Dante & Luigi's
Italian restaurant · Hawthorne ·
Old-world Italian cuisine, white tablecloths, chandeliers, classic dishes
Old-world Italian cuisine, white tablecloths, chandeliers, classic dishes
"Dante & Luigi’s in Bella Vista is the obvious choice when you crave pictures of the old country, Frank Sinatra on loop, and pasta so good that you’ll move slower than a line at PennDOT just to savor a bowl. All 16 pasta choices are handmade, and it makes for a fantastic choose-your-own-adventure. Meatballs and rigatoni—why not? Fusilli with clams in a white wine sauce—you got it. But our favorite is the towering lasagna, with a slow-cooked red-wine marinara and a creamy bechamel sauce between each supple layer. It’s a beefy, cheesy classic that at least 10 families in the dining room order nightly. And guess what? They’re right to." - alison kessler, candis mclean
"Open since 1899, this is Philadelphia’s oldest Italian restaurant. It's overwhelmingly old school—think white tablecloths and candlelight, chandeliers, black and white photos, and multiple dining rooms throughout converted townhouses. The South Philly spot uses that century of experience to whip up top-notch pastas like the gnocchi romano, fettuccini filetto with filet mignon and sun-dried tomatoes, and a baked lasagna that’s the best in town. And even though the interiors look fancy with paintings on the wall that look like they belong at a museum, you can eat here without dropping some serious money—none of the entrees cost more than $30." - candis mclean, alison kessler
"Come to Dante & Luigi’s whenever you get the chance: to celebrate a birthday or anniversary, to satisfy a lasagna craving, or when you want to feel like an extra in The Godfather. The century-old Bella Vista institution is buzzing with waiters in vests and families ordering the usual (who needs a menu when you’ve been coming for generations?). Fill the table with Italian powerhouses—creamy penne a la vodka, fall-off-the-bone osso bucco, and the best veal parmigiana in the city. Decadence is the name of the game here, from the top tier service to the chocolate cannoli. So whether you walk in on a Tuesday or plan to propose, it’ll be a meal that you’ll never forget." - candis mclean, alison kessler
"Open since 1899, this is (arguably) Philadelphia’s oldest Italian restaurant. Between the chandeliers, black and white photos, and converted rowhome dining rooms, you’ll feel the old-school charm right away. Eat something classic, like gnocchi romano, fettuccini filetto with filet mignon and sun-dried tomatoes, and baked lasagna. And even though the interior looks kind of formal, you can eat here without dropping some serious money—none of the entrees cost more than $30." - alison kessler, candis mclean
"Lots of places replicate Italian-American nostalgia. But Bella Vista’s Dante & Luigi’s, which has been in business since 1899, lived it. The restaurant has a maze of dining rooms in what feels like six rowhomes stuffed together. It's the kind of place that puts little mesh jackets on their lemons so the seeds don't come flying out when you squeeze, the sort of spot where the bow-tied spill gossip from decades ago. Sure, you can find eggplant parm and lasagna on plenty of Philly menus, but Dante & Luigi makes most other versions seem like egg noodles and ketchup." - candis mclean, alison kessler