Cucina Forte Reviews

This place never disappoints. From beginning to end it is such a good dining experience. We been there previously and needless to say this is one of our "go to" places. I highly recommend their homemade gnocchi. To die for! You can get it as an appetizer or entree. Amazing! Nothing beats home made pasta. Cucina Forte is also a BYOB which IMO is great. The food is delicious and the service is on point. Beautiful time as always! 👍🍷🍷

Met some buddies for a guys night out dinner....Cucina Forte was excellent both in Service (Mike the waiter) and food was out of this world.. ordered lobster w/ith gnocchi .... perfect from start to finish...

Our visit to Cucina Forte, on S. 8th St, just above Christian St., about a block from the Italian Market in South Philadelphia, turned out just about perfectly. The place is small, the service friendly, informal and personal, and the food was outstanding. We were told that everything was prepared by the owner, Maria Forte, and she knows what she's doing. Her "special" soup proved to be just what it's name promised and the rest of the meal, from the salad to the pasta to a superb piece of fish to a sensational home-made cheesecake (maybe the best I've ever had) all made for a wonderful dining experience. The only possible short-coming is the fact that it's BYOB (bring your own bottle) so, if you want wine with your meal you better bring it with you. We did (we had been forewarned) and there was no corkage charge. All-in-all a first-class meal and restaurant.

Shared dinner at this BYOB with some friends last week, and found the food we ordered was outstanding. We ordered the mozzarella and tomatoes, as well as the Greek salad for antipasti. Both were very tasty, but too much food!!! The pasta dishes were marvelous. Very fresh, and the seasonings were perfect. I ordered a pasta special, which contained scallops and sun-dried tomatoes. This dish was delicious. One of my friends ordered a pasta special with seafood - superb!!! The lobster ravioli was tasty, as was the cheese ravioli. The sauces were terrific. I can't wait to come back. The coffee at dessert was perfect. This place is small, and there was a group celebrating a (70th!!) birthday, so it was a little noisy

We've been to Cucina Forte twice. Both times the food was divine and the service was great. The first time it was only 2/3 full, and the ambience was fine. The second time, the place was full and the noise level was deafening. The four of us had to shout in order to converse. Of course, everyone else had to shout also, which made things even worse. The decor is acoustically very bright. So, go for great food and great service, but go on a night they won't likely be full.

I visited this restaurant with my wife and 2 friends on Saturday, June 10th, 2006. It is a very pretty and quaint restaurant in South Philly, not too far from South Street. My wife and I are long time fans of the various restaurants in South Philly. Cucina Forte is one of the "grandmother's restaurants", very competent. There isn't a huge variety of dishes on the menu, but whatever is there, if it is their specialty, is extraordinarily good. The decor is nice, a mix of old and new. The noise level for a full restaurant on a Saturday night was not loud, as had been mentioned on previous reviews. Holding a normal conversation was very easy. There were only 2 people waiting the 16-18 tables, and yet the service was very friendly, precise and timely; both the appetizers and entrees were served at appropriate intervals. It really felt like eating at a typical Italian grandmother's home. 3 of us picked the recommended "dream soup", a chicken broth-based soup with chicken, eggs, sun-dried tomatoes and spinach, which was absolutely perfect. Soups like this are either perfectly balanced, or given an excess of flavors to impress; this soup was the former. The fourth picked the pasta fagole soup, which he claimed rivaled HIS grandmother's version. The recommended entree is the gnocci made with ricotta cheese; these are sinfully light, almost as soft as angel food cake, par-boiled and served with a variety of sauces. The concensus opinion was that the gnocci with the gorganzolla cheese was the most heavenly concoction of the night. I had a pan-seared talapia that was perfectly cooked and seasoned, and the fourth had a shrimp risotto that he also deemed as "outstanding". The desserts were very nice, a terrific ricotta cheese cake and chocolate gelato with cappucino and coffee. $90 a couple (with tax) and a BYOB. It is rare for a party of four to be perfectly happy with every aspect of their meal from beginning to end in any restaurant. This was a very pleasant surprise, and one easy to recommend heartily.

The storefront for Cucina Forte is unassuming, but the inside is charming and the staff welcoming and gracious. The background music, at just the right volume, is a mix of old Italian, with classic performers such as Bing Crosby, Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, and Michael Buble. Matching the wonderful atmosphere, the food is delicious, well worth the effort to find Cucina on South 8th St. Maria, the 74 year old chef, has prepared authentic Italian cuisine for many years; she is a delightful, spirited lady. The servings are generously sized: you will not leave hungry. Entrees are between $15.00 and $30.00.

