Vetri

Loved everything about Vetri. Couldn't wait to post about it, then I saw the negative review. Strange thing is the same person posted a negative review about Chloe, where we were on Thurs., and love it. Who is this negative reviewer? Why would you hate Vetri? Or Chloe? Are you a plant? Your review should be removed. Vetri is yummy. Service is top notch. Spinach gnochi haunts my dreams. Pros: great food, really good service more

I just don't get how this restaurant gets so many positive reviews. Honestly, this was probably the worst meal I've had in a long time. My food had no flavor. I left completely unsatisfied. I'm sorry but Mercato is far superior and much more affordable. I really just don't understand why everyone raves about this place. I'll never go back. Pros: Service Cons: This place is way over-rated!!! more

Whoever named Vetri as the best Italian restaurant in the country has certainly not checked out Babbo's recently, let alone about another half dozen jewels in other US cities. What's the big deal with Vetri? My family and I had the 15 million tasting course last night (both in number and US dollars) and I was unimpressed for several reasons -- Pros: So-so food Cons: Very expensive, little value, tight quarters, mediocre service more

\r Awesome dinner at this ""must go"" restaurant. Unusual, fresh food and terrific ambiance. A Philly treasure! more

This is easily the best Italian food I've eaten in America. I think up special occasions just to go there:... more

This is easily the best Italian food I've eaten in America. I think up special occasions just to go there: but reserve 2 months in advance! The spi... more

\r I have been a long reader of CitySearch reviews but had been too lazy to get an account myself - but I read the unjust reviews below and got an account just now SPECIFICALLY for the purpose of writing about Vetri.\r
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\r I've been to Vetri twice, once in fall 2004 and another time in April 2007 - over that 2.5 yr time span, they were consistently the best. Service can be a little slow there, but that is not a place you go in a rush. Go there and enjoy the freshly handmade pasta. You can't get that anywhere else. I've eaten all over Europe and Asia and been to 50 restaurants in Philly including the famed Le Bec Fin, Fountain's and Lacroix, and Vetri's beats them all in my book. Their gnocci, ear pasta with mushroom (forget the exact name) and lavender olive oil ice cream (which unfortunately is no longer served) are some of the most memorable delicacies that have graced my taste buds. \r
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\r In case there are suspicions regarding my post being a potential PR scheme, I will say that I was not at all impressed by Osteria which is supposedly owned or started by the owners of Vetri. If you are curious as to what other restaurants I frequent or love, Overtures (BYO) is one of the best (food, service), Le Castagne is terrible (except for the gorgeous maitre'd they had in 2005), and Striped Bass, Washington Square and Positano Coast are at the top. Pros: FOOD, FOOD, FOOD (appetizer, entree, dessert - cannot stress this enough!), wine Cons: Pricey, but worth every penny, seating may be a little bit cramped but that adds to the homeliness more

Last night we had an exquisite meal at Vetri's and I felt the need to write a review having perused the last several negative reviews about the food. We opted for the six course chef's tasting menu with the wine pairing. The courses were each unique and delicious; the ingredients fresh. In fact, my boyfriend and I were severed different dishes for several of the six courses, which allowed us an opportunity to experience more than just six dishes each. The sommelier was fabulous and the wine pairings were truly complementary to every dish. As for the gnocchi, they are not the typical hard lumps of dough, but light and airy and clearly not popular with everyone. None the less, the meal was a wonderful experience and well worth the price. Pros: unique dishes, fabulous wine Cons: can be pricey by philadelphia standards more

Although I do not usualy take time to review restaurants I felt it is a duty to do so for this one. Pros: Timeliness, wine list, service Cons: Food, value more

After reading the last 2 reviews I have to say something: do not trust them. I have worked in the business in the past (for 10+ yrs), and Vetri has in my opinion the best food in town. Absolutely nothing on their menu is less than excellent. Obviously some people writing reviews online do not know enough about food (please go to olive garden and enjoy the pasta there...) Pros: Everything Cons: I wish I could afford to go there more often more

This was the most disappointing dining experience I have ever had. After reading all of the glowing reviews in various magazines, my husband and I were excited and called two months in advance to secure our reservations. We waited for our table for almost 1 hour and while this was not the most pleasant experience, the time only whetted our appetites for what we believed would be great dining - wrong! The menu was very limited and would excite only those who favor tripe, veal kidneys and other body parts I prefer to leave on the butcher' s floor. Only after the waiter presented the specials, was I able to find something that was not unappetizing, if not exciting - fettucine! So, while I waited for 40 minutes for pasta, I contemplated what kind of magic had Vetri been able to wield over pasta. At last, I was disappointed again - it was just pasta and not enough of it! Still hoping to find something to rave about, we eagerly grabbed the dessert menu, which offered absolutely nothing out of the ordinary. My husband had an olive oil cake that was heavy and insipid at best. I had a chocolate concoction that was on par with any lava cake in any eatery in the country. And to add insult to injury, the chef/owner, Marc Vetri chatted with every single table around ours, but never gave us a nod. Oh, well! the wine and cappucino were good, but not worth the agonizing wait or the wallet sacrifice. Pros: Good wine Cons: Long wait, bad service, less than memorable food more

