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Name: Ralphs Italian Restaurant
Address: 760 S 9th St, Philadelphia, PA, 19147
Telephone: (215) 627-6011
Price range: Under $11
Rating: 3.49

Ralphs Italian Restaurant

760 S 9th St, Philadelphia, PA, 19147

(215) 627-6011
Store is closed

Ralphs Italian Restaurant Menu

Appetizers

Bruschetta

Sauteed Escarole

Sauteed Long Hot Peppers

Calamari

Broccoli Rabe

Mussels

Bruschetta

Sauteed Escarole

Sauteed Long Hot Peppers

Calamari

Broccoli Rabe

Mussels
Soup and Salads

Roasted Peppers and Anchovies Salad

Tossed Salad

Greens and Pastina Soup

Roasted Peppers and Mozzarella Salad

Arugula Salad

Tomatoes and Mozzarella Salad

Italian Salami Provolone and Olive Salad

Antipast Salad

Caesar Salad

Roasted Peppers and Anchovies Salad

Tossed Salad

Greens and Pastina Soup

Roasted Peppers and Mozzarella Salad

Arugula Salad

Tomatoes and Mozzarella Salad

Italian Salami Provolone and Olive Salad

Antipast Salad

Caesar Salad
Pasta

Pasta with Meatballs

Pasta with Mushrooms

Pasta with Sausage

Pasta with Anchovies and Garlic

Pasta with Chicken Livers

Pasta with Clams

Pasta with Calamari

Pasta with Mussels

Pasta with Shrimp

Pasta with Jumbo Lump Crabmeat

Combination with Ravioli

Pasta with Meatballs

Pasta with Mushrooms

Pasta with Sausage

Pasta with Anchovies and Garlic

Pasta with Chicken Livers

Pasta with Clams

Pasta with Calamari

Pasta with Mussels

Pasta with Shrimp

Pasta with Jumbo Lump Crabmeat

Combination with Ravioli
Chicken

Chicken Trombino

Chicken Parmigiana

Chicken Cacciatore

Chicken Capricciosa

Sicilian Chicken

Chicken Trombino

Chicken Parmigiana

Chicken Cacciatore

Chicken Capricciosa

Sicilian Chicken
Veal

Veal Scallopine

Ralph's Famous Veal Parm

Veal Sicilian

Veal Capricciosa

Veal Scallopine

Ralph's Famous Veal Parm

Veal Sicilian

Veal Capricciosa
Seafood

Linguini Pescatore

Linguini Pescatore
Homemade Specialties

Ravioli

Manicotti

Lasagna

Fettuccini Alfredo

Fettuccini in Tomato Sauce

Fettuccini Alfredo with Chicken

Fettuccini Alfredo with Shrimp

Cheese Cavatelli

Ravioli

Manicotti

Lasagna

Fettuccini Alfredo

Fettuccini in Tomato Sauce

Fettuccini Alfredo with Chicken

Fettuccini Alfredo with Shrimp

Cheese Cavatelli
Old World Favorites

Sausage with Peppers

Broiled Sausage

Eggplant Parmigiana

Sausage with Peppers

Broiled Sausage

Eggplant Parmigiana

Healthy Meal suggestions for Ralphs Italian Restaurant

Appetizers

Bruschetta [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Sauteed Escarole [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Sauteed Long Hot Peppers [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Calamari [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Broccoli Rabe [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Mussels [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Bruschetta [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Sauteed Escarole [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Sauteed Long Hot Peppers [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Calamari [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Broccoli Rabe [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Mussels [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]
Soup and Salads

Roasted Peppers and Anchovies Salad [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Tossed Salad [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Greens and Pastina Soup [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Roasted Peppers and Mozzarella Salad [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Arugula Salad [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Tomatoes and Mozzarella Salad [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Italian Salami Provolone and Olive Salad [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Antipast Salad [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Caesar Salad [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Roasted Peppers and Anchovies Salad [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Tossed Salad [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Greens and Pastina Soup [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Roasted Peppers and Mozzarella Salad [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Arugula Salad [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Tomatoes and Mozzarella Salad [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Italian Salami Provolone and Olive Salad [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Antipast Salad [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Caesar Salad [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]
Pasta

Pasta with Meatballs [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Pasta with Mushrooms [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Pasta with Sausage [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Pasta with Anchovies and Garlic [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Pasta with Chicken Livers [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Pasta with Clams [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Pasta with Calamari [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Pasta with Mussels [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Pasta with Shrimp [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Pasta with Jumbo Lump Crabmeat [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Combination with Ravioli [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Pasta with Meatballs [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Pasta with Mushrooms [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Pasta with Sausage [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Pasta with Anchovies and Garlic [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Pasta with Chicken Livers [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Pasta with Clams [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Pasta with Calamari [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Pasta with Mussels [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Pasta with Shrimp [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Pasta with Jumbo Lump Crabmeat [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Combination with Ravioli [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]
Chicken

Chicken Trombino [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Chicken Parmigiana [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Chicken Cacciatore [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Chicken Capricciosa [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Sicilian Chicken [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Chicken Trombino [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Chicken Parmigiana [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Chicken Cacciatore [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Chicken Capricciosa [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Sicilian Chicken [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]
Veal

Veal Scallopine [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Ralph's Famous Veal Parm [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Veal Sicilian [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Veal Capricciosa [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Veal Scallopine [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Ralph's Famous Veal Parm [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Veal Sicilian [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Veal Capricciosa [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]
Seafood

Linguini Pescatore [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Linguini Pescatore [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]
Homemade Specialties

Ravioli [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Manicotti [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Lasagna [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Fettuccini Alfredo [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Fettuccini in Tomato Sauce [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Fettuccini Alfredo with Chicken [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Fettuccini Alfredo with Shrimp [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Cheese Cavatelli [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Ravioli [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Manicotti [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Lasagna [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Fettuccini Alfredo [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Fettuccini in Tomato Sauce [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Fettuccini Alfredo with Chicken [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Fettuccini Alfredo with Shrimp [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Cheese Cavatelli [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]
Old World Favorites

Sausage with Peppers [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Broiled Sausage [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Eggplant Parmigiana [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Sausage with Peppers [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Broiled Sausage [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Eggplant Parmigiana [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

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Write An Anonymous Review

Anthony K.

Visited this old school italian restaurant with my girlfriend for a late Saturday lunch and were seated immediately. We started with mussel's (white) which were delicious. For main we had the veal parm and the eggplant parm. Both servings were huge and easily the best italian we have had in Philly. Big fans of the food and will definitely return. Only downside was the slow service. Our waiter 'disappeared' outside and whilst other tables were being served, we had to wait 20mins for him to return before we could ask for the bill...But that was only a minor point in otherwise a delicious and enjoyable lunch.
(4)
Kate D.

I came here on one of my first nights in Philly, on the recommendations of others. I had an overall terrific experience. The service was actually very good. I liked that the wait staff generally stayed out of our hair and let us talk and eat and drink in peace. They're not going to hover. I hate waitstaff that hovers. Our waiter was a bit abrupt, but honestly, it was nice having someone who didn't ask too many questions. He was knowledgable, helpful, and knew when to disappear. The food was amazing. I don't know how else to describe it. I had a bowl of lentil soup that knocked my socks off and frankly I would go back just for that soup. I had the ravioli with an alfredo sauce for dinner - I'm telling you, nothing beats a home-made alfredo. My companions had a veal dish and a filet mignon pasta - both were equally delicious (although I'm a sucker for a great alfredo, so I didn't regret my choice at all). Oh, yeah, and the butter that went with the bread came out warm. Awesome. But no oil on the table? That seemed a little off to me. We also had dessert - yeah, we went all out. I had a tiramisu that was incredibly light and capped off dinner perfectly. We also tried the cheesecake. It was good, not mind-blowing, but cheesecake, like steak, can only be so good. Tiramisu was to die for, and I hear their cannoli are out-of-this-world good. I'll be trying it next time I'm in. They do only take cash, so make sure you bring enough. I know some people have complained about it, and about passing off the surcharge on the ATM to the client, but that saves them the charges of having a credit card machine, and it doesn't seem to be hurting their business any. Prices are VERY reasonable - I walked in the door expecting to see prices $10 higher than they were. Very pleasant surprise - the food is DEFINITELY worth this bill. You can tell this is a popular place, with its own crowd of regulars. No less than three sets of diners walked in, who the staff greeted by name, and on a Monday night. BE SURE TO MAKE RESERVATIONS - we went on a Monday night and while no one had more than a five minute wait while we were there, there was a steady stream of people coming and going and this was on a Monday. I'm sure it's probably close to impossible to get a table on the weekends. Overall, five-star experience at Ralph's.
(5)
Michael D.

Been here a few times. They have really good Italian food. I have yet to get a dish that i did not like. It is a small place and can get very crowed and the bar is small so if you are waiting for a table and trying to get a drink it may be difficult but in my opinion the food is worth the wait and small atmosphere. It is truly a genuine Italian place.
(3)
David G.

First time visit to the restaurant , while in Philadelphia yesterday attending the 9th Street Italian Market Festival. The food was very good. We would go definitely have dinner again at this Italian establishment. Philadelphia has some of the best Italian restaurants without a doubt.
(4)
Tom D.

Tasty meal, good time. Can't wait to go back.
(5)
christina g.

Ralph's is fantastic! I took my parents to Ralph's for dinner tonight and they loved it. The decor, tons of people in a not so large space and the smell of pasta reminded me of having a big dinner with my family. It's a very cute little place. Their sauce is spot on! I think they may have an army of little old Italians cooking nonstop. It is a bit pricey, but much cheaper than flying my nonna here to cook dinner for me. The portions are hearty and the staff is very friendly and helpful. We were all very satisfied with our meals. The gnocchi is decent, though not quite as dense as I like. The rapini(broccoli rabe) was perfect. The eggplant parmesan delicious as well. My dad said he really enjoyed the veal. Worth noting, they are cash only. During dinner if you have 3 or more people they highly suggest making reservations. I will definitely be visiting Ralph's again!
(5)
Erin A.

I dont go to ralphs becuase its quiet, no one should! I go because the food is like my best friends grandmoms. the chicken parm is great everytime i eat it. the lasagna is cheesy and the bread is always warm and flaky! delish!
(4)
Lori M.

Boring. I had dinner here when I was visiting Philly because my boyfriend had been here during his last visit and raved about it, but I thought this place was forgettable and after this visit he said he wouldn't be back either. The bread was cold and tasted stale. The Caesar salad was drowning in dressing. I will give them an extra star because my meal came with so many mussels. They certainly did not skimp on that. But service was slow and the place is cramped. My servers butt shouldn't practically be on my table when he turns to help the table next to us.
(2)
Khyati D.

My husband is from Philly and LOVES Italian so when we came up from DC for a weekend of fun, where else would we go but South Street?! He selected the place and loved that it was the oldest family owned Italian restaurant in the country. We came to Ralphs with another couple and we all loved it. It was crowded and tight but the great service and delicious food made up for it. I had eggplant parmesan which was some of the best I've had in the U.S. The wine was great and our server was so funny and charming. Good food, great service, what else do you need? Oh but remember it's cash only, which was a drag but we knew about it in advance so came prepared.
(4)
elizabeth s.

Went here for the first time tonight- Looking for a great Italian dinner in the city. Normally we go to Dante and Luigis, but we wanted to try something different... And we picked a great one! Everything here was amazing, and couldn't have been done any better! The waitstaff was great too! We ordered the canolli cake, but they were all out so we ordered the dark side of the moon and the server brought it to us on the house! That was completely unneccesary- but a very nice gesture! You can't go wrong here- but beware it is small, and we missed the warning of no credit cards, but there is an ATM around the corner. Enjoy!
(5)
Beth H.

I didn't know what to expect when I came in here last night. I made a reservation as per the request of my date (he said it was a good spot). The seating is a little close (all at long tables), but it actually makes for quite a festive atmosphere, which is what I believe the owners are going for. As far as the food...I can honestly say it was the best meal I've ever had (barring the bite of my date's chicken livers w/ mushrooms...not to my liking, but he loved it!) . We started off w/ a tomato and onion salad and Clams Casino (delicious!). My entree was black lobster ravioli w/ scallops and capers in a scampi sauce (Amazing!). We finished off our meal w/ tiramisu and coffee. Oh, and we also had some Italian white wine w/ dinner. (They only sell wine by the bottle, 1/2 or full carafe. It does get a little pricey, just fair warning. However, I was told that on Sundays BYOB is optional.) The wait staff was wonderful at checking in and fulfilling our requests in top notch fashion. Oh, and there is valet parking, though my date and I had no need for this service; however, the valet did hail a cab for us while we waited inside to stay warm. Good service, amazing food, nice ambiance...not much more that you can ask for. Highly recommended, whether you live in Philly or you want a nice place to go out to while you're visiting the area. Will definitely come here again when I get the chance!
(5)
Amy K.

Ralphs was inviting and delicious. The room was small and cozy. Our waiter was very nice and always seemed pleasured to help us (he even said my pleasure when we asked for things!) haha. And they were all wearing Phillies shirts, supporting our team! The food also came out ridiculously fast, I got the chicken parm that was a massive portion, I would say I could have shared it with my boyfriend but in the end, I demolished most of it, including the side of pasta I got in a bowl. They had a great wine selection but I opted for a cheaper bottle of cellar no. 8 zinfandel which was fine with me. All in all, we paid around 80 including everything, which isn't bad since we got a bottle of wine a couple other drinks. I will be going back.
(4)
Pasquale R.

My friend who has been going here for years (since he lives right across the water) decided to bring me to this place to show me real, authentic Italian food. So of course I was expecting something amazing because he knows his food. Wow is right! Wow, this place really sucks and the food tastes like canned Italian food. Actually, I would be insulting the canned food by saying that. It's worst! What are people thinking. I had the pasta and meatballs and both were horrendous. I cannot believe this even is considered Italian food let alone great Italian food. I am sure, or even praying, there is better places in Philly. Plus it's always packed. What are people thinking! Go to the supermarket and buy the frozen variety and you will enjoy it more...even if you don't even thaw the food!
(1)
Rich D.

Ralph's is one of the Best Italian Restaurants. The food tastes like the home cooking cooking of my Grandmother's and my Mom's. Service is excellent, and the atmosphere cozy! I highly recommend Ralph's! Rich D'Auria Pets-R-Great.org
(5)
Christine T.

Great food and even better service. Went with my parents and my boyfriend - so the small table was a little cramped. The boys ordered a martini and when the waiter came over to bring my mother's drink - he spilled one of the two martinis. Immediately he apologized, gave us another free martini (and comp'd the spilled one) and gave us a free appetizer. Couldn't get much better than that. Had the meatballs, anchovies, and roasted peppers - delicious. Everyone else loved their food too (eggplant parm, veal and peppers, sausage and peppers). If you want home style Italian food - go there. Only problem is that the valet was basically non-existent so I say park yourself.
(4)
Eric H.

These guys are the oldest family owned Italian in the USA for a reason. Great food in a laid back setting. A taste of the old world pasta and gravy. Not overly expensive but not cheap either. Regardless a good meal every time.
(4)
Brian M.

My parents still think this area is a beacon for good Italian so they wanted to have dinner there a while back. It was disappointing to say the least. Loud as hell, service was just okay, the food ranged from bad to barely edible; no one enjoyed their meal. Like every other Italian place in this area, they are resting on their laurels and boy are they tired.
(2)
Rebecca C.

In one word: Disappointing. Countless times over my years of spending lovely afternoons meandering around Philly's Italian Market, I have passed Ralph's and hoped that the next time I was around, I'd be eating there. Ralph's, for all it's history, should be the crowning jewel of Bella Vista with its laid-back neighborhood-restaurant feel. Last week, I stopped in for lunch with a friend from out of town, hoping to start her visit off with a fabulous Italian meal (plus, I had a Groupon!). We decided to split a bunch of appetizers: Antipasto plate, Clams Casino, Bruschetta and Calamari. The waiter brought out the Antipasto and Clams Casino first. Both were decent, but nothing special, and obviously not a whole lot of effort put into the presentation. Once we were finished with those, the waiter brought out our Calamari and Bruschetta. I expected the Calamari to be breaded and fried, as is usual in the many Italian restaurants in which I've eaten. My mistake, I guess, but if the calamari, which I assume was just cooked in the sub-par tomato sauce, tasted even slightly fresh or flavorful, I may have been able to enjoy it. It's not often that I don't eat anything put in front of me, but this was one of those times. The calamari was soggy and fishy. To me, it tasted like someone dumped a can of calamari in a pot of canned tomato sauce. I am of the opinion that there is almost nothing you can do to ruin Bruschetta... unless you use tomatoes OUT OF A CAN! Seriously, Ralph's? How hard is it to buy and chop fresh tomatoes for Bruschetta when you are located IN the Italian market? Redeeming qualities? Ralph's is cute. The inside reminds me of what my Italian grandma's Italian Restaurant would have looked like. The waiter we had, though unfortunately I don't remember his name, was really nice and attentive, and made a great dessert suggestion for us. We split a homemade cannoli, which was delicious, with a good cup of coffee. I would not suggest Ralph's for dinner, not with so many superior options available nearby, but I might stop in for another cannoli.
(2)
Windi L.

Boo Hoo. With all of the hype this place was getting I thought for sure I was in for a big treat. My boyfriend recommended we take my family here while in town for the Army Navy game. He spoke volumes of it! I called and tried to make a reservation for 6. They were all booked up. I was sad. Determined to make my parent's dream of authentic Italian food a reality (me thinking Philly would have this) I called back every day until they finally got us in. WHOO HOO. This was a sign I thought. Any place this booked up must be amazing. WRONG. While it gives the appeal of a cute little Italian restaurant, I can honestly say I've had better food at the Olive Garden. A truly disappointing food experience for me and my family. For starters, the waiter brought the wrong wine. He tried to argue with me that he brought what I ordered but I clearly ordered a wine that should have been RED but was brought one that was WHITE. Ding number one. To off-set this, we were VERY happy with our antipasti salad which was VERY tasty so this is why Ralph's doesn't get just one star. Moving on to the main course. EVERYONE was disappointed. My sister's gnocchi dish tasted like a piece of soft bread you roll up into a ball, my veal was waaaay overcooked and the side of pasta was not only cold but undercooked. We were so disappointed we actually left and went to get sandwiches at Nick's roast beef because we were hungry from not eating. My boyfriend, who grew up in Philly, also said this place went waaaay down hill. I will not go back despite how popular it is because the food is not worth it. I did think the staff was kind of nifty, though - playing into that whole stereotypical south philly thing. Or perhaps it's just truly their personality. PS - They don't accept credit cards!!!!
(2)
T G.

Out of town visitor came here based on a colleague's recommendation. The food was amazing! The Salmon was as good as I've had in years. Lots of flavor and cooked perfectly. The pasta was equally as good and the marinara was outstanding.
(5)
Jack J.

Disgraceful. Ralph's would not honor our reservation. Food has always been solid, but the service has been more and more thoughtless and rushed over the last few years. Tonight, we showed up only to find out that the restaurant was full and we could not be seated. Seriously? What's the point of making a reservation if the restaurant can decide to not honor it after you've shown up? Forget about Ralph's. There's better Italian in Philly, anyway.
(1)
Mike S.

I might be biased, or simply haven't tried many Italian restaurants in Philadelphia, but damn, that sauce (or gravy, depends on where you were born) they use is like liquid gold. So delicious. Evey time I go, I wanna get a job there long enough to learn the secrets of the sauce. Anyway, have been there 4 or 5 times. I have ordered the manicotti, the lasagna, and the gnocchi. All have been fantastic. Last time around was with 12 friends. And all I heard was "mmmmm", "holy crap this is great", and "great choice for a restaurant". Everyone got something a bit different, but the results were uniform. The wine is always good, the wait staff is attentive and keeps checking up on you. I cannot say enough good things about this place.
(5)
Alexa R.

My father visited us from out of town this past weekend and wanted an authentic meal in the Italian Market. My husband and I weighed our various options: Dante and Luigis (we determined it was a bit too pricey for six of us), Villa da Roma (good, but not great) or Ralph's. Ralph's was the best option as we knew the prices were reasonable, they would be able to take a reservation and the food would be reliable and solid. We were seated upstairs and it was LOUD. We did not mind whatsoever, but I could see it bothering others. Our food was great - I had a chicken special, my brother ordered a veal special and my husband dubbed his mussel appetizer "the most tender mussels I have ever had." My Dad was so happy with his antipasti appetizer, chicken parm and cannoli for dessert. Living a block from Ralph's, I take its proximity for granted. I vow to return soon! INSIDER NOTE: It is cash only, but there is an ATM on the premises.
(4)
Caitlin C.

Glad Nick B. spoke up. As an Italian foodie I need to try all Italian restaurants in the city, and Ralph's always comes up on every list. Small, authentic-looking and simple. The perfect makings for good food. The waiter who waited on my party was quite strange, and very full of Ralph's pride. He sat with us and offered great conversation. The food, however, is the reason most people go to a restaurant, and in my case, (and the case of my 100% Sicilian boyfriend) this food was surprisingly bad. Not bad as in I wanted to spit it up and wash off my tongue, but just. . . normal. If you are looking for a great Italian restaurant like Grandma used to make, go to HOSTERIA DA ELIO. Trust me. I should be charging for these food secrets. . .
(3)
D C.

What i will say is when i walked in i wasnt impressed with the atmosphere. You are clumped together and its loud but i thought "ok..ive heard rave reviews labout this place lets just see". One bite of my food and i was instantly a fan. The quality of the food is superb. However, they should tell you on the phone that they only take cash... hmm..why is that? oh yea...Italian restaurant..philly etc.." (better be quiet) i dont want to swim with the fishes" if ya know what i mean. ; ) ~
(4)
john t.

I went here for my birthday with a group of 6 people on a Saturday night in April. The seating is a little cramped and both of the floors can be a little bit loud depending on how busy it is. If your looking for a quite romantic Italian place THIS IS NOT IT. However, if you want to have the best selection of Veal dishes in Philly then this is your spot. We tried three of them and they were all exceptional. great place to celebrate and relax with friends . If your uptight or looking for privacy go somewhere else.
(5)
Tom H.

I take out-of-towners to Ralphs to experience authentic South Philly Italian food. Ralph's never disappoints. It may not be fancy, but it's classic and damn good. They are best known for their veal specials, but make a pretty mean chicken or eggplant parmesan, too. Other good choices are the antipasto, gnocchi, mussels, and Italian sausage. But folks are right; the spaghetti is just OK. Make reservations, and don't forget to bring your patience (it can get loud and crowded), cash, and plenty of friends.
(5)
Joseph S.

If you are looking for a good, inexpensive, no frills Italian meal - head to Ralph's. Yes, it's small - you are somewhat cramped. No, it isn't particularly a place to "see and be seen." But the portions are large and the quality is good. The staff is generally nice, but can be "short" at times. interestingly enough, I'm not a fan of their pasta. I dined there last night with a large group of business associates and friends. I had a salad with genoa salami, provolone cheese and roasted peppers with balsamic vinaigrette - it was fabulous. For my entree I had veal francaise, the veal was fantastic - very tender, overall it was very good, but the cream sauce was just a touch salty. Oh, and they have a great Lemonchello!
(3)
Maureen M.

Went here with a group of 11 on a Sunday evening. My brother and girlfriend were excited to try Ralph's given its history. I walked in with high expectations as well. The verdict? Disappointing! I had fettuccine alfredo which was good not great, Mom said her shrimp scampi wasn't worth $19, Grandpa said he's had better Italian at home in Wilmington! Dessert was by far the biggest let down for me. I'm a cannoli lover and ordered the cannoli cake, figuring what could be better than cake + cannoli?! Ugh, where do I begin, with the thick Cool Whip frosting layer or the box mix tasting cake? Not to mention the cannoli filling was not a smooth creamy treat but rather bland and ill textured. Oh and the mini cannoli on top of my slice of cake was soggy which shows they don't fill their cannolis to order. Mine felt like it had been sitting all day. Besides the food our service wasn't so hot either. Our water was served room temperature, no ice and our waiter kept bringing out the wrong food. For all the hype surrounding Ralph's we expected much better. We won't be back.
(2)
Rachel R.

I have been eating the mussels in red here since I was 3 years old. Classic Italian- the veal parm and mussels are always a sure thing. Still one of my fave places to come back to in Philly.
(5)
Nancy P.

I love this place! I've been going to Ralph's for almost 30 years and it never lets me down. I could eat the mussels in red sauce every day....so delicious!! My most recent visit was late Friday night. Chris was our waiter and did an amazing job....very attentive and super friendly! He knew, without asking, that when we were finished with our mussels, he should take the bowls of empty shells, leave the sauce, and bring more bread. Gotta love it!
(5)
Martha M.

One more Italian review for the day... Ralph's was selected from a list of best rated Italian restaurants in Philly. It is a cute traditional Italian restaurant that feels like you are eating in someone's home. The place was supposed to be excellent but was overall mediocre. The eggplant parmesan was delicious but the wait staff seemed very indifferent and at times slow. We sat upstairs and it was crowded so it got a little noisy. They should invest in a good clean up and some new paint.
(2)
Margaret B.

Terrible food! You thought it was hard spoil Italian food? Wrong. The pasta was flaccid, not supple but chalky, not al dente but soft. Any brand made in Italy is far better than this. Is it Chef Boyardee who is providing the pasta? The red sauce seems to have been made from canned crushed tomatoes (the worst of the vine), cooked with a bit of inferior oil. Olive oil? I doubt it. Extra virgin olive oill? Not on your life. As to salads, plueeze--balsamic vinegar sweetened up the shrimp and crab meat on romaine lettuce to the point that no seafood could be tasted. The romaine came from the outer leaves, making the salad coarse and unpleasant to eat. Extra virgin olive oil in the salad dressing? Not on your life. The pasta primevera comprised droopy, chalky pasta, canned crushed tomatoes, vegetable oil, and large chunks of parboiled broccoli. Sweetbreads fried within an inch of their life to the point that all one tasted was the fried flour they had been dunked in. No genuine Italian would give Ralph's food to a starving person. The dessert was just as deeply inauthentic. Cake-like tiramisu without soaking in liqueur, and cannoli with library-paste for filling.
(1)
Michael B.

Maybe it's because I'm a bit Italian, maybe it's because I've been to a ton of family owned Italian restaurants or maybe it's because I know how to cook, but for whatever reason, after my second visit to Ralph's, I feel I can do better. First the good points, the place seems to get a good crowd The decor and staff are what you'd expect at an Italian American restaurant. And that's really about it. I ordered the veal "marsala." I was intrigued by the use of sherry instead of the traditional Marsala wine, from which the dish gets its name. Absent was the prosciutto and light brown sauce you'd expect. In their place was a strangely fatty creamy broth into which were placed a few veal slices along with the expected mushrooms. If you're going to call a dish something, then for the love of God and all that's holy, use the correct ingredients. Sherry comes from Spain and Marsala comes from Sicily. They don't even taste the same. The broccoli and escarole as a side dish was much better. However, it doesn't take much effort to properly steam something and then season it. Now about the server, when I asked which RED wines they had by the glass, the server listed Pinot Grigio and one or other whites,..huh? Also, five minutes after you've served the food don't come back and ask if we need anything. Obviously not, you just served the food. Also it's 2009, learn how to run a credit card machine. That's perhaps acceptable at a BYOB but not at places that charge PA restaurant prices for a bottle of wine. Most people don't carry around more than $50 in cash with them and it's just tacky to have an ATM on the premises that you're making money off with fees.
(2)
LOU P.

Long-time fan of Ralph's here. I adore sweetbreads, which are not on every Italian restaurant's menu. So i go to Ralph's for sweetbreads. I think the mushrooms in the dish are canned, but the sweetbreads are perfect, with a light sauce and are a huge portion. I'm also crazy about their Fettucini Alfredo, which is the real thing, made with pasta, butter, parm and cream and nothing else. My partner always orders spaghetti and meatballs - he's not a foodie and that's what he likes. Since I order 2 entrees (so I'll have leftovers tomorrow), we don't get out of there cheaply, but I love the place. And yes, it's a good place to bring visiting firemen - old-time ambience, attentive service, and Sarcone's bread.
(4)
patrick k.

Ralph's talks a big game, what with its "Oldest family owned Italian Restaurant in the Country" claim, which it very well may be. But it definitely doesn't make any claims about being the best, and it shouldn't. I found they have exactly the same food as Villa di Roma (which I don't think is very good, check my review for details), but the decor and ambiance are a lot nicer. The biggest transgression they committed against me was their Caprese Salad, which is Mozzarella and Tomato with basil and olive oil for those who don't know. I ate at Ralph's in August, the height of tomato season in this part of the country. The time of year when tomatoes become so delicious and juicy that you can bite into one and eat it like an apple. Everyone I know in South Philly and my dad in the burbs has beefsteaks and heirlooms growing in their backyard and there's just too many awesome tomatoes to go around when August hits. Around a week earlier I had a Jersey Tomato salad at The Standard Tap, a pub in Northern Liberties, and it was one of the best things I had ever tasted in my life. I think that thought is what made me want another. I figured, it's tomato season and I'm in the Italian Market area, this has got to be banging. But alas when my Caprese came i was saddened by pink Plum tomatoes, under-ripe and semi-frozen. I guess Ralph's buys their tomatoes in March when they are off-season and then freezes them so you can have the same shitty Caprese year-round. In my opinion no restaurant worth its salt would ever serve anything that was under-ripe or bad in any way. For Ralph's to pull off a shitty Caprese in August, in Philly, when there's more than one fresh mozzarella source down the street, and a dude outside selling perfect tomatoes for $1/lb, they really just must try to suck. Never again, Ralph's. By the way, I had the Ravioli, which is what i order when i think an Italian Restaurant might suck, cause they're hard to screw up, and they were decent. I love P&S Ravioli. House-made my ass!
(2)
F C.

My last name is Carbone. I DO NOT eat Italian out. I love this place. That is all you need to know. If you are uncomfortable eating on the cramped and usually crowded main floor just ask to sit upstairs. There are three floors that I know of and have experienced.
(5)
Mike W.

This place is great. It is cramped, but that just speaks to how good the food is. If I owned this place I would probably pack a few more bodies in there. Seriously though. The food is great and the prices are decent. Give it a shot.
(5)
Megan T.

Please do bring a lot of cash, if u planned to come. I had veal rollatini... not roll up , very strange. I thought Italian's "rollatini" means meat got roll up. I saw small round flat meat. looks like scalloppine. ( The chef napping at dinning hour?).,, . but it tasted good though...
(3)
Andy K.

Ralph's is the real deal. I've only been here three or four times, but I've never been disappointed and I always leave full. The food is the hard to beat.
(5)
Andrea S.

This review is from a meal a few months ago. My boyfriend was in town, and we did all the touristy things around the city. He looked through the guide book I had, and was looking at the restaurants in the area, and we happen to be on South St.. I was new to Philly so didnt know any of the restaurants, we came here because of the great blurb in the book, we get to the restaurant and see all there zagat awards on the front, and are thinking this is great, we are going to have some great Italian food. NOT the case. We go in, the place was empty besides one other table that was finishing up. We may have gone at an odd time, really late lunch most likely. The waiter was nice, I want to say a bit slow for us being the only table their. Boyfriend ordered spaghetti and meatballs, I tasted some, that had to be the worst pasta sauce ever, and the pasta was overcooked. I don't remember what I had exactly, it was a chicken dish, again not good at all, chicken had no flavor, the sauce was strange. What really bothered me was the pasta sauce, the stuff you get from the jars tastes a million times better than what we were served. Obviously we had not read the yelp reviews before eating here, but looking through them I see really high reviews and really low ones (which echo my experience at the restaurant). My boyfriend has a theory that the true cooks were locked away somewhere unable to cook any good food that is the restaurants claim to fame. I have no desire to return to this restaurant and find out otherwise, and i would not dream of suggesting this place to anyone, I would suggest they go to Olive Garden before coming here or making their own pasta and adding some jarred pasta sauce, either would be a better food experience.
(1)
CHRIS P.

Ok,Ralphs is 100 years old and the oldest family owned Italian resturant in the us...cool,but the food was just plain aweful...I love the old school decor & history so that's why I gave raplhs 2 stars not 1...my girl ordered the clams casino and they tasted more like the movie casinos DVD then clams,they had to be 99% bread...I got the sausage & brocolli rabe over pene w/garlic & oil...the sausage tasted old,the brocolli rabe was sour and penne was mushy...ok now possibly I jus caught ralphs on a off day or being from ny actually know good Italian...this place doesn't fit the bill...just visiting Philly so I can't recamend another Italian spot but the pizza at lorenzos on south street is AMAZING...grab a slice and save your self cash & fustration!
(2)
Jimmie B.

First time eating at this restaurant. Service is fine, food is authentic, prices are somewhat reasonable. I just really didn't like that it is cash only. Step into the millennium.
(2)
Jeffrey K.

Just as good as ever---- took a group there and everyone pronounced their meals exellent. I'm not a red sauce person but the chicken Sorrento- mostly in wine sauce and cheese--- is one of my favorites. Only quibble, and I know they get this all the time: Why no credit cards? This is 2012, not 1905....
(4)
James G.

Classic Southern Italian cuisine! I always get the Manicotti (stuffed shells) w/ a side of meatballs. Love it.
(5)
George R.

There are enough reviews here that talk about various aspects of the restaurant, so I won't repeat. I'll just offer some points about the food: Their calamari are not fried, but instead served in a red sauce. Haven't had them like this before, and probably won't again. The calamari tasted extremely fishy as I've never known calamari to taste before. The veal parmigiana was a hearty portion, however the veal marsala was very small and the same price. The bread that was put on our table was fresh (from the bakery next door), but it was served cold. Not even warm from sitting on top of the oven or something. Poor choice. The butter was in little individual containers as opposed to a little dish with fresh SOFT butter. The side of "greens" is this mix of spinach, onions, garlic, and other stuff. It was OK tasting, but it was cold when it came out to our table. The bruscetta was served on toasted bread and the topping was pretty good. Can't complain there. The desserts, were, well, very good. They make everything there. It was just really good. The service was good, but a lot of food arrived at our table (party of seven) cold. It was a little bit disheartening considering that they handle large tables of people all the time. I wouldn't go back and will try other Italian places. Fellini's on the main line is still one of my favorite places to go. No doubt.
(3)
Donna B.

Skip it. Over priced and lack luster food. The historical aspect of the place is the best part of the evening
(2)
Jeremy B.

What an experience. A South Philly institution which has been open over 100 years? I am impressed considering the service we received the other night. I was not expecting much in the way of service here the waitress did a fine job-it was the busboy or service assistant or whatever they are called there. Definitely the most ignorant and rude employee I have ever come across at a restaurant. We were a walk in 5 top on early Saturday night, the restaurant was not full. i understand that you may have some other parties coming in, if we were throwing such a monkey wrench in the nights plan, we should not of been sat. Here was our convo with him: He came to the table and asked "are we were ordering anymore food." Seriously? Is that how you ask a table if they were done eating? After he heard us say no, he cleared the plates and asked "is the little girl done?" while he pretty much took the fork from her hand and cleared our plates We said we may have dessert. After he rattled off the offerings, he stood over us until we made a decision, we decided that we would spend money somewhere else for dessert and promptly left. This gentlemen has no sense of hospitality, is completely rude and took money out of the owners pockets by his actions. Not only will I never return, I will spread the word about the absolute disregard for the guest. Hey genius, you work in the Hospitality industry, try showing some. Having been in the industry since I was 17, I was so disgusted by this gentleman, I find it hard to think of any reason to return and even give them another shot-I will not. And by the way, they use premade dressing? Absolutely the worst. Probably Sysco brand. Question: What did you use for Caesar dressing the other 80 or so years you have been open? Premade frozen ravioli, OK, but drain them when they are cooked so I do not have a plate with some sauce and a ton of water. So much for authentic. Just terrible, I wish I could give no stars.
(1)
Emily R.

It was my 30th birthday, and Ralph's food was all that was on my mind. I was thinking about veal since I knew that Italians really do make it best. My husband and I stopped in to make a reservation for later that night and the host was very friendly and said "We don't have anything open until 8:30pm" but that was no problem for us and we just strolled around the surrounding area and stopped in a few shops while we were waiting. At 8:15 we came back and our table was ready. We sat down and were promptly served a nice cool glass of ice water. My husband ordered an Italian Kiss which is some sort of espresso mixed drink. He said it was out of this world. A few minutes later we were served some delicious Italian bread and butter. The bread was wonderful. We then placed our order after looking over the menu. We got the escargot as our appetizer. This was absolutely wonderful! My husband knew he wanted the Seafood Pescatore. I decided to have the Veal Marsala and a side of meatballs. We enjoyed our bread until our meals were brought out. Now my Veal Marsala was hands down the best dinner out I have EVER had. The veal was tender, the mushrooms were delicious, and the sauce, well I think I had dreams about it that night. My husband's dinner was also wonderful. He used to prepare this himself and was surprised at how fresh and tender the mussels were . He said he would get that again. Now the meatballs are something you HAVE to get if you go to Ralph's!!! These were nice and firm and the gravy was wonderful! After all this good food we had to finish off the night with a cannoli. My husband and I both ordered one and got one to go for my Dad. Well those were crisp and the filling was the best i've ever had! We will be returning to try more of their food. Thank you Ralph's for making my 30th birthday incredible!
(5)
Susan A.

Went on a Monday night early and we were seated right away. Waiter was friendly and efficient. The food was delicious and plentiful. We would definitely go back again!
(4)
Sue A.

Went for Father's Day dinner with my husband, daughter, son-in-law & two grandchildren. Food was ok, ambiance was cheesy but we all loved it. Our waiter was straight out of Jersey Shore! Go enjoy an old school Italian meal.
(4)
Todd A.

Traditional family Italian food, unpretentious, friendly atmosphere, comic waiters and veal to die for. Broccoli rabe with plenty of garlic, chicken livers, sweetbreads, delicious italian sausage everywhere and a reasonably priced wine list. We dined here on the advice of a friend and were very pleased, nothing was overpriced and a nice slice of life sample of Philadelphia on a Friday night, everyone was enjoying themselves.
(4)
Chris S.

Great Italian restaurant. My mouth waters every time I think about the Veal Sicilian.
(5)
Melissa L.

This place is to die for. Surprised for the many negative reviews but there are just as many good reviews, go figure? This is a family owned italian restaurant that makes you feel like your mom cooked everything up the old school italian way. This place has a great atmosphere and the servers were very friendly and attentive to the huge group that we had. The bread was melt in your mouth and it was hard not to overeat it all from the start. The pasta de fagol. was the most amazing soup that I have ever had, I wanted that to be my main meal it was sooo good. When the dishes got out everything was delicious, for such a large group it was surprising that they got everyones meal out at once and with a picky italian family being silent during the meal you knew it was super good. Recommend: -Mussels in white sauce over pasta, omg since eating this I am going to crave it all the time! It was a huge bowl of pasta with about 25 mussels, NO LIE! The broth was super tasty, garlicy and spicy. Try dunking your bread into it, soooo good. -Sausauge over pasta, pretty tasty but average. -Veal with scallops over it in a tasty orange sauce. My family rants about us all coming back here next summer, so due to the reviews I think ill try the mussels next.
(5)
Chris M.

Eh. Had better. Cramped. Loud. Not worth the prices. They have a reputation, so I guess they think they can charge more. The bar across the street, I think it's called The Well, is a great place for an after dinner drink.
(2)
Jae R.

Bread was stale. Service was poor. I went there one night when it was pouring outside. The restaurant was packed. But meat sauce was blend. The noodles were overcooked. I'm beginning to think this whole 9th st Italian food is overrated.
(2)
Bette M.

Gotta go to this South Philly landmark. Stick with the classics - any parm, lasagna, meatballs, pasta, marsala, etc. The mussels are unbelievable!! I've only ever had better mussels at Bertha ' s in Fells Point. Staff are straightforward and no frills. Table wine is surprisingly tasty. Oh and.... always leave room for dessert.
(5)
Scott J.

Ralph's serves up some very classic Italian food. It's not about inventive, experimental, and new flavors, but rather it's your warmth, grace, and happiness of your grandmother's cooking. Who can argue with generations upon generations of old wisdom? Lastly, the decor in this place, the tiles, the barstools, and the old-school Italian charm of the waiters, all makes this place a gem. I recommend the veal parm, spaghetti, escarole, and manicotti. Also the cannoli for dessert.
(5)
Theresa B.

I think this restaurant definitely deserves a five star rating! It is a typical family style italian restaurant! The portions are big, the bread is fresh, there are tons of options and of course they have a great selection of beer and wine!! My two favorite dishes are the veal parm, which is absolutely amazing!! I think the best in philly! And then the penne vodka with chicken is just soo good!! This restaurant has a great atmosphere and you know it's good when sooo many Italians are there!! I would definitely recommend this restaurant!!
(5)
Nina d.

I was excited to try this place considering the history. I love Italian, it's one of my classic favorites. I used to work as a waitress for a delicious family owned Italian restaurant so I'm a bit of a stickler. Sadly, this place was okay. The service was mediocre and the chicken parm was decent. It wasn't horrible but it wasn't the best I ever had either. My then fiancÃ© got the lasagna and again it wasn't anything exceptional. I think I'll come back again to try something else but we'll see.
(3)
S W.

Ralph's was recommended to us by a friend that works in the city so I was not surprised that it was excellent. The menu has the usual Italian choices and you will not see a lot of gourmet variations. That is not bad since they do what they do very well. My veal parmigiana was excellent as were the other orders that included veal, pasta/meatballs, and eggplant. The service was average but it ranked along side of the prices. You are not paying top prices (city) so expect college and/or high school kids to wait on you. Again, this is all fine but just know that this is more like a cafeteria and not like an upper class Italian restaurant. The important feedback that I have is that this place is extremely loud! I just say this so that you are prepared when choosing this place for a given night/occasion. I expect that when you read this you will wonder how loud, loud can be. You will come back to my point... hahaha. The parking was a bit of a challenge even though I was expecting there to be valet parking. There was 1 person and on a busy Saturday, I never did see him. I had to run around the block a few times before I went out on my own to find a spot. This is not a problem but just know that parking might be challenging as would be expected for the city. My review is not negative at all and I only wanted to point out the above tips so you can be prepared.
(4)
R R.

Before stepping foot inside, I was told extensively about the freshness and authenticity of Ralph's. This historic spot and South Philly staple were assured to be memorable. But although very good, it did not quite meet the expectation I had going in. I blame neither the hype nor the establishment itself, I was still satisfied with the food. I guess you could say I was expecting the best Italian eats I've ever had and it simply wasn't. The lasagna was good but under seasoned and other entrees I sampled were just good not great. The atmosphere was vibrant with rich conversations, busy waiters with their trays, and decor. The service was not top notch but the restaurant was very busy, so I can understand. But it was a nice place for good company in South Philly.
(3)
Brett B.

Great food. Authentic atmosphere. Went with group of 10 and they accommodated very well upstairs. It was a bit loud but the food and great service made up for it. Shared penne vodka, artichoke chicks and veal parm. Would absolutely recommend Veal parm over anything else.
(5)
Meg B.

Great old school Italian restaurant in the heart of South Philly. Start with the muscles in white sauce, then move onto the eggplant or veal parmigiana or, for a more adventurous move, the Sicilian Chicken for a spicy, briney treat.
(4)
Ashley P.

Learned about Ralph's on FYI Philly last night. Immediately went to Yelp for details. What an awesome experience! It started with the phone call to place our order and ask a question. Kristen was very pleasant and helpful! This restaurant is an institution and I'm glad I know about it. Now on to the food.. We ordered the veal parm to share and spaghetti along with broccoli. Everything was delicious! The veal was thin and cooked to perfection!! The "gravy" on the spaghetti was flavorful! The bread..oh the bread just the way it should be. Keep on working the magic Ralph's!! You will be around another 115 years!!
(5)
R F.

We went to Ralph's in the late Afternoon. We had the escargot. It was outstanding. Great to sip up with the Italian bread. The lasagna was freshly made with delicious sausage. The wife had the spaghetti with meatball that were excellent. With a nice glass of chianti. And finished with the Tartufo. One of the best Italian meals in a long time.
(5)
Alan R.

The best red sauce I've ever had in my life. You can't get great Veal Parm anywhere. This place is the best. Lauren was awesome at making me feel comfortable having my mom's 70th birthday party there and made it super easy with her suggestions. Our service was the best. Our waiter Chris M made us feel extremely comfortable and provided great, unrushed service, for 19 people, during a Saturday night when they were super busy. Thank you Ralph's for making my moms birthday special.
(5)
Dion C.

The owner sent me an email for my review and called me a liar. Said there gnocchi is ALWAYS served as cavatelli, so the waiter couldnt have said that. So they flat out lie on their menu, because they know a monkey could make cavatelli and only a seasoned chef can make gnocchi. Low grade dog food.
(1)
Steve M.

What a pleasant surprise. My friends told me to visit while in town and I took their advice but while I was expecting a loud and boisterous place I instead found a nice low key restaurant that did one thing very right. The cooking proved to be the draw. Very traditional dishes done with care and refinement. It is clear to see why Ralph's has been open for over 100 years.
(4)
Eric N.

Located in an old Italian neighborhood in South Philly but the surroundings and history are about the best thing this restaurant has going for it. I went in with expectations of a great Italian meal, but nothing (the food, the service, or the dÃ©cor) was special. :( Seating is bad; they pack you in like sardines so much that two people cannot walk down the aisle between tables at the same time. I was truly disappointed in the food. None of it was bad, but it was NOT SPECIAL, especially for the price. The fast food chain Fazoli's produces the same quality that I ate. I'm not saying that to be dramatic; it is a very unfortunate and sad truth. :( The chain Maggiano's food blows it out of the water (which is also sad since Ralph's is supposed to be a classic Italian establishment). I had the antipasto salad, the calamari, and the veal parmesan with a side of spaghetti with marinara. Antipasto was fine with a very simple red wine and olive oil dressing (pretty hard to mess that up, although there were only 2 pieces of prosciutto on the plate). Calamari had no flavor to it and was drowned in marinara. Veal Parm was fried crispy but it had a ratio of 3:1 breading to meat (I'm guessing the chicken parm had more meat?). Finally, the marinara was a super bright red color and I suspect it came from a can without even being doctored up (I didn't even see any flakes of oregano or taste garlic). On top of all that, the service was a "C" at best. We had a table of 12 and sat upstairs for a birthday dinner. The waiter did not check on us often, and I ran out of water twice. We brought in a cake for the birthday girl and he presented it with candles. However, after she blew out the candles, the cake sat on the table awkwardly for 5 minutes while the waiter was bussing empty tables in an attempt to finish all his side work instead of concerning himself with service. When he finally came back over, he said "do you want to cut it yourself or would you like me to do it?" It was obvious we had no knives, forks, or plates left on the table so I thought it was pretty insulting that he just left the cake there for so long and thought we were going to cut it. He knew we needed assistance, he just didn't want be there anymore that night. I hate writing bad reviews, but I just want the community to be aware of what they are getting into. Ralph's food and service really broke my heart :(
(2)
Rommel D.

Good find from recommendation by good friends. Best to ask servers what they serve best. Nice place to be away from the crowds. Good service.
(3)
Sloane C.

As a young kid I always remember going to Ralph's for the best italian food in Philly. Well now that it is the oldest italian restaurant in America this must be the best in America. It has that home feel to it and the staff is wonderful. The place is always packed and loud which is what I love! Delicious bread and wine to start the meal with the best mussels - we couldn't get enough of the sauce!! For dinner my friends had veal parm, chicken parm and a penne in vodka sauce which were all delicious. I got linguine with clams - the clams are so amazing and the broth is to die for! Portions are extremely generous - always leftovers for tomorrows lunch! :) To end the meal make sure you get a piece of the cannoli cake. I love desserts and this has to be one of my absolute favorites! If you want an at home feel with simply delicious food this is the place to be. We always leave happy and very full! This place may be over a 100 years old but I have a feeling it will be around for at least 100 more!
(5)
Ed K.

Wow what can I say. The food was fantastic. Took 9 people there for a birthday after the Franklin Institute. However, our first server Alfred. Not so much. Standoffish, defensive, apprehensive. We were to have a good time, he was there to push us through. A 500 dollar check, I don't think so. He knew he was wrong at the end and offered free dessert . I don't care that he announced he was there 19 years that means nothing in service. It's the moments that counts. Bad move Alred.
(4)
Todd S.

