la Padella

The short answer is it took too long. All of the food was good. Appetizers were great. Cocktail was meh.. We were sat at 4pm and left at 6:10 for a party of 3. We had Appetizers and entree. Ordered a 3rd round of drinks at the hour 45 mark and they never showed up. The staff was nice. If you enjoy an experience that seems to last forever with slightly above average food then absolutely this is the place for you.

I have mixed feelings because the food was really tasty, but the out waiter’s service was slow and seemed to struggle A member of our party ordered Pinot noir and twice the waiter brought Pinot Grigio. He blamed it on the bartender, but a bartender should know Pinot noir is red. Definitely recommend the mussels, it was a huge pile of them and the broth was delicious. We asked for some bread to soak up the remaining broth Also recommend the sausage and ravioli or the lemon thyme chicken

We ordered lunch. I specifically asked for no asparagus and it showed up with asparagus. It was a simple request. They couldn’t accomplish it. The pasta banner we had any sauce. It was like dry pasta. Fail….

the food was SO GOOD. everyone in my party had an amazing dish. our waiter Laurie was so sweet, personable, and attentive. the appetizers to the dessert was just overall so amazing. will definitely be coming back!!

Very good food and excellent service. For apps: We had the meatball and the fried Brussels sprouts. Both were very good. The Brussels sprouts with pork belly were awesome. Crispy and flavorful. For entrees: I had the porch chop which was alright. It was a good cut, but I wished it was seasoned a bit more. The potatoes were cooked very well, but the summer squash seemed to be too soft. Still tasted good but not the consistency I was hoping. (My fault for not ordering pasta at an Italian place haha) other members all had pasta which was reportedly very good and cooked perfectly. The desserts all looked great, but the tiramisu shined the brightest. It was firm and creamy as it should be instead of the soggy stuff most places serve. All together a great experience and I’m sure we will be back!

Just found la Padella Media, Pa We had great dinner, I had the sausage scallopini and my spouse had a great flounder dinner Also had the escarole soup and la padella salad- really nice size portions. Mark our server was excellent, very attentive We'll be back!!!

Food, atmosphere, server was Great!!! Drove from an hour to spend time with my sister for her birthday, will be back.

Appetizers and main courses were great. Service was just as good....very friendly staff. We will be back

Always delish! They never disappoint. Food and staff always top notch. Love their happy hour. our favorite place!

We had such a great experience at La Padella! I ordered the linguini and clams, and it was absolutely perfect hot, flavorful, and generously portioned. My friends had the wild boar bolognese, which they couldn't stop raving about, and we all shared the brussel sprouts to start ...crisp, savory, and delicious. What really made the evening special was the service. Laurie and Lisa were lovely warm, attentive, and genuinely friendly. They made us feel right at home and added so much to the experience. If you're around Media and looking for a cozy spot with amazing food and even better service, this is the place. Guaranteed to find a parking spot too! We'll definitely be back!

The menu has a great variety, and everything we tried was good and came out hot and ready to serve. Portions were generous, the atmosphere was warm and inviting, and the service was friendly and attentive throughout the meal. It's a solid spot whether you're stopping in for a casual dinner or celebrating something special. Definitely worth a return visit.

Have visited media many times to see my son at college and we try different places each time. This place was amazing! All the pastas and sauces are fresh and rich. Arancini and calamari appetizer were so tasty we didn't even get a pic. But mostly we came Friday night at 5:45 without a reservation. They scrambled and got us seats at the bar. The hostess was so incredibly friendly and kind and Tyler (I think?) the bartender took amazing care of us. I'm a bit of a foodie and this place delivered. All around a lovely place!!

A birthday diner for wife brings us back to Lapedella. Great service from a sweetheart sorry dont remember her name, Delicious apps came right out. Entrees soon followed. All piping hot, 10 entrees I may add. They were all delcious. 10 for 10. A guest table appearance by Owner/ Head Chef Nick makes the night complete. Nick doesnt realize how good it is.we locals do but shhhh we dont want it over crowded. Job well done to all Staff.

Several old friends met here recently for dinner- as soon as we walked it, it was welcoming- as if you'd been there before. All of us loved our meals and the portions are massive! Our server was funny and real- steered a friend away from the crab cakes- guess they aren't stellar- and she appreciated that. Feels like a true neighborhood joint- no frills, but good food run by good people.

Business dinner tonite. Apps came out perfect. Drinks were well done. Entrees were spot on. Fun time for 7 of us.

