I frequent Italian restaurants every weekend. How did I miss this one? Tables were closer than I like them to be, but the upscale reserved clientele know how to act with close seating, We were only about a foot away from a table of 4 on either side of us and had no problem. Very nice clientele! Food Excellante!!!! The veal was to die for and Nonoos Sunday dinner is the best! I would personally like a softer bread but it was good. The flatbred Ceasar with Shrimp and Crabmeat was an excellent appetizer for 2. Bravo! I shall return!
(5)
H C.
Checked out Pescatore for dinner with a few out of town friends on a Friday night. We all LOVED it! The bread with homemade pesto & parmesan is delicious, and they give you as many refills as you want! We all shared a caesar salad topped with shrimp and crabmeat that was to die for! Everyone was very pleased with their entrees. Had a lot of specials that night and the wait staff is very knowledgable. AND they're a BYOB, can't beat that! Reasonably priced, each couple paid about $70 for an unforgettable meal. The energy is vibrant, definitely not a place for a romantic dinner when it is crowded. But a great space for a larger group... make sure to make reservations!
(4)
Kerri S.
One word - Excellent!!! I've been here twice and can't wait to plan another trip. Both dining experiences were fantastic. The food was delicious, the service was spot on, and the ambience was warm and inviting. Between my two visits I tried the buratta salad, antipasto platter, grilled octopus, and mixed ocean grill, and I would absolutely recommend all of these dishes. The people we dined with lived nearby but had not been before, and they were thrilled to have a new neighborhood go to favorite. They came back less than a month later. I was also appreciative of the prices as everything was very reasonable. I look forward to returning to Pescatore soon.
(5)
steven s.
Sunday, was at a Surprise Birthday Party at Pescatore, on BALA Avenue. What an "Awesome Restaurant"!! The absolute Best in the area! Tommy the Chef and Owner sure knows about Great Food and Warm Hospitality! What a Good Time and Great Food! BTW, BYOB,, Ask For Frank, at Pescatore, He Is, THE MAN.........LOVE, LOVE LOVED IT,,,
(5)
Adam F.
Pescatore is a very good Italian BYOB out in the suburbs. The food is really good, the staff is knowledgeable and attentive, and the decor is upscale yet with a casual vibe. Also, it is right across from the Bala theater, so a perfect dinner & movie night. Appetizers: Nonna's meatballs, crab meat wrapped with prosciutto Pasta: any of the homemade pastas are good (gnocchi, ravioli, fettuccine) Entrees: Pork chop italiano (stuffed with sausage and broccoli rabe), veal pavarotti (veal with shrimp and prosciutto) Fish: definitely have good fish here, check the specials
(4)
Gia M.
I've now been to Pescatore twice and both times I have fully enjoyed myself. The dining room is a little dark, so it makes it hard to read the specials on the wall, but the atmosphere is great for a small Italian place. My service has been good both times-- attentive without being overbearing, and one night was a Friday, too. So good job there. I would definitely recommend making reservations on a Friday or Saturday night; I got there just before the dinner rush, luckily, or we would have been out of a table. The food is great! It is BYOB as well. The food is authentic Italian with an emphasis on the seafood dishes. The complimentary Parmigiano and homemade pesto with Italian bread is extremely enjoyable and they have a solid appetizer selection. Beware of the specials, though-- I ordered a flatbread caesar salad for two and it ended up being more expensive than my entree! I have ordered a pasta dish and a pork dish in my history of going to Pescatore and I was not disappointed either time. The pasta was clearly homemade and the meat sauce that it arrived with was absolute heaven (I love the tomato and meat sauces). I ordered it as a half dish, which came out in a perfectly sized portion. I have also ordered the stuffed pork chop. The meat was tender and stuffed with cheese, sausage, and broccoli rabe. It was topped with mushrooms. I was very impressed with the dish, and the sides of mashed potatoes and green beans were delicious as well.
(5)
Carl R.
A few days ago I had the great pleasure of having a wonderful dinner with my accountant Steve and his family... Well you see, I am a Master Chef and I haven't written a review for a restaurant in a very very long time... I've lived in Italy for over a year and there really is no comparison to the Italian restaurants in Italy and the ones over here... The food in Italy is o die for. Now please believe me, the food at Pescatore's is also to die for. I wondered off the menu only to see if they would accommodate me. I ordered Veal, Chicken, and Shrimp Francese and that plate was unbelievably great... This restaurant is the 1st Italian restaurant in Philly to score a perfect 100 with me... I love Italian food and this restaurant is the best in all areas of what Italian dining is all about!!! Chef Carl Redding
(5)
Steven C.
First off, I got to say that the complimentary bread, PESTO, and Parmesan is FANTASTIC!!!! Where have you ever gotten PESTO & Parmesan for free!?!? I had a pasta dish and it was really fresh pasta. They make it home-made. They also offer several entrees at appetizer poriton/price which allows you to enjoy a shared appetizer and an entree without feeling completely full by the end. If you want a good meatball, order the Meatball appetizer, DELISH!
(5)
Cornel F.
Great food. We particularly liked the spaghetti vongole.
(4)
Amanda M.
Flatbread Caesar - Amazing Nonna's Sunday Gravy - Amazing Chicken Sacco - Amazing The fact that you can get all that food, dessert, and bring your own bottle of wine for under $100 makes this spot perfect for date night! Even the bread they bring out with the pesto and cheese is incredible.
(5)
Dustin M.
Came here for suburban restaurant week, but surprisingly didn't get the restaurant week menu. The regular menu just looked to good. Pescatore is pretty easy to find on Rt 23, and the free parking lot makes it all the better. The first thing I noticed was how popular it was with people from the neighborhood. You could tell how many people that the servers recognized. The dining room footprint is small, but they use the space well. The lighting is intimate without being too dark. The ceilings are high, and they put some stuff on the ceiling to keep it from being too loud. The meatballs are a really, really good appetizer. I could have had that on it's own and been satisfied, but this place is known for seafood, and I had to go with that. So, I landed on the seafood pescatore (natch). It's an excellent, well balanced dish. The only issue was the shrimp in it. Large, but well over cooked. Every other component was delicious though, and I'd definitely go back.
(4)
Mary C.
How I want to love this local spot. Great atmosphere, close by, always someone we know to talk with. But the food is so heavily laden with garlic and olive that for me it was inedible. Head to the sister restaurant, Anastasia's in South Philly, and have a great time eating something that really tastes like fish. I had branzino in both restaurants in the last month.
(2)
Kay B.
I will be back! They have a gnocchi dish on their menu which I look forward to. Visited this place for a special occasion. Good service, nice atmosphere, and generous portions. Our server was attentive and helpful, and seemed she genuinely wanted us to enjoy ourselves. She shared that the owners of the restaurant also own a fish market in Italian Market area in Philadelphia, so the fish here is fresh. We ordered the stuffed portabello appetizer, duroc pork chop, brasciole, side of wild mushroom risotto, and pistachio gelato. Everything we had was tasty and respectable. The portabella was actually flattened and served with a crab cake + accoutrements (capers, roasted red peppers) on top. It was good, but the crab cake had breading in it and I prefer just lump crab. A preference thing, but worth trying! The pork chop was served over a bed of smooth mashed potatoes. It was tender and very crispy with the panko. I would order it again for sure. The brasciole is a beef dish that's been cooked for a long time to make it fall apart. Served with a red sauce, also over mashed potatoes. Very good! The meat was very tender. We also ordered a side of wild mushroom risotto. The rice was toothy, and it tasted more like butter than parmesan cheese. This is ok if you prefer the taste of butter more than cheese, but I am the opposite. It had thin slices of what looked like shiitake in it. Overall mushroom flavor was delicate. We appreciated the pistachio gelato on the house for our special occasion! It was good, but tasted of either an almond/amaretto extract ever so slightly. I liked the pieces of raw pistachio, but could do without the extract flavor. Again, a preference, but nothing wrong in the execution! Inside they have a very deep and romantic theme. White walls with framed photographs. Rich red curtains by the door. Very cozy as long as you stay away from the vents! Thanks for a very nice atmosphere and great service for our special celebration!!! Pescatore is BYOB. If you are sharing an entree, there is a charge.
(4)
Jeff S.
Excellent meal!!! Burrata salad, Nonna's Sunday gravy and a Tartufo for dessert. Friendly neighborhood place. It's BYOB. Burrata was the best I have ever had! The Sunday gravy was a lamb ragu over pasta, meatball and really really good sweet sausage! Tartufo was so different! If in the neighborhood, check it out!
(5)
Jim R.
Enjoyed a wonderful dinner here on a Friday night recently. Was in town from Minneapolis to visit my college son and was looking for something nice in the Philly suburbs. I found this spot on open table then checked yelp for the straight scoop. It is a small cozy spot with not a lot of room between the tables but that didn't stop the very attentive and efficient wait staff from keeping every water glass full at all times. I had a hard time choosing-there were so many great sounding items on the menu plus about 6 great specials. In the end, I chose the Bronzino special-delectable white fish with a nice white wine sauce topped with asparagus and crab and served with flavorful mashed potatoes. Lots of great flavor and perfect meal. We started off with another special, grilled flatbread topped with tangy Cesar salad, crab and shrimp-more than enough for 4 people and a salad and appetizer all in one-clever. The only drawback for me was the concept of "BYO" - apparently the restaurant doesn't have a liquor license (who knew) and so you need to bring your own wine. I'll remember next time I'm in the area.
My girlfriend had heard good things and suggested we try Pescatore. We were both very impressed by the atmosphere, food, and service and plan on returning soon. The bread and parmesan are amazing and set the tone for the entire meal.
(5)
Charlie C.
We ate there for the 2nd time last night., both meals were great..Food and service were really good, prices very fair....and very nice wait staff. Well prepared, fresh seafood and Italian fare. Nice atmosphere, just a little too loud. Hope this place can keep going..the Main Line is a dining desert..
(4)
Robert F.
The menu is vast and has many good choices. The food and service was excellent. The noise level is a bit too loud due to the high ceiling and wood floor. Overall I give this restaurant 4 out of 5 stars.
(4)
Steve C.
Pescatore offers a cozy welcoming atmosphere with excellent service and superb food. When we arrived our expectations dropped as we opened our menus to find nothing but the dark leather insides of the menu, thankfully once we were given new menus that had actual printing in them, our experience soared from there. Our server Pisello recited from memory a long list menu additions and specials flawlessly, I was impressed, I could barely remember everything he said, I definitely couldn't do his job. His interaction was professional, warm and friendly. We decided to start with the mussels, and for entrees my wife chose the Osso Bucca, and I had a dish called Nona's Sunday Gravy. The mussels were remarkable cooked in a slightly spicy sauce which truly brought the appetizer to life. I have had a lot of mussels in my time and these are a close second to the ones at Monks Cafe. Our entrees were beyond our expectations, my wife raved about the Osso Bucca and she is an extreme foodie. While I could never define myself as a foodie, I tend to be particular but not too adventurous, Nona's Sunday Gravy was a combination of the best traditional Italian food has to offer. Sweet italian sausage, Nona's Meatballs, Pasta, long hot peppers and lamb ragu. Wow!. It was breathtaking, and with those long hots that could be taken literally. A truly amazing dish. We both left part of out entrees for take home next day lunch as the portions were quite generous and we wanted to sample the dessert menu which my wife chose a peanut butter tartufo that was again impeccably done and I had the Tiramisu which was so unique that I was floored by the flavor. That along when an excellent cup of cappuccino ended a perfect night (well not count the menus) out at a truly exceptional establishment. Pescatore has won our hearts, minds and stomachs. I suggest you make a reservation and enjoy the culinary bliss. One FYI, Pescatore is a BYOB establishment. They are happy to provide wine glasses or have various mixers on the menu that you can use with the liquor you bring.
(5)
Jackie M.
I can't believe that we didn't have the same experience some of the other diners had. We ordered eggplant rollatini, it was dry and tasteless, branzino tasted old and flavorless, grilled octopus was nothing special. My dinner of lobster raviolis were so salty, it was impossible to enjoy. Maybe we ordered all of the wrong things, but what we ordered are so simple to cook. So if you know how to cook yourself and dine out a lot, you shouldn't eat here.
(1)
Marlin 1.
Good BUT not what it use to be. The quality of the preparation of the food has slipped. This appears to be the beginning of a slippery slope that if not correct will make Pescatore just another average high priced place to eat.
(4)
Lindsay R.
My husband and I dined at Pescatore because everyone boasts about the restaurant, however, we did not have a great experience. We ordered the special salad over flatbread. It was large but not $25 worth in taste. I ordered the $30 ocean mix. The plate contains 1 lobster tail, 1 scallop & 3 shrimp. Thank God I was almost full from the bread and salad! The biggest disappointment was that all of the fish was overcooked! My husbands classic pasta dish was really good but nothing to boast about. The staff was nice but there were a lot of teenagers working and didn't bother to clear our small table of the little dishes taking up room we needed. The website doesn't state any prices and now I know why. I was expecting the best food on the mainline but once again we are still searching.
(2)
Jackie B.
I live in city so I rarely go out to eat in the suburbs and when I do... it is not my choice. I was so pleasantly surprised when I stopped in to Pescatore for the first time after seeing a movie at the theater across the street. Service was excellent. Extremely professional but with a certain old South Philly charm. (Maybe that was all of the Frank Sinatra and Frankie Avalon that was playing... which I kind of loved.) The food. Ahh the food. Everything we had was super tasty but the Sunday Supper was absolutely ridiculous (in a good way). The flat bread Caesar was also something I could probably eat every day. No joke. Everyone else loved their food and one of my friend's is gluten free/celiac and they were super accommodating . I have been back a couple of times now (ssshhh don't tell my city friends) and it has been excellent every time. Damn them for making me leave the city. #worthit
(5)
Cristina L.
Wow! We were blown away by Pescatore! After a quick Yelp search, we found this gem of a place and were consistently impressed with all aspects of the good and service. The wait staff was very attentive but not too much to the point of being bothersome. Our waitress was knowledgable and friendly, and gave fabulous suggestions. Our food was SPECTACULAR! The complementary bread with cheese and pesto were delightful. In fact, the pesto tastes exactly like something from my Italian grandmother's kitchen! This place clearly goes the extra mile for heir customers. For the entree, we both chose from the extensive specials list-- my boyfriend went with the Bronzino, and the waitress made the grilled octopus special into an entree with homemade tagliatelle for me. Both were to die for! Finished off with a great tiramisu. Overall, the waitstaff and quality of the food made it a great night. The entrees average between $25 and $30, but are certainly worth the price! I only wish we could afford to go more often! BYOB certainly makes it more affordable on the other hand. If you're in the mood for great quality Italian, take my advice and go here!!
(5)
Cecilia M.
Great corner Italian restaurant. It's my second time here. Love their signature salad, really delicious. BYOB.. Good service
(4)
Stephen Z.
Absolutely amazing. I highly recommend this restaurant. The food was authentic and delicious. Our waiter, Giovanni was a true professional and his service was top notch. You just can't go wrong here. Every dish we had all three courses were outstanding.
(5)
Jan G.
Love it. Food and service are great. Terrific neighborhood restaurant. BYOB which we love.
(5)
John I.
Loved this place . A terrific little secret with amazing Southern Italian food. The seafood is so fresh....right from the S Philly market. The meatballs taste just like my Grandmothers; perfection . Grilled octopus was light and seasoned to perfection. Pasta tasted homemade....the cannolis have a great ricotta filling. You will not be disappointed!!!!!!
(5)
Brian H.
Unfortunately I did not have the same 4 or 5 star experience that others have had at this BYOB In Bala. To start our wine was opened promptly, the not-so-fine glasses were poured, the specials of the day were rattled off in a rapid litany fumbling over how the dishes were prepared, so much so that we had to ask for a repeat. In less than a minute the server returned to ask if we were ready to order, my thumb had just popped open the menu, so I responded "I would like to look at the menu first". Good idea? I think so. The bread served with an oily pesto and shaved parm was actually the highlight of the evening. See where we are headed? We split a 3 star arugula salad, very lightly dressed and the shaved parm barely noticeable. We then split the gnocchi of the day, spinach gnocci in a "veal demi-glace" so we were told. If there was a demi-glace involved in the dish at all, I'd be surprised. The gnocchi were mush, pure mush, and basically the dish was a waste of empty calories and no flavor to boot. 1 star here. For entrees, we ordered 2 out of the 3 fish specials for the evening. I had the striped bass which was a small piece of the tender fish ($30) over top of a sweet pea risotto, Again lacking flavor. For a plus, the risotto was cooked a perfect al dente, with no or very little cheese you would expect in a risotto, and by the time the server returned to ask if everything was alright, I said that the risotto could have used a little cheese, which she promptly returned and added to the two tablespoons I had left on the plate. My friend had the Branzino special ($30), which was good in it's own right, but had a soggy wet skin still attached so the skin was inedible. The mashed potatoes were average at best along with the asparagus. OK, time for dessert, let's try that "award winning" tiramisu. This was not bad, but not close to the best I've had. Let's give the dessert an A-OK. The tiramisu was served with the check shoved under the plate within seconds of the dessert appearance on our table. No lie, we did not even have time to pick up our forks off of the table. I guess they were trying to get rid of us as fast as we were trying to get this dinner over and behind us. No reason to go back again, it wouldn't even be worth a try. This is my 100th review of the year, I was looking forward to it being very favorable, what a shame.
A friend recommended this place to me. My parents and sister were visiting from MA so I decided to bring them here. I would definitely recommend this place. Great food and pleasant/attentive staff. Small and cozy, would be a great spot for a date.
(5)
Richard R.
A third experience left my opinion unchanged. Our table was not ready and we were offered an opportunity to stand in the vestibule while we waited the few minutes required. The hostess still seems less than happy. Once seated, or wine was handled well and the service was adequate.
(3)
Reid F.
I liked the food at this BYO, but despite the excellent service, I thought it lacked something. It was a good meal, just not great.
(3)
John H.
We had an amazing seafood dinner here, me and two colleagues from work. The service was excellent, the food awesome, and it's a cute little place. Can't wait to go back next time I'm in Philly.
(5)
Joseph G.
The gnocchi was easily the best I've had. Pesto was wonderful.
(4)
Larry M.
Finally a good friendly restruant in Bala Cynwyd. Best Veal Sicillan since the previous restruant I got it at in South Philly closed. Service was friendly. Prices were very reasonable. Deserts also looked excellent and home made.
(5)
Geoff H.
The gnocchi. If there's one reason to go it is this dish. The gnocchi itself is light and fluffy, but it rests in the most delicious sauce I've ever tasted bar none. It was unreal, the depth of flavor that came through, like it had been slowly simmered for hours on end to extract every ounce of richness from it's components. Seriously, my first bite I stopped and just was amazed at how complex, balanced, and flavorful this sauce was, leaving you with just that warm feeling of a perfect meal. It's been 3 months so I'll update once we go back (and we will), but for now that sauce still haunts me, and the memory of a well executed and homey meal with a flaky trout drizzled with a tart lemon sauce and rich chicken livers to start. Service was wonderful, with our waiter recommending great combinations while describing each dish with knowledge that came with true study and appreciation of the food.
(5)
C P.
Average, over priced italian food with mediocre service and terrible parking. This venue is trying to live off of their parent restaurant downtown, but its not working. La Collina is much more authentic, is a staple in the area, and has better parking.
(2)
Cathy S.
Crazy that some rate this place 4 or 5 stars. Perhaps they serve different quality food on weekends. Having just dined at Pescatore mid week, I found the food to be just fair. As a salad lover, I rate a restaurant on the freshness of their greens. It is simple to buy fresh arugula theses days. The arugula was soggy and tasteless, and the cherry tomatoes were tasteless. Plus the carrots served with the entrees were those fake baby ones served only at poor restaurants (and at Wawa with dip).
(2)
Phil D.
Visited: Saturday - January 14, 2012 - 5:00 PM I hosted a dinner for 12 dining club members at 5pm. It is an accepted practice to arrange separate checks when possible. Tonight was no exception. I arrived about 4:45PM to greet the anticipated diners. The table was nicely arranged in the corner of the room with ample space between seats. Pesto, thinly sliced cheese, with Italian bread was presented among the guests. Careful - no double dipping the chewed bread in the pesto! I had the Octopus salad as the appetizer. The waiter indicated that kalamata olives were an ingredient. I don't like kalamata olives due to their highly-salted composition but, ordered it. The octopus appetizer was very good. The characteristic kalamata olives briny taste was pleasantly subdued. The arugula salad was surprising hard to eat. The leaves were tough and string-like. The thinly sliced cheese did nothing to improve the taste. The cioppino was quite good - perfectly cooked stripped bass amid clams, mussels, scallops, shrimp and slightly undercooked risotto. I washed everything down with a cup of decaffeinated tea and marbled cheese cake...yum! The wait staff was very good and the separate checks were calculated without a hitch. The true test of efficiency and quality of a dining establishment is best gauged by their performance on a Saturday night, separate checks, service, and of course food. My co-diners enjoyed their experience. Despite the arugula salad, and risotto, Pescatore performed admirably - kudos!
(5)
Jim K.
First let me say we've been going to Pescatore the past 2 years and we've always enjoyed the entire experience. Last night was a real downer though. (Our past experiences led to 2 stars instead of just 1.) We sat for 10 minutes with no one even coming to greet us; and that's when I saw the filthy water glass in front of me. Filthy as in lovely pink lipstick and fingerprints--maybe from the prior guest. Host finally came and poured our "Bala" water, but no ice. Before we could comment on the fact that the water was tepid, he was gone. When the waitress came and we asked her for cold water she brought us a single glass of ice and scooted away. When she returned again (5 minutes later) we asked for iced water. She looked perplexed but complied. The typically yummy grilled octopus we always have was mediocre at best, with little taste and overcooked. As we picked at it, we overheard the couple next to us complaining quite vigorously about the poor flatbread Caesar salad with crab and shrimp. Too bad we had already ordered it, because it has been consistently delicious. The couple was right on target. This time it was bland, too much oil in the dressing, and enough crab shell to damage teeth. My Nonna's Gravy was very good though, which was a welcome departure from the rest of the meal. It's unlikely we will return to this place we've been faithful to for several years. And one more thing: the host who greeted us needs to button his shirt and learn to smile. Try it and you might have a different experience, but the price may not be worth rolling the dice.
(2)
Michelle O.
Went again and got the same thing but this time the lobster was overcooked. I guess you can't relive a great experience.
(3)
Henry L.
We had a wonderful experience at Pescatore last night, sharing an appetizer of prosciutto-wrapped crab drizzled with balsamic reduction. The entrees were Pescatore linguini with the shellfish and shrimp perfectly cooked and seasoned (which is not easy for busy restaurants) and a skate which was very fresh and again perfectly cooked and seasoned. We have not been here in a while. The hostess was friendly and sincere, and could not have been more accommodating and the waitstaff were polite and quite accomplished. This is much more expertly run restaurant than it was a year or two ago, and the overall experience much more satisfying. It might be the best restaurant on the Main Line.
(5)
Brittini S.
Great for my weeknight out with coworkers! Cozy little BYOB in Bala. I really liked the meatball appetizer and my main entree was cooked to perfection. The chef sent out an extra dessert because he overheard that one of us was with child. They paced the meal very nicely and let us sit in the corner table and talk well after the meal was eaten. Definitely a do-over!
(5)
Chris G.
Pescatore is a family-run BYOB nestled in the theater area of Bala_Cynwyd. As often as I go, which is probably 5 times a year, I have yet to have anything short of fantastic food. The pumpkin gnocchi is particularly good, but the meat selection is what draws me there. Wait staff is amazing - good training! The atmosphere is very cozy and, best of all, the warm and friendly reception, quite atypical for the Main Line, is a breath of fresh air.
(5)
J K.
Second visit to Pescatore was disappointing. Service tonight was very spotty. Seems like the restaurant is understaffed. Table was not ready when we arrived and we had to wait 10 minutes in the alcove. Another long wait before waitress came for our order. When we were done with our appetizers, she came by to clear the plates and, seeming frazzled, said "were those your appetizers or your entrees?" As far as food, the appetizers of eggplant rollatini and mushroom stuffed with crabmeat were both excellent. We didn't fare that well with the entrees, however. My stuffed pork chop was underdone (had to send it back to the kitchen) and the linquine pescatore was underwhelming. Other than garlic and oil, it seems to have no sauce. The seafood ravioli was OK but the portion was very small. One thing I can't understand is why this restaurant, named Pescatore, has almost no fresh seafood on the menu. Tonight's special was sauteed salmon- not exactly exotic. Why is there no local fresh fish? I thiink it will be a while before I return to Pescatore. For good food and service in Bala, I prefer my old standby, the New Tavern, where food and service are both reilable. Afterthought: there are a surprising number of 4 and 5 star reviews for this restaurant by people who have joined yelp just to post this one review..this strikes me as odd for a small restaurant in Bala Cynwyd to have attracted a large following of new yelpers...just saying.
(2)
dana s.
The best! We held our parent's 60th birthday party here and from start to finish, Frank was the best to work with. He was prompt, consistent, and helpful. Fast forward to our actual meal and it was flawless. The staff were incredible, the portions were perfect, and everyone was raving - most importantly, our parents! Thanks to Pescatore for an incredible dining experience and a memorable night for our family. We look forward to dining here again in the future!!!
(5)
Lee P.
the food was wonderful, the service was amazing. Although the evening started out with confusion regarding our reservations via Yelp. We arrived at 8pm to the hostess saying that there were no reservations under our name-very frustrating. The did their best, and we were seated within 30-40 minutes. Despite the confusion, we would definitely dine at Pescatore again- just would call to confirm our reservations!! :)
(4)
Diem L.
We came there for restaurant week and upgraded from the $30 to $38 menu to get the specials: fish and scallops. The fish which was recommended by the waitress was just okay. The scallops were divine. The pesto and parmesan for the bread was just amazing. The hot links app was very spicy. Our waitress was great, very attentive and friendly. I have recommended to friends and will definitely be back! I love the BYO option.
(4)
Pam A.
Solid Italian food, they have the staples down. Their salads are enormous and tasty. Its great that they are a byob, because, their prices are a little high. I would definitely say - GO, and be prepared to take home a doggy bag..and scout the room for local celeb tv types!
(3)
marc e.
Sorry Charlie, No no no. We've been twice. First time was bad food. 2nd time was bad service. You don't get a 3rd shot, sorry. First time was about 3 weeks after the restaurant opened. Food was mediocre to poor. Bread was good. Octopus salad was inedible. But.. hey.. they had just opened so kinda unfair to post a yelp review. Let it go! Also, they seemed to have a great pedigree with access to great seafood so.... let's cross our fingers and try again later. Yesterday heard from a friend: Food pretty good! Nowhere else to go right now... need to kill some time... let's try it again. So... off the two of us go. Make reservation on OpenTable. Walk over (yes, it is just a 15 minute walk and so it would really be GREAT if the restaurant was good)... but... Just terrible service. My guess, the manager in the front-of-house is a relative of the owner and so doesn't understand customer service: I am guessing, it could just be bad with no excuse... it is just that my experience is that people would be fired if they weren't related but who knows. We actually got our menus, were told it was restaurant week, specials were explained, and then.... we placed our orders and were told, after the fact, that our menu selections were not allowed (per some policy not written down or explained...details below if you want to be bored)... so we stood up, finished our wine, and left the restaurant. No apology, no explanations, no food... just a silly silly place that won't survive. DETAILS: I wanted the mussels appetizer and then scallops. Wife wanted the bass or maybe the mussels, and maybe some broccoli? anyway... then we were told it was "restaurant week" so... I choose the hot links and scallops wife chooses the mussels and a side of broccoli rabe and we're told NOPE. that doesn't work. it is some mix of restaurant week items and regular items we don't allow. HUH? We weren't even thinking about price. We weren't trying to get any deal... we didn't even know it was restaurant week! we just wanted to order what we wanted to order from their menu... no specials... just food... whatever the price. SO... when they said NOPE. I said ... hmmm... perhaps check with the manager? and they did.. and came back and said NOPE. but not a nice no... not a manager coming over with a nice explanation and apology... not an accomdation OR an explanation... just a no. essentially "go away". TOTALLY WEIRD. We live a mile away and could be great customers and great word-of-mouth. very very strange. Ahhh well. RECOMMENDATION: Go to Ryan Christopher's BYOB about 2 miles down the road for great food great service. NOTICE MY PATTERN OF REVIEWS. MOST ARE FAVORABLE. THIS IS A WEIRD EXCEPTION.
