Mr Martino's Trattoria Reviews

This little hideaway on hopping East Passyunk Ave. is not for everyone. First, it's only open Friday to Sunday and you generally need a reservation. Second, it's small and quaint, formerly a hardware store. Lighting is almost non-existent; you may need to use your mobile phone to read the menu & see what you're eating. Third, it's hard to find. Their sign, two chairs and a table on a red background with no name, is like most of the road signage in Philadelphia - best characterized as: if you don't know where you're going, then you don't deserve to get there. It's a family-run type trattoria, not an upscale restaurante or typical red gravy place. There's a limited menu, mostly pasta with a few chicken, sausage, & seafood choices. They use a lot of seasonal items and make everything to order. You will be waiting for a while for your entrees to come out but this isn't a big problem, because it gives you ample time to enjoy the wine you brought and the excellent bread and olive oil with sundried tomatoes. Gourmet this isn't, but a good value it is - prices are low, so the final bill will be a pleasant surprise.

I have been going to Mr Martino's since it opened and have always had a wonderful meal and experience. Its small intimate setting provides a suitable ambiance for a menu of individually prepared dishes. Two things to remember that It is a BYOB and it is popular, reservations are strongly recommended.

Restaurant has been closed and recently reopened on a limited schedule. Great friendly warm and friendly staff. Intimate seating in a vintage setting. Food is all home made southern Italian and fresh. Due to size and hours of operation it’s a challenge to get a reservation but well worth the effort. Street parking BYOB Cash only Can be loud and lively

I ordered the spinach lasagna & added the Italian sausage and shared the baked cheese appetizer. The bread served can be found in any run of the mill grocery. The appetizer was small and not memorable. The lasagna wasn't seasoned...I added salt and pepper just so I could eat half of it. It's byob and service is slow. I don't eat octopus or veal which resulted in limited choices. The chicken thigh and leg I can get anywhere. I don't recommend it for dinner but the lemon tart was great.

I'm a foodie so I know these things you better try Mr Martino's and you better make a reservation. I wouldn't call it gourmet but I wouldn't call a casual it somewhere between it is like your great-grandmother used to cook. But way better. kudos to the owners mr. And mrs. And Sarah who's always a great with the service! you must try the baked ricotta appetizer they have three variations seen below and picture do not leave without trying one of the three. This particular meal they had Italian Rosemary stew with cannellini beans and potatoes forget about it so good. I can't leave there without having some cheese tortellini and the sausage. that night I had two desserts why not I drove an hour to get there strawberry pound cake with vanilla cream and homemade chocolate pudding. if I was reading this one to 10 Stars I would give it the meal 987,345 stars! Ha!

Mr. Martino's was on East Passyunk long before it became trendy. But it definitely fits in. It is a small (10 tables or so) storefront restaurant. The dining area is in a dark room with a tin ceiling. Quiet and intimate. The restaurant is run by a couple, he runs the front and she cooks. The food is very good Italian but not fancy. Try the roast peppers and pasta fagiole. Many of the diners are regulars and the atmosphere and service is informal. Some of the appetizers and entrees are vegan. We eat here frequently.

My wife and I have walked past Mr. Martino's many times on weekend trips to Passyunk Ave and thought the place must be closed; There is no sign of life on the outside and the displays in the window looked as if they have not been touched in a dozen years or more. Turns out the lack of polish is part of the presentation since inside this restaurant the décor reflects what is seen in the display windows. The interior is all old wood. Charming, even though the wood floors, bar and walls have not seen polish or oil for a long time. That is part of the charm we found in Mr Martino's which might have the most unique atmosphere in this restaurant area. When we stepped through the doors we felt as if we stepped back in time and stepped away in space from the Passyunk restaurant scene. The rest of the charm comes from the friendly, unrushed service and a simple but delicious Italian menu. Home cooking, savory red gravy and relaxed pace.

