have. but only at Little Nonna's. I have some rules about going out to eat. I don't like to go out for Italian (I feel like I could make it at home?) and if I do, it better be BYOB or someone else picking the place, and I'm sure as hell not ordering something like spaghetti and meatballs. So how did I end up choosing this place for our monthly girl's dinner and raving about their spaghetti? What can I say, I'm a sucker for Marcie Turney, I love to check out new places, and I follow my fellow yelpers' reviews. So those rules outweighed my other rules and there we were. VIBE We were 6 and they wouldn't take that number on Opentable, but I called and they said they could seat us at a high top, which ended up being perfect. The decor is adorable and the atmosphere is perfect for a date or a group of friends catching up. FOOD Food is served as it comes out so I would recommend going family style. The menu has changed (no butternut squash lasagna or stuffed shell when we were there) so don't get too attached to the online menu. We ended up pretty much eating family style and got the antipasto board (a good sized starter, but not mindblowing), the roasted fig bruschetta, the gnocchi (really good), several orders of the BVP Spaghetti and Meatballs (amazing), the cavatelli nero (really interesting, and great flavor), and the linguine vongole (also great). Portions were big, but not overwhelming, and everything was great. RECAP We had a wonderful meal, drank some bottles of wine, laughed, talked loudly, probably annoyed everyone around us, and the evening was just magical. My only gripe is that for Italian food, it's kind of expensive. With a few bottles of wine we ended up paying around $50 each, granted we may have over ordered a bit, but still. Highly recommend.
(4)Dana S.
SUPER DELICIOUS FOOD. Came here with my friend for a catch-up dinner and it was a great pick. The interior is very quaint and the staff is very attentive. I had the traditional spaghetti and meatballs and we ordered the roasted asparagus bruschetta as an app. It was all good but I especially loved the bruschetta. The portions were generous. I also was very impressed they didn't rush us a we lingered a little after settling the check. (I tried not to be that annoying table but when you haven't seen some one in a little while, it happens a little). Definitively would recommend to friends. It's small so it can and will fill up fast. There is also an outdoor seating option which I would love to investigate next time I there.
(4)Elaine L.
Too many things to say with too few words. Summary: holy goodness yum!! The last time I came here, I loved their seared gnocchi dish and the Sunday dinner special. Their meatballs are ridiculously good as their arancini is!! We got to sit outside the garden patio which is a great place to hang out in the spring and summer time. Staff was great and I loved this place - will have to come back again!
(5)Althea B.
This place is an absolute GEM! Excellent service and Food! Had the wild mushroom arancini, and clam linguini (added shrimp), last but certainly not least was the apple toastada with thyme ice cream. The food was absolutely amazing. I will make a special trip back to Philadelphia to eat at Little Nomna's again!!!
(5)Steve S.
Great spot, excellent food and service, I would definitely go back. Had the special chopped salad which was outstanding. Spaghetti and meatballs enough for 2 people for sure, but really, really good. Small restaurant so make a reservation. Really nice experience.
(4)Louis D.
Delicious, perfect little Italian spot, I go the Sunday gravy.. it was fantastic! the staff was very friendly and helpful. the tables are close so you can get to know your table neighbor like an old aunt or uncle.. Would go back.! make reservation! Fun homemade drinks too.
(5)Carla F.
I think this is a cool little addition to the 13th street restaurant scene. I wanted to like it even more than I did but ultimately this is just a good little restaurant serving italian food. We sat inside so we missed out on their supposedly amazing and romantic outdoor area. The garlic bread and arancini were amazing. We split a number of pastas and they were all good. Definitely a good place to check out, not sure that I am dying to return......
(4)Grant S.
This is such a gem! Went here for my birthday dinner and they truly served an experience. Our server Kaylee really knew the menu and wine list. Took her recommendation for wine and it was spot on! For an appetizer we had garlic bread and their meatballs. I am a good Italian boy and NO ONE has meatballs better than grandma but these were pretty damn close! For dinner I had grilled sausage peppers and onions item on their specials menu. The server told us they make the sausage in house and it is always different. The meal was excellent but of course since it was my birthday i had to have dessert and I ordered the tiramisu... one word WOW! For me the attention to detail in every aspect of the meal was amazing and Kaylee is truly an asset to the restaurant. She cares about her customers and made the experience one to remember! I'll be back!
(5)Christopher D.
Visited last night and I must say I was underwhelmed. Definitely a small cramped space where you were conscious of your neighbors at the next table over. Very small menu and if you DC doesn't eat pork, you rapidly have very few choices to choose from (even less if you are a vegetarian). Wine list was reasonable, but it was a joke that they said they had italian sodas when they had flavored pellegrino. Make your own italian sodas already. Had the beet, and pear salad with kale and riccotta. Nothing to write home about. The Lamb rib appetizer was good meat but definitely over cooked. The mains were better. Branzino special was well cooked, and nice vegetables with it. The calamari pasta dish was well flavored, very nice pasta. All in all for 80 dollars plus tip not a bad meal. It is definitely not a "comfortable" space to dine in. I wish they would remove one table spread the tables out more and improve the menu choices. Going to be a while before I return for dinner here.
(3)J K.
Its hard to find a restaurant where you can get good spaghetti and meatballs. Little Nonna's serves up a huge plate of them, for $16, and the portion could easily be shared by 2 people. The meatballs are B+V+P Ibeef veal and pork) which makes them really tasty. The sauce had a bit of zing as well, and was very concentrated. Definitely worth coming back for these! We also enjoyed the wild mushroom arancini appetizer which came with 4 large arancini for $8. There was an extra charge for garlic bread (I forget how much) but it was excellent, crispy and came with a whole head of roasted garlic to smear onto it just in case the bread wasn't garlicky enough! I wasn't as thrilled with the Ricotta Cavatelli, mainly because of the overpowering amount of salty olives in the dish. The olive flavor competed with the duck sausage and just resulted in a dish that was just too strong flavored for my taste. Our party of two definitely ordered too much food, and couldn't finish it though we wanted to. This would be a good place to come with a party of four, and share a couple of appetizers and entrees. If the portion of the spaghetti and meatballs is any indication, the "sunday gravy" at $24 would likely serve 3-4 people. Service was superior, the room is cutely decorated, though the tables are rather close together and it gets noisy. Overall, recommend this place and will be back for more meatballs!
(4)Ariel G.
Excellent! Adorable, cozy and the food was terrific. Perfect date spot.
(5)Marlo T.
Went to Little Nonna's for the second time ever and was so excited they were participating in Restaurant Week. When we arrived we were late (about 30 minutes) but I had called ahead to give them notice. When we got there we had to wait for our table (which I expected because we were late); however there is no room to wait. It's very crowded and people are coming and going with a revolving door. It would be really nice if they had a bar to wait and get a drink. After 20 or so minutes, we were able to get a table outside in the garden which was absolutely delightful. The lights and atmosphere was so cute, but like i said the place was packed and it made it difficult to hear one another at our 4-top table. We were "greeted" by a waitress if "greet" is even the right word to use. This waitress was miserable, didn't introduce herself, didn't crack a smile even when saying hello to our table. She got us waters, came back, and then immediately asked us what we wanted to eat -- not even taking our drink order first. Then, I didn't like that you didn't have a choice or some of the table ordering from restaurant week, some ordering from menu. All had to order restaurant week or not. We all went with the restaurant week menu which was nice because we all could try 1 of the 4 selections offered and we all shared. The food came out so fast and every single thing was just as I remembered it being the first time - absolutely delicious. From the starter course of the Straciatella and grilled bread with olives to the Tiramisu at the ending, we were satisfied. I would go back any day for the B+V+M meatballs and my lemon chicken. The food absolutely made up for the poor service from our waitress.
(3)Jenny B.
Loved it as much as I loved barbuzzo. First of all, the interior is gorgeous. They have these awesome lights hanging from the ceiling that add a romantic spin. The space is cozy and vintage. Our party sat inside, but you can also sit in the garden area. I went with five other people so we ordered a bunch of things and shared. In terms of the appetizers, the mussels were great. Also the Cesar salad was fresh and flavorful, especially the freshly ground pepper with crunchy romaine was an awesome combination! My brother got the meat balls and loved it. My cousins got the gnocchi and loved it as well. The best part however..was the dessert! We had the cheesecake, apple crostada with ice-cream and hazelnut cannoli. The hazlenut cannoli is a MUST. Imagine all the flavors of nutella made into a fancy cannoli......sooooooo goood. The only minus would be the wine which was mediocre, but overall worth a visit!
(5)Stella H.
Food was okay, but the service was a mess. We went in for lunch and were the 2nd table there, placed our orders and received our salad and eggplant parm appetizer as the place filled up with more people we waited more than 45 minutes for our entrees. Many tables received their entrees before us, but some tables asked for their food to go because they couldn't wait any longer. The servers were crowding around the kitchen at some point waiting. I have no idea what was going on in the kitchen, but will never go back there for mediocre Italian food.
(2)Jennifer M.
I have a huge crush on this restaurant! HUGE. The place is tiny, but cozy. Unfortunately, there weren't available tables, but our party of three were able to sit at the counter. (Silly of me to come during opening week, but I couldn't resist!). Eating at the counter did have its perks. I was able to salivate over the food as it was being prepared. And Marcie Turney was in the house, so we got to see all the action! Bottles of wine were $40, so we treated ourselves to the Greco. Tasty! Our dinner selections included: Stracciatella (ah-mazing, and yes, you better order more bread); BVP meatballs (This appetizer disappeared pretty fast, so if you need to share, then order more); Stuffed Shell (ONE ginormous shell filled with lots of ricotta and finished with a mint pesto to make it interesting); Gnocchi (just ok for me); and a side of mushrooms and polenta (two things I love together - this side was rich in delicious flavor). The pace of our dinner was on point, which was good because I was worried about table space since we were at the counter. Nevertheless, our appetizers were cleared way before the entrees came out. We were so full from dinner that we didn't have enough room for dessert. No problem there since I didn't see anything special that I wanted to try! Hoping they'll expand their dessert menu! So yes, I will certainly be back. Dining at the counter wasn't so bad, but I definitely want more room at a table so we can try out the other selections!
(4)Shauna G.
I love my parents. But if Marcie Turney and Valerie Safran offered to adopt me as their child if I never spoke to them again, I wouldn't even think twice. Oh to be able to eat from their delicious restaurants all the time... sigh... and sorry mom and dad. The atmosphere at Little Nonna's is a 10. We ate out on the patio and what was probably my favorite thing was the hanging laundry on the side wall. Great touch. Don't even get me started on the meatballs... mmm mmm mmm. B + V + P + Shauna = BFFs. It was definitely the highlight of the meal. And because I feel the need to always put my food in competition with each other and rank things and make lists, I will now list in order of taste preference the other things that I ate (from the Restaurant Week lunch menu): 2. Orecchiette 3. Tiramisu 4. Shaved Salad 5. Chicken Parm Sandwich 6. Pistachio Cannoli Yum! Well done on your new place, ladies!
(4)Laura G.
Good! Small, adorable and what you'd expect from this restaurant. Food was good but didn't wow me like barbuzzo. Cesar salad was Delish as well as the wild mushroom risotto balls (a little too salty). I had the Rigatoni in a Parmesan pumpkin sauce with spicy sausage,which I enjoyed. My friend had the spaghetti and meatballs which was pretty good and lasted her three days of leftovers!! Hazelnut cannoli was very great! Service was decent, waitress didn't know much about the wine though. Cute bathroom but chilly. Restaurant is cozy and adorable.
(4)Meredith B.
Best meatball of my life. I am going to continue to try and figure out what is in those delicious balls from God. Everytime I have a meatball from now on I'm going to be thinking of *those* meatballs. Ok now that I got that out, lets talk about the rest of Little Nonna's. I could go on for hours about how amazingly perfect those balls were. We were some of the lucky ones... Saturday night reservations on opening weekend (thank you Lindsay H.)! We were seated immediately. Although the restaurant itself is small... we had a good amount of table space and we did not feel cramped at our table. When it comes to the cocktails, this is really my only quasi-complaint. I'd almost it rather be a BYO. There are four options for cocktails on the menu (two of which have Campari... so if you're not into that....). We had asked if you could just order a "standard" cocktail (like gin tonic or vodka tonic) but we were told that since the kitchen is so small all drinks are premade. Which (I will say), when they came out they were uber cute... but in the end I think I'd have almost preferred a BYO. We ordered: B+V+P MEATBALLS - like I said before... best meatballs of my life. I'm going to inquire if they do takeout and delivery (they're that good). Don't come to Little Nonna's and not get the meatballs. ROASTED FIG BRUSCHETTA - amazing! The sweet fig with the soft creamy contrast of the cheese made this a sweet with some savory bruschetta on top of mouthwatering bread. GARLIC BREAD - we needed something to mop up the sauces with. What I love about this is it came with a head of roasted garlic to just smear on (my mouth is watering just thinking about it). TODAY'S STRACIATELLA - Ours was amazing... but given it's "todays" I have no clue what you're going to get... but I have a feeling it'll be a great choice. PORK BRACIOLE MARINARA LINGUINE VONGOLE (which I was so busy hogging all the possible extra meatball chunks I was too full to even try). SPAGHETTI & MEATBALLS - seriously any reason to get more meatballs is fully indorsed by me. I gotta believe most people skip over spaghetti and meatballs when at a restaurant... don't do that here. Please don't do that here... order these. Next time I'd like to order (a few things we didn't get): HEAD ON SHRIMP SCAMPI "HOT LITTLE ITALIAN" PEPPERONI MARINARA MUSSELS BUTTERNUT SQUASH LASAGNA NONNI'S STUFFED SHELL Ok so I noticed I basically just listed everything on the menu I didn't order the first time. Clearly I loved my meal and experience here and hope to be back very soon. Congrats to the chef and owner... they're doing something right. Can't wait to sneak on over there for their new lunch hours!
(5)Umesh K.
We sat in the back and had a friendly visit by Santa. The meatballs were delicious as well as the garlic bread. We were having a great time. However, we heard the sound of food falling on the ground. We looked over and a little kid had thrown up violently. I guess too much eggnog. However, the waitresses moved fast, asked us if we wanted to be moved and were real pros through the whole thing. A memorable lunch, delicious with an unfortunate turn of events.
(5)Ron H.
After a disappointing meal and a 3star rating, I continue to hear about how great the food was so I went back two more times...should have taken my own advice and stayed away. We went in with a group of four and order most of the items on the menu. Every red sauced item here had the same "gravy", and it tasted like pepperoni oil. I was suprised because the previous visit (on a Tuesday night), I thought the sauce was fresh and bright with strong fresh tomato flavors. Now, it was like they let the sauce continue to simmer for the entire week with chunks of pepperoni until it resembled a thick tomato paste. The pepperoni marina mussel dish was too garlicky, although the bread was nice...but then again, how bad is your kitchen if they mess up toasting the actual bread! The overall flavor of pepperoni is overpowering and dipping your bread in the sauce gives the taste of eating pepperoni pizza...not what you want from a mussel dish. Head on Shrimp Scampi was overcooked and the shrimp bodies were starting to br mushy, to the point where the bodies were falling off from the heads on their own in the dish. I bite was enough to leave the rest of the dish just sit. Roasted Pear and Beets salad was actually very good, well half of the dish was at least. The smaller cuts of beets were cooked well, however the larger pieces were undercooked and still bitter. The ricotta was also a little too bland to go with the beet flavor and the dish should have been made with a more pungent goat cheese The shaved salad with brussel sprouts was a unique flavor, leaning well towards the bitter side, but something safe to order if you like bitter greens. Spaghetti and meatballs comes with the same BVP meatballs from the appetizer menu. A gooey cheese center couldn't save the bland meatball flavor this evening. I don't think the fontina cheese is the best cheese to use (if a cheese should be used at all), but none of the criticism matters since the pepperoni heavy red sauce overpowers the whole dish. The Sunday Gravy is the same red sauce with short rib, meatballs, sausage and whatever other scraps are around the kitchen. Thick (too thick!), and overly flavored with pepperoni, the meats were ruined and after 2 bites you were full. The pasta varies with each night, but the wide tube noodle I had was thick like gnocchi and overcooked. It was heavy and filling, but not in a good way, after 2 bites, it was like eating oatmeal. The food comes out when ready, encouraging you to share, but the pace is all over with 3 dishes arriving at a time, and then 20 minutes till another single dish. It just doesn't have the pace or flow of a traditional tapas place but none of the benefits of a family style service at many smaller Italian places. Overall, this place is a continuing disappointment. I had hoped that my previous visit was an off night and that on a Saturday night, they would be bringing their A-Game; instead I found one of the most disappointing meals I've had this year. I would have rather had a can of Chef-Boy-R-Dee. My Italian guest commented "I never thought I'd say I'd rather be eating at Maggiano's", so take my comments with a grain of salt and eat here at your own risk.
(1)Elizabeth S.
Little Nonna's is truly a gem. The atmosphere is adorable, the food is amazing (you will not leave hungry), and the service is wonderful. One of my favorite things about LN are those hand bottled cocktails! This place is very special-- whether for a date night or small group. I recommend the meatballs (obv), wild mushroom arancini (omg), garlic bread, stracciatella, and now my mouth is watering.
(5)Erica T.
