Great wine bar! I went on my first date with my current girlfriend here. It was quite nice. It was a Friday night so it was actually not very crowded at all. Service was very good but there were very few of us at the bar so I guess we couldn't really be overseen. The wine list was actually pretty good. Having been to all the wine meccas of the world the selection was pretty good. A very nice selection for the red or white wine lover. Great place for a fist date too! Bottom line; Great place to take a date. Great selection and its quite enough to have a good conversation.
(4)
Chihee K.
Despite the fact the crowd seemed to be on the older side, I enjoyed this place because we tried so many flights. Panorama is the only restaurant where I've seen and tried flights in Philly. The two of us tried 17 different kinds of wine - 5 from the pinot flight, 5 from the latin loves flight (malbecs, cabs, merlot), 5 from the california cabs flight, and 2 ports to go along with our dessert. We ordered a meat plate as well, but I honestly don't remember how it tasted because I was so enamored by all the reds we were trying. Oh, and be sure to sit in the bar part of the restaurant versus the restaurant part - it's just a lot more casual and less stuffy.
(4)
Daniel M.
My wife and I were in town for the US Open, and a local friend highly recommended Panorama, especially since we were staying at Penn's View Hotel. We started off with a cheese plate, which was fantastic. The food was amazing, but I was most impressed with the depth of wines. We each had a flight of wine (she had a California cab flight, I had an Italian red flight). The atmosphere was quiet and romantic. The wait staff was extremely attentive and didn't seem to mind that we were not in a hurry (we were there for 2 - 2 1/2 hours). The dessert was sinful - something chocolate ordered by my wife. During our dinner, the manager came over to check on us several times, which was a nice touch. Panorama is definitely a must stop for foodies and wine-o's while in Philly.
(5)
Bryan R.
Lovely atmosphere. Love the wine flights. Paired with the cheese plate, a perfect start. My entree was good, but did not blow me away. It was a great dining experience though. Recommended.
(4)
Raafia M.
I was really excited about this place, especially since they are featured in the Guinness book of world records. We ordered the wine flights, which was the ONLY interesting thing about our dinner. We really don't have much knowledge about wine but liked that options that were presented. You can pick from white, red or a mix of red/white wines. However the food was terrible. We ordered the light fried calamari- which were heavily breaded and fried, it didn't taste any different from other places. Nothing special. The mussels were disgusting. They were very fishy and not fresh at all. Our main courses were also not very good either. The pasta didn't taste like it was made fresh. And the duck was not well cooked and had a raw duck smell/taste. Overall, I don't recommend this restaurant for a meal. Don't waste your money on food here. There are many other restaurants in old city where you can get a delicious meal for a reasonable price.
(2)
Duchess T.
The evening started off well with a very yummy moscato sangria that i've since tried to imitate at home on numerous occasions (and with rave reviews)... The beet salad was also beautiful and hit the spot... so, where did the stars go down to 2? well, it's from the disappointment of the inability of the chef to cook raw pasta. The ravioli that we got as an appetizer was mushy and that was a preview of what was to come with the pasta. The pasta was stuck together and clumpy and was like eating a big mush. I gave the extra star for the drink and the beet salad. It's really too bad because the place had good service and the ambience was comfortable. It's really a shame that the chef doesn't know how to prepare pasta...
(2)
Micah P.
The wine bar is amazing! As soon as you walk into the bar, you are "wowed" by the vast collection and selection of wines.. and to top it off, turns out they have the Guinness World Record for the largest Winekeeper! Anyway, I ended up here because I had a Living Social deal to the Penn's View Hotel and it came with a complimentary wine and cheese flight for two. My bf and I had Flight #601 of wines and the flight of 4 Italian Cheeses. My favorite wine from flight #601 was the Moscato "Piemonte" Linda Donna. I've had so many Moscatos, but this Moscato really stood out. It had a lot of "legs" and the taste was rich.. 100x better than Barefoot brand! I could probably drink that wine all day. Then the cheese platter.. although it took a while to come out (got the plate when we were on our last glass of wine), the platter was amazing! It came laid out beautifully and it had fruits, nuts, and honey to compliment the cheeses. I definitely recommend paying a visit to the wine bar if you are a wine lover or if you would like to taste different kinds in one visit.
(5)
Maggie R.
Food and service was AWESOME! Our group was down for a conference and looked this place up because one of our members was gluten free and everyone loved it.
(5)
Kalesy M.
My partner and I went to Ristorante Panorama for our anniversary dinner. He is a winemaker, so expectations were already rather high. Our server was very knowledgeable and accomodating. There was a special risotto for the meal, but she cautioned us that it took some time to prepare. So we ordered our salad course first and the timing wound up being perfect. The wine - I'm not so much a connoiseur, but my flight was quite enjoyable. My partner, however, was astounded by the wines in his selection. Very impressive. The risotto was indeed amazing and worth the wait. Creamy with the nice, sharp bit of asparagus. A perfect early spring dish. For dinner, I got a pasta sampler dish. While each sample was delicious, I was tortured to realize I could have had an entire portion of the ravioli. Little pillows of heaven indeed! (In case you haven't figured it out - ORDER THE RAVIOLI!) By the end of the meal, we were completely content and satisfied with fine wine, amazing food, impeccable service and a beautiful setting. Highly recommend.
(5)
Marcello D.
As far as I'm concerned, Panorama is the best Italian restaurant in Philadelphia. It has, however, lost the top overall spot to Amada. Panorama's best dish is their Pappardell con Salsa di Anitra -- and they are so confident in it that they put the recipe on their website. The food at some other Italian restaurants in the city (L'Angolo, Le Virtu, Osteria) may rival the menu here but what puts Panorama over the top is the wine list and flight options. I love sampling new wines and the wide selection here makes for a new experience with each visit.
(5)
Elianny S.
I went here for my friends rehearsal dinner and the place itself seemed nice. The rehearsal dinner was held in the wine cellar so we had the place to ourselves which was nice. The setting and the servers were good but when it came down to the most important aspect of a the meal which is the actual food this place fell flat. I had a chicken meal that was just meh. It came with some pasta that was quite bland and I also tasted my boyfriend's veal and it was just ok. The desserts were also pretty bland and didn't leave me wanting more. I'm not sure if eating at the regular restaurant upstairs would be any different since I'm sure the food all comes from the same kitchen. I had high expectations for this place after reading the reviews and was left very disappointed.
(2)
Erica M.
I have eager to try Panorama since I missed the Yelp Elite Event and when we were invited to dinner there, we were thrilled to go. Our dining partners know the owners, so we arrived to prosecco, calamari, and salmon toasts. The prosecco was delicious, but the appetizers were truly lacking. The toasts in the salmon dish tasted like cardboard and the calamari had little flavor. The sommelier chose a fantastic wine for us (he is excellent!) and I also tried a wine flight (I liked all but the first and last wines). We then had salads...the Caesar, the only one I tried, was delicious. For entrees, I got the tagliatelli con funghi, another person got the salmon special, and another got a chicken dish. Apparently I ordered wrong because the chicken and salmon were delicious, but my pasta dish was truly disappointing. It lacked all flavor, I had to add salt, and there were 2 tiny lumps of crab on top. For dessert, we had the cheesecake special and pear stuffed with mascarpone. Again, I made a poor ordering decision because my cheesecake was overcooked. The pear, on the other hand, was DELICIOUS. The espresso was also delicious as well. So basically, my overall take on the restaurant is that it entirely depends on what you order (my bf's meal was a solid 4.5 stars). Some things were great, others were awful. The service was very good though.
My date & I came upon Panorama one Saturday night after the wait at our favorite restaurant was too long. It was rather late, about 8:30, so the place was not very crowded. I liked the atmosphere and temperature (there's nothing worse than eating dinner in a hot restaurant!). I must say that the hostess and our waiter were a bit odd....just kind of robotic. My date ordered a red wine flight, which was really cool (5, 2 oz glasses of different red wines). I got the Italian white sangria, delish. We started off with a pasta appetizer and the caesar salad (yum...and I am picky about my caesar salad!); the pasta was super fresh. For entrees, I got the seared scallops and shrimp in a corn sauce. It was AMAZING. So, so delicious. The only downside was that it was, honest to God, the size of an appetizer dish!! There were 2 shrimp and two scallops. I would, however, go back for this dish again. Like, tomorrow. I'd just order a huge appetizer. My date got the chicken dish that is a lot like chicken francese, but not quite. It had shallots and prosciutto...he loved it. Oh, and the little breadstick nuggets that they give you are delish. Yummy. Enjoy : )
(4)
Kelly K.
Here's my pick as one of the most romantic little date-night drop-in spots going. After a play at the Arden or a movie at the Ritz, wander in here and cozy up in Il Bar for some wine and cheese. They have more than 100 types of wine available by the glass and a wine menu that goes on and on with choices of two sizes of wines (a small tasting size or full glass). Plus there's the fun of ordering from their list of flights to play winetasting together. Too much to choose from? Chat with Bill, the sommelier, for some personalized guidance. As for the restaurant, it's some of Philly's best Italian and the service is good. They even pull of a brilliant meal during restaurant week: It's a great one to hit then because they offer almost the entire menu to choose from instead of 2-3 selected options. Don't miss their risotto special of the day when it's not restaurant week.
(5)
Luna J.
Love this place!!! amazing wines... the best gnocchi ever!!! Great Service! Not much to write just highly recommended!!!
(5)
Benoit L.
We were attracted by the 150+ wines by the glass perspective and were happy to go for an italian meal. I can't say I was impressed on either count. Food was well executed but somewhat bland, my risotto was cooked right but lacked flavor. Quite standard italian fare I would say. Cheese plate was good, though. On the wine front, well, it sounded interesting but it was a huge disappointment for me. No clear direction in the selection, way too many low-end choices, not much originality offered. A ridiculously short selection of italians with 2 Barolos and no Amarones. At least 3 of the 5 "north italian flight" were sub-par. The dessert wines selection was also very short. Unfortunately, this was my third ranking meal in Philly that weekend.
(3)
Sean R.
Five of us went to Ristorante Panorama for a friend's birthday last night. Upon entering the restaurant via a small hotel lobby, you notice two seating sections both of about equal size. The area directly ahead is a bit stuffy, and was very quite, to the right was a bar area that was a little more dimly lit, and was a little more lively atmosphere, thankfully this is where we were seated. After being seated, it took a few mins for our server to come to our table, but we were given a free round of prosecco for my friends birthday which I was surprised by. After looking at the drink menu we decided to go with different wine flights. While these seem like a great idea, each flight is only about a glass and a half of wine total, so if you plan on drinking more than that, just split a bottle (wine flights are all around $20). It happened to be restaurant week and to my liking they did not have a special menu with pre fixe items; they had an app, entree, and dessert from the regular menu for $35 special which was pretty decent. Everyone enjoyed their apps, with the lobster tortellini and the escargot being a bit disappointing, and the pasta sampler being the best, the gnocchi and ravioli on it were awesome. The entrees were all good also, I was hoping they had sea bass on the menu after reading other Yelp reviews, but that wasn't the case. The star of the entrees was the Vitello Mandolese, but let be serious, you can't go wrong with veal, prosciutto, buffalo mozzarella and truffle sauce. I was happy to see tiramisu on the dessert menu, and it is one of the best tiramisu that I have ever had. The lady fingers were saturated in coffee, which was perfect after just drinking an espresso. The other desserts were nothing to write home about. Towards the end of the meal, everyone was very happy, and the discussions were all along the lines of "we should take your mom here for dinner next time she visits". If you are looking for a nice meal, that is a bit on the fancy side, Ristorante Panorama would be a great choice.
(4)
Veruca S.
MAGNIFICENT wine bar! Ok...if you are wine enthusiast.. OR visiting Philly, this is the place to go! Not only do they have an amazing wine bar, and incredible Italian restaurant attached, it has a beautifully restored historic inn right above it. Everything is walking distance too! So if you're experiencing some Pinot Envy...or you want to Catch A Cab(ernet)... Go to Ristorante Panorama! I loooove this place.
(4)
Sara B.
Family Style menu. Wine selection was Five Star. Food was great. Menu was small - but very specialized. Boyfriend had veil and said it was phenomenal. Food service was a bit slow - and that's the reason we docked a star. Would recommend and return.
(4)
Carrie E.
How could I not have reviewed this place already? It's one of the best places in Philly for a great glass of wine, simply because you can try out basically anything you want. And their flights? Sooooo fine. You can take a grape-y trip around the world without even leaving your seat. The food and service are also excellent, but I always get made fun of when we go because I always order the same thing. Hey, I'm a girl who knows what she likes, and this girl likes her some lobster ravioli. And wine. Lots and lots of sweet, sweet wine.
(4)
Rodrigo M.
I stayed at the Inn that's on top of the restaurant the night before because I was in town for a concert at Camden Yards. The following day me and my girlfriend decided to have lunch in Panorama before heading back to DC. A little background info on me. I am a quarter italian and just spent about 3 weeks in Venezia, Firenze and Milano, as well as some smaller towns like Bassano del Grappa and Canneto Pavese. I have to say that my meal at Panorama was nothing short of Italian perfection. They got everything right, the Bruschettas were fresh, the cheese board was orgasmic and the food, well, just like the food I had in Italy. My only regret is that I live too far from philly to become a regular. I will definitely go back and highly recommend it. Note, we did not have any wine so I can't comment on that, but the food, service and ambiance was fantastic.
(5)
A S.
I actually joined Yelp to share my experience because I didn't want anyone to spend money to be disappointed like I was. I had heard great things about Panorama so I made reservations for Valentines Day a month in advance. When my boyfriend and I arrived we were seated at a table for 2, where a chair is on one side and a bench is on the other. I took the bench side not realizing I was sitting in a large crack between two cushions and any attempt to move ot one side or another put me uncomfortable close to someone else. But the larger problem- its a big day and a big night for a restaurant. I expected to be somewhat rushed out- and made plans to meet up with friends after accordingly. Big Mistake. I will keep this short- our server was slow, unhelpful, and almost downright rude. I asked for advice on the 150 wines by the glass (please recommend a cab) and he said "all the wine is good" My boyfriend asked what the difference between half and full plate was, trying to get a general idea which one I should get and the server says "i dont know the ounces. full plate is bigger" (Gee thanks) I ordered gnocchi which was heavy, and flavorless. My boyfriend ordered tortellini with peas because I wanted to try it. Instead he was given lobster ravioli (I am allergic to seafood) and as no one came over to check on us after our food was delivered, and we were hungry, he ate half. He couldnt even finish it because he said it was awful, and tasted like bad crab meat. We both left more than half our food untouched, and when we finally alerted the server, he came back and offered us the pasta orginally ordered, or dessert. We declined both, and asked for the check. 40 minutes later and after asking 2 more times we finally got it- with the lobster ravioloi on it even though it was much more expensive than what my boyfriend ordered. We just paid it- we had been there for so long we just wanted to leave. The manager did inquire when we were leaving as to how things were and I told him. His response? Here is my card, come back and I will take care of you. No thank you. why would I come spend MORE money here when everything was awful.
(1)
Krista C.
Absolutely amazing! Went to dinner for my bday here on the recommendation of a friend and couldn't have had a better meal! I will definitely be going back! Gnocchi was delish, wine flights are awesome, and portions were good.
(5)
Kimba Z.
Ohhhh, wine flights with 5 tastes, most very reasonably priced and creatively selected, make me very happy. We were in a talking mood after the Michael Moore film and ordered the Southern Stars flights of reds, all from the Southern hemisphere. We ended up getting both Australians as full glasses. It's romantic and cozy red in here with dark wood. Vegans, beware, nothing on the menu for you, but the manager came up with sauteed mushrooms and a beet salad without the cheese; $10 each for these plus bread was enough of a snack for us. I only ever go to the bar and am very well pleased. I am curious about the rooms though in this vintage hotel which has enough of a sense of humor to upholster its chairs with a fabric picturing... chairs. Their cruvinet must have hundreds of bottles in it, wow. When I am rich... wait, I never have a problem polishing off a bottle, with the crowd I travel with. :-) And I will never be rich anyway.
(3)
Jerrica J.
Ristorante Panorama, you made me very happy with your Friday Night Flights wine tasting event! "Pinot Envy" was the name of the event. Samples of 7 different kinds of Pinot Noir.After the wine tasting selection, it made me love red wine even more. Pinot Noir happens to be my favorite red wine. The one I enjoyed the most out of the sommelier's selection was Bourgone "Hautes Cotes De Beaune" - Domaine Cornu-Camus 2008 (France) I need to find a place that has it for sale in NYC! At the tasting, they also offered some food. The fruit and cheese plates were good, and I loved the simple fried calamari rings with marinara sauce. Can't wait to come back for a visit again soon!
(5)
Stephen T.
I dinned here with a friend based on his recommendation. I don't think either of us were extremely impressed. I'm certainly not a knowledgeable wine drinker but I do enjoy drinking the grape. Of the flights that we tried, the sparkling was the best. I usually prefer red but the two flights were only OK. As for the food; my entre was good but I probably would not return again. Do yourself a favor and try out another bite when in Philadelphia.
(3)
Marc P.
I was very disappointed with cold and chewy calamari and a tasteless entree. We were a party of 6. The service was excellent, but the food needs to be tasted before served
(1)
Bev K.
We along with 4 other parties of 4 with 7pm reservations were not seated until 8pm. And not until we voiced our lack of appreciation did anyone apologize for the delay. Appetizers were absolutely amazing, the maitre'd was the only customer service in the place, server was mediocre at best, food clearly sat under the warming lights for too long and to top it all off our server offered the desert menu then took 10 minutes to bring them too us. Bottom line.... Skip it. Had a conservation with another patron who has been 3 times and keeps thinking he must be missing something or he just came on a really busy night. He suggested we not try again that it will be exactly the same. Ps - don't be fooled by the name.... There is no panoramic view ;)
(1)
Rich B.
Very good
(5)
Tom G.
Ok, so those of you who know me know that I am an absolute wine geek...so coming to Panorama, with their 120-glass list, was a dream come true. Well, it should have been. The wines by the flight are really nice. I did the big and bold flight that had 5 glasses (1.5 oz pours) of mostly expensive italian wines (barolo, brunello, amarone, a priorat and a cabernet). I think it was $55. Not bad and the wines were each really nice. That's pretty much where the greatness stopped. We also had a bottle of 1996 Pio Cesare barolo (~$70 retail if you can find it...$175 on the list). That was a decent bottle at an outrageous mark up. The food...left much to be desired. The meats were all overcooked. The sides were uninspired and the pastas we tried were average (to slightly above average compared to other Italian places in the city). I'd go back for wine but not food.
(3)
Steph E.
I chose this place because I was going there with my parents, and I tend to avoid noisy, hip places when I'm with grown ups. Ristorante Panorama had what I was looking for, which was a comfortable, cozy setting and an old-school vibe. The food was strong, and the wait staff was almost impeccable. You can tell that the manager runs a tight ship. They had a great variety of dishes and specials that were classic yet interesting. Every table was full, but it didn't have a rushed or noisy atmosphere. It's not the hippest place in the world, but that's actually exactly what I out to find.
(4)
Rob R.
Enjoyed this place during Restaurant Week last year. A very nice place to take a date. The wine selection was vast and tastefully presented. This place is a sort of "historical" location so it draws in an older crowd, but the atmosphere remains youthful. If you're in your mid-20s, this would be an ideal location for a double date with parents or bosses. It reminds me of a "Main Line"-type restaurant, but is tucked into a nice Old City location. Highly recommended to try at least once.
(4)
Melissa V.
This bill was $300 for four people. Which wouldn't be so bad...had it been worth the price. The wine flights were good and had an interesting presentation. The lobster ravioli's and the egglant appetizers were bland. The beet salad was also bland. I ordered the parpadelle with duck - and it was like salty meat on noodles. The noodles were good...but, it wasn't worth the price. My husband ordered the filet it was bland. My mother in law ordered the fish special, branzio, and it was pretty good. We ordered cheesecake and it was boring. I just don't get the good reviews about this place - based on food. The service was impeccable. The environment was nice. There are just too many other great italian restaurants in Philly, to return here.
(2)
Diana Z.
Limited menu, but that's to be expected from a wino's paradise. Amazing wine flights (ex: Latin Loves) and crazy # bottles on reserve. Very cool atmosphere (hand painted murals across the walls). Service was so-so and made me pay 2x bc he left off a dessert wine. Not cool. Still, great wine selection. Really top notch.
(3)
Steph M.
After much talk about Panorama, I finally got to experience it last night. My girlfriend is something of an oenophile, so she mainly told me all about the wine selection and presentation. I think it's important to say right up front that while Panorama may be a wine bar, the food here is outstanding as well. Since I'm a white wine girl lately (especially in the summer heat), I ordered a white flight, the Blendalicious. I was delighted to see the iron tree that held the five wine glasses--much cooler than a tray. I liked being able to try a selection of wines that I probably wouldn't normally order, and I found that two of the five were definitely worth a second try. Foodwise, we started with the orechiette with shrimp and calamari, which was quite tasty and cooked perfectly al dente. For the main course, I ordered the Chilean sea bass. I love sea bass, and I've eaten a lot of it in my life. Poached and then sauteed with a slightly garlicky butter sauce, this one was among the best. Dessert was poached pear with mascarpone and hazelnuts, paired with a glass of zingy moscato. It was all divine. I'm torn between wanting to go back for more of the same and wanting to try the other eight or so dishes on the menu that looked mouth-wateringly good (not to mention more wine). I should also give a shout out to our waiter, Sean, who put up with my smart-ass remarks all night (I was in one of those silly moods), gamely discussed nicknames for absinthe (but failed to settle a bet we had going on the subject) and debated the relevance of Miss Manners in modern society. My girlfriend thinks he should've talked about the wine more, but I think that's probably my fault for distracting him.
(5)
Stephanie S.
Very fancy, and they have a lot of staff running around. Despite that, our service was a bit slow for a Sunday night. Anyway, we went for restaurant week. I had the mushroom appetizer...delicious. I also had the gnocchi...it didn't have much flavor. The gnocchi at La Locanda Del Ghiottone was much better. Then I had these cheese puffs for desert, which was good, but not nearly as amazing as my bf's hazelnut gelato. OooOoOOo I had a wine flight as well. It's 5 small servings of wine stacked on a metal spiral. That was pretty neat. They have a lot to choose from. The decor was very traditional, which is a nice change from the usual modern look of all the other Center City restaurants. In summary, it is very nice, but I'd rather enjoy a slightly more relaxed atmosphere. I would definitely take my parents here though.
(4)
Lauren E.
Took the advice of Yelp reviewers and decided to try Panorama when I was in Philly for a night. I was impressed by the warm decor and the knowledgable staff. My boyfriend and I decided on two different red wine flights of wine for approximately $20 each, comparable if we were to buy a whole bottle and more enjoyable. The food was tasty, I enjoyed my lobster ravioli though the sauce was a bit weak. The caesar salad was nice as was the chocolate ganache cake special we split. My boyfriend had a seafood pasta for an appetizer which was very large for one person, but well done, and a veal entree which he also enjoyed. If I'm ever back in Philly I'll make sure to come back for some more great wine and food!
(4)
Heather L M.
