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Little Water, Philly, PA

Little Water

4.6
4.6
45 Reviews
$30 and under
Contemporary American

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2 people
7:00 pm
Booked 41 times today
  • Lively
  • Good for special occasions
  • Neighbourhood gem
Located in the historic neighborhood of Rittenhouse Square, Little Water is the latest restaurant from husband-and-wife team, Chef Randy Rucker and Amanda Rucker. Inspired by the Ruckers' experiences living along the Gulf Coast, New England, and Mid-Atlantic regions, Little Water is a contemporary coastal restaurant that celebrates the ecological diversity of life by the sea.

The sister restaurant to the acclaimed East Passyunk Avenue gem, River Twice—which has been recognized by The Philadelphia Inquirer and The New York Times, and has earned Chef Randy’s Philadelphia Magazine’s “Best Chef” and, most recently, a James Beard Award nomination in 2024 for Best Chef: Mid-Atlantic—Little Water continues the Ruckers' dedication to sustainability and local sourcing. With an a la carte menu inspired by the dynamic ecosystem of tranquil marshes, expansive bays, and secluded coves, Little Water captures the coastal spirit in a warm and lively atmosphere.
Private dining

Private dining

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Additional information

  • Dining style
    Casual Dining
  • Price
    $30 and under
  • Cuisines
    Contemporary American, American, Seafood
  • Hours of Operation
    Dinner Tue–Sat 5:00 pm–10:00 pm
  • Phone number
    (215) 337-3343
  • Website
    https://www.littlewaterphl.com/
  • Payment Options
    AMEX, Discover, Mastercard, Visa
  • Dress code
    Business Casual
  • Executive Chef
    Chef Randy Rucker
  • Private party facilities
    Located in the historic Rittenhouse neighborhood of Center City Philadelphia just steps off of the infamous 'square', our window lined corner restaurant is the perfect match for your private event. From family-style dinners to cocktail parties, our team will curate an experience to remember.
  • Private party contact
    Maggie Cook: (215) 337-3343
  • Location
    261 S 20th St, Philly, PA 19103
  • Area
    Center City
  • Cross Street
    20th street and Manning street
  • Parking details
    None
  • Additional
    Bar/Lounge, Beer, Cocktails, Counter Seating, Full Bar, Gluten-free Options, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Wine

Menu

View menu on restaurant's website

What 45 people are saying

Overall ratings and reviews

Reviews can only be made by diners who have eaten at this restaurant

4.6
4.6 based on recent ratings
  • 4.6Food
  • 4.7Service
  • 4.7Ambience
  • 4.1Value

Noise • Moderate

Loved For

  • Philadelphia County

    Best Ambience

  • Philadelphia County

    Lively

  • Philadelphia

    Best Service

  • Philadelphia

    Best Ambience

  • Philadelphia

    Great for fine wines

  • Philadelphia

    Lively

  • Philadelphia

    Contemporary American

Review summary

AI-generated from verified diner reviews
Little Water is a vibrant addition to the neighborhood, praised for its "absolutely excellent" swordfish Milanese and inventive cocktails. The service is consistently "friendly and helpful," ensuring a warm dining experience. While some found it pricey, the overall ambiance and creative menu make it "absolutely worth a visit."

45 Reviews

  1. Carol

    Philadelphia

    45 reviews

    vip
    4.0

    45 reviews

    Dined today

    1. Overall 4
    2. Food 4
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 4
    Three of us spent an enjoyable evening at Little Water, a lovely new restaurant in the Rittenhouse Square neighborhood. We were celebrating the recent birthday of our dear friend. We were greeted warmly and asked to wait until our table was vacated and ready. As the restaurant was packed it was difficult to have a conversation. Our birthday girl was given a signed birthday card from the staff. It was a very nice gesture. The menu isn’t extensive but there are several good options. We ordered the Grand Plateau and two large plates. Everything was delicious and prepared with care. Our server was helpful with suggestions and advice regarding dietary restrictions. I will definitely return as it is a lovely place in my neighborhood.

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  2. Mike

    Philadelphia

    2 reviews

    5.0

    2 reviews

    Dined 1 day ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Great and delicious food , with generous portions and a great group of people working there. Go once, Go twice and keep going back !!

