Osteria Menu

  • Antipasti
  • Le Pizze
  • Primi
  • Secondi
  • Contorni
  • Dolci

Healthy Meal suggestions for Osteria

  • Antipasti
  • Le Pizze
  • Primi
  • Secondi
  • Contorni
  • Dolci

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  • J R.

    Great food. Nice selection. Service was good. A bit noisy but bearable nevertheless.

    (5)
  • Katie P.

    lombarda pizza was out of this world!!!!

    (5)
  • Gerry G.

    I wanted to take my daughter out for some good pizza before she returned back to college from her Christmas break. We headed to the city and Were so excited to go to Osteria . My daughter and her girlfriend ordered the Margarita pizza. My girlfriend and I ordered the ribeye for two After waiting for about 15 minutes for the waitress to take our drink order we finally received our beverages. We ordered our appetizers and maincourse as soon as we received our beverages. Then we waited about 25 minutes for appetizers and an additional 45 minutes after that for our main course. I'm not really good at waiting and then my daughter and her girlfriend asked me what was taking so long.The food was good but restaurant was smoky for some reason and the managers were busy texting on their cell phones which drove me crazy. After spending $172 for a pizza and a ribeye for two and only one glass of wine and three Ice-T I'm not sure it was worth the evening out.... We should've just stayed in. Someone should inject some energy back into a restaurant that has good food but a poor performing staff

    (2)
  • Chris M.

    One of my all time favorite restaurants. Quality service, fantastic entrees, and the best pizza there is.

    (5)
  • Matt D.

    This meal was a long time in the making, and it didn't quite live up to our expectations. Upon entering, I was taken back by the beautiful decor and polished staff. You can easily see that Osteria is a tightly managed operation. We arrived way ahead of our reservation, and they were quick to offer us a nice spot in the lounge area, which worked just as well as a table in the main dining areas. The service remained strong during the whole meal. We ordered the grilled octopus as our shared antipasta. While it was very good, I would rank it third on my octopus list behind Zorbas and La Fourno, and it's a pricey, small plate of octopus. Up next was the Lombardo pizza, which was good, but I expected a bit more. Nomad, and dare I say it, Barra in old city can contend with it. The chocolate flan is nothing special and overpriced, but the traditional budino was absolutely fantastic. It's easily one of the top desserts I've had out in the city. Out of the three excellent restaurants that landed in the area of Broad and Mt. Vernon, I think I prefer Osteria's neighbor, Route 6.

    (3)
  • Vincent G.

    Food here was OK. Very inconisistent. Chicken Liver Pasta was great as well as the Octopus Pizza. The Pork Special and the Steak was terrible. Service here was really weak. Seemed uninterested and very annoyed with us. We do not look like the ritzy customer they are used to so didn't give good service but in the end she was wrong because we had a BIG check and I've been in the business for 15 years and still am and she definitely hurt herself in the tip area. All in all a little inconsistent, weak service, cool vibe, and very very pricey. Will not return, will not reccomend to anyone, but will not stop anyone from going either.

    (3)
  • Eric L.

    Great food. Good service. My wife and I had our anniversary dinner here and really enjoyed the experience and the food. I had the tuna steak and sausage, which was perfect.

    (5)
  • Paige B.

    Vegetable Antipasti - 5 out of 5 A-m-a-z-i-n-g display and variety of summer vegetables that were all marinated and cooked to perfection. The experience in one word: addictive. Spaghetti Alla Chitarra (Rabbit Bolognese, Artichoke and Black Truffle) - 4.5 out of 5 Delicious tender rabbit meat complemented the delicate pasta and the black truffle chunks. Robiola Francobolli ("Postage Stamp Ravioli" with Royal Trumpet Mushrooms and Thyme) - 3 out of 5 I was expecting a lot more from this dish. There were homemade white ravioli on a white plate with some thin slices of mushrooms and a creamy filling. I don't base much of my review on appearance of the food, but when everyone's dishes arrived and mine was pretty boring looking (no color, no garnish, and a smaller than typical portion), I was less enthralled. Taste-wise, these raviolis melted on my palate. They were so soft and delicate and creamy. But, I would recommend a sauce with more depth and flavor. Bufala Mozzerella and Heirloom Tomato "Conchiglie" Stuffed Shells - 4 out of 5 My boyfriend's father, who according to him and his family, always orders the "best" dish when they're out at restaurants. He ordered the stuffed shells, which goes to figure, since they were amazing. The basil in the sauce is the freshest I've tasted. Rhubarb Strudel (with Apricot and Pistachio Semifreddo) - 2 out of 5 Just all right. Our server recommended this dessert over the Chocolate Mousse Torta, so I trusted her opinion. It looked like a Danish doughnut and tasted like a sweet-and-tart rendition. The combination of rhubarb, apricot, and pistachio didn't coalesce into a magical experience. It seemed like a dessert put on the menu to have another option, rather than some ethereal flavor combination Vetri was excited to share with the world. Chocolate Mousse Torta (with Peanut Butter and Chocolate Sbrisolona) - 5 out of 5 Now, this is a dessert is a not worth missing. BF's father ordered the torta and gave me a bite. It was oh so rich and decadent and everything a chocolate lover would want to finish off a great meal.

    (4)
  • Jonathan N.

    Went to ostertia with my brother and sister in law. The meal was great and the the price per item was excellent. Great place

    (5)
  • Niyant S.

    Mostly everyone is correct about this place, it is pretty awesome...even Bobby Flay said it was some of the best pizza he has ever had! The food, drinks, and ambiance here were all superb. Be warned, this place is a little upscale/classy, so make sure you are dressed right. We ordered a couple of the specials for appetizers. I don't remember their names, however one was a veal ravioli dish, and the other was a large platter featuring all different vegetables. Unfortunately, since these were not listed on the menu but verbally described to us, we did not realize the vegetable platter would be charged as a per person dish ($12 each!). This is mainly the reason I knocked a star off their rating. For dinner, I enjoyed one of their signature pizzas (again I cannot remember its exact name) that had sausage and egg. I wasn't sure how a pizza would taste with egg on it, however I was pleasantly surprised to find that it was quite good. Others in our group got the lamb dish, the margherita pizza, and white sauce pizza; all of these dishes were great (especially the lamb!). I definitely recommend checking this place out if you want to try some really good food in an upscale environment, but be ready to spend...

    (4)
  • Sean G.

    I wish that I could give Osteria a better rating, but for what I experienced on my visit, thats about all it's worth. When I moved from New York City to Philadelphia I was told, "Go to Osteria, Jeff Michaud is doing great things." I was more than excited when after work last Sunday my partner surprised me with an early dinner. When we arrived we were greatly by the host who was quite courteous, and told us it would be a few moments for our table to be set up and if we like, we could get a drink at the bar. We both decided a drink would be unnecessary and we were happy to wait. We continued to stand and wait for a table and a second, third, and fourth person told us we could get a drink at the bar. At this point we were annoyed by the interactions. The dining room was not full, and yet we waited another 5 minutes, literally, for our table. Then we were seated. Our waiter was shaky and nervous, his second week on the job. We ordered the special vegetable appetizer which was delightful. Served on a pig shaped cutting board with 8+ different vegetables, all with different cooking applications. Each bite was delicious, cauliflower in duck fat and roasted golden beets - I was in heaven. We started and finished with the high note of the evening. Next came 2 pasta courses which we shared. A stamp pasta filled with cheese, and a whole wheat pasta with a duck ragout. The cheese pasta was a tiny portion, extremely salt and greasy. The duck pasta was the opposite, dry and flavorless. Both portions were tiny and extremely over priced. Next we unfortunately shared the rabbit course. The portion couldn't have been more than 6oz, was overcooked to the point of it being inedible, and was riddled with tiny bones which made it impossible to even try to eat. The polenta was granular and undercooked almost to the point of raw. The sauce on the plate was lacking and the whole dish was luke warm. I said this probably 4 times now, this was singularly one of the worst dishes I've had in my life... and for $26 I felt robbed. Hoping to save the meal, we ordered dessert. Osteria's "Chocolate Flan" was nothing more than a poorly executed chocolate lava cake, a huge disappointment. Their polenta budino was very sweet, but delicious, and was a saving grace. I see that there is potential for me to go again and have a good meal, but based on my first experience it will probably be my last. A $200+ meal for two, with lackluster service and downright poorly cooked food is just a waste, and in a city with such great culinary talents, I doubt I will spend my money at Osteria again.

    (2)
  • Nicky H.

    The pizza was good. The limoncello was delish. I like the overall vibe and the desserts are FABULOUS. This place gets really busy, now I know why!

    (4)
  • elanya m.

    Forgot I never reviewed this place...great spot....location and overall experience...def. worth checking out. Vetri does it again

    (5)
  • Linda L.

    According to Wikipedia: A salt lick is a salt deposit that animals regularly lick...salt/mineral licks provide the sodium, calcium, iron, phosphorus and zinc required for bone, muscle and other growth in deer and other wildlife, such as moose, elephants, cattle, woodchucks, domestic sheep, fox squirrels, mountain goats and porcupines. If you are not a nutrient deficient wild animal, and especially if you have high blood pressure, I would strongly suggest staying from Osteria. Even the bread is intensely salted.

    (2)
  • Jen R.

    We found street parking fairly quickly behind Osteria. We were seated in their nice sun room which I enjoyed. Our waiter brought out lots of salted bread and bread sticks and always made sure our basket and drinks were full :) We chose the Lamb belly appetizer which was a special of the night and was not on the actual menu. I recommend you try these! Very flavorful and savory. I'll be back for these. We ordered the Rib-eye steak for two (32oz). We were warned about the 40 minute cooking time before placing our order. We didn't mind the wait. I don't think it took that long anyway. The steak was then brought out to us. For verification? I don't understand. Then it was returned to the kitchen to be cut and plated. We immediately fell in love with the flavor. Mouth watering, perfectly cooked steak. What else could you ask for? We chose to take it to full throttle and order dessert. I had the Nutella tart which was good but nothing special. Steve had a trio of Chocolate Cannoli's with ice cream filling. Now those had the "special" I was looking for. As expected, the staff was very nice and knowledgeable. We can't wait to go back to Osteria and try other Marc Vetri restaurants as well.

    (5)
  • christina j.

    Osteria gives that rustic Italian feel as soon as you enter. A perfect stage for my meal. The food was delicious. My starter was the house cured salumi & artichoke mostarda. No complaints here. Our waiter was so nice and very patient. I had several questions surrounding my entree & couldn't decide on what to order; so I finally just said "surprise me" and he did. He brought both the pork special with a side of the chicken liver rigatoni. The rigatoni was awesome and I can see why everyone says get the chicken liver rigatoni. My girlfriend went with the octopus and halibut, she enjoyed her meal as well.

    (3)
  • Scott H.

    There is too much to type to be quite honest about osteria. I will say this; my fiancé and i, Went t celebrate our engagement. We did not even tell the server that's why we were there. It was hands down the best restaurant experience we have ever had in the city of Philadelphia. Everything, and I mean everything was perfect! The food, the wine, the ambiance. Bravo Marc vetri, if. Can ever afford it, I will be back

    (5)
  • Meghan B.

    Had the best meal of my life-Chicken Liver Rigatoni was unbelievable. The service was impeccable and the attention to detail was unparalleled. It was a special evening and Osteria will be the place to beat on my top ten list. Had a great family feel with lots of style to boot. Thank you Osteria!!

    (5)
  • Alex V.

    The food at Osteria was five stars. The sweatbread special was out of this world. My homemade ravoli was also very good, and the roasted chicken was hands down the best chicken I've ever had period. The service was inconsistent. Our waiter was not every attentive, and others were stepping in to fill the void. Considering out bill came out to around $75/head, I would expect excellent service. Despite the lapse in service, I would highly recommend Osteria.

    (4)
  • Mark P.

    Last night the gf and I headed to Osteria so she could finally check it out. It started off on not such a great note. OPur table was right next to the server station - my gf could not see anything around server station and I had to face a wall and have servers literally on top of me all night as they entered their orders. I will say though the service was outstanding the entire night. SO onto the food. We started with a 14 month aged proscuitto that was an addition for the night. I was definitely surprised with the amount they gave you - extremely generous. Next, we has the parma pizza which was pretty damn good - maybe a little too thin. I personally still think Zavino has the most authentic pizza in the city but this is a close 2nd. After the pizza came our pasta dishes. My gf had a pasta with a wild board ragu which was very flavorful. /Unfortunaltely the sausage ravioli I ordered was extremely bland. My dish was so overpowered by the parm on top of the ravioli that was all I could taste - well except for the one bite that was nothing but black pepper. The ravioli were definitly the low point of the night. The deserts we had were pretty good. I had an apple and riccota strusle (im sure I spelled that wrong) and my gf had one of the chocolate deserts. It was surprising to see Marc Vetri hanging out at the bar. All in all it was good but nothing amazing. Definitely over priced for certain things. Next time I will do what I was told by friends, just sit at the bar and get a pizza.

    (3)
  • Stephen H.

    I know people that rave about this place, so I been here a couple of times. They have some unique dishes here (a chicken liver dish and a rabbit dish are two I recall), which I am always open to try, but I was not a big fan. I honestly think this is a hit or miss place, you either love it or don't like it and unfortunately I am more of the latter.

    (2)
  • John J.

    The chicken liver rigatoni was amazing!

    (4)
  • Quinney H.

    Polpo Pizza!!! While the polpo pizza is the best pizza I've ever had, I wasn't overly impressed with my entire meal. I did not find the overall quality of the food to be worth the quantity in price. Service was a bit sloppy. Ambiance was just a little lacking IMO (e.g., dimmer lighting, better table placement, and friendlier FOH staff). I will return solely for the polpo pizza.

    (3)
  • Clara L.

    Good service, fresh food, great ambience. With a very affordable price tag. Can't go wrong with that.

    (5)
  • Kris B.

    the food, obviously, is delicious. but the service was actually really disappointing. I'd happily pay these prices if the service and attentiveness of the staff came anywhere close to the quality of the food, but it just didn't. for that reason, i'd rather go to a hundred other places in the city.

    (3)
  • Josh C.

    A true 5-star rating. Honestly, anybody who disliked Osteria must hate quality and taste and likely hates puppies and Chase Utley as well. The lovely lady and I came for our anniversary dinner on a Sunday night and absolutely loved everything about the place. The sheer size of the restaurant was a welcomed change to the crammed byo scene to which I have grown accustomed. That isn't to say that the tables are spaced out to the point where you don't hear the table next to you discussing the current physical and emotional state of Heidi and Spencer (I have lost quality brain cells from that conversation), but the added room spared by elbows and feet from unwanted collisions with the waiters and occasional drunk customer. That was nice. The atrium was very pleasant and the sleek but unfinished decor was pretty cool as well. Drinks: The lady had a pinot grigio by the glass and I had a white wine that I hadn't heard of before and was told to remember the name but still managed to forget. The pinot grigio was good and my mystery wine was one of the best whites I've ever had. Glad that I have no memory left. I blame the Heidi/Spencer debate. Food: Simply awesome. We started with the summer veggie platter. The brussels sprouts were pretty much the best I've ever had and the beets and roasted peppers were tasty as well. Everything was obviously fresh. Next up, we split a margherita pizza. The pizza was definitely old world with a small offering of fresh cheese together with a sweet tomato sauce and a crispy, rustic crust. To be honest I am more of a fan of down and dirty greasy sloppy deliciousness when it comes to pizza but this was as good as traditional Italian pizza can get for me. Definitely a cut above Stella. For the entrees, the lady had a pasta that I remember was very good (and I can't remember exactly what it was - damn you Hills). I ordered the chicken "alla griglia" and... it was special. By nature I am a genuine red meat carnivore, but as it turns out a life of eating solely cow products does not lead to a healthy lifestyle so I have now turned to a lesser form of meat that I have never before respected: chicken. Had I known that chicken could be made to taste like this, I probably would have jumped on the bandwagon decades (and hundreds of thousands of calories) ago. The delicious marinade somehow seeped all of the way to the bone and at no point did I experience a bite that was not bursting with flavor. For me to say something like this about chicken... it must really be something. Dessert: A cannoli with with chocolate and caramel? Umm, yes please. Completely worth the two-a-days at the gym that I will need to pull so that I can eat it again. Service: Attentive and well-versed in the menu. Everything came out VERY quickly, which was great because we were really hungry. What else can you ask for? Overall, a 5-star experience all the way. I think that we have now found our new go-to spot. I may need to get a raise before we come back, but it will be worth it.

    (5)
  • Haltone H.

    Probably one of my top ten meals out. Mark Vetri's reputation - deserved. My chicken liver pasta was every bit as good as reviews indicated. A strawberry mousse dessert was so good that my foodie/cook husband found the recipe - and decided it was just too complicated, too many obscure ingredients to try to replicate. I wish I could remember more of the meal, as this was over a year ago. It definitely stands out in my memory, though.

    (5)
  • Tom G.

    Osteria has so much insane hype (thanks to the Vetri machine) so it's hard to not get amped up for your trip here. This is what I experienced: it's good, some is borderline great, good wine list (but very overpriced), mostly good waitstaff, and a trendy vibe in a crummy area of the city. The pizzas and pastas are what Osteria is known for. The pastas are almost all excellent. Only Modo Mio has matched the expertise for me so far in Philly. The pizzas are...well, they are wood-fired, super thin, and somewhat flimsy/soggy due to the sauce. I personally liked the Lombarda pizza but I was expecting more out of it after waiting 2 years to try it. My big issue is that before I came I read about 15 reviews stating the same thing: too expensive and small portions. Note to Philadelphia suburbanites: JUST BECAUSE YOU ARE USED TO EATING AT APPLEBEE'S AND BERTUCCI'S AND CAN'T TELL THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN AMERICAN AND MOZZARELLA CHEESE, STOP COMPLAINING ABOUT SIZE AND COST AT FINE RESTAURANTS. Ahem. Seriously, when suburbanites do the one thing they are scared to do (venture into the BIG CITY) they expect a meal that costs upwards of $60 per person to do the following: 1) Repair their fractured marriage of 20 years 2) Turn their community college drop out children into Ivy League investment bankers 3) Allow them to experience Nirvana If it doesn't accomplish these things, the meal is suddenly overpriced and a waste of time. Osteria, I apologize for using my review of your restaurant to yell at people.

    (4)
  • Warren S.

    sorry philly!!! average at best. All i ever hear about is the marc vetri genius with pasta and other italian specialties. Made reservations for friday night while in town for a concert. We ordered the lamb sausage, fried ipswich clams, a pizza(not memeorable) and the spaghetti chittarra with rabbit bolognese and truffle split between 2. The lamb sausage was 1 link of sausage cut into four pieces with a smear of pesto & 2 baby potato. Tasted ok, portion sucked, could of been any kind of meat nothing to write home about. Fried clams, 4 fried clams, thats right 4 fried clams on top of room temperature soup, clams where good but could of used another dozen. Then the pizza and pasta. pizza was something blah blah blah with proscuitto, soggy, could of used some viagra. Pasta, rabbit bolognese with truffle, sounds like magic to me. I could have had better pasta at the corner pizzaria, the meat could have been anything, a quarter inch of creamy soup at the bottom of the dish with a couple of slices of canned truffles in the mix. no herbs, no cheese no flavor. garbage. The bill was $152 with a $50 bottle of wine and we ended up going to tony lukes for cheesesteaks because the portions where for the birds.(the cheesesteake sucked to)

    (1)
  • Liz S.

    Amazing! My husband and I went on a Wednesday night and had such a great meal that we went back the next night! The service was great, the food was perfect, GO NOW!!!!!

    (5)
  • Ben K.

    Osteria is everything I want from an Italian restaurant and a lot of things that most people wouldn't expect. The place itself is absolutely gorgeous with that rustic osteria feel, farmhouse door wood tables, clay dishes and paper place mats. We were situated at a table right next to the antipasti prep station which had me directly next to a deli slicer which was being used to output some outrageously fragrant, cured meats. Coupled with the constant opening of bottles of wine next to my nose, I was in heaven. Seeing that Vetri himself was in the kitchen keeping an eye on the pizzas, we started with the 'Lombarda' a pie consisting of baked egg, bitto cheese, mozzarella, and cotechino sausage. I have never experienced a more perfect crust, wafer thin and crunchy and cooked as well as it could possibly get without being too brown. The combination of the bitto, mozzarella, a slightly salty sauce and the zest of the sausage made for an incredible experience of sweet and sour. The antipasti we ordered (a special that night) was mediocre, three tiny slices of baguette with grilled escarole and a slice of marinated mozzarella in the center, it was delicious but not exactly what I was expecting. We proceeded to order the rib eye with borlotti bean schiacciata and capon chicken with parsnips and chestnut stuffing as our entrees. The steak was so unbelievably flavorful and literally melted like butter on the tongue. It was cooked to perfection (ordered medium) with a crisp outside and juicy pink center. The chicken was also expertly cooked seemingly poached as it also melted in the mouth. The accompanying stuffing was baked as a casserole and was outrageously sweet while still staying savory from the chicken stock used. For dessert we ordered the 'chocolate flan' with pistachio gelato which isn't really a flan, but more of a lava cake. Also ordered was the polenta budino, supposedly a staple of the restaurant and it lived up to the hype. A delicate italian style rice pudding served in a mug topped with gianduia which is a stunning mixture of hazlenuts and chocolate and a caramelized sugar crust. Our server also sent over a sampler plate of all of the housemade gelatos and sorbets as she notcied the birthday cards I had left opened on the table. Outrageous flavors like kiwi, pomegranate, amaretto and hazlenut were situated in heaping creamy scoops on a plate adorned with pizzelles. The service as noted before is very accommodating and helpful with a great knowledge of the food and wine list. We enjoyed an Italian cabernet with our meal whose name and vineyard escapes me right now. All in all, Osteria is a substantial step forward for Marc Vetri and I will be returning soon to experience the pastas he offers. EDIT: Just wanted to add that I realized my visit to Osteria was on their 1-year anniversary. A lot of the kinks that previous reviewers experienced seem to have been worked out and the restaurant was running like a well oiled machine.

    (4)
  • Rocio U.

    It did not meet my high expectations. Food was ok, nothing spectacular. Service was fine. Wine recommendation was not good, seems the same wine was served at all tables tonight... A good restaurant, overrated to my best knowledge and highly priced. Too loud also.

    (4)
  • Kristin W.

    Slipped in late on a weeknight and got seated in the charming greenhouse area. We started with the Vegetable Antipasto special, which had a great selection of deliciously prepared seasonal veggies. Next up, we split the Zucchini pizza and the Cobia (a flavorful fish), both of which were great. We wrapped up the meal with the amazing Polento Budino with Hazelnut. Overall, a little steeply priced, but a great meal!

    (4)
  • Lynda Z.

    So, we've been looking forward to going to Osteria for awhile now and this past Wednesday we decided it was time. Ok, I'll start with the front reception service. The girls at the front were very nice and friendly. They sat us at our table very quickly. Our server came over to us very quickly as well and welcomed us to the restaurant with a smile and a reading of the nightly specials. We placed our order and waited a few minutes. A guy came over and offered us bread and a small pitcher of olive oil. The bread was room temperature and kind of blah. There was no seasoning to go along with the oil at all. There is no salt or pepper on the tables (I guess they would be utterly offended if you suggested their food needed anything more than the way it's normally prepared). So, cold bread and bland olive oil to start. Then, our appetizers came. My friend had the Octopus and I had the seasoned Rosemary potatoes. When I go out to restaurants, I expect them to make food better than I would be able to make it for myself. The potatoes were just OK. I seriously have made much better potato chunks at home. There was nothing special about them at all. My friends Octopus was not worthy of the money spent for it. Again, we felt that we could have made it better on our own. Then, I ordered the Margherita Pizza becuase it was feautured on the Food Network show "The Best Thing I Ever Ate" where Marc Summers couldn't stop raving about it. I thought, wow, I have to try it!. I don't know what Marc was smoking before he ate that pizza, because there was nothing going on with that pizza that I would ever rave about. I have had better pizza in my local mall (I'm not kidding). My friend got the Chicken Liver Rigatoni. She said that it had a funky tatse and was lacking flavor. Bottom line: Our bill was over $100 before the tip and the only thing positive I can say about this place is that they have nice people that work there, and we tipped them appropriately. The food was very disappointing.

    (2)
  • Hannah M.

    For the chef's reputation, I really expected more. I went on Valentine's Day, which I know is a jam packed meal, but I just wasn't impressed. The food wasn't interesting, it was really loud, and I just wish it had been a better experience. The ambiance wasn't very nice, although the antique meat slicing machine they have is sort of interesting. I just felt it was disappointing; if my expectations hadn't been so high, I might've enjoyed it more.

    (2)
  • Nicholas G.

    As a longtime member of the "industry" I must say that this was one of the best meals I have had in a long time. I had the pleasure of visiting Osteria on a cold Sunday night in December of 2009. The food was absolutely amazing, the pizza with the homemade sausage and egg was to die for. We sat at the bar and had a great dinner & desert. If you are in Philly Osteria should be first on your list.

    (5)
  • Karen A.

    Service was very efficient and friendly. The food was very disappointing. The only dish my husband and I actually liked was the pizza with arugula and prosciutto appetizer. My husband had a pork ribs special which had a very bad taste and was extremely fatty and greasy. My duck was just average and was also riddled with fat. My husband had a monk fish pasta which had a very bad fishy aftertaste. My pasta was better stuffed with mushrooms. The gingerbread dessert was good. The menu is very different from veal tongue to rabbit to boar meat. There were not any normal alternatives. We were very disappointed after having read the many positive reviews in magazines.

    (2)
  • Rachel U.

    I've been wanting to try this place since moving to Philly over a year ago; finally made it over Christmas break. Street parking was easy to find, they also have valet, and it's enough on the subway. Getting into the sketchier end of Broad St tho, so use your discretion on getting there. The decor was nice, very wine cellar-y, very chill. Our waiter was very well versed in the offerings, and was eager to help us all decide on what to order, going through descriptions of many dishes before we made up our minds. The food was all delicious. We sampled a lot of pasta dishes, and a pizza. The pastas were very well made, delicate but al dente, the sauces and whatnot were very flavorful. And the servings were teeny. Three of us got half pasta orders (for what we thought would be half price) so that we could try more than one dish. When the bill came, they were a little more than half price, and when I asked the waiter about it, he said it was because the servings were a little more than half. Which, while should have been explained at the onset, made me wonder what a full portion would look like and if I'd want to pay full price for it. The pizza was a good size and very tasty, and if I go back I already know I want to try the zucca pizza. So, predictably small portions for the $$$, but at least the food left me wanting more. There were lots of tempting things on the menu, which, if I could afford to eat more of it, would probably have left me happily satiated.

    (4)
  • Lilly N.

    A group of us went to Osteria for a send off dinner for a colleague. It was the PERFECT choice. Starting with the staff - they were so patient and nice - a large group means a lot of noise and not everyone paying attention; they were repeating themselves a lot. They made great suggestions, including doing a lot of food for the table so we could all try a bunch of different things. And by a bunch, I mean A LOT. We started with the seasonal anti pasti, two pastas (the short rib and the wild boar bolognese), two pizzas (margarita and mortadella). We probably should have stopped there with the food. There was a lot of plate passing and sharing - always at least one dish in the air. The anti pasti was a perfect winter treat - it's always nice this time of year to get a plate of bright vegetables, all colors of the rainbow - red and golden beets, brussel spouts (my favorite part), carrots...The pasta was perfectly cooked and frankly - the wild boar, i could have skipped the pasta and just eaten the sauce with a spoon. We really could have stopped there, but the Secondi options all sounded so good! Across the table, we got steaks, swordfish, and the hen. The steak was cooked perfectly. It had the right amount of salt and amazing flavor. The swordfish was tender and smelled amazing. The fish and the steak were both delicious. And of course we had to get dessert. When we couldn't decide, our server suggested sort of a sampler. She brought out a platter, for lack of a better term. My two favorites were the coconut nugget things with the passion fruit sauce and the molten chocolate cake. But everything was delicious. The lemon cake with poppyseed gelato was clean and fresh and crisp. Everyone at the table fell in love with the bananas in flaky pastry. Really - it was an amazing meal. The space is gorgeous, the staff is wonderful, and it's great for a group or for an intimate dinner for two - and everything in between. I only wish I could go back more often.

    (4)
  • Brett M.

    Hands down, this was the most disappointing meal I've had in Philadelphia. Both of the pizzas we ordered were entirely bland. I love a thin-crust, true Italian style pizza, and while what we were served looked like the real deal, the taste was, well, nonexistent. Nothing was redeemable about either of them. I wouldn't pay $5.00 for a pizza that tasteless, let alone the $19 we paid for each last night. The roasted vegetables were forgettable as well, and if you decide to dine here, should be passed over for something else. You could make something equally as good in your own oven without much effort at all. And for all the raving that I've seen about the chicken liver rigatoni, I frankly wasn't impressed. Maybe it was because by the time the pasta dish arrived, I had already checked out, but the rigatoni tasted of nothing but salt and oil. The fact of the matter is this: if I had gone to your run-of-the-mill Italian eatery and ordered the exact same thing I would have left simply unimpressed and forgotten about it... but this is Osteria we're talking about, owned by the idolized Marc Vetri. And when I eat somewhere with a name such as his attached to it, I expect more. A heck of a lot more. I will never return.

    (2)
  • Hank C.

    I have to say, it's rare to find an Italian restaurant where I can find food that is light - not heavy with cream, sauce, or overwhelming to the palate. Admittedly I didn't plan far enough ahead to reserve early, but went there with 6 friends to take advantage of the service at the bar - and what great service it was! The drinks - normal, nothing special there, and perhaps a bit too much ice in the ice tea. But the food... one of my guests during the night has a very sensitive stomach to heavy oils and creams, and normally doesn't eat Italian, but we brought her to test it out. And she was impressed! Candele with boar bolognese was a new take on beef stroganoff - with candele and a delightful, earthy boar flavor that came a bit particalized, but overall was delectible. Tagliatelle with braised rabbit and porcini wasn't bad - although there was nothing outstanding here. Parma - amazing. The arugala and fontina melted away in the mouth as this pizza hit you. Much better than the margherita. Gnocchi w speck and cabbage - amazing. I've never had such light gnocchi, and the recipe was impressive in it's simplicity yet delightful consistency. The texture was a nice mix between the slightly limp cabbage, and best to eat this dish hot! And they don't have it on their online menu, but the pulled oxtail over a unique cheese was amazing... cheese was hearty without being overwhelming, and the oxtail was delicate and tender. Wine menu was decent, and part of the decor is a wall covered with the labels of the crates that came through. Tasteful decor, and a nice greenhouse-like wing that allows for some external views of the night. Overall, when I get the chance, will take my friends back for some light, pleasing food. :)

    (4)
  • D J.

    Great appetizers, great service, great food...but two pasta dishes were just too salty: spaghetti with calamari and the bucatini. The other food (pizza and cavatelli) were just right. Not sure what's up with the salt. We've been here many times, and the place is finally more relaxed. Or rather, the customers coming in are more relaxed. Families were eating, people in shorts, old, young...More like an osteria.

    (4)
  • Michael K.

    It can be a little difficult to secure prime time reservations for Osteria, but if you're open to eating a bit later (8:30-9pm) it 's usually much more open. Osteria is another great opportunity to ease into the Vetri experience, without the (as of 9/1/12) $155/person price tag. With options like the Polpo (Octopus, smoked mozzarella and red chili flake tomato sauce-$17) and the Lombarda (Sausage, mozzarella, bitto cheese and a baked egg-$18), these aren't your Bertucci's style wood fire pizzas. Each pizza is meticulously constructed, making sure each slice is topped with just enough toppings, but also allowing you to enjoy the taste of the dough. If you're not worrying about looking nice in your bikini, go for the house cured salumi plate ($14) which is a charcuterie board of thinly sliced, fatty, meaty deliciousness. 5 types of meat which nicely display the differences between different areas of everyone's favorite Looney Toon, Porkey.

    (4)
  • Louis K.

    It was an OK dining experience. Someone told me Osteria had amazing pizza, so I instantly went over, but much to my dismay I was letdown. I ordered a margherita. The Crust was was way to wet, sauce not sweet enough, but worse of all the basil on top of the pizza was not chiffonaded. 1 large piece of basil was actually cooked on the pizza, so when it was served to me the basil was hot. I'm sure it wasn't a pleasant site watching me slurp up a wet hot huge basil leaf. What about my other slices? They looked so lonely without basil.

    (2)
  • Jared G.

    I went here based on seeing it featured on The Best Thing I Ever Ate. Marc Summers claimed that he ate great pizza all over, including some of the best NYC pizza, and this was his favorite. I grew up near NYC and had some of the best so I had to try it. So I ordered the classic Margherita and one that had pancetta and arugula to split between 4 people. It wasn't bad.....but considering that it was about 1.5-2x the price of some of the best pizzas I've had in the past. And instead of being 6-8 slices, it was 4 small slices. We were still hungry, so we decided to split the mozzarella in carozza and that was WONDERFUL (but tiny, it was actually only 2 pieces). So all in all, we thought it was a decent meal, till we got the bill. To recap: 2 personal-sized pizzas (8 total small slices) 2 pieces of mozzarella in carozza 2 sodas (2 of us had water) total for a meal sized for 2 people: $60 (and note: this is for PIZZA! We didn't even order real meals!) I have no problem spending $30/person for a good meal. But if I'm getting just barely above average and tiny portions, I'd much rather eat elsewhere.

    (2)
  • Stefanie A.

    I think I'm one of the only people in all of Philly that doesn't fall all over themself about Osteria. Probably because I've had very mixed experiences here. The first time i went, the food was mediocre and the service amazing. The second time, food was excellent, but service not good. On my first visit, I tried the shrimp in squid-ink linguini. I read it was great, and typically like this dish, but when I got it, it was flavorless and mushy. So I sent it back. The server was super gracious and offered me another pasta dish--the postage stamp porcini ravioli. It was OK, but tasted like pasta in butter, which I could easily make at home. My friend and I shared the octopus, though, which might be the best octpud I've ever had. And the roasted brussles sprouts were amazing. We got the budino for desert (not as good as Barbuzzo) and then the passion fruit dessert, which blew me away, and I'm not a fruit desert person, I'm a chocolate person. They did not charge me for either entree, and due to the amazing service, gracious offer to cover my food, and glimmers of amazingness, I decided to go back. The second time we had the octopus again (delish) and a pizza, which was fantastic. We had a pasta I don't remember, aside from remembering that it was great. Though our service was slow, and when our server did come over, he wasn't particularly friendly or helpful. So def two uneven experiences, though everyone I know raves about it here. Don't get me wrong--it's great, and much better than the average Italian spot, but for the money, I would easily prefer to spend it on two bottles of wine and dinner at Mercato.

    (4)
  • David M.

    Osteria makes a great destination for a nice dinner or a really special occasion. For this reason, reservations are a must-have. On the surface, Osteria may come across a bit pricey. But really, it isn't. That is, until you're through ordering multiple tapas dishes, alcohol, and trying a little of everything on the menu. Everybody raves about their pizza, but the menu just seemed to have so much more to offer. I had to be more adventurous than that. I went with candele with wild boar. It was fantastic. We also shared fried pig tails, among other things. Everything was just perfect. I'm looking forward to going back.

    (5)
  • Robin H.

    For an American-Italian restaurant this is about as good as it gets. It's expensive, although not especially so if you're accustomed to New York prices. To say that it's authentic Italian would be a bit of a stretch. There's something indefinable about the difference between Italian (or French) restaurants and anything in the English-speaking part of the world. Yet it gets close. The pizze were very close to authentic, although they did come sliced (in two) which is a no-no in Italy. The other dishes were imaginative, well-prepared and presented. The service was excellent. All around a good evening.

    (5)
  • Lee A.

    Food was great. We had gone to Barbuzzo the nite before - a bit more reserved, vibe not as intense as Barbuzzo. Well worth the visit and highly recommend. One item that I will change for my next visit is the ordering, I would get a couple/few of antipasti, a pizza, a couple/few of primi and a couple/few of secondi - for a party of four - and do everything family style.

    (4)
  • mike g.

    They are not nice people.

    (1)
  • Mindy Y.

    I'm not sure what I could say about Osteria that hasn't already been said.. Marc Vetri is culinary genius, the less-than-desirable N Broad address stills draw a crowd, the decor, vibe and service are welcoming and accomodating. I can say though that the meal for me got better as the night went progressed. Our first course to arrive was the Margherita pizza which was ok, but nothing to write home about for my taste. The crust was perfectly cooked, but it was paper thin and I like a little bit more bite to my crust. The super thin layer of sauce got lost on the pizza, but had amazing flavor when tasted on its own (ie the pile of melted cheese and sauce on my plate that slid off the pizza itself). The cheese was the real star - it was amazingly simple and delicious. Next came the wood grilled octopus. I was surprised that it was presented almost like a salad with arugula and little potatoes. The octopus itself was really tender and had none of that weird/chewy/sometimes tough texture that is pretty common with octopus. There was a bit too much salt on the octopus itself, but it balanced out nicely when eaten in the same bite as the potatoes and arugula. The potatoes themselves are noteworthy.. try this dish just for them. Next up was the pigs feet (eeks!) cannelloni with truffle bechamel sauce. I had to put on my brave foodie face to try this one, but I'm so happy I did. Creamy, rich, salty, earthy.. amazing. It would've been too much for me to eat alone. so it's a good dish to share with someone else. The portion is small, but the flavor is intense and I wanted to save room for the dishes yet to come. Last to arrive (or so I thought) was the braised seppia.. I didn't even know what seppia was. Our server said it was cuttlefish, a kind of squid, served over squid ink polenta. Whatever it is.. it's awesome. I'll probably lose all Yelp-cred when I say this, but something about the dish reminded me of spaghetti and meat sauce. I have no idea why, but there you have it. This was the most amazing dish of the night by far. To round off the evening, we tried the gelato/sorbet. Blood orange and cappucino were my favorites. The others were good also, but not as standout as the first two.

    (4)
  • Ryan B.

    The pizzas are all delicious, the pasta is great, beer list was well rounded, and dessert was a great finish. I have had a chance to sample 4 different pizzas, all very good. The octopus pizza was very good, the octopus was not rubbery at all. In addition to the pizzas I have tried three different pastas the chicken liver rigatoni, a lamb ravioli, and a mushroom ravioli. The chicken liver rigatoni is very, very good just as advertised. I was very wary of even trying the dish because I have not been a big fan of liver in the past, but I was so happy that I did. The ravioli dishes were good, both incredibly rich. For dessert I would highly recommend the polenta budino. It is an amazingly delicious pudding topped with hazelnuts. I think that it is once of my favorite desserts of all times. I have never been to any of Vetri's other restaurants, but I am very anxious to try them.

    (4)
  • Krista B.

    The reservations staff squeezed us in same-day, and thank god they did: Everything about Osteria was lovely. The enclosed dining patio that reminded me of a solarium, the friendly professional staff, the delicious upscale Italian cuisine, the effervescent drink the bartender makes with Pimm's... The light, crispy crusted Trentino pizza (split 3 ways) was excellent, though I would not have complained if there was even more gorgonzola on it to compliment the sweetness of the fig and the subtle mozzarella. The wood-grilled octopus was amazing, tender and not at all chewy, served with a little greenery and some perfectly cooked bits of lemony potato. The fried Jewish artichoke hearts were as good as you'll get in Italy; salty, olive oily, and a little crispy. The squash tortelli with sage was light and delicate, the little pasta bundles perfectly cooked (a little beyond al dente) just the way I like it. The reserve cheese plate is positively orgasmic and portioned to share; 3 of us happily worked our way through the delicious assortment of mostly hard cheeses, with grissini breadsticks and an array of unique fruity accompaniments (blueberry sauce, a sort of gelled apricot square etc). Ladies, watch the hallway to the restroom--the tile floor is pretty slick and not high-heel friendly. No, I didn't fall on my ass, but it could happen! If it did, the deferential, yet-never-obsequious staff would have picked me up, dusted me off, and showed me to the restroom with their best it aint no thang smile. PS: If you have an expense account, USE. IT.

    (5)
  • tony m.

    Quite a remarkable evening. This was a dinner for my wife and me and our adult children plus significant others. When I went on line I noticed that they offered to accomodate special parties. I emailed saying that we were a very small party but would they be able to provide us with a self-created tasting menu where we might all share. The response was most agreable. The representative Kim was most affable. Osteria would create anything we wanted. When we arrived a numerous staff greeted us. They showed us to our table in the "private" section. There on the table at each person's place was our menu, pre-printed. ( they also offered to title it in a special way - but that wasn't necessary) Then came the dinner. Exceptional on every count. The lentil soup for all. Various first courses: a meat board with the most delicate and sweet flavors, grilled octopus, squid and chick peas. coteghino with polenta and egg. Each dish distinct and rich. The primi followed: fazzoletti with pork, rigatoni with livers, candele with boar. We might have finished there. But the Secondi were to follow. Rabbit, Lamb, duck, Tuscan fish stew. ( now, I must say, that here was the one flaw. They should have served us the fish stew before the other main courses. But they did take the time to find some dishes to cover the other courses to keep them from getting cold while we had the stew. Finally, the flight to the clouds with the choclate flan that exploded its hot fudge center to surround the pistachio gelato. At no moment was there not someone attending to everything without being asked. Perfect service. Perfect dinner.

    (5)
  • PJ H.

    Went into Osteria with the Mom-Dukes on a Wednesday night. The service was excellent, waiter was extremely knowledgeable and the food was great. My only beef was with the wines. I can appreciate a good wine, but to only have 5 or 6 offerings by the glass at $12 bucks a pop for the cheapest one, I felt that to be a bit steep. I wanted to get the braised pig's head special, but i think my mom would have puked all over me as i devoured the poor little guys cranium. I will defintely come back here with a braver eater. We split the margarita pizza to start, whcih was super good. Crispy, thin crust that you can cut with a fork just like in italy. I havent had pizza like that since i was over there. For my entree, I had the milk-braised pork cheeks over some sort of puree, and it was fantastic. I'm a sucker for just about any part of the pig, and the cheek, when prepared properly, is probably my favorite. This was spot on and I woud definitely reccommend it. My mom had the ravioli in some sort of butter sauce with mushrooms that was very lite, but tasty.

    (4)
  • Peter S.

    Osteria is Pietro's Coal Oven Pizzeria at twice the cost... except in a worse location. Pizza was quite good. Apps and other entrees were just ok. Everything was hopelessly overpriced for what it was.

    (2)
  • Kevin O.

    Just got home. Went with the kids, because we wanted to check it out, and didn't want to pay a babysitter on a Sunday night. So we decided to make it an all pizza night. We got four pizzas total. I'll go from the worst to the best. 4. Margarita - your typical pie, it was ok 3. it had red pepper flakes, and octopus, it was also ok 2. This one had squash, raisins, and pine nuts I think. It was tremendous. One bite into this, and I was saying "This lives up to the hype." I think it's on their website where they have a review that says "The world needs more pizza like this." After the first two, I was thinking, "The world has plenty of pizza like this." 1. Finally, probably the best pizza I ever had. All I know, is that it had pig's head on it. The flavor was so unbelievable. I had about 5 slices of this. I see a lot of people complaining about the price, and it's a little high, but you're not at Maple Glen Pizza, you're at a Mark Vetri restaurant. And to tell you the truth, if the parents hadn't had a couple drinks each, I wouldn't have looked twice at the bill. You're in the city. Drinks are expensive. All in all, great spot. Oh, and Carrie couldn't stop talking about how nice the decor was. "Yeah, it looks like our house" was my response. Really, if we were rich and Carrie could decorate however she wanted, it would look like the inside of Osteria.

    (4)
  • Ivan C.

    Go early and order the roast pork special

    (4)
  • Robert B.

    We went on 12/23 on a date night. I wanted to visit this place for a long time. You find a rustic charming location. It has limited parking, so prepare to pay for valet at $12 or wander the streets for parking. No, problem we found street parking in a minute or two and only a block away. The staff are friendly and attentive. They do not miss a beat. I would say the food is a rustic or comfort food type of Italian. There are many choices of interesting things. I saw a number of items I've not seen on a menu. The waitress seemed to love just about everything we ordered. They had an extensive wine menu and to my delight a good sized beer menu of import and specialty beers. I ordered a nice import. The sommelier I think had difficulty pouring it and not having the head take over. He needs a lesson in beer pouring I think. But, he waited until he could get every drop in the glass. My wife ordered an orange wine, which was like a mix of red and white. It was very lovely. I had a quail appetizer. It was slightly darkened with a vinagrette type sauce and cabbage. It was precisely balanced flavoring of sweet, sour and bitter. Loved it and it really is portioned as a nice appetizer for one. My wife went with a vegetable dish. It came with a ton of different vegetables, cooked in various ways. I did not try it. I was too busy eating quail. Off to the main courses. I ordered a wild boar bolognse. It really tasted a lot like beef stroganoff, so kind of comfort food like. The pasta was hand made and delicious. The boar well seasoned. I only wished for a little more presentation in the dish with more color or textures. But, it was delicious. My wife ordered an octupus course. I only tasted the freshly made pasta. It was slightly more fishy than I would have liked. I did not try the octopus but it looked good. On to dessert, I had a fried ravioli with huckleberry. It was pretty when it arrived, but I think needing a little more sauce to balance the sourness of the fruit. The ravioli was a sugar cookie like flavor. My wife, oh my, in what was the surprise of the night ordered a wonderful dessert. You see, I am the one who always seems to order the best dessert when we go out. But, she did this time. I was jealous once I took one bite. She had a pear and ginger crostina with vin brulee. It was beautiful in presentation and delicious. The last note to the Chef. If you are going to come out and talk to your friends during a meal. Be kind and at least recognize a table or two next to them. You know a hello or a smile, or how is your evening? We had a table next to us who knew the Chef. I'm fine with that and your taking time to talk to them. Just make sure you recognize in some way guests around you. Also, on a special occasion like just before a major holiday, you may want to plan an amuse or two for guests. It could have moved you from a 4 star to 5. I've been to many 5 star places that do that bite sized taste of something here and there.

    (4)
  • Grace G.

    I went in with expectations that it wasn't as good as Vetri, and we were pleased with our meals. My husband got the roasted pig special and grilled octopus and enjoyed them both. I got the parma pizza, which was very good.

    (4)
  • Mike B.

    There seem to be some really negative reviews of Osteria related to the service and the quality/portion size of the food, but I have nothing but positive things to say about my recent experience. The lady and I stopped in for dinner last night and enjoyed a lovely meal and drinks. We started off at the bar for a glass of Prosecco, which was crisp and refreshing and were whisked away almost immediately to our table. We debated our meal choices for a few minutes, which I'd attribute to the many appealing items on the menu. We shared the Pecorino Flan and the Barbabietole pizza to start. Both were tasty, though the pizza was larger than we were expecting and we subsequently ate more than was necessary or advisable. Next up was a couple of pastas. The Goat Cheese Gnocchi for me and the Rabiola Francobolli for her. This time, much more reasonable portion sizes, but this is where we should have called it a night. Instead, we exercised some questionable (and undoubtedly gluttonous) judgment and started on the next course. Another pasta (the name and contents of which I've suddenly forgotten) for the missus and the Braised Pork Ribs for me. Good grief. So tasty and so much food. All of this paired nicely with a couple glasses of the Montepulciano. And did we have the Blood Orange Tiramisu for dessert? Yes. Yes we did. While the argument could be made that food should not generally cost this much, it's nice to know that when it does, it's going to be crazy delicious.

    (4)
  • Eric N.

    Where do I start? I have wanted to come here for years. I finally found the chance to come and it was everything I wanted and more. Making reservations was easy and hassle free. We sat down and the server was fantastic. He was so knowledgeable about the menu, the chefs, and other questions we had. Our glasses were always full and the help with how the menu worked was flawless. It was my birthday dinner and he even got the chefs to sign my menu along with the best coconut gelato I've ever had. My Macallan on the rocks was perfect. The meal was flawless, my favorite was the appetizer. We ordered the wood grilled octopus, and it was incredible. So tender and perfect, the flavors and presentation were spot on. The pastas we ordered were the liver rigatoni and the bone marrow ravioli. I could eat that liver rigatoni once a week and not get sick of it. They cooked the pasta so perfectly, I couldn't begin to tell you how perfect that dish was to me. The final entree was the rabbit over polenta, it was fantastic. I was amazed on how terrific the flavors melded together. Dessert was the pistachio gelato recommended by the server who was of course correct. I have dreamed of going to this restaurant for years and when I finally got to go to it, it was everything and more. I loved the expierience I had and would love to go again. Give this place a try and hopefully you will be as satisfied as I was.

    (5)
  • Rachel O.

    Osteria is amazing - decadently delicious. Let me preface this well-deserved praise with a note that I'm very picky with Italian due to many bad experiences ... too many restaurants, too few good ones! I'm still glowing from this visit. We had a Sunday 6PM date night (d'aww) reservation, and received a warm welcome from the staff. The restaurant was quiet, and we were seated immediately. I openly admired the lovely enclosed patio, and was promptly offered a seat there - but we opted to stay in the main dining area. Belly Bacchanal: - Antipasti: Wood Grilled Octopus $19. I love octopus, and try it every chance I get. I've had rubbery chewy ones, dry ones, good ones ... this is honestly the best I've had. - Primi: Chicken Liver Rigatoni $16. Very hearty and flavorful! Perfect in front of a fireplace during winter, or to take the chill off in spring ... heck I can have this all year round. - Primi: Chanterelle and Bone Marrow Ravioli $18. Fireworks in my mouth! The delicate ravioli houses the rich bone marrow. Dim sum soup dumplings - beware, you have met your match! We discreetly rock-paper-scissor-lizard-spocked for the last pillow of ravioli. If this were entree-sized, I'll be frolicking in it. - Secondi: Rabbit "Casalinga" $26. Rich and earthy - I will gladly have this no matter the season. It's served bone-in, but the tender meat flakes right off the bone, and the rich sauce pools in the polenta. It was very hard to share this one. - Secondi: Grilled Skate Wing $28. Lighter, delicate, and perfect for warmer days. Watch the bones! - Wine: two very sexy reds. Montepuciano d'Abruzzo and (will update - d'oh!). The crowds started filing in at around 7-7:30PM - a lot of very well-dressed folks in blazers and Sunday's best. (I discreetly tucked my bike helmet under the chair at this point). Our server was incredibly helpful with guidance on the popular and seasonal items, lightness/heaviness of each dish, as well as the suggested portioning from each section (1 antipasti/2 primi/2 secondi, etc). We left very satisfied - but not to bursting - and was able to bike home! :) Afterglow: Cost: A touch pricey, but worth it for for special occasions (scheduling in anniversary and birthday reminders now). Wish: Counter seating to see the kitchen action. There were two seats there, but the counters were high (can't see into kitchen), and in a tight spot next to the busy pass and cool-looking pasta machine.

    (5)
  • Jessie L.

    Very warm space with an interesting menu. We had the octopus and grilled veggies as entrees and the apricot sorbet w almond crostini for desert. Excellent service. We were there for lunch but would really like to try the dinner menu.

    (5)
  • Mike B.

    So fucking good!!! Best place I've been in Philly so far. Recommend the brownie a la mode for dessert

    (5)
  • Ash C.

    Not good- had to send our veal back and the octopus. Really disappointing overall. Ended up also getting some sort of stomach problem as a result.

    (1)
  • Tina C.

    We wen in a big party of 12 and everything was tip top. Very good Italian dishes with a slight new twist to make it interesting. Pretty extensive wine list. Service was efficient and not overbearing.

    (4)
  • Ali C.

    My fiancé and I have been dying to eat at osteria and we finally did tonight. We absolutely loved everything about it, the atmosphere (we dined in the covered patio), the food (yummy!), and the service (refilling our water glasses constantly even though the bottle was left on the table, checking on us, new plates for every entree, etc.). We started with the grilled and marinated veggie special, which included red and yellow beets, arugula salad, cucumber salad, Brussels sprouts with pancetta, roasted red peppers, and mushrooms. We also ordered the mortadella pizza, which had a pistachio pesto...delicious! The only downside to the veggie was that it was $26 (:/) We also ate the paccheri with lamb sausage and eggplant ragu, also really good. For dessert we had the upside down blueberry cake and a coconut cannoli, which was very light and yummy. We would love to return to Osteria soon. Another stellar restaurant from vetri! Just follow them on Instagram and you will see how delicious it all looks/sounds :)

    (5)
  • Thutrang L.

    So a couple friends and I dined at Osteria after completing our Legal Issues final. We didn't have reservations and just walked in at 8pm on a Thursday, we were seated quickly, although it was right by the door... This was my first time trying Italian food, so everything was a new experience. To start we ordered the Badiola Vermentino ($12), sicilian lemonade ($11) and the osteria punch ($7). We were served an assortment of bread with olive oil, which was delish. For appetizers, we got the smoked sable ($16) and the snail in bone marrow($20). The sable was an interesting experience for me, but I enjoyed it by the last bite. And the snails were a bit overcooked for me, but the bone marrow and the seasoned bread was so flavorful. I ordered the Lombarda, which I loved, as I am a pizza fan. The egg in the middle, bursted when you pulled apart the pizza and that was my favorite part. The pizza itself was thin, crispy. We also got the spaghetti, maccheroni, and steak. I loved the flavors of the pasta, especially the spaghetti because it was sooo creamy. But they were really salty for my palette. Maybe, it's natural like that, and I haven't been exposed to this type of flavors before, but it still tasted delish to me. Although I keep drinking alot of water. Maccheroni was ok and the streak was alright, although I loved the califlower that came with it! It was light, with a strong taste of lemon/lime, which i love! The waiter was nice, service was a bit slow for me, but overall nice experience.

    (3)
  • Tiffany B.

    Although Best Thing I Ever Ate suggested Osteria for its pizza, the highlight of this meal was the dessert. The blood orange crostata with 63% manjari chocolate was the perfect marriage of flavors: tart blood orange, light cookie-like pie, and bittersweet dark chocolate. The lombarda (baked egg, bitto cheese, mozzarella, and cotechino sausage) was very, very delicious though it fell short of Pulino's artisan pizza circa Nate Appleman. Still, it's the second best I've had.

    (4)
  • John B.

    Outstanding! Pre-fixe meal for 12 where every dish was top notch. Beef shank ragu followed by the Ribeye cooked to perfection! Fabulous meal for a fair price!!

    (5)
  • Heather H.

    The most tender, flavorful homemade pasta and pizzas. Suckling pig special was delightful. Prompt service. Beautiful atmosphere. Get the Vetri experience without the $700 bill.

    (5)
  • Brian M.

    Case of very good and kind of disappointing for me. Your experience at Osteria is dependent on where your eye is drawn when you look at the menu. On one hand you could envision a nice spot for pizza in the Zavino, Stella, Pizzeria Vetri vein as they do have a nice selection in the standard $15-20 range. On the other hand you could go for a more expensive route. $60 dry aged steaks, $15+ antipasti, $30+ entrees. You get the point. Nothing wrong with either option, really. But for which do you think they match the service, the decor, the wine prices? The Lombarda pizza and pasta I tried were amazing as would be expected from a Vetri establishment. The veggie antipasti was also simple and beautifully delicious. Zero complaints on this side of the house. Just know if you're going to come here as a couple, each have a glass of wine and pizza or pasta plus share an app expect it to be in the $100+ range with tip. This is said not to dissuade but to inform. Summary: Food great, wine prices match the dry aged steaks not the pizzas so if you want to just do a pizza date could probably score the same for 20-30% less elsewhere. If you want Vetri quality service and scene, higher end food and wine options this is your spot.

    (4)
  • Christie N.

    Best service I've ever had. Chicken liver pasta and wood fire grilled octopus were my absolute favorites. Wish the flavors would last longer in my mouth!

    (5)
  • Nancy P.

    Osteria has been on my list of places to go for a while. My gf had given me a gift card for my bday and I was finally able to use it with the bf. I don't normally venture to this part of the city. They offered a bread basket with assorted items that was nice. We ordered the Lombarda pizza to start off with. I think it was a bit overhyped for me. I love pizza but this was just okay (I think I prefer the pizzas at Barbuzzo). For entrée, the bf ordered the pork special and I got the robiola "francobolli" ravioli with trumpet mushrooms. I didn't really like the pork dish that the bf got. But the ravioli was so delicious! The pasta was so thin and the sauce was a bit rich but tasty. It might have been plate licking worthy at home. For dessert, we had the sorbets. Surprisingly, I liked the apple one the best.

    (3)
  • Isaac G.

    The menu offers delights made from scratch with the finest and freshest ingredients. The portions are small, but the overall memorable food experience was grand. A place to say you've been there and were seen...

    (3)
  • Shaina F.

    Back for round two at Osteria, and it was just as wonderful as my first experience! An absolute treat. We started with the Parma pizza (again) - arugula, prosciutto, and fresh shaved Parmesan drizzled in olive oil. So darn good, and the prosciutto really made it spectacular being so fresh! For dinner I had the polenta gnocchini with mushrooms and Parmesan as well, so good and a very unique take on gnocchi! A little softer than traditional gnocchi, and definitely the polenta taste, it was so good. Once again their wine (and champagne - special occasion!) list was out of this world and they are so happy to accommodate you and allow you to taste a wine if you are unsure. I had the boudino for dessert which was really special and I absolutely loved it, it was just the perfect little size for a sweet treat to complete another glorious meal. Who wants to take me back next time? So many more things I want to try!

    (5)
  • Alexander L.

    Came here for dinner with the GF. The beer selection was interesting ( I had the Butte--surprised how much I liked it) WE had the lombarda to start. As a pizza, I do appreciate the take they went with, but something about the way the sauce tasted threw me off. (hard to describe--it was interesting but I personally didn't like it), Still, I would recommend trying it--I feel like it would agree with other peoples' palates. WE also ordered the special for the night which was different cuts of pork. The flavor was bland, but the execution was otherwise pretty spot on. IT wasn't crazy grease heavy, but the meat was tender. Just toss in a bit of salt and you're good (not a big deal) The francobolli was a gf's favorite and the sauce was nice and rich and flavorful. the sauce was nice and consistent and the the pasta was just ever so delicate. I was at first inclined to give it 3 stars on the basis of whether I would likely come back--and honestly for me I wouldn't--the trek wouldn't be worthwhile and for me the $100+ dinner wasn't worth it. On the other hand, I did appreciate the precision of execution in terms of cooking everything perfectly so textures were great.

    (4)
  • Ade B.

    Went here for my birthday a few years ago. As a nice touch the hostess said I would get a free dessert. At the end of the meal the waitress gave my table the check and gave a table nearby my free dessert even though they insisted that it was nobody's birthday. The hostess' response was "sorry" and I never got the dessert. Not good customer service and the food was only average. I will not be going back.

    (1)
  • Julie G.

    The pizza was great even if the crust was a little burnt. We really enjoyed the bread basket variety as well. but the pasta portions were disappointingly small. Although they were rich, they should be about 33% bigger, especially the ravioli. Service was friendly but a little slow considering the restaurant was mostly empty. This place is a little out of the way so I wouldn't rush back, but if I return I will stick to pizza.

    (3)
  • John R.

    Osteria 640 N Broad St, Philadelphia, PA 19130 (215) 763-0920 I give you, Osteria. A seasonal Italian menu permeates the rustic feel of this place with a huge beautiful wood brick oven centered open kitchen serving up homemade pizzas as the centerpiece. This is the second restaurant in the famous Vetri family of restaurants after of course Vetri, which I have also reviewed here. Osteria opened in 2007 and has since become one of the East Coast's most famous Italian restaurants garnering much critical acclaim. Chefs Marc Vetri and Jeff Michaud certainly do the restaurant justice. An osteria in Italy was originally a place serving wine and simple food. Lately, the emphasis has shifted to the food, but menus tend to be short, with an emphasis on local specialties such as pasta, grilled meat or fish, and often served at shared tables. Ideal for a cheap lunch, osterie (the plural in Italian) also cater for after work and evening refreshment. Osterie vary greatly in practice: some only serve drinks and clients are allowed to bring in their own food; some have retained a predominantly male clientele whilst others have reached out to students and young professionals. Very appropriately, the restaurant signage incorporates a bottle of wine in the process of being uncorked to suggest the Italian origins of the name. Simple flowers decorate the wooden tables to give the restaurant a rustic feel in keeping with a traditional osteria theme. A spacious dining area with open air vistas onto the patio and an enclosed glass seating area give one the feeling he is outside in an open air market. The meal begins with a mix of breads, the most notable being some cheese-bread sticks laid on the top of the various housemade breads. Of course, olive oil accompanies the bread. Osteria makes their own limoncello to give their Sicilian Lemonade the most delicious flavor. Amazing Cocktail: Sicilian Lemonade: house made limoncello, fresh mint, lime. Limoncello is made from lemon zest, or peels without the pith, steeped in rectified spirit (pure ethyl alcohol 95% ABV) until the oil is released. The resulting yellow liquid is then mixed with simple syrup. Varying sugar to water ratio and temperature will affect the clarity, viscosity, and flavor. To start the meal off we chose the special: Osteria's take on a classic Italian dish: the bruschetta. It was not quite as amazing as I had hoped given the hype over this restaurant. However, I was already on my second mouth-watering Sicilian Lemonade, so I didn't really pay too much attention to this obvious faux pas. The bread was a little too charred for my taste and the tomatoes were either soaked in juice or were just saturated too long because they were literally the consistency of an over-ripened peach. They didn't taste bad by any means, but I'm used to a little more crunch to my tomatoes. This is of course personal preference talking here as I'm sure others would love some squishy tomatoes but I like a little crunch in my bunch of veggies. Next up, in my quest for being a culinary-adventurer, I decided on the grilled veal sweetbread spiedini with stonefruits and pine nuts. The term "spiedie" comes from the Italian spiedo meaning spit or spiedini referring to cubes or balls of meat cooked on a skewer. Hence we are able to see the sweetbread (spiedini) served on a skewer (spiedo). Sweetbread of course refers to thymus (also called throat, gullet, or neck sweetbread) or the pancreas (also called heart, stomach, or belly sweetbread), especially of the calf (ris de veau) and lamb (ris d'agneau), and less commonly of beef and pork. Since veal is generally produced from young male calves, I'm assuming I was eating pancreas, but it is of course impossible to tell. The sweetbread itself is very chewy and largely tasteless which is balanced by the sweetness of the stonefruit and pine nuts. The pine nuts are the small yellow seeds visible while the stone fruit are the orange fruits surrounding the skewer. My dinner companion's mozzarella cheese balls with tomato sauce was decidedly better than the sweetbread. Grilled wild Alaskan king salmon with zucchini, herb oil and salmon terrine. Terrine is a French forcemeat (mixture of ground, lean meat emulsified with fat) loaf similar to a pâté, made with more coarsely chopped ingredients. So in this dish, the terrine would be the pink half circle wrapped in the zucchini skin. The salmon itself was a bit raw for my taste. I like the fish to be pink (medium preparation) while this salmon seemed at any moment ready to swim off my plate. I also prefer the salmon to be descaled , but that is personal preference. It wasn't bad, but as my friend would say, "I was eating it because it was there."

    (4)
  • Helen A.

    The best Italian restaurant in Philly, hands down - glasses up! Ciao to Americanized Italian food, hello to wonderful traditional fare in a beautiful atmosphere, with top knotch service . Try the pizza, the wood fired octopus is also a rare delicacy. Drinks are delicious. Neighborhood is "up and coming" so park close by, so you will return to find your car. Once again, Osteria is exceptionally highly recommended. Make reservations far in advance.

    (5)
  • David P.

    This is one of our favorite places in Philadelphia. The Vegetable plate to start is a must! All the pastas have always been fantastic, and when we are feeling more casual, the pizzas are a solid option. The "special" roast pork shoulder is also a solid option. They also have a great wine list. Love this place, whether I'm taking out friends and family, or taking the wife out for a romantic date night, this place is the first option.

    (5)
  • Simon S.

    Ok, I'm on my pizza soapbox again. I've been here once before so I was in town for a friends wedding and I brought my wife and daughter here to experience the restaurant. The staff couldn't have been nicer and accommodated my not quite 2 year old daughter, who behaved perfectly for most of the meal. It was a Saturday mind you but we purposely chose a 5:30 time to avoid the crowds. The restaurant is quite large with many different rooms and seating areas. The server we had that night was fantastic! He know his stuff and it appeared so did the other servers. They helped my wife select the right wine for the mood she was in and the pizza she had ordered. I've read about Osteria for years in Pizza articles and blogs and it's always mentioned when discussing pizza restaurants that started the upscale pizza movement. I respect that. My first visit was a business dinner that was Prix Fixe type of an affair so things where just brought to our table. I did sample pizza at the end but that was also a couple of cocktails and a bottle (or two) of wine later so I couldn't rely on that experience. This was my ulterior motive for coming back when the opportunity presented itself. So here I was again with my family and we decided to go all pizza for the dinner. The pizza was great, not mind altering incredible. The crust was perfectly thin and balanced in terms of crispy to chewy. However, nothing made me want to tear up like I just drank a wonderful bottle of 1947 wine that's something good and french (I've always seen this mentioned, never had anything that old). It was good pizza but both my wife and I both agreed after we left it wasn't remarkable. I am a pizza snob, just look at my other reviews, but I would still eat here, just not the pizza. I can say to my other pizza snob friends that I've been there and done that. The service was fantastic, the wine selections were excellent, the atmosphere was comfortable and stylish. I would recommend Osteria for a fine meal.

    (4)
  • Bernie H.

    This restaurant is incredible. The price is really reasonable, and the food was delicious. My boyfriend and I had the ramp pizza, rabbit over polenta, a dessert with espresso pudding and a praline croissant, and three different pastas. Each dish was more delicious than the last. I'll definitely be back my next time in town!

    (5)
  • Tina F.

    We always drove by and always wanted to try this restaurant. So we finally did. It was really packed and really big restaurant. The service was not as good, we expected more attention since the price of the food was alot. We had bottle of wine, the liver rigatoni had a weird after taste I didn't like it. I only ate the pasta. The grilled octopus salad was good. I had the steak, and I didn't like it. How can you go wrong with a steak? Mine just tasted blah and it was cold! My boyfriend had the lamb, and it was very gamy. . He felt sick afterwards. Over all, I feel like this restaurant is over hyped and over priced. We didn't have a good experience here, and is too big so you don't get the service that your deserve for the price you're paying. We spent $250 on dinner just for us two, and we wouldn't have minded if it was at least good.

    (2)
  • Christopher M.

    Great food. Good cocktails. Mediocre service. Insane (at least 350%) mark-up on bottles and glasses of wine.

    (3)
  • Rebecca K.

    Osteria is a huge restaurant where we felt lucky to have gotten last minute 9pm reservations on a Saturday. The restaurant was busy and we waited at the bar for our table. The bartender actually came from behind the bar with a menu and took our drink order which was a nice touch. I had the "baba jah" (no idea if that's right!) but it was makers with art of the age rhuby and lots of lemon. It was delicious. We were seated behind the bar at a high top and started by attempting to order wine. Twice we ordered wine and twice we were informed they were out of it. Ended up with a bottle we liked but the process was painful. During the botched wine ordering process I tried to order us some apps to which the server responded "you have to order together or there will be a huge gap between the two- I know my kitchen." What? Moving on. We ordered the octopus and duck pate to start. The duck pate was under a thick layer of oil which was odd. Delicious but unnecessarily oily in an item already over the top. The octopus was amazing. So so tender. Finally the entrees. I had the brisket. Boyfriend had the rabbit. Rabbit was ok- would have been nice to have a veg to break up the rich meat and polenta. The brisket though. Ugh. It arrived swimming in grease. Swimming. Like I couldn't believe that the plate had been set down in front of me. Our weird service experience ended with the server running after us outside asking for our copy of the receipt so "he wouldn't have to pay for our meal." What? I am 1000% positive we left a copy with our cash tip. And then he came and took the other. It was just weird.

    (2)
  • Debra B.

    My husband and I visited Philadelphia the last week of July and visited Osteria on recommendations from Frommer's Guide and a business Client from the area. It was a Sunday evening and, surprisingly, the place wasn't very busy probably because of the storm that was brewing outside. But.....oh my gosh....from the service to the dessert, everything here was absolutely amazing. The restaurant is warm and cozy with a very rustic feel and beautiful decor throughout. Though the tables were close together, you didn't get the feeling that you were being eavesdropped on by diners sitting next to you. Kathleen was our waitress and she was friendly, helpful and very knowledgeable. For the appetizer, we shared Grilled Clams with Charred Squid, Lemons and Chilis. The Clams melted in your mouth and the Squid was perfectly cooked. Both the Clams and Squid absorbed the flavors of the lemon and chilis perfectly. We also shared an off-the-menu most amazing Arugula Salad with Heirloom tomatoes with an amazing vinaigrette dressing that was neither too acidic nor too oily. Very light and flavorful. My husband had the Special...a Roasted Duck with Duck Skin Chicharones. The skin on the duck was crispy as were the Chicharones and the duck was tender and succulent. If he could have, he would have licked his plate clean. I had the Polenta Gnocchetti with Chanterelle Mushrooms, Brown Butter and Parmigiano. Kathleen told us that the pastas were all made in-house and it was very evident from the first bite. The Gnochetti's practically melted in your mouth. The Chantrelle Mushrooms added just enough earthiness to compliment the Brown Butter. For dessert, we shared a platter of 3 gelattos--Pistachio, Lemon Verbena and Peach. All were made fresh that day as well and were awesome. When we plan our next trip to Philadelphia, we will definitely go back.

    (5)
  • Pat C.

    We wanted an upscale well reviewed restaurant for our anniversary dinner. We chose Osteria because we have eaten several times at Alla Spina and Amis , two of the other Vetri places, and enjoyed them both. This visit was disappointing to say the least. Service: Poor 1. Waitress was not knowledgable about what was being served, nor with portion size when asked. 2. Waitress was in a rush throughout the entire service, from the time she asked us for our drink order through the taking of our order to hustling us out after dessert. 3. A busboy that hovers like a hawk on a telephone pole waiting for you to eat the last morsel on your plate so that he can immediately whisk it away. He miss timed his effort and I needed to tell him to go away so that I could finish. 4. We booked through opentable, so we had a reservation. Yet in an place that was less than a quarter filled we were sat at the table next to the wait staff service area, a large cupboard. My thought was this is the table usually saved for walk-ins on crowded evenings. 5. the wait staff served us from the aforementioned waitstaff area, reaching across the cupboard and rather awkwardly across the table. 6. When my wife dropped her fork, the aforementioned busboy/hawk or waitress was nowhere to be found. This seemed odd since they are repeatedly interrupting the conversation to ask if you need anything. 7.Steak knife with damaged handle. Presentation 1. The spit roasted pig that I order with roasted potatoes look haphazardly thrown on the plate. Food 1. The roasted pig was good as was the ravioli special. The charred pole beans were limp and the roasted potatoes old.

    (1)
  • Cristiana B.

    Eh, went to Osteria for my birthday with family and friends. The waiter wasn't the nicest, I don't think he smiled once. The food was okay, but I feel like I could have eaten the same thing at a less expensive restaurant. Nothing really excited me. Which is surprising for me because I see the joy in almost everything.

    (3)
  • Ryan N.

    Ate here for the 4th of July absolutely delicious pasta and pizza! Heres the breakdown: Pros: *great bread and olive oil to start * outstanding selection of prime italian dishes * interesting drink choices (lotssss of wine) * the pizza * the pasta Cons: * server was kind of a smartass but he was still good (no negative points just a statement) * says its casual dining attire... Its not (I would say more on dressy side not business casual though) Recommendations: Polenta Gnocchetti with Chanterelle mushrooms, brown butter and parmigiano Lombarda le pizze tranizionali

    (4)
  • Nicole M.

    Our group of 5 came here after Temple's Law School graduation. We were a bit concerned about our reservation for 6:15PM since they had us in the system for 6:45PM-we had an email confirmation for 6:15PM. But that is neither here nor there since they had an available table for us when we arrived. Our server was wonderful and even put up with our incredibly indecisive group. The pizzas we ordered-Parma and mortadella- were super tasty! The crust on the Parma pizza was thin and crunchy and the crust on the mortadella was super fluffy. I would definitely recommend the pizzas as a shared app. My brother got the special: baby pig sampler. He LOVES Osteria's different specials. I believe he has gotten (and thoroughly enjoyed) the pig head special once or twice. I can't vouch for it but he is a food snob and loved both specials. Our table also shared the wood grilled octopus. My father described it as "incredibly tender." This is good to share for 2, maybe 3, people. The wine selection is top notch and the wine rep who makes her rounds to the tables is very nice and accommodating. I've been here twice and will definitely return!

    (4)
  • Vince D.

    My wife and I decided to try this place based on its yelp reviews and weren't disappointed. The waitress was friendly and knowledgeable, and even though it was fairly packed for a Thursday evening, everything came out very fast. For antipasto, we shared a fried mozzarella with tomato garnish, light and flavorful. My wife ordered the veal, which was extremely tender and absolutely delicious. I tried a special, several different cuts of a roasted pig. It was very good also, although it would have been nice if they had served it with a light veggie side instead of roast potatoes to offset the heaviness of the pork. For dessert I tried a panna cota and my wife ordered gelato. Both superb. Our main concern was the noise level. The dining room is a large cavernous open space with an industrial decor. This might not bother some people but it was a little much for us. As some other reviewers have noted, this place is on the pricey side. Worth it though, I'd definitely come again.

    (4)
  • Noheli T.

    Osteria deserves way more than 5 stars! I went a few weeks ago for a friend's birthday and it was one of the best meals that I have ever had in this city. We ordered the Lombrada pizza as an appetizer and it was too good to keep our hands off of it. I ordered the farro malloreddus with sardinian lamb ragu and it was delicious! They also gave us plenty of bread on the side and the wait staff was incredibly helpful and kind. The only reccommendation that I have is to question the cost of your wine glass prior to ordering. I asked for a suggestion from the bartender and ended dropping about $16 for a glass of wine. It was a shock in the end, but it tasted great through out the night.

    (5)
  • Casey H.

    Pizza - pretty good Marinated veggies - really good- somewhat small stamp pasta - really good but way too small for a meal (don't get it). Bread of course is brought to the table - AWESOME! Waitress had a great sense of humor. Gave one of our guys a hard time which so too funny. Definitely would return. If you have never tried octopus, this is the place to get it. It was really good and tender.

    (4)
  • Mike W.

    Really excellent from start to finish. this was my second time dining here, but we are considering it for our rehearsal dinner, so we wanted to refresh out taste buds. The service is really fantastic. It's a staple of vetri restaurants everywhere. They are trained so well. It's the little things that make the difference, like refolding your napkin when you get up from the table, moving out of the way when they see you walking, asking if you need help, etc. the only problem we had was our waitress didn't tell us about two of the specials. Not a big deal because we had our minds made up already though. We sat on the patio which is a gorgeous glass enclosed area. We decided to use the same strategy we used last time when ordering with one small twist, one pizza, one appetizer, and two pastas all to share. We started with the Lombarda and it was incredible. I hadn't been to osteria in a while, so I hadn't really compared the pizza crust to pizzeria vetri until now, but it was so different! It was a bit thinner and crisper, and the combination of sausage and egg on top was amazing. We ordered the mozzarella en corrozza for our appetizer and again we were very impressed. It was so different than any fried mozzarella dish I have ever had. I couldn't tell if it was battered at all or if it was just a block of mozzarella dropped into the fryer. It was awesome, and the tomato and caper sauce serves with it was show stopping. Our pasta choices were the chicken liver rigatoni and the winter squash gnocchi a la brava. Wow fantastic stuff here. The rigatoni was clearly housemade and covered in a delicately tasty sauce of chopped chicken livers. It was subtle flavor, but still very powerful and rich. The squash gnocchi was covered in cheese and incredibly hot when it came out. The gnocchi was very tender and went surprisingly well with the cheese. Our dessert wasn't as good as the rest of our meal, but I was comparing it to the polenta budino we had last time, and that was stupid good. We ordered the upside down blood orange polenta cake with kumquat caramel. It was good, and definitely interesting and different, but I wasn't crazy about it. Osteria is a great place to have a meal, and you should get there as often as you can. I'll be back soon!

    (4)
  • Chris M.

    Excellent meal! I may have just experienced one of the most simple yet perfectly balanced and Delicious bites when I tried the mini cheese ravioli w porcini mushrooms butter and sage. Also, I loved the chicken liver pasta- hearty, rich pasta that takes you back to a childhood/ homey feeling- comfort food. Wow! I was in love with the pasta dishes... Then came the suckling pig! Mmm good!! Moist and flavorful with some cracklin! To finish the night, I had the banana gelato - it was just delightful. I was impressed by this place. I expected it to be good and it was great! Not to mention we had impeccable service. Our waitress Kelly was so friendly and a great waitress. I highly recommend and I will be back!!

    (5)
  • Pamela A.

    Fab dinner! My husband and I just had a pre Valentine's Day meal and loved it. He had a pizza which was huge and we shared. I had a special pasta dish with shrimp. My only complaint was the small pasta portion but the service was amazing. The waiters were very attentive and the space was very nice and romantic. Highly recommend it.

    (4)
  • Ho L.

    Wow. This was some seriously fantastic Italian cuisine for a fair price. I ate lunch with a group of coworkers, and everything that came out was fantastic. My chicken liver rigatoni was a hearty portion, well worth the $16, and I would highly recommend it. I also tried the wood grilled octopus, which came out perfectly cooked, and not at all rubbery. The pizza was thin crust, and is just right for a single person. The postage stamp ravioli looked good, but the portion was quite small, so keep that in mind if you want to try it. The service was very good, as our server was helpful and cheery throughout our meal. The atmosphere was quiet, although it was a slow weekday lunch. The decor was very nice, particularly Overall, I had a great experience.

    (5)
  • Jenny D.

    The place is great! Real Italian food and a nice wine list! The pizza is good and the food is just different and elaborate but good !

    (4)
  • Don H.

    Ok, the food was good. I had a gemelli with pesto, my wife had a arugula and prosciutto-topped pizza which were both excellent. We shared a veggie antipasti which was very good. They really need to train the hostess. We arrived at ten minutes before 5. Ten minutes before opening. I understand they can't wait on us as the wait staff was still assembling, but couldn't we be seated rather than told to wait outside in the 95 degree heat for 10 minutes? We had my infant son in a stroller, so we asked about accessing the ramped door. We were told it would be open in 10 minutes. We sought shade and came back at 5:10pm. The handicap accessible door was locked. Ok, mistakes happen; she apologized for the oversight. She proceeded to seat us at a two-seat table in the mostly empty restaurant, squeezed up against the only other table that had been seated. We had absolutely no place to put the baby. Our waiter (who was very good) acted quickly and moved us to larger table. Nothing egregious, but a little more training is needed! A restaurant of this caliber isn't just a place to chow; you should be able to relax and experience it. We were anything but relaxed to start the meal.

    (3)
  • Joey P.

    This is mine and my wife's first time in Philadelphia. I made a reservation for Osteria after the reviews I've read. Being a Native New Yorker i was wondering if the philly food could even compare. Let me tell you i was 100% satisfied with my meal tonight. The chefs put love into their creations. We started with the Parma Pizza......amazing! Then we shared the escargot & veal bone marrow. This dish tingled every taste bud i have. Then for dinner i had the chicken liver rigatoni. Fresh pasta and a liver ragu, who had it better than me. The food was phenomenal and the service was top notch. I rarely give 5 stars but for this place it was well deserved. Going to sleep happy and full.

    (5)
  • Dana M.

    Came here for happy hour in honor of a friend passing her oral defense. They had a selection of meats, cheeses, and pickled veggies to choose from and wines. I was most impressed with the pickled veggies. I tend to roll my eyes at places that offer bland veggies as the non-meat option but they were delish. The selection of wines was also impressive and not as expensive as I thought considering this place got three dollar signs Salads were also good and not your average caesar. Overall, I would recommend to others.

    (3)
  • Nicole F.

    My two-star rating for Osteria is more about how we were treated and not so much about food or service. If this review was only about food and service Osteria would've earned a possible four-star rating. I've been to Osteria twice before -- once with a group and once solo -- and, each time, I had a decent experience. But today, my family and I wanted to celebrate my sister's promotion to Lieutenant. And like other officers who had been promoted, we decided to eat at Osteria. It turns out that we got there "just in time" because Osteria was wrapping up lunch and closing soon to prepare for dinner. I believe because of our timing, the staff, save our server, wasn't too happy about us being there. When the hostess instructed us to wait while they put together our table, she was very "matter of fact," the antithesis of a hostess attitude. How do I know? I used to be a hostess and I know the job very well. I asked a man who appeared to be management level for menus, he was also very matter of fact (no smile, no engagement, nothing) when he said "Your menus will be coming soon." His response almost made me feel stupid for asking for menus. Then there was a blonde-haired woman, who also appeared to be management level, that interacted with our table. No "hello," no smile, no eye contact, nothing. -- Our Server -- This lack of engagement by the three staff persons we encountered at Osteria made our server, Janna, really stand out as pleasant, engaging, and knowledgeable. -- The Food -- Three of us ordered the mushroom ravioli. The flavor was lovely! My sister and I agreed. Every bite was simply delicious. I gave my other sister some to taste from my plate. She also thought it was delicious. Kudos to the chef! My mother, who ordered the same entree, felt that the mushrooms were too chewy to enjoy the dish. -- One Other Note -- My brother-in-law bought a cake in the shape and design of my sister's lieutenant's badge. He brought the cake into the restaurant to show the rest of us. When he opened it, an Osteria staff member (I can't remember which one) pulled him aside to explain to him their policy on food that's brought in. Again, the way this staff person engaged my brother-in-law almost appeared as if they were scolding him. They told him there would be a fee to serve the cake in the restaurant, not knowing that he only brought the cake in to show the rest of us. (In case you're wondering, it costs $8 per person to serve your own dessert at Osteria.) So, if you want to endure the poor, negative and disengaged attitudes of the Osteria staff to get to some delicious food, then Osteria is for you. Cheers.

    (2)
  • John A.

    Have been a fan for a long time, but haven't been there in quite a while. On a recent visit to Philly, I made my way there and was not disappointed. Sat at the bar and my bartender was attentive and knowledgeable. Had the marinara pizza which was excellent and the meat plate which was as good as I remembered (the mustardo honey with a mustard spice to it and artichoke makes the plate.) I had the gnocchi for dinner and it was pretty good as well. I still feel like the price is fair for the quality and service and I will certainly keep it in my rotations when visiting Philly again.

    (4)
  • Regina F.

    There's only one thing that could make me regret eating at Osteria this past Friday...and that, my friends, is the fact that I'd eaten too damn much over the previous 48 hours and my stomach just wouldn't/couldn't accommodate all of the dishes I would have loved to devour. Upon entering Osteria, your nose and eyes are dually assaulted by the wonderfully wafting scent and dark - yet vibrant - exultation of wood grilled/paneled decadence. Osteria lives up to its names sake as a classy pub frequented on blustery cold days. The fig and onion caramelle with gorgonzola dolce fonduta featured pasta so thin that it reminded me - and forgive me for this analogy - of the translucent skin of...well...just about everybody over the age of 65. The slight crunch of the fig innards blended smoothly with caramelized onions to form slightly sweet bon-bons in pasta form. The spritz of olive oil added an earthy feel making this dish seem more hearty than it actually was. The pumpkin and amaretti torta offered a gorgeous breeding of tiramisu and pumpkin cake. The sponge-y "torta" piece was moist and light, complimented by the fluffy, creamy amaretti layer on top. The cinnamon stracciatella gelato had bits of crunchy chocolate and cinnamon bits interspersed throughout adding yet another punch of texture to an already amazing dessert.

    (5)
  • Vivian H.

    AMAZING Italian food, a little out of the way, but quite affordable. I've had a couple of their pizzas, the rabbit, some pastas, and a couple appetizers. The rabbit was a little saltier than I like but it was also my first time having rabbit. Everything else was awesome, and I can't wait to try Vetri and Amis. I went with a couple guys from the Culinary Institute of America once and THEY loved it too, so you really know it's quality food.

    (4)
  • Michelle C.

    My feelings for Osteria remain firmly in four star territory. I absolutely love the food but the prices for some of it make me shudder. Fortunately, my last visit was for my birthday so I was not responsible for the check. We made it a night of the things I love best: carbs, cheese and wine. First up, two different pastas, plus one brought out on the house (grazie!). To be honest, it was a couple months ago so I can't remember the exact details, but suffice to say that any pasta you order in any Vetri restaurant will be superb. The bottle of red that was recommended by our server also went perfectly with our meal. Next up, the parma pizza with two types of cheeses, arugula and prosciutto. Need I say more? We also splurged and ordered the lombarda, with two cheeses, sausage and a baked egg in the center. Delicious. For dessert we shared two different confections and once again the exact details escape me. But honestly, this is probably the one area that I could leave out of a future dinner in favor of an after-dinner drink or a nice cappuccino instead (both of which we had anyway - birthday girl, remember?). Osteria is a beautiful restaurant that may be par for the course for some but special occasion for others. Since I reside firmly in the latter category, I eagerly await my next visit.

    (4)
  • Cal W.

    Second visit. Not your typical pasta, red sauce, meatballs. Very interesting menu. Can't wait to go back.

    (5)
  • Sarang K.

    I had high hopes for this place, and while I can't say that every high hope was fulfilled, I have no regrets over the expensive dinner. I was most excited about the grilled octopus as someone raved about it on here, but it was totally over salted. But the overall flavor of the dish was decent. The margherita pizza was really good, especially the slices with mozzarella cheese oozing on top of it. OMG it was delicious! We also ordered a pasta dish - although I cannot remember for the life of me what it was. The last dish we had the Ribeye and it was wonderfully cooked and our party of three were barely able to finish it, although that's not surprising since we ordered four dishes. I highly recommend Osteria to everyone for a special occasion. I loved the ambiance and did not feel too neglected even though I was in the deepest corner of the restaurant. Well, when I brought it to their attention that my water had not been refilled for almost 30 minutes, they became very attentive to my water level.

    (4)
  • Adam S.

    I enjoyed my meal here very much. A friend and I came for lunch on a whim. I was pleasantly surprised. The pizzas are very good. I also got this buffalo mozzarella, prosciutto with arugula sandwich dish. Very tasty! I Would definitely come back!

    (4)
  • Payal D.

    Everything that we had here was fantastic! My favorite by far was the postage stamp ravioli with the beet and goat cheese pasta coming in as a close runner up. The postage stamp pasta is so light and fresh that it just melts in your mouth and the beet and goat cheese pasta is very unique that you have to try it. The corn pizza was interesting but i'm not sure i would get it again...it's a little on the sweet side and I typically like more savory pizzas. The vegetable platter comes with a pretty good spread of veggies and adds some diversity to the table. Finally the chocolate mousse torta and salted butter ice cream is to die for!! Overall the atmosphere and crowd are great for any occasion. The dishes are a bit pricey but well worth it...you will not be disappointed!

    (5)
  • Luiza C.

    Amazing food, ambient, great service!!!! The parma pizza was amazing!!! The best pizza I have eaten in a very long time!!! We order three pastas dishes and all 3 were amazing!!! Next time I go to Philly I'm going back for sure!!! Our server was great as well, and even told us we should ask for half portion, since we order a bit too much of food for two.

    (5)
  • Christian F.

    May have been the best Ribeye I have ever had last time there. The pasta is the best pasta in Philadelphia. Pizza is out of this world. My go to place on Wednesday nights. We love going, sitting at the bar, and sharing a couple dishes. I have been there so many times and can't think of a single bad experience. Ok. Watch the white napkins on your black pants/dress.

    (5)
  • Eileen T.

    We have eaten here a few times, and each time the food was simply amazing - well-balanced, prepared perfectly, and very tasty. The focaccia is crusty and dense and flavorful. Our table of four were fighting over the last piece. Pizzas are exquisitely sumptuous, as are the pasta dishes. The staff has always been friendly and helpful. We don't get here as much as we would like because it is all the way across town and there are so many great restaurants closer to us, but we manage to go back periodically because it is so good.

    (5)
  • Lindsay H.

    I've been to Osteria a few times now and every time is just as fantastic as the last. I took my boyfriend there for his birthday this past weekend and it was perfection as usual. After dinner on saturday night, we both concluded that the chicken liver rigatoni is hands down one of our favorite dishes in Philly. It's the perfect comfort dish especially on a snowy night. I literally can not wait for the next time I can consume this dish... Other highlights included: Veal tongue- crispy on the outside and like butter to cut through...delicious. Parma pizza- Best proscuitto I've ever had! Rabitt- Rich and served over a delicious, creamy polenta. My only problem is that I think i've concluded that I'm not a huge rabbitt fan. It's a little too lean for me. By the end of my meal, I was happy, full and totally excited for Alla Spina because Marc Vetri knows what he's doing!

    (5)
  • Jonny R.

    If I can't write a solid complaint about a place, I won't take away a star. Here's to being more reasonable.

    (5)
  • Steve M.

    Chicken Liver Rigatoni. That could be my whole review, honestly. We discussed it over dinner, and decided that this is our favorite dish in the city. So rich and cozy... just the most comforting bowl of pasta I think I've ever had, every time I eat it. This whole night was a wonderful birthday surprise (as it was last year, a tradition I could get used to!), and we made some excellent menu decisions. We sat in the greenhouse area beside the church, it snowed all through dinner and the atmosphere was perfect. - Chicken Liver Rigatoni: Eat this now. Huge fan. - Parma Pizza: mozzarella, fontina and pamesean with arugula and prosciutto (house-made, as I understand) piled high on top. The prosciutto was not baked into the pizza but was piled on afterwards, leaving it salty and soft and incredibly delicious, set off wonderfully by the peppery arugula. Absolutely delicious (even cold for breakfast the next morning!) - Rabbit with brown butter, pancetta and sage polenta: My first experience with rabbit outside of the (incredible) agnolotti at Modo Mio, and while the rabbit meat on its own didn't have me doing somersaults, the polenta sure did, and it made the rabbit come alive. Just be careful about bones! - Pan-Fried Veal Tongue: This was another delicious course. The texture of the tongue was perfect, with just a slight crisp on the outside, plus there were two very large slices, a surprising amount for an appetizer, which made it a perfect dish to split. Osteria continues to live up to the Mark Vetri standard I've come to expect from all of his restaurants.

    (5)
  • Tim N.

    A great place to spend too much on dinner and drinks! We were seated at 9 for and 8pm reservation, standing at a very busy bar for an hour, but the chef did a great job in rectifying the situation with several small plates on the house. All forgiven. The rabbit and wild boar Bolognese were amazing, balanced and complex. My personal standouts were the royal trumpet mushroom ravioli and the colcchino and baked egg dishes. The pizzas were good, but other than the polpo (wood fired octopus) and carpaccio numbers which were inspired, I would pass. A memorable meal, and I'd suggest going on someone else's expense account.

    (4)
  • Erica B.

    All i can say is yum... yum yum yum... had the beet and buffalo mozzarella salad and the lamb canoloni. .. divine...

    (4)
  • Joe D.

    So after all the hype of Osteria - I was very underwhelmed, but do to Vetri's other successes, and our apparent rookie mistake (we didn't order pasta or flatbread). However, I must say, if you're going to charge the premiums that Osteria is. Then only do the Pasta and Pizza right, and remove the alternatives from the menu. thanks for amis Marc, and if there is ever a groupon/company dinner for Vetri, ill see you there too. Namaste

    (3)
  • simone H.

    Although the ambiance is mediocre (a bit cheesy and impersonal) and the prices are not cheap, the pizza is perfect. I recently visited Italy this spring and can honestly say that I find Osteria's pizza to have a more flavorful, interesting, and refined taste than pizza in Italy. The tomato sauce has a complex sweet, salty, and tangy taste and you will find an unusual array of toppings such as octopus, red chili flakes, and smoked mozzarella... but the combinations are delectable. The pasta is not quite up to par with their pizza. The sauce is just good, but the pasta has a great texture: cooked al dente with just the right amount of doughiness. The grilled vegetables on their special menu are delicious, and make for a perfect appetizer with the pizza. I have never been much of a pizza fan, but Osteria gives pizza a different name, and it is definitely worth the trip to try it.

    (4)
  • Claire O.

    I was pretty hyped about Osteria after reading about it in Philly Mag and also finding out that it was the kid sis of Vetri (which is sadly out of my budget). I got there before my friend and passed the time with a glass of prosecco (which would become three or four by the time the night was over, delicious). We ordered the Lombarda pizza, which did not disappoint. We said with great excitement, "There is an EGG on our pizza!" I ordered, I think, a dual ravioli of sorts - one side was filled with duck and the other with water chestnuts? It was just alright. I don't know if I had gone one glass of prosecco too many or was talking too much that I didn't finish the dish while it was still hot. My friend ordered the braised pork ribs which were amazing and really well-seasoned. I was beaten to the check while I was in the restroom so I can't comment on the prices (I don't really look while ordering). But it was a pretty okay experience. The prosecco wins.

    (3)
  • Mai H.

    Came here a little while ago, so I probably will miss some of the details of my meal. We started with a few pizza appetizers. The one that stuck out in my mind was the parma - the pizza with prosciutto. I got the roast pig special, which was quite excellent. I was also a big fan of bucanti. I felt a little disappointed by the desserts - our table got the mocha semifreddo and the strawberry torta. I felt these desserts were more about presentation than the actual taste of the desserts. It left me a little confused. Seating is also kind of weird here. For a group of 5, they added a random chair to the end of the table and we were seated right near the door just inside the atrium. But otherwise, great meal and will go back.

    (4)
  • Jessica M.

    Amazing meal at Osteria and I am already thinking about my next visit. Summer in the city is great - it lends itself to less crowded bars and restaurants and more readily available reservations. Summer in the city definitely allowed me to score a nice time slot and enjoy Osteria at a leisurely pace to really savor everything that we ordered. And order we did. Arriving a bit early, we snagged two seats at the bar and were greeted by the friendly bar tender who quickly got my prosecco and offered a tasting of an interesting draft beer for my companion (and a little taste for me too) which he decided on at first sip. Before we even finished our drinks, our table was ready and we were set to dig into the menu. Our original table was a small cramped table sandwiched between two others with diners not willing to budge. We didn't even have to say anything before an employee came along, saw that we were uncomfortable and scooted us over to a different spot. Lovely - so far service was off to a great start. The menu at Osteria is truly a listing of one delectable dish after another. So much so that choosing proves to be quite a challenge. We wanted it all! So - what did we do you might ask? We got it all! I have wanted to try the Lombarda pizza since Osteria opened so we started with that. Paper thin crust, sweet sausage, fried egg - what more could a girl ask for? Next came the dish that I have been dreaming about since my first visit - chicken liver rigatoni. Now if you're like me, you wouldn't even think about ordering this dish. Chicken Liver? No thank you. Well lucky for me and my fellow diner on this visit, my co-diner last time ordered it and allowed me to sample. It is not an exaggeration when I tell you that I have never had anything quite like it before. It is more than delicious but I am having a hard time coming up with a stronger word. Just please, take my word for it. You will not regret it. And for our main course (yes, we kept going after that!) we chose the dry aged rib eye for two. At $50 per this is not your everyday dinner item but I have to admit that it was absolutely delicious. Perfectly cooked, tender and flavorful. Was it worth it? Well, I don't know one rib eye from the next and my cut did have a good deal of fat on it but from what I can gather from my companion, it was worth the money and the time. YUM! While I'm sure I won't be having that every time I visit Osteria, if you are in the market for a delicious rib-eye, go for it. Dessert was a simple, creamy budino that I enjoyed but really I could have just ended the meal with a simple bite of chocolate and been satisfied. Drinks for us were montepulciano for me and a dogfish head on tap for my partner in culinary crime followed by a cappuccino for me to finish the night off. All in all, tasty accompaniments to our dinner choices. I don't get to come to Osteria as much as I would like. I have yet to come simply for a glass of wine and a pizza. And while I know that would be lovely, where would my chicken liver fit in? And if I'm going to order both, I might as well order a main course too. Oh Osteria - what have you done to me?!

    (5)
  • Kathy D.

    Went here for my birthday after hearing rave reviews for its gourmet pizza and beautiful location....and hard to get reservations. Definitely worth the trip above Market street, and has plenty of street parking. The restaurant is beautiful, but it's not tablecloth fine dining. I went in jeans and felt comfortable doing so. Pizza was good, and the app was as well, but small. (I was warned beforehand about portion size.) Seems best seats in the house would be on the side, it's enclosed glass and farther away from the open kitchen and busy hostess stand. Definitely get their ice cream, or gelato...amazing.

    (4)
  • Erin G.

    I'll have to say the boyfriend and I had a lovely dinner here for his birthday. We split an appetizer, then a pizza, and then each had two more courses (both pasta for vegetarian me) and split a dessert. We started the night with a lovely sparkling ,and then a few glasses of Multipultiano. Let's just say, we were increadibly stuffed when we left. All the food was very tasty, and presented well. The service, overall, was great (though the woman who brought out the birthday-candled dessert didn't know who it went to or what it was for - a birthday, stupid!). And the atmosphere and our table in the main room were lovely. I know it's not fair to compare restaurants, but the pasta at last year's boy birthday dinner, when we dined at Vetri, actually made me cry it was so delicious. Osteria's pasta was good, but not transcendent. And while we maybe had an extra course, we spent the same amount of money, which was a lot. Maybe I'm just stingy, but for a restaurant this expensive to get five stars from me there better be tears in my pasta.

    (4)
  • k. s.

    First things first: the food here is great. The menu is full of interesting combinations while still offering some of the staples you'd expect in a "rustic Italian" style restaurant. To me, a great litmus test for a restaurant is how well they can pull off simplicity and Osteria hits the nail on the head: we had an appetizer consisting of an array of vegetables that were each perfectly cooked to show off their unique flavors and the gnocchi with peas and prosciutto that I ordered was wonderfully balanced in its sweetness and saltiness. Also, if you are looking to experience Vetri on the cheap, pay attention to the specials since a few of them when we were there were dishes from that restaurant. Unlike Nicole R., I thought the wine list was exciting precisely because it was only Italian whites but she is definitely right about the prices: the wines by the glass were a bit steep and you had to search the list to find an interesting bottle that wasn't highly marked up. If you have money to spend though, there are some nice offerings to be had. I had to knock off one star because I wasn't at all impressed with the room and the layout. I guess I prefer my Italian places cozy and I found Osteria to be cold (figuratively and literally) and uninviting with it's sweeping ceilings and cramped dining. Although, the close dining lead to us having an interesting discussion with the party at the next table. The staff was also a bit overbearing in their attentiveness. As a final heads up: it's close enough to walk to from the main city center (15-20 minutes or so, depending on your speed) but the walk isn't that interesting for the most part (parking lots and such). I would take a cab next time--we did on the way back.

    (4)
  • Jessica S.

    Much more out of the way and a little more rustic than its sister restaurant Amis, Osteria is a wonderful restaurant that definitely warrants the "trek" out to North Broad. I am a huge fan of the atmosphere of the place. Very warm and cozy, as if you were in an old barn or a rustic ski lodge. But in Italy. Not sure if that's a real thing or not. The food was outstanding and everything we shared was well complimented by the wine we chose. The pizza is definitely a must! We also shared the "vegetable plate" which I believe was a special the evening we were there celebrating my birthday, but if you see it, you should get it. Tons of variety, all fresh and delicious. Did I mention I love vegetables? I'd recommend doing a general table "sharing" and just ordering a bunch of things. That's pretty much how I'd like to spend any meal, honestly. Could be great for groups, or a romantic date, but either way, this place is awesome. I still like Amis better, though it's not entirely fair to compare the two. The pasta is just slightly better at Amis and the general ambiance/fact that it's in center city makes me want to go back to Amis much more frequently.

    (4)
  • Ian C.

    Let me start off by saying the staff was great, however, if you're looking for a good meal this is NOT the place. WASTE of money....I had 2 glasses of beer n my girlfiend had 2 glasses of wine, we did not order appetizers or desert, and our bill came in at $140 and I left hungry. Hit McDonalds on girard and called it a night. Never will I go back

    (1)
  • Shane L.

    I love this place.....they do it right. Upon entering, I already got a sense that I was going to enjoy my dinner here. I noticed a great decor/ambience and workers busy doing their job. Lots of chatter from other guests (that's a good sign for me), awesome greenhouse room where we were seated. Service was awesome and you'll agree when you also see plenty of floor managers keeping their eyes on things. Food was on point and worth ever penny. I wish I could go into detail for each dish, but everything I ordered was very delicious; coupled by a nice/strong cocktail that hit the spot. P.S. Attention to my special request for the birthday girl was executed smoothy. Thank you for making my wife's birthday dinner very enjoyable.

    (4)
  • Lainey S.

    Fancy pants place! Nice semi-outdoor area. This is not a BYO or as inexpensive as my usual spots, but the service was great and it was fun to try it out. Recommend for a fancy date.

    (4)
  • jed p.

    Came here for anniversary dinnner. Reservations for 7PM on a Saturday, finally sat about 7:30. Bartender was excellent, completely aware of his patrons, hardly needed to talk. Dinner was pretty good. The Antipasta special was okay, but not amazing. I was disappointed with the mushroom pizza as it was olive oil only, the next dish was a short rib pasta which was amazing, epic, finished off with pig, which was good but perhaps too much after the pizza and pasta. I asked the waitress if we were mis-ordering, and she wasn't much help to guide us to their best dishes. I would come here again with a large group and order one of every pizza, that short rib pasta, and stay for desert.

    (3)
  • Andrew F.

    Complex flavor profiles, great wine, great dessert, great service, yeah. That's what you need to know. Of the four courses I ordered, and the additional pizza I got to try this place blew me away. The pizzas. I ordered a "cipollotto" pizza and thoroughly enjoyed it. It had a flavor that I can't really describe but it was full of it and I absolutely loved it. Just enough (not very much) cheese and an awesome crust. I also had the opportunity to try a piece of "margarita" and though it had a much simpler flavor profile the flavor was stil strong and tasty. I followed that up with a dish of fusilli with "fava beans, pecorino and mint" and I must say that the flavor in that dish was just plane insane. Extremely strong and minty but yet still soft and not as overpowering as expected. The portion was also much larger than I had expected. Following my failing to finish (not because of taste but because I was so looking forward to my next course), I had the "grilled veal strip loin tonnato with red watercress and caperberries" which was served nearly raw. Normally I like my meat medium to medium-well, and I thought about sending this back, but I was so glad I didn't. It was absolutely tasty and a little bit chewy but not too much. For someone who is normally very picky about avoiding the fat on my meat I decided to venture and try this as prepared and I wasn't disappointed. I only had a quick taste of the watercress and though it was good, I had to save some room for the dessert. I decided to go with the pistachio gelato and strawberry sorbet and both are among the top of their flavor that I've had anywhere. The pistachio was so smooth and I can only imagine if I could eat that everyday. The strawberry was extremely potent and though awesome and tasty, I'm not sure I'd be able to eat that strong of a strawberry flavor all the time, but as an after dinner treat with a huge meal it was definitely a tasty finish. Overall the food was great, and the wine selection that we were helped picking was also great. Though I tried to finish everything I didn't get the chance to as it was all just too filling. Take my recommendation and don't stuff on the bread (which is also good, but not great). I hope i get the opportunity to go to Osteria sometime again soon, but since I don't live, or go to Philadelphia very much, at least I'll always have this memory of this great memory. Now I just wish Mark Vetri would open up some restaurants in Los Angeles. Go here, don't second guess your choice, this place is definitely worth it.

