Food was excellent. I am Italian and don't usually like to eat Italian out. The meatballs, broccoli rabe and black lobster ravioli with scallops were so good. Bartender was very good, martinis were made to perfection. Nice wine and port list. Our server Michael was so warm and friendly. He took his time to make recommendations. I can't say enough about him, he was great. Only complaint was the host was extremely rude. We made reservations 2 weeks ago and he asked us to wait 10 minutes. Which was fine. We sat right in front of him at the bar for cocktails. After waiting 45 minutes, and seeing many people sat before us, we inquired at the host stand. He made excuse after excuse as to why we weren't seated. Stating the kitchen told him not to seat people (although he sat people that arrived after us), that we should have "checked in" with him (which is not our job), that he was going to give us a bigger table (which was just silly), and that he forgot about us (which was the truth, I would have respected him more if he had just said that instead of going back and forth with an attitude). He did comp our bar bill so that was kind, but his rudeness and lying were very unbecoming. Our original reservation we made through open table was cancelled by Ralph's and we made another one for a later time. Which was strange that it was available on there and then they cancelled it. But it was fine to make the reservation for a 1/2 he later. But then to not be seated for 45 minutes!?! And get attitude on top of it? Unacceptable when reservations were made 2 weeks in advance. And then never got the points from open table bc the restaurant did not mark us as being there. Our server, bartender and food made a great experience. The host...not so much. I would love to dine here again for the amazing food and service, but I would not go out of my way to visit again bc of the host. Was hoping to bring a large party here in a few weeks, but now I am reconsidering. If we had to wait for just 2 of us...not sure about a larger party.
(3)
Kenny W.
Gotta love this place. One of my 'go to' restaurants when I'm in KOP. Good service, good food. The atmosphere is always very pleasant and the service is always consistently good. Been here several times and never had a bad experience. Love the the black lobster ravioli. Here's a tip for this dish. Get shrimp added to it. Love their meatballs too.
(4)
Jess C.
This place is ok. Not good, not bad, just plain old ok. It would be a nice, safe place to go for a business lunch, or to take your grandparents for an early dinner. But for a date or a dinner out with friends, it was completely underwhelming. Nothing particularly bad happened, but it just wasn't really enjoyable. Some friends and I decided to try Ralph's on a weeknight, and made a reservation earlier in the day, just in case it was crowded. The latest time available was 5:15, but since we were all able to get out of work early that day, we figured we'd give it a try. When we arrived, there was only one other table seated, and we felt awkward being almost the only table in the big, bright, quiet room. By the time we left at 6:30, there were still plenty of tables available. Many reviewers seemed to enjoy the ambiance of the place, but I found it to be bland and uncomfortable. This restaurant is in a hotel, and it feels like a hotel restaurant. The decor is pleasant, but totally generic: wall-to-wall carpeting, safe gray and gold tones, and bright overhead lighting that flickers slightly. There's nothing about the cozy intimacy of a South Philly eatery to this place. Dinner here felt like a corporate luncheon at any decent conference center anywhere. The food was good. Not great, but solidly good. The salmon came in a generous portion, cooked and seasoned well, with plenty of garlicky spinach along with it. Likewise, the other meat dishes were also generous and prepared well. The pasta was pretty average and served in a small bowl on the side. The tiramisu cake was a bit dry, and again, average. The service was fine, though a bit too attentive, maybe because there were so few other tables. Different members of the staff stopped by several times during the main course to ask if everything was ok. The wine was also ok, although one of the glasses was dirty with grease and dried bits of something on the outside. So overall... it was ok. For the price, there are better options, and we won't be going back.
(2)
Joe C.
Ralph's is the perfect red-checkered table cloth Italian restaurant. Nothing more, nothing less. If you are in the mood for good quality Italian-American classics, this is your spot. Service is also excellent. Ignore the fact it is in a hotel, and also ignore the attempt at upscale atmosphere, and enjoy it for what it is. It is a place to go for an excellent, "red gravy" meal.
(3)
Joseph H.
We've been to the Ralph's on South 9th, and it's always been very good. Great quality food, excellent service, an above average South Philly red gravy joint. They've overreached at the new place in KOP. Service was average and the food was average; my chicken Marsala was good but my wife's salmon special was overcooked, and my colleague's calimari was soggy. Additionally, our bill had a 20% service charge on top of the food and the wine, which I've not seen anywhere else on the planet. I would accept 18% but 20% is too much. I asked the manager to reconsider but he chose to stiff me on it, so here we are. I wouldn't have recommended this place just based on the average food and service, but given the experience I had with the 20% service charge and the unfulfilling conversation I had with the manager, I'd have to say that this place won't be around much longer anyway. Don't waste your time or your money here. Fellini's in Berwyn is much, much better, or make the drive into South Philly and get the real McCoy.
(1)
Sherri T.
Ralph's is supposed to be an upscale Italian restaurant. However, it was decent at best. The food was tasty and plentiful but the sauces were overwhelming and more like soup. I had the veal picatta and it was swimming in oil. I couldn't eat my last piece. The kids felt the same way. The service we had was horrible. The waiter didn't know the menu, he spilled drinks, and the wrong food came out. As for dessert, definitely don't get the gelato which the waiter told us, is shipped in a plastic cup and sealed as if it came from an ice cream truck. It was so unappealing, that we couldn't get the kids to eat it. Go somewhere else!
(2)
Gayle F.
Ralph's Restaurant is fabulous in S. Philly- but don't be fooled- close your eyes and you won't know this place is in Valley Forge- Our waiter, Aries was amazing- he helped us 2 weekends in a row- friendly, extremely competent, professional and anticipated our every dining need- highly recommend Ralph's and ask for Aries- it's a twofer with him as your waiter- great veal Parm- just like S. Philly- scrumptious - Anthony, the manager, was extremely attentive and personable- just a great experience!!
(5)
Melissa B.
Cannot believe what a poor experience I had after being talked in to coming back after my first poor experience. I was talked into it by the hostess herself when I called and asked if I could have a specific waiter to make sure I did not get the pathetic excuse for a waiter we had the first time. She personally PROMISED me if I came back we would have a fantastic experience. She could not have been more wrong. While our server was at least good this time, everything about the food, due to a very inept and poorly run kitchen was horrendous. Waited at least an hour between salads and entree's, and then they seriously only brought 2 of the 3 meals out? Ten minutes later the third meal arrives, but is incomplete? Are you kidding me? After suffering though this, I asked Gina on the way out "You realize that was horrendous, right", all she said was I am sorry. Wow, OK...that makes both of us. Good bye Ralphs, you have had two opportunitys and now hundreds of my dollars, and all I get is an "I am sorry"? For shame.
(1)
Brian B.
This place is living off the reputation of South Philly location. Service is terrible. 20 minutes for a drink, 30 minutes for a salad salad was awful than after another 45 minute wait for dinner we had to throw in the towel. Judging by the taste of the caesar salad i doubt the dinner flavor would be any good. When we asked for our check and said don't bother bringing the dinner we finally got some attention. The chef/manager came out of the kitchen to yell at us and scream that our meal was being served next. This happened 20 minutes after we watched him come out and meet friends or frequent diners. As soon as he left them he came back out with their meal. We watched that for 20 minutes. When i mentioned it the guy yelled at me again that they only had a salad. Not true! I was literally watching them twirl their pasta. No apology to us and the bill was over 100 dollars for two apps and a salad and 4 drinks. No thanks. Do yourself a favor and don't bother going here. I dine out 3 times per week and this is only the 2nd place i left no tip.
(1)
John B.
Had bug expectations but were never met. Overpriced Italian. Sauce is rather tasteless. Service is slow. Not a fan.
(2)
Gary T.
Our group of 4 ate at Ralph's on Saturday night (2/16). We had a cocktail at the bar - excellent Martini, the were seated promptly. Ambiance is upscale, but comfortable. Service (Laura) was outstanding. Two of us had the special (Veal & Shrimp) and the other two had Veal Parm. The special was fantastic - tender, flavorful. The Veal Parm was enormous, but also good. Mussels in red sauce - very good. Overall, a great dining experience. We'll be back!!
(4)
Craig D.
(4) ~ Overall Food & Service = Good "Old World" Italian Experience;-) OUR MENU: * Water(tap) = (3.5) good * Bread = (4) very good * Chianti Wine = (3.5) good * Antipasto = (3.5) good * Broccoli Rabe = (3) ok * Veal Chop = (4) very good * Canolli Cake = (3.5) good * Tiramisu = (4) very good * Coffee = (4) very good NOTE: It's located inside the Sheraton Hotel and Yes they take Credit Card. They also have a Bar Area.
