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Caffe Casta Diva
Category: Restaurants Italian Italian [Edit]
227 S 20th StApt 1
Philadelphia, PA 19103
Neighbourhood: Rittenhouse Square
(215) 496-9677
- Hours:
Tue-Thu 5 pm - 10 pm
Fri-Sat 5 pm - 10:30 pm
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- No
- Parking:
- Street
- Attire:
- Dressy
- Price Range:
-
$$$
- Good for Kids:
- No
- Takes Reservations:
- Yes
- Delivery:
- No
- Take Away:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- Yes
- Good For:
- Dinner
- Alcohol:
- No
- Noise Level:
- Quiet
- Has TV:
- No
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- No
31 reviews for Caffe Casta Diva
Review Highlights
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"Nice and friendly italian BYOB." In 9 reviews -
"You'll need to make reservations." In 4 reviews -
"Remember cash only." In 5 reviews
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31 reviews in English
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Review from Karen F.
12/28/2011
Had a memorable meal with top-notch service from Ella at Casta Diva tonight.
My good friend and I both had the beet salad to start (so delicious and fresh). She had the salmon with crispy skin and red wine sauce. (A generous piece - or "portion") I enjoyed the salmon tartare stuffed cannaloni app as an entree.
La Colombe coffee and our own BYO wines sealed the deal.
A great night with stellar food.
The only downer? Cash only. Wish I'd known that before we went.Listed in: FLAM-BYO - BYOB spots in…, FLAM-BYO - BYOB spots in…
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Review from Dustin M.
Philadelphia, PA
3/21/2012
A classy but cozy BYO with a nice and relaxed atmosphere. We were seated in the very back by the kitchen which made feel less cramped than what some other posters had mentioned.
Highlights of the meal included the artichoke & parmesean salad and chicken with tuffle jus. We'll definitely be back soon. -
Review from Jimmy T.
Philadelphia, PA
5/1/2012
We tried Casta Diva last weekend and were pretty happy all around. The pasta was great an cooked pretty perfectly, and the presentation was fairly good too. The waitress was pretty awesome as well -- she handled a really difficult customer next to us extremely well and I think he must have left happy. That said, it seemed a tad pricey for what you get, particularly if you graduate from the pasta to the meat and fish dishes. But altogether a great place for when you want a little bit of polish on your dining experience.
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Review from Sean G.
Philadelphia, PA
Updated - 11/19/2011
We had another wonderful experience at Caffe Casta Diva last night...
The Salumi Platter is great. Wish it came with some cheeses to make it a meat & cheese platter. (See Mercato's Menu)
The New York Strip was cooked perfectly. The potatoes with the steak were fried slices and lacked a little flavor.
The Scallops were unbelievable. Four large scallops on a bed of truffle infused Risotto. I can't stop thinking about the dish into the next day.
BYOB!
Cash only :-(
Definitely go support Caffe Casta Diva. You'll need to make reservations.Listed in: The Ultimate List, Top BYOBs, Top 5 Italian Restaurants
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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8/20/2011
We initially had made plans to go back to Melograno for dinner but when we saw that it was closed… Read more »
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Review from Corey I.
Washington, DC
9/20/2011
Excellent place for fine Italian cuisine. Great atmosphere: cozy, warm, and inviting.
Have been going here for years with family. A family favorite. So many fond memories of eating here in years past.
More recently, I introduced a good friend of mine to this place and she absolutely LOVED it! :) That evening, she had the veal and I had the branzino; both were superb! The salads we had were fabulous as well. I've honestly NEVER had a bad meal here in all the times I've eaten at this place.
I can't recommend this place highly enough. Would give it six stars if I could. :) If you want a fun and sophisticated night out, this is the place to go.
Before you go, I'd recommend stopping by an ATM, since they only accept cash. They are also BYOB. Those are the only two things I'd wish they'd change.
Very knowledgeable and pleasant staff. In fact, the patrons are just as nice as the staff. One time, my dad forgot to bring cash (as most places these days will accept credit cards!) and the people at the next table overheard and kindly offered to loan him the money to cover the meal, so he wouldn't have to go out and search the streets for a nearby ATM; they didn't even know us! My dad wrote them a check and thanked them profusely. The last time I was there, the couple next to us struck up a friendly conversation with us, and we traded tips about other good local establishments to visit. Both the place and the people have a great vibe. :-D -
Review from David A.
10/22/2011 1 Check-in Here
Just ok. I don't hear well and noise level on Friday night made it difficult to enjoy the dining.
