Melograno Reviews

Very nice to find a real Italian restaurant, not the usual American type which loads up heaps of pasta with sloppy sauce. Interesting menu, well prepared food and very knowledgeable service.

Yummy place with good service...all within walking distance to Rittenhouse Square for a nice walk after dinner.

I travel for a living, and Philadelphia is a foodie's paradise. I have eaten here 4 times in the past 18 months and have always been fairly satisfied with the service, and very happy with the food. I took new friends there Saturday before 5May, and were seated promptly, although in the center of the room by hostess station. No problem, we had no reservations. We were early, 6 pm. The waitress, whom I have seen but not had the displeasure of dining with, was borderline rude. We had to ask for bread about 15 minutes after we were seated, and then waited another 5 to get it. Our entrees arrived quickly and were not cooked well. The three of us made up for the lack luster service by enjoying the wine we brought, BYO, no corkage (yay). Well, dessert plates still sitting there when we were asked by our waitress to leave. What? We ignored that and continued to finish our wine. Then the hostess came by and told us that people with reservations were waiting for our table. There was an empty 4 top behind us, an empty duce in the other room, and no one outside waiting. I have never in my life been asked to leave a restaurant. We were not loud, we are women in our 50's, very respectable. Needless to say, although I like the food, the no corkage fee on my own wine, I will not return. And since I work for an airline, I see hundreds of people every day, I will not recommend this place ever again. Too many other great BYO Italian places in this city to put up with rude service.

Had a very nice casual meal before attending a comedy show at Helium Comedy Club. The food was well prepared and very tasty. If there is one downside, Melograno's gets busy on Saturdays and is very noisy. Definitely would not recommend the restaurant for an intimate evening. Otherwise, the food and service is very good.

walked in off the street and was able to get table for two. food was priced fair and of great quality. it's byob so plan ahead and bring a nice bottle of wine.

Three friends went to Melograno on a Saturday evening. The staff is friendly and helpful, and service was attentive, familiar with the menu and gave excellent recommendations. Three of us shared a flatbread with fresh tomato, mozzarella and basil. It was piping hot with a thin, crispy crust. Perfect portion size. The special was almond crusted wahoo over vegetable risotto. All 3 of us had the wahoo. It was perfected cooked and had a crispy crushed almond crust. The vegetable risotto was also cooked just right and the portion sizes were spot on. Because the portion sizes were reasonable, all 3 of us had room for dessert, and our choices were chocolate cake, tiramisu and panna cotta. The cake was moist with a hing of spice. The tiramisu was so light, creamy and delicious with the soaked sponge and cocoa dusting on top. The panna cotta was smooth as silk and had a lovely hint of saltimbocca. Prices are very reasonable, especially for Center City. It is located in a former row home, so it is long and narrow, and there is an open kitchen at the end of the room. The seating along the one wall is bench seating with chairs on the other side. The room widens in the center and there are more 4-8 tops. While it was a bit noisy, especially since there were a number of groups, it is not uncommon for a city restaurant in a historical area and a former residence. The food more than makes up for the decibel level.

I live in center city and eat out in the area regularly. Now that they take reservations on Tues-Fri, it is more difficult to walk over on a lark at those times. Fri-Sun is no reservation so easier for us walk ins. Have been a customer at Melograno since it opened at its previous location. The food has gotten better and better, and I was blown away from day one. The pastas are spectacular--I especially love the wild boar and any other meat ragu type that appear as specials. The mixed seafood platter--shrimp, salmon and calameri with mashed potatoes--has been on the menu forevver and is great. Specials are always interesting. Had an ossobucco that was among the best I have ever eaten.

Our experience, although mostly enjoyable, did not wow me. Our service was excellent and server was pleasant. There were 6 of us on a Saturday evening and we were not able to have a conversation. The noise level is beyond crazy as the restaurant was near full. I felt the menu was limited for my taste. I had the pappardelle Tartufate and it was very good. We shared several appetiziers and the rustico platter was nicely prepared with wonderful selections. I probably won't rush back due to the noise level and a limited menu for my taste.

We had an early dinner last friday after a concert matinee. We were there at the opening and the only customers for about an hour, so the place was delightfully quiet. The food was excellent. The pappardelle with boar was perfect, and the lamb shank was tender, tasty and well seasoned. My appetizer, the fritturina ( fried little smelts and zucchini strips) was good, could have been a little crispier. All my friends were happy with their selections. This was our first time here but we will certainly be back.

Was taken here or a birthday by some friends. I am in the restaurant business and had heard some positive reviews.Will never go back. Average italian food. After less than an hour and a half and while finishing our dessert, the waitress and hostess/owner asked us to leave soon so they could seat one more party right before the kitchen closed in 5 minutes. They didn't approach any other tables in such a manner. Plus, we were still eating dessert and drinking coffee. SO RUDE.....and of course they said this right after we paid bill and tip. As a restauranteur, I don't see much of a future for this restaurant with that attitude for customer service. La Viola, L'Angolo, and Mercato are better and tastier alternatives for byob in Philadelphia.

My SO and I went for dinner with two other couples for the Restaurant Week special ($35 for the meal). We arrived about 15 minutes early for our reservation but they were able to seat us immediately. It was pretty full and kind of noisy; the acoustics aren’t great so sometimes it was hard to hear my friend across the table. On the recommendation of our waiter, Michael, I had the Reginae pinsa (margherita pizza) to start, and the pappardelle tartufate. The pinsa was delicious, with a nice thin crust, good sauce. I would have liked maybe one more piece of mozzarella (see my picture) but I would definitely eat that again. I tasted my friend’s Ovum pinsa and that was very good too (didn’t notice much pancetta or egg-it seemed more like a white pizza but good flavor regardless). The pappardelle was awesome with nice al dente noodles, a rich but not heavy mushroom sauce/topping highlighted with walnuts. Maybe a little heavy-handed with the truffle oil, it slightly overwhelmed some of the flavor. The pinsa and pappardelle were generous enough portions that I took some of my pappardelle home. I had the sambuca panna cotta for dessert, very smooth with a good anise flavor. My SO was not terribly impressed with his polpette (meatballs), he said they were a little dry and dense, and the serving was only three small meatballs. But he loved his second course of rabbit ragu over pasta (a special), though the portion was smaller than my pasta portion. The ginger crème brûlée he got for dessert was very good; the ginger was fairly subtle though. Service was very good especially considering how busy it was, no complaints regarding getting our waters refilled etc. We were there for a little over 2 hours.

I recently dined at this BYOB for our wedding anniversary. My appetizer was a Roman-style artichoke surrounded by three seared sea scallops. My husband had the sauteed chicken livers, which were delicious. We shared a bowl of fresh pappardelle with earthy, truffle-scented mushroom sauce. I didn't think it could be any better. Then our entrees were served. I chose the branzino, a sea bass in the lightest lemony wine sauce. Oh my goodness, it was divine. My husband had a pork loin served with braised savoy cabbage and a sauce of apples, raisins, and pine nuts. The pork was a very generous portion and very delicious. We declined the dessert menu. I wanted to savor the taste of that sea bass.

Just went here a few days ago to celebrate our friends' engagement. The restaurant is beautiful, the food is quite delicious and it's fairly priced --- oh and did I mention it's a BYOB?!. We were able to get a table for 4 on a Thursday night without a reservation, but we got there early and it filled up fast. I had the sea bass(excellent), my husband had the lamb (excellent), the happy couple got a breaded chicken dish (YUM) and a ravioli -- apparently the ravioli was so-so, but I would take this with a grain of salt as another friend of mine LOVES the pasta dishes there. The only cons I can say about Melograno are: while the food is quite delicious, the portions are not tiny but definitely on the smaller side and it can get pretty loud. That being said, I will still definitely go back.

I had dinner at Melograno on a Saturday night with two friends. Our reservation was at 6:30 but we were running late and requested a 7:30 reservation. We were so delighted that they were able to work with us on a Saturday night and were very polite about it! I had the Salmone al Cartoccio. The fish was cooked perfectly and it was so flavorful. One of my girlfriend's had the Gamberoni (a shrimp dish) and the shrimp are cooked with their heads on. (Just and FYI - I'm not used to seeing shrimp being served with their heads on so it threw me a little.) Both of my girlfriends said they really enjoyed their meals. We were a little surprised at how fast the dishes came out of the kitchen. I'm used to a more leisurely dinner, so the next time I go I'll order an appetizer or dessert too. As this is a BYOB restaurant, it is a very affordable option for an excellently prepared meal. There are only two slightly small drawbacks. 1. The tables are fairly close to one another so it is hard to move around. 2. Since the restaurant is small and popular, the noise level is fairly high so it is hard to have a discussion. My voice was actually a little hoarse the next day since I had to speak loudly for my friends to hear. I would not recommend this restaurant for conducting business or a first date if you want to be able to have an intimate conversation. I gave an average rating for the bar scene because it's a BYOB restaurant and average for outdoor seating because I'm not sure if they have that.

