Villa di Roma Reviews

I was visiting Philly briefly, a friend that used to live here recommended that I try the Villa di Roma. So glad he did! The food was amazing. I had the Chicken Bella Buca, house salad, pasta with their house sauce and a cannoli to go. Very good! I would recommend this restaurant. And will plan to go again the next time I'm in Philly.

Was looking for some Italian food since we were in the Italian Market area. We found this restaurant on Yelp. It was memorial weekend, Sunday. We didn't make reservations but the wait wasn't too bad. We didn't get to order too much food since it was only 2 of us. A nice variety on the menu, seems less formal than some of the other italian restaurants I'd been too-- very casual (was looking for pizza too but it's not on the menu). Definitely good choice (hit the spot), foods' ok & quick service. Need to work on the dessert menu. They only had 2 options that night.

This is a wonderful homespun Italian restaurant in the Italian Market district. The waitresses have been there forever, and there were several local families there. The food and wine were basic but delicious. I would go back there in a minute! We loved the meal and the experience.

If you know anything about fresh pasta, you’ll know this restaurant serves it up!! The fettuccine we ordered had prosciutto and spinach! It was delish...cooked to perfection!

I arrived very early so there were no crowds. Service was prompt and helpful - no issues there. Pasta had good texture and wasn't too watery. Meatballs were great. I loved the garlic bread though some might think it salty, but I loved it and wou ldc be back just for that. Not a fancy upscale place, but I don't prefer those type of places anyway. I will definitely come back to try other dishes and was happy with choosing this restaurant.

We visited Villa di Roma over the weekend and it was very good. Fried asparagus were a good appetizer. Had a mix of entrees. Mostly old school Italian classics such as meatballs and pasta. Sausage dishes were also good. Can't beat the location and atmosphere.

We arrived early for a weekday lunch and were greeted warmly. The restaurant and restrooms are sparkling clean. We shared an order of mussels in red sauce - very fresh! For entrees, we chose pasta with meatballs and pasta with sausage. The meatballs were heavenly: savory and light. The sausage was perfectly cooked with just a slight char. The red sauce is nicely piquant with a thick (not runny) consistency. What a tasty, fun meal!

This is our "go to" place for lunch when hitting the Italian Market. The fried asparagus is to die for !!! We have tried and tried to imitate the buttery sauce that it comes with but have failed. Can't wait to go back !

Thought I would give my family from out of town a taste of the Italian market, and they weren’t disappointed. Started with excellent clams casino and garlic bread, and moved to the veal Francese, the baked ziti with asparagus, and the veal Bella something........finished out with incredible tiramisu and a fantastic old fashioned cannoli...just slightly sweet ricotta with a hint of cinnamon....mmmm. Our waitress wanted to make sure we loved our food, and we did, and this mostly locals hang out was a very memorable dining experience.

So the food is great and if you don't get some meatballs, you are a fool. Don't want them for dinner, ok get them to go and have them for breakfast with your eggs, you can thank me later. Everyone there is truly a pleasure to have a conversation with. And please turn your phone off, dinner is for familes so talk to your family and not your phone (Dominic you are welcome for the PSA!)

We had a group of 20 for a birthday celebration and were given an upstairs room. Service was impeccable. The food was "to die for". Not only was is delicious - there was plenty. We were served "family style" and everyone was more than pleased. Leftovers were packaged and we all left with our bellies full. HIGHLY recommend this restaurant.

Forty years ago I ate my first meal at Villa Di Roma, and still make it back from time to time to have the best Italian food anywhere. It's right smack in the middle of Philadelphia's Italian market where you expect to see Rocky running down 9th St at any time. It was Saturday night before mother's day and the bar was full of guest waiting for tables. The bartenders were quick and very friendly considering the crowd. This restaurant patrons travel from varied distances to eat, so there is always interesting conversation at the bar. This make the waiting time go fast. Our waitress was Jeanie who is on the younger side for Villa wait staff. She did an excellent job and was very helpful in suggestions and had no problem making any changes to suit our request. We travel near and far but the best Italian food is just a few miles from home. Put Villa DI Roma on your list........

What a fantastic experience. Not fancy, just amazing Italian food in a comfortable atmosphere. I didn't want to leave.

Lovely visit, great staff. Drinks at the bar first, they were well made. At the table had an order of meatballs and an order of sausage- both excellent.It was a wonderful meal, will be back for sure. I had the fettuccine alfredo- so amazing! Still thinking about that meal! Take some meatballs and sauce home with you, they have it to go in a small fridge. You will be glad you did!!!

This is a classic South Philly Italian restaurant. The homemade pasta is delicious. The fried asparagus is a terrific appetizer. They do not take reservations so build in wait time. Also note that it is cash only.This type of restaurant is a dying breed with all of the upscale growth surrounding them but are an integral part to the authentic Philadelphia dining experience and charm. We will be back!

We finished our Philadelphia weekend trip stopping in on 9th Street at Fantes, Esposito's, Talluto's, DiBruno's and a late lunch at Villa di Roma since it's between Talluto's and Dibruno's. We had a terrific meal along with the some nice house Chianti. A wonderful finish to the trip. Parking can be tough but there's always the small pay lot right around the corner.

As a former resident of South Jersey, having now lived in Charlotte, NC, for years, this is the Philly restaurant I truly miss. We're talking local, local, Italian Market, neighborhood local; the food is FANTASTIC (chicken Sicilian my absolute favorite) the service is warm and engaging...."you need more bread sweetie?" The price is right, the carafe of house wine engaging, the food...O the food! And if you're there for lunch...then go walk the surrounding market.

30 MINS WAIT, EXTREMELY NOISY, HAD TO SCREAM TO BE HEARD. 30 MINS WAIT FOR ENTREE, ANOTHER 10 MINS WAIT FOR GARLIC BREAD..

If your in the mood for a home cooked meal but don’t feel like cooking. Villa di Roma is the answer!!! I had chicken Parmigiana (which I ate all of and did not share) hubby had Chicken Bella Bucca. I highly recommend this dish!! Prices are awesome & staff is friendly.

Awesome adventure. The staff was so very friendly and helpful, the atmosphere was classic Italian Market Philly, and the food delicious!

Casual old school Italian Restaurant with great food and vintage atmosphere - don’t change a thing! Tasty Italian classics served up as they have for generations. Have eaten here many times and always come away satisfied. A standard in the South Philly Italian Market area. Their meatballs and “gravy” (red sauce) are the best and available for take out too! This place is not fancy, just really good food at reasonable prices.

My wife and I came from the PSU basketball game at the Palestra. We sat at the bar to catch the Bills Texans game. We were warmly greeted by Mary and Dylan. We had a few drinks and then ordered our meal. We started with the garlic bread and clams casino. We shared the Villa salad. This salad is delicious. The Russian dressing is so smooth and creamy. I had the veal and eggplant Parmesan and my wife had the special linguine and shrimp and white sauce. We both loved our meals. Dylan said these were his favorite meals. Mary and Dylan provide fantastic service. We arrived at ~5:00. There was no line to get in. By 6-7:00, the line was out the door. Dylan said the post holiday season was still going on. Hints; no reservations. BYOC; bring your own Cash. Cash only. This was my best best meal of the year, 2020... Happy New Year. Enjoy.

This is a relaxed, family italian place at the Italian market. The food is good, the atmosphere is friendly and the house table wine is quite good. The bartender, Dylan, was great and gave us plenty of recommendations before we sat down. The prices are affordable and it was an excellent experience.

My family took my mom for a special birthday celebration. We have been coming here since I was a little girl. We come here for a lot of big birthday celebrations. This was was a horrible experience. The service was not good at all. We had to ask for things three or four times. My six year old ordered spaghetti with sauce, we asked if we could have hers come out first. It came out last. My daughter started to cry at the table, we talked to the owner and all he said was give your waitress less of a tip. It really spoiled our night, so sad

This is a family restaurant in the heart of the Italian market. Great service. Be sure to let them know if it's your first visit so specialties can be recommended.