(4)
Dave W.
Like so many other reviewers, I expected what I had experienced at the original Ralph's. And like so many others, I was, too disappointed. The decor was terrific, but that was the only thing above-average. I had a salad and veal parmigiana. My dinner companion had the "special" which was something like veal piccante with crab meat. The bread on the table was average -- like what you would get at any other hotel restaurant. I was served an enormous "house salad" that was very good. The entrees, though, were more similar to what you would get at a diner in terms of quality. As well, the out-sized platters are not a good thing when the food is mediocre. The veal parm was mostly breading. My companion's meal was not hot, but they were served at the same time and mine was. The crab meat was sparse, although she didn't complain, but the portions were radically different sizes. The side of spaghetti and sauce was nice, but nothing tasted particularly special. Neither of us had wine, and we shared one cannoli for dessert with two coffees. The bill? An eye-popping $80. The service seems a little uneven -- the waiter was professional but not warm, and someone else at one point inexplicably showed up at our table an announced he'd be our server, even though we were already being waited on. For what should have been a busy night, there were just 4 or 5 other tables there the night I went. I would not go back, and if you're going there to experience the magic of the original, just go to the original. :-)
(2)
Greg L.
We had a company group dinner here and I was looking forward to finally being able to try this place out. In the end, I'm glad it wasn't my money that I wasted here. The general consensus from the 30 or so people we had here was that this place wasn't good. We started with a Cesar salad, which was drenched in dressing. Next up was calamari, which was just OK, but no tentacles on the plate and no sauce. The bread was pretty good, and you could make your own dipping sauce of olive oil with parmesan cheese and crushed red peppers if you liked. My main dish was a chicken dish with roasted peppers, and I thought it was just bland, which is basically what I thought of most everything I had that evening. I tried a bite of the Tiramuso for dinner, and once again, nothing special. Service wasn't great either and my water glass was left empty for much of the meal. Even after I asked for a refill, I never got it. One of the plates they handed me was dirty! The servers didn't even seem all that friendly. In short, I won't be back.
(2)
Mike H.
Waited for more than an hour to get our food. My steak was overlooked. Not a good experience.
(2)
Mike H.
Don't wast your time or money. Go somewhere else. Zero stars . If you want very good Italian food go to. Cafe fiorellos in west chester or trattoria giuseppe in edgemont .
(1)
Eatingyourlunch C.
Had the chicken parm, terrible. It was more bread then chicken. It tasted like scorched oil. Everyone who dined with me felt there meal was poor to 'ok.' I will not dine here ever again.
(1)
Anne Z.
We went here for a work luncheon. It was terrible. The soup was not hot, the turkey club had under cooked bacon, the orange sauce was too strong, and the chicken cutlet sandwich was like chicken jerky. The servers were awkward and incapable. So disappointed in this new place.
(2)
Wendy P.
Went there for Valentines Day. We had been before and had a bad experience, but decided we would give it another shot. Service was decent and the wine selection was good. We started with the meatballs. They were very mushy and the sauce was mediocre. I then had the Veal Saltimbucca. The veal also was mushy. There was so much mozzarella on top that you couldn't see the veal. It was also swimming in butter, (it was supposed to be a marsala sauce, but it was yellow). I sent it back. A manager did not stop by after I told the waited I would not like anything else. I will not be going back here.
(2)
John W.
I've never been to the original Ralph's so this isn't a comparison review. I've been there twice for lunch now and the food is pretty good. I had an eggplant parm that was very good. I would rate the food as 3 to 4 stars, but the service is a 1, so I used an middle ground 2-star score. For me, it doesn't matter how good the food is if your service stinks. The guy who greeted and seated us was just plain rude. Our waiter wasn't much better. Not engaging at all, not courteous, and just made us feel like we were bothering him. I don't want to pay $80 for a four-person lunch and be treated like I ordered the wrong way at Pat's. That may fly in South Philly Cuz, but out here in the burbs you're gonna need to play nicer.
(2)
Donald L.
A really great place for a meal inside an amazing hotel. Food was terrific, but the service was just ok. They forgot to bring our bread, but it was still excellent, and I would recommend it to anyone who likes Italian food.
(4)
Nick C.
Overrated. Nice place but the food...allrightttt. Went with 8 people 2 of us liked their food. Way over priced for the food quality. Chicken parm was probably the worst i ever had, it was dry and tough more like chicken jerky if it were to exist. I kept thinking i was going to see a fat italian guy and a chick slurping a piece of spaghetti until they kissed like in the movies, that the type of people you'll see in there.
(2)
Come and Get It K.
Wanted to give it a 3.5/4 im right in the middle! We ate here last night and enjoyed our italian homestyle meals alot! But didnt care for the service or dessert. we loved the atmosphere w/ old school frank playing in the background and loved the bread! My bf got the chicken parm which 1-was fabulous and 2- as big as his head! Boy do they give you a ton of food for the price! I had the veal with artichokes crabmeat and tomato vodka sauce which was good, but i had expected a big piece of veal and pieces of jumbo lump crab meat but thats not what came out. It was more like 4 little medalliaons with stringy crab mixed in with the artichokes and sauce. It was tasty! Just not the presentation i thought it would be. Their tomato sauce and pasta which comes as a side surprised both of us with its flavor. We never mind paying top notch for a great meal and the entrees were flavorful and so reasonable but the $15 martini? Little steep and we were def disappointed with the canoli (not sweet enough) and the cannoli cake was nothing special. All in all we will definitely be back to ralphs to try the mussels, lobster raviolis and more chick parm
(3)
Patti W.
Ralph's best get in here and take a good look at the food that's coming out of the kitchen.....or this place will be history in a year. Four of us celebrated a birthday there last night, We wouldn't ever go back. The food was sub-par, service was bad, we were seated in a room that had as much pizzazz as a community room in a senior center. This bears NO resemblance, in service or quality of food to Ralph's, where we've eaten many times, for over 35 years. The only thing Ralphy about Ralph's KOP is the name. :-(
(1)
Bob S.
Are you kidding, this restaurant is awful , the Caesar salad was warm and limp, next I had the pasta with white clam sauce, I thought I was eating clam soup. I have been to the South Philly restaurant many times and had wonderful food. The worst part was the wait staff, they would not leave me alone, I am in the middle of a story, the waitress stopped me and asked, do you need anything? OK , but 5 times. Birthday celebration was a disaster there. Overpriced for pasta, could not make a margarita Either, I am pissed off with this meal. Once is enough.
(1)
Amy A.
Went to Ralph for dinner. Ambiance is nice Food not so much. The spinish knoche was too heavy. same as my shrimp scampi. Overall, not a place that we will go back for the food.
(2)
Oliver D.
Very Cosmopolitan restaurant in a hotel just getting up and running. Wait staff and service was great. Food was good. Interior flow of the room was awkward. Overall, I would go back.
(4)
Ron L.
*** Celiac Friendly *** This gem is hidden inside the Sheraton Valley Forge Hotel. While they don't offer gluten free pasta (remember that most of their recipes are near 100 years old!), if you bring your own in, they will boil a clean pot of water to cook it for you. Since the Wegmans down the street has plenty of pasta choices, I pop down there first if I am in the mood for pasta. Ralph's "homemade spinach gnocchi tossed in a gorgonzola cheese sauce with Italian sausage and sundried tomatoes" works just as well with GF gnocchi. They have a TON of GF options on the menu and will work with you to meet your needs. My favorite non-pasta dish is the sausage and peppers. YUM!!
(5)
Mel P.