(1)
Ruth D.
Tonight was my first time here and it was delightful. The staff was friendly. Soothing atmosphere. I loved the bread and the pesto olive oil and the cheese that came with them. The caesar salad on flatbread with seafood was okay. Not the best. They were right to tell us it was enough for two. But I loved my entree: braised short ribs and risotto. My dining mates' entrees - spinach ravioli and fettuccine bolognese - looked very tasty. The chocolate cake which was enough for all three of us to share was moist and delicious. I docked one star because I was not a big fan of the caesar salad and at one point the service was a little pokey. But all in all a positive experience. I live in the neighborhood and I tend to neglect Bala Avenue but I will return to this restaurant.
(4)
Charles R.
One of the best 3 Italian restaurants in MainLine. The fact that's BYO makes it even better. The salad was fresh and had a wonderful dressing. The stuffed long hot Italian peppers were great. I love hot and spicy and these were about a 7 out of 10 on my scale of hot. The sausage stuffing was sweet and fresh. So many choices it was hard to pick for dinner, but the special of soft shells from Maryland were close to perfect, maybe a touch more garlic would have made them perfect for my taste. The veal with hot and sweet peppers was fork tender and the sauce was right on the money. Most people had the 7" high chocolate cake, but since I love Tiramisu I had to try it. It was good, but not enough rum. Outside of that , this place is great. Great waiter, but the whole staff was very nice. Major drawback is parking. I had to park over 2 blocks away. They take all major plastic.
(4)
Daniel S.
We visited for Father's Day. Pleasant service, but very disappointing food. My parents had been there once before, but they too were let down by the food this time. Was the chef off with his family?
(3)
george k.
This was a disappointment. I wanted to try a new place for my b-day. I felt the menu was too large, and in some cases, repetitive. The service was just okay. Our server sat on the table top next to us while delivering the long list of specials. The food was just okay. The seafood was fresh but the taste was under seasoned. Not bland but not pronounced. Both of our main plates were expensive. The defining moment came earlier than expected. We just finished our apps when here come the entrees. We didn't even have our red wine opened. The host asked us what the problem was and we explained that the main plates arrived much too quickly. He responded with "the kitchen starts the main plates right after the apps are consumed and you should get them after 5 minutes". Really, a whole 5 minutes? Are we at applebees or TGIF? I won't go back, too many other places that allow diners to savor their food.
(3)
MM B.
what a lovely pre-Valentines dinner we just had! Food was excellent, service was impeccable and the room was warm and inviting. We took our server's suggestions and all ordered the specials: Osso Bucco, ravioli with goat cheese, branzino. Place was almost full when we arrived for an early reservation, but we were never rushed. We are always rooting for the family owned and run restaurants - Pescatore does not need us to root for the underdog in this case- our dining experience was just amazing from start to finish. We will definitely return...
(5)
Janek J.
I dined with a group of four, all of whom had appetizers and entrees. I didn't taste a single thing for which I wasn't WILD!
(5)
Francesco R.
Wow - wife found this place on OpenTable and we gave it a shot. Reviews were great on OT and Yelp and all those people were right. We were met promptly upon arrival at 9PM last night and seated. Our waitress was VERY impressive relaying an extensive list of daily specials. Since this was our first time she also guided us through some of her favorites. We started off enjoying the bread, pesto and shaved parmesan cheese while also enjoying our house salad. The baked Mozzarella en Carozza was AMAZING. i would eat eight of those until i exploded. Then dinner. Delicious. I had the spaghetti pescatore which was a delicate wine sauce and crab, mussels, shrimp and clams. Thank you to our waitress for the suggestion. My lovely wife had the daily special ravioli which were covered in a sundried tomato and pesto sauce. Dessert was very good too. I had the ricotta cheesecake and my wife had the tiramisu. Even the decaf cappuccino was good. My wife and I will DEFINITELY be back and have already talked about what we will get next and who we should tell about our lovely experience there.
(5)
Vikki S.
Pescatore is a destination restaurant; you don't just walk past it while meandering down Montgomery Avenue. Instead, it's hidden down Bala Cynwyd Avenue on a small corner across the street from the Bala movie theater. My husband and I opted to try it one night before we went to see Lincoln. And what a pleasant surprise. The decor was a bit serious and formal (linen tablecloths, oh my), but the waitstaff was knowledgeable, friendly and attentive (but not hovering). I can't remember what we ate, but I remember it being very good. Oh, wait. My husband ordered a bolognese I think, and he said it was one of the best he's ever had (maybe I ordered the special fish of the night, a branzino?). Either way, the food really was tasty. I'm not sure my dish was one of the best meals I've ever had, but it was a wonderful new experience, and I think we may return with my mother-in-law who would like the formality of the place. The only other observation I had was that at age 39 were probably the youngest couple in the place; it seems to draw a pre-movie, older crowd.
(4)
Larry W.
We live in the neighborhood but tonight was out first visit here. We will definitely be back! Excellent mussel appetizer followed by a crab ravioli and an great fish special with crab meat. The tiramisu for dessert was one of the best I have had (more cinnamon, less nutmeg than usual). About an $80 meal (with BYO wine). Good wait staff and friendly owners. A lot of reviewers have mentioned the noise and it was a little loud when the place filled up but only slightly above average and not overly distracting. Overall a great dinner in Bala that completely replaces the need to go into Philly. Highly recommended!
(4)
Jenn P.
Actually found this restaurant through Yelp, looking for Italian BYOB. Absolutely Phenomenal! The atmosphere is so intimate and romantic. Food was delicious, waitress was very helpful and attentive. Will definitely be returning!
(5)
Kevin W.
Outstanding Restaurant!!!! My favorite Italian restaurant the pasta is outstanding and Ive never had a problem with the service.I highly recommend getting one of their pasta dishes because it is made fresh.Ive eaten here a few times and have never had a bad service or meal
(4)
Jan K.
Unpretentious (unlike Avril which it replaced) Pescatore offered a varied and interesting menu, and some nice specials. For apps, we had Tuscan mussels and crab meat-stuffed prosciutto (how can you go wrong with those ingredients?) I had a delicious bronzino filet, that was pan-seared to a luscious bronze color. My wife's veal chop was hugely thick, but a little tough. Probably had it been pounded flat, it would have filled the plate and been much easier to chew... That's just the nature of veal. Service was attentive (considering the restaurant was 100% full. Requests for extra bread (to sop up sauce) was delivered along with some shaved cheese from a huge wheel. Our waitress knew the menu and specials very well. All the staff had a comfortable South-Philly style genuineness that made you feel like you were dining at a friend's house who happened to be an excellent Italian cook. BYOB made it an affordable $100 after tip and a fresh shared cannoli. We can walk there from our house, and will absolutely go back.
(4)
Ryan P.
We always have the caesar salad flatbread with the crab and shrimp, it is excellent! The service is great and each special tastes great. I recommend Pescatore to all my friends. Enjoy!
(5)
Anonymous L.
So Glad we came! Worth the 2 hr drive from New Jersey :) The food and service was meticiously, I would highly recommend the butternut squash ravioli, caesar salad on flatbread, and the fish specials!! Reasonable prices for excellant food. Dessert were excellent, too. It's a BYOB which makes it a great place to go!
(5)
Mary C.
How I want to love this local spot. Great atmosphere, close by, always someone we know to talk with. But the food is so heavily laden with garlic and olive that for me it was inedible. Head to the sister restaurant, Anastasia's in South Philly, and have a great time eating something that really tastes like fish. I had branzino in both restaurants in the last month.
(2)
John G.
My girlfriend had heard good things and suggested we try Pescatore. We were both very impressed by the atmosphere, food, and service and plan on returning soon. The bread and parmesan are amazing and set the tone for the entire meal.
(5)
Mary C.
How I want to love this local spot. Great atmosphere, close by, always someone we know to talk with. But the food is so heavily laden with garlic and olive that for me it was inedible. Head to the sister restaurant, Anastasia's in South Philly, and have a great time eating something that really tastes like fish. I had branzino in both restaurants in the last month.
(2)
Kerri S.
One word - Excellent!!! I've been here twice and can't wait to plan another trip. Both dining experiences were fantastic. The food was delicious, the service was spot on, and the ambience was warm and inviting. Between my two visits I tried the buratta salad, antipasto platter, grilled octopus, and mixed ocean grill, and I would absolutely recommend all of these dishes. The people we dined with lived nearby but had not been before, and they were thrilled to have a new neighborhood go to favorite. They came back less than a month later. I was also appreciative of the prices as everything was very reasonable. I look forward to returning to Pescatore soon.
(5)
Adam F.
Pescatore is a very good Italian BYOB out in the suburbs. The food is really good, the staff is knowledgeable and attentive, and the decor is upscale yet with a casual vibe. Also, it is right across from the Bala theater, so a perfect dinner & movie night. Appetizers: Nonna's meatballs, crab meat wrapped with prosciutto Pasta: any of the homemade pastas are good (gnocchi, ravioli, fettuccine) Entrees: Pork chop italiano (stuffed with sausage and broccoli rabe), veal pavarotti (veal with shrimp and prosciutto) Fish: definitely have good fish here, check the specials
A friend recommended this place to me. My parents and sister were visiting from MA so I decided to bring them here. I would definitely recommend this place. Great food and pleasant/attentive staff. Small and cozy, would be a great spot for a date.
(5)
Larry W.
We live in the neighborhood but tonight was out first visit here. We will definitely be back! Excellent mussel appetizer followed by a crab ravioli and an great fish special with crab meat. The tiramisu for dessert was one of the best I have had (more cinnamon, less nutmeg than usual). About an $80 meal (with BYO wine). Good wait staff and friendly owners. A lot of reviewers have mentioned the noise and it was a little loud when the place filled up but only slightly above average and not overly distracting. Overall a great dinner in Bala that completely replaces the need to go into Philly. Highly recommended!
(4)
Jenn P.
Actually found this restaurant through Yelp, looking for Italian BYOB. Absolutely Phenomenal! The atmosphere is so intimate and romantic. Food was delicious, waitress was very helpful and attentive. Will definitely be returning!
(5)
Kevin W.
Outstanding Restaurant!!!! My favorite Italian restaurant the pasta is outstanding and Ive never had a problem with the service.I highly recommend getting one of their pasta dishes because it is made fresh.Ive eaten here a few times and have never had a bad service or meal
(4)
Charlie C.
We ate there for the 2nd time last night., both meals were great..Food and service were really good, prices very fair....and very nice wait staff. Well prepared, fresh seafood and Italian fare. Nice atmosphere, just a little too loud. Hope this place can keep going..the Main Line is a dining desert..
(4)
Robert F.
The menu is vast and has many good choices. The food and service was excellent. The noise level is a bit too loud due to the high ceiling and wood floor. Overall I give this restaurant 4 out of 5 stars.
(4)
Jan K.
Unpretentious (unlike Avril which it replaced) Pescatore offered a varied and interesting menu, and some nice specials. For apps, we had Tuscan mussels and crab meat-stuffed prosciutto (how can you go wrong with those ingredients?) I had a delicious bronzino filet, that was pan-seared to a luscious bronze color. My wife's veal chop was hugely thick, but a little tough. Probably had it been pounded flat, it would have filled the plate and been much easier to chew... That's just the nature of veal. Service was attentive (considering the restaurant was 100% full. Requests for extra bread (to sop up sauce) was delivered along with some shaved cheese from a huge wheel. Our waitress knew the menu and specials very well. All the staff had a comfortable South-Philly style genuineness that made you feel like you were dining at a friend's house who happened to be an excellent Italian cook. BYOB made it an affordable $100 after tip and a fresh shared cannoli. We can walk there from our house, and will absolutely go back.
(4)
Ryan P.
We always have the caesar salad flatbread with the crab and shrimp, it is excellent! The service is great and each special tastes great. I recommend Pescatore to all my friends. Enjoy!
(5)
Anonymous L.
So Glad we came! Worth the 2 hr drive from New Jersey :) The food and service was meticiously, I would highly recommend the butternut squash ravioli, caesar salad on flatbread, and the fish specials!! Reasonable prices for excellant food. Dessert were excellent, too. It's a BYOB which makes it a great place to go!
(5)
H C.
Checked out Pescatore for dinner with a few out of town friends on a Friday night. We all LOVED it! The bread with homemade pesto & parmesan is delicious, and they give you as many refills as you want! We all shared a caesar salad topped with shrimp and crabmeat that was to die for! Everyone was very pleased with their entrees. Had a lot of specials that night and the wait staff is very knowledgable. AND they're a BYOB, can't beat that! Reasonably priced, each couple paid about $70 for an unforgettable meal. The energy is vibrant, definitely not a place for a romantic dinner when it is crowded. But a great space for a larger group... make sure to make reservations!
(4)
Junior M.
I frequent Italian restaurants every weekend. How did I miss this one? Tables were closer than I like them to be, but the upscale reserved clientele know how to act with close seating, We were only about a foot away from a table of 4 on either side of us and had no problem. Very nice clientele! Food Excellante!!!! The veal was to die for and Nonoos Sunday dinner is the best! I would personally like a softer bread but it was good. The flatbred Ceasar with Shrimp and Crabmeat was an excellent appetizer for 2. Bravo! I shall return!
(5)
Amanda M.
Flatbread Caesar - Amazing Nonna's Sunday Gravy - Amazing Chicken Sacco - Amazing The fact that you can get all that food, dessert, and bring your own bottle of wine for under $100 makes this spot perfect for date night! Even the bread they bring out with the pesto and cheese is incredible.
(5)
Stephen Z.
Absolutely amazing. I highly recommend this restaurant. The food was authentic and delicious. Our waiter, Giovanni was a true professional and his service was top notch. You just can't go wrong here. Every dish we had all three courses were outstanding.
(5)
Jan G.
Love it. Food and service are great. Terrific neighborhood restaurant. BYOB which we love.
(5)
steven s.
Sunday, was at a Surprise Birthday Party at Pescatore, on BALA Avenue. What an "Awesome Restaurant"!! The absolute Best in the area! Tommy the Chef and Owner sure knows about Great Food and Warm Hospitality! What a Good Time and Great Food! BTW, BYOB,, Ask For Frank, at Pescatore, He Is, THE MAN.........LOVE, LOVE LOVED IT,,,
(5)
Dustin M.
Came here for suburban restaurant week, but surprisingly didn't get the restaurant week menu. The regular menu just looked to good. Pescatore is pretty easy to find on Rt 23, and the free parking lot makes it all the better. The first thing I noticed was how popular it was with people from the neighborhood. You could tell how many people that the servers recognized. The dining room footprint is small, but they use the space well. The lighting is intimate without being too dark. The ceilings are high, and they put some stuff on the ceiling to keep it from being too loud. The meatballs are a really, really good appetizer. I could have had that on it's own and been satisfied, but this place is known for seafood, and I had to go with that. So, I landed on the seafood pescatore (natch). It's an excellent, well balanced dish. The only issue was the shrimp in it. Large, but well over cooked. Every other component was delicious though, and I'd definitely go back.
(4)
Steve C.
Pescatore offers a cozy welcoming atmosphere with excellent service and superb food. When we arrived our expectations dropped as we opened our menus to find nothing but the dark leather insides of the menu, thankfully once we were given new menus that had actual printing in them, our experience soared from there. Our server Pisello recited from memory a long list menu additions and specials flawlessly, I was impressed, I could barely remember everything he said, I definitely couldn't do his job. His interaction was professional, warm and friendly. We decided to start with the mussels, and for entrees my wife chose the Osso Bucca, and I had a dish called Nona's Sunday Gravy. The mussels were remarkable cooked in a slightly spicy sauce which truly brought the appetizer to life. I have had a lot of mussels in my time and these are a close second to the ones at Monks Cafe. Our entrees were beyond our expectations, my wife raved about the Osso Bucca and she is an extreme foodie. While I could never define myself as a foodie, I tend to be particular but not too adventurous, Nona's Sunday Gravy was a combination of the best traditional Italian food has to offer. Sweet italian sausage, Nona's Meatballs, Pasta, long hot peppers and lamb ragu. Wow!. It was breathtaking, and with those long hots that could be taken literally. A truly amazing dish. We both left part of out entrees for take home next day lunch as the portions were quite generous and we wanted to sample the dessert menu which my wife chose a peanut butter tartufo that was again impeccably done and I had the Tiramisu which was so unique that I was floored by the flavor. That along when an excellent cup of cappuccino ended a perfect night (well not count the menus) out at a truly exceptional establishment. Pescatore has won our hearts, minds and stomachs. I suggest you make a reservation and enjoy the culinary bliss. One FYI, Pescatore is a BYOB establishment. They are happy to provide wine glasses or have various mixers on the menu that you can use with the liquor you bring.
(5)
Jackie M.
I can't believe that we didn't have the same experience some of the other diners had. We ordered eggplant rollatini, it was dry and tasteless, branzino tasted old and flavorless, grilled octopus was nothing special. My dinner of lobster raviolis were so salty, it was impossible to enjoy. Maybe we ordered all of the wrong things, but what we ordered are so simple to cook. So if you know how to cook yourself and dine out a lot, you shouldn't eat here.
(1)
Marlin 1.
Good BUT not what it use to be. The quality of the preparation of the food has slipped. This appears to be the beginning of a slippery slope that if not correct will make Pescatore just another average high priced place to eat.
(4)
Lindsay R.
My husband and I dined at Pescatore because everyone boasts about the restaurant, however, we did not have a great experience. We ordered the special salad over flatbread. It was large but not $25 worth in taste. I ordered the $30 ocean mix. The plate contains 1 lobster tail, 1 scallop & 3 shrimp. Thank God I was almost full from the bread and salad! The biggest disappointment was that all of the fish was overcooked! My husbands classic pasta dish was really good but nothing to boast about. The staff was nice but there were a lot of teenagers working and didn't bother to clear our small table of the little dishes taking up room we needed. The website doesn't state any prices and now I know why. I was expecting the best food on the mainline but once again we are still searching.
(2)
John I.
Loved this place . A terrific little secret with amazing Southern Italian food. The seafood is so fresh....right from the S Philly market. The meatballs taste just like my Grandmothers; perfection . Grilled octopus was light and seasoned to perfection. Pasta tasted homemade....the cannolis have a great ricotta filling. You will not be disappointed!!!!!!
(5)
Joseph G.
The gnocchi was easily the best I've had. Pesto was wonderful.
(4)
Brian H.
Unfortunately I did not have the same 4 or 5 star experience that others have had at this BYOB In Bala. To start our wine was opened promptly, the not-so-fine glasses were poured, the specials of the day were rattled off in a rapid litany fumbling over how the dishes were prepared, so much so that we had to ask for a repeat. In less than a minute the server returned to ask if we were ready to order, my thumb had just popped open the menu, so I responded "I would like to look at the menu first". Good idea? I think so. The bread served with an oily pesto and shaved parm was actually the highlight of the evening. See where we are headed? We split a 3 star arugula salad, very lightly dressed and the shaved parm barely noticeable. We then split the gnocchi of the day, spinach gnocci in a "veal demi-glace" so we were told. If there was a demi-glace involved in the dish at all, I'd be surprised. The gnocchi were mush, pure mush, and basically the dish was a waste of empty calories and no flavor to boot. 1 star here. For entrees, we ordered 2 out of the 3 fish specials for the evening. I had the striped bass which was a small piece of the tender fish ($30) over top of a sweet pea risotto, Again lacking flavor. For a plus, the risotto was cooked a perfect al dente, with no or very little cheese you would expect in a risotto, and by the time the server returned to ask if everything was alright, I said that the risotto could have used a little cheese, which she promptly returned and added to the two tablespoons I had left on the plate. My friend had the Branzino special ($30), which was good in it's own right, but had a soggy wet skin still attached so the skin was inedible. The mashed potatoes were average at best along with the asparagus. OK, time for dessert, let's try that "award winning" tiramisu. This was not bad, but not close to the best I've had. Let's give the dessert an A-OK. The tiramisu was served with the check shoved under the plate within seconds of the dessert appearance on our table. No lie, we did not even have time to pick up our forks off of the table. I guess they were trying to get rid of us as fast as we were trying to get this dinner over and behind us. No reason to go back again, it wouldn't even be worth a try. This is my 100th review of the year, I was looking forward to it being very favorable, what a shame.
(2)
Kay B.
I will be back! They have a gnocchi dish on their menu which I look forward to. Visited this place for a special occasion. Good service, nice atmosphere, and generous portions. Our server was attentive and helpful, and seemed she genuinely wanted us to enjoy ourselves. She shared that the owners of the restaurant also own a fish market in Italian Market area in Philadelphia, so the fish here is fresh. We ordered the stuffed portabello appetizer, duroc pork chop, brasciole, side of wild mushroom risotto, and pistachio gelato. Everything we had was tasty and respectable. The portabella was actually flattened and served with a crab cake + accoutrements (capers, roasted red peppers) on top. It was good, but the crab cake had breading in it and I prefer just lump crab. A preference thing, but worth trying! The pork chop was served over a bed of smooth mashed potatoes. It was tender and very crispy with the panko. I would order it again for sure. The brasciole is a beef dish that's been cooked for a long time to make it fall apart. Served with a red sauce, also over mashed potatoes. Very good! The meat was very tender. We also ordered a side of wild mushroom risotto. The rice was toothy, and it tasted more like butter than parmesan cheese. This is ok if you prefer the taste of butter more than cheese, but I am the opposite. It had thin slices of what looked like shiitake in it. Overall mushroom flavor was delicate. We appreciated the pistachio gelato on the house for our special occasion! It was good, but tasted of either an almond/amaretto extract ever so slightly. I liked the pieces of raw pistachio, but could do without the extract flavor. Again, a preference, but nothing wrong in the execution! Inside they have a very deep and romantic theme. White walls with framed photographs. Rich red curtains by the door. Very cozy as long as you stay away from the vents! Thanks for a very nice atmosphere and great service for our special celebration!!! Pescatore is BYOB. If you are sharing an entree, there is a charge.
(4)
Jeff S.
Excellent meal!!! Burrata salad, Nonna's Sunday gravy and a Tartufo for dessert. Friendly neighborhood place. It's BYOB. Burrata was the best I have ever had! The Sunday gravy was a lamb ragu over pasta, meatball and really really good sweet sausage! Tartufo was so different! If in the neighborhood, check it out!
(5)
Jim R.
Enjoyed a wonderful dinner here on a Friday night recently. Was in town from Minneapolis to visit my college son and was looking for something nice in the Philly suburbs. I found this spot on open table then checked yelp for the straight scoop. It is a small cozy spot with not a lot of room between the tables but that didn't stop the very attentive and efficient wait staff from keeping every water glass full at all times. I had a hard time choosing-there were so many great sounding items on the menu plus about 6 great specials. In the end, I chose the Bronzino special-delectable white fish with a nice white wine sauce topped with asparagus and crab and served with flavorful mashed potatoes. Lots of great flavor and perfect meal. We started off with another special, grilled flatbread topped with tangy Cesar salad, crab and shrimp-more than enough for 4 people and a salad and appetizer all in one-clever. The only drawback for me was the concept of "BYO" - apparently the restaurant doesn't have a liquor license (who knew) and so you need to bring your own wine. I'll remember next time I'm in the area.
I live in city so I rarely go out to eat in the suburbs and when I do... it is not my choice. I was so pleasantly surprised when I stopped in to Pescatore for the first time after seeing a movie at the theater across the street. Service was excellent. Extremely professional but with a certain old South Philly charm. (Maybe that was all of the Frank Sinatra and Frankie Avalon that was playing... which I kind of loved.) The food. Ahh the food. Everything we had was super tasty but the Sunday Supper was absolutely ridiculous (in a good way). The flat bread Caesar was also something I could probably eat every day. No joke. Everyone else loved their food and one of my friend's is gluten free/celiac and they were super accommodating . I have been back a couple of times now (ssshhh don't tell my city friends) and it has been excellent every time. Damn them for making me leave the city. #worthit
(5)
Cristina L.
Wow! We were blown away by Pescatore! After a quick Yelp search, we found this gem of a place and were consistently impressed with all aspects of the good and service. The wait staff was very attentive but not too much to the point of being bothersome. Our waitress was knowledgable and friendly, and gave fabulous suggestions. Our food was SPECTACULAR! The complementary bread with cheese and pesto were delightful. In fact, the pesto tastes exactly like something from my Italian grandmother's kitchen! This place clearly goes the extra mile for heir customers. For the entree, we both chose from the extensive specials list-- my boyfriend went with the Bronzino, and the waitress made the grilled octopus special into an entree with homemade tagliatelle for me. Both were to die for! Finished off with a great tiramisu. Overall, the waitstaff and quality of the food made it a great night. The entrees average between $25 and $30, but are certainly worth the price! I only wish we could afford to go more often! BYOB certainly makes it more affordable on the other hand. If you're in the mood for great quality Italian, take my advice and go here!!
(5)
Cecilia M.
Great corner Italian restaurant. It's my second time here. Love their signature salad, really delicious. BYOB.. Good service
(4)
Richard R.
A third experience left my opinion unchanged. Our table was not ready and we were offered an opportunity to stand in the vestibule while we waited the few minutes required. The hostess still seems less than happy. Once seated, or wine was handled well and the service was adequate.
(3)
Reid F.
I liked the food at this BYO, but despite the excellent service, I thought it lacked something. It was a good meal, just not great.
(3)
John H.
We had an amazing seafood dinner here, me and two colleagues from work. The service was excellent, the food awesome, and it's a cute little place. Can't wait to go back next time I'm in Philly.
(5)
Geoff H.
The gnocchi. If there's one reason to go it is this dish. The gnocchi itself is light and fluffy, but it rests in the most delicious sauce I've ever tasted bar none. It was unreal, the depth of flavor that came through, like it had been slowly simmered for hours on end to extract every ounce of richness from it's components. Seriously, my first bite I stopped and just was amazed at how complex, balanced, and flavorful this sauce was, leaving you with just that warm feeling of a perfect meal. It's been 3 months so I'll update once we go back (and we will), but for now that sauce still haunts me, and the memory of a well executed and homey meal with a flaky trout drizzled with a tart lemon sauce and rich chicken livers to start. Service was wonderful, with our waiter recommending great combinations while describing each dish with knowledge that came with true study and appreciation of the food.
(5)
C P.
Average, over priced italian food with mediocre service and terrible parking. This venue is trying to live off of their parent restaurant downtown, but its not working. La Collina is much more authentic, is a staple in the area, and has better parking.
(2)
Cathy S.
Crazy that some rate this place 4 or 5 stars. Perhaps they serve different quality food on weekends. Having just dined at Pescatore mid week, I found the food to be just fair. As a salad lover, I rate a restaurant on the freshness of their greens. It is simple to buy fresh arugula theses days. The arugula was soggy and tasteless, and the cherry tomatoes were tasteless. Plus the carrots served with the entrees were those fake baby ones served only at poor restaurants (and at Wawa with dip).
(2)
Carl R.
A few days ago I had the great pleasure of having a wonderful dinner with my accountant Steve and his family... Well you see, I am a Master Chef and I haven't written a review for a restaurant in a very very long time... I've lived in Italy for over a year and there really is no comparison to the Italian restaurants in Italy and the ones over here... The food in Italy is o die for. Now please believe me, the food at Pescatore's is also to die for. I wondered off the menu only to see if they would accommodate me. I ordered Veal, Chicken, and Shrimp Francese and that plate was unbelievably great... This restaurant is the 1st Italian restaurant in Philly to score a perfect 100 with me... I love Italian food and this restaurant is the best in all areas of what Italian dining is all about!!! Chef Carl Redding
(5)
Steven C.