When you step inside the door it feels as if you're in the dining room of an Italian grandmother's home instead of being inside a restaurant. Decor is modest but warm and welcoming, allowing the food to shine. Further exuding warmth was our hostess, Gloria, who efficiently took orders and oversaw service while finding time to be friendly yet not obtrusive with the customers. Almost all of the cooking is done by a 73 year old Italian widow and one other cook. I wanted to give my friend who was visiting from the Los Angeles area an authentic taste of Phila, and she was most appreciative of this find. The restaurant is known for its incredibly light gnocchi, choice of spinach or ricotta, with choice of sauce, chunky tomato or creamy gorgonzola. These are available in appetizer or entree sized portions. Many of the other pastas are also available in two sizes. The portions are more than ample. In fact, my friend and I ordered too much, not realizing how generous the servings were, eventhough we shared all of the items. My favorites were the special appetizer of grilled eggplant, roasted peppers, and crab meat and a seafood linguini with shrimp, feta cheese, and cured black olives. If you aren't too full, share a dish of ice cream. The chocolate with crushed hazelnuts was bordering on decadent, literally chock full of nuts. The accomodating server wrapped the serving of untouched coconut sorbet in foil and packed it with ice inside a container, so I could take it home for partaking at another time. You will need to find street parking. And beware of a water drip from the air conditioner above the entry door.

Really had a wonderful time at a recent visit to Cucina Forte! We often visit Philadelphia and so happy to find good Italian food in a warm and welcoming atmosphere. Minor suggestion - for the buffalo mozzarella salad I would suggest a drizzle of balsamic vinegar to add some acidity to the experience. I enjoyed their garlic and shrimp over linguine dish, my husband had their veal and proscutto rolled dish, my daughters had the linguine and clams and homemade gnocchi respectively. Additional entrees that were enjoyed by our daughter's fiance and his mom were the stuffed veal chop and chicken dishes. Love the BYOB aspect in so many of the Philadelphia restaurants. Thank you!

My family and I celebrated my birthday there on October 25,2015. A very delightful experience! Small neighborhood Italian BYOB featuring great food and atmosphere.. Warm and charming... Gloria, the waitress, possible owner, allowed my son to bring in a birthday cake, specially for me! Needless to say this added to the experience.. Although small, the interior has a nice feel, dim lights and generally romantic.. I think that on a Saturday night it would be crowded so plan ahead... Parking garage on South Street and 10th..

Home-made Italian food at great prices. Bring your own booze. No corkage fee. Try the squid ink pasta in red sauce!

This little restaurant is a gem with a long list of daily specials. Had the grilled red snapper and vegetables--ymm; the lobster ravioli and grilled calimari were tender and tasty. Wait staff were attentive to our every needs. We were one of five other large parties in there, so noise level was too high. Will go back during the week or earlier; will dream of going there for a romantic dinner or any excuse when we're in town. Feel lucky to have found this place.

I have never seen such large, light fluffy pillows of pasta dough in my life...get the combo tomato sauce and gorgonzola sauce....mangia!

I recently wrote a review on Yelp! about Cucina Forte. Aside from saying the same exact things, all over again, I decided to keep this one very simple: Do yourself a favor and GO! The restaurant is intimate, the people who work there are friendly and accommodating, and the food was just wonderful. Coming from someone who eats out a lot, Cucina Forte is one of my top favorite restaurants.

What a great place. The owner/chef is a tiny woman who moved to Philly from Italy and the people who work there, have grown up working there. Our waiter said he has another job and doesn't need to work here but he loves it so much and has been working there since he was 10. The food is delicious. Know this: it may be the best fried calamari we've ever had. It was cooked to perfection. Not chewy, not too crunchy, absolutely perfect. Little tastes of heaven. We also started with the mozzarella, tomato, and sun-dried tomato salad. Really really good. Very fresh. For our entrees my husband ordered the linguini with shrimp. The shrimp were huge and the pasta was cooked perfectly. Our daughter ordered the gnocchi in pesto. They're known for their gnocchi and it really was delicious. So fresh and homemade. I ordered the pork chop stuffed with mozzarella and prosciutto. It was good. A little salty, maybe, but really really good. Not sure I'd order that again, honestly because the pasta dishes looked so damn good. The only problem (if it's really a problem at all) is that there is so much food! Nobody finished their dishes because the portions were so huge. It's really fantastic. Next time we visit we'll be sure to eat here again.

We went here for dinner on Saturday and the place was not that crowded but it got a bit noisy. There was a guy playing a guitar and he did get loud so we were not to happy with this and then he comes around with a tip basket which I felt should of just had one on the way out (not to cool) Our food took a while to come out but we were with another couple so it was ok . The prices are a bit high and portions were not anything special. This was my first visit and the other couples second visit. We might try it again

Although there are many fine Italian restaurants in the Philly suburbs there is something about a great Italian restaurant in South Philly to remind you of what makes this kind of place worth travelling to. Named after the owners, Cucina Forte is a BYO that serves up authentic food in a simple but cozy atmosphere that will leave you satisfied on all fronts. We decided to go light so the 4 of us shared buffalo mozzarella and prosciutto with melon appetizers. We were served half a melon with more prosciutto than most restaurants put on 4 plates! Mozzarella was creamy and sweet. We shared tacconelli with Porcini (spinach pasta with porcini mushrooms and asparagus in cream sauce) and lobster ravioli. Both were perfect flavor blends and huge portions. But as suggested by our vivacious waitress, we also got the spinach gnocchi and ricotta gnocchi (we call them cavatelli) and these were among the lightest fluffiest ones we have ever tasted. Hand made by an 86 year old woman in the kitchen these are not to be missed! We had leftovers to take home. No room for desserts but capuccinos and lattes were just right! As with most of South Philly, parking is at a premium but there are public lots within walking distance and valet parking on some nights. Do not pass up Cucina forte!!

