Gran Caffe L'Aquila Philadelphia Italian Restaurant

4.8

2233 Reviews

$31 to $50

Italian

Make a reservation

2 people

Feb 16, 2025

7:00 PM

Booked 72 times today

Experiences are available.

Good for special occasions
Great for fine wines
Neighborhood gem

For parties of 5 or larger, please contact the restaurant directly by visiting www.grancaffelaquila.com or calling 215.568.5600

Authentic Italian Restaurant, Caffe, Bar, Luxury Italian Market, & Italian Culture School. The culinary and wine program is based on all 20 regions of Italy including wine, cocktail, and beer selections crafted by award winning culinary and wine director Riccardo Longo. The experience also featuring Gelato from the Italian Gelato Champion Maestro Stefano Biasini as well as award winning coffee roasted in house. Private events including Lunch, Dinner, Apertivo, and Tasting Menus designed to each groups desires. Best of Philly Readers Choice Best Italian Restaurant Winner and Gambero Rosso rated Top Italian Restaurants in the world; Featuring an expertly trained staff and authentic environment.
2nd Floor Reservations are for Lunch & Dinner service only.
Dessert service may be provided on our first level anytime.

Order delivery or takeout

Dining areas

Additional information

Dining style
Casual Dining
Price
$31 to $50
Cuisines
Italian, Seafood, Vegetarian
Hours of operation
Breakfast Daily 8:00 am–11:00 am Lunch Daily 11:00 am–4:00 pm Dinner Mon–Thu, Sun 4:00 pm–10:00 pm Fri, Sat 11:00 am–11:00 pm
Phone number
(215) 568-5600
Website
http://www.grancaffelaquila.com/
Payment options
AMEX, Diners Club, Discover, Mastercard, Visa
Dress code
Casual Dress
Executive chef
Catering
Half Tray Platters available for our entire menu. Each half tray serves 4-6 guests. <br /> <br />Specialty catering orders may be requested! Visit grancaffelaquila.com or call the restaurant and ask to speak to a manager.
Private party facilities
Allow us to host your next event. Our expertly trained staff will provide a dynamic dining experience for you and your guests - Birthdays, Anniversary, Rehearsal Dinner, Family Reunion, Office Gatherings, you name it and we host it! Private sit down events available from 8-85 guests,Private stand up events available from 40 to 150 guests.

Location
1716 Chestnut St, Philadelphia, PA 19103-5132
Neighborhood
Center City
Cross street
In between 17th and 18th Street on Chestnut
Parking details
Parking garages located on 17th street after Market before Chestnut,On Sansom Street between 17th & 18th.Valet Available through Sofitel Hotel.Limited metered street parking available.
Public transit
Stop for the #42, #21, and #9 located at 18th street, and 17th street. Stop for the #2 bus at 17th and Chestnut
Additional
Banquet, Bar/Lounge, Beer, Cafe, Cocktails, Counter Seating, Delivery, Full Bar, Gender Neutral Restroom, Gluten-free Options, Happy Hour, Non-Smoking, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Private Room, Takeout, Vegan, Wheelchair Access, Wine

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Experiences

Valentines Day in Verona, Veneto Week 6- 2/10-2/16
Feb 10, 2025 - Feb 16, 2025
This week Riccardo Longo invites you along his travels to the city where the story of Romeo & Juliet started - Verona, Veneto. Taste the authentic wine, cocktails, & cuisine of this historic region - while gifting your special someone an authentic Italian experience! Highlights include Casunzei di Romeo - A hand rolled & stuffed heart shaped ravioli filled with ricotta & parmigiano, and a Brasato Amarone slow braised prime beef cooked for 4 hours! You won't want to miss this menu! Reserve now while space remains. Let your senses travel with us!!
Week 7 - Messina, Sicilia -Feb 17-23, 2025
Feb 17, 2025 - Feb 23, 2025
Join our culinary director Riccardo Longo in his travels throughout the Italian peninsula visiting 52 cities & when visiting each city enjoying the cities featured bar, wine, & cuisine! Allow your senses to travel with us and enjoy the incredible Etna Bianco & Etna Rosso wines this week grown at the foot of Mount Etna in Sicily. Try other Sicilian specialties this week like our Cannoli with sheep's milk ricotta & chocolate chips, & so much more!
Week 8 - Venezia, Veneto -CARNEVALE-Feb 24-Mar 1
Feb 24, 2025 - Mar 2, 2025
This week join culinary director Riccardo Longo on his travels as we celebrate CARNEVALE in the beautiful & famous Venezia, Veneto. Let your senses travel with us & join us on the canal enjoying authentic favorites such as Filet Carpaccio & the Venetian tapas specialty Cicchetti! We will also be offering La Gran Lasagna de Carnevale and the incredible Figa alla Venexiana. Try our amazing red wine special while you stop by named "Raboso" which translates to angry, a bold & beautiful red wine grown nearby.

