Melograno
2010 Sansom St, Philadelphia, PA, 19103
Melograno Menu
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Antipasti
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Antipasti
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Address :
2010 Sansom St
Philadelphia, PA, 19103 - Phone (215) 875-8116
- Website https://www.melogranorestaurant.com
- Click To Get Directions
Opening Hours
- Tue
Specialities
- Takes Reservations : Yes
Delivery : No
Take-out : No
Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
Good For : Dinner
Parking : Street
Bike Parking : Yes
Wheelchair Accessible : No
Good for Kids : No
Good for Groups : Yes
Attire : Casual
Ambience : Romantic
Noise Level : Average
Alcohol : No
Outdoor Seating : No
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.
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Lindsay P.
My boyfriend and I were searching for a new place to try for Philadelphia's restaurant week and stumbled across this gem. The restaurant itself doesn't take OpenTable reservations, but takes them from UrbanSpoon. If you are planning to try this place, MAKE A RESERVATION!! We had an 8pm reservation and did not get seated until 9pm. Proceed with caution. The restaurant is tucked away on a side street off Rittenhouse Square and is located right across the street from Helium Comedy Club. It's decorated beautifully and is a perfect place to wine and dine for a date. The hostess was unbelievably pleasant and was very accommodating for the larger parties we saw. When we were seated, our server was really sweet and brought water and break instantly. She took our orders and brought the food.. but never came back again. This is my only gripe about the place. Everything was perfect aside from the service, but only for half of the time. We didn't get food until 9:30, so I assume the lack of attentiveness can be attributed to a long days work and exhaustion on her behalf. Regardless, we still had a wonderful time. The meatball appetizer was to die for, the marinara was probably the best I have ever had. The entree I selected was OUT OF THIS WORLD. I was presented with a GIANT pork chop that was cooked and seasoned perfectly covered in a pomegranate reduction sauce paired with creamy polenta. The polenta was prepared perfectly. The pomegranate reduction really tied the dish together. I was very satisfied. My boyfriend got a chicken breast covered in mozzarella, prosciutto, and arugula. He said that it was absolutely delicious as well. I had the creme brulee with fresh berries for dessert and it was fantastic. My boyfriend had a chocolate tart filled with a cinnamon chocolate lava paired with vanilla ice cream. Overall, we really enjoyed our experience and will be coming back soon!
(5)Sean G.
The Menu at Melagrano has expanded with more meat varieties, more fish dishes. The mussels are as fantastic as ever; Every table around us was staring as they brought out our appetizer. What a gem! Check out Melagrano if you get the chance and dont forget your own bottle of wine.
(4)Betsey L.
Restaurant week dinner review! husband and i came here on a friday night for dinner. boy was it packed! we ordered the following 1st course: portobello mushroom w/ goat cheese/pine nuts/balsamic vinegar - this is on the regular menu and was quite tasty! love the pine nuts! arugula salad/procuitto/pecorino romano cheese - can't go wrong w/ this. it was solid. good. 2nd course: 2 types of spaghettis/pasta ringlets that look like calamari. standard, good. 3rd course: lamb/potatoes: super tender and not gamey, a bit fatty. lots of flavor. seared tuna tomato like sauce on a bed of sauteed greens: not the seared tuna that's kind of raw in the middle, just looked like a sauteed filet. it was very well done! 4th course: pannacotta w/ berries: well done, sooo smooth and just slightly sweet creme brulee: well done, had a hint of ginger i will be back to order off the regular menu and will provide an updated review!
(4)Sylvie C.
YUM. incredibly fresh pasta, amazing service with hilarious waiters (or at least the waiter we had), great BYO, good for big groups OR an intimate dinner for two, AND had my boyfriend's number on file so called him when he left his credit card. PULPO: This octopus is the best version I've had of this dish. Before, it was Mario Batali's osteria mozza in LA - but the octopus was perfectly charred, sitting over potatoes. The only problem was that I wanted so much more of it. (pretty small portion) TONARELLI CACIO e PEPE: Totally simple and delicious, the way my bf likes it. The pasta was SO fresh and had the perfect consistency. Highly recommend if you like the pasta to just shine on it's own. PESTO PASTA: Also a very simple pasta, done with a very heavy pesto. The problem with pesto is that you eat so much of it without realizing the thousands of cals you've just consumed...the pasta itself was incredible, but I think lighter on the pesto would've made the dish a little better. PAPARDELLE TARTAFUTE: okay, we didn't have this one bc my man hates mushrooms. (i know, how do i live with this???) But, the waiter said it was the best thing ever, and I saw it go by and started drooling. Great place for a really authentic Italian meal- I know Philly has innumerable Italian restaurants, but I would definitely go with melograno for a moderately priced but delicious meal.
(4)Michael F.
I've only been here once, but had a great meal. I tried the escargot soup (very good), the homemade parpardelle with wild boar ragu (fantastic) and black cod with white truffle sauce (decadent and cooked perfectly). Desserts were ok and a latte was delicious. Our waitress had very little to offer in excitement or a smile, but go the job done. I usually don't care about this and think 85% of dining is about the food, but she seemed so matter of fact I feel compelled to mention it.
(4)Zachary D.
At the table we had one bad dish (shrimp meal), one decent dish (quail) and one good (boar pasta dish). I have generously averaged that to four stars, though the guy who had the shrimp called it a two star meal. Summary: fine restaurant but stick to the pasta.
(4)Katherine A.
I have to admit I usually avoid Melograno after many failed attempts to get a table there short of an hour wait - as they do not take reservations - but I wound up there with a friend this week and was very pleasantly surprised. We split the Rustico, which had a good array of various meats and cheeses to try - the prosciutto di parma was excellent in particular. The Risotto ai Porcini was truly delicious as a primi piatti (or entree in my case). Although it may sound cliche (mushroom goat cheese risotto...), I would order that again in a hot second, and finished it down to the last bite. All this being said, the waitstaff were a bit slow and slightly invasively inquisitive, but all in all a very enjoyable dinner.
(3)Harkeet C.
The girlfriend and I often visit Melograno. Reservations are easy to get and its a BYOB! I recommend the Pappardelle Tartufate (truffle based pasta), Pappardelle Al Ragu di Cinghiale (Boar Ragu), and Cotoletta alla Senese (breaded chicken breast). Everything comes out fresh and hot! Servers are super friendly and informative. Love this place!!!
(5)Ritu K.
2nd time I've been here. !st time was at their old location on Spruce St. I wasn't a huge fan by any means, so I didn't have any big expectations, but I have many bottles of wine dying to be enjoyed with a good meal, and Melograno is one of the BYOBs that everyone raves about... Super crowded for a Thursday night with a 40 minute wait. We gave the not effusively friendly hostess our name and number-ha who were we kidding. Luckily Tinto is around the corner and a few sangrias later we realized we were starving. We returned an hour later when half the restaurant had cleared and were readily seated. I love the new decor. Much more spacious that 99% f the BYOBs in the city and its decorated in a warm country style, without being cheesy. The food was delic! I ordered the Tagliatelle with Pork and thought it was fantastic. The serving was large and only $16 for more than enough food with really nice flavors. My friend had the Spaghetti Vongole, which also looked equally delic, and my other friend had the mussels app which seemed to very popular by the looks of other tables nearby. They both polished off their plates and were happy to order dessert. We had the tiramasu, which was slightly disappointing. Too much marscapone with not enough ladyfinger. I actually tasted chunks of chocolate which was just weird, but even mediocre tiramasu is good, and we polished it off as well. I'll definitely be back!
(4)Adrienne C.
This place is such a cute, yummy BYO Italian restaurant. It's great for either date night (although can be a little loud) as well as group dinners (there were easily four large parties when we were there on a Fri night). Hubby had the Restaurant Week meal (fab deal - four huge courses) and I just chose the fritto de mare (just ok, too many small pieces of deeply fried calamari bits for me...but sardines were great) and Pappardelle Tartufate (AMAZING!!). My hubby's grilled octopus starter and spaghetti were similarly amazing, while the pork chop was pretty good. Service is excellent - attentive without hanging over the table, and super thoughtful. The waiter gave us a free creme brulee when hubby's Restaurant Week dessert came "just because." IMO, this place shines when it comes to pasta and antipasti. Combined with BYO, it's a great choice when you're craving some solid Italian.
(4)Karen P.
My husband and his brother have birthdays within a week of each other, so my sister-in-law and I plan a joint birthday dinner for the boys each year. This year we selected Melograno. We had all been to the old location but somehow hadn't yet made it to the new space. Melograno gets 3 stars due to the "stars" dining with us...more specifically the entire cast of It's Always Sunny. We are fans of the show and this was a big treat for us. While I wish I could say the highlight of the night was the food, it was not. As my sister-in-law said to Danny DeVito, her salad was "bullshit," and my fish was incredibly dry. Maybe they were really busy? Maybe they were breaking in a new chef during the summer months? I just wish the food wowed me the same way the ambiance, hostess, and waiters did...
(3)Liwei Y.
The pasta here is SOO GOOD!!! This place is also BYOB so you can save on drinks!! I tried the antipasto platter, PappardelleTartufate (best thing ever), Pappardelle Al Ragú di Cinghiale (also pretty good), cake with ice cream, and ginger creme brulee (excellent)! I would recommend the pappardelle tarfufate here!
(5)Jill T.
Ok, I'm giving 5 stars because while my meal specifically was not the best, everything else and the overall dining experience was wonderful. I made the mistake of ordering the Risotto al Nero. It tasted wonderful, but I could NOT stop thinking about the fact that I was eating squid ink and it didn't help to look down to black risotto swimming in it! Yick! I have no idea why I ordered that knowing full well what to expect, I guess I was being adventurous. I mean- I do love octopus, but the ink is going a step too far for me. I was also very paranoid that it was going to make my mouth and teeth turn black so I was self conscious through dinner. I'm happy to report that it does NOT make your mouth or teeth turn black, so if you're on a date feel free to order and not feel self conscious. I'm looking forward to going back to Melagrano. The hazelnut gelato was fabulous!
(5)Jennifer T.
Melograno is one of the few places in the city to garner a full five stars from my discerning palate! What more can you ask for - reservations every day but Saturday, BYO, takes credit cards, and is ALWAYS delicious. I have been here a handful of times (with so many places in the city, you'd think I'd give it a rest before coming back... but I just can't stop) and each time, I leave full and happy (and so is my wallet - this place is pretty inexpensive). Homemade pastas, creamy buttery fattening delicious sauces, tender and moist meats. Yum yum and yum. If they have the goat cheese with pomegranate and arugula app, get it. I've always been too full for dessert, but I can't pass up a cappuccino. Last time their machine was broken, but our fun & flamboyant server offered to make us a "strong coffee with foam on top" - yay! The only downfall is that it can get very loud, but who cares! Hurry up and get there! Don't forget your wine!
(5)Nancy L.
Great food with excellent service and, in my opinion, pretty decent prices for a BYO. Dinner isn't served until 5:30 on weekdays and even though we got there a bit early, they still let us sit down, served us water and poured our wine. Went on a Thursday night so the restaurant and Sansom St. was a bit quiet, which made it a perfect night for al freso dining. They only have two small (two seaters) outdoor tables though. For an antipasti we ordered the muscles in white wine sauce, which my diningmate claimed were the best he's ever had. I thought they were very good, fresh, tasty, but they were a bit small and the white wine sauce got kind of salty by the end. We both had both pappardelle for entrees (wild boar and wild mushroom). Pasta was perfectly cooked al dente and fresh. I'd say the Wild Mushroom Pappardelle was one of the best dishes I've had yet at an Italian restaurant.
(4)Daniel G.
I love Melograno. Anything with butter and truffle oil is good. Although . . . I miss the old space on 22nd & Spruce.
(5)Jazmin J.
We had been waiting for 35 minutes at Porcini and didn't get seated so we ended up coming to Melograno (which was originally our first choice to begin with, we just wanted to try something new). The staff there knew we were starving from the wait so they seated us right away and were so understanding, friendly and kind. They brought us appetizers right away to hold us off until our main course was getting ready. Their Calamari Inzimino and Cotoletta alla Senese was seriously unbelievable. Not only was the food wonderful but i've never had such great customer service at a restaurant before. Thank you so much for making our night better and memorable!
(5)Elaine M.
I went to Melograno on a double date recently. I had to make reservations with only a few days notice, but luckily I was able to score a reservation for 8 PM. Most of the other restaurants I called only had 5 or 10 PM reservations left. I started with the Calamari Inzimino Salad. It was good but not 5 stars. My date had the Polpette (meatballs), they were really good and so was the sauce. The other couple shared the Rustico (platter of assorted crostini, cured meats, cheese & vegetables). It was huge so I had a few samples. The vegetables were char grilled to perfection! And of course the cheese was delicious; it is hard to go wrong with a cheese board. For my entree, I had the Pappardelle Tartufate (wild mushroom, walnuts, truffle oil, pecorino) as suggested by our server. OH. EM. GEE. This dish was full of earthy flavors, I could not get enough of it. It was very unique, I recommend it to everyone that dines at Melograno! My date had the salmon special; he was very happy with it. My friend got the Pappardelle Al Ragu di Cinghiale (braised wild boar ragu) and she did not seem too impressed with it. I believe her husband had some sort of surf and turf special, and he was very pleased with his selection. If for nothing else, you must go to Melograno just for the Pappardelle Tartufate!!!!!
(5)Michelle M.
This is one of the best restaurants we've ever been to. Not for the ambiance or environment but for the delicious food. The place was nice and simple but the food was so flavorful. I had been recommended to try the rustico platter and we did. My husband wanted to lick the platter once we finished lol I went on to order the tortufate pasta, divine! My husband ordered the lamb for his main course and I, the smoked Porkchop. Both very tasty and cooked to perfection. Although, between the two of them, I preferred the lamb. I wish I lived nearby so I could dine here more frequently. Definitely worth it.
(4)Kirk M.
I was in from New York for the weekend and wanted an amazing Italian dinner with my family. melograno certainly did not disappoint. Rustica, wild boar ragu, salmon and the chicken were all great. would highly recommend coming to Melograno for an authentic Italian cuisine
(5)Luba P.
The fancier side of Italian Philly BYOB's in the area, unfortunately not sure it's worth the extra money just for the nicer ambiance. We went during restaurant week so the menu was a bit more limited that usual. The chicken liver crostine and meatballs were both nice but average. My salmon was pretty OK, but I've had better at many other places. The best part was definitely the dessert. Absolutely rich and moist, delicious chocolate lava cake and green apple bread pudding. It's also a bit tight, so you are sitting right next to your neighbors. This is a nice place overall, but a bit disappointed, if prices were lower it could be 4 stars.
(3)Diana K.
Had high expectations for Melograno, but I didn't leave super impressed. Nothing was out of the ordinary on the menu that we tried, but then again, it was Retaurant Week. The bread for the table wasn't warm - not a big deal, but fresh, warm bread can sometimes be a really pleasant surprise! We ordered the chicken liver crostini and the veal meatballs. Very simple and done well with a nice touch of fried sage leaves. I had the steak with a side of cannelini beans. The beans were literally just plain beans without any seasoning, sauce, or interesting texture. The steak was a bit chewy and underseasoned. A big portion and not terrible, but again, not worth four or five stars. The desserts were probably the highlight of the meal: a warm chocolate cake and an apple cake with sea salt caramel ice cream. Proper portions, fresh, and delicious. Unfortunately, I probably won't be returning to Melograno, although I did like the overall ambience, and of course, the location!
(3)Trang N.
Once again, we found ourselves at Melograno to grab dinner before our theatre show. We were promoted seated at 5:30pm despite the other couple running a little late so that was nice that we didn't have to stand around. Same great atmosphere. The food does not disappoint! We actually got the same flighty server as the last time- polite enough but a bit clumsy. All of the food arrived in a nice interval than the last. We were fortune enough to be seated in the window which made for great people watching. The fegatini was delicious, crisp baguette and the livers had a very smooth taste, not as irony as I've had other places. My friend's arugula salad looked delicious, the greens were bright and lightly dressed it almost made me want to switch my first course. The Polpette was a nice size and DH has the lamb shank, he raved about how the meat fell off the bone and how well it was prepared! The only complaint was the tiramisu wasn't as great as the rest of the meal- my friend said it was soupy and expected more from an Italian restaurant- I was however very happy with my meal!! I highly recommend this great BYO!
(4)Thomas P.
This place is so good - lived in Italy for a couple of years and have been looking for a good Italian restaurant in the city - this is definitely THE best - authentic Italian food, every single dish was absolutely amazing
(5)Jessica S.
About two months before our wedding we started to search for a rehearsal dinner restaurant. On a budget, and prioritizing excellent food for our immediate families and bridal party, we were thrilled when Ann (sp?) gave us a call back from Melograno. Ann made everything super simple -- no corkage fees at this stellar BYO, 3 course prix fixe menu (where each guest selected their own appetizer, entree, and dessert), and no hidden fees. There are no private or semi-private spaces, but since we held our rehearsal on a Thursday around 8 pm we had a whole corner of the restaurant to ourselves. Ann hooked our group of 20 up with two round 6-tops and a long rectangular 8-top, all next to each other. Service was superb, food was impressive as always (love Melograno's signature Pappardelle Tartufate), and we never felt rushed. Many, many thanks to Ann and her team at Melograno. Highly recommended for medium/ large sized groups.
(5)Ivy J.
Restaurant Week 2015 was completely worth my time! Made reservations here for a Friday night with family. We were here a little early so we went across the street to the comedy club for a drink..... Came back and were seated immediately. A few things..... BYOB always a plus! We were fully stocked, as were the two tables to our right. So much so, they kept us entertained with their drunk frolicking and loud conversion. I noticed a few people reviewed and commented on how loud the place was.... I guess I didn't mind. We were out for a great time and that's exactly what we had! The food.... Amazing! I started with the calamari, which was okay.... Had better. My lamb was falling off the bone. No really! Falling off the bone. And it was enormous! We all tried dessert, not really sure why, I guess because it was part of the real..... But we were stuffed! My thighs could have done without dessert..... Service was good. The staff was pleasant and extremely patient as we laughed and joked or lives away. I'd certainly return! This place is quaint, full of life, tasty, in a great location and an overall good time waiting to happen. If you visit and don't have a good time, shame on you!
(4)A B.
If only for the food of delicately fried smelt and zucchini batons or the lamb shank, osso bucco style, or the light, airy tiramasu my friend ordered, a complete 4 star dining experience. The ambiance is lovely and lively, but too noisy to comfortably hear, so only three stars...and once again, we forget the B in the BYOB. We'll definitely be back with the B!
(3)Robin C.
I would recommend this for a date night. I have been here with a larger party and with smaller ones and it can get pretty noisy in here so I would suggest a smaller party. Although the prices are not incredibly cheap, they are completely reasonable when taking into account that you will not be paying for alcohol. They are BYOB and have no cork fee. I have had quite a few things on their menu but I would definitely recommend the rustico appetizer which has some delicious cured meats, cheeses, and grilled vegetables. The wild boar pasta is also incredibly delicious! I have come here on a date and ordered an appetizer and two pastas and we were both very satiated. Will definitely return! I would definitely recommend a reservation on a weekend night.
(5)Larry F.
Our top BYOB place was booked for the night for our double date, so instead I we gave this place a try. Definitely exceeded my expectations! FOOD: 4/5 The food was great in terms of choices and taste. I had meatballs for appetizer and the wild boar ragu for the main course. I also tried the filet and mussels. The meatball was very average and somewhat disappointing, but the wild boar ragu made up for that. The mussels didn't disappoint, and the filet was also pretty good. However, the prices were a bit on the high end for Italian food, and the portions were somewhat small. SERVICE: 4/5 We were seated very quickly and overall everyone was very attentive. It was a bit difficult to get the waiter's attention when we wanted to get a photo, but it might just be that it was too loud. AMBIANCE: 5/5 Not a bad place for group dinners or a 1 on 1 date. The restaurant is pretty small, but it was small enough where it felt cozy and comfortable.
(4)Tymbre A.
I absolutely love this place. I went with a few of my co-workers for our holiday dinner and I was very satisfied. I am a huge fan of Italian food! And I've heard about this place a few times & coulddn't wait to try. It's nice, yet pretty casual. So you can be comfortable of dress up .... which ever you prefer. Also, if you're out dating or if you already have a special someone this is the perfect date spot! The food was prepared very nice, and the waitress was very friendly and gave us alot of details regarding the menu. I'd definitely go back, again and again.
(5)Abby B.
Every time I go back to Melograno, I remember why I like the place so much. The service is always out of this world and they don't care if your large party stays for 4 hours, imbibing copious amounts of wine (if it's any consolation, the table next to us perched 2 large boxes of wine on their table - we weren't alone!) The food is always great and in all the years I've been coming here, their menu has pretty much remained the same. I like this because I can recommend dishes to friends and I also know what to expect. However, some variation wouldn't be a bad thing. They do have nightly specials, so if I don't feel like having an old favorite, I'll generally opt for the special. I'm all for trying new restaurants, but there's something to be said for Melograno, because I keep going back.
(4)Katelyn M.
I had my birthday dinner here, a group of 8 of us. The restaurant was accommodating even though they had a packed house of reservations full of large parties that evening. I have a tomato allergy, so it's incredibly difficult for me to enjoy an Italian restaurant, as I want everything on the menu, but there are only about 5 things on a normal menu I can now eat. I was able to get a full three course meal without even a thought of having to worry about my allergy. I got the Insalata Melograno, and of course just asked them to hold the tomatoes, followed that up with my entree which was the Filetto al Pepe Verde, and something chocolate for dessert. I was so impressed with my meal, the service, the accommodations, everything. My favorite part though, BYOB. Who doesn't love an incredible meal with your own alcohol?
(5)Tina C.
Went there on a snowy/icy Sunday night so it was pretty quiet. My husband and I split a calamari appetizer which was delicious and copious. I think the most tasty dish was the pappardelle tarafuse with wild mushrooms. The service was impeccable and the price was right too.
(4)Cynthia X.
Came here for a quick bite and it was great! It's generally more for groups pre- night out since it's close to several of the theaters on Sansom, and have large tables in the back. I split the antipasti platter and the pappardelle Tartufate with my bf, and it was the perfect amount of food for a light meal. I actually enjoyed the antipasti platter the most - had a great variety of cold cuts, grilled veggies, mozzarella and crostini. I could eat it as a meal by myself! I ordered the pappardelle Tartufate based off yelp reviews and was slightly disappointed. The dish felt too rich / thick, but not in a creamy way. I also felt that the pasta to sauce ratio was slightly high, and the pasta was stuck together in a large clump. Liked the place, but will need to try a different pasta dish next time!
(4)Laura G.
So I'll start by saying that I am probably the most indecisive person when it comes to eating. For my 22nd birthday I wanted to go somewhere fun for a group, preferably at a BYOB. Normally BYOBs are super crammed and noisy but it was a Tuesday night so I wasn't worried. I also do not like Italian food but when I looked at the menu it looked wonderful. I called Monday to make a reservation for Tuesday but they are closed on Mondays, so I left a message. They called me back Tuesday afternoon with a spot open for 9 people at 8pm. I was a little upset because their online menu is a little different, so what I thought I would order was not available. To start, I ordered the mussels and they were definitely the best I have had in the city (and my favorite food is seafood). For my main dish I ordered the Filetto Al Pepe Verde. I ordered my filet mignon medium rare and it was just that. It was perfectly cooked and for 9 orders, we received our food very quickly. After we were done eating we still wanted to hang out and drink (we brought 7 bottles of wine). We stayed over an hour after we were already finished our meals. The service was great even long after we were finished with our meals. I would recommend going on a week night, you'll definitely get your moneys worth.
(4)Andrea P.
Melograno is one of my favorite BYOBs in Philly. The food is always top notch. I love the pappardelle al ragu and my vegetarian bf always orders the pappardelle tartufate. Both dishes are amazing. The hostess is lovely and always greets me with a hug. I also love the fact that they are now on opentable so it is easy to make a reservation. Only negative is the restaurant can be a bit noisy. But if you are looking for great authentic Italian, I highly recommend.
(5)Hang T.
This place was recommended by a friend and boy was it a great recommendation! Food was delicious. My absolute favorite is the mussels! Oh dear god...my 2 girlfriends and I ate 3 servings of the complimentary bread - using the mussel sauce as a dipping sauce (I usually try to avoid the bread because I don't like to ruin my appetite, but it was absolutely IRRESISTIBLE). Soo worth it! Their pasta dishes are yummy. I will definitely be back. It is also BYOB, people. My kind of place. :)
(5)Kelly M.
Went for restaurant week on a Friday. We were seated immediately and the waitress, Kristen, was friendly and extremely competent. I had the meatballs for my app. They were good with the sauce but a little dry without. My boyfriend had prosciutto with arugula and cheese which was also good. The wild boar ragout was amazing! Loved it! My boyfriend's steak was just ok. He said it didn't have a lot of flavor besides the sauce. Dessert was the chocolate cake. Tasted like a yummy brownie. Overall it was ok but not too special.
(3)Daniel M.
great dark atmosphere, food was great and not pricey, though farily modest proportions, nice to have a restaurant like this that's also byob
(5)Brett W.
Great BYOB date place. Nice ambiance, good food, great service. Before we even ordered, we were brought delicious focaccia that we immediately gobbled up. We ended up ordering the mussels appetizer (great to share), and then ordering the lamb entree and the truffled pappardelle, both of which were tasty! I would definitely recommend for a nice date night.
(4)Jenn K.
The ambiance was nice, the lighting was great, but the tables were narrow and wasn't great for a big-group BYO
(4)Alanna P.
Really good antipasto and food in general - the lamb was cooked perfectly and we had a ricotta ravioli that was delicious. However, the service seemed to lag a little but they did let us sit and talk for a long time after paying the bill. Overall a great neighborhood gem but it would be great if the bread was warm!!!
(4)Hagana K.
Had a great time here. The Sunday night $35 menu is a really awesome deal. The snail crostini was the highlight of the night, but the calamari salad was awesome as well. The meatball appetizer was just alright. The entrees... are surprisingly enormous for a nice italian place. The pork chop is delicious and absolutely enormous, and the papardelle was great too. I had the steak which was pretty good, but I would probably order something else next time.
(4)Jon L.
Great food, tried almost everything in their Sunday pre fixe menu and it was all delicious
(5)Robert C.
One of my Philly faves. Order the tartufate or cacio e pepe for the pasta course. The fegatini and rusticito are great as well. Great byob that's very reasonably priced.
(5)Amalia Y.
the food alone deserves a very solid 3 stars. service seriously killed it on this one- such a disappointment. enough to bring it down a star :( had an almost solid experience at melograno over the weekend. 8 girls, 5 bottles of wine (yay for BYOB), an assortment of apps, pasta dishes, entrees, and desserts... overall very decent. staff was impersonal but okay throughout the meal(though we had to ask multiple times for bread, and our water glasses weren't really attended to... and we weren't told the specials until after we placed part of the order so we missed out on the eggplant app, which sounded like it would've been yummy) until the end, when they asked us to leave before we were through with dessert. ugh. i understand the food service industry and the push to flip a table, but kicking out paying patrons and leaving a bad impression at the end of the meal is just not worth it. definitely took off a star for that :( our group ordered a bunch of food and split everything family-style, even though the food is not served that way. we made our way through just about the entire menu, which was a plus. the majority of melograno's options are standard italian fare- meatballs, pastas, etc. with some creative twists here and there. specific food notes: - calamari appetizer. it's not the typical large rings fried calamari with marinara. Instead, tiny calamari rings and tentacles very lightly sautéed and tossed with white beans, tomatoes, and wilted baby spinach. the sauce was light and lemony with a little kick. very yummy. - mussels appetizer. they were yummy, with a lovely light white wine broth. giant chunks of garlic swam in the broth, and was great for dipping when we finally got some bread (only had to ask our waiter about 4 or 5 times). - pasta special with duck. this isn't descriptive enough to be helpful, but if they have the special of ripped pasta noodles with duck- get it. - pass on the risotto. it was undercooked and underseasoned. highly doubt it was made-to-order as risotto should be. the shrimp were tasty, but the overall dish was a let-down - salmon got great reviews from the table. we even ordered a second one to split. it was cooked perfectly, though the accompanying tomato salad was s bit blah. - the chicken. the one that's a half-chicken. get it. the cook on the chicken was perfect, the sauce was full of flavor, and the accompanying kale, potato, and pancetta hash was soooo good. - don't bother with the filet. It was a decent medium cook but was still tough and the sauce was bland and was a non-appealing shade of light pink. - tiramisu. this was yummy. light and airy, not dense like some variations. definitely a good pick, and i'm not typically a tiramisu fan. - skip the chocolate hazelnut crème brulee. yes, really. unless you just want a few spoonfulls of nutella. i mean, nothing wrong with that... but the burnt sugar top that lends a lot of depth to a typical standard crème brulee gets lost on this dish- it's textuarally pleasing, but that's about it. the best part was the small cluster of candied hazelnuts on top. overall not the best, but could've been worse. the food is decent, BYOB is great, and the location is convenient (especially if you're heading to helium comedy club for a show after dinner). service could really use improvement.
(2)Megan S.
Went on a Saturday. Placed was jammed with good energy. Service was great. My dining partner loved is dish and lick the plate clean. My special was bland but had been there previously and loved my dinner. The appetizer of meatballs was very good along with the gelato dessert. Would recommend.
(4)Gary W.
We have visited Melograno on multiple occasions since moving to Center City Phila. a little over a year ago. Each visit has been spectacular; service impeccable, food wonderful, specials always tremendous! They are very accommodating, kind and pleasant. The young lady that runs the dining room is named Ann, I am not sure how to spell her name but she is absolutely the most pleasant, kind and professional dining room manager I have ever worked with. She can handle a crowd! She can deal with reservation issues, she can solve most anyones problems. Just this past week 4 of us had reservations at Puccinni's Restarant on nearby Samson Street. They were running 45 minutes to an hour late. They have no room to accommodate their patrons and the owner was nasty, rude and could not handle the reservations he made. We left after being treated like pigs in an pigpen and stopped by Melograno's. Although they were extremely busy and very full, Ann found a way to calm us down and made arrangements for us to be seated in less then 15 minutes, while serving us our wine in their waiting area. She was great, the food was fantastic, the service was perfect. Melograno's salvaged the night. I dont want to give them too many more accolades, then we will never get a chance to make a reservation, but they do deserve all the best in praise..... fondly Gary
(5)jane k.
Perfect meal for my Mom's 70th, with uncles & bro in from out of town. Everyone very impressed with everything: service impeccable, food exquisite (except lamb shank "boring, not tender enough", I didn't have that), and a terrific time. Been here a few times before & always loved it. Again: superb. Maitresse d'hôtel was so welcoming, to top it off. Just absolutely lovely!!!
(5)Julia L.
Joe and I ate here with a couple of friends. We were wondering around Rittenhouse Sq looking for a place to eat dinner and saw that this place had some tables available. It is BYO, so bring your own wine ppl! Our group started off with the mussels appetizer cooked in white wine, garlic and tomato. This is a great dish to share with a big group of people. We got an order of meatballs composed of beef, veal and pork combination with tomato sauce and pecorino cheese. This dish was a bit harder to share with the group. But flavor profile-wise, I would say I liked this dish better than the mussels. This is one of the signature dishes for Melograno, consists of wild mushrooms, walnuts, truffle oil and pecorino cheese. It was delicious. I've been trying a lot of dishes lately that have added walnuts, like pasta and pizza. I like it! It adds a nice crunch to the dish and also adds to the earthy flavor of the mushroom. And I love anything with truffle oil and cheese, it's like my own personal kryptonite. Joe had the smoked pork chop with creamy polenta and pomegranate reduction. He liked this dish a lot, but for the price they were asking for, not sure if we would return here. Especially with so much competition in this city for delicious Italian food like La Viola and Mercato.
(3)Lainey S.
This is a great spot. Pretty good pricing and I have been here several times with great food. It is romantic, so a good date spot. Another plus: BYO! The only downside: it gets kind of loud, so if you are sensitive, get an earlier reservation before the place fills up.
(4)Joanna H.
I've heard good things about Melograno and I was super happy to try it for the first time with a friend visiting me from NY. She lives in Manhattan and have tried real good italian places already and agreed tha tMelograno was pretty darn amazing. On Sundays, they also have prefix menus. So we got one of those and another entree. -Bread - 2types comes out. the one that looks like a pound cake almost was different and we both loved. Sunday prefix ($35) -App-Calamari Inzimino. So soft cooked with the perfect cannellini beans, tomatoes over baby spinach. $12 -Entree-Pappardelle Tartufate. Omggg. I loved how the pappardelle was cooked so it wasn't too soft yet not too hard but just perfectly chewy. Mixed with gooey mushroom and the spontaneous crunchiness from the walnuts you get in some bites. $18. -Dessert- Tiramisu. One of the best fluffy tiramisus I had in center city. Not bready. Not too creamy or cheesy. Comes out slightly chilled in a silver bowl. Enough to share (Too much actually after all the good food, but cannot leave the place without finishing it). -Entree2-Garganelli al Pesto di Erbe Aromatiche. Omggg. I actually liked this more (whereas my friend liked the entree above more). Flat pasta that are like curled inwards and makes it look like they are round thick noodles.The meat is chunky but so tender and gives the perfect saltiness to the dish. $18. BYOB. NOT Cash only. paid like $33ish each for so much food that melted in our mouths. I definitely recommend anyone to come with friends, families, bf/gf.
(4)Callie S.
GO ON SUNDAY NIGHTS FOR THE $35 PRIX FIXE DINNER! Delicious pasta, large-ish portions, great snail crostini, AND BYOB. Had a great time, will be back on a Sunday of course.
(5)Michael H.
An old favorite with great pasta dishes - mushroom pappardelle and wild boar pappardelle are standouts. Bring a bottle of red and enjoy the bread basket (but you often have to ask for it). The space on Sansom street is bigger than its old Spruce St. location (when you couldn't get a table) but it's a little less cozy and unique-looking than it was there. Melograno has more competition in the byob arena in recent years - since the service is sometimes variable I'm giving it 3 (and 1/2) stars.
(3)Nancie B.
Everyone has already talked about the food, it's pretty good. The "hostess" or "manager" is horrible. Unfriendly, rude, making faces at people as she was seating them. Definitely not the first person you want to encounter when trying to have an enjoyable experience here.
(2)Nancy P.
I came here with three gfs for a going away dinner. I like the interior and decor of the place but it is very loud. Almost too loud to hear each other. It wasn't overly crowded when we went but the service was really spotty. We started off with the special arugula salad and the gorgonzola cheese on it was ridiculously salty. I ordered the Pappardelle Tartufate. While it was pretty good, it was also really heavy. I wasn't wowed with the pasta either. I tried the ravioli and it was too much of a sweet dish for me. The other two dishes were not memorable. What I do remember though..is the cake we brought in and how they charged us a plating fee (which is fine). But why did it take nearly 30 mins for our server to cut? Service was just terrible. Turn off for sure. I will not be jumping to return to this place.
(2)Natalee F.
The night started out a bit awkwardly. We had originally planned on 4 of us eating but at the last minute we had a 5th dining companion join us, so we had to move tables. Since it was Sunday night, after 8PM, and the restaurant was only about 1/3rd full, this shouldn't have been too big of a deal. But apparently it was. There seemed to be some sort of argument between our waitress and the hostess about our table change which was obvious.....and awkward. Also we were asked about 3-4 times if our 5th companion "would be here soon? Are you sure they are coming SOON?" I get it. You normally don't seat people until the entire party is there, but again, the place was kind of empty and we weren't holding up any seats from any other patrons. I just don't like the feeling like I'm being some sort of imposition when my 4 friends and I are here to pay lots of money to eat your food. In this day and age of Yelp and the internet, everyone is Craig LeBan. But anyways...the waitress ended up being very friendly. I got the artichoke to start. It's listed as a side, but I got it as an appetizer. It was VERY good and done in a light oil and seasoning. YUM. For my entree, I got the pumpkin ravioli and it was delicious. I had a bite of my friend's mushroom pasta signature dish and I have to admit, I was a bit jealous I didn't order that. For dessert I got the panna cotta. I would totally order this again. Not only was it beautiful, but it was light and tasty. I love BYOBs and the interior of the new location is stylish and spacious. Extra points for people watching. Seated at the table next to us was a trophy girlfriend and man combo. She was in her mid twenties and he was in his late sixties - not a father daughter combo, more like a granddaughter and grandfather combo. Our questions as to the nature of their relationship were answered at the end of their meal when they stood up and he kneaded her ass like it was a ball of dough for about 60 seconds as we all stared. I guess if you really want a LV bag and fur coat that is one way to get it without paying for it yourself....Getchusome GURL.
(4)Vichet O.
You lied to me Melograno. I was expecting small plates at exorbitant prices, so I came in here with my friend and ponied up. I ordered two appetizers, two pastas, and a filet mignon and was told that it would be "about the right amount of food for two people." Yeah, we got way too much food. Like, four people's worth of food. Four of ME worth of food. And it was all delicious. The portion of mussels we got was definitely large enough to share between more than a couple friends, and even though there were only two meatballs with the serving, they were pretty large. Almost eight-ball sized. And they were delicious. I think there were a mix of three animals in them. I can get behind that. Pasta: we had the wild boar ragu, which was awesome, and surprisingly had a hint of pumpkin flavoring, and linguini with some sort of mushroom bechamel sauce. Both were better than I care to describe here. Finally, filet mignon. We got it rare, and it came out on a bed of velvety mashed potatoes, some kind of cream sauce, and young (still green) peppercorns. Did I mention it's an 8 ounce filet? Yeah, there's that. So, clearly, this is a restaurant for fatties. Sign me up. I think if I ordered the appropriate amount of food for us, this would have been 60 dollar dinner. Which is affordable enough for me to come here way more often than I should. I also liked the modernized interior. It was reminiscent of an old villa, if it were built in the 21st century. Check it out. For your health.
(4)Kelly W.
My boyfriend and I stopped in to Melograno for dinner when we realized Vic's Sushi across the street was way too packed and neither of us had been there before. The menu is very impressive and we started with the Rustico Antipasto platter, which was amazing. The vegetables were grilled perfectly and the meats and mozzarella were incredible. We also had the Wild Boar Ragu and the Proscuitto and Arugula Salad- both of which were perfect. The homemade focaccia bread they serve when you arrive is a great accompaniment to the pasta as well. THEN we had the ginger creme brûlée-- literally the best dessert I've ever had. The sugar was perfectly crisped on top and the custard wasn't too sugary sweet. Neither of us typically order dessert, but we were both so glad that we did. The food was clearly incredible, however, the service was incredibly inattentive and we are very easy-going diners. We were sat and not greeted by our server for several minutes and when he did greet us he seemed disheveled and frantic when the restaurant was far from being even half-full and there were several other servers working as well, none of whom seemed nearly as crazed as our server. The meal took far longer than necessary, which was fine for us we were not in a rush at all, but as far as the restaurant is concerned it is simply inefficient. We will absolutely be back, the food was top-notch and the ambiance was great. However, I will hope and pray that Nick is taking a day off when we do return.
(4)Suzanne H.
I visited Melograno for dinner for the first time for Restaurant Week. Started with the snail crostone, followed by the entree special of two small whole cod served with artichokes and tomatoes, followed by panna cotta for dessert. The food was good, but not great. To me the appetizer and entree were heavy on the oil and butter and that clouded the taste of the ingredients. While both were certainly acceptable, nothing made the dishes stand out as exceptional. The panna cotta was served with cherries and almonds and that was a nice touch. On to the service... Get it together Melograno. Our party of 4 arrived just past 5:30 when the restaurant wasn't busy and it took about 10 minutes to even be acknowledged by the waiter. Dishes sat for a long time between courses waiting to be cleared. The hostess even stopped over to clear our entree plates as we had been staring at them for at least 15 minutes. The general observation was that the servers were very disorganized. I think a training tweak of the staff would be something that could take this place to a higher level. Two stars as indicated above. Not bad, but not good enough to return when there are so many stellar Italian restaurants in the Philadelphia area.
(2)Paul C.
enjoyed every dish we ordered. Especially my pork chop...it was SPECTACULAR!! I am definitely coming back!!!
(4)Jason P.
Delicious food, great service and BYOB without a corkage fee. I had the squid ink pasta, which was the special of the evening, my wife had the boar ragu. Both were worthy of ordering again. Next time I'm in Philadelphia, this will be one of the places where I'll be dining.
(4)Stephen P.
Summary: Great food, inattentive servers, and a noise level that ruined any sense of pleasure for the evening. I will not return. I'll start by saying the food was excellent. The physical facility is beautiful. And since it is a BYO restaurant, I could bring some really wonderful and appropriate bottles from my cellar. But... The sound level inside the restaurant completely destroyed the meal. The walls are hard, the ceiling is hard, the tables are hard, the giant glass window is hard, wonderful reflectors of every bit of noise in the room. The total space is divided in half by a long wall, also increasing the noise. It was DEAFENING! My ears were clogged by the end of the meal, as if I had been to a rock concert. You had to practically shout to be heard across your table. Restaurants like higher sound levels as it makes it seem more "alive". This was so far over the top -- the agony of the noise made it difficult to interact or appreciate the food. The service was so-so. Pleasant, knowledgeable, and completely inattentive. We had to flag down one server (took several minutes) to get a second wine bottle opened. He would not do it, it has to be done by "our" server, several more minutes. I will not return to Melograno. I cannot enjoy a a meal under these conditions.
(2)George K.
I liked it better when it was on 22nd and Spruce. At least 4 years had elapsed since my recent visit on Friday night and the one before that. To my surprise, it appears the menu hasn't changed much (same bistecca fiorentina, same wild boar pappardelle that everyone raves about). But why mess with good, straight forward Tuscan fare? The pappardelle were overcooked and drenched in truffle oil. The bistecca was well seasoned, nicely cooked, served on chopped tomatoes and white beans. Good, but nothing to rave about. The octopus was also nice, but we were served three small pieces; tough to share among four. Melograno's biggest problem, however, is the very LOUD dining room, making conversation all but impossible unless everyone agrees to shout, leading tables into a kind of war of escalation with their neighbors, resulting in everyone shouting. Theory suggests another possible "all-quiet" equilibrium, but that will have to wait until next time.
(3)Alie A.
Okay - I don't know how I had not heard of this place before. This is a great Italian, little white table cloth BYOB type of spot. I'm all about the ambiance, which was great here. The food was brought out promptly and the service was excellent. We started with the mussels, which were amazing in a white wine garlic and tomato sauce. They serve a great bread as well good for dipping. I had the rissoto with portini and goat cheese, which was brought out in a perfect portion size. This is a classic Italian spot with tables close together, fairly noisy but still great for a date or small to larger parties.
(5)Susan D.
Love, love, love everything I get here... Most recent visit was at the new digs... and tried Pappardelle Alle Olive... mmm... My only request: bring back the cioppino, so I can sit and dip bread in that amazing broth..
(5)Stephen H.
Two hungry carnivores set out across the "urban Jungle" in search of prey. Armed only with their wits, a credit card, and two bottles of wine, they maneuvered past familiar watering holes in search of the big kill. Setting their eyes on a lone empty table outside of Melograno, they pounced on the opportunity to eat at this fine BYOB. Driven by hunger and instinct, they skipped past the salad and went straight for the meat. They shared the first victim, Pappardelle Al Ragu di Cinghiale. Braised wild boar bolognese made with fresh tomatoes & rosemary finished with Parmigiano Devoured mercilessly, their was no evidence of the carnage. They next split up and took down their own meals. Roars of delight could be heard as the male devoured his perfectly cooked Sella di Coniglio Ripiena. Organic rabbit saddle stuffed with prosciutto & spinach finished in a delicate cream & white wine pan sauce served over potato puree. The civilized diner would tell you about the great the service and so forth, but for our hunters, it was all about the meal. Returning to the den, they were both pleased and in need of a little sleep.
(4)Tina T.
Food was lovely. Customer service was insulting. We were a party of four with a 6pm reservation. We were seated promptly at a cozy table to celebrate a 65th birthday! After enjoying the delicious Rustico antipasto, the first three of the four meals arrived. Three of us sat with hands on lap waiting for the fourth dinner to arrive. The waiter returned empty-handed and assured us that the fourth was on its way. After a very awkward period of waiting, three of us nibbled slowly at our meals at the insistence of the birthday boy whose food had not yet arrived. He was sure the food would arrive shortly. At least twenty minutes later, the fourth meal was delivered by our waiter who showed no apology for the huge error. When the bill arrived the waiter had taken off $1 to compensate us for the "kitchen's mistake". We requested that the manager reassess the bill -- the waiter and the hostess disappeared for several minutes. When they returned they had comped the fourth meal without a smile or sincere apology. The manager never made an appearance.Although the food was excellent, the handling of the mistake left a very bad taste in our mouths. We will try again.
(2)Dave L.
The food here is very sub-par. I've gotten better pasta at Olive Garden. The pasta came out in a blob. I expect any restaurant that serves pasta to have pasta served in such a way that you can separate the strands. That said, the environment is very nice. I suppose I paid for a nice place to eat, not good food to eat. On the plus side, the bread was pretty decent.
(1)Michelle M.
My family and I were sadly disappointed with this restaurant. Coming from Chicago, where we always get amazing Italian food, this place just doesn't cut it. We don't mind paying $18-20 for tiny servings of homemade pasta, however, we expect the food to blow us away and Melograno's pasta was underwhelming. The Polpette appetizer was just okay- my husband makes better meatballs. We also had the Calamari Inzimino, which was very good, but the kitchen seemed to skimp on the calamari. The Zuppetta di Mare was absolutely amazing. The Pappardelle Tartufate was good, however, I wished for whole mushrooms and I did not like the walnuts (they tasted burnt). The Ravioli di Patate was just okay and the Pappardelle Al RagA1 di Cinghiale was just a little better than that. Lastly, our server was attentive and friendly.
(3)S K.
Substandard. We ordered the Mussels appetizer but had to send it back because of broken pieces of the shell. For entrees, we ordered: (1) paparadelle with the boar ragu which was fine; and (2) the risotto without the shrimp. Because I am vegetarian, I asked that the shrimp be substituted with some vegetable. I was told that although the chef wouldn't add a vegetable to the risotto, I could get a any vegetable separately. Accordingly, I ordered artichoke. Surprisingly, I was not only charged for the one tiny little artichoke stem that was brought out, but also, the waitress refused to charge me less for the rissotto although I had asked for the seafood to be left out. What's worse, she was gutsy enough to lecture us that one doesn't ask the chef to change his dish and/or not charge for what he didn't put on the plate "just like one doesn't ask an artist to change his painting". Yet, the chef did exactly that - acquiesced when I asked to keep the seafood off my dish. Anyway, we ended with the cherry and almond panacotta. Without exaggerating, this is one of the worst desserts we have tried. It tasted medicinal. Do yourself a favor and try Monsu or Osteria instead.
(1)Lara R.
A-Okay indeed. Nice atmosphere, spot-on service, food came quickly. Wasn't wow-ed by anything - I really enjoyed the zuppetta of spicy seafood (delicious steamy broth, very filling), my friend was only slightly disappointed by the salmon which came in a bit smaller portion size than expected so she ended up ordering an additional side of potato puree (just mashed potatoes haha) to supplement. The chocolate cake had a molten center and looked delicious and I thought the tiramisu was solid, though slightly over-soaked/runny.
(3)Minh C.
We came here on a Friday during early evening. I got there first, so I walked in and stood behind a couple who had just arrived and were in the middle of being seated. I waited patiently while the hostess sat the couple. In the meantime, another couple came in behind me. Immediately, someone came up and asked if he could help seat them. Then, the hostess came back and asked them if she could help them. At that point, I was starting to get peeved. The hostess saw me walk in, saw me waited, and totally ignored me. Absolutely an abysmal way to treat guests. I interjected and asked for a table. Her immediate response was whether I was expecting the entire party soon - I lied and said yes so she would seat me. I lied because there was no reason she shouldn't seat me given that there were many tables open and no one else in queue, and also because I was already annoyed with her customer service. Just one last mention of service quality here - we were interrupted several times by the waiter in mid-conversation. My experiences at other restaurants have been that waiters/waitresses arrive at the table, wait a second or two for the table to turn its attention to him/her, and then begin. Here, the guy arrived and just started talking. So, to the food. We split the Polpette - for ten bucks we got two meatballs made with pork, veal, and beef topped wtih tomato sauce and pecorino cheese. A bit pricey at $5 per meatball, but...actually, no buts. We also shared a plate of fried fish. I can't remember the name of the dish, but it wasn't that memorable anyway. For my main dish, I had the Cotoletta alla Senese - a fried chicken breast topped with several slices of prosciutto, arugula, tomatoes, and mozzarella. The chicken was good, but then again, it's hard to mess up fried chicken. However, it wasn't anything to write home about either. Finally, for dessert, we had the Panna Cotta topped with berries. The panna cotta is about 2.5 inches in diameter, but came out on a 12 inch diameter plate. That was a bit absurd. All it did was drew my attention to how little food we got. At least it tasted good! So, bad service, OK food. You decide.
(3)Mags M.
One of my favorite BYOBs in Philly. I haven't been back recently but the mushroom papardelle is amazing. The quality of food at their prices is a steal!
(5)Jamie S.
This is hard, because the food was excellent but the service was poor. Even with a reservation we had to wait almost half an hour to be seated. Then there was a wait for our water, bread, and wine to be opened. Our waitress poured our champagne like a newb. The snail and mushroom appetizer was amazing. The fresh pasta in the pasta with wild boar ragu was very satisfying. My veal entree was pretty good, though I was stuffed at that point. A mixed seafood plate had exceptional head on prawns. Its also a little loud and cramped, but I would have minded less had I been seated and at least served some bread more promptly. Hungry people give less stars.
(3)Maria Y.
Their Pappardelle with mushroom and pecorino was absolutely delicious. At first,I didn't know what to order because I didn't understand all pasta names in Italian. I just decided to trust waiter's recommendation. Pappardelle was very fresh,mild and rich. That made my day. All of my friends liked it. And their focaccia was also speechless.
(5)Angela H.
Along with a group of my 3 girlfriends, I headed to Melograno's for a first time visit with 3 bottles in hand. Melograno earned 4 stars as an affordable BYO that has a menu to please the 'picky eater' without breaking the bank. I think with a few more visits Melograno could be a favorite place to gab with the girls, I would definately go back. Reservations are taken on all days except Saturday, closed on Mondays. We were seated right on time from a friendly hostess who greeted me by name *bonus point! Appetizers and entrees came out in a fair time without complaints, just happy bellies. I ate my pork chop with creamy polenta & pomegranate reduction and had left overs to spare but admit, I get full kind of fast. The service was decent, maybe a little stressed at one point. The restaurant and bathrooms appeared clean. All in all...two thumbs up. Shout out to Michelle C for the suggestion.
