La Viola Bistro Reviews

Our group of four loved all of the courses of our four course restaurant week menu. Soup was exceptional and the mushroom appetizers were very tasty. Bread is the way you like it soft on inside and crusty...hmmmm! Caesar salad was flavorful but not overwhelming. Main courses were wonderful chicken dishes were plentiful with three pounded chicken filets in different sauces and my wife had a pasta dish that was great... AND THEN CAME DESERT Chocolate Dark Side of the Moon cake was moist and delicious! Can not wait to go back again. Servers were very nice and the young lady replenishing our water goblets was non stop... the glasses never got below half full!

We checked on Google for places to eat and looked at the menu online and thought this was a decent place to eat. We got seated, ordered some water and then checked the menu. It seemed different to that we saw online and didn’t think too much of it until we saw ‘cash only’ at the bottom. I questioned this and they suggested I use the ATM across the road. With charges and exchange rates we didn’t do as suggested and decided to leave with just paying for the water. At this point staff pointed our their sister restaurant across the road does in fact take cards, so we upped and left with our bottle of water and had our meal at La Viola West over the road. The food here is probably ok but be aware Cash Only.

**This is a CASH ONLY ** resturant. La Viola West accepts credit cards. This is a small Italian/Albanian family owned resturant. BYOB. all food is made fresh. Homemade fettuccini amazing, lamb delectable, Alaskan chard delicious. We c ouldnt wait to sop up the gravy/juices with bread. pleasent and price reasonable. Get there early !! Staff was excellent. Food was high quality!!! Would definitely recommend to anyone. I would agree since its small and tight quarters can be loud. But its a wonderful experience.

The food was very good. However, seating is extremely tight. We were to be seated in corner and asked to moved. All seats are literally next to another. Two other parties asked to moved after we arrived. On a personal note: I like a relaxed atmosphere when I eat. The manager began to drill down the greeter during the description of the specials in a tone so strident and loud that we could not hear the waiter in this small room. This set the experience on a downward path. Wait staff was attentive. One further note - the bill was brought at the same time as our coffees. We felt like they were saying get out. Not relaxing at all. This is cash only and a BYOB.

The service was excellent as were the salad and dessert. Much to my disappointment, the entree was just OK. My wife felt the same about her selection.. I would be willing to try it again, but there are choices for dining nearby that would receive priority.

I ate here on a Friday night recently. The restaurant was very busy. The clients spilled onto tables on 16th Street. There is also two dining rooms. We ate in the main room. There were two large parties in the restaurant with children. The parties were uncomfortably loud particularly with a child in the one party that would not stop crying. I know that the restaurant cannot control this but the acoustics of the restaurant just are not good. When the parties left the restaurant was still loud. This would have been excusable if the food was good. It was not. At best it was mediocre. A friend of mine and I had the veal with artichokes. It was basically tasteless. I also had the antipasto plate. The cheese was uninspired (mozzarella from the supermarket perhaps). Coffee was ok and the desert was strange. Pistacchio ice cream which tasted more like coffee ice cream. Service was good though, otherwise I would have given it one star. What really had me puzzled was the fact that the restaurant was extremely busy. For the life of me I cannot figure out why.

Went there for dinner with some friends prior to going to a show. Haven't eaten there in a while, and not sure why we waited so long to get back there. Food is amazing, place is lovely, and the staff were just so nice and attentive. Highly recommend this restaurant... and it's a BYOB as well!

Myself and my family went for lunch this time but the same goes for dinner. The restaurant staff is courteous and friendly. The food is absolutely fantastic, the veal is so tender. The cannoli cake and black side of the moon is to die for. Can't wait to go back.

The service was attentive the specials for outstanding the value for the dollar was excellent highly recommend

Five family members dined here the evening after Thanksgiving. The disappointment began when we arrived--having made a reservation for 5--and were given a table for 4 in a corner. When one of the women questioned the size of the table and informed the hostess that the 2 gentlemen who had not yet arrived were over 6' and good-sized, she offered us a table downstairs as an alternative. The idea of going downstairs did not appeal to us, so we said we would try the table in the corner. It was extremely crowded and uncomfortable. We literally could barely fit our dishes on the table, and my grandson kept bumping people under the table because he had insufficient room for his legs. When our waiter brought the basket of bread, there were 4 small slices for 5 people!! Strike 2. We asked our waiter 3 times for more bread and finally asked the gentleman who appeared to be the owner or manager. In fairness, he responded quickly. Our water glasses were not replenished as quickly as they should have been. Another waiter heard my daughter ask her son if she could have some of his waiter, and he grabbed a pitcher and came right over, He was a very friendly young man--much more personable than our waiter, who seemed rather aloof and detached. The food was decent--no major complaint about the quality/taste--but it wasn't outstanding or what any of us would have termed "delicious." The portions were very small. My daughter and I had Chicken Parmesan, which was very thin and a smaller-than-usual portion; and the 2 sides, which were actually better than the chicken, were ridiculously small. The starch was about the size of a tablespoon, and there were 4 bites of vegetables. The two men and the other woman ordered a seafood dish. The 2 men actually were still hungry when they left and had something else to eat when we got home. We also found the whole atmosphere not at all conducive to relaxing, as the waiters were always RUSHING--we all wondered why, as it certainly did not seem to be necessary. .It was really disconcerting. I have rated the value as "Poor" NOT because the quality of the food is poor but rather because the portions were small. When asked if the restaurant is romantic, we agreed on "no", not because the physical setting isn't romantic--it is actually quite lovely--but because of the hectic, almost frantic rushing around. Maybe it was just an "off-night," being a holiday weekend; maybe it was just our particular server, who just may have been having an "off-night." However, we probably would not choose to return. In summary, it wasn't "bad"--just disappointing.

We were completely delighted to enjoy our meal here! What a treat! Lobster Ravioli salmon w/ lemon and pearl onion and lemon sauce and Chicken Marsala.... tiramisu deliciouco!

It's noisy. The dining room can be a little warm. The tables are too close together. And none of that matters, because this is one of Philadelphia's best BYOB Italian places. It's actually two of them: we dined at La Viola Ovest, the expansion restaurant opened across 16th Street from the original. We arrived famished and somehow the wait-staff picked up on that, bringing a classic antipasto -- greens, prosciutto, provolone, roasted red peppers, artichokes, olives, all dressed in a great vinaigrette -- within minutes of our order. They put our Pinot Grigio on ice while we started on the Chianti Classico we'd bought at a nearby State Store. Hot bread arrived on cue, followed by a house special salad of caramelized pears, baby lettuces, chunks of bacon and gorgonzola. The main courses -- linguini with mussels, clams, shrimp and calamani in a white wine sauce, veal marsala and tri-color papardelle with shrimp and tiny bay scallops in a vodka cream sauce with peas -- were exceptional. The service has drawn some barbs from other reviewers, undeserved in my opinion. They were uniformly attentive and quick, but we didn't feel rushed. Given the tight quarters, their grace and speed were nothing short of awesome. Not always elegant, but awesome. Cappuccino and tiramisu rounded out the meal. Don't expect La Viola to be anything but what it is: a homey, relaxed room where food is the star.

The menu has lots of options. We went there many times and all of our choices were delicious. It's a BYOB, which makes convenient to bring the wine you want without paying extra.

Just back from a fantastic dinner at La Viola. We had reservations at the 252 West Location. We arrived close to 6:00 and were seated immediately in the back dinning room. The place was already hopping. Very nice staff, all the workers are pleasant and it makes for a nice evening. The place is a bit tight but it was fun as we got to talking with another delightful couple. The food was very good, and reasonable for a center city spot. Enjoyed the salads, the Veal Marsala and Chicken Parmigiana. We added a split order of linguine marinara which was delicious. Also desert, tiramisu and their chocolate cake and cappuccino, all were winners! Close to the Kimmel and Academy, nice spot for dinner before a concert.

Coming reservation-less near 6pm, the manager and wait-staff genuinely went out of their way to find a table for the two of us just before the main rush filled the room. Having changed dinner plans at the last minute, we were without B for this BYOB...but an enterprising waiter brought a glass of wine for each, with a half-bottle, all unbidden and just another example of the warm and welcoming people who staff La Viola. We started with an argulla salad and grilled octopus (both very fresh, simple, excellent), and enjoyed two excellent pasta dishes, a black-linguine seafood special filled with perfectly cooked shrimp and orecchiette with chicken and sausage. Desert - a shared slice of very-chocolate cake. Dishes are served simply, with pasta coming in over-large, thick ceramic bowls. Great, abundant Italian food (not exquisitely plated smaller portions). It was as much the feel and fun of the people, as much as the satisfying food, that made for a memorable, want-to-come-back meal.

