Two Philadelphia eateries are on the list of family-owned Italian restaurants that locals love and protect like hidden treasures, writes Sierra Brandt for Ever After in the Woods.
Ralph’s Italian Restaurant has been a South Philadelphia institution since 1900. It is the oldest Italian restaurant in America in continuous operation, run by the same family for five generations.
The eatery offers homemade meatballs reminiscent of grandma’s cooking, perfectly seasoned and served in rich Sunday gravy. Its walls are covered with photographs of famous visitors, telling a story that rivals that of the building itself. However the real highlight is the veal parmesan, a beloved local favorite said to taste like heaven itself.
Scannicchio’s Italian Restaurant is a corner spot in South Philly that has been a neighborhood fixture since 1962, surviving through the decades and countless food trends without having to change any of its recipes.
The dining room takes you back in time with vintage photos, old-school chandeliers, and career waiters who have served several generations of the same family.
Highlights include the mouthwatering eggplant parmesan and their homemade pasta, still cut by hand using the founder’s original brass tools.
Read more about the local Italian restaurants throughout Philly and Pennsylvania in Ever After in the Woods.
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Editor’s Note: This post first appeared on PHILADELPHIA Today in September 2025