After a Phillies game victory, what better place to celebrate. Great food to enjoy with family and friends.

Such nice people. Great food. Lovely to spend time with family or friends and have a delicious meal. Meatballs are fabulous.

The place takes no reservations, so we came early and got a table right away. The food is excellent and menue can be modified, atmosphere is pleasant.

look forward to eating here every year. We make a special trip to eat their asparagus appetizer that makes your mouth water!! It's buttery, lemony, crunchy and Delicious. Italian food is on the menu with a good glass of wine. Salute🇮🇹

The meatballs, garlic bread, fried asparagus appetizer, gravy, pasta, wine by carafe, straight-up felt menu board, awesome waitresses, kind bartender, linoleum tables... feels like family. If i lived closer I could develop a meatball obsession. This straight-up philly and it feels like home.

Fabulous meatballs homemade of course! Ask for Ann Marie and be served excellent food with a great friendly attitude! Her Italian self and the gravy are unparalleled.

Family run, classic Italian menu. I ordered sauteed chicken livers with pasta and a great Caesar salad. My wife had an excellent pasta dish. good dessert selection. Restaurant is in its' third generation, located in the old Italian market area. It is worth a taxi ride from Center City. Expect good food, good drinks, and very friendly, attentive service. Prices are reasonable.

I feel bad writing this review. I've always had villa Di Roma in my head as a must. The meal tonight was so average. Our waitress waited on us as if we were doing her a favor. Um, we were paying. The mussels good. Very large. The red sauce, not savory or flavorful. Very sweet and average. Chicken Marsala , no flavor. Meatballs, lacking seasoning. Pasta cooked nicely but sauce not flavorful. Not going back. Don't need attitude when I'm paying!

I’m not given to hyperbole, but my meal at Villa di Roma was as delicious as any I have ever had. Our waitress Ann has been there for over 50 years, and was delightful. Prices were not inexpensive, but fair, and service was very good. Quantities were more than ample. Being from Seattle, I’m not sure when I’ll be back, but be assured I’ll stop by again when I do. Give Villa di Roma an A.

The Italian market area of Philadelphia is a unique place. Time of day and day of the week changes the atmosphere just like the the seasons. Evening it appears dirty and deserted, so a visit to Villa di Roma seems to be questionable for the first time visitors. Empty carts along the sidewalks, the smell of food that has good bad, and the sidewalks and streets need to be cleaned. The positive is that parking is generally available on the street. Mid Day it hustles and delights with every type of fruit, produce and veggies. A couple of deli, cheese and pasta shops, add a few bakeries and butchers make the area a gourmets delight. The food at villa di roma is outstanding. The servers have been around forever and you better respect them. You could have a long wait if you are rude. They can help you with your selections and don't hustle you. Lots of choices, veal, chicken, Pastas, and Steak. Every thing is Ala cart so it is easy to run up a big check, although most of the prices are very reasonable. Plus you'll end up with much more than you can eat because the plates are large and the bread is so good that you have to eat it while your waiting. Nothing there is anything like a commercial Italian joint. It gets crowded, you have to wait for a table in front of the bar, several dining rooms are little on the loud side. While you are waiting you feel as if you are getting over looked in favor of the regulars. You probably are but if you make a fuss, you'll end up out on the street. After all this is a "FAMILY" operation. Not the Cleaver type family but more the Godfather or Corleone family. Enjoy, you'll be back, it's an experience around good food. No commercial Italian joint can even come close. Don't like the Family - try Ralph's only a couple of blocks away.......on 9th. They do things a little differently but the same style prevails, and possibly the family is a bit more intimidating.

We went in late on a Friday around 9:30. The restaurant was about half-empty and there were a number of seats at the bar. We sat down, ordered two drinks and asked to put in a food order. The bartender said "one minute." We waited 5 more and asked again. Then he said, "oh, we're not taking food orders at the bar, you have to wait for a table" Yet there were a number of people eating at the bar and I'd say twice per month I eat at the bar. I asked how long and he said "I don't know, a little while." So then I asked how long for a table and he said "I don't know." Needless to say I got up and left. We have been loyal customers but the rudeness was unimaginable. We actually had our wedding rehearsal dinner booked for Villa. Not anymore.

We were a party of 5 and all were disappointed. I had a special, which was not. Fish was ordinary and asparagus was barely cooked. Shrimp scampi was all pasta in a butter sauce, no garlic. Tomato salad was just ok. Restaurant is loud making conversation difficult.

$12.00 for a 4 oz. glass of house sparkling wine plus Philadelphia exhorbitant alcohol tax was only part of the bitter disappointment. $15.00 for a small plate of fettucine Alfredo? And that is with no soup or salad. $15.00 for a small plate of eggplant Parmigiana with four very thin slices of eggplant and hardly any cheese and again no salad or soup. How can you leave an Italian restaurant without a doggie bag? Craig LaBan overrated this joint.

Long waits difficult parking but food is good and plentiful. Prices very reasonable and (most) staff and patrons good humored. Had a great time with my family including three young grandsons who loved it

Great little spot. A little hole in the wall but a great find. Family own and ran since the 60's. Make sure you visit and grab a drink. Everyone is always friendly.

I went here with my hubby and mother-in-law on a busy Saturday after Christmas. If you want real Italian home cookin' this is the place! I came here a long while ago and it seemed more like a diner. They changed the lighting and use white tablecloths and now the place has more ambiance. It is spotless I might add, even the bathroom. We got the veal parm, and meatball sandwiches which were truly the best! I really wanted to try everything on the menu. The prices weren't bad either. We were seated right away and this family couldn't have been any nicer. Sue gave us her home made complimentary Italian Christmas cookies. Treat yourself to this place, you won't regret it! We definitely will be going back. Bring cash.

My uncle and I went to Villa di Roma last Sunday for lunch. Wow....what a selection! It was tough choosing because there wasn't anything on the menu that I didn't like. We split the Villa Salad which was delicious. I ended up choosing gnocchi and meatballs. Amazing!!! The gnocchi was hand-made, and very light and flavorful. The meatballs were out of this world. Even better than my mom's....shhhhh!!!! My uncle had ravioli and meatballs. We shared a carafe of chianti as well as a slice of cheesecake. All this food (with leftovers to take home), and our bill was only $74! Service was excellent, too. I cannot wait to go back here!!!

One our favorite places never disappoints! Three of us had spaghetti and meatballs, shrimp scampi and chicken bella bucca. All very good. Promptly seated, specials announced by waitress. Drinks quickly served and a basket of fresh italian bread! Meals were hot and delish! Great meal! Nothing fancy, just great italian food!

Fresh Italian dishes made in the middle of the Italian Market. You envision Rocky running by! A hidden gem!

It's in the Italian Market in the heart of South Philadelphia where "Rocky" ran the streets. Villa di Roma is family owned where old family recipes come to life in big portions to satisfy everyone who enters this iconic restaurant. The servers are from the neighborhood, some have been working the tables for ever and always make you feel like family. Although it is a "cash only" establishment, there is an extensive menu at extremely reasonable prices that make for a dining experience that won't break your wallet. Adding to the overall experience is a full service bar with a nice selection of beer, spirits and wine also at reasonable prices. It is known for having thebest meatballs of any Italian restaurant in the city along with of course, any of your favorite dishes served in sumptuous portions. Only one minor downside is that there is no off street parking. But even with the hassle of finding a parking space once your inside you'll find it all worth while.

After listening to my son rave about Villa Di Roma for a few years, my husband and I took a trip here for lunch on a rainy Saturday afternoon. It was definitely worth the trip and the soggy slog through the rain. We ordered the spaghetti and meatballs because we HAD to try them and we also ordered a chicken parm sandwich, both for sharing. It was a good decision- Both were fabulous. The "gravy" on the spaghetti was the best I have ever tasted in a restaurant. And the chicken parm sandwich was delicious. Don't expect much in the way of ideal table service. This place has a flavor all of it's own: South Philly, Italian...right down to the waitress attitude. Friendly, but with a South Philly edge. A real taste of local flavor, both in the food and the atmosphere.

