Valanni Reviews

We arrived on a Friday night, without a reservation, which wasn't a problem and were lucky enough to score an outdoor table for two. This was fortunate because I think it would have been a bit too noisy inside for us (due to my industrial deafness) to be able to enjoy some conversation. Tapas style dining with some entree (main size) meals, including paella, available for those with big appetites! Our waiter suggested 2 -3 tapas dishes per person, which based on a previous meal/similar price/style in Washington, we went for 3 each. This was way too much - we should have started with 2 and then ordered more if required. Not that this was really an issue, as we were able to enjoy the leftovers picnic style for lunch the next day. We enjoyed all the dishes we had, but the standouts were the brussels sprout salad, grilled octopus and spicy potatoes. Staff were friendly and knowledgeable, providing efficient service.

This trendy share plate (Australian for tapas style ) restaurant has Spanish style food, funky trendy atmosphere, low light , ambient not too loud music with eclectic food and that hard to find attentive but not overbearing service Food sometimes in my unimportant opinion off the mark but obviously not in others But many awesome dishes and I would mos def return ....tomorrow if I could

Valanni has to be one of the best brunch places in town. My friends had the Crab Benedict which came with huge lumps of crabmeat. I had the Lobster Benedict which was a decedent bacon waffle, that's right, with maple syrup as the base, then a good amount of poached buttered lobster, then the poached eggs and hollandaise on top. An outstanding dish for only $17! The other offerings were also quite interesting too.

Good food, good drinks, good atmosphere . What else do you want? Even thought it seems unsuitable for kids we went with my two year old and the two months old!!!! Sons and the people were amazing with that!! My son tasted each plate and loved it too!!!

Our party of 4 went for Restaurant Week. My husband ,son and (first meet)girlfriend. We got there early thinking we could take advantage of happy hour but the bar was full! We left quickly and went to Time(Right down the street) which I would highly recommend for pregame. Live Jazz duo(Michael Bubley style). OK.. I regressed .. back to Valanni. When we returned they were running 15 minutes behind. No problem... we sat at bar:) We were seated in 15.. RESTUARANT WEEK MENU.. We were extremely happy with the food. Apps we loved... mussels in white sauce, chicken empanadas & brie. Entrees ... Airline Chicken ,Crusted Porcini Scallops and the Filets which were 5$ more. Honestly... the best filet my husband and I have ever eaten.. on a bed of asparagus , baby onions & mushrooms in a balsamic reduction that I feel made the meal Dessert Oreo Beignet...coffe and cocoa pot de crème... pressed coffee. .Amazing Meal! Atmosphere was good. Backround music was appropriate for client population... (not my taste). It did not detract from the experience. Can't wait to go again!

Went here with some work colleagues and ordered a variety of tapas - none of which disappointed. Very cozy atmosphere, great service, and a fantastic fusion of flavors. My only complaint was that the portions in several cases were a bit on the small side. However, don't let this stop you from visiting as the prices are reasonable.

We've been here many times and had a double birthday dinner with 5 in our party and everything was awesome! The food was amazing and our server was outstanding! We will always remember that evening, thank you Valanni

I went to Valanni with a friend for dinner when in Philadelphia for a conference in November. I had the lamb burger which was extremely flavorful, and the portion size was pretty good. Also enjoyed the Boston Bibb salad. My only complaint was that my glass of wine was served in a glass that was covered in dust and lint. The service was excellent as they replaced the glass of wine immediately in a clean glass. Their explanation was that it was due to the lint from the towel that they use to dry the wine glasses.

I found this restaurant through my search in Open table for something different. Once we finished our dinner, I will say I'm sooooooooo very glad I picked this restaurant!! The surroundings, the people, the atmosphere, all FABULOUS. We had 2 drinks a piece and were so happy with our choices.. Their drink menu is huge and delish, incl wine selections!! The food/tapas menu is also gigantic and has so many things you would never think to try.. We both despise brussel sprouts, our entire lives, but after eating them there, I would totally chow down on some again, as long as they are cooked as their chefs made them!!! Loved the whole vibe of this place and it's always busy, so make sure to make a reservation!!! It's in the heart of Gayborhood and loved everything about it!!! Check my pics for yourself! Apps were devine and our meals were HEAVENLY!!!! OMG we left there stuffed, tipsy and extremely happy!!! We will DEFINITELY be back again!!!!

Ate here on a Saturday night. The outdoor seating is very close to the street, but it wasn't too noisy so it was good. The food was delicious. We got 5 small plates of Tapas....and all except the lamb sausage one were delicious. The lamb tasted somewhat gamey. The Kobe burger was delicious and large enough to share, but the dessertsto die for, especially the oreo one!

My ideal meal provides the opportunity to enjoy many differing flavors. Valanni is a great place to do just that! My friend and I asked our waitress which items other guests had especially liked. Based on her responses and our preferences we ordered the Caprese Flatbread, Figs in Blankets, Spicy Pulled Chicken Empanadas, Crispy Brussel Sprouts and Crispy Shitake Polenta. Everything was more than good, but the Figs in Blankets were outstanding! They are little rolls of applewood-smoked bacon, blue cheese, ripe figs and marcona almonds. They melt in your mouth! The service was perfect, food arrived quickly and the setting was contemporary but comfortable! We were able to leave for the theater on time without rushing. We will return to explore more of the chef's creations!

Pretty good food but sometimes the wait times are a bit long, but I still come because the food is decent. There are some other places nearby that offer decent food as well.

Vilanni is a great choice for a meal before or after a show on Broad Street. I went during restaurant week so the menu was more limited than normal and I must go back to try a variety of small plates because there tapas menu is outstanding. We started by sharing our appetizers. One was assortment of spreads with a toasted pita. The red pepper sprayed with excellent and had great texture to it. The hummus with very good. The third was not the typical Greek spread but much more of a feta cheese and it was fantastic. We also have the baked brie which came in a small bowl and had cranberries and other things mixed in with it and it was extremely tasty served with toast points. My entree was the yellowfin tuna which is made with a decided Asian flair and serve with bok choy. My guest and the meat and seafood paella which was more of a tomato-based than the traditional saffron but was spicy and quite tasty with a good selection of seafood. For dessert I had white chocolate and cranberry bread pudding which was also very good. The quality of the food was consistently excellent and service was very good as well. The decor is very modern and hip and it is easy to see that it can get very crowded at times. It definitely will be added to my list of restaurants to eat at when I see a show at the Academy of Music.

Valanni is a stylish restaurant in the gayborhood that features both large and small plates, mostly Spanish tapas, and their own signature drinks. My friend and I had the tuna tartare, which was excellent, the marinated olives and feta which I loved, the chicken empanadas, and best of all, the fried brussel sprouts. I have never even tried a brussel sprout, these are fried with olive oil and tossed with granny smith apples and nuts - absolutely heavenly. So good, in fact, that I looked on the web for the recipe and made them at home! I loved it, definitely plan on going back.

Absolutely loved this place! Hit it up for happy hour--great drink specials--highly recommend the lavender infused margarita! The food is great--I ordered the special on the recommendation of our waiter--pan seared sole...must try the lobster macaroni and cheese! it is excellent. Not one complaint--fantastic service.

We stopped in after the Philly Auto Show (it's not that far of a walk) & had an amazing meals (paella will give you leftovers) & great cocktails (go Dirty N Stuffed). Our server Brian was the best & we enjoyed everything about our evening there.

We stopped in here recently without a reservation and were quickly seated -- they have a lot more seating in the back than meets the eye from the street. The selection of tapas was extensive and good -- one surprising favorite was a grilled brussel sprout concoction with nuts, soy sauce that we reordered it was so tasty. This place is popular with neighborhood locals and serves an extensive drink menu, including caipirinhas, mojitos and the ubiquitous fru-fru martinis. All in all, I thought the food was at least on a par with other local spots such as Amis and Barbuzzo, but at a considerable $ discount.

We ordered several tapas -- too many, in fact, but how wonderful to have some to enjoy the next day! The service was great, the atmosphere was relaxed and funky, and the food was simply delicious. Everything we tried was excellent. Go as soon as you can, and then go back again. Enjoy!

I cannot comment on the food since we never got to order/taste it. We called beforehand out of courtesy to change the reservation from 4 to 2 people. When we arrived we were warmly greeted by one hostess but then another ordered her away and took us to a squished spot between other diners. We were to sit on tiny ottoman stools at a small table. This would be fine for a cocktail lounge but certainly not for a 90 minute dinner. The hostess even finished my request for me by "I need a…back" (she finished) and walked us around front and back again to what she called a booth. It was a curved bench with a tiny table and a small stool where my husband was to sit. We pulled the table over to the edge so he wouldn't need to sit touching another diner and where I would have a flat bench rather than the curved bump out. Before a server arrived, the hostess was back again to tell us we needed to put the table back because a party of 6 was arriving in 20 minutes and we'd be in the way. She had no other solution and informed us that all the other (empty) tables were reserved. I mentioned that we also had reservations and she told us she was doing her best to accommodate me. She did volunteer to get a manager but we declined - if this was her best, we'd just leave. We walked a few blocks to Strangelove's where they welcomed us and when our food overtook our small table, they pulled another one next to us without blinking an eye. What a difference it makes when diners feel welcome.

Awesome food. Chris and Steve made us feel at home. Butter lobster and waffle eggs Benedict... Amazing. Oh, did I mention the lobster?