Seated us early despite busy, great ambiance and casual, good food for the price but no alcohol, quick service

Great BYOB. The food was excellent but the restaurant could spare a few tables. It was really crowded.

Lots of good restaurants on Sansom street. If you're going to the Roxy Theatre, Melograno would be a wise choice. Bare tabletops, open kitchen contribute to the high decibel noise level. But the food is top-notch and the portions hearty and the prices reasonable. Arugula, figs, nuts, cheese featured in a special salad big enough to share. Potato ravioli excellent, the roasted half-chicken came with kale and potatoes, lamb shank tender. It's BYOB and that increases the noise level, so be forewarned.Friendly staff, they took care of our wine while we went to the movies.

Really enjoyed dinner here. Flavors and ingredients where all on point. I tried the sardines, octopus and the pasta with wild boar ragú. Place is cozy with the right amount of light. First time in a BYOB so at the end I did miss and after dinner digestive, but oh well. Really nice!!!

My boyfriend and I recently went out to Melograno. There was a great energy in the restaurant, and the food was absolutely delicious. Our waiter was really professional and friendly. Highly recommended :)

You will never get a bad meal here and the problem is trying to pick one dish for yourself. It can be a little noisy but the food is worth the little noise. The staff is also courteous and professional.

The Sunday pre fixe meal was excellent! House salad was simple but delightful. The chicken dish was basically an undressed chicken Parmesan. Delicious!!

We went here to celebrate our daughters birthday. What a wonderful choice. The food was delicious. Our waiter, Marco, made the evening even more special. Highly recommend!

It is a rather noisy restaurant but food was fresh and excellent. Wait staff was a bit brusk but efficient. Since there where 4 of us it was nice to save a few dollars by bringing our own wine.

Went there with my wife while in Philadelphia and we were pleasantly impressed at the quality of food and service. Their individual pizza was well cooked and absolutely delicious. Their fish entree were fresh and well prepared. Only issue was that we didn’t know it was a BYO until we got there and had to go down the block to get a bottle of wine. Otherwise, no complaints. I will definitely keep this place as one of my favorites while visiting Philadelphia.

My husband and I just finished dinner at Melograno. We've never been there before and had no problem getting a reservation on Friday night, booked online at urbanspoon.com. We arrived 15 minutes early and were seated right away. Our waiter, Nick was really friendly and charming. 5 stars for Nick! (Plus he looks like actor Andy Garcia) Now for the food, we each had 4 courses, so this review will be thorough! For apps, I had the chickpea and shrimp soup. My husband had the tuna tartare (it was the special). My soup was decent, with fresh steamed shrimp perfectly cooked but lacked flavor. My husband said the tuna tartare was above average. For first course, I had the wild boar ragu. I selected this course because so many reviewerers raved about it. Honestly, it was a disappointment. The sauce was a bit thick with not enough boar. However, it was a large portion and I gave half to my husband. My husband had the fennel and shrimp risotto, which he said was very good. For the second course, I had the duck with a chocolate cherry reduction sauce and polenta. (it was the special) Sounded great...but average at best. Polenta was very bland. Duck was just OK, my husband agreed it was good - not great. Husband had the baked salmon with celery root puree. I tried his salmon and was envious. The celery root puree was divine and the salmon was cooked perfectly! For dessert, we split the molten chocolate cake with gelato. Yummy! Overall - food was slightly above average, service was great - so 4 stars from us. FYI - Our bill was $144 for 2 people (not including tip). Parking lot is a few steps away and cost $22 on weekends.

We came here with friends for Restaurant Week thinking it would be quiet on a Sunday. The place was bustling, but our table was along the wall away from the door. We loved that we could bring our own wines. So, what did we like? The toasted bread at the start of the meal already drizzled with olive oil was a hit (although there was just one piece per person). The charred octopus appetizer, delicious and thankfully not breaded, came with fingerling potatoes and salsa verde. (Fortunately, I had read other reviews which was what prompted me to order this as a first course.) Our friend said the burrata was good too. I loved the granchio with crab meat and cherry tomatoes although I would have loved more crab meat. Our other friend thought the dish was too peppery, but I appreciate a restaurant that doesn't shy away from a little flavor. The desserts (not on the menu) were delicious - a chocolate mousse with brownie crumble and whipped cream and the panna cotta with fresh blueberries. All around, a pleasant way to spend a Sunday night.

My girlfriend took me Melograno for my birthday. It was our first time there and we were not disappointed. The dining room was surprisingly large and open. It was crowded, but it didn't feel like we were trying to talk over the tables around us. We started with the appetizer sampler (italian meats, mozzarella, olives, and grilled veggies. Everything was delicious, although it was too much food for two. I think it would be a perfect amount for four people, especially since the entrees are pretty large. For entrees I got the spaghetti carbonara and my girlfriend got the rigatoni with panchetta. The carbonara had some anchovies in it, which gave it just a perfect amount of seafood-y taste. I tried the rigatoni as well, which was served under a flavorful, tangy red sauce. The panchetta added a nice flavor. We will definitely be going back to Melograno. In my opinion, the restaurant has immediately moved ahead of similar Italian BYOs in Philadelphia on my list (like Ava and La Viola) just based on quality of food alone.

The best BYOB in Philly. Yes, bring your own wine :-)!

First and last time here. Service was so slow. Slow roasted pork was reheated and cold. Rest of the food was so so compared to other BYOB in Philadelphia. Too many great BYOBs to even consider returning to this sub par restaurant

I ate here as it was close to the theatre I was visiting. The restaurant is BYO which is no issue. If you want sparkling water you have to have a full bottle which is too much for one person. The lamb shank with red wine sauce was underwhelming. Overall quite bland and fatty. It was served in a cold plate.

Good, authentic Italian food (but not red sauce Italian). The pizzas, which are perfect to share as an appetizer, are delicious. I had the obviously homemade, perfectly cooked pasta with mushrooms--absolutely delicious. Smallish, noisy. Good, friendly service, prices are medium to medium high. BYOB. Highly recommended. Reservations essential.

We 'found' Melograno when our family was in Philly for our son's wedding and we already had wine/beer so were looking for a nearby BYOB. Melograno said they could seat the 8 of us and we headed over. What a wonderful night! The service could not have been better - we were attended by at least three knowledgable and fun servers - and the food exceeded all of our expectations by a mile. While we thought it was a basic Italian restaurant, what we discovered was that that flavors used were unique, the choices many, and the portion sizes generous. We enjoyed a wide variety of dishes such as Polpette pork, veal and beef meatballs, pappardelle with walnuts and mushrooms, and another with a red sauce but had unexpected nutmeg and cinnamon flavors. The slow roasted lamb was some of the best we've had in the city. After dinner my brother in-law asked for the recipe of the red sauce and will be making it at home. Being that Melograno is across the street from the Comedy Club we go to, we plan to become regular customers!!

Went here with the family for an early Saturday dinner. We arrived with a hungry four year old and staff was great at getting a plate of meats and cheeses out quickly - three selections of each, all very good. Salad (arugula/fennel) was fine, calamari puttanesca fresh and well seasoned. The highlights of the meal, hands down, were the pastas. The cinghiale pappardelle rivals any I've had in Tuscany, the amatriciana was also delicious, and the four year old ate the entire plate of rigatoni with butter and parmesan, which almost never happens. I'd certainly go back next time we're in town.

We've been eating at Melograno since it was in the old location and have yet to have a bad meal there. We often share either the paparadelle tartufo (mushrooms) or the paparadelle cinghaile (wild boar) as an appetizer. Other nights, I opt for the pear salad (amazingly good) as my first with the boar pasta as a main. They also do fish, chicken, and meat dishes and everything is good. The fact that it is a BYO keeps the cost down. Despite the larger room in the new location, it is still often packed to the gills, so reserve early and enjoy!

My husband and went here on our last night in Philly based off a recommendation from Carolyn Wyman from the Philly Food Tour I did the day before. It was the best place we ate at in all of Philly and we tried some great places. I had the gnocchi which was a special and my husband had the mushroom pasta in a truffle oil. We were both in heaven. Best of all it is a BYOB so we could enjoy a nice glass or two of wine and not worry about the expense. The service was impeccable and the atmosphere was fabulous. If we ever come back to Philly this will be at the top of our list. I did read about the noise in other reviews but we were lucky that it wasn't totally full so the noise level was fine for us. Definitely a must try if you visit Philly.

We ate at Melograno on a Friday night. Fortunately, the new, larger space seems to have cut the wait down pretty significantly. We were seated immediately (at 7:30 p.m.). BTW, the host will not seat you unless all members of your party are present. The best (and most important!) part of our experience was the food. I devoured my artichoke and tomato salad special-truly one of the best salads I have ever eaten. My main course, the grouper with tomatoes and artichoke, was "melt in your mouth" fantastic. I ended the evening with the ciabatta bread pudding, which is better suited to those who enjoy a strong liqueur flavor-I would have the spiced molten chocolate cake next time. Less impressive was the service. Both the host and our waiter were needlessly curt. And we are truly a low-maintenance group, so it was hard to understand the less-than-welcoming attitudes from staff. While it was not ideal to feel as if we were bothering our waiter with our questions about the menu and small, infrequent requests during dinner, we did not let that take away from our enjoyment of a wonderful meal. We would absolutely return for another visit, although it is worth noting that sound really carries in the new venue, which may be a challenge for those who are hearing impaired.

