Effie's Restaurant

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1. DD

   DinerD

   1 review

   3.0

   1 review

   Dined 2 days ago

   overall3food3service2ambience3

   Waaay slow service, and when I told the clueless waiter we were running out of time, he promised to hurry things up. The food came out cold in the center. Nothing we had was 'made to order' it was all prepped ahead, so there was no good reason for the snail's pace of service.

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2. MP

   MarkP

   Philadelphia

   48 reviews

   vip
   5.0

   48 reviews

   Dined 4 days ago

   overall5food5service5ambience5

   I hesitate to write a good review, because this is such a good restaurant it may be hard for me to get a reservation next time I want to go. This has to be the best Greek restaurant in town. Been around for years. An all around great neighborhood spot - BYOB. Genuine home Greek cooking which is always excellent. Must have been here a dozen times in the past few years and it never disappoints.

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3. OT

   OpenTable Diner

   Philadelphia

   1 review

   5.0

   1 review

   Dined 7 days ago

   overall5food5service5ambience5

   The food was amazing and the service was excellent. I will certainly be returning here to try more of the menu. Now one of my favorite restaurants in Philadelphia.

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4. ML

   MichaelL

   Philadelphia

   23 reviews

   3.0

   23 reviews

   Dined on November 17, 2022

   overall3food3service4ambience3

   Very small Greek restaurant. I thought the food was average but good value for the money. The tzatziki sauce was amazing along with the Greek French fries.

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5. JW

   JeanneW

   1 review

   4.0

   1 review

   Dined on November 5, 2022

   overall4food5service4ambience4

   Best Greek food in Philly! Friendly and helpful servers, outstanding kitchen, great byob!

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6. p

   prefernotto

   Philadelphia

   34 reviews

   vip
   5.0

   34 reviews

   Dined on October 25, 2022

   overall5food5service5ambience5

   Comfortable and inviting with fantastic food. Staff came out to the garden to cover us with the retractable awning when it began drizzling. Very attentive without being intrusive.

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7. JS

   JSKDE

   Philadelphia

   8 reviews

   4.0

   8 reviews

   Dined on October 22, 2022

   overall4food4service5ambience4

   Good mousaka and saganaki! Nice find in Center City!

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8. RS

   RubyS

   Philadelphia

   1 review

   5.0

   1 review

   Dined on October 21, 2022

   overall5food5service5ambience4

   Food was delicious and affordable. Love that it's a BYOB as well. Next time, if the weather is good, we hope to dine out in the courtyard.

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9. SG

   SuzanneG

   Philadelphia

   16 reviews

   5.0

   16 reviews

   Dined on October 13, 2022

   overall5food5service5ambience5

   Effie’s is a wonderful stop for delicious genuine Greek food. There aren’t a ton of options in Philly and Effie’s does it well. The appetizers offer a variety of traditional Greek fare, and can easily be made a meal. But none of the mains disappoint either.

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10. SK

    SKen

    Atlantic City

    11 reviews

    3.0

    11 reviews

    Dined on October 9, 2022

    overall3food3service4ambience4

    Unfortunately the food was fair at best.

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11. EW

    ElleWoods

    Philadelphia

    11 reviews

    vip
    5.0

    11 reviews

    Dined on September 30, 2022

    overall5food5service5ambience5

    Excellent food and great service! One of our favorite BYOB spots.

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12. C

    Concierge

    Philadelphia

    1 review

    vip
    4.0

    1 review

    Dined on September 29, 2022

    overall4food5service2ambience4

    Food is solidly delicious, with stand outs in the seafood category!

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13. OT

    OpenTable Diner

    Philadelphia

    10 reviews

    vip
    2.0

    10 reviews

    Dined on September 23, 2022

    overall2food2service2ambience3

    Really cute outdoor garden area seating started our evening on a good note. Mussels appetizer was very flavorful and a good size portion. From there it was downhill as we waited an hour to be told the kitchen was backed up due to a wedding and it will be 15 more minutes. Food came 5 minutes later and was ice cold. Oh and from the garden you could hear the kitchen staff screaming at each other. First time visit. Will not be back.