The service was friendly and efficient but the food was just not memorable. Shared two appetizers. The eggplant wrapped around asparagus with melted cheese was good but the red sauce was bland and lacked character. The sautéed calamari was pretty boring as well.
For my entree I had scallops with risotto. This was a big letdown. Scallops were fishy, really big and not enjoyable. The risotto was very creamy and ordinary.
Oh well. Has potential but just not anything special. And it's a BYO that is not cheap with the tab at $100 for two people. -
Review from Ben E.
McLean, VA
2/20/2012
The salumi platter was delicious, unbelievable salami.
My girlfriend got the gnocchi which was as good as it gets while I got the crespelle, essentially a manicotti dish with ricotta, spinach and tomato sauce. Everything was perfect.
Definitely make reservations, also be prepared to sit next to other parties as it's a little cramped. Still, good date restaurant. -
Review from Kate V.
Philadelphia, PA
11/16/2011
Amazing food, cozy and romantic...reservations reccomded for typically busy nights! Ask for the window seats for great people watching.
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Review from Harold K.
Philadelphia, PA
12/6/2011
On our first (and last) visit, we were among a party of 8. Seated behind us was a party of 6, obviously inebriated on arrival, whose noise and raucous behavior ruined our meal. Despite the exhortations of the wait staff, this group continued their noise unabated. The management did nothing to either contain the obnoxious behavior nor to attempt to mollify our group. One would think that a serious business would want to maintain their client base and either deduct a portion of the bill or offer a complimentary dessert, at the least. Although the food was tasty, the portions were so small that we all left hungry. For those prices, we should at least have been served something more substantial. Don't eat there.
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Review from Beth K.
This is a really nice BYOB option in the Rittenhouse area.
They had a special menu for Valentine's day, but I recognized some of the items from the regular menu as of the last time I was here over a year ago.
We shared the duck confit with arugula appetizer, and then I continued to indulge my love of duck with the duck breast in a cherry glaze entree. Since there was no duck themed dessert (haha), we had the tiramisu, which was a little different from your typical tiramisu. I thought it was quite good, especially the mascarpone cheese in the middle.
Comparing to some of the nearby options, it's small so do get reservations on a weekend night. Ambiance is elegant and cozy. Prices are pretty normal for this area (entrees around $25 - on par with Audrey Claire, and a little less than Matyson). Warning - they are cash only. -
Review from Brian L.
11/5/2010
Went to dinner with my dad/sister, excited for some Italian food (we generally go out and eat Chinese...I know cliche!). Came here hearing how good it was.
Got here, the ambiance is nice, everyone seems to be having a good time (but quiet). Get seated, and looked over the menu. There isn't a wide selection, but it's fine for a small type place. I ordered the mussels for an app, and the branzino for entree - I'm not usually a seafood eater, but my sister was saying how good branzino is, as she had it twice this week! I said, sure! She knows I don't like fish, but said I should give it a shot.
The mussels were underwhelming. It unshelled and in a tomato soup like base. Again, I'm not a seafood guru, but I've eaten mussels before where I enjoyed them, this I just ate like it was cereal. Warm, tomato soup cereal where the corn flakes are mussels.
The branzino came out - pretty good portion, I got 2 filets, 3 slices of potato, and some spinach. The spinach was awesome, if I had a plate of that I would've been happy. The potatoes were ok, tasted like a potato. The branzino tasted like nothing - maybe that's what it is supposed to taste like? Not sure, but it felt like I was eating fish without any flavor. Not being a fish fan, I guess that's ok...but what am I paying for?
My dad/sister got the 3 course - (2 choices of app, 2 choices of entree, full dessert menu) for $30, which isn't bad - it's like restaurant week here (but only Tues-Thurs). I didn't have their salad/entree, but ate some of the tiramisu. Ok, I ate it all. But it was good. Looks diff than your average tiramisu, but still tasted good. A bit stronger on the kahlua flavor, but I was definitely ok with that.
The service was professional. Not friendly, not mean, professional.
Overall, it was an ok time. I wish I got the pasta, but no regrets. I can't say I'll give this place another shot unless someone else mentions to go there. It is a byob, so that's good. Maybe getting wasted will make it yummier. In summation, meh, I've experienced better.
I also do not think this place is $$, it is $$$. Each app runs $8-9, entree runs $19-$27. For 3 people, 2 prix fixe, 1 app/entree costs $100+, fyi. -
Review from pauline l.
Philadelphia, PA
9/27/2010
This is a great place for date night: much, much better than La Viola, because the tables are not nearly as loud and the restaurant is not nearly as crowded. The comments on prices being reasonable are a little bit misleading -- they're definitely reasonable for the quality of the food, but entrees are definitely more in the $20-30 range, more on the upper half of the two-dollar sign category.
