My experience at Vita was fantastic! Massimo took care of our table and was attentive and extremely charismatic! The pork was delicious my previous experiences at vita have also been great. There is never any issues when I visit, as I always leave with a smile on my face and a full belly! My favorite thing on the menu is the scampi risotto entree! So delicious! read more

This speakeasy restaurant is right behind the red door of the gelato place. Drinks here were delicious! Highly recommend coming for apps and drinks before dinner. We ended up coming back after dinner for their gelato. read more

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The restaurant is undeniably beautiful -- the décor is thoughtful, the lighting is warm, and the overall ambience makes you feel like you're in for something special. The pasta absolutely delivered; it was fresh, flavorful, and clearly made with care. Everything else, though, fell short of the price point. For how expensive the menu is, I expected the rest of the dishes to match the quality of the pasta, but they just didn't. It left the whole experience feeling overpriced for what you actually get. The steak at almost $100 was overcooked and swimming in a sweet sauce. The fish which was supposed to be deboned was full of bones. The restaurant did take the fish off of the bill and I believe the owner came over and apologized and when we said we didn't need a replacement he said we want you to have a "sweet" ending, but then we were charged for dessert not sure if that was our misunderstanding. Very pretty setting and great pasta but not enough value to justify the price. read more

This is an interesting one to review! We dined at both the gelato shop and the Italian restaurant. The ambiance of both was great! The gelato shop felt cozy and friendly, and the restaurant was dark and intimate. It was a cool contrast. Food: Overall, the food was perfect. At the restaurant, I ordered the Focaccia and the Tagliatelle Ragu Bolegnese. I would describe the portion size of the pasta as "smedium" (likely small to some, but just filling enough for me with an appetizer). At the gelato shop, I ordered the pistaccio gelato. All the food was 10/10! Service: This is where it gets interesting. The servers were extremely polite and very attentive. To a fault. It felt like the servers were hovering over us to collect our plates. There were at least two instances where I had stopped touching my food for a few minutes, and someone approached us to collect our plates. It felt like we were being rushed out, and made the politeness translate as curtness rather than friendliness. Weirdly, although the food was great, I likely would not return to the restaurant because the service felt so RUSHED. It made it hard to enjoy the intimacy of the environment. By contrast, the gelato shop staff was very friendly and I would at the very least stop by there again! read more

Vita - Tagliatelle Ragu Bolegnese - Italian Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

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Just came here for gelato- and I hope to be back for the speakeasy! Such a cool concept. The gelato was pretty good, and the servers were very nice. I just got the oat milk Oreo and white chocolate raspberry (this one was better). I hope to comeback to try other flavors! read more

Vita - Italian Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

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Went here for some dessert after dinner at a nearby restaurant. Have hear did this place many times and was on the list to try, so made sure to leave room to try it. Has an appealing large glass window that allows you to into the store from the street. Good bright lighting that isn't overpowering but enough to make the space feel light and warm. Walked in and automatically greeted by the staff behind the counter. He was so welcoming, kind and helpful in choosing flavor pairings. I can't remember which two I got, but I know they were delicious and paired well with one another. Plan to come back to try other flavors and do want to try the restaurant one day. At the very least, go here and get yourself some gelato! read more

I loved every second of this experience. Came to celebrate my birthday with friends and every mouthful was AMAZING. My birthday dark chocolate gelato was the best I've ever had. Such a lovely and charming place that I'm considering making it my new birthday tradition. Atmosphere and service were impeccable. No notes! read more

Vita - Dark chocolate gelato and apple caramel tart? Cinnamon? Scrumptious either way! - Italian Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

I discovered Vita through Tiktok when I was looking for a place to host my birthday dinner at, and they really came through! For starters, it's really cool that they're an ice cream shop out front, with a hidden speakeasy-style restaurant in the back. You can get a reservation through their website, but for larger groups, you have to email them. I emailed & spoke with Massimo Boni to coordinate - for groups of 9+, they offer a pre-fix family style menu with a minimum of $75pp (food + drinks). Massimo walked me through the dishes and offered great suggestions to help me tailor the courses to my guests, all while keeping dietary restrictions in mind. 10/10 experience, and super fast response! For the pre-fix menu, we were able to get 2-3 antipasti, 3-4 primi, 1-2 secondi, and 1 contorno from the menu. I ended up getting the Gamberi, Stracciatella, and Arancini for starters, then the Balanzoni, Vodka, Bolognese, and Cappalletti for the pastas, and ended with Ribeeye steak and Zucchini chips. My favorite was probably the Arancini and the Rigatoni vodka, the flavors were amazing. I equally liked the rest of the dishes, though I will say the Ribeye steak was a bit too salty for my liking. The zucchini chips had an addicting crunch and were a favorite in the group. Overall would come back here again, and the service was also great! read more

