Little Nonna's - Philadelphia

This restaurant receives a lot of buzz, but I found the flavors to be somewhat disappointing. We had made a reservation and began our meal with garlic bread, followed by sharing the Spaghetti Meatballs and Rigatoni Alla Vodka. The confit garlic on the bread was a bit off-putting; it would have been better incorporated into the bread itself rather than served on the side. The meatballs and sauce didn’t impress me either; the sauce was overly sweet, and the meatballs had an odd, gamey flavor. The Rigatoni Alla Vodka was the standout dish of the meal, but even that wasn't as good as what I've had at other places.

The pasta was overcooked, and each dish tended to be on the saltier side. Some of my friends absolutely love this place and rave about it, so it might just be a matter of personal taste! I appreciated that they provided a large bottle of water on the table, which meant I didn't have to keep asking the server for refills. The restaurant has a dimly lit ambiance, making it ideal for a casual date night or for enjoying drinks with friends. While the sauce on the rigatoni alla vodka was delightful, the sausage was a bit too salty. The braised short rib lumache sauce was rather runny, almost like a broth. The garlic bread wasn't crispy; it was more on the squishy side, but I absolutely loved that it came with a whole bulb of roasted garlic—it was addictively good! They’re known for their meatballs, so I might consider trying that next time!

Service was friendly and professional. Food was quickly served and delicious. Dessert was fantastic. The ambiance will most certainly remind you of grandma's house.

Cozy, intimate, and delicious food to boot. They rotate their menu options so you can always find something new to try. You HAVE to get the garlic bread, which comes with confit garlic to spread on your bread, which is just phenomenal. The broccolini caesar has these delicious cheesy croutons and the eggplant parm was perfectly crispy and flavorful. Ordered the wild mushroom bucatini, great creamy sauce that wasn't too heavy after all the appetizers.

The food was very very delicious. It's an authentic Italian restaurant. Not a big venue. Open kitchen. Dim lighting. EXCELLENT service. The waiter was immediately available and knew his menu very well. Very helpful. The food was amazing. The pasta tasted homemade. Garlic bread had a big fresh garlic grilled to use as a spread. Everything was so good.