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Little Water, Philadelphia, PA

Little Water

4.6
4.6
60 Reviews
$30 and under
Contemporary American
A photo of Little Water restaurant

Little Water

4.6
$30 and under
Contemporary American
Center City

Make a booking

2 people
22:30
Booked 36 times today
  • Neighbourhood gem
  • Good for special occasions
  • Lively
Located in the historic neighborhood of Rittenhouse Square, Little Water is the latest restaurant from husband-and-wife team, Chef Randy Rucker and Amanda Rucker. Inspired by the Ruckers' experiences living along the Gulf Coast, New England, and Mid-Atlantic regions, Little Water is a contemporary coastal restaurant that celebrates the ecological diversity of life by the sea.

The sister restaurant to the acclaimed East Passyunk Avenue gem, River Twice—which has been recognized by The Philadelphia Inquirer and The New York Times, and has earned Chef Randy’s Philadelphia Magazine’s “Best Chef” and, most recently, a James Beard Award nomination in 2024 for Best Chef: Mid-Atlantic—Little Water continues the Ruckers' dedication to sustainability and local sourcing. With an a la carte menu inspired by the dynamic ecosystem of tranquil marshes, expansive bays, and secluded coves, Little Water captures the coastal spirit in a warm and lively atmosphere.
Private dining

Private dining

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Additional information

  • Dining style
    Casual Dining
  • Price
    $30 and under
  • Cuisines
    Contemporary American, American, Seafood
  • Hours of Operation
    Dinner Tue–Sat 17:00–22:00
  • Phone number
    (215) 337-3343
  • Website
    https://www.littlewaterphl.com/
  • Payment Options
    AMEX, Discover, Mastercard, Visa
  • Dress code
    Business Casual
  • Executive Chef
    Chef Randy Rucker
  • Private party facilities
    Located in the historic Rittenhouse neighborhood of Center City Philadelphia just steps off of the infamous 'square', our window lined corner restaurant is the perfect match for your private event. From family-style dinners to cocktail parties, our team will curate an experience to remember.
  • Private party contact
    Maggie Cook: (215) 337-3343
  • Location
    261 S 20th St, Philadelphia, PA 19103
  • Area
    Center City
  • Cross Street
    20th street and Manning street
  • Parking details
    None
  • Additional
    Bar/Lounge, Beer, Cocktails, Counter Seating, Full Bar, Gender Neutral Restroom, Gluten-free Options, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Wine

Menu

View menu on restaurant's website

What 60 people are saying

Overall ratings and reviews

Reviews can only be made by diners who have eaten at this restaurant

4.6
4.6 based on recent ratings
  • 4.6Food
  • 4.7Service
  • 4.7Ambience
  • 4.2Value

Noise • Moderate

Loved For

  • Philadelphia County

    Best Ambience

  • Philadelphia County

    Lively

  • Philadelphia

    Best Service

  • Philadelphia

    Best Ambience

  • Philadelphia

    Great for fine wines

  • Philadelphia

    Lively

  • Philadelphia

    Contemporary American

Review summary

AI-generated from verified diner reviews
Little Water, nestled in Rittenhouse Square, offers a chic and charming dining experience with an inventive seafood-forward menu. Patrons rave about the "absolutely excellent" swordfish Milanese and "delicious and inventive food." The service is consistently "attentive," creating a warm ambiance. However, be prepared for a lively and bustling atmosphere.

61 Reviews

  1. Sarona

    Philadelphia

    16 reviews

    5.0

    16 reviews

    Dined 1 day ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Excellent date night at Little Water. The lobster toast is a must-eat. Cocktails are awesome, wonderful service (thanks, Daniel!) and beautiful ambiance. Loved it!

