Borromini

I absolutely loved my experience at Borromini! The food, the drinks, the service, the ambiance-all top notch! My favorites were the Focaccia di Recco, Sicilian Chopped Salad, Lasagna, Spaghetti Limone, Carbonara, Amatriciana and Rabbit Cacciatore. It's the best Italian food that I've had in Philadelphia. Can't wait to go back!

Showed up at 6pm on New Years Eve without a reservation and they had a table available! Amen. Granted, it was next to the bar and occasionally got a little noisy & crowded, but beggars can’t be choosers. We did ask one group that was bumping into us what their plans were. Fortunately they were waiting on their table & left soon afterwards. Everything was delicious. Good wine list. Most of the staff was excellent except the one guy too lazy to walk around a round table to serve the wine. Yes, it gets loud but it’s not the loudest Italian restaurant in Philly. Bathrooms are clean. We were pleasantly surprised & will return soon.

borromini in rittenhouse square was such a romantic experience. we had a 9:45 dinner reservation on a tuesday night. since it was late we had our choice of seating. we sat in a corner booth overlooking the restaurant and the stunning bar. all of the staff were friendly and always kept our glasses filled. we started with drinks, the hugo and the vespa. both were refreshing. we ordered the prosciutto di parma. i saw pictures everywhere of the dish served with melon but we had cheese lathered in honey, which was still good. for the pasta, we ordered the 100 layer lasagna and oxtail mafaldine which we both fought over. for the main, we got the chicken milanese. this may be biased as an italian who lives in south philly, but it wasn't anything special. the arugula salad it came with was good but next time i will definitely try something else. also we asked for bread for the table, and they brought us a basket with three small pieces and charged $8 for it, so fyi bread is not complimentary and i would go without it. i ordered the blanco negroni with our main which was perfect with the chicken. for dessert we got an espresso martini and cappacino - both good, no brown sugar though. but the dessert was absolutely to die for. we had the chocolate olive oil cake and it came with their house made gelato that paired perfectly. overall 9/10 experience. total price was $270 after tip. will be coming back for sure!

The hype proves justified at this new Starr flagship adjacent Rittenhouse Sq. The buzz, ambience, and decor are spectacular, and the place was packed on a Wednesday night. The service staff is highly professional, and many members have worked their way through the ranks to join the team. The food is well presented and tasty, though not yet among Philly’s best offerings. For me, the dinning experience is top tier.

Borromini was wonderful! One of the highlights of our meal was the Pane Foccaccia, which was warm, tasty, and just perfect. We also got the Gnocchetti Sardi (had an incredible amount of crab) and the Amatriciana (the sauce was delicious). The pasta was cooked to perfection. We ended with the chocolate olive oil cake, which was really good. Not to mention, the wait staff was great. Can’t wait to go back!

A triumph for Rittenhouse Square, Philadelphia, and the world! Impeccable service that included the nearly-forgotten-art-form of crumbing the table! Super attentive: We never had to refill our water or wine glasses even a single time. Beautiful décor and authentic Italian feel. While I have seen some complaints about the music, I did not find any issue with it. I think it would be fun though, for it to be Italian Pop or disco or Andrea Bocelli or the like. Would be an improvement but I did not have a problem with the music as it is now. If the reviews complaining about salty food, were ever true, that is no longer the case. All of the dishes were appropriately seasoned and greatly enhanced the natural flavors. Likewise, while the servings were elegant, they did not feel stingy. - Pomodoro Martini - This martini is a good reminder that tomato is a fruit, not a vegetable! Remarkably delicious! -Borro-Mini-Tini - Cute demi serving of a martini with delicious flavors of burrata brine. Great if you don't want to get sloshed before the entree. - Carafe of House Red - delicious and affordable. Was a great accompaniment to our meal. - Foccacia di Recco - light, crispy, delicious! For those complaining about it, they don't know what this dish is supposed to be. Google it. - Arrancini - perfection! - Peppers alla Nonna - The star of the show - not sure how you get peppers to taste this good, but they were mind blowing. Beautiful pairing with Foccacia. - Vittelo tonnato - A favorite dish of mine and very well prepared. Really loved the crispy capers. - Artichoke & arugula - Excellent! - Amatriciana - Really good, al dente pasta, evenly spiced, guanciale texture was great - Lasagna - I love a gimmick and this did not disappoint! Style AND substance! - Rabbit caciatore - best rabbit I've ever eaten - tender and flavorful - and a very hearty serving of root vegetables. - Rapini - interesting horeradish notes - pungent and toothsome. - Tiramisu - not your classic pudding texture - cream is freshly layered over lady fingers providing much more texture than the normal goopy mess. Pricing was appropriate for the quality and if you're going to complain about paying for bread you should stop wasting everyone's time and go to Olive Garden. I am glad the tasteless morons who gave one star reviews do not plan to revisit this restaurant, because it will make it easier for me to get a reservation in the future. Bravi tutti!