Little nonnas is a small and quant restaurant. The service was ok, i wouldn't say my best or worse experience. Our server seemed distracted and somewhat short with my party when we was serving us. My bf heard her even say "oh boy, these guys are probably going to be hard to deal with", this was just bc when we were done eating we stack the dishes together for her to take away. Anyways, the food was pretty good. I dont think its was amazing but it wasn't that bad. For starters we had the mussels and the gnocchi. The mussels were good but the gnocchi was amazing. Thats definitely something I'd order again. For entrees we had the pork chop, the lobster spaghetti, the chicken and the sunday gravy. My bf said the pork chop was delicious. I had the lobster spaghetti, i thought it was ok but the lobster was a little cold and the pasta was a little too aldente for me. My sister had the chicken which she said was good but the vegetables that were served with it was way to charred for her. My brother in law had the sunday gravy which was just a side of pasta and a bowl of spaghetti sauce on top of meats. He said it was good and filling. So overall the dinner was alright but no it hasnt made its way on to my need to dine at places in philadelphia.
(3)Wonah S.
I have been dying to come to Little Nonna's for many of my friends had awesome experiences here. My friend and I came at the end of December and we decided to go all out. We ordered garlic bread, cauliflower piccata, arancini as our starter and then got gnocchi and its famous spaghetti and meatballs. My favorite for the night was cauliflower piccata. It was very interesting as I didn't know that vegetables can be cooked in that way and the consistency of the sauce went really well with the texture of cauliflowers. I overall really enjoyed dinner but I personally did not really enjoy spaghetti and meatballs. The meatballs were very overwhelming and dry and the sauce lost its tomato flavor and was closer to barbecue sauce. It might be what it's supposed to be like but I definitely don't recommend it to someone who prefers soft and tender meatballs with more tomato-y sauce. I would definitely come again to try other options available!
(4)Gina D.
I recently went to Little's Nonna's for Center City restaurant week. I always love to try places I have never been during Restaurant week. The food was very good but nothing outstanding. The issue I have an what is making me write a review are three issues things in particular. 1:) We had bread put on our table. There were three of us and they put three pieces of bread in a bowl, when I asked for more, the waitress looked annoyed and then when I got the bill I was actually charge two dollars for more bread, which is ridiculous. 2.) I asked about the blood orange water ice dessert, I was told its really ripe and refreshing and its really just blood orange water ice.... Well, when I got my water ice, It was so disgusting.... It had olive oil and basil in it. The waitress never told me that during the initial description. It's really gross. 3.) Once we were done eating the dessert, we really felt like we were being rushed out of the restaurant. This is very common at barbuzzo, here and other restaurants of the same owner. We were asked to or three times if we wanted to pay. That shouldn't be. So we walked around the block and had more drinks elsewhere. I hate feeling rushed and do not think a restaurant should make someone feel like they want them to leave. Because of my experience I would not go back and the food was really just ok.
(3)Ann V.
Dinner at Little Nonna's was phenomenal. The boyfriend and I came here last night due to restaurant week but we actually wandered off and ordered off their regular menu instead. Everything we had was great. - Garlic bread - loved that I was able to spread the roasted garlic onto the already flavorful bread. Made it extra delicious. - Escarole salad - I love any salad that has fruit and cheese in it. - Meatballs - they were bigger than I expect. Was definitely one of my faves of the night. - Linguine Vongole - it was pretty good but i've had better. It's usually my go to dish at any italian restaurant. - Lemon Chicken - I usually hate chicken. It's my least favorite thing to ever eat but they did a really great job. They have changed the way I look at chicken forever. Mmm... - Tiramisu - this was not on the regular menu and was only offered for the resteraunt week folks but with request, we were able to have some. BEST EVER! They really need to get this on the menu asap. I had a wonderful time and really enjoyed my night. Oh and if it's nice out, request to sit outdoors. It's way cute out there.
(5)Shannon P.
The food enthusiast boo of mine planned a reservation weeks in advance for opening night of Little Nonna's. Unfortunately I reap the yelp rewards, but the previous sentence credits the discovery all to him. The restaurant is cozy and cute without being overbearingly grandmotherly. Two tiered wall shelves filled with thrifty flea marketed tea cup towers and blue milk glass surround the dining room, food is served on mismatched china...it's like you're at Nonna's. Our order consisted of the shaved salad, meatball appetizer, baked shell entree, and braceola entree (which I pronounced "brack-ee-ol-ah" and was immediately corrected by too cool for school boo...it's pronounced "brah-jzoohl"). By far the best part our meal was the meatballs. Stuffed with fontina cheese and served with homemade "gravy" they were a big and satisfying appetizer. If you like them so so much, you can get them on top of spaghetti as an entree. The shaved salad was a perfect accompaniment highlighted with shreds of pecorino. I hadn't had stuffed shells out at a restaurant before so I was excited to see Marcie's take on them. Her take? One massive sized stuffed shell served with lamb neck ragu, ricotta, and the freshest mint pesto I've ever had. The shell came from South Philly so we can't hold Marcie responsible for the hard outer edge that sometimes comes from cooking your shells too long. Aside from some crispy exteriors, we were happy with our order. The braceola was more sausage like than we expected and served with a salty delicious broccoli rabe. We were pretty full by the time we dug into that and I ate the rest for lunch the following day. For desert we were adventurous and ordered the tomato water ice served with basil ice cream. It was fun to eat, but it's not that sweet (hey I rhymed!). It tastes like tomatoes as the name might hint, but when combined with the basil cream it's ridiculous. I felt like I was tasting the smell of when I stick my face into my tomato plant on my deck. Because I do this. Because it smells so freaking good. I want to go back and try the Caesar salad and the Vongole, which scared me at first because it's served with open full cherry stone clams - but in fact they are not that large. Little Nonna's is a great take on Italian and makes good traditional date with little opportunities to take food risks. Plus the outdoor seating is romantically lit and private. Check it out!
(5)Lindsay H.
Finally, the day has come! I have been waiting for the opening of little Nonna's for some time and let's just say...the ladies of thirteenth street have done it yet again. This upscale italian "red sauce" restaurant is everything you want it to be. Quaint, delicious, inviting, and homey without feeling too much like you're in someone's living room. The food is generally meant to share so that's what my table of four did. To start, I will say, I was not crazy about the drinks. They don't have a full bar and I didn't love my cocktail....next time, I'll stick to wine. I get that it's a small place but still. That being said, we started our first course with the roasted fig bruschetta with Gorgonzola, the meatballs, the garlic bread, the mozzarella and the grilled caesar. I mean, everything was great. There wasn't one dish I didn't love. The standouts for me were the meatballs, the brushcetta and the mozzarella and basically all of the bread I ate during the meal. I will say, you can not go with out ordering these meatballs. They're made with pork, beef, veal, stuffed with fontina and absolutely heaven. Order them. For the next course, we tried the vongole, the spaghetti and meatballs (clearly we need more meatballs) and the braciole. I loved all of the dishes but the braciole was unbelievable. It was so tender, I didn't even need a knife to cut through the pork. I'm still in shock over that. How did they get it THAT tender? I would definitely order that again. By that point, we were all stuffed and satisfied beyond our wildest dreams that the only answer is to come back and try the rest of the amazing looking menu. Philly needed an amazing upscale red sauce place and lets just say they've got it now!
(4)Kim S.
Garlic bread is a must. There are lots options on their menu it was hard to decide but honestly there wasn't anything we weren't unhappy with. A cute, intimate restaurant, if they allow you to go upstairs to their patio seating get a table there bc it is adorably quaint! Some of their pasta dishes were not sauced enough for me as well as on the chewy side but overall really good.
(4)S W.
Cozy place. Excellent Italian fare. We has the antipasto, linguini with clams, and Sunday gravy. All were very good. Nice valpolcella wine as well, I thought the wine was a bit pricey for what it was at $50 per bottle. Service was outstanding. Friendly and attentive waitress had good recommendations. Highly recommended.
(5)Emma S.
My fiance and I ate here last night and fell in love with Little Nonna's. We sat outside in the corner seat and it was so cozy and romantic. We shared the antipasta special that was literally mouthwatering-ly tasty. I had the spaghetti and meatballs which were amazing (and I'll be eating it all weekend :-)) and my fiance had the Linguine Alle Vongole that was absolutely delicious. We had absolutely wonderful customer service and enjoyed every single minute of being there. We were celebrating our "one year to wedding" date and I can't imagine spending it anywhere else. They even gave us a complimentary glass of champagne because they knew we were celebrating. Such a lovely touch and was very appreciated! Absolutely incredible food, customer service and ambiance- even the bathroom was perfect! We will be back very soon!!
(5)Kim L.
This cute little Italian-American spot has it all: great-for-sharing small plates, a cozy atmosphere, outdoor seating, and creative and yummy cocktails! Considering that it just opened last Wednesday, I was impressed by how well-run it already was - service was spot-on and the plates came out quickly, as they were ready (as we were told they would)! They have a quaint little backyard garden with white lights hanging overhead, that seats about 40 for walk-in patrons. The seating is in between buildings, so there is no street noise - quiet and comfortable! Their cocktails come pre-bottled so the flavors can all mix together. I had the amaro y dulce - citrus vodka, campari, aperol, grapefruit juice, lemon, and basil syrup. It was light and refreshing. My dining partner had the don pompelo, which was a bit more boozy but still delicious, a mix of rum, grapefruit cello, luxardo maraschino liquor, and fresh lime. Our waitress suggested ordering 2 plates per person, so my DP and I shared 4 plates and were stuffed afterwards. I wish I would have saved room for dessert, but there's always next time! Food: Wild mushroom arancini - this was hands down our favorite dish and next time we might order two of this plate! The textures and flavors of the mushroom and risotto, combined with the crunchy breadcrumbs on the outside... still thinking about it. Good thing there were an even number (four) or I'm pretty sure we would have fought over it! B+V+P (beef, veal, pork) meatballs - two big, flavorful meatballs stuffed with fontina cheese and served with light marinara and polenta. Eggplant parmesan - served as two long, thin slices of eggplant and covered with creamy pesto, marinara, and burrata cheese. Delicious. Nonni's stuffed shell - the biggest stuffed shell I've ever seen, packed to the brim with ricotta, lamb, and roasted celery root. We were so full by this point that we struggled to finish it! There's still so much on the menu that I want to try. Can't wait to come back, absolutely delicious!
(4)Dredge K.
Plusses: it's a very small space so the ambiance is quaint and charming, i especially liked the opening plates that reminded me of my childhood they have many wine bottles at $40 our server was super sweet and was helpful in suggesting wine based on what we ordered, we also did not feel rushed overall, i found the prices reasonable, it was about $90 per person with 3 courses, wine, and cocktails Wishes: among our ten savory dishes only one stood out: the beet salad appetizer i found the restaurant too dark. which might be nice for a romantic dinner, but i was with a group of 5. i thought that my swordfish on skewers looked like tofu in the low lighting the mussels were good but tiny the eggplant parmigiana was an elegant, pared down version of italian mall food i loved as a child, but could be better if the dish was made even lighter (both the fried eggplant and the tomato sauce) their chicken under a brick was not as good as my own, and half of the potatoes that came with it were so charred i wondered if they were grape leaves (they were literally blackened shards) Other Annoyances: we were hosting guest lecturers for a local college and used the tax exempt credit card from the school that they did not accept (first time ever a restaurant did not accept a tax exempt credit card with the tax exempt number printed on it in philly) they asked us to put our umbrellas in a tub at the front and they went missing
(1)Cara F.
We stumbled on on friday night. Amazingly, there were seats at the chef's bar. It's a very pretty space. Smaller than their other restaurants. The music was exactly at the right volume. you can hear it, but you can hear each other. First: for the love of god- skip the weird "sazerac". they have pre-bottled cocktail's in cute soda bottles. I'm not sure what I was served, but it tasted like bad cough syrup mixed with Mountain Dew. Stick with the Montepulciano and you'll be fine. Next- get the meatballs. I don't even love meatballs, but these babies were tender- not overly compressed, and came with a delicious ooze of fontina in the middle. The sauce is really perfect. What is not perfect is that they don't serve bread. They can "sell" it to you ( the waiters words). thank you Mr really nice chef behind the counter. He noticed my displeasure and comped me 2 slices. Next- the most delicious eggplant parm I ever ate. I honestly wanted to lick the plate. Then we had a well composed salad involving grilled broccoli raab and polenta croutons. not overdressed or underdressed. just right. At this point, we were full. 2 apps and a salad. save your money and stop there. it's enough. but we had ordered a mixed grill of head-on shrimp, swordfish, spicy sausage and cannellini. really lemony and bright. Believe me- I enjoyed for breakfast and lunch on saturday. Yup- we'll go back.
(4)Dianne L.
They added tax 10% (actually it should be 8%) and tips 20% automatically. And they didn't try to explain the way of calculation when we had troubles. I don't know why they did it but including me, my friends were upset. I felt I was swindled by them. Even though food was nice, I'm still really really upset.
(1)Barbara F.
Just ate there last night and already plotting when is the soonest I can go back. First of all, the interior was decorated on the perfect cusp of pretty, kitsch, and authentic. We had to wait maybe 10-minutes or so for our table to be ready -- which frankly I enjoyed bc it was so fun checking out the decorations -- and once we were seated we were given a complimentary order of the roasted bread with mozzarella.Apparently this was an apology from the hostess for having to wait. ?!?!?!? We've waited 15x as long elsewhere, and not even given the word "sorry". Yes, the appetizer was delicious, but we also were surprised at the gesture when the wait wasn't even bad. So I guess, that's my round-about way of saying the service was fantastic. Three of us shared the (starter bread and mozzarella) eggplant parm, mussels, sunday gravy, spaghetti and meatballs, and under-brick chicken, and it was all FANTASTIC. The biggest problem was that my stomach couldn't hold more food. (This ultimately ended up as a plus though, because this led to left-overs, which then led to an again-delicious breakfast.) I seriously was pleasantly surprised at how good it was here, and am jealous of Valerie and Marcie's foresight and execution.
(5)A M.
It took me a while, but I finally got a reservation here for two people - I made the reservation 4 days before the date I wanted to go and still had limited options for times available. It was worth the wait and frustration. I got the Shaved Salad, Nonni's Stuffed Shell, Broccoli Rabe and the Blood Orange - Basil - Olive Oil Water Ice. All were very good. My dad got the Baby Gem Caesar, the Linguine Vongole and the Milk & Cookies for dessert. Everything was delicious and our only complaint is that the pastas may have had slightly too much salt! I really liked the water ice - it was very refreshing! And the "milk" was yummy too! I would definitely get the stuffed shell again! We sat next to the window, which was by the front door and I was surprised how warm I was! And the service was great! The other thing I'm not thrilled with is that my dad's main dish came out first and he was almost done by the time I got mine! I would highly recommend this place, especially for a romantic date night! I can't wait to go back again.
(4)Johan W.
I took my girlfriend for dinner here and the place is great for a date. I don't really like Italian food, but this place was great. The sunday gravy. Get it. Great addition to the Marcie Turney and Valerie Saftran empire.
(5)Lauren M.
So. Delicious. Made a reservation for a Monday night @ 1830. Table was ready upon arrival. Menu: Sicilian Rum Punch and Sgroppino for beverages, B+V+P meatballs and Straciatella Mozzerella for appetizers, Sunday Gravy and Pork Chop Pizzaiola for entrees, and Tiramisu for dessert. Meal was outstanding from start to finish, service was prompt and attentive. Entrees were sent out early and we received an unprompted comp of our dessert. Portions were huge, as we had enough for dinner @ home for the following night.
(5)Monava C.
Amazingly flavorful. I've had lunch twice and plan to enjoy dinner there, very very soon. I must try everything on the menu.
(5)Michele F.
Nice little place with outdoor seating. Went early on a recent Friday night. Sat outside in the courtyard. Nice area deocorated to look like Nonna's backyard with her "laundry" hanging from a clothesline on the wall. Prices are reasonable for a center city restaurant. We got the antipasto platter (where the chef makes the selections) and it was delicious! Also highly recommend the garlic bread. It's simple but perfectly done. I could have made a meal of it and a glass of wine. Hubby had seafood and said it was good. I had the spaghetti and meatballs and although good, it had a slight "burnt" taste to it (I think another reviewer also commented on this) which I was not a fan of. Service was very good until the very end when it got a little slow when the restaurant became busy. Would definitely recommend. Great place to eat before the theater.
(4)Katie P.
The ambiance of this restaurant is fantastic. The decor is really adorable, and it feels really inviting. The service was also excellent. We were seated near the door to the garden, which kept opening and closing, letting in a lot of cold air. Without us saying anything, they comped us not one, not two, but THREE free desserts! We had the apple crostata, pumpkin spice cake, and hazelnut cannoli. Everything tasted amazing, but the apple crostata was especially good. The combination of apple/thyme/vanilla/pecorino was never something I would've put together, but it worked so well. Other standouts include the meatball appetizer (OMG) and the grilled bread. Our main dishes were good (Sunday gravy and rigatoni con zucca) but surprisingly not the highlights. Given the service, atmosphere, and meatballs though, we'll definitely be back!
(4)Irene G.
Outstanding! Our friends had come here before and suggested it as our meal before seeing Alton Brown. The menu has a little bit for everyone and it was incredible! We sat outback which they had covered and had those outdoor heaters. Beautiful setting and warm. We started with the white bean bruschetta, straciatella, mussels (you can't miss the mussels) and shaved brussel sprouts salad. We also had one of every cocktail and they are delicious. Our mains were grilled swordfish (my husband can't wait to go back for this), casarecce (pork cheek), rigattoni con zucca, and the gnocci. They were a great size (not ridiculous, thank you!) and every bite was delicious. Dessert - pumpkin spice cake (too good to share), blood orange basil sorbet, tiramisu (wow!) and hazelnut cannoli. Everything was delicious, it's impossible to recommend just one. Can't wait to go back!
(5)Lay M.
I came here for my birthday and fell in love the cute cozy place. The food was delicious. I definitely recommend to try out the Sunday gravy.
(4)Joshua W.
