I had heard about Ralph's for a few years now, about how good it is, and it was established in 1900, and after all of these years, I finally got the chance to visit. It's a quaint restaurant that has seating both upstairs and downstairs, a very nice family restaurant not too fancy, but it gives a nice relaxed feeling. We were seated upstairs and luckily towards the back which didn't have a crowded feeling, though it was almost fully packed for a Saturday 5:30pm reservation.We had the Burrata with Roasted Red Peppers and Calabrian Chilis in a Sun Dried Tomato Pesto, topped with a Balsamic Glaze and some bread for an amazing appetizer. For the main course I ordered a Black Lobster Ravioli, I believe this was a special and not on the regular menu, but the sauce was amazing,I could have licked the plate it was that good. We also had a drink, and they definitely had a proper pour. Will absolutely go back, looking forward to trying the rest of the menu.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Curt Sminkey
Couldn't ask for better service and food. I've been here a number of times and it's always the best meal you could ever expect.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Ralph's Famous Veal Parm
Julie Thomson
Best chicken parm I have ever had!!!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Cindy Zhang
The bread has the perfect chew and the sesame makes it tastes so good. Mussels are tender and the sauce is perfect. The gnocchi is ok, tastes too starchy. Sausage and peppers were a hit.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 4
Service: 4
Recommended dishes: Mussels in Red Sauce
JM “Impossible Traveler” Torp
Ralph’s South Philly, oldest Italian restaurant in the United States.Located in the heart of the city, this Italian restaurant offers a delightful culinary experience that captures the essence of Italy. From traditional pasta dishes to mouth-watering desserts, every bite is filled with authentic flavors and fresh ingredients. The cozy ambiance and friendly staff add to the overall charm of the place. Whether you're craving a classic spaghetti carbonara or a decadent tiramisu for dessert, this restaurant is sure to satisfy your Italian food cravings. This Philadelphia restaurant is a must-visit for all Italian cuisine enthusiasts!Service: 5 stars our waiter was Jimmy and he was excellent. He provided great recommendations and was very attentive. Chef came out to check on us which was so sweet. stars.we sat on the first floor it was a little tight. We should have requested 2nd floor. Love the old pictures throughout the restaurant.Food: Overall 4/5 stars.Mussels in red - very fresh and nice portion. These were sneaky good the mussel sauce had a mild spicy kick. stars.Meatballs: Dollop of ricotta “Best Of Philly” these meatballs were seriously the best. The fresh ricotta was a nice touch. stars.Bruschetta - Chopped tomatoes, red onion, mozzarella, basil, extra virgin olive oil, and balsamic vinegar. starsTomatoes And Mozzarella Salad: the balsamic glaze was to die for. This salad was extremely salty.Rating 3/5 stars.Mediterranean Salad: Shrimp, crabmeat, tomatoes, black olives, romaine.Rating 5/5 stars.Gnocchi Alla Vodka: Blush sauce with pancetta. starsEggplant Parmigiana: Egg battered and baked with mozzarella cheese and marinara sauce. stars.Linguini Pescatore: Shrimp, clams, mussels, and crabmeat in a white garlic wine sauce.Seafood was very fresh, sauce was very light. Delicious. starsVeal Saltimbocca: Mozzarella cheese, prosciutto, spinach, mushrooms, marsala wine. This was my least favorite. It didn’t taste right with the Marsala sauce it should have been a white wine garlic sauce. stars.Lobster Ravioli (special) very fresh sauce was light and airy. starsHighly recommend the espresso martini I added cream to mine it was a little strong. For desserts tiramisu and cannoli cake were to die for. The cake was dense yet airy if that makes any sense.Dessert rating: 5/5 stars seriously the best.Vegetarian options: Tons of salads, eggplant and seafood selections.Parking: Do the valet it’s $15 and totally worth it. Parking is very difficult to find especially in the evening.Kid-friendliness: Somewhat kid friendly.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 4
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Mussels in Red Sauce, Cannoli Cake, Gnocchi Blush, Linguini Pescatore, Tiramisu
Susan
Great! I went here for Easter. We shared the mussels in white sauce for an app. We loved it!! I had gnocchi in blush sauce & everyone else had ravioli. It's my 3rd time here & I'm sure I'll be back. I love the ambiance & history!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Mussels in Red Sauce, Gnocchi Blush
Chris Thorn
Great service, wonderful selection of traditional Italian American cuisine. A fun place with a great neighborhood vibe
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Gnocchi Blush, Sausage
Brent Brockerville
A must try when in Philly. The oldest Italian restaurant in America. Cash only - the price on the menu is what you will pay. The lasagna and cannoli were top notch. With the price, quality of food, and time-tested atmosphere, I don't think there's better dollar for dollar value for dinner in Philly.