My husband and I recently dined here for our anniversary. I think it's worth noting that no one acknowledged this, though he had mentioned it while making our reservation, but we didn't let that dampen our mood. We dined at 5:30pm on a weekday, so crowds and noise were not really an issue; however, I can see how it might get loud because it is right inside the lobby entrance of the hotel. The ambience was simple, the music was pleasant and at an appropriate volume, and the place was clean. Service was prompt but otherwise average. Our waiter was polite and attentive, but no one really seemed happy to be there. I can't say we didn't feel welcome, but there was certainly no "warmth" or much personality across the board. Anyway, on to the food. The bread was dry/stale and the butter tasted funny; but the bread dipped in the olive oil was palatable. For our appetizers we tried the meatballs and roasted peppers. The meatballs were bland but the "gravy" (sauce) was tasty. For our meals, my husband got the veal, which was huge. He enjoyed it, but I found it to be on the tough/dry side. I got the black lobster ravioli, which was interesting... The raviolis were thin, and the little scallops that come with them were slightly overcooked. For dessert, we got the cannoli and tiramisu, which were both pretty good -- not too sweet. The portions and temperature of everything were decent, but I don't believe the quality was worth what we paid. The drinks are definitely overpriced. Overall, our experience was not terrible, and we had a nice time. I've personally had much better, but it also could have been MUCH worse. I probably would not choose to go back to this location, but I wouldn't mind trying out the original someday.
(3)
Matt P.
When my friend suggested we hit up this suburban location up for a dinner that was central for a group of friends, I had no qualms. I love the original Ralph's that's actually IN South Philly. Really, I do. Those traditional meatballs, the pastas, the seafood, the superb wine selection to the feel & ambiance is the epitome of a traditional italian joint. The south Philly joint knocks it out of the park. The suburban location, however, not so much. By comparison it's cold and desolate. And I'm OK with that. You can only do so much leasing the space in a Sheraton, but I did have higher hopes for something a bit more than over priced banquet faire. Being a party of 12, going family style on a numbers of dishes just made sense. Both chicken & veal parmesan dished were probably left in the oven too long, jerky like consistency for both. The chicken marsala came out pretty horrible unfortunately. Nothing like lukewarm chicken to get those taste buds in gear. The calamari was solid, though a little heavy on the oil. Meatballs were a joke, at least compared to the OG spot. Edible yes. Worth the coin you're shelling out? Nowhere near. As pedestrian as our food was, the service was good. Our large party was seated without a hitch, the drinks came in a timely manner and so did the food. Sadly, I've had better cuisine at my grandfather's VFW. As a higher end spot, do save yourself the trouble of paying for an underwhelming experience and drive 20 miles down to Bella Vista to get better quality at the original location.
(2)
Lauren M.
I didn't realize this restaurant was actually IN the Sheraton. Had I known that, I wouldn't have even tried it because I try to stay away from hotel restaurants. We came here the day after a snow storm and the parking lot was HORRENDOUS. It seemed like they put zero effort into making it safe. There was snow and black ice all over the place. Very dangerous! Ralph's was just ok. The decor and atmosphere are far better than the original Ralph's in South Philly. There was an excellent live singer that sounded just like Frank Sinatra and played throughout our dinner. This was a great touch! Our server, Michael was good at his job. In fact, all of the guys buzzing around on the staff seemed to have an excellent work ethic. As for the food: Appetizers: the Caprese salad was pretty good. The tomatoes could have been better..riper. The Cesar salad was not good...it was fresh and the Parmesan was good but it didn't have enough dressing. The house salad was pretty good. Entrees: penne alla vodka "didn't taste like vodka sauce" according to my mom. The Linguine and clams were good but not large enough of a portion for my boyfriend. The pasta Rinaldo was not good. I should have taken my server's advice and gone with the mushroom primavera. I tried to stick with a "family recipe" which had asterisks...so I stuck with my original decision but I would never order it again. It all just tasted liked jarred artichokes. The eggplant was the best part of the dish. I marked down that we were coming to celebrate a birthday and nothing was said or done. Obviously nothing HAD to be done but it's always a nice touch when a restaurant cares enough to acknowledge celebrating an occasion with them. If given the opportunity, I would not return here. I would never choose to come back. My mom and boyfriend said they would give it another chance. If someone was already going here and invited me, I guess I would go but I would never suggest it as a location to return to.
(3)
Mike Z.
Restaurant sits inside of a hotel and not the easiest to find. A few from our party actually got lost. There has to be more clear signs saying that Ralph's is inside the hotel. We came here for a large private party of about 30 people. We had a fixed menu so I cant comment as much on the quality of the food. Ill start with the incredible service that we received. We had a private bartender to start the cocktail hour.... When I was towards the end of my drink, he would come up to me with a new drink and did the same with all the guests. Everyone that waited on us was very friendly and did everything they can to make it a pleasurable experience. Great bread to start of our meals! I also liked the mussels, calamari and the veal.
(4)
Kathleen P.
I do not agree with the negative reviews I've read. I recently had dinner on a Saturday night and was very impressed with the food, staff, and decor. Our reservation was at 5:00pm and we were promptly seated at a very nice table. We could not have asked for better service. We split the stuffed pepper as an appetizer, and both had Trombino, one veal, and one chicken, and had cannoli for dessert. If I had to complain I'd say I've had better cannoli and the bread was hard. I will return.
(4)
Matthew Y.
I have *never* had a bad meal at Ralph's, and eaten at this location upwards of 30 times . It's beyond me how anyone gives it less than four stars. After dining at even the most well-regarded red sauce Italian restaurants in New York (Il Mulino, Carbone and Parm included) and Philly, it absolutely does not get better anywhere than Ralphs. Most recently my girlfriend and I stopped in to celebrate my birthday. Our waiter, Gilligan, was awesome - friendly, attentive, quick. We have the calamari and bruchetta appetizers to start. I had the veal capricciosa and my girlfriend had the manicotti. The veal capricciosa is awesome, and one of my favorite dishes anywhere. The manicotti was great, as well. To end, we had coffee, and they brought out a cannoli with a candle for dessert! Seeing the stars that people give Ralph's is without a doubt a result of mis-placed expectations. Is Ralph's inventive? No. But it's an original. When you're the oldest Italian restaurant in the country, you don't have to be. Is Ralph's a cool and happening place? No. And I don't want it to be "cool". I want it to be old school and steeped in tradition, like it should be. Take it from a regular at both locations; the food is the same. You aren't getting "elevated" Italian food that you'd find at a Vetri restaurant. You are getting good, ole' Italian-American cooking at a super-reasonable price. If anywhere deserves 5 stars, Ralph's does.
(5)
M J.
First time I had dinner there. I had lunch a few times and it was always good. We took advantage of resturant week. The fixed menu was a good value. The service was fast and professional. The food came out hot and was great. So much better than those national chains.
(5)
Christopher M.
The food was really, really good. Service was attentive, our waitress Gabrielle made sure we were taken care of all night. Being an Italian from NY and NJ, I've had a hell of a time finding decent Italian food in PA (or at least up to my standards). Ralphs is one of the better Italian places in the Area for sure.
(5)
Andrew S.
This place serves good Italian food. For the area, it is one of the best restaurants. The service is fine and the atmosphere is nice. A little stuffy but the Friday night lounge singer is cool. Overall, very good food and the atmosphere is slightly on the old side.
(4)
Holly R.
In a word...amazing! I loved Ralph's! My husband and I went for dinner one night at the end of a long day. We started out with the meatball antipasti and it didn't disappoint. The meatballs were moist and flavorful and the marinara was simple and delicious! For dinner, I had the shrimp scampi and my husband had the manicotti. The shrimp scampi was a lighter sauce with a linguini. The shrimp were huge and the sauce was spot on! My husband's manicotti was wonderful with three traditional manicotti, topped off with mounds of cheese and marinara. It was delicious! I would go back in a heartbeat!
(5)
Mitchell R.
The staff was young, but attentive and caring. However, the food was not up to Ralph's South Philly reputation. The minestrone was burnt and my pappardelle was over cooked.
(2)
Riccardo S.
Good breakfast option inside the Sheraton Valley Forge hotel as a Platinum amenity for guests. Wasn't back for lunch or dinner, though so I can't comment beyond breakfast. The continental options were solid, but the omelette station was my destination. The cook was more than happy to take my "fully-loaded" requests, and gave me a perfectly-made breakfast which I then garnished with nearby bacon, sausage, and various other odds and ends. Cappuccino was good, and my day was set. The staff were a little listless, but 7AM is still 7AM. I'd come back here next time I'm at this hotel, but can't see myself making the trip otherwise.
(3)
Coleen S.
Not what I was expecting. It was very very loud. Food was good, but we felt like we were being rushed out of there. It's a nice place but probably won't go back.
(3)
Suzie G.