First off, I got to say that the complimentary bread, PESTO, and Parmesan is FANTASTIC!!!! Where have you ever gotten PESTO & Parmesan for free!?!? I had a pasta dish and it was really fresh pasta. They make it home-made. They also offer several entrees at appetizer poriton/price which allows you to enjoy a shared appetizer and an entree without feeling completely full by the end. If you want a good meatball, order the Meatball appetizer, DELISH!
(5)
Cornel F.
Great food. We particularly liked the spaghetti vongole.
(4)
Jim K.
First let me say we've been going to Pescatore the past 2 years and we've always enjoyed the entire experience. Last night was a real downer though. (Our past experiences led to 2 stars instead of just 1.) We sat for 10 minutes with no one even coming to greet us; and that's when I saw the filthy water glass in front of me. Filthy as in lovely pink lipstick and fingerprints--maybe from the prior guest. Host finally came and poured our "Bala" water, but no ice. Before we could comment on the fact that the water was tepid, he was gone. When the waitress came and we asked her for cold water she brought us a single glass of ice and scooted away. When she returned again (5 minutes later) we asked for iced water. She looked perplexed but complied. The typically yummy grilled octopus we always have was mediocre at best, with little taste and overcooked. As we picked at it, we overheard the couple next to us complaining quite vigorously about the poor flatbread Caesar salad with crab and shrimp. Too bad we had already ordered it, because it has been consistently delicious. The couple was right on target. This time it was bland, too much oil in the dressing, and enough crab shell to damage teeth. My Nonna's Gravy was very good though, which was a welcome departure from the rest of the meal. It's unlikely we will return to this place we've been faithful to for several years. And one more thing: the host who greeted us needs to button his shirt and learn to smile. Try it and you might have a different experience, but the price may not be worth rolling the dice.
(2)
Michelle O.
Went again and got the same thing but this time the lobster was overcooked. I guess you can't relive a great experience.
(3)
Henry L.
We had a wonderful experience at Pescatore last night, sharing an appetizer of prosciutto-wrapped crab drizzled with balsamic reduction. The entrees were Pescatore linguini with the shellfish and shrimp perfectly cooked and seasoned (which is not easy for busy restaurants) and a skate which was very fresh and again perfectly cooked and seasoned. We have not been here in a while. The hostess was friendly and sincere, and could not have been more accommodating and the waitstaff were polite and quite accomplished. This is much more expertly run restaurant than it was a year or two ago, and the overall experience much more satisfying. It might be the best restaurant on the Main Line.
(5)
Brittini S.
Great for my weeknight out with coworkers! Cozy little BYOB in Bala. I really liked the meatball appetizer and my main entree was cooked to perfection. The chef sent out an extra dessert because he overheard that one of us was with child. They paced the meal very nicely and let us sit in the corner table and talk well after the meal was eaten. Definitely a do-over!
(5)
Pam A.
Solid Italian food, they have the staples down. Their salads are enormous and tasty. Its great that they are a byob, because, their prices are a little high. I would definitely say - GO, and be prepared to take home a doggy bag..and scout the room for local celeb tv types!
(3)
marc e.
Sorry Charlie, No no no. We've been twice. First time was bad food. 2nd time was bad service. You don't get a 3rd shot, sorry. First time was about 3 weeks after the restaurant opened. Food was mediocre to poor. Bread was good. Octopus salad was inedible. But.. hey.. they had just opened so kinda unfair to post a yelp review. Let it go! Also, they seemed to have a great pedigree with access to great seafood so.... let's cross our fingers and try again later. Yesterday heard from a friend: Food pretty good! Nowhere else to go right now... need to kill some time... let's try it again. So... off the two of us go. Make reservation on OpenTable. Walk over (yes, it is just a 15 minute walk and so it would really be GREAT if the restaurant was good)... but... Just terrible service. My guess, the manager in the front-of-house is a relative of the owner and so doesn't understand customer service: I am guessing, it could just be bad with no excuse... it is just that my experience is that people would be fired if they weren't related but who knows. We actually got our menus, were told it was restaurant week, specials were explained, and then.... we placed our orders and were told, after the fact, that our menu selections were not allowed (per some policy not written down or explained...details below if you want to be bored)... so we stood up, finished our wine, and left the restaurant. No apology, no explanations, no food... just a silly silly place that won't survive. DETAILS: I wanted the mussels appetizer and then scallops. Wife wanted the bass or maybe the mussels, and maybe some broccoli? anyway... then we were told it was "restaurant week" so... I choose the hot links and scallops wife chooses the mussels and a side of broccoli rabe and we're told NOPE. that doesn't work. it is some mix of restaurant week items and regular items we don't allow. HUH? We weren't even thinking about price. We weren't trying to get any deal... we didn't even know it was restaurant week! we just wanted to order what we wanted to order from their menu... no specials... just food... whatever the price. SO... when they said NOPE. I said ... hmmm... perhaps check with the manager? and they did.. and came back and said NOPE. but not a nice no... not a manager coming over with a nice explanation and apology... not an accomdation OR an explanation... just a no. essentially "go away". TOTALLY WEIRD. We live a mile away and could be great customers and great word-of-mouth. very very strange. Ahhh well. RECOMMENDATION: Go to Ryan Christopher's BYOB about 2 miles down the road for great food great service. NOTICE MY PATTERN OF REVIEWS. MOST ARE FAVORABLE. THIS IS A WEIRD EXCEPTION.
(1)
Daniel S.
We visited for Father's Day. Pleasant service, but very disappointing food. My parents had been there once before, but they too were let down by the food this time. Was the chef off with his family?
(3)
george k.
This was a disappointment. I wanted to try a new place for my b-day. I felt the menu was too large, and in some cases, repetitive. The service was just okay. Our server sat on the table top next to us while delivering the long list of specials. The food was just okay. The seafood was fresh but the taste was under seasoned. Not bland but not pronounced. Both of our main plates were expensive. The defining moment came earlier than expected. We just finished our apps when here come the entrees. We didn't even have our red wine opened. The host asked us what the problem was and we explained that the main plates arrived much too quickly. He responded with "the kitchen starts the main plates right after the apps are consumed and you should get them after 5 minutes". Really, a whole 5 minutes? Are we at applebees or TGIF? I won't go back, too many other places that allow diners to savor their food.
(3)
Phil D.
Visited: Saturday - January 14, 2012 - 5:00 PM I hosted a dinner for 12 dining club members at 5pm. It is an accepted practice to arrange separate checks when possible. Tonight was no exception. I arrived about 4:45PM to greet the anticipated diners. The table was nicely arranged in the corner of the room with ample space between seats. Pesto, thinly sliced cheese, with Italian bread was presented among the guests. Careful - no double dipping the chewed bread in the pesto! I had the Octopus salad as the appetizer. The waiter indicated that kalamata olives were an ingredient. I don't like kalamata olives due to their highly-salted composition but, ordered it. The octopus appetizer was very good. The characteristic kalamata olives briny taste was pleasantly subdued. The arugula salad was surprising hard to eat. The leaves were tough and string-like. The thinly sliced cheese did nothing to improve the taste. The cioppino was quite good - perfectly cooked stripped bass amid clams, mussels, scallops, shrimp and slightly undercooked risotto. I washed everything down with a cup of decaffeinated tea and marbled cheese cake...yum! The wait staff was very good and the separate checks were calculated without a hitch. The true test of efficiency and quality of a dining establishment is best gauged by their performance on a Saturday night, separate checks, service, and of course food. My co-diners enjoyed their experience. Despite the arugula salad, and risotto, Pescatore performed admirably - kudos!
(5)
Gia M.
I've now been to Pescatore twice and both times I have fully enjoyed myself. The dining room is a little dark, so it makes it hard to read the specials on the wall, but the atmosphere is great for a small Italian place. My service has been good both times-- attentive without being overbearing, and one night was a Friday, too. So good job there. I would definitely recommend making reservations on a Friday or Saturday night; I got there just before the dinner rush, luckily, or we would have been out of a table. The food is great! It is BYOB as well. The food is authentic Italian with an emphasis on the seafood dishes. The complimentary Parmigiano and homemade pesto with Italian bread is extremely enjoyable and they have a solid appetizer selection. Beware of the specials, though-- I ordered a flatbread caesar salad for two and it ended up being more expensive than my entree! I have ordered a pasta dish and a pork dish in my history of going to Pescatore and I was not disappointed either time. The pasta was clearly homemade and the meat sauce that it arrived with was absolute heaven (I love the tomato and meat sauces). I ordered it as a half dish, which came out in a perfectly sized portion. I have also ordered the stuffed pork chop. The meat was tender and stuffed with cheese, sausage, and broccoli rabe. It was topped with mushrooms. I was very impressed with the dish, and the sides of mashed potatoes and green beans were delicious as well.
(5)
John G.
My girlfriend had heard good things and suggested we try Pescatore. We were both very impressed by the atmosphere, food, and service and plan on returning soon. The bread and parmesan are amazing and set the tone for the entire meal.
(5)
Chris G.
Pescatore is a family-run BYOB nestled in the theater area of Bala_Cynwyd. As often as I go, which is probably 5 times a year, I have yet to have anything short of fantastic food. The pumpkin gnocchi is particularly good, but the meat selection is what draws me there. Wait staff is amazing - good training! The atmosphere is very cozy and, best of all, the warm and friendly reception, quite atypical for the Main Line, is a breath of fresh air.
(5)
J K.
Second visit to Pescatore was disappointing. Service tonight was very spotty. Seems like the restaurant is understaffed. Table was not ready when we arrived and we had to wait 10 minutes in the alcove. Another long wait before waitress came for our order. When we were done with our appetizers, she came by to clear the plates and, seeming frazzled, said "were those your appetizers or your entrees?" As far as food, the appetizers of eggplant rollatini and mushroom stuffed with crabmeat were both excellent. We didn't fare that well with the entrees, however. My stuffed pork chop was underdone (had to send it back to the kitchen) and the linquine pescatore was underwhelming. Other than garlic and oil, it seems to have no sauce. The seafood ravioli was OK but the portion was very small. One thing I can't understand is why this restaurant, named Pescatore, has almost no fresh seafood on the menu. Tonight's special was sauteed salmon- not exactly exotic. Why is there no local fresh fish? I thiink it will be a while before I return to Pescatore. For good food and service in Bala, I prefer my old standby, the New Tavern, where food and service are both reilable. Afterthought: there are a surprising number of 4 and 5 star reviews for this restaurant by people who have joined yelp just to post this one review..this strikes me as odd for a small restaurant in Bala Cynwyd to have attracted a large following of new yelpers...just saying.
(2)
dana s.
The best! We held our parent's 60th birthday party here and from start to finish, Frank was the best to work with. He was prompt, consistent, and helpful. Fast forward to our actual meal and it was flawless. The staff were incredible, the portions were perfect, and everyone was raving - most importantly, our parents! Thanks to Pescatore for an incredible dining experience and a memorable night for our family. We look forward to dining here again in the future!!!
(5)
Lee P.
the food was wonderful, the service was amazing. Although the evening started out with confusion regarding our reservations via Yelp. We arrived at 8pm to the hostess saying that there were no reservations under our name-very frustrating. The did their best, and we were seated within 30-40 minutes. Despite the confusion, we would definitely dine at Pescatore again- just would call to confirm our reservations!! :)
(4)
Diem L.
We came there for restaurant week and upgraded from the $30 to $38 menu to get the specials: fish and scallops. The fish which was recommended by the waitress was just okay. The scallops were divine. The pesto and parmesan for the bread was just amazing. The hot links app was very spicy. Our waitress was great, very attentive and friendly. I have recommended to friends and will definitely be back! I love the BYO option.
(4)
MM B.
what a lovely pre-Valentines dinner we just had! Food was excellent, service was impeccable and the room was warm and inviting. We took our server's suggestions and all ordered the specials: Osso Bucco, ravioli with goat cheese, branzino. Place was almost full when we arrived for an early reservation, but we were never rushed. We are always rooting for the family owned and run restaurants - Pescatore does not need us to root for the underdog in this case- our dining experience was just amazing from start to finish. We will definitely return...
(5)
Janek J.
I dined with a group of four, all of whom had appetizers and entrees. I didn't taste a single thing for which I wasn't WILD!
(5)
Larry W.
We live in the neighborhood but tonight was out first visit here. We will definitely be back! Excellent mussel appetizer followed by a crab ravioli and an great fish special with crab meat. The tiramisu for dessert was one of the best I have had (more cinnamon, less nutmeg than usual). About an $80 meal (with BYO wine). Good wait staff and friendly owners. A lot of reviewers have mentioned the noise and it was a little loud when the place filled up but only slightly above average and not overly distracting. Overall a great dinner in Bala that completely replaces the need to go into Philly. Highly recommended!
(4)
Ruth D.
Tonight was my first time here and it was delightful. The staff was friendly. Soothing atmosphere. I loved the bread and the pesto olive oil and the cheese that came with them. The caesar salad on flatbread with seafood was okay. Not the best. They were right to tell us it was enough for two. But I loved my entree: braised short ribs and risotto. My dining mates' entrees - spinach ravioli and fettuccine bolognese - looked very tasty. The chocolate cake which was enough for all three of us to share was moist and delicious. I docked one star because I was not a big fan of the caesar salad and at one point the service was a little pokey. But all in all a positive experience. I live in the neighborhood and I tend to neglect Bala Avenue but I will return to this restaurant.
(4)
Charles R.
One of the best 3 Italian restaurants in MainLine. The fact that's BYO makes it even better. The salad was fresh and had a wonderful dressing. The stuffed long hot Italian peppers were great. I love hot and spicy and these were about a 7 out of 10 on my scale of hot. The sausage stuffing was sweet and fresh. So many choices it was hard to pick for dinner, but the special of soft shells from Maryland were close to perfect, maybe a touch more garlic would have made them perfect for my taste. The veal with hot and sweet peppers was fork tender and the sauce was right on the money. Most people had the 7" high chocolate cake, but since I love Tiramisu I had to try it. It was good, but not enough rum. Outside of that , this place is great. Great waiter, but the whole staff was very nice. Major drawback is parking. I had to park over 2 blocks away. They take all major plastic.
(4)
Vikki S.
Pescatore is a destination restaurant; you don't just walk past it while meandering down Montgomery Avenue. Instead, it's hidden down Bala Cynwyd Avenue on a small corner across the street from the Bala movie theater. My husband and I opted to try it one night before we went to see Lincoln. And what a pleasant surprise. The decor was a bit serious and formal (linen tablecloths, oh my), but the waitstaff was knowledgeable, friendly and attentive (but not hovering). I can't remember what we ate, but I remember it being very good. Oh, wait. My husband ordered a bolognese I think, and he said it was one of the best he's ever had (maybe I ordered the special fish of the night, a branzino?). Either way, the food really was tasty. I'm not sure my dish was one of the best meals I've ever had, but it was a wonderful new experience, and I think we may return with my mother-in-law who would like the formality of the place. The only other observation I had was that at age 39 were probably the youngest couple in the place; it seems to draw a pre-movie, older crowd.
(4)
Jenn P.
Actually found this restaurant through Yelp, looking for Italian BYOB. Absolutely Phenomenal! The atmosphere is so intimate and romantic. Food was delicious, waitress was very helpful and attentive. Will definitely be returning!
(5)
Kevin W.
Outstanding Restaurant!!!! My favorite Italian restaurant the pasta is outstanding and Ive never had a problem with the service.I highly recommend getting one of their pasta dishes because it is made fresh.Ive eaten here a few times and have never had a bad service or meal
(4)
Larry M.
Finally a good friendly restruant in Bala Cynwyd. Best Veal Sicillan since the previous restruant I got it at in South Philly closed. Service was friendly. Prices were very reasonable. Deserts also looked excellent and home made.
(5)
Charlie C.
We ate there for the 2nd time last night., both meals were great..Food and service were really good, prices very fair....and very nice wait staff. Well prepared, fresh seafood and Italian fare. Nice atmosphere, just a little too loud. Hope this place can keep going..the Main Line is a dining desert..
(4)
Robert F.
The menu is vast and has many good choices. The food and service was excellent. The noise level is a bit too loud due to the high ceiling and wood floor. Overall I give this restaurant 4 out of 5 stars.
(4)
Jan K.
Unpretentious (unlike Avril which it replaced) Pescatore offered a varied and interesting menu, and some nice specials. For apps, we had Tuscan mussels and crab meat-stuffed prosciutto (how can you go wrong with those ingredients?) I had a delicious bronzino filet, that was pan-seared to a luscious bronze color. My wife's veal chop was hugely thick, but a little tough. Probably had it been pounded flat, it would have filled the plate and been much easier to chew... That's just the nature of veal. Service was attentive (considering the restaurant was 100% full. Requests for extra bread (to sop up sauce) was delivered along with some shaved cheese from a huge wheel. Our waitress knew the menu and specials very well. All the staff had a comfortable South-Philly style genuineness that made you feel like you were dining at a friend's house who happened to be an excellent Italian cook. BYOB made it an affordable $100 after tip and a fresh shared cannoli. We can walk there from our house, and will absolutely go back.
(4)
Ryan P.
We always have the caesar salad flatbread with the crab and shrimp, it is excellent! The service is great and each special tastes great. I recommend Pescatore to all my friends. Enjoy!
(5)
Anonymous L.
So Glad we came! Worth the 2 hr drive from New Jersey :) The food and service was meticiously, I would highly recommend the butternut squash ravioli, caesar salad on flatbread, and the fish specials!! Reasonable prices for excellant food. Dessert were excellent, too. It's a BYOB which makes it a great place to go!
(5)
Francesco R.
Wow - wife found this place on OpenTable and we gave it a shot. Reviews were great on OT and Yelp and all those people were right. We were met promptly upon arrival at 9PM last night and seated. Our waitress was VERY impressive relaying an extensive list of daily specials. Since this was our first time she also guided us through some of her favorites. We started off enjoying the bread, pesto and shaved parmesan cheese while also enjoying our house salad. The baked Mozzarella en Carozza was AMAZING. i would eat eight of those until i exploded. Then dinner. Delicious. I had the spaghetti pescatore which was a delicate wine sauce and crab, mussels, shrimp and clams. Thank you to our waitress for the suggestion. My lovely wife had the daily special ravioli which were covered in a sundried tomato and pesto sauce. Dessert was very good too. I had the ricotta cheesecake and my wife had the tiramisu. Even the decaf cappuccino was good. My wife and I will DEFINITELY be back and have already talked about what we will get next and who we should tell about our lovely experience there.
(5)
Amanda M.
Flatbread Caesar - Amazing Nonna's Sunday Gravy - Amazing Chicken Sacco - Amazing The fact that you can get all that food, dessert, and bring your own bottle of wine for under $100 makes this spot perfect for date night! Even the bread they bring out with the pesto and cheese is incredible.
(5)
Dustin M.
Came here for suburban restaurant week, but surprisingly didn't get the restaurant week menu. The regular menu just looked to good. Pescatore is pretty easy to find on Rt 23, and the free parking lot makes it all the better. The first thing I noticed was how popular it was with people from the neighborhood. You could tell how many people that the servers recognized. The dining room footprint is small, but they use the space well. The lighting is intimate without being too dark. The ceilings are high, and they put some stuff on the ceiling to keep it from being too loud. The meatballs are a really, really good appetizer. I could have had that on it's own and been satisfied, but this place is known for seafood, and I had to go with that. So, I landed on the seafood pescatore (natch). It's an excellent, well balanced dish. The only issue was the shrimp in it. Large, but well over cooked. Every other component was delicious though, and I'd definitely go back.
(4)
Kay B.
I will be back! They have a gnocchi dish on their menu which I look forward to. Visited this place for a special occasion. Good service, nice atmosphere, and generous portions. Our server was attentive and helpful, and seemed she genuinely wanted us to enjoy ourselves. She shared that the owners of the restaurant also own a fish market in Italian Market area in Philadelphia, so the fish here is fresh. We ordered the stuffed portabello appetizer, duroc pork chop, brasciole, side of wild mushroom risotto, and pistachio gelato. Everything we had was tasty and respectable. The portabella was actually flattened and served with a crab cake + accoutrements (capers, roasted red peppers) on top. It was good, but the crab cake had breading in it and I prefer just lump crab. A preference thing, but worth trying! The pork chop was served over a bed of smooth mashed potatoes. It was tender and very crispy with the panko. I would order it again for sure. The brasciole is a beef dish that's been cooked for a long time to make it fall apart. Served with a red sauce, also over mashed potatoes. Very good! The meat was very tender. We also ordered a side of wild mushroom risotto. The rice was toothy, and it tasted more like butter than parmesan cheese. This is ok if you prefer the taste of butter more than cheese, but I am the opposite. It had thin slices of what looked like shiitake in it. Overall mushroom flavor was delicate. We appreciated the pistachio gelato on the house for our special occasion! It was good, but tasted of either an almond/amaretto extract ever so slightly. I liked the pieces of raw pistachio, but could do without the extract flavor. Again, a preference, but nothing wrong in the execution! Inside they have a very deep and romantic theme. White walls with framed photographs. Rich red curtains by the door. Very cozy as long as you stay away from the vents! Thanks for a very nice atmosphere and great service for our special celebration!!! Pescatore is BYOB. If you are sharing an entree, there is a charge.
(4)
Jeff S.
Excellent meal!!! Burrata salad, Nonna's Sunday gravy and a Tartufo for dessert. Friendly neighborhood place. It's BYOB. Burrata was the best I have ever had! The Sunday gravy was a lamb ragu over pasta, meatball and really really good sweet sausage! Tartufo was so different! If in the neighborhood, check it out!
(5)
Gia M.
I've now been to Pescatore twice and both times I have fully enjoyed myself. The dining room is a little dark, so it makes it hard to read the specials on the wall, but the atmosphere is great for a small Italian place. My service has been good both times-- attentive without being overbearing, and one night was a Friday, too. So good job there. I would definitely recommend making reservations on a Friday or Saturday night; I got there just before the dinner rush, luckily, or we would have been out of a table. The food is great! It is BYOB as well. The food is authentic Italian with an emphasis on the seafood dishes. The complimentary Parmigiano and homemade pesto with Italian bread is extremely enjoyable and they have a solid appetizer selection. Beware of the specials, though-- I ordered a flatbread caesar salad for two and it ended up being more expensive than my entree! I have ordered a pasta dish and a pork dish in my history of going to Pescatore and I was not disappointed either time. The pasta was clearly homemade and the meat sauce that it arrived with was absolute heaven (I love the tomato and meat sauces). I ordered it as a half dish, which came out in a perfectly sized portion. I have also ordered the stuffed pork chop. The meat was tender and stuffed with cheese, sausage, and broccoli rabe. It was topped with mushrooms. I was very impressed with the dish, and the sides of mashed potatoes and green beans were delicious as well.
(5)
Carl R.
A few days ago I had the great pleasure of having a wonderful dinner with my accountant Steve and his family... Well you see, I am a Master Chef and I haven't written a review for a restaurant in a very very long time... I've lived in Italy for over a year and there really is no comparison to the Italian restaurants in Italy and the ones over here... The food in Italy is o die for. Now please believe me, the food at Pescatore's is also to die for. I wondered off the menu only to see if they would accommodate me. I ordered Veal, Chicken, and Shrimp Francese and that plate was unbelievably great... This restaurant is the 1st Italian restaurant in Philly to score a perfect 100 with me... I love Italian food and this restaurant is the best in all areas of what Italian dining is all about!!! Chef Carl Redding
(5)
Steven C.
First off, I got to say that the complimentary bread, PESTO, and Parmesan is FANTASTIC!!!! Where have you ever gotten PESTO & Parmesan for free!?!? I had a pasta dish and it was really fresh pasta. They make it home-made. They also offer several entrees at appetizer poriton/price which allows you to enjoy a shared appetizer and an entree without feeling completely full by the end. If you want a good meatball, order the Meatball appetizer, DELISH!
(5)
Cornel F.
Great food. We particularly liked the spaghetti vongole.
(4)
Jim R.
Enjoyed a wonderful dinner here on a Friday night recently. Was in town from Minneapolis to visit my college son and was looking for something nice in the Philly suburbs. I found this spot on open table then checked yelp for the straight scoop. It is a small cozy spot with not a lot of room between the tables but that didn't stop the very attentive and efficient wait staff from keeping every water glass full at all times. I had a hard time choosing-there were so many great sounding items on the menu plus about 6 great specials. In the end, I chose the Bronzino special-delectable white fish with a nice white wine sauce topped with asparagus and crab and served with flavorful mashed potatoes. Lots of great flavor and perfect meal. We started off with another special, grilled flatbread topped with tangy Cesar salad, crab and shrimp-more than enough for 4 people and a salad and appetizer all in one-clever. The only drawback for me was the concept of "BYO" - apparently the restaurant doesn't have a liquor license (who knew) and so you need to bring your own wine. I'll remember next time I'm in the area.
(5)
Cristina L.
Wow! We were blown away by Pescatore! After a quick Yelp search, we found this gem of a place and were consistently impressed with all aspects of the good and service. The wait staff was very attentive but not too much to the point of being bothersome. Our waitress was knowledgable and friendly, and gave fabulous suggestions. Our food was SPECTACULAR! The complementary bread with cheese and pesto were delightful. In fact, the pesto tastes exactly like something from my Italian grandmother's kitchen! This place clearly goes the extra mile for heir customers. For the entree, we both chose from the extensive specials list-- my boyfriend went with the Bronzino, and the waitress made the grilled octopus special into an entree with homemade tagliatelle for me. Both were to die for! Finished off with a great tiramisu. Overall, the waitstaff and quality of the food made it a great night. The entrees average between $25 and $30, but are certainly worth the price! I only wish we could afford to go more often! BYOB certainly makes it more affordable on the other hand. If you're in the mood for great quality Italian, take my advice and go here!!
(5)
Cecilia M.
Great corner Italian restaurant. It's my second time here. Love their signature salad, really delicious. BYOB.. Good service
(4)
Stephen Z.
Absolutely amazing. I highly recommend this restaurant. The food was authentic and delicious. Our waiter, Giovanni was a true professional and his service was top notch. You just can't go wrong here. Every dish we had all three courses were outstanding.
Sunday, was at a Surprise Birthday Party at Pescatore, on BALA Avenue. What an "Awesome Restaurant"!! The absolute Best in the area! Tommy the Chef and Owner sure knows about Great Food and Warm Hospitality! What a Good Time and Great Food! BTW, BYOB,, Ask For Frank, at Pescatore, He Is, THE MAN.........LOVE, LOVE LOVED IT,,,
(5)
Jackie B.
I live in city so I rarely go out to eat in the suburbs and when I do... it is not my choice. I was so pleasantly surprised when I stopped in to Pescatore for the first time after seeing a movie at the theater across the street. Service was excellent. Extremely professional but with a certain old South Philly charm. (Maybe that was all of the Frank Sinatra and Frankie Avalon that was playing... which I kind of loved.) The food. Ahh the food. Everything we had was super tasty but the Sunday Supper was absolutely ridiculous (in a good way). The flat bread Caesar was also something I could probably eat every day. No joke. Everyone else loved their food and one of my friend's is gluten free/celiac and they were super accommodating . I have been back a couple of times now (ssshhh don't tell my city friends) and it has been excellent every time. Damn them for making me leave the city. #worthit
(5)
Steve C.
