The Best Restaurants in Bella Vista

Marc Vetri's tiny pasta bar tucked into a former butcher shop turns out a short, ever-changing menu of fresh handmade pastas. Seats are scarce and the vibe is intimate, making it one of the neighborhood's most coveted reservations.

Open since 1900, Ralph's is a red-sauce institution that has fed everyone from Frank Sinatra to sitting presidents. Generous plates of old-school Italian-American classics come with the warm, time-capsule dining room that defines the block.

One of the country's oldest continuously operating Italian restaurants, Dante & Luigi's has anchored the corner of 10th and Catharine since 1899. Career waiters and a menu of handmade pastas and hearty gravy dishes keep the old-world tradition intact.

Right in the heart of the 9th Street market, this family-run holdover serves the kind of no-frills South Philly red-sauce cooking that locals grew up on. Expect big portions, a bustling bar, and an unpretentious feel.

A clubby, dimly lit destination for special occasions, Saloon pairs prime steaks and chops with a deep Italian menu and a serious wine list. It has been one of the neighborhood's splurge spots for decades.

This acclaimed BYOB noodle house channels Cambodian and broader Southeast Asian flavors into a tight, produce-driven menu. The crab-fat noodles, roti canai, and whole fish have made it one of the hardest tables to land in South Philly.

From James Beard-winning chef Cristina Martinez, Casa Mexico delivers deeply flavored, regionally authentic Mexican cooking a few doors from her legendary South Philly Barbacoa. The citrus-and-chile marinated pibil pork is a standout.

A full-service Mexican restaurant and bar known for handmade blue corn tortillas and a wide menu spanning ceviche, huaraches, and tortas. The al pastor tacos with pineapple and Oaxaca cheese are the crowd favorite.

Locals line up for Angelo's Sicilian and round pies, hoagies, and one of the city's most praised cheesesteaks on a fresh-baked roll. It's cash-only and worth the wait that regularly stretches down 9th Street.

This bright seafood and brunch spot, featured on Netflix's Queer Eye, leans on fresh fish and Latin-inflected plates. Its lobster Benedict, piled with meat over a poached egg and hollandaise, is the reason weekend crowds gather.