Little Fish

My Fiance and I went there for the first time last night. We have been meaning to eat here for over a year, so needless to say our expectations were high. The waitstaff were all very friendly, helpful and very knowledgeable of the dishes. We always had a full glass of water and bread if we desired. The seafood was very good, and the dishes were unlike any other I have had in a seafood restaurant. One thing we did not like was the addition of "sides" that the seafood was served over. For example, I ordered the Skate, and the skate itself was incredible. However, it was served over (literally on top of) Broccoli Rabe (very good) and Boar. The boar was shredded and served in a lot of dark brown, very strong sauce, reminiscent of a gravy. It was good, but the sauce overpowered the whole dish. Towards the end all I could taste was that sauce, which took away from the great flavor of the skate. Overall I highly recommend this place, the food is great. Just be aware fo the "sides" served with every dish, sometimes they take away from the seafood. For $27 for the skate, I prefer just the skate, not a heavy gravy sauce. Pros: Great Seafood Cons: Too much sauce, takes away from natural flavors of seafood more

I can't say enough good things about Little Fish. Since I went a few weeks ago, I swear I have been dreaming about the halibut I had (and all of the other meals I didn't have). The fish was perfectly done- flaky and not-too-dry all at the same time. The flavors were amazing and the portion size was perfect. I left there full and satisfied, but not stuffed, even though I cleaned my plate. We ordered 2 appetizers for our table of 4 and while they were very good, they were definitely on the smaller side. The space is very cozy - only 23 seats so our reservation definitely helped us. We were not rushed out after we were done our meal like you are in most BYOBs. The waitress was really friendly and passionate about the food at Little Fish. Overall, I loved it and will definitely be going back! Pros: the food! the neighborhood! the service! Cons: the restaurant is very small more

I came here while visiting family in Philly. Had a wonderful dinner. Started out with yummy bread and pesto-ish dipping sauce. YUM. The (huge) scallop appetizers were yummy! My entree was salmon.....it was also wonderful. Plus the squash and other seasonings were wonderful. I even had my first oyster and it was yummy! I def thought it was well worth $50. Pros: yummy fresh fish! Cons: the lady who checked our coat was awfully rude and pms'y more

Took my parents for the Sunday tasting menu and had a great time. Atmosphere was perfect and the food was excellent. Also thought it was good value for a 5 course menu. Pros: Atmosphere, food, value Cons: Small more

We were extremely disappointed. After ordering a piece of sea bass [$27] to go, and 3 orders of crab dumplings, we opened a package at our dinner table with a piece of fish the size of a brownie, and dumplings that we ended up throwing away. No lemons were included, and the fish tasted old. We spent $61 dollars and are still hungary. Thank God for Rita's water ice. more

went to the sunday tasting menu. High expectations. Enjoyed atmosphere and service. Food was sub pair. Too much happening with the items. Not enough substance and was not satisfying. Had to go eat a cheesesteak afterwards. Stil enjoyed and would go back to sample the entire menu. Mixed feelings but was not completely sold. Coffee was good... more

I was a bit nervous reading some reviews on poor service. We made a reservation for 4 on a friday night at 8:30. Our table was waiting for us and we could sit without our entire party. The wait staff was friendly and helpful. We were not rushed and had a lovely evening. The food- not cheap but very good. Pros: food Cons: price more

Started off with the calamari Sicilian style appetizer, which was excellent. The bread and chimicurri sauce afterwards was tasty too. For dinner, we had the marlin, which was well cooked and was atop sweet potatoes and mussels in a curry broth; interesting. The other entree was mahi mahi over salisfy. It was a good piece of fish, large, well seasoned and cooked well too. the prices are a little high (entrees were all $25-27), but were worth it. As this place is VERY small, reservations are essential. Pros: BYOB, good food Cons: Tough to get in more

Little Fish is the best date restaurant in the city. The restaurant is intimate and entertaining. The open kitchen in this tiny BYOB, makes you feel like Chef Mike Stoli is your personal chef for the evening. Ever since Chef Stoli took over Little Fish in January and his food has propelled this South Philly favorite into one of the city's best restaurants. My Girlfriend and I went in on Friday evening and had one of the best meals I have had in a long time. The service was great and unlike so many new restaurants in Philadelphia where having a glitzy and glamorous dinning room is more important then the food, Little Fish puts food first. Chef Stoli changes the menu daily depending on what fresh fish and local produce he can get. more

