This is a classic Stephen Starr experience-- it's a lovely restaurant with very good service and pretty good food that will not blow you away. I tried a number of appetizers. They were all good, but the crispy fried artichokes with a tangy, rich aioli and the squash blossoms stuffed with creamy ricotta (I think) were the best. Focaccia was rather unconventional-- it was more of a flatbread-- but very tasty. For my entree I had a spicy squid ink pasta with rock shrimp, sausage, and chili flakes. The portion size was not enormous, but it was reasonable and it came with a good amount of shrimp and sausage. It was good, but a little on the salty side. Service was excellent, but very slow. Our lunch took almost 2 hours. I was catching up with old friends so that was fine, but it would not have worked for a business meeting on a clock. read more

We made last minute reservations here and I was a little disappointed. The good: the bread and the service were great. Our server was so knowledgeable and kind. She knew everything about the menu and suggested things specifically for our gluten free friend. Alana made us feel comfortable and was very attentive. She even gave us champagne for our friend who got engaged which was top notch service. My dinner was unfortunately not my favorite. The pasta was lacking in flavor and guanciale was burnt and too crispy to eat. I was disappointed because the entrees are a little pricey as well so I expected more from the food. Maybe it was just my pick but I don't know if I'll be returning anytime soon read more

Borromini - Amatriciana - Italian Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

At Rittenhouse Square Spring festival I tried their cannolo and tiramisu. The connolo has thin, crisp, and fresh shell with sweet ricotta filling with mini chocolate chips. It was excellent, at par with the one from authentic Italian bakery. I also enjoyed the tiramisu, as it has sweet espresso and mascarpone. This experience prompted me to try their brunch. I arrived there without reservation and got seated right away. Beautiful interior with Italian music at background. It's not too loud but enough to lighten up the atmosphere. The entire staff look very professional. Zachary is very welcoming and friendly. He came over to make sure the orders are ok. My water is refilled without being requested. Daniel, one of the managers is very down to earth and engaging. He took my empty cup away and prepared the check when I was looking for my waiter for the check. Five stars for customer service. My decaf cappuccino is excellent. Strong coffee taste. Primavera omelette is beautifully served. It comes with small salad with light dressing. Perfectly executed and folded with small green peas and melted cheese inside, sprinkled with fresh parsley. I can see this place as my regular spot for morning cappuccino on weekends. read more

See all

On my first visit, I was impressed. I hate dining alone but on a recent work trip to Philly, it could not be avoided. I was staying in the area of Rittenhouse Square and tired of Uber eats takeout alone in a hotel room. Something Italianesque sounded good and this was close by. They were willing to take a reservation for a single party on a prime time weeknight. It fronts the north end of the park and has an outdoor sitting area in nice weather that would be awesome for an alfresco people watching experience. The outdoor area is first come first serve. They were spot on time with my reservation and accommodated me nicely at a two top in an area where I was able to check out the entire dining room and not feel like I was the center of attention while pathetically, dining alone. There is a well stocked, full service bar, and a reasonable, but interesting wine list leaning towards Italian varietals. There were several selections on there that did not break the bank, but also a few if you are wearing your highroller pants. I started with a perfectly executed and ice cold Negroni. This is one of my favorite nice weather cocktails, and you would be hard pressed to find one that is more solid than the one that was made for me here. This is an easy drink to make, but I am surprised at how often people screw this one up around the world. Not here. My beef tartare starter was outstanding. All beef dressed with a well seasoned garlicky aïoli. I initially did not like the amount of aïoli on the top when I saw it delivered, but it actually turned out to be perfect and worked. Absolutely no regrets from ordering that dish. I followed this with a simple main of Cacio e Pepe and a side of Piselli (roasted peas with mint) and a glass of their house Nebbiolo. The Cacio was perhaps not quite as good as what I've had in Rome (but nothing in the US ever is) but it was damn close. So much so that I would be happy to eat that over and over again and for a confirmed carnivore, that is saying something! The Piselli were absolutely fantastic and a perfect refresh on the palate from the richness of the nicely chewy pasta. The meal was simply outstanding. I was well taken care of by my server and the manager who stopped by to chat with me a little bit about their wine program and restaurant concept. (FYI corkage is $35 per bottle, limit 2) The people that work there clearly know what they are about and are happy to talk about it. The conversations I had with them were interesting, witty and informative. It made me forget that I was dining alone. Overall, I had a great experience at Borromini. I'm actually looking forward to my next visit and have already booked a reservation. If it tells you anything, I already know what I'm going to have, which is exactly the same thing I had before. It was that good. read more