(4)Jess D.
Criteria for B-day dinner: BYO, casual, and close to home. Melograno met all 3 criteria so we strolled on over on a nice fall evening. For a Thursday night the place was DEAD. The restaurant can probably hold 70- 80 people and there was only 1 other table occupied in the restaurant. I instantly became nervous but the sweet server helped calm my nerves with her friendly demeanor and knowledge of the menu. We ordered a pasta dish to share and two entrees and were not surprised when the food came out quickly. The pasta was excellent and I particularly liked the cream sauce balanced with pancetta and assorted cooked greens (spinach, kale, etc). My chicken entree was bland and boring but my boyfriend's filet mignon dish was pretty tasty, especially his creamy polenta. Overall we had a good time but didn't LOVE this place. It was pricey for the small portions we got and nothing really stood out except maybe the pasta dish. If I came back I would only order pasta.
(3)H C.
The food here is mediocre, at best. But what's even worse, is the noise level. You can barely hear the person next to you, forget about anyone further away. We had the calamari appetizer which was almost flavorless, the cheese tray also nothing special, and ordered a sausage rigatoni to split between 6. The pasta was the best of the three. I had the salmon, which was fresh but also flavorless. My husband had the pork chop which was dry and not very tender. We will not be going back. One more thing, if you're driving to town on a Saturday night, you may find it hard to park, even in the lots in that area.
(2)Kunjan P.
Worst customer service. This was a place we were very excited to try for the first time based on yelp reviews. We made a reservation for a large group of 12 people for a Friday night and were told there would be no problem accommodating our group. Then 3 hours before reservation we get a phone call informing us that our party would likely not be sitting together, but we would still be required to do the limited pre fixe menu. Are you kidding me?? Why were we not told this in advance and why were we given only 3 hours notice??? Why would we go to a restaurant with a group of people to sit separately?? Really disappointing because this was a night my fiancee planned for my birthday that was subsequently ruined....
(1)Melissa R.
This place never disappoints. The reason I am giving it 4 stars is because the dining room is loud. You have to shout to have a conversation with your dining companion(s). More importantly, on to the food....it is consistently delicious. Maybe because we get the same thing every time. We usually start with the antipasta platter and the mussels, a savory way to start the meal. On to the entrees...I tend to lean towards the Alle Olive Pappardelle, that has a light red sauce with shrimp and scallops. My boyfriend recently got the Tuna dish and he ended up licking his plate clean. We are usually so stuffed after the meal, we walk off dinner on our way to dessert. P.S. Don't forget your wine bottles, since it is a BYOB.
(4)Beth R.
Thanks to the faux-snowstorm outside, my group of 5 didn't have to wait for a table last night. (Normally, there would be a wait, even on a week night). Melograno expanded a couple years ago to this larger location, and they're still filling all the seats. The room is spacious and there's a nice balance of tables for twosomes versus larger parties. I've been here at least 5 times so I've tried a decent sample of the menu. Last night was the first time I found a dish that I didn't really like - the mussels appetizer. They came in a white wine and garlic sauce and it was fairly bland. I usually love mussels. Skip them, and go for an appetizer special, or one of the salads. My entree was very good - I had the wild board bolognese over fresh pasta. I've noticed wild boar popping up on quite a few menus in Philadelphia. L'Oca in Fairmount also has an awesome wild boar ragu on its menu sometimes too. Love it. PS, isn't "wild" boar redundant? aren't all boars wild? The dessert menu options were pretty standard. I haven't had dessert every time I've been here, often I am too full from the other courses. Last night the rest of my party ordered a few to share, so I tried the molten chocolate cake, which was decent but not necessarily to die for. I think Melograno's strength is more in its main dishes.
(4)Aaron P.
I like to think I have an objective perspective, combined with a relatively realistic expectation of the culinary craft. From time to time I feel compelled to volunteer a scrutinizing eye in the spirit of either serving, or saving the public from similar experiences. Today I am hoping to save. Fellow Philadelphian Yelpers, save your time, money, and patience for a more deserving dining establishment than Melograno. I tend to weight food, atmosphere and service, in that order. The menu at Melograno is ordinary at best. The flavors and ingredient combinations read as tired and unoriginal, and I'm quite certain the Italian Sea Bass and Pan Seared Tuna that myself and my date ordered, were 75% prepared before our order ever made it to the kitchen ( I know how long these dishes take to prepare). The atmosphere was fine, but nothing to write home about. I will commend the exposed kitchen - I enjoy the transparency and honesty of an open kitchen layout. No one expects any BYO to compete aesthetically with their higher priced and liquor licensed counterparts, but even a little effort would go a long way. Melograno's ambiance is in-theme with their menu, ordinary at best. It was primetime on a busy Saturday night at a restaurant that does not take reservations, yet we were surprisingly seated within 20 minutes - the hostess was kind enough to call my cell while we waited with a glass of wine at Tinto. The wait service, however, was abysmal. My date and I were coming off a late lunch, and we planned on going out for drinks after, so we hoped to keep the meal somewhat light. The waitress actually sneered at me when I ordered. It took exactly three minutes for our entrees to be shoveled in front of us, from which time fourth we were indignantly ignored. I actually cleared our plates after at least 10 minutes of shifting and jockeying for elbowroom - I had to set them on the empty table next to us. Yelpers, I have a hard time celebrating mediocrity. For those of you who found Melograno to be a satisfying experience, I envy your optimism. Nevertheless, I encourage you to branch out. For those of you considering patronage, please consider my vote - Melograno is the lowest common denominator for BYO fine-dining in Philadelphia. We can all do much better.
(2)Lauren H.
Popped in here on a Thursday night after showing up for reservations at Porcini, which is right down the street. Porcini was dark and shuttered - and apparently did not see fit to call their reservation list. I imagine this is owed to the snow more than anything, but Melograno was able to seat our table of 5 immediately, as there were a few open tables in this normally jam-packed BYO. I've been here a few times and the place averages three stars. The food is consistently good, but I find the menu a tad expensive compared to other places I've been with somewhat better food. The atmosphere is good for groups and for a date night (I've been here on both), so the place is versatile. But I've always found the hosts to be a bit abrasive - a simple smile for five snow-covered, cold women coming in off the street would have been nice! Last night we started with a special appetizer, a gorgonzola-filled crepe with pears that was quite lovely and I had the Pappardelle Al Ragu di Cinghiale (braised wild boar bolognese made with fresh tomatoes and rosemary, finished with parmigiano), for which the sauce could have been a bit more substantial. I generally stick with the pasta when here, though I had a memorable and delightful experience with the Quail one night. All in all, a solid BYO that I hit up when in the area.
(3)Bobby P.
The superfluity of Italian BYO's in CC can make it difficult for a restaurateur to make his mark, but Dr Melograno (for some reason I like to assume this is the owner's name) has found a winning formula that enabled him to relocate, expand, and grow his clientèle despite the proximity of 2 other Italian restaurants on the block. You could spit on them from the doorstep, although I would discourage such behavior. Reasons to give Melograno a shot include the wild boar with fettuccine (perfect pasta consistency), salmon, shrimp and calamari with mashed potatoes (excellent crispiness form an olive oil glaze), and the ricotta cake with pine nuts (unique flavor that's worth a try for dessert). The antipasto and chocolate lava cake are also good, but not extraordinary and available in one form or another at most of the Italian BYO's. Service here is excellent, which should be expected since it prices on the upper end of the scale. Come early for dinner on the weekends since they don't accept reservations, and the line can spill into the street for a taste of the good doctor's fare.
(3)Philly P.
FRIDAY - (Rude Staff who keeps checking their watch) Me and my boyfriend went here on a Friday night. He doesn't get off work until 9:30ish so we arrived at Melograno around 9:45-50. We were welcomed by a hostess who greeted us with a, "Oh, let me check if we're still sitting people..." (THE PLACE WAS PACKED) but we learned that their kitchen closes at 9:45 (WEIRD its FRIDAY PEOPLE???) Immediately we were a little turned off. Well, they took us and we sat down and gave our waiter our orders (who was not listening in the least). About 3 min later he comes back, "Uhh, what did you order?" .... CMON MAN?!?! we ordered 2 fricken pasta dishes. Anyways.... we asked for more bread 3X and finally said something and our waiter responded... "Oh..." not even a sorry or a screw u or anything!!! UGGHH... (his tip was not good). Ok. to some it up... good food, rude and unthoughtful staff - EVERYONE seems preoccupied with leaving (even though the place was packed!!) -We will NOT be going here again.....
(2)Ryan B.
I have now been here 3 times, once at the old location and twice on Sansom. The first two times I enjoyed my meal and everything about the restaurant, but after being there last night I had to write a review. I ordered the Strangozzi pasta dish in a Pecorino Ramano sauce with artichokes and black pepper. The dish was OK, the pasta was good, very rustic in a good way; but it also tasted like something you could make at home quite easily. However, my girlfriend ordered the beet ravioli and it was amazing. I don't even know if I like beets, but this ravioli was terrific. I actually told my GF that it was "special" after I tasted it (this sounds like self-important foodie nonsense, but I really thought it was that good). Overall the restaurant is very nice, I wish it wasn't a BYOB but that is just my personal preference. If everything they made was as good as the beet ravioli then this would be one of my top two or three restaurants in the city. If I wanted good Italian food I would choose to go to Osteria over Melograno, but Melograno is a nice option.
(4)Mike G.
An impromptu dinner date in this neighborhood had me searching yelp for a charming BYOB for after work and yelp didn't let me down. We arrived at this warm and inviting restaurant with a decent bottle of wine and a little concern about our budget/appetite ratio. The specials offered this evening were seductive in their description so we decided to simply order 4 courses and share everything between the two of us, hoping not to go broke or hungry. Our server was really great about this. We were hoping they didn't mind too much our meek budget. The appetizer special was a Gorgonzola flan with poached pairs and toasted almonds was incredibly delicious. If I could, I'd spell out "incredibly" in italics. The homemade bread brought to the table also proved a wonderful vehicle for some of this savory flan. We then tried the pasta special, a homemade fettuccine with a seafood ragu. It was very good, though we noticed it was a little heavy on the salt for our expectations, not that we had any problem finishing it. Our server was kind enough to bring this shared course in separate dishes and yet it seemed like we each received a nice size portion. For a main course, we opted for the grilled pork chop on top of something creamy-risotto-like dish was beautifully grilled and tasty. We finished with good coffee and a wonderful dessert. We chose the light and airy ricotta torte with strawberries on top of a sweet cream that proved a happy ending (for the meal, not the evening ... yet). The bill turned out to be a total of $75 and left us more than full and content. Considering the superb service and quality dishes, this proved a reasonable meal indeed. I'm already looking forward to returning soon.
(4)Megan R.
Perfect! The antipasti appetizer is amazing for friends to share, and who can complain about it being BYOB?? I had the nightly special, the gnocchi with lamb ragu, and to this day my mouth waters at the thought of it. Best gnocchi I've EVER had. They even let us stay super late drinking our wine while they cleaned up. Never felt like we were rushed. Can't wait to go back!
(5)Lisa K.
Welcome to Melograno, a BYO that journeys outside of the safe zone of your typical La Viola and La Fontana typicals in Center City. Attracting a crowd much older than the average college group looking for a fancy meal still within their budget, Melagrano does well to maintain and uphold not only a classy appearance but experience as well. Nestled in a quaint corner of the Rittenhouse area, this restaurant has been a bustling establishment since its inception giving it a somewhat hauty persona. The hostess greeted us with a certain air of impatient contempt as initially did our server. However, some quick chit chat with our waitress and she mellowed out considerably. I find it rather ironic that the restaurant described themself as "convivial" on their website when the restaurant is anything but - professional? sure but convivial? I'd find more "fun-loving" on a subway. Just saying. Overall, I enjoyed the experienec from the food to the lighting to the fact that the servers knew which side to serve your dish on (left). Dishes that were ordered: Pappardelle Alle Olive (Sauteéd jumbo shrimp & Sea scallops cooked in a light tomato sauce with black and green olives)....didn't try this but it looked so-so. Ravioli di Magro (Homemade pasta filled with Swiss Chard, spinach; Ricotta cheese finished in brown butter sage sauce)...YUM, my 2 friends got this and I would definitely reccommend it. Sella di Coniglio Ripiena (Organic rabbit saddle stuffed with prosciutto & spinach finished in a delicate cream & white wine pan sauce served over potato puree )...hands down, the BEST dish of the night. The rabbit is tender and cooked to perfection while the cheese and spinach stuffed inside give it a great texture and even better flavor. Pappardelle Al Ragu di Cinghiale (Braised wild boar bolognese made with fresh tomatoes & rosemary finished with Parmigiano)...great pasta dish but lacked a little flavor. If you're looking to impress a date or your out-of-town friends, definitely consider this trattoria. Only caution is - the bread isn't warm.
(4)Edward S.
I have been going to this place since it was located on Spruce street. This is by far one of my favorite Italian restaurants in the city. A great representation of true Tuscan food, I have always had nothing less than a great experience here. I can't say I'm well versed in the pasta dishes because I inevitably always order the pappardelle with boar ragu. Last time I went we started with scallops and polenta which was done beautifully. The best way to dine here is to go with one other person, split a first course and a salad, split a pasta course, and split an entree. That puts you around a hundred bucks and you will be full and completely satisfied.
(5)Cameron Y.
There are so many italian BYOs in the city that it's hard to decide which one to go to when you want some good pasta, but I've decided to stick to Melograno after having tried a few other BYOs in RHS. I haven't had one pasta dish that I didn't like at Melograno. All the other BYOs I've tried recently (i.e. La Fontana, La Viola, Branzino) pale in comparison when it comes to the food, service, and atmosphere. P.S. My only complaint would be their lack of side options. Swiss chard and carnnellini beans? Really???
(4)Katrina S.
Italian BYOBs in Philly always seem to just miss the mark on being amazing. All of the food here was good (we ordered a lot of it!), but nothing really made me say wow. I had the pears for my app and they were yummy but I think there was just too much of it. They could have done something a little more interesting I think. The fried mozzarella was also really good, definitely a comfort food. I had the chicken with prosciutto, mozzarella, basil etc and the chicken was juicy and crispy, I just wish there had been a little more prosciutto. We got the chocolate cake for dessert and it was one of the highlights. So moist and warm and gooey :) YUM. The service was good but the wait was a bit much.
(4)Nadia S.
Great restaurant. We had the antipasti platter, ravioli, and panna cotta. All was very good! Such a cute and cozy place. Loved the atmosphere.
(5)Jason N.
We went to Melograno during restaurant week, although we had been meaning to go for quite a long time. I had heard quite a few rave reviews from friends who swear by the place. We made a reservation earlier in the day, but we still had to wait for about 30 minutes after our reserved time. This was not a big deal, since restaurant week is always chaotic, and it was reasonably expected. The place is really charming inside and a lot bigger than it looks from the outside. It is dimly lit and tastefully decorated, which creates a cozy, romantic ambiance that we both enjoyed. The food was delicious as well. We both got the veal, pork, and beef meatballs which were really flavorful. My dish consisted of breaded chicken topped with prosciutto, arugula, tomato, and fresh mozzarella. The portion size was more than enough for an entree, and I really enjoyed it. My girlfriend got the pork chop with creamy polenta and pomegranate reduction. We were both a little unsure about how the pomegranate would mesh with the rest of the dish, but the whole thing was delicious, and she recommends it to everyone. For dessert, we got both the chocolate lava cake and creme brulee. Both were very good, though the portion size of the lava cake was smaller than expected. All in all, the food was near perfect. I would normally give this place five stars, but unfortunately the service was not as flawless as the food. The hostess was great, but our waitress was completely inattentive. We went almost thirty minutes without our waitress checking our waters, which were both empty for the majority of that period. Maybe that sounds like nitpicking, but when you are eating really salty food, thirty minutes is a long time to wait for water. It wasn't for lack of trying either, because we did try to flag her down several times as she walked by. Eventually, we were able to get a hold of the hostess as she was seating another table. We didn't say a word about it or complain at all, but for the rest of the meal, the waitress would not so much as speak to us. I understand that restaurant week is hectic and her night was close to being over, so this won't stop me from going back or from recommending the place to other people, but hopefully next time the service will be as good as the food. If it is, I'll definitely add that final star.
(4)Rebekka T.
Decor - Cozy atmosphere, it looks like an italian cave. A little on the loud side, not from music, but from a combination of conversations and kitchen noises. Service - Our waiter was fine, a little rushed. At some point, it seemed like he got irritated, maybe he was in the weeds, and stopped being polite. My BF's mother asked to make sure her cappuccino was decaf, (a pretty typical question I was often asked as a server) and he became stand-offish. Instead of just saying "Yes.", he got all sassy, pretended like he didn't hear her/didn't understand her and then went off about how he doesn't mess around with coffee because he has a grandma that doesn't like to be up at 5am. Food - was great! We shared appetizers, and all got pasta dishes. The pasta was fresh, cooked perfectly, and the sauces were delicious. The beet ravioli was particularly good and interesting. I would definitely return, and chalk up our mediocre service to this one waiter.
(4)Brendan O.
A bit pricey, but one of the highest quality Italian menus you'll find in Philly. The service is attentive and professional, and the food is always wonderful. My favorite is the Mushroom Papardelle, wide ribbon pasta in a mushroom-based cream sauce. Incredible, although I'm actually not sure if that was a standard menu item or a special that day. Like I said, the prices are on the high side, no doubt to help cover what must be some very high rent for that part of town (2 blocks off Rittenhouse Square). And I think that there is a brightness and a "starkness" to the decor that, if cured by someone with a good design eye via a few simple changes, could go a long way toward making this a true 5-star establishment.
(4)Simone A.
Melograno is hands down my favorite restaurant in Philadelphia. I have never had a meal there I didn't enjoy. The core staff has not changed in as long as I have been going, which means well trained, skilled, knowledgeable service. The new location is spacious and attractive. When last there, I started my meal with an Artichoke Heart appetizer, which was a special, which had a delicate flavor, and was plated beautifully. Next I had the Melograno Salad, which has a pomegranate balsamic dressing, and is simple and light with four endive leaves to give it a kick. Finally, I had the Steak, which was served at a perfect medium rare, and came with Cannellini Beans and a green, which I no longer remember, but was tasty. Although, as is true almost everywhere I go, I tend to order the same things again and again, there are many quality items on the menu, and the specials are always interesting. There isn't much for vegetarians, but what there is has wonderful seasoning and interesting ingredients. They are listed as a place that does not take reservations, but this is not strictly true. They accept reservations Tuesday through Thursday, if you want to try it, but don't have the time or patience to either show up right at 5:30 when they open, or wait for a table. The outdoor seating is sparse, and I find the sidewalk of Sansom to narrow to make it a realistic place to eat, but the inside is a lovely place for a meal.
(5)Sharon B.
Excellent food and amazing service. We visited malgrano to celebrate a birthday. All the appetizers were great but i loved the cheese flan type one. Unfortunately i don't remember the correct name. I had the pork chop with polenta. It was awesome. The half roasted chicken was the hit of the table. My FIL said the chocolate cake was outstanding. My tiramisu was really good but wasn't mind blowing. My only complaint is that it was very loud and hard to carry on a conversation.
(5)SpottieMatic X.
Went here last week for the first time for dinner. It was very good. I had the Mussels for an appetizer and the Pappardelle Tartufate for my main entree. Its a BYOB, which is always a plus. I recommend that you make a reservation, this place gets busy!
(4)Alissa C.
I'd been to Melograno once before and had a great experience, so when it came time to make a reservation for my birthday dinner I was very excited to return. I made a reservation for 8 for Saturday night at 7:30 using their online reservation system through Urbanspoon. But when we arrived at the restaurant on Saturday night, the reservation was missing. I didn't know what we were going to do as a party of 8 without reservations at 7:30 on a Saturday evening. Thankfully, the staff at Melograno really came through and saved the day. Though they were incredibly busy and did not have my reservation, they still managed to find a way to accommodate us with only a very short delay. We had an amazing dinner, the service was great, and the error with the reservation will definitely not prevent me from going back.
(4)Paul H.
Very charming little restaurant near Rittenhouse Square. We got there at 6:00 pm on a Thursday, and the place was empty - by 7:00 the place was full. Had the calamari appetizer - VERY different, not fried, and in a mix with tomatoes, beans and a VERY good broth, all of which sort of overpowered the calamari. We also split an artichoke heart which was perfectly tender and very flavorful. I had the special pasta which was in some kind of pesto-lemon (?) sauce with grilled octopus. Loved it and nearly licked the plate. Carol had the shrimp pasta dish - not nearly so flavorful -neither the shrimp nor the pasta. Might have gone five stars had she liked her food a bit more. In any event, Melograno goes into the rotation, I think. Nice ambiance, good food, and best of all - BYOB!!!! P.S. (the one size fits all stemware was a little disappointing. We brought a BIG Italian read; they had small generic wine glasses. Thought that peculiar.)
(4)CHRISTINE B.
This place has the best ravioli I have ever had! Beet and ricotta filled with a brown butter sauce, sage and poppy seeds. I dream about that dish. It can be pretty loud in here but that's probably the only complaint I had. Really nice spot and friendly service.
(4)Jessica S.
Really, really enjoyed our ladies night dinner here! Great location, just West of Rittenhouse Square on a block with a few other gems (I'm looking at you, Il Pittore & Vic). This place has a dark & seductive atmosphere perfect for a beautiful ladies night or date spot. I joined my group of hot doctor ladies on a night out to remember and we had a very delicious meal all around. Every place certainly gets props for BYO, and this place does not disappoint. I think it's extra special when you have the BYO option at a more upscale place like this. I always think BYO lets me feel like I'm at least a little bit "in control" but, I digress... The food was phenomenal -- if you were at least thinking about it, get the pasta with wild boar. Holy shite. This was good. Ginger creme brulee is also a must. I'd definitely come back here for date night with a nice bottle of something red. Note this place pretty much requires reservations. I have walked in and walked out immediately in the past because the place was swarming.
(4)Craig C.
My girlfriend and I came here for dinner. Our meal was underwhelming and overpriced. We got the following: 1. Beef brasaola (or something like that). This dish sounded promising. It was described as an aged beef carpaccio with beets. Although I found it refreshing, it was very bland. 2. Calamari with beans, tomatoes, and a touch of vinegar. Again, this dish was not terrible, but for the price, it left much to be desired. I think it would have been better served cold. 3. My girlfriend got the chicken with dill, kale, and potatoes. Nothing notable with this dish. 4. I got the wild mushroom pappardelle with truffle oil. This was certainly the highlight of the meal, and I enjoyed it thoroughly. As my gf said, you can't really go wrong with truffle oil. As a whole, this meal was disappointing after seeing the great yelp reviews. It was expensive considering the quality of the meal and the fact that this place is a Byob. I was looking for some great Italian food, and I did not find it here. Go to Porcini next door...you will have a better experience.
(3)Jenni I.
Went here with a group of friends to kick off a girl's night out in the city. Service was fast and friendly! Our top requirement in choosing a dinner location was that it be BYOB and accepting of many, many bottles of wine and champagne. Melograno was just that -- along with really great food! Everyone in my party was happy with what they ordered. We started with mussels and the meat, cheese and vegetable plate. All very good. Warm bread was brought to the table and was perfect for sopping up the rest of the broth from the mussels. I had the Pappardelle Tartufate which came highly recommended by Yelpers. Very good -- and unlike nothing I've ever had. While it was delicious, I'd probably not get it a second time. There's a lot of other yummy options to try ... which brings me to the Cotoletta alla Senese that my friend ordered and I tried. Very, very good. I highly recommend this dish. The chicken cutlet was fresh, perfectly seasoned and finished off with lemon. Topped with priscuitto, argula, cheese and tomato. Yum! I also tried a bite of the Risotto ai Gamberoni with fennel and goat cheese. Very good, too. It was a bit loud (as noted in other reviews), but we didn't mind it one bit. For that reason, I'd recommend this place for groups rather than an intimate date. Enjoy!
(4)Bri H.
My friends & I were the annoying last table lingering on Sunday night. Despite this fact, our server was cheerful and friendly. I started out with the grilled calamari, split with a friend. I wish I had the whole thing to myself. It was a very small portion of the most tender squid I've ever had - not even remotely rubbery or chewy. It was served on a bed of eggplant marmalade and green beans - I was not a fan of this. I then had the ravioli with pumpkin and marscapone. It was delicious, but I was jealous of my friend's paperadelle with mushrooms. For dessert I had the vanilla panna cotta with fresh berries. It was quite tasty, but again I experienced food envy when I tasted my friend's tiramisu. Oh and on this particular night, we were treated to dinner AND a show! A chick in her 20's was being publicly groped by her MUCH older boyfriend (? or husband). I'm talking nursing home aged. This grandpa-lookin' dude was all over his young prize. People watching at it's finest!
(4)Samantha B.
On my second trip to Melograno, everything was delicious as I had hoped. Made a miserable rainy night much better! I felt it necessary to write an update to mention how delicious the rustico platter is. Full of bread, meats, fresh cheese, and roasted vegetables. Everything was extremely flavorful and a great start to the meal. We shared the beet ravioli which was amazing. The beets added a really interesting sweet flavor to the pasta. We shared another seafood dish as well with calamari, shrimp, fish, and scallops. Fresh and light. Chocolate lava cake at the end of the meal was a slight disappointment, but didn't take away from the overall delicious meal. Only complaint is the noise in this restaurant because they smush everyone in like sardines, be prepared to raise your voice to be heard.
(4)Natalie B.
Amazing food! This place was so fantastic. My husband and I were visiting for the weekend and we're super impressed with this place!
(5)Li D.
Went to Melograno for dinner on Saturday night. We were walking around looking for a place to have dinner, so we didn't have reservations, but they were able to seat us (it was still fairly early in the evening). The hostess was cheerful and pleasant. The waiter was nice. He recommended the pasta with mushrooms for me. He said it was their signature dish. It was quite flavorful. My partner had the pasta special (spinach pasta), which he enjoyed. Our dinner guests had the steak and the wild boar pasta. Our guest said the wild boar pasta was delicious. We then had the tiramisu and our guests had the chocolate cake. Both were EXCELLENT. Prices for the pasta dishes are reasonable. Total bill for 4 people was $127 without tip. I believe it is a BYOB, so I don't know if they charge a corkage fee. Would definitely visit again.
(3)Katrix S.
It's strange that it's almost impossible to find a good restaurant in Center City, which to all intents and purposes is Philly's downtown or "Restaurant Row." So this small little restaurant--aptly tucked away on the quietest major street in the area--was a pleasant gastronomic surprise. Everything we tried on the menu was not only delicious, but also so tastefully presented, it was hard to not just dig in and gobble it up. The upscale ambiance defies you to do that though. The calamari bean salad was fresh and delicious. The entrees we tried were very good too: a pasta dish and the breaded chicken with prosciutto. Prices aren't too high considering this neighborhood, and the BYO option never hurts the wallet.
(4)Christian L.
We had gone here for a birthday party on Saturday. We went with the fixed price menu where you get the standard appetizer, entree and dessert for $45. I started off the night with pork/veal 2 meatballs covered in fondue. I felt like we should have at least got 3. I hate to be a cheap bastard, but I'm guessing they're pricing these balls at 5 a piece.... For the main event, I had pappardelle pasta with wild bar ragout. Friggin delicious. This boar lived a good life from the way it tasted. Dessert arrived. I had picked the Pana cotta- blew my mind. I savored every little bite. Overall the service was excellent. The tap water was refreshing- literally best water I've tasted from the tap. I'd give it more stars if the meatball portions were bigger.
(3)Karl K.
Get the Papparadelle Tartufate! ---- I used to go here pretty regularly a few years back, before they moved to their (much larger) current location - so I was completely lost when Yelp told me to head to Rittenhouse Square. But on the plus side, it's no longer the cramped / smoky / aggravatingly long wait that it used to be. They still don't take reservations, but now that the dining area has almost tripled in size, it doesn't seem like it will be much of an issue any longer. After weeks of taking pot shots at Olive Garden, I decided to take my GF here to show her amazing Italian/Tuscan fare. Overall, it was a very good experience, as shown below. I would love to give it 5 stars, but that would encourage it to rest on its laurels rather than continuously strive for excellence. Bread: B-, because it was cold and hard. Crispy smelt fries: B+, very interesting. Sauce was unique. Antipasti of shrimp, cannelini beans, squid on a bed of baby spinach: A-, a very light and citrusy option. A hit with both of us. ***Papradelle tartufate: A+, just like I remember it!. Freshly made pasta cooked al dente, savory mushrooms, topped with pecorino cheese. A carnivore such as myself would regularly order this without hesitation. It was so good, I found myself licking the plate afterwards.*** Grilled lamb chop two ways (special): B, the grilled chop was good, but the simmered chop was not simmered enough (a bit too tough) Goat's milk geese and raspberry (special): B-, as I wasn't much of a fan of its gritty texture. Even the confectioner's sugar and raspberry couldn't salvage it. Service: B, even though our waitress was friendly, she was rather unattentive and completely forgot that I asked for a cocktail napkin to get rid of my gum (I'm too old to stick it under the table). On the plus side, she never rushed us out, even though they were cleaning up and getting ready to close. Minor quirks notwithstanding, we will definitely be back next time.
(4)Dhruva R.
Took my mom there for her birthday. We made the reservation through the Amex concierge, and told them so, but we didn't mention anything when we got there, nor was anything special done. It's BYOB, which we didn't know until we got there. This place is *loud*. My wife (an architect) noted that they could easily put in sound absorbing materials to help with this. I have mixed feelings about the food. The chef doesn't seem to have a good sense of what goes together. My mom was disappointed with her salmon special, which was basically salmon doused with salsa. However, I had the pork chop, which may very well be the most perfectly grilled pork chop I've ever tasted. Ever.
(3)Amy C.
Service was 2 stars, food was 3. As other yelpers noted, bring earplugs. The interior looks cozy and quaint, but with the jarring sound of a cafeteria. It's impossible to have a 1-on-1 conversation here. Great for groups especially after a few bottles of wine when the senses start to numb--all the more reason to shout across the table at the top of your lungs because you can't hear a single thing! We walked in on a Thursday night for a table for 2 with no wait. Although it didn't seem too busy, service was painfully slow. We were seated without menus and when we finally did get them, the waiter must have waited at least 15 minutes to come back to check on us. We ordered the rustico (their "charcuterie" platter), mushroom pappardelle, and the wild boar raga pappardelle. The rustico platter was a little underwhelming. It looked impressive at first glance, but the roasted vegetables were pretty boring and nothing was particularly memorable. It was all kind of standard fare, nothing terribly wrong, but nothing that would have me coming back for more. The highlight of the meal was the freshly made pappardelle pasta. Don't underestimate the size of this entree. It looks tiny, but it's actually really dense and filling. I was pretty satisfied after all was said and done. Food is decent, but service needs some serious work. Oh, and be prepared to feel like you just left a rock concert when you walk out.
(3)Marvin G.
BYOB is its only plus. Food portions and quality have fallen, prices are higher and service is so-so. Once a favorite, now just average. Add $35 if you're parking a car in a nearby garage.
(3)Cath R.
Love this place - stinks they don't take reservations but it's worth the wait. Great for tables of 2 or 8 and BYOB which is nice as well. My husband loves the pumpkin ravioli when in season and I usually get the mushrom pasta but you can't go wrong with anything on the menu. We also usually get the anit-pasta plate which is more than enough for 2 people and would be perfect for 4.
(4)Aditi J.
5 stars from my stomach, heart, mind, you name it. This restaurant made me love pappardelle and mushrooms, two things I didn't care for before coming here. Order the Pappardelle Tartufate and bring your own wine for an unforgettable evening. Actually, in my case, I drank a little too much wine last time I went which made things a little hazy - except I remember fighting with my best friend over who would finish the Pappardelle. He still owes me that dish next time I'm in Philly.
(5)Allison B.
A friend just asked for a BYOB suggestion in Rittenhouse, which brought me back to my delicious dinner last Friday night. Me and two of my best girls from high school were going crazy trying to find a place to eat. There wouldn't be an open table at Kanella til 10pm. Mercato was closed for a private party, as was Giorgio on Pine. I trekked by bicycle across town to Melograno, where the wait was just an hour. Anisha, Julia and I stopped into Tinto for a drink to pass the time. (I had never been inside before- so swanky!) We ended up having to wait a bit longer once we returned to Melograno, but I didn't mind too much. Our waitress, Lauren, spied our copious bottles of wine and laughed. She was funny, and definitely told it like it is (like when they were trying to close the restaurant and we were still drinking, whoops). Melograno is so much bigger than I expected, and I loved the dim lighting and the look of the open kitchen. We skipped appetizers, choosing to indulge only on the delicious bread since we were so ravenous. Liquor is quicker, friends. I ordered the Pappardelle Tartufate, which was absolutely fantastic. Fresh strips of textured pasta, meaty mushrooms, crunchy walnuts, just enough truffle taste. There's a reason why it's Melograno's signature dish. Julia ordered the squid ink risotto, which I got a good bite of. Fresh scallop nestled within rich, black rice. The squid ink was a unique flavor for sure. Anisha got the brown butter ravioli, which she unfortunately she didn't love. Lauren told us she couldn't refill our bread- they were out. Out?! She said they only had heels but I told her to bring it on. I love the heels of bread. Five minutes later we had another basket brought to the table- warm slices, fresh out of the oven. After eating and drinking and laughing and crying (there were some seriously emotional moments during this dinner, people) we looked around and noticed the restaurant was completely empty. Yes, we were the last to leave and yes, I was sporting some serious wine mouth but the food and conversation, they were just divine.
(5)Joe B.
Had dinner here last night with a group of friends. My wife and I split the Rustico appetizer (board of meats, cheese, and veggies) and thought it was great. I ordered the pappardelle with wild boar ragu for my entree and thought it was good, though it was a bit small for my appetite and I was still a bit hungry afterward. Luckily that led to me swiping a few bites of my wife's pasta (with kale and prosciutto in a cream sauce) that was pretty awesome. In all, a decent and inviting Italian place. But with so many options for Italian in Philly, I'm not sure it's worth the revisit.
(3)Tim C.
I thought the food was excellent especially the desserts. My only issues were that it was really really loud and the waitstaff seemed to be very very disorganized. For a center city BYOB I think its a good option and worth a try but overall I wasnt overly impressed.
(3)Arin S.
Looks like I'm the odd one out here that didn't really enjoy Melograno. I was disappointed in the service and food-- but it was Restaurant week, so that may be atypical. Not a bad evening, but I won't go back.
(2)Alicia K.
My first and probably only visit to Melograno was during Restaurant Week. Dispite the out-pouring of great reviews this place had I honestly did not enjoy this restaurant that much... I have been to many other italian BYOB's that were much, much better. The flavors we're just OK but did not "wow" any of the 4 guests I had with me. We tried really hard to enjoy it here.. we ordered 4 different appetizers, 3 different entrees and 3 different desserts so that we could all taste everything but the general consensus was that the food was just OK. Our server on the other hand was very attentive and informative. I feel bad that I do not remember her name so that I could give her the proper credit in this review. She earned this restauarnt 3 stars. Based on food only i'd say it was 2 stars. Needless to say we were all sad that we wasted our one free night to do restaurant week on Melograno.
(3)Mark D.
3 friends and I came here for the restaurant week menu. It was quite amazing. For starters, we ordered the proscuitto salad, calamari, and meatballs. None of these were particularly outstanding in my opinion, but they were quite gigantic portions especially compared to other restaurants that tend to skimp out, and especially given this was restaurant week where hordes of cheap diners (cough us) come to places that they can't afford :) For the main course, I ordered the fish of the day, something I still can't pronounce, but which was served with garlic mashed potatoes, shrimp, and calamari. My friends also ordered the fish and a scallops + pork belly dish. The fish was very well cooked and seemed pretty fresh. Nothing like out of the lake fresh after an afternoon fishing, but it certainly filled my seafood craving. The scallops and pork belly were really well made, with a crispy outer layer but the inside being nice and tender. Finally we had creme brulee and molten chocolate cake for dessert. Both were delicious and made well. I think what really makes this place stand out though is the ambiance and atmosphere. It's not a loud byo, but it's not a super quiet conversation place either. Instead, it seems to appeal to all of the above! It'd be great for a date night, or just casual conversation, or for a 6-8 person group. Food was great and delicious, waiters were very attentive, almost a little too much sometimes, and I'd come back.
(4)Sarah S.
very pleased by my visit to Melograno. Great service and great food. Pappardelle Tartufate is a noodle dish with the perfect blend of mushrooms and truffle oil. So delicious!
(4)LK M.
This isn't my favorite Italian place in the area (that's another place in Haddonfield, NJ check out my review), but it was definitely worth the night out here. I would come again. Everything we had here was very good. But the only thing that stood out was the panna cotta dessert. We had mussels and calamari for an appetizer. Both were very good. Then the mushroom pasta, which was also very good. This is a dish I get whenever I see it on the menu. This wasn't the best of this dish I've had, but it was very good. I'd order it again. The filet was cooked perfect to order and the sauce was absolutely delicious. The salmon was cooked simple with herbs, but was also very good. The panna cotta was divine. The vanilla flavor was incredible. Unfortunately this simple, understated dessert stole the show. Most importantly, service was spot on. Everyone was pleasant. Writing this review was difficult. Everything was very good, but nothing really stood out as extraordinary. My husband's in a wheelchair, so when it comes to finding a decent non-chain restaurant (especially in the city) that is wheelchair accessible, it is VERY difficult. Which is very frustrating to these two self-proclaimed foodies. So even though it wasn't extraordinary, it was still very good, and we'd certainly go back. BYOB!
(4)John Q.
Wanting to take my lady somewhere she's never been, I chose Melograno based on Yelp reviews and the fact that they are BYO. When we walked into the restaurant, we were both pretty surprised to find it empty on a Thursday night at 7:15. Our server immediately greeted us and went over the specials. She was great about answering all of our questions (i.e.: "What does this mean?" *point to super Italian word on menu*). We took our servers recommendation and split a pasta entree for an appetizer. We were glad we did because it was tasty. It had just the right amount of cream sauce and other ingredients to help the dish stay balanced and flavorful. For our entrees we ordered the chicken and filet mignon. The filet was great but not the best I've had in the city. The chicken wasn't bad but it was overly simple and felt like something I could have made at home. Overall I would give the service a 5 but the food and atmosphere were only a 3 or 4. I would come back and try additional pasta dishes as I think this is what they best enjoy making and it shows.
(4)Megan S.
Food is really really good. And it's a BYOB. Staff is ok, space is TIGHT!
(4)Sharlenne S.
I really loved Melograno. The place was packed but we got a table immediately. Our served was very attentive and helpful. We had: 1) Gamberi Calamari e Cannellini Inzimino: This was listed as a salad, but it was more of an appetizer... and the most wonderful appetizer I have ever had! Warm shrimp and cannellini beans served over baby spinach in a lemony/tomato-y juice. I could eat this all day every day! 2) Pappardelle Tartufate: We shared this pasta dish because every review raves about it. The bf liked it a lot, I thought it was good, but the truffle oil was too strong for my liking. This is why i gave it 4.5 stars... too strongly flavored. 3) Quaglie Arrosto: I loved, loved, loved this. The presentation was wonderful (two small quails completely deboned and stuffed), and the dried fruit stuffing was both savory and sweet. 4) Special Lam (I don't remember the exact name): Bf had this and he really loved it. 5) Molten Chocolate: Yum! I don't normally have chocolate desserts, but this one was hot, sweet, fudgey, delicious!
(4)Puri G.
Superb dining experience and the fixed price for Sunday was a pleasant surprise. Service was impeccable and very friendly. Pasta is really done al dente and the risotto was one of the best I've had. Will definitely go back!
(5)Laura B.
The Spaghetti alla Carbonara is the best pasta dish I've ever had. I like simple, but delicious, things, and this dish is to die for. From the menu: "Pasta tossed in a sheared egg, crispy pancetta, cracked black pepper & Parmigiano." The sauce is delicious, and the perfect amount of it is tossed on the pasta. The cracked black pepper on top is the perfect complement to the cheese and egg. And the pancetta isn't heavy-handed, just dices of it in the sauce itself to add great flavor. Try it!
(5)Kumar S.
For a BYOB it has amazing food, fresh, tasty, and a busy festive atmosphere. Come when it's not busy and it can be quite intimate and quiet but it always seems to be busy especially weekends and evenings.
(4)Tough Crowd T.
We met friends for dinner last weekend and had a great time. We came at about 6:45 pm on Friday and had no trouble getting seated. Antipasto platter: okay Smelts: excellent, but the accompanying dip should be jazzed up Truffle/mushroom Pappardelle: very good Beet ravioli specia: excellent Striped Bass: okay Grilled Artichoke side: excellent Service was adequate. The atmosphere is conducive to a larger party and I really liked the front room (by the open kitchen), but the rest of the restaurant feels too cavernous. Generally, however, I am not a huge fan of this decorating style (fake Italian). The best thing about this dinner (other than the company) was its good value: we spent $75 (including taxes and a 20% gratuity) for two and had two apps, one pasta entree, one fish entree, one dessert and two coffee beverages. I would go again for a casual dinner with friends on the spur of the moment.
(4)Mare M.
Four of us decided to meet at this BYO for dinner this past Sat. night... I had called to make reservation, only to find they DON'T take reservations on the weekend. Ok, no prob. I got there about 6:30 - put our name in, they took my cell # and we went across the street for drinks. I got a call a 1/2 hour later that our table was ready. Pretty good for a Sat. night. We were taken to our table, squeezing by the people waiting in the foyer area. the layout seems to be going for a big open feel, with an open kitchen in the back of the room but the tables are very close together. On this night it felt loud & crammed, though it was an upbeat and fun feeling atmosphere. We were served water right away by a runner and our waiter (Ray, I found out later, by asking him) came by without stopping, just spotted us and seemed to be annoyed at yet another table. Hmmm. A few minutes later, he stopped by, asked about opening our wine and mumbled and groaned about the night he was having, as he opened our 3 bottles. Then he didn't come back for our orders for another 15 minutes - at which time he finally gave us the specials. We started our meal with 2 apps.: the Antipasto and a breaded mozzarella dish with a 'lite sardine butter'. The Antipasto was pretty good, notably the crostini assortment was very unique.. the other veggies were ordinary. The mozzarella dish, however was over powered with the sardine taste, took a few bites and couldn't go with it. For entrees, I got the Spinach/Cheese Ravioli done in a brown butter sage sauce, which I must say was excellent. My dinner partners got Monk Fish (special), Seafood Combo dinner and a Pasta Carbonara. Everyone seem to truly enjoy their entrees. BTW- DO NOT rely on the menu on the website, 90% of what it shows is not on the actual menu. I hate when I read something on a web menu, make a plan to try it and it doesn't exist on the actual restaurant menu. For dessert I got a Ricotta cake, served over strawberries, a little on the dry side but pretty good. My partners got the panna cotta and creme brulee - both were done nicely. I can't say we didn't have a good time, but I was in good company, The service remained slow all night, but gave us plenty of time for laughs and conversation. The whole meal came to about $160+ (not including tip) for the 4 of us. If they kicked things up a notch creatively in the kitchen, stepped up the service and spread out the tables a bit more, they'd really have something here.
(3)Scott R.
A winner. Everything we had was excellent. Arugula salad with shiitakes, toasted walnuts, goat cheese, and lemon vinaigrette - beautiful. Beef roulade special (with asparagus stuffing) - wonderful. Papperdelle with wild mushroom and toasted walnut sauce - darn near stunning. Service was top notch. Even when the metro waiter put his hand softly on my back one too many times, I can't say it really bothered me. At least not enough to take a star away. It's BYO, so if the wine list sucks - it's your fault. For his part, the waiter promptly uncorked ours, and when we had some left - he promptly supplied cork, bag and carrier so we could take home what's left. The only ding was the polenta. Actually the polenta was delicious. But the way it was presented on the menu - it was listed with artichokes, chard, and white beans. We thought it was some kind of funky salad and promptly ordered, when actually those were each individual side dishes that were available. That confusion aside, everything else was brilliant. I'm from out of town ... but I sure hope to come back.
(5)Dan l.
Decided to stop on a Sunday night. I had the prosciotto di parma e rucola to start and it was light and flavorful (hint of lemon and olive oil). For the main course I went with pappardelle something with wild mushroom and truffle oil, loved it. For desert i took the advice of....my server and had a light custard type flank with berries, again spot on. Can't remember the name of my server but she was attentive and knowledgable.
(5)Es L.
We heard good things about this place so we celebrated husband's and friend's birthdays here. We liked it here! Louis was our server, and he was really cute, sweet and thoughtful- someone you'd want as a friend. Food was excellent. Grilled octopus was tender, flavorful and delicious (portion is small though just to warn you). The mussels were also lovely- white sauce with lots of garlic. We probably ate 7 baskets of bread because of the delectable broth. Pappardelle Tartufate... had to order it because so many yelpers raved about it. They did not disappoint. Absolutely amazing. I will dream about it tonight. Ginger creme brûlée and tiramisu were both really good and was a great way to end the lovely meal. Will definitely come back for special date nights!
(5)Isabelle J.
YES. The pistachio crusted salmon + BYOB.
(5)Meghan D.
I rarely give five stars, so this is a big deal!! I dined at Melograno with a friend recently, and loved our experience there. We were there around 6 pm on a Friday, and had no problem getting a table. I loved our food, which was thoughtfully prepared and delicious, I loved the space and ambience, the service was great, and the prices weren't too bad either! Overall, it was a fabulous experience, and I will certainly be back!
(5)Sarah G.
Absolutely delicious meal from beginning to end! I arrived with a group of 5 at exactly 9:45 (the latest they will seat you) and was shown a table right away. There were a lot of people on dates but also a lot of groups. The menu had so many tasty options additonal great specials that I had a hard time deciding what to get. I shared a pear carpaccio appetizer and it was absolutely wonderful - altho sort of difficult to eat after several large glasses of wine (btw - love the BYOB!!). I opted for the wild boar ragu based on previous reviews and I am so glad I got it. It was one of the best I have had. I will definitely be coming back next time I am in philly. As a side note - why were the floors so slippery? Almost all of my highheeled friends fell and I actually did on the way out! Has anybody else noticed this or did we all just consume too much vino?
(5)Michael G.
Nice BYOB. Had the cozze (mussels in white wine and garlic) appetizer to start. Pretty awesome. Make sure you ask for extra bread for dipping. Had the gamberoni (grilled shrimp) as my entree. It was ok. Shrimp were tasty and the polenta was good but not much to the dish. I would come back and try a pasta dish next time.
(3)Kyle D.
I love going to this place. The food is fresh and delicious. I wish they seasoned a bit heavier but always a great place for dinner.
(4)Simon E.
Hmm, Melograno, finally I've got around to visiting your new location. Shows my laziness that a restaurant I went to all the time when it was two blocks away has managed to be avoided for over a year because its now 6 blocks away! The new setup is nice. It is quite a lot bigger than the previous place and has lost some of the cosy feel because of that. We arrived and were seated promptly on a Tuesday night. However, we were then left to sit for 10 minutes with only iced water and unopened bottles of wine after the serving staff completely forgot us. It took a couple of prods to finally get things moving. After that, service was quick and friendly. Staff don't seem quite as on the ball as at the old place. Food wise. I started with the Sardine special which was top notch. My girlfriend had the Herring fries which were also excellent. Lightly battered and with a nice aioli dipping sauce. For the main I went with the Pork tenderloin and Pork belly kebab. The tenderloin was fine but it didn't stand a chance next to the exquisite belly. This was extremely well done. A friend went with the saddle of Rabbit, which sadly whilst tasty, was far too salty and didn't allow the rabbit to shine. In conclusion, the food at Melograno is as good as it was. It's nice to see that they have finally mixed up the menu a little as well. Hopefully this will continue. Service definitely needs a little work though.
(4)Kim C.
This is a BYOB that doesn't really feel like a BYOB, which may be a good or bad thing. The place is huge, for one thing, and pretty loud, not intimate at all. They take reservations on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays, but (judging from the other reviews) you may have a lengthy wait on the days you have time to go. I tried Melograno on a Tuesday night for boyfriend's birthday. The place was pretty packed for a Tuesday, and quite bustling. The waitstaff was very friendly, and when we told her it was our first time she took time to mention some of her favorite dishes. I ended up getting portobello mushrooms stuffed with goat cheese (delicious) and the tartufate--wild mushroom pasta (which included a parpadelle type noodle, long and flat). Both dishes were straightforward and delicious--not pretentious Italian food at all. I'm taking one star off because my boyfriend thought the portions were small. He had the lamb chops--two smallish pieces of roasted lamb with rosemary and a bunch of other spices. I will go back, but it's not on the top of my restaurants-to-return-to list.
(4)Rachel L.
The restaurant is very loud and can get very crowded by the doorway as people come in and wait for their table. The food was pretty good; try the wild mushroom bread pudding appetizer, but the food overall was just ok.
(3)Priscilla L.
Solid as ever. Recently had a duck ragu with mint and peas pasta special that was amazing and as always the truffle pappardelle is heaven. Little hint: order the side of artichoke...it is the full baby choke that used to be served with scallops on the menu...delicious.
(4)Tina B.
I just told my husband that I haven't had a meal like that in a restaurant in a long, long time. The food was outstanding, to say the least. Each dish was better and better. We live in Bkllyn and can't wait to go back to Phila. just to dine at MELO GRANO.
(5)Colbey W.
Melograno was an enjoyable experience. We walked in on a Friday evening (we thought that they did not take reservations on Fridays or Saturdays but were wrong - despite what their website says, they started accepting reservations sometime around the beginning of June) and were immediately sat and waited on. The service was great, the food was solid (my girlfriend and I started with the mozzarella in carrozza which was great and then shared the spaghetti ala carbonara and the cotoletta di pollo alla senese, both of which were quite good), and the decor of the place itself makes for a great, relaxing dining experience. Also - and perhaps most important - Melograno is BYOB, so don't forget a bottle of wine or two. All in all, very enjoyable experience. I will be going back.
(4)Chris S.
