Kanella
1001 Spruce St, Philadelphia, PA, 19107
Kanella Menu
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Starter
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Mains
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Glika - Sweets
Healthy Meal suggestions for Kanella
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Starter
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Mains
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Glika - Sweets
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Address :
1001 Spruce St
Philadelphia, PA, 19107 - Phone (215) 922-1773
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Opening Hours
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Specialities
- Takes Reservations : Yes
Delivery : No
Take-out : Yes
Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
Good For : Brunch, Dinner
Parking : Street
Bike Parking : Yes
Wheelchair Accessible : Yes
Good for Kids : No
Good for Groups : Yes
Attire : Casual
Ambience : Casual
Noise Level : Average
Alcohol : No
Outdoor Seating : Yes
Wi-Fi : Free
Has TV : No
Dogs Allowed : Yes
Waiter Service : Yes
Caters : No
Categories
Greek Cuisine
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.
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Martin M.
We celebrated our anniversay tonight, with a wonderful dinner at this fabulous, casual, Greek Restaurant. The servie is impeccible, the waiter was extremely helpful, and knowledgeable about the menu. It was a gorgeous, spring evening, so we decided to eat outside. It is a BYOB, so we broght a wonderful bottle of wine to enjoy with our dinner. We shared grilled octupus, and a humus platter, with warm pita. Both dishes were amazing. For our dinner, we shared the speciall fish, which was Dorado, and a stuffed calamari. The calamari was stuffed wth rice, feta and wonderful spices. Both were absolutely wonderful. Desserts are home made, and we sampled one of the waiters recommendations. I highly, highly recommend Kanella. i have read that the brunch is awesome, so we will try that, next. It was a great way to celebrate our anniversary!
(4)Aaron B.
The first time I went to Kanella, I was vastly underwhelmed by the fare, but I must have ordered the wrong thing or been there on an off night. When I returned this week, I did not order any of the same things, and I was happily surprised by the quality of the offerings. The fried cheese in an ouzo/onion sauce was amazingly delectable. The lamb short rib appetizer was perfectly done and big enough for a main dish, with delicious rich roasted eggplant. The flatbread was the low spot. By the time the the whole fish entree arrived - a dorado - we could not eat another bite. For two days I have had dinner on the leftovers from this delightful meal. Kanella gets 4 stars instead of 5 because I still ended up smelling like a kitchen when I left, but at least this time it was worth it.
(4)Jedi M.
If I could I would give his place more than 5 stars. Its a relatively small place so if there is more than 2 of you get reservations early. The service is impeccable, and the menu is dynamic with the seasons, nothing stale here. Everything we ordered was fresh and full of flavor, I think it took just as long to order because it all sounded so good we had to read the menu many times over. And remember there is always room for the homemade ice cream, not to be missed!
(5)Micaela F.
We had brunch at Kanella after reading it on Philly Mag. OMG was it delicious. I had the cypress breakfast and it was delicious. I have never tried halloumi before. It is reminded me of a fried mozarella that hold it firmness. Their lounza was delicious. It is a type of ham but with a very nice seasoning. It came with fried eggs and had seasoning on it.
(5)B B.
Went for the family-style deal that they have on Sundays. Twelve plates for $30 (vegetarian) and twelve plates for $35 (meat). I think I am remembering that correctly. BYOB so went down to the Foodery and got something to drink. All the food was excellent, the waiters were good, and sitting outside was good even if it was at a slant. Definitely would go back for dessert since I was too stuffed to eat any this time around.
(4)Kaitlin H.
Finally made it here the other night after dying to go forever and left very happy!! Loved the decor, so cute, and all of the staff were super sweet! The watermelon salad was light and refreshing and so good. The calamari was perfectly done. The roasted bell pepper was good but not great. I had a great experience though and I cannot wait to go back!
(4)Lauren D.
