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Little Water, Philadelphia, PA

Little Water

4.7
4.7
204 Reviews
$30 and under
Contemporary American

Make a reservation

2 people
7:00 PM
Booked 39 times today

About this restaurant

  • Good for special occasions
  • Neighborhood 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.

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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
  • 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.
  • 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 204 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 offers an "amazing dining experience" with "fresh and delicious" seafood and "phenomenal" service. Guests rave about the "swordfish Milanese" and "crab and uni hash browns." While some mention noise levels, the "vibrant atmosphere" and "inventive menu" create a unique setting. Perfect for celebrations and seafood lovers.
204 Reviews
  1. marita VIP

    Atlantic City45 reviews

    4.0

    Dined 2 days ago

    1. Overall 4
    2. Food 4
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    This is my third time dining at Little water. The black Seabass was delicious. I did not disappoint a little saltier than usual but understandable considering the way it’s prepared. The Caesar was loaded with garlic. I’m still tasting it today and I’ve had this on two separate occasions it was over seasoned But still delicious. I don’t wanna sound like I’m complaining, but I just thought someone needed to know. love the atmosphere and the staff is always attentive and so pleasant! Collin or Connor (sorry can’t remember which) our server was fabulous.

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  2. Shannon

    Philadelphia2 reviews

    5.0

    Dined 2 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    My wife and I dined here for a celebratory dinner and they treated us with such kindness. They sent out a card signed by the staff to say congrats and it’s little things like this that go a long way. We enjoyed all of our food and dare we say we even ordered a bit too much food. Still we made room for dessert and the maple cremeux was FANTASTIC!

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  3. OpenTable Diner

    Pittsburgh1 review

    5.0

    Dined 4 days ago

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

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  4. JamesS

    Milwaukee47 reviews

    4.0

    Dined 5 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.

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  5. Max VIP

    Philadelphia6 reviews

    5.0

    Dined 5 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.

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  6. Elisabeth VIP

    Philadelphia5 reviews

    5.0

    Dined 5 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.

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  7. OpenTable Diner

    Philadelphia9 reviews

    3.0

    Dined 5 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.

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  8. Samuel

    New York City7 reviews

    4.0

    Dined 6 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

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  9. OpenTable Diner

    Philadelphia3 reviews

    2.0

    Dined 6 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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  10. Steven VIP

    Philadelphia1 review

    4.0

    Dined 6 days ago

    1. Overall 4
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 4
    Lovely as it was the last time, loud as last time. Food exceptional, service exceptional. We’ll be back

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FAQs

Little Water is rated 4.7 stars by 204 OpenTable diners.

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

Make a reservation

2 people
7:00 PM
Booked 39 times today
Google Map for Little Water

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
  • 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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