Isabella D'Amico (Bella)

Most recently came here for a friend's birthday night out. Gorgeous dining experience, from the seating to the service to, most importantly, the food. Everyone enjoyed their dinner and I was thoroughly impressed with the authenticity of the bruschetta. Their wine, cocktail, etc. list is massive. Yes, you will most likely drop a pretty penny, but it's worth it for a special time.

Ryan Rosenbaum

Excellent food, service, and atmosphere. The staff is quick and helpful. The dance of flavors between the appetizers, entrees, and desserts were magnificent. A little bit of a walk from the theater but well worth it for a date night out. Careful with the stairs and it’s narrow when walking between tables, but to me this just elevated the coziness of it all. We will definitely come again!

Bridget

Food. Service. Location. Atmosphere. All a 10!! The crab cakes were amazing and like nothing I've ever had. I highly recommend this restaurant for authentic Italian food.

Skye Altaire

Very cute and stylish with a friendly waiter from Italy who helped answer our questions about the menu and was happy to give suggestions . All the food was heavenly and came pretty quickly . Don't forget the gelato and hot chocolate!

Elena Yee

We stopped here for an early lunch on a whim and glad we did! They were able to easily accommodate us since it was a weekday. The hostess and the waiter were warm, welcoming and attentive. The dining space is upstairs and quite cozy. We had pasta - seafood wrapped in pasta which was delicious and different, and gnocchi which was tender with a lovely cream sauce. We had wine, coffee and dessert as well. The cost was quite reasonable for all we had. We hope to visit again!

+1

Josh V

Came here to carb load for the Philidephia marathon and was recommended by family to go here. I had the Sugo Della Domenica and the meat choices were amazing that pair with the Pasta. The sauce is hard for me to describe but was different from most places but works well with the meal. I would definitely come back for this meal.

Valeria Cappabianca

it really is a little piece of Italy in Philadelphia. We had a deliciously flavory colazione ( breakfast in Italian) with croissant and frutti di bosco(berries) tiramisu, an espresso italian coffee, on a little table on the sidewalk, admiring the beauty of the city. My family and I were in heaven🤩

+3

Tiffany T

This was my first time here and I got the Parma Panini. It was extremely delicious, and fresh. I’m not a big fan of the $12 for a 3 ingredient sandwich, but I understand the location and the prices in the neighborhood. And hey, it was a really good little treat for myself. All of the staff I interacted with were super friendly, and that alone made me want to come back. The market was super cute and I’m excited to come back and peruse it, and try more food!

Sarah C

I think this might be my new favorite Italian restaurant in the city! I’ve always heard great things about this place but never got around to trying it until yesterday. I got the tomato & basil bruschetta (best bruschetta I’ve had in my life), the Gnocchi alla Bava (I didn’t want it to ever end!!), and the cherry and salted caramel gelato for dessert (SO GOOD). We sat outside on the sidewalk and it was a bit cramped. The tables outside are all really close to each other and it kind of felt like we were on top of each other where it was uncomfortable how close the guests at the table next to us were. And our server was good, but I think he must have been pretty busy with other tables because it took a good bit of time in between each time he came around to check on us. Regardless, I will definitely be back for the delicious food but will probably opt in for the indoor seating next time! Can’t wait to try the other items on the menu because it all sounded so great.

Rahaf Mihyar

If I could give more than 5 stars, I would happily do! They professionally arranged a table for 26 people (even though our initial booking was for 15), served us nothing but great Italian dishes pretty quick, and figured out how to split bills with no hassle!! Their teamwork was impressive!! 👌👌👌

+3

sick Devon

Definitely a little Italian embassy in central Philadelphia! Best gelato in town doubtless; Stunning service and super friendly environment; Authentic traditional Italian food with a meticulous attention to the weekly specials; The wine cellar selection is incredible and gives the chance to taste premium wines as Tignanello 2019 by the glass for a very reasonable price; As well as the signature cocktail list (the coffee-infused negroni is a hit, espresso martini likewise). Highly recommended *****

Jeremy Alfano

First off, the place is beautiful and the staff were very friendly. Great service. Went here for a work event so was fortunate to try most of the menu. Every appetizer was great; the Parmesan gelato on the charcuterie board was a unique addition. All the pastas and meat dishes blew everyone away. And can’t leave without trying the gelato. It’s the best in town.

+5

I came here during Restaurant Week so the restaurant was pretty busy. My friend and I were seated on second floor and it was full with patrons. Riley our waitress was very nice and professional. He…

Everything was perfect for a birthday dinner. Every bite & sip was delicious & our server Marco was fantastic. We did the restaurant week menu & it was a GREAT value.

Everything was perfect for a birthday dinner. Every bite & sip was delicious & our server Marco was fantastic. We did the restaurant week menu & it was a GREAT value.

