Gran Caffe L'Aquila

Candiapplesmith 2 months ago

I haven't seen my Cuzn since we dined at Louis Vuitton Cafe in NYC. Called her up and asked her to join me for a late dinner. She obliged me. I made reservations (day of) for 8:30 pm. We were a little late due to traffic, but our reservation was still honored. Our seating was inside and upstairs (which we appreciated b|c it rained while we were dining) Ambiance was lovely, dimly lit and romantic if you're on a date. Restaurant is family friendly!! We were quickly sat, our waiter introduced himself to us -- lovely gentleman by the name of Vincenzo?!? He was effortlessly efficient and friendly. Made our night exceptional. My cousin said it was late and she didn't want to really order anything. I talked her into ordering and then at least she could eat the leftovers for "midnight snacking" or lunch the next day. We ordered: -- Bellini: Prosecco infused peach purée -- Bread -- Scamorza -- Fire-roasted aged mozzarella, prosciutto -- Torta Granchio -- Italian crab cake infused with crab, shrimp, and mascarpone served with cucumber fresco and gastronomic roasted red pepper gelato -- Cesarina -- Kale, romaine, creamy Parmigiano dressing -- Agnolotti -- Torino-style Ravioli fille

Veronika Trifonova 3 months ago

Gran Caffe L’Aquila has a beautiful atmosphere and some genuinely excellent products. The latte was expertly made with gorgeous latte art, and both the coffee and gelato were absolutely delicious. You can tell they take pride in the quality of what they serve. Unfortunately, the service did not match the quality of the food and drinks. Most of the staff came across as dismissive and unfriendly, which took away from what could have been a wonderful experience. The only one exception to this was Luca, who was welcoming, professional, genuinely kind, and knowledgeable. He made us feel appreciated as guests and stood out in the best way possible. At the end of the day, hospitality is about making people feel welcome. The rest of the team could certainly take note. If the level of service matched the quality of the coffee and gelato, this would easily be a five-star experience.

Mr AllDay181 4 months ago

Absolutely one of my favorite places to eat Authentic Italian food in Philly! I literally stop in every single time I'm in town. The food is just perfect, authentic and I love how they have a new menu every week or so for different regions! Beyond excellent service. Award winning gelato must be mentioned with the great choices at the store market on the 1st level!

Hans Goertz 4 months ago

Stellar, authentic Italian experience across the board. Super friendly personnel, super authentic atmosphere, delicious ice cream and other desserts, great coffee. I had a first lunch there with a vegetable soup, which was wonderful and I decided to go back the next day again for lunch because I had enjoyed my time there so much. This time I started with a mozzarella di buffalo with tomato caprese and it was pure perfection. I decided then to follow it with the agnolloti, an innovative sounding ravioli dish with truffle gelato! Unfortunately, it wasn’t all that given that the ravioli were a bit undercooked, and the whole dish was overly smothered in shaved cheese and the truffle gelato sounded more appealing than it actually tasted. Luckily the original and divine tasting gelato (two scoops: 1)olio ai fichi and 2) pistachio) afterwards and coffee saved the day.

Anjelika M 4 months ago

Cute little Italian spot that honestly feels like you’re somewhere in Italy for an hour. Definitely recommend making a reservation because the place is pretty small. The food was really good and everything tasted fresh. Loved the handmade mushroom pasta — the kind that looks rustic and homemade. The pistachio gelato was probably my favorite dessert there, and the coffee was great too. The staff was fast, friendly, and had that fun Italian energy that makes the atmosphere feel warm and lively. If you’re in Center City and want a cozy Italian café with good food and a nice atmosphere, this place is worth visiting.