VetriINCOMPARABLELike having your own private chef and waitstaff for the night. Be willing to experiment - things you think you don't like, because you've once tasted them elsewhere and didn't like, reach a new level at Vetri (this happened to us with goat). An obviously super talented chef and low key but professional and super competent wait staff that for an evening care only about you and delivering maximum enjoyment. Nothing that we have experienced elsewhere reaches this level.5/13/2013 12:00:00 AMVetri sets the barThere is good reason you need to reserve months in advance. The service here is unmatched anywhere in the city (I am not aware of another restaurant in Philadelphia that offers a complimentary limo service after dinner). The food is outstanding; it is creative and perfectly executed. Not cheap but it is hard to beat for a special occasion. We will definitely be back.5/11/2013 12:00:00 AMService & food outstanding,Service & food outstanding, but extremely over-priced especially in today's economy.5/8/2013 12:00:00 AMSecond visit-better than the firstVisited Vetri Sat night - party of 4. Had late seating. Waited 1/2 hour to be seated. Not a big deal - nowhere really to wait - but nice touch that they give you a complimentary sparkling wine. Also complimentary white for our amuse bouche for our troubles. The service is unobtrusive but they are always there when you need something. The spinach gnocchi were amazing, and the ramps and pea first course most memorable. Loved the stuffed hen - I was stuffed by the end - it sneaks up on you - small plates, but it adds up with 6 courses. Nice wine list, able to find a bottle of red and white that didn't break the bank. Excellent biscotti to take home for having with your coffee in the morning while you remember what a wonderful meal you had.5/4/2013 12:00:00 AMAn excuse to splurgeTook my parents to this gem and after the first bight, their concern about the price evaporated. If food can do that, it's worth every penny. All flavors exceeded expectations. Go now or miss out!5/3/2013 12:00:00 AMFine Dining ExperienceCreative menu and excellent service. Wait staff very helpful and accommodating in selecting menu options.4/29/2013 12:00:00 AMI surprised my girlfriendI surprised my girlfriend with a visit here after I asked her to marry me. From start to finish I was completely floored. The food, the service, and the fact that Marc vetri himself was seen in the dining room many times. It was an incredible way to celebrate our engagement. It is very expensive, so it should be visited for special occasions, but it is a must experience for anyone that loves dining out. I hope my fiancé and I can return a few years down the line!4/26/2013 12:00:00 AMDelicious meal, excellentDelicious meal, excellent service (they made you feel welcome and helped guide you through the menu). The onion tart was amazing (I was skeptical at first, but decided to let the chef call the shots), and the farro crema that came with sweetbreads was phenomenal. The almond tortelli with truffle sauce was as good as Honey Bunches of Oats with Almonds.4/25/2013 12:00:00 AMExcellent Food and service.Excellent Food and service. A real experience for our anniversary.4/23/2013 12:00:00 AMTasting menu with surprises.Tasting menu with surprises.
All good surprises mind you, from the first amuse bouche to dessert we enjoyed every bite.
Highlights included the "Pastrami Foie Gras", the Spinach Gnocchi, the stuffed guinea fowl, Veal Chittara, and many more.
Another great thing about the menu, you can ask for specific dishes to be part of the dinner. There were also lots of surprises along the way.
Overall a delicious dinner.4/19/2013 12:00:00 AMIncredible Food ExperienceSuch an incredible unique experience. Every course of the tasting menu was amazing.4/18/2013 12:00:00 AMwe had a lovely evening. itwe had a lovely evening. it is a very small place so you are a bit on top of the next table...yes , you can hear their conversation and not even feel like you are eavesdropping! The excellent and innovative food and lovely service outweigh the crowded tables. It is expensive though and so is probably a special occasion place. we were pleased that when they called to reconfirm they mentioned the price again...that is very honorable and helps people who might not know.4/17/2013 12:00:00 AMVetri was a fantastic diningVetri was a fantastic dining experience. The food was excellent and the service perfect---our servers were attentive and accommodating without being intrusive. I loved the concept of being surprised with each course since the dish they bring you with each course is the kitchen's decision. The worked very well since I was there with 2 other people so we were able to try several different dishes. Portions were not large, but this is part of the magic of Vetri---if there had been too much food, you could not appreciate it as much. There is no overkill here---all the dishes were subtle and complex, with my favorite being the spinach gnocchi in brown butter. To die for!4/17/2013 12:00:00 AMexpensive and worth itwonderful food and it just keeps coming. expect to pay $100 for a bottle of very good wine. by the glass around $25. a very, very nice wait staff. you will not lack for service. the cost for my wife and i, including wine and tip: about $600. needless to say it is a place for a very special occasion.4/15/2013 12:00:00 AMGreat service!Vetri was very good. The top feature of the restaurant to me was the painstakingly but friendly and amiable explanations