    (5)
  • Mo F.

    I am so sad to have to write this review - I've been waiting for years to go here. My boyfriend and I decided that our one-year anniversary would the perfect time to try it. Sadly, we were incredibly disappointed in our experience. We had a reservation and arrived on time, but our table wasn't ready - not a big deal, but the hostess steered us directly to the bar and said "go have a drink". It sort of felt like a ploy. Once we ordered a drink and had one sip, someone came to get us for our table. We were seated directly next to the waiter's computer stand, so my boyfriend stared at a computer screen all night - bummer. And then the food. Incredibly overpriced for what we got. My boyfriend's fish was the size of a credit card, cost $32, and was completely bland. My chicken liver rigatoni was just OK. Mostly I'm disappointed in the price/value ratio. We are people who are fine with paying for expensive meals - if they are delicious. This place is overpriced and simply not great.

    (1)
  • Gabrielle W.

    My husband and I recently had dinner at Osteria and I wasn't blown away. We had the lombarda pizza, the wild boar bolognese, and the duck. My husband loved the duck (I didn't try it). I thought that the pizza and the bolognese were just ok..kind of bland. I know Vetri likes to keep things simple so if that is what he was going for then he definitely succeeded...I was just looking for a little more UMPH! One thing I had an issue with was the cocktail service. It took too long to get every.single.drink. I would have clocked the time but I was starting to twitch and had to focus on remaining calm. I get kind of crazy when I don't get my cocktails! At the end I ordered my my last 2 drinks almost at the same time because it was taking so long. I usually reserve that white trash behavior for work events but that's another story. I would recommend the gimlet..I believe it was a sage gimlet. That was outstanding!

    (3)
  • Juanita W.

    One of my all time favs. Awesome (but potentially dangerous to order price unseen) wine selection with your own somellier, cozy atmosphere & a menu that always makes you ask the server questions unless you're fluent in Italian. I most recently tried the lobster antipasti (grapefruit, lobster & pasta - very fresh & tangy) and the monkfish (sans speck & lentils - I don't eat "meat") and a side of spinach & potato gratin. The gratin could have been a meal all to itself. Both a perfect warm meal in the winter weather. The butternut squash postage stamp ravioli were not on the menu this visit but, they have left a permanent mark in my memory and can still make my mouth water just thinking about them. Buttery, melt in your mouth pasta deliciousness.

    (5)
  • Ann M.

    Was a little pretentious for me, especially the iPad menus at the bar. My food was good but nothing all that grand or special, and my beer was over priced.

    (2)
  • Carla F.

    Wow. Osteria really did not disappoint. I am a big fan of one of Vetri's other restaurants, Amis, given its close location to where I live but wow, osteria blew amis out of the water. First of all, the space is beautiful. Secondly, I absolutely loved everything I ate. Actually I specifically only briefly perused the menu and picked out a couple of things that sounded interesting because I could tell it would be a tough place to narrow down my choice. For appetizers we got an octopus dish and the truffle brussel sprouts. Both were just perfectly seasoned and amazing. For the pasta portion, we got the beet and goat cheese plin. These things were like tiny bites of heaven. The portion size was small and we probably only got about 10 of these, pretty sure I could have eaten 50. I had heard their pizza was good so we got spring onion and cheese (like a mozzarella can't remember the name). Pretty light, might go for something a tad heartier the night time, but it was delicious. In a town where Italian restaurants seem to be a dime a dozen, this one is definitely worth enjoying. I will be going back.

    (5)
  • Anna M.

    Octopus pizza: was ok. Pizza didn't really need the octopus. Didn't really add anything. Margarita pizza: not enough cheese for my liking but crust was good. Parma: was excellent Vegetable antipasta special: revolved around beets so have to like beets. It was very good. Service: good. No complaints.

    (4)
  • Trang N.

    I really love Osteria, I always forget about it because of its location, but our last visit solidified it on our list of favorite restaurants. My husband and I had NYE reservations for the last seating that night, which I usually try to avoid. I'm very weary of the staff wanting to hurry us out, so they can go home, but was very pleased with the exceptional service and energy in this bustling restaurant. Our table was not ready when we arrived so we went to the bar, which was pretty crowded. Immediately, a fresh faced bartender arrived from around the bar to present us with cocktail menus, after ordering, he then returned to us handing us our drink and bill! We did not have to squeeze through couples seated at the bar to gather our drinks! I am a huge fan of this level of service! After a few minutes, our hostess arrived and escorted to our table. Our waiter, Kelert was very knowledgeable with the wine pairs and gave us detail descriptions on all the dishes we asked about. I started off with the wood grilled octopus salad, there was a great smoky flavor in the octopi, the lemon and potatoes complimented it well. He had the cured salumi plate, the colors were bright and flavors were delicious. For our entrees, I ordered the braised oxtail, since I've randomly just acquired lactose intolerance, I could not eat the cream base in the dish, which thankfully Kelert caught upfront. I didn't think that the cream would make be sick, in hindsight ,yes it probably would make me miserable, but I didn't catch it at the time. He easily substituted kale and that worked well in the dish. The oxtail was melt in your mouth, fall off the bone good. Braising tends to make things salty in my opinion, but this was perfect. Husband had the house special- four day roasted pig. The meat was so tender and delicious, the star of the dish was the crispy pig skin! We were lucky enough to get a couple of extra pieces thrown in our doggie bag= delish! For dessert we had the pear and fig sorbet, the fig was by far my favorite! The pear was ok, not my favorite. We were surprised to be presented with two glasses of prosecco for the big NYE countdown. It was so nice on Osteria's part to celebrate with their diners on this special occasion. The service was really spot on, we stayed until about 1am and never once did we feel rushed to get moving! I highly recommend Osteria for anyone who loves non- traditional Italian food! Sidenote- I also recommend the Lombarda pizza, alas it's too much for me to handle now, but that pie imprinted fondly in my brain!

    (4)
  • Rachel A.

    I love coming to Osteria. The grilled octopus is amazing. It's also something I never thought I'd eat, but Osteria makes it downright delicious. I ordered the black bass as my main entree, and was not disappointed. Light, flaky, and full of flavor. The octopus pizza is also great. Some entrees are bigger than others, but I have never walked out of the restaurant hungry. The prices are a bit high, so I don't come often. But when I do, it"s always a good meal.

    (4)
  • G F.

    The pizza was burned enough to be black on the crust bottom and edge. The pasta Farfalle was so salty even our server made a face when trying it, then apologized profusely. The grilled vegetables were delicious but not on the menu so ask for them. And the wine by the glass is lacking and way overpriced. Shame in you for such a poor selection. I don't want a bottle so please refine your wine list by the glass. Every place has an off night but for a Friday night I felt this was more normal than off. Would I come back? Maybe but there are so many more good places to eat in this town that I'd either need to refine my ordering or lower my expectations. When hype exceeds reality you've landed in Osteria.

    (2)
  • JD M.

    Very good food just north of center city Philadelphia. The pizzas are creative and you can taste the wood fired oven in the crust. We've had many different meals here and it's all been very good.

    (4)
  • Kathy L.

    My friend invited me here with high remarks of the food in their NJ location. Well, I thought it just so so. Ambiance was great. I had wood grilled octopus, veggie platter, chicken liver pasta, chocolate flan. Octopus was tender. My favorite thing in veggie platter was celery root. I guess I don't like white sauce pasta. Chocolate flan was actually molten cake. All the food was great but somehow I just didn't leave feeling wowed and dying to return. Next time I'll try the lobster pasta and maybe my experience will be different.

    (3)
  • Ron G.

    With 300+ reviews, I feel like foolish posting a review, but, i'm off of work and have nothing else going on. I really love osteria. I have been here a few times and have liked it more each time. My first time was in the private kitchen table that was definitely an experience. The tasting menu was amazing, It was over a year ago so I can't remember what I specifically ate unfortunately. My most recent trip there was fantastic. Started off with several pizzas for the table. Loved the sausage with runny egg on my pizza, it was amazing. Moved on to sharing several meals. The pasta with wild boar ragu was great. The consistency of their pasta is something to experience. Also had one of their specials which was a generous serving of pig roasted on a spit. Everyone at my table loved it, but I thought it was a bit fatty. That was really my mistake as one should expect it to be quite fatty. On previous occasions we've had much of their menu, and I liked pretty much everything. Their beer selection is okay, but i'm a hop beer fanatic and they dont have too much in the ways of hoppy beers, but they have a nice selection of italian micros. Their service is great as well, and the restaurant doesn't feel pretentious at all given the praise it gets. Highly recommended.

    (5)
  • Nicole T.

    As Fairmount residents, Osteria is one of our go to spots. We love Italian food and the simple yet developed flavors in all of the dishes at at Osieria keep us coming back for more. It speaks volumes of a restaurant that has been around for several years, to need a reservation to get a table on a Tuesday night in Philadelphia. The menu is seasonal but some favorites seem to have made it through the last few menu changes. Our favorite pizza selection is the Lombarda and the Robiola pasta can't be beat. Would highly recommend this restaurant for any occasion! Though it is a pricier Italian option in Philadelphia, the flavor combinations paired with the industrial yet rustic setting of the restaurant is unlike any other in the area.

    (4)
  • Danan R.

    What better way to celebrate America's Independence day than with Italian cuisine? Ok, so that was kinda confusing BUT we did have a delicious meal, regardless. We decided to split the polpo pizza with tender octopus, tomato, and flavorful, smoked mozzarella (no red chili flakes for moi), the lombarda pizza with a baked egg, bitto cheese, smokey mozzarella, and sausage (perfect blend of flavors with a baked egg in the center and a crispy, thin crust - a fantastic gourmet pizza, although I personally would have preferred a raw egg yolk), the chicken liver rigatoni ( very rich and savory but not overly so - the tender pasta was a great vehicle for the liver and helped to sedate its characteristic strong flavor a bit), the roasted rabbit casalinga (this was so tender and the polenta and pancetta were both imbued with the flavorful, savory jus), and the house-aged rib eye with accompanying watercress salad (it did take an extra 35 min but the steak was cooked perfectly and so incredibly juicy and flavorful - it was meat perfection). Dessert consisted of the polenta budino (served with a velvety mousse and hazelnuts) and the chocolate flan with the pistachio gelato. Both were amazing and we managed to finish everything despite being stuffed from the entrees because they were just so damn good. Service was fantastic and the staff were incredibly knowledgeable and patient when helping us make our selections. Definitely worth a visit, both for a treat or a special occassion.

    (5)
  • Leslie G.

    I came here recently for my birthday with my boyfriend and my parents when we were in town visiting. I picked this place based on a recommendation from someone and I was not disappointed! We started with an appetizer special--a vegetable antipasti platter that came with potatoes, beans, beets, arugula, peppers, corn, brussels sprouts, and a few other things. All of them were delicious. The platter varies in size depending on how many people are sharing it, so ours was made to serve four people. Based on the appetizer, we had high hopes for the entrees. Three of us had the herb-crusted halibut with beets and chard and my mom had lamb. We all thought the halibut was superb--cooked to perfection, and the vegetables complemented it very well. My mom also reported that the lamb was great. For dessert, I had the baked ricotta crostada with rhubarb marmalade and rhubarb sorbetto. It was very good, but I think I would give a slight edge to the blueberry custard, which my boyfriend ordered. This restaurant is not cheap, but I felt the food exceeded our expectations and made the price point worthwhile. Plus, the service was excellent. If I'm ever in Philly again, I would definitely return here!

    (5)
  • Anthony Y.

    great meal. awesome pizza and pastas. another great addition to the vetri family.

    (5)
  • Komal D.

    Amazing service. Awesome pizza, especially because they had a pizza without meat with more than just cheese. Worth a trip. Great Italian food, just over priced for the type of food.

    (4)
  • Michael U.

    Full review in the blog. Helmed by Jeff Michaud, a Beard Award winner who actually began his cooking career as a youngster at a pizzeria, Osteria has gathered quite a following since its opening despite being rather far from the rest of the city's fine dining. With extensive training first at Vetri and then in Michelin Starred restaurants across Italy and especially fond of rich, bold, and rustic foods it was actually as much Jeff's menu as Marc Vetri's that I had enjoyed at Amis - that fact alone had me excited for my visit. Making my way into the rustic stylized interior of Osteria I have to say it is a beautiful space. Highly polished woods, walls made of broken down boxes of wine, a vintage salumi slicer, and simplified table settings with rustic seating all lent to the feel of something vintage yet refined. Weighing the pros and cons of the myriad fantastic sounding pizzas and pastas my water was refilled and I was presented with a bucolic basket made of a hollowed log. Inside the basket would be warm slices of sea salted focaccia and semolina white bread and alongside an oil can of mildly sweet and glossy olive oil. Not wanting to fill up on bread I would invariably fail in the task-while the semolina white was good, the focaccia was superb; moist, oily, and salty with a great crumb. Presented plainly yet elegantly, my first taste would be that of Corn Tortelli with Ricotta Salata. A half portion consisting of six small packets of luscious corn and cream the pasta was more tortellini that tortelli (traditionally round rings) but honestly I did not really care - paired with a simple sauce of clarified butter and shaved pecorino the dish tasted like the creamy equivalent of fresh buttered corn off the grill - a perfect summer dish for the warm weather outside as each pocket burst with dazzling flavor. My second pasta, served simultaneously with the tortelli, would be the Chicken liver rigatoni with Cipolline onions and sage. This time appropriately titled and served in a rustic bowl the handmade rigatoni was ideally prepared with just a bit of spring in it. Utilizing ground chicken liver sweetened by melted Cipollinie onions and heavy hints of sage the sauce adhered beautifully to the pasta while grated parmesan added the slightest bit of bite. At first somewhat grainy in mouth feel the sautéed liver actually melted on the tongue with minimal mastication and the entirety of the dish was decidedly rustic, but at the same time restrained despite using such heavy hitting ingredients. Featuring a Romanesque thin and crispy crust that was lightly charred and slightly aerated despite its thinness I was impressed by the flavor the wood burning oven imbued. Beginning with the left half as it looked the most interesting I was greeted with a rush of heat, flavor, smoke, and brine as I bit into Polpo. Utilizing wood grilled octopus atop the wood grilled crust and pairing it with sweet tomatoes, coarse red chili flakes, and smoked mozzarella the entire dish had the essence of a hearty cioppino but in the form of a Pizza. Not subtle in the least each flavor fought for the palate's attention yet none managed to overwhelm the others - a dazzling pie to say the least and I especially loved the presentation of whole tentacles both visually and orally. The second half of the pizza was one suggested by Shane - he said it was the best pizza in the city. Entitled Pannocchia and featuring blistered corn, grilled scallions, bufala mozzarella and black truffles it would honestly be hard to say whether this or Tacconelli's white was the best Pizza in the city - in reality they're both amongst the top 5 I've had anywhere. Underlied by the faintly woody charred crust, the flavor of the corn and scallions were perfectly paired while creamy pools of mozzarella accented with olive oil and the aroma of black truffles rose to the palate. With dessert I'd enjoy bold flavors of La Colombe - a wonderful brew and aside from the house coffee at Daniel I can't think of a better compliment chocolate desserts. For dessert, the Polenta budino with GianduJa mousse and candied hazelnuts. Different from my previous budino experiences this version was nonetheless an absolute masterpiece. Slightly gritty in texture and topped with the characteristic flavors of sweet chocolate and hazelnut in the form of an airy mousse the delicate pudding was sweet, salty, textural, and ethereal in mouth feel. Adding a spoonful of candied Hazelnuts for added crunch and texture completed the picture and formed what is undoubtedly a member of the top 10 things I've eaten in 2010 - after the meal the maitre d' even gave me the recipe. A stellar meal from start to finish aside from a small miscommunication about the half-pizza I can only say that Osteria is a formidable contender in my mind for best food memories of the year and that the budino will definitely be making an appearance at a future family get together.

    (5)
  • Diana K.

    Went to Osteria with a friend on Friday night and the place was packed! The restaurant's decor was gorgeous, and we were seated in the glass sunroom with a view of the church outside. We had two delicious cocktails and then ordered the famous Lombarda pizza for sharing. It was really decadent and the baked egg was luscious and made for some good dipping. We moved on to the pear ravioli, which was a small portion, but super rich. Next was the rabbit with polenta, which was just falling off the bone. Very good overall. Of course we had two desserts (three if you count the birthday ice cream that they brought out for me). The chocolate cake and the pear strudel were both delicious and came with almond/pistachio ice cream. I loved Osteria and I would eat there again in a heartbeat. I hope that this restaurant helps to give the North Broad area some love and growth opportunities!

    (4)
  • Mike L.

    I was excited to go to Osteria after my brother, a die-hard foodie and chef, recommended we all go. The service was great. The interior of the restaurant was fine. The one thing that was really lacking was the food. With so many good reviews, I am going to assume we came on an off day.

    (2)
  • Victoria L.

    This is just a review for the pizza here that I had to come and try after hearing all the reviews. Though many people are/were apprehensive to come to N. Broad St, I assure you it's worth it. When walking in, the ambiance is very representative of a Vetri restaurant. The experience continues throughout your meal. Our waiter presented a snazzy little iPad bar menu to us, and my friend and I decided on craft beers to go with our pizza. Per the recommendation of our server, we shared a Lombarda pizza with housemade sausage and a baked egg on top. The reviews were right; it's a very good pizza. The crust is a little soft for my taste, but the toppings more than made up for it. The only thing stopping me from coming back all the time is that it's a little too upscale for me to frequent for good pizza.

    (4)
  • Therese M.

    I had heard nothing but good things about Osteria and finally made it here for dinner on Friday night. Octopus - Amazing. I'm always impressed when octopus is done right. It was tender and nicely charred. This was definitely my favorite dish of the night. Parma Pizza - Perfect for sharing. Fresh arugula and prosciutto were a nice touch to the traditional pizza. I also enjoyed the blend of mozzarella and fontina cheese. Postage Stamp Ravioli - From the buttery sauce to the accompanying mushrooms and thyme, everything about this dish was very simple and very good. Candele w/Wild Boar Bolognese - This was a solid choice on my boyfriend's part. The sauce had lots of flavor and I thought the candele was a good pasta choice for the dish.

    (4)
  • Mimi L.

    This place reminds you of an eatery in California or something of that sort. I called to to reserve a table for my kids and myself. A very late night dinner. A table was available and we were seated. I did ask if this place was good to bring kids and the hostess said "yes." After being seated we were greeted by a waitress. She was new the restuarant but exceptionally personable. We had the Lambardo pizza, liver pasta and i forgot the other dish but everything was great. Deserts were great. Chocolate pudding is a molten lava cake. I was in heaven. Fried dough with an orange glaze and homemade gelatti was another desert dish we ordered. The fried dough we did not fair and the gelatti is great. I did feel uncomfortable with kids there. This place felt more upscale during dinner hours. Prices were high. Food was good. It is a great place to try and bring friends. Kids, I would find a sitter for next time and my kids are 10 and 11. lol

    (4)
  • Arnaud C.

    I'm fairly difficult with pizza. See I love bread. So much that I'm happy to eat good bread plain. I expect pizza crust to be just that, and believe me this almost never happens. Almost. These guys know what crust should taste like. I know only one pizza place with a slightly better crust. Good job. If I lived in philly I would come again. Multiple times.

    (4)
  • Meg B.

    My husband and I had a superb meal here. The plata primi of spaghetti with house made Italian sausage and a light pecorino cream sauce with fresh black pepper was flavorful and melted in our mouths. For the main plate I had the smoked brisket with peaches and radicchio slaw that was very tender and had a wonderful sweet and smokey taste. My husband had spit roasted pork that was tender , moist and gently seasoned with rosemary. It was served with oven roasted potatoes and crunchy, crispy roasted pork skin. The homemade pistachio and lemon verbena gelato was a perfect ending to a fabulous dining experience. Vincent was our waiter and provided great descriptions of the menu items to help us make our choices. The restaurant decor is comfortably wine- country chic, impeccably clean and staff worked flawlessly as a team providing us with first class and kind service. We highly recommend Osteria!

    (5)
  • Noah G.

    A little bit ago, my boss and I took a client here for dinner and man it was the best meal I ever had in the city. I had the patte ravioli and the pizza as an appetizer and it was incredible. The service was amazing even when my boss and our client got a little drunk and started making a scene. They had a guy lubricating the inside of the wine glasses so that the wine would turn better when poured. Now listen, I love Machismo burritos and a non-lubricated fountain drink but every now and again it's nice to go somewhere and share some roast rabbit. I recommend this to anyone who wants to showcase the city to out of towners, and anyone who appreciates food and atmosphere.

    (5)
  • Jamie S.

    It's always good! Their pizzas are ah-mazing! Been here a few times and have never been let down. If you haven't been GO!

    (4)
  • Lilli C.

    If you want to impress someone with a fantastic meal, you can't go wrong w/ Osteria. Shockingly, on a Monday night at 9PM, they were pretty busy. The only downfall is the price...ouch. Great service, beautiful rustic decor and fancy ipad menus for drinks. Pizza: I always get the lombarda with a baked egg and sausage. I can't bring myself to try any of the others because it's just too good. A pretty sizeable pizza which could be dinner for 1 or 1 of 3 apps for some piggies like myself and my date. Antipasti: The wood grilled octopus is just soo good. Perfectly charred, amazing texture, and a nice hint of lemon. Primi: We couldn't decide between the "postage stamp" ravioli w/ butter, thyme and mushrooms or the chicken liver rigatoni with cipollini onions, so why not get 1/2 portions of both (for 1/2 the price) as our waiter suggested. I was also pretty shocked that the 1/2 portions were quite large. Both these dishes were just excellent. The buttery ravioli just melted in your mouth. Entree: The waiter sold us on the house aged ribeye ($35pp). Or at least, that's what we thought we ordered. Instead we got (and were charged- $50pp) for the farn dry aged ribeye. Ugh, I just couldn't bring myself to complain...the ribeye was just so good. It came with pesto and sauteed mushrooms and was so tender, juicy, and cooked to a perfect medium rare. They also didn't provide us with any steak knives- perhaps they think their meat is too tender to need a steak knife. Still, it's hard to cut meat of any sort with a butter knife. By the end we were way too stuffed for dessert. We also had enough leftovers for another dinner! I will definitely be back again...when I can afford this luxurious meal.

    (5)
  • Harneet B.

    A touch disappointing after reading all the hype about how great this place was. We were out for a family dinner, and the first thing that struck us was the harsh rock n roll music that was playing really loud. It was really difficult to talk, and certainly not appropriate dinner music! The music, along with general loudness of the crowded place was really distracting from the whole experience. The food was pretty good, but not quite the Italian food we hoped for, more like nouveau Italian. Probably won't go back, there are much better choices in Philly!

    (2)
  • Dianna L.

    Came here for my birthday and loved the rustic chic feel of the restaurant. The grilled octopus pizza is delicious though I was disappointed when I found out I couldn't split the pizza in half and try two different toppings. Food was great but for the price, I felt like there were other equally pricey but even more tasty places. Overall a great experience and a great fancy date place, but not a restaurant that on the top of my list.

    (4)
  • Brad P.

    robiola francobolli with royal trumpet mushrooms and thyme polenta budino with gianduia mousse and candied hazelnuts The above words are not mere words. They represent things that are creative and delicious. Highly recommended. On the action-movie-parallel-satisfaction scale, this place is Die Hard: With a Vengeance playing on your laptop while you sit in an IMAX theatre playing Kill Bill Vol. 1.

    (5)
  • Scout T.

    I don't have much to say because everyone else said so many great things. But I want to add this: the pizza here will make you cry tears of joy. Then, when you are finished your angelic pizza, you will cry again because it is gone.

    (5)
  • Walter K.

    Does Osteria have the best pizza in Philly? I think so. I'm so glad I waited to visit this place until my Mom and sisters were in town. Not only are they a blast to go out with, but this place in certainly best experienced with a group of four to eight. The menu is set up to encourage sharing, and there's so many mouth watering entrees on the menu that it is difficult to settle on just one or two choices. We only had wine, but Osteria boasts an incredible beer list as well. There are several Italian craft beers on tap; you won't find them anywhere else in the city, or even the state. It's not cheap though, most bottles of wine are $45-65 or more. The way the menu is set up is a bit confusing. There are the pizzas, a large list of appetizers, first (pasta) courses, and then entrees. We wanted to try a lot of different things, and ended up with two pizzas, one app, two first courses and two entrees. The pizzas came out first. The margherita is a simple pleasure. The thin crust, sweet sauce, melted mozzarella topped with basil leaf is a delight; it's the definition of thin crust brick oven pizza. While I liked this, the toppings on all of the pizzas are well thought out, and out other choice had fig, prosciutto, and Gorgonzola. This pizza was pretty incredible, and combination of toppings shows that Osteria crafts pizza, they don't simple "make" them. Our appetizer was the "mozzarella is carrozza," which Craig LeBan hailed as the reinvention of fried cheese. But no one at our table was buying that moniker. Yes, it's the restaurants take on mozzarella sticks, but it most closely resembled stuffed french toast. It was the low point of the meal. Pasta dishes came out just as we were finishing the pizzas. One was stuffed with sausage, which was a favorite with the girls, and the other with cauliflower. This second one was excellent, my fav, and is a strong case for anyone who thinks they don't like the vegetable. The first main was rabbit "casalinga" with pancetta, sage, brown butter and soft polenta. Rabbit is delicious, and this was a great dish that was a hit with everyone. We also ordered cod, which was served on a bed of greens and topped with braised pork belly. I'm a big fan of pork belly, and this dish perfectly paired it with seafood. Our entrees, like seemingly everything at Osteria, were put together with care and expertise. But I think I enjoyed getting to this point more than I did eating it. The service is what you would expect of a place in the price range. I like the atmosphere too. We were seated out on the patio extension, which is a glass-room extension with a great view of the adjacent church. I love the touch of one of the walls covered in old wine crates. My only complaint is that we weren't given the reservation we wanted when we called in, although the restaurant didn't ever come close to capacity all night. Bottom Line: This is a top notch dining experience. It's authentic northern Italian food, and the brick oven pizza is simply delicious. While the price can be prohibitive, I'm looking forward to my next visit, even if I'm sitting alone at the bar and dropping around $50 for a pizza and some craft Italian beer.

    (4)
  • Shea S.

    If you want a fine dining experience without it being far too fancy, Osteria is a great place to go. The rustic atmosphere, unique dishes, and spot-on service makes for a very special evening. I decided on the special that evening, which was a slow roasted pork shoulder with crispy pork skin on top. The pork shoulder was seasoned perfectly and was extremely tender. The crispy pork skin on top was a carnivore's cherry on top of a sunday - crispy, salty, and just plain delicious. Definitely a great place for special occasions or just a nice night out.

    (4)
  • Elaine L.

    Italian food and carbs are basically the downfall of my diets. I love them too much to ever give them up and Osteria would only make this statement ever more true. It was about a month ago that I came here with the boyfriend since he came here before and raved about how much he loved Marc Vetri's restaurants! The service was great and I enjoyed every minute of our date. We were seated in the small area of the restaurant that is glass enclosed close to windows which I love anyway. We started the meal with the usual bread basket that came with an assortment of bread and it also came with bread sticks too! I am a sucker for popovers and breadsticks. Hehe. Then came our pizza. We had the cacio e pepe with sheep milk ricotta. I loved it. Honestly, for me, the crust makes the pizza. Living in brooklyn all my life, I am accustomed to that thin crust pizza where you bite into it and you hear that crunch. Oh my..so honestly, any pizza was great! But when we also ordered the baked snails and cardoons in puff pastry. Like I said, carbs are my life. I love snails and escargot and to wrap them in a puff pastry. I may have just died and gone to heaven..hopefully they serve that there. The pastry was so crisp and had so many layers and the snail was just baked to perfection. Then came our pasta dishes. The veal and sweetbread agnolotti and chicken liver rigatoni with cipollni onions and sage and lastly came the special of the day which was a roast suckling pig special. It was basically every part of the pig in small portions and when you put man with a pig together, you have a marriage for life. My boyfriend loved that dish so much. The pastas were delicious - especially the veal and sweetbread agnolotti with pockets of lush and decadent goodness. The rigatoni was good too but the agnolotti was really the star pasta for me. By this point, we were both comfortably stuffed so we decided to share a dessert and ended up getting the coconut pannacotta. It was both beautiful in presentation and a great palate cleanser for the night! Overall, I would most definitely come back here again for the pasta and the beautifully done pizza - without a doubt!

    (4)
  • Nick D.

    Amazing. These guys have it figured out. Such a cool place inside. Really cool decor, very Napa Valley. My wife and I went, we split an antipasta special of grilled veggies which was excellent. It was drizzled with olive oil and topped with a bit of shaved parmigiano. We then split the ravioli dish for our primi. These ravioli are stuffed with cheese and veal and tossed in a butter sauce (not sure what else was in it, but I wanted to lick the plate). Then I had the pork special. Braised pork belly topped with a super crispy piece of pork skin. My goodness was it awesome. I can't see why it isn't an everyday menu item. This place was great, I am definitely planning to return.

    (5)
  • Jihye T.

    The stars are adjusted for my expectation that the dining experience would be phenomenal ... But I thought the food was good but not out of this world good. Maybe it is because I went there w a large group w pre-selected menu... Also did not love the Parma pizza... It's basically prosciutto and arugula on dough... Maybe I am a traditionalist, but much preferred the margherita. Next time, I will try the pastas not covered in cheese and butter...

    (3)
  • Nataly N.

    I wanted to come to this place because I was intrigued by its menu, which offered items like octopus pizza, fried pig tails, snails, chicken liver, and rabbit... Not too unusual in fine dining, but definitely not things that are commonly found at the grocery store, nor easily made at home. The food descriptions showed very interesting blends of flavors that I just had to try. I started off my meal with a sizzling Lombarda pizza and a Sicilian lemonade. I had intended to try baked egg pizza for some time and I was not disappointed. The slightly charred crust was thin and flavorful, though a bit over-baked around some edges, and the toppings were well-balanced and delicious. However, the Sicilian lemonade tasted like water and considering the price ($9 for a small glass) I should have ordered wine instead. The pasta items here are entirely house-made, and I am a big fan of fresh pasta. I had Robiola Francobolli (stamp-shaped ravioli with royal trumpet mushrooms and thyme in a light, flavorful sauce) and my boyfriend had Fettucine with rabbit and morels. Both dishes were very good. The dessert I had was a disappointment. I'm used to flan that is a uniformly smooth, creamy custard firm enough to stand on its own, served cold with caramel syrup, and I had imagined that the chocolate "flan" would be a chocolate version of this, but instead, for $10, I was given a small hot pastry that was more like chocolate molten cake, except very dry on the outside and dough-y on the inside. However, the scoop of pistachio gelato that came with it and my boyfriend's blueberry sorbet were amazing! The service here was good and the staff was friendly. We had a reservation and were seated immediately. The server had warned us that portion sizes were small, but I thought they were reasonable, as I came out full, but not stuffed after 3 courses. The check was a little steep given the quantity ($120 dinner for two), but it's not too surprising for a fine dining restaurant in a major city. If it hadn't been for the dessert and drink, I'd have given this experience 5 stars.

    (4)
  • Jade V.

    I've been here twice, and will probably come back for a third, fourth, tenth... Great for a special night out and everyone's feeling Italian. Friendly and helpful service, delicious food prepared with care, easygoing yet elegant ambiance. In terms of quality vs. cost, the food is priced reasonably. Just don't order too many cocktails to keep your food bill reasonable (Although the phonebook-sized wine selection is tempting, as I can attest to!). The menu has hot and cold appetizers, pasta dishes, pizza, and various meat entree platters. I don't care too much for pasta, myself, but there's a reason why this place's pizza won Best of Philly, among other recognitions. The thin-crust pizza is crispy and not at all soggy (a problem I've found with other thin-crusts). We had the octopus pizza, and the little octopus legs were so perfectly crispy on the outside, yet chewy--but not to the point of gumminess--on the inside. It'd be gratuitous if I were to describe it in further detail, but the only problem I had: not enough of the octopus per slice! (Of course, any more would probably jack the price up). The first time I went, they had a roasted suckling pig as a special. The second time I went, they had the same thing. You could get cheek, rib, and belly, if I recall correctly. Deliciously indulgent, soft, full of flavor, fun textural exploration; if it's available when you go, I highly recommend it. As our waitress said, no wine could compete with the flavor of the pig. The indoor patio is the preferred seat of choice (though there's no great view other than that of the church next door). You get to enjoy the feeling of being outdoors, yet you're sheltered from the elements at the same time.

    (5)
  • Tammy M.

    Fantastic meal--we loved everything we had and wished we could have come back for the second night of our stay. The wood grilled octopus was amazing as was the beet and goat cheese pasta. Wine list was lovely--found a great Nebbiollo at a good price point. Veal loin and baby pig specials were outstanding. Loved the veggie platter. Pizza was simply amazing. My only criticisms were on the service side. We felt pretty rushed (we had an early pre-concert rezzie at 5:45 so maybe they were trying to ensure we moved along for the dinner rush later?). But we started with a $70 bottle of wine and that usually slows things down a bit with the server, but it didn't, especially at the outset. We had to pace it ourselves. I have a personal pet peeve against restaurants wanting to take my full order all at once. Especially with a menu as interesting and diverse as this one. In fairness, maybe she thought we were in a rush for the concert, but I would suggest you just ask if we are in a hurry for an event like many restaurants do here in Chicago when you dine before 7 or 8. Also, our server was not as friendly as I would have expected from the reviews. She was definitely attentive but not warm or overly helpful on the menu. My daughter was struggling a bit with questions about the spiciness of a pizza ingredient and we came up with the idea to only put it on half to try it. A little more help from the server as to comparisons with other foods would have been useful. Felt like we needed a little more engagement with the table to make it a 5-star night, especially given the money we dropped that night. That said, great meal, in fact one of the best we have had!

    (4)
  • John K.

    Another Vetri establishment - so you can expect the same level of food - which is to say that it is great! Pastas are insane, pizzas were spectacular. Definitely need to return - and checkout Route 6 which is nearby!

    (4)
  • Christina W.

    I came here for my brother-in-law's graduation dinner. I was impressed by some parts of my experience and others not so much. Service was great--the servers were very attentive and well-versed on the menu. We were seated in a room in a back that was relatively private, so that was nice. We ordered the mixed vegetable antipasti special of the day, which consisted of brussels sprouts, beets, roasted peppers, arugula, etc.--this was delicious. We tried the Polpo, the octopus pizza, which was pretty good but not mind-blowing and not better than Barbuzzo or Nomad. Our table also ordered the Piselli and the Parma, and my previously stated evaluation still holds. For my entree, I got the rabbit "casalinga" with pancetta, sage, brown butter and soft polenta, and this was underwhelming. I found the rabbit meat to be too salty, which overpowered any other flavors, and more than half of my meat portion was pretty tough and dry. The waiter said that this was one of their specialties, but I would not recommend it. I preferred the chicken liver rigatoni, which my brother-in-law ordered for us to share. The lamb leg was decent but seemed overpriced. Overall, it's a decent restaurant but I think it is generally overrated.

    (3)
  • Brooke C.

    This is what life is about. Porn. Food porn. Grilled octopus salad with preserved lemon. Pizzas with warm, rich and creamy egg yolk gently broken over your pizza, oozing thru the center...gently resting until your fork and knife meets its center. Or the best Pizza Margarita in the World. (sorry, no understatements here) Philly, you don't know how good you really got it.

    (5)
  • Vee V.

    One word, sounds like...BLAH. Went here a few weeks ago thinking it would be a good spot but the three things we ordered were just meh (or blah) if you like. The pizza was ordinary, the salad was gross, and the pasta was overly salty and limp. I think the salad was perhaps the most egregious - they had given us a plate for of dandelion leaves (which are very bitter) but did not mix them with other greens. There were two or three pieces of thinly sliced radish and a sprinkle of another vegetable that escapes me. Finally, the pea dressing. It made the dish look toxic - I'm talking teenage mutant ninja turtles toxic. But, we said, this is a Marc Vetri restaurant -I'm sure they know what they're doing. Spoiler alert - they didn't. It was like eating a handful of crab grass on your local playground. Also - the waitress creepily hovered over us throughout the meal. It was not service, it was very uncomfortable. She didn't have the rhythm that more savvy servers do, instead she kept popping in and lingering. Also - ambiance was weird. It's built to be warm and lively but the music was off, it was really empty for a Friday night at 8, generally there was no life in the place. Others might not agree but after having been to so many similar restaurants that execute this much better, Barbuzzo, to name a local one, it's hard to stomach the food and the cost. Seriously - it's really expensive and then it's like being at a bad chain restaurant. (Also if you're in Brooklyn, walk, no run, to Franny's - this place does it right. The pizza is knee buckling good).

    (2)
  • Christopher D.

    Returning to Osteria is always a pleasure for me. I go for the food, the flavors and a taste of the seasons. I am rarely disappointed and this time was no different. I began with a wonderful cocktail which was gin mixed with a rhubarb syrup, and a mint leave. Refreshing and not too sweet. I followed that with a vegetable ante pasta which had about ten different vegetables from brussel sprouts with pancetta, carrots and corriander, spring onions cooked in pork fat, two types of salt roasted beets, roasted peppers, green tomato and a beautiful mound of spicy arugala with cheese in the center. I followed that with a scallop carpaccio with rhubarb, and then a fresh pasta with chanterelle. Dessert was an homage to a trifle, layers of strawberry whipped cream, banana cake topped with fresh strawberries. It is not the most elegant meal, but the flavors were fresh, and celebrated the seasons. Bravo.

    (4)
  • Jay A.

    Had a very nice business dinner at Osteria on Tuesday Evening, 4/23 (4 people). The service was great and the food was quite good. It would clearly be 4 star food and 5 star service. Had a wonderful escargot appetizer followed by a pasta (rigatoni w/chicken livers). I truly enjoyed the rigatoni. Osteria is a busy place (or at least it was on the night I ate there). The food is great. Not five star but definitely 4 star. The rigatoni was pretty amazing. I had some chocolate desert that was mediocre. It was crunchy peanut butter coated with thick chocolate and glazed. Not sure a desert like this belongs at a world-class dining establishment. All in all a great meal. This was my second trip to Osteria and I will return obviously.

    (4)
  • Elizabeth D.

    I had a wonderful experience dining here with my family. The staff was extremely accommodating when I called 2 days before to expand the reservation by one. They also were very kind to seat us in a smaller side room so that my dad could hear! Our server was extremely helpful - she answered our numerous questions easily and was very happy to make recommendations (which were excellent). I highly recommend the salumi plate and the robiolo. The portions are perfectly sized and so wonderfully prepared. I also tried a slice of the bacon & scallop pizza - amazing! That sauce should be on every pizza! My father also loved the chicken liver rigatoni & my husband had a special roasted pig. The wine and beer list is lovely - their sommelier is extremely friendly and helpful in discussing everything they have available. They also delivered 3 gelatos with candles for the birthdays we were celebrating and even sang! This is a wonderful place for a special occasion with a group. The food is outstanding and the service is wonderful. Note: as of this weekend they did not yet have their new iPad wine system. Despite what their website says, they DO offer valet parking for $12. But we easily found street parking on Broad (free after 6pm on weekends) just a block up. It's a little dim inside - ask for extra candles if you need them to read the menu.

    (5)
  • Tommy K.

    Beautiful restaurant with an portion of it under glass. Great for sunset. Their pizzas are delicious, thin crusts that aren't burnt and yet chewy. We had the margarita (try it), the one with only sauce and another one with prosciutto. Each fantastic! Their cocktails are powerful and refreshing. I forget the entrees we had, but I remember the vegetables were roasted with lots of herbs which smelled great -- brussel sprouts. Definitely worth a try if you are visiting or a local.

    (4)
  • Leah H.

    Osteria is my favorite place for special occasions. The food and overall dining experience is exceptional. The staff is extremely knowledgeable about everything from the wine to apps, entrees and desserts!

    (5)
  • Howard I.

    Visiting from NYC, you can guess I've definitely got strong opinions about pizza, and, according to the 'Best of Philly', this was the place to go. It did not disappoint. The Parma pizza was incredible, but on top of that, the service may have been the best I've ever experienced. Whoever manages this place should get a prize. Kudos to the whole staff for an incredible evening.

    (5)
  • Matt H.

    $132 for 2 people (including tax and 20% tip) 1. wood grilled octopus w/ arugula - just okay 2. chicken live rigatoni - really really good (homemade rigatoni) i recomend 3. rabbit w/ polenta - just okay (good portion) 4. sunchoke ravioli w/ black truffles - sm. portion, but AMAZING i recommend 5. blackberry budino - darn good (high quality chocolate used) i recommend 6. 1 beer 1 glass of wine smart, rustic interior, professional and knowledgeable staff & management. TIP: ask your server if half portions are available for a dish if you really wanna try it. we got the chicken live rigatoni ($10) as a half portion even though it's not listed on the menu.

    (4)
  • Jay D.

    Arrived a little early for a 8:00 Saturday night reservation with my husband. We had great time at the bar, sampling different wines and cocktails, enjoying fun conversation with the bartenders. Sat on time for our reservation. We ordered a pizza with grilled octopus that I would not be upset if it was the only thing I had to eat for the rest of my life. Followed with stuffed zucchini blossoms and the olive oil poached "porcelet" suckling pig with tarragon ricotta and spring vegetables, both delicious, but the zucchini blossoms were my favorite. We then ordered two pastas, figuring if we were still hungry after the pasta, we could order either entrees or more apps and pizza. The pasta took a little longer to come out, and one of the many "managers" came over and explained that the chef did not like the way they came out and was making new ones. Our pasta arrived a few minutes late with an additional pasta, their unnecessary apology for waiting, which was very nice. My favorite was the spaghetti with rabbit bolognese, it was amazing! We also had the pasta special, some sort of disk pasta with mushrooms and blueberries that was good, but a very small serving. Their gift to us for waiting was the beet and goat cheese plin with tarragon, which was very light and sweet but not very filling. We ended the meal with gelato (blueberry swirl, pistachio, salted butter). The star was the salted butter, and while the other ones were very good, I could have eaten a gallon of that one alone! Looking forward to a night back in Philly to visit again!

    (5)
  • Pete D.

    I wanted to love this place. The staff was excellent, the ambience of the place was fantastic. Those aspects of dinner last night were 5/5. The 3/5 rating is for the food. Maybe it was an off night, maybe there was a new guy in the back, but every single one of our dishes had way too much salt. I get it, salt is a flavor enhancer, but it not meant to be the primary flavor of a dish. The broccoli which came with the Cod was inedible it had so much salt in it. The cod was cooked perfectly minus the overbearing flavor of salt. Similarly with the octopus. Perfectly cooked, crisp on the outside and perfect texture on the inside, but again way too much salt. Really we expected more from a Vetri restaurant, but Osteria simply did not deliver on the food front. Recommendation: If you want a Vetri place without the cost of Vetri's signature restaurant, go to Amis, we've had many a fantastic meal there.

    (3)
  • Stephanie M.

    I am 8 and it was great!!!!! I liked the bread sticks, the homemade pasta and the nutella chocolate pizza. Everybody was nice.

    (5)
  • Diana G.

    Osteria is the dark underbelly of an overconfident celebrity-chef. The service was nothing extraordinary, and the pizzas were burnt, flavorless, unoriginal and overpriced.Honestly, I could never tell the difference between Osteria's pasta dish and a pot of Prego and Barilla. Why did I spare the restaurant of a 1 star score? The grilled octopus salad saved the meal.

    (2)
  • Gerry R.

    The special appetizer of 8 different roasted veggies was a hit. The pastas can be ordered half portion as an appetizer. The chicken liver rigatoni was extraordinary, no really extraordinary. The bread basket was one of the best since Rosemary on Duane St. in NYC. We ordered the much reviewed Lombardo and the Margharita pizzas as appetizer. The pizzas were good, just not special considering Food and Wine reviewed as one of the best. So much for F&W's pizza reviewer. Our waiter, Steve, described everything in great detail. Wine. Baked Halibut was delicious as were the roasted artichokes ala carte side . The cappucino was artfully done and the beignets were tasted and left on the table. Expensive and sort of worth it based on quality and preparation. Just hard to pay New York prices based on Philadelphia rents. We will return.

    (4)
  • Donna C.

    Four girls for a night out on the town + Osteria = X) Wood-grilled octopus as appetizer was soft not chewy and flavorful. The portion wasn't large but worth it. Two pizzas (one artichoke, one egg): Delicious! Flavorful! Worthy of a mouthgasm! Definitely recommend the artichoke pizza. Fresh, tasty ingredients. Thin, wood-fired pizza with a little crisp to the crust. Wild boar pasta: Meh. Not my favorite here. It was vaguely comparable to something I've had at Melagrano with this ground wild boar sauce and long tubular pasta (ragatoni? raglioni? grrr... don't know my pasta types). I'm not a fan of pasta (though it was cooked very nicely here, a little softer than al dente) and I was pretty full by the time this came around, so maybe don't take my word for it because all the other girls liked it very much. (What can I say? I'm a pizza-girl! :D) The only qualms I have are: 1) Nothing a cab can't take care of... But the location leaves something to be desired. 2) There are some gaps in communication between the staff. We were asked three times if we wanted our coats checked (Uh... Hahaha. No.). Otherwise, though, the staff was very pleasant and took their time to describe the items on the menu to us. Overall: * I'd definitely recommending going with a small group so that you can taste as many things as you can. * The meal was very nicely paced. There was a good pause between each dish, which were brought out one-by-one per our request, and that allowed for good conversation, as well as some good ol' digestion. * Casual, warm decor. Not too dark and not too bright. The clientele is an older, more refined crowd, but the atmosphere is relaxed and evokes a rustic, classy feel that's great when you just want to wind down and have a bit of fancy--but not too much. * This is definitely one of the better $25 I've paid to go to a restaurant in Philly--most BYO meals aren't worth this much.

    (4)
  • Yu Ting Y.

    an amazing dining experience! ambience: beautiful glass house with gorgeous evening light and a view of a gothic church, got even more beautiful when the sun set and the lights came on pizzas: excellent crust and ingredients, a little burnt but bearable antipasti: fresh ingredients, wild alaskan salmon was well flavored and matched well with the red onions primi: had the canestri with nettle pesto, snails and parmiagano. LOVED THIS. one of the best pesto i've ever had! secondi: rabbit was tasty, but a little dry. otherwise very flavorful dessert: it's hard to go wrong with chocolate flan and pistachio gelato, which marked the end of an excellent meal. while the food was excellent, it was probably worth 4 stars. what marked this as a 5 star experience was really the beautiful ambience of the place. very very highly recommended for the full dining experience.

    (5)
  • JandS Bistro s.

    Well, we have been trying to get in here for a while. Last night we had an early dinner reservation and arrived even earlier. We appreciated the availability of the (free) on-street parking but due to the recent snow had to trudge through icy/snow sidewalks in an "iffy" neighborhood. The first impression we had when we walked in was "Wow! there's a lot to take in!". From the exposed kitchen to the magnificent wood burning pizza oven to the large wheels of cheese sitting on the bar. We love restaurants with exposed kitchens and prep areas. The hostess seated us immediately even though we were 20 minutes early for our reso. The first table they offered us was directly next to one of the prep areas in the main dining room. Even though we enjoy watching "prep", we don't enjoy sitting right next to it so we ended up sitting at the next table which was perfect. We ordered our Apertivi. She had the Violet Collins (gin, meyer lemon, prosecco, violet liquer) and I had the Alto (prosecco and blood orange bitters). Both were YUMMY! As we were sipping our Apertivi a beautiful wood bowl of bread and bread sticks arrived with a small can of outstanding olive oil. We love salt and peperoncino flakes with our bread and olive oil and requested both which our server brought right over. We didn't like the fine sea salt so our server replaced the fine sea salt with course sea salt - very nice. For the Antipasti course we had the scallop crudo with fennel and olive oil special - OUTSTANDING! And we also had the quail "al mattone". OMG, the quail was the most delicious bird we have ever eaten!!! For the Primi course we shared the candele with wild boar bolognese which was also outstanding but the candele was a little overcooked (not al dente as it should be). We always like to try a fish entree for dinner. So for the Secondi course we ordered the olive oil poached Alaskan black cod which was a HUGE DISAPPOINTMENT. The fish tasted fishy and after we each had a couple bites we sent this dish back. Our server was very nice about this, apologized, quickly whisked it away and asked if she could bring us a different Secondi. We replaced it with the chicken "alla griglia" with fennel, confit leeks, and blood orange salad. This is the second most delicious bird we have ever eaten. The skin was crispy, the meat was sweet and tender, and paired beautifully with the fennel, leeks and blood orange. We were getting a little full at this point and took half of the chicken home and ate it for breakfast the next day a few minutes ago and it was just as awesome. We're not usually dessert people (but maybe becoming that) so having passed on the budino at Barbuzzo last week, we decided we would try the polenta budino here. It was a nice ending to our delicious meal. We loved the crunchiness of the candied hazelnuts with the grittiness of the polenta in the budino. I topped off dessert with a double espresso - OUTSTANDING! With dinner we had a bottle of Bastianich Sauvignon Blanc which was WONDERFUL! We also judge a restaurant by it's bathrooms and we liked the bathrooms here. They were clean, adequate size, nicely decorated, and odor free. In summary, the service was excellent, food was outstanding except for the cod we sent back, wine was awesome and the wine list was very extensive. We will definitely be back for dinner and lunch.

    (3)
  • Bertram B.

    An OK dining experience for $450+. (including three bottles of wine) Pork bruschetta with ramps was solid. As was salumi plate. Clams were weakly flavored, lacking love and salt. Agnolotti del plin were tops! Very light and enjoyable. Gemelli with sweetbreads and pancetta was ok, give or take the 8 or so inch hair with which my plate was laced. (they did bring a new one) Rabbit casalinga was dry( which is typical of rabbit but I'm talking DRY) and flavorless. Good polenta though! Polenta budino was one of the best desserts I've had. Perfect balance of sugar and salt(served with slightly salty hazlenut brittle.) Well done. Good wines, nervous waitress, some good food, some not that good. Not worth the money.

    (3)
  • Matt S.

    I've eaten here a couple of times. The first time was a few months ago. Whenever I go to a new place that is supposed to be great, I always make an effort to try the stuff on the menu that seems most outside my comfort zone. I don't remember everything that I had that night, but I believe one dish was meat from a pig's face and it was great. In fact, everything I tried was wonderful. My wife played it a little more safe and ended up with a pasta dish that she found just so-so. Still, aside from that one dish (which is no longer on the menu), everything else (service, atmosphere, etc.) was good enough to merit return trips. On the next trip I tried one of their pizzas and that was the end of my experimentation with their menu. It was pizza from then on! I love the thin, bubbly/char-y crusted pizzas like they make in Italy. Americanized pizzas (NY, Philly, Chicago style) are all great, of course, but they are almost an entirely different food. I like hot dogs. I like hamburgers. But they are different things. Same with American pizza and Italian pizza. Both good, just not the same. The thin and delicate brick-oven Italian style gives me the singular focus of a brains-hungry zombie. And like a zombie I will stop at almost nothing once I have Italian style pizza in my sight. Sketchy neighborhood? No big deal. No real parking? I'll circle for blocks. Long wait for a seat? I'll wait. I'll wait all night. BRAINS! I mean PIZZA! I like the one with the sausage and the egg and my wife and I usually get an appetizer or two to share while we wait. The apps are always mouth watering preludes for the real treat. She usually gets a pasta and (aside from that first time) they are usually delicious...I think. Honestly I hardly taste much on the bites she generously shares with me because like I said - I tend to FOCUS! on the PIZZA! I think she also might try to have conversations with me sometimes when I'm eating, but I can't be sure of that. To be safe, I grunt or nod approvingly every now and then as I try to look sophisticated enough to fit into the nice setting while voraciously shoving pizza into my face. For my tastes, this place is second only to Pizza Bianco in Phoenix, AZ (my first love, how I miss thee!) for pizza places on this side of the Atlantic. Please be sure never to go there so I can more easily get seats at the bar when I get a craving.

    (5)
  • Jane F.

    Went here for dinner with another couple and had a delicious meal! I'm pretty picky about Italian food after spending a semester abroad in Italy, so I usually avoid Italian restaurants, but overall this was really good. Some dishes stood out, including the pizza with cauliflower and anchovies and grilled octopus appetizer. I wasn't that impressed with my pasta dish (one of the specials, ricotta tortellini with persimmon), but my friend's chicken liver pasta was amazing. The suckling pig for one was pretty delicious, too, with yummy crispy roasted potatoes. For dessert, I ordered the pear tart because it sounded like it wouldn't be too sweet, but I was wrong. I tasted my companions' polenta budino and semifreddo, which were both much better than my dessert. Maybe it was because it was a Monday night, but our waitress wasn't quite as knowledgeable about the menu as I would have hoped.

    (4)
  • Jenny S.

    I just had my second experience at Osteria and it was just as delightful as the first. They offer an eclectic fair of meats and seafood that are seasoned to perfection. I feel like the prices are pretty fair but you can definitely eat on the cheap and get some of their delicious pizza. The wine list is very fancy if you're into that kind of thing. Obviously, i don't know much about that but they have a wine Sommelier to help you choose a nice bottle. Aside, from the amazing food the service is exceptional. They are constantly filling your water, bringing more bread, and checking in. There's a reason why this place is the number one restaurant in 2009 so treat yourself and make a reservation.

    (5)
  • Natalie P.

    Loved everything about our dinner here. The chicken liver rigatoni is outstanding. The lemon sorbetto was hands down the best I have ever had and my husband stole it from me. He can't wait to go back for that. I can't wait to go back to try out some of the pizzas other people were enjoying. Looked delicious!!

    (5)
  • Dana O.

    I am in LOVE with this place. I love the ambiance. I LOVED the vegetarian salads antipasto, and the postcard pasta (francobolli I think). The wine was exceptional, the bread, the service...apparently in the spring/summer they use vegetables from their own garden.I am Italian and live in San Francisco, and I think that my Italian grandmother AND my San Francisco foody friends would all agree that this place is the best. I can't wait to go back!

    (5)
  • Ferit T.

    wonderful agnolotti. everything else was great too, but I especially liked the bread. we ordered primis and a secondi to share and it was all wonderful, not too expensive considering the amount of good food we ate and that we were full (the bread with olive oil may have helped with that too :) wish they would participate in restaurant week.

    (5)
  • Brandon M.

    I've been here twice, most recently a couple weeks ago. It's a little bit out of the way and in a slightly blighted area six big blocks north of City Hall, but well worth the trek. Delicious Italian food in a casual yet trendy setting. Both times I sat in the back area which is like a sunroom. It's nice and spacious, but as another reviewer commented, it felt like being hidden in a backroom. Didn't really bother me, but it was a little odd -- the restaurant is much bigger than you would (or I did) expect, but I love the rustic-ness of the place. We split a testina pizza (pig's head) and I had grilled octopus, chicken liver rigatoni and a chocolate torte. The pizza is the best in the city (for $21, it should be!), with a puffy, crispy crust delicately seasoned with rosemary and olive oil. Think of a gourmet version of Dock Street, and then think a little better than that. Octopus was very good, but not the best I've had. Good flavor but one or two pieces were *slightly* tougher than what I'd like. It's served on a bed of perfunctory greens, which were all still there when I was done eating, save for a couple pieces that attached themselves to the odd tentacle. Some room for improvement. The chicken liver rigatoni was one of the tastiest meals I've ever eaten. There's no other way to describe it than one of those dishes that you just keep eating because it tastes so good, and then feel too full 10 minutes later. Presentation is non-existent -- it's served in a cheap-looking bowl without any flair -- but that's the point here. It feels like something your Italian mother would make. Chocolate torte was just okay. A little too bland and a little too crumbly. Wine list is excellent, and, it should be noted, on the very reasonable side of things: Most of the bottles on it are under $100, and you can find more than a few under $50. Kudos to them for that. My main problem with the place is the lameness of the entrees. For a place that serves sweetbreads, chicken liver and pizza with headcheese, I was hoping for an entree that was similarly interesting. Instead, you can choose from tuna, skate or grilled chicken (rabbit and wild boar's leg is about as adventurous as the entrees get). The special when I was there last was described as a whole roasted pig, of which they slice off leg and shoulder meat. When I asked the waitress if it came with the good bits like ears, trotters or snout, she laughed and said no. Oh well.

    (4)
  • sako R.

    Go with many people who are willing to share food and are not picky eaters and do not utter words like "I'm watching my calories," "I avoid carbohydrates," or "I'm a vegetarian." We went with our friends for a joint birthday dinner, and ate two kinds of pizza, three kinds of meat, pasta, vegetables, and one baby-pig-roasted-crispy-skin-thing that will forever keep me loyal to their establishment.

    (4)
  • Angus P.

    The pizza (parma) and pasta (pork rib lasagnette) we had were amazing. However, ordered the lamb for main course, on suggestion of waitress since nothing else really appealed to me. For $30, we got a few slices of undercooked (rare), underseasoned leg of lamb. If you're going to sell a small plate of leg of lamb for that much money, it had better be phenomenal . . . which it wasn't. I would recommend this restaurant, but stick to antipasta, pizza, and pasta, which based on my experience and other reviews is what they do best. They are also reasonably priced for the quality.

    (4)
  • Sara H.

    Osteria was extremely mediocre--if even that. My boyfriend and I went on a Tuesday night and it was unbelievably busy. I am still trying to figure out how a place that serves bland, overpriced food in a pretentious yet not at all inspiring setting can be so busy--or even staying in business!! We tried the fig/gorgonzola/speck pizza to start. A delicious idea, but executed very poorly. The crust took over half of the pizza, there were about 6 figs on the entire thing and it felt like a treasure hunt to actually eat a bite that had something on it---FINE for a free happy hour buffet pizza, not OK for $16. Our next course was the grouper entree ($26) with chanterelle mushrooms and leeks. Let's just say the grouper must have been very happy in its afterlife because it got to be halfway immersed in water and swimming in a sea of oily fishy dilly juice that managed to overpower the chanterelles and leeks in blandness. We sent this back because frankly, you can get a better fish for $5 from the frozen section of Trader Joe's and be way more satisfied. We then had the ravioli thinking if this place was Italian, maybe we were just choosing the wrong things--and we should give it a final chance by ordering something fairly simple. Well of course if you drench anything in cheese, salt and butter it is bound to have a flavor but the "postage stamp ravioli" was soggy, soft and not worth any further commentary. That basically concluded our dining experience there. Oh, might I add that for their attempts at a fancy shmancy environment (which at first I was excited about since my beloved Fairmount neighborhood doesn't have too many places that warrant putting on a fancy dress) the soap in the bathroom was a friggin' CVS container of DIAL. Pshh. At least put the Dial in a nice soap dispenser or something if you are going to continue this charade. If you're looking for Italian food you'd be better off at the Olive Garden. Just kidding. Kind of.

    (1)
  • Jason H.

    Osteria is a Marc Vetri outpost, and has a good selection of creative Italian dishes. At such a nice place, it's surprising to say, but the pizza is a standout! This is not a bad thing at all, but a testament to very good pizza; the margherita is a personal favorite. A large, and somewhat noisy place, the service is generally very good. They have a good setup for larger groups, and a few different rooms in which they'll seat parties of various sizes. Worth the trip! -J

    (4)
  • Karl B.

    Went on a Sunday night for a quick dinner. First I must say that the environment and the decor is incredible. So cozy and warm, yet still with a nice modern touch. I am a sucker for natural woods and this place has nailed it. So we started off with the duck pasta (a thin pasta filled with duck and brown sugar served in a brown butter). All in all the dish was pretty good. Not even close to being worth the $18 it costs, but pretty good nonetheless. I will say this however, the entire time I was eating this i was thinking "damn this would make an excellent dessert". Everything about this dish was sweet. It has that warm, sugary sweet taste, feeling, texture, that you want in a dessert on a cold winter day. For our entree we shared the Lombarda Pizza. We had read in Food And Wine Magazine that it is ranked among the top 10 pizzas in the country, so, being from Buffalo NY (the birthplace of chicken wings, and good pizza) we had to try it. Now this dish too was $18, however this was far more worth the price. It came out HOT, cut in four slices, and dripping with egg. (For those unfamiliar with the dish, it is a hand-tossed piza served with baked egg, bitto cheese, mozzarella, and cotechino sausage. Mind you it was absolutely delicious, however I found myself thinking more and more with each bite that, aside from the cheese and egg, this pizza wasn't a whole lot different than a $12 take-out pie back home. Now my biggest complaint, and the reason this place gets a 3 instead of 4 stars, is their drink menu. I had heard they have a great beer selection (which they do), however the prices are just baffling ($10 for a 12 oz bottle of duvel!!!!!) I love to have a good beer with my meal. In most cases I believe a good beer can completely pull together a meal. But $10 for a bottle of $2 beer is just outrageous. All in all we shared a pretty average meal. really other than the prices I don't have much to complain about. I walked out that door $70 poorer, wondering if I couldn't have had a more memorable meal at the pizza place across the street. I don't think i'll make my way up Broad street for another visit.

    (3)
  • Jared S.

    Ok. I went back here another time and never updated. Now it was a while ago and for a friends bday so I don't remember all that much. I must, however, make note on the chicken liver rigatoni. This dish is fantastic. If I ever go back I will be getting this again. Also the porchetta tonnato dish was fabulous. So yeah, those dishes are amazing. Everything else was good, but I mean for that price they better be. I think i dropped 180 on dinner that night if I remember correctly.

    (4)
  • Jill C.

    For my 100th review I had to make sure it was for someplace stellar. . . So I present to you. . . my review for Osteria! (Drum roll please . . or eye roll, you pick) I really wanted to give it 4.5 stars, but Vetri has done some great things for Philadelphia so I'm happy to round up. I was the happy recipient of a gift certificate to Osteria. . . so I brought along my sister and my BIL as my dining partners. The menu is amazing, although light on vegetarian options in the pasta category. OF course there are antipasti, pizzas, pastas and entrees. Prices range from totally reasonable to OMG. But I understand that you get what you pay for and I am pretty sure Mr. Vetri sources the best of the best. We totally pigged out...and loved the following... First up: The wood grilled octopus, mortadella pizza and one of the specials, grilled/cured veggies and olives. All wonderful. The pizza was bigger then expected (thin chewy crust, perfect amount of toppings) and the veggie plate was huge too. Second: Rye bucatini, cabbage cannelloni and the robiola francobolli - as Vetri is known for the pasta was so light and flavorful - we all loved them. Dessert: This we split, because we really had barely enough room but knew it was not to be missed. We got, and totally enjoyed the meyer lemon semifreddo topped with almond milk granite and a brioche. Oh and with espresso - the perfect ending to a superb meal. . The restaurant itself is dark with lots of wood, but not overly romantic. We were sat in the atrium (for lack of a better word, greenhouse maybe?) I has happily surprised to see some families with (well behaved) young children. I would love to bring my little one here in a year or two. The entire staff was very nice. If you go check out the espresso machine - it is a work of art! On a final note - there is valet parking but you can easily find street parking within a block or two. . . As with most nicer restaurant in Philly. . be prepared to pay a premium for your wine beer!

    (5)
  • Emily W.

    We went here for my birthday and as predicted, we had an amazing meal. I can't believe that I had forgotten how wonderful this place is. Here are the highlights. The roasted Brussels sprouts on the antipasti platter are out-of-this-world. Candele bolognese = favorite pasta dish in Philly. Easily. We also got the Lombardo pizza with salty cheese, homemade sausage chunks, and an oozy egg. It was delicious, even down to the crispy crust. I got a three scooper of their homemade gelato (1 scoop each of torrone, pistachio, and cinnamon stracciatella). Wow. Despite my full belly, I didn't want the bowl to end. It was so creamy, so smooth, so....perfect.

    (5)
  • Amy S.

    My friend asked me about 3 times if I ever had a pizza with a runny egg (answer: no) and I thought it was a random question to ask, but during a trip to Philly he took me to Osteria to try pizza with a runny egg and I get the obsession. My only issue is that there should be more runny eggs on it than just the one because it is TOO good. We also had a few pasta dishes that were just as good and a begnit dessert to finish it all off for an amazing meal. Everything was perfect...including the service...it was actually so good that I was laughing half the time our server came over because he was just so happy and enthusiastic.

    (5)
  • Jayna B.

    Delicious and terrific. Truly a neighborhood gem because up until recently, there wasn't much else there except the Subway and this place STILL stands out against Route 6 and Alla Spina. I was here before about a year ago with out of town friends who ordered lots of food I couldn't eat and I still dreamed of going back. This time, I went with a friend who didn't care about meat and my dreams came true. We ordered the antipasti plate to order. Unfortunately, our server had it made for 1 person instead of two but he seemed a little off and I won't hold that totally against the restaurant. Before I even continue about the food, I want to comment on how amazingly accommodating the chefs were to my dietary needs. I wanted everything without nuts and without meat and they acted like this was their pleasure! Amazing! The Antipasti Plate to order was well presented and gave us a taste of every vegetarian antipasti. Perfectly seasoned, pickled and prepared. The Porcini Salad was enough for one person, but not really to share. The pears and mushrooms went well together, and not something I would have thought would have tasted good so that was a surprise. We also had the Zucca pizza. Best zucchini pizza I have ever had. Hands down. Delicious. The cheese was sweet and the squash was sweet and the rest of the pizza was savory so it melded perfectly together. The fried cauliflower antipasti was ordered as an afterthought because we were still hungry. It was green and black which was weird but tasted really super fantastic. It was served in an anchovy sauce and they alerted me to this since I had dietary needs, which was super nice of them to remember and act on it. Gripes: Small plates, waiter who was basically afraid of me and my friend and did not have an antipasti plate to SHARE made for two, and not nearly enough chocolate on the dessert menu.

    (5)
  • Olivia J.

    Came here with M for our six months. I liked the classy ambiance a lot! There was a single rose on our table with candles :) The food was okay. Or maybe I wasn't being careful enough to really savor the food. Either way, I got the spaghetti with octopus ink and M got some sort of a pork dish. To be honest, a lot of the things on the menu was in Italian and we didn't know what most of it meant @-@ so maybe the food there is actually legit for people from Italia, but for us who are accustomed to Americanized Italian food, the food was so so.

    (3)
  • Sara E.

    4.5 stars. Excellent service and a lovely atmosphere. Every dish was thoughtful and well executed. Some of the best Neapolitan pizza crust that I've ever eaten.

    (5)
  • A. N.

    Romantic scene, delicious wine selection, and one of the best meals I've had in Philly. Must try the winter squash gnocchi and kale & farro salad. Jana & Kristen and the rest of the staff were very helpful. Immaculate service. Great job Chef.

    (5)
  • Amanda G.

    My husband and I went here to try the Margherita pizza that Marc Summers talked about on "The Best Thing I Ever Ate." Unfortunately, I've had better pizza from the shops around my house. I don't know what the hype was all about. What I did enjoy during our visit was the antipasto dish that was on special. Is that enough to rate this place higher than two stars? I don't think so. I'm sure if we went back and got something other than pizza we'd enjoy it, but the prices are just too high for a restaurant located on North Broad Street and I can't justify a second visit.

    (2)
  • Vinny P.

    Perfetto. It's now Monday morning and I still have the afterglow of eating at Osteria. The meal, which I will describe, was pure bliss. We began with the Lombarda pizza which was nothing short of stellar. The baked egg in the center upped the richness while the sausage and perfect sauce acted as mere accents to the perfectly baked dough. This was outrageously good. Dinner consisted of the chicken liver rigatoni and the rabbit casalinga. I have always found chicken liver to be extremely rich and sometimes overbearing. This pasta however spread the richness out into a velvet blanket of flavor that coated each and every noodle in the dish. It was served in a very cool bowl and as we took additional bites, we continued to exclaim how amazing it was. The rabbit was perfectly cooked. I'm guessing it was roasted and the drippings were used in the polenta. The whole dish was wrapped in such ridiculous flavor that alongside the pasta, we had complete and utter flavor overload. This restaurant is both big and beautiful. The wall at the bar is made to look like a number of wine cases in a collage. The servers were so knowledgeable and we weren't rushed in any way. I think this restaurant has some real devotees because the couple next to us dropped eaves on what we were ordering and then gave their recommendations. Food creepers. I had high expectations and they were exceeded. I'm going back next week with the rents.

    (5)
  • Jack K.

    Heard good things about this place but was very disappointed. Started out by seating us in the back room which would be good for a private party but not for a party of 4. Might as well have been in my dining room. No atmosphere. Waitress was confused and never put our order in for pizza that we clearly ordered. She then stated that we might want to order something because the dinner entrees may take awhile. I then asked her how long the pizza would take and she siad 7 minutes so we said we were good with that. 10 minutes later the entrees were on the table and she said we never ordered the pizza. Huh??? The rabbit was bland and the chicken was dry. The pasta dishes were ok but nothing special. We left hungy. Way overpriced. We ended up going to Olde City and got our pizza. Should have skipped Osteria and went to Olde City in the first place. Don't waste your time and money at this place

    (2)
  • Ellen L.

    very good food- Had the grilled octopus appetizer- really enjoyed it- not so much the $17 I paid for it. The Halibut was very good as well. Our server was very helpful answering any questions and offering suggestions. Food is good, but extremely pricey.

    (4)
  • Jeremy W.

    Wonderful service, of course, and a lovely dining experience. My only two complaints are the that the food was strangely on the salty side. This actually isn't something I usually even notice or consider but I guess it was a bit over the top and undeniable. Even still, the Plin, the Hazelnut Pudding, and the Pizza were all tasty. As I mentioned, great, convivial, and professional service.

    (4)
  • Craig N.

    I've heard such great things about this place, but i wasn't wowwed at all. Came here for our 2nd anniversary dinner, we should have went to the FOUNTAIN for what our bill came to! This was about 6 months ago and to be honest, I can't even remember what I ate. I'll have to give it another shot one day.

    (2)
  • Gina H.

    Utterly disappointed in the overall experience. I'd like to give it 2 stars, but certain food dishes made up for the poor service. We dined here on 2/7 and the service was impossibly slow. Our reservation was at 7:45 pm and we didn't get out of there until nearly 11:30 pm. The pauses between courses were interminable! We felt like forgotten people stranded in the back corner of the restaurant. We had to ask for water refills, dessert menus, proper silverware with items, never once did they put the right item in front of the right person for one side of our table. But the worst insult was trying to get a glass of iced tea. It was like it was coming direct from China! Once it finally arrived, filled mainly with ice, my husband drank it in a few seconds, hoping that he could get a quick refill since they obviously must have just brewed a pitcher because it took so long to get there in the first place. Oh boy, how sorely mistaken were we! After finally getting the attention of ANY server in our area, we asked for a refill but we were so annoyed that we jokingly started timing how long it would take to get the refill. Eight minutes folks...that's how long it takes at Osteria to get a refill. Absolutely ridiculous. This was a $500 meal and service should be better. Management, get it together! As for the food, some items were very good: like the winter squash gnocchi - soft, warm, gooey and simply delish! The poached lobster and grilled octopus starters were very good too. Other items were just okay: the Lombarda pizza. What is the rave about on this pizza??? The crust is good, I'll give that, but the toppings are non-existent and the tomato sauce was so bland and tasteless. Oh wow, there's an egg on top...welcome to two decades ago. This pizza needed salt and seasoning very badly...the ingredients did not shine on that one. Also, the roasted pork special was okay, very tender and moist, and the crispy skin was good, but as a main dish it was soooooo very one note and boring. It needed better sides to jazz up what was simply a platter of meat. Then there were items that were simply HORRIBLE. The saffron bucatini pasta was just god-awful. The flavor combination didn't work at all. I really think something was wrong with how this was prepared in the kitchen. I would never believe that this family would produce such an item and sell it to the public. It tasted like the blandest pasta with what can only be described as rotten sea sewage on top. I know this couldn't be right. This is the first time in my life I've ever sent pasta back. Also bad, but not as bad as the bucatini, was the escargots in puff pastry. It was like cream of celery soup mixed with a few escargot and a ton of sage. The puff pastry on top was baked nicely though. Not worth the money at all. This meal was so embarrassing to me since I had chosen the restaurant. It was for a family birthday celebration and I wanted it to be special. I just kept ending up apologizing to my whole table how very sorry I was for picking it. Then we had to pay the bill...ugh! One last thing, I've eaten at Vetri before and had I come here to Osteria first, I would never ever have gone to Vetri. Having a collection of restaurants is supposed to help build your brand and cause cross-pollination, not deter your guests from going to the others.

    (3)
  • Sarah D.

    Food was fantastic. The bread basket that they bring to every table is pretty good- fresh, and a few varieties of bread. We got the fungi pizza and split is as an appetizer (2 people). For our main course, we got the pork shank and duck breast. Both entrees were well prepared and presented. Service was second to none- I don't think we ever had a water glass that was half empty. Too full for dessert, but the table next to us got one and it looked amazing. Hopefully next time we'll save room for dessert. Some of the negatives- the tables are very close together, and I felt like we had to listen to the 2 tables next to us for the entire meal. Also, if taking public transportation to the restaurant, it can get a little sketchy.

    (4)
  • Abbie D.

    Osteria has by far my FAVORITE pizza in Philadelphia!! LOMBARDA YUM YUM YUM!! Each time we have dinned here we have had stellar service and amazing food! Wild boar bolognese and chicken liver rigatoni are also two of our favorites! For my birthday two years ago my husband got us the "family" table in the back prep room. There were 10 of us around this rustic wooden table. We had the best night ever!!! The Vetri family never ceases to amaze us! Big fans of Osteria!

    (5)
  • Steve T.

    The word "tight" has many connotations. For our purposes here, "tight" is that endeavor in which all the moving parts work in perfect unison...sheer magic. There are no grinding metal parts, stripped gears, blown coverages, dropped passes, hit batters, bad calls, typhoons, Ebola, or any of a myriad of issues that ruin a great experience. Well, Osteria, Mark Vetri's stunning and hip restaurant on North Broad, is "tight." Osteria is much larger than Vetri, with a veritable army of servers and chefs. You know you are in for something special when, upon entering, there is an enormous hand crank prosciutto carving machine as the Pledge for the culinary magic show you are about to experience. Upon opening the menu, you are confronted with the Turn. We ordered one of the delicious pizza's as an appetizer...the polpo, served thin crust with grilled octopus, chili flakes, and smoked mozzarella. The vegetable anti pasta offered us a wonderful blend of grilled and sauteed veggies, and for the first time in my life I enjoyed brussel sprouts. The Prestige is introduced with the almost indescribably good pasta. As I couldn't decide between several offerings, including spaghetti with olive oil poached calamari, corzetti with clams, or black pepper ravioli with peaches, I got them all and was captivated, convinced it must be part of the illusion. Another member of our party ordered the roast piglet...if you like pork, get this, as it is superb. I enjoyed a wonderful medium body Italian red along with dinner, ordered from the exhaustive wine list featuring Italian wines. Dessert was a very good chocolate flan with home made pistachio ice cream. Our party of four ended up with a $400 tab, which was pricey but worth it. Like David Copperfield at the top of his game, Osteria takes you on an almost unbelievable magical mystery tour. What a sight to behold...all the parts of the show moving like Cirque du Soleil...yeah, its that tight. Make reservations well in advance, and don't be "tight" with the tip.

    (5)
  • David R.

    As we've dined here many times, and each and every time, it's been a special experience, I figured it was time to write about Osteria! We've also settled on a formula for enjoying the restaurant that was given to us on our first visit. First, if you can spring for it, just valet your car. It's still somewhat of an up and coming neighborhood (and Marc Vetri has invested heavily in this north Broad renaissance - kudos!) and, though you can find street parking, it's just easier to have them take care of things. Upon entering the restaurant, you will be overcome with an almost primordial scent experience - woodsmoke, garlic, and all sorts of tasty olfactory bliss wafting from the open kitchen. The restaurant is as beautiful to behold as it is to smell - kind of industrial, but pleasantly warm, with ambient lighting, and a bevy of excellent design elements. It's large, but not overwhelmingly so, and there's been a pleasant energy and bustle every time we've visited. The staff has been unfailingly kind, warm, and hospitable on our visits. Ah, the food. We always start with the off-the-menu (though I don't know why) antipasto vegetables, a selection of ten vegetable preparations, including salt roasted beets (of two colors), brussels sprouts roasted with pancetta, and all sorts of other delicacies, which form a circle around a lovely arugula salad. We also usually up the ante with some of their amazing house-cured salumi. I have a collection of before and after pictures for this course - it arrives beautifully on a large board, and reliably disappears in a flurry of gustatory activity. One word: yum. Also, the bread. Super yum. The pizzas are similarly satisfying - we've had many, including the signature Polpo, Lombardo, Parma, etc. The crusts are fantastic, and the ingredients are beautifully integrated. I've seen some of the usual contrarians strike a pose of diffidence about Osteria's pastas here on Yelp. "If you want 'real pasta' you have to go to "x" trattoria in a village that's not on the map, and it opens with the reliability of Brigadoon." As a counterpoint, I merely suggest that such tiresome opinionation is self-disqualifying. The pastas at Osteria are dizzyingly satisfying - rendered with great care and creativity, and have always caused a lengthy silence, followed by impassioned swoon. Poseurs, get thee hence to Trattoria X; more beet and goat cheese plin for the rest of us. After the antipasto, pizzas, and pastas, we're usually ready to move on to dessert, though we've had several of the Secondi - which are beautifully rendered, and quite delish. We typically like to graze more than hunker down on the more traditional progression, and we ask that everything is served family style. Desserts are always fantastic - the gelati give Capogiro a run for their money, the sorbets are always interesting and expertly done, and, though we usually ask them to make us a Nutella pizza (yes, this is what happens when a genius chef gets a late night craving), I've had several of the other items, and, in particular, I highly recommend the budino, which marries creamy and sweet polenta with an addictive gianduia mousse. Good God. The wine service is wonderful. The list is full of good values, and decadent splurges, and the staff are expert guides, cheerfully leading guests to wonderful bottles, no matter the budget. When I treated some under-21 friends to a meal there once, they concocted some really tasty non-alcoholic treats for them, which brings us to the wonderful professionalism and warmth of the service, which has always struck the balance between enthusiasm and discretion. That is, they reliably engage in discussion of the food when it appears we're into that, but if conversation among guests is rolling along, the servers accurately read the temperature, and remain unobtrusive. There is much humor, infectious passion about the food and wine, and unimpeachable professionalism. On one visit, before arriving, I came down with some serious stomach discomfort, but didn't want the rest of our party to miss out on a fantastic meal (we travel an hour and change to dine at Osteria). The waiter kept me well-stocked with ginger ale doctored with bitters, and I survived, no doubt, thanks to his vigilance (though watching my family devour a meal I couldn't enjoy was a little bittersweet). On other occasions, the waitstaff has taken note of some esoteric preferences, only to reward us with special treats later on in the meal. In a way, despite the size, I've felt as welcome at Osteria as I might be at a neighborhood joint, run by a family friend. The meals have been revelatory - I've learned much about the Italian table at Osteria, and we always leave grateful for a beautifully orchestrated, deliciously rendered, and gracefully offered meal. I have to think that's their ambition, and it's one they've achieved with our every visit. Grazie e bravo tutti!

    (5)
  • Maria S.

    After driving from Westport, CT to Haddonfield, NJ and getting stuck in traffic, I wasn't sure I was up for a trip into the city for a fine dining experience. How glad I am that I rallied and joined my friends on a Monday night at Osteria. We were lucky enough to be accompanied by a new friend, Rick, who had dined at Osteria before, and he expertly steered us through the menu. We started with four plates of appetizers: the parma pizza, the summer vegetable crudo, the wood grilled octopus, and a local vegetable antipasto, which was one of the house specials of the evening. I've had wood grilled octopus before, and Osteria's was very good, if not the best I've tasted. However, the parma pizza - with mozzarella, fontina, arugula, and prosciutto di parma - was out-of-this-world amazing! Definitely order this up for a starter on your next visit. I enjoyed the chanterelle and bone marrow ravioli with bitto cheese as my entree, and it was the perfect size after all the appetizer courses. The pasta was exquisite - obviously made in house and simply ethereal - it just melted in my mouth. I will remember this dish forever. The restaurant also brought us a treat on the house - a beet ravioli dish that was a close second to my pasta dish. Nice touch! Everyone else enjoyed their courses - ranging from cannelloni to salmon to roasted suckling pig (a special) - but alas, we did not leave room for a taste of dessert. One final shout-out to our server, who's name escapes me (sorry!), but he was a master of pairing wines with our courses. Kudos! If I'm ever back in the area (I'm from Atlanta), I would definitely return for more from this inventive chef.

    (5)
  • Matt K.

    Osteria isn't a Michelin 3-star restaurant. It doesn't have haute cuisine or tip-top service. And it's not even the best Italian restaurant in the city! (Vetri, maybe?) But at Osteria, they make homey and rustic Italian cuisine. They do it almost perfectly, and for that reason, this restaurant gets 5 Yelp stars in my book because so many other Italian restaurants are doing the same thing but not this good. This night we had several winners, from their pizzas to a special item not on the menu, which featured polenta with cheese and a braised red cabbage on top. Divine.

    (5)
  • Rachel E.

    It never disappoints until your food runner says here's your charcuterie, yo. It was a Tuesday. Seriously though I would live here if I could. Sweet Corn Gelato.

    (4)
  • Food S.

    Buzz Worthy

    (4)
  • Linda T.

    delicious! nice ambiance! great service. love the wood theme...wood tables, wood trays, wood plates! the assortment of bread (rustic, thyme, foccacia, bread sticks) in a wooden tray was very rustic and pretty. shared a bunch of little items: -grilled octopus: delicious! soft and al dente...not chewy at all. served with arugula...yummy -lombarda pizza: love the runny yolk on top of the pizza! a little soggy for my taste..but it was good -squid ink pasta: delicious. pasta was chewy and al dente! loved it -chicken liver rigatoni: rich and delicious. can totally taste chicken liver! rigatoni was perfectly al dente as well!! -upside down olive oil apple cake with caramel gelato: delicious! love the presentation. caramel gelato can use some more caramel taste. i am so full!! everything was so yummy. i would want to sit there and eat, drink, talk for a long time! love the kitchen...love the proscuitto slicer!

    (4)
  • Kendrah R.

    From vegetables to pastas and meats, overall lack of flavor. What a disappointment, as the menu sounds so good, so simple. For a James Beard winning restaurant, with what sounds like quality and high-priced ingredients, Osteria is quite unimpressive. It is mid-summer, best time of the year for produce and none of the vegetables we ate had any flavor, from the antipasto plate to the peach and fennel salad that came with an overly breaded and fried pork terrine. Our pastas were bland. Buccatini had plenty of lobster and artichokes just zero flavor. It seems a crime to waste such great ingredients. The salumi appetizer: Rich, lovely meats, but the artichoke mostard that came with was so sickeningly sweet with a really off consistency and strange bite it was just horrible. The roast pig entree was the only thing we ate that had any depth of flavor. It is just kinda sad that it had four meager potato cubes with it that were dry and unappetizing. The waitstaff was nice. The vibe relaxed and friendly. It is so close to our home too. But, we won't be returning.

    (2)
  • Gerrianne M.

    Maybe I'm not a real "foodie", or I just don't get out that much, but I didn't care for this place. My sister in law had recommended it for my husband and I celebrating our anniversary. We have never felt so out of place before. First of all, it was so hard to read the menu, because it was dark in there and then we couldn't even understand it! I don't know if it was written in Italian or what, but it was difficult to determine what was offered. So we joked with the waitress and asked her to translate/ read for us or recommend something. She either didn't have a sense of humor or was just plain rude, because she was no help at all. She was so unattentive, couldn't even refill water glasses, forgot to come back to us to eventually take our order, and barely spoke to us. From the way she treated us, I just wanted to go home. In the end, I ordered some kind of pizza, which I could have gotten any place else, nor did I expect to be eating pizza for my anniversary dinner! My husband ordered some kind of wild boar pasta, which we read about thanks to a yelp review, and he seemed to enjoy the dish. However, it was not the best place for us to celebrate our anniversary. I would never go back there again. I don't know how this was listed as one of the best in Philly. Maybe to some food snobs, but not for the average person looking for a nice place to celebrate an event. Not for me!

    (1)
  • Juan J.

    Pricy entrees...Nice ambiance...OK food... Four of us came on a Sunday night, and were promptly seated in a corner table. For appetizer, we ordered the Snails (too bland) and Octpus (too salty). I tasted a friend's Rabbit entry, and it was nothing great. My seabass was a decent chunk of fish, but again, it was too bland. The desert menu was hard to understand, so our waitress patiently answered all questions. The chocalate flan was fantastic, however it was more of a lava cake (I can almost bet my money for the fact that the restaurant bought it from Trader Joe's). I guess the downfall of us is that: 1) picky new yorkers 2) should've ordered the pizza

    (3)
  • beata n.

    Amazing! must try the wild board bolognese!

    (5)
  • Sarah S.

    WOW - this was the best pizza I've had since I spent a semester in Italy. I went here on the first night I moved to Philly after researching on yelp for a good place nearby and was blown away. I got the parma pizza which was absolutely amazing and piled with fresh prosciutto and arugula. My boyfriend got the lombarda pizza and he finished the entire thing. Can't wait to go back!

    (5)
  • Amy R.

    Last week we enjoyed a wonderful dinner at the bar. The bartender was very friendly and helpful with the menu. The bartender really gave terrific service. My boyfriend and I shared three appetizers and a pasta (chicken liver rigatoni). Everything, especially the pasta was delicious. We were having a fantastic time, but left with a very sour taste in our mouth. We were given a Vetri gift card this Christmas but were told as we were paying that the gift card we had was only valid for Vetri Ristorante, not all Vetri family restaurants. No where on the card does it say this. Unfortunately, we are moving this week and will not get a chance to sit down for a seven course tasting menu. Had we known this strange policy, we would have arranged a time earlier this year. (However, I should also mention the gift card was $100 which does not even cover the cost of one meal.) The purchaser of the gift card does not live in Philly so I can see how this was confusing for them when they bought it for us. Finally, I emailed Vetri to express my disappointment and they were not very understanding or accommodating. The chicken liver rigatoni delicious, the bartender was a delight, but I don't think I will return to any Vetri restaurants next time we are in Philly.

    (3)
  • jackie p.

    They have the best gelloto. Marscapone and olive oil was out of this world. Served in a silver cut that kept the last bite as good as the first because it kept the consultancy perfect. The bass was great.

    (4)
  • Joseph C.

    My friends took me there for my birthday and the server spoiled the surprise when we sat down. FAIL! Sommlier brought the wine to our table and we had no glasses. FAIL! Food was okay but the chicken liver rigatoni was tasty as recommended by a chef on chefs feed. (props to Ansil) Just a really bad experience overall. I want to try again but will probably go to Vetri or Amis next time.

    (2)
  • Dom R.

    I will keep this short and sweet, like the polenta budino found here. I rate this restaurant in My Top 3 Favorite Spots in our great city of Philadelphia. I have been coming here since the doors opened when I was a cheap college student at Temple University. I have been here 15+ times and each time the food is absolutely delicious and never disappoints. Great for special occasions or just grabbing a pizza and an italian craft beer. Oh yea, they have those here...Italian Craft Beers. Italians make great beer! The menu changes with the seasons, but there are always the classics that never leave. One of them being the desserts, the Polenta Budino! This is the perfect dessert, in my eyes. The delicious combination of sweet and salty and creamy and chocolatly.....Polenta Budino with gianduia mousse and candied hazelnuts (ORDER THIS). It may even be better than the other, more famous Budino found in this city. Oh yea, ask about the roast suckling baby pig with crispy skin, not on the menu. Overall, I measure all restaurants in Philadelphia up against Osteria. And so far, this place has remained in my Top 3. Chef's Marc Vetri and Jeff Michaud, job well done. 5 Stars.

    (5)
  • Bob R.

    Uneven food , at times clumsy .great blood orange cocktail. Good Italian food for those who haven't been anywhere.M

    (3)
  • Melissa U.

    My husband made a reservation for us to celebrate our 7 year wedding anniversary. We had discussed going before but it wasn't until we saw Marc Vetri on a Saturday morning cooking show on public access that we made it a point to go. He was very passionate about the ingredients he used and the recipes he cooked. Upon arriving we were immediately greeted and seated. Hostess was very friendly and welcoming. We arrived at our table and I was not really excited about that part. The close proximity to the diners next to us was slightly unnerving for me. I respect everybody right for opinions but I don't want to hear about your government conspiracies. I almost felt like i was seated at their table as well as my own, but i can't blame the restaurant too much for that since i understand the need to maximize space in Philadelphia. Aside from the seating issue, the restaurant was very nice and clean! Had a warm rustic feeling with a lot of class. Our server Kelert arrived and my husband and I loved the fact that we had the choice between still or sparkling water. I prefer sparkling to still but that's a personal preference that I've found works for me cutting down on my soda intake. Kelert was a sweetheart! Any questions we had, he immediately gave us an answer. His recommendations were spot on and his attentiveness to us was impeccable. The food could've been garbage and I would still give an establishment a high rating because of him. He made sure we were taken care of without smothering us with attention, that's a fine line but he knew how to stay just in the middle. He was great! Now let's talk about the food! The food was delicious! My husband got the charcuterie plate, he wasn't too happy about the amount of charcuterie he received but he no complaints about the quality. This man loves food so I expected him to complain about the size. I got the roasted vegetables and they were phenomenal! Brussels Sprouts, Beets, Broccoli Rabe, Cauliflower each had their own distinctive flavor that was just indescribable! The only thing I did not finish was the argula and that's only because I'm not a huge fan of it. As our entree we both ordered the spit roasted suckling pig.....AMAZING! The pig is spit roasted and you are presented with meat from all parts. Moist, flavorful, perfectly portioned, the list could go on. The only thing on the plate i was on the fence about were the roasted potatoes. They had a great crust but the interior was not fluffy and just weren't for me. Now I'm not saying that someone else wouldn't enjoy them but i wasn't too much of a fan. For desert my husband got the apple torta which he enjoyed and I got the Polenta Budino and LOVED! To go with our sweets we got some coffee that was really good. It really rounded out our visit, and as we were finishing up we were presented with a small Pumpkin spice gelato as an anniversary gift. It was very thoughtful and much appreciated. Osteria is definitely a foodies spot. It's not your typical run of the mill Italian and I loved it for that. The service was impeccable, the food was delicious, and you can tell that there is a lot of love and thought that goes into everything they do. I am counting down to the days when my husband and I can visit again since we will be moving to Alaska in the very near future. Osteria was well worth my time and money. It was a great anniversary meal! Thank you for making it so.

    (4)
  • Henry H.

    Drove 2.5 hours to Phillie with friends to eat here. Our friends had already sampled two of the other Vetri family of restaurants. Our reservations for a Saturday evening were at 9:30PM but the restaurant called us at about 8:15PM to see if we'd be interested in the 8:30PM seating. The answer? YES! One tip: plan to arrive earlier because locating street parking is more than challenging. Our starters: Chicken liver rigatoni was incredibly tasty and well balanced. The wood grilled octopus was tangy and perhaps not as tender as we would have liked but full of great flavor. The house salumi paired with the sweet artichoke hearts was great (if you like sweet and savory). Our entrees: We really loved the squid ink cavatelli but found the sauce to be very salty; couldn't figure out if it was the effect of the ham or squid or...let's just say it may satisfy a sodium addict's craving. Our dinner partners enjoyed the oxtail (nice portion size and well-balanced flavors) and the wood-grilled cobia (good texture and also well-balanced flavors). My wife wasn't brave enough to try the rabbit "casalinga" when she'd never had rabbit before. So the porcini and potato cialzon with braised rabbit was a perfect introduction to the meat. While others thought it was gamier than they'd prefer, my wife loved it! Our dessert: Save room. We sampled the pumpkin tiramisu special which was served in a mason jar, chilled. We also had the most incredible chocolate flan that should not be confused with Spanish style flan. It is more of a molten chocolate lava cake that is paired with this incredible, home made pistachio gelato. Since we happened to be celebrating a birthday, they brought out a sample of the fig gelato. While it was very interesting, it was more reminiscent of fig nectar in gelato and very overwhelming compared to the lighter pistachio. The service here was fabulous. When we learned that only the sister restaurant, Alla Spina, had both the pig(let) head and home made soft serve ice cream, two of us cried. Our server quickly turned the frown upside down by letting us know he'd called over to the manager and arranged for us to have the soft ice cream to go. The piglet head would have to wait until another trip. Now, THAT, is service.

    (5)
  • Jessica H.

    Went here for a date night while traveling through Philly on a recommendation from an article in Newsweek magazine. The atmosphere was trendy and loud. I enjoyed the unique beer choices and the wide variety of wine options but the pizza I ordered was just "ok". I would definitely recommend this place for drinks and apps.

    (4)
  • Laura D.

    I thought this place was great. Dined here with a group of friends. We had an early dinner on a Sunday. We started with a margherita pizza, Lombarda pizza, chicken liver rigatoni, and ravioli for the table. They were all great. I especially loved the lombarda pizza with the baked egg on top. The margherita pizza tasted great but was a bit soggy. For my entree I ordered the rabbit "casalinga" with pancetta sage and soft polenta. The favors were wonderful and the rabbit was cooked perfectly. Some parts of the rabbit were left on the bone so it made it a little hard to eat. Some other entrees ordered at the table was the pork shank, the monk fish, the duck, and the striped bass. Everyone seemed to enjoy their entrees. We decided not to do dessert because we had somewhere to be. Service was also very good.

    (4)
  • Tom M.

    I really wanted to try it after Marc Summers said it was the best pizza he ever ate. I am not saying the host of Double Dare is a pizza genius, but still. I went on 11-6-10. The food I had was really good. The atmosphere and the prices, not so much. The place has a strong pretentious vibe. Our waiter seemed very up-tight and seemed to get snarky when the first few questions we asked were about the pizza options. I also noticed a number of men in suits walking around, weirdly looking at everything. I would have taken pics of the food but I was feeling like that would cause all these people to swarm. When I go out to dinner, I want to chill and have a good time. That was not the vibe at Osteria on 11-6-10. Maybe its me though the other people in my party felt it too, more strongly than I did in fact. To their credit, the food was good. The pizza is the best pizza I've had in Philly. Make sure to order the traditional margherita like Marc Summers did. It has the circumference of a large dinner plate and is paper-thin, as Summers said. You could easily finish one by yourself. It is delicious. The wood burning oven is really at work here. It is small, not the size of a conventional pizza like you might get at John's in NYC so I have a bit of a problem comparing. Still, this is a very delicious item. I also had their warm spinach salad with sweet-potatoes and a delicious olive oil based dressing. It was great. Besides atmosphere concerns, the prices are high. That dinner plate sized, paper-thin pizza is $15 so it is not a great value. If I had business in the area, I would give it another chance to try the pizza again. However, because of cost and atmosphere issues, I would not go out of my way to get there again.

    (3)
  • Lauren P.

    I pretty much get the same two things every time I go here. Everything else I've tried has been delicious as well, but the Lombarda pizza and the Wild Boar Candele pasta bolognese are amazing. Can't recommend these enough. Also, the pasta serving is generous enough that I usually have leftovers. LOVE this place and keep going back to get the same things. Went for lunch recently for the first time too which was nice!

    (5)
  • Dan H.

    Good food, great atmosphere. I was not blown away, but was still very good. Many other better Italian places in the city (such that if you just want a big bowl of good pasta go somewhere else). The service was good, atmosphere was great, all the makings of something special but when the food came it just didn't blow me away. If you want their pizza which is very good go to Pizzeria Vetri. For the money and for the chef I expected more. Heck go around the corner to Alla Spina.

    (3)
  • Sugar S.

    The chicken liver rigatoni was AMAZING - possibly the BEST pasta I've ever eaten! Granted that you need to head to the gym after having this - it is totally worth it. Had the octopus pizza too - it was GOOD. Love this place - it's a little on the noisy side, but food is definitely good!

    (5)
  • Felix W.

    While the food was decent (I recommend the suckling pig), the service was absolutely terrible. When I asked the waitress for her dessert recommendation, she recommended that I read the menu. Additionally the hostess was extremely rude. Maybe she was having a bad day or maybe she just has a bad attitude in general, but either way, not appropriate for customer facing staff. Perhaps they were trained by the same person? Go here if you want bad service.

    (1)
  • Sarah M.

    Being that Osteria was rated No.6 on the 2011 Philly Mag Top 50 Restaurants, I knew that this was a place to check out while I was home for spring break. My parents and I went to the Philadelphia Flower Show in the afternoon and then to Osteria for dinner. It was a late birthday celebration for me, since I was at college during my actual birthday (Feb 28th). Entering the restaurant, it appears to be tight and tiny. But it surprisingly opened up in other areas and had more tables then I thought. It was still quite busy and tight at times. But it's a Friday night in the city and it wasn't like you were stepping on anyone. Our waitress was very friendly and helpful. When my dad was trying to decide what to choose for wine, she got one (of the two) sommeliers to assist him. He made a great choice! My dad ended up asking for him to write down the name of the wine when it was finished - he plans on buying some tomorrow! Onto the food...it was so palatable! Now it is important to note: since at this time my family was at the start of the Lenten season, we are to abstain from eating meat on Fridays. Therefore we had to adjust our choices according to our tradition. Being that the menu is like 80% meat (or from what we found out from our waitress, has some kind of meat hidden in it) it was quite difficult at first. However, Osteria did not disappoint! For appetizers: Dad ordered the Gorgonzola dish shaped like a custard, served with a frisse salad, dried apples, and walnuts. My mom and I shared the Roasted Vegetable special: with Brussels sprouts, red and orange beets, red peppers, fennel, tomatoes, and a small arugula salad in the middle. For entrees: My dad ordered the Robiola Francobolli with Royal Trumpet Mushrooms and Thyme. My mom and I both ordered the Wild Swordfish with Chickpea Polenta and Calabrese Salame. We asked for the Calabrese Salame (which was the sauce of the dish) to not be put on. Our waitress noted that and came back about 10 minutes later and told us the chef would be plating a special vegan sauce on top. And it was good whatever it was! For dessert: Of course, we ordered coffee all around. We shared the Vanilla Crepes with Caramelized Pineapples and Rum. The host had picked up while seating us that we were celebrating my birthday. So in addition, a waiter brought out a little dish of the Poppy seed ice cream out with a candle on top. How charming! Final notes: While the food was so flavor rich, it did not weigh you down. If you order and appetizer the entree portions are a great size (and you can ask for a little more if you want in regards to the pasta dishes). I suggest ordering an appetizer and an entree if you are going for dinner. The menu was busy but not overwhelming. The selection was unique and inventive, and still simplistic at the same time.

    (4)
  • Jim Z.

    Food was expensive but good, BUT the liquor prices were obscene. First, they were out of the two bourbons I asked for, then when they brought my third choice it was two tablespoons of bourbon at the most. I'll spend the $13 for a bourbon, but at least make it an ounce and a half. I thought I would switch to wine. Not much better there. To add insult to injury, I had to wait a minimum of ten minutes for both drinks. The server was knowledgeable and friendly, just non-existent. The food was good, but overall Osteria is a poor value.

    (2)
  • Amy D.

    This place totally exceeded our expectations! Everything from our appetizers to pasta was delicious. You can tell the pasta was made in house and it melted in your mouth. The service is excellent and they are very helpful in helping you decide what to get. Next time we are in Philly, I'll be coming back here.

    (5)
  • Marissa C.

    Went to Osteria for a nice romantic dinner and it was so worth the wait! We have been longing to try this place for a long time but for whatever reason just never made the reservation. First off the place is huge! There is so much seating and yet it's still hard to get a seat there on a Saturday night. The inside is beautiful with nice wood tables and a non-distracting view of the kitchen. We started with a pizza (everyone raves about the pizza and rightfully so) - the Parma pizza with arugula, mozzarella, fontina, and prosciutto. The crust was perfect the toppings light and fresh and it makes me want to recreate it right this moment. Even though the pizza was large enough for an appetizer we couldn't resist getting the octopus. It was so nicely seasoned with a citrus dressing over arugula and perfectly cooked. For the entrees I decided to get the candele pasta with wild boar bolognese. The waiter recommended the 1/2 portion since I was already feeling rather full. My companion chose the special which was a spit roasted pig and he got a piece of the shoulder, skin and leg. Both of our entrees were great. We finished with a banana puff pastry dessert thingy which was yummy but we were stuffed at that point. I know Osteria has a great wine list lots of rare and wonderful bottles but frankly the wine by the glass is a bit outrageously priced (something like $15 a glass). It would be nice if there was a range in the glass prices. The really nice thing about Osteria is that it doesn't have to be an expensive dinner, you really can come and get a pizza, split a pasta dish, and be good for the night. I'll definitely be back, just might keep it to one glass of expensive wine :)

    (5)
  • Jon D.

    Osteria is a solid choice, with excellent food in a pretty cool atmosphere. Definitely a 4.5, but it didn't wow me enough for a 5. Order a pizza! In 95% of restaurants, I would say this decision would be a bad idea...but not at Osteria. Their pizzas are crispy and fantastic, from the traditional margherita to the even more awesome parma, which is topped with 2 types of cheese, arugula, and plenty of slices of prosciutto. If you want another app, the antipasto was delicious as well. For dinner, I had chicken alla griglia with prosciutto and peas. Yes, more salty pork, and I loved every minute of it. Your typical high-quality, flawless Vetri dish. My friend got the veal breast, which also was cooked to perfection, flavorful, and presented well. CORN! One other thing I had to mention...I came here last fall and had a pasta (gnocchi) dish with corn. First, you should be ordering pasta if you come here anyways because it is homemade and some of the best in town. More importantly though, if corn is in season, get it here! This isn't just any corn, but the perfectly ripe, most flavorful type that is picked in the morning before the sun comes up, thus protecting the full taste sensation of grade A sweet corn (I kid you not!). Trust me, there is a difference...and apparently the Vetris understand this and pay the attention to ensure that only the best ingredients make it in their dishes. Aside from all of this, our waitresses had an attitude problem. Yeah, the place was hopping and really loud, but don't take it out on the nice table!

    (4)
  • Enid C.

    Philadelphia is an interesting city. It's filled with vibrant neighborhoods running over with unique cultures and exciting lifestyles. You have the trendy yuppitude of Rittenhouse, the laid-back hipster feel of Northern Liberties, and the quaint genuine aura of Bella Vista, just to name a few. And then there are certain areas in this city where life ceases to exist and all color has been sucked out, leaving behind a vacuum of emptiness. It is when walking through one of these areas where you will find the gem of a restaurant known as Osteria. This was the site of my first Marc Vetri experience, and it most definitely will not be my last. The venue is gigantic (since I suppose property values aren't as high in this valley of nothing), with 3 dining rooms and enough space to not have to touch thighs with the party sitting next to you. The food is exquisitely prepared with care and with the freshest ingredients. Highlights: - House cured salumi plate - I would seriously buy packages of the accompanying artichoke mustard to spread on every/anything. The meats are all incredibly succulent. - Wood grilled octopus - Possibly the best octopus I have had in the city - Margherita pizza - OMG who knew pizza could be like this?? Simple, thin crust, fresh ingredients, perfection. - Robiola francobolli - Rich, parmesany, delicious. A must-order for those who love mushrooms. - Canestri with braised short ribs - Our waitress's voice dramatically changed tone when she spoke about how good this was. There was a good reason behind this. - Polenta budino - There is always room for dessert. Particularly this one. I would easily be willing to pay over $60 for a meal of this caliber, and yet (if you don't order wine) you can definitely end up with a bill only $25-$40 per person. Congratulations Marc, you've won me over. Next up: the tasting menu at Vetri, if I find someone willing to dish out the money along with me (takers?).

