La Sera Italiana BYOB

When the family needed a new Christmas tradition we looked for a intimate, quant, family owned restaurant that felt like just like Nonna's. La Sera is it. We started with sharing the Mussels, Arugula Beet Salad, and the Calamari. Your gonna need a pairing but since this is BYOB you bring what makes sense but we brought a Vermintino for the White Sauces and a DOCG Chianti reserve to compliment the red sauces. Pick your battle. The staff was attentive, helpful, personable and fast. Waters never lowered beyond a halffull. Nonna would be proud. After trying everything you really can't go wrong, if your curious I suggest the Spaghetti Carbonara, Chicken Parmesan, or the Alfredo Linguine they were impressive. If you still have room and you should make sure you do...I suggest the Tiramisu or the Canolis they were fresh and delicious. We'll definitely be at La Sera next Christmas.

This compact space serves up delicious food. I like that the kitchen is open and clean. As is the restroom. Everyone enjoyed their meal. Service isn’t overly attentive, which is fine. They still give a free bread basket - so rare and so appreciated. Especially when the bread is delicious - tasted like Sarcone The downside that would make it difficult to return to is the noise level. They even have some attempts at noise deadening but it’s not working. I take sound measurements via an app called “SoundPrint” and this was almost as loud as Xfinity Live down by the stadiums. We found it difficult to have a conversation.

Absolutely amazing first time experience. The olive oil is very high quality, and reminded me of true authentic Italian cuisine. They were very kind and welcoming for a busy holiday season. Definitely will be back soon ❣️ Thank you!

This has got to be a bad joke. I believe these are the same people that "own and operate" the creamery shop next door. But restaurant...chile nooooo! Food was horrible no flavor, all i could do was take two bites and that was the app. Thank god thats all I ordered. Very bland and not well executed. I got the broccoli rabe and sausage and it was exactly that just mashed together. No color no nothing They dont even smile or welcome you in.. I think they thought I was sticking up the place cause I had my du rag on never again will I come to this place for dinner. Very laughable . Just stick to the ice cream. Perfect that first! I get the idea with the two businesses side by side but geesh.. when it becomes all about the buck and not the service you have a problem... i bumped it up to three stars because when he saw i didn't enjoy it he did take it off my bill which was customer service etiquette. Truly appreciated

A large party reservation on Christmas eve, is never an easy job. We initially made our reservation for 5 people. However, 4 more of our friends insisted to join our party. When I called La Sera, twenty minutes before our arrival, they graciously accepted and when we arrived our table was perfectly ready. And the service and the quality of the food was fantastic!!! These guys were friendly, prompt, attentive, and everything we could have wished for a perfect Christmas eve dining experience. I couldn't recommend these guys highly enough as they exceeded our expectations in every single aspect!!! Wishing them a Happy Christmas, and Wonderful, Healthy, and Prosperous 2026 with the hopes that their business will explode in growth. They truly have a magnificent human touch that is worth valuing!!!

The atmosphere is absolutely amazing! It is really a hidden gem in the city and feels very intimate and relaxing. I went with a group for my friend's birthday and we had amazing service that made us feel right at home. The food was amazing and big portions. The chocolate cake is delectable.

The food was truly amazing, one of the best burgers I've had in a long time. The fries were seasoned well, and the chicken sandwich was also amazing. The lemonade was very refreshing and a good balance between sweet and tart. The cheesecake was rhe perfect about of sweet and you could taste the richness. And on top of the amazing food the staff was very nice and the music was very pleasant. I would really recommend this place for lunch.

BYOB!! Nice bottle of wine to enjoy with your meal Had the caprese salad and a ceaser salad Both of us tried the Branzino; which is Pan-seared, asparagus, capers, cherry tomatoes, lemon white wine. Delicious! Smaller venue & does get crowded quickly, in the summer they have outdoor seating on the sidewalk. Pictured below is how they package to-go orders. Bruschetta, Caprese salad, Branzino, and Penne Vodka ($7.95 to add crab, as you may be able to tell from the picture NOT MUCH CRAB for the price) sautéed spinach and Tuscan Salmon -very nice sized fillet and seasoned nicely.