Fourth generation family owned Italian restaurant in Philly. Traditional dishes prepared with love and care. My go to place when I travel to Philly.
(4)
Gregory V.

Finest spot for Italian food in the city. I've worked my way through the menu during the few visits I've made and have always left very satisfied. Located by the historic Italian Market, I recommend this place highly if you're visiting from out of town.
(5)
Dan A.

I liked the idea of getting an Italian meal at an Italian restaurant in the Italian market. But my meal at Ralph's didn't meet with my hopes. I told my waitress that I was a vegetarian. After scanning the menu, I did't see pasta primavera. So I asked if that was something I could order. She showed me a dish on the menu that looked like it basically was pasta primavera. And she mentioned several vegetables in it. So that it what I ordered. But when the dish arrived, I was very surprised to see it had shrimp in it. Shrimp isn't something I eat. But I also didn't want to send it back. So I just eat around them. It's also worth noting that my water glass was only refilled once while I was there. And this is a problem since I'm a tall drink of water.
(2)
Kevin O.

Unbelievably horrible experience! I can't believe this place hasn't killed someone... seriously. I was very hungry after getting home from working all day, then driving home from MD. I found Ralph's onGrubHub and ordered a greens and pastina soup, an order of garlic bread, and lasagna. Delivery was quick, but the meat and cheese in the lasagna was RANCID! I can't believe they sent something this bad out of the kitchen. I have never seen anything like this before, and I worked in the food service industry for 15 years. Unfortunately, since I hadn't eaten much all day, I was so hungry it took me a minute to figure out something was wrong (at first I assumed there was just something I didn't recognize in their recipe). It wasn't the recipe though, it was spoiled meat... I had to throw it out. The "greens and pastina soup" was bland and actually had a few small bits of chicken in it. Luckily, my girlfriend (who ordered the soup) isn't a vegetarian, but nonetheless, if there's chicken in your "greens and pastina"soup, you should probably let people know. The high point of the meal was the order of garlic bread. Four small slices of burnt Italian bread soaked in oil and topped with blackened (aka burnt) garlic. Needless to say, this was the one and only time I will ever order from this disgrace of a restaurant. I just find it unbelievable that in this city, with the literally hundreds of good, authentic Italian restaurants, that this place has managed to survive. Take my advice, go elsewhere!
(1)
Kevin L.

This is simply the perfect Italian restaurant in every way. Not only is the food excellent, it has all the intangibles you would want in an authentic Italian restaurant. I had the chicken sorrento and it was so tender I cut it with a fork. Don't even get me started on the meatballs...the best we have ever had. My children are very finicky eaters, but not here. Just pay for the valet, because after circling the block three times, you are gonna do it anyway. Wish the beer selection was better, but that's a minor thing, given how happy we were with our dining experience.
(5)
Miki N.

Fantastic linguini with mussels! Good amount of food and the wine selection is phenomenal.
(5)
Lauren C.

So i wanted to love this place. The history is amazing... and all of my friends rave about it, so when i saw a livingsocial voucher come on-sale, i took one look at the menu, and bought it! I made a reservation, per the advice of the voucher, and my boyfriend and i walked over. 7p on a Monday night, and we got seated in THE WORST seat in the house, and they didn't even know i had the voucher yet. We were at the top of the steps on the 2nd floor. Neither my boyfriend nor myself are particularly small people, and we were situated such that he got bumped EVERY TIME someone walked by. We were going to ask to move, but we thought maybe they'd get busy and need the space, so we cooled our jets. Spoiler alert- the place never filled up and we could have occupied about 10 other 4-tops and been exponentially more comfortable! It took quite some time for a waiter to come by, but when he did, he took our voucher, and never even asked us if we wanted drinks. He just sent his water-minion over to fill us up. Watching the way he talked to this poor kid made me really sad. We finally did get a 1/2 caraffe of chianti, and it was really really sweet for a chianti, and it was straight up hot. I know red is room temp usually... but we had to cool this down to room temperature with ice. I thought some time and it'd open up... but it was pretty icky. The living social voucher only entitled us to a pre-select menu. First course was a salad. I got the roasted red pepper and mozzarella, my boyfriend got the house salad, and then we shared. The roasted red peppers were amazing. Just like my grandma used to make them. The mozzarella was sparse in comparison... but fresh and tasty. The house salad was really nice- lots of fresh and blanched veggies in a great red wine vinegar dressing. For our next course, I got the spaghetti with garlic and oil, and he got the gnocchi in red sauce... and again we shared. The spaghetti in garlic and oil was the win there. The sauce was bread-dipping delicious. The gnocchis were really mushy and the red sauce that everyone raved about didn't really do it for me. I liked it... but i wasn't gaga over it. The gnocchis really killed that one. For my entree I got the eggplant parm, and my boyfriend got the sausage and peppers. Now it would have been so awesome if our pasta and our entrees came out together... but they didn't, so i filled up on pasta and had no room for my entree. I took like 80% of it home. So did my boyfriend. The eggplant tasted great, but it was a bit on the oily side. It'll make for a few good lunches though. It just needs a pasta-friend. We were way too full for desert, so we paid for our wine ($15- not bad if it were good), and tax/tip and began our walk home. Overall, there are many many better places in the city to dine if you're in the mood for good italian. Ralphs prides itself on not changing anything for over 100 years, but after this experience i have to wonder if small changes are a bad thing?
(2)
Annie P.

this review is long overdue, but needless to say I had a great experience. My boyfriend and I came right before they closed their doors, welcomed us in and were very kind. Service was great and the food even better. I had the gnocchi, which was BOMB. Can't wait to go back!
(5)
Charlie S.

Love this place best Italian in philly the veal parmigiana and fettuccine Alfredo is my personal fav I recommend this place highly if your visiting make sure and hit up Ralph's
(5)
Jack S.

Fantastic traditional Italian. Set is an intimate small dining room, Ralph's has been serving the original recipes for 100 years. This is Italian your grandmother would fix, but only if she was an incredible cook! Any of the veal or chicken dishes will be memorable and the pasta selection covers all the bases. I make my own gnocchi and can be critical but Ralph's are light, tender and a real delight service is fast, attentive and quick with suggestions if asked. The only dish I've ever found fault with is the bruschetta: Ralph's are cut too thick so they can tear your mouth up trying to take a bite. Petty of me but be forewarned. To summarize, try Ralph's and you'll be a fan for life.
(5)
Jeff M.

Ralph's is great and full of nostalgia! If you like old school red sauce this the place to be. The only thing I didn't like was the croutons on the Cesar. Meatballs had an awesome texture but could have used a bit more richness in flavor. The sauce was bold and the chicken cutlets were great. I'll be back the next time I am in Philly.
(4)
Suzanne P.

The food and waiters were ok, but there was a significant drawback. Do not take a table upstairs as the noise level makes it impossible to carry on conversation. Our party of 10 was promised that space was suitable for a dinner meeting. Two other large parties were seated near us. The acoustics in the room with the high ceiling amplified the sound. When we requested the opportunity to move to another table, it was denied. We finished quickly. Downstairs was much quietier. I left with a headache, but if you can get a seat on the first floor you would be ok.
(2)
Joe W.

Ralph's is my favorite Italian restaurant in Philadelphia. Authentic food, great atmosphere, and a hard working staff keep it at the top of my list. The chicken parmigiana is big enough for two meals and never disappoints.
(5)
Suzie L.

This place is authentic to South Philly and has delicious Italian-American fare. The portions are large so be prepared to take items home. Pricing is around $15 for general pasta dishes and seafood dishes are around $25. The place has a long history which makes dining here interesting. The only downside I see here is the service. For such a small place, service is not that attentive and Ive waited about 20 minutes to have my drink refilled and waited another 20 trying to get a server for the check. Worth trying out for yourself but dont think it's worth the $$$.
(2)
Scott C.

A shop owner on South street recommended and we loved it. Recommend a reservation but we stopped by shortly before 5 and got a table. It was delicious and perfect. Gnocchi, rigatoni, chicken scillian, bruschetta - just great.. .
(5)
John W.

Had a wonderful lunch at Ralph's on August 13, 2015. If you want original Italian food and atmosphere, this is your place. All the food was great and service as well. This will be one of our favorite Philly restaurants.
(5)
Steve E.

A recent article in USA Today highlighted the top Italian restaurants in the country, and since Italian is one of my favorite cuisines I read the information with great interest. As you might expect, most of the selections were from New York City but they did select one Italian restaurant in Philly. I was planning a business trip to the area, and so I asked my business partner (who's born & bred in South Philly) for his thoughts. He said that yes, **** is quite good, however you'll pay an awful lot of money for your meal. Instead he suggested that I might like Ralph's instead. I knew to trust Frank with restaurant recommendations in his old neighborhood since he's the same guy who introduced me to Dante & Luigi's and Tony Luke's earlier this year. The drive from the airport to Ralph's was a lot of fun since we went past the Philly sports stadiums, the Xfinity! Live world's-largest sports bar, and then down through "Cheesesteak Row" and the Italian Market area before ending up at the restaurant. Ralph's is a brick-front building located along 9th Street, just north of Christian Street in the Bella Vista / Italian Market section of South Philly. According to the back of the menu, Ralph's was founded in 1900 by Francesco Dispigno and his son Ralph, and the eatery has been passed down to generation after generation along with all of their old school family recipes. They go on to say that a family-owned Italian restaurant in San Francisco was founded in 1896, making Ralph's the second-oldest Italian restaurant in the US. However the SF restaurant has since closed, and Ralph's is now officially the oldest Italian restaurant in the US. The restaurant wasn't very crowded, and our waiter took the time to describe all of the specials in mouth-watering detail, and then helped us select a bottle of Sangiovese to accompany the meal. He also brought us a loaf of fresh Italian bread from the bakery right next door, and left us to ponder all of the amazing selections. I had a classic appetizer of roasted red peppers and fresh Mozzarella slices in very good olive oil and drizzled with a balsamic reduction. For my main course I had one of the specialties of the house which was veal medallions simmered in a white wine sauce and covered with fresh lump crabmeat and sautÃ©ed mushrooms. I got that with a side of their famous broccoli rabe which was sautÃ©ed in garlic and olive oil. The meal was delicious, and it was nice to be able to relax and enjoy all of the famous history of Ralph's along with a terrific meal.
(5)
Kristen M.

Ralph's first piqued my interest when I read a story about Taylor Swift dining there and leaving a $500 tip. Yes, really. I wanted to try it because it was either THAT good or she was just being generous. After my experience, I can tell you she was just being generous. Atmospherically speaking, it's an old school Italian restaurant. I ordered the penne alla vodka while dining partner scarfed down the chicken parmesan. The most important part of the penne alla vodka is the vodka sauce, mine was watery and lacking flavor. I prefer a more creamy sauce with a little spice and full of pancetta. Dining partner enjoyed his chicken parm, but wasn't blown away. Our waiter was nice and fairly attentive, but the food was underwhelming and we won't be returning anytime soon. Lesson learned: that's the last time I base my food selections on Miss Swift.
(2)
Amanda L.

Worst service ever. We didn't feel welcome at all here. They have two floors and the main dining is on the first floor and I guess they have a second floor for when the restaurant gets packed. My parents and I were asked to sit upstairs but nobody was sitting there even though there was a line outside. We were confused and the host just said to us, "Oh you wanna sit down here with us?" Excuse me? That was extremely offensive because it felt like we were being treated differently because of our nationality. Servers and host were definitely friendlier with other tables and it took a while for them to take our order, bring our bill, etc. Food was decent but service absolutely ruined the dining experience. I will never come back.
(1)
Michael Z.

First, a few details. Ralph's is NOT an Italian restaurant. It's an Italian-American restaurant. With that said, their food is just regular Italian-American fare, nothing special to write about. Not worthy of being a destination spot, not worthy for foodies, and certainly not worthy to be haunted by celebrities. Any decent diner in the tri-state area can put out the kind of food Ralph's does, right down to the cheap plastic butter packets they give you with the bread. The bottom line: Ralph's is a tourist trap baiting customers with tales of their former glory days, only to serve up very run of the mill food devoid of any Italian authenticity. Go there with this knowledge and it will be "fine".
(2)
Alick W.

Purchased a 3 course dinner from Living Social to Ralph's and it was well worth it. Ralph's is known as one of the oldest restaurants in Philadelphia located by the Italian market and I have been looking forward to trying it out. Seating took a little while even though it was not crowded and the space is a little small. Ralph's has a pretty wide selection of wines. I They have BYOW on Sundays. We tried the house red which was okay. For our salads we got the roasted peppers and mozzarella that was delicious. I had the ravioli appetizer which was very good and my friend had the gnocchi that was decent. For my main course I went with the sausage and peppers in a marinara sauce that was good but nothing special. My friend had the chicken in white sauce that was definitely the better choice Overall a good dining experience. If it wasn't for the Living Social I would say it's a more on the expensive side with and okay atmosphere. We went later in the night around 9ish and our waiter was pretty good and attentive to us.
(5)
Gary C.

The service was 2nd to none, waiter was at our table every 10 mins, the food was great, i saw some reviews that some chain was better, that person dont know food, this place was the best all around,
(5)
Dan L.

2 people. Wine: sprang for $36 bottle. App: caprese salad (shared). Entrees: ravioli (frozen) & 2 meatballs, veal saltimbocca. Dessert: 2 Stella's n 2 espressos (double shots of coffee). Bill = $120 before tip. Get the F$@k outta here. In sum (and after my third visit), they are there to take your money in exchange for you saying you ate at Ralph's, which I won't be saying again.
(2)
Aurora L.

I went to Ralph's with my family that lives close to Philly, since I was an outta-towner. When driving up you're in this beautiful area of brick homes and small streets. Walking in the restaurant is small however my family reserved a table for upstairs (definitely try for a table upstairs if you can) and it was so nice. We got the calamari and clams casino for appetizers which were both delicious. I got the eggplant parmesan with a side of pasta and it was absolutely delicious. For dessert I got the dark chocolate cake and it was very decadent. Ralph's is a great place for any occasion with anyone, and the food is delicious!
(4)
Brad B.

The service was fine, nothing to write home about but no glaring issues either. The food, however...well let's start from the beginning. This is touted as a nice Italian restaurant, and the oldest Italian restaurant in Philly, no less! It boasts decades of history as well as numerous celebrity patrons. So with all of this considered, I expected better than clearly store-bought, cold, mediocre bread that wasn't even cut all the way (and no proper knives were given with the bread to actually cut through it, leaving you to attempt to tear pieces off) with tiny plastic packets of crappy whipped butter that you'd get at a diner. We had four in our party, and ordered: SautÃ©ed Long Hot Peppers as an appetizer, Manicotti, Spaghetti marinara with mushrooms, Sausage with Peppers, and a specialty dish of Rigatoni with eggplant, artichokes, onions, shrimp and a white wine marinara. The appetizer was okay, the peppers were bland and tasted like they needed salt and pepper. The Manicotti was good, no complaints here. The marinara sauce with the spaghetti was watery and dull, and the mushrooms had a bad (canned) texture and taste to them. The sausage with peppers was okay, not great but nothing glaringly wrong. The biggest issue was the last dish, my dish. The eggplant was extremely mushy, while still having the very hard to eat and tough skin on it. The artichokes tasted like they were pickled or otherwise poorly flavored and had a mushy texture, tasted like canned artichokes. The onions were fine. The sauce was watery and bland, not enough seasoning here. The biggest offender was the shrimp. Very large jumbo shrimp that were VERY overcooked to the point of being rubbery and clearly not seasoned at all, making them like large pieces of bland rubber in my otherwise mediocre dish. Did I mention the dish was $26? Overall, an over priced, unsatisfying experience. I will not be back and will recommend friends against going here if they find themselves in the Philly area.
(1)
Kevin C.

When I was visiting Philly I wanted to check out the old 9th Street Italian market famous from the Rocky movies. When I discovered that the oldest Italian restaurant in America was also on 9th St, I stopped in for a late lunch/early dinner. My waiter greeted me with "How you doin'? Good?" in a thick tough guy Philly-italian accent. There was almost no pause between the words "doin" and "good." The way this guy talked to me pretty much made the experience 4-5 stars. Something about him was also kind of intimating and I thought this was awesome. Part of the old Italian market experience perhaps. Now for the food; I had eggplant pamigiana with spaghetti and glass of house red. Portions were good and food was slightly above mediocre in taste and presentation. Cost wise, I was prepared to pay a lot more than what was on the bill, which was a nice surprise. Cannot recall if prices were on menu. You want to go here for the amusing knock-around guy wait staff and the history. Supposedly Sinatra use to love the place. I think you may find better food elsewhere but Ralph's offers some good value, all things considered. Worth a visit.
(3)
Joe C.

Why, with all the great Italian restaurants available in Philly, would you come here? Very pedestrian food, no parking, no credit cards, and no ambiance. I understand the history, and perhaps even a little of the charm, but frankly, those factors don't compensate for tasteless, bland food.
(2)
Alie A.

Seeing that a dear and good friend of mine is a partial owner of this age old family establishment, I felt it was time to lose my virginity to Ralph's and take a little stroll on over to South Philly. If you are best looking to experience and understand South Philly Italian culture and dining, this is your spot. Tiny little seating area (make reservations!) with embellished walls and close-quarter tables. We started with the mussels in a red sauce. Very well done..I wish the red sauce had been of a slightly thicker consistency, but the sauce was salivating and the mussels were done just right. A carafe of their white house wine did the trick and paired well with our appetizer and meals. For dinner, he had one of the specials recommended by our over-the-top South Philly Italian waiter who I might add was both efficient as well as entertaining. It was some variation of a vodka rigatoni and it was perfetto. I decided to keep it simple with a linguine in a garlic and olive oil..topped with fresh jumbo lump crab meat. I got it as a safe option, and ended up salivating and wishing I could pick the plate up and lick it clean. Absolutely hit the spot. Bravo. I'll be back soon.
(5)
S P.

Our first time at America's Oldest Family-owned Italian Restaurant. Flavors were on spot. Quick service. Expect wait times and cramped spaces. Only issue is that we felt rushed.
(4)
J M.

This will be my third visit to Ralphs but my first review. Made a reservation for lunch and our table was ready. It is cozy but adds to the ambiance. We weren't in a hurry so I was fine waiting a while for service and food. I ordered clams w/white sauce and was disappointed when the order arrived without the shells, instead the clams were already diced and on top of the very watery pasta, could it have come from a can? I don't know but was a little disappointed. Others ordered the ravioli which came out overcooked and peas and prosciutto, eh, just ok. But three entrees and a carafe of wine for $60, not too bad of a value, but not exceptional.
(3)
Sharon H.

We had a very nice meal. The mussels were huge and juicy. The shrimp scampi had a cream sauce, so was not exactly what my daughter expected but she liked it just the same. Meatball is yummy. The gravy is excellent. Veal Rollatine was also quite good. Very large portions.
(4)
mike v.

Average. Not bad but nothing special. Ralph's is basically the "Pat's/Geno's" of Italian restaurants in Philly.
(3)
Joanne Z.

just went for my first experience at the "famous" Ralphs Italian Restaurant. And i know it will be my last. The service was horrible, rushed and unpleasant waiter who had a attitude. All in our party. were uncomfortable with the waiter, our food was ok, we went for lunch and we were told on sundays no lunch menu, WHICH always feels like a sneaky way to charge extra for the same meal. We should of walked out then. But its ok , we wont walk in again.
(1)
Marci R.

I went to Ralph's for over 30 years and the food is not the same anymore. The pastina soup Is totally different. I'm not saying it is bad but it is not the original Ralph's I loved so much. I would not go out of my way to eat there anymore
(3)
Jean M.

The food was fantastic. I had spaghetti with marinara sauce. It had a lot of basil and a fabulous flavor. My friend had eggplant and said it was the best she ever had. My only complaint is that although the place was not busy and there were many empty tables, they seated a party of 4 within elbow reach of us. Our table was so small that the waiter had put our bread basket on the adjoining table and when the other people were seated, the busser took our bread. Another annoyance is that the busser repeatedly tried to remove dishes we were still eating. Loved the waiter though. Warning - drink prices are way too high.
(4)
Sarah P.

we had a group dinner here on my first night in philadelphia. they served us tomatoes and mozzarella, bruschetta, antipasto salad, squid in gravy, a choice of entree (i got shrimp scampi and my bf got gnocchi with bolognese) and dessert (cannoli cake YUM!!!!). the house wine was pretty good and the food was excellent. i've never tasted squid so tender, and the shrimp scampi was really flavorful with creamy and thick sauce. i would only add capers to make it more delicious! our waiter was super cool and i was amazed at how the staff carried all the food up multiple flights of stairs. I would definitely go back to try other things - we had a great time.
(4)
Mara K.

How can you not love this place? I was there on Sat night and had some of the best eggplant parm ever. The service was excellent and all the menu items we ordered were very good. Be sure to get the mussels and antipasto.
(4)
Rizwan A.

The food here is really good and there's an old world authentic italian feel to the whole place, not just the delicious flavorful food. The service is a little variable, and they definitely pay more attention to their larger parties or big-wig diners (then again who doesn't?) but I don't think it's right to not only give less attention to people who aren't buying booze or just two dudes grabbing a quick bite, but to also treat them a little haughtily, which is the kind of attention I received on one particular occasion. Whenever I'm here for work dinners though, everything is top notch. Sad to see that the same level of professionalism doesn't permeate all of their customer interactions and for that I feel justified in rating them lower than they really deserve. At any rate, every dish here is delicious, but if your staple Italian food is things like Olive Garden and pasta from Red Lobster, then stick to ordering things you recognize on the menu here because branching out may prove to be a little too authentic for you eg mussels etc. Start with things you know and then branch out. For the authenticity, the savory foods and sauces, plus the old-school decor and Italian charm this place has, they get a solid 4 stars, but sadly the service needs to be a little more consistent. I'll be back... with work peeps only though.
(3)
Lucia O.

This place was highly recommended and so maybe it raised my expectations a bit. I should have read the reviews. The veal dish with red sauce and crab meat was so sad. The veal tasted like it had been boiled over once and didn't make it on some plate the night before so I had the misfortune of getting it. I had to be honest with the guy who recommended it to me and it was an awkward conversation.
(1)
Caitlin M.

I've always enjoyed when my parents would take me to Ralph's when I was younger, and now this time I was able to return the favor to them. I really only have positive things to say about this restaurant. I have never been disappointed with any of the entrees that I have had from here, and either has other people I have went with. The mussels are spectacular (I get them in white sauce), and the food has always been delievered promptly. I have had everything from the fettucini alfredo, gnoochi, chicken cacciatore, and their rosa vodka sauce and they were all done very well. If you go it would be best to make a reservation if your party is 4 or more, and if you want request to sit upstairs because the bottom floor can feel a little cramped. The last few times I requested that they seemed to not mind catering to my request. Parking can be an issue but you already know it's in the city, so it's obvious that it will be street parking.
(4)
Lauren B.

This place is the oldest Italian restaurant in Philadelphia...which is why it still has a good amount of clientele. Overall this restaurant is average. It's just average Italian food...the sauces are a little watery, the staff are a touch too casual, and the management likes to throw their weight around in the dining room. Unfortunately since it's the oldest restaurant, tourists will come here and miss out on some other true gems in the neighborhood. If I were to recommend an Italian restaurant in Bella Vista, this wouldn't be it.
(3)
Janet E.

The oldest Italian restaurant in America founded in 1900!!! (I can neither confirm nor deny this statement, but its what I read on my table mat at the restaurant). Ralph's was one of the only restaurants in the area that was open on the rainy day we visited. So we went and we took our chances hoping the food here would be good and authentically Italian. The food here was delicious! I ordered the Caesar salad which was prepared with large romaine lettuce leaves and freshly grated parmesan with home made Caesar dressing. It was one of the best salads I've had. I also ordered the clam linguini. The dish had a lot of flavor and the clams were chopped into little pieces. The broth that it was cooked it was very yummie and I used the complimentary bread to soak up the broth. I drank that stuff up! Service here was great! They were booked full for dinner so we were very lucky they were open for lunch. Their phones were ringing off the hook from people asking for reservations. I kept hearing "I'm sorry we are fully booked for tonight". Thats how good it is here! In the middle of our meal, there was an elderly couple that personally told every table to enjoy our meal before they left the restaurant. I thought it was so cute and such a nice neighborly thing to do! A very cute restaurant full of charm, history, and good food. Definitely stop in for a meal if you can.
(4)
Lance W.

A very solid restaurant and especially great for the entire family. Not overly formal or pricey and the food is superb. Our kids love the management who crack jokes with them and the very friendly staff. I recommend splitting the everything salad and then ordering the standard pasta dishes such as ravioli, manicotti, or pasta w/ meatballs. These are truly wonderful, with the homemade pastas and gravy (sauce) really coming to life as these are in their wheelhouse of expertise. Add a carafe of their house wine and and finish with espresso and a cannoli. You will not be disappointed. Ralph's is a must stop every so often to enjoy that feeling of home cooking you don't get even with the finest of chefs.
(4)
David F.

I travel from Central NY to Philly twice a year just to eat here. There are dozens of Italian restaurants but this little property is the one the frequent. Two thumbs up!!!!!!!
(5)
Julie C.

Coming from New York, I have been searching for Italian food all over Philadelphia and I have finally found the best Italian food in the city! The staff was very attentive and the food came out relatively fast. I had Ralph's famous chicken parmigiana and it was scrumptious! I do have to say the portions are large and could be easily split between two people but it's good to have leftovers too.
(5)
Caroline L.

My friend, who loves Ralph's so much introduced me to the place. He hosted his birthday here and invited 10 of his closest friends on a weekend night. And it was a festive place with great food and a celebratory atmosphere. I understand why he loves Ralph's with its ample, authentic Italian food, warm service, and gut busting servings. Come hungry.
(5)
Anthony M.

OLD SCHOOL ITALIAN I remember finding this place and thinking I need to eat here. After several visits over the years, I couldn't believe I had never written a review of Ralph's. This place is classic old school Italian and it is really delicious. One of the things that attracted me to this restaurant was that it is the Oldest Restaurant in America run by the 4th generation of the Dispigno family. That is consistent food service if you ask me. Just knowing that these recipes have been handed down from generation to generation is just amazing. You can not mess with over 100 years of Italian tradition. So how did Ralph's start? In 1893, Francesco and Catherine arrived with their 3 year old son at Ellis Island from Naples, Italy. In 1900, they took all of there saved money to start a restaurant and live the American Dream. It is amazing to think that Ralph's is still operating today under the same family ownership for the last 113 years. I love the fact that many celebrities have made Ralph's there Italian Dinner destination. In fact, my favorite is Theodore Roosevelt. How cool is that? I find it amazing to be in the same room he was in & eating the same food he ate. That is priceless to me. The long list of celebrities goes on and on including Frank Sinatra and Sammy Davis, Jr. Most of you young Yelpers are saying, "Who?" Go to Wikipedia and search. Ha. I don't live in Philadelphia but I've been treated like gold in here. Once I brought a large group in and I looked like a rock star. Everyone in my group kept saying, "How did you find this place?" They were amazed at how nice the staff treated me. At the end of the day, us Italians have to stick together and the Ralph's staff made me look like a king. I've even sent friends here and I've gotten great compliments back. I've had many things on the menu. I really love the Chicken Parmesan. I can never go wrong with an Italian classic like that. It's just old school Italian and it is delicious. Salads are great to start or the soup of the day. I've also had the linguine & mussels too. I'm getting hungry just thinking about it. I can hardly wait to come back for some Italian comfort food. I also hope that this place is open for another 100 years. This way future generations can actually see what Italian food was like in the past. As we keep fusing ethnic foods together we keep losing the original dishes for future generations. And that is sad to me. An interesting story I heard. During prohibition they would serve there loyal patrons wine in coffee mugs. I love stories like that. In fact, it is amazing how many businesses were forced to find ways to do illegal things for there guests during prohibition. I'm just glad that stupid law got repealed. So if you come to Philly you must try two things...a Philly cheesesteak and an old school Italian meal at Ralph's. I guarantee your Philly dinning experience will be complete.
(5)
Kathleen D.

My husband's veal parmigiana was the hit of the night. It's a huge, easily splitable, thinly-pounded paillard, topped with tomato sauce and cheesy bubblin from the oven. That was the winner. The coating remained crispy under the sauce and the veal itself was perfectly tender. I liked my eggplant parm just fine, but it's not the best on the block, I opine. Sorry, rhyming again. We also ordered a side of meatballs and liked them too, but I'm gonna refer back to my previous statement: good but not the best on 9th street either. The entrees come with your choice of spaghetti or a vegetable side. We chose the pasta, of course. I wouldn't have taken such issue with the fact that it was a bit overcooked, a touch past the point al dente, but it's just that it was watery too. Arghh, not drained all the way. The tomato sauce and spaghetti suffered this way. Ah well. Maybe if I returned again, I'd go with the sauteed escarole instead. We ordered that too, and that was some good, garlicky, green goodness. See? I'd go back. I'd return if someone I know really wanted to go. I just wouldn't order the clams casino to start. Something about an old skooly Italian restaurant vibe triggers in us the urge to order such appetizers of the past. Mush. Ehhh...so I'd try a different starter. Another note, if you have the stomach space available, ending on the tiramisu would be a good choice. Though not a totally traditional style tiramisu (more like a cake), still tasty tasty. Service was excellent. Sodas are not free-refills. Hey, that IS old-timey. So that's the concise food ramblins right up front for yez. More information that you didn't ask for? Ok, here you go: After living in the neighborhood all these years we finally went to Ralph's. I only mention this proximity factoid cause after walking by this historic Italian restaurant roughly a thousand times, I never would have guessed that the place has three levels of dining inside. I completely thought that the intimate tile walled dining room decorated with many black and white family photos, reflecting Ralph's over-a-century long tradition, was the little Italian restaurant in its entirety. Wrong again, ole gal. We were seated on the first floor, right in the door, and and kept seeing this steady stream of waddlingly full diners emerging from the back somewhere, carrying bags of leftovers. Where are all these people comin from? That clue and overhearing a waiter tell another patron about the other two floors of dining explained things. Ah ha. Then why were we seated right on top of this other couple? Rubbin' elbows, like. I really think that we threw them off. Our presence either stopped their conversation immediately, or they were just the type to eat dinner in stony silence. Ah, I kinda felt sorry about it, ya know? They're all mid ravioli, they have the entire right half of the dining room to themselves...and then us. I wonder if it felt like for them that odd moment where you're sitting on the subway in a virtually empty car with ample open seats a-plenty and some weirdo plops down right next to you. Why oh whyyyy... Of course I could've requested that we be moved, but then I didn't know if maybe a busload of people had reservations or whatever. Also I didn't want to make the ravioli couple feel like we were repulsed by them or something. Anyway, any of my own awkward feelings subsided soon as our menus were presented to us and I immediately lose focus on everything else except what we're going to be ordering. Ralph's Restaurant is the oldest Italian restaurant (still owned by the same family) in the country. I read on the paper placemat of Ralph's history that President Theodore Roosevelt even may have stopped in for a meal one time. Ravioli couple was then treated to hearing my musings as to what ole rough-ridin' trust-bustin' Teddy might have ordered from Ralph's in his day. I didn't notice any game meats on the menu, but if he opted for the veal parmigiana, I'm betting that he'd be happy.
(3)
John B.

Revisited this spot after a long absence due to living in Washington, DC. The food now is only average. It is no longer the same Ralph's that I remember. The decor is the same, but not the food. I had their "famous" veal parmigiana, but there wasn't anything famous about it. My companion had the spaghetti with chicken livers and the livers were overcooked. Dessert was also a disappointment. The cannoli was not as good as we've had many places elsewhere. The cannoli cake was just too darn sweet. Sadly, don't go out out of your way to dine here anymore. All good things must come to an end, I guess.
(2)
Abby B.

I was excited to try Ralphs since it is the oldest Italian restaurant in the Nation. And it's right here in Philly! How come it took me 7 years to eat here? When you first walk in, you think, "Man, this place is small." Not so. There are three floors, with a little bar on the second floor. The menu is quite extensive and the prices are definitely affordable. I was craving ravoli and at $13, the portion was just right. However, I found the food...well, forgettable. I've had better Italian at some other Philly establishments. My friend shared my opinion as she said her gnocchi was just so-so. Definitely a place to check out just for the fact that it's a restaurant icon in the city. But for my next Italian craving, I'll head elsewhere.
(3)
Anna T.

Meh. The street parking situation is simply awful of course - I'm not too familiar with Philadelphia though, so perhaps there's some sort of trick to it I'm not aware of. The place is small, with uncomfortable small chairs and annoyingly small tables which jiggle, naturally. The bathroom was RIDICULOUSLY small and there was no mirror. Good news, it's so small you can't see if it's clean or not. Decently friendly, decently fast service and a server who didn't seem to be trying to steer us towards pricier dishes with her suggestions. Terrific bread, hands down the best mussels in red sauce I've ever had - we were fighting over the broth, eating it like soup - dinner partner's veal parm was ok, veggies overdone, my lasagne was fine, not fantastic, sautÃ©ed escarole was watery, sausage & peppers was fine, nothing special. Other than the mussels everything was "fine", not great but if someone said "let's go to Ralph's" my reaction would be "sure, ok" ... IF it wasn't for the parking and quite frankly I think the dinner menu is a little overpriced for the quality. Lunch is more reasonable for sure. Not sorry we went, and I'd go back and give it another chance if nobody had another suggestion, but also not my first pick of places to go, especially not for a relaxing romantic dinner.
(3)
Jim M.

Great Italian food. It's hard to beat this place. The only bad part is I need to come into the city from Montgomery County and fight the traffic.
(5)
Janice B.

We made reservations for New Years Eve and I have to say that we were both very disappointed. The food was mediocre at best and the service was subpar. For a $160 meal for two we should not have felt rushed. We ordered antipasto which was pretty good however they didn't wait until we were done or close to being done before bringing out the clams casino which I have made better at home. For my entree I ordered a veal dish with crab and scallops. This dish was $32 and the veal was tough and got a sprinkling of crab and 3 scallops. The sauce was awful so my boyfriend switched his meal for mine. He had orange roughy which was $20 something. It was just ok. For dessert we had tiramisu and coffee which would have been enjoyable if our waiter didn't decide to fill all the cheese containers right behind us and another kid spraying all the tables down with cleaning fluid. This will be our last visit to Ralph's. I would advise the same to others unless you have extra cash just simply to burn.
(1)
Michelle H.

My wonderful friends and their 8 and 4 year old stopped into town unexpectedly, and we decided it would be fun to spend the afternoon in the Italian Market neighborhood and have dinner there. What we hadn't really noticed was that it was Valentine's day. I started calling around to see who would take a party of six with two children with four hours notice, and while the other restaurants I called said they were usually family friendly, they would not have children on Valentine's night (I don't blame them). Ralph's very kindly took our reservation, and could not have been more accommodating. Despite it being a packed house, they were very attentive to our table - regular refills on our water and bread, checked on us regularly. The food was excellent (did I mention our guests are vegetarians), and they were easily to accommodate the vegetarians in our group. The waitress was very kind to the children, and made them feel like guests at the table rather than appendages to their parents. Ralph's has decent reviews, but I can honestly say the experience exceeded my reputation. I will gladly go back.
(5)
Karen L.

I've been coming to Ralph's for as long as I can remember, and always enjoyed the food and old world atmosphere. So when a friend came in from out of town to arrange a big dinner there, I was in! We started off with a number of their appetizers, the mussels marinara, roasted peppers with mozzarella, calamari and escarole. All were delicious except the mussels, which were tiny and disappointing. And we had lots of good, fresh bread from Sarcones bakery next door to mop up all that wonderful gravy. Our server was very good about making sure we had enough at all times. On to the entrees: I was a little disappointed to learn that they were sold out of both the Osso Buco and the braciole. Our server was very apologetic about this, so when I asked if the veal rollatini could be made with chicken (I don't eat veal), he said, of course. And it was, indeed, fabulous, topped with cheese, prosciutto, and mushrooms in a silky, buttery sauce. The pasta that accompanied it was cooked perfectly al dente, and it was lightly sauced with marinara. We capped off the evening with a couple of their amazing cannolis. It's been awhile since I've been to Ralph's, and it's just as good as I remember.
(4)
Michele F.

Solid, red "gravy" place in Philly. Beware - it's very cramped inside and a table for two gets smaller as the bread is brought out along with 2 water glasses, 2 wine glasses and a bottle of wine! Service was okay, nothing too special but they were very busy on the Sat. night we went. Food is delicious and the wine list is great . I'm always on the hunt for a great meatball and this place is in the top five! Prices are reasonable for a city restaurant. Definitely take advantage of the valet parking. Other wise you'll spend a lot of time circling the block and there are no nearby parking lots. Look forward to returning.
(4)
Chuq Y.

Well, what can I say about Ralph's that hasn't been said? With so many reviews, it's tough to add my own input and add something to the mix, but I will try. We were staying right by City Hall, so decided to walk down to Ralph's. That was a great call. Mainly because after eating, E and I could hardly walk because we were so full. Some of the highlights of our meal were the sides. Broccoli Rabe, and Meatballs. I think Meatballs are my new standard by which to judge Italian restaurants by. These meatballs were truly amazing. They seemed to just melt in our mouths. If you haven't had them yet, go back just for these. Holy cannoli (I'll get to dessert later). They should rename these on the menu to "Most amazing meatballs you've ever had in your life". They certainly were ours. When you walk in, there is a large room, and it seems that you're eating with about 50 of your closest friends. Everyone that works there has a thick accent that makes you feel like you just walked into a mob movie. Saweet. That's the kind of service I want in South Philly. And, it's America's oldest Italian restaurant. You know why if you've ever eaten there. We also got the sauteed long hot peppers. Delicious. The best part is dipping the bread into the oil left over. Wow. They weren't too hot, and definitely not overcooked. Perfecto! The Rabe was equally good. Cooked to perfection and whole, so you probably want to cut it with a knife. I ordered Linguini with clams in white sauce, and that totally hit the spot. There were tons of clams, a handful in the shell, and it was super tasty. We couldn't pass up a dessert, so we asked Chris, our server, for a recommendation and he recommended the cannoli cake. Boom. What a great suggestion. We probably didn't need to eat it all, but really, we couldn't help ourselves. Dang yo. That was good! They have a pretty extensive wine list with some great Italian wines that won't break the bank. I recommend the Cecchi. I highly recommend you go to Ralphs if you haven't already, and if you have, go back so you can be happy. After all, no one ever said, "Skinny and happy!"
(5)
Katelyn S.

Came here for my boyfriends birthday, after a coworker recommended it. It was a Tuesday night so it wasn't too busy. The food was delicious. The service was a little iffy. Not much of a personality. And it was VERY cramped. I felt like I was eating dinner with the family sitting next to us. It was hard for us to hold a conversation with each other. It was a nice dinner not sure we will come back.
(3)
Alea G.

Apparently Ralph's doesn't do pick ups on Saturday night. FAIL. Guess we have to go to Villa de Roma.
(1)
Courtney C.

A last minute Friday night trip that did not disappoint! In an effort to avoid meat for Lent, my boyfriend and I went to Ralph's in search of some delicious seafood and pasta. Extra points for having Lent specials with veggie soups and crab meat pasta! We started off with some fresh mozzarella and tomato which was great. My guy had the flounder francaise which he raved about for the rest of the weekend and a side of ravioli-delish! I opted for the manicotti. If you are a fan of cheese, do yourself a favor and order this- outstanding! Unfortunately, we had no room for dessert. Only con I can think of is that the temperature of the place was on the warm side. That won't stop us from going back!
(4)
Michelle P.

This might be my first Yelp review but this was not my first visit to Ralphs. My family has been going there for generations and I cannot even remember my first time there. Needless to say, it's an old favorite. I made a reservation for my husband and myself for Friday night for "date night". We ended up waiting at the upstairs bar for almost 30 minutes after the reservation time. We did get an upstairs table as we had requested. Unfortunately, we did not receive one of the private tables. We were seated at a table for 6- with another couple at the other end with an empty table in between. We eventually got used to other people at our table but we could not get used to the party behind us. There were several adults and a small child. You would think the child was the issue however one of the adults was causing a ruckus. He continuously made "fart" noises at the child- despite the pleas from his table to stop and my dirty looks. Luckily Ralphs was able to accommodate and move us to an open private table closer to the bar which was conveniently available as these issues occurred. The service was excellent. Despite a delay in being seated, our server was very attentive and apologetic when he thought he wasn't being. The food was also excellent. I had the veal francaise and my husband had the spaghetti with sausage and a side of meatball. My veal was very tender and the sauce was apportioned perfectly. The extra lemons on top caused the dish to be slightly too lemony- but still enjoyable. Knowing how filling this meal could be, we skipped appetizers and dessert. We did sample the bread which was very fresh and flowing to our table. We also had a carafe of the house pinot grigio which was reasonably priced and delicious. Looking forward to the next visit in July.
(5)
Rodrigo A.

Not the best Italian in town. You are better off going to Villa Di Roma down the street. The do however give you good portions, but the food is mediocre. I ordered the calamari and in came in a water down red sauce with not much flavor. Calamari was cooked well. My main dish was the chicken parmigiana, it really id not have much flavor. Salt and pepper go a long way. Service was terrible. I think they try to portray a rough south Philly vibe, but it's just a turn off. We were a 4 top and all of our food came out at different times. Very annoying when you are trying to eat together. I would NOT recommend this place to anyone thinking they want to go to a great Italian restaurant.
(2)
Bruce C.

ate at Ralph's last night. First was a cheese, salami, olive plate that was very good, then I had my usual, Eggplant Parm, layered like lasagna and it was perfect... Valet parking was a plus! Great food, great staff as usual !!!!
(5)
Alix H.

The bread at this place is so good. It's HOT and i like that in a restaurant. Our server was nice and I got a mellow vibe from this place. Everyone I was with seemed to think that Ralph's was hooking it up and serving the best Italian food around, but.... meh. My mom and I make better lasagna. The portions were big, and the food was good, but my mind was not blown and I probably wouldn't go back. Maybe my lasagna just had me all nostalgic for mom's cooking, but I suspect that other people's dishes weren't as crazy good as they were saying. We did arrive REALLY hungry
(3)
Matt P.

Newer is always better, but not in this case. Not much has changed in over a 100 years of service at Ralph's, and that suits me just fine. Sure, it's got the prestige, the history, the classic neighborhood feel, all of which really complement the food & huge wine cellar very well. Besides the suggesting the pastas, some notable orders I would recommend: Meatballs - delicious traditional seasoning Eggplant Parmesan Calamari in red sauce Mussels in white sauce Five stars for italian fare, you ask? Why yes, because the food is that good. There's few italian spots that I really recommend, but Ralph's does it well and should be a must try for anyone willing to shell out a couple bucks more than you'd pay at a chain restaurant.
(5)
N Y.

Been here about 5 or so times, the service is hit or miss but the food is always good.
(4)
Dehv O.

I love this place! I only went once, last week, and I'm already planning another day there. I wasn't sure how it was going to be considering it's in South Philly which means the restaurant was going to be super small. It was tiny but not too bad because there weren't a lot of people there at the time. The owner is a very nice guy and our waitress (forgot her name) was very cool! The food and dessert were amazing! Can't wait to go back.
(4)
Amy C.

My bf and I saw a groupon for this restaurant and decided to try it. When we walked in, we were seated immediately and was greeted right away. We were seated in the corner for two people, however, we thought that the table was kind of small for us. We ordered the mussels ($14) as our appetizers. Good thing, we finished the appetizer first before our entrees came because you couldn't have fit 3 plates on that table. The mussels were okay.. We definitely had better. I guess, we were a little disappointed that the mussels weren't bigger since they should be in season? I mean, the Italian market is like right there... and they sell a lot of fresh seafood there. Anyways, as my entree, I decided on the seafood pescatore ($26) and my bf got the chicken alfredo ($19). I felt that my dish wasn't as great. There was good amount of seafood but the sauce was a little off for me. My bf's dish was mediocre at best. It didn't look that appetizing nor did it taste that great. It was really bland and we added salt and pepper so that it could taste a little better. Honestly, we were sort of disappointed since a friend did recommend this place. It could be that our friend has bad taste or it could be, what we ordered? We decided to skip desserts since we weren't really satisfied with our meals. I'm glad that we had a groupon because we were not happy with our meal. We don't mind paying the price for good food but we felt that it wasn't worth it here. I gave it 2 stars because everyone was really friendly.
(2)
Roberto G.

First time here - have always heard great things about this "institution".....had a good friend from Texas in town visiting and brought him as well. Food was ok. I had a very good salad then penne with meatballs for my main course - it was good but not great. Our service overall was ok, but there just seemed to be an air of pomp with everything - plus our server was repeatedly coughing at the table. Dude - take some dayquil. I am open to going back to give it another shot but there are TONS of great Italian restaurants in this city, so probably won't be for a while. PS - our friend from Texas enjoyed it but since this was not his first time at the "south Philly rodeo" we could tell he wasn't overly impressed.
(3)
Li-Jen H.

The restaurant is quaint with nice mellow background music. I am not a connoisseur on Italian cuisine but I enjoyed their food very much. We did not order anything fancy, just the typical dishes that you would typically see on the dinner table in any typical Italian family household, such as chicken parmesan, chicken alfredo, mussels over spaghetti with white sauce, spaghetti with sausages. All came fairly quickly and tasted great. We order connolly as dessert and it was the best connolly I ever had. Crust was crunchy but not hard, and the filling was creamy and rich with bits of dark chocolate that brought another layer of enjoyment. What I liked best about their connolly was that they were not overloaded with sugar like the ones I had at other places. Overall the dining experience was excellent. The place is kind of small though, to my surprise. Their tables are fairly small and the gap between tables is fairly narrow. I wondered if that was just how the restaurant was set up originally when they opened in 1900 and just never changed anything since then. I suppose it's not a concern for their servers because their servers are all very slender. When we were leaving at the end of the meal, I saw a family walking into the restaurant with a baby in a baby carrier. Too bad I didn't get to see how the restaurant managed to find a space for the baby carrier. Parking near the restaurant is difficult. They do have a valet parking service for $8. I saw some reviews about having to wait for a while to get seated. In my case, I had made a reservation through their website, which was operated by OpenTable, the night before, which was easy and quick, and we got seated right away when we showed up for dinner.
(4)
D P.

I had the Chicken Sicilian and it was really really good. the hot pepper went perfect with it. Parking is tight so for 8 bucks just have the valet park your car. my tab was $22.00 not a bad price for the quality of food you get and the portions are appropriate.
(5)
Fred T.

Went here with a colleague of mine who has lived in the neighborhood his whole life. He knows the staff and well, the food was great and service quick and attentive. I had an enjoyable experience.
(4)
Joanna H.

It's definitely one of those more authentic Italian places than an Americanized/modern Italian restaurant, which is a plus for my personal taste buds! This place comes up on Groupon so often and always got me curious if Ralphs really is a legit place or not. I was lucky enough to go with a friend, who LOVES Ralphs. When you first step your foot inside the restaurant, you'll smell that cheesy smell and will know, Ralphs is real Italian. I sat down, got greeted nicely with our waiter who seemed to kind of rush us in the beginning but he go better throughout the time. First of all, the bread they give you is wow. Just a simple bread but soft in the inside and crispy crusts on the out. LOVED. I was craving two things this night. Gnocchi and pasta with vodka sauce. I decide to be adventurous and ended up ordering the Spinach Gorgonzola Gnocchi. I was grossed out when I first got the plate because the green spinach gnocchi look like cocoons..like literally... haha But the flavor is full of spinach of tastes really "green". The gnocchi is very dense with he spinach flavor and so if you like that , you'll love this dish. The gorgonzola sauce is not too heavy and balances greatly with the gnocchi. Portions are good. Price is not too pricey. Has a great selection of wine. The servers know what real authentic food id supposed to be like. Yes I would go back, but the reason I give 3 stars is because I think there will be better places that will blow my mind off, it is located in the Italian market area you know... I do recommend!
(3)
R M.

My first time there. Good to visit because of it's history Pro: Excellent service-very attentive. Good veal CON: Parking Gravy/sauce a little watery Pricey
(3)
Cory H.

Great sauce, love the chicken parm!
(5)
Mike F.

I was born in Philly, a long time ago, then moved away. It's changed a lot recently, especially South Philly. I went back recently, looking for the Italian places I remembered, but many of them seem to be gone. That's how I ended up at Ralph's one hot afternoon last week. I had an appetizer of calimari in red sauce. Quite good, especially when I dunked the bread into the sauce. For my main, eggplant parmigiana with a side of steamed escarole with garlic. Eggplant was great and super cheesy. Service was fantastic, in that gruffly businesslike but warm way where you feel like the waiter's your new friend.
(4)
Josh R.