They seem to use only half of the available seating so the room, which seats approximately 60 diners, is very crowded and a bit on the loud side; however, that does not create a negative atmosphere but a positive one in that it brings a certain level of activity that is quite enjoyable. The service, both at the bar and in the dining room, is very pleasant and attentive. The food is good but not outstanding. The spaghetti could have been a bit more al dente and the meatballs were very good. The baked ziti, veal picante and chicken dishes were very good and the house wine was perfect for the meal. All-in-all this is a very nice place and we will return. The only downside is parking - it is awful - but what can you expect in South Philly. Suggest that you make reservations as we were there on a Thursday evening and the place was packed.

Got this restaurant from a friend. It is REAL old school restaurant in the sense everything is FRESH. Had the clams casino (only 3) but were as awesome as they get. The garlic bread was good. One person had spaghetti and meatballs - very good Gravy / sauce and the meatball was tender as they get. One person had chicken parm and again the chicken was tender and sauce as good as it gets. The best was chicken Marsala ...the Marsala sauce was light but tasty and the chicken was unreal tender and flavorful. Momma Mia ... if you like Italian this is for YOU!

A disaster. We waited for our entree for 1 hour and 20 minutes. I could not wait another minute in the screaming noisy room with food rarely coming out of the kitchen and people being served who came in way after us . Our appetizer of clams casino took a half hour. It was inedible. 4 clams $10. We both tasted it. Awful. One hour into the wait, with lots of bread and water, I realized I need to eat something, anything! I implored the waitress to bring me something, but no fppd came. I had to get out of there: A banging headache combined with the noise was too much. I won't be back.

We were roaming the produce market when we came across a sign for take out meatballs. We decided to venture in and walked into the bar. We were greeted immediately. We sat at the bar and put in our drink orders and they produced quickly. I have to say that it was the best drinks that we've had in a while. We then ordered the meatballs, brought instant memories back to when my grandmother was alive. The marinara sauce was great and so were the meatballs. We then ordered cannoli's. The best that I've had in a very long time. I have to admit that this place was a little on the pricey side, BUT I'm willing to pay for good food and drinks.

If you are looking for authentic Italian goodness the way Mama makes it you will not be disappointed at Villa. From the long time wait staff to the owner on site that seats you, this is great old home Italian at reasonable prices. Be sure to have an order of roasted peppers and Italian tuno... so good with Cento red wine vinegar and a side of delicious garlic bread. And don't forget to enjoy a cannoli for dessert!

Family run restaurant where both locals and tourists pile in to share stories over glasses of wine filled to the top. Get to meet the bartenders while waiting for a table and once you are seated in the cozy dining room, get to know your neighbors as well - they might even share a bite with you! We got the shrimp scampi and spaghetti and meatballs and I will dream about both these selections for years. All of the servers seemed great but we had Dominic and he took really good care of us! We are sad we only have to time to visit this restaurant once on our trip. It is a must stop!

This was a very down home family style restaurant. The food was very good especially the eggplant Parmesan as well as the pasta dishes of spaghetti and lasagna. The service was wonderful with helpful advice on the dishes. The only problem were the mussel appetizer that were very large and somewhat chewy, but the sauce was great. Our family enjoyed our experience here. Not fancy but good food and great service.

Have been eating here since the early 1970's...Wife and kids favorite spot when in South Philly. everything on the menu is delicious. Impress your friends...take them here. Note:cash only, but they do have a machine

Go early and beat the lineups or wait at the bar over a glass of wine. It's cash only but the prices are more than fair for such large well prepared meals. I've had good success over the years with various pasta and chicken and veal dishes. The servers are friendly and helpful and once you get seated the meal moves along at a good pace. Parking in the area may be difficult to find and there is often a line to get a table but these inconveniences are overcome with the food quality and value.

As always it was a delight to treat our guests I in the warmth of Villa de Roma. The waitstaff was wonderful and enriched the evening by engaging and recognizing the customers! The food is good Italian-American fare and there is plenty of it! So thank you Vila DiRoma for the ambiance, consistently good food and comfort!

Was looking for a true South Philly experience and could not have been more disappointed in this place. Food is extremely mediocre and everything is swimming in butter. So far from being authentic Italian food. Service is rustic - challenged to get appropriate serviceware. Ambience is what it is. Shrimp scampi was ok despite the fact that it was swimming in butter. Not sure the veal was really veal. Don't like that you can only pay with cash. Wine offerings are beyond limited.

Right in the heart of the Italian Market, this place can get crowded for dinner. The meatballs are to die for. Not very fancy, but the food is good! This is also cash only!!

This is the best place to go for meatballs. It is true South Philly so don't be offended when the staff refers to you as "doll" or if someone comes and hands your kids money because it's their birthday (true story). Truly a gem of a restaurant.

I am rarely moved to write a negative review or any review for that matter but this food was THAT bad. I have lived the first 19 years of my life in South Philly so I know what good Italian food is. Ordered the White Mussels-They were HUGE and full of sand almost couldn't get them down. If you wanted to find a use for them they might be ok chopped up in a seafood stew minus the sand and even a stone my partner found in one of them. The Sausage Supreme sandwich was not much better. Also had the house red wine that was a small and tasteless offering. Not to mention overpriced. You would do better going to Lorenzo's and getting a slice of pizza.

Was a hot afternoon and we were hungry. We went in for a beer at the bar but stayed and had dinner. Was delicious. I had ravioli and meat balls with a meat sauce! Delizioso!!

12 of us were in Philadelphia for a wedding and decided to try Villa di Roma for lunch. We were near the produce market and knew there would be some great Italian food options. The staff was friendly and worked to accommodate our large group quickly. Everyone ordered something different and it was all delicious! From chicken livers to basic cheese ravioli, all food was fresh and flavorful. We liked it so much we sent a few more family members back the next day. We would highly recommend Villa di Roma if you are in the neighborhood!

First time here. Biggest problem was it was a Tuesday, not that crowded, yet we waited an hour for our dinner entrees to arrive. And agree with others about the "attitude". No descriptions on the menu for many of their entrees and if you ask, speed response of ingredients. Obviously "regulars" may know, but what about the rest of us? Ordered roasted red peppers with tuna as a starter, and honestly, lacking any basic seasoning. Two entrees with sausage - fennel was a bit overpowering. Bread was just okay - nothing special. And cash only - come on. Chicken cacciatore- extra charge for pasta with it. Why? Overpriced/maybe return but maybe not.

We've been here many times over the past few years and it never disappoints. We had dinner here last Friday night and it was fantastic as usual. We shared a Shrimp Scampi appetizer that was delicious. My wife had the Sausage Genevese and it was phenomenal, the flavors were out of this world. It's sausage, mixed with sauteed onions, fresh escarole, Cannellini beans, a touch of red wine, I almost wished I ordered it myself. I had the Steak My Way and it was excellent. The Steak My Way is sirloin steak sliced and topped with a white wine and butter sauce seasoned with lots of fresh garlic and Romano cheese and served on toast rounds. For desert we split the best Tiramisu we've ever had. Anna Marie was our waitress and she was awesome. The beers she brought us were "Ice Cold Baby". The entire staff is friendly and the service is great. They have a full bar. The restaurant is located in the middle of the Italian market and has an amazing feel of old school Italian American culture. Even the way Pip the maître d runs the place and handles himself adds to the experience. This is by far our favorite Italian restaurant in Philadelphia, in fact it's our favorite Italian restaurant anywhere. Parking in the neighborhood can bee a bit tough so you may want to cab/uber. If you do drive I suggest parking in the lot behind Anastasi Seafood at the corner of Washington and 9th, they usually charge $5 in the afternoon and it's often free at night.

