I wanted to stay home. Going out for dinner on NYE's is such a racket it ain't funny. You had to be seated before 7pm so you could eat off the regular menu. So we had a 6:15 reservation. Luckily I got there first so I could play musical chairs. First they put us in the cheap seats by the door. HELLO Wintry draft. Went up to the hostess, could you kindly move us. Moved then to the tiniest table in philadelphia. While sitting at the tiniest table known to man I asked the hostess if they could move us. Hostess told us it was the only other spot in the house. So when our poor waiter shows up and asks me how I am i tell him I'm not happy and want to talk to a manager. Manager moves us to a spacious 4 top, but with a lackluster waiter. Waiter was so unenthused and felt the need to explain tzatziki to us. Two nice jewish girls know greek food ok... So I wasn't impressed with any of the cocktails they were offering so I didn't imbibe. I tend to prefer bourbon or whiskey anyway. We had the estia chips which I would happily come back for just the estia chips, salad and dessert. I felt the spanakopita was lackluster, bland and sad. You're a greek joint, a fancy greek joint at that...get your act together. The saganaki did not come to the table piping hot and sizzling. It was also a let down. We shared the Horiataki salad, which was lovely on a cold winters night to have a fresh tomato that did not taste mealy, however, my carbon footprint shudders to think where that pretty baby came from. What really shone were the desserts. We had the Ekmek, which you must get if you visit Estia and don't have a nut allergy. It is pistachio heaven layered between custard and whipped cream. Seriously delicious. We also had the baklava which could have been warmer, but was still lovely. I'd go back but only for estia chips, salad and dessert.
(3)
Sean G.
I highly recommend Estia, especially after a show on Avenue of the Arts. Highlights of the meal: Lamb Chops Halibut Great service + Great options on the menu + Full Bar with nice drinks Definitely give Estia a try if you are in the area
(5)
Erica M.
Debating between a 2 and 3 star review here, but decided to go with 3. We came here for a group dinner with about 30 people. We love Greek food, so we were excited to give Estia a try. We started with plates of dips and pita, which were only OK. Nothing particularly flavorful, but they were fine. The fried cheese was super salty (I barely ate it, and never in my life have I turned down fried cheese, especially at a Greek restaurant). The spanikopita was downright awful. I took one bite and put it aside. Never before have I tasted such terrible spanikopita. The calamari was OK, but lacked flavor. The salads were very good - the tomatoes were some of the best I've ever had, and the feta was delicious. The romaine salad was good, too. I had the whole branzino, which was tasty. Perfectly cooked (too many bones for a deboned fish, but oh well) with light, refreshing flavor. My fiance's lamb chops were mediocre at best. We love lamb (it's by far our favorite meat) and we eat it often. The chops were overcooked (we requested medium rare) and extremely fatty. The baklava was super syrupy and so hard you couldn't cut it with a fork. It was extremely difficult to eat because none of us had knives. Overall, the meal was OK. Nothing particularly stand-out, and it was VERY expensive (though I admittedly wasn't the one paying).
(3)
Joanna H.
I chose Estia for this season's restaurant week and I definitely got my money's worth. The entrees are priced over $30 normally so I was definitely pleased for choosing Estia. What my friend and I had were: App: -Spanakopita: Let's just say,,,,BEST spanakopita I ever had in my life. - Octopodi: basically grilled octopus with onions and other veges. WOW. Your octopus will be SO tender you will wonder if it is an octopus Entree: -Arni Piadakia: Lamb chops with potato tiganites and tzatziki. Was cooked perfectly as how I wanted. Such tender lamb meat that didn't smell funny (sometimes lamb can smell fishy...) The tzatziki white sauce .. I want some more now... -Lavraki: sea bass that's opened up on the plate and is made easy to eat. Makes you think that fish can be so good too Dessert: -Ekmek-Pistachios layered between kataifi phyllo, custard and whipped cream. I still don't know what a phyllo is.. but this was a fluffy dessert and I was happy with that:) -Baklava: BEST baklava EVER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I liked my app and dessert more than the lamb chops. I would totally go back for the spanakopita and baklava.. I wonder if it's okay to go to such a beautiful restaurant just to get these two....Also, the waiter was so kind and professional. He made my experience here even better. The decor is amazing . the bathroom is really cozy LOL. They also do coat checks which was so nice because I had a thick puffy coat on that day.
(4)
Izabella J.
Got here by pure accident. My friends and I were looking to go out for dinner on a Friday night. The only place available was Estia. So went ahead and made a reservation. It turned out to be a Restaurant Week as well. The restaurant was packed! The menu had a special tasting menu addition due to the restaurant week. We were seated in an adorable, romantic and so ambient booth. Food was just soooo good!!! Vegetarians and Gluten Free will find great options here. I think this was the best Greek Salad I've had. And the Eggplant was out if this world.
(5)
Richard K.
What a great evening! The atmosphere was great, the service was great and the food was even better.
(5)
Ms T.
Another great dining experience in Philadelphia!!! Great food, great service! We love Mediterranean food and this was a winner. It's a bit pricey so it's probably a better choice for a special occasion but it's worth it!
(5)
Erin B.
I finally made it to Estia during Restaurant Week with a group of my co-workers on 1/25/13. After hiking across the city (snow storm made it impossible to catch a cab), I was greeted by the friendly wait staff and pleasantly surprised by the festive (in a non-corny sorta way) decor. The meal was totally worth the 15 minute trek in the snow as I had the following: 2 glasses of the basil gin martini, greek salad (which was sooo very flavorful), sea bass (aka branzino), and a lemon custard tart for dessert. As per usual, when a meal is that nice, I just had to do it twice! Yes, I ordered the exact same meal that following Tuesday with my husband and one of our favorite couples. The other couple that we were with weren't wild about greek food - but by the end of our meal all four of us had completely cleared our plates and glasses!!
Had not been back here in ages, then I went for a lunch event and the food was top notch. So, we decided to try it out for a pre-theatre dinner - we were not disappointed one bit. The $30 fixed price choice is a winner, but not everyone is required to take the option if you choose it (yea!). I had the Spread Pikilia to start - which was an assortment of dips - the pita was great - and so were the dips, my Greek husband had the spanikopita and was not disappointed. I moved on to the Arni Trahana, which is lamb shank that has been slow roasted over pasta..Oh sweet Jesus it was awesome. The boy had the filet, the husband had the lamb chops, and EVERYONE was happy, and we got out of there perfectly timed for the theatre. We will be back!
(4)
Robert S.
This restaurant is one of the best in the city. My favorite part of the experience is how fresh the food is. The fish, the steak and the salads all taste fresh. The lamb is great and so are the estia chips. Atnoaphere is another plus. Ocassionally i have been there when they have a classic guitar player and he is awesome.
(5)
Donna K.
Underwhelming food. Great ambiance and service. Since food is the main reason for going there you get 1 star. Won't be returning.
(1)
Asish P.
We just happened to find this place while in Philly one day... and they were in the middle of restaurant week. We lucked out, and had a great time. First the decor... the place is amazing... and just gets better as you venture downstairs (in case you have to use the restrooms). the dining area is split into the main dining room, an open kitchen area, a living room front area, and then downstairs. the lower level has the bathrooms... along with a private dining room (wine seller space), and two party rooms. Even the bathroom was in like with the rest of the restaurant. Service was also great. Our waiter was very helpful, and very patient. Food... can't say enough. we had some salad, a soup, and the lamb chops (which came with baked potato wedges with lemon). have to go back and have more food again!!!
(5)
Chigger L.
We used to live in Astoria, NY, so it is tough to beat their Greek food, but the lamb shanks here were unreal! Highly recommend this place!
(4)
Suzanne S.
Lately, I haven't been a fan of the Greek restaurants I have come across (i.e. Dmitri's, Kuzina by Sophia), but this place left me yearning to come back for more. I started off with an AMAZING martini made with Vanilla Vodka, Chambord and Pineapple juice which was beautiful and tasty. The bread and hummus they served was delicious but my only recommendation to them would be to serve pita instead of crusty sourdough (or whatever kind of bread that is)-it doesn't go with hummus. My friend and I each ordered the prix fix menu (which was good but very small) We had the following: Trio of Dips-every dip was excellent Spanakopita-was served with a lamb meatball and looked more like a turnover than your traditional spanakopita which is made with phylo dough Horataki Salad-the dressing on this was awesome but the salad was imbalanced. Too much tomato, just enough feta cheese, not enough cucumber and green pepper. Next time I order this, I will let them know. Mousaka-The best and most unique moussaka I have ever had. Dorrado-I didn't taste this fish but my friend liked it For dessert we had the semolina cake (i actually forget what it was called) but it was a cake with a syrup of diabetes drizzled all over it. Very good but VERY sweet. I can't wait to bring the husband.
Had a 5 star experience tonight dining out with a gal-pal. We started off with delectable cocktails - I had a classic mojito with a few pieces of fresh pineapple muddled in. Delicious and refreshing. She had a purple concoction garnished with an orchid. It had Chambord and Vanilla Vodka and other things in it. So good! We shared nearly everything. The Horiatiki Salad was terrific (Though $15 for a plate of mostly tomatoes in olive oil and lemon juice is a bit steep.) The trio of dips and spanakopita (which seemed a bit borekish) were great. Entrees of Moussaka and (again? ) Dorado (Because it's cheap - they offer Dorado aka Mahi-Mahi as a fish du jour often.) were tasty and filling. Dessert and tasty La Colombe coffee rounded out a teriffic meal. Kanella (Cypriot, not Greek) is still my fave - but the service from Mark, a prime window-side table and a groovy mood (Thanks, Bacardi!) made this a 5 star Etsia night for me.
(5)
Ashley S.
Wouldn't have thought to come here, but my boyfriend had some friends in town, and they wanted to check this place out. First of all, the service here was excellent. Our waiter was very friendly, provided us with good recommendations, and made us feel well taken care of (did the fancy restaurant "replace the plates after every course" deal). We sat in a private booth which was very comfy. We had a good view of the restaurant, which was pretty empty late on a weeknight. We sampled a good portion of the menu, ordering a bunch of appetizers and sharing tastes of the main course dishes. For appetizers, we had the octopus, calamari stuffed with delicious cheese, and sardines. I was very skeptical of the sardines because they were served as whole fish--heads, bones, and tails still attached--but they ended up tasting pretty good. The calamari was my favorite, and the octopus was also tasty. My boyfriend and I shared the swordfish, and that was plenty of food for both of us; the fish was prepared simply with just some olive oil and lemon for flavoring, and that really let the hearty swordfish flavor come out. My boyfriend's friends ordered the lobster, lamb, and scallops entrees, and everyone was very satisfied with their meals. We topped off the meal with some awesome desserts -- the galactobourico, a citrusy custard pastry, and the ekmek, a custard pastry with whipped cream and pistachio. The galactobourico was definitely the winner, but both were delicious. We really enjoyed our meals here, but I don't think this will become a regular place for us. It feels a little over the top. The place is huge and is well-suited for the theater crowds, but it's a little pricey and extravagant for dinner on a weeknight.
(4)
tammy M.
Arriving just as the pre theatre dinner crowd were leaving we were told our table would just be a few minutes. They were true to their word and we had a table in the window without a reservation on a Friday night ! We had the stuffed calamari and three dips for apps . Calamari was excellent and the dips and pita were obviously fresh. The tarasamalata was too salty for us . We had fish and a daily special with mussels , shrimp and calamari with fettuccini. The sauces for both were tomato based but totally different. I had 2 glasses of. prosecco , which were obviously from different bottles , the second glass being much better quality. A nice upgrade for no extra. The waiter was very helpful although sometimes we waited a little for him. It is quite easy to hear the conversations all around you so not a date place maybe...the big noting lawyers next to us were quite irritating by the end of our meal... All in all a good place with nice food , on the pricy side but quality was there.We paid $150 for 2 .
(4)
Jessica H.
Had a delicious, romantic dinner here. Wonderful atmosphere and decor. Decided to have a nice dinner before a show. We had a wonderful waiter who offered suggestions and was very attentive. All dishes were wonderful but the bill certainly added up. Great place for a special night out. Even with the fixed price menu for the theater, it was quite expensive. I have been here three times and have always had delicious meals. Offer dishes enjoyed by vegetarians as well.
(3)
Kemi A.
I've been here before and I had better service. Meal was delicious. I had the lambshank off the Theater Menu (since I was going to the theater). The calamari apps was very delicious. Made how I wish everyone else would make their calamari..unbreaded and flavorful. I ordered a Mai Tai for drinks and it wasn't that good. Infact when I asked the server to get me a Mai Tai he seemed confused. Which gets me to the part where my visit here is TWO stars- Server was very unfriendly and sort of rude. His name is Mark (Yeah I try to notice the name of notable servers) Mark must have been having a bad day. He did not smile once. Did not take time to explain anything on the menu. Acted like WE were disturbing him from his job..last I checked his job was to serve. He looked plain miserable. And it may have been nothing personal but geez, he could have at least acted like he was happy the weather was nice. His answers to any questions def made you not want to ask another question. He was just plain unpleasant. My first visit here, I had this very very nice older man...Mark is 180 degrees from that man. Not coming back here. If you come here..watchout for Mark
(2)
Kate V.
It is the first time I had Greek food and was blown away. I live in a super Greek neighborhood (Astoria, NY) and have contributed to the area's economy but it just didn't taste right. They were able to accommodate a group of 8 on a last minute request. Everyone was impressed when they walked in with the decor. Food: we ordered a lot of food. Pita with the dips& stuffed grape leaves. Honestly best stuffed grape leaves I ever had. Everyone loves the dips (all 3). Main course: everyone seems happy. Although for a couple of entrees, the side ingredients were the main star for the dish -__-. Dessert: highly recommend the pistachio cake, honey cake and the yogurt. All so good. Price was a bit steep but it's definitely a place good for either group or to impress someone. :)
(4)
Michelle M.
The decor is fitting for the menu and gives off a warm and 'nice' vibe. Must mention that it was a hike to get to the restrooms downstairs. BUT it was an incredibly nice walk through what reminded me of a European Villa with warm tones, dark woods and beautifully tiling. Again....just my opinion here folks. Sat at the bar while waiting for our table. This might seem like an odd thing to write, but the bar was almost too big and too deep. I felt like I was yelling at the bartender to order and that she needed a step stool to put our drinks down in front of us. As everyone around us were waiting on their tables as well, and were nibbling on complimentary hummus and pita, we did not get offered any. I know, shame on us for not asking, right? Would have been nice to have been giving a head's up that we would recieve the same said hummus and pita when we sat at our table, especially before we ordered a crazy amount of food. Again, shame on us for not asking. Drinks were ok but not much alcohol at all. Like, I am a lightweight drinker only weighing in at 150 pounds on my 5'6" frame and I had SIX drinks. I was walking fine, talking fine and walked 4 blocks to the garage where the car was without assistance or a studder or slip. Again, just sayin' folks....these are things I would want to know!! Food was good. Fresh fish was cooked well. Sides were average and wait staff again, average. At the end of the meal, all my friend's ordered the "Greek Coffee" (not sure if that's what it is called on the menu, but it is there special coffee) and I opted for a simple cappuccino. Glad I did. This special coffee, although very amusing to watch everyone react to the intense muddy coffee-type substance in the cup was a waste. Ordered regular coffee for everyone after that. Again, it was good food and the decor/furnishings were very nice. I would eat here again, one day, if I was craving good hummus and a fairly good meal. But nothing that I am jumping up and down about.
(3)
Samia K.
Food was amazing, service was excellent, ambiance was very soothing. I was a bit curious in trying the octopus, and I did. It was spectacular!!!. The sea bass was delicious.....Will definitely come back. + our server Collon was handsome and gave us great service :)
(5)
Beth E.
We have been eating here on a regular basis for quite some time. The food is always so fresh and perfectly cooked. If I have any complaints, it is that Lately they have been skimping so much of the fish and eggplant dish that we have started going other places for lunch. I truly hope they read this and fix that. The picture they post looks nothing like the actual dish.
(4)
Cordell s.
Me and my lady decided to head out for a last minute late dinner and we had an excellent night the food was awesome. She had the roasted chicken which I consider 3 1/2 little under seasoned I had the grilled octopus which was delicious followed by the lamb chops which were seasoned to perfection & the tzatziki sauce was breathtaking
(5)
Michael M.
Went in for luncheon with co-workers. Slow. Slow. Slow. We must have had the new servers because they were running around like it was their first day. A simple lunch for 4 people took almost two hours. I had the lunch express: soup and chicken souvlaki (skewers). The meal and tip was $23. Food was expensive and unexceptional. I will be passing on this one in the future. C-
(2)
Carla F.
This is a very solid greek restaurant. I like it because I don' t get to eat great greek food (or just greek food) very often. I don't think there is anything terribly inventive about this place and the decor is, well, frankly tacky. But the food is very solid, very good. The appetizers are simple but amazing, lots of vegetarian options. For dinner I had the chilean sea bass and it was out of this world. I am not usually a baklava fan but omg, theirs is delicious.
(4)
Yingbo W.
I've been here twice, once back in November of last year and once for Center City Restaurant Week. Both times the dining experience was enjoyable. My favorite part about this restaurant is the ambience and the varied/unique decor. Estia is a huge restaurant with a lot of floor space and unique dining areas. Depending on your party size and where you are going to be sitting, each dining area has a different feel to it. There are round banquet tables like ones you would find in conference centers, plushy booths found in comtemporary restaurants, a rustic looking wooden table like you would find in a country estate, and a private dining room in what looks like a wine cellar. The service here is phenonmenal as well. The wait staff and servers are all very knowledgeable about the menu and on top of refilling waters and complimentary items like bread. They really run this restaurant very well from what I see. The first time I came, I had to plan a dinner event for my company for 2 parties of 10. The hostess (was her name Linda?) helped me pick out a private dining room before hand and on the night of the dinner, they placed the parties exactly where I had wanted people to sit. What really makes me come back here is of course the food. This is hands down the best greek food and the best mediterranean style food I've had in Philadelphia (of crouse I haven't tried Zahav so there could be better). Estia's grilled fish is simply amazing! I had the grilled sea bass. it's a light dish that exposes the full flavor and quality of the fish. From what I've heard from coworkers, the salmon and grilled lamb chops are also phenomenal. I have also tried the lamb shank with orzo in a tomato sauce. I wasn't a fan of the tomato and lamb combo but the lamb was very tender. Some apps I've tried were grilled shrimp, the zuchini chips, and calamari. Hands down though, my favorite appetizer to get here is the grilled octopus, so tender and meaty! A whole meal paired with their fresh bread and a nice glass of wine from their giant selection is just melt in my mouth heaven on earth especially with the atmosphere and ambience that transports you to another continent. Overall, the prices here are extremely reasonable for the portion sizes, the quality of the food, and the amazing decor and service they provide. I love Estia and if it weren't for the price tag (I admit, it's not a luxury I cannot afford every day), I would come back here again and again.
(5)
Shirlana D.
I enjoyed lunch during restaurant week with some friends from work. The hostess was warm & inviting and the wait staff was attentive. The food was ok but nothing too exciting was on tge menu, or so it seemed to me. The calamari was good but the dish size was skimpy. The crab cake was ok, didn't seem to be 100% crab meat, but appeared to have a lil too much filler in it. Dessert was nothing memorable. The environment was rich in color & tones but the food was average.
(3)
Brittany R.
By far, one of my favorite restaurant week destinations. Not only are you surrounded by gorgeous decor, but the food is to die for. It's definitely one of the best values when it comes to the Restaurant Week menu. They have some of the best octopus I've ever had. I wish this place was a little more affordable for me to come on a consistent basis. My only complaint is that it is a little loud.
(5)
Paul G.
I had my wedding at Estia 5 months ago and it was truly spectacular. The guests are still raving about the food and the Basil Lime Martini. Anastia is an outstanding event planner and was very patient with our numerous changes before the day. My wife and I often sit at the bar for drinks and Audrey (bartender) is the best.
(5)
Darrah K.
I don't think I've enjoyed a meal out in YEARS as much as I did at Estia. My husband and I decided to take a chance and see if we could get a seat there without a reservation...at 6:30 pm...on a Saturday...a week before Christmas. When we walked in the host staff was VERY welcoming. They told us that we wouldn't be able to get a table at all that night but if we wanted to stay we were welcome to eat at the bar. I'm pregnant, I was starving and I really wanted Greek food, so we decided to stay and oh man, I'm so glad we did. We had to wait quite a while before the bar tender acknowledged us but that wasn't a big deal. My husband ordered a Greek beer which he really loved. I asked her 4 times for a glass of water because I can't drink alcohol and eventually got it. Her service was terrible but this review is for the food, not the stinky waitress. Thankfully another bar tender came in soon after she took our order and he took over our service. He was awesome! He kept everyone at the bar happy. As soon as we ordered we were given warm pita with hummus which was beyond delicious. We were very surprised by how large the portions were. Even the appetizers were big. Our feta and olive platter was great. The calamari appetizer (not sure the name but it had capers and red onion) was just okay. For dinner my husband got the Chilean sea bass in a spicy tomato sauce and I got lamb grilled medium. The sea bass was soft and delicate. The vegetables it came with were cooked to perfection and the sauce was outstanding. My lamb was very tender and juicy. It came with something they made sound fancy but it was basically greasy french fries which I didn't care for at all, and their own tzatziki sauce. I can't even put into words how much I enjoyed every bite of my lamb. I really had a wonderful night out with my husband. I probably would have had a good time if we ate at Burger King, but I think it helped that we got to enjoy such a nice, tasty, dinner. I definitely suggest giving Estia a try. You won't be disappointed!
(4)
Miz V.
Our group decided on Sunday to tour Philadelphia by double decker bus . Mind you we are all from the tri state area. But we like fun unusual events. After the tour our organizer looked at her watch and said "Let's do brunch!" We checked for a place that was still featuring brunch at 2:30p and found Estia. Boy I'm I glad! We hit the jackpot!1) The staff was friendly 2) The decor was amazing 3) The service by our waiter Saki was the best. I love service by attentive people who listen to their guests. Ask the man about wines. He knows his stuff !. 4) The food was amazing.I ordered the Greek toast and a peach Bellini .The Greek toast was dotted with blueberries with enough syrup on the side to coat all the slices on the plate.I was so full I had to pass up dessert. 5)The price was reasonable.6) I will be back !
(5)
Therhyme R.
Went for restaurant week with a group of friends. Homey feel/decor. Friendly pleasant waiter made the dinner flow nicely. The octopudi was prepared very well, the lavraki was fresh and tasty (watch out for the tiny bones in the fish). The pistachio dessert was very delicious and really stood out among other desserts I have tried at various restaurants. Overall a pleasant and tasty meal in a calm and cozy setting. I would probably return to try something off the regular menu.
(4)
Shoshana S.
Just had my daughter's Bat Mitzvah party at Estia and couldn't be happier. The configuration of the downstairs banquet rooms is perfect for events with plenty of space as well as beautiful, comfortable seating areas outside of the banquet room for those who want to get away from the music for a bit and talk or relax. Pre-event, Anastasia worked with me to plan the menu, the table configuration, and the set up of things like the gift table and DJ booth, and was completely flexible on many things, allowing me to have the event and the room exactly as I imagined it. On the day of the event everything was perfect. The room was set up exactly as planned and gorgeous, the servers and bartender friendly and accommodating, and the food was both excellently timed and, most importantly, delicious. Nothing was cold or under or overcooked; no "rubber chicken" at all - quite a feat given the number of people they were cooking for. The positive comments from my guests were overwhelming, both as to the space and the food. Many of whom who had never been to Estia before commented that they would definitely return - something you don't often hear after a banquet-type meal. Finally, the pricing was more than reasonable. No extra charges for the rooms, the chair covers, or anything else. I definitely got more than my money's worth having my event at Estia. I truly don't think you could ever go wrong hosting a party here. I highly, highly recommend Estia for events.
(5)
Ellie L.
4 stars for Estia! It's a fancy Greek restaurant with great service. We walked in on Fri night and tables were all booked... but they serve same menu at the bar area! I recommend Theater menu for $30.00 I love their Greek salad. so fresh. Definitely would like to try other dishes next time.
(4)
Maura G.
the ladies and i came in for RW. my menu choices consisted of the grilled octopus, lamb chops, and ekmek for dessert. i started off with their mykonos mojito, made with absolut pear, and it was very good. the have a nice, but pricey, wine list. i loved the grilled octopus, served with diced tomatoes, red onion, and capers. this octopus was not chewy at all and had a great smokey flavor from the grill. i could have eaten more of it easily, but still had 2 more courses to look forward to. the lamb chops were also perfectly cooked (med rare). they are marinated in olive oil, which made them so tender. they were a bit fatty, but i think that's to be expected with lamb. served with lemon potatoes and tzatziki sauce, which were both so tasty as well. the sauce went really well with both the potatoes and the lamb. i really enjoyed the dessert as well, although my companions did not. ekmek is a custard topped with whipped cream and Pistachios, all on sitting top of a carmalized layer of phyllo. i sampled the baklavah as well, but i prefer the ekmek out of the 2. service was just ok, not outstanding. i feel like once our server took our order, we barely saw him again, except when he was chatting up all the tables around us. we had to flag him down to get more drinks. i know it was a busy night, but it felt like he paid attention to every table but ours. the bathrooms are gorgeous and impecably clean. i do wish they had some type of music playing. if they did, it was way to low for me to hear it over all the other noise. it's also extermely dark in here, which can be romantic, but i'd like to see my food. i'd love to try this place again, but it wouldn't be my first choice.
(3)
Ryan W.
The food here was very tasty, which is why I'll give it two stars. My wife and I went for Restaurant Week (only way to afford this outrageously priced Greek restaurant) with three other couples. The place was packed, which was a good sign. But when one of our group, who was pregnant, asked a question about whether a cheese was pasteurized or not, our waiter responded very condescendingly that all cheeses sold in the US are pasteurized. This is simply not true and his attitude about was inexcusable. More inexcusable though was when an assistant waiter/expediter came to clear away out appetizer plates, he took mine and my friend's who were clearly not finished. Then, when he tried to take my wife's she informed him she was not finished with her knife or plate and he took it anyway, saying, "I'll bring you another one." Unbelievable. From that moment on we were rushed and the entire experience became unpleasant. When the bill came we were surprised to see a number of ten dollar charges for veggies and potatoes. When we ordered our entrees, the waiter casually asked us if we wanted veg or potatos with it. He never bothered to add that these were an additional cost. He made it sound as if they came with the meal, as they do in most places. I would not recommend Estia based on both the normal price - there are far better places for less - nor for the service. I do hope management reads these reviews, because they need to do some basic training.
(2)
Jill T.
Finally had a chance to check out Estia for restaurant week. The food was fabulous. Portion size was decent, and the food was prepared very well. The chicken was extremely moist and had a lot of flavor. The chicken lemon soup was fabulous! I do have to say that it's not my favorite Greek restaurant, and for the prices they charge I'd expect it to be mind blowingly good, unfortunately it's not quite there for me.
(4)
jackie p.
I went to this resturant with my husband for New Year's Eve. We loved it. Amazing food and huge porations. The scallop ap was my favorite.
(4)
Charlie K.
Really wanted to try this place out after hearing great recommendations from friends. We lasted 5 minutes, if that. Imagine being approached by a waiter do desperate to up sell that he asks if we wanted bottled water or Schuylkill Punch. Bite me. Good bye. It was a youngish waiter with curly hair. Watch what you say.
(1)
Mike P.
Decent Greek food (I'm Greek), but definitely over-priced. We tried the octopus, village-salad, dip sampler, vegetable chips, and a couple of fish. All the food tasted great. The bad things about Estia is that 1) a lot of the fish was not available 2) the waiter tried to up-sell constantly
(3)
Arti K.
The food here is excellent, if a bit pricey, but it is definitely worth it. I had the lambchops, and they were excellent. The food here is exquisite, and tasty, and unlike anything I'd ever had before. The ambience here is also quite nice and modern. Very upscale restaurant.
I've been here many times for work and for dinner with my wife and the food has always been good without exception. The dips platter is really good as well as the Estia chips (eggplant chips). Estia is a little pricey which is why I won't give it 5 stars, but the food is very very good.
(4)
Jenn S.
loved their fish! they have a great variety and they are very fresh! I got one of their snapper family whole fish (i forget the exact name), but it was very well cooked, tender and with just the right amount of added flavor with the lemon olive sauce. their octopus appetizer was also very delicious! the outside was crispy and the inside was so tender and delicious! the protein just melted in my mouth. Their dessert was also to die for. Got their "greek tiramitsu" (again, forgot the actual name). it was very light, with just the right amount of sweetness and pistachio.
(5)
Melissa E.
Possibly my favorite fancy-ish restaurant in the city. I've been here 3 times: for lunch after my high-school graduation, for my 19th birthday, and for my friend's 20th birthday. Every time the food and service was incredible. All of their food is unbelievably fresh, and perfectly cooked. They rely on great ingredients for flavor, rather than overdoing the seasonings, which I love and appreciate. The inside of the restaurant is spacious and gorgeous. And something that matters to me more than you might think- the bathrooms (hey, if you have a bladder as small as mine, you'll understand). They are beautiful as well, I want to hang out in there for much longer than is appropriate. Bottom line: if you have a special occasion and like great Mediterranean food, this is a must-go.
(5)
Karol S.
This is a great restaurant to try during Restaurant Week, or if you opt-out for their pre-theater menu (available even for those without theater plans). I suggest this because the a la carte menu is unnecessarily expensive for what you end up getting. Yes, it is good food, but nothing so extravagant that you feel like you got your bucks worth. However, if you're looking for a place to eat exclusively from the selection of high-end restaurants in the theater district of Philadelphia (and their prices are comparable), this may not be a bad choice for you. Keep in mind, a la carte is pricey!! They have live greek music on Friday and Saturdays, which adds to the ambiance and experience, so you may not mind paying the high a la carte prices on those more eventful evenings! It is a big restaurant, but surprisingly cozy. Great table service. The hummus that is brought with the bread (or pita, you can choose!) is delicious. We went for restaurant week and tried two appetizers: the HORIATIKI SALATA ('country salad) and the OCTOPODI (grilled octopus). The salad was delicious---chunks of fresh tomatoes, green peppers, and cucumbers, with a solid piece of feta cheese. The red wine vinaigrette is what makes it so good. The octopus was OK---it was less chewy than expected, but also disintegrated a little too quickly. I felt like it lacked the octopus texture that you would have expected...It may be that they let it marinade it in vinegar in order to tender up the meat (americanize it in a way). For main course, we tried two plates: the ARNI PAIDAKIA (lamb chops) and the whole TSIPOURA. The lamb chops were flavorful and tender---very enjoyable. They were served with a serving of thick-cut french fries, which were definitely pulled out of the fryer and let out to set for a bit because they were not crispy fresh. Would have been a better dish if served with vegetables. The whole fish was very tasty and light, good choice. For dessert, we tried their BAKLAVA and POUTINGA (bread pudding cake). The baklava was INCREDIBLE! I was expecting some thin little thing, similar to all the other baklavas I've seen or eaten. But no, this was different. Thick with layers, FILLED with flavor. The bread pudding cake was tasty but nothing special. Just a sweet cake. Overall, good experience. Definitely worth trying pre-theater or restaurant week menu. If you love it, go back for a la carte items!! and go on friday or saturday night so you get a glance of their live music!!
(3)
Meghan C.
I've been here a few times...2x for lunch...1x for our holiday. Every time the service has been phenomenal, and the ambiance is lovely! I went with one of my Greek friends (spends summers there, yadda yadda...) and she vouched for the authenticity of the food. First, the bar is goregous and the bar tenders are very personable and attentive. At lunch they have a prix fixe that is so generous and delicious. The hummus-esque olive oil for the bread is amazing. I had the fish both times and it was excellent. Someone got the mousaka (sp?) and I was really jealous of it because it smelled phenomenal (and the girl who housed it was the skinniest twig EVER - damn you genetics!). Now for our holiday party we had the private room downstairs and a dedicated wait staff. I had the lamb dish (don't even like lamb) and it was ::insert new delicious adjective::. I highly recommend - dinner is PRICEY though...I would love to take my husband here for a meal.
(5)
Joan H.
We hosted a Rehearsal Dinner for 80 people at Estia on March 22, 2013. The compliments are still coming in! The ambiance (we had the downstairs room), the food, and the service were outstanding. The servers could not have been more helpful. People loved the Spanakopita, Greek salad, and the choice of entrees, which included their special Moussaka, fish, and Kotopoulo. The woman I dealt with (Anastasia) to plan this event was absolutely delightful. As a native New Yorker, I have never experienced such willingness to please. Although we did not eat in the main upstairs room, it was evident that that area, too, is just lovely. Many of our guests said they plan to return to the restaurant on their own soon. I enthusiastically recommend dinner for two, or for many, at Estia!
(5)
Jim B.
This is a very very nice place. Good menu, nice decor, attentive service. Comparing it to Trata in NYC, Estia comes out ahead. We visited this weekend for lunch. The fried zucchini chips are to die for with an excellent dip. Get at least one order for the table to share. I did not order the octopus but I later heard our server telling another table that it was a house specialty -maybe next visit. I had the mixed seafood souvlaki with swordfish shrimp and scallops. A great dish but the scallops were the best - exceptional. My wife had the sea bass which was just as good, maybe better. Very interesting selection of teas. Good espresso - but no lemon? Skipped dessert. A very solid 4 rating. Now, since I am a bit of a nitpicker in terms of restaurants, I will mention a few things which kept this from a 5 rating. We were the first couple in for lunch and were seated at the window. I have no problem with that since an empty restaurant looks uninviting to passersby. However, we were seated Facing the window - which looked out on an 18 wheeler parked on Spruce Street. We should have been seated facing IN - it is a very pretty place. Next, the following customers were ALL seated in the same small area. The place is huge, they should have spread the tables out more. One last thing - they used an odd oval plate for the entree which curved up at each end. Every time I put my knife down on the plate, it would slide left, right etc. I eventually gave up and put the knife down on the tablecloth - which I think is tacky. Hey, I would go again. Need to try more of the menu.
(4)
Abhijit G.
Let me start by saying that the ambiance and the service left nothing to be desired. It's the food that was disappointing. Let me put a few qualifiers to my review. We had a 8 PM show at the Academy of Music and we didn't make it to the restaurant until 6.50 (Fri night traffic!) So we couldn't order any of the fish entrees. The server recommended doing tapas style appetizers which included spanakopita, the fried cheese, their eggplant chips, octopus, and moussaka. Nothing wowed me...the moussaka in fact was quite disappointing. Kanella at 11 and Spruce is head and shoulders above Estia when it comes to the quality offood. May be the fish wuda changed my review...but nonetheless we tried a broad variety of things and nothing was impressive.
(3)
Clara L.
Wonderful fine dining experience! Great service, fabulous wine list and drinks, inordinately fresh and impeccably prepared food. Authentic! The CEO of my friends' company is Greek, and she says he dines here pretty often and raves about it. A group of us went for a birthday dinner. We shared a bunch of appetizers: The hummus, and the plate with several dips, including tzaziki, babaghanoush, and another whose name escapes me. All excellent. Estia chips, on recommendation of the waiter. Paper thin slices of zuchini and eggplant battered and fried. Served with tzaziki. So good! Dinner: I had the Sesame crusted Ahi Tuna, which came with greens and a beat salad. Fresh and Fabulous! Bday girl had the best dish at the table. The Chilean Sea Bass with stewed vegetables. Tastes like high-end Greek grandma's cooking. Two people got the lamb chops that were marinated in olive oil for 3 days, which sounded better on paper than in execuation. They were both overcooked. I love moussaka. Their moussaka was the best I've ever had. Special was black seabass that was stuffed in a grape leaf. It was overshadowed by the Chilean Sea Bass on the regular menu. Dessert: Shared two. The Galactobourico, which is custard in phyllo with lemon/ orange syrup. yumm! The Ekmek is pistachio, filo, and whipped cream. equally delicious. The perfect ending.
(4)
Linda R.
I booked Estia for a Baby Shower on a Saturday afternoon for a party of 15 ladies. I was truly amazed by the service from the waitstaff and the busboys. They were each very accommodating, thoughtful, and exceeded all expectations. I couldn't have experienced better service. The waitress went the extra mile to prepare trash bags for the gift wrapping waste and obtained an easel for a sign that I prepared, all without asking. She was very professional and courteous. The busboys were very attentive. They helped transfer the gifts from the truck to the banquet room and again to the vehicles at the end of the event. I really appreciated their hard work. The room was a private banquet room downstairs which was big enough for our group, small enough to be intimate. It was set up nicely upon my arrival with a "mom" chair, table for gifts, and a table for prizes. I asked the waitress for a table for cupcakes and she brought one with ease. All of the guests loved the food and the location. Estia was very accomodating in every way. It was also an economical choice being that there was no room rental fee, the cake fee was generously waived for the cupcakes, and the navy blue chair covers are complimentary. I had a great experience at Estia and I will surely spread the word and keep the restaurant in mind for future events.
(5)
Donald P.
I asked for a steak medium rare.... Well done.. I don't ask them to take food back, because I fear what they might do to my food. The waiter overheard me complain and insisted he correct the issue. They brought me a completely different cut of meat that was again well done when I asked for medium rare. Everyone agreed that the food was mediocre at best. No one wanted to go back there.
(2)
Payal P.
came for restaurant week and was very pleased. the hostess are very nice and greet every single person when walking in and ask if they can hang up their coat. our waiter was nice, attentive and not over bearing. the place was packed but it wasn't messy or unorganized and it is a huge space with a live band softly playing in the background. in addition to the restaurant week menu, we ordered a bottle of wine which we enjoyed and started with the estia chips which everyone needs to order. a bit pricy at $14 but it was a nice splurge. we also received some complimentary hummus that was very good. my starter was spinach pie and i tried my friends octopus both were great. we both had the whole grilled fish which was simple and well done. we added a side of asparagus which was very cheesy (who doesn't love cheese?). as for desserts i was so full but tried the rice pudding, it was bland for my liking, my friend got the baklava which i tried and enjoyed but i was just sooo full and neither really appealed to me. i am not big on sweets anyway so not a problem for me.
(4)
Felicia C.
Delicious Greek food. The feta and tzatziki are wonderful. Entrees are pricey, but it's a high quality meal. Beautiful, large restaurant.
(5)
Chris A.
If you like high-end Greek/Mediterranean fare, Estia is a great place to have a nice dinner. The mezes are excellent, and the fish was phenomenal. This is a great place to take your colleagues and friends if you're in Philly visiting on a conference.
(4)
Todd B.
After having had lunch at Estia on a trip to Athens Greece, we decided we'd try the Philadelphia location for dinner. We thought the service was very good. Though, the server didn't have much personality. We shared the Greek salad first which was excellent. Expensive though. Then, I had the cheese appetizer which is a Greek fried cheese with lemon. Very salty, but not bad. I had the lamb shank as my entree and though it was okay, I wouldn't want it again. And, I didn't like the orzo at all. The side of French fries with cheese wasn't worth the six or eight bucks. And, the cheese was minuscule. We passed on dessert. The validated parking was $15.
(1)
C A.
AMAZING fresh FOOD. even the veggies were delightful! great date place.must try: fish and the desserts. Just really expensive =(
(4)
Melissa W.
The arni piadakia here are THE best lamb chops I have ever eaten in my entire life, and I don't use superlatives lightly. They are absolutely delicious, and even if you think you don't like lamb, you will love them. The tzatziki and fries that come with them are awesome too. The fresh whole fish of the day was quite tasty as well, as was the saganaki. This place is a little on the expensive side, but portions are generous and it's great for a special occasion. It's good for a date or a nice family dinner. The service here is fantastic (the waiter was a total sweetheart), and the ambiance is classy without being contrived.
(5)
Brian H.
Decided to try out Estia before a concert at the nearby Kimmel Center. The location is perfect if you are out and about in that area. We were the first table seated for dinner as our reservation was at 5 so we had the whole place to ourselves for a little while which was fine. We were seated in a little nook with pillows, which was kind of odd but nice and cozy. The decor is very very nice. They pull of Mediterranean without being tacky. We split the Kalamarakia Iganita appetizer (fried calamari) and we were off to a great start. For what is usually a simple fried calamari and marinara, they do it very well. The calamari was as tender as could be, the breading light and tasty and the sauce was a perfect compliment to the lemon-y treatment. Could have stopped here and been happy. For our entrees I got the Plaki (chilean sea bass), which when I was debating, the waiter recommended because, "they are both good, but there is more of it." Works for me. There sure was a lot. It was a hefty sea bass steak cooked perfectly and in a tomato sauce with caramelized vidalia onions that all came together great. My GF ordered the Arni Trahana (braised lamb shank) as the waiter describe is "so tender you no need your knife". Right again! When she started eating this I would have sworn it was a meat ball but it was actually a solid piece of lamb. The tomato based sauce it was served with was slightly overpowering if you got too much of it in a bite, but quickly learned the right balance. The lamb had amazing flavor and could have stood on its own. We finished up with a piece of Baklava which also, even though simple and standard, was excellent. I will definitely return to explore their menu further as I was pretty safe and conservative with our choices this time not quite knowing what to expect.
(5)
Sooshi K.
i really liked the interior design for this restaurant. the brick ceiling give this grandeur yet somehow cozy look to this restaurant. I had the octopus, the tomato salad and whole fish that night. the fish was very moist and i liked the wine. however, i was not amazed by the dry bread. The appetizer portions were good for two to share. the salad and the octopus was a bit on the salty side for me. I want to try the lamb next time.
(3)
Lou D.
Wow!!! This place rocks! Ask for Andreas! Recommend the Octapus appetizer ... The horiatiki salad. Lamb is awesome!!!
(5)
Chris M.
The octopus appetizer is ok. The soup of the day is chicken soup, sour but my friend likes it a lot with bread. The Plaki is good! I like it! The whole sea bass is ok Desert of emerk( forgot how to spell) is amazing!!!
(3)
Neen J.
Delish and delightful! The food is always great quality and each morsel even yummier than the one before. It is GF friendly with several options and the staff are so helpful and obviously enjoy their roles. The greek salad is one of my favorite dishes and the tomatos were divine. I also loved the roast chicken that was served with grilled vegies for me (to make it a GF option). The servers at the bar have a generous pour and they have fun educating their diners on wines. Totally recommend it.
(4)
Sondra C.
We allowed a friend to order. Appetizers were great, grilled fish was dry and tasteless. I would definitely go again to try the everything else on the mezedes menu and the moussaka. (queue happy Greek music) WINE: They serve only Greek wines here. Get your waiter to recommend something after you order. WARM BREAD and HUMMOS: This was good. Hummos is a nice change from butter, but I like butter on warm bread, so I was torn. ESTIA CHIPS: Fabulous. Deep fried zuccini chips with tzatziki. I could eat these all day, every day... for several days. My mind is still munching on them. Please order them. We got two orders for 4 people. DOLMADES: Best grape leaves I've ever had. If you're afraid of a pungent taste, you will be surprised. These are mild, yet flavorful. Just lovely. SPREAD PIKILIA: How can you go wrong with spreads? Ours came with a red pepper spread instead of the eggplant one noted in the online menu. FISH: (sound of needle scratching and then silence) WTF? After such delicious appetizers, this was dry and flavorless. Another diner confirmed this. Minus one star because this is your specialty. (music starts up again) HORTA - Tasty sauteed greens. GRILLED VEGETABLES - Perfectly charred red pepper, fennel, asparagus.. carmalized yumminess. POTATO LADORIGANI or POTATO TIGANITES (the lemony one): OMG, these were so good. I forgot to take some on my plate, so I was completely stuffed when I stuffed two of these down because I couldn't help it. DESSERT WINE: Yes! Richer and darker than Italian moscato, but still on the lighter side of sweetness. GALACTOBOURICO: Mirriam Websters defines galactic as "of or relating to a galaxy". Yes, this was out of this world. We had another dessert too, but, really, I after the GALACTOBOURICO, who cares?
(4)
Ellyn K.
We went to Estia a few evenings ago to celebrate our son's birthday and although we have dined at Estia awhile ago we forgot how amazingly relaxing and beautiful this restaurant is, it transcends you to the feel of being in a a town somewhere in Greece. Aside from the ambiance the food was absolutely delicious and the bonus of the whole experience was our server, Brenna. We are avid frequenters of restaurants and value supererior service equally when dining. Brenna had all of us "at hello" the moment she approached our table. We were welcomed with such warmth and professionalism. Her approach to reviewing the menu, honesty with recommendations and complete attention to making sure we had an amazing dining experience was absolutely outstanding. Infact, we all agreed, a party of 6 that evening, she was the best server we have ever experienced. Brenna you are the greatest!!!!
(5)
Colleen R.
I had dinner here with some friends for my birthday back in February. It's almost June now, and I can still taste the bass and the grilled calamari. My friends and I have pretty tight budgets, but the prix-fixe theater menu worked out perfectly for a couple of us (just $30!). Everything we had eaten was amazing. I loved the bass so much that I ate only one piece of it. I had to take the rest home so that my parents and brother could experience at least a sliver of this fish. The atmosphere is phenomenal without being pretentious. Overall, I loved every moment of being there. No mind that our waiter was rather cranky (and old), my friends and I still had a great time. I'd definitely return if the chance arises.
(5)
John D.
Estia appears to garner high praise and enthusiastic endorsements from many of its patrons; why, however, is not obvious to me. My wife and I (in town for a getaway weekend) came here at the recommendation of our hotel concierge. His two prior suggestions had been spot-on, but he missed the boat with this one. Estia is pretty much like every other Greek restaurant you've ever been to. A bit more deliberately upscale, perhaps, but with the same cacaphonous and slightly chaotic ambience. There's nothing wrong with that - but there's nothing special about it either. Don't come here expecting an evening of elegant dining. The food was - okay. I will happily acknowledge that my lamb chops were tasty and tender, that we enjoyed the hummus and bread, and the calamari appetizer was light and tender. The menu was stock Greek fare, however; the romaine and country salads were unremarkable, and the wine list was too deliberately confined to Greek vintages. Our principal disappointment was the service. The most suitable adjective might be "perfunctory". The waitstaff seemd to be phoning it in - coming to take our order, then to take our empty plates, and finally to deliver the check. We saw far more of the fellow who refilled our water glasses (attentively) then we ever did of our actual waiter. And when the check did come, delivered by a woman whom we had not theretofore seen, she deposited it on our table without even breaking stride, in a practiced and fluid movement that reminded me of nothing so much as a body being rolled out the door of a moving car. Look, it wasn't awful. I've had much worse experiences. (In a way I wish this had been one of them, so that I would at least have the pleasure of telling and re-telling the story.) It was just utterly, completely, uninspiring, and far short of the expectations that we'd taken into the place. If you like Greek / Mediterranean food, and are don't mind feeling a bit like you're just another of the evening's couple hundred customers, then it's fine. But if you're looking for something fresh, a new experience or a special night out, there are *lots* of better choices in town.
(2)
Donna M.
Went to brunch this past weekend. I selected it because of it's proximity to The Academy of Music...but I'll go back because of the food and the ambiance! This is a beautiful restaurant! I know that beauty is not the marker of a fine restaurant, necessarily, but it certainly does play a part. I believe this is what Greece might feel like, and look like. My LDC (lovely dining companion)...aka my Mom and I each had the smoked fish platter which was very good, however a little on the meager side for $17.00, but it was tasty. We had the Champagne brunch which came with a complimentary (part of the $17.00 I suppose) beverage. We asked for the Bellini. I was a little surprised and had to ask our waitress why we only got what looked like champagne. Their "bellini" was champagne and Peach Schnapps, not peach puree, to which I am accustomed. It was tasty, but not as refreshing as I had anticipated. We ended with superb coffee and a VERY EXPENSIVE dessert...the chocolate souffle. Extremely small with a scoop of so-so vanilla ice cream. For $10, I thought it could have been bigger and had more characteristics of a souffle...light and fluffy. This was more like one of the "lava" cakes that seem to be ubiquitous these days. It was chocolatey and tasty, but overpriced. Overall, I can see the potential and will definitely return for dinner. I am interested in trying the beautiful fish, and I want my LDC to try the lamb; I hear it is superb. Won't give up the 5th star until I return.
(4)
Nicole W.
Love Love Love this place! I spent four months in Greece and when I came back to America I sought out, and still do, authentic Greek things as much as I can. This restaurant is fantastic. Went here for lunch with my fellow Greece living friends and we fully enjoyed our stay. The bathrooms are beautiful. I would go back just to enjoy the decor. Our waiter was authentic Greek and was so wonderful and friendly. He loved it when we spoke Greek to him and we even got a free desert on the house! Ah how I miss Grecian charm and hospitality! We went for the lunch prix fixe meal and it was wonderful! The food was scrumptious and worth the price. The food is pricey, but nothing to kill your wallet. It reminded me of Greece and I was thoroughly pleased. Will definitely be going back again and again! I would suggest dressing up a bit before coming. My friend came in workout clothes and felt a bit intimidated, but no one was pretentious or snobby about it, which I found refreshing.
(5)
Lauren F.
My dad and I have started this tradition: see a seemingly hot lesbian film at QFest, eat at Estia afterwards. I love the service here! We have the same guy every time and he is always getting me to get the martinis--which I have yet to try. The decor is lovely. We always choose to sit in one of the corner booths, because I like the pillows! Oh, and the bathrooms are amazing. You always gotta check out the bathrooms. This most recent time, we started out with the Estia chips (love), the grilled octopus, and the tomato and cheese salad. All were splendid! For the main course, I got the tuna. I always get the tuna, but I always love the tuna! It comes with the best horta and beets I've ever had! Next time, I need to move onto the dessert menu, i.e. baklava!
(5)
Ed B.
Atmosphere was nice. Service was uneven and food even more so. Started with grilled octopus- not recommended. Village salad- tomatoes chilled and overall not up to taverna salads, fish was well prepared and fresh, moussaka was runny with chunks of eggplant that were not well cooked. Finished the meal off with a thin Greek coffee. As I said the atmosphere was nice.
(2)
Mr. International S.
Estia did not disappoint. Last night we had a party of 12, the food was great, our waiters did an outstanding job keeping the courses coming and the wine flowing (we were having Massaya wine from Lebanon). Most of the table ordered from the theatre menu which was a $30 prix-fixe including an appetizer, an entree and a desert. I ordered the Estia Mezedakia for my first course, the Kotopoulo for Entree and the Fruit Plate for dessert and needless to say, all 3 were very satisfying. What I heard from the rest of the table is that the fish portions were small and someone did not like the fried calamari. Overall was a successful dinner and we will be back again.....
(4)
Mike G.
Went today, prix fixe express lunch menu for two. This was a very good value, although I could see it getting expensive if you were to go a la carte (which others here have warned about). We had and loved the "Estia chips," the hummus (although our waiter didn't seem to want to call it hummus), moussaka and delicious bifteki souvlaki, and light, delicious spanakopita. Nice room with big, rustic styled seating and muted lighting. It was quiet when we went, but easy to see how with a bustling pre-theater crowd and live Greek music (Fri-Sat nights) would create a loud, festive vibe. Service was great, friendly, helpful, willing to make recommendations. I definitely intend to return and explore the menu, including the baklava, but was stuffed from this meal..
(4)
Alyssa G.
My boyfriend and I went there on a Friday night, luckily we had reservations- it was crowded! From the start, the three hostesses didn't acknowledge us when we walked in although the night did get much better. Its a beautiful restaurant with great ambiance. We chose the theatre menu, which was very fairly priced for a three course meal. The calamari and spanikopita appetizers were excellent. I got the lamb shank entree- extremely delicious! The lamb practically melts in your mouth. My boyfriend got the fish of the day (Mediterranean sea bass)- the fish was very plain. We both got the walnut honey cake for dessert- to me, I felt like I was eating a pancake drenched in syrup. My boyfriend really liked it though. All-in-all it was an enjoyable dining experience and we would definitely go back!
(3)
Andy Y.
Estia is an authentic and unpretentious place for Greek food. I've been there about 10 times the past 4 years. The best thing about the place is the freshness of the ingredients that you can taste in each dish. The service has always been excellent and the dining room is very nice. Go there for a special occasion or if out of town guests are visiting. Some highlights on the menu are their assortment of fresh fish, the Greek salad appetizer which is so fresh and tasty, the Estia chips (fried vegetable goodness) and the marinated lamb chops are to die for! Enjoy!
(5)
Yusra H.
Four of us went here for restaurant week this year and I'm just sad I hadn't been here before. The food is mind-blowingly good. I had spanakopita as my first course and my friends had the greek salad and both were delicious. For my main course I had a lemon roast chicken with orzo dish and my friends had lamb chops. Absolutely delectable. Our waiter was an interesting man who, when asked what he would recommend, responded with "everything is good. you will like everything." So, while he's not a good person to check with if you're indecisive, was completely correct about everything being delicious. I had the baklava for dessert while my friends had a flan type dish and I have to say that, while both were good, mine was really, really good. Definitely going back here!
(5)
Superfly T.
It's all good, and my advice is to wonder around this menu and try different items, the spreads and sauces with pita to start are outstanding. Try the reasonable Theatre menu. This was my first visit and I'll be back for sure, Estia offers warm atmosphere and comfortable surroundings, and the staff is quick and knows what they're doing.
(4)
Bill H.
I first ate at Estia about six years ago, just after it first opened. This was, of course, before Yelp existed, so I was interested if they were able to maintain the new car shine. The shine is still brilliant. When you walk in you are transported to the the best imitation of a Greek restaurant in Philadelphia. The decor is really breathtaking, in that, you feel like you are having a wonderful dinner on Santorini. The open kitchen turns out real fresh fish entrees that melt in your mouth. The best is a whole sea bass cooked with olive oil and caper with lemon, just delicious. Our party of six ordered from the restaurant week menu, which was a great value at $35.00 per person. There is also a theater menu at $30.00 per person. The wine list is fairly priced with bottles available in the $40.00 range. If you are looking for a private room for larger parties, they are available on the bottom level. There is an elevator that takes you down, to a very impressive array of VIP areas.
(5)
Visish S.
Great food, the chef/staff were flexible with vegetarian options for my party. A bit pricey, but large portions. AMAZING hummus.
(4)
Michele S.
I loved the decor and atmosphere of this place, very romantic yet fun for large groups. There were four of us so we did a few small plates and the black sea bass which was amazing! Our waiter was friendly and informative. Little on the pricier side, but I thought it was worth the quality. I could have stayed for hours listening to the music and enjoying another drink or coffee. Would love to see something like this in DC!
(5)
K E.
Went during restaurant week and was not impressed with the service. Maybe it is because we didn't order alcohol? Not at all impressed with that. Food was good. Octopus appetizer was spectacular. Beautiful place.
(2)
Alex G.
A huge restaurant specializing in Greek seafood - with an emphasis on whole fish. Everything was extremely tasty and fresh. The saganaki (flamed cheese) was delicious, although I prefer when they flame it in front of you, instead of in the kitchen (as here). The octopus was tender and perfectly prepared, and we fought over the last morsels. My FOUR lamp chops were lean, thick and juicy. My wife's moussaka was above average, but our local Greek restaurant in Florida does it even better. The star of the meal was my teenage son's whole fish - a branzino-type fish, charcoal grilled and served whole, with the center bones removed. He loved it - and the five year old kept asking for more! The Greek wines by the glass were soft, and matched our dishes perfectly. Overall, this was a delicious meal - and it was nice to see the emphasis on fresh seafood.
(4)
Marie P.
We ate here two nights ago, the service was exceptional. The food was mostly excellent. We started with spread pikilia which was awesome. I had the country salad .... I didnt realize at the time it was a salad with out lettuces so I was confused when it came to the table but it was amazing. The veggies were all fresh and the dressing was nice and light. I also had the spanakopita which was ok, not great. Husband had the tuna which he raved about. Overall great diner. Side note NY dressy and Philly dressy differ.... Jeans are cool, we felt over dressed so don't wear a suit.
(4)
Nat P.
Elevated greek cuisine! When I feel for greek, but not just any greek. Something a little bit more upscale and well done. I go to Estia. Eating at Estia is always a great experience. From walking in you get that inviting feeling, that warms you right up. Not many large restaurants can do this, but it is achieved here. Location is key. Right off broad street and across from the academy of music, the place can be hopping at times if there are good shows in town. So much choices is the only dilemma I have when i eat here. But the servers are cool and they offer very good suggestions on things, if you can't make up your mind or if you are stupid and brainless and just like people picking things for you. LOL The last trip here we had the stuffed calamari and scallops for appetizers. Both excellent in taste, but the scallops were more memorable in my opinion. Big and moist and in a succulent tomato sauce. Entrees were lamb chops and moussaka. What can I say. Greeks do so many things well and lamb is by far one of them. My chops were a perfect medium well with a nice char and moist inside. They were so good I forgot what else was on the plate. Ok funny thing about the moussaka. So my friend has never been to this restaurant, much less have never had much greek food. And he goes and orders moussaka. So i kept asking if he really wanted it. It's just that moussaka can be off putting to some, since it's so complex, lots of flavors going on there. And if not made well can just be an oily disgusting mess. But I was pleasantly surprised that he liked it. I like moussaka so it would have been all good anyway. I would also recommend looking into the whole fish as an entree choice. There are lots of different types of fish to choose from but ask for suggestions. The fish is so well done, it will not disappoint. Just be warned that some may need to be shared since it's so much food. It was a slow night, but service was still great. Our uber macho server was quite attentive, but kinda slow to ask if we needed more drinks. I remember one server I had a while back Steven, was the ultimate server. He was omnipresent, knew his shit about the menu and quite entertaining. Again the ambience here is great. Music in the background, pleasant sounds from the lots of chatty tables. For a large restaurant you will still get that romantic feeling if you are looking for that, but you will definitely get a great meal. Enjoy!
(4)
Anna S.
Service was a bit slow, but OK. Scallops were delicious. Vegetable salad was completely drained in oil and not particularly good. The place is beautiful.
(3)
Jordan H.
Food good. Service sloooow and they forget a ton of stuff. Boo. Still waiting for my 2nd course
(3)
Maurice S.
To begin with, the service was great from the time we walked in the door until the time that we left. The food was excellent. We all ordered from the restaurant week menu and every course was great. I had the Octopodi, Arni Paidakia (lamb chops), and Baklava. Everyone that had the fish said that it was amazing. I will be trying that next time.
(5)
Kazia N.
I have been to Estia a number of times and every time think it's absolutely fantastic. I was in a Greece for two weeks a few years ago, ate there, and can say that the food is authentic. The food is delicious and sumptuous. I've had fresh fish and steak, among other scrumptious entrees on the menu. And, after having the restaurant recommended to me by my Latin teacher, have made Estia the mandatory place for dinner before a show at the Academy of Music, which is right next door. Estia has a special Theater Dinner menu which includes appetizer, entree, and dessert in a pre-fixed meal. This also makes for a less stressful evening, wondering whether or not you're going to make the show on time. I can say that when there are shows going on at the Academy, in addition to weekend evenings, the restaurant does get more crowded and reservations are strongly recommended. The restaurant is decorated wonderfully and provides a relaxed, roomy atmosphere. Recommendation: the stuffed grilled calamari is fabulous! Fresh squid stuffed with Mediterranean cheeses, complete with light seasonings and a hint of lemony citrus.
