Upstares at Varalli

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1345 Locust St
Philadelphia, PA 19107

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(215) 546-4200
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Reviews
( 23 )
( 5 )
( 2 )
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( 6 )

Best

Went there last weekend as a Valentine Day weekend trip and ate at the lower level area. I most say I was very impressed by everything, the food, service, setting, the music etc....

Worst

We are planning our rehearsal dinner and had to work with Brian their events coordinator. Well he took days to return a call or an email (3-5 days). Then when we wanted to come ...

AWFUL Customer Service!! 11/11/2009

We are planning our rehearsal dinner and had to work with Brian their events coordinator. Well he took days to return a call or an email (3-5 days). Then when we wanted to come in and see the space that we were going to be in (6pm during a weekday during their normal business hours) we were told that no one could show us the room. Huh??! Brian told us that only a maitre'd works and he would be busy showing people tables and would not have two minutes to show us the space of where our rehearsal dinner would be. Wow talk about horrible customer service! We decided to take our business elsewhere. We have no desire to eat here ever with customer service like this. Good luck to you if you even attempt eating here-you'll need it! Cons: Customer Service, Flexibility more
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Never going back 10/2/2008

My husband and I were so excited to visit this establishment. The food was ok, our waitress was very nice, but in a city as big as Philadelphia, you would think that they would honor a parking garage to validate a ticket which was right next door. I was never so humiliated in my life. This restaurant is not worth going back to. The ambience needs help and I didn't feel the same as when I was in Capitol Grille. Not the same at all. I will go back to Capitol Grille again and again. But not this place, ever! Very insulting. Pros: decent food Cons: ambience and no regard for pleasing the customer more
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Good food in an empty without own soul and non-character place 9/15/2008

Our third time in the restaurant. I received a promotional birthday certificate and we decided to give it another try. First, I made reservations for the Upstairs section of restaurant and was even added a comment when I made my reservation. Once again, my petition was ignored because they were only sitting people in first floor. The restaurant is missing something, it doesn?t have like an own soul, a character. The decor is more like a diner-seafood place rather than Italian. The air is empty doesn?t give us special feeling towards the place. This time food was good: I had shrimp dumplings and the Shrimp and Crabmeat linguini, my wife soup of the day and Carbonara Rigatoni. Our waiter was very good and knowledgeable. Pros: Food, Service Cons: Ambience, cost. more
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Great dinning experience with reasonable prices 2/18/2008

Went there last weekend as a Valentine Day weekend trip and ate at the lower level area. I most say I was very impressed by everything, the food, service, setting, the music etc. The manager (maybe owner) gave every woman in the restaurant a rose which was a great touch. The octopus salad and the scallops and risotto crab meat was phenomenal. The overall dinning experience was great and the prices very reasonable. more
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Great service 2/13/2008

I recently went to upstares at varalli and it was a stellar experience from begining to end. I had a problem with my entree and the manager while checking the table inquired about the meal. Before I knew it she, I think her name was Penny, had returned with a fresh cioppino that was the best I had ever had. The staff is top notch at this beautiful restaurant and the food is delicious. Thank you. Will be back soon. Pros: Great servive and great food!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! more
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Great place for Rehearsal dinner 2/7/2008

We have been eating at Upstares for many years. The food, service, and views have always been memorable. So, when my son got engaged and we realized we would be hosting the rehearsal dinner, I suggested Upstares at Varalli. They both love the excitment of the city and felt the views would bring that element into the event. We worked with the event coordinator to create a special evening for my son and his new wife. We had full use of the entire dining room. The food was as great as it is in the restaurant and the service was as usual, supurb. Many of our guests commented on what a wonderful time they had and how good the food was. We even wondered how the caterers for the Wedding reception was going to top this. I recommend Upstares at Varalli to anyone planning an event like this. They did a great job!!! Pros: Food, service, views!!!!! more
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Nice ambiance, Decent customer service 4/26/2007

