Le Virtu has been an institution in South Philly for many years serving up regional Abruzzo style pasta and specialties. We made reservations for 9pm on a Monday, arrived a few mins late but had no trouble getting our orders in and having plenty of time to enjoy our meal. Plenty of outdoor seating in addition to the intimate seats inside. Our server recommended an appetizer - the pork belly skewers which were phenomenal. They were tender without relying on a large fat cap and seasoned so well. Each bite was a treat. For our mains we went with: lamb chops, shrimp tagliatelle (Saffron Cavatelli) and the lamb ragu pasta (Maccheroncini alla Chitarra). Lamb chops, cooked to a tender medium. The pastas were cooked al dente with the tagliatelle highlighting fresh cherry tomatoes and the ragu highlighting savory lamb and peperoncino. My first time trying Abruzzo cuisine but won't be my last - the peperoncinos add a subtle but refreshing touch of spice. read more

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A friend suggested a dinner meeting at this location in South Philly. It's Italian section and this was Italian food for sure. The theme is from Abruzzi region. Interestingly enough each region in Italy has different dialect and different food specialties. We started with a sausage and vegetables appetizer and the chef sent a pistachio spread, both were wonderful. We ordered some breads for our table at $4 per basket consisting of sliced round bread and focaccia. A small plate with olive oil came with it. We needed more little oils and baskets of bread Starters - I had a radicchio salad, not my favorite but fresh. Has a sharp taste to it. Crisp white and red. It was lite. Then we had some sides on the table to pick at. I loved the roasted potatoes and the mushrooms. Great taste. We also had broccoli rabi, which I love but thought it needed more garlic. For our main courses we all went for pasta. I had the Amatriciana special made with fresh tomato and guanciale. Very good. Two people had spicey type fusilli. One had a macheriana which he loved. The service was great. Very attentive and polite. The drinks were good. The wine was from some good Italian wineries. The drinks could have been larger and were priced a little high but that didn't stop us from indulging. For desert we split a tiramisu and zeppole for the table. The zeppole was exceptional, loved the yellow crème and I followed it with espresso and anisette. We were happy. The bill was steep, so be prepared. But we were not lacking anything and walked away with full bellies and smiles. read more

Stopped by here for happy hour and it's such a lovely spot!! Had their pasta dish which was very flavorable! read more

Le Virtu - Italian Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Came to try some Italian wines. Their front entrance is closed so have to enter on the side. The Bartender Carolyn was very knowledgeable. Tried the draft Rosso on Happy Hour and the Vignarco Rosso which were both very tasty. Not heavy on tannins. Also had the cheese plate which was delicious and paired nicely with the wine. Bar was very laid back and unassuming. Would definitely come again and try something else. read more

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Had our work Christmas dinner here and loved everything! Pasta was cooked perfectly and delicious and the desserts were amazing. Service was great and it's so cozy inside. Highly recommended! read more

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We sat outside on a really nice night here, so the ambience was great. We had a large group event here, and everything was delicious. We started off with some large shareable appetizer plates with plenty of fresh vegetables and hummus/other spreads. I ordered the chicken dish, and it was very moist and delicious. It's a great neighborhood spot, and I believe they change their menu regularly based on the season, so there's always something new to try! read more

Le Virtu - Chicken entree - Italian Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Drinks, pastas, and dessert solid across the board. They also have a wide collection of wine options and staff members were very knowledgeable and friendly. Will definitely be coming again! read more

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Everything was exceptional! The atmosphere was romantic and the cuisine, divine. We chose the three course East Passyunk Restaurant Week special. With two diners, we got to sample the whole menu. The portion sizes were very generous and served with good timing. The pastas were done to perfection and not overly sauced. Kudos to the young man who cleared the table plates. Instead of "Can I take this?" or "Are you done?", he politely asked, "Are you still enjoying this?" Very impressive! read more

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I went to Le Virtu yesterday for dinner and it was great!! I had the Red wine Troccoli and it was delicious! We also had the Affetati Misti and it was delicious too!! The service is friendly and the ambience is energetic!!! I would definitely come here again!! read more

Le Virtu - Red wine Troccoli - Italian Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Cozy little neighborhood place with authentic Italian food. It's small inside, but lively. The server was attentive our table as soon as we sat down. He was knowledgeable about the menu and the daily specials. My group likes to taste and share, so we all ordered something different to compare. I would say that the pasta dishes were the best. Everything was fresh and full of flavor. The Maccheroni was a bit spicy so if that's not something you like, you should pass on it. The pork ribs were exactly sweet and sour just as described. They had a unique, refreshing flavor. With their menu and multiple daily specials, you can definitely go back frequently and try something different. Good choice for pasta in the area. read more

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The food was absolutely delicious! Great and attentive service and a cozy atmosphere!

