Villanova Restaurants
Make a free reservation
Visa Dining Collection
Get exclusive access to primetime reservations and access to special events at some of the country's hottest restaurants.
Introducing OpenTable Icons
Experiences to celebrate mom
Check out diners' favorite restaurants in Villanova
Updated on
Diners’ Choice Awards are based on where your fellow diners book, dine, and review. Only verified diners get to review restaurants on OpenTable, so our data doesn’t lie.
The Refectory
Price: Expensive•Contemporary American•4.6(1,055)The Refectory is a stunning New American restaurant located on Lancaster Avenue in Villanova. The menu features modern and upscale interpretations of American comfort classics such as homemade pastas, wood-fired flatbreads, a raw bar, craft cocktails and specialty homemade desserts. Our kitchen's philosophy is to keep it simple and straightforward, with a lot of thought and technique put behind each dish and ingredient.
The Refectory is open for lunch, dinner, and weekend brunch. We validate parking in the I-1 garage across the street. For parties of 9 or more guests, please contact the restaurant directly by calling (610) 519-5786 or by emailing info@refectorynova.com. Please call or email with any questions and we will return your message.LaScala’s Fire- Villanova
Price: Moderate•Italian•4.5(1,065)LaScala’s Fire, located in the heart of Villanova, is a fresh and vibrant addition to the university community! With a blend of Italian and American dishes, decadent desserts, a full service bar and more, this will surely become your new favorite spot to eat in Villanova!
See what locals rave about in Villanova
- EElliotVIPSan Francisco Bay Area •10 reviews5.0Dined 2 days agoThis is my 11th visit. Always great food and friendly serviceMore infoExit 13 GastrobarPrice: Moderate• Contemporary Italian• Villanova•4.8
- MMarkVIPPhiladelphia County •19 reviews5.0Dined 2 days agoA good experience with great food! It’s a beautiful restaurant with great music as well. Will come back for sure.More infoOTTO By POLPOPrice: Expensive• Italian• Bryn Mawr•4.7
- TTomVIPPhiladelphia County •7 reviews5.0Dined 3 days agoEverything is is always so good but please bring back the old skordiallaMore infoEstia Taverna – RadnorPrice: Expensive• Greek• Radnor•4.8
- RRachelVIPPhiladelphia County •5 reviews5.0Dined 4 days agoThe food was absolutely delicious. The mushroom soup was one of a kind , flavorful and perfectly prepared. The verasso salmon with the light onion crumb topping was fabulousMore infoWhite Dog Cafe-HaverfordPrice: Moderate• Contemporary American• Havertown•4.6
- KKarenVIPPhiladelphia County •13 reviews5.0Dined 7 days agoFood, cocktails and service are excellent. Great experience every time.More infoCarina SorellaPrice: Expensive• Italian• Bryn Mawr•4.5
Trending dishes in Villanova
Restaurant experiences trending in Philadelphia County
Get inspired by our collections of the top restaurants in Villanova
Discover Trending Restaurants in Philadelphia
Find the best trendy Restaurants in Villanova on OpenTable. See all best list of trendy Restaurants open nearby and reserve an open table.
The 11 best restaurants to dine outdoors in Philadelphia
Philadelphia’s best restaurants for outdoor dining come with breathtaking views, scenic streetside tables, and charming patios.
12 quintessential date-night restaurants in Philadelphia
There’s a restaurant for every love language in Philadelphia. Early-in-the-game dates get a sexy vegan cocktail bar. An Andalusian tapas spot screams “group date.” For an ultra-luxe proposal, go all out with a tasting menu on the 59th floor of the Four Seasons Hotel Philadelphia. This guide pairs Philadelphia restaurants with romantic occasions from first dates all the way to milestone anniversaries. These are Philadelphia’s 12 best date-night restaurants.
4 new restaurants making a splash in Philadelphia right now
Philadelphia’s best new restaurants, ideal for your next brunch, lunch, or dinner, are home to some of the city’s hottest tables.