As of late, I've been trying to avoid writing reviews on places that I've only been to once but I really just fell in love with Kanella. After a day of training for a new job, my new co-workers and I ventured into the city with a free bottle of wine and free bottle of cider in hopes of finding a nice BYO to imbibe. We were told Kanella could be hit-or-miss, but we decided to give it a try. Right off the bat, everything was great. It had just opened so we had no problem getting a table sans-reservation, and the hostess gave us a table that was right by a window, albeit next to the kitchen, that gave us a nice place to people-watch. The decor itself is lovely. The banquets are lined with loose pillows, everything is done in light colors and the big windows really complete the whole comfy, relaxed vibe. Our server (I'm totally blanking on the name) was really nice, funny, and efficient, despite him coming off as a bit spacey. Now, the best part is obviously the food. We shared 4 appetizers and 2 desserts for our meal which definitely left us super full. The dips of the day that we got to try were a garlic-potato, which was pleasantly chunky, a creamy yet somewhat savory lentil spread (my FAVORITE omg), and traditional baba ghanouj. The pita that it was served with was warm and obviously right off the grill. The dolmathes were also great and had an interesting spin in that it was served with raisins, giving it a sweet aspect. I wish it had come with 3 pieces, as opposed to two, but that's just a minor complain. We also had a pastry that had feta cheese and spinach, topped with honey (they even gave that honey thing that is used traditionally...the wooden one? You know? I have no idea what it's called), and it was divine. Our final appetizer was the grilled calamari, which I found delightful for being a bit overdone. Fortunately for us, the chef felt the same way and gave it to us on the house without us even making a comment on it. Finally, the deserts were AWESOME. We got a trio of ice cream which included mint, cardamom, and jasmine. The jasmine wasn't my deal, but the mint was AWESOME. It tasted like actual mint, as opposed to something you would buy out of a carton from Acme. The small pastry tasting I felt was slightly over-priced, but then again they managed to make semolina cake really good so I guess I can't really complain. While Kanella isn't the best Greek/Mediterranean food in the city, it's definitely up there. The chef obviously cares about the product that goes out and the staff seems to genuinely enjoy working there. It's great for all occasions, from business lunches to romantic dates. I'll be returning, for sure :]
(4)Lucinda D.
I had brunch here with a friend and liked it a lot. It's got a nice cozy bustling atmosphere, not too loud. The food was very good, unusual and fresh. We had the dips with pita, which is a great way to try things. The service was excellent for the first part of the meal but did fall apart when the restaurant got full later on.
(4)Ambrose C.
The meals are superlative! It's my new favorite restaurant. Although I've ventured more through the dinner menu, I can't seem to order anything other than the Cyprus breakfast for brunch. It's just too good to pass up. The chef truly knows good food and great flavor. The pressed coffee and desserts have been just as satisfying as the meals. The galatopoureko is divine, simply divine. The servers have been informative, accommodating, welcoming and charming, too!
(5)Aileen P.
Atypical menu, relaxing atmosphere. For brunch I had mackerel soup and omelette with artichokes, mushrooms and beef jerky-like bits.
(4)Ari P.
Fantastic Greek food at reasonable prices. The lamb dishes were particularly good.
(4)Lily C.
Definitely a fan of the excellent service. The hostess is extremely sweet and the waiters are very knowledgeable about the menu. Ask the waiters what their favs are and you won't be sorry. Every dish we tried: very tasty!
(4)Stephen S.
Best restaurant in Philly. Hands down. Order the stuffed/grilled squid and be prepared to reach nirvana. The prices are high but worth every penny. BYO bottle of wine from Garces Trading Company - they'll recommend a good one for this particular restaurant, and it'll be cheap if you ask them. Service is also impeccable.
(5)Catherine K.
Recently move to Philadelphia and a friend took me here for dinner after seeing on either the foodnetwork or the travel channel. It is BYO and I don't think we were charged a corking fee. The food was excellent. Our appetizers of dips and hummus were rich in flavor and and texture. The chicken and rice soup so tasty and comforting.
(4)Clifford Q.
September 27 UPDATE - I would like to think they read my review and made changes - LOL- One will never know - We visited Kanella again last night for the Sunday meze-family style dinner with 2 friends visiting from Collinswood, NJ. LOVED IT - Food as always and I will never say it enough was incredible. Portions were very different from our last visit and we all walked away more than satisfied. I am sure we will continue to frequent Kanella and even on Sunday's :-) FYI - Wait staff always top notch. If they can put with my warped humor they are truly special!
(5)Nancy Y.
I went here with a reservation but was late, but the hostess was very nice and seated us anyway. The place was packed, but the wait was only around 15 minutes. The food was AMAZING, not your typical italian BYO - the Greek food was very well done and the service was great. The decor was very cute and I cannot wait to go back again (Along with Audrey Claire, this is one of my favorite BYOs now).