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  2. Nancy

    New York City

    13 reviews

    vip
    5.0

    13 reviews

    Dined 1 day ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    What a great new dining spot in Rittenhouse! We started with the crab claws, oysters and swordfish belly from the raw bar. All were incredibly fresh, delicious and beautifully presented. The next course was the hash brown with uni and crab-- perfect to share with a dinner mate. Last we had the scallops, which were prepared to perfection. Our server was fabulous-- informative, helpful and attentive without being intrusive. The vibe is fun and the place was packed on a Tuesday evening. Can't wait to come back!

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  3. Gerald

    Philadelphia

    377 reviews

    vip
    5.0

    377 reviews

    Dined 2 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 4
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    We had a great time at Little Water—the service was great, but the food was not as good as last time. The shrimp had a little less horseradish, and the tuna was a little oily. Otherwise, we had a great time and will be back. I still think that the squid ink biscuits should have a little mustard.

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  4. Hien

    New Jersey

    2 reviews

    3.0

    2 reviews

    Dined 2 days ago

    1. Overall 3
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 3
    4. Ambience 3
    My review isn’t based on the food. The food was excellent. However, in regards to the service, we felt rushed. If there was a time limit with dining I would’ve appreciated the notice in advanced.

    Is this helpful?

  5. Ron

    Philadelphia

    2 reviews

    5.0

    2 reviews

    Dined 4 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Food was well prepared, presented and tasted great. Service was on point Can’t wait to go back and try more stuff

    Is this helpful?

  6. MG520

    Philadelphia

    35 reviews

    vip
    5.0

    35 reviews

    Dined 5 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    What a phenomenal dinner! The restaurant was bustling when we arrived, and the host seated us immediately. The service was exceptional, and the food was incredibly fresh, inventive, and delicious, and coursed perfectly. If you love seafood, this must be at the top of your to-do list. We will definitely be back!

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  7. Jake

    New York City

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined 5 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Kia was the best server and we loved it every bit of our experience!

    Is this helpful?

  8. Linda

    Philadelphia

    55 reviews

    5.0

    55 reviews

    Dined 6 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    The food was delicious. The service was attentive, but not annoying. I was impressed that I asked for a quiet spot to be seated and did get that.

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  9. Lauren

    Philadelphia

    40 reviews

    vip
    5.0

    40 reviews

    Dined on 27 November 2024

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Very lively restaurant with a very creative menu - really enjoyed the hash brown crab and swordfish Milanese. Everything was fresh

    Is this helpful?

  10. Janet

    Atlantic City

    11 reviews

    vip
    4.0

    11 reviews

    Dined on 27 November 2024

    1. Overall 4
    2. Food 4
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 4
    The swordfish was dry and overcooked. The wine pours were the tiniest I’ve ever seen.

    Is this helpful?

FAQs

Little Water is rated 4.6 stars by 60 OpenTable diners.

Yes, you can generally book this restaurant by choosing the date, time and party size on OpenTable.

A photo of Little Water restaurant

Little Water

4.6
$30 and under
Contemporary American
Center City

Make a booking

2 people
22:30
Booked 36 times today
Google Map for Little Water

261 S 20th St, Philadelphia, PA 19103

Additional information

  • Cross Street
    20th street and Manning street
  • Area
    Center City
  • Hours of Operation
    Dinner Tue–Sat 17:00–22:00
  • Price
    $30 and under
  • Cuisines
    Contemporary American, American, Seafood
  • Dining style
    Casual Dining
  • Dress code
    Business Casual
  • Parking details
    None
  • Payment Options
    AMEX, Discover, Mastercard, Visa
  • Executive Chef
    Chef Randy Rucker
  • Additional
    Bar/Lounge, Beer, Cocktails, Counter Seating, Full Bar, Gender Neutral Restroom, Gluten-free Options, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Wine
  • Website
    https://www.littlewaterphl.com/
  • Phone number
    (215) 337-3343
  • Private party facilities
    Located in the historic Rittenhouse neighborhood of Center City Philadelphia just steps off of the infamous 'square', our window lined corner restaurant is the perfect match for your private event. From family-style dinners to cocktail parties, our team will curate an experience to remember.
  • Private party contact
    Maggie Cook: (215) 337-3343
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