La Sera Italiana — Philadelphia, PA

December 4, 2024

The Parm Boys Overall Score: 7.27 / 10

The Vibe

We actually really loved the vibe of this place, and we noticed right away that the menu prices seemed completely untouched by recent inflation and economic chaos. Honestly, it makes you wonder how they're pulling that off—but we aren't complaining! The big catch was the climate control: it was seriously hot in there, leaving the crew sweating through dinner. On top of the sauna-like conditions, the service was essentially non-existent. By the end of the night, we got the distinct, lingering feeling that the staff was ready for us to wrap it up. What time does this place close? I think they want us to leave. Alright boys, time to go!

The Parm

The chicken itself was solid, sporting a very good, soft consistency. It was layered with a beautiful, perfectly melted "leopard print" cheese blanket that looked incredible. The red sauce was also a major highlight—very high-quality with great, distinct flavor. However, because the cutlet leaned so soft, it lacked that classic crispy bite we crave. The real tragedy, though, was the side pasta. It tasted suspiciously like boxed Costco pasta or something straight out of a can. It felt way too basic and normal, to the point where it didn't even get finished. Come on bro, we always gotta finish the party! Luckily, we saved room for dessert, because the cheesecake was absolute gas.

The Highs and Lows

• The Positives:

  • Beautiful, perfectly melted leopard-print cheese on the cutlet.

  • Quality, highly flavorful red sauce.

  • Soft, very consistent chicken texture.

  • Super friendly, inflation-proof menu prices.

  • The cheesecake was absolute gas (the crème brûlée was decent, too).

  • A unique and delicious broccoli appetizer.

• The Negatives:

  • The dining room was way too warm.

  • Practically invisible service that felt like they were pushing us out the door.

  • The parm was a bit too soft, missing that crucial crunch factor.

  • The spaghetti side tasted like generic, out-of-the-box pasta.

  • The bruschetta appetizer was a complete miss.

Closing Thoughts

We left La Sera Italiana absolutely stuffed, but the experience was a bit of a mixed bag. The sauce was quality, the leopard-print cheese was a visual masterclass, and the cheesecake was elite. But between the sweat-lodge room temp, the vanishing service, and the basic-tier pasta, it kept things solidly in the "just decent" zone. Still, for a budget-friendly bite with a great vibe, it’s a respectable stop on the quest.

Scoring

• Shizz's Score: 7.0/10

• Dave's Score: 7.6/10

• Matt's Score: 7.2/10