Dante & Luigi's Reviews

We rank this place in the top five, excellent ambiance, top notch service by Frank, entrees that left us wanting more and a TIRAMISU that left us speechless licking the plate.

Why does Dante and Luigi’s website NOT provide a menu with prices??? Nor do other websites…. What’s the problem? Are their prices unreasonable? What the hell???? What are they afraid of????

Went here for dinner on a Friday night with a group of 9. We had excellent service and the food was AMAZING. The staff was friendly, attentive and accommodating.

Dante & Luigi’s is one of the best Italian restaurants in the city. Opened in 1899 under the original name “Corona di Ferro”, it’s the oldest Italian restaurant in the city of Philadelphia. It’s located on the first floor of a typical South Philly style home in the heart of the Italian Market. The ambiance is very old school, South Philly Italian, which I absolutely love. You really can’t go wrong with anything on the menu. My favorite dish is the seafood cioppino. Make sure you get the cannoli for dessert!

Even if the food was indifferent, this place has all the ambience and feel of a restaurant in an old Italian town. The decor is delightful with a couple of warm rooms and an open bright airy bar dining alcove The waiters were all mature professionals and the service was the "shared European style" with any passing waiter picking up plates and generally being involved in the service of all tables. The food was very good and the servings best described as generous. Order food that can be shared to start a meal and then progress based on your diminishing needs. Valet parking is available which is essential in this part of the city

Very good. Amazingly loud, though. Enjoyed the food very much and service was excellent. Might return when back in town.

Love the food , atmosphere and the waiter! Price was great, 140 per couple and that included apps, wine, dinner, desert and after dinner drinks! So much food and it was delicious! Will definitely come again with family! We also found parking on the street outside restaurant!

Good house with well-established traditions. It's not the Italian cuisine we know in Italy, a little more "creamy" than there but it's good. The veal Bolognese specialty is good. Decent antipasti. Like wine. Good evening

Top notch all the way around, from the setting, to the service to (especially) the food. Victor our server was fantastic and everything was delicious. Girlfriend’s first time there and she was blown away. A Philadelphia institution that stands the test of time! Go and have a romantic and delicious evening!

The build up to this restaurant was so great, I should have been prepared for a letdown. Handmade pasta was fabulous, other dishes were average. Don't order the cioppino. It is not a brothy stew with fin and shell fish as the dish is served in San Francisco. Instead it is a heaping dish of spaghetti with a few mussels, a clam, a shrimp and the smallest lobster tail ever served with thick marinara sauce ladled on top. The highlight of the meal was the story of the two famous mob hits (Godfather style) that took place there.

We came for dinner. My braccoli rabe was very good. My rigatoni with the corona di furo sauce was just ok. The Italian sweet sausage was very tasty. The much touted meatball was nothing really special. The Taramisu dessert was excellent. The negroni and Chianti was ok. The service and atmosphere was excellent. I was expecting more but I would give it another try and maybe try a veal or fish dish.

All excellent - food, venue, service. Everyone in our party was pleased with the food. Waiter was great. Other staff were very attentive. Venue was wonderful. Probably the best Italian restaurant in Phila.

We wanted to go to one of the original Italian-American bastions around the 9th St Market area of Philly and we chose one because it is way more upscale and attractive than some of the others, that may have great food but no ambience. Busy on Saturday night, we had reservations for 8:15 and were seated promptly. Good server all around and the portions were large enough to share and pass around for sampling. We enjoyed Saltimboca, Chicken Parm, Shrimp Scampi, etc, and started with fried calamari and a mixed antipasti plate. Wine list had some surprisingly reasonable options and we had 2 bottles of a very servicable Dolcetto from Piedmonte that was only $26. per bottle. Would definitely return for another visit next time in Philly.

Love this place situated in the Italian market area of Philadelphia- had a wonderful meal here where the ingredients are perfect and the service is perfectly timed. Not sure, but seems like waiters have been there forvever. Love that dinner salad doesn't come with any choices of fake dressing, oil and balsamic vinegar on the table for the salad - the correct Italian way. Also served along side of the bread which I believe is from Sarcones, a bakery just up the street and is fabulous. The decor is elegant without being fancy. Was empty on a Tuesday night, not sure if the average tourist just doesn't come here or if it is just a slow night. Not in the touristy section of Philadelphia. Valet parking ($15) is necessary because there is never any parking in this neighborhood. Will always come here whenever in Philadelphia, then will do shopping in the Italian market the next morning and buy all the beautiful ingredients found on their menu to make at home.

I have lived in Philly since 2009 and why didn't I go here until last night, OMG! My new favorite Italian restaurant in the USA! You have to try this place. I have tried many, maybe all Italian restaurants in Philadelphia but WOW ! Beautiful ambiance, staff was professional and nice, food was hot and came out at just the right time. I have nothing bad to say. I can't wait to return with my family and friends.

Great old fashioned Italian restaurant. Homemade tiramisu delicious. Fettuccine Alfredo was creamy and excellent. Veal parmigiana a bit dry - could have done with some more marinara sauce. Try it

Memorable experience consisting of delicious food and superb wait service. This restaurant effortlessly provide service as is rarely provided now. I will certainly return on my next trip from nyc.

Went with six adults, had reservations. Very short wait for table. Excellent service. Waiter did a great job of explaining meals and food. Food was provided in a timely manner and was hot. Food exceeded all of our expectations. Great time and very happy overall with experience.

We met another couple here for a very enjoyable evening. The host and server were most pleasant, and attentive. And the food was excellent.

We met our husbands here for Sat early dinner after a show. From start to finish it was excellent! The waiter Frank stopped me on the way to ladies room as he overheard me tell my husband I wanted a dirty martini & he asked if I had a vodka preference. White table cloth.. yes , stuffy.. no! Restaurant is clean, beautiful & roomy. Service was attentive and friendly. All for 4 of us had drinks, appetizers & dinner with not one disappointment. We split dessert & coffee very good too. Valet parking ( 15.00) was nice so we didn't have to drive around looking for one. We will be back!

I went to Dante and Luigi's with my boyfriend to celebrate my 30th birthday. The food was excellent from the grilled calamari to the seafood cioppino to the ricotta cannoli! The service was also great. The restaurant is well maintained and decorated with class. Our waiter was very attentive and quick.

Beautiful townhouse with exquisitely old style Italian decor. We’re four people and they immediately seated us in a quieter room (generally difficult on a Friday night) as requested in our reservation. As starters, we had meatballs and stuffed peppers, both delicious. As main dishes, my daughter and friend ordered homemade pasta, I ordered baby calves liver with a side of sautéed spinach, and my husband had baked lasagna. For desert, as suggested by our waiter, we savored a very light a ricotta cheese cake, which was just fantastic ! All dishes were delicious, cooked to perfection, and nicely presented. Service was above average as they were very busy. The place is not expensive if one does not order too many starters (main dishes are generous portions) and drinks. We had a lovely time with family as we could converse (low noise volume) and we’ll be back again when in Philly.

This place was tucked away in a neighborhood in South Philly. The ambiance when you walked in was great. The service was excellent from the time we arrived to the time we left. Amazing gnocchi and you could tell it was all made from scratch. Really authentic and great Italian food.

Established in 1899, "Dante & Luigi's, Corona di Ferro" is one of the oldest existing Italian restaurants in the U.S. at nearly 125 years old. Situated in the heart of the Italian Market district, it was once the destination of Italian immigrants arriving in Philadelphia. Unable to speak English, they arrived on the docks with the name of the restaurant written on a scrap of paper and pinned to their lapels. They were given lodging in the upstairs rooms and worked in the restaurant below. Now a 5-star Zagat wonder, and regularly considered the best Italian in the city, they retain the same old school atmosphere and a perfect spot to surprise your favorite peeps for a special occasion 🥳. Dynamite dinner was had by all... saltimboca, parms, stuffed peppers, and Italian dessert goodness. Oh and FWIW, I had to dig in a little, as far as the "iron crown" part of the name, it's a reference to the one of the oldest royal insignias in Christendom, which tradition held was made of iron beaten out of a nail used at the crucifixion of Jesus.

