Salento, the Center-City companion to South Philly’s L’Angolo, impresses both the pallet and the wallet with its succulent and right-priced dishes. The minimalist interior is certainly overshadowed by the great service and amazing food. The atmosphere is relaxed and inviting and the menu does not dissapoint.
We had visited L’Angolo, owned and operated by the same couple, a few weeks prior to visiting Salento, and both restaurants were great. We had a reservation on a Friday evening and were seated promptly. The waitress quickly came over to open our wine, a sign of an attentive staff, especially at a BYOB on a Friday evening! She proceeded to tell us about the specials which all sounded amazing, making our selections even harder. I was determined to try the Orchiette al’anatra with shredded braised duck because the same dish at L’Angolo was probably one of the best, if not the best, pasta dish I had ever eaten. It was equally as delicious at Salento. The Polipo appetizer with octopus and white balsamic was out of this world! It was seasoned perfectly and very light and satisfying.
We never felt rushed and had a fun experience just sharing the dishes as a table and sampling the many flavors of the Salentine Peninsula of Italy. We finished off the meal with some coffee and a chocolate chip cheesecake split among the four of us. We each had a bite and the dessert lasted only a few seconds as we devoured it! Salento comes highly recommended as a great place for the crew celebrating a special occassion to a romantic one-on-one dinner.
Know before you go:
The restaurant takes reservations, which are recommended on the weekends. They also take credit cards, which is nice for a BYOB.
Recommended dishes:
Cozze – Mussels, farro, chickpeas and cannellini
Polipo….Octopus with potato, onion, tomato, white balsamic
Orecchiette al’anatra…Shredded braised duck, thyme, shaved grana
The Verdict:
Amazing food, Amazing prices, Good atmosphere, Amazing service
The perfect companions:
Out with the crew: ****
Out with the date: ***
Out with the clients: *
Out with the parents: ****
The info:
Salento Restaurant
2216 Walnut Street
Philadelphia, PA 19103
215-568-1314
Madam Philly's Dining Dish 