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Little Water, Philadelphia, PA

Little Water

4.6
4.6
98 Reviews
$30 and under
Contemporary American

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2 people
7:00 p.m.
Booked 28 times today
  • Good for special occasions
  • Charming
  • Great for creative cocktails
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, Philadelphia, PA 19103
  • Neighbourhood
    Center City
  • Cross Street
    20th street and Manning street
  • Parking details
    None
  • Additional
    Bar/Lounge, Beer, Cocktails, Counter Seating, Full Bar, Gender Neutral Restroom, Gluten-free Options, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Wine

Menu

View menu on restaurant's website

What 98 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
  • 4.6Ambience
  • 4.2Value

Noise • Moderate

Loved For

  • Philadelphia

    Contemporary American

Review summary

AI-generated from verified diner reviews
Little Water, nestled in Rittenhouse Square, offers a chic and charming dining experience with an inventive seafood-forward menu. Patrons rave about the "absolutely excellent" swordfish Milanese and "delicious and inventive food." The service is consistently "attentive," creating a warm ambiance. However, be prepared for a lively and bustling atmosphere.

98 Reviews

  1. Luis

    VIP

    Philadelphia

    2 reviews

    5.0

    2 reviews

    Dined 1 day ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Delicious food, friendly service, great atmosphere A terrific dining experience

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  2. George

    Greater Boston

    5 reviews

    4.0

    5 reviews

    Dined 1 day ago

    1. Overall 4
    2. Food 3
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    I unfortunately think this place suffered from being overhyped. The ambience and service were fantastic. However the food did not blow us away. While there were some highlights including the raw bay scallops, the hash brown, and the “Caesar like salad”, most was forgettable. For the price tag and portion sizes, we left a bit disappointed. Overall, good little spot. Not rushing back though.

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  3. Kathleen

    Chicago

    22 reviews

    3.0

    22 reviews

    Dined 3 days ago

    1. Overall 3
    2. Food 3
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    We were very eager to try Little Water since we were unsuccessful in securing reservations at Her Place despite multiple attempts. Everyone in our party loves seafood so this restaurant was a better fit. Overall it did not live up to our expectations and the value fell far far short. That said, there were some positives: Pros: The ambience was beautiful and the noise level was minimal. We really loved the tin ceiling and minimalist decor The mains were good - black sea bass and swordfish milanese Our server was excellent and very accommodating despite management challenges Cons: The appetizers (oysters, crab claws) were disappointing and very lacking in flavor We were told dietary restrictions could be accommodated but they rigid about complying with very simple requests It appears management trains servers to retrieve wine/cocktail menus to prevent them from getting 'wet'. We were instructed they would provide the list again if we asked for it. Our server did not feel comfortable or empowered to comply with simple food requests which again could speak to management rigidity. A $5 side serving of sourdough bread was stale and cold in the center. The dining room needs to be heated more. We were told they could provide pashmina scarves if we were too cold.

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  4. James

    Philadelphia

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined 4 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 4
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 4
    The server was exceptional! Great suggestions. We had a very nice bottle of Saint Joseph Syrah. The swordfish Milanese is a must. Black bass was great! Cabbage was unique and tasty and the Caesar salad with seaweed and st. Malachi cheese is great!!

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  5. Eric

    Philadelphia

    5 reviews

    5.0

    5 reviews

    Dined 4 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Loved every dish, swordfish was my favorite, caviar service was fun and well worth it.

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  6. Sarah

    VIP

    Philadelphia

    2 reviews

    5.0

    2 reviews

    Dined 4 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Lovely NYE dinner. Delicious food, kind and attentive service. On the expensive side but various price points and the food was worth it.

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  7. Kate

    New York City

    4 reviews

    5.0

    4 reviews

    Dined 7 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Little Water is an all around amazing restaurant.

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  8. OpenTable Diner

    Philadelphia

    5 reviews

    5.0

    5 reviews

    Dined 7 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    The food was AMAZING! The staff was equally as wonderful. I highly recommend this place for any award they can possibly receive ♥️best restaurant I’ve eaten in years. Can’t wait to come back!

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  9. Brianna

    Philadelphia

    5 reviews

    5.0

    5 reviews

    Dined on December 28, 2024

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Great cocktails, fresh and delicious seafood, friendly and inviting staff. Stars of the menu were the crab and uni hash browns and the swordfish milanese. Definitely will be coming back!

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  10. Karen

    Philadelphia

    4 reviews

    5.0

    4 reviews

    Dined on December 28, 2024

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    As always, Chef Rucker knows how to bring it! The food, service, ambience, music and vibe were all on point. The swordfish belly app, lobster toast, hash browns, crab claws, blue fun tuna, cabbage, scallops, swordfish Milanese, sea bass, ham and squid ink biscuits and chicken were unreal. This is our third visit, and the consistency and quality were outstanding. We’ve probably had every menu item and have been enjoying the changing drinks menu as well. The matcha cocktail is a favorite, can drink it like water! The new mezcal Negroni was delish!!! You have to get the desserts. I crave them constantly now. The granola cremeaux is in my dreams.

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FAQs

Little Water is rated 4.6 stars by 98 OpenTable diners.

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

Make a reservation

2 people
7:00 p.m.
Booked 28 times today
Google Map for Little Water

261 S 20th St, Philadelphia, PA 19103

Additional information

  • Cross Street
    20th street and Manning street
  • Neighbourhood
    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, Gender Neutral Restroom, 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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