I was quite excited to try Little Fish restaurant for the first time this Wednesday, to celebrate my boyfriend's birthday. We have been hearing recommendations from friends and acquaintances for years, but never made it there to try for ourselves. When we arrived a little before 8 pm, we were glad to see a number of tables unoccupied (and no one waiting to be seated) as we had been expecting crowds. We walked in to request the open table outside, and after standing near the door for nearly 3 minutes, were not acknowledged (not even a nod/smile/brief word) by either the cooks, or the server, All of whom plainly saw us. When the waitress came over to us, she still did not speak--but I asked for the table outside, and was told "fine, just wait a minute for us to clear it." We went back outside to wait. After 5 minutes of standing, we decided to sit down and wait, although the table had not yet been cleared. We continued to wait another 10+ minutes. During this time, the server walked past us perhaps 3 times, taking other customers orders, checking in on them, clearing dishes. She did stop to remove the dirty wine glass from our table but did not speak to us once (A simple "I'll be with you in just one moment." would have been sufficient.) How about a smile? No...more like a haughty glare. After spending over 20 minutes at the completely un-crowded restaurant without acknowledgment, menus, or a little piece of bread or something to gnaw on, we gave up. Don't know whether the staff was having a bad night, whether it's their practice to provide a low level of service, or whether there was something else going on, but we weren't waiting around to find out more. Needless to say, I'm no longer eagerly anticipating a trip to Little Fish, although I wish I had gotten to try some of the food. I've heard good things...but not good enough to be worth the poor treatment...especially in a city full of places where you can eat good food in the company of good people. Pros: Heard good things about the food. Cons: Service (so bad, we couldn't make it to the food) more

This is my first review and I am honored that is it for Little Fish. My fiance and I had a 700 pm reservation last night. We were promptly seated at the Chef's table inside right next to the open kitchen. The hostess was very friendly and brought an ice bucket right over when she saw we had a bottle of white. I ordered the Escolar served on a bed of orzo with asparagus and wild mushrooms topped with a lemon-vinegar sauce. The flavors were amazing. The portion was perfect. My fiance had the black cod over peas. They left the skin on one side which was crispy and delicious. We had room for dessert so we shared the lime marscapone mousse and the coconut panna cotta. They were both very tasty. Our waiter(Steve) was very attentive and friendly but not pushy. To wrap up just keep in mind, it's byob and the place is small. This adds to the charm of the restaurant. Finding a parking spot will take time so leave a little early. Make reservations, save room for dessert. Oh, and they do accept mastercard/VISA which is contrary to what is says on this website. Pros: Fresh fish, friendly staff, charming atmosphere Cons: parking, can get a little warm sitting inside more

Michael, the new owner and chef, has a wonderful touch with fish. His food is fresh, delicious and creative. He matches flavors of the sides with the fish extremely well. The menu is small: 6-7 apps including a salad or two, and about 5-6 entrees. Whatever is fresh at the market, finds its place on your dish. Halibut, escolar, tuna, swordfish are some of the wonderful entrees. Little Fish has been around for a decade and it only has gotten better. No other place offers such creative, flavorful seafood dishes for the money. A must try. The service is always warm, cordial and helpful. Desserts are prepared by a pastry chef. The bread is delicious, as is the pesto dipping oil. Sunday nights is a 5 course dinner for 28 dollars. Michael sets a nice pace with the courses. It's a small place, I recommend reservations especially on the weekends. Bring a bottle or two of wine and enjoy. Don't forget that Michael loves a glass of wine too. If you have a friend or partner that doesn't enjoy fish, Michael has a chicken or steak entree on the menu. A neighborhood gem. Pros: great food, wonderful seafood creations Cons: bit small and can be tight for large parties more

Before I moved in Queen Village I used to pass by Little Fish and always wonder what it was like. It looked so cute from the outside. Finally, about three weeks ago, I went there with one of my friends and we were just in love with it! I got the halibut with the crabcake to start. Unbelievable! The owner and the staff were attentive and just delightful. I asked the owner why he didn't have a Zagat-rated sticker on his door and he didn't even know he was rated! It's very rare that you will find such a good BYO with a owner that is humble. I liked it so much that I went back last week with my sister and we sat outside. The weather was perfect and I got the butterfish and was in love! It was just amazing. We had room for desert and ordered the bread pudding which by far was the best I have ever had. Little Fish is by far one of my favorite BYOBs and definitely my favorite restaurant for seafood. I am a BYOB fan and have been to most of the restaurants in the Philadelphia area. Little Fish is in my top five. more

We jointed them for a Sunday night pris fixe and for $28 each enjoyed a lovely, creative and satisfying spread. We were fortunate and the small space was fairly empty and, despite previous reviews, were warmly received. In fact, our server was not only polite but charming. The dishes were unique, tasty and well presented. My only hesitation in recommending it publicly is future struggles over reservations. ALSO -- We found that the fish the chef was serving was sustainably caught. We're uncertain if this is a priority at Little Fish every night, but hope you'll ask them for it. For more on sustainable seafood, visit the Monteray Bay Aquarium's website. Please enjoy responsibly! Pros: creative, delicious food, sustainable seafood, great service Cons: small space more