(5)
Guy D.
We had my daughter's graduation party here for 30 people. They were very helpful with planning the event. The staff and service during the party was excellent. No issues whatsoever. My thanks to everyone at Estia who helped make this a successful party!
(5)
Pink P.
If you're into fresh fish cooked the right way and the way you like it, this is the spot to check out and a rarity in Philadelphia. Considered on the pricey side for an entire meal (including apps, drinks, etc.), but for a fish fanatic it should be well worth it. For the mezedes, try the pikilia spread if you're crazy about hummus and delicious pita. Estia is also a great place to throw a small gathering -- they have a wonderful, intimate wine room in the lower floor that seats 10 to 12 and a great event planner to help to select the right menu that suits the needs of everyone in your party. -pinkposy
(4)
Michelle L.
Atmophere..very good. Our server was very good, knowledgeable and sweet. But, were seated with one menu too few and the hostess was a bit snotty when we asked for another . Orders all came out cold...lobster and 2 whole fish dishes , all cold. Spanikopata, listed under the hot items, cold. Sadly, not worth the cost. Would advise not going. Was even more disappointing because it was a birthday celebration, and we'd indicated it as such on the on-line reservation system.
(2)
J K.
Dined at Estia on a Saturday night pre-ballet. The place was super busy and noisy and the service felt rushed and impersonal. A coffee spill by the server didn't help our overall impression of the service. Food was very good, and the theater menu is a good value, plus you can't beat the convenience right across from the Academy of Music. I really enjoyed the appetizer of Estia Pikilia (especially the crabcakes) and the lamb shank entree was super tender and delicious! Others in my party enjoyed their food as well. I would like to return on a quieter evening to see if I had a better experience.
(3)
Lydia H.
I had a terrible experience at Estia the first time around, and decided to go back there one more time before an orchestra concert to give it another try. I should have gone with my instinct. My first visit, I went with 5 family members and we sat at a great long table in the middle of the restaurant. Our location proved to be detrimental, however, to a pleasant dining experience, because not only were we in the middle of the "organized chaos" of the waiters running around, but we were the main focus of the extremely pushy owner. He hung on the table, and talked us into ordering things that we did not want. He also refused to budge on a supplemental item to have on the prix-fixe menu for my vegetarian sister, and demanded that she get something else. Our next visit, I went with three family members, and sat in a quieter corner. This time, the very same pushy owner came up to our table (much to my dismay), only to realize that he did not go to the table which he intended to go. So in the middle of offering a drink order, he stopped mid-sentence, turned, and walked over to the next table! Not a word. And to top off the indignation, we were not approached by a waiter for another ten minutes. The whole meal was slow and extremely frustrating. There is nothing to say about the food because the experience both times completely blocked everything else out. For the prices you pay here, there are hundreds of other fabulous restaurants within blocks where you would have a much more pleasant dining experience. ***Follow up note - within 2 days of posting this review, I received an email from the GM to apologize for the experiences we had and to invite me back to try Estia again. I added another star for this customer service, as most places do not take the time to read or respond to online reviews. That is great management.***
(2)
Brett H.
We had to stop in for a quick dinner before the Nutcracker. We only had an hour and our server made sure we got everything quickly. The lamb was delicious. My girl had the salmon. It was ok. I don't ever recommend ordering salmon at a restaurant just because it is too easy to screw up. Too fishy. Anyway, not a bad place to stop in for some authentic greek food. The decor is very nice as well, even it is a bit Olive Gardenesque.
(3)
Sarah D.
Gorgeous restaurant - great authentic Greek atmosphere and vibe. HUGE, yet intimate. Lots of little cozy tables/booths. I dined there for Saturday lunch - prix-fixe $17 for a two course meal (not bad at all). I had a fresh tomato and onion salad and then the beef souvlaki plate (with a mixed green salad, tsatziki sauce with pita, two skewers of souvlaki and buttered rice. The meat was full of flavor...good sized portion. Baklava was light and tasty. Lunch was quiet and calm. I was happy to see that Estia recognizes LUNCH prices on Saturdays. The waiter made a point to tell us that the prices triple for dinner. I then went later that night, to the cozy, candle-lit bar. The place was hoppin' - full of patrons, live musicians, bustling servers. The menu for DINNER "was" triple the price of lunch - and was completely different. There were around 10 fresh fish selections - I have to go back! The downstairs has another private room for I'd say 12 people, and also it looked like a banquet facility with a small circular bar. The space just kept going..... Loved the spacious bathrooms. Go!
(5)
Emilia M.
I went to Estia for the first time last week and had an amazing meal! My mother, her best friend and I were seated promptly even though we did not have a reservation. It was nice outside, but not warm enough to sit outside, so we asked to be seated near a window. Perfect choice! We were seated in a booth with a very romantic aura (shame I was with my mom!) The waiter came by promptly to ask for our orders, and explained everything to us in great, and much needed, detail! Our waiter was a doll! We each did the prixe fixed meal for $30 and we shared a bottle of wine. While not the cheapest meal, it was definitely worth it! Their Octopodi is incredible, as was their stuffed calamari! For the dinner I had a fish that was served over baked vegetables....simply WONDERFUL! Desert was a little disappointing, but nonetheless, the meal was GREAT! I definitely recommend going...if you can go on someone else's dime, all power to you!!!!
(4)
Kendall R.
Two friends and I went into Estia on a whim one evening where we planned on dining outside, but then realized it was too chilly for al fresco. i'm really glad we made the decision to eat inside because this place is beautiful! The decor is really charming and romantic. The food is on a very short list of my personal favorites. I've only been here once, but I can't wait to go back! One of my friends ordered the Estia Chips which are fried zucchini and eggplant with tzatziki and were absolutely delicious. I had the feta and olives and was in heaven. I don't know why it was so much better than any greek olives and feta cheese I've had at home or elsewhere, but it was superb. The next time I'm there I'll definitely have to try something from their mouth-watering fish selection, but on my visit I went with a "main land selection". I got the kotopoulo, which is roasted chicken served with carmelized onions, yogurt orzo and a lemon chicken thyme jus. it's been about a year since i've been there and i can still remember the taste. usually i hate having to go down or up stairs to use the restroom, but estia is my one and only exception. this place would win my vote for best restroom in a philadelphia restaurant. it makes you not so mad about the walk downstairs in heels! i would highly recommend estia to anyone, regardless of whether or not you're into greek food. if you eat here and don't like it, there might be something wrong with you.
(5)
Cathie C.
Took my mom & my sister to Estia before a show @ the Academy. It was truly wonderful. I had the lamb chops (they were unreal- totally amazing). The fish dishes sounded great and I was a bit torn but had heard about the lamb- so went with it. Was not disappointed. Marc was our waiter- he was stupendous. The service is very much like a fine dining establishment at a chic NYC restaurant. You turn around- your plate is cleared and you didn't even realize someone had done so. Was really great. Absolutely recommend and will for sure be back.
(5)
beata n.
Everything was amazing from the service to the food. Got to have lavraki and the horiatiki salad!
(5)
Anna Marie C.
usually when one hears "but it's so big!" the party involved takes it as a compliment. i tend to disagree in this case. i've been to estia a few times now, both times within the course of several months. the food is good--fairly classic greek mediterranean dishes. and i never turn down food, especially seafood when it's well-prepared and fresh. that being said, the waiters both times were a bit odd. the first one was just odd, the second one was just kinda rude and odd. i don't know why, but it just bothers me that the place can seat 500 people or something. and i feel like i'm walking through a maze when i'm there. it loses its ambiance and flavor. the corny tvs in the downstairs that are playing videos of greece and the padlocked coat check just really don't do it for me.
(3)
Brian L.
Recommended by a Greek friend of mine, I came down with my girlfriend and another couple during Restaurant Week. I started out with dolmades which was the best dolmades I've ever had. They're grape leaves stuffed with a seasoned rice mixture. Afterwards we had some spanakopita which was made very different to what I'm used to. The spanakopita was in a flaky crust, but didn't seem to be filo, maybe it was but it looked different. Regardless, it was still pretty tasty. The fish I had for the entree came out to be pretty delicious and the lamb was also amazing, very tender and delicious with the yogurt sauce. For dessert we had some baklava. The atmosphere of the restaurant was very cozy and nice. There was a man playing Greek music on a Greek "guitar like" instrument. The staff was also very helpful and friendly. I'll probably come back. Definitely worth a stop into if you want some real Greek food.
(4)
Viviane T.
This place introduced me to Greek food and because of it, I now have a high standard for Greek food all over the world. I'll been here on multiple occasions for different reasons, there was an experience of a part of 2, there was an experience of a party of 12, and there was even an experience of a party of 20+. All occurances were equally excellent. The first time I went here, unsure as to what I should order, the dishes were recommended by the server. He was GREAT. Extremely friendly and knew his dishes inside and out. These are the dishes I would recommend: HOT MEZEDES: Octopodi - Charcoal grilled octopus with red and white onions, dill, roasted peppers, capers, parsley and red wine vinaigrette Yemista kalamarakia - Calamari stuffed with a trio of Greek cheeses, grilled served with lemon and extra virgin olive oil Midia estia - New Zealand mussels, Metaxa, ouzo, shallots, dill, diced tomato and feta Spread pikilia - Tzatziki, htipiti, melitzano salata served with grilled pita; also available individually A word or two about their fishes - they are extremely fresh and are their catch of the day. You can also say hi to your fish of choice before it gets beheaded. I recommend doing their seafood/fish tour before ordering. This will give you an idea as to which fish you might be protentially ordering. I won't order these fishes without taking a peak. I've tried their fishes, but have never tried their other "land" dishes. However, with the large party, most of the dishes on the menu got ordered (some repeated). The final review? All the dishes served by the restaurant is excellent...! So why the 4 stars? The level of service, (incrediablly good) not a five star. Yes, they're highly attentive, very knowledgable, however, it is not a 5 star rating (but this is JUST my opinion). I highly recommend this place and I highly push/suggest that you order/try something you would not normally eat elsewhere. Worth the money, worth the experience!
(4)
Joe D.
I ate here with my wife on a Saturday night and ordered the pre-theater menu. Overall I give it three stars because I wasn't blown away, but the food tasted good and was well-prepared, the atmosphere was high-end, and the place is huge so it doesn't get too loud, even with the live music - the service, however, was just ok. For example, my water glass remained empty for the last 20 minutes of the meal and I had to flag the server down to ask for coffee with my dessert, which was then delivered after the dessert had already been finished. In terms of food, the bread and appetizer (squid and stuffed calamari with salad) were all fine but nothing special. I ordered the fish of the day, which I assumed was served whole (they say this is their specialty) but was actually just a fillet on top of some vegetables - there was nothing wrong with it but it didn't excite me either. My wife had the mousaka, which was pretty good. The dessert was disappointing - we both had the honey walnut cake, which was very dry. Overall I give it three stars because the decor is nice, as is the music, and the food is above average. The service is not that great though, and if we go back I will probably stick to the pre-theater menu because the regular food doesn't seem to be worth the inflated prices.
(3)
Martina R.
I came here with a Greek Family who, after many visits, had become known by the wait staff and owner. They did most of the ordering, and the food was to die for. The lamb fell off the bone just as you would hope, and the array of appetizers were delicious and unique. There was a man playing live music near our table. I will update the review when I learn the name of the instrument, but it was native to Greece. The youngest of the family - probably 8 at the time, was up and about, exploring and asking questions. Though he was probably causing mischief , the staff was wonderful in keeping an eye out for him and answering his questions. I think they actually enjoyed his youthful, lightheartedness. The staff knew us, so it may be biased, but the service was great. I didn't see the bill, but I can assume it was not an inexpensive evening out. There was a ton of space, making Estia great for large groups, or even decent sized receptions. There is also a parking lot just next to it.
(4)
Josie D.
Probably one of my favorite atmospheres of any restaurant in the city. Its quiet and dimly lit and everything down to the littlest of things is well thought out I feel. Now I am mostly greek and have grown up eating really authentic greek food. I'm also good friends with someone who grew up on the island of crete, so when she told me it was good food I couldn't wait to get there. Everything is very authentic and absolutely delicious. The service was great, atmosphere, once again, is amazing, and I can't stress enough that the food was so darn good! I know this sounds kind of weird- but check out the bathrooms! I always use bathrooms at restaurants because I feel like bathrooms are finishing touches to restaurants and if they don't take good care of them then my opinion definitely drops. theyre bathrooms are absolutely beautiful. I told my boyfriend to just leave me at Estia and I'd just live there. also make sure you check out the cool glass elevator to the left as you walk in!
(5)
Daria M.
The ambiance was very fancy and romantic. They definitely spent some bills on their decor. The service was kind of annoying. Our waiter was pretentious, presumptuous and kind of full of himself. The food was good -- the quality seemed high -- but it wasn't THAT good. The Estia chips seemed like the most special thing on the menu - thin slices of zucchini and eggplant fried and crispy with a greek yogurt dipping sauce. The spanakopita was good but a bit greasy, I give it a 3 out of 5 as far as spanakopita goes. The "horiatiki" salad is described as, "with tomatoes, cucumbers, green peppers, red onions, feta and olives dressed with a red wine vinaigrette." Be aware that's all it is -giant chunks of mostly tomatoes and a little bit of the rest of the veggies. No greens. It was awkward to eat, because the tomato chunks were so huge. I am a huge fan of feta cheese, most specifically authentic feta cheese, imported from Greece, or just feta made with Goat's milk. They had authentic imported feta, and it was good, but not as fabulous as I had thought it would be. I thought maybe they would grill it or do something to make it just a little bit melty and special, but they just brought it out in boring slices with a little olive oil and some kind of dried herb seasoning on top. Kind of disappointing. I got the Briam Vegetables side (baked vegetable stew) since it was recommended as a vegetarian side dish to me by the waiter. It wasn't a very exciting dish- just some stewed nightshade vegetables really -- kind of tasty but way too oily and rich for my picky taste. At least they have options though. Honestly, I get better food at Saads (I know, not greek but have some similar menu items, esp. for veggie people). For waaaaaaaaay less. But if you want Greek food with a romantic atmosphere...try somewhere else. The atmosphere really isn't worth the big price tag for the sometimes good, sometimes mediocre food.
(3)
Michael C.
I was here for a function with preselected menu, so didn't have the full experience. That said, the food was fantastic. The calamari was the best I've ever had. The entrees were served family-style and all scrumptious. The dessert of baclava (spelling?) was incredible and we dined in the wine room which was a classic urban atmosphere in Center City Philly.
(5)
Richard L.
The food was great as was the service for the most part. The food got to the table so fast that I would have been disappointed if I were on a date. However, when I had finished my meal, I had to wait forever for my waiter to take my order for an after dinner drink and my tab. This was before the normal dinner crowd arrived.
(4)
Scott B.
I dropped by Estia tonight in search of better-than-average dinner while on a business trip. It was a solid experience, to say the least, from wine to apps to food. The top-notch element of the evening was the de-boned Lamb Shank, along with a light wheat pasta and tomato-based sauce. I have had this dish 20+ times and by far, this was the best. Just phenomenal. I would also give a nod to the service at the bar, where my barkeep was knowledgeable & friendly, but not over-bearing. All in all, a great experience.
(4)
Nancy C.
Fancy smancy and close to the art district :) Totally love this place the decor is so pleasant so luxurious yet its homie. The food is A++ . My experience with Estia was great from beginning to end !!!
(5)
Lena S.
So we'd wanted to make our own food for our wedding. (Laugh, you're allowed). My uncle Nick on the phone, back in the fall: "No, do it at Estia instead! And your American friends can try moussaka and enjoy the things we eat!" Massive eyeroll. Fast forward five months, over the course of which my parents took over reception planning. My reception is in one of the elegant and beautiful banquet rooms in the lower level of this expansive restaurant. There are people gorging on what my husband describes as "the best roast chicken he's ever eaten, feels like everything that is wonderful and comforting and warm about Thanksgiving"; a lemon and olive-oil dressed grilled sea bass called lavraki (I had this: delicate, crisp, fresh, delicious); tasty fresh bread and hummus with olives and radishes that even hummus haters (but seriously, how?) raved about after the fact; just-right chewy-crunchy calamari; bite-sized spanakopita; a feta and tomato sauce and herb pasta entree; and, yes, a rich and creamy personal vat of hot, filling moussaka. There are Greek people radiating gustatory satisfaction (a tall order in my family, in which no one is easily impressed and everyone has fine culinary chops of their own). Friends and family members abound who are full and happy with fresh, delicious food. Apparently there is dessert, but many are too stuffed (or too busy dancing) to try it. There are cupcakes and cake that I made, that a sister-in-law frosted, and that a friend helped style that the restaurant was kind enough to accommodate overnight and display lovingly, as if we had meticulously and attractively arranged them ourselves. From start to finish our Estia wedding reception was classy, elegant, warm, filling, and fun. Associates with whom we worked to organize the event were accommodating, easy to communicate with, and prompt to respond. The food and ambiance composed the perfect fuel and setting for an absolutely memorable, truly fabulous night.
(4)
Diana Z.
Way overrated. Maybe Greek just isn't my kinda food, but the fish was undercooked, squid overcooked (and no need to stuff with cheese), and baklava rich to the point of vomit-inducing. Wine was delectable, surprisingly, but that was the highlight of the night. Also our waiter was the sommelier so service was ridiculously (almost to the point of being rude) slow. The bathroom was cool though. Totally decked out and transports you to Greece. Still, if I'm talking about the bathroom decor at a restaurant in a review, you know how the food was ;)
(2)
Jed H.
We had a wonderful meal before a show at the Academy of Music for 8 of us. We shared a good sampling of several of the appetizers that were all very tasty. The lamb chops as a main course were outatanding!! Brandon, our server, was great.
(5)
Amy K.
Went for dinner before a show at the Academy of Music. Although the restaurant was packed the service was excellent and I simply loved the decor and ambiance. The Greek food was out of this world. Everyone at my table raved about it all night long and talked about coming back for the next occasion. I hear their brunch is also very good. I'd love to rent the private room one day for a special family treat. I highly recommend Estia to all foodies dining in the city.
(5)
John B.
Great service. Excellently prepared. Interesting ambiance. It's great to go to before the ballet. We've come here a lot and are never let down. Opa!
(4)
Jessica B.
I was lucky enough to win a gift card to Estia in a raffle and took my husband on a date this past Saturday night. I went once before for RW with girlfriends and thought this could be a fun way to take my meat and potatoes guy a little out of his element. First- the atmosphere. Beautiful restaurant, live music.... A bit loud, though. Very romantic, but not good for a first date or an important conversation. Second- the service. A little lacking, to be honest. We waited for everything- the courses, the bread, the drinks, plates cleared, the check.... The check was slightly more than the GC. When I offered my card to cover the balance he said he couldn't put the tip on the card. We paid cash instead, but it made for an awkward moment. Being in the industry, I also know that he could have simply put our drinks or a comperable amount on the card and the rest on the GC. Third- the food. The food was excellent! Love the warm pita and that delicious hummus. My husband doesn't like fish or seafood, so I tried to order the lamb meatballs that they serve in the bar. They don't serve them in the restaurant. Odd, but OK, since i then got to order a seafood appetizer for myself! I tried the cheese stuffed squid (delicious) and he ordered the estia chips. The chips I've had before and are so yummy! Not overly greasy, either. He was really happy. For entrees, I tried the Lavraki and he went with the lamb chops. We shared the whipped potatoes and grilled vegetables. Everything was perfect, simple, and amazing.
(4)
john m.
Last night I went to Estia for the 2nd time... My GF and I were on our way to see RENT and thought that trying out the PreTheater menu was probably the best way to go. Originally, our reservations were 5pm, but when I needed to change them to 6:15pm Estia made the change without any hesitation. *** The PreTheater menu is a 3 course meal for $30 a person. The menu is fixed, but you get a good selection of different foods. I started off with ESTIA PIKILIA(This combination platter includes "Spanakopita" feta and spinach pies, Maryland style jumbo lump crab cakes served with a mustard aioli, and a fresh spring mix salad dressed with a balsamic vinaigrette). The portions were incredibly small, but I guess that is to be expected. The flavors were there. The jumbo lump crab cakes were a slight let down, but only because they were bite sized portions. My GF got the ROMAINE SALAD(Hearts of romaine are tossed in a creamy feta dressing and crumbled feta cheese, topped with oregano croutons and shredded Kefalograviera cheese). Kind of hard to mess that up I guess. She said that it was quite good. For our entrees, we both got the MOUSSAKA(A traditional Greek baked casserole layered with seasoned ground beef, sliced eggplant, potatoes and topped with a Kefalograviera based cream). It was ok... nothing to write home about, but the portion was good and the flavor was pretty robust. The third course was fixed. We were served hefty portions of KARIDOPITA(Ground walnuts are the base for this traditional Greek cake that is finished with a Greek honey syrup and served with slices of fresh fruit). It was good... but it was really "wet". I don't know if that's how it was supposed to be, but it was good nonetheless. The service was pretty good and the staff was very nice. Overall, the meal was about average. I wasn't blown away by any means. I've had a lot better for a lot less price. Estia has a wonderful atmosphere and great food. The drinks are kind of expensive, but I guess that's what you get for eating in the city.
(3)
Margarita T.
be still my heart, i am in love. for my mother's birthday lunch, and to celebrate her first ever philly visit, we decided to do greek. we're greek, so we like to check out what other greeks are doing with greek food (then talk about them after we leave). if you're greek, you understand. after ordering the horiatiki salata, dolmades, chicken souvlaki (my least favorite but still good), and spanikopita, i can safely say that this greek food was done right. almost perfectly, in fact. i could (and in fact did) go on and on about the flavors (as did my incredibly difficult, hard to please mother), the wonderful, delicious flavors of each and every dish, but i will leave that for you to experience. rich dolmades, savory spanikopita, tender chicken, flavorful tzatziki, and a perfectly well-balanced traditional greek salad (veggies and zoumi), made such an impression on these two greek ladies, that we're planning our return soon.
(4)
Will D.
The food was good and the setting was very nice. Service, on the other hand, was spotty. Given the price being charged, this rates 3 stars.
(3)
Cara N.
Some friends and I ate here tonight to ring in the start of Philly's Restaurant Week. When I first arrived, only a few members of my party were there, so we waited at the bar - the bartender was friendly. The reservation was for six people, but there ended up being seven, but they were gracious and didn't hassle us about the number. Our waiter was friendly (I forget his name - sorry), and very efficient. They made sure that our water glasses were never empty. I ordered the spanakopita, the moussaka and the karidopita for dessert. They started us out with bread and this DELICIOUS hummus. Keep in mind, I grew up on hummus, and went through a few years where I couldn't even stand to hear it mentioned. Tonight though, I tore that hummus up! The spanakopita was just a bunch of flaky, spinachy goodness. I tasted a bit of my friend's saganaki, and it was also very tasty. The moussaka was also good, and very filling. In fact, by the time I finished my entree, I was almost full, but being the true foodie that I am, I made sure to get my dessert. The karidopita was good, albeit a little too wet for my tastes. Again, I am a foodie, so to enhance my culinary experience I wanted a cup of coffee with my karidopita. Our waiter was nowhere around, so I asked what appeared to be a nice blonde with a Sarah Palin-esque updo to bring me a cup of coffee. Well, if eye rolling was an Olympic sport, Miss Thing would have gotten the gold, silver and the bronze, because apparently, I as the patron should have known not to ask her for coffee. She didn't say anything out of pocket (which meant she hadn't totally lost her mind), which was good because I don't play that - especially not when I'm spending my money. Governor Palin relayed the message to our waiter, and he had one of the servers bring me the coffee. The decor also gets an A+ from me - it was beautiful! I'm sure I'll go back to Estia. Other than my run in with Gov. Palin, I had a lovely time. In fact, despite her lack of customer service skills (maybe she's just as inexperienced as the other Gov. Palin), I'll give Estia the full 5 stars. Great food, atmosphere and company - what else can a girl ask for?
(5)
Johnny I.
It's pricey, no doubt because it's across the street from the Academy of Music. You're going to the opera? You'll probably have dinner here first, lured by their prix fixe menu (which looked awful, based on observing a group near us who ordered from it). The crab cake served atop lentils is delicious. The three-days-marinated lamb chops are above reproach. The fig gelato is a thing of beauty. The wine list has like, a 400% mark up and the service is a little sloppy (e.g. having to ask for a knife, waiting for dishes to be taken from the table, stuff like that which in a cheaper restaurant is easy to overlook, but in a place where dinner for two is going to be $200 is annoying). The food is very good, but not amazing. Overall, it's overpriced, but very convenient to the Academy of Music.
(3)
Bob K.
So, is this place worth a visit if you don't eat much (or any) fish? Sure! I picked up my wife at the airport, and suggested we eat in the city before heading back to our DE home. "How about finding a little Greek place" I suggested. She whipped out her Treo and found one of the priciest places in the city right off the bat. Well done, honey! Just kidding, I was in the mood for something upscale, anyway. So she ordered nothing but hot and cold mezedes (non-seafood related), and I got the basic kotopoulo. A good selection of Greek wines was available, and the prices for those did not seem outrageous, considering I'm used to paying $10 for a martini or an imported bottle of beer at some local joints. We will probably go back here the next time we are in town for the theatre.
(4)
A K.
This is an excellent restaurant, even for Greece. The food is top notch. The service is outstanding. The atmosphere is cozy. The place is clean and inviting. Menu is a bit pricey, but as far as Greek food goes, it is worth the price. You will not find better Greek food in Center City, if not Philadelphia. Estia is the BEST. I'm Greek. I've tried them all. I wish my wife and I could afford to eat whatever we wanted at Estia every single week. We totally would. Instead, we frequent another restaurant owned by the same family, which is less upscale. The food there (Pietro's) is also excellent.
(5)
Mark M.
We had a great pre-theater dinner here on Saturday night. My friend ordered the theater menu (a boring salad and a really nice souvlaki). I started with olives and feta and had the salmon. The salmon was perfectly done and came with a nice portion of spinach. We thought the food was excellent and the room is really pretty. Our server (Rachel) was absolutely fantastic and helped make the evening really enjoyable. This is a great spot for a delicious, friendly meal before the theater.
(4)
Anne M.
Had a wonderful experience at Estia. We had a party of 10 and our waiter Michael was amazing! He was super attentive and gave great recommendations. I had the romaine salad and sea bass which were both delicious.
(5)
Stephen S.
Excellent Mediterranean fare. Solid menu with a good albeit Greek wine list. We had our second birthday dinner here and were delighted again. We sat in a side room with a single large table for ten, which set us aside from the loud dinner room which made for a great night of conversation and let us enjoy our meal even more. Appetizers included a fried cheese plate (which I loved), grilled octopus (which was tender, delicious, and awesome too), squid stuffed with cheese something over greens (yummy), feta and olives, pita and hummus. Dinners included lamb chops (marinated for 3 days with lemon and olive oil - yum), lamb shank (so tender - wow), langoustine (so sweet - so much better than lobster), and Black Bass baked in a salt crust (pretty presentation and quite delicious). The wine list was very limited to almost entirely Greek wines, but we had three bottles of one from Nemea that had "velvety tannins" - cuz it was great and only $55. Desserts were also very good. They were generally variations of phyllo dough, honey, nuts, and custard. Mine was a tall custardy version that was great along with a very respectable cup of cappuccino. Our waitress was also very good. Thumbs up all around.
(4)
Wanda M.
We have been going to Estia for years. We go there for drinks, lunch, snacks, and dinner at least 10 times a year because it is so convenient to shows and performances. Estia is a solid, solid retaurant, whose management is smart enough to not mess around with a menu that works. So they have all time winners, such as the fried cheese, Estia chips (to die for), moussaka and other mainstays that have become comfort food for me. The wait staff are efficient and pleasant. Service is invariably very good, although it can get pretty darn busy here. The wine list and the Greek wines are excellent. As long as Estia's is there, I will be going to it. I may not be Vetri's, but it is dependable and predictably solid. Like a comfy home.
(4)
Ariela M.
I love this place! It's fine dining outside of the traditional stuffy steakhouse atmosphere - with all the good parts of the "fine" dining preserved! The atmosphere is fantastic - the place feels like you are on a ship in the Aegean or in a Greek marketplace. The live traditional Greek music is amazing, and I love the fresh food displayed in the entrance hall. The service is also terrific - they are attentive, polite, and knowledgeable about their food and wines, and food is brought out promptly but left on the table long enough for a comfortable meal without any sense of being rushed. And the food and drinks - incredible! They have a very good selection of beverages, especially wines - both "regular" and Greek. The food - starting with the appetizers - the spanakopita is so tasty, with the filo dough light and the spinach/cheese mix creamy without being heavy. The grape leaves also have an incredible flavor. I'm not a seafood eater, but my dining companions also loved the pan fried calamari. The entrees are all great - the place is heavy on seafood so that's what most of my friends ate and they all loved their meals. I got the lamb shank and it was cooked perfectly, and the wheat pasta with tomato sauce and currants was an amazing combination - hearty without being heavy, and both a little salty and a little sweet. I loved it! The walnut honey cake and the baklava were also very yummy, a perfect end to our dinner. I will definitely be back!
(5)
Susan Y.
The ambience, the service, the food, the wine-- all EXCELLENT. It was a bit pricey, but totally worth it t go. We sat in the upper deck, corner nook right by the window and watched the theater crew across the street setting up for some musical while we dined. It was a perfect nook with a great view of the bustling street. If you have a group of at least 5, ask for that table! I had their lamb shanks and despite the fact that I have never ordered lamb for myself EVER, I took the chance and did. I DID NOT regret it! The server also recommended a wine to go with, and it was a perfect pairing. For dessert, I went for the "healthy" option of getting the yogurt fondue-- umm can I say DELICIOUS? I love freshly made, real yogurt, and they make the real Greek yogurt! It was really thick and tart and delicious with the loades of fruit they give you to dip in it. I am itching to go back-- can't wait till my next visit to the east coast just so I can eat there! I was even thinking of getting a hotel close to that restaurant next time just so I make sure to make a trip.
(5)
James C.
My wild salon was awesome! It is juicy and tender!
(4)
C K.
Greek food in a really fancy setting. Everyone liked their meals, but not so much for people who are not really for sauces
(3)
Nicholas O.
quoted 20mins for a table after 45 mins we gave up. Staff was good management was full of excuses. My advice? less cologne there buddy.
(2)
elanya m.
Great food and service along with a wonderful atmosphere...had octopus and lamp..superb
(4)
Meghann p.
what a great place. (even for restaurant week) We went 1.16.11 The spanikopita was so tasty and a great portion My dad got a greek salad which was very good My dad and I got the lamb which was out of this world. Seriously loved every bite. My mom decided on one of the whole fish that is similar to a sea bass. So delicious and light. Our server was so nice and my mom forgot her glasses and he brought her a pair to borrow so she could read the menu. The only negative I would have would be the three hostesses who were the least unfriendly and would not put a smile on their face. It was almost like they were being forced to be there. The place is decorated nicely- looks like a great place to work. I am looking forward to going back again!
(5)
Evelyn K.
I like it, but they always burn the outside of the souvlaki (shish kebob), so if you don't like burned food (like me), then avoid this particular dish. I really like the fresh fish and produce that are displayed on ice. Dining room is rather HUGE - good for groups. Bar is not good for drinking, more for waiting for the rest of your party to arrive. A couple of the people that work there are a little strange, but harmless. Food is good because of the quality of the ingredients and not so much because of the quality of the preparation, which could be improved. They could also work on their reception. Appetizers are delicious - probably the best part of the menu!
(3)
Kimberly S.
I have a friend that is Greek (born and raised)and recommended Estia. I figure, if she thinks it's awesome Greek food, then it must be. I came here for RW and months later am finally getting around to writing a review. I haven't forgot about you Estia! Next to Union Trust, Estia may very well be the most gorgeous restaurant in Philadelphia. I wish I could live here. I love the iced seafood/fish market display featured in the restaurant. It's such a creative touch that adds to the atmosphere. The downstairs rooms are just as beautiful and inviting as the upstairs, if not more so. We were seated in one of the front rooms with a big flatscreen HD tv on the wall. I thought the tv was out of place and a bit tacky, but the only thing playing was a video of several aerial views of gorgeous scenery in Greece. I was mesmorized by this damn video. I couldn't take my eyes off of it and it made me want to max out my credit card that moment on a spontaneous trip to Greece. Tv aside, we were pretty impressed by the Restaurant week dinner. I had a lamb shank dish that was the softest, most tender piece of meat I've ever had. It was delicious. I think I will even go as far as to say that the roasted chicken my bf ordered was the best chicken that I've ever had, too. It was soft and tender, full of flavor and had a perfectly crisp skin. They did a great job on the protein entrees. However there was a little hiccup in our dinner. For an appetizer, my bf ordered the fish soup of the day. Turns out the fish was, for lack of a better word, gross. He said it was definitely not fresh and smelled and tasted terrible. We let the server know and he was very apologetic and hospitable about the situation. After speaking to the kitchen, he agreed it was bad, too and sent us out a new dish. I hate embarassing restaurants like that, but at a place like this, bad fish should never be served. Luckily, it didn't ruin our experience. I have learned that Estia features a $30 3 course pretheatre dinner all the time. To me, that's a great deal that I will definitely be returning for. So if you want a little taste of authentic Greece then check out Estia.
(4)
hilary m.
The fish at this restaurant are incredibly fresh. they fly some of their fish in from greece. they cook the food here to perfection, not over-spiced. the decor is amazing. The staff also know how to entertain without being over the top. I highly recommend Estia.
(5)
Lisa M.
If you are in Philadelphia, and you enjoy Greek food, you have simply GOT to try Estia. I was in town last week for a convention, and even though it was tough to find a front runner in our choice for the best restaurant (Philly has got some great ones!), Estia did nudge itself into first place pretty easily, with Fogo de Chao being a close second, which happens to be a chain, but I didn't know that beforehand. Anyway, back to Estia...AMAZING!! First, the restaurant is gorgeous and homey. The hostess was friendly and accommodating, and our old-world style waiter, Sarki (sp?), was just fantastic. He was very friendly and very happy to help us decide what to order. After telling us his grandfather would roll over in his grave if we didn't try this dish or that (how could we have that on our heads!), we took his recommendations and could not have been happier. Everything we had was delicious. EVERYTHING! Have the Greek salad, the stuffed calamari, the zucchini and eggplant chips...OMG! BONUS: the three-course theater menu is VERY reasonable! Enjoy. I will definitely be back! It was a wonderful experience. We felt like we were in our own dining room enjoying a wonderful feast I didn't have to cook or clean!
(5)
Hunter B.
I've been here twice now and Estia is 2 for 2. It's an excellent place to get a drink and a quick bite at the bar as well as have a full meal. On our first trip, we were pressed for time and wanted just a little food to get through a play without our stomachs growling. We sat at the bar and had some mango caipirinhas and mezedes (small plates). The dolmades (grape leaves) and pikilia plate (tzatziki, htipiti, melitzano salata with grilled pita) were delicious. We knew we had to return for the full menu. With more time on our second trip, we experienced the first-class service the restaurant offers its guests. It definitely adds to the overall value of the meal. Speaking of value, the pre-theater prix fixe menu is quite a deal at $30. The grilled pikilia (octopi, calamari and salad), fish of the day (branzino) and karidopita (Greek cake) were all perfectly prepared and timed. There are other options for the first and second courses that made it a tough choice, but it doesn't seem like there are many wrong choices to be made here. Also, though we went with the cocktails, Estia has an extensive wine list. Estia's striking interior design is also worth noting. It's a feast for the eyes, from the bar and lounge area through the open kitchen and the fresh fish station to the multi-tiered restaurant area under the stone ceiling. There's also an attractive wine cellar and private function room downstairs. A note about parking: Estia validates for the Bellevue lot but only for three hours. So if you're catching a show after dinner, you might try parking at Symphony House instead and get another cocktail with the cash you'd save.
(5)
Annie P.
I had brunch here and it was beyond my expectations for a Greek restaurant. The food and cocktail was delicious and reasonably priced. The wait staff was attentive and helpful when we all picked our meals. The interior of the restaurant is beautiful and if you sit by the windows you get a really nice view of Locust St.
(4)
Adam P.
I went to a party at Estia today. A Greek-style brunch was served, with dolmades, souvlaki, grilled vegetables, hummus, and more. All of the food was quite tasty and the service was great. While the decore wasn't worth photographing (i.e., this isn't a Steve Starr place), the restaurant was very elegant. All in all, it was a very pleasant and tasty brunch. This place seems like a great choice to people headed to the Kimmel Center or opera.
(4)
Anjali M.
I went here with a friend and was satisfied with the service here. We ordered Estia chips as our appetizer which were absolutely great to munch on alongside our bread. We both got fish entrees and both were pretty good. Mine was not as flavorful as I would have liked, thus I knocked down a star. Unfortunately I don't remember the name of the dish, I feel like I got the halibut or something like that. But other than that, it was a great place to eat. It was quiet, the decor was nice, the service was kind, the place was clean, and for a dinner on a weeknight, it was great. I would definitely come here again.
(4)
lawrence w.
Three and 1/2 hours at the matinee "Carman" across the street made the 4 of us ready for some good food, and Estia didn't let us down. Great fresh food well prepared. Unless you are a 350 pound linebacker, split a salad with someone else in your party. They are huge! The service was a tad slow, but what the hell.
(4)
lauren z.
If I were basing this solely on food it would be 4.5 stars. Everything was delicious! My friend ordered the grilled calamari for the table. Normally I don't care for it grilled and find it to be very chewy, but this piece was great. It was the least chewy I have had and it was stuffed with some cheese which made it even better. I ordered the chicken dish for my main course. It was half white / half dark meat. I don't care for dark meat but I would say to be fair if it is your thing it was cooked well and I had no problems with the dish in terms of execution. I also sampled some of the fried cheese appetizer that was offered. I found it to be heavy and maybe a bit salty but I think that is fair game for a giant chunk of fried cheese (you get what you're ordering). The only "miss" food wise was one of the add ons to my friends dinner, I don't know what they were expecting but they essentially got steak fries with a few flakes of grated cheese on top. They tasted fine but didn't really go with the rest of the menu. If I were basing my review solely on service I would be giving Estia 2 stars. We were meeting a friend here for a birthday dinner. There were 14 people total for the reservation that started at 8. People came in staggered but the restaurant was empty (random Wednesday night prior to Christmas). Seven of us sat for a good 20 minutes before getting water... we were interested in ordering drinks but never got the opportunity. Then when the table was complete by 830 we continued to sit without order drinks (or food) for another 20 minutes. At this point the waiter came over and took 4 peoples drink order and walked away? It was confusing at the very least... Someone eventually got him to come back and he took an additional two orders before walking away again. Finally at about 915 every had a drink (mine was finished at this point since I was a lucky one who got served in the first round). Anyway after we got drinks they finally brought over some bread -- if you're doing the math that is one hour and fifteen minutes of sitting without food. I was very happy that the food orders ran much more smoothly than the drinks, he took everything at the same time and food came our relatively quickly. We were done with our reservation by 1030. All in all it seemed like he was annoyed by a large group, which I guess I understand since it is a lot of work, but on a dead Wednesday night with gratuity included in the check you'd think he could have faked it better. Anyway, at the end of the day I would go back, but probably would max out with a party of 4. I think the large group flustered our waiter and things might be better with a smaller party.
(3)
Lisa S.
I have only ever eaten at the bar and had small plates. The grilled octopus is the best in the city (sorry Dmitri's, someone finally one-upped you) and the salads are all great. My only complaint is that the wine selection is a bit limited and overpriced. Great for pre-show dining.
(4)
Elena S.
This is an excellent place for a group dinner, place to take your parents, business lunch, or intimate date. It is large, but also has plenty of intimate booths and tables for a more romantic feel. The best thing about this place is the fish. Some of the highest quality fish in the city, and simply but well prepared. The fish baked in sea salt is probably my favorite, although the sea bass and the snapper are also fantastic. Their vegetables (esp their Greek salad with those delicious tomatoes) are also fresh and delicious. Highly recommend the zucchini chips and with the dill yogurt sauce. My biggest complaint about this place is the service. Although fairly prompt and not rude, it is somewhat lacking in terms of professionalism. The waiters don't quite seem to know how to handle/speak to patrons at a (relatively) fine dining establishment. For the prices they charges, I think patrons expect a bit more from the waiters. I think it would make the experience a bit more pleasant if the waiters were a bit more polished and courteous. Other than that, I think this place is excellent, if slightly pricey. They are frequently out of various fish dishes, but I chalk this up to the fact that they only serve very fresh fish so might have a limited quantities of each.
(4)
Darlene P.
Had a most wonderful dining experience at Estia. The fried calamari is so light and perfectly prepared. Souvlaki was perfect. Wine list was excellent. Had a wonderful refreshing Greek wine. What is also critical is the professionalism of the waiter. Andreas was superb. It was like he was orchestrating a symphony. He just made the meal extra special. His conversation and responsiveness made this experience memorable. I will definitely return to Estia again for the food, dining experience, and professionalism and sensitivity that is lacking in other restaurants, but is alive and valued in Estia. Thanks Estia and thanks Andreas.
(5)
Ari P.
Solid Greek food with nice ambiance.
(3)
Becky S.
This was good but pretty standard. I ate in the downstairs area - very nice/formal set up. The atmosphere was more of a dry formal than a trendy formal - very serious. The food was great. I had salmon which I would recommend.
(3)
Kate T.
We came here based on a recommendation of one our friends, who is Greek. We were not disappointed. We shared the octopus for appetizer. They were amazing. For $18, you were served a big plateful of grilled octopus. I could eat the entire thing by myself. For the main entree, we both had fish. I had the lavraki and my husband had the tsipoura, both which were really good. We would definitely come back again.
(4)
Chillumgod V.
The restaurant is designed beautifully and pretty much had a full house for Wednesday evening. The crowd was mostly families and big groups, which older demographics. A vibrant atmosphere and decent service. However, I was somewhat disappointed with the food. The Octopus was chewy and overdone and order the recommended Lamb Chops which were very well done and lacked much flavor for anything that had claimed to be marinated for three days! The worst was getting the cognac XO served in a cheap Irish pub tumbler glass! - Something you just don't expect from a fine dining restaurant. On the flip side, the deserts were awesome.
(2)
Gary S.
Had been wanting to try Estia and finally did last night. Have to say started off on the wrong foot because they did something many restaurants do which I HATE - try to seat you in the worst table near the kitchen when half the place is empty. Waiter was actually very good, in an amusing opinionated way - was not shy about his recommendations. Definitely did not upsell. In fact he steered my wife away from a glass of wine my wife was going to order to one he felt was much better AND was less expensive. Food was good but not excellent. Seafood was fresh and well-prepared, but just somewhat uninspired and, frankly, overpriced. Might return for a pre-theatre meal if I am seeing something at the Academy but otherwise don't think I would eat here again.
(3)
Aasima A.
Have been there a few times, and have always been happy with my service and my food. I learned that LOVE octopus there, really its good. The downstairs is beautiful and I've always wanted to have a function there. Avacodo with shripm and apple salad, any of the fish, the lamb, the spinach pie, the stuffed grape leaves, and any of the vegetarian dishes. The servers are all beautiful but more importantly knowledgeable about the food, the ingredients, and the drinks. Perfect place to go before or after a show. Parking is a pain though because they don't valet or validate parking, but if you want some good food that is healthy, estia is definitely place to go.
(5)
Julie M.
Pre-theatre dinner. Catch of the day was excellent and just enough. Partner had the lamb. Presentation needs a change, but wonderfully flavorful. Walnut cake dessert was fantastic. Fruit with yogurt & honey was good but not all the fruit was fully ripe. Had a super waiter but the staff serving the dishes was not as good. Romantic setting if a bit loud. We will go back again for sure.
(3)
Vicki Z.
Stuck in Philly by the snow last December. Had to choose somewhere close to the hotel for lunch. Then we went to Estia. Food all very tasty not so delicate though. Had the jumbo prawn, grilled calamari and a fish, all very tasty. Had a traditional greek dessert Baklava very very sweet. You pick up the seafood and vegetables you want to eat which makes you feel more connected to your meal. very big place, the waitor is funny. Overall a pretty good meal.
(4)
richard s.
Had a good experience here. The fish was superb. You select your fish on the bed of ice in the display and they cook and present it. Baked in salt, the fish came out moist, flaky and tasty. Appetizers were good as well. Wine list was extensive although we had to detour the waiter from selected something we did not want. Nice decor like a wine cellar and I will return.
(4)
Shirley F.
Im not sure why Craig LaBan and other major reviewers arent sold on this place. Is it because of comparisons to other Greek Restaurants? I have no clue. But Im here to tell you that this is the best place Ive been to for Fish in the Philly area. Service is outstanding, the Octopus is cooked perfectly, and the place itself is beautiful. I suggest going as soon as possible.
(4)
Holly L.
I went here yesterday for a Restaurant Week lunch. They first brought out the warm bread (sourdough, I think), accompanied by this deliciously creamy hummus. I had the soup for starters (it had lamb balls and bit of a creamy broth with a lemony and dill flavor to it) - very good! Main course was the fish of the day, a sea bass over grilled vegetables. Not too fishy, but the vegetables had the consistency of being soaked in butter and water all day, very limp. I like the fish, though. Dessert was this ginger cake with walnuts with a scoop of vanilla ice cream on the side. The cake was pretty dry, which was wet a bit by this pool of what tasted like sugar water - very strange. I wouldn't recommend this dessert, but the other food was good.
After my posting the management went out of their way to resolve my issues by taking care of my dry cleaning expenses and issuing me a gift card. Has been quite an ordeal but I'm glad that they did the right thing.
(3)
Asia T.
This restaurant was amazing. The humus tastes so good. I ordered salmon for dinner and it was delicious. The fish is very fresh. We had the shrimp appetizer and it was very tasty. I didn't enjoy the drinks. I had a lycheetini and it wasn't that great. The service was amazing, although the waiter kept suggesting delicious meals and we couldn't turn them down. After salads, appetizers drinks and our entree our bill was pretty large. Well worth it though!
(4)
marci s.
I was there for a party and if I lived here I would go there often. Everything we had was so good
(5)
Andrew P.
Dinner with a few techies here the other evening was fantastic. The fixed price menu was affordable yet elegant. Delicious, fancy food.
(4)
Audrey J.
Went to Estia last night with a couple friends. We had a glass of wine and share a few appetizers... the food was delicious, the place is beautiful and the staff very nice. But when the bill came up to be over $100.00 I suddenly wondered if it was really worth it. And I'm not sure it is.
(3)
Ryan C.
Wonderful Mediterranean style food. The decor is very reminiscent of actually being there. While the staff is most likely straight-off-the-boat. The fish is fresh, and the Langostinos were awesome. We really enjoy this place as a family. They have good wine selections, and good food options. Make the waiter laugh a bit, and he'll be really nice and treat you like family.
(4)
Jim H.
This was my first experience with Greek food, so I wasn't sure what I would think of this place. As I expected, within a few seconds of looking at the menu, I knew I would have to be a bit adventurous with what I ordered - you won't find the ubiquitous chicken parm or cheeseburger being served here. Not even a caesar salad! No worries though...choosing among the several salads on the menu, I ordered their "romaine salad", which turned out to be every bit as delicious as the best caesar salad I've ever had. Along with that came the Estia chips. If you've read any other reviews about this place, you'll already know that these things are mighty tasty...a definite must-order if you eat here; just try not to stuff yourself before the rest of the meal. For the entree, since I had to order into uncharted territory no matter what, I thought I'd try the Chilean Sea Bass. It seemed pretty popular, so why not!? Well, it turns out I didn't like it....it just a very fishy-tasting fish, with a bit of a mushy texture. Nope, didn't like it. In all fairness to Estia though, I don't think I would like sea bass from any restaurant - it's just not my thing. (I did eat every bit of it, however, because I certainly wasn't about to waste expensive food at a restaurant like this)! I finished off with the chocolate souffle dessert, which was so good I wish I had ordered two. Seriously. Two. Now others have said the wine is "overpriced". Oh yes...at about $13 a glass, it is certainly expensive, and will quickly skyrocket the bill for a larger group of wine drinkers. But I'm using the word "expensive" rather than "overpriced" for a reason. This is all Greek wine, and I'm really not sure what the restaurant has to go through to bring this wine in. If they're importing it, it's easy to see where this price hike comes from. However, I could be totally wrong, and the wine really is just absurdly, ridiculously, monumentally overpriced. I had the "Gaia Notios white", which was great, but if I go here again, I think I'll just stick with water or iced tea. Drinking wine here is a great way to transform this place from a "$$$ restaurant" into a "$$$$ restaurant". Lastly, it's a very cool restaurant atmosphere, and the service was nothing less than great...every bit of it. Give it a try!
(4)
DaFree R.
Very good. Try some Greek wine. I didn't expect much from it, but was pleasantly surprised. The service can be a bit rough, but the food is very good.
(4)
Bizz M.
the service here is top notch. our waiter was very helpful and on top of empty glasses all night. i'm not the best at these reviews because i usually like everything and don't remember any of the names. i do remember the bill being quite expensive for 4 people but that didn't deter from a night of great food.
(4)
Kelly S.
This is a fantastic Greek restaurant in Center City. I went here for a special event, catered in their private room downstairs, so I can't comment on the prices. But the Greek wine was fantastic, and the waiter's kept it flowing all night, without even having to be asked for refills. The appetizers were good, and I had a delicious white, flakey fish for dinner. Yum. I loved every bit of my meal, and it was all light, refreshing, Mediterranean fare, so I didn't feel stuffed and icky afterward. I'd definitely go back here for a normal dinner anytime!
(5)
Frank H.
Preshow dinner at six. The room was spectacular. Was not expecting anything like it. So we were seated at six. Took the waiter 10 minutes before his first visit to our table. We ordered a bottle of wine and waited another 10 minutes before it was placed on our table but un opened for another 10 minutes. So a half hour has gone by and all we have done is opened a bottle of wine. Our waiter Kevin had three tables. One of the tables was a six top, and did seem to be high maintenance. Service did not get any more attentive as the night went on. We had the grilled octopus. Fantastic! And the three humus spreads. Very good. For dinner we had a whole grilled fish. Very good. The salads and the sides are Alacarte. We split the romaine salad and the roasted potatoes. Both were decent. So now it is 20 minutes before showtime and we have no time for coffee or dessert. This does seem to be a common theme for preshow dinners at Estia. That is why I thought I was giving us plenty of time by making my reservation at six. Wrong! They are very busy. But when you are dropping $250 on dinner I expect really good service. Not excuses. With all that said, I would go back.
(3)
Jay W.
Restaurant week review! I started with a nice malbec (and a generous pour at that). The first course was the octopus served over onions. The octopus was well cooked, wasn't overly chewy, and had a good amount of woody flavor to it. I would happily order a large plate of this as an entree. My main dish was the lamb chops served with roasted potatoes and tzatziki. The lamb was very well cooked, the dish came with three nice sized chops. The meat was well cooked, a nice earthy taste to them. The potatoes were well cooked. The baklava was not layered, it had dough on the top and bottom, and nuts in the middle. I prefer when baklava has many layers of dough and nut. The taste was good, but it was not my favorite of this dish. Typically, I am not a fan of the decor of Greek restaurants. I often think that they look kind of cartoonish and cheesy. However, this place has a classy look to it. Our service was friendly throughout and answered questions for us.
(4)
Tonya M.
So good! The server was kind, helped us with the wine list and recommended some awesome appetizers/entrees to pair with our wine. Can't wait to take the family here!
(5)
Matt K.
I have been here twice in the last month or so, mostly entertaining friends who like Greek food from out of town, and a few times in the last 5 years also! Our friends have universally said that the food is good. The service is consistently professional, and often you will get a friendly, engaging sort of server. On our last visit, she took care of us, including an old geezer who was cranky. The Estia chips, made of zucchini covered with a light batter and deep fat fried, are a must. A light style tzatziki dipping sauce rounds them out. Estia has a number of classic Greek dishes on the menu, and all that I have tasted are at least passable if not inspired. It is not easy to make simple Greek dishes divine. But the best thing to order time after time is a fresh whole fish. They usually have at least 4 different fishes to choose from. They will even bring the raw whole fishes out to your table for you to view. It is always cooked to perfection, simply, with an olive oil and lemon and caper vinaigrette. The wine list features a lot of Greek wine, and some of it is fairly good. The prices here are high, and that detracts somewhat from the overall experience.
(4)
Flavia C.
Another rest meal at Estia. I am on a cleanse and can eat so few things. I was trying to figure out if there was anyplace I could go. It was the perfect place! Ordered Bronzino, when you order the whole fish it's so delicious you don't miss that there is no marinade the lemon and olive oil are perfect! Grilled veggies & lots of water. Healthy great meal. Jessica was a delightful server, so friendly & helpful and didn't even look sideways when I listed all the things I couldn't have:). Definitely returning soon.
(5)
Christina V.
I've always walked by this place and thought, "Oh poor restaurant! It looks like it used to be something fun, shame no one goes in here." The restaurant would probably look back at me and sing "you lil stupid ass B, I aint f'n with yoouuuu" Yea - I can admit when I'm wrong. I am such a fan of Estia after coming here with a group of friends for dinner during Restaurant Week. There were 6 of us total and everything from start to finish was divine! Once we walked in we noticed a HUGE fish display which was incredible and I am sad I didnt creep over and get a picture. The interior of the restaurant is so amazing and very large. We were seated promptly for our 8pm reservation and greeted by our own star of the night - our server Randall who came fully equipped with a set of vocals he was not afraid to share with our group. A+ and 5 Stars for Randall and his amazing voice!!! (Keep reading to learn more about Randall and his ceremonious Little Mermaid routine...) Food: Bread and hummus for the table which was gone within minutes. For a sharing appetizer off the restaurant week menu we ordered the Saganaki. Not sure if they normally bring this out on FIRE, but we asked our server if it could be served this way and he gladly obliged. Cue Alicia Keys: "This cheese is on fiiiiiiiiiiiiiire, this cheese is on fiiiiiiiiire" Needless to say it was ah-ma-zing! Once we devoured the cheese, our waiter came and took our three course orders. I ordered the octopus salad, the lamb and the ekmek for dessert. The octopus salad was one of the best I've ever had. The octopus was perfectly charred and the portion size (especially for restaurant week) was enough that I didnt mind handing out a few bites. Also, sidebar-as I mentioned to our server Randall that I was totally eating Ursula from the Little Mermaid, you bet your ass he broke out in to song hitting every note from "Poor Unfortunate Souls". Life = Complete. Lamb- incredible. Directly from the menu the lamb is "marinated for three days in olive oil, lemon and fresh herbs served with potato tiganites and tzatziki" I wish I could bathe in the tzatziki sauce. My lamb was cooked just as ordered. (Note: what a steal for RW (I'm sure the ounces are cut back but) this dish is priced as $39 normally.) Dessert- Ekmek. Sounds like something you cough up when you have the flu, but this was so light and creamy- I should have ordered one to go. It's pistachios layered between kataifi phyllo (no idea what this is), custard and whipped cream. Although I didn't order the baklava, after reading reviews on it- I plan to come back and try it. Summary, I LOVE Estia and am SO happy I decided on this place for a RW pick. Bring some popcorn and have your Disney DVD's on standby if you get Randall as your server because you're definitely in for dinner and a show.
(5)
B K.
I have been here twice, first time was okay nothing that great. Second time we went with our seven year old and I was very pregnant and we were told that it would be hours before they could seat us. I felt something wasn't right I assumed it was because our entire wasn't the typical fancy restaurant(keep in mind I was huge pregnant and nothing fits right). We left and I decided I'd call just to see what their wait time was and was informed they would be able to seat us right away. Never going back. Didn't even taste like authentic Greek food and for that price it better taste like yiayia's!
(1)
Sheila D.
I went to Estia for a Restaurant Week lunch, and I definitely don't understand the hype about this restaurant. Maybe it's the fact that the menu is very toned down and casual for lunch, but I don't think there was anything truly substantial and unique about Estia, even compared to the local Greek restaurant around the corner. I went with a large group of people, and all of them shared equal sentiments as I did. Although the ambiance was really nice, and the restaurant design and lighting were really elegant and beautiful, the food could have been much improved. Again, this review is based solely off Estia's lunch/brunch, and the dishes themselves may have been much better had we gone for dinner. Most of my friends ordered the Fried Calamari, which honestly didn't taste like any sort of special Calamari - I've had the same style and flavor of Calamari at many other Japanese restaurants, so this dish definitely didn't stand out at all. Most of my friend opted for the Lamb Pita entree, and because I don't eat meat, I had to go off of their judgments for this review. They all thought that the dish itself, though it had a large amount of food, seemed too casual for the restaurant to be serving; it came with french fries for goodness sake! The pita itself, as I was told, tasted just like a $7 pita from a lower end Greek restaurant. I was pretty disappointed to hear those reviews from Estia's food, since I had heard pretty good reviews from some friends who had gone before I did. Instead of ordering from the Restaurant Week menu, I opted for the Champagne Brunch. I had the Avga Spanakia (basically just an omelet) with the Bellini as my drink, basically a peach champagne. To be completely honest, the omelet tasted just like an omelet that I could have made at home that was placed into a cast iron skillet. The potatoes on the side were no different from any breakfast potatoes from any breakfast diner around the city. I really didn't see anything special about the dish or the meal other than the nice ambiance. Overall, I was pretty disappointed with my experience at Estia. I had much higher expectations for the quality and flavors of the food, especially given the price and the fancy atmosphere of the restaurant. Definitely do not recommend coming here for lunch or brunch - there are much better options in Philadelphia.
(3)
Kimberly A.
Very dramatic decor. Pricey ($46 steak). Food was mediocre at best. Looks better than it tasted. For the prices, I expected it to be top notch! Best thing I can say about it was they had a good bartender who knew how to make a good mojito!
(3)
Andrea S.
LOVE LOVE LOVE this restaurant!!! The quality and taste of food is so fresh & flavorful. And always consistent. MUST try the octopus & Chilen Sea Bass! Best seafood in Philly!
(5)
Evan F.
Definitely a fan! I've been to Estia twice, and really enjoyed both occasions. The restaurant is beautiful inside and out, and the bottom level has a private-dining wine cellar as well as a space for private events. Each time I visit, I'm continually impressed with the quality of the food and the attentiveness of the staff. I highly recommend the moussaka and--when available--the branzino special. I'll definitely be back!
(5)
Victoria L.