    (5)
  • Eric L.

    Wow. My Fiance visit me while I was on a business trip and so we decided to try what everyone(at least 3 people from my corporate offices, and 1 other from another state.) called the best in Philadelphia. We were not disappointed. This place takes reservations and I would recommend you make them. When we called to make reservations they only had time late in the evening (around 8:30-9) or right at opening (at 5). We went at the opening and were able to sit in the sun-room which was gorgeous with a little garden around it. The crowd swelled at around 6, so you might have luck if you like earlier dinners. Now to the food. Oh, the food. We started with a seasonal vegetable appetizer (simply roasted vegetables, but perfect and oh so flavorful). We also had their lemonata cocktail (we got the pitcher, which lasted for the entire meal), which was great for the summer. My fiance is a vegetarian, and they were very accommodating. She had a noodle pasta with a spicy rustica sauce. I had the roasted pig and it was simply the best roast pork I have ever had. It melted in your mouth. It came with roasted potatoes (which burned my mouth on the first, overeager bite). One negative: the neighborhood. We walked there and were a little worried a couple times. We were glad it was light out, to say the least. I spoke with one of my colleagues the next day and they said the area isn't that great but that it's a little worse a few blocks over. I'd take a taxi if we went back, either way. However, there did seem to be plenty of street parking around there. The also valet, if you so choose. I can't write how good they were. After reading through my review I'll be the first to admit that I didn't say much. It's just one of those meals you have to go and taste. This place is in my top 10 for sure.

    (5)
  • Tala T.

    Jeff Michaud won best Mid-Atlantic Chef in 2010 and the restaurant was nominated for the 'Best New Restaurant' in 2008. Not surprising given that everything from the decor to the wine and house made pasta was beyond perfect. We went on a Friday night with reservations. The restaurant is beautiful. It has a rustic yet industrial feel to it. The best part was the glass covered patio looking onto the church next door. It was quite the experience. As soon as we were seated, we were given our regular menu and an ipad for the wine list. That was a first. Is that what restaurants are doing these days? Anyway, I found it to be a bit confusing and wonder what the not-so-tech-savy crowd would do when selecting a their wine. The menu offers homemade pastas, thin crust pizzas and wood grilled meats and fish. We skipped the antipasti and went straight to ordering our entrees: the lombarda pizza (thin crust pizza with baked egg, bitto cheese, mozzarella and cotechino sausage- $18), the robiola francobolli (postage stamp ravioli served with royal trumpet mushrooms, butter and thyme- $16) and the farfalle pasta (farfalle pasta served made with smoked chorizo, zucchini and aged goat cheese- $16). See Menu The Lombarda pizza was served exactly as it was described on the menu. The crust was perfect and not burnt on the bottom. A few burn bubbles on the top but not enough to ruin the taste. The flavors of the cotechino sausage and baked egg with the cheese blend and sprinkled herbs made for a perfect combination. The primi pasta dishes were both delicious. However, we both agreed that the robiolla francobolli was the better of the two dishes. The dish was creamy and covered with butter and Parmesan cheese and quite literally melted in my mouth. It was the first time I tried such a pasta and thoroughly enjoyed every bite. I would have licked the plate if I could but it was a classy joint so I held myself back. You can really taste the freshness and superior quality of all the ingredients in each bite. Hand made pasta is just something else and in my opinion should become the norm in all Italian restaurants. Dessert consisted of the butterscotch bonet and chocolate flan with pistachio gelato. When our server described the butterscotch bonet I pictured something resembling a creme caramel. Hence, my surprise when I took the first bite. It was very rich in texture and nothing like a creme caramel. It was doughy and very heavy drizzled with caramel sauce. It was the one thing I did not like all night. And of course it depends on personal preference. We ordered the chocolate flan and the butterscotch bonet. The chocolate flan was warm and gooey in the middle. It tasted like a flourless chocolate cake. The combination of the chocolate and pistatchio gelato made for a perfect dessert. Osteria was the perfect way to be introduced to Philadelphia's dining scene. It was one of the best Italian meals I have had to date (en par with many of my dining adventures in Italy).

    (4)
  • Jen F.

    Date night in Philly on the 4th!!!! Osteria was an outstanding recommendation. The lombarda pizza was topped with an egg and absolutely delicious! The rabbit was yummy but a tad salty. Pork rib lasagnetta melted in my mouth.Wonderful wine selection. Best strawberry gelato I've ever had! Fantastic dining experience with my special someone : )

    (5)
  • Charles S.

    Abandoned by our waiter!!! I wanted to love this place. We were going to be in Philadelphia one night only. I checked out the Yelp reviews and the list of 50 best restaurants in Philadelphia Magazine. A couple of places didn't have a table free. I called Osteria (number 4 in Phila Mag + 4 Yelp stars) after Open Table said there were no tables available. The place is beautiful. It's the lobby of an old office building north of Market turned into a stylish locale. Our friends were at the bar when we arrived. The hostess showed us to the table and various people brought water, menus and drinks. Then the waiter explained the menu and took our order. The appetizers were great. We split an antipasto plate that was extraordinary in the way the different flavors blended together and complemented each other. A friend was very happy with the mozzarella in carrozza with olive oil, poached pears, tomatoes and capers. We had a pretty broad variety of dishes for the main course. Two pizzas, salmon, linguine with peekytoe crab, corzetti, and pork milanese. I had the cobia with fregola and green beans which was both bland and lukewarm. It was saved by the artichokes alla giudia, tiny baby artichokes delicately fried -- a recipe from the old Jewish quarter in Rome. Then the waiter disappeared. I am not making this up. Where did he go? Had we somehow offended him? Busboys cleared the table, and we waited and waited. Then we waited some more. Finally we got dessert menus from a busboy and placed our order with some fellow in a dark suit. (The desserts were delicious. The cannoli were great but hard to eat. The chocolate flan was even better.) Still no waiter. So after another very long wait we asked one of the black-suited gentlemen for the bill. That's when the waiter showed up -- to collect the money, a lot of money. If you want to try Osteria, skip the primi and secondi and stick with appetizers and pizza. You'll save a boat load of money and you'll be very happy with your meal. And avoid our waiter.

    (3)
  • Stephy S.

    The food is solid, the atmosphere is LOUD. It is a beautiful building inside, I felt like I was in a really cool/large wine bar. I couldn't hear the waitress though, which was a bummer. Thank heavens whatever I ordered was tasty! Started w/ the grilled octopus. Stellar. Light and delicious. We split the lombardo pizza and robiola francobolli. If the Robiola were stuffed more and bigger (instead of being the "postage stamp" size they even advertise it as), I would be in heaven. Buttery goodness. But -it's just a sampling :( The pizza was eh, it wasn't bad but I've just had much better so I feel like I must say it did not live up to the reputation of being the best pizza in Philly. But still good. I'd order a different pizza next time. Ended the night with chocolate flan that came with pistachio gelato. O-M-G. I wanted to lick the plate. My BF and I were fighting for every last bite, which was not romantic. The flan was actually more like chocolate molten cake, which was fine with me! In summary, if the pizza was up to the caliber of the other foods, I would've given Osteria a 5. The service was impeccable and attentive, but not in the bad way where you feel like you are being watched at all times (ahem ahem Le-Bec-Fin). On a side note: the restaurant is kinda in the middle of nowhere. We felt brave so we took the broad st line back from dinner to CC. I thought I was going to die (but didn't!), but we all secretly think we are going to die on the Broad St line at one point or another, don't we? Anyway, the night was a success. Highly recommend.

    (4)
  • Lois R.

    Went here for lunch today with a friend, and it was amazing. It would have been easy to fill up on the bread and olive oil they brought out while we waited. We started with the octopus appetizer. I've only had octopus as sashimi before now, but I really liked the texture and the flavor. Next we shared a pizza, which was good, the best thin crust I've had in a long time. Then we shared the mushroom ravioli, which was my favorite dish of the meal. So delicate, but such great flavor. For dessert we shared the zabaione semifreddo. Loved the flavor and the texture. The service was excellent. I would recommend that you bring a list of area parking lots, because if you don't luck into one of the meter spots in front, they are hard to find. It appears that they have valet parking for dinner service, but not at lunch. This was a special treat to kick off the holiday weekend, and it was well worth the money.

    (5)
  • Catherine L.

    I need my half-stars, Yelp - I'm just saying it's time to be able to award half stars here- Sometimes a girl just needs a half, you know? That being said, Osteria, is a 3.5 for me. Another over-hyped restaurant that might have been at the height of its hey-day a couple years ago. Like similar restaurants that have experienced much acclaim, followed by a slow backlash, Osteria is another Italian restaurant that is trying to maintain its once-glowing status and relevancy in a sea of more affordable, and equally-as-good Italian BYOBs. Excellent, on-point service, save for the less than friendly, obviously bored sommelier and the aloof bartenders. The atmosphere is decidedly and disappointingly a lot more casual than one would expect. The first thing that strikes one is that the entire restaurant space and layout needs to be seriously re-evaluated. Osteria is huge and the space and flow of the restaurant is very poorly conceived. There is major congestion right as you enter, and the bar is awkwardly located right in the middle of two dining rooms, past the open kitchen. Attempting to navigate between the spaces is a total traffic nightmare! (although, as an aside, they have lovely, clean bathrooms) The best dining space is in the extended outdoor conservatory dining room, the rest of the dining spaces are split in three and they are tightly packed with tables with a scorching high noise level. The menu has Vetri brilliance, here and there, especially in the pasta dishes. The rest of the menu, and for the price tag, does not live up to the Vetri hype. Nothing on the antipasti menu ever has blown me away, and the Pizza (always hailed as some of the best pizza around), is good, yes, but nothing that knocks your socks off. In all seriousness, this pizza is maybe only a notch better than pizza at Pietro's. The pasta, as expected, is really what shines. Whichever dish you choose, you cannot go wrong there. Lastly, they serve one of my favorite deserts ever: the polenta budino with gianduia mousse and candied hazelnuts - if you're a fan of any of these ingredients, I command you to order this! The cold polenta, and the sweet and salty mix of flavors with the mousse and hazelnuts is downright heavenly. As you know this place isn't a cheap night out. With cocktails, wine, appetizer & pizza to split, two main dishes and desert to to split for 2 will cost you a pretty penny . This place, despite some high points, just isn't all that it is cracked up to be (or perhaps once was). If you're ready to spend, go right ahead, but I'd recommend going to any one of the amazing Italian BYOBs we have at our disposal instead.

    (3)
  • Grace S.

    Great wine, immaculate service, subpar food. The pastas were very good but the rooster ravioli was in a gravy that looked very unappetizing (but tasted great). The Spanish mackerel app was ok--it was served with a little "salad"/vinaigrette as well as a mayonnaise-type sauce that was not to my liking. I think I'd rather have Spanish mackerel at Zama--very personal preference. The bolognese sauce is very good, again doesn't look very appetizing but tastes great. Perhaps I should've tried one of the pizzas. The rabbit over polenta was just ok. I'm not a big fan of polenta but I thought if I was ever going to give it another chance, it would be at a place like Osteria. Made reservations for Vetri so hopefully they will be better and justify the hefty price tag.

    (3)
  • S K.

    Some of the best Italian food with very courteous staff. On one occasion, I tried a fantastic ravioli dish stuffed with pear - paper thin ravioli sheets with a fantastic light sauce. Highly recommend!

    (5)
  • Kristen H.

    Had a nice experience here when I went for the first time a few weeks ago. We started off with the squid and chick pea ragu. I enjoyed the dish, but my date really hates olives and they were chopped up in the dish but not listed in the ingredients. For dinner, I had the grilled duck breast with brussel sprouts and blood orange, which was fantastic. I was worried about the portion when it first came out, but I was satisfied afterward. For dessert we split the flan and the polenta with gianduia mousse and candied hazelnuts. The flan is more like a chocolate lava cake, which the waiter informed us of before we ordered. It was good, but the polenta was a home run. Our waiter said it was his favorite and we were definitely glad we took his suggestion.

    (4)
  • Cormack G.

    Pretty simple review, because we had a pretty simple dinner: Food: 2 of us shared wild Alaskan salmon pastrami with pickled red onion and rhubarb salad and one Parma pizza. Salmon pastrami sounded interesting and delivered on taste. Really fresh and left you hungry for more. The pizza was exactly as good as everyone says. Great ingredients, perfect crust, and served at the perfect temp. Service: Our waiter was kind, attentive, and put up with our indecisive mentality. Also, the drink menu was displayed on an iPad, which was pretty unique and memorable. Ambiance: Perfect space with casual but refined feeling. Could be perfect for really any occasion, or just to grab a quick bite. Bottom line: I'm definitely coming back.

    (4)
  • Raiza G.

    This was the best meal I had since our honeymoon in Italy. I have asked my husband countless times to go back. The fried artichokes are the best, make sure you ask for them as soon as you sit down since they run out all the time. Great atmosphere, my picky husband even enjoys going. Great wine selection. Call for a reservation, you will not be disappointed.

    (5)
  • Jackie G.

    Got the "add on" dish which was a ravioli stuffed with a sunchoke puree...probably the best ravioli I've had so far. Chicken liver rigatoni...amazing! Don't let the word liver scare you on this one. Also enjoyed the chocolate blackberry budino. Honestly you can't go wrong with anything here, so it just depends on how much wow factor you need.

    (5)
  • Matt H.

    Easily one of the top places to go in Philadelphia for pizza (not as good as Nomad or Stella though in my opinion). An ideal meal for a table of 2 would be an appetizer and to try 2 different pizza's. Went here with my girlfriend and had the marinated vegetable appetizer (was a special that day), the lamb sausage appetizer (Only 1 very small link), the polpo pizza( octopus, tomato, red chili flakes and smoked mozzarella ) and 2 pasta's (rabbit bolognese and a pesto with vegetables which was 1 of the specials). Best dish was by far the pizza and then the appetizer's and although the pasta dishes were good they were nothing stand out and the portion size was very small. Server's were very knowledgeable and wine/ beer selection was one of the best I've scene. Will definitely be coming back here but will stick to only ordering pizza and wine from here in the future.

    (4)
  • Ron S.

    Dined there with a small group of colleagues from out of town and all of us enjoyed our meals. Salads were exceptional. Wine list was also exceptionally well received by the guests (particularly those from Europe). I had the grilled octopus salad and then the arctic char - would probably order both again as they were well prepared and quite tasty. Portions are perfectly sized. One of the best Philadelphia restaurants in this price class. Only downside is that those with car must valet.

    (4)
  • Adam F.

    Accessible way to try Vetri's delicious food. Order the following and you won't be dissapointed: - grilled octopus - lombarda pizza - chicken liver rigatoni Grab a glass of wine and enjoy!

    (5)
  • Dani S.

    One word - FABULOUS! The Lombarda pizza is mouth watering. The service is top-notch and the ambiance is wonderful. My husband and I had a wonderful experience celebrating Valentine's Day at Monsu. The server saw me eyeing up a grilled vegetable platter at another table and had a complimentary plate sent to us. It took me by surprise but was sooo yummy and appreciated! I didn't want to leave. We stayed for a nice long dinner sharing the rib eye dinner for 2 and sipping excellent wine. You must visit if you are in Philly!

    (5)
  • Jill L.

    This restaurant reminded me of my trip to Tuscany in every way. The decor, the food & wine is reminiscent of my trip. We went with a group & had a back room ( very cozy) and had a 4 course dinner. Every dish was delicious. The roasted veggies, octopus, steak & chocolate flan (like chocolate molten cake) was fantastic. I'm still dreaming of the flan.

    (5)
  • chris d.

    Not much I can say about Osteria that hasn't been said, other than after living in Fairmount 5+ years I am now pissed at myself for not getting here sooner. I think the one misconception is that it is expensive - for $40 you can have the best food that will buy in Philly for two people - one pizza ($15-$20) & two half orders of pasta ($8-$10) and you are full. Beers at $7, but higher ABV & quality (My Antonia (DogfishHead) & Celebration (Sierra Nevada)) on tap during my visit.

    (5)
  • Paul L.

    If it wasn't for Food Network's The Best Thing I've Ever Ate, I wouldn't have tried Osteria, not because I don't like Italian Food or I "don't like to try new things", but the location of Osteria is in a section of town with little else around. The section of Broad Street immediately north of City Hall seemed a bit ran down and deserted, it's a blank space between the more vibrant Chinatown and Art Museum areas. It's my very first time there and the first issue I encounter is parking, there's no sign telling whether the adjacent condo parking is also used for the restaurant, so me and my friend drove around the area looking for a spot in the already high saturated area with the auto repair shop, the church and the school. But once we found a spot and walked the three blocks, circulating the building looking for the entrance, Osteria turned out to be quite the promising place. Osteria is only opened for lunch on Thursday and Friday and we picked a glorious day to visit. At first we were seated inside, but after a while I made a troublesome request to change into the cocooned outside area and got my wish pleasantly granted. The interior design is decidedly going for a slightly industrial rustic route, I especially like the wall composed with wood wine boxes. Between the two of us, we split an order of Lombarda and the Yelp-reviewers recommended Chicken Liver Rigatoni. Originally, I had my heart set on another reviewer recommended choice which is the Pig's Head Pizza, but the waiter informed me that it was seasonal. The Lombarda turned out pretty good, I have longed to try a pizza with an egg in the middle, but was naive enough to think I can create such a thing at home. I didn't know that my standard oven can't compete with a brick fire oven. I'm a big fan of raw egg yolk with bread. The crust was thin and crunchy, the Bitto cheese gave it a certain bite (pun unintended), and the Cotechino sausage is slightly sweet with the egg to smooth it all out. Not quite the best thing I've ever ate, but it was generally pleasant. The chicken liver rigatoni was great. Al dente rigatoni in bits of liver sweetened by melted cipolline onions. The sauteed liver is soft and melts in your mouth. The pasta absorbed the flavor of the combination as well as sage and cheese turns it into one luscious dish. The price is a bit on the higher end, but with superb service and comfortable space, I'm looking forward to find an excuse to come back and try the other pastas and the antipasti.

    (4)
  • Abby I.

    Came back to Osteria on a rainy Sunday night. This time I sat in the main dining room where I assume it would have felt cozier than the extension with the glass windows overlooking that muggy day. Some highlights- sicilian lemonade (very refreshing), vegetable antipasto plate (a must if available), special of the night was handkerchief pasta with monkfish (please bring this back again), and the prosecco sorbet flavor available that evening. Perfection.

    (5)
  • Damian D.

    Good but overall not impressive. Bread was fantastic. Salad was good. Pasta was average. We had four different ones and only one was very good. The other three were average. Wine selection was pricey, but we expected that. It was not opened at our table, which I found strange. Dessert was outstanding. If we went again, and we probably will not, I would get the bread and dessert.

    (2)
  • Beth R.

    If you are open minded about spending some $$, this is a great place to try lots of interesting dishes and I don't think you will be disappointed. My party of 3 started with 2 pizzas - the Parma (featuring arugula and proscuitto) and the capa sante e bacon (featuring scallop, bacon, and onion) - yum! For the next course, we shared the grilled octopus, pasta with wild boar bolognese, and duck ravioli with brown butter, sage, and quince. The latter was a really great mix of flavors... the quince was subtly citrusy - everyone at the table loved it. Finally we had the dry aged ribeye for two. This was delicious, and a lot of meat (they present it to the table prior to carving it up). One side was rare and juicy, and the other was more well done and buttery. For dessert, i was feeling full, but the waiter helpfully suggested that they have sorbet, so I went with the blood orange. The service was excellent, and I would recommend this for a special occasion.

    (4)
  • Matthew B.

    What an enjoyable restaurant - from every aspect. The upbeat, urban-chic, airy atmosphere punctuated by the casual open-kitchen feel. An Italian- country (lunch) menu, that offered an innovative take on dishes that could well have been mundane in lesser hands. Prompt service and well portioned dishes that were not outrageously priced. The food was better than good. It was unique and memorable. The kind that makes you long to taste everything else on the menu. This is a foodies place - that said i've noted other reviews critical of the dishes. The only wisdom I can offer is - i guess thats why there is chocolate and vanilla... Is there a downside? I think Osta Ria has a reputation for being a bit loud - which I can imagine could be true at a more crowded time. If I have any criticism, it would be the wine list. Not for lack of imagination, but simply because the pricing seem incongruous with the rest of the menu. The majority of wines tended to be mid-forties and up per bottle - which seems out of whack with a menu that proffers entrees in the low to high teens. I believe adding a selection of wines in the 25-35$ - at least for the lunch menu would make this place perfect. Can't wait for the repeat performance.

    (4)
  • Marta B.

    Went here for a birthday dinner with 5 other people so had an opportunity to try a lot of food... I can honestly say that the halibut was the Best. Fish. I. Have. Ever. Eaten. It was absolutely heavenly, and the figs with pistachio creme on the side were unbelievable. Went by yelp reviews and got Lombardo pizza as well, and while it was good I wish I had considered some others too (went for it without reading other options). Tartare with ramps, wood grilled octapus and the antipasti special (a mix of several perfectly seasoned vegetables) were great to split for starters. The snapper with sepia was also to die for, as was the sorbet and gelati. The sorbet/gelati was a huge portion, plenty to share. The flavors we had were raspberry, pistachio and tarragon sorbet, and blueberry stracitella and salted butter gelati. The tarragon was the night's frozen desert winner. I also enjoyed the salted butter gelati, although it kind of tasted like french vanilla. The polenta budino was okay and the and apricot tart with (I believe pistachio sorbet?) was delectable, a great contrast of warm and cold. Impeccable service, fantastic wine and cocktails, I wish I could give this 5 stars but the rabbit entrée, although quite a hit, was slightly too salty for my taste.

    (4)
  • Amy H.

    I have been trying to come to this Vetri establishment since my arrival back to Philly. We started off with pizza- Polpo- grilled octopus and chili flakes making this pizza hot and delicious. Special was roasted pig served with oven roasted potatoes. If you ever had freshly cut pig you will understand how juicy and savory. Portions were just about right since we were waiting for our main course- ribeye shared for two people. The ribeye was paired with pesto and sauteed mushrooms. A fellow yelper did note they did not get a steak knife and while we got the ribeye cooked rare it was still hard to cut with a regular knife. We were stuffed from our meals so no comment on dessert. Service was excellent and our server was helpful in providing recommendations when requested. Valet parking staff is friendly and they run to retrieve your car. Another star for service.

    (5)
  • Kat J.

    Just came back from a wonderful, celebratory meal here. We started with the duck breast pizza - our whole table agreed it was delicious! Lots of duck meat and ripe cherries on a crispy, chewy crust - yummm. The grilled sweetbreads and octopus were equally tasty with a nice but not burnt char. We shared the chicken liver rigatoni and it was right on the mark. It didn't have that liver aftertaste and there was a creaminess to the sauce. Even those who don't like liver enjoyed it! We all split the halibut and leg of lamb and it was perfectly cooked but didn't knock us off our feet. Desserts were also decent but didn't impress us as much as the duck pizza. We had Tony as our server and he took very good care of us, so not sure why some people had issues with service. For anyone wanting a higher caliber of Italian I would definitely recommend Osteria!

    (4)
  • Josh S.

    Everytime we come to Osteria we have a great experience. I've seen some comments about the service but am happy to say that we have always had exceptional service. Whether at the bar waiting for our table or once we are seated the experience is very enjoyable. Get the cheese plate which is on the dessert menu...we always order with our appetizers.

    (4)
  • Da S.

    It's tough to grade this place, as wine had a private dinning with a pre-fix menu. The stuff we got, I probably would not have been my choices. But everything was top notch and the service was stellar.

    (4)
  • Isaac T.

    Boar pasta is insane

    (4)
  • Hope S.

    The service was amazing! The food was fair. I was not impressed. My girlfriend and I had a bunch of appetizers. ... escargot, kale, grilled veggies, grilled octopus, and some kind of fried mozzarella. I was not impressed. However the staff were pleasant and quick which made it delightful.

    (3)
  • Nicole P.

    Hits and misses, across the board. That was my impression of Osteria, plus that lingering sense of The Emperor's New Clothes...why is it I'm so often left unsatisfied and vaguely disappointed after dining at the restaurants so hyped up by Philly's foodie bloggers and their ilk? On the plus side: - Lovely dining room, excellent service. - The house-cured salumi appetizer was outstanding and something I'd come back for all on its own. Especially the artichoke mostarda. - Very good pizza. I won't say best of Philly, I won't say as good as the pizza I've had in Italy, but well worth trying and I'd try more varieties here in the future. Of the meh: - The chicken liver rigatoni which everyone hypes up like crazy barely had any liver flavor to it. It was a very fine bolognese, but I LIKE chicken livers and wanted to taste them. I should have heeded the caution when I heard a waitress telling a nearby diner "oh even if you don't like chicken livers you'll like this dish!" - A special pasta of the night featuring pork was completely overpowered by orange rind. Like, every single bite tasted like nothing but oranges. - The polenta budino which people seem to describe as the best dessert in Philly didn't really do it for me. Too much intense hazelnut flavor - Only one red wine by the bottle under $50? Really? C'mon. You can offer some decent choices at affordable prices, here. - Artichoke side dish bore no resemblance to the Jewish-style artichokes I enjoyed in Rome. A definite fail at a hefty $10 price tag. Overall, there was much I enjoyed but I was left not completely thrilled by the experience. I actually prefer Vetri's Amis, which again seems an unpopular opinion. I'd go back, but I'm not rushing back.

    (3)
  • Andrea T.

    It's a schlep. I mean seriously Marc you could have built some ovens in my kitchen and set up shop in my house? The service here is way better than Amis. Maybe because we went to Amis a few weeks after the big opening? Our server actually overheard discussion of my birthday and brought us birthday gelatto. We had a slew of food. We started with the antipasto which was really lovely. It was an assortment of summers fresh offerings. Almost all of the vegetables were done to perfection save a few. We then had two pizzas? The arugula pizza can be missed. The arugula is lost on it. The best thing that you must order and cannot miss here is the chicken liver rigatoni. It is amazing. Lick the bowl. Eat at room temp the next day leftover amazing good. If you go its a must. If you dont order it you are a fool. We also had the suckling pig. Which just tasted like my mom's pork loin. Which is good, but nothing to write home about, sorry mom. The gelattos/sorbettos are okay but I would not get dessert here. Like I said they gave it to me cause I was a birthday girl. Go to check it off your vetri list, but make sure you get the rigatoni!

    (4)
  • Rhea G.

    Went here for lunch during the week. Delicious! We were limited on time so just had an entree and glass of wine, but the "postage stamp" ravioli were divine. Service was prompt and friendly. Can't wait to go back.

    (5)
  • Erika B.

    God bless everything Marc Vetri puts his mind to in Philadelphia. I had been told that the pizza was fantastic but it wasn't until my third try that I, a pizza lover, tried their best snack. The pistachio pesto pizza was out of this world, simply put. My group also thoroughly enjoyed the chicken liver pâté pasta. It was super rich but super creative and super worth it. Although Osteria is usually booked solid on weekends, I've found that you can sit at the bar, or at a high top, with relative ease during these usually busy time periods.

    (5)
  • Om S.

    My son and I visited the place for dinner. We liked the experience, especially, the margherita pizza. The house cured salami was very good. Fettuccine was bit salted. Overall, a nice place to try.

    (4)
  • Lilly C.

    One of the best restaurants in Philly. We went there to celebrate our 10 yr anniversary and this place was so worth it. We had the pizza, postage stamps pasta & the ribeye. All excellent. I recommend this place to everyone who loves & knows food. From one restaurant owner to another you know your stuff from food to operation. Great Job!!!!!

    (5)
  • Chuck F.

    A party of seven for dinner. We have been to Osteria a number of times and I have loved their entrees and wine list. A solid four stars but, no longer in my opinion. The deserts are horrible. The tiramisu was tasteless or, more to the point, like old cardboard.

    (3)
  • Jodi W.

    Can't get enough. The pasta, the aged meat, the pasta.... A fantastic choice in the Vetri family. Service is professional, friendly and knowledgeable - they've tried the dishes, know the ingredients and are able to make informed recommendations. Such an enjoyable experience, we've been back several times and can't wait for next time!

    (5)
  • Bill G.

    Well with all of the good reviews here I was completely surprised by the fact dinner was so absolutely bad. The atmosphere is nice somewhat "soho-ish" with a cozy feel. The service was average and since we arrived early and the place only about 1/3 full I was a bit taken aback. We ordered a vegetable appetizer which was only warm and the grilled octopus was chewy. For entres the chicken with capers was overcooked and not a single caper to be found. Reminded me of a boiled chicken breast tossed on a plate. I had had the duck which was also overcooked and lacking in flavor. The wine selection was also average but with a heavy markup. A $25 bottle was about $100. The Italian wines selection was better (as you would imagine) it was not great. I don't think much about the cost of a fine meal unless it is sub-par. This was just plain amateur bad. Perhaps it was a bad night but when dinner for 2 is over $200 I do not believe in second chances. When you play at that level consistency is king. Vetri should investigate why his kitchen is up and down. Pick someplace else.

    (1)
  • Patricia H.

    I have been here twice for birthday celebrations and it never disappoints. This is the best Italian food in philadelphia and the service is great. One of my all time favorite restaurants.

    (5)
  • Amanda N.

    Service at the bar was good and table service was also good but seated 30 minutes late for 8pm reservation. Food was fine but certainly not the best I've ever had. If I am paying $20+ for an entree, I should not have to add salt to it. Entire party felt the same way. Grilled octopus appetizer was good. Entrees were mediocre. Desserts were good. Not planning to return - just not worth the price. Would rather spend that cash at Savona, Buddakhan or elsewhere for a much better meal.

    (3)
  • Gerald F.

    Excellent food. Great Pizza. Not cheap. Salumeri. Nice if it's your thing. I prefer old school south Philly. Wouldn't pass up someone takin me though.

    (4)
  • Michael N.

    I took the missus to Osteria last night and I am a bit torn. Started off kind of on the wrong foot by trying to seat us at a table right next to the register, where the staff congregates. Thankfully, they moved us to a better table since there were plenty of open tables. I had a sage gimlet, which was nice and refreshing. We tried to order an appetizer and take it from there but were informed that chef requires the entire meal ordered at once. Ok. We got a lombarda pizza to start out and it was ok, it started out kind of bland but grew on me, as if the flavors finally settled. The crust was pretty flat and burned, though. Had a special tortellini with broccoli rabe and cheese, which was very nice and delicate. Had the fried mozzarella, which was really tasty, done just right. Still feeling a tad peckish, we ordered the porcini and potato cialzon with braised rabbit. The pasta part was delicate to the point of disintegrating right on the plate. Then came dessert, which was the best part. Polenta "budino" with gianduia mousse and candied hazelnuts is something I want every day and I need the recipe. Awesome. Chocolate flan with pistachio gelato which is not a Spanish custard flan, but rather something that mimics a small souffle or lava cake. Also, very good, not too rich, and played off very well with the gelato. A light and appropriate Valpolicella with the meal and a grappa afterwards rounded everything out nicely. There are definitely things on the menu that I want to try, but something is nagging at me and I can't put my finger on it. The food is competent, but not mind blowing. The service is good, but not great. The ambiance is ok, but not superb. I guess I expected more.

    (3)
  • Philip K.

    Probably our favorite spot in the city. People love Vetri (we did not, see my review), but this place is a lot more user friendly and the food is still excellent. Food- we normally get a pizza or two, an app or two, and a pasta or two. Actually have never had any of the entrees and we have been here at least ten times. All of the thin crust pizzas are good, especially the ones with octopus, sausage and egg. The single best dish on the menu is the octopus appetizer. Lightly seared with olive oil and some greens. Pastas are homemade and fresh. Favorites include the rabbit and the mushrooms dishes. Service- we eat at the bar a lot. Tara is our normal bartender and is great. Highly , highly recommend her. John at the bar is also very friendly (and a friend of mine...). During the week, sit at the bar for a pizza or two and a glass of wine for around 50. On the weekends, get to the bar before 6 and do the same.

    (5)
  • Rob B.

    I made the booking for us and two friends. One is a vegetarian, and the others somewhat picky. With a reputation for it's "variety meat offerings" I worried the menu might put them off. As for me I am a totally double diamond foodie, I was eager to "go off the rails" with some of their more exotic dishes. All that said, Osteria had something for EVERYONE; Foodie or neophyte. My partner had the Margherita pizza. Looking dry and bland was instead AWESOME. A very thin crust was slightly smokey and salty with occasional rich cheese and fresh basil. I followed Yelp comments and had the chicken liver rigatoni. Awesome, but sadly for my diet, I ate nearly all of it. And while others said pass on dessert, we opted for the gelato and sorbet. The sweet corn gelato was amazing. Best was service, she was more than an order taker. She described each dish, asked our likes and dislikes guided us through the AWESOME experience.

    (5)
  • Atif I.

    As an enthusiastic advocate of the $ value of a meal in Philly (compared to one in NYC) I have no idea why Osteria does the volume of business that it does. For the same price, one could take the Chinatown bus to NYC, hop on a subway to Brooklyn, have a much better meal and come back to Philly. The price points are completely out of whack for the (rentals they must pay for the) location!! And, it's almost the same distance from Center City (just kidding on that one!). Full marks to the business sense of the owners who have leveraged the good name of their excellent flagship Italian restaurant Vetri well, despite the industrial setting, and (former parking garage) location. I walked into a bustling restaurant, despite their large seating capacity (quite different from that at Vetri) and could appreciate that the hype of home-style cooking had succeeded brilliantly. However, I am being polite when I say that my experience was inconsistent at best. Nowhere was this more evident than from the service which deteriorated as one went down the hierarchy. While the maitre d' was courteous and accommodating, the server would disappear for long periods of time, and the busboy simply had no clue. The olive oil arrived 9 minutes (I timed it) after I was served bread, by which time not only was I done with the bread, but also with my appetizer!! Speaking of which, I had started off with the antipasti of Wood grilled Octopus, lemon, potatoes, and chives. While the chef had made nice use of lemon, I found the Octopus to be chewy and dripping in olive oil. Also, it was burnt crisp in parts, and undercooked in others. I would've expected Osteria to have made good on this dish, but it only showed signs of promise. The highly acclaimed pizza (rumored to match Taconelli's) was prepared Roman style i.e. with a crisp ultra-thin crust, as opposed to a Neapolitan Margherita. While, one can acknowledge the difference in regional styles, however, by no stretch of imagination would this pizza be characterized as exceptional or rivaling the pies at Taconelli (unless the quality has gone down drastically since I was there last). In fact, Joe and Pat's in Staten Island, NY serve a much better crispier version of the pizza, though I must concede that the mozzarella at Osteria was decidedly superior, and delicious. For dessert, I debated ordering the (ubiquitous) chocolate flan with pistachio gelato, but ended up opting for the Canoli, at the recommendation of the server. The semi-freddo Cappuccino was more melted than it should have been, but I really liked the concept of using cocoa nibs as opposed to chocolate chips. Had the consistency of the semi-freddo been better, I may have been tempted to bump the rating up a notch, for it was a light and refreshing dessert and ended the meal on a higher note. For now, Osteria appears to be resting on the reputation of Vetri. Unless, they bring a consistency to their service, and get the execution details right, they will struggle to justify their premium pricing. I would still recommend a more wallet friendly trip to Brooklyn, instead!

    (3)
  • Adrienne C.

    Perfection. I love love loved it. It's gorgeous, comfortable and the food is abs abs amazing. Yes, you need to get the chicken liver rigatoni. And the lombarda pizza w/egg and sausage. We also tried the roast pig special - the pork had been spit-roasted for 5+ hours, and it was so tender and flavorful. The wines were not bad - we had a great bottle for $50 - and the service was excellent. Hands down, this has been the best restaurant we've gone to in Philly since moving here...and we're piggys that eat out a ton. I was in food coma heaven for about 5 hours after the meal - so worth it.

    (5)
  • Zoe P.

    I know so much about Chef Vetri, and even more about his restaurants, and yet only recently was I able to finally dine at one of his establishments. We'd heard about Osteria, primarily it's pizzas, from several sources including the bf's mother who took a pizza making course there (and then bought a pizza stone, made pizza one night, and that pizza stone is sitting somewhere in the dark...). They received a gift certificate to Osteria and invited the family (in CC) to have dinner together. It was a Sunday, but instead of being quieter the place was packed! We had a round table in the side room, thankfully well insulated despite the walls of windows and freezing temps outside. We decided that we had to share the chef's preparation of vegetables for the day, which was FANTASTIC. Sun dried tomatoes, roasted red peppers, red and golden beets, pickled ginger, kale and cabbage, brussels sprouts with prosciutto, parsnips, fennel and carrots, and arugula with parmesan shavings. They made the dish for the table, ie for 6 people, and it was alot of food. We didn't need to order the pizza, but we did and it was the fig one (highly recommended by out waitress, and with reason!) and you should try it. But it wasn't THE most amazing pizza ever, so it was a bit of a let down for our table. Our expectations were too high. We finished the meal with mostly pasta dishes, including the wild boar bolognese (delicious, big and filling), the postage stamp ravioli (good, MUCH smaller dish), the chicken liver rigatoni (as big as the bolognese, but much richer and filling), and I had the fire grilled octopus that was AMAZING. If Vetri taught a course on how to cook octopus, I'd be there in a snap! Dinner was so much food we really couldn't think of dessert, so we thanked our wonderful waitress, who made great suggestions, was very knowledgeable, and super friendly. We were relieved that the check was only a little over $200, which for 6 people at a place like Osteria really isn't bad at all. But we didn't order any secondi/entrees so we saved a whole lot that way. Be prepared to spend here, but at least know that the meal is going to be worth your pennies, especially if you order wisely.

    (4)
  • Michael S.

    I went to Osteria with high expectations. A friend with taste recommended it as a hot Philadelphia restaurant. I have to say my reaction was mixed. First impressions were strong: big, but cozy room, warm reception, friendly servers, and everything on the menu sounded great. I really liked the wine list: about a dozen Italian varietals by the glass, many good ones. I had a hard time choosing what I wanted for dinner, but ended up with a salad of raddichio, pear, and blue cheese and rabbit casalinga for the main course. As I watched the food coming to neighboring tables, I was really sorry that I wasn't dining with friends: it looked great! While the salad was fine--fresh, reasonable portion, well-dressed--the rabbit was a disappointment. Served on a bed of polenta, it was largely flavorless. I'm not quite sure how it became such a house favorite based on what I ate. I ordered a side of the celery root gratin, which was terrific. Plus the wait staff cleared my salad plate and dropped my entree in its place. Literally no pause between courses to catch my breath or take a sip of wine. What's with that? Liked the dessert list a lot, but I opted for an espresso and no dessert. Should have skipped the espresso--it was weak, almost without crema. Not what I'd expect from a to[-notch Italian restaurant. Having said this, I'm aware that this was one person's experience, on one night. I liked the menu and wine list a lot and I'd go back and give Osteria a second try. Hoping for better when I do.

    (2)
  • DOPETASTIC Q.

    DON'T ORDER THE BABY PIG! calamari pizza - black squid ink, delicious pasta special - little stuffed dumplings with chestnuts and cheese, sage, very yummy. slow-roasted baby pig special - shockingly bad. How could this be? We've had our fair share of pork in our lives and KNOW undercooked pork when we see one. Instead of falling-apart tender as a 5-hour roast should be, this meat was chewy AND pink and difficult to cut with the steak knives. What about that is not shocking? When we sent this back and questioned the done-ness, our waitress gladly took it back for a new order. The new order came. Much smaller portion, and same done-ness problems. I identified rib meat, but a few others I couldn't identify the cuts. But I've never experienced THAT kind of treatment, was it the kitchen retaliating?! I cannot believe it... I was beginning to question my own ability to tell when pork would be considered done! When I talked about my pork experience with friends, one of them said that the pork dish has been notoriously bad. Did I not see that in previous reviews? Why do you keep serving it Osteria, if it's so bad?!! Our waitress apologized profusely of course, and rendered continued great service which made us feel slightly better, but the night was ruined.

    (2)
  • Beth A.

    I live in LA, but this is still one of my favorite restaurants. Get any of the pastas or the pizzas -- they're all fabulous. I've never had pasta as fresh or soft as this.

    (5)
  • Justin S.

    I went here on Valentine's day. I think they were a little off their A game with all the extra traffic from the day, so the service was slow and not very helpful guiding us through the menu. It was a very nice ambiance, I have heard really great things about this place, so I will have to revisit to catch them on a better night. I will say, they have two nice red meat slicers by the entrance of the store and in the back dining area, which look really great.

    (3)
  • Dana B.

    This might be my favorite Vetri spot. It's a close call between this and Amis. Yes, the eponymous Vetri is what made him a star, but to be honest, I think it's a bit overpriced for what you get (sorry). At Osteria, you can splash out and spend a lot on a big meal, or you can eat relatively cheaply by ordering something like pizza and a starter. Their vegetable antipasti is always a winner, and the Lombarda pizza is so, so good. And the polenta budino is just flat out ridiculous. Yum.

    (5)
  • Brianna D.

    Elegant Italian food, and should be saved for special occasions. It's got a great atmopshere; however, it's sort of a awkward layout. We sat toward the back of the restaurant, and it was a pain to get to the bathrooms. The staff is very knowledgeable of the menu and wine list. Yes, the prices are high, but that's what you get for the quality of the food. Oh, and the basil bread - to die for! I definitely recommend this place!

    (5)
  • Andrew W.

    This was possibly the best food I've had since being in Philly. The pizzas, pasta dishes, meat courses were all amazing. My only gripe would be the lack of fish on the menu, but there was more than enough to make up for it... I will definitely be heading back. Try the Chicken Liver Rigatoni or the gnocchi, both were delicious.

    (5)
  • Abigail L.

    We need half stars darnit! I am underwhelmed. And my pockets are now void of funds. I mean, I knew what I was doing, but there must be something in the air at Osteria that makes you spend a ton of money, or maybe it's just the prices. We had a table of six for a birthday dinner and our bill was $425, without tip, which I don't actually consider to be insanely pricey, unless my tummy and palette are left unsatisfied. And they were. This was my second dining experience at Osteria, and both times left me feeling, just ok, rather than A-OK. Let's start with the service. We ordered drinks, but somehow the server left without asking my husband what he'd like. When I flagged her down she was sure to say, "Ok, I'll put in your additional request." I know, that sounds innocent, but it was kind of snotty. And maybe fess up to the fact that you completely ignored him and forgot to take his order. It's just good manners, thanks. Service remained like this for the rest of the night. We sat with empty, used plates in front of us for quite some time. The worst offense was one of my friends had a glass of wine she'd ordered at the bar, and then a glass of wine from a bottle that was purchased at the table. She had not finished her first glass, but the waitress poured some of the new bottle into her not yet empty DIFFERENT wine, while also ignoring the empty wine glass in front of the birthday girl. Uh, what? It happened so fast and she walked away so fast that we couldn't even let her know what she'd done. Food was brought out at a reasonable pace, except our coffees came about 10 minutes before our desserts so they were cold if you didn't finish them before dessert was delivered. The food was also just ok, especially for the prices. I do love the artichokes alla giudia and find them worth every penny. My pasta was good, but the price tag that came with it was not. I split the polenta rustica with my husband. It came out scalding hot so I burned my tongue. Once it cooled we found it to be ridiculously bland. I didn't know rustica meant seasonless. We asked for salt and pepper and it improved it greatly. I don't hate the food, I just didn't find myself swooning over it at all, while I've eaten at Amis and loved it. Odd. My first visit to Osteria left me feeling the same way. It included a few apps and sides, pasta, pizza, which was $22 for some cheese and pumpkin chunks. It was just downright insulting. My dessert was dry and bland on that occasion, but was redeemed last night by the cappuccino bignet with chocolate caramel sauce. The plate was overflowing with rich goodness, I had to take half of it home. Ok now drinks. Those are pretty good. I love the delicious Fresco cocktail of lime and gin and uhhh, I think basil, I don't know, it was yum. I'd love to see more than five cocktails on the menu though, and they didn't seem to change in a year so that'd be a nice touch too. I also ordered an extra dirty grey goose martini, the most expensive one I've ever ordered at $15. It was quite delicious though. Everyone seemed happy with their wine and beers as well. After two blah visits I think I'm done.

    (3)
  • Elise G.

    Ridiculously expensive for what we got. The food was okay. But too expensive for me to actually say it was good. For a group of 6 people, our bill was over $600. We got maybe 3 appetizers, entrées for each of us, and a few drinks. No expensive bottles of wine. Just 2 cocktails, some water, and a few glasses of the cheapest wine on the menu.

    (1)
  • Rachel A.

    Don't expect to see many 5 star reviews here, but Osteria is absolutely one of them. The former "Best of Philly" restaurant has never failed to impress me in the 5+ visits to the Marc Vetri sequel. It is one of the few places that I think I could tire of - after all, there aren't many places I've frequented as much. In the spirit of full disclosure, I did live at the same address as this restaurant for two years, but that didn't influence me when given the option to pick a special night out or bring guests. And this isn't Applebee's folks, the food is pricey. With the number of visits on my belt, it won't come as a surprise that I have my favorite dishes, but I have done my fair share of tasting the various items on the menu, many of which change with the seasons. Staples remain, but there are also rotating items and specials, which are always worth a taste. One of Osteria's specialties is the wood-oven pizza, which is soft and chewy in some spots, but crunchy in all the right ones. I recommend anything with prosciutto, but one of my favorite pizzas was a seasonal special including butternut squash and raisins. YUM. If you can't get a reservation (it's still tough on weeknights if you don't book ahead of time), get yourself to the bar, order a glass of wine and enjoy a pizza. You can thank me later. However, if you're on your game and get a seat in any of the coveted wooden chairs, I have some other recommendations for you. First, if you can, ask to be seated by the windows. This section of the restaurant feels like a living room + greenhouse, with all the natural light, view of a courtyard and candles along the ledge. It's fabulous. I've been seated in this section at least 4 times and it never disappoints. First food recommendation: order the seasonal vegetable plate. It's not on the menu, but your waitress will mention it with the specials. Only on my first visit did I not try this dish...and I consider that a failure. No matter the time of year, it's fabulous. Everyone I have recommended it to has said it's fabulous too, so no excuses. It will make you love brussels sprouts and you'll wonder why you don't add arugula to everything you eat. If I told you all the vegetables that I've had over the years, it'd take another paragraph, but know that they are fresh and uniquely flavored. You (and your party) will be fighting over the last beet. My next recommendation comes from Philadelphia Magazine's most recent issue. This year, Osteria ranked as their #6 restaurant in Philadelphia and they suggested that diners try the house-made cotechino sausage. On our most recent visit, we tried it out (officially listed on the menu as "ciareghi" house made cotechino sausage with polenta and sunny side up egg). It is not something I would normally choose, but it was quite tasty. My fiance said it would be "an amazing breakfast dish" with the mixture of the sweet from the polenta and egg with the slightly spicy sausage. Agreed. And now I will give you the ultimate in recommendations - a dish that, between my fiance and I, has been ordered at least 8 times - the candele with wild boar bolognese. I'll admit, neither of us had ever had wild boar before this dish, but are now very open to this meat. The waitress told us that chef's addition to the bolognese, which makes it so tasty, was cocoa! It mixes perfectly with the long, thick candele noodles and is a perfect portion size. My final recommendation to you is to go hungry to Osteria!! Their desserts are incredible, but too often, I don't have enough room. Take home main dishes if you have to (I can attest to the bolognese being good on day 2), but save room for dessert. They have some very unique gelato flavors and all my chocolate-loving friends recommend their chocolate cake. So, there you have it, my glowing review of Osteria. Run, don't walk, to OpenTable and make your reservation today (probably for about 2 weeks from now). And let me know what you think!

    (5)
  • Frank C.

    There's always some discomfort when giving a less-than-glowing review of a restaurant with all-glowing reviews. It's especially a shame when Osteria was my first experience at any Vetri establishment. We stopped in fairly late on a weekday evening (but not too late, there remained another hour's worth of reservations after us), wanting appetizers, wine, and to try this incredible pizza we'd been hearing about. The restaurant was stunning -- it felt very in harmony with its surroundings and the renaissance it is helping to anchor in Fairmount. The beautiful leg of prosciutto on the slicer and the bleu on the sideboard spoke of pleasures to come. We started with the special roasted vegetable plate and that '80s iconic Italian dish: Mozzarella en Carozza Both were excellent; each vegetable had its own unique and perfectly acidic sauce, the two towers of mozzarella were ever-so-lightly battered and fried to perfection -- fried cheese makes it easy to have somethign be just good, but this was very, very good. Our pizza of choice was the standby margherita. It was just meh. The crust, it's true was wonderfully thin and perfectly cooked, but the sauce seemed rather flat, somehow one-dimensional. I was so surprised. And since there was only one discrete dollop of cheese per quarter of the pie, the pizza was all about that rather vapid sauce. The service was just acceptable, as out server seemed rather disaffected and uninterested -- well, retail is a heck of a job, and the customer is so often NOT right. It happens. Two stars for the pie and service, four for the appetizers, excellent wine list, and atmosphere. We'll be back, Osteria -- we want to believe in you.

    (3)
  • Chris M.

    This Italian bistro from the chef that brought Philly Vetri is a great place for dining and people watching...the night we were there, Tony Danza was there with a cache of giant body-guards (are people trying to get at Tony Danza?). The food was great, the decor is simple and down to earth yet elegant, if a bit loud.

    (3)
  • Irena C.

    I was visiting my friend in Philly and we decided to try Vetri's Osteria. It was easy to get a reservation via Open Table for a Friday night visit (booked 1 day ahead), which was a plus. The atmosphere at the restaurant was great. I'd say the majority of the clientele was couples and groups in their 40s and 50s if that matters to you. Either way, we were excited to try the food. We first ordered wine, and that was a bit of a letdown. My Gewürztraminer was supposed to be the sweetest and least dry white on the menu, but it was definitely dry and not smooth. My friend asked the waitress for something full-bodied like a Cabernet and the only thing she could suggest was a wine that specifically said "Cabernet blend" on the menu, and it wasn't full-bodied at all. We went through recommendations on several review sites and settled on the Octopus and Prosciutto appetizers. We were also going to share the chicken liver pasta, but the waitress mentioned the Suckling Pig as a special menu item. Given the reviews and its popularity, we went with the latter. The Octopus and Prosciutto dishes were great and I would highly recommend them. However, the Suckling Pig tasted way too fatty and salty to be edible. We never leave food on the plate, especially when it comes to meat at upscale restaurants, but we couldn't eat it after only a few bites. It was really a disappointment and we wished we'd ordered the pasta or the pizza. To avoid leaving on a sour note, we ordered the candied hazelnut mousse dessert, which was great and I'd highly recommend it. I wish I could say I'd want to come back here, but I think I'll be trying Amis next time. The Suckling Pig was really a disappointing experience for us.

    (3)
  • Leah G.

    I finally made it to Osteria after four years of living in Philadelphia. I would not say that it is the best pizza in Philly . . . I will say that it is a fantastic dining experience. I love the space, and I love the noise and bustling on a Saturday night. It has been a long time since I've eaten in a restaurant in Philadelphia where I've literally wanted to try every item on the menu. I was so overwhelmed by the amazing menu selections; so we will have to go back so I can try the things we missed. We started with the lombarda pizza which was actually my least favorite of the dishes we tried, hence Osteria not having the best pizza in Philly. We moved from the pizza to the wood-grilled octopus, which was delicious, and cooked perfectly. For the entree, I got the canestri with braised short ribs. This dish was perfection. I would recommend that anyone dining at Osteria try this. I wanted to order a second order of it . . . but opted for dessert instead. What really makes this place special, however, and merits a paragraph of its own is the service. I have NEVER experienced such wonderful service in all my dining in Philadelphia. The service was such a step above other places, that I felt like the bulk of our dinner conversation focused on just how excellent the service was.

    (4)
  • Jay F.

    Brains, guinea hen, rabbit, and chicken liver your style? You'll love it here. Want to be able to actually read a menu and know what they're talking about? Then this wouldn't be your style. I'll admit my palate is not much better than that of an 8 year old's, but when a restaurant doesn't even have ONE thing that the unsophisticated can get (they had grilled chicken, but bone in, skin on, and over some way weird onion like things that had lots of juice around them), it's just very frustrating. Basically, this is a very expensive place that will enable you to brag about being cultured. if, like me, you don't care about this, you're better off at 100 other places in center city.

    (2)
  • Jon S.

    Great place to have an upscale meal in a relaxed environment. The atmosphere is great and the lower priced wines ($40-50) are very good. In the four or five times I have been to this restaurant I have realized that the pizza is the only way to go. The main entrees are often lacking an identity and can have a very muddled flavor. That said, the pizza and appetizers are worth the trip.

    (4)
  • Ryan E.

    After Philadelphia Magazine ranked this as the 2nd best restaurant in Philadelphia for 2008, I set high expectations and couldn't wait to try it for myself. I have to say that my expectations were not met. The entrees were hit or miss and were surprisingly bland. The wine selection was acceptable and the brussel sprouts on the summer vegetable appetizer plate were incredible. However, I wish I could say the same for the rest of my meal. I found out later that maybe I just ordered the wrong items. But for a restaurant with such high esteem I'd expect anything I order to be top notch. Inconsistency would be the key here. I will definitely give it another shot but next time I'm ordering the pizza and hoping that I fare better.

    (3)
  • Betsy B.

    I heart this place. every time I make it to Philly - this is a must. Service is great, ambience, everything you order will be fantastic. i've been looking for a place like this in L.A. to no avail.

    (5)
  • Mike P.

    Recommended by good friends of excellent taste in restaurants, we joined Philly-based friends who had yet to try this highly rated place. The Chef Mark Vetri is rated very highly locally. We were not disappointed, drinks at the bar preceded our move to the reserved table out on the main floor. It's nt a large place and you are pretty close to your dining neighbors, which gives one a chance to eye some of the food options at least!The somewhat exotic Italian menu offered a good selection of thoughtfully constructed dishes, Himself settling on Rabbit, Herself Duck and our chums Duck and Pasta with Boar (boring pasta??!). Tiny though appetizers were they were enjoyed, with a nice Cab. The main features arrived promptly, were nicely cooked and presented, and very tasty. This is not a volume restaurant, with the focus instead on the cooking, taste and food combinations. It worked well. My Rabbit demanded some artistry with the knife to get the most from the boned-meat, and I think I left some behind for sure.Great ambiance, a busy Philly restaurant after all, plus well-cooked and enjoyable food. Service was very professional and prompt. We'll be back for sure, though there are so many restaurants we still have to try in Philly.

    (5)
  • Food Hound S.

    The food here is excellent, but we found ourselves having difficulty finishing since there are so many dishes. The wait staff is very knowledgeable and the wine list is quite nice as well. It is a little crowded here with cramped tables, but the food makes up for that. Enjoy!

    (4)
  • Jeremy B.

    I have been wanting to try Osteria since they opened and overjoyed I did. I am definitly bias to Italian restaurants, for a few reasons, and rarely want to try them but... .The space itself is beautiful and comforting. The food was great!! I was estatic to try the pizza , and it did not dissapoint. Everthing was absolutely perfect, every dish we had. Great combinations, ingredients and presentation. The service was fine and being felt rushed at my last few dinners, I was happy to relax and enjoy. here.

    (4)
  • Matthew P.

    The atmosphere is great but the food portions are small and the pasta plates are even smaller. I order a cannelloni special and even though the dish was delicious I had to order a second plate because the dish was so so small. I also ordered the pig special ; which the waiter told me was their house specialty and again even though the dish was ok (except for the belly meat) it had less then 5 ounces of meat in the entire dish. I am from NYC and have high standards and found this restaurant to be just ok ; Good atmosphere , small portions . If you only have one night to go out to dinner in Philly pick another place because this place will disappoint you.

    (3)
  • Amy P.

    The Lombardo pizza is amazing! I tried it on a recommendation from a friend and was shocked at how much I love it since I'm not a huge egg person. The bartenders are always friendly as well. My only issue is the wines by the glass and the roasted veggie app are a little over priced.

    (4)
  • Vinicius C.

    grrr...why can't I give this place 5 stars? I don't know...all I know was the food was really tasty...simple delicious meals that were served way faster than I expected for the kind of place....I had the pork "head" pizza..with pistachios I think....it was really good....but it lacked..I can't say what it was but it just did....maybe some sort of refreshing ingredient...some crisp flavored herb or something...the pistachio was just lost in the pizza...it needed zest or something..I don't know..i had the gnocchi and it was really good too...the little gnocchis just melted in my mouth (not too much flour) and were seasoned just right...our server and the sommelier were also really helpful...also heads up, although i'm reviewing now...last time i was here was 2 or 3 months ago!

    (4)
  • Ari H.

    Overall I really liked it. The decor and service were both solid. The food, however, was a little hit and miss. However, if you take one thing away from this review, heed the advice of the masses- the chicken liver pasta is the real deal. So damn good it was worth 3 stars just by itself.

    (3)
  • GREG F.

    This place just opened up some 8 weeks prior to my visit. Lets start with what was good ... I entered the restaurant and the place is very comfortable. Great space that makes you feel welcome. If I were rating just the Decor, we would be talking about 5 stars. This restaurants' feel along with the chef's reputation could help develop this area as an up-and-coming place. The thing I like the least about the whole experience here was the limitations or odd-ness of the menus. The layout of the menu was okay, but the selections were limited because they all were very bold combinations. The wine list was not easy to choose from for this sommelier, so I gravitated toward the sole Chianti on the list. We had a vegetable antipasti and Mozzarella en Carroza to start. Both dishes were REALLY good. The Mozz had a light airy texture and the veggies were fresh and prepared well. Excellent starters. Problematic was the chef's use of salt in our entrees. We had the Chicken dish off the menu and a Lobster special. I have to say that this was a piece of chicken cooked to the most absolute perfection in doneness and texture. My dining companion agreed that the seasoning was just too salty. Then the lobster. It was a whole lobster that was de-shelled, chopped and mixed with pasta and tomato sauce. The sauce had an unpleasant tang that was not to my liking and the lobster tasted a little fishy. What a shame. Thus the 3 star rating. Finally dessert. FuKKin AWsoMe creations here. I split three desserts, The cannoli's, panicotta inglace and the polenta with chocolate mousse. Great execution! And the espresso was good, although slightly over extracted, very good quality made by someone who knew what they were doing. Last note, this place is new, so next time I go I will see if the waiters stop swarming the tables, asking how things are going the moment you put the first bite in your mouth, and different waiters approaching to ask the same question the previous waiter asked. The hostess was less than sharp. Bottom line, service is immature so far. I hope they get it together and begin to "get it."

    (3)
  • Nicole R.

    North Broad is a ballsy place to open a new upscale Italian restaurant. It's obvious that these guys have pumped a lot of cash into this place because it's gorgeous and immaculate. It has an open kitchen, two bars and a lot of seating. The location could either prove disasterous or genius for Ventri and co. who already have an acclaimed Italian restaurant in Center City. They certainly seem to appeal to and hit the post work business crowd who travel in from suburbia to go to their offices. There appears to be plenty of parking for these folks and with the spacious restaurant, it's a good place to take a business lunch or dinner. The problem with it is that there is nothing else around--some office buildings and the community college (but honestly, I don't know many college kids willing to drop 60/ a head for dinner). As for the food--it's really good. I had a small plate of clams in a garlicky white sauce which were very good. They are generous with their fantastic hearth baked bread and crunchy breadsticks. Their wine list is a little problematic because #1 it's ALL Italian wines, which are somewhat unfamiliar to the American palate. And #2, there is no glass of red cheaper than $10. I got a nice glass of white for $8, though, which complimented the clams very well. The beer list is ambitious. With mainly Belgian beer and a few local micros, they seem to be banking on well-honed taste buds. Like I read in a vacant storefront in Philly when I first moved here, you can go broke overestimating the taste of the American public.

    (4)
  • Lucinda D.

    we came mostly for the pizza, and it was very good. service was very good. ambiance was a bit quiet early on a saturday night. all in all, recommended, but not my favorite.

    (4)
  • Naz B.

    Came here for lunch the other day. I'm a fan, but I think the food wasn't as good as previous times. I knocked a star off for a hostess with some attitude, a creepy waitress and service that was ok at best. First, the food. We had 3 pizzas: Polpo, Margherita and Lombarda. The octopus on the polpo was really yummy. The pizzas are good, but I didn't love the Lombarda as much as everyone sings its praises. I've had better egg pizza elsewhere and didn't really like the sausage. I didn't have it this time, but the Parma pizza is my fav. We also had 2 pastas: Chicken Liver Rigatoni - this is one of the most delicious things I've ever eaten. I could not come to Osteria and not order this. I'm not a liver hater or lover in general, but this dish is just earthy and rich and feels indulgent. We also had the Robiola Francobolli or postage stamp ravioli, and while most of the table liked this, I did not. It felt like eating little pats of butter. I should say that I'm not a butter lover - I like it, but don't go crazy over it like many people do. If you are, like my siblings who loved this dish, this dish is probably for you. Not for my boyfriend and me though. And to round off the meal, we had 2 desserts, the polenta budino and a rhubard tart. The budino is something special. It is this creamy pudding that isn't too sweet. Perfect dessert for me. It's topped with a mousse and candied hazelnuts. This is another thing I could not come to Osteria without getting. We were literally scraping the dish to get every bit. I didn't love the tart - just too sweet. Ok, now that the good stuff is out of the way, on to the bad. It was rainy, and when I walked in with my little sister, admittedly a little disheveled from the weather, the hostess was extremely rude and full of attitude. The restaurant was half empty, and she looked at us and very rudely asked if we had a reservation. I said I didn't think so, but I would double check with the rest of our party who wasn't there yet. I took a look at my phone and sent a text and a moment later told the hostess that we didn't have a reservation. She just looked at us and didn't even say anything. After a few awkward minutes, another guy grabbed some menus and started walking to a table. It was obviously for us, and he seated us at the table next to the hostess stand. It isn't a big deal (or at least shouldn't be), but it just put a sour note on the whole meal to have been treated poorly by this hostess, whose main component of her job is to be friendly and nice. Then on top of it, we had to sit there and watch her be super nice to all the older customers who came in after us. I'm guessing it's because we are relatively young compared to the other customers? Maybe she thought we wouldn't spend as much money? Idk, but it was annoying. Then, our waitress was a soft-talker, which doesn't seem to be a very good quality for a waitress. It made for some awkward interactions. Smaller gripe, but they never refilled my or my sister's ice teas or asked. They just left the empty glasses of ice on the table. All in all, Osteria is good. This experience was worse than past experiences, food included. Certain things are really yummy though. Maybe an off day? Maybe going downhill? Also an attitude readjustment for the hostess would help too. Solid restaurant, but if this is the new Osteria, I think I might not bothering going way out of my way to get there. In general, I just think this place has been over-hyped.

    (3)
  • Mary P.

    Best italian restaurant in philly...although i have not been to his other restaurant, vetri. Order the ravioli...there are two different kinds...one is with mushrooms. I recommend ordering both. They melt in your mouth. Remember half orders of the pasta dishes are available. Pizza cannot be missed either.

    (5)
  • Anna Marie C.

    dear lord, this was an amazing meal. so getting there was a problem. i figured we would take the subway...but let me tell you, standing at the subway station, whilst some guy is making up a rap about decapitation and a bullet to your head...well, that was a bit intimidating. No reservations on a Friday night, but we sat at the chef's counter--which isn't a bad idea when there's only two people, but i would not recommend it for any more than that. the place was big, high ceilings...very classically chic, i guess. it looked homey and rustic. onto the food...So I think the fact is, stick to the pastas and the pizza. I had the mozarella appetizer (it was like a v. classy version of mozarella sticks, how can one go wrong??) and the duck and chestnut ravioli. both were absolutely superb. extensive and expensive wine list, not a lot to be had by the glass...but what they had was good. and they even do 3 oz tasting glasses as well (for those who cant handle alcohol as well but still want to try?) i had the persimmon tiramisu. not what i expected, but still v. good. and those who complain about service? no way. our server was the sweetest girl who totally made great recommendations and knew the menu like the back of her hand, kept our water and bread bowl filled. i wish they delivered... :)

    (5)
  • Sarah T.

    I was excited to try Osteria because I am a huge Vetri fan, but sadly I was disappointed. To start the seating was uncomfortable because of how close in proximity the tables are to one another but that wouldnt have been a deal killer. Our server was super slow to greet & take our order even though the restaurant was not to capacity. The highlight was our antipasti of mozzerella in carrozza with olive oil poached pear & capers...delicious! The primi dish of porcini rotolo with parmigiano fonduto was good as well. For our Secondini dish my husband and I ordered the house aged rib eye "fiorentina" for two & it was one of the worst steaks I have ever eaten! Our server told us it was "marbeled" but 1/2 was literally gristle and fat!! We ordered it Med rare and I could not get my steak knife through it!!! I maybe ate 3 bites and filled myself with the turnip gratin. Then as a topper we were celebrating my husbands birthday which I had advised the hostess & the table next to us got a candle in their dessert and they forgot about my husbands!! The maitre de was apologetic and they brought a complimentary dessert but I was over it! Having worked in the biz I am understanding but for a $200 meal I expect at least good... Will not be going back!!

    (2)
  • G... D.

    Classic Italian comfort foods done right. The pizza was thin and crispy with great prosciutto and cheese. We slip a special lobster paste that was perfectly done with just a little heat to the dish. I ended with the rabbit over a nice creamy polenta. The only poor execution was that the side of polenta my wife order had a very strong wood smoke flavor that was not appealing at all. They finished it in the wood burning oven which just takes over the polenta. The waiter quickly took care of us though with another choice but we were full already so they took it off the bill without question. Great service from this nice but loud location.

    (3)
  • Anna E.

    My visit to Osteria was an interesting one, complete with its ups and downs but as you can tell from my review, overall a great time. We called before hand asking if we needed reservations and the host on the other end said we'd be fine with a party of 6 on a Monday night. Low and behold when we get there the tables had filled up and we have to wait at the bar. According to the manager (there were three men walking around in suits chatting with people) we had the longest wait in the history of the restaurant (a little over 2 hours) in which time we sat at the bar which was very inviting and were given a free pizza by one of the managers. He kept apologizing and kept us posted on which tables they were waiting for etc (very attentive). However, it was not until we sat down that the true magic of this place was felt. Their food is incredible. My friends and I ordered a number of different things so we could try a ton and because we waited so long not only did they give us a free pizza while we waited but they also gave us a free appetizer and dessert. Their pizza was incredible (apparently the reason they were so busy is that their Pizza was showcased on a show on the food network the week before), the beet and goat cheese plin was great, as was the steak however, my favorite meal by far was one that my friend's girlfriend got, the Chicken Liver Rigatoni. It was one of the best pasta dishes I have ever tasted (and I'm from an Italian family). So lessons to learn from this place. Be prepared to spend a lot of money, enjoy the incredible food they have to offer and above all else...MAKE RESERVATIONS on any night.

    (5)
  • Bradford S.

    I just had a business dinner here tonight, and I my entire group without exception was very dissatisfied with the food. One of the worst parts of the meal was the fish, which was suppose to come filleted but instead came with head and tail (no problem). We asked the waiter to fillet the fish, and what came back was a pile of mush filed with bones. Inedible. The cheese plate was very good, but the waiter didn't remember the names of all of the cheeses. Also, our waitress was polite, but we didn't see very much of her, and when we were finished with our entrees, we were searching for her. Bottom line is that my group found Osteria to be below average at best -- at least on this Thursday night -- but from my perspective I would likely not return voluntarily. As an aside, the restaurant is very, very rustic.

    (1)
  • Fatty D.

    What a complete disaster. Drinks were horribly over priced Ordered the octopus pizza. Instead of slicing the octopus the piza came with large hunks of the fish on top. Of course when bitten the whole chunk came off in one bite. Very poorly executed! I ordered the rabbit. Very small portion, taste was just eh. I have had so much better. My partner ordered the chicken breast. I was aghast when it came. Someone seem to pour olive oil all over the breast of chicken. It was just soaked with the oil. We sent it back. Did not want to order anything else. The whole evening was such a let down. Too many other places to go to in Philly. Very disappointing.

    (1)
  • Katie G.

    I had planned on ordering the wild boar bolognese (touted as one of the best dishes in the city), but the chicken liver rigatoni with cipollini onions and sage caught my eye on the menu. The presentation leaves a lot to be desired. My rigatoni arrived looking like it had been tossed with Fancy Feast and my husband's pizza polpo (octopus) looked suspiciously dry. The taste makes up for the appearance, however, if a little rich. Nice little wine list, too. Considering all the hype (and the prices), we were underwhelmed. That is, until I tasted the bolognese we decided to get to go. Hot damn.

    (3)
  • Lauren B.

    Great food. Impossibly over priced. My friend and I got the special appetizer and we were told it was $12...yeah when we got the check it was $12 a person. Not explained to us. Kind of a ripoff for roasted red peppers. Maybe that's just me.

    (2)
  • Jaime K.

    Here is a synopsis of my experience at Osteria: We arrived for our reservation about 15 minutes early, and were delighted to hear they could seat us. We expected to have to have a drink at the bar first, which we did not mind at all. We were seating in a back room that lacked ambiance. There was very little decoration or personality, and the room was empty. When our server arrived, we asked as kindly as possible if it would be possible to move to the main room, we didn't mind if we would have to wait longer. (It was a special occasion and we were looking for something more lively and inviting, especially since we don't often go out and spend a lot on meals) She got a manager, and they said it would not be a problem at all. We could go to the bar and get a table in about 20 minutes. All was well at the bar, we ordered cocktails and wine, all expertly chosen and enjoyed our time chatting. When our table was ready, we sat down and our server came over and told us about the specials. The menu looked lovely. When we were ready to order new glasses of wine, our server immedietly reccomended the sommolier come by and make reccomendations that will work with our meal. One of my companions appreciated the offer, and the sommolier went to bring her a small sample of wine based on what she was looking for. Unfortuantely, she wasn't crazy about it, so she asked if she could try one more. She enjoyed the second wine and ordered it, but the sommolier acted as if she was being unreasonable and rude. Normally, I am overly polite and just take what is first offered, even if I am not crazy about it. But as a sommolier, is it that big of a deal to offer a second small sample? It wasn't even as if we were bothering our server asking her to do a million things when she needs to take food orders from the other tables. Her job is to assist tables in chosing wines. It seemed like a reasonable request. But we moved on. The sommolier was annoyed but we were there to have a lovely time. We all ordered, and two of my companions ordered a $36 special - a 1/2 pound of lobster and pasta. Appetizers came and were delicious, although the antipasta is charged per person and was not a lot of food. When the entree came, the two companions that ordered the lobster dish looked suprised. They were literarly fishing around to find lobster. Soon, the four of us were trying to assist, to try to find the lobster because we were so afraid of asking for the server. All in all, pieces that add up to about 1/2 the size of my tiny palm were found. We did not ask for the server or even steal glances across the room to find her. She stopped back to see how things were and we said everything was very good, and they hated to complain, but there was barely any lobster in the pasta. Immedietly she became very annoyed. She pointed to a small piece and said "There it is!" My companions said they understood, but they have ordered lobster many times in their lives and 1/2 a pound never looked so small. She said there was nothing they could do and if they wanted she would get the manager. What were we to do? We said OK. The manager arrived and said basically the same thing. He said they weight each lobster and it is always 1/2 a pound. We decided to let it go and just ate. Then things became incredibly embarassing. I was facing the room and saw our server, the manager, the sommolier and the bartender talking and pointing at us. I felt like that "nightmare" table, like I was in some kind of Twilight Zone episode. I always consider myself to be a great restaurant customer. I myself worked in the industry for two years. I know what they deal with. When the check arrived it was tossed at us. She did not look our way at all, just got close to the table and tossed it in the center. We paid, but only left a 15% tip, which is something we never do. So that was my experience. We did call and leave a message the next day and did not hear back. Obviously to many this is an amazing restaurant. But I can't return. We spent over $260 there (not including tip) and I have received better service for a lot less.

    (1)
  • Cathy F.

    I must say I was disappointed. There wer six of us, that went for my husband's birthday. I had read & heard some good reviews, so we were looking forward to going. My first disappointment was the wine list, as a big fan of Calif. wines (stocking over 1000 in our wineroom) not a one on the list nor was there any French Champagne. But that is just a personal preference though I do like Italian wine just not familiar with too many. With that said we did have 2 nice bottles and i had a couple glasses an Italian rose Sparkling wine. Even though the sparkling was expensive by the glass $20 thay did give me a large glass of it (not your standard flute!!) I order the wood grilled octopus, cured lemon, potato, and chives for an appetizer, that was excellent and my entree was grilled duck breast with brussel sprouts, blood orange and pistacchio . Well the duck was a real disappointment. I asked the server if any sides came with the duck and she told me brussel sprouts. I thought thats plenty.....wrong!! The duck came out with 4....count 4 slices of duck breast that was more raw than cooked, a teaspoon of the duck confit and for the clincher was the brussel sprouts or should I say sprout!! it was 1/2 of a sprout cut in half. So they gave me 2 1/4 of a sprout!!!! And the sad part about it they were pretty good! My husband had the special (pig) basically pork chop. It was ok and the portion wasn't great but ok. another dish was also a special that was pasta w/ith wild hare (sort of what I had after the meal haha) that she like but just wasn't to my liking and she got a nice portion. another couple split a the ribeye for two which was a large portion. They had also ordered 2 pizza for apps that I was not fond of. One was the duck confit that was dry and had no tasted and the other was the lombarda,a pizza with baked egg, bitto cheese, mozzarella, and cotechino sausage, They burnt the first one so they had to wait about another 15 mins for it to come out (just before our meal was served) and the crust was burnt on that one too!! I didn't like it but again that was just personal...not a fan of a egg in the middle of my pizza!! All in all it was just OK. Will I come back sorry to say, I doubt it.

    (3)
  • D K.

    The quick summary: decent food, poor customer service. I had heard good things about Osteria and had been looking forward to eating there. We had a couple of dishes...the dish that stood out was the Squash Tortelli with Amaretti and Sage. Delicious! The ambiance was also nice with its warm tones. The service on the other hand was poor. There were a couple of instances that I was willing to overlook, but the worst was at the end of the meal when the table had been cleared and the check paid and only our water glasses on the table. My friend and I were comfortably chatting because it was early in the evening and the restaurant was pretty empty so we weren't keeping the table from anyone else. A few minutes after our server filled my water glass, she abruptly came back to the table and without explanation took away our water glasses even though I was clearly still sipping from mine. We took that as a sign that she wanted us to leave and so we did, but we were definitely taken aback by her behavior. It definitely did not cap off the experience on a good note. Too bad.

    (2)
  • Diana W.

    I loved, loved, loved Osteria! I went a while back on December 23, 2008, when B and I went to visit his family in PA. I just found some notes I took on that experience, so here goes: Our group showed up before our actual reservations, so we sat at the empty bar for cocktails. P got his Maker's Manhattan (I thought the Manhattan was perfect, just the way I would make it) and we were sat right away in the sunroom. It had a nice feel, very rustic. The bread bowl was squarish and funky and looked like it was carved right out of a tree. I didn't have any bread because I didn't want to waste any belly room. The menu looked incredible. Our server was very efficient and funny with funny mustache and sideburns. He was patient with us while we took our time poring over the menu and asking him every question that could possibly be asked about it. I serve as well, and I get people like me, and yes, it takes patience to deal with us. He gave me a really good recommendation on wine, which I ordered. It was delicious. B started with prosecco, P still had his manhattan, A had one as well, and N ordered a Maker's sour, which she was not crazy about. Antipasti: B had the rabbit terrine. It was right up his alley. To me, it was like mild spam. I'm not a huge fan of meat cooked down, pulled apart, and pressed back together. B loves the stuff. The arugula that came with it was over-salted. P had house cured prosciutto. Good stuff, but I honestly didn't pay too much attention to it because I was obsessed with my own dish. N had celery root fritters with green apple slaw. It tasted exactly as I would imagine a dish like that would taste. A had pizza with chanterelle mushrooms. It was very tasty. I could taste the wood fire it was cooked in. I had the wood-fire grilled octopus, and let me tell you, it was one of the most amazing things I have ever put into my mouth! N wouldn't try it, but everyone else LOVED it! I'd never had octopus cooked that way. It was so tender, nice grilled flavor, simply seasoned with salt, pepper, lemon zest and olive oil with small cubes of potatoes. It was like a dream! Primi: P - Guinea Hen tortellini was a bit too salty, but tasty. The pasta was so thin it reminded me of wonton skin. Lots of poultry inside and tasted of it. N - Postage stamp ravioli with trumpet mushroom. It was only ok. The filling tasted like butter popcorn. Not my favorite. A - Pizzocheri (buckwheat parpadelle with swiss chard, potatoes, and cheese). This dish was insane! I've been obsessed with finding the perfect recipe since I had it! It was so soothing. I love the combination of swiss chard and potatoes anyway, but this was just obscenely good! I think I ended up eating all of A's. I just kept taking bites of it until it was gone. Secondi: B - baby suckling pig special. Big piece of crispy skin, rib bone and meat. It was very good, but again, a touch too salty. It reminded me of siu yuk (chinese roast pork) without the five spice and all the fat. P - swordfish on cauliflower risotto. I'm not a big fan of swordfish. It was just a touch dry for me, but he loved it. N and A both had the monkfish. N wasn't feeling it, so she gave it away. Wish I'd had more of it. It was cooked perfectly with a mediterranean sauce. Very moist and kind of slippery. I love fish like that! It was a really light dish with ample flavors. Me - wood-fire roasted leg of venison (yes, i love the wood fire). I thought it would be bone in, but it wasn't. I can't remember the puree beneath it, but it was intensely flavored-a bit sweet, mustardy, and salty with bits of chestnuts. The meat was cooked perfectly rare red in the center. The cut was a tad chewy, but the flavor was great! A, who normally eats her meat gray, took down the bloody piece I fed her like a champ, her eyes rolled back like she was going to pass out. It was that good. It was our favorite of the five dishes, I think. I also ordered a side of endive salad with persimmon and pomegranate. Very refreshing-bitter endives, sweet persimmons (hachiya?) with a simple, tangy dressing. I need to make this! Dessert: P - quince and chestnut fritters. Tasty doughnuts, small, dense and crisp with a maple glaze. N - molasses pumpkin upside-down cake with cranberry gelato. It was too sweet for N and the gelato was too tart. B liked and finished it. A - polenta pudding with hazelnut. She and B loved it. Me - persimmon tiramisu. I was surprised by how much I liked it. Lady fingers soaked in cointreau. Moist, light and delicious! Brought me back to Club Harle in Japan, with their little custards and parfaits. This was exactly like that. This was one of those rare times where everything I ordered was perfect. It was the perfect end to my perfect meal.

    (5)
  • Rob S.

    We were here on 5/22 to celebrate our 30th Anniversary with my parents and my son. We arrived early and were promptly seated. We were presented with a very nice bread tray including, bread sticks, sourdough and french. All were excellent. Our waitress (almost no personality) came over to tell us the specials. We asked our waitress the difference between two of Ribeyes on the menu, and the waitress told us the more expensive one was less tender because the longer the aging process, the less tender the meat would become. We ordered pizza as an appetizer and it was excellent. We were told the Ribeye would take about 20 minutes to prepare. It took about 30 minutes and when it was done, it was presented to my parents. Then we waited another 20 minutes before it was actually served with no explanation. My son and I ordered the spit roasted suckling pig, which was $32 for about 8 oz of meat (wow, I could have had a whole pig for that) and neither my son or I thought it was that tasty. My wife ordered the Haddock which was tasty by again an extremely small serving for the price. My Mom told the waitress we were celebrating our 30th Anniversary and asked if they could put a candle on one of the deserts and the waitress rolled her eyes at this request. This meal was extremely over priced for the lackluster service, food quality and location. It is apparent that the only reason the ratings are high is because its a Vetri Restaurant. Save your money and go to Beruccis since the only things that are good here are the Pizza, Appetizers and Gelato.

    (2)
  • jenny v.

    Oh, baby! I don't know where everybody else is eating (or where I'm NOT eating) that this place is only ranked at a 3.5, but if you have teeth and even a fleeting affinity for a finer thing in life, I don't see how you could be disappointed. It's a beautiful restaurant, and everybody working was professional and helpful while keeping their real-person vibe intact. We started off with this beautiful specimen of a pizze (I'll never eat pizzA again). I think it was a new addition, because I can't locate its first name on their online menu, but key words are: sweet corn, scallions, and bufala cheese. We kept commenting on the magical corn flavor that seemed to exist throughout the crust even where no kernels lay - turns out there's a corn puree throughout; science wins again. Next came the wood grilled octopus - gentleman's choice - I didn't expect much from it, but those squiggly little legs are undeniably appealing. Just when you thought we'd be full came a special roasted vegetable salad and our his and hers entrees: zucchini lasagna meets pig that's been lolling around on a skewer - what a handsome couple. Everything was beautiful and awesome - I think Zeke fell a little out of love with me when he met that pig. We topped everything off with some drinks and a taste of the chocolate flan - think toasty, upside-down cupcake toiling with molten chocolate. It's not cheap, but you can escape relatively unscathed with a little smart meal planning. I'd bring my parents here to finally make them proud.

    (5)
  • Lee D.

    I visited Osteria this past Saturday night.....one of the best meals I have ever eaten...Chef Jeffrey deserves his recent James Beard award...he is the best......love this place, it is so alive and Nancy is such an added plus to this wonderful restaurant....Lee "D"

    (5)
  • Justin S.

    In a word -- salty. The meal was good, but not worth the price or the hype. We really enjoyed the grilled vegetables, which were a special. They were flavorful with a good texture. The smelts were simply fried little fish -- nothing to excite you. My spiced apple martini (a house specialty on their menu) was just OK -- not worth $15. We also ordered the artichokes, which came with dinner even though they were an antipasti. The artichokes accelerated us on the salty path we began with the antipasti. Yet they were very tasty indeed. My shellfish stuffed with sausage were just OK; I'd try something else next time. My wife had the rabbit, which was good, but she found it too salty. Really, every dish could have used less salt; I've started to wonder what the chef was trying to do with all that salt. For dessert, they straciatella cinnamon ice cream was not great; the cinnamon ice cream was good, but the there was only one small piece of chocolate (the "chips"), which really disappointed me after the waitress talked me out of the pistachio dessert I was eyeing. I didn't finish it, which is very rare for me. My wife had the chocolate flan, which she really enjoyed; it's like molten lava cake you find elsewhere. The waitress's recommendations were a bit off, and she had me confused a couple times as to what and how much to order. So, I'd say it's a good meal, but for the money, you can find a better restaurant.

    (3)
  • Ryan S.

    OK, so I didn't adventure too far into their menu, stuck to what I know, kept it light, and do have to go back and then update this review. But, where I did go - beef capriccio, pepper ravioli, artichoke - was fantastic. The pepper ravioli (I am not using the name they did and I promise it is more amazing than the name I give it leads you to believe) was the highlight of the meal for me and was just mouth watering. As well, the side of artichoke was marinated and cooked nicely and really added the perfect flavor contrast.

    (5)
  • Grace G.

    Even on a rainy night that would make most people hunker down at home with some takeout food, Osteria was a warm and beckoning space last night. Staff was welcoming upon arrival and quick to check our coats. We were a few minutes early for our reservation and were directed to the bar area where staff was quick to take our order. Great wine list with wines by the glass and a sommelier who can help pick something out for you that isn't necessarily the most expensive bottle of wine on the menu. After being seated, our waitress brought our drinks over and told us about the specials (the suckling pig sounded so good!). We started with the wood grilled octopus, for my primi - a wonderful fresh pasta (candele) with wild boar bolognese, and my entree the duck. My husband went with the rabbit. For dessert, my polenta budino was better than my husband's chocolate flan but both were good. Service was timed well with suitable breaks between courses, water glasses kept full, and our waitress was attentive throughout. I have never been disappointed with our meals here and the portions are to my expectations. I guess I do not use the Maggiano Measurements when it comes to food -- doggie bags? Not even sure where that phrase was coined but I don't want any part of that, thank you very much.

    (4)
  • Evelyn G.

    hot damn this place has some good shit! let someone else pay is very expensive!

    (5)
  • Lark L.

    Disappointing. Vetri needs to send some trusted friends to have an undercover dinner and report back to him with 100% honesty. Chef's are usually somewhat arrogant and don't like criticism but as more and more reviews state--IT AIN"T ALL THAT! Pros: Cozy and rustic interior Good wine list Good grilled octopus and pizza---Good---NOT great. Cons: Server we had was rude, uninterested and just a sourpuss. She needs to go NOW! Noise level is riduculous---must either repeat everything 4 times or lean across table and food. Menu---such a TEASE! Sounds really good but excluding really just the octopus does not deliver at all. Pasta---WEAK! Soggy, bland-- no distinguishing flavors in either of the Primi's we ordered. Pork dish---hillbilly rustic is more like it. I am all for simple flavors and dishes but it needs to taste good. All the dishes were lacking--it was strange and a bummer. Contorni's ( sides) ---seriously? 8/$ for 3/4 c of rsted pots? I didn't see any rosemary anywhere. Polenta was whatever. Flan dessert--- what we thought would be a flan was actually the dessert du jour of the 90's the always good hot chocolate cake. That is fine if that was what we ordered----don't mislead people on your menu or give them the heads up that it is not a flan. Prices would have been fine if the food was good but way too much for what we were served. Sad. Vertri is probably a nice guy and great chef but staff in the kitchen and FOH are falling on the job and bottom line is Vetri's name and reputation suffer for it but he obviously doesn't read reviews or take them seriously.

    (1)
  • Ryan C.

    I have to be honest and say if I'm going to get pizza, I don't want 'gourmet' pizza. I also don't want thin-crust, and i don't want it to be small slices. That said, I am craving the gourmet pizza of Osteria right now. Their pizzas are small, and flavorful with ingredients gently laid on top. One pizza will not be enough for anyone. We tried a lot of different items on the menu. The table favorite was the standard Margherita, but I loved the white pizza with asparagus and Proscuitto. I feel, if i'm going gourmet with pizza, I'm going all out, save the 'plain' for boardwalk pizza. The pastas were all delicious, but not exeptional. The fish was not the freshest, and the Antipasto was pretty tame, appealing to more than just die hard Italians. I'm used to intense flavors and strongly marinated items for an antipasto, but this had some nice and light little salads, arugula and yellow beets. Get the Asparagus Crespelle, gelati and if you need a kick in the neck, a Caffe Coretto (espresso with grappa.) The great decor makes up for the less than desirable location, just like Distrito. But, we had a strangely and funny experience here. We usually take our time when eating and asked to put in an appetizer order and order our entree later. WELL, despite eating at a myriad of other restaurants before this, our waitress informed us that we MUST put in our total order. NOW, I can understand from the kitchen's perspective how this would make things easier...that's fine. I've also heard the PR speak that it's so we aren't delayed in our meal and get mad at the restaurant. But really, this was a first for us and we don't care about taking our time to eat. We queried our waitress about this and she became very uncomfortable and finally leaned over to the 50something CEO at our table and said, with hand on his shoulder, "have you ever worked in a kitchen before?" We all were stunned, and laughed for like 10 minutes, after she left.... (Follow up to that story, we ran into the same ordering system at Tequilas.) I have a tip for all those working for tips...."Find a way." If the customer wants to order appetizers now...and an entree later....find a way... you'll make a better tip....our waitress at Osteria certainly would have.

    (3)
  • Joe B.

    I went for an early dinner with my mom and everything was great! For an appetizer we shared an order of the wood-grilled octopus. Main course: my mom had the rabbit casalinga with polenta, and I had the special of roast pig topped with crispy skin alongside roasted potatoes; we split an order of artichokes as a side. The octopus was the best I've ever had, better than the one I had at the Standard Tap (also located in Philly). I tried some of my mom's rabbit and it was very good, but my main course was better. Not only was it the best slow-roasted pig I've ever had, the crispy skin on top was like icing on a cake, so good. To top it off, the grilled artichokes in olive oil were (once again) the best I've ever had, and I spent a semester abroad in Rome, Italy last summer so that tells you how good they are. Since it is on the pricey side, this place is more for a special occasion as opposed to a normal friday night out, but it is definitely worth it. If you order one thing when you go there, get the octopus, it's that good (though a bit small, but very good regardless).

    (5)
  • Russ V.

    The best pasta in Philly! Portions are small, but taste is huge.

    (5)
  • liza c.

    i'm looking over the other reviews and see the same things. everyone wanted to try this place for quite awhile before they eventually got to and were at leastly mostly pleased. i was, too. perhaps i worked myself up for it a little too much, though, because i was actually pretty bored with everything at Osteria, except for the restaurant itself. how pretty! the food was all very tasty, but a bit of a borefest. it took me awhile to find something on that menu that was really worth paying such a high price for. in the end, i ate the fluke with a mixture of white and green asparagus tossed in a creamy dill sauce. this was very tasty, even if the cream sauce was way too heavy/creamy. for antipasti, i chose one of the specials which was a board of various grilled and pickled veggies. by far, the best part of the meal, even if it was a little like Zahav's salad tasting starter. other good things included a very pleasant staff - not a single bad attitude in the house! and a great atmosphere. the restaurant itself is, however, located in a really cruddy spot. i guess you they can't all be in rittenhouse, though!

    (3)
  • Chuck C.

    Had an exceptional experience here last week. The service was outstanding; as professional as it could be, yet relaxed and unobtrusive. The food and wine service went well beyond my expectations. The group that I was with found the atmosphere very conducive to conversation, everyone was able to enjoy the company at the table while sampling some of the best food we've had in Philly in a long time. I highly recommend this place for small gatherings of 4 to 8 people. One of the highlights was a roasted pig's head appetizer...talk about a conversation starter. We enjoyed the experience so much, we even stayed for dessert and after dinner drinks. Can't wait to go back!

    (5)
  • Em B.

    Yikes. I thought the food was tasty, but quite small. The pheasant ravioli was more cheese than pasta or meat and my mother-in-law found two bones in her wild hare dish. The pizza was good, although the outside edge of the crust was burnt and the egg in the center was a bit cold. However, all the food did taste quite good. All flavorful and elegant in its presentation. The service, however, was quite strange. The man who took our coats was really warm and friendly. The restaurant was pretty quiet when we were there because it was a Wednesday at around 5:30, but there seemed to be about 10 wait people looming around and gawking at the patrons in groups, which left me feeling uneasy. The waiter was a bit snotty and definitely cold towards us. I felt uncomfortable there, like I wasn't a welcome patron. It was just a "feeling," not really founded on anything specific necessarily, but not one I've experienced at other fine dining places. Perhaps I'm used to Steven Starr's bright colors and playful, dramatic decor...but then again, I've been to more than a fair share of "fab" places similar in decor as Osteria (Mario Battali's "Otto."! I love that place!) and not felt like I was being judged for my reactions to the food and the choices I made on the menu. (My mother-in-law complimented the waiter on the sweet breads and said, she wished they were a bit larger, and he was somewhat defensive.) Perhaps it is because I'm not into spending a ton of money if I'm going to leave with my belly a bit rounder. If you're after a satisfying meal, I'd suggest a different locale (For amazing pizza and pastas in another beautiful restaurant, I'd recommend Illuminare on Fairmount Ave between 24th and 23rd) And it won't break the bank either!

    (3)
  • Jim A.

    We went here for lunch basically to try the Pizza Parma, which we had read was one of the best pizzas on the planet - we were not disappointed - though the hefty price tag ($20 for a pizza) makes the value a bit questionable. Having said all of that, it was definitely one of the best - if not the best - pizzas I've ever had. We were pleasantly surprised, however, with the duck casoncelli dish. Again, question the value of $16 given the portions, but my goodness, it was one of the top 2 best dishes I have ever had in Philly. The dish had one of the most complex flavor profiles - different layers of flavors keep on hitting you as you eat. Would definitely come back here again and again to taste what other delicious items they have!

    (5)
  • Suz C.

    Overpriced, under-portioned. Food was ok...pizza a bit charred. Pasta dishes were good, but did not meet expectations set by other reviewers.

    (2)
  • M.S. H.

    We went to Osteria a little while back for a special occasion with my parents. I LOVE Vetri so I have been wanting to go to Osteria for a long time since it was Marc Vetri's newest venture. And, of course, that means I compared Osteria to Vetri in every way. I was a little bit disappointed. The atmosphere is warm and inviting but they pack you in there. The tables are on top of each other, I definitely felt like commenting on the conversation going on next to us. As for the food, it was great, but not excellent. Honestly, I cannot remember one dish specifically to tell you to try. I didn't love it and that could be because we did not have any pizza, and that is what the place is known for! Not that I am an expert because the more I see about it, the more I feel like I have to give Osteria another shot. It was nominated by the James Beard Foundation as the Best New Restaurant in 2008, Philly Mag named it the best restaurant in Philadelphia and Marc Summers called their Margarita Pizza the best thing he ever ate on the Food Network. Bottom line, it's no Vetri but worth the trip to North Philly.

    (3)
  • N P.

    Had high expectations for a restaurant that was nominated for a James Beard award and received many good reviews but was so let down. For appetizers, grilled octopus meh tasted like anywhere else, lamb tongue meh tasted like pate, snails meh bland and gritty. Entrees weren't any better if not worse, rabbit was overcooked and salty. Grilled lamb loins also salty along with lamb ribs that were charred to the max accompanied with some measly pieces of fava beans. I figured maybe desert will be the redeeming factor so I choose the mocha semifreddo with fiordillatte and toffee. Sounds fancy right? It turned out to be a very small serving of chocolate ice cream placed on top of a giant wooden cutting board that took up half the table. Talk about highway robbery, $200 plus tip down the drain and still hungry and disappointed. If only the food was as creative as the wording on the menu. Don't believe the hype!

    (1)
  • Brandon B.

    I was expecting greatness, as I've read only great things in the press, and I got OK-ness. The service was outstanding. All of the staff were exceedingly attentive and well-versed in the menu and the wine list. The food was good, but not nearly the life-changing experience I had hoped for. Additionally, we were seated in an atrium-like room to the left of the building with an air conditioner that blew right on us the entire night (I'd request the main seating room if you are visiting).

    (3)
  • Bobby D.

    I have dined at Osteria about 10 times. I have sat at the tables and at the bar. The food is outstanding. When I go we usually order a few items from each section on the menu and share everything. I always order the marinated vegetable antipasti, the Brussels sprouts are the best I have ever had. The pizzas are all wonderful. I recommend the lombardo with house made cotechino sausage and a sunny up egg. The spit roasted pig is a special on most nights and is very tender and juicy with flavors of rosemary. The chicken liver rigatoni and beet plin are my favorite pastas, I have had the rabbit fettuccine that is excellent too. The mozzarella in coroza is a hot appetizer that melts in your mouth. For dessert, the gelato and sorbet are churned every day and have a silky smooth consistency. Some times they have a dessert special, nutella pizza- WOW! If you go, ask if they have it. The ambiance is very energetic, not quiet, not the place for a romantic quiet table. It is definitely the spot to go to eat good food and drink excellent Italian wines. The bathrooms are great (in response to a review hating on the soap.) You have your own private bathroom with granite counters, custom towels, and air freshener! What more could you ask for in a public bathroom. The prices are high but worth it for the quality of food. Yes ,it is on North broad street with no valet but I have never had a problem finding parking at the meters of on a side street. I love Osteria and am looking forward to my next visit.

    (5)
  • RESPECT MY A.

    HOLY CRAP! I don't know where to start. Everything is impeccable, from service to ambiance and especially the food. This is my favorite restaurant. Yes, it's not cheap, but who cares... treat yourself once in a while. They cut no corners, go above and beyond, and have continued to impress time after time. I know it's not a competition, but I would way rather dine here then any of the Garces establishments. Some standouts are the wood-grilled octopus, the treviso and endive salad, ahhhh who am I kidding everything is amazing. Eat it all!!!!!! But def save room for the polenta budino. THANK YOU SO MUCH OSTERIA, YOU MAKE ME SMILE!!!!

    (5)
  • Jim R.

    The main room, the staff, the sommelier, were all great. - the back room, not so much. We were in the front but our expectations were not met. There were 6 of us and other than the excellent "Ciareghi" (an in-house made type sausage) with sunny side up egg appetizer, the rest of our meals were "OK to Good". This is not what you expect in a place run by Marc Vetri. The "Lumaca" pizza (snails, spring onions, mozzarella), as well as another snail appetizer were nothing to write home about. The biggest disappointment was the Gnocchi - it not even being in the same class as his Spinach Gnocchi at his other location. Entrees including the rabbit, chicken and halibut were underwhelming. The lamb was good. With wine, tax & tip around $160 per couple. We'll return to one of his restaurants again - but not this one.

    (3)
  • Laurel M.

    Absolutely Fantastic. No question this place is rustic Northern Italian from floor to ceiling & certainly including the food on the table in between the two. I found the decor to be warm & homey if only a little industrial. The chairs could be a little more comfortable to be sure, but that is certainly my biggest complaint about Osteria & I'll gladly sit on those hard wooden chairs again if it means I'll be filling up on more of Vetri's creations. The menu is full of interesting combinations of food, many of which sound quite bold & possibly hard to pair following dishes with, but that was not so, at least in my case. I found each item delicious in its own unique ways & in no way did it play upon my opinion of following dishes. I started with mozzarella in carrozza with olive oil, poached pear tomatoes and capers. Incredible! Really, it was like a large bit of fried mozzarella, but certainly the most delicious fried mozzarella that has ever graced my mouth. It was incredibly gooey & the pear tomatoes were perfect along with it. For my primi I went with the robiola francobolli with chanterelle mushrooms and thyme which I think were my favorite dish of the evening. The sauce was rich & the "post-stamp" ravioli absolutely delectable. I could have easily eaten a far larger dish of these delicious little bites. For the secondi I tried the rabbit "casalinga" with pancetta, sage, brown butter and soft polenta. Now this was my first time with rabbit, so I can't compare it to anything I've had before. I will say that I was pleasantly surprised (not that I was expecting to not like it, but I was expecting it to be gamier). The way in which it had been prepared...it was half a rabbit, bone in, glazed & seared if I remember correctly...was mouth watering. The meat was full of flavor (altho somewhat "chickenish" to me) & tender. I even enjoyed the dark meat & I generally do not like dark meat of ANY sort! For the contorni I tried the artichokes alla romana which were also very good. Boyfriend tried the lobster & pasta special for his secondi which was also amazing, of course. A whole lobster which had been shelled served with spaghetti in a red sauce which had a slightly cajun taste to me. Not what we were expecting, but still nothing short of luscious, of course. Finally for dolci I had something much like a crepe, which had been glazed & then topped with a streusel. Good, but not as sweet as I was expecting (hoping?). Also, it was VERY hot. It took quite some time for it to cool down to a point where it was comfortable to eat. Service at Osteria was very good. Our server was very helpful with any questions we had regarding the menu, nor was he overbearing. The wine list is fairly extensive, but a bit pricey, namely if you're just buying by the glass. While deciding on which red to go with I was even offered generous samples of a few of the reds to help me along with my decision. I'm tempted to give Osteria only 4 stars for some reason, but my complaints are really so few & I was so very, very happy with the food & service & place in general that I think its more fair to just go with 5. (Once again, I find myself wishing Yelp could give half stars!) I will definitely be making a return trip to Osteria - I've got to try one of the pizze's next time!

    (5)
  • Michael B.

    It is a beautiful space, the service was reasonable, and my companions really liked their rabbit entrees. My tasty black cod was appetizer-sized at an entree price without so much as a fingerling potato to help fill the spacious dish.

    (3)
  • Karma B.

    Nice but way too expensive for what you get. Portions are tiny.

    (3)
  • Michele C.

    I've been waiting to try Osteria for a while now. I finally got the chance on my birthday, June 14. It was everything I had hoped and didn't disappoint. I immediately appreciated the ambience, though it was surprising to find the restaurant located in such a run-down area. I would have liked bread for starters, as opposed to those long, thin breadsticks, but that's a pretty minor thing. Let's cut to the chase - the chicken liver rigatoni is MONEY. It's that ridiculously delicious. I don't eat weird things so for me to order chicken liver rigatoni and clear my plate, well, that's saying something. It's damn good, trust me. I ordered it on the recommendation of a family member and she was right on the money. The pasta portions are typically small here, but the rigatoni was large enough and rich enough to share, which my husband and I did. We also ordered a margherita pizza for two which was plenty to eat. I have to say, though, that I was least impressed with the pizza. For a Mark Vetri restaurant, I expected the pizza to be out of this world. It was just mediocre. That being said, we probably ordered the most boring pizza on the menu. I saw others raving about their pizzas. It doesn't matter though...the homemade pastas are worth the price of admission. The desserts were really good. We ordered two - the cannoli, or three mini-cannolis filled with ice cream - and a creamy nutella tart that was very subtle but delicious. Our server was EXCELLENT. Really knowledgeable, friendly and helpful. You can tell they really train their staff well here. I will definitely be back.

    (4)
  • Sharon G.

    I was really excited when Osteria opened. I thought - great, a more reasonable Vetri? Lots of seating - the place is huge! Nice atmosphere and great staff. However, stick to the appetizers. My fish - let's just say, "would you like some fish with that salt?".

    (3)
  • Bill T.

    This was an incredible disappointment at every level. We were there about 6 months ago and loved it, so it was to be tonight's birthday celebration as we were visited by our daughter from Chicago. The service was o.k. but uninspired. The food was salty and fatty. The wine took forever. We then were told they were out of the label I selected - but we had almost finished the meal so I said forget it. When we were just about done they bring over three "free" glasses. Weren't they listening - I said forget the wine. So we left it there and when leaving to get our coats, the hostess asked if we enjoyed the meal with a smile filling her face. She didn't expect our response, so she kept the smile on and stared at us silently then finally when she realized we were serious said oh sorry - and kept on smiling. That told the story. They think they're great. They aren't trying any longer because they think everyone loves them.. The hostess wasn't listening. The waitress wasn't listening. I hope anyone who reads this listens. They need to start trying to earn the praise they now take for granted. At these prices we deserved better - much better. I wonder if they are up to it or if they've already moved on to the next venue. I won't be back here again - that's for sure.

    (1)
  • matthew l.

    With its outrageously seductive menu and the lovely rustic/chic room it is understandable why this place was an instant success. Always had a great time whether sitting at the chef's bar or at a table and will definitely try the patio when the weather breaks. The rabbit and sweetbreads definitely my kind of dishes but I do have a problem with 12 inch pizzas for 19, 20 and 22 dollars especially since the ribeye fiorintina for two comes in at $35.00? The food is always just barely too rich though usually very well prepared. If Vetri has become the darling of the region's culinary scene, he is probably the pinup of the area's realtors for single handedly jump starting the north of broad real estate market. And if watching Jeffrey Lurie double park his Mercedes one cold evening to run in and pick up is any indication of patron loyalty, Osteria will be here for a long time.

    (4)
  • Joe V.

