Bistro La Baia BYOB

Mannnnnn…. The place was amazing. As you know it is restaurant week so we had to get a bang for our buck and when I say the food was amazing, it was AMAZING! First off the service is awesome. Everyone was so patient and helpful. Then the food, WOW. We got the ceaser salad for the appetizer and then we got the lamb chops and pasta with the vodka sauce noodles with Italian sausages man listen. For our dessert, we got the ice cream in dipped chocolate everything was delicious. Definitely a must go. We will definitely be back!

This is hands down the best italian food I've had. The pasta is so fresh! Highly recommend

We went on a Saturday for lunch during Restaurant Week. A very cozy and family style place. The food was good and portions were definitely on the bigger side. The service was decent. The Tiramisu and the Panna Cotta were one of the best we have tried. The downside was that the inside feels very cramped and the tables are too close to each other. Overall a good experience but really wish they would expand the space and make more room. The seating arrangement was not enjoyable.

Took my Girlfriend to dinner for her Birthday. When we arrived we were only the 2nd, 2-top. No one else. It was quiet and cozy but Our server was amazing and we were able to get some close up attention. I ordered the Caesar and she ordered an appetizer with Tomato, Mozzarella, grilled Zucchini, and roasted peppers. We both enjoyed those. I asked our server: "Branzino or Swordfish"? He recommended both but told me to try the Swordfish. It was AMAZING!! She got the Enochi in pesto sauce.. My GF is Sicilian (SP Sicilian) and rarely leaves any evidence of food on a plate. She couldn't finish the Enochi because the portion was so large. I had em for breakfast.. they were also delicious. We finished with the chocolate moose, which reminded me of a chocolate frosting my G-Pop used to make. It was very good!! 2 apps, 2 entrees, & dessert, plus the cost of the bottle of red - less than $100. Definitely going back . Awesome spot I've driven by thousands of times over many years .. So glad I finally made it in!

I’m becoming a regular to Bistro La Baia because the atmosphere is so cozy and the food is spectacular. The appetizers and entrees have not disappointed in my three visits there. Dessert isn’t at the same level of the meals in my opinion, but still enjoyable. Here are some pictures from my time there recently.

My husband and I had the weekend special. 3 course meal and it was incredible! The service was amazing as well as the food. Tiramisu was so fresh, tasted home made and everything was the perfect temperature. Honestly everything tasted as tho I was in someone home having home cooked meals. I’m sad I don’t live close enough to frequent this little gem.

Came here for restaurant week, plenty of outdoor and indoor seating for a great Italian meal. Menu was fantastic with entrees from lobster ravioli, gnocchi, chicken parm, and more. Plenty of app and dessert options as well. Service was a bit slow because restaurant week but very friendly and atmosphere was perfect for a weekday date night.

My fiance and I have been going to la baia for years and food and service is always so excellent, we decided to have our rehearsal dinner there yesterday night! Everyone loved the cozy atmosphere and raved about the food. I definitely recommend stopping in for dinner or letting la baia host your next private event!

Nice lil spot for some Italian food, that is also a BYOB. Menu has many classic Italian dishes to choose from, and you get a bread basket and oil with dinner as well. They have some sidewalk tables as well. Ordered the veal cleopatra and it was tasty. The veal was just a bit too tenderized, but still fine. Fresh veggies and potatoes in the sauce all complemented it well. Good neighborhood spot for some Italian food. Thanks

BYOB, food is just okay but with large portions, service is great a place for when you don't really know where to go, haven't made a reservation for anything on a friday night (if your group is small), and don't want to break the bank. $30/pp for dinner after tax and tip, and I brought a bottle of wine to split.

The food was delicious, and service was friendly, attentive, and fast! BYOB so grab a bottle of wine to enjoy with dinner! I recommend the eggplant rollatini to start. We went on a Saturday for lunch during Restaurant Week. A very cozy and family style place. The food was good and portions were definitely on the bigger side. The service was decent. The Tiramisu and the Panna Cotta were one of the best we have tried. The downside was that the inside feels very cramped and the tables are too close to each other. Overall a good experience but really wish they would expand the space and make more room. The seating arrangement was not enjoyable.