When you walk in, you're immediately transported from Locust St to somewhere breezy and romantic. The restaurant was dimly lit and we were seated at a table separated by a curtain with pillows on the booth side. We passed by an impressive seafood display on the way to our table, which enticed us before we even sat down. I sipped on a refreshing gin cocktail while browsing the large menu. Everything sounded delicious, so we asked our waiter for suggestions. He said he had just eaten here with his family recently and told us their favorites, as well as taking how hungry we were into account. We decided to start with grape leaves, which my boyfriend was craving. Then we got the lamb chop and lavraka fish to share. Much to our surprise, the delicious crusty sourdough bread came with hummus. I guess we're used to olive oil at higher-end Italian restaurants and butter at French restaurants, but this was a new level of satisfaction of complementary bread. Having only eaten Asian meat-stuffed grape leaves, I was pleasantly delighted by the rice-stuffed Greek version as well. I could've used more tzaziki sauce because I could eat that stuff with a spoon. Luckily, the lamb chops came with more! It was a cool contrast to the perfectly-cooked meat. The Australian variety they use is crazy flavorful without being overly gamey. Dare I say it... It may have been the best lamb I've ever had. The lavraka came to the table filleted in two pieces on separate dishes for us. It was served with a crisp lemon herb seasoning with salty capers strewn on. While simple, it boasted all the right flavors. At the end of the meal we were full but considering how great everything was, we couldn't resist dessert. We went for simplicity with mixed sorbet (lemon) and ice cream (pistachio), which didn't taste housemade but were enjoyable enough anyway. The bill was pretty high at over $100, plus tip, for the two of us. We felt the food was worth it, though we wished it was more accessible and could come more often! (Explains why everyone else in the place was 50+ though.)
(5)
Natalie K.
This place was great! I took my parents here for lunch when they decided to visit randomly one weekday. It wasn't too crowded for lunch time, so it was nice to get to try the restaurant with the full attention of the wait staff. They sat us by the big windows overlooking Locust St. There was a ton of sunlight coming in and it really made for a pleasant dining experience. We had the Estia chips to start - crispy zucchini and eggplant served with a tzatziki sauce. I thought they were really good! I would recommend that for an appetizer for the table. For my main course, I had the crab cake burger. I thought it was pretty good and it was a nice, lighter option for lunch time. My dad had the beef souvlaki and he thought it was OK, but not the best. My mom had the Arugula salad, which was fine. The bathrooms are the floor below the main dining room and so you got to check out the private dining room that they have for large parties downstairs. I thought that was a really nice option and my parents made a mental note for the next time they were in town with a few of their friends.
(4)
Allison B.
When it comes to dining experiences, I've definitely had better. A friend and I went to Estia on Friday night before a show at the Academy of Music. I was pretty stoked- despite walking by Estia hundreds of times since moving to Philly, I had never been. We walked in and our server, Patrick (I only know his name because it was on our bill), asked us what we'd like to drink before we even had our coats off. Um, can you give us a minute? I asked if it was still happy hour. "I have no idea if it's still happy hour," he said in an unfriendly tone. "Happy hour is only at the bar." We sat down, I opened my menu. "HAPPY HOUR IS FROM 4-6PM" it said. ...how did Patrick not know this? When Patrick came back, he asked if we had any questions about the menu. I asked if he preferred the fresh fish of the day, or the shrimp souvlaki. He said "shrimp souvlaki" so fast and without any sort of explanation-- I was afraid to order the fresh fish. Yikes. Kelsey and I were doing the pre-theater menu, which was three courses for $30. I had heard so much about the baklava at Estia and wanted to try it, so I asked if I could swap baklava for one of the pre-theater menu dessert offerings. On the dessert menu, the baklava was the same $7 that the walnut honey cake (an option from the pre-fixe) was. I didn't think it would be a big deal. "I don't make the rules here," Patrick said defensively. He explained some simple math. "It'll be a $4 upcharge for the baklava." I said that was fine. Our appetizers came. Dips + calamari. They were decent. Kelsey and I both really enjoyed our shrimp souvlaki. They shrimp come grilled on a skewer with a tower of orzo on the side. The orzo has melted feta mixed throughout- really tasty. Dessert was walnut honey cake and baklava. The cake was a little dry. The baklava was great! It ended up being a $5 upcharge. Patrick only checked on us once, and only seemed gracious when he brought the check. Other than that, we seemed like a bother to him. I'm not writing off Estia entirely, I would just stay away from this server. He made our night out on the town a little less than pleasant.
(2)
Jenna H.
Octopodi and the pan-fried cheese dish (don't remember greek name) were incredible. The lavraki was so flavorful. The baklava was unforgettable - not too sweet and syrupy like it is sometimes. A little pricey but perfect for restaurant week!
(5)
Diana H.
This is a beautiful restaurant, and great for a date night. M. surprised me with reservations for a Saturday night, and so we went and got ourselves a Greek meal. For the appetizers we had calamari and the sardines. The calamari was delicious and fresh. The sardines were not really anything special but I'll always get sardines when I get a chance to, and what can you do with them really? Besides using some salt and lemon juice? Love them. For the main I had the lamb chops. M. had the lamb shank. Yes. We are big on lamb. Both were really good, the meat was soft and tasty. We got Greek desserts, although I don't remember which ones. I do remember mine lacked sweetness but I will say I'm a sweet tooth. The only thing about our Estia experience is that our server was a bit weird. He had explained the specials of the day after we had made our choice from the menu. Why not do this when you hand out the menu in the start? Also, after we finished our main courses, he asked if we wanted coffee or tea. M. then asked if there was a dessert card. It was as if it was assumed we didn't want dessert. Don't get me wrong, I would gladly come back here (or try one of their other restaurants). It's just that staff was a bit awkward at times.
(4)
Tarini S.
This place is really outstanding. You really know a restaurant has great food when you can be extremely satisfied despite only eating a meal of side orders! I got the spinach rice (tastes much better than it sounds - trust me) and grilled vegetables (standard, but good). My mom got the roasted chicken entree and it came on a delicious bed of yogurt orzo with caramelized onion and a thyme jus. That one bite of chicken was possibly the best I've had in a long 'thyme' (haha)! The ambience is a little more sophisticated than I'm used to for my age group - but it was great to bring my mom here for dinner. The only negative part of my experience is that we kept getting interrupted with people asking whether we're done. 4 different guys came to ask us within the span of 30 mins!! Before you think it, NO the place wasn't full. There were plenty of open tables and no guests waiting to be seated. (This is why I had to knock off one of the stars from my rating.)
(4)
Chris S.
Everything on the menu is great, but try our faves: The grilled octopus and beet salad for starters. The roast chicken and the salmon for the main. The staff is friendly and quick -- I wish they knew a bit more about the culture and food, but they were very courteous and the food remarkable.
(4)
Doina N.
Many thanks to Estia and the manager last Saturday night for pulling out to serve us dinner 10 minutes before the kitchen would close. I made a reservation to Estia for 10 PM thinking that the show at the Academy of Music was going to be over by then. Well, I was wrong! I called to postpone 30 minutes and the hostess said that kitchen closes at 11PM. Show didn't finish until 10:45 and we were starving. My boyfriend would not go anywhere else because he was craving hummus and pita bread. Ugh! Most likely, we were one of the first few people to go down the steps from the amphitheater. We were quick. Made it at the restaurant at 10:48. Obviously, the hostess notified us again that the kitchen would close in a few but we were able to sit. God knows how many servers were mad at us when saw that we grabbed a table. However, one of the managers made sure that we got served, left happy and satisfied. Immediately, they brought the fresh pita bread and hummus. We devoured on both of them and ordered our main dishes as fast as we could. They brought us a second round of very warm pita with hummus. We felt a little inappropriate since it's not like we wanted to have them work extra on a Saturday night which is the busiest day of the week. But as I mentioned above, our food cravings were too strong. My boyfriend ordered a fresh Louvraki (This fish made it's way from the Mediterranean all the way to Philly! Yay!). He liked his dish very much. I ordered a moussaka since I haven't had this dish in a very long time. I couldn't finish it for three reasons: I ate too much hummus and pita bread, portion was a little too big, and it's a heavy dish from all the ingredients stuffed on top of each other. Certainly, it was delicious. There's an option of a three course dinned for whoever saw a show at the Kimmel Center or the Academy of Music. It's well worth it for $30 per person. The restaurant inside is very spacious, decorated in details to give the Greek vibe. I would recommend asking them to sit at the booths - they're pretty comfortable and more private. I'm sure that I'll be back here very soon after another show or maybe for brunch. It's a lovely spot. Whoever, thinks that's not top notch may be right - but gotta be a fan of the food they serve to really appreciate them.
(4)
Amanda N.
I am torn between 2 vs 3 stars. I really don't like giving bad reviews. The restaurant week menu felt uninspired for our large group this past Sunday. I was excited to order the soup as it was a cold rainy day. It reminded me of a play on congee rice porridge which was ok tasting overall but I wouldn't order it again. BF's salad was very simple and plain: greens and balsamic vinaigrette. The winning appetizer would be the crunchy fresh delicately coated calamari. The tile fish entree was bland to our group as well as the lamb pita. The dessert was our least favorite as it was a very simple slice of almond cake with a teeny butter-sized scoop of ice cream that honestly overall felt like an afterthought but I grew up in a bakery so my standards are a bit pickier for dessert. With some extra sauce or salt the entrees would've been more satisfying. We ordered off the restaurant week menu an appetizer which our waiter forgot to put it. That was the only dish that seemed up to par quality-wise with our expectations however it arrived way after we finished our entree's and by then it only added to the downhill experience here. Service was fair despite our forgotten appetizer, being splashed a bit of water during a refill, and once when the waiter dropped the butter knife next to my foot (luckily I was in rainboots and he had "poor aim"). I am sad that we had such a lackluster experience here despite the good yelp reviews.
(2)
Giuliano P.
Estia is top notch! Fresh amazing seafood where you know you pay for quality. Took my father here Monday for Father's Day since we all work on Sunday. Staff is friendly and accommodating and we we're very comfortable. My father is a stickler for food and it's hard for him to go out to eat, but estia delivered. Started with the octopus salad which was so good we had to order 2. Flavorful and cooked perfectly. Also had the fried zucchini chips which were so light and fresh and not filled with oil. We also had lagostinos which are probably my favorite thing in the world. My mother had the lamb which is incredible; nice size portion tender and juicy and the greatest part not overally gamy which most lamb is. I have the lavarki which was a massive whole fish but it was perfectly cooked and not dry. My father had the black seA bass and my brother had the halibut. They seemed to enjoy it very much. Dessert was balaclava and a chocolate suflee. Although they can't make an espresso (most places can't) it was a great evening and I'm so glad that I finally got to try the place. I recommend 100%
(5)
Rome S.
There food and service is amazing. Unbelievable Mediterranean food that brought me back to my vacation up Greece last year.
(5)
Sari A.
Not my favorite, Expensive for the quality of food. its not bad but not top notch, either. I went there once and i don't think i will go again. Service was not excellent on weekend lunch- they were not super busy, only three other tables besides us. Overall, I was not impressed. Two Yelps!
(2)
Aditi M.
One star for ambience and one for the server .. Food sucks !! I went there for valentines day dinner and I ordered lamb chops - medium done and they came rate cooked !! It just tasted burnt with no flavor .. Sorry can't forgive a Greek place on messing up the classic Greek lamb chops
(2)
Dave B.
My friend and I decided to try this place out during Restaurant Week on a Thursday evening. It was particularly busy in there considering the light snow fall that evening but we were greeted warmly and seated fairly quick. Our server was pleasant, she introduced herself and provided water, immediately. She was able to provide a great cocktail recommendation that we thoroughly enjoyed. We informed her that we were doing the restaurant week menu and she suggested that we order different items to share, which was a great idea. We started with Spanakopita and Octopodi. The Spanakopita was ok, not the best I've had and definitely lacked some taste. I loved the grilled octopus, perfectly seasoned and cooked. For our entree, we had the Kotopoulo, an organic roasted chicken over orzo and Lavraki, a whole grille Mediterranean Sea bass. These two were great, seasoned well, deboned and great portion. Both of these items were perfectly cooked and moist. For dessert, we had the Yogurt Mousse and Ekmek, a Kataifi phyllo topped with custard, pistachios, whipped cream and more pistachios. I wish we would have ordered two Yogurt Mousse because that was worth the entire dining experience, alone. We did not care much for the Ekmek. I think I would come back again but in this city there are a lot of competitions for amazing Greek food. It wasn't the most amazing Greek food but at the same time, we had a great time, the server was wonderful and the meal was decent.
(3)
Fred P.
In town for a conference and decided to hit this place up for lunch. Staff was nice, and the decor was wonderful. I had the crab cake burger. Delicious, although I didn't eat the bun because it was somewhat thick. The fries were amazing. We skipped dessert as we had no room. Would definitely go back next time I am in town.
(4)
Sarah T.
The atmosphere very romantic! Feels like you were whisked away to the Greek islands. The food is okay, I wasn't blown away. We went as a big group and got a good table. The drinks were very good but service was a little slow. Its a nice spot and would maybe give it another try.
(3)
Susan M.
Presentation is everything at Estia! The decor, the waitstaff, and the plating - the entire experience is meant to impress! It's an excellent choice for a pre Kimmel Center or Academy show! They have a broad menu, as well as two Prix Fixe options including a $30 business lunch, and a Sunday Brunch. We opted for the Sunday brunch. I highly recommend the poached eggs with spinach and bacon. It was beautifully plated and savory! The breakfast potatoes were crispy and well seasoned and the filo cup made for such a beautiful plate I almost didn't want to eat it! Seating is plentiful, but different levels and rooms help keep the noise to a minimum. Sometimes it's packed, and others not so a reservation is definitely recommended! The bathrooms are stunning and well worth a visit even if not necessary! The service is friendly, and handsome to boot!
(4)
Heather V.
Yum! Very high-end Mediterranean place! It was a nice change of pace from the mom and pop restaurants. Although I do like the family touch to meals! Great service and awesome audience! Oh and the food was amazing! Yum yum!
(5)
Marthy S.
Center City Restaurant Week brought my date and me here for dinner. Upon walking up to the restaurant I noticed they have outdoor seating which is always a nice option for diners. The restaurant architecture on the outside is brightly lit up like a classy broadway theater. Inside however the restaurant decor takes on Greek charm that I perhaps would expect to see if I was actually in Greece. I loved the blackened steel gate that opens up to the restaurant. Had to wait about 10 minutes for them to clear our table even though we had a reservation and we were the only ones waiting for a table. Oh well no worries. Just an observation to point out. As we walked to our table we noticed their fresh seafood on top of ice, on display for all to see. (Nice detail Estia!) The restaurant itself is romantically dimly lit. (Hopefully I didn't distract too many patrons with my camera flash....SORRY! I was doing it for the love of Yelp!) Service was spot on. Server was attentive and friendly, offering up suggestions and keeping an eye on us, making sure we were good on drinks. FOOD TIME! Really loved their selection of dishes for their RW menu. FIRST COURSE: Date ordered Soup of the day - a spin on Italian wedding but "Greek style". The meat balls consisting of beef, lamb and rice and were in a chicken broth. Waaaay too salty for either of us. I ordered the Octopodi which is grilled octopus served over red and sweet onions. After eating this I realized the only way I like octopus is sushi/sashimi style. The flavor was lost in the grilling but the texture of the octopus was there. SECOND COURSE: Date and I split the Lavraki (whole grilled Mediterranean Sea Bass topped with ladolemeno and capers - this dish does not come with sides and the server let us know that which we appreciated) and the Arni Paidakia (lamb chops servied with roasted potatoes and tzatziki sauce) Both were very good. The Lavraki comes de-boned, and is very light and fresh. (I think most people might be used to a fattier Chilean sea bass. The Lavraki is lighter almost like tilapia) Definitely needed the lemon to add that acidity and the capers also helped to add more of that flavor. The lamb chops were a bit too fatty and I wouldn't order this again if this is the case, off the menu. They were also more overcooked than we'd like them to be and we did ask for them to be cooked medium rare. I'm guessing they rested too long. The potatoes were nothing special and the tzatziki was really good...more creamy than what I'm used to but flavorful. THIRD COURSE: DESSERT!!!!! We each shared one of each: Yogurt Mousse (Greek yogurt whipped with fresh cream served with figs baked in samos wine) and the Baklava (layered phyllo with almonds in a honey syrup). BOTH WERE SOOOOO GOOD! One of the best Baklava's I've had..nice and simple. The Yogurt Mousse presentation was a bit wonky but the flavors were all there. Good combo to have both desserts. Overall I don't think I would come back here but it was a nice dining experience since my date and I both love Greek food. I would recommend this restaurant to people who love Greek food and want to take someone on a classy date.
(4)
Demetra T.
Came to town for a conference and have been to this place a few years back. A few work colleagues got together for dinner. The food did not disappoint- it was just as I had remembered. We ordered as family style so that we could taste a variety of item on the menu. Everything was fresh and the waitress was phenomenal. She helped us order just the right amount of food and even persuaded the chef to make a dish that is not regularly on their dinner menu. All the food was very authentic and tasty. The saganaki cheese was perfectly cooked and was an exciting dish that came out with a flame that the waiter turned off with lemons. The lamb chops are great as was the calamari and octopus which was very soft and delicious. For desert I highly recommend the karidopita walnut cake. It was moist and just perfectly soaked in honey. I would highly recommend this place if you are ever in downtown Philadelphia.
(5)
Sarah A.
An absolutely perfect private dinner spot. The downstairs space is lovely (and accessible with elevator for those who cannot manage stairs) and secluded from the upstairs restaurant. Knowing how fantastic the food is as a regular diner, I was apprehensive about any restaurant's ability to match itself "in bulk," but man did Estia deliver. Every dish was perfectly seasoned and delicious! I especially loved the beef souvlaki skewers (good cold for leftovers!) and the Greek fries, which I'd added to our menu because of the few kids who would be in attendance, but really, who am I kidding, mostly because I love fries! They were perfectly Greek with a sharp white cheese sprinkled over them. Even the baklava was terrific (and I'm not usually a baklava lover): not too saturated by honey, phyllo quite light and crispy. Yum! The staff were all lovely: and so very helpful. And they didn't even seem to mind that a few tables lingered past when we had the room for! Thank you for such a great time, Estia! I know re-visitors to Philadelphia will return, as will I!
(5)
Renee B.
Beautiful restaurant! I dined here during restaurant week and enjoyed it. Chose the vegetarian options that were offered on the tailored menu, which were delicious. Would like to go back when I can choose from the full menu.
(4)
Kelly A.
Recently visited with some friends for restaurant week. We had the octopus and pan-fried cheese apps along with the lamp chops and whole fish for our meals. The meal was lovely and our server was pleasant (although not very attentive which we attributed to restaurant week). The lamb chops normally would have been $42 and their entrees are all $30+ without sides generally. It's not unreasonable for the area but it does seem a little pricey for a meal we thought was not very special. Cocktails are standard for the area $10-$14. We probably won't be back but I wouldn't discourage someone from trying it at least once.
(3)
Steve D.
I can only go with 4 stars at this time as I only grabbed a bunch of starters at the bar after the orchestra. the restaurant was packed and the vibe was well managed. They clearly know what they're doing as far as crowd control in this place. The Octopus was quite possibly the best I have ever had, and the mussels were great too. Also had fried eggplant, spanicopetta (?) fried calamari, and a bunch of drinks. They have a 30$ pre theater menu that's unbeatable, and after seeing the fish offerings, I know i'll be back for another round at Estia.
(4)
Sarah L.
My review may be a bit biased since my meal here was paid for by the CEO of the USA Pavilion at Helexpo 2014 (a trade show to be held in Thessalonilki: profile.helexpo.gr/profi… ), so I didn't have to think about price when reviewing the food. For starters, I tried the spinach appetizers and that was pretty delicious. The crispy outside layer complimented the spinach paste on the inside well. For my main dish, I had the bass which tasted amazingly fresh and was prepared really well. Because of my dietary restrictions the plate in general was a little bit too oily, but I think for anyone else it would have been fine. The walnut cake for dessert was absolutely amazing! Again because of dietary restrictions, I had to avoid eating the overly moist and icing parts, but I think any normal person would probably think that was the best part.
(4)
Catherine Z.
So happy I chose Estia as the place to attend during Restaurant Week. I was part of a group of 7 people who love to eat. We enthusiastically shared our plates across the table so I was able to sample almost every dish on the RW menu, plus some. I started off with a soup as my appetizer. I can't remember the name but I know the broth was supposed to be lemony... it was not, and I was disappointed. Fortunately the rest of the appetizers were exquisite! Calamari, octopus, Greek salad, Spanakopita... yum. Let me say I am not a seafood fan at all... I was shocked to find I actually enjoyed the calamari and octopus! They were cooked perfectly, not rubbery like I've experienced in the past. The Greek salad was delectable... the menu says it's dressed in red wine vinegar but it seemed to be more than just that - it was so flavorful! The Spanakopita was also very good. We were also served with complimentary small plates of perfectly tangy hummus and warm pita. I chose the Arni Paidakia for my entree - "Lamb chops marinated for three days in olive oil, lemon and fresh herbs served with potato tiganites and tzatziki." The lamb was cooked perfectly with mouthwatering seasoning and the tzatziki was the perfect compliment. I wasn't enthused about the potatoes - they were so salty that they were almost unpalatable. Instead I shared the most savory side of carrot mashed potatoes... I swear I still dream about those potatoes. So good. I was able to sample the chicken and eggplant which were both delicious. Our waiter was on point - he handled our larger party with ease, answering our questions and never wandering too far out of reach. He suggested various Greek wines for us and kept it flowing throughout the entire meal. For dessert I had to get the traditional Baklava which was honestly some of the best I've ever had. It was obviously very fresh - not soggy at all, crisp phyllo dough and perfectly sweet honey and nuts. Estia is beautifully decorated and has an intimate, upscale feel. It was perfect for our group but I would love to come back with my boyfriend for a romantic meal. There are so many other dishes I'd like to try, and with what I experienced during Restaurant Week I am confident I won't be disappointed at my next visit.
(5)
Carol C.
BEST. LAMB. IN. PHILLY. We ordered the lamb shanks, octopus, greek salad, and baklava. Honestly, the greek salad and baklava were nothing special - definitely not worth the price tag here. But, if you are planning on dishing out some money, then the LAMB is definitely worth it. Ever since eating their lamb shank here, everyone else's lamb taste like garbage. If rating the lamb alone, they would get 5 stars, but service was not holding up to the level of their lamb.
(4)
S L.
I had a dinner alone before the musical. Service: I set at the bar because I didn't have reservation. Somehow the bartender was not happy or not really happy to work. She did check up on me middle of the meal, but I felt she was doing it 'because it is a rule' or something.. Food: The salad was great. Of course, you can't go wrong with that. The Chicken dish was alright.. Normally those quarter chicken is moisten but it was dry.. The orzo was pretty good, but I really wanted to change the flavor at the middle of the main dash. The main was ok, but I wanted more flavors. At least they provide some gravy or something. Positive: She made a pretty good Mojito, but her service was not pleasant. My bill was about 50 dollars and gave $10 tip. Negative: I wish to try other dishes, but because my first experience wasn't that satisfied, I won't recommend this place. I have no idea how others rate this place with 4-5 stars. You've need to be honest please..
(2)
Sonal T.
Went here for Lunch on a weekday. People are very hospitable. Great food indeed! I am a vegetarian and I got some good salad and soup options to try from. A little delay happened during the billing since I guess the place got a little crowded by then. Nevertheless, I would love to go here again. To the ambience I would give a 4 on 5 for its interior concepts.
(4)
Jennifer C.
This restaurant is absolutely stunning. There are a lot of components to the design and layout and I wish I had more time just to look around and appreciate the decor. We came here after my college graduation and were seated at a beautiful table by a window. It was very intimate and allowed for privacy without having us feel like we were forgotten by the staff. Our waiter was very very attentive and friendly but bordered on being a little bit too attentive. The food was great but I think I was expecting it to be a little bit better. I had the business lunch - Octopodi was fresh tasting a beautifully played. The whole fish, Bronzino, was perfectly cooked. The best part of my meal was the dessert - baklava. Overall I would absolutely recommend this restaurant to anyone who loves Greek food or is looking for a really lovely dining experience.
(5)
Kathy P.
Beautiful interior. Arrived for a very late lunch about 2:30 on a Friday. Only about three other tables occupied plus a few people at the bar. We were given a great table right by the window. Service was very attentive and the food was delicious. I went with a Greek salad topped with fried calamari. The salad was huge. My husband got the fix priced lunch. He chose the soup, which was a light tomato base with pieces of halibut and veggies. He loved it. He picked the fish of the day which was sea bass. Very reasonable lunch for $17. Wonderful experience for lunch!
(4)
Michael G.
Came here after a show for the price fixe $30 menu. The flavors of our meals were outstanding. The lamb was so tender, and everything else we had no compliants about. Even the mojito was good! Absolutely, a place to return to.
(4)
Nick G.
I have to say, their food is quite delicious. Beautiful decor as well. Me and some friends split some appetizers and the hummus was amazing. I will say if you are on a budget then this place may not be for you because everything is very pricey. Great for groups though and if you want to go for a special occasion or to impress someone then I would highly recommend this place.
(4)
Angela A.
My husband and I ate here, for the first time, last night, before going to the Ballet. We had a reservation for 5:30, and we were seated right away. My husband and I ordered the Greek salad, and the Lamb Chops. The salad was very fresh, and seasoned perfectly. The lamb chops were very tender, almost melt in your mouth, and had a great seasoning on them as well. My husband, who doesn't even like lamb, enjoyed his dish and said it was the best he'd ever had. The service, however, left much to be desired. We didn't order alcohol or dessert, and we felt like our server was not interested in waiting on us and we felt rushed. He didn't communicate with us, and every time we needed something, we would have to hunt him down much to his sour look on his face. I agree with a former yelper when they said that the wait staff just seemed very unhappy to be there so I deducted a star for the poor service. All in all, we will be back. The food is delicious, but the service has a lot of improvements to work on.
(4)
Anne K.
Came here for Restaurant Week last month with a girlfriend. We were shooting for variety and ordered the following: Spanakopita (spinach pie with feta, leeks baked in homemade phyllo) Octopodi (grilled octopus served over red and sweet onions) Arni Paidakia (lamb chops served with roasted potatoes and tzatziki) Galactobourico (Semolina custard wrapped in phyllo with orange, lemon zest syrup) Baklava (layered phyllo with almonds in a honey syrup) I don't have that much experience with Greek food and it's not one of my usual go-to cuisines, but I had a really enjoyable dinner at Estia. The octopodi was my favorite dish of the night - it was perfection! I could have easily eaten another plateful. The spinach pie was good, but if you need to choose between one or the other - I'd recommend the octopodi. The lamb chops were excellent as well - the creamy tzatziki sauce really mellows out the stronger flavors of the lamb. Our only complaint was that the roasted potatoes were over-salted. The other dessert was okay, but I LOVED their baklava. I've never had good baklava before (it's always been too soggy for some reason...) and I was really pleased with Estia's rendition. Just the right amount of nutty and sweet, and the flaky phyllo really held up against the syrup.
(4)
Therese M.
Greek was my boyfriend's cuisine of choice for his birthday dinner this year. His bday also happens to fall during restaurant week and I knew Estia would be the perfect place to take him. We took advantage of the RW menu and really enjoyed what we ordered. This was the grilled octopus and sea bass for me, salad and lamb chops for him. Grilled octopus on a menu is a no-brainer for me and they do a great job preparing it here. The sea bass was delicious.. it was light and pretty much just melted in your mouth. Judging by his reaction to the lamb chops, he was more than happy with his meal. As far as RW goes, Estia is definitely somewhere you get your money's worth and then some. So worth it. Another successful bday / restaurant week dinner for the books!
(5)
L S.
I FINALLY got to try this place. I've been wanting to try Estia for MONTHS! On Sunday my fiance asked me what I wanted for dinner and I said "Estia!" We got there around 8:30 PM, it wasn't very many people which was fine to me it made the experience that more initmate. I ordered from the Theater Menu ( Appetizer-the spankopita, lamb meatball, spring salad. Main Course- Chicken. Dessert - Fresh Fruit). My fiance got the steak. He devoured his steak. My meal was very enjoyable. The Service was really great too. As a side note this may be one of the few places where I didn't really want to leave the ladies room it's so unique and kinda welcoming lol.
(4)
B. R.
My boyfriend surprised me with reservations to this restaurant on a Saturday evening. We had a wonderful seat off to the corner, in the back, it was super cozy and the lighting was terrific. It did get loud at times which can be somewhat distracting. Our waiter was very nice and he had great timing. I have never tried Greek food before so I took quite some time deciding what to order. For starters, we had the ESTIA MEZEDAKIA and Grilled Shrimp, which was delicious. For our entree I had the Salmon and my boyfriend had the roasted chicken. The salmon was perfectly cooked and not overly seasoned. I am not a big spinach fan but it paired very nicely with the salmon. The roasted chicken was very tender and was good as well. We finished it off by sharing a slice of KARIDOPITA. All in all it was pretty pricey because I veered away from the theater menu, and also had 2 glasses of wine. Very nice place to go to when you are looking for a nice dining experience but I wouldn't recommend going often because it can get pretty pricey really quick (unless of course you got it like that).
(4)
Aniece M.
Okay.. so I recently got into Greek food and let me just say, I'M HOOKED! Estia was my first real taste of it and it's honestly where I always compare other places to. My first time was around Christmas 2013 after watching a show right across the street. We picked food from the theater menu cuz it seemed like the best deal. The food was amazing. I can not stop thinking about the delicious fresh hot pita bread and hummus they serve you as you sit down. Ugh! I've been back a couple times since December and it's been a hit each and every time. I've tried different things from their lunch menu and those are also very good. I honestly think that the best burger I've ever had was from Estia. Yes, even their burger is amazing! Their prices can be pretty steep.. but honestly, I'd pay it for some really good food. The atmosphere and ambiance is very soothing and just so beautiful inside. If you are ever in that area and want to try something new, check this place out.
(5)
Reem C.
I've always loved Greek food and looked forward to dining at Estia for the first time. I decided it would be a great place to take my wife for her birthday. We began with Spanakopita, which was excellent. It was large enough to share between two people. My wife ordered Plaki, which is sea bass in a sweet and savory tomato sauce, with onions, tomatoes, green peppers, carrots, potatoes, capers and thyme. It was very delicious. I ordered Arni Piadakia, which is lamb chops that have been marinated for three days in olive oil, lemon and fresh herbs. In my opinion, Estia has the best lamb chops I have ever tasted. If you like lamb chops, I highly recommend this selection. You won't be disappointed. My only suggestion is different potatoes. The potato tiganites is basically French fries. For dessert, we shared Karidopita, which is a traditional honey walnut cake. It's very sweet and tastes like it was soaked in honey. We both loved it. It was accompanied with a scoop of vanilla gelato. I would be remiss if I didn't mention the great service our server, Mark, provided. He took the time to explain a lot, made recommendations and much more. It made our great dining experience even greater. I definitely plan to return again. Next time, I'll take advantage of the theatre menu.
The ambience was good. The waiter was very courteous and knowldgeable about the menu. The food was very good and was as advertised.
(4)
Kate F.
The complimentary bread and hummus is the perfect way to start the meal. I am used to eating store-brand hummus, so their homemade hummus was definitely a treat. The spanakopita tastes like the spinach pie that I tried in Greece, and the country salad ranks as my favorite offering on the menu. The highlights of the salad were the imported tomatoes, which were bright red, juicy, and sweet, and the feta cheese. The grilled salmon, served with wilted greens, was great as well, but I prefer to order an appetizer and salad. I am absolutely in love with the decor - stone ceilings with chandeliers, wood floors, and booths with pillows. I recommend making a reservation, as they get quite busy around dinner time, especially after shows at the Academy of Music. They also serve brunch, which I look forward to trying.
(5)
Ann V.
Estia is beautiful and has the perfect ambiance. They makes me best octopus appetizer I've ever tasted. It was tender and juicy! I could seriously have 10 plates of it. Yum yum yum. Octopus....
(5)
Rebecca H.
My husband and I tried Estia last night for restaurant week, and we absolutely loved it! We were happy that the meal started with some complimentary bread and hummus! It was tasty. The restaurant week special started with an appetizer. I tried the octopus, and it was interesting. My husband had the halibut soup and enjoyed it. For our entrees, we both got the lamb. It was absolutely delicious! I wasn't much of a fan of the potatoes that the lamb was served with, but my husband liked them a lot. For desert, I tried the baklava, which was tasty. My husband tried another dessert- he enjoyed it. The service was very good. It's a lovely place to go if you're looking for an excellent meal.
(5)
Ray M.
Great atmosphere and wonderful knowledgable servers. Always a pleasant experience. I recommend the New Zealand mussels.
(4)
Veronica D.
Estia is a precious jewel. I will always have a special place in my heart for Estia. Up until now I have not written a review. I somehow overlook it. I come back to Estia again and again. Great location for going to Kimmel Center and Academy of Music shows and they do have a prix fixe theater menu. Everything is fabulous about this place. The food is always perfect Greek high-end fare. The staff is pleasant and attentive and the decor is beautiful. The upstairs restaurant space is huge yet gives and intimate feel. Some of my favorites are the Estia chips (lighted fried thinly slice zucchini), the Estia salad (Tomato salad with a scruptous dressing and the octopus appetizer. Always a treat are their whole fish. The lamb shank......wow...delicious. They do have the standard Greek dishes. On December 31,2011, I had my wedding ceremony here. In the lower level there are 3 rooms for events. One is a wine cellar that holds 12-15 people. There is another area with a large anteroom and 2 smaller rooms beyond. We combined these 2 rooms of and had our wedding ceremony there. We begun the evening as the guests were arriving for the pre-ceremony reception in the ante room with the bar with cocktails and hors d'oeuvres. (i, the Bride, had not arrived. My husband to be was there nervously awaiting my arrival but mingling with the guests.) The we move into the beautiful large room. We did not add any decorations at all. No flowers. No anything and the room still was beautiful and special. We had about 125 people and it was very comfortable for people sit at the tables and a dance floor in the middle. We rung in the New Year right after our ceremony with our guests. My husband and I joined the party upstairs for a while. They were partying hard-Greek style-and we joined in the dancing and everyone in the restaurant celebrated our marriage-upstairs and down. We had a buffet which was so reasonably priced and overfilled with delicious treats including traditional Greek dessert pastries. (You know how many places raise their rates for weddings? Estia DOES NOT do that and they over delivered on food and service despite that it was New Years Eve and there was their own major event going on upstairs) We planned our wedding in October and 2 months later we had such a memorable event with the assistance of this restaurant and its staff especially Anastasia. The restrooms in the place are great. There is an elevator to get to the lower level. Always done very well. Everything. So when you come to Philadelphia and would like delicious food and a special experience for a very reasonable price, Estia is the place.
(5)
Mary W.
Dinner on a Saturday night here but not the best experience we have ever had. Our waiter appeared several times in the first 10 minutes of being seated and then was hard to find for the rest of our dinner. Three of us took advantage of the Theater menu (fixed price). Portions were really small and the food was just OK. Desserts were extremely disappointlng. Fruit plate contained a small slice of watermelon and 2 pieces of cantalope rind. Very pricey, extremely loud, and not worth it.
(2)
Barak B.
Not bad but for the price I would expect more. The fish however is really good. Had a bottle of santorini white wine which was not that good. Would consider giving this place another try.
(3)
Kristin W.
We needed a spot for a pre-theater dinner and Estia was a perfect option based on its location and good food. We both opted for the $30 theater menu and shared our dishes. The Romaine Salad was nicely chopped and dressed and the Spread Pikilia had a good assortment of spreads and the right ratio of bread and veggies for the dips. The Fish of the Day was a European sea bass and was cooked very nicely (although the fillet was a little small). We loved the flavorful Arni Trahana and the accompanying pasta. A round of Karidopita (which tasted like banana bread that had been soaked in honey) finished off the satisfying meal.
(5)
Luba P.
This is one of the nicest looking restaurants I've been to in the city. It feels like an Old World kitchen with a tons of character. Great place for a rehearsal dinner or big group party since they have huge rooms that close off down stairs. However, the food was just OK. The hummus sampler was just average. My fish was really oily and the vegetables were really mushy and flavorless which was disappointing. The best thing was definitely the pistachio dessert. Overall we had great service, just wish the food was a bit better!
(3)
Jim L.
Went for brunch. Food was so-so. Service was absolutely terrible. When our food was delivered, pancakes, omlets, etc. we asked for two things for the food, jelly for the pancakes and salt and pepper for the omlets. The waiter said they had very few salt and pepper shakers, and No jelly. He said that he couldn't take the time to look for them. I guess they really don't need the business.
(1)
Kess M.
Great Mediterranean food with a very friendly staff. Nice date spot
(5)
A B.
Note to self, if a friend in the industry says it's going to be good, always go! A friend did me a solid by suggesting Estia and it was both cozy inside with pro waitstaff, and the food simple, straight and delicious. We stuck to five apps which was a feast for two but worth it. Definitely still thinking about the mussels, the veg chips, and the calamari!
(4)
Frank F.
Superb food. Slightly cheesy decor - trying a little too hard to seem "authentic". But seriously superb food. And they stock Bluecoat gin!
(4)
Brittany Y.
Came here during restaurant week and had a great experience! The service and food were amazing. I was with a party of 11, which can be a handful-- our server was great, and everyone's food came out perfectly cooked. I would recommend starting with the Estia Chips, they are simply delicious!
(5)
Justine W.
Went there twice. Love it!
(5)
Lana L.
This is a fancy schmany Greek restaurant with good food. It's a little on the pricey end, but on par with other Greek restaurants I've been to. I love how they provide complementary hummus and bread after you order because I was pretty hungry and the hummus was yummy. Everything we ordered was satisfying. I got my usual grilled octopus and fried cheese. The octopus had the right amount of chewy texture and smoked flavor. We also ordered the brazino/fish of the day and splurged on lobster. The fish was soft and crispy in all the right places. And you can never go wrong with lobster. Lastly to finish our meal, we got the ekmek dessert..while I like the cream on top, it was just "okay" for me. I would definitely come back for a special occasion.
(4)
Grace C.
My first Restaurant Week venture fall 2013, and I was not disappointed. I'm a huge fan of Greek food, so Estia was pretty darn perfect. I went with a date who also loves to eat, so we had a delectable experience. Started out with cocktails, which were sadly gone by the time I was even halfway through my meal. To start, I had the spanakopita, which was very good. I am hard to disappoint when it comes to spanakopita, but Estia delivered and then some. My date had the grilled octopus, which was amazing. (I was secretly jealous, it was that good.) As a main course, I had the lamb chops with tzatziki sauce and roasted potatoes. I am a big fan of lamb, and these were to die for. My only complaint was the bone that prevented more meat from meeting my taste buds. (Oh well, can't have everything in life, right?) We finished off with baklava. Always a pleaser and a safe choice. The thing about Estia is that it is deceptively big. It's a HUGE restaurant, and you don't notice it from the outside. The space inside is enormous. This detracted slightly from the homey Mediterreanean feel that I think they're going for, but we were seated in a small alcove with a table set with candles, so I think they redeemed themselves. Fair warning--the noise level is high, so don't expect to hold an intimate conversation with your dinner partner. Still highly recommended, however.
(4)
Erin N.
I was here for a group dinner and was so, so, so impressed! Our first course consisted of saganaki, octopodi, spread pikilia and the horiatiki salata {country salad}. I will say that the country salad was my favorite part. The tomatoes were so fresh and the dressing complimented the feta and veggies perfectly. The saganaki had amazing flavor, but was a little cold/hard. The octopodi was absolutely delish! For the main course, I went with the filet mignon. The filet was cooked perfectly and the carrot mashed potatoes were so tasty. For dessert we had the karidopita. It was so flaky and gooey with honey. I really enjoyed it! The service was stellar! I'll definitely be back!!
(5)
Tim T.
I came here for a lunch date on a beautiful Saturday afternoon and had a wonderful dining experience. If you want to go to a place that serves classic Greek fare, with a comfy feel, and also has professional servers, then go here! We had to try some classic dishes - spanakopita, oktapodi, and moussaka. They have a good selection of drinks and dishes on their menu. They also have fresh fish dishes, and I mean fresh because they get some of their fish shipped from Greece daily!! The octopus is prepared at the restaurant in a special way to tenderize the meat. All I have to say is octo-laundromat! Your server will be able to explain the process. Many places that serve octopus often over-cooks it, not here though!! The dishes were well portioned for lunch and prepared like we were eating in someone's home - very comfy and cozy dining. The food tasted fresh and the flavors were vibrant. The server was interesting and knowledgable. He was very attentive, but not annoying. We finished off our lunch by sharing the galaktoboureko and some Greek coffee - simply delightful. I definitely highly recommend this place.
(4)
Stuart M.
Had an excellent dinner with my family at Estia last week. Great salad, delicious calamari, wonderful lamb, and excellent baklava. Phenomenal service. Will be back!
(5)
Deb S.
A bit late review for March 2014... however dined here with friends and our service was impeccable. The Beet Salad was very flavorful along with the Asparagus-Halibut combination. Better than average Wine selection and both friends enjoyed their dinner choices of NY Strip and the Arni Youvestsi. I will defenitely return for another relaxing food experience.
(5)
Lea T.
LOVE this upscale and modern Greek restaurant, the menu offers a variety of delicious seafood options and the private party room downstairs is GORGEOUS! Completely hummus and fresh bread are too good to resist and options like Greek beer make you feel like your in the Mediterranean. Service is impeccable and fresh fishes are displayed over ice in a section by the open kitchen. Stone decor and heavy wooden tables add to the cozy and sophisticated feel of the restaurant. Ask your server for the many daily specials
(4)
Brian S.
A good bet for fresh fish flown in from the Mediterranean daily. To make the most of your visit, I recommend the following: 1. Get the $30 prix fixe pre-theater menu. It's also available at lunch. It's much cheaper than if you order off the dinner menu where fish is sold by the pound. Do order the octopus (the best in town, tenderized in a washing machine). Also order the fresh fish or the lamb shank. Both are very good but the lamb can seem a bit rich because of the sauce. Finally get the baklava or fruit for dessert. If you want to splurge for an additional appetizer, see if they have smelts on the menu or order the Estia chips. But the $30 meal is plenty of food by itself for most people. 2. Ask to be seated in a booth. Much more comfortable, quieter, and intimate. 3. Ask if Saki is working. He is one of the best servers in town and he really takes care of you. He's an older Greek gentleman who really knows his stuff. 4. Check out the bathrooms downstairs. Even if you don't need to use the facilities, they are worthy of a visit because they are quite fancy. 5. While the food is good, try to avoid going at Restaurant Week. It's too mobbed.
(5)
Loren C.
What might be the finest Mediterranean restaurant in Center City. The ambiance is perfectly done and the food is fantastic from start to finish. Their fish selection is very impressive and done in a tasteful manner, their dishes are authentic and fresh tasting and their wine list, highlighted by Greek wines, is very good. I have found the service to be good/decent which is what keeps this from being 5 stars. If you aren't a regular or a large enough party, you'll be pushed pretty far down the food chain for attention. That can lead to some ridiculous occurrences; like an order for saganaki arriving cold to start and then being left on the table on fire (as an attorney that's begging for a lawsuit).
(4)
AngelofAgony I.
Philadelphia is a place of history and I have a complicated history with Estia in Center City, a restaurant strategically located across from the Academy of Music. I remember it as the site of the elegant Dilullo Centro, hangout of Leland Beloff and Nicky Scarfo back in the 1980s. Later, as a priest, I performed the wedding of two dear friends in their downstairs banquet room. So, it was interesting to go to lunch there yesterday, my first time as a regular diner at Estia, a high-end emporium of creative Greek cuisine. I was immediately impressed with the rustic chic of the room. For appetizers, my hostess and I shared the Estia Chips, zucchini and eggplant fried crispy served with tzatziki, and some grilled and marinated octopus, sliced and served over red and sweet onions, dressed with grilled peppers, capers and red wine vinaigrette. Both were exquisite! For an entree I had a grilled swordfish steak topped with tomato, caper and olive relish and she feasted on marinated chicken skewered with peppers and onions. The mashed carrots were a nice touch. Save room for dessert, they're all fabulous. Fabulous too was our waiter, Brandon. He was courteous, friendly, and attentive. He was knowledgeable about the food and evinced a professionalism that complemented the pretty setting and the standard of the cuisine.
(5)
Gary W.
Exceptional food and service. Everything we tried was flavorful and well presented. Would return at first opportunity.
(5)
Jenna S.
If you're craving flakey juicy salt crusted fish, this is your jam. So many different fish to choose from, many that I'd never heard of, cooked to Mediterranean perfection. Was with a group of four. Started with the grilled octopus ("the best in Philly" the waiter said -- good but wouldn't say best), and a side of hummus and warm pita. Sides are ordered a la carte -- a thick cut fall vegetable medley and asparagus with feta crumbles. And the fish..... ((((drooling)))) Space is large, but tables feel intimate. Good place for a date or a bit more formal/businessy of a dinner than with friends. Pricey place, but fortunately it was treated. :)
(4)
Susan E.
Came here for dinner with party of 7 on a Saturday night. Our first time here. Our server was simply amazing. He asked us if we were from Philly to which we replied No and he took all our menus away and said I'll take care of you. I think he gave us a little of everything that was on the menu: lamb chops, all types of seafood, salads, chicken, dessert. I forgot all the names but everything was DELICIOUS. I believe our server's name is Jamie(I hope I got that right.) He is the BEST. I know I will definitely hit up this restaurant again. I go to a lot of restaurants because I love to eat and love to experience new food. This has to be ONE of my top 10. I was thoroughly satisfied.
(5)
Kristie C.
Dip/spreads were a bit too rich for me Tuna was good, spinach that came with it was a little too oily. Baklava /dessert was good Service was quick and friendly
(3)
Matthew M.
Excllebt, fresh food, full of flavor. Service was superb. Highly recommend for after theater shows.
(5)
Nina D.
Our server, Betty was amazing. She is very knowledgeable of the menu including the drinks. Described everything perfect. I had one of her recommended fish, Barbouni. Never had it before but would tell everyone to get out of their comfort zone and try it. It was delicious!
(4)
Nick D.
Best food anywhere...I compare everything I eat to Estia...and so far, no-one has gotten even close...I can just have a sitting on just the appetizers...trust me, try the food and you won't be disappointed...also tried the new one in Marlton NJ (Estia Taverna)...great food as well
(5)
Andrew G.
Really terrific Greek food, but at a pretty cost. Well worth the trip for the quality of the seafood, but this is one of those "once in a rare while" kind of places.
(5)
Deep S.
If you're looking for a pricey alternative to the Olive Garden you've found it here at Estia. Instead of endless breadsticks and salads you can chose to dine in the dark. Theres a vast selection of overly acidic wines that the bar tender will advise you against getting (the saving grace of this place I suppose). The service was pleasant however the hustle and bustle of constant movement makes it difficult for one to enjoy their meal. We literally were yelling across the table to talk to one another. Our waiter did his best to make us comfortable. If on the off chance we are drugged and brought back to this place we will definitely bring a flashlight and take into account that the fish is priced by the pound (prices end up going up very quickly).
(2)
Ai L.
I was in Philly for work and staying at the Doubletree hotel, which is across the road from Estia. After reading the reviews, I decided to try it out! The restaurant itself is very pretty and the lighting great for a romantic dinner. Alas I was traveling by myself, but I still enjoyed the atmosphere. It was restaurant week so the place was packed, but I was seated promptly at my reservation time and I found my waiter Brandon to be excellent! He was very attentive, knowledgable and sweet. I decided to have the restaurant week menu and this is what I ordered: Complimentary sour dough bread with hummus and olives- very yummy, warm and a great start to my dinner Octopodi - grilled tender marinated octopus This dish was excellent! The octopus was so tender and grilled to perfection. It was crunchy at parts but not chewy or dry. The marinade itself was great too. In fact, I used some of the bread to mop up the juices. Arni paidakia - Lamb marinated for 3 days with lemon, olive oil, fresh herbs . Omg I love lamb and this one was cooked to perfection, it was grilled with slight charred pieces, which Iove and cooked medium rare so that it was juicy and pink inside. The seasonings were perfect and I actually sucked the bones dry! Galactobourico Semolina custard wrapped in Filo pastry with an orange and lemon zest syrup By the time dessert arrived I was quite full and so I thought I'd take a bite or two of the dessert. It was delicious and I found myself eating all of it! I would definitely recommend this restaurant to others. The quality of the food was phenomenal and yet so reasonable with the restaurant week price! Loved everything I ate at Estia!
(5)
Melissa F.
Beautiful atmosphere, wonderful staff, and delicious food. I absolutely loved it here. The lamb chops were amazing! And the octopus appetizer was also wonderful. I thought he portions would be small, but I was wrong. There was more than plenty to eat, with a lot left over.
(5)
Nora J.
Went there for dinner, ordered the theatre special, 30$ for a three course meal.The calamari and octopus appetizers are a must. The main course was okay, I got the chicken with thyme. Cooked very well, but I would probably get fish next time only because it's what they seem to be famous for. Great ambiance, and good location. Service was alright, kind of slow.
(3)
Amy K.
I've been here twice. I have no complaints about this place. My husband and I actually got engaged in the private wine cellar downstairs. Service and food is absolutely excellent.
(5)
Danan R.
We came here for a banquet on the lower level, and, although the food was good, it was not as amazing as I remembered. We had the hummus, spanokopita, and fried calamari, which were pretty good, and the romaine salad with cheese and dill dressing, which was very good, albeit very heavily dressed. I selected the sea bass entree with sauteed vegetables as my entree and found it to be very bland and greasy, which was a bit disappointing. The ensuing honey walnut cake was very good, though. Service was great and the room itself was lovely. I will still come back for the grilled calamari but probably not on a bus weekend.
(3)
John K.
There are many options for pre-theater dining in Philly. You can't go wrong with Sbraga or perhaps you'd like a juicy rib-eye from Ruth's Chris to induce a food-coma before the ballet (I kid, I kid). But if you're looking for a reasonable prix-fixe with well-executed Greek dishes in a beautifully designed space, I highly recommend Estia. As you enter the foyer, it's hard not to notice the clean design - evoking the white of Mykonos, perhaps. The entirety of the main dining area is cavernous and spacious. There's an elevator to access the lower level, in case you can't traverse the stairs. Book your private parties in the wine cellar room - gorgeous! But let's get on with the food! Pre-Theater Prix Fixe ($30 pp) The GF felt like a diet coke and loved the cute glass bottle. To me though, that simply meant no free refills! Womp womp. Mykonos Mojito ($10) Absolut Pear, muddle mint, lime, simple syrup I had to try the Mykonos mojito, if not for the alliteration alone. The cocktail was nice - subtle notes of pear, not overly saccharine, nicely balanced. Hummus Meals commence with complimentary sourdough and garlic hummus, topped with radish and olives. Service is great by the way - non-intrusive and repeatedly replenishing the sourdough and hummus. Spread Pikilia Tzatziki, htipiti, melitzano salata, grilled pita The GF opted for the Greek spread. The tzatziki was creamy and bright with cucumber notes. The hitpiti was delicious - a mix of red pepper, feta, and olive oil. The melitzano salata was a savory blend of eggplant, feta, garlic and olive oil. The pita was nicely grilled and the cucumber and pepper slices had perfect crunch. Estia Mezedakia Spanakopita and feta stuffed meatball with spring mix salad I had this mezedakia/tapas, which included a well-dressed spinach and mixed green salad. But of course, I don't order salads. I ordered this for the meatball and crispy spanakopita, which was filled with spinach and feta. The spanakopita was actually more like an empanada to me as I'm used to phyllo-wrapped spanakopita. The juicy lamb meatball was perfectly cooked and filled with funky feta. Nice. Arni Trahana Lamb shank, trahana pasta, tomato kapama, pine nuts, currants, feta cheese Wow. This well-seasoned lamb shank was served off the bone, but it was no less luscious and fall-apart tender. The trahana pasta was similar to soft couscous - perfect little nuggets to be imbued with the essence of the deliciously tart tomato stew. The pine nuts added texture and the currants provided subtle sweetness. The feta cheese brought a bit of salt on top of the stew - simply delicious. A must order. Kotopoulo Organic chicken, caramelized onion, yogurt orzo, lemon chicken thyme jus The GF went with the chicken, which was moist and juicy. It seemed a bit bland, but when paired with the perfectly crispy, salty skin, a nice bite indeed. The caramelized onion orzo had a depth of flavor that helped to bring this dish home. Fruit Plate Chef's choice of seasonal fruit served with yogurt For dessert, we went with both prix fixe options. The fruit plate was replete with a melange of various fruit, including watermelon and pineapple, accompanied by honey and Greek yogurt. Karidopita Traditional walnut honey cake This traditional walnut cake was extremely moist - similar to a tres leches, without being overly saccharine. Nutty walnuts within helped to provide an added textural component to the dessert. Estia provided the GF and I with the perfect pre-theater prix fixe before we saw the Sister Act at the Kimmel Center. Well-executed dishes, attentive service in a beautiful space. Estia should be proud to be the Greek component to the stretch of Broad Street that strives to represent art and culture in Philly.
(5)
Elva L.
This being my top pick for restaurant week after lengthy deliberation, I wasn't as in love as I expected to be. The best thing we had were the scallops that were not part of the restaurant week menu. The tomato and feta sauce was a tad salty, but this was easily remedied by the fact that you can control how much sauce to have with each bite of scallop. The scallops were quite literally cooked to perfection. They had a nice crunchy sear on the outside and were buttery sweet on the inside. Not too firm or overcooked, and simply sweet from being So fresh. And I want to be clear that 'buttery' here describes the texture of clean, firm, yet melt in your mouth sea creature flesh, not that it was covered in butter. The second best thing was lamb chops. These were very well cooked and well seasoned also, albeit kind of fatty. I guess I could have trimmed off the fat myself, but they gave me a butter knife and I just kind of gave up trying. These were served with boiled (?} potato wedges, kind of a weird texture, I didn't touch them. The yogurt sauce is exactly what you'd expect, the tanginess helped cut the fat on the chops. The whole grilled fish was just okay, the capers and fresh herbs slightly overwhelmed the delicate and thin fish. There were also quite a bit of bones. Spinach pie was a bit salty, the grilled octopus was underseasoned and served with hard bits of lettuce, not very appetizing. I don't like baklava so I won't describe how the bite went, the semolina cake kind of tasted like a nutty cornbread; nothing to write home about. What I was most disappointed by were the drinks. I should've made up my mind and stuck with a bottle of wine or some beers on the list that I knew to be good. Instead I let my indecisiveness overpower reason and went with 3 different cocktails (yep, 3). Polyponnese Fizz, Greek Gimlet and Rum Punch. I didn't love, no, I didn't even especially like any of them. I also tried a little bit of the Athens Smash, which was the sole cocktail featuring whiskey, and that was actually my favorite though that's not to say it was even very good, only the least bad of the bunch. *** That's all on the food.*** Services was okay. We distinctly waited between each course and drink, but that's expected for a Friday night during restaurant week. The hostess was sweet to call and leave a voice mail before our reservation. Just as I was going "what time Was it again", I got the message left by the restaurant; nice touch! The seating was a bit uncertain, the waiter for a large party behind me elbowed me in the back of my head, and apologized without even turning around.
(3)
LL M.
Superb! Go there now! The restaurant is absolutely beautiful and the food stands up to the beautiful interior. All I can say is Wow! Estia is the perfect romantic spot if you have a special celebration. But its also just a great place if youre craving perfect Greek food or a drink in a beautiful bar. Superb!
(5)
Brad P.
Put down that menu. Order the Plaki. Anything else you get will be inferior. I swear to God the sea bass they use in this luscious sauce must have been fed only butter and ice cream during an entire life which consisted of straight up chillin' in perfect blue waters.
(5)
Brian H.
Restaurant week menu. For $35 it was pretty effin good. The servers were great, at least 2 guys all over our table and easily found with a nod of the head. The bread was awesome, served with a wonderful mild but tasty hummus. Apps I had the grilled octopus, excellent grill flavor with red and white fresh onions that were shaved thin and marinated in the red wine vinaigrette with roasted peppers and capers. I was off to an excellent start. My friend had the spinach and feta pie. What a great crust and wonderful meld of flavors. Entrees I ordered the whole sea bass. This fish was both light and meaty, grilled to perfection and a decently large size, filleted before it hit the table, but the head and tail presence made the presentation divine on the plate. And on the palate, the texture on my tongue was like butter, hard to describe. My one complaint was that there were no vegetables or anything else on the plate besides the fish and I was never offered to chose a side from the a la carte menu. I heard another server offer their tables a choice of sides to add. My friend had the lamb chops marinated for 3 days in olive oil. These 3 medium cut chops were very tender and very tasty. Now this entree was served with roasted potatoes which I were told were just OK. Desserts were fine. The baklava was a tad sweet for my taste and the semolina custard was pretty average, but tasty. My first time there and before a concert I was very pleased. We were in and out in less than 1 1/2 hours with two drinks, dessert and espresso under our belts. I would love to return and order from the regular menu.
(4)
Tim B.
Hey, do you have a relative 50 or over who claims they like to eat out at really nice restaurants but is actually scared of anything more daring than prime rib? Who thinks that chicken cacciatore is exotic ethnic food? And is that relative willing to pick up the bill when you go out to dinner with them? Final question: do you like going out to dinner with this relative? Have I got a place for you. Estia is mostly safe, unthreatening, unambitious Greek food that is one step above a good Greek diner in quality and about five steps above one in price. Plus it offers service that is right in line with the here-ya-go-bub standard at such a diner, indifference passing itself off as a seasoning for the food. Your relative will be soothed by the comforting presence of many well-dressed people who are similarly anxious about being served unfamiliar food. Your relative will be able to choose from some Greek classics like moussaka (a bland but adequate version) and souvlaki (really about the same as what you'd get from a diner). If you find yourself a bit bored by the menu, you might get the fairly tasty octopus appetizer and enjoy watching your relative look palpably uneasy about something so strange. On the other hand, if you were hoping for anything resembling inventive, distinctive or imaginative Greek cuisine, forget about it. If you were hoping for service that fits the look of the rooms and the prices on the menu, largely forget about it.
(3)
Tiffany H.
Came here for restaurant week.. great idea. Some restaurants are not worth that money and rw is just a rip-off.. Estia is worth it. Free pita & hummus to start us off.. and we love free pre-meal bread. Very good, we actually asked for more hummus! Started with the octopodi.. good but honestly not astounding. Texture was just right I wish they had seasoned it differently. Boyfriend got the spanokopita which was good. Get the lamb chops. WILL NOT REGRET. I got the sea bass and boyfriend got the lamb chops. The sea bass was really good and tender and I enjoyed it.. but nothing compared to the lamb chops. The desserts are also incredible. Soaked in sugar true to greek style.. but somehow the pastries still remain dry. Unfortunately they ran out of baklava so we had the walnut honey cake and something else with a greek name but they were both still delicious. But leaves me wondering how good that baklava would have been..
(4)
Daryl G.
The apps were great and my fish entree was perfect but my two dining companions did not make out as well. One's prawns were way over cooked and like rubber. The others' lamb was also over done. He asked for med-rare and got med- well. Service was excellent and desserts were good too. The tomato/cucumber salad should have more cucumbers and less tomato but that's just my personal preference.
(3)
Paul F.
The food and environment is absolutely inviting and warm. If you love seafood, it is brought in fresh and you can pick your own - there are a lot of options for meat lovers as well. Enjoy the atmosphere, the staff, the food and the wine. You will not regret it.