I had made a inquiry for an upcoming visit and Nick was super responsive. Quick replies and great communication. He even met us in the parking lot when we arrived. Food was excellent. We sat by the window with Lori (Laurie?) as our server who was friendly and attentive. A brutal storm blew through and the restaurant lost power but our dinners had already prepared. They handled the outage with grace and professionalism and we will definitely return to this little gem!!!

The food is very good and reasonably priced. The parking is good. The service was excellent. It's a neighborhood place with lots of tables, but you don't feel crowded. The people at the bar made it seem like it was a neighborhood joint.

Perfect for a quiet night out with the wife or food was delicious and the staff were so friendly, I highly recommend. IMO

Our Go To Spot when visiting family in Media. Great food and great employees. Owner works in the kitchen, which makes it our kind of spot! All the food reflects it.

We stopped at this restaurant during Media restaurant week and had an amazing meal. We stayed for dessert. The drinks from the bar were also amazing. I would definitely go back when in the area

Great happy hour and nice place to meet for lunch or dinner. Staff is very gracious and welcoming. Fabulous bartenders. Regular crowd are great people. Feel right at home.

This is old school rustic Italian. Nothing like Center City but much like tried and true places in South Philly. It's a homey place with great warmth. The woman who seated us but kept checking in on us and reminded my daughter it was "unlimited refills" for her ginger ale was delightful. (Owner? Manager?) My kid wanted mussels for the starter and I agreed but was skeptical. No need to fear. They were delicious and they tasted fresh. We ordered fries to dip in the white wine butter sauce but were also served soft bread for the same reason. Our pastas were delicious. And the chocolate, peanut butter bomb was decadent. I'm still on my "making my way through media" restaurants since my daughter has appointments here every week. This was a sweet place. I liked the food, the warmth, the hominess and the old-style-Italian charm.

What a delicious and lovely experience to have dinner at la Padella! The front of the house staff were very friendly and welcoming and our server made helpful suggestions about food and drinks since choosing among the array of yummy menu items was not easy! The bartender made my Prosecco & limoncello drink just right - not too sweet. We tried the crispy calamari, roasted brussels sprouts with crab meat (!) and bruschetta starters which were all excellent. My eggplant parmesan entree and pasta were perfect. I ordered cannolis to share for dessert and tried a bite of a peanut butter chocolate bomb...amazingly good! la Padella for the win!

For really fine Italian food, we prefer la Padella. The entrees are special and well cooked, there's good variety and the ambiance is pleasant. Parking is available.

Had an amazing date night with the hubby! We sat at the bar high tops and enjoyed every minute! The hostess went above and beyond, Mark was a great server, and the food hit the spot! This is one of many trips to come here !

Bad service no knowledge bartender was not knowledgeable food overcook no idea how to take care of customers

Friendly , happy upbeat atmosphere . The happy hour is excellent. Having tried ever happy hour place in Media I rank la Padella number one for value . Try the mussels in white wine and the Brussels sprouts or the flat bread pizza it's all on the happy hour menu.

From my first phone call to book my daughters bday dinner. Customer service was excellent. We arrived customer service was excellent , waiter was Everything and the food was DELISH. Never had Brussels with crab meat...delish ! Came with a few picky eaters including myself everything was delish. The only complaint was that the crab cake had too much lemon but was switched out for blackened salmon which was Delish. Mad I didn't take pic of food. But trust me everything was amazing !!!! It was some ladies having a gift exchange it's such a cute place for that ! We will be back..great date night spot

My husband had a pork chop that was delicious. It was tender and could have been cut with a butter knife. It was accompanied by sliced red potatoes and couscous and a delectable sauce. I chose the Filet tips app and a salad which was so good ! Tender steak and a tasty salad. The service was excellent( thank you Amanda and Danielle) with pleasant, attentive servers. By far,our favorite restaurant in Media,PA

Delicious food at this place. The arancini are some of the best I've ever had, and my house salad was just perfect (I got the lemon vinaigrette instead of the balsamic). I also enjoyed the homemade tortellini with long hots in the tomato sauce. There was a lot of sauce on there though, and it was pretty spicy, so I would have preferred less of it. It was my first time there and I really enjoyed it. It was a birthday treat for me, from my oldest daughter and her fiance - they love La Padella and go there every chance they get. I hope to join them again sometime.

