This members-only restaurant is tucked between residential row homes in south Philadelphia.
Besides a small red neon sign outside, nothing indicates there’s a 100-year-old Italian eatery that serves as a time capsule for south Philly’s Italian immigrants. To get into the dining area, patrons must tap a buzzer and give their membership cards to a hand extending through a hole in the entranceway’s second door.
Watch owner Joey Baldino give MUNCHIES exclusive access to Palizzi Social Club, show how its incredible food like spaghetti with crabs, caesar salad, and delicious grilled octopus is made — and hear why preserving his heritage and neighborhood’s history is more important than ever to him.
With “house rules,” including things like “no blogging, reviewing, or tagging on social media,” Palizzi Social Club is the definition of “word of mouth.”
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45 Comments
Loved this…
Very cool
That food looks so good the kind your mates Nonna makes….but elevated
i grew up around the corner from this place… this area is and will forever be my favorite area in Philadelphia. shout out to yall for covering this little gem
I’m pretty sure he’s high on coke! 🇮🇹🍝🍕
Perfection.
Why aren't there any shootings or fights there? Why isn't there litter all over the place? How come there is no rude and uncivilized behavior? Any guesses why?
Sound like a racist club 😅😅😅😂
The original rules were better. I bet people didn't disrespect your ancestors wearing hoodies into their establishment. This is a trash society.
brags about being members only and word of mouth
advertises on largest social platform in existence on a YT channel with literally millions of subscribers
These people aren't even Italian. They're a bunch eastern European descendants of other eastern Europeans who claimed to be Italian when they got to elis Island for processing. I'd like to see their 23 n me results. I bet they're all albanian.
i am a member here and the food is BEYOND fantastic ❤
I love that such places still can exist – it is very important to preserve and maintain such traditions and culture, so everyone can enjoy them
Very cool place but good luck with "No blogging, reviewing or tagging on social media" after this video.
They can't read "Filippo Palizzi Club" cos it's in Italian….. what a moron.
FUNNY How?
You would never see a black social club like this lol it would get shot up on opening day…..lol
A European immagrant may not have had a so called "penny in there pockets" but they had a MILLION DOLLARS WORTH OF WHITENESS. Plus the opportunity to prosper without sabotage from the government, and benifit from the economy that was built by the FREE LABOR OF THE AFRICAN AMERICAN CHATTEL SLAVERY. Italians never suffered Jim Crow or Redlining. They went through a light Hazing from other Europeans at the beginning. But that's nothing compared to what Black Americans were faced with and forced to overcome.
JL Jupiter spotting at 4:39?
I tip my hat to you Joey. Looks like a very social and warm place to meet and converse with others. But I must say that in you fathers generation, you would not see people with t shirts dinning. Upping the dress code a notch or two would really raise the bar….my opinion only.
Anybody want to bring me? 24F resident of Philadelphia
It's Funny, there original rules of acceptance are the exact same rules of acceptance…. for the ITALIAN MOB 🤔
I love the random LEGENDARY CAMEO from the Philly legend OT THE REAL!! 4:38 I like how they did that real low-key, I LOVE PHILLY
Jawn look like the Ravenight Social Club, straight out a Mob movie 😂
This is nuts, I wonder how good this food is
Sounds kinda racist to me….Fvck your place
Lived in this neighborhood for close to 10 years before having to move away for work. Best part of Philly, and I always love going "home!" My family isn't originally from Philly and we are from another part of Italy, so I actually never knew about this specific social club. I would have loved to have joined!
Dang… Munchies can make any beat up crusty old restaurant look like a million bucks.
I want to become a member
Racism is cool
You had me at Italian Social Club and sealed it with the Bulldog.
It would be amazing to have different social clubs with different ethnic food all around the city.
This is the man 🇮🇹🇺🇸
It used to be full of Italians. Now it’s full of liberals and lgbt.
Best friend is 2nd generation, the best food his Mom “Mo” put out on Sunday’s. I was lucky to have been part of his family! People ask me what’s my favorite Italian restaurant? Tell them you could never find it and it’s closed! R.I.P. Mo, miss you and thanks for teaching me how to cook. she is one of the reasons I became a Chef! Love this place just the whole premise!😊
No wise guys!?
The random jl Jupiter sighting LOL
I never heard of this place. I would like to check it out. I am half Italian. I never got a chance to meet my Italian side. I am a Philly girl and I wish I knew someone!
Basically no one from North Philly is welcome 🚬🥸
Who in the Comment section is a member. I have got to try this food. That crab spaghetti looks delicious. I have not had that since my grandmother passed away.
Thinking you're above reviews and all criticism is a set up for disaster..
Awesome video, makes me miss South Philly. And yo! OT and JL Jupiter are members? That’s wassup 👏
My first girlfriend was from South Philly and I spent a lot of time there. It's just a great cultural gem with amazing people, history, and culture. Love to see it's being preserved in this way.
Man I’d love to be at this place. That foods like BOMB
I used to live around the area shown at the beginning of the video! My grandma was a long time customer of Isgro’s Pastries! She loved their cannolis. Sadly, She passed a few years ago. I’m not Italian but I love you guys’s language and culture, to whoever is reading this, thank you and have a nice day!!