(5)
Rosalie R.
Estia saved me from having to eat horrible conference food at the Doubletree. My starter was the spanakopita which was very nice and then had the moussaka as an entree. I wouldn't recommend this for anyone wanting a light lunch but it was fabulous nonetheless. Baklava and Turkish Coffee rounded out my meal. I was back at the conference before anyone missed me and it only cost me around $30. The service was friendly and efficient. Estia's proximity to the Academy of Music, Wilma, Merriam, and the Kimmel Center make it a perfect place for relaxing and elegant pre/post theater dining.
(5)
Eric L.
Estia is one of the best restaurants in Philadelphia. They are amazingly consistent. How many times have you been to a restaurant and had a great meal. Memorable. Delicious. So you want to go back and relive the experience. And eventually you return. Only the second time everything is just a little off. The bread isn't as fresh. The presentation is sloppy. The fish is overcooked. The vegetables are bland. And you're asking yourself, "what happened?". Is this the same place I ate at 3 months ago? Well, that never happens at Estia. I have been there at least half a dozen times in the last 3 years. And every time my meal has been perfect. Salads are the freshest I've ever had and the dressing is awesome. I had the halibut soup several times, and it's like a dream. The souvlaki is simply amazing. And the deserts are uniquely Greek treats. I don't know how Craig Laban ignores this jewel, but you shouldn't overlook Estia.
(5)
Tim L.
Totally bogus greek cuisine.
(2)
K. B.
Went here based on the good reputation and overall positive yelp reviews. On a Sunday night, it was pretty quiet and we were quickly seated. The restaurant interior is beautiful, built to replicate the inside of a Mediterranean home. Service was efficient and timely. But unfortunately the food did not live up to expectations. While nothing was particularly bad, for the prices we paid, we felt it should have been much better. We found it irritating that some of the appetizers were almost as expensive as the entrees, with half the amount of food on the plate. I think that you can find better or at least food that is equally good with more reasonable prices somewhere else. We will probably not return.
(2)
Sofia K.
organic chicken was very good and the yogurt sauce was fantastic. service was great. family friendly. will visit here again.
(5)
M D.
200+ reviews. Not much to add. But I do have a few things to say. 1. Overall, I enjoyed this place but not sure if I'd return. 2. It's a large, borderline grand, restaurant and can get a bit loud. I prefer something more intimate. 3. It's very pricey ($25+ entree's) but overall, they deliver the value. 4. Great seafood selection and the food is excellent. But I ordered a fish entree and that's all that was on plate - a fish. Not very creative but more important, not very interesting. Too much fish. 5. Our waiter was outstanding! The hostess was not. Almost left after walking in - not very approachable or inviting. 6. Wine list (by the glass) was not impressive.
(4)
Jason R.
Great food, service, atmosphere. Food is consistent every time.
(5)
Rita M.
Estia offers an array of fish dishes that are pretty hard to locate in landlocked PA. I haven't enjoyed a lot of Greek cuisine so I was excited to try some new entrees. The interior of Estia is very decadent and warm. The servers were quite attentive and I enjoy the pre-theater dining options, perfect for visitors. SO and I shared the Estia mussels, which were large and not too briny. I tried the Tonos and loved it. The tuna was prepared beautifully rare and I really enjoyed the garlicky skordalia. The accompanying beets were nice and tender and complemented the dish. SO enjoyed his grilled halibut, but be forewarned, there will be some bones. I give Estia four stars because I found the decor to be a bit dated and stuffy. For some reason, I also didn't like being the youngest people in the restaurant. Despite the many cushy booths and sturdy round tables, we were give a tiny little table that felt cramped once other patrons were seated around us. For a restaurant that expensive, I expect a little more dexterity with the dining arrangements. Additionally, I tried a chocolate cake dessert that isn't on the menu and was pretty disappointed. The texture was lovely because it was made with olive oil, but it was plated with large pools of white and chocolate sauce that reminded me unpleasantly of melted ice cream. The ratio of sauce to cake was peculiar and made sharing the dessert very difficult. All this aside, I caught a glance of the beautiful private dining room/wine cellar downstairs and so I would probably choose Estia for an intimate private event.
(4)
Steve D.
Cool ambience. Food was good.
(3)
Florence Z.
6 of us had dinner there before theater. Some of us had the pre-theater pre-fixe and others had the special Restaurant Week pre-fixe. The food was truly wonderful, all three courses, either menu. Wonderful fish, fabulous lamb and unusual octopus and calamari salads. Service that night was not up the Estia standards - perhaps the waiter was new. He was very slow to get our food to us, despite being told (twice) that we had theater tickets. We almost missed our curtain. But this is unusual for this fine restaurant.
(4)
Tatiana F.
Went here to celebrate a 4 year anniversary. Love the atmosphere and sat in a great seat. We had the fried cheese (SO good, but salty), the greek salad (delicious, fresh, simple), & scallops with tomato sauce--sooo good. I loved it.
(5)
Dillon S.
Great food, terrible service. I went here on a business trip and ended up here after avoiding the wait at Monk's Cafe. I guess I'm not the first to complain about the service. I ordered one appetizer, but the annoyingly accented waiter brought us two with one on the way, which I promptly rejected. The desperate attempt to up-sell was quite annoying. I have to say that the ARNI PIADAKIA (lamb chops) were awesome, and the chef deserves a good rating, but the manager needs to take a step back and evaluate his staff. I would go back for the food, but would avoid the curly-haired waiter at all costs. He truly brought down the experience.
(3)
Melissa G.
I was very impressed with Estia's atmosphere and decor. They had some good wine choices and the waitress did make good suggestions. The food was good but not outstanding. The staff was cordial but somewhat cold. I felt rushed during dinner which is quite annoying. Other than the decor of the restaurant, nothing else stands out. Maybe I will return, Maybe not!
(3)
John H.
We had the best time on Valentine's Day! Service and food were stellar! Thanks, John and Donna
(5)
De C.
Beautiful dinning space, but just so disappointed with the food. The meat in the mixed grill plate was either too dry or over cooked, then French Fries were dumped on top of the plate. No appeal, no quality, the Chef has no respect for their food. Also slow service.
(1)
Katera M.
I went here with a friend for lunch during restaurant week and the food was so good that we spent $40 each instead of $20! At the recommendation of another friend we ordered off the regular menu and had the Estia chips, tasty thin zucchini and eggplant frittes. The calamari appetizer was very fresh, the seafood souvlaki was delish but the walnut cake was a flop - wet and tasteless. Service was great and I would definitely go again but I'll be sure to the prix fixe menu.
(4)
carol b.
I could really have written this review at 4 a.m. when I was waiting for the caffeine to wear off from the "decaf" I ordered after dinner. Estia is a charming place with great food and high prices. We both had fish, which I'm reluctant to order in many places but it was perfectly fresh halibut in a rich tomato/vegetable sauce. The problem was service. I had to flag down a waiter (interrupting what was evidently a fascinating pow-wow among three servers, all with their backs to us) to remind him that it's ok to ask me if I want a drink after being at the table for 10 minutes. We had to snag him from other tables a couple of other times. The place wasn't all that busy. We seem to get to Estia every few years. It's location is convenient for all things around Broad Street and Locust. Special Note" Probably the most winning bathrooms of any restaurant in town -- very quaint and rustic.
(3)
Yiwen S.
came twice before catching shows at the academy of music across the street. :: pre-theater menu ($30, 3 courses) is a good deal if you were planning to get one of those entree items anyways :: appetizers are good-sized and can serve as entrees if you're not too hungry :: slow service: pre-theater menu took us almost 2 hours to get through, and we had to rush them every 5 mins for the last half hour to make it; even ordering off the regular menu, it still took them half an hour to bring our food out :: delicious bread + hummus, but try not to fill up on it while waiting (a ridiculously long time) for your food :: really good fresh fish cooked in light sauces. my fav is the sea bass :: can easily accommodate large parties :: bathrooms are downstairs, with two side-by-side wooden doors to the women's/men's. don't get confused, i saw it almost happen once for what it's worth, still a bit on the expensive side. 3.5 stars, rounding up.
(4)
Cornel F.
Came here last week for a wedding anniversary. The fish was superb and so were the desserts. It would have been a full success if the locale had a more intimate feel. This is a huge, overwhelming space. Service was slow
(3)
Erica W.
A lovely place for dinner. We enjoyed several small plates and sides as well as the swordfish, sharing around the table. The plate of three spreads, the vegetable chips, and the arugula salad were particularly delicious. Excellent service and a cozy ambiance too!
(4)
Lisa K.
Excellent. I have eaten here for lunch 3 x which I chose the express lunch every time. Branzino was excellent and the desert was outstanding. The only regret is that I wanted more luscious, tender octopus on the octopus salad it was so good. More, more , more. Service is outstanding and atmosphere really allows for long, social dining pleasure. This place doesn't receive enough praise and never makes the "best in city" lists" Maybe that's a good thing.
(5)
Loy G.
estia is incredibly overpriced. nothing really stood out despite having dined in a large group and trying quite a few of the appetizers and entrees. I had the salmon special which was good but not worth the $20-30 price point of most of the entrees. i would say that the food is well done and simply yet elegantly prepared, but nothing memorable where i'd venture to return.
(3)
Mimi P.
My fiance and I went here for lunch one day on a whim and off the Yelp review. The food was excellent! It was as good as it could possibly get. The service was excellent and the restaurant has great decor and ambiance. We will definitely go back! I suggest the polo souvlaki
(5)
Natane E.
Can I say delish!!!?!!! Everything that I ate was beautifully flavored. I had dinner here with my workgroup. I didn't have any expectations going in, but after the apps and my entree, my expectations were set on high. I can't remember everything we ordered, but I remember feeling nice and full, so I didn't delight in dessert like my colleagues. Their expectations were as high as mine by the time they were through with entrees. Unfortunately, according to them, dessert was disappointing. Apparently, the greek yogurt was literally a tub of the Fage yogurt widely available at your nearest grocery store. C'est la vie (or whatever the Greek translation to that cliche may be).
(4)
Jimmy S.
Service was excellent Atmosphere was good, we were able to hear each other talk Apps and entrees were excellent Price was around $80/diner with a single bottle on their least costly wine.
(4)
pearl s.
I didn't find the food to be worth the price, not terribly authentic and our particular server was awful. We thought we were at a Fridays because he was across the table or even at another table and yelling over to us to see how we were. We weren't given knives, waited a long time to be served and it wasn't crowded, just not impressed at all.
(1)
Finicky P.
What a fabulous place to indulge in slightly(??) fattening food and enjoy the company of family and friends. I am not really a fan of Greek food due to the amounts of yogurt and feta cheese they like to use in their cuisine, but this place made a convert out of me (at least, just for this place). Start with the look of the place - the interiors have a European old world and relaxing feel, inviting one to sit back and take their time savoring their meal. The tables are amply spaced apart giving diners privacy that is usually lacking in restaurants. And for private parties, it seems that they have a number of private rooms. I'm not sure how many rooms they have, but I saw two on the lower level. Service was attentive. Our waiter was constantly asking (not annoyingly, though) if we were enjoying the food and was making sure we had everything we need. Now we move on to the food. And as I said in the beginning, simply fabulous. I loved the Estia Chips. They're sliced very thinly so you can really taste the flavor of each individual chip. And they were artfully arranged and presented at the table. The Moussaka was a pleasant surprise as well. The flavorful beef blended with the potatoes for that perfect bite each time. But the best part of the meal was the dessert. The Ekmek had the sweetness that was not overpowering - a perfect ending to a wonderful meal.
(4)
Dimitri K.
Place is. Beautiful inside. Both upstairs and downstairs.?nice open kitchen would be cool if a table was put close by. A chefs table and the display if fresh fish on ice is custom style of Greece. Service needs work. They dress like they work in an old diner or trapped in Athens 1981. They almost rush the initial dishes out there and just drop it on a table like " here ya go". You make the room as your latest dish is sitting on the closest edge of the table. They don't know how to pace.You can get your first two apps within five minutes than wind up sitting there for 20 min until your main comes out. I hate that shit. Dolmades I liked but I almost thought it was more Turkish with pie nuts and currants in it. Whatever though no one has a patent on that shit, scallops saganaki is basically shrimp saganaki. Still works though the scallops were a little too seared might be using olive oil to cook them. Octopodi was fine. I liked it, thank god it wasn't the traditional lone tentacle that looks like a rats tail they put out in most Greek restaurants. Mains: I had the tuna, I like it though for $30+ it's a rip off and presentation sucks. Literally like 3oz tuna and half ass cut beets and wild greens that come with it. If the fish is fresh and your a half an idiot you can't fuck it up that bad just expecting a little more bang for buck. My woman's kotopoulo( chicken), sucked ! Dry, stringy and couldn't finish it. Desserts need work . Baklava needed more syrup, too dry. Galaktobouriko take it easy with the orange in the recipe. Both cut in classic Pythagorean triangles same as in every traditional Greek bakery old school restaurant. Music was a nice touch with the guy playing the bouzouki. All in all place is beautiful reminded me of Avra in NYC. Food isn't as good and needs overall work. 3 apps, 2 mains, 2 desserts and two drinks ran me like $170 with tip. Wouldn't spend that money again just because I like the way a place looks and the music. C'mon you can do so much better for what they are charging. Skip it !!!!
(2)
Jesseca T.
Went here for dinner last night with my coworker Rick. We had: Saganaki - meh- not served flambeed at the table so already getting rock hard by the time we got it - $10 - it's just cheese in a flour dip, so the only hope to do this right is to do it tableside. We do it at home whenever we can find the right cheese and it's a SMALL window you're working with. Octopodi- the real deal served grilled with lemon and onions- nice job, as good as we got on Santorini Horiatiki salad- too salty, but otherwise very generous portions and properly made with good quality tomatoes (in Feb, in Philly...that's a good job right there) pita with tzatziki- THIS was a good dish, the real deal, yogurt and all Lamb Chops another horiatiki salad - why didn't they tell us one was enough to share? Baclava- sorry, i can make better- it was good, better than most, just not what it can be Greek coffee X1 Malbec X3 $150 before the tip - WHEW! Seriously ?! ok minus one star right there, highway robbers! Service was very good, both front and back waiters were attentive and hostess was on her game (saying bye when we left too), plus the location was walking distance from our hote. I would go here again but maybe for lunch, this is steep for a business dinner even in a big city, particularly since only one of us ordered an entree. Yikes, this is going to be a fun expense report to submit.
(4)
Marissa C.
Seems like the trend is to say "I went with my friend who is greek and he/she loved it, so you will too!" And it's true - I brought a group of my girlfriends here who were visiting from out of town and they give it the two-thumbs up for authenticity. Among the groups favorites were the tomato and cucumber salad, primarily because the feta was freaking out of this world delicious. Other winners - grilled clamari, chilean sea bass (special), homemade hummus, and the baklava. If we knew how good the calamari was we probably would've ordered at least three plates of that. The atmosphere is nice, dim, and there are a lot of areas with semi-private tables. The negatives - I really wasn't impressed with my experience with the hostess(es). Not friendly on the phone or in person... maybe they were having a rough night. The theater menu is a great deal, other items on the menu can be a little pricey.
(4)
Regina F.
The Plaki. That's all you need to know. It's the thickest, most succulent, moist chunk of sea bass your mouth will ever have the pleasure of indulging in. Not only does the fish itself exude tenderness and flakiness beyond all imagination, but the skin is as crisp as a Pringle. It's sopped in a tomato broth complete with whole stewed tomatoes accompanied by other green vegetables that are equally soft and equally amazing. It's also kind of huge, so you could probably share it with an equally ravenous guest provided you get an appetizer (or two) to fill. Although the complimentary hummus and bread might be enough - go ahead, indulge. The hummus is creamy and spotted with olives, lending just enough of that Mediterranean flavor to make you year for an ocean sunset...and to extend an olive branch to your arch nemesis...almost. The Estia chips are also a pleasure: the super thin fried zucchini and eggplant chips are stacked beautifully, taste wonderfully, and are served with a creamy taziki dip that's not over powered by dill.
(5)
Lin P.
I've experienced better for a fraction of the cost!
(2)
Andrea F.
I would give this five stars because the food was incredible, but the service knocked it down a star. Went here for an awards ceremony in the BEAUTIFUL wine cellar and we had a pre-fixed menu, where we got an arrangement of different appetizers, a choice between 3 different entrees, and a dessert. The hummus tasted like green olives and was DELICIOUS. The tomato/feta/olive oil/red onion thing was also amazing and fresh and was served with warm, doughy bread. I ordered the chicken kabobs entree and it was so succulent and served with orzo, pita, a salad, and tzatziki sauce. Amazing. My main complaints with the service: 1) It took a good 45 minutes before the servers even brought out the bread with the hummus. When I sit down to eat, I'd like the bread within ten minutes so I'm not starving. 2) The tomato appetizer was brought out twenty minutes after the hummus. Why not all at once? 3) The servers were OVER attentive, if that makes sense. They were so concerned with getting the waters refilled and the food on the table, that they would literally dart their hands and heads in between me the person next to me without warning. At one point, my boyfriend (to my left) was talking to the person to his left and the server had just placed a hot pitcher of tea on the edge of the table and my boyfriend, while talking, moved his elbow and it knocked off the edge and spilled all over the place. Later, I was talking to someone very important and the waiter would NOT STOP tapping me on the shoulder asking me for coffee. I understand they didn't want to leave me out, but I was in a very important conversation and this was disruptive and annoying. Besides the intrusive over-attentiveness, the food was delicious, the ambience was enticing, and the hostess was very accommodating.
(4)
Janice T.
Very much enjoyed the food and service both times I've been here.
(4)
Beeg R.
We came here before a show, so we ordered from the Theater Menu (which is price fix). The portion was perfect for pre-theater meal. First off, I didn't want to be too full before sitting four hours for a show. 2nd, it got us out of there quick enough to make our show. I had the calamari, it was perfectly seasoned and not fried. Fish was cooked perfectly. DH got the lamb shank, and the portal was perfectly sized. We had honey cake for dessert, and it was delicious. For $30 with app, entree, and dessert, it's definitely worth it! Price for bottles of wine is also very reasonable. We'll definitely come back to try out other items on the menu.
(5)
Jenn G.
I went to Estia for lunch one day and was pleasantly surprised. Their octopus was so tender and delicious! For an entree, I got the moussaka. IT tasted just like the moussaka I got in Greece! It also came in a nice clean presentation! I almost didn't want to ruin it! The service was quick and the staff was friendly and helpful. They also offer a reasonable lunch express menu.
(4)
Cici B.
I love Mediterranean food and could eat hummus on everything, so I was ecstatic when the boyfriend took me to Estia for some authentic Greek food. We took advantage of the Theater Menu (only $30 for 3 courses). Portions were large and the food was, as expected, delicious. I really don't like eggplant but I had no idea that I willingly ingested eggplant when I had their Spread Pikilia (which consisted of Melitzano Salata AKA eggplant salad). They got me to eat eggplant without gagging! I do have to say that the menu is full of Greek culinary jargon so I really don't know more than half of the things I ordered. So do ask questions if you're not a well-versed foodie like me. And even though I had no idea what I ordered and how to pronounce any of those dishes, I left the restaurant full and happy.
(5)
Christine B.
I went here for a work event, and it was great. A couple of us got there early for a pre-event cocktail and had the Mykonos mojito. It really doesn't taste like a mojito, but it is delicious. Who knew Absolut pear vodka would be awesome? Have to hit up the liquor store for that. The cocktails continued when the event started downstairs along with some freshly fried eggplant chips that amazing, and perfectly salted. The waiters walked around with shrimp, crab cakes, lamb meatballs, and chicken skewers, which were all enjoyed. When we were seated in the dining room the appetizers continued. There was calamari, pita with assorted dips, two different salads, and spanakopita. The spanakopita was the stand out. For my entree I had the lamb shank. It was in a tomato sauce, and was very tender with a hint of cinnamon flavor. I don't usually eat lamb, but I thought it was great, and I see more lamb in my future. Dessert was a cheesecake factory sized piece of baklava. I didn't care for it too much, but it might have just been because I was so stuffed. I would definitely go back for dinner and I recommend it for anyone planning a corporate event or party. You will be well-fed.
(4)
Sarah B.
A group of five of us were lucky enough to be seated right away on a Friday around dinner. (We wanted to try Parc but the wait was over an hour - should have made a reservation, sigh!) The service was very slow but I don't know if this is because the service is actually just slow or if the point is to make you feel like you're not being rushed. Overall, dinner took three hours. The fried calamari appetizer is very good, but I've had great calamari elsewhere and wouldn't necessarily return just for that. I ordered the Midia Estia (mussles, an appetizer) as my main course. It took a while longer than expected to cook, so the kitchen was gracious enough to give me a complimentary Dolmades (stuffed grape vine leaves). I didn't care much for these but did appreciate the gesture. A friend ordered the fried calamari as her entree but was served the other type of calamari - grilled and stuffed with cheese. She pointed this out to the waiter who said it would be no problem and put in an order for the fried calamari, which was brought out pretty quickly in comparison to how long it took everything else.
(3)
Lisette C.
Recently stopped at Estia for an Early Bird Dinner before my flight back to LA. It was one of those Restaurant Roulette situations where you pick a place at random because you are starving and can't think. Well, we lucked out! Estia exceeded our expectations! The space is quite large, with outdoor seating and plenty of tables and booths in a lovely and rustic room. We were sat in a great booth with wooden beams that framed it and Mediterranean textiles draped it. Our waiter was fantastic. He was friendly, yet "no nonsense". We all opted for the "Theater Menu" which is 3 courses for $30! I started with a Spanakpoita and feta stuffed meatball - Fantastic!. At our waiter's advice, I selected the Moussakka and that was decadent and flavorful and large enough to be shared or saved for lunch the next day. To finish off I had the almond cake. It was perfectly sweetened and moist. It went perfect with my ultra foamy and rich cappuccino. One of my fellow diners had the lamb chops and he raved about them to no end. Our server even encouraged him to skip the knife and fork and use his hands and reminded us all that we were "at home" so we should relax and enjoy as such. Great find!
(4)
Rachel A.
Went here for Restaurant Week 2012. Was with 5 other people, it was very easy for us to get a reservation, even after our group had dwindled from 8 people down to 5. I was nicely surprised to hear that even though it was RW, we could order from their Theater menu as well, which happened to be $5 cheaper. $30 compared to the $35 RW menu. I had decided to order from the RW menu. I got the Greek salad as my first course, asked for the dressing on the side. The salad was quite petite, but it looked like a lot of food since it was on a small plate. It had the right mix of green peppers, cucumbers, tomatoes and feta cheese. The dressing was a night, light vinaigrette. I then ordered the fish for my main course, which came whole, which I didn't mind. The sauce on it was nice and light, had a few capers which I normally don't like but added a nice flavor to it. For dessert, since I am a healthy eater, I wanted to order fresh fruit, which was on the Theater menu, but the waiter said he would be killed by the chef if I did a substitution like that.... really?!?!?! I ended up getting the baklava instead, which was good, but a little too sweet for my taste. The service was quite slow, which I know for a Greek restaurant is customary, but it was almost too slow. I had to ask several times to get my water glass refilled, instead of them being on top of something like that. I would go back again. It was the first time I had been there in years, and it is still good.
(4)
Erica E.
I went to Estia for restaurant week. I started with the octopus and my friend had the horiatiki salad. The salad was absolutely delicious. The vegetables were so fresh and the feta was some of the best I've ever had. The octopus was pretty good, a lot better than octopus I've had in the past, but I am not a huuuge octopus fan, just wanted to try something different. For the main dish, I had the lamb chops which were extremely tasty. Lamb chops are one of my favorite dishes and they executed them to perfection!! Finally, had the baklava which was very delicious as well. The service was great, no complaints I will definitely be dining here again and recommending to friends
(5)
Tim L.
Wow what a great meal. Compelled to write a review on here. One of the best meals I've had in the past year. The fantastic service we received and delicious food made this an experience. This was my first dining experience there and will def. be followed up by a second soon. I will def tell all my family and friends but selfishly would like to be included if they try this great restaurant. The lamb was great and I enjoyed the tuna tartar very much too maybe if I had to really critique over proportionate on the amount of avocado but their ingredients are so fresh its hard to complain even about that. My gf had the tomato salad and we even had to ask where they got the tomatoes it was so good. I apologize I don't recollect the waiters name but if I did I would recommend asking for him!
(5)
Helen A.
Greek restaurant in the theatre district - worth a dinner anytime . The lamb is juicy, tender and delicious ; as is the eggplant - unexpectedly wonderful. Service is exceptional, we asked our waiter for a white, Greek wine selection, and could not be more pleased with his choice, and how it complemented the tastes of our meal. I hear that it's closing, hopefully just a rumor, but go there now.
(4)
Rick G.
Yea, It was everything I thought it would be. I was tasked with picking a place for a work team-dinner a couple of weeks back. I picked Estia, but we didn't go here. We went somewhere 1/2 a block closer- Varalli. It was hot out, people were hungry, and they couldn't make it the 1/2 a block further. So, we went a couple of nights later instead. Based on the markedly better experience, my suggestion to people coming down Broad street- "Go the 100 yards further!" The atmosphere definitely transplants you to the Mediterranean. Even if you are smack dab in the middle of the Philly theater district. Fresh fish laid out beds of ice. Pictures of whitewashed Greek seaside towns. Cool stuff. I had the halibut. Definitely not as full of flavor as the Vernick version I had a few weeks earlier. Certainly a bigger cut, and grilled versus pan seared. The octopus appetizer was good. Definitely not on the Vetri scale of greatness, but the best of the small dishes offered at this place. If you need a place to take a group, this is definitely high on the list. Estia is accommodating, centrally located, and has a variety of dishes full of flavor that should satisfy even the pickiest diets.
(3)
Grace S.
My boyfriend is Greek and went with his family when he first moved here and never stopped talking about it so I decided to take my family there. For the price and the atmosphere, I wouldn't go again unless other people really wanted to go. The octopus appetizer, Octopodi, was really good but the saganaki was nothing to write home about. The fish and lamb entrees were just ok, yet very pricey. I had the moussaka which I personally like much better at Effie's. If you've got tons of cash to blow on a decent meal, this is the place for you! The place is enormous, they have outdoor seating and it's right next to the Kimmel Center, but I thought the decor was a little bit over the top. I think they are trying to go for a rustic Greek look? The downstairs section looks like it's for private parties but is absolutely gorgeous. I asked the bartender if you can get drinks down there and he said you could. I haven't been back to confirm this. Perhaps their brunch or lunch is much better..?
(3)
christina j.
Came mid week for dinner without reservation and was able to get table. Love the interior, such homey feel. Food was good. I ordered from the theatre menu and went with the trio of dips and lamb shank. The dips were fine and the lamb was very tender. My friend ordered the stuffed calamari(i tried, it was ok) and the lamb chops. Lamb chops looked amazing but I didn't try. We split a side of asparagus. The asparagus was good but would have been better without the cheese on top. I would probably go back, maybe for the lamb chops.
(3)
Steve M.
Second time here. First was perfect we couldn't wait to try them again. This place is wonderful. Food and Service are oit if this world!
(5)
Adrienne C.
Came here for a girls night, and the place did not disappoint. Flavors are fresh, atmosphere is lively and drinks are strong - a def great spot for a ladies night out. Made the reso for 8 fairly far in advance, and they were nice enough to assign us to a private room, which was great for some girl talk. Happened to go during Restaurant Week, which along with their $30 Theater Menu (which I actually liked more than the Restaurant Week menu), gave us plenty of options to choose from. Standout dishes: any of the grilled fish options and the griled octopus app. Service was a teensy slow, but the atmosphere makes you forget how long it might be b/w courses.
(4)
Austin C.
Have visited about 3 times, and each time has been quite enjoyable. The environment is very pleasant (dark, yet spacious and a very home-y and earthy feel). Environment: 4/5 I had the opportunity to try 3 dishes: the spinach pie, lamb chops, and baklava. Spinach Pie (4/5): Very well made. Honestly, I don't think I've ever had spinach pie before, so I don't have any comparisons, but I found the texture to be particularly great. It was very flaky and crunchy, which combined with the creaminess of the spinach filling, made for a delicious overall appetizer. Lamb Chops, Medium Rare (4/5): Just as high quality as the spinach pie, albeit in a different way. It came out as 3 lamb chops with a side of fries. The lamb was very, very good. Meat was very tender and cooked exactly as requested. Personally my biggest complaint is that there was a bit too much fat on the lamb chops, but I suppose that's to be expected from lamb meat! Tasted absolutely delicious when dipped in the tzatziki sauce and was easy to cut. I loved eating the slightly burned part near the bones too! The side of fries looked kind of puny, however. Came with like 10 fries which were not on par with the quality of the other dishes. Baklava (4.5/5): REALLY GOOD. Not that I've had tons of baklava in my life, but you would imagine a Greek restaurant to have great baklava, and Estia is no exception. It was super crunchy, though a bit difficult to eat (a lot of sugary syrup dripping around). I actually found it to be a bit too sweet, actually. Once you get over the initial hardness and difficulty of cutting, It kind of melts in your mouth. Overall, I had a great experience here. I would definitely recommend this place for more formal events (dates, restaurant weeks, etc.)
(4)
Iris M.
I'm not terribly impressed with Estia. I visited post-theater on a Saturday night and it was packed to the gills. I was seated quickly but waited about 25 minutes before I was even acknowledged by a server. When he arrived, he was completely nonchalant--chipper even--as if I hadn't sat there for almost a half-an-hour without so much as a glass of water. Normally, I would have left but it was freezing outside and I didn't feel like hoofing it to another restaurant. I love Greek food and, while it's certainly not the best I've had, Estia is passable. The dips are OK but the moussaka is weird. I'm a texture snob and the bechamel has the consistency of a very runny egg--it practically jiggles. For dessert, I had the walnut honey cake which, like most Greek desserts, was way too sweet (didn't deduct stars for that). Opa or Yianni's (in Bethlehem) are better bets.
(3)
Natalie H.
Estia is everything a great restaurant should be. Delicious & creative cuisine (try the eggplant!) ; wonderful service; and a welcoming atmosphere. Great greek wines too, listened to our waiters recommendation, and tried a great new one.
(5)
A H.
wow, was this a great place!!! Went here with a colleague--he had eaten at Estia the previous night, raved about it, and was willing to go back a 2nd time with me. Great atmosphere, pleasant service, lovely dining experience. We weren't hungry enough for the their regular meals (which looked wonderful!) so we split a theater plate: appetizers of salad, Greek meatball, and a spanakopita 9which was amazing!!!) , 2 skewers of delicious grilled shrimp on rice pilaf, and an awesome Greek honey cake. Wonderful presentation, wonderful flavors, and for 2 not-very-hungry people, just the right amount of food. I'd like to go back to enjoy the dinner.
(4)
Young B.
Went there for restaurant week lunch. Got the fish of the day. It was Branzino whatever. It must have been like 2 oz of fish. I know they cut back on portion size for restaurant week but it was kinda ridiculous. It was also way too overcooked. Almost felt like it was deep fried. Nice venue though... would have gone back but I feel like if they are wiling to treat people who try their restaurant like this, there is probably no need.
(1)
Vikki S.
Thought we would try Estia before a ballet matinee. Eh it's good but nothing special. I ordered the filet mignon pita sandwich, which came with oregano fries inside and regular fries as a side. It was tasty but not particularly unusual or subtle. My mother had the crab cake sandwich but found no need to eat the bun and just ate the crab cake solo. Portions were generous. Lunch prices were reasonable but soft drink was overpriced. $3.25 for a 10-ounce bottle of Coke. Really?? Probably won't return just because there are other better places in the area.
(3)
Lawrence C.
What constitutes a five star rating? The criteria used to assess a rating are going to vary from each individual. I believe that the reviewer must incorporate the cuisine, atmosphere, service, and price and measure these items on a relative basis. A hamburger joint could earn a five star, as it should be judged for what it offers and portends to offer. Similarly a Ritz Carlton could fail to live up to its charter, and only earn 3 or 4 stars. With that in mind, I award Estia 4.5 stars, thus the 4 star rating above. Read below for reasoning. This is an excellent restaurant, and is priced as such. The presentation, flavors and textures of the various dishes we enjoyed, and the quality and serving portions were all in accordance with what one expects. However, there were enough minor misses that preclude me from awarding 5 stars for this type of restaurant. We ordered wines by the glass so that we could sample assorted varietals and discover Greek wines. We were not disappointed by the selections, only the price. There were ample choices by the glass, yet the prices average $12, and the bottle selections average $50+, so clearly their pricing is out of line. After all we're talking about fine Greek wines, not fine Bordeaux, or California cabs. After reading an earlier review where the chips were recommended, knowing my wife really enjoys these sort of things, we started with an order to accompany our first round of drinks. These Estia chips ($12) are very thinly sliced zucchini & eggplant breaded and baked/fried. Absolutely delicious, and highly recommended. Second course with our next round of drinks were two more hot appetizers: an order of grilled octopus ($19) & the stuffed cheese calamari ($12). Both were excellent, yet the calamari was obviously very rich with the cheese. Both were perfectly prepared, and I'd definitely be willing to have the octopus again. With the above three appetizers, we opted for only one main dish. Prior to arrival I was oriented towards ordering a whole fish, of which many species were on display to choose from. We had several options that were enticing, yet chose the plate of Plaki (sea bass) ($29). Unlike an earlier reviewer who claimed her fish was dry or not perfect (she should have sent it back), our sea bass was extremely tender, flaky, and superbly flavored. The dish came out already divided onto two plates for us without us asking, which was very thoughtful and appreciated. The fish was hot, and remained so as we enjoyed every morsel, and a third glass of wine each (at this point of the evening, one more glass for the two of us to share would have been better). Fortunately we made room for one order of the Ekmek ($8) which is something like a greek version of tiramisu, without any cocoa. Creamy custard filling served amidst flaky phyllo dough topped with grated almonds. As with every single item we ate this night, this too was delicious. So, it seems I've given a glowing report on the evening. Yes it was. So then why only 4 stars and not five? As I alluded to earlier, when I anticipate a certain caliber, especially for the price, I expect that I shouldn't have to ask for sea salt to be brought to the table three times. The stemware could have been a little finer, as well as the napkins. While I'm not put off by the price, it was a tad high for what we received, thus helping to raise their own bar for excellence. I certainly did appreciate our server (Jeff) and the usually quick runners bringing the food out. I look forward to returning with friends, and perhaps for a large group enjoy the private wine cellar downstairs.
(4)
Michelle J.
Such a romantic atmosphere - upscale dining, fine cuisine. Bifteki Souvlaki was amazing.. I love Estia!
(5)
Monique C.
Ah sweet redemption describes our "do-over" visit to Estia. Nothing beats excellent customer service in my book, but businesses who take responsibility for errors and show true professionalism are a close second. Shortly after my original review of our 12/16/12 experience at Estia, the manager, Stephen, emailed me with apologies and even sent me a gift card to return with full assurance that the incidents of 12/16 would not reoccur. I called the restaurant Saturday night and asked to speak to Stephen to make a reservation for Sunday at 5:30. He was very professional and confirmed that all of my information was correct before ending the call. My boyfriend and I arrived for our 5:30 reservation about 5 minutes late (Bellevue parking was pretty full due to Les Miserables). When we arrived the hostess was very friendly and asked to check my coat this time. I love coat checks; who wants to be bothered with a coat during dinner? Not me. But back to the experience... she took us to a really nice booth seating area. We were greeted promptly by our waiter, Ryan. Ryan was 150% better than our original server (we spotted our original server and boy did that bring back flashbacks of the first visit, argh). Back to Ryan; he was genuinely friendly. He gave a full introduction to the restaurant and explained the menu, fish of the day and what they ran out of that evening with full transparency. He did acknowledge that the manager that night had informed him that we had a bad experience on our first visit and stated that he would try to turn it around. Boy did he turn it around. He stated that "dining out should be a relaxed family experience." Somebody give Ryan a pen and pad so that he can write a manual :) He was pleasantly anecdotal in his wait style. What I mean by that is that he explained the cocktails and talked about why some are popular around the city. He talked about Greek food in general and Estia specifically with ease. Connections like these are especially important for travelers and novice palates (like mine). And if you've read my other reviews, you know that personality and knowledge are two winning wait staff attributes in my book. On to the food. We ordered the grilled shrimp appetizer. It was delicious and the shrimp were huge. Entrees: my boyfriend ordered the filet mignon and I ordered the salmon. Both entrees were cooked to perfection. Our plates were empty when the bus boy returned to collect them (we never clean our plates). We were unable to order dessert this time because we were trying to make it to a 7:30 movie, so I can't review dessert (next time). When Ryan delivered the bill, he explained that the manager that evening (I forgot his name, Dan, maybe?) had given us one round of drinks on the house (another kind gesture). Overall Estia knocked this visit out of the park. 5.5/5 for Estia; last night was the model of a great dining experience.
(5)
Lauren L.
Amazing restaurant. You feel like you're stepping into Greece when you walk inside, but not because of the tacky Parthenon murals that I'm used to in Greek restaurants. You can't help but notice the fresh fish when you walk in, and though the entire menu looks amazing, it's hard not to go with fish as it seems to be their specialty. They have a big selection of hot and cold appetizers and small plates, and all that we tried were delicious - especially the shrimp, calamari salad, greek salad, and dips. The fish by the pound was an impressive experience and I think a better choice than the regular menu entrees if you have someone to share with. We didn't try any sides because the waiter forgot to bring them out, but to make up for it we tried some of their desserts. The baklava was out of this world good.
(5)
Mandy H.
When you walk into the restaurant, you can't help but to notice the beautiful decor and how huge it is. It looks like you're actually somewhere in Greece, especially if you're seated under one of the cabanas. However, I was extremely disappointed with the service. We did take into consideration that our reservation was during restaurant week and I'm sure the restaurant does want to turn tables over pretty quickly since the prices are significantly lower at $35/person for 3 courses, but when I say they rushed us with every single course, I mean it was ridiculous. We had just sat down at the table without even having a chance to open our menus when our waiter came over to ask us for our drinks. He stood there and hovered while we rushed to figure out what we wanted. When the drinks came out, mine was a citrus martini, which was very good, but my friend's dirty martini was lacking olive juice so she asked the waiter if he could bring out a small glass of it to add to the drink. Instead of handing it to her to pour or asking how much she would like in her drink, the waiter dumped the whole thing in without asking. I thought that was pretty rude. Then onto our dinner. I ordered the spanakopita, which was a little dry, the chicken breast which was cooked perfectly, and the baklava, which just never is my favorite desert, but they seemed to have done it right. My friend had the lamb chops, which was definitely the best meal, by far. Now repeatedly while each course came out, the waitstaff were constantly trying to take our plates away. I mean when I've had my whole entree for 5 mins and 80% of it is still on my plate, no I don't want you to take it away. And they never even asked if we wanted a box to take 80% of our meal that was left on our plate home. SLOW DOWN. If it wasn't for the food and the decor, this place would have only gotten 1 star. I just think that you should get what you pay for. We had a discounted dinner with the restaurant week menu, but I would be really upset if I paid $50 per plate to have such horrible service.
(3)
Susan S.
Gorgeous food, gorgeous decor, and a cutie-patootie for a waiter :) The concierge at the Marriott told us that Estia was his go-to place to feel like he was really dining in an old Greek taverna. Since Greece is still on my wish-list, I can't confirm his accuracy. But, I can say that Estia was elegant, understated, and superbly charming. "Neil-ios" (his adopted Greek name) delighted the four of us with his winsome smile and sincere style. We were in Philadelphia for business, with a modest expense allowance. I experienced a bit of sticker shock when I saw the prices on the menu. Luckily, one of my colleagues asked Neilios about the theatre menu---and all was well. I thoroughly enjoyed the romaine salad---huge and infused with a pleasant amount of dill dressing---as well as the sea bass. I'm not a huge dessert eater, so I considered asking for a repeat of one of the first courses. But, I was so satisfied after the sea bass, which came with a perfect sized portion of veggies and potato, that I didn't give it a second thought. My friends all enjoyed their starters and entrees as well----fantastically juicy chicken, great lamb, and the other two starters (spreads and a mini appetizer plate). Another shout out for Neilios----he successfully divided the check, including the bottle of wine, among the four of us which makes for an easier expense report down the line. Truly a lovely meal.
(4)
Ian B.
It was OK, I'm definitely not a Greek food aficionado, but I do like my food ;-) and have no problem paying for a good dining experience. We started with the Basil Lime martinis, whose description was enticing, the drink itself was OK, nothing to write home about, although I wasn't sure there was really much alcohol in it. The humus and bread was good, but the portions were mismatched - there wasn't enough humus for the large pieces of bread (previous reviews had mentioned pita and I was looking forward to that) . Our waitress was hiding somewhere so I had to ask a random employee for a little more humus, which he provided quickly. We ordered from the $30 Theater Menu and both started with the grilled calamari - which I have to say, was delicious, my wife's fish of the day was good (or so she said) and the Moussaka was very flavorful. Even though the Moussaka was probably an appropriate portion size, an earlier review I'd read here said the portion was large and there was enough to take home for lunch, so I was looking forward to a big heaping plateful of moussaka - Not so much, but I'm not holding that against the team at Estia - far from it, even though the one side of me wants that big plate full of food, I know I shouldn't. I took the fruit for desert and it was all tasty and perfectly fresh, but really, only a complete buffoon could mess up fruit! Although I did have to get a knife from a nearby empty table to cut the cantaloupe, because once again, I couldn't see our waitress. My only gripe would be the service, although our waitress was friendly it seemed to take forever to get our drinks and then we hardly saw her again, we saw the server more often. All in all the decor was very nice and the whole place was clean, the food was good, the service was mediocre at best and it was like the 3-star Yelp description says - OK. But the Harry Connick Jr concert afterwards was fantastic.
(3)
Gerald F.
Ya'll know I don't give many 5 stars. But this is deserved. From our waiter, Saki, who also deserves "Waiter-of-the-year" status in Philly to the mouth watering , flavorful, freshest-as-fresh-can-be fish to the comfy seating and decor with lighted ambiance, to the smooth finish. This place is elegant, unstuffy, spotlessly on-point in prep, service, expediting, plating, and,of course, F&B. WOW. We both had the theater menu. Did I say $60 bucko's..........ah, fer 2 lad! Bass, the best. Veges, mmmmmm. Mousaka, whoa. Pita/eggplant/red pepper appetizer....phenomenal. Fruit plate desert, nice with the best yogurt, like Laben in Israel only sweeter (a strained yogurt of middle eastern ancestry). Honey cake, my wife was enriched. Coffee service, and I MEAN COFFEE SERVICE PEOPLE......$3!......Outstanding. And that's for 2. We already decided to have several gatherings here. Perfect location, bus, train, parking and all. Cudo's to the family that operates this. A Greek gem, but also, it really is a fine dining experience of all-peoples categories. Think "every-person," little people too, if behaved and not sleepy. (Lot's to see and do.) Thanks for the experience, lovely. "I be back, yo"
(5)
Erin W.
If you want a really beautiful spot to celebrate a special occasion where you're guaranteed to have the best greek food in the city, Estia is your place. Boyfriend and I came here for our anniversary a few weeks ago, and seeing as we were riding the 1-year high, he could have easily taken me to McDonald's and I would have been all love-struck and happy as a clam. Thankfully, he didn't, because our whole experience here was amazing. The city was virtually empty that particular weekend, which meant Estia was as well. We got a very attentive and kind server, named Brandon, I believe, who walked us through the menu and provided suggestions based on what we liked. We even got to pick our own fish from the little fish market near the kitchen, which was then filleted table-side. It was divine. Except for the part where Brandon offered boyfriend the cheek meat of the fish and he accepted. Gross, boyfriend! We were stuffed from splitting the tuna appetizer, the horiatiki salad (with some of the freshest tomatoes I've had all summer!) and the fish, but Brandon sold us on a light and fluffy pistachio dessert. We went home feeling fat and happy, the mark of any good meal in my opinion. The atmosphere is romantic and refined, and the food is top notch. Check out the beautiful private room in the wine cellar. Sure, it's pricey, but you get what you pay for! It's a testament to the meal that we're still talking about it weeks later. They also have the nicest bathrooms I've ever seen. Ever. And for someone with a bladder the size of a thimble, this is important. Oh Estia, I love you so.
(5)
Joelle B.
Ok so I had my future MIL's birthday dinner here last week. We did a preselected menu of sea bass, lamb shank, grilled salmon and a chicken item I did not taste. We had grilled calamari and fried calamari, horiatiki salad, romaine salad, dips, saganaki and spanokopita...and I wanted to like it so much because after a few bottles of wine and cocktails, it ended up being 120pp...ahh! But it just didn't deliver. The service as great, the restaurant is beautiful. Bathrooms are downstairs, and there is no longer valet parking. I just felt that the lamb was ehh, the sea bass was good, the grilled calamari was good. Baklava for dessert was very good, but I just wasn't blown away. I think reading terminal had better spanokopita and someone in my party said the salmon had no taste at all. Would I go back? I guess. But I'm in no hurry
(3)
L. O.
Every visit has been amazing--food is so fresh and delicious, the staff are friendly and very knowledgable about the items on the menu, the atmosphere is warm and cozy, and the decor is amazing...even the restrooms are beautiful!! When I made reservations, I requested a private, cozy table (booth) with the cushions and pillows and we did get a great spot up in the corner for our party of 4. I do love it there!!
(5)
Felice C.
We had our wedding rehearsal dinner here last week after dining many times at Estia. The food was delicious as always, the downstairs party area was perfect for our group and the service was impeccable. Thumbs up to Anastasia and her team for making our night so memorable!!
(5)
Michael S.
I'd give this 4.5 Stars if possible only bc of my experience with the dessert. I went here on Monday for restaurant week and ended up bringing my parents Thursday of the same week. it was that good. With the resstaurant week menu, I was able to try the -Greek Salad (phenomenally fresh) -Octopus Salad (Very good, well seasoned) -Lamb Chops (TWICE, by the THE BEST lamb chops I have ever tasted) -Baklava (twice) A word on the Baklava. My parents are pastry chef's and made baklava for a living. I know what the best tastes like. When i went to Estia on Monday, the baklava was INCREDIBLE. The filo was crisp and flaky, and the honey was not too excessive. When I went back on thruday, I confidently ordered the baklava and received a soaked, sponge. I told the waiter it wasn't fresh, and he lashed back at me saying that the bakalava is made daily. I told him I was there just a few days ago, and told him how incredible it was. He then proceeded to explain to me how it is made daily, and some days it comes out good, and others...well..it does not. If that is the case, that's not good. However, I'm sure he was lying and the pasty was made in the beginning of the week and left sitting in the syrup where it could soak up. The atmosphere at Estia is great. Its a place to bring, friends, family, or to impress. I will definitely make my way back, however won't be ordering multiple baklavas without tasting one first.
(5)
Dave H.
Estia is a Greek and Mediterranean restaurant near City Hall. It's across the street from the Academy of Music. Appropriately, you can hear Greek music in the background. The place has an area with frozen fish, and you can pick out the kind you want for your meal. Estia is large, with a basement dining and banquet area, and clean bathrooms. I've been here for a dinner and happy hour and was pleased each time. Steven is an excellent server - he paid attention to our table, when we were a party of about 12. Ask for him if you go! The food there is excellent (and pricey) and don't forget to try the Greek alcoholic beverages. For the happy hour, we were able to work with them to get appetizers - two bartenders served us - Trudy mixed many shots for us (some which were awful and others that hit the spot) and was friendly and professional. Recommended!
(4)
Mary S.
The best damn chicken I've ever had--and this is coming from a woman who eats chicken practically everyday. I came here last year with a group of my girlfiends for Restaurant Week. We all ordered different things, but the few that chose the Kotopoulo made the right choice. Estia is the perfect example on how Restaurant Week should work--serve a delicious meal for cheap and then you've got me coming back a few times a year. The food is delicious and they even offer brunch, lunch and dinner. Or just come for the happy hour-- drinks under $6 and free hors d'oeuvres.
(5)
Michael B.
Great food! Ate dinner here, with a friend once, and I've been wanting to go back since. The food was above average and so is the price, however, it's definitely worth it when you factor environment, location and quality of food. I think I ordered some kind of shrimp dish or perhaps salmon and we ate at the bar because we didn't want to wait for the table. No complaints. Looking forward to returning one day soon!
(4)
Stephanie S.
AMAZING. This is REAL good stuff! Only reason it gets 4 stars instead of 5, is because its very expensive. But, you get what you pay for, seriously! And our server was kind of 'snobby' but he was greek and probably was just passionate about the menu. Very fancy inside, make sure to wear your nice dress or business suit. They have a raw fish area where you can look at what fish you want to buy a la carte, in their whole fish selections menu. Food recommendations: 1. OCTOPODI for appetizer - wow this was the best octopus I've ever eaten in my entire life. You will be amazed, you must try this!!! I'm not joking! My mom hates octopus, and she loved it. I eat octopus at sushi restaurants all the time, and this was waaaaaay better. 2. CALAMARI is grilled, not fried, its very good. But the octopus is much better. 3. TONOS - yellow fin tuna, cooked rare, very delicious. I've eaten tuna a million times, and this wasn't the best I've had, but it was still amazing and I recommend it. For $30, you're better off spending a few more bucks and getting the whole fish, its probably better. 4. GLOSA - DOVER SOLE from Holland! This was siiiick, best fish on the menu, hands down. Its wild caught, not farm raised, thats why its $44. Totally worth it. The fish was filet beautifully, with the fish bone curled up and around, and the meat was soaked in a very light olive oil & butter sauce. Delicious. Best fish I've ever had. 5. The Theatre Combo selections aren't really worth it - you're only paying $30 which is awesome for an appetizer + meal + dessert, but the meals are the cheapest ones on the menu. You won't experience the brilliance of the chef when you order this combo. The eggplant was good, but too heavy in marinara. Overall, GO HERE if you're on a special occasion and ready to spend money. Food is Fantastic. Don't go here if you're trying to penny pinch.
(4)
Anna A.
I like to try as many places as I can during restaurant week. Where some restaurants disappoint with the pre fixe menu, Estia did not. Estia's eggplant chips and fried octopus was fantasitc. I ordered lamb as my entree and it was very tender. My parents had the whole fish and they seemed to really like it. We finished the meal off with baklava. YUM!
(5)
Matthew W.
Avoid at all costs. 9 of us booked a private room for our parents 30th wedding anniversary. We arrived 15 mins early and after having a drink at the bar we were told by the hostess the room would not be available as a party arrived 45 mins late and we could wait another hour or so if we wanted. We asked to See the manager. Steve was rude not helpful. It was "Sorry there is nothing I can do". We left and went to a great Steve Starr restaurant. Steven the manager should be taught both manners and what a service industry is all about.
(1)
Nicole V.
Great decor and ambiance. Food was good but over priced for what it was. Could have been because I ordered the shrimp souvlaki instead of the fish. I was told their fish is better after the fact. I would come back, but I wasn't amazed.
(3)
Tolis V.
Pretty good Greek food! The place is big and comfortable and pretty easy to find. They keep traditional recipes and enhance them with quality ingredients. The one server was kinda creepy...but other than that it was a great experience.
(4)
J M.
Went to Estia because we were going to show at the Academy House. We all were so surprised at how amazing our experience was. First of all our waiter was from Greece, charming and helpful with our food choices. I have to give a shout out to whoever was working the fryer on 1-19-14 around 11:30 am, you rock!!!!! The calamari was perfection, the zucchini and eggplants chip are addictive and the fries that came with my husbands entree were the best I tasted in ages. I'm not trying to make this review about fried food, they have so many grilled fish and seafood items it was hard to decide so we all went for meat, braised lamb shank melted in your mouth and ribeye souvlaki was a great entree. Desserts were light and a great finish. The restaurant interior is lovely and warm. This is a must try restaurant.
(4)
Bret C.
Upon being seated our waiter soon arrived to welcome the five of us, provide menus, and take our beverage orders. Our waiter certainly was friendly and professional, but considerably off-putting in the overly offusive manner he attempted, in our view, to upsell more expensive menu items. When we informed him that we were going to order from the pre-theatre menu, he efficiently took our order, and then all but disappeared! The ensuing service and meals were impeccable. The food was uniformally fresh, flavorful,and beautifully presented without being too fussy. We all remarked about how much we enjoyed our meals. The room was warm and classy. But bring your flashlight to read the menu under the "romantic" lighting! The crew were consistently professional and efficient
(4)
James L.
My second time eating at this place. Food very good, both times i had Arni Youvetsi. Delicious! I can't wait to bring my wife here one day. Highly recomend.
(4)
Greg P.
Twenty years ago, I spent a couple of months living and working on the Greek island of Rhodes. My best memories of that time were the cool evenings, dining at the local restaurants, enjoying the freshest fish and seafood, or meats grilled to perfection in the Greek style. Usually accompanied by a glass of retsina wine. Since that time, I've been searching Southeastern PA for a restaurant that could create that culinary experience to no avail. But finally I found it on Locust Street in Philadelphia. They have a nice selection of fresh fish on display on ice so you can choose your fish. This is a nice touch often seen in the Mediterranean and Asia too. I wonder why it isn't more common in the US. I found it slightly odd that I had to ask the waiter if we could look at the fish (I think he should have suggested it first). But once he accompanied us to the display, he was very enthusiastic and knowledgeable on the selections. We picked out some nice fresh sardines and an octopus for apps. Both were grilled to perfection. I was pleased to see they have retsina by the glass on the wine list. Retsina is not a fine wine by any means, but the piney flavor is the perfect complement to the grilled seafood. For a moment, I felt like I was back in Greece. Grilled fish and meats made up our main courses and were also very well prepared. The service was excellent as one would expect for a restaurant in this price range. Which brings me to my only gripe about Estia. It's pretty expensive. But worth it for the real thing. Five stars for Estia!
(5)
Jennifer L.
Like someone else said, this only gets 4 stars because it's so damn expensive! Being Greek, I've had some amazing mind blowing Greek food...all for a third the price at the local Greek restaurant down the street from my house. Just as good as Estia, some dishes are even better at the teeny place by me. My friend ordered from the theater menu..for $30 you get an appetizer, entree, and fruit plate. She ordered the Pikilia Spread which is tzatziki (cucumber garlic yogurt sauce), htipiti (roasted red pepper), and melitzano (eggplant). The tzatziki was delicious, the htipiti was also good but had a definite kick, and the melitzano had hardly any flavor. The pita was nice a grilled, can't go wrong there. For entrees... She ordered the papoutsakia (grilled eggplant) and enjoyed it. I tried it but wish there was slightly more flavor on the vegetables. I had the arni youvetsi (lamb shank) and it was delicious! The lamb fell right off the bone when I picked it up. Perfectly cooked, not too fatty, just awesome. The feta orzo was also very good, slightly thick and heavy though. Dessert... We opted for the fruit plate, which consisted of watermelon, cantaloupe, and I think pineapple. Plus a dollup of Greek yogurt covered in honey. Didn't think the fruit was extremely fresh, but it was November and they were still serving summer fruit. Service... Our waiter was very nice and friendly. He quickly picked up that I was Greek (I guess that I pronounced the food correctly!) and thanked us and asked how things were in Greek. It was cute. :) I would definitely come back here as the food was very good. It's more of a first date place or celebration though. The food is slightly too expensive for what it is and I'm sure there HAS to be just as good cheap Greek food somewhere in Philly!
(4)
Rick H.
The food is consistently very good. and there is a wonderful selection. Every top Greek item in the gourmet ranks is represented. Service is professional and attentive. Pricing has gotten a bit steep over the past years- but still a good time. Wine list needs some help and pricing is is over the top at 3-4 times retail. I never hesitate to return.
(4)
Valerie K.
Went to Estia after a show at the Kimmel Center (right across the street) and was pleased. Given the time (post-Sunday matinee), it was pretty empty, but it filled as we neared the end of our meal closer to dinnertime. The service was very professional and the food was obviously top-notch. And this is coming from someone who grew up in a Greek family! Everything was excellent and I especially recommend the stuffed grape leaves (dolmades). I didn't order any fish dishes, but other members of my party did and they said that the fish was very fresh. Next time! The atmosphere was very eclectic and warm. I really liked that the waiters at the restaurant (at least ours and the one next to us) were GREEK. They knew exactly what they were talking about with food recommendations and actually spoke to Greek restaurant patrons in Greek! This is not to say that this is their only clientele, but it shows that it is a family-owned and operated restaurant which is always nice, especially in the city.
Takes Reservations : Yes Delivery : No Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Dinner Parking : Street, Validated Bike Parking : No Wheelchair Accessible : Yes Good for Kids : No Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Dressy Ambience : Classy Noise Level : Average Alcohol : Full Bar Outdoor Seating : Yes Wi-Fi : No Has TV : No Waiter Service : Yes Caters : Yes
Greek food is a fine melody of the finest pressed olive oil, fresh fermented bread, colorful vegetables, juicy meat, sea food all cooked in spices and fresh rosemary. The people from Greek were great scholars who aimed to excel in everything they do. The results are quite visible in their food as they are the inventors of olive oil which is beneficial to health. Greeks also made different type of wines from the best quality of grapes fermented in controlled environment.
Today, you can find hundreds of restaurants offering authentic Greek food or popularly termed as Mediterranean cuisine in New York city alone. People wait in line to taste the exotic Greek dishes like saganaki, taramasalata, souvlaki, loukoumades, spanakopita, moussaka, and many more. One thing which most people like about these authentic Greek dishes is abundant use of lemon juice, olive oil, fresh rosemary and sea salt. A smart mix of few ingredients can virtually take you on the pebble streets of beautiful city of Greece.
For those who don't have time to enjoy fine dining should try tasting the famous souvlaki with pita which is type of meat dish, also a trademark Greek fast food. For those who are vegetarian, or vegan can try different versions of Greek Salad. So, if you wish to enjoy a hearty yet healthy meal that tastes divine then try dining at the best Greek restaurant in your city. Greek cuisine not only tastes good but also help maintain your body in a natural way through healthy diet.
Andrea T.
I wanted to stay home. Going out for dinner on NYE's is such a racket it ain't funny. You had to be seated before 7pm so you could eat off the regular menu. So we had a 6:15 reservation. Luckily I got there first so I could play musical chairs. First they put us in the cheap seats by the door. HELLO Wintry draft. Went up to the hostess, could you kindly move us. Moved then to the tiniest table in philadelphia. While sitting at the tiniest table known to man I asked the hostess if they could move us. Hostess told us it was the only other spot in the house. So when our poor waiter shows up and asks me how I am i tell him I'm not happy and want to talk to a manager. Manager moves us to a spacious 4 top, but with a lackluster waiter. Waiter was so unenthused and felt the need to explain tzatziki to us. Two nice jewish girls know greek food ok... So I wasn't impressed with any of the cocktails they were offering so I didn't imbibe. I tend to prefer bourbon or whiskey anyway. We had the estia chips which I would happily come back for just the estia chips, salad and dessert. I felt the spanakopita was lackluster, bland and sad. You're a greek joint, a fancy greek joint at that...get your act together. The saganaki did not come to the table piping hot and sizzling. It was also a let down. We shared the Horiataki salad, which was lovely on a cold winters night to have a fresh tomato that did not taste mealy, however, my carbon footprint shudders to think where that pretty baby came from. What really shone were the desserts. We had the Ekmek, which you must get if you visit Estia and don't have a nut allergy. It is pistachio heaven layered between custard and whipped cream. Seriously delicious. We also had the baklava which could have been warmer, but was still lovely. I'd go back but only for estia chips, salad and dessert.