Pescatore offers a cozy welcoming atmosphere with excellent service and superb food. When we arrived our expectations dropped as we opened our menus to find nothing but the dark leather insides of the menu, thankfully once we were given new menus that had actual printing in them, our experience soared from there. Our server Pisello recited from memory a long list menu additions and specials flawlessly, I was impressed, I could barely remember everything he said, I definitely couldn't do his job. His interaction was professional, warm and friendly. We decided to start with the mussels, and for entrees my wife chose the Osso Bucca, and I had a dish called Nona's Sunday Gravy. The mussels were remarkable cooked in a slightly spicy sauce which truly brought the appetizer to life. I have had a lot of mussels in my time and these are a close second to the ones at Monks Cafe. Our entrees were beyond our expectations, my wife raved about the Osso Bucca and she is an extreme foodie. While I could never define myself as a foodie, I tend to be particular but not too adventurous, Nona's Sunday Gravy was a combination of the best traditional Italian food has to offer. Sweet italian sausage, Nona's Meatballs, Pasta, long hot peppers and lamb ragu. Wow!. It was breathtaking, and with those long hots that could be taken literally. A truly amazing dish. We both left part of out entrees for take home next day lunch as the portions were quite generous and we wanted to sample the dessert menu which my wife chose a peanut butter tartufo that was again impeccably done and I had the Tiramisu which was so unique that I was floored by the flavor. That along when an excellent cup of cappuccino ended a perfect night (well not count the menus) out at a truly exceptional establishment. Pescatore has won our hearts, minds and stomachs. I suggest you make a reservation and enjoy the culinary bliss. One FYI, Pescatore is a BYOB establishment. They are happy to provide wine glasses or have various mixers on the menu that you can use with the liquor you bring.
(5)
Jackie M.
I can't believe that we didn't have the same experience some of the other diners had. We ordered eggplant rollatini, it was dry and tasteless, branzino tasted old and flavorless, grilled octopus was nothing special. My dinner of lobster raviolis were so salty, it was impossible to enjoy. Maybe we ordered all of the wrong things, but what we ordered are so simple to cook. So if you know how to cook yourself and dine out a lot, you shouldn't eat here.
(1)
Jan G.
Love it. Food and service are great. Terrific neighborhood restaurant. BYOB which we love.
(5)
John I.
Loved this place . A terrific little secret with amazing Southern Italian food. The seafood is so fresh....right from the S Philly market. The meatballs taste just like my Grandmothers; perfection . Grilled octopus was light and seasoned to perfection. Pasta tasted homemade....the cannolis have a great ricotta filling. You will not be disappointed!!!!!!
(5)
Kerri S.
One word - Excellent!!! I've been here twice and can't wait to plan another trip. Both dining experiences were fantastic. The food was delicious, the service was spot on, and the ambience was warm and inviting. Between my two visits I tried the buratta salad, antipasto platter, grilled octopus, and mixed ocean grill, and I would absolutely recommend all of these dishes. The people we dined with lived nearby but had not been before, and they were thrilled to have a new neighborhood go to favorite. They came back less than a month later. I was also appreciative of the prices as everything was very reasonable. I look forward to returning to Pescatore soon.
(5)
Adam F.
Pescatore is a very good Italian BYOB out in the suburbs. The food is really good, the staff is knowledgeable and attentive, and the decor is upscale yet with a casual vibe. Also, it is right across from the Bala theater, so a perfect dinner & movie night. Appetizers: Nonna's meatballs, crab meat wrapped with prosciutto Pasta: any of the homemade pastas are good (gnocchi, ravioli, fettuccine) Entrees: Pork chop italiano (stuffed with sausage and broccoli rabe), veal pavarotti (veal with shrimp and prosciutto) Fish: definitely have good fish here, check the specials
(4)
Reid F.
I liked the food at this BYO, but despite the excellent service, I thought it lacked something. It was a good meal, just not great.
(3)
John H.
We had an amazing seafood dinner here, me and two colleagues from work. The service was excellent, the food awesome, and it's a cute little place. Can't wait to go back next time I'm in Philly.
(5)
Geoff H.
The gnocchi. If there's one reason to go it is this dish. The gnocchi itself is light and fluffy, but it rests in the most delicious sauce I've ever tasted bar none. It was unreal, the depth of flavor that came through, like it had been slowly simmered for hours on end to extract every ounce of richness from it's components. Seriously, my first bite I stopped and just was amazed at how complex, balanced, and flavorful this sauce was, leaving you with just that warm feeling of a perfect meal. It's been 3 months so I'll update once we go back (and we will), but for now that sauce still haunts me, and the memory of a well executed and homey meal with a flaky trout drizzled with a tart lemon sauce and rich chicken livers to start. Service was wonderful, with our waiter recommending great combinations while describing each dish with knowledge that came with true study and appreciation of the food.
A friend recommended this place to me. My parents and sister were visiting from MA so I decided to bring them here. I would definitely recommend this place. Great food and pleasant/attentive staff. Small and cozy, would be a great spot for a date.
(5)
Richard R.
A third experience left my opinion unchanged. Our table was not ready and we were offered an opportunity to stand in the vestibule while we waited the few minutes required. The hostess still seems less than happy. Once seated, or wine was handled well and the service was adequate.
(3)
Phil D.
Visited: Saturday - January 14, 2012 - 5:00 PM I hosted a dinner for 12 dining club members at 5pm. It is an accepted practice to arrange separate checks when possible. Tonight was no exception. I arrived about 4:45PM to greet the anticipated diners. The table was nicely arranged in the corner of the room with ample space between seats. Pesto, thinly sliced cheese, with Italian bread was presented among the guests. Careful - no double dipping the chewed bread in the pesto! I had the Octopus salad as the appetizer. The waiter indicated that kalamata olives were an ingredient. I don't like kalamata olives due to their highly-salted composition but, ordered it. The octopus appetizer was very good. The characteristic kalamata olives briny taste was pleasantly subdued. The arugula salad was surprising hard to eat. The leaves were tough and string-like. The thinly sliced cheese did nothing to improve the taste. The cioppino was quite good - perfectly cooked stripped bass amid clams, mussels, scallops, shrimp and slightly undercooked risotto. I washed everything down with a cup of decaffeinated tea and marbled cheese cake...yum! The wait staff was very good and the separate checks were calculated without a hitch. The true test of efficiency and quality of a dining establishment is best gauged by their performance on a Saturday night, separate checks, service, and of course food. My co-diners enjoyed their experience. Despite the arugula salad, and risotto, Pescatore performed admirably - kudos!
(5)
Marlin 1.
Good BUT not what it use to be. The quality of the preparation of the food has slipped. This appears to be the beginning of a slippery slope that if not correct will make Pescatore just another average high priced place to eat.
(4)
Lindsay R.
My husband and I dined at Pescatore because everyone boasts about the restaurant, however, we did not have a great experience. We ordered the special salad over flatbread. It was large but not $25 worth in taste. I ordered the $30 ocean mix. The plate contains 1 lobster tail, 1 scallop & 3 shrimp. Thank God I was almost full from the bread and salad! The biggest disappointment was that all of the fish was overcooked! My husbands classic pasta dish was really good but nothing to boast about. The staff was nice but there were a lot of teenagers working and didn't bother to clear our small table of the little dishes taking up room we needed. The website doesn't state any prices and now I know why. I was expecting the best food on the mainline but once again we are still searching.
(2)
Jim K.
First let me say we've been going to Pescatore the past 2 years and we've always enjoyed the entire experience. Last night was a real downer though. (Our past experiences led to 2 stars instead of just 1.) We sat for 10 minutes with no one even coming to greet us; and that's when I saw the filthy water glass in front of me. Filthy as in lovely pink lipstick and fingerprints--maybe from the prior guest. Host finally came and poured our "Bala" water, but no ice. Before we could comment on the fact that the water was tepid, he was gone. When the waitress came and we asked her for cold water she brought us a single glass of ice and scooted away. When she returned again (5 minutes later) we asked for iced water. She looked perplexed but complied. The typically yummy grilled octopus we always have was mediocre at best, with little taste and overcooked. As we picked at it, we overheard the couple next to us complaining quite vigorously about the poor flatbread Caesar salad with crab and shrimp. Too bad we had already ordered it, because it has been consistently delicious. The couple was right on target. This time it was bland, too much oil in the dressing, and enough crab shell to damage teeth. My Nonna's Gravy was very good though, which was a welcome departure from the rest of the meal. It's unlikely we will return to this place we've been faithful to for several years. And one more thing: the host who greeted us needs to button his shirt and learn to smile. Try it and you might have a different experience, but the price may not be worth rolling the dice.
(2)
Michelle O.
Went again and got the same thing but this time the lobster was overcooked. I guess you can't relive a great experience.
(3)
Henry L.
We had a wonderful experience at Pescatore last night, sharing an appetizer of prosciutto-wrapped crab drizzled with balsamic reduction. The entrees were Pescatore linguini with the shellfish and shrimp perfectly cooked and seasoned (which is not easy for busy restaurants) and a skate which was very fresh and again perfectly cooked and seasoned. We have not been here in a while. The hostess was friendly and sincere, and could not have been more accommodating and the waitstaff were polite and quite accomplished. This is much more expertly run restaurant than it was a year or two ago, and the overall experience much more satisfying. It might be the best restaurant on the Main Line.
(5)
Brittini S.
Great for my weeknight out with coworkers! Cozy little BYOB in Bala. I really liked the meatball appetizer and my main entree was cooked to perfection. The chef sent out an extra dessert because he overheard that one of us was with child. They paced the meal very nicely and let us sit in the corner table and talk well after the meal was eaten. Definitely a do-over!
(5)
Chris G.
Pescatore is a family-run BYOB nestled in the theater area of Bala_Cynwyd. As often as I go, which is probably 5 times a year, I have yet to have anything short of fantastic food. The pumpkin gnocchi is particularly good, but the meat selection is what draws me there. Wait staff is amazing - good training! The atmosphere is very cozy and, best of all, the warm and friendly reception, quite atypical for the Main Line, is a breath of fresh air.
(5)
C P.
Average, over priced italian food with mediocre service and terrible parking. This venue is trying to live off of their parent restaurant downtown, but its not working. La Collina is much more authentic, is a staple in the area, and has better parking.
(2)
Brian H.
Unfortunately I did not have the same 4 or 5 star experience that others have had at this BYOB In Bala. To start our wine was opened promptly, the not-so-fine glasses were poured, the specials of the day were rattled off in a rapid litany fumbling over how the dishes were prepared, so much so that we had to ask for a repeat. In less than a minute the server returned to ask if we were ready to order, my thumb had just popped open the menu, so I responded "I would like to look at the menu first". Good idea? I think so. The bread served with an oily pesto and shaved parm was actually the highlight of the evening. See where we are headed? We split a 3 star arugula salad, very lightly dressed and the shaved parm barely noticeable. We then split the gnocchi of the day, spinach gnocci in a "veal demi-glace" so we were told. If there was a demi-glace involved in the dish at all, I'd be surprised. The gnocchi were mush, pure mush, and basically the dish was a waste of empty calories and no flavor to boot. 1 star here. For entrees, we ordered 2 out of the 3 fish specials for the evening. I had the striped bass which was a small piece of the tender fish ($30) over top of a sweet pea risotto, Again lacking flavor. For a plus, the risotto was cooked a perfect al dente, with no or very little cheese you would expect in a risotto, and by the time the server returned to ask if everything was alright, I said that the risotto could have used a little cheese, which she promptly returned and added to the two tablespoons I had left on the plate. My friend had the Branzino special ($30), which was good in it's own right, but had a soggy wet skin still attached so the skin was inedible. The mashed potatoes were average at best along with the asparagus. OK, time for dessert, let's try that "award winning" tiramisu. This was not bad, but not close to the best I've had. Let's give the dessert an A-OK. The tiramisu was served with the check shoved under the plate within seconds of the dessert appearance on our table. No lie, we did not even have time to pick up our forks off of the table. I guess they were trying to get rid of us as fast as we were trying to get this dinner over and behind us. No reason to go back again, it wouldn't even be worth a try. This is my 100th review of the year, I was looking forward to it being very favorable, what a shame.
(2)
Junior M.
I frequent Italian restaurants every weekend. How did I miss this one? Tables were closer than I like them to be, but the upscale reserved clientele know how to act with close seating, We were only about a foot away from a table of 4 on either side of us and had no problem. Very nice clientele! Food Excellante!!!! The veal was to die for and Nonoos Sunday dinner is the best! I would personally like a softer bread but it was good. The flatbred Ceasar with Shrimp and Crabmeat was an excellent appetizer for 2. Bravo! I shall return!
(5)
H C.
Checked out Pescatore for dinner with a few out of town friends on a Friday night. We all LOVED it! The bread with homemade pesto & parmesan is delicious, and they give you as many refills as you want! We all shared a caesar salad topped with shrimp and crabmeat that was to die for! Everyone was very pleased with their entrees. Had a lot of specials that night and the wait staff is very knowledgable. AND they're a BYOB, can't beat that! Reasonably priced, each couple paid about $70 for an unforgettable meal. The energy is vibrant, definitely not a place for a romantic dinner when it is crowded. But a great space for a larger group... make sure to make reservations!
(4)
Cathy S.
Crazy that some rate this place 4 or 5 stars. Perhaps they serve different quality food on weekends. Having just dined at Pescatore mid week, I found the food to be just fair. As a salad lover, I rate a restaurant on the freshness of their greens. It is simple to buy fresh arugula theses days. The arugula was soggy and tasteless, and the cherry tomatoes were tasteless. Plus the carrots served with the entrees were those fake baby ones served only at poor restaurants (and at Wawa with dip).
(2)
dana s.
The best! We held our parent's 60th birthday party here and from start to finish, Frank was the best to work with. He was prompt, consistent, and helpful. Fast forward to our actual meal and it was flawless. The staff were incredible, the portions were perfect, and everyone was raving - most importantly, our parents! Thanks to Pescatore for an incredible dining experience and a memorable night for our family. We look forward to dining here again in the future!!!
(5)
J K.
Second visit to Pescatore was disappointing. Service tonight was very spotty. Seems like the restaurant is understaffed. Table was not ready when we arrived and we had to wait 10 minutes in the alcove. Another long wait before waitress came for our order. When we were done with our appetizers, she came by to clear the plates and, seeming frazzled, said "were those your appetizers or your entrees?" As far as food, the appetizers of eggplant rollatini and mushroom stuffed with crabmeat were both excellent. We didn't fare that well with the entrees, however. My stuffed pork chop was underdone (had to send it back to the kitchen) and the linquine pescatore was underwhelming. Other than garlic and oil, it seems to have no sauce. The seafood ravioli was OK but the portion was very small. One thing I can't understand is why this restaurant, named Pescatore, has almost no fresh seafood on the menu. Tonight's special was sauteed salmon- not exactly exotic. Why is there no local fresh fish? I thiink it will be a while before I return to Pescatore. For good food and service in Bala, I prefer my old standby, the New Tavern, where food and service are both reilable. Afterthought: there are a surprising number of 4 and 5 star reviews for this restaurant by people who have joined yelp just to post this one review..this strikes me as odd for a small restaurant in Bala Cynwyd to have attracted a large following of new yelpers...just saying.
(2)
Lee P.
the food was wonderful, the service was amazing. Although the evening started out with confusion regarding our reservations via Yelp. We arrived at 8pm to the hostess saying that there were no reservations under our name-very frustrating. The did their best, and we were seated within 30-40 minutes. Despite the confusion, we would definitely dine at Pescatore again- just would call to confirm our reservations!! :)
(4)
Ruth D.
Tonight was my first time here and it was delightful. The staff was friendly. Soothing atmosphere. I loved the bread and the pesto olive oil and the cheese that came with them. The caesar salad on flatbread with seafood was okay. Not the best. They were right to tell us it was enough for two. But I loved my entree: braised short ribs and risotto. My dining mates' entrees - spinach ravioli and fettuccine bolognese - looked very tasty. The chocolate cake which was enough for all three of us to share was moist and delicious. I docked one star because I was not a big fan of the caesar salad and at one point the service was a little pokey. But all in all a positive experience. I live in the neighborhood and I tend to neglect Bala Avenue but I will return to this restaurant.
(4)
Charles R.
One of the best 3 Italian restaurants in MainLine. The fact that's BYO makes it even better. The salad was fresh and had a wonderful dressing. The stuffed long hot Italian peppers were great. I love hot and spicy and these were about a 7 out of 10 on my scale of hot. The sausage stuffing was sweet and fresh. So many choices it was hard to pick for dinner, but the special of soft shells from Maryland were close to perfect, maybe a touch more garlic would have made them perfect for my taste. The veal with hot and sweet peppers was fork tender and the sauce was right on the money. Most people had the 7" high chocolate cake, but since I love Tiramisu I had to try it. It was good, but not enough rum. Outside of that , this place is great. Great waiter, but the whole staff was very nice. Major drawback is parking. I had to park over 2 blocks away. They take all major plastic.
(4)
Daniel S.
We visited for Father's Day. Pleasant service, but very disappointing food. My parents had been there once before, but they too were let down by the food this time. Was the chef off with his family?
(3)
george k.
This was a disappointment. I wanted to try a new place for my b-day. I felt the menu was too large, and in some cases, repetitive. The service was just okay. Our server sat on the table top next to us while delivering the long list of specials. The food was just okay. The seafood was fresh but the taste was under seasoned. Not bland but not pronounced. Both of our main plates were expensive. The defining moment came earlier than expected. We just finished our apps when here come the entrees. We didn't even have our red wine opened. The host asked us what the problem was and we explained that the main plates arrived much too quickly. He responded with "the kitchen starts the main plates right after the apps are consumed and you should get them after 5 minutes". Really, a whole 5 minutes? Are we at applebees or TGIF? I won't go back, too many other places that allow diners to savor their food.
(3)
MM B.
what a lovely pre-Valentines dinner we just had! Food was excellent, service was impeccable and the room was warm and inviting. We took our server's suggestions and all ordered the specials: Osso Bucco, ravioli with goat cheese, branzino. Place was almost full when we arrived for an early reservation, but we were never rushed. We are always rooting for the family owned and run restaurants - Pescatore does not need us to root for the underdog in this case- our dining experience was just amazing from start to finish. We will definitely return...
(5)
Janek J.
I dined with a group of four, all of whom had appetizers and entrees. I didn't taste a single thing for which I wasn't WILD!
(5)
Joseph G.
The gnocchi was easily the best I've had. Pesto was wonderful.
(4)
Larry M.
Finally a good friendly restruant in Bala Cynwyd. Best Veal Sicillan since the previous restruant I got it at in South Philly closed. Service was friendly. Prices were very reasonable. Deserts also looked excellent and home made.
(5)
Francesco R.
Wow - wife found this place on OpenTable and we gave it a shot. Reviews were great on OT and Yelp and all those people were right. We were met promptly upon arrival at 9PM last night and seated. Our waitress was VERY impressive relaying an extensive list of daily specials. Since this was our first time she also guided us through some of her favorites. We started off enjoying the bread, pesto and shaved parmesan cheese while also enjoying our house salad. The baked Mozzarella en Carozza was AMAZING. i would eat eight of those until i exploded. Then dinner. Delicious. I had the spaghetti pescatore which was a delicate wine sauce and crab, mussels, shrimp and clams. Thank you to our waitress for the suggestion. My lovely wife had the daily special ravioli which were covered in a sundried tomato and pesto sauce. Dessert was very good too. I had the ricotta cheesecake and my wife had the tiramisu. Even the decaf cappuccino was good. My wife and I will DEFINITELY be back and have already talked about what we will get next and who we should tell about our lovely experience there.
(5)
Vikki S.
Pescatore is a destination restaurant; you don't just walk past it while meandering down Montgomery Avenue. Instead, it's hidden down Bala Cynwyd Avenue on a small corner across the street from the Bala movie theater. My husband and I opted to try it one night before we went to see Lincoln. And what a pleasant surprise. The decor was a bit serious and formal (linen tablecloths, oh my), but the waitstaff was knowledgeable, friendly and attentive (but not hovering). I can't remember what we ate, but I remember it being very good. Oh, wait. My husband ordered a bolognese I think, and he said it was one of the best he's ever had (maybe I ordered the special fish of the night, a branzino?). Either way, the food really was tasty. I'm not sure my dish was one of the best meals I've ever had, but it was a wonderful new experience, and I think we may return with my mother-in-law who would like the formality of the place. The only other observation I had was that at age 39 were probably the youngest couple in the place; it seems to draw a pre-movie, older crowd.
(4)
Diem L.
We came there for restaurant week and upgraded from the $30 to $38 menu to get the specials: fish and scallops. The fish which was recommended by the waitress was just okay. The scallops were divine. The pesto and parmesan for the bread was just amazing. The hot links app was very spicy. Our waitress was great, very attentive and friendly. I have recommended to friends and will definitely be back! I love the BYO option.
(4)
Pam A.
Solid Italian food, they have the staples down. Their salads are enormous and tasty. Its great that they are a byob, because, their prices are a little high. I would definitely say - GO, and be prepared to take home a doggy bag..and scout the room for local celeb tv types!
(3)
marc e.
Sorry Charlie, No no no. We've been twice. First time was bad food. 2nd time was bad service. You don't get a 3rd shot, sorry. First time was about 3 weeks after the restaurant opened. Food was mediocre to poor. Bread was good. Octopus salad was inedible. But.. hey.. they had just opened so kinda unfair to post a yelp review. Let it go! Also, they seemed to have a great pedigree with access to great seafood so.... let's cross our fingers and try again later. Yesterday heard from a friend: Food pretty good! Nowhere else to go right now... need to kill some time... let's try it again. So... off the two of us go. Make reservation on OpenTable. Walk over (yes, it is just a 15 minute walk and so it would really be GREAT if the restaurant was good)... but... Just terrible service. My guess, the manager in the front-of-house is a relative of the owner and so doesn't understand customer service: I am guessing, it could just be bad with no excuse... it is just that my experience is that people would be fired if they weren't related but who knows. We actually got our menus, were told it was restaurant week, specials were explained, and then.... we placed our orders and were told, after the fact, that our menu selections were not allowed (per some policy not written down or explained...details below if you want to be bored)... so we stood up, finished our wine, and left the restaurant. No apology, no explanations, no food... just a silly silly place that won't survive. DETAILS: I wanted the mussels appetizer and then scallops. Wife wanted the bass or maybe the mussels, and maybe some broccoli? anyway... then we were told it was "restaurant week" so... I choose the hot links and scallops wife chooses the mussels and a side of broccoli rabe and we're told NOPE. that doesn't work. it is some mix of restaurant week items and regular items we don't allow. HUH? We weren't even thinking about price. We weren't trying to get any deal... we didn't even know it was restaurant week! we just wanted to order what we wanted to order from their menu... no specials... just food... whatever the price. SO... when they said NOPE. I said ... hmmm... perhaps check with the manager? and they did.. and came back and said NOPE. but not a nice no... not a manager coming over with a nice explanation and apology... not an accomdation OR an explanation... just a no. essentially "go away". TOTALLY WEIRD. We live a mile away and could be great customers and great word-of-mouth. very very strange. Ahhh well. RECOMMENDATION: Go to Ryan Christopher's BYOB about 2 miles down the road for great food great service. NOTICE MY PATTERN OF REVIEWS. MOST ARE FAVORABLE. THIS IS A WEIRD EXCEPTION.
Takes Reservations : Yes Delivery : No Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Dinner Parking : Street, Private Lot Bike Parking : No Wheelchair Accessible : Yes Good for Kids : No Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Ambience : Intimate Noise Level : Average Alcohol : No Outdoor Seating : Yes Wi-Fi : No Has TV : No Waiter Service : Yes Caters : No
The immense popularity of Italian cuisine globally isn't unknown. You can find an Italian Pizzeria around every corner of almost every city in the United States. Not to forget that in every house, people enjoy mac and cheese as comfort food. But it would be wrong to believe that Italian food starts with pizza and ends with good pasta as this Mediterranean country has much more to offer other than these two dishes. In Italian Cuisine, there is a high use of fresh tomatoes, all kinds of herbs, great quality of cheese, all types of meat, seafood and fresh handmade pasta. Many find it hard to believe that Italians have been making noodles long back.
Italian and Greek cuisines are always mistaken to be same, but they are poles apart. The primary difference between the two cuisines is the use of cheese in most of the Italian dishes. Italians love to cultivate their own cheese and process them as per their food requirement. It is believed that some cheese is so expensive that cheese producers secure them in lockers.
If you are bored eating the same old pasta or pizza, you can try some of the authentic Italian dishes like Risotto, Polenta, Ribollita, Lasagna, Fiorentina Steak, Bottarga, Ossobuco, Carbonara, Focaccia, Arancini and Supplì. Another item which Italians love to relish every morning is a good cup of Italian Coffee. Once you taste a freshly brewed cup of Italian Coffee, you might not visit Starbucks ever again. Authentic Italian food is made with heart and soul, so go find a restaurant where you can relish Italian cuisine in your city.
Junior M.
I frequent Italian restaurants every weekend. How did I miss this one? Tables were closer than I like them to be, but the upscale reserved clientele know how to act with close seating, We were only about a foot away from a table of 4 on either side of us and had no problem. Very nice clientele! Food Excellante!!!! The veal was to die for and Nonoos Sunday dinner is the best! I would personally like a softer bread but it was good. The flatbred Ceasar with Shrimp and Crabmeat was an excellent appetizer for 2. Bravo! I shall return!
(5)H C.
Checked out Pescatore for dinner with a few out of town friends on a Friday night. We all LOVED it! The bread with homemade pesto & parmesan is delicious, and they give you as many refills as you want! We all shared a caesar salad topped with shrimp and crabmeat that was to die for! Everyone was very pleased with their entrees. Had a lot of specials that night and the wait staff is very knowledgable. AND they're a BYOB, can't beat that! Reasonably priced, each couple paid about $70 for an unforgettable meal. The energy is vibrant, definitely not a place for a romantic dinner when it is crowded. But a great space for a larger group... make sure to make reservations!
(4)Kerri S.
One word - Excellent!!! I've been here twice and can't wait to plan another trip. Both dining experiences were fantastic. The food was delicious, the service was spot on, and the ambience was warm and inviting. Between my two visits I tried the buratta salad, antipasto platter, grilled octopus, and mixed ocean grill, and I would absolutely recommend all of these dishes. The people we dined with lived nearby but had not been before, and they were thrilled to have a new neighborhood go to favorite. They came back less than a month later. I was also appreciative of the prices as everything was very reasonable. I look forward to returning to Pescatore soon.
(5)steven s.
Sunday, was at a Surprise Birthday Party at Pescatore, on BALA Avenue. What an "Awesome Restaurant"!! The absolute Best in the area! Tommy the Chef and Owner sure knows about Great Food and Warm Hospitality! What a Good Time and Great Food! BTW, BYOB,, Ask For Frank, at Pescatore, He Is, THE MAN.........LOVE, LOVE LOVED IT,,,
(5)Adam F.
Pescatore is a very good Italian BYOB out in the suburbs. The food is really good, the staff is knowledgeable and attentive, and the decor is upscale yet with a casual vibe. Also, it is right across from the Bala theater, so a perfect dinner & movie night. Appetizers: Nonna's meatballs, crab meat wrapped with prosciutto Pasta: any of the homemade pastas are good (gnocchi, ravioli, fettuccine) Entrees: Pork chop italiano (stuffed with sausage and broccoli rabe), veal pavarotti (veal with shrimp and prosciutto) Fish: definitely have good fish here, check the specials
(4)Gia M.
I've now been to Pescatore twice and both times I have fully enjoyed myself. The dining room is a little dark, so it makes it hard to read the specials on the wall, but the atmosphere is great for a small Italian place. My service has been good both times-- attentive without being overbearing, and one night was a Friday, too. So good job there. I would definitely recommend making reservations on a Friday or Saturday night; I got there just before the dinner rush, luckily, or we would have been out of a table. The food is great! It is BYOB as well. The food is authentic Italian with an emphasis on the seafood dishes. The complimentary Parmigiano and homemade pesto with Italian bread is extremely enjoyable and they have a solid appetizer selection. Beware of the specials, though-- I ordered a flatbread caesar salad for two and it ended up being more expensive than my entree! I have ordered a pasta dish and a pork dish in my history of going to Pescatore and I was not disappointed either time. The pasta was clearly homemade and the meat sauce that it arrived with was absolute heaven (I love the tomato and meat sauces). I ordered it as a half dish, which came out in a perfectly sized portion. I have also ordered the stuffed pork chop. The meat was tender and stuffed with cheese, sausage, and broccoli rabe. It was topped with mushrooms. I was very impressed with the dish, and the sides of mashed potatoes and green beans were delicious as well.
(5)Carl R.