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Vita has been expanding its dessert selection. I had the cheesecake with Nutella topping and it was divine. For Nutella lovers like me , I highly recommend it. Smooth and creamy with some pieces of crunchy Kinder and enrobed with generous amount of Nutella. The latest addition that I tried today Is key lime pie bar topped with beautifully torched sweet meringue. Perfect for spring. read more

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Came for a birthday celebration. Food was good, different than what Im use to but still good. The kale salad I liked surprisingly. The shrimp were probably my favorite. Steak had a sweetness to it but I loved the flavors. The risotto was ehh Ive had better. I just think they need a bigger bathroom area because the line was a little wait for the ladies room in the basement. Friendly staff read more

Vita - Everything in this photo was delicious - Italian Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

This place is a really cute speakeasy Italian restaurant. The drinks are good. The pasta was okay but small portions compared to the price. I would come back but just for drinksanf the atmosphere. The service was really nice. read more

Vita - Tiramisu - Italian Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

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I've walked by Vita countless of times and never went in until recently. My friends Dream by Dream started playing there every other Wednesday in the speakeasy part of the Italian restaurant so I wanted to stop by to see them. It was a nice surprise seeing the restaurant after going through the door from the gelato shop. We had the potatoes from the happy hour menu and a drink. The decor of the restaurant was very cute and the vibes were nice. It's definitely a nice hidden place in the city that I'm looking forward to going to again. read more

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I really, really wanted to love Vita/Behind the Red Door, but unfortunately it fell flat for me. The experience itself was so fun and unique with the password and hidden door, and the decor was super cute. Our service was unfortunately a little on the slow side, which was odd considering we were one of the first tables for dinner and it was pretty empty. For drinks, we had one non-alcoholic option (shout out for the options!), and I opted for the When One Door closes but asked to sub tequila. Unfortunately it was not my favorite and was not what I expected, but maybe others love it. For food, we started with the whipped ricotta and zucchini chips (normally a side), both of which were delicious. Oddly, our waitress offered us extra bread for the whipped ricotta (which we opted for), but then it never came and our waitress never came back while our starters were at the table. I also picked the scampi risotto for my entree, and it was not at all what was advertised or what was expected. I was expecting a white wine/butter/garlic sauce, but instead it was red/tomato based and had a serious kick (but the menu did not have a chili pepper). I would not have ordered it had I known what I would be getting. We opted against dessert, mostly because we were disappointed and confused that they didn't offer the same flavors in the restaurant that they did in the gelato shop out front. They did offer us a complimentary gelato as we were celebrating our anniversary which was super sweet and appreciated. In all, I think I had high expectations and Vita just did not hit the mark for me. I'm glad I tried it, and I would go back if asked, but I don't think I'd suggest it myself. read more

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Loved the food, service and ambiance here at Vita (More behind the door). The food was better than I expected. For appetizers we ordered the arancini and zucchini chips which were both fried to perfection. For main course we split the pollo al mattone and the Bottoni . The pasta was absolutely delicious and so fresh. The lemon & ricotta blended effortlessly and I still drool thinking about the pasta . Also absolutely loved the pollo al mattone- it was a half chicken served with mashed potatoes and a vegetables. It was soft and juicy & seasoned well. Both the main dishes were my favorite. We also ordered the mustard greens spicy ceaser but were disappointed with it. It had a very strong and overpowering anchovies flavor it and was drenched in dressing. Other than the ceaser salad our meal was superb! The gelatos are also out of this world and definitely recommend them! Got pistachio and coffee cardamom and they both were smooth and delicious . We were not in a mood for drinks so didn't get to try out the drinks, so will have to come back to try them. Definitely give this cute speakeasy restaurant a try! read more