(3)Sean G.
I highly recommend Estia, especially after a show on Avenue of the Arts. Highlights of the meal: Lamb Chops Halibut Great service + Great options on the menu + Full Bar with nice drinks Definitely give Estia a try if you are in the area
(5)Erica M.
Debating between a 2 and 3 star review here, but decided to go with 3. We came here for a group dinner with about 30 people. We love Greek food, so we were excited to give Estia a try. We started with plates of dips and pita, which were only OK. Nothing particularly flavorful, but they were fine. The fried cheese was super salty (I barely ate it, and never in my life have I turned down fried cheese, especially at a Greek restaurant). The spanikopita was downright awful. I took one bite and put it aside. Never before have I tasted such terrible spanikopita. The calamari was OK, but lacked flavor. The salads were very good - the tomatoes were some of the best I've ever had, and the feta was delicious. The romaine salad was good, too. I had the whole branzino, which was tasty. Perfectly cooked (too many bones for a deboned fish, but oh well) with light, refreshing flavor. My fiance's lamb chops were mediocre at best. We love lamb (it's by far our favorite meat) and we eat it often. The chops were overcooked (we requested medium rare) and extremely fatty. The baklava was super syrupy and so hard you couldn't cut it with a fork. It was extremely difficult to eat because none of us had knives. Overall, the meal was OK. Nothing particularly stand-out, and it was VERY expensive (though I admittedly wasn't the one paying).
(3)Joanna H.
I chose Estia for this season's restaurant week and I definitely got my money's worth. The entrees are priced over $30 normally so I was definitely pleased for choosing Estia. What my friend and I had were: App: -Spanakopita: Let's just say,,,,BEST spanakopita I ever had in my life. - Octopodi: basically grilled octopus with onions and other veges. WOW. Your octopus will be SO tender you will wonder if it is an octopus Entree: -Arni Piadakia: Lamb chops with potato tiganites and tzatziki. Was cooked perfectly as how I wanted. Such tender lamb meat that didn't smell funny (sometimes lamb can smell fishy...) The tzatziki white sauce .. I want some more now... -Lavraki: sea bass that's opened up on the plate and is made easy to eat. Makes you think that fish can be so good too Dessert: -Ekmek-Pistachios layered between kataifi phyllo, custard and whipped cream. I still don't know what a phyllo is.. but this was a fluffy dessert and I was happy with that:) -Baklava: BEST baklava EVER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I liked my app and dessert more than the lamb chops. I would totally go back for the spanakopita and baklava.. I wonder if it's okay to go to such a beautiful restaurant just to get these two....Also, the waiter was so kind and professional. He made my experience here even better. The decor is amazing . the bathroom is really cozy LOL. They also do coat checks which was so nice because I had a thick puffy coat on that day.
(4)Izabella J.
Got here by pure accident. My friends and I were looking to go out for dinner on a Friday night. The only place available was Estia. So went ahead and made a reservation. It turned out to be a Restaurant Week as well. The restaurant was packed! The menu had a special tasting menu addition due to the restaurant week. We were seated in an adorable, romantic and so ambient booth. Food was just soooo good!!! Vegetarians and Gluten Free will find great options here. I think this was the best Greek Salad I've had. And the Eggplant was out if this world.
(5)Richard K.
What a great evening! The atmosphere was great, the service was great and the food was even better.
(5)Ms T.
Another great dining experience in Philadelphia!!! Great food, great service! We love Mediterranean food and this was a winner. It's a bit pricey so it's probably a better choice for a special occasion but it's worth it!
(5)Erin B.
I finally made it to Estia during Restaurant Week with a group of my co-workers on 1/25/13. After hiking across the city (snow storm made it impossible to catch a cab), I was greeted by the friendly wait staff and pleasantly surprised by the festive (in a non-corny sorta way) decor. The meal was totally worth the 15 minute trek in the snow as I had the following: 2 glasses of the basil gin martini, greek salad (which was sooo very flavorful), sea bass (aka branzino), and a lemon custard tart for dessert. As per usual, when a meal is that nice, I just had to do it twice! Yes, I ordered the exact same meal that following Tuesday with my husband and one of our favorite couples. The other couple that we were with weren't wild about greek food - but by the end of our meal all four of us had completely cleared our plates and glasses!!
(5)Sarah K.
Came here for dinner on restaurant week with a large group. Everything here is amazing. Upon walking in, the interior of this place is breathtaking. They even have a seafood table on display. Now the server we got was a old gentleman with a accent. I don't remember his name but he was a wonderful server. When we were seated, we got bread and hummus. The dip was great, differen from just butter. Now the bread was not warm so it wasn't as soft as I hoped it would be but we kept ordering more because we were hungry. Now the food apps offered at restaurant week were the octopus salad and the spinach pie. Both were amazing but the octopus wins hands down. You have to order. So soft and tender. The entrée I ordered was lamb chops. At first it looks small because they give you 3 but it also comes with potatoes. The lamb was cooked perfect with a pink center. Very good. I also tried their whole sea bass as well. The fish was very soft and juicy. Both dishes I would highly recommend. As for dessert I got their cake with coconut. It has a texture of pudding and I love coconut. The dinner was great, I enjoyed my time here. When we got the check, since I was with a large group, our server was able to split it up since we paid with credit cards. It did took a while to complete the transactions. Again our server who was an old gentleman with an accent was amazing. I would note that we also had wine with our dinner and it costed a lot more than what I was willing to pay, but wine is expensive. I would definitely come back but maybe not order wine.
(5)Pam A.
Had not been back here in ages, then I went for a lunch event and the food was top notch. So, we decided to try it out for a pre-theatre dinner - we were not disappointed one bit. The $30 fixed price choice is a winner, but not everyone is required to take the option if you choose it (yea!). I had the Spread Pikilia to start - which was an assortment of dips - the pita was great - and so were the dips, my Greek husband had the spanikopita and was not disappointed. I moved on to the Arni Trahana, which is lamb shank that has been slow roasted over pasta..Oh sweet Jesus it was awesome. The boy had the filet, the husband had the lamb chops, and EVERYONE was happy, and we got out of there perfectly timed for the theatre. We will be back!
(4)Robert S.
This restaurant is one of the best in the city. My favorite part of the experience is how fresh the food is. The fish, the steak and the salads all taste fresh. The lamb is great and so are the estia chips. Atnoaphere is another plus. Ocassionally i have been there when they have a classic guitar player and he is awesome.
(5)Donna K.
Underwhelming food. Great ambiance and service. Since food is the main reason for going there you get 1 star. Won't be returning.
(1)Asish P.
We just happened to find this place while in Philly one day... and they were in the middle of restaurant week. We lucked out, and had a great time. First the decor... the place is amazing... and just gets better as you venture downstairs (in case you have to use the restrooms). the dining area is split into the main dining room, an open kitchen area, a living room front area, and then downstairs. the lower level has the bathrooms... along with a private dining room (wine seller space), and two party rooms. Even the bathroom was in like with the rest of the restaurant. Service was also great. Our waiter was very helpful, and very patient. Food... can't say enough. we had some salad, a soup, and the lamb chops (which came with baked potato wedges with lemon). have to go back and have more food again!!!
(5)Chigger L.
We used to live in Astoria, NY, so it is tough to beat their Greek food, but the lamb shanks here were unreal! Highly recommend this place!
(4)Suzanne S.
Lately, I haven't been a fan of the Greek restaurants I have come across (i.e. Dmitri's, Kuzina by Sophia), but this place left me yearning to come back for more. I started off with an AMAZING martini made with Vanilla Vodka, Chambord and Pineapple juice which was beautiful and tasty. The bread and hummus they served was delicious but my only recommendation to them would be to serve pita instead of crusty sourdough (or whatever kind of bread that is)-it doesn't go with hummus. My friend and I each ordered the prix fix menu (which was good but very small) We had the following: Trio of Dips-every dip was excellent Spanakopita-was served with a lamb meatball and looked more like a turnover than your traditional spanakopita which is made with phylo dough Horataki Salad-the dressing on this was awesome but the salad was imbalanced. Too much tomato, just enough feta cheese, not enough cucumber and green pepper. Next time I order this, I will let them know. Mousaka-The best and most unique moussaka I have ever had. Dorrado-I didn't taste this fish but my friend liked it For dessert we had the semolina cake (i actually forget what it was called) but it was a cake with a syrup of diabetes drizzled all over it. Very good but VERY sweet. I can't wait to bring the husband.
(5)Emily S.
My husband and I had an incredible dining experience last night. To start off with the ambiance is superb. While I've never been to Greece, Estia's decor and warmth made me feel like I was vacationing there. The food was delicious, nothing was left on our plates. We had spanakopita and seared scallops as our apps. For our entrees we got the moussaka and dover sole, with a side of grilled vegetables. They hit it right with our desserts as well! Chocolate soufflé and honey cake... mmm! Although we have been here before, the service tonight is what made me take the time to write a review. Brenna was fantastic! It doesn't get any better than to have a server to attend to your every need. As if reading our minds, she was always around just when we needed something, but didn't interrupt our conversations like some servers do. Thank you Estia and Brenna for a great evening!
(5)Karen F.
Had a 5 star experience tonight dining out with a gal-pal. We started off with delectable cocktails - I had a classic mojito with a few pieces of fresh pineapple muddled in. Delicious and refreshing. She had a purple concoction garnished with an orchid. It had Chambord and Vanilla Vodka and other things in it. So good! We shared nearly everything. The Horiatiki Salad was terrific (Though $15 for a plate of mostly tomatoes in olive oil and lemon juice is a bit steep.) The trio of dips and spanakopita (which seemed a bit borekish) were great. Entrees of Moussaka and (again? ) Dorado (Because it's cheap - they offer Dorado aka Mahi-Mahi as a fish du jour often.) were tasty and filling. Dessert and tasty La Colombe coffee rounded out a teriffic meal. Kanella (Cypriot, not Greek) is still my fave - but the service from Mark, a prime window-side table and a groovy mood (Thanks, Bacardi!) made this a 5 star Etsia night for me.
(5)Ashley S.
Wouldn't have thought to come here, but my boyfriend had some friends in town, and they wanted to check this place out. First of all, the service here was excellent. Our waiter was very friendly, provided us with good recommendations, and made us feel well taken care of (did the fancy restaurant "replace the plates after every course" deal). We sat in a private booth which was very comfy. We had a good view of the restaurant, which was pretty empty late on a weeknight. We sampled a good portion of the menu, ordering a bunch of appetizers and sharing tastes of the main course dishes. For appetizers, we had the octopus, calamari stuffed with delicious cheese, and sardines. I was very skeptical of the sardines because they were served as whole fish--heads, bones, and tails still attached--but they ended up tasting pretty good. The calamari was my favorite, and the octopus was also tasty. My boyfriend and I shared the swordfish, and that was plenty of food for both of us; the fish was prepared simply with just some olive oil and lemon for flavoring, and that really let the hearty swordfish flavor come out. My boyfriend's friends ordered the lobster, lamb, and scallops entrees, and everyone was very satisfied with their meals. We topped off the meal with some awesome desserts -- the galactobourico, a citrusy custard pastry, and the ekmek, a custard pastry with whipped cream and pistachio. The galactobourico was definitely the winner, but both were delicious. We really enjoyed our meals here, but I don't think this will become a regular place for us. It feels a little over the top. The place is huge and is well-suited for the theater crowds, but it's a little pricey and extravagant for dinner on a weeknight.
(4)tammy M.
Arriving just as the pre theatre dinner crowd were leaving we were told our table would just be a few minutes. They were true to their word and we had a table in the window without a reservation on a Friday night ! We had the stuffed calamari and three dips for apps . Calamari was excellent and the dips and pita were obviously fresh. The tarasamalata was too salty for us . We had fish and a daily special with mussels , shrimp and calamari with fettuccini. The sauces for both were tomato based but totally different. I had 2 glasses of. prosecco , which were obviously from different bottles , the second glass being much better quality. A nice upgrade for no extra. The waiter was very helpful although sometimes we waited a little for him. It is quite easy to hear the conversations all around you so not a date place maybe...the big noting lawyers next to us were quite irritating by the end of our meal... All in all a good place with nice food , on the pricy side but quality was there.We paid $150 for 2 .
(4)Jessica H.
Had a delicious, romantic dinner here. Wonderful atmosphere and decor. Decided to have a nice dinner before a show. We had a wonderful waiter who offered suggestions and was very attentive. All dishes were wonderful but the bill certainly added up. Great place for a special night out. Even with the fixed price menu for the theater, it was quite expensive. I have been here three times and have always had delicious meals. Offer dishes enjoyed by vegetarians as well.
(3)Kemi A.
I've been here before and I had better service. Meal was delicious. I had the lambshank off the Theater Menu (since I was going to the theater). The calamari apps was very delicious. Made how I wish everyone else would make their calamari..unbreaded and flavorful. I ordered a Mai Tai for drinks and it wasn't that good. Infact when I asked the server to get me a Mai Tai he seemed confused. Which gets me to the part where my visit here is TWO stars- Server was very unfriendly and sort of rude. His name is Mark (Yeah I try to notice the name of notable servers) Mark must have been having a bad day. He did not smile once. Did not take time to explain anything on the menu. Acted like WE were disturbing him from his job..last I checked his job was to serve. He looked plain miserable. And it may have been nothing personal but geez, he could have at least acted like he was happy the weather was nice. His answers to any questions def made you not want to ask another question. He was just plain unpleasant. My first visit here, I had this very very nice older man...Mark is 180 degrees from that man. Not coming back here. If you come here..watchout for Mark
(2)Kate V.
It is the first time I had Greek food and was blown away. I live in a super Greek neighborhood (Astoria, NY) and have contributed to the area's economy but it just didn't taste right. They were able to accommodate a group of 8 on a last minute request. Everyone was impressed when they walked in with the decor. Food: we ordered a lot of food. Pita with the dips& stuffed grape leaves. Honestly best stuffed grape leaves I ever had. Everyone loves the dips (all 3). Main course: everyone seems happy. Although for a couple of entrees, the side ingredients were the main star for the dish -__-. Dessert: highly recommend the pistachio cake, honey cake and the yogurt. All so good. Price was a bit steep but it's definitely a place good for either group or to impress someone. :)
(4)Michelle M.
The decor is fitting for the menu and gives off a warm and 'nice' vibe. Must mention that it was a hike to get to the restrooms downstairs. BUT it was an incredibly nice walk through what reminded me of a European Villa with warm tones, dark woods and beautifully tiling. Again....just my opinion here folks. Sat at the bar while waiting for our table. This might seem like an odd thing to write, but the bar was almost too big and too deep. I felt like I was yelling at the bartender to order and that she needed a step stool to put our drinks down in front of us. As everyone around us were waiting on their tables as well, and were nibbling on complimentary hummus and pita, we did not get offered any. I know, shame on us for not asking, right? Would have been nice to have been giving a head's up that we would recieve the same said hummus and pita when we sat at our table, especially before we ordered a crazy amount of food. Again, shame on us for not asking. Drinks were ok but not much alcohol at all. Like, I am a lightweight drinker only weighing in at 150 pounds on my 5'6" frame and I had SIX drinks. I was walking fine, talking fine and walked 4 blocks to the garage where the car was without assistance or a studder or slip. Again, just sayin' folks....these are things I would want to know!! Food was good. Fresh fish was cooked well. Sides were average and wait staff again, average. At the end of the meal, all my friend's ordered the "Greek Coffee" (not sure if that's what it is called on the menu, but it is there special coffee) and I opted for a simple cappuccino. Glad I did. This special coffee, although very amusing to watch everyone react to the intense muddy coffee-type substance in the cup was a waste. Ordered regular coffee for everyone after that. Again, it was good food and the decor/furnishings were very nice. I would eat here again, one day, if I was craving good hummus and a fairly good meal. But nothing that I am jumping up and down about.
(3)Samia K.
Food was amazing, service was excellent, ambiance was very soothing. I was a bit curious in trying the octopus, and I did. It was spectacular!!!. The sea bass was delicious.....Will definitely come back. + our server Collon was handsome and gave us great service :)
(5)Beth E.
We have been eating here on a regular basis for quite some time. The food is always so fresh and perfectly cooked. If I have any complaints, it is that Lately they have been skimping so much of the fish and eggplant dish that we have started going other places for lunch. I truly hope they read this and fix that. The picture they post looks nothing like the actual dish.
(4)Cordell s.
Me and my lady decided to head out for a last minute late dinner and we had an excellent night the food was awesome. She had the roasted chicken which I consider 3 1/2 little under seasoned I had the grilled octopus which was delicious followed by the lamb chops which were seasoned to perfection & the tzatziki sauce was breathtaking
(5)Michael M.
Went in for luncheon with co-workers. Slow. Slow. Slow. We must have had the new servers because they were running around like it was their first day. A simple lunch for 4 people took almost two hours. I had the lunch express: soup and chicken souvlaki (skewers). The meal and tip was $23. Food was expensive and unexceptional. I will be passing on this one in the future. C-
(2)Carla F.
This is a very solid greek restaurant. I like it because I don' t get to eat great greek food (or just greek food) very often. I don't think there is anything terribly inventive about this place and the decor is, well, frankly tacky. But the food is very solid, very good. The appetizers are simple but amazing, lots of vegetarian options. For dinner I had the chilean sea bass and it was out of this world. I am not usually a baklava fan but omg, theirs is delicious.
(4)Yingbo W.
I've been here twice, once back in November of last year and once for Center City Restaurant Week. Both times the dining experience was enjoyable. My favorite part about this restaurant is the ambience and the varied/unique decor. Estia is a huge restaurant with a lot of floor space and unique dining areas. Depending on your party size and where you are going to be sitting, each dining area has a different feel to it. There are round banquet tables like ones you would find in conference centers, plushy booths found in comtemporary restaurants, a rustic looking wooden table like you would find in a country estate, and a private dining room in what looks like a wine cellar. The service here is phenonmenal as well. The wait staff and servers are all very knowledgeable about the menu and on top of refilling waters and complimentary items like bread. They really run this restaurant very well from what I see. The first time I came, I had to plan a dinner event for my company for 2 parties of 10. The hostess (was her name Linda?) helped me pick out a private dining room before hand and on the night of the dinner, they placed the parties exactly where I had wanted people to sit. What really makes me come back here is of course the food. This is hands down the best greek food and the best mediterranean style food I've had in Philadelphia (of crouse I haven't tried Zahav so there could be better). Estia's grilled fish is simply amazing! I had the grilled sea bass. it's a light dish that exposes the full flavor and quality of the fish. From what I've heard from coworkers, the salmon and grilled lamb chops are also phenomenal. I have also tried the lamb shank with orzo in a tomato sauce. I wasn't a fan of the tomato and lamb combo but the lamb was very tender. Some apps I've tried were grilled shrimp, the zuchini chips, and calamari. Hands down though, my favorite appetizer to get here is the grilled octopus, so tender and meaty! A whole meal paired with their fresh bread and a nice glass of wine from their giant selection is just melt in my mouth heaven on earth especially with the atmosphere and ambience that transports you to another continent. Overall, the prices here are extremely reasonable for the portion sizes, the quality of the food, and the amazing decor and service they provide. I love Estia and if it weren't for the price tag (I admit, it's not a luxury I cannot afford every day), I would come back here again and again.
(5)Shirlana D.
I enjoyed lunch during restaurant week with some friends from work. The hostess was warm & inviting and the wait staff was attentive. The food was ok but nothing too exciting was on tge menu, or so it seemed to me. The calamari was good but the dish size was skimpy. The crab cake was ok, didn't seem to be 100% crab meat, but appeared to have a lil too much filler in it. Dessert was nothing memorable. The environment was rich in color & tones but the food was average.
(3)Brittany R.
By far, one of my favorite restaurant week destinations. Not only are you surrounded by gorgeous decor, but the food is to die for. It's definitely one of the best values when it comes to the Restaurant Week menu. They have some of the best octopus I've ever had. I wish this place was a little more affordable for me to come on a consistent basis. My only complaint is that it is a little loud.
(5)Paul G.
I had my wedding at Estia 5 months ago and it was truly spectacular. The guests are still raving about the food and the Basil Lime Martini. Anastia is an outstanding event planner and was very patient with our numerous changes before the day. My wife and I often sit at the bar for drinks and Audrey (bartender) is the best.
(5)Darrah K.
I don't think I've enjoyed a meal out in YEARS as much as I did at Estia. My husband and I decided to take a chance and see if we could get a seat there without a reservation...at 6:30 pm...on a Saturday...a week before Christmas. When we walked in the host staff was VERY welcoming. They told us that we wouldn't be able to get a table at all that night but if we wanted to stay we were welcome to eat at the bar. I'm pregnant, I was starving and I really wanted Greek food, so we decided to stay and oh man, I'm so glad we did. We had to wait quite a while before the bar tender acknowledged us but that wasn't a big deal. My husband ordered a Greek beer which he really loved. I asked her 4 times for a glass of water because I can't drink alcohol and eventually got it. Her service was terrible but this review is for the food, not the stinky waitress. Thankfully another bar tender came in soon after she took our order and he took over our service. He was awesome! He kept everyone at the bar happy. As soon as we ordered we were given warm pita with hummus which was beyond delicious. We were very surprised by how large the portions were. Even the appetizers were big. Our feta and olive platter was great. The calamari appetizer (not sure the name but it had capers and red onion) was just okay. For dinner my husband got the Chilean sea bass in a spicy tomato sauce and I got lamb grilled medium. The sea bass was soft and delicate. The vegetables it came with were cooked to perfection and the sauce was outstanding. My lamb was very tender and juicy. It came with something they made sound fancy but it was basically greasy french fries which I didn't care for at all, and their own tzatziki sauce. I can't even put into words how much I enjoyed every bite of my lamb. I really had a wonderful night out with my husband. I probably would have had a good time if we ate at Burger King, but I think it helped that we got to enjoy such a nice, tasty, dinner. I definitely suggest giving Estia a try. You won't be disappointed!
(4)Miz V.
Our group decided on Sunday to tour Philadelphia by double decker bus . Mind you we are all from the tri state area. But we like fun unusual events. After the tour our organizer looked at her watch and said "Let's do brunch!" We checked for a place that was still featuring brunch at 2:30p and found Estia. Boy I'm I glad! We hit the jackpot!1) The staff was friendly 2) The decor was amazing 3) The service by our waiter Saki was the best. I love service by attentive people who listen to their guests. Ask the man about wines. He knows his stuff !. 4) The food was amazing.I ordered the Greek toast and a peach Bellini .The Greek toast was dotted with blueberries with enough syrup on the side to coat all the slices on the plate.I was so full I had to pass up dessert. 5)The price was reasonable.6) I will be back !
(5)Therhyme R.
Went for restaurant week with a group of friends. Homey feel/decor. Friendly pleasant waiter made the dinner flow nicely. The octopudi was prepared very well, the lavraki was fresh and tasty (watch out for the tiny bones in the fish). The pistachio dessert was very delicious and really stood out among other desserts I have tried at various restaurants. Overall a pleasant and tasty meal in a calm and cozy setting. I would probably return to try something off the regular menu.
(4)Shoshana S.
Just had my daughter's Bat Mitzvah party at Estia and couldn't be happier. The configuration of the downstairs banquet rooms is perfect for events with plenty of space as well as beautiful, comfortable seating areas outside of the banquet room for those who want to get away from the music for a bit and talk or relax. Pre-event, Anastasia worked with me to plan the menu, the table configuration, and the set up of things like the gift table and DJ booth, and was completely flexible on many things, allowing me to have the event and the room exactly as I imagined it. On the day of the event everything was perfect. The room was set up exactly as planned and gorgeous, the servers and bartender friendly and accommodating, and the food was both excellently timed and, most importantly, delicious. Nothing was cold or under or overcooked; no "rubber chicken" at all - quite a feat given the number of people they were cooking for. The positive comments from my guests were overwhelming, both as to the space and the food. Many of whom who had never been to Estia before commented that they would definitely return - something you don't often hear after a banquet-type meal. Finally, the pricing was more than reasonable. No extra charges for the rooms, the chair covers, or anything else. I definitely got more than my money's worth having my event at Estia. I truly don't think you could ever go wrong hosting a party here. I highly, highly recommend Estia for events.
(5)Ellie L.
4 stars for Estia! It's a fancy Greek restaurant with great service. We walked in on Fri night and tables were all booked... but they serve same menu at the bar area! I recommend Theater menu for $30.00 I love their Greek salad. so fresh. Definitely would like to try other dishes next time.
(4)Maura G.
the ladies and i came in for RW. my menu choices consisted of the grilled octopus, lamb chops, and ekmek for dessert. i started off with their mykonos mojito, made with absolut pear, and it was very good. the have a nice, but pricey, wine list. i loved the grilled octopus, served with diced tomatoes, red onion, and capers. this octopus was not chewy at all and had a great smokey flavor from the grill. i could have eaten more of it easily, but still had 2 more courses to look forward to. the lamb chops were also perfectly cooked (med rare). they are marinated in olive oil, which made them so tender. they were a bit fatty, but i think that's to be expected with lamb. served with lemon potatoes and tzatziki sauce, which were both so tasty as well. the sauce went really well with both the potatoes and the lamb. i really enjoyed the dessert as well, although my companions did not. ekmek is a custard topped with whipped cream and Pistachios, all on sitting top of a carmalized layer of phyllo. i sampled the baklavah as well, but i prefer the ekmek out of the 2. service was just ok, not outstanding. i feel like once our server took our order, we barely saw him again, except when he was chatting up all the tables around us. we had to flag him down to get more drinks. i know it was a busy night, but it felt like he paid attention to every table but ours. the bathrooms are gorgeous and impecably clean. i do wish they had some type of music playing. if they did, it was way to low for me to hear it over all the other noise. it's also extermely dark in here, which can be romantic, but i'd like to see my food. i'd love to try this place again, but it wouldn't be my first choice.
(3)Ryan W.
The food here was very tasty, which is why I'll give it two stars. My wife and I went for Restaurant Week (only way to afford this outrageously priced Greek restaurant) with three other couples. The place was packed, which was a good sign. But when one of our group, who was pregnant, asked a question about whether a cheese was pasteurized or not, our waiter responded very condescendingly that all cheeses sold in the US are pasteurized. This is simply not true and his attitude about was inexcusable. More inexcusable though was when an assistant waiter/expediter came to clear away out appetizer plates, he took mine and my friend's who were clearly not finished. Then, when he tried to take my wife's she informed him she was not finished with her knife or plate and he took it anyway, saying, "I'll bring you another one." Unbelievable. From that moment on we were rushed and the entire experience became unpleasant. When the bill came we were surprised to see a number of ten dollar charges for veggies and potatoes. When we ordered our entrees, the waiter casually asked us if we wanted veg or potatos with it. He never bothered to add that these were an additional cost. He made it sound as if they came with the meal, as they do in most places. I would not recommend Estia based on both the normal price - there are far better places for less - nor for the service. I do hope management reads these reviews, because they need to do some basic training.
(2)Jill T.
Finally had a chance to check out Estia for restaurant week. The food was fabulous. Portion size was decent, and the food was prepared very well. The chicken was extremely moist and had a lot of flavor. The chicken lemon soup was fabulous! I do have to say that it's not my favorite Greek restaurant, and for the prices they charge I'd expect it to be mind blowingly good, unfortunately it's not quite there for me.
(4)jackie p.
I went to this resturant with my husband for New Year's Eve. We loved it. Amazing food and huge porations. The scallop ap was my favorite.
(4)Charlie K.
Really wanted to try this place out after hearing great recommendations from friends. We lasted 5 minutes, if that. Imagine being approached by a waiter do desperate to up sell that he asks if we wanted bottled water or Schuylkill Punch. Bite me. Good bye. It was a youngish waiter with curly hair. Watch what you say.
(1)Mike P.
Decent Greek food (I'm Greek), but definitely over-priced. We tried the octopus, village-salad, dip sampler, vegetable chips, and a couple of fish. All the food tasted great. The bad things about Estia is that 1) a lot of the fish was not available 2) the waiter tried to up-sell constantly
(3)Arti K.
The food here is excellent, if a bit pricey, but it is definitely worth it. I had the lambchops, and they were excellent. The food here is exquisite, and tasty, and unlike anything I'd ever had before. The ambience here is also quite nice and modern. Very upscale restaurant.
(5)Michelle C.
My friend and I went to brunch here on Sunday and had a lovely experience. We were looking to sit outside, but once we entered the restaurant and saw the beautiful décor and gigantic open windows, we were happy to take up residence at a table indoors. The restaurant was surprisingly empty for 1 p.m., but this only made for more attentive service and a fantastic table by one of the aforementioned windows, across from The Academy of Music. Fresh crusty bread and hummus was promptly placed on our table, and a complimentary cocktail was offered with our brunch order. I asked for a bellini, praying that a classy place like Estia would get it right and use fresh peach juice instead of schnapps or some other imitation of the real thing. The bellini was dropped at my table and was perfection; so much so that my friend made the switch to a bellini for her second round. My "avga spanakia," which I requested with egg whites, was unique and very good. It was supposed to include spinach, leeks, feta, scallions and tomato, but there was not any tomato in my dish. It was served in an iron skillet and was very hot and bubbly, which I loved. The side of sausage that I ordered never made it to the table; our server said they had run out. Not a big deal, as the omelet came with a side of pita wedges and a small dish of chive-seasoned potatoes, which was more than enough. My friend had a smoked fish platter, which she seemed pleased with as well. I would love to make it back sometime for dinner and sit in one of the semi-private banquette/booth type areas along the wall with a small group.
(4)James K.
I've been here many times for work and for dinner with my wife and the food has always been good without exception. The dips platter is really good as well as the Estia chips (eggplant chips). Estia is a little pricey which is why I won't give it 5 stars, but the food is very very good.
(4)Jenn S.
loved their fish! they have a great variety and they are very fresh! I got one of their snapper family whole fish (i forget the exact name), but it was very well cooked, tender and with just the right amount of added flavor with the lemon olive sauce. their octopus appetizer was also very delicious! the outside was crispy and the inside was so tender and delicious! the protein just melted in my mouth. Their dessert was also to die for. Got their "greek tiramitsu" (again, forgot the actual name). it was very light, with just the right amount of sweetness and pistachio.
(5)Melissa E.
Possibly my favorite fancy-ish restaurant in the city. I've been here 3 times: for lunch after my high-school graduation, for my 19th birthday, and for my friend's 20th birthday. Every time the food and service was incredible. All of their food is unbelievably fresh, and perfectly cooked. They rely on great ingredients for flavor, rather than overdoing the seasonings, which I love and appreciate. The inside of the restaurant is spacious and gorgeous. And something that matters to me more than you might think- the bathrooms (hey, if you have a bladder as small as mine, you'll understand). They are beautiful as well, I want to hang out in there for much longer than is appropriate. Bottom line: if you have a special occasion and like great Mediterranean food, this is a must-go.
(5)Karol S.
This is a great restaurant to try during Restaurant Week, or if you opt-out for their pre-theater menu (available even for those without theater plans). I suggest this because the a la carte menu is unnecessarily expensive for what you end up getting. Yes, it is good food, but nothing so extravagant that you feel like you got your bucks worth. However, if you're looking for a place to eat exclusively from the selection of high-end restaurants in the theater district of Philadelphia (and their prices are comparable), this may not be a bad choice for you. Keep in mind, a la carte is pricey!! They have live greek music on Friday and Saturdays, which adds to the ambiance and experience, so you may not mind paying the high a la carte prices on those more eventful evenings! It is a big restaurant, but surprisingly cozy. Great table service. The hummus that is brought with the bread (or pita, you can choose!) is delicious. We went for restaurant week and tried two appetizers: the HORIATIKI SALATA ('country salad) and the OCTOPODI (grilled octopus). The salad was delicious---chunks of fresh tomatoes, green peppers, and cucumbers, with a solid piece of feta cheese. The red wine vinaigrette is what makes it so good. The octopus was OK---it was less chewy than expected, but also disintegrated a little too quickly. I felt like it lacked the octopus texture that you would have expected...It may be that they let it marinade it in vinegar in order to tender up the meat (americanize it in a way). For main course, we tried two plates: the ARNI PAIDAKIA (lamb chops) and the whole TSIPOURA. The lamb chops were flavorful and tender---very enjoyable. They were served with a serving of thick-cut french fries, which were definitely pulled out of the fryer and let out to set for a bit because they were not crispy fresh. Would have been a better dish if served with vegetables. The whole fish was very tasty and light, good choice. For dessert, we tried their BAKLAVA and POUTINGA (bread pudding cake). The baklava was INCREDIBLE! I was expecting some thin little thing, similar to all the other baklavas I've seen or eaten. But no, this was different. Thick with layers, FILLED with flavor. The bread pudding cake was tasty but nothing special. Just a sweet cake. Overall, good experience. Definitely worth trying pre-theater or restaurant week menu. If you love it, go back for a la carte items!! and go on friday or saturday night so you get a glance of their live music!!
(3)Meghan C.
I've been here a few times...2x for lunch...1x for our holiday. Every time the service has been phenomenal, and the ambiance is lovely! I went with one of my Greek friends (spends summers there, yadda yadda...) and she vouched for the authenticity of the food. First, the bar is goregous and the bar tenders are very personable and attentive. At lunch they have a prix fixe that is so generous and delicious. The hummus-esque olive oil for the bread is amazing. I had the fish both times and it was excellent. Someone got the mousaka (sp?) and I was really jealous of it because it smelled phenomenal (and the girl who housed it was the skinniest twig EVER - damn you genetics!). Now for our holiday party we had the private room downstairs and a dedicated wait staff. I had the lamb dish (don't even like lamb) and it was ::insert new delicious adjective::. I highly recommend - dinner is PRICEY though...I would love to take my husband here for a meal.
(5)Joan H.
We hosted a Rehearsal Dinner for 80 people at Estia on March 22, 2013. The compliments are still coming in! The ambiance (we had the downstairs room), the food, and the service were outstanding. The servers could not have been more helpful. People loved the Spanakopita, Greek salad, and the choice of entrees, which included their special Moussaka, fish, and Kotopoulo. The woman I dealt with (Anastasia) to plan this event was absolutely delightful. As a native New Yorker, I have never experienced such willingness to please. Although we did not eat in the main upstairs room, it was evident that that area, too, is just lovely. Many of our guests said they plan to return to the restaurant on their own soon. I enthusiastically recommend dinner for two, or for many, at Estia!
(5)Jim B.
This is a very very nice place. Good menu, nice decor, attentive service. Comparing it to Trata in NYC, Estia comes out ahead. We visited this weekend for lunch. The fried zucchini chips are to die for with an excellent dip. Get at least one order for the table to share. I did not order the octopus but I later heard our server telling another table that it was a house specialty -maybe next visit. I had the mixed seafood souvlaki with swordfish shrimp and scallops. A great dish but the scallops were the best - exceptional. My wife had the sea bass which was just as good, maybe better. Very interesting selection of teas. Good espresso - but no lemon? Skipped dessert. A very solid 4 rating. Now, since I am a bit of a nitpicker in terms of restaurants, I will mention a few things which kept this from a 5 rating. We were the first couple in for lunch and were seated at the window. I have no problem with that since an empty restaurant looks uninviting to passersby. However, we were seated Facing the window - which looked out on an 18 wheeler parked on Spruce Street. We should have been seated facing IN - it is a very pretty place. Next, the following customers were ALL seated in the same small area. The place is huge, they should have spread the tables out more. One last thing - they used an odd oval plate for the entree which curved up at each end. Every time I put my knife down on the plate, it would slide left, right etc. I eventually gave up and put the knife down on the tablecloth - which I think is tacky. Hey, I would go again. Need to try more of the menu.
(4)Abhijit G.
Let me start by saying that the ambiance and the service left nothing to be desired. It's the food that was disappointing. Let me put a few qualifiers to my review. We had a 8 PM show at the Academy of Music and we didn't make it to the restaurant until 6.50 (Fri night traffic!) So we couldn't order any of the fish entrees. The server recommended doing tapas style appetizers which included spanakopita, the fried cheese, their eggplant chips, octopus, and moussaka. Nothing wowed me...the moussaka in fact was quite disappointing. Kanella at 11 and Spruce is head and shoulders above Estia when it comes to the quality offood. May be the fish wuda changed my review...but nonetheless we tried a broad variety of things and nothing was impressive.
(3)Clara L.
Wonderful fine dining experience! Great service, fabulous wine list and drinks, inordinately fresh and impeccably prepared food. Authentic! The CEO of my friends' company is Greek, and she says he dines here pretty often and raves about it. A group of us went for a birthday dinner. We shared a bunch of appetizers: The hummus, and the plate with several dips, including tzaziki, babaghanoush, and another whose name escapes me. All excellent. Estia chips, on recommendation of the waiter. Paper thin slices of zuchini and eggplant battered and fried. Served with tzaziki. So good! Dinner: I had the Sesame crusted Ahi Tuna, which came with greens and a beat salad. Fresh and Fabulous! Bday girl had the best dish at the table. The Chilean Sea Bass with stewed vegetables. Tastes like high-end Greek grandma's cooking. Two people got the lamb chops that were marinated in olive oil for 3 days, which sounded better on paper than in execuation. They were both overcooked. I love moussaka. Their moussaka was the best I've ever had. Special was black seabass that was stuffed in a grape leaf. It was overshadowed by the Chilean Sea Bass on the regular menu. Dessert: Shared two. The Galactobourico, which is custard in phyllo with lemon/ orange syrup. yumm! The Ekmek is pistachio, filo, and whipped cream. equally delicious. The perfect ending.
(4)Linda R.
I booked Estia for a Baby Shower on a Saturday afternoon for a party of 15 ladies. I was truly amazed by the service from the waitstaff and the busboys. They were each very accommodating, thoughtful, and exceeded all expectations. I couldn't have experienced better service. The waitress went the extra mile to prepare trash bags for the gift wrapping waste and obtained an easel for a sign that I prepared, all without asking. She was very professional and courteous. The busboys were very attentive. They helped transfer the gifts from the truck to the banquet room and again to the vehicles at the end of the event. I really appreciated their hard work. The room was a private banquet room downstairs which was big enough for our group, small enough to be intimate. It was set up nicely upon my arrival with a "mom" chair, table for gifts, and a table for prizes. I asked the waitress for a table for cupcakes and she brought one with ease. All of the guests loved the food and the location. Estia was very accomodating in every way. It was also an economical choice being that there was no room rental fee, the cake fee was generously waived for the cupcakes, and the navy blue chair covers are complimentary. I had a great experience at Estia and I will surely spread the word and keep the restaurant in mind for future events.
(5)Donald P.
I asked for a steak medium rare.... Well done.. I don't ask them to take food back, because I fear what they might do to my food. The waiter overheard me complain and insisted he correct the issue. They brought me a completely different cut of meat that was again well done when I asked for medium rare. Everyone agreed that the food was mediocre at best. No one wanted to go back there.
(2)Payal P.
came for restaurant week and was very pleased. the hostess are very nice and greet every single person when walking in and ask if they can hang up their coat. our waiter was nice, attentive and not over bearing. the place was packed but it wasn't messy or unorganized and it is a huge space with a live band softly playing in the background. in addition to the restaurant week menu, we ordered a bottle of wine which we enjoyed and started with the estia chips which everyone needs to order. a bit pricy at $14 but it was a nice splurge. we also received some complimentary hummus that was very good. my starter was spinach pie and i tried my friends octopus both were great. we both had the whole grilled fish which was simple and well done. we added a side of asparagus which was very cheesy (who doesn't love cheese?). as for desserts i was so full but tried the rice pudding, it was bland for my liking, my friend got the baklava which i tried and enjoyed but i was just sooo full and neither really appealed to me. i am not big on sweets anyway so not a problem for me.
(4)Felicia C.
Delicious Greek food. The feta and tzatziki are wonderful. Entrees are pricey, but it's a high quality meal. Beautiful, large restaurant.
(5)Chris A.
If you like high-end Greek/Mediterranean fare, Estia is a great place to have a nice dinner. The mezes are excellent, and the fish was phenomenal. This is a great place to take your colleagues and friends if you're in Philly visiting on a conference.
(4)Todd B.
After having had lunch at Estia on a trip to Athens Greece, we decided we'd try the Philadelphia location for dinner. We thought the service was very good. Though, the server didn't have much personality. We shared the Greek salad first which was excellent. Expensive though. Then, I had the cheese appetizer which is a Greek fried cheese with lemon. Very salty, but not bad. I had the lamb shank as my entree and though it was okay, I wouldn't want it again. And, I didn't like the orzo at all. The side of French fries with cheese wasn't worth the six or eight bucks. And, the cheese was minuscule. We passed on dessert. The validated parking was $15.
(1)C A.
AMAZING fresh FOOD. even the veggies were delightful! great date place.must try: fish and the desserts. Just really expensive =(
(4)Melissa W.
The arni piadakia here are THE best lamb chops I have ever eaten in my entire life, and I don't use superlatives lightly. They are absolutely delicious, and even if you think you don't like lamb, you will love them. The tzatziki and fries that come with them are awesome too. The fresh whole fish of the day was quite tasty as well, as was the saganaki. This place is a little on the expensive side, but portions are generous and it's great for a special occasion. It's good for a date or a nice family dinner. The service here is fantastic (the waiter was a total sweetheart), and the ambiance is classy without being contrived.
(5)Brian H.
Decided to try out Estia before a concert at the nearby Kimmel Center. The location is perfect if you are out and about in that area. We were the first table seated for dinner as our reservation was at 5 so we had the whole place to ourselves for a little while which was fine. We were seated in a little nook with pillows, which was kind of odd but nice and cozy. The decor is very very nice. They pull of Mediterranean without being tacky. We split the Kalamarakia Iganita appetizer (fried calamari) and we were off to a great start. For what is usually a simple fried calamari and marinara, they do it very well. The calamari was as tender as could be, the breading light and tasty and the sauce was a perfect compliment to the lemon-y treatment. Could have stopped here and been happy. For our entrees I got the Plaki (chilean sea bass), which when I was debating, the waiter recommended because, "they are both good, but there is more of it." Works for me. There sure was a lot. It was a hefty sea bass steak cooked perfectly and in a tomato sauce with caramelized vidalia onions that all came together great. My GF ordered the Arni Trahana (braised lamb shank) as the waiter describe is "so tender you no need your knife". Right again! When she started eating this I would have sworn it was a meat ball but it was actually a solid piece of lamb. The tomato based sauce it was served with was slightly overpowering if you got too much of it in a bite, but quickly learned the right balance. The lamb had amazing flavor and could have stood on its own. We finished up with a piece of Baklava which also, even though simple and standard, was excellent. I will definitely return to explore their menu further as I was pretty safe and conservative with our choices this time not quite knowing what to expect.
(5)Sooshi K.
i really liked the interior design for this restaurant. the brick ceiling give this grandeur yet somehow cozy look to this restaurant. I had the octopus, the tomato salad and whole fish that night. the fish was very moist and i liked the wine. however, i was not amazed by the dry bread. The appetizer portions were good for two to share. the salad and the octopus was a bit on the salty side for me. I want to try the lamb next time.
(3)Lou D.
Wow!!! This place rocks! Ask for Andreas! Recommend the Octapus appetizer ... The horiatiki salad. Lamb is awesome!!!
(5)Chris M.
The octopus appetizer is ok. The soup of the day is chicken soup, sour but my friend likes it a lot with bread. The Plaki is good! I like it! The whole sea bass is ok Desert of emerk( forgot how to spell) is amazing!!!
(3)Neen J.
Delish and delightful! The food is always great quality and each morsel even yummier than the one before. It is GF friendly with several options and the staff are so helpful and obviously enjoy their roles. The greek salad is one of my favorite dishes and the tomatos were divine. I also loved the roast chicken that was served with grilled vegies for me (to make it a GF option). The servers at the bar have a generous pour and they have fun educating their diners on wines. Totally recommend it.
(4)Sondra C.
We allowed a friend to order. Appetizers were great, grilled fish was dry and tasteless. I would definitely go again to try the everything else on the mezedes menu and the moussaka. (queue happy Greek music) WINE: They serve only Greek wines here. Get your waiter to recommend something after you order. WARM BREAD and HUMMOS: This was good. Hummos is a nice change from butter, but I like butter on warm bread, so I was torn. ESTIA CHIPS: Fabulous. Deep fried zuccini chips with tzatziki. I could eat these all day, every day... for several days. My mind is still munching on them. Please order them. We got two orders for 4 people. DOLMADES: Best grape leaves I've ever had. If you're afraid of a pungent taste, you will be surprised. These are mild, yet flavorful. Just lovely. SPREAD PIKILIA: How can you go wrong with spreads? Ours came with a red pepper spread instead of the eggplant one noted in the online menu. FISH: (sound of needle scratching and then silence) WTF? After such delicious appetizers, this was dry and flavorless. Another diner confirmed this. Minus one star because this is your specialty. (music starts up again) HORTA - Tasty sauteed greens. GRILLED VEGETABLES - Perfectly charred red pepper, fennel, asparagus.. carmalized yumminess. POTATO LADORIGANI or POTATO TIGANITES (the lemony one): OMG, these were so good. I forgot to take some on my plate, so I was completely stuffed when I stuffed two of these down because I couldn't help it. DESSERT WINE: Yes! Richer and darker than Italian moscato, but still on the lighter side of sweetness. GALACTOBOURICO: Mirriam Websters defines galactic as "of or relating to a galaxy". Yes, this was out of this world. We had another dessert too, but, really, I after the GALACTOBOURICO, who cares?
(4)Ellyn K.
We went to Estia a few evenings ago to celebrate our son's birthday and although we have dined at Estia awhile ago we forgot how amazingly relaxing and beautiful this restaurant is, it transcends you to the feel of being in a a town somewhere in Greece. Aside from the ambiance the food was absolutely delicious and the bonus of the whole experience was our server, Brenna. We are avid frequenters of restaurants and value supererior service equally when dining. Brenna had all of us "at hello" the moment she approached our table. We were welcomed with such warmth and professionalism. Her approach to reviewing the menu, honesty with recommendations and complete attention to making sure we had an amazing dining experience was absolutely outstanding. Infact, we all agreed, a party of 6 that evening, she was the best server we have ever experienced. Brenna you are the greatest!!!!
(5)Colleen R.
I had dinner here with some friends for my birthday back in February. It's almost June now, and I can still taste the bass and the grilled calamari. My friends and I have pretty tight budgets, but the prix-fixe theater menu worked out perfectly for a couple of us (just $30!). Everything we had eaten was amazing. I loved the bass so much that I ate only one piece of it. I had to take the rest home so that my parents and brother could experience at least a sliver of this fish. The atmosphere is phenomenal without being pretentious. Overall, I loved every moment of being there. No mind that our waiter was rather cranky (and old), my friends and I still had a great time. I'd definitely return if the chance arises.
(5)John D.
Estia appears to garner high praise and enthusiastic endorsements from many of its patrons; why, however, is not obvious to me. My wife and I (in town for a getaway weekend) came here at the recommendation of our hotel concierge. His two prior suggestions had been spot-on, but he missed the boat with this one. Estia is pretty much like every other Greek restaurant you've ever been to. A bit more deliberately upscale, perhaps, but with the same cacaphonous and slightly chaotic ambience. There's nothing wrong with that - but there's nothing special about it either. Don't come here expecting an evening of elegant dining. The food was - okay. I will happily acknowledge that my lamb chops were tasty and tender, that we enjoyed the hummus and bread, and the calamari appetizer was light and tender. The menu was stock Greek fare, however; the romaine and country salads were unremarkable, and the wine list was too deliberately confined to Greek vintages. Our principal disappointment was the service. The most suitable adjective might be "perfunctory". The waitstaff seemd to be phoning it in - coming to take our order, then to take our empty plates, and finally to deliver the check. We saw far more of the fellow who refilled our water glasses (attentively) then we ever did of our actual waiter. And when the check did come, delivered by a woman whom we had not theretofore seen, she deposited it on our table without even breaking stride, in a practiced and fluid movement that reminded me of nothing so much as a body being rolled out the door of a moving car. Look, it wasn't awful. I've had much worse experiences. (In a way I wish this had been one of them, so that I would at least have the pleasure of telling and re-telling the story.) It was just utterly, completely, uninspiring, and far short of the expectations that we'd taken into the place. If you like Greek / Mediterranean food, and are don't mind feeling a bit like you're just another of the evening's couple hundred customers, then it's fine. But if you're looking for something fresh, a new experience or a special night out, there are *lots* of better choices in town.
(2)Donna M.
Went to brunch this past weekend. I selected it because of it's proximity to The Academy of Music...but I'll go back because of the food and the ambiance! This is a beautiful restaurant! I know that beauty is not the marker of a fine restaurant, necessarily, but it certainly does play a part. I believe this is what Greece might feel like, and look like. My LDC (lovely dining companion)...aka my Mom and I each had the smoked fish platter which was very good, however a little on the meager side for $17.00, but it was tasty. We had the Champagne brunch which came with a complimentary (part of the $17.00 I suppose) beverage. We asked for the Bellini. I was a little surprised and had to ask our waitress why we only got what looked like champagne. Their "bellini" was champagne and Peach Schnapps, not peach puree, to which I am accustomed. It was tasty, but not as refreshing as I had anticipated. We ended with superb coffee and a VERY EXPENSIVE dessert...the chocolate souffle. Extremely small with a scoop of so-so vanilla ice cream. For $10, I thought it could have been bigger and had more characteristics of a souffle...light and fluffy. This was more like one of the "lava" cakes that seem to be ubiquitous these days. It was chocolatey and tasty, but overpriced. Overall, I can see the potential and will definitely return for dinner. I am interested in trying the beautiful fish, and I want my LDC to try the lamb; I hear it is superb. Won't give up the 5th star until I return.
(4)Nicole W.
Love Love Love this place! I spent four months in Greece and when I came back to America I sought out, and still do, authentic Greek things as much as I can. This restaurant is fantastic. Went here for lunch with my fellow Greece living friends and we fully enjoyed our stay. The bathrooms are beautiful. I would go back just to enjoy the decor. Our waiter was authentic Greek and was so wonderful and friendly. He loved it when we spoke Greek to him and we even got a free desert on the house! Ah how I miss Grecian charm and hospitality! We went for the lunch prix fixe meal and it was wonderful! The food was scrumptious and worth the price. The food is pricey, but nothing to kill your wallet. It reminded me of Greece and I was thoroughly pleased. Will definitely be going back again and again! I would suggest dressing up a bit before coming. My friend came in workout clothes and felt a bit intimidated, but no one was pretentious or snobby about it, which I found refreshing.
(5)Lauren F.
My dad and I have started this tradition: see a seemingly hot lesbian film at QFest, eat at Estia afterwards. I love the service here! We have the same guy every time and he is always getting me to get the martinis--which I have yet to try. The decor is lovely. We always choose to sit in one of the corner booths, because I like the pillows! Oh, and the bathrooms are amazing. You always gotta check out the bathrooms. This most recent time, we started out with the Estia chips (love), the grilled octopus, and the tomato and cheese salad. All were splendid! For the main course, I got the tuna. I always get the tuna, but I always love the tuna! It comes with the best horta and beets I've ever had! Next time, I need to move onto the dessert menu, i.e. baklava!
(5)Ed B.
Atmosphere was nice. Service was uneven and food even more so. Started with grilled octopus- not recommended. Village salad- tomatoes chilled and overall not up to taverna salads, fish was well prepared and fresh, moussaka was runny with chunks of eggplant that were not well cooked. Finished the meal off with a thin Greek coffee. As I said the atmosphere was nice.
(2)Mr. International S.
Estia did not disappoint. Last night we had a party of 12, the food was great, our waiters did an outstanding job keeping the courses coming and the wine flowing (we were having Massaya wine from Lebanon). Most of the table ordered from the theatre menu which was a $30 prix-fixe including an appetizer, an entree and a desert. I ordered the Estia Mezedakia for my first course, the Kotopoulo for Entree and the Fruit Plate for dessert and needless to say, all 3 were very satisfying. What I heard from the rest of the table is that the fish portions were small and someone did not like the fried calamari. Overall was a successful dinner and we will be back again.....
(4)Mike G.
Went today, prix fixe express lunch menu for two. This was a very good value, although I could see it getting expensive if you were to go a la carte (which others here have warned about). We had and loved the "Estia chips," the hummus (although our waiter didn't seem to want to call it hummus), moussaka and delicious bifteki souvlaki, and light, delicious spanakopita. Nice room with big, rustic styled seating and muted lighting. It was quiet when we went, but easy to see how with a bustling pre-theater crowd and live Greek music (Fri-Sat nights) would create a loud, festive vibe. Service was great, friendly, helpful, willing to make recommendations. I definitely intend to return and explore the menu, including the baklava, but was stuffed from this meal..
(4)Alyssa G.
My boyfriend and I went there on a Friday night, luckily we had reservations- it was crowded! From the start, the three hostesses didn't acknowledge us when we walked in although the night did get much better. Its a beautiful restaurant with great ambiance. We chose the theatre menu, which was very fairly priced for a three course meal. The calamari and spanikopita appetizers were excellent. I got the lamb shank entree- extremely delicious! The lamb practically melts in your mouth. My boyfriend got the fish of the day (Mediterranean sea bass)- the fish was very plain. We both got the walnut honey cake for dessert- to me, I felt like I was eating a pancake drenched in syrup. My boyfriend really liked it though. All-in-all it was an enjoyable dining experience and we would definitely go back!
(3)Andy Y.
Estia is an authentic and unpretentious place for Greek food. I've been there about 10 times the past 4 years. The best thing about the place is the freshness of the ingredients that you can taste in each dish. The service has always been excellent and the dining room is very nice. Go there for a special occasion or if out of town guests are visiting. Some highlights on the menu are their assortment of fresh fish, the Greek salad appetizer which is so fresh and tasty, the Estia chips (fried vegetable goodness) and the marinated lamb chops are to die for! Enjoy!
(5)Yusra H.
Four of us went here for restaurant week this year and I'm just sad I hadn't been here before. The food is mind-blowingly good. I had spanakopita as my first course and my friends had the greek salad and both were delicious. For my main course I had a lemon roast chicken with orzo dish and my friends had lamb chops. Absolutely delectable. Our waiter was an interesting man who, when asked what he would recommend, responded with "everything is good. you will like everything." So, while he's not a good person to check with if you're indecisive, was completely correct about everything being delicious. I had the baklava for dessert while my friends had a flan type dish and I have to say that, while both were good, mine was really, really good. Definitely going back here!
(5)Superfly T.
It's all good, and my advice is to wonder around this menu and try different items, the spreads and sauces with pita to start are outstanding. Try the reasonable Theatre menu. This was my first visit and I'll be back for sure, Estia offers warm atmosphere and comfortable surroundings, and the staff is quick and knows what they're doing.
(4)Bill H.
I first ate at Estia about six years ago, just after it first opened. This was, of course, before Yelp existed, so I was interested if they were able to maintain the new car shine. The shine is still brilliant. When you walk in you are transported to the the best imitation of a Greek restaurant in Philadelphia. The decor is really breathtaking, in that, you feel like you are having a wonderful dinner on Santorini. The open kitchen turns out real fresh fish entrees that melt in your mouth. The best is a whole sea bass cooked with olive oil and caper with lemon, just delicious. Our party of six ordered from the restaurant week menu, which was a great value at $35.00 per person. There is also a theater menu at $30.00 per person. The wine list is fairly priced with bottles available in the $40.00 range. If you are looking for a private room for larger parties, they are available on the bottom level. There is an elevator that takes you down, to a very impressive array of VIP areas.
(5)Visish S.
Great food, the chef/staff were flexible with vegetarian options for my party. A bit pricey, but large portions. AMAZING hummus.
(4)Michele S.
I loved the decor and atmosphere of this place, very romantic yet fun for large groups. There were four of us so we did a few small plates and the black sea bass which was amazing! Our waiter was friendly and informative. Little on the pricier side, but I thought it was worth the quality. I could have stayed for hours listening to the music and enjoying another drink or coffee. Would love to see something like this in DC!
(5)K E.
Went during restaurant week and was not impressed with the service. Maybe it is because we didn't order alcohol? Not at all impressed with that. Food was good. Octopus appetizer was spectacular. Beautiful place.
(2)Alex G.
A huge restaurant specializing in Greek seafood - with an emphasis on whole fish. Everything was extremely tasty and fresh. The saganaki (flamed cheese) was delicious, although I prefer when they flame it in front of you, instead of in the kitchen (as here). The octopus was tender and perfectly prepared, and we fought over the last morsels. My FOUR lamp chops were lean, thick and juicy. My wife's moussaka was above average, but our local Greek restaurant in Florida does it even better. The star of the meal was my teenage son's whole fish - a branzino-type fish, charcoal grilled and served whole, with the center bones removed. He loved it - and the five year old kept asking for more! The Greek wines by the glass were soft, and matched our dishes perfectly. Overall, this was a delicious meal - and it was nice to see the emphasis on fresh seafood.
(4)Marie P.
We ate here two nights ago, the service was exceptional. The food was mostly excellent. We started with spread pikilia which was awesome. I had the country salad .... I didnt realize at the time it was a salad with out lettuces so I was confused when it came to the table but it was amazing. The veggies were all fresh and the dressing was nice and light. I also had the spanakopita which was ok, not great. Husband had the tuna which he raved about. Overall great diner. Side note NY dressy and Philly dressy differ.... Jeans are cool, we felt over dressed so don't wear a suit.
(4)Nat P.
Elevated greek cuisine! When I feel for greek, but not just any greek. Something a little bit more upscale and well done. I go to Estia. Eating at Estia is always a great experience. From walking in you get that inviting feeling, that warms you right up. Not many large restaurants can do this, but it is achieved here. Location is key. Right off broad street and across from the academy of music, the place can be hopping at times if there are good shows in town. So much choices is the only dilemma I have when i eat here. But the servers are cool and they offer very good suggestions on things, if you can't make up your mind or if you are stupid and brainless and just like people picking things for you. LOL The last trip here we had the stuffed calamari and scallops for appetizers. Both excellent in taste, but the scallops were more memorable in my opinion. Big and moist and in a succulent tomato sauce. Entrees were lamb chops and moussaka. What can I say. Greeks do so many things well and lamb is by far one of them. My chops were a perfect medium well with a nice char and moist inside. They were so good I forgot what else was on the plate. Ok funny thing about the moussaka. So my friend has never been to this restaurant, much less have never had much greek food. And he goes and orders moussaka. So i kept asking if he really wanted it. It's just that moussaka can be off putting to some, since it's so complex, lots of flavors going on there. And if not made well can just be an oily disgusting mess. But I was pleasantly surprised that he liked it. I like moussaka so it would have been all good anyway. I would also recommend looking into the whole fish as an entree choice. There are lots of different types of fish to choose from but ask for suggestions. The fish is so well done, it will not disappoint. Just be warned that some may need to be shared since it's so much food. It was a slow night, but service was still great. Our uber macho server was quite attentive, but kinda slow to ask if we needed more drinks. I remember one server I had a while back Steven, was the ultimate server. He was omnipresent, knew his shit about the menu and quite entertaining. Again the ambience here is great. Music in the background, pleasant sounds from the lots of chatty tables. For a large restaurant you will still get that romantic feeling if you are looking for that, but you will definitely get a great meal. Enjoy!