Small portion sizes. Food was mediocre. Was so excited to go there and disappointed. Only the Peas dish was innovative. The carbonara was a different type of pasta than expecting. The fish looked the best of the entrees. Bummed they removed the lasagna from the menu wanted to try that. Lobster ravioli was fine. Ambiance was the best part. Good service. Won't be going back which is a shame read more

See all

I had brunch at Borromini yesterday and am now a fan. On Rittenhouse Square, the location couldn't be better. Being a Stephen Starr restaurant, I was expecting class, and I got it. The restaurant is beautiful: marble and beautiful lighting - great ambiance for a lovely Italian restaurant. For my meal, I chose their soft scrambled eggs carbonara, which was a great brunch dish. The crispy guanciale was almost impossibly thin and crispy; you could crack it with a fork like the top of a creme brulee. The dish had great flavor (with the pecorino and the guanciale, the nod to carbonara was clear and delicious. I prefer my potatoes more on the crispy side, but they were tasty, too. I enjoyed the dish with an aperitivo - their Garibaldi (campari and fluffy tangerine juice), which was also delicious. The service was also great, so I thoroughly enjoyed my brunch. I'd be happy to return for another meal - hopefully hungry enough for their 100 Layer Lasagna or their lamb ragu orecchiette or their blue crab gnocchetti or their oxtail mafaldine... Yeah, I'd head back right now for a dinner. read more

See all

My family had dinner last night and were pleasantly surprised. Stephen Starr's latest edition to his massive restaurant empire landed here in Philly right off of Rittenhouse Square and what a beautiful location and restaurant. We came down from NYC and it felt like a NYC restaurant ( I believe Keith McNally consulted on the look and feel of it and it was apparent) in a good way! Although it was louder than I liked we sat at a table in the back and it was packed and energetic in a fun way! Our waiter was attentive and quick. Our food came out hot and delicious and the wine was excellent! We ordered Spaghetto Pomodoro, Black Spaghetti and Ricotta and toast and side of Escarole. We did order the Foccacia as a starter but would pass on it - it was salty and didn't taste like much - at a restaurant of this caliber should offer complimentary bread basket - I do recommend this Italian restaurant and the next time I'm here I would love to eat outside in the Summer grabbing a cocktail and people watching all the passerby's - that's a very NY thing to do! read more

See all

Our server and host were so positive and upbeat. Their energy and kindness shined even though they were really busy. The fettuccine with asparagus and peas was divine, I absolutely loved the sauce. Not pictured, but my fiancé and I also got drinks - I tired the rose spritz and the presentation of it and quality/taste were fantastic! read more

See all

Botromini is great- brunch is way better than dinner- food is rustic Italian and can't miss The traditional Italian vibe. Mozzarella tomatoe or chicken Milanese- both amazing. Another supper treat is the pizzette- breakfast pizza read more

Borromini - Italian Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

See all

I celebrated my best friend's birthday at Borromini on February 17th. We had a dinner reservation at 6 PM. I'm not trying to be funny, but I felt like the world stopped when I walked in and approached the hostess stand. The ladies at the front were so kind and accommodating. I mentioned I was waiting for my friend to arrive and they asked me to notify them once she made her way inside. For about 10 minutes, I stood there gazing at this absolutely stunning building and the charm it had. I was amazed. From what I've read, it used to be the former Barnes and Noble. I couldn't believe how beautiful the revamp turned out and how lively it was for a Tuesday night. A gentleman came by and said he could escort me to the table before my friend got there so I took him up on the offer. He chatted with me as we headed upstairs and kept his smile and eye contact game on point. Truly the best service I've had in a long time! I ordered the eggplant parmigiana as my entree. Not the biggest portion, but also not that small where it didn't fill me up. It was the perfect amount and therefore didn't require a box for leftovers. Very sweet sauce and fresh vegetables. I enjoyed it very much. A cannoli is my preferred dessert after eating Italian cuisine, and I got to enjoy TWO cannolis at the end of my dinner here. The mini chocolate chips were crunchy and the ricotta cheese was creamy and rich. We left Borromini feeling great about our decision to dine there. I can't wait to visit again! read more

See all

Had a reservation for 2:30pm for lunch and the restaurant was pretty empty outside a few at the bar and several other tables. Loved the theming of this restaurant. I was sat immediately which was great, but it took over 10 minutes for me to be greeted by my server. The only reason this bothered me is I viewed them menu prior to arriving and was on limited time for lunch so was hoping to throw in my order sooner than later also trying to be mindful of their 3pm close time. I ordered the blue crab pasta which was tasty. I wanted black pepper but my server didn't come back until I was halfway done with my meal. The Hugo spritz was light and refreshing. I got a hot chocolate to go and it was so rich and delicious. Overall the meal was delicious. I think my only concern was once my server came she was kind and took my order but I only saw her 4 times in total after large gaps of time elapsed. She asked me how I enjoyed my meal after it was practically done. The only thing she was efficient on was brining my check back after paying. She was very kind but the lack of service was more surprising than anything. That is the only reason why I took a star away. read more