Wow, Yelpers did not steer me wrong with Ristorante Panorama. This restaurant is A-M-A-Z-I-N-G. Five stars from me, but I am only giving it 4 (really 4.5) because others in my group weren't so in love. You can't go wrong with any of the pasta dishes. The pasta is fresh, and oh so good. The duck ragout was so flavorful as was the lobster ravioli. One member of my group had the Chilean Sea Bass that came over a bed of escarole with a puttanesca sauce and she proclaimed it the "best she has ever had." Folks, this means a lot. She is the ultra critic when it comes to restaurants. She loved it so much, she proceeded to finish the sauce after the fish was gone! The one downside for the food seemed to be the meat. One person in my party had the rack of lamb which he said wasn't the best cut of meat and it was cooked more than his requested medium rare. Another person had the veal chop, which he said was good but could have been seasoned better. Fortunately both of the meat eaters had pasta as an appetizer. Cannolis for dessert were good as was the expresso. The service was top notch all around, and the space itself is really nice. Be sure to check out the wine cellar when you visit the bathrooms downstairs. This looks like a great spot to have a private dinner or party. I will be back!
(4)
Dean M.
WOW WOW WOW!!!! This place is fantastic and I would highly recommend. Everything was home made and so fresh and delicious. The gnocchi is amazing along with Lobster Tortellini and the tirimisu and chocolate desert is just awesome! I don't think you could go wrong with anything here it's just the gnocchi was so light and fluffy and so, so good.
(5)
Felicia D.
Can't weigh in on the food at Panorama, but wino that I am, you know I can flap my lips about the wine list. Panorama is one of the few places in the city with an enourmous cruvinet system. This is basically a case with dozens of open wine bottles with little tubes running out of their necks that connect to a tap. The whole case is injected with inert gas (usually nitrogen) which keeps oxygen off the wine and prevents nasty oxidation. The upshot of the cruvinet is Panorama can offer literally hundreds of wines by the glass, and you get to taste things you couldn't afford to buy a bottle of normally. After much debating and reading the extensive wine list, the bartender offered us tastes a few things we were interested in. My friend got two different Amarones, and selected a flight of Bordeaux for me. I believe this was $32, and was five glasses of the different regions and various crus of the Bordeaux appelation. Each glass in the flight looked like it was between 2 and 3 ounces. I was very satisfied with the selection and it helped me clarify which wines appealed to me and others, not so much. The room was also very beautiful, with rich colors, a huge mural on the back wall, and heavy wooden furniture. Looked like a good place to take a date.
(4)
Valerie S.
Some friends and I went to this place before heading to dinner at Amado nearby. We had read about how they had a wide variety of wines and wine flights. While the experience was fun, I don't think I picked a good wine flight that suited my tastes. I like white wine, but the majority of my wines were Chardonnay based which I don't really love. I had ordered the wine flight that had a lot of wines that were hybrids of multiple wines together which seemed interesting to me. I thought this place was cool though.. nice but casual depending on the occasion, family dinner, dinner with friends, date, etc. I would probably go back because of the wine flights but probably select a wine that is more suitable to my taste.
(3)
Michael E.
Love them for restaurant week. It leaves more room in my budget for the wine. I am a big fan of the big and bold flight, which comes in around $55. You can't go wrong with any of the fresh pastas. My favorite is the triangolini (I know that's not spelled right, but is the small triangle ones.) Its one of the few times that the pasta out shined the other ingredients in the dish.
(4)
Christina H.
My husband and I make it a point to go here for dinner for EVERY restaurant week. Their entire menu is open, instead of a prix fixe menu like most other restaurants. Service is excellent, from the maitre'd to the bartenders. They offer wine flights (5 different wines) and they're pretty well priced. It's a great way to taste other wine with a similar theme. The food is excellent; the escargot and duck ragu are my favorites. Luca usually offers us his homemade limoncello to end the night, but usually by then, I'm stumbling home after all the wine I just drank!
(5)
Steve G.
Had a nice romantic dinner with my date here. Staff and service was nice and responsive. They even made sure that a special flower delivery that I ordered from another vendor was strategically placed in time for our table. Wine selection is excellent, and I recommend doing the wine flights where you get 5 small glasses of wine, so that you can sample a few during your dinner. The food was well presented but honestly not the greatest. We ordered fried calamari as an appetizer, but to me, it was a bit too chewy and rubbery in texture. My fried veal covered in arugula was nice at first, but it had a hint of old, over-used frying oil in the bread crumb batter coating. Strike three for me was the espresso, which tasted like it might have been boiled instead of pressed thru a machine. Perhaps they used old/bad beans? I'd still take my lovely date back here though, but probably just for drinks and some other appetizers. Upscale, romantic atmosphere in both the restaurant and the wine bar. Not noisy either.... cheers!
Food was fantastic and the service was great. The servers really knew their food/wine menu and our drinks were always full. It really has a great ambiance for bringing a date to and it has a very extensive wine selection. I don't think there is a required dress code, however most of the patrons in the restaurant were dressed nicely (ie. ties, coats, and collared shirts). As more of a beer guy, the only drawback of this place was that it did not have that many beers, however the ones they had were good.
(4)
J B.
Cool Wine Flights - Decent Food Friday night I spent the evening at Panorama enjoying the bar, the wine & the food. My friend and I chose to go early & spend some time sampling wine at the bar. We were able to find two seats at the bar together around 7PM, although it filled up rapidly & was soon standing room only. After taking our time perusing the lengthy wine menu, we selected two flights to share. Having the largest wine selection by the glass made for a very interesting read & tough decision. Luckily our bartenders checked in twice, but didn't make us feel rushed at all. They were busy the whole night, but never left us wanting for anything, including water. We opted for a flight of sparkling wine &the Southern Stars red wine flight. The sparkling flight was my favorite part of the evening. We got to taste 5 varieties from sweet to dry. I loved the different tastes as well as the different feel of the bubbles in your mouth depending what you were drinking. My favorite was the Brut Cordon Rouge Mumm from France. The reds were a bit more eclectic. We both enjoyed the Pinot Noir Curico Valley Aresti from Chile the best. Most of the rest were a disappointment. We had two wines that were absolutely terrible in this flight. One was the Malbec, which tasted like vinegar, & although I can't recall the name of the next one in line, it was the most memorable of the evening. It tasted & smelled like nail polish remover. It was so bad I wouldn't drink any more after the 3rd taste. I learned that this taste is often is formed when wine spoiled with acetic acid reacts with the wine's ethyl alcohol & forms ethyl acetate. This is not a tasty effect! After a couple hours of leisurely wine tasting & discussion, we were seated in the bar area for dinner. The ambiance is exactly what I like in a restaurant, except it was a little loud. The seats were close together, but it wasn't so tight that I felt uncomfortable & I didn't feel as though I was eating with the table next to me, which is good. I loved the dim lighting, the lighting fixtures & the plush, velvety booths. Service was prompt & efficient & didn't hover. Our water was always refreshed, as was our bread & pesto type dipping oil. We were given two types of bread, which were both delicious. The roll was crisp outside and warm & soft inside. The other type of "bread" was more like an oyster cracker with herbs. It was dry & crumbly, but had a great flavor. For appetizers we tried the antipasto & the baby artichokes in olive oil & puff pastry. Both were delicious. The saltiness & flavor of the artichokes made this something I will definitely crave from time to time. The pastry was a little mushy due to the abundance of olive oil, but I didn't really mind. This was certainly an interesting combination that I'd order again. The antipasto was a decent size for sharing & was very good. For the meal we had the lamb & the tagliatelle with mushrooms & lump crab meat. The lamb was weird because one double chop was moist, tender and quite perfect, the next was still good, but a little tougher and the third was so tough I actually got indents in my fingers from pressing so hard to cut it! The fingerling potatoes were well seasoned & the green beans were perfectly al dente The pasta was fresh & good. It wasn't the best pasta I've ever had, but it was solid & I'd try another pasta dish there in the future. It was light on flavor and crab meat & heavy on olive oil and mushrooms. I did not taste any of the cheese it was supposed to come with. Also, the portion was filling enough for me, having had such large appetizers, but it was by no means the size I anticipated it being. I can't imagine how small the appetizer portion of this pasta would be! Dessert was ricotta cheese cake & tiramisu. The cheesecake tasted light and fresh, but I prefer my cheesecakes to be a little heavier & richer. The tiramisu looked very strange, almost like two hot dogs or sausages, but luckily, it was cake, not meat. It was not adorned with anything - not even a coco or cinnamon sprinkle. The cake was actually a little mushy and soaked in a bit too much espresso. There was not enough cream, cinnamon or coco flavor for my taste. I would not order either dessert again. The evening was entertaining & filled with new delicious treats. The ambiance was exactly what I like in the bar area (not the dining area), even with the strange artwork, which seemed, oddly, almost comical. The sparkling wine flight was a fun treat & the food was decent, but certainly not the best I've had. I would go to Panorama again, but probably stick to the wine flights & then head to Kabul or Amada. Although the ambiance is much cooler, as is the wine selection, for the best Italian, I'd still go to Il Tartufo in Manayunk.
(4)
Art S.
Panorama isn't just one of my favorite Italian restaurants in Philly, it's one of my favorite Italian restaurants, period. When you consider everything that this place has going for it (location, food, service, wine selection, decor), this place has it all. If I do have a slight criticism, it would be that the prices are a bit high, but, you know what? It doesn't bother me one bit here. I think that it's one of those rare times when everything tends to be so good that it's worth what you pay. The only reason I think we all wish that the prices were cheaper is so we could eat here all the time! Anyway, the food is absolutely phenom. The pappardelle served with a ragout of slow-cooked duck is FREAKING SICK. Yeah, I used ALL CAPS for that one. It's that god damned delicious. Honestly, I'd describe more food, but I've never had anything I didn't like here. I just wanted to make sure you knew about that duck pasta. A quick note about service before I get to the wine... I think the service here is great. It's the perfect balance of attentiveness without being obtrusive, professionalism without sacrificing one's personality, and a high level of knowledge without coming across as being elitist. That's a tricky trifecta to pull off... As for wine, well, this place is awesome. They serve these awesome flights, where you can get some crazy delicious wines. It's really the best way to go if you can't decide on one wine. Otherwise, I can't even begin to do their selection justice. You need to just go and check it out for yourself.
(5)
John D.
Will never go there again! I made a reservation via opentable for 8:30, due to snow plowing of practically every street in center city and being detoured we knew we would arrive at the restaurant a little late so called them to let them know we were going to run about 15 minutes behind. When we arrived and checked in with the host she told us she would come and get us when our table was ready, FORTY FIVE minutes later she arrived to pick us up and seat us in the basement. Once we sat down we waited another 15 minutes (while other tables were waited on around us) until our waitress came over to get our drink order. The only thing we ordered was a flight 405 no other drinks so not hard to remember yet she came back asking whether we said 403 or 405. An understandable mistake but one that leads to another problem down the line. After getting our drinks we wait another 20 minutes for our waitress to take our order. From the time we get our food order in it takes about another 2 hours for us to get all of our courses served to us and service is inexcusably slow for basic things like refilling our water (since we have nothing to eat it'd be nice to get more water sooner then every 30 minutes). After everything is said and done we get the bill from another waitress as im spinning my wallet around (its now midnight and we need to leave) and I don't even look at the bill so eager to leave I put my credit card in it and hand it right back not wanting to wait another 30 minutes for someone to come around. When I finally do get the bill back I realize that was a mistake and that the waitress had charged us for both the 403 and 405 flights, we have it corrected and leave. I will never go here again, the food was "O-K" at best (though the desert admittedly was amazing) but certainly not worth the pricetag, don't get me wrong I feel there are several expensive restaurants that are worth it whether it be the service you are paying for or the food. This place had the high price and neither of those things going for it. Stay away!
(1)
Steven S.
My wife and I frequented this lovely, quiet place with the best pasta in the city early in our marriage (so many years ago) and always enjoyed our experience. Then, like many others, we started paying more attention to the names like Starr and Vetri and lost track of this place. Our 16th anniversary afforded us the opportunity of coming back home to Panorama and we sure are glad we did. What a perfect combination of professional yet friendly service, remarkably good food, and a peaceful, romantic setting that's just a little off the beaten path. What a gem this place is. Do yourself a favor and take a break from the big-name, high-budget, high-brow food and treat yourself to a night of just simply great food in a wonderful environment.
(5)
Nuala M.
Stopped in to this establishment for drinks and snacks with another couple one evening. We had a wonderful time! The wine flights were of particular interest and the delightful snacks were wonderful. The cheese plate was a perfect snack to go along with our individual flights. Our server was helpful, knowledgeable and made GREAT recommendations! Loved it!!!! Can't wait to go back again and recommend it to many folks!
(5)
Mare M.
While the food is just above average italian cuisine, the wine list & wine flights make it worth the trip !
(4)
mary-margaret s.
Was booked at the inn that shares the same space (Penn's View Hotel). Decided to try the restaurant based on reviews. Was NOT disappointed! The eggplant app was to die for. Flavors, textures, presentation all above board. Availability of wine flights/choices is seldom seen elsewhere. Knowledgeable. Staff was solicitous without being annoying. Dinner relaxed/not rushed. Good desert choices and a very good latte to end the meal. I'll definitely return with hubby. Can't imagine anyone being disappointed; even the jaded foodie.
(4)
P L.
Food is excellent and the wine bar is amazing
(4)
Winston C.
Loud, cramped and food is average at best.
(2)
Lindsay T.
Frank Z. sounds like he knows what he's talking about! When we first arrived I was skeptical. We parked in the parking lot right next to the building (if you're driving down market, it is on your left at the corner of front) and there was a sign for the restaurant in neon lights - it just looked shady. But when we got to the front of the hotel, it was quite charming - classic Philadelphia/Old City type look. There is a coat check inside at Il Bar (sic?); we were promptly seated thereafter. Note: We did have reservations - I believe it's a must. The menu is a little overwhelming, as is the wine list. But, they do a nice job categorizing the wines by the regions which they are from. We got a nice Sauvignon Blanc from the Monterey region of California - for my year and a half in Ca. I haven't tried any wines from that area; it was fruity, aromatic and tasty. We ordered a salad and one pasta dish in appetizer size for us all to share. All the pasta come in appetizer and full portion sizes. If you're watching your weight, obviously the appetizer size is the healthy portion and the full size is too much food (just a note :) ) I had the chilean sea bass, but their specialty is really veal which 3 of us at the table ordered. My friend had this three-way pasta dish with gnocchi, ravioli and pasta in red sauce. Of the three, the gnocchi was the best, and the ravioli in spinach sauce was tasteless. Overall, we had a really great time and really enjoyed the food.
(5)
Mary G.
food was great. Wine was great. Meagan was.a doll.....hostess was a bitch
(3)
Kristin D.
I had high hopes for this restaurant after reading the reviews, but my entire group had okay-nothing special food. For appetizer we had the fried calamari which was nothing to write home about. I ordered a trio of pastas for entree, the special of the night , including gnocchi, penne marinara & ravioli w/ spinach sauce. The entree was pricey & bland especially the penne & ravioli. I do give the gnocchi a thumbs up, it was actually really good gnocchi. If you go to this restuarant - Order the Gnocchi- I wish I had ordered that by itself. My husband had the chilean sea bass. It didn't have much flavor and pretty much tasted like nothing. The wine selection was good as well as the service, but for me to pay the prices, the food has to be there, and it wasn't.
(3)
Kim C.
Four stars all around. I love the flights of wine, appetizers, service, and desserts. If they packaged and sold their pear vinaigrette, I would be very, very happy. The entrees have been a little salty in the few times that I've visited, but this ristorante excels in veal and chicken dishes. Good, hearty fare that comes in decent-sized portions.
(4)
Shirlana D.
This restaurant was romantic. I enjoyed the calming ambiance. I visited this restaurant for restaurant week and was thoroughly satisfied. The appetizers were served in abundance and the entrees were large in nature. The pasta was served perfectly (was actually asked if we preferred it el dente). The veal was tender and moist. The sauce that the food was served with was full of fresh herbs and spices. The dessert was great and had me thinking I could lick my plate. I enjoyed the environment, food and flavors and will definitely return here in the future. If you are looking for that quaint place to spend time with the one you love, away from the beaten path and crowds, then give Panorama a try.
(4)
Amy K.
This place is fantastic! If you enjoy wine and good food you will feel the same. They have an impressive wine selection and have so many wine flights. We also ordered the Italian flight of cheese which was great and had this truffle honey that was to die for! Gnocchi was one of the best i've ever had - very pillowy. Definitely going back!
(5)
Thutrang L.
Tried out this place for Restaurant Week and the menu was set up in a way where you were able to order directly from their main menu, but was limited to ordering an app, entree and desert. So that was good. I went with 3 other friends, so we were able to try almost everything haha. The restaurant is about a block or so away from Franklin Foundation and it's in a hotel so you can't really miss it. Parking is not so bad around this area. The decor and atmosphere is great, not too dark and not too loud. The wine bar was the main feature of the entire place, in my opinion. The waitress was really hospitable. For the first course we ordered the Gamberetti & Fagioli, Insalata di Stagione, Funghi Selvatici, and the Insalata di Stagione. I enjoyed my Insalata di Salmone, the salmon was great and the greens were nicely dressed. Although the Gamberetti & Fagioli was probably the best first course. The shrimp were perfectly cooked, the cannellini beans were delish! For the second course, we ordered Filetto di Manzo, Capesante all'Arancia, Agnello con salsa verde, petto d'anatra con more. The scallops were cooked perfectly and the flavor was on point! Although some of the sweet potato and cauliflower was over cooked, the dish over all was great. My least favorite dish was the lamb, but I'm just not a fan of lamb anyway. For dessert, the highlight was the poached pear. A slightly sweet dessert with mascarpone. This place is famous for their wine flights so we ordered that and throughly enjoyed being able to try a variety of wines. Although it was restaurant week, there wasn't much diners on a Sunday evening. I would definitely recommend this place!
(4)
Kevin R.
I can't believe I haven't been here before now. The wife and I had reservations but opted to sit at the bar (where the action is). The bartender was very friendly and knowledgeable explain in the wine flights and answering our questions. My flight was wonderful and had generous pours of all the wines. We started off with the best burrata appetizer we've ever had. Flavorful lightly grilled tomatoes with the cheese on top along with arugula on the side topped with a drizzle of balsamic. I know that I thoroughly enjoyed the rest of the meal but can't quite remember what I had. The flight and the couple of martini's I had earlier had done their job. I'll return but won't imbibe beforehand.
(5)
Ashley B.
We had our rehearsal dinner here for our wedding! We had 50 people for dinner and everyone enjoyed their food! Food, wine and service were great! I would definitely recommend panorama and we will be back soon!!
(5)
Sonia S.
Nicky P and I came here for a belated Valentine's Day dinner. The food was very average and bland. But their wine selection is quite impressive. They hold the Guiness Book record for being the largest wine keeper in the world. They have over 100 wines on tap (I didn't even know wines could be on tap)! We started off with a wine flight between the 2 of us, which included 5 different wines. Our waiter was very knowledgeable and recommended a selection from the pages and pages of wine flights based on our not so picky preferences of "not too sweet, not too dry". I don't remember which combination we chose, but we both enjoyed the experience of trying different wines. As for food, the only thing I would recommend is the melanzane appetizer. The waiter mentioned it was the chef's specialty. It is breaded eggplant topped with fresh mozzarella and tomato sauce baked to perfection. I got the trio pasta special as an entree - rigatoni with tomato sauce, spinach gnocchi in a cream sauce, and ravioli. I wasn't particularly enthusiastic about any of them, but the gnocchi was the best of the 3. We got the tiramisu, but it was nothing to rave about (then again, nothing compares to the tiramisu at La Viola). The waiter in training recommended an ice wine with dessert. I had never tried ice wine before, but it was a sweet ending to the night! I would not recommend this place for dinner, but it is a unique place to go for the wine selection. I am no connoisseur, but I definitely enjoyed sharing different wines with Nicky P!
(3)
Shaina F.
This is my oldest favorite place to eat in Philadelphia and my go-to for a special dinner when guests come into town to visit me! We are never disappointed - the food and wine are outstanding (over 120 rotating wines on tap...need I say more?) and the ambiance in the bar room or downstairs is just too cool - old school Italian. My personal favorites are the fried calamari, which they nearly always have on special, the antipasto misto, funghi, and insalata di Caesar for starters. Plus the addicting little bread nuggets on your table as a starter! For my main course, I almost always opt for the gnocchi con provola affumicata - they are just so perfectly executed that I can't seem to get past them to try many more things, but I'm always tasting what everyone else gets too. The Trenette di Spinaci is spinach pasta with sausage and grated parm, also a good choice. I've tried the pesto over gnocchi as well and it's to die for. Their specials are also great and we've ordered lobster ravioli and many other dishes from there, I have not once been disappointed with any aspect of my meal. Now...onto the wines, the part of the meal that hits it out of the park! They have over 100 wines on tap, which are circulating seasonally so there is always a crazy huge selection! Personally, I like to go big or go home, so I choose from one of their wine flights (5 glasses, with a dozen options!). The wait staff is so incredibly knowledgable they will make sure you find one you love, and you can try it for free! This place is perfection in my mind, and in over a dozen visits I have not had anything but a stellar, incredibly classy dinner here. Mmmmm
(5)
Thomas W.
I always tell all of my friends that if they like Wine (and especially if they love it), they must visit Ristorante Panorama while in Philadelphia. The location is really pretty and the actual bar itself is beautiful. Their wine flights are so extensive and poured in such a cool fashion and at a very reasonable price -- especially during happy hour. Panorama also does a lot of fun events every month for different types of wine and food. From the few times I've actually had food here, the food quality is good, though nothing too surprising compared to the many, many other Italian places in Philadelphia. If you're looking for solid Italian food with great, great wine, it is definitely in a class of its own.
(5)
Carlene A.
Very disappointing. We have been coming here for over 10 years and our experience today was a huge let down. I would tell you about the food only I have no idea because I did not receive mine and the bartender did not seem to care. The wine is great but what happened to an educated bartender at a wine bar. The new condensed menu is a beg disappiobtmebt as well. We struggled to find selections that we never received anyway. Again excellent in the past but terrible today. We will not return.
(1)
Jacqueline L.
I am giving Panorama 4 stars because of the service, the ambiance, and of course, the wine flights(!!!!). All of those aspects made dinner at Panorama for restaurant week a great experience for a group of 4 of us. The place has an older vibe to it, with Italian murals all over the walls, but this restaurant has been here a long time, as part of the Penn View Hotel, and there is a reason it has done so well and stuck around. The fact that there are countless wine taps along the bar are reason enough to come give this spot a try! I liked that they didn't change the menu for restaurant week, so I knew what they offered all the time. I went with a beet salad for an app., scallops for an entree, and cream puffs for dessert. Everything was good, but nothing mind blowing. I would recommend this place to anyone, but again, for the first three reasons I mentioned, not so much for the food itself. It's enjoyable, but I think there are a lot of way better Italian restaurants in the city to get some truly superb Italian cuisine.
(4)
Emily S.
