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Whether you’re craving simple marinara sauce or lusting for the finest pasta, South Philadelphia has one of the largest numbers of top-notch Italian restaurants in the U.S. Ristorante Pesto is one at the top of that list. This exquisite restaurant is operated and owned by one of South Philly’s established restaurant families, the Varallos, who still remember how food tasted in Italy. And they capture those flavors here at Pesto.
Compact, family-run trattoria known for Southern Italian classics & neighborhood atmosphere.
Address and Contact Information
Address: 1915 S Broad St, Philadelphia, PA 19148
Phone: (215) 336-8380
Website: http://www.ristorantepesto.com/
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Home – Ristorante Pesto, Philadelphia Dining
Giovanni and Concetta Varallo are honored to welcome you to RISTORANTE PESTO. Our meals are prepared in the finest Authentic Italian Tradition.
Ristorante Pesto (@ristorantepesto) · Philadelphia, PA – Instagram
7994 Followers, 600 Following, 270 Posts – Ristorante Pesto (@ristorantepesto) on Instagram: “#1 in Philly & #12 Casual Dining US 2025 TripAdvisor Rachel …
Ristorante Pesto | Philadelphia PA – Facebook
Ristorante Pesto in South Philly welcomed us like family from the second we walked in!! ️ 1915 S Broad StPhiladelphia PACozy atmosphere, BYOB wine, and …
Reviews
Sean Roche
Ristorante Pesto is cozy, old-school, and consistently great! I’ve grown up coming here for family dinners, then date nights as I got older, and now have an annual work Christmas dinner tradition for the last 7 years and it never misses.
The gnocchi flight is my must-order, with the braciola, marinated carrots. They have the best cocktails and get very creative for the holidays. (I don’t have photos of my mentioned favorites as I was going to town as soon as they hit the table!)
If you want a place that feels familiar and special, this is it.
… moreThe gnocchi flight is my must-order, with the braciola, marinated carrots. They have the best cocktails and get very creative for the holidays. (I don’t have photos of my mentioned favorites as I was going to town as soon as they hit the table!)
If you want a place that feels familiar and special, this is it.
Nicole Thomas
5 stars across the board!
I’m sooo glad we found this place after flying in to Philly for a short birthday trip!
Absolutely everything was great, from the ambiance to the service to the food. We tried the (forgive the spelling) eggplant rollitini (stuffed eggplant rolls), insalata de pere (pear salad), gnocchi trio, pollo di parmesiana (chicken parmesan), cannoli, pistachio gelato, Reese’s explosion cake, and the cheesecake, and there were carrots and bread to start.
Every single bite was delicious. I’m a big back. Never before have I been so excited to eat carrots! I mopped up some of that sauce from the carrots with the bread, and I had to stop myself from just eating that and filling up before the food came because it was so good. In fact, most of our plates were literally wiped clean by the end. I was pretty stuffed and ordered dessert to go, but the owner convinced us to try the cheesecake, her mother’s recipe. Good Lawd Hands down the best cheesecake I’ve ever had. My youngest doesn’t usually even like cheesecake, I said, “just try a bite”…ended up eating over half of it lol.
I truly cannot say enough. Everyone was so warm and friendly and helpful, such a great environment, loved the decorations and music, and every single bite of the food was amazing! This was a great dinner, great way to start our trip, great intro to the City of Brotherly Love, great way to celebrate a birthday. Highly recommend!
… moreI’m sooo glad we found this place after flying in to Philly for a short birthday trip!
Absolutely everything was great, from the ambiance to the service to the food. We tried the (forgive the spelling) eggplant rollitini (stuffed eggplant rolls), insalata de pere (pear salad), gnocchi trio, pollo di parmesiana (chicken parmesan), cannoli, pistachio gelato, Reese’s explosion cake, and the cheesecake, and there were carrots and bread to start.
Every single bite was delicious. I’m a big back. Never before have I been so excited to eat carrots! I mopped up some of that sauce from the carrots with the bread, and I had to stop myself from just eating that and filling up before the food came because it was so good. In fact, most of our plates were literally wiped clean by the end. I was pretty stuffed and ordered dessert to go, but the owner convinced us to try the cheesecake, her mother’s recipe. Good Lawd Hands down the best cheesecake I’ve ever had. My youngest doesn’t usually even like cheesecake, I said, “just try a bite”…ended up eating over half of it lol.
I truly cannot say enough. Everyone was so warm and friendly and helpful, such a great environment, loved the decorations and music, and every single bite of the food was amazing! This was a great dinner, great way to start our trip, great intro to the City of Brotherly Love, great way to celebrate a birthday. Highly recommend!
Linda Hrushanyk
We were able to squeeze in a last minute reservation on Saturday. I remember going to Pesto years ago and everything about the restaurant is so nice from the place, to the staff, to the excellent food. Concetta is the best. We started our meal with the marinated carrots that everyone just loves. Our appetizers were the mushrooms and the calamari. Our entrees, the chicken parm, the lamb chops, the chicken piccata. The mushrooms were in a blush sauce and the sauce itself I’m surprised has not been bottled. It’s absolutely delicious! We were given complimentary roasted peppers and of course, Concetta sent over a piece of her grandmothers most delicious ricotta cheesecake. Our servers were more than accommodating. Thank you, so very much for a most memorable dinner. Looking forward to a return visit.
… moreBrooklyn Krause
Ristorante Pesto is truly one of Philadelphia’s hidden gems. This family-owned Italian restaurant has been operating for over 30 years, and you can absolutely feel the pride and tradition the moment you walk in. The atmosphere is warm, welcoming, and authentic — exactly what you hope for in a classic Italian spot.