It was nearly 12 years ago when I first heard about the amazing gnocci made by Maria Forte. So light it floats in the sauce I was told. So, on a business trip in 2001 to Philly I decided I had to try it. And was I glad I did. (Also discovered the fine cooking of David Ansill on that trip but that’s for another day). Turn the calendar forward – Philly today has a host of great young chefs whipping up inventive dishes – think Sbraga, Vernick, Kearse, Kulp. And some older steadies in Vetri and Garces. So, there is a tendency to forget standards and classics. Soul-mate and I really enjoy a good Italian meal now and then and had a wonderful one on Chicago on a recent trip. Whenever we have that great meal, I invariably tell her about that sumptuous gnocci. So, she was tired of hearing about it – and told me I had to take her there this week. It’s a BYOB, so, I brought a really nice Barbaresco knowing we had in store a meal that likely would match the wine. We split a salad that was fresh and delicious. The warm bread was amply dipped in olive oil. I ordered a veal dish – Involtini Di Vitello. Incredible. Perfectly prepared. Veal rolled with prosciutto and provolone sautéed with artichokes and mushrooms. Soul mate had the gnocci. Everything I remembered about the gnocci was brought back to life. Light, fluffy, incredibly flavorful in a delicious sauce. A lot of people like to top off a great dinner with dessert or a super after dinner drink. I do as well. But when I get a chance to speak with the chef, that’s my after dinner delight. Maria spent ten minutes at our table chatting about food, the good old days and much more. This is one of those institutions that has not lost its step.

Was here for dinner on a Friday during lent with friends, 6 of us total. We were seated promptly and were told of the evening specials, all sounded great. Due to it being a meatless night for all of us, we started with a portobello mushroom stuffed with a creamy lump crab topping and also a eggplant w ricotta cheese and an order of mussels in a white wine sauce. Entrees for us consisted of salmon w risotto, baked eggplant, ahi tuna w a nice spicy zing to it and raviolis. All items served properly and hot. Cant wait to go back to try the meat section of the menu as the veal items all looked appetizing to us. All said,,, highly recommend cucina forte to all.....

My husband and I held our son's reheasal dinner at Cucina Forte last Wednesday evening. It was a great experience. From Maria to Greg to the rest of the staff it was almost a seamless affair. The food was awesome and plentiful. The restaurant looked beautiful and a bonus it's BYOB so I got to bring our favorite vino! The restaurant was closed to the public for a party of 40 which is what originally brought us here. Definitely check this place out for dinner or your next affair!!

We were in Philly for our son's graduation. We found Cucina Forte on TA. The place is small, a bit loud but a fun atmosphere. BYO with good prices and great food!!! I had a veal chop special, which was one of the best veal dishes I ever had at a restaurant. The staff was very friendly and the overall evening was excellent. Look forward to going again!

I am from california and just spent some time in italy and on my way back to california i spent a couple of day in philly. I was told by some people i met on the plane and they told me best italian food in philly is at cucina forte. So i knew i had to go. When i went the food was awesome and the service was equally as good. While i was there i felt like i was right back in italy. They were all just so friendly and down to earth. I would definitely recommend everyone to go here its just delicious.

Hats off to Francine, Maria the elder, Maria the granddaughter, and to Greg. I have been to Cucina Forte many times since 2006 and brought family many times. If you have the palate for what I may label as scrumptious Southern Italian cooking, then I hope you join me in loving this almost hidden Bella Vista neighborhood haunt. Located on 8th Street just north of Catharine but not on the corner, Cucina Forte and only one other restaurant chef does a marinara that rivals my grandmother’s. For me, dinner there is like food for my soul and the salads and antipasti are also to die for. The veal with prosciutto, cheese and pasta is a win. Love the gnocchi - don’t underestimate how good it is. Try the grilled shrimp. The ravioli is super fresh. They have gluten free options now which means some of my family members can now go there without suffering. I love this place. They will work with you, too, on large parties. I am bringing a large group there in a week and they have been wonderful to work with.

Background music by Sinatra and Martin and food by a 74 year old owner/chef who prepares her food with a combination of love and experience. The atmosphere is relaxed but attentive. The list of specials in extensive and varied. The gnocchi is the best I'd ever had--light as air with great sauces. Osso buco was very good and a large plate, veal dishes were good, the lobster tail had a wonderful spicy red sauce. We also had some very tasty appetizers. Honestly this is a good low-key way to experience South Philly--a contrast to the overly fancy or chi-chi restaurants in center city. Parking is a bit difficult but there are valet lots from nearby restaurants where you can park. It is BYOB. Enjoy!

After buying a restaurant.com GC and then reading the reviews, I was dying to try this restaurant. Our waiter was a pleasure, and the food was perfect. My friend and I shared a gnocchi appetizer (we had to try it after reading about it - and in appetizer portion, and I still have lunch left over for today). The bread came out right from the oven, but I suggest going light on it, even though it was delicious! I ordered lobster ravioli with shrimp and it was one of the best I’ve had. My friend ordered a filet with gorgonzola sauce and crab. Delicious tho' a bit heavy for his taste. My only recommendation is bring a better bottle of wine than I did to enhance the meal! Go!

