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Little Water, Philadelphia, PA

Little Water

4.7
4.7
188 Reviews
$30 and under
Contemporary American

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2 people
19:00
Booked 37 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.

Additional information

  • Location
    261 S 20th St, Philadelphia, PA 19103
  • Phone number
    (215) 337-3343
  • 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
  • Dress code
    Business Casual
  • Parking details
    None
  • Payment Options
    AMEX, Discover, Mastercard, Visa
  • Executive Chef
    Chef Randy Rucker

Private dining

Menu

View menu on restaurant's website

What 188 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.

188 Reviews

  1. david

    Atlantic City210 reviews

    5.0

    Dined 1 day 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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  2. Kelly VIP

    Philadelphia5 reviews

    5.0

    Dined 2 days ago

    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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  3. OpenTable Diner

    Philadelphia1 review

    5.0

    Dined 2 days ago

    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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  4. David

    Unspecified1 review

    5.0

    Dined 4 days ago

    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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  5. Devin VIP

    Philadelphia6 reviews

    4.0

    Dined 5 days ago

    1. Overall 4
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 4
    4. Ambience 4
    Seafood platter a must! Milanese was good but a glorified fish stick. Salad and bread was good, tuna portion was large but somewhat bland.

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  6. Vincent VIP

    Philadelphia14 reviews

    4.0

    Dined 5 days ago

    1. Overall 4
    2. Food 4
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 4
    Food was very good. Interesting preparations. Just way too loud.

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  7. Gerald

    Philadelphia400 reviews

    5.0

    Dined 5 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    A nice lunch at Little Water - the gumbo and the Maple Cremeux were amazing.

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  8. Frankie VIP

    Philadelphia16 reviews

    5.0

    Dined 7 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    From the moment we walked in the experience was sensational. Host was welcoming and lovely, the server (Rodney) was friendly, smart, knowledgeable about the menu and the cocktail list! The shrimp cocktail was a revelation!

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  9. George

    Philadelphia17 reviews

    3.0

    Dined on 7 March 2025

    1. Overall 3
    2. Food 3
    3. Service 4
    4. Ambience 5
    Little Water is a vibrant addition to Rittenhouse but was also somewhat disappointing. The small plates were all excellent. The larger plates really missed the mark. The dessert options were also very limited. Our server was excellent. We did not notice the time limits shown on our reservation. As a party of 3 we were there for roughly over 2 hours and in the end were rushed to finish our desert. We ordered everything upfront so it is somewhat also incumbent on the establishment to keep track and pace our dining experience accordingly. I would not rush back though I would try again but stick with the smaller plates.

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  10. Jocar VIP

    Philadelphia30 reviews

    5.0

    Dined on 7 March 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 4
    Was excited to try this new restaurant - worth the hype. The food was amazing! We had appetizers, salad, entrees and dessert - all of it was incredibly tasty! Honestly, some of the best food I’ve had at a restaurant in a long time. Our server was excellent, attentive and super nice. Highly recommend Little Water!!!

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FAQs

Little Water is rated 4.7 stars by 188 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 37 times today
Google Map for Little Water

261 S 20th St, Philadelphia, PA 19103

Additional information

  • Phone number
    (215) 337-3343
  • 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
  • Dress code
    Business Casual
  • Parking details
    None
  • Payment Options
    AMEX, Discover, Mastercard, Visa
  • Executive Chef
    Chef Randy Rucker
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