Little Water

Visa Dining Collection

4.7

235 Reviews

$30 and under

Contemporary American

261 S 20th St, Philadelphia, PA 19103

Make a reservation

2 people

May 3, 2025

7:00 PM

Booked 36 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 235 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

Loved For

Philadelphia
Contemporary American

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.

235 Reviews

t
theresa VIP
Philadelphia107 reviews
5.0
Dined 1 day ago
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?
G
Grace
Philadelphia2 reviews
5.0
Dined 7 days ago
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!!
Is this helpful?
C
Chris
Philadelphia3 reviews
5.0
Dined 7 days ago
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!!
Is this helpful?
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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C
Conor
Philadelphia1 review
4.0
Dined on April 20, 2025
1. Overall 4
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
Very good food, excellent service, very overpriced tho - dinner for 2 with 3 cocktails total was $350 after tip
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J
Julia VIP
Philadelphia5 reviews
5.0
Dined on April 19, 2025
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
Amazing food!! My husband and I loved it and can’t wait to eat there again! We came for my birthday!
Is this helpful?
S
Samantha VIP
Philadelphia6 reviews
5.0
Dined on April 19, 2025
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
Had a great first experience. The food was great and the staff really went out of their way to make our anniversary special. Still dreaming of that quail!
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E
Eric
Philadelphia6 reviews
5.0
Dined on April 19, 2025
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
The swordfish was my favorite last time but the halibut was the star of dinner. The trout tartare and the scallops were our favorite in the grand plateau. The salad was a hidden gem as well! Thank you!
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OT
OpenTable Diner
Philadelphia6 reviews
4.0
Dined on April 18, 2025
1. Overall 4
2. Food 3
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
The halibut main I got was delicious. We also got the lobster toast and the crab potato appetizer and it was tasty but not OMG (which for the price should have been). The staff was friendly and it was overall good but just not as great as I thought it would be.
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J
Joselyn
Philadelphia4 reviews
4.0
Dined on April 17, 2025
1. Overall 4
2. Food 4
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
Great service and fried sea bass was delicious! Would’ve liked to see a few more heavy sides to accompany the main dishes.
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FAQs

Little Water is rated 4.7 stars by 235 OpenTable diners.

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

Make a reservation

2 people

May 3, 2025

7:00 PM

Booked 36 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 235 people are saying

Overall ratings and reviews

Loved For

Review summary

FAQs

How is Little Water restaurant rated?

Is Little Water currently accepting reservations?

Make a reservation

Additional information