Waitlist has opened up
Join your fellow FitC members to savor the hearty and homey Italian cuisine “like Mama’s” at this long-time BYOB institution in West Center City. Founded in 1996 and cited recently by Craig LaBan (the “best thing he ate all week” described in a summer Inquirer article 7/25/26), Porcini is managed and staffed by the Sansone brothers (Steven, chef, and David, the host/waiter/entertainer-socializer).
LaBan wrote: “Whatever it is that propels these two siblings, now in their late 60s, to keep going — be it a pride in their Sicilian and Neapolitan heritage, their top-notch Caffè Motta espresso, or the pure love of hospitality — they’ve preserved the sense of warmth, handcraft, and quirky personality that first endeared this cozy nook to the city. At my recent visit, two handmade pastas were vivid reminders of Porcini’s homey charm…Some of the airiest potato gnocchi I’ve eaten all year bobbed light as a feather in a bright San Marzano tomato sauce dabbed with creamy clouds of Claudio’s fresh mozzarella. My favorite, though, was paglia e fieno, a plate of hand-cranked green-and-white linguine meant to evoke the changing seasons of “straw” and “hay.” The two-toned noodle dish has been served multiple ways over the years here, but it seemed fitting that I was able to swirl those delicate pasta ribbons through a rich, tan-colored cream sauce infused with the restaurant’s namesake porcini mushrooms. Like the restaurant itself, this humble plate of browns and khaki greens was more about the satisfaction of good, handmade flavors than culinary flash or trends. Four decades later, this kitchen’s simple touch still resonates.”
Event Limit: 8 FitC members (Porcini is located in a tiny space, so 8 has to be the maximum number.)
Event Cost: $26 total per person (this includes $25 that will be returned to you at the restaurant at the time of paying the bill + $1 FitC fee). Deadline for registration and payment, cancellation with refund, and receipt of your check (if you are not paying online): October 6, 2026.
We will be able to receive separate checks, but cash is appreciated by Porcini staff.
Accessibility: There are several steps up to enter the restaurant, and the restrooms are in the basement down creaky stairs, so Porcini is not accessible for wheelchair and walker users.
Transportation: If you need help with finding public transportation to the restaurant, please consult:
https://plan.septa.org/#/ or https://www.google.com/maps/dir
If you need to cancel with a refund before the deadline, please contact Linda Pizzi (lindapizzi55@gmail.com). For questions on the visit, please contact Cheri Micheau (phoebejack1@verizon.net). If you must cancel after the deadline, please contact Cheri; please be considerate and notify Cheri, if you don’t plan to attend. Members whose names are on the wait list will thank you!
Thanks to FitC Volunteer Cheri Micheau for organizing this event.
Click on Register button below to go onto waitlist