We always try a new restaurant during restaurant week in Philly, and this yeR we are glad we tried Valanni. The menu was great and the three people in our party each did a different 3 course so we could try as many items as possible. The appetizers were fabulous - white mussels, fried goat cheese, and baked Brie. For entrees we ordered the tilapia, paella and a rigatoni special. Each one was interesting, delicious, well prepared and presented. For dessert we had rum banana, chocolate mousse and the Oreo beignet, which might be my favorite dessert of all time. We ate outside which was lovely! The service was terrific - from the hostess to the bartender to our waitress, even the bus staff!

Best tapas we had: lamb gyros, lobster & shrimp flatbread, brussel sprouts w/apples, quail special. All were amazing! Also tried Chicken empanadas & spanikopita which tasted like something you could get out of the frozen section of your grocery store - nothing special. Had a polenta/tomato/shrimp tapas too and I'm not a fan of polenta but it was the best polenta I've ever had. Don't skip dessert! Pot de creme was not as described but was the best chocolate mousse ever! Oreo dessert was also heavenly, who can't resist an oreo essentially deep fried in a donut topped with more oreos and ice cream? Bartender & hostess were great, waitress was fake and left a lot to be desired. Overall the food was really good! 7 tapas/2 desserts for 3.

I debated giving this restaurant a 2-star rating, but it wasn't a total disappointment - dessert was good. I'll start by saying that I have high expectations. And, that doesn't mean that I only eat at high-end restaurants. I love dive bars, mom-and-pop diners, etc. As long as the food and service are good, I couldn't care less about the type of restaurant. This is a tapas style bar, which I normally love - great small plate to share means more dishes you can sample. We ordered the Mezze board (tzatziki sauce was amazing, calamari excellent, everything else was okay), scallops, octopus, empanadas, red mussels and the grilled shrimp caesar salad. Nothing was spectacular. Food was mediocre. Scallops were cold, mussels were gritty, salad was drenched in dressing, empanadas were doughy, etc. I loved the location of the restaurant, and we did sit by an open window and we're able to look out at a fun street festival. In hindsight, we should have gone to the festival. :) After dinner we ordered coffee (decent but cold), and the bread pudding - that was fantastic. The service on the other hand was annoying. We were there for a business diner, and we were approached every 10-15 minutes. I understand being attentive but this was a bit intrusive. We definitely felt rushed and didn't like all of the interruptions. I would suggest that you select somewhere else to eat.

What a DISAPPOINTMENT!! Chose this because the online menu promised something for everyone in our group . Unfortunately the restaurant menu offered very few of the entree’s shown online. Several people in our group were clearly upset-how embarrassing for I had made the reservation. I asked the waiter who said this had been their menu for several weeks. Someone in our party is gluten free and there were no gluten free options besides foods that are naturally gluten free. Be careful...

The quality of tapas at Valanni was incredible - the best by far we have ever had. The decor and environment were very warm and welcoming, yet energizing. The only thing keeping me from rating this restaurant a "5" was the service, which was mediocre. The waiter was not familiar with the bar options and menu and didn't quite know how to do his job - though he was very nice.

Restaurant week could be the reason for small (tapa size) portions?! The food however was great. Service...ehhhh... never once asked how everything was! Never asked if we wanted coffee just brought the check. Not sure if I will return! So many other awesome restaurants in this city!

The good, the ambiance is quite good and obviously geared to a young clientele. Service is friendly and relatively fast. The hit and miss. several things, first of all sticky tables, no salt pepper or condiments of any kind and when asked for they were either empty of in those penny containers for mass food service venues. The food was really patchy. The Huevos rancheros were bland to the point of being sent back. No flavor and just badly made. The Fontina and mushroom omelet instead was pretty good albeit accompanied by 1/2 lb of roasted potatoes which is really unnecessary for a brunch if ever. Prices are OK for brunch so if they improve it will be OK.

We had a lot of fun at Valanni. There was 7 of us in the group so we ordered many tapas which we shared and then several deserts which we also shared. To drink some of us ordered the sangria which we considered excellent. They did not add sugar which made it Perfect!

The menu is mostly tapas and small plates. Even though the restaurant website describes itself as having Mediterranean and latin food, I thought the menu covered a wide variety of choices and flavors. I tried the spicy chicken empanadas, the grilled romaine salad, and the crispy brussel sprouts - all of these were really good. I also tried the saganaki, which wasn't so great. The drinks were mediocre, and the service was good.

In December, I met a friend at Valanni for brunch. He ordered an omelet (requested that it be prepared well done), and I ordered a spicy pulled chicken wrap (requested no cheese). The restaurant was not overly crowded, so we expected that our food would be out of the kitchen within 10-15 minutes. After waiting almost 30 minutes, our food arrived. My friend's omelet was not cooked to his preference and was served luke warm, almost cold. He described it as if it had been sitting for fifteen minutes under a heat lamp. My warp had cheese on it. We both sent back our plates. About 10 minutes later, the waiter told us that the pulled chicken was pre-prepared with cheese, so there was no way it could be served without cheese. I found it frustrating that this was unknown when I ordered, but further annoyed that when the order went back to the kitchen, no one could notify me. So, I had to order another meal. In the meantime, my friend's new omelet was served, and he had no choice but to eat it - otherwise it would have been cold. My hamburger took about 20 minutes to come out, so my friend had finished eating and had to watch me eat. A restaurant like Valanni should be able to better coordinate service. In response to having been served unsatisfactory meals, Valanni provided us a mini dessert, which we were not particularly seeking. No discount was provided for their mistake or the additional time it took for them to correct he mistake. Bottom line, if I am paying city prices then the food and service has to be superb. Unfortunately, this was not the case. We had such a disappointing experience, we will not be going back.

Dinner with friends 5:30 pm reservation Only one other table with customers Waited and waited. When we asked the waiter for menus he said someone would be with us soon Waited some more and then same waiter returned to fill water glasses. Waited Same waiter returned with menus. Had to flag him down for dessert order. Food was fantastic bur service ruined the experience.

Food, atmosphere- amazing - absolutely loved it. Our waiter...he may have been a patron that occasionally stopped by and seemed really annoyed to have to bring us stuff.

Knowing nothing about restaurants in Philadelphia, and being there on Valentines Day, our concierge managed to get us a table at a restaurant near enough to our hotel that we could walk. From the minute we arrived- it was wonderful, even tucked into a tiny corner in the back. (We were last minute reservations, after all) The intimate space was filled with couples happily enjoying the chef's special tasting dinner. I had a mache salad with goat cheese followed by oysters. My main meal was an amazing organic veal chop smothered in mushrooms with truffled gnocci over a bed of asparagus and my desert was a raspberry tart. And I sipped a lovely glass of Rioja. It was a fabulous meal. I hope your mouth was watering. It was as good as it sounds. Every meal I saw at nearby tables looked equally wonderful. And everyone was finishing every bite. I needed about half of what I got. But that did not stop me. I probably could have licked my plate. It was that yummy. If you get a chance go eat at Valanni's. They will definitely take good care of you and you will feel hip and cool as they do. Enjoy the experience. It is worth every penny.

If the wait-staff was 25% as talented as the kitchen, you'd have a winner. Replacing the manager would be a good start as he seemed incapable of helping matters.

My husband and I came to Valanni's for dinner. I started with the x-boyfriend cocktail and really enjoyed it. We started with the mezze plate to share- it was a lot of food for the two of us but we really enjoyed everything it had to offer. For dinner my husband got the carne paella and I ordered the porcini crusted scallops. We had no idea how large the paella would be- my husband took most of it home for leftovers. My scallops were cooked perfectly and the garlic mashed potatoes were divine. I would definitely recommend Valanni's!

Very disappointed! My margarita was 2 oz lime juice & 1 large ice cube - ripoff! Prices here are outrageous for such small portions. There are many other places with better food, normal 6-8 oz margaritas & regular tapas size portions for tapas. Look elsewhere !!!

My husband and I had one of our first dates at Valanni 7 years ago. We brought my niece and her boyfriend who were visiting from Florida. Her friends from NJ met us at the Phillies game and we ate at Valanni after the game. Great neighborhood, nice decor and patio. Tapas style plates so you can share plus full size entrees. We ordered the Taste menu... lobster mac & cheese, 2 kinds of steamed mussels, Kobe beef sliders, scallops wrapped in bacon, and grilled baby lamb chops. We also had the eggplant flatbread. Everything was excellent. Our server Matt was impeccable! We will definitely return.

Walking in center city with a friend, looking for a restaurant we happened upon Valanni. The service was great. The atmosphere very trendy. The drinks were perfect. The food exceptional. My scallops were picturesque and very tasty. However, the Chicken Saltimboca, my friend ordered looked better. It was.

Great consistency here, food and service always at the top , definitely worth trying this place . The burger was perfectly cooked , the scallops were fresh!

Wonderful atmosphere, service was excellent. Seafood paella was delicious . Figs in a blanket were very good. Definitely order dessert.... Bananas with rum or raspberry cheesecake. A great dinner near the Kimmel Center.

My husband and I had brunch at Valanni this past Sunday. It was tasty, but not a highlight of my visit to Philadelphia. Valanni's version of a Bloody Mary, the Bloody Valanni, had a good flavor, but was a bit watery. I had the poached eggs with crab and horseradish cream sauce. The eggs were perfectly poached and there was a good amount of lump crab meat. However, the horseradish cream sauce was very thin and watery, pooling on the bottom of the plate. My husband's reported being very satisfied with his selection, the breakfast burrito, which he described as solid and filling. In all, the meal gave us the fuel we needing for our day of touring the city, but was nothing special. Service was attentive, but on the aloof side. The entire atmosphere and overall attitude seemed just a little too hip and trendy for my taste.

