Ristorante San Marco

This place is generally fantastic but you need to know what you are in for before you arrive. We usually only eat here a few times a year for special occasions because it is quite expensive, however we've never had a bad meal and the kitchen is happy to help improve your experience if any of the food doesn't happen to be to your liking.

First, the negatives others have mentioned aren't unfounded but are really no problem if you know what to expect. It will be a long dinner. Most everyone dresses up; sport coats for men and dresses/skirts for women. There will be numerous wait staff helping you with various aspects of the meal like other high end dining establishments and they'll pay a little more attention to their regulars. There will be a ridiculously long list of specials so get your seat belt on when the waiter comes to your table. Also be prepared that those specials will be priced significantly higher than the standard menu offerings.

So long as you are prepared for these things going in this restaurant is absolutely excellent. The food is always top notch and pretty authentic italian. They have a variety of good whiskies and wines, plus there is usually a piano player in the bar on the weekends. I find the desserts surprisingly good because they aren't all the more typical savory italian desserts (though they have those too). Know what to expect and you won't be surprised or turned off they way some others reviewing this restaurant have been since it seems that most really only had minor complaints that ruined other aspects of their experience.

I recently ate here as a part of my office holiday get together. From beginning to end I had a wonderful time.

We started with drinks at the bar. The bartender was super friendly and really nice and found me one of the best white wines ever. I forgot to as what I drinking...bummer! There was also a piano player who played just about every song that I love on piano.

After drinks we moved our party to the dinning room where our dinner was pretty much pre-ordered. We had crispy well seasoned calamari, melon wrapped in prosciutto, olives and cheese for appetizer. After that there was a pasta course with a small serving of gnocchi, rigatoni and fettuccine. All three were divine. My favorite were the gnocchi. They were like pillows. For my entree I had a salmon with sun-dried tomato. It was not that great and definitely my only complaint about the night. At this point in the evening I had eaten so much that the salmon not being that good did not really bother me.

Lastly dessert was amazing. It was the best creme brulee I have ever had. It was so smooth and creamy. I only wished that I had more.

Throughout the night the servers and the staff at San Marco were all really nice. They have a very welcoming atmosphere and is a great place for dinner. I would definitely go back when I have a taste for Italian.

Where to begin? This is one of the finest dining experiences I have had in a very long time.

From beginning to end. The anti pasti were to die for. The consistency and texture of the calamari were spot on.

Special of the day? And incredible fettuccini whose flavor lingered while I savored.

First time here , very underwhelming. Bartender overworked and rude, drinks mediocre. Waited for a mater d the owner, came to the bar told the bartender to cash us out he had a table , but our drinks weren't Finished.
Dinner
Waiter totally overwhelmed very short and didn't know the answers to any questions
Owners wife took our order and charged us for extra wine, check your bill,
Food average at best for the price never going back

By the way
We dine out often and rarely leave a mediocre review but this place is not worth it

The reviews for this restaurant puzzle me - my family has been coming to San Marco for years and we've yet to have a bad experience. Maybe we've been lucky. Yes, it is expensive - probably a bit more than it should be, but the food has always been delicious and the service friendly and accommodating. Price considerations are the only reason I'm giving it a 4 as opposed to a 5.

We were in again last night for my mother's birthday and everything was great - our waiter was knowledgeable, attentive, and rattled off the myriad specials without notes. One thing to note about this place, they often have a large list of daily specials/off-menu additions (between the appetizer course, seafood main course, and meat main course we're talking ~10+ specials) and everyone in our party ended up opting for one of those.

We started with the soft shell crab appetizer and some calamari for the table, along with an sharing portion of the homemade potato gnocchi (delicious, but go with the gorgonzola cream sauce). I typically order veal when I go to a nice Italian restaurant, and last night was no exception. I had the veal chop stuffed with mozzarella and prosciutto - the meat was seasoned well and cooked perfectly. Again, the entree was on the pricey side but I was expecting a veal chop would be one of the more expensive dishes they serve. My parents ordered the Dover Sole and the Branzino specials. Both of these dishes are filleted by the staff tableside. I only had a small taste of each, but they were both tasty and not overdone at all.

Yes it's expensive, no it's not a place I go every time I'm back in town at home, but definitely quality Italian for an occasion. All in all a very pleasant evening at San Marco - we will be back again in the future.

save your money and go elsewhere.
Very Poor customer service.
Zero people skills
Not friendly
Food portions for the money are a joke.
tables too close
watch out bc they will try and rip you off if you dont pay close attention to your Bill.
trying to charge you for things not received or even ordered.
What a sham of a restraunt.
Consumers beware.

Having gone to Italy and having been served in a certain way, I found this restaurant to be an excellent example of true Italian dining. Also since this was a special event, they did a fantastic job. I would highly recommend this restaurant . Perfecto !

Service was great, wine was wonderful, entrees fantastic!

I took a star away is because of the appetizers. We had the soft shell crab and zucchini appetizer we did not like either of them and the zucchini appetizer was just cheese marinara and zucchini but was way over priced.

We went here on a Thursday night with 3 people for a work dinner. The service was excellent (there when you needed them, not noticeable otherwise) and the food was great. I have gluten and dairy sensitivity which they were easily able to accomodate with no fuss (lots of fish, chicken and beef entrees). I wanted the lobster salad, which was actually an appetizer, but they adapted it to be a main dish. The others said the ravioli was divine (they even accommodated his request to have a pink sauce not on the menu) and tutti di mare linguini looked delicious as well. Oysters tasted fresh and pretty good. Nice wine selection and the waiter made a good recommendation. A great place for a business dinner or would go back for a date night if I lived here. Even had live piano music!

Excellent upscale Italian in the northern Philadelphia suburbs. A bit pricey but worth it for the atmosphere and quality food. Been here a few times and never had anything that wasn't delicious. This visit pleased with Caesar salad, eggplant appetizer, bronzino and Ossobucco. Want to go back to try more oof their reportedly excellent pastas.

No matter where I've eaten Italian food, for elegant Italian, you cannot beat this place. The branzino is the best ever and the paparadelle with mushroom sauce cannot be beat! This is a wonderful special occasion
restaurant. No need to go to the city when you've got the best right here in the burbs.