of what we were to eat and drink. The wine pairings were interesting, appropriate, and diversified (odd that some diverted to the Loire Valley from Italy?). I felt the food was tasty and well presented---the asparagus flan in particular stood out, as did the squid---but I have been spoiled by The French Laundry, Chez Panisse, Per Se, and the now defunct Cyrus, where I found the individual tastings to be more clearly defined and distinctive. That Vetri brings such places to mind places it in very good company. Given that contrast, our evening was delightful!4/13/2013 12:00:00 AMIs it worth it?It was the best meal! It was incredibly expensive! We got everything including the select wine pairing and it made for a per person cost close to the cost of leasing a Bentley for a month. WOW! that was an expensive meal. The place absolutely delivers food of the highest quality with impeccable service. With our party of four, they created a mixed tasting menu that allowed us to share and thus double the number of things we got to taste. Everything was delicious! The complimentary prosecco as a starter was very nice. A definite "bucket list" place for the true foodie.4/11/2013 12:00:00 AMFantastic Food, But Way Too Much!This is truly and outstanding restaurant. BUT, and this must be said, the new tasting menu consists of way, way too much food. I know that there is a desire to provide "value" for the $155 per person tab, but the value is found in the quality of the food. The courses could be kept the same. but the amount of food per dish could be reduced. We've eaten at the French Laundry and others of the best restaurants of the world that are prix fix and more than 6-7 courses and have never felt so overly stuffed. At Vetri, we felt less like we were at a dinner than at a food orgie. I know that our view likely runs counter to most others who want more food for the money, but we will never return.4/6/2013 12:00:00 AMPerfect for a special occasionWonderful dinner, great experience, and perfect for a special occasion. We selected the "Wine Pairing" @ $90 pp and thoroughly enjoyed the unusual Italian wines but felt that a "half pairing", also available, would have been a better choice. We enjoyed each of the highly varied courses, but by the end of the evening we found it to be too much food. Incredible pistachio flan! Highly recommended.4/3/2013 12:00:00 AMMy husband and I had dinnerMy husband and I had dinner at Vetri for his birthday and were lucky to have been served the chef's tasting menu. We opted for the less expensive wine pairing choice (they offer two options). Let me just say that this was one of the best meals I have ever had. We've been to many wonderful restaurants and this is now at the top of my list. More than just dining out, it was an experience. Each delicious course was paired perfectly with fine Italian wine that enhanced the already insanely gorgeous food. The service was elegant, but not stuffy in the least. The ambiance was rustic, like the food, dimly lit, comfortable and chic. Very beautiful dining experience that comes highly recommended to anyone who appreciates fine food and wine. Go!!4/2/2013 12:00:00 AMA little $$$ but great experience..The overall experience was outstanding! The service was top notch - from the time you walked in until the time you walked out the door. The food was very good but the portions for the tasting were small. Our server Bill was very nice and knew everything about the wine and foods. We did the wine and food tasting and with tip our bill was $760.00 but like I said it was an outstanding experience!!4/1/2013 12:00:00 AMVetri is worth the $What an incredible meal! The $155 prix fixe includes a variety of food from a large and varied menu. The service is friendly and helpful. We told the waiter what we didn't want from the menu, and the courses kept arriving - sometimes two and sometimes three for the two of us. Topped of the meal with a cheese plate for me and chocolate polenta souffle for my husband. Wow. The wine pairings were interesting, but we went with a bottle of Chardonnay. BTW, we reserved on Wednesday for the following Monday, so you can get a reservation. Just not at 7:00 on Saturday.4/1/2013 12:00:00 AMVery creative, enjoyable meal.Very creative, enjoyable meal. Attentive service. Wish that we could have been served more variety as duplicates were served for each course to our party of four. Suggest smaller portions and therefore more courses so that more of the menu could be experienced. One of the dishes we requested was not served to us at all.3/30/2013 12:00:00 AMFood and service were excellent.Food and service were excellent. We had too much to eat, but it was a wonderful experience.3/30/2013 12:00:00 AMAnother perfect meal at Vetri!Another perfect meal at Vetri! Cannot beat the food and service. I can't wait to return!3/29/2013 12:00:00 AMVetri is a place for veryVetri is a place for very special occasions due to the high cost. Although the food was good (especially the desserts), there wasn't one or more dishes that would put it on my "must go back" list.3/26/2013 12:00:00 AMMy wife and I had prior knowledgeMy wife and I had prior knowledge of the reputation Vetri has. We were not disappointed. Beginning with the complimentary glass of Porseca, the entire experience was memorable. Our waitress was extremely knowledgeable of the various wines that were matched with the extroadinarily prepared foods. Each course, chef's decision, was remarkable. The presentation was exquisite. The food was