My husband and I went here with another couple for my birthday. We live in Northern VA and there aren't comparable restaurants near us. The riccota gnocchi lived up to its reputation and them some! Light, pillowy, delicious. I got it in the tomato basil cream sauce. I wanted to sing when I ate it. Everything else was good: spinach gnocchi, baked eggplant with crabmeat (a special), veal chop stuffed with mozz and proscuitto (another special), veal saltimbocca, spaghetti with clams, lobster ravioli with shrimp. But I could have eaten the gnocchi for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. I also love that it is BYOB so we could have a different wine with every course for a fraction of the cost.

We endeavored to Cucina Forte at the recommendation of our local foodie friends. It didn't disappoint! First, everything was made to order, so if you didn't like an ingredient or wanted to add something, they had no problems with it. I went with the lobster ravioli w/shrimp, in a cream sauce. Literally, it was the best ravioli I've ever had. Chunks of real lobster and huge shrimp in this basil sauce was like ecstasy. If you're ever in Philly and in the mood for a great Italian, this place is a must.

Always a great meal. Pasta all homemade by the owner, she is an Italian-born lady in her 80's --she has the touch. All pastas are excellent. Osso bucco, all classic Italian is well done. Large portions. BYOB! Sometimes a little noisy, (can get crowded) but music like Sinatra playing in the background, the friendly Philly-Italian waiters---it is much more authentic than a lot of the South Philly Italian restaurants. I've gone back many times over the past 3 years and will go again.

A recent transplant to Phila., I've been checking out all the Italian restaurants, and this one is really tops. My friends and I had the wonderful gnocchi, veal rolls that were tender and delicious, stuffed squid, homemade spinach pasta with mushroom cream sauce. Everything was great--just beware that the homemade cheesecakes and mousse cake are really heavy after a typical appetizer and entree- one to share would do you well (and this comes from a dessert lover). Beware that it's bring-your-own and cash only.

We get the Dream Soup, the gnocchi, and the steak. This is a top ten Philadelphia restaurant. Let's get the rating up where it belongs!

My brother-in-law from Virginia wanted to celebrate his 50th birthday with us in Philly so I called this place and left a phone message at around 2:00 on Friday, January 14. I explained the special occasion and requested availability for a party of six on Sunday, Jamuary 16. The rest of Friday and all day Saturday came and went with no call back. Frustrated and disappointed, we went to another restaurant who offered reservations through Open Table.com.

Rarely do I write a review like this. Cucina Forte deserves 5 stars but gets 4! The food is remarkable; the service not good. If it wasn’t for the food Cucina Forte would have received a 2. So what was wrong? Stressed out and hurried service which was both amateurish and silly. This is a direct fault of the owner! Get it together please!

We were visiting in Philly and staying in the Bella Vista neighborhood. We looked at several reviews and chose Cucina above the rest and could have not been more pleased. They have a beautiful, yet cozy dining area. The staff was fantastic. We had some spinach gnocchi, they are famous for it, with Gorgonzola sauce. This was a bit strong for my taste, but was quite tasty. The Pollo Alla Forte was wonderful, the white wine reduction perfectly complimented the sun dried tomatoes and crabmeat. Pesto ravioli with basil tomato dream sauce was excellent and well balanced. We finished with lemon sorbet, a real treat. Served in a huge frozen hollowed out lemon was a perfect end. Don't miss this jewel tucked away down on 8th St, you won't be sorry!

Six of us in Philly for Mother's Day Race4Cure have dined at Forte on almost an annual basis the past six yrs. We have never been disappointed! Our usual waiter Vinnie has always been welcoming, helpful describing the evening specials, answering any questions, and this time, even bringing from the kitchen a scallop to attest to their large size in answering a question. (All staff are welcoming and helpful.) Again, we are never disappointed with our meals. We fully enjoyed ourselves with good food, conversation, and bottles of wine (BYOB restaurant.) Easy to get to via taxi, and just a short two block walk up 8th to South Street for taxis back to our hotel.

We adventured to Cucina Forte as a result of reviews on TripAdvisor. We shared gnocchi as a starter,both spinach and ricotta in Gorgonzola sauce...excellent. Starters were followed by Zuppa de Pesce and Veal involtini. The Zuppa was very good, unfortunately the veal was overcooked and at best was mediocre. The atmosphere was very good, the Waite staff excellent. Tiramisu did not disappoint, the capuccino was one of the very best we ever had. We shared a wonderful bottle of Noble Vineyard 667. the only missing component was a touch of Sambucca in the capuccino. Overall the meal was very good,they need to fix the veal!! I will go back

The gnocchi is to die for! It just melts in your mouth! We are very picky Italians and every meal we had here has been exceptional. Besides the awesome home-made Italian food, the prices are reasonable and it's a BYOB! You can't go wrong with this place! You will need a reservation though!

