Little Water
Restaurant · Rittenhouse
261 S 20th St, Philadelphia, PA 19103
Highlights
Coastal cuisine with fresh seafood, raw bar, and creative cocktails
Coastal cuisine with fresh seafood, raw bar, and creative cocktails
"A meal at Little Water is like a magic trick. The plates in front of you appear to be simple meals like snow crab claws with black walnut bay mustard, and shrimp cocktail with smoked catsup. But the quality of the ingredients, the freshness of the fish, and even the care taken with the cocktails — spheres of crystal clear ice and lavender sticks — turn that simple meal into an opulent experience. Order a punchy Tonic Americano (ploughman cherry vermouth, red bitter, and tonka bean) and grab a seat outside through the summer." - Annemarie Dooling
"This seafood restaurant from Amanda and chef Randy Rucker — the duo behind Beard-semifinalist River Twice — serves the freshest seafood simply. The menu includes starters like New Jersey scallops with yuzu kosho with olive oil and Maine mussels and fennel on toast. Larger dishes run from a swordfish Milanese to a whole fried snapper. Look for a classic cocktail list and Old World wines that pair nicely with fish." - Ernest Owens
"A modern, seafood-focused restaurant in Philadelphia where the general manager and wine director recommends that diners pick a few dishes first so servers can either endorse those choices or suggest complementary items to round out the meal. Servers often use the guise of “one of my favorites” to recommend balancing elements—for example, adding a bitter green salad to cut through two rich mains—while explaining how acidity and texture will enhance the other plates." - ByMaggie Hennessy
"Between its off-park location, glitzy seafood plateau, and highly acclaimed East Passyunk sister, Rittenhouse’s Little Water is where savvy locals flock for a sophisticated dinner. But if you want to see and be seen, sit at the long bar that faces 20th Street. That’s where bespectacled publicists, Rolex-wearing realtors, and over-cologned power lawyers gather over Benne Old Fashioneds and LW Martinis. Fit in by ordering one of those, along with the towering caesar-like salad. Or just act interested in buying a south-facing pied-à-terre. Rittenhouse Condo Owners Who Moved To Town Once Their Kids Went To College" - alison kessler, candis mclean
"Located in the Rittenhouse neighborhood and opened in October, this seafood-centric restaurant showcases coastal flavors and seasonal preparations. Standout items include a shaved horseradish–coated shrimp cocktail, a hash brown topped with crab and uni, and a caviar service accompanied by hushpuppies, reflecting a focus on high-quality shellfish and inventive coastal combinations." - Regan Stephens
