Happy to see The Victor Cafe busy on a wintry weekend evening for our first visit. The staff are not only skilled servers, but all are professional operatic
vocalists. Every 20 minutes, they rang a bell to signal a performance (no photography allowed). We were treated to 3 gorgeous arias from Puccini and Mozart during our meal. The restaurant decor celebrates music featuring a photo wall of great singers through the decades.
The food was comparably top notch. We enjoyed their calamari, rigatoni and chicken with polenta. The portions are generous for the price. We had enough leftovers for another meal.
Save room or share a dessert, especially the melted chocolate cake option.
The restaurant has a festive vibe. They ask if you’re celebrating a special occasion when you make your reservation. We watched how thrilled a little boy and his family were when his birthday treat was delivered to their table.
The Victor Cafe was transformed into Adrian’s Restaurant when they filmed onsite for the 2006 Rocky Balboa movie. There’s a vibrant painting of boxers hanging in the back and their website recounts details of the shoot.
During the COVID pandemic, the Victor Cafe continued to share its love of opera with Philly residents, even while it was closed. Every evening around 6pm, a singer would stand on the Victor Cafe balcony and perform arias for free to the cheering South Philly crowd below.