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Little Water, Philadelphia, PA

Little Water

4.7
4.7
195 Reviews
$30 and under
Contemporary American

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2 people
MonTueWedThuFriSatSun
19:00
Booked 40 times today

About this restaurant

  • Good for special occasions
  • Neighbourhood gem
  • Hot spot
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.

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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 11:00–14:00 Dinner Tue–Sat 17:00–22:00
  • 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.

Menu

View menu on restaurant's website

What 195 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

Review summary

AI-generated from verified diner reviews
Little Water in Philadelphia shines with "fantastic food and service." Known for its "incredible vibe," the seafood offerings like swordfish Milanese and lobster toast are "amazing." The restaurant's atmosphere is lively yet cozy, with attentive staff. While some find it pricey, the "unique and delicious" dishes make it a must-visit.
195 Reviews

  1. OpenTable Diner

    Philadelphia3 reviews

    2.0

    Dined 1 day ago

    1. Overall 2
    2. Food 3
    3. Service 2
    4. Ambience 3
    Table for 2 with a 5 PM reservation. We ordered cocktails, wine, appetizers, main courses, and dessert. Despite this, we were rushed through the entire meal—by the server, the host, and even the manager. They tried to clear our plates while food was still on them and brought our coats without us asking, while we were still eating dessert. After several passive-aggressive attempts to get us to leave, they eventually came right out and told us that someone was waiting for the table and we needed to leave. I understand the need to turn over tables for the next reservation, but I don’t appreciate the way it was handled. We shared this feedback with the manager, who apologized but mentioned that we overstayed our reservation and that a timeline is noted on OpenTable. However, this was not communicated clearly, and the entire experience left us feeling unwelcome. We will not be going back.

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  2. David VIP

    New York City4 reviews

    5.0

    Dined 1 day ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    My second time to Little Water. The food is inventive and beautifully sourced, complemented by a minimalist decor and a nicely curated wine list. The bread and butter plate is exceptionally good, so don’t skip this course.

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  3. michel VIP

    Philadelphia31 reviews

    4.0

    Dined 2 days ago

    1. Overall 4
    2. Food 4
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Nice dinner but some misses. Swordfish was too heavily breaded and black bass dry/overcooked. Two deserts fairly bland. Restaurant busy and noisy

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  4. Michael VIP

    Philadelphia46 reviews

    4.0

    Dined 4 days ago

    1. Overall 4
    2. Food 3
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Loved the place and the service. The food wasn't to my taste. Will try again but order different dishes.

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  5. Christina

    Philadelphia10 reviews

    5.0

    Dined 7 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Food is delicious!! Didn’t have a single bad bite all night

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  6. david

    Atlantic City210 reviews

    5.0

    Dined 7 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    This was our third experience at the restaurant and we’ll be back again & again. The chef’s creative take on both seafood & non-seafood dishes is impressive! We had the shrimp, raw tuna and the gumbo. They were all dream about. The service was also professional. The last time we were here I had the fried oyster blt. It was amazing!

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  7. Regina VIP

    Philadelphia120 reviews

    5.0

    Dined 7 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Absolutely amazing experience from start to finish. Athena was a delightful greeter at the door and gave us a great seat at the raw bar. You must must get the Grand Plateau and Caviar w. hushpuppies but don't sleep on the mackerel either. Caesar was one of the best I've ever had and I get one wherever I go. White Negroni was A++++. Payton and Colin- best service ever! Can't wait to go back. 100/10

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  8. Kelly VIP

    Philadelphia6 reviews

    5.0

    Dined on 14 March 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    I had an amazing experience at Little Water! We were celebrating my husband and friend’s birthday and the each got a signed card from the restaurant as well as a candle in their dessert. All of our dishes were delicious. We will be back!

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  9. OpenTable Diner

    Philadelphia1 review

    5.0

    Dined on 14 March 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Colin M was great! Very attentive and friendly. Entire experience was phenomenal.

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  10. David

    Unspecified2 reviews

    5.0

    Dined on 12 March 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Little Water is Largely Special! Great experience. Our server, Dan, is the ultimate professional. Cocktails were awesome. Wine list surprisingly moderately priced. Deserts are over the moon.

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FAQs

Little Water is rated 4.7 stars by 195 OpenTable diners.

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

Make a booking

Booked 40 times today
Google Map for Little Water

261 S 20th St, Philadelphia, PA 19103

Additional information

  • Cross Street
    20th street and Manning street
  • Area
    Center City
  • Hours of Operation
    Lunch Tue–Sun 11:00–14:00 Dinner Tue–Sat 17:00–22:00
  • 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
    Gluten-free Options
  • 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.
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