The place has a great casual, cozy, speak easy type feel; great place for winter dinner. Wait staff is very friendly albeit a little slow but tolerable cause it's such a nice place. The owner is very friendly & warm. Overall the food is very good not great but portions are on the small side so desert is necessary or I'd have been hungry. Pretty much everything we had was good.

You have to love the South Philly BYO's! We were able to bring two very good bottles with us and enjoy fantastic food at a very good price. Classic Philadelphia Italian done very well. Great service too!

A little slow, but so worth it. Awesome food here!

Located on East Passyunk Avenue in South Philadelphia, this establishment has been in the same location for 23 years serving fine food at a reasomable price. The interior is dated but the atmosphere is perfect. About 16 tables are crowded into it;s tiny atmosphere but as soon as you open the door you are greeted by the owner who seats you personally. Many people from the neighborhood are regulars here. They enjoy the delicious Northern Italian food prepared by the owner's wife Maria. The Menu has a limited variety but each dish is preopared with love. One of the newer dishes combines roasted Portebello mushrooms with Pollenti and white beans with a balsamic vinegar dressing that is to die for. Their desserts are magnificant having just enjoyed the rice pudding cake that has hints of citrus flavor. There are many newer, more plush restaurants in the neighborhood now but if you want an authentic Trattoria, you can not beat Mr. Martino's

Enjoyed a delicious authentic Italian meal! The food was prepared and made fresh - much like when in Italy you are able to taste the individual flavors of the meal - not overly salted or sweetened. The restaurant is small, has a lot of character, and has friendly and warm servers.

It is hard to believe this restaurant is celebrating its 25th year and this was our first visit. We have been to this area countless times and drove by without even noticing it. My husband's nephew suggested we give it a try and I am thrilled we did. It apparently used to be a hardware store before it was converted to a 50-seat Italian BYOB. The service was top notch. Our server was friendly, attentive and knowledgeable about the preparation of the dishes. The owner of the restaurant stopped by our table twice. The first time to welcome us and the second time to ask us if we enjoyed our meal. I have nothing to complain about. The food is simply delicious. I had pasta with zucchini and basil. Not a terribly complicated dish but perfectly cooked and seasoned. The fresh ingredients made this simple dish a winner. I also had a side order of sausage because I had read other reviews saying the sausage was delicious and I was not disappointed. My husband had the polenta with sausage in tomato sauce. The sauce looked and smelled so good I dipped a piece of bread in it for a taste and it was amazing. I told our waitress how much I loved the sauce and asked what kind of tomatoes were used to make it. She went into the kitchen and came back to give us the chef's secret!! Our one friend had tortellini and the other had the spinach ravioli. Both loved their meals. The desserts are all house made. We had lemon curd torts and a sponge cake with strawberries. Perfect way to end a perfect meal. In fact we loved it so much we made reservations to go back in two weeks with another group of friends.

This is a neighborhood favorite, but it's only open on weekends. The food is excellent and the service very friendly

The dining room is just about as cozy as you can get...dark, old school south philly style---just about the size of row home parlor. The disappointing fare is just too bland. The appetizer of roasted sausage and cheese had no inspiration and the cheese (hard to say what type of cheese it was as it was soggy.) The red sauce (Marinara?) had absolutely no taste. I must say however, the slow roasted chicken (a leg and a thigh) in vinegar(?) was perfectly seasoned----the best dish the place has to offer. Desserts were ok, the waitress sort of over sold the cake with cream and strawberries, and the crispy rice cake was just as bland as the main entrees. The service was friendly and efficient and there is a nice ambience in the small space that you share with the other diners. The place is a BYOB and only serves dinner Fri/Sat/Sun. I wouldn't say don't go here---just be sure to order the chicken.

A very, very special place.

