The Victor Café is an Italian restaurant that cultivates old traditions and seamlessly blends them with new ones. With classic Italian dishes and unforgettable live music, we invite you to join us for many enjoyable evenings for years to come.
"Went there with the hopes of a special dinner for my mom who loves opera. The food was so terrible it outweighed the opera. Chicken overcooked and pasta + mussels were nothing special. The servers are talented but the ambiance is so old that it doesn't make it worth it. for some reason they cut the restaurant in half with a wall so the servers are balancing between singing to both sides. Also they didn't seat us in the white linen side of the restaurant for some reason (the place was empty on a fri night) which was disappointing because like I said I was hoping it to be a special occasion. $12 for valet (parking is a nightmare at the location) was another drawback. Go to High Note Cafe"
Dined on 5/10/2013
Share:
0points
0of0voted this as helpful.
Thank you! You have successfully submitted a comment for this review.
"Took my wife here for a very special occasion. Given the restaurant's theme, I expected more of a tourist experience than classic South Philly Italian. The entertainment was wonderful and anything but tourist fare. The food was truly excellent (the Chicken Cacciatore, among the specials, was exceptional), well prepared and rivaled the best we've had in South Philly and anywhere else for that matter, including the New York neighborhood restaurants. The only disappointment was our seating, in a high traffic area near the stairwell, and it seemed that larger groups were afforded the better seating arrangements. However, everything else more than made up for it, and we look forward to our next visit (we'll bring some friends along next time)!"
Dined on 5/11/2013
Special Features: good for groups
Share:
0points
0of0voted this as helpful.
Thank you! You have successfully submitted a comment for this review.
"My husband & I have gone to Victor Cafe several times now, & the food has been consistently great. Important note: save room for dessert! The tiramisu, cannoli, & creme brulé are fantastic, as are the rigatone bolognese, mushroom raviol, & the pork chop. The staff are amazing in terms of friendliness & prompt service. And, of course, they are all incredible vocal artists. We were worried that the singing would make the experience/restaurant cheesy or annoying, but it's absolutely fantastic. These are classically trained artists who have delighted all of the guests we have taken there!"
Dined on 5/10/2013
Special Features: good for groups, romantic, neighborhood gem, special occasion
Share:
0points
0of0voted this as helpful.
Thank you! You have successfully submitted a comment for this review.
"Arrived late because of heavy traffic, so we weren't able to enjoy as complete and leisurely a meal as had been planned. I had the Meat Tortelloni and my companion had the Fettucini - a pasta meal was the best we could do from a timing standpoint, because of the timing of a show. Both were delightful and delicious, composed, prepared, and garnished with perfection. A special treat came when one of the talented staff members broke into an operatic aria, an event for which this place is famous. I regret that we didn't have the time to fully enjoy the experience of eating at Victor, but will definitely return to sample more of their offerings."
Dined on 5/03/2013
Special Features: fit for foodies, neighborhood gem
Share:
0points
0of0voted this as helpful.
Thank you! You have successfully submitted a comment for this review.
"Acoustics are outrageously bad, ironic given the opera singing. Yelling is necessary for a neighbor to be heard. Food is fair -- not the memorable aspect of this experience. The overall ambience and the live operatic signing are the treat, and do not inflate the cost."
Dined on 5/04/2013
Share:
0points
0of0voted this as helpful.
Thank you! You have successfully submitted a comment for this review.
"One of the most unusual restaurants I have ever been to. Food is OK, but the ambience is truly extraordinary. The staff and occasional guests take turns to sing opera, and they are surprisingly good! Not to miss experience."
Dined on 5/03/2013
Special Features: romantic
Share:
0points
0of0voted this as helpful.
Thank you! You have successfully submitted a comment for this review.
"Why pay the same price at "historic" (which is a code word for "we haven't tried to make any progress in 100+ years) places like Ralph's when you can get better food, better decor, and beautiful arias at Victor Cafe? The answer is: no reason at all."
Dined on 04/27/2013
2007
Special Features: good for groups, neighborhood gem, special occasion
Share:
0points
0of0voted this as helpful.
Thank you! You have successfully submitted a comment for this review.
"The atmosphere of this south philly gem was as great as I remembered. The singing was fantastic. And the food was excellent. Exceeded my expectations. Highly recommended."
Dined on 04/22/2013
2008
Special Features: fit for foodies, good for groups, neighborhood gem, special occasion
Share:
0points
0of0voted this as helpful.
Thank you! You have successfully submitted a comment for this review.
"With the staff's musical ability always show cased, an OUTSTANDING evening of fine dining and entertainment. Best suited to those who appreciate opera and other forms of excellent vocal music."
Dined on 04/23/2013
2011
Special Features: fit for foodies, special occasion
Share:
0points
0of0voted this as helpful.
Thank you! You have successfully submitted a comment for this review.
"Victor's Cafe was lots of fun, the food was very good, and it all came together for a memorable evening. The highlight was the staff taking turns singing opera. One of our party was an opera buff so he was particularly taken by the wonderful voices. The timing of the "shows" was perfect. They broke up the evening in a very pleasant way but there was still plenty of time for our party of five to talk and be together. And every meal -- from the whole fish to the pasta dishes -- were very well done. A wonderful experience."