We were seated promptly- had made reservations on a Saturday night, but they weren't needed. The piano player was excellent. Food was served fast and was decent- average italian. I had called in advance to let them know it was my husband's bday, but the dessert that was supposed to be brought out never showed. Wine list is very limited. Pros: nice background piano music Cons: wine list more
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sometimes good 4/14/2007

great location...good bread...most dishes are drenched in oil...average italian at average prices... more
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You're kidding, right? 3/12/2007

I must have been mistaken in believing that the rave reviews were actually referring to Upstares at Varalli. View aside, I would not recommend it for anything, especially not the ""Italian"" food. I will be merciful and call the meal forgettable at best, but the bread was outright terrible (you Italians out there know how bread can make or break a meal). The bruschetta appetizer seemed like the frozen texas toast you can buy grocery store with some mealy tomatoes on top. Also, I had literally the most overcooked, dried out sausage I've ever been subjected to. The polenta and green beans were passable, and the Grand Marnier creme brulee was pretty good. Overall, it was a huge disappointment especially given the high (usually reliable) marks on Citysearch. No way I would return. Pros: View of Broad Street Cons: ""italian"" food more
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WONDERFUL EXPERIENCE! 4/27/2006

I can't say enough about my dining experience at Upstares. We had a great waitress named Cat she treated us like royalty. Every morsel of food from our appetizers to dessert incredable. We had a great table overlooking the Avenue of the Arts. This place goes way beyond four stars! I know that this restaurant has been around for a long time and I hope that it will be around for many more years. I can't wait to go back again! Pros: food, staff, atmosphere Cons: can't think of any more
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Truly an elevated dining experience 4/25/2006

Somethings just get better with age. This is not often true but in the case of this restaurant...this cliche is accurate. I have been a patron for over 15 years. Sometimes only returning every couple of years. I just dined there last weekend and somehow the food and service seemed better than I ever remembered. I normally do not write reviews on web sites, but I must give this reliable establishment my true and unbiased rave. Keep up the good work!!! Pros: large and varied menu, cleanliness, friendly staff more
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Wait Staff and Hosts Suck 2/21/2006

If you enjoy a place where the HIRED HELP actually have an attitide to match the upscale attempts of the restaurant then this is the place for you. Every walk into a place and the host expects you to be the one that bends over backwards to be nice? Well then, this is your place. Location on Broad Street is the only thing it has going. I could not get past the attitude Pros: Location Cons: Everything Else more
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WOW! 2/16/2006

My boyfriend and I went to Varalli for Valentine's Day and it was amazing. The staff was very nice and we were seated promptly (with a reservation made on their website). The food was delicious. We started with a bottle of reasonably priced ($26) Italian red wine. We ordered starters-the crab and corn chowder and a Caesar salad because in my experience the dinner portions are usually small (well, I was wrong about portion size), and also it was the best salad I've ever tasted in my life! For dinner he had the lobster ravioli and I had the cioppini. Both were very tasty, but I definitely recommend the lobster ravioli, it was fantastic! Finally, we really appreciated the waiter, who gave us plenty of time to sit and enjoy our meal and the wonderful view. Pros: Food, Service, View more
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abience, cuisine, great people Broad Street 9/21/2005

Six of us met for dinner with reservations. We were treated as family, seated promptly and politely. The crabcake was magnificent, the lobster ravioli was even better. The wine list supurb, but the best was how friendly and accomodating the staff was, above and beyond. The meal ended with tons of Chocolate Pyramid - unbelievable. Not wanting the wonderful evening to end we went downstairs to Sotto's to listen to the most wonderful live jazz music. A perfect night on Broad Street. Pros: service, food, music more
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THE BEST OF BROAD STREET 9/16/2005

Six of us met at Upstares after work Fri. night and had the best time. We sat at a window seat with just the best view of Broad St. you can imagine. It was wonderful to see the Avenue so alive and bustleing. Our waiter gave us suggestions of wines and we picked a wonderful one with a hint of apples and pears. The appetizers were to die for, my favorite was the shrimp dumplings. Our entrees included tuna, filet mignon, scallops and roasted ducked, all cooked to perfection. So perfect, our comliments to the Chef. As we were leaving we heard the music downstairs at Sotto and decided to sit at the bar for one more. We stayed another hour and listened to the best jazz duo, bass, piano and singing. Truly a rarity these days to hear such well played music in a restaurant. Thank you again. Pros: Delightful food, View & decor, Service more
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A JEWEL OF PERFECTION 9/14/2005