I thoroughly enjoyed my evening at Borromini. The atmosphere is so cozy and romantic, our waitress was delightful, and the food was really good. We ordered the gnochetti sardi, the tortellini di ricotta, the crostini toscani and the shaved brussel sprouts. Everything was delicious. They do have a rotating menu so don’t be surprised when you get there and it’s a bit different from what you read online. It’s a little loud for a first date but perfect for regular date night, special occasions, friends night out and even business dinners.

Borromini felt incredibly comfortable as if it’s always been here, and the food was a whole new level of perfection. Birrata was very good, and the figs stole the show. Carbonara was the best I can remember. The eggplant was some sort of miracle in its crispy yet creamy consistency that I’ll be thinking about all week. Mrs (keto diet) loved her steak and enjoyed smelling my dessert…and making a mustache with the cookies from her cappuccino. A+++++ and I can’t wait until they open for lunch. Bonus for music variety and unsweetened iced tea being available

Quick trip in Philly 🇺🇸✨ Had such a great time here! Everyone was super friendly, and the vibe was relaxed in the best way. Honestly, I wanted to eat and drink everything on the menu. The cannoli? Dream material! 🥂

Focaccia di recco magnificent appetizer for every cheese lover 😮‍💨 Every single dish exceeded expectations! The server Lina with best energy and professionalism! Prices adequate to the quality of service, atmosphere and food 🩵 New favorite spot from now on for us🥰

My husband and I enjoyed our dinner experience! We were seated quickly and our server was attentive and chatty. Really extensive wine selection and loved the Italian region summaries on the wine list. Dishes we ordered that we’d recommend and would order again: #1: the cheesy stuffed focaccia crisp. I don’t know how else to describe it beyond just absolutely delicious and comforting. I would DEFINITELY get again. #2: 100 layer lasagna (rich and perfect portion size to share amongst two persons as a second course). #3: lamb chops. My husband said it was one of the best he’s ever had. Juicy, good portion and flavorful. I’m not a big lamb person but I did enjoy bites of his. #4: chicken Milanese. I make this at home and it this version was very delicious. I wouldn’t order the shaved Brussels sprouts salad again; IMO it needed more punch to its dressing. Nothing inspiring here so I def think room for improvement here. I will say this place is not better than some of my favorite Italian spots in Philly, but that is because there are SO many good options here and each place has a special place in my heart (I.e. Burrata/luna BYOB, Tulip Pasta and Wine, etc). Overall it’s a great, beautiful addition to Rittenhouse square. We’ll be back!!

Almost didn’t bother to come because reviews were not the best. So glad we didn’t listen. The food was FANTASTIC. every bite we ate we enjoyed, and our group ordered a lot! From the escarole and beans to the pomodoro, to the lasagna! GET THE LASAGNA. This place doesn’t disappoint. And our server was so attentive and helpful. My advice, come with a group you like splitting food with so you can try a lot

Truly a wonderful experience from the moment I entered the door! The food, service and atmosphere was truly incredible. There were too many great dishes to even have a full break down! My personal favorites were the veal Parm and 100 layer lasagna. The waitress was very knowledgeable about the menu and offered many great wine selections. Speaking of wine, they have incredible wine selection. 10/10.

