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Little Water, Philadelphia, PA

Little Water

4.6
4.6
103 Reviews
$30 and under
Contemporary American

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2 people
7:00 p.m.
Booked 59 times today
  • Good for special occasions
  • Great for creative cocktails
  • 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, 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 103 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 an enchanting dining experience with "exceptional service and beautifully deliciously creatively prepared dishes." The seafood-forward menu features standout dishes like the swordfish Milanese and Grand Plateau. While the ambience is chic and charming, some guests note it can be noisy. Perfect for seafood enthusiasts!

104 Reviews

  1. Nadine

    VIP

    West Palm Beach

    69 reviews

    5.0

    69 reviews

    Dined today

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Extraordinary! The food fabulous. The wait staff super friendly. Our second visit to Littler Water and as good as the first experience was this time ever better. Little Water has their act together. Over the top…can’t wait to return!

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  2. Connie

    VIP

    Philadelphia

    90 reviews

    4.0

    90 reviews

    Dined 1 day ago

    1. Overall 4
    2. Food 4
    3. Service 4
    4. Ambience 4
    The oyster presentation was unique and delicious with creamy "Alabama'" topping. Loved the hash browns and crab topped with uni. 1/2 chicken sooo good. Only the Caesar- like salad was disappointing. Interesting mocktails too! Would definitely go back.

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  3. dwgroucho

    Philadelphia

    60 reviews

    5.0

    60 reviews

    Dined 1 day ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Absolutely fabulous all respects!! Will return often!

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  4. Joan

    VIP

    Philadelphia

    144 reviews

    5.0

    144 reviews

    Dined 3 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 4
    Wonderful birthday dinner! We sat at the bar, Josh, took excellent care of along with the female bartender. Our dinner was delicious, especially the swordfish tartar. Overall, everything was really good! Also, excellent wine recommendation from the Sommelier.

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  5. Ann

    New York City

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined 4 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    From start to finish, we felt like we were in expert, caring hands. Even the person who checked our coats had a warm smile. The space is gorgeous (thank you Amanda) and the food was well-conceived and inventive without being show-offy, beautiful and completely delicious. The bay scallops were like a breath of fresh air. Thanks to Chef and the whole staff.

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  6. Luis

    VIP

    Philadelphia

    2 reviews

    5.0

    2 reviews

    Dined 4 days 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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  7. Sabrina

    Philadelphia

    3 reviews

    2.0

    3 reviews

    Dined 4 days ago

    1. Overall 2
    2. Food 2
    3. Service 3
    4. Ambience 4
    Unfortunately did not meet expectations for various reasons including initial hostess service and horseradish overpowering crab claws. Wished for a better experience.

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  8. George

    Greater Boston

    5 reviews

    4.0

    5 reviews

    Dined 4 days 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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  9. Kathleen

    Chicago

    22 reviews

    3.0

    22 reviews

    Dined 6 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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  10. James

    Philadelphia

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined 7 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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FAQs

Little Water is rated 4.6 stars by 103 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 59 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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