On Spruce Street in Philadelphia, Vetri has the longstanding reputation as being one of the most respected and influential Italian restaurants in the country. The restaurant was conceived, in part, from its chef/owner/namesake’s long-held belief that people should strive to be their own boss. After years of working in some the finest kitchens in Italy and the U.S., Chef Marc Vetri returned home to his native Philadelphia, took over the intimate townhouse restaurant that was once home to the lauded Le Bec Fin and started to cook. In the early days, it was just him and one other cook in the kitchen. His business partner, sommelier Jeff Benjamin, manned the front of the house. Together they opened the doors in September 1998. It proved to be a stunning debut, as Vetri—with its outstanding rustic fare, handcrafted pastas, innovative flavor combinations and artful presentations, gained a fast following amongst Philadelphia diners, critics and fellow chefs alike.
Within two years of opening, Vetri received the Philadelphia Inquirer’s highest restaurant rating, and Chef Vetri was named one of Food & Wine magazine’s “Ten Best New Chefs.” In 2005, he won the James Beard Award for “Best Chef: Mid-Atlantic.” Chef Vetri and Benjamin have gone on to open other celebrated, popular restaurants—Osteria (2007), Amis (2010) and Alla Spina (2012)—however, Vetri will always remain their flagship.
Originally opened and operated with a more traditional a la carte menu, Vetri moved to a tasting menu-only format in March 2011 to fully showcase the constantly evolving, dynamic creativity of Chef Vetri and his kitchen staff, and their desire to offer an unparalleled dining experience. Upon arriving at their table, guests are treated as they would be in Italy and are eased into dinner with a selection of stuzzichini (hors d’oeuvres. From there, the kitchen goes to work crafting a personalized six-course tasting. Though the menus frequently change, reflecting the finest of what’s available at the market, guests can still find longtime Vetri signature dishes such as Spinach Gnocchi with Brown Butter; Sweet Onion Crepe with White Truffle; and Baby Goat with Freshly Stone-Milled Polenta.
As Vetri’s dinner menu has evolved over the years, so too has its complementary beverage program. When the restaurant first opened, Benjamin had curated a 70-bottle Italian wine list. Today the wine cellar, which has been carefully expanded over time, boasts 2,500 bottles. Still Italian focused, including wines from almost every region in Italy, a rare offering in the U.S.—the wine list now features 500 varietals encompassing both Old and New World, along with a profound vertical selection of many vintages that can span a decade or more. Additionally, Vetri was one of the first fine-dining restaurants in the country to embrace craft and artisanal beers, and since 2002 it has offered guests the opportunity to do a full or partial beer pairing with dinner.
Vetri seats 30, making for an even more intimate feel while also allowing guests ample room to enjoy their dinner. The highlight of the dining room are two elegant hand-blown Murano glass chandeliers Chef Vetri had custom made by the famed artisans at the Formia glass factory in Venice, Italy.
The Vetri team is frequently traveling, exploring and always striving for continued excellence. This intense effort and great care translates to the table where guests are delivered more appealing experiences and offered many preparations, ingredients, products and flavors they would not normally find elsewhere.
Although the price may seem out-of-this-world, the food the setting, the feeling you get…..makes it all worth it! We certainly recommend Vetri to many of our customers and anybody else in Philadelphia on business or vacation.
April 2014
tasting menu*
$155 per person
* tasting menu is the sole dining offering
(fish)
(vegetable)
(from the earth)
(dessert)
Check out what our clients have to say about their experience with us.
We have been using this service for years and have never had a bad experience. I have recommended this company to many friends and colleagues.
John O.
My company had an international artist picked up at JFK and dropped off in Philadelphia, and the artist had the best time. The driver kept in touch with me throughout the day, so we could plan for arrival, and our artist had the most wonderful experience with the driver. That’s really astounding considering our artist had just gotten off a red-eye from across the world. Thank you so very much!
Meredith S.
We pride ourselves on providing the safest and most modern ride for our clients. Our luxury car service is reserved by those who know they can always rely upon us, regardless of where or when their event will take place!
Customer Login