Went and tried the spaghetti and meatballs...awesome! great sauce and really great meatballs stuffed with cheese really made this, usually boring, dish something special. not too expensive and a pretty decent wine list...going to make it the new regular italian spot
(5)Tracy S.
I loved this place & no joke, they seriously have the best croutons EVER! These croutons were amazing little bites of fresh baked cheese-filled garlic bread goodness. My mouth is watering thinking about them. The polenta is absolutely outstanding & you must have the meatballs appetizer, they're classic Sunday Gravy Italian with an original twist. The service is also stellar! Nonna's has become extremely popular, rightfully so, but with that comes crowds, the restaurant itself is on the smaller side & is a little cramped; I wouldn't even say it's a negative, It actually adds to the overall vibrant, homey Italian ambiance. I really felt like I was at my Great Nonna's as a child for Sunday dinner. We can't wait to go back!
(5)Anisha C.
Ah the empire. Little Nonnas in my opinion in the cream of the 13th-street crop. Came here for the first time in summer, and just recently for restaurant week, and really enjoyed myself both times. Summer eating is optimal with the outdoor patio that is tucked away behind the restaurant - to not hear any outside street noise and covered in twinkly lights. The ambiance is that of a small Italian grandmothers home, from the decor of aprons and old photos, to the perfectly mismatched and used silverware and plates, you can see that everything has been thought about. Much appreciated! Food highlights : my god, the arancini balls. The small bites they bring out before your actual meal - grilled bread, with fresh pulled mozzarella, olives, and so many other treats. Gnocci! And I had the apple crumble for dessert - absolutely divine. Another addition to the list of places in the Philly food rotation!
(4)Anne K.
This place is SO cute - it definitely has a real cozy, homey kind of feel to it. I loved all the mismatched plates (that I'm sure were painstakingly selected) and the twinkling lights. My friend and I came here for dinner and we decided to share an app and an entree because we weren't feeling terribly hungry. Well guess what - we still had leftovers, because Little Nonna's is like that Italian grandmother you never had, who wants to make sure you're eating well because you've still got some inches to grow into. We had the mussels as our appetizer, which could easily be shared between 2-3 people. The broth had some heat to it and we were pleasantly surprised by how spicy it was. We also shared the spaghetti and meatballs, which was crazy delicious even a few days later after we nuked it in the microwave. The meatballs have a melted core of fontina cheese, which I really enjoyed.
(5)Amy P.
We dropped in on Little Nonna's a little past noon for their lunch special on a Saturday. Seating was plentiful in the 40-seat establishment, which was surprising for me, veteran of several long waits at commonly-owned Barbuzzo. Lunch special was a $20 3-course meal, and we shared our dishes. Apps were superb, with a super savory mushroom arancini with truffle aioli and bruschetta spread with bufala mozz and piled high (very high--not for the inflexible jaw) with julienned vegetables and citrus. Our entrees were both excellent, but not as memorable as the apps--cheese-filled, juicy meatball with the perfect touch of red pepper over polenta, and a seafood-and-sausage pasta with a delicate but flavorful tomato sauce (that seemed to separate a little and the watery dredges made a mess of my take-out bag). Dessert was also very strong, though my otherwise splendid tiramisu was decidedly lacking the advertised espresso flavor. Atmosphere was homey and well-done. Although the workload was light, service was attentive and extremely pleasant! Of particular note were the robust portion sizes, which easily provided the two of us with a second meal, all for $20! The pacing of the 3 courses was not too long, and not too short, keeping us entertained. Overall, Little Nonna's was a thoroughly enjoyable meal and a fantastic value.
(4)Steven R.
Interesting place. Small and cozy. Smaller menu with old world Italian fare. It was very good. The meatball was great. I think it was fried, but it had a rich smoky taste. One of the best I have had. The broccoli range was salty but still good. My pork chop was excellent. It was an enjoyable meal and they had multiple Italian wines for 40 bucks a bottle.
(4)Luba P.
Super adorable Italian place to go to for lunch. It was not crowded so we got seats right away. All of the food was pretty good. My favorite was the tiramisu out of everything we got. I thought the swordfish was way too salty but others loved it. The fried risotto balls were also pretty unique. The gnochii was actually sweet and seemed to have brown sugar on it, so it was delicious but heavy. Overall this is an adorable place to go for a date. I also love that the portions aren't huge and prices really reasonable.
(4)BostonBestEats X.
REVIEW OF EASTER SUNDAY DINNER: We finally made it to Little Nonna's, for Sunday dinner (they opened early at 3PM for Easter), and we had an excellent meal. We started with a couple of the house-bottled cocktails, which were both very tasty and refreshing: SICILIAN RUM PUNCH: Rum, Amaretto, fresh-squeezed pineapple, lime, blood orange ($10)--ordered 2 of these, it was so good. ITALIAN LEMONADE: Citrus vodka, house-squeezed lemonade, thyme syrup ($10). For two people, we shared the following (see photos), which was so much food that we couldn't really finish the single water ice we eventually ordered for dessert: GARLIC BREAD: Scarone's seeded loaf, roasted garlic butter, sea salt ($5)--It's not the best garlic bread I've ever had, and I would prefer it to be crisper. But I liked the roasted garlic for spreading. B+V+P MEATBALLS: Fontina-stuffed beef/veal/pork meatballs, soft polenta, San Marzano gravy ($11)--I'm guessing this might be Little Nonna's signature dish, and it was indeed very good. However, I thought it was rather heavily spiced for my taste, and because of that, I could see it being something you would feel strongly about one way or the other. Interestingly, when the meatballs were cut open, there seemed to be a lot less cheese in the center than in the photo accompanying Craig LaBan's review, so perhaps they cut it back due to his comments. STEAMED MUSSELS: Fiorella's hot fennel sausage, charred corn, roasted long hots, garlic, white wine, basil ($12)--Excellent, right up until the moment I bit off half of the long hot and started hiccuping uncontrollably. Showoffs deserve what they get! RICOTTA CAVATELLI: Housemade duck sausage, olives, garlic, broccoli rabe, smoked ricotta salata ($14)--Also excellent, this was my second favorite dish. I loved the texture of the perfectly cooked pasta. ITALIAN SEAFOOD GRILL: Calamari, Gulf shrimp, roasted peppers, swordfish-zucchini speidini, white beans, salsa verde, lemon ($24)--My favorite dish, this had it all: tender shrimp, acidic artichoke, perfectly cooked calamari, excellent grilled bread for sopping up the juices...I will order this every single time I visit. LEG OF LAMB: We didn't actually have this special, although it was sitting eye-level on the counter staring at us all afternoon, and it looked very tempting. But I'll post a photo of it anyway. WATER ICE: Blood orange, basil ($6)--Well-made, and easily large enough for two. I'm sure many will like it, but it seemed just a bit unbalanced for my taste, with an awful lot of basil, covering up the citrus, and it was pretty sweet too. WINE LIST: Fairly short, but with a good range of styles, and affordable. Didn't recognize many of the names, but I did enjoy a glass of Montepulciano ($10). Good stems. Attractive, somewhat homey space, and I especially liked the missmatched "Italian grandmother" dinnerware. The noise level was moderately energetic, but not excessive, despite the full house. And I didn't find the space at all cramped, unlike some other commentators. But of course we sat at the kitchen counter (which is not reservable, and available on a first-come, first-served basis). However, you can look at the photo below, and judge for yourself. I gather they also have an ~40 seat patio, but I'm not sure if that was open yet. $126 (not counting tip), which I think was reasonable for the quality and quantity of food we enjoyed (considering we left stuffed to the gills!). Service was excellent, although there was not a great deal of interaction with the 4 chefs in the kitchen. All the plates stacked in front of us tended to inhibit any possibility of conversation. I think making that counter a bit more open would be desirable (3 of the 5 high-top seats were unoccupied the entire time we were there). Easy parking at an open-air lot a block away on the corner of Locust & 13th. This is actually only the second time I've been to a Val-Mar restaurant (the other being, Lolita before it closed for remodeling). I have to say I was very impressed. Whether this really is a genuine ode to red sauce South Philly, I can't say for sure. I don't really go to those types of places, since none of them ever seem to be sufficiently praised by anyone who isn't already biased by having grown up with them. But I did find Little Nonna's plenty good enough to stand on it's own, irrespective of whatever historical influences it may or may not have been inspired by.
(4)Michelle C.
Last night, my girlfriends and I enjoyed a very carb-heavy meal at Little Nonna's, and I loved every bite. We had an 8pm reservation and were seated just a few minutes later, after a table was cleared. There's not a whole lot of space going on, so I was happy to be seated in the aisle as opposed to trying to squeeze between tables into the banquette side. I started with a sgroppino (vodka, prosecco and a scoop of blood orange basil sorbet) - absolutely delightful! Later in the meal I switched to a glass of white wine. It was then that I noticed that all beverages are a flat ten dollars. Good stuff. Food-wise, we started with the shaved salad. But let's be real. If you're eating at Little Nonna's you aren't looking to be diet-conscious. Don't kid yourself. Skip the salad and save that room for the good stuff. Like the garlic bread, with spreadable roasted garlic. It's even more delicious when dipped into the sauce left over from the pepperoni marinara mussels. In fact, we shamelessly ordered a second round of that delicious bread. The arancini were also a hit at my table, though I thought the insides were a tad dry. For the main course, we shared three pasta dishes: spaghetti and meatballs (so good, though I typically like a little more sauce on my pasta), fusilli di pretti (surprisingly yet delightfully spicy!), and gnocchi (loved the sear on these little nuggets). Having stuffed ourselves silly with the starters, we ended up with leftovers. Which I got to take home. Happy day! Dessert was not an option, though I probably would have opted for another sgroppino to finish out the meal if there was just a bit more room (probably for the best that there wasn't). Many thanks to our lovely server, Oren, for putting up with our many questions throughout the meal (I'm still trying to figure out where I know you from!). Can't wait to get back for round two.
(5)H. I.
Decided to try Little Nonna's on a whim and was very pleased! We managed to snag 2 counter seats without a reservation. The restaurant was packed around 8 pm on a Thursday evening. The space is tiny and intimate. I love the twinkle lights strung across the restaurant. Delicious smells are pouring out of the open kitchen which is separated by rustic copper pots hanging from the ceiling. It's got an old school feel with a modern twist. We split the mushroom arancini, side of garlic bread, eggplant parmesan and linguine alle vongole. Everything was delicious, and my friend would go as far as saying "this is the best eggplant parmesan in Philly!". The linguine was tossed in a wonderful garlic sauce and the mushroom arancini and eggplant parmesan were so savory! To finish, we ordered the tiramisu, but it looks like you can't go wrong with anything on the dessert menu. The only reason I give it 4 stars instead of 5 is that many of the menu items contain pork, so the dietary restriction can be limiting for some. This is a great spot for a date or small group of friends (4-5).
(4)Justin L.
Little Nonna's had been on my fiancee and I's Philly bucket list...finally we made the plunge on Friday. The simplistic yet delicious menu did not dissapoint. Mushroom arancini and broccoli rabe were both tasty appetizers to share. We were hoping to get the shaved brussels sprout salad, but didn't. Was a wise move after seeing the size of the entrees. If you are looking to stuff your face, go for the Sunday Gravy, or anything else on the menu. If you like steaming hot meat smothered with deliciousness, this should be your pick. Could only eat about half of it, so looking forward to tasting how leftovers are today. Fortunately, everything else coming out of the kitchen and hitting tables looked equally as good. My fiancee is vegetarian and she got a pasta dish with a vegetarian marina sauce. To wash the food down, we tasted a few different glasses of wine including the chianti and masciarelli, and the sazerac. All were great.
(4)Reetu B.
Beautiful back patio and very friendly staff : thats only reason for 3 stars.... can't say same thing about food. Spaghetti was ok but no one in our group liked the meatballs and sunday gravy.
(3)Natalya S.
Best tiramisu: delicate, moist, and fluffy. Amazing clam linguine, particularly the sauce it came in. their speciality cocktails were delicious (had the punch and the lemonade, both great). Tried my boyfriends spaghetti and meatballs, probably the best I'll ever have.
(5)A B.
Great ambience and even greater food. We went to little Nonna's on a Friday evening. Our waitress was very friendly and charming. We were seated right away. The staff was attentive. We ordered kale and pear salad, which was fantastic. We both ordered spaghetti and meatballs and an order of garlic bread. The food was delicious!!!! The garlic bread was amazing. The bread came with toasted garlic gloves, again delicious We would recommend this place to anyone. Keep it up Little Nonna's!
(5)Joanne T.
The duo team of Marcie Turney and Valerie Safran has yet to let me down. I've enjoyed Barbuzzo and Jamonera so on a rainy night we decided on a little italian with Nonna's. I prefer coming to smaller establishments on weekdays; in my opinion their less crowded, not as noisy, and you get better service. I made a 9p reservation and there was multiple seatings available. We got the table right next to the window. It was such a lovely atmosphere. An impromptu date night that went from drinks to desserts. I ordered the rum punch but preferred the flavors of the sazerac better. The straciatella just melted in my mouth. I seriously would have just been happy with the grilled bread that accompanied it. I opted for the potato gnocchi and the guy got sunday gravy. I loved that the gnocchi was pan seared. The mushrooms were delightful and the sauce I could've literally just slurped, but held back! The guy enjoyed his meat filled entree. That bread catches up with you. We both had leftovers to enjoy the day after. No complaints here. Their tiramisu was freaking great. The crushed pizzelle was a nice touch. I liked that they served it in a cup. No worries about making a huge mess on a plate to get every bite. Definitely try this place for an intimate italian dinner. Don't forget they have outdoor seatings as well.
(5)Kyle S.
My boyrfiend and I went here last night since he had always wanted to go, and we were very impressed. The service was excellent, and the food was flavorful and hearty - exactly what we wanted on a chilly Sunday night. After taking a glance at the small mountains of pasta and meatballs the size of pool balls being served at the table next to us, we opted to forego appetizers and instead just get a bottle of wine (we got the Montepulciano di Abbruzzo, which was flavorful, smooth, and not too robust. In other words, a great dinner wine). I decided after no deliberation whatsoever to get the Sunday gravy, and my boyfriend got the grilled veal scallopini. A surprisingly short amount of time later, before me sat a plate of pasta whose shape I cannot accurately describe covered in red sauce, and a plate of hot fennel sausage, broocoli rabe, beef shortrib, and one massive meatball, smothered in thick red sauce. The meatball was stuffed with cheese. The shortrib could be cut with a fork. I ate every bite, it was so delicious. I am very, very particular when it comes to Italian food, and I was extremely satisfied. My boyfriend's veal was very tender, and he raved about his dish as much as I raved about mine. We will certainly be back, since we both are dying to try the spaghetti and meatballs.
(5)Jada L.
I took my mom here for Mother's Day dinner. We could not have had a better experience. We were fortunate enough to sit on the terrace, which is highly recommended. We were also fortunate enough to have Kaylee as our server. My mom and I ordered a ton of food. We started with the Straciatella (it was ok) and Arancini (excellent). I do not eat veal, but I HAD to try the Sunday Gravy. I think if I were to never have veal again (which is the plan), I will be ok. It was worth putting my personal beliefs aside for this dish! The meatball was SO delicious (yes, I feel guilty). We did order two other dishes: Gnocchi and Cavatelli. Between the two, I enjoyed the cavatelli the most. My mom and I loved our experience here. We cannot wait to try Marcie and Valerie's other restaurants.
(5)Lan H.
According to my most recent list of restaurants in my "Dinner in Philadelphia? YES!" list, I declared Pietro's as my favorite Italian restaurant in Philly. Hmm, when it comes to atmosphere, Little Nonna's surpasses Pietro's for its intimacy and loveliness. Wait, why wasn't Little Nonna's around for my first date in 2011?! Haha, I will let you go this time, Little Nonna's ;-) As for the food, I think that Little Nonna's take the points for simplicity, which is awesome considering that other Italian restaurants might start playing too much with the traditional recipes that the dishes are too complicated, muddling flavors...or even worse, other restaurants might even fail to execute the traditional recipes! But Pietro's take the points so far for the flavors. I only ever had the pan seared potato gnocchi at Little Nonna's so I can't fairly compare the two restaurants, but I would recommend Little Nonna's 100%, hands down, for the atmosphere. Seriously, experience it for yourself. Who cares if you don't have a significant other - go with whoever wants to feel special for once! :D
(5)Kelly G.
I'm giving this place two stars for ambiance. The lighting and the scene are delightful and cozy. The food, however, was quite disappointing. The wine selection is okay, not great. Three of us got the antipasti to share, which was weak. Three meats, no cheese, fennel, beans, two olives, a breadstick and pickles. Things I could've purchased myself at Whole Foods for $5 or less. There was nothing creative in the antipasti. The spaghetti and meatballs were okay. Meatballs were dry but stuffed with fontina, which I'm personally not a fan of that concept. Spaghetti was cooked very good. They were not packed, service was good. Overall, I was left with nothing to remember about this place and will probably stick to making my own pasta at home for some authentic Italian.
(2)Judy L.
The service is excellent. I went to the restaurant twice in one week. The polenta is the best I have ever tasted. Creamy, buttery, flavorful and complements the meatball that comes with the dish. So amazing. I also got the Sunday Gravy dish. If you are a fan of Italian meats, this is the dish for you. Short rib, meatball and sausage...YUM! The only dish that was average was the Arancini. I also got a pasta dish recommended by the waitress and it was amazing. It was short rib with pappardelle in a light cream sauce. I can't wait to go back!
(4)Jamie S.
Could not be cuter inside. Wild Mushroom arancini should not be missed. Loves the meatballs, though the pasta could have used a touch more salt. Fusilli was also very good. Prices are really reasonable if you aren't a huge eater and if you don't tap in to the booze.
(4)J K.
