il Fiore — Restaurant in Lower Merion Township

It pains me to give a Marc Vetri restaurant anything less than a five-star review because he is the best of the best in the Philly area, and myself and our party don't want to sound pompous. The food was basically what you'd expect from him: pasta = perfection, focaccia with mortadella = divine, bistecca a la fiorentina (for this non-steak lover) = delicious. It was other things that cause me to dock this place a star, and I hope it can be chalked up to growing pains of a new restaurant:

1. The biggest damper of the night was the atmosphere. While we genuinely felt it was because we could not have been at a worse table (right in the middle of the restaurant next to the lounge-style seating at the bar) and in the future would request to be seated closer to the back/more tucked away, it truly affected our experience. The party at the bar table by us were probably the most obnoxious bunch we've encountered in recent memory. This is a nicer Main Line restaurant, and they were acting like they were at a bachelor party with their fraternity brothers, and the two girls with them were cackling at the top of their lungs all night long. They were screaming at each other and carrying on, and with two people in our party being hard of hearing, it was not easy to converse with each other. We love a fun, lively atmosphere, but there was no balance here; we could barely hear ourselves think at certain points. If Fiore Rosso is going to maintain that type of bar atmosphere, something needs to be done to ensure it does not affect the dining room, where some people might be trying to just enjoy a nice dinner.
2. Our server was...friendly?...enough, but did not seem to take much interest in telling us about the menu and engaging us with the food. We also had to ask twice for a wine list to be brought to the table, which we found odd, and she did not come over once to check on our table as we were eating. That was accomplished by the floor manager, who was actually very friendly and engaging.
3. We were celebrating a birthday, and the person who made our reservation put it as a note AND called earlier that day to confirm they knew a birthday was being celebrated. Nothing was said all night or done during dessert, and one member of our party stopped the person who brought our desserts over and said something. Everyone then, evidently mortified, scrambled to make up for it by bringing a bottle of prosecco and a scoop of lovely gelato with a candle. They seemed genuinely remorseful (and the person whose birthday it was couldn't have cared less and hates being fussed over anyway), but it boils down to the principle of the thing.

Again, the food was what you'd expect from Marc Vetri, but the service missteps and not being able to hear ourselves think half the night from being right next to the loud bar dampened our experience. We hope they will come out of these growing pains and also do something to differentiate the bar from the main dining room a bit, as I am sure what we experienced would be off-putting to...

Looking on-line for a special restaurant to celebrate a friend’s birthday, we found Fiore Rosso, Marc Vetri’s newest establishment. Cozily tucked away in the Bryn Mawr Village Shopping Center on Lancaster Avenue. The warehouse-high ceilings seem to double the considerable size of the dining room. The plain walls are decorated with high end art work, including a Picasso and an original Miró. A clear wine refrigerator and a meat-cutting station are the focal points of the far wall. They also can be categorized as “art works.” The staff is welcoming and enthusiastic. They give the impression that they have been waiting for YOU all night, and can’t do enough to ensure that you enjoy your visit. The wine list is exclusively Italian wines, as befitting an establishment billed as an Italian Steakhouse. The wines by the glass can accommodate anyone’s palate and budget. The wines by the bottle scale the heights of the ceiling. Our waiter, Rick R, expertly explained the menu, options, preparations and which listings were sizeable enough to share for the table. Our party of 4 enjoyed the Durum Focaccia, ricotta mortadella, pistachio bread, Beef Tartare, and Grilled Prawns as appetizers. Three of us drank the Rocco Nebbiolo d’Alba red wine, while my wife, a confirmed Chardonnay drinker, enjoyed the Grillo Superiore Colosi white. Our dinner choices included the Wagyu Rib Cap (similar to a filet mignon), the Striploin, and to be different in an Italian “steakhouse,” I ordered the whole Branzino. My three companions with steaks all agreed that they were worth every bit the cost. While I have enjoyed whole Branzino in several favorite restaurants, this one was different. It was practically filleted. I could only find a few small bones in what appeared to be the whole fish. It was also delicious. We finished with desserts and cappuccinos. The food, atmosphere and service indeed make this an excellent venue for a...

Il Fiore Bryn Mawr sets a new standard for stylish Italian bistros on the Main Line. Our visit tonight was just after a few weeks of the new opening. Replacing the ill fated Fiore Rosso that was just not the right fit for the spot, Il Fiore may just hit the spot. My verdict is it’s an ideal mix of beautiful atmosphere, a casual well fitted menu and great food…

The atmosphere is active and visually appealing. Huge TVs stand above an extremely active bar, the restaurant is wide open and dimly lite to give the perfect fit for a date night and from the crowd that seemed to be the vibe.

On to the food!! we split the fired mozzarella and the squash rings, both perfectly prepared and tasty. A great start. The cocktails scratch made in house and the Autumn Sour and the Fall moon rising were epic in timing for the season and set the tone correctly. Tried a pepperoni pizza which was super thin and very good. Tried the green goddess salad and it was crisp and good. Also shared the eggplant rotolo and it was stacked right with eggplant in a house made sauce with ricotta, a hit dish.

Dessert was a gelato and I saw a mint chocolate chip martini and well, it’s been a very long week so yes please!! Excellent and the perfect ending to a fantastic night. We left discussing how good everything was and that’s always a good sign and knowing we will be back is the second good sign. Bryn mawr has a really interesting restaurant scene and Il Fiore just raised the bar on a perfect choice for excellent Italian dining with a twist…the twist being it stands alone for its outstanding food and beautiful atmosphere and service that was just right. I’d certainly add it to your list say for the perfect date night plans or a special night out for any...