(5)Robin D.
moussaka!! YUM. all of the appetizers were amazing, even loved the stuffed grape leaves and i usually hate those. the staff was really knowledgable and accommodating, my friends loved how cute the waiters were.
(4)Nora D.
I had a pretty enjoyable dinner here on a Wednesday night. My group started out with the Dips appetizer (YUM) and a rabbit/pork appetizer special (so-so). I had the lamb shank- it was very good but it didn't knock my socks off or anything. The dessert sampler was delish. I have heard that the service here can be hit or miss but our waiter was very attentive and quick. I'd be happy to go back here again... and the fact that it is a byob makes me love it more...
(4)david c.
i had a surprisingly nice meal here last night. we got 7 appetizers eating mezze style. (all at 8 dollars each). we could easily have stopped at 5, but we stuffed ourselves and finished the 7. we got a variety of soup, grilled seafood (shrimp/octopus/whole sardines) to grilled meats (sausages/meatballs/lamb salad). most were served alongside mixed green salads, and maybe a feta side, or a tsatsiki. all the dishes were thoughtfully and well prepared and i left very happy. service was good (it was a slow night because it was snowing so heavily last night). the entrees of whole grilled fish, rabbit stew and goat stew all sounded interesting to me too. next time i'm back in philly i'd definitely come back. so much better than estia or dmitri's. another great byo!
(5)Jeremy B.
A nice spot to try, nothing crazy, could even increase the menu selection a touch but it was a good experience, made so by our server. He seemed knowledgeable and walked us through how things were very well. Simple and clean. For being such a small spot, I was glad it was not too loud and we were able to talk, outdoor seating was great and added to the spots resume.
(4)Andrew R.
Went here the other day with a party of 4 and had heard such amazing things. As it turned out I really enjoyed this greek byo although it didn't quite live up to expectations (but that may have been impossible due to the high standards that were set). Here is my break down... Service/staff was very friendly and attentive. Our waitor Billy was great and was more of a laid back setting which I liked. Food. The appetizers were extremely good we got the dip trio and the cheese. The main course was good but this was the only thing that I was expecting slightly better. I got the whole fish as did someone else, the lamb one person got and loved, and the other got the short ribs special and wasnt fond of it. The price was very reasonable and all in all I would certianly go back, but most likely would order something different.
(4)Jaime K.
I wish I could eat here everyday! The food is just so delicious. Simply prepared, yet so complex tasting. I can't afford to eat here often, but when I do it's an amazing experience. This is a great place to bring foodie's interested in trying something new.
(5)Bobbi L.
Wow! My friend picked this place and frankly I was dreading it as I do to eat lamb, veal or rabbit. But I figured there were still things on the menu I could eat (no I am not a vegetarian but I dislike certain meats). Anyway we started with a dip assortment (golden split pea, pumpkin, and tomato) served with warm pita bread. There were so different and wonderfully tasty. I ordered a Greek salad and she got the grilled octopus. The salad was amazing, I know a salad but it was truly memorable. The octopus tasted really good not tough and grilled perfectly. My friend got the rabbit which she loved and I got Bureki (basically a feta filled pastry with honey). Everything was so unique and flavorful. I got the orange and almond tart which not too sweet but well balanced between the orange and almond flavor. I would recommend this place to anyone it was so good. Just remember to make reservations for dinner as it is small. Don't forget to bring your own wine since it is a BYOB. But in case you forget I recommend the lemonade/mint tea it is very different then anything I have had before.
(5)J B.
Pleasant, spartan interior doesn't distract from the main attraction which is the food, of course. Service was professional and expedient, though perhaps a step too far over the border into impersonal. I went for lunch on Saturday and was met with what was essentially a brunch menu. I shared a Kanella platter and had the chicken over lentils. The food was excellent, and very reasonably priced for the quality. The lentils were tender but whole, as were the white beans on the platter. The fried eggplant was delicious, the simple chicken breast tender and well seasoned, and everything felt fresh and full of subtle complexity of flavor. The rice pudding I had for dessert was the best I've ever had. I will definitely come back to give the dinner menu a try. If it goes as well as lunch, I expect to add a star.
(4)Jacqueline T.
This place was great. The food was delicious and it is a fun place. I thought it was pricey for a byob. Still, I highly recommend it.
(4)george k.
