Rittenhouse Square has no shortage of Italian restaurants, but Stephen Starr’s Borromini arrived in August 2025 with a different kind of ambition. Built inside the old Barnes & Noble at 1805 Walnut Street for a reported $20 million, the two-story, roughly 300-seat restaurant was designed to feel like a slice of Rome dropped into Center City. If you’re planning a visit, here’s what’s actually on the menu, what it costs, and what to expect when you walk in.
Quick Overview: What Is Borromini?
Borromini is Stephen Starr’s Italian flagship, guided by executive chef Julian Baker and menu consultant Mark Ladner, a James Beard Award winner best known for his lasagna work at the former Del Posto in New York. The space spans roughly 15,000 square feet across two floors, with hand-painted frescoes, a marble staircase, and design work from Keith McNally’s team. It’s meant to be equal parts restaurant and destination.
The restaurant serves lunch, dinner, weekend brunch, and a midday menu, so the offerings shift depending on when you go. Below is a breakdown of each.
Borromini: Signature Dishes
Borromini Menu With Prices
The dinner menu is the most extensive and gives the clearest sense of pricing across the board. Here’s a snapshot of core categories.
| Category | Example Dish | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Crostini | Toscani (chicken liver, vin cotto) | $9 |
| Antipasti | Beef Carpaccio | $18 |
| Antipasti | Charred Octopus | $24 |
| Pizza | Margherita | $23 |
| Pasta | Spaghetti al Limone | $21 |
| Pasta | Lobster Fra’Diavolo | $39 |
| Secondi | Chicken Milanese | $32 |
| Secondi | Bistecca alla Fiorentina | $125 |
| Secondi | Grilled Branzino | $46 |
| Contorni | Crispy Rosemary Potatoes | $11 |
| Dessert | Tiramisù-style items | $12–$19 |
Prices climb quickly toward the top of the Secondi section. The Bistecca alla Fiorentina, a porterhouse finished with confit garlic butter, sits at $125 and is clearly built for sharing. Most pastas fall between $21 and $27, with seafood-forward dishes like Blue Crab Gnocchetti ($35) pushing higher. On OpenTable, Borromini is listed in the $31–$50 per-person range, which lines up with ordering an appetizer, a pasta, and a glass of wine.
Borromini Menu Philadelphia: What Makes It Different
What separates Borromini from Philadelphia’s other Italian spots is the sheer breadth of the menu and the theatrical presentation. The kitchen leans into whole roasted dishes (Chicken Scarpariello, sold half or whole), tableside-style pastas, and imported Italian ingredients like 24-month DOP parmigiano reggiano and Calabrian chili.
According to Philadelphia magazine, Baker and Ladner reportedly ran the menu through more than 250 trials before settling on the final lineup, which explains why even simple dishes like Spaghetti al Limone get singled out by reviewers as standouts.
One important update for anyone planning around a specific dish: Philadelphia magazine’s April 2026 review noted that the restaurant’s signature 100-layer lasagna was pulled from the regular menu after publication, so it’s worth confirming availability directly with the restaurant before you go if that’s the reason for your visit.
You May Like
Wood Ranch Menu with Prices (2026): Latest BBQ, Lunch & Dinner Menu
Borromini Lunch Menu
Lunch runs Monday through Friday from 11:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. and mirrors much of the dinner structure, just with a lighter footprint. Expect:
- Crostini and antipasti shared plates (Squash Blossoms, Arancini, Prosciutto e Melone)
- Salads, including a Caprese with mozzarella di bufala
- Panini, including The Borromini Burger and a Chicken Milanese Panino
- A full pasta lineup, from Cacio e Pepe to Carbonara
- Lighter Secondi like Eggplant Parmigiana and Steak Tagliata
Lunch is a practical way to try Borromini’s signature pastas without committing to a full dinner-length meal, and panini prices ($18–$24) make it more approachable for a weekday visit.
Borromini Brunch Menu
Brunch is served Saturday and Sunday from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m., and it leans sweeter and lighter than the dinner menu. Standouts include:
- Lemon Ricotta Pancakes ($14) — with lemon compote and whipped mascarpone
- Eggs Borromini ($16) — two eggs any style with a choice of meat and smashed potatoes
- Soft Scrambled Eggs Carbonara ($13) — pecorino and crispy guanciale
- Frittata Pomodoro ($21) — semi-sec tomatoes, stracciatella, basil
- Breakfast Pizzetta ($15) — mozzarella, potato, egg, red onion, rosemary
Pastry options like Cornetto, Bomboloni, and Maritozzi round out the sweeter end, and the pasta and pizza sections from the main menu remain available if you’d rather skip breakfast food entirely.