This is a little restaurant tucked away from the crowds. It is truly one of those neighborhood restaurants you look forward to eating at. The food is simple and delicious. They are very amenable to modifying for my food allergy. The mushroom appetizer is amazing! It is BYOB so that keeps the price down.

The restaurant looks a bit dated but get over it - embrace the BYOB concept and bring a bottle of your favorite wine and sit down to one of the loveliest pasta dishes you'll ever have! Servers are congenial and professional, as well. Highly recommended!

La Viola was a nice find in Philadelphia. Liked the outdoor seating but it was too close to the street noise and on cement grounding. So we went indoors where the noise was in full swing and the atmosphere with high energy. We enjoyed the food and the wait staff. The tables were too close together and someone was always bumping into my chair. Once we started drinking we caught up pretty quickly. Overall this was an enjoyable evening.

Highly recommended. BYOB, cash only. Try the mushrooms appetizer, the veal main dish and the pasta with mussels! Yummy!

Great location near the highspeed line. Veal LaViola was very good and a good price. Went at lunchtime and although it was not very full, the service was lacking. Had to try to get the waiters attention to refill my water glass. Bread and dip was good.

We stayed in philly for my friends birthday, The hotel gave us this recommendation. I was very surprised. The food was great and so was the service. it is a very small place so make reservations. We came on a Sunday night so none needed. The restaurant has about 10 tables, very cozy, it is Italian Cuisine. The Menue is nice because its not crowded with dishes. I had the stuffed chicken, my friends had the risotto with seafood, and penned vodka. Interesting twist on the vodka is that they put broccoli and roasted peppers in the sauce......i could have gone without but it was still good. The risotto was cooked perfectly the seafood was tender, my chicken dish was out of this world, tender and cheese lol We didn't get apps because we really wanted to enjoy our bottle of champagne.....which by the way it is BYOB....so bring your own. The portions are fair, not too big or too small. The pricing is fair as well, for middle of philly at least. I highly recommend going here it s diamond in the rough.... it is white table cloth but it's not not snooty up class. make sure to bring cash because they do not except credit cards! Buon Appetito!!!!

Wonderful storefront Italian restaurant in Philadelphia. Varied menu-everybody ordered something different-chicken, seafood and steak- and it was all good. Desserts were worth trying.Reasonable prices. A great, attentive staff. Not an intimidating place at all. They can handle larger groups, too. Very nice all around. Try it.

Just two blocks west of Philly’s theater district are a pair of restaurants that are La Viola, “Bistro" on the east side of 18th and “West” directly across the street on, you guessed it, the west side. We dined at West. The style is northern Italian, with olive oil to dip your bread. They are run by a wonderful Albanian family. If that sounds strange to you a glance at a map will allay your confusion. Coincidentally my wife and I visited Albania earlier in the year and we had a nice conversation about the old country with our waiter. Service is quick which is a great plus before a show. We had allowed two hours and barely needed one so we enjoyed a nice walk down Walnut Street with a few stops for shopping on the way to the Forrest Theater. Since you want to know about the food, we both had veal, scaloppini style, I the Marsala, which I can’t resist on a first visit, and my wife in sherry sauce which I’m anxious to enjoy on our next visit. The veggies were crisp and the potato essentially marinated in the sauces. We topped it off with a creamy, moist tiramisu with a delicate coffee flavor. Entrees are very reasonably priced for meals of this caliber in center city.

Pasta and veal dishes are mediocre. This restaurant is very noisy, with little table space for the diners, and inadequate service. It does do a rather large business with those who will be attending concerts of the Philadelphia Orchestra, not too far away in the Kimmel Center, but there are better choices in the neighborhood

I've been going to La Viola for years. Friends introduced me to this byob Italian restaurant and now my whole family goes often and loves the food and service. The staff is always attentive, friendly, accommodating and knowledgable about the menu. We all love the ribeye special (when it's available). The prices are reasonable too!

Enjoyed the food. Risotto was excellent. Was disappointed by the aoustics. There was a group of 10 college boys who were extremely loud! Our party of 4 had to shout to hear one another. We mentioned the group to the server and he acted like he couldn't do anything because the boys frequent often. A friend I was with was sooo excited to bring us there and she was so upset. Food was great. Noise, not so great. BYOB and cash only.

We just returned from another wonderful dinner at La Viola. It is one of our favorite restaurants. As the name implies, it specializes in Italian food. We have been coming here for years and never had a meal that wasn't absolutely delicious. The veal especially is over the top. This restaurant doesn't advertise and is not on open table. It is a BYOB and takes cash only so the prices are very reasonable. Service is outstanding. It is a gem of a place whose popularity has spread by word of mouth proving its consistently high standards of food and service.

Randomly found on Mapquest when searching restaurants near the Academy of Music in walking distance , glad we did. We arrived early for our seating and that was not an issue. Service was attentive and not over the top. The arrival of our food was not rushed, making for a relaxing dining experience. Meals were priced well and BYOB option was a plus. Definitely would return when back in the city.

Party of six. Food was average. Waiters and staff left a great deal to be desired. Portion size average. Wine overpriced. At end of meal waiters told us we had to leave, because another group were coming in for wedding rehearsal dinner . They rushed us out of the place, even though there were other empty tables nearby. There are many other restaurants in this part of town that do not rush you out of their establishment.

We were in Philly for a race. There were 13 of us. We were able to sit together. We were warmly greeted at the door and as we were escorted to our table. The food was fabulous and served by polite and neatly dressed waiters. Would definitely go back again!

La Viola was next door to our airbnb so we decided to walk next door for a meal since the bistro across the street was very busy. The food and service were both fine, but there is nothing that makes this restaurant special. We ate Insalata alla Viola and the Mozzarella al Basilico as starters. Main courses were a pasta and a veal dish. It's reliable as a local eatery.

Always trying to find something new during restaurant week. What a great find! Two small adjacent places with great service and atmosphere. The soup special was spinach vegetable and was perfect on a cold and windy day. I had the veal and shrimp; perfectly cooked shrimp and tender veal - delicious. Desert was the biggest piece of NY cheese cake I have ever had. Good coffee. BYOB, cash only.

We really enjoyed a recent pre-theater meal at La Viola. The service was friendly and attentive, and the food was well-prepared. The linen tablecloths seemed pretty upscale for a casual crowd, but everyone was welcome.

We just had the most incredible birthday dinner there last night for my husband and my best friend and the service was impeccable. Super attentive and friendly. Incredible BYO gem.

Gnocchi was not described properly and prepared in a very untraditional and frankly poor manner. Salad special also not as described and suffered from too much dressing. Food should have been better. Nice restaurant and good service.

We felt extremely close to neighbors on all sides; it was pretty uncomfortable to the point that we almost left, so if you need space, go elsewhere! We were seated immediately with 6 PM reservations on a Saturday but unfortunately quite close to the door which let freezing cold air in often. It was an odd mix of freezing air from outside with the way-too-hot temperature the restaurant was kept at. The staff was nice enough but not especially warm or friendly and it was hard to get their attention. The food was very good, however. We at every bite of our appetizer, the house made buffalo mozarella dish, and both of our entrees, the basil gnocchi and seafood linguini. The excellent food made us decide to try dessert but it was completely not worth it: ice cream we agreed had zero flavor and a very cloying, dry cannoli cake. Skip dessert; go elsewhere for that.

The reviews have been decidedly mixed, but I was staying in Ritt Square and thought I'd give the place a try. Luckily I was tipped off to the "cash only" policy. Start with the tiramisu--which was one of the best I've ever had--- but avoid the veal--which was overcooked possibly due to being pounded too thin. The grilled calamari was excellent. Won't rush back because there is lost of good Italian cooking in Philly but I just might come back. I liked the staff alot.

Near Christmas I took a large group of friends to LaViola for a Christmas celebration. I was disappointed that when we arrived we were asked to wait outside in the cold night air while they prepared a table for us, even though I had made a reservation weeks in advance and confirmed a day before. We were all put at one long table and it was extremely tight. We had to pass plates as waiters could not get close to some guests. Food was good, as always. Waiters were excellent, again as always. But the tight quarters and unpreparedness did put me off. I am going to try again. This time with a much smaller group and now after the holiday rush.

We visited La Viola for dinner after an afternoon in the city. We thoroughly enjoyed our meal. I had the fish soup and the Scottish salmon for the main course. My wife had the chicken marsala. The entry sizes were large. We have referred many to this wonderful gem!

Amazing food, cozy atmosphere and BYOB! Wide variety on menu - something for everyone. Great for date night!