Just Outstanding! Fresh,simple,elegant food with attentive, polite wait staff. The pasta was Excellent! Celebrating a family birthday out but felt like we were home. The new decor is beautiful! Love the Philadelphia dining scene. Will add this gem back onto our list.

Food was great and so was the service. Prices very reasonable. I would recommend it to visitors too Philadelphia

Nothing beats a great Italian meal in South Philly. The waitstaff are friendly and funny, referring to their dishes using exaggerated South Philly lingo (think 'gravy' and 'macaroni'). The expert preparation of al dente pasta served with generous hand-grated Parmesan is a winner. The veal dishes are superb, and the salads ample. Great wine list and decent cocktails, too! A new fave in Philly!

Awesome Italian great service the Risoto to die for. Oldest italian restaurant in Philly. Great decor will definately be back anytime in town

Very Overpriced, Good Food, BUT a Forty-five (45) minute wait for dinner is not acceptable and we will never go back again

One of the best and most authentic Italian restaurants ANYWHERE in the country. If you're in Philadelphia and don't go here shame on you. You must try the Percitelli Genoves even as a dish for 2 to share as an appetizer. The veal Catharine is wonderful as is the Lasagna. Never had a bad meal. The owners and GM are wonderful and the service is exceptional. I'm an accomplished cook and this place is amazing!

Arrived on a Saturday night with two other couples. Upon arrival was greeted by the host who was very Pleasant ,,professional,, Italian and very good looking !!, but don't tell my boyfriend. We were sat at our table immediately and order our dinner shortly after. From the pasta fagioli soup, fried calamari and the pasta with seafood and finishing off with the tiramisu made this a complete and successful dining experience. Can not wait to come back very soon!!!!

As a lifelong resident of South Philly, I found that this restaurant was a too white table cloth and stuffy for my taste. The service was excellent, our waiter was quite attentive and helpful. The food was just good, nothing spectacular I can't get over $18.00 for spaghetti and meatballs and it was average at best. The Veal Saltimbocca was very good but I had better and less expensive. So if you like the white tablecloth type restaurants Dante and Luigi's will work for you. Not for me though.

Exceptional classic Italian food, great ambiance and service. Call for a reservation, they book up. Save room for the Tiramisu., their house wines are also very good.

Great ambiance with an intimate feel and warm lighting. The service is excellent. Food selection and quality is great and they have an extensive wine list. Would definitely go back here on our next trip to Philly.

Another Italian place in S. Philly (Bella Vista to be exact), but it is impeccably formal, with outstanding food and service. The bread is soft and chewy, the olive oil subtle and rich, and the pasta perfectly al denté. The veal is exquisite. It is without pretension, and a refreshingly down-to-earth restaurant in a city full of good restaurants trying really hard to be innovative.

Excellent dinner served by an excellent and knowledgeable staff! The food was prepared perfectly and our entire party of six was each very happy with their meals.

People call it Old School. They are right on! Food was over the top. Service was excellent. 1% minus for no bar. Great service bar that had an extensive wine list and great cocktails but nothing before,

When I moved to Philadelphia in 2003, my first night in town my dad and I dined here. We love these olde-worlde white tablecloths like in Little Italy and the North End. Dante & Luigi’s, 20+ years later, a blip in their 125 year old history, will be forever my favorite restaurant in Philly, if not just my favorite of all time anywhere. That’s why I dined here my last night in town with my friends, one last time. My friends are happy I left because they got a legendary meal out of it. Thank you, from my heart. I’ve had nearly everything in the menu. I always recommend if you have one chance to dine here, their gnocchi is pretty much the most perfect you’ll ever have. I also like the sausage and broccoli raab. The seafood risotto I would actually commit a death sentence crime just to have this as my last meal. Then the La Bomba dessert…I know the tiramassou is a fan favorite, but I prefer the cherry and chocolate and ice cream la Bomba, with a nice port to wash it down. As a concierge I jumped at every opportunity to send guests their way (I have cancelled many reservations at your 9th street competition to squeeze them into yours.) Also, your competitions sauce is more watery than Ragu. And no, there is no little old Nonna in the kitchen from Sicily and straight outta an extra from Moonstruck…no the Nonna is Philadelphia power restaurant manager Connie. Connie, I miss you guys. I want people to read this review and make a visit to your restaurant as important as a trip to the Liberty Bell. And you are BOTH Philadelphia icons. Ciao my friends. Look me up if you’re ever in Buffalo.

Wow. What a great place to celebrate our anniversary. Great food and great atmosphere service was wonderful. Valet parking.

Excellent food and service. Staff is consistently friendly and decor is lovely. Valet parking a great feature!!!

What a lovely Italian American restaurant this is - of only we lived near by! Absolutely the best ever staff, we had the most delightful waiter who could not have been more welcoming. We were being treated to this meal by friends who live in Philly (we are UK based), and they had told us that this was a restaurant they knew well and thought we would enjoy. They were absolutely correct. I had a huge, and delicious, slab of lasagne (leftovers were easily taken home by our hosts). The waiter and I discussed the merits of Italian wine verses USA, and I did opt for the USA as that’s actually considerably more difficult to get in the UK than Italian wine. But what a lovely evening we had. Everybody enjoyed their food…but in all honesty our waiter made the whole experience (for me) extra special and quite frankly memorable, it’s not often I hug a waiter at the end of the evening, but couldn’t resist. It was a week ago, last Wednesday night, made my holiday!

Out of town visitors wanted to try South Philly Italian. It's been many years scince last there. Things have really changed from what we remember. The room looked great with clean white tablecloths. Our waiter was friendly and excellent. We all had different pasta dishes and they were all among the best ever. Thick, hearty, and intense flavors. Generous portions. Highly recommended. Ample street parking, but valet available.

Absolutely the best dinner ever! The food was excellent and our waiter Joe couldn’t have been more attentive. He is a gem. The atmosphere was gorgeous and I can’t say enough about the service! Guaranteed we will be back!

Delicious food, from the Italian antipasto platter to the fried calamari and eggplant parm as antipastos. I had the fettuccine filetto which was excellent. Home made pasta (along with gnocchi it is the only home made pastas) and delicious sauce. Tiramisu was very good. Cannolis were good but nothing out of the ordinary. Will definitely return when I visit south Philly again.

One of the best Italian food in the Philly area. The food is excellent, wine selection was unique and excellent, service was outstanding.

I’m originally from Philly and it’s been about 20 years since I last dined here and I can assure you it hasn’t changed, it’s gotten better with age. We kicked it off with the basic Caesar which is one of the best, just a subtle creaminess with a more oil based dressing that excites the palette. My co-worker and I both ordered Chicken Parm and this is what I have missed living in the south. Perfectly pounded chicken breast thick enough to taste chicken in every bite and tender to boot. The breading is just enough and the marinara is to die for. Service is impeccable - we had Frank and he was on his game ensuring we were taken care of at every minute. If you’re from Philly or there as I was on business this is worth the stop. Molto bene!

South Philly still has the Italian flair . Tried & true, delicious year after year . This restaurant always delivers the best , service & fresh pasta experience. My wife and I have just got back from Italy, this transported us back . Indulge while you are here you can't go worst with any choice on the menu . Go keep this restaurant alive into the next generation to enjoy.

Great find, lovely lunch. Everything is very authentic and prepared with care. The escarole soup is incredible, I think I could live on it and water. The stuffed calamari is also a winner full of crab and flavor it makes you want more and the bolognese is as good as any I’ve had. Would like to come back and try the veal.

We had dinner here with another couple. First time for us but not for our friends. Excellent service. Our waiter seemed to be fairly new but was attentive and knowledgeable about the menu. We went for it all - a couple of bottles of Pellegrino, cocktails, a bottle of wine, appetizers, entrees, espresso & grappa for "dessert." Actual desserts were tempting but we just didn't have room by then. I have to say that the star of the meal was the chicken livers (appetizer). They were fabulous and the serving is enough to share. Really excellent. The stuffed pepper appetizer is also excellent. I had Veal Catherine and, while the veal was outstanding and very tender, I found it to be rather bland. I wouldn't order that again.My friend raved about his osso buco. Cocktails were very well made. Two things keep me from giving Dante & Luigi's five stars: two of our party had the Branzino and neither ate all of it. Both found the texture to be off - sort of mushy. I don't know whether it was poorly cooked or previously frozen, in any case, it wasn't right. The other minus is that the Caesar Salad had a dressing that tasted like it came out of a bottle. Definitely not a real Caesar Salad (admittedly hard to find these days). We would definitely go back and get the chicken livers again.