    I booked a dinner reservation a month out for Valentine's day. After reading all the magazines that give Osteria such high praise, I figured it would be a nice place to take the little lady. We were seated and offered water and bread. Our waiter seemed nice, but throughout the whole experience it seemed like we had 5 waiters. I can see them trying to not let us sit there and wait, but who the heck am I tipping at the end of the night? The guy who took my order? The guy who served our app? What about the guy who gave us our entrees? Either way, we were served rather quickly with the water, bread, and first cocktail. After that. We waited...and waited. Maybe it was Valentine's day that caused this, but isn't it the most popular eatery in the city? Meaning it's always crowded? So either way, I wanted another delicious cocktail and was never asked. Our food came and by that time I lost interest in the drink. My girlfriend got the chicken something. Pretty much the grilled chicken that my dad makes every summer with greens and fresh mushrooms. Not worth it. I had the Lombara pizza since it got rave reviews. I liked the concept of wood fired pizza with sausage and an egg. It was floppy and the sausage tasted weird. I kept trying to think, "ok this is delicious homemade sausage" but I kept going back to how weird it tasted. I like the egg part. Our app was the best. It was Plin (tiny raviolli with sauce and coliflower topped with a type of breading). Once we finished we wanted to get out of there as quickly as possible. Makes me sad to say, because I wanted to like this place, but It was not worth the pricey bill.

    (2)
  • jess c.

    Best resturaunt in Philly...and most likely to see Chase Utley.

    (5)
  • Erik s.

    ill admit I am a listwhore so I had to check osteria out when I saw it top the Best of Philly list...not usually a big fan of "sophisticated" pizza but i have to admit the lombarda pizza was quite tasty..the octupus had a few pieces undercooked but was good..the rib eye for two was tender and cooked medium rare as requested, though i ate it by myself and still had plenty of room..the chicken w/ lentils had really nice flavor.. cannoli and tiramisu were good but i had such high hopes it was a bit of a disappointment.. the staff was great -attentive but not overbearing and I love the lay out

    (4)
  • jay s.

    for the money go to vetri"s on spruce, cost a little more and you will truly have a gourmet Italian dinner.

    (3)
  • Ray D.

    All I can say is baby pig! I know that doesn't sound too appetizing to many of you, and I had my doubts, but it was delicious. Osteria offers "baby pig" as a special on many nights and I'm sure to reserve a plate as soon as I sit down because they frequently run out. FYI...it's not an actually baby pig on your plate but rather certain cuts that are incredible. Great wine list, great menu, amazing food. The sommelier is one of the best I've dealt with. Don't be embarrassed to let him know what you want to spend, and don't feel like you have to crack open your safe to enjoy a night here. However, unless you order pizza (I haven't but keep saying I'll try it) a meal here is going to cost you. It's not the kind of place I go often, but when I do I really enjoy it.

    (5)
  • vivian y.

    my friend is a huge food fanatic and when he said that osteria was one of his favorite dining locations in the country, i had to try it out. it definitely was good - and i will be going back the next time im in philly for work or pleasure. but i don't think it is on my favorite restaurants of all time list. i've been jaded. eat out way too much b/c of work/travels, etc. so it takes a lot to be impressed. osteria did impress me though... we had the following: - a huge wooden plate/board of all various kinds of antipasti/contori -- the beets were SO GOOD. i usually do not like beets but these were very well marinated. - lombarda and parma pizza - both very good. - lardo pizza - not sure if this is off the menu and/or the same as the lombarda but literally, my friend explained it to me as "lard" pizza. it was definitely very crispy and good. so you do not feel too guilty biting into it b/c it was thin and you just think, oh...its like a cracker. :) - candela w/ wild boar bolognese - i couldn't have done w/o this - nothing really stood out for this one. - robiola francobolli with royal trumpet mushrooms and thyme was TO DIE FOR. omg the pasta was so thin and the cheese was so rich inside. this was my FAVORITE pasta dish! - the most irresistable and MUST ORDER item on the menu is the lavendar infused panna cotta for dessert. OH MY GOODNESS! i would go back just for this alone... as you can tell, i had a great meal at osteria. service was good - constant attention to our water glasses. we originally had a party of 8 but then increased by 1 so we showed up with 9 people and although we had to wait an hour (our fault), the manager was able to seat us at a better table so that it was not right in the middle of the restaurant. the only thing is i'd like to see more room at the bar area so that folks can stand around...it is very narrow and pretty much, behind the folks sitting on the stools, there is no room b/c the servers are constantly trying to get through with their dishes. i would highly recommend osteria if you are in philly. :)

    (4)
  • ezekial f.

    lets get two things straight, first, this is not VETRI, second, it is not olive garden either. so if you expect the personal, singular treatment you get in a restaurant that barely seats forty, you've lost your mind and if you think theres going to be endless breadsticks and your meal is going to cost $29.99 think again. what you do get is a casual, bright and more available little brother of vetri. our first dish, pannocchia, i believe was the best slice of pizza i have ever had, fresh sweet corn with mozzarella di bufula. it came out fast, crispy and smelling of the wood fire over which it was cooked.my main dish was the brined, spit turned and grilled pork which i swear made me high, actually high! our service was excellent, alot of people come by the table but just to make sure you have room for whats coming next and that you have new silverware. osteria also just got taps and have two to three great beers on draught now. definately going back. i want that pork right now.

    (5)
  • Rick G.

    This is, and continues to be my favorite restaurant in Philadelphia. Was just there on Thursday evening for dinner, capping my 4th Osteria experience. It should be reserved for a special occasion, as the cuisine is pricey, and a bit rich. However, always well, well worth it. I wasn't responsible for the tab so could be a bit more adventurous in what I ordered. There were 5 of us, which made sharing a lot of the appetizers and primi plates easy. The place prides itself on its artisan pizzas, which are delicious. But this time, I was intent on trying as much of the menu as possible. The pastas (like previously mentioned) tend to be fortified with rich meats (rabbit, chicken liver, and wild boar). Taken in small quantities and shared across the table helps to keep your stomach settled, and taste buds more than satisfied. The octopus, which is my favorite thing in the restaurant, came slightly more well done than I would have liked. It was marinated and spiced perfectly though. I had the venison for a main dish. She never asked how I wanted it cooked. I only assume that the restaurant recommends medium to medium rare. At first it arrived undercooked- in my opinion. When it returned, it was overcooked. Despite those issues, the dish was very well spiced and roasted, and paired with cranberry and cabbage. Definitely worth a return visit, but I'd just caution you to make requests around what temps you would like your dishes done- rare, med, well, etc. RG

    (5)
  • Andrew P.

    Opted to try Osteria for an Anniversary dinner. Based on all the hype this place had a lot to live up to, and we both agree it delivered. Price isn't really a factor I consider for infrequent meals like this; you know it is going to be expensive and you need to just brace for that and enjoy the food & experience. While overall I would not rate this as one of the "top" meals I've ever had, there were a few exceptional dishes to single out. First, the grilled octopus with lemon: the octopus was perfectly cooked, with a slight char and crispiness on the outside. The smokey wood flavor paired with the acidic bite of the cured lemon was killer. Definitely the most memorable octopus dish I've had anywhere. Along with fresh Sicilian Lemonade, it was a solid way to kick things off. The parma pizza with fontina and prosciutto was also excellent. Rich and salty, but thin enough that it wasn't too much to eat before the pasta and meat dishes. I liked the extra drizzle of olive oil on top. Of all the other courses, what specifically stood out was the quality of the pasta (although I would have appreciated slightly larger portions). They know what they are doing with pasta...and don't skimp on the butter. The dish with trumpet mushrooms was something else. Actually a bit disappointed in the rabbit dish. The meat could have been more exciting, and the polenta was just eh (but then again, most polenta is just eh, so maybe my fault for ordering). The service was just fine...I'm never very interested in grading service and try not to let it influence an appreciation for what the chef is doing. The sommelier did seem to take himself pretty seriously, but, that's just his job, and I'm sure some people are expecting supreme patronage at restaurants like this. Overall, Osteria was very impressive from start to finish. We had a great evening, and will definitely be back.

    (5)
  • Jill T.

    I've been to Osteria a few times for work events. My first visit wasn't too pleasant. The service was extremely poor. Considering the price of their lunch menu, service should have been outstanding. That being said, the food was amazing. I had the pizza with the octopus and it was the first time I ever had octopus on pizza and it went very well together! My colleagues and I decided to try Osteria a second time, and the food was fantastic once again. I opted to split the Parma Pizza and Bufala Mozzarella Panini with a colleague. I have to say that the prosciutto at Osteria is phenomenal. I recommend any menu item with prosciutto! Must try! The service the second time around was much better as well, and I'll be sure to try Osteria out for dinner sometime, I hope it's as good as their lunch menu!

    (4)
  • Caesar R.

    Went here a few weeks ago on a recent visit back to Philly with another couple. The place was packed at 9pm when we showed up. A great buzz in the restaurant. All the dishes on all the tables looked so appetizing. The service was excellent and all the staff were super friendly. We had great first courses. The wife got the soft shell crab, I got the octopus, a buddy of mine got the house made sausage with maple polenta and fried sunnyside up egg. All of these were great, then the mediocre mains we ordered showed up. The wife got the rabbit with brown butter and polenta, which was terribly dry. My buddy's girlfriend got the chicken liver pasta dish which was ok, but seemed to be a little rich and way to over powered by the liver. My buddy and I split the pepperoni pizza which was by pizza standards pretty good, but not amazing. The wine list is extensive and great deals are available on the Italian wines. Overall, the place was great and I would go back, but order mostly appetizers.

    (3)
  • Cyn P.

    I cannot say enough about this outstanding restaurant. Ambiance, service and food, all 5 star.

    (5)
  • Arammaru K.

    I decided to be adventurous when going to Osteria. Well.. not too adventurous.. but I decided to order something that I wouldn't normally think of ordering. If I'm going to try a place that looks so nice inside, might as well go the full mile. The interior has a very intimate atmosphere even though it is very spacious. My guess is all the warm and earthy tones of the interior. The wall on the backside of the restaurant looks like a composite of different wood panels of all kinds to give a sort of mosaic feel, while the rest of the building are in a very earthy tone of red. Most of the furniture are wood adding to the atmosphere of the restaurant. Their wine list was very impressive, and I went with a white wine as an aperitif (yes I know it's silly to have alcohol as an appetizer.. but trust me.. it did it's job of making my mouth water) According to my notes, the wine was a Soave DOC wine, and you can't go wrong with an Italian wine. (unless it's DaVinci..) For my meal, I decided to go with the Chicken Liver Rigatoni with Cipolline onions and sage. Now don't get me wrong, I don't think liver is really exotic, I've had it many times, but usually beef liver and it's usually just steamed then eaten with salt or raw with sesame oil, soy sauce ponzu. However, I have never bothered to try Chicken Liver, and especially pasta using grinded chicken liver as the sauce. The rigatoni was cooked just right, al-dente. And although the sauce at first was kind of weird for me because it was grainy, I warmed to it quickly. Great atmosphere, interesting interior, and great food and wine. Osteria was very enjoyable and I look forward to going back again!

    (4)
  • Christina H.

    Anthony Bourdain has recently inspired me to eat things I normally wouldn't want to try: like pig head, pig tails, sweetbreads, pig feet... Etc. Pair that new desire with friends who also appreciate good food you are set for a fantastic epicurean journey at Osteria. Yes, osteria is pricier than other restaurants, but it's also cheaper than the chef menu at Vetri. But if you go to a nice restaurant, plan on spending money some food- this isn't olive garden. We went with 7 people and shared the following dishes: First course: pig tails, two orders of seasonal veggies, salumi plate, sweetbreads, margherita and Lombardo pizza (sausage and egg) Second course: pig feet with ramp tagliatelli, boar bolognese, and cod baked cannelloni. Third course: 3 orders of the suckling pig entrees (special) Dessert: 2 orders of banana puff pastry, chocolate torte, blood orange tarte, gelatos, 3 coffees, 1 espresso 2 bottles of wine Every single dish was awesome. My favorites was pig tail and the bolognese pasta. And it came to $80 per person including tip! It was A Lot of food and took about 3 hours to get through. Totally worth it. My advice, go with great friends who appreciate good food and aren't afraid to try new things. Grab a table in their sunroom. Service was impeccable. All courses came out with perfect timing, the sommelier was helpful, and our water was also filled. Looking back now, I realized I ate a lot of pork in one day. That's what I call I good day!

    (5)
  • Nat M.

    Outstanding service. Great ambience. The food was a bit below the hyped expectations

    (4)
  • Matt B.

    Having heard rave reviews for Osteria, I was eager to enjoy a meal there. And it delivers. I didn't give it five stars because my expectations were likely set too high after so many "oh, man, you have to go there" comments. It breaks down like this... FOOD: Excellent. The flavor combinations were unexpected yet simple. We had a table of seven and shared 5-6 appetizers. The wood grilled octopus was amazing. If I could recommend only one starter, this would be the one. The lemon and chives enhanced the flavor of the octopus perfectly. We tried two raviolis -- the double with chestnuts and duck was the better of two. The brick-oven pizza with meatballs and capers was light and tasty. We also tried the special for the night, which was roasted seasonal vegetables. Nice but not great. On to the entree. I had the grilled venison leg with parsnips, apple and chestnuts. Wow! The meat was gently grilled and really allowed the natural flavor to make its presence felt. The apple puree along with the chestnuts was spot on. WINE: They basically offer only Italians, which is fine. Unfortunately, I only recently started drinking Old World wines and can claim no useful knowledge of Italian varieties. We had a jaw-dropping Brunello. More fruit than I expected, but really just amazing. The Montepulciano we had was nice, too, but not on the same level as the Brunello. SERVICE: Attentive and knowledgeable. I don't remember much other than we were taken care of nicely. That's all I really expect from the service side. PRICE: This was a treat, so I would only visit here once per year. The juice is worth the squeeze. ATMOSPHERE: Loved it. Great energy. Soft lighting. Memorable without taking the focus away from the food. OVERALL: Osteria deserves the hype. You will enjoy a special dining experience.

    (4)
  • Shawn S.

    Amazing meals. The Lombardo pizza was a great start and the roast pork lasgnette delighted the whole table!

    (5)
  • Marcello D.

    My experiences at Osteria have truly been worthy of five stars but I don't feel right doling out the last one as my perspective is skewed. A relative of mine worked at Osteria and my family was treated like royalty whenever we came here. As a result, I feel that it is only right to withhold a star until I'm able to return and dine without the perks. I have probably tried between 15-20 different wines from the list and every single glass I have had was thoroughly enjoyable at a bare minimum. I feel confident saying that Osteria has one of the best wine lists in the area. The sommelier, bartenders, and servers are very knowledgable and, if you prefer to rely upon their expertise, can match up a great wine with your food. Although I think all of their offerings are excellent, it is the pizza that I crave whenever I think about this restaurant. Marc Vetri has done a commendable job at using it as a vehicle for upscale food. The best meal I had here was when I went with a large group and we ordered nearly every pizza on the menu. I highly recommend this approach.

    (4)
  • Scott G.

    Well, since my previous review I have been back to Osteria for an excellent meal, and even more importantly, I spent some time in Italy eating at Italian restaurant. Chalk it up to ignorance, but I judged Osteria harshly for serving its delicious pork with no accompaniment. I had no idea that this is how secondi is routinely done in Italy, and while it still bugs me, it's tough to fault Osteria for true authenticity. So congratulations Osteria, you get another star from a semi-anonymous internet food critic who obviously has more to learn.

    (4)
  • Krystal K.

    I went here last Saturday evening with my mom, brother, and dad who are from out of town. This was all of our first times here. We enjoyed the atmosphere, even were seated in the greenhouse, where you can view fresh herbs and veggies growing in the beds outside. Server was attentive and nice, he also was happy to offer suggestions on their ever changing menu.I ordered a rhubarb fritz for my cocktail (a refreshing vodka mixer w/ fresh rhubarb and strawberry puree) the grilled octopus for my app, suckling pig for my entree, and gellato for dessert. My family ordered the aged rib-eye and halibut. I tried everything except the halibut, but everyone was happy with their choices. Bill ended up being around 300 with only 2 drinks and 2 desserts, and had the night ended there I would have been ok with that. Unfortunately the night had just begun for me. I have a severe MSG allergy and have pretty much distinguished all foods to avoid. Osteria was not at all a place I thought I'd have to ask if they cooked with MSG, being the chef prides himself on living in Northern Italy-therefore translating the palate here. (I've never been to Northern Italy, but I strongly doubt they use MSG in their ingredients there). So for the rest of the weekend and into Monday I spent the entire 2.5 days sick. I wasn't sure which to be more upset about...actually being sick especially over Easter, or realizing that good money doesn't always mean MSG free food. Sadly, this experience has scarred me from going back for anything other than cocktails. The other thing I'm left to wonder is what else is not actually what it may seem...

    (3)
  • Ellen C.

    This entire restaurant is charming - everything from the wine box wall to the wood tabletops was perfect for the ambience. We sat out in the garden atrium area, which was fantastic but it did get a little chilly out there with the A/C turning on every 5-10 minutes or so. We made a reservation for 8:15pm on a Friday night. We arrived about 20 minutes ahead of schedule and were asked to wait at the bar, but were quickly seated a few minutes later for dinner. Our server was great. She had recommendations, smiled throughout service, and the rest of the staff were equally friendly. A welcome change from some of the people we had encountered earlier during our travels through downtown Philly. Our chef friend who recommended this restaurant to us before our Philly trip let us know that they also serve half portions of the pasta, which was great because we wanted to try a wide variety since we knew we wouldn't be back any time soon to enjoy the food on a more regular basis. We wanted to focus on the pizzas and the pastas, since all of our fine Yelp friends suggested that those were the dazzlers of the menu. So all in all we ordered the lombarda pizza (only full orders), beet & goat cheese plin (half order), lardo ravioli with fava beans (half order), and chicken liver rigatoni (half order). For dessert we ordered the budino and the gelato variety. The lombarda pizza was good. The crust was thin and crispy, yet still had a good chew to it with its cheesy goodness. The sausage was really good for and it was just the perfect portions of sauce, cheese, and other ingredients. It's not the best pizza I've ever had but it's a good one! The beet & goat cheese plin (which resemble ravioli) were amazing! The perfect combination of sweet beets and earthy goat cheese was astounding, but despite its deliciousness we wouldn't have been able to eat an entire plate of it. The sweetness, though amazing at first, could quickly become tiresome after an entire plate of nothing else but beetness. The lardo ravioli was alright. The ravioli skin was thin and tender, and the lardo filling was delicious, but the fava beans and the sauce that went with it was a bit overpowering at times. The chicken liver rigatoni I would order again in a heartbeat. Keep in mind I love chicken livers so if you don't like the earthiness of chicken livers then you might not like this dish. But if it helps the liver flavor is subtle. You don't really taste it until you're done with the bite and then it gives you this nice, livery afternote. Delicious!! Of all the dishes we ate that night, this is definitely the one that I would like to try to recreate at home. The desserts were okay, but as a person who loves savory items, I would have preferred to have another plate of pasta over the desserts. The budino was okay, but it wasn't good enough for us to finish. The gelato was better and came in three flavors. They were good but they weren't that impressive compared to the savory items on their menu. If I came back to Philly I would probably come back and get a full plate of chicken liver rigatoni among other things. Small warning though. If you're getting here in a way other than driving yourself, try to stay on Broad Street. We walked there from our hotel (about a mile and a half away) and we took a side street. It was only a couple blocks from Broad Street but once you venture off the main street things become significantly more sketchy.

    (4)
  • Dane F.

    As a resident of Center City but a student at Temple University, I had passed Osteria a number of times in my morning and afternoon commutes and had heard it was a wonderful restaurant, but the thought never crossed my mind to actually eat there. It's awkwardly positioned between the kinda-shady Fairmount Avenue and the even more shady North Philadelphia/Temple University neighborhood, though I suppose it's part of the whole neighborhood revitalization project going on in that area. The service was probably the best thing about my visit to Osteria. We were greeted at the door with warmth and lots of smiles and attentiveness. The maitre d' was extremely friendly and more than understanding when I called him back so I could retrieve my phone from the pocket. There was a short wait for our table but we were informed that it was due to a spill that had occurred and that it was being cleaned up so we would be safe on our way. We were seated in the patio extension area but never felt cut off from the rest of the establishment, and I was even a bit relieved when I saw that this area offered more space and table privacy, where it appeared that in the main room, tables of 2 were awkwardly close to each other. Our server knew EVERYTHING about every item on the menu, as well as the specials. I'm pretty sure I could have asked a ridiculous question about one of the items and she would have had an answer. She was courteous and informative, and even engaged in a fun debate my friend and I were in over Saved by the Bell characters. On to the food. Our appetizer was the mozzarella in carrozza, and it was out-of-this-world. I'm not sure if I'll ever look at a pile of mozzarella sticks the same way after that dish. My first course were the robiola francobolli, "little postage stamp raviolo"...They were flavorful, filling and I had no trouble clearing the entire plate. My second course was the chicken alla griglia which was similarly wonderful and cooked to perfection. Our dessert was the blood orange crostate, which pretty much ended our meal perfectly. My only complaints would be the drink menu. The cocktail list seemed a little short, and my Sicilian Lemonade left something to be desired -- it seemed more like a mojito to me. The rest of the wine list was huge and a little intimidating, though I'm not quite a wine person.

    (4)
  • R L.

    Went for a lunch date, which is always a good way to enjoy great food on a budget. I wasn't really into the red pepper gazpacho. It was served in a single-serving sized all-clad pot, which might have been cute for a hot soup, but didn't really make any sense for something that's not heated anyway. The texture was silky smooth, but that seemed odd for what i'm used to when I hear "gazpacho." I think I just wasn't that into the whole fried anchovies (or were they sardines??) on the side, even though I love anchovies if they're in filet or paste form. that said, our main entrees were incredible!!! My girlfriend got the pasta with chicken liver and it was amazingly rich and perfect. I got the Pulpa pizza, which had octopus, crushed tomatoes, smoked mozzarella, and chile flakes. The mozzarella tasted like campfire which I loved. the crust and tomatoes were perfect. and the octopus is the best i have ever had. tender, amazingly well seasoned, panfried?--we both were overwhelmed with how good it was. service was great, no complaints! we were seated next to but not in the breezeway area, and with the afternoon sun it was really pleasant and relaxing--our day was really hectic but once we walked in for lunch with great ambiance, great service, and amazing food, our moods improved immensely.

    (4)
  • Zachary S.

    Great restaurant. Eaten here many times because of its proximity to my house. The pizzas are stellar. The varieties change every few months or so, but most are fantastic combinations of leafy greens and italian meats. The crust is just right (hand tossed). Pizza is a nice size (~12 inch). My recommendations: Lombarda, Agnello, Lardo, and Parma. All great, great pizzas. The pastas and entrees are delicious as well. Chicken liver rigatoni--awesome. The suckling pig--awesome. Once had a special they had going of foie gras ravioli--double awesome. Most of the entrees are smaller portion size than I would prefer. The wine selection is over my head, because I'm not a wino, but the cocktail selection is pretty solid. The beer selection is average for a place like this.

    (4)
  • Gina C.

    Went with my family to Osteria to celebrate my 21st birthday. Although this was six months ago, I'm still certain I couldn't have spent it better. Cool taverny, brick-walled space (except for the wall facing you when you walk in, made from old wine crates!). Beautifully lit, with perfectly buzzy energy on a weekend night. Pizza oven is open for all in the main dining room to see, and the cooks (would they prefer "chefs"? Let me know, boys...)...wow. They're incredibly cute. Ladies, take a group of girlfriends and enjoy the view. The menu that night offered about a dozen tantalizing options, but none could fairly compete with the 7-month cave-aged beef steak (forgive me, I forget the cut!) with roasted chanterelles. 'Twas a $50 plate, shared most satisfyingly between my mom and I. Also on our table: braised rabbit, veal, all not-too-rich but powerfully flavorful. Portion sizes were on the generous side. The waiter overheard my accidentally external internal dialogue as I furiously spat behind the menu, and sneakily put an order in for the pizza I gave up when I settled on the steak. Sweet corn, fresh mozzarella di bufala and lardons made for an amazing pie. He brought it to the table, winked, and didn't add it to the bill! My family and I were full-bellied and blissful as we indulged in several unnecessary but fantastic desserts that I cannot quite recall. The next time I go to Osteria, it will be to chain myself to something inside so I may appropriate all my waking hours to beg for a job. Written July, 2011 GREAT pizza. And I am not easily impressed (Frank Pepe's of New Haven, CT: still reigns no.1 in my heart). Full menu, but this pizza is not to be passed up. Osteria offers both traditional thin-crust pizza and a napoletana option (a somewhat heftier crust with more chew than crisp). Deep-fried artichoke appetizer, divine.

    (5)
  • Dave M.

    Hip, great service, but seriously lacking in value - the several dishes I sampled were tiny portions, nothing special taste-wise, and overpriced. I would still try this for the ambiance!

    (3)
  • Edward S.

    Osteria is one of those places that upon entering you feel like you're somewhere else. It has a somewhat industrial feel to it and it can be loud inside, but hey, it's full because it's good. This is not the place to go for a quiet contemplative dinner for two. I've been here three times-the last time I went we had the pizza so I can vouch that it is superb. Thin crust, slightly charred from the oven, good ratio of ingredients, totally delicious. (corn, scallion, truffle oil and buffalo mozz is spectacular) Last night we sat at the bar. Immediately after sitting the bartender made an ordering mistake and gave us a surplus order of robiola and mushroom ravioli! The Gods were smiling upon us for patiently waiting and hawking those seats, and rewarded us with those delicate, fluffy pillows of cheesy goodness. We then ordered the pork belly with melon and mint salad. It was an amazing combination of textures, flavors, and temperatures. The pork was warm, salty and half meat to fat and melted in your mouth. The melon was cool and refreshing, and along with the mint and acidic vinaigrette cut the fat of the pork belly. Washed that all down with a glass of Friulano, which paired nicely with that, and our next course... Calamari spaghetti tasted like the sea. The pasta was perfectly cooked, the calamari was chopped and mixed throughout, and the parsley sauce lended a delicious herbal burst of flavor to compliment the salinity of the fish. We lastly ordered the rosemary veal, which was good. Served with nectarines and artichokes maybe? The veal was cooked nicely- the whole dish didn't leave much of an impression with me. We opted to try the polenta budino for dessert- which I have to say I am still thinking about and was probably one of the best desserts I've ever had in my life. Served in a cappuccino cup, the bottom layer was a creamy and slightly sweet polenta pudding specked with vanilla. The natural sweetness of the corn meal really came out with a little sugar and vanilla, and I'm sure a healthy dash of cream. The next layer was a gianduia mousse (chocolate and hazelnut), which was everything that a gianduia candy should be in liquid form. Lastly it was topped with salty and sweet caramelized toasted hazelnuts. The combination of creamy, chocolatey, toasted nut, salty and sweet flavors were absolutely delicious. I really regret not licking the cup.

    (5)
  • Percy N.

    As good as Italian food gets outside of Italy. Don't confuse this cuisine with AMerican-Italian cuisine as you will not see any "parmasean" or "red gravy" on the menu. Instead your tastebuds will rejoice when introduced to thin crisp crusted, brick oven pizza with toppings of truffle, parma, etc (I recommend the parma and lombard, which has an egg crack on it before it is baked). Pasta dishes include wild boar, store made sausage, rabbit, quail, etc. If you are lucky, they will offer a special of roast suckling pig. For dessert I recommend the budinio (sweet polenta with caramel coated hazelnuts) and chocolate flan. Service is usually good and they have a good selection of Italian wines.

    (5)
  • Kati G.

    Thanks Food Network for yet another mediocre food experience. My sister was hot on this place and we walked and walked and walked after spending a half our on the train to get to this place.... It's in the middle of the ghetto, the surrounding area was disgusting and once we finally got there...it was a disappointment to say the very least. The atmosphere was great and the restaurant itself was very pretty...like an oasis in a sea of filth....the food however...was highly overpriced and just "ok". After a day of traveling and anticipation...this place did not live up to the hype.

    (1)
  • Michelle E.

    What I loved about this place is that the meal was well-paced and they did not rush us out even though it was a Saturday night. Now on to the food. We started the with mozzarella in carrozza. It was tasty, but a little eggy. If you're not a fan of fried egg batter, this may not be for you. We also did the salumi platter which was tasty and had a good assortment of meats. We ordered the Parma pizza and the francobolli pasta. The pizza was extremely crunchy and was difficult to eat using a fork and knife. It's listed as pizza Napoletana, but it really isn't. While it was good, it didn't have the pillowy, soft texture that a true Napoletana pizza, and thus left me slightly disappointed. The pasta was soft, tender and very tasty. Unfortunately, we find the better pasta dishes getting smaller in many places. I'd prefer that they'd charge a few dollars more, but at least let you leave full. We ended with the chocolate flan, which was more of a chocolate molten cake and nothing like a flan. We also had the polenta budino. While it was definitely tasty, the polenta part was a little too much. The proportion of mousse to polenta should be made equal because by the 3rd spoon of the thick cornmeal dessert, it almost becomes difficult to eat. Cappuccino was well made and designed with a heart. I'd definitely return in the future.

    (4)
  • james r.

    Good, not amazing. margarita pizza was fresh and satisfying. finished with the pan fried calfs tongue and chicken liver rigatoni, both over salted. prob wouldnt go back

    (3)
  • David A.

    Fantastic food. Not my choice of locations but the dining room and quality of food make it worthwhile. Pizza is top shelf.

    (4)
  • Loy G.

    fancy italian fit for a special occasion. it's become somewhat of a tradition to treat my girlfriend to a nice italian place on her birthday. she loves good italian food and now she's got me addicted to fresh pasta. our first experience with a vetri restaurant since moving to philly didn't disappoint. our appetizers were elegant and filling. grilled octopus salad was nicely charred with a touch of lemon zest. salad special of the day was a mix of perfectly prepared veggies (dressed arugula, red and yellow beets, charred brussel sprouts, parsnips, salted tomatoes and roasted peppers). for our mains, fresh pasta of course. the wild boar bolognese and chicken liver rigatoni delivered large rustic bowls of light al dente pastas in rich flavorful sauces. in retrospect, we would have been totally content with half portions. desserts were recommended by our extremely attentive waiter. pumpkin tiramisu and chocolate flan lava cake with a scoop of pistachio gelato. we cleaned our plates. our waiter also picked up on the birthday celebration remarks and brought out an extra scoop of vanilla bean ice cream with a candle. nice touch. thanks osteria for making it a special birthday dinner to remember for my girlfriend.

    (5)
  • Ramen F.

    Ambiance: It is a little weird that the restaurant is split into two separate sections with the kitchens in between. I felt a little like I was being hidden in the backroom. Otherwise, the ambiance is nice with simple rustic italian touches (carved wooden bowl for bread). Service: Very good. I may have been paranoid, but it did seem that the server was deigning himself in serving us. While he did not create a personal connection with me and my fellow diners - he was very attentive and my water glass must have been refilled a dozen times. Waiter was kind about explaining parts of the menu that we were not familiar with. Food: It is true - the pizza is very good. It is probably the best pizza that I have had in Philadelphia. The best pizza I have ever had is from Pizza Mozza in Los Angeles - but this is a decent second place. The wood grilled octopus was delicious on my Polpo pizza. I understand that they leave the pieces of octopus big to maintain the beauty, but I ended up getting gigantic mouthfuls of octopus. I would have prefered smaller pieces so that I could have it throughout my pizza and I could savor the flavor better. The wild hare ragu with parpadelle was delicious. The sweetbreads were delish! Overall: I would definitely come here again for the food. But, I would keep in mind that the waitstaff and restaurant has a bit of a hoity character.

    (4)
  • Theresa C.

    Wow! What an amazing restaurant. My family and I drove up to Philadelphia for a special birthday weekend and we celebrated at Osteria. This was possibly one of the best Italian places on the east coast. The restaurant was unpretentious and very warm. We had a great roasted vegetable platter and I had ravioli with beets and a luscious cream sauce. The kids had the pizza and my husband had the fettuccine with mushrooms. The meal was outstanding and the service was amazing. What a great place to spend a birthday.

    (5)
  • Dan S.

    We started off with the polpa and pannocchia pizzas between the three of us. Very good and I recommend trying them both. I moved on to the whole veal shoulder roasted in hay with peaches and pistacchio. It may have been a smidgen over done, but it was nonetheless delicious and something I'd recommend. My dining partners chose east coast cobia with fregola and green beans/pork milanese with arugula, lemon and parmigiano. The pork was definitely traditional (boring?). All in all a good experience with pleasant, attentive serving staff, a nice menu, and a pleasing atmosphere.

    (4)
  • bhanu V.

    Definately the best Italian Restraunt That I have been to in Philly, Suggest that you start with the Wood grilled Octopus, that was the highlight of the evening.

    (5)
  • christian C.

    Went here for lunch as part of a party of 10. Had the agnello pizza, which was less interesting than expected. The lamb sausage lacked zip. I think peppery arugala would have been been better than the mustard greens, which also was surprisingly bland. For $20 I certainly expected more. Drinks too were quite expensive. The space was nice but the service was spotty at best - intrusive at the wrong moment, and MIA when wanted. Considering the costs, Osteria offered a poor value.

    (2)
  • Rachel B.

    Osteria has nutella pizza. Yes. It rocked my world. It's on the kids lunch menu, but they'll still make it for you if you're over 12 years old or are there for dinner.

    (5)
  • Judith C.

    Finally! Delicious pizza in Philadelphia. The space is cavernous, but manages to remain homey and warm. There is a huge glass covered patio that I am sure is gorgeous on a warm summer day. We ordered randomly about the menu, some secondi, contorni, pizza and antipasti, and structured it as we wanted, and there was no problem with that. Everything was delicious. The mozzarella in carrozza was really fantastic - so crispy on the outside, gooey on the inside, with a great salty finish, and the chef was quite accommodating with my request to add an egg to my Margarita Pizza (I picked up this habit at Roberta's in Brooklyn. Try it.) The Artichokes alla Giudia were perfectly crisped and browned as dark as possible without burning. The only issue, and this was minor, as we really did have a lovely meal and lovely evening, was that our server was not exactly awesome - appeared to be about 17 and didn't seem experienced or professional. Sweet, but overly eager and a bit awkward. We had to fight to hold onto our cheese plate, and our conversations were abruptly interrupted occasionally. It wasn't a problem, and didn't ruin our meal, but given the standards for all other elements in the restaurant, it was a bit out of place.

    (4)
  • Erica M.

    The food here was great, but it couldn't compensate for the terrible service. We were stuck at a table in a terrible location right next to the server station, despite the fact that my bf made reservations weeks in advance for my birthday. We ordered a bottle of wine with our meal and when the check came, I peeked at it over the table. First time, the wine wasn't included. So the waitress adjusted the bill, and then it seemed surprisingly high. Turns out, we were charged for a bottle more than $20 higher in price than ours. When we brought it to our waitress's attention, she was apologetic. My bf asked her if the sommelier told her that's the bottle we had and she responded, "No, I just guessed." Who GUESSES as to what bottle of wine a customer has? I emailed the restaurant to tell them about my experience, and did not receive a response after 4 weeks. I then printed the email and MAILED it to them. Finally, 2 weeks after that, I got a letter in the mail with a brief apology and asking me to come back to the restaurant (but not on their dime). Thanks, but no thanks. There are way better places in this city.

    (2)
  • Ryan P.

    Get ready for a wishy woshy review that shouldn't help you make any decisions whatsoever. I reluctantly went back on Sunday. The food was much better because we stuck to a pizza, three pastas, and the vegetable antipasta. These were all simple dishes done well. While I like the pizzas at the other trendy pizzarias around town better, I did enjoy the one we ordered with the golden raisins. The food was good. The service was amazing from our server and the sommelier spend a nice amout of time with us. I think my expectations of the place are so low, they could only go up from here. I previously rated them a 1, they are now a 3. I like the rustic decor more than the taste of the food.

    (3)
  • Heather C.

    I am in no rush to go back to Osteria. The food was great, but definitely pricey. I agree with Erin A's review -- I paid about $75 for a pizza, 1/2 an app and splitting one of the less expensive bottles of wine. What really struck me is the astmosphere --something about it just felt wrong, too industrial, too forced, and the too-small table for two sealed the deal.

    (3)
  • Derek C.

    I went Osteria for the 3rd time last night and for the for the 3rd time have been overly impressed. The service... They were able to anticipate every need we had. They knew what we needed before we knew it and by the time we figured it out, they were there ready to be of service. For example,we were early for our reservation so we went to the bar as we waited. There were no seats but after a few seconds, and I mean seconds, a bar tender came out from behind the bar to give us a bar menu and took our order. After the greeter let us know that our table was ready, the bar tender was out with the bill so we could settle up. She even graciously asked if she could hold our jackets while we signed the bill. The Food. As always, the food was excellent. I'm amazed at some of the reviews on here. There is a Menu full of amazing rustic Italian dishes and people order the most basic Pizza and give the restaurant 3 stars because they don't see what everyone was raving about. ??? I had a dish of fried Mozzarella with cold plum tomatoes that was very delicious but also very heavy. I also had a pasta dish with pork, cabbage and orange zest which was also fantastic. Now here is wear Osteria really impressed me. The meal was taking to come out longer than they thought it should. We we were fine and were enjoying the conversation and not really thinking that things were taking too long. Even so, our server brought out a simple plate of ravioli with thyme and mushrooms for us to share. I think I enjoyed the ravioli more than I did my main course. Then....to further apologize for something to which we had not even taken offense, they brought out a tray with four different desserts, gelato, a pine nut torte, a pastry shell with banana cream a passion fruit cheesecake. This was all to apologize. We were blown away! We asked for coffee and told the waitress we were going to pay for it. All in all, a great experience! We will definitely come back again!

    (5)
  • Brian P.

    You know its a good place when another restaurant takes it staff here to celebrate the holidays ...We were fortunate enough to spend last Sunday eating in the Kitchen at Osteria family style..It was top notch..Obviously the pasta and pizza shined the most (wasnt a huge fan of the cuddle fish), but overall it was just a truly great experience..Vetri restaurants are never cheap, but price and should always be relative, and at this place it is..Great experience to try for a mid size group..

    (5)
  • Natalie B.

    Had a great first experience at Osteria tonight. I'm not usually blown away by the interior/decor of a restaurant, but everything about Osteria- from the wall of wine boxes, to the windowed ceilings, to the exposed brick walls- is impressive. Our server, Zeke, was equally impressive- he made a great wine recommendation (Sangiovese), and was able to explain several of the dishes in great detail. Specifically, he described one fo the nightly specials (a cabbage-stuffed papparedelle) in such a way that I could almost visualize it before ordering. Our plan for the night was to share an app and a pizza, so we ended up with the grilled octopus, squid ink cavatelli, and the lombarda-- all of which were amazing. The ragu with the cavatelli was incredible, but I have to say the octopus was my favorite dish of the night. It was perfectly grilled (Zeke explained that its tenderness is due to 4 hours of braising), and had a nice charcoal- crispness about it. I will absolutely be trying other Vetri restaurants soon!!

    (5)
  • Pierre L.

    Since it's restaurant week in Philadelphia, some of my other places that I wanted to try were fully booked and I had to find somewhere else to take my customer to. I did a search on OpenTable and Osteria showed up. This is a good place to eat at. Pretty close to downtown area (I think it's downtown), Osteria definitely has a great restaurant vibe and for some reason reminds me of Zibbibo back home. It could be the wooden tables or the somewhat open kitchen but either way this is a good place to dine at. Our waitress was very good, checking in on us at the appropriate times, recommending certain dishes and making sure we had fresh ice tea before we finished our glasses. I ordered the grilled octopus which came in the form of squid legs. It's been awhile since I had good grilled squid legs and this one definitely qualifies as a good one. Perfectly salted with a bit of oil and greens, it was a great way to start my meal. Since I've been yearning for pasta I opted to do two half order of pastas. Yep, I know I'm awesome like that. I got the corn cavatelli and chicken liver rigatoni. They were both good but not as good as the waitress says (I think she was basically telling me they were the best) and maybe this is because I've had Michael White's squid ink pasta with bits of seafood and spicy bread crumbs. Anyway let's not get off track with my second love. The chicken liver rigatoni came with pieces of mashed up chicken liver that covered the pasta up. Half order is the perfect size because this can definitely be filling. I was a bit disappointed because I was hoping for something like chicken liver mousse which I thought would be a better combination. The corn cavatelli was lighter and balanced the two pastas well. I was thinking should I mix it together? My customer ordered the mozzarella in corrozza which he said his grandma used to make and it brought up memories. He ordered the pork and finished it within minutes. If food brings up memories and a big piece of pork is finished within minutes, it's got to be good. For dessert he ordered the lavender mousse and I couldn't resist so I took a bite. It didn't have enough lavender flavor for me and had hints of other flavor which I could not pin point. I had the white wine poached pear with brown sugar gelato. A tasty dessert but it was a bit too sweet for me. All in all, it was a very good meal. I'll definitely come back when I'm in Philly next time.

    (4)
  • Will W.

    The duck was amazing, brilliantly cooked medium rare - actually a bit on the raw side which I so love...and it was served on top of this delicious red cabbage and speck... I'm tempted to give it 5 stars just because I loved that one entree so much, but I couldn't because I tried several appetizers that were guilty of being too small/not filling, and also not so tasty. We tried the rabbit sausage, which was somewhat tasty, but just so tiny - I hate feeling like I'm getting ripped off. That mullet fish was also overly fishy... The mushrooms topping the seabass were delicious, and the seabass was pretty good too. I like unique mushrooms. the vegetable medley was delicious... heavily recommended for the way they cook those brussel sprouts + the swiss chard. The prosciutto pizzas were ok, but not worthy of the incredible praise they seem to be getting; then again, I'm not much of a pizza person, and I like those really thick pizzas, so maybe it's just a personal thing.

    (4)
  • Jessica S.

    I ate here recently for a friend's birthday. The location and the decor did nothing to add any sense of authenticity to the restaurant. Although the natural light was pleasant and bringing the kitchen out of the back room and into the main dining area made for a more relaxed environment, there was still a sense of unnecessary pretentiousness. Everything from the walls to the floors to the furniture reminded me of an upscale but bland Italian restaurant in the middle of suburbia where authenticity and creativity are outlawed. The wine list was very extensive but I can't remember seeing any bottles for less than $45-$50 and the prices increased very quickly once past the entry level choices. The service however, was excellent. For better or worse (I maintain better) my wine glass never got anywhere close to empty! I wasn't extremely hungry and so split an appetizer (goat cheese gnocchi) and had the lamb. Although both were excellent (as were the octopus and pork that I tried) they lacked that "wow" factor that I would expect for a restaurant of this level. I guess you could say they do basic dishes extraordinarily well but I've would like them to take a few more risks in their use of ingredients and presentation.

    (2)
  • Joy C.

    As a fan (maybe even groupie) of Vetri, Osteria is a place that we're able to visit more regularly than it's pricey counterpart. Some of the freshest, most delicate pasta I've ever had. The pizzas, charcuterie plates, and desserts are delicious.The Silician lemonade (made with limoncello) is the best cocktail I've ever had and perfect for those who don't like to taste the alcohol in your drinks. While it's hard to get a table without a reservation, they usually have bar seating available which works well for a party of 2 in the mood for great food without having had planned too far ahead for it. Marc Vetri (and his staff) are amazing, talented and completely worthy of all the praise (multiple Best of Philly's) received recently. Final thoughts... Go there for consistently excellent service, chic rustic ambience, and forward-thinking Italian cuisine. And, it won't break the bank.

    (5)
  • Thomas G.

    The Italian food here was not the Chicken Parmigiana type of Italian that we are all use to. This food was truly a wonderful melody of dishes cooked in a rustic, non typical "American Italian" way.... Outstanding. We had 4 appetizers and 5 entrees for 4 people and all 7 dishes were Cooked, seasoned and presented in a way that dreams are made of. No 2 were alike nor shared many ingredients, we savored every bite of every dish. The 2 bottles of Italian wine that were recommended were very good as well. As far as dessert.... When I asked our server,"Which is the must have dessert" and she said,"they are all great", I must say I didn't believe her 100%. She was correct!!! The desserts lived up the the Entrees... What a place!!

    (5)
  • Paul C.

    after hearing from my friends about this place...decided to try out...well...right from beginning...our server was just rude...he didnt even say hi...he just came up gave us menu...and he remained that way for the rest of the evening...now comes food...chicken liver rigatoni was amazing...but it was on bit of salty side...other appetizers...veal tongue and robiola...was also just OK...ended up ordering the daily special...slow roasted pork as my entree...which was so so bad...absolutely ZERO taste...poor presentation...must say...not going back here ever again...

    (3)
  • Carl C.

    Every review I read lately I think everyone tries to be a critic... trying to break down every dish they have and run home to their Mac and log onto Yelp, it takes away from the experience guys.. It's like people break down the sauce that was served on the ravioli's like they are writing for Saveur Magazine. "The sauce was creamy, rich, but delicate and spicy with a ting of lemon zest that left my tongue craving for more" Give it a rest. ... I just say, "shit was good and I couldn't stop eating it" Osteria is good, real good, not great. No misses on anything I ate and I have been here a few times. Last night was the old mans birthday dinner. We had a few pizzas, the antipasti, and pasta. The food is very spot on and in my opinion this place is as good as Vetri(see my review) for about 1/3 of the price. Service is better at Vetri but I like how there is a bar here. Bottom line, high end Italian that is not cheap but prob top 3 Italian restaurants in the city.

    (4)
  • Jess B.

    postage stamp ravioli!! #epic sit at the chef's table!

    (5)
  • Levi H.

    First let me say I loved the zucca pizza we had as a starter. It was flavorful and cooked to perfection. For my main course I selected the Roasted Pig at the recommendation of our server. I found it to be a bit flavorless and greasy. This came as a big disappointment after such a good start. My dinner date ordered pasta and was perfectly happy without being blown away by it. I also found the wine list to be a bit lacking in selection and price. The service was quite friendly and the atmosphere was nice. Maybe next time I'll stick to cocktails and pizza. Worth another try.

    (3)
  • Evan W.

    Very nice atmosphere, but the pasta stole the show! Best pasta I've ever had. You've gotta try for yourself!

    (5)
  • L. D.

    Visited on 7/17/12 & 7/23/12. Osteria was another restaurant on my Philly to do list. The first time around I deviated from what my list recommended and ventured out and ordered the special.... Spit roasted pig w/ rosemary potatoes. You received a decent amt of pork and a whooping 5 cubed quarters of potatoes. I had to laugh out loud at how ridiculous these 5 lonely potatoes looked on the plate. I was underwhelmed and wouldn't get this dish again. I left kicking myself that I didn't get the Margherita Pizza that was raved about. That's what I get for deviating from my list !! I had a chance to redeem myself on 7/23 and ordered the margherita pizza. Yes, it was good and you could taste the difference good olive oil and fresh ingredients offer. Was it good enough to keep me going back and paying $15 bucks a pop for it... I would have to say no. For the $, I'm going back to Barbuzzo every time.

    (3)
  • Jimmy P.

    Superb Italian restaurant. Ate the quail appetizer and the polenta/moose/hazelnut dessert (sounds strange, but very tasty.) The outdoor patio is quieter than the interior restaurant.

    (4)
  • Kelly S.

    I went here once, recently, for a celebratory dinner, and I have to say, I really like this place. My only gripe is that it's too expensive for me to eat there on a normal basis, but that's only because I'm a poor grad student and I can't afford to go out to eat most places... Anyway, Osteria is a classy restaurant, is totally gorgeous inside, and the owners are among the brave pioneers trying to revive N. Broad Street. The place even has a sommelier, who is very nice and seemed very attentive to the people who could actually afford wine. I contented myself with my favorite beer - Duchesse du Burgogne, a Flemish sour which I was surprised they had. They have a decent beer selection, and the wine selection is, of course, really good. Aside from cool decor and upscale ambiance, the food was fantastic. My boyfriend and I split a pizza as an appetizer, which was thin and crispy like pizzas are made in Italy. It had cheese on it with fresh arugula and prosciuto - delicious! Next came the main course. I got oven-baked skate with crispy capers and parsnip puree. I had never had skate before, and it was amazing! It's a flaky white fish (resembling a small stingray when it's alive), and Osteria cooked it to perfection. I'd definitely eat that again. My boyfriend got lamb, which was also very good, but I liked the skate better. Last came dessert - a little molten chocolate cake with pistacchio gelato. Yum. If I had money, I'd eat here all the time (and not only because it's about a block from my apartment). I could live off their pizza, which is heads and shoulders above normal pizza. If I were a business person, I'd definitely take clients here. A+ in my book.

    (5)
  • Steve V.

    A bit out of the Center City area, this place has the same feel. A great bar scene, their dining experience is excellent as well. The service we had was one the best ever. Specials were clearly explained and the menu had lots of variety. The only thing that would make this place better would be if it were a BYO.

    (4)
  • Bill A.

    Osteria ranks as one of the finest dining experiences I've ever had. I was in attendance with a large group so there was much food ordered and sampled in typical tapas fashion. The service was excellent, glasses of water and wine topped off as soon as either glass was nearly empty - and I never had to ask. Appetizers were a marinara pizza and another one with arugula and prosciutto. Bother were fantastic, with a thin flaky crust. Next we ordered a vegetable tray with an assortment of different things, what stood out to me here was the seared brussels sprouts. Finally for the appetizers we had a cheese plate that was also enjoyable, although I don't know the names of the cheeses, they were all delicious. My first of two courses was chicken liver rigatoni with cipolline onions and sage. I've never had chicken liver before but this was outstanding. My second dish was rabbit with pancetta, sage,and polenta (grits). The rabbit was pretty good, very "bony" but I'm told that's to be expected. Dessert was the cantucci sundae vin santo marinated almonds (taken directly from the menu: osteriaphilly.com/menu ). Basically vanilla custard with almonds and this kind of wine sauce. Very good! I had an Italian red wine throughout the meal, selected by one of the more knowledgeable wine drinkers at the table and it, too, was excellent. Taken in consideration with the friendly and attentive staff, our nearly 4 hour dinner didn't feel long enough.

    (4)
  • Liz M.

    I had been dying to go to Osteria for months so when my brother's and my birthdays rolled around in February, it was chosen as our spot to celebrate. Now I know that it is now August, and while some of you may think my memory may be failing me, a few key things stuck out that made me want to write this review even months after. There were only 5 of us at dinner and we had a reservation so we were ushered right to our table. On the most random note I will include in this review, I found the floor of the main dining room to be extremely slippery. I was wearing heels, but no other place in the city that night (or any other night for that matter) seemed to give me such a problem. Maybe I am just being crazy. My dad, little brother, and I were seated and waited for my mother and brother #2. While waiting we ordered drinks and looked over the menu. I ordered the lemonade (the adult version which I cannot remember the name of) and my father a glass of wine. The rest of our party showed up quickly and we began to order. Our waitress had no real recommendations to make, but my brothers and i wanted to try to octopus. We knew it was a small plate, but never did we expect it to be that small. And there were 5 of us at the table, the least the waitress could have done was suggest we might want two. We gladly would have ordered two at once. When serving our appetizers our waitress carried out one of my BIGGEST restaurant pet peeves. I had not completely finished my lemonade, and at the price it was I was savoring it. While placing down our plates, she must have picked up my drink WITHOUT ASKING IF I WAS DONE AND WITHOUT THE GLASS BEING EMPTY. When I went for it I was beyond annoyed and angry. It was hardly long enough into the meal for me to have finished a whole drink in the first place, and all she had to do as ask and I would have been fine telling her I was going to hang onto it for a while longer. I would have even ordered another, but was so annoyed I switched to drinking the bottle of wine my parents ordered. Another thing I noticed within the first 15 minutes of being there was a man, who I am assuming was the floor manager (correct me if wrong) kept almost 'spying' on our table. It was a Friday night, so yes it was busy. But we had literally just sat down, if you were waiting for a table to open, it obviously wasn't going to be us. We were sitting near the back of the back room, so it was very obvious every time he came by. And he came by every ten minutes. For the next two hours. I have never felt more unwelcome, or more like they wanted to get us out of there as fast as possible anywhere else. Ever. And we were having a large meal, so its not like we were not ordering and just sitting there. Aside from the service and hawk watching over our table, the food was ok. I ordered one of the pizzas and it was fantastic. Brother #1 and Brother #2 both ordered the ravioli, which was just ok, but incredibly small portions. It was listed as an entree so they were a little upset it was so small. I gladly shared my pizza with them and everyone was then happy. My parents both had one of the specials and while they were good, they were way over priced for what they were. I'm sorry I cannot remember all the details, but I think it shows that the only things I can really remember were the bad things about this meal. Not only would we have gladly ordered more food, had our waitress been around more often, but we were so annoyed by the man constantly hoovering by our table watching us eat that we just wanted to get out of there. Osteria was a huge letdown and I don't think I will be going back anytime soon.

    (2)
  • Erin A.

    We anxiously awaited the opening of this restaurant since it was a mere 2 blocks from our house. Call us unprepared, but when we first went the prices were shocking. I have never been to Vetri but Osteria was billed as the affordable little brother. I guess I was expecting something actually affordable. You can go in and get a pizza and some pasta and make it out for a reasonable amount. But I dont want to pay $75 for pizza and an appetizer. But the space is pretty cool, and the food is mostly house-made. I was amazed when the waiter went over the list of what they made in-house. They have a regular bar and a bar near the kitchen, but there's a big wall up that you stare at between you and the kitchen so its not really that cool. I know they now have a patio between them and the church along Broad street which I haven't checked out but it looks neat. There are plenty of potted plants to drown out Broad street. Reservations are essential especially now that James Beard gave it best new restaurant. Check it out for yourself, especially if you like authentic Italian but be prepared to spend a lot.

    (3)
  • Perri E.

    After having a devine, elegant and amazing meal at Vetri, I have to say I was dissappointed. Osteria was ok; but truly I expected something entirely different....a laid back, rustic Vetri. Instead I got a half-a**ed Vetri. Wanting for a nice, dry white wine for a hot Fourth of July dinner, the sommelier sugggested something too fruity at first and then a Pinot Blanc that was a bit too thin....(Iron Hill's Concannon Sauvignon Blanc was better and that's not a compliment....especially at $64 a bottle...). The pizze were fabulous and my swordfish was good, but after spending $100 pp I truly thought I should be in heaven....alack alas, I was merely on North Broad looking for fireworks.....

    (2)
  • Kathy L.

    Great restaurant with authentic but creative Italian dishes, but a bit overpriced and perhaps over-hyped every since Philadelphia magazine listed it as #1 in it's top 50 restaurants. This place is worth going to juts for the Lombarda pizza - a thin crispy and smoky crust with sausage, bitto cheese (which tastes like very good mozzarella), and a delicious poached egg with liquid egg yolk that compliments the rest of the toppings perfectly. Definitely the best dish of my night. None of the pastas seemed that inspired and my ravioli with brown butter sauce was rich and delicious, but wasn't the creative or spectacular dish that I was expecting. Finally, the entree I got was the rabbit. I really shouldn't have gotten this dish, because I KNOW rabbit tastes like chicken and I always try to avoid getting chicken at nice restaurants, but my date really wanted to try this. It was braised and served over polenta which was thick and soft and very creamy. I actually enjoyed the polenta more than the rabbit, which a bit dried and yes, tasted like chicken. Overall, a decent meal, but I wouldn't call it the best restaurant in Philadelphia. Osteria should be treated like an italian osteria... go for the pizzas (which are definitely great) and maybe a salad or an appetizer and a drink or two.

    (3)
  • Stephen T.

    As defined by wikipedia (my Godsend) - an osteria is an an Italian-style eating establishment where the emphasis is generally placed on maintaining a steady clientele rather than on haute cuisine. Osteria in Italian literally means a place where the owner "hosts" people. Food is generally regional and prepared with local recipes, and often served at shared tables. I've always been sort of an awards whore - and the realization that two James Beard award winners would have in some sort of way be preparing my meal made me giddy. With the above definition of an osteria in mind, and thoughts of Vetri and Michaud, I gleefully skipped to my dining destination with visions of Italian grandmothers pinching me on my cheeks and immediately being greeted like a regular (even though I had no previous interaction with the two culinary giants). I'm not of Italian descent so I knew my imagery was horribly and impossibly incorrect, but hey, maybe Marc and Jeff would pinch my cheeks? While my imagery of an osteria never came to be - what did happen was this: I was delighted and almost humbled by the food. My dining companion and I, both eight tentacled invertebrate lovers upon seeing the octopus appetizer on the menu, locked eyes and knew that we would be ordering the octopus. And so we did. It arrived on a luscious light bed of greens (argulua I believe), pillowy and star-like starchy potatoes, and of course a brilliantly slightly charred grilled octopus. While this octopus antipasti didn't blow me away in creativity of well newfound and undiscovered tastiness, the technical precision and use of ingredients was brilliant. When tasted separately, the individual components were just average, forgettable; however, as a whole the synergetic combination of the greens, potato, and octopus made the dish shine. The greens, potato, and the ever-present-when-fish-is-around lemon strongly complemented and made the octopus all it could be. Next, came the primavera pizza. I don't know why I ordered the primavera, I love my vegetables, but I don't like white pies - which is what the primavera was. Given my stupidity, I can't give a fair assessment of the quality of the pie - I can only assume that people won't knowingly order something that they know they won't like. And while it was tasty for a white pie, it was still a white pie and I'm a red pie man. I love my tomatoes. Next came the star of the meal, the octopus ravioli. I've had fresh pasta before, but I've never experienced pasta like the one I had at Osteria. People say that truly great food should melt in your mouth. You don't need to to chew; the food simply melt like butter does in the hot sun. Osteria's masterful ravioli gave me a new sensation; the pasta quickly melted upon leaving me desperate for more. I'd write a more vivid description but I like to think that yelp is a family friendly website, not a website for me to post erotic stories about food. Marc Vetri, Jeff Michaud, I hate you both, you've spoiled my future pasta experiences (but please sir, can I have some more? PLEASE!) Service: Average. We had to wait longer than I'd like to inorder to order, but nothing disastrous happened. My water hovered around near empty several times, but I never encountered a situation where I felt thirsty and was left with nothing to drink. Wine was unmemorable but what do you expect when you order a glass of the house white? Let's go back to the definition of the osteria. There were no grandma's cooking my meals - there were terrifically trained chefs at work who were hard at work cooking my meal (and sadly no sight of Jeff or Marc). There was no rush of warm wind that brightened my mood and warmed me up as I walked through the doors of Osteria, but nonetheless, it was a fantastic meal. Although the food was delicious, the service was a bit lacking and the feeling of the restaurant didn't match the feel of a traditional osteria. The service wasn't warm and inviting - the server was sometimes cold and standoffish - our server didn't inspire that warm and fuzzy feeling that a real osteria should have. Furthermore, there were inconsistences in the ambiance of the restaurant. While most of the servers and chefs wore simple aprons and promoted a sense of casualness - notably amongst the staff were several members wearing formal attire. Didn't ruin the night of course, but created an ambivalent atmosphere. Four stars.

    (4)
  • Ivy L.

    We went because of the Mark Summers, best thing i ever ate, review. It was a nice night out, the Sicilian Lemonade was great. My food was a little on the oily side, my boyfriend enjoyed his meal more then I did. I would give it another try!

    (3)
  • Jessica C.

    I came here for my birthday, and had a great time. The atmosphere was easy on the eyes. There were huge sunflowers everywhere and wooden wine crate sides on one of the walls. The only complaint I would have is how close our table was between the other tables, but you get that sometimes in crowded, busy restaurants, I guess. For an appetizer we had the cape may salt oysters with cucumber spaghettini and raspberries. It was amazing. It came with 5 oysters and the flavor from the juices was very tangy and fresh. For my meal I got the spaghetti alla carbonara with corn, chives and ricotta salata. I didn't know what to expect with corn in my pasta but it was phenomenal. The spaghetti tasted homemade and the carbonara sauce wasn't too heavy. Very delicious. My date got the rabbit in polenta, and it was cooked perfectly. The only complaint were there were a lot of small bones in there to pick out but he worked around it and it was great mixed with the polenta with brown butter. There was a mix up with the desert; I had ordered cheesecake for us to split and the waiter forgot to put a candle in it (my date had tried to sneakily tell him to surprise me with a candle). The cheesecake was okay; it was kind of grainy feeling but had a nice flavor. When the waiter realized he forgot the candle he came back with two more deserts on the house, both with candles in them. One of them was a sorbet that was delicious and the other was polenta budino with gianduia, which was great as well. It had a chocolate mousse on top that made it perfect. I really enjoyed eating here, I would be very happy to go back.

    (5)
  • M J.

    Celebrated our anniversary at Osteria. It did not disappoint. The antipasta consisting of an assortment of pickled veggies was an excellent starter. This was followed by the wild boar pasta, also delicious! My husband was content with the rib-eye. I feasted on the pear and cheese stuffed ravioli; it was a perfect blend of sweet and savory. The dessert and drink were the forgettable parts of the meal. The fried dough with red wine dessert was sour. It's a taste I haven't acquired, but my husband didn't mind it. The mixed drink I had consisting of fresh squeezed orange juice tasted more like grapefruit juice due to its bitterness. My husband wasn't thrilled with his manhattan. He said the proportions were not right. The bartender must have had an off night. The service more than made up for any downsides. The waitress removed the dessert from our bill and replaced my drink with a different one. We had a memorable anniversary and will be back.

    (4)
  • Kevin M.

    There is no better pasta in Philadelphia. Next time I go to Osteria I am just going to order every pasta on their menu and die a happy - and full - man.

    (4)
  • Don R.

    Having DJ'd off Broad st. in a few choice neighborhoods near Cambria and Germantown in North Philly, I'm surprised at other reviews saying this location is less than desireable. This in fact is quite Disneyland like in contrast. We had a great time at this place and thoroughly enjoyed our meal. We started with a pizza with an egg on it which initially had me scratching my head but it proved to be quite delicuious. Next with a Feasant lasagna, which at first I thought my taste gamey buit was very chicken like and moist. Service was adept and attentive. Overall great...but not over the top amazing.

    (3)
  • Chelsea T.

    I would select 3.5 stars if possible. We've been there a few times, all when a good friend of ours was working (but not serving us). Sitting at the bar was always a great experience, and perhaps we were a bit pampered. I particularly love any of their Lambrusco wines to drink with any pizza or pasta. A couple weeks ago we made reservations for a table, and it was probably the most ridiculously aloof service I have received thus far in Philly. I asked our server if the Lambrusco were available by bottle, and if so, what it was priced at (the selection rotates). He said, 'Uh, I think it's like $56, but I'll let you know if it's not,' and immediately walked away. A couple minutes later, another server comes by with an entire bottle which she was in the middle of opening for us. Not a huge deal that I didn't confirm that I wanted the wine, as I'll drink anything, but it was awfully assumptive of the waiter to think I was cool with an ambiguously priced bottle. So we move on. At this point I feel like I'm in a cafeteria--the tables really packed together, the wait staff dropping plates on the table as though they were too hot to handle. We ordered two pastas to start and were going to order more as we went on. While ordering, the waiter never looked at us, rolled his eyes, and was actually quite dumpy looking (unshaven, loose shirt, just generally a shmo). But the food was great! I was able to, at this point, ignore said shmo. We ate and drank and he never came back to check on us. He never asked if we wanted anything else, so we didn't order anything else. In fact, he came over and literally dropped the check on the table without a thanks. I was at my boiling point. So, unfortunately for him, in all my dining experience, he received a 10% tip (I'm a 30% upwards girl), quite a feat since I've only done this twice in my life. The vibe at this point was seriously unpleasant. I didn't know the waiter was waiting like a shmo shark for the money (or to just get us out of the place), and he immediately came over and grabbed the bill. Then he proceeded to glare at me from afar once he saw his pittance. It was almost laughable, but overall it was mostly embarrassing. We get up to leave and I can't squeeze between the tables. I'm not a large person by any means, so I can't imagine how the average diner manages to wiggle out. So, I bumped into the table next to me and knocked over our empty wine bottle. Waiters (not ours) came running to the rescue. At this point I just want to get the f*ck out. I really could have made a scene here if I wanted to. Marc was there (who I sometimes work with through extension), the manager asked how everything was on the way out, etc. I was just too baffled and confused and didn't know how to phrase what I wanted to say. I had had so many good times here, and I namely blame the idiot server for this review. All in all, I will go back, but only for the bar.

    (3)
  • Steve I.

    Osteria was my dinner date with my girlfriend, bottom line excellent; pricey, but excellent. First, the service was superb--our waitress was extremely friendly and very accomodating. We started out with a bottle of wine, nicodemi montepulciano 2007. The wine was excellent, but the $58.00 price was a bit far fetched (although to be expected) because this wine can be found for $11.99 at wine stores. The sommelier was very friendly and informative, not pretentous at all. The first course we had was the parma pizza. It was amazing; the arugula and proscuitto were so fresh, but the crust of this pizza was out of this world. Our second courses were the grilled octopus and the special antipasti of grilled seasonal vegetables. The grilled octopus was very good; it had a very nice char-grilled flavor and came with lemon potatoes and arugula. The vegetable antipasti was suberb. I had the bone marrow and chanterelle mushroom ravioli. The flavors were amazing, but the raviolis themselves were the best--so thin and light. To top off the dinner we had two glasses of barbera grappa, it was good, although I'm not a grappa connossieur. Dessert was a berry crostada with lemon sherbert which was also tasty. We really enjoyed ourselves at this restaurant and will be heading back to taste the rest of this amazing menu.

    (5)
  • michael p.

    My new go-to Italian restaurant in Philly. Have enjoyed two incredible dinner experiences with family and friends over the last year on a recommendation from my good friend Chip. Fresh, organic, local foods, well-prepared dishes, extensive wine selection, and friendly, top-flight service. We'll back on our next visit...

    (5)
  • Joanne P.

    Been in multiple occasions, and we love Osteria! Plenty of space to move between tables unlike most of the restaurants in center city. Their Vegetable appetizer is great to begin with, grilled octopus is chewy yet soft. Tried three kinds of pizza, and all were good. Pasta with (squid? octopus?) black ink was flavorful but a little too salty for my taste. Other entrees were yummy too. Just watch out if you are driving. On my first visit in 2009, my friend parked her car right across the restaurant at 6pm, and when we came back at 7, one of the windows was gone(and so was her gps).

    (4)
  • Marybeth C.

    Had dinner there last sunday night. My overall experience was awful. From the snooty wait staff right to the ANTS on my table. Which the waiter didn't even care. Even if my experience was better, Pizzeria Stella is so much better. I don't understand why Stella's didn't win the Philadelphia magazine challenge. Only reason I gave it two stars was the wine list was extensive although expensive.

    (2)
  • Summer A.

    A good place to stop in for a group lunch! This place is charming and rustic. As soon as you step inside from the busy streets of Philadelphia, you'll feel that you've retreated into the warm, inviting quarters of an authentic Italian osteria. While the food isn't the best I've ever had, I'd still recommend that you give the place a try if you find yourself in the area. Beware though -- nearly every dish contains some kind of pork product (though a few can be made without it), so think twice before bringing your vegetarian, vegan, or kosher friends. You may also need the waiter's help in translating the menu to find the lamb sandwich and the asparagus pizza. Mmmm mmmm good!

    (3)
  • Charles R.

    Big, noisy, but very good. For some reason I was under the impression that Osteria was a fairly small restaurant. Anything but, in fact. 3 good sized dining rooms, consisting of the main room, which I like the best, the porch which is ok, and the other room I didn,t see. The place was packed from the time we got there until we left, which was around 10. Despite the packed room, the service and food was spot on. One of the things I really liked was the wine by the glass list. Instead of the usual run of the mill Italian selections, these were from wineries in Italy that most of us never hear about. The waiter was well versed in the wines and did a good job of directing us to the ones we would like. He also was nice enough to bring a small taste of each before pouring a full glass. They offer a 3 oz. pour as well as a 7 oz., which I also like. The food was just as interesting and good as the wines. Pastas were cooked to perfection and the portions were perfect. The pork special was excellent. The order consisted of pork skins that had been cooked for hours, a pork rib, a piece of pork shoulder and lastly a piece of belly. The pork had been marinated for days and then slow cooked for 4 hours. Great taste, moist and fall off the bone good. Dessert was the gremolata that was smooth and creamy, almost like a pudding, but very light. Had a drink at the bar and the bartenders were great. Will absolutely go back. Valet parking is $12. and the bill for dinner with 6 glasses of wine was $170 with tax.

    (4)
  • Chad M.

    Awesome pizza. Perfect crust, definitely one of the best I have had.

    (4)
  • Jon S.

    ...so it turns out the secret to getting a table on short notice is to go on the night of the Academy Awards. Sat in the middle of the front room near the kitchen. Loved the pizza (yes the squash/pinenut one is fantastic), the roasted veg chef's special antipasta and the "one of everything" gelato/sorbet dessert plate. Waitstaff was great. Noise was tolerable considering there was a bday dinner with twelve people behind us. (They had a Nutella "pizza" dessert that was not on the menu and that I coveted) Parking was easy on Broad. Expect $35-40 per person before drinks. Ignore all of the naysayers. Go.

    (4)
  • Chillumgod V.

    First of all, let me start by the good points. I had heard a lot about this place, and if I tend to go to a fine dining place, I tend to spend atleast 2-3 hours and order the menu. So it was a double date and we ordered lots of aps and entrees for each. The service was great, the pre-seating bar drinks service was great and the place is amazing. Too overcrowded and big for my taste but overall amazing. Here is what the issue was... the food was just OK!! I guess I went with very high expectation, specially about he baby pig, however it was just very average!! No exceptional culinary endeavors. Had a great time but his place fell short of my expectations.

    (3)
  • D K.

    Our annual holiday lunch this year was one of the shortest ever (there were eight of us), and it was not because of the food. Yes, the Lombarda pizza is as good as everyone says; the Trentino and Mortadella were right up there too. Now, I don't now if it was just a lunchtime thing, but the service was definitely inconsistent. The waiter started out attentive and very helpful, made great suggestions and [unasked] rotated the food around the long table so we could all try every item, but after a while, he started pushing us to order more food quickly because the kitchen was closing. If we had just wandered in for lunch, it wouldn't have been such a big deal -- but they took the 1:45 reservation...they knew how many of us were coming and when. (Incidentally, when a few of the group spoke with the manager afterward, they were told that the kitchen doesn't close until all guests are gone.) Our experience with the sommelier...interesting. After doing his thing, bringing the bottles to us to check and then pouring a glass for the member of our party who had ordered, he proceeded to bring the rest of us our wine one glass at a time, very slowly and setting them out at every other place. It was an odd ritual and delayed our holiday toast. Later, when we had a problem with one bottle of wine seeming a bit on the fizzy side and smelling "off," he reluctantly took it back, while insisting that there was nothing wrong with it. This was our third bottle of wine -- we don't send wine back without reason, yet he looked it at us like it was us, not the wine, or that we had somehow accused him of something. We were pretty clear on the fact that he neither made nor bottled the wine. So, with all the great food, the service (the final straw being the host telling some of our party that while she would call a cab for them, they really should just wait outside and hail one since they come by "all the time," which is not the case) put a damper on our annual outing...an outing that we save for, use vacation time for, and anticipate for weeks ahead.

    (3)
  • Beeg R.

    With all these great reviews, we set our hope probably way too high... It was our 10th anniversary, so we decided to come here to celebrate. Our reservation was at 8:30p, and when we arrived, they said we had to wait a few mins, and pointed us to the bar. The place was packed. After we sat down, it took the server a while to take our order. Since we didn't want to rush, we didn't mind the slow service. We ordered a pizza, which was delicious. We had the pork rib pasta, which was amazing. The two courses were so great that we anxiously waited for our secondi-leg of lamb with a side of artichoke. After waiting for what seemed liked an eternity, the entree was a big disappointment. For $38, we got a few tiny pieces of lamb, rare, season less, and chewy. The artichoke was undercooked, tasteless, and burnt on the outside (we overheard later that the couple next to us didn't like their artichoke either.) it was such a great let down. For dessert, we got the beignet...big mistake. If we only had the pizza and pasta, we would give this place 5 stars. but the main course was simply a 1 sta. if we ever go bk, I would never get any secondi from them

    (3)
  • Alessia K.

    Osteria was my birthday dinner with the babe. And it was fantastic! Seriously if I were served an ill meal on my birthday there would have been hell to pay. Mark Vetri's little expensive pizza place came through luckily...for everyone. We got in to the place around 7:20 and our reservations were at 7:45 but the very nice hostess who was ALL business said we could be seated early. The place was bumping on a rainy Saturday night. I was impressed with the large space and the bistro type atmosphere. They sat us at a small table next to the window that opened to the garden room and there were these humungoid sunflowers sitting on the windowsill. I do not think I have ever noticed the physical attributes of a restaurant before mainly because I am always so concerned with eating. So, the cute waiter in glasses greeted us right away. He brought us yummo foccia and skinny bread sticks to munch on while we mulled over what to drink. Every single person in the place was drinking wine except for the preggo lady next to me so we said "eff it, let's do martinis." As usual, I got the vodka and he the gin and they were so wonderful. Honestly, for a wine place, one of the best martinis I have had other than at Davios. The pizza at Osteria is always talked about and Mark Summers from Double Dare fame said it was the greatest pizza he's ever eaten, so I ordered based on his opinion, which I hold to a high regard. The pizza was so thin, you could literally see through it. The cheese had a different taste than I have experienced in the states...it literally tasted like mozzarella from my Nonna's region in Italy. We devoured the pizza, but in an appropriate way. We then ordered one of the special pasta dishes to share, which was a linguine type noodle with melted goat cheese and baby tomatoes...again amazing. For our entrees were ordered the grouper and the salmon and again, amazing. The Salmon had a crispy skin with some sea salt sprinkled on top. It was served with the smallest and cutest zucchinis I have ever seen. The boy's Grouper had leeks and corn as accompaniments. After our second round of martinis and gorging on the delicious meal, it was time to go. Why make myself more full and risk the chance of yacking to get dessert? We had plans to kill a few bottles of wine anyway for my birthday celebration. I really recommend Osteria as it's a great date/group place if you have some extra cash to spend. Well done!

    (5)
  • Marisa B.

    One of the best restaurants in Philadelphia! I've been there five times and each time everything is excellent! GREAT food and AMAZING service!

    (5)
  • Matt R.

    Nothing is perfect, but my meal at Osteria was pretty close. Went here with a small party (party of four) for my parents' anniversary. We came on a Saturday evening, but early (6ish). We were seated in the greenhouse room. The food was excellent. We had a veggie/misto antipasto special, and the robiola app. Both were excellent, with the right amount of food for four people. Our entrees included a couple of the striped bass dishes, the pork shoulder, the lamb. The chef also sent out a complimentary portion of the whole roasted pig special - and this itself was as large as an entree. Everything was perfectly seasoned, and perfectly cooked. Dessert also was excellent - a pistachio, buttermilk and valpolicella gelato assortment, and a fantastic hazelnut mousse/polenta pudding combo. Service also was excellent start to finish. I'd asked them to have a bottle of prosecco waiting for us, and they brought it over as soon as we sat down. I didn't tell them what to pick, and I appreciated that they didn't stick me with one of their $100 bottles. The waitress was knowledgeable and friendly; our water, prosecco and wine were refilled frequently; our finished plates were removed quickly; and they waited until they gave us the check to bring our wrapped up leftover food back to the table. The Greenhouse room is beautiful, especially until about 8:30 when there was still some light out. Because it's all-glass and because the place is so crowded, it is rather noisy. After about an hour and a half the noise can get a little fatiguing. All in all, we had a fantastic time and I recommend Osteria in the strongest terms.

    (5)
  • Beth K.

    Amazing pasta with short ribs and pizza with pistachio pesto - loved the atmosphere and open kitchen. Great Valentine's Day dinner.

    (4)
  • Robert N.

    I chose two stars because the definition next to it reads "Meh I've experienced better". And this time around that's just the way we felt after having left Osteria last night. This is the second "meh" experience at a second Vetri restaurant. It all started out on a great note. The orange wine was amazing, the mixed vegetable plate was delicious but in the end most of our disappointment on this one came from the main course we both ordered. What sounded like a wonderful addition to the menu, the roaster pig, affectionately known to me as porchetta made my mouth water as the waitress described it, naturally I expected a place like Osteria would do it up just right. Well it sure was flavorful enough, but sadly very dry. And the skin of the pig which in a traditional porchetta is one of the most heavenly gastronomical experiences had been deep fried to the point all I could taste was the oil it was fried in. This is not what one would expect out of a pricey special in a place as special as this. It should not be a surprise to any restauranteur that if you screw up the main course you're going to wind up with an unhappy diner having walked away feeling it was a negative experience. Such was the case here. I'm sure we'll be back. There was much on the menu we'd like to explore, but certainly we'll be more judicious about any specials and maybe order different main courses in case one goes awry.

    (2)
  • Mark L.

    A more approachable and easily accessible sister restaurant for Vetri's. Pizza was authentic and great and I even enjoyed the rabbit dish they had. Location in north philly is horrible though. It's a shame that it's not closet to the popular areas.

    (4)
  • Jeffrey S.

    Went here for a special occasion dinner. Ambiance was nice. We were seated in a greenhouse type room, with glass all around us, affording us a nice view of Osteria's gardens and of a charming church next door w/ stained glass windows. Service was horrible. The waitress was extremely rude, condescending, and rolled her eyes at even the simplest of requests. She also ignored us several times when trying to get drinks refilled. Additionally, the waitress tried to inform us (incorrectly) that the Creekstone Farms ribeye (aged 30 days) would be less tender than the Florentine Ribeye (aged 10 days), because aging makes meat less tender. I would expect the servers at a fine restaurant such as Osteria to at least have the basic knowledge that aging increases tenderness. The food itself was spotty. For example, the pizza we ordered (the mortadella) was delicious. Among the best pizzas I've had in my life. The entrees were where the real problems began. We opted for the Florentine Ribeye, and ordered it Medium Rare. The Florentine Steak was presented to the table (whole) after cooking, but then inexplicably took over 20 minutes to slice and serve. And when it arrived, it was practically still mooing and was cool and red throughout. The steak was also extremely gristly / fatty and was a nightmare to cut / chew. And I understand that ribeyes are usually fatty, and I love that flavor, however this was the chewy, gristly kind of fat, not the good stuff that usually melts and adds flavor. The problem was also compounded by the fact that it was undercooked (more of the fat would have melted had it been properly prepared Med Rare. We also ordered the Roast Suckling Pig (the specialty of the night). The flavor was tremendous and the pig had a wonderful extra crispy skin on top, however for $32, the 8oz (or less) portion was rather lacking and left several diners hungry. One of my fellow diners ordered the Halibut after asking about the portion size, preparation, etc. She was assured that it was a "normal sized American portion of fish". When it arrived, it was no more than 4oz, probably closer to 3oz. Normal portion? It was by far the smallest portion of fish I've seen on an entree, smaller than most tasting menu sized portions of fish. Dessert was another bright spot. The Budino was amazing (among the best desserts I've eaten in 2011), and the homemade gelato was also to die for. All in all, I would consider returning to Osteria, but I would only order Pizza / Pasta / Dessert. The entrees are overpriced, undersized, and inconsistent.

    (2)
  • Dru H.

    Great pizza, skip the entrees. They aren't impressive. I came here to celebrate and dropped $500 with just my husband and I. We got great wine and tried tons of different dishes. We were super excited after the pizza, but it was all downhill from there. The rabbit was especially under whelming. True we had gotten back from Italy not too long before, but I think that only makes me more sure that it was meh.

    (2)
  • heather D.

    I've been to Vetri and Osteria and the food was top notch both times. I definately preferred the atmosphere at Osteria to Vetri. Vetri was a little too sedate for my husband and I. The service at both restaurants was impeccable. And chef Mark Vetri made the rounds. If you a foodie, this guy is a God. Don't leave without trying the gnocci-either as an appetizer or pasta course. Between the two trips, we sampled several dishes on the menu and loved everything. Too effusive? It's true!

    (5)
  • Emanuel K.

    I've been here twice and can say that it's some of best Italian food I've ever had. What I love most about this place is the high percentage of unusual or non-traditional Italian dishes on the menu. The dishes and flavor combinations are unique and creative (e. g. pizza with cape may salt oysters with cucumber spaghettini and house grown raspberries), and it won't be long until you realize this is unlike most (even fancy) Italian food you've had. Ask your waiter if they're serving the assorted roasted vegetables that evening. This is probably the simplest yet one of the most delicious dishes. I've honestly never had better vegetables, ever. It's not on the menu but it's a regular special and it makes the perfect appetizer. It can get quite noisy, and the decor is somewhat cheesy, but neither really detracts from the experience.

    (5)
  • elaine s.

    i would give them 5 starts put pasta portions a tiny and overpriced. but in general pastas are excellent. waters very knowledgeable.

    (4)
  • Matt B.

    imagine you are in 18th century Italy. Imagine that the hunting party came thru with something tasty... like a wild boar, or a pheasant or a hare... something that isn't in your supermarket... this is what you should order. in other words listen to the specials. chicken liver rigatoni was awesome, pizzas are very good -to-excellent. artichoke side unbelievable. northern Italian restaurant Philly should be proud to show off.

    (5)
  • Courtney T.

    Great all around dining experience! Came here with a group of 6, which included 2 kids. Great ambiance, the instant you walk in you are surrounded by the amazing smells of gourmet Italian and what I think are brick fired pizzas. Terrific service. Placemats to color on. Favorite dishes: pizza, sage gimlet, the ridiculously large bread basket Stranger dishes: gnocchi was unusual... Larger potato dumplings than usual. The Greek yogurt cheesecake wasn't too tasty. But overall, just a great place!

    (5)
  • Brian M.

    Was a great restaurant. Starting with a fantastic bread selection which I swear could've been dinner. I had a mixed roast pork plate which turned out to be the best pork I've ever had.

    (5)
  • Paul B.

    Since I stand behind the reviews I write, I need to tell you that if you want to have one of the best dining experiences of your life.... go to Osteria and sit at the bar when STEVEN is working. Tell him to take good care of you and then.... TRUST HIM! He is very good at what he does. VERY good.. The food is amazing. Steven will guide you through an amazing experience. He guided my GF and I through the best meal we've ever had in Philly. Osteria is for REAL! (If you don't sit with Steven, that's up to you. Don't blame me).

    (5)
  • Giuliano P.

    Came here for my birthday. Few things the waiter seemed like he didn't know anything about wine and didn't know how to explain or show us a wine we might have liked but hey what can you do sometimes people just don't know which is fine. Food- Had the meat plate which was really interesting but not all great selections but trying something new is ok The pizza was amazing (it doesn't need any other explanation) I had the rabbit for what i paid i would have thought at least half of a rabbit ....nope 4 itty bitty pieces of rabbit on top of palenta. The palenta was good first time I've ever had it but the rabbit was lack luster and dry...pretty disappointed. Dessert was okay nothing special. Overall its good but super expensive for nothing that is amazing. Just "good"

    (3)
  • diane g.

    Some of the best pizza, if not the best, I have ever had. Had the prosciotto and arugala and it was divine. Stuffed zuchini flowers and mushroom ravioli were excellent. Great service every time. Only cons are that it gets very loud especially in the back room off to the side where the table width is vast. If you're seated here, be prepared to yell your conversation unless you're here off hours. Also all the wine by the glass prices are ridiculous. Be prepared to pay $30 for two glasses of decent wine which sky rockets your bill.

    (5)
  • Patricia O.

    I hosted ten family members at Osteria for my daughter's college graduation celebration. We could not have had a better experience! Our waiter was attentive and had a great sense of humor (our group needed a lot of help with the Italian menu and we stayed for hours). Everyone from grandparents to kids enjoyed their meal. The food was fresh and flavorful! We will definitely be back. A great place for a family event - lovely casual atmosphere and nice people. There was plenty of parking on Wallace Street. Thank you Osteria!

    (5)
  • Samantha M.

    It's all about the polpo! So yes this place is upscale it's not suit and tie upscale. I have to say that the waiters know their menu, but if you're like me and like to many small dishes this is not the place. So I ordered the polpo pizza and I was expecting a small serving size, no it was massive and the waiter gave me a hard time understanding that I like small meals. Needless to say it was an expensive doggy bag.

    (3)
  • Jim T.

    Went here for my Wife's Birthday back in September. The atmosphere is great, had a cool calm décor and some rustic features thrown in. Our waiter was on point, extreme knowledgeable of the food and the flavors which really helped our food choices because everything on the menu looked delicious. We had the Wood Grilled Octopus and robiola "francobolli" postage stamp ravioli as appetizers. The flavors were exceptional and couldn't wait for the main meal. My Wife ordered the chicken "alla griglia" and was totally pleased with the balanced flavors between the chicken, sweet corn, mushrooms and spinach. I had the Pork Chop which was cooked perfectly and I added a side of Polenta Rustic which was perfect complement to the meal. For desert, we ordered raspberry and pistacchio linzertorte, boy was our sweet teeth satisfied. Also kudos on bringing a side ice cream w/ a candle for my wife's b-day. I highly recommend Osteria and all of Vetri's restaurants, always top notch food and service.

    (5)
  • Chris T.

    Not impressed. After reading reviews and online about how great Osteria is, we were excited to say the least. We did the sampler course which was a little bit of everything from each course. The thing that sticks out mostly is the lasagna was extremely small, flat and burnt. Granted I'm not on the up and up on traditional italian lasagna but this was almost insulting. At most it was 1/2" thick. The server just rattled off the menu when asked for suggestions or most popular items. Perhaps we should have tried a specific item on the menu...in any case, this was not up to snuff, especially for the price paid. We will not be back.

    (2)
  • Edward W.

    Fantastic place that does Italian justice. Philly has a crap ton of Italian restaurants around the city ranging from low end to high end. But I don't think any of them does meats and pasta as well as Osteria. We started off with a vedura mista which pretty much had every vegetable, grilled, pickled, sautéed on the menu. The variety was large and the flavors well balanced. I had the berkshire pork chop and it was phenomenal. It measured about 1.5 inches thick and was amazingly tender and perfectly done through and through. It's quite difficult to cook such a huge piece of meat to a perfect uniformity and uniform perfectness. I can only assume the pork was brined, sous vide, and then charred after. Regardless it was splendid and I can't rave more. Wonderful.

    (5)
  • Victoria R.

    DO NOT WASTE YOUR MONEY! This place is ridiculously over priced for really horrible food. If you are looking for authentic Italian cuisine, save yourself the trouble and try one of the many other good places Philly has to offer. The pizza was laughable, and the pasta dishes were poorly presented and most of them, completely inedible. They try to make it seem like you are at a gourmet restaurant with wine priced in the $70 range that at any state store you can purchase for under $10. Unfortunately, there is NOTHING gourmet about this place besides the prices.

    (1)
  • Jana C.

    Had dinner in N Philly on a rainy night. Luckily, there was parking around the corner. On a nonuniform street of grit, next to a church, is Mark Vetri's second restaurant. An extremely warm atrium abutting the main dining room causes the patron seated there to walk a good minute before reaching the low-lit table adorned with small vase and fresh flowers. it is romantic and warm (pun intended!) off came the shawl. Parusso Barolo---$21 for a glass (ahhhhh..dreams of Piedmont). Oversight on our part. Too rich for our blood! Bread basket came with only olive oil...super fresh. Delicious. Ciareghi sausage (wild boar) with polenta and a quail egg---the polenta was still very relaxed and we found it a bit too oily. I tried the candele pasta with boar ragout. Great chew on the gnarled thick carb, and the sauce was very tasty, though could have done with tad more liquid....that ragout. He had the cod entree, which was cooked well, but very very light in flavor profile with its accompaniments. Dinner was satisfying. We were hoping for blow-me-away. Still, for a mid-week meal, place sure was buzzin! PS bathroom is looong haul, alongside the kitchen, if not seated in the main dining.

    (3)
  • Brian F.

    BEWARE! I got robbed by this place. The food tastes great but the portions are tiny. There is no way a grown man can eat here and be satisfied. If it were up to me, this place should be reclassified as a tapas joint.

    (2)
  • Over M.

    While the food here is excellent the host and service employees are awful and definitely not up to the quality of the restaurant in which they are working. When interacting with these rejects from Applebee's it destroys any attempt one might have to enjoy an elegant night of great food. Hopefully the Vetri family will start hiring more appropriate staff for their wonderful restaurant instead of driving around mall parking lots and asking spikey haired half wits and sorority drop outs to serve Osteria's clientele.

    (1)
  • Abby W.

    I had to let this meal soak in for a while before I could even write the review. I am quivering with delight just thinking about it again and an entire week has passed. Imagine the intensity of my ardor the following day... I think I might be getting the vapors again! So, I'm not supposed to eat wheat. I'm not celiac, just intolerant, so it makes my tummy hurt and my joints ache but that's about it. As such, I am willing to suffer on occasion for some premium carbohydrate action. It doesn't get a lot more premium than Vetri pizza and pasta, so I decided to make this my birthday dinner of choice and indulge in a little verboten pleasure. We showed up at 8pm on the snowiest day of winter and it was surprisingly busy. Our table was ready immediately, so we checked our coats and were seated. I'm struggling to remember the decor because paying attention to anything other than the food was like trying to see what's behind the sun. The seats were comfy enough and I remember being plenty warm and facing the open kitchen. For drinks, I went with a gin sour and E got the Sicilian Lemonade. My gin sour was the best I have had since Sophia's closed. Really excellent! I had 3, or 4, or something... E also enjoyed his lemonade, which was similar to his usual mojito. Food-wise, we ordered: escargots with puff pastry (super rich and very tender snails), pulpo pizza, saffron buccatini for E, mushroom robiola ravioli for me, and the Creekstone Ribeye for two. A bonus course of smoked cobia appetizer arrive before the pizza due to a delay with the pizza ovens. It was incredibly delicious as well. Were I to go back, I would get nothing but the pulpo pizza and the saffron buccatini. And not share with anyone. Back off that pulpo! It is the best goddamn pizza I have ever tasted, ever. It's the only pizza I want to eat. The crust was impossibly thin and yet still crisp enough to stand at attention when you lift a slice, the sauce was perfect, plenty of spice from the red pepper, and then smoky, tender octopus. The only other words I can think of are expletives. Eat this immediately. The saffron buccatini was equally addictive with the perfect al dente chew and zesty coating of herbs with chorizo and octopus coins. I had major pasta envy. Luckily, the portion size on this dish is quite substantial so I was able to make a lunch out of the leftovers. The main was probably the biggest disappointment, and only because I felt it was a bit less of an impressive steak than I was expecting. It was cooked to absolute perfection with a hard char on the outside and medium rare, well rested interior, but it wasn't quite as large as I expected and it lacked that savory umami that a good dry-aged steak should have. We were so stuffed that we barely made a dent it it, though, and it made for some delightful leftovers a few days later. The side of potato and spinach gratin needed two more minutes in the oven because the potatoes were a little underdone, but I was so full I didn't bother asking that they correct it. They would have without question and so I did not deduct any points for that. Flavor-wise it was great and the leftovers finished cooking while reheating. We couldn't manage dessert, but they brought out a gratis serving of persimmon sorbet with a candle for my birthday anyways. That was nice. E loved the sorbet- I found it a bit too sweet. This meal was not cheap but I felt it was worth every penny. We spent $60 on alcohol alone, so it didn't have to be quite so pricey. You could come here and spend $100 per person or $30 per person depending on how you order. For example, the cobia appetizer that was comped was delicious, but a tiny portion for $18. Pizzas are around $18 as well and more filling, so they make a more affordable pick for an appetizer. Ask your server about pasta portion sizes and they can steer you toward the larger plates.

    (5)
  • Monique C.

    Ode to pre and post-holiday season office lunch outings! Let me count the calories :) We seem to always end up eating at awesome places and Osteria was no exception. I was excited to eat here after reading Philadelphia magazine's nod to the restaurant as one Philly's best. But. Even still, you know I had to check Yelp first to see if the "real" people thought that all of that excitement was warranted. Luckily Yelp liked Osteria too. And so do I. Osteria wasn't terribly busy at the peak of lunch hour (i.e. 12:30 p.m. on Friday). Our party of five was seated immediately by the friendly hostess. The restaurant has a beautiful rustic design and is unpretentious. Three delicious breads were brought out by our awesome waiter and devoured quickly by my awesome colleagues. I had to stop myself after the third slice (don't judge me; 12:30 is a late lunch for me). My colleagues raved about the grilled octopus, which I didn't try, but it looked delicious. I ordered the Parma pizza. It was great but basic with arugula and prosciutto. I wish I had been more ambitious and gone for the Lombarda pizza but there's always next time. The post-lunch coffee was above average as was the polenta and pecan dessert - Jesus Mary Joseph and John...would've enjoyed it too. I can't wait to eat here again 5/5.

    (5)
  • Brett F.

    Grrrrr... it irks me to give four stars. I'd kind of like to give less. That is how much I disliked my server, her style, and her attitude from start to finish. However, admittedly, I can't deny that I did really enjoy my dinner at Osteria. It was good, parts of it were actually great... but, jesus that server! Talk about rude. The management would, or should, be ashamed of her lack of helpfulness and attention. But, here I am giving four stars, so, shame on me? Probably. I don't know if I'd ever go back with a large group again, they seemed a bit inept at how to handle us. I had requested from our server to speak to chef about doing a more 'freeform' dinner with us... we were a group of 10 and wanted to pretty much try everything on the menu, family style. We didn't want to be confined to just an app and an entree per person, so, essentially, just keep sending courses of food... we'll share it, and then you bring more... and more! So, basically, you bring us an obscene amount of food, and charge us for it all and take the heavy lifting off of me (the host) to order for our group of ten. You get a huge payout and we are satisfied. Cool? No. Oh, no? Just a flat out no from the server. And no's kept coming. Help with the wine? No, you're busy with another table. Suggestions of favorite dishes? No, everything is good. Ok. I'm totally on an island here. At this point I requested to speak to a manager who was more than obliging to get our family style shindig going. And help with the wine. And smile at us. Eureka! Once the food started rolling it, it was ambrosial. Gorgeous cheese plates, ample charcuterie, rustic platters of vegetables and salads, bowls of beautiful pasta, perfectly charred pizzas, stunningly pink sirloin and expertly prepared fish dishes. Not a miss in the bunch. We are all happy like pigs in shit. The meal was rustic and beautiful, just as the restaurant is itself. Without that manager, this could have been a disaster but he salvaged it all... and should now reconsider a retool of the staff. Osteria is too nice to be compromised by someone so not nice.

    (4)
  • Margaret B.

    Great for private parties! Attended a birthday party in the private room on a busy Saturday night and we are still raving about the experience. The unbelievably attentive staff (Seth!) along with superb food made this an incredible dining experience. The fried mozzarella was somehow light and airy, and the other appetizer pizzas were incredible. Broccoli Rabe Pesto & pine nut pasta was phenomenal, as was the goat cheese & beet plin (like a small ravioli). The steak and the trout were just perfection. They have a superior wine list. To top it all off, there were also fabulous desserts (I'm still thinking about the hazelnut polenta and the pistachio ice cream!!). The staff were all lovely and solicitous, and right on top of everything. Our water glasses were always full, the staff answered all of our questions -- a really perfect evening at a venue I'd highly recommend for a special celebration.

    (5)
  • Joe L.

    Came here for (pizza) lunch during a weekday, so really had the restaurant to ourselves. Food: I ordered the Mortadella pizza (siciliano pesto with mozzarella and mortadella) which they called Neapolitan4 pizza...Essentially a slightly thicker crust. It was absolutely delicious. The pesto also had pistachios in it which made it even better. My date went with the classic Margherita, which was also good but I always value a meat on my pizza personally. The mortadella is like a prosciutto and really worked with the pesto. Service: Given the restaurant was not too busy, our server was very attentive and made sure we were very comfortable. She made a great suggestion of wine to have with our pizza (sangiovese red blend). Ambiance: Modern rustic feel. Big windows let the sun come in and gave the restaurant a good feel. Location: This was my only issue with the restaurant that may prevent me from coming more frequently. I live in center city and to walk to northern liberties takes about 30 minutes...I know there is public transport but if I am going to do that I rather just go somewhere closer. Overall, I highly recommend Osteria, especially during the calm (and cheaper) lunch time.

    (4)
  • Annie M.

    To start, our server Thalia was an absolute pleasure. She was polite, knowledgeable, and just a great person. Everything I ordered here was absoultely magnificent. The beet and goat cheese plin is to die for, as are the multiple pizzas they have. I had a prosciutto and arugula as well as a plain tomato and mozzarella and they were easily the best pizza I have ever had. The Sicilian lemonade pitcher is only 25$ and is enough for two or three people to share , and let me tell you it is DELICIOUS. Not too strong but also not too weak. Any cocktail with limoncello is definitely worth your time, but this is extremely refreshing in the summer months. definitely will be returning!

    (5)
  • Devendra S.

    This place is expensive for the food and service it has. Although the menu looks very creative the final product itself is not something you will remember for a long time. The seafood appetizers were flavorful but inconsistent in the way they were cooked. Some of the poly legged creatures were cooked to perfection others were over cooked. We had the liver pasta as main course and it was delicious. Don't remember the other two dishes we got. The service on the other hand was very cold. And this was on a day when it wasn't too crowded nor it was too late. The waitress rambled of the specials in a monotone. The rest of the dinner service was similar. At the end of the day, IMHO that dinner for 3 was not worth what it cost $$$$.

    (3)
  • Matthew H.

    We stopped in Osteria on a Thursday night and it was relatively busy. We have been wanting to try Osteria for a while now because we love the other Vetri restaurants and we love Alla Spina. The space is very nice and the staff are very friendly and helpful. The service was attentive but not overly so. We started off with appetizers and went with the sweetbreads and the octopus salad. The salad was quite good and the char on the octopus was just enough to give it that charcoal taste while still keeping the octopus nice and tender, the arugula went well with it and it was a good portion. The sweetbreads came with fruit that was either sauteed or braised in a simple syrup. The sweetbreads were wonderfully cooked and went extremely well with the fruit. For our entrees we went with the asparagus pasta and the suckling pork special. The pasta was awesome, definitely made fresh and it tasted as though they cooked the pasta in maybe some vegetable or some chicken stock which gave it another added layer of flavor. The suckling pig was amazing, I need to get some pork and brine it for 4 days like they do with theirs. It takes the flavors to another level, they give you a little of everything and I wish that I would have ordered it twice. I wanted to try their polenta but forgot to put in an order so I will next time. We ended the meal with the chocolate flan which is really like a chocolate lava cake and the hazelnut crostata. Both were good but not really memorable to be honest and that's why I removed 1 star. There were other things on the dessert menu that I wanted to try and maybe I just didn't choose well, it might just be me. Anyways I would say a solid dinner and I would recommend this to anyone looking for a nice place to go out or to take friends. We will definitely be returning in the future.

    (4)
  • Brian T.

    FANTASTIC!!!!! I never know what to expect when eating at an Italian restaurant, seeing as how I lived there for so long and have my own idea of what that cuisine should be. Osteria NAILED IT! We started with this appetizer of grilled clams and calimari with chiles and vinegar that was just sublime! the seafood was cut into smaller ribbons and grilled, and dressed to perfection! Extra points for being served in a large clam shell. My son went for the margherita pizza. it's a simple pizza, but easy to mess up since there's only a few ingredients. This was an awesome rendition of the classic, exactly what it should be and nothing else. Perfectly thin and very crispy crust, great sauce, perfect amount of mozzarella and basil. I went for the brain and corn ravioli "doppio", that were just insanely good. the filling was velvety and smooth, and the corn and brown butter they were tossed in gave the ravioli the right level of sweet and nutty taste it needed. We also had a great dessert with this cake, toffee sauce, rum cream and raisins that was also killer. Just a great all around meal with perfect service and killer food. can't WAIT to go back!

    (5)
  • Ariel D.

    My parents were in town and my wife and I took them to Osteria and it was great. We ordered the special vegetable platter to start which was amazing. It is a large wood board with a cornucopia of different fresh in season vegetables. Everything on this platter was unique and equally great tasting. My father and I are vegetarian and we had no trouble finding something great to eat. In addition to the vegetarian friendly items on the menu the offered to make a couple of the other items vegetarian which was awesome. We all had a great time with a nice bottle of Chianti and a great meal. We will definitely be back.

    (4)
  • Beth S.

    Took my boyfriend for his birthday....holy cow! Haven't had such a great meal in a long, long time. I talked about it for days afterwards. The host staff were very warm and friendly. I opted to check my coat, and upon leaving it was returned promptly. We shared the beets as an appetizer. Loved the flavor combo, especially the slight sweetness added by the pistachios to contrast the rest of the dish. I also thought the swirly beets were cool looking. No idea what kind of beets they were, but they were beautiful AND tasty! For a mid course we split two half orders of pasta. First off, I love that they offer half orders as an option. I'm big on sharing dishes and trying as many things as possible, so this was exciting for me. We ordered the scallop pasta, which was citrusy and delicious, and the mushroom ravioli, which was creamy and rich. Loved every bite of both dishes. For entrees we shared the branzino and the duck. The branzino was probably my least favorite dish, but don't take that to mean it was bad. The flavors and presentation were great, but it was a little dry for me. The duck however.......OMG. To DIE for. That agrodolce.....I want an entire bucket of it all to myself. The duck was cooked perfectly and we were fighting over who got to eat more of it (I kid. Kind of). For dessert we got coffee drinks (served at the perfect temperature) and shared the white chocolate blood orange mousse (not sure mousse is the term they used, but it was a custard/mousse-like dessert). Foodgasm. Service was flawless. Courses were timed perfectly. We asked our server to pair wines by the glass with each of the dishes and she made lovely choices. Friendly and knowledgeable, and a great smile!

    (5)
  • Caroline R.

    Another one of my favorite restaurants. You really can't go wrong with Vetri. Osteria offers traditional Italian food with a gourmet twist. All their pasta is made fresh and their sauces are rich in flavor. I also recommend the ribeye. The atmosphere is romantic and the wine is delicious. Absolutely love this place.

    (5)
  • Hector M.

    "Everybody has a plan until they get punched in the face." - Mike Tyson I came in with a plan of what I wanted from the menu and then I got punched in the face. I saw new things and then they announced specials which totally derailed my plans. I went with the following: - Grilled Octopus: I'm obsessed with octopus. I'm obsessed with ordering it, eating it, and converting people who have never had it. Mission Accomplished because it stood and delivered (take that James Olmos!). - Lombarda Pizza: I thought eggs on pizzas were starting to get cliche - WRONG! The bitto cheese compliments and takes the egg over the top (take that Sylvester Stallone!). - Chicken Liver Rigatoni (1/2 portion): once the server told me I can order 1/2 portions of pasta, I knew I could load up and try over things. The chicken liver and caramelized onions make the dish so rich that you'll be waiting for Robin Leach to start narrating. - Pork Special: I have a confession - I never listen to the waiter's specials. I just nod my head, feign interest, and nod my head so more. As soon as I heard that they had a roast pork special, I could hear the brakes screeching. What came out was nothing short of amazing - roasted rosemary potatoes, pork shoulder, pork butt, and a slab of crispy delicious pork skin. - Polenta Budino: perfect ending to a great dinner with no flaws in any of the courses. The polenta added a nice texture to the pudding along with the candied hazelnuts.

    (5)
  • Rachel U.

