Casta Diva BYOB - Rittenhouse

This was truly an amazing meal. Having been to many many places in Philly, this was one that truly stood out. I’ll be returning. BYOB and great service with spectacular food. Chef came to table to greet us as well - magnificent.

Review is for February 2020. Amazing birthday dinner The scallops were amazing and the dessert even better. Parking is street metered parking. Bathroom was clean and modern. Service was great and attentive. Thank you Giuseppe and Dana for being so kind to us! (took our picture for us and really accomadating. Will definitely be back!!

Delicious Italian with fresh organic influences. The pappardelle is very good, and all pastas are homemade. BYOB and cash only, so one must come prepared, but it makes the price quite accommodating.

We’ve been to essentially all the top Italian restaurants in Philly and NYC, and this is one of our favorites, and an exceptional value when you consider it’s BYOB. From starters, to main courses to sides and desserts we are never disappointed, and they serve vegetables and seafood as interesting as they do meat and pasta dishes. I think I would classify their cooking style as “creative traditional” from a foundation of high quality ingredients. Interesting flavor choices without being molecular gastronomy, and classic Italian concepts without being “just another red sauce restaurant.” The ambiance is nice too, “high end neighborhood restaurant” which works equally well for special occasions as it does for “that night you just don’t feel like cooking at home”

Friendly staff. Fresh, delicious pasta that tastes home made. It's just the right level of chewy with the right amount of sauce. You can go with a heavier or lighter sauce and they're both good. Roasted cauliflower appetizer was delicious too. Definitely one of the better Italian meals I've had

My friend and I really enjoyed our dinner...Good, delicious, greeter exceptional as our reservation was not at first found. Only negative is the noise level. I am sure cause is that ceiling has nothing added to absorb noise. I am sure that is a great expense to fix, but would make for a more enjoyable.timr.

Nice Italian BYOB located in Rittenhouse Sq in Philly. Food was fantastic. Scallop Crudo was delicious. Bruschetta had smoky eggplant taste and fennel salad was light and citrusy but not overpowering. Wild boar and Salmon were perfectly done. Food presentation and portion were on point. My fav was the poached pear dessert- very popular that night and we ended up getting the last one! Place is bit tight and can be noisy depending on the crowd but we loved it as it adds to the lively ambiance. Cash only.

I recently celebrated my 26th birthday with my best friend at the Casta Diva and it was fabulous! The setting was very “Sex and the City” and would be perfect for girls night or couples night! We brought our own bottle of wine so that was really great. I’d recommend bringing two bottles. The calamari and the rib eye were delicious! We shared the most amazing piece of cake at the end and it was amazing. I’d absolutely recommend to anyone looking for a more upscale feel but not too formal. Thank you for the great service!

Vibes: small, unassuming BYOB; bring a friend or a few Tasting notes: Stuffed mushrooms: a special for the night that was perfectly roasted and umami rich; a light but satisfying appetizer Beets: shareable for two; love the nuttiness and crunch from the pistachio to pair with the firm but tender slices of beets Tagliatelle: very deep meaty flavor, lovely with the thin, wide, flat noodles Orechiette: a little spicy, fairly garlicky and tomatoey Sacchiette: my favorite of them all; bite-sized; creamy and just lightly sweet; made buttery and crispy with the generous dusting of breadcrumbs Chocolate cake: surprisingly light and airy despite the decadence; light hazelnut flavor Tiramisu: very solid and classic Other thoughts: - Bread service was generous and made for an excellent swiper of the pasta sauces - Friendly, attentive staff who changed out plates with the courses - Above meal was satisfying for four hungry adults - Appreciated the fresh ground black pepper for appetizers and fresh grated parm for the pastas - Enjoyed the quiet, intimate atmosphere on a weekday night Impression: cannot believe I didn't discover Luna sooner! Can't wait to come back to try the rest of the menu, though the sacchiette will be tough to top!

(This review was left in my drafts from several months back this year) Good sauces and desserts, but some things (like the burrata and pasta) were a miss. We came here on a holiday and selected from their pre fixe menu. For appetizers, we tried the octopus, which was nicely cooked and came in a delicious red sauce with olive and peas. The burrata was so-so--it was pretty firm and didn't have much creamy middle. The thinly sliced meat that came with it kind of tasted like lunch meat pastrami, but honestly I didn't mind that too much :) For the mains, we ordered the seafood pasta (and were informed the squid ink pasta was being substituted with spinach pasta) and short rib. The short rib and polenta were nicely cooked and seasoned. The pasta was unfortunately cooked past al dente and there were floppy pastas particularly at the bottom of the bowl, but the sauce and seafood was good. Not sure if this was just a miss, but I was a bit disappointed because of the rave reviews for their pasta here. The desserts ended the meal on a good note--the chocolate cake had a hazelnutty flavor and the pastry crunch at the base, which I loved, and the tiramisu was also on point flavorwise. Small nit on the tiramisu was that the middle was a bit frozen--it was either in a too-cold section of the fridge or had been frozen but not been defrosted all the way. Overall a good restaurant, but not sure I'd recommend the pasta.