This was a restaurant of choice for a night out on the town to celebrate two birthdays. Melograno's menu was enticing and full of variety, and the servers were approachable and personable. This restaurant is a BYOB which is helpful with keeping the bill down. It's also an open concept meaning the kitchen is completely visible. This is a nice distraction at times to see food being prepared and adding to the excitement of what's about to be served. The table ordered the Rustico option which had an assortment of meats, cheeses, breads, and grilled vegetables. This is highly recommended as it's a great way to start off the meal. The entire board was sampled by all six at the table (to give an indication of size). Another tasty dish was the soup which came with homemade spaghetti noodles, rind of parmesan, and a raw egg dropped in the middle. This was silky, warm, full of flavor, and balanced. The menu is broken into three portions (plus side plates), but that feels like it would be a bit much. The pasta portions are a bit large, but the entree portions weren't too bad. From the New York strip to the salmon with sweet potato, to the chicken entree, each person remarked how much they loved the food. In short, there doesn't seem to be a bad thing on the menu. To finish off the experience, the table ordered espressos which were not specified as to their origin. The tea was the bagged variety, unfortunately. The tiramisu was recommended, yet quite large for two people. Lastly, the service was quite rhythmic in its approach. Plates did linger a bit on the table, but perhaps that was due to the later crowd coming into the restaurant. Our server explained everything and was quite helpful with questions we had. It seems that this place doesn't need an online review based on how far out the reservations had to be. This restaurant has been around for quite some time; if this is to sway people into visiting, then it's definitely worth calling and reserving a table. If this is a stop one has already been, this review only reiterates what many others have stated.

We have dined here a few times and has quickly become our favorite for authentic Italian cuisine. After recently returning from a summer trip to Italy I thought it would be great to set up my fiance's birthday dinner here with our family and friends along with some great Italian wine and Grapa. Melograno's staff was awesome from beginning to end. They explained at the time of the reservation if the party exceded 10 or more it would be their prix fixe menu at 45 dollars a person, which is still great and informed me of any fees, like the cake cutting..which wasn't a big deal. On the day of I was able to drop off the cake and wine early and they were so kind to answer any questions I had about the evening or if we needed anything additional. When we arrived the table was already set. We were luck to have the long banquet table. It was already set up with the wines I brought in earlier ready to go; it looked beautiful and inviting. We came in with 9 guest so we all ordered from the regular menu. Everything was a hit. Dispite it being a busy Sat. night we never felt service was slow or off. Our server was prompt to mention the specials, informed of what was no longer available..note the octopus starter amazing. Get there early or its gone! We never felt rushed to leave, if fact the kitchen closed as we ended our meal with birthday cake, a champagne toast, grapa and for one espresso. We even toasted with our lovely server. He was awesome. If in Philly then it's a must. Planning a fun dinner party than it's a must. Like great food than it's a must.

Local rittenhouse square BYOB, eat there often. I find the food to be consistently good. The pastas are all very good, and the fish or steak a great choice as well

The food was excellent, the service was fine but the atmosphere was simply awful and it was so load in the restaurant that it almost gave me a headache and felt like eating in a caffeteria. There are no wall coverings to stop the noise from bouncing around the room and off the ceiling. The tables are so close to each other that it feels like you are dining with people you don't know. As I said, the food was excellent but the ambiance was so bad that for me I could not return to eat there again. If it were not for this problem I would have rated it much higher to excellent but I don't want to dine in a place that I need to take ear plugs with me for the noise level!

Just a block off Rittenhouse Square this popular dining spot has a variety of Italian dishes including a special kind of pizza where they use a imported oven

There were 6 of us so we tried many items between us. If I ignored the prices, which seem excessive, and the tiny portions (which exacerbated my attitude toward the prices), I had to acknowledge that the food was quite good. Except for the bread and olive oil. Just mediocre. Mussels were tender and flavorful. Paparadelle with wild mushrooms was rich and woodsy. The special white fish of the day was tender and flaky with a tasty caramelized onion and cherry tomato glaze. (The tiniest portion of the 6 meals, though. It was gone in a few fork fulls.) It was served with a simple, but tasty zucchini slaw. The sauteed spinach side dish was flavorful. Others in our party enjoyed Salmon and other pasta dishes. I don't mind the idea of small portions. We Americans are used to gigantic portions. However, the high price made the portions look even smaller - out of balance. BYOB is a nice opportunity to bring good wine at a reasonable cost. The server was friendly and helpful. The atmosphere is fun and invited us to linger over conversation.

Unbelievable value during restaurant week. Good service, nice environment, and great location. Food is consistently one of the best and BYOB is in Philadelphia. Tasty tomatoes stewed calamari. Octopus was a little chewy. Excellent flatbread it tasted similar to those served and I’ll Alsace. Lamb osoBuco was good, but over cooked. Desert offerings were excellent.

I was introduced to Melograno's by a friend. We had the roasted beet salad with arugula, meatballs, baby octopus as appetizers and some type of wild mushroom and walnut pasta concoction that was awesome. Others had pasta with roasted wild boar and bucatini with pancetta and pecorino in a spicy marinara. All excellent. The potions were smaller than most Italian restaurants but my wife and I both commented that is was nice to have so many good things and not feel overly full. The Bread Pudding and Caramel Gelato was the perfect end to a great meal.

Melograno has been around for quite some time and it is easy to see why. The food is well prepared. The service is professional. The portions are ample. On a summer Sunday evening, the place is not crowded, and the noise level is down from where it can get at busier times and days. We started with the calamari and the baked cheese which were amazing followed by lamb shank with sautéed spinach and polenta with a side of artichokes and a side of mushrooms. Coffee after and the bill came in lower than would have been our bar bill if we had bought the drinks and the wine we brought with us. Looking forward to our next visit.

I'm going to say the only thing you need to know about this "Italian" restaurant: The olive oil was more like vegetable oil. Flavorless and pale. Yep. You can stop reading now. But since you've chosen to continue, I'll elaborate. The ambiance of this place is charming, for sure. And the ability to BYOB is always nice and saves a few bucks... But the food is sub par, especially for Philadelphia. A few low lights: we covered the olive oil. The menu was pretty uninspiring but we decided to start with the Portobello mushroom appetizer. What can I say? One mushroom, cut up, roasted, and a little balsamic vinegar. It was good. Not great, but good. I then had the chicken...A dish which failed on multiple fronts such as: Flavor: There was none. Under seasoned to say the least. I truly believe the fried chicken at KFC has more flavor. There was no sauce or anything to bring the dish together. Just a hunka fried meat covered in arugula, a couple of tomato slices, and mozzarella cheese. There might have been a drizzle of olive oil, but as mentioned previously, it added little. And, I must say, I don't know any self-respecting restaurant that puts tomatoes on the menu in March. What is the point? Sad and flavorless little things. Perhaps the biggest tragedy of the menu was dessert. I ordered the tiramisu (my favorite dessert!) thinking they SURELY couldn't mess this one up. Oh, how I was wrong. What I expected: Just-thick-enough vanilla-y marscapone cheese and whipped cream sandwiched between espresso-soaked lady fingers. What I got: spongy wet lady fingers floating in whipped cream... A cheap imitation of the real thing. I've been to this restaurant before, years ago. And while it didn't blow me away at the time, I don't recall it being THIS bad. Not sure what's going on with Trip Advisor and why the reviews are so good... maybe they haven't caught up to what the restaurant is today. But, from someone who lives in Philadelphia and knows the number of incredible restaurants we have: PLEASE don't waste your time or money. Or don't blame me if you do. A list of restaurants within walking distance I WOULD recommend: A.Kitchen or Parc for something bit more upscale, Tinto for something ethnic or Village Whisky for an outstanding burger and pub vibe. If you're still looking for BYOB Italian, Casta Diva isn't the best food in Philly, but it's close to here. The menu is very similar to Melograno but the food is much better.

The four of us enjoyed all our various dishes. Service was polite, professional and helpful. BYO was a great plus. Our first visit - not out last. Osco Bucco was a real treat.

Our first visit recently. We were seated promptly at reservation time at a table in the center of the restaurant. Service was friendly, meal moved at a nice pace, we were not rushed at all. Food for all was excellent quality: starters, primi, secondi and desserts. Secondi portions were good sized but not overwhelming. Portion size overall was perfect, we left full but not over stuffed. Parking lot directly across 20th was very helpful on this cold night ($20). The dining room was loud, it was hard to hear someone not seated next to you. Note there is no waiting area except a small space between the exterior door and dining room door, I was glad we were not early on this cold evening.