Great little BYOB in center city Philadelphia! Had dinner last night after show. We were pleasantly surprised at the service and the food.

La Viola Bistro is a casual BYOB with excellent Italian food served in a crowded and active location. Although the sound level can frequently be overwhelming, the food and friendly service well compensate. Fettucine with salmon in a creamy Cognac sauce was tasty but skimpy with the salmon while the veal pomodoro was delicious but the veal may have been pounded a bit too thin for a companion's preference. Salads were well prepared. Overall a very good place to savor well-made Italian food.

We went to La Viola on a Monday night before an event at the Kimmel Center. The food was very good, but if you can't take a lot of noise, I wouldn't recommend this restaurant. On top of the din from the other diners (tables are packed very close together), the waiters were constantly sprinting around making the floor shake. We were very anxious to finish our dinners and leave.

I admit I didn’t check the menu before going there, but one would expect an Italian restaurant to have a chicken parmesan dish. They didn’t! The pasta tasted good, but there is nothing special about Thai restaurant. Space was tight and loud, service was very good but the tables and chairs weee very uncomfortable.

We were in town with our daughter and husband and wanted to take them to La Viola because my wife and I had been there about 4 years ago and loved our experience. We were seated outside on the sidewalk which was nice as the dinning room can be noisy at times. It is a BYOB place and the waitstaff quickly had water on the table and the wine uncorked and poured. We had 4 different meals, one stuffed chop, one lobster ravioli, one stuffed chicken breast and veal with artichoke. All the meals were just perfect. The waiters were professional and attentive. A very nice evening.

Throughout the years, this restaurant has been consistently excellent. The service, the food, the atmosphere at this BYOB can't hardly be beat. There are so many great restaurants in the area and the city, but we keep going back to this one. Note: Cash only, but that is not a problem. Also, there is not a dress code, but shlumpy is not on the menu. Anyone from out of town looking for an Italian restaurant in the center of CC, this is it. It says for friends below, but it is for anyone.

Our meal at La Viola started out well. I ordered the grilled calamari for an appetizer and my husband ordered the antipasto. Both were delicious. However, for the main course we had been looking forward to a nice veal dinner, since it is something I never make at home. It was rather disappointing. We both ordered a different veal dish, mine with seasonal fruit and sherry, and my husband's with crab meat. While the meals were tasty, the veal was sliced almost wafer-thin. I have never seen veal medallions sliced so thinly. As an experienced cook myself (and eater!) I have learned that taste is not the only criteria that makes a dish delicious. Texture is just as important. We shared the triple chocolate cake for dessert, and it was good, but not memorable. All in all, I would probably return, but not order veal again unless there was assurance that it was cut in a more traditional way.

My family thoroughly enjoyed our dinner at La Viola - the service was outstanding and sitting outside on a nice summer evening added to the experience. You won't necessarily find dishes you can't find elsewhere - but if you are in the neighborhood of 16th and Locust and want a friendly, family restaurant with a wide variety of dishes at a good price, this cannot be beat. I will definitely be back!

My wife and I and our friends had a marvelous meal here. The veal was spectacular and we cut it with our fork. Service was top notch. Will definitely come back.

This place was recommended by friends of ours, who live in a suburb of Philadelphia and go to La Viola (West) whenever they want Italian food. We could see why. The food was splendid, the service excellent, and the price moderate (partly because the place is BYOB). We started with an antipasto platter, then had veal (Veal La Viola for my wife, veal with crabmeat for me). Everything was first-rate. We split a "tartuffo" (ice cream dessert) and were totally satisfied.

I had made reservations to come here with my boyfriend on NYE-- everything was excellent. The prix fixe menu was extremely reasonable compared to some of the other Italian eateries nearby and it did not disappoint. I was a little nervous when we had first arrived because they couldn't seem to find my reservation (even though they had called me twice to confirm?), but it wasn't an issue as there was still plenty of seating. Service was great, had a very romantic atmosphere, and food was phenomenal. I had tomato and mozzarella as an appetizer (awesome) and stuffed chicken with fontina cheese, basil, and mushrooms on top for an entree (whatever sauce the mushrooms were in was to die for). Would definitely come here again.. AND its BYOB.

La Viola has a s super friendly reception. Gentlemen welcome you and encourage you to be seated even before your entire party has arrived. The menu is varied and very reasonably priced. We only ordered main courses - Pollo e Gamberi alla Marsala, a veal dish and the fish special (arctic char). Everyone polished off their dish and seemed very happy. BYO policy keeps it very reasonable. The ambiance is sort of basic and tables are close to each other so it is not super comfortable but it was fine. I would go back again.

Everyone is there to serve and swooping in to grab you coats is the first thing you notice and at first you might be put off by the tight seating you soon forget when you understand that this place is for the Taste experience. Everything on the menu is at the top of the taste and presentation table. The staff is eager to get you your food and make sure you are comfortable. You will know at first bite your in the right place for Northern Italian fare. These people are top cookers from Europe and their job is to please. Have fun, this is a Philly Secret find.

Lovely relaxed atmosphere in this center city restaurant, with two locations on opposite sides of street and some sidewalk tables. High quality cuisine, traditional northern Italian cooking, excellent service. Newer (west side of street) location has party room on lower level.

The service was excellent, the food was wonderful and the ambiance true to Italy. We ate indoors, but they do have sidewalk seating. Everyone raved about their meals. BYOB.

Excellent restaurant off the beaten path. Waiters speak Italian and food was authentic Italy with large portions. Make sure to bring your favorite wine and they will open for you since it is BYO vino.

I have to admit up-front that I have a problem with cash only restaurants. You can only wonder if the owners pay their fair share of taxes. With that said, my daughter chose this establishment to entertain 15 of her friends on her 24th birthday and I was as underwhelmed as as was the last time we visited. There are plenty of good Italian provincial restaurants in Philadelphia such as Radice, Caffe Aldo Lamberti or Fiorino - La Viola just doesn't cut it. It's tight, noisy and inconsistent. Oh, did I mention that it's cash only? BTW, their sister restaurant across the street accepts credit cards....

Excellent food . I was here a few years ago with about 10 friends on a Saturday night and the place was jammed and noisy but the food was amazing and reasonable price and we had a great time. I went back before a show this past week we went early about 545pm and the front room had a few tables , we were sat in the back which was empty and two other groups came in while we were back there . We had the mozzarella basilico and an arugula salad we split both of these between three of us and it was a nice app , plus they give hot bread with very good rosemary olive oil. I had a fontina prosciutto chicken w asparagus and I loved it and it was a great portion , my sister had gnocchi she finished it and my mom had the car info chicken she also finished hers . For dessert we shared cannoli cake and cheesecake no the were amazing the cheesecake was perfect . The only thing keeping this from a 5 rating is that I saw how crowded it can get but that can be a testament to the great food and service . Oh and it's a very reasonable price Byob too ! How can you go wrong !

After being in the States for over 2 weeks eating on the hoof couldn't wait to eat at a table with a knife and fork. This restaurant was the perfect antidote to burgers etc. Good menu which is reasonably priced for America. Food was superb and staff who are mainly Albanian were extremely friendly and love to talk about English football( not soccer). Definitely recommended

We stayed at the Dwight D hotel next store to La Viola and the owner suggested we try it. It's great Italian food. Not a typical Italian restaurant with lots of red sauce-more northern and Mediterranean dishes. The service was very good, the restaurant was extremely clean and the food was served at a perfect temperature-piping hot without being burnt. I recommend this for a good quality and inexpensive meal.

Was recently here on a Friday nite with a 7:00 pm reservation, we showed at 7 and were seated within 5 min. I had been here before and both roos were crowded. As a byob the restaurant is very receptive to bringing beverages. Our server was right on top of us as far as service was concerned. We ordered a few appetizers and our meals, food came out very timely and we were not rushed. All food was served hot and looked great. Expect crowded tables and busy room if there on a weekend, however, well worth it.... Enjoy, I know I will again...

Great wait staff, delicious food, pleasant atmosphere, decent prices, centrally located. What else could you want?

We have been here once before with another couple on a Sunday afternoon in August on the hottest day of the year. The good news is that we had most of the place to our selves, and the service was excellent,,,,,,,, naturally. The food is always very good and prices reasonable, this trip added a little different atmosphere though to the dinner, as it was Friday night and the place was packed. I could have reached my fork over to the next table and took a food sample of my dining neighbor! LOL Service was quick and we were out of there within an hour, and had plenty of time to make the show. We will go back again, but maybe not before a show, so to enjoy the evening. And I don't want to forget to mention, it's a BYOB.

