Scannicchio’s — Philadelphia, PA

January 29, 2025

The Parm Boys Overall Score: 7.37 / 10

The Vibe

This place serving up that classic, unbeatable South Philly vibe is exactly what we live for. From the old Italian music drifting through the air to the table of old-timers keeping it real in the corner, the atmosphere is a total mood. The bathroom photos are an absolute plus, and the whole space smelled super nice. Our waiter was authentic as they come—definitely a bit of an asshole, but deep down, maybe a nice guy? Honestly, he felt like a made man, so we made sure to keep our heads down and play it cool.

The starters here are a massive win: the appetizers are cheap, high-quality, and they blessed us with the best calamari we've hit on the quest so far. They even hooked us up with some complimentary vodka parm, which you absolutely cannot be mad at.

The Parm

While the appetizers soared, the main event was unfortunately a bit of an average ride. The chicken itself was decent but suffered from a major case of the flop—definitely a softer, floppy cutlet style rather than a crisp powerhouse. The red river on this plate hit a major snag too, coming out way too salty.

On the side, the pasta was extremely basic and unimpressive, wrapped in some noticeably oily noodles. We all ended up leaving with leftovers, which really says it all. Normally we clean the plate, but this time we walked out thinking, "I'm not even full, bro." Thankfully, we made up for it on the sweet side: the banana dessert absolutely hit the spot, and the New York-style cheesecake topped with strawberry sauce was pure fire.

The Highs and Lows

• The Positives:

  • Unmatched, authentic South Philly atmosphere with great music.

  • The best calamari of the quest so far and highly affordable appetizers.

  • A class-act complimentary taste of vodka parm.

  • Elite-tier desserts, especially the NY cheesecake and banana treat.

  • Great bathroom aesthetics (and it smelled fantastic).

• The Negatives:

  • The cutlet was pretty average with a very floppy, soft texture.

  • The red sauce was heavily oversalted.

  • The side pasta was generic and left a greasy, oily finish.

  • Leftovers left on the table—a rare phenomenon for the Trio.

Closing Thoughts

Scannicchio’s is a spectacular place to hang out, listen to classic tunes, and crush some of the best calamari and desserts in town under the watchful eye of a legendary, potentially made-man waiter. If you're coming for the atmosphere, the starter snacks, and the sweets, you are going to have a killer night. But if you are chasing the ultimate crispy, perfectly balanced cutlet, the salty sauce and floppy chicken mean this stop remains a respectable, average contender.

Scoring

• Shizz's Score: 7.5/10

• Matt's Score: 7.4/10

• Dave's Score: 7.2/10