17 restaurants that define Philadelphia dining
Together, these old and new restaurants offer a snapshot of the best of Philadelphia dining right now.
12 of Philadelphia’s outstanding spots for celebrating special occasions
Maybe you got engaged on the steps at the Philadelphia Museum of Art or just picked up the keys to your first rowhouse. It could be that your kid is (finally) toilet trained, or that your noisy neighbor moved away. Sometimes, simply surviving another Tuesday can be an occasion to celebrate over a restaurant meal. It doesn’t have to be fancy. What makes an occasion special isn’t an arbitrary date on the calendar—it’s the decision to celebrate. Luckily, Philadelphia bursts with places where the food and atmosphere lend themselves to living it up. Grab dinner and a jazz show at a swinging North Broad Street faithful. Opt for a quieter night at a critically acclaimed, plant-based gem in Midtown Village. Or splurge on a swanky steakhouse that presides over a corner of Rittenhouse Park. Whether you’re after an intimate spot for an anniversary date or a convivial atmosphere for a boisterous reunion, Philadelphia has you covered with these 12 celebration-worthy restaurants.
The Best Places to Grab a Drink in Philadelphia
Philadelphia’s bar scene pulses with the same eclectic energy that defines its restaurants. In every neighborhood, you’ll find spots that reflect the people who live, work, and drink there. Some embrace the city’s signature blue collar ethos while others offer glamorous settings—and even higher-end spirits. Many are attached to restaurant kitchens that turn out the kind of top-notch food that put Philadelphia on the culinary map. The city’s drinking dens have you covered, whether your tastes skew classic or trendy, whiskey or vodka, domestic or imported. Grab a friend—plus a barstool—and explore this town by way of its best watering holes.
A Guide to the Best Date Spots in Philadelphia & New Jersey
Conversations begin on Bumble but they get even deeper IRL. When it’s time to move from direct messaging to direct eye contact, find a table for two. And to make it super easy, OpenTable and Bumble are teaming up to help you find the best date spots in your city. Find a restaurant that fits your style, whether you want drinks on a patio or a special four-course meal, OpenTable can help you choose the cuisine, seating area, and even book unique experiences with nearby restaurants. Download the Bumble app to find your match, and check the list below to find your table.
10 Top Burger Picks in Philadelphia and New Jersey
The genesis of the beef-on-bun combo known as the hamburger might be forever shrouded in mystery — there are at least six different people that claim to be responsible for its invention — but regardless of who came up with the burger, its appeal is undeniable. Throughout Philadelphia and New Jersey, burger options abound, from pared-down smashburgers topped with a simple combo of lettuce, tomato and onion, to patties finished with bacon and eggs designed for brunch-time enjoyment. Up and down the New Jersey coastline and into Philadelphia, these are the spots serving can’t-miss burgers.
Discover Villanova
In eclectic Villanova, you are a few miles down the Main Line from Philadelphia and within minutes of Villanova University. Brunch, lunch, or dinner dining options in this neighborhood are as varied as your tastes. American, French, Italian, or Asian cuisine served at the same table entices even your most reserved guests. Celebrate your special occasions with prime New York strip steak, roast duck, trout amandine, or swordfish. You can enjoy fine steakhouses, seafood grills, Japanese restaurants, and sushi bars without leaving Villanova, or relax and create your own sandwich or salad in an inexpensive ethnic neighborhood bistro. Simply rediscover your regional favorites, including the Philly cheesesteak, stromboli, or Italian hoagies. Order carry-out meals prepared by fine chefs in this upscale yet down-to-earth western Philadelphia suburb.
Frequently asked questions
Healthy restaurants located in Villanova include The Refectory, LaScala’s Fire- Villanova and Gullifty's Restaurant
Bottomless brunch in Villanova is available at The Refectory, Triple Crown Restaurant and LaScala’s Fire- Villanova
The most romantic restaurant in Villanova is Gullifty's Restaurant