Little Water

4.6

80 Reviews

$30 and under

Contemporary American

Make a reservation

2 people

Dec 21, 2024

7:00 PM

Booked 23 times today

Good for special occasions
Great for creative cocktails
Neighborhood 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

Book your next event with us

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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
Neighborhood
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

What 80 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.

80 Reviews

J
Jason
New York City
2 reviews
2.0
2 reviews
Dined 1 day ago
1. Overall 2
2. Food 3
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 2
Noise level was loud, had trouble hearing my party across the table. Ordered 5 dishes, three of them were very flavorful - Lobster, Caesar Salad, Key Lime Tart.
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S
Sara
Philadelphia
1 review
4.0
1 review
Dined 2 days ago
1. Overall 4
2. Food 4
3. Service 4
4. Ambience 4
Mostly good- chicken was really overcooked we were disappointed since we were really sold on it by the staff. Would try something else next time
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T
Tim
New Orleans
1 review
3.0
1 review
Dined 2 days ago
1. Overall 3
2. Food 3
3. Service 3
4. Ambience 4
Food was good, not great. Somewhat unbalanced dishes with a spice or two missing. Asked for salt on one dish. In an already exciting and growing food city like Philadelphia, this is unfortunately a spot that we will probably not return to.
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S
Sherry
VIP
Philadelphia
35 reviews
3.0
35 reviews
Dined 3 days ago
1. Overall 3
2. Food 3
3. Service 2
4. Ambience 3
Was very excited to try Little Water because I love River Twice. While there food was good, it does not compare to River Twice (which is ten times better). the crab toast was good but needed salt, the caesar salad was good, the crab claws were excellent but tiny and the lobster toast was very bland. Not running back
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C
Cris
VIP
New York City
13 reviews
3.0
13 reviews
Dined 3 days ago
1. Overall 3
2. Food 2
3. Service 3
4. Ambience 3
It’s a lovely space. The food is just very mediocre. Nothing was seasoned. Very bland. And servers kept pushing the menu supplements. It’s tacky. You don’t need to put caviar on everything
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C
Claire
VIP
Philadelphia
4 reviews
5.0
4 reviews
Dined 7 days ago
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 4
The food was fantastic and we really liked our server - he was very attentive, knew the menu well, and was able to suggest several dishes to try. Overall, we had a very good experience and will be back! Parking was pretty difficult but perhaps worse than normal because it is close to Christmas.
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s
stacey
VIP
New York City
11 reviews
4.0
11 reviews
Dined 7 days ago
1. Overall 4
2. Food 4
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 3
This restaurant had amazing service, everyone worked efficiently . Food was good.
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E
Eric
VIP
Houston
3 reviews
5.0
3 reviews
Dined on December 13, 2024
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 4
The food and service is amazing. This restaurant is a neighborhood gem. I am certain it will quickly become a hard reservation to get. The wait staff is attentive without being smothering. They are there when you need them, and they give you space when you don’t. The fried sea bass was great and their shrimp cocktail is to die for. Ask for their hot sauce.
1 person found this helpful
B
Brienne
Washington DC
2 reviews
5.0
2 reviews
Dined on December 12, 2024
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
Dinner at @littlewaterphl last night was excellent. Not only was the food great, but the staff is top notch! They learned we were there to celebrate a birthday and shortly after a birthday card appeared, signed by the whole brigade.
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C
Corey
VIP
Philadelphia
3 reviews
3.0
3 reviews
Dined on December 12, 2024
1. Overall 3
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 2
Great food and service but the space is super packed and was actually the loudest uncomfortable dining experience I've had in a while. The ceiling, floor, and walls are all hard surfaces so it's basically an echo chamber in there. Bring earplugs if you go.
1 person found this helpful

FAQs

Little Water is rated 4.6 stars by 80 OpenTable diners.

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

Make a reservation

2 people

Dec 21, 2024

7:00 PM

Booked 23 times today

261 S 20th St, Philadelphia, PA 19103

Additional information

Cross street
20th street and Manning street
Neighborhood
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

Little Water

Make a reservation

Private dining

Additional information

Menu

What 80 people are saying

Overall ratings and reviews

Loved For

Review summary

FAQs

How is Little Water restaurant rated?

Is Little Water currently accepting reservations?

Make a reservation

Additional information