    I've been wanting to try this place since moving to Philly over a year ago; finally made it over Christmas break. Street parking was easy to find, they also have valet, and it's enough on the subway. Getting into the sketchier end of Broad St tho, so use your discretion on getting there. The decor was nice, very wine cellar-y, very chill. Our waiter was very well versed in the offerings, and was eager to help us all decide on what to order, going through descriptions of many dishes before we made up our minds. The food was all delicious. We sampled a lot of pasta dishes, and a pizza. The pastas were very well made, delicate but al dente, the sauces and whatnot were very flavorful. And the servings were teeny. Three of us got half pasta orders (for what we thought would be half price) so that we could try more than one dish. When the bill came, they were a little more than half price, and when I asked the waiter about it, he said it was because the servings were a little more than half. Which, while should have been explained at the onset, made me wonder what a full portion would look like and if I'd want to pay full price for it. The pizza was a good size and very tasty, and if I go back I already know I want to try the zucca pizza. So, predictably small portions for the $$$, but at least the food left me wanting more. There were lots of tempting things on the menu, which, if I could afford to eat more of it, would probably have left me happily satiated.

    (4)
  • Lilly N.

    A group of us went to Osteria for a send off dinner for a colleague. It was the PERFECT choice. Starting with the staff - they were so patient and nice - a large group means a lot of noise and not everyone paying attention; they were repeating themselves a lot. They made great suggestions, including doing a lot of food for the table so we could all try a bunch of different things. And by a bunch, I mean A LOT. We started with the seasonal anti pasti, two pastas (the short rib and the wild boar bolognese), two pizzas (margarita and mortadella). We probably should have stopped there with the food. There was a lot of plate passing and sharing - always at least one dish in the air. The anti pasti was a perfect winter treat - it's always nice this time of year to get a plate of bright vegetables, all colors of the rainbow - red and golden beets, brussel spouts (my favorite part), carrots...The pasta was perfectly cooked and frankly - the wild boar, i could have skipped the pasta and just eaten the sauce with a spoon. We really could have stopped there, but the Secondi options all sounded so good! Across the table, we got steaks, swordfish, and the hen. The steak was cooked perfectly. It had the right amount of salt and amazing flavor. The swordfish was tender and smelled amazing. The fish and the steak were both delicious. And of course we had to get dessert. When we couldn't decide, our server suggested sort of a sampler. She brought out a platter, for lack of a better term. My two favorites were the coconut nugget things with the passion fruit sauce and the molten chocolate cake. But everything was delicious. The lemon cake with poppyseed gelato was clean and fresh and crisp. Everyone at the table fell in love with the bananas in flaky pastry. Really - it was an amazing meal. The space is gorgeous, the staff is wonderful, and it's great for a group or for an intimate dinner for two - and everything in between. I only wish I could go back more often.

    (4)
  • Brett M.

    Hands down, this was the most disappointing meal I've had in Philadelphia. Both of the pizzas we ordered were entirely bland. I love a thin-crust, true Italian style pizza, and while what we were served looked like the real deal, the taste was, well, nonexistent. Nothing was redeemable about either of them. I wouldn't pay $5.00 for a pizza that tasteless, let alone the $19 we paid for each last night. The roasted vegetables were forgettable as well, and if you decide to dine here, should be passed over for something else. You could make something equally as good in your own oven without much effort at all. And for all the raving that I've seen about the chicken liver rigatoni, I frankly wasn't impressed. Maybe it was because by the time the pasta dish arrived, I had already checked out, but the rigatoni tasted of nothing but salt and oil. The fact of the matter is this: if I had gone to your run-of-the-mill Italian eatery and ordered the exact same thing I would have left simply unimpressed and forgotten about it... but this is Osteria we're talking about, owned by the idolized Marc Vetri. And when I eat somewhere with a name such as his attached to it, I expect more. A heck of a lot more. I will never return.

    (2)
  • Hank C.

    I have to say, it's rare to find an Italian restaurant where I can find food that is light - not heavy with cream, sauce, or overwhelming to the palate. Admittedly I didn't plan far enough ahead to reserve early, but went there with 6 friends to take advantage of the service at the bar - and what great service it was! The drinks - normal, nothing special there, and perhaps a bit too much ice in the ice tea. But the food... one of my guests during the night has a very sensitive stomach to heavy oils and creams, and normally doesn't eat Italian, but we brought her to test it out. And she was impressed! Candele with boar bolognese was a new take on beef stroganoff - with candele and a delightful, earthy boar flavor that came a bit particalized, but overall was delectible. Tagliatelle with braised rabbit and porcini wasn't bad - although there was nothing outstanding here. Parma - amazing. The arugala and fontina melted away in the mouth as this pizza hit you. Much better than the margherita. Gnocchi w speck and cabbage - amazing. I've never had such light gnocchi, and the recipe was impressive in it's simplicity yet delightful consistency. The texture was a nice mix between the slightly limp cabbage, and best to eat this dish hot! And they don't have it on their online menu, but the pulled oxtail over a unique cheese was amazing... cheese was hearty without being overwhelming, and the oxtail was delicate and tender. Wine menu was decent, and part of the decor is a wall covered with the labels of the crates that came through. Tasteful decor, and a nice greenhouse-like wing that allows for some external views of the night. Overall, when I get the chance, will take my friends back for some light, pleasing food. :)

    (4)
  • D J.

    Great appetizers, great service, great food...but two pasta dishes were just too salty: spaghetti with calamari and the bucatini. The other food (pizza and cavatelli) were just right. Not sure what's up with the salt. We've been here many times, and the place is finally more relaxed. Or rather, the customers coming in are more relaxed. Families were eating, people in shorts, old, young...More like an osteria.

    (4)
  • Michael K.

    It can be a little difficult to secure prime time reservations for Osteria, but if you're open to eating a bit later (8:30-9pm) it 's usually much more open. Osteria is another great opportunity to ease into the Vetri experience, without the (as of 9/1/12) $155/person price tag. With options like the Polpo (Octopus, smoked mozzarella and red chili flake tomato sauce-$17) and the Lombarda (Sausage, mozzarella, bitto cheese and a baked egg-$18), these aren't your Bertucci's style wood fire pizzas. Each pizza is meticulously constructed, making sure each slice is topped with just enough toppings, but also allowing you to enjoy the taste of the dough. If you're not worrying about looking nice in your bikini, go for the house cured salumi plate ($14) which is a charcuterie board of thinly sliced, fatty, meaty deliciousness. 5 types of meat which nicely display the differences between different areas of everyone's favorite Looney Toon, Porkey.

    (4)
  • Louis K.

    It was an OK dining experience. Someone told me Osteria had amazing pizza, so I instantly went over, but much to my dismay I was letdown. I ordered a margherita. The Crust was was way to wet, sauce not sweet enough, but worse of all the basil on top of the pizza was not chiffonaded. 1 large piece of basil was actually cooked on the pizza, so when it was served to me the basil was hot. I'm sure it wasn't a pleasant site watching me slurp up a wet hot huge basil leaf. What about my other slices? They looked so lonely without basil.

    (2)
  • Jared G.

    I went here based on seeing it featured on The Best Thing I Ever Ate. Marc Summers claimed that he ate great pizza all over, including some of the best NYC pizza, and this was his favorite. I grew up near NYC and had some of the best so I had to try it. So I ordered the classic Margherita and one that had pancetta and arugula to split between 4 people. It wasn't bad.....but considering that it was about 1.5-2x the price of some of the best pizzas I've had in the past. And instead of being 6-8 slices, it was 4 small slices. We were still hungry, so we decided to split the mozzarella in carozza and that was WONDERFUL (but tiny, it was actually only 2 pieces). So all in all, we thought it was a decent meal, till we got the bill. To recap: 2 personal-sized pizzas (8 total small slices) 2 pieces of mozzarella in carozza 2 sodas (2 of us had water) total for a meal sized for 2 people: $60 (and note: this is for PIZZA! We didn't even order real meals!) I have no problem spending $30/person for a good meal. But if I'm getting just barely above average and tiny portions, I'd much rather eat elsewhere.

    (2)
  • sako R.

    Go with many people who are willing to share food and are not picky eaters and do not utter words like "I'm watching my calories," "I avoid carbohydrates," or "I'm a vegetarian." We went with our friends for a joint birthday dinner, and ate two kinds of pizza, three kinds of meat, pasta, vegetables, and one baby-pig-roasted-crispy-skin-thing that will forever keep me loyal to their establishment.

    (4)
  • Stefanie A.

    I think I'm one of the only people in all of Philly that doesn't fall all over themself about Osteria. Probably because I've had very mixed experiences here. The first time i went, the food was mediocre and the service amazing. The second time, food was excellent, but service not good. On my first visit, I tried the shrimp in squid-ink linguini. I read it was great, and typically like this dish, but when I got it, it was flavorless and mushy. So I sent it back. The server was super gracious and offered me another pasta dish--the postage stamp porcini ravioli. It was OK, but tasted like pasta in butter, which I could easily make at home. My friend and I shared the octopus, though, which might be the best octpud I've ever had. And the roasted brussles sprouts were amazing. We got the budino for desert (not as good as Barbuzzo) and then the passion fruit dessert, which blew me away, and I'm not a fruit desert person, I'm a chocolate person. They did not charge me for either entree, and due to the amazing service, gracious offer to cover my food, and glimmers of amazingness, I decided to go back. The second time we had the octopus again (delish) and a pizza, which was fantastic. We had a pasta I don't remember, aside from remembering that it was great. Though our service was slow, and when our server did come over, he wasn't particularly friendly or helpful. So def two uneven experiences, though everyone I know raves about it here. Don't get me wrong--it's great, and much better than the average Italian spot, but for the money, I would easily prefer to spend it on two bottles of wine and dinner at Mercato.

    (4)
  • David M.

    Osteria makes a great destination for a nice dinner or a really special occasion. For this reason, reservations are a must-have. On the surface, Osteria may come across a bit pricey. But really, it isn't. That is, until you're through ordering multiple tapas dishes, alcohol, and trying a little of everything on the menu. Everybody raves about their pizza, but the menu just seemed to have so much more to offer. I had to be more adventurous than that. I went with candele with wild boar. It was fantastic. We also shared fried pig tails, among other things. Everything was just perfect. I'm looking forward to going back.

    (5)
  • Kristin W.

    Slipped in late on a weeknight and got seated in the charming greenhouse area. We started with the Vegetable Antipasto special, which had a great selection of deliciously prepared seasonal veggies. Next up, we split the Zucchini pizza and the Cobia (a flavorful fish), both of which were great. We wrapped up the meal with the amazing Polento Budino with Hazelnut. Overall, a little steeply priced, but a great meal!

    (4)
  • Alex V.

    The food at Osteria was five stars. The sweatbread special was out of this world. My homemade ravoli was also very good, and the roasted chicken was hands down the best chicken I've ever had period. The service was inconsistent. Our waiter was not every attentive, and others were stepping in to fill the void. Considering out bill came out to around $75/head, I would expect excellent service. Despite the lapse in service, I would highly recommend Osteria.

    (4)
  • Mindy Y.

    I'm not sure what I could say about Osteria that hasn't already been said.. Marc Vetri is culinary genius, the less-than-desirable N Broad address stills draw a crowd, the decor, vibe and service are welcoming and accomodating. I can say though that the meal for me got better as the night went progressed. Our first course to arrive was the Margherita pizza which was ok, but nothing to write home about for my taste. The crust was perfectly cooked, but it was paper thin and I like a little bit more bite to my crust. The super thin layer of sauce got lost on the pizza, but had amazing flavor when tasted on its own (ie the pile of melted cheese and sauce on my plate that slid off the pizza itself). The cheese was the real star - it was amazingly simple and delicious. Next came the wood grilled octopus. I was surprised that it was presented almost like a salad with arugula and little potatoes. The octopus itself was really tender and had none of that weird/chewy/sometimes tough texture that is pretty common with octopus. There was a bit too much salt on the octopus itself, but it balanced out nicely when eaten in the same bite as the potatoes and arugula. The potatoes themselves are noteworthy.. try this dish just for them. Next up was the pigs feet (eeks!) cannelloni with truffle bechamel sauce. I had to put on my brave foodie face to try this one, but I'm so happy I did. Creamy, rich, salty, earthy.. amazing. It would've been too much for me to eat alone. so it's a good dish to share with someone else. The portion is small, but the flavor is intense and I wanted to save room for the dishes yet to come. Last to arrive (or so I thought) was the braised seppia.. I didn't even know what seppia was. Our server said it was cuttlefish, a kind of squid, served over squid ink polenta. Whatever it is.. it's awesome. I'll probably lose all Yelp-cred when I say this, but something about the dish reminded me of spaghetti and meat sauce. I have no idea why, but there you have it. This was the most amazing dish of the night by far. To round off the evening, we tried the gelato/sorbet. Blood orange and cappucino were my favorites. The others were good also, but not as standout as the first two.

    (4)
  • Ryan B.

    The pizzas are all delicious, the pasta is great, beer list was well rounded, and dessert was a great finish. I have had a chance to sample 4 different pizzas, all very good. The octopus pizza was very good, the octopus was not rubbery at all. In addition to the pizzas I have tried three different pastas the chicken liver rigatoni, a lamb ravioli, and a mushroom ravioli. The chicken liver rigatoni is very, very good just as advertised. I was very wary of even trying the dish because I have not been a big fan of liver in the past, but I was so happy that I did. The ravioli dishes were good, both incredibly rich. For dessert I would highly recommend the polenta budino. It is an amazingly delicious pudding topped with hazelnuts. I think that it is once of my favorite desserts of all times. I have never been to any of Vetri's other restaurants, but I am very anxious to try them.

    (4)
  • Krista B.

    The reservations staff squeezed us in same-day, and thank god they did: Everything about Osteria was lovely. The enclosed dining patio that reminded me of a solarium, the friendly professional staff, the delicious upscale Italian cuisine, the effervescent drink the bartender makes with Pimm's... The light, crispy crusted Trentino pizza (split 3 ways) was excellent, though I would not have complained if there was even more gorgonzola on it to compliment the sweetness of the fig and the subtle mozzarella. The wood-grilled octopus was amazing, tender and not at all chewy, served with a little greenery and some perfectly cooked bits of lemony potato. The fried Jewish artichoke hearts were as good as you'll get in Italy; salty, olive oily, and a little crispy. The squash tortelli with sage was light and delicate, the little pasta bundles perfectly cooked (a little beyond al dente) just the way I like it. The reserve cheese plate is positively orgasmic and portioned to share; 3 of us happily worked our way through the delicious assortment of mostly hard cheeses, with grissini breadsticks and an array of unique fruity accompaniments (blueberry sauce, a sort of gelled apricot square etc). Ladies, watch the hallway to the restroom--the tile floor is pretty slick and not high-heel friendly. No, I didn't fall on my ass, but it could happen! If it did, the deferential, yet-never-obsequious staff would have picked me up, dusted me off, and showed me to the restroom with their best it aint no thang smile. PS: If you have an expense account, USE. IT.

    (5)
  • tony m.

    Quite a remarkable evening. This was a dinner for my wife and me and our adult children plus significant others. When I went on line I noticed that they offered to accomodate special parties. I emailed saying that we were a very small party but would they be able to provide us with a self-created tasting menu where we might all share. The response was most agreable. The representative Kim was most affable. Osteria would create anything we wanted. When we arrived a numerous staff greeted us. They showed us to our table in the "private" section. There on the table at each person's place was our menu, pre-printed. ( they also offered to title it in a special way - but that wasn't necessary) Then came the dinner. Exceptional on every count. The lentil soup for all. Various first courses: a meat board with the most delicate and sweet flavors, grilled octopus, squid and chick peas. coteghino with polenta and egg. Each dish distinct and rich. The primi followed: fazzoletti with pork, rigatoni with livers, candele with boar. We might have finished there. But the Secondi were to follow. Rabbit, Lamb, duck, Tuscan fish stew. ( now, I must say, that here was the one flaw. They should have served us the fish stew before the other main courses. But they did take the time to find some dishes to cover the other courses to keep them from getting cold while we had the stew. Finally, the flight to the clouds with the choclate flan that exploded its hot fudge center to surround the pistachio gelato. At no moment was there not someone attending to everything without being asked. Perfect service. Perfect dinner.

    (5)
  • PJ H.

    Went into Osteria with the Mom-Dukes on a Wednesday night. The service was excellent, waiter was extremely knowledgeable and the food was great. My only beef was with the wines. I can appreciate a good wine, but to only have 5 or 6 offerings by the glass at $12 bucks a pop for the cheapest one, I felt that to be a bit steep. I wanted to get the braised pig's head special, but i think my mom would have puked all over me as i devoured the poor little guys cranium. I will defintely come back here with a braver eater. We split the margarita pizza to start, whcih was super good. Crispy, thin crust that you can cut with a fork just like in italy. I havent had pizza like that since i was over there. For my entree, I had the milk-braised pork cheeks over some sort of puree, and it was fantastic. I'm a sucker for just about any part of the pig, and the cheek, when prepared properly, is probably my favorite. This was spot on and I woud definitely reccommend it. My mom had the ravioli in some sort of butter sauce with mushrooms that was very lite, but tasty.

    (4)
  • Peter S.

    Osteria is Pietro's Coal Oven Pizzeria at twice the cost... except in a worse location. Pizza was quite good. Apps and other entrees were just ok. Everything was hopelessly overpriced for what it was.

    (2)
  • Kevin O.

    Just got home. Went with the kids, because we wanted to check it out, and didn't want to pay a babysitter on a Sunday night. So we decided to make it an all pizza night. We got four pizzas total. I'll go from the worst to the best. 4. Margarita - your typical pie, it was ok 3. it had red pepper flakes, and octopus, it was also ok 2. This one had squash, raisins, and pine nuts I think. It was tremendous. One bite into this, and I was saying "This lives up to the hype." I think it's on their website where they have a review that says "The world needs more pizza like this." After the first two, I was thinking, "The world has plenty of pizza like this." 1. Finally, probably the best pizza I ever had. All I know, is that it had pig's head on it. The flavor was so unbelievable. I had about 5 slices of this. I see a lot of people complaining about the price, and it's a little high, but you're not at Maple Glen Pizza, you're at a Mark Vetri restaurant. And to tell you the truth, if the parents hadn't had a couple drinks each, I wouldn't have looked twice at the bill. You're in the city. Drinks are expensive. All in all, great spot. Oh, and Carrie couldn't stop talking about how nice the decor was. "Yeah, it looks like our house" was my response. Really, if we were rich and Carrie could decorate however she wanted, it would look like the inside of Osteria.

    (4)
  • Ivan C.

    Go early and order the roast pork special

    (4)
  • Vincent G.

    Food here was OK. Very inconisistent. Chicken Liver Pasta was great as well as the Octopus Pizza. The Pork Special and the Steak was terrible. Service here was really weak. Seemed uninterested and very annoyed with us. We do not look like the ritzy customer they are used to so didn't give good service but in the end she was wrong because we had a BIG check and I've been in the business for 15 years and still am and she definitely hurt herself in the tip area. All in all a little inconsistent, weak service, cool vibe, and very very pricey. Will not return, will not reccomend to anyone, but will not stop anyone from going either.

    (3)
  • Gerry R.

    The special appetizer of 8 different roasted veggies was a hit. The pastas can be ordered half portion as an appetizer. The chicken liver rigatoni was extraordinary, no really extraordinary. The bread basket was one of the best since Rosemary on Duane St. in NYC. We ordered the much reviewed Lombardo and the Margharita pizzas as appetizer. The pizzas were good, just not special considering Food and Wine reviewed as one of the best. So much for F&W's pizza reviewer. Our waiter, Steve, described everything in great detail. Wine. Baked Halibut was delicious as were the roasted artichokes ala carte side . The cappucino was artfully done and the beignets were tasted and left on the table. Expensive and sort of worth it based on quality and preparation. Just hard to pay New York prices based on Philadelphia rents. We will return.

    (4)
  • Donna C.

    Four girls for a night out on the town + Osteria = X) Wood-grilled octopus as appetizer was soft not chewy and flavorful. The portion wasn't large but worth it. Two pizzas (one artichoke, one egg): Delicious! Flavorful! Worthy of a mouthgasm! Definitely recommend the artichoke pizza. Fresh, tasty ingredients. Thin, wood-fired pizza with a little crisp to the crust. Wild boar pasta: Meh. Not my favorite here. It was vaguely comparable to something I've had at Melagrano with this ground wild boar sauce and long tubular pasta (ragatoni? raglioni? grrr... don't know my pasta types). I'm not a fan of pasta (though it was cooked very nicely here, a little softer than al dente) and I was pretty full by the time this came around, so maybe don't take my word for it because all the other girls liked it very much. (What can I say? I'm a pizza-girl! :D) The only qualms I have are: 1) Nothing a cab can't take care of... But the location leaves something to be desired. 2) There are some gaps in communication between the staff. We were asked three times if we wanted our coats checked (Uh... Hahaha. No.). Otherwise, though, the staff was very pleasant and took their time to describe the items on the menu to us. Overall: * I'd definitely recommending going with a small group so that you can taste as many things as you can. * The meal was very nicely paced. There was a good pause between each dish, which were brought out one-by-one per our request, and that allowed for good conversation, as well as some good ol' digestion. * Casual, warm decor. Not too dark and not too bright. The clientele is an older, more refined crowd, but the atmosphere is relaxed and evokes a rustic, classy feel that's great when you just want to wind down and have a bit of fancy--but not too much. * This is definitely one of the better $25 I've paid to go to a restaurant in Philly--most BYO meals aren't worth this much.

    (4)
  • Yu Ting Y.

    an amazing dining experience! ambience: beautiful glass house with gorgeous evening light and a view of a gothic church, got even more beautiful when the sun set and the lights came on pizzas: excellent crust and ingredients, a little burnt but bearable antipasti: fresh ingredients, wild alaskan salmon was well flavored and matched well with the red onions primi: had the canestri with nettle pesto, snails and parmiagano. LOVED THIS. one of the best pesto i've ever had! secondi: rabbit was tasty, but a little dry. otherwise very flavorful dessert: it's hard to go wrong with chocolate flan and pistachio gelato, which marked the end of an excellent meal. while the food was excellent, it was probably worth 4 stars. what marked this as a 5 star experience was really the beautiful ambience of the place. very very highly recommended for the full dining experience.

    (5)
  • JandS Bistro s.

    Well, we have been trying to get in here for a while. Last night we had an early dinner reservation and arrived even earlier. We appreciated the availability of the (free) on-street parking but due to the recent snow had to trudge through icy/snow sidewalks in an "iffy" neighborhood. The first impression we had when we walked in was "Wow! there's a lot to take in!". From the exposed kitchen to the magnificent wood burning pizza oven to the large wheels of cheese sitting on the bar. We love restaurants with exposed kitchens and prep areas. The hostess seated us immediately even though we were 20 minutes early for our reso. The first table they offered us was directly next to one of the prep areas in the main dining room. Even though we enjoy watching "prep", we don't enjoy sitting right next to it so we ended up sitting at the next table which was perfect. We ordered our Apertivi. She had the Violet Collins (gin, meyer lemon, prosecco, violet liquer) and I had the Alto (prosecco and blood orange bitters). Both were YUMMY! As we were sipping our Apertivi a beautiful wood bowl of bread and bread sticks arrived with a small can of outstanding olive oil. We love salt and peperoncino flakes with our bread and olive oil and requested both which our server brought right over. We didn't like the fine sea salt so our server replaced the fine sea salt with course sea salt - very nice. For the Antipasti course we had the scallop crudo with fennel and olive oil special - OUTSTANDING! And we also had the quail "al mattone". OMG, the quail was the most delicious bird we have ever eaten!!! For the Primi course we shared the candele with wild boar bolognese which was also outstanding but the candele was a little overcooked (not al dente as it should be). We always like to try a fish entree for dinner. So for the Secondi course we ordered the olive oil poached Alaskan black cod which was a HUGE DISAPPOINTMENT. The fish tasted fishy and after we each had a couple bites we sent this dish back. Our server was very nice about this, apologized, quickly whisked it away and asked if she could bring us a different Secondi. We replaced it with the chicken "alla griglia" with fennel, confit leeks, and blood orange salad. This is the second most delicious bird we have ever eaten. The skin was crispy, the meat was sweet and tender, and paired beautifully with the fennel, leeks and blood orange. We were getting a little full at this point and took half of the chicken home and ate it for breakfast the next day a few minutes ago and it was just as awesome. We're not usually dessert people (but maybe becoming that) so having passed on the budino at Barbuzzo last week, we decided we would try the polenta budino here. It was a nice ending to our delicious meal. We loved the crunchiness of the candied hazelnuts with the grittiness of the polenta in the budino. I topped off dessert with a double espresso - OUTSTANDING! With dinner we had a bottle of Bastianich Sauvignon Blanc which was WONDERFUL! We also judge a restaurant by it's bathrooms and we liked the bathrooms here. They were clean, adequate size, nicely decorated, and odor free. In summary, the service was excellent, food was outstanding except for the cod we sent back, wine was awesome and the wine list was very extensive. We will definitely be back for dinner and lunch.

    (3)
  • Matt S.

    I've eaten here a couple of times. The first time was a few months ago. Whenever I go to a new place that is supposed to be great, I always make an effort to try the stuff on the menu that seems most outside my comfort zone. I don't remember everything that I had that night, but I believe one dish was meat from a pig's face and it was great. In fact, everything I tried was wonderful. My wife played it a little more safe and ended up with a pasta dish that she found just so-so. Still, aside from that one dish (which is no longer on the menu), everything else (service, atmosphere, etc.) was good enough to merit return trips. On the next trip I tried one of their pizzas and that was the end of my experimentation with their menu. It was pizza from then on! I love the thin, bubbly/char-y crusted pizzas like they make in Italy. Americanized pizzas (NY, Philly, Chicago style) are all great, of course, but they are almost an entirely different food. I like hot dogs. I like hamburgers. But they are different things. Same with American pizza and Italian pizza. Both good, just not the same. The thin and delicate brick-oven Italian style gives me the singular focus of a brains-hungry zombie. And like a zombie I will stop at almost nothing once I have Italian style pizza in my sight. Sketchy neighborhood? No big deal. No real parking? I'll circle for blocks. Long wait for a seat? I'll wait. I'll wait all night. BRAINS! I mean PIZZA! I like the one with the sausage and the egg and my wife and I usually get an appetizer or two to share while we wait. The apps are always mouth watering preludes for the real treat. She usually gets a pasta and (aside from that first time) they are usually delicious...I think. Honestly I hardly taste much on the bites she generously shares with me because like I said - I tend to FOCUS! on the PIZZA! I think she also might try to have conversations with me sometimes when I'm eating, but I can't be sure of that. To be safe, I grunt or nod approvingly every now and then as I try to look sophisticated enough to fit into the nice setting while voraciously shoving pizza into my face. For my tastes, this place is second only to Pizza Bianco in Phoenix, AZ (my first love, how I miss thee!) for pizza places on this side of the Atlantic. Please be sure never to go there so I can more easily get seats at the bar when I get a craving.

    (5)
  • Jane F.

    Went here for dinner with another couple and had a delicious meal! I'm pretty picky about Italian food after spending a semester abroad in Italy, so I usually avoid Italian restaurants, but overall this was really good. Some dishes stood out, including the pizza with cauliflower and anchovies and grilled octopus appetizer. I wasn't that impressed with my pasta dish (one of the specials, ricotta tortellini with persimmon), but my friend's chicken liver pasta was amazing. The suckling pig for one was pretty delicious, too, with yummy crispy roasted potatoes. For dessert, I ordered the pear tart because it sounded like it wouldn't be too sweet, but I was wrong. I tasted my companions' polenta budino and semifreddo, which were both much better than my dessert. Maybe it was because it was a Monday night, but our waitress wasn't quite as knowledgeable about the menu as I would have hoped.

    (4)
  • Jenny S.

    I just had my second experience at Osteria and it was just as delightful as the first. They offer an eclectic fair of meats and seafood that are seasoned to perfection. I feel like the prices are pretty fair but you can definitely eat on the cheap and get some of their delicious pizza. The wine list is very fancy if you're into that kind of thing. Obviously, i don't know much about that but they have a wine Sommelier to help you choose a nice bottle. Aside, from the amazing food the service is exceptional. They are constantly filling your water, bringing more bread, and checking in. There's a reason why this place is the number one restaurant in 2009 so treat yourself and make a reservation.

    (5)
  • Natalie P.

    Loved everything about our dinner here. The chicken liver rigatoni is outstanding. The lemon sorbetto was hands down the best I have ever had and my husband stole it from me. He can't wait to go back for that. I can't wait to go back to try out some of the pizzas other people were enjoying. Looked delicious!!

    (5)
  • Brandon M.

    I've been here twice, most recently a couple weeks ago. It's a little bit out of the way and in a slightly blighted area six big blocks north of City Hall, but well worth the trek. Delicious Italian food in a casual yet trendy setting. Both times I sat in the back area which is like a sunroom. It's nice and spacious, but as another reviewer commented, it felt like being hidden in a backroom. Didn't really bother me, but it was a little odd -- the restaurant is much bigger than you would (or I did) expect, but I love the rustic-ness of the place. We split a testina pizza (pig's head) and I had grilled octopus, chicken liver rigatoni and a chocolate torte. The pizza is the best in the city (for $21, it should be!), with a puffy, crispy crust delicately seasoned with rosemary and olive oil. Think of a gourmet version of Dock Street, and then think a little better than that. Octopus was very good, but not the best I've had. Good flavor but one or two pieces were *slightly* tougher than what I'd like. It's served on a bed of perfunctory greens, which were all still there when I was done eating, save for a couple pieces that attached themselves to the odd tentacle. Some room for improvement. The chicken liver rigatoni was one of the tastiest meals I've ever eaten. There's no other way to describe it than one of those dishes that you just keep eating because it tastes so good, and then feel too full 10 minutes later. Presentation is non-existent -- it's served in a cheap-looking bowl without any flair -- but that's the point here. It feels like something your Italian mother would make. Chocolate torte was just okay. A little too bland and a little too crumbly. Wine list is excellent, and, it should be noted, on the very reasonable side of things: Most of the bottles on it are under $100, and you can find more than a few under $50. Kudos to them for that. My main problem with the place is the lameness of the entrees. For a place that serves sweetbreads, chicken liver and pizza with headcheese, I was hoping for an entree that was similarly interesting. Instead, you can choose from tuna, skate or grilled chicken (rabbit and wild boar's leg is about as adventurous as the entrees get). The special when I was there last was described as a whole roasted pig, of which they slice off leg and shoulder meat. When I asked the waitress if it came with the good bits like ears, trotters or snout, she laughed and said no. Oh well.

    (4)
  • Sara H.

    Osteria was extremely mediocre--if even that. My boyfriend and I went on a Tuesday night and it was unbelievably busy. I am still trying to figure out how a place that serves bland, overpriced food in a pretentious yet not at all inspiring setting can be so busy--or even staying in business!! We tried the fig/gorgonzola/speck pizza to start. A delicious idea, but executed very poorly. The crust took over half of the pizza, there were about 6 figs on the entire thing and it felt like a treasure hunt to actually eat a bite that had something on it---FINE for a free happy hour buffet pizza, not OK for $16. Our next course was the grouper entree ($26) with chanterelle mushrooms and leeks. Let's just say the grouper must have been very happy in its afterlife because it got to be halfway immersed in water and swimming in a sea of oily fishy dilly juice that managed to overpower the chanterelles and leeks in blandness. We sent this back because frankly, you can get a better fish for $5 from the frozen section of Trader Joe's and be way more satisfied. We then had the ravioli thinking if this place was Italian, maybe we were just choosing the wrong things--and we should give it a final chance by ordering something fairly simple. Well of course if you drench anything in cheese, salt and butter it is bound to have a flavor but the "postage stamp ravioli" was soggy, soft and not worth any further commentary. That basically concluded our dining experience there. Oh, might I add that for their attempts at a fancy shmancy environment (which at first I was excited about since my beloved Fairmount neighborhood doesn't have too many places that warrant putting on a fancy dress) the soap in the bathroom was a friggin' CVS container of DIAL. Pshh. At least put the Dial in a nice soap dispenser or something if you are going to continue this charade. If you're looking for Italian food you'd be better off at the Olive Garden. Just kidding. Kind of.

    (1)
  • Dana O.

    I am in LOVE with this place. I love the ambiance. I LOVED the vegetarian salads antipasto, and the postcard pasta (francobolli I think). The wine was exceptional, the bread, the service...apparently in the spring/summer they use vegetables from their own garden.I am Italian and live in San Francisco, and I think that my Italian grandmother AND my San Francisco foody friends would all agree that this place is the best. I can't wait to go back!

    (5)
  • Ferit T.

    wonderful agnolotti. everything else was great too, but I especially liked the bread. we ordered primis and a secondi to share and it was all wonderful, not too expensive considering the amount of good food we ate and that we were full (the bread with olive oil may have helped with that too :) wish they would participate in restaurant week.

    (5)
  • Chuck C.

    Had an exceptional experience here last week. The service was outstanding; as professional as it could be, yet relaxed and unobtrusive. The food and wine service went well beyond my expectations. The group that I was with found the atmosphere very conducive to conversation, everyone was able to enjoy the company at the table while sampling some of the best food we've had in Philly in a long time. I highly recommend this place for small gatherings of 4 to 8 people. One of the highlights was a roasted pig's head appetizer...talk about a conversation starter. We enjoyed the experience so much, we even stayed for dessert and after dinner drinks. Can't wait to go back!

    (5)
  • Karl B.

    Went on a Sunday night for a quick dinner. First I must say that the environment and the decor is incredible. So cozy and warm, yet still with a nice modern touch. I am a sucker for natural woods and this place has nailed it. So we started off with the duck pasta (a thin pasta filled with duck and brown sugar served in a brown butter). All in all the dish was pretty good. Not even close to being worth the $18 it costs, but pretty good nonetheless. I will say this however, the entire time I was eating this i was thinking "damn this would make an excellent dessert". Everything about this dish was sweet. It has that warm, sugary sweet taste, feeling, texture, that you want in a dessert on a cold winter day. For our entree we shared the Lombarda Pizza. We had read in Food And Wine Magazine that it is ranked among the top 10 pizzas in the country, so, being from Buffalo NY (the birthplace of chicken wings, and good pizza) we had to try it. Now this dish too was $18, however this was far more worth the price. It came out HOT, cut in four slices, and dripping with egg. (For those unfamiliar with the dish, it is a hand-tossed piza served with baked egg, bitto cheese, mozzarella, and cotechino sausage. Mind you it was absolutely delicious, however I found myself thinking more and more with each bite that, aside from the cheese and egg, this pizza wasn't a whole lot different than a $12 take-out pie back home. Now my biggest complaint, and the reason this place gets a 3 instead of 4 stars, is their drink menu. I had heard they have a great beer selection (which they do), however the prices are just baffling ($10 for a 12 oz bottle of duvel!!!!!) I love to have a good beer with my meal. In most cases I believe a good beer can completely pull together a meal. But $10 for a bottle of $2 beer is just outrageous. All in all we shared a pretty average meal. really other than the prices I don't have much to complain about. I walked out that door $70 poorer, wondering if I couldn't have had a more memorable meal at the pizza place across the street. I don't think i'll make my way up Broad street for another visit.

    (3)
  • Jared S.

    Ok. I went back here another time and never updated. Now it was a while ago and for a friends bday so I don't remember all that much. I must, however, make note on the chicken liver rigatoni. This dish is fantastic. If I ever go back I will be getting this again. Also the porchetta tonnato dish was fabulous. So yeah, those dishes are amazing. Everything else was good, but I mean for that price they better be. I think i dropped 180 on dinner that night if I remember correctly.

    (4)
  • beata n.

    Amazing! must try the wild board bolognese!

    (5)
  • Angus P.

    The pizza (parma) and pasta (pork rib lasagnette) we had were amazing. However, ordered the lamb for main course, on suggestion of waitress since nothing else really appealed to me. For $30, we got a few slices of undercooked (rare), underseasoned leg of lamb. If you're going to sell a small plate of leg of lamb for that much money, it had better be phenomenal . . . which it wasn't. I would recommend this restaurant, but stick to antipasta, pizza, and pasta, which based on my experience and other reviews is what they do best. They are also reasonably priced for the quality.

    (4)
  • Amy R.

    Last week we enjoyed a wonderful dinner at the bar. The bartender was very friendly and helpful with the menu. The bartender really gave terrific service. My boyfriend and I shared three appetizers and a pasta (chicken liver rigatoni). Everything, especially the pasta was delicious. We were having a fantastic time, but left with a very sour taste in our mouth. We were given a Vetri gift card this Christmas but were told as we were paying that the gift card we had was only valid for Vetri Ristorante, not all Vetri family restaurants. No where on the card does it say this. Unfortunately, we are moving this week and will not get a chance to sit down for a seven course tasting menu. Had we known this strange policy, we would have arranged a time earlier this year. (However, I should also mention the gift card was $100 which does not even cover the cost of one meal.) The purchaser of the gift card does not live in Philly so I can see how this was confusing for them when they bought it for us. Finally, I emailed Vetri to express my disappointment and they were not very understanding or accommodating. The chicken liver rigatoni delicious, the bartender was a delight, but I don't think I will return to any Vetri restaurants next time we are in Philly.

    (3)
  • jackie p.

    They have the best gelloto. Marscapone and olive oil was out of this world. Served in a silver cut that kept the last bite as good as the first because it kept the consultancy perfect. The bass was great.

    (4)
  • Joseph C.

    My friends took me there for my birthday and the server spoiled the surprise when we sat down. FAIL! Sommlier brought the wine to our table and we had no glasses. FAIL! Food was okay but the chicken liver rigatoni was tasty as recommended by a chef on chefs feed. (props to Ansil) Just a really bad experience overall. I want to try again but will probably go to Vetri or Amis next time.

    (2)
  • Dom R.

    I will keep this short and sweet, like the polenta budino found here. I rate this restaurant in My Top 3 Favorite Spots in our great city of Philadelphia. I have been coming here since the doors opened when I was a cheap college student at Temple University. I have been here 15+ times and each time the food is absolutely delicious and never disappoints. Great for special occasions or just grabbing a pizza and an italian craft beer. Oh yea, they have those here...Italian Craft Beers. Italians make great beer! The menu changes with the seasons, but there are always the classics that never leave. One of them being the desserts, the Polenta Budino! This is the perfect dessert, in my eyes. The delicious combination of sweet and salty and creamy and chocolatly.....Polenta Budino with gianduia mousse and candied hazelnuts (ORDER THIS). It may even be better than the other, more famous Budino found in this city. Oh yea, ask about the roast suckling baby pig with crispy skin, not on the menu. Overall, I measure all restaurants in Philadelphia up against Osteria. And so far, this place has remained in my Top 3. Chef's Marc Vetri and Jeff Michaud, job well done. 5 Stars.

    (5)
  • Bob R.

    Uneven food , at times clumsy .great blood orange cocktail. Good Italian food for those who haven't been anywhere.M

    (3)
  • simone H.

    Although the ambiance is mediocre (a bit cheesy and impersonal) and the prices are not cheap, the pizza is perfect. I recently visited Italy this spring and can honestly say that I find Osteria's pizza to have a more flavorful, interesting, and refined taste than pizza in Italy. The tomato sauce has a complex sweet, salty, and tangy taste and you will find an unusual array of toppings such as octopus, red chili flakes, and smoked mozzarella... but the combinations are delectable. The pasta is not quite up to par with their pizza. The sauce is just good, but the pasta has a great texture: cooked al dente with just the right amount of doughiness. The grilled vegetables on their special menu are delicious, and make for a perfect appetizer with the pizza. I have never been much of a pizza fan, but Osteria gives pizza a different name, and it is definitely worth the trip to try it.

    (4)
  • Quinney H.

    Polpo Pizza!!! While the polpo pizza is the best pizza I've ever had, I wasn't overly impressed with my entire meal. I did not find the overall quality of the food to be worth the quantity in price. Service was a bit sloppy. Ambiance was just a little lacking IMO (e.g., dimmer lighting, better table placement, and friendlier FOH staff). I will return solely for the polpo pizza.

    (3)
  • Clara L.

    Good service, fresh food, great ambience. With a very affordable price tag. Can't go wrong with that.

    (5)
  • Kris B.

    the food, obviously, is delicious. but the service was actually really disappointing. I'd happily pay these prices if the service and attentiveness of the staff came anywhere close to the quality of the food, but it just didn't. for that reason, i'd rather go to a hundred other places in the city.

    (3)
  • Liz S.

    Amazing! My husband and I went on a Wednesday night and had such a great meal that we went back the next night! The service was great, the food was perfect, GO NOW!!!!!

    (5)
  • Claire O.

    I was pretty hyped about Osteria after reading about it in Philly Mag and also finding out that it was the kid sis of Vetri (which is sadly out of my budget). I got there before my friend and passed the time with a glass of prosecco (which would become three or four by the time the night was over, delicious). We ordered the Lombarda pizza, which did not disappoint. We said with great excitement, "There is an EGG on our pizza!" I ordered, I think, a dual ravioli of sorts - one side was filled with duck and the other with water chestnuts? It was just alright. I don't know if I had gone one glass of prosecco too many or was talking too much that I didn't finish the dish while it was still hot. My friend ordered the braised pork ribs which were amazing and really well-seasoned. I was beaten to the check while I was in the restroom so I can't comment on the prices (I don't really look while ordering). But it was a pretty okay experience. The prosecco wins.

    (3)
  • Josh C.

    A true 5-star rating. Honestly, anybody who disliked Osteria must hate quality and taste and likely hates puppies and Chase Utley as well. The lovely lady and I came for our anniversary dinner on a Sunday night and absolutely loved everything about the place. The sheer size of the restaurant was a welcomed change to the crammed byo scene to which I have grown accustomed. That isn't to say that the tables are spaced out to the point where you don't hear the table next to you discussing the current physical and emotional state of Heidi and Spencer (I have lost quality brain cells from that conversation), but the added room spared by elbows and feet from unwanted collisions with the waiters and occasional drunk customer. That was nice. The atrium was very pleasant and the sleek but unfinished decor was pretty cool as well. Drinks: The lady had a pinot grigio by the glass and I had a white wine that I hadn't heard of before and was told to remember the name but still managed to forget. The pinot grigio was good and my mystery wine was one of the best whites I've ever had. Glad that I have no memory left. I blame the Heidi/Spencer debate. Food: Simply awesome. We started with the summer veggie platter. The brussels sprouts were pretty much the best I've ever had and the beets and roasted peppers were tasty as well. Everything was obviously fresh. Next up, we split a margherita pizza. The pizza was definitely old world with a small offering of fresh cheese together with a sweet tomato sauce and a crispy, rustic crust. To be honest I am more of a fan of down and dirty greasy sloppy deliciousness when it comes to pizza but this was as good as traditional Italian pizza can get for me. Definitely a cut above Stella. For the entrees, the lady had a pasta that I remember was very good (and I can't remember exactly what it was - damn you Hills). I ordered the chicken "alla griglia" and... it was special. By nature I am a genuine red meat carnivore, but as it turns out a life of eating solely cow products does not lead to a healthy lifestyle so I have now turned to a lesser form of meat that I have never before respected: chicken. Had I known that chicken could be made to taste like this, I probably would have jumped on the bandwagon decades (and hundreds of thousands of calories) ago. The delicious marinade somehow seeped all of the way to the bone and at no point did I experience a bite that was not bursting with flavor. For me to say something like this about chicken... it must really be something. Dessert: A cannoli with with chocolate and caramel? Umm, yes please. Completely worth the two-a-days at the gym that I will need to pull so that I can eat it again. Service: Attentive and well-versed in the menu. Everything came out VERY quickly, which was great because we were really hungry. What else can you ask for? Overall, a 5-star experience all the way. I think that we have now found our new go-to spot. I may need to get a raise before we come back, but it will be worth it.

    (5)
  • Haltone H.

    Probably one of my top ten meals out. Mark Vetri's reputation - deserved. My chicken liver pasta was every bit as good as reviews indicated. A strawberry mousse dessert was so good that my foodie/cook husband found the recipe - and decided it was just too complicated, too many obscure ingredients to try to replicate. I wish I could remember more of the meal, as this was over a year ago. It definitely stands out in my memory, though.

    (5)
  • Tom G.

    Osteria has so much insane hype (thanks to the Vetri machine) so it's hard to not get amped up for your trip here. This is what I experienced: it's good, some is borderline great, good wine list (but very overpriced), mostly good waitstaff, and a trendy vibe in a crummy area of the city. The pizzas and pastas are what Osteria is known for. The pastas are almost all excellent. Only Modo Mio has matched the expertise for me so far in Philly. The pizzas are...well, they are wood-fired, super thin, and somewhat flimsy/soggy due to the sauce. I personally liked the Lombarda pizza but I was expecting more out of it after waiting 2 years to try it. My big issue is that before I came I read about 15 reviews stating the same thing: too expensive and small portions. Note to Philadelphia suburbanites: JUST BECAUSE YOU ARE USED TO EATING AT APPLEBEE'S AND BERTUCCI'S AND CAN'T TELL THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN AMERICAN AND MOZZARELLA CHEESE, STOP COMPLAINING ABOUT SIZE AND COST AT FINE RESTAURANTS. Ahem. Seriously, when suburbanites do the one thing they are scared to do (venture into the BIG CITY) they expect a meal that costs upwards of $60 per person to do the following: 1) Repair their fractured marriage of 20 years 2) Turn their community college drop out children into Ivy League investment bankers 3) Allow them to experience Nirvana If it doesn't accomplish these things, the meal is suddenly overpriced and a waste of time. Osteria, I apologize for using my review of your restaurant to yell at people.

    (4)
  • Warren S.

    sorry philly!!! average at best. All i ever hear about is the marc vetri genius with pasta and other italian specialties. Made reservations for friday night while in town for a concert. We ordered the lamb sausage, fried ipswich clams, a pizza(not memeorable) and the spaghetti chittarra with rabbit bolognese and truffle split between 2. The lamb sausage was 1 link of sausage cut into four pieces with a smear of pesto & 2 baby potato. Tasted ok, portion sucked, could of been any kind of meat nothing to write home about. Fried clams, 4 fried clams, thats right 4 fried clams on top of room temperature soup, clams where good but could of used another dozen. Then the pizza and pasta. pizza was something blah blah blah with proscuitto, soggy, could of used some viagra. Pasta, rabbit bolognese with truffle, sounds like magic to me. I could have had better pasta at the corner pizzaria, the meat could have been anything, a quarter inch of creamy soup at the bottom of the dish with a couple of slices of canned truffles in the mix. no herbs, no cheese no flavor. garbage. The bill was $152 with a $50 bottle of wine and we ended up going to tony lukes for cheesesteaks because the portions where for the birds.(the cheesesteake sucked to)

    (1)
  • Anna E.

    My visit to Osteria was an interesting one, complete with its ups and downs but as you can tell from my review, overall a great time. We called before hand asking if we needed reservations and the host on the other end said we'd be fine with a party of 6 on a Monday night. Low and behold when we get there the tables had filled up and we have to wait at the bar. According to the manager (there were three men walking around in suits chatting with people) we had the longest wait in the history of the restaurant (a little over 2 hours) in which time we sat at the bar which was very inviting and were given a free pizza by one of the managers. He kept apologizing and kept us posted on which tables they were waiting for etc (very attentive). However, it was not until we sat down that the true magic of this place was felt. Their food is incredible. My friends and I ordered a number of different things so we could try a ton and because we waited so long not only did they give us a free pizza while we waited but they also gave us a free appetizer and dessert. Their pizza was incredible (apparently the reason they were so busy is that their Pizza was showcased on a show on the food network the week before), the beet and goat cheese plin was great, as was the steak however, my favorite meal by far was one that my friend's girlfriend got, the Chicken Liver Rigatoni. It was one of the best pasta dishes I have ever tasted (and I'm from an Italian family). So lessons to learn from this place. Be prepared to spend a lot of money, enjoy the incredible food they have to offer and above all else...MAKE RESERVATIONS on any night.

    (5)
  • Bradford S.

    I just had a business dinner here tonight, and I my entire group without exception was very dissatisfied with the food. One of the worst parts of the meal was the fish, which was suppose to come filleted but instead came with head and tail (no problem). We asked the waiter to fillet the fish, and what came back was a pile of mush filed with bones. Inedible. The cheese plate was very good, but the waiter didn't remember the names of all of the cheeses. Also, our waitress was polite, but we didn't see very much of her, and when we were finished with our entrees, we were searching for her. Bottom line is that my group found Osteria to be below average at best -- at least on this Thursday night -- but from my perspective I would likely not return voluntarily. As an aside, the restaurant is very, very rustic.

    (1)
  • Fatty D.

    What a complete disaster. Drinks were horribly over priced Ordered the octopus pizza. Instead of slicing the octopus the piza came with large hunks of the fish on top. Of course when bitten the whole chunk came off in one bite. Very poorly executed! I ordered the rabbit. Very small portion, taste was just eh. I have had so much better. My partner ordered the chicken breast. I was aghast when it came. Someone seem to pour olive oil all over the breast of chicken. It was just soaked with the oil. We sent it back. Did not want to order anything else. The whole evening was such a let down. Too many other places to go to in Philly. Very disappointing.

    (1)
  • Cathy F.

    I must say I was disappointed. There wer six of us, that went for my husband's birthday. I had read & heard some good reviews, so we were looking forward to going. My first disappointment was the wine list, as a big fan of Calif. wines (stocking over 1000 in our wineroom) not a one on the list nor was there any French Champagne. But that is just a personal preference though I do like Italian wine just not familiar with too many. With that said we did have 2 nice bottles and i had a couple glasses an Italian rose Sparkling wine. Even though the sparkling was expensive by the glass $20 thay did give me a large glass of it (not your standard flute!!) I order the wood grilled octopus, cured lemon, potato, and chives for an appetizer, that was excellent and my entree was grilled duck breast with brussel sprouts, blood orange and pistacchio . Well the duck was a real disappointment. I asked the server if any sides came with the duck and she told me brussel sprouts. I thought thats plenty.....wrong!! The duck came out with 4....count 4 slices of duck breast that was more raw than cooked, a teaspoon of the duck confit and for the clincher was the brussel sprouts or should I say sprout!! it was 1/2 of a sprout cut in half. So they gave me 2 1/4 of a sprout!!!! And the sad part about it they were pretty good! My husband had the special (pig) basically pork chop. It was ok and the portion wasn't great but ok. another dish was also a special that was pasta w/ith wild hare (sort of what I had after the meal haha) that she like but just wasn't to my liking and she got a nice portion. another couple split a the ribeye for two which was a large portion. They had also ordered 2 pizza for apps that I was not fond of. One was the duck confit that was dry and had no tasted and the other was the lombarda,a pizza with baked egg, bitto cheese, mozzarella, and cotechino sausage, They burnt the first one so they had to wait about another 15 mins for it to come out (just before our meal was served) and the crust was burnt on that one too!! I didn't like it but again that was just personal...not a fan of a egg in the middle of my pizza!! All in all it was just OK. Will I come back sorry to say, I doubt it.

    (3)
  • D K.

    The quick summary: decent food, poor customer service. I had heard good things about Osteria and had been looking forward to eating there. We had a couple of dishes...the dish that stood out was the Squash Tortelli with Amaretti and Sage. Delicious! The ambiance was also nice with its warm tones. The service on the other hand was poor. There were a couple of instances that I was willing to overlook, but the worst was at the end of the meal when the table had been cleared and the check paid and only our water glasses on the table. My friend and I were comfortably chatting because it was early in the evening and the restaurant was pretty empty so we weren't keeping the table from anyone else. A few minutes after our server filled my water glass, she abruptly came back to the table and without explanation took away our water glasses even though I was clearly still sipping from mine. We took that as a sign that she wanted us to leave and so we did, but we were definitely taken aback by her behavior. It definitely did not cap off the experience on a good note. Too bad.

    (2)
  • Diana W.

    I loved, loved, loved Osteria! I went a while back on December 23, 2008, when B and I went to visit his family in PA. I just found some notes I took on that experience, so here goes: Our group showed up before our actual reservations, so we sat at the empty bar for cocktails. P got his Maker's Manhattan (I thought the Manhattan was perfect, just the way I would make it) and we were sat right away in the sunroom. It had a nice feel, very rustic. The bread bowl was squarish and funky and looked like it was carved right out of a tree. I didn't have any bread because I didn't want to waste any belly room. The menu looked incredible. Our server was very efficient and funny with funny mustache and sideburns. He was patient with us while we took our time poring over the menu and asking him every question that could possibly be asked about it. I serve as well, and I get people like me, and yes, it takes patience to deal with us. He gave me a really good recommendation on wine, which I ordered. It was delicious. B started with prosecco, P still had his manhattan, A had one as well, and N ordered a Maker's sour, which she was not crazy about. Antipasti: B had the rabbit terrine. It was right up his alley. To me, it was like mild spam. I'm not a huge fan of meat cooked down, pulled apart, and pressed back together. B loves the stuff. The arugula that came with it was over-salted. P had house cured prosciutto. Good stuff, but I honestly didn't pay too much attention to it because I was obsessed with my own dish. N had celery root fritters with green apple slaw. It tasted exactly as I would imagine a dish like that would taste. A had pizza with chanterelle mushrooms. It was very tasty. I could taste the wood fire it was cooked in. I had the wood-fire grilled octopus, and let me tell you, it was one of the most amazing things I have ever put into my mouth! N wouldn't try it, but everyone else LOVED it! I'd never had octopus cooked that way. It was so tender, nice grilled flavor, simply seasoned with salt, pepper, lemon zest and olive oil with small cubes of potatoes. It was like a dream! Primi: P - Guinea Hen tortellini was a bit too salty, but tasty. The pasta was so thin it reminded me of wonton skin. Lots of poultry inside and tasted of it. N - Postage stamp ravioli with trumpet mushroom. It was only ok. The filling tasted like butter popcorn. Not my favorite. A - Pizzocheri (buckwheat parpadelle with swiss chard, potatoes, and cheese). This dish was insane! I've been obsessed with finding the perfect recipe since I had it! It was so soothing. I love the combination of swiss chard and potatoes anyway, but this was just obscenely good! I think I ended up eating all of A's. I just kept taking bites of it until it was gone. Secondi: B - baby suckling pig special. Big piece of crispy skin, rib bone and meat. It was very good, but again, a touch too salty. It reminded me of siu yuk (chinese roast pork) without the five spice and all the fat. P - swordfish on cauliflower risotto. I'm not a big fan of swordfish. It was just a touch dry for me, but he loved it. N and A both had the monkfish. N wasn't feeling it, so she gave it away. Wish I'd had more of it. It was cooked perfectly with a mediterranean sauce. Very moist and kind of slippery. I love fish like that! It was a really light dish with ample flavors. Me - wood-fire roasted leg of venison (yes, i love the wood fire). I thought it would be bone in, but it wasn't. I can't remember the puree beneath it, but it was intensely flavored-a bit sweet, mustardy, and salty with bits of chestnuts. The meat was cooked perfectly rare red in the center. The cut was a tad chewy, but the flavor was great! A, who normally eats her meat gray, took down the bloody piece I fed her like a champ, her eyes rolled back like she was going to pass out. It was that good. It was our favorite of the five dishes, I think. I also ordered a side of endive salad with persimmon and pomegranate. Very refreshing-bitter endives, sweet persimmons (hachiya?) with a simple, tangy dressing. I need to make this! Dessert: P - quince and chestnut fritters. Tasty doughnuts, small, dense and crisp with a maple glaze. N - molasses pumpkin upside-down cake with cranberry gelato. It was too sweet for N and the gelato was too tart. B liked and finished it. A - polenta pudding with hazelnut. She and B loved it. Me - persimmon tiramisu. I was surprised by how much I liked it. Lady fingers soaked in cointreau. Moist, light and delicious! Brought me back to Club Harle in Japan, with their little custards and parfaits. This was exactly like that. This was one of those rare times where everything I ordered was perfect. It was the perfect end to my perfect meal.

    (5)
  • Rob S.

    We were here on 5/22 to celebrate our 30th Anniversary with my parents and my son. We arrived early and were promptly seated. We were presented with a very nice bread tray including, bread sticks, sourdough and french. All were excellent. Our waitress (almost no personality) came over to tell us the specials. We asked our waitress the difference between two of Ribeyes on the menu, and the waitress told us the more expensive one was less tender because the longer the aging process, the less tender the meat would become. We ordered pizza as an appetizer and it was excellent. We were told the Ribeye would take about 20 minutes to prepare. It took about 30 minutes and when it was done, it was presented to my parents. Then we waited another 20 minutes before it was actually served with no explanation. My son and I ordered the spit roasted suckling pig, which was $32 for about 8 oz of meat (wow, I could have had a whole pig for that) and neither my son or I thought it was that tasty. My wife ordered the Haddock which was tasty by again an extremely small serving for the price. My Mom told the waitress we were celebrating our 30th Anniversary and asked if they could put a candle on one of the deserts and the waitress rolled her eyes at this request. This meal was extremely over priced for the lackluster service, food quality and location. It is apparent that the only reason the ratings are high is because its a Vetri Restaurant. Save your money and go to Beruccis since the only things that are good here are the Pizza, Appetizers and Gelato.

    (2)
  • jenny v.

    Oh, baby! I don't know where everybody else is eating (or where I'm NOT eating) that this place is only ranked at a 3.5, but if you have teeth and even a fleeting affinity for a finer thing in life, I don't see how you could be disappointed. It's a beautiful restaurant, and everybody working was professional and helpful while keeping their real-person vibe intact. We started off with this beautiful specimen of a pizze (I'll never eat pizzA again). I think it was a new addition, because I can't locate its first name on their online menu, but key words are: sweet corn, scallions, and bufala cheese. We kept commenting on the magical corn flavor that seemed to exist throughout the crust even where no kernels lay - turns out there's a corn puree throughout; science wins again. Next came the wood grilled octopus - gentleman's choice - I didn't expect much from it, but those squiggly little legs are undeniably appealing. Just when you thought we'd be full came a special roasted vegetable salad and our his and hers entrees: zucchini lasagna meets pig that's been lolling around on a skewer - what a handsome couple. Everything was beautiful and awesome - I think Zeke fell a little out of love with me when he met that pig. We topped everything off with some drinks and a taste of the chocolate flan - think toasty, upside-down cupcake toiling with molten chocolate. It's not cheap, but you can escape relatively unscathed with a little smart meal planning. I'd bring my parents here to finally make them proud.

    (5)
  • Lee D.

    I visited Osteria this past Saturday night.....one of the best meals I have ever eaten...Chef Jeffrey deserves his recent James Beard award...he is the best......love this place, it is so alive and Nancy is such an added plus to this wonderful restaurant....Lee "D"

    (5)
  • Justin S.

    In a word -- salty. The meal was good, but not worth the price or the hype. We really enjoyed the grilled vegetables, which were a special. They were flavorful with a good texture. The smelts were simply fried little fish -- nothing to excite you. My spiced apple martini (a house specialty on their menu) was just OK -- not worth $15. We also ordered the artichokes, which came with dinner even though they were an antipasti. The artichokes accelerated us on the salty path we began with the antipasti. Yet they were very tasty indeed. My shellfish stuffed with sausage were just OK; I'd try something else next time. My wife had the rabbit, which was good, but she found it too salty. Really, every dish could have used less salt; I've started to wonder what the chef was trying to do with all that salt. For dessert, they straciatella cinnamon ice cream was not great; the cinnamon ice cream was good, but the there was only one small piece of chocolate (the "chips"), which really disappointed me after the waitress talked me out of the pistachio dessert I was eyeing. I didn't finish it, which is very rare for me. My wife had the chocolate flan, which she really enjoyed; it's like molten lava cake you find elsewhere. The waitress's recommendations were a bit off, and she had me confused a couple times as to what and how much to order. So, I'd say it's a good meal, but for the money, you can find a better restaurant.

    (3)
  • Ryan S.

    OK, so I didn't adventure too far into their menu, stuck to what I know, kept it light, and do have to go back and then update this review. But, where I did go - beef capriccio, pepper ravioli, artichoke - was fantastic. The pepper ravioli (I am not using the name they did and I promise it is more amazing than the name I give it leads you to believe) was the highlight of the meal for me and was just mouth watering. As well, the side of artichoke was marinated and cooked nicely and really added the perfect flavor contrast.

    (5)
  • Grace G.

    Even on a rainy night that would make most people hunker down at home with some takeout food, Osteria was a warm and beckoning space last night. Staff was welcoming upon arrival and quick to check our coats. We were a few minutes early for our reservation and were directed to the bar area where staff was quick to take our order. Great wine list with wines by the glass and a sommelier who can help pick something out for you that isn't necessarily the most expensive bottle of wine on the menu. After being seated, our waitress brought our drinks over and told us about the specials (the suckling pig sounded so good!). We started with the wood grilled octopus, for my primi - a wonderful fresh pasta (candele) with wild boar bolognese, and my entree the duck. My husband went with the rabbit. For dessert, my polenta budino was better than my husband's chocolate flan but both were good. Service was timed well with suitable breaks between courses, water glasses kept full, and our waitress was attentive throughout. I have never been disappointed with our meals here and the portions are to my expectations. I guess I do not use the Maggiano Measurements when it comes to food -- doggie bags? Not even sure where that phrase was coined but I don't want any part of that, thank you very much.

    (4)
  • Evelyn G.

    hot damn this place has some good shit! let someone else pay is very expensive!

    (5)
  • Lark L.

    Disappointing. Vetri needs to send some trusted friends to have an undercover dinner and report back to him with 100% honesty. Chef's are usually somewhat arrogant and don't like criticism but as more and more reviews state--IT AIN"T ALL THAT! Pros: Cozy and rustic interior Good wine list Good grilled octopus and pizza---Good---NOT great. Cons: Server we had was rude, uninterested and just a sourpuss. She needs to go NOW! Noise level is riduculous---must either repeat everything 4 times or lean across table and food. Menu---such a TEASE! Sounds really good but excluding really just the octopus does not deliver at all. Pasta---WEAK! Soggy, bland-- no distinguishing flavors in either of the Primi's we ordered. Pork dish---hillbilly rustic is more like it. I am all for simple flavors and dishes but it needs to taste good. All the dishes were lacking--it was strange and a bummer. Contorni's ( sides) ---seriously? 8/$ for 3/4 c of rsted pots? I didn't see any rosemary anywhere. Polenta was whatever. Flan dessert--- what we thought would be a flan was actually the dessert du jour of the 90's the always good hot chocolate cake. That is fine if that was what we ordered----don't mislead people on your menu or give them the heads up that it is not a flan. Prices would have been fine if the food was good but way too much for what we were served. Sad. Vertri is probably a nice guy and great chef but staff in the kitchen and FOH are falling on the job and bottom line is Vetri's name and reputation suffer for it but he obviously doesn't read reviews or take them seriously.

    (1)
  • Summer A.

    A good place to stop in for a group lunch! This place is charming and rustic. As soon as you step inside from the busy streets of Philadelphia, you'll feel that you've retreated into the warm, inviting quarters of an authentic Italian osteria. While the food isn't the best I've ever had, I'd still recommend that you give the place a try if you find yourself in the area. Beware though -- nearly every dish contains some kind of pork product (though a few can be made without it), so think twice before bringing your vegetarian, vegan, or kosher friends. You may also need the waiter's help in translating the menu to find the lamb sandwich and the asparagus pizza. Mmmm mmmm good!

    (3)
  • liza c.

    i'm looking over the other reviews and see the same things. everyone wanted to try this place for quite awhile before they eventually got to and were at leastly mostly pleased. i was, too. perhaps i worked myself up for it a little too much, though, because i was actually pretty bored with everything at Osteria, except for the restaurant itself. how pretty! the food was all very tasty, but a bit of a borefest. it took me awhile to find something on that menu that was really worth paying such a high price for. in the end, i ate the fluke with a mixture of white and green asparagus tossed in a creamy dill sauce. this was very tasty, even if the cream sauce was way too heavy/creamy. for antipasti, i chose one of the specials which was a board of various grilled and pickled veggies. by far, the best part of the meal, even if it was a little like Zahav's salad tasting starter. other good things included a very pleasant staff - not a single bad attitude in the house! and a great atmosphere. the restaurant itself is, however, located in a really cruddy spot. i guess you they can't all be in rittenhouse, though!

    (3)
  • Ryan C.

    I have to be honest and say if I'm going to get pizza, I don't want 'gourmet' pizza. I also don't want thin-crust, and i don't want it to be small slices. That said, I am craving the gourmet pizza of Osteria right now. Their pizzas are small, and flavorful with ingredients gently laid on top. One pizza will not be enough for anyone. We tried a lot of different items on the menu. The table favorite was the standard Margherita, but I loved the white pizza with asparagus and Proscuitto. I feel, if i'm going gourmet with pizza, I'm going all out, save the 'plain' for boardwalk pizza. The pastas were all delicious, but not exeptional. The fish was not the freshest, and the Antipasto was pretty tame, appealing to more than just die hard Italians. I'm used to intense flavors and strongly marinated items for an antipasto, but this had some nice and light little salads, arugula and yellow beets. Get the Asparagus Crespelle, gelati and if you need a kick in the neck, a Caffe Coretto (espresso with grappa.) The great decor makes up for the less than desirable location, just like Distrito. But, we had a strangely and funny experience here. We usually take our time when eating and asked to put in an appetizer order and order our entree later. WELL, despite eating at a myriad of other restaurants before this, our waitress informed us that we MUST put in our total order. NOW, I can understand from the kitchen's perspective how this would make things easier...that's fine. I've also heard the PR speak that it's so we aren't delayed in our meal and get mad at the restaurant. But really, this was a first for us and we don't care about taking our time to eat. We queried our waitress about this and she became very uncomfortable and finally leaned over to the 50something CEO at our table and said, with hand on his shoulder, "have you ever worked in a kitchen before?" We all were stunned, and laughed for like 10 minutes, after she left.... (Follow up to that story, we ran into the same ordering system at Tequilas.) I have a tip for all those working for tips...."Find a way." If the customer wants to order appetizers now...and an entree later....find a way... you'll make a better tip....our waitress at Osteria certainly would have.

    (3)
  • Joe B.

    I went for an early dinner with my mom and everything was great! For an appetizer we shared an order of the wood-grilled octopus. Main course: my mom had the rabbit casalinga with polenta, and I had the special of roast pig topped with crispy skin alongside roasted potatoes; we split an order of artichokes as a side. The octopus was the best I've ever had, better than the one I had at the Standard Tap (also located in Philly). I tried some of my mom's rabbit and it was very good, but my main course was better. Not only was it the best slow-roasted pig I've ever had, the crispy skin on top was like icing on a cake, so good. To top it off, the grilled artichokes in olive oil were (once again) the best I've ever had, and I spent a semester abroad in Rome, Italy last summer so that tells you how good they are. Since it is on the pricey side, this place is more for a special occasion as opposed to a normal friday night out, but it is definitely worth it. If you order one thing when you go there, get the octopus, it's that good (though a bit small, but very good regardless).

    (5)
  • Em B.

    Yikes. I thought the food was tasty, but quite small. The pheasant ravioli was more cheese than pasta or meat and my mother-in-law found two bones in her wild hare dish. The pizza was good, although the outside edge of the crust was burnt and the egg in the center was a bit cold. However, all the food did taste quite good. All flavorful and elegant in its presentation. The service, however, was quite strange. The man who took our coats was really warm and friendly. The restaurant was pretty quiet when we were there because it was a Wednesday at around 5:30, but there seemed to be about 10 wait people looming around and gawking at the patrons in groups, which left me feeling uneasy. The waiter was a bit snotty and definitely cold towards us. I felt uncomfortable there, like I wasn't a welcome patron. It was just a "feeling," not really founded on anything specific necessarily, but not one I've experienced at other fine dining places. Perhaps I'm used to Steven Starr's bright colors and playful, dramatic decor...but then again, I've been to more than a fair share of "fab" places similar in decor as Osteria (Mario Battali's "Otto."! I love that place!) and not felt like I was being judged for my reactions to the food and the choices I made on the menu. (My mother-in-law complimented the waiter on the sweet breads and said, she wished they were a bit larger, and he was somewhat defensive.) Perhaps it is because I'm not into spending a ton of money if I'm going to leave with my belly a bit rounder. If you're after a satisfying meal, I'd suggest a different locale (For amazing pizza and pastas in another beautiful restaurant, I'd recommend Illuminare on Fairmount Ave between 24th and 23rd) And it won't break the bank either!

    (3)
  • Russ V.

    The best pasta in Philly! Portions are small, but taste is huge.

    (5)
  • Jim A.

    We went here for lunch basically to try the Pizza Parma, which we had read was one of the best pizzas on the planet - we were not disappointed - though the hefty price tag ($20 for a pizza) makes the value a bit questionable. Having said all of that, it was definitely one of the best - if not the best - pizzas I've ever had. We were pleasantly surprised, however, with the duck casoncelli dish. Again, question the value of $16 given the portions, but my goodness, it was one of the top 2 best dishes I have ever had in Philly. The dish had one of the most complex flavor profiles - different layers of flavors keep on hitting you as you eat. Would definitely come back here again and again to taste what other delicious items they have!

    (5)
  • Suz C.

    Overpriced, under-portioned. Food was ok...pizza a bit charred. Pasta dishes were good, but did not meet expectations set by other reviewers.

    (2)
  • Erik s.

    ill admit I am a listwhore so I had to check osteria out when I saw it top the Best of Philly list...not usually a big fan of "sophisticated" pizza but i have to admit the lombarda pizza was quite tasty..the octupus had a few pieces undercooked but was good..the rib eye for two was tender and cooked medium rare as requested, though i ate it by myself and still had plenty of room..the chicken w/ lentils had really nice flavor.. cannoli and tiramisu were good but i had such high hopes it was a bit of a disappointment.. the staff was great -attentive but not overbearing and I love the lay out

    (4)
  • M.S. H.

    We went to Osteria a little while back for a special occasion with my parents. I LOVE Vetri so I have been wanting to go to Osteria for a long time since it was Marc Vetri's newest venture. And, of course, that means I compared Osteria to Vetri in every way. I was a little bit disappointed. The atmosphere is warm and inviting but they pack you in there. The tables are on top of each other, I definitely felt like commenting on the conversation going on next to us. As for the food, it was great, but not excellent. Honestly, I cannot remember one dish specifically to tell you to try. I didn't love it and that could be because we did not have any pizza, and that is what the place is known for! Not that I am an expert because the more I see about it, the more I feel like I have to give Osteria another shot. It was nominated by the James Beard Foundation as the Best New Restaurant in 2008, Philly Mag named it the best restaurant in Philadelphia and Marc Summers called their Margarita Pizza the best thing he ever ate on the Food Network. Bottom line, it's no Vetri but worth the trip to North Philly.

    (3)
  • N P.

    Had high expectations for a restaurant that was nominated for a James Beard award and received many good reviews but was so let down. For appetizers, grilled octopus meh tasted like anywhere else, lamb tongue meh tasted like pate, snails meh bland and gritty. Entrees weren't any better if not worse, rabbit was overcooked and salty. Grilled lamb loins also salty along with lamb ribs that were charred to the max accompanied with some measly pieces of fava beans. I figured maybe desert will be the redeeming factor so I choose the mocha semifreddo with fiordillatte and toffee. Sounds fancy right? It turned out to be a very small serving of chocolate ice cream placed on top of a giant wooden cutting board that took up half the table. Talk about highway robbery, $200 plus tip down the drain and still hungry and disappointed. If only the food was as creative as the wording on the menu. Don't believe the hype!

    (1)
  • Brandon B.

    I was expecting greatness, as I've read only great things in the press, and I got OK-ness. The service was outstanding. All of the staff were exceedingly attentive and well-versed in the menu and the wine list. The food was good, but not nearly the life-changing experience I had hoped for. Additionally, we were seated in an atrium-like room to the left of the building with an air conditioner that blew right on us the entire night (I'd request the main seating room if you are visiting).

    (3)
  • J R.

    Great food. Nice selection. Service was good. A bit noisy but bearable nevertheless.

    (5)
  • RESPECT MY A.

    HOLY CRAP! I don't know where to start. Everything is impeccable, from service to ambiance and especially the food. This is my favorite restaurant. Yes, it's not cheap, but who cares... treat yourself once in a while. They cut no corners, go above and beyond, and have continued to impress time after time. I know it's not a competition, but I would way rather dine here then any of the Garces establishments. Some standouts are the wood-grilled octopus, the treviso and endive salad, ahhhh who am I kidding everything is amazing. Eat it all!!!!!! But def save room for the polenta budino. THANK YOU SO MUCH OSTERIA, YOU MAKE ME SMILE!!!!

    (5)
  • Bobby D.

    I have dined at Osteria about 10 times. I have sat at the tables and at the bar. The food is outstanding. When I go we usually order a few items from each section on the menu and share everything. I always order the marinated vegetable antipasti, the Brussels sprouts are the best I have ever had. The pizzas are all wonderful. I recommend the lombardo with house made cotechino sausage and a sunny up egg. The spit roasted pig is a special on most nights and is very tender and juicy with flavors of rosemary. The chicken liver rigatoni and beet plin are my favorite pastas, I have had the rabbit fettuccine that is excellent too. The mozzarella in coroza is a hot appetizer that melts in your mouth. For dessert, the gelato and sorbet are churned every day and have a silky smooth consistency. Some times they have a dessert special, nutella pizza- WOW! If you go, ask if they have it. The ambiance is very energetic, not quiet, not the place for a romantic quiet table. It is definitely the spot to go to eat good food and drink excellent Italian wines. The bathrooms are great (in response to a review hating on the soap.) You have your own private bathroom with granite counters, custom towels, and air freshener! What more could you ask for in a public bathroom. The prices are high but worth it for the quality of food. Yes ,it is on North broad street with no valet but I have never had a problem finding parking at the meters of on a side street. I love Osteria and am looking forward to my next visit.

    (5)
  • Jim R.

    The main room, the staff, the sommelier, were all great. - the back room, not so much. We were in the front but our expectations were not met. There were 6 of us and other than the excellent "Ciareghi" (an in-house made type sausage) with sunny side up egg appetizer, the rest of our meals were "OK to Good". This is not what you expect in a place run by Marc Vetri. The "Lumaca" pizza (snails, spring onions, mozzarella), as well as another snail appetizer were nothing to write home about. The biggest disappointment was the Gnocchi - it not even being in the same class as his Spinach Gnocchi at his other location. Entrees including the rabbit, chicken and halibut were underwhelming. The lamb was good. With wine, tax & tip around $160 per couple. We'll return to one of his restaurants again - but not this one.

    (3)
  • Amy P.

    The Lombardo pizza is amazing! I tried it on a recommendation from a friend and was shocked at how much I love it since I'm not a huge egg person. The bartenders are always friendly as well. My only issue is the wines by the glass and the roasted veggie app are a little over priced.

    (4)
  • Vinicius C.

    grrr...why can't I give this place 5 stars? I don't know...all I know was the food was really tasty...simple delicious meals that were served way faster than I expected for the kind of place....I had the pork "head" pizza..with pistachios I think....it was really good....but it lacked..I can't say what it was but it just did....maybe some sort of refreshing ingredient...some crisp flavored herb or something...the pistachio was just lost in the pizza...it needed zest or something..I don't know..i had the gnocchi and it was really good too...the little gnocchis just melted in my mouth (not too much flour) and were seasoned just right...our server and the sommelier were also really helpful...also heads up, although i'm reviewing now...last time i was here was 2 or 3 months ago!

    (4)
  • Laurel M.

    Absolutely Fantastic. No question this place is rustic Northern Italian from floor to ceiling & certainly including the food on the table in between the two. I found the decor to be warm & homey if only a little industrial. The chairs could be a little more comfortable to be sure, but that is certainly my biggest complaint about Osteria & I'll gladly sit on those hard wooden chairs again if it means I'll be filling up on more of Vetri's creations. The menu is full of interesting combinations of food, many of which sound quite bold & possibly hard to pair following dishes with, but that was not so, at least in my case. I found each item delicious in its own unique ways & in no way did it play upon my opinion of following dishes. I started with mozzarella in carrozza with olive oil, poached pear tomatoes and capers. Incredible! Really, it was like a large bit of fried mozzarella, but certainly the most delicious fried mozzarella that has ever graced my mouth. It was incredibly gooey & the pear tomatoes were perfect along with it. For my primi I went with the robiola francobolli with chanterelle mushrooms and thyme which I think were my favorite dish of the evening. The sauce was rich & the "post-stamp" ravioli absolutely delectable. I could have easily eaten a far larger dish of these delicious little bites. For the secondi I tried the rabbit "casalinga" with pancetta, sage, brown butter and soft polenta. Now this was my first time with rabbit, so I can't compare it to anything I've had before. I will say that I was pleasantly surprised (not that I was expecting to not like it, but I was expecting it to be gamier). The way in which it had been prepared...it was half a rabbit, bone in, glazed & seared if I remember correctly...was mouth watering. The meat was full of flavor (altho somewhat "chickenish" to me) & tender. I even enjoyed the dark meat & I generally do not like dark meat of ANY sort! For the contorni I tried the artichokes alla romana which were also very good. Boyfriend tried the lobster & pasta special for his secondi which was also amazing, of course. A whole lobster which had been shelled served with spaghetti in a red sauce which had a slightly cajun taste to me. Not what we were expecting, but still nothing short of luscious, of course. Finally for dolci I had something much like a crepe, which had been glazed & then topped with a streusel. Good, but not as sweet as I was expecting (hoping?). Also, it was VERY hot. It took quite some time for it to cool down to a point where it was comfortable to eat. Service at Osteria was very good. Our server was very helpful with any questions we had regarding the menu, nor was he overbearing. The wine list is fairly extensive, but a bit pricey, namely if you're just buying by the glass. While deciding on which red to go with I was even offered generous samples of a few of the reds to help me along with my decision. I'm tempted to give Osteria only 4 stars for some reason, but my complaints are really so few & I was so very, very happy with the food & service & place in general that I think its more fair to just go with 5. (Once again, I find myself wishing Yelp could give half stars!) I will definitely be making a return trip to Osteria - I've got to try one of the pizze's next time!

    (5)
  • Michael B.

    It is a beautiful space, the service was reasonable, and my companions really liked their rabbit entrees. My tasty black cod was appetizer-sized at an entree price without so much as a fingerling potato to help fill the spacious dish.

    (3)
  • Karma B.

    Nice but way too expensive for what you get. Portions are tiny.

    (3)
  • Michele C.

    I've been waiting to try Osteria for a while now. I finally got the chance on my birthday, June 14. It was everything I had hoped and didn't disappoint. I immediately appreciated the ambience, though it was surprising to find the restaurant located in such a run-down area. I would have liked bread for starters, as opposed to those long, thin breadsticks, but that's a pretty minor thing. Let's cut to the chase - the chicken liver rigatoni is MONEY. It's that ridiculously delicious. I don't eat weird things so for me to order chicken liver rigatoni and clear my plate, well, that's saying something. It's damn good, trust me. I ordered it on the recommendation of a family member and she was right on the money. The pasta portions are typically small here, but the rigatoni was large enough and rich enough to share, which my husband and I did. We also ordered a margherita pizza for two which was plenty to eat. I have to say, though, that I was least impressed with the pizza. For a Mark Vetri restaurant, I expected the pizza to be out of this world. It was just mediocre. That being said, we probably ordered the most boring pizza on the menu. I saw others raving about their pizzas. It doesn't matter though...the homemade pastas are worth the price of admission. The desserts were really good. We ordered two - the cannoli, or three mini-cannolis filled with ice cream - and a creamy nutella tart that was very subtle but delicious. Our server was EXCELLENT. Really knowledgeable, friendly and helpful. You can tell they really train their staff well here. I will definitely be back.

    (4)
  • Sharon G.

    I was really excited when Osteria opened. I thought - great, a more reasonable Vetri? Lots of seating - the place is huge! Nice atmosphere and great staff. However, stick to the appetizers. My fish - let's just say, "would you like some fish with that salt?".

    (3)
  • Bill T.

    This was an incredible disappointment at every level. We were there about 6 months ago and loved it, so it was to be tonight's birthday celebration as we were visited by our daughter from Chicago. The service was o.k. but uninspired. The food was salty and fatty. The wine took forever. We then were told they were out of the label I selected - but we had almost finished the meal so I said forget it. When we were just about done they bring over three "free" glasses. Weren't they listening - I said forget the wine. So we left it there and when leaving to get our coats, the hostess asked if we enjoyed the meal with a smile filling her face. She didn't expect our response, so she kept the smile on and stared at us silently then finally when she realized we were serious said oh sorry - and kept on smiling. That told the story. They think they're great. They aren't trying any longer because they think everyone loves them.. The hostess wasn't listening. The waitress wasn't listening. I hope anyone who reads this listens. They need to start trying to earn the praise they now take for granted. At these prices we deserved better - much better. I wonder if they are up to it or if they've already moved on to the next venue. I won't be back here again - that's for sure.

    (1)
  • matthew l.

    With its outrageously seductive menu and the lovely rustic/chic room it is understandable why this place was an instant success. Always had a great time whether sitting at the chef's bar or at a table and will definitely try the patio when the weather breaks. The rabbit and sweetbreads definitely my kind of dishes but I do have a problem with 12 inch pizzas for 19, 20 and 22 dollars especially since the ribeye fiorintina for two comes in at $35.00? The food is always just barely too rich though usually very well prepared. If Vetri has become the darling of the region's culinary scene, he is probably the pinup of the area's realtors for single handedly jump starting the north of broad real estate market. And if watching Jeffrey Lurie double park his Mercedes one cold evening to run in and pick up is any indication of patron loyalty, Osteria will be here for a long time.

    (4)
  • Joe V.

    I booked a dinner reservation a month out for Valentine's day. After reading all the magazines that give Osteria such high praise, I figured it would be a nice place to take the little lady. We were seated and offered water and bread. Our waiter seemed nice, but throughout the whole experience it seemed like we had 5 waiters. I can see them trying to not let us sit there and wait, but who the heck am I tipping at the end of the night? The guy who took my order? The guy who served our app? What about the guy who gave us our entrees? Either way, we were served rather quickly with the water, bread, and first cocktail. After that. We waited...and waited. Maybe it was Valentine's day that caused this, but isn't it the most popular eatery in the city? Meaning it's always crowded? So either way, I wanted another delicious cocktail and was never asked. Our food came and by that time I lost interest in the drink. My girlfriend got the chicken something. Pretty much the grilled chicken that my dad makes every summer with greens and fresh mushrooms. Not worth it. I had the Lombara pizza since it got rave reviews. I liked the concept of wood fired pizza with sausage and an egg. It was floppy and the sausage tasted weird. I kept trying to think, "ok this is delicious homemade sausage" but I kept going back to how weird it tasted. I like the egg part. Our app was the best. It was Plin (tiny raviolli with sauce and coliflower topped with a type of breading). Once we finished we wanted to get out of there as quickly as possible. Makes me sad to say, because I wanted to like this place, but It was not worth the pricey bill.

    (2)
  • jess c.

    Best resturaunt in Philly...and most likely to see Chase Utley.

    (5)
  • Matthew P.

    The atmosphere is great but the food portions are small and the pasta plates are even smaller. I order a cannelloni special and even though the dish was delicious I had to order a second plate because the dish was so so small. I also ordered the pig special ; which the waiter told me was their house specialty and again even though the dish was ok (except for the belly meat) it had less then 5 ounces of meat in the entire dish. I am from NYC and have high standards and found this restaurant to be just ok ; Good atmosphere , small portions . If you only have one night to go out to dinner in Philly pick another place because this place will disappoint you.

    (3)
  • Ray D.

    All I can say is baby pig! I know that doesn't sound too appetizing to many of you, and I had my doubts, but it was delicious. Osteria offers "baby pig" as a special on many nights and I'm sure to reserve a plate as soon as I sit down because they frequently run out. FYI...it's not an actually baby pig on your plate but rather certain cuts that are incredible. Great wine list, great menu, amazing food. The sommelier is one of the best I've dealt with. Don't be embarrassed to let him know what you want to spend, and don't feel like you have to crack open your safe to enjoy a night here. However, unless you order pizza (I haven't but keep saying I'll try it) a meal here is going to cost you. It's not the kind of place I go often, but when I do I really enjoy it.

    (5)
  • vivian y.

    my friend is a huge food fanatic and when he said that osteria was one of his favorite dining locations in the country, i had to try it out. it definitely was good - and i will be going back the next time im in philly for work or pleasure. but i don't think it is on my favorite restaurants of all time list. i've been jaded. eat out way too much b/c of work/travels, etc. so it takes a lot to be impressed. osteria did impress me though... we had the following: - a huge wooden plate/board of all various kinds of antipasti/contori -- the beets were SO GOOD. i usually do not like beets but these were very well marinated. - lombarda and parma pizza - both very good. - lardo pizza - not sure if this is off the menu and/or the same as the lombarda but literally, my friend explained it to me as "lard" pizza. it was definitely very crispy and good. so you do not feel too guilty biting into it b/c it was thin and you just think, oh...its like a cracker. :) - candela w/ wild boar bolognese - i couldn't have done w/o this - nothing really stood out for this one. - robiola francobolli with royal trumpet mushrooms and thyme was TO DIE FOR. omg the pasta was so thin and the cheese was so rich inside. this was my FAVORITE pasta dish! - the most irresistable and MUST ORDER item on the menu is the lavendar infused panna cotta for dessert. OH MY GOODNESS! i would go back just for this alone... as you can tell, i had a great meal at osteria. service was good - constant attention to our water glasses. we originally had a party of 8 but then increased by 1 so we showed up with 9 people and although we had to wait an hour (our fault), the manager was able to seat us at a better table so that it was not right in the middle of the restaurant. the only thing is i'd like to see more room at the bar area so that folks can stand around...it is very narrow and pretty much, behind the folks sitting on the stools, there is no room b/c the servers are constantly trying to get through with their dishes. i would highly recommend osteria if you are in philly. :)

    (4)
  • ezekial f.

    lets get two things straight, first, this is not VETRI, second, it is not olive garden either. so if you expect the personal, singular treatment you get in a restaurant that barely seats forty, you've lost your mind and if you think theres going to be endless breadsticks and your meal is going to cost $29.99 think again. what you do get is a casual, bright and more available little brother of vetri. our first dish, pannocchia, i believe was the best slice of pizza i have ever had, fresh sweet corn with mozzarella di bufula. it came out fast, crispy and smelling of the wood fire over which it was cooked.my main dish was the brined, spit turned and grilled pork which i swear made me high, actually high! our service was excellent, alot of people come by the table but just to make sure you have room for whats coming next and that you have new silverware. osteria also just got taps and have two to three great beers on draught now. definately going back. i want that pork right now.

    (5)
  • Joe L.

    Came here for (pizza) lunch during a weekday, so really had the restaurant to ourselves. Food: I ordered the Mortadella pizza (siciliano pesto with mozzarella and mortadella) which they called Neapolitan4 pizza...Essentially a slightly thicker crust. It was absolutely delicious. The pesto also had pistachios in it which made it even better. My date went with the classic Margherita, which was also good but I always value a meat on my pizza personally. The mortadella is like a prosciutto and really worked with the pesto. Service: Given the restaurant was not too busy, our server was very attentive and made sure we were very comfortable. She made a great suggestion of wine to have with our pizza (sangiovese red blend). Ambiance: Modern rustic feel. Big windows let the sun come in and gave the restaurant a good feel. Location: This was my only issue with the restaurant that may prevent me from coming more frequently. I live in center city and to walk to northern liberties takes about 30 minutes...I know there is public transport but if I am going to do that I rather just go somewhere closer. Overall, I highly recommend Osteria, especially during the calm (and cheaper) lunch time.

    (4)
  • Annie M.

    To start, our server Thalia was an absolute pleasure. She was polite, knowledgeable, and just a great person. Everything I ordered here was absoultely magnificent. The beet and goat cheese plin is to die for, as are the multiple pizzas they have. I had a prosciutto and arugula as well as a plain tomato and mozzarella and they were easily the best pizza I have ever had. The Sicilian lemonade pitcher is only 25$ and is enough for two or three people to share , and let me tell you it is DELICIOUS. Not too strong but also not too weak. Any cocktail with limoncello is definitely worth your time, but this is extremely refreshing in the summer months. definitely will be returning!

    (5)
  • Jodi W.

    Can't get enough. The pasta, the aged meat, the pasta.... A fantastic choice in the Vetri family. Service is professional, friendly and knowledgeable - they've tried the dishes, know the ingredients and are able to make informed recommendations. Such an enjoyable experience, we've been back several times and can't wait for next time!

    (5)
  • Jason H.

    Osteria is a Marc Vetri outpost, and has a good selection of creative Italian dishes. At such a nice place, it's surprising to say, but the pizza is a standout! This is not a bad thing at all, but a testament to very good pizza; the margherita is a personal favorite. A large, and somewhat noisy place, the service is generally very good. They have a good setup for larger groups, and a few different rooms in which they'll seat parties of various sizes. Worth the trip! -J

    (4)
  • Eric N.

    Where do I start? I have wanted to come here for years. I finally found the chance to come and it was everything I wanted and more. Making reservations was easy and hassle free. We sat down and the server was fantastic. He was so knowledgeable about the menu, the chefs, and other questions we had. Our glasses were always full and the help with how the menu worked was flawless. It was my birthday dinner and he even got the chefs to sign my menu along with the best coconut gelato I've ever had. My Macallan on the rocks was perfect. The meal was flawless, my favorite was the appetizer. We ordered the wood grilled octopus, and it was incredible. So tender and perfect, the flavors and presentation were spot on. The pastas we ordered were the liver rigatoni and the bone marrow ravioli. I could eat that liver rigatoni once a week and not get sick of it. They cooked the pasta so perfectly, I couldn't begin to tell you how perfect that dish was to me. The final entree was the rabbit over polenta, it was fantastic. I was amazed on how terrific the flavors melded together. Dessert was the pistachio gelato recommended by the server who was of course correct. I have dreamed of going to this restaurant for years and when I finally got to go to it, it was everything and more. I loved the expierience I had and would love to go again. Give this place a try and hopefully you will be as satisfied as I was.

    (5)
  • Ali C.

    My fiancé and I have been dying to eat at osteria and we finally did tonight. We absolutely loved everything about it, the atmosphere (we dined in the covered patio), the food (yummy!), and the service (refilling our water glasses constantly even though the bottle was left on the table, checking on us, new plates for every entree, etc.). We started with the grilled and marinated veggie special, which included red and yellow beets, arugula salad, cucumber salad, Brussels sprouts with pancetta, roasted red peppers, and mushrooms. We also ordered the mortadella pizza, which had a pistachio pesto...delicious! The only downside to the veggie was that it was $26 (:/) We also ate the paccheri with lamb sausage and eggplant ragu, also really good. For dessert we had the upside down blueberry cake and a coconut cannoli, which was very light and yummy. We would love to return to Osteria soon. Another stellar restaurant from vetri! Just follow them on Instagram and you will see how delicious it all looks/sounds :)

    (5)
  • Erika B.

    God bless everything Marc Vetri puts his mind to in Philadelphia. I had been told that the pizza was fantastic but it wasn't until my third try that I, a pizza lover, tried their best snack. The pistachio pesto pizza was out of this world, simply put. My group also thoroughly enjoyed the chicken liver pâté pasta. It was super rich but super creative and super worth it. Although Osteria is usually booked solid on weekends, I've found that you can sit at the bar, or at a high top, with relative ease during these usually busy time periods.

    (5)
  • Om S.

    My son and I visited the place for dinner. We liked the experience, especially, the margherita pizza. The house cured salami was very good. Fettuccine was bit salted. Overall, a nice place to try.

    (4)
  • Rachel O.

    Osteria is amazing - decadently delicious. Let me preface this well-deserved praise with a note that I'm very picky with Italian due to many bad experiences ... too many restaurants, too few good ones! I'm still glowing from this visit. We had a Sunday 6PM date night (d'aww) reservation, and received a warm welcome from the staff. The restaurant was quiet, and we were seated immediately. I openly admired the lovely enclosed patio, and was promptly offered a seat there - but we opted to stay in the main dining area. Belly Bacchanal: - Antipasti: Wood Grilled Octopus $19. I love octopus, and try it every chance I get. I've had rubbery chewy ones, dry ones, good ones ... this is honestly the best I've had. - Primi: Chicken Liver Rigatoni $16. Very hearty and flavorful! Perfect in front of a fireplace during winter, or to take the chill off in spring ... heck I can have this all year round. - Primi: Chanterelle and Bone Marrow Ravioli $18. Fireworks in my mouth! The delicate ravioli houses the rich bone marrow. Dim sum soup dumplings - beware, you have met your match! We discreetly rock-paper-scissor-lizard-spocked for the last pillow of ravioli. If this were entree-sized, I'll be frolicking in it. - Secondi: Rabbit "Casalinga" $26. Rich and earthy - I will gladly have this no matter the season. It's served bone-in, but the tender meat flakes right off the bone, and the rich sauce pools in the polenta. It was very hard to share this one. - Secondi: Grilled Skate Wing $28. Lighter, delicate, and perfect for warmer days. Watch the bones! - Wine: two very sexy reds. Montepuciano d'Abruzzo and (will update - d'oh!). The crowds started filing in at around 7-7:30PM - a lot of very well-dressed folks in blazers and Sunday's best. (I discreetly tucked my bike helmet under the chair at this point). Our server was incredibly helpful with guidance on the popular and seasonal items, lightness/heaviness of each dish, as well as the suggested portioning from each section (1 antipasti/2 primi/2 secondi, etc). We left very satisfied - but not to bursting - and was able to bike home! :) Afterglow: Cost: A touch pricey, but worth it for for special occasions (scheduling in anniversary and birthday reminders now). Wish: Counter seating to see the kitchen action. There were two seats there, but the counters were high (can't see into kitchen), and in a tight spot next to the busy pass and cool-looking pasta machine.

    (5)
  • Jessie L.

    Very warm space with an interesting menu. We had the octopus and grilled veggies as entrees and the apricot sorbet w almond crostini for desert. Excellent service. We were there for lunch but would really like to try the dinner menu.

    (5)
  • Mike B.

    So fucking good!!! Best place I've been in Philly so far. Recommend the brownie a la mode for dessert

    (5)
  • Ash C.

    Not good- had to send our veal back and the octopus. Really disappointing overall. Ended up also getting some sort of stomach problem as a result.

    (1)
  • Tina C.

    We wen in a big party of 12 and everything was tip top. Very good Italian dishes with a slight new twist to make it interesting. Pretty extensive wine list. Service was efficient and not overbearing.

    (4)
  • Thutrang L.

    So a couple friends and I dined at Osteria after completing our Legal Issues final. We didn't have reservations and just walked in at 8pm on a Thursday, we were seated quickly, although it was right by the door... This was my first time trying Italian food, so everything was a new experience. To start we ordered the Badiola Vermentino ($12), sicilian lemonade ($11) and the osteria punch ($7). We were served an assortment of bread with olive oil, which was delish. For appetizers, we got the smoked sable ($16) and the snail in bone marrow($20). The sable was an interesting experience for me, but I enjoyed it by the last bite. And the snails were a bit overcooked for me, but the bone marrow and the seasoned bread was so flavorful. I ordered the Lombarda, which I loved, as I am a pizza fan. The egg in the middle, bursted when you pulled apart the pizza and that was my favorite part. The pizza itself was thin, crispy. We also got the spaghetti, maccheroni, and steak. I loved the flavors of the pasta, especially the spaghetti because it was sooo creamy. But they were really salty for my palette. Maybe, it's natural like that, and I haven't been exposed to this type of flavors before, but it still tasted delish to me. Although I keep drinking alot of water. Maccheroni was ok and the streak was alright, although I loved the califlower that came with it! It was light, with a strong taste of lemon/lime, which i love! The waiter was nice, service was a bit slow for me, but overall nice experience.

    (3)
  • Brian M.

    Case of very good and kind of disappointing for me. Your experience at Osteria is dependent on where your eye is drawn when you look at the menu. On one hand you could envision a nice spot for pizza in the Zavino, Stella, Pizzeria Vetri vein as they do have a nice selection in the standard $15-20 range. On the other hand you could go for a more expensive route. $60 dry aged steaks, $15+ antipasti, $30+ entrees. You get the point. Nothing wrong with either option, really. But for which do you think they match the service, the decor, the wine prices? The Lombarda pizza and pasta I tried were amazing as would be expected from a Vetri establishment. The veggie antipasti was also simple and beautifully delicious. Zero complaints on this side of the house. Just know if you're going to come here as a couple, each have a glass of wine and pizza or pasta plus share an app expect it to be in the $100+ range with tip. This is said not to dissuade but to inform. Summary: Food great, wine prices match the dry aged steaks not the pizzas so if you want to just do a pizza date could probably score the same for 20-30% less elsewhere. If you want Vetri quality service and scene, higher end food and wine options this is your spot.

    (4)
  • Christie N.

    Best service I've ever had. Chicken liver pasta and wood fire grilled octopus were my absolute favorites. Wish the flavors would last longer in my mouth!

    (5)
  • Nancy P.

    Osteria has been on my list of places to go for a while. My gf had given me a gift card for my bday and I was finally able to use it with the bf. I don't normally venture to this part of the city. They offered a bread basket with assorted items that was nice. We ordered the Lombarda pizza to start off with. I think it was a bit overhyped for me. I love pizza but this was just okay (I think I prefer the pizzas at Barbuzzo). For entrée, the bf ordered the pork special and I got the robiola "francobolli" ravioli with trumpet mushrooms. I didn't really like the pork dish that the bf got. But the ravioli was so delicious! The pasta was so thin and the sauce was a bit rich but tasty. It might have been plate licking worthy at home. For dessert, we had the sorbets. Surprisingly, I liked the apple one the best.

    (3)
  • Isaac G.

    The menu offers delights made from scratch with the finest and freshest ingredients. The portions are small, but the overall memorable food experience was grand. A place to say you've been there and were seen...

    (3)
  • Shaina F.

    Back for round two at Osteria, and it was just as wonderful as my first experience! An absolute treat. We started with the Parma pizza (again) - arugula, prosciutto, and fresh shaved Parmesan drizzled in olive oil. So darn good, and the prosciutto really made it spectacular being so fresh! For dinner I had the polenta gnocchini with mushrooms and Parmesan as well, so good and a very unique take on gnocchi! A little softer than traditional gnocchi, and definitely the polenta taste, it was so good. Once again their wine (and champagne - special occasion!) list was out of this world and they are so happy to accommodate you and allow you to taste a wine if you are unsure. I had the boudino for dessert which was really special and I absolutely loved it, it was just the perfect little size for a sweet treat to complete another glorious meal. Who wants to take me back next time? So many more things I want to try!

    (5)
  • Erica B.

    All i can say is yum... yum yum yum... had the beet and buffalo mozzarella salad and the lamb canoloni. .. divine...

    (4)
  • Joe D.

    So after all the hype of Osteria - I was very underwhelmed, but do to Vetri's other successes, and our apparent rookie mistake (we didn't order pasta or flatbread). However, I must say, if you're going to charge the premiums that Osteria is. Then only do the Pasta and Pizza right, and remove the alternatives from the menu. thanks for amis Marc, and if there is ever a groupon/company dinner for Vetri, ill see you there too. Namaste

    (3)
  • Courtney T.

    Great all around dining experience! Came here with a group of 6, which included 2 kids. Great ambiance, the instant you walk in you are surrounded by the amazing smells of gourmet Italian and what I think are brick fired pizzas. Terrific service. Placemats to color on. Favorite dishes: pizza, sage gimlet, the ridiculously large bread basket Stranger dishes: gnocchi was unusual... Larger potato dumplings than usual. The Greek yogurt cheesecake wasn't too tasty. But overall, just a great place!

    (5)
  • Brian M.

    Was a great restaurant. Starting with a fantastic bread selection which I swear could've been dinner. I had a mixed roast pork plate which turned out to be the best pork I've ever had.

    (5)
  • Alexander L.

    Came here for dinner with the GF. The beer selection was interesting ( I had the Butte--surprised how much I liked it) WE had the lombarda to start. As a pizza, I do appreciate the take they went with, but something about the way the sauce tasted threw me off. (hard to describe--it was interesting but I personally didn't like it), Still, I would recommend trying it--I feel like it would agree with other peoples' palates. WE also ordered the special for the night which was different cuts of pork. The flavor was bland, but the execution was otherwise pretty spot on. IT wasn't crazy grease heavy, but the meat was tender. Just toss in a bit of salt and you're good (not a big deal) The francobolli was a gf's favorite and the sauce was nice and rich and flavorful. the sauce was nice and consistent and the the pasta was just ever so delicate. I was at first inclined to give it 3 stars on the basis of whether I would likely come back--and honestly for me I wouldn't--the trek wouldn't be worthwhile and for me the $100+ dinner wasn't worth it. On the other hand, I did appreciate the precision of execution in terms of cooking everything perfectly so textures were great.

    (4)
  • Ade B.

    Went here for my birthday a few years ago. As a nice touch the hostess said I would get a free dessert. At the end of the meal the waitress gave my table the check and gave a table nearby my free dessert even though they insisted that it was nobody's birthday. The hostess' response was "sorry" and I never got the dessert. Not good customer service and the food was only average. I will not be going back.

    (1)
  • Julie G.

    The pizza was great even if the crust was a little burnt. We really enjoyed the bread basket variety as well. but the pasta portions were disappointingly small. Although they were rich, they should be about 33% bigger, especially the ravioli. Service was friendly but a little slow considering the restaurant was mostly empty. This place is a little out of the way so I wouldn't rush back, but if I return I will stick to pizza.

    (3)
  • John R.

