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Little Water, Philadelphia, PA

Little Water

4.7
4.7
201 Reviews
$30 and under
Contemporary American

Make a booking

2 people
19:00
Booked 33 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

  • Dining style
    Casual Dining
  • 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
  • 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.
  • Area
    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 201 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

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.

201 Reviews
  1. OpenTable Diner

    Pittsburgh1 review

    5.0

    Dined 1 day ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Creative dishes, executed extremely well. Great ambiance and waitstaff

    Is this helpful?

  2. JamesS

    Milwaukee47 reviews

    4.0

    Dined 2 days ago

    1. Overall 4
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Delicious food and drinks. Excellent service. It would be nice if the menu had a few more options that weren’t fish/seafood and that weren’t shellfish based. Ie, for vegetarians and people who can’t eat shellfish.

    Is this helpful?

  3. Max VIP

    Philadelphia6 reviews

    5.0

    Dined 2 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Fantastic food. Really enjoyed the whole fried black bass which not exaggerating was one of the best fish dishes we've ever had. Friendly and prompt service.

    Is this helpful?

  4. Elisabeth VIP

    Philadelphia5 reviews

    5.0

    Dined 2 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Food is always amazing. Great spot for a quick lunch with friends.

    Is this helpful?

  5. OpenTable Diner

    Philadelphia9 reviews

    3.0

    Dined 2 days ago

    1. Overall 3
    2. Food 3
    3. Service 4
    4. Ambience 4
    We were so excited given we love seafood and the location was great. Unfortunately we felt it was over priced but the concept drew us in. We started with the oysters and scallops which were very tasty but our entrees left us underwhelmed. My husband had the charred Spanish Mackerel and albeit tasty it was closer to an appetizer portion. I had the fried oyster BLT which was described as the perfect sandwich, unfortunately the textures were so off. The bacon was so thick and the consistency of jerkey with minimal taste and did not pair well with the delicate nature of the oyster which made eating difficult. The pickled tomatoes were very good but also tough to get through. Finally the bread appeared to be over toasted and literally crumbled when you took a bite. We were so excited to enjoy our experience but walked away with a “one and done” feel.

    Is this helpful?

  6. Samuel

    New York City7 reviews

    4.0

    Dined 3 days ago

    1. Overall 4
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Great food! The halibut was fabulous, as was the Caesar salad. The big problem was the noise. By the time we done with dinner it was overwhelming

    Is this helpful?

  7. OpenTable Diner

    Philadelphia3 reviews

    2.0

    Dined 3 days ago

    1. Overall 2
    2. Food 3
    3. Service 2
    4. Ambience 3
    Table for 2 with a 5 PM reservation. We ordered cocktails, wine, appetizers, main courses, and dessert. Despite this, we were rushed through the entire meal—by the server, the host, and even the manager. They tried to clear our plates while food was still on them and brought our coats without us asking, while we were still eating dessert. After several passive-aggressive attempts to get us to leave, they eventually came right out and told us that someone was waiting for the table and we needed to leave. I understand the need to turn over tables for the next reservation, but I don’t appreciate the way it was handled. We shared this feedback with the manager, who apologized but mentioned that we overstayed our reservation and that a timeline is noted on OpenTable. However, this was not communicated clearly, and the entire experience left us feeling unwelcome. We will not be going back.

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  8. David VIP

    New York City4 reviews

    5.0

    Dined 3 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    My second time to Little Water. The food is inventive and beautifully sourced, complemented by a minimalist decor and a nicely curated wine list. The bread and butter plate is exceptionally good, so don’t skip this course.

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  9. michel VIP

    Philadelphia31 reviews

    4.0

    Dined 4 days ago

    1. Overall 4
    2. Food 4
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Nice dinner but some misses. Swordfish was too heavily breaded and black bass dry/overcooked. Two deserts fairly bland. Restaurant busy and noisy

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  10. Michael VIP

    Philadelphia46 reviews

    4.0

    Dined 6 days ago

    1. Overall 4
    2. Food 3
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Loved the place and the service. The food wasn't to my taste. Will try again but order different dishes.

    Is this helpful?

FAQs

Little Water is rated 4.7 stars by 201 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 33 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
    Lunch Tue–Sun 11:00–14:00 Dinner Tue–Sat 17:00–22:00
  • 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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