Bistro La Baia

4.9 (711)

$30 and under

Italian

1700 Lombard St, Philadelphia, PA 19146-1519

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Bistro La Baia

4.9

$30 and under

Italian

Center City

Make a booking

2 people

26 Oct 2026

19:00

Booked 3 times today

About this restaurant

Neighbourhood gem
Good for business meals
Charming

Bistro La Baia, meaning "The Bay" in Italian, is a casual neighborhood restaurant serving delicious homemade traditional and creative Italian/Mediterranean dishes.
With a light and inviting ambiance and a wonderful outdoor seating, this BYOB restaurant is great for any occasion.
Buon appetito!

Dining areas

Additional information

Dining style
Casual Elegant
Price
$30 and under
Cuisines
Italian, Mediterranean, Bistro
Hours of Operation
Lunch Sat, Sun 12:00 pm–3:00 pm Dinner Mon–Thu, Sun 4:00 pm–9:00 pm Fri, Sat 4:00 pm–10:00 pm
Phone number
(267) 687-1561
Website
http://www.bistrolabaia.com/
Payment Options
AMEX, Mastercard, Visa
Dress Code
Casual Dress
Executive Chef
Gabriel Puma
Catering
Bistro La Baia team will cater to your private event both in house and at your office or home. Please contact us at BistroLaBaia.com for more information!
Private party facilities
Bistro La Baia team will cater to your private event both in house and at your office or home. Please contact us at BistroLaBaia.com for more information!

Location
1700 Lombard St, Philadelphia, PA 19146-1519
Area
Center City
Cross Street
17th Street
Parking Details
Bistro La Baia is located a leisurely stroll away from most Center City points. There is free street parking between 16th and 17th along Lombard St after 6 PM. Meter Parking also available on South Street as well as the surrounding blocks. More street parking is available along 17th street below South.
Public transport
There are two bus stops across the street. There is also a subway stop, Orange Line, three blocks away on Broad Street.
Additional
Gluten-free Options, Patio/Outdoor Dining

Concierge
AI Beta

Our AI assistant, Concierge, is here to answer your questions about this restaurant.

Eggplant rollatiniUS$15.00
Fried breaded Eggplant, stuffed with riccotta cheese, topped with mozzarella and marinara sauce
PolpetteUS$14.00
Fantina cheese stuffed beef and pork meatballs, marinara sauce, parmiggiano
Caprese La BaiaUS$14.00
Sliced tomatoes, mozzarella, grilled zucchini, roasted peppers, evoo
Polenta BruschettaUS$14.00
Grilled polenta, goat cheese, chopped tomatoes
Classic CaesarUS$13.00
Chopped romaine, homemade Caesar dressing, croutons, parmiggiano
Funghi GrattinatiUS$15.00
Shitake mushrooms, shrimp, celery, shaved parmiggiano
Grilled CalamariUS$16.00
Arugula, chopped tomatoes, capers lemon vinaigrette
Arugula SaladUS$13.00
Baby arugula, cherry tomatoes, apples, figs, shaved parmiggiano, balsamic vinaigrette
PEI MusselsUS$15.00
White wine or tomato sauce

Pasta

Gluten free, whole wheat, protein pasta (+$2) Add chicken +$5, shrimp +$7

Gnocchi Modo MioUS$22.00
Homemade Potato Gnocchi, Pesto Sauce
Pappardelle con SalsicciaUS$24.00
Homemade wide ribbons of pasta, sweet Italian sausage, vodka sauce
Lobster RavioliUS$24.00
Shrimp, vodka sauce
Capellini Johnny RoccoUS$22.00
Angel Hair pasta, chopped tomatoes, spinach, olive oil and garlic sauce
Fettuccine al RaguUS$25.00
Homemade fettuccine pasta, short rib ragu
Cappellini/Risotto PescatoreUS$28.00
Angel Hair pasta or Arborio Rice mussels, clams, shrimp, calamari, spinach, in a white wine or tomato sauce
Linguine ClamsUS$24.00
White wine or tomato sauce

Entrees

Chicken ParmiggianaUS$25.00
Breaded Chicken, mozzarella, tomato sauce, side of linguine
Chicken GenoveseUS$25.00
Peas, mushrooms, red peppers, light tomato sauce
Veal PorciniUS$28.00
Veal medalions, porcini mushroom sauce
Grilled SalmonUS$28.00
topped with condiments of chopped tomatoes, onions, capers
BranzinoUS$29.00
Mediterranean seabass, pan seared, lemon and capers sauce
NY Strip SteakUS$35.00
Red wine mushroom sauce
Pork ChopUS$27.00
Grilled Pork chop, peppers, onions and capers in a light tomato sauce
Lamb ChopsUS$39.00
Grilled to perfection, rosemary au jus reduction
Risotto Salmone/ShrimpUS$27.00
Arborio rice, salmon/shrimp, asparagus, tomatoes, light cognac sauce

Sides

PastaUS$12.00
Any pasta availabe, served with tomato, pesto or vodka sauce
SpinachUS$8.00
AsparagusUS$10.00
Extra Serving of BreadUS$2.00

Dessert

TiramisuUS$9.00
Chocolate Mousse CakeUS$9.00
Pistachio Panna CottaUS$9.00
TartuffoUS$9.00
AffogattoUS$8.00
Double esspresso, vanilla ice cream
EsspressoUS$4.00
CappuccinoUS$5.00
Coffee, TeaUS$3.00
Mineral WaterUS$6.00

Reviews

OpenTable reviews from verified diners

Reviews from people who have dined at Bistro La Baia.