Great little BYO on mythical sansom street (where all the good food seems to be in CC). They do need a little smoothing over with their seating policies as seating 3 people at a table while waiting for a 4th takes up exactly the same amount of room as seating 4 people. Anyway, their food was very well done. Not splashy, not overdone portion-wise (which tends to be the case at random Italian restaurants you go to), and just the right/subtle flavor to their dishes to make you feel right. To be honest, I can't remember what I had....probably because I couldn't pronounce the thing. Isn't that a rule somewhere? The more you can't pronounce it, the tastier it is? I'd definitely repeat, oh, and bring wine (and make sure your whole party is with you to save some grief).
(4)A B.
Came here recently with my boyfriend for a Friday dinner. Food was very good. We started with the grilled calamari topped on a bed of eggplant marmalade and green beans.The calamari were few, but were very good. I found the eggplant marmalade very weird, however. I had the pappardelle with mushrooms, crushed walnuts, and truffle oil. REALLY GOOD! My boyfriend had the grilled shrimp with polenta. Also very good but a bit plain. The waitstaff were great and the restaurant is BYOB (always a plus). The inside of the restaurant is very charming. I would definitely recommend this restaurant!
(4)Todd V.
I had heard a lot of hype about this place and with so many other good Italian places in Philly, Im not sure why. I was satisfied with my meal and left very stuffed, but nothing really wowed me. My scallops in my appetizer were tough and the braised lamb shank I had was underseasoned. (My friend's shank was perfect though). The polenta had a jell-o like consistency. The spiced chocolate lava cake was the highlight of the meal. Their menu is pretty unoriginal and offers items you can find on many menus. Nothing was awful, nothing was great.
(2)brad C.
Swimming among the Italian BYOBs in Center City, it's easy to get lost. After trying my share of pasta and wine joints, Melograno seems to deliver on all fronts: not impossible to get a table on a popular night, the atmosphere is romantic but not overly cramped, and the food is creative but accessible. The artichoke app was roasted perfectly, but didn't sparkle, the mushroom pasta was abundant and delicious, the beef short rib and polenta was to die for, and the canolis and panna cotta were light and satisfying. Brad's rating (out of 5): Price: 3 Food: 5 Decor: 4 Service: 4 Wild card: Really good bread basket
(4)Ken H.
We lucked out at 7:00 on a Friday night - no wait for a table for 3. Last time we tried was on a Saturday night at 8:00, when there was a 2 1/2 hour wait!?!?! Don't forget, they actually do take reservations during the week! In my book, Melograno has not missed a step in moving to its new, bigger location on Sansom. Great casual atmosphere & each dish seemed to be better than the one before. I highly recommend everything we tried - the artichoke & scallop appetizer left us wondering how anyone could make an artichoke taste so good... the portabella with goat cheese and toasted pine nuts... home made papardelle with anything (mushroom/truffle oil was my favorite)... the foccacia.. the lava cake... the cappucino. And for the quality of food and experience, the food is very reasonably priced. Definite contender for favorite BYO in the city!
(5)Alison P.
Recently enjoyed a birthday dinner at Melograno. BYOB which is always a plus. The atmosphere is warm and cozy and the service is friendly and reasonably fast. The food was mostly great, although a few items were not on par with the rest. The pasta courses are not your typical primi sized pastas, they are full size dishes, so beware of that, as we ordered way too much food. All of the pasta dishes we enjoyed were fabulous, especially the simple cacio e pepe and the truffled mushroom pappardelle. My pork chop might have been the hit of the night, tasting as if it had been smoked and then baked in a maple syrup glaze (which was a pomegranate reduction). The breaded chicken with arugula was only so so, I would pass on that. Other friends enjoyed the seafood platter and the artichoke contorni. I would definitely return, perhaps for a casual pasta dinner and to share some wine with friends.
(4)Faye S.
My doctor recommended this place to me, and since she and her husband are Italian-American, I couldn't refuse! A group of four of us went here. My big pet peeve is that we weren't seated because one person wasn't there yet (he was out getting a bottle of pinot noir). I mean, seriously? I would understand if it was a full restaurant, but we were the first people there (in fact, the door was still locked when we walked up). We started off with the octopus appetizer, which was pretty good. I totally forgot that the carne dishes don't come with pasta, so my dumb ass was craving carbs at the end of the meal. I got the grilled pork tenderloin with some kind of sweet sauce. My hubby and friends got pasta (a spicy one with pancetta and one with olives and shrimp). Overall, the food and service were good, but I was a little miffed at our not-so-warm welcome.
(4)Tiffany Y.
Came here for restaurant week, the food tasted alright but loved the service and thought the restaurant was so cute! I think it came with 5 courses, unfortunately my salmon tasted fishy and one of the pasta dishes tasted like it was made with canned sauce. My husbands dishes, lamb and octopus appetizer seemed to taste much better. The tiramisu was amazing though, and the portions are huge!
(3)David D.
I am a little biased because I was a frequent visitor when they were on 22nd and Spruce. As the other reviews allude to, it thrived as a perfect combination of cozy ambience and quality food before Meme bumped them out. The new spot is admittedly a little less personable, being multiple rooms with higher ceilings. I also have to say that they seem a little too rushed now-- dinner comes out within 5 minutes of ordering, and as soon as your last bite is in your mouth, you begin to get looks pushing you to the door. But I'm a loyal guy and the food continues to be glorious, so I'm still giving it a 4. Food to get: Mushroom pasta (Pappardelle Tartufate) or the Porterhouse Steak (Bistecca Alla Fiorentina)...I can say with researched confidence that both plates are among the best in their respective 'dinner genres' in the city-- that's something for 2 plates from a small BYO so far apart on the food spectrum. Staff: Now that it's a little bigger, they have added to their wait staff which takes away from the familiar/familial feel. Last time I was there, my waitress was a bit spacey (but that just added to the meal). More to the point, the owner chef and his wife hostess (and sometimes chef?) continue to be visible, along with their inviting smiles. Check it out...you won't be sorry. Just don't go expecting a long, relaxing meal.
(4)ted z.
Dined at Melograno for the second time and have yet to be dissapointed. Start with the antipasto for two. That and some bread and wine would make a great meal by itself. Assorted smoked Italian meats, fresh roasted veggies, assorted spereads and it is just heaven. For the main course, the Griglio Mista, assorted seafoood on a bed of mashed, creamed potatoes is delectable. The pasta witht he shredded Guinea Hen is also a great choice. The pasta is home made and the sauce a perfect complement. The chicken dish with mozzarella is a good choice. A bit noisy, long waits on weekends make it a 4 star but well worth the inconvenience.
(4)Sara G.
Antipasto is a must to have every time!
(4)Anne D.
I had this place on my list to try and I am glad I did. We went on a week night so it wasn't crowded and the service was awesome. I had a fresh delicious salad and we ordered 2 different pasta dishes to share. The wild boar ragu was great but the highlight for me was the pumpkin raviolis, yum yum yum! The ambiance is nice and the food amazing. No way you can go wrong eating here.
(4)Ginger R.
Fantastic dinner tonight....our waitress was wonderful and so was our dinner....we have been here numerous times and this time invited our friends to dine with us, we will be back, soon!
(5)Jennie C.
I know this place probably doesn't need another glowing review, but I just had to share my experience. My friend had a really bad day, administrative problems and a cancelled flight. Remembering all the good reviews of Melograno, I took him here. This was Tues evening, and we snagged the last table. His face literally lit up the minute he put the pasta in his mouth. He ordered some mushroom pasta (forgot the name...), I had the wild boar parpadelle. The pasta was cooked to perfection, and the sauce was unbelievably good. Not your usual boring red/white sauces. We also shared a pistachio strawberry panna cotta, which was absolutely fantastic. The only reason I didn't give it 5 stars was the price...while the food was very very good, it was just a tad overpriced. But if you love Italian food & dessert, run to Melagrano at once!
(4)Habiba W.
Yum! I was in Philly for the weekend with my sister and friend of hers and we were in the mood for Italian. We tried to go to Porcini's but they were booked for the evening and so we decided on Melograno. We didn't have reservations but we managed to get the last table and had the most fantastic time. We ordered Insalata Melograno, the Antipasto Rustico and various pasta dishes for our entrees. The food was so good, it makes my mouth water just thinking about it. I ordered the Spaghetti all' Amatriciana and it was very good but my sister ordered the Pappardelle Tartufate- I had a taste and it was delish! What really sealed the deal for me was the service- our server was so nice and friendly! I love this place!
(5)Jameson M.
Well worth a visit. Very pleasant staff and helpful if you have questions. Definitelyx2 worth a try if you are in the area.
(4)Nadine D.
Skip it. I have two words to describe our dinner here last night - uninspired and lackluster. None of the 4 dishes that we ordered lived up to the hype. The pastas were flat and tasted like the chef completely forgot the salt. The Bronzino with shrimp and calamari were all burned to a crisp. My husband got the seared scallops and pork belly. It truly was seared adding to the burned flavors of the night. There was no reason to eat either the polenta or the mashed potatoes. The only good part of the dinner - the bottle of wine that we brought.
(2)M.B. G.
Went here for restaurant week last night with a group of friends. 7 of us in all. We each ordered from the restaurant week menu. I had the calamari and the shrimp with risotto. I have to say, the food was really good. Our waitress was very good. However, what we all did not like was the loudness of the place. We found ourselves having to shout just to have a conversation.
(3)Karen D.
I can honestly say I was beyond unimpressed with this place, although I'm willing to blame 50% of my disappointment on high expectations. I had heard great things about Melograno on Yelp, Zagat, and from friends. I was further enthused once I heard that there was a one hour wait at 6:15... clearly this place must be doing something right. To their credit, they allow you to put your name on the list and leave a cell phone number, so you don't have to sit there and wait for an hour in the crowded entry way. In fact, I will say that the hostess/manager was really fantastic at managing a crowd and dealing with problems. Our waitress on the other hand... notsomuch. If "disheveled" and "surly" had a love child, she's now working at Melograno. More importantly, our food was pretty mediocre. The bread, antipasto plate, and pine nut-encrusted, goat cheese-topped portabella mushroom were all very good, but when the culinary high point of a meal is someone else's prosciutto and the bread, it's a pretty strong indicator of what's to come. For main courses, the pappardelle with wild boar ragout was actually fine, but nothing special. The pappardelle with wild mushroom sauce was underseasoned and uninspired. The spaghetti carbonara with anchovies, white truffles, and shirred egg recommended by Surly McWaitress? Foul. I had to send it back because I feared a second bite would set off my gag reflex. Since the waitress ignored me, I got the hostess/manager to bring me a new entree (and she was very nice about it). My replacement entree, a roasted pumpkin ravioli with marscarpone and amaretti cookies topped with a sage brown butter was tasteless and mushy. Again, maybe I set the bar too high, but I feel like a restaurant with this kind of buzz can do better.
(2)E T.
I was thrilled to have Melograno in my neck of the woods (not that 22nd & Spruce is that far away). Because I live so close, I never have had to wait. I usually run over right at 6 or 6:30 and they can fit in a party of two. I have to admit that I never thought it was worth the effort for a 1.5 hour wait at the old location. The weekday reservation policy is great for those who are coming further. This is my go to place to bring friends from out of town. Consistently good food. The servers know me now, so that is a bonus. I find it best to come with a group of 4 or less. It is a small kitchen and my friend's entree came out cold at a large bachlorette dinner. I usually get the Parpadelle with wild mushrooms or the wild boar. I've sampled pretty much everything. And, that is why I cannot give them a fifth star. I would love to see a little rotation of the specials. Let's see if the spring inspires a few changes!
(4)Ryan S.
I am suprimly sadened by their closing. explination of events that led to closing: phillyblog.com/philly/ce…
(5)Leah C.
Had an awesome birthday dinner here. Great lighting and perfect ambiance and Antonio our waiter made everything even better!! We loved everything we ate from the antipasta app to the mushroom tagliatelle and short ribs and beet ravioli to the creamy tiramisu. My sister found the squid ink risotto to be a little heavy though. All in all would highly recommend this byob!!
(4)Rachel U.
Beat the crowd on a Saturday night getting there at 7pm and got seated right away. I'd never been when they were on Spruce, but their new space is really nice, very open and warm, sits a good amount of people but didn't get super loud. The waiter was very nice, though seemed a little distracted, food service was pretty fast and the food itself was really yummy. Between the three of us we got the pumpkin ravioli, the quail, and the clams spaghetti, and all plates were licked clean. My friend also enjoyed his house salad, and while it was very delicious, I was little surprised when my $8 mushroom-goat cheese-pinenut appetizer was literally a portobello cap with a lump of cheese and pinenuts on it... The tiramisu and creme brulee were also very good, but the chocolate cake was goooooooooooooood =)
(4)Alex F.
Came here twice in two weeks because I had friends and family from out of town, and I wanted cheap, good food close to their hotels, where we could seat 4 or 5 people. The pasta at Melograno is great. Appetizers and entrees are very good too. So why the 3 stars? First time I went was on a Sunday, restaurant was 3/4 filled and service was good. The second time I went, the service was horrible. 5 of us were seated. We brought a bottle of sparkling wine and two bottles of red. 5 minutes pass, 10 minutes pass, 15 minutes pass, no one comes to open the bottle or take our orders. Finally, we open the sparkling wine and pour it ourselves into the regular wine glasses. The waiter then runs over in a huff with Champagne glasses and gives us attitude. And he continues to be inattentive and surly the rest of the meal. And it wasn't just us. The guy had 6-8 tables he was covering, and he spent the whole time by the kitchen chatting away. So food 4 stars, value 5 stars, service 0 stars. Easily the worst service I have had in Philadelphia.
(3)Jon S.
Best pasta in the Center City area. Can't go wrong here. The new space has its advantages and disadvantages. The seats toward the front door are under an odd vaulted ceiling which gives anything other than the cozy feeling of the old location. The seats toward the open kitchen seem much better. But the advantage of the new space is that it is much larger and therefore it's a lot quicker from arrival to seating. New address is 2012 Sansom St.
(4)Candace C.
delicious and clean byob, melograno promises a good time with great food, great drinks (BYO, so pick a good one), and great friends! The service and hostess are forgettable, but the food is tasty and the ambiance is really nice.
(4)Juliana G.
The only reason Melograno gets two stars is because I saw Danny DeVito there, and I like him. Short of his re-visiting the establishment, nothing could tempt me back there. The pasta was overcooked and oversalted, and the pork was dry and tasteless--all for a very pretty penny. The seating staff were very rude, and my hour-long-wait in heels was by no means assuaged by the comme-ci, comme-ca appetizers.
(2)Jason B.
Besides the insanely long waits on Friday and Saturday nights, Melograno is perfection defined. If you haven't had the Papardelle Tartufate, you haven't lived. I would go there if you haven't, because if you die tomorrow, you are totally f***ed because you will never try the single best pasta dish ever know to humankind (possibly alien-kind as well if any undocumented workers ever dine here). Honestly there is no describing it. I have tried many of the other dishes too - the rigatoni with amatriciana sauce and pancetta (very satsifying), the cacio e pepe (didn't care for this one, too peppery, not enough other flavors), the various raviolis always covered in their divine brown butter and sage sauce, and the quail (very succulent, although I didn't care for their polenta). The Melograno salad is always a great start to the meal with a light and refreshing dressing. I also really enjoy the fried goat cheese and anchovy appetizer, which is a really dressed-up and grown-up version of one of my childhood favorites. The ability to bring your own wine is great, and even though the wait is often long, they will take your cell phone number and call you when your table is ready, so you can go get drinks at a nearby bar (try Village Whiskey or Jolly's). If you haven't eaten here yet and you are reading this right now, stop. Go now.
(5)Fred G.
The new place on the 20 hundred block on Sansom is bigger without missing a beat. The menu has both changed and stayed the same and the specials are getting more interesting. We miss eating outside, but since it is winter, the coziness of the table layout on the west side adds a special charm. You can be alone with someone or talk to your neighbors at the next table. Rose, Luca and Anne continue to be gracious hosts and make sure all is well with your meal. The BYOB system is still the best and they are now only 1 block from a state store! Craig LeBan of the Inquirer gave the new Melograno an amazing review too! Enjoy!
(5)Leigh Anna T.
The food was very good here. The menu had a nice number of options. Not too many that I was overwhelmed, but not too few that felt like my choices were limited. I ended up getting a greens salad with vinaigrette and the boar ragu. Both were quite tasty. I would try some different things next time (and there will definitely be a next time since this place is around the corner from me) - not because I didn't like what I got, but because there are so many other delicious looking things on the menu! The staff were also very nice and accommodating. Even when they were trying to close up and my friends and I were sill there gabbing, they were never rude and never rushed us. This is definitely a great, neighborhood-y BYO!
(4)molly f.
Another fabulous neighborhood BYOB- why doesn't DC have this?! Great atmosphere, reliable food, and walkable to rittenhouse, Melograno is comfortable italian food without too much fuss. downside of being a cute neigborhood BYO near rittenhouse? having to wait for a table...be sure to call ahead as this cozy restaurant fills up fast!
(4)Erin K.
Last night we got to Melograno around 6PM. There were several empty tables (probably because of the weather) but it soon filled up and by the time we left around 8PM there was a large crowd waiting to be seated. They apparently don't take reservations so go early or go expecting to wait. We shared the soup (snails and mushroom), which was very tasty. The boy had wild boar ragu which he LOVED and polished off. I got the mushroom pasta and it was really woodsy and yummy. I was too full, however, and had to take half home. Needless to say, no entrees for us. We finished it with ginger creme brulee which was ok but nothing spectacular (not like the marscapone cheesecake at Mercato...or the sesame creme brulee at Sakagura). I highly recommend.
(4)Thaila S.
Very disappointed in our dining experience here, especially after reading all of the wonderful reviews. The food itself was good. I had a wonderful ravioli appetizer that just melted in my mouth, but the mushroom pasta that everyone raves about was not as good as I had hoped. Good, yes. Great, amazing, the best thing you've ever had? No way. I probably would have liked it more had I not read all of the hype on Yelp first. I'm taking away so many stars because the service was ATROCIOUS. Our waiter was an African American guy (I wish I asked his name) who was rude and weird. He made snarky comments when he asked him questions about the menu, and was not at all friendly. He was also not a good salesman -- when we asked him about a dish with beets, he responded, "Well, I wouldn't order that because I hate beets." I guess I can appreciate the candor, but it was just a weird response. When we told him that our dessert was overcooked, he did not apologize, nor was that item taken off our bill (we should have insisted). Management, if you're reading this -- please hire more professional staff. I expect more of a restaurant that charges high prices. Finally, this place is LOUD -- I'm fine with noise, but we were yelling across the table to be heard. All in all, I'm sad to be giving this place such a poor review. I had such high hopes.
(2)Rob K.
Top notch BYOB in Philadelphia. Varied menu, quality waitstaff, very good food. Perfectly prepared salmon and asparagus were awesome. A bevy of appetizers were high-lighted with the spinach dumplings. Noise was an issue as were the crowded tables which were only a problem due to the hustle and bustle by the busy staff.
(4)Josh K.
I was in Philly for work for a few days. Here's where I ate: Thursday: Il Portico, gross. Friday: Maggiano's, almost gross. Saturday: Melograno, awesome. I can't remember ever going out to a non-Italian dinner in Philly, and this was the best by far. Great atmosphere, the food was delicious. I had the special, ravioli with a mix of ground chicken and sausage. So good. The antipasto plate with lots of sausages and prosciutto and cheese and stuff was great too. Melograno is legit. 5 stars. Remember to bring your own booze.
(5)Melissa V.
The food is so tasty! The service is very good, and I love that it's a BYO. We always go here and then go to a show at Helium...it's the perfect date night.
(5)alexis g.
A highlight reel: Appetizer: The special. An Italian "crepe" filled with a delicious mix of ricotta, roasted eggplant, and pesto, topped with red onion confit and (I think...) shaved parmesan cheese. Served in a searing hot ceramic crock type device. Came to the table still bubbling from the oven. Boyfriend insists that he does not like ricotta cheese. Boyfriend happily finishes the last bite when offered. Salads: Good. But not good enough to make the highlight reel. Entree.. me: The duck special with sour cherry reduction, asparagus, and some sort of pan-crisped/roasted sliced potato stack. Duck was cooked to perfection -- crisp duck fat skin, tender pinky medium rare meat -- and seasoned perfectly. Potatoes were delicately garlicked (if there can be such a thing?), edges delightfully crisped, centers tender and toothsome. Boyfriend ate several... I cleaned my plate. Entree.. him: The quail stuffed with figs and walnuts served with mashed/pureed potatoes and zucchini. Everything on his plate was excellent.. not necessarily write-home-about-it exciting or earth-shattering, but clearly expertly prepared. Most notable in my mind was the absolutely perfect ratio of quail to stuffing. I have no idea how they managed to get all of those figs and walnuts into those quails, but I tip my hat to whoever figured out that secret technique. Dessert: Chocolate cake was good. But... Ginger creme brulee -- the replacement for the pumpkin creme brulee on the menu. If I were you.. and I were planning to eat dinner at Melograno complete with dessert, I would definitely go over there the morning of and make sure that the pumpkin mysteriously goes missing. I'm not suggesting that you engage in any sort of criminal act or anything, mind you.. but if you could persuade a sympathetic cook or server to hide the pumpkin under some bags of onions, stash it behind the potatoes, pile it in a random corner and cover it with some napkins.. you get the idea. I was stuffed to the gills and only because I was in a public place and thought that they might never let me come back if I acted on the impulse did I manage to avoid bringing the ramekin to my face and licking it clean. ETA We returned to Melograno and had, all things considered, a reasonably good meal. The special appetizer "risotto cake" (actually just semi-creamy rice in a ringmold, but whatever) was ok, the salmon I had was ok... And I would be inclined to drop to 4 stars because the risotto cake had a little bit of an off taste.. . But here's the reason for the update: We sort of made a spur-of-the-moment decision to eat here as we were getting ready to take the dog for her early evening walk. We took her with us and they let us eat on outside with her by the table. Yay! Dog-friendly fine dining!
(5)Dru H.
Service is a 5, but the food is a 3 for me. Antipasti was great, but I've had better in the city. The octopus was tender and understated. The escargot was delicious, but when you cover something in oil, cheese and pancetta what else can you expect. Pasta course was good, but the beet ravioli was nothing "special" it needed some salt or acid to make it more interesting. The sea bass entree was boring too. When I go out I want something interesting and this just didn't meet my expectations after seeing that it got 3 bells. Looking around I noticed that a lot of the patrons were gone by 8 on a Saturday. Older crowd in the dining room and kids in the kitchen was what I saw. It makes me wonder about this place. Lewis our server made up for a lot. Everyone was very attentive and it has a greAt atmosphere just not a place I'm going to be running back to. Modo Mio blows this place away.
(3)Jon T.
Apparently there is a trend in Philadelphia of corner Italian restaurants, complete with awesome food, cramped tables, and a BYOB/W policy. Melograno perfectly fits the bill for all three. I was almost denied my taste of this culinary delight, for when we showed up at the restaurant at 7:30, the hostess told us that there were no more tables available for the evening. After explaining to her that we were from out of town, she managed to fit us in for the final sitting. I loved everything about my meal. That same hostess, Rose, went out of her way to make all the guests in the restaurants feel welcome at their home away from home. She did the same for us as well. The service was prompt, attentive, friendly, and professional. And the food...amazing. I tried the mushroom pasta, which was punctuated with a real tuscan earthy flavor. My own dish was a meaty monkfish in a red wine reduction sauce, complemented perfectly with chopped mushrooms and mashed potatoes. Dessert was a ricotta cake with berries, something resembling the texture of a souffle. And the prices! In NYC, all of this would be at least 5 dollars more...per entree! All in all, a fantastic and memorable meal.
(5)Jaclyn B.
Unaccommodating waitstaff. Not into the food.
(1)Stacey S.
Small plates, delicious (never had a bad meal here) but expensive.
(4)Er L.
Went here in May. I thought it was okay. Too expensive for the quality of food because I can think of dozens of places better for the price. Though, if you're in Rittenhouse and in heels like I was that night, this place will do! The desserts impressed more than the entrees.
(3)Leah G.
I give Melograno a four for its food and our waiter. The food at Melograno is impeccable. Our waiter was excellent . . . humorous and detailed. The food was fanastic I normally get the mushroom pasta but decided to go with something new. It was great. The dining experience and food is not to be missed. I have one bone to pick with Melograno. I would rather them not take reservations at all then have to feel like I am annoying the staff by arriving on time for my reservation.
(4)melissa M.
One of my faves that my fiance and I frequent rather often. Love the ambiance and dim lighting. The food is amazing. Every time they get it right. I actually find myself craving Sea Bass mid-week. Just the right amount of crisp to the skin, paired with a simple vegetable and couscous, yummmm. I had my birthday dinner here last year and yet again it was a hit! A little hard getting a lsat minute reservation but that is to be expexted as everyone shares the same good feelings about the food. Keep up the great work Melograno and thanks!!
(4)Yaanik D.
Melograno is fantastic. The mood is elegant and dark, but strangely homely at the same time. I started with an artichoke that was grilled and sparsely dressed with lemon, parsley, and cracked black pepper. It was probably the best artichoke I've ever had. For my main course, I had the swiss chard ravioli in a light butter sage sauce. The ravioli were perfect. Unfortunately, the tiramisu I ordered for dessert wasn't as good as the rest of the meal. It was presented in a bowl, and I was expecting the creamy, layered tiramisu I've had in Italy. However, as soon as I dipped my spoon into the bowl, cream flowed out all over my spoon--the thing was too damn liquidy. Despite the mediocre dessert, I thoroughly enjoyed the meal here, so I'll give it 5 stars.
(5)christian C.
Very disappointing, especially considering the buzz and it's four star rating here, which I think is completely unwarrented based on my visit. Started with the special octopus appetizer. The octopus was good (although the portion of it was small), but the rest of the dish was insipid. The waitress said it was with haricot vert, but they were just mushy green beans, along with bland nearly mush potatoes. It needed a vinegrette with some flavor. The rabbit special entree had similar deficiencies. I guess the kitchen was out of spices, even salt and pepper, because the rabbit, in addition to being overcooked and dry, was BLAND. The accompanying roasted potatoes also lacked any herbs or salt and pepper to make them interesting. The other entree was the papparedelle with scallops, shrimp and olives. (The pasta, by the way, was the size of lasagne noodles; I've never had papparedelle like that before.) The tomato sauce was flavorful, and could have been even better, if the olives had been chopped and incorporated into it, rather than just tossed on top of the dish like a random after thought. The scallops were overcooked and tough, a clear sign of poor kitchen execution. Overall, we left very disappointed.
(2)Helen L.
It would not matter how good the food was. We just left Melograno. My head is splitting and my ears hurt. Making matters worse, we dined there with old friends and could not have a conversation. For years Melograno has had complaints about the noise level in their restaurant. For years, they have ignored those complaints. The average age in the restaurant was 35. Perhaps this is the generation that not only tolerates loud noise, but revels in it. Having dinner at Melograno was not that far from attending a rock concert. We did not order dessert or coffee. It was out of the question and we could not wait to bolt for the door. A restaurant owner who does not make any attempt to do ANYTHING about the madness is not worth having customers. But................having said that, if people keep coming, and keep allowing this kind of invasion on their ears, why would the owner have to make any changes. By patronizing this restaurant you are saying, "It's OK to damage my ears." It's OK for me to pay to be here when you do not care about the comfort of your customers. Better to have dinner in a bowling alley then at Melograno. What that says to us is, "I do not care about you. If you keep coming, I will keep disrespecting your comfort." Same old, same old. We will never return. And You.........boycott, until he turns down the volume and sound proofs this place.
(1)Vincent M.
Really great, authentic and tasty menu. a bit loud peak time on a saturday night, but could still hold a conversation. I had the fettucini appetizer, actually large enough for a small entree, absolutely fantastic and unique. Made perfectly aldente and served piping hot. Not alfredo, but in a light oil base with sausage and --mint !? which kicked it over the top. salmon in parchment also a great entree. overall excellent dinner , a place to return again on another night.
(4)Dominick A.
My wife and I didn't want our last dinner on our Philly visit to be too heavy (no Del Frisco's) nor too touristy (no cheesesteak). I yelp'd Melograno and we decided to go. Soooo glad we did! Notes: 1) needed to eat early as our 1.y.o. wouldn't last too late; we arrived at 6pm and did not wait. 2) by 6:45pm the line was out the door. 3) host was friendly over the phone, and equally gracious upon arrival. 4) BYO! 5) there's a liquor store 1.5 blocks away 6) ambiance excellent, rustic 7) baby high chairs, yes! 8) limited menu with EXCELLENT choices. 9) we ordered all the specials: gorgonzola meatball starter, filet for her, tuna for me. all cooked to perfection the first time out. 10) table bread quite good and served warm. 11) servers quick with water refills. 12) got a bit loud once it filled up, good buzz 13) ginger creme brule crisped well, yummy 14) host noticed our son had a skin condition on his chin - she mentioned a remedy (it worked!) 15) prices very reasonable considering we got specials 16) last but not least, our server LUIS was one of the best servers we've ever had at any restaurant, and we eat out a lot and in some very nice places. LUIS was courteous, attentive, understanding, and knowledgable - he interacted with us as if we were family and wanted us to have the best experience possible. The food was a delight, but LUIS won us over. Will eat here whenever I'm in Philly.
(5)Adam B.
I had a nice meal here. The service was excellent and very helpful throughout the meal. I never had to wait or ask for anything, and we got great advice on the food. Our dinner was OK. For starters we had the Funghi Arrostiti and a mushroom crepe that was a special. The arrostiti was excellent. The crepe was very good, a little too salty and creamy for my taste, but still something I would get again. For dinner we had the Pappardelle Tartufate and the ravioli. The ravioli were OK but nothing special. The spinach was a little undercooked and the saice a little salty. The pappardelle was good but heavy. I thought everything was very expensive for what it was, $65 without tip (no desert, no drinks) for two starters and two entrees.
(3)Amy F.
Hands down one of my favorite restaurants in Philadelphia. I go there often and have never been disappointed. It's sometimes a little loud, but the food is to-die-for so it's well worth it (and the wait, which can be up to 2 hours on weekends). I always order the same thing (I know, boring, but I can't get enough) - porcini appetizer and black cod entree. I've also had the mushroom/truffle pasta which is a close second to the black cod. Add in the fact that it's a BYO and I highly recommend it!
(5)Julia N.
The menu is small and rarely changes, there are just a couple things for vegetarians, the service is competent at best, and I miss the old, intimate dining room. But the pasta. The pasta is just way too good - tender, chewy, fresh and pretty much perfect. Their pumpkin ravioli is the first thing I think about when it starts to get cool in the fall.
(4)Matt M.
This place is superb. If I were rating Melograno based on its company in Philadephia (as in other BYOBs) I'd give it 5 stars. I gave it 4 only to reflect that this isn't the best dining to be had in Philadelphia but it's damn hard to beat for a reasonably priced, not stuffy BYOB. The food is superb, the service is excellent, and the restaurant itself is charming (although it's a bit elbow to elbow; I didn't mind at all, some may). It's also great because this isn't a place you need an excuse to go to--if you come with a bottle of wine and just order a pasta dish you can be out of there for $15. But if you want to go all out it can surely be a wonderful spot for a special night out. I definitely think this is the best BYOB and maybe the best restaurant period in the Rittenhouse Square area. Also, you may want to try calling ahead these days because while I'm certain they didn't take reservations before the hostess asked me if I had one when I arrived last time.
(4)Carolina J.
Sansom Street is one of my favorite streets in the Rittenhouse area, so sitting outside at Melograno was really pleasant. Its great location also came in handy when my fiance and I decided at the last minute that we wanted a bottle of wine. (You can buy a bottle right around the block, so he did a fast wine run as I held the table!) They have a few vegetarian (or could easily be made vegetarian) pasta dishes, such as what I ordered - the Ravioli di Magro. It was tasty for sure, but could have gotten better ravioli at a lower price somewhere else. My fiance loved the Funghi Arrostiti appetizer.
(3)Mark L.
Perfect neighborhood byob restaurant. I used to live across the street so I really know this place well. It was always full each night and the whole simple decor and menu selections were great. The place was renovating in '08 when I moved. Great to see that it's back!
(4)Gina K.
The pappardelle with wild boar bolognese was absolutely out of this world. I also enjoyed a mushroom appetizer and a salad, but all I really remember about the night was that pasta. We made reservations for a Sunday night and were seated without a problem. The atmosphere was elegant yet cozy--though perhaps a little too cozy, as the table behind us was squished up pretty close to ours. Another downside was that the "molten" chocolate cake was cooked all the way through, but still delicious. Bonus points for this place being a BYOB.
(5)Lauren L.
Last night was my first visit to Melograno, a long-time neighborhood favorite (while in its old location) that I had simply never visited. I was with a group of ten, and we had a great experience at Melograno overall. The ambience of the new location is nice! Dim lighting and warm golds and browns of the decor makes it feel special, yet the openness of the new space makes it feel breathable and group-friendly. This location still boasts the Philly signature open-kitchen restaurant style, and it's fun to be able to see the chefs as they cook and place the hot dishes out on the counter before they are whisked away to each table. Our waitress was attentive and nice, though one of my pet-peeves is when servers list the specials and fail to note the price. We all know that specials are always more expensive... and if prices are listed for everything else on a menu, why is this piece of information always left out? As a diner, I want to know what I'm going to be paying for a dish instead of being surprised by a huge bill at the end. So, please, do all patrons all a favor and embrace the practice of informing us.... That said, we ordered the Antipasto Rustico, which was a generous platter of meats, cheeses, olives, and pates. The prosciutto was buttery and soft, the mozzarella fresh, and the grilled vegetables perfectly tender. We then also ordered the mussels, which came in a tomato garlic broth. These were also delicious, and the olive oil that was served earlier with the bread was absolutely neglected in favor of scooping up the tender garlic cloves and sweet diced tomatoes from the broth. As an entree, I ordered the Wild Boar Bolognese and my fiance the Quail Arrosto. The bolognese was well balanced, and the papardalle extremely fresh and tasty. I did not feel that the bolognese had enough boar in it, though, and secretly wished I had ordered the Mushroom papardalle that my neighbor sitting next to me was busy scarfing down (it smelled like nutty, savory heaven). The Quail entree was also disappointing. It was plated nicely, but I found the quail difficult to eat, a bit dry as there was not enough pomegranate glaze, and the stuffing inside an afterthought. The polenta it was served with was a baby scoop of dry, tasteless cornmeal. I want my polenta creamy and plentiful! This was certainly not the case, and I would not order this dish again. On the other hand, another of our dining companions got the Pork Chop entree, which was a huge portion of pork served over sweet and savory farro that was completely delightful. Other than the fact that I spent my dinner pining over the entree choices of the others in my group, I would return to Melograno... only I would order what they got! The fact that this restaurant is a BYOB is a major plus, as it would otherwise be a bit too pricey Italian for my taste. I recommend going here on a weekday night for crowd control.... Enjoy!
(4)Mara K.
I went with a bunch of friends on a Friday night. Reservations were made, and was pleasantly surprised when we were seated upon arrival with half our party missing. They eventually showed up. The food was very good. Service was a bit spotty. I did appreciate the honest answer from the waiter when I inquired about two dishes that I was waivering over. My only complaint about this place is that the noise level is fairly high when it's packed, and you find yourself missing half the conversations at your table. The food was excellent though. I do plan to return.. but during a week night when it is less crowded.
(3)Philip K.
Our go to BYOB in center city. Food is good, reservations are reasonably easy to get (during the week) and being a BYOB is a nice plus. Would recommend the homemade pasta dishes (with pumpkin and sage butter if available) in particular.
(4)Zack T.
the food taste good but my brother had the special squire ink pasta today july 28,2012 that we found out a piece of scrap metal in the pasta. The waitress did not give us any replacement nor discount for the food. This is really bad experience which cause my brother to vomited after an hour of the meal.
(1)Chihee K.
I thought this place was quaint and the atmosphere was nice. The only downside was that it was quite loud. However by around 9pm, the crowd starts to thin out, so it was fine. We were able to get a reservation (same-day), which was great - and for a larger group of 5. My experience overall was A-OK at Melograno. I did have a wonderful salad of the day that consisted of grilled/sliced artichokes and arugula. My main dish was a pappardelle pasta (tomato based) with shrimp (literally three pieces) and scallops. It was simply ok. I had the warm spiced chocolate cake with vanilla ice cream that was good, but not out of this world.
(3)J K.
Each time we've had a party of 10 or more. And each time, Melgrano's has been extremely accommodating. m not sure if I've ever had a bad dish at this place. The staff is friendly, the food is heavenly, and the setting is comfortable. Its like a big warm hug from your best friend.
(5)Christine B.
Went here on a Thursday night with a 7:30 reservation. It was relatively empty so no problem with the noise level. I had the Parpadelle with the wild mushrooms and truffle oil. I don't love mushrooms, but I love truffle oil so I couldn't pass up this dish. I could definitely taste the truffle, and the mushrooms were smashed up to make a thick sauce. It was delicious. My dining partner had the gnocchi with oxtail sauce special. He enjoyed it as well. They also had nice bread and olive oil. The waitress was very attentive, although no one really came around to re-fill the wine glasses.
(4)Elizabeth L.
Enjoyed dinner here a few nights ago with Philly friends. A solid Italian place, and BYOB as I'm learning many of Philly's restaurants are. Bread basket was generous, as many people have noted: white bread and a lightly herbed foccacia. For appetizers, we ordered the fried smelts (basically fried little fishes with a tartar-ish sauce = a more highbrow fish and chips), which was delicious, and one of the newer appetizers: mushroom bread pudding. Loved both, and highly recommend both. The bread pudding especially was a bit rich, but the mushrooms and buttery bread flavor complemented each other surprisingly well. For my entrée, I couldn't resist ordering the pappardelle with wild boar ragu. The wild boar was cut into small, manageable bites so wasn't as gamey as I expected, but the ragu was rich and flavorful, the pappardelle a little chewier than I expected. I liked my dish more than my boyfriend's: he ordered the pappardelle with truffle oil...it was a little too wet and rich for my taste. My friends ordered a breaded chicken with mozzarella, which was surprisingly moist (but I don't know that I would have been able to finish a huge slab of breaded chicken, but that's just me!), and another ordered what looked like a fisherman's stew. Service was a little slow, but lovely atmosphere, with antique pasta makers and vespas evoking Italian country life.
(4)Naomi C.
I brought a work group to Melograno for dinner, and we had a wonderful experience. When I made the reservation, Anne at Melograno suggested a prix fixe menu, which was exactly what I was looking for. She was kind enough to email the menu to me in advance. We were a few minutes late, and the staff at Melograno was very accommodating. They were patient while we annoyingly switched back and forth between a round table and a rectangle table. Once we finally settled in, who seemed like a staff member's little daughter brought us all menus and said bon appetit, and she was adorable. The food itself is pretty straightforward, nothing too innovative, which is why I am giving 4-stars. My chicken liver pate was very flavorful, but it's presentation was a little bit overwhelming. It was smeared onto large slabs of bread. It was kind of too much for one person. My lamb ossobuco was very good, and also a really large portion. It was cooked to perfection and falling off the bone, just as it should. The best part of my meal was dessert - creme brule. Overall, the portions are very large, especially for fine-dining in center city. For $45/person, this was an exceptional value. The staff was great and next time I have a large party to take out, I will be back at Melograno.
(4)Stu H.
Price fixed menu was a joke along with the service. Only reason for the star was you can bring your own wine. Disappointed to say the least, will not venture here again.
(1)Victoria S.
We waited 30 minutes past our reservation. Once seated, we were rushed through our dinner. My biggest pet peeve of dining: the waiter takes your plates without asking if you are finished while food is still on the plate. Then while trying to add up the bill, the waiter gestures to "hurry up". Bottom line: poor service and poor food. Spend your money elsewhere.
(2)Grace S.
Years later, still so much sass! From the second you walk in and ask for a table, she is just angry at you! We even tried calling beforehand and they refuse time and time again to give you anything but a confusing and vague answer. Several times before, my party will just go elsewhere but we decided to put up with the 45 min wait at 9pm. The food was subpar, both pappardelle dishes & scallops w/ polenta were all flavorless but the mussels were good (although the broth was overly salty). The ciabatta was good but I don't think the olive oil was extra virgin. The server was amazing though. Also, Danny Devito was there with his wife, Rhea Pearlman! Too bad I'll never come back.
(1)Kemi A.
3.5 stars I'll be the 1st person to let you know that i'm not a fan of italian food. When my friend recommended we have dinner here, I didn't want to be a debbie downer so I agreed. She got some wild mushroom dish which was good. I forgot what I ordered but it had to pull pork/meat in it. It was def tasty. Not what I expected. It's BYOB so we got a small bottle to share nearby. The waiter was attentive (and cute) and he did recommend that I get the pulled pork/meat dish which I appreciated. I do want to go back and try the grill octopus app.
(4)Suraj P.
This place is fantastic. I have been going to Melograno since before the move and it has never let me down (except for the whole move thing...) And while the fact that it was BYO brought me to the door, the food keeps me coming back over and over again. I frequently get the Penne (spicy red sauce with pancetta) which has never failed me. The other big winners have always been the papperdelle with truffle infused mushroom sauce and the beet ravioli (which a friend describes as "unique to the world"). And sure. Its hard to get in because they don't take reservations and you have to wait. But the food is worth it, which is more than I can say for a LOT of restaurants I have waited longer to get a table at! So get here early and bring a second bottle of wine (to drink on the street while your waiting for table). And eat the best byo italian in the city.
(5)Ari P.
Very good inexpensive Italian food with excellent decor and good service. Only annoyance is no reservations.
(5)James D.
Waited way too long to try this place on, but with no reservations on the weekend, took the midweek route to ease into a most delectable meal. With its focus on simple Tuscan flavors, the appetizers are were simply solid, but oh did the entrees deliver. To boot, the location offers one of the city's most unexpected people watching corners. Only downer - these folks love the A/C, and it was cranked high enough on an otherwise pleasant autumnal eve to cool our meals soonafter they arrived. That said, visit two will probably hoist this into a fiver. Stars, that is.
(4)Tiffany W.
Great for all occasions- a girl's night out, a family celebration or a date. The lighting is key- so many restaurants in Philadelphia are so dimly lit you can barely see your food- 'cough' Starr and Garces. This can make things awkward for those not on a date. The food comes looking deceptively simple until you taste it- flavors just explode in your mouth. This is one of the few BYOs in the city worthy of an expensive bottle of wine.
(5)Mauro D.
What happened? I loved this place when they were on Spruce.....it was a real gem. The food is still excellent, but the atmosphere has tanked. I felt like I was at the Italian Bistro or worse, Olive Garden. I think I'd enjoy it if they would hire a GOOD interior designer.
(3)Max W.
FRESH pasta with great prices! Don't miss the artichoke. A hair noisy but it's well worth it. You can whisper at home. Get there!
(5)Laura M.
I've only been to Melograno once and it was almost a year ago... but the fact that I'm still thinking about it a year later prompted me to write a review. I feel like it is easy to get comfortable with Italian food; there are a lot of places that make decent Italian food but it is hard to find a standout place sometimes.... Melograno is a standout. I took my mom there on a Saturday--my only major complaint is the noise level. We both ordered specials, mine was a seared tuna special and her's was a house made pasta with shrimp, both exceptional. The food wasn't heavy and over-sauced. It was flavorful and well-portioned. I only wish they took reservations and didn't seat people so close to one another.
(4)Heather C.
Although I miss the old location, the new bigger location means getting a table on a Friday night is no longer an hour+ ordeal. New menu additions are awesome and well executed. Melograno is easily one of the top italian restaurants in Philly! And it's BYOB! YUM.
(5)Anita B.
We ended up at Melograno by accident! headed to Mercato but suddenly forgot the name. We enjoyed our meal with our 12 year old daughter but the place is much too loud to hear across the table. My husband loved his fried bread and cheese appetizer (a take on pizza turnover) and I enjoyed the pear carpaccio but the shaved pecorino was stingy. I thought the wild boar bolognese was tasty but for a pasta dish a fairly small portion for the price. My daughter liked but didnt love her spaghetti carbonara. Hubby polished off the yummy lamb chop special with crispy potatoes and asparagus. The bread was average as was the service. Not sure we'd go back because of the noisiness.
(3)D D.
This restaurant had been highly recommended as a great BYOB with amazing food so my group was excited to try it out for dinner. The first disappointment of the night was the bread. It came with plain oil that had no flavor to it whatsoever (a preview of things to come). A little Parmesan cheese, crushed peppers or garlic would have made a world of difference. For appetizers we ordered the meatballs and grilled squid. The meatballs ended up being the highlight of the meal (unfortunately there were only two!). They were juicy and flavorful and the cream sauce that accompanied them added a nice, rich flavor to the meat. The squid was a different story. It was cooked perfectly but had absolutely no flavor. It tasted like we were eating straight rubber. Not terrible, but not tasty either. For dinner we ordered the roasted lamb, pork chop and chicken. All three were disappointing. The lamb was a bad cut of meat with a lot of fat (only half of it was edible). there was no taste to it at all while chewing, but the aftertaste was terrible! It literally tasted like old seafood. I had everyone else at the table taste it to make sure I wasn't crazy, and they all agreed. The pork chop was overcooked and bland. You had to drink water while chewing to be able to get it down. A little less time cooking and a couple spices could have easily turned the pork chop into a great meal, because it was a very large portion of meat. The chicken, while not overcooked, had the same problem as the pork chop. Very bland and lacking flavor. The best part of the meal was our drinks, and we brought those with us.
(1)Jeffrey M.
The pork chop and risotto were great. The portions were generous and the serving staff were efficient and attentive. My only small complaint was the noise level which made across table conversation difficult.
(4)Sunil S.
Went here based on reviews from other yelp-ers. Okay, I'm vegetarian so that limited my choices a bit but the pasta I got was floating in an oily tomato sauce (arribiata). Not so good as I've had better. More importantly, the place was LOUD... for some reason, this place carries a lot of noise and it was really hard to hold a conversation. I would head down the street to Porcini's instead.
(2)Mike M.
Not sure I consider myself a real-time "foodie" but my colleagues who are and I have hit almost every major place in Philly, this place is without a doubt in my top 3 in the city - maybe best Italian I had and I'm N. Jersey/NYC guy so I'd like to think I can spot good Italian when it comes my way. Been here 3 or 4 times, have stuck with the same stuff pretty much. Appetizers - must have is the grilled octopus, amazingly tasty, also have gotten the pasta with truffles (main dish, but can split into 2 plates for an appetizer) each time I've been here. This is probably the best pasta dish I've ever had, comes with some walnuts (I think) which adds a nice texture. Main Course - have gotten the rabbit multiple times, perfectly prepared with proscioutto and a light cream sauce and some mashed potatoes. Have also gotten the boar in rigatoni (great). Cherry on top, BYOB. Wait stafff is also VERY friendly and attentive.
(5)Clive Z.
Still one of the best places to eat in Philadelphia
(5)Jose A.
Much better experience. Went with some friends and we brought a bunch of wine, can't go wrong there. Ordered the pumpkin ravioli which is on the smaller side for a dish, but was fantastic. Also had some of their bread which is really good. Everyone else was very happy with their dish as well. The service we had was wonderful, our waiter was funny, not overbearing, but when he did stop by, he always left us laughing. The noise wasn't so much a problem this time.
(4)Brad P.
Melograno is pretty darn good. Fritturina di Alborelle - hey, little smelt fish all fried up and served with a lemon mayo. I liked it. Eating small sea-life whole is just the thing you need if you want to feel like a Titan, ravenously consuming mortal bodies to feed your endless hunger. Mozzarella in Carrozza - I liked this too. To be really fair, it is fried cheese and is basically impossible to screw up. Antipasto Rustico - Pretty good but did not blow me away. Pappardelle Tartufate - Very tasty. Fish special- They offered a fried fish special of some sort. I'll level with you dear reader, I don't remember what it was. I had been enjoying a great deal of wine and I do remember the fish had a strange name...Ovo...Ova? Nah, It couldn't have been ova because that is ridiculous. I suppose I could google the answer or call them up but that would take precious seconds away from my extraordinarily busy day. I guess what I'm trying to say is - If they offer a fish special with a funny name, then get it because it is good. On the action-movie-parallel-satisfaction-scale, this establishment is Blade.
(4)Neen J.
Cute place where you are given a warm welcome from reception and we were seated in a round table (perfect for a girls night out with much wine and laughter). Every meal was delicious! The arugula/procuitto salad is divine and two of us had the filet on a bed of heavenly mash with a pomegranate reduction - seriously divine! Tow girls had the salmon which was not only delicious but plated beautifully. Everyone at our table loved their meal and would definitely go back again. It came highly recommended and we were delighted with the great menu, terrific service and it is BYOB - too perfect!
(4)Brian H.
Geez, I thought I was a lucky guy to grab a reservation for Valentine's Day with only 3 days to spare, especially after the person who took my res couldn't accomodate a 7 to 7:30PM request, and asked if I could do 6:30. What was all of that about? The restaurant never got more than half full the whole evening. Which was fine with me as we sat and chatted, and paced our evening to well over two hours without a rush to boot us out. But, it was V-day and I wasn't going to let this trivial annoyance bother me for more than a joke or two over dinner. OK, the food. The olive oil served with the bread was lacking in any type of flavor. I would almost wish that restaurants that refuse to buy the "good stuff", just serve a little focaccia without anything than to present the flavorless oil as something you may feel you need to enhance your bread experience. The Prix Fixe menu was interesting and I thought very creative. For starters I had a seafood stew, with baby octopus, shrimp, and it looked like lagustinos. The tomato broth was superb, the octopus tender, very tasty and a very good start. My friend had the salmon gravlax, it was light and wonderful. For entrees I ordered the most amazing fettuccine with a wild boar ragu which I would match against any ragus I ever had, anywhere. The pasta held the ragu so well, the lumps of wild boar were tender, full of a solid meat flavor, just fantastic. If I could make that dish I would never leave home. My Valentine ordered the Branzino, pan seared, absolutely one of the best Branzino's in the city. The moistness, the lightness, the texture, the presentation with spinach on the plate, everything. Dessert was a letdown for me. The panna cotta with berries was just average, light in texture and light in flavor. I know this is a "man-trap" day to go out to dinner, where you have to accept Prix Fixe at a lot of restaurants, but Melograno delivered to the max on the entrees. The service was attentive as the restaurant was less than full. I haven't been here in a year, and I used to go more frequently. The inside and decor lacks atmosphere, I can't put my finger on it. But as long as the chef turns out food like he has for years consistently and excellent, this is still one of my top 5 BYOB's in the city. Appetizers - 4 Entrees - 5 Desserts - 3 Decor -3 Service -4
(4)Victoria L.