So to start with some positives - I love the environment here. It completely reminds me of eating in a small trattoria or osteria in Italy. Linen tea towels are used as guest napkins - very cute! BYOB which we always love. The wine glasses they use also reminded me of a small trattoria in Italy - not large wine goblets just small simple glasses on the simple wooden tables - cozy and authentic. The staff was welcoming including the owner who stopped by our table to tell us there would be a small wait for the food. The food did take some time but it was a busy Saturday night and we didn't mind waiting for our food to be prepared. Our server was helpful and attentive. We started with the polenta and mushroom appetizer along with the baked ricotta. Both were good but the mushrooms were better. I probably would not order baked ricotta again. For dinner my cousin had the slow cooked beef special which was flavorful. My friend had the spinach lasagna which she said was somewhat bland. I ordered the Balsamic Chicken with roasted potatoes and asparagus. Unfortunately as soon as I took that first bite I knew the chicken was cooked another day and reheated. It was dry which is hard to do with bone in chicken products. It also had a bad flavor to the extent that I did tell our server. She sent over the owner who was very kind in handling the issue. He apologized many times and asked what else I would like to order. I decided to go with the tortellini in tomato sauce - easy simple food. However, the tortellini was bordering on mushy - over cooked and the sauce had such little flavor. I added LOTS of grated parmesan cheese to make my dinner more appealing. I've read lots of reviews about this restaurant and they were very favorable. I was very disappointed in the quality of my food last night. Maybe it was just an off night . . . I'm not really sure what happened but I do know they tried to serve me left over reheated chicken - it had that distinctive taste . . . . and then my tortellini were over cooked topped with nondescript sauce. Hard to believe at an Italian restaurant that has such great reviews. I have to give the owner credit. He handled the situation very well and was apologetic. He was sweet and kind which goes a long way in this business. Cash only.

This is a quirky place. Missed it on first walk by on e. Passyunk. It is right next to the municipal parking lot. Very nice atmosphere. BYOB. I had the octopus special with cannoli beans and my spouse had ravioli with red pepper sauce. Atmosphere is old school Italian. It is in an old high ceilinged hardware store. WILL RETURN. Limited Italian menu. pastas, polentas, and specials

5 people, 4 appetizers, 5 entrees. Everything was perfect. Extremely accommodating, reasonable prices. We shared the appetizers -- try the baked ricotta and the red peppers, so wonderful. Each of us ordered a different entree and each was sure their meal was the best. Next time this North Carolinian is in Philly, I will be eating here.

I enjoy going to dinner here. It is not for everyone. The trattoria is in an old hardware store. It is only open on Friday,Saturday and Sunday. Mr. Martino's is owned by a couple. The husband is the host and the wife is the cook. It feels like going to someone's house. Every dish is made to order and you have to wait for it. The menu is Italian, well prepared and simple. My husband get a kick out of the old fashioned wine glasses and bread baskets.

We were in the Passyunk area and were awed by how many BYOB Italian places there are. We wound up eating here (I don't see where it's hard to find). I see from a previous reviewer that it used to be an old hardware store.(?) Possibly could explain the musty smell that lingers. It's dark and dingy looking but hey, sometimes places like that make the best food...right? Not here! I got the bibb salad and am amazed at how someone can mess up a simple salad as much as this. I still can't identify the taste in the dressing. My husband and I both ordered simple dishes; pasta with marinara sauce and the other with pesto. My noodles were extremely undercooked (and yes I know what al dente means; these were not). My husband's, on the other hand, were extremely overcooked. Pasta 101 is the cooking of the noodle, one would think. The owner had been at all the other tables chatting and laughing. When he came to ours and asked how things were, I stated "meh; alright?" trying to be kind. Instead of asking what my concerns were he turned on his heal and left. I guess if you don't want to rave about the "great" food, he doesn't want to hear it. During our meal, our server came and took the container of parmesan, which was the only thing making our meal somewhat palatable, stating "I'm taking your cheese!". Never asked if we were still using it; just grabbed it. We both left starving since we ate so little of our food. We weren't even asked if we wanted our food wrapped; I guess the server knew the quality of it as well. Go elsewhere!!!!

I’ve lived in Philly most of my life and had never heard of this place. Not sure how I could have missed it. Old World in every sense of the word. The building is old, in an old established neighborhood, and totally furnished as it was the day the doors opened. The recipes are all original too, just like Momma made. Great Pasta! It’s BYOB. No parking. And cash (check) only. No credit cards. Can’t wait to go back. If you love Italian food, you’ll love Mr. Martino’s!

