Perla

Overall, the experience was amazing! Our server was prompt, patient, kind, and very informative. She explained all the dishes we ordered and the significance the ingredients have in Filipino culture...something I really enjoy learning about. The food itself was spectacular, decent portion sizes, lots of flavor, and very unique (with lots of sauces on the side!). The care and attention to our food as well as to us, the diners, was unmatched. I highly recommend giving this place a shot. There were only 1-2 other diners in the place when we got there and more coming when we left so I can see how the place would get a little crowded however it was not that way when we went there. Thanks a ton, Perla!

We always look forward to our dinner dates at Perla. We are treated like family and the food is delicious. We will be back soon!!!

I love Filipino cuisine, but it's something that I don't have often, mostly because it seems like there aren't that many Filipino restaurants around me. I think Americans are sometimes scared of breaking out of the mold and trying different cuisines such as Filipino, if they tried Perla they would want more of them around. Perla takes a modern approach on traditional Filipino dishes. The food they serve is both beautiful and delicious.

We happened to go during Passyunk restaurant week, so we got the 3 courses for $35. For my appetizer I took the grilled octopus, which was perfectly cooked and beautifully plated (see image attached), with two different sauces, refreshing pickled cucumbers, and grilled shishito peppers. My entree was a flaky grilled barramundi served in a banana leaf with delicious pan fried cauliflower. For dessert I chose the chocolate coconut panna cotta. My partner took the ube cheesecake, it was a unique savory sweet bite, and I think I liked it even better than my panna cotta (which says a lot because I LOVE panna cotta).

Perla has a special vibe. It's both eclectic and tastefully designed. I loved the tiles on the walls and the intimate setting. Keep in mind that the restaurant is really small, so if you're looking for a place for a large party, this is probably not the place, but if you're looking for a romantic intimate dinner where you can carry a conversation with your partner, Perla is the perfect place, just be sure to make a reservation first. Oh and don't forget your bottle of wine, Perla is a BYOB.

Chic looking restaurant, friendly and warm service. Food was enjoyable, certainly took me back home. My boyfriend enjoyed the experience, despite not being the biggest fan of eating with his hands. Overall, great experience.

Delicious! One of the best meals and coolest dining experiences I’ve ever had in Philadelphia!

The food was delicious and layered with lots of nuanced flavors!

Food was great! We had to wait about an extra half an hour for our reservation. The wait staff was very nice but they weren’t as attentive as they could’ve been. However, I know it was restaurant week and they were busy. Definitely coming back.

I came with a group of 4 for restaurant week, and we loved it! I would definitely return to try some of the menu options, although I loved the family-style dinner as well.

Absolutely amazing family style meal. The whole fish which I'm not normally a fan of was delicious!

Had a lovely date night. The food and service were great!

Perla's Kamayan dinner on Wednesdays and Sundays is like nothing else I've ever experienced. Always incredibly delicious, it's such a treat to take part in experiencing authentic Filipino culinary experience. The price is excellent as well. I plan to come back again and again.

The food was fantastic. The staff was friendly and fast on their feet. The food service was very fast. We will go there again.

Great food, great service. Small place so it's very intimate and a bit loud at times. Would definitely recommend.

Excellent food, service and ambiance. Dreadful acoustics. Could barely even hear the server when she was right at our table.

I was looking forward to coming to Perla for a birthday celebration. The octopus was bland as was the broth for the mussels. We asked our server to chill our champagne, but when it was brought out, it was warm. We noticed the portions of the same items we ordered were significantly smaller at a neighboring table. The cheesecake we ordered for dessert were simply cheesecake dollops on a plate. When asked how it was and we said "not what we expected", the server walked away without any follow up. They should also consider a barrier between the kitchen and the dining room. Our clothing smelled like fried, greasy food when we got home. I really wanted to like this place, but I would not recommend it.

Great food and service. It was loud and the chairs aren’t comfortable.

The food were good. I really like the octopus and the pork belly dish.

The food was very good and the service was excellent. However, because the space is quite small and there are no sound absorbing features within its decor, the noise level was very high, which was a distraction.

Always a wonderful experience at Perla.

Food was amazing. Seriously. Service was great. Did the kamayan and had enough food for a whole other meal.