We have been going to Dante and Luigi's for over 30 years and always love to go back to experience the true feel of South Philly! We sat in the back room by the fireplace and enjoyed the amazing food and drinks. What a special restaurant.

we went there last week after not having been there for years. The ambience was much better than I remembered, the food was delicious; home style Italian. The waiter was ok - not overly attentive - and at the end of the meal he tried to rip us off not once but twice. First he charged us $8.00 for an iced tea and then he charged us $17.00 for 2 cappuccinos! Time to go electronic perhaps? When we pointed it out he was annoyed, as if his mistakes were our fault. I will go back but check my check carefully.

This was my third year running the Philadelphia Marathon and third year eating at Dante and Luigi's. Great meal for a great price. Plenty of options and all taste great. This latest visit was chicken Parmesan and it was filling. Wish the pasta portion was larger but nothing to complain about.

We thoroughly enjoyed our dining experience at Dante & Luigi. My wife had the pasta fagilio & Chicken Sicilian and I had one veal bracciole as an appetizer and the Perciatelli Genovese - all outstanding & authentic. We even took home a veal briacciole! Service was friendly & attentive. Highly recommend.

My wife and I dined here while visiting Philly for the Christmas Season. Impeccable food, service from our waiter, Henry, a true pro, and ambiance. We were welcomed immediately upon entering the restaurant and Henry made us feel like we were dining in his house. The specials were explained to us clearly and concisely, and I opted for the Linguini Diavlo that had huge shrimps in a not too overly spicy marinara sauce, whereas my wife ordered Veal Rollantini that had a savory and rich mushroom sauce. They also make an excellent Bourbon Manhattan. From start to finish everything was pure class, and prices were reasonable, as well. We will definitely return on our next visit to Philly which undoubtedly will be next December. Kudos to the entire staff for making our experience so special

How many restaurants can boast a 125 year history? This fact alone makes D&L’s special. They make and sell their own sauce (gravy). Food is traditional with healthy portions. Wine is affordable. All good

When I request bleu cheese stuffed olives with my vodka, I don't anticipate a problem in a finer restaurant. And an Italian one , too. No bleu cheese, no Gorgonzola. I could not even stuff my own olives. Food was mundane. We waited too long for the kids' meals. However our waiter was first class.

Visited from london. Great service and food and quite a traditional Italian restaurant. Evening spoilt by loudmouth guy who boomed across the restaurant at his table partners sitting only feet away from him and his wife/partner who joined in with swearing loudly. They only shut up when they had food in their mouths. Highly recommended though

We have been going here for years....we make the 45 minute trek to it from the suburbs because it's just so outstanding. None of that is news....what is news is that last night they (a very busy Saturday night), the team here exceeded any other of the many times we've visited. We brought two guests who had never been here and they could not have been more impressed. Every single course was amazing...beyond words really so I won't waste them. One idea we always do...order a full portion of the Gnocchi for an appetizer to share (along with a couple other things)....and special order (ask) for their Pink Vodka sauce on it. You'll get their house red sauce on many other things....try this great blush sauce on those pillow like Gnocchi....it's amazing. They might not like to deviate from their menu but this is worth the effort. Last night my wife had a pork chop that was super special and the chicken parm is pounded so thin/cooked almost well done....just very special. You'll take home some portions. You'll be surprised at the low bill when you get it (value....and pay cash for a full 10% discount).

Everything delicious - Mussels, Chicken Parmesan, Veal Rollatini. Requested perciatelli pasta for my fettucine alfredo with spinach - the best ever! I cannot wait to return.

Like a lot of us philly locals I have eaten here over the years many many times. Just went again last week on a Saturday night. It had been a long time and it was just as I remembered it. The food is pretty good depending on what you get. There is a lot to choose from. The waiters will help you pick stuff if you like. I like the back room, so classy old world Italian. We were a table for 10 and they handled it pretty well. Cost was great in my opinion, about $50 a head with tip, and we ate! I would go back. The valet parking helps a lot.

All around great experience. Food was excellent. Waiter was great, knowledgeable and attentive. Ambience was very nice too!

How do they only have a 4.5 star review on here? Excellent food. The gnocchi is fantastic, possibly the best I’ve ever had. All apps were great. Service was extremely friendly. They made buttered noodles for my 3yr old, which I know is just buttered noodles, but this kid ate a pound of it like never before, so that must have been extra good, too. I will definitely be there in the future. They also have valet 👌🏼 Which is great because parking was difficult on Saturday night.

Ordered the lasagna. Classic old-fashioned style huge portion with great sauce and ricotta cheese. The highlight of the meal however was the tiramisu. Elegantly presented with lady fingers and layered cream not over stated. Best tiramisu ever. Hostess/owner was charming simply a lovely evening

A little chaotic to get there and settle parking, but the food and service are excellent. One down side is the acoustics of the room - one loud table can disrupt any chance at conversation.

This place looks like a south Philly Italian restaurant should look. Old world charm and friendly wait staff. The food is excellent and the service on point. The ambiance is a big part of the experience but the food lives up to expectations. Reasonably priced for the quality

This restaurant is truly a hidden gem in Philadelphia! Service was great and food was amazing. I totally recommend!

The decor is magnificient, they kept the old molding work, 1920 lamp shades, beautiful arched windows, white cloth table, garcon with black noeud papillon and white shirt. The food is classical but made at the perfection. I had the bell peppers suffed with meat, excellent. Good wine too. Lovely place, reasonnable price. Definitely recommend.

Had a fantastic dinner at Dante & Luigi's. We knew as soon as we arrived we were in for a treat. It's a classic, old school Italian restaurant (founded in 1899!). Service was incredibly attentive and professional. The food was amazing! I had a pepper stuffed with veal for my antipasto and had the Perciatelli Genovese for my main course, which was unbelievable. Just melted in my mouth. Really enjoyed the food, atmosphere, and service. I will return as soon as possible!

Went to Dante and Luigi’s for our daughter’s graduation from college. Food was outstanding!! Wife had the special for the evening which was shrimp,clam and asparagus,daughter had chicken parmigiana and I had the gravy special, which all were delicious. Tira misu and la bomba(tartufo) for dessert. Excellent!! Waiter Frank was personable and friendly!! Highly recommend.

From the minute we entered the restaurant and were greeted at the door by the host I felt that I was in for a good evening of fine dining. The room we were ushered into was spacious and elegant and the waiter very warm and charming. He made good suggestions for the courses and wine. The food was delicious and well presented. An excellent dining experience.

One of our favorite Italian restaurants in south philly. We always have a great meal here. No one ever goes away hungry. Great pasta, veal, and seafood pasta dishes. Best lasagna in town.

I had the eggplant rollitini as my meal though listed as an appetizer and it was plenty. It was so tasty. I loved it! My husband had the Chicken Parm and by the pic you can see how big that was. He loved it and I thought it was tender as well as flavorful. I would highly recommend this restaurant esp for a special occasion. We completed my husband's 60th birthday celebration with the tartufo. It did not disappoint.

We were invited here for dinner by an old friend who once lived in Philly. It exceeded everyone's expectations! The welcome was very friendly and our sweet/sassy server was excellent. We all loved the airy dining room and the festive decor. Most of all, the food was AMAZING! Enormous portions, everything cooked to perfection (and I don't say that often). Probably the best fried calamari I've had in my life. Our friends' teenage son kept saying, "Mmm, mmm," with every bite. It was a memorable feast—and I just wish I lived in Philly so I could go there more often.