Have been going here for 15+ years, a steady BYOB favorite. Everyone we have ever taken here has loved it. Recommend: baked ricotta and asparagus appetizer, balsamic chicken entree, served with potatoes and green beans, lemon tart or chocolate pudding for dessert with a cup of very strong coffee. Bring your own wine, don't expect to get out of there in time to do anything else after. Enjoy the friendly, service, eavesdrop on your neighbors (the tables are quite tight!), enjoy a Philly gem.

I have been to Mr.Martinos MANY times over the past 20 years. I made a comment about the 2 reviews posted that said "don't bother". Yes people can say what they want and i still say look at both of these peoples reviews of other places. I like that it is a BYOB and when you reserve a table, it is yours for the night. No corking charge and food like my grandmother made. The home made deserts are really great as well as the bread and sundried tomatos. I love the pasta fasholi. So i say go for a good night out with friends, bring cash as they do not take credit cards, and relax!

This was my second time here and we brought my 88 year old grandmother, who owned an Italian restaurant that was passed down to my dad. Therefore, a real hidden gem! I don't need to repeat comments, but I totally agree with the handful of reviews below mine. This is the kind of dining you see that is fading away, especially in the US. Reservations are a must, BYOB, don't come starving, bring good friends / family for good conversation, and just relax and enjoy your meal. I recommend three hours for the total experience. Items are made to order by one chef in the back, and there are typically two serving in the front. Selections are simple, fresh, and made with love like it came out of your grandmother's kitchen. Selections are a range from all Italian regions. We will be back as often as we can!

We came into town to visit our adult son and being the night before Mothers Day couldn't find a place that could take us before 9pm. My son had heard of Mr Martinos and we were lucky to get a 6:00 reservation. We immediately loved the ambiance in this place. The service IS slow, as many have noted, but if you can chill out, enjoy whomever your dining with and relax, the food is worth the wait. I enjoyed the risotto, my son had the veal tortellini and my husband had the delicious octopus on spaghetti. We don't usually have desert but I had a feeling they would be homemade. I was not disappointed. The dark chocolate pudding is great for the chocolate lovers in the crowd. I can't rave enough about the lemon tart..amazing crust, delicious filling. A great find in South Philly!

Mr. Martino's is more than a place to grab food - it's an experience. The decor and ambiance will make you feel like you're in Europe. The staff is helpful and friendly, and the food is good Italian comfort food. Definitely a great romantic dinner spot, or a good place to BYO with friends.

I adore this place! The owners - a husband and wife team - manage the place; she cooks, he serves the customers up front. The menu is short, but everything is worth eating. An absolute must!

Rhe baked ricotta with green beans and tomatoes, octopus, and tiramisu were delicious. The veal tortelloni and ravioli are good but nothing special. The lemon pie was only a little better than a Tastykake. Overall, definitely better than the average Italian restaurant in the area, but there are better places to go.

The portions were very small making the price very high. Nothing offered with the entrees. will not return.

First time here in South Phila which is full of Italian restaurants. I would rate it a wonderful dining experience. The husband runs the front and his wife does all the cooking and every dish we had was tastefull and filling. Cash only & only open Friday, Sat & Sunday

Wow. We read the reviews, packed our wine and couldn't wait to have a delicious meal at Mr. Martino's. The restaurant looks quite nice/quaint but had a slight moldy smell. I wish this was the only issue of the evening. The server/host was fussy about where we wanted to sit. The restaurant was very hot considering we ate at 7:30 on a Saturday. Somehow they were able to mess up a simple salad with terrible dressing. We ordered two different pasta dishes. One was under-cooked and the otehr was over-cooked and under-salted. We were approached by the owner(?) or manager who asked how our dinners were. When we responded "ok" with blank looks he stared back and then walked away. Guess he only likes compliments. None were given nor would they be given for this place. Too many great places to eat in the Italian/Passyunk East area. No need for anyone to try Mr. Martino's.