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I mean, who doesn't love a speak easy and fresh pasta?! Pro tip- they actually make you whisper the magic words to go through the "fridge." First expectation- I was shocked as to how large the restaurant was for being a speak easy, and boy was it PACKED! It had a sexy vibe to it- dimmed with lush velvet chairs, and cherubs galore. Aesthetic on fleek. The menu is seasonal, which does complicate things with how fiercely this place books up. Luckily, the featured menu at the time (December) looked divine. Cocktails were good, if I remember correctly. What could be bad about a traditional espresso martini, right?! Appetizers: No way can you go to an Italian joint and not get the focaccia bread. It was superb- salted to perfection with a delicious sun-dried, whipped butter. We also opted for the fried zucchini- YUM! and lastly, my favorite, the crudo...the citrus added suched a delicious brightness to the dish- I could eat that over and over again. Our party of four went with four different pasta dishes...because, duh, you have to try *everything*! I'm writing this way after the fact so I don't remember the name of every pasta, but it doesn't matter- they were all DELECTABLE! Even the gluten free option for my husband was to die for. We also got the chicken to try and that was equally as delicious as the homemade pastas. One star off for not having a larger variety of protein entrees, but I get it...pasta's the star, here! I can't see myself running back here, but it was a great dining experience. I definitely recommend giving Behind The Door a go. read more

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I'm not a big ice cream person but I really liked this shop. It's was small, well lit, and friendly. I got the Dubai chocolate ice cream and it tasted amazing. read more

Vita - Ice cream flavors - Italian Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Made a reservation to "More Behind the Door" a little speakeasy behind a gelato shop. We got our password 30 minutes before our reservation. The restaurant itself was nice and the staff were incredibly helpful. We ordered a salad, pasta dish and the steak to share between the two of us. The salad had a great bite, the steak was cooked to perfection, and the pasta was the star. pro tip: ask for bread to soak up all of that amazing Parmesan broth! Highly recommend the tiramisu! read more

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My husband made a dinner reservation for us at Vita last month. Like many other foodies, he was drawn to Vita's speakeasy concept. We didn't need to provide the password to be let in to the restaurant from behind the gelato counter. We were seated within a reasonable amount of time upon entering the restaurant. Our server was very nice, but you can tell the restaurant was understaffed, as there were only 1 or 2 servers taking orders in the entire restaurant. My husband and I kicked off dinner with a few appetizers, including the Arancini, the Chrysanthemum Caesar, and the grilled whole prawns. The Arancini was perfectly fried and tasted fine. The Chrysanthemum Caesar Salad was a nice and slightly elevated Caesar Salad topped with Chrysanthemum flower powder. As for the whole prawns, parts of it were burnt. The flavors were good, and had the prawns not been burnt, it would have been a great dish. For our main courses, my husband and I shared 3 pasta dishes, including the Bucatini alla Amatriciana, the Tagliatelle Ragu Bolognese, and the Rigatoni alla vodka. The best pasta dish was definitely the Taliatelle Ragu Bolognese, but the Rigatoni alla vodka was also good. The salted cured meat in the Bucatini could be less fatty. Overall, the pastas were comparable to Tulip Pasta's, Cicala's and Via Locusta's. After all that savory and fatty food we just ate, we were really craving citrusy, fruity gelato, but the only gelato that was offered on their dessert menu was a chocolate, rose, and pistachio trio. If we wanted other flavors, we would need to order them outside from the gelato counter. Out of our own convenience, we went with the gelato trio on the dessert menu, which was still good, but did not quite hit the spot for us. When my husband and I were ready to leave, we were instructed to exit from the back door, so as not to give away the secret entrance behind the gelato counter. We walked out into a small patio, and let ourselves out into the back alley way, where the dumpsters were. The restaurant's garbage stink wrapped around us as we quickly walked out of there. Knocking off one star for this. read more