    Osteria 640 N Broad St, Philadelphia, PA 19130 (215) 763-0920 I give you, Osteria. A seasonal Italian menu permeates the rustic feel of this place with a huge beautiful wood brick oven centered open kitchen serving up homemade pizzas as the centerpiece. This is the second restaurant in the famous Vetri family of restaurants after of course Vetri, which I have also reviewed here. Osteria opened in 2007 and has since become one of the East Coast's most famous Italian restaurants garnering much critical acclaim. Chefs Marc Vetri and Jeff Michaud certainly do the restaurant justice. An osteria in Italy was originally a place serving wine and simple food. Lately, the emphasis has shifted to the food, but menus tend to be short, with an emphasis on local specialties such as pasta, grilled meat or fish, and often served at shared tables. Ideal for a cheap lunch, osterie (the plural in Italian) also cater for after work and evening refreshment. Osterie vary greatly in practice: some only serve drinks and clients are allowed to bring in their own food; some have retained a predominantly male clientele whilst others have reached out to students and young professionals. Very appropriately, the restaurant signage incorporates a bottle of wine in the process of being uncorked to suggest the Italian origins of the name. Simple flowers decorate the wooden tables to give the restaurant a rustic feel in keeping with a traditional osteria theme. A spacious dining area with open air vistas onto the patio and an enclosed glass seating area give one the feeling he is outside in an open air market. The meal begins with a mix of breads, the most notable being some cheese-bread sticks laid on the top of the various housemade breads. Of course, olive oil accompanies the bread. Osteria makes their own limoncello to give their Sicilian Lemonade the most delicious flavor. Amazing Cocktail: Sicilian Lemonade: house made limoncello, fresh mint, lime. Limoncello is made from lemon zest, or peels without the pith, steeped in rectified spirit (pure ethyl alcohol 95% ABV) until the oil is released. The resulting yellow liquid is then mixed with simple syrup. Varying sugar to water ratio and temperature will affect the clarity, viscosity, and flavor. To start the meal off we chose the special: Osteria's take on a classic Italian dish: the bruschetta. It was not quite as amazing as I had hoped given the hype over this restaurant. However, I was already on my second mouth-watering Sicilian Lemonade, so I didn't really pay too much attention to this obvious faux pas. The bread was a little too charred for my taste and the tomatoes were either soaked in juice or were just saturated too long because they were literally the consistency of an over-ripened peach. They didn't taste bad by any means, but I'm used to a little more crunch to my tomatoes. This is of course personal preference talking here as I'm sure others would love some squishy tomatoes but I like a little crunch in my bunch of veggies. Next up, in my quest for being a culinary-adventurer, I decided on the grilled veal sweetbread spiedini with stonefruits and pine nuts. The term "spiedie" comes from the Italian spiedo meaning spit or spiedini referring to cubes or balls of meat cooked on a skewer. Hence we are able to see the sweetbread (spiedini) served on a skewer (spiedo). Sweetbread of course refers to thymus (also called throat, gullet, or neck sweetbread) or the pancreas (also called heart, stomach, or belly sweetbread), especially of the calf (ris de veau) and lamb (ris d'agneau), and less commonly of beef and pork. Since veal is generally produced from young male calves, I'm assuming I was eating pancreas, but it is of course impossible to tell. The sweetbread itself is very chewy and largely tasteless which is balanced by the sweetness of the stonefruit and pine nuts. The pine nuts are the small yellow seeds visible while the stone fruit are the orange fruits surrounding the skewer. My dinner companion's mozzarella cheese balls with tomato sauce was decidedly better than the sweetbread. Grilled wild Alaskan king salmon with zucchini, herb oil and salmon terrine. Terrine is a French forcemeat (mixture of ground, lean meat emulsified with fat) loaf similar to a pâté, made with more coarsely chopped ingredients. So in this dish, the terrine would be the pink half circle wrapped in the zucchini skin. The salmon itself was a bit raw for my taste. I like the fish to be pink (medium preparation) while this salmon seemed at any moment ready to swim off my plate. I also prefer the salmon to be descaled , but that is personal preference. It wasn't bad, but as my friend would say, "I was eating it because it was there."

    (4)
  • Casey H.

    Pizza - pretty good Marinated veggies - really good- somewhat small stamp pasta - really good but way too small for a meal (don't get it). Bread of course is brought to the table - AWESOME! Waitress had a great sense of humor. Gave one of our guys a hard time which so too funny. Definitely would return. If you have never tried octopus, this is the place to get it. It was really good and tender.

    (4)
  • Sarah S.

    WOW - this was the best pizza I've had since I spent a semester in Italy. I went here on the first night I moved to Philly after researching on yelp for a good place nearby and was blown away. I got the parma pizza which was absolutely amazing and piled with fresh prosciutto and arugula. My boyfriend got the lombarda pizza and he finished the entire thing. Can't wait to go back!

    (5)
  • Simon S.

    Ok, I'm on my pizza soapbox again. I've been here once before so I was in town for a friends wedding and I brought my wife and daughter here to experience the restaurant. The staff couldn't have been nicer and accommodated my not quite 2 year old daughter, who behaved perfectly for most of the meal. It was a Saturday mind you but we purposely chose a 5:30 time to avoid the crowds. The restaurant is quite large with many different rooms and seating areas. The server we had that night was fantastic! He know his stuff and it appeared so did the other servers. They helped my wife select the right wine for the mood she was in and the pizza she had ordered. I've read about Osteria for years in Pizza articles and blogs and it's always mentioned when discussing pizza restaurants that started the upscale pizza movement. I respect that. My first visit was a business dinner that was Prix Fixe type of an affair so things where just brought to our table. I did sample pizza at the end but that was also a couple of cocktails and a bottle (or two) of wine later so I couldn't rely on that experience. This was my ulterior motive for coming back when the opportunity presented itself. So here I was again with my family and we decided to go all pizza for the dinner. The pizza was great, not mind altering incredible. The crust was perfectly thin and balanced in terms of crispy to chewy. However, nothing made me want to tear up like I just drank a wonderful bottle of 1947 wine that's something good and french (I've always seen this mentioned, never had anything that old). It was good pizza but both my wife and I both agreed after we left it wasn't remarkable. I am a pizza snob, just look at my other reviews, but I would still eat here, just not the pizza. I can say to my other pizza snob friends that I've been there and done that. The service was fantastic, the wine selections were excellent, the atmosphere was comfortable and stylish. I would recommend Osteria for a fine meal.

    (4)
  • Bernie H.

    This restaurant is incredible. The price is really reasonable, and the food was delicious. My boyfriend and I had the ramp pizza, rabbit over polenta, a dessert with espresso pudding and a praline croissant, and three different pastas. Each dish was more delicious than the last. I'll definitely be back my next time in town!

    (5)
  • Tina F.

    We always drove by and always wanted to try this restaurant. So we finally did. It was really packed and really big restaurant. The service was not as good, we expected more attention since the price of the food was alot. We had bottle of wine, the liver rigatoni had a weird after taste I didn't like it. I only ate the pasta. The grilled octopus salad was good. I had the steak, and I didn't like it. How can you go wrong with a steak? Mine just tasted blah and it was cold! My boyfriend had the lamb, and it was very gamy. . He felt sick afterwards. Over all, I feel like this restaurant is over hyped and over priced. We didn't have a good experience here, and is too big so you don't get the service that your deserve for the price you're paying. We spent $250 on dinner just for us two, and we wouldn't have minded if it was at least good.

    (2)
  • Christopher M.

    Great food. Good cocktails. Mediocre service. Insane (at least 350%) mark-up on bottles and glasses of wine.

    (3)
  • Rebecca K.

    Osteria is a huge restaurant where we felt lucky to have gotten last minute 9pm reservations on a Saturday. The restaurant was busy and we waited at the bar for our table. The bartender actually came from behind the bar with a menu and took our drink order which was a nice touch. I had the "baba jah" (no idea if that's right!) but it was makers with art of the age rhuby and lots of lemon. It was delicious. We were seated behind the bar at a high top and started by attempting to order wine. Twice we ordered wine and twice we were informed they were out of it. Ended up with a bottle we liked but the process was painful. During the botched wine ordering process I tried to order us some apps to which the server responded "you have to order together or there will be a huge gap between the two- I know my kitchen." What? Moving on. We ordered the octopus and duck pate to start. The duck pate was under a thick layer of oil which was odd. Delicious but unnecessarily oily in an item already over the top. The octopus was amazing. So so tender. Finally the entrees. I had the brisket. Boyfriend had the rabbit. Rabbit was ok- would have been nice to have a veg to break up the rich meat and polenta. The brisket though. Ugh. It arrived swimming in grease. Swimming. Like I couldn't believe that the plate had been set down in front of me. Our weird service experience ended with the server running after us outside asking for our copy of the receipt so "he wouldn't have to pay for our meal." What? I am 1000% positive we left a copy with our cash tip. And then he came and took the other. It was just weird.

    (2)
  • Debra B.

    My husband and I visited Philadelphia the last week of July and visited Osteria on recommendations from Frommer's Guide and a business Client from the area. It was a Sunday evening and, surprisingly, the place wasn't very busy probably because of the storm that was brewing outside. But.....oh my gosh....from the service to the dessert, everything here was absolutely amazing. The restaurant is warm and cozy with a very rustic feel and beautiful decor throughout. Though the tables were close together, you didn't get the feeling that you were being eavesdropped on by diners sitting next to you. Kathleen was our waitress and she was friendly, helpful and very knowledgeable. For the appetizer, we shared Grilled Clams with Charred Squid, Lemons and Chilis. The Clams melted in your mouth and the Squid was perfectly cooked. Both the Clams and Squid absorbed the flavors of the lemon and chilis perfectly. We also shared an off-the-menu most amazing Arugula Salad with Heirloom tomatoes with an amazing vinaigrette dressing that was neither too acidic nor too oily. Very light and flavorful. My husband had the Special...a Roasted Duck with Duck Skin Chicharones. The skin on the duck was crispy as were the Chicharones and the duck was tender and succulent. If he could have, he would have licked his plate clean. I had the Polenta Gnocchetti with Chanterelle Mushrooms, Brown Butter and Parmigiano. Kathleen told us that the pastas were all made in-house and it was very evident from the first bite. The Gnochetti's practically melted in your mouth. The Chantrelle Mushrooms added just enough earthiness to compliment the Brown Butter. For dessert, we shared a platter of 3 gelattos--Pistachio, Lemon Verbena and Peach. All were made fresh that day as well and were awesome. When we plan our next trip to Philadelphia, we will definitely go back.

    (5)
  • Pat C.

    We wanted an upscale well reviewed restaurant for our anniversary dinner. We chose Osteria because we have eaten several times at Alla Spina and Amis , two of the other Vetri places, and enjoyed them both. This visit was disappointing to say the least. Service: Poor 1. Waitress was not knowledgable about what was being served, nor with portion size when asked. 2. Waitress was in a rush throughout the entire service, from the time she asked us for our drink order through the taking of our order to hustling us out after dessert. 3. A busboy that hovers like a hawk on a telephone pole waiting for you to eat the last morsel on your plate so that he can immediately whisk it away. He miss timed his effort and I needed to tell him to go away so that I could finish. 4. We booked through opentable, so we had a reservation. Yet in an place that was less than a quarter filled we were sat at the table next to the wait staff service area, a large cupboard. My thought was this is the table usually saved for walk-ins on crowded evenings. 5. the wait staff served us from the aforementioned waitstaff area, reaching across the cupboard and rather awkwardly across the table. 6. When my wife dropped her fork, the aforementioned busboy/hawk or waitress was nowhere to be found. This seemed odd since they are repeatedly interrupting the conversation to ask if you need anything. 7.Steak knife with damaged handle. Presentation 1. The spit roasted pig that I order with roasted potatoes look haphazardly thrown on the plate. Food 1. The roasted pig was good as was the ravioli special. The charred pole beans were limp and the roasted potatoes old.

    (1)
  • Cristiana B.

    Eh, went to Osteria for my birthday with family and friends. The waiter wasn't the nicest, I don't think he smiled once. The food was okay, but I feel like I could have eaten the same thing at a less expensive restaurant. Nothing really excited me. Which is surprising for me because I see the joy in almost everything.

    (3)
  • Ryan N.

    Ate here for the 4th of July absolutely delicious pasta and pizza! Heres the breakdown: Pros: *great bread and olive oil to start * outstanding selection of prime italian dishes * interesting drink choices (lotssss of wine) * the pizza * the pasta Cons: * server was kind of a smartass but he was still good (no negative points just a statement) * says its casual dining attire... Its not (I would say more on dressy side not business casual though) Recommendations: Polenta Gnocchetti with Chanterelle mushrooms, brown butter and parmigiano Lombarda le pizze tranizionali

    (4)
  • Nicole M.

    Our group of 5 came here after Temple's Law School graduation. We were a bit concerned about our reservation for 6:15PM since they had us in the system for 6:45PM-we had an email confirmation for 6:15PM. But that is neither here nor there since they had an available table for us when we arrived. Our server was wonderful and even put up with our incredibly indecisive group. The pizzas we ordered-Parma and mortadella- were super tasty! The crust on the Parma pizza was thin and crunchy and the crust on the mortadella was super fluffy. I would definitely recommend the pizzas as a shared app. My brother got the special: baby pig sampler. He LOVES Osteria's different specials. I believe he has gotten (and thoroughly enjoyed) the pig head special once or twice. I can't vouch for it but he is a food snob and loved both specials. Our table also shared the wood grilled octopus. My father described it as "incredibly tender." This is good to share for 2, maybe 3, people. The wine selection is top notch and the wine rep who makes her rounds to the tables is very nice and accommodating. I've been here twice and will definitely return!

    (4)
  • Vince D.

    My wife and I decided to try this place based on its yelp reviews and weren't disappointed. The waitress was friendly and knowledgeable, and even though it was fairly packed for a Thursday evening, everything came out very fast. For antipasto, we shared a fried mozzarella with tomato garnish, light and flavorful. My wife ordered the veal, which was extremely tender and absolutely delicious. I tried a special, several different cuts of a roasted pig. It was very good also, although it would have been nice if they had served it with a light veggie side instead of roast potatoes to offset the heaviness of the pork. For dessert I tried a panna cota and my wife ordered gelato. Both superb. Our main concern was the noise level. The dining room is a large cavernous open space with an industrial decor. This might not bother some people but it was a little much for us. As some other reviewers have noted, this place is on the pricey side. Worth it though, I'd definitely come again.

    (4)
  • Victoria R.

    DO NOT WASTE YOUR MONEY! This place is ridiculously over priced for really horrible food. If you are looking for authentic Italian cuisine, save yourself the trouble and try one of the many other good places Philly has to offer. The pizza was laughable, and the pasta dishes were poorly presented and most of them, completely inedible. They try to make it seem like you are at a gourmet restaurant with wine priced in the $70 range that at any state store you can purchase for under $10. Unfortunately, there is NOTHING gourmet about this place besides the prices.

    (1)
  • Dana M.

    Came here for happy hour in honor of a friend passing her oral defense. They had a selection of meats, cheeses, and pickled veggies to choose from and wines. I was most impressed with the pickled veggies. I tend to roll my eyes at places that offer bland veggies as the non-meat option but they were delish. The selection of wines was also impressive and not as expensive as I thought considering this place got three dollar signs Salads were also good and not your average caesar. Overall, I would recommend to others.

    (3)
  • Mike W.

    Really excellent from start to finish. this was my second time dining here, but we are considering it for our rehearsal dinner, so we wanted to refresh out taste buds. The service is really fantastic. It's a staple of vetri restaurants everywhere. They are trained so well. It's the little things that make the difference, like refolding your napkin when you get up from the table, moving out of the way when they see you walking, asking if you need help, etc. the only problem we had was our waitress didn't tell us about two of the specials. Not a big deal because we had our minds made up already though. We sat on the patio which is a gorgeous glass enclosed area. We decided to use the same strategy we used last time when ordering with one small twist, one pizza, one appetizer, and two pastas all to share. We started with the Lombarda and it was incredible. I hadn't been to osteria in a while, so I hadn't really compared the pizza crust to pizzeria vetri until now, but it was so different! It was a bit thinner and crisper, and the combination of sausage and egg on top was amazing. We ordered the mozzarella en corrozza for our appetizer and again we were very impressed. It was so different than any fried mozzarella dish I have ever had. I couldn't tell if it was battered at all or if it was just a block of mozzarella dropped into the fryer. It was awesome, and the tomato and caper sauce serves with it was show stopping. Our pasta choices were the chicken liver rigatoni and the winter squash gnocchi a la brava. Wow fantastic stuff here. The rigatoni was clearly housemade and covered in a delicately tasty sauce of chopped chicken livers. It was subtle flavor, but still very powerful and rich. The squash gnocchi was covered in cheese and incredibly hot when it came out. The gnocchi was very tender and went surprisingly well with the cheese. Our dessert wasn't as good as the rest of our meal, but I was comparing it to the polenta budino we had last time, and that was stupid good. We ordered the upside down blood orange polenta cake with kumquat caramel. It was good, and definitely interesting and different, but I wasn't crazy about it. Osteria is a great place to have a meal, and you should get there as often as you can. I'll be back soon!

    (4)
  • Chris M.

    Excellent meal! I may have just experienced one of the most simple yet perfectly balanced and Delicious bites when I tried the mini cheese ravioli w porcini mushrooms butter and sage. Also, I loved the chicken liver pasta- hearty, rich pasta that takes you back to a childhood/ homey feeling- comfort food. Wow! I was in love with the pasta dishes... Then came the suckling pig! Mmm good!! Moist and flavorful with some cracklin! To finish the night, I had the banana gelato - it was just delightful. I was impressed by this place. I expected it to be good and it was great! Not to mention we had impeccable service. Our waitress Kelly was so friendly and a great waitress. I highly recommend and I will be back!!

    (5)
  • Pamela A.

    Fab dinner! My husband and I just had a pre Valentine's Day meal and loved it. He had a pizza which was huge and we shared. I had a special pasta dish with shrimp. My only complaint was the small pasta portion but the service was amazing. The waiters were very attentive and the space was very nice and romantic. Highly recommend it.

    (4)
  • Ho L.

    Wow. This was some seriously fantastic Italian cuisine for a fair price. I ate lunch with a group of coworkers, and everything that came out was fantastic. My chicken liver rigatoni was a hearty portion, well worth the $16, and I would highly recommend it. I also tried the wood grilled octopus, which came out perfectly cooked, and not at all rubbery. The pizza was thin crust, and is just right for a single person. The postage stamp ravioli looked good, but the portion was quite small, so keep that in mind if you want to try it. The service was very good, as our server was helpful and cheery throughout our meal. The atmosphere was quiet, although it was a slow weekday lunch. The decor was very nice, particularly Overall, I had a great experience.

    (5)
  • Jenny D.

    The place is great! Real Italian food and a nice wine list! The pizza is good and the food is just different and elaborate but good !

    (4)
  • Don H.

    Ok, the food was good. I had a gemelli with pesto, my wife had a arugula and prosciutto-topped pizza which were both excellent. We shared a veggie antipasti which was very good. They really need to train the hostess. We arrived at ten minutes before 5. Ten minutes before opening. I understand they can't wait on us as the wait staff was still assembling, but couldn't we be seated rather than told to wait outside in the 95 degree heat for 10 minutes? We had my infant son in a stroller, so we asked about accessing the ramped door. We were told it would be open in 10 minutes. We sought shade and came back at 5:10pm. The handicap accessible door was locked. Ok, mistakes happen; she apologized for the oversight. She proceeded to seat us at a two-seat table in the mostly empty restaurant, squeezed up against the only other table that had been seated. We had absolutely no place to put the baby. Our waiter (who was very good) acted quickly and moved us to larger table. Nothing egregious, but a little more training is needed! A restaurant of this caliber isn't just a place to chow; you should be able to relax and experience it. We were anything but relaxed to start the meal.

    (3)
  • Joey P.

    This is mine and my wife's first time in Philadelphia. I made a reservation for Osteria after the reviews I've read. Being a Native New Yorker i was wondering if the philly food could even compare. Let me tell you i was 100% satisfied with my meal tonight. The chefs put love into their creations. We started with the Parma Pizza......amazing! Then we shared the escargot & veal bone marrow. This dish tingled every taste bud i have. Then for dinner i had the chicken liver rigatoni. Fresh pasta and a liver ragu, who had it better than me. The food was phenomenal and the service was top notch. I rarely give 5 stars but for this place it was well deserved. Going to sleep happy and full.

    (5)
  • Samantha M.

    It's all about the polpo! So yes this place is upscale it's not suit and tie upscale. I have to say that the waiters know their menu, but if you're like me and like to many small dishes this is not the place. So I ordered the polpo pizza and I was expecting a small serving size, no it was massive and the waiter gave me a hard time understanding that I like small meals. Needless to say it was an expensive doggy bag.

    (3)
  • Jim T.

    Went here for my Wife's Birthday back in September. The atmosphere is great, had a cool calm décor and some rustic features thrown in. Our waiter was on point, extreme knowledgeable of the food and the flavors which really helped our food choices because everything on the menu looked delicious. We had the Wood Grilled Octopus and robiola "francobolli" postage stamp ravioli as appetizers. The flavors were exceptional and couldn't wait for the main meal. My Wife ordered the chicken "alla griglia" and was totally pleased with the balanced flavors between the chicken, sweet corn, mushrooms and spinach. I had the Pork Chop which was cooked perfectly and I added a side of Polenta Rustic which was perfect complement to the meal. For desert, we ordered raspberry and pistacchio linzertorte, boy was our sweet teeth satisfied. Also kudos on bringing a side ice cream w/ a candle for my wife's b-day. I highly recommend Osteria and all of Vetri's restaurants, always top notch food and service.

    (5)
  • Chris T.

    Not impressed. After reading reviews and online about how great Osteria is, we were excited to say the least. We did the sampler course which was a little bit of everything from each course. The thing that sticks out mostly is the lasagna was extremely small, flat and burnt. Granted I'm not on the up and up on traditional italian lasagna but this was almost insulting. At most it was 1/2" thick. The server just rattled off the menu when asked for suggestions or most popular items. Perhaps we should have tried a specific item on the menu...in any case, this was not up to snuff, especially for the price paid. We will not be back.

    (2)
  • Edward W.

    Fantastic place that does Italian justice. Philly has a crap ton of Italian restaurants around the city ranging from low end to high end. But I don't think any of them does meats and pasta as well as Osteria. We started off with a vedura mista which pretty much had every vegetable, grilled, pickled, sautéed on the menu. The variety was large and the flavors well balanced. I had the berkshire pork chop and it was phenomenal. It measured about 1.5 inches thick and was amazingly tender and perfectly done through and through. It's quite difficult to cook such a huge piece of meat to a perfect uniformity and uniform perfectness. I can only assume the pork was brined, sous vide, and then charred after. Regardless it was splendid and I can't rave more. Wonderful.

    (5)
  • Noheli T.

    Osteria deserves way more than 5 stars! I went a few weeks ago for a friend's birthday and it was one of the best meals that I have ever had in this city. We ordered the Lombrada pizza as an appetizer and it was too good to keep our hands off of it. I ordered the farro malloreddus with sardinian lamb ragu and it was delicious! They also gave us plenty of bread on the side and the wait staff was incredibly helpful and kind. The only reccommendation that I have is to question the cost of your wine glass prior to ordering. I asked for a suggestion from the bartender and ended dropping about $16 for a glass of wine. It was a shock in the end, but it tasted great through out the night.

    (5)
  • Abby W.

    I had to let this meal soak in for a while before I could even write the review. I am quivering with delight just thinking about it again and an entire week has passed. Imagine the intensity of my ardor the following day... I think I might be getting the vapors again! So, I'm not supposed to eat wheat. I'm not celiac, just intolerant, so it makes my tummy hurt and my joints ache but that's about it. As such, I am willing to suffer on occasion for some premium carbohydrate action. It doesn't get a lot more premium than Vetri pizza and pasta, so I decided to make this my birthday dinner of choice and indulge in a little verboten pleasure. We showed up at 8pm on the snowiest day of winter and it was surprisingly busy. Our table was ready immediately, so we checked our coats and were seated. I'm struggling to remember the decor because paying attention to anything other than the food was like trying to see what's behind the sun. The seats were comfy enough and I remember being plenty warm and facing the open kitchen. For drinks, I went with a gin sour and E got the Sicilian Lemonade. My gin sour was the best I have had since Sophia's closed. Really excellent! I had 3, or 4, or something... E also enjoyed his lemonade, which was similar to his usual mojito. Food-wise, we ordered: escargots with puff pastry (super rich and very tender snails), pulpo pizza, saffron buccatini for E, mushroom robiola ravioli for me, and the Creekstone Ribeye for two. A bonus course of smoked cobia appetizer arrive before the pizza due to a delay with the pizza ovens. It was incredibly delicious as well. Were I to go back, I would get nothing but the pulpo pizza and the saffron buccatini. And not share with anyone. Back off that pulpo! It is the best goddamn pizza I have ever tasted, ever. It's the only pizza I want to eat. The crust was impossibly thin and yet still crisp enough to stand at attention when you lift a slice, the sauce was perfect, plenty of spice from the red pepper, and then smoky, tender octopus. The only other words I can think of are expletives. Eat this immediately. The saffron buccatini was equally addictive with the perfect al dente chew and zesty coating of herbs with chorizo and octopus coins. I had major pasta envy. Luckily, the portion size on this dish is quite substantial so I was able to make a lunch out of the leftovers. The main was probably the biggest disappointment, and only because I felt it was a bit less of an impressive steak than I was expecting. It was cooked to absolute perfection with a hard char on the outside and medium rare, well rested interior, but it wasn't quite as large as I expected and it lacked that savory umami that a good dry-aged steak should have. We were so stuffed that we barely made a dent it it, though, and it made for some delightful leftovers a few days later. The side of potato and spinach gratin needed two more minutes in the oven because the potatoes were a little underdone, but I was so full I didn't bother asking that they correct it. They would have without question and so I did not deduct any points for that. Flavor-wise it was great and the leftovers finished cooking while reheating. We couldn't manage dessert, but they brought out a gratis serving of persimmon sorbet with a candle for my birthday anyways. That was nice. E loved the sorbet- I found it a bit too sweet. This meal was not cheap but I felt it was worth every penny. We spent $60 on alcohol alone, so it didn't have to be quite so pricey. You could come here and spend $100 per person or $30 per person depending on how you order. For example, the cobia appetizer that was comped was delicious, but a tiny portion for $18. Pizzas are around $18 as well and more filling, so they make a more affordable pick for an appetizer. Ask your server about pasta portion sizes and they can steer you toward the larger plates.

    (5)
  • Jana C.

    Had dinner in N Philly on a rainy night. Luckily, there was parking around the corner. On a nonuniform street of grit, next to a church, is Mark Vetri's second restaurant. An extremely warm atrium abutting the main dining room causes the patron seated there to walk a good minute before reaching the low-lit table adorned with small vase and fresh flowers. it is romantic and warm (pun intended!) off came the shawl. Parusso Barolo---$21 for a glass (ahhhhh..dreams of Piedmont). Oversight on our part. Too rich for our blood! Bread basket came with only olive oil...super fresh. Delicious. Ciareghi sausage (wild boar) with polenta and a quail egg---the polenta was still very relaxed and we found it a bit too oily. I tried the candele pasta with boar ragout. Great chew on the gnarled thick carb, and the sauce was very tasty, though could have done with tad more liquid....that ragout. He had the cod entree, which was cooked well, but very very light in flavor profile with its accompaniments. Dinner was satisfying. We were hoping for blow-me-away. Still, for a mid-week meal, place sure was buzzin! PS bathroom is looong haul, alongside the kitchen, if not seated in the main dining.

    (3)
  • Monique C.

    Ode to pre and post-holiday season office lunch outings! Let me count the calories :) We seem to always end up eating at awesome places and Osteria was no exception. I was excited to eat here after reading Philadelphia magazine's nod to the restaurant as one Philly's best. But. Even still, you know I had to check Yelp first to see if the "real" people thought that all of that excitement was warranted. Luckily Yelp liked Osteria too. And so do I. Osteria wasn't terribly busy at the peak of lunch hour (i.e. 12:30 p.m. on Friday). Our party of five was seated immediately by the friendly hostess. The restaurant has a beautiful rustic design and is unpretentious. Three delicious breads were brought out by our awesome waiter and devoured quickly by my awesome colleagues. I had to stop myself after the third slice (don't judge me; 12:30 is a late lunch for me). My colleagues raved about the grilled octopus, which I didn't try, but it looked delicious. I ordered the Parma pizza. It was great but basic with arugula and prosciutto. I wish I had been more ambitious and gone for the Lombarda pizza but there's always next time. The post-lunch coffee was above average as was the polenta and pecan dessert - Jesus Mary Joseph and John...would've enjoyed it too. I can't wait to eat here again 5/5.

    (5)
  • Paul B.

    Since I stand behind the reviews I write, I need to tell you that if you want to have one of the best dining experiences of your life.... go to Osteria and sit at the bar when STEVEN is working. Tell him to take good care of you and then.... TRUST HIM! He is very good at what he does. VERY good.. The food is amazing. Steven will guide you through an amazing experience. He guided my GF and I through the best meal we've ever had in Philly. Osteria is for REAL! (If you don't sit with Steven, that's up to you. Don't blame me).

    (5)
  • Jihye T.

    The stars are adjusted for my expectation that the dining experience would be phenomenal ... But I thought the food was good but not out of this world good. Maybe it is because I went there w a large group w pre-selected menu... Also did not love the Parma pizza... It's basically prosciutto and arugula on dough... Maybe I am a traditionalist, but much preferred the margherita. Next time, I will try the pastas not covered in cheese and butter...

    (3)
  • Brett F.

    Grrrrr... it irks me to give four stars. I'd kind of like to give less. That is how much I disliked my server, her style, and her attitude from start to finish. However, admittedly, I can't deny that I did really enjoy my dinner at Osteria. It was good, parts of it were actually great... but, jesus that server! Talk about rude. The management would, or should, be ashamed of her lack of helpfulness and attention. But, here I am giving four stars, so, shame on me? Probably. I don't know if I'd ever go back with a large group again, they seemed a bit inept at how to handle us. I had requested from our server to speak to chef about doing a more 'freeform' dinner with us... we were a group of 10 and wanted to pretty much try everything on the menu, family style. We didn't want to be confined to just an app and an entree per person, so, essentially, just keep sending courses of food... we'll share it, and then you bring more... and more! So, basically, you bring us an obscene amount of food, and charge us for it all and take the heavy lifting off of me (the host) to order for our group of ten. You get a huge payout and we are satisfied. Cool? No. Oh, no? Just a flat out no from the server. And no's kept coming. Help with the wine? No, you're busy with another table. Suggestions of favorite dishes? No, everything is good. Ok. I'm totally on an island here. At this point I requested to speak to a manager who was more than obliging to get our family style shindig going. And help with the wine. And smile at us. Eureka! Once the food started rolling it, it was ambrosial. Gorgeous cheese plates, ample charcuterie, rustic platters of vegetables and salads, bowls of beautiful pasta, perfectly charred pizzas, stunningly pink sirloin and expertly prepared fish dishes. Not a miss in the bunch. We are all happy like pigs in shit. The meal was rustic and beautiful, just as the restaurant is itself. Without that manager, this could have been a disaster but he salvaged it all... and should now reconsider a retool of the staff. Osteria is too nice to be compromised by someone so not nice.

    (4)
  • Margaret B.

    Great for private parties! Attended a birthday party in the private room on a busy Saturday night and we are still raving about the experience. The unbelievably attentive staff (Seth!) along with superb food made this an incredible dining experience. The fried mozzarella was somehow light and airy, and the other appetizer pizzas were incredible. Broccoli Rabe Pesto & pine nut pasta was phenomenal, as was the goat cheese & beet plin (like a small ravioli). The steak and the trout were just perfection. They have a superior wine list. To top it all off, there were also fabulous desserts (I'm still thinking about the hazelnut polenta and the pistachio ice cream!!). The staff were all lovely and solicitous, and right on top of everything. Our water glasses were always full, the staff answered all of our questions -- a really perfect evening at a venue I'd highly recommend for a special celebration.

    (5)
  • Devendra S.

    This place is expensive for the food and service it has. Although the menu looks very creative the final product itself is not something you will remember for a long time. The seafood appetizers were flavorful but inconsistent in the way they were cooked. Some of the poly legged creatures were cooked to perfection others were over cooked. We had the liver pasta as main course and it was delicious. Don't remember the other two dishes we got. The service on the other hand was very cold. And this was on a day when it wasn't too crowded nor it was too late. The waitress rambled of the specials in a monotone. The rest of the dinner service was similar. At the end of the day, IMHO that dinner for 3 was not worth what it cost $$$$.

    (3)
  • Brian F.

    BEWARE! I got robbed by this place. The food tastes great but the portions are tiny. There is no way a grown man can eat here and be satisfied. If it were up to me, this place should be reclassified as a tapas joint.

    (2)
  • Matthew H.

    We stopped in Osteria on a Thursday night and it was relatively busy. We have been wanting to try Osteria for a while now because we love the other Vetri restaurants and we love Alla Spina. The space is very nice and the staff are very friendly and helpful. The service was attentive but not overly so. We started off with appetizers and went with the sweetbreads and the octopus salad. The salad was quite good and the char on the octopus was just enough to give it that charcoal taste while still keeping the octopus nice and tender, the arugula went well with it and it was a good portion. The sweetbreads came with fruit that was either sauteed or braised in a simple syrup. The sweetbreads were wonderfully cooked and went extremely well with the fruit. For our entrees we went with the asparagus pasta and the suckling pork special. The pasta was awesome, definitely made fresh and it tasted as though they cooked the pasta in maybe some vegetable or some chicken stock which gave it another added layer of flavor. The suckling pig was amazing, I need to get some pork and brine it for 4 days like they do with theirs. It takes the flavors to another level, they give you a little of everything and I wish that I would have ordered it twice. I wanted to try their polenta but forgot to put in an order so I will next time. We ended the meal with the chocolate flan which is really like a chocolate lava cake and the hazelnut crostata. Both were good but not really memorable to be honest and that's why I removed 1 star. There were other things on the dessert menu that I wanted to try and maybe I just didn't choose well, it might just be me. Anyways I would say a solid dinner and I would recommend this to anyone looking for a nice place to go out or to take friends. We will definitely be returning in the future.

    (4)
  • Dianna L.

    Came here for my birthday and loved the rustic chic feel of the restaurant. The grilled octopus pizza is delicious though I was disappointed when I found out I couldn't split the pizza in half and try two different toppings. Food was great but for the price, I felt like there were other equally pricey but even more tasty places. Overall a great experience and a great fancy date place, but not a restaurant that on the top of my list.

    (4)
  • Brian T.

    FANTASTIC!!!!! I never know what to expect when eating at an Italian restaurant, seeing as how I lived there for so long and have my own idea of what that cuisine should be. Osteria NAILED IT! We started with this appetizer of grilled clams and calimari with chiles and vinegar that was just sublime! the seafood was cut into smaller ribbons and grilled, and dressed to perfection! Extra points for being served in a large clam shell. My son went for the margherita pizza. it's a simple pizza, but easy to mess up since there's only a few ingredients. This was an awesome rendition of the classic, exactly what it should be and nothing else. Perfectly thin and very crispy crust, great sauce, perfect amount of mozzarella and basil. I went for the brain and corn ravioli "doppio", that were just insanely good. the filling was velvety and smooth, and the corn and brown butter they were tossed in gave the ravioli the right level of sweet and nutty taste it needed. We also had a great dessert with this cake, toffee sauce, rum cream and raisins that was also killer. Just a great all around meal with perfect service and killer food. can't WAIT to go back!

    (5)
  • Beth S.

    Took my boyfriend for his birthday....holy cow! Haven't had such a great meal in a long, long time. I talked about it for days afterwards. The host staff were very warm and friendly. I opted to check my coat, and upon leaving it was returned promptly. We shared the beets as an appetizer. Loved the flavor combo, especially the slight sweetness added by the pistachios to contrast the rest of the dish. I also thought the swirly beets were cool looking. No idea what kind of beets they were, but they were beautiful AND tasty! For a mid course we split two half orders of pasta. First off, I love that they offer half orders as an option. I'm big on sharing dishes and trying as many things as possible, so this was exciting for me. We ordered the scallop pasta, which was citrusy and delicious, and the mushroom ravioli, which was creamy and rich. Loved every bite of both dishes. For entrees we shared the branzino and the duck. The branzino was probably my least favorite dish, but don't take that to mean it was bad. The flavors and presentation were great, but it was a little dry for me. The duck however.......OMG. To DIE for. That agrodolce.....I want an entire bucket of it all to myself. The duck was cooked perfectly and we were fighting over who got to eat more of it (I kid. Kind of). For dessert we got coffee drinks (served at the perfect temperature) and shared the white chocolate blood orange mousse (not sure mousse is the term they used, but it was a custard/mousse-like dessert). Foodgasm. Service was flawless. Courses were timed perfectly. We asked our server to pair wines by the glass with each of the dishes and she made lovely choices. Friendly and knowledgeable, and a great smile!

    (5)
  • Caroline R.

    Another one of my favorite restaurants. You really can't go wrong with Vetri. Osteria offers traditional Italian food with a gourmet twist. All their pasta is made fresh and their sauces are rich in flavor. I also recommend the ribeye. The atmosphere is romantic and the wine is delicious. Absolutely love this place.

    (5)
  • Hector M.

    "Everybody has a plan until they get punched in the face." - Mike Tyson I came in with a plan of what I wanted from the menu and then I got punched in the face. I saw new things and then they announced specials which totally derailed my plans. I went with the following: - Grilled Octopus: I'm obsessed with octopus. I'm obsessed with ordering it, eating it, and converting people who have never had it. Mission Accomplished because it stood and delivered (take that James Olmos!). - Lombarda Pizza: I thought eggs on pizzas were starting to get cliche - WRONG! The bitto cheese compliments and takes the egg over the top (take that Sylvester Stallone!). - Chicken Liver Rigatoni (1/2 portion): once the server told me I can order 1/2 portions of pasta, I knew I could load up and try over things. The chicken liver and caramelized onions make the dish so rich that you'll be waiting for Robin Leach to start narrating. - Pork Special: I have a confession - I never listen to the waiter's specials. I just nod my head, feign interest, and nod my head so more. As soon as I heard that they had a roast pork special, I could hear the brakes screeching. What came out was nothing short of amazing - roasted rosemary potatoes, pork shoulder, pork butt, and a slab of crispy delicious pork skin. - Polenta Budino: perfect ending to a great dinner with no flaws in any of the courses. The polenta added a nice texture to the pudding along with the candied hazelnuts.

    (5)
  • Katie P.

    lombarda pizza was out of this world!!!!

    (5)
  • Gerry G.

    I wanted to take my daughter out for some good pizza before she returned back to college from her Christmas break. We headed to the city and Were so excited to go to Osteria . My daughter and her girlfriend ordered the Margarita pizza. My girlfriend and I ordered the ribeye for two After waiting for about 15 minutes for the waitress to take our drink order we finally received our beverages. We ordered our appetizers and maincourse as soon as we received our beverages. Then we waited about 25 minutes for appetizers and an additional 45 minutes after that for our main course. I'm not really good at waiting and then my daughter and her girlfriend asked me what was taking so long.The food was good but restaurant was smoky for some reason and the managers were busy texting on their cell phones which drove me crazy. After spending $172 for a pizza and a ribeye for two and only one glass of wine and three Ice-T I'm not sure it was worth the evening out.... We should've just stayed in. Someone should inject some energy back into a restaurant that has good food but a poor performing staff

    (2)
  • Chris M.

    One of my all time favorite restaurants. Quality service, fantastic entrees, and the best pizza there is.

    (5)
  • Matt D.

    This meal was a long time in the making, and it didn't quite live up to our expectations. Upon entering, I was taken back by the beautiful decor and polished staff. You can easily see that Osteria is a tightly managed operation. We arrived way ahead of our reservation, and they were quick to offer us a nice spot in the lounge area, which worked just as well as a table in the main dining areas. The service remained strong during the whole meal. We ordered the grilled octopus as our shared antipasta. While it was very good, I would rank it third on my octopus list behind Zorbas and La Fourno, and it's a pricey, small plate of octopus. Up next was the Lombardo pizza, which was good, but I expected a bit more. Nomad, and dare I say it, Barra in old city can contend with it. The chocolate flan is nothing special and overpriced, but the traditional budino was absolutely fantastic. It's easily one of the top desserts I've had out in the city. Out of the three excellent restaurants that landed in the area of Broad and Mt. Vernon, I think I prefer Osteria's neighbor, Route 6.

    (3)
  • Paige B.

    Vegetable Antipasti - 5 out of 5 A-m-a-z-i-n-g display and variety of summer vegetables that were all marinated and cooked to perfection. The experience in one word: addictive. Spaghetti Alla Chitarra (Rabbit Bolognese, Artichoke and Black Truffle) - 4.5 out of 5 Delicious tender rabbit meat complemented the delicate pasta and the black truffle chunks. Robiola Francobolli ("Postage Stamp Ravioli" with Royal Trumpet Mushrooms and Thyme) - 3 out of 5 I was expecting a lot more from this dish. There were homemade white ravioli on a white plate with some thin slices of mushrooms and a creamy filling. I don't base much of my review on appearance of the food, but when everyone's dishes arrived and mine was pretty boring looking (no color, no garnish, and a smaller than typical portion), I was less enthralled. Taste-wise, these raviolis melted on my palate. They were so soft and delicate and creamy. But, I would recommend a sauce with more depth and flavor. Bufala Mozzerella and Heirloom Tomato "Conchiglie" Stuffed Shells - 4 out of 5 My boyfriend's father, who according to him and his family, always orders the "best" dish when they're out at restaurants. He ordered the stuffed shells, which goes to figure, since they were amazing. The basil in the sauce is the freshest I've tasted. Rhubarb Strudel (with Apricot and Pistachio Semifreddo) - 2 out of 5 Just all right. Our server recommended this dessert over the Chocolate Mousse Torta, so I trusted her opinion. It looked like a Danish doughnut and tasted like a sweet-and-tart rendition. The combination of rhubarb, apricot, and pistachio didn't coalesce into a magical experience. It seemed like a dessert put on the menu to have another option, rather than some ethereal flavor combination Vetri was excited to share with the world. Chocolate Mousse Torta (with Peanut Butter and Chocolate Sbrisolona) - 5 out of 5 Now, this is a dessert is a not worth missing. BF's father ordered the torta and gave me a bite. It was oh so rich and decadent and everything a chocolate lover would want to finish off a great meal.

    (4)
  • Jonathan N.

    Went to ostertia with my brother and sister in law. The meal was great and the the price per item was excellent. Great place

    (5)
  • Nicole F.

    My two-star rating for Osteria is more about how we were treated and not so much about food or service. If this review was only about food and service Osteria would've earned a possible four-star rating. I've been to Osteria twice before -- once with a group and once solo -- and, each time, I had a decent experience. But today, my family and I wanted to celebrate my sister's promotion to Lieutenant. And like other officers who had been promoted, we decided to eat at Osteria. It turns out that we got there "just in time" because Osteria was wrapping up lunch and closing soon to prepare for dinner. I believe because of our timing, the staff, save our server, wasn't too happy about us being there. When the hostess instructed us to wait while they put together our table, she was very "matter of fact," the antithesis of a hostess attitude. How do I know? I used to be a hostess and I know the job very well. I asked a man who appeared to be management level for menus, he was also very matter of fact (no smile, no engagement, nothing) when he said "Your menus will be coming soon." His response almost made me feel stupid for asking for menus. Then there was a blonde-haired woman, who also appeared to be management level, that interacted with our table. No "hello," no smile, no eye contact, nothing. -- Our Server -- This lack of engagement by the three staff persons we encountered at Osteria made our server, Janna, really stand out as pleasant, engaging, and knowledgeable. -- The Food -- Three of us ordered the mushroom ravioli. The flavor was lovely! My sister and I agreed. Every bite was simply delicious. I gave my other sister some to taste from my plate. She also thought it was delicious. Kudos to the chef! My mother, who ordered the same entree, felt that the mushrooms were too chewy to enjoy the dish. -- One Other Note -- My brother-in-law bought a cake in the shape and design of my sister's lieutenant's badge. He brought the cake into the restaurant to show the rest of us. When he opened it, an Osteria staff member (I can't remember which one) pulled him aside to explain to him their policy on food that's brought in. Again, the way this staff person engaged my brother-in-law almost appeared as if they were scolding him. They told him there would be a fee to serve the cake in the restaurant, not knowing that he only brought the cake in to show the rest of us. (In case you're wondering, it costs $8 per person to serve your own dessert at Osteria.) So, if you want to endure the poor, negative and disengaged attitudes of the Osteria staff to get to some delicious food, then Osteria is for you. Cheers.

    (2)
  • John A.

    Have been a fan for a long time, but haven't been there in quite a while. On a recent visit to Philly, I made my way there and was not disappointed. Sat at the bar and my bartender was attentive and knowledgeable. Had the marinara pizza which was excellent and the meat plate which was as good as I remembered (the mustardo honey with a mustard spice to it and artichoke makes the plate.) I had the gnocchi for dinner and it was pretty good as well. I still feel like the price is fair for the quality and service and I will certainly keep it in my rotations when visiting Philly again.

    (4)
  • Jessica S.

    Much more out of the way and a little more rustic than its sister restaurant Amis, Osteria is a wonderful restaurant that definitely warrants the "trek" out to North Broad. I am a huge fan of the atmosphere of the place. Very warm and cozy, as if you were in an old barn or a rustic ski lodge. But in Italy. Not sure if that's a real thing or not. The food was outstanding and everything we shared was well complimented by the wine we chose. The pizza is definitely a must! We also shared the "vegetable plate" which I believe was a special the evening we were there celebrating my birthday, but if you see it, you should get it. Tons of variety, all fresh and delicious. Did I mention I love vegetables? I'd recommend doing a general table "sharing" and just ordering a bunch of things. That's pretty much how I'd like to spend any meal, honestly. Could be great for groups, or a romantic date, but either way, this place is awesome. I still like Amis better, though it's not entirely fair to compare the two. The pasta is just slightly better at Amis and the general ambiance/fact that it's in center city makes me want to go back to Amis much more frequently.

    (4)
  • Ian C.

    Let me start off by saying the staff was great, however, if you're looking for a good meal this is NOT the place. WASTE of money....I had 2 glasses of beer n my girlfiend had 2 glasses of wine, we did not order appetizers or desert, and our bill came in at $140 and I left hungry. Hit McDonalds on girard and called it a night. Never will I go back

    (1)
  • Shane L.

    I love this place.....they do it right. Upon entering, I already got a sense that I was going to enjoy my dinner here. I noticed a great decor/ambience and workers busy doing their job. Lots of chatter from other guests (that's a good sign for me), awesome greenhouse room where we were seated. Service was awesome and you'll agree when you also see plenty of floor managers keeping their eyes on things. Food was on point and worth ever penny. I wish I could go into detail for each dish, but everything I ordered was very delicious; coupled by a nice/strong cocktail that hit the spot. P.S. Attention to my special request for the birthday girl was executed smoothy. Thank you for making my wife's birthday dinner very enjoyable.

    (4)
  • Lainey S.

    Fancy pants place! Nice semi-outdoor area. This is not a BYO or as inexpensive as my usual spots, but the service was great and it was fun to try it out. Recommend for a fancy date.

    (4)
  • jed p.

    Came here for anniversary dinnner. Reservations for 7PM on a Saturday, finally sat about 7:30. Bartender was excellent, completely aware of his patrons, hardly needed to talk. Dinner was pretty good. The Antipasta special was okay, but not amazing. I was disappointed with the mushroom pizza as it was olive oil only, the next dish was a short rib pasta which was amazing, epic, finished off with pig, which was good but perhaps too much after the pizza and pasta. I asked the waitress if we were mis-ordering, and she wasn't much help to guide us to their best dishes. I would come here again with a large group and order one of every pizza, that short rib pasta, and stay for desert.

    (3)
  • Andrew F.

    Complex flavor profiles, great wine, great dessert, great service, yeah. That's what you need to know. Of the four courses I ordered, and the additional pizza I got to try this place blew me away. The pizzas. I ordered a "cipollotto" pizza and thoroughly enjoyed it. It had a flavor that I can't really describe but it was full of it and I absolutely loved it. Just enough (not very much) cheese and an awesome crust. I also had the opportunity to try a piece of "margarita" and though it had a much simpler flavor profile the flavor was stil strong and tasty. I followed that up with a dish of fusilli with "fava beans, pecorino and mint" and I must say that the flavor in that dish was just plane insane. Extremely strong and minty but yet still soft and not as overpowering as expected. The portion was also much larger than I had expected. Following my failing to finish (not because of taste but because I was so looking forward to my next course), I had the "grilled veal strip loin tonnato with red watercress and caperberries" which was served nearly raw. Normally I like my meat medium to medium-well, and I thought about sending this back, but I was so glad I didn't. It was absolutely tasty and a little bit chewy but not too much. For someone who is normally very picky about avoiding the fat on my meat I decided to venture and try this as prepared and I wasn't disappointed. I only had a quick taste of the watercress and though it was good, I had to save some room for the dessert. I decided to go with the pistachio gelato and strawberry sorbet and both are among the top of their flavor that I've had anywhere. The pistachio was so smooth and I can only imagine if I could eat that everyday. The strawberry was extremely potent and though awesome and tasty, I'm not sure I'd be able to eat that strong of a strawberry flavor all the time, but as an after dinner treat with a huge meal it was definitely a tasty finish. Overall the food was great, and the wine selection that we were helped picking was also great. Though I tried to finish everything I didn't get the chance to as it was all just too filling. Take my recommendation and don't stuff on the bread (which is also good, but not great). I hope i get the opportunity to go to Osteria sometime again soon, but since I don't live, or go to Philadelphia very much, at least I'll always have this memory of this great memory. Now I just wish Mark Vetri would open up some restaurants in Los Angeles. Go here, don't second guess your choice, this place is definitely worth it.

    (5)
  • Mo F.

    I am so sad to have to write this review - I've been waiting for years to go here. My boyfriend and I decided that our one-year anniversary would the perfect time to try it. Sadly, we were incredibly disappointed in our experience. We had a reservation and arrived on time, but our table wasn't ready - not a big deal, but the hostess steered us directly to the bar and said "go have a drink". It sort of felt like a ploy. Once we ordered a drink and had one sip, someone came to get us for our table. We were seated directly next to the waiter's computer stand, so my boyfriend stared at a computer screen all night - bummer. And then the food. Incredibly overpriced for what we got. My boyfriend's fish was the size of a credit card, cost $32, and was completely bland. My chicken liver rigatoni was just OK. Mostly I'm disappointed in the price/value ratio. We are people who are fine with paying for expensive meals - if they are delicious. This place is overpriced and simply not great.

    (1)
  • Gabrielle W.

    My husband and I recently had dinner at Osteria and I wasn't blown away. We had the lombarda pizza, the wild boar bolognese, and the duck. My husband loved the duck (I didn't try it). I thought that the pizza and the bolognese were just ok..kind of bland. I know Vetri likes to keep things simple so if that is what he was going for then he definitely succeeded...I was just looking for a little more UMPH! One thing I had an issue with was the cocktail service. It took too long to get every.single.drink. I would have clocked the time but I was starting to twitch and had to focus on remaining calm. I get kind of crazy when I don't get my cocktails! At the end I ordered my my last 2 drinks almost at the same time because it was taking so long. I usually reserve that white trash behavior for work events but that's another story. I would recommend the gimlet..I believe it was a sage gimlet. That was outstanding!

    (3)
  • Juanita W.

    One of my all time favs. Awesome (but potentially dangerous to order price unseen) wine selection with your own somellier, cozy atmosphere & a menu that always makes you ask the server questions unless you're fluent in Italian. I most recently tried the lobster antipasti (grapefruit, lobster & pasta - very fresh & tangy) and the monkfish (sans speck & lentils - I don't eat "meat") and a side of spinach & potato gratin. The gratin could have been a meal all to itself. Both a perfect warm meal in the winter weather. The butternut squash postage stamp ravioli were not on the menu this visit but, they have left a permanent mark in my memory and can still make my mouth water just thinking about them. Buttery, melt in your mouth pasta deliciousness.

    (5)
  • Ann M.

    Was a little pretentious for me, especially the iPad menus at the bar. My food was good but nothing all that grand or special, and my beer was over priced.

    (2)
  • Carla F.

    Wow. Osteria really did not disappoint. I am a big fan of one of Vetri's other restaurants, Amis, given its close location to where I live but wow, osteria blew amis out of the water. First of all, the space is beautiful. Secondly, I absolutely loved everything I ate. Actually I specifically only briefly perused the menu and picked out a couple of things that sounded interesting because I could tell it would be a tough place to narrow down my choice. For appetizers we got an octopus dish and the truffle brussel sprouts. Both were just perfectly seasoned and amazing. For the pasta portion, we got the beet and goat cheese plin. These things were like tiny bites of heaven. The portion size was small and we probably only got about 10 of these, pretty sure I could have eaten 50. I had heard their pizza was good so we got spring onion and cheese (like a mozzarella can't remember the name). Pretty light, might go for something a tad heartier the night time, but it was delicious. In a town where Italian restaurants seem to be a dime a dozen, this one is definitely worth enjoying. I will be going back.

    (5)
  • Anna M.

    Octopus pizza: was ok. Pizza didn't really need the octopus. Didn't really add anything. Margarita pizza: not enough cheese for my liking but crust was good. Parma: was excellent Vegetable antipasta special: revolved around beets so have to like beets. It was very good. Service: good. No complaints.

    (4)
  • Trang N.

    I really love Osteria, I always forget about it because of its location, but our last visit solidified it on our list of favorite restaurants. My husband and I had NYE reservations for the last seating that night, which I usually try to avoid. I'm very weary of the staff wanting to hurry us out, so they can go home, but was very pleased with the exceptional service and energy in this bustling restaurant. Our table was not ready when we arrived so we went to the bar, which was pretty crowded. Immediately, a fresh faced bartender arrived from around the bar to present us with cocktail menus, after ordering, he then returned to us handing us our drink and bill! We did not have to squeeze through couples seated at the bar to gather our drinks! I am a huge fan of this level of service! After a few minutes, our hostess arrived and escorted to our table. Our waiter, Kelert was very knowledgeable with the wine pairs and gave us detail descriptions on all the dishes we asked about. I started off with the wood grilled octopus salad, there was a great smoky flavor in the octopi, the lemon and potatoes complimented it well. He had the cured salumi plate, the colors were bright and flavors were delicious. For our entrees, I ordered the braised oxtail, since I've randomly just acquired lactose intolerance, I could not eat the cream base in the dish, which thankfully Kelert caught upfront. I didn't think that the cream would make be sick, in hindsight ,yes it probably would make me miserable, but I didn't catch it at the time. He easily substituted kale and that worked well in the dish. The oxtail was melt in your mouth, fall off the bone good. Braising tends to make things salty in my opinion, but this was perfect. Husband had the house special- four day roasted pig. The meat was so tender and delicious, the star of the dish was the crispy pig skin! We were lucky enough to get a couple of extra pieces thrown in our doggie bag= delish! For dessert we had the pear and fig sorbet, the fig was by far my favorite! The pear was ok, not my favorite. We were surprised to be presented with two glasses of prosecco for the big NYE countdown. It was so nice on Osteria's part to celebrate with their diners on this special occasion. The service was really spot on, we stayed until about 1am and never once did we feel rushed to get moving! I highly recommend Osteria for anyone who loves non- traditional Italian food! Sidenote- I also recommend the Lombarda pizza, alas it's too much for me to handle now, but that pie imprinted fondly in my brain!

    (4)
  • Rachel A.

    I love coming to Osteria. The grilled octopus is amazing. It's also something I never thought I'd eat, but Osteria makes it downright delicious. I ordered the black bass as my main entree, and was not disappointed. Light, flaky, and full of flavor. The octopus pizza is also great. Some entrees are bigger than others, but I have never walked out of the restaurant hungry. The prices are a bit high, so I don't come often. But when I do, it"s always a good meal.

    (4)
  • G F.

    The pizza was burned enough to be black on the crust bottom and edge. The pasta Farfalle was so salty even our server made a face when trying it, then apologized profusely. The grilled vegetables were delicious but not on the menu so ask for them. And the wine by the glass is lacking and way overpriced. Shame in you for such a poor selection. I don't want a bottle so please refine your wine list by the glass. Every place has an off night but for a Friday night I felt this was more normal than off. Would I come back? Maybe but there are so many more good places to eat in this town that I'd either need to refine my ordering or lower my expectations. When hype exceeds reality you've landed in Osteria.

    (2)
  • JD M.

    Very good food just north of center city Philadelphia. The pizzas are creative and you can taste the wood fired oven in the crust. We've had many different meals here and it's all been very good.

    (4)
  • Giuliano P.

    Came here for my birthday. Few things the waiter seemed like he didn't know anything about wine and didn't know how to explain or show us a wine we might have liked but hey what can you do sometimes people just don't know which is fine. Food- Had the meat plate which was really interesting but not all great selections but trying something new is ok The pizza was amazing (it doesn't need any other explanation) I had the rabbit for what i paid i would have thought at least half of a rabbit ....nope 4 itty bitty pieces of rabbit on top of palenta. The palenta was good first time I've ever had it but the rabbit was lack luster and dry...pretty disappointed. Dessert was okay nothing special. Overall its good but super expensive for nothing that is amazing. Just "good"

    (3)
  • diane g.

    Some of the best pizza, if not the best, I have ever had. Had the prosciotto and arugala and it was divine. Stuffed zuchini flowers and mushroom ravioli were excellent. Great service every time. Only cons are that it gets very loud especially in the back room off to the side where the table width is vast. If you're seated here, be prepared to yell your conversation unless you're here off hours. Also all the wine by the glass prices are ridiculous. Be prepared to pay $30 for two glasses of decent wine which sky rockets your bill.

    (5)
  • Patricia O.

    I hosted ten family members at Osteria for my daughter's college graduation celebration. We could not have had a better experience! Our waiter was attentive and had a great sense of humor (our group needed a lot of help with the Italian menu and we stayed for hours). Everyone from grandparents to kids enjoyed their meal. The food was fresh and flavorful! We will definitely be back. A great place for a family event - lovely casual atmosphere and nice people. There was plenty of parking on Wallace Street. Thank you Osteria!

    (5)
  • Victoria L.

    This is just a review for the pizza here that I had to come and try after hearing all the reviews. Though many people are/were apprehensive to come to N. Broad St, I assure you it's worth it. When walking in, the ambiance is very representative of a Vetri restaurant. The experience continues throughout your meal. Our waiter presented a snazzy little iPad bar menu to us, and my friend and I decided on craft beers to go with our pizza. Per the recommendation of our server, we shared a Lombarda pizza with housemade sausage and a baked egg on top. The reviews were right; it's a very good pizza. The crust is a little soft for my taste, but the toppings more than made up for it. The only thing stopping me from coming back all the time is that it's a little too upscale for me to frequent for good pizza.

    (4)
  • Therese M.

    I had heard nothing but good things about Osteria and finally made it here for dinner on Friday night. Octopus - Amazing. I'm always impressed when octopus is done right. It was tender and nicely charred. This was definitely my favorite dish of the night. Parma Pizza - Perfect for sharing. Fresh arugula and prosciutto were a nice touch to the traditional pizza. I also enjoyed the blend of mozzarella and fontina cheese. Postage Stamp Ravioli - From the buttery sauce to the accompanying mushrooms and thyme, everything about this dish was very simple and very good. Candele w/Wild Boar Bolognese - This was a solid choice on my boyfriend's part. The sauce had lots of flavor and I thought the candele was a good pasta choice for the dish.

    (4)
  • Mimi L.

    This place reminds you of an eatery in California or something of that sort. I called to to reserve a table for my kids and myself. A very late night dinner. A table was available and we were seated. I did ask if this place was good to bring kids and the hostess said "yes." After being seated we were greeted by a waitress. She was new the restuarant but exceptionally personable. We had the Lambardo pizza, liver pasta and i forgot the other dish but everything was great. Deserts were great. Chocolate pudding is a molten lava cake. I was in heaven. Fried dough with an orange glaze and homemade gelatti was another desert dish we ordered. The fried dough we did not fair and the gelatti is great. I did feel uncomfortable with kids there. This place felt more upscale during dinner hours. Prices were high. Food was good. It is a great place to try and bring friends. Kids, I would find a sitter for next time and my kids are 10 and 11. lol

    (4)
  • Arnaud C.

    I'm fairly difficult with pizza. See I love bread. So much that I'm happy to eat good bread plain. I expect pizza crust to be just that, and believe me this almost never happens. Almost. These guys know what crust should taste like. I know only one pizza place with a slightly better crust. Good job. If I lived in philly I would come again. Multiple times.

    (4)
  • Meg B.

    My husband and I had a superb meal here. The plata primi of spaghetti with house made Italian sausage and a light pecorino cream sauce with fresh black pepper was flavorful and melted in our mouths. For the main plate I had the smoked brisket with peaches and radicchio slaw that was very tender and had a wonderful sweet and smokey taste. My husband had spit roasted pork that was tender , moist and gently seasoned with rosemary. It was served with oven roasted potatoes and crunchy, crispy roasted pork skin. The homemade pistachio and lemon verbena gelato was a perfect ending to a fabulous dining experience. Vincent was our waiter and provided great descriptions of the menu items to help us make our choices. The restaurant decor is comfortably wine- country chic, impeccably clean and staff worked flawlessly as a team providing us with first class and kind service. We highly recommend Osteria!

    (5)
  • Lilli C.

    If you want to impress someone with a fantastic meal, you can't go wrong w/ Osteria. Shockingly, on a Monday night at 9PM, they were pretty busy. The only downfall is the price...ouch. Great service, beautiful rustic decor and fancy ipad menus for drinks. Pizza: I always get the lombarda with a baked egg and sausage. I can't bring myself to try any of the others because it's just too good. A pretty sizeable pizza which could be dinner for 1 or 1 of 3 apps for some piggies like myself and my date. Antipasti: The wood grilled octopus is just soo good. Perfectly charred, amazing texture, and a nice hint of lemon. Primi: We couldn't decide between the "postage stamp" ravioli w/ butter, thyme and mushrooms or the chicken liver rigatoni with cipollini onions, so why not get 1/2 portions of both (for 1/2 the price) as our waiter suggested. I was also pretty shocked that the 1/2 portions were quite large. Both these dishes were just excellent. The buttery ravioli just melted in your mouth. Entree: The waiter sold us on the house aged ribeye ($35pp). Or at least, that's what we thought we ordered. Instead we got (and were charged- $50pp) for the farn dry aged ribeye. Ugh, I just couldn't bring myself to complain...the ribeye was just so good. It came with pesto and sauteed mushrooms and was so tender, juicy, and cooked to a perfect medium rare. They also didn't provide us with any steak knives- perhaps they think their meat is too tender to need a steak knife. Still, it's hard to cut meat of any sort with a butter knife. By the end we were way too stuffed for dessert. We also had enough leftovers for another dinner! I will definitely be back again...when I can afford this luxurious meal.

    (5)
  • Harneet B.

    A touch disappointing after reading all the hype about how great this place was. We were out for a family dinner, and the first thing that struck us was the harsh rock n roll music that was playing really loud. It was really difficult to talk, and certainly not appropriate dinner music! The music, along with general loudness of the crowded place was really distracting from the whole experience. The food was pretty good, but not quite the Italian food we hoped for, more like nouveau Italian. Probably won't go back, there are much better choices in Philly!

    (2)
  • Walter K.

    Does Osteria have the best pizza in Philly? I think so. I'm so glad I waited to visit this place until my Mom and sisters were in town. Not only are they a blast to go out with, but this place in certainly best experienced with a group of four to eight. The menu is set up to encourage sharing, and there's so many mouth watering entrees on the menu that it is difficult to settle on just one or two choices. We only had wine, but Osteria boasts an incredible beer list as well. There are several Italian craft beers on tap; you won't find them anywhere else in the city, or even the state. It's not cheap though, most bottles of wine are $45-65 or more. The way the menu is set up is a bit confusing. There are the pizzas, a large list of appetizers, first (pasta) courses, and then entrees. We wanted to try a lot of different things, and ended up with two pizzas, one app, two first courses and two entrees. The pizzas came out first. The margherita is a simple pleasure. The thin crust, sweet sauce, melted mozzarella topped with basil leaf is a delight; it's the definition of thin crust brick oven pizza. While I liked this, the toppings on all of the pizzas are well thought out, and out other choice had fig, prosciutto, and Gorgonzola. This pizza was pretty incredible, and combination of toppings shows that Osteria crafts pizza, they don't simple "make" them. Our appetizer was the "mozzarella is carrozza," which Craig LeBan hailed as the reinvention of fried cheese. But no one at our table was buying that moniker. Yes, it's the restaurants take on mozzarella sticks, but it most closely resembled stuffed french toast. It was the low point of the meal. Pasta dishes came out just as we were finishing the pizzas. One was stuffed with sausage, which was a favorite with the girls, and the other with cauliflower. This second one was excellent, my fav, and is a strong case for anyone who thinks they don't like the vegetable. The first main was rabbit "casalinga" with pancetta, sage, brown butter and soft polenta. Rabbit is delicious, and this was a great dish that was a hit with everyone. We also ordered cod, which was served on a bed of greens and topped with braised pork belly. I'm a big fan of pork belly, and this dish perfectly paired it with seafood. Our entrees, like seemingly everything at Osteria, were put together with care and expertise. But I think I enjoyed getting to this point more than I did eating it. The service is what you would expect of a place in the price range. I like the atmosphere too. We were seated out on the patio extension, which is a glass-room extension with a great view of the adjacent church. I love the touch of one of the walls covered in old wine crates. My only complaint is that we weren't given the reservation we wanted when we called in, although the restaurant didn't ever come close to capacity all night. Bottom Line: This is a top notch dining experience. It's authentic northern Italian food, and the brick oven pizza is simply delicious. While the price can be prohibitive, I'm looking forward to my next visit, even if I'm sitting alone at the bar and dropping around $50 for a pizza and some craft Italian beer.

    (4)
  • Shea S.

    If you want a fine dining experience without it being far too fancy, Osteria is a great place to go. The rustic atmosphere, unique dishes, and spot-on service makes for a very special evening. I decided on the special that evening, which was a slow roasted pork shoulder with crispy pork skin on top. The pork shoulder was seasoned perfectly and was extremely tender. The crispy pork skin on top was a carnivore's cherry on top of a sunday - crispy, salty, and just plain delicious. Definitely a great place for special occasions or just a nice night out.

    (4)
  • Elaine L.

    Italian food and carbs are basically the downfall of my diets. I love them too much to ever give them up and Osteria would only make this statement ever more true. It was about a month ago that I came here with the boyfriend since he came here before and raved about how much he loved Marc Vetri's restaurants! The service was great and I enjoyed every minute of our date. We were seated in the small area of the restaurant that is glass enclosed close to windows which I love anyway. We started the meal with the usual bread basket that came with an assortment of bread and it also came with bread sticks too! I am a sucker for popovers and breadsticks. Hehe. Then came our pizza. We had the cacio e pepe with sheep milk ricotta. I loved it. Honestly, for me, the crust makes the pizza. Living in brooklyn all my life, I am accustomed to that thin crust pizza where you bite into it and you hear that crunch. Oh my..so honestly, any pizza was great! But when we also ordered the baked snails and cardoons in puff pastry. Like I said, carbs are my life. I love snails and escargot and to wrap them in a puff pastry. I may have just died and gone to heaven..hopefully they serve that there. The pastry was so crisp and had so many layers and the snail was just baked to perfection. Then came our pasta dishes. The veal and sweetbread agnolotti and chicken liver rigatoni with cipollni onions and sage and lastly came the special of the day which was a roast suckling pig special. It was basically every part of the pig in small portions and when you put man with a pig together, you have a marriage for life. My boyfriend loved that dish so much. The pastas were delicious - especially the veal and sweetbread agnolotti with pockets of lush and decadent goodness. The rigatoni was good too but the agnolotti was really the star pasta for me. By this point, we were both comfortably stuffed so we decided to share a dessert and ended up getting the coconut pannacotta. It was both beautiful in presentation and a great palate cleanser for the night! Overall, I would most definitely come back here again for the pasta and the beautifully done pizza - without a doubt!

    (4)
  • Nick D.

    Amazing. These guys have it figured out. Such a cool place inside. Really cool decor, very Napa Valley. My wife and I went, we split an antipasta special of grilled veggies which was excellent. It was drizzled with olive oil and topped with a bit of shaved parmigiano. We then split the ravioli dish for our primi. These ravioli are stuffed with cheese and veal and tossed in a butter sauce (not sure what else was in it, but I wanted to lick the plate). Then I had the pork special. Braised pork belly topped with a super crispy piece of pork skin. My goodness was it awesome. I can't see why it isn't an everyday menu item. This place was great, I am definitely planning to return.

    (5)
  • Komal D.

    Amazing service. Awesome pizza, especially because they had a pizza without meat with more than just cheese. Worth a trip. Great Italian food, just over priced for the type of food.

    (4)
  • Michael U.

    Full review in the blog. Helmed by Jeff Michaud, a Beard Award winner who actually began his cooking career as a youngster at a pizzeria, Osteria has gathered quite a following since its opening despite being rather far from the rest of the city's fine dining. With extensive training first at Vetri and then in Michelin Starred restaurants across Italy and especially fond of rich, bold, and rustic foods it was actually as much Jeff's menu as Marc Vetri's that I had enjoyed at Amis - that fact alone had me excited for my visit. Making my way into the rustic stylized interior of Osteria I have to say it is a beautiful space. Highly polished woods, walls made of broken down boxes of wine, a vintage salumi slicer, and simplified table settings with rustic seating all lent to the feel of something vintage yet refined. Weighing the pros and cons of the myriad fantastic sounding pizzas and pastas my water was refilled and I was presented with a bucolic basket made of a hollowed log. Inside the basket would be warm slices of sea salted focaccia and semolina white bread and alongside an oil can of mildly sweet and glossy olive oil. Not wanting to fill up on bread I would invariably fail in the task-while the semolina white was good, the focaccia was superb; moist, oily, and salty with a great crumb. Presented plainly yet elegantly, my first taste would be that of Corn Tortelli with Ricotta Salata. A half portion consisting of six small packets of luscious corn and cream the pasta was more tortellini that tortelli (traditionally round rings) but honestly I did not really care - paired with a simple sauce of clarified butter and shaved pecorino the dish tasted like the creamy equivalent of fresh buttered corn off the grill - a perfect summer dish for the warm weather outside as each pocket burst with dazzling flavor. My second pasta, served simultaneously with the tortelli, would be the Chicken liver rigatoni with Cipolline onions and sage. This time appropriately titled and served in a rustic bowl the handmade rigatoni was ideally prepared with just a bit of spring in it. Utilizing ground chicken liver sweetened by melted Cipollinie onions and heavy hints of sage the sauce adhered beautifully to the pasta while grated parmesan added the slightest bit of bite. At first somewhat grainy in mouth feel the sautéed liver actually melted on the tongue with minimal mastication and the entirety of the dish was decidedly rustic, but at the same time restrained despite using such heavy hitting ingredients. Featuring a Romanesque thin and crispy crust that was lightly charred and slightly aerated despite its thinness I was impressed by the flavor the wood burning oven imbued. Beginning with the left half as it looked the most interesting I was greeted with a rush of heat, flavor, smoke, and brine as I bit into Polpo. Utilizing wood grilled octopus atop the wood grilled crust and pairing it with sweet tomatoes, coarse red chili flakes, and smoked mozzarella the entire dish had the essence of a hearty cioppino but in the form of a Pizza. Not subtle in the least each flavor fought for the palate's attention yet none managed to overwhelm the others - a dazzling pie to say the least and I especially loved the presentation of whole tentacles both visually and orally. The second half of the pizza was one suggested by Shane - he said it was the best pizza in the city. Entitled Pannocchia and featuring blistered corn, grilled scallions, bufala mozzarella and black truffles it would honestly be hard to say whether this or Tacconelli's white was the best Pizza in the city - in reality they're both amongst the top 5 I've had anywhere. Underlied by the faintly woody charred crust, the flavor of the corn and scallions were perfectly paired while creamy pools of mozzarella accented with olive oil and the aroma of black truffles rose to the palate. With dessert I'd enjoy bold flavors of La Colombe - a wonderful brew and aside from the house coffee at Daniel I can't think of a better compliment chocolate desserts. For dessert, the Polenta budino with GianduJa mousse and candied hazelnuts. Different from my previous budino experiences this version was nonetheless an absolute masterpiece. Slightly gritty in texture and topped with the characteristic flavors of sweet chocolate and hazelnut in the form of an airy mousse the delicate pudding was sweet, salty, textural, and ethereal in mouth feel. Adding a spoonful of candied Hazelnuts for added crunch and texture completed the picture and formed what is undoubtedly a member of the top 10 things I've eaten in 2010 - after the meal the maitre d' even gave me the recipe. A stellar meal from start to finish aside from a small miscommunication about the half-pizza I can only say that Osteria is a formidable contender in my mind for best food memories of the year and that the budino will definitely be making an appearance at a future family get together.

    (5)
  • Nataly N.

    I wanted to come to this place because I was intrigued by its menu, which offered items like octopus pizza, fried pig tails, snails, chicken liver, and rabbit... Not too unusual in fine dining, but definitely not things that are commonly found at the grocery store, nor easily made at home. The food descriptions showed very interesting blends of flavors that I just had to try. I started off my meal with a sizzling Lombarda pizza and a Sicilian lemonade. I had intended to try baked egg pizza for some time and I was not disappointed. The slightly charred crust was thin and flavorful, though a bit over-baked around some edges, and the toppings were well-balanced and delicious. However, the Sicilian lemonade tasted like water and considering the price ($9 for a small glass) I should have ordered wine instead. The pasta items here are entirely house-made, and I am a big fan of fresh pasta. I had Robiola Francobolli (stamp-shaped ravioli with royal trumpet mushrooms and thyme in a light, flavorful sauce) and my boyfriend had Fettucine with rabbit and morels. Both dishes were very good. The dessert I had was a disappointment. I'm used to flan that is a uniformly smooth, creamy custard firm enough to stand on its own, served cold with caramel syrup, and I had imagined that the chocolate "flan" would be a chocolate version of this, but instead, for $10, I was given a small hot pastry that was more like chocolate molten cake, except very dry on the outside and dough-y on the inside. However, the scoop of pistachio gelato that came with it and my boyfriend's blueberry sorbet were amazing! The service here was good and the staff was friendly. We had a reservation and were seated immediately. The server had warned us that portion sizes were small, but I thought they were reasonable, as I came out full, but not stuffed after 3 courses. The check was a little steep given the quantity ($120 dinner for two), but it's not too surprising for a fine dining restaurant in a major city. If it hadn't been for the dessert and drink, I'd have given this experience 5 stars.

    (4)
  • Jade V.

    I've been here twice, and will probably come back for a third, fourth, tenth... Great for a special night out and everyone's feeling Italian. Friendly and helpful service, delicious food prepared with care, easygoing yet elegant ambiance. In terms of quality vs. cost, the food is priced reasonably. Just don't order too many cocktails to keep your food bill reasonable (Although the phonebook-sized wine selection is tempting, as I can attest to!). The menu has hot and cold appetizers, pasta dishes, pizza, and various meat entree platters. I don't care too much for pasta, myself, but there's a reason why this place's pizza won Best of Philly, among other recognitions. The thin-crust pizza is crispy and not at all soggy (a problem I've found with other thin-crusts). We had the octopus pizza, and the little octopus legs were so perfectly crispy on the outside, yet chewy--but not to the point of gumminess--on the inside. It'd be gratuitous if I were to describe it in further detail, but the only problem I had: not enough of the octopus per slice! (Of course, any more would probably jack the price up). The first time I went, they had a roasted suckling pig as a special. The second time I went, they had the same thing. You could get cheek, rib, and belly, if I recall correctly. Deliciously indulgent, soft, full of flavor, fun textural exploration; if it's available when you go, I highly recommend it. As our waitress said, no wine could compete with the flavor of the pig. The indoor patio is the preferred seat of choice (though there's no great view other than that of the church next door). You get to enjoy the feeling of being outdoors, yet you're sheltered from the elements at the same time.

    (5)
  • Tammy M.

    Fantastic meal--we loved everything we had and wished we could have come back for the second night of our stay. The wood grilled octopus was amazing as was the beet and goat cheese pasta. Wine list was lovely--found a great Nebbiollo at a good price point. Veal loin and baby pig specials were outstanding. Loved the veggie platter. Pizza was simply amazing. My only criticisms were on the service side. We felt pretty rushed (we had an early pre-concert rezzie at 5:45 so maybe they were trying to ensure we moved along for the dinner rush later?). But we started with a $70 bottle of wine and that usually slows things down a bit with the server, but it didn't, especially at the outset. We had to pace it ourselves. I have a personal pet peeve against restaurants wanting to take my full order all at once. Especially with a menu as interesting and diverse as this one. In fairness, maybe she thought we were in a rush for the concert, but I would suggest you just ask if we are in a hurry for an event like many restaurants do here in Chicago when you dine before 7 or 8. Also, our server was not as friendly as I would have expected from the reviews. She was definitely attentive but not warm or overly helpful on the menu. My daughter was struggling a bit with questions about the spiciness of a pizza ingredient and we came up with the idea to only put it on half to try it. A little more help from the server as to comparisons with other foods would have been useful. Felt like we needed a little more engagement with the table to make it a 5-star night, especially given the money we dropped that night. That said, great meal, in fact one of the best we have had!

    (4)
  • John K.

    Another Vetri establishment - so you can expect the same level of food - which is to say that it is great! Pastas are insane, pizzas were spectacular. Definitely need to return - and checkout Route 6 which is nearby!

    (4)
  • Christina W.

    I came here for my brother-in-law's graduation dinner. I was impressed by some parts of my experience and others not so much. Service was great--the servers were very attentive and well-versed on the menu. We were seated in a room in a back that was relatively private, so that was nice. We ordered the mixed vegetable antipasti special of the day, which consisted of brussels sprouts, beets, roasted peppers, arugula, etc.--this was delicious. We tried the Polpo, the octopus pizza, which was pretty good but not mind-blowing and not better than Barbuzzo or Nomad. Our table also ordered the Piselli and the Parma, and my previously stated evaluation still holds. For my entree, I got the rabbit "casalinga" with pancetta, sage, brown butter and soft polenta, and this was underwhelming. I found the rabbit meat to be too salty, which overpowered any other flavors, and more than half of my meat portion was pretty tough and dry. The waiter said that this was one of their specialties, but I would not recommend it. I preferred the chicken liver rigatoni, which my brother-in-law ordered for us to share. The lamb leg was decent but seemed overpriced. Overall, it's a decent restaurant but I think it is generally overrated.

    (3)
  • Brooke C.

    This is what life is about. Porn. Food porn. Grilled octopus salad with preserved lemon. Pizzas with warm, rich and creamy egg yolk gently broken over your pizza, oozing thru the center...gently resting until your fork and knife meets its center. Or the best Pizza Margarita in the World. (sorry, no understatements here) Philly, you don't know how good you really got it.

    (5)
  • Vee V.

    One word, sounds like...BLAH. Went here a few weeks ago thinking it would be a good spot but the three things we ordered were just meh (or blah) if you like. The pizza was ordinary, the salad was gross, and the pasta was overly salty and limp. I think the salad was perhaps the most egregious - they had given us a plate for of dandelion leaves (which are very bitter) but did not mix them with other greens. There were two or three pieces of thinly sliced radish and a sprinkle of another vegetable that escapes me. Finally, the pea dressing. It made the dish look toxic - I'm talking teenage mutant ninja turtles toxic. But, we said, this is a Marc Vetri restaurant -I'm sure they know what they're doing. Spoiler alert - they didn't. It was like eating a handful of crab grass on your local playground. Also - the waitress creepily hovered over us throughout the meal. It was not service, it was very uncomfortable. She didn't have the rhythm that more savvy servers do, instead she kept popping in and lingering. Also - ambiance was weird. It's built to be warm and lively but the music was off, it was really empty for a Friday night at 8, generally there was no life in the place. Others might not agree but after having been to so many similar restaurants that execute this much better, Barbuzzo, to name a local one, it's hard to stomach the food and the cost. Seriously - it's really expensive and then it's like being at a bad chain restaurant. (Also if you're in Brooklyn, walk, no run, to Franny's - this place does it right. The pizza is knee buckling good).

    (2)
  • Christopher D.

    Returning to Osteria is always a pleasure for me. I go for the food, the flavors and a taste of the seasons. I am rarely disappointed and this time was no different. I began with a wonderful cocktail which was gin mixed with a rhubarb syrup, and a mint leave. Refreshing and not too sweet. I followed that with a vegetable ante pasta which had about ten different vegetables from brussel sprouts with pancetta, carrots and corriander, spring onions cooked in pork fat, two types of salt roasted beets, roasted peppers, green tomato and a beautiful mound of spicy arugala with cheese in the center. I followed that with a scallop carpaccio with rhubarb, and then a fresh pasta with chanterelle. Dessert was an homage to a trifle, layers of strawberry whipped cream, banana cake topped with fresh strawberries. It is not the most elegant meal, but the flavors were fresh, and celebrated the seasons. Bravo.

    (4)
  • Jay A.

    Had a very nice business dinner at Osteria on Tuesday Evening, 4/23 (4 people). The service was great and the food was quite good. It would clearly be 4 star food and 5 star service. Had a wonderful escargot appetizer followed by a pasta (rigatoni w/chicken livers). I truly enjoyed the rigatoni. Osteria is a busy place (or at least it was on the night I ate there). The food is great. Not five star but definitely 4 star. The rigatoni was pretty amazing. I had some chocolate desert that was mediocre. It was crunchy peanut butter coated with thick chocolate and glazed. Not sure a desert like this belongs at a world-class dining establishment. All in all a great meal. This was my second trip to Osteria and I will return obviously.

    (4)
  • Elizabeth D.

    I had a wonderful experience dining here with my family. The staff was extremely accommodating when I called 2 days before to expand the reservation by one. They also were very kind to seat us in a smaller side room so that my dad could hear! Our server was extremely helpful - she answered our numerous questions easily and was very happy to make recommendations (which were excellent). I highly recommend the salumi plate and the robiolo. The portions are perfectly sized and so wonderfully prepared. I also tried a slice of the bacon & scallop pizza - amazing! That sauce should be on every pizza! My father also loved the chicken liver rigatoni & my husband had a special roasted pig. The wine and beer list is lovely - their sommelier is extremely friendly and helpful in discussing everything they have available. They also delivered 3 gelatos with candles for the birthdays we were celebrating and even sang! This is a wonderful place for a special occasion with a group. The food is outstanding and the service is wonderful. Note: as of this weekend they did not yet have their new iPad wine system. Despite what their website says, they DO offer valet parking for $12. But we easily found street parking on Broad (free after 6pm on weekends) just a block up. It's a little dim inside - ask for extra candles if you need them to read the menu.

    (5)
  • Tommy K.

    Beautiful restaurant with an portion of it under glass. Great for sunset. Their pizzas are delicious, thin crusts that aren't burnt and yet chewy. We had the margarita (try it), the one with only sauce and another one with prosciutto. Each fantastic! Their cocktails are powerful and refreshing. I forget the entrees we had, but I remember the vegetables were roasted with lots of herbs which smelled great -- brussel sprouts. Definitely worth a try if you are visiting or a local.

    (4)
  • Leah H.

    Osteria is my favorite place for special occasions. The food and overall dining experience is exceptional. The staff is extremely knowledgeable about everything from the wine to apps, entrees and desserts!

    (5)
  • Matt H.

    $132 for 2 people (including tax and 20% tip) 1. wood grilled octopus w/ arugula - just okay 2. chicken live rigatoni - really really good (homemade rigatoni) i recomend 3. rabbit w/ polenta - just okay (good portion) 4. sunchoke ravioli w/ black truffles - sm. portion, but AMAZING i recommend 5. blackberry budino - darn good (high quality chocolate used) i recommend 6. 1 beer 1 glass of wine smart, rustic interior, professional and knowledgeable staff & management. TIP: ask your server if half portions are available for a dish if you really wanna try it. we got the chicken live rigatoni ($10) as a half portion even though it's not listed on the menu.

    (4)
  • Juan J.

    Pricy entrees...Nice ambiance...OK food... Four of us came on a Sunday night, and were promptly seated in a corner table. For appetizer, we ordered the Snails (too bland) and Octpus (too salty). I tasted a friend's Rabbit entry, and it was nothing great. My seabass was a decent chunk of fish, but again, it was too bland. The desert menu was hard to understand, so our waitress patiently answered all questions. The chocalate flan was fantastic, however it was more of a lava cake (I can almost bet my money for the fact that the restaurant bought it from Trader Joe's). I guess the downfall of us is that: 1) picky new yorkers 2) should've ordered the pizza

    (3)
  • Jay D.

    Arrived a little early for a 8:00 Saturday night reservation with my husband. We had great time at the bar, sampling different wines and cocktails, enjoying fun conversation with the bartenders. Sat on time for our reservation. We ordered a pizza with grilled octopus that I would not be upset if it was the only thing I had to eat for the rest of my life. Followed with stuffed zucchini blossoms and the olive oil poached "porcelet" suckling pig with tarragon ricotta and spring vegetables, both delicious, but the zucchini blossoms were my favorite. We then ordered two pastas, figuring if we were still hungry after the pasta, we could order either entrees or more apps and pizza. The pasta took a little longer to come out, and one of the many "managers" came over and explained that the chef did not like the way they came out and was making new ones. Our pasta arrived a few minutes late with an additional pasta, their unnecessary apology for waiting, which was very nice. My favorite was the spaghetti with rabbit bolognese, it was amazing! We also had the pasta special, some sort of disk pasta with mushrooms and blueberries that was good, but a very small serving. Their gift to us for waiting was the beet and goat cheese plin with tarragon, which was very light and sweet but not very filling. We ended the meal with gelato (blueberry swirl, pistachio, salted butter). The star was the salted butter, and while the other ones were very good, I could have eaten a gallon of that one alone! Looking forward to a night back in Philly to visit again!

    (5)
  • Pete D.

    I wanted to love this place. The staff was excellent, the ambience of the place was fantastic. Those aspects of dinner last night were 5/5. The 3/5 rating is for the food. Maybe it was an off night, maybe there was a new guy in the back, but every single one of our dishes had way too much salt. I get it, salt is a flavor enhancer, but it not meant to be the primary flavor of a dish. The broccoli which came with the Cod was inedible it had so much salt in it. The cod was cooked perfectly minus the overbearing flavor of salt. Similarly with the octopus. Perfectly cooked, crisp on the outside and perfect texture on the inside, but again way too much salt. Really we expected more from a Vetri restaurant, but Osteria simply did not deliver on the food front. Recommendation: If you want a Vetri place without the cost of Vetri's signature restaurant, go to Amis, we've had many a fantastic meal there.

    (3)
  • Stephanie M.

    I am 8 and it was great!!!!! I liked the bread sticks, the homemade pasta and the nutella chocolate pizza. Everybody was nice.

    (5)
  • Howard I.

    Visiting from NYC, you can guess I've definitely got strong opinions about pizza, and, according to the 'Best of Philly', this was the place to go. It did not disappoint. The Parma pizza was incredible, but on top of that, the service may have been the best I've ever experienced. Whoever manages this place should get a prize. Kudos to the whole staff for an incredible evening.

    (5)
  • Regina F.

    There's only one thing that could make me regret eating at Osteria this past Friday...and that, my friends, is the fact that I'd eaten too damn much over the previous 48 hours and my stomach just wouldn't/couldn't accommodate all of the dishes I would have loved to devour. Upon entering Osteria, your nose and eyes are dually assaulted by the wonderfully wafting scent and dark - yet vibrant - exultation of wood grilled/paneled decadence. Osteria lives up to its names sake as a classy pub frequented on blustery cold days. The fig and onion caramelle with gorgonzola dolce fonduta featured pasta so thin that it reminded me - and forgive me for this analogy - of the translucent skin of...well...just about everybody over the age of 65. The slight crunch of the fig innards blended smoothly with caramelized onions to form slightly sweet bon-bons in pasta form. The spritz of olive oil added an earthy feel making this dish seem more hearty than it actually was. The pumpkin and amaretti torta offered a gorgeous breeding of tiramisu and pumpkin cake. The sponge-y "torta" piece was moist and light, complimented by the fluffy, creamy amaretti layer on top. The cinnamon stracciatella gelato had bits of crunchy chocolate and cinnamon bits interspersed throughout adding yet another punch of texture to an already amazing dessert.

    (5)
  • Vivian H.

    AMAZING Italian food, a little out of the way, but quite affordable. I've had a couple of their pizzas, the rabbit, some pastas, and a couple appetizers. The rabbit was a little saltier than I like but it was also my first time having rabbit. Everything else was awesome, and I can't wait to try Vetri and Amis. I went with a couple guys from the Culinary Institute of America once and THEY loved it too, so you really know it's quality food.

    (4)
  • Michelle C.

    My feelings for Osteria remain firmly in four star territory. I absolutely love the food but the prices for some of it make me shudder. Fortunately, my last visit was for my birthday so I was not responsible for the check. We made it a night of the things I love best: carbs, cheese and wine. First up, two different pastas, plus one brought out on the house (grazie!). To be honest, it was a couple months ago so I can't remember the exact details, but suffice to say that any pasta you order in any Vetri restaurant will be superb. The bottle of red that was recommended by our server also went perfectly with our meal. Next up, the parma pizza with two types of cheeses, arugula and prosciutto. Need I say more? We also splurged and ordered the lombarda, with two cheeses, sausage and a baked egg in the center. Delicious. For dessert we shared two different confections and once again the exact details escape me. But honestly, this is probably the one area that I could leave out of a future dinner in favor of an after-dinner drink or a nice cappuccino instead (both of which we had anyway - birthday girl, remember?). Osteria is a beautiful restaurant that may be par for the course for some but special occasion for others. Since I reside firmly in the latter category, I eagerly await my next visit.

    (4)
  • Cal W.

    Second visit. Not your typical pasta, red sauce, meatballs. Very interesting menu. Can't wait to go back.

    (5)
  • Sarang K.

    I had high hopes for this place, and while I can't say that every high hope was fulfilled, I have no regrets over the expensive dinner. I was most excited about the grilled octopus as someone raved about it on here, but it was totally over salted. But the overall flavor of the dish was decent. The margherita pizza was really good, especially the slices with mozzarella cheese oozing on top of it. OMG it was delicious! We also ordered a pasta dish - although I cannot remember for the life of me what it was. The last dish we had the Ribeye and it was wonderfully cooked and our party of three were barely able to finish it, although that's not surprising since we ordered four dishes. I highly recommend Osteria to everyone for a special occasion. I loved the ambiance and did not feel too neglected even though I was in the deepest corner of the restaurant. Well, when I brought it to their attention that my water had not been refilled for almost 30 minutes, they became very attentive to my water level.

    (4)
  • Adam S.

    I enjoyed my meal here very much. A friend and I came for lunch on a whim. I was pleasantly surprised. The pizzas are very good. I also got this buffalo mozzarella, prosciutto with arugula sandwich dish. Very tasty! I Would definitely come back!

    (4)
  • Payal D.

    Everything that we had here was fantastic! My favorite by far was the postage stamp ravioli with the beet and goat cheese pasta coming in as a close runner up. The postage stamp pasta is so light and fresh that it just melts in your mouth and the beet and goat cheese pasta is very unique that you have to try it. The corn pizza was interesting but i'm not sure i would get it again...it's a little on the sweet side and I typically like more savory pizzas. The vegetable platter comes with a pretty good spread of veggies and adds some diversity to the table. Finally the chocolate mousse torta and salted butter ice cream is to die for!! Overall the atmosphere and crowd are great for any occasion. The dishes are a bit pricey but well worth it...you will not be disappointed!

    (5)
  • Luiza C.

    Amazing food, ambient, great service!!!! The parma pizza was amazing!!! The best pizza I have eaten in a very long time!!! We order three pastas dishes and all 3 were amazing!!! Next time I go to Philly I'm going back for sure!!! Our server was great as well, and even told us we should ask for half portion, since we order a bit too much of food for two.

    (5)
  • Christian F.

    May have been the best Ribeye I have ever had last time there. The pasta is the best pasta in Philadelphia. Pizza is out of this world. My go to place on Wednesday nights. We love going, sitting at the bar, and sharing a couple dishes. I have been there so many times and can't think of a single bad experience. Ok. Watch the white napkins on your black pants/dress.

    (5)
  • Eileen T.

    We have eaten here a few times, and each time the food was simply amazing - well-balanced, prepared perfectly, and very tasty. The focaccia is crusty and dense and flavorful. Our table of four were fighting over the last piece. Pizzas are exquisitely sumptuous, as are the pasta dishes. The staff has always been friendly and helpful. We don't get here as much as we would like because it is all the way across town and there are so many great restaurants closer to us, but we manage to go back periodically because it is so good.

    (5)
  • Lindsay H.

    I've been to Osteria a few times now and every time is just as fantastic as the last. I took my boyfriend there for his birthday this past weekend and it was perfection as usual. After dinner on saturday night, we both concluded that the chicken liver rigatoni is hands down one of our favorite dishes in Philly. It's the perfect comfort dish especially on a snowy night. I literally can not wait for the next time I can consume this dish... Other highlights included: Veal tongue- crispy on the outside and like butter to cut through...delicious. Parma pizza- Best proscuitto I've ever had! Rabitt- Rich and served over a delicious, creamy polenta. My only problem is that I think i've concluded that I'm not a huge rabbitt fan. It's a little too lean for me. By the end of my meal, I was happy, full and totally excited for Alla Spina because Marc Vetri knows what he's doing!

    (5)
  • Jonny R.

    If I can't write a solid complaint about a place, I won't take away a star. Here's to being more reasonable.

    (5)
  • Steve M.

    Chicken Liver Rigatoni. That could be my whole review, honestly. We discussed it over dinner, and decided that this is our favorite dish in the city. So rich and cozy... just the most comforting bowl of pasta I think I've ever had, every time I eat it. This whole night was a wonderful birthday surprise (as it was last year, a tradition I could get used to!), and we made some excellent menu decisions. We sat in the greenhouse area beside the church, it snowed all through dinner and the atmosphere was perfect. - Chicken Liver Rigatoni: Eat this now. Huge fan. - Parma Pizza: mozzarella, fontina and pamesean with arugula and prosciutto (house-made, as I understand) piled high on top. The prosciutto was not baked into the pizza but was piled on afterwards, leaving it salty and soft and incredibly delicious, set off wonderfully by the peppery arugula. Absolutely delicious (even cold for breakfast the next morning!) - Rabbit with brown butter, pancetta and sage polenta: My first experience with rabbit outside of the (incredible) agnolotti at Modo Mio, and while the rabbit meat on its own didn't have me doing somersaults, the polenta sure did, and it made the rabbit come alive. Just be careful about bones! - Pan-Fried Veal Tongue: This was another delicious course. The texture of the tongue was perfect, with just a slight crisp on the outside, plus there were two very large slices, a surprising amount for an appetizer, which made it a perfect dish to split. Osteria continues to live up to the Mark Vetri standard I've come to expect from all of his restaurants.

    (5)
  • Tim N.

    A great place to spend too much on dinner and drinks! We were seated at 9 for and 8pm reservation, standing at a very busy bar for an hour, but the chef did a great job in rectifying the situation with several small plates on the house. All forgiven. The rabbit and wild boar Bolognese were amazing, balanced and complex. My personal standouts were the royal trumpet mushroom ravioli and the colcchino and baked egg dishes. The pizzas were good, but other than the polpo (wood fired octopus) and carpaccio numbers which were inspired, I would pass. A memorable meal, and I'd suggest going on someone else's expense account.

    (4)
  • Jill C.

    For my 100th review I had to make sure it was for someplace stellar. . . So I present to you. . . my review for Osteria! (Drum roll please . . or eye roll, you pick) I really wanted to give it 4.5 stars, but Vetri has done some great things for Philadelphia so I'm happy to round up. I was the happy recipient of a gift certificate to Osteria. . . so I brought along my sister and my BIL as my dining partners. The menu is amazing, although light on vegetarian options in the pasta category. OF course there are antipasti, pizzas, pastas and entrees. Prices range from totally reasonable to OMG. But I understand that you get what you pay for and I am pretty sure Mr. Vetri sources the best of the best. We totally pigged out...and loved the following... First up: The wood grilled octopus, mortadella pizza and one of the specials, grilled/cured veggies and olives. All wonderful. The pizza was bigger then expected (thin chewy crust, perfect amount of toppings) and the veggie plate was huge too. Second: Rye bucatini, cabbage cannelloni and the robiola francobolli - as Vetri is known for the pasta was so light and flavorful - we all loved them. Dessert: This we split, because we really had barely enough room but knew it was not to be missed. We got, and totally enjoyed the meyer lemon semifreddo topped with almond milk granite and a brioche. Oh and with espresso - the perfect ending to a superb meal. . The restaurant itself is dark with lots of wood, but not overly romantic. We were sat in the atrium (for lack of a better word, greenhouse maybe?) I has happily surprised to see some families with (well behaved) young children. I would love to bring my little one here in a year or two. The entire staff was very nice. If you go check out the espresso machine - it is a work of art! On a final note - there is valet parking but you can easily find street parking within a block or two. . . As with most nicer restaurant in Philly. . be prepared to pay a premium for your wine beer!

    (5)
  • Emily W.

    We went here for my birthday and as predicted, we had an amazing meal. I can't believe that I had forgotten how wonderful this place is. Here are the highlights. The roasted Brussels sprouts on the antipasti platter are out-of-this-world. Candele bolognese = favorite pasta dish in Philly. Easily. We also got the Lombardo pizza with salty cheese, homemade sausage chunks, and an oozy egg. It was delicious, even down to the crispy crust. I got a three scooper of their homemade gelato (1 scoop each of torrone, pistachio, and cinnamon stracciatella). Wow. Despite my full belly, I didn't want the bowl to end. It was so creamy, so smooth, so....perfect.

    (5)
  • Dan H.

    Good food, great atmosphere. I was not blown away, but was still very good. Many other better Italian places in the city (such that if you just want a big bowl of good pasta go somewhere else). The service was good, atmosphere was great, all the makings of something special but when the food came it just didn't blow me away. If you want their pizza which is very good go to Pizzeria Vetri. For the money and for the chef I expected more. Heck go around the corner to Alla Spina.

    (3)
  • Sugar S.

    The chicken liver rigatoni was AMAZING - possibly the BEST pasta I've ever eaten! Granted that you need to head to the gym after having this - it is totally worth it. Had the octopus pizza too - it was GOOD. Love this place - it's a little on the noisy side, but food is definitely good!

    (5)
  • Jayna B.

    Delicious and terrific. Truly a neighborhood gem because up until recently, there wasn't much else there except the Subway and this place STILL stands out against Route 6 and Alla Spina. I was here before about a year ago with out of town friends who ordered lots of food I couldn't eat and I still dreamed of going back. This time, I went with a friend who didn't care about meat and my dreams came true. We ordered the antipasti plate to order. Unfortunately, our server had it made for 1 person instead of two but he seemed a little off and I won't hold that totally against the restaurant. Before I even continue about the food, I want to comment on how amazingly accommodating the chefs were to my dietary needs. I wanted everything without nuts and without meat and they acted like this was their pleasure! Amazing! The Antipasti Plate to order was well presented and gave us a taste of every vegetarian antipasti. Perfectly seasoned, pickled and prepared. The Porcini Salad was enough for one person, but not really to share. The pears and mushrooms went well together, and not something I would have thought would have tasted good so that was a surprise. We also had the Zucca pizza. Best zucchini pizza I have ever had. Hands down. Delicious. The cheese was sweet and the squash was sweet and the rest of the pizza was savory so it melded perfectly together. The fried cauliflower antipasti was ordered as an afterthought because we were still hungry. It was green and black which was weird but tasted really super fantastic. It was served in an anchovy sauce and they alerted me to this since I had dietary needs, which was super nice of them to remember and act on it. Gripes: Small plates, waiter who was basically afraid of me and my friend and did not have an antipasti plate to SHARE made for two, and not nearly enough chocolate on the dessert menu.

    (5)
  • Kathy L.

    My friend invited me here with high remarks of the food in their NJ location. Well, I thought it just so so. Ambiance was great. I had wood grilled octopus, veggie platter, chicken liver pasta, chocolate flan. Octopus was tender. My favorite thing in veggie platter was celery root. I guess I don't like white sauce pasta. Chocolate flan was actually molten cake. All the food was great but somehow I just didn't leave feeling wowed and dying to return. Next time I'll try the lobster pasta and maybe my experience will be different.

    (3)
  • Ron G.

    With 300+ reviews, I feel like foolish posting a review, but, i'm off of work and have nothing else going on. I really love osteria. I have been here a few times and have liked it more each time. My first time was in the private kitchen table that was definitely an experience. The tasting menu was amazing, It was over a year ago so I can't remember what I specifically ate unfortunately. My most recent trip there was fantastic. Started off with several pizzas for the table. Loved the sausage with runny egg on my pizza, it was amazing. Moved on to sharing several meals. The pasta with wild boar ragu was great. The consistency of their pasta is something to experience. Also had one of their specials which was a generous serving of pig roasted on a spit. Everyone at my table loved it, but I thought it was a bit fatty. That was really my mistake as one should expect it to be quite fatty. On previous occasions we've had much of their menu, and I liked pretty much everything. Their beer selection is okay, but i'm a hop beer fanatic and they dont have too much in the ways of hoppy beers, but they have a nice selection of italian micros. Their service is great as well, and the restaurant doesn't feel pretentious at all given the praise it gets. Highly recommended.

    (5)
  • Nicole T.

    As Fairmount residents, Osteria is one of our go to spots. We love Italian food and the simple yet developed flavors in all of the dishes at at Osieria keep us coming back for more. It speaks volumes of a restaurant that has been around for several years, to need a reservation to get a table on a Tuesday night in Philadelphia. The menu is seasonal but some favorites seem to have made it through the last few menu changes. Our favorite pizza selection is the Lombarda and the Robiola pasta can't be beat. Would highly recommend this restaurant for any occasion! Though it is a pricier Italian option in Philadelphia, the flavor combinations paired with the industrial yet rustic setting of the restaurant is unlike any other in the area.

    (4)
  • Lilly C.

    One of the best restaurants in Philly. We went there to celebrate our 10 yr anniversary and this place was so worth it. We had the pizza, postage stamps pasta & the ribeye. All excellent. I recommend this place to everyone who loves & knows food. From one restaurant owner to another you know your stuff from food to operation. Great Job!!!!!

    (5)
  • Chuck F.

    A party of seven for dinner. We have been to Osteria a number of times and I have loved their entrees and wine list. A solid four stars but, no longer in my opinion. The deserts are horrible. The tiramisu was tasteless or, more to the point, like old cardboard.

    (3)
  • Danan R.

    What better way to celebrate America's Independence day than with Italian cuisine? Ok, so that was kinda confusing BUT we did have a delicious meal, regardless. We decided to split the polpo pizza with tender octopus, tomato, and flavorful, smoked mozzarella (no red chili flakes for moi), the lombarda pizza with a baked egg, bitto cheese, smokey mozzarella, and sausage (perfect blend of flavors with a baked egg in the center and a crispy, thin crust - a fantastic gourmet pizza, although I personally would have preferred a raw egg yolk), the chicken liver rigatoni ( very rich and savory but not overly so - the tender pasta was a great vehicle for the liver and helped to sedate its characteristic strong flavor a bit), the roasted rabbit casalinga (this was so tender and the polenta and pancetta were both imbued with the flavorful, savory jus), and the house-aged rib eye with accompanying watercress salad (it did take an extra 35 min but the steak was cooked perfectly and so incredibly juicy and flavorful - it was meat perfection). Dessert consisted of the polenta budino (served with a velvety mousse and hazelnuts) and the chocolate flan with the pistachio gelato. Both were amazing and we managed to finish everything despite being stuffed from the entrees because they were just so damn good. Service was fantastic and the staff were incredibly knowledgeable and patient when helping us make our selections. Definitely worth a visit, both for a treat or a special occassion.

    (5)
  • Leslie G.

    I came here recently for my birthday with my boyfriend and my parents when we were in town visiting. I picked this place based on a recommendation from someone and I was not disappointed! We started with an appetizer special--a vegetable antipasti platter that came with potatoes, beans, beets, arugula, peppers, corn, brussels sprouts, and a few other things. All of them were delicious. The platter varies in size depending on how many people are sharing it, so ours was made to serve four people. Based on the appetizer, we had high hopes for the entrees. Three of us had the herb-crusted halibut with beets and chard and my mom had lamb. We all thought the halibut was superb--cooked to perfection, and the vegetables complemented it very well. My mom also reported that the lamb was great. For dessert, I had the baked ricotta crostada with rhubarb marmalade and rhubarb sorbetto. It was very good, but I think I would give a slight edge to the blueberry custard, which my boyfriend ordered. This restaurant is not cheap, but I felt the food exceeded our expectations and made the price point worthwhile. Plus, the service was excellent. If I'm ever in Philly again, I would definitely return here!