Walked into La Viola and were told we had to go to the location across the street. We thought this was odd because Open Table had tables available for this location. Nevertheless, we walked across the street to this location. We have dined at the “West” location numerous times before and enjoyed our meals. This time, everything was just average. One member of our party ordered chicken parm. It was thin (which he likes), but way overcooked. He had a difficult time cutting it. It came with a very small side of pasta on the same plate. Another person ordered a chicken dish which was smothered in sauce… too much sauce. The coloring was bright orange rather than blush which was expected. She ate half of the dish but couldn’t even eat more and opted to give to an unhoused person instead (which probably wasn’t nice). When the server asked how everything was we mentioned the chicken dish. He just laughed and said it was a preference issue. Fair enough. When the bill came, we attempted to use our credit card as we have in the “west” location. The server indicated that this location was cash only and that we could use their ATM (code: fees!). When we mentioned that we should have been notified cash only, he just laughed and passed the blame.

The food and service is outstanding . A local recommended and said it was her favorite Italian in the city. It is small inside but very quaint. Be aware that they do not sell alcohol but they were kind enough to provide me with a glass of their personal stock on the house. You can byob. Just be aware.

We were there for a wedding reception. Had the best wine and wedding cake. Neither came from the restaurant! I thought that was funny. I was told by the Bride it was the best authentic Italian food she has had and she is from Italy. Food was good but I'm obviously more of the American Italian dishes fan.

Excellent service and food. Love the atmosphere and service is always exceptional. Great for lunch, dinner or any special occasion

A local recommended this tiny Italian restaurant near Rittenhouse Square. The menu has house specialties and daily off-menu specials. I had a beet pasta with shrimp and tilapia that was delicious. We were delighted to learn that this was a BYOB restaurant, and even more thrilled to find out that they have no corkage fee. Although we arrived just ahead of the crowds, I can see how the close seating would raise the noise level a bit. Service is prompt and friendly without being overly solicitous.

A gem of a restaurant on 16th St. Had a wonderful meal there. Everyone enjoyed their meal and would go back again. The salmon was amazing and the lobster ravioli is a must.

We sat down at 8:15. Ordered 5 minutes later and were done with apps and dinner at 8:40. You do the math. Then we waited till 9:20 and asked for the check. They never asked us in those 35 minutes if we wanted desert. The food ? Mediocre at bast. My chicken was burnt and dry and my husbands pasta had Turkey gravy with his orecchiette. As I write this, we are still waiting for the check. It’s 9:28pm. Won’t be back. Very disappointed.

This is a nice BYOB Italian restaurant. Service was good and the food was very tasty. We had reservations which was good because the place isn’t very big and it was full.

I was wrapping up a meeting with my organization on a Saturday night and needed to get food to go. I found La Viola closest to our meeting site and called to find out they ad take out. Although they had a private event that filled their restaurant that night, they accepted my order and it was ready within 15 minutes. When I returned to my hotel, mu husband and I had the best meal of our entire visit to Philadelphia. Better yet, the price was unbelievably inexpensive compared to other restaurants in the city. Go to the website if you do not believe me. Best decision I made.

This restaurant was delicious! Easily accessible from our hotel next store. The atmosphere felt like we were in Italy.

Great atmosphere and a lovely environment. Great food that warmed the taste buds. Totally would eat here again..

We dined at the Ovest location before a show at the Merriam and it was perfect! Our reservation was waiting, the service was immediate, continuous & kind. The place was full, but we never waited or wanted for service. The food was also delicious, more authentic and affordable than we expected. We had the veal roll ups, chicken cutlet & salmon pasta, shared the chocolate cake & enjoyed coffee before walking to the theatre. It's got a very neighborhood feeling, like the entire staff is your family and has invited you over for a meal. Definitely our new go-to spot whenever we're in this part of town for a show.

It's been a long 7 years since I've been to La Viola, for no particular reason ( not because I had a bad experience, I just haven't come across the appropriate occasion!) First off, don't forget BYOB no corkage fee and CASH ONLY, ATM is available across the street if you forget. Last night I went with two other friends for Restaurant week where they offered 4 course menu for $35 + tip + tax. First off, service was above par -- we were greeted at the door with a choice of which table we wanted. Honestly I was surprised the restaurant wasn't packed, being it was the first night of Restaurant Week. Server came over and explained the menu, the fish of the day as well as the soup of the day and gave us an appropriate amount of time to decide. The restaurant is small, personal and intimate good for close friends, family or a special romantic occasion. Both of my friends enjoyed their dishes very much. The mussels in white wine sauce was good, the truffled risotto was rich and decadent and the seared tuna my friend said " was one of the best he's ever had". My food was 3 stars. The homemade mozzarella was good, but lacking a little salt when paired with the tomatoes for me. The mushrooms were very flavorful, but the portion was actually a little too big -- or oddly served on its own without either bread or something to eat the mushrooms with. That's probably a better appetizer to share with the table and not eat on your own. My entree which was the Pappardelle pasta served in a garlic sauce with shrimp and asparagus ( I asked without proscuitto since I don't eat pork) was OK but honestly a little underwhelming. The flavors didn't seem to marry, as in it felt like I was eating pasta, with shrimp and asparagus rather than one cohesive dish. I was also a little sad and disappointed that the pasta was not homemade -- not that they incorrectly described the dish on the menu, but I was hoping/expecting that at an authentic Italian restaurant they'd make their own pasta as i absolutely LOVE the texture of homemade pappardelle pasta and I think that could have truly lifted this dish. Overall, I was quite a bit underwhelmed with my experience and not sure that I'd be back based on my food experience, but my party seemed to love theirs. 3.5 / 5 for good service, ambiance and average food.

My husband & I had a wonderful, enjoyable experience at this restaurant. I spent hours looking at Tripadvisor to find a good Italian restaurant during our stay in downtown Philly. Going to this establishment was worth all the research. BYOB and cash only. Lovely atmosphere, superb service and the food.....WOW. I had the antipasta salad (sooooo good), the spinach gnocchi (best ever!) and the chocolate cake (delightful). My husband who is not a fan of Italian cuisine had a caesar salad, the nightly special of grilled swordfish and the cannoli cake. He was so happy! I whole heartedly suggest going to this restaurant. I can't wait to go back. I would highly recommend anyone go there.

La Viola restaurant is located on 16th St. Near Rittenhouse Square. We had dinner there because it is immediately next door to the Dwight D hotel. The food was very good but not gourmet. it is a real neighborhood Philly type Italian restaurant. Worth a look and reasonably priced.

Happened to come across La Viola tonight for a quick meal that turned into an Italian Gourmet Experience to the max!! Best Italian food in and out of Italy!! Great value for money and every one (of the four) courses was first class! Plus it's a BYO restaurant that charges NO CORKAGE!! (in Australia you'd pay $10-$12 for the privilege of bringing your own wine!!!!) Attentive wait staff, great food, beautiful ambience....I can say no more! thank you for a great night!

A nice italian BYOB restaurant, with a real taste of Italy. We were having diner in the brasserie, on the other site of the road. Chicken and veal are recommended. High on taste, simple, as a good italian dish has to be.

Visited here with another couple at Ovest (not Bistro), although walked into the Bistro restaurant and it was just as crowded and noisy. The tables are close, high level of noise, but depending on your mood, it could be a good thing = good vibes. In order I would say the service level was great, good hustle, friendly wait staff and the manager/owner is present and friendly and ensuring things were moving along. Our food was good plus, nothing mind blowing. I had lobster rav and it was disappointing, not much lobster, sauce wasn't tasty and the rav didn't seem to be home made. The guys had the veal dish and they enjoyed it and the 4th person had mushroom risotto which was just ok. Prices are competitive, BYO helps with that. It's worth another visit with another menu selection. Reservations are a must!

We chose this restaurant for it's close proximity to The Doubletree hotel on South Broad St., the good reviews and reasonable prices. Note: They only accept cash or check. It is B.Y.O.B, and they do not have alcohol drinks to order. There are two La Viola restaurants across the street from each other. We ate at La Viola, East which is the smaller bistro. We did not see the interior of LaViola, West, so this review does not pertain to it. This was our 20th wedding anniversary and we really wanted to have an unrushed, enjoyable experience, but didn't receive it. We ate here on the Friday before Valentine's Day. First, there are too many tables and not enough space in this very small bistro. It seemed that the waiters were too hurried and distracted to give individual attention to each table. The decor is plain and unappealing. Quantity of sales seemed to be more important than quality of service here. Our waiter was pleasant but repeatedly forgot to bring us what we requested. The food was very good. Caesar salad was typical and good. The grilled Salmon with two tablespoons of mashed potatoes and "a garnish" of roasted cauliflower and string beans. Salmon was generous size, vegetables were not. We did not try the specials of the day because they were priced noticibly higher than the menu items. I would only go back if it was in the middle of the week and would try LaViola, West, hoping for more room and better atmosphere. "East" just seemed to be too busy and overcrowded on the weekend.