I visited this center city establishment for Sunday Brunch on Labor day weekend. The vibe is urban chic meaning slick, austere ambience punctuated by shrill, 100+ decible laughter from groups of 20+ year old females on their first day out of boarding school. inquired of the waiter about the noise level. He said, "It's usually louder." We were handed menus listing bottom less Mimosas or bloody Marys for $25. We ordered but were told that there was a mistake. I relented not wanting to fight on the Lord's day. The menu has a cajun sensibility, including cheesy grits. I ordered the omelette with butter poached shrimp, lobster and Boursin cheese, $13. The Eggs Benedict was also $13. How can that be? My omelette was rather dry and the shrimp were hard. :-( I finally found 3 cents worth of lobster. :-( There was a single blob of Boursin cheese in the middle of the omelette. :-( The omelette was accompanied with fried potatos and onions. The onions were yummy and slightly sweet. :-) Of note, the house has several single malt Scotches if you are interested. The desserts were interesting on paper, but I restrained myself. My partner had a kind of Eggs Benedict with crab meat and horseradish sauce, $13. The sauce was mild and tasty. He was pleased.

Enjoyed the tapas style dining experience. Different from the normal tapas type dishes all well prepared and presented and very helpful staff.

Valanni sure sounds Italian but the food is an eclectic mix of Italian, Spanish, Greek, and other delicious stuff. The service was great and the decor comfortible. I had three of the tapas and it was plenty of food. The grilled merguez was a delightful blend of lamb sausage in peppers. I got the crispy chickpeas & chorizo because I like chorizo so much but the actually crispy bowl of chickpeas was a complete surprise how good it was. I must say, however, as pleased as I was with those dishes, the hands down hit was the polenta. Crispy on the outside, soft & delicious on the inside. Served with shrimp and feta. Fantastic! I like martinis and asked Scott for a recommendation. I had not heard of a "My Ex Boyfriend" martini he recommended so I ordered one. Big mistake. Now I know what I'm missing. It was great. I did a quick google and could not find a recipe that remotely matched it. He warned me it was a local concoction. I am sure I will now wander the eath looking for another one knowing I will have to go back to Philadelphia and Valanni's to get one.

If you are looking for a happy hour/pre-performance venue with interesting, tasty food and tremendous value, all in a good modern vibe and not too noisy setting, you should give Valanni a try. We requested a corner table, a little distance from the hub-bub around the bar. Generous drinks (nice wine pour) were followed by six tapas selections, five of which we both thought were excellent (inspired to make the bacon figs at home the next day). They comped me a dessert in honor of my upcoming birthday.The oft-mentioned Laura in these reviews was our server and did a very nice job, assisted by bussers who kept the smallish table clear enough to enjoy. I cannot comment on a full dinner experience, nor would I be as optimistic about an experience when the place is prime-time crowded, but for a great happy hour, weekday, urban, near Broad Street experience, Valanni is excellent value.

The food is done small plates (Tapas) order at leats 4 for a couple to share, forget the big entrees. The salads are great! so was the calamari. Very small restaurant..make reservation. quiet, great service

I love Valanni. They have interesting takes on traditional foods, the ambience is young and hip, the staff is super attentive. This is one of my favorite restaurants in Philly.

We booked our reservation on OpenTable, which we use quite frequently and have never had a problem. The confirmation was sent to my husband's phone as well as my own cell phone. Upon arrival, after paying to park, we enetered to an empty hostess stand and an extremely busy restauarant. When the hostess finally arrived, we gave her our name and she looked at her computer screen for a few minutes, confused. I proceeded to spell my name for her in case she didn't understand my pronunciation. She still could not find my reservation. I took out my cell phone to show her my confirmation and her response was "Oh, you used OpenTable, yea that don't always go through". Well, dear, we have a confirmation so do we have a reservation or not? She tried to seat us by the front door, where many people were congrugated waiting to be sat for reservations, and the door kelpt opening and closing. My husband told her he didn't feel comfortable eating dinner there, and she told us the other tables were "reserved". Well, we have a reservation, or maybe we don't. So instead of arguing with her and her empty tables waiting for their reservations, we simply left. I am extremely disappointed at the customer service at the front of the house and the lack of willingness to accomodate a customer and be made to feel as if we were in the wrong for showing up for a reservation we clearly made. To top it all off, we get an email from Valanni at 10:47 while we are out enjoying our dinner somewhere else that they "cancelled" our reservation.....Funny, your hostess could't even seem to find it.....total lack of professionalism.....doesn't even deserve one star

The lamb sliders were incredible... the chicken saltimbocca not so much. My husband enjoyed his paella but the mussels as a starter were so-so. The oreo beignet was delicious as was the dirty martini. This is definitely a cozy seating, noisy restaurant with a lively bar scene. The seating is not that of your typical restaurant (small tables where you sat side-by-side or leather back less seats were mostly what we saw). We were a little bummed they were only offering the restaurant week menu as there were some other dishes we were interested in, but that happens often during restaurant week we have found. The value with the restaurant week pricing was good though. Not sure we would make an effort to return, but it was an enjoyable evening with good food and drinks.

We had a Fantastic meal here with a 12 person group. Our server, Laura, was great. Very friendly, helpful and great service. The three course meal we had featured three very flavorful and well-prepared dishes. The tuna was a highlight and the soup was also great. Fun bar area with a modern Italian vibe. Not traditional Italian, but more of a modern mediterranean menu. Great bar area and cool funky lighting make this place a fun, hip and flavorful option. Lively atmosphere makes it fun and hip for groups. 5/5.

Stopped in for drink with friends and was a struggle to get a served to help us. Finally went to bar ..annoyed. Food looks great. Will try again bc the outside seating is inviting. Just hope for servers who are willing to do their job.

Valanni has been around for years, but they continue to impress me every time I am there. I feel like I walk into a chic, upscale nightclub-y vibe (without the heavy bass) when I walk inside. Their menu screams "SUR" which is a restaurant with a similar theme on the west coast (Google it). Their portions are always just enough to leave you full, and the service is great. This place is not just for date night, but is GREAT for large parties, as they have a private room in the back (pre fixed menus are available). I've also been there for drinks socially during their later hours (10PM-Close), and they draw in a really well dressed crowd and play hip, minimal techno music sometimes. I would almost call this place somewhat romantic, as the low lights really set the mood! 'Till next time!

This is a very lively, trendy, Tapas place in old Philly. My wife and I stopped in on a Saturday in November, and had a great time. We sat at the bar and had three Tapas(small plates). The grilled romaine was spectacular, as was the polenta and shrimp, and the white mussels with chorizo. Bar service was entertaining. We will be back again.

I'm sure the food is great but I will never be returning to find out. I came with a group of 7 for brunch on Sunday. We ordered a round of mimosas(25 for a bottle) and a pitcher of bloody marys. After we put our food order in, we asked for another bottle of champagne. The waiter came back to tell us that there was none left and the manager said we can get the next level up for $55. We asked to speak to the manager thinking he should work with us since this was their fault. The manager (Michael) came over and said there was nothing he could do - if we wanted mimosas, we would have to pay for the $55 bottle as this was "not a menu item". We picked this place based on the mimosa and bloody mary deal clearly visible ON THE MENU. He then walked away midconversation which really was the icing on the cake for me. He came back and started laughing about it and said we were demanding things from him and acting as if we were his boss. He compared the scenario to running out of bacon and said "no one gives discounts for that type of thing". Well I sure as hell wouldn't pay the price of lobster when I was expecting bacon. Michael also sarcasticly offered the option of running to the liquor store to get us a cheap bottle of champagne. We paid for the first round of drinks and decided to leave (without our food) as the manager Michael said "go ahead, complain about me. It won't affect my job". This is by far the worst customer service experience I have ever had. Not only did he not want to discount/work with us for something that was their fault, but also was extremely rude during the entire conversation. The hostess and waiter Reese were awesome - I would have stayed if it was not for the way the manager treated us. Do not go here - if you read the other reviews, it seems this is a common occurance with the manager, Michael. He should not work in customer service.

Had reservations for an early dinner, (wouldn't have needed them, as the restaurant was empty at 4:30 on a Sunday afternoon), prior to seeing a show at the Forrest Theatre. Server was friendly & helpful with the tapas menu. My daughter and I ordered 4 different plates & shared them: fried goat cheese, calamari, brussel sprouts & lamb cheesesteak sliders. All were excellent! A neighboring table had the seafood paella, which was huge & smelled wonderful! Will definitely try that on our next visit. It is a bit on the pricey side, as are many of the restaurants in the city, but the food was high quality. We didn't order drinks, which helped to keep our bill at $40.