See all

Given the overall low rating on Yelp, I wasn't sure what to expect but I'm so glad I gave it a try because I just had a fantastic dinner here with my husband recently. We had the grilled octopus, chicken liver crostini, pappardelle, oxtail mafaldine, osso buco and grilled branzino. We ended dinner with the chocolate olive oil cake. We had no idea how large the secondi portions were and definitely over ordered (a single dish could easily be shared between two people if you're also getting pasta). I was absolutely blown away by the oxtail mafaldine and have been thinking about it ever since!! Only the pappardelle fell short of expectation - the bolognese sauce was average. I would also skip the chicken liver costini next time since it was too rich for my preference. Everything else was absolutely delicious and the leftovers tasted just as good the following day! read more

See all

I have been trying to come here since they opened just for their chocolate olive oil cake. Stopped by a few times before but each time they were packed! Today I was in the neighborhood quite early, around 6 in the evening, and wandered inside to take a chance yet again - lo and behold their bar had 2 seats available!! I immediately ordered the chocolate olive olive cake and a couple of drinks. Trust me the hype is real! Even if you are skeptical about the food, just come for the cake and pair it with a nice glass of red! Not only is it one of the best chocolate cakes I have had but my husband and I also loved the olive oil gelato that came with it. The cake itself was not too sweet, the sponge was moist and soft and the chocolate ganache was so decadent. The addition of sea salt and candied orange on top was chef's kiss. In short, it was phenomenal! The bartenders were very friendly and chatty! This place looks exactly like Parc - same layout, same vibe. read more

Borromini - Chocolate Olive Oil Cake with Olive oil gelato (front), Pomodoro Martini (left) and Vespa (right) - Italian Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Initially, I was going to go to Rouge for dinner after checking in to the hotel. However, I decided to look for a new restaurant to try near where I was staying, and this looked like a promising place. Weather was rather chilly out, so hot pasta sounded most ideal. Unfortunately, the experience was less than stellar. Arriving within five minutes after opening, the bar was already semi-crowded with couples, but I was able to find a stool pretty much dead center of the bar area. Looking around, there were actually more stools available but I decided to stay put. There are purse hooks underneath, but these are the stools that don't want you to stay long; as there is no back so you can't hang your coat (I know there is most likely coat check at the front). There were three bartenders at the time tending to the patrons that were already there, however, it took a while for me to be greeted and get a menu (I should have just said what I wanted then) so the wait was even longer for anyone to return to place my order. The Spaghetti al Limone was really, really good. They bring this out with a lid similar to what some room service establishments use which keeps everything nice and warm. Cheese wasn't offered, but there was a nice amount already on. Smaller portion which initially I would think won't be enough, but it was perfect. The lemon zest was pleasant and not overwhelming as it can be at other restaurants (Mother Wolf). There is minimal pepper and what appeared to be chili flakes at the bottom so this will give a little kick when you get towards the end of your dish. I almost considered ordering the arancini but figured that would take just as long, considering it took a while for everything else. As others here have pointed out, house bread would be a nice option to this Italian restaurant in addition to the choices that come at a cost (Pane Focaccia $9, Focaccia di Recco $26). I certainly could have used it while waiting! Overall, the service was lacking yet polite when you were able to have someone tend to you, the food that I had was enjoyable, and the energy in the place was upbeat, most likely since it was the holidays even on a Sunday. Have to say the hostesses (when I walked in and when I left) were the best example of good service, pleasant and helpful. I don't want to give low ratings to places, especially in my hometown, but from this evenings overall experience, two-stars round out the time spent. read more

Borromini - Italian Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Borromini in Rittenhouse, Philadelphia is an absolute gem. From the moment you walk in, the space is stunning and instantly transports you to Italy. The ambiance is elegant, warm, and romantic without feeling pretentious, making it perfect for date night or a special dinner out. We started off with cocktails and they set the tone right away. The Hugo Spritz was crisp and refreshing, and the Sculaccione, which felt similar to a Paloma, was also very tasty and easy to sip. For appetizers, we ordered the Sicilian chopped salad, which was sooo good and full of flavor. We also tried the shaved Brussels sprouts, which personally weren't for me, but I could see others enjoying them depending on taste. Our server was incredibly kind and inviting, making us feel welcome from start to finish. They were attentive, helpful with recommendations, and added to the overall warmth of the experience. For our main dishes, I ordered the lamb chops, which were incredibly tender and packed with flavor. We also had the oxtail mafaldine, and wow--absolutely amazing. I honestly wish I had ordered two. Before leaving, we grabbed the lobster spaghetti to go, and that dish was a true standout of the restaurant. To end the night, I also ordered the tiramisu, and it was the perfect ending to dinner--light, creamy, and just sweet enough. Overall, Borromini is easily a 1000/10 for me. Incredible food, beautiful atmosphere, and genuinely lovely service made this a memorable experience. I can't wait to go back and highly recommend this spot. read more