Edit The pictures do NOT do it justice! I got this today as a to go. It was amazing!! You get so many clams. I have been trying to find place for clams and I am ecstatic that I have found it! I got the mussels in white wine and garlic. You get so many and they are fresh and great. The 2nd appetizer I got were roasted Brussel sprouts with with crabmeat. It's was phenomenal!! The only reason I have it 4 and not 5 is that te Brussel sprouts were a little salty. They are meant to be that why I'm pretty sure ( the have cracked salt and capers) I would definitely get this again but probably ask for not as much salt. Again it's meant to be on the salty side He was just a little too much for me. Go ahead and grab this but if you aren't a salt person have them hold the salt. I will definitely be returning and trying these both again and some of there other dishes. They do have outside seating

Great food, full menu, pleasing & comfy vibe. Something for everyone, whether you're looking for a wine bar, a full well done restaurant that kids to dates will enjoy, or anything in between. Nice find.

We love LaPadella. They are the friendliest people and we love sampling their dishes. Last week got the last table on a Saturday night with no res. Love the bread and olive oil mix, drinks are full pours and perfect, and the food ....meatballs, veggie flatbread, escarole soup meatball and arugula salad and the pasta and seafood were all delicious. Such a nice spot with perfect service. Glad to live so close.

After checking out several locations and giving multiple choices to Jen, my wife, this is where she made the decision to go for our sixth anniversary, and let me tell you we are so happy we chose la Padella. Everything here was fantastic; from the food, to the drinks, to the service and atmosphere. Just absolutely perfect. We weren't one-hundred-percent sure we had made the right choice based on some of the other unfairly biased reviews here on Yelp, but we definitely did. This was one of the best Italian experiences that we have had in a very long time, and we are obsessive about our Italian cuisine. Like usual, we over-ordered and both started with a drink from the bar that quickly turned into three. The bartender knows what he's doing, and my negroni was made to perfection- not too bitter nor too sweet. Jen said her bellini was exactly how they tasted when she visited Italy, and said it may have been the best she's ever had. The drinks paired perfectly with the antipasti plate and the smoked pork flatbread, which was a special menu item for that night. Normally, when visiting a restaurant where you expect to pay a high dollar ticket, the portions are a bit lacking, but this fell perfectly into place. Both the plate and flatbread were more than enough food that we could have just ended our dinner there, but not been overly stuffed. However, we ordered our main course and were completely blown away by what arrived. Jen ordered the scallops, perfectly-braised, so succulent, soft, and sweet they would be at home at a three-star michelin rated restaurant. I only tasted half of one of the six she received, but it was heavenly. They came atop a bed of Israeli-style couscous, mixed with a beautiful tomato sauce with just a bit of a zesty spice that we couldn't help but finish the whole plate. She also ordered a side of their spaghetti in sauce because all of their pasta is HOMEMADE, and absolutely worth all of your money. It was so fresh, tender, and perfect that she commented to me that she could simply eat their pasta every evening for dinner and be satisfied for an eternity. I opted for another special menu item for the evening and ordered the grilled/seared cobia. Having never had this fish before, I was excited, as I am all about trying new things. It was a lovely white flaky fish, with a slightly higher oil level than something like branzino, and was cooked to perfection. It was extremely juicy, yet still flaked apart when cut with a fork, but somehow still had enough structure to stay together as a filet of a "steakier" fish like swordfish would. Served over a huge bed of linguine, topped with their butter-tomato sauce, I couldn't get enough. The sauce reminded me of a rosa-style sauce but without the over-the-top creaminess that usually reserves those kinds of sauces for things like gnocchi. We even had a chance to speak to one of the owners, who was extremely nice and took the time to have a REAL conversation with us, which turned into a half hour back and forth about the area, the food, the restaurant, and everything else. All in all, la Padella has become our new staple place when it comes to high-end Italian and we will be returning here many times in the future. I hope they have continued success and recommend that if you're thinking about a nice Italian meal in and around Media, that you go here. You will not be disappointed at all!

I just spoke with the owner, Nick, and he could not have been nicer! Some of the best customer service I have ever received and made us want to go back again and spread the word. Not to mention the fact that the brussel sprouts and pork chop were out of this world!!! Thanks, Nick! Matt

I had wanted to try La Padella for months and finally got a chance to dine here. It was worth the wait and I can't wait to return and sample more of their fabulous Italian menu. The meatballs are large and very tasty. If you enjoy Brussels sprouts, don't miss the Brussels sprouts app - with lump crab meat and a rich remoulade. Super fattening and heavy, so share with friends. Service from the amazing Laurie is top notch. We love her. Great food and even better service.

My guy and I were beetling by on a Friday night & decided to stop in for late happy hour drinks. We both have Celiac and weren't expecting to eat, therefore were pleasantly surprised to find we could. The owner put us at ease as he came over to our table to discuss how the food was prepared. We shared the caprese salad and scallop entree. OMG...the creamy polenta accompanying the scallops was divine, the scallops seared perfectly and the sautéed spinach perfectly garlic'd. Returned for more of the same a few weeks later and were delighted to find the owner had brought in GF beer Returned again this past Friday, almost as the kitchen closed. The lovely owner made us a plate of creamy vodka sauce penne with spinach- fresh. It was delish. I hope La Padella stays in Media for a very long time!

