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Little Water, Philadelphia, PA

Little Water

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Visa Dining Collection

4.7
4.7
230 Reviews
$30 and under
Contemporary American
261 S 20th St, Philadelphia, PA 19103

Make a reservation

2 people
7:00 PM
Booked 56 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
  • 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.
  • 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 230 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

NoiseModerate

Loved For

  • Philadelphia

    Contemporary American

Review summary

AI-generated from verified diner reviews
Little Water offers "phenomenal food" with a standout seafood menu and creative dishes. Diners rave about the "delicious" Caesar salad, "outstanding" swordfish Milanese, and "exceptional" lobster toast. The ambiance is lively yet cozy, and the staff is attentive and "friendly." Despite occasional noise, it's a "must-visit" for seafood lovers.
230 Reviews
  1. Katerina

    San Francisco1 review

    5.0

    Dined 1 day ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    We love seafood and were pleasantly surprised by the originality of flavors. The food was unpretentious yet still sophisticated. Standouts were the raw tuna, the sourdough with anchovies, and the “Caesar” salad. Everything was delicious and fresh. The staff was exceptional, and the atmosphere was very comfortable.

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  2. Samantha VIP

    Philadelphia6 reviews

    5.0

    Dined 4 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Had a great first experience. The food was great and the staff really went out of their way to make our anniversary special. Still dreaming of that quail!

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  3. Eric

    Philadelphia6 reviews

    5.0

    Dined 4 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    The swordfish was my favorite last time but the halibut was the star of dinner. The trout tartare and the scallops were our favorite in the grand plateau. The salad was a hidden gem as well! Thank you!

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  4. OpenTable Diner

    Philadelphia6 reviews

    4.0

    Dined 5 days ago

    1. Overall 4
    2. Food 3
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    The halibut main I got was delicious. We also got the lobster toast and the crab potato appetizer and it was tasty but not OMG (which for the price should have been). The staff was friendly and it was overall good but just not as great as I thought it would be.

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  5. Joselyn

    Philadelphia4 reviews

    4.0

    Dined 6 days ago

    1. Overall 4
    2. Food 4
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Great service and fried sea bass was delicious! Would’ve liked to see a few more heavy sides to accompany the main dishes.

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  6. Jeffrey

    Philadelphia1 review

    5.0

    Dined 7 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Everything was fantastic - food, energy in the restaurant and service at the bar were all excellent.

    Is this helpful?

  7. Sara

    New York City3 reviews

    5.0

    Dined 7 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    For lunch, we split the soft shell crab sandwich, fried oyster BLT and caesar salad. The shellfish really shined. The oysters were unbelievable - lightly but crisply fried yet so soft, juicy and large. Crab also fried perfectly and very juicy. The caesar salad - little gem lettuce perfect and dressing was a flavor bomb, in a good way. Finished with the key lime tart to share. Crust was a little thick but the lime curd and billowy, soft meringue were luscious. If you're looking for a bright, refreshing cocktail, try the yuzu swizzle. Yummy and not too sweet. Finally, our server was wonderful. Attentive, informative, friendly. Never there when you didn't need him but always close by when you did. Try lunch. Less crowded and noisy than dinner, for the time being at least.

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  8. Janet

    Philadelphia2 reviews

    5.0

    Dined on April 12, 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    A wonderful dinner. Top notch service. Be sure to get the Lobster Toast.

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  9. Harris

    Philadelphia1 review

    5.0

    Dined on April 11, 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Great food, great drinks, great times What more could you want

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  10. Alex VIP

    New York City6 reviews

    5.0

    Dined on April 10, 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Food was awesome… soft shell crab sandwich at the bar was ridiculous.. Rodney was very knowledgeable about all the drinks and wine.. a great night out.

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FAQs

Little Water is rated 4.7 stars by 230 OpenTable diners.

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

  1. Home
  2. United States
  3. Philadelphia County
  4. Philadelphia
  5. Center City

Make a reservation

2 people
7:00 PM
Booked 56 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
  • Phone number
  • 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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