Little Water

Name: Little Water
Address: 261 S 20th St, Philadelphia, PA, United States, 19103
Telephone: (215) 337-3343
Price range: $30 and under
Rating: 4.7

Visa Dining Collection

4.7 (299)

$30 and under

Contemporary American

261 S 20th St, Philadelphia, PA 19103

Make a reservation

2 people

Jul 24, 2025

10:30 PM

Booked 35 times today

About this restaurant

Neighborhood gem
Good for special occasions
Charming

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.

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.

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 299 people are saying

Little Water reviews from people who’ve dined at this restaurant. Based on recent rating.

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

4.7Food
4.8Service
4.7Ambience
4.2Value

Noise • Moderate

Loved For

Philadelphia
Contemporary American

Review summary

AI-generated from verified diner reviews

Little Water in Philadelphia offers a delightful culinary experience with "phenomenal food" and "excellent service." The seafood-focused menu is praised for its creativity and fresh ingredients. Guests love the "amazing atmosphere" and commend the friendly, attentive staff. Highlights include the "Grand Plateau," unique cocktails, and a "cozy but lively" vibe.

299 Reviews

J
James
Philadelphia County16 reviews
4.0
Dined 2 days ago
1. Overall 4
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
Swordfish Milanese was nice surprise. Juicy under a crisp coating. Caesar-Like salad was rich and flavorful. Attentive servers and lovely light filled space. A little pricey but overall a nice experience.
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a
angela VIP
Atlanta9 reviews
5.0
Dined 3 days ago
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 4
Went with a friend for a last-minute reservation after another restaurant didn’t work out. They got us in despite being quite busy, and the service couldn’t have been better. Food was amazing - fresh and sizable enough portions to be filling even for traditional seafood. The heirloom tomato salad was amazing and the small plate sampler was perfect sizing with shrimp, scallops, crab legs and oysters.. Will def go back, and glad to have found such a great new spot!
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K
Krystle
New York City1 review
5.0
Dined 6 days ago
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
Amazing experience! The food was delicious and the service was excellent. Went there for my wife's birthday. It was perfect from start to finish. Highly recommended!
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N
Nathaniel
Philadelphia County1 review
5.0
Dined 6 days ago
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
A wonderful experience! The food was delicious, although small portions but was shareable. The Wait staff was amazing and attentive. Definitely would visit again.
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E
Evgeny
New York City1 review
3.0
Dined 7 days ago
1. Overall 3
2. Food 3
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
I think Little Water has potential. Really nice staff and nice ambiance. The thing is it is trying to be a little too fancy for its own good and comes off as cheap. We are talking big cube ice in the cocktail that takes up 3/4th of a space in the glass, very small and expensive portions. Everything almost meant to be as a taste of what they have to offer. Which is very good. The food was amazing, the cocktail even better. Just wish I didn’t leave the restaurant still hungry after spending 150$
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P
Priscilla VIP
Philadelphia County35 reviews
5.0
Dined on July 12, 2025
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
Food and drinks were over the top tasty. Staff is extremely professional. A true gem in Philadelphia ❤️
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A
Avery VIP
Philadelphia County3 reviews
4.0
Dined on July 11, 2025
1. Overall 4
2. Food 5
3. Service 2
4. Ambience 5
Amanda is a legend. The food was phenomenal. Service was a little wonky but I’m sure that’s due to the newness of the restaurant.
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G
Gerald VIP
Philadelphia County425 reviews
5.0
Dined on July 8, 2025
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
We had a good time and the service was great. We always enjoy the shrimp cocktail, this time the ratio of horseradish to smoked catsup was a little high. The horseradish can be a little overpowering.
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s
steve
Philadelphia County2 reviews
5.0
Dined on July 5, 2025
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
Athena our waitress was simply the best , her welcoming smile her enthusiasm truly made our dinner special, we would gladly return just to have her as our server,I know that the restaurant knows what a terrific asset she is to their restaurant
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M
Mac
Greater Boston2 reviews
5.0
Dined on July 5, 2025
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
A perfect meal at a perfect spot. Excellent food, fantastic service. A wonderful experience.
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FAQs

Little Water is rated 4.7 stars by 299 OpenTable diners.

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

Make a reservation

2 people

Jul 24, 2025

10:30 PM

Booked 35 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.

Little Water

Make a reservation

About this restaurant

Additional information

Menu

What 299 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