Marc Vetri
Chef Marc Vetri Bio
Marc Vetri is the chef and founder of Philadelphia’s critically acclaimed Vetri Cucina.
A Philadelphia native, Marc opened the storied restaurant in 1998 with his business partner, Jeff Benjamin. Within two years of Vetri Cucina’s debut, Marc was named one of Food & Wine’s “Best New Chefs” and received the Philadelphia Inquirer’s highest restaurant rating. In 2005, Marc received the James Beard Award for “Best Chef Mid-Atlantic.”
Following years of accolades at Vetri Cucina, Marc and Jeff opened Osteria, Amis, Pizzeria Vetri, Lo Spiedo and Alla Spina, all of which played integral roles in Philadelphia’s restaurant resurgence.
In 2015, Urban Outfitters Inc., a leading lifestyle retail company, joined forces with several of The Vetri Family restaurants. After overseeing a successful transition, Marc decided to rededicate himself to pushing culinary boundaries at Vetri Cucina.
Vetri Cucina received renewed acclaim in 2017, maintaining its esteemed “Four Bell” rating with the Philadelphia Inquirer and earning a spot on AAA’s exclusive list of Five Diamond Restaurants.
The year 2020 was a busy one for Marc. In February, he opened a pasta bar called Fiorella located in the Italian Market of Philadelphia. This intimate restaurant has a short menu focusing on pasta with a variety of cocktails and wines on the beverage menu. In June, Marc opened his first-ever restaurant outside of the U.S., Mr. Maurice’s Italian located at Ace Hotel Kyoto in Japan. Named in honor of his grandfather, Maurice Rotenberg — the owner of the family’s eponymous restaurant in Philadelphia in the 1950s — the restaurant and rooftop cocktail bar serves pastas, wood-fired pizzas and Italian-American fare inspired by Marc’s family and upbringing. Lastly, in July of the same year, he opened Osteria Fiorella located in Red Rock Casino Resort & Spa in Las Vegas. This restaurant was originally intended to be a pop-up but it was so successful that it was made into a permanent fixture. This restaurant focuses on a variety of classics perfected by Marc while living and cooking throughout Italy.
In October 2022, coinciding with the start of the NBA and NHL seasons, Marc opened the pizza spot MVP in the Wells Fargo Center, the home arena of the hockey team the Philadelphia Flyers and basketball team the Philadelphia 76ers. Vetri Cucina Las Vegas at Palms Casino Resort closed its doors in March of 2020 but opened again in November of 2022 after much anticipation. This restaurant brings the same Vetri standards in food and hospitality while perched atop the 56th floor of Palms overlooking the Las Vegas strip.
Marc then set his sights on the suburbs of Philadelphia to open an Italian steakhouse in Bryn Mawr called Fiore Rosso. This unique restaurant opened in June of 2022 and features only the freshest cuts of meat and seafood. The restaurant also boasts an incredible wine room and extensive beverage program.
Marc’s latest venture is Pizzeria Salvy – a pizzeria inspired by his father, Sal Vetri. Marc and his culinary team have perfected their signature pizza doughs and are excited to open a pizza restaurant once again. Sal’s famous meatballs will be on the menu as well as a selection of salads, antipasti and seasonal vegetables. Pizzeria Salvy opened in May 2023 in the Comcast Technology Center in center city Philadelphia.
In addition to his restaurants, Marc is the driving force behind the Vetri Community Partnership, a non-profit dedicated to nutrition education. He is also the author of five award-winning cookbooks.