Eh. The ambiance is romantic - perfect for date-night & the service was efficient and friendly, but the food... Well, let's just say I've had better. I ordered the spaghetti & meatballs, while my date ordered the Sunday gravy. The portion sizes were huge! I did not like the meatballs (& neither did my date)... They didn't taste like meatballs! They tasted more like sausage? So for that reason alone I was disappointed. These meatballs definitely did not live up to their hype. The sauce for both of our meals lacked depth - it was missing something... garlic? basil? We couldn't quite put our fingers on it... We did get an order of the much raved about garlic bread, which we loved! And we very much enjoyed the bottle of red our server helped us pick out. We couldn't decide on one dessert, so we each opted to get our own. I got the cannolis which were delicious but were not served at the right temperature! They should have been served colder, as when they came to the table the filling was melting out of them! My date ordered the tiramisu, which he loved though I thought it was too sweet & was mostly whipped cream rather than the actual cake! I might come back to try the gnocchi, but with my favorite BYO Italian spot around the corner, probably not.
(3)Patrizia C.
Holy cow this place is the bomb! We had the arancini, the bruschetta and spaghetti and meatballs: delicious from start to finish. The service was great, the ambiance is adorable, overall this place is a gem and I can't wait to go back!
(5)Nunya B.
Went for Restaurant week with the girlfriend, great experience. This is our second time dining at Little Nonna's, the first was about a year ago (non rest. week). Our first visit wasn't impressive, we ordered the meatballs as everyone recommended and didn't understand why this was the flagship dish. We agreed they tasted almost hotdog-like. Everything else, especially the service, was definitely above average. Our most recent experience with the food, however, was fantastic. We picked the following from the fixed menu (not including the awesome complimentary stracciatella cheese and bread): Pumpkin and Farro salad, Mushroom Arancini, Potato Gnocchi, Braised Shortrib, Pistachio Cannoli and Apple Crumble. Stand outs were definitely the Arancini and the Shortrib. The first was light and crispy on the outside and creamy within. The shortrib was tender and comforting, the mashed potatoes pairing perfectly. As I mentioned from our previous visit, the service and décor are on point. Our waitress checked on us consistently, but unobtrusively. Our experience was the perfect mix of attentiveness and restraint. She also wiped our table multiple times between dishes (which actually makes a lot of sense with multiple courses). The atmosphere is cozy and classy, thoughtfully arranged to feel like both a hip restaurant and a nonna's house (in essence). I'd highly recommend trying this out. A perfect date spot and overall superb dining experience. I will tell you now, opinions will vary on some of the dishes. I'd say don't go for the meatballs, but then again, they have their allegiance. People are very touchy with Italian food; I could see how some of these interpretations might not fly with the purists or those expecting a stock version of their favorites. Either way, go for a meal. And if you aren't impressed, maybe give it another shot, like we did.
(4)A B.
Wow!! Little Nona's was divine from the period kitsch decor, to the candlelit tables, to the welcoming staff. And the food? Absolutely prepared with love. The shortrib was fork tender, the meatballs gorgeous, the winter salad full of texture and flavor, and the list goes on and on. Nona, we'll be back to visit again real soon.
(4)Larissa G.
Dinner at Little Nonna's was everything a 5-star dinner should be. I made a reservation about three weeks in advance (for a Monday night) and our table was waiting when we arrived. If you have walked by this place on the street, you know that it is quaint and adorable, with a red and white awning and round bulb lights at the entrance. The inside is small and intimate with the grandma decor at the perfect level of kitsch and class. I like that its a place where people know you have to make a reservation and therefore there is no line out the door or crowd at the entrance. They don't make you feel rushed at all, even though they could definitely seat more hungry patrons the second your party is done eating. Now, I'll just say that the spaghetti and meatballs are what dreams are made of. It may sound like a simple or childlike dish, but it was insanely good. The meatballs have three meats and are stuffed with fontina cheese. I don't eat meat often, but those were seriously amazing, as was the noodles and sauce. I split that dish and also the "Sunday Gravy" with my boyfriend. I digress in that I don't even know exactly what it was (some giant flat noodles with red sauce and pork in one little bowl and a meatball with sausage in the other mismatched bowl?). We also started with the garlic bread (seriously, who knew garlic bread could be so good?!?!!) and the buffalo mozzarella, which are both solid choices. We didn't do drinks or dessert, so I can't speak on those, but I am going to go out on a limb (ha) and say they're great too. I can't wait for my next opportunity to eat here, but come hungry! I don't think I have been that full in a long time...
(5)Julie N.
Came in for dinner with a group of girlfriends the other week. This is a very small, but very cute little place. We were seated on time and menus were brought out rather quickly. We started with the eggplant parmigiana, wild mushroom arancini, and the steamed mussels. For entrees, we had the spaghetti and meatballs and the Italian seafood grill. I have to say - for a person who doesn't really like cheese, I thoroughly enjoyed the eggplant and the arancini. They were pretty delicious!!! The mussels were good and meaty, but the bowl for shells could have been bigger. There were only a couple pieces of grilled bread that came with it - I wish they offered bread with your dinner to dip. The dinner portions were pretty large! The spaghetti and meatballs were good but I mean, how can you mess it up? It's not really all that to write home about. The seafood grill was a solid 3 - I didn't think there was much seafood in there and the swordfish was a bit overlooked and dry, but the artichokes were great. Service was pretty slow and the place wasn't all that packed to warrant our wait for drinks. Our second drink order was totally forgotten until we asked them what happened to it. To sum it up: decent food but blah service. I would try another place before coming back for seconds.
(3)Heather S.
People sure seem to love this place, my friends included, but I thought it sucked! We showed up for our 6pm reservations and were promptly seated. Cute covered patio with heat lamps awaited us. My table ordered the mussels, mozzarella and meatball appetizers. Mussels, tasty sauce and tasty mollusk. The mozzarella was okay. It didn't have the texture I was expecting. The mouth feel just wasn't there & not very creamy. It could've come from the grocery store IMO. The prosciutto served with the mozz was dried out. Dried out like it was sitting out. The meatballs, which I'll have to take the word of everyone else b/c I'm gluten-free, looked burnt and according to the other guests were also very bready. The entree specials looked great! My mom was dying for the lobster pasta special that was highly recommended, but oops all out. Remember folks our reservation was at 6pm, so at 6:30 when the special was gone moms was more than a little disappointed. Still she quickly recovered & ordered the Italian mixed grill. Poor woman gets her dish and the shrimp have a strong iodine flavor. She said the rest was tasty. I got the pork chop that they suggested I get medium and it wasn't. My pork was well done & meh. That was just my personal taste so if you love pork you may feel differently. The other two guests had the Sunday gravy. The sauce was great and the brisket too. Again bready and burnt meatballs. I guess that sums up our experience. Oh well, won't be back.
(2)Julie H.
Had a truly enjoyable dinner at Little Nonna's. We ordered several antipasti items - the wild mushroom arancini, steamed mussels, and the garlic bread. All divine, but the steamed mussels were by far my favorite. The broth had a great slow burn-quality and the bread had butter essentially oozing out of every crevice. My cholesterol levels are probably ridiculously high right now, but it was worth it. We also ordered Uncle Sal's chopped salad to help cleanse the palate, but unfortunately this was a disappointment. The "zesty" italian dressing was way too sour and greens were pretty bitter and lacked something to counter-balance the flavor. For our entrees, we ordered the sunday gravy and the spaghetti and meatballs. The portion sizes were impressive, but the actual dishes tasted just ok. Good, but nothing to tell your mother about. What you should tell your mother about, however, is the tiramisu. Airy and sweet but not overwhelmingly so. I'm not really a dessert person, but next time I'm ordering one just for myself. Service was friendly and perfectly timed. They have a private garden that would be great for a small gathering. The ambience is charming and the attention to detail is evident. We will definitely be back.
(4)Patrick R.
Everything was absolutely fantastic ! We started with the strawberry bruschetta which may sound a little different but was great with the strawberry adding a little sweetness to tomato, basil, and pesto. My wife had the spaghetti and meatball entree with a portion big enough to satisfy 3 or 4 people with meatball the size of baseballs. I ordered the Sunday Gravy, which was spectacular and would give any Italian grandmother a run for her money, complete with meatball, sausage, beef shortrib, and broccoli raab. We finished our meal with hazelnut cannollis which were creamy, crunchy, and delicious. A rustic atmosphere in a quaint, charming space, We will definitely be visiting Little Nonna's again, I highly recommend trying them out!
(5)Reba K.
a friend and i came for lunch and got the b+v+p meatballs antipasti, the favas + pecorino insalata, and roast pork + sharp sandwich. my favorite thing was the polenta that came with the b+v+p meatballs; creamy, cheesy, pillowy. however, the tomato sauce that was poured all over the dish was entirely too overpowering for the delicacy of the polenta, and the meatballs were the biggest disappointment - chunky and dry. the flavor of the salad was acidic and wonderful, but the ingredients were not very well-balanced: there were not enough leafy greens for the harder elements of the dish (cheese cubes, fava beans, english peas). the pork in the sandwich was very tender, but the french fries they were served with were so salty i felt positively offended. the worst part of the meal were the huge fleas in the restaurant that kept flying around our food. it was impossible to eat in peace. someone needs to show the owner the apple cider vinegar in a bottle trick.
(3)Emily S.
Sunday. Gravy. Little Nonna's makes this amazing, slow cooked Sunday dinner style mix of fresh pasta, broccoli rabe, slightly spicy red gravy, meatballs, sausage and brisket. I literally dreamed about eating the leftovers! My husband had spaghetti, which was homemade and delicious, and we had a great, not-very-overpriced bottle of wine. Service was excellent: friendly and unpretentious. Ambience is lovely -- not too squeezed in. We were really happy with Little Nonna's and will definitely return. Highly recommended!
(5)J G.
Kaylee was wonderful, friendly, great suggestions, there when we needed her. Food great- Loved the seafood grill.
(5)Emily C.
I am a big fan of all of Marcie Turney & Valerie Safran's restaurants. Despite that, I went into Little Nonna's with fairly low expectations. That probably had something to do with the fact that it was newly opened when we went and I hadn't heard or read much about it. Regardless, I was pretty impressed. As usual, we way over ordered, but my group left very happy. The drink menu was underwhelming, but the food made up for it. The meatballs were great. So good in fact that after ordering the appetizer portion for our group, I ordered the spaghetti & meatballs as my main course. Worth a visit. We will likely be back to visit soon.
(4)Briana C.
Great atmosphere, service, and food. I could eat the fresh pulled mozzarella and fava beans every day. The arancini was perfectly crispy and creamy. We got the Sunday Gravy and gnocchi as entrees. My partner loved all of the meat in the Sunday Gravy - the sausage, brisket, and meatball. I actually only thought the meatball was remarkable and could have done without the brisket and sausage but heavy meats are not really my thing. The gnocchi were the best I've ever eaten - they were pan seared and browned on the outside but were so soft and delicious. The blood orange-basil-olive oil sorbet was the perfect ending - very unique flavors. The only thing I though were meh were the cocktails - but I've never particularly liked the cocktails at any of the Turney-Safran restaurants. 3 cocktails + 2 appetizers + 2 entrees + 1 dessert came out to about 100 bucks, well worth every penny. I can't wait to go back.
(5)Jim R.
This was our second visit and it was as enjoyable as the first. The first time around was in warmer weather and we had dinner on the outback patio. It's a very nice setting and all 4 of us enjoyed what we chose that night. This time around, it being November, the patio was closed and the 2 of us had the table by the window where we got both a view of Locust street as well as the entire restaurant and again, the food was fantastic. The room has a very cozy atmosphere and the staff very friendly and helpful. Thinking that what we were going to order would be large portions, we passed on appetizers and just had entrees. The "Sunday Gravy" was slowly simmered pork braciole; a meatball stuffed with cheese along with hot fennel sausage in a san marzano marinara. It was served with a flat wide pasta which we had never seen before. The flavors were bold but not overpowering and were delicious. I chose one of that nights specials - the Mixed Seafood Grill, which had toothpick-skewered Swordfish and Sausages surrounded by Grilled Calamari, large Head-on Shrimp over a Tuscan bean salad with kale (?) leaves. It was very very good. With an order of toasted garlic bread and 2 beers, the bill came to around $70 before tip. Be sure to make reservations. We were there on a Sunday night and every table was taken the entire time we were there. Walk-ins had to be turned away. We will definitely be going back again - and we were correct about only ordering the entrees, we had enough leftovers for lunch the next day.
(4)Beth K.
As long as you can sit in the back garden, this place gets 5 stars just for atmosphere - the fact that the food is so delicious is almost a bonus. But it is delicious: comfort food meets creative cuisine. I've been twice and have had terrific service both times - friendly, attentive waitresses. I just wish they had a wider vegetarian selection - the veggie small plates were delicious, but there aren't enough of them to go more than once in a while.
(5)Jeff D.
I travel to Philadelphia regularly and I always eat here, sometimes on more than one night. It is that good. I am an "0ut of town regular". Highly recommend.
(5)Barrett L.
Little Nonna's, the newest addition to the Safran/Turney mini-empire, occupies the former Fish space on 12th. Less buzzy and more intimate than it's noisy sister Barbuzzo, Little Nonna's pays homage to the classic pasta-and-red sauce dishes of Italian Grandmothers everywhere. The menu mixes classic standbys like Spaghetti and Meatballs and Linguine Vognole with contemporary plates such as Pear and Beet Salad and Negroni Glazed Lamb Ribs. The low lighting and cozy setting make the space feel smaller than it should be (space is already at a premium), but the food more than makes up for the experience. Coming here with the BF and his family, we started with the Pear and Beet Salad as well as a special appetizer (Mozzarella in Pesto with Pepperoni). The salad was light and delightful, while the mozzarella was dripping in oil, rich with flavor, and perfect for sopping up with the grilled bread. For dinner, the BF and I split the Sunday Gravy (rigatoni in red sauce served with a variety of meats that had been simmering in the same sauce) and Squid Ink Cavatelli. The meats, a combination of pork shoulder, sausage, and the cheese-filled beef-pork-veal meatballs, were incredibly juicy and flavorful, although a bit heavy on the salt. The lighter seafood pasta, in comparison, was the perfect foil to the heavy red sauce. Perfectly al dente pasta in a light oil-based sauce with grilled calamari rings to boot. The service was a bit slow and the kitchen may have been a little heavy handed on the salt, but overall the food is solid and pretty representative of the Safran/Turney style. It's a nice place for a date, an intimate group dinner, or even pre-theater. On the whole, a nice addition to the neighborhood and sure to make good use of the location.
(4)Mimi W.
I went here with my boyfriend for my birthday dinner. Service was good but food was okay. We ordered an appetizer of meatballs, which were delicious. I had the linguine with clams which just tasted like a lot of butter and oil. My boyfriend had the veal and he said it was just okay. The tiramisu dessert was delicious. I think the inside of the restaurant is really cute but the food is just okay.
(3)Penelope M.
Was super excited to try this place & happened to get a reservation during restaurant week, score! There were 4 of us so we pretty much had everything on the restaurant week menu. The meatballs atop polenta was very flavorful although a bit too spicy for one in our party and I do like a bit of crunch on the outside of my meatball whereas these didn't have that but overall the flavor & portion size were spot on. The lemon chicken was hands down the best I have ever had, that and the tiramisu were my 2 favorites of the evening. Only complaint is regarding the pistachio cannolis, 2 in my party didn't like them at all and one is a pasty chef, she said the filling was too soft and whatever pistachio flavoring they used for the cream had too much of it which gave them a medicinal flavor. Will certainly be visting again soon.
(4)Tara S.
I chose Little Nonna's for my birthday dinner and I'm so glad I did. We requested to sit in the outside garden area, which was so cozy and romantic. The seating was a little tight so at times I felt like I was in my neighbor's conversation, but it wasn't such a big deal. We had the straciatella for an appetizer (fantastic), I had the meatballs and my partner had the gnocchi. As soon as our plates came out I had a serious case of food envy. The meatballs weren't bad but they weren't great - I probably wouldn't recommend them. For desert I had the warm cherry crumble, which was out of this world. My partner had the espresso soda float, which was interesting and really delicious. Overall, I'd love to come to this place again!
(4)Jay S.
Nice place located in the Gayborhood section of Philadelphia. Went there Saturday night with a party of four and had a great meal. Service was a little slow and server had little personality otherwise would have given a five star rating. While the menu was rather limited, the food was delicious. Our table ordered the gnocchi (home made), Sunday Gravey, meatball and palenta, eggplant, mushrooms, broccoli rabe, and deserts. Wine selection was good.
(4)Jean T.
Loved sitting in the covered patio!! The lights and decor were so cute. We ordered the spaghetti and meatballs and the rigotoni for dinner. The portions are HUGE. I feel like we could have just shared the spaghetti and meatballs instead of ordering two entrees. The butternut squash rigotoni was delicious, but I could only finish half. The meatballs were tasty, but I wouldn't call it the BEST. Had no room for dessert unfortunately because we were too full!
(4)Neil S.