4.9

(711)

4.8Food
4.8Service
4.7Ambience
4.8Value

Noise • Moderate

Diners' Choice Awards

Philadelphia County
Neighbourhood gem
Philadelphia
Best Value
Philadelphia
Neighbourhood gem
Philadelphia
Italian

Review summary

AI-generated from verified diner reviews

Bistro La Baia offers a "cozy, attractive" atmosphere with "impeccable" service and "extremely delicious" homemade pasta. Guests appreciate generous portions and the BYOB policy. Highlights include "delish tiramisu" and exquisite polenta appetizers. Despite minor decor suggestions, it remains a "special place" for locals and visitors alike.

711 Reviews

J
Jules Gold
Philadelphia County118 reviews
5.0
Dined on 16 October 2026
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
My daughter picked La Baia for her 9th birthday dinner celebration. We love coming here, it is always so warm and comfortable. Thank you for a wonderful experience!
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J
John
San Francisco Bay Area1 review
5.0
Dined on 15 October 2026
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
Such a great neighborhood establishment. Service was outstanding, the food was delicious, and the portions were generous. If we lived here, this would be a regular spot for us, for sure.
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J
James Gold
Philadelphia County19 reviews
4.0
Dined on 12 October 2026
1. Overall 4
2. Food 3
3. Service 3
4. Ambience 3
Lots of potential, but needs some fine-tuning. A small neighborhood Italian restaurant could be an even nicer experience with cloth tablecloths. The bread was disappointing and the oil thing to accompany it was tasteless. The opening polenta appetizer, however, was exquisite--the olive tapenade really make it pop. As for entrees, there were not many vegetarian options on the menu, but they were willing to accommodate. That said, the pappardelle alla marinara were not very tasty. The spaghetti alle vongole was a bit lacking as well. Proportion sizes were good. They should leave the parm on the table. All in all, an OK experience. We'll go back because other dishes coming out of the kitchen looked good and we live near.
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K
Kerry
Washington, D.C. Area15 reviews
4.0
Dined on 5 September 2026
1. Overall 4
2. Food 4
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 4
It was great food service and great location ….,..
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M
Mehran Gold
Philadelphia County13 reviews
4.0
Dined on 2 September 2026
1. Overall 4
2. Food 4
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 4
Service was great. Food came in quickly and presented nicely.
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R
Robyn
Philadelphia County17 reviews
5.0
Dined on 8 August 2026
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
This is one of our favorite restaurants in Philadelphia! We have been coming for years! The food and the service are always amazing. It’s a very special place.
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C
Caroline
Unspecified1 review
5.0
Dined on 4 August 2026
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
I’ve eaten here before but I took my dad here for the first time this past visit and he loved it! Great BYOB with homemade pasta, lovely apps and a delish tiramisu! Cannot miss this spot!
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M
Mark Gold
Philadelphia County53 reviews
5.0
Dined on 4 August 2026
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
Every neighborhood would be lucky to have a cozy, attractive, Italian restaurant on the corner like Bistro La Baia. The service is impeccable, with a friendly waiter who can be helpful, is efficient, and never intrusive. The food, prepared to order, is extremely delicious--flavorful, pasta done to al dente perfection, and served in a generous dinner portion. Try the bucatini with truffles, the capelinni Johnny Rocco, with fresh tomatoes and spinach in a garlic white wine sauce, and the mussels, deliciously seasoned in brodo. The eggplant rollatini is stuffed with herbed ricotta and also delicious. It's a BYO, so another advantage. Can't say enough about the quality of this gem on 17th and Lombard. Will return often.
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N
Nancy
Greater Boston9 reviews
5.0
Dined on 30 July 2026
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
Our waiter was great & everyone in our party of 10 was very happy with their meal!
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J
John Gold
Philadelphia County73 reviews
4.0
Dined on 24 July 2026
1. Overall 4
2. Food 4
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 4
Service at our early Friday dinner, due to an evening game with the Phillies and Yankees, was very attentive. Both of our dinners had generous portions and the Tartuffo we had for desert was a delight. Will return. The one thing I would recommend is to do some updating of the dinning area, needs refreshing!
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Dining areas

Additional information

Dining style
Casual Elegant
Price
$30 and under
Cuisines
Italian, Mediterranean, Bistro
Hours of Operation
Lunch Sat, Sun 12:00 pm–3:00 pm Dinner Mon–Thu, Sun 4:00 pm–9:00 pm Fri, Sat 4:00 pm–10:00 pm
Phone number
(267) 687-1561
Website
http://www.bistrolabaia.com/
Payment Options
AMEX, Mastercard, Visa
Dress Code
Casual Dress
Executive Chef
Gabriel Puma
Catering
Bistro La Baia team will cater to your private event both in house and at your office or home. Please contact us at BistroLaBaia.com for more information!
Private party facilities
Bistro La Baia team will cater to your private event both in house and at your office or home. Please contact us at BistroLaBaia.com for more information!