Awesome introduction to authentic Filipino food, but with careful attention to subtly adapt to the American palate.
Kamayan nights are a great value and fun to boot.
Can’t wait to come back on a different night to try their a la carte menu. And to try chef Lou’s Fishtown restaurant Sarvida.

This is my second visit and the experience was as enjoyable as the first time. The product is excellent and the preparation unique with a touch of mom’s cooking. Service is outstanding and please do not skip dessert so save some room, you will be thankful.

Just a wonderful meal in a lovely space with a reasonable price point. Cant say enough good things about it.

Great food experience. Love the tradtional eat with your hands and if course the food was fabtastic. Great friendly service and clean atmosphere

Except for an exceptionally loud noise level it was a fantastic experience!

I enjoyed the food, especially the banana blossom dish, and the server was friendly and knowledgeable. I had called in advance to specifically note that my parents are hard of hearing and we would prefer a table next to a wall or corner so we can hear each other. When we arrived we were seated in the middle of the extremely noisy dining room while the table in the corner was empty. We had to ask to move although I had made the request specifically so my family would not have to manage this disability. I also thought the host (not our server) was unprofessional in rushing us out of the restaurant, telling us they needed the table for another guest while we were clearing paying the check. The food and flavor are great and with some small improvements in communication and hosting this could be a spectacular experience!

We visited Perla on a Wednesday and it was delicious and fun! We had the Kamayan dinner (a shared feast spread out on banana leaves on your table) for two and loved it! Chicken, pompano and pork belly, ginger rice(?) and a spread of roasted vegetables was a great introduction to Filipino food. The chef came out and presented it to us and discussed each item and we loved them all. They offered and we accepted the use of forks and spoons (I think the Kamayan menu is supposed to be eaten with your hands) but we appreciated the utensils although we did eat some portions with our hands. We will return on a Thursday - Saturday to try the ala carte items, but I can't imagine them to be better than the Kamayan menu.
The proteins were each cooked perfectly and then served together, which was necessary because the preparations are completely different for each. My favorite, the pompano, had a crispy exterior with a gently cooked flesh, a preparation that eludes most chefs trying to cook crispy fish.
I also liked that it was BYO because I prefer my own wines and I get tired of the 4X markups.

It was our 1st anniversary and my wife and I came away really pleased that we chose to celebrate it at Perla. The two of us found the food and service to exceed our expectations. Our server was wonderful in helping us through the menu. I personally loved the Spanish octopus. We would definitely eat at Perla again.

Absolutely one of the best meals from start to finish... great food, exceptional experience. Thanks again for a lovely dinner!!!! We will be back.

The Kamayan menu here is absolutely delicious. I would definitely come back for it and would recommend to others.

Wonderful flavors, in general. Not much to the Artic char appetizer, though. Great to be back!

The noise was terrible. Please let patrons know when you have a large party. The experience was Terrible.

We LOVED the food and the place was so cute! We would definitely go back. A little pricey but everything we ate was delicious. Bread was amazing!

Very good food but service was kinda lacking for a very slow early Sat night with one other guest. My uncle repeatedly had to flag down the waitress to add other menu items and pay the bill even though we were here for a birthday. I would still recommend restaurant however as the food was great.

Great food solid service. We came with our 7 month old son for our anniversary and we had a great time. Everything was set according to our request and the food came out hot and delicious. They even threw in an extra special surprise for our anniversary.

I would definitely recommend this place for unique dates and connecting with small to mid sized groups of friends and family.

Excellent combination of flavors and well prepared food. The menu was varied and all dishes worthy of tasting. Very impressed with the cuisine and service. Highly recommended

amazing, traditional Filipino food in a modern setting, eaten in a traditional manner (for kamayan nights, at least). as a Filipina, i grew up eating this same kind of food, and i was amazed at how perfectly the flavors and experience of my childhood were replicated. honestly one of the best and most abudant meals you can get in Philly, at a decent price, and perfect to share with friends or a loved one.

Food took too long to be served. Food was not that great . The temperature control was not great and near the kitchen a fan blows on the customers.

Friends visit

We went on Wednesday for Kamayan which is their family style night. The food was excellent! Only negative was I wished the server did full understanding of what Kamayan was and a better explanation of everything we were eating. Otherwise I had a great time!