The food was wonderful, from appetizers to dessert but it was the service that will bring us back again: professional and attentive yet not smothering. Very helpful with menu suggestions and accommodating with all requests. Thank you for a lovely evening with family. Will definitely be back again!

I’ve been coming here since 1988 and although not living in a Philadelphia anymore ~ I recently took my wife for HER first time. ❤️ In an era of trendy new restaurants that come and go - this landmark has consistently passed the test of tradition, time & quality. We had Veal for the main course and the calamari appetizer. We passed on my normal Chicken Parm and her Rigatoni to try something new. We enjoyed wine and a couple of Peroni’s too. The Waiter (Alec) and Busboy Staff were very attentive and very friendly. I joked with Alec about my history of coming here over the years. Atmosphere with Sinatra playing was perfect and we were never rushed. It was thee perfect dinner ~ again. Btw ~ The Tiramisu was the perfect dessert. (says my wife!!!!) Thank you Connie for getting us in on short notice. WE will be back again ~ because my wife was impressed and I was happy ~ as always.

Dante & Luigi's is a lovely restaurant with excellent food and service in a romantic setting. If you love Italian food you will enjoy this wonderful restaurant.

The food and service were good. There is a policy of 10% off your total bill if you pay in cash. Someone gave me a gift certificate for Christmas. I was told by the waiter that the gift certificate is considered the same as using a credit card as this is the owners policy. So I had to pay an additional cost of fourteen dollars since I was using a gift card. I was considering a birthday party of 50 prior to my visit but that will not happen now. I have never been to a restaurant with this policy. What would be the purpose of getting a gift certificate if I have to incur additional costs? Please be aware of this policy if you should purchase a gift certificate for someone as I am in total disbelief.

Visiting family in Philadelphia lathe oldest Italian restaurant. The food was excellent, the service great and a good time was had by all.

Dante and Luigi's is one block away from Philadelphia Bella Vista Bed and Breakfast and what good fortune that is! It was the perfect place to rest and restore after a full day of walking and sight-seeing. Elegant old-school decor with attention to detail in the service and delicious food as well! Waiters in white coats were so attentive they even kept watch to fill my wine glass of Pellegrino sparkling water! This restaurant is off the beaten path of South Street tourism, a hidden gem. A fine dining experience great for romantic occasion or family reunion and a lovely spot for this solo traveler!

If you haven't been here in years -- or decades, as in our case -- you'll be pleasantly surprised that the old gravy house is now beautiful and still retains the South Philadelphia character you'll remember. The waiter was a very cool guy -- attentive, experienced and commendably indifferent, no introductions or small talk -- and the food was very good. It's a hard place to visit when you can't eat pasta, and the prices are a lot steeper than I remember, but it was well worth the visit. The front room with the bar is high-ceilinged and loud but the back room is very comfortable. It was a treat.

Always enjoy good old school Italian food. Very pretty restaurant in what feels like an old townhouse. I had white clam sauce and my son had marinara over penne. Solid food and nice servers.

Been here many times and have never had a bad experience. The food is delicious, the staff is knowledgeable and incredibly friendly.

We booked rooms next door and wanted to eat here, but they did not allow us to park our car a few minutes in front of the restaurant to unload our car. A not Comercial youngster treated us in a very impolite way... Fortunately Philadelphia has enough other restaurants...

Another wow. This restaurant looks really exquisite. Rich deep devour. Old style Italian. Got a very welcoming greeting when we arrived. Valet service available. Just wanted main course. Our waiter was a showman. Very entertaining and funny. He knew his menu inside out. My lady had a home made pasta dish and I had sole with scampi. Cooked to perfection and very nicely presented. The place has a very expensive feel about , but is very reasonably priced. Would definitely visit again.

The food was very good and the atmosphere was nice (a bit loud), however the service was poor. We waited 20 minutes before we were given menus and another 10 minutes before our drinks order was taken. We were told we could not order appetizers prior to ordering our entrees because the chef doesn't like it. After we got the bill, it took another 10 minutes for our waiter to get our payment. It's a shame because the food was so good!!!

We booked our daughter's graduation celebration from UPenn well in advance. There was no online option, so it was by phone. They took our data and we reconfirmed shortly before the date. We were 7 people, we had a very special dinner. The place is a very elegant house in a quiet and beautiful place. Very traditional service, high-end Italian style. All delicious dishes, pastas, meats and dessert. I would return without hesitation and I recommend it if you like tradition, long tablecloths, American-style Italian food from several generations and impeccable service. The prices surprised us for good! very moderate! We will be back!

A birthday visit every year, with the whole family. Please look at the menu and try to figure out which dish you want- every one is amazing! Gnocchi, Carbonara, Spumoni ice cream, ricotta cake... Wish I lived closer, beautiful building and amazing attentive staff. If you are in Philly, want Italian food- try it!

as many south Philadelphia restaurants are located in old converted row homes, this one was ornate. Food was excellent. I had the lasagna and the calamari appetizer. that maybe was a bit too much food for me, but it tasted excellent.

Excellent service, food and atmosphere. Adult family. Excellent wine recommendation of an outstanding, reasonably priced Amarone. We all have different pasta's. Each with a unique "gravy".

This restaurant has a very good rating over the internet but I do not understand why. The food is not great. In the best case I can rate this food average. Their bronzino fish was mushy. I had stuffed calamari before in many places. I know that this is their signature dish, but I was disappointed. The desert was good and also their bread. They have a good service and is clean

We visited Dante and Luigis last night and we were more than satisfied with the service and meal. Our waiter, Pete, made some great suggestions for dinner. The appetizers and entrees were served in a timely manner and the wait staff was excellent and accommodating.

Listen I like other restaurants in the city and I even love other Italian restaurants. No one does it better then Dante & Luigi’s. There is a price point for everyone? the food is always amazing, the the portions are not crazy but they are reasonable for the price.

Excellent experience and delicious food. Wish we could have enjoyed the Lasagna. Great staff and historic establishment.

The pasta, salad, desserts and wine were all great. Beautiful rooms, very good service. A lovely dinner all around.

I wrote the review below back in October of 2021, but am updating it from this past Saturday, 9/24/2022: UPDATE from 9/24/2022: I recently returned to my favorite Italian restaurant and this time I brought my wife. The food was as spectacular as ever. We started with wonderful bread, olive oil, and balsamic vinegar along with cocktails. We both had tasty salads (I stuck with the Caesar and she had the dinner salad). We split an appetizer of calamari, which is sauteed in Dante & Luigi's wonderful marinara. We then both got signature dishes. She had my all-time favorite, the Percatelli Genovese, which was silky-creamy-amazing-deliciousness, and I had the Spaghetti and meatballs, which is served in Sunday Gravy. Both were topped with wonderful Romano Cheese. We also split a bottle of Barbera wine, which was quite tasty. For dessert, we split a chocolate cannoli and had decaf coffee. YUM! Matteo was our waiter and he was absolutely great. He had helpful recommendations as to both the food and the wines, and attended to our table perfectly. Dante & Luigi's is the best Italian restaurant I have ever eaten at; and now my wife knows what I've been raving about for the past year! Our only regret is that we live so far away. But we do plan to keep returning in the future. ORIGINAL REVIEW from 10/21: I love Italian food. I've eaten at great Italian places in New York City, Chicago, and even in my own city in Birmingham. I was in Philadelphia recently for a conference and someone recommended Dante & Luigi's to me for my next meal. I have never, ever, had such an incredible dining experience like I had at Dante & Luigi's in Philadelphia. Its the best Italian dinner I have EVER had, bar none. It's certainly in the top-5 meals of my entire life, and I'm really having trouble thinking of anything that's ever been better. I just cannot give enough adjectives to say how enjoyable it was, so I'll just walk you through my meal: WINE - I had the house PINOT GRIGIO. I don't usually drink white wine, but this one paired the best with my salad and entree (not so much the appetizer, but that's on me). It was snappy, tasty, and cleaned my palate. A fine meal needs a tasty wine. CHECK BREAD - The meal started with a sampling of basic Italian bread. It was great and included Olive Oil to dip in. Very tasty. CHECK. APPETIZER - I had the EGGPLANT ROLLANTINI. It's incredibly sophisticated and delicious batter, which is dipped & stuffed with Ricotta & Mozzarella cheeses and it's covered in Dante & Luigi's wonderful homemade family gravy. Now, my waiter chuckled at the choice given my other dish and wine pairings, but I told him that I'd studied the menu and HAD to sample that gravy, plus I love Eggplant. It was just incredible and there was so much that I couldn't even finish it. CHECK. - SALAD - I went simple Caesar and it was perfection. The lettuce was crispy. The croutons were crunchy and buttery. The salad dressing was clearly homemade. It was everything a Caesar dressing should be. CHECK. - ENTREE - I wanted to order the entire menu. The breadth of Dante & Luigi's choices is absolutely incredible and appears to include every region of Italy and every style. I was certainly temped by Dante & Luigi's Signature Special Pasta with Italian Gravy & Meat Balls or Little Neck Clams in Marinara or Bianco Sauce. I strongly considered the Lasagna, which is reputedly the best in the city. But I was finally moved to order the PERCIATELLI GENOVESE, which is another Dante & Luigi's signature dish. It includes a Veal Bolognese Sauce with White Wine & a Touch of Cream over thick perciatelli (which is like Bucatini). I cannot describe the flavor and richness of this dish other than to say my mouth was in divine ecstacy. CHECK. DESSERT - Well, I'm sure they're all great, but I was stuffed and couldn't eat another bite, so I had to pass. But, I did have the Decaf Espresso and it was full bodied and flavorful. CHECK. Something else happened at this meal that's worth mentioning. There was an older gentlemen having dinner at the table next to me with some very nice ladies. We were talking about how inspiring the food was, and he was shocked to learn I'd never been to D&L before. I explained that I was from out of town but planned to bring my wife here to try it all sometime. He snatched my check from the waiter and paid it. Seriously, that was just unbelievably generous of him and I told him I will definitely pay it forward. What an evening!

