Thanks to a longtime friend of Picky's who lives out in Sacramento, CA, we had a lovely Christmastime dinner (yep, we're late) at the well-received Marc Vetri North Broad joint, Osteria. We made some last-minute reservations for a same-day late night dinner around 9 p.m. and snagged a table for two. We highly suggest calling more than an hour ahead of time for a table at this busy eatery.
We were greeted at the host stand and immediately led to our table on the south side of the floor. As we walked through the space, we felt the warm details of the establishment come through. Warm red wood everywhere. A nice level of noise to let you know you're somewhere people want to be, but it never rose to an annoying din. We were comfortably dressed, but just like 95% of Philly's restaurants, this place was pretension-free and anybody would be fine in jeans. We settled at our table which was a few tables over from the cheese prep station in the middle of the main seating area.
Our greeter was still crisply dressed towards the end of the night and was quite helpful in navigating the delicious menu. He refilled our quickly emptied bread tray and patiently told us what each slice of bread was — the slightly buttery foccacia was the best!
Here you can see Messy reaching for one of Osteria's old-timey olive oil tins which you can, if you feel so inclined, purchase from Osteria here for $16. You can complete the pre-dinner bread experience with a bread basket as well. You're gonna have to click through for the jaw dropping price.
We picked out the baked asiago and fontina cheese with accoutrement. What was in the accoutrement? Some sprouts, jams and sour cream. It was a deliciously oily, if small, starter which had us literally licking our fingers in anticipation for our main courses.
Messy's "doppio ravioli" double ravioli ($16) was perfect. Each delicate piece simply dissolved on the tongue. The ravioli was listed in the primi section of the five part menu so it was a small portion that left her wanting more. Warning to vegetarians: Osteria is not a place for you. Messy enjoyed the experience and vibe of the restaurant, but there wasn't really much on the menu that could create a fully-satisfying meal out for a non-meateater. There were some vegetarian pizza options, but with the mouth-watering array of meats, Picky was not about to settle for a vegetable-based pizza.
For the carnivores, however, Osteria is pretty close to heaven. Picky's "casoelua" braised pork ribs and black pepper sausage with cabbage ($24) was divine and quite the portion too — a secondi portion with the flavors to go with it. The pork ribs gladly slid off the bone to be mixed with a string of flavorful stewed cabbage. The slices of sausage were juicy almost to a fault, but in a good way. Picky was stunned silent by the dish.
Picky's bowl of pork looming large over Messy's delicate ravioli.
When ordering at Osteria, please take into account that the portions are doled out with the expectation that the patron will be having a solid four or five course meal. Plates from the primi section won't be enough for a hungry diner on a budget. Pizzas are made to be ordered aplenty and shared with friends. Osteria's menu changes seasonally as they rely on some wonderful local sources for veggies, fresh dairy and eggs and pork.
After our delicious meal, we opted for some coffee and tea. Messy was game for dessert, but Picky is a dessert traditionalist and didn't feel adventurous enough for Osteria's exotic conconctions. Coffee was by Moka d'Oro. The ($2) tea was unfortunately your average bagged Twinnings. But it should be noted that Picky got a full pot of hot water with which to steep his tea. Taking our time before heading into the December cold, Picky helped himself to two large cups and soaked in a bit more warmth from the space. Osteria was a nice way to cap off a delicious meal and fill our bellies with some warmth before heading out into the cold once again.
Messy ***
Picky ****
Messy's note: Clearly, this is a really great restaurant — maybe one of the best in Philadelphia. I want to give it some props, but as a vegetarian, it sadly left me wanting. I'll have to return with someone who wants to share a pizza.
The final word: A meat-eater's paradise.
Osteria
640 North Broad Street
(215) 763-0920
Dinner:
Sun – Wed: 5pm – 10pm
Thur – Sat: 5pm – 11pm
Lunch:
Thur – Fri: 11:30am – 2pm