We read online that this place was famous for the tomato gravy. We got there around 8.30pm (they close at 9pm), so were basically the only clients. The service was great, super nice waitress. And the food was tasty (ravioli and gnocchi) but nothing special. Overall OK.

Typical S. Philly. Lasagna and Salmon over pasta were good but not great. Meatballs are very good. Service was good, but atmosphere definitely lunch not dinner. If there, try lunch, but not 'destination' dinner place. Great spot in the Italian Market area at lunchtime.

Villa di Roma is a classic red sauce Italian restaurant in Little Italy that serves up some really great food. I haven't been to a place like this in years - it's beautifully "aged" inside. The meatballs are amazing...honestly some of the best I've ever had with delicious tomato sauce. The breaded asparagus were also amazing.

Three of us really enjoyed our visit to Villa di Roma. Portions are very large- two can split easily, probably three if light eaters and order a salad. We got the shrimp scallopini. It was light, seasoned well, delicious. Their bread they serve with meal was soft and tasty, but the garlic bread was tough. Service was good. A drawback is that they do not take credit cards.

This is not the first time we have eaten here. The food is tasty and authentic. Attentive waitstaff. No credit cards taken.

Spaghetti meatballs the pasta cooked a little to much not aldente and wasn't drained enough. Another 5 seconds would have been perfect 10 STAR rating mussels in red sauce PERFECT PERFECT

If you a looking for the most delicious, authentic Italian -- treat yourself to this wonderful restaurant. It is old school. We felt so welcomed by the staff, who made us feel like we were regulars. I will tell all my friends when in Philly - they must visit this gem of a restaurant. I can't wait to go back.

We walked around the Italian market for a little while and then ended up here for lunch. It was amazing! Our kids had gnocchi and spaghetti and meatballs. My husband and I had the meatball sandwich and chicken parmigiana sandwich. I would go back here in a heartbeat. YUM!

We eat out pretty much every night & OMG this was fantastic! We walked in & thought oh no cuz it was early & not crowded but then the bar tender was fun & attentive. We sat down & had Jean as our server & she was fantastic!! Attentive & fun. Its our 1st time here & after numerous restaurant we've dined at this was 1 of our fav. We will def visit here when in Philly. It is autheric flavorfill Italian Restaurant. Everything, I mean everything we ate was soooo good. Service outstanding!!!! We might come 2 Philly cuz of this!!! U gotta try it.

Celebrated a birthday recently at villa di roma. All of our party was not there and they would not seat us until they all arrived. We arrived at noon and the place was empty. We waited at the bar and were seated at 12:15. The staff is a little short and she never asked us if we wanted anything from the bar. We ordered apps and lunch with arrived quickly. The food is delicious. By 12:30 the place was packed. We will return in the next few weeks. Parking is on the street and hard to find!

Was in Philly the other day and did some shopping at the 9th Street Italian Market so stopped for lunch at Villa di Rosa. It was fabulous. Both of our lunches were delicious but what truly stood out was how friendly everyone was. I asked for just a taste of their "beans and greens" and it was amazing so I asked about the ingredients. The Chef (and I believe owner) actually came out of the kitchen, pulled up a chair and gave me the recipe. We left feeling like we just had lunch at a friend's home! High recommend this place when you're next stocking up on your Italian cheeses, meats and veggies in south Philly!

This is not part of the new Philadelphia of up and coming as well as established chefs and restaurateurs that get featured in airline magazines and travel articles. It is not new, it is not young and it is anything but hip. Villa di Roma is Philadelphia old-style. This is the restaurant that Rocky Balboa's parents went to. This is American/Italian which is disappearing against a backdrop of authentic regional dishes and stone hearth wood-fired ovens imported from Italy. The decor is not fussy, but it works. Red checked table cloths, tile floor small wine glasses and huge plates of food. While the menu is extensive, I don't like to get too clever. Keep it simple and you can't go wrong. Their spaghetti and meatballs will remind you of the one's your mother or grandmother made - if you are so lucky to have grown up in an Italian family, same with the cheese ravioli, lasagna, mussels in red sauce. The chicken parm is one of my favorites. The wait staff have mostly worked here for years, know what they are doing and are as friendly as can be. The bartender works underneath a picture of his father who started the place. Many of the diners are family friends and most are repeat customers. We run a small Air BnB a few block away and recommend Villa di Roma whenever a guest who is staying with us asks for that authentic Philly-Italian experience. They always come back raving about it.

We stopped into the restaurant during a whirlwind tour of the Italian Market. Frank and his sister Marian could not of been nicer. In addition to a couple of cold beers we received a tour of the restaurants a brief history of the family and were introduced to all the family members who worked in the restaurant. It was a wonderful afternoon.

My parents have been coming here for the last 20 years and have carried the tradition over to my sisters and I. The restaurant is located in the Italian Market village. Parking can be difficult but there is a parking lot around the corner on Christian street that is free on the weekends after 7 pm. We constantly go back on our trips to Philly to have the Villa salad, gnocchi, ravioli, fried asparagus and veal. The staff has been there for years and know exactly what they're doing. It is a cash only restaurant! And Bradley Cooper dines there when he is in the area.

We used to visit Villa Di Roma when we were students, feeling flush, 40 some years ago. It was terrific then and still terrific today! The veal piccata and shrimp scampi were delicious. We missed having wine in a juice glass but that’s for carafe wine drinkers. Classy! Come early or you’ll have to wait!

Wow. Stumbled on this place by happy accident. Friendly, accommodating staff, and reasonably priced, excellent Italian food. I haven't had red sauce that good in a very, very long time. Will definitely be back for more.

Authentic South Philly Restaurant. Chicken Cutlets are pounded and breaded perfectly. I also highly recommend the Villa Salad. Make sure to bring cash they don't take credit cards.

This is an old establishment situated in South Philly's Italian Market. Food is hearty and plentiful - a good choice if you're looking for a neighborhood restaurant experience - not at all fancy but solid choice. I had tuna Sicilian (cherry peppers, onions, capers, olives) which had a kick. My wife had spaghetti and meatballs - she took half of it home. Cash only.

Great traditional family style restaurant in South Philly. Same fabulous service and food as 20 years ago. Ziti Francis is one of my favorite dishes anywhere! Still run by the Deluca family.

I like Italian and this was very much like Homemade. The food was excellent and I would eat there again. They claimed to have the best meatballs and I agree. I am a Meatball nut. Theirs melt in your mouth.

This is a restaurant with long tradition in preparing Italian food, I tried Philadelphia cheese steak and it was delicious. Staff is very friendly, prices are medium for US standards I guess

Visited Villa di Roma the day after Christmas with friends who had been there many times. They have a large full bar area and two dining rooms. Ours was very casual, but comfortable. Our waitress was great, very friendly, helpful, and knowledgeable. The eggplant parmigiano was wonderful. The sandwiches were substantial. The meatballs were huge. They only take cash so come prepared, or use their in house ATM. Prices were reasonable. We were there on a slow day, so I have no idea what it would be like when busy. I'd go back in a heartbeat.

This is not part of the new Philadelphia of up and coming as well as established chefs and restaurateurs that get featured in airline magazines and travel articles. It is not new, it is not young and it is anything but hip. Villa di Roma is Philadelphia old-style. This is the restaurant that Rocky Balboa's parents went to. This is American/Italian which is disappearing against a backdrop of authentic regional dishes and stone hearth wood-fired ovens imported from Italy. The decor is not fussy, but it works. Red checked table cloths, tile floor small wine glasses and huge plates of food. While the menu is extensive, I don't like to get too clever. Keep it simple and you can't go wrong. Their spaghetti and meatballs will remind you of the one's your mother or grandmother made - if you are so lucky to have grown up in an Italian family, same with the cheese ravioli, lasagna, mussels in red sauce. The chicken parm is one of my favorites. The wait staff have mostly worked her for years, know what they are doing and are as friendly as can be. The bartender works underneath a picture of his father who started the place. Many of the diners are family friends and most are repeat customers. We run a small Air BnB a few block away and recommend Villa di Roma whenever a guest who is staying with us asks for that authentic Philly-Italian experience. They always come back raving about it

Everyone here is extremely friendly. I stopped in for an early lunch so it wasn't crowded at all. Food tastes like there was an old Italian grandma back in the kitchen making it. Chicken parm was fried to a golden brown and smoothered in a tasty marinara and mozerella. Atmosphere is a bit dated but food was delicious and the bar well-stocked. Definitely worth a visit. Be aware, though, that they don't accept credit cards.