Location
1700 Lombard St, Philadelphia, PA 19146-1519
Area
Center City
Cross Street
17th Street
Parking Details
Bistro La Baia is located a leisurely stroll away from most Center City points. There is free street parking between 16th and 17th along Lombard St after 6 PM. Meter Parking also available on South Street as well as the surrounding blocks. More street parking is available along 17th street below South.
Public transport
There are two bus stops across the street. There is also a subway stop, Orange Line, three blocks away on Broad Street.
Additional
Gluten-free Options, Patio/Outdoor Dining

FAQs

Yes, Bistro La Baia offers outdoor seating; the owner highlights its wonderful outdoor seating, and guests often sit outside for a quieter meal.

For a quieter, unhurried meal, Monday around 5:00 pm or a Wednesday evening tends to be calmer and lets you enjoy attentive service.

The staff are family-friendly and flexible, guests report the team made space and were helpful with a baby, making dining with little ones comfortable.

Yes, Bistro La Baia is often recommended as a date-night spot, with an intimate, cozy setting and multiple guests praising Valentine's and romantic dinners.

Guests consistently describe portions as generous and hearty, several reviews note large, satisfying servings that leave diners pleased.

Yes, families dine here comfortably: guests mention their 8‑year‑old loves the place, and staff have been flexible and helpful with a baby during celebrations.

Casual dress is the guide at Bistro La Baia, comfortable, everyday clothing is entirely appropriate.

Bistro La Baia feels light and inviting with a small, cozy dining room and neighborhood charm; it’s intimate and can get noisy when full, while the outdoor seating offers a quieter option.

For a quieter visit, choose a weekday early evening, guests report it being rarely busy on Monday around 5:00 and super quiet at about 6:30 on a Wednesday.

Bistro La Baia offers a small, intimate dining room and outdoor seating (sidewalk/patio tables) that many guests enjoy on warm nights.

How FAQ content is generated

Make a booking

Bistro La Baia

4.9

$30 and under

Italian

Center City

Make a booking

2 people

26 Oct 2026

19:00

Booked 3 times today

Bistro La Baia

Make a booking

Bistro La Baia

Make a booking

About this restaurant

Dining areas

Additional information

Appetizers

Eggplant rollatiniUS$15.00

PolpetteUS$14.00

Caprese La BaiaUS$14.00

Polenta BruschettaUS$14.00

Classic CaesarUS$13.00

Funghi GrattinatiUS$15.00

Grilled CalamariUS$16.00

Arugula SaladUS$13.00

PEI MusselsUS$15.00

Pasta

Gnocchi Modo MioUS$22.00

Pappardelle con SalsicciaUS$24.00

Lobster RavioliUS$24.00

Capellini Johnny RoccoUS$22.00

Fettuccine al RaguUS$25.00

Cappellini/Risotto PescatoreUS$28.00

Linguine ClamsUS$24.00

Entrees

Chicken ParmiggianaUS$25.00

Chicken GenoveseUS$25.00

Veal PorciniUS$28.00

Grilled SalmonUS$28.00

BranzinoUS$29.00

NY Strip SteakUS$35.00

Pork ChopUS$27.00

Lamb ChopsUS$39.00

Risotto Salmone/ShrimpUS$27.00

Sides

PastaUS$12.00

SpinachUS$8.00

AsparagusUS$10.00

Extra Serving of BreadUS$2.00

Dessert

TiramisuUS$9.00

Chocolate Mousse CakeUS$9.00

Pistachio Panna CottaUS$9.00

TartuffoUS$9.00

AffogattoUS$8.00

EsspressoUS$4.00

CappuccinoUS$5.00

Coffee, TeaUS$3.00

Mineral WaterUS$6.00

Diners' Choice Awards

Review summary

Dining areas

Additional information

FAQs

Does this restaurant have outdoor seating?

What is the best day to go to Bistro La Baia?

Does this restaurant have accessible or family-friendly seating?

Is this a good pick for date night?

What are the portion sizes like at this restaurant?

Is this restaurant kid-friendly?

What is the dress code for Bistro La Baia?

What's the ambience/atmosphere like in this restaurant?

When is the best time to go to Bistro La Baia?

What seating arrangements/rooms does this restaurant have?

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Bistro La Baia

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