Criniti
2611 S Broad St, Philadelphia, PA, 19148
Criniti Menu
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Sandwiches
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Lunch Specials
Healthy Meal suggestions for Criniti
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Sandwiches
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Lunch Specials
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Address :
2611 S Broad St
Philadelphia, PA, 19148 - Phone (215) 465-7750
- Website https://www.crinitirestaurant.com
- Click To Get Directions
Opening Hours
- Tue
Specialities
- Takes Reservations : No
Delivery : No
Take-out : Yes
Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
Accepts Bitcoin : No
Good For : Dinner
Parking : Street
Bike Parking : Yes
Wheelchair Accessible : Yes
Good for Kids : Yes
Good for Groups : Yes
Attire : Casual
Ambience : Casual
Noise Level : Average
Alcohol : Full Bar
Outdoor Seating : No
Wi-Fi : No
Has TV : Yes
Dogs Allowed : No
Waiter Service : Yes
Categories
Italian Cuisine
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.
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Greg S.
I have been here for lunch several times. This is a great place for a large group to do the buffet. If you order instead of the buffet, all bets are off. The service is friendly and attentive. The salad is gross: iceberg, carrots, and onions with some oil. It doesn't taste like much. The Italian food is average. Typical pasta and breaded meats and vegetables. The bread is good.
(2)Charles D.
Very nice place and service and food was better then expected. Wine list is good and location was easy to get to
(4)Chris T.
Recommend the Spaghetti Aglio e Olio.........on the bland side but once you add salt and grated cheese to your liking, phenomenal! And, the spaghetti is always done perfectly al dente. Shrimp Parmiagiana is pretty good........the shrimps are not breaded but a good size.........you can smell the wine in the sauce. Did NOT like the baked ziti......ricotta cheese mixed throughout and it looked like a big old mess.........not tasty either. Did not like their roasted pepper appetizer..........it would be a lot better if it were not SO DARN SALTY!!!!!!!!! Also don't like the fact that this place does not offer any salad dressing............you are stuck with plain old vinegar and olive oil. The bread, however, is FABULOUS!!!!!!!!!!!
(4)Richard D.
Love this place great food and service. Had the lobster ravioli. The atmosphere is cool nice place to bring a date
(4)Marv R.
First off the wait staff are great. Being originslly from south philly reninds of what great south philly restaurants are all about. I have been coming here for 15 years and never had a bad time. The food is consistent old school ltalian. If you love good Italian dont psss this by. If going to a night game at the linc or citizens bank this is the place to go.
(5)Erica C.
Sorry for the delayed warning! I attempted to go to a family dinner here last Saturday and was not really surprised when the service we received prior to even taking our seats was so atrocious I left! I have lived in South Philly for 34 years and have never enjoyed a meal here and now their service is just as bad!!!!
(1)Joe S.
Wonderful menu. Way different dinning area, with the inner church feel. The bread the pasta the veal and the chicken were all wonderful. Not your turn of the mill pasta sauce, stuff was like homemade, thick rich and a great flavor. Can't wait to go back, and eat there again.
(5)Dennis N.
I used to live near Criniti and I have to say, it is an absolute privilege to be so close to such a great establishment. They make the best Alfredo sauce ever. It's a little expensive and they do have weird-ish hours (I mean, am I spoiled to expect a restaurant to be open later since I'm a late eater?) but its really good and it doesn't really matter, I suppose. I went there for a date and it was a pretty good date restaurant.
(4)Chris G.
Criniti's. Is. South Philly Italian. It is regional, but average it is not. It's quintessential. The building is a real church, and you will sort of feel like you're at a pew when you're at the table. But, in a good way. I have eaten two plates of broccoli rabe in one sitting, by myself, in addition to my entrée. It goes without saying that the bread is good. (By "good", I mean good by a Philly standard, which outside of the NYC/Philly metro area translates to "REALLY good!") It would be a miracle to have a place like this below the Mason-Dixon line. This kind of place just does not exist outside of Fil-uffy-uh. Anything on the menu is a safe bet, but you should get something with red (Sunday) gravy. You don't have to be a Delaware Valley paesan to appreciate this well-executed, authentic comfort food. But if you are, Criniti's feels like home. If you're as lucky as I am, you can sit with your whole family and watch the Phils on the one of the many TVs while you wait for your food. Or, get everybody there for an early dinner before you head down the street to the ball park. Plus, when I come here, I get to do one of my most favorite things in the world, something else quintessentially Philly: I park right in the middle of Broad Street.
(5)Beth R.
Exactly what I expected from a south philly italian restaurant - huge portions of delicious classic Italian dishes. I went with the veal parm, which was breaded, covered in a generous layer of mozzarella cheese, and dripping in sauce. They have really reasonably priced wines available by the bottle. The atmosphere is a little lacking I suppose. The building used to be a church, and still looks kind of like it inside. They have TVs going in the dining room. It's somewhere you go for the food, not necessarily a romantic dinner.
