Little Water

Visa Dining Collection

4.7 (249)

$30 and under

Contemporary American

261 S 20th St, Philadelphia, PA 19103

Make a reservation

2 people

May 20, 2025

May 2025

7:00 PM

Booked 39 times today

About this restaurant

Neighborhood gem
Good for special occasions
Lively

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 249 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 delights with "amazing" seafood dishes like trout tartare and halibut, alongside creative presentations and exceptional service. The ambiance is lively yet comfortable, making it a perfect spot for celebrations. While some find portions small, the "phenomenal" flavors and friendly staff make it a memorable experience.

249 Reviews

T
Tina VIP
Philadelphia51 reviews
5.0
Dined 2 days ago
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
From start to finish, we had a 10/10 experience. Excellent French wine selections by the glass (please don’t change!) - cocktails looked amazing as well but didn’t order any. Service was impeccable - Peyton was fantastic - attentive, kind, professional. They cleaned the table off between courses. The food preparation and execution was excellent - from the unique tuna tartare preparation to the Caesar salad. We both had the halibut entree and it was delicious and uniquely prepared. To finish, we tried the key lime tart which was large and tasty. The atmosphere is great cozy but lively and a bit loud at times but an energetic vs. annoying loud. We will absolutely come back - and will try the duck!
Is this helpful?
A
Ammar
Philadelphia1 review
4.0
Dined 3 days ago
1. Overall 4
2. Food 5
3. Service 2
4. Ambience 5
Great food ! One of the best seafood focused restos in the city
Is this helpful?
T
Toni
Philadelphia2 reviews
5.0
Dined 3 days ago
1. Overall 5
2. Food 4
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
Our waiter was very friendly and anyone who brought out food was informative & friendly as well. Everything was good; though a large part of my soft shell crab sandwich was tough to eat. Our favorite dish was the BLT and sourdough w/ anchovies.
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j
judie VIP
Key West34 reviews
5.0
Dined 6 days ago
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
I’ve never tasted something so unique in a while. From the trout tartare to the creamy dessert. It was amazing. I adored the halibut either way the refreshing pops of freshness.
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K
Karen VIP
Atlanta7 reviews
5.0
Dined 7 days ago
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
Amazing dinner at the bar. Appreciated suggestions from our server/bartender as we had never eaten here before. ALL his suggestions were spot on-especially the steelhead trout tartar. Loved the selections for wine by the glass!
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E
Evelyn VIP
Philadelphia8 reviews
4.0
Dined on May 11, 2025
1. Overall 4
2. Food 4
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 4
Need children’s menu for brunch. Limited kid friendly option
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G
Gerald VIP
Philadelphia415 reviews
5.0
Dined on May 10, 2025
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
Shared the shrimp cocktail and the duck - both were excellent.
Is this helpful?
A
Azeem VIP
Philadelphia25 reviews
5.0
Dined on May 10, 2025
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.
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Z
Zein
Philadelphia3 reviews
5.0
Dined on May 9, 2025
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!
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J
Joe
Philadelphia1 review
5.0
Dined on May 8, 2025
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
The little happy anniversary card was a nice and unexpected touch.
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FAQs

Little Water is rated 4.7 stars by 249 OpenTable diners.

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

Make a reservation

Booked 39 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 249 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