For those who understand the sophistication of simple, understated food, prepared with care and consistency, then this is the restaurant for them. Only open on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays, Mr. Martino's has been serving all sorts of diners - from families to young couples on first dates to loyal, once-a-week customers - for over twenty years. Visit Mr. Martino's when you need a break from the relentlessly brash, trendy, ego-driven vibe of so many newer restaurants. What makes dining here so special? At the end of the meal, you realize that you have enjoyed what a great meal (gourmet or not) should ideally offer - a true respite from the cares of the day and an opportunity to focus on yourself and those you're sharing your table with, the result of a combination of satisfying food, charming staff and warm ambiance. May not work for everyone, but works for us!

This quirky little restaurant in South Philly was wonderful. The existing TA reviews fall into two camps, basically - you love it or you hate it. We loved it. I disagree with some common complaint about the "smaell" of the restaurant - it's an old, old building - get over it. Five of us shared two starters & each had an entree. Our bill, with tax, was under $110 - hard to beat that! On top of it - we all really liked our food. The baked ricotta appetizer was really good and the mushroom appetizer was excellent. We each enjoyed a different entree and everyone agreed that the food was really good. One of us had to send back her ravioli for a temperature boost and another of our party thought her pasta was warm, but not hot. Otherwise, no complaints at all. Our service was really excellent. Our server was friendly, efficient, and helpful. The owner came by a couple of times to check on us and was very apologetic about the food temperature. We were quite pleased with his concern. We willdefinitely go back when we next visit the "City of Brotherly Love."

Next to a public parking lot, a rarity in South Philly, is Mr. Martino's which has been here many years. Traditional South Philly cooking in a high ceiling room with a large staircase.

Delicious, fresh-made food, enjoyed in a small, intimate atmosphere on a Saturday evening. BYOB and reasonably priced meals. Check their schedule before visiting because they are only open during limited hours and reserve ahead of time.

My wife and I ate here and were both a little disappointed. The place is cute and quaint(very small). Our meals were Ok but portions were smaller than expected. Nothing memorial about the meal. Service was very good. We would not return.

Really good place serving some amazing Italian cusine. Loved the baked Ricotta and stuffed pastas with red sauce. Was a really romantic experience and we would recommend for anyone looking for good Italian in Philly.

I've been going to Mr. Martino's for many years and it's always the same; simply wonderful. From the moment you walk through the door, you feel comfortable and welcomed by the owner, a sweet and kind man who makes each guest feel special. The interior is great...you feel like you're in a photo of one of your relatives houses from the past...and that nostalgic feeling is amazing. Then there's the food. Each dish is made to order, so you will wait a little while for it, but in the meantime you can amuse yourself with good conversation, good wine and delicious bread & dipping oil. The food itself is very good, especially the white bean & rosemary soup (a lovely Winter warmer), the roasted chicken, bay scallop risotto, delicate gnocchi and tortellini dishes and a delicious salad (best dressing on the salad). This is a warm, relaxing BYO with a loyal following and I love everything about it.

We were in Philadelphia for my son's graduation and he wanted to go to Mr. Martino's. We had a party of 15, and although the place is tiny, they accommodated us beautifully. We had a great celebration. The food was fabulous (don't miss the balsamic roasted chicken) and the service top-knotch. Only drawback - byob, but it was not a problem if you are prepared.

Located in an old hardware store, in South Philadelphia, this BYOB is a treasure. It has a small seasonal menu and I have tried almost everything on it - all superb. The baked Ricotta and asparagus appetizer is wonderful.