(3)Seth P.
Hands down best chicken and veal parm in the city or anywhere! Most everything else is good, Owner Massamo is great; salad is a bit of a let down we know and yeah they should stop charging for refills of Iced Tea! But really the Parm is the best!!! Prove me wrong!
(4)Lori H.
I really dig this spot that is located in what used to be a church. The brocolli rabe with pasta is so amazing that I have ordered it both times I have gone. Writing this review makes me want to visit a third time. Haven't had any desserts.
(4)Christin H.
The bread and the mushrooms were delicious. Unfortunately, that's as far as we got. The host told us that "if we were patient" we would be able to see our waitress and get food in time for the 730 show time we had to make. In 20 mins, the waitress never came once, and the water girl refilled us 3 times. It tools us 15 mins to convince the water girl to just bring us a basket of bread. In order to make our show, we had to walk out. I hope to go back at some point.
(2)L.M. Z.
The mushrooms they bring out with the bread are amazing. We always order a large bowl of them on top of the small plate they give for free. I'm in love. The bread is great too, perfect crust and soft inside.The Caesar salad here is huge and good. Not my favorite but does the job nicely. So other than those mushrooms that I drool about, the gravy here is my favorite in the entire world. (Sorry Dad) I order rigatoni in gravy. They bring out this huge plate and although I shouldn't be able to eat that much, I find a way. My husband enjoys the lentil soup and is a fan of the chicken Parmesan. Service is always great. I wish I knew names but there are 2 waitresses there that remember us whenever we come in and are nice without being over the top. Love this place. Try it out.
(5)Jay P.
I have been here and I like the lunch buffet food is good.
(5)Marissa B.
Went here years ago and remember it being quite good, though, I cannot even begin to recall what I ordered. Would love to come again sometime.
(4)Linda G.
Great food, service & atmosphere! Ate here 11/3/13 and very pleased that our 1st choice was booked. Stopped in about 4pm and lucky we did because it got PACKED. We ordered lasagna (delish and that's coming from someone who does not like meat in their lasagna). Stuffed shells were amazing as was the chicken Marsala and chicken special. Saved room for desert...,cannoli & choc cake which were equally fantastic. The service was great with the exception of waiting just a little for our check. But by that time it was a full house. Super nice staff & owner came around more than once which made us feel like family! Will definitely visit again next time I'm in Philly.
(5)Richard A.
I am a native of South Philly--now..out in California--for a few months-- - I;ve been a diner-at Criniti---Since..Benito--opened up..in 1985--- Really "top of the line" home made.. Italian food (and--as an Italian/American..I know)--luv their ravioli..& great marinara--If you want to try a different sauce--ask Ben,..to prepare a "Putanesca sauce"- Good service..too, with George & Michelle..& Ben stops around to see if all..is..OK-- --Give it a try--I miss eating there--Richard
(5)Becky N.
If there were more stars i'd give em. My favorite restaurant for as long as I can remember. I may live in NY now but i still dream of the honest So Philly goodness that Crinitis offers. This delish family restaurant now in a gorgeous church has a menu rich with Italian classics. They start you off with complimentary marinated mushrooms yum! It may have moved locations but haven't lost the taste. Wish i could order from them now... Best dish: baked rigatoni paired with montepulciano If you are in South Philly its a must!
(5)Eric C.
This place is pretty great. The food isn't the best that South Philly has to offer, but that's not a knock against them. South Philly has some amazing places to eat. I've never had a bad meal from this place, not even a so-so meal. They've all been very good, just not mind blowing. The staff has always been very friendly when I went in, and the prices are pretty damn good. I don't go in very much any more, but only because I found out that they deliver. Yes, you can get a damn good Italian meal, complete with apps, sides and dessert. That alone makes them one of my favorite places.
(4)Carlo D.
Cousin Benny you got the best Italian food around everyone to come and try. Very clean and waitresses are great and friendly. It's byob I should just a nice red wine for dinner.
(5)Matthew F.
recommended by a friend so we went... atmosphere - very nice - used to be an old church service - fast efficient - not too much personality, but she got the job done food - eh... it was okay. nothing too great - I felt it was a bit overpriced for what you got. Not saying the food was bad or anything like that - it was just overpriced. It is BYOB during the week (Which we didnt know) so we purchased one of their bottles of wine - 30 bucks for something that was in the state store for 12. But as a heads up - if you go during the week, bring your own bottle!
(3)Adam C.
My favourite Italian restaurant in S Philly. A beautiful restaurant built out of a church, and outstanding dinners and deserts, with a friendly staff. Very reasonably priced for great authentic Italian food.
(5)Reem K.