Visited here again with friends. Never fails to impress. Waitress Lauren was awesome Food is outstanding especially the gnocchi

My wife and I dined at Cucina Forte on a Thursday evening. It is located in a residential section of South Philadelphia. The restaurant is family owned and our server was very proud of the quality of food served. The atmosphere is casual and energetic. While there several Italian dishes available on the menu, we opted for some red table wine and the house specialty, homemade gnocchi. My wife had a mixed plate of both plain and spinach gnocchi in gorgonzola sauce.....I had the same mix in marinara. I have eaten gnocchi in many restaurants and as a kid growing up............sorry Grandmom, these gnocchi were the lightest, tastiest I have ever eaten. And my wife who rarely eats a large meal of anything nearly emptied her plate. We will certainly return when we visit Philly again.

Went as a party of five with some family members on a Saturday night. Restaurant is in a row home, very small with tables too close together. A gentleman was at the front of the restaurant playing music, but nobody could hear him over all the noise. Food was average, but not great. I had one of the pasta special, pappardelle with scallops w/garlic and tomatoes. Way too much garlic and pasta was a little over cooked. My wife had the lamb, which was OK, not spectacular. Another in our party had the gnocchi which was very good. The other two in our group did a pasta and veal, which were good. Due to the small size of the restaurant, I would not bring young children. Overall the place was clean, but the men's room urinal was covered in duct tape due to a broken pipe. Open Table says they have valet parking on the weekend, but that's no longer available. All in all there are better places for good Italian.

Fabulous, light gnocchi. Fresh and delicious marinara sauce. Bread warm from the oven. Very friendly service. We were looking for good, authentic Italian in Philadelphia and found it here. If only parking were easier in the Italian market area...

Great Italian food, the gnocchi was wonderful. BYOB. Good service, not overpriced.

Appetizers were good. Portebello mushroom with crabmeat in a gorgonzola cheese sauce was delicious. Gnocchi was fabulous. Servers were attentive and we sat there for a awhile after dinner talking as many other diners did with no one trying to rush us out. Parking was difficult. Two apps two entrees under $100 with tip. It's BYOB too.

Our favorite meal in Italy was from a small restaurant in Tuscany where we ate Gnocchi Gorgonzola. That restaurant has set the standard for us for Gnocchis:) Cucina Forte is #2 on our list. They are truly amazing. The staff is always so friendly. This restaurant was passed from a friend's friend, so you know it is good! We have recommended it to a few other couples and they have felt the same! Whenever we need out true Italian fix and can't go to Tuscany, we go here.

Went for Valentine's Day. Maybe I should have expected it, but they rolled out special Valentine's Day prices for their, as always, excellent food and friendly service.I had a veal dish, my wife had the lamb chops. What can I say, they were the high quality we always expect here. The Dream Soup is always special, but this time it was more than 25% ($) more special. Not as good a deal as it normally is here.

Best Italian food we have had in a long time. Make a reservation, it gets crowded on weekends. It's BYOB so won't cost an arm and a leg. Start with the dream soup...it's fantastic. Famous gnocchi, a pasta special the night we went was lobster ravioli which was light but filling with a sauce to die for. Don't forget the cheesecake for dessert. Walk or take a cab or you will miss your table looking for parking. A bit noisy but not enough to keep you away.

Went with 3 generations of family. Our waitress was excellent (I asked her name and I think it was Lisa but I apologize if I misremembered it). She was very accommodative of the children and very pleasant. Our food was served promptly and was very tasty and portions were large. Restaurant is small and we went early on a Saturday evening so we got a table in the back since it wasn't crowded, but based on a recent review, I could understand if it was chilly by the door or window on a cold day that it might not be so pleasant.

SOME FACTS Cucina Forte is named for Maria Forte, owner and head chef. This is one of our very favorite restaurants. The fact that it's three blocks away from our home is a real bonus. Forte means strong in Italian. Sometimes it also means loud (as in pianoforte, which means, literally "soft-loud"). Cucina Forte lacks floor coverings, draperies, tablecloths, and other devices that absorb ambient sound. The restaurant can be quite lively (noisy) as it fills. Cucina Forte is a BYOB. THE FOOD The restaurant has many great homemade dishes, such as the pasta and gnocchi. They make their own bread on the premises. The salads are always fresh and interesting, and Maria's Dream Soup is delicious. Interestingly, several of the pasta dishes may also be ordered as appetizers -- an excellent way to discover the territory here. There are lots of other appetizers, including mussels, calamari, steamed clams, and more. Meat and fish specials add to the fun. (Look for regular menu items and specials such as Grilled Baby Lamb Chops, Veal Chop, Bronzino, Langostino, or Steak stuffed with Crab and Gorgonzola) I believe we may have had dessert here, maybe once or twice. For some reason I keep thinking that if we did, it was probably the delicious Tiramisu. Below are a few links so that you may familiarize yourselves with the menu, and see what customers have had to say about the restaurant. http://philadelphia.menupages.com/restaurants/cucina-forte/MENU http://www.americascuisine.com/pennsylvania/philadelphia/CucinaForte.aspx http://www.restaurant.com/microsite.asp?rid=359052=4252=1150_kwcid=TC|16271|cucina%20forte%20philadelphia||S|b|3717477324 <http://www.restaurant.com/microsite.asp?rid=359052&prti=4252&raid=1150&s_kwcid=TC|16271|cucina%20forte%20philadelphia||S|b|3717477324> http://www.tripadvisor.com/Restaurant_Review-g60795-d463016-Reviews-Cucina_Forte-Philadelphia_Pennsylvania.html http://www.urbanspoon.com/r/21/251933/restaurant/Italian-Market-Bella-Vista-Southwark/Cucina-Forte-Philadelphia

