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Little Water, Philadelphia, PA

Little Water

4.7
4.7
153 Reviews
$30 and under
Contemporary American

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2 people
7:00 PM
Booked 34 times today
  • Good for special occasions
  • Neighborhood 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
  • 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

Menu

View menu on restaurant's website

What 153 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 delights with its "incredible food" and "impeccable service," offering standout dishes like the swordfish Milanese and lobster toast. Guests praise the "attentive staff" and "beautiful ambiance," making it a "must-visit" spot. While some note the noise level, the overall dining experience is "exceptional" and highly recommended.

153 Reviews

  1. Sonia

    Philadelphia

    4 reviews

    5.0

    4 reviews

    Dined today

    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.

    Is this helpful?

  2. Chelsea Anne

    VIP

    San Francisco

    2 reviews

    5.0

    2 reviews

    Dined 1 day ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    The team is incredible and the dishes even more so - well done LW team! xx

    Is this helpful?

  3. Kelsey

    Philadelphia

    6 reviews

    5.0

    6 reviews

    Dined 2 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Wow, I’ve never had a dining experience quite like it!!! Staff and service went above and beyond. It was Valentine’s Day, and the staff signed a card for us! The food was so fresh and flavorful. The flavor of that Caesar salad… I’ll be raving about it forever.

    Is this helpful?

  4. jacques

    VIP

    Philadelphia

    110 reviews

    3.0

    110 reviews

    Dined 2 days ago

    1. Overall 3
    2. Food 3
    3. Service 3
    4. Ambience 5
    We perhaps expected too much. The red fish was good and quite small for the price and the potatoes salad was hard. I was wondering why they put the music so loud. What's the point? Maybe ....

    Is this helpful?

  5. Bret

    Philadelphia

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined 2 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    We loved da food and that Carolyn just made our experience so SPECIAL!!!!

    Is this helpful?

  6. Dan

    VIP

    Philadelphia

    7 reviews

    5.0

    7 reviews

    Dined 2 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Little Water is one of the top restaurants in Philadelphia. Excellent seafood. Original recipes. Great atmosphere. Only exception was desert, which was better than most places, but could be improved on.

    Is this helpful?

  7. Alexandra

    Dublin

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined 3 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Staff was amazing, went for my husbands birthday and he was greeted with a custom birthday card signed by the whole staff!

    Is this helpful?

  8. Lenzy

    Philadelphia

    2 reviews

    5.0

    2 reviews

    Dined 7 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Great food in a quaint and quiet location. I loved the fish and the drinks hit just enough!

    Is this helpful?

  9. StephanieS

    Philadelphia

    6 reviews

    5.0

    6 reviews

    Dined on February 8, 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    We’ve been twice already and absolutely love it! The service is superb and food is unique and delicious! Happy to welcome Little Water to the neighborhood!

    Is this helpful?

  10. Yoolim

    VIP

    New York City

    3 reviews

    4.0

    3 reviews

    Dined on February 8, 2025

    1. Overall 4
    2. Food 4
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 3
    I wasn’t a huge fan of how saucy everything was - I really didn’t think the oysters needed the cream sauce or that the sweet shrimp needed the hoisin sauce. Swordfish milanese was the best I’ve had however!

    Is this helpful?

FAQs

Little Water is rated 4.7 stars by 153 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 PM
Booked 34 times today
Google Map for Little Water

261 S 20th St, Philadelphia, PA 19103

Additional information

  • Cross street
    20th street and Manning street
  • Neighborhood
    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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