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I learned of this restaurant through the TikTok app. I was excited to dine at a "secret" restaurant that I didn't even look at the menu until after I made the reservation. lol The front facing business is dessert; specifically gelato. I love the aesthetics of gelato. The display, the colors, the clean sleek look and here at Vita's is a large red door that looks like an old Frigidaire door but bright red. Thirty minutes prior to your reservation time, you will receive a text message with the secret word or short phrase. When you arrive, you give that word or phrase to the scooper or cashier and they will check your name to confirm your reservation. From there you walk through the red door. The restaurant is dimly lite making it a little difficult to read the menu but that's an easy fix with the light in your mobile phone. The cuisine at this restaurant is Italian. I was not familiar with a lot of what was on the menu so after a google search I settled on Focaccia (yes bread was my antipasta/starter) and pasta with bolognese sauce. I enjoyed the focaccia and the accompanying spread made of tomato butter, coriander and, fennel seeds. Delicious. For the entree my partner and I ordered the Tagliatelle Ragu Bolognese. The dish was okay, not one of my favorites. For dessert we enjoyed a vanilla and chocolate ice cream. That was yummy. I like the setup of the restaurant but I didn't have anything to eat that would put this restaurant back on repeat visit list. read more

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This might be my first time having gelato, can't remember but honestly it was super good. The texture is light, fluffy, and creamy. They have some really interesting flavors like maple date, pumpkin spice (seasonal), pistachio, and guava (rare find!) I ended up getting a small of their pistachio (which seems like their most popular since the bin was almost empty compared to other flavors) and Oreo. Pistachio flavor was amazing, salty, not too strong, and didn't taste artificial. Oreo was classic. I'd come back and try the speakeasy restaurant in the back! read more

Vita - Italian Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

I first came to Vita back in October. Parking: very very hard! There's a $15 parking garage on Litmer between 15th & 16th. Atmosphere: low light and noisy. Service: server was very slow. Wait time between courses was over 35 minutes. Drink; the green one wasn't good. I sent it back Food: Focaccia with tomato butter & whipped Ricotta with sourdough. I didn't like the sourdough. I took the whipped Ricotta and mixed it with the tomato butter and put it on the Focaccia. That changed the game!!! Delicious!!!! Shrimp: it was mushy Ceasar salad was good! Pasta with butter squash and hazelnut in a broth. Sooooo good!!! Our entrees took so long that we had to takeaway the following: Steak: omgggg!! Sooooo delicious!!!!!! Red snapper: very tasty!! Broccolini was cooked just right! Fast forward, I was there 17th Nov and Ben was our server. Ben was awesome!! Very knowledgeable and have good service!! This made the dining experience so much better!! I came with 2 other ppl and they thoroughly enjoyed the above dishes. We added the mushroom pasta and it was good!! Red Wine, lemon drop and Bourbon drinks were hot!! Massimo made his round to our table. He's so engaging! Great guy. We stopped to the Gelato shop. The guys up there are so nice. I had the dark chocolate, Pistachio and passionfruit mango and it was so good!!! Very smooth and creamy! The person I invited enjoyed hers as well Overall, Massimo said if I come a 3rd time? I'm a regular! read more

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Overall: the food was great! Delicious! We enjoyed every dish. The beef tartare and the red snapper were really nice ways to start off the meal. The red snapper had bright flavors from the citrus and the tomato dashi had a subtly comforting flavor. The beef tartare was more on the salty side but probably because it needed to be since it's rare? All the pastas were creamy and delicious. The portion sizes are quite small for the prices so we ended up having to order 3 pasta dishes for the two of us and more food. Also note that parking is hard to find around here unless you pay for garage. read more

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This review is for the restaurant! You walk in through a secret door into a low lit restaurant. Everyone is super friendly from the moment you arrive. The service is top notch. We were celebrating our anniversary and got a free desert! I had the whipped ricotta and the rigatoni allá vodka. The whipped ricotta was AMAZING and honestly the best part of my meal. It had a nice, sweet taste to it. One serving is big enough to share with up to 4 people. The pasta was good, but I've had better. The rigatoni was cooked al dente so it was a bit chewy. read more