Everything was perfect for a birthday dinner. Every bite & sip was delicious & our server Marco was fantastic. We did the restaurant week menu & it was a GREAT value.

Was there a few days before Christmas for a late breakfast. Their baked goods and cappuccino are exceptional and the bruschetta with caponata was the best I ever had. My only regret is we weren't…

Stopped in for dinner tonight while in town. Ordered the salmone in placca and peach mango gelato. The salmon was delicious! Luca was our server. The restaurant has a down stairs and up stairs area…

Stopped in for dinner tonight while in town. Ordered the salmone in placca and peach mango gelato. The salmon was delicious! Luca was our server. The restaurant has a down stairs and up stairs area…

Always fresh always authentic never frozen the food and the ambience are second. To none in center city. The staff treat you like family as soon as you walk in.

Downstairs is the store, upstairs is the restaurant. Modern upscale atmosphere. Our waiter was clearly from Italy, accent and all. Bruschetta and papparadelle ragu were fantastic. Panzella salad wa…

The food wonderful. ambiance 10 good service Cameriere speak Italian it was like to be home . The only ting the arancino sorry not sicilian \nBut 1 to 10 is 11 grazie tanto

Dinner was fabulous and our server, Riley, made the wonderful meal and experience even better! Thoroughly enjoyed the special appetizer, spaghetti with clams and the Arrosticini (grilled lamb skewe…

Great gelato and other desserts!!! We sat and had coffees and drinks. It was fun to see folks gathered watching a soccer game. Also, some of the staff were very pleasing to the eyes. I'd definitely…

Was transported to Italy last week dining at Gran Caffe L'Aquila. The service was excellent and the food also tasted fresh and authentic. To top it off we enjoyed amazing dessert as well and that r…

We really enjoyed everything about our experience. The food was so delicious, the environment was amazing and everyone from making the reservations, to checking in to our amazing waiter. So happy w…

Delicious food, friendly and knowledgable servers, fantastic desserts. We've enjoyed everything from the wild boar meatballs to the burratta. The carbonara is flavorful but the gnocchi is fantastic…

Delicious food, friendly and knowledgable servers, fantastic desserts. We've enjoyed everything from the wild boar meatballs to the burratta. The carbonara is flavorful but the gnocchi is fanta…

Delicious food, friendly and knowledgable servers, fantastic desserts. We've enjoyed everything from the wild boar meatballs to the burratta. The carbonara is flavorful but the gnocchi is fantast…

Wife and I went to visit her son in Philly and went to Gran Caffe for dinner. Service was outstanding. The food was even more outstanding. The eggplant bruschetta was one of the best things I ever t…

Wife and I went to visit her son in Philly and went to Gran Caffe for dinner. Service was outstanding. The food was even more outstanding. The eggplant bruschetta was one of the best things I ev…

Wife and I went to visit her son in Philly and went to Gran Caffe for dinner. service was outstanding. The food was even more outstanding. The eggplant bruschetta was one of the best things I ever…

We had dinner at Gran Caffe on a recent trip to Philly. After being led upstairs, we were seated in the middle of a lively place to have dinner. The four of us ordered different dishes, and all had…

The food was absolutely amazing along with excellent service. A must try if you're in Philadelphia. You will not be disappointed.

What a surprise. I grew up in the Bronx with many good restaurants. This gem was amazing from the Caponata Bruschetta appetizer to the Gelato dessert. I had the Veal Saltimboca, my wife had the Pa…

The food was absolutely amazing along with excellent service. A must try if you're in Philadelphia. You will not be disappointed.

Superb service and an authentic Italian cafe experience. Cappuccinos and Tiramisu at the bar were very perfectly prepared, served with style by a charming waiter, and delicious. From the street t…

We had lunch here today. Great Italian restaurant. We like everything that we ordered. The service and the ambiance were great. Will come back.

Highly rated in TA and rightly so. The food we had was delicious, octopus starter to share, a tagliatelle and a gnocchi main dish each and fantastic gelato (the strawberry was super tasty). Big s…

Everything was great here ,food ,drink, and Service. Started off with martinis. For appetizer, we had the Barada and rice balls.. I had the chicken dish. My wife had the salmon .finished it with aw…

For antipasti, the Polipo (grilled octopus) was excellent. I also ordered the Pappardelle al Ragu (ribbon pasta with meat sauce) and Arrosticini Biasini (lamb bacon skewers), which were good. For d…

Delicious house made pasta and specials. We started with mortadella and cheese which also had Parmesan gelato on top. Delicious! Followed by 2 pasta dishes we shared (the seafood cannelloni wa…

Wonderful atmosphere-delicious authentic Italian food-award winning gelato and a small shop to boot. We loved this place so much that we ate there twice. Get reservations for dinner!