Experience: 3; Food: 4; Value: 3 Thought it's a new place but apparently been open for 2 years. It's a small spot so can't fit many tables inside. Unfortunately we got the outdoor table when it is already pretty chilly out (~50s), not sure if they just didn't set up the heating lamps yet as summer just ended or they don't have it at all (outdoor seating with no coverage), we brought blankets and were still cold throughout dinner. Plates were not heated when serving, so food got cold in mins outdoors. Servers couldn't quite see us from inside and didn't come out often, and seemed only 1-2 ppl manning across, so it took a while to get anything. Food came out quickly. Overall portions are quite small esp. considering the price. The calamari tasted okay, but only a few pieces drowned in tomato sauce. For pasta dishes, the pappardelle flavor was pretty good (normal bolognese replaced with ground lamb), but pasta was way overcooked (soft and almost soggy). The pesto cavatelli completely lacks flavor, couldn't taste much pesto or anything other than the dough pieces (which fortunately were not overcooked), only few drops of crab meat and tomatoes, we had to add in sauce from other dishes to gain some flavor. The special fish was our favorite, cooked to perfect temperature, on a bed of farro and broccolini, with nice sauce. Unfortunately due to the small portions and not wanting to wait in the cold, after 1 app, 3 main courses, all three of us left hungry to seek for warmth and 2nd meal elsewhere...

This is a small Italian restaurant in rittenhouse. It has a cozy and upscale vibe. I went here on a weekday later on and it wasn't too busy but there were customers. There was no wait. Noise levels were a little under medium noise. The complimentary bread+olive oil was very nice. I liked the olive oil and it came in a container so it was very easy to dip the precut bread. I got the calamari as an appetizer. This was good. The olives and capers were very flavorful. I also enjoyed the calamari itself. But I did feel like the calamari was a bit plain. Maybe there could have been some zest or something making the calamari pop more, but I did like this. The arugula pesto with crab chunks was decent. But I think I could nitpick a few things... I felt like the pasta was a little too chewy and the sauce also on the plainer side. I was thinking for a pesto there would be more of a pine nut or salty flavor. Also, the crab meat chunks were plain. I was expecting a more garlic or buttery punch but they were plain. Overall the service was excellent and I think the wait staff was knowledgeable and attentive as well as being friendly. Food came out in a reasonable amount of time and prices were reasonable for this ambiance and ingredients.

Dinner was amazing here and they were able to accommodate our larger party of five! Pasta tasted fresh and all the different sauces were great. Menu leaned into a lot of seafood in the pasta dishes which is a little different! The staff was so nice and service was smooth and the room was packed! This is a nice date spot, a little spot for a celebratory occasion, and a solid neighborhood BYO :)

This restaurant is small but so cute! It's a very limited menu but the food was delicious! Unfortunately some rude fellow diner was a total Karen and scolded my friends and I for laughing with eachother and having fun which really but a downer on the evening, we were a large party of 8 on a Saturday night in a tiny room of course it was loud inside, the fact this lady really went out of her way to yell at us about it was really ridiculous, we weren't the only people laughing and talking in the place!

Cute little place. Great service. We startted with the meatball appetizer. Solid, but not great. My wife had the cavitelli and cream meat. Also good, but not great. I had the pork chop which was sensational. Definitely a place worth trying.

Loved this place. Nice ambience. Small cozy byo (near Corked wine shop). The service is as good as it gets. Hostess was nice and greeted us immediately. The server was so cool and knowledgeable about the menu. The manager came by several times during dinner to check on everything. Really impeccable service. The portions were good too. We got two apps, a pasta second course, an entree each and we were stuffed. The calamari was tender, not chewy, and sauce was delicious. Heavy on the olives, but I really enjoyed the flavor. Great for bread dipping. The mussels app was one of the stars of the meal. The sausage in the white wine sauce created the best flavor ever. Highly recommend this app. The pasta was cooked very well, and the sauce was straight forward but very well executed. The pork chop was the star. While the scallops were also delicious, the pork chop had so much flavor. I could not get over how the seasoning was infused inside the pork chop. No idea how they did that. Highly recommend this places. Prices are affordable. Great for dates and small groups.