This is a find! While wondering through the Italian Markets, Jeff at Guy Giordanos recommended Villa do Roma. It absolutely exceeded our expectations. The "Gravy" or tomato sauce was just perfect. Addictive! If I hadn't been flying across the country I would have bought some. The pasta and fish dishes were amazing. The staff were welcoming, friendly and really nice. We will be back .... With family and friends!

Excellent menu selection to start with. Ordered Mussels (outstanding) appetizer, Had try there famous meatballs with pasta,,,,AWESOME,,, wife had chicken piccata w/pasta and side asparagus. Definitely a restaurant worth going to with warm family atmosphere. YOU GO VILLA

I have been to Philadelphia twice in my life and both times I've eaten at Villa di Roma. One of my favorite restaurants. I suggest the shrimp scampi. Feel free to use the provided bread to shop up the sauce. It's that good.

Went on a Sunday evening, only had to wait about 20 minutes. An amazing meal. Try the fried asparagus. The pasta was outstanding. We kept the appetizer muscles sauce to dip our bread into during dinner which was fantastic. We will return regularly despite the 30 minute drive from Delaware.

Went for dinner while in Philadelphia taking care of business. 5 of us ate and everyone 100 percent enjoyed their meal including my 7 year old grand daughter. Our server was 110 percent the best. Very nice, accommodating and helpful. Absolutely recommend eating here

Best Meatballs just like Gramdma made. I had every veal they make and still can't make up my mind which one is my favorite.

Enjoyed the eggplant parmigiana - only thing keeping this item from being the best in Philly is that the breaded eggplant should have been firmer. Otherwise, the marinara sauce was excellent and the cheese layer was perfect. The eggplant parm dish was large and turned into a second dinner the next day. Other family members enjoyed their (hefty) sandwiches very much. Finally, the bread was good but not the high quality one would expect in the heart of the Italian Market. Looking forward to returning here with a larger (and hungrier) contingent!

A very good dining experience. We had to wait approximately 45 minutes for a table but it seemed to go by quickly. The friendly bartenders will make time fly by while keeping your beer bottle or glass full. The service is exceptional. Dominic is very nice and attentive. Many different food choices and everything we had was great. This is a cash only business. But they do have an atm on site if you need cash. We were aware of this going in.

Had the lobster francese, mussels, meatballs, salad. Great meal. Located in the unique "Rocky" part of town. Best meatballs and sauce ever.

An average establishment with no pizzazz. Although I called for a reservation, I was told that I did not need one. We had to wait 20 minutes with empty tables being available. The food is okay, but not exciting. The menu is the same, as it has been for many years, and the food is unchanged, despite the fact that expectations have changed over the years. For meatball and gravy, okay, but for more than that, no.

One of the quintessential Philadelphia Italian restaurants. Have been eating here for 45 years. A family tradition. Great meatballs and gravy. The mussels, fried asparagus, Villa salad, lobster francese, chicken neopolitan, and veal pizzaiola parm are classics.

While laying over in Philadelphia, a friend took me down to the oldest Italian market in the US. We shopped for Olive Oil, Cheese & Italian Sausage. When I asked the merchants where I could get the best Italian food for lunch, they all, including one person walking down the street, recommended Villa di Roma. I opted for pasta with Olive Oil, fresh Garlic & Italian Sausage. My friend Howard had the Chicken Parmesan sandwich. The meal was as good as I expected it to be. The restaurant is not real big and they don't accept any credit cards. Our amazing server was Susan. She was very polite, professional and a real Sweetheart! If you are in Philadelphia & want genuine Italian food, you owe it to yourself to try Villa di Roma.

Always reliable, always good, always consistent. Just a good Italian meal every time. Our family has been going here for years. The management sometimes is a bit big for their britches, but it's tolerable.

My friends and I have been coming to Philadelphia for weekends a few times a year for about 15 years. We had never had Italian food in Philadelphia. I had stopped into villa Di Roma in 2015 before leaving Philly and bought some "meatballs and gravy" to go for my husband! They are hands down the very best meatballs we had ever eaten. We decided this was the year we were doing Italian for dinner in the Italian Market! What a superb amazing meal! Everyone was fantastic--bartender, waitress etc . . . it is old school Italian---Fried Asparagus, garlic bread and several different entrees... all wonderful! We stopped back before leaving for more meatballs and gravy! ****They only take reservations for Friday on the weekend! Plan ahead and call!***

Our Anniversary was May 31st, we live in North East PA and were under COVID restrictions but we made the best of it. We drove into Philadelphia and got take out from Villa di Roma our favorite Italian place in the city. Pip greeted us at the door and I wished him a slightly belated birthday. Our food was ready, hot and packaged well. We drove just outside the city and ate our Anniversary Dinner at a park. The food was delicious as always and it was a great dinner. We had a Shrimp Scampi appetizer that was excellent. For entrees we had Rigatoni and Meatballs and Sausage Genevese both were fantastic. The Sausage Genevese is sausage mixed with sautéed onions, fresh escarole, Cannellini beans, a touch of red wine and it's amazing. For desert we had Tiramisu, they easily have the best in Philadelphia. The prices are very reasonable. We've been here many times and take out or eat in it's always great.

My husband & I absolutely love this place. From the location, to the food, to the servers & bartenders. No matter what we order it's fabulous. We always start with the Villa salad & clams in red sauce. I could just have the clams with bread and be happy. They need to jar that sauce!!!

Just go, you will not be disappointed !! I have been a happy customer since the early 70's !!! Make sure you have an empty stomach, as portions are generous!

I enjoyed the neighborhood; wish i had arrived earlier to visit shops when they were open. Food was good, service was okay. Be sure to take cash. They don’t take other forms of payment

I came here with family during a recent stay in Philly. Located in the heart of the Italian Market area, this restaurant serves all the Italian classics. To me, the food is average and overpriced - the whole time I was just thinking that anything my mom makes is 10 times better. For the money we spent, we would have been better of going to a proper trattoria, of which there are many in Philly. Save your money.

A Philly institution that has been around since 1963. If you want no nonsense Italian homestyle cooking this is the place. The food is first rate and made to order and the decor is plain Jane stuck in the 70s. Everything is freshly made to order from scratch. We started the night off with mussels in red sauce with some house made garlic bread. For the main course I had chicken marsala which was perfectly done. The chicken was moist, the sauce flavored just right and the mushrooms were fresh and not out of a can. My friend had a steak that was cooked to perfection and tender. We each had a side of ziti which was served with a red sauce that was made from scratch. Our waitress looked like she’s been working there since the day it opened it was no nonsense and all business. So if you’re looking for a place that will serve you traditional Italian homemade cooking and you don’t care about the atmosphere this is the place to go. This is a great place for families parties and even a date. No matter the occasion you won’t be disappointed.

This place is awful! The red sauce and meatballs are rancid. Way overpriced for below average food and service. Menu is on the wall hasn't changed since 1962, really? Waiter says that everything on the menu is great, really? You mean that you don't have any favorites?? Lazy owner and waiter. Bread was a joke. Too lazy to walk a block and get a loaf from Sarcones I guess.