The service at this place was terrible, the waiter acted like we were such an inconvenience to him because we were a large group. He refused to split our checks up front, rushed our orders, and then added a nice 20% tip for himself at the end of our dinner. The food was not good either. I avoid the pasta dishes, so maybe that's my mistake, but what I had last night was a poor excuse for a $30 entree. I've been to the other one in the city and thought the food was just ok, so perhaps I just have different taste. However, the difference was that I had a good experience at the other one because of the service and atmosphere were pleasant.
(2)
Peggy C.
We got a gift certificate as an engagement gift or we would never thought of going to a restaurant inside of a hotel and we are very grateful to the gifter! I am not big on Italian food and we just had a bad meal at Peppers Italian Restaurant in KOP (see my review) the day before so I was a little apprehensive. The place is tastefully decorated and we love our circular boot seats, great for date nights. :) I had the mussels with white sauce and my fiance had the calamari for appetizer. I am a big mussel lover and this it up on the top of the mussels I've had! The mussels are big and juicy and the sauce has a nice kick to it. If we were daunted by the size, I would definitely ask more bread for dipping! Both are in generous size, we could have just shared one appetizer. For the entree, I had the Chilean Sea Bass with plum tomato sauce and my fiance has the salmon. They are both done just right. I don't generally like red sauce so I was a little worried but the tomato sauce was fresh refreshing and not acidic like the like of marinara sauce. The portions are just right. I was filled up towards the end and sea bass are fatty fish so I was struggling a bit trying to finish it. I probably should have let it go but it was too yummy to pass. We had to check out the dessert menu but my eyes were caught by the after dinner drinks. We ordered the Mint chocolate chips martini. I have to say, dessert's best when come in liquid form! Last and not least, our experience was greatly enhanced by our awesome server Matt. He was attentive, affable, and helpful. My fiance was so impressed he wanted to offer him a job! Overall, it is a very enjoyable experience. I have to agree with some of the review, though. I think we got the best dishes out of the menu. All other items look quite ordinary Italian food.
(4)
Holly A.
We have had alot of different things from Ralphs but in our opinion the one that takes the cake is the Chilean Sea Bass Ralph's style! Oy Vey - so good! It came with a red meat sauce and capers - I know sounds weird to pair it up with fish but it was UNREAL. Prepare to wait around 30-40 minutes, but it is well worth the wait. I have had alot of chilean sea bass and loved the different way this was prepared.
(5)
Beth B.
I'm not sure what I'm missing here, why the other reviews are so sub-par... I really liked Ralphs in KOP! The transplanted South Philly classic keeps to its roots with some amazing, hearty Italian food. I wasn't expecting such an upscale, fancy atmosphere but was pleasantly surprised when I walked in. The hotel is beautiful, as is the restaurant. The restaurant is huge which was a nice treat since i'm used to sitting ontop of other tables in city restaurants. Our server practically had a team working with him, bringing out bread, refilling our waters, and even two different managers who stopped by to check on things. We went to Ralph's to celebrate a birthday and received one of our desserts for free (yessss!). It was 7pm on a Saturday so it's not like the place was empty. The special attention was very nice! The food was delicious. I highly recommend the Calamari appetizer- not too overly "fried" and salty with the Olive/Caper/Pepper topping. My boyfriend and I split the Spinach Gnocchi and the Special Pasta of the night (Penne w/ Grilled Chicken, Roasted Red Peppers, Garlic, Broccoli Rabe, and Sharp Prov). Both dishes were very tasty- we both favored the Gnocchi though. The Penne was a little on the oily side. Good place to go with a large group or family who isn't fond of trying new things. Very good food and service.
(4)
Alex S.
Solid 3. The food is average for the price the atmosphere is nice. a good place for drinks and appetizers
(3)
Charles R.
Great bread, which is a must at a true Italian restaurant. I thought it was from Sarcones, but the waitress said it was from Collegville Bakery. Lunch menu has all the favorites you would expect. The veal parm sandwich was on a great soft hoagie roll, with tender veal topped with gooey cheese. The dish came with a side of potato chips. The meatball sandwich came on the same good hoagie roll and the meatballs were sweet , tender and full of flavor. It also came with the same potato chips. It would be nice if they could better chips, like the homemade style. I think for a really good Italian like this they could upgrade the chips. Service was very friendly and prompt. Waitress said that at dinner hours they were packed with people waiting in line, but lunch was very dead. Lots of free parking in the Sheraton lot. Unlike downtown, this Ralphs takes plastic , but is not BYO since they have a full bar.
(4)
Heavi K.
Lunch - cool looking but food just OK. Service was good, but not great. Vegetables were not very good. Veal parm had noticeable oily taste and too much breaking. I will give it another month and try again.
(3)
Cheryl D.
Went to Ralph's in KOP for birthday dinner. The place was ok, but not great. We got the muscles plentiful, but too spicey and small. The antipasti was very disappointing. The chicken parm was very big and tasty. The pasta dish was very good and included a good amount of crabmeat. I say go, but avoid the appetizers although we did see someone order calamari which looked good if you like that sort of food.
(3)
Roberta F.
The food was very good, fresh and everything was seasoned nicely. Our waitress, Laura, was excellent. She was friendly and attentive, explained the menu and gave great service. We will definitely be back.
(4)
Peggy S.
Was very disappointed in Ralph's KOP. The veal parm was thin pieces of veal stacked up like lasagna. Have had really good veal in good italian restaurants and this was the worse I have ever had considering it has such a good reputation. Sauce is only mediocre at best. Caesar salad was not crisp and SOAKED in dressing which made it limp. I stayed at the Sheraton and thought it would be nice to eat at Ralphs. There are so many good restaurants in KOP, next time I will know better. Somewhere I read that most of the food in prepared in South Philly and sent to KOP to finish it. I hope that is not true. If you want an expensive dinner in KOP go to many of the other good restaurants.
(2)
Frank D.
Not good! I had high hopes too. The place is nice and had a great singer. The service was awful though, stale bread and servers who pay no attention to you. I got penne Ala vodka and it was blahhhh. The chicken it in was boiled and tough. Just very dissatisfied. Wish we went to maggianos in stead.
(2)
Lisa M.
The best Mussels Marinara I've ever had. Had 'em for an appetizer, then over pasta for my entree. Wonderful crusty bread. The cannoli cake was great, the chocolate cake was good, but not fabulous. Great attentive service, have to say the decor was a little spartan but it didn't take away from the food.
(5)
Tzvetan D.
Hidden inside the lobby of a Sheraton lies a wonderful treat for locals and travelers alike called Ralph's. I started there much like any weary traveler with a dogfish head IPA to restore some sanity into the day. Following that I was pleasantly surprised by the Mussels bathed in a wonderful Marinara sauce. On my second visit I was able to try the Eggplant Parm at the recommendation of one of their start staff members. Not only was it cooked to perfection but paired with the right dry red wine. I can't lie, they know what they are doing here. It seems like this new generation of Ralph's is in it for the long run as well, giving the South Philly joint a run for its money. Though I could barley see my bartender over the counter, they were full of enough passion to keep me coming back for more. After only dining there three times I feel like it is a home away from home through the jokes and good attitude of the staff. A diamond in the rough, thanks again Ralph's.
(5)
Chantal G.
Don't know what all the bad reviews are about. Very good food, very good service. Little bit heavy on olive oil with the calamari and chicken with rabe and roasted peppers. PS-parking was ample.
(4)
Jeff F.
I've had better food elsewhere, and the service was horrible.. If you get Antony as your waiter, hopefully he will have a better night than when he waited on us.. took about 15 minutes before he actually came to the table.. apps came out in not bad time, but our main course took forever... and really was just ok... I dont think we will be back anytime soon...
(2)
Will D.
Ralph's of South Philly is an upscale Italian restaurant. This location is in the new Sheraton hotel in King of Prussia. The food was absolutely wonderful (5 stars, well-earned). Service was reasonably quick and attentive (4.5 stars). Though our waiter became less visible after our food was served, our drinks and bread were frequently replenished. Prices were a bit steep, even given the very above-average quality of food and service (4 stars). This is a nice enough place for a business meal or a romantic dinner.
(4)
Hali W.
This place is very good. Not my favorite spot to eat a meatball but their veal is great and the chicken parm is a must try. Good sized portions and friendly staff. Drinks are great. Very nice atmosphere. Don't let the hotel deter you from trying it. It's a nice place to sit and have an after dinner drink.
