Vetri has the longstanding reputation as being one of the most respected and influential Italian restaurants in the country.

In September of 1998, Chef Marc Vetri and his business partner, Jeff Benjamin, premiered Vetri Cucina in a historic townhouse in Philadelphia. Two decades later, the original restaurant that launched this journey continues to provide a culinary tour of Italy, and has garnered national accolades.

Marc and Jeff are excited to introduce the intimacy of Vetri Cucina to the energy of Las Vegas. Immediately after visiting the Palms Casino Resort, they saw the potential for the second iteration of their iconic townhouse. Perched above the city with panoramic views of the Strip and Red Rocks Canyon, the 56th floor provides the perfect backdrop for this latest venture.

The team is thrilled to share their acclaimed Italian cuisine with the Las Vegas community, as well as the unparalleled hospitality for which they've become known in Philadelphia.

James Beard Foundation Awards

Vetri Cucina is honored to be included among our talented colleagues as a nominee and recipient of the James Beard Foundation Awards for excellence in the food and beverage industry. Throughout our history, we have received the following recognition from the Foundation for our Philadelphia location and Chef Marc Vetri.

2003  Best Chef Mid Atlantic Nominee
2004  Best Chef Mid Atlantic Nominee
2005  Best Chef Mid Atlantic Winner
2008  Best New Restaurant Nominee
2008  Outstanding Service Nominee
2009  Outstanding Service Nominee
2010  Outstanding Service Nominee
2011  Outstanding Restaurant Nominee
2012  Outstanding Restaurant Nominee
2013  Outstanding Service Nominee
2014  Outstanding Chef Nominee
2014  Outstanding Service Nominee
2015  Outstanding Chef Nominee
2016  Book Award Nominee - Mastering Pasta
2019  Outstanding Chef Nominee
2020  Outstanding Chef Nominee

Vetri Cucina Family

Marc Vetri
Chef & Owner

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.

Pizzeria Salvy – a pizzeria inspired by his father, Sal Vetri, opened in May 2023. Marc and his culinary team have perfected their signature pizza doughs and are excited to open a pizza restaurant once again after a long hiatus. Sal’s famous meatballs will be on the menu as well as a selection of salads, antipasti and seasonal vegetables. Pizzeria Salvy is located in the Comcast Technology Center in center city Philadelphia.

Marc’s latest venture is Fiorella Las Vegas located at Durango Casino and Resort. The beloved pasta bar in Philadelphia will now be able to be enjoyed on the west coast. The menu features pasta as the main attraction with a variety of antipasti and a unique beverage list. Fiorella Las Vegas opened in December of 2023.

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 with a new cookbook coming out in the fall of 2025.

Jeff Benjamin
Owner

After graduating from The University of Massachusetts Amherst, Jeff Benjamin met Marc Vetri in New York City while working in the food industry. When Marc decided to return to his native Philadelphia to open Vetri Cucina, he tapped Jeff to be his business partner and general manager—and the rest is history.

Today, Jeff serves as co-founder of Vetri Cucina, and has worked alongside Marc to open many restaurants in the past 25 years including Fiorella, Fiore Rosso and MVP located in the Philadelphia area, and Osteria Fiorella and Vetri Cucina in Las Vegas. Jeff is the co-founder and a board member of the Vetri Community Partnership. In 2015, he published his first book, Front of the House: Restaurant Manners, Misbehaviors & Secrets, a behind-the-scenes look at the details that go into an evening out. In addition to operating restaurants, Jeff enjoys helping entrepreneurs in the food and beverage industry through angel investing and consultation. Currently he is an investor and sits on the boards of Federal Donuts, a quick serve restaurant company, and Simply Good Jars, a CPG salad product for the foodservice and grocery industry.

Jeff lives in Cherry Hill with his wife, Melissa, and has two daughters. When not working, he can be found spending time with his family and rooting for his beloved sports teams, the Cubs and 76ers.

VETRI COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIP

In 2008, Marc and Jeff created the Vetri Community Partnership as an effort to support Alex’s Lemonade Stand, which raises funds and awareness for pediatric cancer causes, cures and research. Motivated by this work, Marc and Jeff decided to leverage their own expertise in food and nutrition to benefit children. Now, Vetri Community Partnership empowers children and families to lead healthier lives through fresh food, hands-on experiences, and education. Their mission is to help kids experience the connection between healthy eating and healthy living.

VETRI COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIP