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Little Water, Philadelphia, PA

Little Water

4.6
4.6
114 Reviews
$30 and under
Contemporary American

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2 people
7:00 PM
Booked 124 times today
  • Good for special occasions
  • Great for creative cocktails
  • Neighborhood gem
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
    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.
  • Private party contact
    Maggie Cook: (215) 337-3343
  • 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

Menu

View menu on restaurant's website

What 114 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

Loved For

  • Philadelphia

    Contemporary American

Review summary

AI-generated from verified diner reviews
Little Water offers a delightful dining experience with "phenomenal food" and "wonderful service." Known for its "fresh and delicious seafood," the restaurant features standout dishes like the swordfish Milanese and crab and uni hash browns. Guests appreciate the "friendly and inviting staff" and the "beautiful ambiance," making it a must-visit spot.

114 Reviews

  1. Maria

    VIP

    Philadelphia

    1 review

    3.0

    1 review

    Dined 1 day ago

    1. Overall 3
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 4
    4. Ambience 3
    Food was great as always however when we booked the reservation states parties of 3 will get 2 hours to dine. Upon check in we were told we’d have an hour, we didn’t finish in an hour so then they told us two more times that we’d have 15 more minutes (total still less than 1.5 hours) and had to be out of the restaurant. Made for a very awkward and slightly embarrassing work lunch.

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  2. mike

    VIP

    Philadelphia

    21 reviews

    5.0

    21 reviews

    Dined 2 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Amazing lunch, ambiance, and staff. Can't wait to come back.

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  3. jose

    VIP

    Philadelphia

    101 reviews

    5.0

    101 reviews

    Dined 4 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 4
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    It was bustling at 9:30 pm but felt cozy and charming given a fairly substantial space. Service at the bar was excellent..Txakoli rose paired well with all the dishes Oysters were well balanced with the white sauce(usually smothered on chicken -crab claws with chives were well paired - swordfish belly was succulent but could use a little punch ( shaved ginger or horseradish?) - seared mackerel was nice but maybe a little smoke or calamansi? - the crispy hashbrown with uni/crab- PERFECT! - toast with lobster was decadently tasty but the escargot got a little lost..a sprinkle of seasoned salt? Overall a unique and wonderful menu which we cannot wait to eat the rest of the dishes😋

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  4. blaise

    Charleston

    2 reviews

    5.0

    2 reviews

    Dined 4 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    The sword Milanese was so good! I highly recommend it

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  5. AmyM

    Philadelphia

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined 5 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Incredible food and even better service! We’ll be back!

    Is this helpful?

  6. Priscilla

    VIP

    Philadelphia

    33 reviews

    5.0

    33 reviews

    Dined 6 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Always wonderful experience. Food was off the chart good. Service was over the top.

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  7. Natalie

    VIP

    Philadelphia

    25 reviews

    5.0

    25 reviews

    Dined 7 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Loved the raw bar offerings — awesome scallop crudo, oysters, crab claws with outstanding sauces. Other cooked options were excellent too. Everything was great but next time I will double down on the raw bar and try some additional cooked options.

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  8. Chris

    Philadelphia

    2 reviews

    5.0

    2 reviews

    Dined 7 days ago

    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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  9. Courtney

    Philadelphia

    7 reviews

    4.0

    7 reviews

    Dined 7 days ago

    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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  10. Danielle

    VIP

    Philadelphia

    12 reviews

    5.0

    12 reviews

    Dined on January 8, 2025

    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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FAQs

Little Water is rated 4.6 stars by 114 OpenTable diners.

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

Make a reservation

2 people
7:00 PM
Booked 124 times today
Google Map for Little Water

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.
  • Private party contact
    Maggie Cook: (215) 337-3343
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