Our second time eating here and we were not disappointed. From the second we pulled up we were impressed. Valet parking available. The gentleman working couldn’t have been nicer. Very pleasant and efficient. All staff weee verity pleasant and accommodating. Everything we ordered was delicious. Specials were very well explained. Waiter knew menu and made recommendations. Our meals were delicious and plentiful. We will definitely be back again. Highly recommend

This restaurant is so elegant, you almost feel like you should wear a jacket & tie,, but you don't have to !! The owner/wife greets you at the door, and you're seated at white clothed table with black napkins and silver settings. The waiters and staff are extremely friendly & helpful. The food is Terrific ! We dined on veal parmigiana and lasagna, and it was followed by tiramisu for desert. A wonderful atmosphere, experience and meal.

Our dinner at Dante & Luigi’s was a night I will never forget. I appreciate superior food but hardly ever find it. That night I was overwhelmed. We had manicotti with a side of sweet Italian sausage. The light, rich manicotti was heavenly. The sausage was flavorful with a finely ground filling in the casing. No chewy chunks. They were so good that I could have happily spent the evening gorging on this wonderful food. The atmosphere was homey but elegant. The wait staff friendly and accommodating. I can’t wait to go back.

The service was excellent. There are a lot of Menu choices and the food was excellent. The portions sizes were more than enough.

The service is consistently excellent, the food always delicious and the ambiance subtle and relaxing. I love watching the mix of locals and visitors merge on this fine Italian dining establishment. Valet parking is a plus for the bridge crowd.

A group of 9 friends met for dinner at Dante & Luigi’s in Philly. We had fantastic service. The food was phenomenal as always. We had wine and dessert to top it off and the entire evening couldn’t have been any better.

Wow the food is fantastic. At our table we had calamari which was fantastic. Then we had 5 different dishes. Each was good. The lobster Mac and cheese was tasty the lasagna was great the egg plant rigatoni was yummy and the carbonara was the fav at the table even though it had different pasta from what I’m used to. Of all the desserts the fudge cake was the best. Our waiter though attentive had little to no personality. He was almost acting like we were a burden to him.

This place has it all! First off the interior is beautiful! The tables are spaced apart so that even with a full house, we didn't feel cramped at all. The staff worked like a well oiled machine and we never wanted for anything The food was fantastic! There were numerous menu options, reasonably priced, and absolutely and amazingly tasty!

I went alone to Dante and Luigi’s on a Wednesday. The restaurants physical appearance is very impressive unlike most other south philly family restaurants. It actually looks it was going to be expensive . Much to my pleasant surprise the prices were VERY reasonable. The veal park was good and the sauce was quite tasty. They also had a very reasonable price for wine by glass or bottle. Service was excellent. It’s a good solid place to put on your list of everyday possibilities.

The oldest restaurant in Philly. The setting, decor, service and food made this a wonderful experience. I am a foody. I love Italian cooking. The stuffed pepper Devine. My Risotto beyond great shrimp so fresh they swam into my mouth. The veal very good. Danielle, our server as personable as can be. She made the meal an experience. Franco obviously cares about his restaurant. I judge the experience A+++++. Thank you

First time here and the meal was outstanding. I had the rigatoni carbonara and it was phenomenal--I'd go back just for that! We had 4 in our party and each had something different fro the menu--all were excellent. I'd def. go back!! Many thanks...

Originally coming from the Bronx, it's only natural to feel some rivalry with Philly... line the Yankees & the Phillies, the Giants & the Eagles, etc... but you can't but help feel at home in this subdued, yet classy Italian Restaurant on the edge of Center City! It sounds like it should be a Nintendo game... but this unique place has a small, but exquisite Menu with something for everyone's tastes... especially Vegetarians. Quality Waitstaff, well-set Table & of course... fresh Bread served with E-V Olive Oil & Balsamic Vinegar to start... and a superb Dessert Menu to finish. New Yorker or Philadelphian... you'll all enjoy Dante & Luigi's!

Well I must say our visit to this restaurant to celebrate our anniversary lived up to the hype. A great old style restaurant with wonderful atmosphere. Valet parking and 10% discount for cash. Best of all delicious food. Veal was best I ever had. Service was great. Our waiter Frank was very attentive. He helped make our anniversary memorable. This will be our go to place when we visit Philadelphia.

My first visit to this South Philly authentic Italian restaurant. What a fabulous place. The high ceilings, crown molding, textured paint and large windows gave the restaurant a very high end feel, beautifully done! Our server Victor was wonderful and attentive. He made us feel very welcome. We had calamari for an appetizer, very good. I had the special; scallops, shrimp and crab in a vodka sauce over homemade fettuccini, served pippin hot. To die for!!! We will be back.

Old school Italian food with fresh made pasta! Nights special was fresh bow tie pasta with shrimp, bacon and prosciutto in a rose sauce...OMG! Pork chop stuffed with provolone and prosciutto, topped with mushroom demi glaze... YUM!

I wanted traditional Italian classics and was rewarded by just that. I asked for a recommendation between two veal dishes (don't judge) and got a good recommendation for the Rollatini. Wonderfully tender veal scallopini rolled with herbs, prosciutto and cheese in a mushroom sauce. My Caesar salad was huge with a good tanginess. The soup of the day was Pasta e Fagioli and was hearty for a chilly night. Dessert was the Italian Cream Cake with Rum. The server was careful to say that if you're looking for a rum cake, you will be disappointed. I saw Ladyfingers in the description and hoped for an "upgraded" tiramisu. He said that was a good way to think about it. It was a perfect ending. Only complaints - I wanted to sub out the penne for spaghetti. I had to pay an add'l $9 for a small bowl of spaghetti cuz they wouldn't sub out. (For some reason, I don't love penne.) Also, they only have house wines by the glass. Service was fine - great pace. Salad course, main & dessert, I think no more than 75 mins.

Attentive, gracious, impeccably dressed staff. White tablecloths, candles, "traditional" fine dining experience. The owner even came by our table to greet us and ask about our meal. Beautiful decor and all guests were dressed appropriately for a special evening.

