Romantic Italian Fine Dining besides Vetri and Osteria

[carcassone]

Will be in Philly for 3 week nights, staying by Rittenhouse Square. Already have reservations for Bibou and Fish. Looking for great Italian with romantic ambiance under $200 total with wine.

Vetri - fully booked (or closed?) during our stay.
Osteria - not romantic (inside or outside), negative reviews about greasy dishes so I'm looking for alternatives

Thanks in advance.

[sockii]

Cichetteria 19 right off Rittenhouse Square for a Venetian dinner in a very nice setting. I had had a very extravagant meal for two there with wine, mixed drinks, three courses (including salt-baked fish and a special pasta of the night) for under $200 and absolutely loved it.

[sylviag]

Philadelphia has many wonderful Italian restaurants, but most are not the "fine dining" that you seem to have in mind. Why not go to a place that's very good, and enjoy our style of cooking.

We like LeVirtu on Passyunk Avenue. If the weather is suitable, sit out in their enclosed garden area. Don't miss the Misto appetizer for two; it has some unusual dishes.
One of their summer pastas is with lemon flavor, and I have a difficult time not ordering it whenever I'm there. Not an elegant place, but a satisfying experience.

You could also try calling Vetri periodically in case they get a cancellation.

We are also fond of August, at 13th & Wharton. They call it "Italian with a twist." Not a large menu, but everything is always delicious. Small, maybe even romantic. byob, cash only.

[bonappetite]

Cichetteria has been getting great reviews and two chef friends of mine say Le Virtu is the best in the city. If you wanted a BYOB option i would sugges La Violoa or Branzino

[Bob Loblaw]

melograno is quite good, and takes reservations on weeknights.
i've never eaten at porcini, but from the outside it does *look* romantic. both are right near rittenhouse.
le castagne is nearby, haven't eaten there, it doesn't get a lot of love from the folks on this board who have.
i like tre scalini a lot - it's nowhere near rittenhouse squre. i'm a lot less squemish about using septa than most on this board, but neither the subway nor the bus counts as 'romantic.'

[sockii]

Porcini is just "eh" in my book. Went once a couple years ago and couldn't believe out dated and dreary the room looked - like something out of a 1980s time warp. Service isn't great, the room is cramped and noisy, and while the food was pretty decent the menu is very limited and traditional. With all the other great Italian BYOBs in the area I've never felt the urge to go back.

[JanR]

I've only been to Le Castagne once but did not find it at all romantic. Big, rather cold place if I recall correctly. Their other place - La Famiglia - is more romantic. I think Mr. Martino's is romantic but not fine dining. Good Italian food - very small menu. Still, a sweet atmosphere. If Pif were still around, I would recommend that in a heartbeat (not Italian, I know, but very romantic). You're going to Bibou so you will at least be in Pif's old location. Great place in its own right.

[joluvscards]

There is one that I would characterize as very good and romantic. Caffe Casta Diva has a lovely dining room in an old town home near Rittenhouse Square. The food is excellent. However on Saturday nights it gets very loud. Try to go on Friday or bettter yet Thursday evening. They have a little corner table for two that is the most romantic one in the restaurant. You need to request that one in advance.

[mstinawu]

I went there for take out and the food was still wonderful. I was staying at the Rittenhouse Hotel so it wasn't exactly a long walk from the restaurant to my hotel room.

http://mstinawu.xanga.com/729521624/p...

[lawgirl3278]

Melograno
Paradiso

[sockii]

Melograno is great for food but far from romantic. More like very austere, noisy and cramped unless you go right at opening time.

[rockpile]

Two others that are definitely "fine dining Italian" are Panorama and La Famiglia. Both will be under $200 and both have outstanding wine lists. They have beautiful dining rooms with excellent service and are fairly quiet and romantic.

-----
La Famiglia
751 Route 37 W, Toms River, NJ 08755

[Delucacheesemonger]

My experience rated the food at both OK, but the service was so sub-par, l would not go back for a free ticket

[Buckethead]

I wouldn't either, but that's just based on the food at both places. Not worth the money. Melograno, Paradiso, and Caffe Casta Diva are all decent, but not special enough to send an out of town visitor to in my opinion. None of them are fine dining, either, though for that matter neither are Fish and Bibou.

[rocknroll52]

A couple restaurants I would recommend for Romantic amibiance, though neither are Italian:

Butcher and Singer
XIX at the Bellevue

[bonappetite]

Branzino-BYO

[Bigley9]

I would suggest James, not entirely Italian but with definite Italian "roots" Jim Burke cooked at Vetri and has been recognized by the James Beard Foundation. He also commpeted this year to represent the US in the Bocouse d'Or (probably butchered that spelling) www.jameson8th.com