The lobster ravioli was incredible — perfectly cooked, rich, and full of flavor. It was easily one of the best pasta dishes I’ve had in Philly. My friends loved their meals as well, and everything that came out of the kitchen looked amazing.
They’re BYOB, which is always a plus, but they also offer reasonably priced bottles of wine if you prefer to purchase there — such a nice option to have.
A special shoutout to Gianna, who was super attentive and took the time to explain everything on the menu. Her recommendations and knowledge made the whole experience even better.
If you’re looking for authentic Italian food with outstanding service, Ristorante Pesto is a must-visit. Can’t wait to go back!
… moreThe lobster ravioli was incredible — perfectly cooked, rich, and full of flavor. It was easily one of the best pasta dishes I’ve had in Philly. My friends loved their meals as well, and everything that came out of the kitchen looked amazing.
They’re BYOB, which is always a plus, but they also offer reasonably priced bottles of wine if you prefer to purchase there — such a nice option to have.
A special shoutout to Gianna, who was super attentive and took the time to explain everything on the menu. Her recommendations and knowledge made the whole experience even better.
If you’re looking for authentic Italian food with outstanding service, Ristorante Pesto is a must-visit. Can’t wait to go back!
Ariana Lucidonio
Ristorante Pesto is an absolute gem of a restaurant and embodies what South Philadelphia is all about!
The atmosphere is cozy and Concetta made us feel right at home. We had to wait about 20 minutes after our reservation because people do tend to stay a while, but she was kind and kept us updated.
We started with the burrata, bracciolatini and calamari. The burrata and bracciolatini were good but not my favorite. The calamari was out of this world. A must order! Huge rings, battered and fried well, with a juicy lemon to squeeze all over them. We didn’t even need the marinara.
We then got the cavatelli and gnocchi flight. The cavatelli is award winning for a reason. The sauce was addicting, huge portion and so much seafood. One of my favorite pasta dishes I’ve ever had. The gnocchi flight was a perfect way to sample different sauces. They were pillowy, and we dipped our bread into the sauces. Perfect.
For dessert, we got the chocolate cake, cannoli and gelato. All of them were incredible. The chocolate cake was served cold, which I’m usually not a fan of, but it was still so moist and not overly sweet. The cannoli was HUGE with a flaky shell, lots of filling and chocolate chips. Do not skip out on their gelato, the salted caramel knocked our socks off.
Our server, Gianna, was the best. She made us laugh all throughout the night and was helpful with recommendations. We had an incredible experience and this will absolutely be on my Philly favorites list now!
… moreThe atmosphere is cozy and Concetta made us feel right at home. We had to wait about 20 minutes after our reservation because people do tend to stay a while, but she was kind and kept us updated.
We started with the burrata, bracciolatini and calamari. The burrata and bracciolatini were good but not my favorite. The calamari was out of this world. A must order! Huge rings, battered and fried well, with a juicy lemon to squeeze all over them. We didn’t even need the marinara.
We then got the cavatelli and gnocchi flight. The cavatelli is award winning for a reason. The sauce was addicting, huge portion and so much seafood. One of my favorite pasta dishes I’ve ever had. The gnocchi flight was a perfect way to sample different sauces. They were pillowy, and we dipped our bread into the sauces. Perfect.
For dessert, we got the chocolate cake, cannoli and gelato. All of them were incredible. The chocolate cake was served cold, which I’m usually not a fan of, but it was still so moist and not overly sweet. The cannoli was HUGE with a flaky shell, lots of filling and chocolate chips. Do not skip out on their gelato, the salted caramel knocked our socks off.
Our server, Gianna, was the best. She made us laugh all throughout the night and was helpful with recommendations. We had an incredible experience and this will absolutely be on my Philly favorites list now!
Laura Phillips
When you’re here, you truly feel like family! Had the absolute best birthday dinner!! The amount of regulars that were dining tonight can attest to how incredible the food and service are immediately felt welcome with the owner talking to us at our table. Gia was the best server and made our night. Can’t wait to go back and bring more family!
… moreDeanna Bredbenner
One of the best Italian restaurants I have ever been to. The food was incredible. The carrots that they bring you with the bread is amazing. I tried the gnocchi flight that was on special and I was it love with each flavor. I would definitely go back again. The staff is phenomenal and the owner personally greets each guests.
… moreJ Carley
Delightful Italian family run restaurant in South Philly. I had to try their award winning cavatelli signature dish; then added the portabella special appetizer that was suggested by the owner. Topped it off with a salted caramel gelatotini as a dessert cocktail. Everything was wonderful — you really feel like you’re at your best friend’s mom’s house for dinner! Perfect way to carb load & kick off marathon weekend!
… moreLive Elevated
What a divine experience we had dining at Pesto for the first time. It’s days later and still thinking about our experience! The cavatelli and chicken parmesan actually made me feel nostalgic! Seriously haven’t had cavatelli like that since my Aunt Milly, so many years ago.
Do not get me started on the gnocchi. Seriously like pillows from heaven. The only sin here, is that we haven’t tried it sooner. Looking forward to returning with family to share the joy we experienced Sat night.
… moreDo not get me started on the gnocchi. Seriously like pillows from heaven. The only sin here, is that we haven’t tried it sooner. Looking forward to returning with family to share the joy we experienced Sat night.
Shalana Weiland
Absolutely incredible experience! Reservation made with the loveliest woman on the phone. She then greeted us as we came in the door and frequently checked in on us! Made us feel like family the whole time! The food recommendations given to us were super helpful and they were super accommodating for my friend who is gluten free! We ate the fettuccine Alfredo, shrimp scampi (gluten free), the gnocchi flight, and crème brûlée! All of our food was incredible! I felt like I was back in Italy! Highly recommend!
… more