Cousin had his 30th birthday here and it was a lovely intimate setting for a night of drinks and celebration with family we don't see too often due to distance. First it is a little hard to find as from the exterior it didnt stand out. Parking was complicated as we're not from the area and didn't see a garage but we found a street spot and met up with the family once there. Interior is dimly lit but has a homey ambiance. I haven't had much experience with authentic Italian food but if its anything like the dinner we had I certainty want more! Dinner was served family style, 3 large plates spread among 12 of us consisting of bread/oil, charcuterie board, pasta, fish, chicken, vegetables. After you felt you couldn't eat any more they mentioned coffee and dessert. Dessert was on another level. After a fantastic meal I had the ricotta cheese cake which was wonderful but my husband opted for the apple cake. That was the real star of the meal. So moist and perfectly spiced. Our servers were spot on making sure we never ran out of wine or drinks, made dessert recommendations and explained anything in Italian we didn't quite understand. The night went too fast but I hope to return again either for a date night or another family outing. read more

A quaint restaurant with a great outdoor space under twinkle lights. The staff was attentive and the menu being a unique blend of options. read more

Le Virtu - Variety Cheeseboard - Italian Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

The best Italian dining experience in South Philly by a mile! Everything was delicious! The outdoor seating garden area is beautiful! Was able to feed meat eaters, vegetarians, and gluten phones alike! read more

O.M.G.! Simply the best, freshest, delicious farm to table Abruzzi region Italian dinner I've ever had! read more

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I had THE most delicious pre-race dinner at Le Virtu two weekends ago with my husband. The whole place -- outside and inside had a rustic feel, which matched the style of the restaurant's food. To start, my husband and I shared an order of the fried calamari. The calamari was soft and delicious. Not one bit overcooked or rubbery. Since we came here to carb up, I ordered the Taccozelle, while my husband had the Chitarra frentana with the Butchers' ragu. My husband's red sauce pasta was good, but nowhere near as good as the Taccozelle. I absolutely loved my Taccozelle. Everything in this dish complemented each other, from the mushrooms, the black truffle and the saffron. I savored every single bite. I could eat this pasta every day. Our pasta dishes were sizable portions and my husband and I both polished our entire plates. We were both very full, but decided we wanted dessert anyway. We decided to share the tiramisu and chocolate mousse. Both were well-made desserts, but I would definitely recommend the tiramisu over the chocolate mousse. Service was great. The staff here were very nice. Le Virtu is also dog friendly! I cannot wait to come back here with our dog when the weather is warmer! read more

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Outstanding delish meal tonight! I'm a vegatarian and I would highly recommend the pickled vegetables, green garlic sformato, porcini triangoli, saffron risotto, pizza minestra and grilled broccoli rabe. While a normal resturant level of noise I also thought it was intimate and I could hear the person I went there to talk with. The people that are working there are working extremely hard and wanting to make everyone happy which is very evident. It's homemade authentic food absolutely outstanding local resturant! read more

Came to this place on a Thursday evening over the summer. It was relatively quiet and towards the end of the evening. Not too noisy and definitely a good vibe. After hearing so much about this place I was excited to try the food. Overall, I thought it was okay. Nothing spectacular but standard a quality meal. The service was bare minimum and it took way longer than expected for anything to come out. We had finished two glasses of wine before our appetizer arrived. Maybe it was an off night, but if you want a solid date spot, it's worth checking out. Good for conversation for sure. read more