The food was amazing and I have no complaints about the service. In spite of that, an extremely loud and obnoxious woman (blonde, well over a hundred and eighty pounds, you know the type!) was seated next to us alongside her timid and frightened date. She proceeded to rant and rave for the next thirty minutes, uninterrupted, about how one of her friends was about to marry a convicted sex offender, going into needless detail. I didn't go to La Sera to hear about how this woman's friend is engaged to a pedophile. Again, the food was absolutely amazing and the service was good. The space is quite small, though. You _will_ overhear what the other diners are talking about. Sometimes, you will hear far too much. I hope she reads this but based on the volume and rate of speech I doubt she would feel bad. Lady, you are SICK. PIPE DOWN!!!!!

An excellent way to celebrate our office holiday meal. Boss man treated us to a late lunch here during a weekday. Bonus of a late lunch - we were the only ones here and we could actually have a conversation at our long table and hear each other! We started off with several baskets of complimentary Italian sliced loaves served warm with a dipping sauce. Our appetizers shared among us were the calarmari (excellent, though I wish there were tentacles, I loves me some calamari tentacles), gorgeous bruschetta (though a small serviing for $9, just 2 pieces if I remember correctly) and an anti pasto platter. Note that with the lunch menu, appetizers are not on the menu, but because we were eating later and because maybe of our party size, they let us order anything from the dinner menu as well. I chose the fettucine alfredo with chicken. Oh so generous of a serving, and had to bring home half. Simply made, so so good. I loved how the linguine had some bite to it. Lovely service and we were well looked after.

Food was pretty solid. I enjoyed the ravioli rosa but bruschetta was a little pricey for two pieces. My sister got the gnocchi but felt the gorgonzola flavor and texture just didn't hit. I have to give 2 stars for the service. We made a reservation and came in a few minutes before. The hostess was standing away from the front so we waited a bit until we were greeted. Upon informing her of our reservation, she grabbed menus and walked off without saying a word so we just followed her. A bit rude and awkward as she didn't even offer any welcome or smile. We placed our orders and received the bruschetta. I ate my portion and my sister wanted to eat hers with the rest of our food so we waited. And waited. Upon noticing other diners who came AFTER us receive both their apps AND entrees, we flagged down the very nice busboy (why i'm giving 2 stars not 1) and asked about our entrees. Our waiter came over and said that he thought we were still working on our apps so they didn't serve it which seemed weird because other people received their entrees while still working on their apps. Our food came quickly after we spoke, but with no apology for the inconvenience. Upon leaving, the same hostess said thank you but as if hurrying us out the door. Will not be returning!

I am trying to stay away from Italian restaurants for 2026 and was very hesitant about trying this one, but my friend insisted--and I'm so glad I listened. This is a very small, quaint restaurant, which made the experience feel cozy and intimate. The servers are very attentive and made us feel well taken care of. The rigatoni Bolognese was some of the best I've ever had absolutely incredible. The Caprese was also very good, though the portion was huge. The only miss for me was the chocolate cake: it was very cold and a bit dry. That said, I would 100% go back just for the rigatoni Bolognese alone.

Yet another incredible family meal on Christmas Eve at La Sera! Caesar salad to start followed by delicious rigatoni a la vodka w prosicutto and peas, spaghetti and meatballs, ever massive chicken parm, and linguine pescatore! Great service, and very warm and cozy for the holidays!