This is a beautiful, charming new restaurant with great food, amazing and authentic ambiance (you really feel like you're in Italy, watching the people stroll by). The hundred layer lasagna is a must-try! You should definitely give this one a try! Two thumbs up!

Amazing!!! I was so looking forward to the opening, and it did not disappoint. The staff were incredibly kind, and our waiter Nicola was superb. Our table ordered the steak, lobster pasta, and the oxtail mafaldine for entrees. every dish was excellent. Nicola also recommended the focaccia di recco to start, and I’m so glad he did because it was absolutely delicious. Drinks were fantastic, and the tiramisu was stunning (not too dense, just perfect). I also want to highlight how accommodating they were with dietary restrictions. My mother has celiac disease, and when she asked about options, they offered gluten-free pasta. She ultimately chose the steak, but it’s worth noting that she had no issues afterward, which means they handled cross-contamination carefully. She also had the Prosciutto e Melone to start with. The staff seemed knowledgeable and attentive about this, which gave us peace of mind. Overall, a wonderful experience from start to finish.

Loved our experience last night. Vibes. Service. Food. All exceptional. Wasn’t sure what to expect after all the critics, but it almost made me want to go more—and I’m glad we did. Favorites: Sicilian Chopped Salad, Clam Pizzetta, and Pasta Al Limone.

Any review below a 4/5 is just insane. Steven Starr outdid himself as always. We ordered a bunch of items, my favorite was the Oxtail pasta. Service was very solid, accommodating. Reminded me of Parc. 10/10, will go again (if I can get a reservation again! :)

Amazing location- at the heart of Rittenhouse Square, amazing atmosphere inside - typical Italian style with amazing atmosphere. Food is extremely delicious. Personnel very attentive and professional. One of the most favorite restaurants in Philadelphia 🫶

Anyone who doesn’t like this place has NO taste. As a world traveler-this place is legit. Great food, great drinks, and better service. The vibe is incredible too. Anyone who doesn’t like this place honestly has no motion and is trying to tear down philly for whatever reason.

It took us a while to try out Borromini as many friends gave it mixed reviews saying food wasn't that great and overpriced. But being Steven Starr, we knew we must try it and glad we did. The food was excellent, tailored a bit towards American tastes and not entirely authentic, but very close. I had to try the 100-layer lasagne and it was delicious. While it looked small, it filled me up but also left me room for dessert. I chose the panna cotta with butternut squash and a pumpkin seed crumble. Very creative, not overly sweet, and perfection! Cocktails (sidecar for me!) were excellent. Price-wise it is on the more expensive side, but not outrageous and seems on par with many other restaurants of a higher end. The only downside was the sound level. The music was playing very loud and competing with all of the people who were trying to talk over it, which brings the decibel level up even higher. I have a hearing impairment and wear hearing aids, and the noise level was unbearable. I would love to go back and hope that they can place me at a quieter table.

Borromini is the newest addition to Rittenhouse Square and truly feels like you’re stepping into Italy. The ambiance is impeccable! Finally came in for lunch after letting the hype of not being able to get a reservation died down. Started with an espresso martini which was rich, creamy and a tad sweet. It was great. We got the spaghetti al limone and chicken milanese sandwich. The spaghetti was al dente, light, tart and all around delicious. The chicken milanese was so juicy and tender, yet still crispy. The greens and aioli rounded out the sandwich. The bread was soft and scooped so it didn’t overpower. Extremely well executed. The tiramisu was a miss. I prefer mine more moist so it melts in my mouth, this was on the dryer side. I wouldn’t recommend it. I think it’s a lovely place with great ambiance. It didn’t knock my socks off, but we are blessed with so many amazing Italian restaurants in Philly. This one is unique in the way you truly feel transported to Italy.

Not bad! The ambiance is the best part and the drinks were great. Lovely location as well looking out onto Rittenhouse Square. Food wasn’t bad but portions were a bit small for how much you pay. The lasagna was delicious though! Service was fine. I would definitely return to try other things on the menu

We came right at 5pm when they opened and there was already a line, but plenty of seating at the bar upstairs and downstairs. The bartender was super friendly, and drinks were good though a bit pricey. My favorite was the Sicilian Lifeguard Pasta (calamari pasta). Food and service were great, but it took a while to come out. The only downside was the crowd, too many people standing around behind us. Overall, definitely worth a visit!