Another location for restaurant week. A very nice and intimate location. The staff is kind and checks in with anything you need. The Polpette was delicious, they have an amazing red sauce to go along with it, I think a tad bit more salty would really enhance the flavors in it, however I would definitely order it again as is. The grilled salmon was cooked excellent, it wasn't dry and it held its juices, the potatoes and vegetables were well cooked as well and complimented the meal nicely. For dessert I got the affogatto and this was my first time. I must say they were setting the bar pretty high as I'm not insanely crazy about espresso. My only issue was the small bit of ice cream I received, other than that, it was such a reboost and refresh for a dessert.

Food is incredible! A great neighborhood spot. Add this to your list of must eat places.

A cute corner Italian restaurant that's BYOB! The restaurant fills up fast when you have a large group. It also gets loud because everyone's talking. We ordered the chicken piccata and lobster ravioli. The flavors are nice. The service is good and the servers are attentive. Portions are small so we had some extra room for dessert (or second dinner). *we were part of a large group and had a preset menu to order from.

Bistro la Baia is a charming neighborhood restaurant just off Rittenhouse Square. You are greeted with a warm welcome. It is a small room with nice spacing between tables and charming ambiance...no objectionable noise level..easy for across the table conversation. It is a BYOB. There is a mural across one wall wlong with original prints. We had home made meatballs the size of tennis balls for an appetizer..3 to an order! the chef prepared our requested chicken marsella even though it was not on the menu. Wonderful service, delicious food, great price value.

Incredible. Wonderful atmosphere, cozy, and I felt like I was in my grandmas kitchen. A great evening.

The appetizers were ok. Gnocchi was good but I found a hair in my food and so did one other person in my party (different dishes). It was a short black/dark brown hair, from someone with short hair or a beard. They have a serious cleanliness issue I will never eat here again. A shame because the service and ambiance were nice.

I came here as part of Center City's Restaurant Week & here are my takeaways: Ambiance: the place is small and intimate. I got there at 6pm and there were only 6 other people in the restaurant. I was seated right across from the door, which I didn't mind for the most part but I did get a chill anytime the door was opened. The place started getting full around 7 PM. Service: the staff were great. Very attentive and checked in on me periodically to make sure I was doing alright. There were only two people working, which was fine, but did cause a bit of a slowdown when the place began filling up. Food: I started off with the polpette (meatballs) and they were good and a good size for an appetizer for one person. The gnocchi pesto was delicious. The gnocchi are perfectly made and the pesto was great, not too oily. The portion of the gnocchi was also very gracious and I had leftovers to bring home. Now to the star of the show: their homemade tiramisu. Probably the best tiramisu I've had in Philadelphia. Overall, I think I just found my new favorite Italian restaurant in Philly!

The food was good not great I'd give it a 6/10. The chocolate mousse is incredible 10/10. They place is cozy and cute and the staff are friendly and nice. This place is BYOB, so keep that in mind.

Great BYOB Italian place just south of Rittenhouse Square! I went there for restaurant week. The food was excellent. The waiter was very friendly and attentive. It never felt like we were waiting too long for him to take our order or deliver our food or the check. It is a little pricey, but on par with most other Italian places in the area. It's also a small place, so be sure to make a reservation to guarantee yourself seating. I will definitely come back!

Bistro La Baia is the real deal! The waiter was attentive and recommended a few dishes. He let us know that his chef could make many dishes not on the menu so one of us ordered chicken Marsala off menu. She said it was perfect. Fresh pasta with short rib ragu was one of the best I've had. Try it out-you'll leave happy!

Had an okay experience here. We reserved a table for 7. We arrived on time but waited over 20 minutes to be seated since the space was so small and the previous party had not left. We came to this place as it was BYO. The interior space is quite small. The environment was quite lively, but not overly loud. Fettuccini Ragu - Flavor was alright, noodles seemed a little soggy, serving size was large Gnocchi Pesto - Pesto did not seem that fresh Mussels in Red SAuce - Okay, the flavor of the sauce was not great We had our bread refilled several times as we were dining as a large group and they did charge extra for that. The service was fine, but it did take a while to get the check. Also, this place takes cards instead of only cash, but the receipt is handwritten on paper. Overall, the food was not great, but the ambiance was nice. I wouldn't recommend coming here as there are better options for Italian BYO in Philly.