See all

Everything was delicious here. The entire service was really well done. I will definitely be back soon read more

Borromini - Menu - Italian Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Overall, it was OK. The food was good, no real issues but also not mind blowing. I will say that the tiramisu was the standout for me; felt authentic in a way that few places manage to pull off. The shape of the ladyfingers was preserved, which I've never seen done before. We were seated upstairs and there was real character to this venue. There was a lively buzz yet we didn't feel packed in like sardines as we so often do in our hometown of NYC. I don't know how long Borromini has been operational but it felt like they were aiming for fine dining yet missing small things around execution (drinks showing up after appetizers, no napkins that we had to request separately, also repeatedly having to request our water to be topped up). Super friendly staff that seemed eager to please, so no big deal but when you're paying these prices you don't expect small details like this to be missed. read more

Borromini - Outside - Italian Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

I'll be honest, was a little nervous to try Borromini after seeing some mixed reviews, but I'm so glad we went because it was actually so good. We went on a Monday night and the place was packed, which immediately felt like a good sign. We sat at the upstairs bar, and the vibes were great--lively but still cozy and service was great. The food really impressed us. The lobster pasta was the standout. We also loved the chicken, which was done really well, and the fried cheese balls were such a pleasant surprise. They're different than any I've had before, crispy on the outside, creamy inside, and filled with peas and rice, which gave them a unique texture and flavor. Overall, Borromini completely exceeded our expectations. Great atmosphere, great service, and genuinely delicious food. We'll definitely be back. read more

See all

I was anxious to try Borromini, as I've enjoyed all of Starr's restaurants, and my favorite dishes are Italian. I had a preset idea of what I was going to order, meatballs and pasta. The two basics. I saw there was Tortelloni with ricotta in a sage brown butter sauce. That struck a nerve, as one of my favorite dishes was the Tortelloni in butter sauce at Babbo in NYC (before it was recently reopened by Stephen Starr). I had to order the dish, even knowing there was a high bar to meet after Babbo. Now for the meatballs; I didn't have my reading glasses with me, so I wasn't focused on the 'sections', one of which was Panini. Under this section, I was quickly scanning the dishes, and the only one which had meatballs, was the Meatball Parmigiana. I imagined this dish had several meatballs in a cast iron skillet, baked in sauce and cheese. Imagine my surprise when they delivered a meatball sub!! . I can't remember the last time I had a meatball sub. It's not that I have anything against meatball subs, but it's not something I would typically order at a restaurant like Borromini's. I took a bite and was pleasantly surprised, the flavor of the meatballs, sauce and cheese kind of exploded in my mouth, and it was so nicely complimented with a delicious tasting soft sesame roll, very crunchy texture outside and soft inside. This was a good sub - a little difficult to keep the meatballs in the sandwich, but I held on tight! I found out they make the rolls there-you can really taste the difference! The Tortelloni was not to be upstaged. The pasta had a delicate texture and melted in my mouth, just as I like it. There was a robust amount of delicious ricotta stuffed inside and with the butter sauce, it was excellent. I couldn't finish the sub, and took 1/2 of it home. I still can't believe I ordered a sub sandwich, but the meal was satisfying and delicious. I need to return to try a few more 'regular' dishes! read more

Borromini - Meatball Parmagiana - Italian Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