As an Entree enthusiast, I booked my dinner reservation at La Sera Italiana mostly out of nostalgia. A touch of morbid curiosity too - can my fond memories of this space be tainted by a possibly mediocre meal? Thankfully, my worries were for naught. I came here for NYE and was happy to find the quirky decor of Entree replaced with a sleek new paint job and cute cozy holiday touches. The enticing pre fixe menu made it hard to choose, so we asked our server for recommendations and he enthusiastically described how everything is homemade. My group of three landed on: burrata, calamari and Caesar salad; filet mignon and squid ink linguini; three tiramisu. Everything was well cooked and seasoned well. I use Caesar salad as a gauge of a restaurant and it was punchy with just the right amount of cheese and dressing. The calamari was light and the spicy marinara did not taste like it was out of the jar, I kept coming back for more. The filet mignon was cooked well - surprisingly tender and moist even with how lean it is. I did wish it came with some sort of mashed potato to counter the beefiness. The squid ink linguini was flavorful and light - not overpowering with the seafood flavors. The lobster tail on top was GIGANTIC. It was a showstopper and was very tender. The tiramisu was delicate and a perfect pallet cleanser. The portions across the board were generous and we packed a lot to go. The service was warm, attentive. My water cup was never empty for too long. The food came out at a good pace. I'm so happy to recommend this place, revisit a space that I love, and make new food memories.

The pasta was ok but I felt the sauce wasn't that special. I really like that the shrimp was charred though and it added a depth of flavor to the pasta. They are BYOB and there's outdoor seating so it's nice to come on a warmer day to enjoy dinner. I specially liked the calamari the best because it was crispy and hot when we received it. The service was also very kind because there were no seats outdoors when we arrived but the host was very accommodating and allowed us to wait for the next table even though we had a specific reservation time slot.

This place is amazing! The atmosphere is excellent and the food is even better! We swear by the fettuccine and the gnocchi. Owners are wonderful and they truly know how to run a restaurant. Good Italian on South, come here! Excellent lunch option as well! Nice portions that won't break the bank!

My partner and I visited La Sera Italiana on a weekday during restaurant week. Our experience was overall great - the food was delicious, the service was great, and the restaurant itself was very cute. The caeser salad was delicious and the homemade sauce was a highlight of the evening for me. For the main course, I had the penne alla vodka, which was prepared perfectly. My partner really enjoyed his branzino and had great things to say about the white wine sauce.

Overall, my meal and service at La Sera Italiana were good. I'd give it a solid 3.5, so I am rounding up to 4 for Yelp. I have to be honest, I miss Entree, which used to occupy this location. We decided to make a somewhat last-minute (in my opinion) dinner reservation with a couple of friends. We made the reservation on Tuesday for the Thursday of that same week and had no trouble getting a table for four. La Sera is a BYO, so we brought plenty of wine with us. We ordered the calamari, bruschetta, and burrata to start. The calamari was good, but very heavily fried. The burrata itself was delicious, but the peaches were not ripe so they were crunchy. It felt like eating burrata with apples, not peaches. My favorite appetizer was the bruschetta. It was season really well and the bread was well toasted. For entrees, I had the rigatoni bolognese. I didn't realize they put pepper flakes in the dish so it came out with more of a kick than I was expecting. I'm not a huge spice girl so I would've preferred to know that ahead of time. Overall, I would go back but I wouldn't put it at the top of my list. With so many good Italian options in the city, there are other places I'd pick first.

We had a really great meal here last night and I will be back to eat here. The place is really cute and the doors/window were open so we had a really nice breeze while we ate. The specials of the day were fantastic. We ordered the truffle burrata. If you see this on the special list get it. Bc it was soooo good! I ordered the veal rolls for my meal and it was good. But the real star was the 20 oz veal chop which was really like a 48 oz veal chop. My pic doesn't do it justice - bc the thing was about 2" thick and also longer than the large plate. I was offered a bite and it was sooo good. We were too full to eat dessert. Our server was also great. Overall it was a nice meal and we will be back!!