My wife and I arrived with good friends 10 minutes before our reservation and were offered cocktails at the bar. We were seated several minutes early at a table with a wonderful view of Broad St. The mosiac lights that go continously were quite the conversation, we all guessed about how they operated, LCD? We asked our server for wine suggestions and we picked one that was perfect. Great appetizers, we had the bruschetta assortment, shrimp dumplings and crabcake, all were perfectly prepared and ...delicious! For entrees we were treated to cioppino, roasted duck, filet mignon and jumbo scallops. Likewise fantastic. We felt absolutely pampered, comforted, and catered to. An Outstanding dining experience. A great location and a beautiful interior . Lastly, we received the best customer service/waitressing of any restaurant I've been to in Philly. Congratulations to the Varalli staff, especilly the Chef. See you again soon. Pros: Great food, Perfect service, The view more
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Details, Details... 7/14/2005

When reserving, (from out of state, over a month's advance), I CLEARLY STATED, SEVERAL TIMES, that this would be my parent's 50th anniversary dinner. He said he wrote it down. They didn't wish my parents Happy Anniversary!?! Our waiter DID remember to wish Happy Birthday to the woman at the next table. Maybe they got his attention with their pink boas. Maybe the gifts on our table, wrapped in silver & gold paper, being opened by 70-ish folks, me wearing a tux with gold tie, and ADVANCE NOTICE THAT THIS WOULD BE A 50TH ANNIVERSARY DINNER...AS IN ONCE-IN-A-LIFETIME SPECIAL OCCASION wasn't obvious enough. I don't think that common courtesy needs requesting. The server AND hostess dropped the ball on this detail. If acknowledged like "" On behalf of all of us at Varalli's, congratulations on your 50th Anniversary"", I'd be TOTALLY raving about our experience. Pros: Food , Service, Ambience Cons: Attention to details. more
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WONDERFUL DINNER EXPERIENCE 6/6/2005

Eight of us met up for dinner at Upstares and enjoyed a scrumptious dining experience. We arrived after the theater crowd and were seated promptly to a table by the window. My personal selection was cioppino and loved every bite.. and enjoyed a friends seafood risotto. After eating dinner I indulged in rich chocolate cake. Lordy, ate alot. Great place to meet up with friends, accomadations were splendid. After dinner we were going to leave but stopped at the downstairs bar and listened to the jazz duo do some cool soulful oldtime jazz that blended perfectly with chit chat and cocktails. Thank you again. Pros: food, service, music more
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could not have been better!!!! 5/27/2005

My fiance and I are new to the city and heard some really great things about Upstares at Varalli. So, we took a chance on getting a table without a reservation last Saturday night. The place was packed, but the girl at the door assured me she could seat us in 10 minutes or so. I was amazed to be seated about 7 minutes later, with a great view overlooking Broad Street. Everything was great!!! From the service, which was outstanding, to my raw bar (oysters, clams, shrimp), to the amazing veal chop topped with jumbo crab!!! The entire staff was so gracious and concerned with my experience. Thanks to all for the recommendation!!! I just found my new favorite spot in ""Philly""!!! more
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snooty service 5/22/2005

don't go here if you don't look trendy or rich. you'll be snubbed. this has happened to me twice. thought the 1st time might have been an exception, but. . . hey, dumpy looking old ladies spend money too, and everyone deserves respect! Pros: decent food Cons: snooty service more
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Menu for Upstares at Varalli


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Editorial

  • Center City trattoria with view of Avenue of the Arts serves northern Italian cuisine contained in glamorous dining rooms.

  • 7/6/2006 Provided by Citysearch
Additional information
  • Hours: Mon. CLOSED;Tue. - Thu. 4:30pm - 10pm;Fri. - Sat. 4:30pm - 11pm;Sun. 4pm - 9pm
  • Payments: American Express, Discover, Visa, Master Card
  • Neighborhoods: Center City, Washington Square West, Rittenhouse Square
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