My wife and friend have been regulars of Kanella for the 3 plus years it has been open. We have always enjoyed the cooking of Constantinos, chef-owner, even while he was the chef at Meze. But last night was the best meal we have had at Kanella or anywhere in the city in the last year. The special NYE menu was utterly fantastic, delicious and so flavorful. The sauces, the fresh and tasty ingredients were superb. Four of us tasted almost the entire menu and enjoyed every morsel. We had: a grilled rabbit salad with artichokes and a wonderful fava bean and tomato salad; white and green asparagus with poached egg; apricots stuffed with ground lamb; torteloni stuffed with pheasant in a cauliflower sauce; roasted bone marrow, sea urchin with black ink pasta; rack of lamb with short ribs and colored potatoes; quail stuffed with pork and duck hearts with warm chickpeas and cumin scented yogurt; tile fish with cous cous. For dessert: pomegranate sorbet and habiscus ice cream with black berry jello; hazlenut cake/torte with pistachio ice cream and almond cream custard/flan(best hazlenut cake I have tasted); chococolate mousse pyramid with caramel ice cream. I can't describe everything that was in the dishes. I wish I kept the menu to remember everything. Check their web site and click on the NYE menu, although there were little additions to the dishes that don't appear on the web site. Every detail on every dish was executed to perfection. It was simply an incredible dinner. Chef Constantinos and his wonderful staff did a fantastic job. I felt that we had dinner at the the chef's home, it was that good. My compliments to Chef Constantinos, his kitchen staff and the wonderful servers. Happy New Year to all of you.
(5)Paige W.
Yum. Seriously delicious and different from any other Greek food in the city (probably because it isnt technically Greek, it's Cypriot). Anyway, I was a little disapointed that there were no chicken dishes since I wont eat meat or lamb (sounded delicious yes, but I am sticking to my word). Luckilly, the fish was spectacular, served with chick pea salad and a yummy sweet sauce. The dips were wonderful, the homemade ice cream was delish, and the ambiance was really nice. Service was very attentive but a bit fussy (when asked if I could swap ice cream flavors I got a terse "no" which I thought was a joke then quickly realized was quite serious). But overall, I could tell the place paid serious attention to detail and the chef cared about his craft. I will be back for sure.
(4)Alex M.
Third strike and you're out, Kanella. During my most recent attempt to give this place a chance this past Sunday, my brunch companion ordered the vegetable omelet but requested that the chanterelles be omitted. Our waiter didn't skip a beat before responding in a disrespectful and patronizing tone (direct quote): "Have you had chanterelles before? Chanterelles are the finest mushrooms in the world. I recommend that you don't omit them. You should order them on the side." My companion, who is actually a very successful chef, good-naturedly told the waiter that it was fine if the kitchen wanted to put the mushrooms on the side (I think she pitied him for his abject cluelessness and wondered if I might want the shrooms.) The waiter was generally surly and had no idea how to relate to customers; we could observe this in his attitude toward nearby tables too. I wondered if he was a member of the owner's family; otherwise it's hard to fathom what he's doing on the front lines. His behavior was enough to seal Kanella's fate for me, but the fact that the $10 french press coffee was the worst I have *ever* had in any context, and that the food was for a third time just a notch above mediocre, didn't help either. Hot tip for Kanella: retrain or fire the nice-looking, thin, young outside waiter from the morning of September 16th. There is no excuse for treating customers as he did.
(1)Jen M.
Great lunch place. Perfect portions, nice presentation, and tasty. I had an eggplant salad that was delicious. Lunch for two was around 20 bucks and considering the cute ambiance and awesome service, it is a steal.
(4)Tom S.
Saw this place on food network, check it out on saturday around 1 waited 5 minutes for table. Our table was bussed and set by owner/chef. I had the English breakfast and my girlfriend had the cyprus breakfast. Both were excellent I will be back very soon.................p.s. get a table away from the door it tends to catch a breeze
(4)Mike C.
Kanella is one of my favorite spots. The food is always amazing, and the servers are always so nice. I've been here many times, almost always get something different and have never been disappointed. As long as you don't mind the crowded tables, I highly recommend it
(5)Melanie B.
Kanella is superb! I've been there a couple times for brunch before, but I just went there for dinner for the first time on Tuesday night. From the homemade medley of dips that we ordered as an appetizer to the fig/date/rosemary cheesecake I got for dessert - and everything in between - the meal was, dare I say, perfect! One of my dinner companions ordered the kofta, and he was very pleased with the taste and texture. My other companion had the winter ravioli (stuffed with pumpkin!) and it was amazing! I had one of the night's special dishes - Hawaiian butterfish. It was one of the best plates of fish I have ever had! The coffee is great, the desserts are divine, the staff is knowledgeable and kind. They never rush you, but they're very attentive, and they even hailed a cab for us after our meal - in the pouring rain. 5 stars indeed!