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Cool Speakeasy Vibes, Great Service -- But a Bit Pricey for What You Get This restaurant is a hidden gem--literally. It's a speakeasy-style spot, and I won't spoil the surprise by naming it outright, because the unexpected reveal is part of the fun. It definitely took me off guard in a good way! Service was a highlight of the night. Our server, Faith, was absolutely wonderful--super sweet, genuinely attentive, and made the whole experience feel warm and welcoming. The ambiance is cool and trendy, though I will say the lighting was a bit too bright for the vibe they're going for. A little dimmer and it would feel much more intimate and moody--something you'd expect from a speakeasy-style restaurant. As for the food: * The whipped ricotta appetizer with rosemary and honey was phenomenal--easily one of the best bites of the night. * The rigatoni vodka was creamy and delicious, super satisfying. * The bolognese was fresh and flavorful, though it could use just a touch more seasoning to really stand out. * The balanzoni was actually a standout--unique and very tasty. * The cappelletti Genovese was just okay; nothing wrong with it, but it didn't wow us. Overall, the food is solid, with some standout moments--but portions are very small. If you come in super hungry, you may leave still dreaming of a giant slice from Lorenzo's (which, fun fact, is only 6 minutes away and roughly the size of a blanket). The main drawback? It's overpriced for what you get in terms of both quantity and overall wow-factor. It's definitely worth trying once for the experience and ambiance, but not necessarily a place you'll be itching to revisit. Final verdict: 4 out of 5 stars. A cool spot with great service and some memorable bites--but with a few tweaks, it could go from good to amazing. read more

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Vibes: sleek, small gelateria that hides a casual, surprisingly spacious Italian restaurant with an outdoor patio; bring a friend or a few Tasting notes: Meatballs: very savory, slightly crumbly texture; very salty tomato sauce; paired bread was just a touch too burnt and dry Rigatoni: al dente pasta; sauce was more on the tomatoey side Pollo al mattone; extremely salty chicken but tender meat and crispy skin; somewhat imbalanced with the pile of fennel Zucchini chips: good chip size and excellent coating Gelato: we ended up getting amarena cherry and pistachio out front which were both lovely and rich in flavor but not too heavy Other thoughts: - Meatballs came before the drinks even though the order was taken at the same time - Some down time between dishes - Appreciated the clean dishes and silverware with each course Impression: very average in terms of food especially for the price point and difficulty with getting a reservation, would just come back to the gelateria at most. read more

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Service was insanely slow and several drinks were messed up/wrong drink entirely. The restaurant also smells so bad.

The red door experience! Love the password required entry and the whole setup. The entire staff was amazing and helpful in making our anniversary a delight. Attentive and quick service without being too bothersome. Onto the meal: - the antipasti of choice were sourdough & Nonna's Meatballs. The whipped ricotta just melted away on your bite and the sweetness of the honey was a great taste. My only minor complaint was at the end of it you're left with more of the olive oil and bread than anything else on your palette. Nonna's meatballs were smaller than expected but it was perfect for an appetizer. The sausage itself had a hint of sweetness to it while being complimented by the basil, Parmesan, and tomato sauce. My primi was the Balanzoni. Though the meal wasn't huge I think it was more elegant in terms of how it felt post eating. Very flavorful meal, and the sauce was an excellent creamy and rich flavor, I tried to eat it by itself. The meal left you satisfied but not stuffed which is great. I did not have a dessert as I wasn't a fan of the available gelato flavors. The limonata was a mocktailndrink to dip with its citrusy zest. As the ice melted and it watered down, the drink began to find a fine balance to fully drink it down. read more

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Great food and the new Devil On My Shoulder drink is amazing. Great ambience and service is outstanding!

I wanted to book this restaurant for my birthday because I love restaurants with fresh homemade pasta and I love trying new places. This place is new so we had to stay up till midnight to get reservations when they released the next months. I liked the speakeasy concept and the ambiance. The cocktails were ok. I ordered the bottoni. It was ok but a little too tart, too much lime flavor I think. My friend also ordered it and didn't realize it didn't have red sauce so he didn't eat it and gave me some of his. We ordered a gelato dessert that was good and got more gelato later in the front of the restaurant too. The meal was good but seemed a little overpriced. All the pastas were pretty standard there is nothing really inventive. I'm glad we tried it but probably wouldn't return. read more

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Vita is a cool speakeasy inside the gelato shop. Smaller than I expected but simple... kind of underwhelming. It was rough getting a reservation but we made it. Food/drinks were ok. Only complaint is they did take a while to bring out our entrees after the appetizers. The Arancini was my least favorite.. there was no real flavor. Food: 3/5 | Service: 4/5 | Ambience: 4/5 read more