This was a last minute Restaurant Week pick. I couldn't be happier! The space was great and I LOVE that it is a classy BYO. My friend ordered the octopus, which was good (considering how hard it can be to cook and many restaurants don't succeed). All our pasta and entrees were good. Intentions to come back for sure!
(4)Alexa R.
I would probably give the food three stars, but the space and the fact that we saw the Always Sunny in Philadelphia crew (and Danny DeVito told me he liked my dress) raises it to four stars. I also love that they take reservations. Our server and the maitre d' were so nice, also. I started with the Melograno salad, which was boring and had the sea bass for dinner. Because I was still a little hungry, I got the ginger creme brulee for dessert, which was awesome! Others at my table had pasta and fish and were happy with their meals, but not blown away. And yes, Mac has gained weight.
(4)Matt K.
Other reviewers are right, it's loud here, but it's happy. The kitchen is huge and in full view of the diners, and it looks spotless, at least from a distance. A big plus. The service was efficient and our waiter warmed up a little more with each visit to our table. We shared 4 dishes and then dessert. All dishes were perfectly seasoned, and each had at least one special touch that lifted the cuisine beyond the ordinary classic Italian. Not crazy enough to make you question its Italianness (is that a word?), just enough to keep you interested in having everything on the menu eventually. If I had more time, I would have, ha ha. 1. Smoked snails with speck. The first few bites were a little odd, but by the end, I loved it. 2. Salt cod balls with tomato, herbs and chickpeas. Very aromatic, and the cod balls were delicate and not very fishy. 3. Wild boar ragu on pasta with walnuts. Very tasty, much better than the average bolognese. The walnuts added a nice texture. 4. Quail over polenta with pomegranate sauce. The polenta didn't have a lot of cream in it, it was firm, and the corn taste was not disguised. Beautiful sauce. 5. The tiramisu was the only disappointment, too much cocoa on top, so much I choked on powder on every bite. Too much liquid had leaked out and collected on the bottom. There wasn't enough cake in it, almost all custard. The waiter asked, and of course I told him. He brought me a free flourless chocolate cake to substitute. That is the mark of a class establishment. Kudos to all.
(4)Tala T.
Melograno is an Italian restaurant located in Center City close to Rittenhouse Square. We went on a Friday night without reservations (which they now take despite being informed otherwise online) with high expectations. The rustic Italian decor adds to the great ambiance. Our table lined against the wall was very close to our neighbors which made it a bit uncomfortable given that we arrived early and there were not too many diners so the noise level was down leading to an uncomfortably intimate dining situation. Our server was nice and attentive. The food was good yet nothing particularly stood out. For our starter we shared the Prosciutto di Parma e Rucola. A plate of arugula prosciutto and shaved parmigiano served with a lemon vinaigrette. It was a really nice consistent dish that I would order again. For our entrees we ordered the Pappardelle Tartufate and Risotto ai Gamberoni. The Pappardelle Tartufate is usually a favorite of mine. The ingredients in this one happened to be ground up to a paste mixture consisting of wild mushrooms, walnuts, truffle oil and pieces of pecorino. I was not a big fan of the mixture in this form nor was the Count who was forced to switch his plate with mine halfway through the meal. The Risotto ai Gamberoni was a delicious plate of fennel risotto served with fresh shrimp, goat cheese and wine reduction. It was very creamy and fragrant without tasting too fishy. For dessert we shared a warm chocolate cake with strawberry reduction. It was served within minutes leading me to believe that these are pre-made and microwaved. I am sure I was not wrong because it was too hot and did not taste like it was freshly baked.
(3)Natalie D.
Meh. I've had way better Italian, but perhaps I'm quite biased, based on where I live. I went with a large party and we had a fixed menu. My salad was okay, but nothing to rave about. I also had pasta with mushrooms which, again, was okay. I'm not a creme brulee fan, but I must admit it was pretty good. Our waitress was quite scatterbrained, however. She filled an ice bucket for wine all the way to the brim with melting ice, and then stuffed a huge bottle into it, thus overflowing the bucket. Water flew absolutely everywhere - all over us, the table, the floor, everything. We were barely tucking into our dessert when she presented the check and absolutely pushed us to leave, saying we needed to go because they had another party coming in. Really? It was so unprofessional I was shocked. We just spent the price of a small Vuitton bag at your establishment and now you're basically kicking us out?! For an upscale place, they could look into a better coat storage system. I mean, we are in the Northeast, people *do* wear coats half the year! Currently it's one white, hollow-tubed metal rack that is so old and shabby it's bent in the middle and heading for collapse at any second. Since they pay no attention to it, patrons stuff more coats than possible on it, and of course since today's society is seriously lacking in manners, they show no respect for anyone else's property. Stupid me put my $$$ leather bomber on the rack (when it was fairly empty and had room) and I cringed every time some 50-year-old man physically grabbed it and pushed it to slam his smoke-filled jacket in. I was also afraid someone was going to steal it as, again, there is no one watching this rack, despite it being next to the hostess stand. Melongrano has potential, but it's definitely going to need to step its game up if it wants to get to where it could be.
(2)Grand Y.
Quite possibly one 5 of my best meals ever. I suggest going in a group, and sharing a bunch of meals. Among 6 people, we got 5 apps, 6 entrees, and 4 desserts. The best app was the wild mushroom bread pudding. The polpette were also excellent. Best entree was the one I got - the cioppino. So much seafood, and the broth has some kick to it. Excellent. All the pasta dishes were excellent. The wild boar ragu lives up to the hype. The waiter's recommendation, the slow-roasted lamb, was truly excellent. The waiter told us that the dish takes 3 days to prepare. ] Best desserts were the molten chocolate cake (I'm biased towards chocolate) and the tiramisu. Love that this place is BYOB.
(5)Andreas R.
Good food, good service. However, the ambience was poor, with two problems. First, management is overbooking the restaurant, leading to a half-hour wait past our reservation time and a definite crowded feel in this small space. Second, the acoustics are atrocious, with nothing to absorb the sound. It detracts from my dining experience when, just to be heard, I'm yelling at the top of my lungs at the person across the table. This problem is, of course, compounded by the overbooking. Recommends: chick pea and shrimp soup and wild boar ragu.
(3)David A.
In my quest to review every restaurant I possibly can in Philly, went back to Melograno after not going back in a while. One of my earlier Yelp reviews after returning to Philly. I can now say this place stacks up to the best Italian restaurants in the city and is a great BYO dining spot. Went Sunday night with a reservation for 6 and we were promptly seated a a round table (perfect!). Our waiter Ray was both friendly and knowledgable and provided great service. Took a nice bottle of Brunello which was perfect with the meal choices. The bread basket is addicting with homemade foccacia and country bread. Starting with appetizers: Portobella with goat cheese- Excellent even if you don't like mushrooms. Great texture and flavor. Mussels in white sauce. Perfectly cooked mussels in garlic, oil and white wine. Great for bread dipping. Griiled shrimp with beans- Killer. One of my favorites. Entrees: Papperdele with mushrooms and truffle oil. Pureed heaven. Homemade pasta with incredible sauce. A bit rich but worth every bite. Remembered from first visit and placed double order. The first thing that everyone devoured! Worth the trip for this one dish. Papperdele with bolognese with a thick red meat sauce was excellent but tough to pit against the rich mushroom dish. Very good. Sea bass- Served with a pesto based sauce. Recommended by waiter rather than mixed seafood, this was fantastic. Fresh and no fishy taste. Very hearty and satisfying. Veal Milanese- This dish over delivered. Exceeded my expectations and Michael, one of my friends, mentioned that he is not a veal fan and loved this. Not at all greasy, this was a big portion that six of us had not problem sampling. This is a breaded veal cutlet, pan fried and covered in arugula and shaved parmesan. Three appetizers and four entrees later we were all incredibly satisfied and cleaned every dish.
(5)Jenny B.
This place is OK at best. The antipasta platter ($16) is decent but pretty skimpy with the more expensive ingredients (meat/cheese). Pasta dishes are flavorless and none of the entrees stand out. Dessert (tiramisu) was the one really good thing we ate here. For this price, there are so many better places to go just within a few blocks. For example, the amatriciana pasta at La Viola is much better and more flavorful but a lot cheaper. If you're going to splurge on a $25-30 entree, there are many other nice restaurants to choose from. Towards the end of the meal, our waiter began circling our table like a vulture. Right after we signed the check he explicitly asked us if we could leave because another party was coming in, even though we were still finishing our wine. Other groups had lingered much longer than us without being disturbed (but I suspect those groups had not yet signed off on the tip). A couple minutes later, he started pushing our table together with another table (while we were still sitting in it!) to make room for the other group. Again, I wouldn't complain about this service at a restaurant that charges $15 / plate but I think it is outrageous to be treated like this after paying $16/ $25/ $8 for an appetizer, entree and dessert! The hostess was nice, but just try not to get this imbecile of a waiter with long-ish dark hair and an accent who serves the window tables on Friday nights.
(2)Brady R.
I would have given this place four stars but they don't mark all the ingredients on their menus. My girlfriend and I are vegetarians, so we are really careful about reading ingredients on menus. The salad we ordered had pancetta (fancy word for bacon) in it, tho it wasn't listed on the menu - tho all the other ingredients were. So we mentioned it only to learn that our main course would have it to, but fortunately the waitress was able to intervene and prevent ours from getting made with pancetta. So that was nice. It was just weird because we ruled out certain other dishes precisely because they listed pancetta. So in some places they did and some places they didn't. I know a lot of chefs don't really want to serve vegetarians and no city makes it clearer that Vegetarians aren't really welcome than Philadelphia, but we are a growing group of people and it's not hard to just make it clear if there's meat in a dish. Furthermore, don't list it on some dishes and then leave it out on others. That doesn't help anyone. Bacon is a really strong flavor. A salad with bacon and a salad without is a pretty huge difference, whether you care about eating meat or not. It was nice that the waitress stepped in for us but it would have been better if we hadn't had to ask for special consideration in the first place.
(3)Lilli C.
The food here is undeniably awesome. The waitress seemed fun and had great energy, but you could also tell she was ready to get the hell out of there since we were her last table. The grilled squid with eggplant marmalade was delicious. There just wasn't enough of the perfectly cooked, melt-in-your-mouth squid. It was not really an appetizer meant for sharing. It was also over a bed of bland, blanched string beans that I didn't really care for. The string bean's purpose was to buffer up the dish and give you less squid. The pappardelle with wild mushrooms, roasted walnuts, and truffle oil was excellent. The walnuts provided the perfect texture and crunch with the homemade pappardelle pasta. The unfortunate thing about this dining experience is that I promised my starving boyfriend I'd bring him back some pappardelle with wild boar. I told the waitress at the start of dinner that I'd be ordering something to go. She told me to remind her at the end of dinner, before we ordered dessert. The only problem was, it took her FOREVER to take our dessert order. She was sitting 2 tables away from us, busily counting out her tips and closing out the night. We tried to get her attention and 2 of the other servers even tapped her on the shoulder, but she was just not even going to look over at us until she was done counting out her tips for the night. As we were waiting, I saw the kitchen closing up. When the waitress finally came over, I asked her about ordering the dish to go, she was like "oh, sorry the kitchen closed early." Um, no the kitchen didn't close early. You just waited until it closed to come over to take our order. All in all, I'd definitely come back for the food, but I'd make sure I was getting dinner well before closing.
(4)Jim C.
I had been anticipating a nice dinner with my colleague who just flew in from Nashville, I decided the 15 minutes walk from Penn square was our nearest option from a list of highly recommendation restaurants. My hunger and my thirst were racing each other getting over there. We arrived around 7:30, the place was crowded but no problem getting a table, my colleague asked for a glass of wine, and I sensed our waiter was annoyed by that. (Dude, we're from out of town, how should we know this is a BYO establishment?) We were offered bottled plain/sprinkling water. Me: Is that all you have, just water? Waiter: Yes, just plain bottle water and sparkling water. Me: You don't have ice tea or soda? Waiter: Yea, we have ice tea and soda. Dude, how long have you waitering? We settled for ice tea, and it was bitter strong, could use a some ice in the glass, but who am I to complain. The bus boy was a lot more friendly and helpful, he brought over a pitcher of water, a basket of bread and some peppered olive oil and vinegar. (Wait, he told me they only have bottled water, trying to squeeze another few dollars on the bill?) The waiter eventually came back and read us the daily special, instead I ordered the black cod with truffle oil and eggplant, and a side of polenta, my friend a salad and ravioli. The place was loud, I could barely hear my coworker from across the table. The salad arrived first, a tall mount of mix green, actually looked decent, wished I have order a salad too, while my colleague munched on that, I ate the bread. After a bit, the ravioli and cod came out, they did a good job plating them, looked delicious, but my cod was dry, and could use a few more drop of truffle oil, I didn't taste any. It's hard to cook eggplant without making it greasy, but they did a good job on that. My waiter also forgot my polenta, he was nowhere in sight, then another waitress brought it out after I was half way through, the polenta was just warm, a little cheese harden on top, it wasn't creamy as I anticipated it should be. I was very disappointed, there're way too many places that will give you better service for less, food was okay, could be just a off night in the kitchen, looking at the other reviews, I wish I could give them another star, but I couldn't bring myself to it. Sorry.
(2)Jessica M.
We went here on a Tuesday night when they take reservations. Our table was located just north of the artic circle and we froze the whole night. For apps we ordered the antipasta and apparently mussels which none of the group at our table remembered ordering. We should have known the service was only going to get worse. We were basically ignored. My sea bass was excellent and the husband's pasta was great although the portions weren't quite up to his standards. Overall, great food but horrendous service and not entirely comfortable environment in a city that is teeming with outstanding Italian.
(3)Hamida S.
Excellent food. Great space and atmosphere. Love the BYOB's in Philadelphia
(5)Anthony M.
This place is closed! They are apparently reopening in a new location in the Fall.
(1)Anna M.
Excellent food, excellent service. Love that its BYOB. Had the the pappardelle with truffle oil, others at the table had a lovely fresh fish and beet raviolis. Will definitely be back!!
(5)Monica G.
Should have read Yelp reviews BEFORE going to Melograno! 9/21/10 Cort C wrote: "Rude staff who keeps checking their watch." 8/11/10 Lisa K wrote: "The hostess greeted us with a certain air of impatient contempt, as initially did our server." 7/11/10 Lia M wrote: "One of the hostesses was rude." 2/26/10 Lauren H wrote: "I've always found the hosts to be a bit abrasive." 12/11/09 Rebekka T wrote: "Our waiter was fine, a little rushed. At some point it seemed like he got irritated." Notice a theme here? Dined at Melograno last night with a party of 6 and received horrible service. The hostess and our server were rushed and rude. It began when I was the first to arrive for our 6:30pm reservation. I checked in with the hostess who proceeded to ask me questions about party size (even though she was aware that I was not the one who made the reservation). I could not confirm that our party was still 6 and this seemed to annoy her. I waited in the foyer with one other person for the rest of our party to arrive and at 6:40 on the dot the hostess approached us and asked if our party was close by because "your reservation was for 6:30". It had only been ten minutes (I know this because I took my cellphone out to call my friends and noticed the time)! She looked at us as if it had been an hour. Luckily less than a minute later the other members of our party arrived and we were seated at 6:41pm (a whole 11 minutes late:). I was annoyed by how impatient and impolite the hostess was but figured the waitress would be better. I was WRONG. The waitress was just as rushed and impatient as the hostess. My entire party ordered appetizers, entrees and deserts. The food was good but not exceptional; it certainly was not good enough to compensate for the rude service. The group I was with is a dinner club that has gone to different restaurants one Friday out of every month, for the past five years. We have never experienced such a culture of rudeness as the one which exists at Melograno. If you are looking for an Italian BYOB I suggest you check out some of the others we've been to: LaViola, Radicchio, Modo Mio, Bistro LaBaia. We will not be back nor will we recommend Melograno to others.
(1)Phil D.
Last night (Sunday) I was meandering around Rittenhouse area after hearing some great live music and was craving a good, authentic pasta dish. A flight to Italy was not an option so I decided to finally try this place. About 1/2 full, much different from when I've passed on ultra-busy Fri/Sat nights. The hostess was very solicitous and made some recommendations but when she said byo and the local wine shop was closed and I didn't feel like going home and returning with wine, I decided to head around the corner, grabbed an Allagash Dubbel and proceeded back here. Started with the fritturina...fried Smelts with some herb mayo. Lightly coated in flour, they were good, but not exceptional. Then the Pappardelle Tartufate arrived and I instantly felt transported to a neighborhood trattoria in Bologna. Earthy wild mushrooms with chopped walnuts, some truffle oil and three small rectangles of pecorino on top. Wow! Perfectly balanced, simple and fresh, the kind of dish that all too often is swimming in sauce, but here the melding of flavors was pure bliss. By the way, although I mostly drink wine with pasta, the Allagash Dubbel was a perfect pairing with this. Concluded with the warm ricotta cake with creme anglaise and fresh blueberries and vowed to return ASAP to start working my way through the rest of the menu. I will gladly add a 5th star if the rest of the menu holds up to this.
(4)Jenny L.
it's tucked away in a street kind of far from Rittenhouse Square, but Melograno is well worth the walk. When I stepped in on a Friday night, the place was bustling and filled with chatter. Thankfully we had made a reservation in advance, and were promptly showed to a table. The waitress (I wish I could remember her name!) was extremely nice and cheery, and made quick work of opening the bottle of wine we brought and bringing us bread. We skipped on appetizers, choosing to indulge on the bread instead. I ordered the Pappardelle Tartufate after hearing good things about it here on Yelp, and my date ordered the wild boar ragu. I was extremely satisfied with the pappardelle tartufate - delicious, tender, fresh-made strips of pasta tossed in unique-tasting truffle oil and accented with bits of walnut. I only had a bite of my date's wild boar ragu, but he reported it was delicious as well. I should also mention they brought out our orders extremely quickly - we only waited about 10 minutes, no joke. I would come back to sample more pasta dishes, and the desserts, as well as for the amazing service.
(5)Justin S.
Really nice. Great staff. Nice feel to the place. Fantastic food.
(4)Brian C.
Have never had a bad meal here. Entrees are always deftly handled, with good attention to transparency of distinct flavors. The only drawbacks are the sometimes long wait for a table on weekends (no reservations) and the decibel level, which can mount to a disconcerting clamor with the tables so close to one another and no soft surfaces to dampen the noise. Nice, friendly service, though.
(4)charles g.
The food's fantastic and the people are really nice. Lets clear up misunderstandings. First, it is a BYO. If you want to buy wine, there is a state store (open til 9 M-Sat, 5 on Sun) on the 1900 block of Chestnut (walk up 20th street to Chestnut, turn right & go 1-1/2 blocks, it's on the far side of the street). If you want to buy beer, there is an excellent beer store on north side of the 2000 block of Chestnut, closer to 21st street (same as previous directions, but turn left). Second, Tues-Thurs & Sun they DO take reservations. They do NOT take reservations on Fri-Sat.
(5)Rex F.
Melograno is definately a place I would revisit. The food is decent despite limited menu offerings; ambience is warm and lively; and BYOB(no corkage fee) is always preferred. I recommend a reservation before you stop by because the place gets really busy during dinner. We waited for almost 45 minutes as walk-ins on a saturday night. We ordered the grilled sea bass and spaghetti with clams in tomato sauce as entrees. Both were execellent but the sea bass really made me smile. The dish was nicely prepared in a light cream sauce with artichoke hearts and potatoes, you can really taste the freshness in the seafood. The clams/shrimp/beans appetizer was also lovely. The dessert was just average(choco crepe). Overall, I would give this place 4 stars. The place is well lit and can get noisy, so not recommended in a romantic setting.
(4)Keith S.
This is our favorite Italian BYOB in the city. We were die-hards at the original location and they are holding strong at the new location.
(5)Naz B.
Melograno used to be across the street from my apartment, and I was disappointed to see it move. I gave it a little time to work out the kinks with the new larger location and sort of forgot about it existing, but I've been there twice recently, and both times were terrific! Both times I went, I went without a reservation, and the lovely hostess (owner and wife of the chef I think?) was so accommodating. She sat my boyfriend, his mother and me right away on a very busy night. She actually recognized me from my resemblance to my sister who was a frequent customer at the old location. Crazy right? The next time, she seated our party of 6 with no reservation right away too. She really is so nice, and really went above and beyond. She is exactly what you hope for from front of house. The food was really the star though! Here's what I had and tasted. First Visit: - Pappardelle Tartufate - my old standby. Seriously delicious for mushroom lovers. - Osso Buco Special w Polenta - tasty and tender, but maybe not the best osso buco I've had - Mussels - seriously delicious. We weren't going to get this, but a server walked by with a bowl for another table, and the smell was intoxicating and we had to have them. They taste as good as they smell - Crostini with grilled raddichio, gorgonzola and sweet pear. Very delicious. Second Visit: - Antipasto platter - this is really big, and I think I liked everything. lots of veggies, grilled and pickled. The crostini were just just ok. - Beet Ravioli - ABSOLUTELY AMAZING!!! I think this might be only a summer dish, but I'm not sure that I could go back to Melograno and not order this again if it was available. The filling is earthy and sweet, and it comes in a sage butter sauce that is to die for. the crispy sage leaves are so Yum! Every bite was a perfect bite. I used to think my favorite thing was the truffle pappardelle, but this moves into first place for me. - Strangozzi pasta with pecorino romano sauce with artichokes and black pepper - I almost ordered this, and I'm glad I didn't. The homemade, rustic pasta was delicious. Great texture, but the sauce was only OK. It is the only thing I've had from here that I thought was meh. - Seafood Risotto - my sister got this, and I just had a bite and it was so delicious. It is a cool bluish black color, I guess from squid ink, and it was just really flavorful and rich feeling. - Pork Special with lentils - I only tasted a little bite of lentils, but they were porky and delicious. Overall, the food is fantastic here. I might stick to the pastas because they are really something special, but to be fair, I haven't tried very many meat entrées. It's a BYO so don't forget to grab a bottle of wine or something. We forgot the first time and were disappointed without it. The staff is attentive, and the new location is nice and big. If there is any complaint, it would be be that that larger tables are a tad too close, bc I was unfortunately sitting in a seat close to another table, and a server walked into my chair about every 5 minutes. Seriously though, they could have been stepping on my feet and pulling my hair, and I would have been okay with it if I was eating the beet ravioli.
(5)To M.
This is just a lovely restaurant, especially for large groups. The staff is friendly and knowledgeable, and they do not rush you to bring in another party. The fabulous wild boar ragu is as close as you can get to authentic Italian. The rest of the menu is Italian-inspired rather than traditional, but all made with fresh ingredients and delicious. BYOB.
(5)Ann R.
We used to love this place when it was at its old location years back where Meme is now at 22nd and Spruce. We lived right down the street so it was a great neighborhood BYOB with awesome food and fair prices. But after it moved down to the Sansom St. location, our experiences and opinions have changed a little. We still enjoy the food but it hasn't been as great as we remembered. We've been to the new location only 5 times since they've moved and I'd say my experience overall was just average. One of our favorite dishes remains the mussels steamed in white wine, tomatoes, garlic, etc. However, the last couple of times we went, the mussels were on the smaller side and weren't as meaty. The spicy fish stew is great but that's something that I am partial to because I'm a seafood lover and also enjoy a little kick in my dishes. We love that it is still a BYOB and those are just always fun to begin with! It's still up there with La Viola and Branzino as a top Italian BYOB choice for Center City.
(3)Sunny S.
HORRIBLE SERVICE! A bunch of my old college peers and I wanted to go to a BYOB in the city and thought Melograno would be a great choice, but boy were we wrong. There were eight of us and we couldn't make reservations for a Saturday...which is fine. I got there about an hour early to ask to put my name and party on the list and the hostess gave me a hard time. When it was finally time to sit, we had 7 out of our 8 and she gave us attitude about it. Reluctantly, she sat us down and then our waiter came. I've been to many, many restaurants, and this was probably one of the rudest waiters I have ever experienced. He never smiled nor asked us how we were doing, or anything. It took him forever to bring out the bread and olive oil, and he even talked about two people in our party behind their back to us when they went to the bathroom. However, I'll admit that the food at Melograno is delicious, but the service is probably one of the worst in Philadelphia. Right from the gecko, the hostess was rude, and all the way down to our waiter. It just put us in a bad mood when we were trying to enjoy a fun evening out. If you're looking for Italian BYOBs, I would suggest going to another, to save yourself the headache.
(2)Helen D.
Melograno can be summed up in two words - delightful & delicious. I've been wanting to come here for over a year now. Now that I finally got there I'm wondering what took me so long to get there & am making plans to go back. We started our meal with their grilled squid special with "potato salad" - which wasn't really the potato salad one would normally think of. The squid was perfectly cooked and the potatoes & onions that accompanied the squid were equally delicious. We tried the "smelt fries" - they were crisp & light - BETTER than what my mom used to make. By this time we wanted to order another round of the appetizers. Our server recommended the Pappardelle Tartufate wild mushroom dish that was literally out of this world & if i were home I probably have licked the plate. The atmosphere was pleasant. The servers were friendly & knowledgeable. Love that it is BYOB.
(5)Travis H.
I just tried this place while in town for business. I thought it definitely lived up to the good reviews. Nice casual atmosphere with an attentive wait staff. For my antipasti I overlooked the gnocchi, which is very difficult for me, and got the Calamari Inzimino at the suggestion of the waiter. This was a fantastic fresh, light, and seemingly healthy dish. Sauteed calamari and octopus, with cannellini beans, diced tomato & lemon sauce over over spinach. Surprisingly a stand out flavor and well balanced with the lemon. The calamari and octopus was tender and not overcooked at all. For the main I went with one of their signatures, Pappardelle Al Ragú di Cinghiale. The wild boar ragu with this dish was light, not overly salty, and the meat tasted like it was prepared in a slow cooked stew. The pappardelle was thin yet appropriately firm, and held the sauce well.
(4)Jaime R.
One of the best italian restaurants in Rittenhouse. The fixed price on Sundays is a bargain. Good food, good people and the best service.
(5)Lia M.
The food and service at Melograno were great. They open at 5:30 on Saturdays, and at 5:25, there were already people inside! Because we were early, they seated us with one person missing, but I hear that is not the norm. It definitely filled up quickly. Our server was friendly and good, though there were minor mistakes - automatically pouring the wine (not everyone was drinking), credit card slips in wrong jacket. The decor is really pretty - we were seated right by the big chandelier. Food was great - my husband & I were still talking about it the next day. Between four of us, two had the wild boar bolgnese, one had the mushroom app with the ravioli entree, and I had the ravioli special: cocoa ravioli filled with rabbit and topped with the brown butter sauce. It was delicious. Bread was also good, and you can't beat BYO. I absolutely love the idea of BYO - it was the first restaurant I've been to that does that. Why not 5 stars? The foyer needs to be cleaned - I noticed spiderwebs (with spiders) in the corners. My wine glass was dirty. And one hostess was rude (though the first one was nice).
(4)Sean M.
Went out with a group for a friends birthday, seven of us in total. The food was excellent (highly recommend the meatball appetizer and the pork main course). The service on the other hand was abysmal. Not only did we have to continually remind our server to bring us water but on most instances she just stood in the back. Then when it came time to pay, we provided 80% of the bill in cash and the rest was to be split on two cards (not complicated by any means and we do this often if someone forgets to bring cash with them). She returned with our bill and told us she couldn't do it that way and when we asked why it was such a problem proceeded to ask if we thought she was stupid! In the end our one friend fronted the whole bill and just pocked the cash. Then when leaving the tip and departing she picked up the check before we had even begun to leave (still sipping coffee and chatting) and then turned around and berated us on why we only left her 15%. To which we proceeded to say she was hard to get a hold of and we felt like our table was neglected most of the evening. She then became even more agitated and demand more explanation to which we retorted we didn't have to provide one and walked out without finishing our coffee or desert. I will not be returning regardless of how good the food was there's no reason harass a customer.
(2)Michelle C.
My friend and I arrived at Melograno at 8 p.m. to find the rest of our "BYO girls" already waiting. We were promptly seated at a roomy table near the open kitchen, which was cool. Our waitress arrived and ran through the specials, which included a pepper stuffed with crab something-or-other, a salad and two lamb entrees. Then she was gone... for a long time. Unremarkable bread was dropped at our table with a little bowl of olive oil that looked to be seasoned with pepper. As it was 8 p.m., we were all pretty hungry so the bread was gone in no time while we waited for our server to return and take our order. When she eventually came back, the rest of the evening went pretty smoothly. We started with the salad special, which had roasted grape tomatoes, slices of mushroom (not sure what kind as I don't really eat mushrooms), shaved parmesan, walnuts and a lemon dressing. It was an interesting mix of ingredients and they came together well. We also enjoyed the antipasto plate, which had some nice pieces of prosciutto and mozzarella, olives, roasted vegetables and toasted bread slices with various spreads. My entrée was definitely the highlight of the meal. I had the mixed seafood grill, which came with a nice sized piece of salmon, a few shrimp and several calamari rings, all served over buttery mashed potatoes. It was heaven on a plate. The calamari was tender and grilled perfectly, with a touch of coarse salt in the seasoning which made this my favorite part of the dish, especially when combined with the potatoes. Everyone else seemed happy with their selections as well, evidenced by the fact that we probably set a record with how fast everything was eaten. For dessert, we tried the crème brulee, spiced chocolate cake with vanilla gelato and the tiramisu. I enjoyed the tiramisu most, followed by the crème brulee. The cake did nothing for me, but I generally like my desserts straightforward and uncomplicated (apparently for me, spicy chocolate = complication), so this particular offering could easily be someone else's favorite. I definitely agree with the other reviewers who mentioned the noisiness of the restaurant. It was incredibly loud, so much so that it was impossible to have a conversation across the table without shouting. This was definitely a drawback but not enough so that I would not return. However, I wouldn't recommend the place for a quiet, intimate dinner for two. For purposes of group get-togethers and girls' night out, count me in!
(4)Marisa B.
I would have given Melograno 4 or 5 stars, but for our waiter, Ray. He was rude and unapproachable. He even scolded us at one point. The bus buys were excellent; however, and we always had enough bread and water in our glasses. Aside from the particular waiter we had, we really liked the place. Melograno is a cute and casual BYOB with reasonable prices. The appetizers were really delicious, as were the entrees. We had mussels with white wine garlic & tomato and pork, veal & beef meatballs in a gorgonzola fondue. Both were really excellent. For our main course, two of us enjoyed spaghetti with pancetta, spicy tomato sauce and grated pecorino. The others had pappardelle with braised wild boar ragu' and breaded chicken breast with prosciutto, mozzarella, arugula and fresh tomatoes. Both those dishes were also fantastic! In conclusion, the food and company were excellent, but due to the waiter something seemed "off" all night.
(3)Ashley L.
Wow! I used to think all of Italian BYOs in the city tasted the same, until I came to Melograno. When we got there, I was surprised how much larger the space is than it appeared from the window. And the rustic decor made the ambiance warm and inviting. Our server, Antonio (who was awesome!), pleasantly greeted us and shared his favorite items on the menu. Per his recommendation, we started with the calamari. I'm not usually a fan unless it is fried, but I did enjoy the dish. It had nice hints of spice also. He also recommended the veal breast and wild boar ragu, which both of my friends ordered. And I love anything with truffle so I had the pappardelle tartufate. Everything was absolutely amazing. My homemade pasta dish had awesome flavors and the crunchy walnuts added a great texture. None of us are big veal fans but this was like no veal we've ever tasted. It was a thick cut and it practically fell apart. It sounds strange but it actually tasted more like brisket, in a good way. I wasn't adventurous enough to try the wild boar, but my friends raved about it. Next time I want Italian, this will be my first choice!
(5)Heesun K.
I really enjoyed my dining experience at Melograno. The place is cozy with friendly service; great location; BYOB - didn't have time to grab a bottle of wine since we were trying to make it on time but they allowed us to go out and grab one - still saved our table near the window. We had::: Antipasto Rustico - A platter of assorted seasonal crostini, salami Prosciutto di Parma, olives, fresh mozzarella,grilled & pickled vegetables. Pappardelle Al Ragu di Cinghiale - wild boar bolognese Pescespada con Caponatina di Melanzane - grilled Atlantic swordfish The platter was amazing - big portion and delicious! They all went well with our wine. My favorite was mozzarella, grilled zucchini (with balsamic vineg.) and pickled vegetable. We were getting full just with this platter. Dangerous one! I had the bolognese and I loved the pasta noodle - really wide & flat. I wish i smelled/tasted less of wild boar since it was pretty strong, but it was meaty and good. I had a swordfish before but this one was exceptional. The fillet was served over an eggplant, capers, pine nuts, tomatoes & olive Caponata - all blended very nicely. Perfect date spot. Also perfect for wine & chill-night with friends. Definitely recommended!
(5)Andrea T.
Okay all my friends agree....if you have been here more than once you have had the entire menu! ( especially if you are a pescatarian!) I had the grilled plate of seafood, which was a delight except the calamari could have been grilled more My friend and I both had the same salad and mine came with more cheese. they brought out some more cheese for her, but a great waiter would have noticed this or the person making the salad? This place is too big and I had to listen to the princess next to me whine about a mouse problem in her apartment.. I miss the spruce street locale
(3)Kate K.
My boyfriend and I went here for dinner this past Saturday. The food was incredible. The wait was less than expected (15 minutes and we didn't have a reservation). The service was great - our waiter was attentive but didn't linger, which I always like. Most importantly, the food was EXCELLENT. I ordered the sweet potato ravioli and my boyfriend got the salmon, both which came out at a decent temperature. I highly recommend going here.
(5)Lou P.
Wine before water Simple, elegant decor Super helpful staff The ladyfriend's folks were in town for a few days, and we capped their visit with dinner at Melograno. The BYO on the less-traveled Sansom Street was exactly what we wanted. A diverse menu that wasn't overwhelming and a quiet setting that wasn't lit like a dungeon. The majority of the dining room is one large, open space, complete with a full look into the kitchen; it makes the whole place feel like eating at home in some regards, and the smells wafting over the whole room don't hurt either. As soon as we sat down the waiter came over and uncorked our bottle of wine, even before the water glasses were filled. My kind of place. The service overall was very attentive; fairly standard for a Tuesday night. The room was pretty busy too, which makes the good service all the more impressive. We started with the Antipasto Rustico, a generous portion of assorted meats, cheese and vegetables that set up the meal nicely. The grilled zucchini was delicious, and the various spreads hit the spot. It's a perfect dish to share, with a little something for everyone even if they're kind of picky. Second was the Pappardelle Tartufate, a super delicious plate of homemade pasta topped with mushrooms that were almost like shredded beef. The chopped walnuts added a perfect crunch and the pecorino tied everything together nicely. For the main, I enjoyed the Sella di Coniglio Ripiena for those not up on their Italian, that's rabbit stuffed with prosciutto & spinach. The meat was a little dry, but the spinach more than made up for it. It is served over a potato puree, which was the perfect vehicle for sopping up the rest of the cream and white wine sauce topping the whole thing. We skipped dessert, but they had a very enticing list none the less. The meal itself was perfect, the atmosphere very conducive to conversation, and the staff was more than helpful. One note about Melograno: don't forget to stop and pick up some wine, because they don't actually have any alcohol there. On the positive, if you make a reservation they're quick to let you know that on the phone instead of when you walk in the door.
(5)Jennifer S.
This was a great dining experience. It is a BYOB. I had the Mozzarella in Carrozza to start and it was excellent. For an entre I had the Cotoletta alla Senese. It was very good. In the summer months, when the tomatoes are better, it will be excellent, I'm sure. My friends both had different pasta dishes that they said were excellent. In all, our dinner check was $93 for 3 people which I find completely reasonable. The atmosphere was adult and lively but it is not a place for children as it is loud inside. We had a great table by the window which provided for excellent people watching and our server was professional and courteous. The only thing I can say that was very slightly negative was that I felt rushed at the end of our meal like they were trying to hustle us out of there a little but it wasn't too bad. I will definitely be back to Melograno.
(4)L W.
First visit last Thursday because Audrey Claire was filled up. I will return! My risotto (calamari and asparagus special) was fantastic, and I loved the ginger creme brulee for dessert. My friend was just as happy with her spaghetti al vongole and molten chocolate cake dessert. Service was pleasant. Restaurant interior is surprisingly spacious (street front leads you to believe it would be tiny) Only downsides: it is LOUD inside - was hard to hear my friend across the table. And the bread basket was pretty mundane but I shouldn't be eating that anyways.
(4)Jolin W.
Worst experience I've ever had at a BYOB. To begin with, the hostess Ann was incredibly rude and arrogant when taking my reservation and rude to my entire party when we arrived. Listen, we know you need to turn your tables but telling us over and over again was not necessary. We were hurried through our dinner, perhaps we were not aware that our money wasn't as green as the other customers (??) The waitress was sullen, unfriendly and glared us down while we looked over the menu and at the end unceremoniously flung our check at our tables. Servers were equally rude and unpleasant. The food was decent but not worth being treated like dirt when you go out to eat. There are many more excellent BYOBs in Philly to partonize in this economic climate. Don't ruin your dinner experience by going here (unless you're a sucker for abuse)
(1)kathy t.
BYO. My favorites are the pine nut, goat cheese topped portobello appetizer w/ balsamic + evoo (yes you can recreate this when you go home), and the beet-marscarpone ravioli. Or any pasta in the brown butter and sage sauce. Seafood is well executed, quail is a little fiddly. Be careful without reservations in the wintertime- gets chilly outside or even inside by the door. Outdoor seating is nice, service will never be annoyed with you for dawdling after your meal. Nothing larger than a 4 top although they'll put together tables. Also it can get noisy in the dining room- it's all hard surfaces so noise rebounds in this little box and it can be high volume even when the restaurant is less than half full.
(5)Tracie P.
my favorite byo! amazing food, totally reasonably priced. the amatriciana is so, so good i have to force myself to get anything else (i am determined to try everything on the menu). there's one waiter with a bit of an attitude but the service is all around good. they also don't take reservations on the weekends, but the wait is never too bad. still, it's worth it!
(5)Alex C.
I'm rarely totally happy with anything. And after searching for a parking spot this past Sunday night for over 25 minutes, I was expecting to continue my history. However I loved it. I really did. The food was fabulous; the service was excellent; and the prices were surprisingly reasonable (and I'm known for cheap). A little noisy, but not uncomfortably so. And just great food. Barbecued salmon, calamari and 4 large shrimp. Perfect. And my girlfriend, Joodles, felt the same about her dinner (which I also shared). We shall return again soon, but will walk this time.
(5)matthew l.
One of the very few restaurants in the city that is packed from 5:00 PM till closing every day of the week except Monday. Stellar Italian turned out flawlessly and effortlessly by the chef and two sous' in view in their tiny but efficient domain. Outdoor tables always filled from early on. This is a neighborhood treasure which the neighbors fully appreciate and patronize Expect to wait an hour or more for a table. No reses. Moving to a larger space doubled their capacity but the the story is exactly the same.
(5)Brynn D.
i just had a flawless dinner at melograno. mussels in a white wine sauce, beet salad with pears, goat cheese and walnuts, and a spaghetti with clams in a white wine sauce (same as the mussels i think - also both dishes with large whole pieces of garlic). everything was cooked perfectly. best mussels and best spaghetti i've had in this city. loved my dinner. walked in from the street and got a table right away - lucky us! i'll be back here again and often. prices were great for food this yummy.
(5)Jim Z.
Two stars might be bit of a generous rating. Are the people who gave 5 stars smoking some of that philadelphia crack I hear about? Now I've only dined there once, and definitely will not be going back, but the food was a complete turn off. I ordered the black cod, usually a fairly easier fish to prepare but not your typical italian dish I admit, and it was completely over cooked and prepared in a sauce rich in oil and not complimenting the fish at all. I barely ate half. Our waiter was another bad spot. Completely unprofessional and emotional. Keep your shit at home broooooooooooooooooo! Salad was good but not too adventurous.
(2)Miriam H.
This is a great BYOB with good service and ambiance. We didn't have time to get a bottle of wine but they allowed us to go out and get one and saved our table for us after we ordered! Really good food too and would recommend this place to anyone!
(4)Mike E.
The best restaurant in town! We really like it and come pretty often-always had a great time. Both pasta and meat dishes are superb. They take reservation on weekdays but on weekends be sure either to come early or to be willing to wait up to an hour. Starters cost around 10$, pasta ~ 15$, meat 25$.
(5)Nina L.
This place is so cozy and friendly. The space is small, which gives it such a personal feel. There's a lot of energy from the diners, the staff, and kitchen. It's a great BYOB and everyone has at least a bottle of wine at their table. The handmade pasta was great and so were the desserts. Just be prepared to wait since they don't take reservations.
(5)eli p.
i love this place!!!!!!! my fav is the pasta with truffles! so good!!!!!!! i've never really had to wait that long, but even if i did it would be woth it! i moved before the new location opened but i loved the old place. although it did get pretty hot in the summer months.
(5)Erin A.
New Melograno is open for business and was fairly packed last night despite the first game of the world series being on. We never went to the old location so can't compare but we really liked the space. It was twice as wide as your typical Philly BYOB and open in the back with a true open kitchen that stretched across the entire back wall. The food was good, we just got salads and pasta which were both borderline exceptional. Well, my beet, goat cheese and walnut salad was top notch. The ravioli was *almost* there but the pasta was a little tough -- not al dente but just a little too thick or something. The service was exuberant while I wished it were a little more low-key. It could have been our server but he was a little overbearing when he was there and then absent for spells. Overall, I really like the space and the food was above decent just not ass good as I was expecting. Maybe I am just over the Philly Italian BYOB...
(3)Yen T.
great italian byo. The place is small so it can fill up fast. make that reservation.
(4)Ray D.
I really used to love this place when it was new. I think that popularity and notoriety gave birth to complacency because it's just not what it used to be. The service is lacking. I felt like I was bothering the hostess when I showed up and asked for a table. The food has also declined in quality. I think I'm going to give them one more shot but that's it. I really want to like this place again because it was so great for so long.
(2)Sharon G.
Tasty. Good stand by.
(4)Alex M.
my second favorite byob in philly. great northern italian food. defintiely get there early in the evening and grab a spot outside. they dont take reservations so be ready to wait or *shiver* walk down to audrey claire. i've eaten there so many times and really havent had a dish i didnt like. my favorite so far has been the quail. their seafood is always fresh, the pasta cooked perfectly and their portions sized perfectly. bring a few bottles of wine, site outside, relax, eat, and you'll have a great night!
(4)Gregory L.
Great food and clean atmosphere at this BYO. There is a romantic story behind the husband (chef) and wife (hostess) who own the place, which I don't quite remember... anyway this is a really nice place to enjoy a meal with a date or with a small group of friends. As others have said, no reservations so the earlier the better.
(5)bill e.
expensive---------poor service. small portions. empty headed hostess who thinks she's a movie star. loud. chintzy decor. loud.
(2)Dave M.
Food was good (not great), and a little on the small side. Antipasta was good size though. Service was awful, and we were there on a Tuesday! No water refill. Took appetizer order, served appetizer, never came back for dinner order. And don't get chocolate cake dessert, 8.50 for a cupcake sized piece. Total rip. Won't go back, tons of better (in every way) Italian restaurants in philadelphia.
(2)Sharon W.
I will forever reminisce about this picturesque Italian restaurant in Philly. This was always my go-to Italian place to take friends visiting town and to enjoy a lovely meal with my husband. Every time the restaurant helped me prove that Philly was a great foodie city.
(5)Keith R.
Melograno is a nice BYOB tucked away near Fitler Square. They specialize in Tuscan cuisine and have a nice array or classic Italian options on their menu. The decor is nice and warm making you feel welcome inthe small space. Pasta is homemade and outstanding, they do a good job of cooking it to the right texture. In addition to the nice selection of pastas they have several salads to choose from and both fish and meat dishes. The seafood in particular was excellent, very fresh, and mixed with nice herbs and sauces. The waiter swore by the tiramisu but we went with the chocolate cake and apple tart which was really more like a cake. Both were good and capped off a very good dinner.
(4)george k.
We have been regulars to Melogramo, from the time they opened at 22nd and Spruce to the new place on Sansom. We have always enjoyed the Luca's cooking. We have never had a meal below very very good and some days it's been exquisite. We handled the no reservation policy at all, then no reservations on weekends. The food is still very consistent and very flavorful. The prices have jumped but for the quality of the food, not a problem. My main complaint has been their policy of not seating a party if everyone is not there. I don't have a problem with this policy on weekends, when no reservations are taken. However, when we have a reservation during the week, the hostess won't seat the party. We had to wait in the rain and recently co-workers had to wait in the cold. But worse than that, the hostess Ann has been rude to people. For some reason, Ann thinks she can be snotty to the customers. She knows me but treated me rudely because some of the people in our party had not arrived. All I wanted to do was have a seat and open a bottle. Lately, I have heard and read on city search that people are asked to vacate their table as soon as they are done. I can't believe that someone would do that. This is not a fast food franchise but one of the best restaurants in the city. This kind of behavior from a hostess is totally unacceptable. I have a hard time returning to Melograno, even though I have had some of the best meals there. My wife and I have noticed that they have rushed us the last few times and that is not how we like to eat. I'm hoping that people begin to complain and they correct this type of attitude.
(3)Juliana K.
Delicious Byo. The rustico platter was great to share. Nice spread of cheeses, meats, veggies, and etc. Cozze mussels were scrumptious in a nice broth but a bunch of mussels were not opened up. Great golden beet salad. Nice and light. Golden beets were very thinly sliced. Pappardelle Tartufate with wild mushrooms and walnut in a light truffle oil was amazing. Best pasta. We had another pasta in a red sauce that was also very good. Pasta is definitely fresh! We also had a lamb entree with polenta that was tender and flavorful. Great food here. Service is nice. The place gets VERY noises on a busy night though.
(4)Aaron H.
Hands down my favorite BYO in Philly, and the warm, intimate, but also energetic atmosphere makes it perfect for just two. Melograno exudes care for their ingredients, preparation, and presentation, and they always, always deliver a fantastic meal. Nice owners too, who are always around, and might even let you in a little past their last seating time if you're nice. The wait can be a long one, but you can always just head over to Doobie's with your date for a few martinis while you wait (hahaha kidding don't do that... I love Doobie's, but oil and water don't mix.) Seriously, though, there's a wait for a reason, and it's worth it... if it's super-long, they'll take your phone number and call you when the table is almost ready. On the menu, the scallops are exceptional, and given the subtle creativity of the chef/co-owner, I tend towards the specials that can be a little more experimental. One of my favorite Italian restaurants -- in any city.
(5)Paul G.
We had the fortunate opportunity to dine at Melograno last night with friends and our 9-month old daughter. The owner and her team were extremely accommodating with our stroller and high chair needs. The food was fantastic. Rustic platter, wild boar pasta, mushroom pasta, and the lamb were special highlights. Overall, just a wonderful dinning experience.
(5)Catherine L.
Is it me, or are really good BYOBs becoming scarce? As I consult my list of really kick-ass BYOBs in the city (that once prided itself on such BYOBS), there have been few that have stood the test of time and maintained impeccable service and food (thank god for HELM, but I digress). Melograno is like any other run of the mill Italian BYOB. Not amazing, not bad. It's better than some, but nowhere near Monsu, Modo Mio or heck maybe Ulivo? I've said it time and time again, if you do Italian in this city, you better knock it out of the park, because there's competition a plenty. The new location (and yes, I know it's not new, new - but the newer location) is lovely, airy and ample, but like any good BYOB, I like a smaller, cozier space. I love this stretch of Samson though, so it's better than the old space. The service is good, generic. The menu is straight forward, without any surprise offerings. The food is not terribly memorable or inventive.
(3)James I.
Fantastic restaurant. I went there after it was recommended by a friend and it exceeded our expectations. It is authentic Italian food, not Italian American. The taste and smell of the food made me feel like I was back In Italy. I have been to most of the elite restaurants in Philly and this is up there with them. I enjoyed it more then Vetri. The burrata appetizer is amazing, it was like Italy on a plate. They also had a special gnocchi appetizer that was excellent. The pasta entrees were perfect, as well as the Calabrian chili rubbed pork ribs. My wife had a fettucini bolognese special with chicken livers that was out of this world.
(5)Michelle P.
Melograno looked so great on paper. From the time of reviewing the menu online, getting each course and paying the bill, the experience declined. My husband and I were looking for a BYOB Italian place to celebrate our anniversary. We wanted to try someplace new and probably reviewed like 15 menus before landing on Melograno. We were seated immediately on arriving at a nice two-person table towards the ramp to the restrooms. The table wasn't large but we weren't really close to other tables so we had our own cozy nook. I enjoyed the open-style kitchen in what was an initially brighter dining room. The lights were dimmed several times during the course of our meal so the mood did vary a bit. Our anniversary happened to fall on restaurant week this year and we initially weren't feeling a three-course meal. However, when we saw the entrees and appetizers of interest were included on the RW menu, it made sense to go that route. I started with the Calamari Inzimino, which included sautéed calamari, cannellini beans, diced tomato & lemon over baby spinach. This was your best of all worlds' appetizers. The combination of all elements made it like a soup and a salad, with seafood. The calamari was a little chewy and the dish wasn't the most flavorful, but it was a great concept. The Risotto ai Gamberoni was actually one of the reasons I wanted to dine at Melograno in the first place. I'm a huge fan of goat cheese so a dish containing fresh shrimp & fennel risotto, goat cheese in marsala wine reduction really intrigued me. Unfortunately, I could barely taste the goat cheese. I was expecting it to be creamy, as dishes with goat cheese typically tend to be. I mentioned this to our server and he offered to get me a new dish, but I ended up sticking with what I had. While it was different than what I expected, it was tasty enough to continue eating. Be warned, the shrimp still has its tail. I'm not a fan of this in a pasta/risotto dish. Speaking of our server though, he was great the entire time. He was attentive and took the time to answer our questions- even as the restaurant began to grow more crowded. My husband originally went with the Panna Cotta for dessert, but decided to go with the Creme Brulee. Our full order was taken at once due to restaurant week but our server was still able to make the switch. So the hubby went with the Crème Brulee and I went with the Tiramisu. Both were fine, but nothing too remarkable. So the meal was fine, although nothing extraordinary. The real trouble came when it was time to pay the check. Melograno is an Opentable.com restaurant so we planned on using a $20 dining cheque to help with the bill. We were told we couldn't use it, despite the fact that the cheque said it was valid at any Opentable restaurant. We had to talk to our server, a manager and then the owner. The owner finally agreed to honor it. What a buzzkill for our anniversary. If they can't accept the terms that come with being an Opentable restaurant, maybe they shouldn't be on it in the first place. Aside from the billing issues, I just wasn't overly impressed. It's a shame because we were in the market for a new BYOB that we could call our Italian restaurant. I'll meet you anytime you want....just not in this Italian restaurant.