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14. MO

    MichaelO

    Philadelphia

    19 reviews

    vip
    5.0

    19 reviews

    Dined on August 30, 2022

    overall5food5service5ambience4

    excellent Greek food, relaxed atmosphere, friendly staff

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15. OT

    OpenTable Diner

    Philadelphia

    2 reviews

    2.0

    2 reviews

    Dined on August 27, 2022

    overall2food2service3ambience3

    Mediocre Greek food, service, atmosphere. Would have been more satisfied getting a $20 salad from Sweet Green. 🙄

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16. N

    Northking

    Philadelphia

    36 reviews

    vip
    4.0

    36 reviews

    Dined on August 20, 2022

    overall4food5service4ambience5

    Effie's is a consistent, high quality performer. The food is excellent. Service (as was the case last night--they seemed to be short-staffed) can be a wildcard. But if you're not in a rush, you'll forget the service issue and remember the food. Effie's is always a reliably "go-to" option.

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17. C

    Chester

    Philadelphia

    3 reviews

    5.0

    3 reviews

    Dined on August 20, 2022

    overall5food5service5ambience5

    We enjoyed everything about our experience here and we can’t wait to go back.

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18. JH

    JohnH

    Philadelphia

    14 reviews

    vip
    5.0

    14 reviews

    Dined on August 20, 2022

    overall5food5service5ambience5

    My dining partner and I had another terrific meal at Effie’s. We started coming here over 20 years ago. The food and service remain outstanding. The moussaka and Greek salad we enjoyed in the garden patio were the perfect meal on a balmy summer night. Kudos to Effie and her staff!

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19. MM

    MaureenM

    Philadelphia

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on August 17, 2022

    overall5food5service5ambience5

    Always great service. Food is amazing. It is just so charming place.

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20. D

    Danny

    Philadelphia

    13 reviews

    vip
    5.0

    13 reviews

    Dined on August 12, 2022

    overall5food5service5ambience4

    delicious as usual!

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21. MH

    MeganH

    Philadelphia

    13 reviews

    vip
    5.0

    13 reviews

    Dined on August 4, 2022

    overall5food4service5ambience4

    Delicious meal in the charming Effie's. Wonderful service, as always. Thank you!

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22. l

    lilykathryn

    Philadelphia

    3 reviews

    vip
    5.0

    3 reviews

    Dined on July 28, 2022

    overall5food5service5ambience5

    Definitely my favorite place in philadelphia. Excellent service and food!

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23. M

    Mallory

    Philadelphia

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on July 22, 2022

    overall5food5service5ambience5

    Everything was awesome!

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24. W

    Wendy

    New York Area

    3 reviews

    4.0

    3 reviews

    Dined on July 16, 2022

    overall4food3service4ambience5

    Lovely outdoor courtyard with a cool breeze. Quiet setting so conversation was easy. Friendly and prompt service. Appetizers were creative and delicious. However, main dishes lacked imagination.

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25. f

    foodie1

    Philadelphia

    50 reviews

    vip
    5.0

    50 reviews

    Dined on July 13, 2022

    overall5food5service4ambience5

    Effie’s always delivers - wonderful food and service with a smile. Great outdoor seating options

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26. GH

    GailH

    Philadelphia

    11 reviews

    vip
    5.0

    11 reviews

    Dined on July 13, 2022

    overall5food4service4ambience5

    The garden is the place to sit. The food is lovely, the waiter was friendly and well informed, and the setting is the best in the city.

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27. RF

    RFH6

    Philadelphia

    33 reviews

    vip
    3.0

    33 reviews

    Dined on July 8, 2022

    overall3food3service4ambience4

    My chicken dinner was slightly overdone and the tomato mushroom garnish was way too salty. My partner‘s lamb dish was a bit chewy with some gristle. The vegetable, peas, were like bullets. The restaurant you consider using petite peas if they’re going to serve peas at all. On the plus side the service was fine and the bread was nice and hot. We were disappointed.

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28. j

    jules

    Philadelphia

    82 reviews

    vip
    5.0

    82 reviews

    Dined on June 28, 2022

    overall5food5service5ambience5

    Food was great. Very tasty, just like good old honestly cooking. Service was wonderful also. Great options for seating.

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29. OT

    OpenTable Diner

    New York Area

    4 reviews

    vip
    5.0

    4 reviews

    Dined on June 28, 2022

    overall5food4service5ambience5

    Delicious kefte and lightly fried flounder. A very attentive and thoughtful server, along with a gorgeous and charming outdoor setting, rounded out the evening. One of our favorite places to enjoy the weather and the nabe. Thank you, Effie’s!