Had dinner there tonight for the first time. Did not have a reservation so we took a chance. We arrived around 6. We were lucky to get a table as they were completely booked for the rest of the evening. I had the Gnocchi with gargonzola sauce. The best I have ever had. My husband had the Sea Bass and said it was outstanding. The owner and chef, Maria Forte came out of the kitchen to chat with her guests. What a joy she is. 75 and works till 1 in the morning making home made pasta and breads. Byob is perfect for us and the prices were very fair. Will be back again.

A neighborhood BYOB that has spruced up an otherwise drab dining area by adding a mirrored wall, fresh flowers on the table, and linen table clothes. The menu is not large, but there is good selection of traditional pasta, seafood, chicken, and veal. The appetizers are large and could be shared. The veal dish and pasta that we ordered were each nicely prepared.

Cucina Forte was everything I was looking for in a BYOB – intimate, paced well, attentive, and superb food. The gnocchi lived up to the hype. I will definitely return.

this was the best Mother's dinner I ever had with the best service. Usually restaurant's are over crowded on holidays and have not had much luck with good service. But not this restaurant best service ever all the time.

The gnocci are to die for. They are made from ricotta cheese and melt in your mouth. The seabass was outstanding and very flavorful. On top of that, the service is great. This is our favorite BYOB in Philadelphia. It's definitely worth it.

For real family old style Italian food it's hard to beat Cucina Forte. If you like gnocchi, then the hand made ricotta gnocchi in marinara sauce is a must! The BYOB policy is something I wasn't used to but learned to appreciate! It makes for a better dining experience! There is nothing better than a solid old neighborhood standby. This is one!

I've been going here for years and the food is amazing. It keeps me coming back. The service is outstanding and the music is great. I want to tell Maria to keep up the good work and keep the Gnocchi coming.

This restaurant is one of our absolute favorites. Gnocchi is the best I have ever eaten. The servers are outstanding and treat you like family. They cook everything to order and will prepare any dish pretty much to your liking. Parking is tough but worth the search. Small restaurant and only Knock is sometimes you get large parties that are bombastic but that is not forte's fault. Homemade ricotta cheesecake is the best! I have eaten almost everything on the menu and it is all excellent. Don't miss it.

This restaurant was within walking distance of our destination in Philly and we decided to give it a try. It has a small and intimate dining room, you almost feel like you are dining in someone's house. The menu is pretty typical of Italian restaurants, however Maria Forte has her fingerprints all over each dish- which makes one's meal very special and delicious. Our party had the pasta fagioli soup, which was a large portion and very hearty. And then gnocchi- delicious and very light, especially the spinach which is a house specialty. The veal was good but I would say the pasta dishes are the entrees to order here ( or whatever the specials are for the day, which sell out quickly.) The chef/owner, Ms Forte was gracious to come out and visit our table. She is a delightful woman, reminiscent of our family matriarch and made us feel very much at home. Pricing is reasonable to moderately expensive, but a jewel in the neighborhood,

We love this place--so much we had our rehearsal dinner here! The gnocchi is the best in town, light as a feather, not heavy like many others. Skip Mezzaluna across the street and head to the original at Cucina Forte!!

Very generous helpings , entrees can be shared, they are very good about that. A bit noisy, great service and great food.

I scheduled a business dinner for 18 in early December. Although the restaurant is small, they did a great job accommodating us. Mrs. Forte's gnocchi is the best around. I had people there from Germany, England, Kentucky, New York, Tampa, Atlanta, Salt Lake City, Minneapolis, DC and Connecticut and they all said it was the best Gnocchi they ever had. The veal chop stuffed with prosciutto and mozzarella was unbelievably good and it was very big. Gloria was our waitress. She was fantastic. Mrs Forte came out of the kitchen to see us and received a round of applause from my crew. She has a truly authentic Italian restaurant that everyone should visit when in Philly.

Beware, parking in the area difficult, but...food worth the trouble. Six of us had a terrific meal Saturday night, everyones food excellent. place noisy. Save room for the ricotta cheese cake dessert. Warm delicious, light and YUMMY

This place is small, romantic and great food. The Bass was cooked perfect, my girlfriend had lobster ravioli..so delish. worth every penny. it's a byob too. I'd call up first to see if you need reservations when you want to go.

Great dining experience at Cucina Forte in Philadelphia. The gnocchi were homemade and the best I every tasted. The staff was pleasant, helpful & friendly and the owner came out of the kitchen to speak with us. Highly recommended!