We went to Luna BYOB last night; I knew the neighborhood well, and didn't recognize the restaurant. I found out it just opened last year. I had the two specials of the evening - the Halibut and Raviolis. I like my fish and pasta served at the same time, enjoying both dishes, as they compliment each other. I wasn't expecting to encounter such unique and flavorful sauces on the fish and pasta. The creamy pear-pecorino sauce with the ravioli was spectacular as was the tomato based gravy for the Halibut. The pasta was tender and the cheese inside had a soft velvety texture. The Halibut was cooked perfectly - it was one of the best fishes I've had in awhile. My friend had the Branzino, which was very good.....but I'm glad I ordered the Halibut! Luna is a hidden jewel just off Rittenhouse Sq. - it's worth uncovering!

Came on a Saturday night with some friends and had a nice night! We got Caesar salad, squid ink pasta, gnocchi, risotto and lamb shank. Caesar salad - could use a little more dressing but the anchovies was a nice addition Squid ink pasta - I wanted to love this but the noodle texture was way too chewy. A little thinner on the dough and I think it would have been perfect. The sauce was perfect Risotto - this was delicious. Good amount of lobster too. I want a bowl of this rn Gnocchi - this was prob my least favorite dish. There was something in this that made it overly stinky cheesy. The sausage I wish was more of a crumble thank cut up Lamb shank - def not the best I've had but it was tender! Needed more flavors Our server was also a little abrasive. Kept asking if we were finished and could they clear my plate even though I had a fork full of risotto about to enter my mouth. I felt rushed and he seemed frazzled. But it was a Saturday night so I was forgiving creme brûlée was the perfect ending to a pleasant byob meal! I'd def come again

I was really surprised and impressed by Luna BYOB. The service was so friendly and welcoming, and the food was comforting and delicious. The best thing we had was the veal chop ($45), which was perfectly cooked and worth the higher cost. The pastas were also excellent - we had one spicy seafood linguini that the whole table loved (I think between the six of us, we ordered 3!), and while the lobster risotto kind of looked like fancy fried rice, it was truly decadent. Portions were, in our opinion, quite generous, so when it was time for dessert, we really had to think about it. But then our server listed tiramisu and nutella panna cotta, and we somehow made room. Both were absolutely worth it. The restaurant itself is tasteful and simple in décor, and feels like a nostalgic nod back to the BYOBs of the early 2000s. There is only one bathroom for the restaurant, but other than that, I really thought this was a close-to-perfect BYOB experience.

I really do love an intimate BYOB and this fits the bill nicely. It's small, so sometimes, (perhaps also depending upon who you are sitting next to) it can get a bit loud, but that should not stop one from dining here. We dined with a reservation on Saturday night and Luna was bustling inside. We were able to enjoy a lovely table for two next to the picture windows with a sidewalk view. My friend and I both agreed that the highlight of the evening was one of the specials. Those meatballs on creamy polenta! Oh my gosh! If I could have had a plate of four for the entree that would have been the perfect evening. They were juicy, seasoned perfectly in delicious red sauce nestled in the creamy polenta (that should not be missed with each bite of meat. ) Seriously! So good! The beet salad was delicious too with a wonderful glaze and lots of texture from the nuts. We both ordered the pappardelle with bolognese sauce and braised lamb. It was good but I think having had the meatballs, nothing could compare! We ended the evening with crème brûlée that was creamy and delicious. This is a sweet place. Make a reservation, grab a bottle and go!

I was so impressed with my recent visit here to Luna. I found this restaurant opened when I walked by and when I saw the menu and I was hooked. It had such great options, from seafood to chicken to red meat. There weren't any vegan or vegetarian options, except appetizers - so that may be an issue for some diners. For appetizers, we tried the antipasto and radicchio. The antipasto was delicious, the burrata was so fresh and delicious. The presentation of the radicchio and all the other dishes was beautiful. For entrees we had the branzino and the sachetti pasta. The branzino was grilled to perfection and the skin was fantastically crispy. The pasta was rich but perfectly cooked. For dessert, we had the chocolate layer cake and tiramisu, both were fantastic and the waiter said all the desserts (besides the ice cream) were made in-house! My only complaint was that it was SO LOUD inside. The restaurant is small and tightly packed and definitely not the place to go to hear your dining companions.