We ate dinner at Melegrano before a concert at the Academy of Music and had a very good meal. The calamari puttanesca was very good, especially with the grilled bread. We had a mushroom flatbread with goat cheese which was also good. We shared a pappardelle pasta with duck ragu which was delicious. For our main course , my husband had osso bucco which was wonderful and I had the fish of the day which was grilled mackerel, also very good. We shared an apple bread pudding with caramel sea salt ice cream which was good but there was only a small scoop of ice cream so we asked our waiter to bring us more which he did. The service was wonderful. Our waiter was very attentive and always nearby to oversee everything. The tables were a little close together and it was a little noisy but not too bad. Since it's a BYOB, it kept the cost down, but it's not cheap. We would definitely go back and recommend this restaurant .

good bread but the olive oil could have been a bit more flavorful...the lemon-y sauce on the scallop appetizer was delicious, and the scallops were extraordinarily tender--very high quality. the quail entree was AMAZING!!! i would absolutely go back and order it again. the tiramisu was very good and the ginger creme brulee was fabulous! i ordinarily dislike ginger, but somehow they made it in a way that I loved it.

Food is always wonderful here. The burrata and the tuna tartar are fresh and flavorful. The pastas all Al dente and inventive. The wild boar, cacio de Pepe, and mushroom are favorites, although we always order the pasta special when the contents appeal to us.

My husband and I had a wonderful anniversary meal here. We brought a special bottle of wine and had a lovely evening. The interior is plain and old fashioned with wide plank floors and wainscoting that is meant to look old. There is some exposed brick on some of the walls. The decorations are simple tea lights. It is noisy, but not a problem. We could hear each other fine at our table, but if you lifted your head you would hear the happy chatter of the other patrons. I find this typical of most city restaurants. We had delightful, fresh salads. My husband's was a tossed salad with pomegranate reduction and mine was spinach with calamari and cannelloni beans. The greens were all crisp and fresh as if picked that day. For entrees we chose the New York strip and risotto with shrimp. Both were cooked to perfection with nice portions. We had tiramisu and an eggless custard with fresh berries for dessert. I was delighted the tiramisu came in the bowl it was prepared in instead of a cut piece. We have a friend from Northern Italy and this is how he prepares his version. Both were very good. Our waitress was very good. Everything was delivered to the table at the right time. We never felt rushed or sat for too long between courses. The rest rooms were clean and are obviously checked through out the night.

One of the top BYOBs in the city, service can match a liquored establishment. Great location in center city. Have been multiple times and never had a bad meal. Their restaurant week menu was impressive. If you have never been go. Bring good wine. Bringing cheap wine (ahem inexpensive) is not to be done at fine dining.

Maybe my expectation was too high but the food was small portioned and average tasting ,and the service could have been much better. The worst was the musty smell in the hallway to the rest rooms & kitchen, probably from the old raggedy rug that has seen better days years ago. At least it is a BYO.

A cousin took us here because it was one of her favorite Italian restaurants in Philadelphia. We could see why. We each had an antipasto and another course--two of us had pasta and one the fish of the day. Everything--fish, seafood, salad, and pasta--was fresh, well-prepared and presented, and very tasty. There was no problem in finding things that met my dietary restrictions, which I very much appreciate. Another plus--you bring your own wine, which saves a lot of money while ensuring you have a wine you'll enjoy. Sorry we don't live in Philly so we can try more of the interesting-looking menu.

the food and service here are outstanding. Only complaint is it is very noisy. great menu and knowledgable server really made the meal enjoyable.

I have dined at this charming BYOB twice in the past few weeks. Both experiences were wonderful. The food is delicious and the service is professional and pleasant. There are a number of menu choices, and, given that we were willing to share, I was able to taste a number of different items. All were great! I highly recommend Melograno!

Hostess is amazingly warm and attentive, but the waiter do not follow her footsteps at all; neither gracious. The food is quite delicious but served in very small portions while the dishes were not referred to as "small plates"! There are few vegetarian options and very few gluten free options! We will still give it another try because we can see unusual creativity in the chef's style!

Took hubby and our adult daughters and significant others here for his 60th birthday. Four ordered the filet mignon. Two ordered medium rare, one wanted medium and one wanted medium well (I know, I know, but to each their own). Waitress comes out to tell us that the chef will not do the medium and medium well; he will only cook filet's rare or medium rare! The hostess intervened and spoke with him and he compromised (really??!!) to cook them medium (with the caution to not send them back if they were not liked!). What a way to ruin an evening that was supposed to be special. To add insult to injury there was absolutely no acknowledgement of the his birthday. This will be our last visit to Melograno's.. there are a lot more (and just as good) customer friendly Italian restaurants in Philadelphia.

top notch pasta - always busy byob

Food was amazing!!! The bread...the bread...I want some more of their bread...dipped in any of the sauces that the appetizers or entrees came with!! Service was great..was a little noisy but that's okay because we were adding to it...having a great time..sharing foods and its a BYOB so $25 for two bottles of wine...better than paying that for 2 glasses if it wasn't BYO. Highly recommended!!

I thoroughly enjoyed Melegranos. The wait staff was very gracious and the food was delicious. A bit noisy, but I loved it and would definitely go back.

We had a dinner there and it was absolutely delicious. Our daughter fell in love with the polpettes, The pastas were also amazing. An excellent Italian restaurant.

Very popular and attractively decorated locally owned Italin restaurant near Rittenhouse Square. Interesting menu choices moderately priced with pleasant and efficient service. BYO

This is a local favorite not a tourist destination. Good food, BYOB, and friendly service in a comfortable setting. This is ideal for dinner before a show at the Helium Comedy club or a movie at the Roxy. One of my go to favorites.

Melograno is a rare symphony of elegance and comfort, mixing Roman street food with haute cuisine in a setting that manages to be swank and comfortable at the same time. Every dish that arrived at our table was a triumph of thoughtful design and flawless execution, delivered with friendly and impeccable service. My husband and I went for a special date night, and enjoyed: Tuna tartare, grilled octopus, “la pinsa” — Roman style pizza — cacio e pepe, squid ink pasta, and dessert: affogato for me and lemon-ginger crème brûlée with fresh blueberries for him. This was our first visit to Melograno, but it won't be our last!

The good thing about the restaurant is that they allow to bring your own wine. But inside, on a Saturday night you have a different experience. I had made reservations, so did not have to wait. But diners are packed liked sardines. There is hardly an elbow room between tables. And the noise levels are actually very painful. I had had to go out just to escape the buzz. There is something about the this trattoria style restaurant which reflects noise, and like an amplified speakers it just booms. I could hardly concentrate on the food. The food is not gourmet or spectacular, but it is consistent. On a quieter night, I would have actually enjoyed the food. Avoid the weekends, please. Save your ear drums.

Great food and the staff is extremely friendly

The food was excellent, staff very good, but the restaurant was so noisy that our group of six had to yell to be heard (and we are not that old :) By the end of the evening my throat was sore and my experience ruined. To the restaurant, could you do something about the sound? It was a Sat. night, maybe during the week it is not such a problem. With so many great byobs in Philadelphia, I don't think I will go back.

Great atmosphere great food and wonderful service. Waiter was extremely helpful and knowledgable with our group of 6 people. When we told him that some of the dishes were going to be shared he with out asking split the plates he was really pleasant to have as a waiter. The food was all prepared alla minute very clean not a lot of oil sauce but just right and vegetables were cooked perfectly. Usually not a dessert person but the table ordered three to share and they were great.

We had a great time eating here before seeing a show at the Helium. Beet pasta with asparagus and parsnips was delicious. Salmon was served rare as requested! Wonderful truffle-egg appetizer. Gelato was boring (tasted like American ice cream) but apple cake was just grand.

delicious, delicious, delicious byob

Manager was very nice and food was okay. It is a BYO and the Manager directed us to a wonderful wine shop. The menu is fine and the food was nice enough. However the waiter was disgraceful. He spent a lot of time chatting to patrons dining near us. The kitchen is open and our food sat on the counter for about 10 minutes while the chef tried to catch the waiter's attention. In the end the chef asked another waiter to deliver the food to our table. We would have liked coffee but couldn't catch our waiter's attention. We couldn't catch his attention for the check either and I had to go the counter to ask him for it. He did not apologise for this and in fact was quite dismissive. We left a 6% tip. After leaving the restaurant and walking up the street a bit we could hear him shouting after us that he expects tips of between 15% & 20%. I told him that we tip for good service only when we receive it. Would never go back.

I have eaten at this establishment before, but after my experience last night I felt a review was necessary. The staff is not only warm and welcoming, they are extremely helpful. I had questions about menu options and they took the time to explain and make terrific recommendations. The time between courses is well spaced, giving you time to enjoy your meal and a glass of wine. I decided to try new option this time and see what else the menu has to offer. I started with the crepe and crab meat with a pink sauce. Next was the rigatoni and sausage with a spicy red sauce. For dolce, the hazelnut crème brulee. Everything was exceptional, from the quality of the food and size of the proportions. I left excited about returning in the next couple weeks. Couple things to remember: 1) If you plan on a visiting on Friday or Saturday, make a reservation no later then Wednesday. 2) BYOB, so don't forget your bottle.