Dined on 04/20/2013
2010
Special Features: good for groups, neighborhood gem
Share:
+1point
1of1voted this as helpful.
Thank you! You have successfully submitted a comment for this review.
"The Victor Cafe has been in operation for nearly 100 years, and I've been enjoying it for nearly half that time. My opera loving aunt, who started going there in the 1930s took me there while I was in college in the mid '60s, and my wife and I have been going back ever since. We love to bring guests with us. The food on our recent trip was better than ever, and the ambiance was outstanding as always. Members of the wait staff sing periodically throughout the evening, often enough to provide a unique experience, but not so often that they prevent conversation. We're already planning our next visit."
Dined on 04/13/2013
2008
Special Features: neighborhood gem, romantic, special occasion
Share:
+1point
1of1voted this as helpful.
Thank you! You have successfully submitted a comment for this review.
"I was very disappointed, when i made my reservation i told them we were celebrating my parents 60th anniversary. They put us in a back corner so we couldn't see the singers and they did nothing special for my parents.....yet they all sang a very special birthday song for a 1 yr old. Very disappointing."
Dined on 04/13/2013
2008
Share:
0points
0of0voted this as helpful.
Thank you! You have successfully submitted a comment for this review.
"Awesome food, cozy decor and opera. I loved their wine and dessert list. Food was delicious. Crowd consisted mainly of middle age to old people. Very warm atmosphere. I will recommend this place."
Dined on 04/13/2013
2013
Special Features: fit for foodies, good for groups, romantic, special occasion
Share:
0points
0of0voted this as helpful.
Thank you! You have successfully submitted a comment for this review.
"What a wonderful place to celebrate a special occasion!!! It was our first time there and we were celebrating my uncle's 90th birthday. The Victor Cafe is one of his favorite places, so it was the perfect choice. Our table of 9 was attended by Robin, who has a beautiful voice to match her beautiful personality! The food was excellent; everyone in our party enjoyed the meal and the ambiance. The singing by the wait staff was lovely and added so much to our celebration. I can't wait to visit the Victor Cafe again. The whole experience was very memorable."
Dined on 04/04/2013
2005
Special Features: good for groups, romantic, special occasion
Share:
0points
0of0voted this as helpful.
Thank you! You have successfully submitted a comment for this review.
"Menu seems like they're trying to be fancy and can't pull it off. my fault for not checking the menu first but I'd assumed there'd be some basic So. Philly Italian fare (ravioli/gnocchi/pasta) for kids,elderly, etc. but no. Spaghetti Bolognese was the only option & that was mediocre. Also hard to find a lower fat option. Only 2 items served to our party of 10 got rave reviews -- a stuffed veal and the Pears w/bleu cheese Spinach salad. Clams w/pasta was overpoweringly spicy, when asked if there was sausage in the mix, the waitress said they were canned clams minced up-- no clam flavor at all, just unpleasant heat! Check the menu first & then expect little."
Dined on 03/31/2013
2009
Special Features: neighborhood gem, special occasion
Share:
0points
0of0voted this as helpful.
Thank you! You have successfully submitted a comment for this review.
"As always Victors Cafe is an excellent place to eat great food. The service and attention are above any other place I had visit. The food is unvibable delicious. This is the fourth time me and my husband visit Victor's Cafe and love every second of it. Highly recommend Victor's for great service, excellent service and amazing food."
Dined on 03/31/2013
2012
Special Features: neighborhood gem, romantic, special occasion, hot spot
Share:
0points
0of0voted this as helpful.
Thank you! You have successfully submitted a comment for this review.
"Victor Cafe is a Philadelphian institution. Not only is it great fun to have the staff sing opera, but the food is wonderful and the service is great. It is turely a fun and enjoyable evening."
Dined on 03/30/2013
2006
Special Features: good for groups, special occasion
Share:
0points
0of0voted this as helpful.
Thank you! You have successfully submitted a comment for this review.
"Dinner at The Victor Cafe is an event. I am happy to put my meal on-hold every 15 minutes are so and listen to young opera students sing. The singers this last visit were all terrific. We used to go to The Victor Cafe for events and always enjoyed the music, but now the food is worth going for too. Our meal (Salads, Salmon, Veal, Tira Misu) was excellent."
Dined on 03/30/2013
2009
Share:
0points
0of0voted this as helpful.
Thank you! You have successfully submitted a comment for this review.
"We recently dined at the Victor Cafe for the first time, and enjoyed it thoroughly. Frankly, we are horrifed that a few bad reviews on OpenTable almost talked us out of going. The atmosphere is just fabulous, a real slice of old South Philly, and the opera singers are tremendous fun to listen to. The food, while not outstanding, is very good; however the desserts are terrific. We will definitely return."
Dined on 03/29/2013
2013
Special Features: neighborhood gem, special occasion
Share:
0points
0of0voted this as helpful.
Thank you! You have successfully submitted a comment for this review.