If you visit their website, click on the Menu, then Photos of the Food. You?ll see an empty plate and the phrase ?I guess somebody ate it, you?ll have to come to the restaurant!? Don?t be fooled. That?s what it looks like when they serve it. You could see the waitstaff nervously smiling either from feeling foolish or thinking you?re a fool when they bring it to the table. Eight postage sized bites of food with two glasses of wine each = $1,000. No, that is no mistake. That was the bill for four people. I would love to comment more on the food, however, there was so little of it, I can?t. Pros: The service was good. Cons: Everything else. more

Yeah, we've all heard it by now.:""Best Italian Food in the Country"". Pulll-eeeese. All I can say is this: if you need to hire a Public Relations expert, hire whomever the owner of Vetri's uses.\r \r Don't get me wrong. The food was tasty. But I've had food as good as Vetri's at weddings -- and in my family's kitchen. The tasting menu is $95 per person, and the portions are tiny. In other words: good food, but way, way overpriced. \r \r The service was too much of a good thing -- we felt overwhelmed as we were asked if we wanted wine/dessert at least twice each (do they understand ""No""??). I really felt the staff was under orders to pad the bill with high-margin wines and $12 desserts. Pros: Food was good, though nothing truly special Cons: Another PR hype job more

This place is absolutely the biggest ripoff in the city!! Tiny, cramped, overheated place, mediocre food and so little of it!! They tout their wine list - well, I had the wine dinner and can't remember a single name of the 6 wines we had, none memorable enough to even write down! Overpriced, pretentious, and they call this Italian??! Be warned...you'll leave your wallet (2 people at ""wine dinner"" was $380) and then go home and make a sandwich!! A disgrace what they get away with!! Pros: Good servers.... Cons: ....serving mediocre food! more

We did like they said we made our reservation two months to the day in advance. We waited and waited in anticipation. We thought to ourselves is it going to be as good as we heard. Well....it was better than that, Vetri was the most incredible Italian Gastronomic experience we have had in the USA. On a par with the best Italy has to offer. The intimate space, the attention to detail, the well thought out menu and well chosen wine list are to be applauded. Vetri does Philly proud. Bravo Pros: The Best Italian Restaurant in America Cons: Plan your reservation well in advance more

Vetri is my favorite restaurant in Philadelphia. All of the food is superb, especially the spinach gnocchi. It is a very elegant, romantic restaurant, perfect for a date! Be sure to make a reservation in advance. Pros: Excellent Italian food in a great setting Cons: Expensive wine list and hard to get a reservation more

Vetri is by far the best restaurant in Philadelphia. Both Jeff and Marc make dining at Vetri a unique experience....we have never had dinner at Vetri when we didn't come away saying ""That was a Top Five"" dinner of all time. A great special occasion restuarnt...or a great night out in a most relaxed atmosphere and a congenial staff...most importantly, a chef, Marc Vetri, who really knows what he's doing in the kitchen! I cannot recommend it highly enough! Pros: Food is outstanding, Wine list is great, Staff is very friendl more

Easily the best Italian restaurant in the City. We loved it! more

Booked reservations for 4 on a friday night,waited 6 weeks to go. Antipasta awesome,price but awesome. Menu is far to ""artsy"" and unique to appeal to everyone.Had to order their signature disk a week before(Lobster), lacked any distinctive flavor,just ok. Had the almond Gnocci,excellent taste however 5 small gnocci for a grown man is an insult. The wild boar taste great but looks like a kids meal. Skipped dessert and split a cheesesteak at Jims..4 people w/drinks & tip ran 270. Go else where,this is not the place you want to go if your hungry. Pros: antipast, procuttio, did it Cons: small portions, high price, signature dish more

The food was devine and the decor was charming. We ordered the pre fixe menu, where it's basically the chef's choice. The food took a while to come out, but it was always hot and you knew it had not been sitting in the kitchen. I thought the portion sizes were small until we got past the appetizers and into the pasta and meat dishes. The spinach gnocchi is really to die for. The asparagus flan was an inspiration from heaven. It might be hard to get a reservation, and it might be noisy, but go for the food-- which I found to be truly inspired/inspiring cuisine. Pros: Food, Wine, Service Cons: reservations, time, no smoking more