ILLATA
Restaurant · Schuylkill ·
Intimate BYOB with seasonal seafood, Italian specialties, creative dishes
Intimate BYOB with seasonal seafood, Italian specialties, creative dishes
"Illata, a modern American spot in Fitler Square, strikes the perfect balance between casual neighborhood bistro and sexy, sophisticated BYOB. The candlelit restaurant is definitely intimate—they only have 20 seats, plus a tiny bar area that's reserved for walk-ins. But the laidback atmosphere means you’ll probably get a glimpse of the chefs dancing to Lou Reed in the open kitchen. The small menu of seasonal seafood and produce is full of surprises like lobster hidden inside a squid ink crepe, and the marinated mussels in miso chili oil and the brown butter tart are some of the best bites in the city. Almost every dish costs less than $30, so it’s great to bring a few friends and order all 10-ish dishes. What a feeling." - candis mclean, alison kessler
"When you’re dating someone, you’ll end up sharing a lot of things: passwords, hoodies, and code words as a sign to leave a boring party. But at this Fitler Square BYOB, at least the split involves your favorite bottle of wine and some great food. You’ll find a small seasonal menu full of dishes like housemade pasta, marinated mussels with turnips and chili oil, or whole trout with borlotti beans and swiss chard. Spend the night surrounded by a few candles and fighting over the last crumb of their brown butter tart with strawberry glaze." - candis mclean, alison kessler
"Illata is about to become your new favorite BYOB. This modern American spot in Filter Square is intimate feeling—they only have 20-ish seats, including a bar area that's reserved for walk-ins. The small menu of seasonal seafood and produce is full of surprises. Get here for the marinated mussels in miso chili oil and a brown butter tart we’ll forever be fantasizing about. Almost every dish costs less than $30, so it’s a reasonable choice for a group. You can and should order the entire menu. What a feeling." - alison kessler, candis mclean
"This Grays Ferry charmer has been impressing diners across the region with their unique take on New American cuisine. Try their swordfish (served with English pease and Castelvetrano olives) or impressive desserts like their chocolate cake with caramel and peanuts." - Annemarie Dooling
"This modern American spot in Filter Square is dark and intimate. They only have 20-ish seats, including a bar area that's reserved for walk-ins, and the only lights to speak of past 7pm are from candles and delicate little sconces. The small menu of seasonal seafood and produce is full of surprises, and the handmade pastas are not to be missed. Bonus: almost every dish costs less than $30 and it's a BYOB, so it's reasonably priced for a special night out. What a feeling." - candis mclean, alison kessler