I expected more from this restaurant. It is small and the night we went there were few customers. This is a byob restaurant. The quality of the food is inferior to the expectations. The owner is nice and friendly

I'm Italian & I like Italian food. Cucina Forte is one of the best BYOB RESTAURANTS we've been to in a long time. The food was excellent , selection wonderful, along with good portions, lastly , the service made our trip there even better Our Server was ANTONIA; she made our evening such a wonderful dining experience that I didn't want to leave! She was courteous, knowledgeable & just so pleasant& helpful in making our dining choices. Thanks ANTONIA💕💐 We will definitely be back!! My husband had Surf& Turf which included an 8oz lobster tail & a thick steak filet with a large mound of crabmeat in alight creamed Gorgonzola sauce. I had Talapia over a huge portion of Cappellini pasta. This was also excellent. The restaurant is small& seats are limited, so make reservations before you go. And DO try this place. You WILL NOT be disappointed 👍😉

We were in downtown visiting the city and decided from the reviews to try this restaurant - and we weren't disappointed! We loved our meal. The atmosphere is quaint, with very friendly waiters. I had the gnocchi and my husband had the soft-shelled crab which was one of the many specials for the evening. The pasta serve with the crab was obviously freshly prepared and the sauce was perfect. My gnocchi were fabulous - definitely get the mixed plate of gnocchi to try the two difference kinds with the two difference sauces. Loved every bite!

Before dinner we had the opportunity to meet the chef and owner, Maria Forte. A dynamo little lady who puts a lot of love into her food. A word of advice, you have to try to gnocchi, even if you don't think you like gnocchi. Made from ricotta cheese instead of potato they are light and flavorful. If you order the entree portion request half spinach with marinara and half plain with the gorgonzola cream sauce, you won't be disappointed. Location is typical south Philadelphia with no on street parking, I understand they valet on weekends. The restaurant is small, I would imagine reservations are a must on the weekend, but on a Wednesday night it was easy to get a table. The swordfish special was prepared arrabiata style (spicy) with white wine over greens (no sauce) and was delicious cooked medium rare. Other entree orders of lobster ravioli and fettucini with shrimp and calamari were also very good. Pasta is definitely made in house. Riccotta cheese cake for dessert didn't disappoint and was light and not too sweet - a perfect ending to a wonderful meal. Would definitely return - this place is also BYOB which makes it just about perfect.

I love this restaurant..... great food/service... I went with my family for the first time on Saturday night ... usually go with buddies during the week.... only compliant is the noise level when crowded ... Otherwise, a gem !

Love this restaurant! My husband and I visited tonight (Friday). We ordered the appetizer special: Mozzerella, artichokes, tomato, arugula and capers. It was lovely. We also both ordered the entree special: Pasta stuffed with prosciutto and fontina cheese with a cream sauce and shrimp (I substitued the shrimp with chicken). My husband cleared his very generous plate. I ate half and boxed the rest. It was absolutely delicious and the service was top notch. I would definitely recommend for a nice romantic date night or for a nice night out with a group of friends. Two quick notes - its a bit overpriced for center city Italian. However, its a BYOB that actually accepts credit cards which is not always the case. For me it kind of balances out. Enjoy!

Not kidding, you have to get the Gnocchi. I loved the red sauce, but if you like creamier sauces then go with the white. This is a great date restaurant. It's small, but not cramped like every other Italian place in the city where you are eating on top of another table. The service is excellent, great portions and byob. Chicken was a little tough, but everything else was excellent. I went for the first time with a http://restaurant.com certificate and now I will definitely be back.

Haven't been here in a long time, but was in the mood for their terrific gnocchi. Still run by the same people. Good list of specials. I had gnocchi bolognese. While the sauce was basically ground beef and marinara and lacking any complexity it was still pretty good. Prices are reasonable for the quality. The noise level was over he top and they turned up the music!! Not close to the best Italian food in Philly, but it was pretty good. However, the noise level ruined the evening. I will not return.

More than worth the ride from the far western burbs to feast on Maria Forte's perfect homemade Italian. She truly is the Love chef. Every morsel of her food reflects her genuine love of cooking and taking such good care of her customers. Admittedly, parking is tough but persevere. BYOB - bring a bottle or two of your best Italian red. We started with the mussels in white and a special appetizer of grilled eggplant, spinach, lump crabmeat and roasted peppers. Shared the house specialty of gorgonzola ricotta gnocchi as a second course. These are the best gnocchi EVER!!! Light as a feather, literally melt in your mouth. As entrees, we both had veal dishes. The saltimbocca was among the best I've had. Perfectly cooked, just subtle sage, accompanied by roasted potato wedges and grilled vegetables. Needless to say, no room for desert. All that food was just $100 plus tip. More than reasonable for the generous quantity and outstanding quality.

Our annual get together at Cucina Forte the eve of the Komen Race For The Cure on Mother's Day! The six of us not only look forward to a good dinner but also our favorite waiter Vinnie whom is excellent at job. Forte always seems has a long list of specials which Vinnie nails in his description. I believe he sold all six of us on different specials ranging from Crab Meat on Filet Mignon to Lobster Tail on gnocchi's w/o Fra Diablo sauce. Gnocchi's are a customer favorite at Forte. The doorman at our hotel heard where we were going and stated "best gnocchi's in town!" The Specials and the menu the kitchen can basically add and subtract to any dish. BYOB and we probably finished three bottles of wine and part of two others. In other words, good food, drink, and conversation. Busy place so better make reservations for desired time. See 'ya next year when we come up from the Jersey shore.

