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 (291)

$30 and under

Contemporary American

261 S 20th St, Philadelphia, PA 19103

Make a reservation

2 people

Jul 9, 2025

7:00 PM

Booked 39 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 291 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
4.3Value

Noise • Moderate

Loved For

Philadelphia
Contemporary American

Review summary

AI-generated from verified diner reviews

Little Water is celebrated for its exceptional seafood with "easily my new favorite restaurant" as one enthusiastic diner proclaimed. Guests praise the "amazing food" and "attentive service," despite occasional comments about noise levels. The creatively prepared dishes and vibrant atmosphere make it a top choice for seafood aficionados.

291 Reviews

s
steve
Philadelphia County2 reviews
5.0
Dined 4 days ago
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 Boston1 review
5.0
Dined 4 days ago
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.
Is this helpful?
A
Amira VIP
Philadelphia County22 reviews
5.0
Dined on July 1, 2025
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
easily my new favorite restaurant. I was amazed at the chefs ability to mix different flavor profiles and textures. 10/10 across the board! Incredible flavors, food was fresh - overall thought out and intentional combinations of flavors and textures that amazed me. Place is cute and quaint. cannot wait to go back
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D
David VIP
Philadelphia County6 reviews
5.0
Dined on July 1, 2025
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 4
4. Ambience 5
Food and drinks were excellent. Service started out nicely paced but then dragged. Also did not like our waiter, though the rest of the staff was great. For the prices charged, service should be close to perfect.
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M
Marissa VIP
Philadelphia County2 reviews
5.0
Dined on June 28, 2025
1. Overall 5
2. Food 4
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
Food was good. But our bartender, Josh, made the whole experience so much better. His cocktails were amazing. We will probably go back just because of that.
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N
Neil VIP
Coastal Georgia33 reviews
4.0
Dined on June 28, 2025
1. Overall 4
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
Good restaurant, excellent food. Unfortunately the portions are small or in the case of the trout dish, tiny. Do not go there hungry unless you want to spend a lot of money. I still would recommend it as an expensive experience.
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K
Kenneth VIP
Philadelphia County2 reviews
5.0
Dined on June 28, 2025
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
Great food and attentive not over the top service. A great experience
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OT
OpenTable Diner
Mexico City1 review
5.0
Dined on June 28, 2025
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
Beautiful restaurant with amazing food and service. My husband and I shared the shrimp cocktail, snow crab claws.gumbo and soft shell crab sandwich. Each was truly wonderful.
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k
ken VIP
Philadelphia County33 reviews
5.0
Dined on June 27, 2025
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
Excellent seafood, creatively prepared, and served by professionals. What a great restaurant!
Is this helpful?
P
Peter VIP
Dallas - Fort Worth2 reviews
5.0
Dined on June 26, 2025
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
What an amazing experience. Love the seafood focused menu and the unique take on each dish. Can’t wait to come back and try some more dishes!
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FAQs

Little Water is rated 4.7 stars by 291 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 9, 2025

7:00 PM

Booked 39 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 291 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