How to Get Into Vita in Philadelphia

Resy: When do reservations drop?

Massimo Boni: We’re open Thursday through Saturday from 5 to 9 p.m. and reservations open up the first of every month at midnight for the following month. For example, midnight on Dec. 1 for all of January.

And how quickly do seats usually get booked?

Within a week or two. There is typically some availability on Thursdays and Sundays, and at the tail end of the month. Generally, if you look two weeks into the future, there should be some availability. But within two weeks, it’s pretty jam packed.

How many seats are there at Vita?

One hundred. Plus another 25 on the private patio on warm days. We’re looking forward to opening it back up in the spring.

What’s the busiest time of day and the busiest day of the week?

Fridays and Saturdays around 7:30 p.m.

What’s the best piece of advice you have for someone who might be hoping to get a table?

Check in with the gelateria in person to inquire about a table for the following weekend.

What’s the best time to snag a walk-in seat?

Easily between 5 and 7 p.m. or even 8 to 9:30 p.m. on any day.

How many covers do you typically have in a dinner service?

We hover between 160 and 180.

Do you utilize the Resy Notify feature?

Yes.

What’s your favorite time to dine here?

At 7 p.m., it’s filled up, but not overly crowded. The ambiance is a perfect balance of being able to hear the music, witness the warmth, and enjoy the ambiance.

Tell me about the red fridge door. How do people get into the restaurant?

I’ve always loved the idea of an old Smeg or Frigidaire refrigerator door, so we worked with Dante Porcelli of Philadelphia CNC on a custom, “fire hydrant” red door. It was the perfect touch to bring the space together.

A half hour before a reservation, we use the Notify feature on Resy to share the password of the week. Guests walk into the gelateria and say the password to the team and are led through the fridge door into the restaurant.

What kind of password?

My favorite one is “Olive You.” “Let Me In, I’m Hungry.” “It’s Time for a Pasta Party.” “Think of the Pastabilities.” We do a lot of puns. People love it.

Tell me about the playlist.

It’s not your typical Frank Sinatra or Dean Martin or Engelbert Humperdinck. It’s a bit eclectic and new age, somewhat upbeat. It’s fun, with casual fine dining undertones to it, but playfulness is at the heart of it every day. It gets people feeling good.

What’s your order if you want to have the best of the best of Vita?

Everything is great. My personal order is arancini and Caesar salad. Pasta-wise: Balanzoni and tagliatelle Bolognese. For a secondi, we do an 18-ounce bone-in ribeye with an incredible sauce or the fish puttanesca has this saline quality to it with capers, tomatoes, parsley, and olive oil. The broccolini we have is chargrilled with lemon, red pepper flakes, salt, and olive oil. It’s straight-forward, simple, clean. Those are truly my all-time favorites.

And to drink?

We have a new cocktail called Napoli at Night, a combination of mezcal and whisky. It’s incredibly well balanced; a little bit of sesame oil gives it a beautiful aroma. Our bar manager is Spencer Michaels, who worked at Poste Haste and a Mezcaleria in Baltimore before.

Is there a bar with seating?

We have nine seats at the bar. It’s walk-in only and full-service. You can ask at the gelateria if there is space. The design is similar to the gelateria, but more elevated. There’s lighting under the bar that shines through the white stone top, so it’s a little translucent. There’s an antique mirror finish on the back bar.

How would you describe the food at Vita?

Casual fine dining. It’s cozy food.

What’s the one thing we have to order?

The Balanzoni. It’s just such a good dish. Green parsley pasta. Sausage and sage butter cream sauce. It’s different and just hits every time.

What’s the best party size to come in with?

Six people. We have two beautiful round booths that seat six perfectly. It’s also the perfect size for family style, where you can quite literally order everything on the menu. We have a lot of two-tops, but can accommodate a lot of different sizes between the private dining room and main dining room.

What’s the largest group you can book through Resy?

Typically up to six, but if you book right when reservations open, you might be able to book up to 10. You can always reach out via email for larger groups: vita.in.philly@gmail.com

Any additional tips?

Check with the gelateria a few days out. Check in on cancellations via Resy Notify.

Vita is open Thursday through Saturday from 5 to 9 p.m.