    (5)
  • Anthony Y.

    great meal. awesome pizza and pastas. another great addition to the vetri family.

    (5)
  • Diana K.

    Went to Osteria with a friend on Friday night and the place was packed! The restaurant's decor was gorgeous, and we were seated in the glass sunroom with a view of the church outside. We had two delicious cocktails and then ordered the famous Lombarda pizza for sharing. It was really decadent and the baked egg was luscious and made for some good dipping. We moved on to the pear ravioli, which was a small portion, but super rich. Next was the rabbit with polenta, which was just falling off the bone. Very good overall. Of course we had two desserts (three if you count the birthday ice cream that they brought out for me). The chocolate cake and the pear strudel were both delicious and came with almond/pistachio ice cream. I loved Osteria and I would eat there again in a heartbeat. I hope that this restaurant helps to give the North Broad area some love and growth opportunities!

    (4)
  • Mike L.

    I was excited to go to Osteria after my brother, a die-hard foodie and chef, recommended we all go. The service was great. The interior of the restaurant was fine. The one thing that was really lacking was the food. With so many good reviews, I am going to assume we came on an off day.

    (2)
  • Abbie D.

    Osteria has by far my FAVORITE pizza in Philadelphia!! LOMBARDA YUM YUM YUM!! Each time we have dinned here we have had stellar service and amazing food! Wild boar bolognese and chicken liver rigatoni are also two of our favorites! For my birthday two years ago my husband got us the "family" table in the back prep room. There were 10 of us around this rustic wooden table. We had the best night ever!!! The Vetri family never ceases to amaze us! Big fans of Osteria!

    (5)
  • Steve T.

    The word "tight" has many connotations. For our purposes here, "tight" is that endeavor in which all the moving parts work in perfect unison...sheer magic. There are no grinding metal parts, stripped gears, blown coverages, dropped passes, hit batters, bad calls, typhoons, Ebola, or any of a myriad of issues that ruin a great experience. Well, Osteria, Mark Vetri's stunning and hip restaurant on North Broad, is "tight." Osteria is much larger than Vetri, with a veritable army of servers and chefs. You know you are in for something special when, upon entering, there is an enormous hand crank prosciutto carving machine as the Pledge for the culinary magic show you are about to experience. Upon opening the menu, you are confronted with the Turn. We ordered one of the delicious pizza's as an appetizer...the polpo, served thin crust with grilled octopus, chili flakes, and smoked mozzarella. The vegetable anti pasta offered us a wonderful blend of grilled and sauteed veggies, and for the first time in my life I enjoyed brussel sprouts. The Prestige is introduced with the almost indescribably good pasta. As I couldn't decide between several offerings, including spaghetti with olive oil poached calamari, corzetti with clams, or black pepper ravioli with peaches, I got them all and was captivated, convinced it must be part of the illusion. Another member of our party ordered the roast piglet...if you like pork, get this, as it is superb. I enjoyed a wonderful medium body Italian red along with dinner, ordered from the exhaustive wine list featuring Italian wines. Dessert was a very good chocolate flan with home made pistachio ice cream. Our party of four ended up with a $400 tab, which was pricey but worth it. Like David Copperfield at the top of his game, Osteria takes you on an almost unbelievable magical mystery tour. What a sight to behold...all the parts of the show moving like Cirque du Soleil...yeah, its that tight. Make reservations well in advance, and don't be "tight" with the tip.

    (5)
  • David R.

    As we've dined here many times, and each and every time, it's been a special experience, I figured it was time to write about Osteria! We've also settled on a formula for enjoying the restaurant that was given to us on our first visit. First, if you can spring for it, just valet your car. It's still somewhat of an up and coming neighborhood (and Marc Vetri has invested heavily in this north Broad renaissance - kudos!) and, though you can find street parking, it's just easier to have them take care of things. Upon entering the restaurant, you will be overcome with an almost primordial scent experience - woodsmoke, garlic, and all sorts of tasty olfactory bliss wafting from the open kitchen. The restaurant is as beautiful to behold as it is to smell - kind of industrial, but pleasantly warm, with ambient lighting, and a bevy of excellent design elements. It's large, but not overwhelmingly so, and there's been a pleasant energy and bustle every time we've visited. The staff has been unfailingly kind, warm, and hospitable on our visits. Ah, the food. We always start with the off-the-menu (though I don't know why) antipasto vegetables, a selection of ten vegetable preparations, including salt roasted beets (of two colors), brussels sprouts roasted with pancetta, and all sorts of other delicacies, which form a circle around a lovely arugula salad. We also usually up the ante with some of their amazing house-cured salumi. I have a collection of before and after pictures for this course - it arrives beautifully on a large board, and reliably disappears in a flurry of gustatory activity. One word: yum. Also, the bread. Super yum. The pizzas are similarly satisfying - we've had many, including the signature Polpo, Lombardo, Parma, etc. The crusts are fantastic, and the ingredients are beautifully integrated. I've seen some of the usual contrarians strike a pose of diffidence about Osteria's pastas here on Yelp. "If you want 'real pasta' you have to go to "x" trattoria in a village that's not on the map, and it opens with the reliability of Brigadoon." As a counterpoint, I merely suggest that such tiresome opinionation is self-disqualifying. The pastas at Osteria are dizzyingly satisfying - rendered with great care and creativity, and have always caused a lengthy silence, followed by impassioned swoon. Poseurs, get thee hence to Trattoria X; more beet and goat cheese plin for the rest of us. After the antipasto, pizzas, and pastas, we're usually ready to move on to dessert, though we've had several of the Secondi - which are beautifully rendered, and quite delish. We typically like to graze more than hunker down on the more traditional progression, and we ask that everything is served family style. Desserts are always fantastic - the gelati give Capogiro a run for their money, the sorbets are always interesting and expertly done, and, though we usually ask them to make us a Nutella pizza (yes, this is what happens when a genius chef gets a late night craving), I've had several of the other items, and, in particular, I highly recommend the budino, which marries creamy and sweet polenta with an addictive gianduia mousse. Good God. The wine service is wonderful. The list is full of good values, and decadent splurges, and the staff are expert guides, cheerfully leading guests to wonderful bottles, no matter the budget. When I treated some under-21 friends to a meal there once, they concocted some really tasty non-alcoholic treats for them, which brings us to the wonderful professionalism and warmth of the service, which has always struck the balance between enthusiasm and discretion. That is, they reliably engage in discussion of the food when it appears we're into that, but if conversation among guests is rolling along, the servers accurately read the temperature, and remain unobtrusive. There is much humor, infectious passion about the food and wine, and unimpeachable professionalism. On one visit, before arriving, I came down with some serious stomach discomfort, but didn't want the rest of our party to miss out on a fantastic meal (we travel an hour and change to dine at Osteria). The waiter kept me well-stocked with ginger ale doctored with bitters, and I survived, no doubt, thanks to his vigilance (though watching my family devour a meal I couldn't enjoy was a little bittersweet). On other occasions, the waitstaff has taken note of some esoteric preferences, only to reward us with special treats later on in the meal. In a way, despite the size, I've felt as welcome at Osteria as I might be at a neighborhood joint, run by a family friend. The meals have been revelatory - I've learned much about the Italian table at Osteria, and we always leave grateful for a beautifully orchestrated, deliciously rendered, and gracefully offered meal. I have to think that's their ambition, and it's one they've achieved with our every visit. Grazie e bravo tutti!

    (5)
  • Felix W.

    While the food was decent (I recommend the suckling pig), the service was absolutely terrible. When I asked the waitress for her dessert recommendation, she recommended that I read the menu. Additionally the hostess was extremely rude. Maybe she was having a bad day or maybe she just has a bad attitude in general, but either way, not appropriate for customer facing staff. Perhaps they were trained by the same person? Go here if you want bad service.

    (1)
  • Helen A.

    The best Italian restaurant in Philly, hands down - glasses up! Ciao to Americanized Italian food, hello to wonderful traditional fare in a beautiful atmosphere, with top knotch service . Try the pizza, the wood fired octopus is also a rare delicacy. Drinks are delicious. Neighborhood is "up and coming" so park close by, so you will return to find your car. Once again, Osteria is exceptionally highly recommended. Make reservations far in advance.

    (5)
  • David P.

    This is one of our favorite places in Philadelphia. The Vegetable plate to start is a must! All the pastas have always been fantastic, and when we are feeling more casual, the pizzas are a solid option. The "special" roast pork shoulder is also a solid option. They also have a great wine list. Love this place, whether I'm taking out friends and family, or taking the wife out for a romantic date night, this place is the first option.

    (5)
  • Maria S.

    After driving from Westport, CT to Haddonfield, NJ and getting stuck in traffic, I wasn't sure I was up for a trip into the city for a fine dining experience. How glad I am that I rallied and joined my friends on a Monday night at Osteria. We were lucky enough to be accompanied by a new friend, Rick, who had dined at Osteria before, and he expertly steered us through the menu. We started with four plates of appetizers: the parma pizza, the summer vegetable crudo, the wood grilled octopus, and a local vegetable antipasto, which was one of the house specials of the evening. I've had wood grilled octopus before, and Osteria's was very good, if not the best I've tasted. However, the parma pizza - with mozzarella, fontina, arugula, and prosciutto di parma - was out-of-this-world amazing! Definitely order this up for a starter on your next visit. I enjoyed the chanterelle and bone marrow ravioli with bitto cheese as my entree, and it was the perfect size after all the appetizer courses. The pasta was exquisite - obviously made in house and simply ethereal - it just melted in my mouth. I will remember this dish forever. The restaurant also brought us a treat on the house - a beet ravioli dish that was a close second to my pasta dish. Nice touch! Everyone else enjoyed their courses - ranging from cannelloni to salmon to roasted suckling pig (a special) - but alas, we did not leave room for a taste of dessert. One final shout-out to our server, who's name escapes me (sorry!), but he was a master of pairing wines with our courses. Kudos! If I'm ever back in the area (I'm from Atlanta), I would definitely return for more from this inventive chef.

    (5)
  • Matt K.

    Osteria isn't a Michelin 3-star restaurant. It doesn't have haute cuisine or tip-top service. And it's not even the best Italian restaurant in the city! (Vetri, maybe?) But at Osteria, they make homey and rustic Italian cuisine. They do it almost perfectly, and for that reason, this restaurant gets 5 Yelp stars in my book because so many other Italian restaurants are doing the same thing but not this good. This night we had several winners, from their pizzas to a special item not on the menu, which featured polenta with cheese and a braised red cabbage on top. Divine.

    (5)
  • Rachel E.

    It never disappoints until your food runner says here's your charcuterie, yo. It was a Tuesday. Seriously though I would live here if I could. Sweet Corn Gelato.

    (4)
  • Food S.

    Buzz Worthy

    (4)
  • Linda T.

    delicious! nice ambiance! great service. love the wood theme...wood tables, wood trays, wood plates! the assortment of bread (rustic, thyme, foccacia, bread sticks) in a wooden tray was very rustic and pretty. shared a bunch of little items: -grilled octopus: delicious! soft and al dente...not chewy at all. served with arugula...yummy -lombarda pizza: love the runny yolk on top of the pizza! a little soggy for my taste..but it was good -squid ink pasta: delicious. pasta was chewy and al dente! loved it -chicken liver rigatoni: rich and delicious. can totally taste chicken liver! rigatoni was perfectly al dente as well!! -upside down olive oil apple cake with caramel gelato: delicious! love the presentation. caramel gelato can use some more caramel taste. i am so full!! everything was so yummy. i would want to sit there and eat, drink, talk for a long time! love the kitchen...love the proscuitto slicer!

    (4)
  • Kendrah R.

    From vegetables to pastas and meats, overall lack of flavor. What a disappointment, as the menu sounds so good, so simple. For a James Beard winning restaurant, with what sounds like quality and high-priced ingredients, Osteria is quite unimpressive. It is mid-summer, best time of the year for produce and none of the vegetables we ate had any flavor, from the antipasto plate to the peach and fennel salad that came with an overly breaded and fried pork terrine. Our pastas were bland. Buccatini had plenty of lobster and artichokes just zero flavor. It seems a crime to waste such great ingredients. The salumi appetizer: Rich, lovely meats, but the artichoke mostard that came with was so sickeningly sweet with a really off consistency and strange bite it was just horrible. The roast pig entree was the only thing we ate that had any depth of flavor. It is just kinda sad that it had four meager potato cubes with it that were dry and unappetizing. The waitstaff was nice. The vibe relaxed and friendly. It is so close to our home too. But, we won't be returning.

    (2)
  • Amy S.

    My friend asked me about 3 times if I ever had a pizza with a runny egg (answer: no) and I thought it was a random question to ask, but during a trip to Philly he took me to Osteria to try pizza with a runny egg and I get the obsession. My only issue is that there should be more runny eggs on it than just the one because it is TOO good. We also had a few pasta dishes that were just as good and a begnit dessert to finish it all off for an amazing meal. Everything was perfect...including the service...it was actually so good that I was laughing half the time our server came over because he was just so happy and enthusiastic.

    (5)
  • Gerrianne M.

    Maybe I'm not a real "foodie", or I just don't get out that much, but I didn't care for this place. My sister in law had recommended it for my husband and I celebrating our anniversary. We have never felt so out of place before. First of all, it was so hard to read the menu, because it was dark in there and then we couldn't even understand it! I don't know if it was written in Italian or what, but it was difficult to determine what was offered. So we joked with the waitress and asked her to translate/ read for us or recommend something. She either didn't have a sense of humor or was just plain rude, because she was no help at all. She was so unattentive, couldn't even refill water glasses, forgot to come back to us to eventually take our order, and barely spoke to us. From the way she treated us, I just wanted to go home. In the end, I ordered some kind of pizza, which I could have gotten any place else, nor did I expect to be eating pizza for my anniversary dinner! My husband ordered some kind of wild boar pasta, which we read about thanks to a yelp review, and he seemed to enjoy the dish. However, it was not the best place for us to celebrate our anniversary. I would never go back there again. I don't know how this was listed as one of the best in Philly. Maybe to some food snobs, but not for the average person looking for a nice place to celebrate an event. Not for me!

    (1)
  • Melissa U.

    My husband made a reservation for us to celebrate our 7 year wedding anniversary. We had discussed going before but it wasn't until we saw Marc Vetri on a Saturday morning cooking show on public access that we made it a point to go. He was very passionate about the ingredients he used and the recipes he cooked. Upon arriving we were immediately greeted and seated. Hostess was very friendly and welcoming. We arrived at our table and I was not really excited about that part. The close proximity to the diners next to us was slightly unnerving for me. I respect everybody right for opinions but I don't want to hear about your government conspiracies. I almost felt like i was seated at their table as well as my own, but i can't blame the restaurant too much for that since i understand the need to maximize space in Philadelphia. Aside from the seating issue, the restaurant was very nice and clean! Had a warm rustic feeling with a lot of class. Our server Kelert arrived and my husband and I loved the fact that we had the choice between still or sparkling water. I prefer sparkling to still but that's a personal preference that I've found works for me cutting down on my soda intake. Kelert was a sweetheart! Any questions we had, he immediately gave us an answer. His recommendations were spot on and his attentiveness to us was impeccable. The food could've been garbage and I would still give an establishment a high rating because of him. He made sure we were taken care of without smothering us with attention, that's a fine line but he knew how to stay just in the middle. He was great! Now let's talk about the food! The food was delicious! My husband got the charcuterie plate, he wasn't too happy about the amount of charcuterie he received but he no complaints about the quality. This man loves food so I expected him to complain about the size. I got the roasted vegetables and they were phenomenal! Brussels Sprouts, Beets, Broccoli Rabe, Cauliflower each had their own distinctive flavor that was just indescribable! The only thing I did not finish was the argula and that's only because I'm not a huge fan of it. As our entree we both ordered the spit roasted suckling pig.....AMAZING! The pig is spit roasted and you are presented with meat from all parts. Moist, flavorful, perfectly portioned, the list could go on. The only thing on the plate i was on the fence about were the roasted potatoes. They had a great crust but the interior was not fluffy and just weren't for me. Now I'm not saying that someone else wouldn't enjoy them but i wasn't too much of a fan. For desert my husband got the apple torta which he enjoyed and I got the Polenta Budino and LOVED! To go with our sweets we got some coffee that was really good. It really rounded out our visit, and as we were finishing up we were presented with a small Pumpkin spice gelato as an anniversary gift. It was very thoughtful and much appreciated. Osteria is definitely a foodies spot. It's not your typical run of the mill Italian and I loved it for that. The service was impeccable, the food was delicious, and you can tell that there is a lot of love and thought that goes into everything they do. I am counting down to the days when my husband and I can visit again since we will be moving to Alaska in the very near future. Osteria was well worth my time and money. It was a great anniversary meal! Thank you for making it so.

    (4)
  • Henry H.

    Drove 2.5 hours to Phillie with friends to eat here. Our friends had already sampled two of the other Vetri family of restaurants. Our reservations for a Saturday evening were at 9:30PM but the restaurant called us at about 8:15PM to see if we'd be interested in the 8:30PM seating. The answer? YES! One tip: plan to arrive earlier because locating street parking is more than challenging. Our starters: Chicken liver rigatoni was incredibly tasty and well balanced. The wood grilled octopus was tangy and perhaps not as tender as we would have liked but full of great flavor. The house salumi paired with the sweet artichoke hearts was great (if you like sweet and savory). Our entrees: We really loved the squid ink cavatelli but found the sauce to be very salty; couldn't figure out if it was the effect of the ham or squid or...let's just say it may satisfy a sodium addict's craving. Our dinner partners enjoyed the oxtail (nice portion size and well-balanced flavors) and the wood-grilled cobia (good texture and also well-balanced flavors). My wife wasn't brave enough to try the rabbit "casalinga" when she'd never had rabbit before. So the porcini and potato cialzon with braised rabbit was a perfect introduction to the meat. While others thought it was gamier than they'd prefer, my wife loved it! Our dessert: Save room. We sampled the pumpkin tiramisu special which was served in a mason jar, chilled. We also had the most incredible chocolate flan that should not be confused with Spanish style flan. It is more of a molten chocolate lava cake that is paired with this incredible, home made pistachio gelato. Since we happened to be celebrating a birthday, they brought out a sample of the fig gelato. While it was very interesting, it was more reminiscent of fig nectar in gelato and very overwhelming compared to the lighter pistachio. The service here was fabulous. When we learned that only the sister restaurant, Alla Spina, had both the pig(let) head and home made soft serve ice cream, two of us cried. Our server quickly turned the frown upside down by letting us know he'd called over to the manager and arranged for us to have the soft ice cream to go. The piglet head would have to wait until another trip. Now, THAT, is service.

    (5)
  • Jessica H.

    Went here for a date night while traveling through Philly on a recommendation from an article in Newsweek magazine. The atmosphere was trendy and loud. I enjoyed the unique beer choices and the wide variety of wine options but the pizza I ordered was just "ok". I would definitely recommend this place for drinks and apps.

    (4)
  • Laura D.

    I thought this place was great. Dined here with a group of friends. We had an early dinner on a Sunday. We started with a margherita pizza, Lombarda pizza, chicken liver rigatoni, and ravioli for the table. They were all great. I especially loved the lombarda pizza with the baked egg on top. The margherita pizza tasted great but was a bit soggy. For my entree I ordered the rabbit "casalinga" with pancetta sage and soft polenta. The favors were wonderful and the rabbit was cooked perfectly. Some parts of the rabbit were left on the bone so it made it a little hard to eat. Some other entrees ordered at the table was the pork shank, the monk fish, the duck, and the striped bass. Everyone seemed to enjoy their entrees. We decided not to do dessert because we had somewhere to be. Service was also very good.

    (4)
  • Tom M.

    I really wanted to try it after Marc Summers said it was the best pizza he ever ate. I am not saying the host of Double Dare is a pizza genius, but still. I went on 11-6-10. The food I had was really good. The atmosphere and the prices, not so much. The place has a strong pretentious vibe. Our waiter seemed very up-tight and seemed to get snarky when the first few questions we asked were about the pizza options. I also noticed a number of men in suits walking around, weirdly looking at everything. I would have taken pics of the food but I was feeling like that would cause all these people to swarm. When I go out to dinner, I want to chill and have a good time. That was not the vibe at Osteria on 11-6-10. Maybe its me though the other people in my party felt it too, more strongly than I did in fact. To their credit, the food was good. The pizza is the best pizza I've had in Philly. Make sure to order the traditional margherita like Marc Summers did. It has the circumference of a large dinner plate and is paper-thin, as Summers said. You could easily finish one by yourself. It is delicious. The wood burning oven is really at work here. It is small, not the size of a conventional pizza like you might get at John's in NYC so I have a bit of a problem comparing. Still, this is a very delicious item. I also had their warm spinach salad with sweet-potatoes and a delicious olive oil based dressing. It was great. Besides atmosphere concerns, the prices are high. That dinner plate sized, paper-thin pizza is $15 so it is not a great value. If I had business in the area, I would give it another chance to try the pizza again. However, because of cost and atmosphere issues, I would not go out of my way to get there again.

    (3)
  • Lauren P.

    I pretty much get the same two things every time I go here. Everything else I've tried has been delicious as well, but the Lombarda pizza and the Wild Boar Candele pasta bolognese are amazing. Can't recommend these enough. Also, the pasta serving is generous enough that I usually have leftovers. LOVE this place and keep going back to get the same things. Went for lunch recently for the first time too which was nice!

    (5)
  • Tiffany B.

    Although Best Thing I Ever Ate suggested Osteria for its pizza, the highlight of this meal was the dessert. The blood orange crostata with 63% manjari chocolate was the perfect marriage of flavors: tart blood orange, light cookie-like pie, and bittersweet dark chocolate. The lombarda (baked egg, bitto cheese, mozzarella, and cotechino sausage) was very, very delicious though it fell short of Pulino's artisan pizza circa Nate Appleman. Still, it's the second best I've had.

    (4)
  • John B.

    Outstanding! Pre-fixe meal for 12 where every dish was top notch. Beef shank ragu followed by the Ribeye cooked to perfection! Fabulous meal for a fair price!!

    (5)
  • Heather H.

    The most tender, flavorful homemade pasta and pizzas. Suckling pig special was delightful. Prompt service. Beautiful atmosphere. Get the Vetri experience without the $700 bill.

    (5)
  • Sarah M.

    Being that Osteria was rated No.6 on the 2011 Philly Mag Top 50 Restaurants, I knew that this was a place to check out while I was home for spring break. My parents and I went to the Philadelphia Flower Show in the afternoon and then to Osteria for dinner. It was a late birthday celebration for me, since I was at college during my actual birthday (Feb 28th). Entering the restaurant, it appears to be tight and tiny. But it surprisingly opened up in other areas and had more tables then I thought. It was still quite busy and tight at times. But it's a Friday night in the city and it wasn't like you were stepping on anyone. Our waitress was very friendly and helpful. When my dad was trying to decide what to choose for wine, she got one (of the two) sommeliers to assist him. He made a great choice! My dad ended up asking for him to write down the name of the wine when it was finished - he plans on buying some tomorrow! Onto the food...it was so palatable! Now it is important to note: since at this time my family was at the start of the Lenten season, we are to abstain from eating meat on Fridays. Therefore we had to adjust our choices according to our tradition. Being that the menu is like 80% meat (or from what we found out from our waitress, has some kind of meat hidden in it) it was quite difficult at first. However, Osteria did not disappoint! For appetizers: Dad ordered the Gorgonzola dish shaped like a custard, served with a frisse salad, dried apples, and walnuts. My mom and I shared the Roasted Vegetable special: with Brussels sprouts, red and orange beets, red peppers, fennel, tomatoes, and a small arugula salad in the middle. For entrees: My dad ordered the Robiola Francobolli with Royal Trumpet Mushrooms and Thyme. My mom and I both ordered the Wild Swordfish with Chickpea Polenta and Calabrese Salame. We asked for the Calabrese Salame (which was the sauce of the dish) to not be put on. Our waitress noted that and came back about 10 minutes later and told us the chef would be plating a special vegan sauce on top. And it was good whatever it was! For dessert: Of course, we ordered coffee all around. We shared the Vanilla Crepes with Caramelized Pineapples and Rum. The host had picked up while seating us that we were celebrating my birthday. So in addition, a waiter brought out a little dish of the Poppy seed ice cream out with a candle on top. How charming! Final notes: While the food was so flavor rich, it did not weigh you down. If you order and appetizer the entree portions are a great size (and you can ask for a little more if you want in regards to the pasta dishes). I suggest ordering an appetizer and an entree if you are going for dinner. The menu was busy but not overwhelming. The selection was unique and inventive, and still simplistic at the same time.

    (4)
  • Jim Z.

    Food was expensive but good, BUT the liquor prices were obscene. First, they were out of the two bourbons I asked for, then when they brought my third choice it was two tablespoons of bourbon at the most. I'll spend the $13 for a bourbon, but at least make it an ounce and a half. I thought I would switch to wine. Not much better there. To add insult to injury, I had to wait a minimum of ten minutes for both drinks. The server was knowledgeable and friendly, just non-existent. The food was good, but overall Osteria is a poor value.

    (2)
  • Amy D.

    This place totally exceeded our expectations! Everything from our appetizers to pasta was delicious. You can tell the pasta was made in house and it melted in your mouth. The service is excellent and they are very helpful in helping you decide what to get. Next time we are in Philly, I'll be coming back here.

    (5)
  • Marissa C.

    Went to Osteria for a nice romantic dinner and it was so worth the wait! We have been longing to try this place for a long time but for whatever reason just never made the reservation. First off the place is huge! There is so much seating and yet it's still hard to get a seat there on a Saturday night. The inside is beautiful with nice wood tables and a non-distracting view of the kitchen. We started with a pizza (everyone raves about the pizza and rightfully so) - the Parma pizza with arugula, mozzarella, fontina, and prosciutto. The crust was perfect the toppings light and fresh and it makes me want to recreate it right this moment. Even though the pizza was large enough for an appetizer we couldn't resist getting the octopus. It was so nicely seasoned with a citrus dressing over arugula and perfectly cooked. For the entrees I decided to get the candele pasta with wild boar bolognese. The waiter recommended the 1/2 portion since I was already feeling rather full. My companion chose the special which was a spit roasted pig and he got a piece of the shoulder, skin and leg. Both of our entrees were great. We finished with a banana puff pastry dessert thingy which was yummy but we were stuffed at that point. I know Osteria has a great wine list lots of rare and wonderful bottles but frankly the wine by the glass is a bit outrageously priced (something like $15 a glass). It would be nice if there was a range in the glass prices. The really nice thing about Osteria is that it doesn't have to be an expensive dinner, you really can come and get a pizza, split a pasta dish, and be good for the night. I'll definitely be back, just might keep it to one glass of expensive wine :)

    (5)
  • Jon D.

    Osteria is a solid choice, with excellent food in a pretty cool atmosphere. Definitely a 4.5, but it didn't wow me enough for a 5. Order a pizza! In 95% of restaurants, I would say this decision would be a bad idea...but not at Osteria. Their pizzas are crispy and fantastic, from the traditional margherita to the even more awesome parma, which is topped with 2 types of cheese, arugula, and plenty of slices of prosciutto. If you want another app, the antipasto was delicious as well. For dinner, I had chicken alla griglia with prosciutto and peas. Yes, more salty pork, and I loved every minute of it. Your typical high-quality, flawless Vetri dish. My friend got the veal breast, which also was cooked to perfection, flavorful, and presented well. CORN! One other thing I had to mention...I came here last fall and had a pasta (gnocchi) dish with corn. First, you should be ordering pasta if you come here anyways because it is homemade and some of the best in town. More importantly though, if corn is in season, get it here! This isn't just any corn, but the perfectly ripe, most flavorful type that is picked in the morning before the sun comes up, thus protecting the full taste sensation of grade A sweet corn (I kid you not!). Trust me, there is a difference...and apparently the Vetris understand this and pay the attention to ensure that only the best ingredients make it in their dishes. Aside from all of this, our waitresses had an attitude problem. Yeah, the place was hopping and really loud, but don't take it out on the nice table!

    (4)
  • Enid C.

    Philadelphia is an interesting city. It's filled with vibrant neighborhoods running over with unique cultures and exciting lifestyles. You have the trendy yuppitude of Rittenhouse, the laid-back hipster feel of Northern Liberties, and the quaint genuine aura of Bella Vista, just to name a few. And then there are certain areas in this city where life ceases to exist and all color has been sucked out, leaving behind a vacuum of emptiness. It is when walking through one of these areas where you will find the gem of a restaurant known as Osteria. This was the site of my first Marc Vetri experience, and it most definitely will not be my last. The venue is gigantic (since I suppose property values aren't as high in this valley of nothing), with 3 dining rooms and enough space to not have to touch thighs with the party sitting next to you. The food is exquisitely prepared with care and with the freshest ingredients. Highlights: - House cured salumi plate - I would seriously buy packages of the accompanying artichoke mustard to spread on every/anything. The meats are all incredibly succulent. - Wood grilled octopus - Possibly the best octopus I have had in the city - Margherita pizza - OMG who knew pizza could be like this?? Simple, thin crust, fresh ingredients, perfection. - Robiola francobolli - Rich, parmesany, delicious. A must-order for those who love mushrooms. - Canestri with braised short ribs - Our waitress's voice dramatically changed tone when she spoke about how good this was. There was a good reason behind this. - Polenta budino - There is always room for dessert. Particularly this one. I would easily be willing to pay over $60 for a meal of this caliber, and yet (if you don't order wine) you can definitely end up with a bill only $25-$40 per person. Congratulations Marc, you've won me over. Next up: the tasting menu at Vetri, if I find someone willing to dish out the money along with me (takers?).

    (5)
  • Eric L.

    Wow. My Fiance visit me while I was on a business trip and so we decided to try what everyone(at least 3 people from my corporate offices, and 1 other from another state.) called the best in Philadelphia. We were not disappointed. This place takes reservations and I would recommend you make them. When we called to make reservations they only had time late in the evening (around 8:30-9) or right at opening (at 5). We went at the opening and were able to sit in the sun-room which was gorgeous with a little garden around it. The crowd swelled at around 6, so you might have luck if you like earlier dinners. Now to the food. Oh, the food. We started with a seasonal vegetable appetizer (simply roasted vegetables, but perfect and oh so flavorful). We also had their lemonata cocktail (we got the pitcher, which lasted for the entire meal), which was great for the summer. My fiance is a vegetarian, and they were very accommodating. She had a noodle pasta with a spicy rustica sauce. I had the roasted pig and it was simply the best roast pork I have ever had. It melted in your mouth. It came with roasted potatoes (which burned my mouth on the first, overeager bite). One negative: the neighborhood. We walked there and were a little worried a couple times. We were glad it was light out, to say the least. I spoke with one of my colleagues the next day and they said the area isn't that great but that it's a little worse a few blocks over. I'd take a taxi if we went back, either way. However, there did seem to be plenty of street parking around there. The also valet, if you so choose. I can't write how good they were. After reading through my review I'll be the first to admit that I didn't say much. It's just one of those meals you have to go and taste. This place is in my top 10 for sure.

    (5)
  • Tala T.

    Jeff Michaud won best Mid-Atlantic Chef in 2010 and the restaurant was nominated for the 'Best New Restaurant' in 2008. Not surprising given that everything from the decor to the wine and house made pasta was beyond perfect. We went on a Friday night with reservations. The restaurant is beautiful. It has a rustic yet industrial feel to it. The best part was the glass covered patio looking onto the church next door. It was quite the experience. As soon as we were seated, we were given our regular menu and an ipad for the wine list. That was a first. Is that what restaurants are doing these days? Anyway, I found it to be a bit confusing and wonder what the not-so-tech-savy crowd would do when selecting a their wine. The menu offers homemade pastas, thin crust pizzas and wood grilled meats and fish. We skipped the antipasti and went straight to ordering our entrees: the lombarda pizza (thin crust pizza with baked egg, bitto cheese, mozzarella and cotechino sausage- $18), the robiola francobolli (postage stamp ravioli served with royal trumpet mushrooms, butter and thyme- $16) and the farfalle pasta (farfalle pasta served made with smoked chorizo, zucchini and aged goat cheese- $16). See Menu The Lombarda pizza was served exactly as it was described on the menu. The crust was perfect and not burnt on the bottom. A few burn bubbles on the top but not enough to ruin the taste. The flavors of the cotechino sausage and baked egg with the cheese blend and sprinkled herbs made for a perfect combination. The primi pasta dishes were both delicious. However, we both agreed that the robiolla francobolli was the better of the two dishes. The dish was creamy and covered with butter and Parmesan cheese and quite literally melted in my mouth. It was the first time I tried such a pasta and thoroughly enjoyed every bite. I would have licked the plate if I could but it was a classy joint so I held myself back. You can really taste the freshness and superior quality of all the ingredients in each bite. Hand made pasta is just something else and in my opinion should become the norm in all Italian restaurants. Dessert consisted of the butterscotch bonet and chocolate flan with pistachio gelato. When our server described the butterscotch bonet I pictured something resembling a creme caramel. Hence, my surprise when I took the first bite. It was very rich in texture and nothing like a creme caramel. It was doughy and very heavy drizzled with caramel sauce. It was the one thing I did not like all night. And of course it depends on personal preference. We ordered the chocolate flan and the butterscotch bonet. The chocolate flan was warm and gooey in the middle. It tasted like a flourless chocolate cake. The combination of the chocolate and pistatchio gelato made for a perfect dessert. Osteria was the perfect way to be introduced to Philadelphia's dining scene. It was one of the best Italian meals I have had to date (en par with many of my dining adventures in Italy).

    (4)
  • Jen F.

    Date night in Philly on the 4th!!!! Osteria was an outstanding recommendation. The lombarda pizza was topped with an egg and absolutely delicious! The rabbit was yummy but a tad salty. Pork rib lasagnetta melted in my mouth.Wonderful wine selection. Best strawberry gelato I've ever had! Fantastic dining experience with my special someone : )

    (5)
  • Charles S.

    Abandoned by our waiter!!! I wanted to love this place. We were going to be in Philadelphia one night only. I checked out the Yelp reviews and the list of 50 best restaurants in Philadelphia Magazine. A couple of places didn't have a table free. I called Osteria (number 4 in Phila Mag + 4 Yelp stars) after Open Table said there were no tables available. The place is beautiful. It's the lobby of an old office building north of Market turned into a stylish locale. Our friends were at the bar when we arrived. The hostess showed us to the table and various people brought water, menus and drinks. Then the waiter explained the menu and took our order. The appetizers were great. We split an antipasto plate that was extraordinary in the way the different flavors blended together and complemented each other. A friend was very happy with the mozzarella in carrozza with olive oil, poached pears, tomatoes and capers. We had a pretty broad variety of dishes for the main course. Two pizzas, salmon, linguine with peekytoe crab, corzetti, and pork milanese. I had the cobia with fregola and green beans which was both bland and lukewarm. It was saved by the artichokes alla giudia, tiny baby artichokes delicately fried -- a recipe from the old Jewish quarter in Rome. Then the waiter disappeared. I am not making this up. Where did he go? Had we somehow offended him? Busboys cleared the table, and we waited and waited. Then we waited some more. Finally we got dessert menus from a busboy and placed our order with some fellow in a dark suit. (The desserts were delicious. The cannoli were great but hard to eat. The chocolate flan was even better.) Still no waiter. So after another very long wait we asked one of the black-suited gentlemen for the bill. That's when the waiter showed up -- to collect the money, a lot of money. If you want to try Osteria, skip the primi and secondi and stick with appetizers and pizza. You'll save a boat load of money and you'll be very happy with your meal. And avoid our waiter.

    (3)
  • Stephy S.

    The food is solid, the atmosphere is LOUD. It is a beautiful building inside, I felt like I was in a really cool/large wine bar. I couldn't hear the waitress though, which was a bummer. Thank heavens whatever I ordered was tasty! Started w/ the grilled octopus. Stellar. Light and delicious. We split the lombardo pizza and robiola francobolli. If the Robiola were stuffed more and bigger (instead of being the "postage stamp" size they even advertise it as), I would be in heaven. Buttery goodness. But -it's just a sampling :( The pizza was eh, it wasn't bad but I've just had much better so I feel like I must say it did not live up to the reputation of being the best pizza in Philly. But still good. I'd order a different pizza next time. Ended the night with chocolate flan that came with pistachio gelato. O-M-G. I wanted to lick the plate. My BF and I were fighting for every last bite, which was not romantic. The flan was actually more like chocolate molten cake, which was fine with me! In summary, if the pizza was up to the caliber of the other foods, I would've given Osteria a 5. The service was impeccable and attentive, but not in the bad way where you feel like you are being watched at all times (ahem ahem Le-Bec-Fin). On a side note: the restaurant is kinda in the middle of nowhere. We felt brave so we took the broad st line back from dinner to CC. I thought I was going to die (but didn't!), but we all secretly think we are going to die on the Broad St line at one point or another, don't we? Anyway, the night was a success. Highly recommend.

    (4)
  • Lois R.

    Went here for lunch today with a friend, and it was amazing. It would have been easy to fill up on the bread and olive oil they brought out while we waited. We started with the octopus appetizer. I've only had octopus as sashimi before now, but I really liked the texture and the flavor. Next we shared a pizza, which was good, the best thin crust I've had in a long time. Then we shared the mushroom ravioli, which was my favorite dish of the meal. So delicate, but such great flavor. For dessert we shared the zabaione semifreddo. Loved the flavor and the texture. The service was excellent. I would recommend that you bring a list of area parking lots, because if you don't luck into one of the meter spots in front, they are hard to find. It appears that they have valet parking for dinner service, but not at lunch. This was a special treat to kick off the holiday weekend, and it was well worth the money.

    (5)
  • Catherine L.

    I need my half-stars, Yelp - I'm just saying it's time to be able to award half stars here- Sometimes a girl just needs a half, you know? That being said, Osteria, is a 3.5 for me. Another over-hyped restaurant that might have been at the height of its hey-day a couple years ago. Like similar restaurants that have experienced much acclaim, followed by a slow backlash, Osteria is another Italian restaurant that is trying to maintain its once-glowing status and relevancy in a sea of more affordable, and equally-as-good Italian BYOBs. Excellent, on-point service, save for the less than friendly, obviously bored sommelier and the aloof bartenders. The atmosphere is decidedly and disappointingly a lot more casual than one would expect. The first thing that strikes one is that the entire restaurant space and layout needs to be seriously re-evaluated. Osteria is huge and the space and flow of the restaurant is very poorly conceived. There is major congestion right as you enter, and the bar is awkwardly located right in the middle of two dining rooms, past the open kitchen. Attempting to navigate between the spaces is a total traffic nightmare! (although, as an aside, they have lovely, clean bathrooms) The best dining space is in the extended outdoor conservatory dining room, the rest of the dining spaces are split in three and they are tightly packed with tables with a scorching high noise level. The menu has Vetri brilliance, here and there, especially in the pasta dishes. The rest of the menu, and for the price tag, does not live up to the Vetri hype. Nothing on the antipasti menu ever has blown me away, and the Pizza (always hailed as some of the best pizza around), is good, yes, but nothing that knocks your socks off. In all seriousness, this pizza is maybe only a notch better than pizza at Pietro's. The pasta, as expected, is really what shines. Whichever dish you choose, you cannot go wrong there. Lastly, they serve one of my favorite deserts ever: the polenta budino with gianduia mousse and candied hazelnuts - if you're a fan of any of these ingredients, I command you to order this! The cold polenta, and the sweet and salty mix of flavors with the mousse and hazelnuts is downright heavenly. As you know this place isn't a cheap night out. With cocktails, wine, appetizer & pizza to split, two main dishes and desert to to split for 2 will cost you a pretty penny . This place, despite some high points, just isn't all that it is cracked up to be (or perhaps once was). If you're ready to spend, go right ahead, but I'd recommend going to any one of the amazing Italian BYOBs we have at our disposal instead.

    (3)
  • Grace S.

    Great wine, immaculate service, subpar food. The pastas were very good but the rooster ravioli was in a gravy that looked very unappetizing (but tasted great). The Spanish mackerel app was ok--it was served with a little "salad"/vinaigrette as well as a mayonnaise-type sauce that was not to my liking. I think I'd rather have Spanish mackerel at Zama--very personal preference. The bolognese sauce is very good, again doesn't look very appetizing but tastes great. Perhaps I should've tried one of the pizzas. The rabbit over polenta was just ok. I'm not a big fan of polenta but I thought if I was ever going to give it another chance, it would be at a place like Osteria. Made reservations for Vetri so hopefully they will be better and justify the hefty price tag.

    (3)
  • Olivia J.

    Came here with M for our six months. I liked the classy ambiance a lot! There was a single rose on our table with candles :) The food was okay. Or maybe I wasn't being careful enough to really savor the food. Either way, I got the spaghetti with octopus ink and M got some sort of a pork dish. To be honest, a lot of the things on the menu was in Italian and we didn't know what most of it meant @-@ so maybe the food there is actually legit for people from Italia, but for us who are accustomed to Americanized Italian food, the food was so so.

    (3)
  • Sara E.

    4.5 stars. Excellent service and a lovely atmosphere. Every dish was thoughtful and well executed. Some of the best Neapolitan pizza crust that I've ever eaten.

    (5)
  • A. N.

    Romantic scene, delicious wine selection, and one of the best meals I've had in Philly. Must try the winter squash gnocchi and kale & farro salad. Jana & Kristen and the rest of the staff were very helpful. Immaculate service. Great job Chef.

    (5)
  • Amanda G.

    My husband and I went here to try the Margherita pizza that Marc Summers talked about on "The Best Thing I Ever Ate." Unfortunately, I've had better pizza from the shops around my house. I don't know what the hype was all about. What I did enjoy during our visit was the antipasto dish that was on special. Is that enough to rate this place higher than two stars? I don't think so. I'm sure if we went back and got something other than pizza we'd enjoy it, but the prices are just too high for a restaurant located on North Broad Street and I can't justify a second visit.

    (2)
  • Dani S.

    One word - FABULOUS! The Lombarda pizza is mouth watering. The service is top-notch and the ambiance is wonderful. My husband and I had a wonderful experience celebrating Valentine's Day at Monsu. The server saw me eyeing up a grilled vegetable platter at another table and had a complimentary plate sent to us. It took me by surprise but was sooo yummy and appreciated! I didn't want to leave. We stayed for a nice long dinner sharing the rib eye dinner for 2 and sipping excellent wine. You must visit if you are in Philly!

    (5)
  • Vinny P.

    Perfetto. It's now Monday morning and I still have the afterglow of eating at Osteria. The meal, which I will describe, was pure bliss. We began with the Lombarda pizza which was nothing short of stellar. The baked egg in the center upped the richness while the sausage and perfect sauce acted as mere accents to the perfectly baked dough. This was outrageously good. Dinner consisted of the chicken liver rigatoni and the rabbit casalinga. I have always found chicken liver to be extremely rich and sometimes overbearing. This pasta however spread the richness out into a velvet blanket of flavor that coated each and every noodle in the dish. It was served in a very cool bowl and as we took additional bites, we continued to exclaim how amazing it was. The rabbit was perfectly cooked. I'm guessing it was roasted and the drippings were used in the polenta. The whole dish was wrapped in such ridiculous flavor that alongside the pasta, we had complete and utter flavor overload. This restaurant is both big and beautiful. The wall at the bar is made to look like a number of wine cases in a collage. The servers were so knowledgeable and we weren't rushed in any way. I think this restaurant has some real devotees because the couple next to us dropped eaves on what we were ordering and then gave their recommendations. Food creepers. I had high expectations and they were exceeded. I'm going back next week with the rents.

    (5)
  • Sarah D.

    Food was fantastic. The bread basket that they bring to every table is pretty good- fresh, and a few varieties of bread. We got the fungi pizza and split is as an appetizer (2 people). For our main course, we got the pork shank and duck breast. Both entrees were well prepared and presented. Service was second to none- I don't think we ever had a water glass that was half empty. Too full for dessert, but the table next to us got one and it looked amazing. Hopefully next time we'll save room for dessert. Some of the negatives- the tables are very close together, and I felt like we had to listen to the 2 tables next to us for the entire meal. Also, if taking public transportation to the restaurant, it can get a little sketchy.

    (4)
  • S K.

    Some of the best Italian food with very courteous staff. On one occasion, I tried a fantastic ravioli dish stuffed with pear - paper thin ravioli sheets with a fantastic light sauce. Highly recommend!

    (5)
  • Kristen H.

    Had a nice experience here when I went for the first time a few weeks ago. We started off with the squid and chick pea ragu. I enjoyed the dish, but my date really hates olives and they were chopped up in the dish but not listed in the ingredients. For dinner, I had the grilled duck breast with brussel sprouts and blood orange, which was fantastic. I was worried about the portion when it first came out, but I was satisfied afterward. For dessert we split the flan and the polenta with gianduia mousse and candied hazelnuts. The flan is more like a chocolate lava cake, which the waiter informed us of before we ordered. It was good, but the polenta was a home run. Our waiter said it was his favorite and we were definitely glad we took his suggestion.

    (4)
  • Gina H.

    Utterly disappointed in the overall experience. I'd like to give it 2 stars, but certain food dishes made up for the poor service. We dined here on 2/7 and the service was impossibly slow. Our reservation was at 7:45 pm and we didn't get out of there until nearly 11:30 pm. The pauses between courses were interminable! We felt like forgotten people stranded in the back corner of the restaurant. We had to ask for water refills, dessert menus, proper silverware with items, never once did they put the right item in front of the right person for one side of our table. But the worst insult was trying to get a glass of iced tea. It was like it was coming direct from China! Once it finally arrived, filled mainly with ice, my husband drank it in a few seconds, hoping that he could get a quick refill since they obviously must have just brewed a pitcher because it took so long to get there in the first place. Oh boy, how sorely mistaken were we! After finally getting the attention of ANY server in our area, we asked for a refill but we were so annoyed that we jokingly started timing how long it would take to get the refill. Eight minutes folks...that's how long it takes at Osteria to get a refill. Absolutely ridiculous. This was a $500 meal and service should be better. Management, get it together! As for the food, some items were very good: like the winter squash gnocchi - soft, warm, gooey and simply delish! The poached lobster and grilled octopus starters were very good too. Other items were just okay: the Lombarda pizza. What is the rave about on this pizza??? The crust is good, I'll give that, but the toppings are non-existent and the tomato sauce was so bland and tasteless. Oh wow, there's an egg on top...welcome to two decades ago. This pizza needed salt and seasoning very badly...the ingredients did not shine on that one. Also, the roasted pork special was okay, very tender and moist, and the crispy skin was good, but as a main dish it was soooooo very one note and boring. It needed better sides to jazz up what was simply a platter of meat. Then there were items that were simply HORRIBLE. The saffron bucatini pasta was just god-awful. The flavor combination didn't work at all. I really think something was wrong with how this was prepared in the kitchen. I would never believe that this family would produce such an item and sell it to the public. It tasted like the blandest pasta with what can only be described as rotten sea sewage on top. I know this couldn't be right. This is the first time in my life I've ever sent pasta back. Also bad, but not as bad as the bucatini, was the escargots in puff pastry. It was like cream of celery soup mixed with a few escargot and a ton of sage. The puff pastry on top was baked nicely though. Not worth the money at all. This meal was so embarrassing to me since I had chosen the restaurant. It was for a family birthday celebration and I wanted it to be special. I just kept ending up apologizing to my whole table how very sorry I was for picking it. Then we had to pay the bill...ugh! One last thing, I've eaten at Vetri before and had I come here to Osteria first, I would never ever have gone to Vetri. Having a collection of restaurants is supposed to help build your brand and cause cross-pollination, not deter your guests from going to the others.

    (3)
  • Cormack G.

    Pretty simple review, because we had a pretty simple dinner: Food: 2 of us shared wild Alaskan salmon pastrami with pickled red onion and rhubarb salad and one Parma pizza. Salmon pastrami sounded interesting and delivered on taste. Really fresh and left you hungry for more. The pizza was exactly as good as everyone says. Great ingredients, perfect crust, and served at the perfect temp. Service: Our waiter was kind, attentive, and put up with our indecisive mentality. Also, the drink menu was displayed on an iPad, which was pretty unique and memorable. Ambiance: Perfect space with casual but refined feeling. Could be perfect for really any occasion, or just to grab a quick bite. Bottom line: I'm definitely coming back.

    (4)
  • Raiza G.

    This was the best meal I had since our honeymoon in Italy. I have asked my husband countless times to go back. The fried artichokes are the best, make sure you ask for them as soon as you sit down since they run out all the time. Great atmosphere, my picky husband even enjoys going. Great wine selection. Call for a reservation, you will not be disappointed.

    (5)
  • Jackie G.

    Got the "add on" dish which was a ravioli stuffed with a sunchoke puree...probably the best ravioli I've had so far. Chicken liver rigatoni...amazing! Don't let the word liver scare you on this one. Also enjoyed the chocolate blackberry budino. Honestly you can't go wrong with anything here, so it just depends on how much wow factor you need.

    (5)
  • Matt H.

    Easily one of the top places to go in Philadelphia for pizza (not as good as Nomad or Stella though in my opinion). An ideal meal for a table of 2 would be an appetizer and to try 2 different pizza's. Went here with my girlfriend and had the marinated vegetable appetizer (was a special that day), the lamb sausage appetizer (Only 1 very small link), the polpo pizza( octopus, tomato, red chili flakes and smoked mozzarella ) and 2 pasta's (rabbit bolognese and a pesto with vegetables which was 1 of the specials). Best dish was by far the pizza and then the appetizer's and although the pasta dishes were good they were nothing stand out and the portion size was very small. Server's were very knowledgeable and wine/ beer selection was one of the best I've scene. Will definitely be coming back here but will stick to only ordering pizza and wine from here in the future.

    (4)
  • Ron S.

    Dined there with a small group of colleagues from out of town and all of us enjoyed our meals. Salads were exceptional. Wine list was also exceptionally well received by the guests (particularly those from Europe). I had the grilled octopus salad and then the arctic char - would probably order both again as they were well prepared and quite tasty. Portions are perfectly sized. One of the best Philadelphia restaurants in this price class. Only downside is that those with car must valet.

    (4)
  • Adam F.

    Accessible way to try Vetri's delicious food. Order the following and you won't be dissapointed: - grilled octopus - lombarda pizza - chicken liver rigatoni Grab a glass of wine and enjoy!

    (5)
  • Paul L.

    If it wasn't for Food Network's The Best Thing I've Ever Ate, I wouldn't have tried Osteria, not because I don't like Italian Food or I "don't like to try new things", but the location of Osteria is in a section of town with little else around. The section of Broad Street immediately north of City Hall seemed a bit ran down and deserted, it's a blank space between the more vibrant Chinatown and Art Museum areas. It's my very first time there and the first issue I encounter is parking, there's no sign telling whether the adjacent condo parking is also used for the restaurant, so me and my friend drove around the area looking for a spot in the already high saturated area with the auto repair shop, the church and the school. But once we found a spot and walked the three blocks, circulating the building looking for the entrance, Osteria turned out to be quite the promising place. Osteria is only opened for lunch on Thursday and Friday and we picked a glorious day to visit. At first we were seated inside, but after a while I made a troublesome request to change into the cocooned outside area and got my wish pleasantly granted. The interior design is decidedly going for a slightly industrial rustic route, I especially like the wall composed with wood wine boxes. Between the two of us, we split an order of Lombarda and the Yelp-reviewers recommended Chicken Liver Rigatoni. Originally, I had my heart set on another reviewer recommended choice which is the Pig's Head Pizza, but the waiter informed me that it was seasonal. The Lombarda turned out pretty good, I have longed to try a pizza with an egg in the middle, but was naive enough to think I can create such a thing at home. I didn't know that my standard oven can't compete with a brick fire oven. I'm a big fan of raw egg yolk with bread. The crust was thin and crunchy, the Bitto cheese gave it a certain bite (pun unintended), and the Cotechino sausage is slightly sweet with the egg to smooth it all out. Not quite the best thing I've ever ate, but it was generally pleasant. The chicken liver rigatoni was great. Al dente rigatoni in bits of liver sweetened by melted cipolline onions. The sauteed liver is soft and melts in your mouth. The pasta absorbed the flavor of the combination as well as sage and cheese turns it into one luscious dish. The price is a bit on the higher end, but with superb service and comfortable space, I'm looking forward to find an excuse to come back and try the other pastas and the antipasti.

    (4)
  • Abby I.

    Came back to Osteria on a rainy Sunday night. This time I sat in the main dining room where I assume it would have felt cozier than the extension with the glass windows overlooking that muggy day. Some highlights- sicilian lemonade (very refreshing), vegetable antipasto plate (a must if available), special of the night was handkerchief pasta with monkfish (please bring this back again), and the prosecco sorbet flavor available that evening. Perfection.

    (5)
  • Damian D.

    Good but overall not impressive. Bread was fantastic. Salad was good. Pasta was average. We had four different ones and only one was very good. The other three were average. Wine selection was pricey, but we expected that. It was not opened at our table, which I found strange. Dessert was outstanding. If we went again, and we probably will not, I would get the bread and dessert.

    (2)
  • Jill L.

    This restaurant reminded me of my trip to Tuscany in every way. The decor, the food & wine is reminiscent of my trip. We went with a group & had a back room ( very cozy) and had a 4 course dinner. Every dish was delicious. The roasted veggies, octopus, steak & chocolate flan (like chocolate molten cake) was fantastic. I'm still dreaming of the flan.

    (5)
  • chris d.

    Not much I can say about Osteria that hasn't been said, other than after living in Fairmount 5+ years I am now pissed at myself for not getting here sooner. I think the one misconception is that it is expensive - for $40 you can have the best food that will buy in Philly for two people - one pizza ($15-$20) & two half orders of pasta ($8-$10) and you are full. Beers at $7, but higher ABV & quality (My Antonia (DogfishHead) & Celebration (Sierra Nevada)) on tap during my visit.

    (5)
  • Beth R.

    If you are open minded about spending some $$, this is a great place to try lots of interesting dishes and I don't think you will be disappointed. My party of 3 started with 2 pizzas - the Parma (featuring arugula and proscuitto) and the capa sante e bacon (featuring scallop, bacon, and onion) - yum! For the next course, we shared the grilled octopus, pasta with wild boar bolognese, and duck ravioli with brown butter, sage, and quince. The latter was a really great mix of flavors... the quince was subtly citrusy - everyone at the table loved it. Finally we had the dry aged ribeye for two. This was delicious, and a lot of meat (they present it to the table prior to carving it up). One side was rare and juicy, and the other was more well done and buttery. For dessert, i was feeling full, but the waiter helpfully suggested that they have sorbet, so I went with the blood orange. The service was excellent, and I would recommend this for a special occasion.

    (4)
  • Matthew B.

    What an enjoyable restaurant - from every aspect. The upbeat, urban-chic, airy atmosphere punctuated by the casual open-kitchen feel. An Italian- country (lunch) menu, that offered an innovative take on dishes that could well have been mundane in lesser hands. Prompt service and well portioned dishes that were not outrageously priced. The food was better than good. It was unique and memorable. The kind that makes you long to taste everything else on the menu. This is a foodies place - that said i've noted other reviews critical of the dishes. The only wisdom I can offer is - i guess thats why there is chocolate and vanilla... Is there a downside? I think Osta Ria has a reputation for being a bit loud - which I can imagine could be true at a more crowded time. If I have any criticism, it would be the wine list. Not for lack of imagination, but simply because the pricing seem incongruous with the rest of the menu. The majority of wines tended to be mid-forties and up per bottle - which seems out of whack with a menu that proffers entrees in the low to high teens. I believe adding a selection of wines in the 25-35$ - at least for the lunch menu would make this place perfect. Can't wait for the repeat performance.

    (4)
  • Marta B.

    Went here for a birthday dinner with 5 other people so had an opportunity to try a lot of food... I can honestly say that the halibut was the Best. Fish. I. Have. Ever. Eaten. It was absolutely heavenly, and the figs with pistachio creme on the side were unbelievable. Went by yelp reviews and got Lombardo pizza as well, and while it was good I wish I had considered some others too (went for it without reading other options). Tartare with ramps, wood grilled octapus and the antipasti special (a mix of several perfectly seasoned vegetables) were great to split for starters. The snapper with sepia was also to die for, as was the sorbet and gelati. The sorbet/gelati was a huge portion, plenty to share. The flavors we had were raspberry, pistachio and tarragon sorbet, and blueberry stracitella and salted butter gelati. The tarragon was the night's frozen desert winner. I also enjoyed the salted butter gelati, although it kind of tasted like french vanilla. The polenta budino was okay and the and apricot tart with (I believe pistachio sorbet?) was delectable, a great contrast of warm and cold. Impeccable service, fantastic wine and cocktails, I wish I could give this 5 stars but the rabbit entrée, although quite a hit, was slightly too salty for my taste.

    (4)
  • Amy H.

    I have been trying to come to this Vetri establishment since my arrival back to Philly. We started off with pizza- Polpo- grilled octopus and chili flakes making this pizza hot and delicious. Special was roasted pig served with oven roasted potatoes. If you ever had freshly cut pig you will understand how juicy and savory. Portions were just about right since we were waiting for our main course- ribeye shared for two people. The ribeye was paired with pesto and sauteed mushrooms. A fellow yelper did note they did not get a steak knife and while we got the ribeye cooked rare it was still hard to cut with a regular knife. We were stuffed from our meals so no comment on dessert. Service was excellent and our server was helpful in providing recommendations when requested. Valet parking staff is friendly and they run to retrieve your car. Another star for service.

    (5)
  • Kat J.

    Just came back from a wonderful, celebratory meal here. We started with the duck breast pizza - our whole table agreed it was delicious! Lots of duck meat and ripe cherries on a crispy, chewy crust - yummm. The grilled sweetbreads and octopus were equally tasty with a nice but not burnt char. We shared the chicken liver rigatoni and it was right on the mark. It didn't have that liver aftertaste and there was a creaminess to the sauce. Even those who don't like liver enjoyed it! We all split the halibut and leg of lamb and it was perfectly cooked but didn't knock us off our feet. Desserts were also decent but didn't impress us as much as the duck pizza. We had Tony as our server and he took very good care of us, so not sure why some people had issues with service. For anyone wanting a higher caliber of Italian I would definitely recommend Osteria!

    (4)
  • Josh S.

    Everytime we come to Osteria we have a great experience. I've seen some comments about the service but am happy to say that we have always had exceptional service. Whether at the bar waiting for our table or once we are seated the experience is very enjoyable. Get the cheese plate which is on the dessert menu...we always order with our appetizers.

    (4)
  • Da S.

    It's tough to grade this place, as wine had a private dinning with a pre-fix menu. The stuff we got, I probably would not have been my choices. But everything was top notch and the service was stellar.

    (4)
  • Isaac T.

    Boar pasta is insane

    (4)
  • Nicole P.

    Hits and misses, across the board. That was my impression of Osteria, plus that lingering sense of The Emperor's New Clothes...why is it I'm so often left unsatisfied and vaguely disappointed after dining at the restaurants so hyped up by Philly's foodie bloggers and their ilk? On the plus side: - Lovely dining room, excellent service. - The house-cured salumi appetizer was outstanding and something I'd come back for all on its own. Especially the artichoke mostarda. - Very good pizza. I won't say best of Philly, I won't say as good as the pizza I've had in Italy, but well worth trying and I'd try more varieties here in the future. Of the meh: - The chicken liver rigatoni which everyone hypes up like crazy barely had any liver flavor to it. It was a very fine bolognese, but I LIKE chicken livers and wanted to taste them. I should have heeded the caution when I heard a waitress telling a nearby diner "oh even if you don't like chicken livers you'll like this dish!" - A special pasta of the night featuring pork was completely overpowered by orange rind. Like, every single bite tasted like nothing but oranges. - The polenta budino which people seem to describe as the best dessert in Philly didn't really do it for me. Too much intense hazelnut flavor - Only one red wine by the bottle under $50? Really? C'mon. You can offer some decent choices at affordable prices, here. - Artichoke side dish bore no resemblance to the Jewish-style artichokes I enjoyed in Rome. A definite fail at a hefty $10 price tag. Overall, there was much I enjoyed but I was left not completely thrilled by the experience. I actually prefer Vetri's Amis, which again seems an unpopular opinion. I'd go back, but I'm not rushing back.

    (3)
  • Andrea T.

    It's a schlep. I mean seriously Marc you could have built some ovens in my kitchen and set up shop in my house? The service here is way better than Amis. Maybe because we went to Amis a few weeks after the big opening? Our server actually overheard discussion of my birthday and brought us birthday gelatto. We had a slew of food. We started with the antipasto which was really lovely. It was an assortment of summers fresh offerings. Almost all of the vegetables were done to perfection save a few. We then had two pizzas? The arugula pizza can be missed. The arugula is lost on it. The best thing that you must order and cannot miss here is the chicken liver rigatoni. It is amazing. Lick the bowl. Eat at room temp the next day leftover amazing good. If you go its a must. If you dont order it you are a fool. We also had the suckling pig. Which just tasted like my mom's pork loin. Which is good, but nothing to write home about, sorry mom. The gelattos/sorbettos are okay but I would not get dessert here. Like I said they gave it to me cause I was a birthday girl. Go to check it off your vetri list, but make sure you get the rigatoni!

    (4)
  • Rhea G.

    Went here for lunch during the week. Delicious! We were limited on time so just had an entree and glass of wine, but the "postage stamp" ravioli were divine. Service was prompt and friendly. Can't wait to go back.

    (5)
  • Bill G.

    Well with all of the good reviews here I was completely surprised by the fact dinner was so absolutely bad. The atmosphere is nice somewhat "soho-ish" with a cozy feel. The service was average and since we arrived early and the place only about 1/3 full I was a bit taken aback. We ordered a vegetable appetizer which was only warm and the grilled octopus was chewy. For entres the chicken with capers was overcooked and not a single caper to be found. Reminded me of a boiled chicken breast tossed on a plate. I had had the duck which was also overcooked and lacking in flavor. The wine selection was also average but with a heavy markup. A $25 bottle was about $100. The Italian wines selection was better (as you would imagine) it was not great. I don't think much about the cost of a fine meal unless it is sub-par. This was just plain amateur bad. Perhaps it was a bad night but when dinner for 2 is over $200 I do not believe in second chances. When you play at that level consistency is king. Vetri should investigate why his kitchen is up and down. Pick someplace else.

    (1)
  • Patricia H.

    I have been here twice for birthday celebrations and it never disappoints. This is the best Italian food in philadelphia and the service is great. One of my all time favorite restaurants.

    (5)
  • Amanda N.

    Service at the bar was good and table service was also good but seated 30 minutes late for 8pm reservation. Food was fine but certainly not the best I've ever had. If I am paying $20+ for an entree, I should not have to add salt to it. Entire party felt the same way. Grilled octopus appetizer was good. Entrees were mediocre. Desserts were good. Not planning to return - just not worth the price. Would rather spend that cash at Savona, Buddakhan or elsewhere for a much better meal.

    (3)
  • Gerald F.

    Excellent food. Great Pizza. Not cheap. Salumeri. Nice if it's your thing. I prefer old school south Philly. Wouldn't pass up someone takin me though.

    (4)
  • Brad P.

    robiola francobolli with royal trumpet mushrooms and thyme polenta budino with gianduia mousse and candied hazelnuts The above words are not mere words. They represent things that are creative and delicious. Highly recommended. On the action-movie-parallel-satisfaction scale, this place is Die Hard: With a Vengeance playing on your laptop while you sit in an IMAX theatre playing Kill Bill Vol. 1.

    (5)
  • Scout T.

    I don't have much to say because everyone else said so many great things. But I want to add this: the pizza here will make you cry tears of joy. Then, when you are finished your angelic pizza, you will cry again because it is gone.

    (5)
  • Noah G.

    A little bit ago, my boss and I took a client here for dinner and man it was the best meal I ever had in the city. I had the patte ravioli and the pizza as an appetizer and it was incredible. The service was amazing even when my boss and our client got a little drunk and started making a scene. They had a guy lubricating the inside of the wine glasses so that the wine would turn better when poured. Now listen, I love Machismo burritos and a non-lubricated fountain drink but every now and again it's nice to go somewhere and share some roast rabbit. I recommend this to anyone who wants to showcase the city to out of towners, and anyone who appreciates food and atmosphere.

    (5)
  • Michael N.

    I took the missus to Osteria last night and I am a bit torn. Started off kind of on the wrong foot by trying to seat us at a table right next to the register, where the staff congregates. Thankfully, they moved us to a better table since there were plenty of open tables. I had a sage gimlet, which was nice and refreshing. We tried to order an appetizer and take it from there but were informed that chef requires the entire meal ordered at once. Ok. We got a lombarda pizza to start out and it was ok, it started out kind of bland but grew on me, as if the flavors finally settled. The crust was pretty flat and burned, though. Had a special tortellini with broccoli rabe and cheese, which was very nice and delicate. Had the fried mozzarella, which was really tasty, done just right. Still feeling a tad peckish, we ordered the porcini and potato cialzon with braised rabbit. The pasta part was delicate to the point of disintegrating right on the plate. Then came dessert, which was the best part. Polenta "budino" with gianduia mousse and candied hazelnuts is something I want every day and I need the recipe. Awesome. Chocolate flan with pistachio gelato which is not a Spanish custard flan, but rather something that mimics a small souffle or lava cake. Also, very good, not too rich, and played off very well with the gelato. A light and appropriate Valpolicella with the meal and a grappa afterwards rounded everything out nicely. There are definitely things on the menu that I want to try, but something is nagging at me and I can't put my finger on it. The food is competent, but not mind blowing. The service is good, but not great. The ambiance is ok, but not superb. I guess I expected more.

    (3)
  • Philip K.

    Probably our favorite spot in the city. People love Vetri (we did not, see my review), but this place is a lot more user friendly and the food is still excellent. Food- we normally get a pizza or two, an app or two, and a pasta or two. Actually have never had any of the entrees and we have been here at least ten times. All of the thin crust pizzas are good, especially the ones with octopus, sausage and egg. The single best dish on the menu is the octopus appetizer. Lightly seared with olive oil and some greens. Pastas are homemade and fresh. Favorites include the rabbit and the mushrooms dishes. Service- we eat at the bar a lot. Tara is our normal bartender and is great. Highly , highly recommend her. John at the bar is also very friendly (and a friend of mine...). During the week, sit at the bar for a pizza or two and a glass of wine for around 50. On the weekends, get to the bar before 6 and do the same.

    (5)
  • Rob B.

    I made the booking for us and two friends. One is a vegetarian, and the others somewhat picky. With a reputation for it's "variety meat offerings" I worried the menu might put them off. As for me I am a totally double diamond foodie, I was eager to "go off the rails" with some of their more exotic dishes. All that said, Osteria had something for EVERYONE; Foodie or neophyte. My partner had the Margherita pizza. Looking dry and bland was instead AWESOME. A very thin crust was slightly smokey and salty with occasional rich cheese and fresh basil. I followed Yelp comments and had the chicken liver rigatoni. Awesome, but sadly for my diet, I ate nearly all of it. And while others said pass on dessert, we opted for the gelato and sorbet. The sweet corn gelato was amazing. Best was service, she was more than an order taker. She described each dish, asked our likes and dislikes guided us through the AWESOME experience.

    (5)
  • Atif I.

    As an enthusiastic advocate of the $ value of a meal in Philly (compared to one in NYC) I have no idea why Osteria does the volume of business that it does. For the same price, one could take the Chinatown bus to NYC, hop on a subway to Brooklyn, have a much better meal and come back to Philly. The price points are completely out of whack for the (rentals they must pay for the) location!! And, it's almost the same distance from Center City (just kidding on that one!). Full marks to the business sense of the owners who have leveraged the good name of their excellent flagship Italian restaurant Vetri well, despite the industrial setting, and (former parking garage) location. I walked into a bustling restaurant, despite their large seating capacity (quite different from that at Vetri) and could appreciate that the hype of home-style cooking had succeeded brilliantly. However, I am being polite when I say that my experience was inconsistent at best. Nowhere was this more evident than from the service which deteriorated as one went down the hierarchy. While the maitre d' was courteous and accommodating, the server would disappear for long periods of time, and the busboy simply had no clue. The olive oil arrived 9 minutes (I timed it) after I was served bread, by which time not only was I done with the bread, but also with my appetizer!! Speaking of which, I had started off with the antipasti of Wood grilled Octopus, lemon, potatoes, and chives. While the chef had made nice use of lemon, I found the Octopus to be chewy and dripping in olive oil. Also, it was burnt crisp in parts, and undercooked in others. I would've expected Osteria to have made good on this dish, but it only showed signs of promise. The highly acclaimed pizza (rumored to match Taconelli's) was prepared Roman style i.e. with a crisp ultra-thin crust, as opposed to a Neapolitan Margherita. While, one can acknowledge the difference in regional styles, however, by no stretch of imagination would this pizza be characterized as exceptional or rivaling the pies at Taconelli (unless the quality has gone down drastically since I was there last). In fact, Joe and Pat's in Staten Island, NY serve a much better crispier version of the pizza, though I must concede that the mozzarella at Osteria was decidedly superior, and delicious. For dessert, I debated ordering the (ubiquitous) chocolate flan with pistachio gelato, but ended up opting for the Canoli, at the recommendation of the server. The semi-freddo Cappuccino was more melted than it should have been, but I really liked the concept of using cocoa nibs as opposed to chocolate chips. Had the consistency of the semi-freddo been better, I may have been tempted to bump the rating up a notch, for it was a light and refreshing dessert and ended the meal on a higher note. For now, Osteria appears to be resting on the reputation of Vetri. Unless, they bring a consistency to their service, and get the execution details right, they will struggle to justify their premium pricing. I would still recommend a more wallet friendly trip to Brooklyn, instead!

    (3)
  • Over M.

    While the food here is excellent the host and service employees are awful and definitely not up to the quality of the restaurant in which they are working. When interacting with these rejects from Applebee's it destroys any attempt one might have to enjoy an elegant night of great food. Hopefully the Vetri family will start hiring more appropriate staff for their wonderful restaurant instead of driving around mall parking lots and asking spikey haired half wits and sorority drop outs to serve Osteria's clientele.

    (1)
  • Zoe P.

    I know so much about Chef Vetri, and even more about his restaurants, and yet only recently was I able to finally dine at one of his establishments. We'd heard about Osteria, primarily it's pizzas, from several sources including the bf's mother who took a pizza making course there (and then bought a pizza stone, made pizza one night, and that pizza stone is sitting somewhere in the dark...). They received a gift certificate to Osteria and invited the family (in CC) to have dinner together. It was a Sunday, but instead of being quieter the place was packed! We had a round table in the side room, thankfully well insulated despite the walls of windows and freezing temps outside. We decided that we had to share the chef's preparation of vegetables for the day, which was FANTASTIC. Sun dried tomatoes, roasted red peppers, red and golden beets, pickled ginger, kale and cabbage, brussels sprouts with prosciutto, parsnips, fennel and carrots, and arugula with parmesan shavings. They made the dish for the table, ie for 6 people, and it was alot of food. We didn't need to order the pizza, but we did and it was the fig one (highly recommended by out waitress, and with reason!) and you should try it. But it wasn't THE most amazing pizza ever, so it was a bit of a let down for our table. Our expectations were too high. We finished the meal with mostly pasta dishes, including the wild boar bolognese (delicious, big and filling), the postage stamp ravioli (good, MUCH smaller dish), the chicken liver rigatoni (as big as the bolognese, but much richer and filling), and I had the fire grilled octopus that was AMAZING. If Vetri taught a course on how to cook octopus, I'd be there in a snap! Dinner was so much food we really couldn't think of dessert, so we thanked our wonderful waitress, who made great suggestions, was very knowledgeable, and super friendly. We were relieved that the check was only a little over $200, which for 6 people at a place like Osteria really isn't bad at all. But we didn't order any secondi/entrees so we saved a whole lot that way. Be prepared to spend here, but at least know that the meal is going to be worth your pennies, especially if you order wisely.

    (4)
  • Michael S.

    I went to Osteria with high expectations. A friend with taste recommended it as a hot Philadelphia restaurant. I have to say my reaction was mixed. First impressions were strong: big, but cozy room, warm reception, friendly servers, and everything on the menu sounded great. I really liked the wine list: about a dozen Italian varietals by the glass, many good ones. I had a hard time choosing what I wanted for dinner, but ended up with a salad of raddichio, pear, and blue cheese and rabbit casalinga for the main course. As I watched the food coming to neighboring tables, I was really sorry that I wasn't dining with friends: it looked great! While the salad was fine--fresh, reasonable portion, well-dressed--the rabbit was a disappointment. Served on a bed of polenta, it was largely flavorless. I'm not quite sure how it became such a house favorite based on what I ate. I ordered a side of the celery root gratin, which was terrific. Plus the wait staff cleared my salad plate and dropped my entree in its place. Literally no pause between courses to catch my breath or take a sip of wine. What's with that? Liked the dessert list a lot, but I opted for an espresso and no dessert. Should have skipped the espresso--it was weak, almost without crema. Not what I'd expect from a to[-notch Italian restaurant. Having said this, I'm aware that this was one person's experience, on one night. I liked the menu and wine list a lot and I'd go back and give Osteria a second try. Hoping for better when I do.

    (2)
  • DOPETASTIC Q.

    DON'T ORDER THE BABY PIG! calamari pizza - black squid ink, delicious pasta special - little stuffed dumplings with chestnuts and cheese, sage, very yummy. slow-roasted baby pig special - shockingly bad. How could this be? We've had our fair share of pork in our lives and KNOW undercooked pork when we see one. Instead of falling-apart tender as a 5-hour roast should be, this meat was chewy AND pink and difficult to cut with the steak knives. What about that is not shocking? When we sent this back and questioned the done-ness, our waitress gladly took it back for a new order. The new order came. Much smaller portion, and same done-ness problems. I identified rib meat, but a few others I couldn't identify the cuts. But I've never experienced THAT kind of treatment, was it the kitchen retaliating?! I cannot believe it... I was beginning to question my own ability to tell when pork would be considered done! When I talked about my pork experience with friends, one of them said that the pork dish has been notoriously bad. Did I not see that in previous reviews? Why do you keep serving it Osteria, if it's so bad?!! Our waitress apologized profusely of course, and rendered continued great service which made us feel slightly better, but the night was ruined.

    (2)
  • Beth A.

    I live in LA, but this is still one of my favorite restaurants. Get any of the pastas or the pizzas -- they're all fabulous. I've never had pasta as fresh or soft as this.

    (5)
  • Justin S.

    I went here on Valentine's day. I think they were a little off their A game with all the extra traffic from the day, so the service was slow and not very helpful guiding us through the menu. It was a very nice ambiance, I have heard really great things about this place, so I will have to revisit to catch them on a better night. I will say, they have two nice red meat slicers by the entrance of the store and in the back dining area, which look really great.

    (3)
  • Dana B.

    This might be my favorite Vetri spot. It's a close call between this and Amis. Yes, the eponymous Vetri is what made him a star, but to be honest, I think it's a bit overpriced for what you get (sorry). At Osteria, you can splash out and spend a lot on a big meal, or you can eat relatively cheaply by ordering something like pizza and a starter. Their vegetable antipasti is always a winner, and the Lombarda pizza is so, so good. And the polenta budino is just flat out ridiculous. Yum.

    (5)
  • Brianna D.

    Elegant Italian food, and should be saved for special occasions. It's got a great atmopshere; however, it's sort of a awkward layout. We sat toward the back of the restaurant, and it was a pain to get to the bathrooms. The staff is very knowledgeable of the menu and wine list. Yes, the prices are high, but that's what you get for the quality of the food. Oh, and the basil bread - to die for! I definitely recommend this place!

    (5)
  • Abigail L.

    We need half stars darnit! I am underwhelmed. And my pockets are now void of funds. I mean, I knew what I was doing, but there must be something in the air at Osteria that makes you spend a ton of money, or maybe it's just the prices. We had a table of six for a birthday dinner and our bill was $425, without tip, which I don't actually consider to be insanely pricey, unless my tummy and palette are left unsatisfied. And they were. This was my second dining experience at Osteria, and both times left me feeling, just ok, rather than A-OK. Let's start with the service. We ordered drinks, but somehow the server left without asking my husband what he'd like. When I flagged her down she was sure to say, "Ok, I'll put in your additional request." I know, that sounds innocent, but it was kind of snotty. And maybe fess up to the fact that you completely ignored him and forgot to take his order. It's just good manners, thanks. Service remained like this for the rest of the night. We sat with empty, used plates in front of us for quite some time. The worst offense was one of my friends had a glass of wine she'd ordered at the bar, and then a glass of wine from a bottle that was purchased at the table. She had not finished her first glass, but the waitress poured some of the new bottle into her not yet empty DIFFERENT wine, while also ignoring the empty wine glass in front of the birthday girl. Uh, what? It happened so fast and she walked away so fast that we couldn't even let her know what she'd done. Food was brought out at a reasonable pace, except our coffees came about 10 minutes before our desserts so they were cold if you didn't finish them before dessert was delivered. The food was also just ok, especially for the prices. I do love the artichokes alla giudia and find them worth every penny. My pasta was good, but the price tag that came with it was not. I split the polenta rustica with my husband. It came out scalding hot so I burned my tongue. Once it cooled we found it to be ridiculously bland. I didn't know rustica meant seasonless. We asked for salt and pepper and it improved it greatly. I don't hate the food, I just didn't find myself swooning over it at all, while I've eaten at Amis and loved it. Odd. My first visit to Osteria left me feeling the same way. It included a few apps and sides, pasta, pizza, which was $22 for some cheese and pumpkin chunks. It was just downright insulting. My dessert was dry and bland on that occasion, but was redeemed last night by the cappuccino bignet with chocolate caramel sauce. The plate was overflowing with rich goodness, I had to take half of it home. Ok now drinks. Those are pretty good. I love the delicious Fresco cocktail of lime and gin and uhhh, I think basil, I don't know, it was yum. I'd love to see more than five cocktails on the menu though, and they didn't seem to change in a year so that'd be a nice touch too. I also ordered an extra dirty grey goose martini, the most expensive one I've ever ordered at $15. It was quite delicious though. Everyone seemed happy with their wine and beers as well. After two blah visits I think I'm done.

    (3)
  • Elise G.

    Ridiculously expensive for what we got. The food was okay. But too expensive for me to actually say it was good. For a group of 6 people, our bill was over $600. We got maybe 3 appetizers, entrées for each of us, and a few drinks. No expensive bottles of wine. Just 2 cocktails, some water, and a few glasses of the cheapest wine on the menu.

    (1)
  • Rachel A.

    Don't expect to see many 5 star reviews here, but Osteria is absolutely one of them. The former "Best of Philly" restaurant has never failed to impress me in the 5+ visits to the Marc Vetri sequel. It is one of the few places that I think I could tire of - after all, there aren't many places I've frequented as much. In the spirit of full disclosure, I did live at the same address as this restaurant for two years, but that didn't influence me when given the option to pick a special night out or bring guests. And this isn't Applebee's folks, the food is pricey. With the number of visits on my belt, it won't come as a surprise that I have my favorite dishes, but I have done my fair share of tasting the various items on the menu, many of which change with the seasons. Staples remain, but there are also rotating items and specials, which are always worth a taste. One of Osteria's specialties is the wood-oven pizza, which is soft and chewy in some spots, but crunchy in all the right ones. I recommend anything with prosciutto, but one of my favorite pizzas was a seasonal special including butternut squash and raisins. YUM. If you can't get a reservation (it's still tough on weeknights if you don't book ahead of time), get yourself to the bar, order a glass of wine and enjoy a pizza. You can thank me later. However, if you're on your game and get a seat in any of the coveted wooden chairs, I have some other recommendations for you. First, if you can, ask to be seated by the windows. This section of the restaurant feels like a living room + greenhouse, with all the natural light, view of a courtyard and candles along the ledge. It's fabulous. I've been seated in this section at least 4 times and it never disappoints. First food recommendation: order the seasonal vegetable plate. It's not on the menu, but your waitress will mention it with the specials. Only on my first visit did I not try this dish...and I consider that a failure. No matter the time of year, it's fabulous. Everyone I have recommended it to has said it's fabulous too, so no excuses. It will make you love brussels sprouts and you'll wonder why you don't add arugula to everything you eat. If I told you all the vegetables that I've had over the years, it'd take another paragraph, but know that they are fresh and uniquely flavored. You (and your party) will be fighting over the last beet. My next recommendation comes from Philadelphia Magazine's most recent issue. This year, Osteria ranked as their #6 restaurant in Philadelphia and they suggested that diners try the house-made cotechino sausage. On our most recent visit, we tried it out (officially listed on the menu as "ciareghi" house made cotechino sausage with polenta and sunny side up egg). It is not something I would normally choose, but it was quite tasty. My fiance said it would be "an amazing breakfast dish" with the mixture of the sweet from the polenta and egg with the slightly spicy sausage. Agreed. And now I will give you the ultimate in recommendations - a dish that, between my fiance and I, has been ordered at least 8 times - the candele with wild boar bolognese. I'll admit, neither of us had ever had wild boar before this dish, but are now very open to this meat. The waitress told us that chef's addition to the bolognese, which makes it so tasty, was cocoa! It mixes perfectly with the long, thick candele noodles and is a perfect portion size. My final recommendation to you is to go hungry to Osteria!! Their desserts are incredible, but too often, I don't have enough room. Take home main dishes if you have to (I can attest to the bolognese being good on day 2), but save room for dessert. They have some very unique gelato flavors and all my chocolate-loving friends recommend their chocolate cake. So, there you have it, my glowing review of Osteria. Run, don't walk, to OpenTable and make your reservation today (probably for about 2 weeks from now). And let me know what you think!

    (5)
  • Frank C.

    There's always some discomfort when giving a less-than-glowing review of a restaurant with all-glowing reviews. It's especially a shame when Osteria was my first experience at any Vetri establishment. We stopped in fairly late on a weekday evening (but not too late, there remained another hour's worth of reservations after us), wanting appetizers, wine, and to try this incredible pizza we'd been hearing about. The restaurant was stunning -- it felt very in harmony with its surroundings and the renaissance it is helping to anchor in Fairmount. The beautiful leg of prosciutto on the slicer and the bleu on the sideboard spoke of pleasures to come. We started with the special roasted vegetable plate and that '80s iconic Italian dish: Mozzarella en Carozza Both were excellent; each vegetable had its own unique and perfectly acidic sauce, the two towers of mozzarella were ever-so-lightly battered and fried to perfection -- fried cheese makes it easy to have somethign be just good, but this was very, very good. Our pizza of choice was the standby margherita. It was just meh. The crust, it's true was wonderfully thin and perfectly cooked, but the sauce seemed rather flat, somehow one-dimensional. I was so surprised. And since there was only one discrete dollop of cheese per quarter of the pie, the pizza was all about that rather vapid sauce. The service was just acceptable, as out server seemed rather disaffected and uninterested -- well, retail is a heck of a job, and the customer is so often NOT right. It happens. Two stars for the pie and service, four for the appetizers, excellent wine list, and atmosphere. We'll be back, Osteria -- we want to believe in you.

    (3)
  • Chris M.

    This Italian bistro from the chef that brought Philly Vetri is a great place for dining and people watching...the night we were there, Tony Danza was there with a cache of giant body-guards (are people trying to get at Tony Danza?). The food was great, the decor is simple and down to earth yet elegant, if a bit loud.

    (3)
  • Adrienne C.

    Perfection. I love love loved it. It's gorgeous, comfortable and the food is abs abs amazing. Yes, you need to get the chicken liver rigatoni. And the lombarda pizza w/egg and sausage. We also tried the roast pig special - the pork had been spit-roasted for 5+ hours, and it was so tender and flavorful. The wines were not bad - we had a great bottle for $50 - and the service was excellent. Hands down, this has been the best restaurant we've gone to in Philly since moving here...and we're piggys that eat out a ton. I was in food coma heaven for about 5 hours after the meal - so worth it.

    (5)
  • Diana G.

    Osteria is the dark underbelly of an overconfident celebrity-chef. The service was nothing extraordinary, and the pizzas were burnt, flavorless, unoriginal and overpriced.Honestly, I could never tell the difference between Osteria's pasta dish and a pot of Prego and Barilla. Why did I spare the restaurant of a 1 star score? The grilled octopus salad saved the meal.

    (2)
  • Irena C.

    I was visiting my friend in Philly and we decided to try Vetri's Osteria. It was easy to get a reservation via Open Table for a Friday night visit (booked 1 day ahead), which was a plus. The atmosphere at the restaurant was great. I'd say the majority of the clientele was couples and groups in their 40s and 50s if that matters to you. Either way, we were excited to try the food. We first ordered wine, and that was a bit of a letdown. My Gewürztraminer was supposed to be the sweetest and least dry white on the menu, but it was definitely dry and not smooth. My friend asked the waitress for something full-bodied like a Cabernet and the only thing she could suggest was a wine that specifically said "Cabernet blend" on the menu, and it wasn't full-bodied at all. We went through recommendations on several review sites and settled on the Octopus and Prosciutto appetizers. We were also going to share the chicken liver pasta, but the waitress mentioned the Suckling Pig as a special menu item. Given the reviews and its popularity, we went with the latter. The Octopus and Prosciutto dishes were great and I would highly recommend them. However, the Suckling Pig tasted way too fatty and salty to be edible. We never leave food on the plate, especially when it comes to meat at upscale restaurants, but we couldn't eat it after only a few bites. It was really a disappointment and we wished we'd ordered the pasta or the pizza. To avoid leaving on a sour note, we ordered the candied hazelnut mousse dessert, which was great and I'd highly recommend it. I wish I could say I'd want to come back here, but I think I'll be trying Amis next time. The Suckling Pig was really a disappointing experience for us.

    (3)
  • Leah G.

    I finally made it to Osteria after four years of living in Philadelphia. I would not say that it is the best pizza in Philly . . . I will say that it is a fantastic dining experience. I love the space, and I love the noise and bustling on a Saturday night. It has been a long time since I've eaten in a restaurant in Philadelphia where I've literally wanted to try every item on the menu. I was so overwhelmed by the amazing menu selections; so we will have to go back so I can try the things we missed. We started with the lombarda pizza which was actually my least favorite of the dishes we tried, hence Osteria not having the best pizza in Philly. We moved from the pizza to the wood-grilled octopus, which was delicious, and cooked perfectly. For the entree, I got the canestri with braised short ribs. This dish was perfection. I would recommend that anyone dining at Osteria try this. I wanted to order a second order of it . . . but opted for dessert instead. What really makes this place special, however, and merits a paragraph of its own is the service. I have NEVER experienced such wonderful service in all my dining in Philadelphia. The service was such a step above other places, that I felt like the bulk of our dinner conversation focused on just how excellent the service was.

    (4)
  • Rick G.

    This is, and continues to be my favorite restaurant in Philadelphia. Was just there on Thursday evening for dinner, capping my 4th Osteria experience. It should be reserved for a special occasion, as the cuisine is pricey, and a bit rich. However, always well, well worth it. I wasn't responsible for the tab so could be a bit more adventurous in what I ordered. There were 5 of us, which made sharing a lot of the appetizers and primi plates easy. The place prides itself on its artisan pizzas, which are delicious. But this time, I was intent on trying as much of the menu as possible. The pastas (like previously mentioned) tend to be fortified with rich meats (rabbit, chicken liver, and wild boar). Taken in small quantities and shared across the table helps to keep your stomach settled, and taste buds more than satisfied. The octopus, which is my favorite thing in the restaurant, came slightly more well done than I would have liked. It was marinated and spiced perfectly though. I had the venison for a main dish. She never asked how I wanted it cooked. I only assume that the restaurant recommends medium to medium rare. At first it arrived undercooked- in my opinion. When it returned, it was overcooked. Despite those issues, the dish was very well spiced and roasted, and paired with cranberry and cabbage. Definitely worth a return visit, but I'd just caution you to make requests around what temps you would like your dishes done- rare, med, well, etc. RG

    (5)
  • Andrew P.

    Opted to try Osteria for an Anniversary dinner. Based on all the hype this place had a lot to live up to, and we both agree it delivered. Price isn't really a factor I consider for infrequent meals like this; you know it is going to be expensive and you need to just brace for that and enjoy the food & experience. While overall I would not rate this as one of the "top" meals I've ever had, there were a few exceptional dishes to single out. First, the grilled octopus with lemon: the octopus was perfectly cooked, with a slight char and crispiness on the outside. The smokey wood flavor paired with the acidic bite of the cured lemon was killer. Definitely the most memorable octopus dish I've had anywhere. Along with fresh Sicilian Lemonade, it was a solid way to kick things off. The parma pizza with fontina and prosciutto was also excellent. Rich and salty, but thin enough that it wasn't too much to eat before the pasta and meat dishes. I liked the extra drizzle of olive oil on top. Of all the other courses, what specifically stood out was the quality of the pasta (although I would have appreciated slightly larger portions). They know what they are doing with pasta...and don't skimp on the butter. The dish with trumpet mushrooms was something else. Actually a bit disappointed in the rabbit dish. The meat could have been more exciting, and the polenta was just eh (but then again, most polenta is just eh, so maybe my fault for ordering). The service was just fine...I'm never very interested in grading service and try not to let it influence an appreciation for what the chef is doing. The sommelier did seem to take himself pretty seriously, but, that's just his job, and I'm sure some people are expecting supreme patronage at restaurants like this. Overall, Osteria was very impressive from start to finish. We had a great evening, and will definitely be back.

    (5)
  • Jill T.

    I've been to Osteria a few times for work events. My first visit wasn't too pleasant. The service was extremely poor. Considering the price of their lunch menu, service should have been outstanding. That being said, the food was amazing. I had the pizza with the octopus and it was the first time I ever had octopus on pizza and it went very well together! My colleagues and I decided to try Osteria a second time, and the food was fantastic once again. I opted to split the Parma Pizza and Bufala Mozzarella Panini with a colleague. I have to say that the prosciutto at Osteria is phenomenal. I recommend any menu item with prosciutto! Must try! The service the second time around was much better as well, and I'll be sure to try Osteria out for dinner sometime, I hope it's as good as their lunch menu!

    (4)
  • Caesar R.

    Went here a few weeks ago on a recent visit back to Philly with another couple. The place was packed at 9pm when we showed up. A great buzz in the restaurant. All the dishes on all the tables looked so appetizing. The service was excellent and all the staff were super friendly. We had great first courses. The wife got the soft shell crab, I got the octopus, a buddy of mine got the house made sausage with maple polenta and fried sunnyside up egg. All of these were great, then the mediocre mains we ordered showed up. The wife got the rabbit with brown butter and polenta, which was terribly dry. My buddy's girlfriend got the chicken liver pasta dish which was ok, but seemed to be a little rich and way to over powered by the liver. My buddy and I split the pepperoni pizza which was by pizza standards pretty good, but not amazing. The wine list is extensive and great deals are available on the Italian wines. Overall, the place was great and I would go back, but order mostly appetizers.

    (3)
  • Cyn P.

    I cannot say enough about this outstanding restaurant. Ambiance, service and food, all 5 star.

    (5)
  • Arammaru K.

    I decided to be adventurous when going to Osteria. Well.. not too adventurous.. but I decided to order something that I wouldn't normally think of ordering. If I'm going to try a place that looks so nice inside, might as well go the full mile. The interior has a very intimate atmosphere even though it is very spacious. My guess is all the warm and earthy tones of the interior. The wall on the backside of the restaurant looks like a composite of different wood panels of all kinds to give a sort of mosaic feel, while the rest of the building are in a very earthy tone of red. Most of the furniture are wood adding to the atmosphere of the restaurant. Their wine list was very impressive, and I went with a white wine as an aperitif (yes I know it's silly to have alcohol as an appetizer.. but trust me.. it did it's job of making my mouth water) According to my notes, the wine was a Soave DOC wine, and you can't go wrong with an Italian wine. (unless it's DaVinci..) For my meal, I decided to go with the Chicken Liver Rigatoni with Cipolline onions and sage. Now don't get me wrong, I don't think liver is really exotic, I've had it many times, but usually beef liver and it's usually just steamed then eaten with salt or raw with sesame oil, soy sauce ponzu. However, I have never bothered to try Chicken Liver, and especially pasta using grinded chicken liver as the sauce. The rigatoni was cooked just right, al-dente. And although the sauce at first was kind of weird for me because it was grainy, I warmed to it quickly. Great atmosphere, interesting interior, and great food and wine. Osteria was very enjoyable and I look forward to going back again!

    (4)
  • Christina H.

    Anthony Bourdain has recently inspired me to eat things I normally wouldn't want to try: like pig head, pig tails, sweetbreads, pig feet... Etc. Pair that new desire with friends who also appreciate good food you are set for a fantastic epicurean journey at Osteria. Yes, osteria is pricier than other restaurants, but it's also cheaper than the chef menu at Vetri. But if you go to a nice restaurant, plan on spending money some food- this isn't olive garden. We went with 7 people and shared the following dishes: First course: pig tails, two orders of seasonal veggies, salumi plate, sweetbreads, margherita and Lombardo pizza (sausage and egg) Second course: pig feet with ramp tagliatelli, boar bolognese, and cod baked cannelloni. Third course: 3 orders of the suckling pig entrees (special) Dessert: 2 orders of banana puff pastry, chocolate torte, blood orange tarte, gelatos, 3 coffees, 1 espresso 2 bottles of wine Every single dish was awesome. My favorites was pig tail and the bolognese pasta. And it came to $80 per person including tip! It was A Lot of food and took about 3 hours to get through. Totally worth it. My advice, go with great friends who appreciate good food and aren't afraid to try new things. Grab a table in their sunroom. Service was impeccable. All courses came out with perfect timing, the sommelier was helpful, and our water was also filled. Looking back now, I realized I ate a lot of pork in one day. That's what I call I good day!

    (5)
  • Nat M.

    Outstanding service. Great ambience. The food was a bit below the hyped expectations

    (4)
  • Matt B.

    Having heard rave reviews for Osteria, I was eager to enjoy a meal there. And it delivers. I didn't give it five stars because my expectations were likely set too high after so many "oh, man, you have to go there" comments. It breaks down like this... FOOD: Excellent. The flavor combinations were unexpected yet simple. We had a table of seven and shared 5-6 appetizers. The wood grilled octopus was amazing. If I could recommend only one starter, this would be the one. The lemon and chives enhanced the flavor of the octopus perfectly. We tried two raviolis -- the double with chestnuts and duck was the better of two. The brick-oven pizza with meatballs and capers was light and tasty. We also tried the special for the night, which was roasted seasonal vegetables. Nice but not great. On to the entree. I had the grilled venison leg with parsnips, apple and chestnuts. Wow! The meat was gently grilled and really allowed the natural flavor to make its presence felt. The apple puree along with the chestnuts was spot on. WINE: They basically offer only Italians, which is fine. Unfortunately, I only recently started drinking Old World wines and can claim no useful knowledge of Italian varieties. We had a jaw-dropping Brunello. More fruit than I expected, but really just amazing. The Montepulciano we had was nice, too, but not on the same level as the Brunello. SERVICE: Attentive and knowledgeable. I don't remember much other than we were taken care of nicely. That's all I really expect from the service side. PRICE: This was a treat, so I would only visit here once per year. The juice is worth the squeeze. ATMOSPHERE: Loved it. Great energy. Soft lighting. Memorable without taking the focus away from the food. OVERALL: Osteria deserves the hype. You will enjoy a special dining experience.

    (4)
  • Shawn S.

    Amazing meals. The Lombardo pizza was a great start and the roast pork lasgnette delighted the whole table!

    (5)
  • Marcello D.

    My experiences at Osteria have truly been worthy of five stars but I don't feel right doling out the last one as my perspective is skewed. A relative of mine worked at Osteria and my family was treated like royalty whenever we came here. As a result, I feel that it is only right to withhold a star until I'm able to return and dine without the perks. I have probably tried between 15-20 different wines from the list and every single glass I have had was thoroughly enjoyable at a bare minimum. I feel confident saying that Osteria has one of the best wine lists in the area. The sommelier, bartenders, and servers are very knowledgable and, if you prefer to rely upon their expertise, can match up a great wine with your food. Although I think all of their offerings are excellent, it is the pizza that I crave whenever I think about this restaurant. Marc Vetri has done a commendable job at using it as a vehicle for upscale food. The best meal I had here was when I went with a large group and we ordered nearly every pizza on the menu. I highly recommend this approach.

    (4)
  • Scott G.

    Well, since my previous review I have been back to Osteria for an excellent meal, and even more importantly, I spent some time in Italy eating at Italian restaurant. Chalk it up to ignorance, but I judged Osteria harshly for serving its delicious pork with no accompaniment. I had no idea that this is how secondi is routinely done in Italy, and while it still bugs me, it's tough to fault Osteria for true authenticity. So congratulations Osteria, you get another star from a semi-anonymous internet food critic who obviously has more to learn.

    (4)
  • Krystal K.

    I went here last Saturday evening with my mom, brother, and dad who are from out of town. This was all of our first times here. We enjoyed the atmosphere, even were seated in the greenhouse, where you can view fresh herbs and veggies growing in the beds outside. Server was attentive and nice, he also was happy to offer suggestions on their ever changing menu.I ordered a rhubarb fritz for my cocktail (a refreshing vodka mixer w/ fresh rhubarb and strawberry puree) the grilled octopus for my app, suckling pig for my entree, and gellato for dessert. My family ordered the aged rib-eye and halibut. I tried everything except the halibut, but everyone was happy with their choices. Bill ended up being around 300 with only 2 drinks and 2 desserts, and had the night ended there I would have been ok with that. Unfortunately the night had just begun for me. I have a severe MSG allergy and have pretty much distinguished all foods to avoid. Osteria was not at all a place I thought I'd have to ask if they cooked with MSG, being the chef prides himself on living in Northern Italy-therefore translating the palate here. (I've never been to Northern Italy, but I strongly doubt they use MSG in their ingredients there). So for the rest of the weekend and into Monday I spent the entire 2.5 days sick. I wasn't sure which to be more upset about...actually being sick especially over Easter, or realizing that good money doesn't always mean MSG free food. Sadly, this experience has scarred me from going back for anything other than cocktails. The other thing I'm left to wonder is what else is not actually what it may seem...

    (3)
  • Ellen C.

    This entire restaurant is charming - everything from the wine box wall to the wood tabletops was perfect for the ambience. We sat out in the garden atrium area, which was fantastic but it did get a little chilly out there with the A/C turning on every 5-10 minutes or so. We made a reservation for 8:15pm on a Friday night. We arrived about 20 minutes ahead of schedule and were asked to wait at the bar, but were quickly seated a few minutes later for dinner. Our server was great. She had recommendations, smiled throughout service, and the rest of the staff were equally friendly. A welcome change from some of the people we had encountered earlier during our travels through downtown Philly. Our chef friend who recommended this restaurant to us before our Philly trip let us know that they also serve half portions of the pasta, which was great because we wanted to try a wide variety since we knew we wouldn't be back any time soon to enjoy the food on a more regular basis. We wanted to focus on the pizzas and the pastas, since all of our fine Yelp friends suggested that those were the dazzlers of the menu. So all in all we ordered the lombarda pizza (only full orders), beet & goat cheese plin (half order), lardo ravioli with fava beans (half order), and chicken liver rigatoni (half order). For dessert we ordered the budino and the gelato variety. The lombarda pizza was good. The crust was thin and crispy, yet still had a good chew to it with its cheesy goodness. The sausage was really good for and it was just the perfect portions of sauce, cheese, and other ingredients. It's not the best pizza I've ever had but it's a good one! The beet & goat cheese plin (which resemble ravioli) were amazing! The perfect combination of sweet beets and earthy goat cheese was astounding, but despite its deliciousness we wouldn't have been able to eat an entire plate of it. The sweetness, though amazing at first, could quickly become tiresome after an entire plate of nothing else but beetness. The lardo ravioli was alright. The ravioli skin was thin and tender, and the lardo filling was delicious, but the fava beans and the sauce that went with it was a bit overpowering at times. The chicken liver rigatoni I would order again in a heartbeat. Keep in mind I love chicken livers so if you don't like the earthiness of chicken livers then you might not like this dish. But if it helps the liver flavor is subtle. You don't really taste it until you're done with the bite and then it gives you this nice, livery afternote. Delicious!! Of all the dishes we ate that night, this is definitely the one that I would like to try to recreate at home. The desserts were okay, but as a person who loves savory items, I would have preferred to have another plate of pasta over the desserts. The budino was okay, but it wasn't good enough for us to finish. The gelato was better and came in three flavors. They were good but they weren't that impressive compared to the savory items on their menu. If I came back to Philly I would probably come back and get a full plate of chicken liver rigatoni among other things. Small warning though. If you're getting here in a way other than driving yourself, try to stay on Broad Street. We walked there from our hotel (about a mile and a half away) and we took a side street. It was only a couple blocks from Broad Street but once you venture off the main street things become significantly more sketchy.

    (4)
  • Dane F.

    As a resident of Center City but a student at Temple University, I had passed Osteria a number of times in my morning and afternoon commutes and had heard it was a wonderful restaurant, but the thought never crossed my mind to actually eat there. It's awkwardly positioned between the kinda-shady Fairmount Avenue and the even more shady North Philadelphia/Temple University neighborhood, though I suppose it's part of the whole neighborhood revitalization project going on in that area. The service was probably the best thing about my visit to Osteria. We were greeted at the door with warmth and lots of smiles and attentiveness. The maitre d' was extremely friendly and more than understanding when I called him back so I could retrieve my phone from the pocket. There was a short wait for our table but we were informed that it was due to a spill that had occurred and that it was being cleaned up so we would be safe on our way. We were seated in the patio extension area but never felt cut off from the rest of the establishment, and I was even a bit relieved when I saw that this area offered more space and table privacy, where it appeared that in the main room, tables of 2 were awkwardly close to each other. Our server knew EVERYTHING about every item on the menu, as well as the specials. I'm pretty sure I could have asked a ridiculous question about one of the items and she would have had an answer. She was courteous and informative, and even engaged in a fun debate my friend and I were in over Saved by the Bell characters. On to the food. Our appetizer was the mozzarella in carrozza, and it was out-of-this-world. I'm not sure if I'll ever look at a pile of mozzarella sticks the same way after that dish. My first course were the robiola francobolli, "little postage stamp raviolo"...They were flavorful, filling and I had no trouble clearing the entire plate. My second course was the chicken alla griglia which was similarly wonderful and cooked to perfection. Our dessert was the blood orange crostate, which pretty much ended our meal perfectly. My only complaints would be the drink menu. The cocktail list seemed a little short, and my Sicilian Lemonade left something to be desired -- it seemed more like a mojito to me. The rest of the wine list was huge and a little intimidating, though I'm not quite a wine person.

    (4)
  • R L.