Had 4 amazing meals with family including 3 types of pasta and steak. I had a very flavorful homemade pork sausage and rigatoni full of pizazz. My daughter had the ribbons with mushrooms and truffle oil, and my friend had wild boar and pasta which was very very good. The meatball appetizer was nice. The antipasto special of scallops with seasoning was very tasty and well presented. The desserts were not as sweet as I would have liked, but that's the true tradition. Didn't think the apple commode or semi sweet chocolate cake was as flavorful as the main meal, but the presentation of the decidedly single serving was pleasing. I will come again, hopefully for a more romantic purpose. Thought it was charmingly cozy for couples.

Great place exposed kitchen, dimly lit. Noise level - I felt like I had to scream the entire night to talk. And there was no background music so it was a bit noisy. Food was great had the meatballs and beets. Fabulous ! Amatriciana pasta wasn't as authentic as I was hoping for. Wild boar ragu was delicious but a bit too much cinnamon. I will return.

A spartan setting that is non the less strangely inviting and friendly with a dominating open kitchen. The food is good traditional regional Italian and very genuine. Its also well presented and has elements of creativity.Prices are good for the quality of food and its a BYOB so that's a plus in Philadelphia where the State control board tells you what to drink otherwise - which does not make for a good selection usually! Now if only you could hear others at your table talk...it would be almost perfect!

We live in the neighborhood. This is the second iteration of Melograno. Mind you, it is very good but not great. I had the chickpea soup. Good but too much rosemary ( and I LOVE rosemary (the spice). The mixed seafood grill was boring. My wife said the risotto was EH. the panicotta was bland. Overall good but not great.

Used to be in Rittenhouse and was OK.

Reservations were made by a company I was working for. They made a great choice. Love the quaint neighborhood. Our waiter was amazing, the food delicious... one thing to note, it is BYOB, and if I had know would definately have brought a great bottle of wine to go along with an amazing meal.

We had friends coming in to Philly from North Jersey over Labor Weekend for a wedding and we want to go out to dinner with them on Saturday night in town where there hotel was. We book dinner through OpenTable at Melograno on August 6 for 4 people at 7 on September 5. Even got a reminder from OpenTable on September 4. Pickup our friends at there hotel and drove over to Melograno and parked the car on Samson Street. We crossed the street and went to the door of Melograno and amazingly it was locked and the lights were all turned off. In the window was a sign that said the Melograno will be closed for renovations from Thursday September 3, 2015 until Monday September 7, 2015. Embarrassing much! Luckily there were other restaurants in the neighborhood that were able to accommodate us for dinner. I never heard from Melograno and complained to OpenTable. OpenTable the next day by email (there is no one you can call on their website) - it took Open Table until the next day to respond and apologize and OpenTable said they would follow up with Melograno - I am still waiting!!!!

Friends and I went to Melograno on a recent Saturday night. Although the place is nice, our dinners were unimpressive. The food lacked any qualities to make it memorable. Honestly, I was there less than a week ago and I can barely remember what I had. Nothing that stands out or wants me to come back for more. In a city with thousands of dining choices, I would not return to this one. It is a BYOB, so that helps in keeping the cost lower. But there are many BYOBs in Philly these days, so this would not be a reason to come back.

wish they took reservations :(

Excellent dinner with friends during a convention. don’t forget it is BYO (not uncommon for Philly) There is a large beverage store just a couple blocks away.

this is the second time I have been here but the first time on a weekend night and my head is pounding because of the unbelievable noise. I am not against the food; my first review was positive BUT i will never go there again on a weekend night..you cant hear yourself let alone anyone else at the table. I wanted to leave before ordering but i was with friends that insisted we stay and so we did. It got so bad that we did pass on desert and took a deep breath upon leaving.

We loved every bit of our meal. We were a table of six and shared appetizers and dinners. Every one was very happy with the food and the service. BYOB keeps the price down which was much appreciated by our large group. I highly recommend this place and look forward to a return visit the next time I'm in Philly.

We went to Melograno's to celebrate my girlfriend's birthday. From the appetizers to the desserts, each dish was outstanding! The kitchen does some great things that make you want to "lick" the plate clean. We got the mussels as one of the appetizers and we asked for more bread so we could sop up the broth the mussels came in. We didn't want to let that broth going back to the kitchen uneaten! The meats sound "gamey", but as I said, the chefs in the kitchen know how to prepare it just right! The restaurant is easily accessible from any location in Center City on Sansom Street. We have made this restaurant one of our favorites in Philadelphia!

When visiting Philadelphia for catching some of the landmarks there, a friend told us to visit Melograno Restaurant on Samson. It's a very nice and small italian bring-your-own-booze restaurant offereing great italian food. We had the Tuscan Steak with salad of white beans and it was honestly one of the best piece of steak I ever had in my life.

First, the good: Went there for restaurant week, and it's a great deal. Good sized portions. Many dishes were gluten free including calamari which they grill not fry (yummy!). Everyone loved their food. Steak and veal were well prepared. Friendly service, great atmosphere, love that it's BYOB. The bad: We had a reservation for 8pm and were not sat until 8:40. I don't know if it was because it was restaurant week, but it was still not ideal. Overall, I would recommend this place and perhaps they are better at reservations when it's not restaurant week.

I chose this place for my semi-annual restaurant week find. Neither I nor my husband are keen on Italian, but I reviewed the menu and thought we could swing it. I'm glad we did because the food was great. Food: Foccacia bread was served with olive oil. I preferred it with red sauce. We ordered the insalata arugula, the polpetta (meatballs), lamb, panna cotta, and creme brulee. The salad was refreshing and delicious. There was the right balance of lemon for acidity and proscuitto for salt. I had a few bites of the meatballs and they were tasty. The sauce itself was fresher and milder than I like (I prefer more seasoning for my red sauces), but it still tasted nice. The lamb was well done and fell off the bone. However, it does take awhile to arrive because I suspect it takes awhile to cook. We couldn't finish it because it's a large cut of meat. The polenta was a beautiful complement, as well as the spinach. However, the ratio of meat to sides is off. Too much meat and not enough sides, which is fairly unusual. You need more side for that much meat. The desserts were lovely, with the creme brulee being my favorite. It actually topped my favorite from Caffe Aldo Lamberti in Cherry Hill, NJ. The diners next to us left a good portion of their brulees unfinished and this upset us because it was so good, lol. The panna cotta was a hazelnut flavor I think which I don't usually like or gravitate to. However, it worked. The initial taste on the palate was bitter, but you just have to let it linger and the flavor became sweeter. A great meal from start to finish, truly. Service: No one was at the hostess station when we arrived, but the hostess arrived shortly thereafter and quickly seated us. They were really accommodating because I called ahead to say we'd be late and they kept the table for us. We reserved for 9pm so we were hoping the meal would move a bit faster. It was a bit slow for my tastes, especially when we were finished a course. Took some time to get our bread. The servers were all very nice and worked together, I just wanted it to move more quickly. Keep in mind, the lamb probably took some time. Parking: Right up the street both sides. The one before the Shake Shack is more expensive than the one further down the street. However, the restaurant is listed as one of the businesses in which the more expensive parking is for, if it makes any difference. Ambiance: People say the patrons make the place loud and noisy. There is some truth to that, but it's not to the point where you can't hear yourself speak or enjoy your meal. It's lively. Overall, great place and we'd come back if we were in the mood for Italian. If you're looking for a quick meal though, this isn't the place.

Great BYOB Italian. Relatively small menu but goodt choices. Don't take reservations but worth the wait.

i've only been here once (mainly because the wait was too long the other times), but it is vying for top spot on my favorite byo's list. great atmosphere and service. papardelle tartufate is spectacular.

Four of us stopped into Melograno, without a reservation, just after 5 on a Sunday evening. They were courteous and didn't look down their noses at our lack of planning ahead. (I hate it when restaurants do that when they obviously aren't busy.) Food was very good--not wowful, but nice. We all agreed we would go back. (If you want wild boar, Casa Casta Diva's is better--although a bit more expensive.) Their vegetarian pasta and risotto options were interesting and delicious. Salad was boring and desserts were American huge--out of keeping with the feeling of the place. As it got busier (never full) It was a bit noisy, but not so noisy we couldn't have a conversation. Server knew about the food and was pleasant, but not polished. BYOB a definite plus.

It was a rainy Tuesday night. We braved the weather and traffic to get to this highly rated BYOB. Our first impression came with a rude hostess followed by waitstaff that were uninterested. We opened our own wine-and thank goodness poured it into glasses that we had brought along. The stemware was terrible. The food bland. We did not have pasta so I can't speak for it's flavor.