Tremendous food and attentive friendly service. BYOB. Very much recommended. I had the lamb and it was delicious, really well cooked. Sat outside on a lovely warm evening and thoroughly enjoyed the experience.

We ate at this restaurant at least ten times, each time the staff welcomed us very warmly, the food mainly pizza was excellent every time, I highly recommend it to anyone who stops in this city!

We had a wonderful dinner last week. It was recommended by the hotel valet. Bring your own bottle of wine. After making the reservation, we stopped at a local wine store and took a cab over to the restaurant. The website says cash only, but they accept credit cards. The waiter was very attentive, telling us about all of the specials and quickly opening the wine. I had the veal and crab meat, which was wonderful. Without having a bottle of wine added to the tab, the bill only ended up being $75 for 2 people.

We recently celebrated a family birthday on a Saturday evening at 6pm here, on a recommendation from a friend of a friend who lives in Philly. Many of our family members had come from different cities (this will be important to know later). There were 12 of us and when we arrived, were seated at a very long table pushed tightly against the wall, immediately behind the hostess station, and in the traffic pattern of the wait staff going to and from the kitchen. The dining room is small (approx. 900 sq. feet) and was PACKED with diners. The noise and activity level was startling! To say the least, we started pouring stiff drinks from the liquor we had brought to deal with the tension. Did I mention it is BYOB? Next, we were each handed a 'prix fixe" menu of 5 entrée choices, while noticing others seated nearby were given an extensive standard menu with many more options. Regardless, we placed orders from our menus, and proceeded to enjoy the complimentary bread and pesto oil dip. After decent salads, the entrees arrived. The food was very good ..not outstanding. The servers were curt and rushed us through the meal. We were told we had to leave by 8 pm. So, we chose to take the gifts back with us that we had brought for the birthday girl and went elsewhere for her to open them. By the way, many of the family members who traveled for this dinner, never got to speak to each other, due to the long table, cramped quarters, noise level..sad :( Just too many 'rules' to make for a fun family gathering - bring your own bottle; 2 hour table limit; prix fixe menu for parties of 8 or more; cash only; you get the point. Oh, and one last hint - be prepared to walk -wear comfortable shoes or Uber there, because "close" parking was a half mile away. This place would be ideal for a group of 4-6 who are looking to eat good Italian food on a timetable. Maybe a pre-theater place...or dinner/movie date for 2 on a Sunday?

Had a 5pm Friday meal, before the crush. Wonderful (attentive and with a smile) service for a meal with 5 family members ranging from grandkid to grandparent. I can see how a different table (we were against the wall) would feel cramped with other diners bumping your chair as they came in/out. But I really liked the atmosphere - it was like you were eating in someone's converted living room. We were there during restaurant week and had more choices than expected from the menu. There is something for everyone - vegetarian, beef lover, fish lover. Only 2 blocks from the Kimmel Center was a plus.

We love BYOB's because you cut your bill - can spend more on food - and choose the wine YOU want. La Viola has two location - across the stret from each other. we perfer the smaller EAST location but it can be noisy. Same food at both. The owners are Albanian but, since Albania is next to Italian, the food is Italian and wonderful. The grilled octopus for an app is a must and the huge slice (big enough to easily share) of Dark Side of The Moon cake is fabulous. All the veal and pastas are great and the staff is just so friendly. They treat you like family!

WoW what a suprise! Small but service and dishes were over the top! Perfectly prepared authentic Northern Italian home dishes. Reasonable priced menu and don't forget the salutes Calimari to share. I had the veal over pasta with a spicy marinara with olives and capers in a tuarine for $17 it was insane and perfect. BYOB but stafe was polite and fast to please. We will Bee back! The kitchen can plate the best! Our group gave an A+ for food and service. Try it! This tiny place serves big foodies big taste. Yum

Philadelphia has no shortage of Italian places, but La Viola takes the cake on value and reliability. The menu is just big enough to have something for everyone, and it's all very good, although the pastas are the clear stand-out. Additionally, it's remarkably versatile. The downstairs room is best for large parties looking to push the limits of BYOB, while the upstairs and outdoor seating is calmer and well suited to dates or families. Excellent!

I searched online for a delicious elegant Italian restaurant in Philadelphia for my birthday and booked this 2 weeks ahead. We arranged our day visit according to our dinner reservation at 7. When we arrived , we were told that we could wait for a table to be ready or go across the street to la Viola ouest which we did. The we were greeted rudely and told that we would have to wait. A table was ready soon after in the front room which was freezing. I asked to wait for a table in the back but they said they “didn’t know when” it would be ready. We waited and waited. They did offer us a seat in the basement but there was a large table of babies so we continued to wait. The waitress and young hostess were very nice and tried to find us a suitable table. Finally , we got a table but it was Basically in the hall. We sat there but requested to move out of the hall as we had waited 45 minutes. The nice hostesses were jn the process of reseating is in the actual dining room when the bully manager stopped it suggesting the freezing room we had been offered at first. Most of the tables were now available but after I explained we had already said no to the freezing room, the manager made us sit near the kitchen door saying that ALL the other tables were reserved for a party of 30 in one hour. Ten minutes or less after we had been seated outside the kitchen , two sets of couples were seated at the tables we were moving to prior to his interception. In other words, it was total Bs. This was my birthday and it was mean!!! The veal medallion was the size of an apricot and wasn’t good ... just expensive! The pasta was okay. It came with nothing !! At the end, the bully manager asked smiling if it was good to which I replied that he lied !!! Instead of admitting it it offering anything, he said” oh ... the group changed their table. “ BS!? Don’t go here !!! Rude and overpriced !!””

Had a reservation Sat. 1/3/15. When we arrived the restaurant was totally packed. There was a birthday party of 30 young loud women. If we were informed that there would be a large party that night we would have made other arrangements. It was so loud it was hard to hear the person sitting across from you. When complained about the situation only got a shrug. Will never return.

Full disclosure: we went here during Restaurant Week so the lunch price was fixed at $20. That said, the meal was exceptionally good. I had gnocchi, which I always get when available, and it was cooked perfectly. My friend had seafood risotto and was equally impressed. She also started with funchi trentino, a sauteed mushroom dish, which she also loved. I had Ceaser salad which was good, though not quite as unique. There was a nice selection of desserts including chocolate cake and cheesecake, but we were both so full that we had a scoop of ice cream. While the food was great, the service was brusque; I asked for a recommendation between two dishes and the response was "I don't know." Also, the front door got stuck open every time anyone went in or out, making the room very cold. An attentive staff member got up to close it each time, but a more permanent solution seems in order. Also, possibly worth noting is that we went to La Viola West vs. La Viola Bistro, across the street. We initially walked into the Bistro and it was packed; La Viola West was virtually empty, though the menu was the same.

The food was very good, service was attentive. It's very crowded...be prepared to rub elbows with the next table. It gets quite noisy, making conversation very difficult. I would have given a higher rating, but we really felt rushed. I don't need to sit around forever, but I would like to finish my coffee without feeling like they could not wait to clear the table and get us out.

Food was OK, but honestly, in a town with a lot of Italian, nothing stood out. Traditional fare, made as expected.

Just returned from an excellent dinner at La Viola Bistro. A $35 4 course Restaurant Week meal more than met expectations. The service was friendly and efficient. Food came quickly, but we were never rushed. All four in my party enjoyed every dish. BYOB is a benefit. We were a little afraid to book after reading several reviews complaining about the noise-- the restaurant seating is tight, but there is no music, and even though the restaurant was filled, conversation was still comfortable and the ambience was pleasant. Worth a repeat trip.

Made reservations for 7:30 got there 15 minutes early, but it was packed. Waited in an extremely small entrance area, but not long. Seated by 7:35. Wife had buffalo mozzarella appetizer I had Cesar salad. Both of which were good. The bread and seasoned olive oil were good. Service on bread water and opening our BYOB bottle of wine was spot on when we entered. Entrees penne in a vodka sauce was very good and the orachiette dish my wife had she said excellent. I tried it and it was tastey. For desert we had a carmelized coated vanilla ice cream and a triple chocolate cake with decaf coffee which was well nothing short of outstanding along with the dessert service speed. Had we refrained from desert and coffee the bill would have been a ridiculously low total of just over 60 bucks including tip. About as good a night out to dinner as I've had in much pricier establishments. 4.5 of 5 stars

We go to La Viola each time we are in Philly. It did not disappoint again. The service and food are both great. It is BYOB with no corking charge. Reservations are recommended. There are 2 dining areas across the street from each other, we have only been in the original. The tables are close and small, the room filled with happy conversations. There is no music. None is needed. Overall, a fabuluos experience.