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  3. Steven

    Philadelphia

    5 reviews

    4.0

    5 reviews

    Dined 1 day ago

    1. Overall 4
    2. Food 4
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Little Water is close to great, and will get there. Space is lovely, service was terrific, vibe is lively but conversations are possible. Small plates (bigeye tuna, hash browns, cabbage) and the scallops main were home runs. Only downside was a miss on the swordfish milanese--breading overwhelmed the fish so that, with some bits, you didn't even notice the fish. But we'll be back for sure.

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  4. Vince

    Philadelphia

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined 3 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 4
    Seafood forward menu but plenty of other meats and veggies to round out the meal. I found it easy to find gluten free options for everything but dessert. My husband enjoyed his birthday meal. Almost forgot to mention the drinks are amazing, boozy and flavorful, a rare occurrence.

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  5. Nicole

    Philadelphia

    3 reviews

    5.0

    3 reviews

    Dined 3 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Everything was amazing. Can’t wait to go back and work our way through the menu. Drinks and atmosphere were perfect as well. Congrats to chef and the entire team.

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  6. Bonnie

    Philadelphia

    42 reviews

    3.0

    42 reviews

    Dined 4 days ago

    1. Overall 3
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 3
    4. Ambience 4
    Outstanding food but sound level was too painful. Recommend going when not full.

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  7. Chi

    Philadelphia

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined 6 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    A newly-opened Rittenhouse spot with a great ambiance and delicious water-inspired menu. Our bay scallops were delicious, and the fried fish-based “hash brown” was my favorite of the dishes we ordered. The crab and uni complemented the flavors well, and it was a great balance in each bite. However, my one wish was we had three per order instead of two for its value! The swordfish was also flavorful and well-seasoned, but we felt the salad was a bit underwhelming for the garnish. I felt it was a bit surprising that both main fish entrees were fried and not a pan-seared option on the menu, but it was still delicious with each bite. Overall, the atmosphere and price matched well with our expectations. It’s on the pricier end of your tab, but I’d certainly come back again!

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  8. Trevor

    Philadelphia

    3 reviews

    5.0

    3 reviews

    Dined 7 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    My new favorite place! Great staff. Everyone was genuinely happy and friendly. Server was spectacular. Food was delicious. Atmosphere was wonderful. Highly recommend.

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  9. ellen

    Philadelphia

    91 reviews

    vip
    5.0

    91 reviews

    Dined on 15 November 2024

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Everything was outstanding, except for the fact that it was so loud I couldn’t even hear my husband speak across the table from me

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  10. Tommy

    Philadelphia

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on 15 November 2024

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    this was a truly magnificent experience. the staff were incredible, attentive, and the service was second to none. the food was equally decadent and playful, not to mention satisfying. there's something to be appreciated about a restaurant that truly restores you and reinvigorates your soul. don't sleep on the country ham or the swordfish milanese, and the fudge pops made me feel like royalty. this is a must try and will become your favorite date night or quick snack. kudos to the team here!

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FAQs

Little Water is rated 4.6 stars by 45 OpenTable diners.

Yes, you can generally book this restaurant by choosing the date, time and party size on OpenTable.

Make a booking

2 people
7:00 pm
Booked 41 times today
Google Map for Little Water

261 S 20th St, Philly, PA 19103

Additional information

  • Cross Street
    20th street and Manning street
  • Area
    Center City
  • Hours of Operation
    Dinner Tue–Sat 5:00 pm–10:00 pm
  • Price
    $30 and under
  • Cuisines
    Contemporary American, American, Seafood
  • Dining style
    Casual Dining
  • Dress code
    Business Casual
  • Parking details
    None
  • Payment Options
    AMEX, Discover, Mastercard, Visa
  • Executive Chef
    Chef Randy Rucker
  • Additional
    Bar/Lounge, Beer, Cocktails, Counter Seating, Full Bar, Gluten-free Options, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Wine
  • Website
    https://www.littlewaterphl.com/
  • Phone number
    (215) 337-3343
  • Private party facilities
    Located in the historic Rittenhouse neighborhood of Center City Philadelphia just steps off of the infamous 'square', our window lined corner restaurant is the perfect match for your private event. From family-style dinners to cocktail parties, our team will curate an experience to remember.
  • Private party contact
    Maggie Cook: (215) 337-3343
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