(4)
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Address :480 N Gulph Rd
King of Prussia, PA, 19406
Takes Reservations : Yes Delivery : No Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Dinner Parking : Valet, Private Lot Bike Parking : Yes Wheelchair Accessible : Yes Good for Kids : Yes Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Ambience : Classy Noise Level : Average Alcohol : Full Bar Outdoor Seating : No Wi-Fi : Paid Has TV : Yes Dogs Allowed : No Waiter Service : Yes Caters : Yes
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.
Nicole D.
Food was excellent. I am Italian and don't usually like to eat Italian out. The meatballs, broccoli rabe and black lobster ravioli with scallops were so good. Bartender was very good, martinis were made to perfection. Nice wine and port list. Our server Michael was so warm and friendly. He took his time to make recommendations. I can't say enough about him, he was great. Only complaint was the host was extremely rude. We made reservations 2 weeks ago and he asked us to wait 10 minutes. Which was fine. We sat right in front of him at the bar for cocktails. After waiting 45 minutes, and seeing many people sat before us, we inquired at the host stand. He made excuse after excuse as to why we weren't seated. Stating the kitchen told him not to seat people (although he sat people that arrived after us), that we should have "checked in" with him (which is not our job), that he was going to give us a bigger table (which was just silly), and that he forgot about us (which was the truth, I would have respected him more if he had just said that instead of going back and forth with an attitude). He did comp our bar bill so that was kind, but his rudeness and lying were very unbecoming. Our original reservation we made through open table was cancelled by Ralph's and we made another one for a later time. Which was strange that it was available on there and then they cancelled it. But it was fine to make the reservation for a 1/2 he later. But then to not be seated for 45 minutes!?! And get attitude on top of it? Unacceptable when reservations were made 2 weeks in advance. And then never got the points from open table bc the restaurant did not mark us as being there. Our server, bartender and food made a great experience. The host...not so much. I would love to dine here again for the amazing food and service, but I would not go out of my way to visit again bc of the host. Was hoping to bring a large party here in a few weeks, but now I am reconsidering. If we had to wait for just 2 of us...not sure about a larger party.
(3)Kenny W.
Gotta love this place. One of my 'go to' restaurants when I'm in KOP. Good service, good food. The atmosphere is always very pleasant and the service is always consistently good. Been here several times and never had a bad experience. Love the the black lobster ravioli. Here's a tip for this dish. Get shrimp added to it. Love their meatballs too.
(4)Jess C.
This place is ok. Not good, not bad, just plain old ok. It would be a nice, safe place to go for a business lunch, or to take your grandparents for an early dinner. But for a date or a dinner out with friends, it was completely underwhelming. Nothing particularly bad happened, but it just wasn't really enjoyable. Some friends and I decided to try Ralph's on a weeknight, and made a reservation earlier in the day, just in case it was crowded. The latest time available was 5:15, but since we were all able to get out of work early that day, we figured we'd give it a try. When we arrived, there was only one other table seated, and we felt awkward being almost the only table in the big, bright, quiet room. By the time we left at 6:30, there were still plenty of tables available. Many reviewers seemed to enjoy the ambiance of the place, but I found it to be bland and uncomfortable. This restaurant is in a hotel, and it feels like a hotel restaurant. The decor is pleasant, but totally generic: wall-to-wall carpeting, safe gray and gold tones, and bright overhead lighting that flickers slightly. There's nothing about the cozy intimacy of a South Philly eatery to this place. Dinner here felt like a corporate luncheon at any decent conference center anywhere. The food was good. Not great, but solidly good. The salmon came in a generous portion, cooked and seasoned well, with plenty of garlicky spinach along with it. Likewise, the other meat dishes were also generous and prepared well. The pasta was pretty average and served in a small bowl on the side. The tiramisu cake was a bit dry, and again, average. The service was fine, though a bit too attentive, maybe because there were so few other tables. Different members of the staff stopped by several times during the main course to ask if everything was ok. The wine was also ok, although one of the glasses was dirty with grease and dried bits of something on the outside. So overall... it was ok. For the price, there are better options, and we won't be going back.
(2)Joe C.
Ralph's is the perfect red-checkered table cloth Italian restaurant. Nothing more, nothing less. If you are in the mood for good quality Italian-American classics, this is your spot. Service is also excellent. Ignore the fact it is in a hotel, and also ignore the attempt at upscale atmosphere, and enjoy it for what it is. It is a place to go for an excellent, "red gravy" meal.
(3)Joseph H.
We've been to the Ralph's on South 9th, and it's always been very good. Great quality food, excellent service, an above average South Philly red gravy joint. They've overreached at the new place in KOP. Service was average and the food was average; my chicken Marsala was good but my wife's salmon special was overcooked, and my colleague's calimari was soggy. Additionally, our bill had a 20% service charge on top of the food and the wine, which I've not seen anywhere else on the planet. I would accept 18% but 20% is too much. I asked the manager to reconsider but he chose to stiff me on it, so here we are. I wouldn't have recommended this place just based on the average food and service, but given the experience I had with the 20% service charge and the unfulfilling conversation I had with the manager, I'd have to say that this place won't be around much longer anyway. Don't waste your time or your money here. Fellini's in Berwyn is much, much better, or make the drive into South Philly and get the real McCoy.
(1)Sherri T.
Ralph's is supposed to be an upscale Italian restaurant. However, it was decent at best. The food was tasty and plentiful but the sauces were overwhelming and more like soup. I had the veal picatta and it was swimming in oil. I couldn't eat my last piece. The kids felt the same way. The service we had was horrible. The waiter didn't know the menu, he spilled drinks, and the wrong food came out. As for dessert, definitely don't get the gelato which the waiter told us, is shipped in a plastic cup and sealed as if it came from an ice cream truck. It was so unappealing, that we couldn't get the kids to eat it. Go somewhere else!
(2)Gayle F.
Ralph's Restaurant is fabulous in S. Philly- but don't be fooled- close your eyes and you won't know this place is in Valley Forge- Our waiter, Aries was amazing- he helped us 2 weekends in a row- friendly, extremely competent, professional and anticipated our every dining need- highly recommend Ralph's and ask for Aries- it's a twofer with him as your waiter- great veal Parm- just like S. Philly- scrumptious - Anthony, the manager, was extremely attentive and personable- just a great experience!!
(5)Melissa B.
Cannot believe what a poor experience I had after being talked in to coming back after my first poor experience. I was talked into it by the hostess herself when I called and asked if I could have a specific waiter to make sure I did not get the pathetic excuse for a waiter we had the first time. She personally PROMISED me if I came back we would have a fantastic experience. She could not have been more wrong. While our server was at least good this time, everything about the food, due to a very inept and poorly run kitchen was horrendous. Waited at least an hour between salads and entree's, and then they seriously only brought 2 of the 3 meals out? Ten minutes later the third meal arrives, but is incomplete? Are you kidding me? After suffering though this, I asked Gina on the way out "You realize that was horrendous, right", all she said was I am sorry. Wow, OK...that makes both of us. Good bye Ralphs, you have had two opportunitys and now hundreds of my dollars, and all I get is an "I am sorry"? For shame.
(1)Brian B.
This place is living off the reputation of South Philly location. Service is terrible. 20 minutes for a drink, 30 minutes for a salad salad was awful than after another 45 minute wait for dinner we had to throw in the towel. Judging by the taste of the caesar salad i doubt the dinner flavor would be any good. When we asked for our check and said don't bother bringing the dinner we finally got some attention. The chef/manager came out of the kitchen to yell at us and scream that our meal was being served next. This happened 20 minutes after we watched him come out and meet friends or frequent diners. As soon as he left them he came back out with their meal. We watched that for 20 minutes. When i mentioned it the guy yelled at me again that they only had a salad. Not true! I was literally watching them twirl their pasta. No apology to us and the bill was over 100 dollars for two apps and a salad and 4 drinks. No thanks. Do yourself a favor and don't bother going here. I dine out 3 times per week and this is only the 2nd place i left no tip.
(1)John B.
Had bug expectations but were never met. Overpriced Italian. Sauce is rather tasteless. Service is slow. Not a fan.
(2)Gary T.
Our group of 4 ate at Ralph's on Saturday night (2/16). We had a cocktail at the bar - excellent Martini, the were seated promptly. Ambiance is upscale, but comfortable. Service (Laura) was outstanding. Two of us had the special (Veal & Shrimp) and the other two had Veal Parm. The special was fantastic - tender, flavorful. The Veal Parm was enormous, but also good. Mussels in red sauce - very good. Overall, a great dining experience. We'll be back!!