As others have noted, it's overpriced for what it is. Solid food and service, but nothing that blew me away.
(3)
William C.

Excellent food and large portions. The oldest Italian restaurant in the United Staes founded in 1900 and operated by the same family. We went for lunch and the restaurant was not too crowded, but the server was not the best. Very casual, did not even give us his and and never check on us during the meal. I can understand this if it was dinner and the place was packed, but it was not. Luckily another server was there and glad to assist us. This poor service will not scare me away, and we will be back because the food is Sooooo good and the portions are huge!!
(4)
Matt D.

This is one of those times when an extra half star would be nice. There's a lot to be said for tradition and family. It's impossible not to feel that here. The service is friendly, prompt and a little in your face (very Italian in a good way). The food is generous in size and quite good, but not amazing. It's probably just a personal preference, but I thought everything needed a little more acidity. We ordered the calamari appetizer, veal parmesan, and a cannoli for desert along with a nicely priced half carafe of wine. I thought they did a really nice job with calamari and veal managed to stay tender but crisp. You could actually cut it with a fork. The cannoli was average and I expected better bread from a place like this. Also of note: if you do not like to eat in extremely close quarters to other diners, do not go here. This little dining room is incredibly tight.
(3)
Monica L.

PROS: Decent taste, giant portions CONS: Cramped, mildly expensive The food and atmosphere wasn't great, but it's not bad either. For the price, I was expecting a bit better. The service was pretty fast/rushed --- with waiters running to and fro. The endless supply of complimentary bread was the most memorable part of the meal --- thick, crunchy crust covered with fragrant sesame. Mmmm...
(3)
Carolyn M.

We were in Philadelphia for the day and looking for a good place to eat. We found Ralphs and loved it. We arrived before 5 pm so they were able to seat us (6 in party) without a reservation. The food was quite tasty and portions large. We ended up taken some of the food home with us. I had the eggplant Parmesan, and it was perfect - great sauce, eggplant cooked properly with a nice crunch to it. No complaints about the service.
(4)
Dave G.

Exactly what you expect from an Italian restaurant in the Italian market. Great ambience, hospitality, and food. Good sizes portions that don't make you feel overwhelmed after dinner. Only thing is the food doesn't stand out from the rest of the Italian places in the area. But still a solid choice.
(4)
Ron A.

Was excited to go hear after walking by it so many times. The restaurant itself is very cool, gives off a nice old school vibe. Unfortunately the food was so mediocre. The bread was cold and bland. The calamari was so-so. My girlfriend got the linguini with the alfredo sauce which tasted awful and bland once again. I had the chicken livers which were ok but the pasta and sauce were bland. I think this place needs to get its act together as I can't imagine they built their reputation on the food they're currently serving.
(2)
Shan M.

What a wonderful time we had here! We had reservations and had to wait a few minutes while they got our table ready. We were sat upstairs which was not a problem at all. Our server was prompt with out waters and taking our drink order. We just ordered the house Pinot Grigio which wasn't half bad at all! Bread was given to us right away following our food order. We got the calamari which everyone loved. Note- it's not fried so if you like it crispy do not order. And the sauce it came in was excellent. We all had different entrees and there was nothing left over! I had the chicken trombino. 2 chicken breasts with mozzarella, tomato, and delicious roasted peppers. Also came with a side of pasta. It was so good. I usually don't care for pasta but it had such an enjoyable taste and again the sauce was excellent. And the roasted peppers were great! I'm not sure exactly what everyone else ordered but like I said, there were no leftovers at all. The overall experience was exactly what I pictured. The ONLY downfall is that it was FREEZING on the second floor. It's summer, so I had a summer dress and sandals on and could not warm up at all. I couldn't wait to get outside to warm up. I will definitely be going back! And will dress to be comfortable this time. No other complaints. Go check it out!!
(4)
Jamie G.

Ralph's definitely lives up to its reputation. I've been here twice and both times the food has been phenomenal and the service is wonderful. The waiter the second time we went was extremely knowledgeable and even suggested a wine pairing for our dishes. The environment is very friendly and I would highly recommend Ralph's for anyone looking for some good Italian food in the city.
(5)
David M.

I heard so much good about it and I am picky but it lives up to its reputation and boy the portions are big. I will definitely go back and try more stuff as the menu is pretty expansive.
(4)
Mary C.

Reservations made on a busy Saturday night. We waited for 20 min for our waiter to arrive with water and bread all evidently a misunderstanding. We ordered calamari, manicotti, penne with sausage, and chicken tromboli(?). All worth waiting for. Finished with dessert "dark side of the moon". Will return soon.
(4)
Shereen C.

I respect the fact that Ralphs has been around for ages, but the food is not so good. At best, it's okay and that's about it. Veal was all right. Pasta was bland. The (complimentary) bread was pretty good, fresh and crusty.
(2)
Dong T.

Kinda pricey, cash only? Huge negative. Supposed to be the oldest Italian restaurant in the states. Not really a big deal for me, just as long as the food and service is good. The gentlemen's room doesn't have a sink. The sink is outside which is fine, but I thought it was strange that sink was surrounded by the carafes used to serve ice water. Sweet! Excellent ravioli. Professional staff.
(3)
Christopher L.

Service: Very good. Several people keep saying in the reviews how bad the service was, however I was really happy with it. Granted not many were in the restaurant, however our server was very friendly. He was quite attentive, but not to the point of being a pest. I felt at ease and quite welcomed. Food: They serve simple Italian dishes. Granted, they are a bit Americanized (Spaghetti and meatballs for example) in some ways, but this is what you get in the US from Italian restaurants. I had the veal parm, which was quite good. The veal was crisp and flavorful. The red sauce was also tasty. This is not Branzino, or a high end type restaurant. It is simple, but well prepared and really flavorful. Decor: The floor is over 100 years old and original. The pictures, and wall paper, and overall feel of the restaurant is much like a really good trattoria you'd find in Italy. It did not seem touristy. I quite enjoyed it. History: This is currently the oldest Italian restaurant in the US. It has tons of history and style. Overall I was very happy having lunch at Ralph's. I will be back and would certainly recommend this place to others.
(4)
Mike T.

Visited Ralph's for the first time ever and left pleased with the quality, quantity and the atmosphere of enjoying dinner in an old school Italian establishment. The history behind this place makes you know your not in some new school restaurant as you enjoy a great meal. Upon arrival are reservations were looked up and we had a few minute wait at the bar but being we were 45 min early we were seated within 10 min which was great. We were served nice Italian seeded bread which was good. Me and my date enjoyed 2 main dishes with her enjoying the Fettuccine Alfredo with chicken which looked very delicious and I enjoyed the Black Lobster Ravioli's with scallops and olives in scampi sauce very good and hit the spot. Serving size and quality was very competitive with other establishments. We did not opt for desert as we were pretty stuffed but the desert selection did look tasty. One thing me and my date enjoyed about this place was the very close feel of being a family, the tables are close the atmosphere is a bit loud but you feel like your one big Italian family enjoying a meal and the history behind the place add's to this. I would definitively return to Ralph's and enjoy some of the wider selection of meal's next time especially some of the Veal selection's they have. Give Ralph's a shot if you like a nice meal and wan't a little history behind your meal they have to be doing something right if there still in business for over 100 years!
(4)
Jessica S.

Well, I guess it's hard to give a fair review of a place after you've experienced the wrath of food poisoning after a meal there. The food and the experience were decent, until all that happened. I am thinking it was the clams... damn clams! The server was pretty terse and not all that friendly, but was able to help us pick out a good wine with certainty. The wine list had a nice selection and I was happy to find that it was well priced and not overly ridiculous as wine can usually be at restaurants. The "specials" rotate seasonally and are obviously the most expensive things on the menu. I did find them to be slightly overpriced compared to the rest of the menu which was surprising. The food was standard, classic Italian food, but honestly have had better or at least similar at other Italians in Philadelphia. I really do kinda want to go back, but I am probably too scared by my first experience there.
(2)
Christina G.

I went on Saturday night around 8pm for dinner for 2. We had an 8pm reservation and were seated right away. The restaurant was busy and just about every table/seat was taken but there was no wait for a table. Service was great. Our waiter came over right away to take our drink orders and to see if we had any questions about the menu. He gave us a heads up that the veal takes a little bit longer to cook (after all they make everything fresh) but we still felt that they were pretty quick. I am not sure why other people on yelp complained about the prices. I think the prices are reasonable and just about right for Italian in this neighborhood. Our 2 martinis came to $18 which is cheaper than most places in the City and they were good. We ordered the clams casino for appetizer, a veal dish, escarole as side with the veal, and seafood pescatore. The clams casino was decent but not the best I ever had. You got 6 filled clam shells which is pretty typical. I like mine a bit spicier but they were still good. I thought my seafood pescatore was very good and had a nice amount of mussels, crab meat and shrimp with a large amount of linguini. I took half of my meal home since it was so big. Sauce on the veal was good. They give plenty of bread to soak up the sauces which is nice and are happy to bring out extra complimentary bread. They get it from Sarcones which is next door and well known for their great bread. Prices for entrees averaged about $20. It's probably not the best Italian I have had in my life, but it was very good and authentic. Everything tastes like it is made fresh and way better than any chain restaurant like Carrabbas and Olive Garden and not much different in price. Our bill before our groupon came to about $70 for 2 entrees, an appetizer and 2 martinis. Plus, the history behind Ralph's is pretty cool. And no they do not accept credit cards.
(4)
Tyler L.

I've been to Ralph's several times and I am glad that I liked it...as I get the feeling that a negative review would invite a crowbar to the knee while I walk the streets one night (I kid, sort of). This latest time spurred me to write a review because I really liked it more than previous visits...the food this time was delicious (rigatoni with chicken) and the spinach gnocchi was also solid. The vibe is old school italian in a way that is inviting as opposed to intimidating. Our waiter was dating the daughter or granddaughter of Ralph and he was entertaining as hell. Listen...the food isn't going to blow you away, but take it all in and observe what is going on around you and you will like this place. My only complaint is the bread...it really isn't that good. I am sure that sounds sac-religious, but I have spent a ton of time living next to King Arthur Flour so my standards are high. Anyways if you live in Philly and haven't tried it, you need to cross it off your bucket list. If you are visiting from out of town, you should step out of the cozy restaurants in center city and try this authentic italian in south philly.
(4)
Jason G.

The most authentic, old school Italian family restaurant you'll ever experience, period. If I'm not mistaken, I believe it's the oldest Italian restaurant in the entire United States too. The experience is a 10. The food is an 8. The prices are an 8. The meatballs are fantastic. The calamari, gnocchi and chicken parm are staples in this place. The bread they serve is outstanding. This place is to Philadelphia as to what Chase Utley is to the Phillies. A true legend. Go, enjoy and experience the history.
(4)
Theresa A.

Went here on a whim with the boys because I didn't feel like cooking. Used my trusty Opentable.com app to make the reservation--and so glad I did! When we got there the place was packed! Clearly this was the place to be! The atmosphere feels exactly like what you would want an Italian Restaurant to feel like--upon sitting down you can't help but think that there's an 80 year old Italian woman on the other side of the kitchen door cooking up your meal! The food was great--fresh and hearty. Our server was an older Italian gentleman who I wouldn't doubt has worked there for decades. He was attentive, friendly, and offered helpful suggestions. We had the Spinach Gnocci in a cream sauce (A++), Lasagna (A), Fettuccini Alfredo (B+), and Chicky-Chicky-Parm-Parm (A-). We will definitely be back again--and we will undoubtedly get a new round of dishes to judge as we had a hard enough time deciding what to get this time!
(5)
Greg R.

In from Florida. This had to be the worst experience I've had. I actually thought I was being secretly filmed for an episode of kitchen nightmares. Started with the ceaser salad that was over dressed and served with croutons the size of boulders. Followed up with an order of clams casino that were mushy and missing any sign of clams. We then were seved the grilled calamari tossed in a red sauce. This was tasteless except for a somewhat fishy flavor. We sent it back only to be confronted by the manager who thought it was appropriate to come out chewing his supposed bite of our calamari to argue with our table about how delicious it was. Not only wouldn't I step foot back in this place I'm advising anyone who would consider going here they should think twice and then think again.
(1)
Tony M.

Okay food, Italian like, but penne out of the box. Can you say Mueller's? Not sure i will return.
(2)
Doc M.

No credit cards = no good for business. Good local South Philly fare though. Service is adequate as is atmosphere. recommend Victor Cafe much, much more.
(2)
Angelica H.

I went with a Groupon. I had to ask a server who our waiter/waitress was, as we had not been approached for minutes. The stairs to walk up where we were seated were very steep. The service was the downside. Food was good. $8 for valet is steep for the neighborhood and type of restaurant. Street parking is available. My sister liked the house bread, but it was not exceptional to me. It tasted very standard and not fresh. We were placed with a family party full of kids and adults, which blended us in with my toddler niece. There was another section much quieter for people without kids. The escarole was delicious, as was the pasta.
(3)
Linda S.

I was torn whether to give Ralph's three stars or four, but went with four because of the food. This is my second trip to Ralph's and as with the first, the food was outstanding. My hubby and I started off sharing the mussels in red sauce and when it came, I couldn't believe how many mussels there were! More than enough for two people, for sure. And so delicious, I wanted to lap up the gravy when I finished eating the mussels. Instead of doing that, though, I used the very fresh Italian bread to soak up a large portion. These were absolutely the best mussels I've ever eaten! I opted for the baked lasagna and hubby went for the manicotti. Let me tell you, I am VERY picky about my gravy, as South Philadelphians call it, and I was surprised at how much I enjoyed the gravy my lasagna was cooked in. To say nothing of the lasagna, which was awesome in its own right. All the ingredients were fresh and I'm sure the sausage pieces in the lasagna were homemade. My hubby thought there was too much cheese in his manicotti, but I think you can never have enough cheese! I tasted his dinner and loved it. We finished up with decaf coffee and a slice of tiramisu. Yes, I said "slice." The tiramisu at Ralph's is more a cake than the normal tiramisu you get at most places. It was the only part of our dinner I wasn't fond of. I guess it was the cream cheese filling that seemed off to me. But the presentation was lovely. As to why I was considering giving Ralph's only three stars, the place is so small the tables are pratically on top of each other. Private conversations are impossible because you can easily hear what the people at the next table are saying. We even had to ask them to please move their table so hubby could get in and out of his seat. Plus, the tables themselves are so small, there was barely enough room for all the plates on the tables. And when my leftovers came back wrapped up ready to go, there was no room to put the bag on the table. Most people had their leftovers sitting on the floor. Not exactly sanitary, if you ask me, but space is really at a premium here. I managed to keep my take-home bag on the table even though I was sure my coffee cup was going to spill in my lap at any moment. It didn't. The bathroom is so small, when you sit down, your knees practically touch the door. It is impossible to turn around. There is no mirror to check out your makeup. There is NO sink in the bathroom--you must use the sink in the small common hallway to wash your hands while you make sure you're not in the way of the waitstaff carrying dishes, trays of clean glasses, etc. Speaking of the waitstaff, they are extremely attentive and friendly. Thanks Al! We had a Groupon to use for this dinner that cost us $20 for $40 worth of food. With everything we had--one appetizer, two entrees, two Cokes, 2 coffees and one dessert, the total bill came to $55, including tax. Taking off the $40 we were left with a bill of $15. To wrap this up, food=excellent; service=very good; restaurant=too small with very close quarters. Will I return? Most probably. Is this the best Italian food I've ever eaten? Pretty damn close!
(4)
Tia D.

The food was delicious. I ordered the Chicken Parm and my friend ordered Spaghetti with Meatballs. I had a bite of her dish and the meatballs were well seasoned and good. The pasta disappointed me because I expected it to be home made. I'm pretty sure it came from a box. Regardless, it was still pretty good. I gave it only three stars because the service was absolutely horrible. When I walked in, the place was really crowded and as I was making my way through, a waiter literally ran into me and instinctively, I apologized (because I have manners) even though it wasn't even my fault. He, on the other hand, pushed me and rush by me. I gave him the benefit of the doubt and continued to my table. Unfortunately, my waiter wasn't any better. He asked us what we wanted to order, then came back and literally put the basket of bread on top of where my hands were on the table. He continued to do this every time he was placing food on the table (we had a tiny two-person table). Had he just asked or told me he was placing food on the table, I would've moved it without a problem. All in all, while the food may be great and I may come back just for the food, I hope the service will be better next time. Maybe they were having a bad day on that one occasion. For the food, I'll give it another shot but if it's the norm for the waiters to act like that, I might just have to learn how to cook home-made meatballs myself to avoid dealing with that.
(3)
Dylan H.

I ate there today for the first time and I can honestly say it was the best meal I have ever had in my life. It was real home cooked food. I come from an Italian family and this food was on my Nannis level or better. I had linguine with mussels and red sauce and it was so delicious. There were about 3 dozen mussels and a heaping pile of linguine.
(5)
Jennifer S.

Cozy and busy place, so expect to wait even with your reservation. Delicious foods, but can be overdone/ too complicated, so stick with simple classic italian and you will be very satisfied.
(4)
Jennifer D.

Awesome Italian restaurant. I loved this place from the moment I walked in. The prices are reasonable, the food is outstanding, and so far, this is my favorite Italian restaurant in Philadelphia. I have tried several others and nothing has compared yet. If you have not tried it, GO GIVE IT A TRY! I am a picky eater and they even suited me! :)
(5)
Bruce C.

Ralph's may be my favorite Italian restaurant if not restaurant. I Always order the Eggplant Parm, the best ever, layered like lasagna, (not fried eggplant covered with sauce and a piece of cheese like pizza joints do). salads are always good, mussels are great, Veal Marsala is always good, service is at its best, tables are small, This place is a three level row house so it is narrow, My major complaint is "cash only" owners should stop worrying about paying taxes and open this place up to credit card users.. just remember to bring cash.. They are losing the corporate business
(4)
Mario D.

Veal. Parm. 'nuff said.
(4)
H C.

My husband and I have been going to Ralph's for years. We celebrated our engagement here. Not only should you expect great, home-style Italian food that is consistent with every visit; you should also expect to be treated like you are in someone's home. Every time we visit everyone is welcoming even on the busiest of nights. I was lucky enough to bring my grandfather here once and he spoke Italian with the management and was so happy with his overall experience. Please note that this is not a Marc Vetri type establishment--and it does not pretend to be or need to be--meaning: it isn't hip and trendy and you won't find an extravagant or experimental menu. That type of Italian is great for certain occasions; but Ralph's is more of an "I can eat at this place every weekend" type of restaurant, featuring classic Italian mom food that warms your belly and your soul.
(4)
Emily W.

The food was terrible. I ordered the fettucini because it was homemade, but it was yuck. Overcooked, thick, and very disappointing. The marinara was was nothing special...and the pasta wasn't drained fully so there was water in my plate along with the blah sauce. Tallutos has a billion times better sauce and pasta...so fresh tasting. I'd suggest picking it up from there and cooking at home. You'd think if Ralph's has been around 100+ years they'd by now have figured out how to make kickass pasta and sauce. Butter that came with the bread was the kind in the plastic containers with tin foil top and there was no evoo on the table.Husbands chicken Parma was fine, hard to mess that up. It was a big portion at least. I feel this is the type of place people convince themselves is good because it's been a part of the Italian market for over a century...touristy. Kinda like pats and ginos...terrible cheesesteaks yet always packed. Makes no sense...I will try people's recommendations, but in the end i stick to quality and taste not trend. Will never return...but will try others around the market and see if any are worthy to actually be there.
(1)
Parker S.

I once read a stat that said something along the lines of "50% of all new restaurant businesses fail in their first year". I think Ralph's has safety made it past that first year. This is the oldest family owned restaurant in the US, having been open since 1900. My wife and I went on a Sunday evening with a groupon. We were seated quickly upon entering on the second floor. Please note this is a three story restaurant and there is a good chance you'll have to hike up some stairs to eat. Once seated we ordered an appetizer (muscles in red sauce) and a couple of drinks. The muscles were very good and the red sauce was great. The bread they give out I believe if from Sarcone's next door and is good, although I can understand how people might be turned off by an unwarmed loaf of bread in a basket, when warm bread with olive oil is starting to become the norm at many italian restaurants. For our entrees I got a pasta with redsauce and filet tips and my wife got a stuff chicken dish. Both were very good. The pasta seemed to be made in house and the filet tips were good. My wife's chicken was very good as well. But the highlight of both of are meals was the red sauce. Very tasty, not too chunky yet not watery either. Overall, I'll be back to Ralph's, although next time I will probably go a more simple route and just order spaghetti with red sauce as it is the sauce that is king here, and everything else takes a back seat. The service was good even though the restaurant was busy. The biggest downside I feel was the price of the drinks was high. I had two yuenling's and my wife had two martini's and our drink total was $32. I'm guessing the martini's were $10 or $11 a piece and the beers were $5 or $6, which seemed high considering the neighborhood. Also it was a bummer that this place is CASH ONLY. They have an ATM in the back but I hate places that pass the fee on to the customer through an ATM charge. In general, a good spot with good simple italian food. I would suggest going the simple route on the menu and letting the sauce and homemade pasta do the talking.
(4)
R F.

Being raised as a fat little Italian boy in my family's Italian restaurant, I consider myself to have a pretty good sense of what great Italian cuisine is all about. Ralphs Italian Restaurant is amazing! My girlfriend and I started with the calamari which isn't fried and is served in a delicious marinara sauce. I ordered the chicken parmesan and asked for Spanish instead of pasta. I also had a side order of meatballs (I told you I like to eat). The chicken Parm was big and very tasty, the Spanish was perfectly seasoned, and the meatballs I am sad to say were better than my family's restaurant. We will differently be going back to this little gem.
(5)
Kendrah R.

I was prepared for a tourist trap given the history and reviews, but ended up really liking this place. We went around 9:30 pm on a Sunday so it wasn't crowded. The menu is simple and good. The marinara was flavorful without being sweet. I like that the mushrooms in the pasta were fresh not canned, as with other old school places in Italian Market. My friend had an excellent pasta with shrimp and artichokes. I don't have a need to go to Villa Roma anymore since finding this place.
(4)
Ron C.

It's Sunday mid-afternoon and we end up at Ralph's because everything in the area was closed. Not that it's a bad thing. They were able to fill us up with much needed food and cool us down from the heat. The table makes the place a bit cramped. I had to stand up a couple of time for people to move in and out of a table. The bathrooms are clean, but the sink is right in front of the stairs so you will have waiters and customers be in and out. I had to wait a moment for a waiter to pass by before being able to wash up. After skimming through the menu, everything looked good. They gave us a loaf of bread and some butter packets. The bread was a bit tough like it was sitting out for a long time. We were really hungry and just dealt with it. We asked for more bread and we were hoping for a fresher piece. Our prayers were answered with fresh bread. We ended up getting some basics such as Chicken Parm, Spaghetti & Meatballs and a nice Shrimp and Pasta dish. We did order an appetizer, but halfway through the meal our waiter forgot it. So we just decided to cancel that one. The dishes were simple, but it did lack some flavor. Maybe my standards are different with Italian Food, since I am surrounded by it on a daily bases, but I did end up putting lots of grated parmesan cheese to add a bit of saltiness to my food. Reminder: This place is CASH ONLY.
(3)
Wes E.

As good a red gravy Italian place as you will find in the city. Ordered mussels red chicken parm and chicken sorrento. All three were excellent.
(5)
Jes L.

Standard Italian fare...cool that its the oldest restaurant in America.
(3)
Alex G.

I have been told by numerous native philadelphians that Ralph's is one of the best Italian restaurants in the city and is a must to experience. We did not think so. We started off with a grilled calamari appetizer that was soaked in salty red sauce. The amount of sauce overwhelmed the palate to the point where we couldn't even taste the calamari. I got the pasta bolognese with filet mignon tips. Again, the red sauce was very salty. The filet mignon tips was really just average quality beef. My wife ordered the black lobster ravioli which were decent but overly salty. We expected much more from the oldest Italian restaurant in the country.
(2)
Virginia C.

I've had better- but the service was excellent on even a weekday. And this place was hopping at 8:30pm, but I really had high hopes for a perfect meal. Food: 1) House Salad (I can't stand it when a rest. thinks ice berg lettuce is okay for a salad 2) Standard spaghetti/meatballs/standard red sauce- is this even homemade?- but I really wanted bolognese sauce- who doesn't have bolognese sauce in a mom/pop Italian rest!!!!!! 3) bruschetta- okay.. but it really wasn't memorable Thoughts/FYI 1) I enjoyed my company and service (he was excellent and attentive more than anything-maybe because it was later in the night/a weekday) 2) Cash Only- that doesn't really bother me much since they do have an ATM inside. Although when I think of cash only rest., you assume the prices would be much cheaper- it's not.. a little higher than standard. Overrated and a little let down.
(3)
Rob M.

Atmosphere is cool. Takes you back to old-time Philly. Mosaic tile floor upstairs is awesome. Appetizers of red mussels and calamari were very good. The red sauce on the mussels may be the best I've had, but the mussels themselves were a little on the small size. The calamari was very tender in a good marinara sauce. I had heard that they were known for their veal and a friend told me I couldn't go wrong with the veal parm, so one of my co workers and I both got it. I got mine with a side of broccoli rabe, which was tender and in a good garlic oil. The veal parm however was dried out and tough, and didn't have enough sauce. I have had better veal in a diner and the sauce that was on it was nothing special. For dessert we got an assortment of chocolate cake, cannoli cake, a cannoli, and tiramisu. None of the desserts was very good. The cakes were very dry, including the tiramisu, which I prefer to have a good soak. Overall, pricey and just ok, but I'll be back to try something else and if for nothing else, for the experience.
(3)
Lauren L.

Excellent Service, table was to close to our neighbor, felt like we were part of their conversation, food was great!
(4)
Cara O.

If I could give this place 10 stars I would! The food is amazing. I would have to say it's the most authentic Italian food I have in comparison to the food I just had recently in Italy. Their marinara sauce is delicious! The eggplant parmigiana is the best thing on their menu besides their roasted hots and escarole! When we went during the afternoon, which was the best time to come, the waitress threw in roasted long hots since we never had them before. Soo good!!! There was no waiting at all! If you've never been here before I would highly recommend it!!!
(5)
Patrick C.

On vacation - you want an authentic italian meal - so go to the Italian Market and find this place, one of the oldest in America. We went for lunch, a group of four and got a table easy. Clams and spagetti, Meatballs and Spagetti, Pork Sandwich, EggPlant Parmesian. No complaints, all were happy. It took a while to get our food, i presume the eggplant (baked)... perfect meatballs and noodles. Fair prices! Cash only? wtf.
(4)
tony m.

Ralph's on 9th Street just off Christian has been a Philadelphia landmark for over one hundred years. While 9th street has been a part of my life for as long as I can remember I have never eaten at Ralph's. Now, I must say from the start, that Ralph's is the kind of Italian restaurant that I avoid. Ralph's is an old time, red sauce kind of place: the kind of Sunday macaroni and gravy that I grew up on. But these days, I suppose I have grown beyond it. Having lived and studied in Italy back in the 70's, I experienced lighter, cleaner flavors in Italian foods. When I came home I introduced my family to these recipes. That was the end of the red sauce tradition in our house. The same reformation was happening in kitchens and restaurants across the country. This was the era of Julia Child and the great culinary awakening. Restaurants like Ralph's were old school. The wonderful film "Big Night" lyrically illustrates the two worlds: meat balls and spaghetti vs. shrimp risotto. Recently an episode of Lydia featured Philadelphia and a trip to Ralph's. Lydia's enthusiasm for Ralph's traditions sparked a bit of guilt and regret. As an Italian American I had rejected and neglected long held culinary traditions. As a Philadelphian whose great -grandparents settled on 9th in Christian in 1885, I had ignored and concealed my history. I owed Ralph the respect of their kitchen. Ralph's is a rather small space. Tables are close together, perhaps too close. You can hear almost every conversation in the room: some conversations not necessarily appropriate for dining. The room is very dark, but immaculately clean. The wait staff, all men, sharply groomed and attired in black, greets and serves with the utmost friendliness and attention: perfectly traditional Italian. With menu in hand we carefully scanned to find the balance between traditional heavy red sauce and lighter fare. As we scanned the selections we also watched what was coming from the kitchen. No small number of dishes were bowls or narrow plates of red gravy that completely obscured whatever lay beneath. This was not the direction we wanted to go. Lydia highlighted the Chicken Trombino. So, that was our first pick. The reason for her choice became clear when the dishes arrived. The giambotta of egg, sausage and chicken looked promising. Although I knew giambotta as an eggplant and squash dish this version with egg merited investigation. For our third dish we went for the veal with peppers and mushrooms. As a starter we ordered a cup of the" pasta fazool "(pasta e fagioli.) As usual, if you read my other reviews, we would share our lunch. Requesting the waiter to bring extra plates for sharing is never a problem. I suggest it strongly. The minestra, the "pasta fazool," warmed our chilled 9th street shoppers' bones. In many ways, the soup is the indicator of a good restaurant. If the cooks are attentive to a simple soup, you know they will be attentive to the main courses. Ralph's rich and creamy bean soup hit the mark. The main courses arrived in properly measured time. We began with the giambotta. As I mentioned, giambotta as I knew it was something of an eggplant and squash stew. Ralph's version is what I would call a frittata. The portion was large and an easy share for three people. The sausage and chicken enriched each bite. But, there was one element that recalled the old style: green peppers. Green peppers tend to be course and biting. While they were a staple in recipes in my childhood, I no longer use them. They have been replaced by fully ripe red or yellow or orange peppers. We then moved to the veal. For the three of us at the table, this was not an easy dish The veal was heavily coated in red sauce and green peppers. It was just too strong. Nonetheless, I must say that this was exactly how my mother would make it when I was a child, and why, even as a child, I didn't care for it. The veal arrives with a side of spaghetti in red sauce. The spaghetti was cold and the sauce too heavy for my taste. Our last entrÃ©e, the Chicken Trombino, was suggested by Lydia and I can see why. The Chicken Trombino is not a traditional Italian American dish. This recipe is clearly something from a different inspiration. There is no heavy red sauce. The full chicken breasts are served with clean, fresh chunks of tomato and seasonings. The Chicken Trombino , in its light preparation, is what I prefer in Italian cooking. It is very difficult to give a rating to Ralph's. Clearly, Ralph's offers foods with an Italian American history more than 100 years old. What they do, they do well. The restaurant is small but meticulous. The staff is elegant and affable. The service is prompt and the food well prepared in its own style. For many, Ralph's is a rich and hearty experience of old time Italian American food in new world. For me, Ralph's is an excursion to the past. But, is it really a past that I wish to recall?
(3)
Jessica S.

Loved the everything salad- they made it for five people, but will fix it for however many are in your party. Also I am obsessed with the mussels over pasta in the red sauce. Best mussels I've ever had. You can also order carafes of the wine. We had a great meal.
(5)
Steve T.

My first visit wasn't so great. I had posted my experience and the owner responded immediately. In fact, he even sent me a gift certificate to cover another meal there because he stands behind his restaurant and knew this was not typical. So I returned and here is my follow up review..... I have eaten italian food in Italy, as well as the North End in Boston, New York, and of course Philadelphia. Having said that, the food is amazing. I had the Veal Parmigina and we were treated to a side of Spinach Gnocchi and all I can say is Oh My God it's heaven. We even had a special dessert. A canoli with homemade filling and Gelato. The Service was impeccable. From the moment we entered until we were seated. This Restaurant makes you feel like you are family. Prices are in line with most Italian restaurants. Portions are huge but the taste is out of this world. I have read some reviews claiming the food wasn't good. I am 100% convinced that those people are probably used to eating junk like Olive Garden or Italian food at a Jersey Diner. Bottom line. If you are looking for an amazing traditional cozy Italian Restaurant this is your place. Give it a try. I promise you won't be dissapointed.
(5)
Sara A.

How does the oldest Italian restaurant over cook pasta?! I was expecting al dente but got some mush instead. Also my wine glass had someone elses lipstick on it... There are much better Italian restaurants in Philly... Spend your money elsewhere.
(1)
Nick A.

Authentic Italian at a decent price. Average $13-18 per plate. Italian-American staff. Their specialty menu is really good.
(5)
Lauren B.

Best Italian food hands down. If your in Philly you must stop here. Get the red sauce mussels and the cannoli cake.
(5)
Me C.

Great food and atmosphere..
(5)
Gerard M.

Phenomenal. There is no other experience like Ralph's. I had the Spinach Gnocchi and it was amazing. The staff was great and very attentive. I stumbled on the restaurant by chance and it was such a great surprise!
(5)
Oscar D.

Great value, love this place. Great ambiance and decor. Wish they took plastic, but it is cash only. Tables are a little too close together, but hey-- it is the big city and space is at a premium. Waiters are very attentive. Got the linguine pescatore-- it rocked. My only complaint was that $7 is a bit steep for a bottle of Yuengling.
(4)
Whoy G.

Good competent old style Italian food...nothing new or fancy here...only complaint is seating is crowded...it's as if you're eating at the same table as the couple next to you...service is a bit slow...we had to ask for bread...and the bill addition was off by a buck...my wife loves it, so we will be back
(3)
Lisa K.

I will never, ever, in my whole life, understand why people love this restaurant so much. I walk by often and see a lots of NJ plates using the valet service -so It's gotta be the tourists (AND my co-workers that live in the suburbs - they like Ralph's, but you should see what they eat for lunch every day if you know what I mean.) I suspect that the suburban folks are at a disadvantage by only having an Olive Garden to compare "authentic" Italian food to so Ralph's probably seems like some freaky cheese covered upgrade. Anyway, back to Ralph's, sure, it's been there for over a hundred years, the decor is cute on the first floor, reminding one of the "olden days". Sure, the service is cheeky if not just a little snarky, but the food is downright terrible. Okay. it's edible, but not edible in a good way. The last time I was there was for a wedding rehearsal dinner and no one finished their entrees & when asked by the waitress if anyone wanted it wrapped up to take home - it was a unanimous, "No." This was from roughly around, oh, 100 people. That's a bad thing.
(2)
Paul C.

Saw this place on food channel and decided to try out. Their Veal and Mussels were SO GOOD!...down side was they didn't take credit card...CASH only...but they do have ATM inside...lol
(3)
Paul C.

Ralphs is the best! Any of you who don't think so don't know what your talkin about. Now that I live in philly this is where I go when I miss my ma's food. The chicken parm is the best.
(5)
Emily S.

I'd give Ralph's two stars for the food alone, but the atmosphere definitely brings it up to three. As others have noted, it's full of history (it was founded in 1900; the menu claims that Frank Sinatra, Teddy Roosevelt, and many other notables have dined there) and it has a nice old-school Italian American feel. The food arrived with amazing speed. I had the gnocchi with marinara sauce; it was decent, but nothing special. The house Chianti was pretty good; the coffee was ok. It's not a bad spot, but I'd recommend Dante & Luigi's for the same historic and nostalgic value and far superior food.
(3)
Nick B.

I appreciate that a family-owned business can stay this successful for all these years. That said, I'm just not a fan. When I go out for dinner, I'd like to think that I'm getting something special that I couldn't just cook up at home. Unfortunately, most of the dishes at Ralph's feel like they could be accomplished with a bottle of ragu and a trip any one of the butcher shops in the Italian Market. Good food, and nice people, but I doubt I'll be back any time soon.
(3)
Dawn M.

A friend and I were in town for the Rock 'n Roll Philadelphia Half Marathon, and asked friends for good "carb load" places. Since we were in Center City, we tried almost a week out to get reservations at Maggiano's, but no dice. Thanks to Open Table, I got a reservations to Ralphs's on a Wednesay for a Saturday. On a nice day, this is a fine walk from Center City. For those who are looking for a fancy atmosphere, this probably isn't the place for you. I loved the homey "vibe" or Ralph's, and saw regulars walk in and get hugs and kisses from the waiters. We did get shoved in a corner and didn't receive the best service, but the food was really great. I got the gnocci special, which was HUGE and divine. Make sure you always ask for the price...I wasn't aware that spinach gnocci with 4 shrimps would turn out to be $28. Yikes! I would definitely recommend this place to people who love an authentic Italian experience without all of the bells and whistles of a chain restaurant. Do be sure to make reservations. The maitre'd turned down countless walk-ins.
(3)
Michael S.

My buddy and I took our girlfriends over to Ralph's for a nice dinner and all of us enjoyed it. It was a good meal and I would I back again, but it isn't the best meal I've ever had. The bread was chewy and hard to break apart, but the appetizers and our meals were delicious. Good, fairly priced Italian food.
(3)
Ti L.

Lunch at Ralph's is perfect. The meatball parm sandwich and peppers will keep me coming back. The prices are decent. It's not as crowded. Great place to stop on your way to the Italian Market. It would probably get 4 stars if it weren't for that other meal they serve there... dinner. It's amazing that in the span of a few hours the number of people doubles (or triples) in the same cramped space, the prices double (or triples) for the same amount of food, as does the waiting time. Granted it has a lot of history in the area and it's a great place to check out, but do it during the day and save your romantic and friend-date evenings for one of the other Italian places in the area. CASH ONLY!
(3)
Hal L.

When I go to an Italian restaurant, I'm looking for one thing: a great bolognese. When i go to Ralph's, I'm not getting the best bolognese I've ever had, but the authentic South Philly dining experience makes it more than OK. Their food comes in generous portions and the waiters know what they're talking about - if you haven't been, you need to go at least once. I don't eat seafood and I was still tempted by the pescatore.
(4)
Maggie G.

Food was alright. I had the Shrimp and Ravioli special. It was not flavorful, but the raviolis were perfect and homeade. Additionally the shrimp were high quality gulf coast shrimp, but only three! My fiance had the Chicken Cacciatore. It was very good, if a little dry. The reason I am not giving Ralph's a higher rating is that it promotes itself as fully authentic and yet makes its Tiramisu with CREAM CHEESE!!! not MARSCAPONE. They have also replaced rum and marsala soaked ladyfingers with Kahluah soaked lady fingers. It was the grossest Tiramisu ever. Very disappointing..
(2)
Chris D.

I like eating here mostly for the decor. It doesn't look like they changed anything in the dining room since the turn of the last century. The Italian food is very good but I agree that it is not outstanding. The food and service reminds me of really good homemade Italian food served in an informal setting. The tables are really close together; so don't go there if you want privacy. They are cash only.
(3)
John C.

Alright... I'm Asian but grew up eating Italian food 90% of the time growing up in NYC. Then I ended up in LA. There's no such thing as "Italian" food around here (cept for Valentino's... but that's a different grade of food altogether). I ended up working in Philly for a while... and let's say Ralphs is a Godseng. Mama mia! Like the old neighborhood Italian joints, there are all the usual favorites. It's cash only so don't bring your black Amex card thinking you're going to impress someone with it. Not gonna work. It's not a "see and be seen" kinda place. It's a place to go eat. Plain and simple. Oh, Ralphs... how I miss thou!!
(4)
Michele S.

I loved this place because I love old history assoicated with restaurants. I loved the food the service and the whole feeling of being at one of my Italian families home. My cousin's wedding was that weekend and we all make the trek from South Broad Street to Ralph's for our first Philly dinner. We had 14 of us and we ate, talked, and got to see family for a quiet dinner. Chicken Sorrento was outstanding, everyone elses dishes looked amazing and the salad was simple and easy. No need for fancy over priced places to go to. This was great and so much fun I would go back next time I am in Philly.
(5)
Jane F.

Bee-bopping around town, I've been wanting to try Ralph's. So we went in around 6 on a Thurs. night. Small place, close tables, decorated from about 1975, but looked very clean. Service pretty good. My partner ordered the special of the night Chicken Piccata ($20) and was a 6 out of 10. OK, but nothing special. We were in the mood for garlic and got our fix with the excellent broccoli AND broccoli rabe sides (10 out of 10) I got the mussels and spag. which I would rate a 7 out of 10. The mussels were tender, but a little bit on the fishy side, and there were a LOT of them - yikes! I would have rather had a smaller amt. of them but fresher. Spag. was fresh and cooked well and had juicy garlicky broth. Rolls were outstanding which you always expect in South Philly. We didn't drink cocktails, but did have fresh brewed iced tea which was about as good as iced tea gets. We weren't offered a refill though which was a little disappointing. But they had given us water so we were OK. I think Ralph's is resting on their laurels. Consistently OK food in a cool South Philly location.
(3)
Natasha G.

Good homestyle food without being pretentious. It's in "northern" South Philly easy to get to and you can even walk it on a nice day from Center City. Ralph's was the first Italian restaurant I was suggested when I first came to Philly. Good food, great atmosphere. Very causal. It feels like you are in someone's house. It is noisy, but you don't really notice it. Do definitely get the salad. The light vinaigrette is great and a sure crowd pleaser. Stick to the basic Italian dishes: Chicken Parm is great! Never had a problem getting a reservations and it's always crowded. You can't go wrong with it. That being said if you are looking for fancy Italian, you will be disappointed. Instead, go to Vetri.
(4)
Joelle F.

So, I stumbled upon Ralph's while exploring the Italian Market this weekend in Philly. The reviews on Yelp weren't bad, but not great either. But there was something appealing about eating at a place that has been around for as long as it has (it's the second oldest Italian restaurant in the country, and the oldest continually run by the same family). My friend and I decided to give it a whirl. We were seated in the corner and chose to split the Bruschetta appetizer. She ordered the ravioli and I ordered the fettucini with tomato sauce (both from the "homemade selections" portion of the menu). The waiter actually brought us a comped roasted pepper and mozzarella salad because he felt we had to wait to long for him to take our order (he was manning the take out calls). This was a great gesture and a reflection of the type of service we'd receive for the rest of the evening. The salad was divine. I usually add salt or pepper to a salad like this, but it was seasoned to perfection, with just the right amount of olive oil and garlic, and the cheese was so fresh! The Bruschetta was also delicious - perfect texture/toast on the bread, with fresh tomatoes really brightening the dish. My fettucini was good, too. The sauce was a bit plain but it really allowed the freshness of the pasta to shine through. And it tasted homemade, which was just the touch of comfort I needed today. I was disappointed to find out that the only homemade pastas they serve are the lasagna and linguini, but they do buy the pasta fresh from the market down the street. The waiter insisted I take my leftovers home and even gave us extra bread. The food was authentic and the staff was great. I don't know that I'd say it's my favorite Italian meal, but I'll definitely go back.
(3)
Pat A.

Valet service - clutch for those driving through South Philly. Food - was GREAT ( I got the veal with spinach, white sauce, provolone, and mushrooms), waiter service was very quick. We received out entrees about 10 - 15 minutes after our appetizers (an interesting calamari dish that wasn't fried) Environment - front room downstairs can get cramped. I switched to using my fork with my left hand to avoid bumping arms with my brother next to me. Feels like a genuine South Philly Italian joint. Pretty crazy to think that everyone that works there is somehow related and has been in the family for 100 + years. Highly recommended for food, service, and authenticity.
(4)
Teague O.

Love this place. I can't claim to know their entire menu but all I know is this: The Chicken Sorrento and the Veal Parmesan are fucking amazing! The portions are feast worthy and you'll feel like a fat ass swiping the last bit of sauce with the soft bread. It's a small, quiet, dimly lit restaurant. The perfect place to spot a mafioso slurping down a string of spaghetti with his broad on the other end.
(5)
Jeremy J.

Luckily, and unexpectedly, Ralph's has valet parking available for the evening. We pull up and race to the entrance, just as the rain seems to be getting heavier. A small outdoor "foyer" guards the front door, New York style, which leads into a small, cozy dining room thronged with seated diners. Old-time photographs line the walls, proving that celebrities ranging from Teddy Roosevelt to Frank Sinatra have visited (and evidently loved) Ralph's. Faded patterned wallpaper looks like it belongs in your grandparents' Victorian mansion. Ornate ceiling tiles gleam overhead. The place oozes traditional, old-school vibes, and I fully expect to see men in pinstripe suits with one hand tucked in the breast pocket at all times. MB chats with the host, who seats us promptly at a four-top near the entrance. The occasional blast of cold nighttime air hits us when other patrons enter (it is a virtual downpour now) but it gets warmer as the night wears on. Our server is friendly, gruff, and full of good humor. He takes our drink order (Yuengling for me), then rattles off the specials for the evening with lightning-round precision. Everyone opts to start with some kind of appetizer, but I'm still reeling from our stint at Mac's. I need a reprieve from meat (if only momentary). The "spring salad" sounds good, so I go with that: spicy arugula; sliced rings of red onion (which I shuffle off to the side); quartered, juicy Roma tomatoes; chunks of tangy gorgonzola; tart balsamic dressing. All that freshness does wonders, clearing my taste buds for more traditional Italian fare. I'm ready for pasta now, and I'm a sucker for good gnocchi. This place looks like there may be a little old lady somewhere in back--grandma, let's say--hand crafting each seashell-like piece. Seems like a safe bet. I'm back on the carnivore train again, so I get the tomato meat sauce. The bowl arrives nearly overflowing with bright red sauce covering the pale gnocchi. There are green bits of herb in there, but not overwhelming. I try a nibble. Good, but not great. The gnocchi wavers from being slightly undercooked to perfectly cooked (it may have finished cooking under the sauce, so that's forgivable). It's a solid, if plain, dish with no real diversion from textbook Italian cuisine. A standby, if you will. It is satisfying, though. I do my best to eat most of it before setting aside my fork. The house chianti washes it down nicely. Again, no bells and whistles with the wine either. While the rest of the table decides to end with coffee and cannoli, I'm good with just some espresso to fill in the cracks. (That's a good thing; no one else seems that impressed with the cannoli.) In the end, a one-time visit to Ralph's seems sufficient to get the gist. Solid food with little flair, adhering to time-honored recipes. The rain has stopped finally, and we're able to depart without getting soaked. Time to sleep...but not with the fishes. Don't take my word for it. See what my better half has to say on our site (linked in my profile).
(3)
Margaret F.

I've gone to this place a few times in small groups, and the food is only so-so. The atmosphere, to be fair, is very authentic and entertaining. LOVE that aspect of Ralph's. Because I liked said atmosphere, I attempted once to arrange a work-related outing for a large group at the restaurant. Their staff led me on for almost a month, assuring me that they would come up with a menu at an acceptable price range. When I called to follow through (several times, trying at different hours of the day), they were rude because they were busy. I finally got a frantic, rushed person on the phone to say that they couldn't accommodate us, which was pretty ridiculous because a) I'd eaten - and drank - there several times before well under our price cap and b) we'd already been in dialogue for weeks. Very unprofessional, both with regard to the phone behavior and the party planning. Hell hath no fury ... but come with a small group, and you'll be fine. Not thrilled with the food, but satisfied, and in a fun atmosphere.
(2)
Erin F.

I always go out for Italian food on my birthday. It's my favorite. My parents usually take me to my restaurant of choice back in Detroit and I go bananas. This year, however, was my first birthday actually spent in Philly as a resident of Philly, meaning Mike was on birthday duty. I couldn't really decide where to go, but a love for Ralph's runs through his family, as it came highly recommended by his parents and was also a destination on his brother's bachelor party tour of Philadelphia (I see you, brother), so I wanted to see what the dilly was. Plus I really wanted eggplant parmesan. We rolled up and were sat without a reservation relatively quickly. The guys working all had on Phillies t-shirts, which was cute. We started with the complimentary crusty bread and a simple tossed salad. Shortly thereafter, our spaghetti came. We took a few bites from our respective bowls and Mike says to me, he says "Is there meat in this sauce? Yeah, there is." I entered a brief state of panic, but then I asked the server about it and he used CONTEXT CLUES gave me the vegetarian sauce to accompany my vegetarian entree and Mike the meat sauce to accompany his meaty entree. How thoughtful. He was a really nice guy, on top of it. Quick, but not short. You can tell they care about service. The food was delicious and eeeexactly what I wanted. Everything was excellent, down to the diet soda. The eggplant parm consisted of a pool of sauce and a shitload of cheese and breaded eggplant medallions (which I prefer to the usual eggplant slabs that end up soggy and worthless). Mike enjoyed his veal parm so much he couldn't really talk much, either. It was a perfect birthday dinner. Delicious food, great service, and reasonably priced. Five stars.
(5)
Susan L.