absolutely delicious. Kudos to the entire staff.3/26/2013 12:00:00 AMI have been to many restaurants,I have been to many restaurants, and this is one of the finest experiences I have ever had.3/25/2013 12:00:00 AMFantastic food; wish I couldFantastic food; wish I could afford to go there more often!3/23/2013 12:00:00 AMExpensive but a truly memorableExpensive but a truly memorable meal. We went to celebrate wife's birthday and will talk about it for years.3/23/2013 12:00:00 AMEasily the best dinner I'veEasily the best dinner I've ever had, with complex food that was positively delicious. There were many courses too, I'd estimate 13 or so of them, with 2-3 dishes per course. The staff was very friendly and helpful. Overall, it was an amazing dining experience.3/21/2013 12:00:00 AMWe entered Vetri with highWe entered Vetri with high expectations and they were met and exceeded. Our server, Paul, was both personable and highly professional. One member of our dining party had some dietary limitations that were accommodated while still providing a remarkable dinner. You really need to do the optional wine pairings - and this is from a guy who normally doesn't drink wine. Each selected wine pairing was a perfect mate to its course. The evening put some hurtin' on my credit card, but I knew this up front and the dining journey provided by Vetri was well worth the toll paid.3/21/2013 12:00:00 AMWe enjoyed the experienceWe enjoyed the experience of the Tasting Menu and the recommended wine pairings. All the courses were delicious and the wine was excellent.3/20/2013 12:00:00 AMWhile everything was incredible,While everything was incredible, well paired and well presented I wasn't blown away. I expected more considering the reputation and the expense.3/20/2013 12:00:00 AMVentri was wonderful!Vetri lived up to all of our expectations! The food was excuisite, the service was wonderful! Cannot wait to go back!3/16/2013 12:00:00 AMThis is a great restaurantThis is a great restaurant for a once in a lifetime visit. Although I did not appreciate the food as much as the people I was with, I am happy we were able to take them there to celebrate our birthdays. The price is steep, so be prepared!3/15/2013 12:00:00 AMSecond time I have been toSecond time I have been to Vetri, another spectacular dining experience. The wait staff is knowledgable, attentive and helpful without being obtrusive. The food was top notch and the wine pairings were excellent. The tasting menu is such a memorable experience, with a variety of food and wine that tantalizes the palate and refreshes the soul. Our waiter, Bill, was able to articulate why the wine was paired with the food, had a great knowledge of the wine and the food, and was just delightful. My dining companion and I shared each of the courses that we had, so we were able to taste most of the menu and the wines, and this was a blast. I would not hesitate to return their again. From the standpoint of food and service, it is hard to surpass.3/13/2013 12:00:00 AMBravo Chef Adam of Vetri!!!This was one of the most memorable dining experiences in my life. My husband and I did the tasting menu, and every single course, (from multiple appetizers to multiple desserts) was a luscious layering of tastes, and a combination of unexpected ingredients. We were only asked if there were items we would like to avoid and after that, we were delightfully surprised with dish after dish of the brilliant Chef Adam's creations. The dining area is dimly, but sufficiently lit, and the atmosphere is one of uncluttered serenity, so the taste of the food becomes the only distraction for the senses. And the sommelier offered us excellent wine after just asking us what type of wine we like. Now I have a great reason to return to Philadelphia!3/11/2013 12:00:00 AMThis is simply a fantasticThis is simply a fantastic place - but one has to wonder in this day/age if any meal is worth this price. I love it - but I always feel guilty afterwards.3/9/2013 12:00:00 AMall those interesting choicesall those interesting choices on the prix fixe menu...but they are not choices, actually. So we got the hum drum stuff, not sure how they choose who gets what, but it would have been a MUCH better experience if it was more interactive. Mark Vetri is talented..but he is not Thomas Keller, and it's uncomfortable that we should be so enamored that we relinquish the opportunity to have some meaningful input. Plus, I don't care if its w. polenta...who serves molten choc cake w. vanilla bean IC in 2013? YAWN.3/7/2013 12:00:00 AMThis was our first time backThis was our first time back after a few years, & we got some surprises. First & last, Vetri's still one of the most wonderful dining experiences in the world. But it's not so obviously Italian now, with food closer to Charlie Trotter's than Il Convivio di Troianai or Baby. My wife & our companions asked for pescatorian, but I ate all comers. Everything was stellar! We had so many dishes among us that I can't even remember most. The wine list is great, & (another surprise) the sommelier's recommendations were less expensive & probably better than those I asked about. The staff is simply world class.
Despite the volume consumed, we felt perfectly and comfortably full going home and even better the next morning. It gets no better!3/2/2013 12:00:00 AMWe went for our wedding anniversaryWe went for our wedding anniversary on 3/18/13. It was simply outstanding. Very special place. We will look forward to going there again and again.1/1/0001 4:00:00 PM