(5)Wanda M.
Last night was my third visit to Kanella, so I have given it sufficient chance to prove itself worthy of th 4 or 5 circles on tripadvisor. Look, all you eaters who post 5 stars, this is not Vetri's or Sbraga. It is not fine 5 star dining. It is a reasonably ok place to eat. Last night's lamb shank was solid, but the vegetable moussaka was bland and tasteless. The salad was OK and the dips were fine. The time that we had the tasting menu, it was a mixed bag. There were OK dishes and there were pretty good dishes. All in all a very mixed bag. The main drawback of this restaurant, however, is not the food. It is the noise and crowded dining room. Holy cow! You have to shout to have a conversation, to compete with the people who are shouting at your elbow to have a conversation over the noise that you are making. They really need some noise abatement here. Not a place to have a nice, relaxing dinner.
(3)max c.
It's a great time to enjoy adventurous and authentic food in Philadelphia. Kanella is a perfect example of delicious, well-prepared, nose to tail eating. The chef is talented and eccentric, a classic cutter of his nose to spite his face. Frequently railing against on-line review sites, such as yelp, and engaging in heated verbal battles with various food critics, whether their reviews were good or bad. The nice thing for him, is that he can get away with it. Fearless preparation of whole branzino, pork cheeks and salty, fishy tampenades allow the simple ingredients to shine through. I've only been here once and thoroughly enjoyed myself with similar feelings shared among all my friends that have Kanella in their regular rotation. Go early in the week and let the chef choose for you if he is wandering the dining room and he wont let you down.
(4)Andi J.
Very good food and service. However in cold weather, do not allow them to seat you near the door. It was so cold my legs nearly developed frost bite. Major problem with insulation.
(3)helen a.
Four of us ate dinner. Fried cheese, Dorad, Butternut squash ravioli , pork , lamb and three salades and a small sampler for desert the meal was good. At $165 plus tip it was worth it. My French press coffee was better than the Greek one. The service was friendly, I look forward to going back .
(4)Randy I.
This evening was my second time, dining at Kanella. The freshest of ingredients, leading to the most appetizing and delicious food. Everything, from the bucolic decor, to the wait staff , to the presentation of our dinner, to the actual freshness and quality of our food was over the top. Five stars, does not do this finest of establishments, justice. Add two more. An epicurean delight, Randy I.
(5)v h.
OMG dinner here was heavenly. Set in a picturesque part of philly, we ate outside under the awning on a warm and drizzly end-of summer night. We started with a two appetizers, quail and something with rabbit. BF had a whole grilled fish (which you can have with or without the head) and I had hawaiian butterfish, both delicious. The menu changes often, but I dont think the chef can go wrong. Dessert was mousse with lavender ice cream. Service was attentive and unobtrusive.
(5)Josh K.
