Vetri Cucina

Vetri Cucina, a leading Italian restaurant in Philadelphia

Vetri Cucina is an Italian restaurant based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, opened in September 1998 by Chef Marc Vetri and his business partner Jeff Benjamin. It occupies a historic townhouse that was once home to the renowned restaurant Le Bec-Fin. The company itself presents itself as one of the most respected and influential Italian restaurants in the country, a reputation backed by its track record and the recognition it has received.

Its offering focuses on rustic cuisine, handcrafted pastas, innovative flavor combinations and artful presentations inspired by Italian cuisine. The restaurant maintains a restaurant menu, a private dining service and a program of classes and events.

James Beard Foundation Awards

Vetri Cucina has been nominated and honored in several editions of the James Beard Foundation Awards. Among the recognitions the company lists are the Best Chef Mid-Atlantic award in 2005, as well as nominations in categories such as Best New Restaurant (2008), Outstanding Service (2008, 2009, 2010, 2013 and 2014), Outstanding Restaurant (2011 and 2012), Outstanding Chef (2014, 2015, 2019 and 2020) and Book Award for Mastering Pasta (2016).

In 2017 the restaurant retained the Philadelphia Inquirer's four-bell rating and earned a place on AAA's Five Diamond restaurant list.

Chef Marc Vetri and his career

Marc Vetri, a Philadelphia native, founded the restaurant in 1998 together with Jeff Benjamin. Within two years of opening he was named one of Food & Wine's "Best New Chefs" and received the Philadelphia Inquirer's highest restaurant rating. In 2005 he received the James Beard Award for Best Chef Mid-Atlantic.

Together with Benjamin he later opened Osteria, Amis, Pizzeria Vetri, Lo Spiedo and Alla Spina, establishments the company links to Philadelphia's culinary revitalization. In 2015 Urban Outfitters Inc. partnered with several of The Vetri Family restaurants; after overseeing that transition, Marc Vetri decided to refocus on Vetri Cucina.

In 2020 he opened the pasta bar Fiorella in Philadelphia's Italian Market, his first restaurant outside the United States —Mr. Maurice's Italian, at the Ace Hotel in Kyoto (Japan)— and Osteria Fiorella at the Red Rock Casino Resort & Spa in Las Vegas. In October 2022 he opened the pizzeria MVP at the Wells Fargo Center, and in May 2023 he opened Pizzeria Salvy at the Comcast Technology Center in Center City Philadelphia. His most recent project is Fiorella Las Vegas, at the Durango Casino and Resort, opened in December 2023. Vetri Cucina Las Vegas, located at the Palms Casino Resort, closed in March 2020 and reopened in November 2022 on the building's 56th floor.

Marc Vetri is also the driving force behind Vetri Community Partnership, a nonprofit organization dedicated to nutrition education, and the author of five award-winning cookbooks, with a new work scheduled for fall 2025.

Jeff Benjamin, co-founder and general manager

Jeff Benjamin graduated from the University of Massachusetts Amherst and met Marc Vetri in New York while working in the food industry. When Vetri decided to return to Philadelphia to open the restaurant, he brought him in as a partner and general manager. He is currently co-founder of Vetri Cucina and has taken part alongside Vetri in opening numerous restaurants over the past 25 years, including Fiorella, Fiore Rosso and MVP in the Philadelphia area, and Osteria Fiorella and Vetri Cucina in Las Vegas. He is co-founder and a board member of Vetri Community Partnership. In 2015 he published his first book, Front of the House: Restaurant Manners, Misbehaviors & Secrets. He also invests in and advises entrepreneurs in the food and beverage industry, and serves on the boards of Federal Donuts and Simply Good Jars.

Kitchen team

Jacob Rozenberg holds the position of chef de cuisine. Raised in Newburgh (New York), he trained at the Culinary Institute of America, where he graduated in 2009, and worked at various restaurants in the Hudson Valley before joining Osteria in Philadelphia. He later took part in the opening of Alla Spina in 2012.

Services and customer experience

The restaurant offers dinner service, private dining, classes and events, and has a gift shop. Reservations are recommended and can be made by phone or through OpenTable. Dinner is served every day starting at 5PM. There is no formal dress code and no valet service; parking options are on the street or in an adjacent lot located at 1314 Spruce Street, with which the restaurant has no affiliation.

The company also states that it offers hot food for pickup and delivery via Tock, with service Wednesday through Sunday from 5PM to 9PM. Reservations and orders can be placed on the Tock page.

Other restaurants in the group

In addition to Vetri Cucina, the group operates Fiorella and Fiore Rosso in the Philadelphia area, and maintains a presence in Las Vegas with Osteria Fiorella and Vetri Cucina. The company uses a mailing list to share news about its Philadelphia area restaurants.

Location and contact

1312 Spruce Street, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania · Phone: 215-732-3478 · Email: vetri@vetricucina.com · Hours: Dinner every day starting at 5PM