My friend and I made reservations here for restaurant week! I arrived first and checked in to get our table. The place was tiny! I was told they were going to wait to clear another table if I wanted to sit in the middle table (small area) and wait. I said that's fine! I was still waiting on my friend. My friend arrived. Then another couple came in and the guy asked us if he can seat them there and we get the next table I'm like okay whatever. Started to get annoyed so we told them we would stay at our table and it was fine. A huge surge of people came in maybe 15 mins after we sat down. The waiters didn't come for awhile and took orders from tables that came in after us. After 20 mins of sitting at our table we finally ordered our food. My friend ran out to get us a bottle of wine (forgot it was BYOB) and the bread for our table came 10 mins later. Now to the menu! For appetizers we got the caprese (which was fresh and delicious) and the aranchini balls (have gotten better and it was luke warm so seems like it was sitting out). For entrees my friend got the chicken Parm which was huge! And came with linguae. I got the veal with mushrooms sauce, mash and veggies. Veal was very thin cut but flavors from the sauce was delicious. We did like the big portions. For dessert we both got the tiramisu. Very very good. Overall food was good. Service wasn't too great and the whole mix up and waiting in the beginning was annoying (which is why it's 3 stars instead of 4).

The food was decent- we got the linguini and the ravioli. Both could've used some salt/acid. BUT- our server, Anthony, was absolutely wonderful. He was very thoughtful and attentive to us. He also appeared to be the only server in the whole place, which was really impressive! This is a great little date night spot.

We came here for lunch on a Saturday right at 12:30pm. It's a little bit small but it was just us for two and a half hours! The food is very tasty and the lunch portions are good. They even made an exception and made a lunch version of the chicken parm for my friend. The desserts were excellent! I highly recommend the tartufo. This place is BYOB and I'm sure it's a hit for dinner time!

Came here for Restaurant Week ($40 3-course dinner) -- seems like a 10% to 20% discount from the normal pricing depending on what you order. Polenta Bruschetta: An interesting take on bruschetta, this dish was not the star of the night. A bit scarce on the diced tomatoes, this dish would have benefited from more tomatoes and balsamic vinegar. The goat cheese provided little distinct flavor, but made the polenta moist and crumbly. I think I'll stick with more traditional bruschetta (fresh bread, diced tomatoes, olive oil/balsamic vinegar). Branzino: The star of the night, this dish was delicious. The bass was seasoned well and cooked to perfection; mashed potatoes were thick, smooth, and buttery; the veggies were fine additions as well though nothing to cry home about. On top of it all, the lemon juice broth/gravy surrounding everything really enhanced the bass and mashed potatoes. Chocolate Mousse Cake: Rich and moist, the cake was tasty. I devoured it in just a few moments. Only wish it were a bigger slice! Value: 3/5 Quality: 4/5 Quantity: 4/5 Service: 3/5 Atmosphere: 3/5

I hate to give this restaurant only two stars, but that's all they deserve. Unfortunately, the service was just so poor. When I first walked in, the waiter just stared at me instead of welcoming me into the restaurant, which seems like an obvious, socially intelligent thing to do. Also, there were only two waiters working on a Friday night despite them being very busy. Now, it's understandable if places are busy - that's not why they're getting 2 stars. What really seals the deal is that they were unapologetic about the bad service! It took forever to place our orders and to have the food brought out to us. They offered no explanations or apologies for the poor service. In order to order dessert we really had to flag down someone down! Throughout our meal, they didn't check up on us at all! That's just lower than the bare minimum of poor behavior... The reason I'm not giving this restaurant one star is because their food was good with generous portions and an acceptable price. I won't be for coming back again because they act they don't want business. As for the other characteristics, there's plenty of outdoor seating although it is quite bare looking. Also, the inside is quite cute with a calming painting on the wall. It is BYOB as well.

Cozy, intimate Italian restaurant. Families welcome, casual but delicious. Perfect neighborhood spot. Everything we ate was great- linguini with clams, chicken Parm, polpettes (meatballs), and capellini with spinach and tomatoes.