Popular dishes

Arancini$14.50
Three Sicilian rice balls, veal & pork ragu peas, mozzarella, tomato
Carciofi Fritti$14.50
Flash fried artichokes, fresh squeezed lemon
Scamorza$13.90
Fire roasted aged mozzarella, prosciutto
Melanzana Parmigiana$15.50
Eggplant, ricotta, fior di latte mozzarella, tomato sauce
Cozze Tarantina$17.90
Mussels, tomato, garlic, pepperoncino
Fritto Misto$18.90
Semolina crusted calamari, shrimp, zucchini
Polipo$18.90
Citrus Grilled Puglian octopus
Torta Granchio$19.90
Italian crab cake infused with fresh herbs & mascarpone served with a small cucumber fresco & finished with a gastronomic roasted red pepper

Insalata e Zuppa

Virtù Abruzzese$11.90
Iconic soup of Abruzzo featuring 7 vegetables, 7 legumes, & 7 pastas with accents of pancetta & aromatic herbs
Casa$11.90
Endive, arugula, radicchio, lemon vinaigrette
Panzanella Tropeana$13.90
Greens, tomato, cucumber Tropea onion, red onion, fresh basil, crostini
Cesarina$14.50
Kale, romaine, creamy Parmigiano dressing
Pera$15.90
Baby greens, pear, grapes, dried cherries, pine nuts, goat cheese, shallot vinaigrette
Insalata di Mare$18.90
Chilled seafood salad, shrimp, calamari, scungilli, scallops

Pasta

Chitarra$19.90
Guitar pasta, tomato, Guanciale (Italian bacon), onion, pecorino
Paccheri Datterini Gialli$20.90
Jumbo rigatoni, yellow tomato, garlic, parmigiano
Gnocchi alla Bava$21.90
Hand rolled potato & ricotta, fontina cream, wild mushrooms
Tagliatelle alla Panna$22.50
Northern Italian cream sauce, speck, peas, parmigiano
Carbonara$24.50
Spaghetti tossed with pecorino romano, cheese egg, Guanciale & cracked black pepper topped with a gastronomic Italian bacon gelato
Agnolotti$25.50
Torino style Ravioli filled with veal, pork, & vegetables. Butter sage sauce topped with our gastronomic black and white truffle gelato
Pappardelle al Ragu$26.90
Ribbon pasta, slow cooked pork, veal, lamb & chicken ragu
Sugo Della Domenica$27.90
Longo family Sunday sauce, slow cooked tomato sauce, wild boar meatballs, veal braciola, sausage & lamb. Served with homemade flour & water fusilli pasta

Carne

Cinghiale$15.90
Wild boar & long hot pepper meatballs, tomato sugo
Salsiccia Bolzanese$17.90
Grilled sweet & spicy Italian sausage served with homemade sauerkraut & a spicy grain mustard gastronomic gelato
Arrosticini Biasini$21.90
Lamb-bacon skewers, gastronomic Italian long hot pepper gelato
Pollo Mattone$23.90
Free range 1/2 chicken, roasted under a terracotta brick, asparagus, potato
Braciole$29.90
Veal braciola, tagliatelle, tomato sugo
Vitello Saltimbocca$30.90
Veal, prosciutto, sage, white wine sauce, potato, asparagus

Pesce

Spaghetti Vongole$25.90
Fresh wild clams, extra virgin olive oil, garlic, parsley
Pescatrice Puttanesca$25.90
Fresh monk fish, tomato, garlic, olive, anchovy, capers, chitarra pasta
Cannelloni di Pesce$25.90
Homemade pasta tubes filled w/ fresh shrimp, crab, baranzino, scallops, ricotta, tomato-besciamella
Salmone in Placca$29.90
Fire grilled salmon, herb crust,on a cedar plank with asparagus & rosemary potatoes
Zuppa di Pesce$28.90
Clams, mussels, calamari, salmon monkfish, broth tomato, tagliolini
Branzino$33.90
Fire roasted, extra virgin olive oil, garlic, herbs, lemon, fennel

Panini

Capri$10.90
Focaccia, fior di latte mozzarella, tomato, pesto
Parma$10.90
Italian baguette, Prosciutto di Parma, Parmigiano, arugula
Bologna$10.90
Italian baguette, Mortadella, roast pepper
Abruzzo$10.90
Ventricina spicy salami, shaved pecorino on toasted casereccio bread

Verdura

Cauliflower Caponata$8.90
Rosemary Roasted Potatoes$8.90
Funghi$8.90
garlic sautéed cremini & portobello mushrooms
Fire Grilled Asparagus$8.90
Roasted Sweet Peppers$8.90
Truffled Patatine Fritte$8.90
Thin cut fries tossed with parmigiano & truffle
Sauteed Broccoli Rabe$12.50
Tambo$10.90
Garlic & oil sauteed spicy longhots