Cool Italian experience in the old Italian neighborhood of South Philadelphia. Service was great. The ambiance of being in an old "house" restaurant was well worth the trip. Food was great. The veal medalions was unique and very tasty. Just to say you were there makes the experience worth it. I would definitely go back. Don't waste your tiime trying to find a parking place, Valet park!

Went to the restaurant and it was great. I was very pleased that they had a gluten free pasta for me. Food was excellent and so was the service.

By far one of the best Italian restaurants in South Phil. Food is out of this world, service is exceptional....A must go!! You will not be disappointed.

As the expression goes from Blyn, NYC. "This is a joint you can't miss." Very good service and food. Now that Italian. Wishing the restaurant continued success. If your in Philly don't forget to spend sometime at Dante & Luigi's

Apparently this place has a reputation, so apologies to anyone I offend ... Having travelled for a few hours for a short business trip, I was treat to a real Italian ... with reputation. The menu looked great ... I was torn between the calves liver main and the calamari starter ... The waiter tried his hardest to sell me the special ... not working for me ... OK Calves Liver or Calamari .. we were already on the red wine so the Calves Liver had to win, stupidly I went for the calamari. The bread arrived ... 1 minute later the starters arrived ... I had yet to pour the oil & balsamic ... OK It was not love at first sight. The waier had told me that the stuffed calamari was a mcuh better option ... Ouch if he had tried to stuff this calamri he would need to be a micro surgeon. OK looks can be decieving ... no issues ... it needs to be soft to the ... what the rubber am I eating ... OK unlucky ... try another ring. Nope rubber innertube had been served from the smallest calamari found in the USA. Luckily I had bread .. .soaked up the .. oh dear ... the sauce was not special either ... 1/10 ... no option of black pepper or parmesan ... utter fail The main ... Pollo Pomodoro ... served with a side of pasta with sauce ... OK ... the long peppers helped .. the chicken luckily was not overcooked and was succulent. Lack of sides did not helped The wine was insipid ... my colleague knows how much it was ... anything more than $20 and he did not get good value for money. Somehow I think they are living off their reputation and basic dishes ... Italian it may have been ... no Vecchia Romagna ... it may have once been Old Italy ... now it is a restaurant ...

One of the oldest Italian restaurants in the country. Traditional Southern Italian cuisine with an extensive menu of seafood, chicken, and veal plus a variety of pastas. A nice dining experience.

This restaurant was going down hill several years ago; revamped and was great and sadly this last visit was not as good as I expected. Decor and ambiance are still wonderful but the waiter was hovering and far to fast to remove plates and glasses - felt like I was being rushed and my group was the only group in the dining room, all 3 of us. I like a waiter to be attentive, but this was overboard.He kept interrupting the conversation, couldn't even get a fork full of food down and he kept asking if we needed anything else. I;ll give him he was "trying" too much. My pasta was so-so, asked for penne arribiatta and the gravy (sauce) tasted burnt; another dish was the calamari and past and the calamari was tough. We told the waiter that it was too touch to chew and he insisted on replacing, that was nice, however the next plate it was still too tough to eat. Not sure what was going on in the kitchen but this was not what I was used to at Dante & Luigis'. I will most likely give them another chance, but have to be honest when I say "not like what it used to be".

We went last night with friends from Virginia who wanted good Italian food. It was exceptional as usual. Great service from all of the staff. We ordered sautéed calamari, mussels & a meat plate for appetizers and they were awesome. For dinner We had the seafood risotto, pasta with mushrooms, & penne vodka for dinner all were excellent. I was even happier when I woke up this morning and noticed my leftovers were wrapped in Saran Wrap as well as the box. Going the extra mile. Gotta love that! It's our favorite place for Italian food.

We had a lovely dinner - Italian comfort food, good wine, and fine service. An interesting thing about the place is that if you pay cash, you get a 10% discount.

I have been here many times and the food and service is always great. The gnocchi is amazing and the calamari in red sauce appetizer is outstanding. All of the food here is excellent you can't go wrong.

We were so happy with EVERYTHING… staff, ambiance, food, drinks and restaurant as a whole!!! Everything was DEVINE!!!! We will definitely be back again!

For wonderful traditional southern Italian food in an elegant yet approachable setting, Dante & Luigi's is perfect. Our family celebrated a birthday in one of the high-ceilinged rooms and felt as though we were guests in a beautiful south Philadelphia home complete with chandeliers and antique furnishings. Everything we ate was delicious and portions were ample. The wine selection, while not extensive, was appropriate to the cuisine and the wine prices were quite reasonable. Our server was friendly, attentive, and made helpful recommendations. We are looking forward to a return visit.

My family decided to celebrate my son’s birthday at Dante & Luigi’s as he lives in South Philadelphia. We had a party of 5 and arrived on time. From the time we entered the door we were met with exquisite service. This attention to detail I haven’t experienced in a long while. Our food arrived in a timely manner and we all agreed that it was delicious. I had the Shrimp risotto which was quite good but my pasta slightly over cooked. Small criticism but otherwise excellent in every way. Please visit at least once when in Philadelphia.

I really liked everything about Dante and Luigis. Nice People that treat you like family. The food was amazing; reminded me of all the great smells and eating I did growing up with close Italian friends. Can't wait to return to Philly, but stay longer so I can eat there 2 or 3 times!!

Thoroughly enjoyed our recent visit to D&L's. We were seated promptly and our knowledgeable server reviewed the evening's specials. For starters we had a Caesar and dinner salad - both were appropriately portioned with fresh ingredients. We dined on the Baked Gnocchi and Perciatelli Genovase as entrees. Both were served piping hot and were more than filling. I would definitely recommend both dishes. This restaurant will be on our itinerary next time in PHL.

Great food, atmosphere and service - Dante & Luigi's has it all. I've eaten her about a dozen times and the meal never disappoints! From the appetizers through the main course and dessert, it all tastes wonderful. And the Italian gravy is the best I've eaten. I highly recommend Dante & Luigi's no matter what the occasion!

Went with two other couples for a birthday. Server immediately went on the "Upsell" from the initial greeting to the final dessert. Wine recommended gave me an incredible headache the next morning. Had great chicken parm. Wife had great lasagna, couples had gnocci, Caesar salads, calamari, house soup, desserts. Bill was $130 per couple for basically two glasses of wine and chicken parm. Plus $15 to valet park. Also a bus boy dropped one of those big pepper shakers on my wife's shoulder. Received an apology, but no offer of a dessert or anything. I can stay in the suburbs to receive good food with bad service.

This was our first visit and the food was wonderful! The service was just right and our wine was superb! The restaurant has valet parking which is convenient in the city. I had lasagna and Deb had pasta bolognese! Cannolis and espresso for dessert! I give this a FIVE!

The food here is always superb. Its not fancy gourmet Italian , rather home cooking what my Nana would make in her kitchen, homemade. Service varies we have some very good waiters and some that were lacking. We eat here like every other month. One of the best parts.....valet parking, no searching for spots!

Amazing food and atmosphere. Paul was my waiter and he was great. Definitely a must for anyone wanting real Italian cuisine at a reasonable price.

I would have given this establishment 5 stars based on the food alone. The only slight detractor was our waiter. He was attentive but seemed angry or annoyed. Maybe he was having a bad day - we all have them. The experience was otherwise terrific. The location is easy to find in a neighborhood with free street parking. The facility was spotless, bright and well kept. The food was delicious and the prices are surprisingly reasonable for fine Italian dining in a large city.

My husband and I were in Philly for a long weekend. We had read the reviews of Dante and Luigi and were not disappointed. Sauted calamari was excellent and so was the chicken siciliana. Service was attentive and the ambience of the place was really nice.

It was a great meal. Went early before the Queen concert on Sunday. This was also a birthday dinner for 2 of us so we went all out. We had Shrimp Cocktail/ Crabmeat Stuffed Mushroom appetizers followed by caesar salads. I had the special which was homemade linguine with crabmeat, lobster, and shrimp in a rose sauce. My wife had the Rigatoni Carbonara. My sister-in-law had the Veal Bolognese. For dessert the ladies had Tirimisu and I had the Ricotta Cannoli. I am not exaggerating when I say EVERYTHING was PERFECT and DELICIOUS! Service was outstanding and prices are reasonable for the amount and quality of the food. Our server (whose name I didn't catch) did a great job helping us pick a wine since I am not very knowledgeable about Italian wines . Everything was perfectly cooked and well presented. The restaurant had a nice layout and the valet parking is so convenient in that part of the city. It couldn't have been a better experience. We will be back!!! Thank you!!!