(4)Craig D.
(4) ~ Overall Food & Service = Good "Old World" Italian Experience;-) OUR MENU: * Water(tap) = (3.5) good * Bread = (4) very good * Chianti Wine = (3.5) good * Antipasto = (3.5) good * Broccoli Rabe = (3) ok * Veal Chop = (4) very good * Canolli Cake = (3.5) good * Tiramisu = (4) very good * Coffee = (4) very good NOTE: It's located inside the Sheraton Hotel and Yes they take Credit Card. They also have a Bar Area.
(4)Dave W.
Like so many other reviewers, I expected what I had experienced at the original Ralph's. And like so many others, I was, too disappointed. The decor was terrific, but that was the only thing above-average. I had a salad and veal parmigiana. My dinner companion had the "special" which was something like veal piccante with crab meat. The bread on the table was average -- like what you would get at any other hotel restaurant. I was served an enormous "house salad" that was very good. The entrees, though, were more similar to what you would get at a diner in terms of quality. As well, the out-sized platters are not a good thing when the food is mediocre. The veal parm was mostly breading. My companion's meal was not hot, but they were served at the same time and mine was. The crab meat was sparse, although she didn't complain, but the portions were radically different sizes. The side of spaghetti and sauce was nice, but nothing tasted particularly special. Neither of us had wine, and we shared one cannoli for dessert with two coffees. The bill? An eye-popping $80. The service seems a little uneven -- the waiter was professional but not warm, and someone else at one point inexplicably showed up at our table an announced he'd be our server, even though we were already being waited on. For what should have been a busy night, there were just 4 or 5 other tables there the night I went. I would not go back, and if you're going there to experience the magic of the original, just go to the original. :-)
(2)Greg L.
We had a company group dinner here and I was looking forward to finally being able to try this place out. In the end, I'm glad it wasn't my money that I wasted here. The general consensus from the 30 or so people we had here was that this place wasn't good. We started with a Cesar salad, which was drenched in dressing. Next up was calamari, which was just OK, but no tentacles on the plate and no sauce. The bread was pretty good, and you could make your own dipping sauce of olive oil with parmesan cheese and crushed red peppers if you liked. My main dish was a chicken dish with roasted peppers, and I thought it was just bland, which is basically what I thought of most everything I had that evening. I tried a bite of the Tiramuso for dinner, and once again, nothing special. Service wasn't great either and my water glass was left empty for much of the meal. Even after I asked for a refill, I never got it. One of the plates they handed me was dirty! The servers didn't even seem all that friendly. In short, I won't be back.
(2)Mike H.
Waited for more than an hour to get our food. My steak was overlooked. Not a good experience.
(2)Mike H.
Don't wast your time or money. Go somewhere else. Zero stars . If you want very good Italian food go to. Cafe fiorellos in west chester or trattoria giuseppe in edgemont .
(1)Eatingyourlunch C.
Had the chicken parm, terrible. It was more bread then chicken. It tasted like scorched oil. Everyone who dined with me felt there meal was poor to 'ok.' I will not dine here ever again.
(1)Anne Z.
We went here for a work luncheon. It was terrible. The soup was not hot, the turkey club had under cooked bacon, the orange sauce was too strong, and the chicken cutlet sandwich was like chicken jerky. The servers were awkward and incapable. So disappointed in this new place.
(2)Wendy P.
Went there for Valentines Day. We had been before and had a bad experience, but decided we would give it another shot. Service was decent and the wine selection was good. We started with the meatballs. They were very mushy and the sauce was mediocre. I then had the Veal Saltimbucca. The veal also was mushy. There was so much mozzarella on top that you couldn't see the veal. It was also swimming in butter, (it was supposed to be a marsala sauce, but it was yellow). I sent it back. A manager did not stop by after I told the waited I would not like anything else. I will not be going back here.
(2)John W.
I've never been to the original Ralph's so this isn't a comparison review. I've been there twice for lunch now and the food is pretty good. I had an eggplant parm that was very good. I would rate the food as 3 to 4 stars, but the service is a 1, so I used an middle ground 2-star score. For me, it doesn't matter how good the food is if your service stinks. The guy who greeted and seated us was just plain rude. Our waiter wasn't much better. Not engaging at all, not courteous, and just made us feel like we were bothering him. I don't want to pay $80 for a four-person lunch and be treated like I ordered the wrong way at Pat's. That may fly in South Philly Cuz, but out here in the burbs you're gonna need to play nicer.
(2)Donald L.
A really great place for a meal inside an amazing hotel. Food was terrific, but the service was just ok. They forgot to bring our bread, but it was still excellent, and I would recommend it to anyone who likes Italian food.
(4)Nick C.
Overrated. Nice place but the food...allrightttt. Went with 8 people 2 of us liked their food. Way over priced for the food quality. Chicken parm was probably the worst i ever had, it was dry and tough more like chicken jerky if it were to exist. I kept thinking i was going to see a fat italian guy and a chick slurping a piece of spaghetti until they kissed like in the movies, that the type of people you'll see in there.
(2)Come and Get It K.
Wanted to give it a 3.5/4 im right in the middle! We ate here last night and enjoyed our italian homestyle meals alot! But didnt care for the service or dessert. we loved the atmosphere w/ old school frank playing in the background and loved the bread! My bf got the chicken parm which 1-was fabulous and 2- as big as his head! Boy do they give you a ton of food for the price! I had the veal with artichokes crabmeat and tomato vodka sauce which was good, but i had expected a big piece of veal and pieces of jumbo lump crab meat but thats not what came out. It was more like 4 little medalliaons with stringy crab mixed in with the artichokes and sauce. It was tasty! Just not the presentation i thought it would be. Their tomato sauce and pasta which comes as a side surprised both of us with its flavor. We never mind paying top notch for a great meal and the entrees were flavorful and so reasonable but the $15 martini? Little steep and we were def disappointed with the canoli (not sweet enough) and the cannoli cake was nothing special. All in all we will definitely be back to ralphs to try the mussels, lobster raviolis and more chick parm
(3)Patti W.
Ralph's best get in here and take a good look at the food that's coming out of the kitchen.....or this place will be history in a year. Four of us celebrated a birthday there last night, We wouldn't ever go back. The food was sub-par, service was bad, we were seated in a room that had as much pizzazz as a community room in a senior center. This bears NO resemblance, in service or quality of food to Ralph's, where we've eaten many times, for over 35 years. The only thing Ralphy about Ralph's KOP is the name. :-(
(1)Bob S.
Are you kidding, this restaurant is awful , the Caesar salad was warm and limp, next I had the pasta with white clam sauce, I thought I was eating clam soup. I have been to the South Philly restaurant many times and had wonderful food. The worst part was the wait staff, they would not leave me alone, I am in the middle of a story, the waitress stopped me and asked, do you need anything? OK , but 5 times. Birthday celebration was a disaster there. Overpriced for pasta, could not make a margarita Either, I am pissed off with this meal. Once is enough.
(1)Amy A.
Went to Ralph for dinner. Ambiance is nice Food not so much. The spinish knoche was too heavy. same as my shrimp scampi. Overall, not a place that we will go back for the food.
(2)Oliver D.
Very Cosmopolitan restaurant in a hotel just getting up and running. Wait staff and service was great. Food was good. Interior flow of the room was awkward. Overall, I would go back.
(4)Ron L.
*** Celiac Friendly *** This gem is hidden inside the Sheraton Valley Forge Hotel. While they don't offer gluten free pasta (remember that most of their recipes are near 100 years old!), if you bring your own in, they will boil a clean pot of water to cook it for you. Since the Wegmans down the street has plenty of pasta choices, I pop down there first if I am in the mood for pasta. Ralph's "homemade spinach gnocchi tossed in a gorgonzola cheese sauce with Italian sausage and sundried tomatoes" works just as well with GF gnocchi. They have a TON of GF options on the menu and will work with you to meet your needs. My favorite non-pasta dish is the sausage and peppers. YUM!!
(5)Mel P.