Great atmosphere. I walked in without reservations on a Saturday night, and the host "rings/ buzzes" upstairs to the upstairs host. He tries to get him -or anyone- on 8 different channels, in the process using the most stereotypically mobster names you can think of. It was great. He tells us to go upstairs and ask for Gino/Mario/whomever. We do and we ask for him, he then calls BACK downstairs to make sure we're approved. It was great, but I don't remember the food. I will be back though, just because the atmosphere was so out of this century.
(4)
Matt U.

Make a reservation and get to Ralphs ASAP. The food was great. It can get a bit loud but what do you expect when you get a bunch of Italians in a room the width of a South Philly rowhome.
(5)
Barb ..

Judge the authenticity of an Italian restaurant not by its checkered table cloths, but by the taste of its meatballs and gravy.........that is, if they have a taste.
(2)
veronika p.

I don't get the big to-do about Ralph's. I went there expecting the most freaking delicious pasta I've ever had in my life and it tasted like dare I say, Olive Garden? (Okay, I know that's not fair, but I'm trying to emphasize how bland and flavorless the food was - get my drift?) It took FOREVER to get our food, but other than that, the service was pretty good. I thought the prices were a little expensive too, at least for some of the dishes. It seems like Ralph's has gotten lazy because of their notoriety and history in Philadelphia.
(2)
SaraJane H.

I am furious that I had to eat here and absolutely embarrassed that others came with me. The first thing that was wrong with this is that I went with a group of thirty people and we had a fixed menu. We had a drink, a salad, our main dish (a choice out of 4 dishes, 2 of which rated by our party as inedible), and an ice cream. Firstly, before we even saw our meal it was bad, because of the price. For our meal 'package' we had to pay 40 dollars! Before setting foot in the restaurant our party was very critical because of the price. Then we began our meal. It was started off with water in entirely too small glasses, and bread that was cold and felt as if it were in the refrigerator. Then we received our salad. It contained almost an entire onion, cauliflower, beets, carrots, radishes, and was slathered in vinaigrette and pepper to a point where everything was soggy. No one was able to finish the salad and when you turned it to the side a pool of dressing collected. We then received our entrees. The chicken parmesan was two large slabs of chicken doused in butter and parmesan (finished by none of the 14 people that ordered it). This chicken parm was served with spaghetti and marinara sauce, well cold tomato puree more like it. The vegetarian meal was basically pasta suffocated by an excessive amount of tomato sauce with some vegetables hidden within it. After much pushing of food around plates, we were all excited that we would finally be able to eat something that we wanted at dessert. Instead of being able to choose what we wanted out of the variety of delicious-looking treats they had, we were only given the 'option' of an ice cream of sorts, which was frozen to the point were diners had to hack at it with a spoon to even be able to taste it. The effort was not worth the result because the ice cream not only had numerous flavors of in layers with flavors that shouldn't be mixed together were, but they also didn't taste great on their own. Since we all payed so much and most did not eat any of the meal, we asked to have it wrapped up so we could give these meals to a homeless person that would eat it so they wouldn't starve. When we offered the meal to one starving man, he refused it and picked through a garbage can for his dinner instead. The only redeeming thing about the meal was the cheerful and kind staff who attempted to make amends for the awful food. Long story short, I would not suggest this restaurant to anyone and especially not groups
(1)
Freddy P.

Honestly, I don't know why anyone would go here unless you want to bring a tourist here. The food is sterotypical Italian-pasta, chicken, vela blah blah. Nothing inspiring. just straight forward food. the Pastini with greens soup was bland. Linguine Pescatore in white sauce was good. Service sucked. Attitude not from our waiter but you could hear it from the others. Extremely small and cramped. Sure, it's been around for 100 years, but I've had better. I won't be going back. Oh, cash only, but they have an ATM there for your convenience! Whatever.
(1)
Dave K.

Went on Friday night around 8 PM....place was packed. Went upstairs for a beer and was called about 20 min later with a table for 2 downstairs. The place is cramped. Not exactly an intimate date spot, but when you're dining a few feet away from Mr Greg Gumbel himself, who cares? Went safe with the Lasagna and Chicken Parm and was happy overall with the selection. Large portions, decent taste. The sauce wasn't anything special. It's an average restaurant with good service but really what you come here for is the nostalgia and to say, "I've eaten at the oldest Italian restaurant in the country."
(3)
Giatta g.

I LOVE RALPHS.. My now Ex Husband "Lenny" used to bring me here all the time.. The food is scrumptious.. The mussels red or white are to die for.Food is always fresh and prepared to order. The Owners 'Jimmy and Eddie", super nice, very accomodating and made me feel like family... Ronnie too!! I always left here in a food coma... Highly reccommend this wonderful Restuarant.. Gets very busy especially on weekends....Always a great dining experience!!
(5)
bill c.

We went on a Thursday night and Ralph's had a good crowd at 6 and a waiting line by the time we left after 7! Very good food served here at America's oldest Italian restaurant.
(4)
Bill D.

Always an excellent meal. Efficient and friendly service. The veal mozzarella is outstanding! The people who complain about the menu here jst don't get it. They are intending to be old school.. thats the whole point...
(5)
Carol J.

This is my favorite Italian restaurant in Philly - the best meatballs ever - light as air and always tasty. Freshly made pasta and sauce/gravy are always great- and consistently so - I've been going to Ralph's since I came to Philly 25 years ago. You cannot get a bad meal here - truly. Everything is good - and the waitstaff are a hoot!
(5)
Chris T.

The "Cash Only" on the Yelp page and customer comment that its cash only are wrong. I was there an hour ago and used my Mastercard. Our waiter was Al and he was very attentive and friendly. Great job. I made a reservation on Open Table and they had it when i got there. I had the roasted peppers and mozzarella salad and it was great. Entree was chicken parm. Instead of smothering it in bread and cheese like most restaurants, it had a thin layer of breading and a thin layer of cheese. They let the veal stand on its own and enhance it instead of overwhelming it. Very, very nice. My kid had meatballs and loved them. Tender (with a lot of veal i believe). Tiny place, unsurpassable hstory, good food, good service. Go.
(4)
Ken L.

It is what it is, Authentic South Philly pasta and gravy joint. Very good Veal sometimes and Escarole Soup and greens rock. The meatballs are Really good but I like Villa di Roma better. Sarcones bread served here also the lunchtime menu they make a great Hoagie and they serve dinner all day Sat. and waiters are characters from another time but hard working and funny and helpful. Valet on Sat night finally is great. Don't forget Cash Only!
(3)
Craig N.

I really enjoy Ralph's food. The atmosphere, table size and service are okay, nothing great. You get what ya pay for though, right? I usually get an antipasta app, then some sort of veal dish Sausage and peppers is great! You have to get the ESCAROLE here, it is the best that I have ever had, no lie.... I could eat like 3 sides of it. And yes, it's cash only. So what? People act like such pansies over this and it really irritates me. Use the ATM machine or come prepared. If ya don't like it, then go elsewhere.
(4)
Munchie W.

I love Ralphs, I have never had a bad experience here... Very old fashion and to the point! Sarcones bread plus homemade pasta equals heaven! The only thing I don't like is no carry outs... You have to show up in person and order.
(4)
s b.

we threw away the whole meal - no flavor, all sauces were just colored water. gross.
(1)
Leah E.

Went here with my boyfriend and we loved it! Old school feeling, with 3 floors!! We have been here twice, and each time was great! The food was amazing, I got the veal since it had been recommended to me, as well as the clams casino, mussles, pasta with oil and garlic, and the home-made garlic bread. Staff was nice and helpful! ...Went here again recently while in the area and had this new dish of gnocchi with gorgonzola sauce in it, and it was delicious!!!!! My new favorite dish as this place. MUST EAT!!!
(5)
Enay V.

Went here for the first time in years and was expecting a really good meal. Well, not so much. The bread was stale, the service was shoddy, and the dinners were alright. the only thing that saved this place was the gravy and the other servers that we managed to flag down because we didn't know where our server was. What happened, Ralph's?!!! You used to be so good!
(3)
Jared H.

I was extremely disappointed after seeing such good reviews. The bread they give you when you sit is hard and not even warm. Restaurant 101 is you serve the bread warm! We shared a caesar salad to start and it was boring. Dressing wasn't good and the croutons were stale. For the main course I had Veal Marsala and my friend had Eggplant Parm. The Veal Marsala was awful. There was no taste of marsala, it had no flavor. The mushrooms were soggy. The Eggplant Parm has no taste, I could've made a better Eggpland parm at home. There was no seasoning on anything. We couldn't wait for the meal to be finished. On my way out I went to the bathroom and it is so small, it only has a toilet! No Sink! AWFUL sanitary conditions. I will never return to this place.
(1)
Jenny V.

My friend and I were the only two stopping in a bit after Ralph's opened for lunch on a Monday. This would have alarmed me if Ralph's didn't have such a good reputation and if we weren't greeted so warmly upon entering. Not to worry, there were plenty of other diners by the time our bread basket arrived. My friend and I shared the Mediterranean salad (several jumbo shrimp, crab meat and greens with a light vinaigrette) and a pork sandwich with provolone. This sandwich has supplanted Dinic's as my new favorite and the salad was perfect for summer. Cash only but there is an ATM in the back.
(4)
Rob S.

Oh old Ralphie boy! I dined at this famous Italian restaurant last night for the last time. With all of the great reviews and cult following that this restaurant has I decided to give this restaurant more than a few chances. Last night just did it for me. I sat down and immediately was served with old, stale bread. We then ordered the mussels and roasted peppers with Mozzarella - while the white sauce the mussels came in was delicious, the mussels were small and about half of them were still closed (which means they are bad and in edible). The roasted peppers were good, but they went really skimpy on the mozzarella. It took about 1/2 hour before we got our entrees. The chicken parm had to be the worst I've ever had. The chicken was pounded so thin that the breading was thicker than the chicken. The chicken was paper thin and extremely dry. My mother got the lobster ravioli which were good, but the scallops that came with it were rubbery and way over cooked. I have to say the lasagna I got was delicious, but unfortunately I've experienced way too many bad dishes at this place to make me never go back. I only give it two stars because the experience is pretty cool. Cool neighborhood and the old south Philly feel the restaurant has is like no other. Sorry Ralph.
(2)
Stephy S.

Fun Italian restaurant (very authentic looking, family owned). Went for a birthday party here, sat upstairs, very spacious (compared to downstairs). Basic Italian menu. Food was decent (I got the alfredo) but not memorable.
(3)
Steve P.

So-so food, but the waiters do know their stuff. Seems to living off past glory.
(3)
Brian D.

We tried this place out because we had a Groupon. The food was very good, and the prices would have been reasonable even without the Groupon. When we got there around 7:00, the place was pretty empty, but by the time we left, it was packed in there. Overall, it was a good experience, and I would definitely return. Only complaints are that it's cash only, and because it got so crowded at the end of dinner, it took us over half an hour to get the check and get out of there. Also, we got a bottle of white wine, and I was a little surprised they didn't use an ice bath... just kind of left the bottle on the table (it was, however, already cold so not really an issue).
(4)
Froilan S.

I was in Philly with co-workers on business and one of the guys had suggested Ralph's. He'd been there some time ago and said it had good reviews. I ordered the spaghetti w/tomato sauce...I usually get that when I go to an Italian restaurant I have never eaten at before...if the most basic dish is great then I'm sold. Well...my dish was decent, not as great as I was hoping for based on the restaurant being in existing for a 100 years. Also, their bread was a little stale for my taste...took some effort to tear a piece from the loaf even though it was sliced. Our waiter made it the crappiest experience. He acted like our group was a bother to him. He was always too busy saying hi to his friends that walked in. I ordered basil with my dish from the get-go, never got it even after the THIRD time I asked for it, so I stopped asking. My coworker had to give his water glass back because it had maroon lipstick prints on it....we didn't have a female with us....totally DISGUSTING!!! Made me wonder if I should've used a straw that night? One of my other coworkers said something in Italian (which I'd care not to repeat) about our waiter after he took our order...that's how bad he was. Thereafter, he hardly came around after he plopped our orders down. If there ever was an example of a knucklehead he was it...faccia di culo. One other thing...what restaurant doesn't take credit cards? And the fact that there is an ATM so conveniently located upstairs...SERIOUSLY? :o(
(1)
Nick C.

So what is better than cannoli's? Cannoli Cake! Ralph's has been a favorite of mine since 2003. My wife and I always try to invent reasons to take the trip from Bucks County to South Philly. Ralph's is consistently the best Italian food restaurant that I have ever been to. Their food is that good that both my wife and I always order the same items. Veal parm with a side a spaghetti for me and shrimp scampi for my wife with 2 pieces of cannoli cake for desert. The veal parm is not only delicious but also comes in a generous portion. Ralph's make the veal dish seem easy as it is a nice piece of veal (never, never had any fat in the 7-10 times that I have been there) that is pounded out thin and coated with breading. The portion covers the oval plate and is enveloped by a thin red sauce. The veal melts in your mouth and is complimented by cheese and their sauce. The sauce is not too strong or too thick and seems to work well with the flavor of he veal. The side dish of pasta is always filling. My wife and I refuse to order salads or appetizers as we look forward to the cannoli cake. The cake comes out chilled and is yellow cake with the icing made of cannoli filling. There is even a mini cannoli on top! This is the most delicious cake that my wife and I have ever eaten. We have even found out where Ralph's orders the cakes from! This is a must order for any diner at Ralph's. The ambiance of Ralph's is "old world" Italian and I feel like Skinny Joey Merlino or Nicky Scarfo could walk in at any time. The rooms are narrow and the first floor can get loud. The waiters work efficiently and are not overly warm, but somehow it works in this environment. Ralph's lets their food impress their patrons instead of fancy furnishings or overbearing staff. Credit Cards are not accepted, but there is an ATM on the first floor. Reservations are only accepted for parties of 5 or more and during peak times a wait is to be expected. I thoroughly endorse Ralph's for classic Italian food that will satisfy everyone's taste buds.
(5)
Karila S.

I have actually been here a few times, but since I haven't visited this place in about 3 years, I am going to be basing my review on my most recent experience: yesterday's. So I'm with my big group, a party of 7 to be exact, and we are seated at the first table we laid eyes upon, crammed in the corner. Pretty awkward start. But that's ok, we still have another hour or two to go, right? Well, success never fully came through. I found myself extremely intimidated by our waiter (I don't know why, but he just came on very strong and a little unfriendly for no particular reason). Really, the service that night was very disappointing. Sure they brought us our salads first, but they came across as uptight and silentlhy intense throughout the service. No servers voluntarily came across to our table to let us know how the food was cooking or how long it would take. We were desperate to pursue anyone to get our check. The great redeeming factor of this restaurant is their entrees. The pasta is cooked to perfection as is the sausage. Vegetables are cooked wonderfully in the perfect amount of garlic, and the marinara sauce is exceptional. I had ordered the chicken marinara (I ordered the 1/2 chicken, which I don't recommend only because a lot of labor goes in to trying to cut all the meat around the bone. I would spend the two extra dollars and order the boneless breast). The bread just tasted like any regular bread you would get at any other restaurant. By the time we were on our second basket we were all getting sick of that bread, and we were just wanting the great food that we all know Ralph's can deliver. I have definitely had better experiences at this place, but service was less than exceptional. I know that Philadelphia is infested with little Italian restaurants, and I may recommend this one...with slight caution.
(3)
Jon L.

Four stars for history. See, in a sense it doesn't matter what the food tastes like, as long as you believe it's earth-shatteringly good. And a great crowd can make you believe such things. My father is not Italian; actually his grandparents were Jewish immigrants from Russia and Romania. But apparently the Jews and the Italians used to hang out a lot in Northeast Philly in the 1950s. My dad's best childhood friend lived in a very, very Italian home, and, after many nights of dining there, my father seems to think of himself as an expert on the Italian-American culinary scene in Philly. "There's nothing like Ralph's," he'll tell you. I mean, shit, I could buy him the finest plate of spaghetti money can buy at some fancy shmancy joint, but my father, inevitably, would tell me that it paled in comparison to his old standby. Ralph's is cool, no question. On weekends, it is absolutely packed to capacity, and my father likes to tell me that a lot of the clientele are actual South Philly mobsters. (Are there really South Philly mobsters? According to a special with Geraldo Rivera, the answer is yes; and apparently one of them tried to knock him off.) And so, with all of this history and mythology surrounding the place, it's hard not to romanticize you meatballs or your seafood pasta. The other reviews are right: Ralph's serves up pretty standard stuff. But then, that's what we like here in Philly; we're traditionalists. People always scoff when someone tries to fancify the great Philly cheese-steak (if I'm not mistaken, Steven Starr offers a variation on the theme made with Kobe beef, which apparently runs in the vicinity of $100). And likewise, people are always happy to have a great plate of pasta at a simple place they've been coming to all their lives.
(4)
Matt S.

Let me preface this by saying I don't really like italian food. I went here thinking I would give it a shot since it looked like one of those legit old-time/maybe authentic/historic places. The place was crowded which I usually don't mind and the service was great but the prices were ridiculous for the portions. I won't comment on the quality of the food since I don't like Italian food to begin with but it tasted OK i guess.
(2)
Seth G.

Granted this may be a case of seeing nostalgia through rose colored lenses, but Ralph's had the greatest gnocci dishes. I cannot make comment on any of the other items save for the linguine pescatore, which was also excellent. Whenever I get back into town to visit family, I make it a point to eat at least once at Ralph's. It should be noted that It has been over a year since I have been back. I am hoping the food hasn't deteriorated as much as what some of these other recent comments may indicate.
(5)
Catalina D.

Small, quaint, busy. Definitely one of those small family joints you think of when you picture Little Italy. Anyhow, the marsala was delish. The service I had was great. Would go again to sample more fare.
(3)
Alexandra M.

There was this one fabulous summer where the young Alexandra first got her kicks in the world of food writing. I had a pound of cash and no qualms about gettin chunky or so it seemed. I was 19, planning to move to Philadelphia and as ignorant as could be about its restaurant scene. Zagat recommended Ralph's as one of the prime spots for good Italian eating, so there I went. Once there, my friend and I went and ordered some of our Italian favorites: I got the Linguine Pescatore and she got Eggplant Parmesan. After a few bites in it seemed something was missing. Yes the joint was definitely Italian in appearance, with red checkered table clothes and waiters with accents, but what I was eating didn't taste like the good old Italian comfort food I usually relied on. The problem was that it didn't really taste like anything. It was hearty, heavy, but altogether bland. While this happens from time to time at restaurants, it means a lot that at this ripe stage in my career, when my palate was far less critical than it would become in later years, that I could leave one of Philadelphia's 'oldest restaurants' so disappointed. This was the same for my friend's dish. The plate was so large and full of food that it felt like it weighed five pounds, but did that greasy eggplant bathed in fried batter give one the impression she was eating anything better than...well grease and fried coating? Nope. Since this was years ago, I do not know if Ralph's has improved their food. From what I've read of recent reviews, however, the problem seems to be that the restaurant, in being Philly's 'oldest', has kept itself in business due to tourism, and it hasn't gotten any better. I mean hey I guess Ralph's seems great if you're used to going to Olive Garden right? Unfortunately even the dimmest understanding of good food will probably have you wondering why you spent so much on something that seemed it had been dosed with nothing better than Prego...but I guess some people are really that behind when it comes to learning about where to eat in Philadelphia or what Italian food is supposed to taste like in general.
(2)
To M.

I've wanted to go to Ralph's for years, so when I finally had a chance to go, I had high hopes for authentic Italian food. While the ambience is wonderful, our food was not. The meats were tough, and tasted as though they had freezer burn. And I was disturbed to see that the few African-American couples in the restaurant were seated upstairs in the back instead of downstairs in the main room. I won't be back.
(1)
Michelle B.

Total crowd pleaser of a restaurant. The food is tasty, but not too exotic, the prices are more than reasonable, and the ambiance is comfortable enough to be laid back, but nice enough to feel like you are dining out. The mussels in red sauce got rave reviews, the bread basket was delicious, and the shrimp were amazing. Plus, you get the added bonus of a little history lesson printed on your place mat outlining the family who has owned this restaurant for over 100 years. Just warms the heart.
(5)
Sarina K.

This place was just OK to me. It came highly recommended and had a lot of history, so I wanted to try it out. The atmosphere was definitely its best quality. Very "homey" and Italian. I had no complaints about the service or even the food but it wasn't nearly all that I'd heard it made out to be. I ordered the spaghetti with tomato and mushroom sauce and it was fine - but I've had better. I wouldn't coming rushing back here anytime soon but it also wasn't a bad dining experience.
(2)
Andee F.

I have got to say I have been coming to this fine establishment for about 56 years now(they call my Dad Big Stan).I LOVE this place...it's my first stop from the airport as I am an ex Philly girl now.My faves are the sauteed greens,the clam spaghetti white (I jones for it) and the mussels in red sauce.Just the best!! Oh and the staff...LOVE THEM!
(5)
Phil J.

I still have fond memories of coming to this place as a kid...I still remember the sauce. Its been a while but I enjoyed every time I was there.
(5)
Dave R.

can't believe some of the reviews on here... made me sign up just to give Ralph's a little love... best veal parmagiana I've had anywhere in the world, hands down. If you're looking for linen napkins, don't go to Ralph's. If you are looking for authentic South Philly culture, and a mono y mono culinary experience with veal parmagiana, there is no better place.
(5)
Yvonne Y.

This is the oldest Italian restaurant in Philadelphia. The restaurant has been family owned and passed down from generation to generation. The poles that people use to wrap their horses around are still outside. The food is so yummy. It's basic no frills Italian food that is completely satisfying. The lasana, spaghetti, fettucine- it's all Italian heavan. The prices are very reasonable. Most between $8-$15. $17 for a special. We spoke to one of the managing family members and just for the sheer graciousness of this fellow makes you understand why this family has been able to stay in business for so long. If you make it out to Philly- you have to make it out there. If you live there already, you probably already have been there. If you haven't...shame on you.
(5)
Lee J.

I know this is a philly classic, but this place is uninspiring. Bland very generic Italian food. Also staff is quite terse....
(2)
Bella Vista R.

The place is what it is. Solid Italian food, in a tight cramped South Philly establishment. You will always get a good meal, but not great. Go with Veal or pasta. Crowded after sporting events and make sure to bring cash
(3)
Tyler T.

I've lived in the Philadelphia area for about 15 years and I'm sad to say that I only learned of Ralphs about a year ago. To me, Ralphs is the embodiment of Philadelphia. The food is about as traditional Italian as you can get. It's the oldest Italian Restuarant in America that is still operating. The food is great and the service is exactly what you would expect from an old school Italian joint. If you are hosting guests from out of town and you want to show them what Philadelphia is all about...take them to Ralphs. They will leave very full and completely satisfied. Truly one of Philadelphia's most prized venues.
(4)
Steph K.

My friends and I went here a couple of weeks ago. I got the lasagna and didn't think it was good at all. For a highly recommended Italian restaurant I was expecting a lot better food. Also they don't even bake there own bread. It was just a hoagie roll cut up not even warmed. I wouldn't go back. Also there was a football game going on that night when we were there and a bunch of people who worked there sat at a table in the back watching the game on a ipad which I thought was weird and unprofessional. If you really want to watch the game but a flat screen tv in the restaurant.
(2)
John G.

Excellent, old Italian restaurant in Philly. This is a must if looking for authentic, home cooked Italian food served hot and fresh. Just like Nonna used to make. I had the bean soup, gnocchi, meatballs and chocolate layer cake. All were fabulous.
(4)
Louis F.

Fantastic. I have never been to a restaurant before that was formal enough to take reservations but informal enough that the wait staff was wearing Eagles jerseys. This restaurant is one of those places where literally nothing on the menu looks bad--that combined with the old interior was, as a tourist, a novel experience. I think even if I lived in Philadelphia I'd still want to come back week after week.
(5)
Anna Marie C.

its really hard to mess up italian food. really. but to make it really good? well, it's really not ralph's. i'm not so sure why people love it. the food was forgettable. the restaurant is kinda cramped. the neon signs just make it laughable. there is so much better italian food in this fine city of philadelphia... go elsewhere.
(2)
Meredith B.

Great mussels from an awesome crew (get chatty with them!) I don't remember much else from the meal to make it memorable.
(3)
Emily V.

Take this restaurant at face value--mom n' pop homemade cookin'. It's very scrumptious pasta and sauce dishes--choose your combinations! Be prepared as the ambiance is very 1972 and the bathrooms are 1960'esque. My boyfriend enjoyed the chicken Parmesan which was a massive proportion. I would definitely recommend their homemade marinara sauce. I will say I didn't care for their bread, but my boyfriend said he loved it. It's the oldest family Italian restaurant in the country. Give it a try!
(4)
Lac B.

Great Italian restaurant, authentic and the waiters were on point with everything. I love this place.... Good portion size of the food and the price was great... Will come again and recommend to all...Thanks for the home feeling.. That the best when u get that feeling of home
(5)
Angela A.

Went for anniversary dinner at my husband's choosing. I knew I was in for a bad experience when calling to make a reservation was a chore. No one that works here is personable in any way. Discussions about personal medical issues were shared in the open. There was often np one to greet incoming customers and there was only one young lady that greeted anyone with enthusiasm. There was no explanation of the food at all. Sorry to all my South Philly compadres, but the Sarcone's bread was terrible. I think it would have been lovely had it been warmed. I would have preferred it to be served with Olive oil rather than butter. We ordered the greens and pastina soup which i put cheese on it so the extreme saltiness could be attributed to that, but I love salty stuff and this was just too salty. My husband had fettuccine Alfredo with chicken, I did not taste it, so I cannot say if it was good. I must say one good thing is the cheese shaker. I always take the lid off and look at the top to see if it is clean or caked with cheese, this one was clean. I ordered from the new trattoria menu. I ordered the spinach gnocchi dish. I don't like sausage so I wanted it without the sausage. I was told I couldn't get the sauce the dish comes with and not get the sausage, so I got it with alfredo. Was not expecting what I got. The actual gnocchi was made with spinach and I expected the spinach to be in the sauce. The gnocchi was definitely frozen (easy way to tell is if they are all exactly the same). They were not cooked properly they were little rocks. I thought better than to add cheese I should taste first. Thank goodness I did! The sauce was completely over salted. There was supposed to be sun dried tomatoes in the dish as well, not on my dish. I ordered my dessert to go and as yet have not ventured to taste it. I had a large portion of my entrÃ©e boxed as well. The chefs need to make things from scratch. I doubt their ancestors served frozen pasta. Their wait staff need a lesson on personality and customer service. We won't return.
(1)
DJO O.

I've been going here for 30 yrs the food the service is always 100%. You simply can't go wrong here ! chio
(5)
Steve K.

AWESOME Italian food. Located in the heart of South philly it has that real deal old school feel. Reminds me of the scene in the Godfather where the police chief gets killed. Been there several times. The Chicken Parm , Veal Parm , Lasagna .... its all good. The meatballs are great too, as are the desserts. Cannoli cake & Dark side of the moon Chocolate cake. It is Cash only but unlike that one reviewer they have an ATM upstairs near the bar so you don't have to run to the Rite Aid up the block ( as she indicated) Not a biggie! Everyone should go at least once.
(4)
Jarret L.

My wife and I had been to Ralph's about 9 years ago and loved it. We went back recently and were disappointed. The food was average at best. We had a groupon and thank god we did because the price of the meals is just not worth it for average food you can make at home. When we went the place was crowded and we felt that if we talked to loud the people next to us would be completely in our conversation as they were only 2 feet away. For first timers who want a nice romantic dinner, I would not suggest as the tables are on top of each other. Don't even think about bringing bags or a stroller with you, there is no room. Sorry Ralph's but you ate only average Italian food now.
(2)
Marian R.

i'm with lisa k, this place stinks. i've lived a block away my entire life and every few years go to see if it's gotten better and no, it hasn't. don't waste a meal here, unless you're like the average american and have no taste buds. if you must go, they have one decent dish, the sausage and peppers. under no circumstances order anything from the sea. they murder seafood. go to dante and luigi's, one block west, if you want good italian - american food.
(1)
Mike H.

as other reviews said food is nothing special. i'm giving it a 1 just to kill the hype of this place. again NOTHING SPECIAL and perhaps just a step above olive garden. it's also cash only when the yelp profile says credit cards accepted.
(1)
John K.

My partner and I made a day trip to Philadelphia yesterday and visited the Italian Market. We asked a vendor there if he could recommend a restaurant for Lunch and he sent us to Ralph's. I can confidently say that it is the absolute worst restaurant (not just Italian restaurant) I have ever eaten in. My partner agreed that the food was atrocious and he is usually very easy to please. For starters he had peppers and mozzarella which was just that, a bunch of roasted pepper slices emptied out of a can or jar with these strange round hard, cold cheese balls (no, they were not bocconchini, no, no, no.) I ordered calamari. It was a bowl of prepared frozen calamari in a reddish brown liquid of ingredients unknown. Absolutely revolting. The main courses were lasagna and chicken parmigiana. The chicken was a cutlet breaded and fried sometime long ago (days ago, at least) before they assembled it with tasteless cheese. The lasagna was about six inches high and had a meat filling that was rancid. We didn't want to spoil our day in Philadelphia so we said nothing to the staff. Besides, the food was so disgusting that they had to know. My partner, referring to a Kitchen Nightmare show where an Italian restaurant in California was so atrocious that they fired the chef, said that Ralph's must have hired him and given him control of their kitchen. Oh, the only reason I have given one star is that Yelp doesn't give the no-star option. How unfortunate.
(1)
marie d.

I've been to Ralph three times over the past few years, and I don't think I'll be going back again. Bottom line: this place is overpriced. Case in point in the tomato and mozzarella appetizer. It's $9.75. I understand that appetizers and desserts are the place to mark-up prices, and that's fine. These people run a business to make money. However, I cannot respect a restaurant that gouges its customers. This particular appetizer is one tomato cut up (prob cost them 50 cents), a few small mozzarella balls, and then a drizzle of balsamic vinaigrette. A dish that costs them $2-$3 to make should not be priced at $9.75. Similarly, a bottle of beer, Stella, cost $7. Furthermore, the menu prices on their website are out of date and misleading. Another case in point: the veal saltimbocca. On the website, it's listed as $23. In the restaurant, however, its $25. This is one of my favorite dishes because of the prosciutto that is traditionally supposed to cover the veal cutlet. At Ralph's, there were three tiny bites of prosciutto. I honestly don't think I was even given one full slice, let alone enough to cover the veal. I think Ralph's offers traditional Italian food in a great atmosphere. However, in a city like Philadelphia where Italian restaurants are a dime a dozen, Ralph's has to do much more to make it worth your while. The food isn't bad, but it's not great either. On top of serving lackluster food, they have the nerve to charge an arm and a leg for it. I can think of at least two other Italian restaurants in the city where the food is better AND cheaper. Ralph's is the perfect example of a once-great restaurant that is now resting on its laurels and relying on name only. Try it out if you must, but don't expect to be wowed.
(2)
Zach Q.

The food was good. The service was just alright. I can see what the hype is about, but it's not for me.
(3)
Jim H.

Well, it was one of the best caesar salads I've ever had in my life. I certainly remember that much. After that, the memory gets a little foggy. No, I didn't drink too much Chianti. I just ate way too much Italian food...it's what I've come to expect from a great Italian restaurant. See for yourself what I'm talking about.
(4)
Steve S.

You know why I love this place so much? Not because my mom brought me here as a kid. Not because Sinatra ate here. Nothing like that. No, I love it here because it is one of the only Italian restaurants in the world where I am completely satisfied ordering the basic menu items. Any Italian place I go, I like to try to order the more creative dishes more often than not. But my last meal here... lasagna with a side of meatballs. The waiter referred to it as a meatball chaser. That is now my new favorite term. Now, if I love this place so much, why not 5 stars? Well, I'll just say that the meatballs are probably the best I've had in the city of Philadelphia. The lasagna was just very good. It didn't taste like "best in the city" status when I had it last week. But it certainly did not suck in the least. And a huge anniversary meal for two including soup, salad, bottle of decent wine, entrees, and 2 desserts came in under $100. No suckage at all there.
(4)
Albert S.

Ralph's had all the old fashion Italian charm. The food was excellent and the service was very good.
(4)
Gi T.

I was excited to visit Philadelphia's ancient Italian eatery and convinced a group of my friends to join. We're all in the culinary industry, so I think we are pretty considerate of the staffs in the back. It's too bad, because our meals was pretty awful. It's not even that the technique was lacking or the flavors; everything was lacking! The food was poorly prepared, I've had better Italian food from a neighbor! I am so deeply disappointed. I came in not even expecting high end quality food, just a good ol' country/home style Italian meal. The food here lacks Italy's freshness, and rustic charms. There are much better Italian fares in the city. The people may be nice, but the food has since lost its charm. p.s. This is a nice review compared to what my fellow diners said.
(2)
William H.

I visited Philly for the day yesterday with my daughters and couple guests. They said they like Italian food and I found this place on a list of the best in Philly. I wanted to give them something really good. After eating there, I don't know what the fuss is about. Not special. Preface: I don't want to just rip the place. My chicken parm was good. The service was attentive and just fine. 1) The house wine is one of the cheap giant jug wines. I'm not saying that is necessarily bad (I didn't try it) but I will say you won't see one of those jugs at a "fine" restaurant. Boxed wine is classier. At least pour from the jug into the "carafe" somewhere the diners don't see you, guys! 2) The pasta sauce was not as good as some that you find in a jar. If they make it in-house, they should consider some of the better jars. Try the "Victoria" brand sauce. 3) The dÃ©cor is a bit run down for a place people are calling "the best." I wouldn't mind if it was the original dÃ©cor from when they opened over a hundred years ago (it isn't) if it seemed better maintained. It all seems kind of low-rent, like they remodeled in the 70's and just wiped it down since then. 4) The pricing is somewhat high considering all the above. If you're paying $18-$32 for an entrÃ©e, I think you get a tablecloth and not a placemat. I did find the history of the restaurant on the placemat to be interesting though.
(3)
Hivie C.

Excellent food and price ^_^ .... The place is all but coZy .... Waiter was nice ....I would definitely come back again
(5)
Eric N.

This place has got SOLID, but not extravagant Italian food. the veal and eggplant parm are excellent. The joint is a little divey, but in a friendly, old school kind of way. Clean, cheap, solid. Check it out.
(4)
Chris P.

I took my wife for her birthday with a party of 7 and had an excellent meal. We want to go back as soon as we can. The calamari appetizer is sautÃ©ed not deep fried an so tender it melts in your mouth. A+!
(5)
Devon L.

I had been wanting to try Ralph's for awhile and my boyfriend made us a reservation here for my birthday last night. When we walked in, the first floor was packed! We were told to go upstairs and we were seated there. I like the vibes of this place because its pretty old school. It was loud on the first floor, even louder on the second floor because we were in between 2-3 huge parties also there celebrating birthdays. The high ceilings and tile floors definitely contributed to the loudness! It was overwhelming for a minute, but then I felt right at home, took me back to my Italian family's loud Sunday night dinners. I wanted a white wine, and B wanted red so our server suggested we do half a carafe of each which worked out perfectly. I wish I could remember our server's name because he was prompt, polite, and made sure we were taken care of the entire night even though he was very busy helping with the other large parties. I love bread, especially the crusty bread that's great for dipping or buttering up, so our bread basket was basically devoured. We had the calamari as an appetizer, and it was great, of course we used our bread to mop up some of the extra red sauce. I had the shrimp scampi for my entree and I loved how perfectly garlicky and buttery the sauce was, the dish had about 8 large sized shrimp and the overall portion was huge and delicious. B had the chicken parm, and that portion was even more huge. Even though we were both pretty stuffed, I saw some desserts getting delivered to one of the nearby tables and knew we had to order a cannoli, and it was massive, perfectly sweet and one of the best I've had recently. I would recommend Ralph's to anyone in the mood for good, classic Italian food, in a loud and fun atmosphere. Really enjoyed it here and would definitely go back again!
(4)
Colleen S.

I've been to Ralph's a few times and have always had a great meal! The food is worth a five, but there are a few downsides to this restaurant. It is very small and very loud, which is fine as long as you are looking for what sort of atmosphere. When it is busy, the service is VERY slow. We thought we were the forgotten table and had to ask multiple times for our drinks/waiter. The waitstaff was very nice, but was very overwhelmed the night we were there. Bruchetta was a delicious appetizer to split. Didn't seem to have any balsamic like most do, but it was very fresh and very good! I had the Fettuccine Alfredo. I have had a lot of Alfredo sauces, but I would have to say that this is one of the best! Very think, very creamy, very flavorful. It will make you want a nap after dinner! Everyone else loved their meals as well. One was lobster ravioli, one was a steak/pasta dish and one was a veal dish. I would definitely recommend this place, just don't go when you are trying to get a quick meal! Make a night of it to savor your amazing food.
(4)
Stacey M.

Ok I was very excited to try this Italian restaurant with my son and we were both disappointed. Pork chops were so tough my son could barely chew them. Eggplant parm was mediocre and the "Italian" bread was nothing more than a hoagie roll cut up. To make matters worse, our waiter was inattentive and NEVER asked how our meal was. Just an impersonal assembly line and you would get a much better meal and service at an Olive Garden. Major waste of money. Would definitely NOT recommend.
(1)
Kris B.

I come from Italy, Rome, and today on a trip to Philly we decided to visit the Italian area. We were happy to see a lot of groceries, stores selling italian food. We decided to have lunch there and try the most rated italian restaurant: Ralph's. That experience turned very soon into a nightmare! First of all the customer service is terrible. Then start with the food. We took an Antipasto that is basically a mix of cured meat and cheeses selection on a salad base. The cured meat had all the same flavour, and some of the cheese had mold on!!!!!! Then we took 2 white clams spaghetti 1 ravioli with marinara sauce, and 1 veal chop. Spaghetti: over cooked pasta, and was so evident that the pasta was not sauteÃ© with the clams, but the 2 ingredients just mixed together. That pasta was beyond full of garlic and those clams were perfectly defrosted!! No trace of olive oil inside, but a huge quantity of a dark slimy liquid. That pasta was disgusting, uneatable, and unhealthy!!!!! Never eaten some clams spaghetti like that before ( in a bad meaning). Ravioli: hehehehehe. Call that stuffed pasta Ravioli it's an insult to the real fresh pasta. They were stuffed with an acid cheese that was not ricotta at all, covered with a small amount of similar sauce called marinara sauce, more terrible than the ravioli. Those ravioli sucked, like the spaghetti! Veal chop: have u ever eaten a piece of meat with no flavour? Yes I had. In that restaurant!! That veal chop was so sad, no flavour at all, hard like a wood shelf, unsalted, no trace of oil on. Then i asked some olive oil to pour on top, and the waiter came with a glass bottle full of a oily light yellow liquid. I tasted few drops and it was canola oil. I told to the waiter and he said that they don't have olive oil to serve. In italy canola oil is used in the car engines, not as a seasoning!!!! Then the bill came: 121$!! For that shit 121$!! I was so upset to waste all that money, but i was even more upset for the publicity of a fake italian food that the restaurant is making!!! That place is a cheap quality italian fast food imitation and should be taken out from any food guide!!! I went there because it's well rated!!!! Pls don't go there to eat, don't burn your money, that " restaurant" serves food for dogs.
(1)
Jackie F.

Food is always consistently delicious old world Italian. Great time for a group of seven.
(4)
Meghan K.

As a true Philadelphian I though it was due time to experience "Americas oldest Italian restaurant". I took my dad who is from out of town and has heard of Ralph's authetic Italian food, and has been dying to try the food himself. I would give it a 3 out of 10, at best. The only reason I am giving it 2 stars is because I respect how long they have been around and still operating under the same original family. As for the food, it is easily comparable to Diner quality. The meatballs very closely taste like IKEAS sweedish meatball (and we all know they are frozen) and the sauce tasted like it came streight from Prego's jar. The only plus I can give them, is that the pasta was cooked to a perfect al'dente. The parmesean cheese was not freshly grated, it came in the traditional pizza joint glass shaker that were placed on every table, so who knows how fresh it actually was. It also took about 7 min from the time we placed our order, to our food to reach the table, which is another red flag. Was it not made to order? My mind wonders. Please, save yourself the overpriced and overrated food, and go to Giorgio's On Pine if you want exceptionally good Italian cuisine.
(2)
Jeanny C.

Summary: Their special for the night was the best part. Not a great location or space to have a fancy dinner or throw a big party. I would probably go with family or friends again just because it was the first family owned Italian restaurant of the united states, but besides that I do not really find it overall that special. Too pricey. Food: Appetizers: Escargots Au gratin ($8.50) The escargots were really large for its size, it was tasty but could be because it was literally all butter. I still enjoyed it, but it could be better if it was less buttery. Entree: Chicken Parmigiana ($17.00) My opinion is it is a bit too pricey for such a common dish. However, it was a bit crunchier than other chicken parm that I have had. Besides that I did not find it any special and definitely not worth its price. Black Lobsters Raviolis ($20.00) This dish was one of their specials for the night, not on their menus. It was tasty, but a little too salty and buttery. It comes with jumbo shrimps and capers. The dish looks small, but very filling. Place: Location: It is within a residential area, about two (or more) blocks away from South St (Main commercial area). I took a cab there and back (cost about $20). Not easy access. Residential area also means hard to find parking. Environment: The place has tinted windows, so we cannot see from outside. The moment you walk in you basically see the whole place, very small. The tables are cramped on top of each other. I went there on a Tues night, and there was a lot of elders, probably not a young hip place. Price: I think the overall pricing is too high. Two people: 1 appetizer, 2 entree and some fountain drinks came out to be around $60 (with tip).
(2)
Chevy Chase Reviewer A.

About as good as Italian food gets. Been going here for years, quality of food and service are as good as ever (just went again 2 weeks ago). I'd put their Veal Saltimbocca up against any other Italian restaurant in the country. Seriously, it's that good. Tight seating but still somehow intimate. New option for valet parking is huge, used this the last few times I went.
(5)
Lilli C.

I've had way better Italian food than this. I figured, a S. Philly Italian place has to be the best. Nope! Even Maggianos is 10x better. The calamari was very tender and perfectly cooked, but the sauce it came with was watery, silghtly too sweet for my taste, and looked like it came from a can. I got the chicken parm, which was enormous but just tasted okay. There was nothing too special about it. My boyfriend got the veal piccata which had the usual lemon/butter sauce, but it was thick and globby looking like it was made with corn starch. The side of vegetables he got was DRENCHED in butter. There was a 2 inch pool of butter at the buttom of his dish. The service was okay, but the interior is a bit cramped. I didn't really like how my table for 2 was SO close to the table of 4 next to us. I felt like we were practically sitting at the same table. The 1/2liter of house chianti, however, was pretty good, but if I'm in search of delicious Italian food I will not be returning here. I'd much rather go to Cucina Forte around the corner.
(2)
Lauren P.

Great old school italian food! The veal cap and mussels red are a must. If you have not been to Ralphs you are missing out .
(5)
Kem W.

An OK Italian restaurant in Philadelphia's Little Italy. The upstairs dining room was interesting but the table for four they sat us at was too small. I had the pasta with anchovies and garlic as an appetizer. Meh. The house salad was just an ordinary salad you'd get at any salad bar. I asked for the house dressing and got vinegar and oil. My entree was the chicken trombino. It was a good sized portion but nothing great. Other dishes at the table included the eggplant parmigiana the chicken marina. No complaints from those diners. Wait service was passable. This is an old place with interesting decor but I bet there are better restaurants in the area.
(2)
Mezz M.

Ralphs is one of the oldest restaurants in Philadelphia. Although I have only been there a couple times, I can honestly say they have maintained the quality of their food as well as lived up to their reputation. Everything is fresh and cooked on premises. You can practically smell all the exquisite ingredients when your dish arrives. Not only is the food delicious, they get their bread from next door - Sarcones, which itself is a delicious concoction. Ralphs by far has the most delicious Italian food I've ever tasted, great portion sizes, and very nice staff. Be sure to stop by next time you are in the Italian market, you will not be discouraged.
(5)
Meredith G.

I wrote a review on Ralph's a few years ago. I've gone back many, many times since. I recently went this year to celebrate an anniversary and now they accept credit cards which is great. However, their bruschetta, the sole reason I went there, has changed. It's standard cubes tomatoes now instead of one warm and creamy tomato. Needless to say, I will probably go elsewhere sans bruschetta from now on. Disappointed.
(3)
Ashley L.

Oldest Italian restaurant in America...so it must be good for lasting this long! ;) The shrimp scampi was perfect and we got the house red wine for our table. Everything was great about that meal. Definitely go if you want an amazing Italian meal!
(5)
Steve S.

6 at our table. Had never been here in all my years in Phiily. Was not too impressed. Actually, it wasn't a bad meal, but when you serve us two side orders of cold meatballs and broccoli rabe that was way over cooked - 2 basic things a good italian restaurant should serve properly, well it's hard to give a 3 star "A-OK". Our entrees were decent, not wow, but good. The bread was good, but not great. Service was pleasant, and efficient. We were seated upstairs and liked the ambience of the place. I liked the everything salad - basic, old school, but big, fresh and good.
(2)
Casey R.

Perfect spot for a filling Italian meal in South Philly. We came here on a Sunday and were seated upstairs, it appeared that the downstairs was mostly larger groups and the upstairs was couples and small tables. The server was excellent with recommendations and Clay had what he claimed to be his favorite clams casino dish ever as an appetizer. I had a nice salad to start with lots of blue cheese and balsamic. For entree I ordered the alfredo as I typically do when dining out at Italian places and it was superb. Very creamy, yet flavorful and the pasta used was fresh and had an excellent texture. Clay enjoyed one of their veal dishes and we both had a nicely priced bottle of red wine. All in all, I highly recommend Ralph's especially if you want that old South Philly feel and history.
(4)
Mike C.

We stopped in here for lunch on Saturday. The first thing we found out is that on weekends, they only have the dinner menu. No big deal, as I was starving, but some lunch options would have been nice. We got bruschetta and calamari for appetizers. The calamari was delicious - it comes sauteed in marinara, and it was perfectly cooked and tender. My only gripe is that I expected more than what we got for $14. For lunch I got the eggplant parm. Portion size was not an issue this time, as I got more than enough to fill me up. It was pretty good, but I felt the marinara sauce was mediocre at best. One person with me got spaghetti and meatballs, which he said was delicious; another got chicken caesar salad and did not like the dressing that came with it. The service was also up and down as well. Our waiter was practically mumbling at the beginning of our meal, but by the end had woken up a bit. The hit or miss nature of Ralph's led me to give it 3 stars. It was an overall pleasant experience, but nothing to write home about
(3)
David R.

My wife and I went here for dinner with an open table gift card. The atmosphere is fitting for an old Italian restaurant. We planned to share the tomato mozzarella salad to start, however, when the dish came out the tomatoes looked terrible. They were pink, not red, and the insides were white (this was in prime tomato season mind you). We both could tell without even tasting that it would not be good and the first couple tastes just confirmed our observations. Where's the quality control in the kitchen?!? Doesn't the chef take any pride in what he serves? Anybody with half a brain could tell the tomatoes were crap, yet somebody in the kitchen made the decision to send it out the kitchen door. Inexcusable and shows a complete lack of respect for the customer. We brought it to the attention of our server who was very apologetic and said he would take it off our bill (I'm sure he could tell the tomatoes were crap). We both got veal entrees which were ok, but still unremarkable. The pasta and sauce on the side was the best part. A Philadelphia institution, yes, but times have evolved and better food can be found elsewhere.
(2)
Valerie Y.