My husband and I came out for dinner here and this was definitely one of our favorite stops from our mini vacation to Philadelphia. We made a reservation for dinner and we were seated immediately. It was a beautiful night to be sitting outdoors with the musicians they had playing music as you ate. The food was delicious! We have been to Italy before and when we had the pasta we definitely tasted the similarities. My husband was melting in his seat after his first bite. No photos because I only had a video of it, but it was the fazzoletti Al ragu'd'anatra. Yum! They even helped split into two plates since we were sharing. The mussels were also really good. Probably one of the best we've tried so far. We were also sold on the special of the day where they had branzino. Super flaky and cooked perfectly. We really enjoyed our meal here and wish we were able to visit once more before we left Philadelphia. If we ever are in town again, we'll definitely try to make another visit here to try more dishes. read more

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I heard great things about this place so I had decided to go there within a couple minutes of sitting down. I saw roaches on the floor and I left immediately. No thank you. read more

Good neighborhood spot with really friendly hosts and a warm vibe. It's not a traditional red sauce Italian spot. Menu is specific in that it's not overly extensive but has a handful of offerings that they take pride in. In this sense it is a good spot though some may not find offerings that pique their tastes to be a bit wanting. All in all, definitely a spot that's worth visiting especially if in the area. read more

First visit to Philadelphia and first dinner out. Very impressed with the service and food. Small but diverse menu serving more upscale Italian delicacies. We chose a the Affetati Misti appetizer platter of cured Italian meats, sliced paper thin, with vegetables and pizza frites. Excellent starter. For dinner I chose a braised lamb with black truffle mushrooms which was fall off the bone delicious. As sides we chose table sized portions of broccoli rabe and a long pepper stuffed with sausage and cheese. Finished with espresso w/sambuca. Thoroughly enjoyed the experience read more

Le Virtu is my go to in South Philly for Italian, hands down. There are so many reasons to come here, and I urge anyone looking for a great night out to try it. First and foremost is the food. This isn't a place for your made for Instagram, two bites and you're done, overhyped BS. No no. When you get a plate of pasta here, you get a large helping of some PERFECTLY cooked tagliatelle or gnocchi, heavily sauced and seasoned to perfection. Although I am usually an appetizer guy, I actually recommend skipping the appetizers and going straight for the pasta as a starter, then finishing up with a meat or fish dish, European style. The menu is set up this way, and while apps then pasta is a totally valid way to do it, the apps are not the strongest part of the menu and it would be SUCH a shame to miss out on either the pasta or their amazing second courses--Branzino and swordfish particularly stick out to me. One of my favorite things is that Le Virtu isn't run by a Mr. Starr or a Mr. Schulson who have a dozen other restaurants in a dozen other cities, but rather by a really kind operator and his wife, who have been running the show for over ten years now. This means that they're really part of the community, and the difference shows. The owners have done local fundraisers for various causes, as well as national issues, such as donating a given weeks worth of profits to Afghan refugees or Planned Parenthood, as two recent examples come to mind. The people who work here also really seem to like being here, and it shows in the service, which has been spectacular, kind, and pretty witty, with plenty of good advice and friendly banter during the meal. The patio space is gorgeous, and the inside doesn't feel crowded at all either. It does tend to get pretty busy on peak weekends, but it's really worth snagging a reservation! I love coming here on weeknights too--a little slower, quieter vibe, but a great night out nonetheless. They have a full bar but also allow BYO for a fee - I believe it's $25. No fee on Tuesdays, which I have take advantage of more than a few times! Go to Le Virtu! Get a patio seat in the summer, or go on Tuesdays for a fun weekday date night out. You won't regret it! read more

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Great little Italian joint. I would happily bring a date, or family here. Wonderful bar to have a cocktail while you wait, and friendly staff all around! read more

By far, this is the worst service I've witnessed in a long time. Dinner portions during restaurant week are a little smaller than regular dish sizes (which is reasonable), our main waitress was kind and appropriate, but my biggest gripe is with side service (unsure of the terminology). During the entire dinner event, we can hear swearing from the kitchen, staff talking about mixing up the dishes, or 'you can't cook this like this, it's ok, the kids won't tell a difference.' When we asked to take some food to go, the other assistants just dropped off the to go boxes on our table like we're charity cases. Finally, as we were leaving, my daughter bumped into a staff because he stopped walking all of a sudden. Instead of apologizing or asking if my toddler was ok, he just stared at us, and continued his work. I can't justify our dinner event (which, I think the pasta were a bit underwhelming) when we were affronted with this kind of mannerism. My advice is to please provide consistent training across your staff members. read more