(4)Anna S.
Service was a bit slow, but OK. Scallops were delicious. Vegetable salad was completely drained in oil and not particularly good. The place is beautiful.
(3)Jordan H.
Food good. Service sloooow and they forget a ton of stuff. Boo. Still waiting for my 2nd course
(3)Maurice S.
To begin with, the service was great from the time we walked in the door until the time that we left. The food was excellent. We all ordered from the restaurant week menu and every course was great. I had the Octopodi, Arni Paidakia (lamb chops), and Baklava. Everyone that had the fish said that it was amazing. I will be trying that next time.
(5)Kazia N.
I have been to Estia a number of times and every time think it's absolutely fantastic. I was in a Greece for two weeks a few years ago, ate there, and can say that the food is authentic. The food is delicious and sumptuous. I've had fresh fish and steak, among other scrumptious entrees on the menu. And, after having the restaurant recommended to me by my Latin teacher, have made Estia the mandatory place for dinner before a show at the Academy of Music, which is right next door. Estia has a special Theater Dinner menu which includes appetizer, entree, and dessert in a pre-fixed meal. This also makes for a less stressful evening, wondering whether or not you're going to make the show on time. I can say that when there are shows going on at the Academy, in addition to weekend evenings, the restaurant does get more crowded and reservations are strongly recommended. The restaurant is decorated wonderfully and provides a relaxed, roomy atmosphere. Recommendation: the stuffed grilled calamari is fabulous! Fresh squid stuffed with Mediterranean cheeses, complete with light seasonings and a hint of lemony citrus.
(5)Guy D.
We had my daughter's graduation party here for 30 people. They were very helpful with planning the event. The staff and service during the party was excellent. No issues whatsoever. My thanks to everyone at Estia who helped make this a successful party!
(5)Pink P.
If you're into fresh fish cooked the right way and the way you like it, this is the spot to check out and a rarity in Philadelphia. Considered on the pricey side for an entire meal (including apps, drinks, etc.), but for a fish fanatic it should be well worth it. For the mezedes, try the pikilia spread if you're crazy about hummus and delicious pita. Estia is also a great place to throw a small gathering -- they have a wonderful, intimate wine room in the lower floor that seats 10 to 12 and a great event planner to help to select the right menu that suits the needs of everyone in your party. -pinkposy
(4)Michelle L.
Atmophere..very good. Our server was very good, knowledgeable and sweet. But, were seated with one menu too few and the hostess was a bit snotty when we asked for another . Orders all came out cold...lobster and 2 whole fish dishes , all cold. Spanikopata, listed under the hot items, cold. Sadly, not worth the cost. Would advise not going. Was even more disappointing because it was a birthday celebration, and we'd indicated it as such on the on-line reservation system.
(2)J K.
Dined at Estia on a Saturday night pre-ballet. The place was super busy and noisy and the service felt rushed and impersonal. A coffee spill by the server didn't help our overall impression of the service. Food was very good, and the theater menu is a good value, plus you can't beat the convenience right across from the Academy of Music. I really enjoyed the appetizer of Estia Pikilia (especially the crabcakes) and the lamb shank entree was super tender and delicious! Others in my party enjoyed their food as well. I would like to return on a quieter evening to see if I had a better experience.
(3)Lydia H.
I had a terrible experience at Estia the first time around, and decided to go back there one more time before an orchestra concert to give it another try. I should have gone with my instinct. My first visit, I went with 5 family members and we sat at a great long table in the middle of the restaurant. Our location proved to be detrimental, however, to a pleasant dining experience, because not only were we in the middle of the "organized chaos" of the waiters running around, but we were the main focus of the extremely pushy owner. He hung on the table, and talked us into ordering things that we did not want. He also refused to budge on a supplemental item to have on the prix-fixe menu for my vegetarian sister, and demanded that she get something else. Our next visit, I went with three family members, and sat in a quieter corner. This time, the very same pushy owner came up to our table (much to my dismay), only to realize that he did not go to the table which he intended to go. So in the middle of offering a drink order, he stopped mid-sentence, turned, and walked over to the next table! Not a word. And to top off the indignation, we were not approached by a waiter for another ten minutes. The whole meal was slow and extremely frustrating. There is nothing to say about the food because the experience both times completely blocked everything else out. For the prices you pay here, there are hundreds of other fabulous restaurants within blocks where you would have a much more pleasant dining experience. ***Follow up note - within 2 days of posting this review, I received an email from the GM to apologize for the experiences we had and to invite me back to try Estia again. I added another star for this customer service, as most places do not take the time to read or respond to online reviews. That is great management.***
(2)Brett H.
We had to stop in for a quick dinner before the Nutcracker. We only had an hour and our server made sure we got everything quickly. The lamb was delicious. My girl had the salmon. It was ok. I don't ever recommend ordering salmon at a restaurant just because it is too easy to screw up. Too fishy. Anyway, not a bad place to stop in for some authentic greek food. The decor is very nice as well, even it is a bit Olive Gardenesque.
(3)Sarah D.
Gorgeous restaurant - great authentic Greek atmosphere and vibe. HUGE, yet intimate. Lots of little cozy tables/booths. I dined there for Saturday lunch - prix-fixe $17 for a two course meal (not bad at all). I had a fresh tomato and onion salad and then the beef souvlaki plate (with a mixed green salad, tsatziki sauce with pita, two skewers of souvlaki and buttered rice. The meat was full of flavor...good sized portion. Baklava was light and tasty. Lunch was quiet and calm. I was happy to see that Estia recognizes LUNCH prices on Saturdays. The waiter made a point to tell us that the prices triple for dinner. I then went later that night, to the cozy, candle-lit bar. The place was hoppin' - full of patrons, live musicians, bustling servers. The menu for DINNER "was" triple the price of lunch - and was completely different. There were around 10 fresh fish selections - I have to go back! The downstairs has another private room for I'd say 12 people, and also it looked like a banquet facility with a small circular bar. The space just kept going..... Loved the spacious bathrooms. Go!
(5)Emilia M.
I went to Estia for the first time last week and had an amazing meal! My mother, her best friend and I were seated promptly even though we did not have a reservation. It was nice outside, but not warm enough to sit outside, so we asked to be seated near a window. Perfect choice! We were seated in a booth with a very romantic aura (shame I was with my mom!) The waiter came by promptly to ask for our orders, and explained everything to us in great, and much needed, detail! Our waiter was a doll! We each did the prixe fixed meal for $30 and we shared a bottle of wine. While not the cheapest meal, it was definitely worth it! Their Octopodi is incredible, as was their stuffed calamari! For the dinner I had a fish that was served over baked vegetables....simply WONDERFUL! Desert was a little disappointing, but nonetheless, the meal was GREAT! I definitely recommend going...if you can go on someone else's dime, all power to you!!!!
(4)Kendall R.
Two friends and I went into Estia on a whim one evening where we planned on dining outside, but then realized it was too chilly for al fresco. i'm really glad we made the decision to eat inside because this place is beautiful! The decor is really charming and romantic. The food is on a very short list of my personal favorites. I've only been here once, but I can't wait to go back! One of my friends ordered the Estia Chips which are fried zucchini and eggplant with tzatziki and were absolutely delicious. I had the feta and olives and was in heaven. I don't know why it was so much better than any greek olives and feta cheese I've had at home or elsewhere, but it was superb. The next time I'm there I'll definitely have to try something from their mouth-watering fish selection, but on my visit I went with a "main land selection". I got the kotopoulo, which is roasted chicken served with carmelized onions, yogurt orzo and a lemon chicken thyme jus. it's been about a year since i've been there and i can still remember the taste. usually i hate having to go down or up stairs to use the restroom, but estia is my one and only exception. this place would win my vote for best restroom in a philadelphia restaurant. it makes you not so mad about the walk downstairs in heels! i would highly recommend estia to anyone, regardless of whether or not you're into greek food. if you eat here and don't like it, there might be something wrong with you.
(5)Cathie C.
Took my mom & my sister to Estia before a show @ the Academy. It was truly wonderful. I had the lamb chops (they were unreal- totally amazing). The fish dishes sounded great and I was a bit torn but had heard about the lamb- so went with it. Was not disappointed. Marc was our waiter- he was stupendous. The service is very much like a fine dining establishment at a chic NYC restaurant. You turn around- your plate is cleared and you didn't even realize someone had done so. Was really great. Absolutely recommend and will for sure be back.
(5)beata n.
Everything was amazing from the service to the food. Got to have lavraki and the horiatiki salad!
(5)Anna Marie C.
usually when one hears "but it's so big!" the party involved takes it as a compliment. i tend to disagree in this case. i've been to estia a few times now, both times within the course of several months. the food is good--fairly classic greek mediterranean dishes. and i never turn down food, especially seafood when it's well-prepared and fresh. that being said, the waiters both times were a bit odd. the first one was just odd, the second one was just kinda rude and odd. i don't know why, but it just bothers me that the place can seat 500 people or something. and i feel like i'm walking through a maze when i'm there. it loses its ambiance and flavor. the corny tvs in the downstairs that are playing videos of greece and the padlocked coat check just really don't do it for me.
(3)Brian L.
Recommended by a Greek friend of mine, I came down with my girlfriend and another couple during Restaurant Week. I started out with dolmades which was the best dolmades I've ever had. They're grape leaves stuffed with a seasoned rice mixture. Afterwards we had some spanakopita which was made very different to what I'm used to. The spanakopita was in a flaky crust, but didn't seem to be filo, maybe it was but it looked different. Regardless, it was still pretty tasty. The fish I had for the entree came out to be pretty delicious and the lamb was also amazing, very tender and delicious with the yogurt sauce. For dessert we had some baklava. The atmosphere of the restaurant was very cozy and nice. There was a man playing Greek music on a Greek "guitar like" instrument. The staff was also very helpful and friendly. I'll probably come back. Definitely worth a stop into if you want some real Greek food.
(4)Viviane T.
This place introduced me to Greek food and because of it, I now have a high standard for Greek food all over the world. I'll been here on multiple occasions for different reasons, there was an experience of a part of 2, there was an experience of a party of 12, and there was even an experience of a party of 20+. All occurances were equally excellent. The first time I went here, unsure as to what I should order, the dishes were recommended by the server. He was GREAT. Extremely friendly and knew his dishes inside and out. These are the dishes I would recommend: HOT MEZEDES: Octopodi - Charcoal grilled octopus with red and white onions, dill, roasted peppers, capers, parsley and red wine vinaigrette Yemista kalamarakia - Calamari stuffed with a trio of Greek cheeses, grilled served with lemon and extra virgin olive oil Midia estia - New Zealand mussels, Metaxa, ouzo, shallots, dill, diced tomato and feta Spread pikilia - Tzatziki, htipiti, melitzano salata served with grilled pita; also available individually A word or two about their fishes - they are extremely fresh and are their catch of the day. You can also say hi to your fish of choice before it gets beheaded. I recommend doing their seafood/fish tour before ordering. This will give you an idea as to which fish you might be protentially ordering. I won't order these fishes without taking a peak. I've tried their fishes, but have never tried their other "land" dishes. However, with the large party, most of the dishes on the menu got ordered (some repeated). The final review? All the dishes served by the restaurant is excellent...! So why the 4 stars? The level of service, (incrediablly good) not a five star. Yes, they're highly attentive, very knowledgable, however, it is not a 5 star rating (but this is JUST my opinion). I highly recommend this place and I highly push/suggest that you order/try something you would not normally eat elsewhere. Worth the money, worth the experience!
(4)Joe D.
I ate here with my wife on a Saturday night and ordered the pre-theater menu. Overall I give it three stars because I wasn't blown away, but the food tasted good and was well-prepared, the atmosphere was high-end, and the place is huge so it doesn't get too loud, even with the live music - the service, however, was just ok. For example, my water glass remained empty for the last 20 minutes of the meal and I had to flag the server down to ask for coffee with my dessert, which was then delivered after the dessert had already been finished. In terms of food, the bread and appetizer (squid and stuffed calamari with salad) were all fine but nothing special. I ordered the fish of the day, which I assumed was served whole (they say this is their specialty) but was actually just a fillet on top of some vegetables - there was nothing wrong with it but it didn't excite me either. My wife had the mousaka, which was pretty good. The dessert was disappointing - we both had the honey walnut cake, which was very dry. Overall I give it three stars because the decor is nice, as is the music, and the food is above average. The service is not that great though, and if we go back I will probably stick to the pre-theater menu because the regular food doesn't seem to be worth the inflated prices.
(3)Martina R.
I came here with a Greek Family who, after many visits, had become known by the wait staff and owner. They did most of the ordering, and the food was to die for. The lamb fell off the bone just as you would hope, and the array of appetizers were delicious and unique. There was a man playing live music near our table. I will update the review when I learn the name of the instrument, but it was native to Greece. The youngest of the family - probably 8 at the time, was up and about, exploring and asking questions. Though he was probably causing mischief , the staff was wonderful in keeping an eye out for him and answering his questions. I think they actually enjoyed his youthful, lightheartedness. The staff knew us, so it may be biased, but the service was great. I didn't see the bill, but I can assume it was not an inexpensive evening out. There was a ton of space, making Estia great for large groups, or even decent sized receptions. There is also a parking lot just next to it.
(4)Josie D.
Probably one of my favorite atmospheres of any restaurant in the city. Its quiet and dimly lit and everything down to the littlest of things is well thought out I feel. Now I am mostly greek and have grown up eating really authentic greek food. I'm also good friends with someone who grew up on the island of crete, so when she told me it was good food I couldn't wait to get there. Everything is very authentic and absolutely delicious. The service was great, atmosphere, once again, is amazing, and I can't stress enough that the food was so darn good! I know this sounds kind of weird- but check out the bathrooms! I always use bathrooms at restaurants because I feel like bathrooms are finishing touches to restaurants and if they don't take good care of them then my opinion definitely drops. theyre bathrooms are absolutely beautiful. I told my boyfriend to just leave me at Estia and I'd just live there. also make sure you check out the cool glass elevator to the left as you walk in!
(5)Daria M.
The ambiance was very fancy and romantic. They definitely spent some bills on their decor. The service was kind of annoying. Our waiter was pretentious, presumptuous and kind of full of himself. The food was good -- the quality seemed high -- but it wasn't THAT good. The Estia chips seemed like the most special thing on the menu - thin slices of zucchini and eggplant fried and crispy with a greek yogurt dipping sauce. The spanakopita was good but a bit greasy, I give it a 3 out of 5 as far as spanakopita goes. The "horiatiki" salad is described as, "with tomatoes, cucumbers, green peppers, red onions, feta and olives dressed with a red wine vinaigrette." Be aware that's all it is -giant chunks of mostly tomatoes and a little bit of the rest of the veggies. No greens. It was awkward to eat, because the tomato chunks were so huge. I am a huge fan of feta cheese, most specifically authentic feta cheese, imported from Greece, or just feta made with Goat's milk. They had authentic imported feta, and it was good, but not as fabulous as I had thought it would be. I thought maybe they would grill it or do something to make it just a little bit melty and special, but they just brought it out in boring slices with a little olive oil and some kind of dried herb seasoning on top. Kind of disappointing. I got the Briam Vegetables side (baked vegetable stew) since it was recommended as a vegetarian side dish to me by the waiter. It wasn't a very exciting dish- just some stewed nightshade vegetables really -- kind of tasty but way too oily and rich for my picky taste. At least they have options though. Honestly, I get better food at Saads (I know, not greek but have some similar menu items, esp. for veggie people). For waaaaaaaaay less. But if you want Greek food with a romantic atmosphere...try somewhere else. The atmosphere really isn't worth the big price tag for the sometimes good, sometimes mediocre food.
(3)Michael C.
I was here for a function with preselected menu, so didn't have the full experience. That said, the food was fantastic. The calamari was the best I've ever had. The entrees were served family-style and all scrumptious. The dessert of baclava (spelling?) was incredible and we dined in the wine room which was a classic urban atmosphere in Center City Philly.
(5)Richard L.
The food was great as was the service for the most part. The food got to the table so fast that I would have been disappointed if I were on a date. However, when I had finished my meal, I had to wait forever for my waiter to take my order for an after dinner drink and my tab. This was before the normal dinner crowd arrived.
(4)Scott B.
I dropped by Estia tonight in search of better-than-average dinner while on a business trip. It was a solid experience, to say the least, from wine to apps to food. The top-notch element of the evening was the de-boned Lamb Shank, along with a light wheat pasta and tomato-based sauce. I have had this dish 20+ times and by far, this was the best. Just phenomenal. I would also give a nod to the service at the bar, where my barkeep was knowledgeable & friendly, but not over-bearing. All in all, a great experience.
(4)Nancy C.
Fancy smancy and close to the art district :) Totally love this place the decor is so pleasant so luxurious yet its homie. The food is A++ . My experience with Estia was great from beginning to end !!!
(5)Lena S.
So we'd wanted to make our own food for our wedding. (Laugh, you're allowed). My uncle Nick on the phone, back in the fall: "No, do it at Estia instead! And your American friends can try moussaka and enjoy the things we eat!" Massive eyeroll. Fast forward five months, over the course of which my parents took over reception planning. My reception is in one of the elegant and beautiful banquet rooms in the lower level of this expansive restaurant. There are people gorging on what my husband describes as "the best roast chicken he's ever eaten, feels like everything that is wonderful and comforting and warm about Thanksgiving"; a lemon and olive-oil dressed grilled sea bass called lavraki (I had this: delicate, crisp, fresh, delicious); tasty fresh bread and hummus with olives and radishes that even hummus haters (but seriously, how?) raved about after the fact; just-right chewy-crunchy calamari; bite-sized spanakopita; a feta and tomato sauce and herb pasta entree; and, yes, a rich and creamy personal vat of hot, filling moussaka. There are Greek people radiating gustatory satisfaction (a tall order in my family, in which no one is easily impressed and everyone has fine culinary chops of their own). Friends and family members abound who are full and happy with fresh, delicious food. Apparently there is dessert, but many are too stuffed (or too busy dancing) to try it. There are cupcakes and cake that I made, that a sister-in-law frosted, and that a friend helped style that the restaurant was kind enough to accommodate overnight and display lovingly, as if we had meticulously and attractively arranged them ourselves. From start to finish our Estia wedding reception was classy, elegant, warm, filling, and fun. Associates with whom we worked to organize the event were accommodating, easy to communicate with, and prompt to respond. The food and ambiance composed the perfect fuel and setting for an absolutely memorable, truly fabulous night.
(4)Diana Z.
Way overrated. Maybe Greek just isn't my kinda food, but the fish was undercooked, squid overcooked (and no need to stuff with cheese), and baklava rich to the point of vomit-inducing. Wine was delectable, surprisingly, but that was the highlight of the night. Also our waiter was the sommelier so service was ridiculously (almost to the point of being rude) slow. The bathroom was cool though. Totally decked out and transports you to Greece. Still, if I'm talking about the bathroom decor at a restaurant in a review, you know how the food was ;)
(2)Jed H.
We had a wonderful meal before a show at the Academy of Music for 8 of us. We shared a good sampling of several of the appetizers that were all very tasty. The lamb chops as a main course were outatanding!! Brandon, our server, was great.
(5)Amy K.
Went for dinner before a show at the Academy of Music. Although the restaurant was packed the service was excellent and I simply loved the decor and ambiance. The Greek food was out of this world. Everyone at my table raved about it all night long and talked about coming back for the next occasion. I hear their brunch is also very good. I'd love to rent the private room one day for a special family treat. I highly recommend Estia to all foodies dining in the city.
(5)John B.
Great service. Excellently prepared. Interesting ambiance. It's great to go to before the ballet. We've come here a lot and are never let down. Opa!
(4)Jessica B.
I was lucky enough to win a gift card to Estia in a raffle and took my husband on a date this past Saturday night. I went once before for RW with girlfriends and thought this could be a fun way to take my meat and potatoes guy a little out of his element. First- the atmosphere. Beautiful restaurant, live music.... A bit loud, though. Very romantic, but not good for a first date or an important conversation. Second- the service. A little lacking, to be honest. We waited for everything- the courses, the bread, the drinks, plates cleared, the check.... The check was slightly more than the GC. When I offered my card to cover the balance he said he couldn't put the tip on the card. We paid cash instead, but it made for an awkward moment. Being in the industry, I also know that he could have simply put our drinks or a comperable amount on the card and the rest on the GC. Third- the food. The food was excellent! Love the warm pita and that delicious hummus. My husband doesn't like fish or seafood, so I tried to order the lamb meatballs that they serve in the bar. They don't serve them in the restaurant. Odd, but OK, since i then got to order a seafood appetizer for myself! I tried the cheese stuffed squid (delicious) and he ordered the estia chips. The chips I've had before and are so yummy! Not overly greasy, either. He was really happy. For entrees, I tried the Lavraki and he went with the lamb chops. We shared the whipped potatoes and grilled vegetables. Everything was perfect, simple, and amazing.
(4)john m.
Last night I went to Estia for the 2nd time... My GF and I were on our way to see RENT and thought that trying out the PreTheater menu was probably the best way to go. Originally, our reservations were 5pm, but when I needed to change them to 6:15pm Estia made the change without any hesitation. *** The PreTheater menu is a 3 course meal for $30 a person. The menu is fixed, but you get a good selection of different foods. I started off with ESTIA PIKILIA(This combination platter includes "Spanakopita" feta and spinach pies, Maryland style jumbo lump crab cakes served with a mustard aioli, and a fresh spring mix salad dressed with a balsamic vinaigrette). The portions were incredibly small, but I guess that is to be expected. The flavors were there. The jumbo lump crab cakes were a slight let down, but only because they were bite sized portions. My GF got the ROMAINE SALAD(Hearts of romaine are tossed in a creamy feta dressing and crumbled feta cheese, topped with oregano croutons and shredded Kefalograviera cheese). Kind of hard to mess that up I guess. She said that it was quite good. For our entrees, we both got the MOUSSAKA(A traditional Greek baked casserole layered with seasoned ground beef, sliced eggplant, potatoes and topped with a Kefalograviera based cream). It was ok... nothing to write home about, but the portion was good and the flavor was pretty robust. The third course was fixed. We were served hefty portions of KARIDOPITA(Ground walnuts are the base for this traditional Greek cake that is finished with a Greek honey syrup and served with slices of fresh fruit). It was good... but it was really "wet". I don't know if that's how it was supposed to be, but it was good nonetheless. The service was pretty good and the staff was very nice. Overall, the meal was about average. I wasn't blown away by any means. I've had a lot better for a lot less price. Estia has a wonderful atmosphere and great food. The drinks are kind of expensive, but I guess that's what you get for eating in the city.
(3)Margarita T.
be still my heart, i am in love. for my mother's birthday lunch, and to celebrate her first ever philly visit, we decided to do greek. we're greek, so we like to check out what other greeks are doing with greek food (then talk about them after we leave). if you're greek, you understand. after ordering the horiatiki salata, dolmades, chicken souvlaki (my least favorite but still good), and spanikopita, i can safely say that this greek food was done right. almost perfectly, in fact. i could (and in fact did) go on and on about the flavors (as did my incredibly difficult, hard to please mother), the wonderful, delicious flavors of each and every dish, but i will leave that for you to experience. rich dolmades, savory spanikopita, tender chicken, flavorful tzatziki, and a perfectly well-balanced traditional greek salad (veggies and zoumi), made such an impression on these two greek ladies, that we're planning our return soon.
(4)Will D.
The food was good and the setting was very nice. Service, on the other hand, was spotty. Given the price being charged, this rates 3 stars.
(3)Cara N.
Some friends and I ate here tonight to ring in the start of Philly's Restaurant Week. When I first arrived, only a few members of my party were there, so we waited at the bar - the bartender was friendly. The reservation was for six people, but there ended up being seven, but they were gracious and didn't hassle us about the number. Our waiter was friendly (I forget his name - sorry), and very efficient. They made sure that our water glasses were never empty. I ordered the spanakopita, the moussaka and the karidopita for dessert. They started us out with bread and this DELICIOUS hummus. Keep in mind, I grew up on hummus, and went through a few years where I couldn't even stand to hear it mentioned. Tonight though, I tore that hummus up! The spanakopita was just a bunch of flaky, spinachy goodness. I tasted a bit of my friend's saganaki, and it was also very tasty. The moussaka was also good, and very filling. In fact, by the time I finished my entree, I was almost full, but being the true foodie that I am, I made sure to get my dessert. The karidopita was good, albeit a little too wet for my tastes. Again, I am a foodie, so to enhance my culinary experience I wanted a cup of coffee with my karidopita. Our waiter was nowhere around, so I asked what appeared to be a nice blonde with a Sarah Palin-esque updo to bring me a cup of coffee. Well, if eye rolling was an Olympic sport, Miss Thing would have gotten the gold, silver and the bronze, because apparently, I as the patron should have known not to ask her for coffee. She didn't say anything out of pocket (which meant she hadn't totally lost her mind), which was good because I don't play that - especially not when I'm spending my money. Governor Palin relayed the message to our waiter, and he had one of the servers bring me the coffee. The decor also gets an A+ from me - it was beautiful! I'm sure I'll go back to Estia. Other than my run in with Gov. Palin, I had a lovely time. In fact, despite her lack of customer service skills (maybe she's just as inexperienced as the other Gov. Palin), I'll give Estia the full 5 stars. Great food, atmosphere and company - what else can a girl ask for?
(5)Johnny I.
It's pricey, no doubt because it's across the street from the Academy of Music. You're going to the opera? You'll probably have dinner here first, lured by their prix fixe menu (which looked awful, based on observing a group near us who ordered from it). The crab cake served atop lentils is delicious. The three-days-marinated lamb chops are above reproach. The fig gelato is a thing of beauty. The wine list has like, a 400% mark up and the service is a little sloppy (e.g. having to ask for a knife, waiting for dishes to be taken from the table, stuff like that which in a cheaper restaurant is easy to overlook, but in a place where dinner for two is going to be $200 is annoying). The food is very good, but not amazing. Overall, it's overpriced, but very convenient to the Academy of Music.
(3)Bob K.
So, is this place worth a visit if you don't eat much (or any) fish? Sure! I picked up my wife at the airport, and suggested we eat in the city before heading back to our DE home. "How about finding a little Greek place" I suggested. She whipped out her Treo and found one of the priciest places in the city right off the bat. Well done, honey! Just kidding, I was in the mood for something upscale, anyway. So she ordered nothing but hot and cold mezedes (non-seafood related), and I got the basic kotopoulo. A good selection of Greek wines was available, and the prices for those did not seem outrageous, considering I'm used to paying $10 for a martini or an imported bottle of beer at some local joints. We will probably go back here the next time we are in town for the theatre.
(4)A K.
This is an excellent restaurant, even for Greece. The food is top notch. The service is outstanding. The atmosphere is cozy. The place is clean and inviting. Menu is a bit pricey, but as far as Greek food goes, it is worth the price. You will not find better Greek food in Center City, if not Philadelphia. Estia is the BEST. I'm Greek. I've tried them all. I wish my wife and I could afford to eat whatever we wanted at Estia every single week. We totally would. Instead, we frequent another restaurant owned by the same family, which is less upscale. The food there (Pietro's) is also excellent.
(5)Mark M.
We had a great pre-theater dinner here on Saturday night. My friend ordered the theater menu (a boring salad and a really nice souvlaki). I started with olives and feta and had the salmon. The salmon was perfectly done and came with a nice portion of spinach. We thought the food was excellent and the room is really pretty. Our server (Rachel) was absolutely fantastic and helped make the evening really enjoyable. This is a great spot for a delicious, friendly meal before the theater.
(4)Anne M.
Had a wonderful experience at Estia. We had a party of 10 and our waiter Michael was amazing! He was super attentive and gave great recommendations. I had the romaine salad and sea bass which were both delicious.
(5)Stephen S.
Excellent Mediterranean fare. Solid menu with a good albeit Greek wine list. We had our second birthday dinner here and were delighted again. We sat in a side room with a single large table for ten, which set us aside from the loud dinner room which made for a great night of conversation and let us enjoy our meal even more. Appetizers included a fried cheese plate (which I loved), grilled octopus (which was tender, delicious, and awesome too), squid stuffed with cheese something over greens (yummy), feta and olives, pita and hummus. Dinners included lamb chops (marinated for 3 days with lemon and olive oil - yum), lamb shank (so tender - wow), langoustine (so sweet - so much better than lobster), and Black Bass baked in a salt crust (pretty presentation and quite delicious). The wine list was very limited to almost entirely Greek wines, but we had three bottles of one from Nemea that had "velvety tannins" - cuz it was great and only $55. Desserts were also very good. They were generally variations of phyllo dough, honey, nuts, and custard. Mine was a tall custardy version that was great along with a very respectable cup of cappuccino. Our waitress was also very good. Thumbs up all around.
(4)Wanda M.
We have been going to Estia for years. We go there for drinks, lunch, snacks, and dinner at least 10 times a year because it is so convenient to shows and performances. Estia is a solid, solid retaurant, whose management is smart enough to not mess around with a menu that works. So they have all time winners, such as the fried cheese, Estia chips (to die for), moussaka and other mainstays that have become comfort food for me. The wait staff are efficient and pleasant. Service is invariably very good, although it can get pretty darn busy here. The wine list and the Greek wines are excellent. As long as Estia's is there, I will be going to it. I may not be Vetri's, but it is dependable and predictably solid. Like a comfy home.
(4)Ariela M.
I love this place! It's fine dining outside of the traditional stuffy steakhouse atmosphere - with all the good parts of the "fine" dining preserved! The atmosphere is fantastic - the place feels like you are on a ship in the Aegean or in a Greek marketplace. The live traditional Greek music is amazing, and I love the fresh food displayed in the entrance hall. The service is also terrific - they are attentive, polite, and knowledgeable about their food and wines, and food is brought out promptly but left on the table long enough for a comfortable meal without any sense of being rushed. And the food and drinks - incredible! They have a very good selection of beverages, especially wines - both "regular" and Greek. The food - starting with the appetizers - the spanakopita is so tasty, with the filo dough light and the spinach/cheese mix creamy without being heavy. The grape leaves also have an incredible flavor. I'm not a seafood eater, but my dining companions also loved the pan fried calamari. The entrees are all great - the place is heavy on seafood so that's what most of my friends ate and they all loved their meals. I got the lamb shank and it was cooked perfectly, and the wheat pasta with tomato sauce and currants was an amazing combination - hearty without being heavy, and both a little salty and a little sweet. I loved it! The walnut honey cake and the baklava were also very yummy, a perfect end to our dinner. I will definitely be back!
(5)Susan Y.
The ambience, the service, the food, the wine-- all EXCELLENT. It was a bit pricey, but totally worth it t go. We sat in the upper deck, corner nook right by the window and watched the theater crew across the street setting up for some musical while we dined. It was a perfect nook with a great view of the bustling street. If you have a group of at least 5, ask for that table! I had their lamb shanks and despite the fact that I have never ordered lamb for myself EVER, I took the chance and did. I DID NOT regret it! The server also recommended a wine to go with, and it was a perfect pairing. For dessert, I went for the "healthy" option of getting the yogurt fondue-- umm can I say DELICIOUS? I love freshly made, real yogurt, and they make the real Greek yogurt! It was really thick and tart and delicious with the loades of fruit they give you to dip in it. I am itching to go back-- can't wait till my next visit to the east coast just so I can eat there! I was even thinking of getting a hotel close to that restaurant next time just so I make sure to make a trip.
(5)James C.
My wild salon was awesome! It is juicy and tender!
(4)C K.
Greek food in a really fancy setting. Everyone liked their meals, but not so much for people who are not really for sauces
(3)Nicholas O.
quoted 20mins for a table after 45 mins we gave up. Staff was good management was full of excuses. My advice? less cologne there buddy.
(2)elanya m.
Great food and service along with a wonderful atmosphere...had octopus and lamp..superb
(4)Meghann p.
what a great place. (even for restaurant week) We went 1.16.11 The spanikopita was so tasty and a great portion My dad got a greek salad which was very good My dad and I got the lamb which was out of this world. Seriously loved every bite. My mom decided on one of the whole fish that is similar to a sea bass. So delicious and light. Our server was so nice and my mom forgot her glasses and he brought her a pair to borrow so she could read the menu. The only negative I would have would be the three hostesses who were the least unfriendly and would not put a smile on their face. It was almost like they were being forced to be there. The place is decorated nicely- looks like a great place to work. I am looking forward to going back again!
(5)Evelyn K.
I like it, but they always burn the outside of the souvlaki (shish kebob), so if you don't like burned food (like me), then avoid this particular dish. I really like the fresh fish and produce that are displayed on ice. Dining room is rather HUGE - good for groups. Bar is not good for drinking, more for waiting for the rest of your party to arrive. A couple of the people that work there are a little strange, but harmless. Food is good because of the quality of the ingredients and not so much because of the quality of the preparation, which could be improved. They could also work on their reception. Appetizers are delicious - probably the best part of the menu!
(3)Kimberly S.
I have a friend that is Greek (born and raised)and recommended Estia. I figure, if she thinks it's awesome Greek food, then it must be. I came here for RW and months later am finally getting around to writing a review. I haven't forgot about you Estia! Next to Union Trust, Estia may very well be the most gorgeous restaurant in Philadelphia. I wish I could live here. I love the iced seafood/fish market display featured in the restaurant. It's such a creative touch that adds to the atmosphere. The downstairs rooms are just as beautiful and inviting as the upstairs, if not more so. We were seated in one of the front rooms with a big flatscreen HD tv on the wall. I thought the tv was out of place and a bit tacky, but the only thing playing was a video of several aerial views of gorgeous scenery in Greece. I was mesmorized by this damn video. I couldn't take my eyes off of it and it made me want to max out my credit card that moment on a spontaneous trip to Greece. Tv aside, we were pretty impressed by the Restaurant week dinner. I had a lamb shank dish that was the softest, most tender piece of meat I've ever had. It was delicious. I think I will even go as far as to say that the roasted chicken my bf ordered was the best chicken that I've ever had, too. It was soft and tender, full of flavor and had a perfectly crisp skin. They did a great job on the protein entrees. However there was a little hiccup in our dinner. For an appetizer, my bf ordered the fish soup of the day. Turns out the fish was, for lack of a better word, gross. He said it was definitely not fresh and smelled and tasted terrible. We let the server know and he was very apologetic and hospitable about the situation. After speaking to the kitchen, he agreed it was bad, too and sent us out a new dish. I hate embarassing restaurants like that, but at a place like this, bad fish should never be served. Luckily, it didn't ruin our experience. I have learned that Estia features a $30 3 course pretheatre dinner all the time. To me, that's a great deal that I will definitely be returning for. So if you want a little taste of authentic Greece then check out Estia.
(4)hilary m.
The fish at this restaurant are incredibly fresh. they fly some of their fish in from greece. they cook the food here to perfection, not over-spiced. the decor is amazing. The staff also know how to entertain without being over the top. I highly recommend Estia.
(5)Lisa M.
If you are in Philadelphia, and you enjoy Greek food, you have simply GOT to try Estia. I was in town last week for a convention, and even though it was tough to find a front runner in our choice for the best restaurant (Philly has got some great ones!), Estia did nudge itself into first place pretty easily, with Fogo de Chao being a close second, which happens to be a chain, but I didn't know that beforehand. Anyway, back to Estia...AMAZING!! First, the restaurant is gorgeous and homey. The hostess was friendly and accommodating, and our old-world style waiter, Sarki (sp?), was just fantastic. He was very friendly and very happy to help us decide what to order. After telling us his grandfather would roll over in his grave if we didn't try this dish or that (how could we have that on our heads!), we took his recommendations and could not have been happier. Everything we had was delicious. EVERYTHING! Have the Greek salad, the stuffed calamari, the zucchini and eggplant chips...OMG! BONUS: the three-course theater menu is VERY reasonable! Enjoy. I will definitely be back! It was a wonderful experience. We felt like we were in our own dining room enjoying a wonderful feast I didn't have to cook or clean!
(5)Hunter B.
I've been here twice now and Estia is 2 for 2. It's an excellent place to get a drink and a quick bite at the bar as well as have a full meal. On our first trip, we were pressed for time and wanted just a little food to get through a play without our stomachs growling. We sat at the bar and had some mango caipirinhas and mezedes (small plates). The dolmades (grape leaves) and pikilia plate (tzatziki, htipiti, melitzano salata with grilled pita) were delicious. We knew we had to return for the full menu. With more time on our second trip, we experienced the first-class service the restaurant offers its guests. It definitely adds to the overall value of the meal. Speaking of value, the pre-theater prix fixe menu is quite a deal at $30. The grilled pikilia (octopi, calamari and salad), fish of the day (branzino) and karidopita (Greek cake) were all perfectly prepared and timed. There are other options for the first and second courses that made it a tough choice, but it doesn't seem like there are many wrong choices to be made here. Also, though we went with the cocktails, Estia has an extensive wine list. Estia's striking interior design is also worth noting. It's a feast for the eyes, from the bar and lounge area through the open kitchen and the fresh fish station to the multi-tiered restaurant area under the stone ceiling. There's also an attractive wine cellar and private function room downstairs. A note about parking: Estia validates for the Bellevue lot but only for three hours. So if you're catching a show after dinner, you might try parking at Symphony House instead and get another cocktail with the cash you'd save.
(5)Annie P.
I had brunch here and it was beyond my expectations for a Greek restaurant. The food and cocktail was delicious and reasonably priced. The wait staff was attentive and helpful when we all picked our meals. The interior of the restaurant is beautiful and if you sit by the windows you get a really nice view of Locust St.
(4)Adam P.
I went to a party at Estia today. A Greek-style brunch was served, with dolmades, souvlaki, grilled vegetables, hummus, and more. All of the food was quite tasty and the service was great. While the decore wasn't worth photographing (i.e., this isn't a Steve Starr place), the restaurant was very elegant. All in all, it was a very pleasant and tasty brunch. This place seems like a great choice to people headed to the Kimmel Center or opera.
(4)Anjali M.
I went here with a friend and was satisfied with the service here. We ordered Estia chips as our appetizer which were absolutely great to munch on alongside our bread. We both got fish entrees and both were pretty good. Mine was not as flavorful as I would have liked, thus I knocked down a star. Unfortunately I don't remember the name of the dish, I feel like I got the halibut or something like that. But other than that, it was a great place to eat. It was quiet, the decor was nice, the service was kind, the place was clean, and for a dinner on a weeknight, it was great. I would definitely come here again.
(4)lawrence w.
Three and 1/2 hours at the matinee "Carman" across the street made the 4 of us ready for some good food, and Estia didn't let us down. Great fresh food well prepared. Unless you are a 350 pound linebacker, split a salad with someone else in your party. They are huge! The service was a tad slow, but what the hell.
(4)lauren z.
If I were basing this solely on food it would be 4.5 stars. Everything was delicious! My friend ordered the grilled calamari for the table. Normally I don't care for it grilled and find it to be very chewy, but this piece was great. It was the least chewy I have had and it was stuffed with some cheese which made it even better. I ordered the chicken dish for my main course. It was half white / half dark meat. I don't care for dark meat but I would say to be fair if it is your thing it was cooked well and I had no problems with the dish in terms of execution. I also sampled some of the fried cheese appetizer that was offered. I found it to be heavy and maybe a bit salty but I think that is fair game for a giant chunk of fried cheese (you get what you're ordering). The only "miss" food wise was one of the add ons to my friends dinner, I don't know what they were expecting but they essentially got steak fries with a few flakes of grated cheese on top. They tasted fine but didn't really go with the rest of the menu. If I were basing my review solely on service I would be giving Estia 2 stars. We were meeting a friend here for a birthday dinner. There were 14 people total for the reservation that started at 8. People came in staggered but the restaurant was empty (random Wednesday night prior to Christmas). Seven of us sat for a good 20 minutes before getting water... we were interested in ordering drinks but never got the opportunity. Then when the table was complete by 830 we continued to sit without order drinks (or food) for another 20 minutes. At this point the waiter came over and took 4 peoples drink order and walked away? It was confusing at the very least... Someone eventually got him to come back and he took an additional two orders before walking away again. Finally at about 915 every had a drink (mine was finished at this point since I was a lucky one who got served in the first round). Anyway after we got drinks they finally brought over some bread -- if you're doing the math that is one hour and fifteen minutes of sitting without food. I was very happy that the food orders ran much more smoothly than the drinks, he took everything at the same time and food came our relatively quickly. We were done with our reservation by 1030. All in all it seemed like he was annoyed by a large group, which I guess I understand since it is a lot of work, but on a dead Wednesday night with gratuity included in the check you'd think he could have faked it better. Anyway, at the end of the day I would go back, but probably would max out with a party of 4. I think the large group flustered our waiter and things might be better with a smaller party.
(3)Lisa S.
I have only ever eaten at the bar and had small plates. The grilled octopus is the best in the city (sorry Dmitri's, someone finally one-upped you) and the salads are all great. My only complaint is that the wine selection is a bit limited and overpriced. Great for pre-show dining.
(4)Elena S.
This is an excellent place for a group dinner, place to take your parents, business lunch, or intimate date. It is large, but also has plenty of intimate booths and tables for a more romantic feel. The best thing about this place is the fish. Some of the highest quality fish in the city, and simply but well prepared. The fish baked in sea salt is probably my favorite, although the sea bass and the snapper are also fantastic. Their vegetables (esp their Greek salad with those delicious tomatoes) are also fresh and delicious. Highly recommend the zucchini chips and with the dill yogurt sauce. My biggest complaint about this place is the service. Although fairly prompt and not rude, it is somewhat lacking in terms of professionalism. The waiters don't quite seem to know how to handle/speak to patrons at a (relatively) fine dining establishment. For the prices they charges, I think patrons expect a bit more from the waiters. I think it would make the experience a bit more pleasant if the waiters were a bit more polished and courteous. Other than that, I think this place is excellent, if slightly pricey. They are frequently out of various fish dishes, but I chalk this up to the fact that they only serve very fresh fish so might have a limited quantities of each.
(4)Darlene P.
Had a most wonderful dining experience at Estia. The fried calamari is so light and perfectly prepared. Souvlaki was perfect. Wine list was excellent. Had a wonderful refreshing Greek wine. What is also critical is the professionalism of the waiter. Andreas was superb. It was like he was orchestrating a symphony. He just made the meal extra special. His conversation and responsiveness made this experience memorable. I will definitely return to Estia again for the food, dining experience, and professionalism and sensitivity that is lacking in other restaurants, but is alive and valued in Estia. Thanks Estia and thanks Andreas.
(5)Ari P.
Solid Greek food with nice ambiance.
(3)Becky S.
This was good but pretty standard. I ate in the downstairs area - very nice/formal set up. The atmosphere was more of a dry formal than a trendy formal - very serious. The food was great. I had salmon which I would recommend.
(3)Kate T.
We came here based on a recommendation of one our friends, who is Greek. We were not disappointed. We shared the octopus for appetizer. They were amazing. For $18, you were served a big plateful of grilled octopus. I could eat the entire thing by myself. For the main entree, we both had fish. I had the lavraki and my husband had the tsipoura, both which were really good. We would definitely come back again.
(4)Chillumgod V.
The restaurant is designed beautifully and pretty much had a full house for Wednesday evening. The crowd was mostly families and big groups, which older demographics. A vibrant atmosphere and decent service. However, I was somewhat disappointed with the food. The Octopus was chewy and overdone and order the recommended Lamb Chops which were very well done and lacked much flavor for anything that had claimed to be marinated for three days! The worst was getting the cognac XO served in a cheap Irish pub tumbler glass! - Something you just don't expect from a fine dining restaurant. On the flip side, the deserts were awesome.
(2)Gary S.
Had been wanting to try Estia and finally did last night. Have to say started off on the wrong foot because they did something many restaurants do which I HATE - try to seat you in the worst table near the kitchen when half the place is empty. Waiter was actually very good, in an amusing opinionated way - was not shy about his recommendations. Definitely did not upsell. In fact he steered my wife away from a glass of wine my wife was going to order to one he felt was much better AND was less expensive. Food was good but not excellent. Seafood was fresh and well-prepared, but just somewhat uninspired and, frankly, overpriced. Might return for a pre-theatre meal if I am seeing something at the Academy but otherwise don't think I would eat here again.
(3)Aasima A.
Have been there a few times, and have always been happy with my service and my food. I learned that LOVE octopus there, really its good. The downstairs is beautiful and I've always wanted to have a function there. Avacodo with shripm and apple salad, any of the fish, the lamb, the spinach pie, the stuffed grape leaves, and any of the vegetarian dishes. The servers are all beautiful but more importantly knowledgeable about the food, the ingredients, and the drinks. Perfect place to go before or after a show. Parking is a pain though because they don't valet or validate parking, but if you want some good food that is healthy, estia is definitely place to go.
(5)Julie M.
Pre-theatre dinner. Catch of the day was excellent and just enough. Partner had the lamb. Presentation needs a change, but wonderfully flavorful. Walnut cake dessert was fantastic. Fruit with yogurt & honey was good but not all the fruit was fully ripe. Had a super waiter but the staff serving the dishes was not as good. Romantic setting if a bit loud. We will go back again for sure.
(3)Vicki Z.
Stuck in Philly by the snow last December. Had to choose somewhere close to the hotel for lunch. Then we went to Estia. Food all very tasty not so delicate though. Had the jumbo prawn, grilled calamari and a fish, all very tasty. Had a traditional greek dessert Baklava very very sweet. You pick up the seafood and vegetables you want to eat which makes you feel more connected to your meal. very big place, the waitor is funny. Overall a pretty good meal.
(4)richard s.
Had a good experience here. The fish was superb. You select your fish on the bed of ice in the display and they cook and present it. Baked in salt, the fish came out moist, flaky and tasty. Appetizers were good as well. Wine list was extensive although we had to detour the waiter from selected something we did not want. Nice decor like a wine cellar and I will return.
(4)Shirley F.
Im not sure why Craig LaBan and other major reviewers arent sold on this place. Is it because of comparisons to other Greek Restaurants? I have no clue. But Im here to tell you that this is the best place Ive been to for Fish in the Philly area. Service is outstanding, the Octopus is cooked perfectly, and the place itself is beautiful. I suggest going as soon as possible.
(4)Holly L.
I went here yesterday for a Restaurant Week lunch. They first brought out the warm bread (sourdough, I think), accompanied by this deliciously creamy hummus. I had the soup for starters (it had lamb balls and bit of a creamy broth with a lemony and dill flavor to it) - very good! Main course was the fish of the day, a sea bass over grilled vegetables. Not too fishy, but the vegetables had the consistency of being soaked in butter and water all day, very limp. I like the fish, though. Dessert was this ginger cake with walnuts with a scoop of vanilla ice cream on the side. The cake was pretty dry, which was wet a bit by this pool of what tasted like sugar water - very strange. I wouldn't recommend this dessert, but the other food was good.
(3)Adam S.
I was really surprised by the unprofessional wait staff at Estia, especially considering the cost and location of the restaurant. They were like a bunch of high school kids working at Olive Garden in the 'burbs. The food, however, was pretty high quality. I had the stuffed calamari for an appetizer and the swordfish as an entrée. The food was delicious and the atmosphere was okay, but the inefficiency and indifference of the two people who served us made the meal seem waaay overpriced. Given all the great restaurants in center city, this would not be my first choice.
(2)Alan K.
GREAT FOOD and GREAT SERVICE
(5)Austin K.
After my posting the management went out of their way to resolve my issues by taking care of my dry cleaning expenses and issuing me a gift card. Has been quite an ordeal but I'm glad that they did the right thing.
(3)Asia T.
This restaurant was amazing. The humus tastes so good. I ordered salmon for dinner and it was delicious. The fish is very fresh. We had the shrimp appetizer and it was very tasty. I didn't enjoy the drinks. I had a lycheetini and it wasn't that great. The service was amazing, although the waiter kept suggesting delicious meals and we couldn't turn them down. After salads, appetizers drinks and our entree our bill was pretty large. Well worth it though!
(4)marci s.
I was there for a party and if I lived here I would go there often. Everything we had was so good
(5)Andrew P.
Dinner with a few techies here the other evening was fantastic. The fixed price menu was affordable yet elegant. Delicious, fancy food.
(4)Audrey J.
Went to Estia last night with a couple friends. We had a glass of wine and share a few appetizers... the food was delicious, the place is beautiful and the staff very nice. But when the bill came up to be over $100.00 I suddenly wondered if it was really worth it. And I'm not sure it is.
(3)Ryan C.
Wonderful Mediterranean style food. The decor is very reminiscent of actually being there. While the staff is most likely straight-off-the-boat. The fish is fresh, and the Langostinos were awesome. We really enjoy this place as a family. They have good wine selections, and good food options. Make the waiter laugh a bit, and he'll be really nice and treat you like family.
(4)Jim H.
This was my first experience with Greek food, so I wasn't sure what I would think of this place. As I expected, within a few seconds of looking at the menu, I knew I would have to be a bit adventurous with what I ordered - you won't find the ubiquitous chicken parm or cheeseburger being served here. Not even a caesar salad! No worries though...choosing among the several salads on the menu, I ordered their "romaine salad", which turned out to be every bit as delicious as the best caesar salad I've ever had. Along with that came the Estia chips. If you've read any other reviews about this place, you'll already know that these things are mighty tasty...a definite must-order if you eat here; just try not to stuff yourself before the rest of the meal. For the entree, since I had to order into uncharted territory no matter what, I thought I'd try the Chilean Sea Bass. It seemed pretty popular, so why not!? Well, it turns out I didn't like it....it just a very fishy-tasting fish, with a bit of a mushy texture. Nope, didn't like it. In all fairness to Estia though, I don't think I would like sea bass from any restaurant - it's just not my thing. (I did eat every bit of it, however, because I certainly wasn't about to waste expensive food at a restaurant like this)! I finished off with the chocolate souffle dessert, which was so good I wish I had ordered two. Seriously. Two. Now others have said the wine is "overpriced". Oh yes...at about $13 a glass, it is certainly expensive, and will quickly skyrocket the bill for a larger group of wine drinkers. But I'm using the word "expensive" rather than "overpriced" for a reason. This is all Greek wine, and I'm really not sure what the restaurant has to go through to bring this wine in. If they're importing it, it's easy to see where this price hike comes from. However, I could be totally wrong, and the wine really is just absurdly, ridiculously, monumentally overpriced. I had the "Gaia Notios white", which was great, but if I go here again, I think I'll just stick with water or iced tea. Drinking wine here is a great way to transform this place from a "$$$ restaurant" into a "$$$$ restaurant". Lastly, it's a very cool restaurant atmosphere, and the service was nothing less than great...every bit of it. Give it a try!
(4)DaFree R.
Very good. Try some Greek wine. I didn't expect much from it, but was pleasantly surprised. The service can be a bit rough, but the food is very good.
(4)Bizz M.
the service here is top notch. our waiter was very helpful and on top of empty glasses all night. i'm not the best at these reviews because i usually like everything and don't remember any of the names. i do remember the bill being quite expensive for 4 people but that didn't deter from a night of great food.
(4)Kelly S.
This is a fantastic Greek restaurant in Center City. I went here for a special event, catered in their private room downstairs, so I can't comment on the prices. But the Greek wine was fantastic, and the waiter's kept it flowing all night, without even having to be asked for refills. The appetizers were good, and I had a delicious white, flakey fish for dinner. Yum. I loved every bit of my meal, and it was all light, refreshing, Mediterranean fare, so I didn't feel stuffed and icky afterward. I'd definitely go back here for a normal dinner anytime!
(5)Frank H.
Preshow dinner at six. The room was spectacular. Was not expecting anything like it. So we were seated at six. Took the waiter 10 minutes before his first visit to our table. We ordered a bottle of wine and waited another 10 minutes before it was placed on our table but un opened for another 10 minutes. So a half hour has gone by and all we have done is opened a bottle of wine. Our waiter Kevin had three tables. One of the tables was a six top, and did seem to be high maintenance. Service did not get any more attentive as the night went on. We had the grilled octopus. Fantastic! And the three humus spreads. Very good. For dinner we had a whole grilled fish. Very good. The salads and the sides are Alacarte. We split the romaine salad and the roasted potatoes. Both were decent. So now it is 20 minutes before showtime and we have no time for coffee or dessert. This does seem to be a common theme for preshow dinners at Estia. That is why I thought I was giving us plenty of time by making my reservation at six. Wrong! They are very busy. But when you are dropping $250 on dinner I expect really good service. Not excuses. With all that said, I would go back.
(3)Jay W.
Restaurant week review! I started with a nice malbec (and a generous pour at that). The first course was the octopus served over onions. The octopus was well cooked, wasn't overly chewy, and had a good amount of woody flavor to it. I would happily order a large plate of this as an entree. My main dish was the lamb chops served with roasted potatoes and tzatziki. The lamb was very well cooked, the dish came with three nice sized chops. The meat was well cooked, a nice earthy taste to them. The potatoes were well cooked. The baklava was not layered, it had dough on the top and bottom, and nuts in the middle. I prefer when baklava has many layers of dough and nut. The taste was good, but it was not my favorite of this dish. Typically, I am not a fan of the decor of Greek restaurants. I often think that they look kind of cartoonish and cheesy. However, this place has a classy look to it. Our service was friendly throughout and answered questions for us.
(4)Tonya M.
So good! The server was kind, helped us with the wine list and recommended some awesome appetizers/entrees to pair with our wine. Can't wait to take the family here!
(5)Matt K.
I have been here twice in the last month or so, mostly entertaining friends who like Greek food from out of town, and a few times in the last 5 years also! Our friends have universally said that the food is good. The service is consistently professional, and often you will get a friendly, engaging sort of server. On our last visit, she took care of us, including an old geezer who was cranky. The Estia chips, made of zucchini covered with a light batter and deep fat fried, are a must. A light style tzatziki dipping sauce rounds them out. Estia has a number of classic Greek dishes on the menu, and all that I have tasted are at least passable if not inspired. It is not easy to make simple Greek dishes divine. But the best thing to order time after time is a fresh whole fish. They usually have at least 4 different fishes to choose from. They will even bring the raw whole fishes out to your table for you to view. It is always cooked to perfection, simply, with an olive oil and lemon and caper vinaigrette. The wine list features a lot of Greek wine, and some of it is fairly good. The prices here are high, and that detracts somewhat from the overall experience.
(4)Flavia C.
Another rest meal at Estia. I am on a cleanse and can eat so few things. I was trying to figure out if there was anyplace I could go. It was the perfect place! Ordered Bronzino, when you order the whole fish it's so delicious you don't miss that there is no marinade the lemon and olive oil are perfect! Grilled veggies & lots of water. Healthy great meal. Jessica was a delightful server, so friendly & helpful and didn't even look sideways when I listed all the things I couldn't have:). Definitely returning soon.
(5)Christina V.
I've always walked by this place and thought, "Oh poor restaurant! It looks like it used to be something fun, shame no one goes in here." The restaurant would probably look back at me and sing "you lil stupid ass B, I aint f'n with yoouuuu" Yea - I can admit when I'm wrong. I am such a fan of Estia after coming here with a group of friends for dinner during Restaurant Week. There were 6 of us total and everything from start to finish was divine! Once we walked in we noticed a HUGE fish display which was incredible and I am sad I didnt creep over and get a picture. The interior of the restaurant is so amazing and very large. We were seated promptly for our 8pm reservation and greeted by our own star of the night - our server Randall who came fully equipped with a set of vocals he was not afraid to share with our group. A+ and 5 Stars for Randall and his amazing voice!!! (Keep reading to learn more about Randall and his ceremonious Little Mermaid routine...) Food: Bread and hummus for the table which was gone within minutes. For a sharing appetizer off the restaurant week menu we ordered the Saganaki. Not sure if they normally bring this out on FIRE, but we asked our server if it could be served this way and he gladly obliged. Cue Alicia Keys: "This cheese is on fiiiiiiiiiiiiiire, this cheese is on fiiiiiiiiire" Needless to say it was ah-ma-zing! Once we devoured the cheese, our waiter came and took our three course orders. I ordered the octopus salad, the lamb and the ekmek for dessert. The octopus salad was one of the best I've ever had. The octopus was perfectly charred and the portion size (especially for restaurant week) was enough that I didnt mind handing out a few bites. Also, sidebar-as I mentioned to our server Randall that I was totally eating Ursula from the Little Mermaid, you bet your ass he broke out in to song hitting every note from "Poor Unfortunate Souls". Life = Complete. Lamb- incredible. Directly from the menu the lamb is "marinated for three days in olive oil, lemon and fresh herbs served with potato tiganites and tzatziki" I wish I could bathe in the tzatziki sauce. My lamb was cooked just as ordered. (Note: what a steal for RW (I'm sure the ounces are cut back but) this dish is priced as $39 normally.) Dessert- Ekmek. Sounds like something you cough up when you have the flu, but this was so light and creamy- I should have ordered one to go. It's pistachios layered between kataifi phyllo (no idea what this is), custard and whipped cream. Although I didn't order the baklava, after reading reviews on it- I plan to come back and try it. Summary, I LOVE Estia and am SO happy I decided on this place for a RW pick. Bring some popcorn and have your Disney DVD's on standby if you get Randall as your server because you're definitely in for dinner and a show.
(5)B K.
I have been here twice, first time was okay nothing that great. Second time we went with our seven year old and I was very pregnant and we were told that it would be hours before they could seat us. I felt something wasn't right I assumed it was because our entire wasn't the typical fancy restaurant(keep in mind I was huge pregnant and nothing fits right). We left and I decided I'd call just to see what their wait time was and was informed they would be able to seat us right away. Never going back. Didn't even taste like authentic Greek food and for that price it better taste like yiayia's!
(1)Sheila D.
I went to Estia for a Restaurant Week lunch, and I definitely don't understand the hype about this restaurant. Maybe it's the fact that the menu is very toned down and casual for lunch, but I don't think there was anything truly substantial and unique about Estia, even compared to the local Greek restaurant around the corner. I went with a large group of people, and all of them shared equal sentiments as I did. Although the ambiance was really nice, and the restaurant design and lighting were really elegant and beautiful, the food could have been much improved. Again, this review is based solely off Estia's lunch/brunch, and the dishes themselves may have been much better had we gone for dinner. Most of my friends ordered the Fried Calamari, which honestly didn't taste like any sort of special Calamari - I've had the same style and flavor of Calamari at many other Japanese restaurants, so this dish definitely didn't stand out at all. Most of my friend opted for the Lamb Pita entree, and because I don't eat meat, I had to go off of their judgments for this review. They all thought that the dish itself, though it had a large amount of food, seemed too casual for the restaurant to be serving; it came with french fries for goodness sake! The pita itself, as I was told, tasted just like a $7 pita from a lower end Greek restaurant. I was pretty disappointed to hear those reviews from Estia's food, since I had heard pretty good reviews from some friends who had gone before I did. Instead of ordering from the Restaurant Week menu, I opted for the Champagne Brunch. I had the Avga Spanakia (basically just an omelet) with the Bellini as my drink, basically a peach champagne. To be completely honest, the omelet tasted just like an omelet that I could have made at home that was placed into a cast iron skillet. The potatoes on the side were no different from any breakfast potatoes from any breakfast diner around the city. I really didn't see anything special about the dish or the meal other than the nice ambiance. Overall, I was pretty disappointed with my experience at Estia. I had much higher expectations for the quality and flavors of the food, especially given the price and the fancy atmosphere of the restaurant. Definitely do not recommend coming here for lunch or brunch - there are much better options in Philadelphia.