My husband and I had dinner here last year with another couple. When we were planning to go out again, we decided to come back to Dante & Luigi's because we had such a fabulous dinner the first time. I grew up ten blocks from this South Philly gem but had never been here before last year. I regret all the years that went by that I missed out on their delicious food. Last night, we shared for an appetizer the stuffed bell pepper. It is stuffed with ground beef, pork and veal and sits on a bed of perfectly prepared marinara sauce. It is moist, flavorful, and if you aren't watching your diet consider dipping a piece (or two or three) of the Italian bread into the sauce. Big enough for two people to share one pepper. We ordered two for the four of us to share. I had the chicken sicilian, thinly pounded chicken breast smothered in roasted pepper, capers, tomatoes and black olives (beware there are pits in the olives) served with a side of ziti with marinara sauce. There was enough for me to take home leftovers but if I was just a bit more hungry I could have finished it. My friend ordered it as well and she loved it too. My husband had the stuffed pork chop which is something he would normally not order, but he said it was delicious. My bff's husband had the shrimp scampi with linquini and finished every bite!!! Coffee and desserts were worth saving room for...cannolis are huge and can easily be shared. The chocolate fudge cake says individual serving but can also easily be shared. They have a full service bar as well, so you can leave the bottle of wine home. If you pay cash, there is a 10% discount on your check. Valet parking is $15, but each time we have been there we found parking within a block of the restaurant.

Delicious and pleasurable . Great service and reasonably priced. I would recommend and I would visit again and again.

There were ten of us dining in a beautiful room in this townhouse restaurant. We had multiple appetizers and many different entrees. One special had a sausage, meatball, and piece of pork that was very well received, the carbonara excellent and I had the Veal Sicilian ..medallions with sweet peppers and tomatoes which was really good. A more than adequate wine list and a Terrifically personable waiter added to the evening. The Italian Cream Cake was over the top excellent.

Started with the stuffed peppers appetizer special which was quite nice. Also had the stuffed mushrooms which were a bit fishy. For entrees we had the veal parm which was very tender and pounded perfectly thin. However, the side pasta it came with was clearly from a box and the sauce on top was overly vinegar-y and made it almost inedible. I asked what the side pasta was and our waiter informed us we could only have penne, no other noodle. I felt like if I asked for a different noodle at an up-charge that too, would have not been allowed.

My mom and I had a great dinner here. We were very happy to show our vaccine cards before being seated for our reservation. The first drink I ordered, a lemon drop, was not good at all, but I switched to a cosmo afterwards and it was much better. My mom enjoyed her drink. Our meals were delicious and the service was great. The food was a little delayed because of a larger group but we didn’t mind because we were enjoying ourselves- plus the bread helped hold us over.

We went to Philly to see my son. My parents never go out for Italian food because they are never happy because my mom is an amazing cook. My son looked up my Dante’s but told my parents he was never there so wasn’t sure how the food would be. Well needless to say the Food was excellent. Our waitress Daniella was amazing and very knowledgeable. She gave us great recommendations. My parents were so please with everything they ate. To start we had fried calamari, fish salad, and a cold antipasto. Then we had Gnocchi, chicken with eggplant, chicken pilard, fettuccine with broccoli rabe and sausage, flounder. Entrée came with a small pasta dish on the side. I had the rigatoni carbonara (to die for) dessert was tiramisu because I never pass up dessert. Our espresso was even good. We never get espresso out because we don’t like Lavazza. We still make our espresso with the Bialetti coffee pot on the stove. My mom loved the decor very Victorian. We will definitely be back next time we are in Philly. Can’t wait to take my hubby.

This was such a terrific evening... Celebrated my Mother's 90th and we had delicious food in the neighborhood where my Mom grew up. Couldn't have been nicer,,,, From the food which was amazing to the ambiance perfect 10!

Excellent, absolutely excellent! Those words keep coming to mind to describe our recent dining experience at Dante and Luigi’s Corona di Ferro. Our meal started with a platter generously filled with aged Italian cured meats, tangy provolone cheese, crisp green olives, and roasted red and green peppers. Next came the “show stopper,” the pasta. The linguini in my linguini with crab bianco literally finished cooking on my plate upon arrival, a dining experience I enjoyed only once before, many years ago. My dish of firm, yet still tender linguini was full of moist crab meat in a piquant white wine sauce. My wife Linda’s rigatoni carbonara was equally impressive. As with the linguini, the rigatoni was cooked to perfection, firm but still tender, mixed with a decadent mélange of cream, egg, bacon, and cheese with peas & fresh tomatoes. Sharing the stage with our dinner, a bottle of Arneis; one of my favorite white wines from northern Italy. To top it off we finished our meal with a glass of Amaro, a bittersweet herbal liqueur. The restaurant is housed in two converted townhouses in Philadelphia’s Italian Market district on South 10th Street. The main dining room bespeaks charm and elegance from a time when dining out was a leisurely experience. The room is replete with arched windows, a crystal chandelier, and an ornate mantelpiece encasing a once-working fireplace from a bygone era. The wait staff is prompt, courteous, and experienced. Their ease of manner and knowledge of the menu are a rarity in many other restaurants today. We cannot wait to go back and try their osso bucco and risotto with shrimp and clams! Bernard Berlin Certified Sommelier

My husband and I had business in Philly and decided to try Dante and Luigi's because of its history and we felt like Italian food. The food was very good, the service attentive and the atmosphere was very nice. We shared the sautéed calamari as an appetizer, very different since usually the calamari are fried. Some of the calamari were a bit chewy, but the sauce was delicious. I had the chicken and eggplant in a white sauce and my husband had the seafood risotto. Although I enjoyed my dish, I would order the seafood risotto next time as it was excellent. The tiramisù was okay, just not as creamy as we like it. I enjoyed a glass of Chianti with dinner and my husband had an Italian beer. He also enjoyed an espresso with dessert. Visited April 2017

This historic restaurant exceeded every expectation we had. The food was spectacular, the service was charming and excellent, the wine list was great, and the setting was compelling. It was the perfect spot for a relaxed dinner in the heart of South Philly. And, they offer valet parking so you don't have to aggravate over street parking then hike a mile in. I highly recommend the experience for anyone visiting Philadelphia.

Had to visit Philadelphia this past Saturday (09/29) which I have not done in about forty years. That evening I decide to go out to dinner with my family and we chose Dante & Luigi's and I am glad that we did. We made a reservation earlier in the week knowing that we were going to be in Philadelphia. When we arrived we received a nice greeting at the door and our table was waiting. Our servers name was Peter and what a great guy. Peter made some suggestions for dinner and we had some laughs with Peter. From appetizer to desert everything was great. Excellent food along with wonderful staff and a really nice atmosphere. I am originally from Brooklyn NY and I love Italian food and I know many places in Brooklyn for just that but I have to tell you will not be disappointed at Dante & Luigi's. John G. Lewes Delaware

My husband and I have eaten at several of Philadelphia's Italian restaurants but Dante and Luigi's takes the cake! My friend recommended it to us and I am so glad she did! Our waiter, Henry was so helpful and friendly. For an appetizer, we shared the calamari and it was absolutely delicious! My husband had the bronzino and he said it was the best he has ever had! I ordered the shrimp marinara over linguine. The shrimp was cooked to perfection and the linguine was so tasty! For dessert, we shared the decadent cannoli. Dante and Luigi's will definitely be our new go to restaurant when we go to Philadelphia! In addition, the restaurant is so beautiful! We had such a wonderful experience! Highly recommend it!