The decor inside is very nice and the outdoor seating was lovely! Our server was very friendly and helpful with menu suggestions and his favorites. We ordered to share. The arugula artichoke salad was good, but too much dressing for our taste. The broccoli rabe was too salty (tho the waiter warned us it was a bit salty). The Calamarata “Sicilian Lifeguard” style was very good and the Branzino was excellent!! The best branzino we’ve ever had and a very generous portion! Our fav for sure! One thing for sure, the wine is definitely overpriced! Small pour for wines by the glass and wines by the bottle are way overpriced!

It’s definitely good for special occasions. The only reason only 4 was the price. It’s pricey that lacks the wow factor. I ordered a $72 veal parm and was expecting on the bone pounded out on a goat plate. What I got was a basic size no thrills veal parm. Everything had great flavor, server was great, hostess team was very friendly and attention to detail was amazing.

TL;DR: Great atmosphere, lively vibe, and excellent service from our server Lina. Drinks and food were good, but the food didn’t quite feel worth the high price point, and some dishes seemed like they had been prepped ahead. Host service could be smoother, and sitting by the air vent was uncomfortable, though staff handled it well. The veal parm is a must-try. Solid new Starr spot, worth visiting, but with room for refinement. Borromini, the newest Stephen Starr addition in Philly, definitely brings the energy you would expect from one of his restaurants. The atmosphere and ambience were excellent, with the dining room packed and filled with the incredible aromas coming from the kitchen. It is a lively spot that feels perfect for a night out. The front-of-house service was fine, though it could use some refinement. We arrived about ten minutes before our reservation and were told to return at the exact reservation time rather than being checked in and then seated when the table was ready. This was not a major issue, but it felt less polished compared to other high-end restaurants. Once we were seated, our server Lina was wonderful. She was attentive, warm, and helped us make great choices with food recommendations. Drinks were very good and complemented the meal nicely. The food itself was flavorful and enjoyable, but it did not quite feel as substantial as I would have expected given the price point. My friend and I ordered a large amount of food and initially everything came out all at once. After mentioning this to Lina, she quickly had the courses spaced out more appropriately. While tasty, a few of the dishes had the sense of being prepared in advance and then held for a short time before serving. It was not enough for me to complain about, but it was noticeable. The standout dish was the veal parm, which I would certainly recommend. Our table was unfortunately right next to an air vent, which made the space uncomfortably cold at first. The staff, however, handled the situation well and did everything they could to adjust the temperature, which I truly appreciated. Overall, Borromini is a lively and enjoyable new restaurant with excellent staff, a vibrant atmosphere, and good food. There is still room for improvement with portion value and certain service touches, but it is definitely worth visiting, especially for anyone who appreciates the Starr dining experience.

I had lunch here and really enjoyed it. The sandwich was super delicious and the bread was fresh and soft. I didn’t really like the salad though it had a strong flavor probably from the blue cheese. It was just the side salad so not a big deal. Overall the restaurant is elegant and has a great atmosphere.

For the prices, the pasta dishes could definitely be better. The guanciale were burnt to a crisp on the carbonara (you could actually taste it) and the lasagna was meatless - but I should have seen it. At least the artichoke salad was good and the olive oil gelato was also great. The service and atmosphere compensated for the dining experience

Beautiful new restaurant that hopefully is still working things out. The noise level was too loud and the service we experienced was just ok, with a rather long wait to get our drinks. The food was mostly good though, but probably wouldn't get the tiramisu dessert again.

Went for lunch, overall a good experience. We ordered multiple dishes and cocktails. Amazing service, wonderful atmosphere, the vibe was immaculate with a great soundtrack. The only thing that got me was while all the food and drinks were good, clearly very high quality, great presentation, nothing really made me say “I have to come back for X”. No dish stood out as amazing, no cocktail blew me away. Again everything was great, leagues above chain restaurants. The bread on my meatball parm sandwich was clearly very fresh. I just didn’t fall in love with anything enough to say I had to have it again.