My boyfriend and I decided to try Little Fish as I recently began eating seafood again after being vegetarian for ten years. The seafood at Little Fish made me so happy with my new fishy ways! The restaurant is adorable--there is only seating for 20 in the entire place so call ahead. The service was great! The chef and the server were both super friendly but also knew when to lay low so we could share a romantic dinner together. We dined on the calamari for our appetizer--so fresh! I had the tuna and my boyfriend, salmon. The tuna was the best I have ever had. Cooked to perfection and not overwhelming. The polenta side dish was incredible too. My boyfriend's salmon was equally amazing. He had spinach and a rice dish for his sides. The spinach was cooked but still retained its freshness, flavor and nutrients. I was very impressed with the dish presentation as well. Overall, I give Little Fish a big two fins up! I am going to bring fish eating friends next time--will definitely return! One of the best BYOs I have discovered in the City of Brotherly Love! Pros: food, service, great place for a romantic dinner Cons: cash only more

This restaurant is the hidden treasure of Queens Village. A quaint little restaurant with a friendly staff and amazing cuisine, Little Fish exceeded our expectations. Small menu with something for every fish lover. The chef came and sat with us sharing some of his recipies for ratatouilli. Due to the smallness, the weekends could be tough. I have never been on the weekend. Would highly recommend this place! more

Little Fish is tiny - I know some people find this intimate and cozy but even with one other table in the place besides ours we felt it was too close for comfort. I can't imagine what it must be like when it's a full house. We had 6pm reservations but showed up 15 minutes early (unintentionally) - they weren't technically open yet but the server invited us to sit down and opened our wine for us. The food is simple: fish. The menu offered us our choice of about 5 apps and 5 entrees -- they all looked good. There was a mushroom tart app and a steak entree for the goofball who goes to Little Fish but doesn't want fish. I had a scallop with fennel cream sauce and fava bean app - I asked for the sauce on the side. It was excellent. Big scallops, delicious sauce (more fennel than cream), fresh favas. My husband had shrimp with cauliflower, chard, white beans, and sausage. The sausage taste was lost and the whole thing needed salt but it was still very good. (I appreciated the fact that the chef removed the tails of the shrimp - it's a pet peeve of mine when restaurants keep the tail on.) For our entrees, we both ordered the sea bass with broccoli rabe, garlic, and white beans. The sea bass was delicious (though not as good as Buddakan, which pains me to say since Buddakan is so trendy). The broccoli rabe was more bitter than normal - I could hardly eat mine. In summation, if you're in the mood for some well-prepared fish dishes that aren't ruined with heavy sauces or lots of oil, this is good place. I actually felt healthy after my dinner, which was nice! Though, as far as Bella Vista BYOs go, I still think Salt + Pepper has more creative dishes and better service. Pros: Reliably prepared fresh fish entrees Cons: Book early -- get in before the place fills up with other guests and gets crowded more

Love it! Went with friends the first time, returned with a different friend a second time and were greeted like old friends. Both times the food was to die for. Exquisite flavors, nice presentation. The portions are fine-dining-sized but satisfying (don't expect an Olive Garden pasta trough). Service was impeccable, and the atmosphere charming. It's a small space so it's a little crowded (you could probably reach over and touch the table next to you), but that's part of what creates the Queen Village / Bella Vista small restaurant character. Since moving to East Falls from Center City we dine out less often, but Little Fish is high on our list of places worth coming downtown for. more

Greeted (5 minutes before opening) "...not open - you can sit (20 degrees outside) but you won't get any service". We were the first guests. The hostess pointed to a table near the door. Asked for the table just behind she said it was for a reservation. Stated we had reservations and was that table requested by the reservation party? She hesitated and permitted us to sit there. Just after 6 the waitress/hostess blessed us with her presence, but needed reminding to bring a bottle opener - she apologized saying when the chef has a dish ready to sample she forgets everything else. She asked if we had any questions about items on the menu, but when asked about a dish was unable to answer. Eventually asked chef for input. Great food - service remained unfriendly. It's a package. So long, and thanks for all the fish....you're not all that. Pros: food Cons: service, service, service more

Sure, little fish, little space, little portions, little flavor. $8.25 Mussel bisque turned out to be 5 mussles in a small amount of bland, watery sauce. The $9 small plate of braised squid was similarly blasse, the squid in dire need of marinating or other forms of flavor. The main courses, skate and swordfish were simply prepared and decent, but certainly not what I expect in size or flavor for over $20 a dish. Everything needed salt, even though we're not the usual types who add it. Maybe it's because the main chef was out most of the night on smoke breaks? Service was ok, though we had to wait 20 minutes past our reservation time for seating. Overall, this is mediocre, small portioned food leading to poor value. Pros: BYOB, intimate setting Cons: mediocre food, small portions more