Service is great, and all the foods tasted really good. The portion sizes were really big and we had a great time here. We were given complimentary bread and started off with some appetizers (Polenta Bruschetta, Eggplant Rollatini, and PEI Mussels). I highly recommend the PEI mussels on white wine sauce and leaving some of the bread to dip with the sauce! My party got the Gnocchi Pesto, Linguine Meatballs, Linguine Clams with White Sauce, and Fettuccine Short Rib Ragu. They were all very good. The meatballs in the Linguine Meatballs were huge had cheese in them! For dessert we ordered the Pistachio Panna Cotta (highly recommend), Semifreddo, and a cup of coffee. The place is very small, but the atmosphere is very cozy and cute. I would recommend calling ahead if you want to eat indoors during this pandemic. Would love to come again!

Although the service is good, the food falls short. The food isn't bad, but for the price you pay I would expect much more. With all the great Italian food in Philly you could easily do better for a lower cost than here. The paintings on the wall are my favorite part of this restaurant. It is a small space that gets very hot very quickly, and you are seated closely to the people next to you.

I've come here each of the past 3 evenings. The food is phenomenal and the server quite charming. Small intimate atmosphere helps the experience

This little Italian cove definitely hit the spot. I came here for a byo was a small group and two service great (not too fast or too slow, we were there for about an hour and a half, but it looked like people were there for a while just eating and chatting). The menu was pretty small but they were very accommodating and even had gluten free options! I got the pesto gnocchi and it was really good, you could tell the gnocchi was hand cut and the pesto was rich but not too oily. Everyone in the group was happy with their meals (the chicken parm looked amazing and it even came with pasta). It's definitely a more casual spot, so no need to get all dressed up. The food was pricey but it was really well done. Overall, this bistro will definitely be on my best byo list!

For a restaurant week date night, I decided it was time to try Bistro La Baia. I have passed this cute little Italian spot plenty of times walking through my neighborhood and checked out the mixed reviews here on Yelp. My boyfriend and I decided we'd see for ourselves what we thought of Bistro La Baia. We were easily able to make our reservation by calling about a week in advance. While on the phone they let us know that they are BYOB. I noticed that past reviews note that it is cash only, but we learned that they do accept cards now. Upon our arrival for our Sunday night dinner, we were seated immediately, and brought water and bread with oil and balsamic. Contrary to other reviews, the service was extremely prompt. We placed our full orders from starters to desserts and within minutes our first dishes were brought out. We were so shocked by the quick service that I checked the time, and learned we had been there 15 minutes when our entrees arrived. The entire experience start to finish took 48 minutes, but we did not feel rushed at all. I was seriously blown away considering what I had read from others regarding slow service being a big issue. To eat, we started with the Eggplant Rollatini and Arancini. The Arancini was not crisp on the outside, but the flavor was good and the sauce was delicious. The Eggplant Rollatini was delicious and similar to the arancini, the sauce was perfection. I'm super picky when it comes to tomato sauce and I would genuinely eat this with a spoon. For entrees, my boyfriend had the Pappardelle con Salsiccia. The pasta was fresh, sausage was flavorful, and the sauce was delicious. The dish was very hot temperature wise as well, which was great because we made our walk over in the snow. For my entree, I had the Chicken Parmesan which was a gamble on my part. I tend to skip ordering chicken parm out, because I'm really picky. However, the picture of the dish on their website intrigued me so I went for it. I'm so glad that I did! The chicken was not crispy, but it was thinly sliced and portioned well. I ordered a side of veggies with it instead of the pasta. The veggies were so well seasoned! For dessert, we tried the Chocolate Cake and Panna Cotta. Both were great, but we both preferred the chocolate cake. From start to finish, the service was attentive, the food was delicious, and the portions for the price were perfect. We're super excited to return with friends and enjoy this neighborhood BYOB gem!

Owner was lovely and was very attentive. Food was delicious and the outside ambiance was ideal for a summer night.

Came here for lunch during restaurant week and the food was very good! The Cesar salad is a little light on the dressing but the pasta is homemade and sauce was amazing. We also tried the chocolate dessert and that was very tasty. The location is good, very quiet street with good people watching, not a lot of seating indoors but it was a nice day so we sat outside. The service was okay, very laid back and only one server working.

The food here is fire. It feels like you're in someone's home and they're making you all their favorite dishes. Not sure why the reviews were so mixed. Would recommend anything seafood - all fresh and delicious.