See all

We've been wanting to try out this restaurant for quite some time and finally got the chance to have lunch there. We arrived at 11:30am, were greeted pleasantly by the maitre'd at the check-in podium and immediately shown to our table next to the front window. After a quick scan of the drinks menu I ordered an Aperol spritz, which was amply sized and was incredibly refreshing. I'm a big fan of Starr restaurant's signature cocktails. We started off with the Arugula, Artichoke and Parmesan salad and the Prosciutto di Parma appetizer, both of which were impeccably prepared and presented. The prosciutto was incredible, a stark reminder that much of what we're normally served elsewhere is inferior. Incidentally, the prosciutto and pecorino Toscana appetizer is now served with bread sticks instead of melon. Eggplant Parmesan and Cacio e Pepe were our main courses and both were excellent. I'd normally never order a veal or eggplant parmesan dish because they're rarely excellent but this one is exquisite in its complexity of flavors; like an extraordinarily fine wine. The eggplant is sliced very thinly, with each slice lightly breaded and fried. I'd ordered the Cacio e Pepe but my 100% Italian wife was so enthralled with its very al-dente bucatini that we switched plates. We finished off our repast with two vastly different desserts: Apple Crostata, and Chocolate Olive Oil cake. The crostata's light and delicate pastry crust enveloping thinly-sliced al-dente apples was a sublime delight. On the other hand, the Olive Oil cake and gelato was a chocoholic's paradise. Both the cake and generous ganache topping contained a considerable amount of top-shelf cacao and were thankfully not sweet at all, letting all the wonderful flavors come through. It was truly amazing. Notes: 1.The portion sizes of everything were perfect for us but are definitely not the mega-portioned (three meal) versions common at quotidian Italian restaurants. And we're totally OK with that; the quality more than makes up for it many times over. 2. The staff was incredibly professional, courteous and personable, and seem well versed in taking pictures of guests. 3. When we arrived the restaurant was quite quiet but it progressively got louder as it filled up, however the volume was very reasonable in front where we were sitting. It was considerably louder in the back room area. read more

See all

Do not serve me a half-full cocktail at $17 a pop! We scored a Monday evening reservation for 4. Apparently, this place is very difficult to get into. My love and I arrived earlier than our friends, so we stopped at the bar for a pre-dinner drink. Chianti for him, Hugo Spritz for me. I love all things lemon, so the Hugo was a no-brainer for me. The glasses they serve their spritz's in are beautiful. Very Waterford Crystal like. But please fill it up a little bit, huh? My photo is the serving size prior to being sampled. Our table was very tight, but we made it work. We ordered what I thought would be too much food for four people, but the serving sizes were quite small. We probably should have ordered more! - Squash blossoms - not overly battered, which was nice. Three to an order - Pane Focaccia - nicely salted with bursts of rosemary. Small portion - Artichokes all Giudea - fried, very good - Spaghetti al Limon - again, I love all things lemon, so this was a must. My favorite of the night - Amatriciana - this dish had an odd flavor to me. I wasn't digging the guanciale, which is pork jowl. Yup. - Chicken Milanese - good and large portion. Our friend had leftovers for which she was thrilled - Osso Buco - cooked perfectly but our friend said it was lacking flavor - 100 Layer Lasagna - I call BS on those layers! It was a small portion - Patate - crispy rosemary potatoes. Good - Olive oil cake and cannoli for dessert This sounds like a lot of food for 4 people, but we were barely full upon leaving. The bill was around $500 with tip. Our dining companions didn't drink (she's pregnant and he is dry out of solidarity). The acoustics are a bit tough, as the restaurant is mostly marble and tile. We're glad we tried it, but this may be a one-and-done for us. read more

Borromini - Hugo Spritz before sampling. Where is the rest of it? - Italian Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

The hype is real! From what I understand, this place is a love letter to good ole' Italian home cooking. The place is HUGE - two floors of dining space and the night we came, it was packed. The attendant in the front was very accommodating. My wife ran in to check in for our reservation while I circled for parking. They were patient with us since parking around that area can be brutal. It's definitely fits the aesthetic it's going for - dim lighting, homey but upscale, striking but still comfortable - feels like you're home. We got their focaccia and artichoke salad for our appetizers and then had to get the famous 100 layered lasagna since it's vegetarian (!!) plus their cacio pepe for our mains. Everything came out timely and the servers were on top of having our waters filled and checking in for any questions. We really enjoyed the food and thought it was very well executed. Overall - solid experience and happy to return! read more

Borromini - Italian Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

See all

I had an excellent brunch at Borromini. We were sat promptly for our reservation. The space is so beautiful and grand. Our server was attentive and personable. We tried a spritz (a very generously sized cocktail)! The carbonara was very authentic which was a massive win. Not many places use guanciale, but they do here. It could have been crispier but not complaining. I tried the lasagna which was so delicate and tasty. I loved the bechamel. Finished the meal with cannolis which were the perfect ending! Don't let the negative reviews sway you! read more

