Eating in the USA · Italian Cuisine at Ambrosia Ristorante

Just a 15-minute walk from the Ivy League University of Pennsylvania to Ambrosia Ristorante at 231 S 24th St. After attending my daughter-in-law’s CS master’s graduation ceremony at Penn, we came to this famous Italian restaurant in Philly to celebrate. “What kind of confidence brings you here without a reservation?” 😄 Unexpectedly, when my son asked the host — a handsome Italian young man — if we could get a table, he actually teased us with that line! But he meant no disrespect at all! In fact, he immediately went to check the booking log, confirmed there was space, and quickly seated our party of 7 at a large table! My son and daughter-in-law had originally booked another Italian restaurant, but they noticed Ambrosia had higher online ratings, so they decided to switch last minute.💕😊 We totally understood the host’s surprise — Ambrosia Ristorante is incredibly popular! Even at 4 PM, both floors of the cozy restaurant were already packed and buzzing with diners. We truly appreciated the host’s warmth, friendliness, and professionalism. He gave us a taste of Italian humor and made our experience at Ambrosia even more memorable. Italian cuisine is the origin of Western fine dining — known for its rich ingredients, emphasis on natural flavors, simple yet vibrant cooking techniques, and dishes that are tender, aromatic, and deeply satisfying. It’s one of my favorite “white people foods” 😉. Ambrosia’s dishes perfectly showcase the unique style of Italian cooking. We ordered: Spaghetti alla Chitarra – Topped with fresh, sweet sausage and coated in a rich, vibrant tomato sauce. Cream-baked White Fish – Tender, silky, and full of creamy goodness. Charcoal-grilled Duck – Crispy outside, juicy inside, savory and delicious. But what won my highest praise was actually the complimentary pre-meal starter — fried fermented bread cubes 🍞🔥: Lightly fried, crispy on the outside and soft-warm inside, dipped in premium Italian olive oil… The flavor reminded me of Northern Chinese grilled mantou (steamed bun) slices, but even better — richer and more savory thanks to the olive oil infusion! #MemorableTravelFood #ExploreWorldCuisine #FoodKnowsNoBorders #ItalianFood