My experience with Little Nonna's is limited to takeout during lunch, but this place earns four-stars for serving me one of the greatest chicken parmesan sandwiches I've had in quite some time. I called in an order around one and it arrived in my hands in seven minutes flat. Nonna's chicken pepperoni parmesan starts on a classic, butter-toasted Sarcone's roll that has a firm but yielding exterior crunch that gives way to a tender crumb. It's cut on a sharp diagonal and holds a comically large, rectangular cutlet of breaded chicken. The cutlet sprawls over the limits of the bread, which makes eating difficult, but is fried perfectly and is thus crispy and tender. Its breading carries ample seasoning and flavor. The "pepperoni marinara" sauce that gently blankets the cutlet strikes a great balance between tomato sweetness and cured meat spiciness. Crowning the whole creation are tender slices of pepperoni, toothsome roasted peppers, and a smattering of creamy, rich buffalo mozzarella. The latter ingredient is unusual enough on a $18 gourmet pizza, let alone an $11 low-rent favorite. A generous handful of garlic-parmesan fries accompanied the sandwich. Though a little limp from travel, the otherwise average fries benefited from a pleasantly savory kick from the grated cheese. The portion of the dish was huge; I am a big eater but could only down three-fourths of the monstrosity. Even that proportion of sandwich demanded a 30 minute post-meal nap. Split it with a friend if you have things to do afterwards. Though lack of sufficient funds bars me from dinner service at Little Nonna's, I eagerly anticipate trying more of this place's rather affordable lunch menu.
(4)Bri H.
The first (and maybe only) thing you need to know is that the meatballs are the best you'll ever eat (sorry vegetarians!). Little Nonna's is super cute and cozy. My party of 4 had a reservation for 9:30pm on Saturday and we did have to wait a bit for a table. It was cold out so we kind of awkwardly stood in the doorway with the other people waiting for their tables. Luckily the food made up for this. Aside from the amazing meatballs, we started out with some garlic bread (whose main purpose was to sop up all the delicious red sauce & oozing fontina cheese from the meatballs). I chose the ravioli with braised duck for my entree & I got to sample the fusili, swordfish piccata and Sunday Gravy. The Sunday Gravy with braciole was probably my favorite. Although everything here is good, I think the red sauce dishes are the best. I topped off my meal with the pumpkin canolli, which satisfied both my cannoli craving and fall dessert craving. I'm sure I'll return to Little Nonna's, and this time I'm not sharing those meatballs!
(4)Rebecca S.
This is one of those places where it doesn't even matter what you order because everything on the menu is exceptional. Great for summer time dining as there is indoor and outdoor seating. The service was spot on. Knowledgeable staff, attentive and friendly. I felt very comfortable, while still enjoying the upscale environment. It's my new favorite restaurant in Philly. I would recommend this place to anyone.
(5)Steve I.
I would like to list the highlights of our meal then deal with some of the things that resulted in the three star rating. The service was excellent. Friendly and attentive throughout the evening. The water glasses were always full, the food arrived quickly the table was cleared and cleaned after each course. The antipasti were clearly the hit of the night and had we stopped with them this would be a five star rating. The wild mushroom Arancini were delicious. Crisp and tasty with the truffle aioli. The lamb ribs in a honey balsamic glaze with fruit could not have been better, meaty and moist. Now for some of the misses. My Negroni served in a small Mason jar with a giant ice cube was watery and tasteless. The shaved salad was a great idea with fennel celery root and Brussels sprouts had a heavy hand with the Lemon juice. The following items suffered from too much salt: the Stracciatella, the Sunday gravy and the Lemon Chicken entrees. Also , please do not charge for bread in this type of setting, it distracts from the Nonna atmosphere. For dessert the Apple crostata was outstanding and the Cannoli were crunchy and filled with the Pumpkin filling an excellent seasonal treat. There are so many choices for this type of food in the city who do it better. Sorry but I don't think we will return.
(3)Jaclyn B.
The service was very good. Unfortunately, I didn't enjoy one dish. The broccoli rabe was far too bitter for my liking. I know broccoli rabe is bitter by nature, but it was pungent. The bruschetta was so oily. The spaghetti and meatballs were cooked wonderfully, but had an extremely surprising, and unwelcoming smokey flavor. This restaurant could be pretty great, with the romantic ambiance....However, the food and drinks seem to be trying way too hard to be different. Everything was VERY fragrant and SALTY. I don't get the amazing reviews? I suppose the food and drink could just not be my taste?
(2)Elizabeth B.
YUM. This romantic spot fed me twice in one week and I walked away stuffed and satisfied each time. I first went for a friend's birthday dinner, and then again later that week with my mom. The restaurant is warm, dark, and unpretentious. While romantic, it's fairly small and the tables are close together, so don't expect privacy. Top picks on the menu include nearly everything I tried: garlic bread, stracciatella & Italian olives, wild mushroom arancini, the shaved salad, fusili de pretti, and the tiramisu. I also tried the gnocchi off my friend's plate, and while delicious, I don't think I could handle that entire buttery plate as my entree. I actually think that the arancini and the fusili - which I had at both meals - seemed better the second time around, although that might have something to do with the lower alcohol intake on that latter date. I'd recommend going for the wine over their pre-bottled cocktails :) Our server (the same both times) was well-versed on the menu and knowledgeable about their wines. Definitely call ahead for a reservation as this place fills up!
(4)Emily H.
Did not disappoint. Heard great things about this place and was so excited. We went prior to a Book of Mormon performance. The place was hopping at 530 on a Tuesday! The bar situation was a little unusual but the drinks were delicious. We started with the arancini which is the best thing I have had in several months. Everyone at the table enjoyed it. They were really rich so the portion was perfect. We also had garlic bread with an entire head of roasted garlic. It was delicious and the presentation was nice. Also tried the fig and gorg bruschetta that was very good along with the mussels that were huge. The portions after apps left us stuffed even before dinner. The two pasta dishes we had, gnocchi and cavatelli were both okay. A little under seasoned. The eggplant parm was delicious and the presentation was great. My dad ordered the Sunday gravy. It was delicious. He said the short ribs were a little tough but the sauce and meat were amazing. Overall we loved it and will be back!
(5)Amber T.
Tried out Little Nonna's with a friend on Friday. I was excited to try it based on glowing recomendations it had been given by friends. To be honest, I was mostly unimpressed. The place is definitely small and LOUD. you're practically sitting on top of each other. I'm glad I wasn't on a date. The menu isn't large and the entrees all start at $16. They serve some alcohol and also let you B.Y.O.B. BUT they charge a $25 uncorking fee which I think is outrageous. We got an order of the garlic bread as an app which was yummy. My friend got the "Sunday Gravy" which was a little pricier but def delicious! I got the shrimp and linguine but without the jalopenos and it was exactly what I wanted. We also put a lot of consideration into getting the spaghetti and meatballs which looked and smelled great as well. We looked at the dessert menu but decided not to get anything. They tried to put a twist on a lot of Italian classics that made them not sound so appealing. I was also disappointed they didn't have any type of coffee on the dessert menu. Overall, the service was friendly and good. The food was very yummy I was just slightly disappointed by the limited selection and noise level. Especially for the price.
(3)Rae P.
This is a fantastic addition to the Turney/Safran empire, one I am happy to support wholeheartedly. Is a lot of the food sort of heavy and indulgent? Yes. Will you leave emanating the scent of garlic, which may last for days? Probably. Is it worth it? Yes. My favorite item on the menu is probably the Shrimp Scampi - luscious head-on prawns with white beans in a garlicky sauce that you HAVE to sop up with extra bread. Wow. Second to that is the classic Spaghetti and Meatballs. It's comforting and it's done right, with a little hidden molten center of fontina in the meatballs and perfect al dente pasta smothered in Sunday Gravy. The only thing I ordered that left me disappointed was the polenta with mushrooms: surprisingly one-note, I found it really unexciting to have a totally earthy-tasting dish without any kind of complementary flavors. All in all, this place makes a really wonderful spot to indulge in comfort food and catch up over a delicious Negroni. The backyard, decorated with tumbling vines and Nonna's slips on a laundry line, is open for walk-ins, and even has larger tables for a group of more than 4.
(4)Jacki G.
Eh. I was overhyped to try here, and was slightly disappointed. The place is incredibly small, and I knew it wasn't going to be the best dining experience when we were sat by the draft of the open door which rushed in the cold January air. Cocktail: the sgroppino was fabulous! The sorbet was so fresh and flavorful. Very string too! Apps: the garlic bread was yummy! Nothing phenomenal but good. The fig bruschetta was great too, but I wasn't a fan of how overwhelming the Gorgonzola was. It took away from the other flavors of the dish. The arancini were meh; rather bland and flavorless. It almost tasted frozen to me; it was definitely the loser of the night. The fresh mozzarella was the star of the night: creamy, salty, briney goodness. It literally melted in my mouth. We each had a pasta dish. The gnocchi were yummy; I loved the crunchiness that came from the pan sear. The fusili were ok; I'm just not a big fan of oily sauces. The spaghetti and meatballs were great, though. The portion was gigantic; however, I was a bit surprised that the meatball tasted more like hot Italian sausage than a classic meatball. The service was great, though. Our server was knowledgable, personable and friendly. I usually never leave a restaurant like this stuffed, but I felt like I was going to explode when we were done eating. $100 for three people including drinks is a great price, too. You really get a lot of food for a fair price. Don't get me wrong, it was good, but I felt like the food here was oversold and under delivered. I guess I expected more from this empire (I could eat at Barbuzzo daily!) Would I return? Highly unlikely. There are just too many other choices in Philly which are equivalent in price that have much more to offer.
(2)Vincent G.
Ate here a few times and must say it is awesome. Small menu but flawless execution. Great service and cool ambiance. Definitely recommend this place if your tired of the same old Italian food and want to step outside the box.
(5)Ankur D.
Our meal, in one word: Magical. Started with the Stracciatella. MUST GET. Perfectly grilled moist bread served with a side of liquidy/melty/herby/amazing-y cheese. Yes sir. Also got the Antipasto Board, which was DAMN good. Looks like it changes on the daily but you will never be disappointed. The Roasted Fig Bruschetta was also very good, but i felt that the bread was a little too oily for my taste. Amazing never the less. Did not get any entrees unfortunately, but all the plates that came out looked phenomenal. Apparently the meatballs are to die for, and they are the size of a basketballs so i would, at the minimum, get a side of those. The desert. Jesus Christ. Had the warm apple pie desert which was the PERFECT fall desert. Caramelized apples nestled in flaky salty crust topped with homemade creamy vanilla ice cream drizzled with a light flavorful caramel. Your stomach tells you to stop eating but your brain is in another dimension and you just keep on eating. But the star of the show was the Tiramisu. Descending from the desert gods themselves, this plate of goodness is beyond anything that you'll ever experience in your life, ever. So moist, so much flavor. Calling it perfect is an understatement. I'm literally salivating while I type this. Just get it and thank me later. Definitely going back. Also Valeria Safran herself was there, bussing tables, which was AWESOME. You don't see a lot of successful restaurateurs throwing on some elbow grease and cleaning tables too often, but its awesome when you do.
(5)Beth R.
Stopped by for lunch on a weekend and was pleased. The inside is so cute, with the strings of overhead lights reminiscent of South Philly side streets, and a collection of mix and match dishes on the tables. It's hard to impress with Italian fare, there are so many options on Philadelphia. The stuffed meatballs with polenta were delicious. I wished they had more of the dinner options available for lunch, I may need to go back.
(4)Jeff M.
We went here for dinner, the place looks very cool inside. In general, their appetizers were amazing and the entree's were good. The meatballs and risotto balls were my favorite. For entrees, I had the pork chop and the orecchiette. The pork was good and very different from any other pork chop I have ever had. The orecchiette was tasty, but I thought there were too many black olives tossed in there for the rest of the flavors. Both bottles of wine we had were also very good. Dessert was nothing special. I would stay away from the hazel nut cannoli- the hazel nut flavor overpowered everything else and the ricotta consistency was too smooth.
(4)Jules C.
The food was delicious and the service was attentive. Neither of which were surprising. The reason for the 4 stars instead of 5 was due to the fact that we sat in the "garden" and sweated out the meal. The solarium like seating area has a heavy acrylic cover of some sort that would apparently allow for seating in rain or adverse weather but it was a beautiful night to sit in a garden and our table probably downed a case of water in our time there to stay hydrated. Hopefully they rethink that soon.
(4)Emily M.
Stopped by Little Nonna's for restaurant week after hearing great things about it! The hype didn't disappoint. The decor is lovely and really makes you feel cozy and comfortable. Everyone who works there was great from the host to our great server! We started with the wine pairing ($20 for 3 glasses). The pours seemed a little small for the price but we enjoyed each wine we got, especially the dessert one we got at the end. We'd probably just get our own bottle next time or try some cocktails. For restaurant week, everyone starts out with the pulled mozzarella. This was just as amazing as everyone has already stated. I would come back to Little Nonna's just to eat more of this!! We then had the arancini (rice balls) which were absolutely perfect.. again, I'd come back for these alone. We also got the BVP meatball which was very good. For entrees we got the lamb pasta (I don't remember exactly what else was in it) and the gnocchi which were both... just like everything else.. absolutely excellent. For dessert, we got the apple crumble and the tiramisu. The crumble was definitely the winner.. the tiramisu was good but a little too drowned in whipped topping and not quite traditional enough for my tiramisu loving boyfriend. Overall, Little Nonna's was awesome and I can't wait to go back!
(5)Stefanie A.
Seriously. WOW. Even for restaurant week, this place impressed two picky broads. I like the Turney/Saffrran empire. Lolita was great. Jamonera is totally tasty. I might like Barbuzzo the least (except the budino, which is heavenly.) So I figured I'd enjoy their newest spot. Let me start by saying prettiest garden in the city. And huge. Menu is a series of items that are all appealing, and from what I ate, all are phenomenal. For resto week, you get garlic bread, white bean dip, roasted garlic, and olives. I was almost full from gorging myself on delicious dip and crusty yet soft bread by the time by appp got there. Which were risotto balls in truffled something. Truffled anything is excellent. My entree sounded good but run of the mill, but the lemony chicken smooshed with a brick (my interpretation) had tangy and sweet and complex flavors was super rich and somehow light, and accompanied by fried potato loveliness and artichokes I couldn't get enough of. Tiramisu was good, I think, but I was so full, it was hard to tell. The service was friendly, though a bit slow, which is probably par for the course given that they just opened and it was packed. Inside was dark and romantic and tiny. I imagine it gets loud up in there but when you're eating so well, who cares?
(5)S W.
Lovely place. Not crowded at all at lunch even tho Open Table showed it fully booked. The eggplant parm was excellent, crispy and fresh. The fig gorgonzola bruschetta was a treat. Portions were nicely sized. Service was firendly and efficient. Price were fair. But, like others, found some things just too salty. The shaved salad was nearly inedible. The meatball was also too salty. Will give it one more try because the plusses outweighed the minuses, but will ask for dressing on the side!
(3)Gordon M.
incredible. Sauce is delicious. Amazing meatballs. Try the "Sunday Gravy" Canolies were also superb. About 125 for three terrific dinners -- 4 beers - wine, coffee. Great surface. Ate in the garden.
(5)Thor T.
Nostalgia is en vogue and Little Nonna, seemingly fully booked at all times, is living proof. On a cold day, we enjoyed sitting in the little patio in the back, warmed nicely by the effective patio heaters that made the 30s night into a summer evening. We started with the traditional "wedding soup" - a credible version with rich broth and good vegetables (senza pasta). The garlic bread ($5) could be much better if not served on the fluffy, insipid Sarcone rolls (has there ever been a more overpraised Philly product that those airy sponges? talking about living off your reputation!). The caesar salad was true to form and so was the plate of spaghetti and meatballs, salty but delicious. The special of grilled veal t-bone with vegetables was also good, especially the thin crispy prosciutto slices imparting an extra surge of porcine taste into the tender veal. The good quality prosciutto (it is from the outstanding award winning La Quercia producer in Iowa) also made a welcome appearance in other dishes. Less exciting was a plate of linguine vongole, using cherry stone clams. While the linguine were cooked right, the accompanying sauce was unable to provide much taste support to the cherry stone clams (how nice would it be to actually have real vongole veraci in that dish). The apple crostata dessert was very good and made for a good finale to the meal. Little Nonna's two-fisted cooking style serves up familiar favorites with much gusto. Everyone missing American Italian dishes will be finding them here, a bit embellished and very tasty.
(3)Breton B.
You'd hardly notice this place just opened. We went the Saturday after they opened and just like the other restaurants under this umbrella (Jamonera, Barbuzzo, Lolita) - this place was wildly successful with two very important things - food and ambience. Though a tad too dark, we enjoyed our vantage point. We sat at the bar overlooking the kitchen treating ourselves to a up close view of how crazily fast things get in a buzzing, albeit still new restaurant. Head chef Marcie Turney was hard at work and her team was pretty impressive at doling out consistently stellar looking dishes. Everything we had was spot-on - the B-V-P meatballs stuffed with fontina cheese over a cheesy polenta (10 out of 10), the eggplant parmesan (9 out of 10 and that's from someone who normally shies away from eggplant), the stuffed big-ass shell (I'm not sure "big-ass" was on the menu) 10 out of 10. The only narrow miss was the braciole - the meat was a tad dry and it was not as savory as the other dishes, but decent nonetheless. Washed it down with $4 Peronis, which I certainly enjoyed. No desserts this time around but I liked the look of the chocolate milk and assorted cookies...Something tells me this place will be around a little more than Fish and the Rhino Bar so I'll get my chance to be back. A great addition to 13th Street. A couple small problems: - If I'm sitting in my Italian grandmother's kitchen, I don't think I'd be listening to Pink and Michael Jackson. Or maybe I would, I don't know but the music sort of detracts from the atmosphere. It doesn't need to be all old-worldy but we weren't feeling hits from the 90s/2000s. - The pace is frenetic and somewhat understandably service slowed down a bit with the place filled to the brim but when he was there, he was attentive and helped alleviate our indecision on what plates to get.
(5)Michael S.
