Little Water

4.6

129 Reviews

$30 and under

Contemporary American

Make a reservation

2 people

Jan 25, 2025

7:00 PM

Booked 55 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
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

What 129 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
4.8Service
4.6Ambience
4.2Value

Noise • Moderate

Loved For

Philadelphia
Contemporary American

Review summary

AI-generated from verified diner reviews

Little Water offers a delightful dining experience with "phenomenal food" and "wonderful service." Known for its "fresh and delicious seafood," the restaurant features standout dishes like the swordfish Milanese and crab and uni hash browns. Guests appreciate the "friendly and inviting staff" and the "beautiful ambiance," making it a must-visit spot.

129 Reviews

D
David
VIP
Salt Lake City
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined today
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
Absolutely one of the best dining experiences in a long time!
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C
Chera
VIP
New York City
4 reviews
5.0
4 reviews
Dined 1 day ago
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
Absolutely spectacular, every single time! Love this place!
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L
Lisa
Philadelphia
27 reviews
5.0
27 reviews
Dined 1 day ago
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
Food & service was exceptional. Highly recommend this place for lunch & dinner.
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B
Bonnie
VIP
Philadelphia
735 reviews
4.0
735 reviews
Dined 1 day ago
1. Overall 4
2. Food 4
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
Lunch time was not too loud. Service was very pleasant. Food was good, many choices. Large sunny windows.
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K
Kylie
Philadelphia
3 reviews
5.0
3 reviews
Dined 1 day ago
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
This was my first visit for lunch, and I was so excited to see some new items circulating! I love when a restaurant offers separation within the dining experience to really cater to the visit. We had the pork ribs and steak frites -- both were incredible. Definitely recommend a lunch visit!
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L
Laura
Philadelphia
2 reviews
5.0
2 reviews
Dined 2 days ago
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
The food was excellent (get anything with uni!). The service was impeccable. I mean, I started dinner with Acqua Panna. Towards the end we switched to tap. But they gave me a new glass for my tap water, so not to mix with my bottled water (which wouldn't have mattered to me). The attention to detail is amazing. Everything was exquisite.
Is this helpful?
D
Daniel
Philadelphia
3 reviews
5.0
3 reviews
Dined 4 days ago
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
Might be early in 2025 but this could be a top meal of the year. Every dish was perfection. From the tuna (def get the sourdough to eat with it), the lobster (one of the best bites I’ve had in the last year), and the swordfish. Can’t wait to go back and try the rest of the menu. I’ll be dreaming of the lobster toast for days to come - it was such a creative play on what reminded me of a lobster roll. The flavors and escargot just made it a dish to never forget.
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J
Jarred
Philadelphia
46 reviews
4.0
46 reviews
Dined 7 days ago
1. Overall 4
2. Food 4
3. Service 4
4. Ambience 3
We had reservation, which helps—it’s very busy, for good reason. Food and service are very good! Our table was in a corner near the raw bar—not an ideal location, but I guess those are the breaks. Service was attentive without being intrusive. Food was as good/better than advertised. Key lime tart crust was over baked, but considering how full we were, we probably should have skipped dessert. All in all, we’ll be back, for a window seat, and more hash browns, in the near future!!
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s
stephanie
Philadelphia
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined 7 days ago
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
The food was incredible. Get the swordfish Milanese. You won’t be disappointed. The service was impeccable.
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D
Dave
Philadelphia
7 reviews
5.0
7 reviews
Dined 7 days ago
1. Overall 5
2. Food 4
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
The lobster toast was amazing! Would go back just to have that
Is this helpful?

FAQs

Little Water is rated 4.6 stars by 129 OpenTable diners.

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

Make a reservation

2 people

Jan 25, 2025

7:00 PM

Booked 55 times today

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

Little Water

Make a reservation

Private dining

Additional information

Menu

What 129 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