I ordered through Uber Eats their Lunch Menu's Fettuccine Alfredo for $11.95. The portion was fantastic for the price, but im a little concerned about if this is how they normally make Alfredo... The sauce is severely rich. I mean in the kindest way, I felt like I was eating just liquid butter. There's not even a hint of Parmesan to me. If there is, it's being masked by how heavy the butter is in the sauce. Not even creamy, it's on the extreme side of butter. And as my pasta cooled, you could see oily fat separating from the sauce. I don't think I'll ever get the fettuccine Alfredo, it's cloyingly butter heavy. It did come with some bread too, which is nice, but it was flavorless. Didn't even taste like bread, just a sponge for the sauce I guess? But the best breads have a flavor of bread, the warmth of baked bread to describe it, that pairs and elevates the sauce. This bread didn't do that for me.

Fantastic new BYOB on South Street: from its cozy interior to its impeccable service to its delicious food. After uncorking some wine and starting to nibble on the warm, table bread (served with olive oil and balsamic vinegar for dipping), we started our dinner off with a round of appetizers: 1. Bruschetta (fresh ricotta cheese, cherry tomatoes, basil, olive oil, balsamic reduction), which seemed to have something magical going on--perhaps something special rubbed along the top of the toasted bread before the toppings went on... 2. Calamari Fritti (calamari, shrimp, baby octopus, peppers, carrots, spicy marinara), which was perfectly seasoned, crispy, and served with a delicious (not that spicy) marinara. 3. Burrata salad (peaches, heirloom tomatoes, olive oil, balsamic reduction)--loved the arugula, the bitterness of which counterbalanced the sweet peaches and tomatoes. A lover of Linguini Vongole (clams, parsley, garlic white wine sauce), I had to give it a go, and La Sera Italiana did not disappoint--the linguini was al dente and the dish was served piping hot. Fellow diners had the Chicken Parmigiana (breaded chicken cutlet, fresh mozzarella, marinara sauce), the Pasta Special (homemade tricolore fettucine, shrimp, mussels, cherry tomatoes, creamy pink sauce), and the Ravioli Rosa (homemade lobster ravioli, crab meat, spinach, creamy rose sauce). We finished the meal with Espresso and a Creme Brûlée to share. Zero complaints and smiles all around--will definitely be back!

Obsessed is an understatement. La Sera is one of my new local Italian favorites in Grad Hospital area! Even more dangerous, the proximity from my house! All of their dishes are always served hot, have a great presentation and not to mention they taste delicious! I personally love their classic chicken and parm for a main and the bruschetta for an appetizer. Came here recently for my boyfriend's birthday with his family and everyone enjoyed! They have so many different menu options as well, coming here with family or friends, you can definitely find a dish that suits your fancy!

Amazing experience! Had the pasta special which was whole wheat pappardelle and shrimp with mussels in a creamy rose sauce - delicious! Pro tip, have a bite of mussels with each bite of pasta! You need the briny bit. Also had the veal ripieno so delicious! The Demi glade was so luscious. We started with the calamari and pilpo (octopus with cannellini beans) - both excellent. Try the calamari in the bread oil. So yummy, such a lovely evening!

We have been here about 10 times this year. The food and service have been superb every time. Fantastic chicken parm and pasta bolognese. We love the veal dishes as well. Great grilled calamari and salads as starters. We're generally too full for dessert but these are great as well. Terrific owner and staff as well.

I got food from here via DoorDash. It did not disappoint. In addition to pictured, I had ribeye and truffle fries. Good amount of food and had some left over for next day. Delivery did not take long and food was fresh. I've walked by and seen people sitting outside on the street, which seemed nice as well. Would definitely go again.

We had a great experience. My daughter requested to go out in Philly for her 14th birthday. We looked for a BYOB and this was wonderful. It was 10 of us and we all loved what we got. The service was great and the ambiance was lovely. And of course the food was delicious. It was a wonderful night.

The food was absolutely delicious! Everything was brought out so fast and hot. The flavors were so good!

Service is top notch. Decor is nice. The food is solid and the free bread is nice. You can find better Italian at Fiorella, for example. But overall, a nice addition to the neighborhood.