    Went for a lunch date, which is always a good way to enjoy great food on a budget. I wasn't really into the red pepper gazpacho. It was served in a single-serving sized all-clad pot, which might have been cute for a hot soup, but didn't really make any sense for something that's not heated anyway. The texture was silky smooth, but that seemed odd for what i'm used to when I hear "gazpacho." I think I just wasn't that into the whole fried anchovies (or were they sardines??) on the side, even though I love anchovies if they're in filet or paste form. that said, our main entrees were incredible!!! My girlfriend got the pasta with chicken liver and it was amazingly rich and perfect. I got the Pulpa pizza, which had octopus, crushed tomatoes, smoked mozzarella, and chile flakes. The mozzarella tasted like campfire which I loved. the crust and tomatoes were perfect. and the octopus is the best i have ever had. tender, amazingly well seasoned, panfried?--we both were overwhelmed with how good it was. service was great, no complaints! we were seated next to but not in the breezeway area, and with the afternoon sun it was really pleasant and relaxing--our day was really hectic but once we walked in for lunch with great ambiance, great service, and amazing food, our moods improved immensely.

    (4)
  • Jamie S.

    It's always good! Their pizzas are ah-mazing! Been here a few times and have never been let down. If you haven't been GO!

    (4)
  • Katie G.

    I had planned on ordering the wild boar bolognese (touted as one of the best dishes in the city), but the chicken liver rigatoni with cipollini onions and sage caught my eye on the menu. The presentation leaves a lot to be desired. My rigatoni arrived looking like it had been tossed with Fancy Feast and my husband's pizza polpo (octopus) looked suspiciously dry. The taste makes up for the appearance, however, if a little rich. Nice little wine list, too. Considering all the hype (and the prices), we were underwhelmed. That is, until I tasted the bolognese we decided to get to go. Hot damn.

    (3)
  • Lauren B.

    Great food. Impossibly over priced. My friend and I got the special appetizer and we were told it was $12...yeah when we got the check it was $12 a person. Not explained to us. Kind of a ripoff for roasted red peppers. Maybe that's just me.

    (2)
  • Zachary S.

    Great restaurant. Eaten here many times because of its proximity to my house. The pizzas are stellar. The varieties change every few months or so, but most are fantastic combinations of leafy greens and italian meats. The crust is just right (hand tossed). Pizza is a nice size (~12 inch). My recommendations: Lombarda, Agnello, Lardo, and Parma. All great, great pizzas. The pastas and entrees are delicious as well. Chicken liver rigatoni--awesome. The suckling pig--awesome. Once had a special they had going of foie gras ravioli--double awesome. Most of the entrees are smaller portion size than I would prefer. The wine selection is over my head, because I'm not a wino, but the cocktail selection is pretty solid. The beer selection is average for a place like this.

    (4)
  • Eric L.

    Great food. Good service. My wife and I had our anniversary dinner here and really enjoyed the experience and the food. I had the tuna steak and sausage, which was perfect.

    (5)
  • Bertram B.

    An OK dining experience for $450+. (including three bottles of wine) Pork bruschetta with ramps was solid. As was salumi plate. Clams were weakly flavored, lacking love and salt. Agnolotti del plin were tops! Very light and enjoyable. Gemelli with sweetbreads and pancetta was ok, give or take the 8 or so inch hair with which my plate was laced. (they did bring a new one) Rabbit casalinga was dry( which is typical of rabbit but I'm talking DRY) and flavorless. Good polenta though! Polenta budino was one of the best desserts I've had. Perfect balance of sugar and salt(served with slightly salty hazlenut brittle.) Well done. Good wines, nervous waitress, some good food, some not that good. Not worth the money.

    (3)
  • Gina C.

    Went with my family to Osteria to celebrate my 21st birthday. Although this was six months ago, I'm still certain I couldn't have spent it better. Cool taverny, brick-walled space (except for the wall facing you when you walk in, made from old wine crates!). Beautifully lit, with perfectly buzzy energy on a weekend night. Pizza oven is open for all in the main dining room to see, and the cooks (would they prefer "chefs"? Let me know, boys...)...wow. They're incredibly cute. Ladies, take a group of girlfriends and enjoy the view. The menu that night offered about a dozen tantalizing options, but none could fairly compete with the 7-month cave-aged beef steak (forgive me, I forget the cut!) with roasted chanterelles. 'Twas a $50 plate, shared most satisfyingly between my mom and I. Also on our table: braised rabbit, veal, all not-too-rich but powerfully flavorful. Portion sizes were on the generous side. The waiter overheard my accidentally external internal dialogue as I furiously spat behind the menu, and sneakily put an order in for the pizza I gave up when I settled on the steak. Sweet corn, fresh mozzarella di bufala and lardons made for an amazing pie. He brought it to the table, winked, and didn't add it to the bill! My family and I were full-bellied and blissful as we indulged in several unnecessary but fantastic desserts that I cannot quite recall. The next time I go to Osteria, it will be to chain myself to something inside so I may appropriate all my waking hours to beg for a job. Written July, 2011 GREAT pizza. And I am not easily impressed (Frank Pepe's of New Haven, CT: still reigns no.1 in my heart). Full menu, but this pizza is not to be passed up. Osteria offers both traditional thin-crust pizza and a napoletana option (a somewhat heftier crust with more chew than crisp). Deep-fried artichoke appetizer, divine.

    (5)
  • Dave M.

    Hip, great service, but seriously lacking in value - the several dishes I sampled were tiny portions, nothing special taste-wise, and overpriced. I would still try this for the ambiance!

    (3)
  • Edward S.

    Osteria is one of those places that upon entering you feel like you're somewhere else. It has a somewhat industrial feel to it and it can be loud inside, but hey, it's full because it's good. This is not the place to go for a quiet contemplative dinner for two. I've been here three times-the last time I went we had the pizza so I can vouch that it is superb. Thin crust, slightly charred from the oven, good ratio of ingredients, totally delicious. (corn, scallion, truffle oil and buffalo mozz is spectacular) Last night we sat at the bar. Immediately after sitting the bartender made an ordering mistake and gave us a surplus order of robiola and mushroom ravioli! The Gods were smiling upon us for patiently waiting and hawking those seats, and rewarded us with those delicate, fluffy pillows of cheesy goodness. We then ordered the pork belly with melon and mint salad. It was an amazing combination of textures, flavors, and temperatures. The pork was warm, salty and half meat to fat and melted in your mouth. The melon was cool and refreshing, and along with the mint and acidic vinaigrette cut the fat of the pork belly. Washed that all down with a glass of Friulano, which paired nicely with that, and our next course... Calamari spaghetti tasted like the sea. The pasta was perfectly cooked, the calamari was chopped and mixed throughout, and the parsley sauce lended a delicious herbal burst of flavor to compliment the salinity of the fish. We lastly ordered the rosemary veal, which was good. Served with nectarines and artichokes maybe? The veal was cooked nicely- the whole dish didn't leave much of an impression with me. We opted to try the polenta budino for dessert- which I have to say I am still thinking about and was probably one of the best desserts I've ever had in my life. Served in a cappuccino cup, the bottom layer was a creamy and slightly sweet polenta pudding specked with vanilla. The natural sweetness of the corn meal really came out with a little sugar and vanilla, and I'm sure a healthy dash of cream. The next layer was a gianduia mousse (chocolate and hazelnut), which was everything that a gianduia candy should be in liquid form. Lastly it was topped with salty and sweet caramelized toasted hazelnuts. The combination of creamy, chocolatey, toasted nut, salty and sweet flavors were absolutely delicious. I really regret not licking the cup.

    (5)
  • Percy N.

    As good as Italian food gets outside of Italy. Don't confuse this cuisine with AMerican-Italian cuisine as you will not see any "parmasean" or "red gravy" on the menu. Instead your tastebuds will rejoice when introduced to thin crisp crusted, brick oven pizza with toppings of truffle, parma, etc (I recommend the parma and lombard, which has an egg crack on it before it is baked). Pasta dishes include wild boar, store made sausage, rabbit, quail, etc. If you are lucky, they will offer a special of roast suckling pig. For dessert I recommend the budinio (sweet polenta with caramel coated hazelnuts) and chocolate flan. Service is usually good and they have a good selection of Italian wines.

    (5)
  • Niyant S.

    Mostly everyone is correct about this place, it is pretty awesome...even Bobby Flay said it was some of the best pizza he has ever had! The food, drinks, and ambiance here were all superb. Be warned, this place is a little upscale/classy, so make sure you are dressed right. We ordered a couple of the specials for appetizers. I don't remember their names, however one was a veal ravioli dish, and the other was a large platter featuring all different vegetables. Unfortunately, since these were not listed on the menu but verbally described to us, we did not realize the vegetable platter would be charged as a per person dish ($12 each!). This is mainly the reason I knocked a star off their rating. For dinner, I enjoyed one of their signature pizzas (again I cannot remember its exact name) that had sausage and egg. I wasn't sure how a pizza would taste with egg on it, however I was pleasantly surprised to find that it was quite good. Others in our group got the lamb dish, the margherita pizza, and white sauce pizza; all of these dishes were great (especially the lamb!). I definitely recommend checking this place out if you want to try some really good food in an upscale environment, but be ready to spend...

    (4)
  • Ariel D.

    My parents were in town and my wife and I took them to Osteria and it was great. We ordered the special vegetable platter to start which was amazing. It is a large wood board with a cornucopia of different fresh in season vegetables. Everything on this platter was unique and equally great tasting. My father and I are vegetarian and we had no trouble finding something great to eat. In addition to the vegetarian friendly items on the menu the offered to make a couple of the other items vegetarian which was awesome. We all had a great time with a nice bottle of Chianti and a great meal. We will definitely be back.

    (4)
  • Robin H.

    For an American-Italian restaurant this is about as good as it gets. It's expensive, although not especially so if you're accustomed to New York prices. To say that it's authentic Italian would be a bit of a stretch. There's something indefinable about the difference between Italian (or French) restaurants and anything in the English-speaking part of the world. Yet it gets close. The pizze were very close to authentic, although they did come sliced (in two) which is a no-no in Italy. The other dishes were imaginative, well-prepared and presented. The service was excellent. All around a good evening.

    (5)
  • Lee A.

    Food was great. We had gone to Barbuzzo the nite before - a bit more reserved, vibe not as intense as Barbuzzo. Well worth the visit and highly recommend. One item that I will change for my next visit is the ordering, I would get a couple/few of antipasti, a pizza, a couple/few of primi and a couple/few of secondi - for a party of four - and do everything family style.

    (4)
  • mike g.

    They are not nice people.

    (1)
  • Rocio U.

    It did not meet my high expectations. Food was ok, nothing spectacular. Service was fine. Wine recommendation was not good, seems the same wine was served at all tables tonight... A good restaurant, overrated to my best knowledge and highly priced. Too loud also.

    (4)
  • Sean G.

    I wish that I could give Osteria a better rating, but for what I experienced on my visit, thats about all it's worth. When I moved from New York City to Philadelphia I was told, "Go to Osteria, Jeff Michaud is doing great things." I was more than excited when after work last Sunday my partner surprised me with an early dinner. When we arrived we were greatly by the host who was quite courteous, and told us it would be a few moments for our table to be set up and if we like, we could get a drink at the bar. We both decided a drink would be unnecessary and we were happy to wait. We continued to stand and wait for a table and a second, third, and fourth person told us we could get a drink at the bar. At this point we were annoyed by the interactions. The dining room was not full, and yet we waited another 5 minutes, literally, for our table. Then we were seated. Our waiter was shaky and nervous, his second week on the job. We ordered the special vegetable appetizer which was delightful. Served on a pig shaped cutting board with 8+ different vegetables, all with different cooking applications. Each bite was delicious, cauliflower in duck fat and roasted golden beets - I was in heaven. We started and finished with the high note of the evening. Next came 2 pasta courses which we shared. A stamp pasta filled with cheese, and a whole wheat pasta with a duck ragout. The cheese pasta was a tiny portion, extremely salt and greasy. The duck pasta was the opposite, dry and flavorless. Both portions were tiny and extremely over priced. Next we unfortunately shared the rabbit course. The portion couldn't have been more than 6oz, was overcooked to the point of it being inedible, and was riddled with tiny bones which made it impossible to even try to eat. The polenta was granular and undercooked almost to the point of raw. The sauce on the plate was lacking and the whole dish was luke warm. I said this probably 4 times now, this was singularly one of the worst dishes I've had in my life... and for $26 I felt robbed. Hoping to save the meal, we ordered dessert. Osteria's "Chocolate Flan" was nothing more than a poorly executed chocolate lava cake, a huge disappointment. Their polenta budino was very sweet, but delicious, and was a saving grace. I see that there is potential for me to go again and have a good meal, but based on my first experience it will probably be my last. A $200+ meal for two, with lackluster service and downright poorly cooked food is just a waste, and in a city with such great culinary talents, I doubt I will spend my money at Osteria again.

    (2)
  • Nicky H.

    The pizza was good. The limoncello was delish. I like the overall vibe and the desserts are FABULOUS. This place gets really busy, now I know why!

    (4)
  • elanya m.

    Forgot I never reviewed this place...great spot....location and overall experience...def. worth checking out. Vetri does it again

    (5)
  • Linda L.

    According to Wikipedia: A salt lick is a salt deposit that animals regularly lick...salt/mineral licks provide the sodium, calcium, iron, phosphorus and zinc required for bone, muscle and other growth in deer and other wildlife, such as moose, elephants, cattle, woodchucks, domestic sheep, fox squirrels, mountain goats and porcupines. If you are not a nutrient deficient wild animal, and especially if you have high blood pressure, I would strongly suggest staying from Osteria. Even the bread is intensely salted.

    (2)
  • Jen R.

    We found street parking fairly quickly behind Osteria. We were seated in their nice sun room which I enjoyed. Our waiter brought out lots of salted bread and bread sticks and always made sure our basket and drinks were full :) We chose the Lamb belly appetizer which was a special of the night and was not on the actual menu. I recommend you try these! Very flavorful and savory. I'll be back for these. We ordered the Rib-eye steak for two (32oz). We were warned about the 40 minute cooking time before placing our order. We didn't mind the wait. I don't think it took that long anyway. The steak was then brought out to us. For verification? I don't understand. Then it was returned to the kitchen to be cut and plated. We immediately fell in love with the flavor. Mouth watering, perfectly cooked steak. What else could you ask for? We chose to take it to full throttle and order dessert. I had the Nutella tart which was good but nothing special. Steve had a trio of Chocolate Cannoli's with ice cream filling. Now those had the "special" I was looking for. As expected, the staff was very nice and knowledgeable. We can't wait to go back to Osteria and try other Marc Vetri restaurants as well.

    (5)
  • christina j.

    Osteria gives that rustic Italian feel as soon as you enter. A perfect stage for my meal. The food was delicious. My starter was the house cured salumi & artichoke mostarda. No complaints here. Our waiter was so nice and very patient. I had several questions surrounding my entree & couldn't decide on what to order; so I finally just said "surprise me" and he did. He brought both the pork special with a side of the chicken liver rigatoni. The rigatoni was awesome and I can see why everyone says get the chicken liver rigatoni. My girlfriend went with the octopus and halibut, she enjoyed her meal as well.

    (3)
  • Scott H.

    There is too much to type to be quite honest about osteria. I will say this; my fiancé and i, Went t celebrate our engagement. We did not even tell the server that's why we were there. It was hands down the best restaurant experience we have ever had in the city of Philadelphia. Everything, and I mean everything was perfect! The food, the wine, the ambiance. Bravo Marc vetri, if. Can ever afford it, I will be back

    (5)
  • Meghan B.

    Had the best meal of my life-Chicken Liver Rigatoni was unbelievable. The service was impeccable and the attention to detail was unparalleled. It was a special evening and Osteria will be the place to beat on my top ten list. Had a great family feel with lots of style to boot. Thank you Osteria!!

    (5)
  • Mark P.

    Last night the gf and I headed to Osteria so she could finally check it out. It started off on not such a great note. OPur table was right next to the server station - my gf could not see anything around server station and I had to face a wall and have servers literally on top of me all night as they entered their orders. I will say though the service was outstanding the entire night. SO onto the food. We started with a 14 month aged proscuitto that was an addition for the night. I was definitely surprised with the amount they gave you - extremely generous. Next, we has the parma pizza which was pretty damn good - maybe a little too thin. I personally still think Zavino has the most authentic pizza in the city but this is a close 2nd. After the pizza came our pasta dishes. My gf had a pasta with a wild board ragu which was very flavorful. /Unfortunaltely the sausage ravioli I ordered was extremely bland. My dish was so overpowered by the parm on top of the ravioli that was all I could taste - well except for the one bite that was nothing but black pepper. The ravioli were definitly the low point of the night. The deserts we had were pretty good. I had an apple and riccota strusle (im sure I spelled that wrong) and my gf had one of the chocolate deserts. It was surprising to see Marc Vetri hanging out at the bar. All in all it was good but nothing amazing. Definitely over priced for certain things. Next time I will do what I was told by friends, just sit at the bar and get a pizza.

    (3)
  • Stephen H.

    I know people that rave about this place, so I been here a couple of times. They have some unique dishes here (a chicken liver dish and a rabbit dish are two I recall), which I am always open to try, but I was not a big fan. I honestly think this is a hit or miss place, you either love it or don't like it and unfortunately I am more of the latter.

    (2)
  • John J.

    The chicken liver rigatoni was amazing!

    (4)
  • Andrew W.

    This was possibly the best food I've had since being in Philly. The pizzas, pasta dishes, meat courses were all amazing. My only gripe would be the lack of fish on the menu, but there was more than enough to make up for it... I will definitely be heading back. Try the Chicken Liver Rigatoni or the gnocchi, both were delicious.

    (5)
  • Hope S.

    The service was amazing! The food was fair. I was not impressed. My girlfriend and I had a bunch of appetizers. ... escargot, kale, grilled veggies, grilled octopus, and some kind of fried mozzarella. I was not impressed. However the staff were pleasant and quick which made it delightful.

    (3)
  • Jay F.

    Brains, guinea hen, rabbit, and chicken liver your style? You'll love it here. Want to be able to actually read a menu and know what they're talking about? Then this wouldn't be your style. I'll admit my palate is not much better than that of an 8 year old's, but when a restaurant doesn't even have ONE thing that the unsophisticated can get (they had grilled chicken, but bone in, skin on, and over some way weird onion like things that had lots of juice around them), it's just very frustrating. Basically, this is a very expensive place that will enable you to brag about being cultured. if, like me, you don't care about this, you're better off at 100 other places in center city.

    (2)
  • jay s.

    for the money go to vetri"s on spruce, cost a little more and you will truly have a gourmet Italian dinner.

    (3)
  • Ben K.

    Osteria is everything I want from an Italian restaurant and a lot of things that most people wouldn't expect. The place itself is absolutely gorgeous with that rustic osteria feel, farmhouse door wood tables, clay dishes and paper place mats. We were situated at a table right next to the antipasti prep station which had me directly next to a deli slicer which was being used to output some outrageously fragrant, cured meats. Coupled with the constant opening of bottles of wine next to my nose, I was in heaven. Seeing that Vetri himself was in the kitchen keeping an eye on the pizzas, we started with the 'Lombarda' a pie consisting of baked egg, bitto cheese, mozzarella, and cotechino sausage. I have never experienced a more perfect crust, wafer thin and crunchy and cooked as well as it could possibly get without being too brown. The combination of the bitto, mozzarella, a slightly salty sauce and the zest of the sausage made for an incredible experience of sweet and sour. The antipasti we ordered (a special that night) was mediocre, three tiny slices of baguette with grilled escarole and a slice of marinated mozzarella in the center, it was delicious but not exactly what I was expecting. We proceeded to order the rib eye with borlotti bean schiacciata and capon chicken with parsnips and chestnut stuffing as our entrees. The steak was so unbelievably flavorful and literally melted like butter on the tongue. It was cooked to perfection (ordered medium) with a crisp outside and juicy pink center. The chicken was also expertly cooked seemingly poached as it also melted in the mouth. The accompanying stuffing was baked as a casserole and was outrageously sweet while still staying savory from the chicken stock used. For dessert we ordered the 'chocolate flan' with pistachio gelato which isn't really a flan, but more of a lava cake. Also ordered was the polenta budino, supposedly a staple of the restaurant and it lived up to the hype. A delicate italian style rice pudding served in a mug topped with gianduia which is a stunning mixture of hazlenuts and chocolate and a caramelized sugar crust. Our server also sent over a sampler plate of all of the housemade gelatos and sorbets as she notcied the birthday cards I had left opened on the table. Outrageous flavors like kiwi, pomegranate, amaretto and hazlenut were situated in heaping creamy scoops on a plate adorned with pizzelles. The service as noted before is very accommodating and helpful with a great knowledge of the food and wine list. We enjoyed an Italian cabernet with our meal whose name and vineyard escapes me right now. All in all, Osteria is a substantial step forward for Marc Vetri and I will be returning soon to experience the pastas he offers. EDIT: Just wanted to add that I realized my visit to Osteria was on their 1-year anniversary. A lot of the kinks that previous reviewers experienced seem to have been worked out and the restaurant was running like a well oiled machine.

    (4)
  • Matt B.

    imagine you are in 18th century Italy. Imagine that the hunting party came thru with something tasty... like a wild boar, or a pheasant or a hare... something that isn't in your supermarket... this is what you should order. in other words listen to the specials. chicken liver rigatoni was awesome, pizzas are very good -to-excellent. artichoke side unbelievable. northern Italian restaurant Philly should be proud to show off.

    (5)
  • Lynda Z.

    So, we've been looking forward to going to Osteria for awhile now and this past Wednesday we decided it was time. Ok, I'll start with the front reception service. The girls at the front were very nice and friendly. They sat us at our table very quickly. Our server came over to us very quickly as well and welcomed us to the restaurant with a smile and a reading of the nightly specials. We placed our order and waited a few minutes. A guy came over and offered us bread and a small pitcher of olive oil. The bread was room temperature and kind of blah. There was no seasoning to go along with the oil at all. There is no salt or pepper on the tables (I guess they would be utterly offended if you suggested their food needed anything more than the way it's normally prepared). So, cold bread and bland olive oil to start. Then, our appetizers came. My friend had the Octopus and I had the seasoned Rosemary potatoes. When I go out to restaurants, I expect them to make food better than I would be able to make it for myself. The potatoes were just OK. I seriously have made much better potato chunks at home. There was nothing special about them at all. My friends Octopus was not worthy of the money spent for it. Again, we felt that we could have made it better on our own. Then, I ordered the Margherita Pizza becuase it was feautured on the Food Network show "The Best Thing I Ever Ate" where Marc Summers couldn't stop raving about it. I thought, wow, I have to try it!. I don't know what Marc was smoking before he ate that pizza, because there was nothing going on with that pizza that I would ever rave about. I have had better pizza in my local mall (I'm not kidding). My friend got the Chicken Liver Rigatoni. She said that it had a funky tatse and was lacking flavor. Bottom line: Our bill was over $100 before the tip and the only thing positive I can say about this place is that they have nice people that work there, and we tipped them appropriately. The food was very disappointing.

    (2)
  • Hannah M.

    For the chef's reputation, I really expected more. I went on Valentine's Day, which I know is a jam packed meal, but I just wasn't impressed. The food wasn't interesting, it was really loud, and I just wish it had been a better experience. The ambiance wasn't very nice, although the antique meat slicing machine they have is sort of interesting. I just felt it was disappointing; if my expectations hadn't been so high, I might've enjoyed it more.

    (2)
  • Kati G.

    Thanks Food Network for yet another mediocre food experience. My sister was hot on this place and we walked and walked and walked after spending a half our on the train to get to this place.... It's in the middle of the ghetto, the surrounding area was disgusting and once we finally got there...it was a disappointment to say the very least. The atmosphere was great and the restaurant itself was very pretty...like an oasis in a sea of filth....the food however...was highly overpriced and just "ok". After a day of traveling and anticipation...this place did not live up to the hype.

    (1)
  • Jaime K.

    Here is a synopsis of my experience at Osteria: We arrived for our reservation about 15 minutes early, and were delighted to hear they could seat us. We expected to have to have a drink at the bar first, which we did not mind at all. We were seating in a back room that lacked ambiance. There was very little decoration or personality, and the room was empty. When our server arrived, we asked as kindly as possible if it would be possible to move to the main room, we didn't mind if we would have to wait longer. (It was a special occasion and we were looking for something more lively and inviting, especially since we don't often go out and spend a lot on meals) She got a manager, and they said it would not be a problem at all. We could go to the bar and get a table in about 20 minutes. All was well at the bar, we ordered cocktails and wine, all expertly chosen and enjoyed our time chatting. When our table was ready, we sat down and our server came over and told us about the specials. The menu looked lovely. When we were ready to order new glasses of wine, our server immedietly reccomended the sommolier come by and make reccomendations that will work with our meal. One of my companions appreciated the offer, and the sommolier went to bring her a small sample of wine based on what she was looking for. Unfortuantely, she wasn't crazy about it, so she asked if she could try one more. She enjoyed the second wine and ordered it, but the sommolier acted as if she was being unreasonable and rude. Normally, I am overly polite and just take what is first offered, even if I am not crazy about it. But as a sommolier, is it that big of a deal to offer a second small sample? It wasn't even as if we were bothering our server asking her to do a million things when she needs to take food orders from the other tables. Her job is to assist tables in chosing wines. It seemed like a reasonable request. But we moved on. The sommolier was annoyed but we were there to have a lovely time. We all ordered, and two of my companions ordered a $36 special - a 1/2 pound of lobster and pasta. Appetizers came and were delicious, although the antipasta is charged per person and was not a lot of food. When the entree came, the two companions that ordered the lobster dish looked suprised. They were literarly fishing around to find lobster. Soon, the four of us were trying to assist, to try to find the lobster because we were so afraid of asking for the server. All in all, pieces that add up to about 1/2 the size of my tiny palm were found. We did not ask for the server or even steal glances across the room to find her. She stopped back to see how things were and we said everything was very good, and they hated to complain, but there was barely any lobster in the pasta. Immedietly she became very annoyed. She pointed to a small piece and said "There it is!" My companions said they understood, but they have ordered lobster many times in their lives and 1/2 a pound never looked so small. She said there was nothing they could do and if they wanted she would get the manager. What were we to do? We said OK. The manager arrived and said basically the same thing. He said they weight each lobster and it is always 1/2 a pound. We decided to let it go and just ate. Then things became incredibly embarassing. I was facing the room and saw our server, the manager, the sommolier and the bartender talking and pointing at us. I felt like that "nightmare" table, like I was in some kind of Twilight Zone episode. I always consider myself to be a great restaurant customer. I myself worked in the industry for two years. I know what they deal with. When the check arrived it was tossed at us. She did not look our way at all, just got close to the table and tossed it in the center. We paid, but only left a 15% tip, which is something we never do. So that was my experience. We did call and leave a message the next day and did not hear back. Obviously to many this is an amazing restaurant. But I can't return. We spent over $260 there (not including tip) and I have received better service for a lot less.

    (1)
  • Michelle E.

    What I loved about this place is that the meal was well-paced and they did not rush us out even though it was a Saturday night. Now on to the food. We started the with mozzarella in carrozza. It was tasty, but a little eggy. If you're not a fan of fried egg batter, this may not be for you. We also did the salumi platter which was tasty and had a good assortment of meats. We ordered the Parma pizza and the francobolli pasta. The pizza was extremely crunchy and was difficult to eat using a fork and knife. It's listed as pizza Napoletana, but it really isn't. While it was good, it didn't have the pillowy, soft texture that a true Napoletana pizza, and thus left me slightly disappointed. The pasta was soft, tender and very tasty. Unfortunately, we find the better pasta dishes getting smaller in many places. I'd prefer that they'd charge a few dollars more, but at least let you leave full. We ended with the chocolate flan, which was more of a chocolate molten cake and nothing like a flan. We also had the polenta budino. While it was definitely tasty, the polenta part was a little too much. The proportion of mousse to polenta should be made equal because by the 3rd spoon of the thick cornmeal dessert, it almost becomes difficult to eat. Cappuccino was well made and designed with a heart. I'd definitely return in the future.

    (4)
  • james r.

    Good, not amazing. margarita pizza was fresh and satisfying. finished with the pan fried calfs tongue and chicken liver rigatoni, both over salted. prob wouldnt go back

    (3)
  • David A.

    Fantastic food. Not my choice of locations but the dining room and quality of food make it worthwhile. Pizza is top shelf.

    (4)
  • Loy G.

    fancy italian fit for a special occasion. it's become somewhat of a tradition to treat my girlfriend to a nice italian place on her birthday. she loves good italian food and now she's got me addicted to fresh pasta. our first experience with a vetri restaurant since moving to philly didn't disappoint. our appetizers were elegant and filling. grilled octopus salad was nicely charred with a touch of lemon zest. salad special of the day was a mix of perfectly prepared veggies (dressed arugula, red and yellow beets, charred brussel sprouts, parsnips, salted tomatoes and roasted peppers). for our mains, fresh pasta of course. the wild boar bolognese and chicken liver rigatoni delivered large rustic bowls of light al dente pastas in rich flavorful sauces. in retrospect, we would have been totally content with half portions. desserts were recommended by our extremely attentive waiter. pumpkin tiramisu and chocolate flan lava cake with a scoop of pistachio gelato. we cleaned our plates. our waiter also picked up on the birthday celebration remarks and brought out an extra scoop of vanilla bean ice cream with a candle. nice touch. thanks osteria for making it a special birthday dinner to remember for my girlfriend.

    (5)
  • Ramen F.

    Ambiance: It is a little weird that the restaurant is split into two separate sections with the kitchens in between. I felt a little like I was being hidden in the backroom. Otherwise, the ambiance is nice with simple rustic italian touches (carved wooden bowl for bread). Service: Very good. I may have been paranoid, but it did seem that the server was deigning himself in serving us. While he did not create a personal connection with me and my fellow diners - he was very attentive and my water glass must have been refilled a dozen times. Waiter was kind about explaining parts of the menu that we were not familiar with. Food: It is true - the pizza is very good. It is probably the best pizza that I have had in Philadelphia. The best pizza I have ever had is from Pizza Mozza in Los Angeles - but this is a decent second place. The wood grilled octopus was delicious on my Polpo pizza. I understand that they leave the pieces of octopus big to maintain the beauty, but I ended up getting gigantic mouthfuls of octopus. I would have prefered smaller pieces so that I could have it throughout my pizza and I could savor the flavor better. The wild hare ragu with parpadelle was delicious. The sweetbreads were delish! Overall: I would definitely come here again for the food. But, I would keep in mind that the waitstaff and restaurant has a bit of a hoity character.

    (4)
  • Theresa C.

    Wow! What an amazing restaurant. My family and I drove up to Philadelphia for a special birthday weekend and we celebrated at Osteria. This was possibly one of the best Italian places on the east coast. The restaurant was unpretentious and very warm. We had a great roasted vegetable platter and I had ravioli with beets and a luscious cream sauce. The kids had the pizza and my husband had the fettuccine with mushrooms. The meal was outstanding and the service was amazing. What a great place to spend a birthday.

    (5)
  • Dan S.

    We started off with the polpa and pannocchia pizzas between the three of us. Very good and I recommend trying them both. I moved on to the whole veal shoulder roasted in hay with peaches and pistacchio. It may have been a smidgen over done, but it was nonetheless delicious and something I'd recommend. My dining partners chose east coast cobia with fregola and green beans/pork milanese with arugula, lemon and parmigiano. The pork was definitely traditional (boring?). All in all a good experience with pleasant, attentive serving staff, a nice menu, and a pleasing atmosphere.

    (4)
  • bhanu V.

    Definately the best Italian Restraunt That I have been to in Philly, Suggest that you start with the Wood grilled Octopus, that was the highlight of the evening.

    (5)
  • christian C.

    Went here for lunch as part of a party of 10. Had the agnello pizza, which was less interesting than expected. The lamb sausage lacked zip. I think peppery arugala would have been been better than the mustard greens, which also was surprisingly bland. For $20 I certainly expected more. Drinks too were quite expensive. The space was nice but the service was spotty at best - intrusive at the wrong moment, and MIA when wanted. Considering the costs, Osteria offered a poor value.

    (2)
  • Rachel B.

    Osteria has nutella pizza. Yes. It rocked my world. It's on the kids lunch menu, but they'll still make it for you if you're over 12 years old or are there for dinner.

    (5)
  • Judith C.

    Finally! Delicious pizza in Philadelphia. The space is cavernous, but manages to remain homey and warm. There is a huge glass covered patio that I am sure is gorgeous on a warm summer day. We ordered randomly about the menu, some secondi, contorni, pizza and antipasti, and structured it as we wanted, and there was no problem with that. Everything was delicious. The mozzarella in carrozza was really fantastic - so crispy on the outside, gooey on the inside, with a great salty finish, and the chef was quite accommodating with my request to add an egg to my Margarita Pizza (I picked up this habit at Roberta's in Brooklyn. Try it.) The Artichokes alla Giudia were perfectly crisped and browned as dark as possible without burning. The only issue, and this was minor, as we really did have a lovely meal and lovely evening, was that our server was not exactly awesome - appeared to be about 17 and didn't seem experienced or professional. Sweet, but overly eager and a bit awkward. We had to fight to hold onto our cheese plate, and our conversations were abruptly interrupted occasionally. It wasn't a problem, and didn't ruin our meal, but given the standards for all other elements in the restaurant, it was a bit out of place.

    (4)
  • Erica M.

    The food here was great, but it couldn't compensate for the terrible service. We were stuck at a table in a terrible location right next to the server station, despite the fact that my bf made reservations weeks in advance for my birthday. We ordered a bottle of wine with our meal and when the check came, I peeked at it over the table. First time, the wine wasn't included. So the waitress adjusted the bill, and then it seemed surprisingly high. Turns out, we were charged for a bottle more than $20 higher in price than ours. When we brought it to our waitress's attention, she was apologetic. My bf asked her if the sommelier told her that's the bottle we had and she responded, "No, I just guessed." Who GUESSES as to what bottle of wine a customer has? I emailed the restaurant to tell them about my experience, and did not receive a response after 4 weeks. I then printed the email and MAILED it to them. Finally, 2 weeks after that, I got a letter in the mail with a brief apology and asking me to come back to the restaurant (but not on their dime). Thanks, but no thanks. There are way better places in this city.

    (2)
  • Ryan P.

    Get ready for a wishy woshy review that shouldn't help you make any decisions whatsoever. I reluctantly went back on Sunday. The food was much better because we stuck to a pizza, three pastas, and the vegetable antipasta. These were all simple dishes done well. While I like the pizzas at the other trendy pizzarias around town better, I did enjoy the one we ordered with the golden raisins. The food was good. The service was amazing from our server and the sommelier spend a nice amout of time with us. I think my expectations of the place are so low, they could only go up from here. I previously rated them a 1, they are now a 3. I like the rustic decor more than the taste of the food.

    (3)
  • Heather C.

    I am in no rush to go back to Osteria. The food was great, but definitely pricey. I agree with Erin A's review -- I paid about $75 for a pizza, 1/2 an app and splitting one of the less expensive bottles of wine. What really struck me is the astmosphere --something about it just felt wrong, too industrial, too forced, and the too-small table for two sealed the deal.

    (3)
  • Mai H.

    Came here a little while ago, so I probably will miss some of the details of my meal. We started with a few pizza appetizers. The one that stuck out in my mind was the parma - the pizza with prosciutto. I got the roast pig special, which was quite excellent. I was also a big fan of bucanti. I felt a little disappointed by the desserts - our table got the mocha semifreddo and the strawberry torta. I felt these desserts were more about presentation than the actual taste of the desserts. It left me a little confused. Seating is also kind of weird here. For a group of 5, they added a random chair to the end of the table and we were seated right near the door just inside the atrium. But otherwise, great meal and will go back.

    (4)
  • Derek C.

    I went Osteria for the 3rd time last night and for the for the 3rd time have been overly impressed. The service... They were able to anticipate every need we had. They knew what we needed before we knew it and by the time we figured it out, they were there ready to be of service. For example,we were early for our reservation so we went to the bar as we waited. There were no seats but after a few seconds, and I mean seconds, a bar tender came out from behind the bar to give us a bar menu and took our order. After the greeter let us know that our table was ready, the bar tender was out with the bill so we could settle up. She even graciously asked if she could hold our jackets while we signed the bill. The Food. As always, the food was excellent. I'm amazed at some of the reviews on here. There is a Menu full of amazing rustic Italian dishes and people order the most basic Pizza and give the restaurant 3 stars because they don't see what everyone was raving about. ??? I had a dish of fried Mozzarella with cold plum tomatoes that was very delicious but also very heavy. I also had a pasta dish with pork, cabbage and orange zest which was also fantastic. Now here is wear Osteria really impressed me. The meal was taking to come out longer than they thought it should. We we were fine and were enjoying the conversation and not really thinking that things were taking too long. Even so, our server brought out a simple plate of ravioli with thyme and mushrooms for us to share. I think I enjoyed the ravioli more than I did my main course. Then....to further apologize for something to which we had not even taken offense, they brought out a tray with four different desserts, gelato, a pine nut torte, a pastry shell with banana cream a passion fruit cheesecake. This was all to apologize. We were blown away! We asked for coffee and told the waitress we were going to pay for it. All in all, a great experience! We will definitely come back again!

    (5)
  • Brian P.

    You know its a good place when another restaurant takes it staff here to celebrate the holidays ...We were fortunate enough to spend last Sunday eating in the Kitchen at Osteria family style..It was top notch..Obviously the pasta and pizza shined the most (wasnt a huge fan of the cuddle fish), but overall it was just a truly great experience..Vetri restaurants are never cheap, but price and should always be relative, and at this place it is..Great experience to try for a mid size group..

    (5)
  • Natalie B.

    Had a great first experience at Osteria tonight. I'm not usually blown away by the interior/decor of a restaurant, but everything about Osteria- from the wall of wine boxes, to the windowed ceilings, to the exposed brick walls- is impressive. Our server, Zeke, was equally impressive- he made a great wine recommendation (Sangiovese), and was able to explain several of the dishes in great detail. Specifically, he described one fo the nightly specials (a cabbage-stuffed papparedelle) in such a way that I could almost visualize it before ordering. Our plan for the night was to share an app and a pizza, so we ended up with the grilled octopus, squid ink cavatelli, and the lombarda-- all of which were amazing. The ragu with the cavatelli was incredible, but I have to say the octopus was my favorite dish of the night. It was perfectly grilled (Zeke explained that its tenderness is due to 4 hours of braising), and had a nice charcoal- crispness about it. I will absolutely be trying other Vetri restaurants soon!!

    (5)
  • Pierre L.

    Since it's restaurant week in Philadelphia, some of my other places that I wanted to try were fully booked and I had to find somewhere else to take my customer to. I did a search on OpenTable and Osteria showed up. This is a good place to eat at. Pretty close to downtown area (I think it's downtown), Osteria definitely has a great restaurant vibe and for some reason reminds me of Zibbibo back home. It could be the wooden tables or the somewhat open kitchen but either way this is a good place to dine at. Our waitress was very good, checking in on us at the appropriate times, recommending certain dishes and making sure we had fresh ice tea before we finished our glasses. I ordered the grilled octopus which came in the form of squid legs. It's been awhile since I had good grilled squid legs and this one definitely qualifies as a good one. Perfectly salted with a bit of oil and greens, it was a great way to start my meal. Since I've been yearning for pasta I opted to do two half order of pastas. Yep, I know I'm awesome like that. I got the corn cavatelli and chicken liver rigatoni. They were both good but not as good as the waitress says (I think she was basically telling me they were the best) and maybe this is because I've had Michael White's squid ink pasta with bits of seafood and spicy bread crumbs. Anyway let's not get off track with my second love. The chicken liver rigatoni came with pieces of mashed up chicken liver that covered the pasta up. Half order is the perfect size because this can definitely be filling. I was a bit disappointed because I was hoping for something like chicken liver mousse which I thought would be a better combination. The corn cavatelli was lighter and balanced the two pastas well. I was thinking should I mix it together? My customer ordered the mozzarella in corrozza which he said his grandma used to make and it brought up memories. He ordered the pork and finished it within minutes. If food brings up memories and a big piece of pork is finished within minutes, it's got to be good. For dessert he ordered the lavender mousse and I couldn't resist so I took a bite. It didn't have enough lavender flavor for me and had hints of other flavor which I could not pin point. I had the white wine poached pear with brown sugar gelato. A tasty dessert but it was a bit too sweet for me. All in all, it was a very good meal. I'll definitely come back when I'm in Philly next time.

    (4)
  • Will W.

    The duck was amazing, brilliantly cooked medium rare - actually a bit on the raw side which I so love...and it was served on top of this delicious red cabbage and speck... I'm tempted to give it 5 stars just because I loved that one entree so much, but I couldn't because I tried several appetizers that were guilty of being too small/not filling, and also not so tasty. We tried the rabbit sausage, which was somewhat tasty, but just so tiny - I hate feeling like I'm getting ripped off. That mullet fish was also overly fishy... The mushrooms topping the seabass were delicious, and the seabass was pretty good too. I like unique mushrooms. the vegetable medley was delicious... heavily recommended for the way they cook those brussel sprouts + the swiss chard. The prosciutto pizzas were ok, but not worthy of the incredible praise they seem to be getting; then again, I'm not much of a pizza person, and I like those really thick pizzas, so maybe it's just a personal thing.

    (4)
  • Jessica S.

    I ate here recently for a friend's birthday. The location and the decor did nothing to add any sense of authenticity to the restaurant. Although the natural light was pleasant and bringing the kitchen out of the back room and into the main dining area made for a more relaxed environment, there was still a sense of unnecessary pretentiousness. Everything from the walls to the floors to the furniture reminded me of an upscale but bland Italian restaurant in the middle of suburbia where authenticity and creativity are outlawed. The wine list was very extensive but I can't remember seeing any bottles for less than $45-$50 and the prices increased very quickly once past the entry level choices. The service however, was excellent. For better or worse (I maintain better) my wine glass never got anywhere close to empty! I wasn't extremely hungry and so split an appetizer (goat cheese gnocchi) and had the lamb. Although both were excellent (as were the octopus and pork that I tried) they lacked that "wow" factor that I would expect for a restaurant of this level. I guess you could say they do basic dishes extraordinarily well but I've would like them to take a few more risks in their use of ingredients and presentation.

    (2)
  • Joy C.

    As a fan (maybe even groupie) of Vetri, Osteria is a place that we're able to visit more regularly than it's pricey counterpart. Some of the freshest, most delicate pasta I've ever had. The pizzas, charcuterie plates, and desserts are delicious.The Silician lemonade (made with limoncello) is the best cocktail I've ever had and perfect for those who don't like to taste the alcohol in your drinks. While it's hard to get a table without a reservation, they usually have bar seating available which works well for a party of 2 in the mood for great food without having had planned too far ahead for it. Marc Vetri (and his staff) are amazing, talented and completely worthy of all the praise (multiple Best of Philly's) received recently. Final thoughts... Go there for consistently excellent service, chic rustic ambience, and forward-thinking Italian cuisine. And, it won't break the bank.

    (5)
  • Thomas G.

    The Italian food here was not the Chicken Parmigiana type of Italian that we are all use to. This food was truly a wonderful melody of dishes cooked in a rustic, non typical "American Italian" way.... Outstanding. We had 4 appetizers and 5 entrees for 4 people and all 7 dishes were Cooked, seasoned and presented in a way that dreams are made of. No 2 were alike nor shared many ingredients, we savored every bite of every dish. The 2 bottles of Italian wine that were recommended were very good as well. As far as dessert.... When I asked our server,"Which is the must have dessert" and she said,"they are all great", I must say I didn't believe her 100%. She was correct!!! The desserts lived up the the Entrees... What a place!!

    (5)
  • Carl C.

    Every review I read lately I think everyone tries to be a critic... trying to break down every dish they have and run home to their Mac and log onto Yelp, it takes away from the experience guys.. It's like people break down the sauce that was served on the ravioli's like they are writing for Saveur Magazine. "The sauce was creamy, rich, but delicate and spicy with a ting of lemon zest that left my tongue craving for more" Give it a rest. ... I just say, "shit was good and I couldn't stop eating it" Osteria is good, real good, not great. No misses on anything I ate and I have been here a few times. Last night was the old mans birthday dinner. We had a few pizzas, the antipasti, and pasta. The food is very spot on and in my opinion this place is as good as Vetri(see my review) for about 1/3 of the price. Service is better at Vetri but I like how there is a bar here. Bottom line, high end Italian that is not cheap but prob top 3 Italian restaurants in the city.

    (4)
  • Jess B.

    postage stamp ravioli!! #epic sit at the chef's table!

    (5)
  • Levi H.

    First let me say I loved the zucca pizza we had as a starter. It was flavorful and cooked to perfection. For my main course I selected the Roasted Pig at the recommendation of our server. I found it to be a bit flavorless and greasy. This came as a big disappointment after such a good start. My dinner date ordered pasta and was perfectly happy without being blown away by it. I also found the wine list to be a bit lacking in selection and price. The service was quite friendly and the atmosphere was nice. Maybe next time I'll stick to cocktails and pizza. Worth another try.

    (3)
  • Evan W.

    Very nice atmosphere, but the pasta stole the show! Best pasta I've ever had. You've gotta try for yourself!

    (5)
  • Steve V.

    A bit out of the Center City area, this place has the same feel. A great bar scene, their dining experience is excellent as well. The service we had was one the best ever. Specials were clearly explained and the menu had lots of variety. The only thing that would make this place better would be if it were a BYO.

    (4)
  • L. D.

    Visited on 7/17/12 & 7/23/12. Osteria was another restaurant on my Philly to do list. The first time around I deviated from what my list recommended and ventured out and ordered the special.... Spit roasted pig w/ rosemary potatoes. You received a decent amt of pork and a whooping 5 cubed quarters of potatoes. I had to laugh out loud at how ridiculous these 5 lonely potatoes looked on the plate. I was underwhelmed and wouldn't get this dish again. I left kicking myself that I didn't get the Margherita Pizza that was raved about. That's what I get for deviating from my list !! I had a chance to redeem myself on 7/23 and ordered the margherita pizza. Yes, it was good and you could taste the difference good olive oil and fresh ingredients offer. Was it good enough to keep me going back and paying $15 bucks a pop for it... I would have to say no. For the $, I'm going back to Barbuzzo every time.

    (3)
  • Jimmy P.

    Superb Italian restaurant. Ate the quail appetizer and the polenta/moose/hazelnut dessert (sounds strange, but very tasty.) The outdoor patio is quieter than the interior restaurant.

    (4)
  • Paul C.

    after hearing from my friends about this place...decided to try out...well...right from beginning...our server was just rude...he didnt even say hi...he just came up gave us menu...and he remained that way for the rest of the evening...now comes food...chicken liver rigatoni was amazing...but it was on bit of salty side...other appetizers...veal tongue and robiola...was also just OK...ended up ordering the daily special...slow roasted pork as my entree...which was so so bad...absolutely ZERO taste...poor presentation...must say...not going back here ever again...

    (3)
  • Kelly S.

    I went here once, recently, for a celebratory dinner, and I have to say, I really like this place. My only gripe is that it's too expensive for me to eat there on a normal basis, but that's only because I'm a poor grad student and I can't afford to go out to eat most places... Anyway, Osteria is a classy restaurant, is totally gorgeous inside, and the owners are among the brave pioneers trying to revive N. Broad Street. The place even has a sommelier, who is very nice and seemed very attentive to the people who could actually afford wine. I contented myself with my favorite beer - Duchesse du Burgogne, a Flemish sour which I was surprised they had. They have a decent beer selection, and the wine selection is, of course, really good. Aside from cool decor and upscale ambiance, the food was fantastic. My boyfriend and I split a pizza as an appetizer, which was thin and crispy like pizzas are made in Italy. It had cheese on it with fresh arugula and prosciuto - delicious! Next came the main course. I got oven-baked skate with crispy capers and parsnip puree. I had never had skate before, and it was amazing! It's a flaky white fish (resembling a small stingray when it's alive), and Osteria cooked it to perfection. I'd definitely eat that again. My boyfriend got lamb, which was also very good, but I liked the skate better. Last came dessert - a little molten chocolate cake with pistacchio gelato. Yum. If I had money, I'd eat here all the time (and not only because it's about a block from my apartment). I could live off their pizza, which is heads and shoulders above normal pizza. If I were a business person, I'd definitely take clients here. A+ in my book.

    (5)
  • Liz M.

    I had been dying to go to Osteria for months so when my brother's and my birthdays rolled around in February, it was chosen as our spot to celebrate. Now I know that it is now August, and while some of you may think my memory may be failing me, a few key things stuck out that made me want to write this review even months after. There were only 5 of us at dinner and we had a reservation so we were ushered right to our table. On the most random note I will include in this review, I found the floor of the main dining room to be extremely slippery. I was wearing heels, but no other place in the city that night (or any other night for that matter) seemed to give me such a problem. Maybe I am just being crazy. My dad, little brother, and I were seated and waited for my mother and brother #2. While waiting we ordered drinks and looked over the menu. I ordered the lemonade (the adult version which I cannot remember the name of) and my father a glass of wine. The rest of our party showed up quickly and we began to order. Our waitress had no real recommendations to make, but my brothers and i wanted to try to octopus. We knew it was a small plate, but never did we expect it to be that small. And there were 5 of us at the table, the least the waitress could have done was suggest we might want two. We gladly would have ordered two at once. When serving our appetizers our waitress carried out one of my BIGGEST restaurant pet peeves. I had not completely finished my lemonade, and at the price it was I was savoring it. While placing down our plates, she must have picked up my drink WITHOUT ASKING IF I WAS DONE AND WITHOUT THE GLASS BEING EMPTY. When I went for it I was beyond annoyed and angry. It was hardly long enough into the meal for me to have finished a whole drink in the first place, and all she had to do as ask and I would have been fine telling her I was going to hang onto it for a while longer. I would have even ordered another, but was so annoyed I switched to drinking the bottle of wine my parents ordered. Another thing I noticed within the first 15 minutes of being there was a man, who I am assuming was the floor manager (correct me if wrong) kept almost 'spying' on our table. It was a Friday night, so yes it was busy. But we had literally just sat down, if you were waiting for a table to open, it obviously wasn't going to be us. We were sitting near the back of the back room, so it was very obvious every time he came by. And he came by every ten minutes. For the next two hours. I have never felt more unwelcome, or more like they wanted to get us out of there as fast as possible anywhere else. Ever. And we were having a large meal, so its not like we were not ordering and just sitting there. Aside from the service and hawk watching over our table, the food was ok. I ordered one of the pizzas and it was fantastic. Brother #1 and Brother #2 both ordered the ravioli, which was just ok, but incredibly small portions. It was listed as an entree so they were a little upset it was so small. I gladly shared my pizza with them and everyone was then happy. My parents both had one of the specials and while they were good, they were way over priced for what they were. I'm sorry I cannot remember all the details, but I think it shows that the only things I can really remember were the bad things about this meal. Not only would we have gladly ordered more food, had our waitress been around more often, but we were so annoyed by the man constantly hoovering by our table watching us eat that we just wanted to get out of there. Osteria was a huge letdown and I don't think I will be going back anytime soon.

    (2)
  • Bill A.

    Osteria ranks as one of the finest dining experiences I've ever had. I was in attendance with a large group so there was much food ordered and sampled in typical tapas fashion. The service was excellent, glasses of water and wine topped off as soon as either glass was nearly empty - and I never had to ask. Appetizers were a marinara pizza and another one with arugula and prosciutto. Bother were fantastic, with a thin flaky crust. Next we ordered a vegetable tray with an assortment of different things, what stood out to me here was the seared brussels sprouts. Finally for the appetizers we had a cheese plate that was also enjoyable, although I don't know the names of the cheeses, they were all delicious. My first of two courses was chicken liver rigatoni with cipolline onions and sage. I've never had chicken liver before but this was outstanding. My second dish was rabbit with pancetta, sage,and polenta (grits). The rabbit was pretty good, very "bony" but I'm told that's to be expected. Dessert was the cantucci sundae vin santo marinated almonds (taken directly from the menu: osteriaphilly.com/menu ). Basically vanilla custard with almonds and this kind of wine sauce. Very good! I had an Italian red wine throughout the meal, selected by one of the more knowledgeable wine drinkers at the table and it, too, was excellent. Taken in consideration with the friendly and attentive staff, our nearly 4 hour dinner didn't feel long enough.

    (4)
  • Erin A.

    We anxiously awaited the opening of this restaurant since it was a mere 2 blocks from our house. Call us unprepared, but when we first went the prices were shocking. I have never been to Vetri but Osteria was billed as the affordable little brother. I guess I was expecting something actually affordable. You can go in and get a pizza and some pasta and make it out for a reasonable amount. But I dont want to pay $75 for pizza and an appetizer. But the space is pretty cool, and the food is mostly house-made. I was amazed when the waiter went over the list of what they made in-house. They have a regular bar and a bar near the kitchen, but there's a big wall up that you stare at between you and the kitchen so its not really that cool. I know they now have a patio between them and the church along Broad street which I haven't checked out but it looks neat. There are plenty of potted plants to drown out Broad street. Reservations are essential especially now that James Beard gave it best new restaurant. Check it out for yourself, especially if you like authentic Italian but be prepared to spend a lot.

    (3)
  • Perri E.

    After having a devine, elegant and amazing meal at Vetri, I have to say I was dissappointed. Osteria was ok; but truly I expected something entirely different....a laid back, rustic Vetri. Instead I got a half-a**ed Vetri. Wanting for a nice, dry white wine for a hot Fourth of July dinner, the sommelier sugggested something too fruity at first and then a Pinot Blanc that was a bit too thin....(Iron Hill's Concannon Sauvignon Blanc was better and that's not a compliment....especially at $64 a bottle...). The pizze were fabulous and my swordfish was good, but after spending $100 pp I truly thought I should be in heaven....alack alas, I was merely on North Broad looking for fireworks.....

    (2)
  • Jessica M.

    Amazing meal at Osteria and I am already thinking about my next visit. Summer in the city is great - it lends itself to less crowded bars and restaurants and more readily available reservations. Summer in the city definitely allowed me to score a nice time slot and enjoy Osteria at a leisurely pace to really savor everything that we ordered. And order we did. Arriving a bit early, we snagged two seats at the bar and were greeted by the friendly bar tender who quickly got my prosecco and offered a tasting of an interesting draft beer for my companion (and a little taste for me too) which he decided on at first sip. Before we even finished our drinks, our table was ready and we were set to dig into the menu. Our original table was a small cramped table sandwiched between two others with diners not willing to budge. We didn't even have to say anything before an employee came along, saw that we were uncomfortable and scooted us over to a different spot. Lovely - so far service was off to a great start. The menu at Osteria is truly a listing of one delectable dish after another. So much so that choosing proves to be quite a challenge. We wanted it all! So - what did we do you might ask? We got it all! I have wanted to try the Lombarda pizza since Osteria opened so we started with that. Paper thin crust, sweet sausage, fried egg - what more could a girl ask for? Next came the dish that I have been dreaming about since my first visit - chicken liver rigatoni. Now if you're like me, you wouldn't even think about ordering this dish. Chicken Liver? No thank you. Well lucky for me and my fellow diner on this visit, my co-diner last time ordered it and allowed me to sample. It is not an exaggeration when I tell you that I have never had anything quite like it before. It is more than delicious but I am having a hard time coming up with a stronger word. Just please, take my word for it. You will not regret it. And for our main course (yes, we kept going after that!) we chose the dry aged rib eye for two. At $50 per this is not your everyday dinner item but I have to admit that it was absolutely delicious. Perfectly cooked, tender and flavorful. Was it worth it? Well, I don't know one rib eye from the next and my cut did have a good deal of fat on it but from what I can gather from my companion, it was worth the money and the time. YUM! While I'm sure I won't be having that every time I visit Osteria, if you are in the market for a delicious rib-eye, go for it. Dessert was a simple, creamy budino that I enjoyed but really I could have just ended the meal with a simple bite of chocolate and been satisfied. Drinks for us were montepulciano for me and a dogfish head on tap for my partner in culinary crime followed by a cappuccino for me to finish the night off. All in all, tasty accompaniments to our dinner choices. I don't get to come to Osteria as much as I would like. I have yet to come simply for a glass of wine and a pizza. And while I know that would be lovely, where would my chicken liver fit in? And if I'm going to order both, I might as well order a main course too. Oh Osteria - what have you done to me?!

    (5)
  • Kathy D.

    Went here for my birthday after hearing rave reviews for its gourmet pizza and beautiful location....and hard to get reservations. Definitely worth the trip above Market street, and has plenty of street parking. The restaurant is beautiful, but it's not tablecloth fine dining. I went in jeans and felt comfortable doing so. Pizza was good, and the app was as well, but small. (I was warned beforehand about portion size.) Seems best seats in the house would be on the side, it's enclosed glass and farther away from the open kitchen and busy hostess stand. Definitely get their ice cream, or gelato...amazing.

    (4)
  • Erin G.

    I'll have to say the boyfriend and I had a lovely dinner here for his birthday. We split an appetizer, then a pizza, and then each had two more courses (both pasta for vegetarian me) and split a dessert. We started the night with a lovely sparkling ,and then a few glasses of Multipultiano. Let's just say, we were increadibly stuffed when we left. All the food was very tasty, and presented well. The service, overall, was great (though the woman who brought out the birthday-candled dessert didn't know who it went to or what it was for - a birthday, stupid!). And the atmosphere and our table in the main room were lovely. I know it's not fair to compare restaurants, but the pasta at last year's boy birthday dinner, when we dined at Vetri, actually made me cry it was so delicious. Osteria's pasta was good, but not transcendent. And while we maybe had an extra course, we spent the same amount of money, which was a lot. Maybe I'm just stingy, but for a restaurant this expensive to get five stars from me there better be tears in my pasta.

    (4)
  • Mike B.

    There seem to be some really negative reviews of Osteria related to the service and the quality/portion size of the food, but I have nothing but positive things to say about my recent experience. The lady and I stopped in for dinner last night and enjoyed a lovely meal and drinks. We started off at the bar for a glass of Prosecco, which was crisp and refreshing and were whisked away almost immediately to our table. We debated our meal choices for a few minutes, which I'd attribute to the many appealing items on the menu. We shared the Pecorino Flan and the Barbabietole pizza to start. Both were tasty, though the pizza was larger than we were expecting and we subsequently ate more than was necessary or advisable. Next up was a couple of pastas. The Goat Cheese Gnocchi for me and the Rabiola Francobolli for her. This time, much more reasonable portion sizes, but this is where we should have called it a night. Instead, we exercised some questionable (and undoubtedly gluttonous) judgment and started on the next course. Another pasta (the name and contents of which I've suddenly forgotten) for the missus and the Braised Pork Ribs for me. Good grief. So tasty and so much food. All of this paired nicely with a couple glasses of the Montepulciano. And did we have the Blood Orange Tiramisu for dessert? Yes. Yes we did. While the argument could be made that food should not generally cost this much, it's nice to know that when it does, it's going to be crazy delicious.

    (4)
  • Karen A.

    Service was very efficient and friendly. The food was very disappointing. The only dish my husband and I actually liked was the pizza with arugula and prosciutto appetizer. My husband had a pork ribs special which had a very bad taste and was extremely fatty and greasy. My duck was just average and was also riddled with fat. My husband had a monk fish pasta which had a very bad fishy aftertaste. My pasta was better stuffed with mushrooms. The gingerbread dessert was good. The menu is very different from veal tongue to rabbit to boar meat. There were not any normal alternatives. We were very disappointed after having read the many positive reviews in magazines.

    (2)
  • Robert B.

    We went on 12/23 on a date night. I wanted to visit this place for a long time. You find a rustic charming location. It has limited parking, so prepare to pay for valet at $12 or wander the streets for parking. No, problem we found street parking in a minute or two and only a block away. The staff are friendly and attentive. They do not miss a beat. I would say the food is a rustic or comfort food type of Italian. There are many choices of interesting things. I saw a number of items I've not seen on a menu. The waitress seemed to love just about everything we ordered. They had an extensive wine menu and to my delight a good sized beer menu of import and specialty beers. I ordered a nice import. The sommelier I think had difficulty pouring it and not having the head take over. He needs a lesson in beer pouring I think. But, he waited until he could get every drop in the glass. My wife ordered an orange wine, which was like a mix of red and white. It was very lovely. I had a quail appetizer. It was slightly darkened with a vinagrette type sauce and cabbage. It was precisely balanced flavoring of sweet, sour and bitter. Loved it and it really is portioned as a nice appetizer for one. My wife went with a vegetable dish. It came with a ton of different vegetables, cooked in various ways. I did not try it. I was too busy eating quail. Off to the main courses. I ordered a wild boar bolognse. It really tasted a lot like beef stroganoff, so kind of comfort food like. The pasta was hand made and delicious. The boar well seasoned. I only wished for a little more presentation in the dish with more color or textures. But, it was delicious. My wife ordered an octupus course. I only tasted the freshly made pasta. It was slightly more fishy than I would have liked. I did not try the octopus but it looked good. On to dessert, I had a fried ravioli with huckleberry. It was pretty when it arrived, but I think needing a little more sauce to balance the sourness of the fruit. The ravioli was a sugar cookie like flavor. My wife, oh my, in what was the surprise of the night ordered a wonderful dessert. You see, I am the one who always seems to order the best dessert when we go out. But, she did this time. I was jealous once I took one bite. She had a pear and ginger crostina with vin brulee. It was beautiful in presentation and delicious. The last note to the Chef. If you are going to come out and talk to your friends during a meal. Be kind and at least recognize a table or two next to them. You know a hello or a smile, or how is your evening? We had a table next to us who knew the Chef. I'm fine with that and your taking time to talk to them. Just make sure you recognize in some way guests around you. Also, on a special occasion like just before a major holiday, you may want to plan an amuse or two for guests. It could have moved you from a 4 star to 5. I've been to many 5 star places that do that bite sized taste of something here and there.

    (4)
  • Grace G.

    I went in with expectations that it wasn't as good as Vetri, and we were pleased with our meals. My husband got the roasted pig special and grilled octopus and enjoyed them both. I got the parma pizza, which was very good.

    (4)
  • Kathy L.

    Great restaurant with authentic but creative Italian dishes, but a bit overpriced and perhaps over-hyped every since Philadelphia magazine listed it as #1 in it's top 50 restaurants. This place is worth going to juts for the Lombarda pizza - a thin crispy and smoky crust with sausage, bitto cheese (which tastes like very good mozzarella), and a delicious poached egg with liquid egg yolk that compliments the rest of the toppings perfectly. Definitely the best dish of my night. None of the pastas seemed that inspired and my ravioli with brown butter sauce was rich and delicious, but wasn't the creative or spectacular dish that I was expecting. Finally, the entree I got was the rabbit. I really shouldn't have gotten this dish, because I KNOW rabbit tastes like chicken and I always try to avoid getting chicken at nice restaurants, but my date really wanted to try this. It was braised and served over polenta which was thick and soft and very creamy. I actually enjoyed the polenta more than the rabbit, which a bit dried and yes, tasted like chicken. Overall, a decent meal, but I wouldn't call it the best restaurant in Philadelphia. Osteria should be treated like an italian osteria... go for the pizzas (which are definitely great) and maybe a salad or an appetizer and a drink or two.

    (3)
  • Stephen T.

    As defined by wikipedia (my Godsend) - an osteria is an an Italian-style eating establishment where the emphasis is generally placed on maintaining a steady clientele rather than on haute cuisine. Osteria in Italian literally means a place where the owner "hosts" people. Food is generally regional and prepared with local recipes, and often served at shared tables. I've always been sort of an awards whore - and the realization that two James Beard award winners would have in some sort of way be preparing my meal made me giddy. With the above definition of an osteria in mind, and thoughts of Vetri and Michaud, I gleefully skipped to my dining destination with visions of Italian grandmothers pinching me on my cheeks and immediately being greeted like a regular (even though I had no previous interaction with the two culinary giants). I'm not of Italian descent so I knew my imagery was horribly and impossibly incorrect, but hey, maybe Marc and Jeff would pinch my cheeks? While my imagery of an osteria never came to be - what did happen was this: I was delighted and almost humbled by the food. My dining companion and I, both eight tentacled invertebrate lovers upon seeing the octopus appetizer on the menu, locked eyes and knew that we would be ordering the octopus. And so we did. It arrived on a luscious light bed of greens (argulua I believe), pillowy and star-like starchy potatoes, and of course a brilliantly slightly charred grilled octopus. While this octopus antipasti didn't blow me away in creativity of well newfound and undiscovered tastiness, the technical precision and use of ingredients was brilliant. When tasted separately, the individual components were just average, forgettable; however, as a whole the synergetic combination of the greens, potato, and octopus made the dish shine. The greens, potato, and the ever-present-when-fish-is-around lemon strongly complemented and made the octopus all it could be. Next, came the primavera pizza. I don't know why I ordered the primavera, I love my vegetables, but I don't like white pies - which is what the primavera was. Given my stupidity, I can't give a fair assessment of the quality of the pie - I can only assume that people won't knowingly order something that they know they won't like. And while it was tasty for a white pie, it was still a white pie and I'm a red pie man. I love my tomatoes. Next came the star of the meal, the octopus ravioli. I've had fresh pasta before, but I've never experienced pasta like the one I had at Osteria. People say that truly great food should melt in your mouth. You don't need to to chew; the food simply melt like butter does in the hot sun. Osteria's masterful ravioli gave me a new sensation; the pasta quickly melted upon leaving me desperate for more. I'd write a more vivid description but I like to think that yelp is a family friendly website, not a website for me to post erotic stories about food. Marc Vetri, Jeff Michaud, I hate you both, you've spoiled my future pasta experiences (but please sir, can I have some more? PLEASE!) Service: Average. We had to wait longer than I'd like to inorder to order, but nothing disastrous happened. My water hovered around near empty several times, but I never encountered a situation where I felt thirsty and was left with nothing to drink. Wine was unmemorable but what do you expect when you order a glass of the house white? Let's go back to the definition of the osteria. There were no grandma's cooking my meals - there were terrifically trained chefs at work who were hard at work cooking my meal (and sadly no sight of Jeff or Marc). There was no rush of warm wind that brightened my mood and warmed me up as I walked through the doors of Osteria, but nonetheless, it was a fantastic meal. Although the food was delicious, the service was a bit lacking and the feeling of the restaurant didn't match the feel of a traditional osteria. The service wasn't warm and inviting - the server was sometimes cold and standoffish - our server didn't inspire that warm and fuzzy feeling that a real osteria should have. Furthermore, there were inconsistences in the ambiance of the restaurant. While most of the servers and chefs wore simple aprons and promoted a sense of casualness - notably amongst the staff were several members wearing formal attire. Didn't ruin the night of course, but created an ambivalent atmosphere. Four stars.

    (4)
  • Ivy L.

    We went because of the Mark Summers, best thing i ever ate, review. It was a nice night out, the Sicilian Lemonade was great. My food was a little on the oily side, my boyfriend enjoyed his meal more then I did. I would give it another try!

    (3)
  • Nicholas G.

    As a longtime member of the "industry" I must say that this was one of the best meals I have had in a long time. I had the pleasure of visiting Osteria on a cold Sunday night in December of 2009. The food was absolutely amazing, the pizza with the homemade sausage and egg was to die for. We sat at the bar and had a great dinner & desert. If you are in Philly Osteria should be first on your list.

    (5)
  • Joanne P.

    Been in multiple occasions, and we love Osteria! Plenty of space to move between tables unlike most of the restaurants in center city. Their Vegetable appetizer is great to begin with, grilled octopus is chewy yet soft. Tried three kinds of pizza, and all were good. Pasta with (squid? octopus?) black ink was flavorful but a little too salty for my taste. Other entrees were yummy too. Just watch out if you are driving. On my first visit in 2009, my friend parked her car right across the restaurant at 6pm, and when we came back at 7, one of the windows was gone(and so was her gps).

    (4)
  • Lucinda D.

    we came mostly for the pizza, and it was very good. service was very good. ambiance was a bit quiet early on a saturday night. all in all, recommended, but not my favorite.

    (4)
  • Jessica C.

    I came here for my birthday, and had a great time. The atmosphere was easy on the eyes. There were huge sunflowers everywhere and wooden wine crate sides on one of the walls. The only complaint I would have is how close our table was between the other tables, but you get that sometimes in crowded, busy restaurants, I guess. For an appetizer we had the cape may salt oysters with cucumber spaghettini and raspberries. It was amazing. It came with 5 oysters and the flavor from the juices was very tangy and fresh. For my meal I got the spaghetti alla carbonara with corn, chives and ricotta salata. I didn't know what to expect with corn in my pasta but it was phenomenal. The spaghetti tasted homemade and the carbonara sauce wasn't too heavy. Very delicious. My date got the rabbit in polenta, and it was cooked perfectly. The only complaint were there were a lot of small bones in there to pick out but he worked around it and it was great mixed with the polenta with brown butter. There was a mix up with the desert; I had ordered cheesecake for us to split and the waiter forgot to put a candle in it (my date had tried to sneakily tell him to surprise me with a candle). The cheesecake was okay; it was kind of grainy feeling but had a nice flavor. When the waiter realized he forgot the candle he came back with two more deserts on the house, both with candles in them. One of them was a sorbet that was delicious and the other was polenta budino with gianduia, which was great as well. It had a chocolate mousse on top that made it perfect. I really enjoyed eating here, I would be very happy to go back.

    (5)
  • M J.

    Celebrated our anniversary at Osteria. It did not disappoint. The antipasta consisting of an assortment of pickled veggies was an excellent starter. This was followed by the wild boar pasta, also delicious! My husband was content with the rib-eye. I feasted on the pear and cheese stuffed ravioli; it was a perfect blend of sweet and savory. The dessert and drink were the forgettable parts of the meal. The fried dough with red wine dessert was sour. It's a taste I haven't acquired, but my husband didn't mind it. The mixed drink I had consisting of fresh squeezed orange juice tasted more like grapefruit juice due to its bitterness. My husband wasn't thrilled with his manhattan. He said the proportions were not right. The bartender must have had an off night. The service more than made up for any downsides. The waitress removed the dessert from our bill and replaced my drink with a different one. We had a memorable anniversary and will be back.

    (4)
  • Kevin M.

    There is no better pasta in Philadelphia. Next time I go to Osteria I am just going to order every pasta on their menu and die a happy - and full - man.

    (4)
  • Don R.

    Having DJ'd off Broad st. in a few choice neighborhoods near Cambria and Germantown in North Philly, I'm surprised at other reviews saying this location is less than desireable. This in fact is quite Disneyland like in contrast. We had a great time at this place and thoroughly enjoyed our meal. We started with a pizza with an egg on it which initially had me scratching my head but it proved to be quite delicuious. Next with a Feasant lasagna, which at first I thought my taste gamey buit was very chicken like and moist. Service was adept and attentive. Overall great...but not over the top amazing.

    (3)
  • Chelsea T.

    I would select 3.5 stars if possible. We've been there a few times, all when a good friend of ours was working (but not serving us). Sitting at the bar was always a great experience, and perhaps we were a bit pampered. I particularly love any of their Lambrusco wines to drink with any pizza or pasta. A couple weeks ago we made reservations for a table, and it was probably the most ridiculously aloof service I have received thus far in Philly. I asked our server if the Lambrusco were available by bottle, and if so, what it was priced at (the selection rotates). He said, 'Uh, I think it's like $56, but I'll let you know if it's not,' and immediately walked away. A couple minutes later, another server comes by with an entire bottle which she was in the middle of opening for us. Not a huge deal that I didn't confirm that I wanted the wine, as I'll drink anything, but it was awfully assumptive of the waiter to think I was cool with an ambiguously priced bottle. So we move on. At this point I feel like I'm in a cafeteria--the tables really packed together, the wait staff dropping plates on the table as though they were too hot to handle. We ordered two pastas to start and were going to order more as we went on. While ordering, the waiter never looked at us, rolled his eyes, and was actually quite dumpy looking (unshaven, loose shirt, just generally a shmo). But the food was great! I was able to, at this point, ignore said shmo. We ate and drank and he never came back to check on us. He never asked if we wanted anything else, so we didn't order anything else. In fact, he came over and literally dropped the check on the table without a thanks. I was at my boiling point. So, unfortunately for him, in all my dining experience, he received a 10% tip (I'm a 30% upwards girl), quite a feat since I've only done this twice in my life. The vibe at this point was seriously unpleasant. I didn't know the waiter was waiting like a shmo shark for the money (or to just get us out of the place), and he immediately came over and grabbed the bill. Then he proceeded to glare at me from afar once he saw his pittance. It was almost laughable, but overall it was mostly embarrassing. We get up to leave and I can't squeeze between the tables. I'm not a large person by any means, so I can't imagine how the average diner manages to wiggle out. So, I bumped into the table next to me and knocked over our empty wine bottle. Waiters (not ours) came running to the rescue. At this point I just want to get the f*ck out. I really could have made a scene here if I wanted to. Marc was there (who I sometimes work with through extension), the manager asked how everything was on the way out, etc. I was just too baffled and confused and didn't know how to phrase what I wanted to say. I had had so many good times here, and I namely blame the idiot server for this review. All in all, I will go back, but only for the bar.

    (3)
  • michael p.

    My new go-to Italian restaurant in Philly. Have enjoyed two incredible dinner experiences with family and friends over the last year on a recommendation from my good friend Chip. Fresh, organic, local foods, well-prepared dishes, extensive wine selection, and friendly, top-flight service. We'll back on our next visit...

    (5)
  • Jack K.

    Heard good things about this place but was very disappointed. Started out by seating us in the back room which would be good for a private party but not for a party of 4. Might as well have been in my dining room. No atmosphere. Waitress was confused and never put our order in for pizza that we clearly ordered. She then stated that we might want to order something because the dinner entrees may take awhile. I then asked her how long the pizza would take and she siad 7 minutes so we said we were good with that. 10 minutes later the entrees were on the table and she said we never ordered the pizza. Huh??? The rabbit was bland and the chicken was dry. The pasta dishes were ok but nothing special. We left hungy. Way overpriced. We ended up going to Olde City and got our pizza. Should have skipped Osteria and went to Olde City in the first place. Don't waste your time and money at this place

    (2)
  • Ellen L.

    very good food- Had the grilled octopus appetizer- really enjoyed it- not so much the $17 I paid for it. The Halibut was very good as well. Our server was very helpful answering any questions and offering suggestions. Food is good, but extremely pricey.

    (4)
  • Jeremy W.

    Wonderful service, of course, and a lovely dining experience. My only two complaints are the that the food was strangely on the salty side. This actually isn't something I usually even notice or consider but I guess it was a bit over the top and undeniable. Even still, the Plin, the Hazelnut Pudding, and the Pizza were all tasty. As I mentioned, great, convivial, and professional service.

    (4)
  • Craig N.

    I've heard such great things about this place, but i wasn't wowwed at all. Came here for our 2nd anniversary dinner, we should have went to the FOUNTAIN for what our bill came to! This was about 6 months ago and to be honest, I can't even remember what I ate. I'll have to give it another shot one day.

    (2)
  • Steve I.

    Osteria was my dinner date with my girlfriend, bottom line excellent; pricey, but excellent. First, the service was superb--our waitress was extremely friendly and very accomodating. We started out with a bottle of wine, nicodemi montepulciano 2007. The wine was excellent, but the $58.00 price was a bit far fetched (although to be expected) because this wine can be found for $11.99 at wine stores. The sommelier was very friendly and informative, not pretentous at all. The first course we had was the parma pizza. It was amazing; the arugula and proscuitto were so fresh, but the crust of this pizza was out of this world. Our second courses were the grilled octopus and the special antipasti of grilled seasonal vegetables. The grilled octopus was very good; it had a very nice char-grilled flavor and came with lemon potatoes and arugula. The vegetable antipasti was suberb. I had the bone marrow and chanterelle mushroom ravioli. The flavors were amazing, but the raviolis themselves were the best--so thin and light. To top off the dinner we had two glasses of barbera grappa, it was good, although I'm not a grappa connossieur. Dessert was a berry crostada with lemon sherbert which was also tasty. We really enjoyed ourselves at this restaurant and will be heading back to taste the rest of this amazing menu.

    (5)
  • Charles R.

    Big, noisy, but very good. For some reason I was under the impression that Osteria was a fairly small restaurant. Anything but, in fact. 3 good sized dining rooms, consisting of the main room, which I like the best, the porch which is ok, and the other room I didn,t see. The place was packed from the time we got there until we left, which was around 10. Despite the packed room, the service and food was spot on. One of the things I really liked was the wine by the glass list. Instead of the usual run of the mill Italian selections, these were from wineries in Italy that most of us never hear about. The waiter was well versed in the wines and did a good job of directing us to the ones we would like. He also was nice enough to bring a small taste of each before pouring a full glass. They offer a 3 oz. pour as well as a 7 oz., which I also like. The food was just as interesting and good as the wines. Pastas were cooked to perfection and the portions were perfect. The pork special was excellent. The order consisted of pork skins that had been cooked for hours, a pork rib, a piece of pork shoulder and lastly a piece of belly. The pork had been marinated for days and then slow cooked for 4 hours. Great taste, moist and fall off the bone good. Dessert was the gremolata that was smooth and creamy, almost like a pudding, but very light. Had a drink at the bar and the bartenders were great. Will absolutely go back. Valet parking is $12. and the bill for dinner with 6 glasses of wine was $170 with tax.

    (4)
  • Chad M.

    Awesome pizza. Perfect crust, definitely one of the best I have had.

    (4)
  • Jon S.

    ...so it turns out the secret to getting a table on short notice is to go on the night of the Academy Awards. Sat in the middle of the front room near the kitchen. Loved the pizza (yes the squash/pinenut one is fantastic), the roasted veg chef's special antipasta and the "one of everything" gelato/sorbet dessert plate. Waitstaff was great. Noise was tolerable considering there was a bday dinner with twelve people behind us. (They had a Nutella "pizza" dessert that was not on the menu and that I coveted) Parking was easy on Broad. Expect $35-40 per person before drinks. Ignore all of the naysayers. Go.

    (4)
  • Chillumgod V.

    First of all, let me start by the good points. I had heard a lot about this place, and if I tend to go to a fine dining place, I tend to spend atleast 2-3 hours and order the menu. So it was a double date and we ordered lots of aps and entrees for each. The service was great, the pre-seating bar drinks service was great and the place is amazing. Too overcrowded and big for my taste but overall amazing. Here is what the issue was... the food was just OK!! I guess I went with very high expectation, specially about he baby pig, however it was just very average!! No exceptional culinary endeavors. Had a great time but his place fell short of my expectations.

    (3)
  • D K.

    Our annual holiday lunch this year was one of the shortest ever (there were eight of us), and it was not because of the food. Yes, the Lombarda pizza is as good as everyone says; the Trentino and Mortadella were right up there too. Now, I don't now if it was just a lunchtime thing, but the service was definitely inconsistent. The waiter started out attentive and very helpful, made great suggestions and [unasked] rotated the food around the long table so we could all try every item, but after a while, he started pushing us to order more food quickly because the kitchen was closing. If we had just wandered in for lunch, it wouldn't have been such a big deal -- but they took the 1:45 reservation...they knew how many of us were coming and when. (Incidentally, when a few of the group spoke with the manager afterward, they were told that the kitchen doesn't close until all guests are gone.) Our experience with the sommelier...interesting. After doing his thing, bringing the bottles to us to check and then pouring a glass for the member of our party who had ordered, he proceeded to bring the rest of us our wine one glass at a time, very slowly and setting them out at every other place. It was an odd ritual and delayed our holiday toast. Later, when we had a problem with one bottle of wine seeming a bit on the fizzy side and smelling "off," he reluctantly took it back, while insisting that there was nothing wrong with it. This was our third bottle of wine -- we don't send wine back without reason, yet he looked it at us like it was us, not the wine, or that we had somehow accused him of something. We were pretty clear on the fact that he neither made nor bottled the wine. So, with all the great food, the service (the final straw being the host telling some of our party that while she would call a cab for them, they really should just wait outside and hail one since they come by "all the time," which is not the case) put a damper on our annual outing...an outing that we save for, use vacation time for, and anticipate for weeks ahead.

    (3)
  • Beeg R.

    With all these great reviews, we set our hope probably way too high... It was our 10th anniversary, so we decided to come here to celebrate. Our reservation was at 8:30p, and when we arrived, they said we had to wait a few mins, and pointed us to the bar. The place was packed. After we sat down, it took the server a while to take our order. Since we didn't want to rush, we didn't mind the slow service. We ordered a pizza, which was delicious. We had the pork rib pasta, which was amazing. The two courses were so great that we anxiously waited for our secondi-leg of lamb with a side of artichoke. After waiting for what seemed liked an eternity, the entree was a big disappointment. For $38, we got a few tiny pieces of lamb, rare, season less, and chewy. The artichoke was undercooked, tasteless, and burnt on the outside (we overheard later that the couple next to us didn't like their artichoke either.) it was such a great let down. For dessert, we got the beignet...big mistake. If we only had the pizza and pasta, we would give this place 5 stars. but the main course was simply a 1 sta. if we ever go bk, I would never get any secondi from them

    (3)
  • Alessia K.

    Osteria was my birthday dinner with the babe. And it was fantastic! Seriously if I were served an ill meal on my birthday there would have been hell to pay. Mark Vetri's little expensive pizza place came through luckily...for everyone. We got in to the place around 7:20 and our reservations were at 7:45 but the very nice hostess who was ALL business said we could be seated early. The place was bumping on a rainy Saturday night. I was impressed with the large space and the bistro type atmosphere. They sat us at a small table next to the window that opened to the garden room and there were these humungoid sunflowers sitting on the windowsill. I do not think I have ever noticed the physical attributes of a restaurant before mainly because I am always so concerned with eating. So, the cute waiter in glasses greeted us right away. He brought us yummo foccia and skinny bread sticks to munch on while we mulled over what to drink. Every single person in the place was drinking wine except for the preggo lady next to me so we said "eff it, let's do martinis." As usual, I got the vodka and he the gin and they were so wonderful. Honestly, for a wine place, one of the best martinis I have had other than at Davios. The pizza at Osteria is always talked about and Mark Summers from Double Dare fame said it was the greatest pizza he's ever eaten, so I ordered based on his opinion, which I hold to a high regard. The pizza was so thin, you could literally see through it. The cheese had a different taste than I have experienced in the states...it literally tasted like mozzarella from my Nonna's region in Italy. We devoured the pizza, but in an appropriate way. We then ordered one of the special pasta dishes to share, which was a linguine type noodle with melted goat cheese and baby tomatoes...again amazing. For our entrees were ordered the grouper and the salmon and again, amazing. The Salmon had a crispy skin with some sea salt sprinkled on top. It was served with the smallest and cutest zucchinis I have ever seen. The boy's Grouper had leeks and corn as accompaniments. After our second round of martinis and gorging on the delicious meal, it was time to go. Why make myself more full and risk the chance of yacking to get dessert? We had plans to kill a few bottles of wine anyway for my birthday celebration. I really recommend Osteria as it's a great date/group place if you have some extra cash to spend. Well done!

    (5)
  • Marisa B.

    One of the best restaurants in Philadelphia! I've been there five times and each time everything is excellent! GREAT food and AMAZING service!

    (5)
  • Dru H.

    Great pizza, skip the entrees. They aren't impressive. I came here to celebrate and dropped $500 with just my husband and I. We got great wine and tried tons of different dishes. We were super excited after the pizza, but it was all downhill from there. The rabbit was especially under whelming. True we had gotten back from Italy not too long before, but I think that only makes me more sure that it was meh.

    (2)
  • Matt R.

    Nothing is perfect, but my meal at Osteria was pretty close. Went here with a small party (party of four) for my parents' anniversary. We came on a Saturday evening, but early (6ish). We were seated in the greenhouse room. The food was excellent. We had a veggie/misto antipasto special, and the robiola app. Both were excellent, with the right amount of food for four people. Our entrees included a couple of the striped bass dishes, the pork shoulder, the lamb. The chef also sent out a complimentary portion of the whole roasted pig special - and this itself was as large as an entree. Everything was perfectly seasoned, and perfectly cooked. Dessert also was excellent - a pistachio, buttermilk and valpolicella gelato assortment, and a fantastic hazelnut mousse/polenta pudding combo. Service also was excellent start to finish. I'd asked them to have a bottle of prosecco waiting for us, and they brought it over as soon as we sat down. I didn't tell them what to pick, and I appreciated that they didn't stick me with one of their $100 bottles. The waitress was knowledgeable and friendly; our water, prosecco and wine were refilled frequently; our finished plates were removed quickly; and they waited until they gave us the check to bring our wrapped up leftover food back to the table. The Greenhouse room is beautiful, especially until about 8:30 when there was still some light out. Because it's all-glass and because the place is so crowded, it is rather noisy. After about an hour and a half the noise can get a little fatiguing. All in all, we had a fantastic time and I recommend Osteria in the strongest terms.

    (5)
  • Beth K.

    Amazing pasta with short ribs and pizza with pistachio pesto - loved the atmosphere and open kitchen. Great Valentine's Day dinner.

    (4)
  • Robert N.

    I chose two stars because the definition next to it reads "Meh I've experienced better". And this time around that's just the way we felt after having left Osteria last night. This is the second "meh" experience at a second Vetri restaurant. It all started out on a great note. The orange wine was amazing, the mixed vegetable plate was delicious but in the end most of our disappointment on this one came from the main course we both ordered. What sounded like a wonderful addition to the menu, the roaster pig, affectionately known to me as porchetta made my mouth water as the waitress described it, naturally I expected a place like Osteria would do it up just right. Well it sure was flavorful enough, but sadly very dry. And the skin of the pig which in a traditional porchetta is one of the most heavenly gastronomical experiences had been deep fried to the point all I could taste was the oil it was fried in. This is not what one would expect out of a pricey special in a place as special as this. It should not be a surprise to any restauranteur that if you screw up the main course you're going to wind up with an unhappy diner having walked away feeling it was a negative experience. Such was the case here. I'm sure we'll be back. There was much on the menu we'd like to explore, but certainly we'll be more judicious about any specials and maybe order different main courses in case one goes awry.

    (2)
  • Mark L.

    A more approachable and easily accessible sister restaurant for Vetri's. Pizza was authentic and great and I even enjoyed the rabbit dish they had. Location in north philly is horrible though. It's a shame that it's not closet to the popular areas.

    (4)
  • Jeffrey S.

    Went here for a special occasion dinner. Ambiance was nice. We were seated in a greenhouse type room, with glass all around us, affording us a nice view of Osteria's gardens and of a charming church next door w/ stained glass windows. Service was horrible. The waitress was extremely rude, condescending, and rolled her eyes at even the simplest of requests. She also ignored us several times when trying to get drinks refilled. Additionally, the waitress tried to inform us (incorrectly) that the Creekstone Farms ribeye (aged 30 days) would be less tender than the Florentine Ribeye (aged 10 days), because aging makes meat less tender. I would expect the servers at a fine restaurant such as Osteria to at least have the basic knowledge that aging increases tenderness. The food itself was spotty. For example, the pizza we ordered (the mortadella) was delicious. Among the best pizzas I've had in my life. The entrees were where the real problems began. We opted for the Florentine Ribeye, and ordered it Medium Rare. The Florentine Steak was presented to the table (whole) after cooking, but then inexplicably took over 20 minutes to slice and serve. And when it arrived, it was practically still mooing and was cool and red throughout. The steak was also extremely gristly / fatty and was a nightmare to cut / chew. And I understand that ribeyes are usually fatty, and I love that flavor, however this was the chewy, gristly kind of fat, not the good stuff that usually melts and adds flavor. The problem was also compounded by the fact that it was undercooked (more of the fat would have melted had it been properly prepared Med Rare. We also ordered the Roast Suckling Pig (the specialty of the night). The flavor was tremendous and the pig had a wonderful extra crispy skin on top, however for $32, the 8oz (or less) portion was rather lacking and left several diners hungry. One of my fellow diners ordered the Halibut after asking about the portion size, preparation, etc. She was assured that it was a "normal sized American portion of fish". When it arrived, it was no more than 4oz, probably closer to 3oz. Normal portion? It was by far the smallest portion of fish I've seen on an entree, smaller than most tasting menu sized portions of fish. Dessert was another bright spot. The Budino was amazing (among the best desserts I've eaten in 2011), and the homemade gelato was also to die for. All in all, I would consider returning to Osteria, but I would only order Pizza / Pasta / Dessert. The entrees are overpriced, undersized, and inconsistent.

    (2)
  • heather D.

    I've been to Vetri and Osteria and the food was top notch both times. I definately preferred the atmosphere at Osteria to Vetri. Vetri was a little too sedate for my husband and I. The service at both restaurants was impeccable. And chef Mark Vetri made the rounds. If you a foodie, this guy is a God. Don't leave without trying the gnocci-either as an appetizer or pasta course. Between the two trips, we sampled several dishes on the menu and loved everything. Too effusive? It's true!

    (5)
  • Marybeth C.

    Had dinner there last sunday night. My overall experience was awful. From the snooty wait staff right to the ANTS on my table. Which the waiter didn't even care. Even if my experience was better, Pizzeria Stella is so much better. I don't understand why Stella's didn't win the Philadelphia magazine challenge. Only reason I gave it two stars was the wine list was extensive although expensive.

    (2)
  • Emanuel K.

    I've been here twice and can say that it's some of best Italian food I've ever had. What I love most about this place is the high percentage of unusual or non-traditional Italian dishes on the menu. The dishes and flavor combinations are unique and creative (e. g. pizza with cape may salt oysters with cucumber spaghettini and house grown raspberries), and it won't be long until you realize this is unlike most (even fancy) Italian food you've had. Ask your waiter if they're serving the assorted roasted vegetables that evening. This is probably the simplest yet one of the most delicious dishes. I've honestly never had better vegetables, ever. It's not on the menu but it's a regular special and it makes the perfect appetizer. It can get quite noisy, and the decor is somewhat cheesy, but neither really detracts from the experience.

    (5)
  • elaine s.

    i would give them 5 starts put pasta portions a tiny and overpriced. but in general pastas are excellent. waters very knowledgeable.

    (4)
  • Jon S.

    Great place to have an upscale meal in a relaxed environment. The atmosphere is great and the lower priced wines ($40-50) are very good. In the four or five times I have been to this restaurant I have realized that the pizza is the only way to go. The main entrees are often lacking an identity and can have a very muddled flavor. That said, the pizza and appetizers are worth the trip.

    (4)
  • Ryan E.

    After Philadelphia Magazine ranked this as the 2nd best restaurant in Philadelphia for 2008, I set high expectations and couldn't wait to try it for myself. I have to say that my expectations were not met. The entrees were hit or miss and were surprisingly bland. The wine selection was acceptable and the brussel sprouts on the summer vegetable appetizer plate were incredible. However, I wish I could say the same for the rest of my meal. I found out later that maybe I just ordered the wrong items. But for a restaurant with such high esteem I'd expect anything I order to be top notch. Inconsistency would be the key here. I will definitely give it another shot but next time I'm ordering the pizza and hoping that I fare better.

    (3)
  • Betsy B.

    I heart this place. every time I make it to Philly - this is a must. Service is great, ambience, everything you order will be fantastic. i've been looking for a place like this in L.A. to no avail.

    (5)
  • Jeremy B.

    I have been wanting to try Osteria since they opened and overjoyed I did. I am definitly bias to Italian restaurants, for a few reasons, and rarely want to try them but... .The space itself is beautiful and comforting. The food was great!! I was estatic to try the pizza , and it did not dissapoint. Everthing was absolutely perfect, every dish we had. Great combinations, ingredients and presentation. The service was fine and being felt rushed at my last few dinners, I was happy to relax and enjoy. here.

    (4)
  • Ari H.

    Overall I really liked it. The decor and service were both solid. The food, however, was a little hit and miss. However, if you take one thing away from this review, heed the advice of the masses- the chicken liver pasta is the real deal. So damn good it was worth 3 stars just by itself.

    (3)
  • k. s.

    First things first: the food here is great. The menu is full of interesting combinations while still offering some of the staples you'd expect in a "rustic Italian" style restaurant. To me, a great litmus test for a restaurant is how well they can pull off simplicity and Osteria hits the nail on the head: we had an appetizer consisting of an array of vegetables that were each perfectly cooked to show off their unique flavors and the gnocchi with peas and prosciutto that I ordered was wonderfully balanced in its sweetness and saltiness. Also, if you are looking to experience Vetri on the cheap, pay attention to the specials since a few of them when we were there were dishes from that restaurant. Unlike Nicole R., I thought the wine list was exciting precisely because it was only Italian whites but she is definitely right about the prices: the wines by the glass were a bit steep and you had to search the list to find an interesting bottle that wasn't highly marked up. If you have money to spend though, there are some nice offerings to be had. I had to knock off one star because I wasn't at all impressed with the room and the layout. I guess I prefer my Italian places cozy and I found Osteria to be cold (figuratively and literally) and uninviting with it's sweeping ceilings and cramped dining. Although, the close dining lead to us having an interesting discussion with the party at the next table. The staff was also a bit overbearing in their attentiveness. As a final heads up: it's close enough to walk to from the main city center (15-20 minutes or so, depending on your speed) but the walk isn't that interesting for the most part (parking lots and such). I would take a cab next time--we did on the way back.

    (4)
  • Mike P.

    Recommended by good friends of excellent taste in restaurants, we joined Philly-based friends who had yet to try this highly rated place. The Chef Mark Vetri is rated very highly locally. We were not disappointed, drinks at the bar preceded our move to the reserved table out on the main floor. It's nt a large place and you are pretty close to your dining neighbors, which gives one a chance to eye some of the food options at least!The somewhat exotic Italian menu offered a good selection of thoughtfully constructed dishes, Himself settling on Rabbit, Herself Duck and our chums Duck and Pasta with Boar (boring pasta??!). Tiny though appetizers were they were enjoyed, with a nice Cab. The main features arrived promptly, were nicely cooked and presented, and very tasty. This is not a volume restaurant, with the focus instead on the cooking, taste and food combinations. It worked well. My Rabbit demanded some artistry with the knife to get the most from the boned-meat, and I think I left some behind for sure.Great ambiance, a busy Philly restaurant after all, plus well-cooked and enjoyable food. Service was very professional and prompt. We'll be back for sure, though there are so many restaurants we still have to try in Philly.

    (5)
  • Food Hound S.

    The food here is excellent, but we found ourselves having difficulty finishing since there are so many dishes. The wait staff is very knowledgeable and the wine list is quite nice as well. It is a little crowded here with cramped tables, but the food makes up for that. Enjoy!

    (4)
  • GREG F.

    This place just opened up some 8 weeks prior to my visit. Lets start with what was good ... I entered the restaurant and the place is very comfortable. Great space that makes you feel welcome. If I were rating just the Decor, we would be talking about 5 stars. This restaurants' feel along with the chef's reputation could help develop this area as an up-and-coming place. The thing I like the least about the whole experience here was the limitations or odd-ness of the menus. The layout of the menu was okay, but the selections were limited because they all were very bold combinations. The wine list was not easy to choose from for this sommelier, so I gravitated toward the sole Chianti on the list. We had a vegetable antipasti and Mozzarella en Carroza to start. Both dishes were REALLY good. The Mozz had a light airy texture and the veggies were fresh and prepared well. Excellent starters. Problematic was the chef's use of salt in our entrees. We had the Chicken dish off the menu and a Lobster special. I have to say that this was a piece of chicken cooked to the most absolute perfection in doneness and texture. My dining companion agreed that the seasoning was just too salty. Then the lobster. It was a whole lobster that was de-shelled, chopped and mixed with pasta and tomato sauce. The sauce had an unpleasant tang that was not to my liking and the lobster tasted a little fishy. What a shame. Thus the 3 star rating. Finally dessert. FuKKin AWsoMe creations here. I split three desserts, The cannoli's, panicotta inglace and the polenta with chocolate mousse. Great execution! And the espresso was good, although slightly over extracted, very good quality made by someone who knew what they were doing. Last note, this place is new, so next time I go I will see if the waiters stop swarming the tables, asking how things are going the moment you put the first bite in your mouth, and different waiters approaching to ask the same question the previous waiter asked. The hostess was less than sharp. Bottom line, service is immature so far. I hope they get it together and begin to "get it."

    (3)
  • Nicole R.

    North Broad is a ballsy place to open a new upscale Italian restaurant. It's obvious that these guys have pumped a lot of cash into this place because it's gorgeous and immaculate. It has an open kitchen, two bars and a lot of seating. The location could either prove disasterous or genius for Ventri and co. who already have an acclaimed Italian restaurant in Center City. They certainly seem to appeal to and hit the post work business crowd who travel in from suburbia to go to their offices. There appears to be plenty of parking for these folks and with the spacious restaurant, it's a good place to take a business lunch or dinner. The problem with it is that there is nothing else around--some office buildings and the community college (but honestly, I don't know many college kids willing to drop 60/ a head for dinner). As for the food--it's really good. I had a small plate of clams in a garlicky white sauce which were very good. They are generous with their fantastic hearth baked bread and crunchy breadsticks. Their wine list is a little problematic because #1 it's ALL Italian wines, which are somewhat unfamiliar to the American palate. And #2, there is no glass of red cheaper than $10. I got a nice glass of white for $8, though, which complimented the clams very well. The beer list is ambitious. With mainly Belgian beer and a few local micros, they seem to be banking on well-honed taste buds. Like I read in a vacant storefront in Philly when I first moved here, you can go broke overestimating the taste of the American public.

    (4)
  • Naz B.

    Came here for lunch the other day. I'm a fan, but I think the food wasn't as good as previous times. I knocked a star off for a hostess with some attitude, a creepy waitress and service that was ok at best. First, the food. We had 3 pizzas: Polpo, Margherita and Lombarda. The octopus on the polpo was really yummy. The pizzas are good, but I didn't love the Lombarda as much as everyone sings its praises. I've had better egg pizza elsewhere and didn't really like the sausage. I didn't have it this time, but the Parma pizza is my fav. We also had 2 pastas: Chicken Liver Rigatoni - this is one of the most delicious things I've ever eaten. I could not come to Osteria and not order this. I'm not a liver hater or lover in general, but this dish is just earthy and rich and feels indulgent. We also had the Robiola Francobolli or postage stamp ravioli, and while most of the table liked this, I did not. It felt like eating little pats of butter. I should say that I'm not a butter lover - I like it, but don't go crazy over it like many people do. If you are, like my siblings who loved this dish, this dish is probably for you. Not for my boyfriend and me though. And to round off the meal, we had 2 desserts, the polenta budino and a rhubard tart. The budino is something special. It is this creamy pudding that isn't too sweet. Perfect dessert for me. It's topped with a mousse and candied hazelnuts. This is another thing I could not come to Osteria without getting. We were literally scraping the dish to get every bit. I didn't love the tart - just too sweet. Ok, now that the good stuff is out of the way, on to the bad. It was rainy, and when I walked in with my little sister, admittedly a little disheveled from the weather, the hostess was extremely rude and full of attitude. The restaurant was half empty, and she looked at us and very rudely asked if we had a reservation. I said I didn't think so, but I would double check with the rest of our party who wasn't there yet. I took a look at my phone and sent a text and a moment later told the hostess that we didn't have a reservation. She just looked at us and didn't even say anything. After a few awkward minutes, another guy grabbed some menus and started walking to a table. It was obviously for us, and he seated us at the table next to the hostess stand. It isn't a big deal (or at least shouldn't be), but it just put a sour note on the whole meal to have been treated poorly by this hostess, whose main component of her job is to be friendly and nice. Then on top of it, we had to sit there and watch her be super nice to all the older customers who came in after us. I'm guessing it's because we are relatively young compared to the other customers? Maybe she thought we wouldn't spend as much money? Idk, but it was annoying. Then, our waitress was a soft-talker, which doesn't seem to be a very good quality for a waitress. It made for some awkward interactions. Smaller gripe, but they never refilled my or my sister's ice teas or asked. They just left the empty glasses of ice on the table. All in all, Osteria is good. This experience was worse than past experiences, food included. Certain things are really yummy though. Maybe an off day? Maybe going downhill? Also an attitude readjustment for the hostess would help too. Solid restaurant, but if this is the new Osteria, I think I might not bothering going way out of my way to get there. In general, I just think this place has been over-hyped.

    (3)
  • Mary P.

    Best italian restaurant in philly...although i have not been to his other restaurant, vetri. Order the ravioli...there are two different kinds...one is with mushrooms. I recommend ordering both. They melt in your mouth. Remember half orders of the pasta dishes are available. Pizza cannot be missed either.

    (5)
  • Anna Marie C.

    dear lord, this was an amazing meal. so getting there was a problem. i figured we would take the subway...but let me tell you, standing at the subway station, whilst some guy is making up a rap about decapitation and a bullet to your head...well, that was a bit intimidating. No reservations on a Friday night, but we sat at the chef's counter--which isn't a bad idea when there's only two people, but i would not recommend it for any more than that. the place was big, high ceilings...very classically chic, i guess. it looked homey and rustic. onto the food...So I think the fact is, stick to the pastas and the pizza. I had the mozarella appetizer (it was like a v. classy version of mozarella sticks, how can one go wrong??) and the duck and chestnut ravioli. both were absolutely superb. extensive and expensive wine list, not a lot to be had by the glass...but what they had was good. and they even do 3 oz tasting glasses as well (for those who cant handle alcohol as well but still want to try?) i had the persimmon tiramisu. not what i expected, but still v. good. and those who complain about service? no way. our server was the sweetest girl who totally made great recommendations and knew the menu like the back of her hand, kept our water and bread bowl filled. i wish they delivered... :)

    (5)
  • Sarah T.

    I was excited to try Osteria because I am a huge Vetri fan, but sadly I was disappointed. To start the seating was uncomfortable because of how close in proximity the tables are to one another but that wouldnt have been a deal killer. Our server was super slow to greet & take our order even though the restaurant was not to capacity. The highlight was our antipasti of mozzerella in carrozza with olive oil poached pear & capers...delicious! The primi dish of porcini rotolo with parmigiano fonduto was good as well. For our Secondini dish my husband and I ordered the house aged rib eye "fiorentina" for two & it was one of the worst steaks I have ever eaten! Our server told us it was "marbeled" but 1/2 was literally gristle and fat!! We ordered it Med rare and I could not get my steak knife through it!!! I maybe ate 3 bites and filled myself with the turnip gratin. Then as a topper we were celebrating my husbands birthday which I had advised the hostess & the table next to us got a candle in their dessert and they forgot about my husbands!! The maitre de was apologetic and they brought a complimentary dessert but I was over it! Having worked in the biz I am understanding but for a $200 meal I expect at least good... Will not be going back!!

    (2)
  • G... D.

    Classic Italian comfort foods done right. The pizza was thin and crispy with great prosciutto and cheese. We slip a special lobster paste that was perfectly done with just a little heat to the dish. I ended with the rabbit over a nice creamy polenta. The only poor execution was that the side of polenta my wife order had a very strong wood smoke flavor that was not appealing at all. They finished it in the wood burning oven which just takes over the polenta. The waiter quickly took care of us though with another choice but we were full already so they took it off the bill without question. Great service from this nice but loud location.

    (3)

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Map

Opening Hours

  • Mon :5:00 pm - 10:00pm

Specialities

  • Takes Reservations : Yes
    Delivery : No
    Take-out : No
    Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
    Good For : Dinner
    Parking : Street
    Bike Parking : Yes
    Wheelchair Accessible : Yes
    Good for Kids : No
    Good for Groups : Yes
    Attire : Casual
    Ambience : Classy
    Noise Level : Average
    Alcohol : Full Bar
    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.

Osteria

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