This place was a nice little hidden gem. What brought me in was the wine flights but what won me over was the gnocchi. We started with the smoked salmon salad over arugula. Simple but tasty. The bread came out with a bowl of freshly made pesto to dip into. I had the veal stuffed with mushrooms and prosciutto - amazing. It came with green beans and mashed potatoes. We also split a half gnocchi and I will never eat gnocchi again unless it is from this place. It was like a pillowy treat covered in red sauce. My mouth is watering just thinking about it. Enough about gnocchi, back to the wine. The flights totaled about a glass and a half of wine. They have literally pages of different variations of 5 different wines to choose from. I chose #801 and it was a mix of different reds. I would definitely go back. They also have a wine cellar downstairs with space for private parties.
(5)
Marcus K.
Its true, they have an unmatched wine by the glass selection. And they do a great job at selecting flights of five wines to try. The first thing you notice when you go up to the bar is a thick manual on wines. The manual lists countless of possible wines and possible flights. Of course you can make up your own flight but I decided to go with one of theirs. After about 20 minutes of serious study, and a glass of wine, I finally made a selection. The wines came out and were lined up in front of me. About 1.5 oz each sample and the flights cost about $20-30. There were some pricier ones as well. Ill save those for next time. It was a great combination so someone definitely did a good hob on their homework. While sipping away, I tried a couple appetizers (escargots, beet salad) and a desert (pear). Everything was in the damn thats good! to amazing! range. I wonder if they ever do wine/food pairings? Lets see, what else would you want to know. Happy hour is 5-7. When I arrived at the end of happy hour, the place was pretty quiet and empty. By 7:30 it filled up with several groups of tasters, dinner goers, and who knows what. It looked like everyone was having a great time. So, if you are into wine, this is a must go. If you are not but like good food, this is a must go. Guess what, that means you must go! Have fun.
(5)
Andi S.
I enjoyed the orecchiette with shrimp and the aperol cocktail, both were good. Service was excellent, ambiance also very nice and I really like the wall mural, excellent art.
(4)
Dave W.
Ristorante Panorama is a little bit of a throwback - the ambiance is wonderful and you do not feel rushed to start, or complete your meal. The waitstaff is well trained and are quite familiar with the menu. We started our meal with a wonderful antipasto platter which easily served the four of us - very nice presentation. The ladies brought their wine flights from the bar (they have a system that provides 150 different wines by the glass) while Charlie and I sampled their selection of Craft beers on tap. Entrees consisted of: Gnocchi con Provola Affumicata homemade pillows of potato and ricotta gnocchi with fresh basil and fresh & smoked mozzarella in a light San Marzano tomato sauce Vitello Mandolese thinly pounded veal medallions stuffed with prosciutto and fresh mozzarella in a sauce of porcini mushrooms Orecchiette housemade pasta (two). We finished off this perfect meal by sharing two orders of excellent cheesecake.
(4)
Angela T.
I went to Panorama last night for a pre-birthday celebration with friends for the first time. I read the reviews from Drink Philly and wanted to try out the restaurant. I want to say that the food and the wine was great. I love the idea of wine on tap. Yes we sat at the bar and the service from the bartender (male) made the experience horrible. The bartender was not friendly, not social or not attentive to my group (6 people). He did suggest the bottle of French wine and beer but very condescending. I recommend some sensitivity training to customers who are new to the restaurant. This person is not a good fit for the ambiance of the restaurant. I would come back but not at the bar and it will be a while.
(2)
Elyse K.
This review breaks my heart. I have loved this place for many years now. It was one of my go to city restaurants. They're homemade pasta was amazing. They have changed their menu in the recent months and I am so sad about this. How is there no Caesar salad. Is it not an Italian restaurant anymore? Am I missing something? They also took away several pastas. One of which was the reason I come back. RIP lobster ravioli. :( We went this past weekend. I was fine with giving this new shortened menu a try. The food is still good. The service however is horrendous. Granted we were bit loud. drinking flights of wine will do that to you. They should expect this. Our server was so miserable. And the bus boy pretty sure was stoned off his ass. So with food being just meh and and service being the worst. The only think left is wine. I'll stick to the liquor store. Sad to not want to go back to a place I use to love.
(2)
Matthew L.
My girlfriend and I recently went to Philadelphia for a 4-day sight-seeing trip. We stayed at the Penn's View Inn, so naturally we were curious about their on-site restaurant. After we checked in on a Friday evening, we wanted to see if we could eat at Panorama. We didn't have a recommendation or anything, but they were easily able to accommodate us. They had delicious pasta dishes and a wine list that would make your eyes explode. I work for a craft brewery part-time, so I'm well aware of 'beer flights', but I've never heard of wine flights. I ordered the 'White Wines for the Beer Lovers' flight and my girlfriend had the 'Sticky Sweet Sensations' flight. We were very happy with our choices. I also couldn't believe how many wines that they had on tap. I've only seen wines on tap at one other place, and they only had three wines. Panorama must have had at least 120 wines on tap. I can't tell you how many times I've been to a hotel where the on-site restaurant was expensive and the food wasn't even great. Panorama's prices were decent and the quality was excellent. I had heard stories about people who just go to the Penn's Inn so they can eat at Panorama, and now I know why. In all, we were very happy with our visit here. If you love good wine, then you definitely have to make a stop.
(4)
Daniel M.
Had high hopes but was not impressed. Under-poured my $28 wine flight, chicken was like rubber, duck was like rubber. Eggplant was good but not good enough to outshine the terrible main dishes and the sea of elderly people (8:30 on Friday, they should have been asleep). This place is not for anyone who lives in Philly and has enjoyed any of the great restaurants that Philly has to offer.
(2)
Abhishek Y.
Delightful Ambiance w/ Okay Food This was the location of my Valentines Day dinner with my special someone at the time. Overall, it probably wasn't worth the 80 bucks that we spent for the 2 apps, 2 entrees, and 2 desserts, which is really unfortunate, because this is the kind of place that you really want to like. The nice and cozy feel inside is matched by the warmth of the service, and the different servers are certainly knowledgable about their menu. As a few others have remarked, the gnocchi is phenomenal, but I was relatively underwhelmed by the other 5 things that we ordered, which was a real let down. That being said, it could have just been the rush for the holiday or else an off-night, so it's not a write-off just yet.
(3)
L S.
I thoroughly enjoyed my time here for Happy Hour. I tried a flight of white wine ( #402) and the Melanzane & Mozzerella. That eggplant dish was AMAZING I ordered another one after I finished my first lol. My Fiance (yup! eek) ordered the Gamberetti & Fagioli and he loved it. I don't eat shrimp, so I tasted everything in the dish except for the shrimp and it was SO good SO flavorful. I will be going back!
(4)
Kristina C.
120 wines on their cruvinet system...wines on tap are never wrong Wine flights to try ones you might not otherwise ever try Amazing service and Cool atmosphere Should make a reservation if going on the weekend - Calamari with orange WOW! - Gluten free pasta with pesto (can use GF noodles with other dishes as well) - Flourless cake thick like fudge and totally amazing - Gnocchi from what I hear was the best they have ever had - 1/2 orders are available and if you get appetizers it is a perfect amount - The "special plates" that the server tells you about seem to be a little smaller in portion I found out about this place because I went to a Yelp Elite event here and I can tell you that I was not disappointed when I went back. This is officially one of my favorite restaurants in the city, what a hidden gem!
(5)
Angela C.
If I had intended on doing more of a wine tasting visit to Ristorante Panorama, this may be a 4. There's a very extensive list of wines and I enjoyed my Sangiovese. My sister in law and I ate here (had baby and stroller in tow) for dinner on a week night. Be warned there is no ramp if you need one! The restaurant itself is in a really cool hotel/historic building. It's very cozy and romantic. Food is okay. If the price point was a little lower, I might be more impressed, but for the price- Shrug. They also have a gluten free pasta, but only one option, with a few possible sauce substitutions, and my sister in law felt it was just okay. Staff was nice and helpful with getting the stroller in and out. I'd say, maybe not the best bang for your buck in terms of Italian, but would be a great spot for friends and wine.
(3)
Christopher S.
Panorama is one of my favorite restaurants in Philly... had a lovely Valentine's Day dinner there with my wife and the service was top notch. They had the preset menu of 1 app, 1 entree and 1 dessert for $40, a great value.I love it when you need something from your waiter, you look at him across the room to get his attention, and he is so vigilant that he sees you and immediately comes over... that is priceless! Best dish there in my opinion is the poached pear dessert. In fact, it is one of my favorite dishes of all time. Also, any of their house made pastas are sure to please. So simple and elegant. I would highly recommend Panorama.
(4)
Mel D.
An oldie but a goodie in Old City. I used to take clients to lunch there in the mid-90s before Old City was worth visiting. Anywho ... Panorama is still a quality place. Just celebrated our wedding anniversary there and was glad to see they're still top notch. Pros- quality food, creative menu, knowledgeable/professional staff, not overtly focused on turning tables. I'm not a wine drinker, but clearly they're selection is best in town. Cons- can't really think of any ... except do they really need to charge for an iced tea refill?
(4)
M B.
If you like wine bars - this is your spot. I'm not a wine guy, but Italian food is most certainly up my alley. This one is alright. One of our party ordered the duck pasta dish; I should have just order a triple order of that - top notch. The beat salad was not what I expected; but ended up being one of my favorite parts of the meal. It's a cube of beats - and I dig my beats. I had the trio pasta as an entree, it was ok. Nothing particularly special. Their gnocchi was rather good, but the other two pastas didn't add anything. This time we were able to get a table (despite our reservation last time). However unlike our last experience it was almost empty. That said, don't expect a quick dining experience. Eating here is a leisurely exercise.
(3)
Matt D.
We've been to Panorama three times, and I don't hesitate to hit them with five stars. Funny thing is each experience was completely different, but all very good ones. The Yelp event here last year was phenomenal, and shame on me for not putting up a review after it. They held nothing back, and the food and wine were incredible. Our second visit was stellar again, but relatively uneventful. It always seems to be a great place to go on First Friday when you don't want to deal with big crowds. I think this place deals with two types of patrons: locals who want great wine and upscale Italian food and guests of the Inn who have no idea what to expect. The third time was a charm, and I want to start by saying the barkeep who just passed his sommelier's test was probably the best I've ever encountered. He was friendly, knew how to keep his distance, made perfect recommendations when asked, and turned a 20 minute drink stop into an hour and a half wine tasting mission. There's a trick to discounting to encourage more purchases, and this guy was a master. If you go, ask him to make you his Italian egg cream creation that is not on the menu...wow! Also, the stuffed pastas are not to be missed, and you will not find better half priced wine and appetizers at any happy hour in the city.
(5)
Anita S.
The ambiance of this place is really neat with their exposed brick walls and dim lighting. The concept is cool, too - I'm not too well versed in wine and this bar makes trying different kinds very approachable and accessible. The staff is knowledgeable and patient in guiding newbs, like myself, towards delicious wine options. The food here was a bit underwhelming, as other people have mentioned, considering the price point. We enjoyed our grilled calamari, mussels and entrees were not particularly memorable, and we enjoyed a trio of ice creams from Franklin Fountain as well. Would definitely come back for the bar.
(4)
Kristen C.
My family and I visited the day after Thanksgiving. We easily got reservations and honestly could have just walked in with no reservations. There were only about 4 other tables filled. The first thing I noticed was the wine bar. This place is a must for any and all wine lovers. Our group ranged in age from 14 to 68. Two ordered the filet mignon. They were both cooked to perfection. The other three of our group selected the special for that night that included gnocchi, ravioli and one other type of pasta. This dish was offered as a whole or half. Everyone ordered half and it was just enough if you were planning on dessert, which you should. We each ordered a different dessert. The tiramisu was wonderful as were the pear and the apple desserts. Service was great and I would go again the next time I'm in town.
(4)
Sean G.
Amazing service and wine flight selections. I will definitely be back for food at which I can hopefully give it a 5 star rating
(4)
Kiki V.
I want to love this place so badly. The wine selection is amazing and where else can you get wine flights!?! I've visited Panorama quite a number of times with highly varying experiences. I brought my uncle, a huge wine aficionado, and he was highly impressed. We all left thinking we'd found a new Philly favorite. However, i've returned on other occasions and found the staff rude and unwelcoming. In fact, the last time my boyfriend and I tried to pop in for a glass of wine we were asked to leave because they wanted to close - it was before 9PM on a Friday.
(2)
William M.
Great wine selection and wine flights. Nice selection of specials and food was delicious. Made to feel welcome and service was good. Will be back!
(4)
Valerie F.
Came here for the valentines day special at the penn view hotel, got a room, 3-course dinner, bottle of champagne and chocolate-covered strawberries for $200 which was a great deal! I thought the good was delicious: had the escargot as an appetizer, lobster ravioli entree and the red velvet cheesecake for dessert. I highly recommend the lobster ravioli. Overall the service was excellent and efficient, the food was delicious and the prices were reasonable. Would definately come back here!
(5)
Luigi C.
Cute restaurant, nice ambiance, great service...too bad the only thing i really cared of, food, was mediocre. The vitello secondo piatto was poor. Pasta was al dente, but cocked without salt . Wine tested more like vinaigrette than wine. Overall, a great disappointment....too bad because the place is super cute. Also, don't expect to drop less than $100 a head.
(2)
Liz F.
Post raving about an awesome yelp event here, my boyfriend took me here for my birthday dinner- which was nothing short of awesome. The inside of this place is gorgeous. Exposed stone, nice art, low lighting, etc. The food was phenomenal- we shared a meat and cheese plate app, got the gnocchi (every other gnocchi you ever have will pale in comparison), boyfriend got a pork dish with broccoli rabe (the name escapes me), and had tiramisu that was really decadent. I was stuck on wine which was all on point- dining partner also ordered a cocktail that was very strong but good. The only thing that made it broke this 5 star experience was the service. It was SO slow! Don't get me wrong, I thoroughly enjoyed having a long & lovely birthday dinner, but if I came here on any old Friday and was in the restaurant for nearly 3 hours (yes, this is real) and not expecting to allot that much time, I'd be upset. Also, parking around the area can be brutal. Just pay for a garage or take the train if it's an option.
(4)
Justin B.
2 words: wine flights. 3 Words I try to pronounce like an Italian: Tortelloni di Ricotta e Aragosta I love where the restaraunt is situated, the ambience, the wine selection, and the culinary expertise is unbelievable.
(5)
Jen C.
Last night, a group of friends and I dined at Panorama - there were 18 people in our party, and as you can tell from my rating our experience was less than stellar. Let me preface this by saying that all of us have worked or currently work in the hospitality industry, so we understand the demands a large party can place on a restaurant. We arrived in a few different groups and were mingling at the bar, when the hostess asked us if we would like to be seated. We noted that our whole party had not yet arrived, but she said that was fine and led us to a long table in the central dining area. Our server greeted both ends of the table and told us about the specials, and then took our drink order. Approximately 10-15 minutes later, he arrived back and began taking dinner orders, despite the fact that our drinks had not yet arrived. Several members of the party inquired about the status, and we were told that they would arrive shortly. Bread began arriving after the order was taken, but still no drinks. At this point, approximately 30 minutes had passed. One of our friends went up to speak to the manager about the delay, and was told that we are a large party so it takes time. She noted that we would have been fine waiting at the bar and drinking if they were not ready for us, but instead we were rushed to our table. I should note that during the interim, one friend actually went to the bar, ordered and returned with drinks before ours arrived. When the drinks finally did come, my husband's Manhattan did not arrive, and was told by the server that it would be right over because "it wasn't ready yet" - after 40 minutes, this was laughable. This set the tone for an experience that was just disappointing all around. The food was good but not great - when dinners began arriving, instead of having multiple people serve so that we all got our dinners mostly at once, they were delivered in a staggered manner that had the people who got their entrees first waiting for about 10 minutes to eat until the later people were served. A filet mignon had to be sent back to the kitchen for being undercooked, and didn't arrive back until the rest of us had finished eating, so this person ended up eating alone. I do not blame the server for any of our problems - although he did seem to be lacking a sense of urgency, 18 people is too much for one person to wait on properly. Management should have stepped in to help, especially after we spoke to them about our experience early on. Not once did anyone follow up or check on our meals throughout. Overall, we still managed to have fun because of the group we were with - we do not get to see each other as often as we used to, since many of us are parents now and nights out are few and far between. But I'm sorry that we wasted our meal out on this restaurant - we will not be back, and will be sharing our experience with friends and the restaurant directly.
(1)
Tommy J.
We visited here for restaurant week and were pleasantly surprised the full menu was part of the deal. Lovely ambiance and very attentive service complimented the tasty entrees. The Vitello Mandolese was very tender and delicious. The Capesante featured 4 large scallops and were equally tasty. Unique to this restaurant are the wine flights allowing you to taste five small glasses of wine. Lots of fun for wine drinkers! For dessert the Cornetto di Ricotta was wonderful.
(4)
Kevin C.
Excellent dinner with excellent service. My wife and I go out to dinner frequently, so our expectations are quite high- panorama met all our expectations and then some.Friendly attentive servers, a killer wine list and excellent food- can't ask for much more. (Except the small Italian wine crackers they give you when you first sit down...I could and should have asked for more of those). Put this on your list!
(5)
Jennifer M.
My good friends know that I am a "wine geek." So, when I heard that a restaurant just around the corner from where I lived had the world's largest continuous cruvinet system in the world, you know I had to check it out. What is a cruvinet? Well, dear beloved Philly beer drinkers, it is like having over 300 beers on tap, only instead of beer, it is open bottles of wine where the air does not touch the wine and thus turn it to vinegar. You get a glass of wine in it's optimal condition, just as God intended. Their wine selection spans the globe taking you on a viticultural tour one perfect glass at a time. If this were not enough to keep this wine curious fan enthralled, Panorama also offers flights (of 5 different glasses of wine) to train one's palate. Although, I believe the best deal here is their "Friday Night Flights." If you sign up online (see the restaurant's website) and purchase ahead of time, for $25 you get to taste 5-7 wines with a selection of appetizers to compliment the wines being featured. Unlike Panorama's standard flights which are only 1 oz. pours, in my experience these glasses can be more like a 3 oz. pour or more, so you are really getting your money's worth in just the wine, while gaining a nice education. With this much alcohol flowing, taking notes is highly suggested. Last night, my boyfriend surprised me by suggesting instead of the happy hour we initially planned to partake in, that we go ahead and stay for dinner. We shared a full order of their Tagliatelle con Funghi e Granchio (Tagliatelle noodles with wild mushrooms and crab). It was a delicious dish. Note though on portions: The full order is not a huge American sized dish of pasta, but a much more managable size. If your intent is to order the Secondi of meat or fish, order the half order so as to have room for dessert. If you have a healthy appetite the full order and the Secondi is perfect. Since both of us had a couple of appetizers and bread, splitting the full size pasta was a bit on the skimpy side for me. (I guess I have a heartier appetite). The food, the wines, the knowledgeable staff and servers make this restaurant this secret gem you think twice about telling your friends for fear that it'll be ruined somehow. Still, if you are like me and often find yourself swilling less than stellar wine in this beer centric town, head to Panorama and rejoice with your fellow wine lovers.
(4)
Victoria C.
The service was decent, but the FOOD WAS HEAVENLY. Veal? Good. Duck? Good. Jumbo Shrimp? They were jumbo.. and grilled perfectly. I would come here again.
(4)
Gerard V.
Wonderful food and fabulous wines Sommelier Bill is very helpful Moscato pears with hazelnut muscarpone is my favorite dessert of all time!!!
(5)
Jennifer S.
Despite our reservation and several open tables, we waited an additional 30 minutes after arriving. The service was average, food was uninspired and average at best. Atmosphere was nothing special. Overall, we were disappointed and won't return.
(2)
Laurie J.
Went here for dinner tonight and it was phenomenal. To open, our waitress, Julie, was very attentive and awesome. I told her the type of wine I was looking for and she read the menu, consulted with the bartender, then offered me a free taste of their suggestion before committing us to a bottle. (Note, I've been here before and typically get one of their wine flights. The wine flights are five pre-chosen selections of 1.5 ounce glasses of wine. They have a large selection so there is a "flight" for everyone. Great value and a great way to sample their extensive wine list.) Our waitress also provided insights on each question we asked about the menu, making suggestions and giving great descriptions for those of us who were torn between food options. I went with the Bietola con Crema di Ricotta for my salad, which is a beet salad. It was delicious. For my entree, I went with the Petto d'Anatra con Ciliegie (duck), which was also great - perfect temperature and taste. For dessert, I had a trio of ice creams - maple walnut, strawberry and caramel - all simply delightful. Their menu is great - I need to go back again and again to try all the options. Julie was very attentive, even though she was waiting on another large table. A word of advice, go here if you are okay with a leisurely dinner. This isn't the place to go if you're looking for a quick meal.
(5)
Kevin H.
Had a great experience here this weekend. A very classy and elegent joint, perfect for a date night. We went for restaurant week and they offered everything from their standard menu. Our waiter was perfect...very nice, polite, knew all of the wines/dishes. The food was on par. I had a nice cut of steak and she was happy with her veal and pasta. One thing worth noting is that they were able to accommodate my girlfriend's gluten-free diet. Just about everything on the menu can be made gluten-free. That might not mean much for most, but it's a pretty big deal for the gluten intolerant.
(4)
Mini P.
Took my husband here for his birthday during restaurant week. It was a lovely experience. The dinning area in the wine bar was cozy and romantic. For my first course I had the gnocchi and it was everything gnocchi should be. 2nd course was pork tenderloin in an amazing sauce! It was one of the best I have tasted. 3rd course was a ricotta cheesecake. It was so so. We also had a flight of wine and it was nice to sample and pair different wines with our meal. All in all it was an excellent dinning experience and I would defiantly be going back.
(4)
andrew t.
We were staying in the hotel and went for happy hour. The service was great, but the food was over priced (even with happy hour deal) for what you get. We just had a couple drinks, couple apps and moved along.
(2)
Mattie C.
Boyfriend and I decided to go here as a "romantic date night" one time when we were in Philadelphia. The place was incredible. Delicious food/seafood, and best of all - WINE FLIGHTS! They have a bunch of different options, and we did an "around the world" flight. It was really interesting and very delcious. The ambiance here was very romantic and classy. It is also in a historic section of town, and it was pleasant walking back to our hotel through the old historic alleyways. It was expensive, though. And there are so many good restaurants in Philadelphia, who knows if I will come back or not, but this restaurant gets a huge A++ and will certainly be remembered!
(5)
Allison B.
Ristorante Panorama impressed me when they hosted a Yelp Elite event in the fall. The food was excellent (even though it was a buffet, the food was perfectly done) and the wine selection was impressive to say the least. I was also really pleased that the bartenders can help you choose a wine based on the flavors you generally enjoy. That event was certainly a five and enticed me enough to warrant a return visit. We stopped most recently when making our way to Penn's Landing for the New Year's Eve fireworks. That visit was honestly more of a three-star experience (so you average the two and you get the four that I've rated it here). We just kind of snuck into a small space at the end of the bar. It was late, so there was no seating. We were generally reserved/courteous as a group and were dressed nicely, but perhaps because we're younger the service we received at the bar that night was not as friendly and helpful as it had been at the Elite event. We asked for mid-priced wines -- a dry white and a three dry reds, and the bartender seemed annoyed with that request. The wine she ultimately brought fit the bill nicely and was enjoyed by all, but I would have preferred to feel a little more welcomed and appreciated as a customer. I'm going to chalk it up to New Year's Eve being an overly busy and annoying night. I would like to go back for a full meal one night in the future, and I will certainly update my review at that time. Overall, I think this is a great place to try and based on the rave reviews of others, I wouldn't have any qualms about going back.