I was really excited to try Luna, especially since Burrata is so good. It's a cute, cozy little BYO where Casta Diva used to be. I tried making a reservation about a week in advance for a Friday night dinner and they were booked from 6-8pm. I kept an eye on Tock and finally saw a 6pm reservation open up the day before. All that to say- plan ahead if you want to eat here on a weekend. There aren't many veg options on the menu- something to keep in mind in case there are any dietary restrictions. With that being said, the chef was accommodating for the slight changes we requested to our dishes so I feel like there may be some flexibility if you do have any restrictions. We got the ravioli special as an appetizer to share and then for entrees we got the gnocchi (subbed out the gorgonzola sauce for a blush sauce), tomato linguine, squid ink paccheri, and lobster risotto. All of us agreed that the ravioli special was the clear winner- it was seriously one of the best pasta dishes I've had. Everything else was pretty stellar, too- except the lobster risotto. It didn't taste bad- it just didn't taste like anything at all. It was really disappointing. For dessert, we got the tiramisu, creme brulee, and chocolate cake. 10/10 for all of them- especially the chocolate cake and creme brulee. The service was quick and efficient and friendly. No complaints here. I'd love to come back here- there are definitely some standouts on the menu and the specials are a nice addition. I would just not at all recommend the risotto.

This is such a fun place near rittenhouse. Love the BYOB. The ambiance is nice, smaller vibe. Great for small groups but perfect for dates. Their menu, while limited is delicious. We had two of the salads, 3 different pastas and tiramisu, and every single thing was delicious. The service was good, too!

I can't say enough good things about Luna - the atmosphere was cozy and chic and made you feel like you were in Philly. The food was delicious, no complaints at all. The mussels are some of the best I've ever had. Can't wait to return for the amazing food and service!

My dining experience at Luna was outstanding! Under new influence leadership the ambiance and timing of my dishes was perfect led by the wait staff. I started with the mussels. So plump and fresh with thin slices of garlic and perfect pancetta! A seasonal salad with goat cheese soon arrived which was a bundle of freshness and was delicious. The lamb was just flying on a cloud at Flight Level 390! You have to try and the pasta with ground lamb bolognese! Bring your own and this is a pilots' dream restaurant! Very fair pricing and crème brûlée Or tiramisu to finish a CAT IIIB Autoland experience! Went in with a 00 expectations and was just taken care of like Singapore Airlines First Class.

New restaurant recently opened in rittenhouse area. Really good energy inside, friendly and fast service. Appetizer was excellent (antipasto), our pasta was good but not spectacular. Would advise probably making it a bit darker inside just to add to the ambience, as it was pretty bright and not dinner-y. Small thing but I did love the difference among dishes used to plate the pasta - fun quirk. Good spot, would not be opposed to returning!

The service is always stellar and truly sets the standard. The food is amazing and fresh! The atmosphere is cozy and inviting!

service was 10/10 and the place was so cute! only issue is that it gets so loud inside but it's small so that's to be expected. food was awesome - we got the antipasto which was so good. if you like burrata i highly recommend it. also got the spinach gnocchi and the special which was a truffle ravioli in a cream sauce with spicy sausage. overall delightful & comforting but have to say the special was very salty.

Yummy new restaurant right outside of the square in Rittenhouse. The beet salad had a sweet and delicious taste to it. The Fettuccine crab pasta was a great meal. This is an exciting new addition to the area!

This was the most authentic Italian restaurant I've been to in Philly to date. We started with a nightly special- an arugula salad with tomatoes, thinly sliced pears, scallops and lemon vinaigrette. This salad was deeeelishhh! Some of the best scallops- large and fresh and so tasty. The thinly sliced pears were a nice subtle touch that added texture and versatility. Next, pastas! We ordered 3. The garganelli, the fettuccine and the bolognese. All of the pastas tasted fresh, authentic and delicious. But here's what blew me away. I am typically not a bolognese person. It doesn't do it for me and I don't order bolognese when I go out to eat. This bolognese looked SO GOOD that I stole some off my sister's plate and discovered it was the most impressive dish on the table. I will be back for a bowl of my own so I don't have to share! Apparently I am a bolognese person- I just had never had it made well. Thank you Luna for helping me make this discovery! Will also return to try more of their pastas and desserts! They looked so good we just didn't have room!! Tip- They offer a 10% discount if you pay cash! We didn't have cash on us so we missed out but great to know for next time. My only critique was that we made a reservation and still had to wait a fair amount of time for our table. But after eating that food, I honestly don't care that we had to wait. It was worth it! Hence why I'm still giving 5 stars :)

Hesitant whether to leave a review, but since they don't have many reviews, I decide to show support and appreciation. It is hidden gem. My h said he can eat here every day. Later on, he said we should send kids to the grandparents next week and come here again.