I find it hard to believe that so many people have rated this place highly. My experience was awful. We had a 7:30pm reservation for Saturday night. I happened to have a broken foot at the time so standing around for long periods of time or in crowds is difficult. Unfortunately our table was 'not ready' when we arrived. We had to wait over 30 min for it to be ready. There is no real waiting area at this restaurant except outside on the street. Fortunately (in spite of the bad weather recently) it was a mild night so we could stand outside and not be too cold. When we asked again about our table at 8pm the hostess seemed annoyed, which was not a great way to be treated when WE were not the ones who were late! We were finally seated at a table close to an open wall (it had large windows that were open on this particular evening). I mentioned to our waitress that this would be too cold for me. Like I said, it was mild out that night, but NOT by any means, open window season in my opinion. So we were moved to another table but had to sit side by side (my sister and I). The table was very small and we ordered a bunch of tapas plates, so it was hard to find any space to put them on the table AND eat. We ordered the aroncini, calamari, heirloom salad, flatbread and empanadas. Where to begin...they were all fairly horrible with the exception of the arroncini, which were tasty but bathed in too much cream sauce like most of the dishes. The empanadas were dry and hard, the chicken inside them totally dry and flavorless. The heirloom tomato salad looked bizarre when it turned up we didn't even know what it was. They put a basil 'ice cream' on top of it. BUt in this case, the mozzarella and tomatoes were stack in a small bowl with this ice cream on top and so much of it that you couldn't find the mozzarella at the bottom. It made it all very mushy and unappetizing. The flatbread had chorizo which tasted like a cheap variety (I've traveled a lot in Spain and have had all qualities of chorizo. This was not a good one) and had some sort of green cream sauce slathered all over it. The calamari were neither crispy nor tasty. Again, loaded with a cream sauce. At one point we ordered a second round of drinks and it took almost 30 min. The waitress said 'sorry, but the bar is very busy'. Even the interior of the restaurant was horribly outdated like something from the early 80's that once upon a time was hip.

Great place for pre-concert/theater dinner. There is a 3 course pre-fixe as well as an extensive tapas selection. The craft cocktails are well delicious and the service has always been efficient and the servers personable. The mezze board is a standout. We come her often and frequently recommend it to friends. The noise level is quite high so come earlier if you want a quieter dinner.

They have good coffee, mimosas, their toasted brioche is yummy and their omelette is delicious too. Nice service as well

This well established eatery generally has a respectable reputation in the city. However, if one goes for a nice dinner with friends, the experience is quite unrewarding. As we settled into our seats, we realized the noise level was quite high - a combination of hard-surfaced décor and thumping club music! We mentioned this to our waitperson (she agreed w/ our observation) and spoke with management. The volume was lowered

I dined at Valanni after catching a matinee last weekend. We decided to take advantage of restaurant week and since Valanni was close by and open for dinner early on a Sunday, we opted to give it a try. The restaurant is very boutique chic but not too over the top. Great cocktail options for Sunday afternoon sipping! The restaurant week menu was huge with several choices. The spicy chicken empanadas were very good with just right the amount of spice. I had a scallop and crab dish for an entree which was excellent. Our waiter was friendly and offered suggestions. He was attentive without being on top of us. The food was brought out at the right pace so we didn't feel rushed. Overall a great experience.

4 circles (what are those things called) for efficiency of service, sophisticated ambiance and location so close to Kimmel and Broad Street attractions. Tapas offerings variable in taste and presentation but generous of portion if you're looking for a pre-show bite. Noisy hang-out for attractive, millennial Martini mashers.

The experience was just okay. The area we were sitting in, there were two spills (because of how tight the sitting space was) there also seem to be a. Issue this night with food being delivered to the wrong table (observed three times) the crispy salmon was very tasty! Even though sitting close to others, this worked in that the people were extremely friendly (they were even sharing food) I will say that we checked out the yelp review on The Paella.. glad we did not order, as the two tablets next to us did and shared with us the lack of taste...

Went here for Philadelphia restaurant week. Very large menu for this which is kind of unusual. Food, atmosphere & service all great. Place is much bigger than it looks outside. Mediterranean style cuisine but something for everyone. Just a couple blocks off Broad street so plenty of parking close. This is a most do if your in the city.

Went for light sharings before theater day after mega snow storm. Not disappointed. Baked brie very tasty. Crispy brussel sprouts were just that with slight tang. Wrapped figs fun to share. Paired with nice white wine. Good service! Friendly staff on a winter's night. Large restaurant week menu with many choices. Sophisticated decor & not too noisy!

We had a show at the nearby Verizon Hall later that evening. Service was fast, the food was tasty and there was a special show menu, although we opted for options from the regular menu, which was just as fast. The Mezze board is huge and a meal by itself, and very tasty. Both the Airline Chicken as well as the Kobe Burger were also very good. There was also a decent choice of beer, although not a huge list. What we did not enjoy was the atmosphere. It was noisy, even though it was not particularly crowded when we were there. Between the noise created from other guests and the loud music, inappropriate for a restaurant, it was hard to have a conversation.

Joined by friends for a first-time visit to this venue. The menu had a great variety of small plates and entree's. Everyone enjoyed their meals. The mussels were wonderful! The lobster and crab mac and cheese was decadent. All the tapas were very tasty. Would definitely come back here again.

I've been here a few times since my last review. Valanni is conveniently located near the KImmel Center so it makes for a good pre-performance dining spot. I'd suggest going for small plate sharing here, don't oreder anything overly fussy. The chicken empanadas were good, as was the cheese board and the brussel sprouts. I thought the bread on the cheesesteak sliders was a little stale and the taste unremarkable. Our vegetarian paella was filling and warm; but not exactly what you'd call great. Flavors were a bit muddy. The pork chop special of the day was dry and overcooked. Only 3 dessert choices with the bread pudding being large enough for 2 to share. Nothing spectacular but a nice sugar rush for the end of your meal. Coffee was very good. No espresso available. Stick to the basics here and you can get a good meal. With light alcohol conumption, figure $50-60 per person. Service was fine, I would've liked if they had cleaned the table between courses, it makes for a more pleasant dining experience.

Went here for some post race brunch on a horribly dreary day. Valanni was the perfect cure. Ordered the Monte Christo. I'm being dead serious, it was the best Monte Christo I have ever had in my life. Outstanding. As my table mates threw down enough Irish Coffee to kill a horse, this sandwich had me intoxicated for different reasons. If I had to find anything wrong with this place, we were seated next to a large and quite noisy group, but that's hardly anyone's fault. Will def be back!

Food is average, service is great. Seating configuration could be better. What else to say?(had to type more to meet 100 min char).

Three of us decided to try Valanni for the first time as a result of an appetizing looking menu. It was fairly quiet when we arrived at 6:40, but within minutes it was deafening as a large, loud party was seated just behind us. Ordered calamari, Kobe sliders, Lamb sliders, chicken and mushrooms over creamy polenta. First two dishes were very disappointing as the fried calamari were not crisp and the Kobe beef sliders tasted nothing of the sort, tasted worse than a regular hamburger. Lamb sliders went down easy accompanied by fries with feta. The chicken entree was tasty and evidently too rich to finish, as there was food left on the plate. Service was very good, prices about average but it won't be our first choice to visit again, even though it is conveniently located close to the Kimmel Center.

First of all, I have to say that Philly has the most amazing restaurants. Valanni being one of them. I love you yelp for making it so easy to find these restaurants that are off the beaten path. My buddy and I walked about a mile from our hotel to dine at Valanni. It was totally worth the trek (coming from California - we don't walk much or at least I don't). Anyway, we had the whole nine yards here, drinks, apps, entree, but skipped dessert since we were SO pleasantly stuffed. Drinks: Coconut Mojito - AMAZEBALLLLS. Made with real coconut milk; the drink is not overly sweet, and has just the right amound of kick ;) EX-BF Martini, Brazilian Pop, Boys Gone Wild - all were so tasty! Apps: Lobster Mac & Cheese - Big chunks of lobster and delicious Mac & Cheese!! (I don't usually like M&C, but this was freakin amazing!) Please get it and thank me later. Grilled shrimp & Goat Cheese Flatbread - another hit. Loved the delicious flavors and light and crispy flatbread. Entree: Seafood Paella - MUST GET. The portions are HUGE and the they don't skimp on the seafood. There's plenty of lobster, squid, mussels, clams, shrimp, and fish to feed a small army. Service was impeccable. We never waited for anything. Our server, Nate was on top of everything, super friendly and really attentive. Best believe I'll be coming back here on my next trip to Philadelphia.

I took my wife and daughter here on a Saturday night and while as sme have reported it is noisy but the service and food easily make up for it. The bar never stopped concocting a vast number of drinks which was exciting to watch. The service was excellent starting the wine to the desert. The tapas was wonderful especially the fried goat cheese and the lamb sliders which I had not expected to find here but I am glad I did. I will go back again to try the paella and you should make a date with someone who enjoys good food and lively conversation.

The bar staff is outstanding and the atmosphere is eclectic, but the hostess that saw my sober wife trip up a high step and slam her forearm into the door frame didn't express concern or offer help. Minutes later a male friend of ours, also sober, tripped up the same step. Put up a sign warning people of the high step or someone will sue over an injury.

Philadelphia was buzzzzing Saturday night, as the weather was perfect and Pride Fest was in town, bringing both the locals and visitors to all parts of the city. We haven't been to Valanni for a number of months, so it was time to revisit one of our favorites. The large front windows were open, allowing for a slight summer night breeze, and the tables were filled with visitiors of all ages. We had a reservation and were seated quickly. Our server was polite and professional and the food was excellent. We ordered the Chicken Empanadas, which came lightly fried and plump with flavor from the inside - out. We also ordered the Lobster Seafood Flatbread, which was certainly something to write home about. The beer selection was fine and the evening out was perfect. Philly is loaded with great restaurants, and Valanni's is just one of them.