Snagged a restaurant.com deal for Bistro La Baia, and since it's about 1 block away from home, we had to go for it! We easily made reservations for a random weeknight and were promptly seated on our arrival. La Baia is a quaint, small spot but it's so cozy and home that it feels just right. The artwork on the wall is beautiful, and the employees are quite authentic and genuine. There were a few other diners there when we visited, but we still felt safely isolated at our table. Service was pretty prompt for us, and our waiter was so kind in giving us a discount in lieu of our restaurant.com coupon since the restaurant no longer accepted the coupon. Much appreciated! For food, I'm a sucker for homemade gnocchi and after reading some stellar Yelp reviews, I went for the gnocchi with pesto sauce. The bowl was massive - I was pleasantly surprised by the quantity! The gnocchi themselves were delightful - the density was just right yet they were still fluffy and not super heavy. The amount of pesto accompanying the pasta was proportionate; I was happy the gnocchi weren't swimming in sauce! It was definitely one of the better gnocchi I've had, especially with the homemade aspect. My fiancee opted for the pappardelle con salsicccia which he also really enjoyed; we never have pappardelle, so it was a special treat to have it, and the pasta paired nicely with the sausage and light vodka sauce. His also was appropriately dressed in sauce, which he also appreciated. Our meal was accompanied by complimentary bread and oil / vinegar, which is a rarity at restaurants these days and a welcome addition. La Baia is BYOB without a corkage fee, so we enjoyed a glass of red with our pasta dishes. Since we skipped out on an app, we figured we had to go for dessert. Tiramisu is my fave dessert, so I had to get that, and my fiancee went for the pistachio panna cotta. My tiramisu was good - not the best piece I've had, the amaretto flavoring could have been a bit stronger, but still good nonetheless. This was my fiancee's first try of panna cotta, and he enjoyed it, commenting on the nice pairing of the berry and pistachio. We were stuffed by the end of the night, and we were excited to take home a good bit of leftovers to enjoy another day! We had a great weeknight date night at La Baia, and we truly enjoyed our meals. I'm an Italian food critic (my mom is 100% Italian), but La Baia stood up to my standards. Highly recommend for a quaint and cozy date night spot in Grad Hospital, and be sure to bring a bottle of wine! We will definitely be returning again!

Loved the vibe here, came here with no expectations but left incredibly satisfied!! We ordered mussels for the table which we enjoyed and I had the Fettuccine Ragu which was amazing -- even the leftovers were great when reheated. They also offer cheese on top! We sat outside and the menu is on the tables as a QR code but a server takes the orders, drinks are BYOB. Really enjoyed it here, service was great, and will probably be back when I'm in the area!!

This place is a cute little family owned, BYOB Italian restaurant in south Philly. They offer both indoor and outdoor seating and the staff is attentive and kind. The menu is large enough for everyone to find something they like without it being so big that it's hard to decide. The noodles are also hand made and delicious. My go to is the fettuccine Al ragu which is very well seasoned. Additionally, they give out very decently sized portions for the prices they charge. The ambiance is calm with a slightly dimmed room. This makes it great for a date night or nice group dinner with friends or family. There is limited seating so I recommend reserving ahead of time just in case. Also, they are on the app Seated so you can get cash back for dining there! 100% recommend, and one of my go to Italian restaurants!

Very delicious! Service was amazing. Nice quiet place, very nice atmosphere. Perfect date spot.

Went with a few friends for an average experience on Friday night. Super small and quaint but doesn't get too loud despite being packed. We started with the caprese salad which felt like it was missing dressing. Then for entrees, we had the chicken Parmiggiana which wasn't dry and solid, the pesto gnocchi which other reviews rave about and we agree with their sentiment, and lastly, the vodka pasta which tasted as expected. Overall, nothing crazy but good place for the basics and a BYO.

I went to Bistro La Baia with a few friends a few months ago for restaurant week. The restaurant is BYOB and very small inside, but our table was ready right away and the waiter was quick to open our wine. Unfortunately, this was the last part of the meal that went quickly. The table next to us (who came in after we did) ordered, ate, paid, left, and the next table had their appetizers before we even got our entrees. Normally, I would understand because there were four of us and the restaurant was busy. However, it was restaurant week so our menu choices were limited and we technically had a table time limit as well. Pictured are three entrees: seafood ravioli, gnocchi with pesto, and short rib ragu. Everything was good, but nothing was particularly special. We ended the meal with (unpictured) affogatos which were delicious. I'm not in a rush to come back here, but I wouldn't be opposed to giving it another shot!