For my dinner, I had an oricchiette with spicy Italian sausage and broccoli rabe. I found the flavoring and texture of the food to be interesting and well-executed.
Call ahead to make reservations: they'll usually have tables available, but if you're planning to have a long, lingering dinner, it's better to make sure that the table will be available as long as you need it. -
Review from Franklyn C.
Wayne, PA
7/31/2011
Heard this was a pretty good Philly BYOB, and figured we would head down and check it out. Overall, thought the food was good, but were not that impressed with the service or the menu. We'd heard that the veal chop and the cannoli were the two stand-out items, and when we ordered them, we were dismayed to discover that they were completely out of both items. Flavors were pretty standard for an upscale Mediterranean place, but I wouldn't say exceptional or on par with Melograno, Osteria, or Audrey Claire.
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Review from Bobby P.
7/31/2010
This is yet another great Italian byo battling it out for supremacy in the Rittenhouse arena. Although probably not a front runner in that campaign, they did accept our large party kind of taking over the place for a solid 2.5 hours on a weekend night, so they definitely get props for that. Here's a quick rundown:
The diver scallops were impossibly tender, with perfect searing. They were served on top of risotto and asparagus that brought it all together nicely.
The fig with prosciutto and gorgonzola appetizer is one of my all-time favorite flavor trios. Someone needs to mass produce this in a more convenient form so I can have it all the time - perhaps some kind of energy bar?
I also sampled the fiance's branzino, which was perfectly flaky and had a buttery flavor with mild hints of thyme. -
Review from Emaan M.
2/23/2009
One my all time favorite places to eat in Philly and definitely the best BYOB in the rittenhouse area. Everything that i've ever eaten there has been delicious. Chef/Owner is a doll, pursuing his cooking passion instead of following his education in engineering. Quite the hardworker!
Recently being discovered by younger crowds thus making a reservation is ideal. The shrimp risotto dish is my favorite, and the tiramisu is a must have.
Go eat at this lovely restaurant as often as you can! I want to make sure its in business for years to come so whenever I'm able to get back to Philly, its certain to be there. -
Review from Grace S.
9/2/2010 2 Check-ins Here
I have walked by here often on my way to Brown Betty or Audrey Claire and thought it would be ridiculously expensive--but it's not! Turns out it's a BYO and one of the well-regarded Italian restaurants in town with reasonably-priced food. The restaurant is elevated and they have beautiful decor inside. Our server reminded me of an older Italian guy in a Brooklyn pizza shop from the way he acted and talked, but he was very professional and good. We had the caesar salad (Insalata Giulio Cesare) and octopus special as starters. Both were delicious although I wish their portions were slightly bigger. The caesar salad was on par with delicious caesar salads at top steakhouses. We had 2 different pasta dishes for our main course but I thought both were not that memorable. You could tell they were homemade and they were flavorful, but I found the sauces a bit boring.
We were seated right next to the window and it was a nice view. I really like the feel of the restaurant even though it's narrow and I usually don't like "railway"-style apartments or restaurants. And I noticed that most of the people dining there were senior citizens. Younger people came later but I found it interesting that this place seems so fancy on the inside and outside (similar to Rouge or one of the more trendier places in Rittenhouse) but it seems to have a pretty low-key clientele. -
Review from Michael O.
Philadelphia, PA
10/17/2010 1 Check-in Here
Had a very pleasant experience here on a Saturday night. Had made a reservation and was seated immediately.
The atmosphere is cozy and comfy. Nobody minds you feeling and chatting like you're in the family dining room, and the BYOB helps keep the conversation rolling.
The food we tried was the antipasto-with several meats, a delicious cheese and olives. Very tasty and easily shared. While I'm thinking of it, even though this place is not cheap, you are given very fair portions.
The sweet potato gnocchi was delicious as was the pasta with homemade italian sausage. Both very distinct flavors-something I look for-FLAVOR. Some restaurants have all sorts of descriptors and then hand you a plate of bland. Not the case here, very good and flavorful.
The staff was polite and attentive, they all seemed to collectively look after the patrons and it worked for us. -
Review from Alice P.
Philadelphia, PA
8/31/2011
Having eaten here several times before and always enjoying an excellent meal I was quite disappointed to experience that things have changed.
The food was very average and nothing to write home about. I hope they can recapture the essence of what this place once was before it's too late.
I doubt I will be going back. -
Review from Priscilla L.
Jersey City, NJ
6/7/2011
Great Pre-fixe menu, delicious gnocci and great coffee... definitely recommend when in the Philly area!