(3)Kimberly A.
Very dramatic decor. Pricey ($46 steak). Food was mediocre at best. Looks better than it tasted. For the prices, I expected it to be top notch! Best thing I can say about it was they had a good bartender who knew how to make a good mojito!
(3)Andrea S.
LOVE LOVE LOVE this restaurant!!! The quality and taste of food is so fresh & flavorful. And always consistent. MUST try the octopus & Chilen Sea Bass! Best seafood in Philly!
(5)Evan F.
Definitely a fan! I've been to Estia twice, and really enjoyed both occasions. The restaurant is beautiful inside and out, and the bottom level has a private-dining wine cellar as well as a space for private events. Each time I visit, I'm continually impressed with the quality of the food and the attentiveness of the staff. I highly recommend the moussaka and--when available--the branzino special. I'll definitely be back!
(5)Victoria L.
When you walk in, you're immediately transported from Locust St to somewhere breezy and romantic. The restaurant was dimly lit and we were seated at a table separated by a curtain with pillows on the booth side. We passed by an impressive seafood display on the way to our table, which enticed us before we even sat down. I sipped on a refreshing gin cocktail while browsing the large menu. Everything sounded delicious, so we asked our waiter for suggestions. He said he had just eaten here with his family recently and told us their favorites, as well as taking how hungry we were into account. We decided to start with grape leaves, which my boyfriend was craving. Then we got the lamb chop and lavraka fish to share. Much to our surprise, the delicious crusty sourdough bread came with hummus. I guess we're used to olive oil at higher-end Italian restaurants and butter at French restaurants, but this was a new level of satisfaction of complementary bread. Having only eaten Asian meat-stuffed grape leaves, I was pleasantly delighted by the rice-stuffed Greek version as well. I could've used more tzaziki sauce because I could eat that stuff with a spoon. Luckily, the lamb chops came with more! It was a cool contrast to the perfectly-cooked meat. The Australian variety they use is crazy flavorful without being overly gamey. Dare I say it... It may have been the best lamb I've ever had. The lavraka came to the table filleted in two pieces on separate dishes for us. It was served with a crisp lemon herb seasoning with salty capers strewn on. While simple, it boasted all the right flavors. At the end of the meal we were full but considering how great everything was, we couldn't resist dessert. We went for simplicity with mixed sorbet (lemon) and ice cream (pistachio), which didn't taste housemade but were enjoyable enough anyway. The bill was pretty high at over $100, plus tip, for the two of us. We felt the food was worth it, though we wished it was more accessible and could come more often! (Explains why everyone else in the place was 50+ though.)
(5)Natalie K.
This place was great! I took my parents here for lunch when they decided to visit randomly one weekday. It wasn't too crowded for lunch time, so it was nice to get to try the restaurant with the full attention of the wait staff. They sat us by the big windows overlooking Locust St. There was a ton of sunlight coming in and it really made for a pleasant dining experience. We had the Estia chips to start - crispy zucchini and eggplant served with a tzatziki sauce. I thought they were really good! I would recommend that for an appetizer for the table. For my main course, I had the crab cake burger. I thought it was pretty good and it was a nice, lighter option for lunch time. My dad had the beef souvlaki and he thought it was OK, but not the best. My mom had the Arugula salad, which was fine. The bathrooms are the floor below the main dining room and so you got to check out the private dining room that they have for large parties downstairs. I thought that was a really nice option and my parents made a mental note for the next time they were in town with a few of their friends.
(4)Allison B.
When it comes to dining experiences, I've definitely had better. A friend and I went to Estia on Friday night before a show at the Academy of Music. I was pretty stoked- despite walking by Estia hundreds of times since moving to Philly, I had never been. We walked in and our server, Patrick (I only know his name because it was on our bill), asked us what we'd like to drink before we even had our coats off. Um, can you give us a minute? I asked if it was still happy hour. "I have no idea if it's still happy hour," he said in an unfriendly tone. "Happy hour is only at the bar." We sat down, I opened my menu. "HAPPY HOUR IS FROM 4-6PM" it said. ...how did Patrick not know this? When Patrick came back, he asked if we had any questions about the menu. I asked if he preferred the fresh fish of the day, or the shrimp souvlaki. He said "shrimp souvlaki" so fast and without any sort of explanation-- I was afraid to order the fresh fish. Yikes. Kelsey and I were doing the pre-theater menu, which was three courses for $30. I had heard so much about the baklava at Estia and wanted to try it, so I asked if I could swap baklava for one of the pre-theater menu dessert offerings. On the dessert menu, the baklava was the same $7 that the walnut honey cake (an option from the pre-fixe) was. I didn't think it would be a big deal. "I don't make the rules here," Patrick said defensively. He explained some simple math. "It'll be a $4 upcharge for the baklava." I said that was fine. Our appetizers came. Dips + calamari. They were decent. Kelsey and I both really enjoyed our shrimp souvlaki. They shrimp come grilled on a skewer with a tower of orzo on the side. The orzo has melted feta mixed throughout- really tasty. Dessert was walnut honey cake and baklava. The cake was a little dry. The baklava was great! It ended up being a $5 upcharge. Patrick only checked on us once, and only seemed gracious when he brought the check. Other than that, we seemed like a bother to him. I'm not writing off Estia entirely, I would just stay away from this server. He made our night out on the town a little less than pleasant.
(2)Jenna H.
Octopodi and the pan-fried cheese dish (don't remember greek name) were incredible. The lavraki was so flavorful. The baklava was unforgettable - not too sweet and syrupy like it is sometimes. A little pricey but perfect for restaurant week!
(5)Diana H.
This is a beautiful restaurant, and great for a date night. M. surprised me with reservations for a Saturday night, and so we went and got ourselves a Greek meal. For the appetizers we had calamari and the sardines. The calamari was delicious and fresh. The sardines were not really anything special but I'll always get sardines when I get a chance to, and what can you do with them really? Besides using some salt and lemon juice? Love them. For the main I had the lamb chops. M. had the lamb shank. Yes. We are big on lamb. Both were really good, the meat was soft and tasty. We got Greek desserts, although I don't remember which ones. I do remember mine lacked sweetness but I will say I'm a sweet tooth. The only thing about our Estia experience is that our server was a bit weird. He had explained the specials of the day after we had made our choice from the menu. Why not do this when you hand out the menu in the start? Also, after we finished our main courses, he asked if we wanted coffee or tea. M. then asked if there was a dessert card. It was as if it was assumed we didn't want dessert. Don't get me wrong, I would gladly come back here (or try one of their other restaurants). It's just that staff was a bit awkward at times.
(4)Tarini S.
This place is really outstanding. You really know a restaurant has great food when you can be extremely satisfied despite only eating a meal of side orders! I got the spinach rice (tastes much better than it sounds - trust me) and grilled vegetables (standard, but good). My mom got the roasted chicken entree and it came on a delicious bed of yogurt orzo with caramelized onion and a thyme jus. That one bite of chicken was possibly the best I've had in a long 'thyme' (haha)! The ambience is a little more sophisticated than I'm used to for my age group - but it was great to bring my mom here for dinner. The only negative part of my experience is that we kept getting interrupted with people asking whether we're done. 4 different guys came to ask us within the span of 30 mins!! Before you think it, NO the place wasn't full. There were plenty of open tables and no guests waiting to be seated. (This is why I had to knock off one of the stars from my rating.)
(4)Chris S.
Everything on the menu is great, but try our faves: The grilled octopus and beet salad for starters. The roast chicken and the salmon for the main. The staff is friendly and quick -- I wish they knew a bit more about the culture and food, but they were very courteous and the food remarkable.
(4)Doina N.
Many thanks to Estia and the manager last Saturday night for pulling out to serve us dinner 10 minutes before the kitchen would close. I made a reservation to Estia for 10 PM thinking that the show at the Academy of Music was going to be over by then. Well, I was wrong! I called to postpone 30 minutes and the hostess said that kitchen closes at 11PM. Show didn't finish until 10:45 and we were starving. My boyfriend would not go anywhere else because he was craving hummus and pita bread. Ugh! Most likely, we were one of the first few people to go down the steps from the amphitheater. We were quick. Made it at the restaurant at 10:48. Obviously, the hostess notified us again that the kitchen would close in a few but we were able to sit. God knows how many servers were mad at us when saw that we grabbed a table. However, one of the managers made sure that we got served, left happy and satisfied. Immediately, they brought the fresh pita bread and hummus. We devoured on both of them and ordered our main dishes as fast as we could. They brought us a second round of very warm pita with hummus. We felt a little inappropriate since it's not like we wanted to have them work extra on a Saturday night which is the busiest day of the week. But as I mentioned above, our food cravings were too strong. My boyfriend ordered a fresh Louvraki (This fish made it's way from the Mediterranean all the way to Philly! Yay!). He liked his dish very much. I ordered a moussaka since I haven't had this dish in a very long time. I couldn't finish it for three reasons: I ate too much hummus and pita bread, portion was a little too big, and it's a heavy dish from all the ingredients stuffed on top of each other. Certainly, it was delicious. There's an option of a three course dinned for whoever saw a show at the Kimmel Center or the Academy of Music. It's well worth it for $30 per person. The restaurant inside is very spacious, decorated in details to give the Greek vibe. I would recommend asking them to sit at the booths - they're pretty comfortable and more private. I'm sure that I'll be back here very soon after another show or maybe for brunch. It's a lovely spot. Whoever, thinks that's not top notch may be right - but gotta be a fan of the food they serve to really appreciate them.
(4)Amanda N.
I am torn between 2 vs 3 stars. I really don't like giving bad reviews. The restaurant week menu felt uninspired for our large group this past Sunday. I was excited to order the soup as it was a cold rainy day. It reminded me of a play on congee rice porridge which was ok tasting overall but I wouldn't order it again. BF's salad was very simple and plain: greens and balsamic vinaigrette. The winning appetizer would be the crunchy fresh delicately coated calamari. The tile fish entree was bland to our group as well as the lamb pita. The dessert was our least favorite as it was a very simple slice of almond cake with a teeny butter-sized scoop of ice cream that honestly overall felt like an afterthought but I grew up in a bakery so my standards are a bit pickier for dessert. With some extra sauce or salt the entrees would've been more satisfying. We ordered off the restaurant week menu an appetizer which our waiter forgot to put it. That was the only dish that seemed up to par quality-wise with our expectations however it arrived way after we finished our entree's and by then it only added to the downhill experience here. Service was fair despite our forgotten appetizer, being splashed a bit of water during a refill, and once when the waiter dropped the butter knife next to my foot (luckily I was in rainboots and he had "poor aim"). I am sad that we had such a lackluster experience here despite the good yelp reviews.
(2)Giuliano P.
Estia is top notch! Fresh amazing seafood where you know you pay for quality. Took my father here Monday for Father's Day since we all work on Sunday. Staff is friendly and accommodating and we we're very comfortable. My father is a stickler for food and it's hard for him to go out to eat, but estia delivered. Started with the octopus salad which was so good we had to order 2. Flavorful and cooked perfectly. Also had the fried zucchini chips which were so light and fresh and not filled with oil. We also had lagostinos which are probably my favorite thing in the world. My mother had the lamb which is incredible; nice size portion tender and juicy and the greatest part not overally gamy which most lamb is. I have the lavarki which was a massive whole fish but it was perfectly cooked and not dry. My father had the black seA bass and my brother had the halibut. They seemed to enjoy it very much. Dessert was balaclava and a chocolate suflee. Although they can't make an espresso (most places can't) it was a great evening and I'm so glad that I finally got to try the place. I recommend 100%
(5)Rome S.
There food and service is amazing. Unbelievable Mediterranean food that brought me back to my vacation up Greece last year.
(5)Sari A.
Not my favorite, Expensive for the quality of food. its not bad but not top notch, either. I went there once and i don't think i will go again. Service was not excellent on weekend lunch- they were not super busy, only three other tables besides us. Overall, I was not impressed. Two Yelps!
(2)Aditi M.
One star for ambience and one for the server .. Food sucks !! I went there for valentines day dinner and I ordered lamb chops - medium done and they came rate cooked !! It just tasted burnt with no flavor .. Sorry can't forgive a Greek place on messing up the classic Greek lamb chops
(2)Dave B.
My friend and I decided to try this place out during Restaurant Week on a Thursday evening. It was particularly busy in there considering the light snow fall that evening but we were greeted warmly and seated fairly quick. Our server was pleasant, she introduced herself and provided water, immediately. She was able to provide a great cocktail recommendation that we thoroughly enjoyed. We informed her that we were doing the restaurant week menu and she suggested that we order different items to share, which was a great idea. We started with Spanakopita and Octopodi. The Spanakopita was ok, not the best I've had and definitely lacked some taste. I loved the grilled octopus, perfectly seasoned and cooked. For our entree, we had the Kotopoulo, an organic roasted chicken over orzo and Lavraki, a whole grille Mediterranean Sea bass. These two were great, seasoned well, deboned and great portion. Both of these items were perfectly cooked and moist. For dessert, we had the Yogurt Mousse and Ekmek, a Kataifi phyllo topped with custard, pistachios, whipped cream and more pistachios. I wish we would have ordered two Yogurt Mousse because that was worth the entire dining experience, alone. We did not care much for the Ekmek. I think I would come back again but in this city there are a lot of competitions for amazing Greek food. It wasn't the most amazing Greek food but at the same time, we had a great time, the server was wonderful and the meal was decent.
(3)Fred P.
In town for a conference and decided to hit this place up for lunch. Staff was nice, and the decor was wonderful. I had the crab cake burger. Delicious, although I didn't eat the bun because it was somewhat thick. The fries were amazing. We skipped dessert as we had no room. Would definitely go back next time I am in town.
(4)Sarah T.
The atmosphere very romantic! Feels like you were whisked away to the Greek islands. The food is okay, I wasn't blown away. We went as a big group and got a good table. The drinks were very good but service was a little slow. Its a nice spot and would maybe give it another try.
(3)Susan M.
Presentation is everything at Estia! The decor, the waitstaff, and the plating - the entire experience is meant to impress! It's an excellent choice for a pre Kimmel Center or Academy show! They have a broad menu, as well as two Prix Fixe options including a $30 business lunch, and a Sunday Brunch. We opted for the Sunday brunch. I highly recommend the poached eggs with spinach and bacon. It was beautifully plated and savory! The breakfast potatoes were crispy and well seasoned and the filo cup made for such a beautiful plate I almost didn't want to eat it! Seating is plentiful, but different levels and rooms help keep the noise to a minimum. Sometimes it's packed, and others not so a reservation is definitely recommended! The bathrooms are stunning and well worth a visit even if not necessary! The service is friendly, and handsome to boot!
(4)Heather V.
Yum! Very high-end Mediterranean place! It was a nice change of pace from the mom and pop restaurants. Although I do like the family touch to meals! Great service and awesome audience! Oh and the food was amazing! Yum yum!
(5)Marthy S.
Center City Restaurant Week brought my date and me here for dinner. Upon walking up to the restaurant I noticed they have outdoor seating which is always a nice option for diners. The restaurant architecture on the outside is brightly lit up like a classy broadway theater. Inside however the restaurant decor takes on Greek charm that I perhaps would expect to see if I was actually in Greece. I loved the blackened steel gate that opens up to the restaurant. Had to wait about 10 minutes for them to clear our table even though we had a reservation and we were the only ones waiting for a table. Oh well no worries. Just an observation to point out. As we walked to our table we noticed their fresh seafood on top of ice, on display for all to see. (Nice detail Estia!) The restaurant itself is romantically dimly lit. (Hopefully I didn't distract too many patrons with my camera flash....SORRY! I was doing it for the love of Yelp!) Service was spot on. Server was attentive and friendly, offering up suggestions and keeping an eye on us, making sure we were good on drinks. FOOD TIME! Really loved their selection of dishes for their RW menu. FIRST COURSE: Date ordered Soup of the day - a spin on Italian wedding but "Greek style". The meat balls consisting of beef, lamb and rice and were in a chicken broth. Waaaay too salty for either of us. I ordered the Octopodi which is grilled octopus served over red and sweet onions. After eating this I realized the only way I like octopus is sushi/sashimi style. The flavor was lost in the grilling but the texture of the octopus was there. SECOND COURSE: Date and I split the Lavraki (whole grilled Mediterranean Sea Bass topped with ladolemeno and capers - this dish does not come with sides and the server let us know that which we appreciated) and the Arni Paidakia (lamb chops servied with roasted potatoes and tzatziki sauce) Both were very good. The Lavraki comes de-boned, and is very light and fresh. (I think most people might be used to a fattier Chilean sea bass. The Lavraki is lighter almost like tilapia) Definitely needed the lemon to add that acidity and the capers also helped to add more of that flavor. The lamb chops were a bit too fatty and I wouldn't order this again if this is the case, off the menu. They were also more overcooked than we'd like them to be and we did ask for them to be cooked medium rare. I'm guessing they rested too long. The potatoes were nothing special and the tzatziki was really good...more creamy than what I'm used to but flavorful. THIRD COURSE: DESSERT!!!!! We each shared one of each: Yogurt Mousse (Greek yogurt whipped with fresh cream served with figs baked in samos wine) and the Baklava (layered phyllo with almonds in a honey syrup). BOTH WERE SOOOOO GOOD! One of the best Baklava's I've had..nice and simple. The Yogurt Mousse presentation was a bit wonky but the flavors were all there. Good combo to have both desserts. Overall I don't think I would come back here but it was a nice dining experience since my date and I both love Greek food. I would recommend this restaurant to people who love Greek food and want to take someone on a classy date.
(4)Demetra T.
Came to town for a conference and have been to this place a few years back. A few work colleagues got together for dinner. The food did not disappoint- it was just as I had remembered. We ordered as family style so that we could taste a variety of item on the menu. Everything was fresh and the waitress was phenomenal. She helped us order just the right amount of food and even persuaded the chef to make a dish that is not regularly on their dinner menu. All the food was very authentic and tasty. The saganaki cheese was perfectly cooked and was an exciting dish that came out with a flame that the waiter turned off with lemons. The lamb chops are great as was the calamari and octopus which was very soft and delicious. For desert I highly recommend the karidopita walnut cake. It was moist and just perfectly soaked in honey. I would highly recommend this place if you are ever in downtown Philadelphia.
(5)Sarah A.
An absolutely perfect private dinner spot. The downstairs space is lovely (and accessible with elevator for those who cannot manage stairs) and secluded from the upstairs restaurant. Knowing how fantastic the food is as a regular diner, I was apprehensive about any restaurant's ability to match itself "in bulk," but man did Estia deliver. Every dish was perfectly seasoned and delicious! I especially loved the beef souvlaki skewers (good cold for leftovers!) and the Greek fries, which I'd added to our menu because of the few kids who would be in attendance, but really, who am I kidding, mostly because I love fries! They were perfectly Greek with a sharp white cheese sprinkled over them. Even the baklava was terrific (and I'm not usually a baklava lover): not too saturated by honey, phyllo quite light and crispy. Yum! The staff were all lovely: and so very helpful. And they didn't even seem to mind that a few tables lingered past when we had the room for! Thank you for such a great time, Estia! I know re-visitors to Philadelphia will return, as will I!
(5)Renee B.
Beautiful restaurant! I dined here during restaurant week and enjoyed it. Chose the vegetarian options that were offered on the tailored menu, which were delicious. Would like to go back when I can choose from the full menu.
(4)Kelly A.
Recently visited with some friends for restaurant week. We had the octopus and pan-fried cheese apps along with the lamp chops and whole fish for our meals. The meal was lovely and our server was pleasant (although not very attentive which we attributed to restaurant week). The lamb chops normally would have been $42 and their entrees are all $30+ without sides generally. It's not unreasonable for the area but it does seem a little pricey for a meal we thought was not very special. Cocktails are standard for the area $10-$14. We probably won't be back but I wouldn't discourage someone from trying it at least once.
(3)Steve D.
I can only go with 4 stars at this time as I only grabbed a bunch of starters at the bar after the orchestra. the restaurant was packed and the vibe was well managed. They clearly know what they're doing as far as crowd control in this place. The Octopus was quite possibly the best I have ever had, and the mussels were great too. Also had fried eggplant, spanicopetta (?) fried calamari, and a bunch of drinks. They have a 30$ pre theater menu that's unbeatable, and after seeing the fish offerings, I know i'll be back for another round at Estia.
(4)Sarah L.
My review may be a bit biased since my meal here was paid for by the CEO of the USA Pavilion at Helexpo 2014 (a trade show to be held in Thessalonilki: profile.helexpo.gr/profi… ), so I didn't have to think about price when reviewing the food. For starters, I tried the spinach appetizers and that was pretty delicious. The crispy outside layer complimented the spinach paste on the inside well. For my main dish, I had the bass which tasted amazingly fresh and was prepared really well. Because of my dietary restrictions the plate in general was a little bit too oily, but I think for anyone else it would have been fine. The walnut cake for dessert was absolutely amazing! Again because of dietary restrictions, I had to avoid eating the overly moist and icing parts, but I think any normal person would probably think that was the best part.
(4)Catherine Z.
So happy I chose Estia as the place to attend during Restaurant Week. I was part of a group of 7 people who love to eat. We enthusiastically shared our plates across the table so I was able to sample almost every dish on the RW menu, plus some. I started off with a soup as my appetizer. I can't remember the name but I know the broth was supposed to be lemony... it was not, and I was disappointed. Fortunately the rest of the appetizers were exquisite! Calamari, octopus, Greek salad, Spanakopita... yum. Let me say I am not a seafood fan at all... I was shocked to find I actually enjoyed the calamari and octopus! They were cooked perfectly, not rubbery like I've experienced in the past. The Greek salad was delectable... the menu says it's dressed in red wine vinegar but it seemed to be more than just that - it was so flavorful! The Spanakopita was also very good. We were also served with complimentary small plates of perfectly tangy hummus and warm pita. I chose the Arni Paidakia for my entree - "Lamb chops marinated for three days in olive oil, lemon and fresh herbs served with potato tiganites and tzatziki." The lamb was cooked perfectly with mouthwatering seasoning and the tzatziki was the perfect compliment. I wasn't enthused about the potatoes - they were so salty that they were almost unpalatable. Instead I shared the most savory side of carrot mashed potatoes... I swear I still dream about those potatoes. So good. I was able to sample the chicken and eggplant which were both delicious. Our waiter was on point - he handled our larger party with ease, answering our questions and never wandering too far out of reach. He suggested various Greek wines for us and kept it flowing throughout the entire meal. For dessert I had to get the traditional Baklava which was honestly some of the best I've ever had. It was obviously very fresh - not soggy at all, crisp phyllo dough and perfectly sweet honey and nuts. Estia is beautifully decorated and has an intimate, upscale feel. It was perfect for our group but I would love to come back with my boyfriend for a romantic meal. There are so many other dishes I'd like to try, and with what I experienced during Restaurant Week I am confident I won't be disappointed at my next visit.
(5)Carol C.
BEST. LAMB. IN. PHILLY. We ordered the lamb shanks, octopus, greek salad, and baklava. Honestly, the greek salad and baklava were nothing special - definitely not worth the price tag here. But, if you are planning on dishing out some money, then the LAMB is definitely worth it. Ever since eating their lamb shank here, everyone else's lamb taste like garbage. If rating the lamb alone, they would get 5 stars, but service was not holding up to the level of their lamb.
(4)S L.
I had a dinner alone before the musical. Service: I set at the bar because I didn't have reservation. Somehow the bartender was not happy or not really happy to work. She did check up on me middle of the meal, but I felt she was doing it 'because it is a rule' or something.. Food: The salad was great. Of course, you can't go wrong with that. The Chicken dish was alright.. Normally those quarter chicken is moisten but it was dry.. The orzo was pretty good, but I really wanted to change the flavor at the middle of the main dash. The main was ok, but I wanted more flavors. At least they provide some gravy or something. Positive: She made a pretty good Mojito, but her service was not pleasant. My bill was about 50 dollars and gave $10 tip. Negative: I wish to try other dishes, but because my first experience wasn't that satisfied, I won't recommend this place. I have no idea how others rate this place with 4-5 stars. You've need to be honest please..
(2)Sonal T.
Went here for Lunch on a weekday. People are very hospitable. Great food indeed! I am a vegetarian and I got some good salad and soup options to try from. A little delay happened during the billing since I guess the place got a little crowded by then. Nevertheless, I would love to go here again. To the ambience I would give a 4 on 5 for its interior concepts.
(4)Jennifer C.
This restaurant is absolutely stunning. There are a lot of components to the design and layout and I wish I had more time just to look around and appreciate the decor. We came here after my college graduation and were seated at a beautiful table by a window. It was very intimate and allowed for privacy without having us feel like we were forgotten by the staff. Our waiter was very very attentive and friendly but bordered on being a little bit too attentive. The food was great but I think I was expecting it to be a little bit better. I had the business lunch - Octopodi was fresh tasting a beautifully played. The whole fish, Bronzino, was perfectly cooked. The best part of my meal was the dessert - baklava. Overall I would absolutely recommend this restaurant to anyone who loves Greek food or is looking for a really lovely dining experience.
(5)Kathy P.
Beautiful interior. Arrived for a very late lunch about 2:30 on a Friday. Only about three other tables occupied plus a few people at the bar. We were given a great table right by the window. Service was very attentive and the food was delicious. I went with a Greek salad topped with fried calamari. The salad was huge. My husband got the fix priced lunch. He chose the soup, which was a light tomato base with pieces of halibut and veggies. He loved it. He picked the fish of the day which was sea bass. Very reasonable lunch for $17. Wonderful experience for lunch!
(4)Michael G.
Came here after a show for the price fixe $30 menu. The flavors of our meals were outstanding. The lamb was so tender, and everything else we had no compliants about. Even the mojito was good! Absolutely, a place to return to.
(4)Nick G.
I have to say, their food is quite delicious. Beautiful decor as well. Me and some friends split some appetizers and the hummus was amazing. I will say if you are on a budget then this place may not be for you because everything is very pricey. Great for groups though and if you want to go for a special occasion or to impress someone then I would highly recommend this place.
(4)Angela A.
My husband and I ate here, for the first time, last night, before going to the Ballet. We had a reservation for 5:30, and we were seated right away. My husband and I ordered the Greek salad, and the Lamb Chops. The salad was very fresh, and seasoned perfectly. The lamb chops were very tender, almost melt in your mouth, and had a great seasoning on them as well. My husband, who doesn't even like lamb, enjoyed his dish and said it was the best he'd ever had. The service, however, left much to be desired. We didn't order alcohol or dessert, and we felt like our server was not interested in waiting on us and we felt rushed. He didn't communicate with us, and every time we needed something, we would have to hunt him down much to his sour look on his face. I agree with a former yelper when they said that the wait staff just seemed very unhappy to be there so I deducted a star for the poor service. All in all, we will be back. The food is delicious, but the service has a lot of improvements to work on.
(4)Anne K.
Came here for Restaurant Week last month with a girlfriend. We were shooting for variety and ordered the following: Spanakopita (spinach pie with feta, leeks baked in homemade phyllo) Octopodi (grilled octopus served over red and sweet onions) Arni Paidakia (lamb chops served with roasted potatoes and tzatziki) Galactobourico (Semolina custard wrapped in phyllo with orange, lemon zest syrup) Baklava (layered phyllo with almonds in a honey syrup) I don't have that much experience with Greek food and it's not one of my usual go-to cuisines, but I had a really enjoyable dinner at Estia. The octopodi was my favorite dish of the night - it was perfection! I could have easily eaten another plateful. The spinach pie was good, but if you need to choose between one or the other - I'd recommend the octopodi. The lamb chops were excellent as well - the creamy tzatziki sauce really mellows out the stronger flavors of the lamb. Our only complaint was that the roasted potatoes were over-salted. The other dessert was okay, but I LOVED their baklava. I've never had good baklava before (it's always been too soggy for some reason...) and I was really pleased with Estia's rendition. Just the right amount of nutty and sweet, and the flaky phyllo really held up against the syrup.
(4)Therese M.
Greek was my boyfriend's cuisine of choice for his birthday dinner this year. His bday also happens to fall during restaurant week and I knew Estia would be the perfect place to take him. We took advantage of the RW menu and really enjoyed what we ordered. This was the grilled octopus and sea bass for me, salad and lamb chops for him. Grilled octopus on a menu is a no-brainer for me and they do a great job preparing it here. The sea bass was delicious.. it was light and pretty much just melted in your mouth. Judging by his reaction to the lamb chops, he was more than happy with his meal. As far as RW goes, Estia is definitely somewhere you get your money's worth and then some. So worth it. Another successful bday / restaurant week dinner for the books!
(5)L S.
I FINALLY got to try this place. I've been wanting to try Estia for MONTHS! On Sunday my fiance asked me what I wanted for dinner and I said "Estia!" We got there around 8:30 PM, it wasn't very many people which was fine to me it made the experience that more initmate. I ordered from the Theater Menu ( Appetizer-the spankopita, lamb meatball, spring salad. Main Course- Chicken. Dessert - Fresh Fruit). My fiance got the steak. He devoured his steak. My meal was very enjoyable. The Service was really great too. As a side note this may be one of the few places where I didn't really want to leave the ladies room it's so unique and kinda welcoming lol.
(4)B. R.
My boyfriend surprised me with reservations to this restaurant on a Saturday evening. We had a wonderful seat off to the corner, in the back, it was super cozy and the lighting was terrific. It did get loud at times which can be somewhat distracting. Our waiter was very nice and he had great timing. I have never tried Greek food before so I took quite some time deciding what to order. For starters, we had the ESTIA MEZEDAKIA and Grilled Shrimp, which was delicious. For our entree I had the Salmon and my boyfriend had the roasted chicken. The salmon was perfectly cooked and not overly seasoned. I am not a big spinach fan but it paired very nicely with the salmon. The roasted chicken was very tender and was good as well. We finished it off by sharing a slice of KARIDOPITA. All in all it was pretty pricey because I veered away from the theater menu, and also had 2 glasses of wine. Very nice place to go to when you are looking for a nice dining experience but I wouldn't recommend going often because it can get pretty pricey really quick (unless of course you got it like that).
(4)Aniece M.
Okay.. so I recently got into Greek food and let me just say, I'M HOOKED! Estia was my first real taste of it and it's honestly where I always compare other places to. My first time was around Christmas 2013 after watching a show right across the street. We picked food from the theater menu cuz it seemed like the best deal. The food was amazing. I can not stop thinking about the delicious fresh hot pita bread and hummus they serve you as you sit down. Ugh! I've been back a couple times since December and it's been a hit each and every time. I've tried different things from their lunch menu and those are also very good. I honestly think that the best burger I've ever had was from Estia. Yes, even their burger is amazing! Their prices can be pretty steep.. but honestly, I'd pay it for some really good food. The atmosphere and ambiance is very soothing and just so beautiful inside. If you are ever in that area and want to try something new, check this place out.
(5)Reem C.
I've always loved Greek food and looked forward to dining at Estia for the first time. I decided it would be a great place to take my wife for her birthday. We began with Spanakopita, which was excellent. It was large enough to share between two people. My wife ordered Plaki, which is sea bass in a sweet and savory tomato sauce, with onions, tomatoes, green peppers, carrots, potatoes, capers and thyme. It was very delicious. I ordered Arni Piadakia, which is lamb chops that have been marinated for three days in olive oil, lemon and fresh herbs. In my opinion, Estia has the best lamb chops I have ever tasted. If you like lamb chops, I highly recommend this selection. You won't be disappointed. My only suggestion is different potatoes. The potato tiganites is basically French fries. For dessert, we shared Karidopita, which is a traditional honey walnut cake. It's very sweet and tastes like it was soaked in honey. We both loved it. It was accompanied with a scoop of vanilla gelato. I would be remiss if I didn't mention the great service our server, Mark, provided. He took the time to explain a lot, made recommendations and much more. It made our great dining experience even greater. I definitely plan to return again. Next time, I'll take advantage of the theatre menu.
(5)Shauna G.
Despite what its somewhat cheesy looking sign and kind of awkward location might lead you to believe, Estia is quite fantastic. I've now had two phenomenal experiences here (one during restaurant week and one on Valentine's Day) and I have to say... yum. So what's delicious? Well, everything I've had is great, but a few things rise to the top... Appetizers - Saganaki (this is a no brainer... fried cheese? Duh), Estia Chips, Spanokopita Main Dish - LAMB CHOPS, all the way Dessert - Chocolate Soufflé Drink - Who knew Greeks made wine??? There was a Greek white that tasted very much like a Sauvignon Blanc that I enjoyed. Also, the bourbon cocktail on the list is a winner. The moral of this story? Don't judge a book by it's cover... or a restaurant by its signage.
(4)Nnaemeka C.
The ambience was good. The waiter was very courteous and knowldgeable about the menu. The food was very good and was as advertised.
(4)Kate F.
The complimentary bread and hummus is the perfect way to start the meal. I am used to eating store-brand hummus, so their homemade hummus was definitely a treat. The spanakopita tastes like the spinach pie that I tried in Greece, and the country salad ranks as my favorite offering on the menu. The highlights of the salad were the imported tomatoes, which were bright red, juicy, and sweet, and the feta cheese. The grilled salmon, served with wilted greens, was great as well, but I prefer to order an appetizer and salad. I am absolutely in love with the decor - stone ceilings with chandeliers, wood floors, and booths with pillows. I recommend making a reservation, as they get quite busy around dinner time, especially after shows at the Academy of Music. They also serve brunch, which I look forward to trying.
(5)Ann V.
Estia is beautiful and has the perfect ambiance. They makes me best octopus appetizer I've ever tasted. It was tender and juicy! I could seriously have 10 plates of it. Yum yum yum. Octopus....
(5)Rebecca H.
My husband and I tried Estia last night for restaurant week, and we absolutely loved it! We were happy that the meal started with some complimentary bread and hummus! It was tasty. The restaurant week special started with an appetizer. I tried the octopus, and it was interesting. My husband had the halibut soup and enjoyed it. For our entrees, we both got the lamb. It was absolutely delicious! I wasn't much of a fan of the potatoes that the lamb was served with, but my husband liked them a lot. For desert, I tried the baklava, which was tasty. My husband tried another dessert- he enjoyed it. The service was very good. It's a lovely place to go if you're looking for an excellent meal.
(5)Ray M.
Great atmosphere and wonderful knowledgable servers. Always a pleasant experience. I recommend the New Zealand mussels.
(4)Veronica D.
Estia is a precious jewel. I will always have a special place in my heart for Estia. Up until now I have not written a review. I somehow overlook it. I come back to Estia again and again. Great location for going to Kimmel Center and Academy of Music shows and they do have a prix fixe theater menu. Everything is fabulous about this place. The food is always perfect Greek high-end fare. The staff is pleasant and attentive and the decor is beautiful. The upstairs restaurant space is huge yet gives and intimate feel. Some of my favorites are the Estia chips (lighted fried thinly slice zucchini), the Estia salad (Tomato salad with a scruptous dressing and the octopus appetizer. Always a treat are their whole fish. The lamb shank......wow...delicious. They do have the standard Greek dishes. On December 31,2011, I had my wedding ceremony here. In the lower level there are 3 rooms for events. One is a wine cellar that holds 12-15 people. There is another area with a large anteroom and 2 smaller rooms beyond. We combined these 2 rooms of and had our wedding ceremony there. We begun the evening as the guests were arriving for the pre-ceremony reception in the ante room with the bar with cocktails and hors d'oeuvres. (i, the Bride, had not arrived. My husband to be was there nervously awaiting my arrival but mingling with the guests.) The we move into the beautiful large room. We did not add any decorations at all. No flowers. No anything and the room still was beautiful and special. We had about 125 people and it was very comfortable for people sit at the tables and a dance floor in the middle. We rung in the New Year right after our ceremony with our guests. My husband and I joined the party upstairs for a while. They were partying hard-Greek style-and we joined in the dancing and everyone in the restaurant celebrated our marriage-upstairs and down. We had a buffet which was so reasonably priced and overfilled with delicious treats including traditional Greek dessert pastries. (You know how many places raise their rates for weddings? Estia DOES NOT do that and they over delivered on food and service despite that it was New Years Eve and there was their own major event going on upstairs) We planned our wedding in October and 2 months later we had such a memorable event with the assistance of this restaurant and its staff especially Anastasia. The restrooms in the place are great. There is an elevator to get to the lower level. Always done very well. Everything. So when you come to Philadelphia and would like delicious food and a special experience for a very reasonable price, Estia is the place.
(5)Mary W.
Dinner on a Saturday night here but not the best experience we have ever had. Our waiter appeared several times in the first 10 minutes of being seated and then was hard to find for the rest of our dinner. Three of us took advantage of the Theater menu (fixed price). Portions were really small and the food was just OK. Desserts were extremely disappointlng. Fruit plate contained a small slice of watermelon and 2 pieces of cantalope rind. Very pricey, extremely loud, and not worth it.
(2)Barak B.
Not bad but for the price I would expect more. The fish however is really good. Had a bottle of santorini white wine which was not that good. Would consider giving this place another try.
(3)Kristin W.
We needed a spot for a pre-theater dinner and Estia was a perfect option based on its location and good food. We both opted for the $30 theater menu and shared our dishes. The Romaine Salad was nicely chopped and dressed and the Spread Pikilia had a good assortment of spreads and the right ratio of bread and veggies for the dips. The Fish of the Day was a European sea bass and was cooked very nicely (although the fillet was a little small). We loved the flavorful Arni Trahana and the accompanying pasta. A round of Karidopita (which tasted like banana bread that had been soaked in honey) finished off the satisfying meal.
(5)Luba P.
This is one of the nicest looking restaurants I've been to in the city. It feels like an Old World kitchen with a tons of character. Great place for a rehearsal dinner or big group party since they have huge rooms that close off down stairs. However, the food was just OK. The hummus sampler was just average. My fish was really oily and the vegetables were really mushy and flavorless which was disappointing. The best thing was definitely the pistachio dessert. Overall we had great service, just wish the food was a bit better!
(3)Jim L.
Went for brunch. Food was so-so. Service was absolutely terrible. When our food was delivered, pancakes, omlets, etc. we asked for two things for the food, jelly for the pancakes and salt and pepper for the omlets. The waiter said they had very few salt and pepper shakers, and No jelly. He said that he couldn't take the time to look for them. I guess they really don't need the business.
(1)Kess M.
Great Mediterranean food with a very friendly staff. Nice date spot
(5)A B.
Note to self, if a friend in the industry says it's going to be good, always go! A friend did me a solid by suggesting Estia and it was both cozy inside with pro waitstaff, and the food simple, straight and delicious. We stuck to five apps which was a feast for two but worth it. Definitely still thinking about the mussels, the veg chips, and the calamari!
(4)Frank F.
Superb food. Slightly cheesy decor - trying a little too hard to seem "authentic". But seriously superb food. And they stock Bluecoat gin!
(4)Brittany Y.
Came here during restaurant week and had a great experience! The service and food were amazing. I was with a party of 11, which can be a handful-- our server was great, and everyone's food came out perfectly cooked. I would recommend starting with the Estia Chips, they are simply delicious!
(5)Justine W.
Went there twice. Love it!
(5)Lana L.
This is a fancy schmany Greek restaurant with good food. It's a little on the pricey end, but on par with other Greek restaurants I've been to. I love how they provide complementary hummus and bread after you order because I was pretty hungry and the hummus was yummy. Everything we ordered was satisfying. I got my usual grilled octopus and fried cheese. The octopus had the right amount of chewy texture and smoked flavor. We also ordered the brazino/fish of the day and splurged on lobster. The fish was soft and crispy in all the right places. And you can never go wrong with lobster. Lastly to finish our meal, we got the ekmek dessert..while I like the cream on top, it was just "okay" for me. I would definitely come back for a special occasion.
(4)Grace C.
My first Restaurant Week venture fall 2013, and I was not disappointed. I'm a huge fan of Greek food, so Estia was pretty darn perfect. I went with a date who also loves to eat, so we had a delectable experience. Started out with cocktails, which were sadly gone by the time I was even halfway through my meal. To start, I had the spanakopita, which was very good. I am hard to disappoint when it comes to spanakopita, but Estia delivered and then some. My date had the grilled octopus, which was amazing. (I was secretly jealous, it was that good.) As a main course, I had the lamb chops with tzatziki sauce and roasted potatoes. I am a big fan of lamb, and these were to die for. My only complaint was the bone that prevented more meat from meeting my taste buds. (Oh well, can't have everything in life, right?) We finished off with baklava. Always a pleaser and a safe choice. The thing about Estia is that it is deceptively big. It's a HUGE restaurant, and you don't notice it from the outside. The space inside is enormous. This detracted slightly from the homey Mediterreanean feel that I think they're going for, but we were seated in a small alcove with a table set with candles, so I think they redeemed themselves. Fair warning--the noise level is high, so don't expect to hold an intimate conversation with your dinner partner. Still highly recommended, however.
(4)Erin N.
I was here for a group dinner and was so, so, so impressed! Our first course consisted of saganaki, octopodi, spread pikilia and the horiatiki salata {country salad}. I will say that the country salad was my favorite part. The tomatoes were so fresh and the dressing complimented the feta and veggies perfectly. The saganaki had amazing flavor, but was a little cold/hard. The octopodi was absolutely delish! For the main course, I went with the filet mignon. The filet was cooked perfectly and the carrot mashed potatoes were so tasty. For dessert we had the karidopita. It was so flaky and gooey with honey. I really enjoyed it! The service was stellar! I'll definitely be back!!
(5)Tim T.
I came here for a lunch date on a beautiful Saturday afternoon and had a wonderful dining experience. If you want to go to a place that serves classic Greek fare, with a comfy feel, and also has professional servers, then go here! We had to try some classic dishes - spanakopita, oktapodi, and moussaka. They have a good selection of drinks and dishes on their menu. They also have fresh fish dishes, and I mean fresh because they get some of their fish shipped from Greece daily!! The octopus is prepared at the restaurant in a special way to tenderize the meat. All I have to say is octo-laundromat! Your server will be able to explain the process. Many places that serve octopus often over-cooks it, not here though!! The dishes were well portioned for lunch and prepared like we were eating in someone's home - very comfy and cozy dining. The food tasted fresh and the flavors were vibrant. The server was interesting and knowledgable. He was very attentive, but not annoying. We finished off our lunch by sharing the galaktoboureko and some Greek coffee - simply delightful. I definitely highly recommend this place.
(4)Stuart M.
Had an excellent dinner with my family at Estia last week. Great salad, delicious calamari, wonderful lamb, and excellent baklava. Phenomenal service. Will be back!
(5)Deb S.
A bit late review for March 2014... however dined here with friends and our service was impeccable. The Beet Salad was very flavorful along with the Asparagus-Halibut combination. Better than average Wine selection and both friends enjoyed their dinner choices of NY Strip and the Arni Youvestsi. I will defenitely return for another relaxing food experience.
(5)Lea T.
LOVE this upscale and modern Greek restaurant, the menu offers a variety of delicious seafood options and the private party room downstairs is GORGEOUS! Completely hummus and fresh bread are too good to resist and options like Greek beer make you feel like your in the Mediterranean. Service is impeccable and fresh fishes are displayed over ice in a section by the open kitchen. Stone decor and heavy wooden tables add to the cozy and sophisticated feel of the restaurant. Ask your server for the many daily specials
(4)Brian S.
A good bet for fresh fish flown in from the Mediterranean daily. To make the most of your visit, I recommend the following: 1. Get the $30 prix fixe pre-theater menu. It's also available at lunch. It's much cheaper than if you order off the dinner menu where fish is sold by the pound. Do order the octopus (the best in town, tenderized in a washing machine). Also order the fresh fish or the lamb shank. Both are very good but the lamb can seem a bit rich because of the sauce. Finally get the baklava or fruit for dessert. If you want to splurge for an additional appetizer, see if they have smelts on the menu or order the Estia chips. But the $30 meal is plenty of food by itself for most people. 2. Ask to be seated in a booth. Much more comfortable, quieter, and intimate. 3. Ask if Saki is working. He is one of the best servers in town and he really takes care of you. He's an older Greek gentleman who really knows his stuff. 4. Check out the bathrooms downstairs. Even if you don't need to use the facilities, they are worthy of a visit because they are quite fancy. 5. While the food is good, try to avoid going at Restaurant Week. It's too mobbed.
(5)Loren C.
What might be the finest Mediterranean restaurant in Center City. The ambiance is perfectly done and the food is fantastic from start to finish. Their fish selection is very impressive and done in a tasteful manner, their dishes are authentic and fresh tasting and their wine list, highlighted by Greek wines, is very good. I have found the service to be good/decent which is what keeps this from being 5 stars. If you aren't a regular or a large enough party, you'll be pushed pretty far down the food chain for attention. That can lead to some ridiculous occurrences; like an order for saganaki arriving cold to start and then being left on the table on fire (as an attorney that's begging for a lawsuit).
(4)AngelofAgony I.
Philadelphia is a place of history and I have a complicated history with Estia in Center City, a restaurant strategically located across from the Academy of Music. I remember it as the site of the elegant Dilullo Centro, hangout of Leland Beloff and Nicky Scarfo back in the 1980s. Later, as a priest, I performed the wedding of two dear friends in their downstairs banquet room. So, it was interesting to go to lunch there yesterday, my first time as a regular diner at Estia, a high-end emporium of creative Greek cuisine. I was immediately impressed with the rustic chic of the room. For appetizers, my hostess and I shared the Estia Chips, zucchini and eggplant fried crispy served with tzatziki, and some grilled and marinated octopus, sliced and served over red and sweet onions, dressed with grilled peppers, capers and red wine vinaigrette. Both were exquisite! For an entree I had a grilled swordfish steak topped with tomato, caper and olive relish and she feasted on marinated chicken skewered with peppers and onions. The mashed carrots were a nice touch. Save room for dessert, they're all fabulous. Fabulous too was our waiter, Brandon. He was courteous, friendly, and attentive. He was knowledgeable about the food and evinced a professionalism that complemented the pretty setting and the standard of the cuisine.
(5)Gary W.
Exceptional food and service. Everything we tried was flavorful and well presented. Would return at first opportunity.
(5)Jenna S.
If you're craving flakey juicy salt crusted fish, this is your jam. So many different fish to choose from, many that I'd never heard of, cooked to Mediterranean perfection. Was with a group of four. Started with the grilled octopus ("the best in Philly" the waiter said -- good but wouldn't say best), and a side of hummus and warm pita. Sides are ordered a la carte -- a thick cut fall vegetable medley and asparagus with feta crumbles. And the fish..... ((((drooling)))) Space is large, but tables feel intimate. Good place for a date or a bit more formal/businessy of a dinner than with friends. Pricey place, but fortunately it was treated. :)
(4)Susan E.
Came here for dinner with party of 7 on a Saturday night. Our first time here. Our server was simply amazing. He asked us if we were from Philly to which we replied No and he took all our menus away and said I'll take care of you. I think he gave us a little of everything that was on the menu: lamb chops, all types of seafood, salads, chicken, dessert. I forgot all the names but everything was DELICIOUS. I believe our server's name is Jamie(I hope I got that right.) He is the BEST. I know I will definitely hit up this restaurant again. I go to a lot of restaurants because I love to eat and love to experience new food. This has to be ONE of my top 10. I was thoroughly satisfied.
(5)Kristie C.
Dip/spreads were a bit too rich for me Tuna was good, spinach that came with it was a little too oily. Baklava /dessert was good Service was quick and friendly
(3)Matthew M.
Excllebt, fresh food, full of flavor. Service was superb. Highly recommend for after theater shows.
(5)Nina D.
Our server, Betty was amazing. She is very knowledgeable of the menu including the drinks. Described everything perfect. I had one of her recommended fish, Barbouni. Never had it before but would tell everyone to get out of their comfort zone and try it. It was delicious!
(4)Nick D.
Best food anywhere...I compare everything I eat to Estia...and so far, no-one has gotten even close...I can just have a sitting on just the appetizers...trust me, try the food and you won't be disappointed...also tried the new one in Marlton NJ (Estia Taverna)...great food as well
(5)Andrew G.
Really terrific Greek food, but at a pretty cost. Well worth the trip for the quality of the seafood, but this is one of those "once in a rare while" kind of places.
(5)Deep S.
If you're looking for a pricey alternative to the Olive Garden you've found it here at Estia. Instead of endless breadsticks and salads you can chose to dine in the dark. Theres a vast selection of overly acidic wines that the bar tender will advise you against getting (the saving grace of this place I suppose). The service was pleasant however the hustle and bustle of constant movement makes it difficult for one to enjoy their meal. We literally were yelling across the table to talk to one another. Our waiter did his best to make us comfortable. If on the off chance we are drugged and brought back to this place we will definitely bring a flashlight and take into account that the fish is priced by the pound (prices end up going up very quickly).
(2)Ai L.
I was in Philly for work and staying at the Doubletree hotel, which is across the road from Estia. After reading the reviews, I decided to try it out! The restaurant itself is very pretty and the lighting great for a romantic dinner. Alas I was traveling by myself, but I still enjoyed the atmosphere. It was restaurant week so the place was packed, but I was seated promptly at my reservation time and I found my waiter Brandon to be excellent! He was very attentive, knowledgable and sweet. I decided to have the restaurant week menu and this is what I ordered: Complimentary sour dough bread with hummus and olives- very yummy, warm and a great start to my dinner Octopodi - grilled tender marinated octopus This dish was excellent! The octopus was so tender and grilled to perfection. It was crunchy at parts but not chewy or dry. The marinade itself was great too. In fact, I used some of the bread to mop up the juices. Arni paidakia - Lamb marinated for 3 days with lemon, olive oil, fresh herbs . Omg I love lamb and this one was cooked to perfection, it was grilled with slight charred pieces, which Iove and cooked medium rare so that it was juicy and pink inside. The seasonings were perfect and I actually sucked the bones dry! Galactobourico Semolina custard wrapped in Filo pastry with an orange and lemon zest syrup By the time dessert arrived I was quite full and so I thought I'd take a bite or two of the dessert. It was delicious and I found myself eating all of it! I would definitely recommend this restaurant to others. The quality of the food was phenomenal and yet so reasonable with the restaurant week price! Loved everything I ate at Estia!
(5)Melissa F.
Beautiful atmosphere, wonderful staff, and delicious food. I absolutely loved it here. The lamb chops were amazing! And the octopus appetizer was also wonderful. I thought he portions would be small, but I was wrong. There was more than plenty to eat, with a lot left over.
(5)Nora J.
Went there for dinner, ordered the theatre special, 30$ for a three course meal.The calamari and octopus appetizers are a must. The main course was okay, I got the chicken with thyme. Cooked very well, but I would probably get fish next time only because it's what they seem to be famous for. Great ambiance, and good location. Service was alright, kind of slow.
(3)Amy K.
I've been here twice. I have no complaints about this place. My husband and I actually got engaged in the private wine cellar downstairs. Service and food is absolutely excellent.
(5)Danan R.
We came here for a banquet on the lower level, and, although the food was good, it was not as amazing as I remembered. We had the hummus, spanokopita, and fried calamari, which were pretty good, and the romaine salad with cheese and dill dressing, which was very good, albeit very heavily dressed. I selected the sea bass entree with sauteed vegetables as my entree and found it to be very bland and greasy, which was a bit disappointing. The ensuing honey walnut cake was very good, though. Service was great and the room itself was lovely. I will still come back for the grilled calamari but probably not on a bus weekend.
(3)John K.
There are many options for pre-theater dining in Philly. You can't go wrong with Sbraga or perhaps you'd like a juicy rib-eye from Ruth's Chris to induce a food-coma before the ballet (I kid, I kid). But if you're looking for a reasonable prix-fixe with well-executed Greek dishes in a beautifully designed space, I highly recommend Estia. As you enter the foyer, it's hard not to notice the clean design - evoking the white of Mykonos, perhaps. The entirety of the main dining area is cavernous and spacious. There's an elevator to access the lower level, in case you can't traverse the stairs. Book your private parties in the wine cellar room - gorgeous! But let's get on with the food! Pre-Theater Prix Fixe ($30 pp) The GF felt like a diet coke and loved the cute glass bottle. To me though, that simply meant no free refills! Womp womp. Mykonos Mojito ($10) Absolut Pear, muddle mint, lime, simple syrup I had to try the Mykonos mojito, if not for the alliteration alone. The cocktail was nice - subtle notes of pear, not overly saccharine, nicely balanced. Hummus Meals commence with complimentary sourdough and garlic hummus, topped with radish and olives. Service is great by the way - non-intrusive and repeatedly replenishing the sourdough and hummus. Spread Pikilia Tzatziki, htipiti, melitzano salata, grilled pita The GF opted for the Greek spread. The tzatziki was creamy and bright with cucumber notes. The hitpiti was delicious - a mix of red pepper, feta, and olive oil. The melitzano salata was a savory blend of eggplant, feta, garlic and olive oil. The pita was nicely grilled and the cucumber and pepper slices had perfect crunch. Estia Mezedakia Spanakopita and feta stuffed meatball with spring mix salad I had this mezedakia/tapas, which included a well-dressed spinach and mixed green salad. But of course, I don't order salads. I ordered this for the meatball and crispy spanakopita, which was filled with spinach and feta. The spanakopita was actually more like an empanada to me as I'm used to phyllo-wrapped spanakopita. The juicy lamb meatball was perfectly cooked and filled with funky feta. Nice. Arni Trahana Lamb shank, trahana pasta, tomato kapama, pine nuts, currants, feta cheese Wow. This well-seasoned lamb shank was served off the bone, but it was no less luscious and fall-apart tender. The trahana pasta was similar to soft couscous - perfect little nuggets to be imbued with the essence of the deliciously tart tomato stew. The pine nuts added texture and the currants provided subtle sweetness. The feta cheese brought a bit of salt on top of the stew - simply delicious. A must order. Kotopoulo Organic chicken, caramelized onion, yogurt orzo, lemon chicken thyme jus The GF went with the chicken, which was moist and juicy. It seemed a bit bland, but when paired with the perfectly crispy, salty skin, a nice bite indeed. The caramelized onion orzo had a depth of flavor that helped to bring this dish home. Fruit Plate Chef's choice of seasonal fruit served with yogurt For dessert, we went with both prix fixe options. The fruit plate was replete with a melange of various fruit, including watermelon and pineapple, accompanied by honey and Greek yogurt. Karidopita Traditional walnut honey cake This traditional walnut cake was extremely moist - similar to a tres leches, without being overly saccharine. Nutty walnuts within helped to provide an added textural component to the dessert. Estia provided the GF and I with the perfect pre-theater prix fixe before we saw the Sister Act at the Kimmel Center. Well-executed dishes, attentive service in a beautiful space. Estia should be proud to be the Greek component to the stretch of Broad Street that strives to represent art and culture in Philly.
(5)Elva L.
This being my top pick for restaurant week after lengthy deliberation, I wasn't as in love as I expected to be. The best thing we had were the scallops that were not part of the restaurant week menu. The tomato and feta sauce was a tad salty, but this was easily remedied by the fact that you can control how much sauce to have with each bite of scallop. The scallops were quite literally cooked to perfection. They had a nice crunchy sear on the outside and were buttery sweet on the inside. Not too firm or overcooked, and simply sweet from being So fresh. And I want to be clear that 'buttery' here describes the texture of clean, firm, yet melt in your mouth sea creature flesh, not that it was covered in butter. The second best thing was lamb chops. These were very well cooked and well seasoned also, albeit kind of fatty. I guess I could have trimmed off the fat myself, but they gave me a butter knife and I just kind of gave up trying. These were served with boiled (?} potato wedges, kind of a weird texture, I didn't touch them. The yogurt sauce is exactly what you'd expect, the tanginess helped cut the fat on the chops. The whole grilled fish was just okay, the capers and fresh herbs slightly overwhelmed the delicate and thin fish. There were also quite a bit of bones. Spinach pie was a bit salty, the grilled octopus was underseasoned and served with hard bits of lettuce, not very appetizing. I don't like baklava so I won't describe how the bite went, the semolina cake kind of tasted like a nutty cornbread; nothing to write home about. What I was most disappointed by were the drinks. I should've made up my mind and stuck with a bottle of wine or some beers on the list that I knew to be good. Instead I let my indecisiveness overpower reason and went with 3 different cocktails (yep, 3). Polyponnese Fizz, Greek Gimlet and Rum Punch. I didn't love, no, I didn't even especially like any of them. I also tried a little bit of the Athens Smash, which was the sole cocktail featuring whiskey, and that was actually my favorite though that's not to say it was even very good, only the least bad of the bunch. *** That's all on the food.*** Services was okay. We distinctly waited between each course and drink, but that's expected for a Friday night during restaurant week. The hostess was sweet to call and leave a voice mail before our reservation. Just as I was going "what time Was it again", I got the message left by the restaurant; nice touch! The seating was a bit uncertain, the waiter for a large party behind me elbowed me in the back of my head, and apologized without even turning around.
(3)LL M.
Superb! Go there now! The restaurant is absolutely beautiful and the food stands up to the beautiful interior. All I can say is Wow! Estia is the perfect romantic spot if you have a special celebration. But its also just a great place if youre craving perfect Greek food or a drink in a beautiful bar. Superb!
(5)Brad P.
Put down that menu. Order the Plaki. Anything else you get will be inferior. I swear to God the sea bass they use in this luscious sauce must have been fed only butter and ice cream during an entire life which consisted of straight up chillin' in perfect blue waters.
(5)Brian H.
Restaurant week menu. For $35 it was pretty effin good. The servers were great, at least 2 guys all over our table and easily found with a nod of the head. The bread was awesome, served with a wonderful mild but tasty hummus. Apps I had the grilled octopus, excellent grill flavor with red and white fresh onions that were shaved thin and marinated in the red wine vinaigrette with roasted peppers and capers. I was off to an excellent start. My friend had the spinach and feta pie. What a great crust and wonderful meld of flavors. Entrees I ordered the whole sea bass. This fish was both light and meaty, grilled to perfection and a decently large size, filleted before it hit the table, but the head and tail presence made the presentation divine on the plate. And on the palate, the texture on my tongue was like butter, hard to describe. My one complaint was that there were no vegetables or anything else on the plate besides the fish and I was never offered to chose a side from the a la carte menu. I heard another server offer their tables a choice of sides to add. My friend had the lamb chops marinated for 3 days in olive oil. These 3 medium cut chops were very tender and very tasty. Now this entree was served with roasted potatoes which I were told were just OK. Desserts were fine. The baklava was a tad sweet for my taste and the semolina custard was pretty average, but tasty. My first time there and before a concert I was very pleased. We were in and out in less than 1 1/2 hours with two drinks, dessert and espresso under our belts. I would love to return and order from the regular menu.