5 stars, GREAT FOOD, AND SERVICE! You have to try the crabby brussel sprout appetizer made w old bay crab roulenode and the sirloin tipped fettuccine entre.

Party of ten. Nice atmosphere. Good drinks. Five in the party had the seafood risotto. Risotto was not cooked correctly and the sauce basically ruined the dish. Five other in party were fine with their meal but said they wouldn't necessarily be rushing back.

We really enjoyed our time together at la Padella. Service (Amanda), food and drinks were great. The atmosphere was friendly and welcoming.

The atmosphere is small town cozy, warm and welcoming. We didn't have a reservation and arrived at 4:55pm. 5 min before happy hour ended! We ordered our drinks first! There were no tables available in the dining room due to reservations but they pushed two high tables in the bar/lounge area together for our family of 4 (2 adults 2 kids under 7). Food and drinks were yummy. Service was excellent. The only complaint would be the pasta itself was too cooked for our liking. We prefer al dente and this was a little too mushy but the sauces on top were delicious. Would be back to try more.

This place is a treasure. Fabulous home made Italian at reasonable prices. Our party of four had the veal parm, fettuccine with steak tips, pork chop, and scallop entrees. All were excellent. Meatball app is amazing, and my wife is still raving about the Brussels sprouts with pork belly. Nick, the owner is an attentive host. And Sal, behind the bar, makes a perfect Negroni. Alex is a friendly and efficient server. Do yourself a favor and be sure to visit La Padella. And I forgot to mention the tiramisu!

I could sit there and eat the bread and olive oil and be happy for the rest of my life, but then there's the food and the wine and the staff and the desserts, so this place just makes me happy, period. Very glad we journeyed to the end of Media and found this little gem.

Extremely warm and kind. As soon as I walked through the door, I met Nick. Host? I felt like he was happy for me to be here. Turns out he was the owner! Very kind, warm and handsome. I signaled my husband to come in. Lori was our waitress, also warm, happy, and accommodating. Generous portions and DELICIOUS food. We are only in town for a wedding and found la Padella on Yelp. It was exactly what we were looking for. Excellent!! We hope to come back someday!

Stopped by la Padella a few weeks ago for the first time and loved it!!! The calamari is some of the best I've ever had and the peppers add a special touch. The special short rib arancini had a great flavor and was a very large portion. My fiancé had the special which was a chicken piccata with homemade fettuccine and he still hasn't stopped talking about it. I had the stuffed chicken and I really enjoyed it. The polenta that is was served with was delicious. The homemade mint chocolate chip panna cotta was probably one of the best desserts I've had in my life and I wish I knew how to make it!

This was our second time at La Padella. The food was fantastic. We had the fried meat/risotto special and the fried calamari as appetizers, they did not disappoint. We split a Caesar salad which was very good. We split due to them not having "side" salads or a smaller option. My boyfriend got the short rib entree, amazing flavor and so tender. He wanted steak but steak is not on their menu. I had the ravioli and sausage in the blush sauce. The raviolis were prefect and the sausage was cooked well. But there was WAYYY too much sauce. I could barley find the raviolis and sausage. It was almost like a soup. Waitress & staff were pleasant. The atmosphere was nice. Smaller in there so you could hear everyone's conversations but it wasn't over crowded. We had a total of 6 drinks. I had the peach Bellini.... so good. The check came to $125 for everything (not bad for everything that we got). Portion sizes were amazing, plus the bread & oil were delicious and fresh. We will definitely be back again. I might not get pasta but will go for an entree instead.

When we called to see if the restaurant was busy on a Friday night, we were told they were and that we'd have a wait. Surprisingly, when we arrived, the only place that was busy was the bar. There were plenty of free tables. Being that this was the third time we've been to this restaurant, we found that the menu was still pretty much the same - nothing really exciting. The arugula salad (which was split) came out drenched and soggy. As I ate it, the overabundance of acidic salad dressing got caught in my throat, and I was practically choking. In the midst of a coughing fit, our server came over to ask if everything was ok, yet all I could do was push the salad away. My husband tried to explain what had happened, and I was brought a non-soggy salad this time. The salad was later taken off our bill. After 2 uneventful meals (scallops and pasta with peas), we decided to skip dessert. A check close to $100 sadly did not match the poor quality of the food. After 3 times, we're done.