(3)Megan S.
Food is really really good. And it's a BYOB. Staff is ok, space is TIGHT!
(4)Neen J.
Cute place where you are given a warm welcome from reception and we were seated in a round table (perfect for a girls night out with much wine and laughter). Every meal was delicious! The arugula/procuitto salad is divine and two of us had the filet on a bed of heavenly mash with a pomegranate reduction - seriously divine! Tow girls had the salmon which was not only delicious but plated beautifully. Everyone at our table loved their meal and would definitely go back again. It came highly recommended and we were delighted with the great menu, terrific service and it is BYOB - too perfect!
(4)Elizabeth L.
Enjoyed dinner here a few nights ago with Philly friends. A solid Italian place, and BYOB as I'm learning many of Philly's restaurants are. Bread basket was generous, as many people have noted: white bread and a lightly herbed foccacia. For appetizers, we ordered the fried smelts (basically fried little fishes with a tartar-ish sauce = a more highbrow fish and chips), which was delicious, and one of the newer appetizers: mushroom bread pudding. Loved both, and highly recommend both. The bread pudding especially was a bit rich, but the mushrooms and buttery bread flavor complemented each other surprisingly well. For my entrée, I couldn't resist ordering the pappardelle with wild boar ragu. The wild boar was cut into small, manageable bites so wasn't as gamey as I expected, but the ragu was rich and flavorful, the pappardelle a little chewier than I expected. I liked my dish more than my boyfriend's: he ordered the pappardelle with truffle oil...it was a little too wet and rich for my taste. My friends ordered a breaded chicken with mozzarella, which was surprisingly moist (but I don't know that I would have been able to finish a huge slab of breaded chicken, but that's just me!), and another ordered what looked like a fisherman's stew. Service was a little slow, but lovely atmosphere, with antique pasta makers and vespas evoking Italian country life.
(4)Christine B.
Went here on a Thursday night with a 7:30 reservation. It was relatively empty so no problem with the noise level. I had the Parpadelle with the wild mushrooms and truffle oil. I don't love mushrooms, but I love truffle oil so I couldn't pass up this dish. I could definitely taste the truffle, and the mushrooms were smashed up to make a thick sauce. It was delicious. My dining partner had the gnocchi with oxtail sauce special. He enjoyed it as well. They also had nice bread and olive oil. The waitress was very attentive, although no one really came around to re-fill the wine glasses.
(4)Naomi C.
I brought a work group to Melograno for dinner, and we had a wonderful experience. When I made the reservation, Anne at Melograno suggested a prix fixe menu, which was exactly what I was looking for. She was kind enough to email the menu to me in advance. We were a few minutes late, and the staff at Melograno was very accommodating. They were patient while we annoyingly switched back and forth between a round table and a rectangle table. Once we finally settled in, who seemed like a staff member's little daughter brought us all menus and said bon appetit, and she was adorable. The food itself is pretty straightforward, nothing too innovative, which is why I am giving 4-stars. My chicken liver pate was very flavorful, but it's presentation was a little bit overwhelming. It was smeared onto large slabs of bread. It was kind of too much for one person. My lamb ossobuco was very good, and also a really large portion. It was cooked to perfection and falling off the bone, just as it should. The best part of my meal was dessert - creme brule. Overall, the portions are very large, especially for fine-dining in center city. For $45/person, this was an exceptional value. The staff was great and next time I have a large party to take out, I will be back at Melograno.
(4)Stu H.
Price fixed menu was a joke along with the service. Only reason for the star was you can bring your own wine. Disappointed to say the least, will not venture here again.
(1)Grace S.
Years later, still so much sass! From the second you walk in and ask for a table, she is just angry at you! We even tried calling beforehand and they refuse time and time again to give you anything but a confusing and vague answer. Several times before, my party will just go elsewhere but we decided to put up with the 45 min wait at 9pm. The food was subpar, both pappardelle dishes & scallops w/ polenta were all flavorless but the mussels were good (although the broth was overly salty). The ciabatta was good but I don't think the olive oil was extra virgin. The server was amazing though. Also, Danny Devito was there with his wife, Rhea Pearlman! Too bad I'll never come back.
(1)Mike M.
Not sure I consider myself a real-time "foodie" but my colleagues who are and I have hit almost every major place in Philly, this place is without a doubt in my top 3 in the city - maybe best Italian I had and I'm N. Jersey/NYC guy so I'd like to think I can spot good Italian when it comes my way. Been here 3 or 4 times, have stuck with the same stuff pretty much. Appetizers - must have is the grilled octopus, amazingly tasty, also have gotten the pasta with truffles (main dish, but can split into 2 plates for an appetizer) each time I've been here. This is probably the best pasta dish I've ever had, comes with some walnuts (I think) which adds a nice texture. Main Course - have gotten the rabbit multiple times, perfectly prepared with proscioutto and a light cream sauce and some mashed potatoes. Have also gotten the boar in rigatoni (great). Cherry on top, BYOB. Wait stafff is also VERY friendly and attentive.
(5)Clive Z.
Still one of the best places to eat in Philadelphia
(5)Jose A.
Much better experience. Went with some friends and we brought a bunch of wine, can't go wrong there. Ordered the pumpkin ravioli which is on the smaller side for a dish, but was fantastic. Also had some of their bread which is really good. Everyone else was very happy with their dish as well. The service we had was wonderful, our waiter was funny, not overbearing, but when he did stop by, he always left us laughing. The noise wasn't so much a problem this time.
(4)Brad P.
Melograno is pretty darn good. Fritturina di Alborelle - hey, little smelt fish all fried up and served with a lemon mayo. I liked it. Eating small sea-life whole is just the thing you need if you want to feel like a Titan, ravenously consuming mortal bodies to feed your endless hunger. Mozzarella in Carrozza - I liked this too. To be really fair, it is fried cheese and is basically impossible to screw up. Antipasto Rustico - Pretty good but did not blow me away. Pappardelle Tartufate - Very tasty. Fish special- They offered a fried fish special of some sort. I'll level with you dear reader, I don't remember what it was. I had been enjoying a great deal of wine and I do remember the fish had a strange name...Ovo...Ova? Nah, It couldn't have been ova because that is ridiculous. I suppose I could google the answer or call them up but that would take precious seconds away from my extraordinarily busy day. I guess what I'm trying to say is - If they offer a fish special with a funny name, then get it because it is good. On the action-movie-parallel-satisfaction-scale, this establishment is Blade.
(4)Brian H.
Geez, I thought I was a lucky guy to grab a reservation for Valentine's Day with only 3 days to spare, especially after the person who took my res couldn't accomodate a 7 to 7:30PM request, and asked if I could do 6:30. What was all of that about? The restaurant never got more than half full the whole evening. Which was fine with me as we sat and chatted, and paced our evening to well over two hours without a rush to boot us out. But, it was V-day and I wasn't going to let this trivial annoyance bother me for more than a joke or two over dinner. OK, the food. The olive oil served with the bread was lacking in any type of flavor. I would almost wish that restaurants that refuse to buy the "good stuff", just serve a little focaccia without anything than to present the flavorless oil as something you may feel you need to enhance your bread experience. The Prix Fixe menu was interesting and I thought very creative. For starters I had a seafood stew, with baby octopus, shrimp, and it looked like lagustinos. The tomato broth was superb, the octopus tender, very tasty and a very good start. My friend had the salmon gravlax, it was light and wonderful. For entrees I ordered the most amazing fettuccine with a wild boar ragu which I would match against any ragus I ever had, anywhere. The pasta held the ragu so well, the lumps of wild boar were tender, full of a solid meat flavor, just fantastic. If I could make that dish I would never leave home. My Valentine ordered the Branzino, pan seared, absolutely one of the best Branzino's in the city. The moistness, the lightness, the texture, the presentation with spinach on the plate, everything. Dessert was a letdown for me. The panna cotta with berries was just average, light in texture and light in flavor. I know this is a "man-trap" day to go out to dinner, where you have to accept Prix Fixe at a lot of restaurants, but Melograno delivered to the max on the entrees. The service was attentive as the restaurant was less than full. I haven't been here in a year, and I used to go more frequently. The inside and decor lacks atmosphere, I can't put my finger on it. But as long as the chef turns out food like he has for years consistently and excellent, this is still one of my top 5 BYOB's in the city. Appetizers - 4 Entrees - 5 Desserts - 3 Decor -3 Service -4
(4)Philip K.
Our go to BYOB in center city. Food is good, reservations are reasonably easy to get (during the week) and being a BYOB is a nice plus. Would recommend the homemade pasta dishes (with pumpkin and sage butter if available) in particular.
(4)Zack T.
the food taste good but my brother had the special squire ink pasta today july 28,2012 that we found out a piece of scrap metal in the pasta. The waitress did not give us any replacement nor discount for the food. This is really bad experience which cause my brother to vomited after an hour of the meal.
(1)Matt K.
Other reviewers are right, it's loud here, but it's happy. The kitchen is huge and in full view of the diners, and it looks spotless, at least from a distance. A big plus. The service was efficient and our waiter warmed up a little more with each visit to our table. We shared 4 dishes and then dessert. All dishes were perfectly seasoned, and each had at least one special touch that lifted the cuisine beyond the ordinary classic Italian. Not crazy enough to make you question its Italianness (is that a word?), just enough to keep you interested in having everything on the menu eventually. If I had more time, I would have, ha ha. 1. Smoked snails with speck. The first few bites were a little odd, but by the end, I loved it. 2. Salt cod balls with tomato, herbs and chickpeas. Very aromatic, and the cod balls were delicate and not very fishy. 3. Wild boar ragu on pasta with walnuts. Very tasty, much better than the average bolognese. The walnuts added a nice texture. 4. Quail over polenta with pomegranate sauce. The polenta didn't have a lot of cream in it, it was firm, and the corn taste was not disguised. Beautiful sauce. 5. The tiramisu was the only disappointment, too much cocoa on top, so much I choked on powder on every bite. Too much liquid had leaked out and collected on the bottom. There wasn't enough cake in it, almost all custard. The waiter asked, and of course I told him. He brought me a free flourless chocolate cake to substitute. That is the mark of a class establishment. Kudos to all.
(4)Tala T.
Melograno is an Italian restaurant located in Center City close to Rittenhouse Square. We went on a Friday night without reservations (which they now take despite being informed otherwise online) with high expectations. The rustic Italian decor adds to the great ambiance. Our table lined against the wall was very close to our neighbors which made it a bit uncomfortable given that we arrived early and there were not too many diners so the noise level was down leading to an uncomfortably intimate dining situation. Our server was nice and attentive. The food was good yet nothing particularly stood out. For our starter we shared the Prosciutto di Parma e Rucola. A plate of arugula prosciutto and shaved parmigiano served with a lemon vinaigrette. It was a really nice consistent dish that I would order again. For our entrees we ordered the Pappardelle Tartufate and Risotto ai Gamberoni. The Pappardelle Tartufate is usually a favorite of mine. The ingredients in this one happened to be ground up to a paste mixture consisting of wild mushrooms, walnuts, truffle oil and pieces of pecorino. I was not a big fan of the mixture in this form nor was the Count who was forced to switch his plate with mine halfway through the meal. The Risotto ai Gamberoni was a delicious plate of fennel risotto served with fresh shrimp, goat cheese and wine reduction. It was very creamy and fragrant without tasting too fishy. For dessert we shared a warm chocolate cake with strawberry reduction. It was served within minutes leading me to believe that these are pre-made and microwaved. I am sure I was not wrong because it was too hot and did not taste like it was freshly baked.
(3)Natalie D.
Meh. I've had way better Italian, but perhaps I'm quite biased, based on where I live. I went with a large party and we had a fixed menu. My salad was okay, but nothing to rave about. I also had pasta with mushrooms which, again, was okay. I'm not a creme brulee fan, but I must admit it was pretty good. Our waitress was quite scatterbrained, however. She filled an ice bucket for wine all the way to the brim with melting ice, and then stuffed a huge bottle into it, thus overflowing the bucket. Water flew absolutely everywhere - all over us, the table, the floor, everything. We were barely tucking into our dessert when she presented the check and absolutely pushed us to leave, saying we needed to go because they had another party coming in. Really? It was so unprofessional I was shocked. We just spent the price of a small Vuitton bag at your establishment and now you're basically kicking us out?! For an upscale place, they could look into a better coat storage system. I mean, we are in the Northeast, people *do* wear coats half the year! Currently it's one white, hollow-tubed metal rack that is so old and shabby it's bent in the middle and heading for collapse at any second. Since they pay no attention to it, patrons stuff more coats than possible on it, and of course since today's society is seriously lacking in manners, they show no respect for anyone else's property. Stupid me put my $$$ leather bomber on the rack (when it was fairly empty and had room) and I cringed every time some 50-year-old man physically grabbed it and pushed it to slam his smoke-filled jacket in. I was also afraid someone was going to steal it as, again, there is no one watching this rack, despite it being next to the hostess stand. Melongrano has potential, but it's definitely going to need to step its game up if it wants to get to where it could be.
(2)Grand Y.
Quite possibly one 5 of my best meals ever. I suggest going in a group, and sharing a bunch of meals. Among 6 people, we got 5 apps, 6 entrees, and 4 desserts. The best app was the wild mushroom bread pudding. The polpette were also excellent. Best entree was the one I got - the cioppino. So much seafood, and the broth has some kick to it. Excellent. All the pasta dishes were excellent. The wild boar ragu lives up to the hype. The waiter's recommendation, the slow-roasted lamb, was truly excellent. The waiter told us that the dish takes 3 days to prepare. ] Best desserts were the molten chocolate cake (I'm biased towards chocolate) and the tiramisu. Love that this place is BYOB.
(5)Andreas R.
Good food, good service. However, the ambience was poor, with two problems. First, management is overbooking the restaurant, leading to a half-hour wait past our reservation time and a definite crowded feel in this small space. Second, the acoustics are atrocious, with nothing to absorb the sound. It detracts from my dining experience when, just to be heard, I'm yelling at the top of my lungs at the person across the table. This problem is, of course, compounded by the overbooking. Recommends: chick pea and shrimp soup and wild boar ragu.
(3)David A.
In my quest to review every restaurant I possibly can in Philly, went back to Melograno after not going back in a while. One of my earlier Yelp reviews after returning to Philly. I can now say this place stacks up to the best Italian restaurants in the city and is a great BYO dining spot. Went Sunday night with a reservation for 6 and we were promptly seated a a round table (perfect!). Our waiter Ray was both friendly and knowledgable and provided great service. Took a nice bottle of Brunello which was perfect with the meal choices. The bread basket is addicting with homemade foccacia and country bread. Starting with appetizers: Portobella with goat cheese- Excellent even if you don't like mushrooms. Great texture and flavor. Mussels in white sauce. Perfectly cooked mussels in garlic, oil and white wine. Great for bread dipping. Griiled shrimp with beans- Killer. One of my favorites. Entrees: Papperdele with mushrooms and truffle oil. Pureed heaven. Homemade pasta with incredible sauce. A bit rich but worth every bite. Remembered from first visit and placed double order. The first thing that everyone devoured! Worth the trip for this one dish. Papperdele with bolognese with a thick red meat sauce was excellent but tough to pit against the rich mushroom dish. Very good. Sea bass- Served with a pesto based sauce. Recommended by waiter rather than mixed seafood, this was fantastic. Fresh and no fishy taste. Very hearty and satisfying. Veal Milanese- This dish over delivered. Exceeded my expectations and Michael, one of my friends, mentioned that he is not a veal fan and loved this. Not at all greasy, this was a big portion that six of us had not problem sampling. This is a breaded veal cutlet, pan fried and covered in arugula and shaved parmesan. Three appetizers and four entrees later we were all incredibly satisfied and cleaned every dish.
(5)Jenny B.
This place is OK at best. The antipasta platter ($16) is decent but pretty skimpy with the more expensive ingredients (meat/cheese). Pasta dishes are flavorless and none of the entrees stand out. Dessert (tiramisu) was the one really good thing we ate here. For this price, there are so many better places to go just within a few blocks. For example, the amatriciana pasta at La Viola is much better and more flavorful but a lot cheaper. If you're going to splurge on a $25-30 entree, there are many other nice restaurants to choose from. Towards the end of the meal, our waiter began circling our table like a vulture. Right after we signed the check he explicitly asked us if we could leave because another party was coming in, even though we were still finishing our wine. Other groups had lingered much longer than us without being disturbed (but I suspect those groups had not yet signed off on the tip). A couple minutes later, he started pushing our table together with another table (while we were still sitting in it!) to make room for the other group. Again, I wouldn't complain about this service at a restaurant that charges $15 / plate but I think it is outrageous to be treated like this after paying $16/ $25/ $8 for an appetizer, entree and dessert! The hostess was nice, but just try not to get this imbecile of a waiter with long-ish dark hair and an accent who serves the window tables on Friday nights.
(2)Brady R.
I would have given this place four stars but they don't mark all the ingredients on their menus. My girlfriend and I are vegetarians, so we are really careful about reading ingredients on menus. The salad we ordered had pancetta (fancy word for bacon) in it, tho it wasn't listed on the menu - tho all the other ingredients were. So we mentioned it only to learn that our main course would have it to, but fortunately the waitress was able to intervene and prevent ours from getting made with pancetta. So that was nice. It was just weird because we ruled out certain other dishes precisely because they listed pancetta. So in some places they did and some places they didn't. I know a lot of chefs don't really want to serve vegetarians and no city makes it clearer that Vegetarians aren't really welcome than Philadelphia, but we are a growing group of people and it's not hard to just make it clear if there's meat in a dish. Furthermore, don't list it on some dishes and then leave it out on others. That doesn't help anyone. Bacon is a really strong flavor. A salad with bacon and a salad without is a pretty huge difference, whether you care about eating meat or not. It was nice that the waitress stepped in for us but it would have been better if we hadn't had to ask for special consideration in the first place.
(3)Lilli C.
The food here is undeniably awesome. The waitress seemed fun and had great energy, but you could also tell she was ready to get the hell out of there since we were her last table. The grilled squid with eggplant marmalade was delicious. There just wasn't enough of the perfectly cooked, melt-in-your-mouth squid. It was not really an appetizer meant for sharing. It was also over a bed of bland, blanched string beans that I didn't really care for. The string bean's purpose was to buffer up the dish and give you less squid. The pappardelle with wild mushrooms, roasted walnuts, and truffle oil was excellent. The walnuts provided the perfect texture and crunch with the homemade pappardelle pasta. The unfortunate thing about this dining experience is that I promised my starving boyfriend I'd bring him back some pappardelle with wild boar. I told the waitress at the start of dinner that I'd be ordering something to go. She told me to remind her at the end of dinner, before we ordered dessert. The only problem was, it took her FOREVER to take our dessert order. She was sitting 2 tables away from us, busily counting out her tips and closing out the night. We tried to get her attention and 2 of the other servers even tapped her on the shoulder, but she was just not even going to look over at us until she was done counting out her tips for the night. As we were waiting, I saw the kitchen closing up. When the waitress finally came over, I asked her about ordering the dish to go, she was like "oh, sorry the kitchen closed early." Um, no the kitchen didn't close early. You just waited until it closed to come over to take our order. All in all, I'd definitely come back for the food, but I'd make sure I was getting dinner well before closing.
(4)Ann R.
We used to love this place when it was at its old location years back where Meme is now at 22nd and Spruce. We lived right down the street so it was a great neighborhood BYOB with awesome food and fair prices. But after it moved down to the Sansom St. location, our experiences and opinions have changed a little. We still enjoy the food but it hasn't been as great as we remembered. We've been to the new location only 5 times since they've moved and I'd say my experience overall was just average. One of our favorite dishes remains the mussels steamed in white wine, tomatoes, garlic, etc. However, the last couple of times we went, the mussels were on the smaller side and weren't as meaty. The spicy fish stew is great but that's something that I am partial to because I'm a seafood lover and also enjoy a little kick in my dishes. We love that it is still a BYOB and those are just always fun to begin with! It's still up there with La Viola and Branzino as a top Italian BYOB choice for Center City.
(3)Sunny S.
HORRIBLE SERVICE! A bunch of my old college peers and I wanted to go to a BYOB in the city and thought Melograno would be a great choice, but boy were we wrong. There were eight of us and we couldn't make reservations for a Saturday...which is fine. I got there about an hour early to ask to put my name and party on the list and the hostess gave me a hard time. When it was finally time to sit, we had 7 out of our 8 and she gave us attitude about it. Reluctantly, she sat us down and then our waiter came. I've been to many, many restaurants, and this was probably one of the rudest waiters I have ever experienced. He never smiled nor asked us how we were doing, or anything. It took him forever to bring out the bread and olive oil, and he even talked about two people in our party behind their back to us when they went to the bathroom. However, I'll admit that the food at Melograno is delicious, but the service is probably one of the worst in Philadelphia. Right from the gecko, the hostess was rude, and all the way down to our waiter. It just put us in a bad mood when we were trying to enjoy a fun evening out. If you're looking for Italian BYOBs, I would suggest going to another, to save yourself the headache.
(2)Helen D.
Melograno can be summed up in two words - delightful & delicious. I've been wanting to come here for over a year now. Now that I finally got there I'm wondering what took me so long to get there & am making plans to go back. We started our meal with their grilled squid special with "potato salad" - which wasn't really the potato salad one would normally think of. The squid was perfectly cooked and the potatoes & onions that accompanied the squid were equally delicious. We tried the "smelt fries" - they were crisp & light - BETTER than what my mom used to make. By this time we wanted to order another round of the appetizers. Our server recommended the Pappardelle Tartufate wild mushroom dish that was literally out of this world & if i were home I probably have licked the plate. The atmosphere was pleasant. The servers were friendly & knowledgeable. Love that it is BYOB.
(5)Travis H.
I just tried this place while in town for business. I thought it definitely lived up to the good reviews. Nice casual atmosphere with an attentive wait staff. For my antipasti I overlooked the gnocchi, which is very difficult for me, and got the Calamari Inzimino at the suggestion of the waiter. This was a fantastic fresh, light, and seemingly healthy dish. Sauteed calamari and octopus, with cannellini beans, diced tomato & lemon sauce over over spinach. Surprisingly a stand out flavor and well balanced with the lemon. The calamari and octopus was tender and not overcooked at all. For the main I went with one of their signatures, Pappardelle Al Ragú di Cinghiale. The wild boar ragu with this dish was light, not overly salty, and the meat tasted like it was prepared in a slow cooked stew. The pappardelle was thin yet appropriately firm, and held the sauce well.
(4)Jaime R.
One of the best italian restaurants in Rittenhouse. The fixed price on Sundays is a bargain. Good food, good people and the best service.
(5)Lia M.
The food and service at Melograno were great. They open at 5:30 on Saturdays, and at 5:25, there were already people inside! Because we were early, they seated us with one person missing, but I hear that is not the norm. It definitely filled up quickly. Our server was friendly and good, though there were minor mistakes - automatically pouring the wine (not everyone was drinking), credit card slips in wrong jacket. The decor is really pretty - we were seated right by the big chandelier. Food was great - my husband & I were still talking about it the next day. Between four of us, two had the wild boar bolgnese, one had the mushroom app with the ravioli entree, and I had the ravioli special: cocoa ravioli filled with rabbit and topped with the brown butter sauce. It was delicious. Bread was also good, and you can't beat BYO. I absolutely love the idea of BYO - it was the first restaurant I've been to that does that. Why not 5 stars? The foyer needs to be cleaned - I noticed spiderwebs (with spiders) in the corners. My wine glass was dirty. And one hostess was rude (though the first one was nice).
(4)Sean M.
Went out with a group for a friends birthday, seven of us in total. The food was excellent (highly recommend the meatball appetizer and the pork main course). The service on the other hand was abysmal. Not only did we have to continually remind our server to bring us water but on most instances she just stood in the back. Then when it came time to pay, we provided 80% of the bill in cash and the rest was to be split on two cards (not complicated by any means and we do this often if someone forgets to bring cash with them). She returned with our bill and told us she couldn't do it that way and when we asked why it was such a problem proceeded to ask if we thought she was stupid! In the end our one friend fronted the whole bill and just pocked the cash. Then when leaving the tip and departing she picked up the check before we had even begun to leave (still sipping coffee and chatting) and then turned around and berated us on why we only left her 15%. To which we proceeded to say she was hard to get a hold of and we felt like our table was neglected most of the evening. She then became even more agitated and demand more explanation to which we retorted we didn't have to provide one and walked out without finishing our coffee or desert. I will not be returning regardless of how good the food was there's no reason harass a customer.
(2)Michelle C.
My friend and I arrived at Melograno at 8 p.m. to find the rest of our "BYO girls" already waiting. We were promptly seated at a roomy table near the open kitchen, which was cool. Our waitress arrived and ran through the specials, which included a pepper stuffed with crab something-or-other, a salad and two lamb entrees. Then she was gone... for a long time. Unremarkable bread was dropped at our table with a little bowl of olive oil that looked to be seasoned with pepper. As it was 8 p.m., we were all pretty hungry so the bread was gone in no time while we waited for our server to return and take our order. When she eventually came back, the rest of the evening went pretty smoothly. We started with the salad special, which had roasted grape tomatoes, slices of mushroom (not sure what kind as I don't really eat mushrooms), shaved parmesan, walnuts and a lemon dressing. It was an interesting mix of ingredients and they came together well. We also enjoyed the antipasto plate, which had some nice pieces of prosciutto and mozzarella, olives, roasted vegetables and toasted bread slices with various spreads. My entrée was definitely the highlight of the meal. I had the mixed seafood grill, which came with a nice sized piece of salmon, a few shrimp and several calamari rings, all served over buttery mashed potatoes. It was heaven on a plate. The calamari was tender and grilled perfectly, with a touch of coarse salt in the seasoning which made this my favorite part of the dish, especially when combined with the potatoes. Everyone else seemed happy with their selections as well, evidenced by the fact that we probably set a record with how fast everything was eaten. For dessert, we tried the crème brulee, spiced chocolate cake with vanilla gelato and the tiramisu. I enjoyed the tiramisu most, followed by the crème brulee. The cake did nothing for me, but I generally like my desserts straightforward and uncomplicated (apparently for me, spicy chocolate = complication), so this particular offering could easily be someone else's favorite. I definitely agree with the other reviewers who mentioned the noisiness of the restaurant. It was incredibly loud, so much so that it was impossible to have a conversation across the table without shouting. This was definitely a drawback but not enough so that I would not return. However, I wouldn't recommend the place for a quiet, intimate dinner for two. For purposes of group get-togethers and girls' night out, count me in!
(4)Marisa B.
I would have given Melograno 4 or 5 stars, but for our waiter, Ray. He was rude and unapproachable. He even scolded us at one point. The bus buys were excellent; however, and we always had enough bread and water in our glasses. Aside from the particular waiter we had, we really liked the place. Melograno is a cute and casual BYOB with reasonable prices. The appetizers were really delicious, as were the entrees. We had mussels with white wine garlic & tomato and pork, veal & beef meatballs in a gorgonzola fondue. Both were really excellent. For our main course, two of us enjoyed spaghetti with pancetta, spicy tomato sauce and grated pecorino. The others had pappardelle with braised wild boar ragu' and breaded chicken breast with prosciutto, mozzarella, arugula and fresh tomatoes. Both those dishes were also fantastic! In conclusion, the food and company were excellent, but due to the waiter something seemed "off" all night.
(3)Ashley L.
Wow! I used to think all of Italian BYOs in the city tasted the same, until I came to Melograno. When we got there, I was surprised how much larger the space is than it appeared from the window. And the rustic decor made the ambiance warm and inviting. Our server, Antonio (who was awesome!), pleasantly greeted us and shared his favorite items on the menu. Per his recommendation, we started with the calamari. I'm not usually a fan unless it is fried, but I did enjoy the dish. It had nice hints of spice also. He also recommended the veal breast and wild boar ragu, which both of my friends ordered. And I love anything with truffle so I had the pappardelle tartufate. Everything was absolutely amazing. My homemade pasta dish had awesome flavors and the crunchy walnuts added a great texture. None of us are big veal fans but this was like no veal we've ever tasted. It was a thick cut and it practically fell apart. It sounds strange but it actually tasted more like brisket, in a good way. I wasn't adventurous enough to try the wild boar, but my friends raved about it. Next time I want Italian, this will be my first choice!
(5)Heesun K.
I really enjoyed my dining experience at Melograno. The place is cozy with friendly service; great location; BYOB - didn't have time to grab a bottle of wine since we were trying to make it on time but they allowed us to go out and grab one - still saved our table near the window. We had::: Antipasto Rustico - A platter of assorted seasonal crostini, salami Prosciutto di Parma, olives, fresh mozzarella,grilled & pickled vegetables. Pappardelle Al Ragu di Cinghiale - wild boar bolognese Pescespada con Caponatina di Melanzane - grilled Atlantic swordfish The platter was amazing - big portion and delicious! They all went well with our wine. My favorite was mozzarella, grilled zucchini (with balsamic vineg.) and pickled vegetable. We were getting full just with this platter. Dangerous one! I had the bolognese and I loved the pasta noodle - really wide & flat. I wish i smelled/tasted less of wild boar since it was pretty strong, but it was meaty and good. I had a swordfish before but this one was exceptional. The fillet was served over an eggplant, capers, pine nuts, tomatoes & olive Caponata - all blended very nicely. Perfect date spot. Also perfect for wine & chill-night with friends. Definitely recommended!
(5)Andrea T.
Okay all my friends agree....if you have been here more than once you have had the entire menu! ( especially if you are a pescatarian!) I had the grilled plate of seafood, which was a delight except the calamari could have been grilled more My friend and I both had the same salad and mine came with more cheese. they brought out some more cheese for her, but a great waiter would have noticed this or the person making the salad? This place is too big and I had to listen to the princess next to me whine about a mouse problem in her apartment.. I miss the spruce street locale
(3)Kate K.
My boyfriend and I went here for dinner this past Saturday. The food was incredible. The wait was less than expected (15 minutes and we didn't have a reservation). The service was great - our waiter was attentive but didn't linger, which I always like. Most importantly, the food was EXCELLENT. I ordered the sweet potato ravioli and my boyfriend got the salmon, both which came out at a decent temperature. I highly recommend going here.
(5)Lou P.
Wine before water Simple, elegant decor Super helpful staff The ladyfriend's folks were in town for a few days, and we capped their visit with dinner at Melograno. The BYO on the less-traveled Sansom Street was exactly what we wanted. A diverse menu that wasn't overwhelming and a quiet setting that wasn't lit like a dungeon. The majority of the dining room is one large, open space, complete with a full look into the kitchen; it makes the whole place feel like eating at home in some regards, and the smells wafting over the whole room don't hurt either. As soon as we sat down the waiter came over and uncorked our bottle of wine, even before the water glasses were filled. My kind of place. The service overall was very attentive; fairly standard for a Tuesday night. The room was pretty busy too, which makes the good service all the more impressive. We started with the Antipasto Rustico, a generous portion of assorted meats, cheese and vegetables that set up the meal nicely. The grilled zucchini was delicious, and the various spreads hit the spot. It's a perfect dish to share, with a little something for everyone even if they're kind of picky. Second was the Pappardelle Tartufate, a super delicious plate of homemade pasta topped with mushrooms that were almost like shredded beef. The chopped walnuts added a perfect crunch and the pecorino tied everything together nicely. For the main, I enjoyed the Sella di Coniglio Ripiena for those not up on their Italian, that's rabbit stuffed with prosciutto & spinach. The meat was a little dry, but the spinach more than made up for it. It is served over a potato puree, which was the perfect vehicle for sopping up the rest of the cream and white wine sauce topping the whole thing. We skipped dessert, but they had a very enticing list none the less. The meal itself was perfect, the atmosphere very conducive to conversation, and the staff was more than helpful. One note about Melograno: don't forget to stop and pick up some wine, because they don't actually have any alcohol there. On the positive, if you make a reservation they're quick to let you know that on the phone instead of when you walk in the door.
(5)Jennifer S.
This was a great dining experience. It is a BYOB. I had the Mozzarella in Carrozza to start and it was excellent. For an entre I had the Cotoletta alla Senese. It was very good. In the summer months, when the tomatoes are better, it will be excellent, I'm sure. My friends both had different pasta dishes that they said were excellent. In all, our dinner check was $93 for 3 people which I find completely reasonable. The atmosphere was adult and lively but it is not a place for children as it is loud inside. We had a great table by the window which provided for excellent people watching and our server was professional and courteous. The only thing I can say that was very slightly negative was that I felt rushed at the end of our meal like they were trying to hustle us out of there a little but it wasn't too bad. I will definitely be back to Melograno.
(4)Lindsay P.
My boyfriend and I were searching for a new place to try for Philadelphia's restaurant week and stumbled across this gem. The restaurant itself doesn't take OpenTable reservations, but takes them from UrbanSpoon. If you are planning to try this place, MAKE A RESERVATION!! We had an 8pm reservation and did not get seated until 9pm. Proceed with caution. The restaurant is tucked away on a side street off Rittenhouse Square and is located right across the street from Helium Comedy Club. It's decorated beautifully and is a perfect place to wine and dine for a date. The hostess was unbelievably pleasant and was very accommodating for the larger parties we saw. When we were seated, our server was really sweet and brought water and break instantly. She took our orders and brought the food.. but never came back again. This is my only gripe about the place. Everything was perfect aside from the service, but only for half of the time. We didn't get food until 9:30, so I assume the lack of attentiveness can be attributed to a long days work and exhaustion on her behalf. Regardless, we still had a wonderful time. The meatball appetizer was to die for, the marinara was probably the best I have ever had. The entree I selected was OUT OF THIS WORLD. I was presented with a GIANT pork chop that was cooked and seasoned perfectly covered in a pomegranate reduction sauce paired with creamy polenta. The polenta was prepared perfectly. The pomegranate reduction really tied the dish together. I was very satisfied. My boyfriend got a chicken breast covered in mozzarella, prosciutto, and arugula. He said that it was absolutely delicious as well. I had the creme brulee with fresh berries for dessert and it was fantastic. My boyfriend had a chocolate tart filled with a cinnamon chocolate lava paired with vanilla ice cream. Overall, we really enjoyed our experience and will be coming back soon!
(5)Sean G.
The Menu at Melagrano has expanded with more meat varieties, more fish dishes. The mussels are as fantastic as ever; Every table around us was staring as they brought out our appetizer. What a gem! Check out Melagrano if you get the chance and dont forget your own bottle of wine.
(4)Betsey L.
Restaurant week dinner review! husband and i came here on a friday night for dinner. boy was it packed! we ordered the following 1st course: portobello mushroom w/ goat cheese/pine nuts/balsamic vinegar - this is on the regular menu and was quite tasty! love the pine nuts! arugula salad/procuitto/pecorino romano cheese - can't go wrong w/ this. it was solid. good. 2nd course: 2 types of spaghettis/pasta ringlets that look like calamari. standard, good. 3rd course: lamb/potatoes: super tender and not gamey, a bit fatty. lots of flavor. seared tuna tomato like sauce on a bed of sauteed greens: not the seared tuna that's kind of raw in the middle, just looked like a sauteed filet. it was very well done! 4th course: pannacotta w/ berries: well done, sooo smooth and just slightly sweet creme brulee: well done, had a hint of ginger i will be back to order off the regular menu and will provide an updated review!
(4)Sylvie C.
YUM. incredibly fresh pasta, amazing service with hilarious waiters (or at least the waiter we had), great BYO, good for big groups OR an intimate dinner for two, AND had my boyfriend's number on file so called him when he left his credit card. PULPO: This octopus is the best version I've had of this dish. Before, it was Mario Batali's osteria mozza in LA - but the octopus was perfectly charred, sitting over potatoes. The only problem was that I wanted so much more of it. (pretty small portion) TONARELLI CACIO e PEPE: Totally simple and delicious, the way my bf likes it. The pasta was SO fresh and had the perfect consistency. Highly recommend if you like the pasta to just shine on it's own. PESTO PASTA: Also a very simple pasta, done with a very heavy pesto. The problem with pesto is that you eat so much of it without realizing the thousands of cals you've just consumed...the pasta itself was incredible, but I think lighter on the pesto would've made the dish a little better. PAPARDELLE TARTAFUTE: okay, we didn't have this one bc my man hates mushrooms. (i know, how do i live with this???) But, the waiter said it was the best thing ever, and I saw it go by and started drooling. Great place for a really authentic Italian meal- I know Philly has innumerable Italian restaurants, but I would definitely go with melograno for a moderately priced but delicious meal.
(4)Michael F.
I've only been here once, but had a great meal. I tried the escargot soup (very good), the homemade parpardelle with wild boar ragu (fantastic) and black cod with white truffle sauce (decadent and cooked perfectly). Desserts were ok and a latte was delicious. Our waitress had very little to offer in excitement or a smile, but go the job done. I usually don't care about this and think 85% of dining is about the food, but she seemed so matter of fact I feel compelled to mention it.
(4)Zachary D.
At the table we had one bad dish (shrimp meal), one decent dish (quail) and one good (boar pasta dish). I have generously averaged that to four stars, though the guy who had the shrimp called it a two star meal. Summary: fine restaurant but stick to the pasta.
(4)Katherine A.
I have to admit I usually avoid Melograno after many failed attempts to get a table there short of an hour wait - as they do not take reservations - but I wound up there with a friend this week and was very pleasantly surprised. We split the Rustico, which had a good array of various meats and cheeses to try - the prosciutto di parma was excellent in particular. The Risotto ai Porcini was truly delicious as a primi piatti (or entree in my case). Although it may sound cliche (mushroom goat cheese risotto...), I would order that again in a hot second, and finished it down to the last bite. All this being said, the waitstaff were a bit slow and slightly invasively inquisitive, but all in all a very enjoyable dinner.
(3)Harkeet C.
The girlfriend and I often visit Melograno. Reservations are easy to get and its a BYOB! I recommend the Pappardelle Tartufate (truffle based pasta), Pappardelle Al Ragu di Cinghiale (Boar Ragu), and Cotoletta alla Senese (breaded chicken breast). Everything comes out fresh and hot! Servers are super friendly and informative. Love this place!!!
(5)Ritu K.
2nd time I've been here. !st time was at their old location on Spruce St. I wasn't a huge fan by any means, so I didn't have any big expectations, but I have many bottles of wine dying to be enjoyed with a good meal, and Melograno is one of the BYOBs that everyone raves about... Super crowded for a Thursday night with a 40 minute wait. We gave the not effusively friendly hostess our name and number-ha who were we kidding. Luckily Tinto is around the corner and a few sangrias later we realized we were starving. We returned an hour later when half the restaurant had cleared and were readily seated. I love the new decor. Much more spacious that 99% f the BYOBs in the city and its decorated in a warm country style, without being cheesy. The food was delic! I ordered the Tagliatelle with Pork and thought it was fantastic. The serving was large and only $16 for more than enough food with really nice flavors. My friend had the Spaghetti Vongole, which also looked equally delic, and my other friend had the mussels app which seemed to very popular by the looks of other tables nearby. They both polished off their plates and were happy to order dessert. We had the tiramasu, which was slightly disappointing. Too much marscapone with not enough ladyfinger. I actually tasted chunks of chocolate which was just weird, but even mediocre tiramasu is good, and we polished it off as well. I'll definitely be back!
(4)Adrienne C.
This place is such a cute, yummy BYO Italian restaurant. It's great for either date night (although can be a little loud) as well as group dinners (there were easily four large parties when we were there on a Fri night). Hubby had the Restaurant Week meal (fab deal - four huge courses) and I just chose the fritto de mare (just ok, too many small pieces of deeply fried calamari bits for me...but sardines were great) and Pappardelle Tartufate (AMAZING!!). My hubby's grilled octopus starter and spaghetti were similarly amazing, while the pork chop was pretty good. Service is excellent - attentive without hanging over the table, and super thoughtful. The waiter gave us a free creme brulee when hubby's Restaurant Week dessert came "just because." IMO, this place shines when it comes to pasta and antipasti. Combined with BYO, it's a great choice when you're craving some solid Italian.
(4)Karen P.
My husband and his brother have birthdays within a week of each other, so my sister-in-law and I plan a joint birthday dinner for the boys each year. This year we selected Melograno. We had all been to the old location but somehow hadn't yet made it to the new space. Melograno gets 3 stars due to the "stars" dining with us...more specifically the entire cast of It's Always Sunny. We are fans of the show and this was a big treat for us. While I wish I could say the highlight of the night was the food, it was not. As my sister-in-law said to Danny DeVito, her salad was "bullshit," and my fish was incredibly dry. Maybe they were really busy? Maybe they were breaking in a new chef during the summer months? I just wish the food wowed me the same way the ambiance, hostess, and waiters did...
(3)Liwei Y.
The pasta here is SOO GOOD!!! This place is also BYOB so you can save on drinks!! I tried the antipasto platter, PappardelleTartufate (best thing ever), Pappardelle Al Ragú di Cinghiale (also pretty good), cake with ice cream, and ginger creme brulee (excellent)! I would recommend the pappardelle tarfufate here!
(5)Alexa R.
I would probably give the food three stars, but the space and the fact that we saw the Always Sunny in Philadelphia crew (and Danny DeVito told me he liked my dress) raises it to four stars. I also love that they take reservations. Our server and the maitre d' were so nice, also. I started with the Melograno salad, which was boring and had the sea bass for dinner. Because I was still a little hungry, I got the ginger creme brulee for dessert, which was awesome! Others at my table had pasta and fish and were happy with their meals, but not blown away. And yes, Mac has gained weight.
(4)Jill T.
Ok, I'm giving 5 stars because while my meal specifically was not the best, everything else and the overall dining experience was wonderful. I made the mistake of ordering the Risotto al Nero. It tasted wonderful, but I could NOT stop thinking about the fact that I was eating squid ink and it didn't help to look down to black risotto swimming in it! Yick! I have no idea why I ordered that knowing full well what to expect, I guess I was being adventurous. I mean- I do love octopus, but the ink is going a step too far for me. I was also very paranoid that it was going to make my mouth and teeth turn black so I was self conscious through dinner. I'm happy to report that it does NOT make your mouth or teeth turn black, so if you're on a date feel free to order and not feel self conscious. I'm looking forward to going back to Melagrano. The hazelnut gelato was fabulous!
(5)Jennifer T.
Melograno is one of the few places in the city to garner a full five stars from my discerning palate! What more can you ask for - reservations every day but Saturday, BYO, takes credit cards, and is ALWAYS delicious. I have been here a handful of times (with so many places in the city, you'd think I'd give it a rest before coming back... but I just can't stop) and each time, I leave full and happy (and so is my wallet - this place is pretty inexpensive). Homemade pastas, creamy buttery fattening delicious sauces, tender and moist meats. Yum yum and yum. If they have the goat cheese with pomegranate and arugula app, get it. I've always been too full for dessert, but I can't pass up a cappuccino. Last time their machine was broken, but our fun & flamboyant server offered to make us a "strong coffee with foam on top" - yay! The only downfall is that it can get very loud, but who cares! Hurry up and get there! Don't forget your wine!
(5)Nancy L.
Great food with excellent service and, in my opinion, pretty decent prices for a BYO. Dinner isn't served until 5:30 on weekdays and even though we got there a bit early, they still let us sit down, served us water and poured our wine. Went on a Thursday night so the restaurant and Sansom St. was a bit quiet, which made it a perfect night for al freso dining. They only have two small (two seaters) outdoor tables though. For an antipasti we ordered the muscles in white wine sauce, which my diningmate claimed were the best he's ever had. I thought they were very good, fresh, tasty, but they were a bit small and the white wine sauce got kind of salty by the end. We both had both pappardelle for entrees (wild boar and wild mushroom). Pasta was perfectly cooked al dente and fresh. I'd say the Wild Mushroom Pappardelle was one of the best dishes I've had yet at an Italian restaurant.
(4)George K.
I liked it better when it was on 22nd and Spruce. At least 4 years had elapsed since my recent visit on Friday night and the one before that. To my surprise, it appears the menu hasn't changed much (same bistecca fiorentina, same wild boar pappardelle that everyone raves about). But why mess with good, straight forward Tuscan fare? The pappardelle were overcooked and drenched in truffle oil. The bistecca was well seasoned, nicely cooked, served on chopped tomatoes and white beans. Good, but nothing to rave about. The octopus was also nice, but we were served three small pieces; tough to share among four. Melograno's biggest problem, however, is the very LOUD dining room, making conversation all but impossible unless everyone agrees to shout, leading tables into a kind of war of escalation with their neighbors, resulting in everyone shouting. Theory suggests another possible "all-quiet" equilibrium, but that will have to wait until next time.
(3)Alie A.
Okay - I don't know how I had not heard of this place before. This is a great Italian, little white table cloth BYOB type of spot. I'm all about the ambiance, which was great here. The food was brought out promptly and the service was excellent. We started with the mussels, which were amazing in a white wine garlic and tomato sauce. They serve a great bread as well good for dipping. I had the rissoto with portini and goat cheese, which was brought out in a perfect portion size. This is a classic Italian spot with tables close together, fairly noisy but still great for a date or small to larger parties.
(5)Susan D.
Love, love, love everything I get here... Most recent visit was at the new digs... and tried Pappardelle Alle Olive... mmm... My only request: bring back the cioppino, so I can sit and dip bread in that amazing broth..
(5)Stephen H.
Two hungry carnivores set out across the "urban Jungle" in search of prey. Armed only with their wits, a credit card, and two bottles of wine, they maneuvered past familiar watering holes in search of the big kill. Setting their eyes on a lone empty table outside of Melograno, they pounced on the opportunity to eat at this fine BYOB. Driven by hunger and instinct, they skipped past the salad and went straight for the meat. They shared the first victim, Pappardelle Al Ragu di Cinghiale. Braised wild boar bolognese made with fresh tomatoes & rosemary finished with Parmigiano Devoured mercilessly, their was no evidence of the carnage. They next split up and took down their own meals. Roars of delight could be heard as the male devoured his perfectly cooked Sella di Coniglio Ripiena. Organic rabbit saddle stuffed with prosciutto & spinach finished in a delicate cream & white wine pan sauce served over potato puree. The civilized diner would tell you about the great the service and so forth, but for our hunters, it was all about the meal. Returning to the den, they were both pleased and in need of a little sleep.
(4)Tina T.
Food was lovely. Customer service was insulting. We were a party of four with a 6pm reservation. We were seated promptly at a cozy table to celebrate a 65th birthday! After enjoying the delicious Rustico antipasto, the first three of the four meals arrived. Three of us sat with hands on lap waiting for the fourth dinner to arrive. The waiter returned empty-handed and assured us that the fourth was on its way. After a very awkward period of waiting, three of us nibbled slowly at our meals at the insistence of the birthday boy whose food had not yet arrived. He was sure the food would arrive shortly. At least twenty minutes later, the fourth meal was delivered by our waiter who showed no apology for the huge error. When the bill arrived the waiter had taken off $1 to compensate us for the "kitchen's mistake". We requested that the manager reassess the bill -- the waiter and the hostess disappeared for several minutes. When they returned they had comped the fourth meal without a smile or sincere apology. The manager never made an appearance.Although the food was excellent, the handling of the mistake left a very bad taste in our mouths. We will try again.
(2)Dave L.
The food here is very sub-par. I've gotten better pasta at Olive Garden. The pasta came out in a blob. I expect any restaurant that serves pasta to have pasta served in such a way that you can separate the strands. That said, the environment is very nice. I suppose I paid for a nice place to eat, not good food to eat. On the plus side, the bread was pretty decent.
(1)Michelle M.
My family and I were sadly disappointed with this restaurant. Coming from Chicago, where we always get amazing Italian food, this place just doesn't cut it. We don't mind paying $18-20 for tiny servings of homemade pasta, however, we expect the food to blow us away and Melograno's pasta was underwhelming. The Polpette appetizer was just okay- my husband makes better meatballs. We also had the Calamari Inzimino, which was very good, but the kitchen seemed to skimp on the calamari. The Zuppetta di Mare was absolutely amazing. The Pappardelle Tartufate was good, however, I wished for whole mushrooms and I did not like the walnuts (they tasted burnt). The Ravioli di Patate was just okay and the Pappardelle Al RagA1 di Cinghiale was just a little better than that. Lastly, our server was attentive and friendly.
(3)Melissa R.
This place never disappoints. The reason I am giving it 4 stars is because the dining room is loud. You have to shout to have a conversation with your dining companion(s). More importantly, on to the food....it is consistently delicious. Maybe because we get the same thing every time. We usually start with the antipasta platter and the mussels, a savory way to start the meal. On to the entrees...I tend to lean towards the Alle Olive Pappardelle, that has a light red sauce with shrimp and scallops. My boyfriend recently got the Tuna dish and he ended up licking his plate clean. We are usually so stuffed after the meal, we walk off dinner on our way to dessert. P.S. Don't forget your wine bottles, since it is a BYOB.
(4)Beth R.
Thanks to the faux-snowstorm outside, my group of 5 didn't have to wait for a table last night. (Normally, there would be a wait, even on a week night). Melograno expanded a couple years ago to this larger location, and they're still filling all the seats. The room is spacious and there's a nice balance of tables for twosomes versus larger parties. I've been here at least 5 times so I've tried a decent sample of the menu. Last night was the first time I found a dish that I didn't really like - the mussels appetizer. They came in a white wine and garlic sauce and it was fairly bland. I usually love mussels. Skip them, and go for an appetizer special, or one of the salads. My entree was very good - I had the wild board bolognese over fresh pasta. I've noticed wild boar popping up on quite a few menus in Philadelphia. L'Oca in Fairmount also has an awesome wild boar ragu on its menu sometimes too. Love it. PS, isn't "wild" boar redundant? aren't all boars wild? The dessert menu options were pretty standard. I haven't had dessert every time I've been here, often I am too full from the other courses. Last night the rest of my party ordered a few to share, so I tried the molten chocolate cake, which was decent but not necessarily to die for. I think Melograno's strength is more in its main dishes.
(4)Aaron P.