I came here on July 2nd with four others. Decor was simple, noise level was unremarkable. Space was a bit small--I was sitting with my back to a wall, and servers kept squeezing past me. Our server was helpful, although he never seemed to make eye contact and seemed to close his eyes whenever talking. Maybe that's how Cypriots are and he was just trying to give us a more authentic experience? We got the Greek salad, dips of the day, bureki, and halloumi for appetizers. The salad was moderately sized and pretty standard. (I think the one at Dmitri's is a better value.) I'm not entirely sure what the dips were, but I believe there was a lentil one, a chickpea/anchovy one, and a pumpkin one. We all disagreed about which one we liked best, but we thought all of them were good. We had to ask for more pita for dipping, which they didn't charge for. The bureki (fillo pastry stuffed with feta and thyme, drizzled with thyme honey, served with roast beets ) had a nice sweet/salty thing going on, and I liked the herbaceousness, but it was a bit small to share 5 ways. It seemed expensive for the size, but maybe that's also because we were splitting it. The beets seemed a bit like an afterthought. The halloumi was interesting--I didn't realize that it doesn't really melt. Again, not the best appetizer to split. Of the apps, dips of the day was the winner. One additional note--they brought out bread with tahini, and I feel like the timing was off--either they brought it just before or at the same time as the rest of the appetizers, or a refill was slow. Also, nobody poured our wine for us, and we wound up pouring our own. Neither really bothered us, but I like to nitpick. For entrees, we got two veal flank steaks, a pork chop, a quail, and a duck leg. I had the veal. All the meat was well-cooked, well-seasoned and amply portioned, and the accompaniments were well-executed also. I'm hesitant to say it, because everyone was happy with their food, but I think most of us agreed that the mains were still somewhat unremarkable; maybe they lacked some defining Greekness that we were expecting. I'd never had quail, so I did enjoy the richness, and people who tried the duck really liked it (the piece I tried was really too small to get much duckiness). For dessert, we got the date and chocolate cake with vanilla ice cream and caramel sauce, the galatoboureko (filo pastry with semolina custard), and the assortment of Cypriot pastries. The chocolate cake was amazing--extremely moist, chocolatey, with a faint trace of date flavor. The vanilla ice cream and caramel sauce weren't the most imaginative things, but they were good and worked well with the cake. I really enjoyed the custard as well--it reminded me of creme brulee, almost, with a thick, rich texture and fairly subtle flavor. The pastries had baklava, which was really good--it had cinnamon in it, which made it stand out from other baklava I've had. There were also almond cookies, which were okay, but not too exciting, and some sort of cake that was sort of dense/dry and not as sweet as I would've liked it. As we were leaving, we were preparing to stuff a bottle of wine we wound up not opening in a purse, and a server (not ours) stopped me and gave me a...fabric wine tote? I don't know what it's called, but he said that people are always leaving them at the restaurant and we could have this so our chilled wine wouldn't warm up on the way home. It was a nice touch. Total came out to about $45/person including tax and tip, and most portions were reasonable/generous. Overall, this was a solid restaurant. I'd been looking forward to it for awhile. Although not everything lived up to my built-up hopes, just about everything was at least good, and a few things really were excellent.
(4)Hamid A.
This place has been in my neighborhood for quite some time and I just went there this morning for brunch. I wish I had gone here much earlier. We brought a bottle of Champagne, and the staff was very accommodating in making Mimosas for us to make our brunch complete. The service was very friendly and helpful with suggestions. The food was delicious. We ordered a bunch tapas and shared it family style. All were very good, the only problem was that I wanted to order more than I could have possibly eaten. So I will have to come back often. The price was very reasonable and we were all very satisfied.
(5)David K.
I'd heard about this place, and I dropped in at an odd hour and spoke with the chef/owner. Maybe there's someone in Philadelphia more passionate about presenting authentic food from a distant land, but I haven't heard of that person. Since that conversation, I've eaten here several times, and, on each occasion, the food was great. The Cyprus version of Greek dishes often involves the use of Middle Eastern spices and of lemon, it seems to me. Only in Philadelphia could a joint like this thrive. Kanella is a BYOB. Pennsylvania's insane liquor laws have spawned a number of great, idiosyncratic restaurants that are economically feasible to operate, and Kanella is one of them. If you have only one meal to eat in Philadelphia, this is the place.
(5)Michael R.
I went for brunch recently and had a very good experience. The only thing holding it back from 5 stars is that after eating I was still a bit hungry. What is great about it is that it breaks out of the standard egg, pancake, etc, brunch that pretty much everyone seems to have. It pushes you to try something that you would normally not think of eating, which is the sign of a good place in my book. I had the Shaksouka, which was very solid. In addition to the food, the layout and service at Kanella makes for a nice experience.
(4)Alix H.
Amazing food, fantastic service. If we lived in Philly, we would be here once a week. From beginning to end, each course was extraordinary...particularly enjoyed the pasta with halloumi and yogurt sauce. They were very accomodating of a picky little eaters vegetarian palette and generally very solicitous of all members of our disheveld party. We will be back!
(5)Sally f.
great place!!!!!!!!! such friendly service and such flavorful food!!!!!!! i went with 7 ppl and everyone at my table tried eachothers food, and we were all blown away by the duck!!!!! everything was so good though. great evening had by all.
(5)Lauren S.