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30. OT

    OpenTable Diner

    Birmingham

    1 review

    1.0

    1 review

    Dined on June 25, 2022

    overall1food3service1ambience3

    Can’t speak to the quality of the food as we were never served any. Had a reservation for two at 8 pm on Friday, June 24, 2022. Hostess repeatedly told us that our table just needed to be cleared off........ forty minutes later we still had not been seated. Finally, she said they could seat us, but the kitchen was so backed up we would not get our food for another hour. Ended up going to Mabu across the street where we were seated right away — pricey but delicious! I understand that many places are facing staffing shortages, but this should have been communicated to us from the beginning, especially since we had a reservation! Hostess was generally rude/short with us when we asked for updates. Needless to say, will not be returning.

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31. BG

    BG924

    Philadelphia

    14 reviews

    4.0

    14 reviews

    Dined on June 24, 2022

    overall4food4service5ambience4

    Food was very good. Outdoor garden setting was nice. Wait staff were excellent and attentive

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32. p

    phillydoc

    London

    18 reviews

    4.0

    18 reviews

    Dined on June 11, 2022

    overall4food3service4ambience3

    Unless the Greeks in the kitchen were from a very different part of the country, the dishes we had were not what we recognize as traditional Greek food. The food was quite tasty but not what was expected. White rice and peas and carrots with lamb kabobs, I don't think so. The moussaka was very different with virtually zero eggplant. But as I said, what we ate was very good, just unexpected. The hummus and baklava were most certainly Greek and excellent. The personal and service were also excellent.

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33. CS

    ColtonS

    Philadelphia

    2 reviews

    5.0

    2 reviews

    Dined on June 10, 2022

    overall5food5service5ambience5

    Perfect outdoor dinner, with Effie in the kitchen and your favorite bottle of wine you can’t go wrong. Our favorite BYOB, I wish it was closer to our house.

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34. PG

    PhyllisG

    Philadelphia

    9 reviews

    vip
    5.0

    9 reviews

    Dined on June 9, 2022

    overall5food5service5ambience5

    The garden is a peaceful and relaxing place for a lovely meal with friends. Great service and very reasonable prices.

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35. P

    Phillycliff

    Philadelphia

    27 reviews

    vip
    5.0

    27 reviews

    Dined on June 3, 2022

    overall5food5service5ambience5

    Always a great experience. Like being with family.

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36. MS

    MindyS

    Philadelphia

    2 reviews

    5.0

    2 reviews

    Dined on June 3, 2022

    overall5food5service5ambience5

    Haven’t been to Effies in several years and everything was as delicious as I remembered!

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37. U

    Unknown

    Philadelphia

    2 reviews

    3.0

    2 reviews

    Dined on May 21, 2022

    overall3food4service2ambience4

    Food here is always great. Service is not the best. We sat and 7 and didn’t get out of there until about 945. I don’t think anyone came to our table for the first half hour.

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38. MK

    MichaelK

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on May 21, 2022

    overall5food4service5ambience4

    We live less than two blocks away and this is our go-to BYO, certainly the best neighborhood spot within a six block radius of 12th and Pine. Menu is more or less unchanging, but it's always one hundred percent consistent, and very good value for money. Service is top notch, Philippos is an exceptionally gracious host, and they'll get you your food quickly if you need it, or leave you to a slow and leisurely pace if that's what you're there for. All three dining spaces -- indoors, rear garden, sidewalk tables -- are nice in their own way and the sidewalk spaces are among the areas nicest: Quince St, on the north side of Pine, is pleasantly airy and doesn't get the unbearable afternoon sun that you have on the east-west streets. Not haute cuisine, but everything you could want in good, homestyle Greek cooking.

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39. KK

    KKetal

    Philadelphia

    4 reviews

    3.0

    4 reviews

    Dined on May 18, 2022

    overall3food3service4ambience2

    We were a party of 8, and we were seated in the back shed room with another party of 7. The other party was extremely loud, and we could not hear each other at our own table at all. It felt hot and crowded even though there were only two tables. The food was only médiocre, dry and no longer warm by the time it arrived.

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40. M

    Moneill

    Philadelphia

    11 reviews

    5.0

    11 reviews

    Dined on August 24, 2021

    overall5food5service5ambience5

    This was my first time there. It was a perfect outdoor setting to have dinner with a friend. The staff was attentive, the weather was perfect, and the food was really tasty. I will definitely go back with friends. It’s also nice that it’s BYOB so we could enjoy our favorite wines as well. Highly recommend.

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