Went with some colleagues for dinner during a work trip after looking for a good Italian restaurant walk-able from our hotel. It did not disappoint. Nice cafe-like atmosphere-- felt nice and bustl…

Rosie Yu

The atmosphere and decorations here are very interesting, giving the restaurant a unique vibe. But the tables are very close to each other. We ordered the Polipo (grilled octopus leg), Salsiccia Boizanee, Tagliatelle alla Panna (with guitar string noodles), Cinghiale (meatball), and their well-known gelato (pistachio and vanilla). The Polipo was excellent—tender, well-seasoned, and perfectly cooked. Unfortunately, the meatball was the biggest disappointment, served cold and tasting like it might have been frozen. The pasta was just okay; the noodles were undercooked and too firm to enjoy. The highlight was definitely the gelato. The pistachio flavor had a strong, authentic pistachio taste, though both flavors leaned on the sweeter side. Still, it’s worth stopping by for the gelato alone. For a full meal, though, there are probably better options elsewhere.

+1

I've lived in Philly for way to long to have never tried Gran Caffe L'Aquila. A group of friends and I went on a Saturday night for their restaurant week offerings. \n\nWe made a reservation for 6:…

Very good gelato, cute vibe inside. Quick service, fair prices. Would be interested to see their dinner menu as well

Very authentic Italian. Not cheap, and their gelato is very good. The ground floor is nicer than second floor.

Pros\n- the ribbon pasta was soooo good\n- the gelato is by far the best I've ever had!! So so good and reasonably priced. They make it in house!\n- indoor and outdoor seating\n- friendly and fast …

Octopus was spectacular! Broccolini delicious. Homemade pastas - chittara dish on pasta list - were perfect texture and flavor. Cheesecake was light and delicious! Service was attentive and profess…

octopus was spectacular! Broccolini delicious. Homemade pastas - chittara dish on pasta list - were perfect texture and flavor. Cheesecake was light and delicious! Service was attentive and profess…

I have eaten at Gran cafe many times,but recently it has been very disappointing. On my last visit the server seemed very detached and just going through the paces.It was VERY loud in the restauran…

The food was very good but not exceptional. I had the special gnocchi; my wife had branzino. Both were certainly acceptable. The dessert (gellato) was terrific. The restaurant was not overly noisy…

Najib

The hostess and waitress were great. The food not so much. Out of all the dishes, the pistachios gelato was my favorite which makes me think that the great reviews are for the dessert portion of this restaurant/gift shop.

Service was excellent food was tasty but not warm enough. We have frequently visited this restaurant for dessert and it is always delicious so we decided to try an entire meal. The main courses wer…

Eat the Alfredo before it congeals and becomes too thick. The seafood was lacking in the cannelloni, it was all ricotta

Busy on a Saturday night. Made a reservation in advance, and they were able to seat us earlier than expected. Got seated on a high top table. Not the best seats as there wasn't a place to store/han…

Rachel Bromberg (Personal)

I genuinely dislike leaving a negative review for a restaurant I’ve otherwise enjoyed and visited frequently. I am a regular guest here and consistently spend a significant amount when I dine, which is why this experience has been especially disappointing. Over multiple visits, my interactions with the host staff have been uncomfortable and unprofessional. I’ve repeatedly been met with attitude, side-eye, and behavior that feels unnecessarily cliquey and immature. During my most recent visit, four hosts stood whispering to one another while I waited to request a table — an awkward and embarrassing situation, particularly while hosting friends and clients from out of town. What makes this frustrating is that everything else about the restaurant is excellent. The food, atmosphere, servers, and bartenders are all outstanding and create a genuinely authentic experience. That contrast only makes the front-of-house behavior more noticeable. The host stand sets the tone for the entire visit, and unfortunately, the tone here feels unwelcoming and misaligned with the caliber of the establishment. As someone who grew up in the restaurant industry, I find this especially surprising. Front-of-house staff should reflect the quality and professionalism of the restaurant as a whole, and this conduct does not. It’s disappointing to say that, after this experience, I will likely no longer bring visiting friends or clients here or recommend the restaurant to contacts in cities like NYC, the DMV, or LA — despite genuinely wanting to continue supporting a place I otherwise enjoy. A restaurant of this caliber deserves a front-of-house team that matches the experience inside.

Imagine going to a cafe, being respectful and quiet, and suddenly a disgusting Italian cafe waiter comes to you, kicking you out of the table because you sat “more than an hour”! Funny? The place …

Imagine going to a cafe, being respectful and quiet, and suddenly a disgusting Italian cafe waiter comes to you, kicking you out of the table because you sat “more than an hour”! Funny? The plac…