10/06/09

great italin restaurant

by sammy03

great food,great atmosphere,i will go back.

• Pros: best in phila.

06/11/09

Wonderful restaurant

by MARGATE

Yesterday I went to LaVeranda's for the first time. I had always heard the food was terrific! Well, what I had heard was so true. From the moment I entered, I was greeted warmly by the staff. Our server was absolutely terrific! My dinner was equally as great! I will be a returning customer!

And, being from South Philly originally, I welcome good Italian food when eating out. Of course nothing beats my mom's cooking -- but this restaurant comes very close.

P.S. I just loved those complimentary long hot peppers!

• Pros: Next best thing to my Mom's cooking!

02/28/09

Like being in Italy

by GINO91

Classic Italian menu,like in Italy. Grilled fish, homemade pasta, great service. Definately worth this visit

11/30/08

Best Seafood and Pasta!

by LindaMarie22

I have never written a review before but was very motivated to set the record straight when I saw two unfavorable, and in my opinion, UNFAIR reviews posted for La Veranda. We, too, are well traveled (Italy and beyond) and have dined in many fine restaurants abroad and in the States and to be honest, La Veranda remains one of our favorites year after year. On first impression many years ago, we were so impressed, we actually hosted our wedding reception there! Our guests still rave about the food (wood fire grilled Salmon and Chicken Piccata.)

Put simply, the food is wonderful and everything we have had there has been prepared to perfection. The prices are actually quite reasonable for many dishes and of course, more expensive for others - depending on your order. My husband had the most amazing spaghetti bolognese for around $14.00 and I had one of the fish specials - Dover Sole - for $46.00. The fish was de-boned and served at our table by our experienced waiter. Oh, try the grilled calamari for a delicious appetizer.

We are not food snobs or anything, but we expect an excellent meal when we go out to a nice restaurant and that is what we always get at this restaurant. Consistently high quality food and service - worth every penny (and calorie!)

• Pros: Lighting, Service, Views

09/24/08

This was the worst experience Ive ever had...

by Nmt2121

I would not recommend anyone to eat here.. The food was horrible !! And the service was beyond slow.... save urself and go somewhere else!!

• Pros: it looked like a nice place
• Cons: everything else..

08/23/08

Huge Rip-off

by VFumo

I travel all over the world, and have been to Italy more times than I can remember, so I know a bit about Italian food and good restaurants. I don't expect Italian restaurants in America to be as good as in Italy (although some exist), but I also don't expect to be charged three times the price for food that's far worse than in Italy! Just as an example, my caprese salad had tomatoes that had obviously been kept in the refrigerator, giving them a white, mushy texture in the middle. But they still expected me to pay $13 for this! And my veal with asparagus, parmesan cheese in a marsala sauce featured asparagus from a can: there's no way it was fresh, and it cost $27.00! The same high price/lousy quality was true of all the dinners in my party that night. If you want Olive Garden quality, save a lot of money and go to Olive Garden. The only justification for such high prices is an exceptional location and view, and I don't consider the Ben Franklin Bridge and the Campbell's Soup Factory in Camden to qualify under those criteria!

• Pros: Nice waterfront location, although that doesn't justify the prices.
• Cons: Mediocre food charged at exorbitant rates

07/27/08

Diner Food

by thephillycritic

The food here is pretty much what I'd expect to get at a local diner. The sauces are from a can (if not, they sure taste like it) and the food is very bland and not cooked to perfection. On the upside, at least the atmosphere is nice (especially if you eat outside on a nice night). If they can improve their food, this could be a terrific place. For now, it might be worth coming just for drinks/dessert.

• Pros: atmosphere
• Cons: food

05/16/08

Avoid This Restaurant Due To the Rude and Crude Owner

by aldis9

We had a most unpleasant and discourteous experience from a man who represented himself as a manager who we later found out was one of the owners of La Veranda. My uncle had asked him a simple question of why we were being charged for onions and tomatoes when they were always served to us prior without being charged. His curt and obnoxious answer was that may have been in the past but you are being charged now. He left the table muttering, "That f"ing guy" after my uncle paid about $300.00 for the food bill which was quite exorbanant to begin with. This man should be reprimanded by the restaurant association. With an attitude like this, he will drive his business into the ground. Our waiter on the other hand was very engaging and a true professional. Of course, there was nothing he could do to correct the poor customer service from the owner. I believe this should be addressed to the owner who apparently believes the customer is not right. He lost a customer who has been a weekly patron of this restaurant for many years due to his rudeness and lack of customer service.

05/12/08

College Graduation Dinner

by Bruce7206

Worst experience ever. Reservations at 7:30Pm. At 8:15 they pour water and bring us 5 pieces of bruschetta for 7 people. 8:50 they take our order. 9:20 they bring the salad. 10:15 they bring the entree. Pasta was barely luke warm. Filet mignon ordered "medium" but came out well done. So 1 person got to watch the rest of us eat. I've had better meals at a pizza parlor. Finished dinner at 10:35. Waiter asked if we wanted dessert. I told him no. I probably would of needed a vacation day to wait for that. Service is TERRIBLE. Food is MEDIOCORE. Wouldn't go back again if it was free. The sad part is that we were celebrating my daughter's graduation from college that same day. La veranda definitely made it memorable.........

• Pros: Nice Location
• Cons: Service absolutely stinks

04/13/08

best restaurant in philly

by kenny4

I highly reccomend this place. I've enjoyed it everytime i've been there. The service is great. The food is great,atmosphere was great and the view was great. I can't understand why someone wouldn't like this place.

• Pros: friendly people
• Cons: none