La Viola

Rittenhouse Square, Philadelphia-- One of the cutest BYOBs in the city, this is a neighborhood gem and one of our fave restaurants in the city. Great as a date spot or for a fun meal with friends, it features "moderately cheap" authentic Italian food in a European-style atmosphere (note: it's CASH ONLY). When you come to eat here, prepare to get cozy with your neighboring tables. Just like dining out in a small trattoria in Rome, the tables are connected with each other and you're pretty much sitting right next to strangers- but that just adds to the charm of this place. Also, if you know you definitely want to eat here, I would recommend calling ahead for a reservation. It can get very crowded around dinnertime since it's so popular. In fact, they actually created a second restaurant (La Viola Ouest) right across the street. It features the same menu and is sometimes easier to get a reservation to. One negative thing about this joint is that the waiters talk very slowly and loudly at you when they are telling you the specials (almost as if they thought we were "special").
Side note: If you get a window seat, it's really fun to watch the waiters run across the street to and from the two La Violas (sometimes carrying plates of food).

Now let's talk about food and drank. The nice thing about this establishment is that there's no corkage fee and they'll chill your wine for you, if you want. That means you can bring multiple bottles and have one chillin' on the side while you're drinking tha otha! Also, the sourdough bread they bring out is always warm and tasty. They have an olive oil, balsamic vinegar, and herbs dipping sawce which is pretty standard, but still delicious.

Appetizer: Grigliata Di Calamari (grilled calamari marinated in lemon juice, garlic and peppered extra virgin olive oil) $8- This is da trufe. We had never had grilled calamari before this (usually it's always deep fried), and this was a great first-time experience. The calamari was chewy and all of the flavors of the marinade mixed really well together. The quantity was just right for an appetizer.

Funghi Trentino (porcini shitaki and portobello mushrooms in a garlic basil and olive oil sauce) $8 - This was aiiiite. If you luh to eat shrooms like Mario, then this is for you. In my opinion, mushrooms are good in small doses. When these little fungi are constantly embarging in my mouth, I pretty much get sick of them. Anyway, the gravy that it comes with is very tasty and goes well with the bread after you have finished shrooming up.

Entrees: Gnocchi Al Filetto Di Pomodoro (homemade gnocchi with spinach and ricotta cheese in fresh tomato basil sauce) $10- This is my favorite dish and I get it every time. If you are a gnocchi lover, this is the entree for you. The green gnocchi (alien turds) are soft and doughy and look really pretty covered in the tomato basil sauce. The plate is plentiful, which means I often have trouble finishing it.

Ravioli Alla Viola (homemade ravioli stuffed with lobster in a pink cognac sawce) $14 - It was pretty good but not as good as the gnocchi. Each ravioli is fairly large but the portion size for this entree isn't as sufficient as the others. The filling was very flavorful and you could really taste the lobster in each bite.

Orecchiette Alla Romana (shell shaped pasta tossed with chicken, sausage & mushrooms in a white garlic sauce with french plum tomatoes) $13- This is a fantastic dish, especially for meat lovers (pause). The chicken and sausage are tender and juicy and the sauce is really creamy and delectable. Louie thought this dish was a little spicy, but it was a very large portion size and it was very yummy.

Dessert: Tiramisu $6- This homemade tiramisu was off da hook. It was light and creamy but not overly sweet. The portion size was perfect and you should definitely be careful not to J your P. After finishing the dessert, it is really difficult not to lick the plate dry.

Overall grade:
A+ (Steph) - Excellent food, cheap prices, intimate yet lively atmosphere. It feels like I get to travel to Italy for an hour or two every time I go here (maybe it's because all of the waiters are foreigners)...which I love.

A (Louie) - Best Italian restaurant. My favorite place to go in Philly besides Popeye's. Large portions, very delicious, good prices, GREAT place for a date, you sit right next to other people, familial environment, service is pretty fast.