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Little Water, Philadelphia, PA

Little Water

4.7
4.7
162 Reviews
$30 and under
Contemporary American

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2 people
7:00 p.m.
Booked 54 times today
  • Good for special occasions
  • Neighbourhood gem
  • Lively
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
    Lunch Tue–Sun 11:00 am–2:00 pm 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 162 people are saying

Overall ratings and reviews

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

4.7
4.7 based on recent ratings
  • 4.6Food
  • 4.8Service
  • 4.7Ambience
  • 4.2Value

Noise • Moderate

Review summary

AI-generated from verified diner reviews
Little Water in Philadelphia shines with its "delicious food" and "attentive, friendly staff." Diners rave about the "unique and inventive menu," especially the seafood-focused dishes like the swordfish Milanese and lobster toast. The restaurant offers an inviting ambiance, perfect for celebrations and everyday dining. Expect a "gorgeous" setting and "exceptional service."

162 Reviews

  1. Rosemary

    VIP

    Philadelphia

    52 reviews

    4.0

    52 reviews

    Dined 1 day ago

    1. Overall 4
    2. Food 4
    3. Service 4
    4. Ambience 3
    Fresh, tasty dishes and good service. Not cheap, but enjoyable. Quiet early in the evening, but much louder once restaurant filled up.

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  2. OpenTable Diner

    Philadelphia

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined 4 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    food was delicious. service was outstanding, the staff was incredibly nice and accommodating :)

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  3. David

    VIP

    Greater Boston

    3 reviews

    5.0

    3 reviews

    Dined 5 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Amazing first time here after having been to their other location. Every dish was delicious and we can’t wait to return!

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  4. Maree

    VIP

    Philadelphia

    24 reviews

    5.0

    24 reviews

    Dined 5 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    My third time at Little Water although this time for brunch. The menu isn’t your typical brunch menu—it’s beyond eggs and bagels, thankfully. We had the mackerel and tuna dishes, both delicious. The bitter green salad and sour dough bread were perfect sides and the funky Italian Rose didn’t disappoint. The service thanks to our waiter Jackson was personable, warm and professional. Only downer was the dessert choices—very limited and not exactly of interest for our birthday girl but the signed card was. Many thanks to the team here…you’re doing great…and I’ll be back!

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  5. Tracy

    VIP

    Philadelphia

    19 reviews

    4.0

    19 reviews

    Dined 5 days ago

    1. Overall 4
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 4
    Got the bass amazing food and taste. Worth every penny.

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  6. Kristina

    Philadelphia

    8 reviews

    5.0

    8 reviews

    Dined 6 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Perfection! Was so enjoyed . Flawless and delicious artful and fun! Great service thanks to Melanie ❣️

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  7. Gail

    VIP

    Philadelphia

    20 reviews

    5.0

    20 reviews

    Dined 6 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 4
    The greeting we got at the door was warm and personal, the waiter was informative in a way where he seemed interested (not bored) the food was excellent but on the smaller portion side. Do not go super hungry, but you can look forward to a fresh, imaginative and tasty meal.

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  8. Maddie

    VIP

    Philadelphia

    11 reviews

    5.0

    11 reviews

    Dined on February 19, 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Absolutely recommend this restaurant. The food was excellent, the staff was attentive, and the ambience was perfect. All of the food was exceptional, did not have one sub par dish. Worth the money!

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  9. Lyndsey

    Philadelphia

    7 reviews

    5.0

    7 reviews

    Dined on February 19, 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Our first meal at Little Water was fabulous!! First, the atmosphere was very lively, even on a Tuesday night. But not too loud, which was awesome. Perfect balance. Second, the servers were friendly and helpful. Third, the drinks were great! We drank lovely wines and well made cocktails. Now for the food… amazing!! Our group of 4 shared the Grand Plateau cold seafood app and it was incredible. The portions were good, the quality was excellent, and the fresh shaved horseradish on the shrimp cocktail was a new experience that is setting the bar high for shrimp cocktail for the rest of my life. For small plates we tried the mackerel (great), the cereal salad (one of the best in the city), and the hash brown (not sure why this is considered a signature dish, we were disappointed and felt it was lacking something to bring the sum of the parts together). For entrees we had the swordfish Milanese (tasty and playful, would be great for lunch) and then shared the whole bass - which was exceptional. We ate every last piece off the bone!! The desserts were the perfect cherry on top - light, bright and not trying to be more impressive than the dinner. Will return again and more importantly, will recommend to others!!

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  10. Sonia

    Philadelphia

    5 reviews

    5.0

    5 reviews

    Dined on February 16, 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 4
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Loved the place, we had to wait a little for our table and our drinks when we were sat at the bar counter to wait but overall a good experience and vibe.

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FAQs

Little Water is rated 4.7 stars by 162 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 54 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
    Lunch Tue–Sun 11:00 am–2:00 pm 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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