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I ate at the oldest Italian restaurant in the US, and it was one of the best dinners I've had in a while
I ate at the oldest Italian restaurant in the US, and it was one of the best dinners I've had in a while
Frank OlitoFeb 9, 2021, 00:52 IST
Ralph's is the oldest Italian restaurant in the US.Frank Olito/ Insider
Located in Philadelphia, Ralph's opened in 1900 and is the oldest Italian restaurant in the US.
On a Saturday, I scored a reservation and had one of the best dinners I've eaten in a while.
The chicken Parm reminded me of my Italian grandmother's home-cooked meals.
Growing up in an Italian family, all my family gatherings were centered around food. My grandmother taught me at a young age what a good sauce is supposed to taste like and how to properly salt a pot of water for pasta.
Throughout the years, it has been a challenge to find great Italian food at restaurants that can rival my grandmother's cooking, so when I stumbled upon Ralph's, a restaurant in Philadelphia that claims to be the oldest Italian restaurant in the US, I was skeptical.
By the end of the meal, however, I was pleasantly surprised to find a delicious, home-cooked meal in the heart of a big city.
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In January, two friends and I took a weekend trip to Philadelphia and struggled to find a place with space for dinner.
A street in Philadelphia.
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Later that night we arrived at the restaurant, and it didn't look like what I was expecting.
The exterior of Ralph's.
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Once inside, the space felt a bit empty, which had me worrying again.
The empty restaurant.
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Finally seated at the table, I learned the surprising history of Ralph's, which dates back to 1900.
The place mat.
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Our meal started with some red wine and bread.
The bread and the wine.
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For my entrée, I ordered the chicken Parm and was seriously impressed.
The chicken Parm.
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When I finished my chicken Parm, I moved onto my side dish of spaghetti.
Eating the spaghetti.
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Another friend ordered the chicken florentine with a side of broccoli, and she loved her meal as well.
The chicken florentine.
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For dessert, we all shared a cannoli, and it was worth every cent.
The cannoli.
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As we left the restaurant, I felt lucky to have eaten at a historic establishment that has survived so much.