(4)
Holly T.
Ristorante Panorama has been the site of some very special dinners in my life, and continues to be one of our favorite places for a romantic date or simply a delicious meal. First off, we love the wine bar. It's fantastic to be able to try high-end wines by the glass that one could normally only order by the bottle, thanks to their 120 bottle cruvinet and its frequently rotating selections. It makes springing for that Amarone all the more accessible. I also quite enjoy their wide variety of flights, made all the more tempting by their happy hour discounts. Second, I have found all of their food to be wonderful, from antipasti to primi to secondi, but their homemade pastas stand out in particular. I haven't had any food here that wasn't delicious. On our last visit, I had zucchini flowers filled with ricotta, mascarpone and fresh mozzarella, followed by Pappardelle in a slow-cooked ragout of duck. Even though it was over a week ago, I'm still thinking about it. The service has been top notch, both in the dining area and at the bar. The last time I was sitting at the bar, I listened as the bartender displayed a remarkable amount of patience and knowledge as she explained wines to a group of young girls who didn't know what to order. They're on Open Table, so reservations are a snap. My only bit of advice would be to avoid coming during Restaurant Week. We came for dinner once, not knowing it was restaurant week, and it really didn't do the place credit, as the selections were limited and the place was just too busy for us to get the quality of service we've gotten otherwise. It makes me a little sad that more people in Philly don't know about this place, despite the fact that it's been here over 20 years. At the same time, I don't mind having a few Philly secrets of my own.
(5)
Sharandy O.
I went here with some friends for restaurant week and It was amazing! As you may know, restaurant week gives you 3 courses for $35. For the first course here, you have a choice of an appetizer, a salad or half of a full sized pasta dish. I chose the appetizer with the artichoke... I loved it! For my main entree, I had the pork chop with sweet potatoes and string beans. Out if all the things my friends ordered, mine was the best. This pork chop was amazing!!!!! It was crusted with delicious seasoning an covered in this sweet sauce and the sweet potatoes were the perfect touch. For desert, they were out of my first and second choice so I just had taramisu- you can never go wrong with that. Ristorante Panorama is Totally worth paying full price. I will be visiting again
(5)
Timnit K.
Their wine selection was extensive and absolutely wonderful! Perhaps the best restaurant week experience I had. The pasta is heavenly and the veal, mouth-watering. The staff was personable and good-natured. One of us got our orders messed up (I blame the hustle and bustle of Restaurant Week) and the staff were absolutely lovely about it and compensated for the mistake by paying for the starter and dessert and giving us limencello (absolutely magical)! Oh and the sangria rosso was wondrous. This place was ABSOLUTELY worth it.
(5)
B K.
Great selection of wines. The bartender was very helpful and knowledgeable. I liked the selection of wine flights and also tried the cheese flight. I had a veal dish for an entree and found it tender. The tiramisu I had for dessert was incredible. I can't wait to come back.
(5)
Rich J.
This review is for the wine bar and that wine bar was pretty impressive...a very immense wine serving/preserving unit that holds 120 different bottles. I was in wino heaven. They have about two dozen wine tasting flights available...five 1.5 oz pours in each, plus individual glasses in 3 or 5 oz pours. During happy hour those flights are $5 off. This wonderful place is located in the equally wonderful Penn View Hotel. And the bartender makes a mean negroni.
(4)
Mikki K.
I somehow felt very special dining here amazing food and wine. My husband was totally out of his element, if it ain't Wendys or McDonalds...pitiful...its a good thing he's fine...but I digress... My husband got a trio of different pasta which was light and flavorful....it did not come from a box! My appetizer was perfection which consisted of mussels. And the bread with the pesto oil was all I needed to send me over the top! But wait, There is more!!! My entree was the Parpenelle Pasta with the Duck Ragu. The pasta again was very light and the Duck Ragu which was in a rich hearty gravy that made you feel like you were in a small rustic village in Italy....and I know because I've been to small rustic villages in Italy. Let me tell you about the FLIGHTS OF WINE! YES!!! Wine of every kind from everywhere situated on a spiral tier and you try them....I flew back to Italy....wonderful.... I couldn't resist taking some ricotta cheesecake home...it was wonderful... I read a review where someone wrote that the waiters where somewhat robotic....good word for a few of them but our main server...not the girl that explained the specials to us...our server was warm and helpful. This is my new favorite place!!!
(5)
Pete D.
My girlfriend and I ate here on Valentine's Day 2014. We walked in, and both liked the look of the restaurant, as well as the music playing. Our waiter told us about the different wines they have, so my girlfriend and I both decided to get a flight of wines each. This was really neat, but probably the only thing we ended up liking about the restaurant. The restaurant had a "Valentine's Day Special" which was an appetizer, main course, and dessert for $40 a person. I ordered the escargot for my appetizer, which was bland. I'm never one to add salt and pepper to all my food, but i had to add something to that to give it flavor. After we were finished our appetizers, it took pretty long for someone to come get our plates. We had someone refill our waters a couple times over the course of the dinner, but the water service seemed to stop near the end. We waited, and waited and waited for our main course. We were enjoying the wine flights and didn't really mind that much that we were waiting so long for our main course. I went out to my car and got our Valentine's Day gifts for each other so we could exchange gifts while we waited for the main course to come out. A little while after we exchanged gifts, the food finally came. I ordered the veal stuffed with cheese (veal mandolese I think it was called?). This was bland and the texture was kind of chewy. My girlfriend ordered the noodles and tiger shrimp, and this was not good either. The noodles were clumped together and the shrimp barely had any flavor. By the time we finished our main course, we were at the restaurant for 2 hours already (from when we sat down at our table, to when we finished the main course). No one came to collect our plates for a while. No one came to ask how everything was for a while until finally the waiter came and asked what we wanted for dessert. I ordered the "mixed sliced fresh fruit and berries" which was just chunks of cantaloupe and honeydew, with a few slices of strawberries. By the time we got our dessert, we asked for the check right away, because it was already 3 hours since we sat down. I am not lying, we were there for 3 hours (which is fine if you willingly want to sit around at a restaurant and take your time, but not if it's involuntarily). My girlfriend and I have never complained to a waiter or manager at all our dinner dates we've been to over the past year. She decided to say something to the waiter, and to the manager (when he came around at the end of our 3 hour dinner to ask how everything was). He apologized and said there was something wrong with the computer system for orders? He also offered us limoncello shots on the house, which we denied but he brought them anyway, and those were good. We decided we won't go back again. I don't know if they were understaffed with servers and kitchen workers, but we did not like the food nor the service. I regretted taking her there for our Valentine's Day dinner.
(1)
Ricardo S.
Great wine list. They just changed the menu. Outstanding food and amicable service.
(4)
Tom I.
I absolutely love Ristorante Panorama. It may be useless for me to say that this is one of my favorite restaurants in Philly since I have so many, but RP is definitely high on my list. I would have been here more times than I have if we lived closer to it. I had first discovered it during the four years I lived away from Philly and stayed at the attached Penn's View Hotel during a visit back. During that visit, I had a wonderful dinner there with my family and enjoyed the bar a couple of nights. I had a similarly excellent experience during a subsequent visit. Since moving back a year ago, we've been back a couple of times for dinner and a few times to sit at the bar. Over the few years I've gone to RP, the food and service has been consistently excellent, save one mediocre experience during restaurant week, during which we had similar mediocre experiences at otherwise excellent establishments, which speaks more to my impressions of restaurant week than to any individual restaurant. During our most recent visit, we brought along two guests, one from out of town. The evening started off with all of us ordering flights from the impressive selection of wines. There are many excellent wine bars in the city, but the Il Bar at Ristorante Panorama definitively has the best by the glass selection thanks to its world record 120 bottle preservation and distribution system. Here, you can try wines by the glass that you would only be able to get by the bottle elsewhere. The staff is exceptionally well-versed in their wines and can help navigate the extensive selection ensuring that you enjoy your glass(es). After lingering over our flights (five not insignificant pours), we sat in the adjacent dining area for dinner. Again, service was excellent and the food superb. I began my meal with an addition to that night's menu: mussels in a red sauce. For my entree, I had the Tagliatelle with exotic mushrooms topped with lump crabmeat. Everyone enjoyed their meals, which, of course, were accompanied by more excellent wines. We were too satisfied by our meals to entertain dessert, but we ended the evening with rounds of coffee and espresso and digestifs.
(5)
Erin P.
The food was delicious! The service was great and the wine selection is outstanding. My husband and I went last night as a part of restaurant week, and each had 3-courses. The pastas are amazing, my husband had the veal medallions with prosciutto and mushrooms, and I had the scallops...both were delicious. The desserts and coffee were a great way to finish the meal, and oh yeah, the limoncello was the real way to end! I highly recommend to anyone looking for a relaxed atmosphere with delicious food!
(5)
Sarah R.
The wine selection, service, and ambience at Panorama is fantastic and earns a high rating. However, the quality of the food is not quite as good. When an Italian restaurant charges a lot of money for pasta dishes, I expect the pasta to be homemade and the sauces to be very flavorful and more complex than what you would get from sauce from a jar or plain olive oil. I grew up in an Italian family that made homemade pasta so I can tell the difference between homemade and dried pasta that comes out of a box, and my pasta trio dish did not taste homemade. The different sauces on each of the three pastas were also very bland and watery. I would highly recommend going to Panorama for their beautiful and cozy bar to have wine before dinner, and then going somewhere else for dinner afterwards. Their selection of wines is amazing, and the wine flights are a great way to taste many of the great wines they have.
(3)
Larry K.
Returned to Panorama a year later as a hotel guest (Penn's View Inn). Still a big fan. Besides the legendary wine selection, the food is excellent. I especially like the fact that the main dishes are also available in "appetizer" portions, so one can have a multi-course meal without feeling stuffed. Food emphasizes quality over quantity, which I think is a positive. Not outrageously expensive given the quality. Good Happy Hour drink deals.
(4)
M T.
Outstanding Italian food, great wines, wonderful service and old style ambiance.
(5)
Kate F.
I've never written a restaurant review before - but I just HAD to after I had the best dining experience at Panorama last night! I give them 5 stars because of their hospitality, service, and attention to detail. We made reservations for 7:30 and got there early (around 7:10pm). The hostess informed us our table wasn't ready so we sat at the bar and ordered a flight of wine - which was AMAZING. Due to a private party in the back of the restaurant, we were seated a few minutes late which wasn't a problem since we were entertained with wine at the bar. Once we sat down, what appeared to be the owner, quickly brought us a complementary plate of lightly fried calamari, their appetizer special of the night, and apologized for the wait we endured while we had a reservation. I was very impressed!! About 2 minutes later, the owner then proceeded to bring us 2 complementary glasses of REALLY NICE champagne!! He commented that he knew it was our anniversary and he wanted us to celebrate!! Hands down he best service I have seen in Philly and not to mention the food was AMAZING. Will definitely be going back and encourage everyone to visit this restaurant! Food= 10 Service= 10++
(5)
Garden W.
Small portions. No direction from the waiter on the huge wine selection. mushroom appetizer tasted like fish. gnocchi light and fluffy but the sauce was smokey and lacked flavor. The pork was the size of deck of cards. thank god for the sweets at the end we all had room for that. not that much care given to us and the waitress who brought us the wine could barely open it -- she blamed it on her wine opener. Hmmm ... my husband liked his lobster ravioli. Should have gone to Dante and Luigi's or Ralph's. After seeing these other reviews I feel like Debbie Downer.
(1)
S P.
We love this place and have been there several times. Our last visit was enjoyable but we were surprised that at our last visit the bartender admitted he knew nothing about wine. We had some questions which he couldn't answer because he lacked knowledge. Why would he be a candidate to bartender at a wine bar?
(3)
Tina Z.
Came to philly for a freinds birthday party. We stayed at the hotel as well (Penns View Hotel) which is a cute boutique hotel, old school with real keys. We were in 206 deccent size with a king bed, desk, nice bath with wirlpool tub. We went to bar which is awesome, huge wine selection with many 5 pour wine flights, we chose the hidden jem selection flight and cabernet flight along with the antipasta. Great way to start our night. At 8 we went to dinner We had the beet salad that was beautiful and delicious, all the pastas are made in house and between all of us I think we had everthing on the menu, the duck ragu stood out and the lobster sauce. It was and incredible evening
(4)
Michael E.
**note: definitely worth traveling 35min each way** -- If a restaurant experience were only about the food, Ristorante Panorama would get, hands down, a no brainer, five-star review. I've been there a few times, and the food has been perfectly executed each and every time. I don't know who their chef is, and I'm surprised about that because he or she is really very talented. We started with antipasto for the table, and it was very yummy. There are many succulent items that come on (with?) the antipasto, but I would order it again just for the roasted red peppers, which were definitely the best I've had in a long time. The peppers are delicately seasoned and have the perfect amount of caramelization that gives the faintest hint of char. Honestly, I could eat a bowl full. Next, I had a half order of gnocchi. This dish is made up of 1/2 potato, 1/2 ricotta gnocchi and served with smoked mozzarella and San Marzano tomatoes. Every pillow is a little piece of Italian heaven. Of our entrees, the two that really stood out were: 1) Poached Bronzino, and 2) Stuffed Veal Medallions. The flavor of the Bronzino is to die for, but the best part was the execution. The fish was ever so perfectly cooked (see love note about chef, supra). It's 8:23 A.M., two days later, and I'm still thinking about how good it was... only wish I had ordered it. Thankfully, I had the Veal, which was also top notch. Sadly, I have to dock the restaurant a star because the front of the house managers, while professional and excellently reactive, lack the inherent gift / talent for service that all great managers have. That is, the ability that allows great managers to be courageously proactive in managing their guests experiences. My problem, and I hate to even call it that because it was adequately addressed after I brought it up, stems from the EXCESSIVE use of flash photography by a large, rowdy table directly in the center of the dining room. I believe this group of women - the number of which, I want to say, was about 20 - were, like our party, celebrating the birthday of one of their members. So, a few pictures - although I find the practice horrid myself - is to be expected. But, from the moment that all of their guests arrived, for a solid 15 minutes thereafter - until I had to ask the manager to address the problem - there was an almost constant battery of flashes - think one every 10 seconds - going off in every direction. Not to mention, members of their party were mulling about posing for pictures and being extra rowdy. It was IMPOSSIBLE not to be distracted by their garishness. A GREAT front of the house manager would have seen this behavior as unacceptable and proactively taken steps to address the situation immediately. Sadly, Ristorante only has GOOD front of the house managers, who - once I accosted them, and I'm sorry about my tone - took care of the situation. I can't help but think that the lack of proactivity stems from a lack of confidence in the mission / vision of the establishment itself. At some point, to be truly great, an establishment has to say, "This is the kind of place that we are," and carry that mission / vision forward - proactively. Like they say, before someone else can love you, you have to love yourself. So, I leave it at that. Ristorante is on the cusp of 5-Stardom. The choice is really up to them; unlike so many other places, they have all the tools at their ready. When they decide that allowing one table to act as if that table has complete dominion of the dining room at the expense of all the other tables until one of the other tables must complain is an unacceptable practice, I will gladly revise my review upward. Until then, Ristorante is the best of the very good restaurants in Philadelphia.
(4)
John I.
Psssssssssssssssssst. Can I tell you about an A-OK Italian restaurant in a not so desirable area of Philadelphia. Then let me tell you about Ristorante Panorama! My concierge recommended I visit this esteemed restaurant located within the Penn's View Hotel on Front Street (a dark, near the water area of Penn's Landing). The food was good, but nothing spectacular. The veal was a bit "gamy" and the sauce just didn't have enough flavor. Portions are large though so be mindful of that when ordering a starter too. My starter was the Gnocchi in a red sauce. The Gnocchi were decent, light and lackluster in flavor. The sauce really didn't do the item justice I guess. Bread service was reasonable, but I didn't find the bread overly fresh. My dessert was a chocolate flour-less cake. It was fair. Coffees were average. Its an OK place. Didn't love the area. Good luck in Philly.
(3)
Ann M.
My husband and I went to Panorama for Happy Hour before an early theater show. He had a wine flight, 2 whites and 3 reds (!) presented in a charming, vertical rack, I had a very nice $5 pinot grigio (Happy Hour price.) The warm grilled vegetable salad was as beautiful as it was delicious, the artichoke tartlet was lovely. Service is excellent, friendly and attentive. I can't imagine why I've never been to Panorama before but we will definitely be back.
(5)
Miz V.
I do like this place for their Friday night wine tastings. The featured wines are good as well as the food they serve with it . A good deal for 25.00 . BUT I find some of the people that work here disturbing . They lack customer service and conversation skill. They failed with me over the phone when I called for information.The female on the phone acted like I was interrupting her day .Now I know customers asks silly questions but after 37 years in the business of answering those types of questions there is a way to do it without insulting or offending.Because I co-organize a very large meetup group do I want my members to have a great experience at a wine tasting but I'm going to think twice before I consider this place. Food five stars, Customer service three.
(3)
Lindsey R.
Atmosphere was nice. We had a 9:30 Reservation on a Friday and there were a few tables but we had no problem getting a seat. The wine list in very extensive and they have several wine flights which is always a good time and a definite plus. Food was ok with small portions. Nothing that stood out. Everything pretty basic but good. Felt very rushed as the servers tried taking our half eaten plates several times. guess they wanted to leave!
(3)
Ed A.
My wife and I visited Ristorante Panorama on the evening of November 19, 2009 and enjoyed our experience very much. We always enjoy calamari and Panorama had, as one of its appetizer specials for the evening, fried calamari. This was as good or better than any we've had in the recent past. My wife ordered an appetizer size portion of a pasta combination (one with a pomadoro sauce, one with a spinach sauce and another one, the flavor of which escapes me right now....the sauces garnished three different types of pasta....gnocci, ravioli and penne). She thought that the appetizer size portion was perfect as it was quite rich. I ordered the special seafood of the evening which was a light, white fish, I think it was called ponzini, but I'm not sure. It was excellent...garnished with a touch of tomato seasoned with fennel (among other seasonings) and served with a scalloped type potato and fresh asparagus. I really enjoyed it. I had a sampling of gelato, post prandial. My wife enjoyed a glass of an Italian wine I don't believe either of us had tried before and, once again, I cannot remember the name, but it was excellent. The wine selection was also extensive and one thing that some other diners seemed to be trying were these "flights" of four or five selected red wines served in small portions on an "ascending wine glass rack" type of device. While we thought it was an interesting concept, the pricing didn't seem to make sense. All in all, a very pleasant dining experience. I would defninitely return (assuming I return to Philadelphia, which, all things considered, was a quite friendly city in spite of opinions I heard expressed previous to our visit.
(4)
Lauren K.
Everything was very tasty and I was completely overwhelmed by the wine list. The bartender was very helpful and once I explained what type of wine I usually like she pointed me in the right direction. Definitely going to go back on Fridays when they have their $20 wine tasting!
(5)
Kim G.
the wine list was incredible. the meal was delicious. our waitress was very helpful in picking wine flights and meal suggestions. well worth it.
(5)
John H.
I had an enjoyable experience at Ristorante Panorama. It was my first visit there and the first thing that struck me was all the awards for the restaurant's wine list. After I was seated and received the list, I understood why. The list was huge but our server diligently walked me and my companion through it. We settled on one of the flights of wine, which allowed us to taste five different wines. The meal was also very good and I was impressed that the restaurant opened its entire menu for a restaurant week function. Usually during a restaurant week dining experience, you're confined to a limited selection. I would return to Ristorante Panorama.
(4)
Frank Z.
This is an outstanding northern Italian restaurant on the lobby level of Penn's View Hotel, with one of the best wine bars in the city. The menu features regional variations of pasta, veal, and chicken dishes, as well as fresh fish. The homemade lobster ravioli is an excellent first course; light thin pasta leaves bulging with seasoned seafood and ricotta in a delicate tomato cream sauce. The escargot appetizer is a unique invention, the snails sauted in olive oil, garlic, tomato, and hot red pepper. All the pasta dishes are outstanding. My favorite veal is the paesano - fine veal medallions layered with prosciutto, provolone cheese, and roasted peppers. The veal chop; butterflied, coated with breadcrumbs and fried, is another variation of a traditional dish. The desserts are all made in house; the tiramisu is exceptional, as are the profiteroles. Needless to say, the wine list is overwhelming. The service is efficient and friendly. The dining room is comfortably elegant, with well spaced tables. This is a restaurant for special occasions, or to bring your out of town guests. Be aware that the prices are on the high side for Philadelphia.
(4)
Sorry, we don't have Q&A for this restaurant.
Sorry, No Coupons available for this restaurant.
Address :Penn's View Hotel,14 N Front St
Philadelphia, PA, 19106
Takes Reservations : Yes Delivery : No Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Dinner Parking : Street, Private Lot Bike Parking : No Wheelchair Accessible : Yes Good for Kids : No Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Dressy Ambience : Classy Noise Level : Average Good For Dancing : No Alcohol : Full Bar Happy Hour : Yes Coat Check : Yes Smoking : No Outdoor Seating : No Wi-Fi : Free Has TV : Yes Dogs Allowed : No Waiter Service : Yes Caters : No
The immense popularity of Italian cuisine globally isn't unknown. You can find an Italian Pizzeria around every corner of almost every city in the United States. Not to forget that in every house, people enjoy mac and cheese as comfort food. But it would be wrong to believe that Italian food starts with pizza and ends with good pasta as this Mediterranean country has much more to offer other than these two dishes. In Italian Cuisine, there is a high use of fresh tomatoes, all kinds of herbs, great quality of cheese, all types of meat, seafood and fresh handmade pasta. Many find it hard to believe that Italians have been making noodles long back.
Italian and Greek cuisines are always mistaken to be same, but they are poles apart. The primary difference between the two cuisines is the use of cheese in most of the Italian dishes. Italians love to cultivate their own cheese and process them as per their food requirement. It is believed that some cheese is so expensive that cheese producers secure them in lockers.
If you are bored eating the same old pasta or pizza, you can try some of the authentic Italian dishes like Risotto, Polenta, Ribollita, Lasagna, Fiorentina Steak, Bottarga, Ossobuco, Carbonara, Focaccia, Arancini and Supplì. Another item which Italians love to relish every morning is a good cup of Italian Coffee. Once you taste a freshly brewed cup of Italian Coffee, you might not visit Starbucks ever again. Authentic Italian food is made with heart and soul, so go find a restaurant where you can relish Italian cuisine in your city.
YelpHatesMe Y.
Great wine bar! I went on my first date with my current girlfriend here. It was quite nice. It was a Friday night so it was actually not very crowded at all. Service was very good but there were very few of us at the bar so I guess we couldn't really be overseen. The wine list was actually pretty good. Having been to all the wine meccas of the world the selection was pretty good. A very nice selection for the red or white wine lover. Great place for a fist date too! Bottom line; Great place to take a date. Great selection and its quite enough to have a good conversation.