A few days ago I had the great pleasure of having a wonderful dinner with my accountant Steve and his family... Well you see, I am a Master Chef and I haven't written a review for a restaurant in a very very long time... I've lived in Italy for over a year and there really is no comparison to the Italian restaurants in Italy and the ones over here... The food in Italy is o die for. Now please believe me, the food at Pescatore's is also to die for. I wondered off the menu only to see if they would accommodate me. I ordered Veal, Chicken, and Shrimp Francese and that plate was unbelievably great... This restaurant is the 1st Italian restaurant in Philly to score a perfect 100 with me... I love Italian food and this restaurant is the best in all areas of what Italian dining is all about!!! Chef Carl Redding
(5)Steven C.
First off, I got to say that the complimentary bread, PESTO, and Parmesan is FANTASTIC!!!! Where have you ever gotten PESTO & Parmesan for free!?!? I had a pasta dish and it was really fresh pasta. They make it home-made. They also offer several entrees at appetizer poriton/price which allows you to enjoy a shared appetizer and an entree without feeling completely full by the end. If you want a good meatball, order the Meatball appetizer, DELISH!
(5)Cornel F.
Great food. We particularly liked the spaghetti vongole.
(4)Amanda M.
Flatbread Caesar - Amazing Nonna's Sunday Gravy - Amazing Chicken Sacco - Amazing The fact that you can get all that food, dessert, and bring your own bottle of wine for under $100 makes this spot perfect for date night! Even the bread they bring out with the pesto and cheese is incredible.
(5)Dustin M.
Came here for suburban restaurant week, but surprisingly didn't get the restaurant week menu. The regular menu just looked to good. Pescatore is pretty easy to find on Rt 23, and the free parking lot makes it all the better. The first thing I noticed was how popular it was with people from the neighborhood. You could tell how many people that the servers recognized. The dining room footprint is small, but they use the space well. The lighting is intimate without being too dark. The ceilings are high, and they put some stuff on the ceiling to keep it from being too loud. The meatballs are a really, really good appetizer. I could have had that on it's own and been satisfied, but this place is known for seafood, and I had to go with that. So, I landed on the seafood pescatore (natch). It's an excellent, well balanced dish. The only issue was the shrimp in it. Large, but well over cooked. Every other component was delicious though, and I'd definitely go back.
(4)Mary C.
How I want to love this local spot. Great atmosphere, close by, always someone we know to talk with. But the food is so heavily laden with garlic and olive that for me it was inedible. Head to the sister restaurant, Anastasia's in South Philly, and have a great time eating something that really tastes like fish. I had branzino in both restaurants in the last month.
(2)Kay B.
I will be back! They have a gnocchi dish on their menu which I look forward to. Visited this place for a special occasion. Good service, nice atmosphere, and generous portions. Our server was attentive and helpful, and seemed she genuinely wanted us to enjoy ourselves. She shared that the owners of the restaurant also own a fish market in Italian Market area in Philadelphia, so the fish here is fresh. We ordered the stuffed portabello appetizer, duroc pork chop, brasciole, side of wild mushroom risotto, and pistachio gelato. Everything we had was tasty and respectable. The portabella was actually flattened and served with a crab cake + accoutrements (capers, roasted red peppers) on top. It was good, but the crab cake had breading in it and I prefer just lump crab. A preference thing, but worth trying! The pork chop was served over a bed of smooth mashed potatoes. It was tender and very crispy with the panko. I would order it again for sure. The brasciole is a beef dish that's been cooked for a long time to make it fall apart. Served with a red sauce, also over mashed potatoes. Very good! The meat was very tender. We also ordered a side of wild mushroom risotto. The rice was toothy, and it tasted more like butter than parmesan cheese. This is ok if you prefer the taste of butter more than cheese, but I am the opposite. It had thin slices of what looked like shiitake in it. Overall mushroom flavor was delicate. We appreciated the pistachio gelato on the house for our special occasion! It was good, but tasted of either an almond/amaretto extract ever so slightly. I liked the pieces of raw pistachio, but could do without the extract flavor. Again, a preference, but nothing wrong in the execution! Inside they have a very deep and romantic theme. White walls with framed photographs. Rich red curtains by the door. Very cozy as long as you stay away from the vents! Thanks for a very nice atmosphere and great service for our special celebration!!! Pescatore is BYOB. If you are sharing an entree, there is a charge.
(4)Jeff S.
Excellent meal!!! Burrata salad, Nonna's Sunday gravy and a Tartufo for dessert. Friendly neighborhood place. It's BYOB. Burrata was the best I have ever had! The Sunday gravy was a lamb ragu over pasta, meatball and really really good sweet sausage! Tartufo was so different! If in the neighborhood, check it out!
(5)Jim R.
Enjoyed a wonderful dinner here on a Friday night recently. Was in town from Minneapolis to visit my college son and was looking for something nice in the Philly suburbs. I found this spot on open table then checked yelp for the straight scoop. It is a small cozy spot with not a lot of room between the tables but that didn't stop the very attentive and efficient wait staff from keeping every water glass full at all times. I had a hard time choosing-there were so many great sounding items on the menu plus about 6 great specials. In the end, I chose the Bronzino special-delectable white fish with a nice white wine sauce topped with asparagus and crab and served with flavorful mashed potatoes. Lots of great flavor and perfect meal. We started off with another special, grilled flatbread topped with tangy Cesar salad, crab and shrimp-more than enough for 4 people and a salad and appetizer all in one-clever. The only drawback for me was the concept of "BYO" - apparently the restaurant doesn't have a liquor license (who knew) and so you need to bring your own wine. I'll remember next time I'm in the area.
(5)Steven B.
The lovely wife and I dearly love BYOBs especially when they are close to home. My Yelp App was screaming at me to visit these folks so we made OpenTable reservations for 6 PM last night and off we went. We were pleased to see that that there is a private lot behind them so PARKING was a breeze. The entrance to the lot is on Highland Ave. We arrived on time and were seated immediately. The ATMOSPHERE is warm and cozy and intimate. A great place for a romantic dinner. The tables are a little close together but this is a high-end BYOB and the patrons know how to behave so we felt completely comfortable. Our waitress for the evening was Deana and we received 5 star SERVICE the entire evening. In addition to being friendly and knowledgeable, she knew just when to touch base and when to keep her distance. Much appreciated. Here is a little ADVICE on portion sizes and ordering. Your meal is going to begin with a delicious plate of bread, pesto and cheese. If you decide to go with four courses (appetizer, salad, entree and dessert), that is likely to be too much food! Last night the wife and I each enjoyed an appetizer, split a salad, each had an entrée, and split a desert for a total of six items. We were stuffed. What should you expect for PRICES? This is not an inexpensive restaurant. The six items mentioned above totaled $107. However this is superb cuisine and the wife and I both feel it was an excellent value. So what did we eat? As the restaurant name implies, there are plenty of choices from the sea. The wife enjoyed sautéed octopus as an appetizer and skate as her entrée. I ordered stuffed long-hots as an appetizer and unbelievably delicious Pumpkin gnocchi with spiced apples and cranberries as my entrée. Our shared tiramisu was decadent and voted Best on the MainLine for the last two years. Check the Yelp entry for lots of photos. We walked out of the restaurant with smiles on our faces, looked at each other and said 5 stars!
(5)John G.
My girlfriend had heard good things and suggested we try Pescatore. We were both very impressed by the atmosphere, food, and service and plan on returning soon. The bread and parmesan are amazing and set the tone for the entire meal.
(5)Charlie C.
We ate there for the 2nd time last night., both meals were great..Food and service were really good, prices very fair....and very nice wait staff. Well prepared, fresh seafood and Italian fare. Nice atmosphere, just a little too loud. Hope this place can keep going..the Main Line is a dining desert..
(4)Robert F.
The menu is vast and has many good choices. The food and service was excellent. The noise level is a bit too loud due to the high ceiling and wood floor. Overall I give this restaurant 4 out of 5 stars.
(4)Steve C.
Pescatore offers a cozy welcoming atmosphere with excellent service and superb food. When we arrived our expectations dropped as we opened our menus to find nothing but the dark leather insides of the menu, thankfully once we were given new menus that had actual printing in them, our experience soared from there. Our server Pisello recited from memory a long list menu additions and specials flawlessly, I was impressed, I could barely remember everything he said, I definitely couldn't do his job. His interaction was professional, warm and friendly. We decided to start with the mussels, and for entrees my wife chose the Osso Bucca, and I had a dish called Nona's Sunday Gravy. The mussels were remarkable cooked in a slightly spicy sauce which truly brought the appetizer to life. I have had a lot of mussels in my time and these are a close second to the ones at Monks Cafe. Our entrees were beyond our expectations, my wife raved about the Osso Bucca and she is an extreme foodie. While I could never define myself as a foodie, I tend to be particular but not too adventurous, Nona's Sunday Gravy was a combination of the best traditional Italian food has to offer. Sweet italian sausage, Nona's Meatballs, Pasta, long hot peppers and lamb ragu. Wow!. It was breathtaking, and with those long hots that could be taken literally. A truly amazing dish. We both left part of out entrees for take home next day lunch as the portions were quite generous and we wanted to sample the dessert menu which my wife chose a peanut butter tartufo that was again impeccably done and I had the Tiramisu which was so unique that I was floored by the flavor. That along when an excellent cup of cappuccino ended a perfect night (well not count the menus) out at a truly exceptional establishment. Pescatore has won our hearts, minds and stomachs. I suggest you make a reservation and enjoy the culinary bliss. One FYI, Pescatore is a BYOB establishment. They are happy to provide wine glasses or have various mixers on the menu that you can use with the liquor you bring.
(5)Jackie M.
I can't believe that we didn't have the same experience some of the other diners had. We ordered eggplant rollatini, it was dry and tasteless, branzino tasted old and flavorless, grilled octopus was nothing special. My dinner of lobster raviolis were so salty, it was impossible to enjoy. Maybe we ordered all of the wrong things, but what we ordered are so simple to cook. So if you know how to cook yourself and dine out a lot, you shouldn't eat here.
(1)Marlin 1.
Good BUT not what it use to be. The quality of the preparation of the food has slipped. This appears to be the beginning of a slippery slope that if not correct will make Pescatore just another average high priced place to eat.
(4)Lindsay R.
My husband and I dined at Pescatore because everyone boasts about the restaurant, however, we did not have a great experience. We ordered the special salad over flatbread. It was large but not $25 worth in taste. I ordered the $30 ocean mix. The plate contains 1 lobster tail, 1 scallop & 3 shrimp. Thank God I was almost full from the bread and salad! The biggest disappointment was that all of the fish was overcooked! My husbands classic pasta dish was really good but nothing to boast about. The staff was nice but there were a lot of teenagers working and didn't bother to clear our small table of the little dishes taking up room we needed. The website doesn't state any prices and now I know why. I was expecting the best food on the mainline but once again we are still searching.
(2)Jackie B.
I live in city so I rarely go out to eat in the suburbs and when I do... it is not my choice. I was so pleasantly surprised when I stopped in to Pescatore for the first time after seeing a movie at the theater across the street. Service was excellent. Extremely professional but with a certain old South Philly charm. (Maybe that was all of the Frank Sinatra and Frankie Avalon that was playing... which I kind of loved.) The food. Ahh the food. Everything we had was super tasty but the Sunday Supper was absolutely ridiculous (in a good way). The flat bread Caesar was also something I could probably eat every day. No joke. Everyone else loved their food and one of my friend's is gluten free/celiac and they were super accommodating . I have been back a couple of times now (ssshhh don't tell my city friends) and it has been excellent every time. Damn them for making me leave the city. #worthit
(5)Cristina L.
Wow! We were blown away by Pescatore! After a quick Yelp search, we found this gem of a place and were consistently impressed with all aspects of the good and service. The wait staff was very attentive but not too much to the point of being bothersome. Our waitress was knowledgable and friendly, and gave fabulous suggestions. Our food was SPECTACULAR! The complementary bread with cheese and pesto were delightful. In fact, the pesto tastes exactly like something from my Italian grandmother's kitchen! This place clearly goes the extra mile for heir customers. For the entree, we both chose from the extensive specials list-- my boyfriend went with the Bronzino, and the waitress made the grilled octopus special into an entree with homemade tagliatelle for me. Both were to die for! Finished off with a great tiramisu. Overall, the waitstaff and quality of the food made it a great night. The entrees average between $25 and $30, but are certainly worth the price! I only wish we could afford to go more often! BYOB certainly makes it more affordable on the other hand. If you're in the mood for great quality Italian, take my advice and go here!!
(5)Cecilia M.
Great corner Italian restaurant. It's my second time here. Love their signature salad, really delicious. BYOB.. Good service
(4)Stephen Z.
Absolutely amazing. I highly recommend this restaurant. The food was authentic and delicious. Our waiter, Giovanni was a true professional and his service was top notch. You just can't go wrong here. Every dish we had all three courses were outstanding.
(5)Jan G.
Love it. Food and service are great. Terrific neighborhood restaurant. BYOB which we love.
(5)John I.
Loved this place . A terrific little secret with amazing Southern Italian food. The seafood is so fresh....right from the S Philly market. The meatballs taste just like my Grandmothers; perfection . Grilled octopus was light and seasoned to perfection. Pasta tasted homemade....the cannolis have a great ricotta filling. You will not be disappointed!!!!!!
(5)Brian H.
Unfortunately I did not have the same 4 or 5 star experience that others have had at this BYOB In Bala. To start our wine was opened promptly, the not-so-fine glasses were poured, the specials of the day were rattled off in a rapid litany fumbling over how the dishes were prepared, so much so that we had to ask for a repeat. In less than a minute the server returned to ask if we were ready to order, my thumb had just popped open the menu, so I responded "I would like to look at the menu first". Good idea? I think so. The bread served with an oily pesto and shaved parm was actually the highlight of the evening. See where we are headed? We split a 3 star arugula salad, very lightly dressed and the shaved parm barely noticeable. We then split the gnocchi of the day, spinach gnocci in a "veal demi-glace" so we were told. If there was a demi-glace involved in the dish at all, I'd be surprised. The gnocchi were mush, pure mush, and basically the dish was a waste of empty calories and no flavor to boot. 1 star here. For entrees, we ordered 2 out of the 3 fish specials for the evening. I had the striped bass which was a small piece of the tender fish ($30) over top of a sweet pea risotto, Again lacking flavor. For a plus, the risotto was cooked a perfect al dente, with no or very little cheese you would expect in a risotto, and by the time the server returned to ask if everything was alright, I said that the risotto could have used a little cheese, which she promptly returned and added to the two tablespoons I had left on the plate. My friend had the Branzino special ($30), which was good in it's own right, but had a soggy wet skin still attached so the skin was inedible. The mashed potatoes were average at best along with the asparagus. OK, time for dessert, let's try that "award winning" tiramisu. This was not bad, but not close to the best I've had. Let's give the dessert an A-OK. The tiramisu was served with the check shoved under the plate within seconds of the dessert appearance on our table. No lie, we did not even have time to pick up our forks off of the table. I guess they were trying to get rid of us as fast as we were trying to get this dinner over and behind us. No reason to go back again, it wouldn't even be worth a try. This is my 100th review of the year, I was looking forward to it being very favorable, what a shame.
(2)E D.
My fiancé and I had the pleasure of dining here last night, as a "do-over" from the absolutely horrendous dinner experience we had at Hokka Hokka on his birthday (that review will follow...ugh). This made up for it and then some! The staff is incredibly friendly and professional, and you can tell that a lot of love is put into the restaurant. I love the BYOB aspect. First, we shared the burrata special appetizer with the balsamic-fig reduction and the stuffed long hots. Both were very flavorful and were a great start to the dinner. My only issue was that the burrata had a little bit of a "refrigerator taste" to it. The long hots were nice and spicy, which my fiancé greatly appreciated. The complimentary bread, cheese, and pesto were nice as well. The pesto is a little more chimichurri-like than I've had before, and it was very tasty. For entrees, I had the braised short ribs from the menu, and my honey had the halibut special with claims. Both were lovely. My meat was melt-in-your-mouth tender, and the Portobello ravioli was perfect al dente deliciousness. His halibut was equally good. We cleaned our plates. I had told the manager, who also happened to be our server, beforehand that this was a make-up birthday dinner. We were waiting for them to bring dessert menus, because we definitely wanted to try their tiramisu. Well, one of the servers brought out a huge piece topped with whipped cream and a candle for my fiancé! This was very kind of them, and we were not expecting it. The tiramisu, no lie, is the best I have ever tasted. I have had many tiramisus, even in Italy. I have made it myself from scratch, and I hate to say it, but theirs is better than mine. I joked that I wanted them to make a tiramisu wedding cake for us. (Maybe I am not joking!) I finished with a cappuccino which was the perfect ending to this wonderful meal. I think I just found my new favorite BYO!
(5)Michael L.
A friend recommended this place to me. My parents and sister were visiting from MA so I decided to bring them here. I would definitely recommend this place. Great food and pleasant/attentive staff. Small and cozy, would be a great spot for a date.
(5)Richard R.
A third experience left my opinion unchanged. Our table was not ready and we were offered an opportunity to stand in the vestibule while we waited the few minutes required. The hostess still seems less than happy. Once seated, or wine was handled well and the service was adequate.
(3)Reid F.
I liked the food at this BYO, but despite the excellent service, I thought it lacked something. It was a good meal, just not great.
(3)John H.
We had an amazing seafood dinner here, me and two colleagues from work. The service was excellent, the food awesome, and it's a cute little place. Can't wait to go back next time I'm in Philly.
(5)Joseph G.
The gnocchi was easily the best I've had. Pesto was wonderful.
(4)Larry M.
Finally a good friendly restruant in Bala Cynwyd. Best Veal Sicillan since the previous restruant I got it at in South Philly closed. Service was friendly. Prices were very reasonable. Deserts also looked excellent and home made.
(5)Geoff H.
The gnocchi. If there's one reason to go it is this dish. The gnocchi itself is light and fluffy, but it rests in the most delicious sauce I've ever tasted bar none. It was unreal, the depth of flavor that came through, like it had been slowly simmered for hours on end to extract every ounce of richness from it's components. Seriously, my first bite I stopped and just was amazed at how complex, balanced, and flavorful this sauce was, leaving you with just that warm feeling of a perfect meal. It's been 3 months so I'll update once we go back (and we will), but for now that sauce still haunts me, and the memory of a well executed and homey meal with a flaky trout drizzled with a tart lemon sauce and rich chicken livers to start. Service was wonderful, with our waiter recommending great combinations while describing each dish with knowledge that came with true study and appreciation of the food.
(5)C P.
Average, over priced italian food with mediocre service and terrible parking. This venue is trying to live off of their parent restaurant downtown, but its not working. La Collina is much more authentic, is a staple in the area, and has better parking.
(2)Cathy S.
Crazy that some rate this place 4 or 5 stars. Perhaps they serve different quality food on weekends. Having just dined at Pescatore mid week, I found the food to be just fair. As a salad lover, I rate a restaurant on the freshness of their greens. It is simple to buy fresh arugula theses days. The arugula was soggy and tasteless, and the cherry tomatoes were tasteless. Plus the carrots served with the entrees were those fake baby ones served only at poor restaurants (and at Wawa with dip).
(2)Phil D.
Visited: Saturday - January 14, 2012 - 5:00 PM I hosted a dinner for 12 dining club members at 5pm. It is an accepted practice to arrange separate checks when possible. Tonight was no exception. I arrived about 4:45PM to greet the anticipated diners. The table was nicely arranged in the corner of the room with ample space between seats. Pesto, thinly sliced cheese, with Italian bread was presented among the guests. Careful - no double dipping the chewed bread in the pesto! I had the Octopus salad as the appetizer. The waiter indicated that kalamata olives were an ingredient. I don't like kalamata olives due to their highly-salted composition but, ordered it. The octopus appetizer was very good. The characteristic kalamata olives briny taste was pleasantly subdued. The arugula salad was surprising hard to eat. The leaves were tough and string-like. The thinly sliced cheese did nothing to improve the taste. The cioppino was quite good - perfectly cooked stripped bass amid clams, mussels, scallops, shrimp and slightly undercooked risotto. I washed everything down with a cup of decaffeinated tea and marbled cheese cake...yum! The wait staff was very good and the separate checks were calculated without a hitch. The true test of efficiency and quality of a dining establishment is best gauged by their performance on a Saturday night, separate checks, service, and of course food. My co-diners enjoyed their experience. Despite the arugula salad, and risotto, Pescatore performed admirably - kudos!
(5)Jim K.
First let me say we've been going to Pescatore the past 2 years and we've always enjoyed the entire experience. Last night was a real downer though. (Our past experiences led to 2 stars instead of just 1.) We sat for 10 minutes with no one even coming to greet us; and that's when I saw the filthy water glass in front of me. Filthy as in lovely pink lipstick and fingerprints--maybe from the prior guest. Host finally came and poured our "Bala" water, but no ice. Before we could comment on the fact that the water was tepid, he was gone. When the waitress came and we asked her for cold water she brought us a single glass of ice and scooted away. When she returned again (5 minutes later) we asked for iced water. She looked perplexed but complied. The typically yummy grilled octopus we always have was mediocre at best, with little taste and overcooked. As we picked at it, we overheard the couple next to us complaining quite vigorously about the poor flatbread Caesar salad with crab and shrimp. Too bad we had already ordered it, because it has been consistently delicious. The couple was right on target. This time it was bland, too much oil in the dressing, and enough crab shell to damage teeth. My Nonna's Gravy was very good though, which was a welcome departure from the rest of the meal. It's unlikely we will return to this place we've been faithful to for several years. And one more thing: the host who greeted us needs to button his shirt and learn to smile. Try it and you might have a different experience, but the price may not be worth rolling the dice.
(2)Michelle O.
Went again and got the same thing but this time the lobster was overcooked. I guess you can't relive a great experience.
(3)Henry L.
We had a wonderful experience at Pescatore last night, sharing an appetizer of prosciutto-wrapped crab drizzled with balsamic reduction. The entrees were Pescatore linguini with the shellfish and shrimp perfectly cooked and seasoned (which is not easy for busy restaurants) and a skate which was very fresh and again perfectly cooked and seasoned. We have not been here in a while. The hostess was friendly and sincere, and could not have been more accommodating and the waitstaff were polite and quite accomplished. This is much more expertly run restaurant than it was a year or two ago, and the overall experience much more satisfying. It might be the best restaurant on the Main Line.
(5)Brittini S.
Great for my weeknight out with coworkers! Cozy little BYOB in Bala. I really liked the meatball appetizer and my main entree was cooked to perfection. The chef sent out an extra dessert because he overheard that one of us was with child. They paced the meal very nicely and let us sit in the corner table and talk well after the meal was eaten. Definitely a do-over!
(5)Chris G.
Pescatore is a family-run BYOB nestled in the theater area of Bala_Cynwyd. As often as I go, which is probably 5 times a year, I have yet to have anything short of fantastic food. The pumpkin gnocchi is particularly good, but the meat selection is what draws me there. Wait staff is amazing - good training! The atmosphere is very cozy and, best of all, the warm and friendly reception, quite atypical for the Main Line, is a breath of fresh air.
(5)J K.
Second visit to Pescatore was disappointing. Service tonight was very spotty. Seems like the restaurant is understaffed. Table was not ready when we arrived and we had to wait 10 minutes in the alcove. Another long wait before waitress came for our order. When we were done with our appetizers, she came by to clear the plates and, seeming frazzled, said "were those your appetizers or your entrees?" As far as food, the appetizers of eggplant rollatini and mushroom stuffed with crabmeat were both excellent. We didn't fare that well with the entrees, however. My stuffed pork chop was underdone (had to send it back to the kitchen) and the linquine pescatore was underwhelming. Other than garlic and oil, it seems to have no sauce. The seafood ravioli was OK but the portion was very small. One thing I can't understand is why this restaurant, named Pescatore, has almost no fresh seafood on the menu. Tonight's special was sauteed salmon- not exactly exotic. Why is there no local fresh fish? I thiink it will be a while before I return to Pescatore. For good food and service in Bala, I prefer my old standby, the New Tavern, where food and service are both reilable. Afterthought: there are a surprising number of 4 and 5 star reviews for this restaurant by people who have joined yelp just to post this one review..this strikes me as odd for a small restaurant in Bala Cynwyd to have attracted a large following of new yelpers...just saying.
(2)dana s.
The best! We held our parent's 60th birthday party here and from start to finish, Frank was the best to work with. He was prompt, consistent, and helpful. Fast forward to our actual meal and it was flawless. The staff were incredible, the portions were perfect, and everyone was raving - most importantly, our parents! Thanks to Pescatore for an incredible dining experience and a memorable night for our family. We look forward to dining here again in the future!!!
(5)Lee P.
the food was wonderful, the service was amazing. Although the evening started out with confusion regarding our reservations via Yelp. We arrived at 8pm to the hostess saying that there were no reservations under our name-very frustrating. The did their best, and we were seated within 30-40 minutes. Despite the confusion, we would definitely dine at Pescatore again- just would call to confirm our reservations!! :)
(4)Diem L.
We came there for restaurant week and upgraded from the $30 to $38 menu to get the specials: fish and scallops. The fish which was recommended by the waitress was just okay. The scallops were divine. The pesto and parmesan for the bread was just amazing. The hot links app was very spicy. Our waitress was great, very attentive and friendly. I have recommended to friends and will definitely be back! I love the BYO option.
(4)Pam A.
Solid Italian food, they have the staples down. Their salads are enormous and tasty. Its great that they are a byob, because, their prices are a little high. I would definitely say - GO, and be prepared to take home a doggy bag..and scout the room for local celeb tv types!
(3)marc e.
Sorry Charlie, No no no. We've been twice. First time was bad food. 2nd time was bad service. You don't get a 3rd shot, sorry. First time was about 3 weeks after the restaurant opened. Food was mediocre to poor. Bread was good. Octopus salad was inedible. But.. hey.. they had just opened so kinda unfair to post a yelp review. Let it go! Also, they seemed to have a great pedigree with access to great seafood so.... let's cross our fingers and try again later. Yesterday heard from a friend: Food pretty good! Nowhere else to go right now... need to kill some time... let's try it again. So... off the two of us go. Make reservation on OpenTable. Walk over (yes, it is just a 15 minute walk and so it would really be GREAT if the restaurant was good)... but... Just terrible service. My guess, the manager in the front-of-house is a relative of the owner and so doesn't understand customer service: I am guessing, it could just be bad with no excuse... it is just that my experience is that people would be fired if they weren't related but who knows. We actually got our menus, were told it was restaurant week, specials were explained, and then.... we placed our orders and were told, after the fact, that our menu selections were not allowed (per some policy not written down or explained...details below if you want to be bored)... so we stood up, finished our wine, and left the restaurant. No apology, no explanations, no food... just a silly silly place that won't survive. DETAILS: I wanted the mussels appetizer and then scallops. Wife wanted the bass or maybe the mussels, and maybe some broccoli? anyway... then we were told it was "restaurant week" so... I choose the hot links and scallops wife chooses the mussels and a side of broccoli rabe and we're told NOPE. that doesn't work. it is some mix of restaurant week items and regular items we don't allow. HUH? We weren't even thinking about price. We weren't trying to get any deal... we didn't even know it was restaurant week! we just wanted to order what we wanted to order from their menu... no specials... just food... whatever the price. SO... when they said NOPE. I said ... hmmm... perhaps check with the manager? and they did.. and came back and said NOPE. but not a nice no... not a manager coming over with a nice explanation and apology... not an accomdation OR an explanation... just a no. essentially "go away". TOTALLY WEIRD. We live a mile away and could be great customers and great word-of-mouth. very very strange. Ahhh well. RECOMMENDATION: Go to Ryan Christopher's BYOB about 2 miles down the road for great food great service. NOTICE MY PATTERN OF REVIEWS. MOST ARE FAVORABLE. THIS IS A WEIRD EXCEPTION.
(1)Ruth D.