My group of 4 went on NYE for the prix fixe menu. It could not have been more of a mistake. The staff was rude and cold the entire time, the food was overpriced, the wait staff rushed the dinner so as to force us out to seat another table, and at the conclusion of this disaster, the manager insulted our intelligence and mental capacity after a bill dispute. Stay away from this place if you’d rather not be insulted by the restaurant staff of the place you’re dining at. 2 thumbs way down.

Very so so, would not go a second time service was good food was mediocre at the location we had dinner they did not except credit cards which we were unaware of fortunately we had cash

Our group of 6 thoroughly enjoyed dinner tonight at La Viola! We called for reservations earlier in the day and managed to get in. What a treat to find this small place that looks like it's right out of the movies. This BYOB restaurant was convenient enough because there was a liquor store 1/2 block away . Our group enjoyed homemade lobster ravioli , and the nightly specials. All was superb! The restaurant is cash only. I would definitely recommend this restaurant.

We had a wonderful meal and loved that this restaurant is BYOB. I would definitely go back and recommend to others.

Cash only, at least the last time i was there it was. I've eaten there many times when in Philly, it's right across the street from my favorite bar Monks! La Viola is one of my favorite Italian restaurants.

Cannot evaluate price-quality here as it was a sponsored meal, but I ordered the gnocchi and the tiramisú for dessert and could not have been better. It leaves you very cool because food is dense and constant, but delicious. Very wonderful lady who, although I was late to the event and they are busy with restaurant week, made sure I had a seat.

I am from DC and the squeeze from Eastern Shore and we were in town to be present at dear friend’s last day. Such a sad event required an offset, which Viola West provided in spades. The place was the same as was my first time there a decade ago. The waiters were flawless and fun - great senses of humor snd presence; my byob wine was quickly opened and poured and the squeeze smiled and said “this is like being in family outing”. The food was tasty and at the end, the best tiramisu(sp?) ever flanked by a brace of capachinos (sp?) made for such a great evening. Btw West now takes two credit cards. When we make our necessary return, we will return to Viola, it is that good and that happy! Thanks guys...the service we experienced is without equal.

I usually don't go to testsurants during restaurant week because sometimes the really good restaurants are not at their best due to cheaper prices . But I was going to the theater that night so kind of had no choice . Anyway, the dining experience at La Viola West was excellent. The atmosphere was lovely, much more quiet than La Viola across the street. The service was perfect and the food great. I was so glad I had gone there and recommend it highly.

We were in Philadelphia for the evening to attend a concert in which our granddaughter was performing & had dinner at La Viola. It was delicious & delightful. This BYOB establishment was as good as any restaurant at which we've eaten in Philadelphia & there are some pretty good restaurants in Philly! There were 6 in our party & everyone had a different entree. All were wonderful. We'd eat there often, but we live in North Carolina.

Located just a block from The Drake this is excellent for preshow dinner at The Bluver Theatre at The Drake. Most entrees are about $24 and are served with veg and potatoes. Good service

We were in Philadelphia on a Monday evening and looking for a nice Italian restaurant on short notice. I checked TripAdvisor for some local spots within walking distance from our hotel, as we had walked all afternoon on college tours already, and found La Viola. We made a reservation and had a wonderful dinner. I ordered the Pollo Marco Polo which was a thinly pounded chicken dish with prosciutto, escarole, mozzarella and a white wine sauce, my daughter ordered the veal scallopini in a mushroom and garlic sauce and my wife ordered another chicken dish with shrimp they prepared GF for her. All were excellent. We top the meal off with pistachio gelato and tiramisu. I would highly recommend La Viola. The food and service were excellent. My only words of caution which caught us at the beginning and end of our experience is they are a BYOB establishment and accept no credit cards. Luckily both had an easy remedy, there was a wine shop around the corner and I happened to have cash on hand. I also believe ATM’s were within a block or two as well.

Stopped here for dinner with a small party and were very satisfied. A BYOB, it presented an economic alternative to the downtown dining scene. We tried several of the pasta and chicken dishes, and were satisfied with all. Service was excellent.

Their food are made to perfection. I LOVE their caesar salad and all the pastas and gnocchis have been absolutely delicious. There are two locations located right across from each other. Good for a special occasion.

We just really did not enjoy anything about La Viola. We really tried, but it wasn't there. The interior left much to be desired. It's a white table cloth dining room in a slightly outdated setting. But it was the slow service and mediocre pasta dishes that kicked this potential spot off of our Italian list.

We traveled to Center City on a Sunday evening to treat our son to a good Italian dinner. This restaurant had approx. 4 occupied tables while we were there, they had plenty waiters available. I felt rushed by our waiter to order immediately, I had to ask if they offered any special, he said of course then told us what they were. They brought a basket of very burnt bread. We had appetizers and our very very small portions for our entree arrived, I asked for more bread since most of the 1st basket was too burnt to eat, the 2nd basket never came. Our waiter never came to our table to ask if our meal was OK, I would've reminded him for the bread . Someone the staff knew brought in a baby & the staff took turns hold & fussing over the baby, never looked at aof the few customers. My son was taking his time eating & staff kept looking over so they could clear the table. When they took the plate he asked if all was OK, I said we would have liked to get the bread we asked for, he said do you want me to bring it out? Obviously the owner of the restaurant was not there, no owner would allow the staff to be so inattentive, the very small portions are another matter, I will not be back!

Went pre-theater for dinner. Staff very helpful and attentive. Wanted to seat us downstairs in a banquet room but moved us when we asked. Food was solid but not great. Really tried to rush us out the door as quickly as they could. Overall not bad.

We arrived on time for our reservation and were promptly seated at a corner table. We were ask if we brought our own wine, but we did not. If u frequent this restaurant keep in mind u can bring your own bottle. We had plenty of attention on arrival. Menus and water right away. Waiters explained the specials and answered questions. We ordered 2 meals and 2 salads for our table of 4. We ask that everything be split. Salads were served with hot bread. The bread was delicious. The salads were not split nor were we given extra plates. We had to request the extra plates. The salads were very good. Our entries were delivered with one extra plate. We had to request more extra plates. Portions were small. I ordered the special seafood dish for the evening. We were told that the dish would have mussels, clams,shrimp and scallops,on a garlic black pasta. The dish came with shrimp and clams only on a bed of black pasta with a garlic sauce. It was a tasty dish but, not as presented to us. Overpriced for what we got. The chicken entree was tough but flavorful. For a small intimate restaurant it was rather noisy.

Like it's neighbor of the same name, across the street, this establishment has a limited but excellent menu of excellent italian dinners. Prices are very reasonable, portions are large, and it is a BYOB. Just a short walk from Verizon Hall at the Kimmel Center, it is an delicious compliment to wonderful night of mucis or dance.

we were 4 people having dinner together before a show. Service was impeccable, from opening our BYOB bottles of wine, continuous refills of water. bread refill. Everyone of the staff were very pleasant our dinners were fantastic- one had gnocchi, another chicken another ravioli, another veal. everyone raved and cleaned their plates. and the dinners came very quick. no one rushed us from beginning to end. we'll all be back for sure!

We were in Philadelphia for the holidays and needed a quiet spot for dinner. We did not have reservations, but due to some no-shows, we were seated immediately. We noticed right away that this was one of the few restaurants we've been to in a long time that was well-staffed, and every member of the staff was trained, friendly, and quick to help. A wine bucket for my sparkling wine appeared in moments. Our waiter was knowledgeable and the courses were paced well. My lamb shank was one of the best I've ever had (I order lamb anytime it is available), and my husband's fettuccini alfredo was just as memorable. Save room for dessert! The tiramisu was lovely, but the cannoli cake was the winner. What made this experience singular was the staff. The host stopped by our table to make sure all was going well, our waiter made us feel welcome, and we were never rushed. We felt as if we were being welcomed into the neighborhood. We look forward to going back, whether for a special occasion or just because.

We made the mistake of visiting La Viola across the road first, that is cash only and then we were sent here where they do indeed take cards. Seated straight away, staff friendly and food delicious.

Last weekend my sisters and I went to the Academy of Music in Philadelphia. We stopped and had dinner at La Viola before the show. La Viola is a BYOB restaurant. They had a pre-fix menu consisting of 5 different soups and salads and 7 different entrees to choose from. The price of the pre-fix menu was $25.00 per person. If you chose the coffee/desert option, it was $35.00 per person. I had the arugula salad with lemon vinaigrette followed by their lobster ravioli. Both were delicious. My sisters both started with the caprese salad. My sisters had the salmon entree and the gnocchi. Both of them are still raving over their meals. Our waiter was wonderful, very friendly and attentive. The restaurant is small and it was packed. Definitely make reservations ahead of time.