(4)Chihee K.
Despite the fact the crowd seemed to be on the older side, I enjoyed this place because we tried so many flights. Panorama is the only restaurant where I've seen and tried flights in Philly. The two of us tried 17 different kinds of wine - 5 from the pinot flight, 5 from the latin loves flight (malbecs, cabs, merlot), 5 from the california cabs flight, and 2 ports to go along with our dessert. We ordered a meat plate as well, but I honestly don't remember how it tasted because I was so enamored by all the reds we were trying. Oh, and be sure to sit in the bar part of the restaurant versus the restaurant part - it's just a lot more casual and less stuffy.
(4)Daniel M.
My wife and I were in town for the US Open, and a local friend highly recommended Panorama, especially since we were staying at Penn's View Hotel. We started off with a cheese plate, which was fantastic. The food was amazing, but I was most impressed with the depth of wines. We each had a flight of wine (she had a California cab flight, I had an Italian red flight). The atmosphere was quiet and romantic. The wait staff was extremely attentive and didn't seem to mind that we were not in a hurry (we were there for 2 - 2 1/2 hours). The dessert was sinful - something chocolate ordered by my wife. During our dinner, the manager came over to check on us several times, which was a nice touch. Panorama is definitely a must stop for foodies and wine-o's while in Philly.
(5)Bryan R.
Lovely atmosphere. Love the wine flights. Paired with the cheese plate, a perfect start. My entree was good, but did not blow me away. It was a great dining experience though. Recommended.
(4)Raafia M.
I was really excited about this place, especially since they are featured in the Guinness book of world records. We ordered the wine flights, which was the ONLY interesting thing about our dinner. We really don't have much knowledge about wine but liked that options that were presented. You can pick from white, red or a mix of red/white wines. However the food was terrible. We ordered the light fried calamari- which were heavily breaded and fried, it didn't taste any different from other places. Nothing special. The mussels were disgusting. They were very fishy and not fresh at all. Our main courses were also not very good either. The pasta didn't taste like it was made fresh. And the duck was not well cooked and had a raw duck smell/taste. Overall, I don't recommend this restaurant for a meal. Don't waste your money on food here. There are many other restaurants in old city where you can get a delicious meal for a reasonable price.
(2)Duchess T.
The evening started off well with a very yummy moscato sangria that i've since tried to imitate at home on numerous occasions (and with rave reviews)... The beet salad was also beautiful and hit the spot... so, where did the stars go down to 2? well, it's from the disappointment of the inability of the chef to cook raw pasta. The ravioli that we got as an appetizer was mushy and that was a preview of what was to come with the pasta. The pasta was stuck together and clumpy and was like eating a big mush. I gave the extra star for the drink and the beet salad. It's really too bad because the place had good service and the ambience was comfortable. It's really a shame that the chef doesn't know how to prepare pasta...
(2)Micah P.
The wine bar is amazing! As soon as you walk into the bar, you are "wowed" by the vast collection and selection of wines.. and to top it off, turns out they have the Guinness World Record for the largest Winekeeper! Anyway, I ended up here because I had a Living Social deal to the Penn's View Hotel and it came with a complimentary wine and cheese flight for two. My bf and I had Flight #601 of wines and the flight of 4 Italian Cheeses. My favorite wine from flight #601 was the Moscato "Piemonte" Linda Donna. I've had so many Moscatos, but this Moscato really stood out. It had a lot of "legs" and the taste was rich.. 100x better than Barefoot brand! I could probably drink that wine all day. Then the cheese platter.. although it took a while to come out (got the plate when we were on our last glass of wine), the platter was amazing! It came laid out beautifully and it had fruits, nuts, and honey to compliment the cheeses. I definitely recommend paying a visit to the wine bar if you are a wine lover or if you would like to taste different kinds in one visit.
(5)Maggie R.
Food and service was AWESOME! Our group was down for a conference and looked this place up because one of our members was gluten free and everyone loved it.
(5)Kalesy M.
My partner and I went to Ristorante Panorama for our anniversary dinner. He is a winemaker, so expectations were already rather high. Our server was very knowledgeable and accomodating. There was a special risotto for the meal, but she cautioned us that it took some time to prepare. So we ordered our salad course first and the timing wound up being perfect. The wine - I'm not so much a connoiseur, but my flight was quite enjoyable. My partner, however, was astounded by the wines in his selection. Very impressive. The risotto was indeed amazing and worth the wait. Creamy with the nice, sharp bit of asparagus. A perfect early spring dish. For dinner, I got a pasta sampler dish. While each sample was delicious, I was tortured to realize I could have had an entire portion of the ravioli. Little pillows of heaven indeed! (In case you haven't figured it out - ORDER THE RAVIOLI!) By the end of the meal, we were completely content and satisfied with fine wine, amazing food, impeccable service and a beautiful setting. Highly recommend.
(5)Marcello D.
As far as I'm concerned, Panorama is the best Italian restaurant in Philadelphia. It has, however, lost the top overall spot to Amada. Panorama's best dish is their Pappardell con Salsa di Anitra -- and they are so confident in it that they put the recipe on their website. The food at some other Italian restaurants in the city (L'Angolo, Le Virtu, Osteria) may rival the menu here but what puts Panorama over the top is the wine list and flight options. I love sampling new wines and the wide selection here makes for a new experience with each visit.
(5)Elianny S.
I went here for my friends rehearsal dinner and the place itself seemed nice. The rehearsal dinner was held in the wine cellar so we had the place to ourselves which was nice. The setting and the servers were good but when it came down to the most important aspect of a the meal which is the actual food this place fell flat. I had a chicken meal that was just meh. It came with some pasta that was quite bland and I also tasted my boyfriend's veal and it was just ok. The desserts were also pretty bland and didn't leave me wanting more. I'm not sure if eating at the regular restaurant upstairs would be any different since I'm sure the food all comes from the same kitchen. I had high expectations for this place after reading the reviews and was left very disappointed.
(2)Erica M.
I have eager to try Panorama since I missed the Yelp Elite Event and when we were invited to dinner there, we were thrilled to go. Our dining partners know the owners, so we arrived to prosecco, calamari, and salmon toasts. The prosecco was delicious, but the appetizers were truly lacking. The toasts in the salmon dish tasted like cardboard and the calamari had little flavor. The sommelier chose a fantastic wine for us (he is excellent!) and I also tried a wine flight (I liked all but the first and last wines). We then had salads...the Caesar, the only one I tried, was delicious. For entrees, I got the tagliatelli con funghi, another person got the salmon special, and another got a chicken dish. Apparently I ordered wrong because the chicken and salmon were delicious, but my pasta dish was truly disappointing. It lacked all flavor, I had to add salt, and there were 2 tiny lumps of crab on top. For dessert, we had the cheesecake special and pear stuffed with mascarpone. Again, I made a poor ordering decision because my cheesecake was overcooked. The pear, on the other hand, was DELICIOUS. The espresso was also delicious as well. So basically, my overall take on the restaurant is that it entirely depends on what you order (my bf's meal was a solid 4.5 stars). Some things were great, others were awful. The service was very good though.
(3)Kevin C.
I came here for Restaurant Week a while back, and I walked away extremely satisfied with my experience here. The food, ambiance, and service were all great, and I felt like my friends and I were treated well despite the fact that we were a) teenagers in a very classy restaurant, and b) ordering from the Restaurant Week prix fixe menu. For the first course of the Restaurant Week menu, diners can choose from an Antipasti, Salad, or an appetizer-sized Pasta. As someone in search of the best bang-for-the-buck so to speak, I decided that the pasta was the best value, and so I went with the Tortelloni di Ricotta e Aragosta (homemade ravioli filled with ricotta cheese and lobster in a lobster reduction with a touch of cream and a blush of tomato). These dumpling-like lobster-filled pastas were absolutely delicious, and I appreciated the restraint exercised in sauce administration to the dish. For my entrée, I chose the Vitello Dolce Bacio (Veal medallions sautéed with shitake mushrooms in a marsala wine sauce with a touch of cream and chopped tomato, crowned with a jumbo shrimp). This dish was great as well, though the shrimp felt a bit out of place. Finally, for dessert, I ordered a Chocolate Torte, which was quite rich and decadent. My Restaurant Week experience at Ristorante Panorama was great, and I really enjoyed everything about the evening. If I am ever in Philadelphia again in the future, I wouldn't mind making a return trip here.
(4)Colleen L.
My date & I came upon Panorama one Saturday night after the wait at our favorite restaurant was too long. It was rather late, about 8:30, so the place was not very crowded. I liked the atmosphere and temperature (there's nothing worse than eating dinner in a hot restaurant!). I must say that the hostess and our waiter were a bit odd....just kind of robotic. My date ordered a red wine flight, which was really cool (5, 2 oz glasses of different red wines). I got the Italian white sangria, delish. We started off with a pasta appetizer and the caesar salad (yum...and I am picky about my caesar salad!); the pasta was super fresh. For entrees, I got the seared scallops and shrimp in a corn sauce. It was AMAZING. So, so delicious. The only downside was that it was, honest to God, the size of an appetizer dish!! There were 2 shrimp and two scallops. I would, however, go back for this dish again. Like, tomorrow. I'd just order a huge appetizer. My date got the chicken dish that is a lot like chicken francese, but not quite. It had shallots and prosciutto...he loved it. Oh, and the little breadstick nuggets that they give you are delish. Yummy. Enjoy : )
(4)Kelly K.
Here's my pick as one of the most romantic little date-night drop-in spots going. After a play at the Arden or a movie at the Ritz, wander in here and cozy up in Il Bar for some wine and cheese. They have more than 100 types of wine available by the glass and a wine menu that goes on and on with choices of two sizes of wines (a small tasting size or full glass). Plus there's the fun of ordering from their list of flights to play winetasting together. Too much to choose from? Chat with Bill, the sommelier, for some personalized guidance. As for the restaurant, it's some of Philly's best Italian and the service is good. They even pull of a brilliant meal during restaurant week: It's a great one to hit then because they offer almost the entire menu to choose from instead of 2-3 selected options. Don't miss their risotto special of the day when it's not restaurant week.
(5)Luna J.
Love this place!!! amazing wines... the best gnocchi ever!!! Great Service! Not much to write just highly recommended!!!
(5)Benoit L.
We were attracted by the 150+ wines by the glass perspective and were happy to go for an italian meal. I can't say I was impressed on either count. Food was well executed but somewhat bland, my risotto was cooked right but lacked flavor. Quite standard italian fare I would say. Cheese plate was good, though. On the wine front, well, it sounded interesting but it was a huge disappointment for me. No clear direction in the selection, way too many low-end choices, not much originality offered. A ridiculously short selection of italians with 2 Barolos and no Amarones. At least 3 of the 5 "north italian flight" were sub-par. The dessert wines selection was also very short. Unfortunately, this was my third ranking meal in Philly that weekend.
(3)Sean R.
Five of us went to Ristorante Panorama for a friend's birthday last night. Upon entering the restaurant via a small hotel lobby, you notice two seating sections both of about equal size. The area directly ahead is a bit stuffy, and was very quite, to the right was a bar area that was a little more dimly lit, and was a little more lively atmosphere, thankfully this is where we were seated. After being seated, it took a few mins for our server to come to our table, but we were given a free round of prosecco for my friends birthday which I was surprised by. After looking at the drink menu we decided to go with different wine flights. While these seem like a great idea, each flight is only about a glass and a half of wine total, so if you plan on drinking more than that, just split a bottle (wine flights are all around $20). It happened to be restaurant week and to my liking they did not have a special menu with pre fixe items; they had an app, entree, and dessert from the regular menu for $35 special which was pretty decent. Everyone enjoyed their apps, with the lobster tortellini and the escargot being a bit disappointing, and the pasta sampler being the best, the gnocchi and ravioli on it were awesome. The entrees were all good also, I was hoping they had sea bass on the menu after reading other Yelp reviews, but that wasn't the case. The star of the entrees was the Vitello Mandolese, but let be serious, you can't go wrong with veal, prosciutto, buffalo mozzarella and truffle sauce. I was happy to see tiramisu on the dessert menu, and it is one of the best tiramisu that I have ever had. The lady fingers were saturated in coffee, which was perfect after just drinking an espresso. The other desserts were nothing to write home about. Towards the end of the meal, everyone was very happy, and the discussions were all along the lines of "we should take your mom here for dinner next time she visits". If you are looking for a nice meal, that is a bit on the fancy side, Ristorante Panorama would be a great choice.
(4)Veruca S.
MAGNIFICENT wine bar! Ok...if you are wine enthusiast.. OR visiting Philly, this is the place to go! Not only do they have an amazing wine bar, and incredible Italian restaurant attached, it has a beautifully restored historic inn right above it. Everything is walking distance too! So if you're experiencing some Pinot Envy...or you want to Catch A Cab(ernet)... Go to Ristorante Panorama! I loooove this place.
(4)Sara B.
Family Style menu. Wine selection was Five Star. Food was great. Menu was small - but very specialized. Boyfriend had veil and said it was phenomenal. Food service was a bit slow - and that's the reason we docked a star. Would recommend and return.
(4)Carrie E.
How could I not have reviewed this place already? It's one of the best places in Philly for a great glass of wine, simply because you can try out basically anything you want. And their flights? Sooooo fine. You can take a grape-y trip around the world without even leaving your seat. The food and service are also excellent, but I always get made fun of when we go because I always order the same thing. Hey, I'm a girl who knows what she likes, and this girl likes her some lobster ravioli. And wine. Lots and lots of sweet, sweet wine.
(4)Rodrigo M.
I stayed at the Inn that's on top of the restaurant the night before because I was in town for a concert at Camden Yards. The following day me and my girlfriend decided to have lunch in Panorama before heading back to DC. A little background info on me. I am a quarter italian and just spent about 3 weeks in Venezia, Firenze and Milano, as well as some smaller towns like Bassano del Grappa and Canneto Pavese. I have to say that my meal at Panorama was nothing short of Italian perfection. They got everything right, the Bruschettas were fresh, the cheese board was orgasmic and the food, well, just like the food I had in Italy. My only regret is that I live too far from philly to become a regular. I will definitely go back and highly recommend it. Note, we did not have any wine so I can't comment on that, but the food, service and ambiance was fantastic.
(5)A S.
I actually joined Yelp to share my experience because I didn't want anyone to spend money to be disappointed like I was. I had heard great things about Panorama so I made reservations for Valentines Day a month in advance. When my boyfriend and I arrived we were seated at a table for 2, where a chair is on one side and a bench is on the other. I took the bench side not realizing I was sitting in a large crack between two cushions and any attempt to move ot one side or another put me uncomfortable close to someone else. But the larger problem- its a big day and a big night for a restaurant. I expected to be somewhat rushed out- and made plans to meet up with friends after accordingly. Big Mistake. I will keep this short- our server was slow, unhelpful, and almost downright rude. I asked for advice on the 150 wines by the glass (please recommend a cab) and he said "all the wine is good" My boyfriend asked what the difference between half and full plate was, trying to get a general idea which one I should get and the server says "i dont know the ounces. full plate is bigger" (Gee thanks) I ordered gnocchi which was heavy, and flavorless. My boyfriend ordered tortellini with peas because I wanted to try it. Instead he was given lobster ravioli (I am allergic to seafood) and as no one came over to check on us after our food was delivered, and we were hungry, he ate half. He couldnt even finish it because he said it was awful, and tasted like bad crab meat. We both left more than half our food untouched, and when we finally alerted the server, he came back and offered us the pasta orginally ordered, or dessert. We declined both, and asked for the check. 40 minutes later and after asking 2 more times we finally got it- with the lobster ravioloi on it even though it was much more expensive than what my boyfriend ordered. We just paid it- we had been there for so long we just wanted to leave. The manager did inquire when we were leaving as to how things were and I told him. His response? Here is my card, come back and I will take care of you. No thank you. why would I come spend MORE money here when everything was awful.
(1)Krista C.
Absolutely amazing! Went to dinner for my bday here on the recommendation of a friend and couldn't have had a better meal! I will definitely be going back! Gnocchi was delish, wine flights are awesome, and portions were good.
(5)Kimba Z.
Ohhhh, wine flights with 5 tastes, most very reasonably priced and creatively selected, make me very happy. We were in a talking mood after the Michael Moore film and ordered the Southern Stars flights of reds, all from the Southern hemisphere. We ended up getting both Australians as full glasses. It's romantic and cozy red in here with dark wood. Vegans, beware, nothing on the menu for you, but the manager came up with sauteed mushrooms and a beet salad without the cheese; $10 each for these plus bread was enough of a snack for us. I only ever go to the bar and am very well pleased. I am curious about the rooms though in this vintage hotel which has enough of a sense of humor to upholster its chairs with a fabric picturing... chairs. Their cruvinet must have hundreds of bottles in it, wow. When I am rich... wait, I never have a problem polishing off a bottle, with the crowd I travel with. :-) And I will never be rich anyway.
(3)Jerrica J.
Ristorante Panorama, you made me very happy with your Friday Night Flights wine tasting event! "Pinot Envy" was the name of the event. Samples of 7 different kinds of Pinot Noir.After the wine tasting selection, it made me love red wine even more. Pinot Noir happens to be my favorite red wine. The one I enjoyed the most out of the sommelier's selection was Bourgone "Hautes Cotes De Beaune" - Domaine Cornu-Camus 2008 (France) I need to find a place that has it for sale in NYC! At the tasting, they also offered some food. The fruit and cheese plates were good, and I loved the simple fried calamari rings with marinara sauce. Can't wait to come back for a visit again soon!
(5)Stephen T.
I dinned here with a friend based on his recommendation. I don't think either of us were extremely impressed. I'm certainly not a knowledgeable wine drinker but I do enjoy drinking the grape. Of the flights that we tried, the sparkling was the best. I usually prefer red but the two flights were only OK. As for the food; my entre was good but I probably would not return again. Do yourself a favor and try out another bite when in Philadelphia.
(3)Marc P.
I was very disappointed with cold and chewy calamari and a tasteless entree. We were a party of 6. The service was excellent, but the food needs to be tasted before served
(1)Bev K.
We along with 4 other parties of 4 with 7pm reservations were not seated until 8pm. And not until we voiced our lack of appreciation did anyone apologize for the delay. Appetizers were absolutely amazing, the maitre'd was the only customer service in the place, server was mediocre at best, food clearly sat under the warming lights for too long and to top it all off our server offered the desert menu then took 10 minutes to bring them too us. Bottom line.... Skip it. Had a conservation with another patron who has been 3 times and keeps thinking he must be missing something or he just came on a really busy night. He suggested we not try again that it will be exactly the same. Ps - don't be fooled by the name.... There is no panoramic view ;)
(1)Rich B.
Very good
(5)Tom G.
Ok, so those of you who know me know that I am an absolute wine geek...so coming to Panorama, with their 120-glass list, was a dream come true. Well, it should have been. The wines by the flight are really nice. I did the big and bold flight that had 5 glasses (1.5 oz pours) of mostly expensive italian wines (barolo, brunello, amarone, a priorat and a cabernet). I think it was $55. Not bad and the wines were each really nice. That's pretty much where the greatness stopped. We also had a bottle of 1996 Pio Cesare barolo (~$70 retail if you can find it...$175 on the list). That was a decent bottle at an outrageous mark up. The food...left much to be desired. The meats were all overcooked. The sides were uninspired and the pastas we tried were average (to slightly above average compared to other Italian places in the city). I'd go back for wine but not food.
(3)Steph E.
I chose this place because I was going there with my parents, and I tend to avoid noisy, hip places when I'm with grown ups. Ristorante Panorama had what I was looking for, which was a comfortable, cozy setting and an old-school vibe. The food was strong, and the wait staff was almost impeccable. You can tell that the manager runs a tight ship. They had a great variety of dishes and specials that were classic yet interesting. Every table was full, but it didn't have a rushed or noisy atmosphere. It's not the hippest place in the world, but that's actually exactly what I out to find.
(4)Rob R.
Enjoyed this place during Restaurant Week last year. A very nice place to take a date. The wine selection was vast and tastefully presented. This place is a sort of "historical" location so it draws in an older crowd, but the atmosphere remains youthful. If you're in your mid-20s, this would be an ideal location for a double date with parents or bosses. It reminds me of a "Main Line"-type restaurant, but is tucked into a nice Old City location. Highly recommended to try at least once.
(4)Melissa V.
This bill was $300 for four people. Which wouldn't be so bad...had it been worth the price. The wine flights were good and had an interesting presentation. The lobster ravioli's and the egglant appetizers were bland. The beet salad was also bland. I ordered the parpadelle with duck - and it was like salty meat on noodles. The noodles were good...but, it wasn't worth the price. My husband ordered the filet it was bland. My mother in law ordered the fish special, branzio, and it was pretty good. We ordered cheesecake and it was boring. I just don't get the good reviews about this place - based on food. The service was impeccable. The environment was nice. There are just too many other great italian restaurants in Philly, to return here.
(2)Diana Z.
Limited menu, but that's to be expected from a wino's paradise. Amazing wine flights (ex: Latin Loves) and crazy # bottles on reserve. Very cool atmosphere (hand painted murals across the walls). Service was so-so and made me pay 2x bc he left off a dessert wine. Not cool. Still, great wine selection. Really top notch.
(3)Steph M.
After much talk about Panorama, I finally got to experience it last night. My girlfriend is something of an oenophile, so she mainly told me all about the wine selection and presentation. I think it's important to say right up front that while Panorama may be a wine bar, the food here is outstanding as well. Since I'm a white wine girl lately (especially in the summer heat), I ordered a white flight, the Blendalicious. I was delighted to see the iron tree that held the five wine glasses--much cooler than a tray. I liked being able to try a selection of wines that I probably wouldn't normally order, and I found that two of the five were definitely worth a second try. Foodwise, we started with the orechiette with shrimp and calamari, which was quite tasty and cooked perfectly al dente. For the main course, I ordered the Chilean sea bass. I love sea bass, and I've eaten a lot of it in my life. Poached and then sauteed with a slightly garlicky butter sauce, this one was among the best. Dessert was poached pear with mascarpone and hazelnuts, paired with a glass of zingy moscato. It was all divine. I'm torn between wanting to go back for more of the same and wanting to try the other eight or so dishes on the menu that looked mouth-wateringly good (not to mention more wine). I should also give a shout out to our waiter, Sean, who put up with my smart-ass remarks all night (I was in one of those silly moods), gamely discussed nicknames for absinthe (but failed to settle a bet we had going on the subject) and debated the relevance of Miss Manners in modern society. My girlfriend thinks he should've talked about the wine more, but I think that's probably my fault for distracting him.
(5)Stephanie S.
Very fancy, and they have a lot of staff running around. Despite that, our service was a bit slow for a Sunday night. Anyway, we went for restaurant week. I had the mushroom appetizer...delicious. I also had the gnocchi...it didn't have much flavor. The gnocchi at La Locanda Del Ghiottone was much better. Then I had these cheese puffs for desert, which was good, but not nearly as amazing as my bf's hazelnut gelato. OooOoOOo I had a wine flight as well. It's 5 small servings of wine stacked on a metal spiral. That was pretty neat. They have a lot to choose from. The decor was very traditional, which is a nice change from the usual modern look of all the other Center City restaurants. In summary, it is very nice, but I'd rather enjoy a slightly more relaxed atmosphere. I would definitely take my parents here though.