I like to think I have an objective perspective, combined with a relatively realistic expectation of the culinary craft. From time to time I feel compelled to volunteer a scrutinizing eye in the spirit of either serving, or saving the public from similar experiences. Today I am hoping to save. Fellow Philadelphian Yelpers, save your time, money, and patience for a more deserving dining establishment than Melograno. I tend to weight food, atmosphere and service, in that order. The menu at Melograno is ordinary at best. The flavors and ingredient combinations read as tired and unoriginal, and I'm quite certain the Italian Sea Bass and Pan Seared Tuna that myself and my date ordered, were 75% prepared before our order ever made it to the kitchen ( I know how long these dishes take to prepare). The atmosphere was fine, but nothing to write home about. I will commend the exposed kitchen - I enjoy the transparency and honesty of an open kitchen layout. No one expects any BYO to compete aesthetically with their higher priced and liquor licensed counterparts, but even a little effort would go a long way. Melograno's ambiance is in-theme with their menu, ordinary at best. It was primetime on a busy Saturday night at a restaurant that does not take reservations, yet we were surprisingly seated within 20 minutes - the hostess was kind enough to call my cell while we waited with a glass of wine at Tinto. The wait service, however, was abysmal. My date and I were coming off a late lunch, and we planned on going out for drinks after, so we hoped to keep the meal somewhat light. The waitress actually sneered at me when I ordered. It took exactly three minutes for our entrees to be shoveled in front of us, from which time fourth we were indignantly ignored. I actually cleared our plates after at least 10 minutes of shifting and jockeying for elbowroom - I had to set them on the empty table next to us. Yelpers, I have a hard time celebrating mediocrity. For those of you who found Melograno to be a satisfying experience, I envy your optimism. Nevertheless, I encourage you to branch out. For those of you considering patronage, please consider my vote - Melograno is the lowest common denominator for BYO fine-dining in Philadelphia. We can all do much better.
(2)Lauren H.
Popped in here on a Thursday night after showing up for reservations at Porcini, which is right down the street. Porcini was dark and shuttered - and apparently did not see fit to call their reservation list. I imagine this is owed to the snow more than anything, but Melograno was able to seat our table of 5 immediately, as there were a few open tables in this normally jam-packed BYO. I've been here a few times and the place averages three stars. The food is consistently good, but I find the menu a tad expensive compared to other places I've been with somewhat better food. The atmosphere is good for groups and for a date night (I've been here on both), so the place is versatile. But I've always found the hosts to be a bit abrasive - a simple smile for five snow-covered, cold women coming in off the street would have been nice! Last night we started with a special appetizer, a gorgonzola-filled crepe with pears that was quite lovely and I had the Pappardelle Al Ragu di Cinghiale (braised wild boar bolognese made with fresh tomatoes and rosemary, finished with parmigiano), for which the sauce could have been a bit more substantial. I generally stick with the pasta when here, though I had a memorable and delightful experience with the Quail one night. All in all, a solid BYO that I hit up when in the area.
(3)Bobby P.
The superfluity of Italian BYO's in CC can make it difficult for a restaurateur to make his mark, but Dr Melograno (for some reason I like to assume this is the owner's name) has found a winning formula that enabled him to relocate, expand, and grow his clientèle despite the proximity of 2 other Italian restaurants on the block. You could spit on them from the doorstep, although I would discourage such behavior. Reasons to give Melograno a shot include the wild boar with fettuccine (perfect pasta consistency), salmon, shrimp and calamari with mashed potatoes (excellent crispiness form an olive oil glaze), and the ricotta cake with pine nuts (unique flavor that's worth a try for dessert). The antipasto and chocolate lava cake are also good, but not extraordinary and available in one form or another at most of the Italian BYO's. Service here is excellent, which should be expected since it prices on the upper end of the scale. Come early for dinner on the weekends since they don't accept reservations, and the line can spill into the street for a taste of the good doctor's fare.
(3)E T.
I was thrilled to have Melograno in my neck of the woods (not that 22nd & Spruce is that far away). Because I live so close, I never have had to wait. I usually run over right at 6 or 6:30 and they can fit in a party of two. I have to admit that I never thought it was worth the effort for a 1.5 hour wait at the old location. The weekday reservation policy is great for those who are coming further. This is my go to place to bring friends from out of town. Consistently good food. The servers know me now, so that is a bonus. I find it best to come with a group of 4 or less. It is a small kitchen and my friend's entree came out cold at a large bachlorette dinner. I usually get the Parpadelle with wild mushrooms or the wild boar. I've sampled pretty much everything. And, that is why I cannot give them a fifth star. I would love to see a little rotation of the specials. Let's see if the spring inspires a few changes!
(4)Ryan S.
I am suprimly sadened by their closing. explination of events that led to closing: phillyblog.com/philly/ce…
(5)Rachel U.
Beat the crowd on a Saturday night getting there at 7pm and got seated right away. I'd never been when they were on Spruce, but their new space is really nice, very open and warm, sits a good amount of people but didn't get super loud. The waiter was very nice, though seemed a little distracted, food service was pretty fast and the food itself was really yummy. Between the three of us we got the pumpkin ravioli, the quail, and the clams spaghetti, and all plates were licked clean. My friend also enjoyed his house salad, and while it was very delicious, I was little surprised when my $8 mushroom-goat cheese-pinenut appetizer was literally a portobello cap with a lump of cheese and pinenuts on it... The tiramisu and creme brulee were also very good, but the chocolate cake was goooooooooooooood =)
(4)Alex F.
Came here twice in two weeks because I had friends and family from out of town, and I wanted cheap, good food close to their hotels, where we could seat 4 or 5 people. The pasta at Melograno is great. Appetizers and entrees are very good too. So why the 3 stars? First time I went was on a Sunday, restaurant was 3/4 filled and service was good. The second time I went, the service was horrible. 5 of us were seated. We brought a bottle of sparkling wine and two bottles of red. 5 minutes pass, 10 minutes pass, 15 minutes pass, no one comes to open the bottle or take our orders. Finally, we open the sparkling wine and pour it ourselves into the regular wine glasses. The waiter then runs over in a huff with Champagne glasses and gives us attitude. And he continues to be inattentive and surly the rest of the meal. And it wasn't just us. The guy had 6-8 tables he was covering, and he spent the whole time by the kitchen chatting away. So food 4 stars, value 5 stars, service 0 stars. Easily the worst service I have had in Philadelphia.
(3)Jon S.
Best pasta in the Center City area. Can't go wrong here. The new space has its advantages and disadvantages. The seats toward the front door are under an odd vaulted ceiling which gives anything other than the cozy feeling of the old location. The seats toward the open kitchen seem much better. But the advantage of the new space is that it is much larger and therefore it's a lot quicker from arrival to seating. New address is 2012 Sansom St.
(4)Candace C.
delicious and clean byob, melograno promises a good time with great food, great drinks (BYO, so pick a good one), and great friends! The service and hostess are forgettable, but the food is tasty and the ambiance is really nice.
(4)Juliana G.
The only reason Melograno gets two stars is because I saw Danny DeVito there, and I like him. Short of his re-visiting the establishment, nothing could tempt me back there. The pasta was overcooked and oversalted, and the pork was dry and tasteless--all for a very pretty penny. The seating staff were very rude, and my hour-long-wait in heels was by no means assuaged by the comme-ci, comme-ca appetizers.
(2)Jason B.
Besides the insanely long waits on Friday and Saturday nights, Melograno is perfection defined. If you haven't had the Papardelle Tartufate, you haven't lived. I would go there if you haven't, because if you die tomorrow, you are totally f***ed because you will never try the single best pasta dish ever know to humankind (possibly alien-kind as well if any undocumented workers ever dine here). Honestly there is no describing it. I have tried many of the other dishes too - the rigatoni with amatriciana sauce and pancetta (very satsifying), the cacio e pepe (didn't care for this one, too peppery, not enough other flavors), the various raviolis always covered in their divine brown butter and sage sauce, and the quail (very succulent, although I didn't care for their polenta). The Melograno salad is always a great start to the meal with a light and refreshing dressing. I also really enjoy the fried goat cheese and anchovy appetizer, which is a really dressed-up and grown-up version of one of my childhood favorites. The ability to bring your own wine is great, and even though the wait is often long, they will take your cell phone number and call you when your table is ready, so you can go get drinks at a nearby bar (try Village Whiskey or Jolly's). If you haven't eaten here yet and you are reading this right now, stop. Go now.
(5)Fred G.
The new place on the 20 hundred block on Sansom is bigger without missing a beat. The menu has both changed and stayed the same and the specials are getting more interesting. We miss eating outside, but since it is winter, the coziness of the table layout on the west side adds a special charm. You can be alone with someone or talk to your neighbors at the next table. Rose, Luca and Anne continue to be gracious hosts and make sure all is well with your meal. The BYOB system is still the best and they are now only 1 block from a state store! Craig LeBan of the Inquirer gave the new Melograno an amazing review too! Enjoy!
(5)Leigh Anna T.
The food was very good here. The menu had a nice number of options. Not too many that I was overwhelmed, but not too few that felt like my choices were limited. I ended up getting a greens salad with vinaigrette and the boar ragu. Both were quite tasty. I would try some different things next time (and there will definitely be a next time since this place is around the corner from me) - not because I didn't like what I got, but because there are so many other delicious looking things on the menu! The staff were also very nice and accommodating. Even when they were trying to close up and my friends and I were sill there gabbing, they were never rude and never rushed us. This is definitely a great, neighborhood-y BYO!
(4)molly f.
Another fabulous neighborhood BYOB- why doesn't DC have this?! Great atmosphere, reliable food, and walkable to rittenhouse, Melograno is comfortable italian food without too much fuss. downside of being a cute neigborhood BYO near rittenhouse? having to wait for a table...be sure to call ahead as this cozy restaurant fills up fast!
(4)Leah C.
Had an awesome birthday dinner here. Great lighting and perfect ambiance and Antonio our waiter made everything even better!! We loved everything we ate from the antipasta app to the mushroom tagliatelle and short ribs and beet ravioli to the creamy tiramisu. My sister found the squid ink risotto to be a little heavy though. All in all would highly recommend this byob!!
(4)Erin K.
Last night we got to Melograno around 6PM. There were several empty tables (probably because of the weather) but it soon filled up and by the time we left around 8PM there was a large crowd waiting to be seated. They apparently don't take reservations so go early or go expecting to wait. We shared the soup (snails and mushroom), which was very tasty. The boy had wild boar ragu which he LOVED and polished off. I got the mushroom pasta and it was really woodsy and yummy. I was too full, however, and had to take half home. Needless to say, no entrees for us. We finished it with ginger creme brulee which was ok but nothing spectacular (not like the marscapone cheesecake at Mercato...or the sesame creme brulee at Sakagura). I highly recommend.
(4)Thaila S.
Very disappointed in our dining experience here, especially after reading all of the wonderful reviews. The food itself was good. I had a wonderful ravioli appetizer that just melted in my mouth, but the mushroom pasta that everyone raves about was not as good as I had hoped. Good, yes. Great, amazing, the best thing you've ever had? No way. I probably would have liked it more had I not read all of the hype on Yelp first. I'm taking away so many stars because the service was ATROCIOUS. Our waiter was an African American guy (I wish I asked his name) who was rude and weird. He made snarky comments when he asked him questions about the menu, and was not at all friendly. He was also not a good salesman -- when we asked him about a dish with beets, he responded, "Well, I wouldn't order that because I hate beets." I guess I can appreciate the candor, but it was just a weird response. When we told him that our dessert was overcooked, he did not apologize, nor was that item taken off our bill (we should have insisted). Management, if you're reading this -- please hire more professional staff. I expect more of a restaurant that charges high prices. Finally, this place is LOUD -- I'm fine with noise, but we were yelling across the table to be heard. All in all, I'm sad to be giving this place such a poor review. I had such high hopes.
(2)Rob K.
Top notch BYOB in Philadelphia. Varied menu, quality waitstaff, very good food. Perfectly prepared salmon and asparagus were awesome. A bevy of appetizers were high-lighted with the spinach dumplings. Noise was an issue as were the crowded tables which were only a problem due to the hustle and bustle by the busy staff.
(4)Josh K.
I was in Philly for work for a few days. Here's where I ate: Thursday: Il Portico, gross. Friday: Maggiano's, almost gross. Saturday: Melograno, awesome. I can't remember ever going out to a non-Italian dinner in Philly, and this was the best by far. Great atmosphere, the food was delicious. I had the special, ravioli with a mix of ground chicken and sausage. So good. The antipasto plate with lots of sausages and prosciutto and cheese and stuff was great too. Melograno is legit. 5 stars. Remember to bring your own booze.
(5)alexis g.
A highlight reel: Appetizer: The special. An Italian "crepe" filled with a delicious mix of ricotta, roasted eggplant, and pesto, topped with red onion confit and (I think...) shaved parmesan cheese. Served in a searing hot ceramic crock type device. Came to the table still bubbling from the oven. Boyfriend insists that he does not like ricotta cheese. Boyfriend happily finishes the last bite when offered. Salads: Good. But not good enough to make the highlight reel. Entree.. me: The duck special with sour cherry reduction, asparagus, and some sort of pan-crisped/roasted sliced potato stack. Duck was cooked to perfection -- crisp duck fat skin, tender pinky medium rare meat -- and seasoned perfectly. Potatoes were delicately garlicked (if there can be such a thing?), edges delightfully crisped, centers tender and toothsome. Boyfriend ate several... I cleaned my plate. Entree.. him: The quail stuffed with figs and walnuts served with mashed/pureed potatoes and zucchini. Everything on his plate was excellent.. not necessarily write-home-about-it exciting or earth-shattering, but clearly expertly prepared. Most notable in my mind was the absolutely perfect ratio of quail to stuffing. I have no idea how they managed to get all of those figs and walnuts into those quails, but I tip my hat to whoever figured out that secret technique. Dessert: Chocolate cake was good. But... Ginger creme brulee -- the replacement for the pumpkin creme brulee on the menu. If I were you.. and I were planning to eat dinner at Melograno complete with dessert, I would definitely go over there the morning of and make sure that the pumpkin mysteriously goes missing. I'm not suggesting that you engage in any sort of criminal act or anything, mind you.. but if you could persuade a sympathetic cook or server to hide the pumpkin under some bags of onions, stash it behind the potatoes, pile it in a random corner and cover it with some napkins.. you get the idea. I was stuffed to the gills and only because I was in a public place and thought that they might never let me come back if I acted on the impulse did I manage to avoid bringing the ramekin to my face and licking it clean. ETA We returned to Melograno and had, all things considered, a reasonably good meal. The special appetizer "risotto cake" (actually just semi-creamy rice in a ringmold, but whatever) was ok, the salmon I had was ok... And I would be inclined to drop to 4 stars because the risotto cake had a little bit of an off taste.. . But here's the reason for the update: We sort of made a spur-of-the-moment decision to eat here as we were getting ready to take the dog for her early evening walk. We took her with us and they let us eat on outside with her by the table. Yay! Dog-friendly fine dining!
(5)Dru H.
Service is a 5, but the food is a 3 for me. Antipasti was great, but I've had better in the city. The octopus was tender and understated. The escargot was delicious, but when you cover something in oil, cheese and pancetta what else can you expect. Pasta course was good, but the beet ravioli was nothing "special" it needed some salt or acid to make it more interesting. The sea bass entree was boring too. When I go out I want something interesting and this just didn't meet my expectations after seeing that it got 3 bells. Looking around I noticed that a lot of the patrons were gone by 8 on a Saturday. Older crowd in the dining room and kids in the kitchen was what I saw. It makes me wonder about this place. Lewis our server made up for a lot. Everyone was very attentive and it has a greAt atmosphere just not a place I'm going to be running back to. Modo Mio blows this place away.
(3)Melissa V.
The food is so tasty! The service is very good, and I love that it's a BYO. We always go here and then go to a show at Helium...it's the perfect date night.
(5)M.B. G.
Went here for restaurant week last night with a group of friends. 7 of us in all. We each ordered from the restaurant week menu. I had the calamari and the shrimp with risotto. I have to say, the food was really good. Our waitress was very good. However, what we all did not like was the loudness of the place. We found ourselves having to shout just to have a conversation.
(3)Jon T.
Apparently there is a trend in Philadelphia of corner Italian restaurants, complete with awesome food, cramped tables, and a BYOB/W policy. Melograno perfectly fits the bill for all three. I was almost denied my taste of this culinary delight, for when we showed up at the restaurant at 7:30, the hostess told us that there were no more tables available for the evening. After explaining to her that we were from out of town, she managed to fit us in for the final sitting. I loved everything about my meal. That same hostess, Rose, went out of her way to make all the guests in the restaurants feel welcome at their home away from home. She did the same for us as well. The service was prompt, attentive, friendly, and professional. And the food...amazing. I tried the mushroom pasta, which was punctuated with a real tuscan earthy flavor. My own dish was a meaty monkfish in a red wine reduction sauce, complemented perfectly with chopped mushrooms and mashed potatoes. Dessert was a ricotta cake with berries, something resembling the texture of a souffle. And the prices! In NYC, all of this would be at least 5 dollars more...per entree! All in all, a fantastic and memorable meal.
(5)Jaclyn B.
Unaccommodating waitstaff. Not into the food.
(1)Stacey S.
Small plates, delicious (never had a bad meal here) but expensive.
(4)Er L.
Went here in May. I thought it was okay. Too expensive for the quality of food because I can think of dozens of places better for the price. Though, if you're in Rittenhouse and in heels like I was that night, this place will do! The desserts impressed more than the entrees.
(3)Leah G.
I give Melograno a four for its food and our waiter. The food at Melograno is impeccable. Our waiter was excellent . . . humorous and detailed. The food was fanastic I normally get the mushroom pasta but decided to go with something new. It was great. The dining experience and food is not to be missed. I have one bone to pick with Melograno. I would rather them not take reservations at all then have to feel like I am annoying the staff by arriving on time for my reservation.
(4)melissa M.
One of my faves that my fiance and I frequent rather often. Love the ambiance and dim lighting. The food is amazing. Every time they get it right. I actually find myself craving Sea Bass mid-week. Just the right amount of crisp to the skin, paired with a simple vegetable and couscous, yummmm. I had my birthday dinner here last year and yet again it was a hit! A little hard getting a lsat minute reservation but that is to be expexted as everyone shares the same good feelings about the food. Keep up the great work Melograno and thanks!!
(4)Yaanik D.
Melograno is fantastic. The mood is elegant and dark, but strangely homely at the same time. I started with an artichoke that was grilled and sparsely dressed with lemon, parsley, and cracked black pepper. It was probably the best artichoke I've ever had. For my main course, I had the swiss chard ravioli in a light butter sage sauce. The ravioli were perfect. Unfortunately, the tiramisu I ordered for dessert wasn't as good as the rest of the meal. It was presented in a bowl, and I was expecting the creamy, layered tiramisu I've had in Italy. However, as soon as I dipped my spoon into the bowl, cream flowed out all over my spoon--the thing was too damn liquidy. Despite the mediocre dessert, I thoroughly enjoyed the meal here, so I'll give it 5 stars.
(5)christian C.
Very disappointing, especially considering the buzz and it's four star rating here, which I think is completely unwarrented based on my visit. Started with the special octopus appetizer. The octopus was good (although the portion of it was small), but the rest of the dish was insipid. The waitress said it was with haricot vert, but they were just mushy green beans, along with bland nearly mush potatoes. It needed a vinegrette with some flavor. The rabbit special entree had similar deficiencies. I guess the kitchen was out of spices, even salt and pepper, because the rabbit, in addition to being overcooked and dry, was BLAND. The accompanying roasted potatoes also lacked any herbs or salt and pepper to make them interesting. The other entree was the papparedelle with scallops, shrimp and olives. (The pasta, by the way, was the size of lasagne noodles; I've never had papparedelle like that before.) The tomato sauce was flavorful, and could have been even better, if the olives had been chopped and incorporated into it, rather than just tossed on top of the dish like a random after thought. The scallops were overcooked and tough, a clear sign of poor kitchen execution. Overall, we left very disappointed.
(2)Mark L.
Perfect neighborhood byob restaurant. I used to live across the street so I really know this place well. It was always full each night and the whole simple decor and menu selections were great. The place was renovating in '08 when I moved. Great to see that it's back!
(4)Gina K.
The pappardelle with wild boar bolognese was absolutely out of this world. I also enjoyed a mushroom appetizer and a salad, but all I really remember about the night was that pasta. We made reservations for a Sunday night and were seated without a problem. The atmosphere was elegant yet cozy--though perhaps a little too cozy, as the table behind us was squished up pretty close to ours. Another downside was that the "molten" chocolate cake was cooked all the way through, but still delicious. Bonus points for this place being a BYOB.
(5)Helen L.
It would not matter how good the food was. We just left Melograno. My head is splitting and my ears hurt. Making matters worse, we dined there with old friends and could not have a conversation. For years Melograno has had complaints about the noise level in their restaurant. For years, they have ignored those complaints. The average age in the restaurant was 35. Perhaps this is the generation that not only tolerates loud noise, but revels in it. Having dinner at Melograno was not that far from attending a rock concert. We did not order dessert or coffee. It was out of the question and we could not wait to bolt for the door. A restaurant owner who does not make any attempt to do ANYTHING about the madness is not worth having customers. But................having said that, if people keep coming, and keep allowing this kind of invasion on their ears, why would the owner have to make any changes. By patronizing this restaurant you are saying, "It's OK to damage my ears." It's OK for me to pay to be here when you do not care about the comfort of your customers. Better to have dinner in a bowling alley then at Melograno. What that says to us is, "I do not care about you. If you keep coming, I will keep disrespecting your comfort." Same old, same old. We will never return. And You.........boycott, until he turns down the volume and sound proofs this place.
(1)Vincent M.
Really great, authentic and tasty menu. a bit loud peak time on a saturday night, but could still hold a conversation. I had the fettucini appetizer, actually large enough for a small entree, absolutely fantastic and unique. Made perfectly aldente and served piping hot. Not alfredo, but in a light oil base with sausage and --mint !? which kicked it over the top. salmon in parchment also a great entree. overall excellent dinner , a place to return again on another night.
(4)Dominick A.
My wife and I didn't want our last dinner on our Philly visit to be too heavy (no Del Frisco's) nor too touristy (no cheesesteak). I yelp'd Melograno and we decided to go. Soooo glad we did! Notes: 1) needed to eat early as our 1.y.o. wouldn't last too late; we arrived at 6pm and did not wait. 2) by 6:45pm the line was out the door. 3) host was friendly over the phone, and equally gracious upon arrival. 4) BYO! 5) there's a liquor store 1.5 blocks away 6) ambiance excellent, rustic 7) baby high chairs, yes! 8) limited menu with EXCELLENT choices. 9) we ordered all the specials: gorgonzola meatball starter, filet for her, tuna for me. all cooked to perfection the first time out. 10) table bread quite good and served warm. 11) servers quick with water refills. 12) got a bit loud once it filled up, good buzz 13) ginger creme brule crisped well, yummy 14) host noticed our son had a skin condition on his chin - she mentioned a remedy (it worked!) 15) prices very reasonable considering we got specials 16) last but not least, our server LUIS was one of the best servers we've ever had at any restaurant, and we eat out a lot and in some very nice places. LUIS was courteous, attentive, understanding, and knowledgable - he interacted with us as if we were family and wanted us to have the best experience possible. The food was a delight, but LUIS won us over. Will eat here whenever I'm in Philly.
(5)Adam B.
I had a nice meal here. The service was excellent and very helpful throughout the meal. I never had to wait or ask for anything, and we got great advice on the food. Our dinner was OK. For starters we had the Funghi Arrostiti and a mushroom crepe that was a special. The arrostiti was excellent. The crepe was very good, a little too salty and creamy for my taste, but still something I would get again. For dinner we had the Pappardelle Tartufate and the ravioli. The ravioli were OK but nothing special. The spinach was a little undercooked and the saice a little salty. The pappardelle was good but heavy. I thought everything was very expensive for what it was, $65 without tip (no desert, no drinks) for two starters and two entrees.
(3)Amy F.
Hands down one of my favorite restaurants in Philadelphia. I go there often and have never been disappointed. It's sometimes a little loud, but the food is to-die-for so it's well worth it (and the wait, which can be up to 2 hours on weekends). I always order the same thing (I know, boring, but I can't get enough) - porcini appetizer and black cod entree. I've also had the mushroom/truffle pasta which is a close second to the black cod. Add in the fact that it's a BYO and I highly recommend it!
(5)Julia N.
The menu is small and rarely changes, there are just a couple things for vegetarians, the service is competent at best, and I miss the old, intimate dining room. But the pasta. The pasta is just way too good - tender, chewy, fresh and pretty much perfect. Their pumpkin ravioli is the first thing I think about when it starts to get cool in the fall.
(4)Matt M.
This place is superb. If I were rating Melograno based on its company in Philadephia (as in other BYOBs) I'd give it 5 stars. I gave it 4 only to reflect that this isn't the best dining to be had in Philadelphia but it's damn hard to beat for a reasonably priced, not stuffy BYOB. The food is superb, the service is excellent, and the restaurant itself is charming (although it's a bit elbow to elbow; I didn't mind at all, some may). It's also great because this isn't a place you need an excuse to go to--if you come with a bottle of wine and just order a pasta dish you can be out of there for $15. But if you want to go all out it can surely be a wonderful spot for a special night out. I definitely think this is the best BYOB and maybe the best restaurant period in the Rittenhouse Square area. Also, you may want to try calling ahead these days because while I'm certain they didn't take reservations before the hostess asked me if I had one when I arrived last time.
(4)Carolina J.
Sansom Street is one of my favorite streets in the Rittenhouse area, so sitting outside at Melograno was really pleasant. Its great location also came in handy when my fiance and I decided at the last minute that we wanted a bottle of wine. (You can buy a bottle right around the block, so he did a fast wine run as I held the table!) They have a few vegetarian (or could easily be made vegetarian) pasta dishes, such as what I ordered - the Ravioli di Magro. It was tasty for sure, but could have gotten better ravioli at a lower price somewhere else. My fiance loved the Funghi Arrostiti appetizer.
(3)Lauren L.
Last night was my first visit to Melograno, a long-time neighborhood favorite (while in its old location) that I had simply never visited. I was with a group of ten, and we had a great experience at Melograno overall. The ambience of the new location is nice! Dim lighting and warm golds and browns of the decor makes it feel special, yet the openness of the new space makes it feel breathable and group-friendly. This location still boasts the Philly signature open-kitchen restaurant style, and it's fun to be able to see the chefs as they cook and place the hot dishes out on the counter before they are whisked away to each table. Our waitress was attentive and nice, though one of my pet-peeves is when servers list the specials and fail to note the price. We all know that specials are always more expensive... and if prices are listed for everything else on a menu, why is this piece of information always left out? As a diner, I want to know what I'm going to be paying for a dish instead of being surprised by a huge bill at the end. So, please, do all patrons all a favor and embrace the practice of informing us.... That said, we ordered the Antipasto Rustico, which was a generous platter of meats, cheeses, olives, and pates. The prosciutto was buttery and soft, the mozzarella fresh, and the grilled vegetables perfectly tender. We then also ordered the mussels, which came in a tomato garlic broth. These were also delicious, and the olive oil that was served earlier with the bread was absolutely neglected in favor of scooping up the tender garlic cloves and sweet diced tomatoes from the broth. As an entree, I ordered the Wild Boar Bolognese and my fiance the Quail Arrosto. The bolognese was well balanced, and the papardalle extremely fresh and tasty. I did not feel that the bolognese had enough boar in it, though, and secretly wished I had ordered the Mushroom papardalle that my neighbor sitting next to me was busy scarfing down (it smelled like nutty, savory heaven). The Quail entree was also disappointing. It was plated nicely, but I found the quail difficult to eat, a bit dry as there was not enough pomegranate glaze, and the stuffing inside an afterthought. The polenta it was served with was a baby scoop of dry, tasteless cornmeal. I want my polenta creamy and plentiful! This was certainly not the case, and I would not order this dish again. On the other hand, another of our dining companions got the Pork Chop entree, which was a huge portion of pork served over sweet and savory farro that was completely delightful. Other than the fact that I spent my dinner pining over the entree choices of the others in my group, I would return to Melograno... only I would order what they got! The fact that this restaurant is a BYOB is a major plus, as it would otherwise be a bit too pricey Italian for my taste. I recommend going here on a weekday night for crowd control.... Enjoy!
(4)Mara K.
I went with a bunch of friends on a Friday night. Reservations were made, and was pleasantly surprised when we were seated upon arrival with half our party missing. They eventually showed up. The food was very good. Service was a bit spotty. I did appreciate the honest answer from the waiter when I inquired about two dishes that I was waivering over. My only complaint about this place is that the noise level is fairly high when it's packed, and you find yourself missing half the conversations at your table. The food was excellent though. I do plan to return.. but during a week night when it is less crowded.
(3)Suraj P.
This place is fantastic. I have been going to Melograno since before the move and it has never let me down (except for the whole move thing...) And while the fact that it was BYO brought me to the door, the food keeps me coming back over and over again. I frequently get the Penne (spicy red sauce with pancetta) which has never failed me. The other big winners have always been the papperdelle with truffle infused mushroom sauce and the beet ravioli (which a friend describes as "unique to the world"). And sure. Its hard to get in because they don't take reservations and you have to wait. But the food is worth it, which is more than I can say for a LOT of restaurants I have waited longer to get a table at! So get here early and bring a second bottle of wine (to drink on the street while your waiting for table). And eat the best byo italian in the city.
(5)Ari P.
Very good inexpensive Italian food with excellent decor and good service. Only annoyance is no reservations.
(5)James D.
Waited way too long to try this place on, but with no reservations on the weekend, took the midweek route to ease into a most delectable meal. With its focus on simple Tuscan flavors, the appetizers are were simply solid, but oh did the entrees deliver. To boot, the location offers one of the city's most unexpected people watching corners. Only downer - these folks love the A/C, and it was cranked high enough on an otherwise pleasant autumnal eve to cool our meals soonafter they arrived. That said, visit two will probably hoist this into a fiver. Stars, that is.
(4)Tiffany W.
Great for all occasions- a girl's night out, a family celebration or a date. The lighting is key- so many restaurants in Philadelphia are so dimly lit you can barely see your food- 'cough' Starr and Garces. This can make things awkward for those not on a date. The food comes looking deceptively simple until you taste it- flavors just explode in your mouth. This is one of the few BYOs in the city worthy of an expensive bottle of wine.
(5)Mauro D.
What happened? I loved this place when they were on Spruce.....it was a real gem. The food is still excellent, but the atmosphere has tanked. I felt like I was at the Italian Bistro or worse, Olive Garden. I think I'd enjoy it if they would hire a GOOD interior designer.
(3)Max W.
FRESH pasta with great prices! Don't miss the artichoke. A hair noisy but it's well worth it. You can whisper at home. Get there!
(5)Laura M.
I've only been to Melograno once and it was almost a year ago... but the fact that I'm still thinking about it a year later prompted me to write a review. I feel like it is easy to get comfortable with Italian food; there are a lot of places that make decent Italian food but it is hard to find a standout place sometimes.... Melograno is a standout. I took my mom there on a Saturday--my only major complaint is the noise level. We both ordered specials, mine was a seared tuna special and her's was a house made pasta with shrimp, both exceptional. The food wasn't heavy and over-sauced. It was flavorful and well-portioned. I only wish they took reservations and didn't seat people so close to one another.
(4)Heather C.
Although I miss the old location, the new bigger location means getting a table on a Friday night is no longer an hour+ ordeal. New menu additions are awesome and well executed. Melograno is easily one of the top italian restaurants in Philly! And it's BYOB! YUM.
(5)Anita B.
We ended up at Melograno by accident! headed to Mercato but suddenly forgot the name. We enjoyed our meal with our 12 year old daughter but the place is much too loud to hear across the table. My husband loved his fried bread and cheese appetizer (a take on pizza turnover) and I enjoyed the pear carpaccio but the shaved pecorino was stingy. I thought the wild boar bolognese was tasty but for a pasta dish a fairly small portion for the price. My daughter liked but didnt love her spaghetti carbonara. Hubby polished off the yummy lamb chop special with crispy potatoes and asparagus. The bread was average as was the service. Not sure we'd go back because of the noisiness.
(3)D D.
This restaurant had been highly recommended as a great BYOB with amazing food so my group was excited to try it out for dinner. The first disappointment of the night was the bread. It came with plain oil that had no flavor to it whatsoever (a preview of things to come). A little Parmesan cheese, crushed peppers or garlic would have made a world of difference. For appetizers we ordered the meatballs and grilled squid. The meatballs ended up being the highlight of the meal (unfortunately there were only two!). They were juicy and flavorful and the cream sauce that accompanied them added a nice, rich flavor to the meat. The squid was a different story. It was cooked perfectly but had absolutely no flavor. It tasted like we were eating straight rubber. Not terrible, but not tasty either. For dinner we ordered the roasted lamb, pork chop and chicken. All three were disappointing. The lamb was a bad cut of meat with a lot of fat (only half of it was edible). there was no taste to it at all while chewing, but the aftertaste was terrible! It literally tasted like old seafood. I had everyone else at the table taste it to make sure I wasn't crazy, and they all agreed. The pork chop was overcooked and bland. You had to drink water while chewing to be able to get it down. A little less time cooking and a couple spices could have easily turned the pork chop into a great meal, because it was a very large portion of meat. The chicken, while not overcooked, had the same problem as the pork chop. Very bland and lacking flavor. The best part of the meal was our drinks, and we brought those with us.
(1)Jeffrey M.
The pork chop and risotto were great. The portions were generous and the serving staff were efficient and attentive. My only small complaint was the noise level which made across table conversation difficult.
(4)Sunil S.
Went here based on reviews from other yelp-ers. Okay, I'm vegetarian so that limited my choices a bit but the pasta I got was floating in an oily tomato sauce (arribiata). Not so good as I've had better. More importantly, the place was LOUD... for some reason, this place carries a lot of noise and it was really hard to hold a conversation. I would head down the street to Porcini's instead.
(2)Jim C.
I had been anticipating a nice dinner with my colleague who just flew in from Nashville, I decided the 15 minutes walk from Penn square was our nearest option from a list of highly recommendation restaurants. My hunger and my thirst were racing each other getting over there. We arrived around 7:30, the place was crowded but no problem getting a table, my colleague asked for a glass of wine, and I sensed our waiter was annoyed by that. (Dude, we're from out of town, how should we know this is a BYO establishment?) We were offered bottled plain/sprinkling water. Me: Is that all you have, just water? Waiter: Yes, just plain bottle water and sparkling water. Me: You don't have ice tea or soda? Waiter: Yea, we have ice tea and soda. Dude, how long have you waitering? We settled for ice tea, and it was bitter strong, could use a some ice in the glass, but who am I to complain. The bus boy was a lot more friendly and helpful, he brought over a pitcher of water, a basket of bread and some peppered olive oil and vinegar. (Wait, he told me they only have bottled water, trying to squeeze another few dollars on the bill?) The waiter eventually came back and read us the daily special, instead I ordered the black cod with truffle oil and eggplant, and a side of polenta, my friend a salad and ravioli. The place was loud, I could barely hear my coworker from across the table. The salad arrived first, a tall mount of mix green, actually looked decent, wished I have order a salad too, while my colleague munched on that, I ate the bread. After a bit, the ravioli and cod came out, they did a good job plating them, looked delicious, but my cod was dry, and could use a few more drop of truffle oil, I didn't taste any. It's hard to cook eggplant without making it greasy, but they did a good job on that. My waiter also forgot my polenta, he was nowhere in sight, then another waitress brought it out after I was half way through, the polenta was just warm, a little cheese harden on top, it wasn't creamy as I anticipated it should be. I was very disappointed, there're way too many places that will give you better service for less, food was okay, could be just a off night in the kitchen, looking at the other reviews, I wish I could give them another star, but I couldn't bring myself to it. Sorry.
(2)Jessica M.
We went here on a Tuesday night when they take reservations. Our table was located just north of the artic circle and we froze the whole night. For apps we ordered the antipasta and apparently mussels which none of the group at our table remembered ordering. We should have known the service was only going to get worse. We were basically ignored. My sea bass was excellent and the husband's pasta was great although the portions weren't quite up to his standards. Overall, great food but horrendous service and not entirely comfortable environment in a city that is teeming with outstanding Italian.
(3)Hamida S.
Excellent food. Great space and atmosphere. Love the BYOB's in Philadelphia
(5)Anthony M.
This place is closed! They are apparently reopening in a new location in the Fall.
(1)Anna M.
Excellent food, excellent service. Love that its BYOB. Had the the pappardelle with truffle oil, others at the table had a lovely fresh fish and beet raviolis. Will definitely be back!!
(5)Monica G.
Should have read Yelp reviews BEFORE going to Melograno! 9/21/10 Cort C wrote: "Rude staff who keeps checking their watch." 8/11/10 Lisa K wrote: "The hostess greeted us with a certain air of impatient contempt, as initially did our server." 7/11/10 Lia M wrote: "One of the hostesses was rude." 2/26/10 Lauren H wrote: "I've always found the hosts to be a bit abrasive." 12/11/09 Rebekka T wrote: "Our waiter was fine, a little rushed. At some point it seemed like he got irritated." Notice a theme here? Dined at Melograno last night with a party of 6 and received horrible service. The hostess and our server were rushed and rude. It began when I was the first to arrive for our 6:30pm reservation. I checked in with the hostess who proceeded to ask me questions about party size (even though she was aware that I was not the one who made the reservation). I could not confirm that our party was still 6 and this seemed to annoy her. I waited in the foyer with one other person for the rest of our party to arrive and at 6:40 on the dot the hostess approached us and asked if our party was close by because "your reservation was for 6:30". It had only been ten minutes (I know this because I took my cellphone out to call my friends and noticed the time)! She looked at us as if it had been an hour. Luckily less than a minute later the other members of our party arrived and we were seated at 6:41pm (a whole 11 minutes late:). I was annoyed by how impatient and impolite the hostess was but figured the waitress would be better. I was WRONG. The waitress was just as rushed and impatient as the hostess. My entire party ordered appetizers, entrees and deserts. The food was good but not exceptional; it certainly was not good enough to compensate for the rude service. The group I was with is a dinner club that has gone to different restaurants one Friday out of every month, for the past five years. We have never experienced such a culture of rudeness as the one which exists at Melograno. If you are looking for an Italian BYOB I suggest you check out some of the others we've been to: LaViola, Radicchio, Modo Mio, Bistro LaBaia. We will not be back nor will we recommend Melograno to others.
(1)Phil D.
Last night (Sunday) I was meandering around Rittenhouse area after hearing some great live music and was craving a good, authentic pasta dish. A flight to Italy was not an option so I decided to finally try this place. About 1/2 full, much different from when I've passed on ultra-busy Fri/Sat nights. The hostess was very solicitous and made some recommendations but when she said byo and the local wine shop was closed and I didn't feel like going home and returning with wine, I decided to head around the corner, grabbed an Allagash Dubbel and proceeded back here. Started with the fritturina...fried Smelts with some herb mayo. Lightly coated in flour, they were good, but not exceptional. Then the Pappardelle Tartufate arrived and I instantly felt transported to a neighborhood trattoria in Bologna. Earthy wild mushrooms with chopped walnuts, some truffle oil and three small rectangles of pecorino on top. Wow! Perfectly balanced, simple and fresh, the kind of dish that all too often is swimming in sauce, but here the melding of flavors was pure bliss. By the way, although I mostly drink wine with pasta, the Allagash Dubbel was a perfect pairing with this. Concluded with the warm ricotta cake with creme anglaise and fresh blueberries and vowed to return ASAP to start working my way through the rest of the menu. I will gladly add a 5th star if the rest of the menu holds up to this.
(4)Jenny L.
it's tucked away in a street kind of far from Rittenhouse Square, but Melograno is well worth the walk. When I stepped in on a Friday night, the place was bustling and filled with chatter. Thankfully we had made a reservation in advance, and were promptly showed to a table. The waitress (I wish I could remember her name!) was extremely nice and cheery, and made quick work of opening the bottle of wine we brought and bringing us bread. We skipped on appetizers, choosing to indulge on the bread instead. I ordered the Pappardelle Tartufate after hearing good things about it here on Yelp, and my date ordered the wild boar ragu. I was extremely satisfied with the pappardelle tartufate - delicious, tender, fresh-made strips of pasta tossed in unique-tasting truffle oil and accented with bits of walnut. I only had a bite of my date's wild boar ragu, but he reported it was delicious as well. I should also mention they brought out our orders extremely quickly - we only waited about 10 minutes, no joke. I would come back to sample more pasta dishes, and the desserts, as well as for the amazing service.
(5)Justin S.
Really nice. Great staff. Nice feel to the place. Fantastic food.
(4)Brian C.
Have never had a bad meal here. Entrees are always deftly handled, with good attention to transparency of distinct flavors. The only drawbacks are the sometimes long wait for a table on weekends (no reservations) and the decibel level, which can mount to a disconcerting clamor with the tables so close to one another and no soft surfaces to dampen the noise. Nice, friendly service, though.
(4)charles g.
The food's fantastic and the people are really nice. Lets clear up misunderstandings. First, it is a BYO. If you want to buy wine, there is a state store (open til 9 M-Sat, 5 on Sun) on the 1900 block of Chestnut (walk up 20th street to Chestnut, turn right & go 1-1/2 blocks, it's on the far side of the street). If you want to buy beer, there is an excellent beer store on north side of the 2000 block of Chestnut, closer to 21st street (same as previous directions, but turn left). Second, Tues-Thurs & Sun they DO take reservations. They do NOT take reservations on Fri-Sat.
(5)Rex F.
Melograno is definately a place I would revisit. The food is decent despite limited menu offerings; ambience is warm and lively; and BYOB(no corkage fee) is always preferred. I recommend a reservation before you stop by because the place gets really busy during dinner. We waited for almost 45 minutes as walk-ins on a saturday night. We ordered the grilled sea bass and spaghetti with clams in tomato sauce as entrees. Both were execellent but the sea bass really made me smile. The dish was nicely prepared in a light cream sauce with artichoke hearts and potatoes, you can really taste the freshness in the seafood. The clams/shrimp/beans appetizer was also lovely. The dessert was just average(choco crepe). Overall, I would give this place 4 stars. The place is well lit and can get noisy, so not recommended in a romantic setting.
(4)Keith S.
This is our favorite Italian BYOB in the city. We were die-hards at the original location and they are holding strong at the new location.
(5)Naz B.
Melograno used to be across the street from my apartment, and I was disappointed to see it move. I gave it a little time to work out the kinks with the new larger location and sort of forgot about it existing, but I've been there twice recently, and both times were terrific! Both times I went, I went without a reservation, and the lovely hostess (owner and wife of the chef I think?) was so accommodating. She sat my boyfriend, his mother and me right away on a very busy night. She actually recognized me from my resemblance to my sister who was a frequent customer at the old location. Crazy right? The next time, she seated our party of 6 with no reservation right away too. She really is so nice, and really went above and beyond. She is exactly what you hope for from front of house. The food was really the star though! Here's what I had and tasted. First Visit: - Pappardelle Tartufate - my old standby. Seriously delicious for mushroom lovers. - Osso Buco Special w Polenta - tasty and tender, but maybe not the best osso buco I've had - Mussels - seriously delicious. We weren't going to get this, but a server walked by with a bowl for another table, and the smell was intoxicating and we had to have them. They taste as good as they smell - Crostini with grilled raddichio, gorgonzola and sweet pear. Very delicious. Second Visit: - Antipasto platter - this is really big, and I think I liked everything. lots of veggies, grilled and pickled. The crostini were just just ok. - Beet Ravioli - ABSOLUTELY AMAZING!!! I think this might be only a summer dish, but I'm not sure that I could go back to Melograno and not order this again if it was available. The filling is earthy and sweet, and it comes in a sage butter sauce that is to die for. the crispy sage leaves are so Yum! Every bite was a perfect bite. I used to think my favorite thing was the truffle pappardelle, but this moves into first place for me. - Strangozzi pasta with pecorino romano sauce with artichokes and black pepper - I almost ordered this, and I'm glad I didn't. The homemade, rustic pasta was delicious. Great texture, but the sauce was only OK. It is the only thing I've had from here that I thought was meh. - Seafood Risotto - my sister got this, and I just had a bite and it was so delicious. It is a cool bluish black color, I guess from squid ink, and it was just really flavorful and rich feeling. - Pork Special with lentils - I only tasted a little bite of lentils, but they were porky and delicious. Overall, the food is fantastic here. I might stick to the pastas because they are really something special, but to be fair, I haven't tried very many meat entrées. It's a BYO so don't forget to grab a bottle of wine or something. We forgot the first time and were disappointed without it. The staff is attentive, and the new location is nice and big. If there is any complaint, it would be be that that larger tables are a tad too close, bc I was unfortunately sitting in a seat close to another table, and a server walked into my chair about every 5 minutes. Seriously though, they could have been stepping on my feet and pulling my hair, and I would have been okay with it if I was eating the beet ravioli.
(5)To M.
This is just a lovely restaurant, especially for large groups. The staff is friendly and knowledgeable, and they do not rush you to bring in another party. The fabulous wild boar ragu is as close as you can get to authentic Italian. The rest of the menu is Italian-inspired rather than traditional, but all made with fresh ingredients and delicious. BYOB.
(5)L W.
First visit last Thursday because Audrey Claire was filled up. I will return! My risotto (calamari and asparagus special) was fantastic, and I loved the ginger creme brulee for dessert. My friend was just as happy with her spaghetti al vongole and molten chocolate cake dessert. Service was pleasant. Restaurant interior is surprisingly spacious (street front leads you to believe it would be tiny) Only downsides: it is LOUD inside - was hard to hear my friend across the table. And the bread basket was pretty mundane but I shouldn't be eating that anyways.
(4)Jolin W.
Worst experience I've ever had at a BYOB. To begin with, the hostess Ann was incredibly rude and arrogant when taking my reservation and rude to my entire party when we arrived. Listen, we know you need to turn your tables but telling us over and over again was not necessary. We were hurried through our dinner, perhaps we were not aware that our money wasn't as green as the other customers (??) The waitress was sullen, unfriendly and glared us down while we looked over the menu and at the end unceremoniously flung our check at our tables. Servers were equally rude and unpleasant. The food was decent but not worth being treated like dirt when you go out to eat. There are many more excellent BYOBs in Philly to partonize in this economic climate. Don't ruin your dinner experience by going here (unless you're a sucker for abuse)
(1)kathy t.
BYO. My favorites are the pine nut, goat cheese topped portobello appetizer w/ balsamic + evoo (yes you can recreate this when you go home), and the beet-marscarpone ravioli. Or any pasta in the brown butter and sage sauce. Seafood is well executed, quail is a little fiddly. Be careful without reservations in the wintertime- gets chilly outside or even inside by the door. Outdoor seating is nice, service will never be annoyed with you for dawdling after your meal. Nothing larger than a 4 top although they'll put together tables. Also it can get noisy in the dining room- it's all hard surfaces so noise rebounds in this little box and it can be high volume even when the restaurant is less than half full.
(5)Tracie P.
my favorite byo! amazing food, totally reasonably priced. the amatriciana is so, so good i have to force myself to get anything else (i am determined to try everything on the menu). there's one waiter with a bit of an attitude but the service is all around good. they also don't take reservations on the weekends, but the wait is never too bad. still, it's worth it!
(5)Alex C.
I'm rarely totally happy with anything. And after searching for a parking spot this past Sunday night for over 25 minutes, I was expecting to continue my history. However I loved it. I really did. The food was fabulous; the service was excellent; and the prices were surprisingly reasonable (and I'm known for cheap). A little noisy, but not uncomfortably so. And just great food. Barbecued salmon, calamari and 4 large shrimp. Perfect. And my girlfriend, Joodles, felt the same about her dinner (which I also shared). We shall return again soon, but will walk this time.
(5)matthew l.
One of the very few restaurants in the city that is packed from 5:00 PM till closing every day of the week except Monday. Stellar Italian turned out flawlessly and effortlessly by the chef and two sous' in view in their tiny but efficient domain. Outdoor tables always filled from early on. This is a neighborhood treasure which the neighbors fully appreciate and patronize Expect to wait an hour or more for a table. No reses. Moving to a larger space doubled their capacity but the the story is exactly the same.
(5)Brynn D.
i just had a flawless dinner at melograno. mussels in a white wine sauce, beet salad with pears, goat cheese and walnuts, and a spaghetti with clams in a white wine sauce (same as the mussels i think - also both dishes with large whole pieces of garlic). everything was cooked perfectly. best mussels and best spaghetti i've had in this city. loved my dinner. walked in from the street and got a table right away - lucky us! i'll be back here again and often. prices were great for food this yummy.
(5)Jim Z.
Two stars might be bit of a generous rating. Are the people who gave 5 stars smoking some of that philadelphia crack I hear about? Now I've only dined there once, and definitely will not be going back, but the food was a complete turn off. I ordered the black cod, usually a fairly easier fish to prepare but not your typical italian dish I admit, and it was completely over cooked and prepared in a sauce rich in oil and not complimenting the fish at all. I barely ate half. Our waiter was another bad spot. Completely unprofessional and emotional. Keep your shit at home broooooooooooooooooo! Salad was good but not too adventurous.
(2)Miriam H.
This is a great BYOB with good service and ambiance. We didn't have time to get a bottle of wine but they allowed us to go out and get one and saved our table for us after we ordered! Really good food too and would recommend this place to anyone!
(4)Mike E.
The best restaurant in town! We really like it and come pretty often-always had a great time. Both pasta and meat dishes are superb. They take reservation on weekdays but on weekends be sure either to come early or to be willing to wait up to an hour. Starters cost around 10$, pasta ~ 15$, meat 25$.
(5)Nina L.
This place is so cozy and friendly. The space is small, which gives it such a personal feel. There's a lot of energy from the diners, the staff, and kitchen. It's a great BYOB and everyone has at least a bottle of wine at their table. The handmade pasta was great and so were the desserts. Just be prepared to wait since they don't take reservations.
(5)eli p.
i love this place!!!!!!! my fav is the pasta with truffles! so good!!!!!!! i've never really had to wait that long, but even if i did it would be woth it! i moved before the new location opened but i loved the old place. although it did get pretty hot in the summer months.
(5)Erin A.
New Melograno is open for business and was fairly packed last night despite the first game of the world series being on. We never went to the old location so can't compare but we really liked the space. It was twice as wide as your typical Philly BYOB and open in the back with a true open kitchen that stretched across the entire back wall. The food was good, we just got salads and pasta which were both borderline exceptional. Well, my beet, goat cheese and walnut salad was top notch. The ravioli was *almost* there but the pasta was a little tough -- not al dente but just a little too thick or something. The service was exuberant while I wished it were a little more low-key. It could have been our server but he was a little overbearing when he was there and then absent for spells. Overall, I really like the space and the food was above decent just not ass good as I was expecting. Maybe I am just over the Philly Italian BYOB...