The food is average. Have the changed the menu in the last twenty years? No, I don't think so. If you don't mind being a sardine the seating is fine. Not expensive. This Philly girl won't be back. Do not expect a smile from your waitress. Do not ask to substitute or things could get ugly.

this was my first time to the italian market, and heard about others eating at this place. The waitress was very friendly, and the food was excellent. Everything came out quickly....and the presentation was wonderful. The only downfall is that they do only accept cash. I had the baked rigatoni, while the kids had Chicken Parm and Spaghetti. My husband had the meatball sandwich...everything was excellent. I would definitely go back.

This was a great accidental find! We were trying to find our way through the extremely crowded narrow streets of Little Italy in Philadelphia, when miracle of miracles, a spot opened up for parking right at their front door! Long story shortened, it was a great family Italian place with lots of locals. Pasta done perfectly, shrimp fresh, meatballs awesome! Gravy was so good! Alfredo creamy and not greasy! Great service, clean and friendly! Look for parking or take a cab! Worth the trip and such a step into old world!

We came in later in the evening. The bartender greeted us and was warm and friendly. It was clean and very inviting. We had some drinks while our table was being prepared. We had 8 in our group. We had the fried asparagus and garlic cheese bread to start and it was delicious. We all ate and were happy. Food was wonderful and the service was great. We all had a great time!:)

Everything at Villa di Roma is mouthwatering. I have been eating at this incredible family-owned restaurant for over 50 years and each time is better than the last. The flavors are phenomenal, and if you want a delicious meal don’t miss this restaurant

We had been introduced to this restaurant on a foodie walking tour of the Italian district the day before. We had met Basil the owner who showed our group how he made his award winning meatballs and our tour guide bought some for us to try. They were fabulous and we knew if Basil was half as passionate about the rest of his menu as he was about sourcing his ingredients and making his meatballs and gravy every day, then we would be in for an authentic Italian treat. We weren't disappointed. Food was excellent. Service was welcoming, friendly and attentive. We went to fancier and much more expensive places in Philadelphia which were completely forgettable. We won't be forgetting Villa di Roma. Highly recommended by a couple of foodies. Enjoy

Haven't eaten at this restaurant in many years, but based on previous visits decided to visit. Villa di Roma provides a nice selection of Italian entrees that are reasonably priced. Our party of three each had a pasta dish; all were very good. If you're in the Italian Market visiting or shopping, this is a good selection for comfort food.

We were so excited to try this restaurant after seeing all the TripAdvisor reviews. We walked in and were told to seat ourselves. An middle aged Italian woman asked If we knew what we wanted. We asked for recommendations and she got kind of an attitude and told us that she would get us menus. When she came back she rattled off what some of the dishes were so fast we could barely comprehend what she was saying. When we asked for separate checks, she snapped "we don't do separate checks." One of the people in my party gets reimbursed for his expenses so this was a problem. It is also a cash only policy. The food itself was pretty good. I did enjoy the meatballs. The stuffed mushrooms that were fried were just mediocre. My sister had a chicken dish that had some sort of spice in it that was not very good. Towards the end of the meal, the waitress did get nicer (I guess so that she would get a decent tip.) We always tip 20%. But I really don't recommend this place because of the attitude that they give you. It's like they forget who the customer is and they think you should feel privileged to be in their establishment. there are better choices in the Philadelphia area

Food is good, noisy, expensive dining room. Lots of smiles from staff. Too expensive for the atmosphere.

This place is old school. The food is old world Italian and it's decent...but I've had much much better food in that classic Italian category. I give the place major props for being around as long as they have been and for not getting too caught up in the hype about itself that so many loyalists have for this place. The staff are all super nice, perfectly cast South Philly Italians playing their roles of hospitality to perfection. The facts that they're cash only and don't take reservations are both nods to their classic old school roots as well as annoying inconveniences in this day and age. Those are nuances that would go applauded if the food were fantastic. But sadly, it's pretty basic.

Always a winner for the red-gravy experience. Been here forever and is an inexpensive way to really get the neighborhood experience.DO try the daily specials .No disappointments here...

this place used to be great, especially eating meatballs at the bar. Can't do that any more and if you want a table they are rude and uniformly make you wait, even when tables are open and avaialable. When the servers say thank you(which is rarely) their tone is almost snarky as if they deserve more. I used to come her regualary a couple of times year but for the last two years,(4 times) their attitude has gotten progressively worse. Will not go back. Instead, go down the street a couple of blocks to Ralph's....THAT's a great Italian restaurant

We were in town for two days and had one of our dinners here. What a great Italian throwback place. Nothing fancy, just really solid southern italian. I had veal parmesan which was excellent and my son had shrimp scampi which he enjoyed. Had what the waitress said was chicken soup but more of an Italian style chicken soup than a deli chicken soup. It was great. Super friendly waitress. Highly recommend the place.

I have been frequenting Villa di Roma for decades. I decided to bring some friends from overseas (China) and co workers from 10 years ago and my wife from (Ukraine). We ordered the red house wine , Shrimp Scampi and the must try veal parmigiana just to mention a few dishes. The food is always awesome , the price is right and the service remains as it has been for years. My advice is to arrive early on Saturday for lunch @ 1130am to avoid wait time. A Must Authentic Italian restaurant experienced by an International crew. Ciao .

My dining partner and I went to Villa Di Roma at the recommendation of a business associate. He told us it was the best casual Italian in all of Philadelphia. I've only been to one Italian restaurant in Philadelphia (Villa Di Roma) but I can tell you it was really good! The waitress was funny and no nonsense. Personally, I was conflicted over whether to get the red sauce or white sauce, but the couple that was at the table directly adjacent to our own, who were delightful, had just finished their meal and coincidentally had had the red sauce and white sauce! The only problem was, they each said that their meal was delicious! Ha! So my dining partner and I decided we were going to have to order the red and white sauce both as well! And boy was that the right move. They were BOTH delicious! But... if I had to do it again... and I had to make a choice... I have to admit... I WOULD GO WITH THE RED! Oh boy, that baked rigatoni was so good. I ate half of my dining partner's meal. Hahahaha! And don't forget to get the Villa salad! Delish! (But make sure that you're not a vegetarian if you order this because there are shellfish and bacon bits on the top!)

The waitress Carol and another person male, who identified himself as a relative were just not happy campers, and we knew it. Food was not the best I have had. My clam sauce seemed to be out of a can, not sure but that what it seemed. Would never send anyone else there. Too many other good places.

Walk through the market looking for good by to save money on the vegetables good deal for save money. But after we finish shopping, We are looking for a place to eat and so this place . The food was a good idea to stop here for lunch. I had the shrimp & scallop in in spaghetti. My partner had baked zita Sicilian great lunch . Thank You for your service Rita .will be back .

If you don't mind waiting in a crowded bar for an hour for your table (even though you had reservations), and you don't mind food that struggles to be mediocre, then by all means this is the restaurant for you. Yes, it's a Philadelphia institution, so people flock to it. I'm not sure why. I hesitate to write bad reviews and in this one I would like to at least commend the wait staff, who, when we were finally seated, were pleasant and efficient enough and certainly work hard. I can't say the same for the management, who in spite of a reservation system, cannot seat a party without making them wait for an hour and when questioned cannot even be gracious in their reply. If you want to go to a Philadelphia institution, visit Independence Hall or the Art Museum, shop in the Italian Market, visit the waterfront, but stay away from Villa di Roma. There are many, many excellent and well-run restaurants for you to enjoy after seeing the sites!

Make the effort to find this space. From the street it just appears to be a bar. The food is absolutely authentic. The sauce was particularly rich and flavorful. The portions were very generous. The Italian salad dressing (only one) is very good. Service was good.

The food is delicious. Our waitress Jodie is great. Her side kicks Jeannie and Michele are great backups. The place feels like an Italian home. Pretty much,from what I gather, a local place. As every table was recognized by the wait staff. Service equal 5 stars. Food is not up to that status. They claim to have the best meatballs in Philadelphia . Not so much. The side of sausage was already cut up and overcooked, very rubbery. The sauce really could have been better , very canned tomato paste tasting. I'm sorry girls when you read this don't mean to disappoint you you did an outstanding job. I have to rate the food 3 out of 5 . So that makes this visit a 4 because of service.