My fiancé made reservations at this restaurant weeks in advance, and despite his cold, we hoped to celebrate our engagement with a romantic dinner at this restaurant. When we arrived, we were offered a table for two right by the front door on a very cold 27 degree evening - most uncomfortable for him. When we requested to be moved to a table further back in the restaurant, we were told no other tables were available. The couple who arrived minutes after us - without a reservation we overheard - were immediately shown to a table well within the restaurant. When we asked the hostess about this, she hemmed and hawed but really couldn’t explain why we were refused the table the other couple was given. Such a slap in the face means we are not coming back. Our opinion will also be shared with our many friends. Needless to say, our celebration was ruined.

Charming restaurant. Good for date night. Extensive specialty menu. Lobster Ravioli with Grilled Shrimp was delicious as well as the crabmeat with grilled eggplant appetizer. BYOB. Best to make a reservation early in the evening as the restaurant fills up quickly and is quite loud .

After walking through the neighborhood and passing this restaurant several times(why, I don't know), we were looking for a BYOB and walked in. The atmosphere was very inviting with chandeliers and soft lighting. The host was very welcoming and attentive. Our food arrived promptly, was hot, and delicious. I had the buffalo mozzarella salad(absolutely delicious), and for dinner, a special that was pasta filled with fontina and prosciutto. Very good. My dining partner had the filet mignon special that was slightly undercooked. It was gladly rewarmed to the correct temperature and also very good. Dessert was an awesome tiramisu. I highly recommend this place and the fact that it is local will mean I'll be back soon.

I just hosted a family dinner at Cucina Forte last week to celebrate my husband's MBA graduation, and it was a lovely experience! I'm not too familiar with Philly and was looking for a small Italian restaurant, and it wound up being exactly what I wanted. I was told that their gnocchi is one of their delicious specialties, and it did not disappoint. And everyone died and went to dessert heaven eating the Nutella ricotta cheesecake that I ordered ahead of time as a little surprise for my graduate. The only thing I wasn't crazy about was a mushroom pasta dish that I ordered, because it was overwhelmingly mushroom-y and didn't include asparagus as the menu specified it would. The homemade spinach fettuccine that was served with it was great though. As a vegetarian, there were a number of options for me, but the menu also pleased the fish and meat eaters in my group. The overall gist of it is that I would go back to Cucina Forte in a heartbeat! Note: This restaurant is a bit old school and they aren't great with email, so if you have any questions for them, just call them directly. I initially tried to make my dinner party reservation via email and didn't get a response.

This Quaint BYOB Had Been A Regular Place For Us To Eat For Years. It Keeps Getting Better. This Past Thursday Night Was Exceptional. Six Friends Met For Dinner, Each Bringin A Bottle of Wine. Marie IsThe Owner Of The Restaurant, Who Often Comes Out And Greats Her Guests. Her "Dream Soup" Is To Die For. Her Homemade Pastas Are Great, Especially Gnocchi. Fried Calamari And The Egplant Appetizers Are Standouts. Lobster Ravioli, The Sea Bass, And The Fettucini Special Were Some Of The Tables Fantastic Entrees. Honestly You Cannot Go Wrong With Whatever Dish You Order. Also, You Can Get A Certificare For $25 On Restaurant.Com. Highly Recommended!

When in Philadelphia for special occasions our first choice for dinner is Cucina Forte. The food is always good and everyone who works there is great. You have to try the gnocchi. This is a BYOB restaurant, so don't forget to bring your favorite bottle of wine.

It was a few years since my last visit. We were a party of four. All enjoyed the food. The eggplant with crabmeat appetizer special was very good. Gnocchi were fantastic, as usual, and the spinach pappardelle with scallops entree special was enjoyable. The only down notes were the mussels appetizer was smaller than some other area restaurants, and two of the three pieces of veal (with lemon) were not as tender as they should have been. Despite these issues, I would return.

4 of us were shown to our table promptly. Service was perfect, not overbearing at all, and the atmosphere was very nice. Our order was taken and the appetizers came in a timely manner. They were excellent - steamed clams, an eggplant special and melon a proscuitti. For entrees 2 of us had the veal chop special which was out of this world. Grilled to perfection and a fabulous flavor. There was also seafood Fradiavolo and a chicken dish. The first time the chicken came, it was incorrect. The waiter fessed up quickly and it was rectified without a fuss. I would recommend this restaurant to anyone but would strongly suggest reservations

I used to live around the corner from Cucina Forte and it was a go to for us to dine alone or with guests. The basic menu is refreshing and the home-made pastas and gnocchis are revelatory. However, there had been a few times when we were disappointed with the quality and the service. This could have simply been due to a few off nights (no one is consistently perfect). I would still highly recommend Cucina to anyone but just be aware it can be slightly hit or miss.

I liked this place. We went because we could not get a seat at nearby Villa de Roma, but I was not disappointed. I don't know it's history in S. Philly, but we had a very good meal with very good service. We had the pasta and clams and the gnocchi. Both were good, but the clams were exceptional.