I ordered penne in vodka sauce and the sauce was decent but the pea's and prosciutto in it were not cooked properly. They were still raw. The bread it came with was a huge portion but not good bread. Tasted a little stale too. I expected this to be better based on the rating on yelp and on uber eats but this was mid at best... would not order this again or dine there personally.

Ordered the chicken parm (with vodka sauce) and the rigatoni bolognese for takeout and it was fantastic. Will definitely be ordering again.

Arrived right on time and seated right away. Place is extremely cozy on the inside. Overall, everyone enjoyed their dish selections from the calamari appetizer to the Lobster ravioli. One person ordered a veal plate and the veal was a bit dry. The Marinara Ravioli has spice to it and the menu doesn't call out that the sauce is a bit spicy. The Branzino fish had the skin left on and the person didn't know until they began eating it. Service was very attentive and polite. We would certainly return and just be more aware of the above mentioned take aways.

A gem of a BYO with a friendly staff, expansive menu, affordable prices, house-made pasta, and picturesque desserts. What more could you ask for? We sat outside on a warm evening before sunset, but were covered by the shade from sidewalk trees, so we stayed cool. My buddy ordered the halibut with lump crab special, I ordered the clams linguine (linguine vongole on the menu). We were both licking our plates. Octopus appetizer and antipasto platter were generously portioned for starters, too! Owner/operator Albert was more than happy to make some menu recommendations, and makes the desserts himself (and they're lovely). Will be back many times to this future pillar of the neighborhood. Great to see the west side of South Street land a home run like this.

Nice neighborhood spot for some deliciously prepared Italian fare. It's nice having a BYOB in this area with high quality dishes. Friendly service and very attentive and helpful. We had the chicken Milanese and the cod special as our mains and started with a salad and roasted mushrooms. Generous portions too!

Good place to hang out with friends after work, very relaxing vibe. Fast service and you can bring BYOB as well. The mushroom appetite is very good. You can eat the sauce with the bread. Broccolini rabe as a side dish is a decent size. I'm sure the broccolini rabe with sausage will taste amazing as well. Chicken masala is very flavorful.

Very impressive venue! Shoutout to the local community heroes here! Customer service is personable and professional. We made a reservation because the seating area is a bit on a smaller and intimate scale. We needed to pace ourselves with the toasted Italian bread loaf and the herbed dipping oil. We had fried Burrata which had a wonderful cheese pull. We also had a beet salad with goat cheese, honey mustard vinaigrette, mixed greens. And we heard that the calamari was yummy and it was all that! Entree's was my favorite go to, bolognese!!! Yum, perfectly cooked pasta! We also had chicken Parmesan.. this chicken was a very generous portion! We had enough for lunch tomorrow! Hubby had the cod fish special! Capers, lemon, butter, and tomatoes. The sauce was delicate and beautiful! Again, perfect al dente! And the connoisseur of Italian cuisine in our group ordered the carbonara!! She said it was deliciously a winner! For dessert we had lattes, cappuccino, and some chocolate mousse.... Bravo!

We dined here on a Wednesday evening at 6:30. Everything was fine until the space started to fill up. Then the noise levels became dangerously high. It became impossible to converse without shouting across the table. The food and service are good but the space is in serious need of sound dampening panels. I worry for the servers; hearing loss is permanent.

Went with a large party and split a bunch of appetizers. All were great! And then split the Ravioli Rosa and Chicken Parmigiana with vodka sauce. Everything was great!

Amazing food.Great service and very cozy small restaurant .Will definitely be back. Delicious gelatos as well

Great new place on South Street! Food is fresh, authentic, delicious. Particularly enjoyed the carbonara, which was a true carbonara with just egg yolk sauce. Not too heavy. Pesto was a walnut base. Restaurant is BYOB. Server was really friendly, funny, took allergies seriously. Small restaurant was intimate, looks like a converted row home. Super cute.

Lovely neighborhood gem. Excellent and attentive staff and delicious homemade pasta. They have inside and outside seating on a quiet street. You can walk down the street and grab a bottle of wine to enjoy since it is BYOB.