I'm putting this at the top to make sure it gets read: this is a BYOB and cash only restaurant so bring your own wine! La Viola was recommended by some friends and had dinner there on a Friday evening. We love authentic Italian and that's exactly what we enjoyed this night! Please be sure to listen to the specials before making a decision off the menu! We shared two offered that evening, both were absolutely incredible(the fish and fresh pasta). There are hundreds of Italian restaurants in the city....I would put La Viola at the top! Don't miss out!

A charming BYOB within walking distance of the Academy of Music, Merriam Theater and Kimmel Center. Outstanding food at a reasonable price. The venue is small, a little too loud to be called intimate but a great destination nonetheless. Enjoyed an 8:00 reservation after the show, with a party of 7. Each dish was exquisitely prepared. Fresh bread, warm to the touch with appetizers and desserts large enough for sharing, accompanied by a very attentive service staff.

We went here before going to the ballet. It was close. It's a very small, tightly seated restaurant with so many staff running around it felt like we were in the middle of a highway. It was just the two of us and unfortunately, tables for two at this restaurant are stuck in the main aisles of the room. Very unfortunate. With the additional noise of all the diners squeezed so close together, even though the food was good and we got it quick, we would not go back again.

This little Italian family restaurant is not what you'd expect. Lovely food, I had the special of grilled tuna with shrimp and vegetables and we shared a dessert, the cannoli cake, which was amazing!!!

We walked by and decided to give this place a try and were very pleasantly surprised. Homey Italian meets white tablecloth. A nice dining room: I could see it might break tight if crowded (wasn’t while we were there). Big diverse menu of pastas, veal and chicken with fun app choices. We were there for restaurant week and so had there price fixe. Everything was super flavorful with sizable portions. Pasta were great in every way. Fun old school Italian deserts. Wait staff was super friendly and attentive. Again a VERY reasonable price.

We knew about BYOB but were surprised about the cash only and didn't find out until finished, so we were adding up our coins..... The only other complaint is how packed it is. I could not get up to go to the bathroom without asking 6 people to get up. That is a bit uncomfortable for everyone. But, I guess they need the tight "economy class" seating to make a buck. It was packed, so, apparently, no one minds. The menu was quite nice and the food was just delicious. The veal was perfectly cooked, tender with a wonderful sauce. The filet was also perfectly cooked. In fact, recently friends and I were discussing the loss of good steaks in restaurants. No taste. This was angus beef, tender and delicious with the "old beef" flavor missing so much these days. Wow- we were so happy. They have a lot of sauces on things. I think that is over kill. They had perfectly cooked calamari, but the sauce on top was overpowering to some extent. The antipasta might have been good, but all I could taste was garlic in the oil on top of everything. Also, the cheese seems to be just "cheap" slices of provolone. That was a disappointment. Finally I think the truffle oil is overused. A little goes a long way - in fact, I'd prefer not having it. I asked for my steak without sauce, but the water seemed surprised, as if it would not taste good, so I said okay. Now I know it would have been perfect with just salt and pepper and NO sauce. The, perhaps one drop of, truffle oil was almost all I could taste. Such a shame for an otherwise perfectly cooked filet mignon. Presentation was also very nice and the service was excellent despite the crowd, although there had to be some adjustment for being able to reach the table only from one angle. The hallway is the "waiting room" packed with people, so it is difficult to find a place to put a coat back on. I would therefore not suggest the front table by the door. The price wasn't bad either - $30 for the filet mignon and $19 for the veal. Due to the tight space it becomes quickly noisy, since people start yelling to be heard. An NPR interview said people order more when it is noisy - they meant drinks, but perhaps here it is more food. So all-in-all a good meal for minor inconvenience. First class meal - economy seating.

After my daughter's graduation, many family members joined their children to celebrate the occasion at this lovely restaurant. It was a pre-fix Menu and there was much to chose from. We weren't aware one could BYO - luckily other's shared their bottles of wine. One negative was that we were a large group and they only wanted to take 2 charge cards. Thought that was weird and luckily we had cash.

We had a graduation luncheon at the La Viola West location which is across the street from La Viola. They kindly opened the restaurant for our party and another group from the same graduation. We were able to choose from a fixed price menu. All the options were delicious. I especially liked the Arugula/Goat Cheese salad and my husband really liked the salmon. The tiramisu was out of this world. We brought our own case of wine. Highly recommend for food, location, charm, and service.

My husband and I just ate at La Viola for our New Year's eve dinner. It was one of the best meals we've ever had. My arugula pear salad was delicious and my husband had a lobster bisque which was divine. For dinner we both had pasta dishes that were cooked to perfection and we finished them off with homemade Italian tiramisu and ice cream - it was absolutely amazing! The service was excellent. The only downside was that the restaurant was extremely crowded and very noisy. We will definitely be back in the future!!

Party of Six, All had great meals and superb Deserts, Best Risotto I have had, Went on Good Friday so menu selection was limited, or rather gave us an opportunity to experience a meatless cusine.

My wife and I were in Philly for two nights, staying near Reading Terminal Mkt, and decided on dinner at La Viola. We chose it because it was within walking distance, it was Italian, it looked romantic, and it was BYOB (we had a bottle of wine we had brought back from a 2017 trip to Italy and we were looking to have it with dinner at some special place). La Viola exceeded out expectations. The space is compact and it was crowded, and so we sat closely next to neighbors, but that meant we had great conversations with them. It also served to remind us of many of our meals in Italy. The food was outstanding, Linguini and Chef's Special Beef of the day (Filet Mignon). We were also amazed by the service, given the crowd and the compact space, the waiters were spot on with everything. Finally the price, given the food, the service and our wine, was most pleasant. We look forward to returning when next in Philly again.

La Viola has two sites, across the street from each other. My friends and I have eaten at the original "Ovest" at 252 S. 16th and at "Bistro" at 253 S. 16th. Both are very good. It may be the atmosphere, but "Ovest" seems better. Really excellent food and very close to Broad Street and its performance venues. We'll be going back.

Going to the orchestra? This is just around the corner from the Kimmel and is one of the very best BYOB. Wonderful, professional waiters, lovely Italian food. Always popular, noisy, crowded but well worth it. CASH ONLY.

This is a very popular restaurant, reasonably priced with excellent food and prompt service. It is a bring your own bottle establishment and does not charge corkage as far as we could tell. Staff are slick and professional. Don't go here for a quiet meal for two as the tables are packed together and it gets pretty noisy. We went twice, once on a warm evening when it was less crowded inside as many diners were outside. The second time it was cold so everyone was eating inside. Great atmosphere but you can't hold a conversation!

Had the pleasure of dining here many times. Have never been disappointed! I bring my family whenever they're visiting from out of town. Byob.The daily specials are whatever the chef picks up that day from the market so they're guaranteed fresh! Only drawback is that it's cash only!

There are many small BYOB restaurants in Philly, this one is one of the best. Quaint, with an outstanding menu. The service is great and the food is well prepared. Try any of the veal dishes, you will not be disappointed. I will go back. This is a great spot for a meal after a show!!

Great menu with many traditional options. Homemade pasta. Loud and boisterous. BYOB option is a plus.

I'm very torn between average and very good. The service was very good. Service was efficient and they definitely made us feel welcomed. The food was good. We enjoyed the family style appetizers (calamari, mushrooms, antipasti, bread with olive oil). The pastas were tasty. I will say the tiramisu was very good. We liked that they are BYO.

There are two locations one across the street from the other. I find the bistro too tight. I enjoy the restaurant. No parking. A few steps at the entrance. Nice varied menu. White table cloths. Attentive service. Not too crowded mid-week but best to have a reservation. Great place to share a meal with friends.

Went as part of restaurant week so an amazing 4 courses for $35. Food was super delicious and the portions were immense. However, the courses came one after the other, sometimes we hadn't even finished the last one when the next came and for such a big meal it made it feel like we were being rushed. I even asked if we could possibly wait 20 minutes until dessert and the waiter seemed very annoyed with us. Then during the time he gave us he kept hanging around which was pretty uncomfortable. So great Food, lovely restaurant but not so great experience. (Pictures show Antipasto Misto, Mussels, Pollo Marco Pollo, and Tiramisu. Would highly recommend all! (Although the mashed potato portion with the meat/fish dishes was absolutely tiny).

