Chef Marc Vetri spent many of the early years of his culinary career working in Bergamo, Italy alongside the most respected chefs in that area of Europe. It was during his time in Italy that Chef Vetri perfected his craft of rustic, classic Italian dishes. He took this love of Italian cuisine back to his hometown of Philadelphia, PA in 1998 and opened Vetri Cucina which quickly rose to acclaim.
Vetri Cucina is located inside a historic townhouse in the heart of downtown Philadelphia. It features an intimate dining space with seats for only 32. The space is decorated elegantly complete with crystal chandeliers and hand-blown crystal vases. It is representative of Italy and a precursor to the delight that will come with the Quattro Piatti (Four Course) Menu. The hospitality of Vetri Cucina cannot be beaten. When welcomed to the restaurant, you feel like you are being welcomed into a close friend’s home for a meal.
Vetri Cucina prides itself on relationships with some of the best farms and providers throughout the United States, ensuring that the restaurant only uses the best ingredients in all the dishes served. Due to the desire to use in-season and farm-grown ingredients, the four-course menu can change regularly. Guests can look forward to a rich Antipasti of sweet onion crepe with truffle and parmesan fondue, followed by the unique flavor of orecchioni pasta with lamb sausage and black orange. The Grand View Farms pork prime rib with herb roasted potatoes is a favorite entrée that is full of flavor and freshness. For dessert guests can’t go wrong with the chocolate polenta souffle and vanilla gelato. A fan favorite, this dish is rich and decadent and will leave you wanting more.
Due to COVID 19, the restaurant asks that guests closely adhere to their reservation time. Waiting in the lobby is no longer permitted. To ensure social distancing, tables have been appropriately spaced apart. In addition, the staff is required to wear masks. Guests are also asked to limit their dining times. It’s 2 hours for 2 guests and up to 2 hours 15 minutes for 4 guests. Vetri Cucina closed temporarily during stay-at-home orders in Philadelphia. It was thrilling to be able to reopen for indoor dining with these additional safety precautions.
Website: www.vetricucina.com
Phone: 215-732-3478
Tony Lagana
Chef Tony is a 42-year veteran of the food industry and is often known by his peers as “The New Product Guru.” Throughout his illustrious culinary career, he’s earned several notable titles and positions including Acquisition International’s “Most Influential Product Development Expert, U.S.” in 2019.
In 1997, Tony also founded Culinary Systems Inc., a group of culinary consultants that assist with culinary training, restaurant start-ups, concept development, and more. Since then, Tony and his team have generated over two billion dollars in sales for their clients in restaurants, retail, and manufacturing.
The strategic, technical, and culinary skills of Tony and his team can be seen on the menus of national chains, in the portfolio of national food manufacturers, and on the grocery shelves of products produced by major retail companies.