This restaurant is very popular, and rightfully so. We had reservations, but still had to wait over an hour. At first we were disappointed by the wait, but once our table was ready it was well worth the wait. The food choices are authentic Italian. Everything is cooked fresh and is seasoned very well. The wait staff is busy, but attentive. We will return. FYI's; there is only street parking, and reservations are highly recommended.

we started off with Arugula salad the proscuitto was nicely sliced very thin with the fresh parmigino what a great way to start off your dinner. next the Pappardella Tartufate, OMG this was amazing , I should of ordered one to go to bring home that how tastly is was, then the Catoletta Alla Senese, the chicken was cooked just right nice and juicy and finished with gelato.dont forget BYOB. even the host person was out sick they still worked hard to get you seated and waited on

My all time favorite - great food, not too sophisticated and not pretentious - I love this place

We were finally seated at 8:15 for a 7:30 reservation so we were not too happy when we sat down. However, the food and service were so wonderful we were glad we waited. True Tuscan cuisine in an unpretentious lovely atmosphere. It was also BYOB which we like. The antipasto platter was quite large with excellent sliced meats, crostini and fabulous marinated and grilled vegetables. Pasta dishes were also excellent. The desserts (which were on the house, due to our long wait) were the "icing on the cake".!!

We had a 6:30 reservation, arrived around 6:25 (having driven in from Wilmington, DE), got into a good bottle of wine. At 6:40 the waiter told us the chef wanted us to order to get things rolling. I said we were going to drink a little of our wine first, to which he said "I'll give you a few minutes." When he came back (in a few minutes) we ordered appetizers. He said "I'll give you a few minutes and come back for your entree orders." At this point I had had enough. I said "we'll order our entrees when we're done with our appetizers." I then asked him why he was rushing us. He said "the chef wants to get things rolling, and he's also the owner, so he can do things the way he wants." To be honest, the hostess was great, the food was okay -- maybe a little better than okay, though the scallops that accompanied my artichoke had a fishier-than-normal taste. But the service -- personified by this rude rude rude waiter -- was abysmal. I will never go back, and the thirty or so people for whom I scout out good Philly byos will never go there either.

tucked away on Sansom street, this restaurant serves Italian food with creativity. Waitstaff are attentive. Great for special girls night out!

All homemade everything. I usually do not order pasta out unless it’s something different and here they had some delicious choices. Not the biggest servings but enough, everything we ate was delicious - right down to the tira mi su. *Amanda our server was fantastic, bus was a little too good as she took our plates before we were able to lick them… Overall, a great meal.

Delicious food, great service and BYOB without a corkage fee. I had the squid ink pasta, which was the special of the evening, my wife had the boar ragu. Both were worthy of ordering again. Next time I'm in Philadelphia, this will be one of the places where I'll be dining.

Seated quickly and served well. Food was enjoyable and plentiful. Small place but OK. I would recommend to anyone to try.

This is a pleasant spot with a creative menu and excellent service. The pasta dishes we had were superbly prepared. Prices are reasonable. Would I return? No. This restaurant is in the top five of the noisiest restaurants I have encountered, probably the loudest in compaison to the excellence of the food and considering that liquor is not served. It is impossible to have a conversation. I know it is possible to have a good restaurant without noise issues. That makes excess noise unacceptable.

BYOB Table of five, very comfortable, excellent service. Menu includes gnocchi, ravioli and cacio et pepe, as well as pork and lamb chops. Varied appetizers plus gelato, tiramisu, and sorbet among other desserts. Very pleasant. I would see if other pasta were options to the thick spaghetti served.

On an unusually warm evening in March, my friend and I took an outside table at Melograno. It was the perfect first meal outside of the season. We had artichokes and a mixed plate of cheeses and cold cuts as an appetizer. Excellent! My friend had mussels as a main course. There were plenty of them and also delicious. My pasta dish was fresh and the pasta cooked just right. It's a BYOB, so the champagne we had brought along rounded out a very nice evening. Our server was from Bari, by the way. Great waiter. Would recommend.

Takeout from Melograno is pretty darn close to the dine in experience which is not currently available anywhere. We enjoyed the arugula salad which travels well and the pasta with mushrooms and truffle oil and walnuts and the pork chop with polenta and sautéed spinach. Everything travelled well and reheated nicely. Everything was ready for pickup on time and without issue. We very much appreciate the folks who stay open and tip accordingly. Kudos to Melograno for a job well done.

Dont get the fuss

This is my second time and food is consistently great. Yes, very noisy but that is part of the atmosphere that gives it the old world charm. The open kitchen adds wonderful aromas with mussels and the truffle pasta selections being our favorite. BYOB makes it a bonus too.

Note it is BYOB at this restaurant. Great cheese and meat plate and wonderful pasta. The only reason for four stars is lack of salad options and more basic menu options. Service was friendly and atmosphere was cute!

It was our first time in Philly, and we had a nice dinner at Melograno on a Friday night in November. We were a party of 8. The restaurant has a nice romantic feel and the food was delicious. The restaurant is BYOB so you can bring your own wine. For the appetizers, we had the Cozze (sauteed mussels in a spicy white wine garlic sauce) and Calamari Puttanesca (in a spicy tomato sauce.) Both were excellent. For my entree, I had the Pappardelle Tartufate (wild mushroom, walnuts, truffle oil, pecorino toscano) and it was delicious. Everyone enjoyed their food. For dessert, I had the Granny Smith Apple Walnut Bread Pudding with Sea Salt Caramel Gelato. The service was great, the food was good, and we had a wonderful relaxing dinner in Philly. Our bill for the 8 of us was just under $300, not including tip.

I went here with a group to celebrate a friend's birthday. All of the food was good. The service was attentive but not over bearing. They brought out dessert with a candle for my friend. We split a number of appetizers - the meatballs were my favorite. The appetizers were small. Just two meatballs in the order. My pasta was delicious. The dessert was the only disappointment. I split the molten chocolate cake, but it was overcooked and therefore not molten, just cake.

We came here for dinner on a Wednesday evening. Although requesting a window seat two times in advance, the greeter tried to sit us further back in the restaurant. My husband commented on our request, and they quickly moved us to a window table. We had heard very good things about the food and were very happy to have snagged a reservation. We ordered the octopus and sardines as starters. The octopus was excellent - a large but very tender piece. The sardines were very small, overly coated with polenta and fried. They sat on top of a panda Ella salad. We did not enjoy it because the sardines got lost in the breading. For entrees we ordered the paparadelle pasta with wild boar rago and a trout special. They both fell flat. The pasta was homemade but stuck together because there wasn’t enough ragu. Very disappointing. The trout was one piece coated with nuts served with mashed potatoes and greens. The trout itself was dry. The vegetables were very good but on the sparse side. The gelato for desert was ice cream, not gelato. We will try this place again because it gets a lot of good reviews. The service, by the way was good.

Just off Rittenhouse Square, Melograno delivers an atmospheric "old-world" dining experience. I dined with three colleagues on a busy Wednesday night during "restaurant week." Were I to register one complaint, it would regard the noise level as the restaurant filled to near capacity. Too few restauranteurs appreciate the fact that hard surfaces reflect (and thereby) amplify sound, making conversation increasingly difficult. The meal and the service, however, were outstanding. I am not particularly a fan of (typical) Italian fare--I don't do well with sauces and am not much of a pasta-eater. Fortunately, Melograno's offerings are unusual and diverse. After a salad, I enjoyed pasta with wild boar, followed by a perfectly prepared and seasoned mixed seafood grill. The sauce on the grill was just to my taste: light and unimposing, just the right compliment for the seafood. There were any number of other health-conscious options that I might have chosen, so I look forward to a return visit. The prices are reasonable, and everyone in my party agreed that the portions were perfect. Our waiter was pleasant and answered our questions patiently. I would not hesitate to recommend this restaurant to anyone interested in a unique Italian dining experience. Note that it is a BYOB, and I would strongly suggest dining at off hours, if possible, to avoid the din.

We had dinner here on our last night in Philadelphia. It was excellent. The waiter was extremely helpful without being condescending. We ordered sole which was the fish special and the pasta special and the mushrooms and artichoke side dishes and all the food was excellent. We shared the pumpkin creme brulee (it was October after all). Personally, I would prefer the normal creme brulee, but is was still very good

Had an amazing meal of perfectly prepared homemade pasta in several flavorful sauces. I had the homemade pork sausage and rigatoni that was zesty and full of pizazz. Service was pretty good, but we didn't get a good description of the desserts and were disappointed with the 4 choices we tried. For the price of the desserts, there wasn't much to them so I wouldn't give it a high ranking for value.

Dine last Sunday evening. This BYOB place is excellent....perfectly traditionally Roman cooking! We both started with the Prosciutto di Parma e Rucola salads....heavenly prosciutto, which is not always the case in the USA. For secondi, I had Mezzi Paccheri Cacio e Pepe and my husband had the Pappardelle Tartufate. Both were fabulous! After many trips throughtout Italy, and yes, Roma/Lazio, this was a treat. Fortunately we were able to find a delicious Montepulciano d' Abruzzo at the state liquor store (1913 Chestnut Street) between 19th & 20th St. BTW, not always the case in these State stores.

The food was very good at this Italian restaurant. A wide variety of pastas, sauces, Meats and fish were available. All were very good, but none were what I would call Exceptional. The atmosphere was very basic, low level for this type of restaurant, and it was extremely loud inside. Points off for the loud environment. We couldn't hear each other above all the noise and the place. Wait staff was good.