After taking in a show @ the Kimmel center I set up reservation at La Viola, west. They have two locations right across from each other.on 16th st. Only the west location was available. It is small and a little cramped. We ordered two appetizers, buffalo mozzarella and a plate of grilled muscles, shrimp and calamari. Both were delicious. I ordered the Veal Al Suda. It may have been the best veal ever had. The other dishes, all pastas were excellent. The gnocchi melted in your mouth. The cost of the meal was relatively cheap for a restaurant of this type $100 for four (no drinks). I would go back again and again

We visited this restaurant for restaurant week and upon our arrival found it to be mobbed with people inside and out. We entered and approached the hostess to confirm we were there for our reservation and she told us to wait by her stand for a few minutes. A few minutes turned into 45 minutes to be exact. The restaurant had booked two huge wedding rehearsal dinners that took over the entire place. It was obvious that the hostess was very overwhlemed and it was unfortunate that whomever took the reservations left the staff in this crazy predicament, but the hostess could have made an effort to be more friendly, as she avoided interacting with us and did little to apologize, which is unfortunate as there were other parties who were also waiting 45 minutes and they got frustrated and walked out. Once seated, we enjoyed our food and our server, however, it wasn't anything to rave about and service was obviously slow due to the overbooking. I would most likely choose somewhere else to go next time.

Before the Brit Floyd concert, we had dinner at the restaurant. This one place we were able to get reservation in time. The server were good to point, I love my salad on special, spinach were nicely seasoned with eggplant and roasted pepper on top. However, the appetizer Mussel and the entree Home made spinach gnocchi was a little disappointing. Mussel was over cooked or not fresh? Entree color contrast too strong? Or the sauce should blend more. OK but I will not get this dish next time. Bring your own bottle. Cash payment only. You just have to be prepared for it.

Food was above average with a nice varied menu. Lobster ravioli was a hit. Very busy as expected on a Saturday night. We had reservations so there was no issues and we were seated promptly. Excellent Tiramasu dessert. Service was very good. A little crowded with not much intamacy but well worth the visit. I would go back anytime.

Actually, the one we visited for restaurant week is across 16th street at 252. The resturant week menus are identical, but La Viola West is, to me, prettier. Both are BYOB. We went for the $20 special menu. For the first course, I enjoyed the homemade buffalo mozzarella plate, my husband liked the caesar salad, and my cousin loved the calimari, which was grilled, not fried. There were 8 appetizer choices. Then we had excellent platters, all very good portions for lunch. We tried the vittello al viola, vittello ala marsala, which was topped with shrimp, and the risotto al frutti de mare. Veal was tender, risotto just right. Even the restaurant week menu had 15 choices of entrees, including fish, pasta, chicken, and veal. The dessert choices were also impressive. We had tiramisu, and a peach sorbet, which came in a frozen peach. Coffee and tea were also served. We all tasted a bit of everything. Restaurant week meals sometimes feel rushed, or have very limited selections. The food and service we experienced will bring us back for a regular dinner menu.

Food was slightly above average Service below average Ambiance below average, very tight Price was reasonable What really pissed us off was they wanted CASH ONLY, which we were never told. I was told it was on menu, small print of course They should of said this at time of reservation AND again before we sat down, just in case After yelling, they took our credit card They should of immediately took our credit card & not argue. We were ready to walk out. You will never see me or anyone in my circle ever ever ever ever again !! If you guys were really Italian, this would NEVER of happened !

This is one of my favorite restaurants in Philadelphia. I have been to the larger one many times on the West side of the street but this was my first on the east side. The foold is exceptional but VERY NOISEY as it's small.

Made reservations during Restaurant Week so the crowd was expected. It was evident that the wait staff was experienced because every table was filled and you could feel the organized frenzy. Our food was delicious......you didn't feel like you were being given lesser choices bc of RW. La Viola is a Philadelphia staple.......

Went to West last year and was amazed and wanted to try East this year. Just as wonderful! Service was excellent and food was even better. Can't wait to go back again and won't wait until restaurant week!

Ate at La Viola west, there being east across the street. Both are BYOB, east takes only cash, West will take credit cards. There are two rooms at west, front room with high ceiling, back room with low ceiling. Tables VERY close together and noise level very loud. Food at our table for 4 seemed to come in shifts, 2 apps, then 1, then another. Entrees did not all come at once either. Food was ok, the mushroom app did not have much “pop” and rather bland. Chicken dish hot when served but menu of rich plum tomatoes was. A bit of sauce and several very thin slices of what seemed to be ordinary tomatoes. Bread was decent and warm. Limited dessert choices but cannoli cake was dense and not to sweet. Service overall hit or miss.

Tight fit, but definitely worth the wait. We were at La Viola East, which seats upstairs. La Viola west (catty corner almost) seats in the basement, There were so many people in the restaurant I didn't really get an idea of the decor. Service was superb. Food was very good and I will go back. Perfect Italian food. Probably the best grilled filet I've had at a restaurant. the Orecchiette was delicious too!

Very popular local Italian with BOB policy serving tasty and well presented Italian classics. Nice attentive staff and great buzzy ambience.

This was my second visit at this restaurant and it did not disappoint. The quality of the food was great, service very good, and the ambiance excellent. The prices are also very reasonable. If you’re looking for fine Italian food, this is the place. Probably one of the more better places I’ve eaten Italian food outside of Italy itself. If it’s not uncomfortable, I would recommend sitting outside. Nonetheless, the inside is very nice as well. Lastly, the appetizers and fresh fish are excellent.

Had dinner here with three other couples. We had a round table and could hear all of the conversation. Got the special; seafood over linguine; pasta was too al dente for my husband and myself. Special salad was great.

My husband and I walked into La Viola around 9:00 on a Wednesday and the place was absolutely packed and very loud. The host told us that located across the street was their sister restaurant with the same menu. So, we walked across the street and walked into a dining area that was almost empty and very quiet. We hadn't planned to go here for dinner so we didn't BYOB although that is an option here. The place is very nicely decorated with white tablecloths and lots of staff looking to help. We ordered two pasta dishes and both were very good. Very friendly staff in both locations!

There were a lot of graduates in Philadelphia this time of year so it took a long time to be seated when we had a party of 20. The servers and the food was prompt. It all tasted wonderful. It is a BYOB restaurant so new customers need to know in advance.

Dined at this small BYOB located in the heart of Center City for a family holiday dinner, before a show at the Forrest Theater. We were delayed by traffic but the staff managed to get us in and out in time for the show, and still maintained outstanding quality. Food was excellent and staff was friendly and engaging. Cost was reasonable, considering its urban location. It was a stretch of the legs but within walking distance to the theater. The restaurant is small but we thought of it as cozy, rather than cramped. Ample parking is available, for a fee, in many of the surrounding garages.

Good food and service. Good bread, intimate ambience, and reasonable prices. Mushroom dish was tasty and well seasoned. The bread was warm and fresh. Veal, sun-dried tomatoes, and artichoke hearts was tastyAnd well seasoned.

We looked at the reviews and knew they were mixed, but decided to try. The food was good, but not spectacular. The pasta special this evening which was the most expensive at $25 was too salty. My lobster ravioli (pictured above) was, OK, but not great, the sauce was nothing to write home about. However, the ricotta and spinach gnocchi was delicious. We all agreed it was the best dish tonight. The service was good, very quick and quite attentive. I found the place to be a bit too loud and a bit too packed for my taste. We sort of felt like sardines. Finally, the pastas are all about $5 more than the current menu trip adviser has on it's page; the two salads we had were the same price as listed on the menu, and both were good, but not top notch. We chose to forego dessert.

This restaurant is a fave go-to for my fiance and I. The prices are great and the fact the it is byob is a bonus.

Nice little Italian restaurant. We happened to be there during restaurant week, but didn't want a 4 course meal. We ended up ordering a la carte - we had seafood risotto, salmon, veal with stuffing, and a lobster ravioli. Highly rate the veal and lobster ravioli, but all were amazing!

I hadn't been here in several years. Start to finish, this is one of the best meals that I have ever had. The food is incredible and the service is top notch. I really need to get back here more often.

Just terrific. The four of us seniors shared salads, pasta, veal and chicken. Everyone enjoyed everything. Service was terrific; some of the small group wanted changes/variations of menu items and they were taken care of without complaint or difficulty. Prices were quite reasonable. Finally, the owner, Dominic Oriolo was present and a real charmer!

I am gluten free so unfortunately my options were limited, but I have a delicious chicken dish. But my friends all raved about their meals. The service was excellent and it’s a great BYOB place that doesn’t charge a corking fee!

Food and service were excellent. All four people had different meals and everything was great. We were coming from the theater and had an early dinner. Would definitely go back.