(4)Lauren E.
Took the advice of Yelp reviewers and decided to try Panorama when I was in Philly for a night. I was impressed by the warm decor and the knowledgable staff. My boyfriend and I decided on two different red wine flights of wine for approximately $20 each, comparable if we were to buy a whole bottle and more enjoyable. The food was tasty, I enjoyed my lobster ravioli though the sauce was a bit weak. The caesar salad was nice as was the chocolate ganache cake special we split. My boyfriend had a seafood pasta for an appetizer which was very large for one person, but well done, and a veal entree which he also enjoyed. If I'm ever back in Philly I'll make sure to come back for some more great wine and food!
(4)Heather L M.
Wow, Yelpers did not steer me wrong with Ristorante Panorama. This restaurant is A-M-A-Z-I-N-G. Five stars from me, but I am only giving it 4 (really 4.5) because others in my group weren't so in love. You can't go wrong with any of the pasta dishes. The pasta is fresh, and oh so good. The duck ragout was so flavorful as was the lobster ravioli. One member of my group had the Chilean Sea Bass that came over a bed of escarole with a puttanesca sauce and she proclaimed it the "best she has ever had." Folks, this means a lot. She is the ultra critic when it comes to restaurants. She loved it so much, she proceeded to finish the sauce after the fish was gone! The one downside for the food seemed to be the meat. One person in my party had the rack of lamb which he said wasn't the best cut of meat and it was cooked more than his requested medium rare. Another person had the veal chop, which he said was good but could have been seasoned better. Fortunately both of the meat eaters had pasta as an appetizer. Cannolis for dessert were good as was the expresso. The service was top notch all around, and the space itself is really nice. Be sure to check out the wine cellar when you visit the bathrooms downstairs. This looks like a great spot to have a private dinner or party. I will be back!
(4)Dean M.
WOW WOW WOW!!!! This place is fantastic and I would highly recommend. Everything was home made and so fresh and delicious. The gnocchi is amazing along with Lobster Tortellini and the tirimisu and chocolate desert is just awesome! I don't think you could go wrong with anything here it's just the gnocchi was so light and fluffy and so, so good.
(5)Felicia D.
Can't weigh in on the food at Panorama, but wino that I am, you know I can flap my lips about the wine list. Panorama is one of the few places in the city with an enourmous cruvinet system. This is basically a case with dozens of open wine bottles with little tubes running out of their necks that connect to a tap. The whole case is injected with inert gas (usually nitrogen) which keeps oxygen off the wine and prevents nasty oxidation. The upshot of the cruvinet is Panorama can offer literally hundreds of wines by the glass, and you get to taste things you couldn't afford to buy a bottle of normally. After much debating and reading the extensive wine list, the bartender offered us tastes a few things we were interested in. My friend got two different Amarones, and selected a flight of Bordeaux for me. I believe this was $32, and was five glasses of the different regions and various crus of the Bordeaux appelation. Each glass in the flight looked like it was between 2 and 3 ounces. I was very satisfied with the selection and it helped me clarify which wines appealed to me and others, not so much. The room was also very beautiful, with rich colors, a huge mural on the back wall, and heavy wooden furniture. Looked like a good place to take a date.
(4)Valerie S.
Some friends and I went to this place before heading to dinner at Amado nearby. We had read about how they had a wide variety of wines and wine flights. While the experience was fun, I don't think I picked a good wine flight that suited my tastes. I like white wine, but the majority of my wines were Chardonnay based which I don't really love. I had ordered the wine flight that had a lot of wines that were hybrids of multiple wines together which seemed interesting to me. I thought this place was cool though.. nice but casual depending on the occasion, family dinner, dinner with friends, date, etc. I would probably go back because of the wine flights but probably select a wine that is more suitable to my taste.
(3)Michael E.
Love them for restaurant week. It leaves more room in my budget for the wine. I am a big fan of the big and bold flight, which comes in around $55. You can't go wrong with any of the fresh pastas. My favorite is the triangolini (I know that's not spelled right, but is the small triangle ones.) Its one of the few times that the pasta out shined the other ingredients in the dish.
(4)Christina H.
My husband and I make it a point to go here for dinner for EVERY restaurant week. Their entire menu is open, instead of a prix fixe menu like most other restaurants. Service is excellent, from the maitre'd to the bartenders. They offer wine flights (5 different wines) and they're pretty well priced. It's a great way to taste other wine with a similar theme. The food is excellent; the escargot and duck ragu are my favorites. Luca usually offers us his homemade limoncello to end the night, but usually by then, I'm stumbling home after all the wine I just drank!
(5)Steve G.
Had a nice romantic dinner with my date here. Staff and service was nice and responsive. They even made sure that a special flower delivery that I ordered from another vendor was strategically placed in time for our table. Wine selection is excellent, and I recommend doing the wine flights where you get 5 small glasses of wine, so that you can sample a few during your dinner. The food was well presented but honestly not the greatest. We ordered fried calamari as an appetizer, but to me, it was a bit too chewy and rubbery in texture. My fried veal covered in arugula was nice at first, but it had a hint of old, over-used frying oil in the bread crumb batter coating. Strike three for me was the espresso, which tasted like it might have been boiled instead of pressed thru a machine. Perhaps they used old/bad beans? I'd still take my lovely date back here though, but probably just for drinks and some other appetizers. Upscale, romantic atmosphere in both the restaurant and the wine bar. Not noisy either.... cheers!
(3)Linda S.
Hubs and I went here tonight with two other couples during Restaurant Week. It surprised me that we had our choice of the menu, as usually restaurants offer a limited menu during Restaurant Week. There wasn't a bad dish to be had. Because one of the men in our group knows the owner, we were started off with complimentary plates: the first, lightly breaded calamari with a most delicious marinara sauce, and proscuitto, parmesan cheese slices and green olives on the other. For my appetizer, I chose the funghi con proscuitto --Exotic mushrooms sautéed in olive oil with garlic and prosciutto in a polenta cup with taleggio cheese sauce. It was awesome! Hubby had the spinach salad and we both thought it was the best spinach salad he had ever had. I chose the Vitello Mandolese--Thinly pounded veal medallions stuffed with prosciutto and fresh mozzarella in a sauce of porcini mushrooms and homemade truffled butter. I cannot begin to tell you how amazing this dish was. Hubby had the Filetto di Manzo--pan-seared 8oz filet mignon topped with melted homemade truffled butter--so tender and seasoned perfectly. Others in the group also had the filet mignon and some others had sauteéd lamb chops in Madeira wine sauce flavored with mint butter, served with fingerling potatoes; and thin veal medallions sautéed with house roasted red peppers, black olives, onion and white wine. Most of the dishes came with roasted potatoes and either broccoli, green beans or asparagas. Everyone said the same thing - "This is delicious!" I had the tiramisu for dessert; hubby had the cannoli. Others had chocolate cheese cake (a special); chocolate ice cream; profiteroles; and sorbet. We had several glasses of wine and not a complaint could be heard all night long. Well, except for the coffee. That was our only complaint. Four of us ordered decaf coffee and it was not good. It actually tasted watered down to us--all four of us! The restaurant is a tad pricey but with food this good, who cares?
(4)Colin H.
Food was fantastic and the service was great. The servers really knew their food/wine menu and our drinks were always full. It really has a great ambiance for bringing a date to and it has a very extensive wine selection. I don't think there is a required dress code, however most of the patrons in the restaurant were dressed nicely (ie. ties, coats, and collared shirts). As more of a beer guy, the only drawback of this place was that it did not have that many beers, however the ones they had were good.
(4)J B.
Cool Wine Flights - Decent Food Friday night I spent the evening at Panorama enjoying the bar, the wine & the food. My friend and I chose to go early & spend some time sampling wine at the bar. We were able to find two seats at the bar together around 7PM, although it filled up rapidly & was soon standing room only. After taking our time perusing the lengthy wine menu, we selected two flights to share. Having the largest wine selection by the glass made for a very interesting read & tough decision. Luckily our bartenders checked in twice, but didn't make us feel rushed at all. They were busy the whole night, but never left us wanting for anything, including water. We opted for a flight of sparkling wine &the Southern Stars red wine flight. The sparkling flight was my favorite part of the evening. We got to taste 5 varieties from sweet to dry. I loved the different tastes as well as the different feel of the bubbles in your mouth depending what you were drinking. My favorite was the Brut Cordon Rouge Mumm from France. The reds were a bit more eclectic. We both enjoyed the Pinot Noir Curico Valley Aresti from Chile the best. Most of the rest were a disappointment. We had two wines that were absolutely terrible in this flight. One was the Malbec, which tasted like vinegar, & although I can't recall the name of the next one in line, it was the most memorable of the evening. It tasted & smelled like nail polish remover. It was so bad I wouldn't drink any more after the 3rd taste. I learned that this taste is often is formed when wine spoiled with acetic acid reacts with the wine's ethyl alcohol & forms ethyl acetate. This is not a tasty effect! After a couple hours of leisurely wine tasting & discussion, we were seated in the bar area for dinner. The ambiance is exactly what I like in a restaurant, except it was a little loud. The seats were close together, but it wasn't so tight that I felt uncomfortable & I didn't feel as though I was eating with the table next to me, which is good. I loved the dim lighting, the lighting fixtures & the plush, velvety booths. Service was prompt & efficient & didn't hover. Our water was always refreshed, as was our bread & pesto type dipping oil. We were given two types of bread, which were both delicious. The roll was crisp outside and warm & soft inside. The other type of "bread" was more like an oyster cracker with herbs. It was dry & crumbly, but had a great flavor. For appetizers we tried the antipasto & the baby artichokes in olive oil & puff pastry. Both were delicious. The saltiness & flavor of the artichokes made this something I will definitely crave from time to time. The pastry was a little mushy due to the abundance of olive oil, but I didn't really mind. This was certainly an interesting combination that I'd order again. The antipasto was a decent size for sharing & was very good. For the meal we had the lamb & the tagliatelle with mushrooms & lump crab meat. The lamb was weird because one double chop was moist, tender and quite perfect, the next was still good, but a little tougher and the third was so tough I actually got indents in my fingers from pressing so hard to cut it! The fingerling potatoes were well seasoned & the green beans were perfectly al dente The pasta was fresh & good. It wasn't the best pasta I've ever had, but it was solid & I'd try another pasta dish there in the future. It was light on flavor and crab meat & heavy on olive oil and mushrooms. I did not taste any of the cheese it was supposed to come with. Also, the portion was filling enough for me, having had such large appetizers, but it was by no means the size I anticipated it being. I can't imagine how small the appetizer portion of this pasta would be! Dessert was ricotta cheese cake & tiramisu. The cheesecake tasted light and fresh, but I prefer my cheesecakes to be a little heavier & richer. The tiramisu looked very strange, almost like two hot dogs or sausages, but luckily, it was cake, not meat. It was not adorned with anything - not even a coco or cinnamon sprinkle. The cake was actually a little mushy and soaked in a bit too much espresso. There was not enough cream, cinnamon or coco flavor for my taste. I would not order either dessert again. The evening was entertaining & filled with new delicious treats. The ambiance was exactly what I like in the bar area (not the dining area), even with the strange artwork, which seemed, oddly, almost comical. The sparkling wine flight was a fun treat & the food was decent, but certainly not the best I've had. I would go to Panorama again, but probably stick to the wine flights & then head to Kabul or Amada. Although the ambiance is much cooler, as is the wine selection, for the best Italian, I'd still go to Il Tartufo in Manayunk.
(4)Art S.
Panorama isn't just one of my favorite Italian restaurants in Philly, it's one of my favorite Italian restaurants, period. When you consider everything that this place has going for it (location, food, service, wine selection, decor), this place has it all. If I do have a slight criticism, it would be that the prices are a bit high, but, you know what? It doesn't bother me one bit here. I think that it's one of those rare times when everything tends to be so good that it's worth what you pay. The only reason I think we all wish that the prices were cheaper is so we could eat here all the time! Anyway, the food is absolutely phenom. The pappardelle served with a ragout of slow-cooked duck is FREAKING SICK. Yeah, I used ALL CAPS for that one. It's that god damned delicious. Honestly, I'd describe more food, but I've never had anything I didn't like here. I just wanted to make sure you knew about that duck pasta. A quick note about service before I get to the wine... I think the service here is great. It's the perfect balance of attentiveness without being obtrusive, professionalism without sacrificing one's personality, and a high level of knowledge without coming across as being elitist. That's a tricky trifecta to pull off... As for wine, well, this place is awesome. They serve these awesome flights, where you can get some crazy delicious wines. It's really the best way to go if you can't decide on one wine. Otherwise, I can't even begin to do their selection justice. You need to just go and check it out for yourself.
(5)John D.
Will never go there again! I made a reservation via opentable for 8:30, due to snow plowing of practically every street in center city and being detoured we knew we would arrive at the restaurant a little late so called them to let them know we were going to run about 15 minutes behind. When we arrived and checked in with the host she told us she would come and get us when our table was ready, FORTY FIVE minutes later she arrived to pick us up and seat us in the basement. Once we sat down we waited another 15 minutes (while other tables were waited on around us) until our waitress came over to get our drink order. The only thing we ordered was a flight 405 no other drinks so not hard to remember yet she came back asking whether we said 403 or 405. An understandable mistake but one that leads to another problem down the line. After getting our drinks we wait another 20 minutes for our waitress to take our order. From the time we get our food order in it takes about another 2 hours for us to get all of our courses served to us and service is inexcusably slow for basic things like refilling our water (since we have nothing to eat it'd be nice to get more water sooner then every 30 minutes). After everything is said and done we get the bill from another waitress as im spinning my wallet around (its now midnight and we need to leave) and I don't even look at the bill so eager to leave I put my credit card in it and hand it right back not wanting to wait another 30 minutes for someone to come around. When I finally do get the bill back I realize that was a mistake and that the waitress had charged us for both the 403 and 405 flights, we have it corrected and leave. I will never go here again, the food was "O-K" at best (though the desert admittedly was amazing) but certainly not worth the pricetag, don't get me wrong I feel there are several expensive restaurants that are worth it whether it be the service you are paying for or the food. This place had the high price and neither of those things going for it. Stay away!
(1)Steven S.
My wife and I frequented this lovely, quiet place with the best pasta in the city early in our marriage (so many years ago) and always enjoyed our experience. Then, like many others, we started paying more attention to the names like Starr and Vetri and lost track of this place. Our 16th anniversary afforded us the opportunity of coming back home to Panorama and we sure are glad we did. What a perfect combination of professional yet friendly service, remarkably good food, and a peaceful, romantic setting that's just a little off the beaten path. What a gem this place is. Do yourself a favor and take a break from the big-name, high-budget, high-brow food and treat yourself to a night of just simply great food in a wonderful environment.
(5)Nuala M.
Stopped in to this establishment for drinks and snacks with another couple one evening. We had a wonderful time! The wine flights were of particular interest and the delightful snacks were wonderful. The cheese plate was a perfect snack to go along with our individual flights. Our server was helpful, knowledgeable and made GREAT recommendations! Loved it!!!! Can't wait to go back again and recommend it to many folks!
(5)Mare M.
While the food is just above average italian cuisine, the wine list & wine flights make it worth the trip !
(4)mary-margaret s.
Was booked at the inn that shares the same space (Penn's View Hotel). Decided to try the restaurant based on reviews. Was NOT disappointed! The eggplant app was to die for. Flavors, textures, presentation all above board. Availability of wine flights/choices is seldom seen elsewhere. Knowledgeable. Staff was solicitous without being annoying. Dinner relaxed/not rushed. Good desert choices and a very good latte to end the meal. I'll definitely return with hubby. Can't imagine anyone being disappointed; even the jaded foodie.
(4)P L.
Food is excellent and the wine bar is amazing
(4)Winston C.
Loud, cramped and food is average at best.
(2)Lindsay T.
Frank Z. sounds like he knows what he's talking about! When we first arrived I was skeptical. We parked in the parking lot right next to the building (if you're driving down market, it is on your left at the corner of front) and there was a sign for the restaurant in neon lights - it just looked shady. But when we got to the front of the hotel, it was quite charming - classic Philadelphia/Old City type look. There is a coat check inside at Il Bar (sic?); we were promptly seated thereafter. Note: We did have reservations - I believe it's a must. The menu is a little overwhelming, as is the wine list. But, they do a nice job categorizing the wines by the regions which they are from. We got a nice Sauvignon Blanc from the Monterey region of California - for my year and a half in Ca. I haven't tried any wines from that area; it was fruity, aromatic and tasty. We ordered a salad and one pasta dish in appetizer size for us all to share. All the pasta come in appetizer and full portion sizes. If you're watching your weight, obviously the appetizer size is the healthy portion and the full size is too much food (just a note :) ) I had the chilean sea bass, but their specialty is really veal which 3 of us at the table ordered. My friend had this three-way pasta dish with gnocchi, ravioli and pasta in red sauce. Of the three, the gnocchi was the best, and the ravioli in spinach sauce was tasteless. Overall, we had a really great time and really enjoyed the food.
(5)Mary G.
food was great. Wine was great. Meagan was.a doll.....hostess was a bitch
(3)Kristin D.
I had high hopes for this restaurant after reading the reviews, but my entire group had okay-nothing special food. For appetizer we had the fried calamari which was nothing to write home about. I ordered a trio of pastas for entree, the special of the night , including gnocchi, penne marinara & ravioli w/ spinach sauce. The entree was pricey & bland especially the penne & ravioli. I do give the gnocchi a thumbs up, it was actually really good gnocchi. If you go to this restuarant - Order the Gnocchi- I wish I had ordered that by itself. My husband had the chilean sea bass. It didn't have much flavor and pretty much tasted like nothing. The wine selection was good as well as the service, but for me to pay the prices, the food has to be there, and it wasn't.
(3)Kim C.
Four stars all around. I love the flights of wine, appetizers, service, and desserts. If they packaged and sold their pear vinaigrette, I would be very, very happy. The entrees have been a little salty in the few times that I've visited, but this ristorante excels in veal and chicken dishes. Good, hearty fare that comes in decent-sized portions.
(4)Shirlana D.
This restaurant was romantic. I enjoyed the calming ambiance. I visited this restaurant for restaurant week and was thoroughly satisfied. The appetizers were served in abundance and the entrees were large in nature. The pasta was served perfectly (was actually asked if we preferred it el dente). The veal was tender and moist. The sauce that the food was served with was full of fresh herbs and spices. The dessert was great and had me thinking I could lick my plate. I enjoyed the environment, food and flavors and will definitely return here in the future. If you are looking for that quaint place to spend time with the one you love, away from the beaten path and crowds, then give Panorama a try.
(4)Amy K.
This place is fantastic! If you enjoy wine and good food you will feel the same. They have an impressive wine selection and have so many wine flights. We also ordered the Italian flight of cheese which was great and had this truffle honey that was to die for! Gnocchi was one of the best i've ever had - very pillowy. Definitely going back!
(5)Thutrang L.
Tried out this place for Restaurant Week and the menu was set up in a way where you were able to order directly from their main menu, but was limited to ordering an app, entree and desert. So that was good. I went with 3 other friends, so we were able to try almost everything haha. The restaurant is about a block or so away from Franklin Foundation and it's in a hotel so you can't really miss it. Parking is not so bad around this area. The decor and atmosphere is great, not too dark and not too loud. The wine bar was the main feature of the entire place, in my opinion. The waitress was really hospitable. For the first course we ordered the Gamberetti & Fagioli, Insalata di Stagione, Funghi Selvatici, and the Insalata di Stagione. I enjoyed my Insalata di Salmone, the salmon was great and the greens were nicely dressed. Although the Gamberetti & Fagioli was probably the best first course. The shrimp were perfectly cooked, the cannellini beans were delish! For the second course, we ordered Filetto di Manzo, Capesante all'Arancia, Agnello con salsa verde, petto d'anatra con more. The scallops were cooked perfectly and the flavor was on point! Although some of the sweet potato and cauliflower was over cooked, the dish over all was great. My least favorite dish was the lamb, but I'm just not a fan of lamb anyway. For dessert, the highlight was the poached pear. A slightly sweet dessert with mascarpone. This place is famous for their wine flights so we ordered that and throughly enjoyed being able to try a variety of wines. Although it was restaurant week, there wasn't much diners on a Sunday evening. I would definitely recommend this place!
(4)Kevin R.
I can't believe I haven't been here before now. The wife and I had reservations but opted to sit at the bar (where the action is). The bartender was very friendly and knowledgeable explain in the wine flights and answering our questions. My flight was wonderful and had generous pours of all the wines. We started off with the best burrata appetizer we've ever had. Flavorful lightly grilled tomatoes with the cheese on top along with arugula on the side topped with a drizzle of balsamic. I know that I thoroughly enjoyed the rest of the meal but can't quite remember what I had. The flight and the couple of martini's I had earlier had done their job. I'll return but won't imbibe beforehand.
(5)Ashley B.
We had our rehearsal dinner here for our wedding! We had 50 people for dinner and everyone enjoyed their food! Food, wine and service were great! I would definitely recommend panorama and we will be back soon!!
(5)Sonia S.
Nicky P and I came here for a belated Valentine's Day dinner. The food was very average and bland. But their wine selection is quite impressive. They hold the Guiness Book record for being the largest wine keeper in the world. They have over 100 wines on tap (I didn't even know wines could be on tap)! We started off with a wine flight between the 2 of us, which included 5 different wines. Our waiter was very knowledgeable and recommended a selection from the pages and pages of wine flights based on our not so picky preferences of "not too sweet, not too dry". I don't remember which combination we chose, but we both enjoyed the experience of trying different wines. As for food, the only thing I would recommend is the melanzane appetizer. The waiter mentioned it was the chef's specialty. It is breaded eggplant topped with fresh mozzarella and tomato sauce baked to perfection. I got the trio pasta special as an entree - rigatoni with tomato sauce, spinach gnocchi in a cream sauce, and ravioli. I wasn't particularly enthusiastic about any of them, but the gnocchi was the best of the 3. We got the tiramisu, but it was nothing to rave about (then again, nothing compares to the tiramisu at La Viola). The waiter in training recommended an ice wine with dessert. I had never tried ice wine before, but it was a sweet ending to the night! I would not recommend this place for dinner, but it is a unique place to go for the wine selection. I am no connoisseur, but I definitely enjoyed sharing different wines with Nicky P!
(3)Shaina F.
This is my oldest favorite place to eat in Philadelphia and my go-to for a special dinner when guests come into town to visit me! We are never disappointed - the food and wine are outstanding (over 120 rotating wines on tap...need I say more?) and the ambiance in the bar room or downstairs is just too cool - old school Italian. My personal favorites are the fried calamari, which they nearly always have on special, the antipasto misto, funghi, and insalata di Caesar for starters. Plus the addicting little bread nuggets on your table as a starter! For my main course, I almost always opt for the gnocchi con provola affumicata - they are just so perfectly executed that I can't seem to get past them to try many more things, but I'm always tasting what everyone else gets too. The Trenette di Spinaci is spinach pasta with sausage and grated parm, also a good choice. I've tried the pesto over gnocchi as well and it's to die for. Their specials are also great and we've ordered lobster ravioli and many other dishes from there, I have not once been disappointed with any aspect of my meal. Now...onto the wines, the part of the meal that hits it out of the park! They have over 100 wines on tap, which are circulating seasonally so there is always a crazy huge selection! Personally, I like to go big or go home, so I choose from one of their wine flights (5 glasses, with a dozen options!). The wait staff is so incredibly knowledgable they will make sure you find one you love, and you can try it for free! This place is perfection in my mind, and in over a dozen visits I have not had anything but a stellar, incredibly classy dinner here. Mmmmm
(5)Thomas W.