This small restaurant is supremely charming with wonderful simple food. The interior reminds many of their grandparent's old row home. The light is limited but touches like anciet wooden paneling and exposed marbel topped radiators make the setting quite pleasant. The food is reasonably portioned as well as priced. The white tuscan bean soup is a must and the plum tomatoe sauce is a safe bet. Also try the grean been, tomatoe and ricotta appetizer. I love this place and go as much as I can. Only open Friday and Saturday. Call and leave a message for reservations (not particularily necessary for a party of two)

Since moving to Atlanta 11 years ago, I don't get back to Philly all that often, but every time I do, Mr. Martino's is a must stop. Wonderful food (I love the small menu which always has my favorite items like the lemon tart), incredibly friendly staff. This past weekend, I took my grown daughter there who just happens to have moved into the neighborhood. What a treat!

I can't wait to go back to Mr. Martino's! If you are longing for light, fluffy homemade pasta, fresh cheese in a homey, beautiful space, this should be your next dinner destination. The space started out as a hardware store; look down as you enter and see the little hex tiles on the entryway floor. Inside, the bar is made from bins that once held nails. Lighting is retro and low, for a romantic atmosphere. We sat at the cigar band table, a round glass-topped wonder of thousands of gold-edged bands; it reminds me of a Klimt painting. Very cool. But do go for the food! Ingredients come from the nearby Italian market and are prepared with care, as they have been for years. Ravioli and lasagna were simply delicious, and the veal and chicken dishes were nicely seasoned. We ended our meal with a small glass of Frangelica; a nice way to end our meal. There is parking in a nearby lot and, if you are lucky, on the street. You might walk by this place; it is so unassuming looking. Once inside, you will be happy you found it!

We've been going to Mr. Martino's Trattoria on and off for the past twelve years or so...but hadn't visited in a while. We decided to give it another whirl on a recent Friday evening. To those who have been, the interior is as it always has been. To those who have not been there, this is a converted fin de siècle hardware store from the late 19th century. The mosaic tiled name set in the doorway paving indicates that the place may originally have been called Kaiser's. Inside, one is taken by the extensive stamped pattern tin ceiling with a large (closed) tinned trap door where merchandise may have been pulleyed to or from the sales floor in the days of yester-yore. Walls are covered in dark, aged wood paneled wainscoting. A wonderful wooden staircase ascends to the second floor (not open to diners as far as I know). Above and/or around the paneling is exposed brick ...now painted in creme tone. Rickety, squeaky wooden flooring, tiny candle-shaped and shaded iron worked wall sconces spaced between the plain wood topped tables around the perimeter, and two large milky glass etched pendant hanging lighting fixtures over the former sales floor, all shed low light and add to the old world atmosphere. In the center of the room, along the west party wall stands what may well be the remaining sales counter, which serves as a sort of bar and host/manager's station where the quirky "Mr. Martino" himself holds forth, accepting reservations via telephone, or asking new arrivals to sit 'over here', or to sit 'over there' with a nod of his head or a friendly wave of his arm (the owners are actually Marc and Maria Farnese). There is an espresso machine atop the bar as well, where "Mr. Martino" will dispense brews. There are stained glass window lights at the south-facing front of the place, where ambient morning and afternoon natural lighting would drift in from the large (mostly empty now) glass display windows flanking the central entrance-way to this former linoleum and hammer emporium. Around the east party wall, leading from the area of the front doorway and extending to the rear area is a high, wall-mounted track rail, probably for bringing in heavy items, such as barrels of nails, building materials, sacks of cement, or coils of roofing tar, and whatnot. Foreign banknotes are pinned up around the walls above seated eye level in parts of the room, making it seem that people actually tried to purchase a meal with lira or drachma or krona or Deutschmarks or with French or Swiss francs, or left them as a memento... or as a weird and useless tip. As a final touch, the north wall is hung with what seem to be family photos from the 1940s, 50s, and early 60s, although I could not place the same person in any two photos. Either it's a VERY large family or it's a collection of old photos of strangers. Original artwork of tasteful landscapes fill in many wall spaces and offer another glimpse into our collective past. Low-level, romantic lighting completes the musty scene of Mr. Martino's. This is a very nice atmosphere for chatting with friends or for lingering over your BYO wine or coffee. But now to the food.... I must say, firstly, that their bread is just fantastic. Chewy, thick crusted and served with dipping oil and flavorful and chewy sun dried tomatoes. The rest of the fare I sampled, sadly, seemed to be uninspired and mostly mezza-mezz. We did not order any of the evening's specials, and maybe that is why I was disappointed later. Perhaps the specials are key. Maybe that's where the 'love' is.... La Cindee enjoyed her Bibb lettuce salad, followed by their pasta faggiole (not the familiar soup, but a pasta dish). She kept saying how much she enjoyed her meal. A counterpoint to my grumblings, I suppose. In past visits I enjoyed the navy bean and rosemary soup, which, in all honesty is very plain, but satisfying. I usually also ordered the veal tortellini in Gorgonzola sauce, which was always tasty. This time I wanted to try something different, so I went a little farther down the menu. I ordered the mushroom and garlic and parsley appetizer, which turned out to be a tiny plate of cold, limp, practically flavorless and previously sauteed mushrooms ringed by microscopic flecks of something that I can only assume was parsley. I had expected tasty, freshly sauteed and hot funghi, served in a garlicky oil and parsley (such as they prepare and serve so wonderfully well at La Viola: reviewed separately). This plate was very disappointing. The best thing I can say about this dish was that it was a small portion. My spinach ravioli with plum tomato sauce was, to me, nothing more than store-bought, ravioli topped with warmed-over plum tomatoes. P&S, Superior, Tallutto's -- any of these fine retail places make delicious ravioli that, when cooked properly, is wonderful. Mine was chewy and undercooked, and doughy. I could not sense anything but the natural taste of (canned) plum tomatoes. The meal itself cost just $43 with tax but, quite frankly it could have been done better at home, and frequently is. I learned something last Friday: I should have asked for a full description of every item in which I was interested. However, the restaurant was filled to capacity by the time we left, so they must be doing something right at Mr. Martino's. Maybe we will come back someday, and I will order the most special of their specials. Who knows?