Small and somewhat noisy but a very good center city BYOB with sufficient choices Pasta and veal dishes particularly good. Service is inconsistent. Prices reasonable for location and food quality.

Had a nice dinner here with another couple recently. The atmosphere is very nice. The staff is friendly and attentive. I ordered the Pappardelle Tartufate (wild mushroom, walnuts, truffle oil, pecorino), which was absolutely delicious. Highly recommend this restaurant.

Food was good, wait staff knowledgeable. At the end of the meal the manager said “it’s time to leave people are waiting.” That left a bad taste. Nobody was trying to linger longer than you should, he spoiled the experience. His apology when told was empty.

Downtown in a fun area of Philly. Easy access. Excellent menu. Nice atmosphere. We went for dinner in the early evening on Sunday. Quiet & relaxing.

good...but might be a little overrated

a weekday night and we decided to go out for dinner. This restaurant was recommended by a number of people so we decided to try...we were seated right away without reservations, noisy atmosphere...ordered calamari for appetizer..was served with green beans and a jam chutney based..interesting taste but small portion, ordered a pasta with escargot, wife ordered a mushroom based pasta...both good but both small portions...so noveau cuisine type servings which when you are hungry, doesnt do it...good food, small portions, nice if you are dieting but if you want hearty, this isnt the place...would i go back..yes, if i wanted just a "little something" ...pricy..dinner for the two of us was 65 which seemed lot of money for what we ate...good service, friendly people but i have had better in phila restaurant scene...seth and barbara koch

Enjoyed the food, service and ambience of this well run restaurant. Helpful wait staff made for a good dinner. It was BYO which made for a much less expensive meal.

Read a lot of enthusiastic reviews, and I'm just not buying. The meal was average, at best, probably only saved by decent appetizer and good dessert. Overcooked pasta w underseasoned ragu, and uninspired chicken. Maybe they were actually good once, but it seems the moment has passed.

Went to Melograno on the recommendation of my foodie brother who lives in Center City. He frequents all of the fantastic restaurants in town and really knows the Philly food scene. As usual he was spot-on with this recommendation. The food, service and atmosphere we perfect for a nice mid-week dinner. Everything we had was really well prepared and delicious. Stand out dishes we tried were the squid ink risotto, boar ragu, and the octopus appetizer. This restaurant, like many in Philly, is a BYOB. One of the really great things about Philly is that BYOBs rely on great food to draw in customers and you save considerable cash by bringing your own alcohol.

Awesome food. If only the took reservations!!!

Have not eaten at their new location yet.

We have been dining at Melograno before its current location and have not been back to Sansom St in about a year. This is a good restaurant and very much worth a try, although I admit that we did not find it to be as good as it was on previous visits. The front of the house is very accomodating and keeps its cool even on crazy Saturday nights - the noise level is very loud when this restaurant is full - and the service is attentive and professional. We had a party of 5 and started with the antipasto, meatballs, polenta, calamari (not fried, thank you!!) and prosciutto. At $18 the antipasto is the most expensive, most appetizers are in the $10-12 range, but was fairly priced. Every was good, but nothing stood out for us as a "I have to get this again" type of offering. We shared 3 pastas as a middle course. One, with a thicker, wider tube pasta in a tomato sauce was completely blan to all of us and our least favorite. Another had delicious wider ribbon type pasta that tasted homemade in a mushroom pesto sauce - some of us thought it had a seafood taste while others tasted the woodsy essence of the mushrooms. The hit of the evening, which has been consistent over all of the years we have dined here, is the wild boar ragu - a MUST try, it is delicious. Most pastas range $18-20. Two of us had the risotto, and we had salmon, halibut and a smoked pork chop. The latter was a thick cut that was tough unless sliced in half, but we appreciated the light smokey flavor that augmented the cut, rather than overwhelmed it - you tasted pork with a hint of smoke rather than vice versa. The balance of the meals, although good and enjoyable, didn't leave us with any strong desire to reorder them. Most entrees ran $20-30. Desserts were cleaned to the china so kudos to the dessert chefs. We had the creme brule, tiramisu, and ricotta pudding. They were perfect ways to end the evening. This is a BYOB (bring your own bottle/wine) so you can save a lot of money on your bar costs. We congratuate the restaurant for holding its prices without excessive mark-up to make up for the lack of liquour sales. We found the prices to be reasonable for the quality and portion of the food. So again, this is a restaurant to try and for us, the difference is the last times we dined here we were talking about our next reservation and this time we were not, although we know we will be back to try it again.

Liked the BYOB opportunity to bring our own wine. We were brought here by friends who had been here many times. We shared 3 appetizers. We ordered the smoked tuna tartare with canelini beans and sundried tomato. Is was off the chart spicy and the tuna was dried out. We told our server he should warn customers about the spice level. He shrugged . The mussels were good . We had the roasted beat, Arugala salad with green beans and smoked mozzarella. It was good but there were only a couple of tiny strands of cheese. Pasta with meat sauce good as was the fish of the day

I wish that I could give this a zero rating. This restaurant is the worst. The food is bad, and the waiters are super rude and incompetent. I went recently, the waiter forgot all of our order, and forgot my drink order so that I had to ask for it twice. When I gave him a 12% tip, he had the nerve to confront me in front of my entire party about the service. When I told him I wasn't changing the tip, he swore at me in Italian. Food was very mediocre. I called back later to let the manager know, and to my complete lack of surprise, no one would address the issue. Will never be back again, and will make sure to tell everyone I know not to go there either.

There are not really that many good restaurants in Philadelphia. My sister and I had wonderful appetizers and main courses. They make their pasta like the old country, thin and light. I should know, being married to an Italian and having visited that country more than once. The only down side is it is a BYOB. I would suggest reservations. Luckily with just the two of us on the early end of the dinner hour, we were able to be seated.

The food was excellent. My companion and I started with the meatballs and a small meat and cheese plate. Both were good. I normally prefer butter to oil on bread but I have to say I really liked the dipping oil served with the bread. For entrees we had the Lamb Shank, which was very tender, and the Wild mushroom and truffle oil pasta. We finished off the meal with the trio of gelato. The gelato was dense and flavorful. The food was excellent the service very good. It was very loud so not great for a romantic dinner. My only other complaint, which is common in most BYOBs is that the wine glasses are awful. Overall a delicious dinner and I would have given it 5 stars if not for the noise level.

Visited on a Friday night before a show. We split a pasta as an appetizer - the pappardelle with wild boar ragu which was very tasty. Then I had the quail with olives and tomatoes and a swiss chard risotto, all of which were delicious. The chard risotto sounded very different but was a delicious complement and very creamy. My husband had the roasted lamb which was perfectly cooked and very tender. The service was attentive and they made sure we were out of there in time for the show. The atmosphere is very spare and simple but the food is adventurous and of excellent quality.Definitely would go back.

With restaurants currently restricted to only carryout and delivery, we ordered carryout from Melograno. The choices include virtually all of the dine in options that I can recall from prior visits. The salads, a shared pasta course and the pork chops all traveled well. Thank you to Melograno management for providing this option in current conditions.

This is the perfect place for dinner with friends/family or a date night. Food is good, everyone will find a favorite. Ask about the daily specials. It's BYOB. There is parking in the area but much easier to walk or Uber. Dress is casual.

The newspaper's food critic was right to recoommend this small and cozy BYOB near Rittenhouse Square. We had a 5pm reservation on a Sunday and there were already folks seated when we arrive a touch after 5pm. As our meal went on, the place was filled to capacity. And it's easy to see why. Our waiter was friendly, patient and helpful. He answered our questions, waited for us as we talked and looked over the menu and brought us more of that DELICIOUS bread. The service was prompt and our food was served hot. We had three appetizers for the table but the one I'll rave about here is the fried mozzerella. You have to start with that. My meal was just like a pasta dish I had in Montalcino, Italy. Pasta with pecorino and pepper. That's it. So simple, so fresh, so amazing. It was heaven. I finished my plate, as did the others in my party. And, we made room for dessert! It's always great to have a wonderful meal without the wine tab. Mangia!

Friendly staff. Posh setting. Clean main space. Great atmosphere. Bring your own wine. The food was great! Wasn’t sure if the restroom was wet from cleaning or dirty but I wouldn’t set my purse on the floor.

This is a nice restaurant with great authentic Italian food and good service. It is a BYOB. Definitely will go back to this one.

Had a business dinner and the reservations were messed up (our fault, not theirs). Even so, they accommodated us and made what could have been a problem into a positive encounter. The food is excellent. Location is mid-block among bars and shops, and close to Rittenhouse Square.