See all

So excited to have finally got into Borromini! Reservation highly recommended, it filled up the second it hit 5pm for weekday dinner. The space is absolutely stunning and shows every penny of the very extensive renovation- it is wild to think this is the former Barnes & Noble space! It was incredibly loud as others mentioned, but I didn't mind. I also didn't notice any pop music so not sure music was even noticeable. Service was attentive and prompt, maybe a little too attentive. We did feel a tad rushed but in the most polite way, and we understand the hype is still very real. Waters were filled frequently and they are clearly putting a lot of effort and attention into service - someone was always close by and available to make sure we were taken care of. Our food was ready very quickly however, we did not even have time to finish our salad and foccacia. Speaking of - the food was delicious. We started with the very hyped foccacia which was tasty, but not sure it was worth $30. As other reviews stated, bread service would be so great and would really round out the vibe. I really hope Starr reads this and adds bread! The salad was unique but nothing special. The lasagna was quite tasty but not sure I'd highlight it as THE Borromini signature dish, especially given the very small portion. The carbonara was also very tasty and portion was smaller. Drinks and dessert may have been my favorite part of the meal - I had the tequila cocktail which was fantastic, as was the seasonal panna cotta. My friend had the tiramisu which was tasty and a bigger portion than the pasta! I am so excited to see what this place looks like in a few months, but they still need to get their feet under them. The menu has already adjusted a few times since opening (not only seasonally) so I'm curious to see where it lands. It's not quite as "old school" Italian as I expected and I'd say it's more American-Italian but delicious nonetheless. Really hoping to see that bread service next time! read more

See all

Came here for dinner with no real expectations, except for seeing the 3.8 star rating on Google. After eating here, I'd say the rating is pretty accurate. The interior was lovely. There were two floors of seating and bar seating as well. My party ordered the house focaccia, arancini, oxtail malfadine, veal parmigiana, gnochetti sardi. For dessert we got the tiramisu and ice cream. House focaccia - This was probably our least favorite dish. It was like a thin pizza, was cold and was lacking the depth we thought it would have. For $26 it was pretty steep for bread. Arancini - The exterior was nice and crispy and the interior had great flavor and cheese. Oxtail - This was a good pasta dish with a lot of flavor.The pasta had thr perfect consistency. Veal - This is one of our favorites. At $72, we were expecting a bit more pizazz, but at least the veal was tender and well seasoned. It was enough for two people. Gnochetti - This dish sounded very interesting and we're so glad we tried this. Love the texture of the gnochetti and the richness of the sauce. Tiramisu - I thought the tiramisu was OK. I prefer the traditional layered tiramisu. Service is really good throughout, our waters were constantly refilled, and they had good recommendations read more

Borromini - Gnochetti - Italian Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

See all

We had a great lunch here today and really enjoyed everything we tried. The Cacio e Pepe was creamy, perfectly seasoned, and had just the right bite. The steak was cooked beautifully -- tender and full of flavor -- and the chocolate olive oil cake was a standout finish, rich and def enough to share Service was attentive and friendly without being overbearing, and the atmosphere made for a nice midday meal. The only thing I'd love to see added is a bread service -- it's such a nice touch and would round out the experience (they could definitely take a page from Parc's playbook on that one!). Overall, a delicious lunch spot we'll definitely be back for dinner. read more

Borromini - Olive oil chocolate cake - Italian Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

See all

Incredible meal! Our server was extremely personable and checked in frequently. As soon our waters were emptied there was someone there to refill almost instantly. Had to start off the meal with an app and went with the arancini. They came out piping hot and were a great way to kick off dinner. I personally would have loved to have a little red sauce on the side, but enjoyed them as they came. The food was phenomenal! The perfect portions, temperature and taste. My sister and I both ordered Grapefruit Spritz's to tie out our meal. They were light and refreshing! The restaurant itself is a bit loud due to all the patrons. There's music playing in the background, which I do wish had been Italian. Lots of tables, alcohol on all the walls and servers everywhere doing an amazing job attending to their customers. Cannot wait to visit my sister again and come here! read more

See all

I've figured out the key to trying a new restaurant. Going as a group and trying a million things. I saw a lot of mixed reviews for Borromini and if I were to only eat my friend's entree as a solo diner (as I usually do) I would've thought this place was mid. While I could use some complimentary bread, this review is generally positive based on my fave dishes of the night. That 100 layer lasagna and the polpette (meatball) with polenta-- DIVINE. Their red sauce is just fantastic. Other delicious items (wrong names, but you'll get the gist)-- oxtail pasta, the branzino, lamp chops, and arancini. Service was excellent and the cocktails were also delish! I fear I can only group dine from now onwards. read more