My husband and I recently dined here for our anniversary. I think it's worth noting that no one acknowledged this, though he had mentioned it while making our reservation, but we didn't let that dampen our mood. We dined at 5:30pm on a weekday, so crowds and noise were not really an issue; however, I can see how it might get loud because it is right inside the lobby entrance of the hotel. The ambience was simple, the music was pleasant and at an appropriate volume, and the place was clean. Service was prompt but otherwise average. Our waiter was polite and attentive, but no one really seemed happy to be there. I can't say we didn't feel welcome, but there was certainly no "warmth" or much personality across the board. Anyway, on to the food. The bread was dry/stale and the butter tasted funny; but the bread dipped in the olive oil was palatable. For our appetizers we tried the meatballs and roasted peppers. The meatballs were bland but the "gravy" (sauce) was tasty. For our meals, my husband got the veal, which was huge. He enjoyed it, but I found it to be on the tough/dry side. I got the black lobster ravioli, which was interesting... The raviolis were thin, and the little scallops that come with them were slightly overcooked. For dessert, we got the cannoli and tiramisu, which were both pretty good -- not too sweet. The portions and temperature of everything were decent, but I don't believe the quality was worth what we paid. The drinks are definitely overpriced. Overall, our experience was not terrible, and we had a nice time. I've personally had much better, but it also could have been MUCH worse. I probably would not choose to go back to this location, but I wouldn't mind trying out the original someday.
(3)Matt P.
When my friend suggested we hit up this suburban location up for a dinner that was central for a group of friends, I had no qualms. I love the original Ralph's that's actually IN South Philly. Really, I do. Those traditional meatballs, the pastas, the seafood, the superb wine selection to the feel & ambiance is the epitome of a traditional italian joint. The south Philly joint knocks it out of the park. The suburban location, however, not so much. By comparison it's cold and desolate. And I'm OK with that. You can only do so much leasing the space in a Sheraton, but I did have higher hopes for something a bit more than over priced banquet faire. Being a party of 12, going family style on a numbers of dishes just made sense. Both chicken & veal parmesan dished were probably left in the oven too long, jerky like consistency for both. The chicken marsala came out pretty horrible unfortunately. Nothing like lukewarm chicken to get those taste buds in gear. The calamari was solid, though a little heavy on the oil. Meatballs were a joke, at least compared to the OG spot. Edible yes. Worth the coin you're shelling out? Nowhere near. As pedestrian as our food was, the service was good. Our large party was seated without a hitch, the drinks came in a timely manner and so did the food. Sadly, I've had better cuisine at my grandfather's VFW. As a higher end spot, do save yourself the trouble of paying for an underwhelming experience and drive 20 miles down to Bella Vista to get better quality at the original location.
(2)Lauren M.
I didn't realize this restaurant was actually IN the Sheraton. Had I known that, I wouldn't have even tried it because I try to stay away from hotel restaurants. We came here the day after a snow storm and the parking lot was HORRENDOUS. It seemed like they put zero effort into making it safe. There was snow and black ice all over the place. Very dangerous! Ralph's was just ok. The decor and atmosphere are far better than the original Ralph's in South Philly. There was an excellent live singer that sounded just like Frank Sinatra and played throughout our dinner. This was a great touch! Our server, Michael was good at his job. In fact, all of the guys buzzing around on the staff seemed to have an excellent work ethic. As for the food: Appetizers: the Caprese salad was pretty good. The tomatoes could have been better..riper. The Cesar salad was not good...it was fresh and the Parmesan was good but it didn't have enough dressing. The house salad was pretty good. Entrees: penne alla vodka "didn't taste like vodka sauce" according to my mom. The Linguine and clams were good but not large enough of a portion for my boyfriend. The pasta Rinaldo was not good. I should have taken my server's advice and gone with the mushroom primavera. I tried to stick with a "family recipe" which had asterisks...so I stuck with my original decision but I would never order it again. It all just tasted liked jarred artichokes. The eggplant was the best part of the dish. I marked down that we were coming to celebrate a birthday and nothing was said or done. Obviously nothing HAD to be done but it's always a nice touch when a restaurant cares enough to acknowledge celebrating an occasion with them. If given the opportunity, I would not return here. I would never choose to come back. My mom and boyfriend said they would give it another chance. If someone was already going here and invited me, I guess I would go but I would never suggest it as a location to return to.
(3)Mike Z.
Restaurant sits inside of a hotel and not the easiest to find. A few from our party actually got lost. There has to be more clear signs saying that Ralph's is inside the hotel. We came here for a large private party of about 30 people. We had a fixed menu so I cant comment as much on the quality of the food. Ill start with the incredible service that we received. We had a private bartender to start the cocktail hour.... When I was towards the end of my drink, he would come up to me with a new drink and did the same with all the guests. Everyone that waited on us was very friendly and did everything they can to make it a pleasurable experience. Great bread to start of our meals! I also liked the mussels, calamari and the veal.
(4)Kathleen P.
I do not agree with the negative reviews I've read. I recently had dinner on a Saturday night and was very impressed with the food, staff, and decor. Our reservation was at 5:00pm and we were promptly seated at a very nice table. We could not have asked for better service. We split the stuffed pepper as an appetizer, and both had Trombino, one veal, and one chicken, and had cannoli for dessert. If I had to complain I'd say I've had better cannoli and the bread was hard. I will return.
(4)Matthew Y.
I have *never* had a bad meal at Ralph's, and eaten at this location upwards of 30 times . It's beyond me how anyone gives it less than four stars. After dining at even the most well-regarded red sauce Italian restaurants in New York (Il Mulino, Carbone and Parm included) and Philly, it absolutely does not get better anywhere than Ralphs. Most recently my girlfriend and I stopped in to celebrate my birthday. Our waiter, Gilligan, was awesome - friendly, attentive, quick. We have the calamari and bruchetta appetizers to start. I had the veal capricciosa and my girlfriend had the manicotti. The veal capricciosa is awesome, and one of my favorite dishes anywhere. The manicotti was great, as well. To end, we had coffee, and they brought out a cannoli with a candle for dessert! Seeing the stars that people give Ralph's is without a doubt a result of mis-placed expectations. Is Ralph's inventive? No. But it's an original. When you're the oldest Italian restaurant in the country, you don't have to be. Is Ralph's a cool and happening place? No. And I don't want it to be "cool". I want it to be old school and steeped in tradition, like it should be. Take it from a regular at both locations; the food is the same. You aren't getting "elevated" Italian food that you'd find at a Vetri restaurant. You are getting good, ole' Italian-American cooking at a super-reasonable price. If anywhere deserves 5 stars, Ralph's does.
(5)M J.
First time I had dinner there. I had lunch a few times and it was always good. We took advantage of resturant week. The fixed menu was a good value. The service was fast and professional. The food came out hot and was great. So much better than those national chains.
(5)Christopher M.
The food was really, really good. Service was attentive, our waitress Gabrielle made sure we were taken care of all night. Being an Italian from NY and NJ, I've had a hell of a time finding decent Italian food in PA (or at least up to my standards). Ralphs is one of the better Italian places in the Area for sure.
(5)Andrew S.
This place serves good Italian food. For the area, it is one of the best restaurants. The service is fine and the atmosphere is nice. A little stuffy but the Friday night lounge singer is cool. Overall, very good food and the atmosphere is slightly on the old side.
(4)Holly R.
In a word...amazing! I loved Ralph's! My husband and I went for dinner one night at the end of a long day. We started out with the meatball antipasti and it didn't disappoint. The meatballs were moist and flavorful and the marinara was simple and delicious! For dinner, I had the shrimp scampi and my husband had the manicotti. The shrimp scampi was a lighter sauce with a linguini. The shrimp were huge and the sauce was spot on! My husband's manicotti was wonderful with three traditional manicotti, topped off with mounds of cheese and marinara. It was delicious! I would go back in a heartbeat!
(5)Mitchell R.
The staff was young, but attentive and caring. However, the food was not up to Ralph's South Philly reputation. The minestrone was burnt and my pappardelle was over cooked.
(2)Riccardo S.
Good breakfast option inside the Sheraton Valley Forge hotel as a Platinum amenity for guests. Wasn't back for lunch or dinner, though so I can't comment beyond breakfast. The continental options were solid, but the omelette station was my destination. The cook was more than happy to take my "fully-loaded" requests, and gave me a perfectly-made breakfast which I then garnished with nearby bacon, sausage, and various other odds and ends. Cappuccino was good, and my day was set. The staff were a little listless, but 7AM is still 7AM. I'd come back here next time I'm at this hotel, but can't see myself making the trip otherwise.
(3)Coleen S.
Not what I was expecting. It was very very loud. Food was good, but we felt like we were being rushed out of there. It's a nice place but probably won't go back.
(3)Suzie G.
