We had a very good meal here! We had a fairly large party with several children, and they were very accommodating. The service was very friendly and our waiter was knowledgeable about the menu. Our appetizers were good, although the calamari was overdone. The eggplant parmesan was one of the best I've ever had, thin and crispy and delicious! The prices were also very reasonable.

Very good home style Italian. We didn't realize it was a BYOB, but they were certainly able to accommodate me. Great Caesar salad - I make a point to ask if I can get extra anchovies, because if they don't have them, it's unlikely it's made on site, and they came through in spades. Had the pasta and clams and it was very high quality, no corners cut whatsoever. Very good bargain, if you're good with the BYOB, you should have a nice meal.

Food here is above average. Don't let the Kitchen Nightmares reputation deter you. They certainly don't bite here. They have the professionalism of your usual waiter who has memorized the menu and can perfectly communicate and pronounce everything to create at least somewhat of an authentic Italian feel. They also have the Philly flavor of the guy who comes around to your table and simply asks, "Ya like it?" How can you say no?

I went here for a recent birthday dinner for a friend, and was very pleasantly surprised by the lovely waitstaff, the great food, and the quietness of the restaurant on a Thursday evening. The experience was great overall. This restaurant has only been here for seven years in East Passyunk, but was previously owned by the same family in a New Jersey location for 40 years. These are thick-accented Italian folks who own the restaurant and serve you, and they'll tell you stories with no sugar-coating. This Passyunk location popped up here on the square before the recent revival of the neighborhood, and I'm guessing it has had something to do with the area's boom in top-rated restaurants. Chiarella's is a BYO, so bring your own beverages if you care. The menu is not too extensive, but provides a bit of something for everyone's palate. My group started with calamari and buffalo bruschetta for appetizers, then we each had our own entree. The starters were really good - especially that bruschetta with raisins, basil, and drizzled balsamic! I ordered the basil pesto pasta for my entree, and it was really the best pesto I have ever eaten. Very rich, and very fresh - much, much, different than pesto out of a jar. If you like basil or pesto - you've got to try this! All of the people in my party really loved their dinners and the relaxed atmosphere of the restaurant. We didn't have room for dessert, but those options were also very tempting. I will definitely return here and maybe try something new next time.

I'm really stunned that the reviews on this place are so all over the place! I went here Monday night with my roommates for a birthday celebration and we had a seriously 5 star experience! We were late for our reservation and came in at 9:15 with 45 minutes left until they 'closed,' which being a server myself I assumed it meant last seating was 10. I was also impressed that an Italian Restaurant on East Passyunk was open on a Monday! It was also restaurant week for E. Pass Ave and we wanted to take advantage of the promotion! When I walked in I was a bit disappointed because it was so bright. I'm very partial to dark lighting. The decor was beautiful though and I loved all the exposed wood and brick. When we were sat a party of about 15 was just finishing up, leaving us as the only table in the place. The waiter was super friendly and on top of our needs. The owner even came over and chatted with us and then gave us a tour of the whole place. They were just robbed the night before and apparently weren't the only place with vandalism. What a shame! We started with warm bread and oil that is given to every table. Ashley and I ordered ala cart and Chels ordered from the restaurant week menu. She started with eggplant rollatini, SO good! I had the chicken escarole soup which was surprisingly really amazing. I've been on a search to find escarole as good as my grandmothers and this is right up there. It was a little different because it had chicken instead of the little meatballs and also had egg in it, but it was awesome. Ash had a caesar salad to start which she also enjoyed. Our next course was pasta, which was Ash's and my main course and the second course of Chelsea's 3. I had the pesto pasta- it was SO GOOD. I could taste the fresh basil and roasted pine nuts...mmmm. I just had to add a dash of salt. Ash had a shrimp pasta with a lemon cream sauce. That was also super amazing. The lemon cream sauce is something I'll be dreaming about until next time I go there. Chelsea had a pasta trio- lobster ravioli in vodka sauce, penne marinara, and orecchiette pasta with broccoli rabe and sausage. By this time, we were all extremely full but Chels's 3rd course was coming out- veal saltimbocca. The flavors were right on with this dish, but I thought the veal was a tad thick in cut. After dinner our waiter offered us some sambuca for Ashley's birthday and this was the best way to end our meal! Then as were leaving, the chef came out and brought us some homemade tiramasu- OMG. SO GOOD! I really loved this place and highly reccommend it. The prices are super reasonable (Our bill was around $80). I had a great time and the staff made us feel like regulars. Awesome Job!!

So I went back yesterday, and it was just as good-if not better-than I remember. As previously mentioned by another reviewer, their bread & olive oil are delicious. I could make a meal out of that alone! Originally, my husband wanted veal saltimbaca but they were out of veal. They graciously offered us free soup for the inconvenience. He instead went withthe chicken parm, which was THE BEST I've ever tasted. I know chicken parm is hard to mess up, but for the value this has to be one of the best meals in South Philly. Their gravy is very flavorful as well. I ordered a chicken special with eggplant that was great. The only thing better than the food is the service. The owner is so personable and hands on. Our waitress was a sweetheart too. Great food, great service, BYOB, & the fact that they accept credit cards will make this my South Philly hot spot.

So, I saw this place on Kitchen Nightmares and just had to try it for myself after Gordon Ramsay redesigned it. The first time I went was for Mother's Day last May. I was very impressed. You get the bread with the olive oil for starters. They have many appetizer options - I went with the mussels in white which were excellent. They weren't overcooked and were done just right. For my entree, I went with a seafood dish over pasta. It was excellent! The portion was perfect. What is awesome about this place is that it is a BYOB. The staff are very friendly - even the owner Tom came to our table and chatted with us briefly. I enjoyed this restaurant so much that a couple of weeks after, I held my birthday dinner here. Was just as impressed as I was the first time. This is a gem of a restaurant right in the heart of South Philly.

I don't know what all of these bad reviews are all about, this place is great. This is South Philly Italiano... From the old man singing Italian tunes on his guitar to the friendly greetings from everyone that worked there, this is what you expect from an Italian restaurant in South Philadelphia. Our food was great. Granted we waited a little longer than usual, but we went with the flow and enjoyed our wine (IT'S BYOB!) We shared the spicy calamari appetizer and the mozz/tom caprese salad - both delicious. I ordered the Special - Chicken marinated in pepperoncinis and wine with pork crumbles on the top. It was spicy, just how I like it. Italian doesn't have to always be lasagna and spaghetti - I did like that a side of spaghetti and homemade sauce came on the side, however. The one waitor even came over and showed us a little trick with a lemon rind. If you break it and put it in your wine, it takes out the aging alcohol taste - PERFETTO !!!! The decor (from what I understand a revamp from Gordon Ramsey) was a little plain - I would liked to have seen some blown up photos of Italy or something, but this was just a minor detail. TRY THIS PLACE, IT'S A GREAT BYOB IN OLD SOUTH PHILLY !!!!