Delicious Italian food. BYOB. Small, romantic place with fix prix specials. Best to have reservations.

Very nice small restaurant on South Street, food, service, ambience was all good, also BYOB, will be back.

Food was some of the best italian food i have found in the city in a LONG time, service was amazing they didn't rush you at all despite it being restaurant week. ambiance was beautiful, can't wait to go back. i also never write reviews and this was so good that i just had to.

I was so excited when I saw a byob Italian spot come into the neighborhood. Graduate hospital needs some more good restaurants and this one hits the spot. The bread to start out was fresh and warm with olive oil and balsamic for dipping. We ordered the burrata appetizer which was not too filling but fresh and tasty. We got the gnocchi in a blush sauce and linguini pescatore in a red sauce. Both were really good. I could barely finish the linguini it was so much food. We didn't have room for dessert but they had the classic tiramisu, cannoli,creme brûlée, cheesecake, etc. It's a small spot and gets pretty loud when crowded. Despite being a weeknight it was completely full when we left at 7 so make a reservation. Only complaint I'd have is it they left the front doors open and it was a hot day so the restaurant got hot from the outside air, the kitchen cooking food, and the warm meal, it was a little uncomfortable. I can't wait to come back and try more of their dishes. Wait staff was friendly and attentive too. 5 stars all around!

My new favorite Italian BYOB in Philly! The service and food is phenomenal. The bruschetta, meatballs, calamari, and chicken parmigiana were all amazing!!

Really incredible food and people. They are open lunch and dinner but it really picks up for dinner. Portions are large and still a byob

Omg I think this was the best gnocchi I've ever had! Has great restaurant week deals with 2 courses for only $20 with indoor and outdoor seating. BYOB

5 Star hands down. I don't review many places but service was perfect, food was perfect. Price was extremely reasonable. I hope this place sticks around. We didn't have a reservation and they seated us anyway.

This place is amazing. Burrata salad was so well thought out. Arugula, cherry tomatoes, sliced peaches, burrata cheese that was so refreshing..scallops with mushrooms were show stopping .. pasta... chefs kiss.. Veal picatta thinly pounded with a delectable white wine caper sauce accented by a side of gorgeous fettuccine.. Dessert of cheesecake was simply off the charts.. So sorry to see Entree go but.... Welcome La Sera!!!

Went for dinner last night. The food was incredible, the service was fantastic, and the atmosphere was great. My wife said it was the most perfectly Al dente ravioli she's had in her life!

Food was good and delivered was on time. I would get the penna al voka again. They were able to customize orders as needed. Ty

We had dinner with another couple here and it was really good. We have a list of byobs to try and this one is a keeper. We had meatballs and arugula salad to start and were pleased and for dinner 2 of us had the halibut special which was excellent and the others had chicken parm and seafood risotto (tons of seafood) which they really liked. The place is cute inside with brick walls and the service was really good.

We went to La Sera for the first time tonight and when we were seated realized too late that there were two big parties. If we had known how loud the noise level was we would have turned around and gone elsewhere. The food is quite good, very fresh and flavorful. We just couldn't stay for dessert and took our leftovers home. I noticed in an earlier review that noise was a criticism and it does not appear the owners have addressed it. They definitely should. We'll try it again during the week.

A new hit! Just opened in March 2024 in an intimate space with a few sidewalk tables. Linguini pescatore with white sauce was excellent - perfect shellfish cooked and al dente pasta. Tricolor pasta special with seafood and grilled salmon over pasta special were excellent, as was gnocchi. Wait staff was attentive and made the evening a delight. Fine BYOB spot- real neighborhood find.

Went for lunch. Food was excellent. Service was great. Gnocchi with burrata in pesto sauce was outstanding.

Lovely new neighborhood restaurant. Gracious staff, yummy food. Definitely will return. Byob always a plus!

I ordered the Gnocchi La Sera for takeout last night - it did not disappoint! The rest of the menu sounded amazing as well. I'm hoping to come back and dine in sometime soon!