The establishment its self is unique and beautiful, music is a little louder and I would think they would go with a more traditional style Italian music considering they’re design but didn’t matter to much to me. The food was delicious: The olive oil used on the Crudo was incredible, the sea bream was incredible when accompanied with it. The calamari was good, a light fry and very tender, good flavor and very nice aioli. The Burrata was incredible, a mixture of cherries you wouldn’t traditionally expect to work but the very very slight sour and also creaminess of burrata mixed with the sweet cherries and nuts over a perfectly charred crustini was perfect. The Foccacia was simple and delicious but heavy on the salt. Forget the 100 layer lasagne get the Ossa Bucco Di Vitello, incredible braised veal with a delicious broth. (I’m sure the lasagne is good as well) Dessert: The cannolis were simple but lacked flavor, clearly freshly or newly piped as the crack of the shell was on point. The tiramisu was so much different than what I’ve had before and it was great! It seems they created a mascarpone (or what ever base they use) foam through a food whipper for base instead of a thick and creamy filling for the tiramisu. The lady fingers are heavily dipped, almost looked like they may have been chocolate based. But I heavily recommend trying this. Drink: The Pomodoro martini is special: A unexpected drink that you just gave to try The chocolate martini initially came out in a non “creamy” form but our waitress even knew to double check with us and simple re made it traditionally, it was alright.

I am a fan of Steven Starr restaurants, but I have to admit, I was not impressed. The location is well-placed. It’s right off the square, and has a nice outdoor seating with heaters as well as an indoor area. We were sat outdoors. The service was kind, but slow. At times we were forgotten and had to really work to call down our server. Additionally, for being an Italian restaurant, you expect complimentary bread with oil, but there was none to be had - this was a BIG miss. The focaccia was $7… The 100 layer lasagna was quite good, but aside from that, this menu does not stand out much for vegetarians. The lemon pasta came short, and really missed the mark. The tiramisu was quite good, but the ladyfinger was very dry, almost as if it was stale or hadn’t been soaked enough. We went on a Friday night so this was pretty disappointing. I’ll try coming back in a few months - I know new restaurants can take a bit of time to adjust. Hopefully it will be better then!

The ambiance is nothing Italian. The bar has limited alcohol selection. Specifically there are very few reasonable tequila choices. The food was nothing special. We come from suburbs and we have better Italian restaurants near where we live without the need to go downtown. Steak was not good at all- chewy. Dorado was good but small portion. Deserts were ok as well. Overall, expected much more from Steven Starr restaurant especially with all the hype. Unlikely to come back.

The evening began with confusion at the host stand. The entryway was crowded, and there was no clear sense of where to wait or how guests were being checked in. When the hostess was finally ready, she appeared uncertain of our reservation, and it took several minutes before we were seated. We were led upstairs to a handsomely decorated second floor — spacious, elegant, and clearly designed to impress. From there, however, the service faltered. I requested a high chair for my son three separate times before one finally arrived nearly ten minutes later, with the chair it was replacing still remaining. It was a small but telling lapse in attentiveness. Cocktails were our next introduction to the operation. The restaurant was heavily staffed — at times, it seemed there were more employees than diners — yet the rhythm of service felt disjointed. Though the restaurant has only recently opened, the group behind it has enough experience that one would expect smoother execution. My wife’s cocktail, a glass of Prosecco, arrived with an unexpected garnish floating inside. When she pointed it out, our server offered to “scoop it out with a straw” rather than replace the drink — an amateurish response for any establishment aspiring to fine dining standards. We handled it ourselves and moved on. For appetizers, my wife chose the prosciutto and melon. The prosciutto was excellent: rich, salty, and perfectly sliced. Unfortunately, the melon was under-ripe and tough, undermining the balance of the dish. The server, seemingly unaware, continued to praise how “beautiful” it looked — a comment that missed the point entirely. My clam pizzetta, on the other hand, was genuinely good: crisp, flavorful, and well-executed. Our son’s pasta with red sauce was a simple success; he devoured it. When the entrées arrived, the service again stumbled. My wife had stepped away with our son, yet both dishes were delivered and left cooling on the table — her Cacio e Pepe in particular, a dish that must be served piping hot to maintain its silky texture. Mine, a veal parmigiana I had been eager to try, was another disappointment. I had expected the bone-in presentation featured in the restaurant’s own promotions, but instead received a boneless cut. When I asked about it, the runner casually explained that “they switched it up.” At $72 — without even a side of pasta — that kind of inconsistency is hard to justify. The room may be lovely and the ambition apparent, but polish and precision are what separate an impressive debut from an uneven experience. For now, this restaurant shows promise, but it has yet to earn the confidence its prices demand.