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Le Virtu is one of my favorite restaurants in Philly. The restaurant is gorgeous inside and out, and has amazing ambiance. I personally love sitting at the bar, but the outside is lovely with a community table, beautiful greenery and a huge patio. The service is always great. They've had some staff changes lately, but it doesn't seem like anything to worry about. The new staff has been great so far. I don't think I've ever had a bad meal at Le Virtu. Or a bad drink - they have an impressive wine list! They also added a wine shop lately, which I've been frequenting. Overall, a great place for a night out! read more

When outdoor plans are virtually our only option that's not virtual plans and the rain is threatening to ruin those few and far between plans, look no further than Le Virtu. They have a covered patio that seats lots of people very socially distantly and isn't in the middle of the street and dangerously close to cars and pedestrians or in an alleyway full of trash. Waiters are masked and the food came out fast! Our waiter also didn't judge us when we asked for more bread and oil three (3) times. The food was delicious, portions large, and the Sunday/Monday dinner ($35 for an appetizer, main and a glass of their house wine with 3 to choose from including a rosé!) is a really great deal. The deal excludes the lamb chops and antipasto but there are still a lot of options to choose from. Also, everyone at your table has to do the special and you can't swap out the wine for a cocktail or beer (someone will just have to drink an extra glass boohoo). The lamb skewers came with 8 skewers and the meat was tender and flavorful. My saffron taccozzelle with pork sausage was excellent and my friends loved their pastas too. We were too full for dessert (maybe it was the 3rd bread) but there were a few good looking options (gelato, sorbet, lemon tiramisu). Highly recommend as a weatherproof dinner option (or even if you just want some shade!) read more

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Visit an major city in the U.S and you'll more than likely find a litany of Italian restaurants. The market size of the Italian restaurant sector reached 74 billion in 2021 alone, representing the HUGE affinity most have for the cuisine. Nestled on the cute and quaint street of Passyunk Le Virtu stands out. I could easily say it's the rich and decadent flavors of each dish. It also would be easy to credit the experience to the attentive service and toasty environment. Instead, I'll just note that on my first visit I thought my enjoyment was a fluke. The second visit proved that this restaurant stands up amongst the best in a city full of many choices. You'd be remiss to cheat yourself out of the experience of visiting. read more

Le Virtu - Potatoes, and Something Special - Italian Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

my order was the cavatelli's, the pasta was very soft and the sauce it was in taste it like crab gravy, which was very nice and unique for a cavatelli dish. The shrimp were also cooked very well and tasted very fresh. The service was very good fast and on point. The ambience outside where I sat was very nice and gave a feel as i was outside in Italy. read more

Le Virtu - Cavatelli - Italian Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

My group enjoyed sitting outside, sharing good wine and a selection of appetizers (order the sformato--a garlicky soufflé!). I ordered the green garlic triangoli as a main dish and unfortunately it was far too garlicky. Garlic overwhelmed every other seasoning in the dish. Supposedly it included basil pesto but I was unable to discern a basil flavor or really any other flavor than garlic. read more

Tasty and charming. I've admired their huge courtyard for several years and have never stepped foot in it until last week. Lots of hype about this place; it seems to be a south Philly watering hole because the hostess knew a bunch of different tables as they came in, which is great. Their pasta is obviously awesome, but don't sleep on their apps - we got maybe 4 between us (muscles, 2 meats and a veggie one) and 3 entrees. Their cocktails were quite good too, particularly the shirts and blouses one (gin based). Service was what we expected - attentive but nothing too crazy, and our waiter told us his favorite dishes, which is always nice. Now I'll have a fond memory when I run by the courtyard :) read more

This is the first review I've ever left on Yelp. Full disclosure, my wife and I have been dining here since the place opened and my wife is friends with the owner. Le Virtu has always been our favorite Italian restaurant in the city. The food, ambience and service have always been exceptional... until tonight. Our waitress and her team should find new employment. The pacing was awful, she rushed our order, water glasses never filled, and they swept away my wife's clearly not finished $14 drink while she was in the bathroom. It clearly was not the busiest of nights as if that's an excuse to suck at your job. The food lacked seasoning. The clam dish had 4 clams that didn't open out of about 15 total. The fish was fishy, and the pasta was obviously undercooked. The lamb was bland and fatty. Overall I just don't get it. This place has always been exceptional. Tonight it sucked. We can deal with an off night in the kitchen but combined with horribly inconsistent service I'm not sure we can dine there again. read more