We had an amazing meal, great service and tasty cocktails. When we try a new place we take the over order approach and went with 5 apps. We have decided to get our holiday gift certificates from here this year. Try it. You'll love it too.

Good neighborhood Italian-- with warm "throwback" friendly atmosphere. The food was average and nothing more. Soups were under- spiced. Red sauces were bland and the pasta tasted as if it sat in the water too long (in fairness the waiter brought us a new portion). Potential is there, but the food tastes like every strip mall Italian restaurant we ever visited. Worth a walk, not a drive. The wine by the glass was well priced but the selection was not impressive. We did receive a response from the management and we will probably give it another try. Thank you

I was really excited to try a new restaurant off State Street. Unfortunately, la Padella missed the mark a bit. We had a reservation for 7, but didn't get sat until closer to 7:45 pm. We were offered nothing in return for this inconvenience. Then, we were sat the waiter took a long time to get things moving. Drinks were delivered in an odd fashion: wine, seltzer, then water. As he was pouring wine, he seemed thrown off when a guest said that she didn't want any (2 of us didn't). Then, the real disappointing moment came when we were ordering. When he got to me, I simply said that I would order last (knowing that I had a few questions). Then, he came back to me and I asked about how various items were cooked and what hidden ingredients were used. I have several dietary restrictions, so asking questions is important when I am dining out. During this exchange, he looked at my friends and said, "Who's going to claim this one?" At this point, we had waited 45 minutes to sit and approximately 20 more to order. It was not a moment for jokes, or a time to question someone's dietary needs. I have never had a more upsetting or disappointing interaction with a server. Typically, servers bend over backwards to ensure that the dining experience is exceptional. Then, when my food was delivered, the items I asked to be eliminated were on the plate. It was as if the joke at my expense wasn't even worth it. The server never acknowledged that this occurred or apologized. A food runner partially saved the day, so I could eat the meal. At the end of the night, I spoke with the manager (or who I presumed to be the manager) about this situation. We had a good conversation about the problem, and, in fact, he even sat down to talk. Unfortunately, he offered nothing in return, but a simple apology. At that point, we had already paid our bill, so it was clear that I wasn't looking for a free meal. I was looking for an actual gesture. He just asked that I give them a second try. Nope. No, thanks. la Padella needs to address their service issue, educating the servers on the ingredients, and making actual gestures to demonstrate that they value customers.

Insanely authentic. I am of Italian-American descent (I know, so what) but I've also eaten authentic Tuscan cuisine in Tuscany. The subtlety and yet strength of flavors at La Padella were fantastic. Don't miss the meatball or stuffed long hot appetizers. I had the gnocchi with ground beef bolognese and the bolognese was so rich and flavorful it reminded me of the wild boar ragu I had in Italy. We met Nick the owner who is very engaging and clearly loves what he does... next time I will have to meet the chef.

My neighbor Chip and we have been swapping take out dinners on Wednesdays and Saturdays for maybe the last two or three months during Covid. This past Saturday night was Chip's turn, and he took our orders for takeout dinners from La Padilla. At Chip's recommendation, I ordered the pork chop with roasted baby potatoes and asparagus. My dinner was exceptional: the pork chop was beautifully caramelized and seriously juicy with a spicey brown sauce (on the side) which I happen to love. Roasted baby potatoes were crisp on the outside and creamy on the inside, just spectacular. My asparagus were fat boys roasted just right. All in all, I enjoyed my take out dinner from La Padella to the nth degree. Outstanding.

Beautiful location, beautiful restaurant, wonderful service. My only complaint is with the food. My pasta was drowned in sauce. Pasta is beautiful in its own right. It doesn't need excessive / calorie-laden sauce. My advice to the chef - keep it simple; keep it light on the sauce / keep it true to Italy / Italian fare.

Hybrid Stripped Bass--The bass is crispy outside and tender inside. The veggies are good too. Raspberry cheesecake is delicious. Very nice environment with romantic music. Perfect place for dating.

We just moved here from California and are so happy we found this place. Portions were amazing, flavor so delicious but even better, the staff were so kind and service was excellent. We will definitely be back. Fresh homemade bread to die for, sausage and peppers, my hubbies favorites I loved the chicken mushroom and broccoli pasta in a creamy white sauce not too thin and not too rich ...so good. Our server Danielle was the sweetest .

Went for lunch on a Thursday. Everything was delicious. We will go back. Don't park in the front. There is parking in the back.

Absolutely not traditional Italian food. Spaghetti was over cooked, veal was definitely a frozen patty and the sausage was terrible. They chopped it up and tossed it in a dry rub. Coming from a "real" Italian family this spot is a one and done!