Was hoping for more after reading the reviews. My wife and I were in town for the Philly 1/2 marathon on Sunday. We knew we wanted a plate of pasta and found Little Nonna's on yelp. It was also only a 5min walk from our hotel. We tried to get a reservation on Opentable. That didn't work unless we wanted to eat at 10pm..must be good if you can't get in at a reasonable hr. We called the restaurant directly and they said there was a garden in the back with 40 seats no reservations. When we got there we were actually seated inside at the open kitchen bar. The waiter was pleasant and attentive at first seating but that was the highlight of the service. He went through the menu and recommended several dishes. We went with the Strachiatella (pulled salted mozzarella on grilled bread) and 2 plates of their spaghetti with b+v+p fontina filled meatballs. Waiter was taken back that we both wanted the same thing. Yes unusual for us to do that but again we were running 13mi the following morning and it sounded good. We didn't order any alcohol or wine, again running a half marathon wanted to feel our best. The waiter was terrible at keeping water filled. At one point he disappeared with the water container for over 20mins when he said he was refilling it. Our pulled mozzarella and grilled bread came. It was really good but a tad too salty. Both my wife and I commented on this. We are never shy of salt either. I will say it was served within 5 mins of ordering. The spaghetti and meatballs came 10 mins later from a waitress not our waiter and she at least was friendly. The spaghetti and meatballs was a nice sized dish with plenty of pasta and 2 nice sized meatballs. This dish was good as well. The one strange call out is on each of our plates one meatball had fontina oozing out the other meatball none could be found. There was a nice pepper finish to the meatball too. Not once during our meal did our waiter ask how our meal was or if we needed anything. He did present a dessert menu but we were too full. On our walk out the hostess and what looked like the mgr ignored us, not asking how everything was or at least say goodnight.....very strange. I know this is a newly opened restaurant but some service components are easy to control. Clean up the service and this is a 4 star review. I would go back since the food was good and try a few other dishes (and some adult beverages).
(3)Rachel H.
Lovely place but the food is sub par at best. The waitress was attentive. To other guests in the time we where there she visted the two other tables around us about 9 times. While she visted ours about 4 times. The cup for the drink is extremely small and I needed a refill at the most every 10 minutes.
(3)Emily D.
My husband and I had a absolutely wonderful date here in September. The food and service were both very good, but what would make me go back is the atmosphere at Little Nonna's. We went around 8:30/9 on a Wednesday, and it felt relaxed, cozy, and intimate. We didn't feel rushed, we ate multiple courses slowly, and smiled & laughed, and just had a great time. It was perfect. I would really recommend the sgroppino - vodka and prosecco in a small glass with a scoop of lemon basil water ice and a stripey paper straw. It was a wonderful and special drink that was unexpected and lovely.
(4)Jason T.
My wife and I dined here on 09-20-13; we had a reservation for 5:15 PM, arrived around that time and were promptly seated. We were greeted by an enthusiastic waitress, who took our requests for ice water. Our waitress returned to our table with our water and explained that the dishes at Little Nonna's were meant to be shared plates, she also advised that it was restaurant week, and that if we decided to order from that menu, the restaurant would appreciate it if the entire table ordered from the RW menu as well. This was a bit perplexing, as the RW menu was a bit limited with its choices, and we were also advised that the dishes would be slightly smaller after inquiring about the size of the dishes. After a heated debate, Wife and I decided to try this restaurant week thing out. Wife ordered stracciatella, swordfish and cannoli. I ordered meatballs, lemon chicken and tiramisu. We were advised that we'd receive marinated olives with white beans and garlic bread complimentary from the chef, due to ordering from the RW menu. Score! Our first course came, meatballs filled with fontina cheese, topped with Sunday gravy, sitting in polenta (No complaints from me, they were excellent), and stracciatella sitting in a full bodied olive oil. Which was very tasty, however the stracciatella came with bread that was salted, making this dish way too salty. Second course came hot and heavy after the first, lemon chicken, with crispy fingerling potatoes and marinated artichokes The chicken was extremely moist, and seasoned very liberally, which makes the dish slightly overbearing when it's eaten with the marinated chokes, and my wife's swordfish oreganata with had great taste and flavor, however might have been slightly overcooked. To continue the full onslaught of food, our desserts came, wife's cannoli, which again, for her seemed strangely over salted, I disagreed, and enjoyed the filling, however I quickly observed that the cannoli shells are too thin, and were cracking from just being handled, and my tiramisu which I thought was perfect. I don't drink espresso late at night, so it didn't matter to me if it was on the menu.
(5)Steve M.
Freaking delicious. Ladies of 13th Street, you've done it again. Little Nonna's takes my favorite style of eating, small plates, and applies it to Americanized Italian food. Small dishes of spaghetti and linguine instead of the huge overflowing bowls you'd expect at a more traditional red sauce place. I will start with my only complaint, because the rest of this review is going to be a rave: There is no bar, and there are only four cocktails. I'm a guy who enjoys a cocktail, and I really dislike the four they have pre-mixed and pre-bottled. They have wine and a couple Italian beers in addition... but I'm a gin-before-dinner kind of guy and that just wasn't possible here. Not a dealbreaker, but I did dock it a star for that. On to the food: - B+V+P Meatballs: Probably the best meatballs I've ever eaten in my life. And I know I just said that a few weeks ago about Jerry's Bar, and those were great, but this time I mean it. Wow. Big, fall-apart-in-your-mouth, juicy, tender, fontina-stuffed meatballs. Get these. And then do what we did and get the spaghetti and meatballs too, so you can have more of them. - Stracciatella: Fresh-pulled mozzarella with olive oil and sea salt, just how it should be done. Pretty darn good, but I've still gotta give the crown to Garces Trading Company for their fresh-pulled mozzarella. - Garlic Bread: You can't go wrong here. Get it with your macaroni course and dip dip dipadelphia. - Spaghetti and Meatballs: This is the dish I was most excited for, and I was doubly excited once I knew what meatballs I was in store for. Al dente spaghetti cooked just the way I like it, a light tomato sauce, and those balls from heaven. Yes, I said it. Balls from heaven. - Pork Braciole: Unbelievably tender pork stuffed with fennel and provolone. I loved this dish. - Linguine Vongole: Exactly what you'd hope for when you order linguini in clam sauce... except with a bonus of cured pork cheek. Delicious and garlicky. Cozy and familiar. - Gorgonzola Bruschetta with fig: Everybody else loved this, but I'm not a big gorgonzola fan, so it's not really fair for me to comment.
(4)Anni D.
Like the rest of their restaurants, this place is pretty damn good. The food is delicious, the drinks are well made and the staff is super friendly. I will continue to support these businesses.
(4)Stephen R.
Dinner was fantastic. I recommend the Sunday Gravy before it runs out. Go in with a big appetite you will be going home with a lot of food.
(5)Eric P.
Beyond the classic atmosphere, adorable niches of vintage 40s/50's retro collectibles lies a fantastic experience waiting. My server was Lydia. The meal was perfect. Simply put. My spaghetti and meatballs was more than a I bargained for. 3 huge meatballs and a mound of sauce draped pasta gave me an excited twitch in my stomach. Post dinner the hazelnut cannoli is not too be missed. It tasted like Ferraro Roche candy but better and mini. Oh and btw, the cleanest bathroom in Philadelphia. All in all I will be back. As a baker and pastry chef of 16 years I am always happy to pass on fabulous restaurant when I find it.
(5)Samantha B.
Came for dinner this past Saturday night, and I was blown away. I'm not a huge lover of traditional Italian, but Little Nonna's made me a believer. The space is a great size, small but not cramped, and the lights and decorations are incredibly charming. To start we shared the Stracciatella and Meatballs. The grilled bread was the perfect accompaniment to the fresh mozzarella, and just as good as the grilled bread that I love so much from Barbuzzo. The meatballs were hands down the best I've ever had...a great blend of meats and spices. The polenta under the meatballs was creamy and delicious. For our entrees we split the Chestnut Ravioli and the 1/2 Chicken. The ravioli was unbelievable and I would have been happy with a big bowl. The chicken was also amazing, and the artichokes and potatoes that came with were equally tasty. We got the warm chocolate cake for the perfect end to the meal. I can't wait for a return trip to Little Nonna's...a top notch meal from start to finish. Turney and Saffran do it again!
(5)Molly G.
Went on Sunday night for dinner. We thought it was good, but not out of the park like their other places. It was actually restaurant week, which I usually hate due to lousy service and mediocre food, but this exceeded my expectations. We sat outside on the back patio which was very enjoyable. We started with the fresh pulled mozzarella and an b+p+v meatballs. The mozzarella was delicious but a tad on the salty side. The meatballs were good but I think they were a tad overcooked because the meat was a little dry. The fontina cheese inside the meatballs was a nice touch. For the main course I had the stuffed shells and my husband had the lemon chicken. The shell was a giant shell with lamb filling and a mint pesto sauce (in addition to red sauce). The mint was a very pronounced flavor, but not overpowering. I thought the chicken had great flavor but was on the dry side. The service was pretty good. The waitress checked in quite a but to see how we liked everything, but then was very slow with the bill. Then when the bill came age had charged us for an extra glass of wine. We tried tracking her down, but then got tired of waiting after 15 min so then we paid and left.
(3)Dave B.
My girlfriend and I went here to celebrate her birthday with her parents. We enjoyed this place from the moment we walked in. The vibe was casual but with an authentic Italian restaurant feel. I got the garlic bread appetizer which was phenomenal. My main course was the potato gnocchi which was also very good. I definitely recommend this place to anyone in Philadelphia looking for a good Italian dining experience.
(4)Kelly B.
Loved the decor and atmosphere - super cozy and well designed. Service was excellent too - attentive and professional. Decent amount of vegetarian options. However, although the food was really good, I can't say amazing because everything tasted too salty (especially the shrimp scampi and shaved salad.) Dessert fell a little flat too - good, but not amazing.
(4)Tracie P.
Had a terrific meal here last night with my girlfriend and two friends. The decor is adorable. They were clearly aiming for a grandma's kitchen vibe, and they nailed it. But it's still quaint and dim enough to be a cozy date spot. The food is served as it's ready and meant to be shared family style. Everything we had was delicious. I especially loved the mussels and the linguine vongole. If you're a mushroom fan, get the arancini. You also can't go wrong with the meatballs. The shell was also super tasty, and my girlfriend flipped for the lemon chicken. Service was prompt, and there was a nice wait between the starters and the main round of food. They have house made cocktails, wine and a few beers -- I had the sgroppino, which includes a scoop of water ice and was served in an adorable old school cocktail glass. Great atmosphere and even better food. We will definitely be back!
(5)Isaac W.
Yes, this place is pretty damn good. On a recent trip to Philly we ended up here per a friend's recommendation. We sat out in the patio and had a lovely server. Good service, good music, great food. Seriously- their take on the bruschetta was fantastic. Our entrees were both great, we both had great pastas, my date with the spaghetti and meatballs, and she declared them to be the best she's ever had. Dessert was fantastic as well.
(5)Gina S.
Service was adequate . Reservation honored in a timely way. Food very disappointing. Linguini with clam and crab had no crab and very few clams. Sunday gravy had run out .spaghetti and meatballs were suggested. Meatballs were too heavy on the fennel , gravy tasted burnt. Overwhelming flavor of pepperoni. We won't be back.
(1)Bill B.
This was my first experience here and it was awesome! The service was outstanding. Staff constantly checked to make sure everything was OK and was very polite and helpful. The atmosphere is a small place that makes you feel that you are in your grandmother's home. The food was the star. The meatballs and soft polenta was outstanding. Te olive plate was equally good. I had the pan seared potato gnocchi and it tasted great. The kitchen staff do a phenomenal job in a small kitchen. This is a must stop if you have never been here.
(5)George H.
What an amazing place. Great, cozy little place. The food was unbelievable. I have had authentic Italian food before, and this place definitely serves it. The Garlic Bread is so tasty, and my salad (forgot the name, had the word Gem in it) was one of the best I've ever had. Lastly, the pasta sauce (gravy) was by far the best I have ever tasted in my 22 years of living mainly due to the braised beef that is slow cooked in it. Had it with the cheese filled meat balls. I can't wait to return to Philly to taste it all again!!!
(5)Brandon K.
It's a rather small place but I like the atmosphere. The server wasn't bad but not great. We had the STRACIATELLA for an app. The cheese and olives were good but the bread really tasted kind of burnt. The Ceasar salad was recommended to us by our cab driver and it was actually very good. The croutons are not what you expect and they are amazing. I had the spaghetti and meatballs for dinner and I was let down. I've had the meatballs from Barbuzzo (which they also own) and they are amazing but these were dry and over cooked. The sauce was also kind of dry and had a very smokey flavor which I didn't expect. It was like pulled pork in red sauce and I didn't see or taste any basil. My girlfriend had the ORECCHIETTI. It had good flavor but the "house made duck sausage" was really nowhere to be seen. A friend had the Gnocchi and they were actually very good. Nice flavor and the ingredients complimented each other well. All in all the dinner was just Ok. I feel like Little Nonna's is trying too hard to be different rather than putting out better quality Italian food especially when asking $16 for spaghetti and meatballs.
(2)Ana L.
Absolutely gorgeous garden seating under the stars, and scrumptious Italian food. Had the cavatelli, spaghetti marinara, gnocchi, shrimp linguini as main dishes for our party. Dessert included cheesecake in a cute mason jar, tiramisu (with a kick of rum), and cookies with chocolate. Definitely not your run of the mill Italian fare!
(5)Karen B.
those who love heavy italian food will go crazy for little nonna's, but if you're lukewarm about italian cuisine (like i am), this place underwhelms. if i'm going to splurge on a mountain of calories, i want it to be worthwhile -- all the food here tastes good but leaves me feeling like i have a brick in my stomach and need to take a nice, long nap. i've eaten here twice in the past week and the mussels have stood out the most (i was bummed today to see that they aren't on the lunch menu). the italian wedding soup is good, but i'm a purist when it comes to wedding soup and this version is not traditional, so i was a little disappointed. the sgroppino knocked my socks off, as did the tiramisu. business is booming and it's cramped inside. on both occasions here i saw people struggling to get in and out of their seats (i felt especially bad for a woman who was using a walker today) -- so if you're not particularly nimble, this place could be uncomfortable for you.
(3)Barbara M.
Omg it's the best Italian restaurant I've ever been to! The amount is pretty decent ! Def try the veal porterhouse and shrimp scampi !!! They were soooooo good!!!!!
(5)Debra B.
Just had dinner here with my husband and four month old daughter. The hostess went out of her way to hold a table for us in the back garden that was tucked away and allowed room for our stroller. She was great and very helpful, as was our waitress. Food was great. Love the decor. Highly recommend.
(5)Robert P.
I went here during their opening weekend with a friend and had a wonderful time. The atmosphere was elegant and comforting. We sat at the outside patio, covered overhead by hanging flowers and lights, creating an intimate atmosphere that made you forget that you were in the middle of the city. We started with the Antipasta board. The excellent prosciutto and cheeses were matched with arugula, beets, oranges, and focaccia. For our main courses we had the Spaghetti & Meatballs and the Cavatelli with Squid. The cheese filled meatballs were a highlight although as whole this dish didn't wow me. The service was kind and courteous. Our server was well informed enough to answer all our questions. Although the restroom was clean and well decorated, I wish that there had been more than one. At times there was a long line. Overall a lovely Italian dining experience and I can't wait to go back!
(4)Matt B.
Why is there a group of people milling about in front of a restaurant at 4:45p in 25 degree weather? They're not even open, yet! Sunday Gravy is why. They serve it every day but Sunday gravy on Sunday felt extra special. There's a limited amount of this dish and when it's gone, it's gone. The tomatoes were San Marzano and the meats were meatballs, hot sausage, shortrib and maybe pork shoulder? The meatballs have little treasures of fontina cheese inside, what an amazing invention. They serve it in two bowls, one with gravy and pasta and the other is a wonderful meat sauce bowl. They then throw a portion of perfectly cooked broc rabe (with red pepper) on top of the meat bowl. The whole situation was unbelievable. Served with pasta of the day it's a reason to get someplace early. The decor of this place is like grandma's house. The china is mismatched but nice. There are baking pans and black and white pictures on the wall. The service was attentive. The garlic bread starter was awesome (pro tip, squeeze the bulb to get our the roasted garlic) and went well with the eggplant parm starter (fritte style strips not soggy at all). We also enjoyed a delightful shaved salad with fennel, celery, radish and loccatelli. Easy 5 stars and felt invigorated: ate Nonna's cooking and it wasn't so cold on the walk home.
(5)Noheli T.
After hearing some amazing reviews regarding LIttle Nonna's my guy and I decided ot give it a try for his birthday. We ordered the garlic bread the Negroni Glazed Lamb Ribs as appetizers. I personally loved the garlic bread more than the ribs, but both items were good. I should have stuck to my gut and ordered the Spaghetti and Meatballs as my entree, but instead I had the Linguine Vongole. The plate was good, but not mind blowing. My guy ordered the Sunday Gravy and he too thought that it was just ok. We also had 3 glasses of wine and the bill totaled to about $115, which blew me away. I honestly wasn't as over joyed with the meals, but the atmosphere was great. I'd definitely give it a second try and order their Spaghetti and Meatballs instead.
(3)Jasmine P.
I really enjoyed the ambiance and the delicious food. Very cute and perfect for a date night or intimate dinner with friends/family! I would highly recommend this place.
(5)Matthew H.