We arrived on a sunny Friday around 1pm no reservation 4 adults and 4 kids, all the staff was very welcome ! Food is soooo good! Meat balls sandwich and ravioli are amazing! Nothing fancy just flavors and authenticity! Kids friendly (high chairs) !

We have many family get togethers at Villa Di Roma because it is always delicious. Most recently went for a late lunch. True "old school" Italian food. The server was attentive, food arrived in good time. The proportions are generous. We left there totally satisfied

Food quality was great and delicious. Authentic. Server was friendly! Meatball was delicious but $9 for 2 seemed pricey. Small dining area got very loud! Small water glass meant I kept running out and left thirsty but I’m a big drinker so probably unusual.

Great Italian food and service, old school neighborhood restaurant and bar in the heart of the Philly Italian market area. Highly recommended.

Lovely little family run Italian. Great pasta dishes and very reasonably priced. Would recommend if staying locally

This is a very plain, very easygoing South Philly Italian restaurant. Don't expect high-end dishes; it is everyday Italian-American fare done right, at least for a restaurant if grandma is unavailable. So, when you are in the mood for spaghetti and meatballs and don't want to cook, this is where locals have gone for many years. By the way, they are famous for the meatballs, so don't go home without trying them, one way or the other. In the heart of the Italian market, you can't go wrong.

Homestyle Italian Fare At a great price made our homemade tasting lunch memorable. We split an order of Ravioli & meatballs and Veal parmigiana with eggplant. The bread and butter were good. The service was great even when a tour of blind folks came in for a field Trip meal. The portions were large enough to take a complete meal home.

Went there to celebrate my sons college graduation with extended family. Thankful they accomodated an early afternoon dinner. Our waitress was very pleasant; answered any questions we had about the extensive menu - was spot on about her recommendations about the number of appetizers to order for table of 12. Our group enjoyed a variety of fresh Italian pasta dishes with seafood and meats. The big eaters got side orders of "big" meatballs. Everything came out hot. Will definitely return. Only saying this as a fyi - it is a cash only establishment

Met some friends for drinks after an afternoon in the Italian Market looking for new and different spices. We ended up spending close to four hours at the bar talking and enjoying some good drinks. We truly enjoyed the bartenders who were all family- a mother, a son and a nephew met all of our needs and provided us with some really cool Philly facts. Villa di Roma was a fantastic place to end our day and start our evening. While we had dinner reservations later in the evening we had to enjoy two of their recommended specialties appetizers- homemade meatballs in their signature sauce and lightly breaded & fried asparagus in a scampi sauce. They were both tremendously tasty!!! The ladies were asking to cancel our reservation for later so that we could enjoy more from Villa di Roma. Even though we did not change things because our friends were from out of town and we wanted them to experience other part of Philadelphia. My wife and I will be back to explore more of what Villa di Roma has to offer. We had a blast!!

This place was recommended to us on our Segway tour this week - we were not disappointed. Our server Lillian was excellent and really helpful and friendly. She explained lots of the dishes to us, sold the specials really well and provided us with great service all night. The food was all really good. Probably a bit too ‘tomatoey’ for me but that’s just my taste. The other three in our group all really enjoyed their meals. The place is quite quirky and behind the times when it comes to billing (everything written down by hand, added with a calculator and you can only pay cash) but this all adds to the charm really! There’s an ATM there if you need more cash!

Throwback to the old South Philly Italian Restaurant excellently prepared food in the heart of the Italian Market. Excellently prepared food with generous portions. Never a miss even after many visits. This outstanding bastion of traditional South Philly Italian Restaurant is a cash only that dose not accept reservations. The excellent bar tenders will help ease the wait.

We had been urged to go here by someone who said “you will thank me forever”. Not so. This is like the generic, high volume Italian restaurants we all grew up with - big servings and lots of red sauce served by friendly, hard working waitresses under the watchful eye of the owner - also friendly. Tasty enough but very ordinary and not truly authentic- anyone with an Italian grandmother would be appalled by the deep friend eggplant and chicken cutlets in the parm dishes and by the way over-cooked spaghetti noodles. The neighborhood is wonderful.

Did not get to eat. Crowded,and understaffed. Waited an hour and was told we were up next. The lady that was bartending could not have been nastier. We walked out hungry and very disappointed, after being blown off by the guy seating people, because i asked when we were going to be seated.. used to to my favorite,..bummer

Took a chance, not having any idea what we felt like eating, and can't wait to go back. This is one of those hidden gems that surprise you and you'll want to visit as frequently as you can. The menu is not terribly extensive, which is good, but everything is outstanding. The typical old-school Italian meals plus some unusual ones. We didn't have appetizers, but did have some bread while waiting for our food. Our waitress Jean, reminded me of that aunt that everyone has; just wants to feed you and make sure you're happy, but no BS. She was funny and brought us our food while it was still SUPER hot. My husband had veal parmesan over pasta. The sauce was absolutely homemade and so fresh. The veal was perfect; not too thin and perfectly breaded. The portion wasn't HUGE, but it was way more than enough for him (we were hoping to have a lot to take home for leftovers). I had lobster francaise and, WOW! I don't even like lobster, but could've eaten an entire other portion. The lobster was perfectly cooked, not rubbery, but very tender, and breaded with the most delicious breading I've ever had; light and tasty. The francaise sauce, lemon/butter, was a wonderful mix of the 2; I love lemon and would have eaten the sauce with a spoon all by itself. My husband, who doesn't particularly like lemon, thought it was excellent and not too lemony. I chose to have it over linguine for which there was an additional $3 charge. For dessert, I have no idea if there is a dessert menu or anything else available, but it doesn't matter. The canoli we shared, traditional with chocolate chips, was served in a fresh shell and was very light and not too sweet; just right! The atmosphere is a neighborhood place; there is a bar, where some people were eating their meals, and 2 dining rooms. Even with as busy as it was after an Eagles game, we only waited @ 15 minutes. They take reservations, but not on Sat, and, it would appear, only for larger parties; they said we didn't need a reservation for 2 people. Our meal cost us $60, with tip and 2 soft drinks each. Average entree was $15. The only reason for the rating of 4 vs. 5 was because there wasn't a huge appetizer selection.

This is the Italian Market, so you would expect to find good italian food. Look no further. This place is genuine and delicious. They are renowned for their meatballs, but the veal is the best in Philadelphia. With any of the available sauces, the veal is always delicious - and at a very reasonable price. Bring cash, and prepare to settle for one of the available wines from a small list.

Our Italian American Uber driver raved about this place, so we had to try it. Bottom line - a letdown. Started with a long wait to be seated, boring decor, and mediocre bread served in a plastic wicker tray. Followed by good but nothing special Italian American pasta and eggplant dishes and very good meatballs.

We were there with a large party, but everything flowed smoothly under the supervision of the wait staff. (The wine flowed well, too.) The dinner started with bread, garlic bread, and several salads. Mussels in a butter-garlic sauce were served family style. Then there were servings of sausage plus pasta, chicken parmesan, and other. Desert was cannoli which unfortunately did not have a crisp crust. Overall the dinner was great.

You can't get a bad meal here! They have the best gravy and meatballs. Sometimes I buy meatballs and gravy and serve for dinner at home with pasta. They have the old Milan salad with Russian dressing, shrimp,egg its so good. Love the rigatoni and asparagus, Veal Parm. Meatballs, Gnocchi's and so much more.

We came in for an early lunch and had their amazing world famous meatballs and delicious mussels....So good! Our bartender, Sandy, regaled us with fun stories and delightful conversation. If you’re looking for basic and traditional Italian fare this is the place.