Living in Philadelphia offers a plethora of trendy celebrity chef restaurants, so you sort of forget about the iconic institutions that our city has historically been known for. Over the years we have visited several great Italian places in South Philly like Mr. Martino's, Tre Scalini, and most recently, The Victor Cafe--all family owned restaurants which deliver not only delicious food, but also a unique ambiance and exceptional service. Tonite we celebrated a friend's birthday at Ralph's, which was an unfortunate disappointment. To begin with, the food lacked anything unique in preparation, presentation or flavor. A plate of about 10 ravioli was about as drab as the stuff you find in Acme's frozen aisle...in fact, you'd have a hard time convincing me that my eggplant parmesan was not a frozen Celetano entree. A pile of fettuccini Alfredo arrived in a white dish without even a parsley sprig or sprinkle of herbs to make it look slightly appealing. Judging by the amount left on the dish, I would assume it tasted as good as it looked. The saving grace was the bread; it was everyone's favorite part of the dinner. Secondly, the service was slow, spotty and unfriendly (except for the bread guy - again, the highlight of the meal). I hate to feel like I'm putting anyone out, especially when I'm paying them to make us feel special. They didn't even bother to wish the birthday girl a Happy Birthday. Our waiter prematurely removed our unfinished drinks and then charged us for refills. Anything to jack up the check, I guess. Other servers at Ralph's Italian Restaurant seemed equally blase, which made me long for the servers at the Victor -- not only do they give you proper attention, but they sing too. Finally, Ralph's Italian Restaurant is not worth the high price we paid for such simple and unimaginative food. I have spent less at Mamma Maria's and Tre Scalini for much better quality, flavor and presentation of these traditional dishes. As a cash only establishment, you'd imagine they'd have a working ATM, but I had to walk a couple blocks away to tap PNC's ATM machine. That was the clincher for me. With so many options of the same genre so close by including Villa di Roma or Dante and Luigi's, I won't waste my time or money at Ralph's again.
(2)
Powell A.

It is tough to separate the atmosphere and history of the restaurant (founded in 1900 and still owned by the same family) from the food. CASH ONLY! The food is well prepared from a standard menu of traditional red-sauce Italian. The appetizers and bread are delicious (you'd expect the bread sitting next to Sarcone's Bakery) The room is tight. The tables are small. The service is very attentive. The atmosphere is 100% authentic South Philly. Go hungry for a traditional Italian meal and you'll leave stuffed and satisfied.
(4)
Gary R.

Chicken Parm pretty good. Good portion. The place is really small. Fortunately we got there early for lunch. By the time we left it was half filled (25 people) and it was tight. Server brought sides of pasta out 10 minutes before our entree. They don't really believe in customer service. I heard a lot if "no we can't / don't do that". I'd eat there again but maybe take out. I would have given it a four if we didn't have to endure the service
(3)
Bette M.

Gotta go to this South Philly landmark. Stick with the classics - any parm, lasagna, meatballs, pasta, marsala, etc. The mussels are unbelievable!! I've only ever had better mussels at Bertha ' s in Fells Point. Staff are straightforward and no frills. Table wine is surprisingly tasty. Oh and.... always leave room for dessert.
(5)
Scott J.

Ralph's serves up some very classic Italian food. It's not about inventive, experimental, and new flavors, but rather it's your warmth, grace, and happiness of your grandmother's cooking. Who can argue with generations upon generations of old wisdom? Lastly, the decor in this place, the tiles, the barstools, and the old-school Italian charm of the waiters, all makes this place a gem. I recommend the veal parm, spaghetti, escarole, and manicotti. Also the cannoli for dessert.
(5)
Theresa B.

I think this restaurant definitely deserves a five star rating! It is a typical family style italian restaurant! The portions are big, the bread is fresh, there are tons of options and of course they have a great selection of beer and wine!! My two favorite dishes are the veal parm, which is absolutely amazing!! I think the best in philly! And then the penne vodka with chicken is just soo good!! This restaurant has a great atmosphere and you know it's good when sooo many Italians are there!! I would definitely recommend this restaurant!!
(5)
Nina d.

I was excited to try this place considering the history. I love Italian, it's one of my classic favorites. I used to work as a waitress for a delicious family owned Italian restaurant so I'm a bit of a stickler. Sadly, this place was okay. The service was mediocre and the chicken parm was decent. It wasn't horrible but it wasn't the best I ever had either. My then fiancÃ© got the lasagna and again it wasn't anything exceptional. I think I'll come back again to try something else but we'll see.
(3)
S W.

Ralph's was recommended to us by a friend that works in the city so I was not surprised that it was excellent. The menu has the usual Italian choices and you will not see a lot of gourmet variations. That is not bad since they do what they do very well. My veal parmigiana was excellent as were the other orders that included veal, pasta/meatballs, and eggplant. The service was average but it ranked along side of the prices. You are not paying top prices (city) so expect college and/or high school kids to wait on you. Again, this is all fine but just know that this is more like a cafeteria and not like an upper class Italian restaurant. The important feedback that I have is that this place is extremely loud! I just say this so that you are prepared when choosing this place for a given night/occasion. I expect that when you read this you will wonder how loud, loud can be. You will come back to my point... hahaha. The parking was a bit of a challenge even though I was expecting there to be valet parking. There was 1 person and on a busy Saturday, I never did see him. I had to run around the block a few times before I went out on my own to find a spot. This is not a problem but just know that parking might be challenging as would be expected for the city. My review is not negative at all and I only wanted to point out the above tips so you can be prepared.
(4)
R R.

Before stepping foot inside, I was told extensively about the freshness and authenticity of Ralph's. This historic spot and South Philly staple were assured to be memorable. But although very good, it did not quite meet the expectation I had going in. I blame neither the hype nor the establishment itself, I was still satisfied with the food. I guess you could say I was expecting the best Italian eats I've ever had and it simply wasn't. The lasagna was good but under seasoned and other entrees I sampled were just good not great. The atmosphere was vibrant with rich conversations, busy waiters with their trays, and decor. The service was not top notch but the restaurant was very busy, so I can understand. But it was a nice place for good company in South Philly.
(3)
Brett B.

Great food. Authentic atmosphere. Went with group of 10 and they accommodated very well upstairs. It was a bit loud but the food and great service made up for it. Shared penne vodka, artichoke chicks and veal parm. Would absolutely recommend Veal parm over anything else.
(5)
Meg B.

Great old school Italian restaurant in the heart of South Philly. Start with the muscles in white sauce, then move onto the eggplant or veal parmigiana or, for a more adventurous move, the Sicilian Chicken for a spicy, briney treat.
(4)
Ashley P.

Learned about Ralph's on FYI Philly last night. Immediately went to Yelp for details. What an awesome experience! It started with the phone call to place our order and ask a question. Kristen was very pleasant and helpful! This restaurant is an institution and I'm glad I know about it. Now on to the food.. We ordered the veal parm to share and spaghetti along with broccoli. Everything was delicious! The veal was thin and cooked to perfection!! The "gravy" on the spaghetti was flavorful! The bread..oh the bread just the way it should be. Keep on working the magic Ralph's!! You will be around another 115 years!!
(5)
R F.

We went to Ralph's in the late Afternoon. We had the escargot. It was outstanding. Great to sip up with the Italian bread. The lasagna was freshly made with delicious sausage. The wife had the spaghetti with meatball that were excellent. With a nice glass of chianti. And finished with the Tartufo. One of the best Italian meals in a long time.
(5)
Alan R.

The best red sauce I've ever had in my life. You can't get great Veal Parm anywhere. This place is the best. Lauren was awesome at making me feel comfortable having my mom's 70th birthday party there and made it super easy with her suggestions. Our service was the best. Our waiter Chris M made us feel extremely comfortable and provided great, unrushed service, for 19 people, during a Saturday night when they were super busy. Thank you Ralph's for making my moms birthday special.
(5)
Eric N.

Located in an old Italian neighborhood in South Philly but the surroundings and history are about the best thing this restaurant has going for it. I went in with expectations of a great Italian meal, but nothing (the food, the service, or the dÃ©cor) was special. :( Seating is bad; they pack you in like sardines so much that two people cannot walk down the aisle between tables at the same time. I was truly disappointed in the food. None of it was bad, but it was NOT SPECIAL, especially for the price. The fast food chain Fazoli's produces the same quality that I ate. I'm not saying that to be dramatic; it is a very unfortunate and sad truth. :( The chain Maggiano's food blows it out of the water (which is also sad since Ralph's is supposed to be a classic Italian establishment). I had the antipasto salad, the calamari, and the veal parmesan with a side of spaghetti with marinara. Antipasto was fine with a very simple red wine and olive oil dressing (pretty hard to mess that up, although there were only 2 pieces of prosciutto on the plate). Calamari had no flavor to it and was drowned in marinara. Veal Parm was fried crispy but it had a ratio of 3:1 breading to meat (I'm guessing the chicken parm had more meat?). Finally, the marinara was a super bright red color and I suspect it came from a can without even being doctored up (I didn't even see any flakes of oregano or taste garlic). On top of all that, the service was a "C" at best. We had a table of 12 and sat upstairs for a birthday dinner. The waiter did not check on us often, and I ran out of water twice. We brought in a cake for the birthday girl and he presented it with candles. However, after she blew out the candles, the cake sat on the table awkwardly for 5 minutes while the waiter was bussing empty tables in an attempt to finish all his side work instead of concerning himself with service. When he finally came back over, he said "do you want to cut it yourself or would you like me to do it?" It was obvious we had no knives, forks, or plates left on the table so I thought it was pretty insulting that he just left the cake there for so long and thought we were going to cut it. He knew we needed assistance, he just didn't want be there anymore that night. I hate writing bad reviews, but I just want the community to be aware of what they are getting into. Ralph's food and service really broke my heart :(
(2)
Rommel D.

Good find from recommendation by good friends. Best to ask servers what they serve best. Nice place to be away from the crowds. Good service.
(3)
Todd S.

Fourth generation family owned Italian restaurant in Philly. Traditional dishes prepared with love and care. My go to place when I travel to Philly.
(4)
Gregory V.

Finest spot for Italian food in the city. I've worked my way through the menu during the few visits I've made and have always left very satisfied. Located by the historic Italian Market, I recommend this place highly if you're visiting from out of town.
(5)
Dan A.

I liked the idea of getting an Italian meal at an Italian restaurant in the Italian market. But my meal at Ralph's didn't meet with my hopes. I told my waitress that I was a vegetarian. After scanning the menu, I did't see pasta primavera. So I asked if that was something I could order. She showed me a dish on the menu that looked like it basically was pasta primavera. And she mentioned several vegetables in it. So that it what I ordered. But when the dish arrived, I was very surprised to see it had shrimp in it. Shrimp isn't something I eat. But I also didn't want to send it back. So I just eat around them. It's also worth noting that my water glass was only refilled once while I was there. And this is a problem since I'm a tall drink of water.
(2)
Kevin O.

Unbelievably horrible experience! I can't believe this place hasn't killed someone... seriously. I was very hungry after getting home from working all day, then driving home from MD. I found Ralph's onGrubHub and ordered a greens and pastina soup, an order of garlic bread, and lasagna. Delivery was quick, but the meat and cheese in the lasagna was RANCID! I can't believe they sent something this bad out of the kitchen. I have never seen anything like this before, and I worked in the food service industry for 15 years. Unfortunately, since I hadn't eaten much all day, I was so hungry it took me a minute to figure out something was wrong (at first I assumed there was just something I didn't recognize in their recipe). It wasn't the recipe though, it was spoiled meat... I had to throw it out. The "greens and pastina soup" was bland and actually had a few small bits of chicken in it. Luckily, my girlfriend (who ordered the soup) isn't a vegetarian, but nonetheless, if there's chicken in your "greens and pastina"soup, you should probably let people know. The high point of the meal was the order of garlic bread. Four small slices of burnt Italian bread soaked in oil and topped with blackened (aka burnt) garlic. Needless to say, this was the one and only time I will ever order from this disgrace of a restaurant. I just find it unbelievable that in this city, with the literally hundreds of good, authentic Italian restaurants, that this place has managed to survive. Take my advice, go elsewhere!
(1)
Kevin L.

This is simply the perfect Italian restaurant in every way. Not only is the food excellent, it has all the intangibles you would want in an authentic Italian restaurant. I had the chicken sorrento and it was so tender I cut it with a fork. Don't even get me started on the meatballs...the best we have ever had. My children are very finicky eaters, but not here. Just pay for the valet, because after circling the block three times, you are gonna do it anyway. Wish the beer selection was better, but that's a minor thing, given how happy we were with our dining experience.
(5)
Miki N.

Fantastic linguini with mussels! Good amount of food and the wine selection is phenomenal.
(5)
Lauren C.

So i wanted to love this place. The history is amazing... and all of my friends rave about it, so when i saw a livingsocial voucher come on-sale, i took one look at the menu, and bought it! I made a reservation, per the advice of the voucher, and my boyfriend and i walked over. 7p on a Monday night, and we got seated in THE WORST seat in the house, and they didn't even know i had the voucher yet. We were at the top of the steps on the 2nd floor. Neither my boyfriend nor myself are particularly small people, and we were situated such that he got bumped EVERY TIME someone walked by. We were going to ask to move, but we thought maybe they'd get busy and need the space, so we cooled our jets. Spoiler alert- the place never filled up and we could have occupied about 10 other 4-tops and been exponentially more comfortable! It took quite some time for a waiter to come by, but when he did, he took our voucher, and never even asked us if we wanted drinks. He just sent his water-minion over to fill us up. Watching the way he talked to this poor kid made me really sad. We finally did get a 1/2 caraffe of chianti, and it was really really sweet for a chianti, and it was straight up hot. I know red is room temp usually... but we had to cool this down to room temperature with ice. I thought some time and it'd open up... but it was pretty icky. The living social voucher only entitled us to a pre-select menu. First course was a salad. I got the roasted red pepper and mozzarella, my boyfriend got the house salad, and then we shared. The roasted red peppers were amazing. Just like my grandma used to make them. The mozzarella was sparse in comparison... but fresh and tasty. The house salad was really nice- lots of fresh and blanched veggies in a great red wine vinegar dressing. For our next course, I got the spaghetti with garlic and oil, and he got the gnocchi in red sauce... and again we shared. The spaghetti in garlic and oil was the win there. The sauce was bread-dipping delicious. The gnocchis were really mushy and the red sauce that everyone raved about didn't really do it for me. I liked it... but i wasn't gaga over it. The gnocchis really killed that one. For my entree I got the eggplant parm, and my boyfriend got the sausage and peppers. Now it would have been so awesome if our pasta and our entrees came out together... but they didn't, so i filled up on pasta and had no room for my entree. I took like 80% of it home. So did my boyfriend. The eggplant tasted great, but it was a bit on the oily side. It'll make for a few good lunches though. It just needs a pasta-friend. We were way too full for desert, so we paid for our wine ($15- not bad if it were good), and tax/tip and began our walk home. Overall, there are many many better places in the city to dine if you're in the mood for good italian. Ralphs prides itself on not changing anything for over 100 years, but after this experience i have to wonder if small changes are a bad thing?
(2)
Annie P.

this review is long overdue, but needless to say I had a great experience. My boyfriend and I came right before they closed their doors, welcomed us in and were very kind. Service was great and the food even better. I had the gnocchi, which was BOMB. Can't wait to go back!
(5)
Charlie S.

Love this place best Italian in philly the veal parmigiana and fettuccine Alfredo is my personal fav I recommend this place highly if your visiting make sure and hit up Ralph's
(5)
Jack S.

Fantastic traditional Italian. Set is an intimate small dining room, Ralph's has been serving the original recipes for 100 years. This is Italian your grandmother would fix, but only if she was an incredible cook! Any of the veal or chicken dishes will be memorable and the pasta selection covers all the bases. I make my own gnocchi and can be critical but Ralph's are light, tender and a real delight service is fast, attentive and quick with suggestions if asked. The only dish I've ever found fault with is the bruschetta: Ralph's are cut too thick so they can tear your mouth up trying to take a bite. Petty of me but be forewarned. To summarize, try Ralph's and you'll be a fan for life.
(5)
Jeff M.

Ralph's is great and full of nostalgia! If you like old school red sauce this the place to be. The only thing I didn't like was the croutons on the Cesar. Meatballs had an awesome texture but could have used a bit more richness in flavor. The sauce was bold and the chicken cutlets were great. I'll be back the next time I am in Philly.
(4)
Suzanne P.

The food and waiters were ok, but there was a significant drawback. Do not take a table upstairs as the noise level makes it impossible to carry on conversation. Our party of 10 was promised that space was suitable for a dinner meeting. Two other large parties were seated near us. The acoustics in the room with the high ceiling amplified the sound. When we requested the opportunity to move to another table, it was denied. We finished quickly. Downstairs was much quietier. I left with a headache, but if you can get a seat on the first floor you would be ok.
(2)
Joe W.

Ralph's is my favorite Italian restaurant in Philadelphia. Authentic food, great atmosphere, and a hard working staff keep it at the top of my list. The chicken parmigiana is big enough for two meals and never disappoints.
(5)
Suzie L.

This place is authentic to South Philly and has delicious Italian-American fare. The portions are large so be prepared to take items home. Pricing is around $15 for general pasta dishes and seafood dishes are around $25. The place has a long history which makes dining here interesting. The only downside I see here is the service. For such a small place, service is not that attentive and Ive waited about 20 minutes to have my drink refilled and waited another 20 trying to get a server for the check. Worth trying out for yourself but dont think it's worth the $$$.
(2)
Scott C.

A shop owner on South street recommended and we loved it. Recommend a reservation but we stopped by shortly before 5 and got a table. It was delicious and perfect. Gnocchi, rigatoni, chicken scillian, bruschetta - just great.. .
(5)
John W.

Had a wonderful lunch at Ralph's on August 13, 2015. If you want original Italian food and atmosphere, this is your place. All the food was great and service as well. This will be one of our favorite Philly restaurants.
(5)
Steve E.

A recent article in USA Today highlighted the top Italian restaurants in the country, and since Italian is one of my favorite cuisines I read the information with great interest. As you might expect, most of the selections were from New York City but they did select one Italian restaurant in Philly. I was planning a business trip to the area, and so I asked my business partner (who's born & bred in South Philly) for his thoughts. He said that yes, **** is quite good, however you'll pay an awful lot of money for your meal. Instead he suggested that I might like Ralph's instead. I knew to trust Frank with restaurant recommendations in his old neighborhood since he's the same guy who introduced me to Dante & Luigi's and Tony Luke's earlier this year. The drive from the airport to Ralph's was a lot of fun since we went past the Philly sports stadiums, the Xfinity! Live world's-largest sports bar, and then down through "Cheesesteak Row" and the Italian Market area before ending up at the restaurant. Ralph's is a brick-front building located along 9th Street, just north of Christian Street in the Bella Vista / Italian Market section of South Philly. According to the back of the menu, Ralph's was founded in 1900 by Francesco Dispigno and his son Ralph, and the eatery has been passed down to generation after generation along with all of their old school family recipes. They go on to say that a family-owned Italian restaurant in San Francisco was founded in 1896, making Ralph's the second-oldest Italian restaurant in the US. However the SF restaurant has since closed, and Ralph's is now officially the oldest Italian restaurant in the US. The restaurant wasn't very crowded, and our waiter took the time to describe all of the specials in mouth-watering detail, and then helped us select a bottle of Sangiovese to accompany the meal. He also brought us a loaf of fresh Italian bread from the bakery right next door, and left us to ponder all of the amazing selections. I had a classic appetizer of roasted red peppers and fresh Mozzarella slices in very good olive oil and drizzled with a balsamic reduction. For my main course I had one of the specialties of the house which was veal medallions simmered in a white wine sauce and covered with fresh lump crabmeat and sautÃ©ed mushrooms. I got that with a side of their famous broccoli rabe which was sautÃ©ed in garlic and olive oil. The meal was delicious, and it was nice to be able to relax and enjoy all of the famous history of Ralph's along with a terrific meal.
(5)
Kristen M.

Ralph's first piqued my interest when I read a story about Taylor Swift dining there and leaving a $500 tip. Yes, really. I wanted to try it because it was either THAT good or she was just being generous. After my experience, I can tell you she was just being generous. Atmospherically speaking, it's an old school Italian restaurant. I ordered the penne alla vodka while dining partner scarfed down the chicken parmesan. The most important part of the penne alla vodka is the vodka sauce, mine was watery and lacking flavor. I prefer a more creamy sauce with a little spice and full of pancetta. Dining partner enjoyed his chicken parm, but wasn't blown away. Our waiter was nice and fairly attentive, but the food was underwhelming and we won't be returning anytime soon. Lesson learned: that's the last time I base my food selections on Miss Swift.
(2)
Amanda L.

Worst service ever. We didn't feel welcome at all here. They have two floors and the main dining is on the first floor and I guess they have a second floor for when the restaurant gets packed. My parents and I were asked to sit upstairs but nobody was sitting there even though there was a line outside. We were confused and the host just said to us, "Oh you wanna sit down here with us?" Excuse me? That was extremely offensive because it felt like we were being treated differently because of our nationality. Servers and host were definitely friendlier with other tables and it took a while for them to take our order, bring our bill, etc. Food was decent but service absolutely ruined the dining experience. I will never come back.
(1)
Michael Z.

First, a few details. Ralph's is NOT an Italian restaurant. It's an Italian-American restaurant. With that said, their food is just regular Italian-American fare, nothing special to write about. Not worthy of being a destination spot, not worthy for foodies, and certainly not worthy to be haunted by celebrities. Any decent diner in the tri-state area can put out the kind of food Ralph's does, right down to the cheap plastic butter packets they give you with the bread. The bottom line: Ralph's is a tourist trap baiting customers with tales of their former glory days, only to serve up very run of the mill food devoid of any Italian authenticity. Go there with this knowledge and it will be "fine".
(2)
Alick W.

Purchased a 3 course dinner from Living Social to Ralph's and it was well worth it. Ralph's is known as one of the oldest restaurants in Philadelphia located by the Italian market and I have been looking forward to trying it out. Seating took a little while even though it was not crowded and the space is a little small. Ralph's has a pretty wide selection of wines. I They have BYOW on Sundays. We tried the house red which was okay. For our salads we got the roasted peppers and mozzarella that was delicious. I had the ravioli appetizer which was very good and my friend had the gnocchi that was decent. For my main course I went with the sausage and peppers in a marinara sauce that was good but nothing special. My friend had the chicken in white sauce that was definitely the better choice Overall a good dining experience. If it wasn't for the Living Social I would say it's a more on the expensive side with and okay atmosphere. We went later in the night around 9ish and our waiter was pretty good and attentive to us.
(5)
Gary C.

The service was 2nd to none, waiter was at our table every 10 mins, the food was great, i saw some reviews that some chain was better, that person dont know food, this place was the best all around,
(5)
Dan L.

2 people. Wine: sprang for $36 bottle. App: caprese salad (shared). Entrees: ravioli (frozen) & 2 meatballs, veal saltimbocca. Dessert: 2 Stella's n 2 espressos (double shots of coffee). Bill = $120 before tip. Get the F$@k outta here. In sum (and after my third visit), they are there to take your money in exchange for you saying you ate at Ralph's, which I won't be saying again.
(2)
Dion C.

The owner sent me an email for my review and called me a liar. Said there gnocchi is ALWAYS served as cavatelli, so the waiter couldnt have said that. So they flat out lie on their menu, because they know a monkey could make cavatelli and only a seasoned chef can make gnocchi. Low grade dog food.
(1)
Steve M.

What a pleasant surprise. My friends told me to visit while in town and I took their advice but while I was expecting a loud and boisterous place I instead found a nice low key restaurant that did one thing very right. The cooking proved to be the draw. Very traditional dishes done with care and refinement. It is clear to see why Ralph's has been open for over 100 years.
(4)
Aurora L.

I went to Ralph's with my family that lives close to Philly, since I was an outta-towner. When driving up you're in this beautiful area of brick homes and small streets. Walking in the restaurant is small however my family reserved a table for upstairs (definitely try for a table upstairs if you can) and it was so nice. We got the calamari and clams casino for appetizers which were both delicious. I got the eggplant parmesan with a side of pasta and it was absolutely delicious. For dessert I got the dark chocolate cake and it was very decadent. Ralph's is a great place for any occasion with anyone, and the food is delicious!
(4)
Brad B.

The service was fine, nothing to write home about but no glaring issues either. The food, however...well let's start from the beginning. This is touted as a nice Italian restaurant, and the oldest Italian restaurant in Philly, no less! It boasts decades of history as well as numerous celebrity patrons. So with all of this considered, I expected better than clearly store-bought, cold, mediocre bread that wasn't even cut all the way (and no proper knives were given with the bread to actually cut through it, leaving you to attempt to tear pieces off) with tiny plastic packets of crappy whipped butter that you'd get at a diner. We had four in our party, and ordered: SautÃ©ed Long Hot Peppers as an appetizer, Manicotti, Spaghetti marinara with mushrooms, Sausage with Peppers, and a specialty dish of Rigatoni with eggplant, artichokes, onions, shrimp and a white wine marinara. The appetizer was okay, the peppers were bland and tasted like they needed salt and pepper. The Manicotti was good, no complaints here. The marinara sauce with the spaghetti was watery and dull, and the mushrooms had a bad (canned) texture and taste to them. The sausage with peppers was okay, not great but nothing glaringly wrong. The biggest issue was the last dish, my dish. The eggplant was extremely mushy, while still having the very hard to eat and tough skin on it. The artichokes tasted like they were pickled or otherwise poorly flavored and had a mushy texture, tasted like canned artichokes. The onions were fine. The sauce was watery and bland, not enough seasoning here. The biggest offender was the shrimp. Very large jumbo shrimp that were VERY overcooked to the point of being rubbery and clearly not seasoned at all, making them like large pieces of bland rubber in my otherwise mediocre dish. Did I mention the dish was $26? Overall, an over priced, unsatisfying experience. I will not be back and will recommend friends against going here if they find themselves in the Philly area.
(1)
Sharon H.

We had a very nice meal. The mussels were huge and juicy. The shrimp scampi had a cream sauce, so was not exactly what my daughter expected but she liked it just the same. Meatball is yummy. The gravy is excellent. Veal Rollatine was also quite good. Very large portions.
(4)
mike v.

Average. Not bad but nothing special. Ralph's is basically the "Pat's/Geno's" of Italian restaurants in Philly.
(3)
Joanne Z.

just went for my first experience at the "famous" Ralphs Italian Restaurant. And i know it will be my last. The service was horrible, rushed and unpleasant waiter who had a attitude. All in our party. were uncomfortable with the waiter, our food was ok, we went for lunch and we were told on sundays no lunch menu, WHICH always feels like a sneaky way to charge extra for the same meal. We should of walked out then. But its ok , we wont walk in again.
(1)
Marci R.

I went to Ralph's for over 30 years and the food is not the same anymore. The pastina soup Is totally different. I'm not saying it is bad but it is not the original Ralph's I loved so much. I would not go out of my way to eat there anymore
(3)
Jean M.

The food was fantastic. I had spaghetti with marinara sauce. It had a lot of basil and a fabulous flavor. My friend had eggplant and said it was the best she ever had. My only complaint is that although the place was not busy and there were many empty tables, they seated a party of 4 within elbow reach of us. Our table was so small that the waiter had put our bread basket on the adjoining table and when the other people were seated, the busser took our bread. Another annoyance is that the busser repeatedly tried to remove dishes we were still eating. Loved the waiter though. Warning - drink prices are way too high.
(4)
Sarah P.

we had a group dinner here on my first night in philadelphia. they served us tomatoes and mozzarella, bruschetta, antipasto salad, squid in gravy, a choice of entree (i got shrimp scampi and my bf got gnocchi with bolognese) and dessert (cannoli cake YUM!!!!). the house wine was pretty good and the food was excellent. i've never tasted squid so tender, and the shrimp scampi was really flavorful with creamy and thick sauce. i would only add capers to make it more delicious! our waiter was super cool and i was amazed at how the staff carried all the food up multiple flights of stairs. I would definitely go back to try other things - we had a great time.
(4)
Mara K.

How can you not love this place? I was there on Sat night and had some of the best eggplant parm ever. The service was excellent and all the menu items we ordered were very good. Be sure to get the mussels and antipasto.
(4)
Rizwan A.

The food here is really good and there's an old world authentic italian feel to the whole place, not just the delicious flavorful food. The service is a little variable, and they definitely pay more attention to their larger parties or big-wig diners (then again who doesn't?) but I don't think it's right to not only give less attention to people who aren't buying booze or just two dudes grabbing a quick bite, but to also treat them a little haughtily, which is the kind of attention I received on one particular occasion. Whenever I'm here for work dinners though, everything is top notch. Sad to see that the same level of professionalism doesn't permeate all of their customer interactions and for that I feel justified in rating them lower than they really deserve. At any rate, every dish here is delicious, but if your staple Italian food is things like Olive Garden and pasta from Red Lobster, then stick to ordering things you recognize on the menu here because branching out may prove to be a little too authentic for you eg mussels etc. Start with things you know and then branch out. For the authenticity, the savory foods and sauces, plus the old-school decor and Italian charm this place has, they get a solid 4 stars, but sadly the service needs to be a little more consistent. I'll be back... with work peeps only though.
(3)
Lucia O.

This place was highly recommended and so maybe it raised my expectations a bit. I should have read the reviews. The veal dish with red sauce and crab meat was so sad. The veal tasted like it had been boiled over once and didn't make it on some plate the night before so I had the misfortune of getting it. I had to be honest with the guy who recommended it to me and it was an awkward conversation.
(1)
Caitlin M.

I've always enjoyed when my parents would take me to Ralph's when I was younger, and now this time I was able to return the favor to them. I really only have positive things to say about this restaurant. I have never been disappointed with any of the entrees that I have had from here, and either has other people I have went with. The mussels are spectacular (I get them in white sauce), and the food has always been delievered promptly. I have had everything from the fettucini alfredo, gnoochi, chicken cacciatore, and their rosa vodka sauce and they were all done very well. If you go it would be best to make a reservation if your party is 4 or more, and if you want request to sit upstairs because the bottom floor can feel a little cramped. The last few times I requested that they seemed to not mind catering to my request. Parking can be an issue but you already know it's in the city, so it's obvious that it will be street parking.
(4)
Lauren B.

This place is the oldest Italian restaurant in Philadelphia...which is why it still has a good amount of clientele. Overall this restaurant is average. It's just average Italian food...the sauces are a little watery, the staff are a touch too casual, and the management likes to throw their weight around in the dining room. Unfortunately since it's the oldest restaurant, tourists will come here and miss out on some other true gems in the neighborhood. If I were to recommend an Italian restaurant in Bella Vista, this wouldn't be it.
(3)
Janet E.

The oldest Italian restaurant in America founded in 1900!!! (I can neither confirm nor deny this statement, but its what I read on my table mat at the restaurant). Ralph's was one of the only restaurants in the area that was open on the rainy day we visited. So we went and we took our chances hoping the food here would be good and authentically Italian. The food here was delicious! I ordered the Caesar salad which was prepared with large romaine lettuce leaves and freshly grated parmesan with home made Caesar dressing. It was one of the best salads I've had. I also ordered the clam linguini. The dish had a lot of flavor and the clams were chopped into little pieces. The broth that it was cooked it was very yummie and I used the complimentary bread to soak up the broth. I drank that stuff up! Service here was great! They were booked full for dinner so we were very lucky they were open for lunch. Their phones were ringing off the hook from people asking for reservations. I kept hearing "I'm sorry we are fully booked for tonight". Thats how good it is here! In the middle of our meal, there was an elderly couple that personally told every table to enjoy our meal before they left the restaurant. I thought it was so cute and such a nice neighborly thing to do! A very cute restaurant full of charm, history, and good food. Definitely stop in for a meal if you can.
(4)
Lance W.

A very solid restaurant and especially great for the entire family. Not overly formal or pricey and the food is superb. Our kids love the management who crack jokes with them and the very friendly staff. I recommend splitting the everything salad and then ordering the standard pasta dishes such as ravioli, manicotti, or pasta w/ meatballs. These are truly wonderful, with the homemade pastas and gravy (sauce) really coming to life as these are in their wheelhouse of expertise. Add a carafe of their house wine and and finish with espresso and a cannoli. You will not be disappointed. Ralph's is a must stop every so often to enjoy that feeling of home cooking you don't get even with the finest of chefs.
(4)
David F.

I travel from Central NY to Philly twice a year just to eat here. There are dozens of Italian restaurants but this little property is the one the frequent. Two thumbs up!!!!!!!
(5)
William C.

Excellent food and large portions. The oldest Italian restaurant in the United Staes founded in 1900 and operated by the same family. We went for lunch and the restaurant was not too crowded, but the server was not the best. Very casual, did not even give us his and and never check on us during the meal. I can understand this if it was dinner and the place was packed, but it was not. Luckily another server was there and glad to assist us. This poor service will not scare me away, and we will be back because the food is Sooooo good and the portions are huge!!
(4)
Julie C.

Coming from New York, I have been searching for Italian food all over Philadelphia and I have finally found the best Italian food in the city! The staff was very attentive and the food came out relatively fast. I had Ralph's famous chicken parmigiana and it was scrumptious! I do have to say the portions are large and could be easily split between two people but it's good to have leftovers too.
(5)
Anthony M.

OLD SCHOOL ITALIAN I remember finding this place and thinking I need to eat here. After several visits over the years, I couldn't believe I had never written a review of Ralph's. This place is classic old school Italian and it is really delicious. One of the things that attracted me to this restaurant was that it is the Oldest Restaurant in America run by the 4th generation of the Dispigno family. That is consistent food service if you ask me. Just knowing that these recipes have been handed down from generation to generation is just amazing. You can not mess with over 100 years of Italian tradition. So how did Ralph's start? In 1893, Francesco and Catherine arrived with their 3 year old son at Ellis Island from Naples, Italy. In 1900, they took all of there saved money to start a restaurant and live the American Dream. It is amazing to think that Ralph's is still operating today under the same family ownership for the last 113 years. I love the fact that many celebrities have made Ralph's there Italian Dinner destination. In fact, my favorite is Theodore Roosevelt. How cool is that? I find it amazing to be in the same room he was in & eating the same food he ate. That is priceless to me. The long list of celebrities goes on and on including Frank Sinatra and Sammy Davis, Jr. Most of you young Yelpers are saying, "Who?" Go to Wikipedia and search. Ha. I don't live in Philadelphia but I've been treated like gold in here. Once I brought a large group in and I looked like a rock star. Everyone in my group kept saying, "How did you find this place?" They were amazed at how nice the staff treated me. At the end of the day, us Italians have to stick together and the Ralph's staff made me look like a king. I've even sent friends here and I've gotten great compliments back. I've had many things on the menu. I really love the Chicken Parmesan. I can never go wrong with an Italian classic like that. It's just old school Italian and it is delicious. Salads are great to start or the soup of the day. I've also had the linguine & mussels too. I'm getting hungry just thinking about it. I can hardly wait to come back for some Italian comfort food. I also hope that this place is open for another 100 years. This way future generations can actually see what Italian food was like in the past. As we keep fusing ethnic foods together we keep losing the original dishes for future generations. And that is sad to me. An interesting story I heard. During prohibition they would serve there loyal patrons wine in coffee mugs. I love stories like that. In fact, it is amazing how many businesses were forced to find ways to do illegal things for there guests during prohibition. I'm just glad that stupid law got repealed. So if you come to Philly you must try two things...a Philly cheesesteak and an old school Italian meal at Ralph's. I guarantee your Philly dinning experience will be complete.
(5)
Kathleen D.

My husband's veal parmigiana was the hit of the night. It's a huge, easily splitable, thinly-pounded paillard, topped with tomato sauce and cheesy bubblin from the oven. That was the winner. The coating remained crispy under the sauce and the veal itself was perfectly tender. I liked my eggplant parm just fine, but it's not the best on the block, I opine. Sorry, rhyming again. We also ordered a side of meatballs and liked them too, but I'm gonna refer back to my previous statement: good but not the best on 9th street either. The entrees come with your choice of spaghetti or a vegetable side. We chose the pasta, of course. I wouldn't have taken such issue with the fact that it was a bit overcooked, a touch past the point al dente, but it's just that it was watery too. Arghh, not drained all the way. The tomato sauce and spaghetti suffered this way. Ah well. Maybe if I returned again, I'd go with the sauteed escarole instead. We ordered that too, and that was some good, garlicky, green goodness. See? I'd go back. I'd return if someone I know really wanted to go. I just wouldn't order the clams casino to start. Something about an old skooly Italian restaurant vibe triggers in us the urge to order such appetizers of the past. Mush. Ehhh...so I'd try a different starter. Another note, if you have the stomach space available, ending on the tiramisu would be a good choice. Though not a totally traditional style tiramisu (more like a cake), still tasty tasty. Service was excellent. Sodas are not free-refills. Hey, that IS old-timey. So that's the concise food ramblins right up front for yez. More information that you didn't ask for? Ok, here you go: After living in the neighborhood all these years we finally went to Ralph's. I only mention this proximity factoid cause after walking by this historic Italian restaurant roughly a thousand times, I never would have guessed that the place has three levels of dining inside. I completely thought that the intimate tile walled dining room decorated with many black and white family photos, reflecting Ralph's over-a-century long tradition, was the little Italian restaurant in its entirety. Wrong again, ole gal. We were seated on the first floor, right in the door, and and kept seeing this steady stream of waddlingly full diners emerging from the back somewhere, carrying bags of leftovers. Where are all these people comin from? That clue and overhearing a waiter tell another patron about the other two floors of dining explained things. Ah ha. Then why were we seated right on top of this other couple? Rubbin' elbows, like. I really think that we threw them off. Our presence either stopped their conversation immediately, or they were just the type to eat dinner in stony silence. Ah, I kinda felt sorry about it, ya know? They're all mid ravioli, they have the entire right half of the dining room to themselves...and then us. I wonder if it felt like for them that odd moment where you're sitting on the subway in a virtually empty car with ample open seats a-plenty and some weirdo plops down right next to you. Why oh whyyyy... Of course I could've requested that we be moved, but then I didn't know if maybe a busload of people had reservations or whatever. Also I didn't want to make the ravioli couple feel like we were repulsed by them or something. Anyway, any of my own awkward feelings subsided soon as our menus were presented to us and I immediately lose focus on everything else except what we're going to be ordering. Ralph's Restaurant is the oldest Italian restaurant (still owned by the same family) in the country. I read on the paper placemat of Ralph's history that President Theodore Roosevelt even may have stopped in for a meal one time. Ravioli couple was then treated to hearing my musings as to what ole rough-ridin' trust-bustin' Teddy might have ordered from Ralph's in his day. I didn't notice any game meats on the menu, but if he opted for the veal parmigiana, I'm betting that he'd be happy.
(3)
John B.

Revisited this spot after a long absence due to living in Washington, DC. The food now is only average. It is no longer the same Ralph's that I remember. The decor is the same, but not the food. I had their "famous" veal parmigiana, but there wasn't anything famous about it. My companion had the spaghetti with chicken livers and the livers were overcooked. Dessert was also a disappointment. The cannoli was not as good as we've had many places elsewhere. The cannoli cake was just too darn sweet. Sadly, don't go out out of your way to dine here anymore. All good things must come to an end, I guess.
(2)
Abby B.

I was excited to try Ralphs since it is the oldest Italian restaurant in the Nation. And it's right here in Philly! How come it took me 7 years to eat here? When you first walk in, you think, "Man, this place is small." Not so. There are three floors, with a little bar on the second floor. The menu is quite extensive and the prices are definitely affordable. I was craving ravoli and at $13, the portion was just right. However, I found the food...well, forgettable. I've had better Italian at some other Philly establishments. My friend shared my opinion as she said her gnocchi was just so-so. Definitely a place to check out just for the fact that it's a restaurant icon in the city. But for my next Italian craving, I'll head elsewhere.
(3)
Anna T.

Meh. The street parking situation is simply awful of course - I'm not too familiar with Philadelphia though, so perhaps there's some sort of trick to it I'm not aware of. The place is small, with uncomfortable small chairs and annoyingly small tables which jiggle, naturally. The bathroom was RIDICULOUSLY small and there was no mirror. Good news, it's so small you can't see if it's clean or not. Decently friendly, decently fast service and a server who didn't seem to be trying to steer us towards pricier dishes with her suggestions. Terrific bread, hands down the best mussels in red sauce I've ever had - we were fighting over the broth, eating it like soup - dinner partner's veal parm was ok, veggies overdone, my lasagne was fine, not fantastic, sautÃ©ed escarole was watery, sausage & peppers was fine, nothing special. Other than the mussels everything was "fine", not great but if someone said "let's go to Ralph's" my reaction would be "sure, ok" ... IF it wasn't for the parking and quite frankly I think the dinner menu is a little overpriced for the quality. Lunch is more reasonable for sure. Not sorry we went, and I'd go back and give it another chance if nobody had another suggestion, but also not my first pick of places to go, especially not for a relaxing romantic dinner.
(3)
Jim M.

Great Italian food. It's hard to beat this place. The only bad part is I need to come into the city from Montgomery County and fight the traffic.
(5)
Janice B.

We made reservations for New Years Eve and I have to say that we were both very disappointed. The food was mediocre at best and the service was subpar. For a $160 meal for two we should not have felt rushed. We ordered antipasto which was pretty good however they didn't wait until we were done or close to being done before bringing out the clams casino which I have made better at home. For my entree I ordered a veal dish with crab and scallops. This dish was $32 and the veal was tough and got a sprinkling of crab and 3 scallops. The sauce was awful so my boyfriend switched his meal for mine. He had orange roughy which was $20 something. It was just ok. For dessert we had tiramisu and coffee which would have been enjoyable if our waiter didn't decide to fill all the cheese containers right behind us and another kid spraying all the tables down with cleaning fluid. This will be our last visit to Ralph's. I would advise the same to others unless you have extra cash just simply to burn.
(1)
Michelle H.

My wonderful friends and their 8 and 4 year old stopped into town unexpectedly, and we decided it would be fun to spend the afternoon in the Italian Market neighborhood and have dinner there. What we hadn't really noticed was that it was Valentine's day. I started calling around to see who would take a party of six with two children with four hours notice, and while the other restaurants I called said they were usually family friendly, they would not have children on Valentine's night (I don't blame them). Ralph's very kindly took our reservation, and could not have been more accommodating. Despite it being a packed house, they were very attentive to our table - regular refills on our water and bread, checked on us regularly. The food was excellent (did I mention our guests are vegetarians), and they were easily to accommodate the vegetarians in our group. The waitress was very kind to the children, and made them feel like guests at the table rather than appendages to their parents. Ralph's has decent reviews, but I can honestly say the experience exceeded my reputation. I will gladly go back.
(5)
Karen L.

I've been coming to Ralph's for as long as I can remember, and always enjoyed the food and old world atmosphere. So when a friend came in from out of town to arrange a big dinner there, I was in! We started off with a number of their appetizers, the mussels marinara, roasted peppers with mozzarella, calamari and escarole. All were delicious except the mussels, which were tiny and disappointing. And we had lots of good, fresh bread from Sarcones bakery next door to mop up all that wonderful gravy. Our server was very good about making sure we had enough at all times. On to the entrees: I was a little disappointed to learn that they were sold out of both the Osso Buco and the braciole. Our server was very apologetic about this, so when I asked if the veal rollatini could be made with chicken (I don't eat veal), he said, of course. And it was, indeed, fabulous, topped with cheese, prosciutto, and mushrooms in a silky, buttery sauce. The pasta that accompanied it was cooked perfectly al dente, and it was lightly sauced with marinara. We capped off the evening with a couple of their amazing cannolis. It's been awhile since I've been to Ralph's, and it's just as good as I remember.
(4)
Michele F.

Solid, red "gravy" place in Philly. Beware - it's very cramped inside and a table for two gets smaller as the bread is brought out along with 2 water glasses, 2 wine glasses and a bottle of wine! Service was okay, nothing too special but they were very busy on the Sat. night we went. Food is delicious and the wine list is great . I'm always on the hunt for a great meatball and this place is in the top five! Prices are reasonable for a city restaurant. Definitely take advantage of the valet parking. Other wise you'll spend a lot of time circling the block and there are no nearby parking lots. Look forward to returning.
(4)
Chuq Y.

Well, what can I say about Ralph's that hasn't been said? With so many reviews, it's tough to add my own input and add something to the mix, but I will try. We were staying right by City Hall, so decided to walk down to Ralph's. That was a great call. Mainly because after eating, E and I could hardly walk because we were so full. Some of the highlights of our meal were the sides. Broccoli Rabe, and Meatballs. I think Meatballs are my new standard by which to judge Italian restaurants by. These meatballs were truly amazing. They seemed to just melt in our mouths. If you haven't had them yet, go back just for these. Holy cannoli (I'll get to dessert later). They should rename these on the menu to "Most amazing meatballs you've ever had in your life". They certainly were ours. When you walk in, there is a large room, and it seems that you're eating with about 50 of your closest friends. Everyone that works there has a thick accent that makes you feel like you just walked into a mob movie. Saweet. That's the kind of service I want in South Philly. And, it's America's oldest Italian restaurant. You know why if you've ever eaten there. We also got the sauteed long hot peppers. Delicious. The best part is dipping the bread into the oil left over. Wow. They weren't too hot, and definitely not overcooked. Perfecto! The Rabe was equally good. Cooked to perfection and whole, so you probably want to cut it with a knife. I ordered Linguini with clams in white sauce, and that totally hit the spot. There were tons of clams, a handful in the shell, and it was super tasty. We couldn't pass up a dessert, so we asked Chris, our server, for a recommendation and he recommended the cannoli cake. Boom. What a great suggestion. We probably didn't need to eat it all, but really, we couldn't help ourselves. Dang yo. That was good! They have a pretty extensive wine list with some great Italian wines that won't break the bank. I recommend the Cecchi. I highly recommend you go to Ralphs if you haven't already, and if you have, go back so you can be happy. After all, no one ever said, "Skinny and happy!"
(5)
Katelyn S.

Came here for my boyfriends birthday, after a coworker recommended it. It was a Tuesday night so it wasn't too busy. The food was delicious. The service was a little iffy. Not much of a personality. And it was VERY cramped. I felt like I was eating dinner with the family sitting next to us. It was hard for us to hold a conversation with each other. It was a nice dinner not sure we will come back.
(3)
Alea G.

Apparently Ralph's doesn't do pick ups on Saturday night. FAIL. Guess we have to go to Villa de Roma.
(1)
Courtney C.

A last minute Friday night trip that did not disappoint! In an effort to avoid meat for Lent, my boyfriend and I went to Ralph's in search of some delicious seafood and pasta. Extra points for having Lent specials with veggie soups and crab meat pasta! We started off with some fresh mozzarella and tomato which was great. My guy had the flounder francaise which he raved about for the rest of the weekend and a side of ravioli-delish! I opted for the manicotti. If you are a fan of cheese, do yourself a favor and order this- outstanding! Unfortunately, we had no room for dessert. Only con I can think of is that the temperature of the place was on the warm side. That won't stop us from going back!
(4)
Michelle P.

This might be my first Yelp review but this was not my first visit to Ralphs. My family has been going there for generations and I cannot even remember my first time there. Needless to say, it's an old favorite. I made a reservation for my husband and myself for Friday night for "date night". We ended up waiting at the upstairs bar for almost 30 minutes after the reservation time. We did get an upstairs table as we had requested. Unfortunately, we did not receive one of the private tables. We were seated at a table for 6- with another couple at the other end with an empty table in between. We eventually got used to other people at our table but we could not get used to the party behind us. There were several adults and a small child. You would think the child was the issue however one of the adults was causing a ruckus. He continuously made "fart" noises at the child- despite the pleas from his table to stop and my dirty looks. Luckily Ralphs was able to accommodate and move us to an open private table closer to the bar which was conveniently available as these issues occurred. The service was excellent. Despite a delay in being seated, our server was very attentive and apologetic when he thought he wasn't being. The food was also excellent. I had the veal francaise and my husband had the spaghetti with sausage and a side of meatball. My veal was very tender and the sauce was apportioned perfectly. The extra lemons on top caused the dish to be slightly too lemony- but still enjoyable. Knowing how filling this meal could be, we skipped appetizers and dessert. We did sample the bread which was very fresh and flowing to our table. We also had a carafe of the house pinot grigio which was reasonably priced and delicious. Looking forward to the next visit in July.
(5)
Rodrigo A.

Not the best Italian in town. You are better off going to Villa Di Roma down the street. The do however give you good portions, but the food is mediocre. I ordered the calamari and in came in a water down red sauce with not much flavor. Calamari was cooked well. My main dish was the chicken parmigiana, it really id not have much flavor. Salt and pepper go a long way. Service was terrible. I think they try to portray a rough south Philly vibe, but it's just a turn off. We were a 4 top and all of our food came out at different times. Very annoying when you are trying to eat together. I would NOT recommend this place to anyone thinking they want to go to a great Italian restaurant.
(2)
Bruce C.

ate at Ralph's last night. First was a cheese, salami, olive plate that was very good, then I had my usual, Eggplant Parm, layered like lasagna and it was perfect... Valet parking was a plus! Great food, great staff as usual !!!!
(5)
Tyler T.