I always tell all of my friends that if they like Wine (and especially if they love it), they must visit Ristorante Panorama while in Philadelphia. The location is really pretty and the actual bar itself is beautiful. Their wine flights are so extensive and poured in such a cool fashion and at a very reasonable price -- especially during happy hour. Panorama also does a lot of fun events every month for different types of wine and food. From the few times I've actually had food here, the food quality is good, though nothing too surprising compared to the many, many other Italian places in Philadelphia. If you're looking for solid Italian food with great, great wine, it is definitely in a class of its own.
(5)Carlene A.
Very disappointing. We have been coming here for over 10 years and our experience today was a huge let down. I would tell you about the food only I have no idea because I did not receive mine and the bartender did not seem to care. The wine is great but what happened to an educated bartender at a wine bar. The new condensed menu is a beg disappiobtmebt as well. We struggled to find selections that we never received anyway. Again excellent in the past but terrible today. We will not return.
(1)Jacqueline L.
I am giving Panorama 4 stars because of the service, the ambiance, and of course, the wine flights(!!!!). All of those aspects made dinner at Panorama for restaurant week a great experience for a group of 4 of us. The place has an older vibe to it, with Italian murals all over the walls, but this restaurant has been here a long time, as part of the Penn View Hotel, and there is a reason it has done so well and stuck around. The fact that there are countless wine taps along the bar are reason enough to come give this spot a try! I liked that they didn't change the menu for restaurant week, so I knew what they offered all the time. I went with a beet salad for an app., scallops for an entree, and cream puffs for dessert. Everything was good, but nothing mind blowing. I would recommend this place to anyone, but again, for the first three reasons I mentioned, not so much for the food itself. It's enjoyable, but I think there are a lot of way better Italian restaurants in the city to get some truly superb Italian cuisine.
(4)Emily S.
This place was a nice little hidden gem. What brought me in was the wine flights but what won me over was the gnocchi. We started with the smoked salmon salad over arugula. Simple but tasty. The bread came out with a bowl of freshly made pesto to dip into. I had the veal stuffed with mushrooms and prosciutto - amazing. It came with green beans and mashed potatoes. We also split a half gnocchi and I will never eat gnocchi again unless it is from this place. It was like a pillowy treat covered in red sauce. My mouth is watering just thinking about it. Enough about gnocchi, back to the wine. The flights totaled about a glass and a half of wine. They have literally pages of different variations of 5 different wines to choose from. I chose #801 and it was a mix of different reds. I would definitely go back. They also have a wine cellar downstairs with space for private parties.
(5)Marcus K.
Its true, they have an unmatched wine by the glass selection. And they do a great job at selecting flights of five wines to try. The first thing you notice when you go up to the bar is a thick manual on wines. The manual lists countless of possible wines and possible flights. Of course you can make up your own flight but I decided to go with one of theirs. After about 20 minutes of serious study, and a glass of wine, I finally made a selection. The wines came out and were lined up in front of me. About 1.5 oz each sample and the flights cost about $20-30. There were some pricier ones as well. Ill save those for next time. It was a great combination so someone definitely did a good hob on their homework. While sipping away, I tried a couple appetizers (escargots, beet salad) and a desert (pear). Everything was in the damn thats good! to amazing! range. I wonder if they ever do wine/food pairings? Lets see, what else would you want to know. Happy hour is 5-7. When I arrived at the end of happy hour, the place was pretty quiet and empty. By 7:30 it filled up with several groups of tasters, dinner goers, and who knows what. It looked like everyone was having a great time. So, if you are into wine, this is a must go. If you are not but like good food, this is a must go. Guess what, that means you must go! Have fun.
(5)Andi S.
I enjoyed the orecchiette with shrimp and the aperol cocktail, both were good. Service was excellent, ambiance also very nice and I really like the wall mural, excellent art.
(4)Dave W.
Ristorante Panorama is a little bit of a throwback - the ambiance is wonderful and you do not feel rushed to start, or complete your meal. The waitstaff is well trained and are quite familiar with the menu. We started our meal with a wonderful antipasto platter which easily served the four of us - very nice presentation. The ladies brought their wine flights from the bar (they have a system that provides 150 different wines by the glass) while Charlie and I sampled their selection of Craft beers on tap. Entrees consisted of: Gnocchi con Provola Affumicata homemade pillows of potato and ricotta gnocchi with fresh basil and fresh & smoked mozzarella in a light San Marzano tomato sauce Vitello Mandolese thinly pounded veal medallions stuffed with prosciutto and fresh mozzarella in a sauce of porcini mushrooms Orecchiette housemade pasta (two). We finished off this perfect meal by sharing two orders of excellent cheesecake.
(4)Angela T.
I went to Panorama last night for a pre-birthday celebration with friends for the first time. I read the reviews from Drink Philly and wanted to try out the restaurant. I want to say that the food and the wine was great. I love the idea of wine on tap. Yes we sat at the bar and the service from the bartender (male) made the experience horrible. The bartender was not friendly, not social or not attentive to my group (6 people). He did suggest the bottle of French wine and beer but very condescending. I recommend some sensitivity training to customers who are new to the restaurant. This person is not a good fit for the ambiance of the restaurant. I would come back but not at the bar and it will be a while.
(2)Elyse K.
This review breaks my heart. I have loved this place for many years now. It was one of my go to city restaurants. They're homemade pasta was amazing. They have changed their menu in the recent months and I am so sad about this. How is there no Caesar salad. Is it not an Italian restaurant anymore? Am I missing something? They also took away several pastas. One of which was the reason I come back. RIP lobster ravioli. :( We went this past weekend. I was fine with giving this new shortened menu a try. The food is still good. The service however is horrendous. Granted we were bit loud. drinking flights of wine will do that to you. They should expect this. Our server was so miserable. And the bus boy pretty sure was stoned off his ass. So with food being just meh and and service being the worst. The only think left is wine. I'll stick to the liquor store. Sad to not want to go back to a place I use to love.
(2)Matthew L.
My girlfriend and I recently went to Philadelphia for a 4-day sight-seeing trip. We stayed at the Penn's View Inn, so naturally we were curious about their on-site restaurant. After we checked in on a Friday evening, we wanted to see if we could eat at Panorama. We didn't have a recommendation or anything, but they were easily able to accommodate us. They had delicious pasta dishes and a wine list that would make your eyes explode. I work for a craft brewery part-time, so I'm well aware of 'beer flights', but I've never heard of wine flights. I ordered the 'White Wines for the Beer Lovers' flight and my girlfriend had the 'Sticky Sweet Sensations' flight. We were very happy with our choices. I also couldn't believe how many wines that they had on tap. I've only seen wines on tap at one other place, and they only had three wines. Panorama must have had at least 120 wines on tap. I can't tell you how many times I've been to a hotel where the on-site restaurant was expensive and the food wasn't even great. Panorama's prices were decent and the quality was excellent. I had heard stories about people who just go to the Penn's Inn so they can eat at Panorama, and now I know why. In all, we were very happy with our visit here. If you love good wine, then you definitely have to make a stop.
(4)Daniel M.
Had high hopes but was not impressed. Under-poured my $28 wine flight, chicken was like rubber, duck was like rubber. Eggplant was good but not good enough to outshine the terrible main dishes and the sea of elderly people (8:30 on Friday, they should have been asleep). This place is not for anyone who lives in Philly and has enjoyed any of the great restaurants that Philly has to offer.
(2)Abhishek Y.
Delightful Ambiance w/ Okay Food This was the location of my Valentines Day dinner with my special someone at the time. Overall, it probably wasn't worth the 80 bucks that we spent for the 2 apps, 2 entrees, and 2 desserts, which is really unfortunate, because this is the kind of place that you really want to like. The nice and cozy feel inside is matched by the warmth of the service, and the different servers are certainly knowledgable about their menu. As a few others have remarked, the gnocchi is phenomenal, but I was relatively underwhelmed by the other 5 things that we ordered, which was a real let down. That being said, it could have just been the rush for the holiday or else an off-night, so it's not a write-off just yet.
(3)L S.
I thoroughly enjoyed my time here for Happy Hour. I tried a flight of white wine ( #402) and the Melanzane & Mozzerella. That eggplant dish was AMAZING I ordered another one after I finished my first lol. My Fiance (yup! eek) ordered the Gamberetti & Fagioli and he loved it. I don't eat shrimp, so I tasted everything in the dish except for the shrimp and it was SO good SO flavorful. I will be going back!
(4)Kristina C.
120 wines on their cruvinet system...wines on tap are never wrong Wine flights to try ones you might not otherwise ever try Amazing service and Cool atmosphere Should make a reservation if going on the weekend - Calamari with orange WOW! - Gluten free pasta with pesto (can use GF noodles with other dishes as well) - Flourless cake thick like fudge and totally amazing - Gnocchi from what I hear was the best they have ever had - 1/2 orders are available and if you get appetizers it is a perfect amount - The "special plates" that the server tells you about seem to be a little smaller in portion I found out about this place because I went to a Yelp Elite event here and I can tell you that I was not disappointed when I went back. This is officially one of my favorite restaurants in the city, what a hidden gem!
(5)Angela C.
If I had intended on doing more of a wine tasting visit to Ristorante Panorama, this may be a 4. There's a very extensive list of wines and I enjoyed my Sangiovese. My sister in law and I ate here (had baby and stroller in tow) for dinner on a week night. Be warned there is no ramp if you need one! The restaurant itself is in a really cool hotel/historic building. It's very cozy and romantic. Food is okay. If the price point was a little lower, I might be more impressed, but for the price- Shrug. They also have a gluten free pasta, but only one option, with a few possible sauce substitutions, and my sister in law felt it was just okay. Staff was nice and helpful with getting the stroller in and out. I'd say, maybe not the best bang for your buck in terms of Italian, but would be a great spot for friends and wine.
(3)Christopher S.
Panorama is one of my favorite restaurants in Philly... had a lovely Valentine's Day dinner there with my wife and the service was top notch. They had the preset menu of 1 app, 1 entree and 1 dessert for $40, a great value.I love it when you need something from your waiter, you look at him across the room to get his attention, and he is so vigilant that he sees you and immediately comes over... that is priceless! Best dish there in my opinion is the poached pear dessert. In fact, it is one of my favorite dishes of all time. Also, any of their house made pastas are sure to please. So simple and elegant. I would highly recommend Panorama.
(4)Mel D.
An oldie but a goodie in Old City. I used to take clients to lunch there in the mid-90s before Old City was worth visiting. Anywho ... Panorama is still a quality place. Just celebrated our wedding anniversary there and was glad to see they're still top notch. Pros- quality food, creative menu, knowledgeable/professional staff, not overtly focused on turning tables. I'm not a wine drinker, but clearly they're selection is best in town. Cons- can't really think of any ... except do they really need to charge for an iced tea refill?
(4)M B.
If you like wine bars - this is your spot. I'm not a wine guy, but Italian food is most certainly up my alley. This one is alright. One of our party ordered the duck pasta dish; I should have just order a triple order of that - top notch. The beat salad was not what I expected; but ended up being one of my favorite parts of the meal. It's a cube of beats - and I dig my beats. I had the trio pasta as an entree, it was ok. Nothing particularly special. Their gnocchi was rather good, but the other two pastas didn't add anything. This time we were able to get a table (despite our reservation last time). However unlike our last experience it was almost empty. That said, don't expect a quick dining experience. Eating here is a leisurely exercise.
(3)Matt D.
We've been to Panorama three times, and I don't hesitate to hit them with five stars. Funny thing is each experience was completely different, but all very good ones. The Yelp event here last year was phenomenal, and shame on me for not putting up a review after it. They held nothing back, and the food and wine were incredible. Our second visit was stellar again, but relatively uneventful. It always seems to be a great place to go on First Friday when you don't want to deal with big crowds. I think this place deals with two types of patrons: locals who want great wine and upscale Italian food and guests of the Inn who have no idea what to expect. The third time was a charm, and I want to start by saying the barkeep who just passed his sommelier's test was probably the best I've ever encountered. He was friendly, knew how to keep his distance, made perfect recommendations when asked, and turned a 20 minute drink stop into an hour and a half wine tasting mission. There's a trick to discounting to encourage more purchases, and this guy was a master. If you go, ask him to make you his Italian egg cream creation that is not on the menu...wow! Also, the stuffed pastas are not to be missed, and you will not find better half priced wine and appetizers at any happy hour in the city.
(5)Anita S.
The ambiance of this place is really neat with their exposed brick walls and dim lighting. The concept is cool, too - I'm not too well versed in wine and this bar makes trying different kinds very approachable and accessible. The staff is knowledgeable and patient in guiding newbs, like myself, towards delicious wine options. The food here was a bit underwhelming, as other people have mentioned, considering the price point. We enjoyed our grilled calamari, mussels and entrees were not particularly memorable, and we enjoyed a trio of ice creams from Franklin Fountain as well. Would definitely come back for the bar.
(4)Kristen C.
My family and I visited the day after Thanksgiving. We easily got reservations and honestly could have just walked in with no reservations. There were only about 4 other tables filled. The first thing I noticed was the wine bar. This place is a must for any and all wine lovers. Our group ranged in age from 14 to 68. Two ordered the filet mignon. They were both cooked to perfection. The other three of our group selected the special for that night that included gnocchi, ravioli and one other type of pasta. This dish was offered as a whole or half. Everyone ordered half and it was just enough if you were planning on dessert, which you should. We each ordered a different dessert. The tiramisu was wonderful as were the pear and the apple desserts. Service was great and I would go again the next time I'm in town.
(4)Sean G.
Amazing service and wine flight selections. I will definitely be back for food at which I can hopefully give it a 5 star rating
(4)Kiki V.
I want to love this place so badly. The wine selection is amazing and where else can you get wine flights!?! I've visited Panorama quite a number of times with highly varying experiences. I brought my uncle, a huge wine aficionado, and he was highly impressed. We all left thinking we'd found a new Philly favorite. However, i've returned on other occasions and found the staff rude and unwelcoming. In fact, the last time my boyfriend and I tried to pop in for a glass of wine we were asked to leave because they wanted to close - it was before 9PM on a Friday.
(2)William M.
Great wine selection and wine flights. Nice selection of specials and food was delicious. Made to feel welcome and service was good. Will be back!
(4)Valerie F.
Came here for the valentines day special at the penn view hotel, got a room, 3-course dinner, bottle of champagne and chocolate-covered strawberries for $200 which was a great deal! I thought the good was delicious: had the escargot as an appetizer, lobster ravioli entree and the red velvet cheesecake for dessert. I highly recommend the lobster ravioli. Overall the service was excellent and efficient, the food was delicious and the prices were reasonable. Would definately come back here!
(5)Luigi C.
Cute restaurant, nice ambiance, great service...too bad the only thing i really cared of, food, was mediocre. The vitello secondo piatto was poor. Pasta was al dente, but cocked without salt . Wine tested more like vinaigrette than wine. Overall, a great disappointment....too bad because the place is super cute. Also, don't expect to drop less than $100 a head.
(2)Liz F.
Post raving about an awesome yelp event here, my boyfriend took me here for my birthday dinner- which was nothing short of awesome. The inside of this place is gorgeous. Exposed stone, nice art, low lighting, etc. The food was phenomenal- we shared a meat and cheese plate app, got the gnocchi (every other gnocchi you ever have will pale in comparison), boyfriend got a pork dish with broccoli rabe (the name escapes me), and had tiramisu that was really decadent. I was stuck on wine which was all on point- dining partner also ordered a cocktail that was very strong but good. The only thing that made it broke this 5 star experience was the service. It was SO slow! Don't get me wrong, I thoroughly enjoyed having a long & lovely birthday dinner, but if I came here on any old Friday and was in the restaurant for nearly 3 hours (yes, this is real) and not expecting to allot that much time, I'd be upset. Also, parking around the area can be brutal. Just pay for a garage or take the train if it's an option.
(4)Justin B.
2 words: wine flights. 3 Words I try to pronounce like an Italian: Tortelloni di Ricotta e Aragosta I love where the restaraunt is situated, the ambience, the wine selection, and the culinary expertise is unbelievable.
(5)Jen C.
Last night, a group of friends and I dined at Panorama - there were 18 people in our party, and as you can tell from my rating our experience was less than stellar. Let me preface this by saying that all of us have worked or currently work in the hospitality industry, so we understand the demands a large party can place on a restaurant. We arrived in a few different groups and were mingling at the bar, when the hostess asked us if we would like to be seated. We noted that our whole party had not yet arrived, but she said that was fine and led us to a long table in the central dining area. Our server greeted both ends of the table and told us about the specials, and then took our drink order. Approximately 10-15 minutes later, he arrived back and began taking dinner orders, despite the fact that our drinks had not yet arrived. Several members of the party inquired about the status, and we were told that they would arrive shortly. Bread began arriving after the order was taken, but still no drinks. At this point, approximately 30 minutes had passed. One of our friends went up to speak to the manager about the delay, and was told that we are a large party so it takes time. She noted that we would have been fine waiting at the bar and drinking if they were not ready for us, but instead we were rushed to our table. I should note that during the interim, one friend actually went to the bar, ordered and returned with drinks before ours arrived. When the drinks finally did come, my husband's Manhattan did not arrive, and was told by the server that it would be right over because "it wasn't ready yet" - after 40 minutes, this was laughable. This set the tone for an experience that was just disappointing all around. The food was good but not great - when dinners began arriving, instead of having multiple people serve so that we all got our dinners mostly at once, they were delivered in a staggered manner that had the people who got their entrees first waiting for about 10 minutes to eat until the later people were served. A filet mignon had to be sent back to the kitchen for being undercooked, and didn't arrive back until the rest of us had finished eating, so this person ended up eating alone. I do not blame the server for any of our problems - although he did seem to be lacking a sense of urgency, 18 people is too much for one person to wait on properly. Management should have stepped in to help, especially after we spoke to them about our experience early on. Not once did anyone follow up or check on our meals throughout. Overall, we still managed to have fun because of the group we were with - we do not get to see each other as often as we used to, since many of us are parents now and nights out are few and far between. But I'm sorry that we wasted our meal out on this restaurant - we will not be back, and will be sharing our experience with friends and the restaurant directly.
(1)Tommy J.
We visited here for restaurant week and were pleasantly surprised the full menu was part of the deal. Lovely ambiance and very attentive service complimented the tasty entrees. The Vitello Mandolese was very tender and delicious. The Capesante featured 4 large scallops and were equally tasty. Unique to this restaurant are the wine flights allowing you to taste five small glasses of wine. Lots of fun for wine drinkers! For dessert the Cornetto di Ricotta was wonderful.
(4)Kevin C.
Excellent dinner with excellent service. My wife and I go out to dinner frequently, so our expectations are quite high- panorama met all our expectations and then some.Friendly attentive servers, a killer wine list and excellent food- can't ask for much more. (Except the small Italian wine crackers they give you when you first sit down...I could and should have asked for more of those). Put this on your list!
(5)Jennifer M.
My good friends know that I am a "wine geek." So, when I heard that a restaurant just around the corner from where I lived had the world's largest continuous cruvinet system in the world, you know I had to check it out. What is a cruvinet? Well, dear beloved Philly beer drinkers, it is like having over 300 beers on tap, only instead of beer, it is open bottles of wine where the air does not touch the wine and thus turn it to vinegar. You get a glass of wine in it's optimal condition, just as God intended. Their wine selection spans the globe taking you on a viticultural tour one perfect glass at a time. If this were not enough to keep this wine curious fan enthralled, Panorama also offers flights (of 5 different glasses of wine) to train one's palate. Although, I believe the best deal here is their "Friday Night Flights." If you sign up online (see the restaurant's website) and purchase ahead of time, for $25 you get to taste 5-7 wines with a selection of appetizers to compliment the wines being featured. Unlike Panorama's standard flights which are only 1 oz. pours, in my experience these glasses can be more like a 3 oz. pour or more, so you are really getting your money's worth in just the wine, while gaining a nice education. With this much alcohol flowing, taking notes is highly suggested. Last night, my boyfriend surprised me by suggesting instead of the happy hour we initially planned to partake in, that we go ahead and stay for dinner. We shared a full order of their Tagliatelle con Funghi e Granchio (Tagliatelle noodles with wild mushrooms and crab). It was a delicious dish. Note though on portions: The full order is not a huge American sized dish of pasta, but a much more managable size. If your intent is to order the Secondi of meat or fish, order the half order so as to have room for dessert. If you have a healthy appetite the full order and the Secondi is perfect. Since both of us had a couple of appetizers and bread, splitting the full size pasta was a bit on the skimpy side for me. (I guess I have a heartier appetite). The food, the wines, the knowledgeable staff and servers make this restaurant this secret gem you think twice about telling your friends for fear that it'll be ruined somehow. Still, if you are like me and often find yourself swilling less than stellar wine in this beer centric town, head to Panorama and rejoice with your fellow wine lovers.
(4)Victoria C.
The service was decent, but the FOOD WAS HEAVENLY. Veal? Good. Duck? Good. Jumbo Shrimp? They were jumbo.. and grilled perfectly. I would come here again.
(4)Gerard V.
Wonderful food and fabulous wines Sommelier Bill is very helpful Moscato pears with hazelnut muscarpone is my favorite dessert of all time!!!
(5)Jennifer S.
Despite our reservation and several open tables, we waited an additional 30 minutes after arriving. The service was average, food was uninspired and average at best. Atmosphere was nothing special. Overall, we were disappointed and won't return.
(2)Laurie J.
Went here for dinner tonight and it was phenomenal. To open, our waitress, Julie, was very attentive and awesome. I told her the type of wine I was looking for and she read the menu, consulted with the bartender, then offered me a free taste of their suggestion before committing us to a bottle. (Note, I've been here before and typically get one of their wine flights. The wine flights are five pre-chosen selections of 1.5 ounce glasses of wine. They have a large selection so there is a "flight" for everyone. Great value and a great way to sample their extensive wine list.) Our waitress also provided insights on each question we asked about the menu, making suggestions and giving great descriptions for those of us who were torn between food options. I went with the Bietola con Crema di Ricotta for my salad, which is a beet salad. It was delicious. For my entree, I went with the Petto d'Anatra con Ciliegie (duck), which was also great - perfect temperature and taste. For dessert, I had a trio of ice creams - maple walnut, strawberry and caramel - all simply delightful. Their menu is great - I need to go back again and again to try all the options. Julie was very attentive, even though she was waiting on another large table. A word of advice, go here if you are okay with a leisurely dinner. This isn't the place to go if you're looking for a quick meal.
(5)Kevin H.
