When it comes to global cuisine, Philly has an admirable and somewhat lengthy resume: from dim sum to Korean BBQ, German biergartens and even a few Cajun/Creole and Jamaican eateries. We also have the classics that are done very well – Thai, Japanese and sushi, Mexican, and yes, even Italian. While Italian establishments seem a dime a dozen in the U.S., every so often there comes a restauranteur who can deliver a foodie experience that’s both truly honest and highly palatable.
Fans of Toscana 52 in Bensalem will already be familiar with Riccardo Longo, who’s restaurant group opened a new edition of Gran Caffe L’Aquila in Rittenhouse at 1716 Chestnut Street in December. Longo was on tour gathering research for his upcoming book in Abruzzo when he met the Stefano Biasini and Michele, highly established owners of the first Gran Caffe L’Aquila. Their magnificent two-story restaurant and gelato shop was badly affected by an earthquake which rocked the region in 2009. Unable to fully recover, they struck up a deal to have the business recreated here – and you couldn’t stumble upon a greater gem in Center City than this expansive eatery!
Designed in the same way as its originator, the first floor exhibits a cool, urban chic feel with white marbled table and countertops, swinging pendant lights and plenty of charming textiles, including wood paneling and exposed brick. This dual space includes a gelato parlor and cafe in the front, with few tables in the back for guests to enjoy wine, beer, cocktails, and their small plates menu, whose list of tapas style options is anything but small! The second floor is a full-scale restaurant which boasts a skylight as well as a balcony view of the floor below.
We knew that we would be saving room for gelato, so we opted to share a couple of small plates. Though options were overwhelming, our every selection proved superb. The chilled Blue Point oysters were accompanied by a refreshing Purus Vodka-infused cocktail sauce and basil horseradish for garnish. They balanced well alongside the gnocchi, which was rich and sweet with a deliciously tangy bite, thanks to the taleggio cream and wild mushrooms.
We asked our friendly waiter to provide his own recommendations for our Italian cheese board, to which the chef gladly took the liberties of supplying us with a hearty amount of provolone auricchio, parmigiano-reggiano, and gorgonzola. The cheeses were served with strawberry and fig marmalade, grapes and crostini, all of which were finished with the basket of bread delivered to our table. To top it off, we finally settled on our gelato flavors (amaretto and raspberry – luscious and wonderful) after taste-testing as many others as possible! (Side note: They have “boozy” gelato options!)
One of our favorite things about Gran Caffe L’Aquila is that each week, they offer special recipes and beverages featured from different regions of Italy, so there is always something new to try! There are also plans to roll out an Italian cultural school teaching language and culture as well as gastronomic classes and wine tastings in the future.
What’s your favorite Italian restaurant in or around Philadelphia? Share your recommendations in the comments!