Gelato

Small$6.60
Medium$7.90
Large$9.90
Pint$12.90

Desserts

Cannolo con Ricotta di Pecora$7.50
Sicilian sheep ricotta, candied fruit
Gran Gala Creme Brulee$8.90
Gran Panna Cotta$8.90
Espresso, Italian chocolate, sambuca hint
Strawberry Zabaglione$8.90
Fresh strawberries, homemade zabaglione crema
Crostata di Frutta$8.90
Baked tart, homemade custard, seasonal berries
Tiramisu ai Frutti di Bosco$9.70
Lady fingers, wild berries, mascarpone
Tiramisu Classico$9.70
Lady fingers, espresso, mascarpone
Budino di Pane$9.70
Brioche bread pudding, nutella, dark chocolate, banana, with fior di latte gelato
Ricotta Cheese Cake$9.70
infused with amarena cherries & served warm with fior di latte gelato
Mousse al Cioccolato$9.50
infused with Italian Fragolino (wild strawberry)
Macedonia$9.50
Seasonal fruit salad

Caffe

Espresso$3.35
Espresso Doppio$4.60
Espresso Sambuca$6.90
Espresso Anisette$6.90
Cappuccino$4.29
Iced Cappuccino$4.59
Latte$4.79
Cortado$3.99
Drip Coffee$3.35
Iced Coffee$3.79
Artisanal Teas$3.99
Artisanal Italian Hot Chocolate$6.99
Cornetto Plain$3.75
Cornetto Almond$4.39
Cornetto Crema$4.39
Cornetto Nutella$4.39
Cornetto Salato$6.79
Girelle$3.99
Bomboloni$3.50

Bevande

Phony Negroni$7.50
Limonata$3.99
Aranciata$3.99
Chinotto$3.99
Aranciata Rossa$3.99
Bergotto$3.99
Fresh Squeezed OJ$5.90

What 2,233 people are saying

Overall ratings and reviews

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

4.8

4.8 based on recent ratings

4.8Food
4.9Service
4.6Ambience
4.6Value

Noise • Moderate

Loved For

Philadelphia County
Most Booked 1000-Point Tables
Philadelphia
Great for fine wines
Philadelphia
Most Booked 1000-Point Tables

Review summary

AI-generated from verified diner reviews

Gran Caffe L'Aquila in Philadelphia delights with "authentic Italian cuisine," exceptional gelato, and a "fantastic atmosphere." Guests rave about the "outstanding service" and diverse menu, including weekly regional specials. The restaurant is praised for its "great market of Italian delicacies" and consistently providing a memorable dining experience.

2,234 Reviews

C
Chris
VIP
Philadelphia
4 reviews
5.0
4 reviews
Dined today
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
This place never disappoints. Most authentic Italian food you’ll get in the states. 10/10 highly recommend.
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A
Alexis
New York City
2 reviews
5.0
2 reviews
Dined 1 day ago
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
Beautiful experience, my wife is from vicenza italy and she felt at home. Definitely going back. Food is simple but delicious.
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T
Tod
VIP
Philadelphia
7 reviews
5.0
7 reviews
Dined 1 day ago
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
Everything was excellent and happy we could find a reservation on short notice on Valentine’s Day.
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A
Adrian
Philadelphia
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined 2 days ago
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
Best gluten free pasta! Everything we had was excellent. Service incredible. Romero and Juliet table was so romantic. Awesome valentine's day lunch. Cherry Gelato is a must.
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F
Frances
New York City
1 review
2.0
1 review
Dined 3 days ago
1. Overall 2
2. Food 2
3. Service 1
4. Ambience 1
Sat us in the back with flies and fruit bugs. While there was more open seats. Not returning back
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S
Sommer
VIP
New York City
3 reviews
5.0
3 reviews
Dined on February 8, 2025
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
Delicious! Great service! Would come back again. The seafood pasta was incredible.
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T
Tom
New York City
9 reviews
5.0
9 reviews
Dined on February 7, 2025
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
Great food, great service (Thank you Lisa) and great ambiance. Thank you.
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S
Sarah
VIP
San Francisco
59 reviews
5.0
59 reviews
Dined on February 6, 2025
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
Wonderful experience for our first time here. Food was delightful and great portions. Our server Roberta was kind and knowledgeable about the menu. The Gelato was Delicious!! Will definitely go back.
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A
Alice
Hawaii
2 reviews
5.0
2 reviews
Dined on February 5, 2025
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
The food was amazing - i got the carbonara - and the bread basket was very tasty. I recommend their regular menu over the restaurant week menu! Definitely want to go back!
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P
Pat
VIP
Tampa
2 reviews
5.0
2 reviews
Dined on February 4, 2025
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 4
Love Caffe L’Aquila Food is delicious,Service always helpful and pleasant and Gellotti the Best
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FAQs

Gran Caffe L'Aquila Philadelphia Italian Restaurant offers delivery in partnership with Postmates and Uber Eats. Gran Caffe L'Aquila Philadelphia Italian Restaurant also offers takeout which you can order by calling the restaurant at (215) 568-5600.

Gran Caffe L'Aquila Philadelphia Italian Restaurant is rated 4.8 stars by 2233 OpenTable diners.