Put Fiorella on the list of hard to get reservations in Philly, not because it’s fancy or expensive, but because it’s tiny and has some of the best pasta in the city.

One of James Beard winner Marc Vetri’s newer restaurants (opened 2020), it’s housed in a circa 1890 butcher shop by the Italian Market. When the third generation owners were looking to sell, Vetri was looking to buy in the area where his father grew up. Vetri kept the name, the brass cash register, many of the original fixtures, and the sausage recipe – which always shows up on the menu.

The menu is small and changes frequently with what’s fresh at the market. A couple antipasti, a half dozen handmade pasta dishes, and a couple desserts. Food similar to what you’d get at Vetri’s high end restaurant Vetri Cucina, but less fussy and way cheaper. Our selections:

The restaurant is tiny, a dozen seats at the bar watching the chefs, 2 two-seaters inside, and 5 tables in the outdoor streetery. We scored our last minute reservation by eating while everyone else was watching the Super Bowl – although if you are willing to eat early, they regularly have 4:00 reservations. Otherwise, good luck!