Cicala at the Divine Lorraine
Italian restaurant · West Poplar
699 N Broad St, Philadelphia, PA 19123
Highlights
Elegant Italian restaurant with house-made pasta & charcuterie
Elegant Italian restaurant with house-made pasta & charcuterie
"If you haven’t heard of or seen the Divine Lorraine, now is the time to catch up. It was constructed in 1892 to be luxurious apartments for Philadelphia’s elite, under the name Lorraine. In 1948 the building was sold to Father Divine who moved in his flock, the Universal Peace Mission Movement. Changing the name to the Divine Lorraine. We’ll let you do your own research on movement; trust us you want to. The building has sat abandoned from 1999 until now. Recent development has started again to bring the building back to its original glory of 1892." - True Hand Society
"Chefs/owners Joe and Angela Cicala’s ode to Southern Italian cuisine is a tour de force. Here, dinner entrées feature linguine alla luciana and orecchiette con cime di rapa; and brunch dishes that include uova al benedetto (an eggs benedict that’s made with fried mozzarella “in carozza”, prosciutto di san danielle DOP, poached egg, and “bagna cauda”) and tiramisu French toast with Marsala-maple syrup. Add in their upcoming pizza experience called Sorellina — and one is dining at one of the most immersive Italian restaurants in the region." - Ernest Owens
"Cicala, on the first floor of the historic Divine Lorraine Hotel, is an upscale place to have an Italian meal surrounded by a few dozen people any night of the week. But when you want to avoid the crowds and make things more intimate, claim their patio, bar areas, or simply rent out the whole place for yourself (half can be bought out as well). Dinner will be family style—think fritto misto, mussels linguine, and charred asparagus. You can even add a pizza oven to certain spaces." - candis mclean
"You’ve had dinner plans with a friend for weeks, but you’re thinking about postponing since it just snowed over a foot. Instead of pushing it back and risking the chance that it never actually happens, go to Cicala and sit at the bar. The front door is two ski-lengths away from the SEPTA station entrance, and because it’s in a hotel lobby, it almost never closes because of weather. It doesn’t hurt that the pasta dishes (get the fazzoletti with braised lamb shoulder ragu) are excellent and the drinks are strong - which is exactly why your friend will agree to brave the snow and meet you." - sydney mcelwee
"The revival of the Divine Lorraine brought with it multiple new restaurant concepts. Its jam-packed events calendar is posted on its Instagram account and has included play and chill game nights, brunch and flow pop-up yoga classes, local DJs, and industry nights with specials for restaurant workers." - George Banks-Weston