Borromini Drink Menu
Borromini’s beverage program is one of its biggest draws, built around Italian wine, amaro, and a house cocktail list. A few highlights:
Cocktails run $11–$19 and include the Borro-Mini Tini (vodka, burrata brine, provolone-stuffed olive), a Pomodoro Martini built with tomato gin, and a Caffé cocktail made with espresso and Cynar.
Wine by the glass starts around $13 for the house Pinot Grigio and climbs into the $20s for selections like Nebbiolo and Aglianico. A full wine list, curated separately, leans heavily Italian.
Non-alcoholic options include St. Agrestis “Phony” Negroni and White Negroni on draft, an N-A-Perol Spritz, and Galviana Italian sodas — a solid sign the bar program was built for guests who aren’t drinking, not just an afterthought.
Borromini Lasagna: The Dish Everyone Asks About
The 100-layer lasagna remains the most talked-about item at Borromini, mainly because it traces its roots to Mark Ladner’s original version at Del Posto in New York. The kitchen builds the dish upright in a tall pan, layering pasta, béchamel, tomato sauce, and cheese dozens of times. Chefs then slice it vertically and brown each portion before serving it.
Stephen Starr has said publicly that recreating the exact texture and flavor of the original dish took months of testing, and that he personally rejected multiple versions before approving the current recipe. That said, as noted above, reporting from Philadelphia magazine indicates the lasagna was removed from the standard menu at one point after the initial run, so its ongoing availability may fluctuate. Calling ahead or checking the current online menu is the safest way to confirm it’s being served before you visit specifically for it.
Borromini Gluten-Free Menu
Borromini does not publish a standalone gluten-free menu, but staff are trained to handle allergen requests, and the kitchen accommodates dietary restrictions on a case-by-case basis. In practice, this means:
- Protein-forward Secondi (Grilled Branzino, Steak Tagliata, Chicken Milanese without breading) are generally easier to adapt
- Salads like Caprese or Artichoke & Arugula can typically be made gluten-free with minor modifications
- Fresh pasta and pizza dough are made in-house with wheat flour, so substitutions are limited rather than guaranteed
If gluten-free dining is a firm requirement, it’s worth calling ahead or flagging the request when booking on OpenTable so the kitchen can prepare accordingly, since made-to-order Italian kitchens like this one don’t always keep a dedicated gluten-free line.
Borromini Dress Code
According to Borromini’s OpenTable listing, the dress code is business casual. In practice, that means most guests show up in anything from a collared shirt and slacks to a nice dress or dark jeans with a blazer — not overly formal, but a step above shorts and flip-flops. Given the restaurant’s polished, high-design interior, leaning slightly dressier is generally the safer call, especially for dinner or a special occasion.
Borromini at a Glance
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Address | 1805 Walnut St, Philadelphia, PA 19103 |
| Phone | (215) 596-1000 |
| Cuisine | Italian |
| Price range | $31–$50 per person |
| Dress code | Business casual |
| Lunch | Mon–Fri, 11:30 a.m.–3:00 p.m. |
| Dinner | Sun–Thu, 5–10 p.m.; Fri–Sat, 5–11 p.m. |
| Brunch | Sat–Sun, 10 a.m.–3 p.m. |
| Reservations | Via OpenTable |
Frequently Asked Questions
How much did Borromini cost?
Borromini reportedly cost around $20 million to build, making it Stephen Starr’s most expensive Philadelphia project since Parc opened in 2008.
What to eat at Borromini Philadelphia?
Reviewers consistently point to the Focaccia di Recco, Spaghetti al Limone, and Tortelloni di Ricotta as standout orders, alongside the 100-layer lasagna when it’s available.
Who is the chef at Borromini Philly?
Executive chef Julian Baker runs the kitchen day-to-day, with the menu developed alongside James Beard Award-winning consultant Mark Ladner.
Does Borromini Philadelphia have a dress code?
Yes, Borromini’s listed dress code is business casual, though many guests dress slightly more formally given the upscale setting.
Final Thoughts
Borromini is less a neighborhood trattoria and more a statement piece — a $20 million bet that Philadelphia wanted a grand, immersive version of Italian dining on Rittenhouse Square.
Whether you’re going for the pasta, the cocktails, or the lasagna’s reputation, it’s worth confirming current menu availability before you go, since high-profile items like the 100-layer lasagna have shifted since opening. Book ahead, dress business casual, and budget for a meal that leans toward the higher end of Philadelphia’s Italian dining scene.