Restaurant Week!!! I love trying new Italian spots for restaurant week. This time La Baia caught my eye and they did not disappoint. I loved the atmosphere reminded me of Italy soon as I walked in. Starting with meatballs and caprese salad were both made fresh. My aunt decided on the Bronzino while I went for the Pappardelle con salsiccia. The food came out out and the sauce on the fish was amazing. BYOB always adds an extra plus. Can't wait to come back and try other dishes.

Everything tasted good, servings were generous, and the service was warm. This is not a finely honed operation in which everything is perfectly presented with mechanical precision. Nor is the decor particularly elegant. It is, however, a small comfortable restaurant that serves good, not great, Italian-American food. BYOB, which I don't like, but that didn't count in my rating.

This evening, we were visiting our grandson and his wife from Florida, we suggested they pick the restaurant near their home in center city Philadelphia. Even though we have lived in the city for many years, we were now residents of Florida and had not been in center city for sometime for dinner. I used to write reviews if I especially liked a restaurant. I especially liked this little gem on the corner of 1700 Lombard Street. Max and Kimmie felt this was one of their favorite places and happen to live very close by. I am sorry I never ate there all the years we lived in the city. The service was perfect. The ambiance and little kookie, but clean and pleasant. But the food was special. I had short ribs o er homemade fettuccine pasta. The portion was very large and I could only eat half, but it was as good as the expensive overrated restaurants in Palm Beach Gardens where we eat all winter. My husband had veal with porcini mushrooms, his response was fabulous. Kimmie had clams with Linguine pasta and Max vodka ravioli which was wonderful. The restaurant is a BYOB which is a plus considering a nice glass of wine in restaurants in town are 15.00 or more. This is truly a hidden neighborhood gem. We will certainly be returning and telling our Philly friends what a special and delicious meal we all enjoyed. I highly recommend you give it a try. Marlene and Robert Shoenfeld

Ahh, Valentine's Day... the hype around it gets so real. I can't imagine how horrible it was this year during the pandemic especially with capacity restrictions! Men, if you're reading this, do yourself a favor and make a reminder to not wait till the week before when making Valentine's Day plans next year. Reservations fill up quick!! Anyway, my boyfriend did just that and waited the week before to make plans... Lucky for him, he was still able to find a place, and this is where he booked our reservations. It did not disappoint. I didn't mind not going somewhere popular for once. Bistro La Baia provided me with just the vibe I was looking for. I admit, we were a bit overdressed because we didn't know what to expect... but that's our own fault. The restaurant is def a hole in the wall, very homey feeling and we could've just dressed a bit more comfortably. I would describe the dress code as casual. But being that it was Valentine's Day it saved us from social embarrassment. LOL The restaurant is very small, with tiny tables. It's a bit outdated inside, but it added a rustic feel. Didn't bother me too much. Service was good, the staff were very attentive. It's BYOB so make sure you bring some wine. Food was just delicious. They had a fixed menu (3 course meal) for Valentine's Day, but we had so many entrees to choose from! Which I loved. Everything was just superb and perfectly seasoned, I devoured everything instantly and left NO crumbs. Would def return. Shh! Please don't tell my boyfriend that the lamb chops and tiramisu stole my heart on Valentine's Day

Bistro La Baia has the best gnocchi in Philly, in my humble opinion! Their outdoor tables for 2-4 guests are 6 ft apart or separated by partitions and covered for comfortable outdoor dining in any weather. There was a beautiful tree blooming next to the tables when I visited. In an effort to call attention to COVID-safe outdoor dining done well and support local businesses, I have started an Instagram account @PhillyCovidDiningGuide showing the outdoor setups at restaurants! Check out my post on Bistro La Baia and others here https://www.instagram.com/phillycoviddiningguide/