(3)Yen T.
great italian byo. The place is small so it can fill up fast. make that reservation.
(4)Ray D.
I really used to love this place when it was new. I think that popularity and notoriety gave birth to complacency because it's just not what it used to be. The service is lacking. I felt like I was bothering the hostess when I showed up and asked for a table. The food has also declined in quality. I think I'm going to give them one more shot but that's it. I really want to like this place again because it was so great for so long.
(2)Sharon G.
Tasty. Good stand by.
(4)Alex M.
my second favorite byob in philly. great northern italian food. defintiely get there early in the evening and grab a spot outside. they dont take reservations so be ready to wait or *shiver* walk down to audrey claire. i've eaten there so many times and really havent had a dish i didnt like. my favorite so far has been the quail. their seafood is always fresh, the pasta cooked perfectly and their portions sized perfectly. bring a few bottles of wine, site outside, relax, eat, and you'll have a great night!
(4)Gregory L.
Great food and clean atmosphere at this BYO. There is a romantic story behind the husband (chef) and wife (hostess) who own the place, which I don't quite remember... anyway this is a really nice place to enjoy a meal with a date or with a small group of friends. As others have said, no reservations so the earlier the better.
(5)bill e.
expensive---------poor service. small portions. empty headed hostess who thinks she's a movie star. loud. chintzy decor. loud.
(2)Dave M.
Food was good (not great), and a little on the small side. Antipasta was good size though. Service was awful, and we were there on a Tuesday! No water refill. Took appetizer order, served appetizer, never came back for dinner order. And don't get chocolate cake dessert, 8.50 for a cupcake sized piece. Total rip. Won't go back, tons of better (in every way) Italian restaurants in philadelphia.
(2)Sharon W.
I will forever reminisce about this picturesque Italian restaurant in Philly. This was always my go-to Italian place to take friends visiting town and to enjoy a lovely meal with my husband. Every time the restaurant helped me prove that Philly was a great foodie city.
(5)Keith R.
Melograno is a nice BYOB tucked away near Fitler Square. They specialize in Tuscan cuisine and have a nice array or classic Italian options on their menu. The decor is nice and warm making you feel welcome inthe small space. Pasta is homemade and outstanding, they do a good job of cooking it to the right texture. In addition to the nice selection of pastas they have several salads to choose from and both fish and meat dishes. The seafood in particular was excellent, very fresh, and mixed with nice herbs and sauces. The waiter swore by the tiramisu but we went with the chocolate cake and apple tart which was really more like a cake. Both were good and capped off a very good dinner.
(4)george k.
We have been regulars to Melogramo, from the time they opened at 22nd and Spruce to the new place on Sansom. We have always enjoyed the Luca's cooking. We have never had a meal below very very good and some days it's been exquisite. We handled the no reservation policy at all, then no reservations on weekends. The food is still very consistent and very flavorful. The prices have jumped but for the quality of the food, not a problem. My main complaint has been their policy of not seating a party if everyone is not there. I don't have a problem with this policy on weekends, when no reservations are taken. However, when we have a reservation during the week, the hostess won't seat the party. We had to wait in the rain and recently co-workers had to wait in the cold. But worse than that, the hostess Ann has been rude to people. For some reason, Ann thinks she can be snotty to the customers. She knows me but treated me rudely because some of the people in our party had not arrived. All I wanted to do was have a seat and open a bottle. Lately, I have heard and read on city search that people are asked to vacate their table as soon as they are done. I can't believe that someone would do that. This is not a fast food franchise but one of the best restaurants in the city. This kind of behavior from a hostess is totally unacceptable. I have a hard time returning to Melograno, even though I have had some of the best meals there. My wife and I have noticed that they have rushed us the last few times and that is not how we like to eat. I'm hoping that people begin to complain and they correct this type of attitude.
(3)Dan l.
Decided to stop on a Sunday night. I had the prosciotto di parma e rucola to start and it was light and flavorful (hint of lemon and olive oil). For the main course I went with pappardelle something with wild mushroom and truffle oil, loved it. For desert i took the advice of....my server and had a light custard type flank with berries, again spot on. Can't remember the name of my server but she was attentive and knowledgable.
(5)Aaron H.
Hands down my favorite BYO in Philly, and the warm, intimate, but also energetic atmosphere makes it perfect for just two. Melograno exudes care for their ingredients, preparation, and presentation, and they always, always deliver a fantastic meal. Nice owners too, who are always around, and might even let you in a little past their last seating time if you're nice. The wait can be a long one, but you can always just head over to Doobie's with your date for a few martinis while you wait (hahaha kidding don't do that... I love Doobie's, but oil and water don't mix.) Seriously, though, there's a wait for a reason, and it's worth it... if it's super-long, they'll take your phone number and call you when the table is almost ready. On the menu, the scallops are exceptional, and given the subtle creativity of the chef/co-owner, I tend towards the specials that can be a little more experimental. One of my favorite Italian restaurants -- in any city.
(5)Philly P.
FRIDAY - (Rude Staff who keeps checking their watch) Me and my boyfriend went here on a Friday night. He doesn't get off work until 9:30ish so we arrived at Melograno around 9:45-50. We were welcomed by a hostess who greeted us with a, "Oh, let me check if we're still sitting people..." (THE PLACE WAS PACKED) but we learned that their kitchen closes at 9:45 (WEIRD its FRIDAY PEOPLE???) Immediately we were a little turned off. Well, they took us and we sat down and gave our waiter our orders (who was not listening in the least). About 3 min later he comes back, "Uhh, what did you order?" .... CMON MAN?!?! we ordered 2 fricken pasta dishes. Anyways.... we asked for more bread 3X and finally said something and our waiter responded... "Oh..." not even a sorry or a screw u or anything!!! UGGHH... (his tip was not good). Ok. to some it up... good food, rude and unthoughtful staff - EVERYONE seems preoccupied with leaving (even though the place was packed!!) -We will NOT be going here again.....
(2)Daniel G.
I love Melograno. Anything with butter and truffle oil is good. Although . . . I miss the old space on 22nd & Spruce.
(5)Ryan B.
I have now been here 3 times, once at the old location and twice on Sansom. The first two times I enjoyed my meal and everything about the restaurant, but after being there last night I had to write a review. I ordered the Strangozzi pasta dish in a Pecorino Ramano sauce with artichokes and black pepper. The dish was OK, the pasta was good, very rustic in a good way; but it also tasted like something you could make at home quite easily. However, my girlfriend ordered the beet ravioli and it was amazing. I don't even know if I like beets, but this ravioli was terrific. I actually told my GF that it was "special" after I tasted it (this sounds like self-important foodie nonsense, but I really thought it was that good). Overall the restaurant is very nice, I wish it wasn't a BYOB but that is just my personal preference. If everything they made was as good as the beet ravioli then this would be one of my top two or three restaurants in the city. If I wanted good Italian food I would choose to go to Osteria over Melograno, but Melograno is a nice option.
(4)Mike G.
An impromptu dinner date in this neighborhood had me searching yelp for a charming BYOB for after work and yelp didn't let me down. We arrived at this warm and inviting restaurant with a decent bottle of wine and a little concern about our budget/appetite ratio. The specials offered this evening were seductive in their description so we decided to simply order 4 courses and share everything between the two of us, hoping not to go broke or hungry. Our server was really great about this. We were hoping they didn't mind too much our meek budget. The appetizer special was a Gorgonzola flan with poached pairs and toasted almonds was incredibly delicious. If I could, I'd spell out "incredibly" in italics. The homemade bread brought to the table also proved a wonderful vehicle for some of this savory flan. We then tried the pasta special, a homemade fettuccine with a seafood ragu. It was very good, though we noticed it was a little heavy on the salt for our expectations, not that we had any problem finishing it. Our server was kind enough to bring this shared course in separate dishes and yet it seemed like we each received a nice size portion. For a main course, we opted for the grilled pork chop on top of something creamy-risotto-like dish was beautifully grilled and tasty. We finished with good coffee and a wonderful dessert. We chose the light and airy ricotta torte with strawberries on top of a sweet cream that proved a happy ending (for the meal, not the evening ... yet). The bill turned out to be a total of $75 and left us more than full and content. Considering the superb service and quality dishes, this proved a reasonable meal indeed. I'm already looking forward to returning soon.
(4)Megan R.
Perfect! The antipasti appetizer is amazing for friends to share, and who can complain about it being BYOB?? I had the nightly special, the gnocchi with lamb ragu, and to this day my mouth waters at the thought of it. Best gnocchi I've EVER had. They even let us stay super late drinking our wine while they cleaned up. Never felt like we were rushed. Can't wait to go back!
(5)J K.
Each time we've had a party of 10 or more. And each time, Melgrano's has been extremely accommodating. m not sure if I've ever had a bad dish at this place. The staff is friendly, the food is heavenly, and the setting is comfortable. Its like a big warm hug from your best friend.
(5)Katrina S.
Italian BYOBs in Philly always seem to just miss the mark on being amazing. All of the food here was good (we ordered a lot of it!), but nothing really made me say wow. I had the pears for my app and they were yummy but I think there was just too much of it. They could have done something a little more interesting I think. The fried mozzarella was also really good, definitely a comfort food. I had the chicken with prosciutto, mozzarella, basil etc and the chicken was juicy and crispy, I just wish there had been a little more prosciutto. We got the chocolate cake for dessert and it was one of the highlights. So moist and warm and gooey :) YUM. The service was good but the wait was a bit much.
(4)Nadia S.
Great restaurant. We had the antipasti platter, ravioli, and panna cotta. All was very good! Such a cute and cozy place. Loved the atmosphere.
(5)Lisa K.
Welcome to Melograno, a BYO that journeys outside of the safe zone of your typical La Viola and La Fontana typicals in Center City. Attracting a crowd much older than the average college group looking for a fancy meal still within their budget, Melagrano does well to maintain and uphold not only a classy appearance but experience as well. Nestled in a quaint corner of the Rittenhouse area, this restaurant has been a bustling establishment since its inception giving it a somewhat hauty persona. The hostess greeted us with a certain air of impatient contempt as initially did our server. However, some quick chit chat with our waitress and she mellowed out considerably. I find it rather ironic that the restaurant described themself as "convivial" on their website when the restaurant is anything but - professional? sure but convivial? I'd find more "fun-loving" on a subway. Just saying. Overall, I enjoyed the experienec from the food to the lighting to the fact that the servers knew which side to serve your dish on (left). Dishes that were ordered: Pappardelle Alle Olive (Sauteéd jumbo shrimp & Sea scallops cooked in a light tomato sauce with black and green olives)....didn't try this but it looked so-so. Ravioli di Magro (Homemade pasta filled with Swiss Chard, spinach; Ricotta cheese finished in brown butter sage sauce)...YUM, my 2 friends got this and I would definitely reccommend it. Sella di Coniglio Ripiena (Organic rabbit saddle stuffed with prosciutto & spinach finished in a delicate cream & white wine pan sauce served over potato puree )...hands down, the BEST dish of the night. The rabbit is tender and cooked to perfection while the cheese and spinach stuffed inside give it a great texture and even better flavor. Pappardelle Al Ragu di Cinghiale (Braised wild boar bolognese made with fresh tomatoes & rosemary finished with Parmigiano)...great pasta dish but lacked a little flavor. If you're looking to impress a date or your out-of-town friends, definitely consider this trattoria. Only caution is - the bread isn't warm.
(4)Edward S.
I have been going to this place since it was located on Spruce street. This is by far one of my favorite Italian restaurants in the city. A great representation of true Tuscan food, I have always had nothing less than a great experience here. I can't say I'm well versed in the pasta dishes because I inevitably always order the pappardelle with boar ragu. Last time I went we started with scallops and polenta which was done beautifully. The best way to dine here is to go with one other person, split a first course and a salad, split a pasta course, and split an entree. That puts you around a hundred bucks and you will be full and completely satisfied.
(5)Cameron Y.
There are so many italian BYOs in the city that it's hard to decide which one to go to when you want some good pasta, but I've decided to stick to Melograno after having tried a few other BYOs in RHS. I haven't had one pasta dish that I didn't like at Melograno. All the other BYOs I've tried recently (i.e. La Fontana, La Viola, Branzino) pale in comparison when it comes to the food, service, and atmosphere. P.S. My only complaint would be their lack of side options. Swiss chard and carnnellini beans? Really???
(4)Jason N.
We went to Melograno during restaurant week, although we had been meaning to go for quite a long time. I had heard quite a few rave reviews from friends who swear by the place. We made a reservation earlier in the day, but we still had to wait for about 30 minutes after our reserved time. This was not a big deal, since restaurant week is always chaotic, and it was reasonably expected. The place is really charming inside and a lot bigger than it looks from the outside. It is dimly lit and tastefully decorated, which creates a cozy, romantic ambiance that we both enjoyed. The food was delicious as well. We both got the veal, pork, and beef meatballs which were really flavorful. My dish consisted of breaded chicken topped with prosciutto, arugula, tomato, and fresh mozzarella. The portion size was more than enough for an entree, and I really enjoyed it. My girlfriend got the pork chop with creamy polenta and pomegranate reduction. We were both a little unsure about how the pomegranate would mesh with the rest of the dish, but the whole thing was delicious, and she recommends it to everyone. For dessert, we got both the chocolate lava cake and creme brulee. Both were very good, though the portion size of the lava cake was smaller than expected. All in all, the food was near perfect. I would normally give this place five stars, but unfortunately the service was not as flawless as the food. The hostess was great, but our waitress was completely inattentive. We went almost thirty minutes without our waitress checking our waters, which were both empty for the majority of that period. Maybe that sounds like nitpicking, but when you are eating really salty food, thirty minutes is a long time to wait for water. It wasn't for lack of trying either, because we did try to flag her down several times as she walked by. Eventually, we were able to get a hold of the hostess as she was seating another table. We didn't say a word about it or complain at all, but for the rest of the meal, the waitress would not so much as speak to us. I understand that restaurant week is hectic and her night was close to being over, so this won't stop me from going back or from recommending the place to other people, but hopefully next time the service will be as good as the food. If it is, I'll definitely add that final star.
(4)Rebekka T.
Decor - Cozy atmosphere, it looks like an italian cave. A little on the loud side, not from music, but from a combination of conversations and kitchen noises. Service - Our waiter was fine, a little rushed. At some point, it seemed like he got irritated, maybe he was in the weeds, and stopped being polite. My BF's mother asked to make sure her cappuccino was decaf, (a pretty typical question I was often asked as a server) and he became stand-offish. Instead of just saying "Yes.", he got all sassy, pretended like he didn't hear her/didn't understand her and then went off about how he doesn't mess around with coffee because he has a grandma that doesn't like to be up at 5am. Food - was great! We shared appetizers, and all got pasta dishes. The pasta was fresh, cooked perfectly, and the sauces were delicious. The beet ravioli was particularly good and interesting. I would definitely return, and chalk up our mediocre service to this one waiter.
(4)Brendan O.
A bit pricey, but one of the highest quality Italian menus you'll find in Philly. The service is attentive and professional, and the food is always wonderful. My favorite is the Mushroom Papardelle, wide ribbon pasta in a mushroom-based cream sauce. Incredible, although I'm actually not sure if that was a standard menu item or a special that day. Like I said, the prices are on the high side, no doubt to help cover what must be some very high rent for that part of town (2 blocks off Rittenhouse Square). And I think that there is a brightness and a "starkness" to the decor that, if cured by someone with a good design eye via a few simple changes, could go a long way toward making this a true 5-star establishment.
(4)Simone A.
Melograno is hands down my favorite restaurant in Philadelphia. I have never had a meal there I didn't enjoy. The core staff has not changed in as long as I have been going, which means well trained, skilled, knowledgeable service. The new location is spacious and attractive. When last there, I started my meal with an Artichoke Heart appetizer, which was a special, which had a delicate flavor, and was plated beautifully. Next I had the Melograno Salad, which has a pomegranate balsamic dressing, and is simple and light with four endive leaves to give it a kick. Finally, I had the Steak, which was served at a perfect medium rare, and came with Cannellini Beans and a green, which I no longer remember, but was tasty. Although, as is true almost everywhere I go, I tend to order the same things again and again, there are many quality items on the menu, and the specials are always interesting. There isn't much for vegetarians, but what there is has wonderful seasoning and interesting ingredients. They are listed as a place that does not take reservations, but this is not strictly true. They accept reservations Tuesday through Thursday, if you want to try it, but don't have the time or patience to either show up right at 5:30 when they open, or wait for a table. The outdoor seating is sparse, and I find the sidewalk of Sansom to narrow to make it a realistic place to eat, but the inside is a lovely place for a meal.
(5)Chihee K.
I thought this place was quaint and the atmosphere was nice. The only downside was that it was quite loud. However by around 9pm, the crowd starts to thin out, so it was fine. We were able to get a reservation (same-day), which was great - and for a larger group of 5. My experience overall was A-OK at Melograno. I did have a wonderful salad of the day that consisted of grilled/sliced artichokes and arugula. My main dish was a pappardelle pasta (tomato based) with shrimp (literally three pieces) and scallops. It was simply ok. I had the warm spiced chocolate cake with vanilla ice cream that was good, but not out of this world.
(3)Michael G.
Nice BYOB. Had the cozze (mussels in white wine and garlic) appetizer to start. Pretty awesome. Make sure you ask for extra bread for dipping. Had the gamberoni (grilled shrimp) as my entree. It was ok. Shrimp were tasty and the polenta was good but not much to the dish. I would come back and try a pasta dish next time.
(3)Kyle D.
I love going to this place. The food is fresh and delicious. I wish they seasoned a bit heavier but always a great place for dinner.
(4)Sharlenne S.
I really loved Melograno. The place was packed but we got a table immediately. Our served was very attentive and helpful. We had: 1) Gamberi Calamari e Cannellini Inzimino: This was listed as a salad, but it was more of an appetizer... and the most wonderful appetizer I have ever had! Warm shrimp and cannellini beans served over baby spinach in a lemony/tomato-y juice. I could eat this all day every day! 2) Pappardelle Tartufate: We shared this pasta dish because every review raves about it. The bf liked it a lot, I thought it was good, but the truffle oil was too strong for my liking. This is why i gave it 4.5 stars... too strongly flavored. 3) Quaglie Arrosto: I loved, loved, loved this. The presentation was wonderful (two small quails completely deboned and stuffed), and the dried fruit stuffing was both savory and sweet. 4) Special Lam (I don't remember the exact name): Bf had this and he really loved it. 5) Molten Chocolate: Yum! I don't normally have chocolate desserts, but this one was hot, sweet, fudgey, delicious!
(4)Puri G.
Superb dining experience and the fixed price for Sunday was a pleasant surprise. Service was impeccable and very friendly. Pasta is really done al dente and the risotto was one of the best I've had. Will definitely go back!
(5)Laura B.
The Spaghetti alla Carbonara is the best pasta dish I've ever had. I like simple, but delicious, things, and this dish is to die for. From the menu: "Pasta tossed in a sheared egg, crispy pancetta, cracked black pepper & Parmigiano." The sauce is delicious, and the perfect amount of it is tossed on the pasta. The cracked black pepper on top is the perfect complement to the cheese and egg. And the pancetta isn't heavy-handed, just dices of it in the sauce itself to add great flavor. Try it!
(5)Kumar S.
For a BYOB it has amazing food, fresh, tasty, and a busy festive atmosphere. Come when it's not busy and it can be quite intimate and quiet but it always seems to be busy especially weekends and evenings.
(4)Tough Crowd T.
We met friends for dinner last weekend and had a great time. We came at about 6:45 pm on Friday and had no trouble getting seated. Antipasto platter: okay Smelts: excellent, but the accompanying dip should be jazzed up Truffle/mushroom Pappardelle: very good Beet ravioli specia: excellent Striped Bass: okay Grilled Artichoke side: excellent Service was adequate. The atmosphere is conducive to a larger party and I really liked the front room (by the open kitchen), but the rest of the restaurant feels too cavernous. Generally, however, I am not a huge fan of this decorating style (fake Italian). The best thing about this dinner (other than the company) was its good value: we spent $75 (including taxes and a 20% gratuity) for two and had two apps, one pasta entree, one fish entree, one dessert and two coffee beverages. I would go again for a casual dinner with friends on the spur of the moment.
(4)Mare M.
Four of us decided to meet at this BYO for dinner this past Sat. night... I had called to make reservation, only to find they DON'T take reservations on the weekend. Ok, no prob. I got there about 6:30 - put our name in, they took my cell # and we went across the street for drinks. I got a call a 1/2 hour later that our table was ready. Pretty good for a Sat. night. We were taken to our table, squeezing by the people waiting in the foyer area. the layout seems to be going for a big open feel, with an open kitchen in the back of the room but the tables are very close together. On this night it felt loud & crammed, though it was an upbeat and fun feeling atmosphere. We were served water right away by a runner and our waiter (Ray, I found out later, by asking him) came by without stopping, just spotted us and seemed to be annoyed at yet another table. Hmmm. A few minutes later, he stopped by, asked about opening our wine and mumbled and groaned about the night he was having, as he opened our 3 bottles. Then he didn't come back for our orders for another 15 minutes - at which time he finally gave us the specials. We started our meal with 2 apps.: the Antipasto and a breaded mozzarella dish with a 'lite sardine butter'. The Antipasto was pretty good, notably the crostini assortment was very unique.. the other veggies were ordinary. The mozzarella dish, however was over powered with the sardine taste, took a few bites and couldn't go with it. For entrees, I got the Spinach/Cheese Ravioli done in a brown butter sage sauce, which I must say was excellent. My dinner partners got Monk Fish (special), Seafood Combo dinner and a Pasta Carbonara. Everyone seem to truly enjoy their entrees. BTW- DO NOT rely on the menu on the website, 90% of what it shows is not on the actual menu. I hate when I read something on a web menu, make a plan to try it and it doesn't exist on the actual restaurant menu. For dessert I got a Ricotta cake, served over strawberries, a little on the dry side but pretty good. My partners got the panna cotta and creme brulee - both were done nicely. I can't say we didn't have a good time, but I was in good company, The service remained slow all night, but gave us plenty of time for laughs and conversation. The whole meal came to about $160+ (not including tip) for the 4 of us. If they kicked things up a notch creatively in the kitchen, stepped up the service and spread out the tables a bit more, they'd really have something here.
(3)Scott R.
A winner. Everything we had was excellent. Arugula salad with shiitakes, toasted walnuts, goat cheese, and lemon vinaigrette - beautiful. Beef roulade special (with asparagus stuffing) - wonderful. Papperdelle with wild mushroom and toasted walnut sauce - darn near stunning. Service was top notch. Even when the metro waiter put his hand softly on my back one too many times, I can't say it really bothered me. At least not enough to take a star away. It's BYO, so if the wine list sucks - it's your fault. For his part, the waiter promptly uncorked ours, and when we had some left - he promptly supplied cork, bag and carrier so we could take home what's left. The only ding was the polenta. Actually the polenta was delicious. But the way it was presented on the menu - it was listed with artichokes, chard, and white beans. We thought it was some kind of funky salad and promptly ordered, when actually those were each individual side dishes that were available. That confusion aside, everything else was brilliant. I'm from out of town ... but I sure hope to come back.
(5)Es L.
We heard good things about this place so we celebrated husband's and friend's birthdays here. We liked it here! Louis was our server, and he was really cute, sweet and thoughtful- someone you'd want as a friend. Food was excellent. Grilled octopus was tender, flavorful and delicious (portion is small though just to warn you). The mussels were also lovely- white sauce with lots of garlic. We probably ate 7 baskets of bread because of the delectable broth. Pappardelle Tartufate... had to order it because so many yelpers raved about it. They did not disappoint. Absolutely amazing. I will dream about it tonight. Ginger creme brûlée and tiramisu were both really good and was a great way to end the lovely meal. Will definitely come back for special date nights!
(5)Isabelle J.
YES. The pistachio crusted salmon + BYOB.
(5)Meghan D.
I rarely give five stars, so this is a big deal!! I dined at Melograno with a friend recently, and loved our experience there. We were there around 6 pm on a Friday, and had no problem getting a table. I loved our food, which was thoughtfully prepared and delicious, I loved the space and ambience, the service was great, and the prices weren't too bad either! Overall, it was a fabulous experience, and I will certainly be back!
(5)Sarah G.
Absolutely delicious meal from beginning to end! I arrived with a group of 5 at exactly 9:45 (the latest they will seat you) and was shown a table right away. There were a lot of people on dates but also a lot of groups. The menu had so many tasty options additonal great specials that I had a hard time deciding what to get. I shared a pear carpaccio appetizer and it was absolutely wonderful - altho sort of difficult to eat after several large glasses of wine (btw - love the BYOB!!). I opted for the wild boar ragu based on previous reviews and I am so glad I got it. It was one of the best I have had. I will definitely be coming back next time I am in philly. As a side note - why were the floors so slippery? Almost all of my highheeled friends fell and I actually did on the way out! Has anybody else noticed this or did we all just consume too much vino?
(5)Simon E.
Hmm, Melograno, finally I've got around to visiting your new location. Shows my laziness that a restaurant I went to all the time when it was two blocks away has managed to be avoided for over a year because its now 6 blocks away! The new setup is nice. It is quite a lot bigger than the previous place and has lost some of the cosy feel because of that. We arrived and were seated promptly on a Tuesday night. However, we were then left to sit for 10 minutes with only iced water and unopened bottles of wine after the serving staff completely forgot us. It took a couple of prods to finally get things moving. After that, service was quick and friendly. Staff don't seem quite as on the ball as at the old place. Food wise. I started with the Sardine special which was top notch. My girlfriend had the Herring fries which were also excellent. Lightly battered and with a nice aioli dipping sauce. For the main I went with the Pork tenderloin and Pork belly kebab. The tenderloin was fine but it didn't stand a chance next to the exquisite belly. This was extremely well done. A friend went with the saddle of Rabbit, which sadly whilst tasty, was far too salty and didn't allow the rabbit to shine. In conclusion, the food at Melograno is as good as it was. It's nice to see that they have finally mixed up the menu a little as well. Hopefully this will continue. Service definitely needs a little work though.
(4)Kim C.
This is a BYOB that doesn't really feel like a BYOB, which may be a good or bad thing. The place is huge, for one thing, and pretty loud, not intimate at all. They take reservations on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays, but (judging from the other reviews) you may have a lengthy wait on the days you have time to go. I tried Melograno on a Tuesday night for boyfriend's birthday. The place was pretty packed for a Tuesday, and quite bustling. The waitstaff was very friendly, and when we told her it was our first time she took time to mention some of her favorite dishes. I ended up getting portobello mushrooms stuffed with goat cheese (delicious) and the tartufate--wild mushroom pasta (which included a parpadelle type noodle, long and flat). Both dishes were straightforward and delicious--not pretentious Italian food at all. I'm taking one star off because my boyfriend thought the portions were small. He had the lamb chops--two smallish pieces of roasted lamb with rosemary and a bunch of other spices. I will go back, but it's not on the top of my restaurants-to-return-to list.
(4)Rachel L.
The restaurant is very loud and can get very crowded by the doorway as people come in and wait for their table. The food was pretty good; try the wild mushroom bread pudding appetizer, but the food overall was just ok.
(3)Priscilla L.
Solid as ever. Recently had a duck ragu with mint and peas pasta special that was amazing and as always the truffle pappardelle is heaven. Little hint: order the side of artichoke...it is the full baby choke that used to be served with scallops on the menu...delicious.
(4)Tina B.
I just told my husband that I haven't had a meal like that in a restaurant in a long, long time. The food was outstanding, to say the least. Each dish was better and better. We live in Bkllyn and can't wait to go back to Phila. just to dine at MELO GRANO.
(5)Colbey W.
Melograno was an enjoyable experience. We walked in on a Friday evening (we thought that they did not take reservations on Fridays or Saturdays but were wrong - despite what their website says, they started accepting reservations sometime around the beginning of June) and were immediately sat and waited on. The service was great, the food was solid (my girlfriend and I started with the mozzarella in carrozza which was great and then shared the spaghetti ala carbonara and the cotoletta di pollo alla senese, both of which were quite good), and the decor of the place itself makes for a great, relaxing dining experience. Also - and perhaps most important - Melograno is BYOB, so don't forget a bottle of wine or two. All in all, very enjoyable experience. I will be going back.
(4)Chris S.
Great little BYO on mythical sansom street (where all the good food seems to be in CC). They do need a little smoothing over with their seating policies as seating 3 people at a table while waiting for a 4th takes up exactly the same amount of room as seating 4 people. Anyway, their food was very well done. Not splashy, not overdone portion-wise (which tends to be the case at random Italian restaurants you go to), and just the right/subtle flavor to their dishes to make you feel right. To be honest, I can't remember what I had....probably because I couldn't pronounce the thing. Isn't that a rule somewhere? The more you can't pronounce it, the tastier it is? I'd definitely repeat, oh, and bring wine (and make sure your whole party is with you to save some grief).
(4)A B.
Came here recently with my boyfriend for a Friday dinner. Food was very good. We started with the grilled calamari topped on a bed of eggplant marmalade and green beans.The calamari were few, but were very good. I found the eggplant marmalade very weird, however. I had the pappardelle with mushrooms, crushed walnuts, and truffle oil. REALLY GOOD! My boyfriend had the grilled shrimp with polenta. Also very good but a bit plain. The waitstaff were great and the restaurant is BYOB (always a plus). The inside of the restaurant is very charming. I would definitely recommend this restaurant!
(4)Todd V.
I had heard a lot of hype about this place and with so many other good Italian places in Philly, Im not sure why. I was satisfied with my meal and left very stuffed, but nothing really wowed me. My scallops in my appetizer were tough and the braised lamb shank I had was underseasoned. (My friend's shank was perfect though). The polenta had a jell-o like consistency. The spiced chocolate lava cake was the highlight of the meal. Their menu is pretty unoriginal and offers items you can find on many menus. Nothing was awful, nothing was great.
(2)brad C.
Swimming among the Italian BYOBs in Center City, it's easy to get lost. After trying my share of pasta and wine joints, Melograno seems to deliver on all fronts: not impossible to get a table on a popular night, the atmosphere is romantic but not overly cramped, and the food is creative but accessible. The artichoke app was roasted perfectly, but didn't sparkle, the mushroom pasta was abundant and delicious, the beef short rib and polenta was to die for, and the canolis and panna cotta were light and satisfying. Brad's rating (out of 5): Price: 3 Food: 5 Decor: 4 Service: 4 Wild card: Really good bread basket
(4)Ken H.
We lucked out at 7:00 on a Friday night - no wait for a table for 3. Last time we tried was on a Saturday night at 8:00, when there was a 2 1/2 hour wait!?!?! Don't forget, they actually do take reservations during the week! In my book, Melograno has not missed a step in moving to its new, bigger location on Sansom. Great casual atmosphere & each dish seemed to be better than the one before. I highly recommend everything we tried - the artichoke & scallop appetizer left us wondering how anyone could make an artichoke taste so good... the portabella with goat cheese and toasted pine nuts... home made papardelle with anything (mushroom/truffle oil was my favorite)... the foccacia.. the lava cake... the cappucino. And for the quality of food and experience, the food is very reasonably priced. Definite contender for favorite BYO in the city!
(5)Alison P.
Recently enjoyed a birthday dinner at Melograno. BYOB which is always a plus. The atmosphere is warm and cozy and the service is friendly and reasonably fast. The food was mostly great, although a few items were not on par with the rest. The pasta courses are not your typical primi sized pastas, they are full size dishes, so beware of that, as we ordered way too much food. All of the pasta dishes we enjoyed were fabulous, especially the simple cacio e pepe and the truffled mushroom pappardelle. My pork chop might have been the hit of the night, tasting as if it had been smoked and then baked in a maple syrup glaze (which was a pomegranate reduction). The breaded chicken with arugula was only so so, I would pass on that. Other friends enjoyed the seafood platter and the artichoke contorni. I would definitely return, perhaps for a casual pasta dinner and to share some wine with friends.
(4)Faye S.
My doctor recommended this place to me, and since she and her husband are Italian-American, I couldn't refuse! A group of four of us went here. My big pet peeve is that we weren't seated because one person wasn't there yet (he was out getting a bottle of pinot noir). I mean, seriously? I would understand if it was a full restaurant, but we were the first people there (in fact, the door was still locked when we walked up). We started off with the octopus appetizer, which was pretty good. I totally forgot that the carne dishes don't come with pasta, so my dumb ass was craving carbs at the end of the meal. I got the grilled pork tenderloin with some kind of sweet sauce. My hubby and friends got pasta (a spicy one with pancetta and one with olives and shrimp). Overall, the food and service were good, but I was a little miffed at our not-so-warm welcome.
(4)Tiffany Y.
Came here for restaurant week, the food tasted alright but loved the service and thought the restaurant was so cute! I think it came with 5 courses, unfortunately my salmon tasted fishy and one of the pasta dishes tasted like it was made with canned sauce. My husbands dishes, lamb and octopus appetizer seemed to taste much better. The tiramisu was amazing though, and the portions are huge!
(3)David D.
I am a little biased because I was a frequent visitor when they were on 22nd and Spruce. As the other reviews allude to, it thrived as a perfect combination of cozy ambience and quality food before Meme bumped them out. The new spot is admittedly a little less personable, being multiple rooms with higher ceilings. I also have to say that they seem a little too rushed now-- dinner comes out within 5 minutes of ordering, and as soon as your last bite is in your mouth, you begin to get looks pushing you to the door. But I'm a loyal guy and the food continues to be glorious, so I'm still giving it a 4. Food to get: Mushroom pasta (Pappardelle Tartufate) or the Porterhouse Steak (Bistecca Alla Fiorentina)...I can say with researched confidence that both plates are among the best in their respective 'dinner genres' in the city-- that's something for 2 plates from a small BYO so far apart on the food spectrum. Staff: Now that it's a little bigger, they have added to their wait staff which takes away from the familiar/familial feel. Last time I was there, my waitress was a bit spacey (but that just added to the meal). More to the point, the owner chef and his wife hostess (and sometimes chef?) continue to be visible, along with their inviting smiles. Check it out...you won't be sorry. Just don't go expecting a long, relaxing meal.
(4)ted z.
Dined at Melograno for the second time and have yet to be dissapointed. Start with the antipasto for two. That and some bread and wine would make a great meal by itself. Assorted smoked Italian meats, fresh roasted veggies, assorted spereads and it is just heaven. For the main course, the Griglio Mista, assorted seafoood on a bed of mashed, creamed potatoes is delectable. The pasta witht he shredded Guinea Hen is also a great choice. The pasta is home made and the sauce a perfect complement. The chicken dish with mozzarella is a good choice. A bit noisy, long waits on weekends make it a 4 star but well worth the inconvenience.
(4)Sara G.
Antipasto is a must to have every time!
(4)Anne D.
I had this place on my list to try and I am glad I did. We went on a week night so it wasn't crowded and the service was awesome. I had a fresh delicious salad and we ordered 2 different pasta dishes to share. The wild boar ragu was great but the highlight for me was the pumpkin raviolis, yum yum yum! The ambiance is nice and the food amazing. No way you can go wrong eating here.
(4)Ginger R.
Fantastic dinner tonight....our waitress was wonderful and so was our dinner....we have been here numerous times and this time invited our friends to dine with us, we will be back, soon!
(5)Jennie C.
I know this place probably doesn't need another glowing review, but I just had to share my experience. My friend had a really bad day, administrative problems and a cancelled flight. Remembering all the good reviews of Melograno, I took him here. This was Tues evening, and we snagged the last table. His face literally lit up the minute he put the pasta in his mouth. He ordered some mushroom pasta (forgot the name...), I had the wild boar parpadelle. The pasta was cooked to perfection, and the sauce was unbelievably good. Not your usual boring red/white sauces. We also shared a pistachio strawberry panna cotta, which was absolutely fantastic. The only reason I didn't give it 5 stars was the price...while the food was very very good, it was just a tad overpriced. But if you love Italian food & dessert, run to Melagrano at once!
(4)Habiba W.
Yum! I was in Philly for the weekend with my sister and friend of hers and we were in the mood for Italian. We tried to go to Porcini's but they were booked for the evening and so we decided on Melograno. We didn't have reservations but we managed to get the last table and had the most fantastic time. We ordered Insalata Melograno, the Antipasto Rustico and various pasta dishes for our entrees. The food was so good, it makes my mouth water just thinking about it. I ordered the Spaghetti all' Amatriciana and it was very good but my sister ordered the Pappardelle Tartufate- I had a taste and it was delish! What really sealed the deal for me was the service- our server was so nice and friendly! I love this place!
(5)Jameson M.
Well worth a visit. Very pleasant staff and helpful if you have questions. Definitelyx2 worth a try if you are in the area.
(4)Nadine D.
Skip it. I have two words to describe our dinner here last night - uninspired and lackluster. None of the 4 dishes that we ordered lived up to the hype. The pastas were flat and tasted like the chef completely forgot the salt. The Bronzino with shrimp and calamari were all burned to a crisp. My husband got the seared scallops and pork belly. It truly was seared adding to the burned flavors of the night. There was no reason to eat either the polenta or the mashed potatoes. The only good part of the dinner - the bottle of wine that we brought.
(2)Karen D.
I can honestly say I was beyond unimpressed with this place, although I'm willing to blame 50% of my disappointment on high expectations. I had heard great things about Melograno on Yelp, Zagat, and from friends. I was further enthused once I heard that there was a one hour wait at 6:15... clearly this place must be doing something right. To their credit, they allow you to put your name on the list and leave a cell phone number, so you don't have to sit there and wait for an hour in the crowded entry way. In fact, I will say that the hostess/manager was really fantastic at managing a crowd and dealing with problems. Our waitress on the other hand... notsomuch. If "disheveled" and "surly" had a love child, she's now working at Melograno. More importantly, our food was pretty mediocre. The bread, antipasto plate, and pine nut-encrusted, goat cheese-topped portabella mushroom were all very good, but when the culinary high point of a meal is someone else's prosciutto and the bread, it's a pretty strong indicator of what's to come. For main courses, the pappardelle with wild boar ragout was actually fine, but nothing special. The pappardelle with wild mushroom sauce was underseasoned and uninspired. The spaghetti carbonara with anchovies, white truffles, and shirred egg recommended by Surly McWaitress? Foul. I had to send it back because I feared a second bite would set off my gag reflex. Since the waitress ignored me, I got the hostess/manager to bring me a new entree (and she was very nice about it). My replacement entree, a roasted pumpkin ravioli with marscarpone and amaretti cookies topped with a sage brown butter was tasteless and mushy. Again, maybe I set the bar too high, but I feel like a restaurant with this kind of buzz can do better.
(2)Brett W.
Great BYOB date place. Nice ambiance, good food, great service. Before we even ordered, we were brought delicious focaccia that we immediately gobbled up. We ended up ordering the mussels appetizer (great to share), and then ordering the lamb entree and the truffled pappardelle, both of which were tasty! I would definitely recommend for a nice date night.
(4)Jenn K.
The ambiance was nice, the lighting was great, but the tables were narrow and wasn't great for a big-group BYO
(4)Alanna P.
Really good antipasto and food in general - the lamb was cooked perfectly and we had a ricotta ravioli that was delicious. However, the service seemed to lag a little but they did let us sit and talk for a long time after paying the bill. Overall a great neighborhood gem but it would be great if the bread was warm!!!
(4)Hagana K.
Had a great time here. The Sunday night $35 menu is a really awesome deal. The snail crostini was the highlight of the night, but the calamari salad was awesome as well. The meatball appetizer was just alright. The entrees... are surprisingly enormous for a nice italian place. The pork chop is delicious and absolutely enormous, and the papardelle was great too. I had the steak which was pretty good, but I would probably order something else next time.
(4)Jon L.
Great food, tried almost everything in their Sunday pre fixe menu and it was all delicious
(5)Kelly M.
Went for restaurant week on a Friday. We were seated immediately and the waitress, Kristen, was friendly and extremely competent. I had the meatballs for my app. They were good with the sauce but a little dry without. My boyfriend had prosciutto with arugula and cheese which was also good. The wild boar ragout was amazing! Loved it! My boyfriend's steak was just ok. He said it didn't have a lot of flavor besides the sauce. Dessert was the chocolate cake. Tasted like a yummy brownie. Overall it was ok but not too special.
(3)Daniel M.
great dark atmosphere, food was great and not pricey, though farily modest proportions, nice to have a restaurant like this that's also byob
(5)Tina C.
Went there on a snowy/icy Sunday night so it was pretty quiet. My husband and I split a calamari appetizer which was delicious and copious. I think the most tasty dish was the pappardelle tarafuse with wild mushrooms. The service was impeccable and the price was right too.
(4)Paul G.
We had the fortunate opportunity to dine at Melograno last night with friends and our 9-month old daughter. The owner and her team were extremely accommodating with our stroller and high chair needs. The food was fantastic. Rustic platter, wild boar pasta, mushroom pasta, and the lamb were special highlights. Overall, just a wonderful dinning experience.
(5)Robert C.
One of my Philly faves. Order the tartufate or cacio e pepe for the pasta course. The fegatini and rusticito are great as well. Great byob that's very reasonably priced.
(5)Sharon B.
Excellent food and amazing service. We visited malgrano to celebrate a birthday. All the appetizers were great but i loved the cheese flan type one. Unfortunately i don't remember the correct name. I had the pork chop with polenta. It was awesome. The half roasted chicken was the hit of the table. My FIL said the chocolate cake was outstanding. My tiramisu was really good but wasn't mind blowing. My only complaint is that it was very loud and hard to carry on a conversation.
(5)Michelle P.
Melograno looked so great on paper. From the time of reviewing the menu online, getting each course and paying the bill, the experience declined. My husband and I were looking for a BYOB Italian place to celebrate our anniversary. We wanted to try someplace new and probably reviewed like 15 menus before landing on Melograno. We were seated immediately on arriving at a nice two-person table towards the ramp to the restrooms. The table wasn't large but we weren't really close to other tables so we had our own cozy nook. I enjoyed the open-style kitchen in what was an initially brighter dining room. The lights were dimmed several times during the course of our meal so the mood did vary a bit. Our anniversary happened to fall on restaurant week this year and we initially weren't feeling a three-course meal. However, when we saw the entrees and appetizers of interest were included on the RW menu, it made sense to go that route. I started with the Calamari Inzimino, which included sautéed calamari, cannellini beans, diced tomato & lemon over baby spinach. This was your best of all worlds' appetizers. The combination of all elements made it like a soup and a salad, with seafood. The calamari was a little chewy and the dish wasn't the most flavorful, but it was a great concept. The Risotto ai Gamberoni was actually one of the reasons I wanted to dine at Melograno in the first place. I'm a huge fan of goat cheese so a dish containing fresh shrimp & fennel risotto, goat cheese in marsala wine reduction really intrigued me. Unfortunately, I could barely taste the goat cheese. I was expecting it to be creamy, as dishes with goat cheese typically tend to be. I mentioned this to our server and he offered to get me a new dish, but I ended up sticking with what I had. While it was different than what I expected, it was tasty enough to continue eating. Be warned, the shrimp still has its tail. I'm not a fan of this in a pasta/risotto dish. Speaking of our server though, he was great the entire time. He was attentive and took the time to answer our questions- even as the restaurant began to grow more crowded. My husband originally went with the Panna Cotta for dessert, but decided to go with the Creme Brulee. Our full order was taken at once due to restaurant week but our server was still able to make the switch. So the hubby went with the Crème Brulee and I went with the Tiramisu. Both were fine, but nothing too remarkable. So the meal was fine, although nothing extraordinary. The real trouble came when it was time to pay the check. Melograno is an Opentable.com restaurant so we planned on using a $20 dining cheque to help with the bill. We were told we couldn't use it, despite the fact that the cheque said it was valid at any Opentable restaurant. We had to talk to our server, a manager and then the owner. The owner finally agreed to honor it. What a buzzkill for our anniversary. If they can't accept the terms that come with being an Opentable restaurant, maybe they shouldn't be on it in the first place. Aside from the billing issues, I just wasn't overly impressed. It's a shame because we were in the market for a new BYOB that we could call our Italian restaurant. I'll meet you anytime you want....just not in this Italian restaurant.
(3)Catherine L.
Is it me, or are really good BYOBs becoming scarce? As I consult my list of really kick-ass BYOBs in the city (that once prided itself on such BYOBS), there have been few that have stood the test of time and maintained impeccable service and food (thank god for HELM, but I digress). Melograno is like any other run of the mill Italian BYOB. Not amazing, not bad. It's better than some, but nowhere near Monsu, Modo Mio or heck maybe Ulivo? I've said it time and time again, if you do Italian in this city, you better knock it out of the park, because there's competition a plenty. The new location (and yes, I know it's not new, new - but the newer location) is lovely, airy and ample, but like any good BYOB, I like a smaller, cozier space. I love this stretch of Samson though, so it's better than the old space. The service is good, generic. The menu is straight forward, without any surprise offerings. The food is not terribly memorable or inventive.
(3)James I.
Fantastic restaurant. I went there after it was recommended by a friend and it exceeded our expectations. It is authentic Italian food, not Italian American. The taste and smell of the food made me feel like I was back In Italy. I have been to most of the elite restaurants in Philly and this is up there with them. I enjoyed it more then Vetri. The burrata appetizer is amazing, it was like Italy on a plate. They also had a special gnocchi appetizer that was excellent. The pasta entrees were perfect, as well as the Calabrian chili rubbed pork ribs. My wife had a fettucini bolognese special with chicken livers that was out of this world.
(5)Juliana K.
Delicious Byo. The rustico platter was great to share. Nice spread of cheeses, meats, veggies, and etc. Cozze mussels were scrumptious in a nice broth but a bunch of mussels were not opened up. Great golden beet salad. Nice and light. Golden beets were very thinly sliced. Pappardelle Tartufate with wild mushrooms and walnut in a light truffle oil was amazing. Best pasta. We had another pasta in a red sauce that was also very good. Pasta is definitely fresh! We also had a lamb entree with polenta that was tender and flavorful. Great food here. Service is nice. The place gets VERY noises on a busy night though.
(4)Jazmin J.
We had been waiting for 35 minutes at Porcini and didn't get seated so we ended up coming to Melograno (which was originally our first choice to begin with, we just wanted to try something new). The staff there knew we were starving from the wait so they seated us right away and were so understanding, friendly and kind. They brought us appetizers right away to hold us off until our main course was getting ready. Their Calamari Inzimino and Cotoletta alla Senese was seriously unbelievable. Not only was the food wonderful but i've never had such great customer service at a restaurant before. Thank you so much for making our night better and memorable!
(5)Elaine M.
I went to Melograno on a double date recently. I had to make reservations with only a few days notice, but luckily I was able to score a reservation for 8 PM. Most of the other restaurants I called only had 5 or 10 PM reservations left. I started with the Calamari Inzimino Salad. It was good but not 5 stars. My date had the Polpette (meatballs), they were really good and so was the sauce. The other couple shared the Rustico (platter of assorted crostini, cured meats, cheese & vegetables). It was huge so I had a few samples. The vegetables were char grilled to perfection! And of course the cheese was delicious; it is hard to go wrong with a cheese board. For my entree, I had the Pappardelle Tartufate (wild mushroom, walnuts, truffle oil, pecorino) as suggested by our server. OH. EM. GEE. This dish was full of earthy flavors, I could not get enough of it. It was very unique, I recommend it to everyone that dines at Melograno! My date had the salmon special; he was very happy with it. My friend got the Pappardelle Al Ragu di Cinghiale (braised wild boar ragu) and she did not seem too impressed with it. I believe her husband had some sort of surf and turf special, and he was very pleased with his selection. If for nothing else, you must go to Melograno just for the Pappardelle Tartufate!!!!!
(5)Michelle M.
This is one of the best restaurants we've ever been to. Not for the ambiance or environment but for the delicious food. The place was nice and simple but the food was so flavorful. I had been recommended to try the rustico platter and we did. My husband wanted to lick the platter once we finished lol I went on to order the tortufate pasta, divine! My husband ordered the lamb for his main course and I, the smoked Porkchop. Both very tasty and cooked to perfection. Although, between the two of them, I preferred the lamb. I wish I lived nearby so I could dine here more frequently. Definitely worth it.
(4)Kirk M.
I was in from New York for the weekend and wanted an amazing Italian dinner with my family. melograno certainly did not disappoint. Rustica, wild boar ragu, salmon and the chicken were all great. would highly recommend coming to Melograno for an authentic Italian cuisine
(5)Luba P.
The fancier side of Italian Philly BYOB's in the area, unfortunately not sure it's worth the extra money just for the nicer ambiance. We went during restaurant week so the menu was a bit more limited that usual. The chicken liver crostine and meatballs were both nice but average. My salmon was pretty OK, but I've had better at many other places. The best part was definitely the dessert. Absolutely rich and moist, delicious chocolate lava cake and green apple bread pudding. It's also a bit tight, so you are sitting right next to your neighbors. This is a nice place overall, but a bit disappointed, if prices were lower it could be 4 stars.
(3)Diana K.
Had high expectations for Melograno, but I didn't leave super impressed. Nothing was out of the ordinary on the menu that we tried, but then again, it was Retaurant Week. The bread for the table wasn't warm - not a big deal, but fresh, warm bread can sometimes be a really pleasant surprise! We ordered the chicken liver crostini and the veal meatballs. Very simple and done well with a nice touch of fried sage leaves. I had the steak with a side of cannelini beans. The beans were literally just plain beans without any seasoning, sauce, or interesting texture. The steak was a bit chewy and underseasoned. A big portion and not terrible, but again, not worth four or five stars. The desserts were probably the highlight of the meal: a warm chocolate cake and an apple cake with sea salt caramel ice cream. Proper portions, fresh, and delicious. Unfortunately, I probably won't be returning to Melograno, although I did like the overall ambience, and of course, the location!
(3)Trang N.
Once again, we found ourselves at Melograno to grab dinner before our theatre show. We were promoted seated at 5:30pm despite the other couple running a little late so that was nice that we didn't have to stand around. Same great atmosphere. The food does not disappoint! We actually got the same flighty server as the last time- polite enough but a bit clumsy. All of the food arrived in a nice interval than the last. We were fortune enough to be seated in the window which made for great people watching. The fegatini was delicious, crisp baguette and the livers had a very smooth taste, not as irony as I've had other places. My friend's arugula salad looked delicious, the greens were bright and lightly dressed it almost made me want to switch my first course. The Polpette was a nice size and DH has the lamb shank, he raved about how the meat fell off the bone and how well it was prepared! The only complaint was the tiramisu wasn't as great as the rest of the meal- my friend said it was soupy and expected more from an Italian restaurant- I was however very happy with my meal!! I highly recommend this great BYO!