I've lived in the Philadelphia area for about 15 years and I'm sad to say that I only learned of Ralphs about a year ago. To me, Ralphs is the embodiment of Philadelphia. The food is about as traditional Italian as you can get. It's the oldest Italian Restuarant in America that is still operating. The food is great and the service is exactly what you would expect from an old school Italian joint. If you are hosting guests from out of town and you want to show them what Philadelphia is all about...take them to Ralphs. They will leave very full and completely satisfied. Truly one of Philadelphia's most prized venues.
(4)
Matt P.

Newer is always better, but not in this case. Not much has changed in over a 100 years of service at Ralph's, and that suits me just fine. Sure, it's got the prestige, the history, the classic neighborhood feel, all of which really complement the food & huge wine cellar very well. Besides the suggesting the pastas, some notable orders I would recommend: Meatballs - delicious traditional seasoning Eggplant Parmesan Calamari in red sauce Mussels in white sauce Five stars for italian fare, you ask? Why yes, because the food is that good. There's few italian spots that I really recommend, but Ralph's does it well and should be a must try for anyone willing to shell out a couple bucks more than you'd pay at a chain restaurant.
(5)
N Y.

Been here about 5 or so times, the service is hit or miss but the food is always good.
(4)
Dehv O.

I love this place! I only went once, last week, and I'm already planning another day there. I wasn't sure how it was going to be considering it's in South Philly which means the restaurant was going to be super small. It was tiny but not too bad because there weren't a lot of people there at the time. The owner is a very nice guy and our waitress (forgot her name) was very cool! The food and dessert were amazing! Can't wait to go back.
(4)
Amy C.

My bf and I saw a groupon for this restaurant and decided to try it. When we walked in, we were seated immediately and was greeted right away. We were seated in the corner for two people, however, we thought that the table was kind of small for us. We ordered the mussels ($14) as our appetizers. Good thing, we finished the appetizer first before our entrees came because you couldn't have fit 3 plates on that table. The mussels were okay.. We definitely had better. I guess, we were a little disappointed that the mussels weren't bigger since they should be in season? I mean, the Italian market is like right there... and they sell a lot of fresh seafood there. Anyways, as my entree, I decided on the seafood pescatore ($26) and my bf got the chicken alfredo ($19). I felt that my dish wasn't as great. There was good amount of seafood but the sauce was a little off for me. My bf's dish was mediocre at best. It didn't look that appetizing nor did it taste that great. It was really bland and we added salt and pepper so that it could taste a little better. Honestly, we were sort of disappointed since a friend did recommend this place. It could be that our friend has bad taste or it could be, what we ordered? We decided to skip desserts since we weren't really satisfied with our meals. I'm glad that we had a groupon because we were not happy with our meal. We don't mind paying the price for good food but we felt that it wasn't worth it here. I gave it 2 stars because everyone was really friendly.
(2)
Roberto G.

First time here - have always heard great things about this "institution".....had a good friend from Texas in town visiting and brought him as well. Food was ok. I had a very good salad then penne with meatballs for my main course - it was good but not great. Our service overall was ok, but there just seemed to be an air of pomp with everything - plus our server was repeatedly coughing at the table. Dude - take some dayquil. I am open to going back to give it another shot but there are TONS of great Italian restaurants in this city, so probably won't be for a while. PS - our friend from Texas enjoyed it but since this was not his first time at the "south Philly rodeo" we could tell he wasn't overly impressed.
(3)
Li-Jen H.

The restaurant is quaint with nice mellow background music. I am not a connoisseur on Italian cuisine but I enjoyed their food very much. We did not order anything fancy, just the typical dishes that you would typically see on the dinner table in any typical Italian family household, such as chicken parmesan, chicken alfredo, mussels over spaghetti with white sauce, spaghetti with sausages. All came fairly quickly and tasted great. We order connolly as dessert and it was the best connolly I ever had. Crust was crunchy but not hard, and the filling was creamy and rich with bits of dark chocolate that brought another layer of enjoyment. What I liked best about their connolly was that they were not overloaded with sugar like the ones I had at other places. Overall the dining experience was excellent. The place is kind of small though, to my surprise. Their tables are fairly small and the gap between tables is fairly narrow. I wondered if that was just how the restaurant was set up originally when they opened in 1900 and just never changed anything since then. I suppose it's not a concern for their servers because their servers are all very slender. When we were leaving at the end of the meal, I saw a family walking into the restaurant with a baby in a baby carrier. Too bad I didn't get to see how the restaurant managed to find a space for the baby carrier. Parking near the restaurant is difficult. They do have a valet parking service for $8. I saw some reviews about having to wait for a while to get seated. In my case, I had made a reservation through their website, which was operated by OpenTable, the night before, which was easy and quick, and we got seated right away when we showed up for dinner.
(4)
D P.

I had the Chicken Sicilian and it was really really good. the hot pepper went perfect with it. Parking is tight so for 8 bucks just have the valet park your car. my tab was $22.00 not a bad price for the quality of food you get and the portions are appropriate.
(5)
Fred T.

Went here with a colleague of mine who has lived in the neighborhood his whole life. He knows the staff and well, the food was great and service quick and attentive. I had an enjoyable experience.
(4)
Joanna H.

It's definitely one of those more authentic Italian places than an Americanized/modern Italian restaurant, which is a plus for my personal taste buds! This place comes up on Groupon so often and always got me curious if Ralphs really is a legit place or not. I was lucky enough to go with a friend, who LOVES Ralphs. When you first step your foot inside the restaurant, you'll smell that cheesy smell and will know, Ralphs is real Italian. I sat down, got greeted nicely with our waiter who seemed to kind of rush us in the beginning but he go better throughout the time. First of all, the bread they give you is wow. Just a simple bread but soft in the inside and crispy crusts on the out. LOVED. I was craving two things this night. Gnocchi and pasta with vodka sauce. I decide to be adventurous and ended up ordering the Spinach Gorgonzola Gnocchi. I was grossed out when I first got the plate because the green spinach gnocchi look like cocoons..like literally... haha But the flavor is full of spinach of tastes really "green". The gnocchi is very dense with he spinach flavor and so if you like that , you'll love this dish. The gorgonzola sauce is not too heavy and balances greatly with the gnocchi. Portions are good. Price is not too pricey. Has a great selection of wine. The servers know what real authentic food id supposed to be like. Yes I would go back, but the reason I give 3 stars is because I think there will be better places that will blow my mind off, it is located in the Italian market area you know... I do recommend!
(3)
R M.

My first time there. Good to visit because of it's history Pro: Excellent service-very attentive. Good veal CON: Parking Gravy/sauce a little watery Pricey
(3)
Cory H.

Great sauce, love the chicken parm!
(5)
Mike F.

I was born in Philly, a long time ago, then moved away. It's changed a lot recently, especially South Philly. I went back recently, looking for the Italian places I remembered, but many of them seem to be gone. That's how I ended up at Ralph's one hot afternoon last week. I had an appetizer of calimari in red sauce. Quite good, especially when I dunked the bread into the sauce. For my main, eggplant parmigiana with a side of steamed escarole with garlic. Eggplant was great and super cheesy. Service was fantastic, in that gruffly businesslike but warm way where you feel like the waiter's your new friend.
(4)
Josh R.

As others have noted, it's overpriced for what it is. Solid food and service, but nothing that blew me away.
(3)
Caroline L.

My friend, who loves Ralph's so much introduced me to the place. He hosted his birthday here and invited 10 of his closest friends on a weekend night. And it was a festive place with great food and a celebratory atmosphere. I understand why he loves Ralph's with its ample, authentic Italian food, warm service, and gut busting servings. Come hungry.
(5)
Matt D.

This is one of those times when an extra half star would be nice. There's a lot to be said for tradition and family. It's impossible not to feel that here. The service is friendly, prompt and a little in your face (very Italian in a good way). The food is generous in size and quite good, but not amazing. It's probably just a personal preference, but I thought everything needed a little more acidity. We ordered the calamari appetizer, veal parmesan, and a cannoli for desert along with a nicely priced half carafe of wine. I thought they did a really nice job with calamari and veal managed to stay tender but crisp. You could actually cut it with a fork. The cannoli was average and I expected better bread from a place like this. Also of note: if you do not like to eat in extremely close quarters to other diners, do not go here. This little dining room is incredibly tight.
(3)
Monica L.

PROS: Decent taste, giant portions CONS: Cramped, mildly expensive The food and atmosphere wasn't great, but it's not bad either. For the price, I was expecting a bit better. The service was pretty fast/rushed --- with waiters running to and fro. The endless supply of complimentary bread was the most memorable part of the meal --- thick, crunchy crust covered with fragrant sesame. Mmmm...
(3)
Carolyn M.

We were in Philadelphia for the day and looking for a good place to eat. We found Ralphs and loved it. We arrived before 5 pm so they were able to seat us (6 in party) without a reservation. The food was quite tasty and portions large. We ended up taken some of the food home with us. I had the eggplant Parmesan, and it was perfect - great sauce, eggplant cooked properly with a nice crunch to it. No complaints about the service.
(4)
Dave G.

Exactly what you expect from an Italian restaurant in the Italian market. Great ambience, hospitality, and food. Good sizes portions that don't make you feel overwhelmed after dinner. Only thing is the food doesn't stand out from the rest of the Italian places in the area. But still a solid choice.
(4)
Anthony K.

Visited this old school italian restaurant with my girlfriend for a late Saturday lunch and were seated immediately. We started with mussel's (white) which were delicious. For main we had the veal parm and the eggplant parm. Both servings were huge and easily the best italian we have had in Philly. Big fans of the food and will definitely return. Only downside was the slow service. Our waiter 'disappeared' outside and whilst other tables were being served, we had to wait 20mins for him to return before we could ask for the bill...But that was only a minor point in otherwise a delicious and enjoyable lunch.
(4)
Shan M.

What a wonderful time we had here! We had reservations and had to wait a few minutes while they got our table ready. We were sat upstairs which was not a problem at all. Our server was prompt with out waters and taking our drink order. We just ordered the house Pinot Grigio which wasn't half bad at all! Bread was given to us right away following our food order. We got the calamari which everyone loved. Note- it's not fried so if you like it crispy do not order. And the sauce it came in was excellent. We all had different entrees and there was nothing left over! I had the chicken trombino. 2 chicken breasts with mozzarella, tomato, and delicious roasted peppers. Also came with a side of pasta. It was so good. I usually don't care for pasta but it had such an enjoyable taste and again the sauce was excellent. And the roasted peppers were great! I'm not sure exactly what everyone else ordered but like I said, there were no leftovers at all. The overall experience was exactly what I pictured. The ONLY downfall is that it was FREEZING on the second floor. It's summer, so I had a summer dress and sandals on and could not warm up at all. I couldn't wait to get outside to warm up. I will definitely be going back! And will dress to be comfortable this time. No other complaints. Go check it out!!
(4)
Jamie G.

Ralph's definitely lives up to its reputation. I've been here twice and both times the food has been phenomenal and the service is wonderful. The waiter the second time we went was extremely knowledgeable and even suggested a wine pairing for our dishes. The environment is very friendly and I would highly recommend Ralph's for anyone looking for some good Italian food in the city.
(5)
David M.

I heard so much good about it and I am picky but it lives up to its reputation and boy the portions are big. I will definitely go back and try more stuff as the menu is pretty expansive.
(4)
Mary C.

Reservations made on a busy Saturday night. We waited for 20 min for our waiter to arrive with water and bread all evidently a misunderstanding. We ordered calamari, manicotti, penne with sausage, and chicken tromboli(?). All worth waiting for. Finished with dessert "dark side of the moon". Will return soon.
(4)
Shereen C.

I respect the fact that Ralphs has been around for ages, but the food is not so good. At best, it's okay and that's about it. Veal was all right. Pasta was bland. The (complimentary) bread was pretty good, fresh and crusty.
(2)
Ron A.

Was excited to go hear after walking by it so many times. The restaurant itself is very cool, gives off a nice old school vibe. Unfortunately the food was so mediocre. The bread was cold and bland. The calamari was so-so. My girlfriend got the linguini with the alfredo sauce which tasted awful and bland once again. I had the chicken livers which were ok but the pasta and sauce were bland. I think this place needs to get its act together as I can't imagine they built their reputation on the food they're currently serving.
(2)
Christopher L.

Service: Very good. Several people keep saying in the reviews how bad the service was, however I was really happy with it. Granted not many were in the restaurant, however our server was very friendly. He was quite attentive, but not to the point of being a pest. I felt at ease and quite welcomed. Food: They serve simple Italian dishes. Granted, they are a bit Americanized (Spaghetti and meatballs for example) in some ways, but this is what you get in the US from Italian restaurants. I had the veal parm, which was quite good. The veal was crisp and flavorful. The red sauce was also tasty. This is not Branzino, or a high end type restaurant. It is simple, but well prepared and really flavorful. Decor: The floor is over 100 years old and original. The pictures, and wall paper, and overall feel of the restaurant is much like a really good trattoria you'd find in Italy. It did not seem touristy. I quite enjoyed it. History: This is currently the oldest Italian restaurant in the US. It has tons of history and style. Overall I was very happy having lunch at Ralph's. I will be back and would certainly recommend this place to others.
(4)
Mike T.

Visited Ralph's for the first time ever and left pleased with the quality, quantity and the atmosphere of enjoying dinner in an old school Italian establishment. The history behind this place makes you know your not in some new school restaurant as you enjoy a great meal. Upon arrival are reservations were looked up and we had a few minute wait at the bar but being we were 45 min early we were seated within 10 min which was great. We were served nice Italian seeded bread which was good. Me and my date enjoyed 2 main dishes with her enjoying the Fettuccine Alfredo with chicken which looked very delicious and I enjoyed the Black Lobster Ravioli's with scallops and olives in scampi sauce very good and hit the spot. Serving size and quality was very competitive with other establishments. We did not opt for desert as we were pretty stuffed but the desert selection did look tasty. One thing me and my date enjoyed about this place was the very close feel of being a family, the tables are close the atmosphere is a bit loud but you feel like your one big Italian family enjoying a meal and the history behind the place add's to this. I would definitively return to Ralph's and enjoy some of the wider selection of meal's next time especially some of the Veal selection's they have. Give Ralph's a shot if you like a nice meal and wan't a little history behind your meal they have to be doing something right if there still in business for over 100 years!
(4)
Jessica S.

Well, I guess it's hard to give a fair review of a place after you've experienced the wrath of food poisoning after a meal there. The food and the experience were decent, until all that happened. I am thinking it was the clams... damn clams! The server was pretty terse and not all that friendly, but was able to help us pick out a good wine with certainty. The wine list had a nice selection and I was happy to find that it was well priced and not overly ridiculous as wine can usually be at restaurants. The "specials" rotate seasonally and are obviously the most expensive things on the menu. I did find them to be slightly overpriced compared to the rest of the menu which was surprising. The food was standard, classic Italian food, but honestly have had better or at least similar at other Italians in Philadelphia. I really do kinda want to go back, but I am probably too scared by my first experience there.
(2)
Christina G.

I went on Saturday night around 8pm for dinner for 2. We had an 8pm reservation and were seated right away. The restaurant was busy and just about every table/seat was taken but there was no wait for a table. Service was great. Our waiter came over right away to take our drink orders and to see if we had any questions about the menu. He gave us a heads up that the veal takes a little bit longer to cook (after all they make everything fresh) but we still felt that they were pretty quick. I am not sure why other people on yelp complained about the prices. I think the prices are reasonable and just about right for Italian in this neighborhood. Our 2 martinis came to $18 which is cheaper than most places in the City and they were good. We ordered the clams casino for appetizer, a veal dish, escarole as side with the veal, and seafood pescatore. The clams casino was decent but not the best I ever had. You got 6 filled clam shells which is pretty typical. I like mine a bit spicier but they were still good. I thought my seafood pescatore was very good and had a nice amount of mussels, crab meat and shrimp with a large amount of linguini. I took half of my meal home since it was so big. Sauce on the veal was good. They give plenty of bread to soak up the sauces which is nice and are happy to bring out extra complimentary bread. They get it from Sarcones which is next door and well known for their great bread. Prices for entrees averaged about $20. It's probably not the best Italian I have had in my life, but it was very good and authentic. Everything tastes like it is made fresh and way better than any chain restaurant like Carrabbas and Olive Garden and not much different in price. Our bill before our groupon came to about $70 for 2 entrees, an appetizer and 2 martinis. Plus, the history behind Ralph's is pretty cool. And no they do not accept credit cards.
(4)
Tyler L.

I've been to Ralph's several times and I am glad that I liked it...as I get the feeling that a negative review would invite a crowbar to the knee while I walk the streets one night (I kid, sort of). This latest time spurred me to write a review because I really liked it more than previous visits...the food this time was delicious (rigatoni with chicken) and the spinach gnocchi was also solid. The vibe is old school italian in a way that is inviting as opposed to intimidating. Our waiter was dating the daughter or granddaughter of Ralph and he was entertaining as hell. Listen...the food isn't going to blow you away, but take it all in and observe what is going on around you and you will like this place. My only complaint is the bread...it really isn't that good. I am sure that sounds sac-religious, but I have spent a ton of time living next to King Arthur Flour so my standards are high. Anyways if you live in Philly and haven't tried it, you need to cross it off your bucket list. If you are visiting from out of town, you should step out of the cozy restaurants in center city and try this authentic italian in south philly.
(4)
Jason G.

The most authentic, old school Italian family restaurant you'll ever experience, period. If I'm not mistaken, I believe it's the oldest Italian restaurant in the entire United States too. The experience is a 10. The food is an 8. The prices are an 8. The meatballs are fantastic. The calamari, gnocchi and chicken parm are staples in this place. The bread they serve is outstanding. This place is to Philadelphia as to what Chase Utley is to the Phillies. A true legend. Go, enjoy and experience the history.
(4)
Theresa A.

Went here on a whim with the boys because I didn't feel like cooking. Used my trusty Opentable.com app to make the reservation--and so glad I did! When we got there the place was packed! Clearly this was the place to be! The atmosphere feels exactly like what you would want an Italian Restaurant to feel like--upon sitting down you can't help but think that there's an 80 year old Italian woman on the other side of the kitchen door cooking up your meal! The food was great--fresh and hearty. Our server was an older Italian gentleman who I wouldn't doubt has worked there for decades. He was attentive, friendly, and offered helpful suggestions. We had the Spinach Gnocci in a cream sauce (A++), Lasagna (A), Fettuccini Alfredo (B+), and Chicky-Chicky-Parm-Parm (A-). We will definitely be back again--and we will undoubtedly get a new round of dishes to judge as we had a hard enough time deciding what to get this time!
(5)
Greg R.

In from Florida. This had to be the worst experience I've had. I actually thought I was being secretly filmed for an episode of kitchen nightmares. Started with the ceaser salad that was over dressed and served with croutons the size of boulders. Followed up with an order of clams casino that were mushy and missing any sign of clams. We then were seved the grilled calamari tossed in a red sauce. This was tasteless except for a somewhat fishy flavor. We sent it back only to be confronted by the manager who thought it was appropriate to come out chewing his supposed bite of our calamari to argue with our table about how delicious it was. Not only wouldn't I step foot back in this place I'm advising anyone who would consider going here they should think twice and then think again.
(1)
Tony M.

Okay food, Italian like, but penne out of the box. Can you say Mueller's? Not sure i will return.
(2)
Emily V.

Take this restaurant at face value--mom n' pop homemade cookin'. It's very scrumptious pasta and sauce dishes--choose your combinations! Be prepared as the ambiance is very 1972 and the bathrooms are 1960'esque. My boyfriend enjoyed the chicken Parmesan which was a massive proportion. I would definitely recommend their homemade marinara sauce. I will say I didn't care for their bread, but my boyfriend said he loved it. It's the oldest family Italian restaurant in the country. Give it a try!
(4)
Lac B.

Great Italian restaurant, authentic and the waiters were on point with everything. I love this place.... Good portion size of the food and the price was great... Will come again and recommend to all...Thanks for the home feeling.. That the best when u get that feeling of home
(5)
Angela A.

Went for anniversary dinner at my husband's choosing. I knew I was in for a bad experience when calling to make a reservation was a chore. No one that works here is personable in any way. Discussions about personal medical issues were shared in the open. There was often np one to greet incoming customers and there was only one young lady that greeted anyone with enthusiasm. There was no explanation of the food at all. Sorry to all my South Philly compadres, but the Sarcone's bread was terrible. I think it would have been lovely had it been warmed. I would have preferred it to be served with Olive oil rather than butter. We ordered the greens and pastina soup which i put cheese on it so the extreme saltiness could be attributed to that, but I love salty stuff and this was just too salty. My husband had fettuccine Alfredo with chicken, I did not taste it, so I cannot say if it was good. I must say one good thing is the cheese shaker. I always take the lid off and look at the top to see if it is clean or caked with cheese, this one was clean. I ordered from the new trattoria menu. I ordered the spinach gnocchi dish. I don't like sausage so I wanted it without the sausage. I was told I couldn't get the sauce the dish comes with and not get the sausage, so I got it with alfredo. Was not expecting what I got. The actual gnocchi was made with spinach and I expected the spinach to be in the sauce. The gnocchi was definitely frozen (easy way to tell is if they are all exactly the same). They were not cooked properly they were little rocks. I thought better than to add cheese I should taste first. Thank goodness I did! The sauce was completely over salted. There was supposed to be sun dried tomatoes in the dish as well, not on my dish. I ordered my dessert to go and as yet have not ventured to taste it. I had a large portion of my entrÃ©e boxed as well. The chefs need to make things from scratch. I doubt their ancestors served frozen pasta. Their wait staff need a lesson on personality and customer service. We won't return.
(1)
DJO O.

I've been going here for 30 yrs the food the service is always 100%. You simply can't go wrong here ! chio
(5)
Eric N.

This place has got SOLID, but not extravagant Italian food. the veal and eggplant parm are excellent. The joint is a little divey, but in a friendly, old school kind of way. Clean, cheap, solid. Check it out.
(4)
Chris P.

I took my wife for her birthday with a party of 7 and had an excellent meal. We want to go back as soon as we can. The calamari appetizer is sautÃ©ed not deep fried an so tender it melts in your mouth. A+!
(5)
Louis F.

Fantastic. I have never been to a restaurant before that was formal enough to take reservations but informal enough that the wait staff was wearing Eagles jerseys. This restaurant is one of those places where literally nothing on the menu looks bad--that combined with the old interior was, as a tourist, a novel experience. I think even if I lived in Philadelphia I'd still want to come back week after week.
(5)
marie d.

I've been to Ralph three times over the past few years, and I don't think I'll be going back again. Bottom line: this place is overpriced. Case in point in the tomato and mozzarella appetizer. It's $9.75. I understand that appetizers and desserts are the place to mark-up prices, and that's fine. These people run a business to make money. However, I cannot respect a restaurant that gouges its customers. This particular appetizer is one tomato cut up (prob cost them 50 cents), a few small mozzarella balls, and then a drizzle of balsamic vinaigrette. A dish that costs them $2-$3 to make should not be priced at $9.75. Similarly, a bottle of beer, Stella, cost $7. Furthermore, the menu prices on their website are out of date and misleading. Another case in point: the veal saltimbocca. On the website, it's listed as $23. In the restaurant, however, its $25. This is one of my favorite dishes because of the prosciutto that is traditionally supposed to cover the veal cutlet. At Ralph's, there were three tiny bites of prosciutto. I honestly don't think I was even given one full slice, let alone enough to cover the veal. I think Ralph's offers traditional Italian food in a great atmosphere. However, in a city like Philadelphia where Italian restaurants are a dime a dozen, Ralph's has to do much more to make it worth your while. The food isn't bad, but it's not great either. On top of serving lackluster food, they have the nerve to charge an arm and a leg for it. I can think of at least two other Italian restaurants in the city where the food is better AND cheaper. Ralph's is the perfect example of a once-great restaurant that is now resting on its laurels and relying on name only. Try it out if you must, but don't expect to be wowed.
(2)
Zach Q.

The food was good. The service was just alright. I can see what the hype is about, but it's not for me.
(3)
Jim H.

Well, it was one of the best caesar salads I've ever had in my life. I certainly remember that much. After that, the memory gets a little foggy. No, I didn't drink too much Chianti. I just ate way too much Italian food...it's what I've come to expect from a great Italian restaurant. See for yourself what I'm talking about.
(4)
Steve S.

You know why I love this place so much? Not because my mom brought me here as a kid. Not because Sinatra ate here. Nothing like that. No, I love it here because it is one of the only Italian restaurants in the world where I am completely satisfied ordering the basic menu items. Any Italian place I go, I like to try to order the more creative dishes more often than not. But my last meal here... lasagna with a side of meatballs. The waiter referred to it as a meatball chaser. That is now my new favorite term. Now, if I love this place so much, why not 5 stars? Well, I'll just say that the meatballs are probably the best I've had in the city of Philadelphia. The lasagna was just very good. It didn't taste like "best in the city" status when I had it last week. But it certainly did not suck in the least. And a huge anniversary meal for two including soup, salad, bottle of decent wine, entrees, and 2 desserts came in under $100. No suckage at all there.
(4)
Albert S.

Ralph's had all the old fashion Italian charm. The food was excellent and the service was very good.
(4)
Gi T.

I was excited to visit Philadelphia's ancient Italian eatery and convinced a group of my friends to join. We're all in the culinary industry, so I think we are pretty considerate of the staffs in the back. It's too bad, because our meals was pretty awful. It's not even that the technique was lacking or the flavors; everything was lacking! The food was poorly prepared, I've had better Italian food from a neighbor! I am so deeply disappointed. I came in not even expecting high end quality food, just a good ol' country/home style Italian meal. The food here lacks Italy's freshness, and rustic charms. There are much better Italian fares in the city. The people may be nice, but the food has since lost its charm. p.s. This is a nice review compared to what my fellow diners said.
(2)
William H.

I visited Philly for the day yesterday with my daughters and couple guests. They said they like Italian food and I found this place on a list of the best in Philly. I wanted to give them something really good. After eating there, I don't know what the fuss is about. Not special. Preface: I don't want to just rip the place. My chicken parm was good. The service was attentive and just fine. 1) The house wine is one of the cheap giant jug wines. I'm not saying that is necessarily bad (I didn't try it) but I will say you won't see one of those jugs at a "fine" restaurant. Boxed wine is classier. At least pour from the jug into the "carafe" somewhere the diners don't see you, guys! 2) The pasta sauce was not as good as some that you find in a jar. If they make it in-house, they should consider some of the better jars. Try the "Victoria" brand sauce. 3) The dÃ©cor is a bit run down for a place people are calling "the best." I wouldn't mind if it was the original dÃ©cor from when they opened over a hundred years ago (it isn't) if it seemed better maintained. It all seems kind of low-rent, like they remodeled in the 70's and just wiped it down since then. 4) The pricing is somewhat high considering all the above. If you're paying $18-$32 for an entrÃ©e, I think you get a tablecloth and not a placemat. I did find the history of the restaurant on the placemat to be interesting though.
(3)
Hivie C.

Excellent food and price ^_^ .... The place is all but coZy .... Waiter was nice ....I would definitely come back again
(5)
Anna Marie C.

its really hard to mess up italian food. really. but to make it really good? well, it's really not ralph's. i'm not so sure why people love it. the food was forgettable. the restaurant is kinda cramped. the neon signs just make it laughable. there is so much better italian food in this fine city of philadelphia... go elsewhere.
(2)
Devon L.

I had been wanting to try Ralph's for awhile and my boyfriend made us a reservation here for my birthday last night. When we walked in, the first floor was packed! We were told to go upstairs and we were seated there. I like the vibes of this place because its pretty old school. It was loud on the first floor, even louder on the second floor because we were in between 2-3 huge parties also there celebrating birthdays. The high ceilings and tile floors definitely contributed to the loudness! It was overwhelming for a minute, but then I felt right at home, took me back to my Italian family's loud Sunday night dinners. I wanted a white wine, and B wanted red so our server suggested we do half a carafe of each which worked out perfectly. I wish I could remember our server's name because he was prompt, polite, and made sure we were taken care of the entire night even though he was very busy helping with the other large parties. I love bread, especially the crusty bread that's great for dipping or buttering up, so our bread basket was basically devoured. We had the calamari as an appetizer, and it was great, of course we used our bread to mop up some of the extra red sauce. I had the shrimp scampi for my entree and I loved how perfectly garlicky and buttery the sauce was, the dish had about 8 large sized shrimp and the overall portion was huge and delicious. B had the chicken parm, and that portion was even more huge. Even though we were both pretty stuffed, I saw some desserts getting delivered to one of the nearby tables and knew we had to order a cannoli, and it was massive, perfectly sweet and one of the best I've had recently. I would recommend Ralph's to anyone in the mood for good, classic Italian food, in a loud and fun atmosphere. Really enjoyed it here and would definitely go back again!
(4)
Colleen S.

I've been to Ralph's a few times and have always had a great meal! The food is worth a five, but there are a few downsides to this restaurant. It is very small and very loud, which is fine as long as you are looking for what sort of atmosphere. When it is busy, the service is VERY slow. We thought we were the forgotten table and had to ask multiple times for our drinks/waiter. The waitstaff was very nice, but was very overwhelmed the night we were there. Bruchetta was a delicious appetizer to split. Didn't seem to have any balsamic like most do, but it was very fresh and very good! I had the Fettuccine Alfredo. I have had a lot of Alfredo sauces, but I would have to say that this is one of the best! Very think, very creamy, very flavorful. It will make you want a nap after dinner! Everyone else loved their meals as well. One was lobster ravioli, one was a steak/pasta dish and one was a veal dish. I would definitely recommend this place, just don't go when you are trying to get a quick meal! Make a night of it to savor your amazing food.
(4)
Stacey M.

Ok I was very excited to try this Italian restaurant with my son and we were both disappointed. Pork chops were so tough my son could barely chew them. Eggplant parm was mediocre and the "Italian" bread was nothing more than a hoagie roll cut up. To make matters worse, our waiter was inattentive and NEVER asked how our meal was. Just an impersonal assembly line and you would get a much better meal and service at an Olive Garden. Major waste of money. Would definitely NOT recommend.
(1)
Kris B.

I come from Italy, Rome, and today on a trip to Philly we decided to visit the Italian area. We were happy to see a lot of groceries, stores selling italian food. We decided to have lunch there and try the most rated italian restaurant: Ralph's. That experience turned very soon into a nightmare! First of all the customer service is terrible. Then start with the food. We took an Antipasto that is basically a mix of cured meat and cheeses selection on a salad base. The cured meat had all the same flavour, and some of the cheese had mold on!!!!!! Then we took 2 white clams spaghetti 1 ravioli with marinara sauce, and 1 veal chop. Spaghetti: over cooked pasta, and was so evident that the pasta was not sauteÃ© with the clams, but the 2 ingredients just mixed together. That pasta was beyond full of garlic and those clams were perfectly defrosted!! No trace of olive oil inside, but a huge quantity of a dark slimy liquid. That pasta was disgusting, uneatable, and unhealthy!!!!! Never eaten some clams spaghetti like that before ( in a bad meaning). Ravioli: hehehehehe. Call that stuffed pasta Ravioli it's an insult to the real fresh pasta. They were stuffed with an acid cheese that was not ricotta at all, covered with a small amount of similar sauce called marinara sauce, more terrible than the ravioli. Those ravioli sucked, like the spaghetti! Veal chop: have u ever eaten a piece of meat with no flavour? Yes I had. In that restaurant!! That veal chop was so sad, no flavour at all, hard like a wood shelf, unsalted, no trace of oil on. Then i asked some olive oil to pour on top, and the waiter came with a glass bottle full of a oily light yellow liquid. I tasted few drops and it was canola oil. I told to the waiter and he said that they don't have olive oil to serve. In italy canola oil is used in the car engines, not as a seasoning!!!! Then the bill came: 121$!! For that shit 121$!! I was so upset to waste all that money, but i was even more upset for the publicity of a fake italian food that the restaurant is making!!! That place is a cheap quality italian fast food imitation and should be taken out from any food guide!!! I went there because it's well rated!!!! Pls don't go there to eat, don't burn your money, that " restaurant" serves food for dogs.
(1)
Jackie F.

Food is always consistently delicious old world Italian. Great time for a group of seven.
(4)
Meghan K.

As a true Philadelphian I though it was due time to experience "Americas oldest Italian restaurant". I took my dad who is from out of town and has heard of Ralph's authetic Italian food, and has been dying to try the food himself. I would give it a 3 out of 10, at best. The only reason I am giving it 2 stars is because I respect how long they have been around and still operating under the same original family. As for the food, it is easily comparable to Diner quality. The meatballs very closely taste like IKEAS sweedish meatball (and we all know they are frozen) and the sauce tasted like it came streight from Prego's jar. The only plus I can give them, is that the pasta was cooked to a perfect al'dente. The parmesean cheese was not freshly grated, it came in the traditional pizza joint glass shaker that were placed on every table, so who knows how fresh it actually was. It also took about 7 min from the time we placed our order, to our food to reach the table, which is another red flag. Was it not made to order? My mind wonders. Please, save yourself the overpriced and overrated food, and go to Giorgio's On Pine if you want exceptionally good Italian cuisine.
(2)
Jeanny C.

Summary: Their special for the night was the best part. Not a great location or space to have a fancy dinner or throw a big party. I would probably go with family or friends again just because it was the first family owned Italian restaurant of the united states, but besides that I do not really find it overall that special. Too pricey. Food: Appetizers: Escargots Au gratin ($8.50) The escargots were really large for its size, it was tasty but could be because it was literally all butter. I still enjoyed it, but it could be better if it was less buttery. Entree: Chicken Parmigiana ($17.00) My opinion is it is a bit too pricey for such a common dish. However, it was a bit crunchier than other chicken parm that I have had. Besides that I did not find it any special and definitely not worth its price. Black Lobsters Raviolis ($20.00) This dish was one of their specials for the night, not on their menus. It was tasty, but a little too salty and buttery. It comes with jumbo shrimps and capers. The dish looks small, but very filling. Place: Location: It is within a residential area, about two (or more) blocks away from South St (Main commercial area). I took a cab there and back (cost about $20). Not easy access. Residential area also means hard to find parking. Environment: The place has tinted windows, so we cannot see from outside. The moment you walk in you basically see the whole place, very small. The tables are cramped on top of each other. I went there on a Tues night, and there was a lot of elders, probably not a young hip place. Price: I think the overall pricing is too high. Two people: 1 appetizer, 2 entree and some fountain drinks came out to be around $60 (with tip).
(2)
Chevy Chase Reviewer A.

About as good as Italian food gets. Been going here for years, quality of food and service are as good as ever (just went again 2 weeks ago). I'd put their Veal Saltimbocca up against any other Italian restaurant in the country. Seriously, it's that good. Tight seating but still somehow intimate. New option for valet parking is huge, used this the last few times I went.
(5)
Lilli C.

I've had way better Italian food than this. I figured, a S. Philly Italian place has to be the best. Nope! Even Maggianos is 10x better. The calamari was very tender and perfectly cooked, but the sauce it came with was watery, silghtly too sweet for my taste, and looked like it came from a can. I got the chicken parm, which was enormous but just tasted okay. There was nothing too special about it. My boyfriend got the veal piccata which had the usual lemon/butter sauce, but it was thick and globby looking like it was made with corn starch. The side of vegetables he got was DRENCHED in butter. There was a 2 inch pool of butter at the buttom of his dish. The service was okay, but the interior is a bit cramped. I didn't really like how my table for 2 was SO close to the table of 4 next to us. I felt like we were practically sitting at the same table. The 1/2liter of house chianti, however, was pretty good, but if I'm in search of delicious Italian food I will not be returning here. I'd much rather go to Cucina Forte around the corner.
(2)
Lauren P.

Great old school italian food! The veal cap and mussels red are a must. If you have not been to Ralphs you are missing out .
(5)
Kem W.

An OK Italian restaurant in Philadelphia's Little Italy. The upstairs dining room was interesting but the table for four they sat us at was too small. I had the pasta with anchovies and garlic as an appetizer. Meh. The house salad was just an ordinary salad you'd get at any salad bar. I asked for the house dressing and got vinegar and oil. My entree was the chicken trombino. It was a good sized portion but nothing great. Other dishes at the table included the eggplant parmigiana the chicken marina. No complaints from those diners. Wait service was passable. This is an old place with interesting decor but I bet there are better restaurants in the area.
(2)
Mezz M.

Ralphs is one of the oldest restaurants in Philadelphia. Although I have only been there a couple times, I can honestly say they have maintained the quality of their food as well as lived up to their reputation. Everything is fresh and cooked on premises. You can practically smell all the exquisite ingredients when your dish arrives. Not only is the food delicious, they get their bread from next door - Sarcones, which itself is a delicious concoction. Ralphs by far has the most delicious Italian food I've ever tasted, great portion sizes, and very nice staff. Be sure to stop by next time you are in the Italian market, you will not be discouraged.
(5)
Meredith G.

I wrote a review on Ralph's a few years ago. I've gone back many, many times since. I recently went this year to celebrate an anniversary and now they accept credit cards which is great. However, their bruschetta, the sole reason I went there, has changed. It's standard cubes tomatoes now instead of one warm and creamy tomato. Needless to say, I will probably go elsewhere sans bruschetta from now on. Disappointed.
(3)
Ashley L.

Oldest Italian restaurant in America...so it must be good for lasting this long! ;) The shrimp scampi was perfect and we got the house red wine for our table. Everything was great about that meal. Definitely go if you want an amazing Italian meal!
(5)
Steve S.

6 at our table. Had never been here in all my years in Phiily. Was not too impressed. Actually, it wasn't a bad meal, but when you serve us two side orders of cold meatballs and broccoli rabe that was way over cooked - 2 basic things a good italian restaurant should serve properly, well it's hard to give a 3 star "A-OK". Our entrees were decent, not wow, but good. The bread was good, but not great. Service was pleasant, and efficient. We were seated upstairs and liked the ambience of the place. I liked the everything salad - basic, old school, but big, fresh and good.
(2)
Casey R.

Perfect spot for a filling Italian meal in South Philly. We came here on a Sunday and were seated upstairs, it appeared that the downstairs was mostly larger groups and the upstairs was couples and small tables. The server was excellent with recommendations and Clay had what he claimed to be his favorite clams casino dish ever as an appetizer. I had a nice salad to start with lots of blue cheese and balsamic. For entree I ordered the alfredo as I typically do when dining out at Italian places and it was superb. Very creamy, yet flavorful and the pasta used was fresh and had an excellent texture. Clay enjoyed one of their veal dishes and we both had a nicely priced bottle of red wine. All in all, I highly recommend Ralph's especially if you want that old South Philly feel and history.
(4)
Mike C.

We stopped in here for lunch on Saturday. The first thing we found out is that on weekends, they only have the dinner menu. No big deal, as I was starving, but some lunch options would have been nice. We got bruschetta and calamari for appetizers. The calamari was delicious - it comes sauteed in marinara, and it was perfectly cooked and tender. My only gripe is that I expected more than what we got for $14. For lunch I got the eggplant parm. Portion size was not an issue this time, as I got more than enough to fill me up. It was pretty good, but I felt the marinara sauce was mediocre at best. One person with me got spaghetti and meatballs, which he said was delicious; another got chicken caesar salad and did not like the dressing that came with it. The service was also up and down as well. Our waiter was practically mumbling at the beginning of our meal, but by the end had woken up a bit. The hit or miss nature of Ralph's led me to give it 3 stars. It was an overall pleasant experience, but nothing to write home about
(3)
David R.

My wife and I went here for dinner with an open table gift card. The atmosphere is fitting for an old Italian restaurant. We planned to share the tomato mozzarella salad to start, however, when the dish came out the tomatoes looked terrible. They were pink, not red, and the insides were white (this was in prime tomato season mind you). We both could tell without even tasting that it would not be good and the first couple tastes just confirmed our observations. Where's the quality control in the kitchen?!? Doesn't the chef take any pride in what he serves? Anybody with half a brain could tell the tomatoes were crap, yet somebody in the kitchen made the decision to send it out the kitchen door. Inexcusable and shows a complete lack of respect for the customer. We brought it to the attention of our server who was very apologetic and said he would take it off our bill (I'm sure he could tell the tomatoes were crap). We both got veal entrees which were ok, but still unremarkable. The pasta and sauce on the side was the best part. A Philadelphia institution, yes, but times have evolved and better food can be found elsewhere.
(2)
Steph K.

My friends and I went here a couple of weeks ago. I got the lasagna and didn't think it was good at all. For a highly recommended Italian restaurant I was expecting a lot better food. Also they don't even bake there own bread. It was just a hoagie roll cut up not even warmed. I wouldn't go back. Also there was a football game going on that night when we were there and a bunch of people who worked there sat at a table in the back watching the game on a ipad which I thought was weird and unprofessional. If you really want to watch the game but a flat screen tv in the restaurant.
(2)
Valerie Y.

Living in Philadelphia offers a plethora of trendy celebrity chef restaurants, so you sort of forget about the iconic institutions that our city has historically been known for. Over the years we have visited several great Italian places in South Philly like Mr. Martino's, Tre Scalini, and most recently, The Victor Cafe--all family owned restaurants which deliver not only delicious food, but also a unique ambiance and exceptional service. Tonite we celebrated a friend's birthday at Ralph's, which was an unfortunate disappointment. To begin with, the food lacked anything unique in preparation, presentation or flavor. A plate of about 10 ravioli was about as drab as the stuff you find in Acme's frozen aisle...in fact, you'd have a hard time convincing me that my eggplant parmesan was not a frozen Celetano entree. A pile of fettuccini Alfredo arrived in a white dish without even a parsley sprig or sprinkle of herbs to make it look slightly appealing. Judging by the amount left on the dish, I would assume it tasted as good as it looked. The saving grace was the bread; it was everyone's favorite part of the dinner. Secondly, the service was slow, spotty and unfriendly (except for the bread guy - again, the highlight of the meal). I hate to feel like I'm putting anyone out, especially when I'm paying them to make us feel special. They didn't even bother to wish the birthday girl a Happy Birthday. Our waiter prematurely removed our unfinished drinks and then charged us for refills. Anything to jack up the check, I guess. Other servers at Ralph's Italian Restaurant seemed equally blase, which made me long for the servers at the Victor -- not only do they give you proper attention, but they sing too. Finally, Ralph's Italian Restaurant is not worth the high price we paid for such simple and unimaginative food. I have spent less at Mamma Maria's and Tre Scalini for much better quality, flavor and presentation of these traditional dishes. As a cash only establishment, you'd imagine they'd have a working ATM, but I had to walk a couple blocks away to tap PNC's ATM machine. That was the clincher for me. With so many options of the same genre so close by including Villa di Roma or Dante and Luigi's, I won't waste my time or money at Ralph's again.
(2)
Powell A.

It is tough to separate the atmosphere and history of the restaurant (founded in 1900 and still owned by the same family) from the food. CASH ONLY! The food is well prepared from a standard menu of traditional red-sauce Italian. The appetizers and bread are delicious (you'd expect the bread sitting next to Sarcone's Bakery) The room is tight. The tables are small. The service is very attentive. The atmosphere is 100% authentic South Philly. Go hungry for a traditional Italian meal and you'll leave stuffed and satisfied.
(4)
Sloane C.

As a young kid I always remember going to Ralph's for the best italian food in Philly. Well now that it is the oldest italian restaurant in America this must be the best in America. It has that home feel to it and the staff is wonderful. The place is always packed and loud which is what I love! Delicious bread and wine to start the meal with the best mussels - we couldn't get enough of the sauce!! For dinner my friends had veal parm, chicken parm and a penne in vodka sauce which were all delicious. I got linguine with clams - the clams are so amazing and the broth is to die for! Portions are extremely generous - always leftovers for tomorrows lunch! :) To end the meal make sure you get a piece of the cannoli cake. I love desserts and this has to be one of my absolute favorites! If you want an at home feel with simply delicious food this is the place to be. We always leave happy and very full! This place may be over a 100 years old but I have a feeling it will be around for at least 100 more!
(5)
Ed K.

Wow what can I say. The food was fantastic. Took 9 people there for a birthday after the Franklin Institute. However, our first server Alfred. Not so much. Standoffish, defensive, apprehensive. We were to have a good time, he was there to push us through. A 500 dollar check, I don't think so. He knew he was wrong at the end and offered free dessert . I don't care that he announced he was there 19 years that means nothing in service. It's the moments that counts. Bad move Alred.
(4)
Kevin C.

When I was visiting Philly I wanted to check out the old 9th Street Italian market famous from the Rocky movies. When I discovered that the oldest Italian restaurant in America was also on 9th St, I stopped in for a late lunch/early dinner. My waiter greeted me with "How you doin'? Good?" in a thick tough guy Philly-italian accent. There was almost no pause between the words "doin" and "good." The way this guy talked to me pretty much made the experience 4-5 stars. Something about him was also kind of intimating and I thought this was awesome. Part of the old Italian market experience perhaps. Now for the food; I had eggplant pamigiana with spaghetti and glass of house red. Portions were good and food was slightly above mediocre in taste and presentation. Cost wise, I was prepared to pay a lot more than what was on the bill, which was a nice surprise. Cannot recall if prices were on menu. You want to go here for the amusing knock-around guy wait staff and the history. Supposedly Sinatra use to love the place. I think you may find better food elsewhere but Ralph's offers some good value, all things considered. Worth a visit.
(3)
Joe C.

Why, with all the great Italian restaurants available in Philly, would you come here? Very pedestrian food, no parking, no credit cards, and no ambiance. I understand the history, and perhaps even a little of the charm, but frankly, those factors don't compensate for tasteless, bland food.
(2)
Alie A.

Seeing that a dear and good friend of mine is a partial owner of this age old family establishment, I felt it was time to lose my virginity to Ralph's and take a little stroll on over to South Philly. If you are best looking to experience and understand South Philly Italian culture and dining, this is your spot. Tiny little seating area (make reservations!) with embellished walls and close-quarter tables. We started with the mussels in a red sauce. Very well done..I wish the red sauce had been of a slightly thicker consistency, but the sauce was salivating and the mussels were done just right. A carafe of their white house wine did the trick and paired well with our appetizer and meals. For dinner, he had one of the specials recommended by our over-the-top South Philly Italian waiter who I might add was both efficient as well as entertaining. It was some variation of a vodka rigatoni and it was perfetto. I decided to keep it simple with a linguine in a garlic and olive oil..topped with fresh jumbo lump crab meat. I got it as a safe option, and ended up salivating and wishing I could pick the plate up and lick it clean. Absolutely hit the spot. Bravo. I'll be back soon.
(5)
H C.

My husband and I have been going to Ralph's for years. We celebrated our engagement here. Not only should you expect great, home-style Italian food that is consistent with every visit; you should also expect to be treated like you are in someone's home. Every time we visit everyone is welcoming even on the busiest of nights. I was lucky enough to bring my grandfather here once and he spoke Italian with the management and was so happy with his overall experience. Please note that this is not a Marc Vetri type establishment--and it does not pretend to be or need to be--meaning: it isn't hip and trendy and you won't find an extravagant or experimental menu. That type of Italian is great for certain occasions; but Ralph's is more of an "I can eat at this place every weekend" type of restaurant, featuring classic Italian mom food that warms your belly and your soul.
(4)
Emily W.

The food was terrible. I ordered the fettucini because it was homemade, but it was yuck. Overcooked, thick, and very disappointing. The marinara was was nothing special...and the pasta wasn't drained fully so there was water in my plate along with the blah sauce. Tallutos has a billion times better sauce and pasta...so fresh tasting. I'd suggest picking it up from there and cooking at home. You'd think if Ralph's has been around 100+ years they'd by now have figured out how to make kickass pasta and sauce. Butter that came with the bread was the kind in the plastic containers with tin foil top and there was no evoo on the table.Husbands chicken Parma was fine, hard to mess that up. It was a big portion at least. I feel this is the type of place people convince themselves is good because it's been a part of the Italian market for over a century...touristy. Kinda like pats and ginos...terrible cheesesteaks yet always packed. Makes no sense...I will try people's recommendations, but in the end i stick to quality and taste not trend. Will never return...but will try others around the market and see if any are worthy to actually be there.
(1)
Parker S.