The service was very good, efficient and pleasant. The arancini were delicious. The oxtail was tasty but was served tepid, it was cold half way through. The eggplant was ok but not that interesting. The tiramisu (at $16) was mediocre, dry, seemed thrown together last minute with cream, no mascarpone. The place is very good looking but I was a bit disappointed with the food.

It was a nice dinner but I don't think I'd go again. The waiter was knowledgeable and very nice but it took forever. About 20 minutes to order apps, another 20 for entrees and it took a while. The food was ok, not the best and it also was expensive for the portions we were receiving.

The interior of this space is beautiful. The staff were very nice, however the service itself was slow. It was about 20 mins between finishing apps and the main course coming out then another 20 mins for the dessert to come out. Now let’s talk about the food. It was just okay. The drinks weren’t great and the apps weren’t good. Got the artichokes and at the price, it’s not worth it at all. The clam pizzetta was nothing to write home about. The pasta was okay, but again, nothing amazing. The one redeeming quality was the dessert and wine selection. Overall I won’t be going back any time soon.

Was really excited to try Borromini until we got to the restaurant and were rushed the entire time. Literally felt like we were under a microscope by the managers and servers. Every time I looked up, I was making eye contact with a worker staring at me. I’ve never been so uncomfortable. The restaurant was dead empty the entire time we were dining, so it’s not like they had a big line for our table. The millisecond I would take the last sip of my drink, they would come over and take it from me. I was still taking the last bite of tuna tartare before the waitress snapped the plate away from us. Not kidding, was still scooping up tuna with the wonton cracker. I couldn’t eat without waiters or managers coming up to us asking if we enjoyed the food. I wouldn’t know because you took the food away from us so fast!!!!!!! I would also like to point out that a manger was seated next to us and was service testing a waiter. The manager was dressed/acting like a secret service agent (legit thought Joe Biden left his detail there from the night before). Mind you, our reservation was at 5pm on a Friday. Maybe a Monday would have been a better time for training tests? He ordered the fritto misto, Pane Focaccia (which was bread the size of a pizza), pasta, and chicken - he took 1 or 2 bites of everything and asked for it to be cleared. The amount of waste I saw was ridiculous. Especially in a city with so many homeless - easily could have boxed the food up and gave it to the homeless sitting outside on the corner. It’s a shame because the food was good. They definitely have some unique dishes. The 100 layer lasagna was delicious and really enjoyed the tuna tartare. I’m REALLY hoping they work the kinks out after the first few opening weeks.

I was so excited to try the newest restaurant in Rittenhouse but was very disappointed in the service and the food. The restaurant is huge and absolutely stunning, they did such a great job on the design but, everything else was mid. We had a reservation but our table wasn’t ready upon arrival and when we finally were seated took a while to even get water. Our server was a mess, unorganized, and seemed like he never was a server before. The food was so sad, which is so disappointing. Everything was heavily salted and underwhelming with little flavor. The artichoke appetizer was actually the most pathetic dish I ever saw in a restaurant. It was hard and has zero flavor and for almost $20 is crazy. The star of the show was the chicken, it was a good value and delish. Everything else was so mid.

We had the squash and rice ball for appetizers and they were decent. My date had the eggplant. That was good. I had the chicken Milanese and it was super bland. The waiter raved about tiramisu and it was HORRIBLE. Worst ever had. The cappuccino was also terrible. Atmosphere ropes you in. Definitely not worth the price at all.