(4)Jessica S.
About two months before our wedding we started to search for a rehearsal dinner restaurant. On a budget, and prioritizing excellent food for our immediate families and bridal party, we were thrilled when Ann (sp?) gave us a call back from Melograno. Ann made everything super simple -- no corkage fees at this stellar BYO, 3 course prix fixe menu (where each guest selected their own appetizer, entree, and dessert), and no hidden fees. There are no private or semi-private spaces, but since we held our rehearsal on a Thursday around 8 pm we had a whole corner of the restaurant to ourselves. Ann hooked our group of 20 up with two round 6-tops and a long rectangular 8-top, all next to each other. Service was superb, food was impressive as always (love Melograno's signature Pappardelle Tartufate), and we never felt rushed. Many, many thanks to Ann and her team at Melograno. Highly recommended for medium/ large sized groups.
(5)Ivy J.
Restaurant Week 2015 was completely worth my time! Made reservations here for a Friday night with family. We were here a little early so we went across the street to the comedy club for a drink..... Came back and were seated immediately. A few things..... BYOB always a plus! We were fully stocked, as were the two tables to our right. So much so, they kept us entertained with their drunk frolicking and loud conversion. I noticed a few people reviewed and commented on how loud the place was.... I guess I didn't mind. We were out for a great time and that's exactly what we had! The food.... Amazing! I started with the calamari, which was okay.... Had better. My lamb was falling off the bone. No really! Falling off the bone. And it was enormous! We all tried dessert, not really sure why, I guess because it was part of the real..... But we were stuffed! My thighs could have done without dessert..... Service was good. The staff was pleasant and extremely patient as we laughed and joked or lives away. I'd certainly return! This place is quaint, full of life, tasty, in a great location and an overall good time waiting to happen. If you visit and don't have a good time, shame on you!
(4)A B.
If only for the food of delicately fried smelt and zucchini batons or the lamb shank, osso bucco style, or the light, airy tiramasu my friend ordered, a complete 4 star dining experience. The ambiance is lovely and lively, but too noisy to comfortably hear, so only three stars...and once again, we forget the B in the BYOB. We'll definitely be back with the B!
(3)Robin C.
I would recommend this for a date night. I have been here with a larger party and with smaller ones and it can get pretty noisy in here so I would suggest a smaller party. Although the prices are not incredibly cheap, they are completely reasonable when taking into account that you will not be paying for alcohol. They are BYOB and have no cork fee. I have had quite a few things on their menu but I would definitely recommend the rustico appetizer which has some delicious cured meats, cheeses, and grilled vegetables. The wild boar pasta is also incredibly delicious! I have come here on a date and ordered an appetizer and two pastas and we were both very satiated. Will definitely return! I would definitely recommend a reservation on a weekend night.
(5)Thomas P.
This place is so good - lived in Italy for a couple of years and have been looking for a good Italian restaurant in the city - this is definitely THE best - authentic Italian food, every single dish was absolutely amazing
(5)SpottieMatic X.
Went here last week for the first time for dinner. It was very good. I had the Mussels for an appetizer and the Pappardelle Tartufate for my main entree. Its a BYOB, which is always a plus. I recommend that you make a reservation, this place gets busy!
(4)Larry F.
Our top BYOB place was booked for the night for our double date, so instead I we gave this place a try. Definitely exceeded my expectations! FOOD: 4/5 The food was great in terms of choices and taste. I had meatballs for appetizer and the wild boar ragu for the main course. I also tried the filet and mussels. The meatball was very average and somewhat disappointing, but the wild boar ragu made up for that. The mussels didn't disappoint, and the filet was also pretty good. However, the prices were a bit on the high end for Italian food, and the portions were somewhat small. SERVICE: 4/5 We were seated very quickly and overall everyone was very attentive. It was a bit difficult to get the waiter's attention when we wanted to get a photo, but it might just be that it was too loud. AMBIANCE: 5/5 Not a bad place for group dinners or a 1 on 1 date. The restaurant is pretty small, but it was small enough where it felt cozy and comfortable.
(4)Tymbre A.
I absolutely love this place. I went with a few of my co-workers for our holiday dinner and I was very satisfied. I am a huge fan of Italian food! And I've heard about this place a few times & coulddn't wait to try. It's nice, yet pretty casual. So you can be comfortable of dress up .... which ever you prefer. Also, if you're out dating or if you already have a special someone this is the perfect date spot! The food was prepared very nice, and the waitress was very friendly and gave us alot of details regarding the menu. I'd definitely go back, again and again.
(5)Abby B.
Every time I go back to Melograno, I remember why I like the place so much. The service is always out of this world and they don't care if your large party stays for 4 hours, imbibing copious amounts of wine (if it's any consolation, the table next to us perched 2 large boxes of wine on their table - we weren't alone!) The food is always great and in all the years I've been coming here, their menu has pretty much remained the same. I like this because I can recommend dishes to friends and I also know what to expect. However, some variation wouldn't be a bad thing. They do have nightly specials, so if I don't feel like having an old favorite, I'll generally opt for the special. I'm all for trying new restaurants, but there's something to be said for Melograno, because I keep going back.
(4)Katelyn M.
I had my birthday dinner here, a group of 8 of us. The restaurant was accommodating even though they had a packed house of reservations full of large parties that evening. I have a tomato allergy, so it's incredibly difficult for me to enjoy an Italian restaurant, as I want everything on the menu, but there are only about 5 things on a normal menu I can now eat. I was able to get a full three course meal without even a thought of having to worry about my allergy. I got the Insalata Melograno, and of course just asked them to hold the tomatoes, followed that up with my entree which was the Filetto al Pepe Verde, and something chocolate for dessert. I was so impressed with my meal, the service, the accommodations, everything. My favorite part though, BYOB. Who doesn't love an incredible meal with your own alcohol?
(5)Cynthia X.
Came here for a quick bite and it was great! It's generally more for groups pre- night out since it's close to several of the theaters on Sansom, and have large tables in the back. I split the antipasti platter and the pappardelle Tartufate with my bf, and it was the perfect amount of food for a light meal. I actually enjoyed the antipasti platter the most - had a great variety of cold cuts, grilled veggies, mozzarella and crostini. I could eat it as a meal by myself! I ordered the pappardelle Tartufate based off yelp reviews and was slightly disappointed. The dish felt too rich / thick, but not in a creamy way. I also felt that the pasta to sauce ratio was slightly high, and the pasta was stuck together in a large clump. Liked the place, but will need to try a different pasta dish next time!
(4)Laura G.
So I'll start by saying that I am probably the most indecisive person when it comes to eating. For my 22nd birthday I wanted to go somewhere fun for a group, preferably at a BYOB. Normally BYOBs are super crammed and noisy but it was a Tuesday night so I wasn't worried. I also do not like Italian food but when I looked at the menu it looked wonderful. I called Monday to make a reservation for Tuesday but they are closed on Mondays, so I left a message. They called me back Tuesday afternoon with a spot open for 9 people at 8pm. I was a little upset because their online menu is a little different, so what I thought I would order was not available. To start, I ordered the mussels and they were definitely the best I have had in the city (and my favorite food is seafood). For my main dish I ordered the Filetto Al Pepe Verde. I ordered my filet mignon medium rare and it was just that. It was perfectly cooked and for 9 orders, we received our food very quickly. After we were done eating we still wanted to hang out and drink (we brought 7 bottles of wine). We stayed over an hour after we were already finished our meals. The service was great even long after we were finished with our meals. I would recommend going on a week night, you'll definitely get your moneys worth.
(4)Andrea P.
Melograno is one of my favorite BYOBs in Philly. The food is always top notch. I love the pappardelle al ragu and my vegetarian bf always orders the pappardelle tartufate. Both dishes are amazing. The hostess is lovely and always greets me with a hug. I also love the fact that they are now on opentable so it is easy to make a reservation. Only negative is the restaurant can be a bit noisy. But if you are looking for great authentic Italian, I highly recommend.
(5)Hang T.
This place was recommended by a friend and boy was it a great recommendation! Food was delicious. My absolute favorite is the mussels! Oh dear god...my 2 girlfriends and I ate 3 servings of the complimentary bread - using the mussel sauce as a dipping sauce (I usually try to avoid the bread because I don't like to ruin my appetite, but it was absolutely IRRESISTIBLE). Soo worth it! Their pasta dishes are yummy. I will definitely be back. It is also BYOB, people. My kind of place. :)
(5)Amalia Y.
the food alone deserves a very solid 3 stars. service seriously killed it on this one- such a disappointment. enough to bring it down a star :( had an almost solid experience at melograno over the weekend. 8 girls, 5 bottles of wine (yay for BYOB), an assortment of apps, pasta dishes, entrees, and desserts... overall very decent. staff was impersonal but okay throughout the meal(though we had to ask multiple times for bread, and our water glasses weren't really attended to... and we weren't told the specials until after we placed part of the order so we missed out on the eggplant app, which sounded like it would've been yummy) until the end, when they asked us to leave before we were through with dessert. ugh. i understand the food service industry and the push to flip a table, but kicking out paying patrons and leaving a bad impression at the end of the meal is just not worth it. definitely took off a star for that :( our group ordered a bunch of food and split everything family-style, even though the food is not served that way. we made our way through just about the entire menu, which was a plus. the majority of melograno's options are standard italian fare- meatballs, pastas, etc. with some creative twists here and there. specific food notes: - calamari appetizer. it's not the typical large rings fried calamari with marinara. Instead, tiny calamari rings and tentacles very lightly sautéed and tossed with white beans, tomatoes, and wilted baby spinach. the sauce was light and lemony with a little kick. very yummy. - mussels appetizer. they were yummy, with a lovely light white wine broth. giant chunks of garlic swam in the broth, and was great for dipping when we finally got some bread (only had to ask our waiter about 4 or 5 times). - pasta special with duck. this isn't descriptive enough to be helpful, but if they have the special of ripped pasta noodles with duck- get it. - pass on the risotto. it was undercooked and underseasoned. highly doubt it was made-to-order as risotto should be. the shrimp were tasty, but the overall dish was a let-down - salmon got great reviews from the table. we even ordered a second one to split. it was cooked perfectly, though the accompanying tomato salad was s bit blah. - the chicken. the one that's a half-chicken. get it. the cook on the chicken was perfect, the sauce was full of flavor, and the accompanying kale, potato, and pancetta hash was soooo good. - don't bother with the filet. It was a decent medium cook but was still tough and the sauce was bland and was a non-appealing shade of light pink. - tiramisu. this was yummy. light and airy, not dense like some variations. definitely a good pick, and i'm not typically a tiramisu fan. - skip the chocolate hazelnut crème brulee. yes, really. unless you just want a few spoonfulls of nutella. i mean, nothing wrong with that... but the burnt sugar top that lends a lot of depth to a typical standard crème brulee gets lost on this dish- it's textuarally pleasing, but that's about it. the best part was the small cluster of candied hazelnuts on top. overall not the best, but could've been worse. the food is decent, BYOB is great, and the location is convenient (especially if you're heading to helium comedy club for a show after dinner). service could really use improvement.
(2)Megan S.
Went on a Saturday. Placed was jammed with good energy. Service was great. My dining partner loved is dish and lick the plate clean. My special was bland but had been there previously and loved my dinner. The appetizer of meatballs was very good along with the gelato dessert. Would recommend.
(4)Gary W.
We have visited Melograno on multiple occasions since moving to Center City Phila. a little over a year ago. Each visit has been spectacular; service impeccable, food wonderful, specials always tremendous! They are very accommodating, kind and pleasant. The young lady that runs the dining room is named Ann, I am not sure how to spell her name but she is absolutely the most pleasant, kind and professional dining room manager I have ever worked with. She can handle a crowd! She can deal with reservation issues, she can solve most anyones problems. Just this past week 4 of us had reservations at Puccinni's Restarant on nearby Samson Street. They were running 45 minutes to an hour late. They have no room to accommodate their patrons and the owner was nasty, rude and could not handle the reservations he made. We left after being treated like pigs in an pigpen and stopped by Melograno's. Although they were extremely busy and very full, Ann found a way to calm us down and made arrangements for us to be seated in less then 15 minutes, while serving us our wine in their waiting area. She was great, the food was fantastic, the service was perfect. Melograno's salvaged the night. I dont want to give them too many more accolades, then we will never get a chance to make a reservation, but they do deserve all the best in praise..... fondly Gary
(5)jane k.
Perfect meal for my Mom's 70th, with uncles & bro in from out of town. Everyone very impressed with everything: service impeccable, food exquisite (except lamb shank "boring, not tender enough", I didn't have that), and a terrific time. Been here a few times before & always loved it. Again: superb. Maitresse d'hôtel was so welcoming, to top it off. Just absolutely lovely!!!
(5)Julia L.
Joe and I ate here with a couple of friends. We were wondering around Rittenhouse Sq looking for a place to eat dinner and saw that this place had some tables available. It is BYO, so bring your own wine ppl! Our group started off with the mussels appetizer cooked in white wine, garlic and tomato. This is a great dish to share with a big group of people. We got an order of meatballs composed of beef, veal and pork combination with tomato sauce and pecorino cheese. This dish was a bit harder to share with the group. But flavor profile-wise, I would say I liked this dish better than the mussels. This is one of the signature dishes for Melograno, consists of wild mushrooms, walnuts, truffle oil and pecorino cheese. It was delicious. I've been trying a lot of dishes lately that have added walnuts, like pasta and pizza. I like it! It adds a nice crunch to the dish and also adds to the earthy flavor of the mushroom. And I love anything with truffle oil and cheese, it's like my own personal kryptonite. Joe had the smoked pork chop with creamy polenta and pomegranate reduction. He liked this dish a lot, but for the price they were asking for, not sure if we would return here. Especially with so much competition in this city for delicious Italian food like La Viola and Mercato.
(3)Lainey S.
This is a great spot. Pretty good pricing and I have been here several times with great food. It is romantic, so a good date spot. Another plus: BYO! The only downside: it gets kind of loud, so if you are sensitive, get an earlier reservation before the place fills up.
(4)Joanna H.
I've heard good things about Melograno and I was super happy to try it for the first time with a friend visiting me from NY. She lives in Manhattan and have tried real good italian places already and agreed tha tMelograno was pretty darn amazing. On Sundays, they also have prefix menus. So we got one of those and another entree. -Bread - 2types comes out. the one that looks like a pound cake almost was different and we both loved. Sunday prefix ($35) -App-Calamari Inzimino. So soft cooked with the perfect cannellini beans, tomatoes over baby spinach. $12 -Entree-Pappardelle Tartufate. Omggg. I loved how the pappardelle was cooked so it wasn't too soft yet not too hard but just perfectly chewy. Mixed with gooey mushroom and the spontaneous crunchiness from the walnuts you get in some bites. $18. -Dessert- Tiramisu. One of the best fluffy tiramisus I had in center city. Not bready. Not too creamy or cheesy. Comes out slightly chilled in a silver bowl. Enough to share (Too much actually after all the good food, but cannot leave the place without finishing it). -Entree2-Garganelli al Pesto di Erbe Aromatiche. Omggg. I actually liked this more (whereas my friend liked the entree above more). Flat pasta that are like curled inwards and makes it look like they are round thick noodles.The meat is chunky but so tender and gives the perfect saltiness to the dish. $18. BYOB. NOT Cash only. paid like $33ish each for so much food that melted in our mouths. I definitely recommend anyone to come with friends, families, bf/gf.
(4)Callie S.
GO ON SUNDAY NIGHTS FOR THE $35 PRIX FIXE DINNER! Delicious pasta, large-ish portions, great snail crostini, AND BYOB. Had a great time, will be back on a Sunday of course.
(5)Michael H.
An old favorite with great pasta dishes - mushroom pappardelle and wild boar pappardelle are standouts. Bring a bottle of red and enjoy the bread basket (but you often have to ask for it). The space on Sansom street is bigger than its old Spruce St. location (when you couldn't get a table) but it's a little less cozy and unique-looking than it was there. Melograno has more competition in the byob arena in recent years - since the service is sometimes variable I'm giving it 3 (and 1/2) stars.
(3)Nancie B.
Everyone has already talked about the food, it's pretty good. The "hostess" or "manager" is horrible. Unfriendly, rude, making faces at people as she was seating them. Definitely not the first person you want to encounter when trying to have an enjoyable experience here.
(2)Nancy P.
I came here with three gfs for a going away dinner. I like the interior and decor of the place but it is very loud. Almost too loud to hear each other. It wasn't overly crowded when we went but the service was really spotty. We started off with the special arugula salad and the gorgonzola cheese on it was ridiculously salty. I ordered the Pappardelle Tartufate. While it was pretty good, it was also really heavy. I wasn't wowed with the pasta either. I tried the ravioli and it was too much of a sweet dish for me. The other two dishes were not memorable. What I do remember though..is the cake we brought in and how they charged us a plating fee (which is fine). But why did it take nearly 30 mins for our server to cut? Service was just terrible. Turn off for sure. I will not be jumping to return to this place.
(2)Natalee F.
The night started out a bit awkwardly. We had originally planned on 4 of us eating but at the last minute we had a 5th dining companion join us, so we had to move tables. Since it was Sunday night, after 8PM, and the restaurant was only about 1/3rd full, this shouldn't have been too big of a deal. But apparently it was. There seemed to be some sort of argument between our waitress and the hostess about our table change which was obvious.....and awkward. Also we were asked about 3-4 times if our 5th companion "would be here soon? Are you sure they are coming SOON?" I get it. You normally don't seat people until the entire party is there, but again, the place was kind of empty and we weren't holding up any seats from any other patrons. I just don't like the feeling like I'm being some sort of imposition when my 4 friends and I are here to pay lots of money to eat your food. In this day and age of Yelp and the internet, everyone is Craig LeBan. But anyways...the waitress ended up being very friendly. I got the artichoke to start. It's listed as a side, but I got it as an appetizer. It was VERY good and done in a light oil and seasoning. YUM. For my entree, I got the pumpkin ravioli and it was delicious. I had a bite of my friend's mushroom pasta signature dish and I have to admit, I was a bit jealous I didn't order that. For dessert I got the panna cotta. I would totally order this again. Not only was it beautiful, but it was light and tasty. I love BYOBs and the interior of the new location is stylish and spacious. Extra points for people watching. Seated at the table next to us was a trophy girlfriend and man combo. She was in her mid twenties and he was in his late sixties - not a father daughter combo, more like a granddaughter and grandfather combo. Our questions as to the nature of their relationship were answered at the end of their meal when they stood up and he kneaded her ass like it was a ball of dough for about 60 seconds as we all stared. I guess if you really want a LV bag and fur coat that is one way to get it without paying for it yourself....Getchusome GURL.
(4)Vichet O.
You lied to me Melograno. I was expecting small plates at exorbitant prices, so I came in here with my friend and ponied up. I ordered two appetizers, two pastas, and a filet mignon and was told that it would be "about the right amount of food for two people." Yeah, we got way too much food. Like, four people's worth of food. Four of ME worth of food. And it was all delicious. The portion of mussels we got was definitely large enough to share between more than a couple friends, and even though there were only two meatballs with the serving, they were pretty large. Almost eight-ball sized. And they were delicious. I think there were a mix of three animals in them. I can get behind that. Pasta: we had the wild boar ragu, which was awesome, and surprisingly had a hint of pumpkin flavoring, and linguini with some sort of mushroom bechamel sauce. Both were better than I care to describe here. Finally, filet mignon. We got it rare, and it came out on a bed of velvety mashed potatoes, some kind of cream sauce, and young (still green) peppercorns. Did I mention it's an 8 ounce filet? Yeah, there's that. So, clearly, this is a restaurant for fatties. Sign me up. I think if I ordered the appropriate amount of food for us, this would have been 60 dollar dinner. Which is affordable enough for me to come here way more often than I should. I also liked the modernized interior. It was reminiscent of an old villa, if it were built in the 21st century. Check it out. For your health.
(4)Kelly W.
My boyfriend and I stopped in to Melograno for dinner when we realized Vic's Sushi across the street was way too packed and neither of us had been there before. The menu is very impressive and we started with the Rustico Antipasto platter, which was amazing. The vegetables were grilled perfectly and the meats and mozzarella were incredible. We also had the Wild Boar Ragu and the Proscuitto and Arugula Salad- both of which were perfect. The homemade focaccia bread they serve when you arrive is a great accompaniment to the pasta as well. THEN we had the ginger creme brûlée-- literally the best dessert I've ever had. The sugar was perfectly crisped on top and the custard wasn't too sugary sweet. Neither of us typically order dessert, but we were both so glad that we did. The food was clearly incredible, however, the service was incredibly inattentive and we are very easy-going diners. We were sat and not greeted by our server for several minutes and when he did greet us he seemed disheveled and frantic when the restaurant was far from being even half-full and there were several other servers working as well, none of whom seemed nearly as crazed as our server. The meal took far longer than necessary, which was fine for us we were not in a rush at all, but as far as the restaurant is concerned it is simply inefficient. We will absolutely be back, the food was top-notch and the ambiance was great. However, I will hope and pray that Nick is taking a day off when we do return.
(4)Suzanne H.
I visited Melograno for dinner for the first time for Restaurant Week. Started with the snail crostone, followed by the entree special of two small whole cod served with artichokes and tomatoes, followed by panna cotta for dessert. The food was good, but not great. To me the appetizer and entree were heavy on the oil and butter and that clouded the taste of the ingredients. While both were certainly acceptable, nothing made the dishes stand out as exceptional. The panna cotta was served with cherries and almonds and that was a nice touch. On to the service... Get it together Melograno. Our party of 4 arrived just past 5:30 when the restaurant wasn't busy and it took about 10 minutes to even be acknowledged by the waiter. Dishes sat for a long time between courses waiting to be cleared. The hostess even stopped over to clear our entree plates as we had been staring at them for at least 15 minutes. The general observation was that the servers were very disorganized. I think a training tweak of the staff would be something that could take this place to a higher level. Two stars as indicated above. Not bad, but not good enough to return when there are so many stellar Italian restaurants in the Philadelphia area.
(2)Paul C.
enjoyed every dish we ordered. Especially my pork chop...it was SPECTACULAR!! I am definitely coming back!!!
(4)Jason P.
Delicious food, great service and BYOB without a corkage fee. I had the squid ink pasta, which was the special of the evening, my wife had the boar ragu. Both were worthy of ordering again. Next time I'm in Philadelphia, this will be one of the places where I'll be dining.
(4)Stephen P.
Summary: Great food, inattentive servers, and a noise level that ruined any sense of pleasure for the evening. I will not return. I'll start by saying the food was excellent. The physical facility is beautiful. And since it is a BYO restaurant, I could bring some really wonderful and appropriate bottles from my cellar. But... The sound level inside the restaurant completely destroyed the meal. The walls are hard, the ceiling is hard, the tables are hard, the giant glass window is hard, wonderful reflectors of every bit of noise in the room. The total space is divided in half by a long wall, also increasing the noise. It was DEAFENING! My ears were clogged by the end of the meal, as if I had been to a rock concert. You had to practically shout to be heard across your table. Restaurants like higher sound levels as it makes it seem more "alive". This was so far over the top -- the agony of the noise made it difficult to interact or appreciate the food. The service was so-so. Pleasant, knowledgeable, and completely inattentive. We had to flag down one server (took several minutes) to get a second wine bottle opened. He would not do it, it has to be done by "our" server, several more minutes. I will not return to Melograno. I cannot enjoy a a meal under these conditions.
(2)S K.
Substandard. We ordered the Mussels appetizer but had to send it back because of broken pieces of the shell. For entrees, we ordered: (1) paparadelle with the boar ragu which was fine; and (2) the risotto without the shrimp. Because I am vegetarian, I asked that the shrimp be substituted with some vegetable. I was told that although the chef wouldn't add a vegetable to the risotto, I could get a any vegetable separately. Accordingly, I ordered artichoke. Surprisingly, I was not only charged for the one tiny little artichoke stem that was brought out, but also, the waitress refused to charge me less for the rissotto although I had asked for the seafood to be left out. What's worse, she was gutsy enough to lecture us that one doesn't ask the chef to change his dish and/or not charge for what he didn't put on the plate "just like one doesn't ask an artist to change his painting". Yet, the chef did exactly that - acquiesced when I asked to keep the seafood off my dish. Anyway, we ended with the cherry and almond panacotta. Without exaggerating, this is one of the worst desserts we have tried. It tasted medicinal. Do yourself a favor and try Monsu or Osteria instead.
(1)Lara R.
A-Okay indeed. Nice atmosphere, spot-on service, food came quickly. Wasn't wow-ed by anything - I really enjoyed the zuppetta of spicy seafood (delicious steamy broth, very filling), my friend was only slightly disappointed by the salmon which came in a bit smaller portion size than expected so she ended up ordering an additional side of potato puree (just mashed potatoes haha) to supplement. The chocolate cake had a molten center and looked delicious and I thought the tiramisu was solid, though slightly over-soaked/runny.
(3)Minh C.
We came here on a Friday during early evening. I got there first, so I walked in and stood behind a couple who had just arrived and were in the middle of being seated. I waited patiently while the hostess sat the couple. In the meantime, another couple came in behind me. Immediately, someone came up and asked if he could help seat them. Then, the hostess came back and asked them if she could help them. At that point, I was starting to get peeved. The hostess saw me walk in, saw me waited, and totally ignored me. Absolutely an abysmal way to treat guests. I interjected and asked for a table. Her immediate response was whether I was expecting the entire party soon - I lied and said yes so she would seat me. I lied because there was no reason she shouldn't seat me given that there were many tables open and no one else in queue, and also because I was already annoyed with her customer service. Just one last mention of service quality here - we were interrupted several times by the waiter in mid-conversation. My experiences at other restaurants have been that waiters/waitresses arrive at the table, wait a second or two for the table to turn its attention to him/her, and then begin. Here, the guy arrived and just started talking. So, to the food. We split the Polpette - for ten bucks we got two meatballs made with pork, veal, and beef topped wtih tomato sauce and pecorino cheese. A bit pricey at $5 per meatball, but...actually, no buts. We also shared a plate of fried fish. I can't remember the name of the dish, but it wasn't that memorable anyway. For my main dish, I had the Cotoletta alla Senese - a fried chicken breast topped with several slices of prosciutto, arugula, tomatoes, and mozzarella. The chicken was good, but then again, it's hard to mess up fried chicken. However, it wasn't anything to write home about either. Finally, for dessert, we had the Panna Cotta topped with berries. The panna cotta is about 2.5 inches in diameter, but came out on a 12 inch diameter plate. That was a bit absurd. All it did was drew my attention to how little food we got. At least it tasted good! So, bad service, OK food. You decide.
(3)Mags M.
One of my favorite BYOBs in Philly. I haven't been back recently but the mushroom papardelle is amazing. The quality of food at their prices is a steal!
(5)Jamie S.
This is hard, because the food was excellent but the service was poor. Even with a reservation we had to wait almost half an hour to be seated. Then there was a wait for our water, bread, and wine to be opened. Our waitress poured our champagne like a newb. The snail and mushroom appetizer was amazing. The fresh pasta in the pasta with wild boar ragu was very satisfying. My veal entree was pretty good, though I was stuffed at that point. A mixed seafood plate had exceptional head on prawns. Its also a little loud and cramped, but I would have minded less had I been seated and at least served some bread more promptly. Hungry people give less stars.
(3)Maria Y.
Their Pappardelle with mushroom and pecorino was absolutely delicious. At first,I didn't know what to order because I didn't understand all pasta names in Italian. I just decided to trust waiter's recommendation. Pappardelle was very fresh,mild and rich. That made my day. All of my friends liked it. And their focaccia was also speechless.
(5)Angela H.
Along with a group of my 3 girlfriends, I headed to Melograno's for a first time visit with 3 bottles in hand. Melograno earned 4 stars as an affordable BYO that has a menu to please the 'picky eater' without breaking the bank. I think with a few more visits Melograno could be a favorite place to gab with the girls, I would definately go back. Reservations are taken on all days except Saturday, closed on Mondays. We were seated right on time from a friendly hostess who greeted me by name *bonus point! Appetizers and entrees came out in a fair time without complaints, just happy bellies. I ate my pork chop with creamy polenta & pomegranate reduction and had left overs to spare but admit, I get full kind of fast. The service was decent, maybe a little stressed at one point. The restaurant and bathrooms appeared clean. All in all...two thumbs up. Shout out to Michelle C for the suggestion.
(4)Jess D.
Criteria for B-day dinner: BYO, casual, and close to home. Melograno met all 3 criteria so we strolled on over on a nice fall evening. For a Thursday night the place was DEAD. The restaurant can probably hold 70- 80 people and there was only 1 other table occupied in the restaurant. I instantly became nervous but the sweet server helped calm my nerves with her friendly demeanor and knowledge of the menu. We ordered a pasta dish to share and two entrees and were not surprised when the food came out quickly. The pasta was excellent and I particularly liked the cream sauce balanced with pancetta and assorted cooked greens (spinach, kale, etc). My chicken entree was bland and boring but my boyfriend's filet mignon dish was pretty tasty, especially his creamy polenta. Overall we had a good time but didn't LOVE this place. It was pricey for the small portions we got and nothing really stood out except maybe the pasta dish. If I came back I would only order pasta.
(3)H C.
The food here is mediocre, at best. But what's even worse, is the noise level. You can barely hear the person next to you, forget about anyone further away. We had the calamari appetizer which was almost flavorless, the cheese tray also nothing special, and ordered a sausage rigatoni to split between 6. The pasta was the best of the three. I had the salmon, which was fresh but also flavorless. My husband had the pork chop which was dry and not very tender. We will not be going back. One more thing, if you're driving to town on a Saturday night, you may find it hard to park, even in the lots in that area.
(2)Kunjan P.
Worst customer service. This was a place we were very excited to try for the first time based on yelp reviews. We made a reservation for a large group of 12 people for a Friday night and were told there would be no problem accommodating our group. Then 3 hours before reservation we get a phone call informing us that our party would likely not be sitting together, but we would still be required to do the limited pre fixe menu. Are you kidding me?? Why were we not told this in advance and why were we given only 3 hours notice??? Why would we go to a restaurant with a group of people to sit separately?? Really disappointing because this was a night my fiancee planned for my birthday that was subsequently ruined....
(1)Alissa C.
I'd been to Melograno once before and had a great experience, so when it came time to make a reservation for my birthday dinner I was very excited to return. I made a reservation for 8 for Saturday night at 7:30 using their online reservation system through Urbanspoon. But when we arrived at the restaurant on Saturday night, the reservation was missing. I didn't know what we were going to do as a party of 8 without reservations at 7:30 on a Saturday evening. Thankfully, the staff at Melograno really came through and saved the day. Though they were incredibly busy and did not have my reservation, they still managed to find a way to accommodate us with only a very short delay. We had an amazing dinner, the service was great, and the error with the reservation will definitely not prevent me from going back.
(4)Paul H.
Very charming little restaurant near Rittenhouse Square. We got there at 6:00 pm on a Thursday, and the place was empty - by 7:00 the place was full. Had the calamari appetizer - VERY different, not fried, and in a mix with tomatoes, beans and a VERY good broth, all of which sort of overpowered the calamari. We also split an artichoke heart which was perfectly tender and very flavorful. I had the special pasta which was in some kind of pesto-lemon (?) sauce with grilled octopus. Loved it and nearly licked the plate. Carol had the shrimp pasta dish - not nearly so flavorful -neither the shrimp nor the pasta. Might have gone five stars had she liked her food a bit more. In any event, Melograno goes into the rotation, I think. Nice ambiance, good food, and best of all - BYOB!!!! P.S. (the one size fits all stemware was a little disappointing. We brought a BIG Italian read; they had small generic wine glasses. Thought that peculiar.)
(4)Jessica S.
Really, really enjoyed our ladies night dinner here! Great location, just West of Rittenhouse Square on a block with a few other gems (I'm looking at you, Il Pittore & Vic). This place has a dark & seductive atmosphere perfect for a beautiful ladies night or date spot. I joined my group of hot doctor ladies on a night out to remember and we had a very delicious meal all around. Every place certainly gets props for BYO, and this place does not disappoint. I think it's extra special when you have the BYO option at a more upscale place like this. I always think BYO lets me feel like I'm at least a little bit "in control" but, I digress... The food was phenomenal -- if you were at least thinking about it, get the pasta with wild boar. Holy shite. This was good. Ginger creme brulee is also a must. I'd definitely come back here for date night with a nice bottle of something red. Note this place pretty much requires reservations. I have walked in and walked out immediately in the past because the place was swarming.
(4)Dhruva R.
Took my mom there for her birthday. We made the reservation through the Amex concierge, and told them so, but we didn't mention anything when we got there, nor was anything special done. It's BYOB, which we didn't know until we got there. This place is *loud*. My wife (an architect) noted that they could easily put in sound absorbing materials to help with this. I have mixed feelings about the food. The chef doesn't seem to have a good sense of what goes together. My mom was disappointed with her salmon special, which was basically salmon doused with salsa. However, I had the pork chop, which may very well be the most perfectly grilled pork chop I've ever tasted. Ever.
(3)Craig C.
My girlfriend and I came here for dinner. Our meal was underwhelming and overpriced. We got the following: 1. Beef brasaola (or something like that). This dish sounded promising. It was described as an aged beef carpaccio with beets. Although I found it refreshing, it was very bland. 2. Calamari with beans, tomatoes, and a touch of vinegar. Again, this dish was not terrible, but for the price, it left much to be desired. I think it would have been better served cold. 3. My girlfriend got the chicken with dill, kale, and potatoes. Nothing notable with this dish. 4. I got the wild mushroom pappardelle with truffle oil. This was certainly the highlight of the meal, and I enjoyed it thoroughly. As my gf said, you can't really go wrong with truffle oil. As a whole, this meal was disappointing after seeing the great yelp reviews. It was expensive considering the quality of the meal and the fact that this place is a Byob. I was looking for some great Italian food, and I did not find it here. Go to Porcini next door...you will have a better experience.
(3)Jenni I.
Went here with a group of friends to kick off a girl's night out in the city. Service was fast and friendly! Our top requirement in choosing a dinner location was that it be BYOB and accepting of many, many bottles of wine and champagne. Melograno was just that -- along with really great food! Everyone in my party was happy with what they ordered. We started with mussels and the meat, cheese and vegetable plate. All very good. Warm bread was brought to the table and was perfect for sopping up the rest of the broth from the mussels. I had the Pappardelle Tartufate which came highly recommended by Yelpers. Very good -- and unlike nothing I've ever had. While it was delicious, I'd probably not get it a second time. There's a lot of other yummy options to try ... which brings me to the Cotoletta alla Senese that my friend ordered and I tried. Very, very good. I highly recommend this dish. The chicken cutlet was fresh, perfectly seasoned and finished off with lemon. Topped with priscuitto, argula, cheese and tomato. Yum! I also tried a bite of the Risotto ai Gamberoni with fennel and goat cheese. Very good, too. It was a bit loud (as noted in other reviews), but we didn't mind it one bit. For that reason, I'd recommend this place for groups rather than an intimate date. Enjoy!
(4)CHRISTINE B.
This place has the best ravioli I have ever had! Beet and ricotta filled with a brown butter sauce, sage and poppy seeds. I dream about that dish. It can be pretty loud in here but that's probably the only complaint I had. Really nice spot and friendly service.
(4)Victoria L.
This was a last minute Restaurant Week pick. I couldn't be happier! The space was great and I LOVE that it is a classy BYO. My friend ordered the octopus, which was good (considering how hard it can be to cook and many restaurants don't succeed). All our pasta and entrees were good. Intentions to come back for sure!
(4)Bri H.
My friends & I were the annoying last table lingering on Sunday night. Despite this fact, our server was cheerful and friendly. I started out with the grilled calamari, split with a friend. I wish I had the whole thing to myself. It was a very small portion of the most tender squid I've ever had - not even remotely rubbery or chewy. It was served on a bed of eggplant marmalade and green beans - I was not a fan of this. I then had the ravioli with pumpkin and marscapone. It was delicious, but I was jealous of my friend's paperadelle with mushrooms. For dessert I had the vanilla panna cotta with fresh berries. It was quite tasty, but again I experienced food envy when I tasted my friend's tiramisu. Oh and on this particular night, we were treated to dinner AND a show! A chick in her 20's was being publicly groped by her MUCH older boyfriend (? or husband). I'm talking nursing home aged. This grandpa-lookin' dude was all over his young prize. People watching at it's finest!
(4)Samantha B.
On my second trip to Melograno, everything was delicious as I had hoped. Made a miserable rainy night much better! I felt it necessary to write an update to mention how delicious the rustico platter is. Full of bread, meats, fresh cheese, and roasted vegetables. Everything was extremely flavorful and a great start to the meal. We shared the beet ravioli which was amazing. The beets added a really interesting sweet flavor to the pasta. We shared another seafood dish as well with calamari, shrimp, fish, and scallops. Fresh and light. Chocolate lava cake at the end of the meal was a slight disappointment, but didn't take away from the overall delicious meal. Only complaint is the noise in this restaurant because they smush everyone in like sardines, be prepared to raise your voice to be heard.
(4)Natalie B.
Amazing food! This place was so fantastic. My husband and I were visiting for the weekend and we're super impressed with this place!
(5)Li D.
Went to Melograno for dinner on Saturday night. We were walking around looking for a place to have dinner, so we didn't have reservations, but they were able to seat us (it was still fairly early in the evening). The hostess was cheerful and pleasant. The waiter was nice. He recommended the pasta with mushrooms for me. He said it was their signature dish. It was quite flavorful. My partner had the pasta special (spinach pasta), which he enjoyed. Our dinner guests had the steak and the wild boar pasta. Our guest said the wild boar pasta was delicious. We then had the tiramisu and our guests had the chocolate cake. Both were EXCELLENT. Prices for the pasta dishes are reasonable. Total bill for 4 people was $127 without tip. I believe it is a BYOB, so I don't know if they charge a corkage fee. Would definitely visit again.
(3)Katrix S.
It's strange that it's almost impossible to find a good restaurant in Center City, which to all intents and purposes is Philly's downtown or "Restaurant Row." So this small little restaurant--aptly tucked away on the quietest major street in the area--was a pleasant gastronomic surprise. Everything we tried on the menu was not only delicious, but also so tastefully presented, it was hard to not just dig in and gobble it up. The upscale ambiance defies you to do that though. The calamari bean salad was fresh and delicious. The entrees we tried were very good too: a pasta dish and the breaded chicken with prosciutto. Prices aren't too high considering this neighborhood, and the BYO option never hurts the wallet.
(4)Christian L.
We had gone here for a birthday party on Saturday. We went with the fixed price menu where you get the standard appetizer, entree and dessert for $45. I started off the night with pork/veal 2 meatballs covered in fondue. I felt like we should have at least got 3. I hate to be a cheap bastard, but I'm guessing they're pricing these balls at 5 a piece.... For the main event, I had pappardelle pasta with wild bar ragout. Friggin delicious. This boar lived a good life from the way it tasted. Dessert arrived. I had picked the Pana cotta- blew my mind. I savored every little bite. Overall the service was excellent. The tap water was refreshing- literally best water I've tasted from the tap. I'd give it more stars if the meatball portions were bigger.
(3)Karl K.
Get the Papparadelle Tartufate! ---- I used to go here pretty regularly a few years back, before they moved to their (much larger) current location - so I was completely lost when Yelp told me to head to Rittenhouse Square. But on the plus side, it's no longer the cramped / smoky / aggravatingly long wait that it used to be. They still don't take reservations, but now that the dining area has almost tripled in size, it doesn't seem like it will be much of an issue any longer. After weeks of taking pot shots at Olive Garden, I decided to take my GF here to show her amazing Italian/Tuscan fare. Overall, it was a very good experience, as shown below. I would love to give it 5 stars, but that would encourage it to rest on its laurels rather than continuously strive for excellence. Bread: B-, because it was cold and hard. Crispy smelt fries: B+, very interesting. Sauce was unique. Antipasti of shrimp, cannelini beans, squid on a bed of baby spinach: A-, a very light and citrusy option. A hit with both of us. ***Papradelle tartufate: A+, just like I remember it!. Freshly made pasta cooked al dente, savory mushrooms, topped with pecorino cheese. A carnivore such as myself would regularly order this without hesitation. It was so good, I found myself licking the plate afterwards.*** Grilled lamb chop two ways (special): B, the grilled chop was good, but the simmered chop was not simmered enough (a bit too tough) Goat's milk geese and raspberry (special): B-, as I wasn't much of a fan of its gritty texture. Even the confectioner's sugar and raspberry couldn't salvage it. Service: B, even though our waitress was friendly, she was rather unattentive and completely forgot that I asked for a cocktail napkin to get rid of my gum (I'm too old to stick it under the table). On the plus side, she never rushed us out, even though they were cleaning up and getting ready to close. Minor quirks notwithstanding, we will definitely be back next time.
(4)Amy C.
Service was 2 stars, food was 3. As other yelpers noted, bring earplugs. The interior looks cozy and quaint, but with the jarring sound of a cafeteria. It's impossible to have a 1-on-1 conversation here. Great for groups especially after a few bottles of wine when the senses start to numb--all the more reason to shout across the table at the top of your lungs because you can't hear a single thing! We walked in on a Thursday night for a table for 2 with no wait. Although it didn't seem too busy, service was painfully slow. We were seated without menus and when we finally did get them, the waiter must have waited at least 15 minutes to come back to check on us. We ordered the rustico (their "charcuterie" platter), mushroom pappardelle, and the wild boar raga pappardelle. The rustico platter was a little underwhelming. It looked impressive at first glance, but the roasted vegetables were pretty boring and nothing was particularly memorable. It was all kind of standard fare, nothing terribly wrong, but nothing that would have me coming back for more. The highlight of the meal was the freshly made pappardelle pasta. Don't underestimate the size of this entree. It looks tiny, but it's actually really dense and filling. I was pretty satisfied after all was said and done. Food is decent, but service needs some serious work. Oh, and be prepared to feel like you just left a rock concert when you walk out.
(3)Marvin G.
BYOB is its only plus. Food portions and quality have fallen, prices are higher and service is so-so. Once a favorite, now just average. Add $35 if you're parking a car in a nearby garage.
(3)Cath R.
Love this place - stinks they don't take reservations but it's worth the wait. Great for tables of 2 or 8 and BYOB which is nice as well. My husband loves the pumpkin ravioli when in season and I usually get the mushrom pasta but you can't go wrong with anything on the menu. We also usually get the anit-pasta plate which is more than enough for 2 people and would be perfect for 4.
(4)Aditi J.
5 stars from my stomach, heart, mind, you name it. This restaurant made me love pappardelle and mushrooms, two things I didn't care for before coming here. Order the Pappardelle Tartufate and bring your own wine for an unforgettable evening. Actually, in my case, I drank a little too much wine last time I went which made things a little hazy - except I remember fighting with my best friend over who would finish the Pappardelle. He still owes me that dish next time I'm in Philly.
(5)Victoria S.
We waited 30 minutes past our reservation. Once seated, we were rushed through our dinner. My biggest pet peeve of dining: the waiter takes your plates without asking if you are finished while food is still on the plate. Then while trying to add up the bill, the waiter gestures to "hurry up". Bottom line: poor service and poor food. Spend your money elsewhere.
(2)Allison B.
A friend just asked for a BYOB suggestion in Rittenhouse, which brought me back to my delicious dinner last Friday night. Me and two of my best girls from high school were going crazy trying to find a place to eat. There wouldn't be an open table at Kanella til 10pm. Mercato was closed for a private party, as was Giorgio on Pine. I trekked by bicycle across town to Melograno, where the wait was just an hour. Anisha, Julia and I stopped into Tinto for a drink to pass the time. (I had never been inside before- so swanky!) We ended up having to wait a bit longer once we returned to Melograno, but I didn't mind too much. Our waitress, Lauren, spied our copious bottles of wine and laughed. She was funny, and definitely told it like it is (like when they were trying to close the restaurant and we were still drinking, whoops). Melograno is so much bigger than I expected, and I loved the dim lighting and the look of the open kitchen. We skipped appetizers, choosing to indulge only on the delicious bread since we were so ravenous. Liquor is quicker, friends. I ordered the Pappardelle Tartufate, which was absolutely fantastic. Fresh strips of textured pasta, meaty mushrooms, crunchy walnuts, just enough truffle taste. There's a reason why it's Melograno's signature dish. Julia ordered the squid ink risotto, which I got a good bite of. Fresh scallop nestled within rich, black rice. The squid ink was a unique flavor for sure. Anisha got the brown butter ravioli, which she unfortunately she didn't love. Lauren told us she couldn't refill our bread- they were out. Out?! She said they only had heels but I told her to bring it on. I love the heels of bread. Five minutes later we had another basket brought to the table- warm slices, fresh out of the oven. After eating and drinking and laughing and crying (there were some seriously emotional moments during this dinner, people) we looked around and noticed the restaurant was completely empty. Yes, we were the last to leave and yes, I was sporting some serious wine mouth but the food and conversation, they were just divine.
(5)Joe B.
Had dinner here last night with a group of friends. My wife and I split the Rustico appetizer (board of meats, cheese, and veggies) and thought it was great. I ordered the pappardelle with wild boar ragu for my entree and thought it was good, though it was a bit small for my appetite and I was still a bit hungry afterward. Luckily that led to me swiping a few bites of my wife's pasta (with kale and prosciutto in a cream sauce) that was pretty awesome. In all, a decent and inviting Italian place. But with so many options for Italian in Philly, I'm not sure it's worth the revisit.
(3)Tim C.
I thought the food was excellent especially the desserts. My only issues were that it was really really loud and the waitstaff seemed to be very very disorganized. For a center city BYOB I think its a good option and worth a try but overall I wasnt overly impressed.
(3)Arin S.
Looks like I'm the odd one out here that didn't really enjoy Melograno. I was disappointed in the service and food-- but it was Restaurant week, so that may be atypical. Not a bad evening, but I won't go back.
(2)Alicia K.
My first and probably only visit to Melograno was during Restaurant Week. Dispite the out-pouring of great reviews this place had I honestly did not enjoy this restaurant that much... I have been to many other italian BYOB's that were much, much better. The flavors we're just OK but did not "wow" any of the 4 guests I had with me. We tried really hard to enjoy it here.. we ordered 4 different appetizers, 3 different entrees and 3 different desserts so that we could all taste everything but the general consensus was that the food was just OK. Our server on the other hand was very attentive and informative. I feel bad that I do not remember her name so that I could give her the proper credit in this review. She earned this restauarnt 3 stars. Based on food only i'd say it was 2 stars. Needless to say we were all sad that we wasted our one free night to do restaurant week on Melograno.
(3)Mark D.
3 friends and I came here for the restaurant week menu. It was quite amazing. For starters, we ordered the proscuitto salad, calamari, and meatballs. None of these were particularly outstanding in my opinion, but they were quite gigantic portions especially compared to other restaurants that tend to skimp out, and especially given this was restaurant week where hordes of cheap diners (cough us) come to places that they can't afford :) For the main course, I ordered the fish of the day, something I still can't pronounce, but which was served with garlic mashed potatoes, shrimp, and calamari. My friends also ordered the fish and a scallops + pork belly dish. The fish was very well cooked and seemed pretty fresh. Nothing like out of the lake fresh after an afternoon fishing, but it certainly filled my seafood craving. The scallops and pork belly were really well made, with a crispy outer layer but the inside being nice and tender. Finally we had creme brulee and molten chocolate cake for dessert. Both were delicious and made well. I think what really makes this place stand out though is the ambiance and atmosphere. It's not a loud byo, but it's not a super quiet conversation place either. Instead, it seems to appeal to all of the above! It'd be great for a date night, or just casual conversation, or for a 6-8 person group. Food was great and delicious, waiters were very attentive, almost a little too much sometimes, and I'd come back.
(4)Sarah S.
very pleased by my visit to Melograno. Great service and great food. Pappardelle Tartufate is a noodle dish with the perfect blend of mushrooms and truffle oil. So delicious!
(4)Kemi A.
3.5 stars I'll be the 1st person to let you know that i'm not a fan of italian food. When my friend recommended we have dinner here, I didn't want to be a debbie downer so I agreed. She got some wild mushroom dish which was good. I forgot what I ordered but it had to pull pork/meat in it. It was def tasty. Not what I expected. It's BYOB so we got a small bottle to share nearby. The waiter was attentive (and cute) and he did recommend that I get the pulled pork/meat dish which I appreciated. I do want to go back and try the grill octopus app.
(4)LK M.
This isn't my favorite Italian place in the area (that's another place in Haddonfield, NJ check out my review), but it was definitely worth the night out here. I would come again. Everything we had here was very good. But the only thing that stood out was the panna cotta dessert. We had mussels and calamari for an appetizer. Both were very good. Then the mushroom pasta, which was also very good. This is a dish I get whenever I see it on the menu. This wasn't the best of this dish I've had, but it was very good. I'd order it again. The filet was cooked perfect to order and the sauce was absolutely delicious. The salmon was cooked simple with herbs, but was also very good. The panna cotta was divine. The vanilla flavor was incredible. Unfortunately this simple, understated dessert stole the show. Most importantly, service was spot on. Everyone was pleasant. Writing this review was difficult. Everything was very good, but nothing really stood out as extraordinary. My husband's in a wheelchair, so when it comes to finding a decent non-chain restaurant (especially in the city) that is wheelchair accessible, it is VERY difficult. Which is very frustrating to these two self-proclaimed foodies. So even though it wasn't extraordinary, it was still very good, and we'd certainly go back. BYOB!
(4)John Q.
Wanting to take my lady somewhere she's never been, I chose Melograno based on Yelp reviews and the fact that they are BYO. When we walked into the restaurant, we were both pretty surprised to find it empty on a Thursday night at 7:15. Our server immediately greeted us and went over the specials. She was great about answering all of our questions (i.e.: "What does this mean?" *point to super Italian word on menu*). We took our servers recommendation and split a pasta entree for an appetizer. We were glad we did because it was tasty. It had just the right amount of cream sauce and other ingredients to help the dish stay balanced and flavorful. For our entrees we ordered the chicken and filet mignon. The filet was great but not the best I've had in the city. The chicken wasn't bad but it was overly simple and felt like something I could have made at home. Overall I would give the service a 5 but the food and atmosphere were only a 3 or 4. I would come back and try additional pasta dishes as I think this is what they best enjoy making and it shows.
(4)