Very loud. Slow apathetic service. I had the pasta special, which was overcooked and lacking in any flavor but salt. Took a long time to get our drinks even though the restaurant was not full and we did not order craft cocktails. Wine, Grey Goose on the rocks. On a positive note, my husband had a wonderful hamburger. Being an expert on hamburgers, he pronounced it one of the best he's had. We won't be back.

The decor and seating in this restaurant is a little different. It reminded me of a club from the 1940's with curved booth seating and hassocks. The staff were very helpful. The menu is tapas for the most part which lets you have the chance to try a lot of new foods. The food was really good. I did have the beef kabob and didn't like it that much. However the brussel sprouts were incredible. The polenta was also really good. There were lots of things we didn't try, so we'll have to go back:)

We dined at Valanni's for the first time with friends. A cozy restaurant with a modern flair, it was instantly welcoming, with small tables for two up front and larger tables by the bar in the back. They also offered outdoor seating which Im sure was great for people watching. Valannis is a tapas restaurant, which I think is an excellent way to go for trying a new eatery for the first time. The menu had something for everyone. The beef kabobs were excellent as was the brussel sprouts dish. The shrimp scampi was not traditionally prepared with olive oil and garlic, but made with a somewhat spicy, Mexican flavored sauce. It was a nice change and we enjoyed it very much. The sampler platter offered a wide variety of food, but the fresh hummus was by far the best! The beer and wine list was quite extensive for such a small restaurant, which was fantastic. I would definitely recommend this restaurant and look forward to enjoying another meal with them in the near future.

The food and drinks were absolutely amazing!!! They had a great gluten free selection and our waiter was great to work with. Went for my boyfriends birthday, but will definitely be back!!!

Great tapas dinner for all. It was fun to share many items...not finding any we didn't like. One person in our group had the hamburger and that was great too. I was there for a birthday after a show and the wait staff gave the birypthday person a special dessert and candle. Lovely experience, quiet setting given the time of day, so that was a bonus too.

Six of us had dinner there before the Kimmel. The area in front is not attractive, there were no tablecloths, and it is quite noisy. That said, the rest was excellent. There is a variety of small and regular plates, The food was delicious and innovative. My wife said that her lobster salad was outstanding. All had a salad or one or two small tapas, followed by splitting the large vegetarian paella, which was huge. Service was attentive and pleasant.

Although Valanni seems to be popular with young patrons, the stark black & white - dare I say - trendy décor that tries too hard, along w/ the too loud rock music, is not my style. But the service is cordial & food generally good. An interesting omelet is featured for Sunday brunch & so far I've enjoyed a delicious brie/pear combo; but a shrimp with Canadian bacon omelet, arrived without the bacon & was overpowered by a boatload of shrimp. The side salad was smothered in too much dressing & four razor thin slices of French bread were extra (Give me a break!). Yet a hamburger chosen by one of our friends was thick & juicy & served w/ an interesting relish & a mountain of crispy fries. Still there are lots of more attractive restaurants in the neighborhood with equally good, if not better & less expensive, food.

Was there on a Saturday night with 3 others. I asked for a Sazerac and was very pleasantly surprised that the bartender actually made a great one. Hard to get in Philly but nice when you do. When I asked him the reason behind it, he said that this is one of his favorites to drink personally. I will be back for this drink for sure. Others I was with had martinis and were equally happy with their drinks. We ordered a bunch of apps and main courses per persona. Some of the apps were good some were average. Overall I can't say anything stood out. For example The Foie gras was cooked very nicely, but the flat bread, with duck, it came on was on the bland side. My main course was the duck and it too lacked seasoning and flavor. However, I tried a scallop from the scallop dish and they were cooked very nicely also. Also, that nights oysters were very good. Nice atmosphere, great drinks and kitchen could up it up a notch or two.

I decided to try Valanni for my birthday dinner back in January, which happened to fall the Saturday of Restaurant week. Since Restaurant week doesn't include that Saturday, I wasn't expecting the restaurant week menu, but they were doing the restaurant week menu that night. At first I was disappointed, but I got over that very quickly since everything was so good! We started off with the crispy shitake polenta and the lamb sausage. The crispy shitake polenta was amazingly good but the lamb sausage was just ok. I would definitely get the polenta again but try something else besides the lamb sausage. For our main course I got the lobster and crab mac and cheese and my husband got the seafood paella. I have to say that lobster mac and cheese is my favorite food of all time and I try it at every restaurant we go to that has it, and the rave reviews of their lobster mac and cheese was the reason I picked Valanni for my birthday dinner. They lived up to the rave reviews and then some! Valanni's lobster mac and cheese is now my favorite lobster mac and cheese that I've ever had, and I WILL be going back to have it again. I tried a bite of my husband's paella and that was also excellent. He also tried a bite of my lobster mac and cheese and liked it so much that he decided to order a 2nd order of it since I wouldn't share more than a bite. ;-) I did manage to fit several bites of the 2nd order in despite being very full, lol. I was however, way too full for dessert and only managed to try a bite or two of the delicious bread pudding that came for dessert. My husband however ate every bite of his oreo beignet and said it was excellent. We also ordered drinks (although I don't remember which ones) and they were also very good. Overall it was everything I could have wanted in a birthday dinner!

Valanni is my go-to place for brunch before the show... The best Bloody Marys, Lobster Eggs Benedict is to-die-for, great service, trendy neighborhood crowd, what more could you ask for? Oh, yes, for the friend who is a finicky eater, requested an off-menu omelette, and the chef and manager couldn't have been more gracious!!!

prices are always high and food is overly salted. The service is always pleasant. We were last there for brunch and the pancakes were served drenched in syrup. Some people don't like syrup!

Impromptu booking for about 16 folks over Army Navy weekend. Food was great, staff was attentive and able to accommodate us with a smile. Turned out perfectly and would go back in a heartbeat.

We dropped in there for a meal before an event at the nearby Kimmel Center. They were welcoming from the minute we entered and the service was excellent. The food was quite close to what you would get in Spain and it came in large portions. Prices were very good. Will surely visit it again!

We arrived before 7--and the restaurant was near capacity by the time we left around 8:30. Our waiter, Ryan, was professional, informative, and blessed with a sense of humor. His recommendations proved to be perfection--from the white mussel appetizer (our favorite dish of the night) to the meat and seafood paella and rare Kobe beef hamburger. Dessert was perfect, too: bananas in rum with vanilla ice cream and a chocolate/coffee pot de creme. Food and service were delightful; we'd go back in a heartbeat.

Valanni is always a great time! Whether it’s brunch or dinner, the food is excellent. After dinner Friday, we were pleasantly surprised with a fun drag show. The cocktails were delicious, and the service was excellent. Awesome spot!

The menu had a lot of interesting dishes and I was happy I could order a few small plates and try some different flavors. My server was helpful and attentive and I felt comfortable lingering over my meal as there were no crowds at the early hour that I dined. The bar area was pretty active and they boasted a large variety on their drinks menu. The overall atmosphere was friendly and comfortable.

Liked the atmosphere, kind of modern but with an older clientele and more quiet. Loved the antipasti platter, but it also had a diverse menu. Our bartender, Stephanie, was very friendly and helpful. Gave us some great recommendations for things to do in Philly.

I went with friends. We shared food - all three salads (grilled romaine, butter lettuce, and shaved asparagus) were quite good. The rest of the tapas was fine but nothing special. The ambience is odd - part 1990s nightclub, and for goodness sake could they put backs on the chairs for a little comfort?

Went for Restaurant Week at Valanni. Not only is it centrally located, but it is a great dinner choice if you're willing to splurge. The portions are small in size but big on flavor. Very nice ambiance and a great bar too! "Ex boyfriend" cocktails are pretty & tasty. The seasonal sangria with watermelon is yummy. All of the desserts are good options! We had the empanadas, paella, scallops, and red mussels. Everything was awesome! Service was good, too. We'll be back!

Nice, lounge type atmosphere at Valanni. Good place to be able to have a conversation with people when you're out for drinks.

Randomly yelped this in Philly on the way back from spruce street harbor park. We really had a wonderful meal and our waiter was great. Even had a off menu chocolate martini for dessert. Would go back. Would highly recommend.

Enjoyable dining experience with a group of 8 friends on a Thursday night. We were greeted warmly and seated promptly. The restaurant was tastefully decorated in a sleek,modern decor. The restaurant looked small, but it was not crowded on this night. We actually had a dining room in the back all to ourselves. The service was very good. Everyone enjoyed their tapas, meal and drinks. I had the pan-seared airline chicken served over israeli cous cous and haricot vert in a lemon-caper white wine sauce. It was delicious. The menu was moderately priced. I would definitely go back.

My wife and I only went in for drinks and sat at the bar. The atmosphere was great, the service very friendly and we had cocktails made to our preferences.

