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Sure, we have lots of plant-based restaurants in Philly. But what we've been missing is a place that delivers show-stopping vegan dishes from start to finish in a space you don’t want to leave.
And then Pietramala arrived. Located in the same building as former vegan hotspot Blackbird Pizzeria, the comfort food BYOB usually has diners sipping wine at the chef’s counter and catching up in a space as comfortable as their own living room.
photo credit: GAB BONGHI
The earth-toned dining room somehow pulls off an intimate atmosphere even on its busiest nights. There’s lots of green—from the cushy velvet booths and the stack of vegan cookbooks to the plants tucked in every corner. Candles and overhead orb lights fill the room with dusk orange at night, making the buzzing yet relaxing space ideal for having a fantastic meal. Or a yoga retreat. It all adds up to a place that’s cozy enough to share your childhood dreams between dishes yet still feel like you’re at one of the most exciting places in town.
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Their menu is a mix of salads, small plates, and a few entrees that prove vegetables and plants have more versatility than the city’s murals. Almost everything here has the perfect balance of taste and texture, including the doughy focaccia in a tangy tomato bagna cauda, the crispy lion’s mane mushrooms, and the creamy pappardelle. And while there are some misses, like the squash and ricotta mashup that’s prettier than it is tasty, the menu generally has dishes worth coveting like those last few minutes in bed before the alarm goes off.
photo credit: GAB BONGHI
Beyond what you’re coming to Pietramala for—impressive service and vegan dishes—it’s just a cool place to hang out, crack open your favorite rosé and let the plants hanging from the ceiling remind you that you haven’t watered your orchids in weeks.
Food Rundown
photo credit: GAB BONGHI
Chicories Salad
photo credit: GAB BONGHI
Fried Lion’s Mane Mushrooms
photo credit: GAB BONGHI
Heirloom Polenta
Delicata Squash
photo credit: GAB BONGHI
Pappardelle
photo credit: GAB BONGHI
Torta Della Nonna
photo credit: GAB BONGHI
Sunflower Oil Cake