It was a cold night at the end of a long and arduous year, and COVID19 precautions had made dining out (literally, in little wooden sidewalk pod enclosures) less than completely appealing. But this lady was determined to still have a nice chef-prepared dinner for her wedding anniversary, and she was going to trek out by bus and trudge through icy air to get it. Italian pasta was the plan, and after much searching on Yelp (whereby I discovered many COVID19-related closures), I finally found Bistro La Baia. With promising reviews, we decided to try this option on the outskirts of Rittenhouse Square. Lobster ravioli for me, and penne arrabiata for the significant other. The food was ready right on time when I arrived, and came with a complimentary bundled of delicious slices of Italian bread that practically crackles when bitten into. The entrees were quite good as well. The ravioli consisted of six pieces, two sauteed shrimp and a rich, creamy tomato sauce. That and half a piece of the Italian bread made for a perfectly portioned and delicious meal for me. The penne arrabiata was a larger portion, and while not the best ever, it still met with the S.O.'s overall approval. The sidewalk seating wooden pods were empty when I arrived, but that was before 6PM, so maybe the restaurant was busier later in the evening. It really gave me the impression of the sort of place that would primarily be frequented by residents of the surrounding neighborhoods. The one person I interacted with there was very polite and helpful (even giving me time to put my mittens back on before handing me the food for my journey home). I probably wouldn't have thought to try Bistro La Baia under most circumstances, so it was a nice discovery. I hope that it'll be able to survive the wave of restaurant closures that Philadelphia has seen as a result of the pandemic.

What an amazing gem amongst the robust Philadelphia food scene!! Food was amazing and service was great! We celebrated our son's wedding rehearsal dinner here with 20 people. The pasta is homemade and authentic meals from appetizers to entrees to dessert!! Everything was absolutely amazing and we can't wait till our next trip to Philly just to eat here again!!

I miss traveling to Italy due to the Pandemic and this place reminded me of the "mom and pop" shops in Rome. EXCELLENT food, the nicest staff, it's perfect. We even saw some rude guests who they bent over backward multiple times to accommodate. Their pesto and their homemade pasta are to die for. This is our new favorite place. We will be back!!!!

Best grilled octopus in the City and has a wonderful cozy ambiance, with very nice staff. One of the City's most underrated BYO gems! Perfect for a romantic date or larger get together with family or friends.

Got the lobster ravioli they only gave me two medium sized pieces of shrimp and 4 pieces of ravioli?? The sauce is good but not worth the money.

A cozy Italian BYOB restaurant in between the Rittenhouse Square and Graduate Hospital neighborhoods. There were a couple larger groups, but most easily seated were two-tops. The fresh mozzarella was fantastic and I greatly enjoyed the white-wine based clam linguine (some clams served in-shell). Plus, we finished the meal with some of the most perfectly-balanced tiramisu I've ever had--including tiramisu I've eaten in Italy! Wonderful, friendly service. Will definitely return.

This is a very cute mom and pop kinda local place. It is very unassuming and doesn't look like there's a lot of flare to it. But that's why the price is low for a restaurant in the city. We came here for restaurant week on a very hot spring day(91 outside). So sitting outside was tough since there was little air flow in the outside seating area. They seemed busy since it was a Saturday night but we didn't have to wait long for a seat or our food. Food wise it was pretty good. Might not be the most amazing Italian food you'll ever have but it's pretty good and I would recommend trying this local place out. Flavors and seasoning were both good. Check them out and it's BYOB! Ok

Great cozy and casual environment. We loved the food. The bread was so soft and delish we loved the short rib ragu and the chicken parm was out of this world.

The service was excellent: Ioannis knows how to balance being available with giving diners a sense of unrushed luxury. The meal was amazing, from the seasoned oil to dip bread in, to the last delicious bite! The mussels are a must, although they are not on the menu: you gotta know to order them (and now you do ) We also ordered the grilled squid which they prepare with salt, pepper and olive oil (keeping the fresh squid flavor front and center) with a terrific tomato and caper garnish. We shared the linguini vongole (clams) which anywhere else would have been the highlight of the meal. But we ordered the branzino (gorgeous flavor!) and the NY strip with funghi reduction: definitely in the top 3 steaks I've ever had. Flavor of a NY strip but the texture of a filet mignon. Don't know how they do it!! It's BYOB so you can accompany your food with your favorite wine at the wine-shop price. And then the bill came in at about 60% of what I expected. Cannot say enough about La Baia!!

Been there a couple of times and always satisfied with the food and service. Loved the seafood pasta and the mushrooms as appetizer.