Went here for a group dinner after having a great time on New Year's Eve there a year prior. It's in a great location with a trendy and lively atmosphere. We had done a little research ahead of time and saw the head chef was John Strain. We saw a clip online of him cooking Brussels sprouts on NBC news. We made reservations and were seated immediately upon arrival. Our waiter was fantastic and gave great drink recommendations based on our likes. For example, one of the ladies at our table asked about Moscato wine. They didn't have any but the waiter knew it was a sweeter wine and recommended the Brazilian Pop cocktail, which she really enjoyed. I tried a little of the Boys Gone Wild that someone got and found the balsamic flavor surprisingly good with the cocktail. My wife and I were trying to decide on tapas, but thankfully our waiter suggested the chef's tasting. We were a little unsure about the choice, but it sounded good (tapas of duck & foie gras, filet mignon, scallop, yellowfin tuna). We had also started with the chorizo flatbread and calamari, which were both excellent. The spicy sauce on the calamari was fantastic. Our chef's tasting arrived and was presented very nicely on a large plate with 4 separate divisions. We were all chatting at the table when I had my first bite of the duck. The taste was so incredible that I immediately stopped and closed my eyes. One of my friends asked me if I was okay. My wife tried the scallop first and was equally impressed. We nearly abandoned conversation with our friends while eating, enjoying every single bite. By the end we couldn't stop talking about how great the meal was. We relayed to our waiter that it was likely the best meal we have ever had. A couple minute later, chef Strain himself made an appearance to extend his gratitude. We felt starstruck having just seen him on the NBC clip before coming. He was humble and congenial, further solidifying that this was a great restaurant. We've been to several restaurants in New York and Philadelphia. Our favorites in Phildelphia were Buddakan and Morimoto, but I think Valanni just took #1 for us. We also felt it was better than Vedge, Vetri, Blackfish, Fork, and, Parc...but of course the style is a little different at those places.

went with some colleagues for dinner. Trendy look - we were a table of 5 - 3 in booth, 2 on cushy stools. the tables were football shaped and small, especially for a small-plates restaurant. food was good, but expensive. we ordered the cheese plate (okay), grilled octopus (delicious), red mussels (okay), bacon wrapped scallops (delicious), cheesestak sliders (okay - expected better for phili), caprese flatbread (okay), crispy brussel sprouts (the best), phyllo wrapped feta (okay). with 8 drinks, our bill was about $400

I'd rate Valanni 3.5 stars if half-stars were available. The place certainly works if you are looking for an inexpensive dinner before a performance. There are major caveats, though. We - my wife, our 15yr old son and I - stopped by for a dinner on our way to Kimmel. Our ever-hungry teen had a filet mignon, we shared a Mediterranian tapas plate and the portobello pieces that came with his steak. The place markets itself as an Italian/Med/Tapas place. The Med/Tapas part falls flat. The hummus we were served was really below par. Empanadas were on par with the worst we had between Chile and Argentina last year. That still isn't too bad, but a downtown Philly restaurant ought to do better than a roadside shack off Puerto Montt. Calamari was nothing to write home about either - overcooked to a rubber tyre feel you'd expect at Olive Garden. A couple next to us had paella, and we could see the rice was cooked to a nice porridge consistency. This is NOT how you make paella. The wine list is fairly low-end. The Malbec we were served is a $7/bottle variety - okay, but not more than that. No espresso available - really? An Italian/Med place? Come on, guys, get a Turkish setup, it costs like $10. My son's steak, however, was very good, and our mini-kebabs were good, too. We liked the dessert. The check was very reasonable for three people, too. The beer list looked decent - if choosing between wine and beer, go with beer. The service was very good, this is why four stars and not three, I guess. All in all, we'd probably eat there again at some point, but we would be careful about what we order and we won't expect much. This is definitely NOT the place to experience tapas or real Med food; but if you are looking for an inexpensive non-exotic dinner before a concert, Valanni works well enough. If after reading all this you still want to go there, go for a beer with some tapas to chase down the beer. Definitely avoid hummus; if choosing between calamari and something else, choose something else. Or, do a standard Italian meal - steak, possibly fish (I'd stick with steak). Reservations essential - the place was packed by 6:30 on Saturday.

Enjoyable evening. A nice place to sit with friends and have a glass of wine.

...nicely attentive service...GREAT small plates (bacon wrapped scallops, beef kabobs, grilled romaine, tenderloins, and capped with Oreo beignet!) perfect post- show, or anything else, flow...will return when in town!

Valanni is one of those wonderful restaurants where you are guaranteed a perfect evening! The bar is excellent! The bartender is from heaven and knows exactly what you want even if you cannot explain what you drank once somewhere. The bar will accommodate you to a smiling and happy drink. Great bar service. We were ushered in by a waiter who informed that our waitress will be coming over shortly. We waited a while and finally a young woman introduced herself as our waitress and took our drink and food order. About 20/25 minutes later a busboy came and served us our drinks; we had ordered two scotches. I saw our waitress sitting at a table outside on the sidewalk chatting with some guests. Another 30 minutes went by and another busboy served us our meal. I asked the busboy if we could order some wine and he said he will ask our waitress to come by. When no one showed up, I got up and picked the wine list from a stack by the cash register. We decided what wine we would like and kept stopping different waiters or busboys for help and were told our waitress would stop by. We continued with our meal which was cooked to perfection! One of the best meals I have eaten in Philadelphia; my sincere compliments to the chef!! Our waitress was still very busy chatting with the same group and I believe either they were her regular customers or friends. We finished our meal without wine but we were lucky a busboy brought us water to drink. We asked a waiter if we could have our check and again we were told that our waitress would stop by. This time however, the waiter we spoke to went to our waitress and was quite sharp with her. Whatever he told her, she jumped up and came to our table and asked if the meal was okay and if we needed anything. I told her we needed our check as we had finished our meal almost 10 minutes earlier. The waitress apologized for not being there as her friends had stopped by for a meal and she was with them. I explained to her that if she wanted to chat with her friends while we waited, she could have made arrangements with another waiter to serve us. She seemed upset that I expected her to do her job! She asked if we would stay for coffee or anything else, I told her that I just wanted the check and to get out of the place as she did not care for her guests. She told me that she did care but her friends had come by and she couldn't get away. This is not a reflection of the restaurant as a whole but the reason for poor rating is simple. A service person represents the establishment for the owners. We are the guests of the owner who is expecting his staff to provide us with excellent service. The owner makes money when we return and tell our friends about the place who visit based on our comments. A tragedy! Terminate the waitress, tighten management and provide excellent service. Set an example for the other staff so that this does not happen again. Valanni is a restaurant I would visit a thousand times. It is one of the best places in Philly to relax and enjoy an evening. The food is magical and exquisite, the service is from hell.

excellent fare and variety, semi-foodie, but very broad selection and great tasting. Indoor and outdoor seating; outside was fun for people watching. ok wine selection. food preparation and flavors were very, very good. you'll like this place

OMG the brussels sprouts appetizer is to die for!!! I'm going back to have three orders of them for my dinner. The only way they could be better is if I was invited in the kitchen to watch the chef prepare them.

Really enjoyed tapas and paella. Food was tasty and well presented. Restaurant is very conveniently located to the arts on Broad Street and with good service we were are able to get to Kimmel Center for Philadelphia Orchestra well in time. Definitely will come again!

It is a very modern restaurant that serves Tapas. The waiter gave us advice with the menu, but we ordered too much. The Tapas in Europe are much smaller. Wines are not cheap.

We had a very early dinner (4:30) so were one of only two tables to be served on a Saturday. After ordering we were told they were out of one of their standard menu items (lamb steak), which was unfortunate because it sounded so good! The spicy chicken empanadas were very good, although not spicy - just savory. The lamb meatballs were in a nice sauce, but the meatballs were average. It took a 1/2 hour to get my soda since they were changing the CO2 cartridge. Food came out really quickly - I think we were done in 45 minutes!

The tapas are very good, and I enjoyed the seafood paella a lot. The ambience is pleasant, with the lighting and music create a very modern contemporary feel. The servers are knowledgeable and friendly. The offerings are extensive and creative; we had a hard time choosing, because so many of the items were appealing.

The hotel Alexander had recommended the Valanni for their martinis. They said they made the best martinis in town. We walked over to give it a try and ended up staying for dinner. The martinis were delicious and the staff was attentive but not over bearing. The waiter made some great suggestions for a large tapas plate to share which gave us a taste of a lot of the Greek dishes they had on the menu. We will definitely return next time we're in Philadelphia.

We had dinner at Valanni for the first time last night - like many others who have commented - because we couldn't get a reservation for a preferred restaurant. Wow...we couldn't be more thrilled with the way things worked out. This restaurant may very easily have become our favorite place to dine!! The food is amazing, the decor is fun and the service was fantastic. The drinks were well worth the price. The bartender had a much appreciated heavy pouring hand. This is a must stop for anyone looking for a great place to eat!!!

My wife and I went to this restaurant on a Saturday night because I was unable to get a reasonable reservation time for Amada on a Friday Night. I'm glad we wound up here. We arrived at 8:00pm as per our reservation and we were seated promptly. Despite it being pretty crowded we were even given the choice of outside or inside seating. We chose to sit outside. The wait staff was excellent and the menu included some really interesting choices. We had the figs in a blanket, bacon wrapped scallpos, asparagus flatbread, crab cakes, and spanakopita. For dessert we had the granny smith, white chocolate, cranberry and walnut bread pudding which was unbelievably good. We also had a pitcher of red Sangria. The meal cost about $100 (pre gratuity) and was well worth it. One of the best meals I have had in a long time. We really enjoyed everything about Valanni.

We visited Valanni before seeing a show at the Academy of Music. It was a great choice for a casual dinner. We shared a salad and 4 tapas plus 2 desserts. The drink menu is fun and interesting including cucumber martini, coconut mojito and Parisian mojito. Service was very good and the food was quite tasty! It's a nice setting and modern environment.

We asked for Tapas and they taste good, but the Paella, HORRIBLE, overcooked, burn, horrible. We told this to the waiter and received a : sorry.