Had a great experience here this weekend. A very classy and elegent joint, perfect for a date night. We went for restaurant week and they offered everything from their standard menu. Our waiter was perfect...very nice, polite, knew all of the wines/dishes. The food was on par. I had a nice cut of steak and she was happy with her veal and pasta. One thing worth noting is that they were able to accommodate my girlfriend's gluten-free diet. Just about everything on the menu can be made gluten-free. That might not mean much for most, but it's a pretty big deal for the gluten intolerant.
(4)Mini P.
Took my husband here for his birthday during restaurant week. It was a lovely experience. The dinning area in the wine bar was cozy and romantic. For my first course I had the gnocchi and it was everything gnocchi should be. 2nd course was pork tenderloin in an amazing sauce! It was one of the best I have tasted. 3rd course was a ricotta cheesecake. It was so so. We also had a flight of wine and it was nice to sample and pair different wines with our meal. All in all it was an excellent dinning experience and I would defiantly be going back.
(4)andrew t.
We were staying in the hotel and went for happy hour. The service was great, but the food was over priced (even with happy hour deal) for what you get. We just had a couple drinks, couple apps and moved along.
(2)Mattie C.
Boyfriend and I decided to go here as a "romantic date night" one time when we were in Philadelphia. The place was incredible. Delicious food/seafood, and best of all - WINE FLIGHTS! They have a bunch of different options, and we did an "around the world" flight. It was really interesting and very delcious. The ambiance here was very romantic and classy. It is also in a historic section of town, and it was pleasant walking back to our hotel through the old historic alleyways. It was expensive, though. And there are so many good restaurants in Philadelphia, who knows if I will come back or not, but this restaurant gets a huge A++ and will certainly be remembered!
(5)Allison B.
Ristorante Panorama impressed me when they hosted a Yelp Elite event in the fall. The food was excellent (even though it was a buffet, the food was perfectly done) and the wine selection was impressive to say the least. I was also really pleased that the bartenders can help you choose a wine based on the flavors you generally enjoy. That event was certainly a five and enticed me enough to warrant a return visit. We stopped most recently when making our way to Penn's Landing for the New Year's Eve fireworks. That visit was honestly more of a three-star experience (so you average the two and you get the four that I've rated it here). We just kind of snuck into a small space at the end of the bar. It was late, so there was no seating. We were generally reserved/courteous as a group and were dressed nicely, but perhaps because we're younger the service we received at the bar that night was not as friendly and helpful as it had been at the Elite event. We asked for mid-priced wines -- a dry white and a three dry reds, and the bartender seemed annoyed with that request. The wine she ultimately brought fit the bill nicely and was enjoyed by all, but I would have preferred to feel a little more welcomed and appreciated as a customer. I'm going to chalk it up to New Year's Eve being an overly busy and annoying night. I would like to go back for a full meal one night in the future, and I will certainly update my review at that time. Overall, I think this is a great place to try and based on the rave reviews of others, I wouldn't have any qualms about going back.
(4)Holly T.
Ristorante Panorama has been the site of some very special dinners in my life, and continues to be one of our favorite places for a romantic date or simply a delicious meal. First off, we love the wine bar. It's fantastic to be able to try high-end wines by the glass that one could normally only order by the bottle, thanks to their 120 bottle cruvinet and its frequently rotating selections. It makes springing for that Amarone all the more accessible. I also quite enjoy their wide variety of flights, made all the more tempting by their happy hour discounts. Second, I have found all of their food to be wonderful, from antipasti to primi to secondi, but their homemade pastas stand out in particular. I haven't had any food here that wasn't delicious. On our last visit, I had zucchini flowers filled with ricotta, mascarpone and fresh mozzarella, followed by Pappardelle in a slow-cooked ragout of duck. Even though it was over a week ago, I'm still thinking about it. The service has been top notch, both in the dining area and at the bar. The last time I was sitting at the bar, I listened as the bartender displayed a remarkable amount of patience and knowledge as she explained wines to a group of young girls who didn't know what to order. They're on Open Table, so reservations are a snap. My only bit of advice would be to avoid coming during Restaurant Week. We came for dinner once, not knowing it was restaurant week, and it really didn't do the place credit, as the selections were limited and the place was just too busy for us to get the quality of service we've gotten otherwise. It makes me a little sad that more people in Philly don't know about this place, despite the fact that it's been here over 20 years. At the same time, I don't mind having a few Philly secrets of my own.
(5)Sharandy O.
I went here with some friends for restaurant week and It was amazing! As you may know, restaurant week gives you 3 courses for $35. For the first course here, you have a choice of an appetizer, a salad or half of a full sized pasta dish. I chose the appetizer with the artichoke... I loved it! For my main entree, I had the pork chop with sweet potatoes and string beans. Out if all the things my friends ordered, mine was the best. This pork chop was amazing!!!!! It was crusted with delicious seasoning an covered in this sweet sauce and the sweet potatoes were the perfect touch. For desert, they were out of my first and second choice so I just had taramisu- you can never go wrong with that. Ristorante Panorama is Totally worth paying full price. I will be visiting again
(5)Timnit K.
Their wine selection was extensive and absolutely wonderful! Perhaps the best restaurant week experience I had. The pasta is heavenly and the veal, mouth-watering. The staff was personable and good-natured. One of us got our orders messed up (I blame the hustle and bustle of Restaurant Week) and the staff were absolutely lovely about it and compensated for the mistake by paying for the starter and dessert and giving us limencello (absolutely magical)! Oh and the sangria rosso was wondrous. This place was ABSOLUTELY worth it.
(5)B K.
Great selection of wines. The bartender was very helpful and knowledgeable. I liked the selection of wine flights and also tried the cheese flight. I had a veal dish for an entree and found it tender. The tiramisu I had for dessert was incredible. I can't wait to come back.
(5)Rich J.
This review is for the wine bar and that wine bar was pretty impressive...a very immense wine serving/preserving unit that holds 120 different bottles. I was in wino heaven. They have about two dozen wine tasting flights available...five 1.5 oz pours in each, plus individual glasses in 3 or 5 oz pours. During happy hour those flights are $5 off. This wonderful place is located in the equally wonderful Penn View Hotel. And the bartender makes a mean negroni.
(4)Mikki K.
I somehow felt very special dining here amazing food and wine. My husband was totally out of his element, if it ain't Wendys or McDonalds...pitiful...its a good thing he's fine...but I digress... My husband got a trio of different pasta which was light and flavorful....it did not come from a box! My appetizer was perfection which consisted of mussels. And the bread with the pesto oil was all I needed to send me over the top! But wait, There is more!!! My entree was the Parpenelle Pasta with the Duck Ragu. The pasta again was very light and the Duck Ragu which was in a rich hearty gravy that made you feel like you were in a small rustic village in Italy....and I know because I've been to small rustic villages in Italy. Let me tell you about the FLIGHTS OF WINE! YES!!! Wine of every kind from everywhere situated on a spiral tier and you try them....I flew back to Italy....wonderful.... I couldn't resist taking some ricotta cheesecake home...it was wonderful... I read a review where someone wrote that the waiters where somewhat robotic....good word for a few of them but our main server...not the girl that explained the specials to us...our server was warm and helpful. This is my new favorite place!!!
(5)Pete D.
My girlfriend and I ate here on Valentine's Day 2014. We walked in, and both liked the look of the restaurant, as well as the music playing. Our waiter told us about the different wines they have, so my girlfriend and I both decided to get a flight of wines each. This was really neat, but probably the only thing we ended up liking about the restaurant. The restaurant had a "Valentine's Day Special" which was an appetizer, main course, and dessert for $40 a person. I ordered the escargot for my appetizer, which was bland. I'm never one to add salt and pepper to all my food, but i had to add something to that to give it flavor. After we were finished our appetizers, it took pretty long for someone to come get our plates. We had someone refill our waters a couple times over the course of the dinner, but the water service seemed to stop near the end. We waited, and waited and waited for our main course. We were enjoying the wine flights and didn't really mind that much that we were waiting so long for our main course. I went out to my car and got our Valentine's Day gifts for each other so we could exchange gifts while we waited for the main course to come out. A little while after we exchanged gifts, the food finally came. I ordered the veal stuffed with cheese (veal mandolese I think it was called?). This was bland and the texture was kind of chewy. My girlfriend ordered the noodles and tiger shrimp, and this was not good either. The noodles were clumped together and the shrimp barely had any flavor. By the time we finished our main course, we were at the restaurant for 2 hours already (from when we sat down at our table, to when we finished the main course). No one came to collect our plates for a while. No one came to ask how everything was for a while until finally the waiter came and asked what we wanted for dessert. I ordered the "mixed sliced fresh fruit and berries" which was just chunks of cantaloupe and honeydew, with a few slices of strawberries. By the time we got our dessert, we asked for the check right away, because it was already 3 hours since we sat down. I am not lying, we were there for 3 hours (which is fine if you willingly want to sit around at a restaurant and take your time, but not if it's involuntarily). My girlfriend and I have never complained to a waiter or manager at all our dinner dates we've been to over the past year. She decided to say something to the waiter, and to the manager (when he came around at the end of our 3 hour dinner to ask how everything was). He apologized and said there was something wrong with the computer system for orders? He also offered us limoncello shots on the house, which we denied but he brought them anyway, and those were good. We decided we won't go back again. I don't know if they were understaffed with servers and kitchen workers, but we did not like the food nor the service. I regretted taking her there for our Valentine's Day dinner.
(1)Ricardo S.
Great wine list. They just changed the menu. Outstanding food and amicable service.
(4)Tom I.
I absolutely love Ristorante Panorama. It may be useless for me to say that this is one of my favorite restaurants in Philly since I have so many, but RP is definitely high on my list. I would have been here more times than I have if we lived closer to it. I had first discovered it during the four years I lived away from Philly and stayed at the attached Penn's View Hotel during a visit back. During that visit, I had a wonderful dinner there with my family and enjoyed the bar a couple of nights. I had a similarly excellent experience during a subsequent visit. Since moving back a year ago, we've been back a couple of times for dinner and a few times to sit at the bar. Over the few years I've gone to RP, the food and service has been consistently excellent, save one mediocre experience during restaurant week, during which we had similar mediocre experiences at otherwise excellent establishments, which speaks more to my impressions of restaurant week than to any individual restaurant. During our most recent visit, we brought along two guests, one from out of town. The evening started off with all of us ordering flights from the impressive selection of wines. There are many excellent wine bars in the city, but the Il Bar at Ristorante Panorama definitively has the best by the glass selection thanks to its world record 120 bottle preservation and distribution system. Here, you can try wines by the glass that you would only be able to get by the bottle elsewhere. The staff is exceptionally well-versed in their wines and can help navigate the extensive selection ensuring that you enjoy your glass(es). After lingering over our flights (five not insignificant pours), we sat in the adjacent dining area for dinner. Again, service was excellent and the food superb. I began my meal with an addition to that night's menu: mussels in a red sauce. For my entree, I had the Tagliatelle with exotic mushrooms topped with lump crabmeat. Everyone enjoyed their meals, which, of course, were accompanied by more excellent wines. We were too satisfied by our meals to entertain dessert, but we ended the evening with rounds of coffee and espresso and digestifs.
(5)Erin P.
The food was delicious! The service was great and the wine selection is outstanding. My husband and I went last night as a part of restaurant week, and each had 3-courses. The pastas are amazing, my husband had the veal medallions with prosciutto and mushrooms, and I had the scallops...both were delicious. The desserts and coffee were a great way to finish the meal, and oh yeah, the limoncello was the real way to end! I highly recommend to anyone looking for a relaxed atmosphere with delicious food!
(5)Sarah R.
The wine selection, service, and ambience at Panorama is fantastic and earns a high rating. However, the quality of the food is not quite as good. When an Italian restaurant charges a lot of money for pasta dishes, I expect the pasta to be homemade and the sauces to be very flavorful and more complex than what you would get from sauce from a jar or plain olive oil. I grew up in an Italian family that made homemade pasta so I can tell the difference between homemade and dried pasta that comes out of a box, and my pasta trio dish did not taste homemade. The different sauces on each of the three pastas were also very bland and watery. I would highly recommend going to Panorama for their beautiful and cozy bar to have wine before dinner, and then going somewhere else for dinner afterwards. Their selection of wines is amazing, and the wine flights are a great way to taste many of the great wines they have.
(3)Larry K.
Returned to Panorama a year later as a hotel guest (Penn's View Inn). Still a big fan. Besides the legendary wine selection, the food is excellent. I especially like the fact that the main dishes are also available in "appetizer" portions, so one can have a multi-course meal without feeling stuffed. Food emphasizes quality over quantity, which I think is a positive. Not outrageously expensive given the quality. Good Happy Hour drink deals.
(4)M T.
Outstanding Italian food, great wines, wonderful service and old style ambiance.
(5)Kate F.
I've never written a restaurant review before - but I just HAD to after I had the best dining experience at Panorama last night! I give them 5 stars because of their hospitality, service, and attention to detail. We made reservations for 7:30 and got there early (around 7:10pm). The hostess informed us our table wasn't ready so we sat at the bar and ordered a flight of wine - which was AMAZING. Due to a private party in the back of the restaurant, we were seated a few minutes late which wasn't a problem since we were entertained with wine at the bar. Once we sat down, what appeared to be the owner, quickly brought us a complementary plate of lightly fried calamari, their appetizer special of the night, and apologized for the wait we endured while we had a reservation. I was very impressed!! About 2 minutes later, the owner then proceeded to bring us 2 complementary glasses of REALLY NICE champagne!! He commented that he knew it was our anniversary and he wanted us to celebrate!! Hands down he best service I have seen in Philly and not to mention the food was AMAZING. Will definitely be going back and encourage everyone to visit this restaurant! Food= 10 Service= 10++
(5)Garden W.
Small portions. No direction from the waiter on the huge wine selection. mushroom appetizer tasted like fish. gnocchi light and fluffy but the sauce was smokey and lacked flavor. The pork was the size of deck of cards. thank god for the sweets at the end we all had room for that. not that much care given to us and the waitress who brought us the wine could barely open it -- she blamed it on her wine opener. Hmmm ... my husband liked his lobster ravioli. Should have gone to Dante and Luigi's or Ralph's. After seeing these other reviews I feel like Debbie Downer.
(1)S P.
We love this place and have been there several times. Our last visit was enjoyable but we were surprised that at our last visit the bartender admitted he knew nothing about wine. We had some questions which he couldn't answer because he lacked knowledge. Why would he be a candidate to bartender at a wine bar?
(3)Tina Z.
Came to philly for a freinds birthday party. We stayed at the hotel as well (Penns View Hotel) which is a cute boutique hotel, old school with real keys. We were in 206 deccent size with a king bed, desk, nice bath with wirlpool tub. We went to bar which is awesome, huge wine selection with many 5 pour wine flights, we chose the hidden jem selection flight and cabernet flight along with the antipasta. Great way to start our night. At 8 we went to dinner We had the beet salad that was beautiful and delicious, all the pastas are made in house and between all of us I think we had everthing on the menu, the duck ragu stood out and the lobster sauce. It was and incredible evening
(4)Michael E.
**note: definitely worth traveling 35min each way** -- If a restaurant experience were only about the food, Ristorante Panorama would get, hands down, a no brainer, five-star review. I've been there a few times, and the food has been perfectly executed each and every time. I don't know who their chef is, and I'm surprised about that because he or she is really very talented. We started with antipasto for the table, and it was very yummy. There are many succulent items that come on (with?) the antipasto, but I would order it again just for the roasted red peppers, which were definitely the best I've had in a long time. The peppers are delicately seasoned and have the perfect amount of caramelization that gives the faintest hint of char. Honestly, I could eat a bowl full. Next, I had a half order of gnocchi. This dish is made up of 1/2 potato, 1/2 ricotta gnocchi and served with smoked mozzarella and San Marzano tomatoes. Every pillow is a little piece of Italian heaven. Of our entrees, the two that really stood out were: 1) Poached Bronzino, and 2) Stuffed Veal Medallions. The flavor of the Bronzino is to die for, but the best part was the execution. The fish was ever so perfectly cooked (see love note about chef, supra). It's 8:23 A.M., two days later, and I'm still thinking about how good it was... only wish I had ordered it. Thankfully, I had the Veal, which was also top notch. Sadly, I have to dock the restaurant a star because the front of the house managers, while professional and excellently reactive, lack the inherent gift / talent for service that all great managers have. That is, the ability that allows great managers to be courageously proactive in managing their guests experiences. My problem, and I hate to even call it that because it was adequately addressed after I brought it up, stems from the EXCESSIVE use of flash photography by a large, rowdy table directly in the center of the dining room. I believe this group of women - the number of which, I want to say, was about 20 - were, like our party, celebrating the birthday of one of their members. So, a few pictures - although I find the practice horrid myself - is to be expected. But, from the moment that all of their guests arrived, for a solid 15 minutes thereafter - until I had to ask the manager to address the problem - there was an almost constant battery of flashes - think one every 10 seconds - going off in every direction. Not to mention, members of their party were mulling about posing for pictures and being extra rowdy. It was IMPOSSIBLE not to be distracted by their garishness. A GREAT front of the house manager would have seen this behavior as unacceptable and proactively taken steps to address the situation immediately. Sadly, Ristorante only has GOOD front of the house managers, who - once I accosted them, and I'm sorry about my tone - took care of the situation. I can't help but think that the lack of proactivity stems from a lack of confidence in the mission / vision of the establishment itself. At some point, to be truly great, an establishment has to say, "This is the kind of place that we are," and carry that mission / vision forward - proactively. Like they say, before someone else can love you, you have to love yourself. So, I leave it at that. Ristorante is on the cusp of 5-Stardom. The choice is really up to them; unlike so many other places, they have all the tools at their ready. When they decide that allowing one table to act as if that table has complete dominion of the dining room at the expense of all the other tables until one of the other tables must complain is an unacceptable practice, I will gladly revise my review upward. Until then, Ristorante is the best of the very good restaurants in Philadelphia.
(4)John I.
Psssssssssssssssssst. Can I tell you about an A-OK Italian restaurant in a not so desirable area of Philadelphia. Then let me tell you about Ristorante Panorama! My concierge recommended I visit this esteemed restaurant located within the Penn's View Hotel on Front Street (a dark, near the water area of Penn's Landing). The food was good, but nothing spectacular. The veal was a bit "gamy" and the sauce just didn't have enough flavor. Portions are large though so be mindful of that when ordering a starter too. My starter was the Gnocchi in a red sauce. The Gnocchi were decent, light and lackluster in flavor. The sauce really didn't do the item justice I guess. Bread service was reasonable, but I didn't find the bread overly fresh. My dessert was a chocolate flour-less cake. It was fair. Coffees were average. Its an OK place. Didn't love the area. Good luck in Philly.
(3)Ann M.
My husband and I went to Panorama for Happy Hour before an early theater show. He had a wine flight, 2 whites and 3 reds (!) presented in a charming, vertical rack, I had a very nice $5 pinot grigio (Happy Hour price.) The warm grilled vegetable salad was as beautiful as it was delicious, the artichoke tartlet was lovely. Service is excellent, friendly and attentive. I can't imagine why I've never been to Panorama before but we will definitely be back.
(5)Miz V.
I do like this place for their Friday night wine tastings. The featured wines are good as well as the food they serve with it . A good deal for 25.00 . BUT I find some of the people that work here disturbing . They lack customer service and conversation skill. They failed with me over the phone when I called for information.The female on the phone acted like I was interrupting her day .Now I know customers asks silly questions but after 37 years in the business of answering those types of questions there is a way to do it without insulting or offending.Because I co-organize a very large meetup group do I want my members to have a great experience at a wine tasting but I'm going to think twice before I consider this place. Food five stars, Customer service three.
(3)Lindsey R.
Atmosphere was nice. We had a 9:30 Reservation on a Friday and there were a few tables but we had no problem getting a seat. The wine list in very extensive and they have several wine flights which is always a good time and a definite plus. Food was ok with small portions. Nothing that stood out. Everything pretty basic but good. Felt very rushed as the servers tried taking our half eaten plates several times. guess they wanted to leave!
(3)Ed A.
My wife and I visited Ristorante Panorama on the evening of November 19, 2009 and enjoyed our experience very much. We always enjoy calamari and Panorama had, as one of its appetizer specials for the evening, fried calamari. This was as good or better than any we've had in the recent past. My wife ordered an appetizer size portion of a pasta combination (one with a pomadoro sauce, one with a spinach sauce and another one, the flavor of which escapes me right now....the sauces garnished three different types of pasta....gnocci, ravioli and penne). She thought that the appetizer size portion was perfect as it was quite rich. I ordered the special seafood of the evening which was a light, white fish, I think it was called ponzini, but I'm not sure. It was excellent...garnished with a touch of tomato seasoned with fennel (among other seasonings) and served with a scalloped type potato and fresh asparagus. I really enjoyed it. I had a sampling of gelato, post prandial. My wife enjoyed a glass of an Italian wine I don't believe either of us had tried before and, once again, I cannot remember the name, but it was excellent. The wine selection was also extensive and one thing that some other diners seemed to be trying were these "flights" of four or five selected red wines served in small portions on an "ascending wine glass rack" type of device. While we thought it was an interesting concept, the pricing didn't seem to make sense. All in all, a very pleasant dining experience. I would defninitely return (assuming I return to Philadelphia, which, all things considered, was a quite friendly city in spite of opinions I heard expressed previous to our visit.
(4)Lauren K.
Everything was very tasty and I was completely overwhelmed by the wine list. The bartender was very helpful and once I explained what type of wine I usually like she pointed me in the right direction. Definitely going to go back on Fridays when they have their $20 wine tasting!
(5)Kim G.
the wine list was incredible. the meal was delicious. our waitress was very helpful in picking wine flights and meal suggestions. well worth it.
(5)John H.
I had an enjoyable experience at Ristorante Panorama. It was my first visit there and the first thing that struck me was all the awards for the restaurant's wine list. After I was seated and received the list, I understood why. The list was huge but our server diligently walked me and my companion through it. We settled on one of the flights of wine, which allowed us to taste five different wines. The meal was also very good and I was impressed that the restaurant opened its entire menu for a restaurant week function. Usually during a restaurant week dining experience, you're confined to a limited selection. I would return to Ristorante Panorama.
(4)Frank Z.
This is an outstanding northern Italian restaurant on the lobby level of Penn's View Hotel, with one of the best wine bars in the city. The menu features regional variations of pasta, veal, and chicken dishes, as well as fresh fish. The homemade lobster ravioli is an excellent first course; light thin pasta leaves bulging with seasoned seafood and ricotta in a delicate tomato cream sauce. The escargot appetizer is a unique invention, the snails sauted in olive oil, garlic, tomato, and hot red pepper. All the pasta dishes are outstanding. My favorite veal is the paesano - fine veal medallions layered with prosciutto, provolone cheese, and roasted peppers. The veal chop; butterflied, coated with breadcrumbs and fried, is another variation of a traditional dish. The desserts are all made in house; the tiramisu is exceptional, as are the profiteroles. Needless to say, the wine list is overwhelming. The service is efficient and friendly. The dining room is comfortably elegant, with well spaced tables. This is a restaurant for special occasions, or to bring your out of town guests. Be aware that the prices are on the high side for Philadelphia.
(4)