Don't overlook Le Virtu. Yes, while from the outside, it may appear to be a bit more formal, it truly can accommodate dressing down a bit (comfy casual). They have a full bar with signature drink items and plenty of wine. Our party was running late and they were so flexible for us! Definitely high quality service. The food was SO good. I ordered red mussels for an appetizer. This was something else...I literally had to pass my dish around for everyone to swipe their bread through it. For dinner I had their lemon gnocchi with sausage. This was standard - nothing crazy good or bad about it, but next time I head there, I'll try something else (which is easy to do given the size and variety of their menu.) read more

Le Virtu - Italian Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

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Went here a few weeks ago and sat in their outdoor area before the weather got too cold. The outside area wasn't really anything to rave about but having that option in south Philly is always a plus. The service was honestly not the best, but they were busy and we didn't feel like they were hounding us. That's the only reason I didn't give this 5 stars, because the food here was unbelievable. Might be my favorite Italian food in the city. The single strand pasta was delicious and unique. Flavors were incredible. Highly recommend this place, maybe the service was an off night but I will certainly be back read more

We loved our dinner at Le Virtu. We were celebrating a birthday and it was a beautiful environment for the occasion. We sat inside (I'm a wimp and wanted some air conditioning after being outside most of the day) but the outdoor space is gorgeous and I am excited to sit outdoors in the fall. We started with cocktails - the L'Internazionale was absolutely delicious. We really enjoyed the burrata with tomatoes, prosciutto and balsamic & the Arancini as appetizers. For our main course, we shared the two specials- a veal ragu pasta dish (could've eaten 2 of these it was so good) and the pork chop - a massive, tender, perfectly cooked pork chop with potatoes and broccolini. We took tiramisu and the orange chocolate cake home with us for dessert - highly recommend both. Overall, Le Virtu is a great spot for an outstanding experience with great service and delicious food. read more

Everything about this restaurant is top notch. Tonight was a perfect evening to eat in their outdoor area. Each of us enjoyed our meal from the spaghetti with clams to the amazing mushroom pasta and a special of halibut. It's dependable and consistent. read more

Le Virtu - Burrata salad. - Italian Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

I adore this place. The food is incredible. Seating outside on a nice day without the other tables filled with small children is such a delight! This is not just an Italian place. This is proper Italian food and it is consistently delicious! read more

Came here at 7:15 for an 8:15 reservation and they said we would need to wait. That was a great sign because it means it's busy up until 8 . Next thing, it has a Sunday/Monday deal where you get two courses and wine for $35, what a deal. We tried the lamb prosciutto, cheese platter, scripelle, and the single noodle pasta. First we were given some bread and olive oil. The bread was solid and came in two kinds, one more plain and the other more flavored. The quality of the olive oil was also great and so I enjoyed the combination of the two together. The prosciutto, I thought was meh. The lamb was accompanied by some bitter vegetables and I thought there could've been some elements of sweetness with it. The flavors didn't blend well together. The cheese plate was good, three types of cheese with some jam and honey. Also got the single noodle pasta. I liked the texture of it, but it was just too much pasta that didn't have anything else to eat with it. No meat, no veggies, just noodles. The scripelle was great. The strong cheese was greatly balanced by the sauce. Normally I find ravioli to be a bit strong on the cheese side, and this dish was going to do the same I assumed, but it didn't and it was delicious. read more

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Nice outdoor area and a WOW-pasta. I would always come back for their Taccozzelle!!! It has been our 2nd time came back just because I love their Taccozzelle pasta so much. The mushroom and truffle go so well with the flat pasta, creating a creamy, meaty, chewy, well-balanced texture. It's just a hard-to-forget pasta I ever had! read more

Le Virtu - Taccozzelle All' Aquilana - Italian Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Food was good, solid, but not outstanding like I can't wait to go back again. It's no better than typical Italian restaurants and for the price, expensive, I would have expected better, and maybe bigger portions read more

Le Virtu - Pappardelle - Italian Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

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