The extenuating circumstance is that it was restaurant week, but the noise level was horrendous. The food was expensive and not too good --my husband had a definitely overcooked paella. The service ... what you expect from overworked young people. Apparently it is a good place for "happy hour" but you should skip the dinner, with so many better places around!

Made a reservation to dine at Valanni with an old friend who was visiting from out of town. We arrived about 10 minutes late for our reservation (our fault). The hostess located the reservation and there were several tables for two clearly open. However, she told us to go have a seat at the bar and she'd come find us when she had a table. There were no seats at the bar, so we stood. After about 15 minutes, and seeing 3-4 tables for two sitting empty the entire time, we went to check again and she looked us up all over again and then seated us at one of the tables that had been free when we arrived. Not sure if we were being consciously punished for being a little late, or whether the hostess was just really bad at her job. Once we were seated, we waited quite a long time for a waiter (to the point where we were joking about how much time had passed), but when he did come he was helpful enough. The food we ordered was very good, but 2 of the 4 hot dishes we ordered arrived not very hot. Overall, it was a disappointing experience for me because my previous visit there, about 8 months ago, had been exceptional. Feeling ambivalent about whether I'd choose to go again.

Our hotel front desk recommended this nearby restaurant as it was convenient and didn’t require a reservation. Excellent service and food. We were delighted and will be back!

Great martinis! Our server recommended that we share the vegetarian paella and we are so glad we did! So creamy! And do try the grilled Romaine salad--the best one we have ever had! A must do again restaurant!

Valanni is an exquisite place to eat and have drinks! They food is so flavorful and the gluten free options are superb! Will definitely return!

I've been to Valanni for drinks/happy hour before, but only recently had brunch there with family. The food was delicious and the champagne package was an extra treat! All five of us tried different dishes, and we all enjoyed every bite. The decor is very modern, and the staff is friendly. Will definitely return!

We chose Valanni off the web due to its local proximity to the theaters. The menu online offered tapas and we became hooked on Tapas at 18 global in Bethany Beach. Valanni is unusually decorated and very elegant. The tables are close but a comfortable distance from your neighbor. Several craft beers were on offer and the Bitter I chose was from Evolution and extremely smooth. Service was at a comfortable pace (sometimes Tapas can hit you all at once) and the server attentive and offered great advice on the menu. One of the specialties is crispy Brussel sprouts...sounds terrible but they were as suggested by the waiter ...SUPERB! all of the dishes were delectable and we were tempted into a bread pudding as a desert....WOW... We went to Valanni for the before show dinner ....we will be back for Valanni to be the main event. Just one word of advice ...if your eyesight isn't 20/20 ...take your readers as the light is low...

We attended a pre- business meeting here with a group of five. Seating was comfortable, wine selections excellent, and food selections to share plentiful and unique. At the end of the evening, we had more than enough food, and time for great conversation in a relaxed atmosphere. Wait staff was excellent. Will be back!

We had reservations and after taking rounds and rounds to find a parking, we managed to be there on time! they seated us near the door, which was to be honest not a comfortable cozy dine-in feeling, people walking outside could see us, people were frequently coming in and going out , so we pretty much felt the need to finish our food and get out. Initially our waiter was not so very good with the service, but as we were nearing to finish the dinner he was paying more attention, to which my friend commented "oh now they remembered about the tip"!! Food is ridiculously expensive for that quantity! we had dined at tapas kind find dining restaurants in Philly, compared to this place which offers tastier food, for a lesser price. The small plates here are small plates but for BIG price. food tasted fresh, but there wasn't much flavor. Over all , since it was an okay experience we paid a good amount in tip and left the restaurant. Not in the list of one of the go back again restaurant.

We came here for our friends bachelor party dinner. It was a Saturday night and weather was great so the city was packed. We didnt have a reservation and had to wait for a bit, maybe 30 min. They got us a table and we ordered all sorts appetizers. They were amazing! Their valanni roll is a must try and i am not a seafood /raw food eater but i tried it( cucumber, salmon, cream cheese and fish eggs).. it was amazing!! They also have flatbread pizzas, calamari, mussles, cheese platters, fries. Their drinks were great too. I a great time was had by all. Bill I pricy, but for 4 ppl and a special occiassion it was worth it!

Villani's opens itself up and presents a beautiful product every single time in every category a restaurant can hope for. The service is always extremely friendly and impeccable! Food is consistently creative and delicious! The hostesses always greet at the door with a smile. The atmosphere is comfortable, very modern, extremely clean, and Visually active. It is never too loud to hang out and not be able to have a conversation with the people near you.. There are several dining rooms and dining areas that you can choose to sit in and enjoy. Privacy is not an issue at all if you're looking for that. I have had many many things on the menu throughout many visits and will continue to come here over and over again. Sitting at the bar is always an active scene and the bartenders make sure to interact with you the entire time. So if you are alone or with a crowd, it is just a fun spot to sit! They do have outdoor seating as well and windows that completely open to the outside for the front view on to the street from an elevated seat area. It allows for a very awesome atmosphere and energy. Our items this evening included chickpea frites which were awesome and really inexpensive, a crab salad which was divinely prepared and presented , lobster and crab mac and cheese which was creamy, hot and perfect for the palate, joined by creative cocktails and awesome beers!

When we travel, we like to eat where the locals go, recommended by our hotel, this is a tapas restaurant, we had a variety of food, while eating outside. Good service, not over bearing. We would go back.

I've been here a couple of times for brunch and the food was very good. I had the boursin asparagus and spinach omelet served with roasted potatoes. The coffee was French roasted and robust. Another time I was here I had the lox and cream cheese on a bagel, also very good. My companions were satisfied with huevos rancheros, and a BLT Panini. The atmosphere is sleek, art deco-like. They have outdoor seating or open a very large window to bring the outdoors in.

Visit Valanni for both Happy Hour and dinner while on business. The Happy hour drinks were very, very good, the bartender knew his trade and they were $5 each. Apps were Spicy Pulled Chicken Empanadas and Fiery Potatoes, both very well made, especially the empanadas. Dinner was Kobe Cheesesteak Sliders (Ground lamb, feta cheese, chipotle ketchup, caramelized onions). I really enjoyed them, not too big abd very tasty. Watch down with red wine.

The scallop, crab, porcini dish was superb, as was the yellow fin tuna. Tapas dishes can be ordered as well.

The menu is heavy on tapas, with a couple of nice looking paella dishes and some entrees. We decided to go the tapas route, which is more fun and gives us the opportunity to try more things. Fried calamari: Outstanding. Pork belly sliders: Amazing. Fried goat cheese: Delicious. Roasted brussel sprouts: Wow. Potatoes were a bit boring but nicely cooked. The only disappointment was the steak kebob, which was tough. But we could have kept going on the small plates. This place is REALLY good so check it out. Great service from Jon also!!!

We came here after the theater, listed on open table, & I had a coupon from Open Table. They had a nice selection of tapas, small plates, but a bit pricey. Service was good

Three of us were first timers after matinee show at Academy Of Music. Great waiter and interesting menu. Lobster Mac and Cheese was great as advertised but also try the crispy brussel sprouts for a treat. Only the pulled chicken empanadas a bit disappointing because they were slightly tough from the frying. Kobe burger and salmon special also cooked just right and excellent for my less adventuresome guests but I recommend go for a tapas meal, experience the variety, and have more fun.

My wife, myself and our two teen boys ate here the other night. The tapas were excellent. Brussel sprouts as light as air and creamy croquettes among them. The paella was a little heavy, but still very good. My only complaint was that the seats had no backs to them, so you spent all your time leaning on the table.

Great service, love the ambiance. The food was delicious. Would go back again!! Really nice too if you are going to see a show near the Academy of Music.

Best little find in gayborhood. Delicious food and tapas.Cocktails were good. Get the dessert sampler for 25.00 its NOT a sampler! Its big enough for 3 of us to eat. NOTHING on the menu was not delicious!!

We stumbled upon Valanni while strolling around Philadelphia and decided to dine there after looking at the menu. Being towards the edge of the busy area, they did not have the lines for a table earlier in the evening. The waiter recommended 4-5 tapas for two people so we ordered an assortment of the entree tapas. All five of them were well presented and very tasty. Their menu has a good selection to choose from as well as paella enough for two and other plates. Since we were too full for desert, we returned to following evening for three more tapas and two of their deserts.

So, it was date night in the city! Cool venue, awesome decor that was hip and swanky. They sat us quickly, even though they had been slammed with a large group that set the night off on the wrong foot. The server (Laura) was lovely. Cute, apologetic, attentive. The meal however took quite a while. Hubby got tapas which were tasty (brie was phenomenal) and his flatbread pizza looked good. My main dish plate took a while to receive and ended up with hot spots in places and cold mashed potatoes on the base of the plate. Suggests it was microwaved. That's a tough one since it took over 45 minutes to get to me and it was only steak. I would have sent it back but we were trying to make it to a show (mentioned this to the server who gave us a small theater discount-NICE!). The tables were tight, so a couple in a corner leather booth (trendy and cool) were a bit rushed out as another couple was seated between us and them. Glasses were broken in the midst of trying to get one couple to leave, and one to sit. I felt them trying hard to make the night work which is why I would try it again. Upon leaving, I saw a dish on someone else table that looked fantastic! I would try again to see if I had a better experience based on the tapas. :-)

Cosy place! Wonderful Midderereanian Paella. Easy to share for 3-4 person. Highly recommend for friendly bussines dinner or just hand out with friends!

