As a birthday gift, my husband made dinner reservations at Vetri Cucina. The Italian restaurant is a mainstay in Philadelphia’s culinary scene. The restaurant’s sole dining option is its four-course menu, with the option to select each course and add on additional dishes and wine pairings.

This was a first-time visit for both of us, and the meal felt like an event. We arrived at the restaurant on time for our reservation on a snowy Friday evening. We were greeted at the table with a seasonal spritz cocktail and, shortly after, an amuse bouche of cauliflower soup with polenta and caviar on the side. We both agreed it was a great start to the meal.

There was a selection of antipasti, pasta, secondi and dessert, and each course offered between four and six different dishes. While many of the options were tempting, we decided to each order different dishes so we could also sample each other’s meals. My husband suggested adding a dish from the stuzzichini add-on course: the prosciutto de parma with shaved fennel salad and pizze fritte. I applauded his choice, as this was one of my favorite dishes of the night. For my antipasti, I selected a seafood dish with pistachio cream, polenta and saffron chili crisp. The tender, light seafood balanced the bolder flavors of the dish’s accompaniments. I chose a chestnut fettucine with wild boar ragu as my pasta course. While the dish was nicely prepared, overall this was my least favorite course. My entrée was branzino with black truffle butter and Brussels sprouts. It was a perfect, cozy dish for the snowy evening. Finally, I selected a Meyer lemon meringue tart for dessert. It was sweet without being overpowering.

Our attentive waiter offered wine suggestions throughout our meal and checked in on us as we received each course. The atmosphere, service and cuisine show why the restaurant is a favorite and a frequent spot on the city’s best-of lists.

— Katie Skrzek, vice president/digital director