Visiting the Italian Market this afternoon and decided to try Villa Di Roma for an early dinner. Thought we might the only diners in the place but we were definitely wrong...both dining rooms were already half full! Authentic, unpretentious Italian food served by warm, welcoming staff. It was wonderful from start to finish. Will have to leave room for dessert next time! Advice: go early and bring cash as they never accept cards and don’t accept reservations on Saturdays. But will definitely be worth any wait you might experience.

I travelled from London to do 2 things in Philly. Go to the ball game and get a meal at Villa di Roma in South 9th St, Little Italy. Its a family business (for over 50 years) The food is spectacular and Domenic the proprietor is friendly and welcoming. The pasta is timed to perfection and the Meatballs have a world wide rep. (Check youtube). You hear great laughter and joy from the kitchen. How good is that? Its completely authentic Italian American dining. No frills. Authentic. Authentic. Im already planning my next trip. You pay by cash. There's an ATM inside. No problem.

There is a reason why I have been dining at VDR for over 30 years, and it's not just the good, rib-sticking home-style food (and the linguini abbruzzi, quattrocini alfredo and my wife's self-designed rigatoni marinara with meatball lived up to elevated expectations). It's the neighborhood feel (Phillies on TV in the bar), the minimalist yet efficient service (no "Hi, I'm .... and I'll be your serving tonight") and the above-and-beyond effort to treat customers like family (I left my wallet on the table and the owner tracked me down and personally hand-delivered it at home after they closed). I take out-of-town guests here when I want them to understand what all the fuss about South Philly Italian restaurants is all about. The most recent visit introduced my brother-in-law and nephew to VDR. Truly excellent.

You know the type, meatballs in gravy, lasagna covered in gravy, mussels (large) in gravy. The gravy just isn't that good. It's a little too sweet. I left a lot of mine over. Sorry, I went in to really like it. The service didn't help. Who needs a waitress with attitude?

We were told of this place during an Italian Market Tour (Immersion Food Tour) so we backtracked and ate lunch here. The BEST meatballs so that is what I ordered. Their meatballs have won national awards and they did not disappoint. The 3 of us split 2 lunches: Meatball and Spaghetti, and Eggplant Parmigiana - both were very good. The place is a hole-in-the-wall and more of a hidden gem for locals, but we found it and can now claim we also ate there! We were tempted to try their desserts....the couple next to us said they come from New Jersey to eat here.

What can one say excellent sauce great pasta red wine and love. Thanks for a great meal. I do not think you could do better if what you are looking for is an Italian meal, well prepared. Someday I'll have to try the meatballs which are prepared fresh every day, but until then will savor the meal I had last night

We have been going to Villa di Roma for years but have not been there recently. This Saturday night we arrived with another couple and stood against the bar wall, which is usual, for 45 minutes before we were seated. We ordered and waited one hour and fifteen minutes for our entrees to arrive. Not only did they come out one at a time with 5 minute intervals for each diner but the pasta with tuna that my husband always orders was tasteless. When after an hour of waiting for our meals, we asked very politely if there was a problem and our waitress looked at us like we ridiculous to ask such a question and her reply as she zoomed past us was "Everything is homemade." Villa, your food is always great, and we are used to waiting for a table but not an hour and fifteen minutes for the food to arrive and not even at the same time! Too many other good restaurants to go to where the customers are valued,

I love the meatballs and gravy so much that when I do not have time to dine in I run in and take out gravy and meatballs and cook the pasta at home. This is a throwback of motherly south Philly waitresses and old style Italian home cooking with friendly faces at the bar. We love it here.

Starting with the greeting and all the way through the meal, we were treated like family. My chicken Lorraine was excellent, as was my husband's shrimp scampi. Charming server and experience.

This is one of the most overrated restaurants in the city. The minute you walk in there's an attitude. And that's from the owner!!!! Paper menu... with no explanation of their dishes. Who knows what is in their chicken bucca??? napkins are paper too. Totally overpriced!! And I live in south Philly!!!! Tourists, stay away. Go to Passyunk Ave for great authentic Italian food! If you must go on 9th Street go to Ralph's!!

We have been going to the Villa for decades. It is a no frills place, but they have white tablecloths with paper napkins. They serve wholesome Italian food that lacks any kind of finesse or contemporary trends and consists of hearty pasta dishes .... spaghetti and meatballs....and veal and chicken dishes and sometimes they have tuna steak.....mussels in wine or red sauce..... They never seem to change their menu. It is a cash only business.....and no reservations are taken...the waitstaff is female. They cater to locals from the upscale urban sections in SouthPhilly, where people don't cook on weekends, and to tourists and other word-of-mouth converts and are they ever busy !!!!!!! It can be a zoo. I don't think they do this huge business because they are any better than the other Italian restaurants there, but maybe because they are located right smack in the middle on 9th Street, in the middle of the Italian market, that shabby of shabbiest of all places........made famous by Sly Stallone. My husband likes veal piccata there, I range from chicken neapolitan or sicilian to tuna steak with arrabiata sauce......they do make a good thick tomato 'gravy' ! but beware of the foibles of Pipi the owner/host ! if you should be dissatisfied with your order, you are chastised publicly. I ordered tuna RARE, always have, and always will, but I was unlucky this time. We had waited for over 1/2 hour for our entree and it must have been sitting in the kitchen, continuing to cook. The tuna arrived MEDIUM and when I voiced my disappointment with that, I was told that this was considered RARE by them. I was openly, with loud voice, asked to not come back, because they couldn't fix me another piece of tuna, as there was none left, told me there was nothing already ready to serve me and to vamoose since we are too picky, wanting tuna rare and veal thin and lemony. Pipi told us, WE HAD CHANGED in our attitude, and the cooks were fine and the waitresses on the ball. Well, Pipi, go and eat your Italian food. We'll take out money somewhere else.

What a wonderful place! Great Italian food and friendly service! We stopped in for lunch today. We like sitting at the bar and we both ordered the same dish, linguini with white clam sauce. First we were given Italian bread and we were brought reinforcements which was good because it was needed to soak up that delicious sauce once we had consumed the linguini and most of the clams! The service was friendly and prompt! I will definitely return!

This is a cash only restaurant, so load up on the greenbacks and come visit for a superb Italian meal in the heart of the Italian Market!

My grandmothers weren't Italian but if there were they would have cooked like this.Traditional red gravy that has remained consistently delicious for years

You walk in off the FILTHY streets of the Italian Market...( we are talking piles of trash, rotten fruit, and stench) The attitude when you walk in the door has been discussed by other reviewers. The food is heavy and presented without any care. Our waitress smelled like perfume and cigarettes. I just don’t understand the appeal in a city with such good restaurants

A group of 8 had a really nice dinner at Villa di Roma. This casual resto in the Italian market is a nice place to have good Italian food at a great price. Our server was warm and welcoming with a genuine smile. She recommended some dishes and was attentive without being pushy! The atmosphere is that old world Italian restaurant. Great for families or couples. Everything seemed clean and well cared for even though I think it's been around awhile! We had ravioli, eggplant parmesan, veal parm, pasta alfredo, and of course the meatballs. Each of the dishes was excellent and the portions large. The shrimp salad was so drenched with dressing so that it was not appetizing at all. My green salad, however, was lightly dressed and tasty. My SIL wasn't impressed with her spaghetti in clam sauce. She said it was just okay. I recommend getting the carafe wine...it's inexpensive and tasty! Lastly, I would consider getting some meatballs to go. I make my own and these are some of the best resto meatballs I've ever had. And to top it off, our bill was extremely affordable!

Incredible service. Nice atmosphere. But more important -- absolutely incredible food. I like liver -- any liver...even poorly cooked -- but i LOVE liver that is prepared well. The chicken liver a la Romana was SUPERB. Liver sauteed perfectly -- not overcooked, not too pink -- with onions, green peppers, and mushrooms, swimming in a glorious sauce that I mopped up with copious amounts of good Italian bread. I can't wait for my next trip to Philly. I will be back.