I don't really understand why this restaurant has any good reviews. My friends and I were running late on a Friday night and we didn't end up getting to Criniti until around 8ish. Apparently they close at 9 but didn't bother telling us when we walked in. We noticed that we received weird glances when we walked in but didn't think much of it. Our waitress hurried us to order and informed us that they would be closing soon. I'm sorry but I don't like being rushed when I am going out to enjoy a nice meal at a restaurant. Since clearly we didn't know they closed so early and they were rushing, why didn't they bother telling us and we could have found another place to go to? I also noticed that the crowd that was there was much older and my friends and I felt really out of place. I did not enjoy the food at all. The lettuce in my salad was not cut up and the only dressing was oil and vinegar that was on the table. The pasta was bland and had a horrible sauce and their food was mediocre. I was not happy when I left that place and I will not be going back again.
(2)Lynda Z.
Criniti's is a good afternoon lunch spot. I have never had anything other than lunch here, but I've always been satisfied with the food, the service and the prices. I like the sauce, it's not too sweet and the pasta is done correctly, Al Dente. There's usually metered parking available right in front of the place during lunch hours. Make sure you feed the meters cause Parking Authority will get ya if you don't!
(4)Michael N.
Criniti's is a no fuss, no muss Italian restaurant in South Philadelphia that has very good food at a very reasonable price. The staff is always very friendly, considerate, and attentive. Their pasta, lasagna, various parmigianas, and calimari are all quite good and their table bread is excellent. Street parking never seems to be too bad, plus they are located only one block north of the Oregon stop on Broad Street Line. (An added bonus, if you are going to or coming from the stadiums on a spring/summer game day is that Pop's Water Ice is around the corner on Oregon.)
(4)Sam C.
I thought Criniti was just OK. The menu was basic Italian fare that reminded me of Italian restaurants from the 70s. Our waitress was great, the atmosphere was nice, but the food was average. No one at the table was overly impressed, but no one hated their dish either.
(3)S P.
Great value for weekday lunch buffet. Only recommendation is to keep the food warmer and to offer some more desserts. For the price, it is still pretty good.
(4)Steve S.
Place gets packed before events but clears out. Great food, atmosphere and price is very reasonable. The waitress are Philly Italian through and through. Have gone here multiple times and it's a sure bet.
(4)Daniel D.
Started off with low expectations because its hard to find a really amazing itailan place. The service was okay... about a 6 out of 10, the size of the drinks were so small they had to be constantly refilled, and they charge you for each, so be expecting to pay for $7 just for drinks per person (non-alcoholic). The water was rarely refilled, and the waiter was ...okay. The atmosphere was classy-causal, its in an old church so its nice. The bread was good, served with butter still wrapped up and somewhat frozen which is a minus for how expensive the place was. The "complementary" mushrooms were good, however the mushrooms were not fully cleaned, but did taste good. We got broiled calamari as an appetizer and tasted like frozen fish that has been sitting out, fishy flavor galore. The red sauce that came with it was watery with some tomato chunks with some seasonings. Overall, I thought it was horrible. Probably the worst calamari I've ever had. The salads then came out were also horrible. But how do you get a salad wrong? Well easy, by serving bagged croutons, with stalks of lettuce (not cut so you can't fit them in your mouth) and no salad dressing. They tried to be fancy with putting vinegar and oil on the table, but the vinegar jar was leaking all over the place and was probably the cheapest balsamic you can buy in the store. (Once again let me say that I am stating this all based on the price). Very poor salad. Finally the dishes came out. The shrimp francaise was not good. The egg coating was watery and soggy, but the shrimp were cooked perfectly. The seasoning was okay, but the pasta underneath was terrible. The sauce was so watery, it tasted like soupy pasta that was overcooked. Others at the table's dishes were okay, not superb, but nothing to rant about and nothing to go back for. All in all, I would not recommend nor go back. For the price, absolutely not worth it. There are a ton of better itailan places in the immediate area that anyone would be happy to go eat at after eating at this place. Good luck. -Dan
(1)Felicia C.
Delicious! We went to Criniti for my friend's birthday dinner, and we all loved it! The complimentary mushrooms they gave us at the beginning of the meal were amazing. A warning, though--you will want more, and it costs 7 or 8 bucks for another order of mushrooms. Every part of the meal was yummy. I had the chicken parm and it was the best ever! Thin and tender with lots of sauce! We were all very pleased with the experience at Criniti. One more thing: Good luck finding parking around the restaurant! We lucked out and got a spot right across the street, but South Philly parking is not usually that easy!!
(5)Dayna R.
Great place to go if you are craving simple Italian that won't break the bank! Huge portions, you will definitely take home leftovers. Only complaint is that the bread Could be a little softer, but even the bread was good!
(4)Matt G.