The one thing I will give this place is the venue. It was a nice venue. The scenery was nice and the staff were properly dressed. Now to the food. Wow. My girlfriend and I were celebrating an anniversary and decided to go to Dantes. First we asked for just some bread which was not anything great or warm, but that's ok, we did not come for the bread lol. Next we both ordered some penne vodka, it came pretty quickly. When we tried it it was too salty to even get down. A nice gentleman asked if we would like cheese with are pasta and we agreed, as we were trying to make the pasta even semi edible. It did not help. everything was saturated with sauce with is something I love, if the sauce is actually good or even good enough to eat. Now just to backtrack, we are in no way picky eaters or looking to write a review or make this a bad experience. Throughout the day we held off eating in order to stuff our faces at this restaurant and make it that much more enjoyable. We kept wanting to love this place, but that fell flat. The day before I had research fancy Italian restaurants in Philly and came across this place with high reviews everywhere I looked at. We were so disappointed that a place with such high reviews and such a quality venue, not to mention a bit pricey (for me) was this bad. We asked them to wrap up the pastas and paid our bill and left. We ended up giving the pasta to a homeless man as we grabbed a slice from another spot not too far away. Long story short the place was nice but the food was horrible, so bad it could not be eaten by two people who were starving. Now we could have asked for them to remake the penne, although since it was part of their special that night I suspected they have already pre-made lots of that exact sauce and probably would have received the same thing. In addition, it was such a big let down we had put this place on such a high pedestal that we were so disappointed with the results and decided to leave asap Came in at: 8:10 Out the door by: 8:40

Absolutely fantastic meal! Our waiter Frank was wonderful! Fine dining but also could be casual. Food was amazing! The Italian gravy was great! Little bit of kick but fantastic flavor!!

Mamma mia! what a place. I try to go here if we have anyone from Europe visiting so that they know we have something from the old country right here in Philly. Traditional Italian food. Classic setting. Nice service. Gotta love a waiter that pops the cork and pours wine with the precision of an Italian surgeon digging out the bullet from the Godfather's chest... The ambiance is old world. Young lovers mixed with la familia... corners coupled with old men in sharkskin double breasted suits...We visit many Italian restaurants in Philadelphia but somehow we always return to Dante & Luigi's... Pacino said it best: “Just when I thought I was out…they pull me back in.”

We just left this restaurant less than 5 mins ago. The food is amazing. The service was one of the worse. Craig our server pretty much threw the bottle of wine at us. Told us it’s a screw top open it and serve yourself. Never asked anyone in the party if they wanted another drink. Not everyone was having wine. Never got bread or oil we had to ask for it Then never came back to check on us. The food came out and it was hot and delicious. When asked for dessert. Never told us the specials. Threw a spoon at my dad whose birthday it was. Left the bill but proceeded to come to the table three times asking if the bill was ready. Never ever have. Craig as your waiter. Food was good. Atmosphere is not great tables to close together

We had an excellent experience dining here. The Jersey Tomato salad appetizer was so fresh !! All of our pasta dishes were outstanding !! And the Ricotta Cheesecake is in a class of it's own -could be the best dessert we ever had !! Can't wait to visit again !!

We went with 2 other couples and had an excellent experience. Food was delicious especially the osso buco and red gravy with meatballs/sausage. Waiter (can’t remember his name - bald New Yorker) was great and provided excellent service and made excellent recommendations on food. If I was local I would be a regular here.

We were a party of five family members out for a birthday celebration. My son had been here a couple of times already, and he suggested it. The restaurant is so pretty and inviting, and since it is an old home, it is divided into different dining rooms. The general ambience is just so warm. We were greeted at the door and welcomed. The menu is large and has all the traditional dishes. We ordered two appetizers, a bottle of wine, and an entree each. The food was excellent, old style Italian just like we were used to coming from an Italian family. The portions were generous. I had a meatball, sausage, and pork rib piled on top of my vodka rigatoni. The meat was delicious, best I’ve had out in a very long time. We all totally enjoyed our meals. We paid in cash, and got 10% off the bill for doing so. We felt the prices were reasonable. The only damper was our waiter, who didn’t smile, talk or replenish our water. He never returned to take our payment either, even though he was standing right across from us watching us put our coats on. He was actually pretty discourteous overall. If we would’ve had a more pleasant waiter, the experience would’ve been top notch.

Didn't have time to take a picture of everything we ordered on the menu because we were too busy passing around each others entrés to taste. This place old school south Philly italian can't be beat. It was over the top delicious. Pat's king of steaks in the house highly recommends this jewel for special occasions or just a Wednesday night during the week. The food was perfect. The service of frankie and frankie was perfect. This may be my new go to spot. Valet parking convenient and friendly. Thank your for a great dining experience. Order everything. And then go back and so it again

This is an excellent Italian-themed restaurant with great meals and an attractive ambiance. There are four well-appointed dining rooms with sufficient space between tables to permit easy conversation. The menu has Sicilian specialities, other Italian dishes, and non/Italian entrees. Highly recommended.

Stopped here for dinner on our recent trip to Philadelphia and was pleasantly surprised. It is a lovely old townhouse with a great vibe. The food was very good and good portions. We shared a dessert and it was also delicious! The only drawback was the waiter who assumed a friendly banter with us that was very arrogant and somewhat obnoxious. Despite that I would still recommend eating here.

The Italian gravy is delicious. Wait staff courteous and knowledgeable. A wonderful authentic experience

This has been one of my favorite go-to restaurants in the city for some time, because it simply never disappoints. On this occasion we were there for my daughters 25th birthday and as always it was a great experience. Food quality was awesome, service attentive and efficient and the staff throughout incredibly hospitable. Loved it.

I was in Philly for a conference, and was looking for a nice, not too expensive place away from the convention center. Dante & Luigi's was recommended by a friend. On the day of our reservation, they first accommodated a change in time, and then the addition of four more people at the last minute. The food was excellent, the ambiance was fantastic, and the bill with drinks came out to less than $90/pp. I'll be back again!

The server made my niece feel like she was the most important guest the food and the service was top notch even other diners made Camille feel special thank you for a nice afternoon I shall return JAKE

In Philadelphia for a conference and wanted to have Italian food. Nothing much to rely on so I just looked around and came upon the name of Dante & Luigi's. The trip there was a bit outside the area I had become familiar with. It appears to be two townhouses joined together. Walking into a welcoming vestibule, many waiters zip by (no greetings) but we were soon seated at a large comfortable table. Expert service by a man who has worked there for 43 years(!). Food was very good: chicken livers (a bit overcooked) and veal rolantini which were both very flavorful. The scampi was excellent. Nice wine list, reasonably priced, and you can take what you don't drink with you. The restaurant seemed to attract many locals. I would certainly recommend this restaurant and would go back should I ever be in Philadelphia again.

Beautiful interior, wonderful food. We had broccoli rab (maybe best I've ever had) as an appetizer and Sunday Gravy and Lasagne for entrees - all excellent. Extensive menu full of many things we would like to try - we were sorry that we were not hungry enough to have a main course. Will definitely return.

Founded in 1899, this is Philadelphia's oldest Italian Restaurant; with 117 years of experience, I think they've perfected the dining experience. From the atmosphere, to the exceptional food, to the friendly and knowledgeable service, this was fine dining without the price tag or the pretension. The whole calamari stuffed with crab meat in a light marinara sauce is a traditional Italian served with mouthwatering subtlety. The sauteed chicken livers, with a hint of marsala is sublime. Our entree was a special that night, a variation on the "Corona di Ferro's" Seafood Cioppino: a generous portion of lobster tail, calamari, shrimp, mussels and clams over house-made pasta in a white wine & garlic sauce -- delicious! The wait staff is efficient and pleasant, and our waiter happily talked, as an insider, about the neighborhood (one of our favorites in Philadelphia), offering an excellent recommendation for breakfast the following morning!

Two people having dinner for a special occasion. Terrible choice, in spite of good reviews! The cacophony and level of noise required one to shout to be heard as if it were a over-subscribed cocktail party! The food seemed mediocre and the linguine special was almost inedible because of the heat of the spices infused. No where near delicate cooking. The physical atmosphere (except for the level of noise) is very pleasant and the management and wait staff accommodating, personable and professional. These deserve accolades.