We visited Little Nonna's for the first time during restaurant week and it was good but I definitely wasn't wowed by anything that they served. I want to blame this on restaurant week but since the restaurant week menu was lifted straight from the regular menu I am not so sure. We started off with drinks, one getting the wine pairing and the other the Mulberry Street Sazerac. The wine pairing was interesting because it was a generic pairing and didn't actually take into account what you ordered so some of the wines didn't go well with the dish. The Sazerac was good and strong but came in a tiny mason jar, I drink a lot of liquor cocktails but even this seemed a little small for a $10 drink, I would rather pay a few bucks more and get a larger normal rocks glass. For the apps we went with the salad and the BVP meatball. I have heard amazing things about this meatball and while it was good it wasn't anything all that special, I didn't find myself going wow and wanting to tell everyone to order it. For the entrees we did the short ribs and the swordfish. Again both were ok but weren't great the short ribs were a little overcooked and grainy and the swordfish filets were very thin and because of that dried out a bit on the grill. The dessert were good, we did the apple crumble which was great and the pistachio cannolis. The cannolis were an interesting take, they had a very whipped filling that was very light but had almost no flavor. All in all I think that I would like to try Little Nonna's again not during restaurant week but considering I felt the same way about this place as I did Barbuzzo I am not sure it's worth the time.
(3)Tony P.
You'll enjoy the Sunday Gravy. The Garlic bread was light and tasty not over done with flavor. The Arancini were delicious as were the meatballs. Solid take on homemade Italian food.
(5)Huntington B.
After a long day of travel, this was the perfect meal. Sat outside in the garden. Charming and quiet. The meatballs were incredible. Garlic bread was yummy. The mussels were pretty good. Would definitely go back!
(4)Jenell S.
I loved, loved, loved Little Nonna's! Like the rest of their restaurants, the atmosphere is comfortable and chic and the food does not disappoint. I went with my boyfriend a few months ago and we shared a bunch of items off the menu. I am giving Little Nonna's 5-stars based on my experience with the appetizers/pasta alone. The only dish that I don't think I'd order again was a mixed seafood grill, which was a special so I don't think I'd even have the option to order it again. However, the rest of our dishes were outstanding. I could eat the stracciatella for days; served with warm grilled bread and a drizzle of olive oil, this dish was simple but executed WELL. I also really enjoyed the meatballs stuffed with cheese and the fusilli di pretti. This restaurant has definitely been bumped up on my list of Italian restaurants in Philly. Nice work Little Nonna's!
(5)Nancy H.
My party of 3 arrived on Saturday night without a reservation, and this small restaurant was packed. The host was nice and offered to seat us at a counter by the kitchen or on an outside patio. We opted for the patio even though it was a bit chilly. The outside area is somewhat enclosed so it wasn't as cold as it could be. There was very little lighting both inside and out so it seems like a good place for a romantic dinner (although the inside was super crowded so you may want to avoid busy dinner times with a date). The menu is short with only a couple of actual pasta choices - gnocchi or spaghetti. I asked the server about pasta options in case I had missed something, and she wasn't super helpful. She suggested that I place the menu closer to my candle so that I could read it better myself. After bringing our water, the server did not take our order and left us alone for a good ten minutes. Since we weren't thrilled with the outside seating, the slow service, the servers attitude, or the lack of menu options, we chose to leave and find another restaurant. Therefore, I have no idea if the actual food is good or not.
(3)Diane V.
My first time here and it was a very quaint environment. The restaurant was full at 8 pm and it was very hot inside. The wine list is very small (only 5 ) to choose from for white and no Sauvignon Blanc, my favorite. Only 2 beers to choose from! We ordered 2 appetizers to start, the mush risotto balls and the cannelloni beans. I really liked the risotto balls but the other came out cold and soggy . Just as soon as the waitress took those plates away, our dinner was brought over. We really felt rushed by our waitress. She would not leave us alone to enjoy just savoring our apps/ drinks until she got a dinner order. We just wanted to slow down, breathe, talk, relax but we couldn't. The pace was way too fast and I'm sorry but our waitress kept stroking her braids :( I got the fish picatta which was tasty but a little tough to cut (seared side too seared). My husband got meatball app and broc rabe which was good but he barely ate because the pace the restaurant had us on was too fast.
(3)Michael Y.
Flawless experience. Food was extraordinary. Drinks hit the spot. Atmosphere was perfection. And the service was impeccable. I somewhat hate how the owners have a monopoly on the businesses in the vacinity, but it's tough to argue with the quality of their work. Little Nonna's was one of the best Philadelphia dining experiences I've had all year. Even writing this, my mouth is watering to go back. (I also love the authentic South Philly tchotchkes on the walls).
(5)Star T.
I highly recommend the Glazed Lamb Ribs and the Cavatelli Nero. The desserts are also great though I preferred my Apple crostata to my friend's Milk & Cookies, Italiano. I'll certainly be back.
(4)Holly S.
Today my six of my colleagues had lunch at Little Nonna's. This place is good for small groups if you call ahead, but I would bring a larger group here unless you are planning on taking over the whole place. One of our colleagues had called ahead to find out what the corking fee was. $25 - yes twenty five dollars!! Well, considering the wine list starts at $50 a bottle for white up to $85+ for red, $25 is a bargain. Well, we were taking a lunch break from work and we decided against it anyway. The service was good, the food came out timely and none of our orders were screwed up. So they got the basics covered. We ordered garlic bread and fig bruschetta as appetizers, also there was an order of meatballs in there as an appy also. The appetizers looked good, smelled great and tasted phenomenal. Next came the entrees. I ordered the mushroom pasta dish, which I though was excellent, but a more refined palate might have complained about the salt, one watching their calories might have complained about the oil/butter at the bottom of the dish. Again, I found it to be excellent. Others at the table ordered chicken parm sandwiches, rigatoni and spaghetti and meatballs. All hearty comfort food choices. No one complained about their selection. All in all this was a pleasant experience and I would definitely go there again...Here are a few more interesting things to take note of. The wildcard at this restaurant was the french fries served with he sandwiches. Real french fries made from real sliced up potatoes. They were delicious and were a hit with the whole group. This restaurant seems to be right across the street from a methadone clinic. There are big signs saying no smoking, no loitering, no sitting. It was fun to watch people smoke, loiter and sit on the steps of that place while we were dining. Excellent people watching spot.
(4)Lindsay T.
This was a good meal -- Not bad but not great either, which was a bummer for me and my dining pals. We started off with the mushroom arancini (fried risotto balls) with a truffle sauce and the roasted beet and pear salad. Both were tasty options though the arancini could have been hotter and the portion was a bit small for the salad (especially for $10.) I order the Sunday Gravy, with my dining friends ordering the spaghetti and meatballs and the chestnut ravioli. Though all options were yummy, again we had temperature issues where nothing was hot enough. My braciole was a bit on the tough side however, the wide pasta noodles and meat gravy were the best thing on the plate. Unfortunately, I'm not sure I would go back to dine again as the experience was just mediocre.
(3)Erin W.
I would absolutely give Little Nonna a second try, but I was not terribly blown away by my first visit. We started with the garlic bread appetizer that had a lovely fresh garlic spread. I thought this was delicious, but the bread came out very very dark, I would say on the verge of burnt. I had the swordfish entree as my meal. I thought the fish was tasty, though a bit too salty and I found the accompanied vegetable proportions to be incredibly small. I really loved the environment. Our server was very friendly and attentive to our table. There are absolutely other things on the menu that I'd want to try, so I'll definitely go back.
(3)Jackie V.
As a lover of all things created by the ladies that own 13th st, I am very surprised to be giving this only 3 stars. I went for dinner on a friday night with Justin G, Colleen D, and Casey M with much anticipation. We decided to order a bunch of plates for the table to share and overall we were underwhelmed. It's possible that I am overly biased since I grew up with great italian cooking...but all four of us agreed there was nothing amazing about the food. I'd like to give it a try again in the future in the hopes that it was an off night but with so many great places to eat in Philly, it's not too likely. I still can't rave enough about Barbuzzo or Jamonera but Nonna's just didn't do it for me.
(3)Vicki S.
Food was great... Portions were huge...Get the arancini for sure. Service was a bit slow and not very attentive or friendly. Had a nice night with my girlfriends but not rushing to head back.
(3)Lauren I.
Cute little place, perfect for a date night. Loved the homey decor - just like grandma's house! We had the shaved salad, which was perfectly dressed and seasoned; a great appetizer. Also had the mushroom arancini - very tasty but not quite like what you'd find in Italy. A lot smaller and more cheesy - but still really delicious. Husband had the italian wedding soup which looked great and also the roasted chestnut ravioli - which he found to be too sweet, but I enjoyed. Service was great, it's a tiny place and I wished we had more of a private table (felt like we were sitting on top of the table next to us) but other than that, was a great dinner.
(3)Jodie S.
Ive been giving out a lot of 5 stars lately. Im not sure if its because im picking the right places or just getting lucky. Little Nonnas is small plate Italian fare and meant for sharing. The staff if knowledgable and friendly. There were two of us and we ordered the fresh mozzarella, shaved brussel salad and sunday gravy. I was in heaven. It was plenty of food and completely the right mix. What made the night even more special was sitting in their outside area. We were lucky enough to have great folks sitting on both sides of us and immensely enjoyed the homey laid back almost European cafe vibe. Before I realized it we had been there for 3 hours and it was wonderful.
(5)Laurie B.
The outdoor patio behind the building is very pleasant, and even its strange festooning with aprons, doilies, and other schmattahs strung along a clothes line does not detract from the atmosphere. Service was good, as was the food. We especially liked the polenta with mushrooms and the chicken with grilled artichokes, lemons, and potatoes. The kitchen's take on eggplant parmigiana, with Japanese eggplant, Thai basil, burrata, and not much marinara sauce, worked, but I would have preferred an old-fashioned, genuine nonna's eggplant parm to the restaurant's version of spaghetti and meatballs. Overly sauced and way too sweet, it too needs - in my opinion - to be updated. We will certainly come back, though my sense is that reservations and tables will soon be very hard to come by.
(4)Alexa R.
Barbuzzo is one of our favorite restaurants in Philly (probably in the world), so I did not give it a second thought when I made a reservation for Little Nonna's for our fourth anniversary dinner. The ambience and bathroom of Little Nonna's brought tears to my eyes as it reminded me so much of my Italian grandmother's house, complete with gold rimmed saucers and framed religious pictures. My husband and I started with the pulled mozzarella and salted bread, which I could have used a lot more of! We also had the fig bruschetta, which was devoured. For dinner, my husband had the spaghetti and meatballs and declared it, "THE BEST (HE) HAD EVER HAD!" (Don't tell my mother.) And I had the lemon chicken. We also ordered a side of the smashed fingerlings, which were awesome. They featured a combo of sweet and white potatoes and satisfied my need for more carbs. We were entirely too full from dinner to have dessert. Our server was not great - I think she was simply busy - but I expected her to be a bit more engaging.
(4)D. A.
Had a nice date here with my husband. They just opened this week and you can tell they are on their toes making sure everything is running smoothly. Server(s) were nice and attentive, food was delicious and atmosphere was fabulous. Cozy but not crowded. Beautiful and stylish yet comfortable. A must-visit. We enjoyed a classic menu of garlic bread, grilled caesar (the dressing, polenta plus being grilled was a great twist), stuffed shell, lemon chicken and apple crostata. I recommend them all. Loved the wine list too. Looking forward to another visit!
(4)lauren z.
I can see how ordering differently would result in more stars. I ordered the fig bruschetta and it is definitely a pass next time. The bread was too big, the fig was too big, the flavors didn't meld. It was a big disappointment for me. I had been looking forward to the pumpkin cannoli based on reviews-- unfortunately it has switched to hazelnut and was bad-- like we left half a cannoli on the plate bad. I got my husband some gnocchi for take out. It was OK, but not great. I know gnocchi is a potato pasta but this tasted very potato-y... kind of like if you got a side of rosemary roasted potatoes with the consistency of gnocchi. It was fine, but not what I expected. The meatballs, lemon chicken, and mozzarella appetizer were all very good. I saw someone else having the spaghetti and regret not getting that over the gnocchi. I think the key to getting a 4 or 5 star experience at little nonna's is all in the ordering: research and pick carefully!
(3)Fran H.
I wanted so badly to like this place! The atmosphere was tight ! The decor reminiscent of grandmom. The food mediocre. I had the stuffed shell. The pasta part was not fully cooked but the filling was good. The appetizer garlic bread had potential but the Texas toast square were like rubber not fresh and that spoiled the appetizer. Overall it is overpriced Olive Garden ! Sorry little nonnas I will try again but not for a long time.
(3)Jon C.
This was great, fun, beautiful garden, etc., just as everyone says -- and amazingly crowded already at 5:30 on a Saturday. Oren is an awesome server, and this is clearly going to be a hugely popular restaurant in the neighborhood -- lots of families, couples, dates, you name it. Pricing all the cocktails and glasses of wine at the same $10 is a great idea that more restaurants should pick up on. I'm mostly here to make one early suggestion, in case Marcie and Valerie are checking us out. If you're gonna serve those great spaghetti and meatballs -- and even the spaghetti and clams too -- people are gonna wanna put grated parmesan on the spaghetti. My family and I felt bad about asking for it, but we really wanted it so we did, and Oren could not have been more obliging. But having the server come over with a bowl and sprinkle a little more on the spaghetti doesn't really do it. Then, sure enough, the table next to us asked for the same thing. Think about letting people have some grated cheese on their table -- maybe just if they ask for it -- it would make the spaghetti and meatball experience here even better!
(4)Ashley B.
Went this evening for the Valentines Day Prix Fixe and was incredibly disappointed. After having been there the first week it opened (and loving it) service was terrible. We were rushed out so quickly and had to hunt the waitress down to order glasses of wine and coffees with dessert. My husband had never been before and it was a bad first impression. Food was decent, but to pay for the special menu, I wouldn't say it was worth it.
(2)Cindy S.
Little Nonna's is lovely. Great ambiance, attentive service, no frills $10 a glass wine list and tasty food. The meatballs are delicious (although they seemed to be missing the Fontina), the gnocchi was a treat and the cauliflower, oh that cauliflower. My friend who is an enthusiastic meat eater didn't touch his meatballs until he finished every bit of his cauliflower.
(4)Jessica S.
Yo sonzz this place is legit for reeaaaaalz. That spaghetti and meatballs was out of dis world, holla! I also gots the chicken and wowie wowie wow, me likey. Dessert is mad serious too dawg. You gots to go, you won't regret it for realz. PC.
(5)Christa M.
Ambiance is cute albeit it's next to a dilapidated building. Food ( eggplant parm and cheese appetizer) was underwhelming and not how the waitress made it out to be- very Italian American, heavy red sauce that tastes out of a can. Swordfish entree was served cold with broccoli that looked like it was of the frozen variety. Would not come back.
(2)Miller W.
OK.. here's the deal... some dishes great- Sirloin- Yummy. eggplant parm- fantastic. But, here's the problem: 1) service was dismal. Ordered a 2nd glass of wine to have with my steak. Yeah.. didnt arrive. 2) No espresso or cappuccino. It's an italian place. How can there not be espresso or cappuccino? Stupid. 3) Decor- eh- buco di beppo was more interesting (and that isnt a good thing). 4) Dessert- nothing grabbed us. Just serve a frozen budino or something. go all in on it. I'd go back because the food was good, But this is an italian food city.. and they didnt stand out. They'll do well as it is a tiny place. But you can do better. However, you do need to go at least once. In retrospect, the steak dish was so good, it is worth it. EDIT- rethought things and decided it was great. Food was quite good. especially compared to the next review I made.
(4)Stephen s.
Food and service are generally quite good here, however, restaurant management requires some real improvements to better serve their clients. Three issues from our recent visit: (1) Ravioli as a main course only included 4 small pieces, and no side dishes. When we complained, there was no response from the kitchen or the management. (2) No bread is served, so we ordered garlic bread for the table (5 of us). They only brought out 4 pieces. Price was not an issue here; we would have paid more for the extra pieces. (3) Apparently the staff felt we were taking too much time, and there were continual subtle (and not so subtle) hints to move it along, and then to leave after we were served dessert. For any restaurant aspiring to be top level, this is a serious mistake.
(3)Mark G.
My spouse and I had to try this little delight near the theatre where Jersey Boys were playing. Without reservations on a Friday we were assured we could be out of there in an hour and 15 minutes in time for the show. They were right; service was the highlight here. If your over 50 you cannot read the menu in this dark restaurant. The font and letters are teeny weeny. The meatball appetizer was everything we wanted it to be. The swordfish at $22 and Veal at $26 were as expected. No surprises. The apple something for dessert at $9 was overpriced. But the biggest surprise was the paltry pouring of the glass of wine for $10. DO NOT buy this. Go for the bottle. We estimate that we received 2 ounces of wine for $10. Tables are close together but not uncomfortable. I didn't make the mistake of reaching for bread from another's table like Ralph's on 9th st. Here you have to pay for bread so you know if it is yours or not.
(3)Anna P.
Loved my dish which was the linguine in clam sauce. It was flavorful and a very nice portion size. We were seated at the chefs counter since they were busy on a wed night. I would normally enjoy this however the plates are stacked high right in front of you and you have to look in between them to admire the 4 chefs/cooks perform a culinary ballet in such a small space. Side note: my friend ordered the special ravioli "entree" and the 6 tiny ravioli were better as an app than entree.
(4)Nancy W.