Tonight was my first time here and it was delightful. The staff was friendly. Soothing atmosphere. I loved the bread and the pesto olive oil and the cheese that came with them. The caesar salad on flatbread with seafood was okay. Not the best. They were right to tell us it was enough for two. But I loved my entree: braised short ribs and risotto. My dining mates' entrees - spinach ravioli and fettuccine bolognese - looked very tasty. The chocolate cake which was enough for all three of us to share was moist and delicious. I docked one star because I was not a big fan of the caesar salad and at one point the service was a little pokey. But all in all a positive experience. I live in the neighborhood and I tend to neglect Bala Avenue but I will return to this restaurant.
(4)Charles R.
One of the best 3 Italian restaurants in MainLine. The fact that's BYO makes it even better. The salad was fresh and had a wonderful dressing. The stuffed long hot Italian peppers were great. I love hot and spicy and these were about a 7 out of 10 on my scale of hot. The sausage stuffing was sweet and fresh. So many choices it was hard to pick for dinner, but the special of soft shells from Maryland were close to perfect, maybe a touch more garlic would have made them perfect for my taste. The veal with hot and sweet peppers was fork tender and the sauce was right on the money. Most people had the 7" high chocolate cake, but since I love Tiramisu I had to try it. It was good, but not enough rum. Outside of that , this place is great. Great waiter, but the whole staff was very nice. Major drawback is parking. I had to park over 2 blocks away. They take all major plastic.
(4)Daniel S.
We visited for Father's Day. Pleasant service, but very disappointing food. My parents had been there once before, but they too were let down by the food this time. Was the chef off with his family?
(3)george k.
This was a disappointment. I wanted to try a new place for my b-day. I felt the menu was too large, and in some cases, repetitive. The service was just okay. Our server sat on the table top next to us while delivering the long list of specials. The food was just okay. The seafood was fresh but the taste was under seasoned. Not bland but not pronounced. Both of our main plates were expensive. The defining moment came earlier than expected. We just finished our apps when here come the entrees. We didn't even have our red wine opened. The host asked us what the problem was and we explained that the main plates arrived much too quickly. He responded with "the kitchen starts the main plates right after the apps are consumed and you should get them after 5 minutes". Really, a whole 5 minutes? Are we at applebees or TGIF? I won't go back, too many other places that allow diners to savor their food.
(3)MM B.
what a lovely pre-Valentines dinner we just had! Food was excellent, service was impeccable and the room was warm and inviting. We took our server's suggestions and all ordered the specials: Osso Bucco, ravioli with goat cheese, branzino. Place was almost full when we arrived for an early reservation, but we were never rushed. We are always rooting for the family owned and run restaurants - Pescatore does not need us to root for the underdog in this case- our dining experience was just amazing from start to finish. We will definitely return...
(5)Janek J.
I dined with a group of four, all of whom had appetizers and entrees. I didn't taste a single thing for which I wasn't WILD!
(5)Francesco R.
Wow - wife found this place on OpenTable and we gave it a shot. Reviews were great on OT and Yelp and all those people were right. We were met promptly upon arrival at 9PM last night and seated. Our waitress was VERY impressive relaying an extensive list of daily specials. Since this was our first time she also guided us through some of her favorites. We started off enjoying the bread, pesto and shaved parmesan cheese while also enjoying our house salad. The baked Mozzarella en Carozza was AMAZING. i would eat eight of those until i exploded. Then dinner. Delicious. I had the spaghetti pescatore which was a delicate wine sauce and crab, mussels, shrimp and clams. Thank you to our waitress for the suggestion. My lovely wife had the daily special ravioli which were covered in a sundried tomato and pesto sauce. Dessert was very good too. I had the ricotta cheesecake and my wife had the tiramisu. Even the decaf cappuccino was good. My wife and I will DEFINITELY be back and have already talked about what we will get next and who we should tell about our lovely experience there.
(5)Vikki S.
Pescatore is a destination restaurant; you don't just walk past it while meandering down Montgomery Avenue. Instead, it's hidden down Bala Cynwyd Avenue on a small corner across the street from the Bala movie theater. My husband and I opted to try it one night before we went to see Lincoln. And what a pleasant surprise. The decor was a bit serious and formal (linen tablecloths, oh my), but the waitstaff was knowledgeable, friendly and attentive (but not hovering). I can't remember what we ate, but I remember it being very good. Oh, wait. My husband ordered a bolognese I think, and he said it was one of the best he's ever had (maybe I ordered the special fish of the night, a branzino?). Either way, the food really was tasty. I'm not sure my dish was one of the best meals I've ever had, but it was a wonderful new experience, and I think we may return with my mother-in-law who would like the formality of the place. The only other observation I had was that at age 39 were probably the youngest couple in the place; it seems to draw a pre-movie, older crowd.
(4)Larry W.
We live in the neighborhood but tonight was out first visit here. We will definitely be back! Excellent mussel appetizer followed by a crab ravioli and an great fish special with crab meat. The tiramisu for dessert was one of the best I have had (more cinnamon, less nutmeg than usual). About an $80 meal (with BYO wine). Good wait staff and friendly owners. A lot of reviewers have mentioned the noise and it was a little loud when the place filled up but only slightly above average and not overly distracting. Overall a great dinner in Bala that completely replaces the need to go into Philly. Highly recommended!
(4)Jenn P.
Actually found this restaurant through Yelp, looking for Italian BYOB. Absolutely Phenomenal! The atmosphere is so intimate and romantic. Food was delicious, waitress was very helpful and attentive. Will definitely be returning!
(5)Kevin W.
Outstanding Restaurant!!!! My favorite Italian restaurant the pasta is outstanding and Ive never had a problem with the service.I highly recommend getting one of their pasta dishes because it is made fresh.Ive eaten here a few times and have never had a bad service or meal
(4)Jan K.
Unpretentious (unlike Avril which it replaced) Pescatore offered a varied and interesting menu, and some nice specials. For apps, we had Tuscan mussels and crab meat-stuffed prosciutto (how can you go wrong with those ingredients?) I had a delicious bronzino filet, that was pan-seared to a luscious bronze color. My wife's veal chop was hugely thick, but a little tough. Probably had it been pounded flat, it would have filled the plate and been much easier to chew... That's just the nature of veal. Service was attentive (considering the restaurant was 100% full. Requests for extra bread (to sop up sauce) was delivered along with some shaved cheese from a huge wheel. Our waitress knew the menu and specials very well. All the staff had a comfortable South-Philly style genuineness that made you feel like you were dining at a friend's house who happened to be an excellent Italian cook. BYOB made it an affordable $100 after tip and a fresh shared cannoli. We can walk there from our house, and will absolutely go back.
(4)Ryan P.
We always have the caesar salad flatbread with the crab and shrimp, it is excellent! The service is great and each special tastes great. I recommend Pescatore to all my friends. Enjoy!
(5)Anonymous L.
So Glad we came! Worth the 2 hr drive from New Jersey :) The food and service was meticiously, I would highly recommend the butternut squash ravioli, caesar salad on flatbread, and the fish specials!! Reasonable prices for excellant food. Dessert were excellent, too. It's a BYOB which makes it a great place to go!
(5)Mary C.
How I want to love this local spot. Great atmosphere, close by, always someone we know to talk with. But the food is so heavily laden with garlic and olive that for me it was inedible. Head to the sister restaurant, Anastasia's in South Philly, and have a great time eating something that really tastes like fish. I had branzino in both restaurants in the last month.
(2)John G.
My girlfriend had heard good things and suggested we try Pescatore. We were both very impressed by the atmosphere, food, and service and plan on returning soon. The bread and parmesan are amazing and set the tone for the entire meal.
(5)Mary C.
How I want to love this local spot. Great atmosphere, close by, always someone we know to talk with. But the food is so heavily laden with garlic and olive that for me it was inedible. Head to the sister restaurant, Anastasia's in South Philly, and have a great time eating something that really tastes like fish. I had branzino in both restaurants in the last month.
(2)Kerri S.
One word - Excellent!!! I've been here twice and can't wait to plan another trip. Both dining experiences were fantastic. The food was delicious, the service was spot on, and the ambience was warm and inviting. Between my two visits I tried the buratta salad, antipasto platter, grilled octopus, and mixed ocean grill, and I would absolutely recommend all of these dishes. The people we dined with lived nearby but had not been before, and they were thrilled to have a new neighborhood go to favorite. They came back less than a month later. I was also appreciative of the prices as everything was very reasonable. I look forward to returning to Pescatore soon.
(5)Adam F.
Pescatore is a very good Italian BYOB out in the suburbs. The food is really good, the staff is knowledgeable and attentive, and the decor is upscale yet with a casual vibe. Also, it is right across from the Bala theater, so a perfect dinner & movie night. Appetizers: Nonna's meatballs, crab meat wrapped with prosciutto Pasta: any of the homemade pastas are good (gnocchi, ravioli, fettuccine) Entrees: Pork chop italiano (stuffed with sausage and broccoli rabe), veal pavarotti (veal with shrimp and prosciutto) Fish: definitely have good fish here, check the specials
(4)E D.
My fiancé and I had the pleasure of dining here last night, as a "do-over" from the absolutely horrendous dinner experience we had at Hokka Hokka on his birthday (that review will follow...ugh). This made up for it and then some! The staff is incredibly friendly and professional, and you can tell that a lot of love is put into the restaurant. I love the BYOB aspect. First, we shared the burrata special appetizer with the balsamic-fig reduction and the stuffed long hots. Both were very flavorful and were a great start to the dinner. My only issue was that the burrata had a little bit of a "refrigerator taste" to it. The long hots were nice and spicy, which my fiancé greatly appreciated. The complimentary bread, cheese, and pesto were nice as well. The pesto is a little more chimichurri-like than I've had before, and it was very tasty. For entrees, I had the braised short ribs from the menu, and my honey had the halibut special with claims. Both were lovely. My meat was melt-in-your-mouth tender, and the Portobello ravioli was perfect al dente deliciousness. His halibut was equally good. We cleaned our plates. I had told the manager, who also happened to be our server, beforehand that this was a make-up birthday dinner. We were waiting for them to bring dessert menus, because we definitely wanted to try their tiramisu. Well, one of the servers brought out a huge piece topped with whipped cream and a candle for my fiancé! This was very kind of them, and we were not expecting it. The tiramisu, no lie, is the best I have ever tasted. I have had many tiramisus, even in Italy. I have made it myself from scratch, and I hate to say it, but theirs is better than mine. I joked that I wanted them to make a tiramisu wedding cake for us. (Maybe I am not joking!) I finished with a cappuccino which was the perfect ending to this wonderful meal. I think I just found my new favorite BYO!
(5)Michael L.
A friend recommended this place to me. My parents and sister were visiting from MA so I decided to bring them here. I would definitely recommend this place. Great food and pleasant/attentive staff. Small and cozy, would be a great spot for a date.
(5)Larry W.
We live in the neighborhood but tonight was out first visit here. We will definitely be back! Excellent mussel appetizer followed by a crab ravioli and an great fish special with crab meat. The tiramisu for dessert was one of the best I have had (more cinnamon, less nutmeg than usual). About an $80 meal (with BYO wine). Good wait staff and friendly owners. A lot of reviewers have mentioned the noise and it was a little loud when the place filled up but only slightly above average and not overly distracting. Overall a great dinner in Bala that completely replaces the need to go into Philly. Highly recommended!
(4)Jenn P.
Actually found this restaurant through Yelp, looking for Italian BYOB. Absolutely Phenomenal! The atmosphere is so intimate and romantic. Food was delicious, waitress was very helpful and attentive. Will definitely be returning!
(5)Kevin W.
Outstanding Restaurant!!!! My favorite Italian restaurant the pasta is outstanding and Ive never had a problem with the service.I highly recommend getting one of their pasta dishes because it is made fresh.Ive eaten here a few times and have never had a bad service or meal
(4)Charlie C.
We ate there for the 2nd time last night., both meals were great..Food and service were really good, prices very fair....and very nice wait staff. Well prepared, fresh seafood and Italian fare. Nice atmosphere, just a little too loud. Hope this place can keep going..the Main Line is a dining desert..
(4)Robert F.
The menu is vast and has many good choices. The food and service was excellent. The noise level is a bit too loud due to the high ceiling and wood floor. Overall I give this restaurant 4 out of 5 stars.
(4)Jan K.
Unpretentious (unlike Avril which it replaced) Pescatore offered a varied and interesting menu, and some nice specials. For apps, we had Tuscan mussels and crab meat-stuffed prosciutto (how can you go wrong with those ingredients?) I had a delicious bronzino filet, that was pan-seared to a luscious bronze color. My wife's veal chop was hugely thick, but a little tough. Probably had it been pounded flat, it would have filled the plate and been much easier to chew... That's just the nature of veal. Service was attentive (considering the restaurant was 100% full. Requests for extra bread (to sop up sauce) was delivered along with some shaved cheese from a huge wheel. Our waitress knew the menu and specials very well. All the staff had a comfortable South-Philly style genuineness that made you feel like you were dining at a friend's house who happened to be an excellent Italian cook. BYOB made it an affordable $100 after tip and a fresh shared cannoli. We can walk there from our house, and will absolutely go back.
(4)Ryan P.
We always have the caesar salad flatbread with the crab and shrimp, it is excellent! The service is great and each special tastes great. I recommend Pescatore to all my friends. Enjoy!
(5)Anonymous L.
So Glad we came! Worth the 2 hr drive from New Jersey :) The food and service was meticiously, I would highly recommend the butternut squash ravioli, caesar salad on flatbread, and the fish specials!! Reasonable prices for excellant food. Dessert were excellent, too. It's a BYOB which makes it a great place to go!
(5)H C.
Checked out Pescatore for dinner with a few out of town friends on a Friday night. We all LOVED it! The bread with homemade pesto & parmesan is delicious, and they give you as many refills as you want! We all shared a caesar salad topped with shrimp and crabmeat that was to die for! Everyone was very pleased with their entrees. Had a lot of specials that night and the wait staff is very knowledgable. AND they're a BYOB, can't beat that! Reasonably priced, each couple paid about $70 for an unforgettable meal. The energy is vibrant, definitely not a place for a romantic dinner when it is crowded. But a great space for a larger group... make sure to make reservations!
(4)Junior M.
I frequent Italian restaurants every weekend. How did I miss this one? Tables were closer than I like them to be, but the upscale reserved clientele know how to act with close seating, We were only about a foot away from a table of 4 on either side of us and had no problem. Very nice clientele! Food Excellante!!!! The veal was to die for and Nonoos Sunday dinner is the best! I would personally like a softer bread but it was good. The flatbred Ceasar with Shrimp and Crabmeat was an excellent appetizer for 2. Bravo! I shall return!
(5)Amanda M.
Flatbread Caesar - Amazing Nonna's Sunday Gravy - Amazing Chicken Sacco - Amazing The fact that you can get all that food, dessert, and bring your own bottle of wine for under $100 makes this spot perfect for date night! Even the bread they bring out with the pesto and cheese is incredible.
(5)Stephen Z.
Absolutely amazing. I highly recommend this restaurant. The food was authentic and delicious. Our waiter, Giovanni was a true professional and his service was top notch. You just can't go wrong here. Every dish we had all three courses were outstanding.
(5)Jan G.
Love it. Food and service are great. Terrific neighborhood restaurant. BYOB which we love.
(5)steven s.
Sunday, was at a Surprise Birthday Party at Pescatore, on BALA Avenue. What an "Awesome Restaurant"!! The absolute Best in the area! Tommy the Chef and Owner sure knows about Great Food and Warm Hospitality! What a Good Time and Great Food! BTW, BYOB,, Ask For Frank, at Pescatore, He Is, THE MAN.........LOVE, LOVE LOVED IT,,,
(5)Dustin M.
Came here for suburban restaurant week, but surprisingly didn't get the restaurant week menu. The regular menu just looked to good. Pescatore is pretty easy to find on Rt 23, and the free parking lot makes it all the better. The first thing I noticed was how popular it was with people from the neighborhood. You could tell how many people that the servers recognized. The dining room footprint is small, but they use the space well. The lighting is intimate without being too dark. The ceilings are high, and they put some stuff on the ceiling to keep it from being too loud. The meatballs are a really, really good appetizer. I could have had that on it's own and been satisfied, but this place is known for seafood, and I had to go with that. So, I landed on the seafood pescatore (natch). It's an excellent, well balanced dish. The only issue was the shrimp in it. Large, but well over cooked. Every other component was delicious though, and I'd definitely go back.
(4)Steve C.
Pescatore offers a cozy welcoming atmosphere with excellent service and superb food. When we arrived our expectations dropped as we opened our menus to find nothing but the dark leather insides of the menu, thankfully once we were given new menus that had actual printing in them, our experience soared from there. Our server Pisello recited from memory a long list menu additions and specials flawlessly, I was impressed, I could barely remember everything he said, I definitely couldn't do his job. His interaction was professional, warm and friendly. We decided to start with the mussels, and for entrees my wife chose the Osso Bucca, and I had a dish called Nona's Sunday Gravy. The mussels were remarkable cooked in a slightly spicy sauce which truly brought the appetizer to life. I have had a lot of mussels in my time and these are a close second to the ones at Monks Cafe. Our entrees were beyond our expectations, my wife raved about the Osso Bucca and she is an extreme foodie. While I could never define myself as a foodie, I tend to be particular but not too adventurous, Nona's Sunday Gravy was a combination of the best traditional Italian food has to offer. Sweet italian sausage, Nona's Meatballs, Pasta, long hot peppers and lamb ragu. Wow!. It was breathtaking, and with those long hots that could be taken literally. A truly amazing dish. We both left part of out entrees for take home next day lunch as the portions were quite generous and we wanted to sample the dessert menu which my wife chose a peanut butter tartufo that was again impeccably done and I had the Tiramisu which was so unique that I was floored by the flavor. That along when an excellent cup of cappuccino ended a perfect night (well not count the menus) out at a truly exceptional establishment. Pescatore has won our hearts, minds and stomachs. I suggest you make a reservation and enjoy the culinary bliss. One FYI, Pescatore is a BYOB establishment. They are happy to provide wine glasses or have various mixers on the menu that you can use with the liquor you bring.
(5)Jackie M.
I can't believe that we didn't have the same experience some of the other diners had. We ordered eggplant rollatini, it was dry and tasteless, branzino tasted old and flavorless, grilled octopus was nothing special. My dinner of lobster raviolis were so salty, it was impossible to enjoy. Maybe we ordered all of the wrong things, but what we ordered are so simple to cook. So if you know how to cook yourself and dine out a lot, you shouldn't eat here.
(1)Marlin 1.
Good BUT not what it use to be. The quality of the preparation of the food has slipped. This appears to be the beginning of a slippery slope that if not correct will make Pescatore just another average high priced place to eat.
(4)Lindsay R.
My husband and I dined at Pescatore because everyone boasts about the restaurant, however, we did not have a great experience. We ordered the special salad over flatbread. It was large but not $25 worth in taste. I ordered the $30 ocean mix. The plate contains 1 lobster tail, 1 scallop & 3 shrimp. Thank God I was almost full from the bread and salad! The biggest disappointment was that all of the fish was overcooked! My husbands classic pasta dish was really good but nothing to boast about. The staff was nice but there were a lot of teenagers working and didn't bother to clear our small table of the little dishes taking up room we needed. The website doesn't state any prices and now I know why. I was expecting the best food on the mainline but once again we are still searching.
(2)John I.
Loved this place . A terrific little secret with amazing Southern Italian food. The seafood is so fresh....right from the S Philly market. The meatballs taste just like my Grandmothers; perfection . Grilled octopus was light and seasoned to perfection. Pasta tasted homemade....the cannolis have a great ricotta filling. You will not be disappointed!!!!!!
(5)Joseph G.
The gnocchi was easily the best I've had. Pesto was wonderful.
(4)Brian H.
Unfortunately I did not have the same 4 or 5 star experience that others have had at this BYOB In Bala. To start our wine was opened promptly, the not-so-fine glasses were poured, the specials of the day were rattled off in a rapid litany fumbling over how the dishes were prepared, so much so that we had to ask for a repeat. In less than a minute the server returned to ask if we were ready to order, my thumb had just popped open the menu, so I responded "I would like to look at the menu first". Good idea? I think so. The bread served with an oily pesto and shaved parm was actually the highlight of the evening. See where we are headed? We split a 3 star arugula salad, very lightly dressed and the shaved parm barely noticeable. We then split the gnocchi of the day, spinach gnocci in a "veal demi-glace" so we were told. If there was a demi-glace involved in the dish at all, I'd be surprised. The gnocchi were mush, pure mush, and basically the dish was a waste of empty calories and no flavor to boot. 1 star here. For entrees, we ordered 2 out of the 3 fish specials for the evening. I had the striped bass which was a small piece of the tender fish ($30) over top of a sweet pea risotto, Again lacking flavor. For a plus, the risotto was cooked a perfect al dente, with no or very little cheese you would expect in a risotto, and by the time the server returned to ask if everything was alright, I said that the risotto could have used a little cheese, which she promptly returned and added to the two tablespoons I had left on the plate. My friend had the Branzino special ($30), which was good in it's own right, but had a soggy wet skin still attached so the skin was inedible. The mashed potatoes were average at best along with the asparagus. OK, time for dessert, let's try that "award winning" tiramisu. This was not bad, but not close to the best I've had. Let's give the dessert an A-OK. The tiramisu was served with the check shoved under the plate within seconds of the dessert appearance on our table. No lie, we did not even have time to pick up our forks off of the table. I guess they were trying to get rid of us as fast as we were trying to get this dinner over and behind us. No reason to go back again, it wouldn't even be worth a try. This is my 100th review of the year, I was looking forward to it being very favorable, what a shame.
(2)Kay B.
I will be back! They have a gnocchi dish on their menu which I look forward to. Visited this place for a special occasion. Good service, nice atmosphere, and generous portions. Our server was attentive and helpful, and seemed she genuinely wanted us to enjoy ourselves. She shared that the owners of the restaurant also own a fish market in Italian Market area in Philadelphia, so the fish here is fresh. We ordered the stuffed portabello appetizer, duroc pork chop, brasciole, side of wild mushroom risotto, and pistachio gelato. Everything we had was tasty and respectable. The portabella was actually flattened and served with a crab cake + accoutrements (capers, roasted red peppers) on top. It was good, but the crab cake had breading in it and I prefer just lump crab. A preference thing, but worth trying! The pork chop was served over a bed of smooth mashed potatoes. It was tender and very crispy with the panko. I would order it again for sure. The brasciole is a beef dish that's been cooked for a long time to make it fall apart. Served with a red sauce, also over mashed potatoes. Very good! The meat was very tender. We also ordered a side of wild mushroom risotto. The rice was toothy, and it tasted more like butter than parmesan cheese. This is ok if you prefer the taste of butter more than cheese, but I am the opposite. It had thin slices of what looked like shiitake in it. Overall mushroom flavor was delicate. We appreciated the pistachio gelato on the house for our special occasion! It was good, but tasted of either an almond/amaretto extract ever so slightly. I liked the pieces of raw pistachio, but could do without the extract flavor. Again, a preference, but nothing wrong in the execution! Inside they have a very deep and romantic theme. White walls with framed photographs. Rich red curtains by the door. Very cozy as long as you stay away from the vents! Thanks for a very nice atmosphere and great service for our special celebration!!! Pescatore is BYOB. If you are sharing an entree, there is a charge.
(4)Jeff S.
Excellent meal!!! Burrata salad, Nonna's Sunday gravy and a Tartufo for dessert. Friendly neighborhood place. It's BYOB. Burrata was the best I have ever had! The Sunday gravy was a lamb ragu over pasta, meatball and really really good sweet sausage! Tartufo was so different! If in the neighborhood, check it out!
(5)Jim R.
Enjoyed a wonderful dinner here on a Friday night recently. Was in town from Minneapolis to visit my college son and was looking for something nice in the Philly suburbs. I found this spot on open table then checked yelp for the straight scoop. It is a small cozy spot with not a lot of room between the tables but that didn't stop the very attentive and efficient wait staff from keeping every water glass full at all times. I had a hard time choosing-there were so many great sounding items on the menu plus about 6 great specials. In the end, I chose the Bronzino special-delectable white fish with a nice white wine sauce topped with asparagus and crab and served with flavorful mashed potatoes. Lots of great flavor and perfect meal. We started off with another special, grilled flatbread topped with tangy Cesar salad, crab and shrimp-more than enough for 4 people and a salad and appetizer all in one-clever. The only drawback for me was the concept of "BYO" - apparently the restaurant doesn't have a liquor license (who knew) and so you need to bring your own wine. I'll remember next time I'm in the area.
(5)Steven B.
The lovely wife and I dearly love BYOBs especially when they are close to home. My Yelp App was screaming at me to visit these folks so we made OpenTable reservations for 6 PM last night and off we went. We were pleased to see that that there is a private lot behind them so PARKING was a breeze. The entrance to the lot is on Highland Ave. We arrived on time and were seated immediately. The ATMOSPHERE is warm and cozy and intimate. A great place for a romantic dinner. The tables are a little close together but this is a high-end BYOB and the patrons know how to behave so we felt completely comfortable. Our waitress for the evening was Deana and we received 5 star SERVICE the entire evening. In addition to being friendly and knowledgeable, she knew just when to touch base and when to keep her distance. Much appreciated. Here is a little ADVICE on portion sizes and ordering. Your meal is going to begin with a delicious plate of bread, pesto and cheese. If you decide to go with four courses (appetizer, salad, entree and dessert), that is likely to be too much food! Last night the wife and I each enjoyed an appetizer, split a salad, each had an entrée, and split a desert for a total of six items. We were stuffed. What should you expect for PRICES? This is not an inexpensive restaurant. The six items mentioned above totaled $107. However this is superb cuisine and the wife and I both feel it was an excellent value. So what did we eat? As the restaurant name implies, there are plenty of choices from the sea. The wife enjoyed sautéed octopus as an appetizer and skate as her entrée. I ordered stuffed long-hots as an appetizer and unbelievably delicious Pumpkin gnocchi with spiced apples and cranberries as my entrée. Our shared tiramisu was decadent and voted Best on the MainLine for the last two years. Check the Yelp entry for lots of photos. We walked out of the restaurant with smiles on our faces, looked at each other and said 5 stars!
(5)Jackie B.
I live in city so I rarely go out to eat in the suburbs and when I do... it is not my choice. I was so pleasantly surprised when I stopped in to Pescatore for the first time after seeing a movie at the theater across the street. Service was excellent. Extremely professional but with a certain old South Philly charm. (Maybe that was all of the Frank Sinatra and Frankie Avalon that was playing... which I kind of loved.) The food. Ahh the food. Everything we had was super tasty but the Sunday Supper was absolutely ridiculous (in a good way). The flat bread Caesar was also something I could probably eat every day. No joke. Everyone else loved their food and one of my friend's is gluten free/celiac and they were super accommodating . I have been back a couple of times now (ssshhh don't tell my city friends) and it has been excellent every time. Damn them for making me leave the city. #worthit
(5)Cristina L.
Wow! We were blown away by Pescatore! After a quick Yelp search, we found this gem of a place and were consistently impressed with all aspects of the good and service. The wait staff was very attentive but not too much to the point of being bothersome. Our waitress was knowledgable and friendly, and gave fabulous suggestions. Our food was SPECTACULAR! The complementary bread with cheese and pesto were delightful. In fact, the pesto tastes exactly like something from my Italian grandmother's kitchen! This place clearly goes the extra mile for heir customers. For the entree, we both chose from the extensive specials list-- my boyfriend went with the Bronzino, and the waitress made the grilled octopus special into an entree with homemade tagliatelle for me. Both were to die for! Finished off with a great tiramisu. Overall, the waitstaff and quality of the food made it a great night. The entrees average between $25 and $30, but are certainly worth the price! I only wish we could afford to go more often! BYOB certainly makes it more affordable on the other hand. If you're in the mood for great quality Italian, take my advice and go here!!
(5)Cecilia M.
Great corner Italian restaurant. It's my second time here. Love their signature salad, really delicious. BYOB.. Good service
(4)Richard R.
A third experience left my opinion unchanged. Our table was not ready and we were offered an opportunity to stand in the vestibule while we waited the few minutes required. The hostess still seems less than happy. Once seated, or wine was handled well and the service was adequate.