They lean too hard on the “oldest Italian restaurant” gimmick at the expense of taste. Expect huge portions of bland and boring food. The roasted pepper appetizer was literally canned roasted peppers with raw garlic and sliced mozzarella thrown on top… save your money and go elsewhere.
I was looking so forward to this place but was disappointed ,meatball was ok,but main coarse was so so
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 2
Service: 4
Recommended dishes: Flounder Francese
Rachel Indek
Great food. Super cute building. The staff was a little annoyed to be
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 4
Recommended dishes: Fettuccini Alfredo with Shrimp, Mussels in Red Sauce
Prima Marte
So disappointed! We happened to find this restaurant by chance on a day trip from NY. We were hangry, and this was the only restaurant open on Sunday at 5. Having heard great history and reviews about this restaurant, we decided to dine in. The cocktails sucked!!! Get a beer instead. OMG, the spaghetti meatballs were dry and nasty. The gnocchi was dry. Sorry to say, they did not use quality ingredients. My hubs makes way better meatballs and sauce. We didn't eat half of our meals and paid over $150 for 2 adults and a kid. I don’t mind paying good money for a quality meal, but this place doesn't have it. The waiter was very nice, though. Do yourself a favor and go to Fiorella Pasta right around the corner for fresh, quality food. or a pizza place near by. thats how bad this food was. shame.
Atmosphere: 2
Food: 1
Service: 3
Egemen Yılgür
An authentic Italian restaurant with affordable prices, great taste, kind service, and amazing ambience.
I had heard about Ralph's for a few years now, about how good it is, and it was established in 1900, and after all of these years, I finally got the chance to visit. It's a quaint restaurant that has seating both upstairs and downstairs, a very nice family restaurant not too fancy, but it gives a nice relaxed feeling. We were seated upstairs and luckily towards the back which didn't have a crowded feeling, though it was almost fully packed for a Saturday 5:30pm reservation.We had the Burrata with Roasted Red Peppers and Calabrian Chilis in a Sun Dried Tomato Pesto, topped with a Balsamic Glaze and some bread for an amazing appetizer. For the main course I ordered a Black Lobster Ravioli, I believe this was a special and not on the regular menu, but the sauce was amazing,I could have licked the plate it was that good. We also had a drink, and they definitely had a proper pour. Will absolutely go back, looking forward to trying the rest of the menu.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Couldn't ask for better service and food. I've been here a number of times and it's always the best meal you could ever expect.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Ralph's Famous Veal Parm
Best chicken parm I have ever had!!!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
The bread has the perfect chew and the sesame makes it tastes so good. Mussels are tender and the sauce is perfect. The gnocchi is ok, tastes too starchy. Sausage and peppers were a hit.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 4
Service: 4
Recommended dishes: Mussels in Red Sauce
Ralph’s South Philly, oldest Italian restaurant in the United States.Located in the heart of the city, this Italian restaurant offers a delightful culinary experience that captures the essence of Italy. From traditional pasta dishes to mouth-watering desserts, every bite is filled with authentic flavors and fresh ingredients. The cozy ambiance and friendly staff add to the overall charm of the place. Whether you're craving a classic spaghetti carbonara or a decadent tiramisu for dessert, this restaurant is sure to satisfy your Italian food cravings. This Philadelphia restaurant is a must-visit for all Italian cuisine enthusiasts!Service: 5 stars our waiter was Jimmy and he was excellent. He provided great recommendations and was very attentive. Chef came out to check on us which was so sweet. stars.we sat on the first floor it was a little tight. We should have requested 2nd floor. Love the old pictures throughout the restaurant.Food: Overall 4/5 stars.Mussels in red - very fresh and nice portion. These were sneaky good the mussel sauce had a mild spicy kick. stars.Meatballs: Dollop of ricotta “Best Of Philly” these meatballs were seriously the best. The fresh ricotta was a nice