Restaurant very clean / bathroom Service are awesome Food are so good ( I prefer only green salad no meet but it's fine ) Tiramisu are the besssssssssttttttttt
(5)Loy G.
charming little italian spot with romantic ambience. somehow successfully mixing grandma's style of doilies and flowery china with the modern flair of hipster filament light bulbs and the rustic open kitchen. okay so i'm a sucker for interior design and presentation. also, great service from our waitress with a fast working kitchen that has the food coming out expeditiously. we started with the fresh pulled mozzarella and buttered bread. this was the perfect appetizer that was definitely fresh, both the cheese and the bread. great flavors and mix of textures with toasted freshly baked bread with soft, melt in your mouth mozzarella and a mix of buttery and salty. yum for sure and the other appetizer options definitely intrigued me with the head on shrimp scampi and fig bruschetta. so i'll definitely be back for that. on the pasta part, we opted for the spaghetti meatballs (how can you not), and the linguine clams (also how can you not). first off, the pasta is nicely al dente however, not freshly homemade. i'd hope that "little granda ma ma" would have worked just as hard to deliver fresh pastas. i'd say that this would help push their dishes over the top. the sauce itself is good, but i want more, i want more! so i'd hope for a little extra red sauce if their "gravy" is the premise of this restaurant. perhaps a side of marinara and calamari would be a good way to highlight the gravy. in terms of the meatballs, they are huge and just what you would hope for. you get two and one of them seemed to be more "filled with cheese". not sure if this was a mistake or intentional but sure was good. the meatballs are of the spicy italian sausage variety so that's either good or bad depending on how you like your meatballs. i like that stuff, but my fiance who is a little opposed to spice wasn't too excited (i was more than happy to clean those off of her plate). the linguine clams itself was perfectly made and i might echo would be off to another level if made with fresh linguine. i really appreciate the generous sprinkling of fresh parsely and pieces of thin fried pancetta (bacon makes it better, i'll be sure to add this to my own home recipe). lastly finished with the apple crostada. pretty tasty and standard, but wish they had espresso and cappuccino. the cappuccino would definitely have topped off my home cooked italian experience. 3.5 star experience really but something else might make it a 5 star place... hmmmm. did i mention they need to make fresh pasta?!
(4)Eunni C.
So so so good. I love their salad and Italian seafood grill. I have been there multiple times but once I had just ok meal. My seafood grill was overly cooked that day. I hated the texture of my rubbery calamari and dry swordfish that day. Last night I asked the server that I prefer not over cooked seafood. She was so kind and said she will make sure. And my dish was phenomenon. Was sooooo good and the best grilled seafood I had. I was super satisfied. We also got shaved sprout salad, garlic bread, meatball and vongole pasta. They were all delicious. We really enjoyed them all. I can eat there everyday.
(5)Madelyn F.
Little Nonna's is cute as a button in decor and the food is absolutely delish. Having sampled the garlic toast, which by the way, is served with the whole roasted head of garlic on the side (in case you don't really care to kiss your date that night) was great. We also tried the wonderful arancini, the spaghetti & meatballs, and the Italian Mixed Grill (all sorts of goodies from land & sea), but my absolute favorite (and it may sound silly because it's just a salad) was the heirloom tomato caprese! Plump, sweet heirloom tomatoes dance on a plate of fresh pesto, garlic/ balsamic reduction, an amazing dome of fresh mozzarella and topped with crispy prosciutto... Yes, I said crispy. Just go... Make a reservation already. You're welcome.
(5)Ashley S.
Ended up at Little Nonna's outdoor seating tucked away in the city. Can't say enough good things about their service, food, wine and ambiance! We were spoiled. Can't wait to visit again! Make sure to get the garlic bread and wine with dinner ;)
(5)Alyssa R.
I really wanted to like this place, and had heard so many great things I was really excited for my first time. However, I have to say I was disappointed in the taste of the food. Everything was just ok. We started with the Straciatella and the shaved brussel sprouts salad. The straciatella was good, probably the only really good thing to our meal. The bread was great, but I've had better at other Philly restaurants. I am a huge brussel sprouts fan but there was something weird with this salad, I had trouble finishing it. I was not a fan. I then had the spaghetti and meatballs. I had heard so much about these meatballs I couldn't wait to try. They were big like everyone says but thats about it. The taste left something to be desired. I dont know but Ive had better frozen meatballs. The sauce on the pasta was just ok also, not sure why but I did not like it. I couldn't finish it. And I eat Italian food regularly, and always finish my plate. I am pretty easy to please with italian food, there was just some flavor in everything I tried, I did not like. Which was unusual. We then had dessert. The tiramisu was good. We had an apple thing that was just meh. The wine was good. But that's about it. Cute decor inside. Waitress was nice. However, I would not return.
(2)Flora W.
One of the best Italian restaurants in Philly. I love their pastas. We wanted to try their special menu, Lobster Spaghetti, but they ran out of it. So I had Bronzino Alla Piastra and my friend had Vongole Spaghetti. First time to try their fish menu and it was outstanding! My friend also kept saying that the Vongole is so good. Plus, the Garlic Bread is my favorite!
(5)Katie R.
This is a great Italian option just east of Center City in Philadelphia. It fits right into the standard "great little restaurant" category in Philly - small restaurant, tables close together, seems to be family-owned, and GREAT good. I was here for dinner with a friend, and it was exactly the right atmosphere for that kind of meal. Friendly atmosphere, good service. It's not a BYO, which is a bit odd for this kind of restaurant in this area, but whatevs - it's still good! As always in Philly, no parking. Best bet is walking or uber.
(4)Noah G.
I really don't like to double up on restaurants unless they are the best of the best. In a city like Philadelphia there are so many amazing places that when you average a dinner out once a week you're sure to miss a ton if you start going to the same spots over and over again. That being said when my mother popped in a bit unexpectedly I decided I'd like to take her to LN's even though I'd been therea few months earlier. My first time here was fine, the service was great, my drinks were plentiful and the mussels we awesome. My meal was ok but all in all it made for a fine night. This second time around things were a bit different. Our party of five arrived at 8:00 and we were promptly sat. After pouring our water and giving us our menus we waited about ten minutes or so before our drink orders were taken. With my family this is a cardinal sin. You can wait on the food but don't keep our drinks from us! We got a bottle of wine and a few of us got cocktails. Then we waited again before we ordered appetizers. We asked that the garlic bread come out when it was was ready however this ended up being at the same time as our entrees. I went with the spaghetti and meatballs just as I had the first time I'd been there. It was fine, I wish we would have had some more cheese to sprinkle on top to enhance the flavor. The best dish was probably the clams and linguine my little brother got. If I make it back here this will most likely be my play along with the mussels. The food was fine, everyone loved the decor and atmosphere but boo summed up our waiter perfectly when she said he was half-assed. Out of any of the Turney / Saffron spots I've been this is the first time I've ever had half assed service.
(3)Anthony S.
I came to Little Nonna's for the first time shortly after it opened last year--I'm Italian and call my grandma Nonna, so I was emotionally invested in this place just based on the name. I enjoyed the experience so much that I wanted to come back this year for my birthday dinner. Of all the dishes I've had, the garlic bread is by far my favorite. A roasted head of garlic for you to schmear on perfectly grilled bread--nothing beats it. This past time I had the pan-seared gnocchi, which was very light and fluffy, but not very pan-seared. I expected there to be some sort of brown, crispy surface to the gnocchi, but that was missing entirely. Still delicious, but a misleading name to the dish. For desert we split mascarpone cheesecake and the apple crostata, with the latter being my favorite of the two. I finished up with a cup of the La Colombe Corsica coffee, which was a little bitter even after added cream. Above all, the environment here is hard to beat. The inside is dark and quaint, and the garden is covered and has beautiful string lights overhead.
(5)Denise P.
Best Italian meal I've ever had! I'm a huge fan of Ralph's in south Philly, but this was amazing.....felt like I was in my grandmas kitchen! From the Arancini to the Sunday gravy to the cannolis it was outstanding!
(5)Anand S.
Awesome little Italian joint I got to experience when I visited Philly and would highly recommend it to anyone who's in town. I had the pici alla norma and it was just so well done. The sauce was one of the bests I've ever had and I will definitely make sure to come back next time I'm in town again
(5)Esther C.
I came here with my friend for dinner and was seated in the heated outdoor garden. When we first sat down we were on fire. We were sitting right next to the lamp and it was really hot an unpleasant. Our server came to greet us shortly and he was very nice and attentive. He asked if we wanted the heat lamp lower and we happily agreed. The garden had so much ambiance outside and is very romantic. We ordered the potato gnocchi, garlic bread, and BVP spaghetti and meatballs. The garlic bread and gnocchi was heavenly. It was very flavorful and delicious. Truffle butter is used in the gnocchi BVP stands for beef, pork, and veal. The BVP meatballs are featured in multiple parts of the menu, and as a non-veal eater it eliminated a few choices. I did try a bite from my friend's dish and when they are all combined the taste isn't as strong, but I definitely would not have ordered it on my own. It was pretty good like any other meatball would taste. For two people we were stuffed from our meal. After we paid, our server was attentive enough to offer us water again which was definitely appreciated. I would definitely go again.
(4)Amanda N.
Wow if I could rate that mussel dish alone.. it would be a 10 star dish. It's as if they knew I was coming and made the most heavenly dish to help me regain my will to eat after recuperating from a stomach virus. That appetizer was to die for.. mussels with an amazing spicy sauce plus corn, tomatoes, sausage, and tons of fresh herbs topped with a huge jalapeno. It was magnificient. Our main dishes were a bit too heavy and salty for us (the chicken and the sunday gravy) but I would come back for that appetizer and to try other dishes just to eat those heavenly mussels again in that cute patio. Such an amazing environment out there. It has a nice cover so don't be shy if the weather isn't perfect.. it's a must!
(4)Mindy L.
Soooooo good, best meatballs I have ever had, pasta was amazing and the tiramisu was off the hook! My new fave!
(5)Claudia L.
I have many Italian friens who are very picky about Italian restaurants. Little Nonna's was their favorite, expressed from a few. The service (our server was Kerry, wonderful girl!!) was great and timing was perfect. The decor and atmosphere is great. My friend and I sat at the Chef's counter which I think is the best seat in the house. I love cooking so watching the kitchen was like porn to me. The food was very good and had a beautiful presentation. However, although the menu struck every heart string in me, the overall taste was not as great as I had expected it to be. We ordered the White Bean Bruschetta which was good. I ordered the Grilled Seafood dinner. It was EXTREMELY over-salted. Almost to the point that I could not eat it. My friend ordered the meatballs with the Sunday gravy (she's Italian). She was disappointing. Dessert, however, was not disappointed. We ordered the Warm Pumpkin Spice Cake and the Apple Crostata. BOTH WERE AMAZING. At the end of the day, when it comes down to it, it's whether or not I tell friends "OMG you HAVE to go there!". Sadly, Little Nonna's didn't make the cut. I'm not saying I would never go back (say if I were invited for an occasion) but I would initiate or recommend going there. Perhaps the simplicity of true Italian cooking needs to be revisited. Don't fix what's not broke.
(3)Christina H.
Went to Little Nonna's on a Friday evening and was seated immediately on the patio. I love the ambiance of this restaurant - it's perfect for a date night. The menu is not very extensive, but offers variety. The portions are generous in size. The garlic bread was delicious. I ordered the Italian mixed grill for my entree and was not disappointed. For dessert I had the tiramisu and it was probably the best tiramisu I've ever had. I will definitely be back!
(5)Lauren C.
I love this place. My fascination begins with the decor; it looks just like my grandmothers house, only without the mothball smell, and much more organized and chic. I definitely get/appreciate what they were going for though. I came here a few weeks ago with some coworkers that were visiting town and wanted some good authentic Italian food, but they needed to pay with a credit card for the sake of the ol' expense report. This destination was perfect. One of my colleagues isn't a big fan of bold red wine, so our waitress helped us select a lighter pinot-noir-esque bottle that we scored for $40. We began with an order of the garlic bread to insure that there would be no post-dinner hook-ups (j/k- all committed ladies!) We also got an order of the straciatella which is buratta (cheese) and olives with some more bread. Together, the starters went together beautifully. From there, we branched out. I went for the linguine and clams. While I'm no expert on seafood, I could tell that the clams were slightly overdone. They were on the chewier side. Also, I wish my dish had some more sauce- while it had enough to coat the noodles, i would have liked to have had something left in my plate at the end. It was really light. That being said it was also pretty tasty and enjoyable. I would just order something different when i come back next time. It wasn't a deterrent to returning. We decided to pass on desert as we were all stuffed. That being said, it was a really garlicky and successful dinner for my colleagues and I. The service was great, the food was delicious, and the place couldn't have been cuter (or located more perfectly for a fun after-dinner cocktail).
(4)Dan S.
Wow! I'm surely impressed by Little Nonna's. I've been here a couple times now and can't get over how delicious everything was. You have to mention the atmosphere, the place is so intimate and plain cute. The inside is decorated perfectly and the outdoor garden is an escape from center city. To start off, you must get the garlic bread. Perfectly crunchy pieces of bread will arrive with a whole bulb of roasted garlic! Yum. They also have some delicious pastas including the casarecce with greens and pork cheek and the gnocchi with maitake. One of my favorite dishes was the Italian seafood grill. It consisted of a medley of fresh cooked seafood in salsa verde with beans. Don't forget to try a cocktail, they're oh so good!
(5)Kelsey D.
We sat outside in the garden with the most beautiful ambiance! The food was amazing especially the garlic bread and the eggplant parmesan. I would definitely recommend this place to anyone!
(5)Derek W.
I don't usually jump for Restaurant Week specials, as sometimes restaurants seem (oddly!) to resist putting their best foot forward for value seekers. Not so at Little Nonna's, which included most of the stars from their regular menu among the RW selections and turned out a panoply of tasty and inventive dishes that had us pining for our next visit. Sitting in the lush, atmospheric, enclosed garden, somewhat removed from the din of the Friday night rush, was quite delightful, as was our server, who apologized profusely that she could not accommodate a couple of fairly substantial substitutions on account of dietary restrictions. Even with a few limiting factors we found plenty to nosh on, starting with the hand-pulled mozzarella, olives, and grilled bread. The bread was a particular treat, all singed with smoky flavor from the fire. I ordered seconds. Our shaved salad was a big hit, and it presented an interesting challenge to pick out the blissfully subtle flavors imparted by the shaved radishes, celery root, and Brussels sprouts. It reminded me of how much fresh taste you get from thinly shaved vegetables and I appreciated the lightness of olive oil and lemon dressing and the not-to-light coat of crumbled locatelli. The heirloom tomato panzanella was a colorful bright red, purple, green, and white (from unadvertised beans) and contained soft croutons instead of torn bread and a solid dressing. Our entree was a masterfully prepared chicken under a brick ("al mattone," as the Italians say), the best way to keep skin crisp and flesh moist, and it worked beautifully. A heap of charred fingerling potatoes (white, purple, and sweet) made the dish a hearty, saline extravaganza. We brought perfect balance to our dessert course with one rich and one "light" choice. The tiramisu was a tad dry, but the espresso layer and the indulgent, coffee-infused mascarpone made up for it. The palate cleanser was a bowl of blood orange and basil water ice, an excellent night cap after a rich and robust meal. Little Nonna's is helmed by the same star chef/owner who brought Philly Barbuzzo, and it will be worth going back on a slightly less frenetic night to take in more of the scene and the savory food.
(4)Andrea D.
Wonderful Italian meal! We shared the Sunday gravy, spaghetti and meatballs and Italian grill. The entrees were superb. Tiramisu was fantastic service was great. Would highly recommend!
(5)Annie G.
Little Nonna's is incredibly charming and delicious. I went for restaurant week but I'm dying to go back and try everything on the menu. The arancini are awesome!! The string lights inside make for a very nice atmosphere, and there is a patio out back if you enjoy al fresco dining. Overall a great experience.
(5)Sneha K.
I came here with a couple of friends for a Restaurant Week Lunch. We were seated in their outdoor garden area which was really cozy and quiet despite the construction happening next door. Could definitely be a great date spot! For the first course I tried the Stracciatella, which was bread with ricotta. I tried my friend's Wild Mushroom Arancini too which I thought was extremely delicious. For the entree, I ordered the Orecciette with feta and mushrooms. It was pretty good but not too impressive. For dessert, I ordered the Tiramisu which was served in a cup with whipped cream. I didn't quite enjoy it (I'm usually a huge Tiramisu fan). It was way too creamy with too little cake. It was also very heavy. Overall, the ambiance and service at Little Nonna's was A+ but the food was average.
(3)Joanne a.
My boyfriend and I were in the mood for Italian food and had no idea where to go as we were only visiting for the weekend. After sifting through the reviews on Yelp of other restaurants we finally settled on Little Nonna's. Little did we know we were in for a treat! The moment we walked in the place was PACKED; good sign of great food. We had made a reservation through Yelp so we did not have to wait to be seated. Our table was in the beautifully lit outdoor covered garden area; very romantic and very warm by the outdoor space heaters. We parked our car in the lot across the street and used ParkMobile (very expensive lot). If you can find street parking- DO IT! We ordered the garlic bread (a roasted garlic lover's dream), Little Gem Kales Caesar salad (polenta croutons were amazing), and Spaghetti & Meatballs dish. We shared all of the above and left very satisfied. This place is a must for date night!
(5)Beth K.
Great food for the price and a great date spot.
(4)Erin B.
Little Nonna's is a small Italian restaurant that feels like your grandmother's house, very kitchy with cute plates and vases and such all around the walls. i kind of wanted to take home all the little tchotchkes that were in the bathroom (which was also clean and cute and spacious). The atmosphere was nice, the service was great (our server was very friendly), and the food was delicious. we ordered only 2 dishes between 4 of us -the chicken and the Sunday gravy- but the Sunday gravy was the table favorite. The burrata appetizer was spectacular, and the white beans were also very tasty. There was not a bad thing that we ordered. The chicken dish was very moist and flavorful and not plain or simple at all. Everything was seasoned properly and bursting with flavor. We did take home leftovers because the portion sizes were large (although not too comically large that a reasonable person couldn't finish it). For dessert we ordered two things but i only remember the hazelnut cannoli which was mind blowing and i wish i could eat one every day of my life. forever. i did have to ask for water, like a hundred times. just a pet peeve of mine because i feel as though your glass should always be filled. especially when you ask again. and again.
(4)