PHLReview

photo credit: GAB BONGHI

Pietramala image
8.2

Pietramala

Vegan

Northern Liberties

$$$$Perfect For:VegansVegetariansDate NightSmall PlatesKeeping It Kind Of HealthyBYOBQuiet Meals
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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.

Pietramala image

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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PHL Guide

Philadelphia's Best New Dishes Of 2022

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. 

Pietramala image

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

Pietramala image

photo credit: GAB BONGHI

Chicories Salad

Out of the two salads on the menu, this is the one to get. It has a mix of Barn Cat vegan cheese, fermented ramps (giving it an oniony, garlicky flavor), and charred roasted olives. Even on a night when you want something hearty and filling, this is a starter you don’t want to skip.

Pietramala image

photo credit: GAB BONGHI

Fried Lion’s Mane Mushrooms

You’ll get about six of these crispy nuggets of lion’s mane mushrooms. Cooked to perfection, they’re tender and not overly crunchy. And with Jimmy Nardello sweet pepper jelly and flakes of rosemary on top, each bite tosses between subtle spiciness and herbiness. It’s easily the most shareable thing on the menu.

Pietramala image

photo credit: GAB BONGHI

Heirloom Polenta

If the only way to get another bowl of this polenta is to do a National Treasure-like hunt through the city, sign us up. It’s topped with charred greens, so the green and creamy dish still has a nice crunch. But the best part is how it feels: as comforting as listening to Sade in the bathtub.

Delicata Squash

The squash is roasted well and the ricotta is a velvety dream. There’s just something about it—like Ben Affleck as Batman—that doesn’t work.

Pietramala image

photo credit: GAB BONGHI

Pappardelle

There are lots of things that get etched in your memory at Pietramala, and this bowl of pasta is one of them. Along with the thick noodles, it has pioppino mushroom cream, sage, and wild mushrooms in each spoonful. If this pasta is on the menu, order one for the table and one to take home.

Pietramala image

photo credit: GAB BONGHI

Torta Della Nonna

In cider donuts or topped with peanut butter, there are a lot of ways we like our apples. But this tart has to be one of the best–it’s spiced and flambeed, drizzled in a syrupy fig leaf vinegar. This chilly dessert is refreshing, sweet, and light.

Pietramala image

photo credit: GAB BONGHI

Sunflower Oil Cake

This moist cake is topped with a paw paw glaze and crunchy bits of granola. It’s good enough to replace your next birthday dessert. Order it.

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