Capri — Restaurant in Philadelphia

⚠️ Warning — Poor Experience & Overcharge at Capri (Philly)

I came to celebrate my daughter’s 17th birthday and ended up being scammed out of $200, higher gratuity and tax percentages due to poor communication and unfair billing practices.

I reserved for 10–15 guests and paid a $200 deposit for the Chef’s Table package ($40 per person). I was given the option to dine upstairs in a private room or downstairs, with no mention of any price difference. I chose the private room to be respectful of the main dining area, not knowing it would later cost me hundreds more.

When we arrived, only 10 guests attended. The restaurant removed five place settings, yet still charged me for all 15 guests—nearly $300 for people who didn’t even show up or have meals prepared. When I questioned it, the waitress said it was because we ate in the private room, even though my confirmation clearly stated the Chef’s Table package (which does not require an upstairs room or extra cost).

When I asked to speak to the manager, the waitress stated that The manager refused to speak with me and declined to remove the extra charges. I was forced to pay the full $1,008 bill which included the $200 deposit.

$200 for no-show guests $185 gratuity & $70 in taxes (that could have been lowered if my bill was calculated correctly) $40 for five Shirley Temples (Sprite + grenadine) $8 for a basic strawberry lemonade

The food was also underwhelming — salads were bagged Caesar, the salmon tasted bland and watery, and portions were small. The lamb chops were okay, but that’s about it.

This was supposed to be a special night, but instead it turned into an expensive and disappointing experience. I was never properly informed about any additional costs tied to seating or no-shows. Charging customers for meals that were never prepared is unacceptable.

When I finally spoke with the manager, he was initially responsive and returned my calls, but the resolution made absolutely no sense. He admitted the company owed me $200, yet said he would be deducting $141 for the same meals that were provided as complimentary to correct their earlier mistakes. In other words, he’s making me pay for the comped meals just to reduce what they owe. That’s not good business practice. To make matters worse, I still haven’t received a refund or any credit for the remaining balance. Overall, this experience was handled very poorly and shows a serious lack of accountability.

I host private events several times a year for both business and family gatherings, and I truly enjoy supporting locally owned restaurants. Unfortunately, this experience has completely changed my mind about returning. This establishment will not be on my list for future events, or...

4 stars This restaurant has a lot of promise, and I truly hope it continues to refine its service because the food and ambiance are both excellent.

I visited with a close friend for a birthday dinner, and we were very impressed with the overall quality of the food. We ordered the shrimp cocktail, veal parmigiana, and spaghetti with langostino in a white wine sauce — every dish was made perfectly, presented beautifully, and full of rich, balanced flavor. The ingredients tasted fresh, and nothing felt rushed or overdone. For drinks, we had a cucumber mojito and a passion fruit lemon drop; both were refreshing and well-crafted. For dessert, we shared the tiramisu and crème brûlée, and each was delicious — light, flavorful, and a lovely way to end the meal. We were also pleasantly surprised that our desserts weren’t charged, which felt like a thoughtful touch.

The ambiance and decor are standout features of this restaurant — it’s elegant yet cozy, with a beautiful night view and a location in a walkable, charming neighborhood. It’s a perfect setting for a relaxed evening out or a special occasion.

However, the service needs some attention. Our waitress was friendly and polite, but not very attentive. For example, there was a noticeable delay in receiving my drink, even though my dinner guest was served hers much earlier. Although the restaurant wasn’t busy, the pace of service felt slow, and staff focus seemed directed mostly toward a private party in the back — which we later realized was the owner’s family.

A major drawback was the cigarette smoke coming from the outdoor dining area, where guests from the private party were smoking. Every time the staff went in and out to serve them, the smell drifted back inside. This seriously affected our dining experience. I highly encourage the restaurant to enforce a no-smoking policy on the premises, as no one wants to smell cigarette smoke while trying to enjoy a nice meal.

That said, the owner came over to greet us as we were leaving, which was a nice personal gesture and left a good final impression.

In short, the food and atmosphere are truly top-tier, but improvements in attentiveness and guest consideration would elevate the experience to match the kitchen’s excellent work. I’m hopeful and would return — this place has the potential to be a local favorite with a few...

They obviously put a lot of heart and money into the interior. It is, somewhat, reminiscent of the charming restaurants along the Amalfi Coast. This is the best aspect of the restaurant. I should have seen the red flag, and knew it lacked polish, when I became aware that all of the flowers inside the property were fake - even the single stems on the table. It's such an easy thing to add live flowers especially when you're charging a premium for your food/drink. It seemed, as though a stopwatch was started the moment we sat down. In an instant, even before we opened our menus, a small plate of bread and foil-covered butter packets were place on the table. For diners who are willing to spend, there should be a willingness to pace the experience appropriately. The preponderance of nightclub base was also a sign that Capri was not what the decor promised. Our server was authentic and sweet - also the best thing about the experience. The appetizer was delivered quickly, but not before our bread plates, remaining bread/butter were whisked away. We were still eating the bread! We were told to "hold onto" our flatware which lay dirty on the table. Apparently, there would be no mise en place. The first course of artichokes was decent, but then our entrees came and we were still having our cocktails. Our second course was shrimp diavolo and it was solid although there were not many shrimp for the price. The lobster ravioli was flavorless however the pink vodka sauce over the pasta was spot-on. I ate one scallop and thought, it's not bad - not great- not horrible, I can eat this. I cut into the second scallop and upon putting it into my mouth, was struck with the overwhelming taste and smell of ammonia - a bad scallop. I spit it out and let our server know. She was apologetic and genuinely felt bad. We were very nice about it and declined the offer for another dish. We shared the diavolo. Fortunately, the glasses of wine we ordered were very good. The server brought a tiramisu, on the house, for the trouble. It was solid and appreciated. As one of the Food and Wine's top ten US culinary cities, Capri was...