It gets great reviews, but this comfortable - and hard to find - trattoria serves good but unremarkable food. With so many other choices in Philadelphia, this would not be among our early choices for Italian food.

First time back to Mr Martino's Trattoria in 3-4 years and it was great. The host and the staff were warm and gracious. The atmosphere hasn't changed and I love the homey feel. The menu is not your usual Italian American one. There are some usual favorites but please try something different and you won't be disappointed. Most of us had the octopus over cannellonni beans in a delicious broth. We started with an appetizer of ricotta with salami and thin slices of fennel. This is a BYOB which adds to the fun. We left saying we would be back very soon. Only take cash.

From the start this bring BYO family run restaurant was simple and delicious Mark in the front Maria in the kitchen (They live upstairs) Start with The octopus and white beans tender and delicious , Bibb salad , main courses pesto and sausage spinach lasagna or chicken in a red wine reduction all the food was brought to our table hot and well executed Expect a slow evening and bring an extra bottle to talk over ....dinner can be long Well worth a family or friends night Finish with the lemon tart Cash only

The food was very good, but a limited starter and entree selection held this place back. I know it's just Nonna in the kitchen alone, and my scallop and risotto was great, but there were no non-pasta dishes to speak of. If you like well priced pasta at a funky BYOB and you are in the neighborhood, go, otherwise better BYOB in the city.

This is a hidden gem. You won’t stumble upon it and you won’t find it unless you know where to look. Smaller menu, Italian is their specialty, everything is made fresh and prepared on site. The staff is friendly, efficient, and very informative. Have a question, ask! No longer open every weekend. It has now become a bit of a pop-up. Open about one weekend (Fri.,Sat.,Sun.) a month. Book quickly. The place fills up fast. It’s BYOB. There is street parking and a lot right next door. Make the effort; it’s worth it.

Not for you if your looking for elegant dining. However if you want to step back in time to great food delivered in an old hardware store setting , this is your chance. Food is great. Atmosphere is original turn of the century. It is a slow, longer night. The food is prepared and brought directly to the table. BYOB so bring extra bottle and plan on 2 hours. Ask for the " Cigar Band Table". You will not be disappointed.