The 16 Best Italian Restaurants In Philadelphia - Philadelphia - The Infatuation

"Fiorella is where you should spend all night eating pasta until someone tries to kick you out or demand rent. While the Bella Vista pasta bar has outstanding small plates like wild boar terrine with cherries, make no mistake:it’s the pasta you’re here for. If you snag any of the bar seats inside, you’ll have a great view of ricotta gnocchi, chestnut lasagnetta with goose, and their legendary sausage rigatoni being made right in front of you. Bring some out-of-towners here if you want to impress them while simultaneously ruining all other pasta dishes they've ever eaten. Unless your guests are from Italy, of course. Don’t let the vintage fixtures fool you—it’s not the old days when slipping a 20 to a server translates to a seat. Here, they open up reservations 30 days in advance while bar seats are held for walk-ins when available. Securing a walk-in spot might be as rare as winning Wonka’s golden ticket, but it’s worth the attempt (otherwise take a 4pm reservation, which is the only time they occasionally have open)." - candis mclean, alison kessler