touch. stars.Bruschetta - Chopped tomatoes, red onion, mozzarella, basil, extra virgin olive oil, and balsamic vinegar. starsTomatoes And Mozzarella Salad: the balsamic glaze was to die for. This salad was extremely salty.Rating 3/5 stars.Mediterranean Salad: Shrimp, crabmeat, tomatoes, black olives, romaine.Rating 5/5 stars.Gnocchi Alla Vodka: Blush sauce with pancetta. starsEggplant Parmigiana: Egg battered and baked with mozzarella cheese and marinara sauce. stars.Linguini Pescatore: Shrimp, clams, mussels, and crabmeat in a white garlic wine sauce.Seafood was very fresh, sauce was very light. Delicious. starsVeal Saltimbocca: Mozzarella cheese, prosciutto, spinach, mushrooms, marsala wine. This was my least favorite. It didn’t taste right with the Marsala sauce it should have been a white wine garlic sauce. stars.Lobster Ravioli (special) very fresh sauce was light and airy. starsHighly recommend the espresso martini I added cream to mine it was a little strong. For desserts tiramisu and cannoli cake were to die for. The cake was dense yet airy if that makes any sense.Dessert rating: 5/5 stars seriously the best.Vegetarian options: Tons of salads, eggplant and seafood selections.Parking: Do the valet it’s $15 and totally worth it. Parking is very difficult to find especially in the evening.Kid-friendliness: Somewhat kid friendly.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 4
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Mussels in Red Sauce, Cannoli Cake, Gnocchi Blush, Linguini Pescatore, Tiramisu
Great! I went here for Easter. We shared the mussels in white sauce for an app. We loved it!! I had gnocchi in blush sauce & everyone else had ravioli. It's my 3rd time here & I'm sure I'll be back. I love the ambiance & history!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Mussels in Red Sauce, Gnocchi Blush
Great service, wonderful selection of traditional Italian American cuisine. A fun place with a great neighborhood vibe
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Gnocchi Blush, Sausage
A must try when in Philly. The oldest Italian restaurant in America. Cash only - the price on the menu is what you will pay. The lasagna and cannoli were top notch. With the price, quality of food, and time-tested atmosphere, I don't think there's better dollar for dollar value for dinner in Philly.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Ralph's Famous Veal Parm, Lasagna, Cannoli Cake, Veal Parmigiana
They lean too hard on the “oldest Italian restaurant” gimmick at the expense of taste. Expect huge portions of bland and boring food. The roasted pepper appetizer was literally canned roasted peppers with raw garlic and sliced mozzarella thrown on top… save your money and go elsewhere.
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 1
Service: 3
Went here for my mom's birthday SHE LOVED IT.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Restaurantji Recommends
Always amazing. Food is second to none.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Ralph's Famous Veal Parm
I was looking so forward to this place but was disappointed ,meatball was ok,but main coarse was so so
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 2
Service: 4
Recommended dishes: Flounder Francese
Great food. Super cute building. The staff was a little annoyed to be
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 4
Recommended dishes: Fettuccini Alfredo with Shrimp, Mussels in Red Sauce
So disappointed! We happened to find this restaurant by chance on a day trip from NY. We were hangry, and this was the only restaurant open on Sunday at 5. Having heard great history and reviews about this restaurant, we decided to dine in. The cocktails sucked!!! Get a beer instead. OMG, the spaghetti meatballs were dry and nasty. The gnocchi was dry. Sorry to say, they did not use quality ingredients. My hubs makes way better meatballs and sauce. We didn't eat half of our meals and paid over $150 for 2 adults and a kid. I don’t mind paying good money for a quality meal, but this place doesn't have it. The waiter was very nice, though. Do yourself a favor and go to Fiorella Pasta right around the corner for fresh, quality food. or a pizza place near by. thats how bad this food was. shame.
Atmosphere: 2
Food: 1
Service: 3
An authentic Italian restaurant with affordable prices, great taste, kind service, and amazing ambience.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Caesar Salad