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Finally found out what's behind the red door - and it was worth the hype! We arrived at the gelato shop on the front end and let the workers know we had a reservation for the restaurant. We were led to a red door and walked into a full service restaurant! Inside it's spacious with lots of seating, a full bar, and even some outdoor space! We checked with the attendants inside the restaurant and were lead to our table. We enjoyed some amazing food and drinks were so inventive and went down easy. The service was great and we enjoyed the ambiance plenty. Definitely worth checking out! read more

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Great service, the food was tasty, I ordered the ricotta toast, rigatoni with vodka sauce, caesar salad, and the pear ginger gelato. I have been daydreaming about that ricotta toast & gelato everyday. Cool concept of needing a password to get through the red door. read more

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Good food and service. Short menu and portions are smaller than expected for the price.

So this is for the front of shop, gelato only. Really cute storefront with great service. The old fashioned refrigerator you see is a ploy! It's a door leading to a "speakeasy " in the back. Kinder Bueno was a great flavor. read more

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July 4 special- raspberry, lemon, butterfly pea tea coconut vanilla- love the combination. Fresh, not too hard or soft, visually pleasing, and fast service. Special thanks to EatsWithDeezy's IG for the visual and his variety of food. Would love to see him write some Yelp reviews and see him at Elite events if he is allowed. The staff was friendly and very quick. Gran Caffe L'Aquila gets the most notice for their gelato and it seems to suit the mainstream well but Vita's unique creations at least with these flavors I had fit my vibe more. read more

Vita - Entrance - Italian Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

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I had the most phenomenal eating experience here for my 40th birthday! The service was excellent, each plate so memorable and the ambiance can't be beat. Who doesn't love an alluring red door that leads to the restaurant behind a gelato place? I definitely need to go back soon. read more

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It was a spectacular night at Vita in Philly, More Behind the Door edition. Everything we ordered was fantastic. Matt, the guy in front of the door, was so kind and able to get us seated at the bar. Our guy Spencer was knowledgeable since he advised us to order what we ordered. The ambiance is dark, perfect for a first date or last. Whatevs. Here's a must order: Bistecca alla Fiorentina Bistecca alla Fiorentina Bistecca alla Fiorentina In case you haven't caught on. This dish was spectacular. It's the freakin sauce that took this steak to the next level. 8.6/10 read more

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Best stop near rittenhouse for gelato! Such a cute store and I heard there is more to see as well! They change the gelato flavors every week too read more

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This is a review for the restaurant! You walk in through a fun secret door into a very well designed and comfortably laid out dining area. I was wearing a mask and the hostess asked me if I wanted to be seated by a window for better circulation, which was very thoughtful. We were a party of two and ordered two apps, a side, two pastas, a dessert and three glasses of wine - the bill all in came out to $190. This is a pretty good value for center city! I didn't find the portions lacking. Service was present but not as attentive as I would have expected. We were a late seating with not many folx left in the dining room and I still had trouble finding our server for more wine and water. Otherwise our server was very pleasant and helpful when we were ordering. We felt a bit rushed as the staff started asking if they could pack up our food and we were only an hour into our seating. I did order dessert after everything was packed up and I was able to finish it at my pace so maybe they're still working out kinks in timing? Everything we ordered was seasoned and cooked well. We got the arancini, meatballs, zucchini chips, cacio e pepe, bolognese and peach panna cotta. It was all beautifully presented. However I couldn't help comparing to Fiorella, where the food really WOWs me and becomes a fond memory. I thought everything here was delicious and would happily recommend this place as it is more comfortable than Fiorella, but given the whimsy of the secret door - I was hoping to feel more magic, more je ne sais quoi with the food. read more

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Fun speakeasy hidden behind a gelato shop! Service was very slow, we sat at our table for a long time before our server finally came over. She also barely checked in throughout the meal. The food was delicious but portions are extremely small for the price. Drinks were fantastic! The Devils Shoulder was perfectly crafted and the espresso martini included a fun twist of orange zest. The restaurant did recently open so I'm sure they're still working through the kinks. Would definitely go back, but only for dessert or drinks. read more

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