See all

Borromini - Philadelphia Dining Review We dined at Borromini in Philadelphia, Stephen Starr's newest Italian venture in the former Barnes & Noble space off Rittenhouse Square. The renovation reportedly cost $20 million, and the result is visually impressive -- though not without its quirks. Parking is manageable: there's street parking across from Rittenhouse Park and a garage next door charging $23. Reservations are tough to secure -- expect to book a month in advance. The menu is compact, and while the ambiance is stylish, the noise level was overwhelming. I couldn't hear my spouse or the waitress clearly, which detracted from the experience. What We Ordered * Focaccia di Recco with Stracchino Cheese Thin, crispy, and pleasantly salty -- a great appetizer to share. * Tortelloni di Ricotta with Sage Brown Butter Rich, creamy, and well-balanced. This was my favorite dish of the night. * 100-Layer Lasagna Visually striking and unique, but surprisingly meatless. I would've preferred a heartier, meat-based version. * Eggplant Parmigiana Disappointing. The sauce was overly acidic, the cheese sparse, and the breading lacked flavor. I wouldn't recommend it. * Chocolate Olive Cake with Macchiato Light texture, but missing the depth of chocolate I expected. Service & Atmosphere Service was slow -- plan for 2-3 hours for a full meal. I had to request crumb cleanup and ask for hot pepper flakes. Surprisingly, no bread, no Parmesan, and no pepper flakes were offered by default -- unusual for an Italian restaurant. The vibe leaned more Italian bistro than fine dining. Music was mismatched; the last song I heard was by The Bee Gees, which clashed with the setting. There's also an upstairs dining area and bar. Final Thoughts Expect to spend $75-$100 per person. The food was good overall, but the restaurant still needs to fine-tune its service, pacing, and menu balance. I'd return to try other dishes -- but with adjusted expectations. read more

See all

I recently dined at Borromini for brunch on a Saturday morning. I booked my reservation a couple weekends in advance - I highly recommend making a reservation. The service was amazing. Our waiter attentive and friendly, but not overbearing. We were bummed to hear the 100-layer lasagna is NOT served at brunch (Sat-Sun), only lunch (which is during the week) and dinner. So we ended up ordering the Pane Focaccia, Egg Crostone, and Spaghetti Al Limone. It was a great mix and all was delicious. The place is really nice. White tablecloths, high ceilings, bright and airy. read more

See all

Went to the newest Steven Starr restaurant with my girlfriends on a Friday night. This Italian restaurant opened up on Rittenhouse square where the Barnes and Nobles used to be. The restaurant is very massive with 2 floors and outside seating. There was a ton of celebrities that visited the first week it opened. These celebrities included the governor, the guy who directed the Sixth Sense, and even Joe Biden. The customer service here was incredible. They quickly seated us to our table and really made sure everything was up to standard. I had an aperol spritz which was pretty good. My friends ordered drinks as well and when they came out at the same time, they actually almost gave us the wrong table's drinks. I am going to let it slide since it might have been opening week concerns. I did like how my friend wasn't expecting one of her dishes to come out the way it did and she ended up being comped for it. We started with the focaccia bread which we thought was going to be included. It wasn't, but it was definitely worth it. It was very tasty. I liked how fresh this piece of bread was. My entree was the Sicilian Lifeguard Pasta. It was calamari with capers and breadcrumbs. It honestly tasted pretty good and I don't usually like going to American Italian restaurants. This entree, I highly recommend; however. Overall, this place is worth the visit if you are on the square. read more

See all

Another I-talian spot but this one is on the square. They sat us right at the front which is bold considering all the stunners around us while we're underdressed. Upstairs, bar, side tables. Separate room with seating for the bathroom. We ordered a lot of stuff. The million layer lasagne. Brown sugar. Spaghetti al limone. Tuna tare tare. Something else. Olive oil cake. Service was decent. Personally I would recommend the hundred year lasagne and the olive oil dessert, but I'm the type of fish that complains about not getting the bait so DYOR and try it out yourself -- that's what Starr is for; restaurants perfectly designed to take your parents. read more

See all

I came here on a Sunday evening - the second weekend Borromini was open. We had the best server (shoutout to Alana!) who gave us amazing food recommendations. We were seated at a table overlooking Rittenhouse Square which was so nice, and I loved rustic italian decor. Personally, I thought that the portions were a decent size (for me); however, I can see people thinking these are small portions. We had the 100 layer lasagna, carbonara, chicken alla toscana, and focaccia di recco. We split the 100 layer lasagna as a third entree - it was light and refreshing, the perfect amount to split. Overall, I would definitely go back and get the carbonara again and would love to try other dishes. read more

See all

Food and wait staff very good. Both hostesses had an attitude so probably won't be back.