Food here is very good and the wait staff competent warm and professional. Plus it's a BYO so the value is excellent. We enjoyed our meat and cheese charcuterie platter and a tangy arugula salad to start. We also ordered the meatballs but I wasn't that impressed. The flavor wasn't bad, but the texture was a bit hard/rubbery so I can't recommend them, though they were served in a good marinara. Other item standouts were the Regene pinsa (margherita pizza), the pappardelle with mushrooms and the bistecca served with parmesan fries. Desserts were good and we enjoyed the bread pudding and their warm chocolate lava cake with vanilla gelato. Melograno could easily have gotten 5 stars from me, but the noise level at our meal was almost unbearable. This is a great family friendly restaurant that is perfect for larger groups (6+) and serves solid Italian fare. But there is no baffling of any kind, so even with the restaurant half full, it was still noisy at the beginning of our early reservation and ear splitting by the time we left.

New to Philadelphia and BYO dining, we arrived at Melograno not realizing that BYO doesn't mean "okay to bring your own" vs. "MUST bring your own". ACK! Obviously, this has happened before and the maître d' good-humoredly sent us off into the dark night to a good source about two blocks away, and we returned with several excellent bottles from which to choose. No problem, and an interesting experience for us. The food was excellent. We had a terrific octopus starter course and followed that with an unusual shrimp and fennel risotto as well as the most superbly flavored buccatini alla amatriciana I've ever had. Every single aspect of the food and service was flawless, and I'm not that easily impressed. Interesting interior--a little hip and industrial with an open kitchen. Noisy but sometimes that makes you feel more alive. It did here. Recommended!

We visited restaurant on the recommendation of someone who had been here. We found the service excellent, the atmosphere lovely and the food delicious! Every one of our party of four loved their dinner. The desserts were awesome as well. We loved that we could bring our own wine!

The pumpkin ravioli dish was excellent.

It is very popular, and the tables quickly filled and then it was so noisy, it was difficult to have a conversation at the table. The BYOB option is nice for many. The staff is very friendly and efficient. We found the menu to be very interesting. Most things were very good, but some were less so than expected. The wild boar pasta was the best. Second to that was the lamb osso buco. Octopus is a favorite of mine. If lightly grilled and not overly cooked, it is tender and wonderful. This was red as if boiled and was rubbery (overcooked in my book). The breaded and fried sardines on a salad were a bit more fishy tasting than I like, but this was cut by the vinegared onion salad on which they were served (there were other things like small tomatoes and pickles, but mostly it tasted like onion). The steak was perfectly cooked, but way over salted for my palate. If I return I would not get the latter three things again nor recommend them.

Went on a busy weeknight. Servic food excellent and food very good with the exception of a somewhat overcooked porkchop. Regardless, I can certainly recommend it.

Food is hit or miss. Service was mediocre. The restaurant was nearly empty on a Wed night at 7p - that was a sign. I visited with a group of friends. We shared our dishes, so I got to sample quite a bit. The appetizers were .... not appetizers. They were more like lunch portion entrees (too large and not sharable). Pasta course was a bit of a disaster. The best option was just average. The worst - the orecchiette special - was so bad as to be inedible. Service was too informal/unprofessional. We should have left when we saw how empty the place was. In a city full of incredible food options, this one seriously misses the mark.

Went on a Friday evening and had a wonderful time. Restaurant is loud and hectic, but food is fresh and tasty. I had the pasta special and pasta was fresh and tasty. Pasta Entries were between 12 and 18. Reasonable for a city like Philly. Restaurant is BYOB, which makes it reasonable. Will definitely return.

We were one of the last tables sat at 9:30pm. It was very busy in there and very noisy. We were trying to celebrate an early Valentine's, but we had to scream at each other just to be able to hear each other. I was right under an air vent too and it felt like they had the air conditioning on. I felt like I needed to wear my coat through dinner. The food was good. My husband and I both got pasta and we could tell it was fresh and homemade. I had the pappardelle with mushrooms and truffle oil. I could smell the truffle oil, but was disappointed because I couldn't taste most of it. My husband got the wild boar, which was amazing.

This is one of my favorite spots—grab a bottle of wine and enjoy the food. The salads were fragrantly fresh, the pasta was impeccable and the crepe brûlée superb. The only thing that can be improved is the bread was stale and the olive oil was almost clear—it should be tinted green!

I have eaten here several times and the food is always excellent. The service is good, but the dishes came out slow and the restaurant is loud. The calamari puntaresco was at a nice spice level, tender, and complimented nicely with olives and seasoning. The boar ragu was delicious and savory, hitting the spot for a cold winter night.

Yes, Melograno is a bit noisy. Yes, it is somwhat crowded as earlier reviews have mentioned, but the food is amazing and I have always found the service to be excellent. My latest (second) experience confirmed what I found on my first visit a year or so ago - this is an excellent restaurant. My wife, son and I had dinner there this evening and all had different, and excellent, dishes. The noise level goes up as the restaurant fills up, but that is to be expected, and does not really detract from the overall experience. We've been to several BYOB's in the Philly area and this is one of the best. It's common that the seating is close and the noise level is "energetic" but so what? - the food is what matters and it does not disappoint. I will happily go again - and again! Highly receommended!

I'm stretching a little to give this place an average review. It's really below average if you compare it to many of the great restaurants in Philly. My wife returned her soup because it was bland. My app was good, the Calamari Inximimo, but my daughter's salad was also bland. My Salmon entree didn't have even a hint of the citris smoke claimed on the menu and the puree it rested on was bland. My wife's scallop entree came with 3 scallops and two fatty pieces of pork belly that were too tough to cut. The atmosphere seems cold and univiting but the service was great. All in all not a great experience. I would not return.

Melograno, Italian for pomegranate tree, is a fine byob that is located right in the heart of Philadelphia. It's my husband's and my "go to" place because both the food and the service are always good. I love the coteletta alla senese, a pounded and sauteed chicken breast topped with arugula, prosciutto, sliced tomato and mozzarella, and my husband always orders the pasta of the day. Franlkly, I like it better on weekdays when there's always a table and it is somewhat less noisy. The Sunday dinner for $35 is a steal. So, let the noise waft over you and enjoy the food. I've never eaten anything there that I didn't like very much.

After dropping off our teens at a concert, we walked to Melograno's for a Thursday night dinner. We had reservations, which was good because they were busy (possibly holiday parties?) Nice space - a little noisy. Food was tasty but I felt a bit overpriced, particulary for the prices. The menu is not traditional Italian but more rustic - was different for a change, but not something I would do often. Loved the fact that its BYOB. Service was good. Not disappointed but given the choice, I would probably try someplace else.

Great food, great atmosphere. I would have to try it at least once more before giving it five stars.

My husband and I returned to Melograno for the third time, although the first time in the new location. We were very pleased that we only had to wait about 20 minutes for a table late Saturday night. We enjoyed the excellent mussel appetizer and roasted vegetable salad. The fresh mozzarella was amazing! Our entrees were also delicious - we both ordered homemade pasta, one with clams and the other in a spicy red sauce with olives, shrimp and scallops. At this point, we were very pleased with the service and the food. However, our waitress appeared to experience a computer problem, and we saw her bending over the computer for about 20 minutes while we sat with our empty plates and wine glasses... I planned to order dessert, but we finally asked someone else to get her so that we could have our check and just leave! Not at all a stellar way to end the night! We went across the street the the gelato place, and had delicous pistacho and mocha flavors. Nevertheless, we likely will be back to Melograno. The food is a great deal & we love byob'ing!.

We came here on a Saturday evening since it had been a while since our last visit. We were greeted warmly and given our choice of tables. Amanda was our server. She couldn’t be more nice and helpful. We had an arugula salad plus a melanzana pinsa to start. The salad was excellent with fresh arugula and Parmesan and prosciutto. Not salty at all. The pizza was delicious with lots of cheese and thinly sliced fried eggplant and red sauce. Very large portion (we had plenty to bring home for the next day). For entrees: my husband had a special consisting of large rigatoni with eggplant and swordfish. He loved it. I had my usual pasta with wild mushroom and walnut sauce. It was delicious as always. Can’t wait to come back. It’s a BYOB too!

We have always wanted to try this restaurant and took advantage of restaurant week to do so. Food was very good, authentic Italian but I think I would have been disappointed if we paid full price. Pizza Margerhita, meatballs and octopus were our starters. Pizza was a nice size but meatballs and octopus portions were a little small. Lamb chop was excellent, boar ragu and spare ribs were delicious but spare rib portion was also small. Again, for restaurant week prices we had an excellent meal Service was very good except we had to ask for bread which we wanted so we could dip it in the starter sauces.

Three of us went here for restaurant week and had a great time. Started with three small pieces of pizza that were quite good. Bread was fresh, and served with very good olive oil and was replenished without having to ask. They serve water in a large carafe that is kept filled. Appetizers were the arugula salad and meatballs that were both excellent. Dinners were salmon on cous cous with raisins, lamb shank, and ribs. All were excellent. Desserts were superb: Tiramisu and pana cotta. Service was outstanding but not obtrusive. Only downside was the noise level, which can get loud.

one of my favorite places to eat. with all of the great places to dine in philadelphia, i find myself returning to melograno regularly. consistently good food, great atmosphere. it is always crowded thursday through friday -- and there are no reservations. but it is worth the wait, imho