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Little Water, Philadelphia, PA

Little Water

4.6
4.6
107 Reviews
$30 and under
Contemporary American

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2 people
19:00
Booked 40 times today
  • Good for special occasions
  • Great for creative cocktails
  • 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.
Private dining

Private dining

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Additional information

  • Dining style
    Casual Dining
  • Price
    $30 and under
  • Cuisines
    Contemporary American, American, Seafood
  • Hours of Operation
    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

Menu

View menu on restaurant's website

What 107 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
  • 4.7Service
  • 4.7Ambience
  • 4.2Value

Noise • Moderate

Diners' Choice Awards

  • Philadelphia

    Contemporary American

Review summary

AI-generated from verified diner reviews
Little Water, nestled in Rittenhouse Square, offers an enchanting dining experience with "exceptional service and beautifully deliciously creatively prepared dishes." The seafood-forward menu features standout dishes like the swordfish Milanese and Grand Plateau. While the ambience is chic and charming, some guests note it can be noisy. Perfect for seafood enthusiasts!

107 Reviews

  1. Chris

    Philadelphia

    2 reviews

    5.0

    2 reviews

    Dined today

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Our second time at Little Water and quickly becoming our favorite restaurant in the city. Upon walking in, the hostesses greeted us by name and our server knew of our food allergies from our last visit. From their non-alcoholic drink options to every flavor on the menu, each item we ordered was fantastic and just as good as we remembered from the first visit. The fried sea bass is definitely a star of the show and we have literally told no less than 3 dozen people about it lol. I’m not normally one to leave a long detailed review, but Little Water really delivers a phenomenal dining experience in every way — best food/drink and service/hospitality in recent memory no question!

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  2. Courtney

    Philadelphia

    7 reviews

    4.0

    7 reviews

    Dined today

    1. Overall 4
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 4
    Service was excellent and food was good. The noise level was a little distracting

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  3. Danielle

    VIP

    Philadelphia

    12 reviews

    5.0

    12 reviews

    Dined 1 day ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    This was the best service I've ever experienced. I cannot say enough good about the staff at Little Water. The food was tremendous and the staff was really attentive, bringing out courses in a manner that didn't crowd the table and didn't rush us. The caviar service and the lobster toast are a must. I cannot wait to go back.

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  4. Nadine

    VIP

    West Palm Beach

    69 reviews

    5.0

    69 reviews

    Dined 1 day ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Extraordinary! The food fabulous. The wait staff super friendly. Our second visit to Littler Water and as good as the first experience was this time ever better. Little Water has their act together. Over the top…can’t wait to return!

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  5. Connie

    VIP

    Philadelphia

    90 reviews

    4.0

    90 reviews

    Dined 2 days ago

    1. Overall 4
    2. Food 4
    3. Service 4
    4. Ambience 4
    The oyster presentation was unique and delicious with creamy "Alabama'" topping. Loved the hash browns and crab topped with uni. 1/2 chicken sooo good. Only the Caesar- like salad was disappointing. Interesting mocktails too! Would definitely go back.

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  6. dwgroucho

    Philadelphia

    60 reviews

    5.0

    60 reviews

    Dined 2 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Absolutely fabulous all respects!! Will return often!

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  7. Joan

    VIP

    Philadelphia

    144 reviews

    5.0

    144 reviews

    Dined 4 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 4
    Wonderful birthday dinner! We sat at the bar, Josh, took excellent care of along with the female bartender. Our dinner was delicious, especially the swordfish tartar. Overall, everything was really good! Also, excellent wine recommendation from the Sommelier.

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  8. Ann

    New York City

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined 5 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    From start to finish, we felt like we were in expert, caring hands. Even the person who checked our coats had a warm smile. The space is gorgeous (thank you Amanda) and the food was well-conceived and inventive without being show-offy, beautiful and completely delicious. The bay scallops were like a breath of fresh air. Thanks to Chef and the whole staff.

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  9. Luis

    VIP

    Philadelphia

    2 reviews

    5.0

    2 reviews

    Dined 5 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Delicious food, friendly service, great atmosphere A terrific dining experience

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  10. George

    Greater Boston

    5 reviews

    4.0

    5 reviews

    Dined 5 days ago

    1. Overall 4
    2. Food 3
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    I unfortunately think this place suffered from being overhyped. The ambience and service were fantastic. However the food did not blow us away. While there were some highlights including the raw bay scallops, the hash brown, and the “Caesar like salad”, most was forgettable. For the price tag and portion sizes, we left a bit disappointed. Overall, good little spot. Not rushing back though.

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FAQs

Little Water is rated 4.6 stars by 107 OpenTable diners.

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

Make a booking

2 people
19:00
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
    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
    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.
  • Private party contact
    Maggie Cook: (215) 337-3343
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