Little Water

Visa Dining Collection

4.7 (242)

$30 and under

Contemporary American

261 S 20th St, Philadelphia, PA 19103

Make a reservation

2 people

May 10, 2025

May 2025

7:00 PM

Booked 29 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
(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.

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

What 242 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 offers a delightful dining experience with "phenomenal food, service, and drinks." The seafood is "exceptional," featuring unique dishes like the swordfish Milanese and lobster toast. The atmosphere is vibrant yet cozy, with attentive staff ensuring a memorable visit. While some found it pricey, the creative menu and "amazing cocktails" make it worth the splurge.

242 Reviews

A
Azeem VIP
Philadelphia25 reviews
5.0
Dined today
1. Overall 5
2. Food 4
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
Excellent service and great food. The lobster toast, hash browns, “Caesar like” salad, swordfish Milanese, and halibut were all great enough to come back for. The only complaint was the the shrimp cocktail was missing an extra kick that it needed. It is a loud place on a Friday night, worth noting in case you prefer something quiet.
Is this helpful?
Z
Zein
Philadelphia3 reviews
5.0
Dined 1 day ago
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
Our favorite go-to guaranteed delicious seafood and vibes in the city! Haven’t once not ordered the bass!
Is this helpful?
J
Joe
Philadelphia1 review
5.0
Dined 2 days ago
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
The little happy anniversary card was a nice and unexpected touch.
Is this helpful?
J
Jill
Philadelphia27 reviews
2.0
Dined 3 days ago
1. Overall 2
2. Food 2
3. Service 3
4. Ambience 4
Way over priced. Left hungry. Beautiful space. We waited a very long time for entrees on a Wednesday evening.
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t
theresa VIP
Philadelphia108 reviews
5.0
Dined on May 2, 2025
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
Everything about our experience was exceptional. Ambiance, food and service (Josh).
Is this helpful?
J
Jill VIP
Philadelphia22 reviews
5.0
Dined on May 1, 2025
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
The food was amazing and service was excellent. Beautifully plated with an adventurous twist.
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D
Debbie
Philadelphia20 reviews
3.0
Dined on April 30, 2025
1. Overall 3
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 3
Food very good. Menu too limited and noise level oppressive.
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G
Grace
Philadelphia2 reviews
5.0
Dined on April 26, 2025
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
Absolutely amazing! Another success by the Rucker family and team. Our server Payton was spot on all the recommendations and suggested the perfect amount of plates to order. Can’t wait to go back!!
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C
Chris
Philadelphia3 reviews
5.0
Dined on April 26, 2025
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
Another A++ meal and experience at Little Water — we ordered just about the whole menu and my friends loved everything!!
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K
Katerina
San Francisco1 review
5.0
Dined on April 22, 2025
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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FAQs

Little Water is rated 4.7 stars by 242 OpenTable diners.

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

Make a reservation

Booked 29 times today

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.

Little Water

Make a reservation

About this restaurant

Additional information

Menu

What 242 people are saying

Overall ratings and reviews

Review summary

FAQs

How is Little Water restaurant rated?

Is Little Water currently accepting reservations?

Make a reservation

Additional information

Sun	Mon	Tue	Wed	Thu	Fri	Sat