(3)Reid F.
I liked the food at this BYO, but despite the excellent service, I thought it lacked something. It was a good meal, just not great.
(3)John H.
We had an amazing seafood dinner here, me and two colleagues from work. The service was excellent, the food awesome, and it's a cute little place. Can't wait to go back next time I'm in Philly.
(5)Geoff H.
The gnocchi. If there's one reason to go it is this dish. The gnocchi itself is light and fluffy, but it rests in the most delicious sauce I've ever tasted bar none. It was unreal, the depth of flavor that came through, like it had been slowly simmered for hours on end to extract every ounce of richness from it's components. Seriously, my first bite I stopped and just was amazed at how complex, balanced, and flavorful this sauce was, leaving you with just that warm feeling of a perfect meal. It's been 3 months so I'll update once we go back (and we will), but for now that sauce still haunts me, and the memory of a well executed and homey meal with a flaky trout drizzled with a tart lemon sauce and rich chicken livers to start. Service was wonderful, with our waiter recommending great combinations while describing each dish with knowledge that came with true study and appreciation of the food.
(5)C P.
Average, over priced italian food with mediocre service and terrible parking. This venue is trying to live off of their parent restaurant downtown, but its not working. La Collina is much more authentic, is a staple in the area, and has better parking.
(2)Cathy S.
Crazy that some rate this place 4 or 5 stars. Perhaps they serve different quality food on weekends. Having just dined at Pescatore mid week, I found the food to be just fair. As a salad lover, I rate a restaurant on the freshness of their greens. It is simple to buy fresh arugula theses days. The arugula was soggy and tasteless, and the cherry tomatoes were tasteless. Plus the carrots served with the entrees were those fake baby ones served only at poor restaurants (and at Wawa with dip).
(2)Carl R.
A few days ago I had the great pleasure of having a wonderful dinner with my accountant Steve and his family... Well you see, I am a Master Chef and I haven't written a review for a restaurant in a very very long time... I've lived in Italy for over a year and there really is no comparison to the Italian restaurants in Italy and the ones over here... The food in Italy is o die for. Now please believe me, the food at Pescatore's is also to die for. I wondered off the menu only to see if they would accommodate me. I ordered Veal, Chicken, and Shrimp Francese and that plate was unbelievably great... This restaurant is the 1st Italian restaurant in Philly to score a perfect 100 with me... I love Italian food and this restaurant is the best in all areas of what Italian dining is all about!!! Chef Carl Redding
(5)Steven C.
First off, I got to say that the complimentary bread, PESTO, and Parmesan is FANTASTIC!!!! Where have you ever gotten PESTO & Parmesan for free!?!? I had a pasta dish and it was really fresh pasta. They make it home-made. They also offer several entrees at appetizer poriton/price which allows you to enjoy a shared appetizer and an entree without feeling completely full by the end. If you want a good meatball, order the Meatball appetizer, DELISH!
(5)Cornel F.
Great food. We particularly liked the spaghetti vongole.
(4)Jim K.
First let me say we've been going to Pescatore the past 2 years and we've always enjoyed the entire experience. Last night was a real downer though. (Our past experiences led to 2 stars instead of just 1.) We sat for 10 minutes with no one even coming to greet us; and that's when I saw the filthy water glass in front of me. Filthy as in lovely pink lipstick and fingerprints--maybe from the prior guest. Host finally came and poured our "Bala" water, but no ice. Before we could comment on the fact that the water was tepid, he was gone. When the waitress came and we asked her for cold water she brought us a single glass of ice and scooted away. When she returned again (5 minutes later) we asked for iced water. She looked perplexed but complied. The typically yummy grilled octopus we always have was mediocre at best, with little taste and overcooked. As we picked at it, we overheard the couple next to us complaining quite vigorously about the poor flatbread Caesar salad with crab and shrimp. Too bad we had already ordered it, because it has been consistently delicious. The couple was right on target. This time it was bland, too much oil in the dressing, and enough crab shell to damage teeth. My Nonna's Gravy was very good though, which was a welcome departure from the rest of the meal. It's unlikely we will return to this place we've been faithful to for several years. And one more thing: the host who greeted us needs to button his shirt and learn to smile. Try it and you might have a different experience, but the price may not be worth rolling the dice.
(2)Michelle O.
Went again and got the same thing but this time the lobster was overcooked. I guess you can't relive a great experience.
(3)Henry L.
We had a wonderful experience at Pescatore last night, sharing an appetizer of prosciutto-wrapped crab drizzled with balsamic reduction. The entrees were Pescatore linguini with the shellfish and shrimp perfectly cooked and seasoned (which is not easy for busy restaurants) and a skate which was very fresh and again perfectly cooked and seasoned. We have not been here in a while. The hostess was friendly and sincere, and could not have been more accommodating and the waitstaff were polite and quite accomplished. This is much more expertly run restaurant than it was a year or two ago, and the overall experience much more satisfying. It might be the best restaurant on the Main Line.
(5)Brittini S.
Great for my weeknight out with coworkers! Cozy little BYOB in Bala. I really liked the meatball appetizer and my main entree was cooked to perfection. The chef sent out an extra dessert because he overheard that one of us was with child. They paced the meal very nicely and let us sit in the corner table and talk well after the meal was eaten. Definitely a do-over!
(5)Pam A.
Solid Italian food, they have the staples down. Their salads are enormous and tasty. Its great that they are a byob, because, their prices are a little high. I would definitely say - GO, and be prepared to take home a doggy bag..and scout the room for local celeb tv types!
(3)marc e.
Sorry Charlie, No no no. We've been twice. First time was bad food. 2nd time was bad service. You don't get a 3rd shot, sorry. First time was about 3 weeks after the restaurant opened. Food was mediocre to poor. Bread was good. Octopus salad was inedible. But.. hey.. they had just opened so kinda unfair to post a yelp review. Let it go! Also, they seemed to have a great pedigree with access to great seafood so.... let's cross our fingers and try again later. Yesterday heard from a friend: Food pretty good! Nowhere else to go right now... need to kill some time... let's try it again. So... off the two of us go. Make reservation on OpenTable. Walk over (yes, it is just a 15 minute walk and so it would really be GREAT if the restaurant was good)... but... Just terrible service. My guess, the manager in the front-of-house is a relative of the owner and so doesn't understand customer service: I am guessing, it could just be bad with no excuse... it is just that my experience is that people would be fired if they weren't related but who knows. We actually got our menus, were told it was restaurant week, specials were explained, and then.... we placed our orders and were told, after the fact, that our menu selections were not allowed (per some policy not written down or explained...details below if you want to be bored)... so we stood up, finished our wine, and left the restaurant. No apology, no explanations, no food... just a silly silly place that won't survive. DETAILS: I wanted the mussels appetizer and then scallops. Wife wanted the bass or maybe the mussels, and maybe some broccoli? anyway... then we were told it was "restaurant week" so... I choose the hot links and scallops wife chooses the mussels and a side of broccoli rabe and we're told NOPE. that doesn't work. it is some mix of restaurant week items and regular items we don't allow. HUH? We weren't even thinking about price. We weren't trying to get any deal... we didn't even know it was restaurant week! we just wanted to order what we wanted to order from their menu... no specials... just food... whatever the price. SO... when they said NOPE. I said ... hmmm... perhaps check with the manager? and they did.. and came back and said NOPE. but not a nice no... not a manager coming over with a nice explanation and apology... not an accomdation OR an explanation... just a no. essentially "go away". TOTALLY WEIRD. We live a mile away and could be great customers and great word-of-mouth. very very strange. Ahhh well. RECOMMENDATION: Go to Ryan Christopher's BYOB about 2 miles down the road for great food great service. NOTICE MY PATTERN OF REVIEWS. MOST ARE FAVORABLE. THIS IS A WEIRD EXCEPTION.
(1)Daniel S.
We visited for Father's Day. Pleasant service, but very disappointing food. My parents had been there once before, but they too were let down by the food this time. Was the chef off with his family?
(3)george k.
This was a disappointment. I wanted to try a new place for my b-day. I felt the menu was too large, and in some cases, repetitive. The service was just okay. Our server sat on the table top next to us while delivering the long list of specials. The food was just okay. The seafood was fresh but the taste was under seasoned. Not bland but not pronounced. Both of our main plates were expensive. The defining moment came earlier than expected. We just finished our apps when here come the entrees. We didn't even have our red wine opened. The host asked us what the problem was and we explained that the main plates arrived much too quickly. He responded with "the kitchen starts the main plates right after the apps are consumed and you should get them after 5 minutes". Really, a whole 5 minutes? Are we at applebees or TGIF? I won't go back, too many other places that allow diners to savor their food.
(3)Phil D.
Visited: Saturday - January 14, 2012 - 5:00 PM I hosted a dinner for 12 dining club members at 5pm. It is an accepted practice to arrange separate checks when possible. Tonight was no exception. I arrived about 4:45PM to greet the anticipated diners. The table was nicely arranged in the corner of the room with ample space between seats. Pesto, thinly sliced cheese, with Italian bread was presented among the guests. Careful - no double dipping the chewed bread in the pesto! I had the Octopus salad as the appetizer. The waiter indicated that kalamata olives were an ingredient. I don't like kalamata olives due to their highly-salted composition but, ordered it. The octopus appetizer was very good. The characteristic kalamata olives briny taste was pleasantly subdued. The arugula salad was surprising hard to eat. The leaves were tough and string-like. The thinly sliced cheese did nothing to improve the taste. The cioppino was quite good - perfectly cooked stripped bass amid clams, mussels, scallops, shrimp and slightly undercooked risotto. I washed everything down with a cup of decaffeinated tea and marbled cheese cake...yum! The wait staff was very good and the separate checks were calculated without a hitch. The true test of efficiency and quality of a dining establishment is best gauged by their performance on a Saturday night, separate checks, service, and of course food. My co-diners enjoyed their experience. Despite the arugula salad, and risotto, Pescatore performed admirably - kudos!
(5)Gia M.
I've now been to Pescatore twice and both times I have fully enjoyed myself. The dining room is a little dark, so it makes it hard to read the specials on the wall, but the atmosphere is great for a small Italian place. My service has been good both times-- attentive without being overbearing, and one night was a Friday, too. So good job there. I would definitely recommend making reservations on a Friday or Saturday night; I got there just before the dinner rush, luckily, or we would have been out of a table. The food is great! It is BYOB as well. The food is authentic Italian with an emphasis on the seafood dishes. The complimentary Parmigiano and homemade pesto with Italian bread is extremely enjoyable and they have a solid appetizer selection. Beware of the specials, though-- I ordered a flatbread caesar salad for two and it ended up being more expensive than my entree! I have ordered a pasta dish and a pork dish in my history of going to Pescatore and I was not disappointed either time. The pasta was clearly homemade and the meat sauce that it arrived with was absolute heaven (I love the tomato and meat sauces). I ordered it as a half dish, which came out in a perfectly sized portion. I have also ordered the stuffed pork chop. The meat was tender and stuffed with cheese, sausage, and broccoli rabe. It was topped with mushrooms. I was very impressed with the dish, and the sides of mashed potatoes and green beans were delicious as well.
(5)John G.
My girlfriend had heard good things and suggested we try Pescatore. We were both very impressed by the atmosphere, food, and service and plan on returning soon. The bread and parmesan are amazing and set the tone for the entire meal.
(5)Chris G.
Pescatore is a family-run BYOB nestled in the theater area of Bala_Cynwyd. As often as I go, which is probably 5 times a year, I have yet to have anything short of fantastic food. The pumpkin gnocchi is particularly good, but the meat selection is what draws me there. Wait staff is amazing - good training! The atmosphere is very cozy and, best of all, the warm and friendly reception, quite atypical for the Main Line, is a breath of fresh air.
(5)J K.
Second visit to Pescatore was disappointing. Service tonight was very spotty. Seems like the restaurant is understaffed. Table was not ready when we arrived and we had to wait 10 minutes in the alcove. Another long wait before waitress came for our order. When we were done with our appetizers, she came by to clear the plates and, seeming frazzled, said "were those your appetizers or your entrees?" As far as food, the appetizers of eggplant rollatini and mushroom stuffed with crabmeat were both excellent. We didn't fare that well with the entrees, however. My stuffed pork chop was underdone (had to send it back to the kitchen) and the linquine pescatore was underwhelming. Other than garlic and oil, it seems to have no sauce. The seafood ravioli was OK but the portion was very small. One thing I can't understand is why this restaurant, named Pescatore, has almost no fresh seafood on the menu. Tonight's special was sauteed salmon- not exactly exotic. Why is there no local fresh fish? I thiink it will be a while before I return to Pescatore. For good food and service in Bala, I prefer my old standby, the New Tavern, where food and service are both reilable. Afterthought: there are a surprising number of 4 and 5 star reviews for this restaurant by people who have joined yelp just to post this one review..this strikes me as odd for a small restaurant in Bala Cynwyd to have attracted a large following of new yelpers...just saying.
(2)dana s.
The best! We held our parent's 60th birthday party here and from start to finish, Frank was the best to work with. He was prompt, consistent, and helpful. Fast forward to our actual meal and it was flawless. The staff were incredible, the portions were perfect, and everyone was raving - most importantly, our parents! Thanks to Pescatore for an incredible dining experience and a memorable night for our family. We look forward to dining here again in the future!!!
(5)Lee P.
the food was wonderful, the service was amazing. Although the evening started out with confusion regarding our reservations via Yelp. We arrived at 8pm to the hostess saying that there were no reservations under our name-very frustrating. The did their best, and we were seated within 30-40 minutes. Despite the confusion, we would definitely dine at Pescatore again- just would call to confirm our reservations!! :)
(4)Diem L.
We came there for restaurant week and upgraded from the $30 to $38 menu to get the specials: fish and scallops. The fish which was recommended by the waitress was just okay. The scallops were divine. The pesto and parmesan for the bread was just amazing. The hot links app was very spicy. Our waitress was great, very attentive and friendly. I have recommended to friends and will definitely be back! I love the BYO option.
(4)MM B.
what a lovely pre-Valentines dinner we just had! Food was excellent, service was impeccable and the room was warm and inviting. We took our server's suggestions and all ordered the specials: Osso Bucco, ravioli with goat cheese, branzino. Place was almost full when we arrived for an early reservation, but we were never rushed. We are always rooting for the family owned and run restaurants - Pescatore does not need us to root for the underdog in this case- our dining experience was just amazing from start to finish. We will definitely return...
(5)Janek J.
I dined with a group of four, all of whom had appetizers and entrees. I didn't taste a single thing for which I wasn't WILD!
(5)Larry W.
We live in the neighborhood but tonight was out first visit here. We will definitely be back! Excellent mussel appetizer followed by a crab ravioli and an great fish special with crab meat. The tiramisu for dessert was one of the best I have had (more cinnamon, less nutmeg than usual). About an $80 meal (with BYO wine). Good wait staff and friendly owners. A lot of reviewers have mentioned the noise and it was a little loud when the place filled up but only slightly above average and not overly distracting. Overall a great dinner in Bala that completely replaces the need to go into Philly. Highly recommended!
(4)Ruth D.
Tonight was my first time here and it was delightful. The staff was friendly. Soothing atmosphere. I loved the bread and the pesto olive oil and the cheese that came with them. The caesar salad on flatbread with seafood was okay. Not the best. They were right to tell us it was enough for two. But I loved my entree: braised short ribs and risotto. My dining mates' entrees - spinach ravioli and fettuccine bolognese - looked very tasty. The chocolate cake which was enough for all three of us to share was moist and delicious. I docked one star because I was not a big fan of the caesar salad and at one point the service was a little pokey. But all in all a positive experience. I live in the neighborhood and I tend to neglect Bala Avenue but I will return to this restaurant.
(4)Charles R.
One of the best 3 Italian restaurants in MainLine. The fact that's BYO makes it even better. The salad was fresh and had a wonderful dressing. The stuffed long hot Italian peppers were great. I love hot and spicy and these were about a 7 out of 10 on my scale of hot. The sausage stuffing was sweet and fresh. So many choices it was hard to pick for dinner, but the special of soft shells from Maryland were close to perfect, maybe a touch more garlic would have made them perfect for my taste. The veal with hot and sweet peppers was fork tender and the sauce was right on the money. Most people had the 7" high chocolate cake, but since I love Tiramisu I had to try it. It was good, but not enough rum. Outside of that , this place is great. Great waiter, but the whole staff was very nice. Major drawback is parking. I had to park over 2 blocks away. They take all major plastic.
(4)Vikki S.
Pescatore is a destination restaurant; you don't just walk past it while meandering down Montgomery Avenue. Instead, it's hidden down Bala Cynwyd Avenue on a small corner across the street from the Bala movie theater. My husband and I opted to try it one night before we went to see Lincoln. And what a pleasant surprise. The decor was a bit serious and formal (linen tablecloths, oh my), but the waitstaff was knowledgeable, friendly and attentive (but not hovering). I can't remember what we ate, but I remember it being very good. Oh, wait. My husband ordered a bolognese I think, and he said it was one of the best he's ever had (maybe I ordered the special fish of the night, a branzino?). Either way, the food really was tasty. I'm not sure my dish was one of the best meals I've ever had, but it was a wonderful new experience, and I think we may return with my mother-in-law who would like the formality of the place. The only other observation I had was that at age 39 were probably the youngest couple in the place; it seems to draw a pre-movie, older crowd.
(4)Jenn P.
Actually found this restaurant through Yelp, looking for Italian BYOB. Absolutely Phenomenal! The atmosphere is so intimate and romantic. Food was delicious, waitress was very helpful and attentive. Will definitely be returning!
(5)Kevin W.
Outstanding Restaurant!!!! My favorite Italian restaurant the pasta is outstanding and Ive never had a problem with the service.I highly recommend getting one of their pasta dishes because it is made fresh.Ive eaten here a few times and have never had a bad service or meal
(4)Larry M.
Finally a good friendly restruant in Bala Cynwyd. Best Veal Sicillan since the previous restruant I got it at in South Philly closed. Service was friendly. Prices were very reasonable. Deserts also looked excellent and home made.
(5)Charlie C.
We ate there for the 2nd time last night., both meals were great..Food and service were really good, prices very fair....and very nice wait staff. Well prepared, fresh seafood and Italian fare. Nice atmosphere, just a little too loud. Hope this place can keep going..the Main Line is a dining desert..
(4)Robert F.
The menu is vast and has many good choices. The food and service was excellent. The noise level is a bit too loud due to the high ceiling and wood floor. Overall I give this restaurant 4 out of 5 stars.
(4)Jan K.
Unpretentious (unlike Avril which it replaced) Pescatore offered a varied and interesting menu, and some nice specials. For apps, we had Tuscan mussels and crab meat-stuffed prosciutto (how can you go wrong with those ingredients?) I had a delicious bronzino filet, that was pan-seared to a luscious bronze color. My wife's veal chop was hugely thick, but a little tough. Probably had it been pounded flat, it would have filled the plate and been much easier to chew... That's just the nature of veal. Service was attentive (considering the restaurant was 100% full. Requests for extra bread (to sop up sauce) was delivered along with some shaved cheese from a huge wheel. Our waitress knew the menu and specials very well. All the staff had a comfortable South-Philly style genuineness that made you feel like you were dining at a friend's house who happened to be an excellent Italian cook. BYOB made it an affordable $100 after tip and a fresh shared cannoli. We can walk there from our house, and will absolutely go back.
(4)Ryan P.
We always have the caesar salad flatbread with the crab and shrimp, it is excellent! The service is great and each special tastes great. I recommend Pescatore to all my friends. Enjoy!
(5)Anonymous L.
So Glad we came! Worth the 2 hr drive from New Jersey :) The food and service was meticiously, I would highly recommend the butternut squash ravioli, caesar salad on flatbread, and the fish specials!! Reasonable prices for excellant food. Dessert were excellent, too. It's a BYOB which makes it a great place to go!
(5)Francesco R.
Wow - wife found this place on OpenTable and we gave it a shot. Reviews were great on OT and Yelp and all those people were right. We were met promptly upon arrival at 9PM last night and seated. Our waitress was VERY impressive relaying an extensive list of daily specials. Since this was our first time she also guided us through some of her favorites. We started off enjoying the bread, pesto and shaved parmesan cheese while also enjoying our house salad. The baked Mozzarella en Carozza was AMAZING. i would eat eight of those until i exploded. Then dinner. Delicious. I had the spaghetti pescatore which was a delicate wine sauce and crab, mussels, shrimp and clams. Thank you to our waitress for the suggestion. My lovely wife had the daily special ravioli which were covered in a sundried tomato and pesto sauce. Dessert was very good too. I had the ricotta cheesecake and my wife had the tiramisu. Even the decaf cappuccino was good. My wife and I will DEFINITELY be back and have already talked about what we will get next and who we should tell about our lovely experience there.
(5)Amanda M.
Flatbread Caesar - Amazing Nonna's Sunday Gravy - Amazing Chicken Sacco - Amazing The fact that you can get all that food, dessert, and bring your own bottle of wine for under $100 makes this spot perfect for date night! Even the bread they bring out with the pesto and cheese is incredible.
(5)Dustin M.
Came here for suburban restaurant week, but surprisingly didn't get the restaurant week menu. The regular menu just looked to good. Pescatore is pretty easy to find on Rt 23, and the free parking lot makes it all the better. The first thing I noticed was how popular it was with people from the neighborhood. You could tell how many people that the servers recognized. The dining room footprint is small, but they use the space well. The lighting is intimate without being too dark. The ceilings are high, and they put some stuff on the ceiling to keep it from being too loud. The meatballs are a really, really good appetizer. I could have had that on it's own and been satisfied, but this place is known for seafood, and I had to go with that. So, I landed on the seafood pescatore (natch). It's an excellent, well balanced dish. The only issue was the shrimp in it. Large, but well over cooked. Every other component was delicious though, and I'd definitely go back.
(4)Kay B.
I will be back! They have a gnocchi dish on their menu which I look forward to. Visited this place for a special occasion. Good service, nice atmosphere, and generous portions. Our server was attentive and helpful, and seemed she genuinely wanted us to enjoy ourselves. She shared that the owners of the restaurant also own a fish market in Italian Market area in Philadelphia, so the fish here is fresh. We ordered the stuffed portabello appetizer, duroc pork chop, brasciole, side of wild mushroom risotto, and pistachio gelato. Everything we had was tasty and respectable. The portabella was actually flattened and served with a crab cake + accoutrements (capers, roasted red peppers) on top. It was good, but the crab cake had breading in it and I prefer just lump crab. A preference thing, but worth trying! The pork chop was served over a bed of smooth mashed potatoes. It was tender and very crispy with the panko. I would order it again for sure. The brasciole is a beef dish that's been cooked for a long time to make it fall apart. Served with a red sauce, also over mashed potatoes. Very good! The meat was very tender. We also ordered a side of wild mushroom risotto. The rice was toothy, and it tasted more like butter than parmesan cheese. This is ok if you prefer the taste of butter more than cheese, but I am the opposite. It had thin slices of what looked like shiitake in it. Overall mushroom flavor was delicate. We appreciated the pistachio gelato on the house for our special occasion! It was good, but tasted of either an almond/amaretto extract ever so slightly. I liked the pieces of raw pistachio, but could do without the extract flavor. Again, a preference, but nothing wrong in the execution! Inside they have a very deep and romantic theme. White walls with framed photographs. Rich red curtains by the door. Very cozy as long as you stay away from the vents! Thanks for a very nice atmosphere and great service for our special celebration!!! Pescatore is BYOB. If you are sharing an entree, there is a charge.
(4)Jeff S.
Excellent meal!!! Burrata salad, Nonna's Sunday gravy and a Tartufo for dessert. Friendly neighborhood place. It's BYOB. Burrata was the best I have ever had! The Sunday gravy was a lamb ragu over pasta, meatball and really really good sweet sausage! Tartufo was so different! If in the neighborhood, check it out!
(5)Gia M.
I've now been to Pescatore twice and both times I have fully enjoyed myself. The dining room is a little dark, so it makes it hard to read the specials on the wall, but the atmosphere is great for a small Italian place. My service has been good both times-- attentive without being overbearing, and one night was a Friday, too. So good job there. I would definitely recommend making reservations on a Friday or Saturday night; I got there just before the dinner rush, luckily, or we would have been out of a table. The food is great! It is BYOB as well. The food is authentic Italian with an emphasis on the seafood dishes. The complimentary Parmigiano and homemade pesto with Italian bread is extremely enjoyable and they have a solid appetizer selection. Beware of the specials, though-- I ordered a flatbread caesar salad for two and it ended up being more expensive than my entree! I have ordered a pasta dish and a pork dish in my history of going to Pescatore and I was not disappointed either time. The pasta was clearly homemade and the meat sauce that it arrived with was absolute heaven (I love the tomato and meat sauces). I ordered it as a half dish, which came out in a perfectly sized portion. I have also ordered the stuffed pork chop. The meat was tender and stuffed with cheese, sausage, and broccoli rabe. It was topped with mushrooms. I was very impressed with the dish, and the sides of mashed potatoes and green beans were delicious as well.
(5)Carl R.
A few days ago I had the great pleasure of having a wonderful dinner with my accountant Steve and his family... Well you see, I am a Master Chef and I haven't written a review for a restaurant in a very very long time... I've lived in Italy for over a year and there really is no comparison to the Italian restaurants in Italy and the ones over here... The food in Italy is o die for. Now please believe me, the food at Pescatore's is also to die for. I wondered off the menu only to see if they would accommodate me. I ordered Veal, Chicken, and Shrimp Francese and that plate was unbelievably great... This restaurant is the 1st Italian restaurant in Philly to score a perfect 100 with me... I love Italian food and this restaurant is the best in all areas of what Italian dining is all about!!! Chef Carl Redding
(5)Steven C.
First off, I got to say that the complimentary bread, PESTO, and Parmesan is FANTASTIC!!!! Where have you ever gotten PESTO & Parmesan for free!?!? I had a pasta dish and it was really fresh pasta. They make it home-made. They also offer several entrees at appetizer poriton/price which allows you to enjoy a shared appetizer and an entree without feeling completely full by the end. If you want a good meatball, order the Meatball appetizer, DELISH!
(5)Cornel F.
Great food. We particularly liked the spaghetti vongole.
(4)Jim R.
Enjoyed a wonderful dinner here on a Friday night recently. Was in town from Minneapolis to visit my college son and was looking for something nice in the Philly suburbs. I found this spot on open table then checked yelp for the straight scoop. It is a small cozy spot with not a lot of room between the tables but that didn't stop the very attentive and efficient wait staff from keeping every water glass full at all times. I had a hard time choosing-there were so many great sounding items on the menu plus about 6 great specials. In the end, I chose the Bronzino special-delectable white fish with a nice white wine sauce topped with asparagus and crab and served with flavorful mashed potatoes. Lots of great flavor and perfect meal. We started off with another special, grilled flatbread topped with tangy Cesar salad, crab and shrimp-more than enough for 4 people and a salad and appetizer all in one-clever. The only drawback for me was the concept of "BYO" - apparently the restaurant doesn't have a liquor license (who knew) and so you need to bring your own wine. I'll remember next time I'm in the area.
(5)Cristina L.
Wow! We were blown away by Pescatore! After a quick Yelp search, we found this gem of a place and were consistently impressed with all aspects of the good and service. The wait staff was very attentive but not too much to the point of being bothersome. Our waitress was knowledgable and friendly, and gave fabulous suggestions. Our food was SPECTACULAR! The complementary bread with cheese and pesto were delightful. In fact, the pesto tastes exactly like something from my Italian grandmother's kitchen! This place clearly goes the extra mile for heir customers. For the entree, we both chose from the extensive specials list-- my boyfriend went with the Bronzino, and the waitress made the grilled octopus special into an entree with homemade tagliatelle for me. Both were to die for! Finished off with a great tiramisu. Overall, the waitstaff and quality of the food made it a great night. The entrees average between $25 and $30, but are certainly worth the price! I only wish we could afford to go more often! BYOB certainly makes it more affordable on the other hand. If you're in the mood for great quality Italian, take my advice and go here!!