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Review from Caitlin C.
PA
2/6/2007
A small Italian restaurant just north of Rittenhouse Square. There are Christmas lights decorating the tress outide (and about two tables for the warmer months).
The inside houses only a handful of tables, so make reservations. This place can get loud and the quarters are tight - but it still is a very romantic place. The best part? Great Italian food for really really reasonable Center City prices. -
Review from Meghan D.
Philadelphia, PA
7/20/2010
I came here with my girlfriends for a girls dinner, and we all had a nice time. There were a few small complaints among our group, but that's bound to happen with a party of 8.
The food was good, but not great, and I think everyone in our party enjoyed their meal. -
Review from Sam A.
MERION STA, PA
4/10/2011
Caffe Casta Diva (227 S 20th St) has quickly become one of our favorite BYOBs in the city. The food is always fresh and very enjoyable and it's one of the few places in the area where you can sit down for dinner at 7:30 and not feel pressured to leave until you are ready. The portions are well sized and desserts are off the charts - can't miss Tiramisu and Cannolis.
I recommend anything they're serving. I've enjoyed their grilled octopus, fresh pasta, and perfectly prepared fish on the many visits. Their service is solid, but one of the rare traits is that they don't bring you a check until you ask for it. So, if you're going out with friends and just want to chat, you can show up at 7:30 and not leave until you want to (just bring enough wine to enjoy).
For more reviews: http://bit.ly/gWIQBv -
Review from Paul R.
Glenside, PA
11/12/2011
My favorite Italian byob in phila. Perfection in every plate. The soup appetizers are always incredible. Been there many times. can't wait to go back
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Review from Dave C.
Philadelphia, PA
6/11/2011
Great little BYO. Remember cash only.
This place reminded me of my grandmother's house... just down home, well made Italian food. Sauteed calamari in spicy tomato sauce and shaved artichoke salad were delicious. Waitstaff was friendly and attentive. -
Review from Frank S.
Philadelphia, PA
11/29/2007
Nice and friendly italian BYOB. Cash only!!! Food is pretty good and rather authentic. The whole place has an opera theme, with opera posters on the walls and operas playing. That makes the crowd pretty mixed, it seems like everyone, young and old from the neighborhood likes to go there. Less frequented in winter, according to the owner all regulars went for Florida to keep playing golf. No cheesy stories, just really nice atmosphere and good food... Close to giving the 5th star...
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Review from Lauren G.
Milwaukee, WI
1/31/2011
I think this is the best Italian restaurant in Center City. The food is fantastic! My favorites are the shaved artichoke, the whole-wheat fettuccine with mushrooms, the salmon and the steak (if it's a special!)
Service was friendly. The atmosphere is great, livelier on weekends.
They make stellar cappuccinos! -
Review from Anne R.
Portland, OR
4/9/2010
I love this place. Try to make reservations in advance even on a week night because it's a little small. I've gone there for basically a private tasting type menu event and had the tiramisu, steak entree, gnocchi and the salad with beets and everything was excellent. I then went back expecting to do the recession special- they have a limited menu for that which actually had a pretty good selection I just really wanted to get their steak again because it was so amazing the previous time. So I got their caprese salad and steak special and both were fantastic. I also got their cannoli to go which was good tho not as amazing. Will try to make it back again soon
Listed in: Top Restaurants
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Review from Caroline B.
Washington, DC
8/2/2010
Low-key, elegant restaurant. Had the pappardelle with wild boar and mushroom ragu, which was fantastic. Tender, juicy, and hearty. Would definitely come back.
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Review from kaizar C.
Philadelphia, PA
4/26/2009
Pretty delicious Philly Italian. Need to come back for a more full review.
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Review from matthew l.
Baltimore, MD
2/2/2009
Named after the operatic composition by Bellini, this small attractive and romantic renovated rowhouse enjoys a steady and loyal constituency of well heeled Rittenhouse Square Dorchester/brownstone residents who come both during the week or on the weekend when the family visits. Two expansions added little more than two four tops but there is a little more elbow room now. The former chemical engineer turned autodidact chef turns out lovely pastas, excellent veal chop, boar and game as well as the mandatory pork and chicken dishes. Ambiance conducive to elegant and quiet dinner but that mood can be difficult to capture when the room is teeming with patrons, which is to say every Friday and Saturday. A best bet for a twosome would be to request one of the newer tables near the back and during the week if possible. A definite maybe for Valentine's Day!
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Review from Sharon G.
Philadelphia, PA
8/22/2009
Average, but decent Italian food. Lacking something, but not sure what. There is better Italian in this city.