A recent trip back to Philly a few weeks ago reminded me how awesome this place is. Located in South Philly, about a mile from the stadium complex, Criniti's has been around for years, although the recently moved into an old church. While the ambiance of the new location isn't the same as the older, much smaller place, the new digs are cleaner, more spacious and better arranged. Ambiance aside, you come here for the food. And all of it is AWESOME! I've never had a bad meal here, but I recommend the baked pastas (cavatelli, lasagna, meat tortellini or raviolli). Great red sauce, good bread and the marinated mushrooms they put at the table seem to disappear in about 5 seconds. For Italian food, the pricing is super reasonable. Three of us got out of there, with a wine purchase, for about $75. Anytime I'm back in Philly it's a must stop and one of the few things I actually miss about living there.
(5)Kiersten P.
Great food, check. Great service, check. Romantic, check. If you want great italian food, attentive service and a romantic setting... go here. The Ravioli was delicious and the meatballs are to die for. IF you like your meatballs juicy and packed with flavor, you must get one. I mean I hate meatballs and I enjoyed every bite. The sauce was delicious. I am not a fan of red sauce and that is because it's hard to fine someone who makes a red sauce like my mom. My mom's is still better but Criniti's does a great job of packing flavor into each bite. I highly recommend this place.
(4)Alexa F.
Amazing! Love the eggplant parm. I think about it all the time. Very friendly waitstaff, down to earth, casual but beautiful. The stained glass in this former church is gorgeous. Cappuccino and dessert are incredible, too.
(5)Ben P.
We've been eating here for a few years now. Criniti is simple Italian favorites done pretty darn well. Casual atmosphere, good food. You know what you're getting every time you walk in. Wine prices are fair. Menu prices are fair. Ample portion sizes, polite service. Great place to watch a Phils game and eat something other than cheesesteaks. Yeah, that's right, they have TVs in the dinning room.
(4)Lauren W.
So you're walking down Broad, minding your own business, and you see a sign for Criniti. You've heard of it before and you think to yourself "Hmm I'm gonna give this place a whirl..." You look around for the door. It's nowhere to be found. Just the entrance to a church next to a bulletin board presumably displaying upcoming parish events. After a few confusing minutes you realize that yes, indeed, the 'church' is actually Criniti. So you venture inside, tell the waitress at the pulpit that you want a table, and you're seated in a sanctuary surrounded by stained glass. This is no ordinary sanctuary though, this is the sanctuary of semolina. The holy house of penne. The sacred grounds of gnocchi. The blessed site of so many spaghetti miracles they've lost count. This is Criniti, the holy father of pasta. Try the Penne alla Vodka, heaven on a plate. God bless Criniti.
(5)Rob R.
Traditional South Philly Italian - the menu was extensive which made it hard to choose among the great dishes, but I went with the veal piccatta which was amazing and came in huge portions. The side of penne and homemade gravy was also extremely good. If you are looking for a great meal and very reasonable prices this is an excellent place.
(4)michelle p.
My friend and I ordered take out from here. I ordered the eggplant parm dinner, which it provides enough food for three nights of dinner. It comes complete with crappy side salad (sorry, I just hate salads that use iceberg), a pasta of your choice with sauce, your main entree in my case, eggplant parm, and garlic bread. The food was pretty damn good. The only complaint I had was from my friend who went to pick it up. She said, it wasn't ready and we definitely waited over the estimated time. It took her a good 15-20 minutes to get back after leaving and she lives less than 5 minutes away. Delivery, unfortunately, would've taken even longer.
(4)Jaime V.
Very Good Restaurant and you can always park your car with no trouble. Food is always consistant and the staff is friendly and attentive. Never had a bad expeirence here.
(4)Jessica N.
Criniti does standard South Philly Italian food well. I would recommend getting dishes with their homemade pasta over anything else. This is a great place to bring a large group if you make reservations ahead of time. This would also be a good place to bring kids - I think I remember that they have a children's menu which may help if you have a fussy eater on your hands. They run out of cannoli fairly early in the evening, so don't get your hopes set on them.
(3)Uter g.
I remember going here at its old location with great memories of their seafood and pasta. So my boyfriend decided to go the other night since it has moved about two stores down on S. Broad. The quality of the food has declinded considerably. I got a chicken meal and my boyfriend got some veal. Both were very bland. The asparagus that accompanied my dish was steamed to an extreme, leaving nothing but limp mushy strings of green. Pros: When we sat down, we were served some delicious bruschetta and mushrooms on toast. Also the waitresses working there are fun, sassy, older dolled up "chicks."
(2)Vincent F.
This is a capable traditional South Philly Italian eatery. All the usual staples are there, pasta, veal, fish, etc. We liked the mussels in red sauce quite a bit, the Rigatoni Mama Mia was very good as well. The food wasn't exceptional but it was quite acceptable.. This is your traditional Checkered tablecloth Italian place without the tablecloths.
(3)