I once read a stat that said something along the lines of "50% of all new restaurant businesses fail in their first year". I think Ralph's has safety made it past that first year. This is the oldest family owned restaurant in the US, having been open since 1900. My wife and I went on a Sunday evening with a groupon. We were seated quickly upon entering on the second floor. Please note this is a three story restaurant and there is a good chance you'll have to hike up some stairs to eat. Once seated we ordered an appetizer (muscles in red sauce) and a couple of drinks. The muscles were very good and the red sauce was great. The bread they give out I believe if from Sarcone's next door and is good, although I can understand how people might be turned off by an unwarmed loaf of bread in a basket, when warm bread with olive oil is starting to become the norm at many italian restaurants. For our entrees I got a pasta with redsauce and filet tips and my wife got a stuff chicken dish. Both were very good. The pasta seemed to be made in house and the filet tips were good. My wife's chicken was very good as well. But the highlight of both of are meals was the red sauce. Very tasty, not too chunky yet not watery either. Overall, I'll be back to Ralph's, although next time I will probably go a more simple route and just order spaghetti with red sauce as it is the sauce that is king here, and everything else takes a back seat. The service was good even though the restaurant was busy. The biggest downside I feel was the price of the drinks was high. I had two yuenling's and my wife had two martini's and our drink total was $32. I'm guessing the martini's were $10 or $11 a piece and the beers were $5 or $6, which seemed high considering the neighborhood. Also it was a bummer that this place is CASH ONLY. They have an ATM in the back but I hate places that pass the fee on to the customer through an ATM charge. In general, a good spot with good simple italian food. I would suggest going the simple route on the menu and letting the sauce and homemade pasta do the talking.
(4)
R F.

Being raised as a fat little Italian boy in my family's Italian restaurant, I consider myself to have a pretty good sense of what great Italian cuisine is all about. Ralphs Italian Restaurant is amazing! My girlfriend and I started with the calamari which isn't fried and is served in a delicious marinara sauce. I ordered the chicken parmesan and asked for Spanish instead of pasta. I also had a side order of meatballs (I told you I like to eat). The chicken Parm was big and very tasty, the Spanish was perfectly seasoned, and the meatballs I am sad to say were better than my family's restaurant. We will differently be going back to this little gem.
(5)
Kendrah R.

I was prepared for a tourist trap given the history and reviews, but ended up really liking this place. We went around 9:30 pm on a Sunday so it wasn't crowded. The menu is simple and good. The marinara was flavorful without being sweet. I like that the mushrooms in the pasta were fresh not canned, as with other old school places in Italian Market. My friend had an excellent pasta with shrimp and artichokes. I don't have a need to go to Villa Roma anymore since finding this place.
(4)
Ron C.

It's Sunday mid-afternoon and we end up at Ralph's because everything in the area was closed. Not that it's a bad thing. They were able to fill us up with much needed food and cool us down from the heat. The table makes the place a bit cramped. I had to stand up a couple of time for people to move in and out of a table. The bathrooms are clean, but the sink is right in front of the stairs so you will have waiters and customers be in and out. I had to wait a moment for a waiter to pass by before being able to wash up. After skimming through the menu, everything looked good. They gave us a loaf of bread and some butter packets. The bread was a bit tough like it was sitting out for a long time. We were really hungry and just dealt with it. We asked for more bread and we were hoping for a fresher piece. Our prayers were answered with fresh bread. We ended up getting some basics such as Chicken Parm, Spaghetti & Meatballs and a nice Shrimp and Pasta dish. We did order an appetizer, but halfway through the meal our waiter forgot it. So we just decided to cancel that one. The dishes were simple, but it did lack some flavor. Maybe my standards are different with Italian Food, since I am surrounded by it on a daily bases, but I did end up putting lots of grated parmesan cheese to add a bit of saltiness to my food. Reminder: This place is CASH ONLY.
(3)
Wes E.

As good a red gravy Italian place as you will find in the city. Ordered mussels red chicken parm and chicken sorrento. All three were excellent.
(5)
Jes L.

Standard Italian fare...cool that its the oldest restaurant in America.
(3)
Alex G.

I have been told by numerous native philadelphians that Ralph's is one of the best Italian restaurants in the city and is a must to experience. We did not think so. We started off with a grilled calamari appetizer that was soaked in salty red sauce. The amount of sauce overwhelmed the palate to the point where we couldn't even taste the calamari. I got the pasta bolognese with filet mignon tips. Again, the red sauce was very salty. The filet mignon tips was really just average quality beef. My wife ordered the black lobster ravioli which were decent but overly salty. We expected much more from the oldest Italian restaurant in the country.
(2)
Virginia C.

I've had better- but the service was excellent on even a weekday. And this place was hopping at 8:30pm, but I really had high hopes for a perfect meal. Food: 1) House Salad (I can't stand it when a rest. thinks ice berg lettuce is okay for a salad 2) Standard spaghetti/meatballs/standard red sauce- is this even homemade?- but I really wanted bolognese sauce- who doesn't have bolognese sauce in a mom/pop Italian rest!!!!!! 3) bruschetta- okay.. but it really wasn't memorable Thoughts/FYI 1) I enjoyed my company and service (he was excellent and attentive more than anything-maybe because it was later in the night/a weekday) 2) Cash Only- that doesn't really bother me much since they do have an ATM inside. Although when I think of cash only rest., you assume the prices would be much cheaper- it's not.. a little higher than standard. Overrated and a little let down.
(3)
Gary R.

Chicken Parm pretty good. Good portion. The place is really small. Fortunately we got there early for lunch. By the time we left it was half filled (25 people) and it was tight. Server brought sides of pasta out 10 minutes before our entree. They don't really believe in customer service. I heard a lot if "no we can't / don't do that". I'd eat there again but maybe take out. I would have given it a four if we didn't have to endure the service
(3)
John G.

Excellent, old Italian restaurant in Philly. This is a must if looking for authentic, home cooked Italian food served hot and fresh. Just like Nonna used to make. I had the bean soup, gnocchi, meatballs and chocolate layer cake. All were fabulous.
(4)
Rob M.

Atmosphere is cool. Takes you back to old-time Philly. Mosaic tile floor upstairs is awesome. Appetizers of red mussels and calamari were very good. The red sauce on the mussels may be the best I've had, but the mussels themselves were a little on the small size. The calamari was very tender in a good marinara sauce. I had heard that they were known for their veal and a friend told me I couldn't go wrong with the veal parm, so one of my co workers and I both got it. I got mine with a side of broccoli rabe, which was tender and in a good garlic oil. The veal parm however was dried out and tough, and didn't have enough sauce. I have had better veal in a diner and the sauce that was on it was nothing special. For dessert we got an assortment of chocolate cake, cannoli cake, a cannoli, and tiramisu. None of the desserts was very good. The cakes were very dry, including the tiramisu, which I prefer to have a good soak. Overall, pricey and just ok, but I'll be back to try something else and if for nothing else, for the experience.
(3)
Lauren L.

Excellent Service, table was to close to our neighbor, felt like we were part of their conversation, food was great!
(4)
Cara O.

If I could give this place 10 stars I would! The food is amazing. I would have to say it's the most authentic Italian food I have in comparison to the food I just had recently in Italy. Their marinara sauce is delicious! The eggplant parmigiana is the best thing on their menu besides their roasted hots and escarole! When we went during the afternoon, which was the best time to come, the waitress threw in roasted long hots since we never had them before. Soo good!!! There was no waiting at all! If you've never been here before I would highly recommend it!!!
(5)
Patrick C.

On vacation - you want an authentic italian meal - so go to the Italian Market and find this place, one of the oldest in America. We went for lunch, a group of four and got a table easy. Clams and spagetti, Meatballs and Spagetti, Pork Sandwich, EggPlant Parmesian. No complaints, all were happy. It took a while to get our food, i presume the eggplant (baked)... perfect meatballs and noodles. Fair prices! Cash only? wtf.
(4)
tony m.

Ralph's on 9th Street just off Christian has been a Philadelphia landmark for over one hundred years. While 9th street has been a part of my life for as long as I can remember I have never eaten at Ralph's. Now, I must say from the start, that Ralph's is the kind of Italian restaurant that I avoid. Ralph's is an old time, red sauce kind of place: the kind of Sunday macaroni and gravy that I grew up on. But these days, I suppose I have grown beyond it. Having lived and studied in Italy back in the 70's, I experienced lighter, cleaner flavors in Italian foods. When I came home I introduced my family to these recipes. That was the end of the red sauce tradition in our house. The same reformation was happening in kitchens and restaurants across the country. This was the era of Julia Child and the great culinary awakening. Restaurants like Ralph's were old school. The wonderful film "Big Night" lyrically illustrates the two worlds: meat balls and spaghetti vs. shrimp risotto. Recently an episode of Lydia featured Philadelphia and a trip to Ralph's. Lydia's enthusiasm for Ralph's traditions sparked a bit of guilt and regret. As an Italian American I had rejected and neglected long held culinary traditions. As a Philadelphian whose great -grandparents settled on 9th in Christian in 1885, I had ignored and concealed my history. I owed Ralph the respect of their kitchen. Ralph's is a rather small space. Tables are close together, perhaps too close. You can hear almost every conversation in the room: some conversations not necessarily appropriate for dining. The room is very dark, but immaculately clean. The wait staff, all men, sharply groomed and attired in black, greets and serves with the utmost friendliness and attention: perfectly traditional Italian. With menu in hand we carefully scanned to find the balance between traditional heavy red sauce and lighter fare. As we scanned the selections we also watched what was coming from the kitchen. No small number of dishes were bowls or narrow plates of red gravy that completely obscured whatever lay beneath. This was not the direction we wanted to go. Lydia highlighted the Chicken Trombino. So, that was our first pick. The reason for her choice became clear when the dishes arrived. The giambotta of egg, sausage and chicken looked promising. Although I knew giambotta as an eggplant and squash dish this version with egg merited investigation. For our third dish we went for the veal with peppers and mushrooms. As a starter we ordered a cup of the" pasta fazool "(pasta e fagioli.) As usual, if you read my other reviews, we would share our lunch. Requesting the waiter to bring extra plates for sharing is never a problem. I suggest it strongly. The minestra, the "pasta fazool," warmed our chilled 9th street shoppers' bones. In many ways, the soup is the indicator of a good restaurant. If the cooks are attentive to a simple soup, you know they will be attentive to the main courses. Ralph's rich and creamy bean soup hit the mark. The main courses arrived in properly measured time. We began with the giambotta. As I mentioned, giambotta as I knew it was something of an eggplant and squash stew. Ralph's version is what I would call a frittata. The portion was large and an easy share for three people. The sausage and chicken enriched each bite. But, there was one element that recalled the old style: green peppers. Green peppers tend to be course and biting. While they were a staple in recipes in my childhood, I no longer use them. They have been replaced by fully ripe red or yellow or orange peppers. We then moved to the veal. For the three of us at the table, this was not an easy dish The veal was heavily coated in red sauce and green peppers. It was just too strong. Nonetheless, I must say that this was exactly how my mother would make it when I was a child, and why, even as a child, I didn't care for it. The veal arrives with a side of spaghetti in red sauce. The spaghetti was cold and the sauce too heavy for my taste. Our last entrÃ©e, the Chicken Trombino, was suggested by Lydia and I can see why. The Chicken Trombino is not a traditional Italian American dish. This recipe is clearly something from a different inspiration. There is no heavy red sauce. The full chicken breasts are served with clean, fresh chunks of tomato and seasonings. The Chicken Trombino , in its light preparation, is what I prefer in Italian cooking. It is very difficult to give a rating to Ralph's. Clearly, Ralph's offers foods with an Italian American history more than 100 years old. What they do, they do well. The restaurant is small but meticulous. The staff is elegant and affable. The service is prompt and the food well prepared in its own style. For many, Ralph's is a rich and hearty experience of old time Italian American food in new world. For me, Ralph's is an excursion to the past. But, is it really a past that I wish to recall?
(3)
Jessica S.

Loved the everything salad- they made it for five people, but will fix it for however many are in your party. Also I am obsessed with the mussels over pasta in the red sauce. Best mussels I've ever had. You can also order carafes of the wine. We had a great meal.
(5)
Steve T.

My first visit wasn't so great. I had posted my experience and the owner responded immediately. In fact, he even sent me a gift certificate to cover another meal there because he stands behind his restaurant and knew this was not typical. So I returned and here is my follow up review..... I have eaten italian food in Italy, as well as the North End in Boston, New York, and of course Philadelphia. Having said that, the food is amazing. I had the Veal Parmigina and we were treated to a side of Spinach Gnocchi and all I can say is Oh My God it's heaven. We even had a special dessert. A canoli with homemade filling and Gelato. The Service was impeccable. From the moment we entered until we were seated. This Restaurant makes you feel like you are family. Prices are in line with most Italian restaurants. Portions are huge but the taste is out of this world. I have read some reviews claiming the food wasn't good. I am 100% convinced that those people are probably used to eating junk like Olive Garden or Italian food at a Jersey Diner. Bottom line. If you are looking for an amazing traditional cozy Italian Restaurant this is your place. Give it a try. I promise you won't be dissapointed.
(5)
Sara A.

How does the oldest Italian restaurant over cook pasta?! I was expecting al dente but got some mush instead. Also my wine glass had someone elses lipstick on it... There are much better Italian restaurants in Philly... Spend your money elsewhere.
(1)
Nick A.

Authentic Italian at a decent price. Average $13-18 per plate. Italian-American staff. Their specialty menu is really good.
(5)
Lauren B.

Best Italian food hands down. If your in Philly you must stop here. Get the red sauce mussels and the cannoli cake.
(5)
Me C.

Great food and atmosphere..
(5)
Gerard M.

Phenomenal. There is no other experience like Ralph's. I had the Spinach Gnocchi and it was amazing. The staff was great and very attentive. I stumbled on the restaurant by chance and it was such a great surprise!
(5)
Oscar D.

Great value, love this place. Great ambiance and decor. Wish they took plastic, but it is cash only. Tables are a little too close together, but hey-- it is the big city and space is at a premium. Waiters are very attentive. Got the linguine pescatore-- it rocked. My only complaint was that $7 is a bit steep for a bottle of Yuengling.
(4)
Whoy G.

Good competent old style Italian food...nothing new or fancy here...only complaint is seating is crowded...it's as if you're eating at the same table as the couple next to you...service is a bit slow...we had to ask for bread...and the bill addition was off by a buck...my wife loves it, so we will be back
(3)
Meredith B.

Great mussels from an awesome crew (get chatty with them!) I don't remember much else from the meal to make it memorable.
(3)
Steve K.

AWESOME Italian food. Located in the heart of South philly it has that real deal old school feel. Reminds me of the scene in the Godfather where the police chief gets killed. Been there several times. The Chicken Parm , Veal Parm , Lasagna .... its all good. The meatballs are great too, as are the desserts. Cannoli cake & Dark side of the moon Chocolate cake. It is Cash only but unlike that one reviewer they have an ATM upstairs near the bar so you don't have to run to the Rite Aid up the block ( as she indicated) Not a biggie! Everyone should go at least once.
(4)
Jarret L.

My wife and I had been to Ralph's about 9 years ago and loved it. We went back recently and were disappointed. The food was average at best. We had a groupon and thank god we did because the price of the meals is just not worth it for average food you can make at home. When we went the place was crowded and we felt that if we talked to loud the people next to us would be completely in our conversation as they were only 2 feet away. For first timers who want a nice romantic dinner, I would not suggest as the tables are on top of each other. Don't even think about bringing bags or a stroller with you, there is no room. Sorry Ralph's but you ate only average Italian food now.
(2)
Natasha G.

Good homestyle food without being pretentious. It's in "northern" South Philly easy to get to and you can even walk it on a nice day from Center City. Ralph's was the first Italian restaurant I was suggested when I first came to Philly. Good food, great atmosphere. Very causal. It feels like you are in someone's house. It is noisy, but you don't really notice it. Do definitely get the salad. The light vinaigrette is great and a sure crowd pleaser. Stick to the basic Italian dishes: Chicken Parm is great! Never had a problem getting a reservations and it's always crowded. You can't go wrong with it. That being said if you are looking for fancy Italian, you will be disappointed. Instead, go to Vetri.
(4)
Dave K.

Went on Friday night around 8 PM....place was packed. Went upstairs for a beer and was called about 20 min later with a table for 2 downstairs. The place is cramped. Not exactly an intimate date spot, but when you're dining a few feet away from Mr Greg Gumbel himself, who cares? Went safe with the Lasagna and Chicken Parm and was happy overall with the selection. Large portions, decent taste. The sauce wasn't anything special. It's an average restaurant with good service but really what you come here for is the nostalgia and to say, "I've eaten at the oldest Italian restaurant in the country."
(3)
Joelle F.

So, I stumbled upon Ralph's while exploring the Italian Market this weekend in Philly. The reviews on Yelp weren't bad, but not great either. But there was something appealing about eating at a place that has been around for as long as it has (it's the second oldest Italian restaurant in the country, and the oldest continually run by the same family). My friend and I decided to give it a whirl. We were seated in the corner and chose to split the Bruschetta appetizer. She ordered the ravioli and I ordered the fettucini with tomato sauce (both from the "homemade selections" portion of the menu). The waiter actually brought us a comped roasted pepper and mozzarella salad because he felt we had to wait to long for him to take our order (he was manning the take out calls). This was a great gesture and a reflection of the type of service we'd receive for the rest of the evening. The salad was divine. I usually add salt or pepper to a salad like this, but it was seasoned to perfection, with just the right amount of olive oil and garlic, and the cheese was so fresh! The Bruschetta was also delicious - perfect texture/toast on the bread, with fresh tomatoes really brightening the dish. My fettucini was good, too. The sauce was a bit plain but it really allowed the freshness of the pasta to shine through. And it tasted homemade, which was just the touch of comfort I needed today. I was disappointed to find out that the only homemade pastas they serve are the lasagna and linguini, but they do buy the pasta fresh from the market down the street. The waiter insisted I take my leftovers home and even gave us extra bread. The food was authentic and the staff was great. I don't know that I'd say it's my favorite Italian meal, but I'll definitely go back.
(3)
Pat A.

Valet service - clutch for those driving through South Philly. Food - was GREAT ( I got the veal with spinach, white sauce, provolone, and mushrooms), waiter service was very quick. We received out entrees about 10 - 15 minutes after our appetizers (an interesting calamari dish that wasn't fried) Environment - front room downstairs can get cramped. I switched to using my fork with my left hand to avoid bumping arms with my brother next to me. Feels like a genuine South Philly Italian joint. Pretty crazy to think that everyone that works there is somehow related and has been in the family for 100 + years. Highly recommended for food, service, and authenticity.
(4)
Teague O.

Love this place. I can't claim to know their entire menu but all I know is this: The Chicken Sorrento and the Veal Parmesan are fucking amazing! The portions are feast worthy and you'll feel like a fat ass swiping the last bit of sauce with the soft bread. It's a small, quiet, dimly lit restaurant. The perfect place to spot a mafioso slurping down a string of spaghetti with his broad on the other end.
(5)
Jeremy J.

Luckily, and unexpectedly, Ralph's has valet parking available for the evening. We pull up and race to the entrance, just as the rain seems to be getting heavier. A small outdoor "foyer" guards the front door, New York style, which leads into a small, cozy dining room thronged with seated diners. Old-time photographs line the walls, proving that celebrities ranging from Teddy Roosevelt to Frank Sinatra have visited (and evidently loved) Ralph's. Faded patterned wallpaper looks like it belongs in your grandparents' Victorian mansion. Ornate ceiling tiles gleam overhead. The place oozes traditional, old-school vibes, and I fully expect to see men in pinstripe suits with one hand tucked in the breast pocket at all times. MB chats with the host, who seats us promptly at a four-top near the entrance. The occasional blast of cold nighttime air hits us when other patrons enter (it is a virtual downpour now) but it gets warmer as the night wears on. Our server is friendly, gruff, and full of good humor. He takes our drink order (Yuengling for me), then rattles off the specials for the evening with lightning-round precision. Everyone opts to start with some kind of appetizer, but I'm still reeling from our stint at Mac's. I need a reprieve from meat (if only momentary). The "spring salad" sounds good, so I go with that: spicy arugula; sliced rings of red onion (which I shuffle off to the side); quartered, juicy Roma tomatoes; chunks of tangy gorgonzola; tart balsamic dressing. All that freshness does wonders, clearing my taste buds for more traditional Italian fare. I'm ready for pasta now, and I'm a sucker for good gnocchi. This place looks like there may be a little old lady somewhere in back--grandma, let's say--hand crafting each seashell-like piece. Seems like a safe bet. I'm back on the carnivore train again, so I get the tomato meat sauce. The bowl arrives nearly overflowing with bright red sauce covering the pale gnocchi. There are green bits of herb in there, but not overwhelming. I try a nibble. Good, but not great. The gnocchi wavers from being slightly undercooked to perfectly cooked (it may have finished cooking under the sauce, so that's forgivable). It's a solid, if plain, dish with no real diversion from textbook Italian cuisine. A standby, if you will. It is satisfying, though. I do my best to eat most of it before setting aside my fork. The house chianti washes it down nicely. Again, no bells and whistles with the wine either. While the rest of the table decides to end with coffee and cannoli, I'm good with just some espresso to fill in the cracks. (That's a good thing; no one else seems that impressed with the cannoli.) In the end, a one-time visit to Ralph's seems sufficient to get the gist. Solid food with little flair, adhering to time-honored recipes. The rain has stopped finally, and we're able to depart without getting soaked. Time to sleep...but not with the fishes. Don't take my word for it. See what my better half has to say on our site (linked in my profile).
(3)
Giatta g.

I LOVE RALPHS.. My now Ex Husband "Lenny" used to bring me here all the time.. The food is scrumptious.. The mussels red or white are to die for.Food is always fresh and prepared to order. The Owners 'Jimmy and Eddie", super nice, very accomodating and made me feel like family... Ronnie too!! I always left here in a food coma... Highly reccommend this wonderful Restuarant.. Gets very busy especially on weekends....Always a great dining experience!!
(5)
Margaret F.

I've gone to this place a few times in small groups, and the food is only so-so. The atmosphere, to be fair, is very authentic and entertaining. LOVE that aspect of Ralph's. Because I liked said atmosphere, I attempted once to arrange a work-related outing for a large group at the restaurant. Their staff led me on for almost a month, assuring me that they would come up with a menu at an acceptable price range. When I called to follow through (several times, trying at different hours of the day), they were rude because they were busy. I finally got a frantic, rushed person on the phone to say that they couldn't accommodate us, which was pretty ridiculous because a) I'd eaten - and drank - there several times before well under our price cap and b) we'd already been in dialogue for weeks. Very unprofessional, both with regard to the phone behavior and the party planning. Hell hath no fury ... but come with a small group, and you'll be fine. Not thrilled with the food, but satisfied, and in a fun atmosphere.
(2)
Erin F.

I always go out for Italian food on my birthday. It's my favorite. My parents usually take me to my restaurant of choice back in Detroit and I go bananas. This year, however, was my first birthday actually spent in Philly as a resident of Philly, meaning Mike was on birthday duty. I couldn't really decide where to go, but a love for Ralph's runs through his family, as it came highly recommended by his parents and was also a destination on his brother's bachelor party tour of Philadelphia (I see you, brother), so I wanted to see what the dilly was. Plus I really wanted eggplant parmesan. We rolled up and were sat without a reservation relatively quickly. The guys working all had on Phillies t-shirts, which was cute. We started with the complimentary crusty bread and a simple tossed salad. Shortly thereafter, our spaghetti came. We took a few bites from our respective bowls and Mike says to me, he says "Is there meat in this sauce? Yeah, there is." I entered a brief state of panic, but then I asked the server about it and he used CONTEXT CLUES gave me the vegetarian sauce to accompany my vegetarian entree and Mike the meat sauce to accompany his meaty entree. How thoughtful. He was a really nice guy, on top of it. Quick, but not short. You can tell they care about service. The food was delicious and eeeexactly what I wanted. Everything was excellent, down to the diet soda. The eggplant parm consisted of a pool of sauce and a shitload of cheese and breaded eggplant medallions (which I prefer to the usual eggplant slabs that end up soggy and worthless). Mike enjoyed his veal parm so much he couldn't really talk much, either. It was a perfect birthday dinner. Delicious food, great service, and reasonably priced. Five stars.
(5)
Freddy P.

Honestly, I don't know why anyone would go here unless you want to bring a tourist here. The food is sterotypical Italian-pasta, chicken, vela blah blah. Nothing inspiring. just straight forward food. the Pastini with greens soup was bland. Linguine Pescatore in white sauce was good. Service sucked. Attitude not from our waiter but you could hear it from the others. Extremely small and cramped. Sure, it's been around for 100 years, but I've had better. I won't be going back. Oh, cash only, but they have an ATM there for your convenience! Whatever.
(1)
bill c.

We went on a Thursday night and Ralph's had a good crowd at 6 and a waiting line by the time we left after 7! Very good food served here at America's oldest Italian restaurant.
(4)
Bill D.

Always an excellent meal. Efficient and friendly service. The veal mozzarella is outstanding! The people who complain about the menu here jst don't get it. They are intending to be old school.. thats the whole point...
(5)
Carol J.

This is my favorite Italian restaurant in Philly - the best meatballs ever - light as air and always tasty. Freshly made pasta and sauce/gravy are always great- and consistently so - I've been going to Ralph's since I came to Philly 25 years ago. You cannot get a bad meal here - truly. Everything is good - and the waitstaff are a hoot!
(5)
Chris T.

The "Cash Only" on the Yelp page and customer comment that its cash only are wrong. I was there an hour ago and used my Mastercard. Our waiter was Al and he was very attentive and friendly. Great job. I made a reservation on Open Table and they had it when i got there. I had the roasted peppers and mozzarella salad and it was great. Entree was chicken parm. Instead of smothering it in bread and cheese like most restaurants, it had a thin layer of breading and a thin layer of cheese. They let the veal stand on its own and enhance it instead of overwhelming it. Very, very nice. My kid had meatballs and loved them. Tender (with a lot of veal i believe). Tiny place, unsurpassable hstory, good food, good service. Go.
(4)
Ken L.

It is what it is, Authentic South Philly pasta and gravy joint. Very good Veal sometimes and Escarole Soup and greens rock. The meatballs are Really good but I like Villa di Roma better. Sarcones bread served here also the lunchtime menu they make a great Hoagie and they serve dinner all day Sat. and waiters are characters from another time but hard working and funny and helpful. Valet on Sat night finally is great. Don't forget Cash Only!
(3)
Craig N.

I really enjoy Ralph's food. The atmosphere, table size and service are okay, nothing great. You get what ya pay for though, right? I usually get an antipasta app, then some sort of veal dish Sausage and peppers is great! You have to get the ESCAROLE here, it is the best that I have ever had, no lie.... I could eat like 3 sides of it. And yes, it's cash only. So what? People act like such pansies over this and it really irritates me. Use the ATM machine or come prepared. If ya don't like it, then go elsewhere.
(4)
Munchie W.

I love Ralphs, I have never had a bad experience here... Very old fashion and to the point! Sarcones bread plus homemade pasta equals heaven! The only thing I don't like is no carry outs... You have to show up in person and order.
(4)
s b.

we threw away the whole meal - no flavor, all sauces were just colored water. gross.
(1)
Leah E.

Went here with my boyfriend and we loved it! Old school feeling, with 3 floors!! We have been here twice, and each time was great! The food was amazing, I got the veal since it had been recommended to me, as well as the clams casino, mussles, pasta with oil and garlic, and the home-made garlic bread. Staff was nice and helpful! ...Went here again recently while in the area and had this new dish of gnocchi with gorgonzola sauce in it, and it was delicious!!!!! My new favorite dish as this place. MUST EAT!!!
(5)
Enay V.

Went here for the first time in years and was expecting a really good meal. Well, not so much. The bread was stale, the service was shoddy, and the dinners were alright. the only thing that saved this place was the gravy and the other servers that we managed to flag down because we didn't know where our server was. What happened, Ralph's?!!! You used to be so good!
(3)
Jared H.

I was extremely disappointed after seeing such good reviews. The bread they give you when you sit is hard and not even warm. Restaurant 101 is you serve the bread warm! We shared a caesar salad to start and it was boring. Dressing wasn't good and the croutons were stale. For the main course I had Veal Marsala and my friend had Eggplant Parm. The Veal Marsala was awful. There was no taste of marsala, it had no flavor. The mushrooms were soggy. The Eggplant Parm has no taste, I could've made a better Eggpland parm at home. There was no seasoning on anything. We couldn't wait for the meal to be finished. On my way out I went to the bathroom and it is so small, it only has a toilet! No Sink! AWFUL sanitary conditions. I will never return to this place.
(1)
Jenny V.

My friend and I were the only two stopping in a bit after Ralph's opened for lunch on a Monday. This would have alarmed me if Ralph's didn't have such a good reputation and if we weren't greeted so warmly upon entering. Not to worry, there were plenty of other diners by the time our bread basket arrived. My friend and I shared the Mediterranean salad (several jumbo shrimp, crab meat and greens with a light vinaigrette) and a pork sandwich with provolone. This sandwich has supplanted Dinic's as my new favorite and the salad was perfect for summer. Cash only but there is an ATM in the back.
(4)
Bruce C.

Ralph's may be my favorite Italian restaurant if not restaurant. I Always order the Eggplant Parm, the best ever, layered like lasagna, (not fried eggplant covered with sauce and a piece of cheese like pizza joints do). salads are always good, mussels are great, Veal Marsala is always good, service is at its best, tables are small, This place is a three level row house so it is narrow, My major complaint is "cash only" owners should stop worrying about paying taxes and open this place up to credit card users.. just remember to bring cash.. They are losing the corporate business
(4)
Mario D.

Veal. Parm. 'nuff said.
(4)
Rob S.

Oh old Ralphie boy! I dined at this famous Italian restaurant last night for the last time. With all of the great reviews and cult following that this restaurant has I decided to give this restaurant more than a few chances. Last night just did it for me. I sat down and immediately was served with old, stale bread. We then ordered the mussels and roasted peppers with Mozzarella - while the white sauce the mussels came in was delicious, the mussels were small and about half of them were still closed (which means they are bad and in edible). The roasted peppers were good, but they went really skimpy on the mozzarella. It took about 1/2 hour before we got our entrees. The chicken parm had to be the worst I've ever had. The chicken was pounded so thin that the breading was thicker than the chicken. The chicken was paper thin and extremely dry. My mother got the lobster ravioli which were good, but the scallops that came with it were rubbery and way over cooked. I have to say the lasagna I got was delicious, but unfortunately I've experienced way too many bad dishes at this place to make me never go back. I only give it two stars because the experience is pretty cool. Cool neighborhood and the old south Philly feel the restaurant has is like no other. Sorry Ralph.
(2)
Stephy S.

Fun Italian restaurant (very authentic looking, family owned). Went for a birthday party here, sat upstairs, very spacious (compared to downstairs). Basic Italian menu. Food was decent (I got the alfredo) but not memorable.
(3)
Froilan S.

I was in Philly with co-workers on business and one of the guys had suggested Ralph's. He'd been there some time ago and said it had good reviews. I ordered the spaghetti w/tomato sauce...I usually get that when I go to an Italian restaurant I have never eaten at before...if the most basic dish is great then I'm sold. Well...my dish was decent, not as great as I was hoping for based on the restaurant being in existing for a 100 years. Also, their bread was a little stale for my taste...took some effort to tear a piece from the loaf even though it was sliced. Our waiter made it the crappiest experience. He acted like our group was a bother to him. He was always too busy saying hi to his friends that walked in. I ordered basil with my dish from the get-go, never got it even after the THIRD time I asked for it, so I stopped asking. My coworker had to give his water glass back because it had maroon lipstick prints on it....we didn't have a female with us....totally DISGUSTING!!! Made me wonder if I should've used a straw that night? One of my other coworkers said something in Italian (which I'd care not to repeat) about our waiter after he took our order...that's how bad he was. Thereafter, he hardly came around after he plopped our orders down. If there ever was an example of a knucklehead he was it...faccia di culo. One other thing...what restaurant doesn't take credit cards? And the fact that there is an ATM so conveniently located upstairs...SERIOUSLY? :o(
(1)
Nick C.

So what is better than cannoli's? Cannoli Cake! Ralph's has been a favorite of mine since 2003. My wife and I always try to invent reasons to take the trip from Bucks County to South Philly. Ralph's is consistently the best Italian food restaurant that I have ever been to. Their food is that good that both my wife and I always order the same items. Veal parm with a side a spaghetti for me and shrimp scampi for my wife with 2 pieces of cannoli cake for desert. The veal parm is not only delicious but also comes in a generous portion. Ralph's make the veal dish seem easy as it is a nice piece of veal (never, never had any fat in the 7-10 times that I have been there) that is pounded out thin and coated with breading. The portion covers the oval plate and is enveloped by a thin red sauce. The veal melts in your mouth and is complimented by cheese and their sauce. The sauce is not too strong or too thick and seems to work well with the flavor of he veal. The side dish of pasta is always filling. My wife and I refuse to order salads or appetizers as we look forward to the cannoli cake. The cake comes out chilled and is yellow cake with the icing made of cannoli filling. There is even a mini cannoli on top! This is the most delicious cake that my wife and I have ever eaten. We have even found out where Ralph's orders the cakes from! This is a must order for any diner at Ralph's. The ambiance of Ralph's is "old world" Italian and I feel like Skinny Joey Merlino or Nicky Scarfo could walk in at any time. The rooms are narrow and the first floor can get loud. The waiters work efficiently and are not overly warm, but somehow it works in this environment. Ralph's lets their food impress their patrons instead of fancy furnishings or overbearing staff. Credit Cards are not accepted, but there is an ATM on the first floor. Reservations are only accepted for parties of 5 or more and during peak times a wait is to be expected. I thoroughly endorse Ralph's for classic Italian food that will satisfy everyone's taste buds.
(5)
Steve P.

So-so food, but the waiters do know their stuff. Seems to living off past glory.
(3)
Brian D.

We tried this place out because we had a Groupon. The food was very good, and the prices would have been reasonable even without the Groupon. When we got there around 7:00, the place was pretty empty, but by the time we left, it was packed in there. Overall, it was a good experience, and I would definitely return. Only complaints are that it's cash only, and because it got so crowded at the end of dinner, it took us over half an hour to get the check and get out of there. Also, we got a bottle of white wine, and I was a little surprised they didn't use an ice bath... just kind of left the bottle on the table (it was, however, already cold so not really an issue).
(4)
Karila S.

I have actually been here a few times, but since I haven't visited this place in about 3 years, I am going to be basing my review on my most recent experience: yesterday's. So I'm with my big group, a party of 7 to be exact, and we are seated at the first table we laid eyes upon, crammed in the corner. Pretty awkward start. But that's ok, we still have another hour or two to go, right? Well, success never fully came through. I found myself extremely intimidated by our waiter (I don't know why, but he just came on very strong and a little unfriendly for no particular reason). Really, the service that night was very disappointing. Sure they brought us our salads first, but they came across as uptight and silentlhy intense throughout the service. No servers voluntarily came across to our table to let us know how the food was cooking or how long it would take. We were desperate to pursue anyone to get our check. The great redeeming factor of this restaurant is their entrees. The pasta is cooked to perfection as is the sausage. Vegetables are cooked wonderfully in the perfect amount of garlic, and the marinara sauce is exceptional. I had ordered the chicken marinara (I ordered the 1/2 chicken, which I don't recommend only because a lot of labor goes in to trying to cut all the meat around the bone. I would spend the two extra dollars and order the boneless breast). The bread just tasted like any regular bread you would get at any other restaurant. By the time we were on our second basket we were all getting sick of that bread, and we were just wanting the great food that we all know Ralph's can deliver. I have definitely had better experiences at this place, but service was less than exceptional. I know that Philadelphia is infested with little Italian restaurants, and I may recommend this one...with slight caution.
(3)
Doc M.

No credit cards = no good for business. Good local South Philly fare though. Service is adequate as is atmosphere. recommend Victor Cafe much, much more.
(2)
Angelica H.

I went with a Groupon. I had to ask a server who our waiter/waitress was, as we had not been approached for minutes. The stairs to walk up where we were seated were very steep. The service was the downside. Food was good. $8 for valet is steep for the neighborhood and type of restaurant. Street parking is available. My sister liked the house bread, but it was not exceptional to me. It tasted very standard and not fresh. We were placed with a family party full of kids and adults, which blended us in with my toddler niece. There was another section much quieter for people without kids. The escarole was delicious, as was the pasta.
(3)
elizabeth s.

Went here for the first time tonight- Looking for a great Italian dinner in the city. Normally we go to Dante and Luigis, but we wanted to try something different... And we picked a great one! Everything here was amazing, and couldn't have been done any better! The waitstaff was great too! We ordered the canolli cake, but they were all out so we ordered the dark side of the moon and the server brought it to us on the house! That was completely unneccesary- but a very nice gesture! You can't go wrong here- but beware it is small, and we missed the warning of no credit cards, but there is an ATM around the corner. Enjoy!
(5)
Linda S.

I was torn whether to give Ralph's three stars or four, but went with four because of the food. This is my second trip to Ralph's and as with the first, the food was outstanding. My hubby and I started off sharing the mussels in red sauce and when it came, I couldn't believe how many mussels there were! More than enough for two people, for sure. And so delicious, I wanted to lap up the gravy when I finished eating the mussels. Instead of doing that, though, I used the very fresh Italian bread to soak up a large portion. These were absolutely the best mussels I've ever eaten! I opted for the baked lasagna and hubby went for the manicotti. Let me tell you, I am VERY picky about my gravy, as South Philadelphians call it, and I was surprised at how much I enjoyed the gravy my lasagna was cooked in. To say nothing of the lasagna, which was awesome in its own right. All the ingredients were fresh and I'm sure the sausage pieces in the lasagna were homemade. My hubby thought there was too much cheese in his manicotti, but I think you can never have enough cheese! I tasted his dinner and loved it. We finished up with decaf coffee and a slice of tiramisu. Yes, I said "slice." The tiramisu at Ralph's is more a cake than the normal tiramisu you get at most places. It was the only part of our dinner I wasn't fond of. I guess it was the cream cheese filling that seemed off to me. But the presentation was lovely. As to why I was considering giving Ralph's only three stars, the place is so small the tables are pratically on top of each other. Private conversations are impossible because you can easily hear what the people at the next table are saying. We even had to ask them to please move their table so hubby could get in and out of his seat. Plus, the tables themselves are so small, there was barely enough room for all the plates on the tables. And when my leftovers came back wrapped up ready to go, there was no room to put the bag on the table. Most people had their leftovers sitting on the floor. Not exactly sanitary, if you ask me, but space is really at a premium here. I managed to keep my take-home bag on the table even though I was sure my coffee cup was going to spill in my lap at any moment. It didn't. The bathroom is so small, when you sit down, your knees practically touch the door. It is impossible to turn around. There is no mirror to check out your makeup. There is NO sink in the bathroom--you must use the sink in the small common hallway to wash your hands while you make sure you're not in the way of the waitstaff carrying dishes, trays of clean glasses, etc. Speaking of the waitstaff, they are extremely attentive and friendly. Thanks Al! We had a Groupon to use for this dinner that cost us $20 for $40 worth of food. With everything we had--one appetizer, two entrees, two Cokes, 2 coffees and one dessert, the total bill came to $55, including tax. Taking off the $40 we were left with a bill of $15. To wrap this up, food=excellent; service=very good; restaurant=too small with very close quarters. Will I return? Most probably. Is this the best Italian food I've ever eaten? Pretty damn close!
(4)
Tia D.

The food was delicious. I ordered the Chicken Parm and my friend ordered Spaghetti with Meatballs. I had a bite of her dish and the meatballs were well seasoned and good. The pasta disappointed me because I expected it to be home made. I'm pretty sure it came from a box. Regardless, it was still pretty good. I gave it only three stars because the service was absolutely horrible. When I walked in, the place was really crowded and as I was making my way through, a waiter literally ran into me and instinctively, I apologized (because I have manners) even though it wasn't even my fault. He, on the other hand, pushed me and rush by me. I gave him the benefit of the doubt and continued to my table. Unfortunately, my waiter wasn't any better. He asked us what we wanted to order, then came back and literally put the basket of bread on top of where my hands were on the table. He continued to do this every time he was placing food on the table (we had a tiny two-person table). Had he just asked or told me he was placing food on the table, I would've moved it without a problem. All in all, while the food may be great and I may come back just for the food, I hope the service will be better next time. Maybe they were having a bad day on that one occasion. For the food, I'll give it another shot but if it's the norm for the waiters to act like that, I might just have to learn how to cook home-made meatballs myself to avoid dealing with that.
(3)
Dylan H.

I ate there today for the first time and I can honestly say it was the best meal I have ever had in my life. It was real home cooked food. I come from an Italian family and this food was on my Nannis level or better. I had linguine with mussels and red sauce and it was so delicious. There were about 3 dozen mussels and a heaping pile of linguine.
(5)
Jennifer S.

Cozy and busy place, so expect to wait even with your reservation. Delicious foods, but can be overdone/ too complicated, so stick with simple classic italian and you will be very satisfied.
(4)
Jennifer D.

Awesome Italian restaurant. I loved this place from the moment I walked in. The prices are reasonable, the food is outstanding, and so far, this is my favorite Italian restaurant in Philadelphia. I have tried several others and nothing has compared yet. If you have not tried it, GO GIVE IT A TRY! I am a picky eater and they even suited me! :)
(5)
S P.

Our first time at America's Oldest Family-owned Italian Restaurant. Flavors were on spot. Quick service. Expect wait times and cramped spaces. Only issue is that we felt rushed.
(4)
Kate D.

I came here on one of my first nights in Philly, on the recommendations of others. I had an overall terrific experience. The service was actually very good. I liked that the wait staff generally stayed out of our hair and let us talk and eat and drink in peace. They're not going to hover. I hate waitstaff that hovers. Our waiter was a bit abrupt, but honestly, it was nice having someone who didn't ask too many questions. He was knowledgable, helpful, and knew when to disappear. The food was amazing. I don't know how else to describe it. I had a bowl of lentil soup that knocked my socks off and frankly I would go back just for that soup. I had the ravioli with an alfredo sauce for dinner - I'm telling you, nothing beats a home-made alfredo. My companions had a veal dish and a filet mignon pasta - both were equally delicious (although I'm a sucker for a great alfredo, so I didn't regret my choice at all). Oh, yeah, and the butter that went with the bread came out warm. Awesome. But no oil on the table? That seemed a little off to me. We also had dessert - yeah, we went all out. I had a tiramisu that was incredibly light and capped off dinner perfectly. We also tried the cheesecake. It was good, not mind-blowing, but cheesecake, like steak, can only be so good. Tiramisu was to die for, and I hear their cannoli are out-of-this-world good. I'll be trying it next time I'm in. They do only take cash, so make sure you bring enough. I know some people have complained about it, and about passing off the surcharge on the ATM to the client, but that saves them the charges of having a credit card machine, and it doesn't seem to be hurting their business any. Prices are VERY reasonable - I walked in the door expecting to see prices $10 higher than they were. Very pleasant surprise - the food is DEFINITELY worth this bill. You can tell this is a popular place, with its own crowd of regulars. No less than three sets of diners walked in, who the staff greeted by name, and on a Monday night. BE SURE TO MAKE RESERVATIONS - we went on a Monday night and while no one had more than a five minute wait while we were there, there was a steady stream of people coming and going and this was on a Monday. I'm sure it's probably close to impossible to get a table on the weekends. Overall, five-star experience at Ralph's.
(5)
Michael D.

Been here a few times. They have really good Italian food. I have yet to get a dish that i did not like. It is a small place and can get very crowed and the bar is small so if you are waiting for a table and trying to get a drink it may be difficult but in my opinion the food is worth the wait and small atmosphere. It is truly a genuine Italian place.
(3)
David G.

First time visit to the restaurant , while in Philadelphia yesterday attending the 9th Street Italian Market Festival. The food was very good. We would go definitely have dinner again at this Italian establishment. Philadelphia has some of the best Italian restaurants without a doubt.
(4)
Tom D.

Tasty meal, good time. Can't wait to go back.
(5)
christina g.

Ralph's is fantastic! I took my parents to Ralph's for dinner tonight and they loved it. The decor, tons of people in a not so large space and the smell of pasta reminded me of having a big dinner with my family. It's a very cute little place. Their sauce is spot on! I think they may have an army of little old Italians cooking nonstop. It is a bit pricey, but much cheaper than flying my nonna here to cook dinner for me. The portions are hearty and the staff is very friendly and helpful. We were all very satisfied with our meals. The gnocchi is decent, though not quite as dense as I like. The rapini(broccoli rabe) was perfect. The eggplant parmesan delicious as well. My dad said he really enjoyed the veal. Worth noting, they are cash only. During dinner if you have 3 or more people they highly suggest making reservations. I will definitely be visiting Ralph's again!
(5)
Erin A.

I dont go to ralphs becuase its quiet, no one should! I go because the food is like my best friends grandmoms. the chicken parm is great everytime i eat it. the lasagna is cheesy and the bread is always warm and flaky! delish!
(4)
Lori M.

Boring. I had dinner here when I was visiting Philly because my boyfriend had been here during his last visit and raved about it, but I thought this place was forgettable and after this visit he said he wouldn't be back either. The bread was cold and tasted stale. The Caesar salad was drowning in dressing. I will give them an extra star because my meal came with so many mussels. They certainly did not skimp on that. But service was slow and the place is cramped. My servers butt shouldn't practically be on my table when he turns to help the table next to us.
(2)
Khyati D.

My husband is from Philly and LOVES Italian so when we came up from DC for a weekend of fun, where else would we go but South Street?! He selected the place and loved that it was the oldest family owned Italian restaurant in the country. We came to Ralphs with another couple and we all loved it. It was crowded and tight but the great service and delicious food made up for it. I had eggplant parmesan which was some of the best I've had in the U.S. The wine was great and our server was so funny and charming. Good food, great service, what else do you need? Oh but remember it's cash only, which was a drag but we knew about it in advance so came prepared.
(4)
Dong T.

Kinda pricey, cash only? Huge negative. Supposed to be the oldest Italian restaurant in the states. Not really a big deal for me, just as long as the food and service is good. The gentlemen's room doesn't have a sink. The sink is outside which is fine, but I thought it was strange that sink was surrounded by the carafes used to serve ice water. Sweet! Excellent ravioli. Professional staff.
(3)
Beth H.

I didn't know what to expect when I came in here last night. I made a reservation as per the request of my date (he said it was a good spot). The seating is a little close (all at long tables), but it actually makes for quite a festive atmosphere, which is what I believe the owners are going for. As far as the food...I can honestly say it was the best meal I've ever had (barring the bite of my date's chicken livers w/ mushrooms...not to my liking, but he loved it!) . We started off w/ a tomato and onion salad and Clams Casino (delicious!). My entree was black lobster ravioli w/ scallops and capers in a scampi sauce (Amazing!). We finished off our meal w/ tiramisu and coffee. Oh, and we also had some Italian white wine w/ dinner. (They only sell wine by the bottle, 1/2 or full carafe. It does get a little pricey, just fair warning. However, I was told that on Sundays BYOB is optional.) The wait staff was wonderful at checking in and fulfilling our requests in top notch fashion. Oh, and there is valet parking, though my date and I had no need for this service; however, the valet did hail a cab for us while we waited inside to stay warm. Good service, amazing food, nice ambiance...not much more that you can ask for. Highly recommended, whether you live in Philly or you want a nice place to go out to while you're visiting the area. Will definitely come here again when I get the chance!
(5)
Amy K.

Ralphs was inviting and delicious. The room was small and cozy. Our waiter was very nice and always seemed pleasured to help us (he even said my pleasure when we asked for things!) haha. And they were all wearing Phillies shirts, supporting our team! The food also came out ridiculously fast, I got the chicken parm that was a massive portion, I would say I could have shared it with my boyfriend but in the end, I demolished most of it, including the side of pasta I got in a bowl. They had a great wine selection but I opted for a cheaper bottle of cellar no. 8 zinfandel which was fine with me. All in all, we paid around 80 including everything, which isn't bad since we got a bottle of wine a couple other drinks. I will be going back.
(4)
Pasquale R.

My friend who has been going here for years (since he lives right across the water) decided to bring me to this place to show me real, authentic Italian food. So of course I was expecting something amazing because he knows his food. Wow is right! Wow, this place really sucks and the food tastes like canned Italian food. Actually, I would be insulting the canned food by saying that. It's worst! What are people thinking. I had the pasta and meatballs and both were horrendous. I cannot believe this even is considered Italian food let alone great Italian food. I am sure, or even praying, there is better places in Philly. Plus it's always packed. What are people thinking! Go to the supermarket and buy the frozen variety and you will enjoy it more...even if you don't even thaw the food!
(1)
Rich D.