(5)Cecilia M.
Great corner Italian restaurant. It's my second time here. Love their signature salad, really delicious. BYOB.. Good service
(4)Stephen Z.
Absolutely amazing. I highly recommend this restaurant. The food was authentic and delicious. Our waiter, Giovanni was a true professional and his service was top notch. You just can't go wrong here. Every dish we had all three courses were outstanding.
(5)Steven B.
The lovely wife and I dearly love BYOBs especially when they are close to home. My Yelp App was screaming at me to visit these folks so we made OpenTable reservations for 6 PM last night and off we went. We were pleased to see that that there is a private lot behind them so PARKING was a breeze. The entrance to the lot is on Highland Ave. We arrived on time and were seated immediately. The ATMOSPHERE is warm and cozy and intimate. A great place for a romantic dinner. The tables are a little close together but this is a high-end BYOB and the patrons know how to behave so we felt completely comfortable. Our waitress for the evening was Deana and we received 5 star SERVICE the entire evening. In addition to being friendly and knowledgeable, she knew just when to touch base and when to keep her distance. Much appreciated. Here is a little ADVICE on portion sizes and ordering. Your meal is going to begin with a delicious plate of bread, pesto and cheese. If you decide to go with four courses (appetizer, salad, entree and dessert), that is likely to be too much food! Last night the wife and I each enjoyed an appetizer, split a salad, each had an entrée, and split a desert for a total of six items. We were stuffed. What should you expect for PRICES? This is not an inexpensive restaurant. The six items mentioned above totaled $107. However this is superb cuisine and the wife and I both feel it was an excellent value. So what did we eat? As the restaurant name implies, there are plenty of choices from the sea. The wife enjoyed sautéed octopus as an appetizer and skate as her entrée. I ordered stuffed long-hots as an appetizer and unbelievably delicious Pumpkin gnocchi with spiced apples and cranberries as my entrée. Our shared tiramisu was decadent and voted Best on the MainLine for the last two years. Check the Yelp entry for lots of photos. We walked out of the restaurant with smiles on our faces, looked at each other and said 5 stars!
(5)steven s.
Sunday, was at a Surprise Birthday Party at Pescatore, on BALA Avenue. What an "Awesome Restaurant"!! The absolute Best in the area! Tommy the Chef and Owner sure knows about Great Food and Warm Hospitality! What a Good Time and Great Food! BTW, BYOB,, Ask For Frank, at Pescatore, He Is, THE MAN.........LOVE, LOVE LOVED IT,,,
(5)Jackie B.
I live in city so I rarely go out to eat in the suburbs and when I do... it is not my choice. I was so pleasantly surprised when I stopped in to Pescatore for the first time after seeing a movie at the theater across the street. Service was excellent. Extremely professional but with a certain old South Philly charm. (Maybe that was all of the Frank Sinatra and Frankie Avalon that was playing... which I kind of loved.) The food. Ahh the food. Everything we had was super tasty but the Sunday Supper was absolutely ridiculous (in a good way). The flat bread Caesar was also something I could probably eat every day. No joke. Everyone else loved their food and one of my friend's is gluten free/celiac and they were super accommodating . I have been back a couple of times now (ssshhh don't tell my city friends) and it has been excellent every time. Damn them for making me leave the city. #worthit
(5)Steve C.
Pescatore offers a cozy welcoming atmosphere with excellent service and superb food. When we arrived our expectations dropped as we opened our menus to find nothing but the dark leather insides of the menu, thankfully once we were given new menus that had actual printing in them, our experience soared from there. Our server Pisello recited from memory a long list menu additions and specials flawlessly, I was impressed, I could barely remember everything he said, I definitely couldn't do his job. His interaction was professional, warm and friendly. We decided to start with the mussels, and for entrees my wife chose the Osso Bucca, and I had a dish called Nona's Sunday Gravy. The mussels were remarkable cooked in a slightly spicy sauce which truly brought the appetizer to life. I have had a lot of mussels in my time and these are a close second to the ones at Monks Cafe. Our entrees were beyond our expectations, my wife raved about the Osso Bucca and she is an extreme foodie. While I could never define myself as a foodie, I tend to be particular but not too adventurous, Nona's Sunday Gravy was a combination of the best traditional Italian food has to offer. Sweet italian sausage, Nona's Meatballs, Pasta, long hot peppers and lamb ragu. Wow!. It was breathtaking, and with those long hots that could be taken literally. A truly amazing dish. We both left part of out entrees for take home next day lunch as the portions were quite generous and we wanted to sample the dessert menu which my wife chose a peanut butter tartufo that was again impeccably done and I had the Tiramisu which was so unique that I was floored by the flavor. That along when an excellent cup of cappuccino ended a perfect night (well not count the menus) out at a truly exceptional establishment. Pescatore has won our hearts, minds and stomachs. I suggest you make a reservation and enjoy the culinary bliss. One FYI, Pescatore is a BYOB establishment. They are happy to provide wine glasses or have various mixers on the menu that you can use with the liquor you bring.
(5)Jackie M.
I can't believe that we didn't have the same experience some of the other diners had. We ordered eggplant rollatini, it was dry and tasteless, branzino tasted old and flavorless, grilled octopus was nothing special. My dinner of lobster raviolis were so salty, it was impossible to enjoy. Maybe we ordered all of the wrong things, but what we ordered are so simple to cook. So if you know how to cook yourself and dine out a lot, you shouldn't eat here.
(1)Jan G.
Love it. Food and service are great. Terrific neighborhood restaurant. BYOB which we love.
(5)John I.
Loved this place . A terrific little secret with amazing Southern Italian food. The seafood is so fresh....right from the S Philly market. The meatballs taste just like my Grandmothers; perfection . Grilled octopus was light and seasoned to perfection. Pasta tasted homemade....the cannolis have a great ricotta filling. You will not be disappointed!!!!!!
(5)Kerri S.
One word - Excellent!!! I've been here twice and can't wait to plan another trip. Both dining experiences were fantastic. The food was delicious, the service was spot on, and the ambience was warm and inviting. Between my two visits I tried the buratta salad, antipasto platter, grilled octopus, and mixed ocean grill, and I would absolutely recommend all of these dishes. The people we dined with lived nearby but had not been before, and they were thrilled to have a new neighborhood go to favorite. They came back less than a month later. I was also appreciative of the prices as everything was very reasonable. I look forward to returning to Pescatore soon.
(5)Adam F.
Pescatore is a very good Italian BYOB out in the suburbs. The food is really good, the staff is knowledgeable and attentive, and the decor is upscale yet with a casual vibe. Also, it is right across from the Bala theater, so a perfect dinner & movie night. Appetizers: Nonna's meatballs, crab meat wrapped with prosciutto Pasta: any of the homemade pastas are good (gnocchi, ravioli, fettuccine) Entrees: Pork chop italiano (stuffed with sausage and broccoli rabe), veal pavarotti (veal with shrimp and prosciutto) Fish: definitely have good fish here, check the specials
(4)Reid F.
I liked the food at this BYO, but despite the excellent service, I thought it lacked something. It was a good meal, just not great.
(3)John H.
We had an amazing seafood dinner here, me and two colleagues from work. The service was excellent, the food awesome, and it's a cute little place. Can't wait to go back next time I'm in Philly.
(5)Geoff H.
The gnocchi. If there's one reason to go it is this dish. The gnocchi itself is light and fluffy, but it rests in the most delicious sauce I've ever tasted bar none. It was unreal, the depth of flavor that came through, like it had been slowly simmered for hours on end to extract every ounce of richness from it's components. Seriously, my first bite I stopped and just was amazed at how complex, balanced, and flavorful this sauce was, leaving you with just that warm feeling of a perfect meal. It's been 3 months so I'll update once we go back (and we will), but for now that sauce still haunts me, and the memory of a well executed and homey meal with a flaky trout drizzled with a tart lemon sauce and rich chicken livers to start. Service was wonderful, with our waiter recommending great combinations while describing each dish with knowledge that came with true study and appreciation of the food.
(5)E D.
My fiancé and I had the pleasure of dining here last night, as a "do-over" from the absolutely horrendous dinner experience we had at Hokka Hokka on his birthday (that review will follow...ugh). This made up for it and then some! The staff is incredibly friendly and professional, and you can tell that a lot of love is put into the restaurant. I love the BYOB aspect. First, we shared the burrata special appetizer with the balsamic-fig reduction and the stuffed long hots. Both were very flavorful and were a great start to the dinner. My only issue was that the burrata had a little bit of a "refrigerator taste" to it. The long hots were nice and spicy, which my fiancé greatly appreciated. The complimentary bread, cheese, and pesto were nice as well. The pesto is a little more chimichurri-like than I've had before, and it was very tasty. For entrees, I had the braised short ribs from the menu, and my honey had the halibut special with claims. Both were lovely. My meat was melt-in-your-mouth tender, and the Portobello ravioli was perfect al dente deliciousness. His halibut was equally good. We cleaned our plates. I had told the manager, who also happened to be our server, beforehand that this was a make-up birthday dinner. We were waiting for them to bring dessert menus, because we definitely wanted to try their tiramisu. Well, one of the servers brought out a huge piece topped with whipped cream and a candle for my fiancé! This was very kind of them, and we were not expecting it. The tiramisu, no lie, is the best I have ever tasted. I have had many tiramisus, even in Italy. I have made it myself from scratch, and I hate to say it, but theirs is better than mine. I joked that I wanted them to make a tiramisu wedding cake for us. (Maybe I am not joking!) I finished with a cappuccino which was the perfect ending to this wonderful meal. I think I just found my new favorite BYO!
(5)Michael L.
A friend recommended this place to me. My parents and sister were visiting from MA so I decided to bring them here. I would definitely recommend this place. Great food and pleasant/attentive staff. Small and cozy, would be a great spot for a date.
(5)Richard R.
A third experience left my opinion unchanged. Our table was not ready and we were offered an opportunity to stand in the vestibule while we waited the few minutes required. The hostess still seems less than happy. Once seated, or wine was handled well and the service was adequate.
(3)Phil D.
Visited: Saturday - January 14, 2012 - 5:00 PM I hosted a dinner for 12 dining club members at 5pm. It is an accepted practice to arrange separate checks when possible. Tonight was no exception. I arrived about 4:45PM to greet the anticipated diners. The table was nicely arranged in the corner of the room with ample space between seats. Pesto, thinly sliced cheese, with Italian bread was presented among the guests. Careful - no double dipping the chewed bread in the pesto! I had the Octopus salad as the appetizer. The waiter indicated that kalamata olives were an ingredient. I don't like kalamata olives due to their highly-salted composition but, ordered it. The octopus appetizer was very good. The characteristic kalamata olives briny taste was pleasantly subdued. The arugula salad was surprising hard to eat. The leaves were tough and string-like. The thinly sliced cheese did nothing to improve the taste. The cioppino was quite good - perfectly cooked stripped bass amid clams, mussels, scallops, shrimp and slightly undercooked risotto. I washed everything down with a cup of decaffeinated tea and marbled cheese cake...yum! The wait staff was very good and the separate checks were calculated without a hitch. The true test of efficiency and quality of a dining establishment is best gauged by their performance on a Saturday night, separate checks, service, and of course food. My co-diners enjoyed their experience. Despite the arugula salad, and risotto, Pescatore performed admirably - kudos!
(5)Marlin 1.
Good BUT not what it use to be. The quality of the preparation of the food has slipped. This appears to be the beginning of a slippery slope that if not correct will make Pescatore just another average high priced place to eat.
(4)Lindsay R.
My husband and I dined at Pescatore because everyone boasts about the restaurant, however, we did not have a great experience. We ordered the special salad over flatbread. It was large but not $25 worth in taste. I ordered the $30 ocean mix. The plate contains 1 lobster tail, 1 scallop & 3 shrimp. Thank God I was almost full from the bread and salad! The biggest disappointment was that all of the fish was overcooked! My husbands classic pasta dish was really good but nothing to boast about. The staff was nice but there were a lot of teenagers working and didn't bother to clear our small table of the little dishes taking up room we needed. The website doesn't state any prices and now I know why. I was expecting the best food on the mainline but once again we are still searching.
(2)Jim K.
First let me say we've been going to Pescatore the past 2 years and we've always enjoyed the entire experience. Last night was a real downer though. (Our past experiences led to 2 stars instead of just 1.) We sat for 10 minutes with no one even coming to greet us; and that's when I saw the filthy water glass in front of me. Filthy as in lovely pink lipstick and fingerprints--maybe from the prior guest. Host finally came and poured our "Bala" water, but no ice. Before we could comment on the fact that the water was tepid, he was gone. When the waitress came and we asked her for cold water she brought us a single glass of ice and scooted away. When she returned again (5 minutes later) we asked for iced water. She looked perplexed but complied. The typically yummy grilled octopus we always have was mediocre at best, with little taste and overcooked. As we picked at it, we overheard the couple next to us complaining quite vigorously about the poor flatbread Caesar salad with crab and shrimp. Too bad we had already ordered it, because it has been consistently delicious. The couple was right on target. This time it was bland, too much oil in the dressing, and enough crab shell to damage teeth. My Nonna's Gravy was very good though, which was a welcome departure from the rest of the meal. It's unlikely we will return to this place we've been faithful to for several years. And one more thing: the host who greeted us needs to button his shirt and learn to smile. Try it and you might have a different experience, but the price may not be worth rolling the dice.
(2)Michelle O.
Went again and got the same thing but this time the lobster was overcooked. I guess you can't relive a great experience.
(3)Henry L.
We had a wonderful experience at Pescatore last night, sharing an appetizer of prosciutto-wrapped crab drizzled with balsamic reduction. The entrees were Pescatore linguini with the shellfish and shrimp perfectly cooked and seasoned (which is not easy for busy restaurants) and a skate which was very fresh and again perfectly cooked and seasoned. We have not been here in a while. The hostess was friendly and sincere, and could not have been more accommodating and the waitstaff were polite and quite accomplished. This is much more expertly run restaurant than it was a year or two ago, and the overall experience much more satisfying. It might be the best restaurant on the Main Line.
(5)Brittini S.
Great for my weeknight out with coworkers! Cozy little BYOB in Bala. I really liked the meatball appetizer and my main entree was cooked to perfection. The chef sent out an extra dessert because he overheard that one of us was with child. They paced the meal very nicely and let us sit in the corner table and talk well after the meal was eaten. Definitely a do-over!
(5)Chris G.
Pescatore is a family-run BYOB nestled in the theater area of Bala_Cynwyd. As often as I go, which is probably 5 times a year, I have yet to have anything short of fantastic food. The pumpkin gnocchi is particularly good, but the meat selection is what draws me there. Wait staff is amazing - good training! The atmosphere is very cozy and, best of all, the warm and friendly reception, quite atypical for the Main Line, is a breath of fresh air.
(5)C P.
Average, over priced italian food with mediocre service and terrible parking. This venue is trying to live off of their parent restaurant downtown, but its not working. La Collina is much more authentic, is a staple in the area, and has better parking.
(2)Brian H.
Unfortunately I did not have the same 4 or 5 star experience that others have had at this BYOB In Bala. To start our wine was opened promptly, the not-so-fine glasses were poured, the specials of the day were rattled off in a rapid litany fumbling over how the dishes were prepared, so much so that we had to ask for a repeat. In less than a minute the server returned to ask if we were ready to order, my thumb had just popped open the menu, so I responded "I would like to look at the menu first". Good idea? I think so. The bread served with an oily pesto and shaved parm was actually the highlight of the evening. See where we are headed? We split a 3 star arugula salad, very lightly dressed and the shaved parm barely noticeable. We then split the gnocchi of the day, spinach gnocci in a "veal demi-glace" so we were told. If there was a demi-glace involved in the dish at all, I'd be surprised. The gnocchi were mush, pure mush, and basically the dish was a waste of empty calories and no flavor to boot. 1 star here. For entrees, we ordered 2 out of the 3 fish specials for the evening. I had the striped bass which was a small piece of the tender fish ($30) over top of a sweet pea risotto, Again lacking flavor. For a plus, the risotto was cooked a perfect al dente, with no or very little cheese you would expect in a risotto, and by the time the server returned to ask if everything was alright, I said that the risotto could have used a little cheese, which she promptly returned and added to the two tablespoons I had left on the plate. My friend had the Branzino special ($30), which was good in it's own right, but had a soggy wet skin still attached so the skin was inedible. The mashed potatoes were average at best along with the asparagus. OK, time for dessert, let's try that "award winning" tiramisu. This was not bad, but not close to the best I've had. Let's give the dessert an A-OK. The tiramisu was served with the check shoved under the plate within seconds of the dessert appearance on our table. No lie, we did not even have time to pick up our forks off of the table. I guess they were trying to get rid of us as fast as we were trying to get this dinner over and behind us. No reason to go back again, it wouldn't even be worth a try. This is my 100th review of the year, I was looking forward to it being very favorable, what a shame.
(2)Junior M.
I frequent Italian restaurants every weekend. How did I miss this one? Tables were closer than I like them to be, but the upscale reserved clientele know how to act with close seating, We were only about a foot away from a table of 4 on either side of us and had no problem. Very nice clientele! Food Excellante!!!! The veal was to die for and Nonoos Sunday dinner is the best! I would personally like a softer bread but it was good. The flatbred Ceasar with Shrimp and Crabmeat was an excellent appetizer for 2. Bravo! I shall return!
(5)H C.
Checked out Pescatore for dinner with a few out of town friends on a Friday night. We all LOVED it! The bread with homemade pesto & parmesan is delicious, and they give you as many refills as you want! We all shared a caesar salad topped with shrimp and crabmeat that was to die for! Everyone was very pleased with their entrees. Had a lot of specials that night and the wait staff is very knowledgable. AND they're a BYOB, can't beat that! Reasonably priced, each couple paid about $70 for an unforgettable meal. The energy is vibrant, definitely not a place for a romantic dinner when it is crowded. But a great space for a larger group... make sure to make reservations!
(4)Cathy S.
Crazy that some rate this place 4 or 5 stars. Perhaps they serve different quality food on weekends. Having just dined at Pescatore mid week, I found the food to be just fair. As a salad lover, I rate a restaurant on the freshness of their greens. It is simple to buy fresh arugula theses days. The arugula was soggy and tasteless, and the cherry tomatoes were tasteless. Plus the carrots served with the entrees were those fake baby ones served only at poor restaurants (and at Wawa with dip).
(2)dana s.
The best! We held our parent's 60th birthday party here and from start to finish, Frank was the best to work with. He was prompt, consistent, and helpful. Fast forward to our actual meal and it was flawless. The staff were incredible, the portions were perfect, and everyone was raving - most importantly, our parents! Thanks to Pescatore for an incredible dining experience and a memorable night for our family. We look forward to dining here again in the future!!!
(5)J K.
Second visit to Pescatore was disappointing. Service tonight was very spotty. Seems like the restaurant is understaffed. Table was not ready when we arrived and we had to wait 10 minutes in the alcove. Another long wait before waitress came for our order. When we were done with our appetizers, she came by to clear the plates and, seeming frazzled, said "were those your appetizers or your entrees?" As far as food, the appetizers of eggplant rollatini and mushroom stuffed with crabmeat were both excellent. We didn't fare that well with the entrees, however. My stuffed pork chop was underdone (had to send it back to the kitchen) and the linquine pescatore was underwhelming. Other than garlic and oil, it seems to have no sauce. The seafood ravioli was OK but the portion was very small. One thing I can't understand is why this restaurant, named Pescatore, has almost no fresh seafood on the menu. Tonight's special was sauteed salmon- not exactly exotic. Why is there no local fresh fish? I thiink it will be a while before I return to Pescatore. For good food and service in Bala, I prefer my old standby, the New Tavern, where food and service are both reilable. Afterthought: there are a surprising number of 4 and 5 star reviews for this restaurant by people who have joined yelp just to post this one review..this strikes me as odd for a small restaurant in Bala Cynwyd to have attracted a large following of new yelpers...just saying.
(2)Lee P.
the food was wonderful, the service was amazing. Although the evening started out with confusion regarding our reservations via Yelp. We arrived at 8pm to the hostess saying that there were no reservations under our name-very frustrating. The did their best, and we were seated within 30-40 minutes. Despite the confusion, we would definitely dine at Pescatore again- just would call to confirm our reservations!! :)
(4)Ruth D.
Tonight was my first time here and it was delightful. The staff was friendly. Soothing atmosphere. I loved the bread and the pesto olive oil and the cheese that came with them. The caesar salad on flatbread with seafood was okay. Not the best. They were right to tell us it was enough for two. But I loved my entree: braised short ribs and risotto. My dining mates' entrees - spinach ravioli and fettuccine bolognese - looked very tasty. The chocolate cake which was enough for all three of us to share was moist and delicious. I docked one star because I was not a big fan of the caesar salad and at one point the service was a little pokey. But all in all a positive experience. I live in the neighborhood and I tend to neglect Bala Avenue but I will return to this restaurant.
(4)Charles R.
One of the best 3 Italian restaurants in MainLine. The fact that's BYO makes it even better. The salad was fresh and had a wonderful dressing. The stuffed long hot Italian peppers were great. I love hot and spicy and these were about a 7 out of 10 on my scale of hot. The sausage stuffing was sweet and fresh. So many choices it was hard to pick for dinner, but the special of soft shells from Maryland were close to perfect, maybe a touch more garlic would have made them perfect for my taste. The veal with hot and sweet peppers was fork tender and the sauce was right on the money. Most people had the 7" high chocolate cake, but since I love Tiramisu I had to try it. It was good, but not enough rum. Outside of that , this place is great. Great waiter, but the whole staff was very nice. Major drawback is parking. I had to park over 2 blocks away. They take all major plastic.
(4)Daniel S.
We visited for Father's Day. Pleasant service, but very disappointing food. My parents had been there once before, but they too were let down by the food this time. Was the chef off with his family?
(3)george k.
This was a disappointment. I wanted to try a new place for my b-day. I felt the menu was too large, and in some cases, repetitive. The service was just okay. Our server sat on the table top next to us while delivering the long list of specials. The food was just okay. The seafood was fresh but the taste was under seasoned. Not bland but not pronounced. Both of our main plates were expensive. The defining moment came earlier than expected. We just finished our apps when here come the entrees. We didn't even have our red wine opened. The host asked us what the problem was and we explained that the main plates arrived much too quickly. He responded with "the kitchen starts the main plates right after the apps are consumed and you should get them after 5 minutes". Really, a whole 5 minutes? Are we at applebees or TGIF? I won't go back, too many other places that allow diners to savor their food.
(3)MM B.
what a lovely pre-Valentines dinner we just had! Food was excellent, service was impeccable and the room was warm and inviting. We took our server's suggestions and all ordered the specials: Osso Bucco, ravioli with goat cheese, branzino. Place was almost full when we arrived for an early reservation, but we were never rushed. We are always rooting for the family owned and run restaurants - Pescatore does not need us to root for the underdog in this case- our dining experience was just amazing from start to finish. We will definitely return...
(5)Janek J.
I dined with a group of four, all of whom had appetizers and entrees. I didn't taste a single thing for which I wasn't WILD!
(5)Joseph G.
The gnocchi was easily the best I've had. Pesto was wonderful.
(4)Larry M.
Finally a good friendly restruant in Bala Cynwyd. Best Veal Sicillan since the previous restruant I got it at in South Philly closed. Service was friendly. Prices were very reasonable. Deserts also looked excellent and home made.
(5)Francesco R.
Wow - wife found this place on OpenTable and we gave it a shot. Reviews were great on OT and Yelp and all those people were right. We were met promptly upon arrival at 9PM last night and seated. Our waitress was VERY impressive relaying an extensive list of daily specials. Since this was our first time she also guided us through some of her favorites. We started off enjoying the bread, pesto and shaved parmesan cheese while also enjoying our house salad. The baked Mozzarella en Carozza was AMAZING. i would eat eight of those until i exploded. Then dinner. Delicious. I had the spaghetti pescatore which was a delicate wine sauce and crab, mussels, shrimp and clams. Thank you to our waitress for the suggestion. My lovely wife had the daily special ravioli which were covered in a sundried tomato and pesto sauce. Dessert was very good too. I had the ricotta cheesecake and my wife had the tiramisu. Even the decaf cappuccino was good. My wife and I will DEFINITELY be back and have already talked about what we will get next and who we should tell about our lovely experience there.
(5)Vikki S.
Pescatore is a destination restaurant; you don't just walk past it while meandering down Montgomery Avenue. Instead, it's hidden down Bala Cynwyd Avenue on a small corner across the street from the Bala movie theater. My husband and I opted to try it one night before we went to see Lincoln. And what a pleasant surprise. The decor was a bit serious and formal (linen tablecloths, oh my), but the waitstaff was knowledgeable, friendly and attentive (but not hovering). I can't remember what we ate, but I remember it being very good. Oh, wait. My husband ordered a bolognese I think, and he said it was one of the best he's ever had (maybe I ordered the special fish of the night, a branzino?). Either way, the food really was tasty. I'm not sure my dish was one of the best meals I've ever had, but it was a wonderful new experience, and I think we may return with my mother-in-law who would like the formality of the place. The only other observation I had was that at age 39 were probably the youngest couple in the place; it seems to draw a pre-movie, older crowd.
(4)Diem L.
We came there for restaurant week and upgraded from the $30 to $38 menu to get the specials: fish and scallops. The fish which was recommended by the waitress was just okay. The scallops were divine. The pesto and parmesan for the bread was just amazing. The hot links app was very spicy. Our waitress was great, very attentive and friendly. I have recommended to friends and will definitely be back! I love the BYO option.
(4)Pam A.
Solid Italian food, they have the staples down. Their salads are enormous and tasty. Its great that they are a byob, because, their prices are a little high. I would definitely say - GO, and be prepared to take home a doggy bag..and scout the room for local celeb tv types!
(3)marc e.
Sorry Charlie, No no no. We've been twice. First time was bad food. 2nd time was bad service. You don't get a 3rd shot, sorry. First time was about 3 weeks after the restaurant opened. Food was mediocre to poor. Bread was good. Octopus salad was inedible. But.. hey.. they had just opened so kinda unfair to post a yelp review. Let it go! Also, they seemed to have a great pedigree with access to great seafood so.... let's cross our fingers and try again later. Yesterday heard from a friend: Food pretty good! Nowhere else to go right now... need to kill some time... let's try it again. So... off the two of us go. Make reservation on OpenTable. Walk over (yes, it is just a 15 minute walk and so it would really be GREAT if the restaurant was good)... but... Just terrible service. My guess, the manager in the front-of-house is a relative of the owner and so doesn't understand customer service: I am guessing, it could just be bad with no excuse... it is just that my experience is that people would be fired if they weren't related but who knows. We actually got our menus, were told it was restaurant week, specials were explained, and then.... we placed our orders and were told, after the fact, that our menu selections were not allowed (per some policy not written down or explained...details below if you want to be bored)... so we stood up, finished our wine, and left the restaurant. No apology, no explanations, no food... just a silly silly place that won't survive. DETAILS: I wanted the mussels appetizer and then scallops. Wife wanted the bass or maybe the mussels, and maybe some broccoli? anyway... then we were told it was "restaurant week" so... I choose the hot links and scallops wife chooses the mussels and a side of broccoli rabe and we're told NOPE. that doesn't work. it is some mix of restaurant week items and regular items we don't allow. HUH? We weren't even thinking about price. We weren't trying to get any deal... we didn't even know it was restaurant week! we just wanted to order what we wanted to order from their menu... no specials... just food... whatever the price. SO... when they said NOPE. I said ... hmmm... perhaps check with the manager? and they did.. and came back and said NOPE. but not a nice no... not a manager coming over with a nice explanation and apology... not an accomdation OR an explanation... just a no. essentially "go away". TOTALLY WEIRD. We live a mile away and could be great customers and great word-of-mouth. very very strange. Ahhh well. RECOMMENDATION: Go to Ryan Christopher's BYOB about 2 miles down the road for great food great service. NOTICE MY PATTERN OF REVIEWS. MOST ARE FAVORABLE. THIS IS A WEIRD EXCEPTION.
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