My friend loves to try all the Stephen Starr restaurants & she had been waiting to try to get a reservation for here for several months. She finally got a reservation during our girlfriend trip weekend and so the four of us had a 5:15 Saturday night reservation. This restaurant opened in Spring of this year inside what I was told was a Barnes & Noble bookstore previously. It is located on Rittenhouse Square. It's a beautiful restaurant inside, I love the bar area and the bottles on the walls. We were seated at a table for the four of us along the window, however, oddly the bottom part of the window that looks out onto Rittenhouse Square is blurred with clouded glass, so we couldn't actually see out onto the square while we were dining! We thought that was odd. Our server was very nice, but he seemed new, considering he did not seem to know what being a vegan was. Our one girlfriend was vegan and mentioned that at the start of the meal and he asked her if it was allergies and she had to explain that she couldn't eat anything that came from animals. We ordered three appetizers, the focaccia bread, the squash blossoms, and arincini ($11). We also ordered an assortment of wine, Prosecco and cocktails. The bread ($9) was quite delicious and hot from the oven, the squash blossoms ($15) were good, & we enjoyed them, but there were only three on the plate, and you basically consume them in just two bites. He forgot to bring the third appetizer and he apologized because it was his fault. He forgot to put it in. But since that happened, we had to wait a little bit so we ordered a second focaccia bread and we had not received either of the second appetizers that we ordered when they promptly delivered our main courses which made us feel quite rushed. In fact, that was our main complaint throughout the meal was that we continually really felt the servers who were clearing tables, while maybe they were trying to be extra efficient, made us feel rushed. Someone was continually coming and saying can we take that for you? Are you finished with this? Can we get a box for the rest of this? We must've said three times can you leave it on the table? We're gonna pick at it. and as I said, our entrées were brought way too soon with not enough time to enjoy our 2 other appetizers. The mixed cocktail my friend got the Hugo Spritzer, it was mixed well and she ordered a second. The wine, my friends enjoyed, and I also had a nice glass of Prosecco. We all liked the arincini (except our vegan friend who could not have it because it was not vegan dish), but we didn't get to finish much of the second focaccia because our entrées had arrived. I was also surprised that there was no olive oil or any dip presented with the focaccia bread. Our entrees were fine, but not outstanding. We had Spaghetti Al Pomodoro $19, Tortelloni Di Ricotta $23, "Sicilian Lifeguard" $26, Pappardelle alla Bolognese $27. My girlfriend did not care for the Tortelloni, the rest of us thought our dishes were fine, but again for how this restaurant was talented and the prices we didn't feel it was any better than any regular Italian restaurant that we had been to. My vegan friend has a side of Piselli $11 braised peas, spring onions, mint and really enjoyed it. I would give the place 3.5 if it were a choice-but the food 3.5 stars, service 3 stars due to the mis-steps & being rushed ( we were done in 1.5 hours with 4 people, so we didn't overstay our welcome) & given the other Italian choices in Philly I'd probably choose another restaurant over this one. read more

See all

Been here and twice and both times had really great servers. The inside is beautiful and well designed. The food is good, but in a city like Philly, you can find great authentic Italian food on almost every block. Nothing was a "wow" but nothing was terrible either. The oxtail malfadine was my favorite dish! read more

See all

Portions could be bigger, but if you are not starving from not having lunch and just want a light and not heavy dinner, this is the place to go. Downfall is they do not offer bread nor Caesar salad, but the food is delicious and service is great. Ambience was beautiful as well. Finally had authentic carbonara compared to other places that I have tried. First time having guanciale in carbonara and not bacon like others have used. Will definitely come back to try everything else on the menu. read more

See all

One of Starr's more recent Philly spots in the old Barnes and Noble in Rittenhouse. The space is decorated beautifully, an Italian spin on Parc on the other side of the square. Service was great, kind and attentive servers who were ready to help with recommendations, and made the experience really nice! Food was so-so. Nothing blew me away honestly, but I liked the starters and salads better than pastas and mains. Unfortunately with some really purely amazing Italian spots (for obvious reasons) in the city, this spot is less for the food and more for the vibes. read more

beautiful place. but little concern for clientele. food is OK to good. Hanger steak is good. Pasta is fresh. But pasta and salads are way over salted and Fettuccini was dressed in only globs of butter. Truly almost inedible. Could only eat the veg out of it. But service was the real issue. no cutlery provided w/ the mains. and manager (?) saw as we were searching for silverware and said nothing. Waitress brought wine and never came back to pour. Would not go back. So many better options in Philly and in Rittenhouse square. Don't imagine this place will last too long. read more

Excellent Customer Service . Everyone was in sync with serving diners. Very attentive without being annoying. My the chicken liver appetizer was delicious! I would return just to have that as an appetizer with a drink! Pomodoro Martini great balance and flavor!! The 100 layer lasagna I was not impressed would choose something else. Is this the best restaurant that I would return to? Absolutely!! read more