(4)Tim B.
Hey, do you have a relative 50 or over who claims they like to eat out at really nice restaurants but is actually scared of anything more daring than prime rib? Who thinks that chicken cacciatore is exotic ethnic food? And is that relative willing to pick up the bill when you go out to dinner with them? Final question: do you like going out to dinner with this relative? Have I got a place for you. Estia is mostly safe, unthreatening, unambitious Greek food that is one step above a good Greek diner in quality and about five steps above one in price. Plus it offers service that is right in line with the here-ya-go-bub standard at such a diner, indifference passing itself off as a seasoning for the food. Your relative will be soothed by the comforting presence of many well-dressed people who are similarly anxious about being served unfamiliar food. Your relative will be able to choose from some Greek classics like moussaka (a bland but adequate version) and souvlaki (really about the same as what you'd get from a diner). If you find yourself a bit bored by the menu, you might get the fairly tasty octopus appetizer and enjoy watching your relative look palpably uneasy about something so strange. On the other hand, if you were hoping for anything resembling inventive, distinctive or imaginative Greek cuisine, forget about it. If you were hoping for service that fits the look of the rooms and the prices on the menu, largely forget about it.
(3)Tiffany H.
Came here for restaurant week.. great idea. Some restaurants are not worth that money and rw is just a rip-off.. Estia is worth it. Free pita & hummus to start us off.. and we love free pre-meal bread. Very good, we actually asked for more hummus! Started with the octopodi.. good but honestly not astounding. Texture was just right I wish they had seasoned it differently. Boyfriend got the spanokopita which was good. Get the lamb chops. WILL NOT REGRET. I got the sea bass and boyfriend got the lamb chops. The sea bass was really good and tender and I enjoyed it.. but nothing compared to the lamb chops. The desserts are also incredible. Soaked in sugar true to greek style.. but somehow the pastries still remain dry. Unfortunately they ran out of baklava so we had the walnut honey cake and something else with a greek name but they were both still delicious. But leaves me wondering how good that baklava would have been..
(4)Daryl G.
The apps were great and my fish entree was perfect but my two dining companions did not make out as well. One's prawns were way over cooked and like rubber. The others' lamb was also over done. He asked for med-rare and got med- well. Service was excellent and desserts were good too. The tomato/cucumber salad should have more cucumbers and less tomato but that's just my personal preference.
(3)Paul F.
The food and environment is absolutely inviting and warm. If you love seafood, it is brought in fresh and you can pick your own - there are a lot of options for meat lovers as well. Enjoy the atmosphere, the staff, the food and the wine. You will not regret it.
(5)Rosalie R.
Estia saved me from having to eat horrible conference food at the Doubletree. My starter was the spanakopita which was very nice and then had the moussaka as an entree. I wouldn't recommend this for anyone wanting a light lunch but it was fabulous nonetheless. Baklava and Turkish Coffee rounded out my meal. I was back at the conference before anyone missed me and it only cost me around $30. The service was friendly and efficient. Estia's proximity to the Academy of Music, Wilma, Merriam, and the Kimmel Center make it a perfect place for relaxing and elegant pre/post theater dining.
(5)Eric L.
Estia is one of the best restaurants in Philadelphia. They are amazingly consistent. How many times have you been to a restaurant and had a great meal. Memorable. Delicious. So you want to go back and relive the experience. And eventually you return. Only the second time everything is just a little off. The bread isn't as fresh. The presentation is sloppy. The fish is overcooked. The vegetables are bland. And you're asking yourself, "what happened?". Is this the same place I ate at 3 months ago? Well, that never happens at Estia. I have been there at least half a dozen times in the last 3 years. And every time my meal has been perfect. Salads are the freshest I've ever had and the dressing is awesome. I had the halibut soup several times, and it's like a dream. The souvlaki is simply amazing. And the deserts are uniquely Greek treats. I don't know how Craig Laban ignores this jewel, but you shouldn't overlook Estia.
(5)Tim L.
Totally bogus greek cuisine.
(2)K. B.
Went here based on the good reputation and overall positive yelp reviews. On a Sunday night, it was pretty quiet and we were quickly seated. The restaurant interior is beautiful, built to replicate the inside of a Mediterranean home. Service was efficient and timely. But unfortunately the food did not live up to expectations. While nothing was particularly bad, for the prices we paid, we felt it should have been much better. We found it irritating that some of the appetizers were almost as expensive as the entrees, with half the amount of food on the plate. I think that you can find better or at least food that is equally good with more reasonable prices somewhere else. We will probably not return.
(2)Sofia K.
organic chicken was very good and the yogurt sauce was fantastic. service was great. family friendly. will visit here again.
(5)M D.
200+ reviews. Not much to add. But I do have a few things to say. 1. Overall, I enjoyed this place but not sure if I'd return. 2. It's a large, borderline grand, restaurant and can get a bit loud. I prefer something more intimate. 3. It's very pricey ($25+ entree's) but overall, they deliver the value. 4. Great seafood selection and the food is excellent. But I ordered a fish entree and that's all that was on plate - a fish. Not very creative but more important, not very interesting. Too much fish. 5. Our waiter was outstanding! The hostess was not. Almost left after walking in - not very approachable or inviting. 6. Wine list (by the glass) was not impressive.
(4)Jason R.
Great food, service, atmosphere. Food is consistent every time.
(5)Rita M.
Estia offers an array of fish dishes that are pretty hard to locate in landlocked PA. I haven't enjoyed a lot of Greek cuisine so I was excited to try some new entrees. The interior of Estia is very decadent and warm. The servers were quite attentive and I enjoy the pre-theater dining options, perfect for visitors. SO and I shared the Estia mussels, which were large and not too briny. I tried the Tonos and loved it. The tuna was prepared beautifully rare and I really enjoyed the garlicky skordalia. The accompanying beets were nice and tender and complemented the dish. SO enjoyed his grilled halibut, but be forewarned, there will be some bones. I give Estia four stars because I found the decor to be a bit dated and stuffy. For some reason, I also didn't like being the youngest people in the restaurant. Despite the many cushy booths and sturdy round tables, we were give a tiny little table that felt cramped once other patrons were seated around us. For a restaurant that expensive, I expect a little more dexterity with the dining arrangements. Additionally, I tried a chocolate cake dessert that isn't on the menu and was pretty disappointed. The texture was lovely because it was made with olive oil, but it was plated with large pools of white and chocolate sauce that reminded me unpleasantly of melted ice cream. The ratio of sauce to cake was peculiar and made sharing the dessert very difficult. All this aside, I caught a glance of the beautiful private dining room/wine cellar downstairs and so I would probably choose Estia for an intimate private event.
(4)Steve D.
Cool ambience. Food was good.
(3)Florence Z.
6 of us had dinner there before theater. Some of us had the pre-theater pre-fixe and others had the special Restaurant Week pre-fixe. The food was truly wonderful, all three courses, either menu. Wonderful fish, fabulous lamb and unusual octopus and calamari salads. Service that night was not up the Estia standards - perhaps the waiter was new. He was very slow to get our food to us, despite being told (twice) that we had theater tickets. We almost missed our curtain. But this is unusual for this fine restaurant.
(4)Tatiana F.
Went here to celebrate a 4 year anniversary. Love the atmosphere and sat in a great seat. We had the fried cheese (SO good, but salty), the greek salad (delicious, fresh, simple), & scallops with tomato sauce--sooo good. I loved it.
(5)Dillon S.
Great food, terrible service. I went here on a business trip and ended up here after avoiding the wait at Monk's Cafe. I guess I'm not the first to complain about the service. I ordered one appetizer, but the annoyingly accented waiter brought us two with one on the way, which I promptly rejected. The desperate attempt to up-sell was quite annoying. I have to say that the ARNI PIADAKIA (lamb chops) were awesome, and the chef deserves a good rating, but the manager needs to take a step back and evaluate his staff. I would go back for the food, but would avoid the curly-haired waiter at all costs. He truly brought down the experience.
(3)Melissa G.
I was very impressed with Estia's atmosphere and decor. They had some good wine choices and the waitress did make good suggestions. The food was good but not outstanding. The staff was cordial but somewhat cold. I felt rushed during dinner which is quite annoying. Other than the decor of the restaurant, nothing else stands out. Maybe I will return, Maybe not!
(3)John H.
We had the best time on Valentine's Day! Service and food were stellar! Thanks, John and Donna
(5)De C.
Beautiful dinning space, but just so disappointed with the food. The meat in the mixed grill plate was either too dry or over cooked, then French Fries were dumped on top of the plate. No appeal, no quality, the Chef has no respect for their food. Also slow service.
(1)Katera M.
I went here with a friend for lunch during restaurant week and the food was so good that we spent $40 each instead of $20! At the recommendation of another friend we ordered off the regular menu and had the Estia chips, tasty thin zucchini and eggplant frittes. The calamari appetizer was very fresh, the seafood souvlaki was delish but the walnut cake was a flop - wet and tasteless. Service was great and I would definitely go again but I'll be sure to the prix fixe menu.
(4)carol b.
I could really have written this review at 4 a.m. when I was waiting for the caffeine to wear off from the "decaf" I ordered after dinner. Estia is a charming place with great food and high prices. We both had fish, which I'm reluctant to order in many places but it was perfectly fresh halibut in a rich tomato/vegetable sauce. The problem was service. I had to flag down a waiter (interrupting what was evidently a fascinating pow-wow among three servers, all with their backs to us) to remind him that it's ok to ask me if I want a drink after being at the table for 10 minutes. We had to snag him from other tables a couple of other times. The place wasn't all that busy. We seem to get to Estia every few years. It's location is convenient for all things around Broad Street and Locust. Special Note" Probably the most winning bathrooms of any restaurant in town -- very quaint and rustic.
(3)Yiwen S.
came twice before catching shows at the academy of music across the street. :: pre-theater menu ($30, 3 courses) is a good deal if you were planning to get one of those entree items anyways :: appetizers are good-sized and can serve as entrees if you're not too hungry :: slow service: pre-theater menu took us almost 2 hours to get through, and we had to rush them every 5 mins for the last half hour to make it; even ordering off the regular menu, it still took them half an hour to bring our food out :: delicious bread + hummus, but try not to fill up on it while waiting (a ridiculously long time) for your food :: really good fresh fish cooked in light sauces. my fav is the sea bass :: can easily accommodate large parties :: bathrooms are downstairs, with two side-by-side wooden doors to the women's/men's. don't get confused, i saw it almost happen once for what it's worth, still a bit on the expensive side. 3.5 stars, rounding up.
(4)Cornel F.
Came here last week for a wedding anniversary. The fish was superb and so were the desserts. It would have been a full success if the locale had a more intimate feel. This is a huge, overwhelming space. Service was slow
(3)Erica W.
A lovely place for dinner. We enjoyed several small plates and sides as well as the swordfish, sharing around the table. The plate of three spreads, the vegetable chips, and the arugula salad were particularly delicious. Excellent service and a cozy ambiance too!
(4)Lisa K.
Excellent. I have eaten here for lunch 3 x which I chose the express lunch every time. Branzino was excellent and the desert was outstanding. The only regret is that I wanted more luscious, tender octopus on the octopus salad it was so good. More, more , more. Service is outstanding and atmosphere really allows for long, social dining pleasure. This place doesn't receive enough praise and never makes the "best in city" lists" Maybe that's a good thing.
(5)Loy G.
estia is incredibly overpriced. nothing really stood out despite having dined in a large group and trying quite a few of the appetizers and entrees. I had the salmon special which was good but not worth the $20-30 price point of most of the entrees. i would say that the food is well done and simply yet elegantly prepared, but nothing memorable where i'd venture to return.
(3)Mimi P.
My fiance and I went here for lunch one day on a whim and off the Yelp review. The food was excellent! It was as good as it could possibly get. The service was excellent and the restaurant has great decor and ambiance. We will definitely go back! I suggest the polo souvlaki
(5)Natane E.
Can I say delish!!!?!!! Everything that I ate was beautifully flavored. I had dinner here with my workgroup. I didn't have any expectations going in, but after the apps and my entree, my expectations were set on high. I can't remember everything we ordered, but I remember feeling nice and full, so I didn't delight in dessert like my colleagues. Their expectations were as high as mine by the time they were through with entrees. Unfortunately, according to them, dessert was disappointing. Apparently, the greek yogurt was literally a tub of the Fage yogurt widely available at your nearest grocery store. C'est la vie (or whatever the Greek translation to that cliche may be).
(4)Jimmy S.
Service was excellent Atmosphere was good, we were able to hear each other talk Apps and entrees were excellent Price was around $80/diner with a single bottle on their least costly wine.
(4)pearl s.
I didn't find the food to be worth the price, not terribly authentic and our particular server was awful. We thought we were at a Fridays because he was across the table or even at another table and yelling over to us to see how we were. We weren't given knives, waited a long time to be served and it wasn't crowded, just not impressed at all.
(1)Finicky P.
What a fabulous place to indulge in slightly(??) fattening food and enjoy the company of family and friends. I am not really a fan of Greek food due to the amounts of yogurt and feta cheese they like to use in their cuisine, but this place made a convert out of me (at least, just for this place). Start with the look of the place - the interiors have a European old world and relaxing feel, inviting one to sit back and take their time savoring their meal. The tables are amply spaced apart giving diners privacy that is usually lacking in restaurants. And for private parties, it seems that they have a number of private rooms. I'm not sure how many rooms they have, but I saw two on the lower level. Service was attentive. Our waiter was constantly asking (not annoyingly, though) if we were enjoying the food and was making sure we had everything we need. Now we move on to the food. And as I said in the beginning, simply fabulous. I loved the Estia Chips. They're sliced very thinly so you can really taste the flavor of each individual chip. And they were artfully arranged and presented at the table. The Moussaka was a pleasant surprise as well. The flavorful beef blended with the potatoes for that perfect bite each time. But the best part of the meal was the dessert. The Ekmek had the sweetness that was not overpowering - a perfect ending to a wonderful meal.
(4)Dimitri K.
Place is. Beautiful inside. Both upstairs and downstairs.?nice open kitchen would be cool if a table was put close by. A chefs table and the display if fresh fish on ice is custom style of Greece. Service needs work. They dress like they work in an old diner or trapped in Athens 1981. They almost rush the initial dishes out there and just drop it on a table like " here ya go". You make the room as your latest dish is sitting on the closest edge of the table. They don't know how to pace.You can get your first two apps within five minutes than wind up sitting there for 20 min until your main comes out. I hate that shit. Dolmades I liked but I almost thought it was more Turkish with pie nuts and currants in it. Whatever though no one has a patent on that shit, scallops saganaki is basically shrimp saganaki. Still works though the scallops were a little too seared might be using olive oil to cook them. Octopodi was fine. I liked it, thank god it wasn't the traditional lone tentacle that looks like a rats tail they put out in most Greek restaurants. Mains: I had the tuna, I like it though for $30+ it's a rip off and presentation sucks. Literally like 3oz tuna and half ass cut beets and wild greens that come with it. If the fish is fresh and your a half an idiot you can't fuck it up that bad just expecting a little more bang for buck. My woman's kotopoulo( chicken), sucked ! Dry, stringy and couldn't finish it. Desserts need work . Baklava needed more syrup, too dry. Galaktobouriko take it easy with the orange in the recipe. Both cut in classic Pythagorean triangles same as in every traditional Greek bakery old school restaurant. Music was a nice touch with the guy playing the bouzouki. All in all place is beautiful reminded me of Avra in NYC. Food isn't as good and needs overall work. 3 apps, 2 mains, 2 desserts and two drinks ran me like $170 with tip. Wouldn't spend that money again just because I like the way a place looks and the music. C'mon you can do so much better for what they are charging. Skip it !!!!
(2)Jesseca T.
Went here for dinner last night with my coworker Rick. We had: Saganaki - meh- not served flambeed at the table so already getting rock hard by the time we got it - $10 - it's just cheese in a flour dip, so the only hope to do this right is to do it tableside. We do it at home whenever we can find the right cheese and it's a SMALL window you're working with. Octopodi- the real deal served grilled with lemon and onions- nice job, as good as we got on Santorini Horiatiki salad- too salty, but otherwise very generous portions and properly made with good quality tomatoes (in Feb, in Philly...that's a good job right there) pita with tzatziki- THIS was a good dish, the real deal, yogurt and all Lamb Chops another horiatiki salad - why didn't they tell us one was enough to share? Baclava- sorry, i can make better- it was good, better than most, just not what it can be Greek coffee X1 Malbec X3 $150 before the tip - WHEW! Seriously ?! ok minus one star right there, highway robbers! Service was very good, both front and back waiters were attentive and hostess was on her game (saying bye when we left too), plus the location was walking distance from our hote. I would go here again but maybe for lunch, this is steep for a business dinner even in a big city, particularly since only one of us ordered an entree. Yikes, this is going to be a fun expense report to submit.
(4)Marissa C.
Seems like the trend is to say "I went with my friend who is greek and he/she loved it, so you will too!" And it's true - I brought a group of my girlfriends here who were visiting from out of town and they give it the two-thumbs up for authenticity. Among the groups favorites were the tomato and cucumber salad, primarily because the feta was freaking out of this world delicious. Other winners - grilled clamari, chilean sea bass (special), homemade hummus, and the baklava. If we knew how good the calamari was we probably would've ordered at least three plates of that. The atmosphere is nice, dim, and there are a lot of areas with semi-private tables. The negatives - I really wasn't impressed with my experience with the hostess(es). Not friendly on the phone or in person... maybe they were having a rough night. The theater menu is a great deal, other items on the menu can be a little pricey.
(4)Regina F.
The Plaki. That's all you need to know. It's the thickest, most succulent, moist chunk of sea bass your mouth will ever have the pleasure of indulging in. Not only does the fish itself exude tenderness and flakiness beyond all imagination, but the skin is as crisp as a Pringle. It's sopped in a tomato broth complete with whole stewed tomatoes accompanied by other green vegetables that are equally soft and equally amazing. It's also kind of huge, so you could probably share it with an equally ravenous guest provided you get an appetizer (or two) to fill. Although the complimentary hummus and bread might be enough - go ahead, indulge. The hummus is creamy and spotted with olives, lending just enough of that Mediterranean flavor to make you year for an ocean sunset...and to extend an olive branch to your arch nemesis...almost. The Estia chips are also a pleasure: the super thin fried zucchini and eggplant chips are stacked beautifully, taste wonderfully, and are served with a creamy taziki dip that's not over powered by dill.
(5)Lin P.
I've experienced better for a fraction of the cost!
(2)Andrea F.
I would give this five stars because the food was incredible, but the service knocked it down a star. Went here for an awards ceremony in the BEAUTIFUL wine cellar and we had a pre-fixed menu, where we got an arrangement of different appetizers, a choice between 3 different entrees, and a dessert. The hummus tasted like green olives and was DELICIOUS. The tomato/feta/olive oil/red onion thing was also amazing and fresh and was served with warm, doughy bread. I ordered the chicken kabobs entree and it was so succulent and served with orzo, pita, a salad, and tzatziki sauce. Amazing. My main complaints with the service: 1) It took a good 45 minutes before the servers even brought out the bread with the hummus. When I sit down to eat, I'd like the bread within ten minutes so I'm not starving. 2) The tomato appetizer was brought out twenty minutes after the hummus. Why not all at once? 3) The servers were OVER attentive, if that makes sense. They were so concerned with getting the waters refilled and the food on the table, that they would literally dart their hands and heads in between me the person next to me without warning. At one point, my boyfriend (to my left) was talking to the person to his left and the server had just placed a hot pitcher of tea on the edge of the table and my boyfriend, while talking, moved his elbow and it knocked off the edge and spilled all over the place. Later, I was talking to someone very important and the waiter would NOT STOP tapping me on the shoulder asking me for coffee. I understand they didn't want to leave me out, but I was in a very important conversation and this was disruptive and annoying. Besides the intrusive over-attentiveness, the food was delicious, the ambience was enticing, and the hostess was very accommodating.
(4)Janice T.
Very much enjoyed the food and service both times I've been here.
(4)Beeg R.
We came here before a show, so we ordered from the Theater Menu (which is price fix). The portion was perfect for pre-theater meal. First off, I didn't want to be too full before sitting four hours for a show. 2nd, it got us out of there quick enough to make our show. I had the calamari, it was perfectly seasoned and not fried. Fish was cooked perfectly. DH got the lamb shank, and the portal was perfectly sized. We had honey cake for dessert, and it was delicious. For $30 with app, entree, and dessert, it's definitely worth it! Price for bottles of wine is also very reasonable. We'll definitely come back to try out other items on the menu.
(5)Jenn G.
I went to Estia for lunch one day and was pleasantly surprised. Their octopus was so tender and delicious! For an entree, I got the moussaka. IT tasted just like the moussaka I got in Greece! It also came in a nice clean presentation! I almost didn't want to ruin it! The service was quick and the staff was friendly and helpful. They also offer a reasonable lunch express menu.
(4)Cici B.
I love Mediterranean food and could eat hummus on everything, so I was ecstatic when the boyfriend took me to Estia for some authentic Greek food. We took advantage of the Theater Menu (only $30 for 3 courses). Portions were large and the food was, as expected, delicious. I really don't like eggplant but I had no idea that I willingly ingested eggplant when I had their Spread Pikilia (which consisted of Melitzano Salata AKA eggplant salad). They got me to eat eggplant without gagging! I do have to say that the menu is full of Greek culinary jargon so I really don't know more than half of the things I ordered. So do ask questions if you're not a well-versed foodie like me. And even though I had no idea what I ordered and how to pronounce any of those dishes, I left the restaurant full and happy.
(5)Christine B.
I went here for a work event, and it was great. A couple of us got there early for a pre-event cocktail and had the Mykonos mojito. It really doesn't taste like a mojito, but it is delicious. Who knew Absolut pear vodka would be awesome? Have to hit up the liquor store for that. The cocktails continued when the event started downstairs along with some freshly fried eggplant chips that amazing, and perfectly salted. The waiters walked around with shrimp, crab cakes, lamb meatballs, and chicken skewers, which were all enjoyed. When we were seated in the dining room the appetizers continued. There was calamari, pita with assorted dips, two different salads, and spanakopita. The spanakopita was the stand out. For my entree I had the lamb shank. It was in a tomato sauce, and was very tender with a hint of cinnamon flavor. I don't usually eat lamb, but I thought it was great, and I see more lamb in my future. Dessert was a cheesecake factory sized piece of baklava. I didn't care for it too much, but it might have just been because I was so stuffed. I would definitely go back for dinner and I recommend it for anyone planning a corporate event or party. You will be well-fed.
(4)Sarah B.
A group of five of us were lucky enough to be seated right away on a Friday around dinner. (We wanted to try Parc but the wait was over an hour - should have made a reservation, sigh!) The service was very slow but I don't know if this is because the service is actually just slow or if the point is to make you feel like you're not being rushed. Overall, dinner took three hours. The fried calamari appetizer is very good, but I've had great calamari elsewhere and wouldn't necessarily return just for that. I ordered the Midia Estia (mussles, an appetizer) as my main course. It took a while longer than expected to cook, so the kitchen was gracious enough to give me a complimentary Dolmades (stuffed grape vine leaves). I didn't care much for these but did appreciate the gesture. A friend ordered the fried calamari as her entree but was served the other type of calamari - grilled and stuffed with cheese. She pointed this out to the waiter who said it would be no problem and put in an order for the fried calamari, which was brought out pretty quickly in comparison to how long it took everything else.
(3)Lisette C.
Recently stopped at Estia for an Early Bird Dinner before my flight back to LA. It was one of those Restaurant Roulette situations where you pick a place at random because you are starving and can't think. Well, we lucked out! Estia exceeded our expectations! The space is quite large, with outdoor seating and plenty of tables and booths in a lovely and rustic room. We were sat in a great booth with wooden beams that framed it and Mediterranean textiles draped it. Our waiter was fantastic. He was friendly, yet "no nonsense". We all opted for the "Theater Menu" which is 3 courses for $30! I started with a Spanakpoita and feta stuffed meatball - Fantastic!. At our waiter's advice, I selected the Moussakka and that was decadent and flavorful and large enough to be shared or saved for lunch the next day. To finish off I had the almond cake. It was perfectly sweetened and moist. It went perfect with my ultra foamy and rich cappuccino. One of my fellow diners had the lamb chops and he raved about them to no end. Our server even encouraged him to skip the knife and fork and use his hands and reminded us all that we were "at home" so we should relax and enjoy as such. Great find!
(4)Rachel A.
Went here for Restaurant Week 2012. Was with 5 other people, it was very easy for us to get a reservation, even after our group had dwindled from 8 people down to 5. I was nicely surprised to hear that even though it was RW, we could order from their Theater menu as well, which happened to be $5 cheaper. $30 compared to the $35 RW menu. I had decided to order from the RW menu. I got the Greek salad as my first course, asked for the dressing on the side. The salad was quite petite, but it looked like a lot of food since it was on a small plate. It had the right mix of green peppers, cucumbers, tomatoes and feta cheese. The dressing was a night, light vinaigrette. I then ordered the fish for my main course, which came whole, which I didn't mind. The sauce on it was nice and light, had a few capers which I normally don't like but added a nice flavor to it. For dessert, since I am a healthy eater, I wanted to order fresh fruit, which was on the Theater menu, but the waiter said he would be killed by the chef if I did a substitution like that.... really?!?!?! I ended up getting the baklava instead, which was good, but a little too sweet for my taste. The service was quite slow, which I know for a Greek restaurant is customary, but it was almost too slow. I had to ask several times to get my water glass refilled, instead of them being on top of something like that. I would go back again. It was the first time I had been there in years, and it is still good.
(4)Erica E.
I went to Estia for restaurant week. I started with the octopus and my friend had the horiatiki salad. The salad was absolutely delicious. The vegetables were so fresh and the feta was some of the best I've ever had. The octopus was pretty good, a lot better than octopus I've had in the past, but I am not a huuuge octopus fan, just wanted to try something different. For the main dish, I had the lamb chops which were extremely tasty. Lamb chops are one of my favorite dishes and they executed them to perfection!! Finally, had the baklava which was very delicious as well. The service was great, no complaints I will definitely be dining here again and recommending to friends
(5)Tim L.
Wow what a great meal. Compelled to write a review on here. One of the best meals I've had in the past year. The fantastic service we received and delicious food made this an experience. This was my first dining experience there and will def. be followed up by a second soon. I will def tell all my family and friends but selfishly would like to be included if they try this great restaurant. The lamb was great and I enjoyed the tuna tartar very much too maybe if I had to really critique over proportionate on the amount of avocado but their ingredients are so fresh its hard to complain even about that. My gf had the tomato salad and we even had to ask where they got the tomatoes it was so good. I apologize I don't recollect the waiters name but if I did I would recommend asking for him!
(5)Helen A.
Greek restaurant in the theatre district - worth a dinner anytime . The lamb is juicy, tender and delicious ; as is the eggplant - unexpectedly wonderful. Service is exceptional, we asked our waiter for a white, Greek wine selection, and could not be more pleased with his choice, and how it complemented the tastes of our meal. I hear that it's closing, hopefully just a rumor, but go there now.
(4)Rick G.
Yea, It was everything I thought it would be. I was tasked with picking a place for a work team-dinner a couple of weeks back. I picked Estia, but we didn't go here. We went somewhere 1/2 a block closer- Varalli. It was hot out, people were hungry, and they couldn't make it the 1/2 a block further. So, we went a couple of nights later instead. Based on the markedly better experience, my suggestion to people coming down Broad street- "Go the 100 yards further!" The atmosphere definitely transplants you to the Mediterranean. Even if you are smack dab in the middle of the Philly theater district. Fresh fish laid out beds of ice. Pictures of whitewashed Greek seaside towns. Cool stuff. I had the halibut. Definitely not as full of flavor as the Vernick version I had a few weeks earlier. Certainly a bigger cut, and grilled versus pan seared. The octopus appetizer was good. Definitely not on the Vetri scale of greatness, but the best of the small dishes offered at this place. If you need a place to take a group, this is definitely high on the list. Estia is accommodating, centrally located, and has a variety of dishes full of flavor that should satisfy even the pickiest diets.
(3)Grace S.
My boyfriend is Greek and went with his family when he first moved here and never stopped talking about it so I decided to take my family there. For the price and the atmosphere, I wouldn't go again unless other people really wanted to go. The octopus appetizer, Octopodi, was really good but the saganaki was nothing to write home about. The fish and lamb entrees were just ok, yet very pricey. I had the moussaka which I personally like much better at Effie's. If you've got tons of cash to blow on a decent meal, this is the place for you! The place is enormous, they have outdoor seating and it's right next to the Kimmel Center, but I thought the decor was a little bit over the top. I think they are trying to go for a rustic Greek look? The downstairs section looks like it's for private parties but is absolutely gorgeous. I asked the bartender if you can get drinks down there and he said you could. I haven't been back to confirm this. Perhaps their brunch or lunch is much better..?
(3)christina j.
Came mid week for dinner without reservation and was able to get table. Love the interior, such homey feel. Food was good. I ordered from the theatre menu and went with the trio of dips and lamb shank. The dips were fine and the lamb was very tender. My friend ordered the stuffed calamari(i tried, it was ok) and the lamb chops. Lamb chops looked amazing but I didn't try. We split a side of asparagus. The asparagus was good but would have been better without the cheese on top. I would probably go back, maybe for the lamb chops.
(3)Steve M.
Second time here. First was perfect we couldn't wait to try them again. This place is wonderful. Food and Service are oit if this world!
(5)Adrienne C.
Came here for a girls night, and the place did not disappoint. Flavors are fresh, atmosphere is lively and drinks are strong - a def great spot for a ladies night out. Made the reso for 8 fairly far in advance, and they were nice enough to assign us to a private room, which was great for some girl talk. Happened to go during Restaurant Week, which along with their $30 Theater Menu (which I actually liked more than the Restaurant Week menu), gave us plenty of options to choose from. Standout dishes: any of the grilled fish options and the griled octopus app. Service was a teensy slow, but the atmosphere makes you forget how long it might be b/w courses.
(4)Austin C.
Have visited about 3 times, and each time has been quite enjoyable. The environment is very pleasant (dark, yet spacious and a very home-y and earthy feel). Environment: 4/5 I had the opportunity to try 3 dishes: the spinach pie, lamb chops, and baklava. Spinach Pie (4/5): Very well made. Honestly, I don't think I've ever had spinach pie before, so I don't have any comparisons, but I found the texture to be particularly great. It was very flaky and crunchy, which combined with the creaminess of the spinach filling, made for a delicious overall appetizer. Lamb Chops, Medium Rare (4/5): Just as high quality as the spinach pie, albeit in a different way. It came out as 3 lamb chops with a side of fries. The lamb was very, very good. Meat was very tender and cooked exactly as requested. Personally my biggest complaint is that there was a bit too much fat on the lamb chops, but I suppose that's to be expected from lamb meat! Tasted absolutely delicious when dipped in the tzatziki sauce and was easy to cut. I loved eating the slightly burned part near the bones too! The side of fries looked kind of puny, however. Came with like 10 fries which were not on par with the quality of the other dishes. Baklava (4.5/5): REALLY GOOD. Not that I've had tons of baklava in my life, but you would imagine a Greek restaurant to have great baklava, and Estia is no exception. It was super crunchy, though a bit difficult to eat (a lot of sugary syrup dripping around). I actually found it to be a bit too sweet, actually. Once you get over the initial hardness and difficulty of cutting, It kind of melts in your mouth. Overall, I had a great experience here. I would definitely recommend this place for more formal events (dates, restaurant weeks, etc.)
(4)Iris M.
I'm not terribly impressed with Estia. I visited post-theater on a Saturday night and it was packed to the gills. I was seated quickly but waited about 25 minutes before I was even acknowledged by a server. When he arrived, he was completely nonchalant--chipper even--as if I hadn't sat there for almost a half-an-hour without so much as a glass of water. Normally, I would have left but it was freezing outside and I didn't feel like hoofing it to another restaurant. I love Greek food and, while it's certainly not the best I've had, Estia is passable. The dips are OK but the moussaka is weird. I'm a texture snob and the bechamel has the consistency of a very runny egg--it practically jiggles. For dessert, I had the walnut honey cake which, like most Greek desserts, was way too sweet (didn't deduct stars for that). Opa or Yianni's (in Bethlehem) are better bets.
(3)Natalie H.
Estia is everything a great restaurant should be. Delicious & creative cuisine (try the eggplant!) ; wonderful service; and a welcoming atmosphere. Great greek wines too, listened to our waiters recommendation, and tried a great new one.
(5)A H.
wow, was this a great place!!! Went here with a colleague--he had eaten at Estia the previous night, raved about it, and was willing to go back a 2nd time with me. Great atmosphere, pleasant service, lovely dining experience. We weren't hungry enough for the their regular meals (which looked wonderful!) so we split a theater plate: appetizers of salad, Greek meatball, and a spanakopita 9which was amazing!!!) , 2 skewers of delicious grilled shrimp on rice pilaf, and an awesome Greek honey cake. Wonderful presentation, wonderful flavors, and for 2 not-very-hungry people, just the right amount of food. I'd like to go back to enjoy the dinner.
(4)Young B.
Went there for restaurant week lunch. Got the fish of the day. It was Branzino whatever. It must have been like 2 oz of fish. I know they cut back on portion size for restaurant week but it was kinda ridiculous. It was also way too overcooked. Almost felt like it was deep fried. Nice venue though... would have gone back but I feel like if they are wiling to treat people who try their restaurant like this, there is probably no need.
(1)Vikki S.
Thought we would try Estia before a ballet matinee. Eh it's good but nothing special. I ordered the filet mignon pita sandwich, which came with oregano fries inside and regular fries as a side. It was tasty but not particularly unusual or subtle. My mother had the crab cake sandwich but found no need to eat the bun and just ate the crab cake solo. Portions were generous. Lunch prices were reasonable but soft drink was overpriced. $3.25 for a 10-ounce bottle of Coke. Really?? Probably won't return just because there are other better places in the area.
(3)Lawrence C.
What constitutes a five star rating? The criteria used to assess a rating are going to vary from each individual. I believe that the reviewer must incorporate the cuisine, atmosphere, service, and price and measure these items on a relative basis. A hamburger joint could earn a five star, as it should be judged for what it offers and portends to offer. Similarly a Ritz Carlton could fail to live up to its charter, and only earn 3 or 4 stars. With that in mind, I award Estia 4.5 stars, thus the 4 star rating above. Read below for reasoning. This is an excellent restaurant, and is priced as such. The presentation, flavors and textures of the various dishes we enjoyed, and the quality and serving portions were all in accordance with what one expects. However, there were enough minor misses that preclude me from awarding 5 stars for this type of restaurant. We ordered wines by the glass so that we could sample assorted varietals and discover Greek wines. We were not disappointed by the selections, only the price. There were ample choices by the glass, yet the prices average $12, and the bottle selections average $50+, so clearly their pricing is out of line. After all we're talking about fine Greek wines, not fine Bordeaux, or California cabs. After reading an earlier review where the chips were recommended, knowing my wife really enjoys these sort of things, we started with an order to accompany our first round of drinks. These Estia chips ($12) are very thinly sliced zucchini & eggplant breaded and baked/fried. Absolutely delicious, and highly recommended. Second course with our next round of drinks were two more hot appetizers: an order of grilled octopus ($19) & the stuffed cheese calamari ($12). Both were excellent, yet the calamari was obviously very rich with the cheese. Both were perfectly prepared, and I'd definitely be willing to have the octopus again. With the above three appetizers, we opted for only one main dish. Prior to arrival I was oriented towards ordering a whole fish, of which many species were on display to choose from. We had several options that were enticing, yet chose the plate of Plaki (sea bass) ($29). Unlike an earlier reviewer who claimed her fish was dry or not perfect (she should have sent it back), our sea bass was extremely tender, flaky, and superbly flavored. The dish came out already divided onto two plates for us without us asking, which was very thoughtful and appreciated. The fish was hot, and remained so as we enjoyed every morsel, and a third glass of wine each (at this point of the evening, one more glass for the two of us to share would have been better). Fortunately we made room for one order of the Ekmek ($8) which is something like a greek version of tiramisu, without any cocoa. Creamy custard filling served amidst flaky phyllo dough topped with grated almonds. As with every single item we ate this night, this too was delicious. So, it seems I've given a glowing report on the evening. Yes it was. So then why only 4 stars and not five? As I alluded to earlier, when I anticipate a certain caliber, especially for the price, I expect that I shouldn't have to ask for sea salt to be brought to the table three times. The stemware could have been a little finer, as well as the napkins. While I'm not put off by the price, it was a tad high for what we received, thus helping to raise their own bar for excellence. I certainly did appreciate our server (Jeff) and the usually quick runners bringing the food out. I look forward to returning with friends, and perhaps for a large group enjoy the private wine cellar downstairs.
(4)Michelle J.
Such a romantic atmosphere - upscale dining, fine cuisine. Bifteki Souvlaki was amazing.. I love Estia!
(5)Monique C.
Ah sweet redemption describes our "do-over" visit to Estia. Nothing beats excellent customer service in my book, but businesses who take responsibility for errors and show true professionalism are a close second. Shortly after my original review of our 12/16/12 experience at Estia, the manager, Stephen, emailed me with apologies and even sent me a gift card to return with full assurance that the incidents of 12/16 would not reoccur. I called the restaurant Saturday night and asked to speak to Stephen to make a reservation for Sunday at 5:30. He was very professional and confirmed that all of my information was correct before ending the call. My boyfriend and I arrived for our 5:30 reservation about 5 minutes late (Bellevue parking was pretty full due to Les Miserables). When we arrived the hostess was very friendly and asked to check my coat this time. I love coat checks; who wants to be bothered with a coat during dinner? Not me. But back to the experience... she took us to a really nice booth seating area. We were greeted promptly by our waiter, Ryan. Ryan was 150% better than our original server (we spotted our original server and boy did that bring back flashbacks of the first visit, argh). Back to Ryan; he was genuinely friendly. He gave a full introduction to the restaurant and explained the menu, fish of the day and what they ran out of that evening with full transparency. He did acknowledge that the manager that night had informed him that we had a bad experience on our first visit and stated that he would try to turn it around. Boy did he turn it around. He stated that "dining out should be a relaxed family experience." Somebody give Ryan a pen and pad so that he can write a manual :) He was pleasantly anecdotal in his wait style. What I mean by that is that he explained the cocktails and talked about why some are popular around the city. He talked about Greek food in general and Estia specifically with ease. Connections like these are especially important for travelers and novice palates (like mine). And if you've read my other reviews, you know that personality and knowledge are two winning wait staff attributes in my book. On to the food. We ordered the grilled shrimp appetizer. It was delicious and the shrimp were huge. Entrees: my boyfriend ordered the filet mignon and I ordered the salmon. Both entrees were cooked to perfection. Our plates were empty when the bus boy returned to collect them (we never clean our plates). We were unable to order dessert this time because we were trying to make it to a 7:30 movie, so I can't review dessert (next time). When Ryan delivered the bill, he explained that the manager that evening (I forgot his name, Dan, maybe?) had given us one round of drinks on the house (another kind gesture). Overall Estia knocked this visit out of the park. 5.5/5 for Estia; last night was the model of a great dining experience.
(5)Lauren L.
Amazing restaurant. You feel like you're stepping into Greece when you walk inside, but not because of the tacky Parthenon murals that I'm used to in Greek restaurants. You can't help but notice the fresh fish when you walk in, and though the entire menu looks amazing, it's hard not to go with fish as it seems to be their specialty. They have a big selection of hot and cold appetizers and small plates, and all that we tried were delicious - especially the shrimp, calamari salad, greek salad, and dips. The fish by the pound was an impressive experience and I think a better choice than the regular menu entrees if you have someone to share with. We didn't try any sides because the waiter forgot to bring them out, but to make up for it we tried some of their desserts. The baklava was out of this world good.
(5)Mandy H.
When you walk into the restaurant, you can't help but to notice the beautiful decor and how huge it is. It looks like you're actually somewhere in Greece, especially if you're seated under one of the cabanas. However, I was extremely disappointed with the service. We did take into consideration that our reservation was during restaurant week and I'm sure the restaurant does want to turn tables over pretty quickly since the prices are significantly lower at $35/person for 3 courses, but when I say they rushed us with every single course, I mean it was ridiculous. We had just sat down at the table without even having a chance to open our menus when our waiter came over to ask us for our drinks. He stood there and hovered while we rushed to figure out what we wanted. When the drinks came out, mine was a citrus martini, which was very good, but my friend's dirty martini was lacking olive juice so she asked the waiter if he could bring out a small glass of it to add to the drink. Instead of handing it to her to pour or asking how much she would like in her drink, the waiter dumped the whole thing in without asking. I thought that was pretty rude. Then onto our dinner. I ordered the spanakopita, which was a little dry, the chicken breast which was cooked perfectly, and the baklava, which just never is my favorite desert, but they seemed to have done it right. My friend had the lamb chops, which was definitely the best meal, by far. Now repeatedly while each course came out, the waitstaff were constantly trying to take our plates away. I mean when I've had my whole entree for 5 mins and 80% of it is still on my plate, no I don't want you to take it away. And they never even asked if we wanted a box to take 80% of our meal that was left on our plate home. SLOW DOWN. If it wasn't for the food and the decor, this place would have only gotten 1 star. I just think that you should get what you pay for. We had a discounted dinner with the restaurant week menu, but I would be really upset if I paid $50 per plate to have such horrible service.
(3)Susan S.
Gorgeous food, gorgeous decor, and a cutie-patootie for a waiter :) The concierge at the Marriott told us that Estia was his go-to place to feel like he was really dining in an old Greek taverna. Since Greece is still on my wish-list, I can't confirm his accuracy. But, I can say that Estia was elegant, understated, and superbly charming. "Neil-ios" (his adopted Greek name) delighted the four of us with his winsome smile and sincere style. We were in Philadelphia for business, with a modest expense allowance. I experienced a bit of sticker shock when I saw the prices on the menu. Luckily, one of my colleagues asked Neilios about the theatre menu---and all was well. I thoroughly enjoyed the romaine salad---huge and infused with a pleasant amount of dill dressing---as well as the sea bass. I'm not a huge dessert eater, so I considered asking for a repeat of one of the first courses. But, I was so satisfied after the sea bass, which came with a perfect sized portion of veggies and potato, that I didn't give it a second thought. My friends all enjoyed their starters and entrees as well----fantastically juicy chicken, great lamb, and the other two starters (spreads and a mini appetizer plate). Another shout out for Neilios----he successfully divided the check, including the bottle of wine, among the four of us which makes for an easier expense report down the line. Truly a lovely meal.
(4)Ian B.
It was OK, I'm definitely not a Greek food aficionado, but I do like my food ;-) and have no problem paying for a good dining experience. We started with the Basil Lime martinis, whose description was enticing, the drink itself was OK, nothing to write home about, although I wasn't sure there was really much alcohol in it. The humus and bread was good, but the portions were mismatched - there wasn't enough humus for the large pieces of bread (previous reviews had mentioned pita and I was looking forward to that) . Our waitress was hiding somewhere so I had to ask a random employee for a little more humus, which he provided quickly. We ordered from the $30 Theater Menu and both started with the grilled calamari - which I have to say, was delicious, my wife's fish of the day was good (or so she said) and the Moussaka was very flavorful. Even though the Moussaka was probably an appropriate portion size, an earlier review I'd read here said the portion was large and there was enough to take home for lunch, so I was looking forward to a big heaping plateful of moussaka - Not so much, but I'm not holding that against the team at Estia - far from it, even though the one side of me wants that big plate full of food, I know I shouldn't. I took the fruit for desert and it was all tasty and perfectly fresh, but really, only a complete buffoon could mess up fruit! Although I did have to get a knife from a nearby empty table to cut the cantaloupe, because once again, I couldn't see our waitress. My only gripe would be the service, although our waitress was friendly it seemed to take forever to get our drinks and then we hardly saw her again, we saw the server more often. All in all the decor was very nice and the whole place was clean, the food was good, the service was mediocre at best and it was like the 3-star Yelp description says - OK. But the Harry Connick Jr concert afterwards was fantastic.
(3)Gerald F.
Ya'll know I don't give many 5 stars. But this is deserved. From our waiter, Saki, who also deserves "Waiter-of-the-year" status in Philly to the mouth watering , flavorful, freshest-as-fresh-can-be fish to the comfy seating and decor with lighted ambiance, to the smooth finish. This place is elegant, unstuffy, spotlessly on-point in prep, service, expediting, plating, and,of course, F&B. WOW. We both had the theater menu. Did I say $60 bucko's..........ah, fer 2 lad! Bass, the best. Veges, mmmmmm. Mousaka, whoa. Pita/eggplant/red pepper appetizer....phenomenal. Fruit plate desert, nice with the best yogurt, like Laben in Israel only sweeter (a strained yogurt of middle eastern ancestry). Honey cake, my wife was enriched. Coffee service, and I MEAN COFFEE SERVICE PEOPLE......$3!......Outstanding. And that's for 2. We already decided to have several gatherings here. Perfect location, bus, train, parking and all. Cudo's to the family that operates this. A Greek gem, but also, it really is a fine dining experience of all-peoples categories. Think "every-person," little people too, if behaved and not sleepy. (Lot's to see and do.) Thanks for the experience, lovely. "I be back, yo"
(5)Erin W.
If you want a really beautiful spot to celebrate a special occasion where you're guaranteed to have the best greek food in the city, Estia is your place. Boyfriend and I came here for our anniversary a few weeks ago, and seeing as we were riding the 1-year high, he could have easily taken me to McDonald's and I would have been all love-struck and happy as a clam. Thankfully, he didn't, because our whole experience here was amazing. The city was virtually empty that particular weekend, which meant Estia was as well. We got a very attentive and kind server, named Brandon, I believe, who walked us through the menu and provided suggestions based on what we liked. We even got to pick our own fish from the little fish market near the kitchen, which was then filleted table-side. It was divine. Except for the part where Brandon offered boyfriend the cheek meat of the fish and he accepted. Gross, boyfriend! We were stuffed from splitting the tuna appetizer, the horiatiki salad (with some of the freshest tomatoes I've had all summer!) and the fish, but Brandon sold us on a light and fluffy pistachio dessert. We went home feeling fat and happy, the mark of any good meal in my opinion. The atmosphere is romantic and refined, and the food is top notch. Check out the beautiful private room in the wine cellar. Sure, it's pricey, but you get what you pay for! It's a testament to the meal that we're still talking about it weeks later. They also have the nicest bathrooms I've ever seen. Ever. And for someone with a bladder the size of a thimble, this is important. Oh Estia, I love you so.
(5)Joelle B.
Ok so I had my future MIL's birthday dinner here last week. We did a preselected menu of sea bass, lamb shank, grilled salmon and a chicken item I did not taste. We had grilled calamari and fried calamari, horiatiki salad, romaine salad, dips, saganaki and spanokopita...and I wanted to like it so much because after a few bottles of wine and cocktails, it ended up being 120pp...ahh! But it just didn't deliver. The service as great, the restaurant is beautiful. Bathrooms are downstairs, and there is no longer valet parking. I just felt that the lamb was ehh, the sea bass was good, the grilled calamari was good. Baklava for dessert was very good, but I just wasn't blown away. I think reading terminal had better spanokopita and someone in my party said the salmon had no taste at all. Would I go back? I guess. But I'm in no hurry
(3)L. O.
Every visit has been amazing--food is so fresh and delicious, the staff are friendly and very knowledgable about the items on the menu, the atmosphere is warm and cozy, and the decor is amazing...even the restrooms are beautiful!! When I made reservations, I requested a private, cozy table (booth) with the cushions and pillows and we did get a great spot up in the corner for our party of 4. I do love it there!!
(5)Felice C.
We had our wedding rehearsal dinner here last week after dining many times at Estia. The food was delicious as always, the downstairs party area was perfect for our group and the service was impeccable. Thumbs up to Anastasia and her team for making our night so memorable!!
(5)Michael S.
I'd give this 4.5 Stars if possible only bc of my experience with the dessert. I went here on Monday for restaurant week and ended up bringing my parents Thursday of the same week. it was that good. With the resstaurant week menu, I was able to try the -Greek Salad (phenomenally fresh) -Octopus Salad (Very good, well seasoned) -Lamb Chops (TWICE, by the THE BEST lamb chops I have ever tasted) -Baklava (twice) A word on the Baklava. My parents are pastry chef's and made baklava for a living. I know what the best tastes like. When i went to Estia on Monday, the baklava was INCREDIBLE. The filo was crisp and flaky, and the honey was not too excessive. When I went back on thruday, I confidently ordered the baklava and received a soaked, sponge. I told the waiter it wasn't fresh, and he lashed back at me saying that the bakalava is made daily. I told him I was there just a few days ago, and told him how incredible it was. He then proceeded to explain to me how it is made daily, and some days it comes out good, and others...well..it does not. If that is the case, that's not good. However, I'm sure he was lying and the pasty was made in the beginning of the week and left sitting in the syrup where it could soak up. The atmosphere at Estia is great. Its a place to bring, friends, family, or to impress. I will definitely make my way back, however won't be ordering multiple baklavas without tasting one first.
(5)Dave H.
Estia is a Greek and Mediterranean restaurant near City Hall. It's across the street from the Academy of Music. Appropriately, you can hear Greek music in the background. The place has an area with frozen fish, and you can pick out the kind you want for your meal. Estia is large, with a basement dining and banquet area, and clean bathrooms. I've been here for a dinner and happy hour and was pleased each time. Steven is an excellent server - he paid attention to our table, when we were a party of about 12. Ask for him if you go! The food there is excellent (and pricey) and don't forget to try the Greek alcoholic beverages. For the happy hour, we were able to work with them to get appetizers - two bartenders served us - Trudy mixed many shots for us (some which were awful and others that hit the spot) and was friendly and professional. Recommended!
(4)Mary S.
The best damn chicken I've ever had--and this is coming from a woman who eats chicken practically everyday. I came here last year with a group of my girlfiends for Restaurant Week. We all ordered different things, but the few that chose the Kotopoulo made the right choice. Estia is the perfect example on how Restaurant Week should work--serve a delicious meal for cheap and then you've got me coming back a few times a year. The food is delicious and they even offer brunch, lunch and dinner. Or just come for the happy hour-- drinks under $6 and free hors d'oeuvres.
(5)Michael B.
Great food! Ate dinner here, with a friend once, and I've been wanting to go back since. The food was above average and so is the price, however, it's definitely worth it when you factor environment, location and quality of food. I think I ordered some kind of shrimp dish or perhaps salmon and we ate at the bar because we didn't want to wait for the table. No complaints. Looking forward to returning one day soon!
(4)Stephanie S.
AMAZING. This is REAL good stuff! Only reason it gets 4 stars instead of 5, is because its very expensive. But, you get what you pay for, seriously! And our server was kind of 'snobby' but he was greek and probably was just passionate about the menu. Very fancy inside, make sure to wear your nice dress or business suit. They have a raw fish area where you can look at what fish you want to buy a la carte, in their whole fish selections menu. Food recommendations: 1. OCTOPODI for appetizer - wow this was the best octopus I've ever eaten in my entire life. You will be amazed, you must try this!!! I'm not joking! My mom hates octopus, and she loved it. I eat octopus at sushi restaurants all the time, and this was waaaaaay better. 2. CALAMARI is grilled, not fried, its very good. But the octopus is much better. 3. TONOS - yellow fin tuna, cooked rare, very delicious. I've eaten tuna a million times, and this wasn't the best I've had, but it was still amazing and I recommend it. For $30, you're better off spending a few more bucks and getting the whole fish, its probably better. 4. GLOSA - DOVER SOLE from Holland! This was siiiick, best fish on the menu, hands down. Its wild caught, not farm raised, thats why its $44. Totally worth it. The fish was filet beautifully, with the fish bone curled up and around, and the meat was soaked in a very light olive oil & butter sauce. Delicious. Best fish I've ever had. 5. The Theatre Combo selections aren't really worth it - you're only paying $30 which is awesome for an appetizer + meal + dessert, but the meals are the cheapest ones on the menu. You won't experience the brilliance of the chef when you order this combo. The eggplant was good, but too heavy in marinara. Overall, GO HERE if you're on a special occasion and ready to spend money. Food is Fantastic. Don't go here if you're trying to penny pinch.
(4)Anna A.
I like to try as many places as I can during restaurant week. Where some restaurants disappoint with the pre fixe menu, Estia did not. Estia's eggplant chips and fried octopus was fantasitc. I ordered lamb as my entree and it was very tender. My parents had the whole fish and they seemed to really like it. We finished the meal off with baklava. YUM!
(5)Matthew W.
Avoid at all costs. 9 of us booked a private room for our parents 30th wedding anniversary. We arrived 15 mins early and after having a drink at the bar we were told by the hostess the room would not be available as a party arrived 45 mins late and we could wait another hour or so if we wanted. We asked to See the manager. Steve was rude not helpful. It was "Sorry there is nothing I can do". We left and went to a great Steve Starr restaurant. Steven the manager should be taught both manners and what a service industry is all about.
(1)Nicole V.
Great decor and ambiance. Food was good but over priced for what it was. Could have been because I ordered the shrimp souvlaki instead of the fish. I was told their fish is better after the fact. I would come back, but I wasn't amazed.
(3)Tolis V.
Pretty good Greek food! The place is big and comfortable and pretty easy to find. They keep traditional recipes and enhance them with quality ingredients. The one server was kinda creepy...but other than that it was a great experience.
(4)J M.
Went to Estia because we were going to show at the Academy House. We all were so surprised at how amazing our experience was. First of all our waiter was from Greece, charming and helpful with our food choices. I have to give a shout out to whoever was working the fryer on 1-19-14 around 11:30 am, you rock!!!!! The calamari was perfection, the zucchini and eggplants chip are addictive and the fries that came with my husbands entree were the best I tasted in ages. I'm not trying to make this review about fried food, they have so many grilled fish and seafood items it was hard to decide so we all went for meat, braised lamb shank melted in your mouth and ribeye souvlaki was a great entree. Desserts were light and a great finish. The restaurant interior is lovely and warm. This is a must try restaurant.
(4)Bret C.
Upon being seated our waiter soon arrived to welcome the five of us, provide menus, and take our beverage orders. Our waiter certainly was friendly and professional, but considerably off-putting in the overly offusive manner he attempted, in our view, to upsell more expensive menu items. When we informed him that we were going to order from the pre-theatre menu, he efficiently took our order, and then all but disappeared! The ensuing service and meals were impeccable. The food was uniformally fresh, flavorful,and beautifully presented without being too fussy. We all remarked about how much we enjoyed our meals. The room was warm and classy. But bring your flashlight to read the menu under the "romantic" lighting! The crew were consistently professional and efficient
(4)James L.
My second time eating at this place. Food very good, both times i had Arni Youvetsi. Delicious! I can't wait to bring my wife here one day. Highly recomend.
(4)Greg P.
Twenty years ago, I spent a couple of months living and working on the Greek island of Rhodes. My best memories of that time were the cool evenings, dining at the local restaurants, enjoying the freshest fish and seafood, or meats grilled to perfection in the Greek style. Usually accompanied by a glass of retsina wine. Since that time, I've been searching Southeastern PA for a restaurant that could create that culinary experience to no avail. But finally I found it on Locust Street in Philadelphia. They have a nice selection of fresh fish on display on ice so you can choose your fish. This is a nice touch often seen in the Mediterranean and Asia too. I wonder why it isn't more common in the US. I found it slightly odd that I had to ask the waiter if we could look at the fish (I think he should have suggested it first). But once he accompanied us to the display, he was very enthusiastic and knowledgeable on the selections. We picked out some nice fresh sardines and an octopus for apps. Both were grilled to perfection. I was pleased to see they have retsina by the glass on the wine list. Retsina is not a fine wine by any means, but the piney flavor is the perfect complement to the grilled seafood. For a moment, I felt like I was back in Greece. Grilled fish and meats made up our main courses and were also very well prepared. The service was excellent as one would expect for a restaurant in this price range. Which brings me to my only gripe about Estia. It's pretty expensive. But worth it for the real thing. Five stars for Estia!
(5)Jennifer L.
Like someone else said, this only gets 4 stars because it's so damn expensive! Being Greek, I've had some amazing mind blowing Greek food...all for a third the price at the local Greek restaurant down the street from my house. Just as good as Estia, some dishes are even better at the teeny place by me. My friend ordered from the theater menu..for $30 you get an appetizer, entree, and fruit plate. She ordered the Pikilia Spread which is tzatziki (cucumber garlic yogurt sauce), htipiti (roasted red pepper), and melitzano (eggplant). The tzatziki was delicious, the htipiti was also good but had a definite kick, and the melitzano had hardly any flavor. The pita was nice a grilled, can't go wrong there. For entrees... She ordered the papoutsakia (grilled eggplant) and enjoyed it. I tried it but wish there was slightly more flavor on the vegetables. I had the arni youvetsi (lamb shank) and it was delicious! The lamb fell right off the bone when I picked it up. Perfectly cooked, not too fatty, just awesome. The feta orzo was also very good, slightly thick and heavy though. Dessert... We opted for the fruit plate, which consisted of watermelon, cantaloupe, and I think pineapple. Plus a dollup of Greek yogurt covered in honey. Didn't think the fruit was extremely fresh, but it was November and they were still serving summer fruit. Service... Our waiter was very nice and friendly. He quickly picked up that I was Greek (I guess that I pronounced the food correctly!) and thanked us and asked how things were in Greek. It was cute. :) I would definitely come back here as the food was very good. It's more of a first date place or celebration though. The food is slightly too expensive for what it is and I'm sure there HAS to be just as good cheap Greek food somewhere in Philly!
(4)Rick H.
The food is consistently very good. and there is a wonderful selection. Every top Greek item in the gourmet ranks is represented. Service is professional and attentive. Pricing has gotten a bit steep over the past years- but still a good time. Wine list needs some help and pricing is is over the top at 3-4 times retail. I never hesitate to return.
(4)Valerie K.
Went to Estia after a show at the Kimmel Center (right across the street) and was pleased. Given the time (post-Sunday matinee), it was pretty empty, but it filled as we neared the end of our meal closer to dinnertime. The service was very professional and the food was obviously top-notch. And this is coming from someone who grew up in a Greek family! Everything was excellent and I especially recommend the stuffed grape leaves (dolmades). I didn't order any fish dishes, but other members of my party did and they said that the fish was very fresh. Next time! The atmosphere was very eclectic and warm. I really liked that the waiters at the restaurant (at least ours and the one next to us) were GREEK. They knew exactly what they were talking about with food recommendations and actually spoke to Greek restaurant patrons in Greek! This is not to say that this is their only clientele, but it shows that it is a family-owned and operated restaurant which is always nice, especially in the city.
(5)