The service at this place was terrible, the waiter acted like we were such an inconvenience to him because we were a large group. He refused to split our checks up front, rushed our orders, and then added a nice 20% tip for himself at the end of our dinner. The food was not good either. I avoid the pasta dishes, so maybe that's my mistake, but what I had last night was a poor excuse for a $30 entree. I've been to the other one in the city and thought the food was just ok, so perhaps I just have different taste. However, the difference was that I had a good experience at the other one because of the service and atmosphere were pleasant.
(2)Peggy C.
We got a gift certificate as an engagement gift or we would never thought of going to a restaurant inside of a hotel and we are very grateful to the gifter! I am not big on Italian food and we just had a bad meal at Peppers Italian Restaurant in KOP (see my review) the day before so I was a little apprehensive. The place is tastefully decorated and we love our circular boot seats, great for date nights. :) I had the mussels with white sauce and my fiance had the calamari for appetizer. I am a big mussel lover and this it up on the top of the mussels I've had! The mussels are big and juicy and the sauce has a nice kick to it. If we were daunted by the size, I would definitely ask more bread for dipping! Both are in generous size, we could have just shared one appetizer. For the entree, I had the Chilean Sea Bass with plum tomato sauce and my fiance has the salmon. They are both done just right. I don't generally like red sauce so I was a little worried but the tomato sauce was fresh refreshing and not acidic like the like of marinara sauce. The portions are just right. I was filled up towards the end and sea bass are fatty fish so I was struggling a bit trying to finish it. I probably should have let it go but it was too yummy to pass. We had to check out the dessert menu but my eyes were caught by the after dinner drinks. We ordered the Mint chocolate chips martini. I have to say, dessert's best when come in liquid form! Last and not least, our experience was greatly enhanced by our awesome server Matt. He was attentive, affable, and helpful. My fiance was so impressed he wanted to offer him a job! Overall, it is a very enjoyable experience. I have to agree with some of the review, though. I think we got the best dishes out of the menu. All other items look quite ordinary Italian food.
(4)Holly A.
We have had alot of different things from Ralphs but in our opinion the one that takes the cake is the Chilean Sea Bass Ralph's style! Oy Vey - so good! It came with a red meat sauce and capers - I know sounds weird to pair it up with fish but it was UNREAL. Prepare to wait around 30-40 minutes, but it is well worth the wait. I have had alot of chilean sea bass and loved the different way this was prepared.
(5)Beth B.
I'm not sure what I'm missing here, why the other reviews are so sub-par... I really liked Ralphs in KOP! The transplanted South Philly classic keeps to its roots with some amazing, hearty Italian food. I wasn't expecting such an upscale, fancy atmosphere but was pleasantly surprised when I walked in. The hotel is beautiful, as is the restaurant. The restaurant is huge which was a nice treat since i'm used to sitting ontop of other tables in city restaurants. Our server practically had a team working with him, bringing out bread, refilling our waters, and even two different managers who stopped by to check on things. We went to Ralph's to celebrate a birthday and received one of our desserts for free (yessss!). It was 7pm on a Saturday so it's not like the place was empty. The special attention was very nice! The food was delicious. I highly recommend the Calamari appetizer- not too overly "fried" and salty with the Olive/Caper/Pepper topping. My boyfriend and I split the Spinach Gnocchi and the Special Pasta of the night (Penne w/ Grilled Chicken, Roasted Red Peppers, Garlic, Broccoli Rabe, and Sharp Prov). Both dishes were very tasty- we both favored the Gnocchi though. The Penne was a little on the oily side. Good place to go with a large group or family who isn't fond of trying new things. Very good food and service.
(4)Alex S.
Solid 3. The food is average for the price the atmosphere is nice. a good place for drinks and appetizers
(3)Charles R.
Great bread, which is a must at a true Italian restaurant. I thought it was from Sarcones, but the waitress said it was from Collegville Bakery. Lunch menu has all the favorites you would expect. The veal parm sandwich was on a great soft hoagie roll, with tender veal topped with gooey cheese. The dish came with a side of potato chips. The meatball sandwich came on the same good hoagie roll and the meatballs were sweet , tender and full of flavor. It also came with the same potato chips. It would be nice if they could better chips, like the homemade style. I think for a really good Italian like this they could upgrade the chips. Service was very friendly and prompt. Waitress said that at dinner hours they were packed with people waiting in line, but lunch was very dead. Lots of free parking in the Sheraton lot. Unlike downtown, this Ralphs takes plastic , but is not BYO since they have a full bar.
(4)Heavi K.
Lunch - cool looking but food just OK. Service was good, but not great. Vegetables were not very good. Veal parm had noticeable oily taste and too much breaking. I will give it another month and try again.
(3)Cheryl D.
Went to Ralph's in KOP for birthday dinner. The place was ok, but not great. We got the muscles plentiful, but too spicey and small. The antipasti was very disappointing. The chicken parm was very big and tasty. The pasta dish was very good and included a good amount of crabmeat. I say go, but avoid the appetizers although we did see someone order calamari which looked good if you like that sort of food.
(3)Roberta F.
The food was very good, fresh and everything was seasoned nicely. Our waitress, Laura, was excellent. She was friendly and attentive, explained the menu and gave great service. We will definitely be back.
(4)Peggy S.
Was very disappointed in Ralph's KOP. The veal parm was thin pieces of veal stacked up like lasagna. Have had really good veal in good italian restaurants and this was the worse I have ever had considering it has such a good reputation. Sauce is only mediocre at best. Caesar salad was not crisp and SOAKED in dressing which made it limp. I stayed at the Sheraton and thought it would be nice to eat at Ralphs. There are so many good restaurants in KOP, next time I will know better. Somewhere I read that most of the food in prepared in South Philly and sent to KOP to finish it. I hope that is not true. If you want an expensive dinner in KOP go to many of the other good restaurants.
(2)Frank D.
Not good! I had high hopes too. The place is nice and had a great singer. The service was awful though, stale bread and servers who pay no attention to you. I got penne Ala vodka and it was blahhhh. The chicken it in was boiled and tough. Just very dissatisfied. Wish we went to maggianos in stead.
(2)Lisa M.
The best Mussels Marinara I've ever had. Had 'em for an appetizer, then over pasta for my entree. Wonderful crusty bread. The cannoli cake was great, the chocolate cake was good, but not fabulous. Great attentive service, have to say the decor was a little spartan but it didn't take away from the food.
(5)Tzvetan D.
Hidden inside the lobby of a Sheraton lies a wonderful treat for locals and travelers alike called Ralph's. I started there much like any weary traveler with a dogfish head IPA to restore some sanity into the day. Following that I was pleasantly surprised by the Mussels bathed in a wonderful Marinara sauce. On my second visit I was able to try the Eggplant Parm at the recommendation of one of their start staff members. Not only was it cooked to perfection but paired with the right dry red wine. I can't lie, they know what they are doing here. It seems like this new generation of Ralph's is in it for the long run as well, giving the South Philly joint a run for its money. Though I could barley see my bartender over the counter, they were full of enough passion to keep me coming back for more. After only dining there three times I feel like it is a home away from home through the jokes and good attitude of the staff. A diamond in the rough, thanks again Ralph's.
(5)Chantal G.
Don't know what all the bad reviews are about. Very good food, very good service. Little bit heavy on olive oil with the calamari and chicken with rabe and roasted peppers. PS-parking was ample.
(4)Jeff F.
I've had better food elsewhere, and the service was horrible.. If you get Antony as your waiter, hopefully he will have a better night than when he waited on us.. took about 15 minutes before he actually came to the table.. apps came out in not bad time, but our main course took forever... and really was just ok... I dont think we will be back anytime soon...
(2)Will D.
Ralph's of South Philly is an upscale Italian restaurant. This location is in the new Sheraton hotel in King of Prussia. The food was absolutely wonderful (5 stars, well-earned). Service was reasonably quick and attentive (4.5 stars). Though our waiter became less visible after our food was served, our drinks and bread were frequently replenished. Prices were a bit steep, even given the very above-average quality of food and service (4 stars). This is a nice enough place for a business meal or a romantic dinner.
(4)Hali W.
This place is very good. Not my favorite spot to eat a meatball but their veal is great and the chicken parm is a must try. Good sized portions and friendly staff. Drinks are great. Very nice atmosphere. Don't let the hotel deter you from trying it. It's a nice place to sit and have an after dinner drink.
(4)