Valanni is a hip restaurant that serves delicious tapas and wonderful paella. The service was attentive and the food was delicious.

Always gotta recommend the burgers there as they have the best I've had so far (unless if they changed things since I've last been there and had one). The appetizers are decently portioned (enough to share a bit) and nothing bank breaking.

My wife and I have spent a lot of time in Spain and love the whole tapas concept. So when the man at our hotel (The Alexander) told us about Valanni, we were thrilled. It was right down the street from our hotel. Kind of minimalist modern decor. We were with two other friends and so we got several dishes and shared. I had grilled octopus and it was done to perfection. We also had a shrimp tapas and two dishes of mussels in red sauce that were wonderful. We shared a good bottle of Albarino and it was perfect with the meal. Service was nothing to write home about but was certainly not bad.

my girlfriend and i came here, after reading many reviews, before heading to the wilma to see balletx. the proximity of the restaurant to the theatre was perfect and one stop/shop parking with a nice little walk. we had reservations and were seated immediately. i had asked for a quiet, cozy corner as i’m hard of hearing and we were totally accommodated. the drinks (x-boyfriend!) were great and the food was delicious. we had fontina/sage polenta, the potatoes, empanadas, brussel sprouts and fried goat cheese and were very filled! we didn’t finish the potatoes as we desperately wanted the oreo beignet...that didn’t disappoint either! nice atmosphere and ambience. great service. will definitely go again!

My husband and I tried this restaurant for an anniversary dinner for the first time. We were pleasantly surprised. Food was great, the drinks did take a little longer than they should have but all in all the experience was a good one. The windows in the front are a nice touch, love that they were wide open on a nice night. We will absolutely visit again.

Went for restaurant week and had a delicious dinner with an extensive list to choose from. Will definitely be back

Great little bistro with well made tapas and drinks. Perfect for pre theater or evening meal. The diet mojitos hit the spot. We were in town for visiting museums but wish we had a restaurant like this in Florida.

Incredible food! It’s worth the extra money to go. The mez board was a hit excellent. The shrimp on flatbread was good but the lobster mac and cheese was absolutely ICREDIBLEEEEEEE. Get it if you like food at all. We were with a large party of 11 on a Friday night and service was prompt and polite. Excellent restaurant.

Excellent food and presentation of the food. Also- so many cocktails to choose from. We ate during restaurant week, so we got to try the best food for a much cheaper price!

Came here for a late brunch and couldn't decide on breakfast or lunch. Went with the chicken wrap and it was amazing. If you can handle more then one Bloody Mary get the pitcher because it's a great deal.

A one-sentence summary would be that this is a restaurant that offers fantastic food and fails to provide the level of service that should go along with the fine efforts of the chef. The menu offers a wide ranging choice of tapas style food as well as some main plates. The best way to describe the food is Greek-Spanish-Italian, as there is an intriguing mix of menu items and spice/styles to the dishes themselves. We arrived as a party of 4 couples and decided to order in sets of two, with some "cross-tasting" allowed. My wife and I tried the Swordfish Kabobs, Brussel Sprouts, Lamb Rack (only 2 to a plate - it's tapas!), spicy pulled chicken empanadas and some baked brie. They were all very tasty and perfectly cooked - my personal favorite was the swordfish. Two other couples ordered Paella - which was enough to feed half the table just by itself! So - high marks for the food. The problem was the service. It seemed our waiter was a part-time employee who worked in 10 minute bursts and then vanished for 20 minutes. Although he was friendly and knowledgeable about the menu, that wisdom is wasted if you rarely see him. We were actualy in a position where we wanted to order more food and couldn't find anyone willing to take the order. Bottom line - load up on patience and go try the food.

We wanted to find a restaurant prior to a show at the Kimmel Center and selected this one based on the online reviews and an interesting looking menu. There we four of us and we started with the Medi-Latin Plate, which was a wonderful sampler of of a bunch of various appetizers. Hint, the beef kabobs are amazing. We also had a plate of the bacon wrapped scallops and the crispy brussel sprouts, all incredible. For dinner two of us had the lamb burger, one the braised short rib bolognese and I had the crusted ahi tuna. Everything was simply amazing. We finished up by splitting one of the Oreo beignets (oh my) and the caramelized rum bananas. To be honest, we could do it all again. The service was perfect; our waiter was very helpful and checked on us just enough. I'm sure later on in the evening this can be a hot nightlife spot, but for a pre-theater dinner, it was perfect.

We went with friends for restaurant week. There were many menu choices, especially small plates. We all liked the variety and enjoyed our selections. Our waiter was a little overwhelmed (maybe new). The scallop dish was one of the best I've ever had, and the oreo desert was super yummy!

I spent a week in Philadelphia earlier this month and found the food at Valanni so good on my first visit that I returned for another meal. This is a great spot to dine with a couple of friends, so you can share a variety of the very tasty and well prepared tapas. My favorites included: "crispy chickpeas with chorizo", "crispy brussel sprouts" (with a delicious thin sauce), and the "grilled marguez" (lamb sausage with sauteed red and green peppers and onions).

We went during August's restaurant week and had a fantastic dinner. Awesome scene and atmosphere. Great drinks and the food was incredible, highly recommend the lobster & crab mac and cheese and the tilapia.

We went to Valanni for dinner and had a great time. The tapas were wonderful. I especially enjoyed the flatbreads. The only problem was that I wanted to eat one of everything on the menu but there is no way since portions are bigger than one often sees with small plates. Really loved this food and the place which was lively in a great way.

The tapas were very good, and the drinks were fine. Plenty of veggie selections; the Brussel sprouts rule. Service was a bit awkward but we got what we wanted, and fairly quickly. It's basically a large, bustling bar with food, and I don't know if it would be my first choice for a relaxed sit-down dinner, but if you want a quick drink and a bite, it's a good choice.

2nd visit to this bar. Great time minus the somewhat rude hostess. The bar staff and our waiter-AWESOME! The DJ too. I’m so glad my bestie and I decided to celebrate our birthday here! December 2nd was lit!

Valanni is a great location to grab a meal before or after a show. There's a small area to eat outside, or enjoy the cozy interior dining area. The small plates are great for sharing and the food is extremely good. We shared four plates, the hummus and grilled vegetable platter is very large served with freshly baked pita, grilled chicken kabobs with a lime vinaigrette, butter-poached shrimp flatbread, and crispy brussel sprouts. Every dish was tasty with fantastic flavor. Our server was really hustling, covering tables inside and out and yet they were still very attentive. Definitely would plan a return visit!

8 of us couples dined there last week. It was a fixed menu with good variety. At $35 pp, totally worth it. Drinks weren't cheap but they were pretty good. Wish there was a little more lighting but overall, we all enjoyed this place.

My husband and I had dinner on our way to the orchestra. We shared fried calamari done with sweet pepper mouth watering. For the main course we shared the paella best we ever had. It was Chuck full of seafood. I would highly recommend this restaurant. Can't wait to go back

We enjoyed everything we ordered. Many small plates. Everything cooked well and very tasty. We would certainly come back.

First I have got to praise the staff who were professional but very pleasant. It offers standard fare, Mac n cheese, burger at "fine dining" prices. So an ordinary, but tasty meal for 3 with no wine, but a couple of beers and a cocktail, was best part of $200. We had 2 starters; kabobs and lobster Mac n cheese, a burger, airline chicken and salmon. The food was great quality except the salmon, the skin wasn't crispy as promised and the mash had way too much garlic but the fish itself was excellent. Would recommend but not if you are on a budget

Fun atmosphere, delicious calamari, and truly one of the best cuts of beef I've ever had. I wasn't planning on getting an entree-sized meal--especially when seeing how terrific the tapas looked while sailing past our table--but I sure am glad I did. My only regret is not realizing that they offer several tasting menu options (despite those options being clearly indicated on the menu). Some may find the prices a bit steep for casual dining, but the extra $$ is worth it. Go ahead--indulge!

Valanni was a great surprise. We thought it was a bar, and it turned out to be a wonderful restaurant, which has a bar. The menu is rich and interesting - a real fusion of Mediterranean and Latin tastes. We opted for the tapas, and ordered 10 different kinds and a couple of salads, which was more than enough for 4 people. Everything we ordered was very tasty, although the chicken and vegetarian empanadas were a bit dry. The service was efficient and friendly. It's probably worth trying other menu items they have. Valanni is very close to the Avenue of the Arts, and a pre-show dinner is a good option. Recommended for a meal with friends or family, probably not for young children.

Had a great weekend in Philly and this was the place to have one last great meal! They don't start serving Sunday Brunch until 11:00, but we were there to open it, so we got the choice of tables and unrushed service. They serve French Pressed coffee, so that alone was a treat! (-No charge on the refill pot.) We had the Stuffed French toast, Poached eggs with crab and horseradish crème sauce and Lobster-eggs benedict, with no skimping on crab or lobster in the dishes. Everything was well prepared and served hot. Prices were fair for the quality and quantity served. Our waiter was great and I would definitely go back again when it town.

This place was great! We ordered the restaurant week menu and shared our tapas which were excellent . The mussels were fresh and not overly garlicky . The waitress suggested the Tuna entree which was out of this world. Three of us ordered it and we all cleaned our plates. Desserts were also to die for. I loved the Pot de Creme! I would love to go back and try the Paella!