I've now been twice to Luna and it is one of my favorite restaurants in the city. The food is outstanding. The calamari is one of the best I've ever had, the red sauce it's in is divine. Friendly service and great specials in addition to the regular menu. Last night I had the veal tortoleni in a Gorgonzola sauce with tomatoes, YUM! I can't wait to come back.

Charming restaurant and visited while reading the reviews. Menu is simple with a few specials. The octopus is very good, as well as the mussels and portions are very reasonable. If your looking for standout pasta, this is the place. Plus is that it's BYOB and prices quite reasonable.

Service and food was great! Portions were pretty large considering your close to rittenhouse. Would definitely go again!

I had high expectations on the ink pasta but ended up loving the lamb chop more, it's juicy and tender. Would love to visit here again :)

We made reservations on a Friday night for 830pm. There were still plenty of reservations when I made them a day or two before, but I have a feeling that won't be the case for long once people start finding them out. It's a cozy location in Rittenhouse. We were greeted and sat immediately but when our server came by she offered to move us to the open window where we would have more space (and it was a beautiful evening). She was helpful with recs, personable but not overbearing. We ordered the beef carpaccio, lamb ragu pappardelle, and lobster risotto. The carpaccio was classic and tasty but not a standout. The pappardelle was so delicious. The pasta handmade and perfection. The risotto had corn and peas and was bright and rich all at the same time. Wonderfully balanced. They're BYOB also which is always a perk! Food and friends is nearby if you need to pick something up. Really excited to try out this new spot! Definitely recommend!

Luna is simply delightful. Top three dishes are pictured. Definitely get the calamari, sachetti, and airline chicken. Staff is personable, your glass will never be half full, and our servers Grace and Rafael surpassed our expectations. Unparalleled service here and a relaxing ambiance. The byo is a nice touch as there are 2 wine stores w/in a block. This is recently opened but I've already been 3x. Go! Support! Dine and be merry at this 5 star gem.

A solid byob option in rittenhouse. Went shortly after they opened and had to wait about 15 minutes after our reservation time. The staff was very nice about it and the food was good. They definitely have a few kinks to work out but all and all will definitely be returning

My wife and I along with our 2 friends dined last night at Luna BYOB and of course everything we had from the antipasta to the entree's (fish and pasta) to the dessert was FANTASTIC!!! We are never disappointed eating at Luna BYOB or Burrata. The food is always amazing and consistent. Being consistent in the food industry is difficult however Dejvi and his staff do it and do it well!!! Also the decor is well done and appealing. Dejvi many thanks to you and your staff, our waiter (sorry i forgot his name) was very attentive even after we joked around with him for quite a while, but he took it well!. Best Regards, Neal Rubin

Dinner for 4 on Saturday night. Lovely, small and busy BYOB with a mostly but not entirely Italian menu. The pasta and risotto dishes we ordered were uniformly excellent. Nice sized portions and clearly freshly made pastas. The pappardelle and spicy squid ink tagliolini were standouts. Next time we will try one of the meat or chicken entrees. Only modest food criticism was an average Caesar salad (could have used more anchovies and cheese). Vibe is busy and bustling but very personal. Nice space and did not feel cramped as at other smaller byobs. Service was excellent and attentive. We brought cocktails and wine. Plenty of glasses made available. This will be a very nice Rittenhouse option for us!

could eat here every week! service and food was once again so good! the space is still small, but this time around it felt roomier and more comfortable because some tables were outside. highly recommend! dessert portions were big, so i would recommend sharing one between 2 people. they also have a pistachio ice cream that is so delicious!

Terrific food and service. Garganelli & Branzino with Carpaccio appetizer. Will be back soon.

Outstanding in all aspects! We didn't have a reservation and the staff was so helpful and nice to accommodate us even though it was quite busy. The food was super, big portions and creative preparation! 100% would recommend!

Awesome meal tonight. Lobster Risotto, Veal Chop, Branzino, Caesar Salad and Mushroom Ravioli. All were excellent. Atmosphere was great and our waitress was wonderful. This was our first of many trips to this gem of a place.

One of Philly's true hidden gem restaurants!! Food is amazing! Staff is very friendly and make you feel right at home like you are family. I recommend to anyone looking for that unique place with food dishes and staff that will create a lasting memory! For date nights this is the hot spot! We will return again for sure, just make reservations because they book up fast!