Ralph's is one of the Best Italian Restaurants. The food tastes like the home cooking cooking of my Grandmother's and my Mom's. Service is excellent, and the atmosphere cozy! I highly recommend Ralph's! Rich D'Auria Pets-R-Great.org
(5)
Christine T.

Great food and even better service. Went with my parents and my boyfriend - so the small table was a little cramped. The boys ordered a martini and when the waiter came over to bring my mother's drink - he spilled one of the two martinis. Immediately he apologized, gave us another free martini (and comp'd the spilled one) and gave us a free appetizer. Couldn't get much better than that. Had the meatballs, anchovies, and roasted peppers - delicious. Everyone else loved their food too (eggplant parm, veal and peppers, sausage and peppers). If you want home style Italian food - go there. Only problem is that the valet was basically non-existent so I say park yourself.
(4)
Eric H.

These guys are the oldest family owned Italian in the USA for a reason. Great food in a laid back setting. A taste of the old world pasta and gravy. Not overly expensive but not cheap either. Regardless a good meal every time.
(4)
Brian M.

My parents still think this area is a beacon for good Italian so they wanted to have dinner there a while back. It was disappointing to say the least. Loud as hell, service was just okay, the food ranged from bad to barely edible; no one enjoyed their meal. Like every other Italian place in this area, they are resting on their laurels and boy are they tired.
(2)
Rebecca C.

In one word: Disappointing. Countless times over my years of spending lovely afternoons meandering around Philly's Italian Market, I have passed Ralph's and hoped that the next time I was around, I'd be eating there. Ralph's, for all it's history, should be the crowning jewel of Bella Vista with its laid-back neighborhood-restaurant feel. Last week, I stopped in for lunch with a friend from out of town, hoping to start her visit off with a fabulous Italian meal (plus, I had a Groupon!). We decided to split a bunch of appetizers: Antipasto plate, Clams Casino, Bruschetta and Calamari. The waiter brought out the Antipasto and Clams Casino first. Both were decent, but nothing special, and obviously not a whole lot of effort put into the presentation. Once we were finished with those, the waiter brought out our Calamari and Bruschetta. I expected the Calamari to be breaded and fried, as is usual in the many Italian restaurants in which I've eaten. My mistake, I guess, but if the calamari, which I assume was just cooked in the sub-par tomato sauce, tasted even slightly fresh or flavorful, I may have been able to enjoy it. It's not often that I don't eat anything put in front of me, but this was one of those times. The calamari was soggy and fishy. To me, it tasted like someone dumped a can of calamari in a pot of canned tomato sauce. I am of the opinion that there is almost nothing you can do to ruin Bruschetta... unless you use tomatoes OUT OF A CAN! Seriously, Ralph's? How hard is it to buy and chop fresh tomatoes for Bruschetta when you are located IN the Italian market? Redeeming qualities? Ralph's is cute. The inside reminds me of what my Italian grandma's Italian Restaurant would have looked like. The waiter we had, though unfortunately I don't remember his name, was really nice and attentive, and made a great dessert suggestion for us. We split a homemade cannoli, which was delicious, with a good cup of coffee. I would not suggest Ralph's for dinner, not with so many superior options available nearby, but I might stop in for another cannoli.
(2)
Windi L.

Boo Hoo. With all of the hype this place was getting I thought for sure I was in for a big treat. My boyfriend recommended we take my family here while in town for the Army Navy game. He spoke volumes of it! I called and tried to make a reservation for 6. They were all booked up. I was sad. Determined to make my parent's dream of authentic Italian food a reality (me thinking Philly would have this) I called back every day until they finally got us in. WHOO HOO. This was a sign I thought. Any place this booked up must be amazing. WRONG. While it gives the appeal of a cute little Italian restaurant, I can honestly say I've had better food at the Olive Garden. A truly disappointing food experience for me and my family. For starters, the waiter brought the wrong wine. He tried to argue with me that he brought what I ordered but I clearly ordered a wine that should have been RED but was brought one that was WHITE. Ding number one. To off-set this, we were VERY happy with our antipasti salad which was VERY tasty so this is why Ralph's doesn't get just one star. Moving on to the main course. EVERYONE was disappointed. My sister's gnocchi dish tasted like a piece of soft bread you roll up into a ball, my veal was waaaay overcooked and the side of pasta was not only cold but undercooked. We were so disappointed we actually left and went to get sandwiches at Nick's roast beef because we were hungry from not eating. My boyfriend, who grew up in Philly, also said this place went waaaay down hill. I will not go back despite how popular it is because the food is not worth it. I did think the staff was kind of nifty, though - playing into that whole stereotypical south philly thing. Or perhaps it's just truly their personality. PS - They don't accept credit cards!!!!
(2)
T G.

Out of town visitor came here based on a colleague's recommendation. The food was amazing! The Salmon was as good as I've had in years. Lots of flavor and cooked perfectly. The pasta was equally as good and the marinara was outstanding.
(5)
Jack J.

Disgraceful. Ralph's would not honor our reservation. Food has always been solid, but the service has been more and more thoughtless and rushed over the last few years. Tonight, we showed up only to find out that the restaurant was full and we could not be seated. Seriously? What's the point of making a reservation if the restaurant can decide to not honor it after you've shown up? Forget about Ralph's. There's better Italian in Philly, anyway.
(1)
Mike S.

I might be biased, or simply haven't tried many Italian restaurants in Philadelphia, but damn, that sauce (or gravy, depends on where you were born) they use is like liquid gold. So delicious. Evey time I go, I wanna get a job there long enough to learn the secrets of the sauce. Anyway, have been there 4 or 5 times. I have ordered the manicotti, the lasagna, and the gnocchi. All have been fantastic. Last time around was with 12 friends. And all I heard was "mmmmm", "holy crap this is great", and "great choice for a restaurant". Everyone got something a bit different, but the results were uniform. The wine is always good, the wait staff is attentive and keeps checking up on you. I cannot say enough good things about this place.
(5)
Alexa R.

My father visited us from out of town this past weekend and wanted an authentic meal in the Italian Market. My husband and I weighed our various options: Dante and Luigis (we determined it was a bit too pricey for six of us), Villa da Roma (good, but not great) or Ralph's. Ralph's was the best option as we knew the prices were reasonable, they would be able to take a reservation and the food would be reliable and solid. We were seated upstairs and it was LOUD. We did not mind whatsoever, but I could see it bothering others. Our food was great - I had a chicken special, my brother ordered a veal special and my husband dubbed his mussel appetizer "the most tender mussels I have ever had." My Dad was so happy with his antipasti appetizer, chicken parm and cannoli for dessert. Living a block from Ralph's, I take its proximity for granted. I vow to return soon! INSIDER NOTE: It is cash only, but there is an ATM on the premises.
(4)
Caitlin C.

Glad Nick B. spoke up. As an Italian foodie I need to try all Italian restaurants in the city, and Ralph's always comes up on every list. Small, authentic-looking and simple. The perfect makings for good food. The waiter who waited on my party was quite strange, and very full of Ralph's pride. He sat with us and offered great conversation. The food, however, is the reason most people go to a restaurant, and in my case, (and the case of my 100% Sicilian boyfriend) this food was surprisingly bad. Not bad as in I wanted to spit it up and wash off my tongue, but just. . . normal. If you are looking for a great Italian restaurant like Grandma used to make, go to HOSTERIA DA ELIO. Trust me. I should be charging for these food secrets. . .
(3)
D C.

What i will say is when i walked in i wasnt impressed with the atmosphere. You are clumped together and its loud but i thought "ok..ive heard rave reviews labout this place lets just see". One bite of my food and i was instantly a fan. The quality of the food is superb. However, they should tell you on the phone that they only take cash... hmm..why is that? oh yea...Italian restaurant..philly etc.." (better be quiet) i dont want to swim with the fishes" if ya know what i mean. ; ) ~
(4)
john t.

I went here for my birthday with a group of 6 people on a Saturday night in April. The seating is a little cramped and both of the floors can be a little bit loud depending on how busy it is. If your looking for a quite romantic Italian place THIS IS NOT IT. However, if you want to have the best selection of Veal dishes in Philly then this is your spot. We tried three of them and they were all exceptional. great place to celebrate and relax with friends . If your uptight or looking for privacy go somewhere else.
(5)
Tom H.

I take out-of-towners to Ralphs to experience authentic South Philly Italian food. Ralph's never disappoints. It may not be fancy, but it's classic and damn good. They are best known for their veal specials, but make a pretty mean chicken or eggplant parmesan, too. Other good choices are the antipasto, gnocchi, mussels, and Italian sausage. But folks are right; the spaghetti is just OK. Make reservations, and don't forget to bring your patience (it can get loud and crowded), cash, and plenty of friends.
(5)
Joseph S.

If you are looking for a good, inexpensive, no frills Italian meal - head to Ralph's. Yes, it's small - you are somewhat cramped. No, it isn't particularly a place to "see and be seen." But the portions are large and the quality is good. The staff is generally nice, but can be "short" at times. interestingly enough, I'm not a fan of their pasta. I dined there last night with a large group of business associates and friends. I had a salad with genoa salami, provolone cheese and roasted peppers with balsamic vinaigrette - it was fabulous. For my entree I had veal francaise, the veal was fantastic - very tender, overall it was very good, but the cream sauce was just a touch salty. Oh, and they have a great Lemonchello!
(3)
Maureen M.

Went here with a group of 11 on a Sunday evening. My brother and girlfriend were excited to try Ralph's given its history. I walked in with high expectations as well. The verdict? Disappointing! I had fettuccine alfredo which was good not great, Mom said her shrimp scampi wasn't worth $19, Grandpa said he's had better Italian at home in Wilmington! Dessert was by far the biggest let down for me. I'm a cannoli lover and ordered the cannoli cake, figuring what could be better than cake + cannoli?! Ugh, where do I begin, with the thick Cool Whip frosting layer or the box mix tasting cake? Not to mention the cannoli filling was not a smooth creamy treat but rather bland and ill textured. Oh and the mini cannoli on top of my slice of cake was soggy which shows they don't fill their cannolis to order. Mine felt like it had been sitting all day. Besides the food our service wasn't so hot either. Our water was served room temperature, no ice and our waiter kept bringing out the wrong food. For all the hype surrounding Ralph's we expected much better. We won't be back.
(2)
Rachel R.

I have been eating the mussels in red here since I was 3 years old. Classic Italian- the veal parm and mussels are always a sure thing. Still one of my fave places to come back to in Philly.
(5)
Nancy P.

I love this place! I've been going to Ralph's for almost 30 years and it never lets me down. I could eat the mussels in red sauce every day....so delicious!! My most recent visit was late Friday night. Chris was our waiter and did an amazing job....very attentive and super friendly! He knew, without asking, that when we were finished with our mussels, he should take the bowls of empty shells, leave the sauce, and bring more bread. Gotta love it!
(5)
Martha M.

One more Italian review for the day... Ralph's was selected from a list of best rated Italian restaurants in Philly. It is a cute traditional Italian restaurant that feels like you are eating in someone's home. The place was supposed to be excellent but was overall mediocre. The eggplant parmesan was delicious but the wait staff seemed very indifferent and at times slow. We sat upstairs and it was crowded so it got a little noisy. They should invest in a good clean up and some new paint.
(2)
Margaret B.

Terrible food! You thought it was hard spoil Italian food? Wrong. The pasta was flaccid, not supple but chalky, not al dente but soft. Any brand made in Italy is far better than this. Is it Chef Boyardee who is providing the pasta? The red sauce seems to have been made from canned crushed tomatoes (the worst of the vine), cooked with a bit of inferior oil. Olive oil? I doubt it. Extra virgin olive oill? Not on your life. As to salads, plueeze--balsamic vinegar sweetened up the shrimp and crab meat on romaine lettuce to the point that no seafood could be tasted. The romaine came from the outer leaves, making the salad coarse and unpleasant to eat. Extra virgin olive oil in the salad dressing? Not on your life. The pasta primevera comprised droopy, chalky pasta, canned crushed tomatoes, vegetable oil, and large chunks of parboiled broccoli. Sweetbreads fried within an inch of their life to the point that all one tasted was the fried flour they had been dunked in. No genuine Italian would give Ralph's food to a starving person. The dessert was just as deeply inauthentic. Cake-like tiramisu without soaking in liqueur, and cannoli with library-paste for filling.
(1)
Michael B.

Maybe it's because I'm a bit Italian, maybe it's because I've been to a ton of family owned Italian restaurants or maybe it's because I know how to cook, but for whatever reason, after my second visit to Ralph's, I feel I can do better. First the good points, the place seems to get a good crowd The decor and staff are what you'd expect at an Italian American restaurant. And that's really about it. I ordered the veal "marsala." I was intrigued by the use of sherry instead of the traditional Marsala wine, from which the dish gets its name. Absent was the prosciutto and light brown sauce you'd expect. In their place was a strangely fatty creamy broth into which were placed a few veal slices along with the expected mushrooms. If you're going to call a dish something, then for the love of God and all that's holy, use the correct ingredients. Sherry comes from Spain and Marsala comes from Sicily. They don't even taste the same. The broccoli and escarole as a side dish was much better. However, it doesn't take much effort to properly steam something and then season it. Now about the server, when I asked which RED wines they had by the glass, the server listed Pinot Grigio and one or other whites,..huh? Also, five minutes after you've served the food don't come back and ask if we need anything. Obviously not, you just served the food. Also it's 2009, learn how to run a credit card machine. That's perhaps acceptable at a BYOB but not at places that charge PA restaurant prices for a bottle of wine. Most people don't carry around more than $50 in cash with them and it's just tacky to have an ATM on the premises that you're making money off with fees.
(2)
LOU P.

Long-time fan of Ralph's here. I adore sweetbreads, which are not on every Italian restaurant's menu. So i go to Ralph's for sweetbreads. I think the mushrooms in the dish are canned, but the sweetbreads are perfect, with a light sauce and are a huge portion. I'm also crazy about their Fettucini Alfredo, which is the real thing, made with pasta, butter, parm and cream and nothing else. My partner always orders spaghetti and meatballs - he's not a foodie and that's what he likes. Since I order 2 entrees (so I'll have leftovers tomorrow), we don't get out of there cheaply, but I love the place. And yes, it's a good place to bring visiting firemen - old-time ambience, attentive service, and Sarcone's bread.
(4)
patrick k.

Ralph's talks a big game, what with its "Oldest family owned Italian Restaurant in the Country" claim, which it very well may be. But it definitely doesn't make any claims about being the best, and it shouldn't. I found they have exactly the same food as Villa di Roma (which I don't think is very good, check my review for details), but the decor and ambiance are a lot nicer. The biggest transgression they committed against me was their Caprese Salad, which is Mozzarella and Tomato with basil and olive oil for those who don't know. I ate at Ralph's in August, the height of tomato season in this part of the country. The time of year when tomatoes become so delicious and juicy that you can bite into one and eat it like an apple. Everyone I know in South Philly and my dad in the burbs has beefsteaks and heirlooms growing in their backyard and there's just too many awesome tomatoes to go around when August hits. Around a week earlier I had a Jersey Tomato salad at The Standard Tap, a pub in Northern Liberties, and it was one of the best things I had ever tasted in my life. I think that thought is what made me want another. I figured, it's tomato season and I'm in the Italian Market area, this has got to be banging. But alas when my Caprese came i was saddened by pink Plum tomatoes, under-ripe and semi-frozen. I guess Ralph's buys their tomatoes in March when they are off-season and then freezes them so you can have the same shitty Caprese year-round. In my opinion no restaurant worth its salt would ever serve anything that was under-ripe or bad in any way. For Ralph's to pull off a shitty Caprese in August, in Philly, when there's more than one fresh mozzarella source down the street, and a dude outside selling perfect tomatoes for $1/lb, they really just must try to suck. Never again, Ralph's. By the way, I had the Ravioli, which is what i order when i think an Italian Restaurant might suck, cause they're hard to screw up, and they were decent. I love P&S Ravioli. House-made my ass!
(2)
F C.

My last name is Carbone. I DO NOT eat Italian out. I love this place. That is all you need to know. If you are uncomfortable eating on the cramped and usually crowded main floor just ask to sit upstairs. There are three floors that I know of and have experienced.
(5)
Mike W.

This place is great. It is cramped, but that just speaks to how good the food is. If I owned this place I would probably pack a few more bodies in there. Seriously though. The food is great and the prices are decent. Give it a shot.
(5)
Megan T.

Please do bring a lot of cash, if u planned to come. I had veal rollatini... not roll up , very strange. I thought Italian's "rollatini" means meat got roll up. I saw small round flat meat. looks like scalloppine. ( The chef napping at dinning hour?).,, . but it tasted good though...
(3)
Andy K.

Ralph's is the real deal. I've only been here three or four times, but I've never been disappointed and I always leave full. The food is the hard to beat.
(5)
Andrea S.

This review is from a meal a few months ago. My boyfriend was in town, and we did all the touristy things around the city. He looked through the guide book I had, and was looking at the restaurants in the area, and we happen to be on South St.. I was new to Philly so didnt know any of the restaurants, we came here because of the great blurb in the book, we get to the restaurant and see all there zagat awards on the front, and are thinking this is great, we are going to have some great Italian food. NOT the case. We go in, the place was empty besides one other table that was finishing up. We may have gone at an odd time, really late lunch most likely. The waiter was nice, I want to say a bit slow for us being the only table their. Boyfriend ordered spaghetti and meatballs, I tasted some, that had to be the worst pasta sauce ever, and the pasta was overcooked. I don't remember what I had exactly, it was a chicken dish, again not good at all, chicken had no flavor, the sauce was strange. What really bothered me was the pasta sauce, the stuff you get from the jars tastes a million times better than what we were served. Obviously we had not read the yelp reviews before eating here, but looking through them I see really high reviews and really low ones (which echo my experience at the restaurant). My boyfriend has a theory that the true cooks were locked away somewhere unable to cook any good food that is the restaurants claim to fame. I have no desire to return to this restaurant and find out otherwise, and i would not dream of suggesting this place to anyone, I would suggest they go to Olive Garden before coming here or making their own pasta and adding some jarred pasta sauce, either would be a better food experience.
(1)
CHRIS P.

Ok,Ralphs is 100 years old and the oldest family owned Italian resturant in the us...cool,but the food was just plain aweful...I love the old school decor & history so that's why I gave raplhs 2 stars not 1...my girl ordered the clams casino and they tasted more like the movie casinos DVD then clams,they had to be 99% bread...I got the sausage & brocolli rabe over pene w/garlic & oil...the sausage tasted old,the brocolli rabe was sour and penne was mushy...ok now possibly I jus caught ralphs on a off day or being from ny actually know good Italian...this place doesn't fit the bill...just visiting Philly so I can't recamend another Italian spot but the pizza at lorenzos on south street is AMAZING...grab a slice and save your self cash & fustration!
(2)
Jimmie B.

First time eating at this restaurant. Service is fine, food is authentic, prices are somewhat reasonable. I just really didn't like that it is cash only. Step into the millennium.
(2)
Jeffrey K.

Just as good as ever---- took a group there and everyone pronounced their meals exellent. I'm not a red sauce person but the chicken Sorrento- mostly in wine sauce and cheese--- is one of my favorites. Only quibble, and I know they get this all the time: Why no credit cards? This is 2012, not 1905....
(4)
James G.

Classic Southern Italian cuisine! I always get the Manicotti (stuffed shells) w/ a side of meatballs. Love it.
(5)
George R.

There are enough reviews here that talk about various aspects of the restaurant, so I won't repeat. I'll just offer some points about the food: Their calamari are not fried, but instead served in a red sauce. Haven't had them like this before, and probably won't again. The calamari tasted extremely fishy as I've never known calamari to taste before. The veal parmigiana was a hearty portion, however the veal marsala was very small and the same price. The bread that was put on our table was fresh (from the bakery next door), but it was served cold. Not even warm from sitting on top of the oven or something. Poor choice. The butter was in little individual containers as opposed to a little dish with fresh SOFT butter. The side of "greens" is this mix of spinach, onions, garlic, and other stuff. It was OK tasting, but it was cold when it came out to our table. The bruscetta was served on toasted bread and the topping was pretty good. Can't complain there. The desserts, were, well, very good. They make everything there. It was just really good. The service was good, but a lot of food arrived at our table (party of seven) cold. It was a little bit disheartening considering that they handle large tables of people all the time. I wouldn't go back and will try other Italian places. Fellini's on the main line is still one of my favorite places to go. No doubt.
(3)
Donna B.

Skip it. Over priced and lack luster food. The historical aspect of the place is the best part of the evening
(2)
Jeremy B.

What an experience. A South Philly institution which has been open over 100 years? I am impressed considering the service we received the other night. I was not expecting much in the way of service here the waitress did a fine job-it was the busboy or service assistant or whatever they are called there. Definitely the most ignorant and rude employee I have ever come across at a restaurant. We were a walk in 5 top on early Saturday night, the restaurant was not full. i understand that you may have some other parties coming in, if we were throwing such a monkey wrench in the nights plan, we should not of been sat. Here was our convo with him: He came to the table and asked "are we were ordering anymore food." Seriously? Is that how you ask a table if they were done eating? After he heard us say no, he cleared the plates and asked "is the little girl done?" while he pretty much took the fork from her hand and cleared our plates We said we may have dessert. After he rattled off the offerings, he stood over us until we made a decision, we decided that we would spend money somewhere else for dessert and promptly left. This gentlemen has no sense of hospitality, is completely rude and took money out of the owners pockets by his actions. Not only will I never return, I will spread the word about the absolute disregard for the guest. Hey genius, you work in the Hospitality industry, try showing some. Having been in the industry since I was 17, I was so disgusted by this gentleman, I find it hard to think of any reason to return and even give them another shot-I will not. And by the way, they use premade dressing? Absolutely the worst. Probably Sysco brand. Question: What did you use for Caesar dressing the other 80 or so years you have been open? Premade frozen ravioli, OK, but drain them when they are cooked so I do not have a plate with some sauce and a ton of water. So much for authentic. Just terrible, I wish I could give no stars.
(1)
Emily R.

It was my 30th birthday, and Ralph's food was all that was on my mind. I was thinking about veal since I knew that Italians really do make it best. My husband and I stopped in to make a reservation for later that night and the host was very friendly and said "We don't have anything open until 8:30pm" but that was no problem for us and we just strolled around the surrounding area and stopped in a few shops while we were waiting. At 8:15 we came back and our table was ready. We sat down and were promptly served a nice cool glass of ice water. My husband ordered an Italian Kiss which is some sort of espresso mixed drink. He said it was out of this world. A few minutes later we were served some delicious Italian bread and butter. The bread was wonderful. We then placed our order after looking over the menu. We got the escargot as our appetizer. This was absolutely wonderful! My husband knew he wanted the Seafood Pescatore. I decided to have the Veal Marsala and a side of meatballs. We enjoyed our bread until our meals were brought out. Now my Veal Marsala was hands down the best dinner out I have EVER had. The veal was tender, the mushrooms were delicious, and the sauce, well I think I had dreams about it that night. My husband's dinner was also wonderful. He used to prepare this himself and was surprised at how fresh and tender the mussels were . He said he would get that again. Now the meatballs are something you HAVE to get if you go to Ralph's!!! These were nice and firm and the gravy was wonderful! After all this good food we had to finish off the night with a cannoli. My husband and I both ordered one and got one to go for my Dad. Well those were crisp and the filling was the best i've ever had! We will be returning to try more of their food. Thank you Ralph's for making my 30th birthday incredible!
(5)
Susan A.

Went on a Monday night early and we were seated right away. Waiter was friendly and efficient. The food was delicious and plentiful. We would definitely go back again!
(4)
Sue A.

Went for Father's Day dinner with my husband, daughter, son-in-law & two grandchildren. Food was ok, ambiance was cheesy but we all loved it. Our waiter was straight out of Jersey Shore! Go enjoy an old school Italian meal.
(4)
Todd A.

Traditional family Italian food, unpretentious, friendly atmosphere, comic waiters and veal to die for. Broccoli rabe with plenty of garlic, chicken livers, sweetbreads, delicious italian sausage everywhere and a reasonably priced wine list. We dined here on the advice of a friend and were very pleased, nothing was overpriced and a nice slice of life sample of Philadelphia on a Friday night, everyone was enjoying themselves.
(4)
Chris S.

Great Italian restaurant. My mouth waters every time I think about the Veal Sicilian.
(5)
Melissa L.

This place is to die for. Surprised for the many negative reviews but there are just as many good reviews, go figure? This is a family owned italian restaurant that makes you feel like your mom cooked everything up the old school italian way. This place has a great atmosphere and the servers were very friendly and attentive to the huge group that we had. The bread was melt in your mouth and it was hard not to overeat it all from the start. The pasta de fagol. was the most amazing soup that I have ever had, I wanted that to be my main meal it was sooo good. When the dishes got out everything was delicious, for such a large group it was surprising that they got everyones meal out at once and with a picky italian family being silent during the meal you knew it was super good. Recommend: -Mussels in white sauce over pasta, omg since eating this I am going to crave it all the time! It was a huge bowl of pasta with about 25 mussels, NO LIE! The broth was super tasty, garlicy and spicy. Try dunking your bread into it, soooo good. -Sausauge over pasta, pretty tasty but average. -Veal with scallops over it in a tasty orange sauce. My family rants about us all coming back here next summer, so due to the reviews I think ill try the mussels next.
(5)
Chris M.

Eh. Had better. Cramped. Loud. Not worth the prices. They have a reputation, so I guess they think they can charge more. The bar across the street, I think it's called The Well, is a great place for an after dinner drink.
(2)
Jae R.

Bread was stale. Service was poor. I went there one night when it was pouring outside. The restaurant was packed. But meat sauce was blend. The noodles were overcooked. I'm beginning to think this whole 9th st Italian food is overrated.
(2)
Lisa K.

I will never, ever, in my whole life, understand why people love this restaurant so much. I walk by often and see a lots of NJ plates using the valet service -so It's gotta be the tourists (AND my co-workers that live in the suburbs - they like Ralph's, but you should see what they eat for lunch every day if you know what I mean.) I suspect that the suburban folks are at a disadvantage by only having an Olive Garden to compare "authentic" Italian food to so Ralph's probably seems like some freaky cheese covered upgrade. Anyway, back to Ralph's, sure, it's been there for over a hundred years, the decor is cute on the first floor, reminding one of the "olden days". Sure, the service is cheeky if not just a little snarky, but the food is downright terrible. Okay. it's edible, but not edible in a good way. The last time I was there was for a wedding rehearsal dinner and no one finished their entrees & when asked by the waitress if anyone wanted it wrapped up to take home - it was a unanimous, "No." This was from roughly around, oh, 100 people. That's a bad thing.
(2)
Paul C.

Saw this place on food channel and decided to try out. Their Veal and Mussels were SO GOOD!...down side was they didn't take credit card...CASH only...but they do have ATM inside...lol
(3)
J M.

This will be my third visit to Ralphs but my first review. Made a reservation for lunch and our table was ready. It is cozy but adds to the ambiance. We weren't in a hurry so I was fine waiting a while for service and food. I ordered clams w/white sauce and was disappointed when the order arrived without the shells, instead the clams were already diced and on top of the very watery pasta, could it have come from a can? I don't know but was a little disappointed. Others ordered the ravioli which came out overcooked and peas and prosciutto, eh, just ok. But three entrees and a carafe of wine for $60, not too bad of a value, but not exceptional.
(3)
Alix H.

The bread at this place is so good. It's HOT and i like that in a restaurant. Our server was nice and I got a mellow vibe from this place. Everyone I was with seemed to think that Ralph's was hooking it up and serving the best Italian food around, but.... meh. My mom and I make better lasagna. The portions were big, and the food was good, but my mind was not blown and I probably wouldn't go back. Maybe my lasagna just had me all nostalgic for mom's cooking, but I suspect that other people's dishes weren't as crazy good as they were saying. We did arrive REALLY hungry
(3)
Paul C.

Ralphs is the best! Any of you who don't think so don't know what your talkin about. Now that I live in philly this is where I go when I miss my ma's food. The chicken parm is the best.
(5)
Emily S.

I'd give Ralph's two stars for the food alone, but the atmosphere definitely brings it up to three. As others have noted, it's full of history (it was founded in 1900; the menu claims that Frank Sinatra, Teddy Roosevelt, and many other notables have dined there) and it has a nice old-school Italian American feel. The food arrived with amazing speed. I had the gnocchi with marinara sauce; it was decent, but nothing special. The house Chianti was pretty good; the coffee was ok. It's not a bad spot, but I'd recommend Dante & Luigi's for the same historic and nostalgic value and far superior food.
(3)
Nick B.

I appreciate that a family-owned business can stay this successful for all these years. That said, I'm just not a fan. When I go out for dinner, I'd like to think that I'm getting something special that I couldn't just cook up at home. Unfortunately, most of the dishes at Ralph's feel like they could be accomplished with a bottle of ragu and a trip any one of the butcher shops in the Italian Market. Good food, and nice people, but I doubt I'll be back any time soon.
(3)
Dawn M.

A friend and I were in town for the Rock 'n Roll Philadelphia Half Marathon, and asked friends for good "carb load" places. Since we were in Center City, we tried almost a week out to get reservations at Maggiano's, but no dice. Thanks to Open Table, I got a reservations to Ralphs's on a Wednesay for a Saturday. On a nice day, this is a fine walk from Center City. For those who are looking for a fancy atmosphere, this probably isn't the place for you. I loved the homey "vibe" or Ralph's, and saw regulars walk in and get hugs and kisses from the waiters. We did get shoved in a corner and didn't receive the best service, but the food was really great. I got the gnocci special, which was HUGE and divine. Make sure you always ask for the price...I wasn't aware that spinach gnocci with 4 shrimps would turn out to be $28. Yikes! I would definitely recommend this place to people who love an authentic Italian experience without all of the bells and whistles of a chain restaurant. Do be sure to make reservations. The maitre'd turned down countless walk-ins.
(3)
Michael S.

My buddy and I took our girlfriends over to Ralph's for a nice dinner and all of us enjoyed it. It was a good meal and I would I back again, but it isn't the best meal I've ever had. The bread was chewy and hard to break apart, but the appetizers and our meals were delicious. Good, fairly priced Italian food.
(3)
Ti L.

Lunch at Ralph's is perfect. The meatball parm sandwich and peppers will keep me coming back. The prices are decent. It's not as crowded. Great place to stop on your way to the Italian Market. It would probably get 4 stars if it weren't for that other meal they serve there... dinner. It's amazing that in the span of a few hours the number of people doubles (or triples) in the same cramped space, the prices double (or triples) for the same amount of food, as does the waiting time. Granted it has a lot of history in the area and it's a great place to check out, but do it during the day and save your romantic and friend-date evenings for one of the other Italian places in the area. CASH ONLY!
(3)
Hal L.

When I go to an Italian restaurant, I'm looking for one thing: a great bolognese. When i go to Ralph's, I'm not getting the best bolognese I've ever had, but the authentic South Philly dining experience makes it more than OK. Their food comes in generous portions and the waiters know what they're talking about - if you haven't been, you need to go at least once. I don't eat seafood and I was still tempted by the pescatore.
(4)
Maggie G.

Food was alright. I had the Shrimp and Ravioli special. It was not flavorful, but the raviolis were perfect and homeade. Additionally the shrimp were high quality gulf coast shrimp, but only three! My fiance had the Chicken Cacciatore. It was very good, if a little dry. The reason I am not giving Ralph's a higher rating is that it promotes itself as fully authentic and yet makes its Tiramisu with CREAM CHEESE!!! not MARSCAPONE. They have also replaced rum and marsala soaked ladyfingers with Kahluah soaked lady fingers. It was the grossest Tiramisu ever. Very disappointing..
(2)
Chris D.

I like eating here mostly for the decor. It doesn't look like they changed anything in the dining room since the turn of the last century. The Italian food is very good but I agree that it is not outstanding. The food and service reminds me of really good homemade Italian food served in an informal setting. The tables are really close together; so don't go there if you want privacy. They are cash only.
(3)
John C.

Alright... I'm Asian but grew up eating Italian food 90% of the time growing up in NYC. Then I ended up in LA. There's no such thing as "Italian" food around here (cept for Valentino's... but that's a different grade of food altogether). I ended up working in Philly for a while... and let's say Ralphs is a Godseng. Mama mia! Like the old neighborhood Italian joints, there are all the usual favorites. It's cash only so don't bring your black Amex card thinking you're going to impress someone with it. Not gonna work. It's not a "see and be seen" kinda place. It's a place to go eat. Plain and simple. Oh, Ralphs... how I miss thou!!
(4)
Michele S.

I loved this place because I love old history assoicated with restaurants. I loved the food the service and the whole feeling of being at one of my Italian families home. My cousin's wedding was that weekend and we all make the trek from South Broad Street to Ralph's for our first Philly dinner. We had 14 of us and we ate, talked, and got to see family for a quiet dinner. Chicken Sorrento was outstanding, everyone elses dishes looked amazing and the salad was simple and easy. No need for fancy over priced places to go to. This was great and so much fun I would go back next time I am in Philly.
(5)
Jane F.

Bee-bopping around town, I've been wanting to try Ralph's. So we went in around 6 on a Thurs. night. Small place, close tables, decorated from about 1975, but looked very clean. Service pretty good. My partner ordered the special of the night Chicken Piccata ($20) and was a 6 out of 10. OK, but nothing special. We were in the mood for garlic and got our fix with the excellent broccoli AND broccoli rabe sides (10 out of 10) I got the mussels and spag. which I would rate a 7 out of 10. The mussels were tender, but a little bit on the fishy side, and there were a LOT of them - yikes! I would have rather had a smaller amt. of them but fresher. Spag. was fresh and cooked well and had juicy garlicky broth. Rolls were outstanding which you always expect in South Philly. We didn't drink cocktails, but did have fresh brewed iced tea which was about as good as iced tea gets. We weren't offered a refill though which was a little disappointing. But they had given us water so we were OK. I think Ralph's is resting on their laurels. Consistently OK food in a cool South Philly location.
(3)
Susan L.

Great atmosphere. I walked in without reservations on a Saturday night, and the host "rings/ buzzes" upstairs to the upstairs host. He tries to get him -or anyone- on 8 different channels, in the process using the most stereotypically mobster names you can think of. It was great. He tells us to go upstairs and ask for Gino/Mario/whomever. We do and we ask for him, he then calls BACK downstairs to make sure we're approved. It was great, but I don't remember the food. I will be back though, just because the atmosphere was so out of this century.
(4)
Matt U.

Make a reservation and get to Ralphs ASAP. The food was great. It can get a bit loud but what do you expect when you get a bunch of Italians in a room the width of a South Philly rowhome.
(5)
Barb ..

Judge the authenticity of an Italian restaurant not by its checkered table cloths, but by the taste of its meatballs and gravy.........that is, if they have a taste.
(2)
veronika p.

I don't get the big to-do about Ralph's. I went there expecting the most freaking delicious pasta I've ever had in my life and it tasted like dare I say, Olive Garden? (Okay, I know that's not fair, but I'm trying to emphasize how bland and flavorless the food was - get my drift?) It took FOREVER to get our food, but other than that, the service was pretty good. I thought the prices were a little expensive too, at least for some of the dishes. It seems like Ralph's has gotten lazy because of their notoriety and history in Philadelphia.
(2)
SaraJane H.

I am furious that I had to eat here and absolutely embarrassed that others came with me. The first thing that was wrong with this is that I went with a group of thirty people and we had a fixed menu. We had a drink, a salad, our main dish (a choice out of 4 dishes, 2 of which rated by our party as inedible), and an ice cream. Firstly, before we even saw our meal it was bad, because of the price. For our meal 'package' we had to pay 40 dollars! Before setting foot in the restaurant our party was very critical because of the price. Then we began our meal. It was started off with water in entirely too small glasses, and bread that was cold and felt as if it were in the refrigerator. Then we received our salad. It contained almost an entire onion, cauliflower, beets, carrots, radishes, and was slathered in vinaigrette and pepper to a point where everything was soggy. No one was able to finish the salad and when you turned it to the side a pool of dressing collected. We then received our entrees. The chicken parmesan was two large slabs of chicken doused in butter and parmesan (finished by none of the 14 people that ordered it). This chicken parm was served with spaghetti and marinara sauce, well cold tomato puree more like it. The vegetarian meal was basically pasta suffocated by an excessive amount of tomato sauce with some vegetables hidden within it. After much pushing of food around plates, we were all excited that we would finally be able to eat something that we wanted at dessert. Instead of being able to choose what we wanted out of the variety of delicious-looking treats they had, we were only given the 'option' of an ice cream of sorts, which was frozen to the point were diners had to hack at it with a spoon to even be able to taste it. The effort was not worth the result because the ice cream not only had numerous flavors of in layers with flavors that shouldn't be mixed together were, but they also didn't taste great on their own. Since we all payed so much and most did not eat any of the meal, we asked to have it wrapped up so we could give these meals to a homeless person that would eat it so they wouldn't starve. When we offered the meal to one starving man, he refused it and picked through a garbage can for his dinner instead. The only redeeming thing about the meal was the cheerful and kind staff who attempted to make amends for the awful food. Long story short, I would not suggest this restaurant to anyone and especially not groups
(1)
Jon L.

Four stars for history. See, in a sense it doesn't matter what the food tastes like, as long as you believe it's earth-shatteringly good. And a great crowd can make you believe such things. My father is not Italian; actually his grandparents were Jewish immigrants from Russia and Romania. But apparently the Jews and the Italians used to hang out a lot in Northeast Philly in the 1950s. My dad's best childhood friend lived in a very, very Italian home, and, after many nights of dining there, my father seems to think of himself as an expert on the Italian-American culinary scene in Philly. "There's nothing like Ralph's," he'll tell you. I mean, shit, I could buy him the finest plate of spaghetti money can buy at some fancy shmancy joint, but my father, inevitably, would tell me that it paled in comparison to his old standby. Ralph's is cool, no question. On weekends, it is absolutely packed to capacity, and my father likes to tell me that a lot of the clientele are actual South Philly mobsters. (Are there really South Philly mobsters? According to a special with Geraldo Rivera, the answer is yes; and apparently one of them tried to knock him off.) And so, with all of this history and mythology surrounding the place, it's hard not to romanticize you meatballs or your seafood pasta. The other reviews are right: Ralph's serves up pretty standard stuff. But then, that's what we like here in Philly; we're traditionalists. People always scoff when someone tries to fancify the great Philly cheese-steak (if I'm not mistaken, Steven Starr offers a variation on the theme made with Kobe beef, which apparently runs in the vicinity of $100). And likewise, people are always happy to have a great plate of pasta at a simple place they've been coming to all their lives.
(4)
Matt S.

Let me preface this by saying I don't really like italian food. I went here thinking I would give it a shot since it looked like one of those legit old-time/maybe authentic/historic places. The place was crowded which I usually don't mind and the service was great but the prices were ridiculous for the portions. I won't comment on the quality of the food since I don't like Italian food to begin with but it tasted OK i guess.
(2)
Seth G.

Granted this may be a case of seeing nostalgia through rose colored lenses, but Ralph's had the greatest gnocci dishes. I cannot make comment on any of the other items save for the linguine pescatore, which was also excellent. Whenever I get back into town to visit family, I make it a point to eat at least once at Ralph's. It should be noted that It has been over a year since I have been back. I am hoping the food hasn't deteriorated as much as what some of these other recent comments may indicate.
(5)
Catalina D.

Small, quaint, busy. Definitely one of those small family joints you think of when you picture Little Italy. Anyhow, the marsala was delish. The service I had was great. Would go again to sample more fare.
(3)
Alexandra M.

There was this one fabulous summer where the young Alexandra first got her kicks in the world of food writing. I had a pound of cash and no qualms about gettin chunky or so it seemed. I was 19, planning to move to Philadelphia and as ignorant as could be about its restaurant scene. Zagat recommended Ralph's as one of the prime spots for good Italian eating, so there I went. Once there, my friend and I went and ordered some of our Italian favorites: I got the Linguine Pescatore and she got Eggplant Parmesan. After a few bites in it seemed something was missing. Yes the joint was definitely Italian in appearance, with red checkered table clothes and waiters with accents, but what I was eating didn't taste like the good old Italian comfort food I usually relied on. The problem was that it didn't really taste like anything. It was hearty, heavy, but altogether bland. While this happens from time to time at restaurants, it means a lot that at this ripe stage in my career, when my palate was far less critical than it would become in later years, that I could leave one of Philadelphia's 'oldest restaurants' so disappointed. This was the same for my friend's dish. The plate was so large and full of food that it felt like it weighed five pounds, but did that greasy eggplant bathed in fried batter give one the impression she was eating anything better than...well grease and fried coating? Nope. Since this was years ago, I do not know if Ralph's has improved their food. From what I've read of recent reviews, however, the problem seems to be that the restaurant, in being Philly's 'oldest', has kept itself in business due to tourism, and it hasn't gotten any better. I mean hey I guess Ralph's seems great if you're used to going to Olive Garden right? Unfortunately even the dimmest understanding of good food will probably have you wondering why you spent so much on something that seemed it had been dosed with nothing better than Prego...but I guess some people are really that behind when it comes to learning about where to eat in Philadelphia or what Italian food is supposed to taste like in general.
(2)
To M.

I've wanted to go to Ralph's for years, so when I finally had a chance to go, I had high hopes for authentic Italian food. While the ambience is wonderful, our food was not. The meats were tough, and tasted as though they had freezer burn. And I was disturbed to see that the few African-American couples in the restaurant were seated upstairs in the back instead of downstairs in the main room. I won't be back.
(1)
Michelle B.

Total crowd pleaser of a restaurant. The food is tasty, but not too exotic, the prices are more than reasonable, and the ambiance is comfortable enough to be laid back, but nice enough to feel like you are dining out. The mussels in red sauce got rave reviews, the bread basket was delicious, and the shrimp were amazing. Plus, you get the added bonus of a little history lesson printed on your place mat outlining the family who has owned this restaurant for over 100 years. Just warms the heart.
(5)
Sarina K.

This place was just OK to me. It came highly recommended and had a lot of history, so I wanted to try it out. The atmosphere was definitely its best quality. Very "homey" and Italian. I had no complaints about the service or even the food but it wasn't nearly all that I'd heard it made out to be. I ordered the spaghetti with tomato and mushroom sauce and it was fine - but I've had better. I wouldn't coming rushing back here anytime soon but it also wasn't a bad dining experience.
(2)
Andee F.

I have got to say I have been coming to this fine establishment for about 56 years now(they call my Dad Big Stan).I LOVE this place...it's my first stop from the airport as I am an ex Philly girl now.My faves are the sauteed greens,the clam spaghetti white (I jones for it) and the mussels in red sauce.Just the best!! Oh and the staff...LOVE THEM!
(5)
Phil J.

I still have fond memories of coming to this place as a kid...I still remember the sauce. Its been a while but I enjoyed every time I was there.
(5)
Dave R.

can't believe some of the reviews on here... made me sign up just to give Ralph's a little love... best veal parmagiana I've had anywhere in the world, hands down. If you're looking for linen napkins, don't go to Ralph's. If you are looking for authentic South Philly culture, and a mono y mono culinary experience with veal parmagiana, there is no better place.
(5)
Yvonne Y.

This is the oldest Italian restaurant in Philadelphia. The restaurant has been family owned and passed down from generation to generation. The poles that people use to wrap their horses around are still outside. The food is so yummy. It's basic no frills Italian food that is completely satisfying. The lasana, spaghetti, fettucine- it's all Italian heavan. The prices are very reasonable. Most between $8-$15. $17 for a special. We spoke to one of the managing family members and just for the sheer graciousness of this fellow makes you understand why this family has been able to stay in business for so long. If you make it out to Philly- you have to make it out there. If you live there already, you probably already have been there. If you haven't...shame on you.
(5)
Lee J.

I know this is a philly classic, but this place is uninspiring. Bland very generic Italian food. Also staff is quite terse....
(2)
Bella Vista R.

The place is what it is. Solid Italian food, in a tight cramped South Philly establishment. You will always get a good meal, but not great. Go with Veal or pasta. Crowded after sporting events and make sure to bring cash
(3)
Marian R.

i'm with lisa k, this place stinks. i've lived a block away my entire life and every few years go to see if it's gotten better and no, it hasn't. don't waste a meal here, unless you're like the average american and have no taste buds. if you must go, they have one decent dish, the sausage and peppers. under no circumstances order anything from the sea. they murder seafood. go to dante and luigi's, one block west, if you want good italian - american food.
(1)
Mike H.

as other reviews said food is nothing special. i'm giving it a 1 just to kill the hype of this place. again NOTHING SPECIAL and perhaps just a step above olive garden. it's also cash only when the yelp profile says credit cards accepted.
(1)
John K.

My partner and I made a day trip to Philadelphia yesterday and visited the Italian Market. We asked a vendor there if he could recommend a restaurant for Lunch and he sent us to Ralph's. I can confidently say that it is the absolute worst restaurant (not just Italian restaurant) I have ever eaten in. My partner agreed that the food was atrocious and he is usually very easy to please. For starters he had peppers and mozzarella which was just that, a bunch of roasted pepper slices emptied out of a can or jar with these strange round hard, cold cheese balls (no, they were not bocconchini, no, no, no.) I ordered calamari. It was a bowl of prepared frozen calamari in a reddish brown liquid of ingredients unknown. Absolutely revolting. The main courses were lasagna and chicken parmigiana. The chicken was a cutlet breaded and fried sometime long ago (days ago, at least) before they assembled it with tasteless cheese. The lasagna was about six inches high and had a meat filling that was rancid. We didn't want to spoil our day in Philadelphia so we said nothing to the staff. Besides, the food was so disgusting that they had to know. My partner, referring to a Kitchen Nightmare show where an Italian restaurant in California was so atrocious that they fired the chef, said that Ralph's must have hired him and given him control of their kitchen. Oh, the only reason I have given one star is that Yelp doesn't give the no-star option. How unfortunate.
(1)

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Address : 760 S 9th St
Philadelphia, PA, 19147
Phone (215) 627-6011
Website https://www.ralphsrestaurant.com
Click To Get Directions

Opening Hours

Mon :12:00 pm - 10

Specialities

Takes Reservations : Yes
Delivery : No
Take-out : Yes
Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
Good For : Dinner
Parking : Valet, Street
Bike Parking : Yes
Wheelchair Accessible : Yes
Good for Kids : Yes
Good for Groups : Yes
Attire : Casual
Ambience : Casual
Noise Level : Average
Alcohol : Full Bar
Outdoor Seating : No
Wi-Fi : No
Has TV : Yes
Waiter Service : Yes
Caters : Yes

Claim Restaurant

Italian Cuisine

The immense popularity of Italian cuisine globally isn't unknown. You can find an Italian Pizzeria around every corner of almost every city in the United States. Not to forget that in every house, people enjoy mac and cheese as comfort food. But it would be wrong to believe that Italian food starts with pizza and ends with good pasta as this Mediterranean country has much more to offer other than these two dishes. In Italian Cuisine, there is a high use of fresh tomatoes, all kinds of herbs, great quality of cheese, all types of meat, seafood and fresh handmade pasta. Many find it hard to believe that Italians have been making noodles long back.

Italian and Greek cuisines are always mistaken to be same, but they are poles apart. The primary difference between the two cuisines is the use of cheese in most of the Italian dishes. Italians love to cultivate their own cheese and process them as per their food requirement. It is believed that some cheese is so expensive that cheese producers secure them in lockers.

If you are bored eating the same old pasta or pizza, you can try some of the authentic Italian dishes like Risotto, Polenta, Ribollita, Lasagna, Fiorentina Steak, Bottarga, Ossobuco, Carbonara, Focaccia, Arancini and Supplì. Another item which Italians love to relish every morning is a good cup of Italian Coffee. Once you taste a freshly brewed cup of Italian Coffee, you might not visit Starbucks ever again. Authentic Italian food is made with heart and soul, so go find a restaurant where you can relish Italian cuisine in your city.

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Ralphs Italian Restaurant

760 S 9th St, Philadelphia, PA, 19147

Ralphs Italian Restaurant Menu

Appetizers

Soup and Salads

Pasta

Chicken

Veal

Seafood

Homemade Specialties

Old World Favorites

Healthy Meal suggestions for Ralphs Italian Restaurant

Appetizers

Soup and Salads

Pasta

Chicken

Veal

Seafood

Homemade Specialties

Old World Favorites

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