"Took my date there on March 29, 2013 friday night and everything was perfect. The lounge upstairs should be used more, I asked waitstaff about a bartender upstairs and she said to get drinks from downstairs and can use the up stairs. Just a suggestion the ambiance upstairs and the decoration was very nice, placing a bartender up there would be so much better."
Dined on 03/29/2013
2013
Special Features: neighborhood gem, notable wine list, romantic, special occasion
Share:
0points
0of0voted this as helpful.
Thank you! You have successfully submitted a comment for this review.
"We have been there before and loved the ambience, the staff and the music but found the food disappointing. Still we went again because of the music. This visit, our fourth was perfect. Our meal was yummy, far better than we expected! Our entire dinner experience was amazing.. Victor's is a must for opera lovers!"
Dined on 03/24/2013
2010
Special Features: late-night find, romantic, special occasion
Share:
0points
0of0voted this as helpful.
Thank you! You have successfully submitted a comment for this review.
"My husband, son, and I took my Mom here for her 89th birthday and we all loved it! The food was delicious but even better was when a bell would sound and different members of the wait staff would sing solos from various operas. And the best part for us was when the entire wait staff sang Happy Birthday to my Mom. And it seems she was not the only birthday girl in the house that night, along with two groups of folks celebrating milestone anniversaries. Well worth the trip!"
Dined on 03/23/2013
2012
Special Features: fit for foodies, good for groups, romantic, special occasion
Share:
0points
0of0voted this as helpful.
Thank you! You have successfully submitted a comment for this review.
"Excellent dinner, a true South Philly gem! Food is delicious and the opera singing waiters are amazing! Don't forget to check out the upstairs lounge, it is so cute!"
Dined on 03/23/2013
2011
Special Features: fit for foodies, neighborhood gem, romantic, special occasion
Share:
0points
0of0voted this as helpful.
Thank you! You have successfully submitted a comment for this review.
"It's italian cooking at its best and the opera pieces performed by the staff will flat out amaze you! The restaurant has a very cozy, relaxed, family feel to it with a great ambience reflected in the pictures of past opera performers up all over the walls. It's great music + great food = an outstanding dinner and experience!"
Dined on 03/09/2013
2013
Special Features: neighborhood gem, special occasion
Share:
0points
0of0voted this as helpful.
Thank you! You have successfully submitted a comment for this review.
"Waitresses and waiters are professional opera singers. Every so often, 15 to 20 minutes, one of them sings an aria. It was my second time there. This time I celebrated a friend's birthday. Best place to have a birthday song! In amazing harmony with strong voices! Food very tasty!"
Dined on 03/09/2013
2010
Special Features: romantic, special occasion
Share:
0points
0of0voted this as helpful.
Thank you! You have successfully submitted a comment for this review.
"We keep coming back here, often with out of town guests, since The Victor Cafe is so unique and offers a nice glimpse of South Philly too. We are always happy with the classic Italian food, the polite service, the singing talent of the staff and looking at the historical photos on the wall. This time we found that the background opera music played between the performances of the waitstaff was too loud, and it intruded upon table conversation. We'll be back, but please lower the music volume."
Dined on 03/09/2013
2005
Special Features: neighborhood gem
Share:
0points
0of0voted this as helpful.
Thank you! You have successfully submitted a comment for this review.
"Always an exceptional dinning experience at Victor Cafe. Never ever a disappointment! Not only is the food good, but the waitstaff is gracious, warm, helpful and oh so very talented!"
Dined on 03/07/2013
2013
Special Features: fit for foodies, good for groups, romantic, special occasion
Share:
0points
0of0voted this as helpful.
Thank you! You have successfully submitted a comment for this review.
"Enjoy a wonderful meal and a periodic burst of talent in the form of song. Wait staff are all students of opera and incredibly talented. Very festive. An extremely cozy atmosphere with homemade pastas or really anything your heart desires. Decent wine list as well."
Dined on 03/02/2013
2011
Special Features: good for groups, kid-friendly, neighborhood gem, romantic, special occasion
Share:
0points
0of0voted this as helpful.
Thank you! You have successfully submitted a comment for this review.
"We went to Victor Cafe with friends on Valentine's Day. We had a good time. The food was ok but the opera singing was great. There is so much talent in that place. I enjoyed the experience."
Dined on 02/14/2013
2007
Special Features: neighborhood gem, romantic, special occasion
Share:
0points
0of0voted this as helpful.
Thank you! You have successfully submitted a comment for this review.
"We truly enjoy the Victor each and every time we eat there. This time though we were rushed from our table after receiving our desserts while lingering over the last bites of it, and the last sips of latte'. We were told that the next reservation for the table had come in a but early. We were truly disappointed in how this was handled. Perhaps someone else in charge might've handled it differently. Needless to say, we will return because this place remains a favorite. And we travel over an hour from Upper Bucks County PA to dine there."
Dined on 02/24/2013
2006
Special Features: fit for foodies, neighborhood gem, romantic, special occasion
Share:
0points
0of0voted this as helpful.
Thank you! You have successfully submitted a comment for this review.