WOW. I moved to Philly from San Francisco 6 months ago, and this place consistently provides the BEST food...and that's the opinion of a pretty devout foodie! Every time I eat here, the food just keeps getting better. They have a beautiful variety of fresh veggies, fish, and meats, and everything is seasoned perfectly. The service is very warm and friendly, (we are big fans of our favorite waiter, John) and I would HIGHLY recommend the Sunday evening tasting menu. You choose veggie or meat/seafood and they bring out an absolute smorgasbord of incredible freshly made dishes to sample. One of the best spots in Philly, in my humble opinion. Will keep coming back!!!!
(5)Jean B.
Mmmm... had lunch here a while ago, and I'm just waiting for the right opportunity to come back again. Everything we ordered was excellent. Every meat, every vegetable, perfectly seasoned, perfectly cooked. Great service, and there's just a great feel to the place, you just feel so welcome here. And they feed you so well, your tummy walks away content and happy.
(5)bm p.
Sunday brunch: the service was good, although our waitress seemed a bit nervous and uncertain. The food was good and really interesting - this is not your typical Anglo brunch menu. This was the most interesting meal I've had in a long time. I'd love to try them for dinner, but right now dinner prices are out of my range - so I'd recommend them for a very reasonable and interesting brunch experience.
(4)Thor T.
Went back to have lunch here the other day and was nicely surprised that we could order very tasty breakfast dishes. The Shakshuka, eggs braised in tomato and pepper stew, with a strong cumin flavor, were certainly a good way to start our meal, the soft-cooked peppers making a perfect accompaniment for the runny eggs. We ordered the appetizer combination plate, including well-known meze favorites. Especially good were the crisply fried fava falafal balls, other meze were quite ordinary, like the lackluster tzatziki. Not at all to our liking were the mushy, bland dolmades (stuffed grape leaves). The grilled pork was correctly done, served with a small salad. I was glad to see a pretty good lunch crowd, the lunch prices, after all, are very good. Looking at the dinner menu, including goat stew and rabbit, I imagined the food to be more focused and also more original in the evening, while the lunch choices did not surpass average, including the desserts of galaktobureko (with tired phyllo) and a pudding with lots of rose water. The service is knowledgeable and friendly and the atmosphere of the restaurant bright and inviting.
(3)Leah G.
Maybe Kanella isn't as good as it gets, but I'm feeling generous. I have a soft spot for Greek things, since in my opinion, Greece is one of the most wonderful countries on earth. But my bias aside, Kanella exceeded my expectations. It's not strictly Greek food, but that is the dominant cuisine by far, with some Cypriot and Middle Eastern dishes as well. The restaurant is tastefully decorated in the Clykladic colors.The wait staff were very friendly and the food was exceptional. For lunch I ordered a Yemeni dish which was like fried phylo dough and came with Greek yogurt and a spicy tomato salad. The zucchini fritters were good too. All the lunch options were very reasonably priced. Plus, I am totally psyched that they have frappe, although I didn't order one being sufficiently caffeinated upon arrival. But as they are difficult to find in the states, that makes it all the better. I will definitely be going back.
(5)m l.
obsessed. i pretty much died.
(5)Eileen H.
I came here at the suggestion of a friend who loved it. My friend and I came for brunch one Sunday. Kanella has great good, but lousy service. My friend ordered the Cypriot breakfast and I ordered the shaksouka. I am now in love with shaksouka. It was a wonderful, rich, tomato based stew served with two poached eggs and some sort of whole grain grilled bread with a green paste on it. Oh my god. I can't believe how delicious the dish was. It was filled with tomatoes, green peppers, onions, scallions, leeks and lightly seasoned with cumin and garlic. My friend's Cypriot breakfast looked good. The meat on his plate tasted much like Canadian bacon and the houllumi cheese was an usual, but good addition. It is served pan fried and has a salty taste. We also ordered their regular coffee in a french press. I was pleasantly surprised to find that it was strong coffee. A big pet peeve of mine is going out to brunch and being served mild coffee. The service was awful in that it's slow. If we were in Europe, the speed of their service would have been acceptable. Also, not once did our waiter stop by and ask how we were enjoying our meal. Negative points for that one. Go to Kanella if you want good food, but plan to be there longer than you might expect.
(4)Mary D.
delicious and innovative. a neighborhood gem!
(5)Jane N.
We had lunch here a few weeks ago and sat outside. Great service (Bobby, you rock!) and the food was excellent. I'd recommend the Kanella platter and the baby sepia dish. This may seem like an odd thing to write in a restaurant review (since it has nothing to do with the food or service), but the bathroom was the cleanest bathroom I've ever seen in a restaurant.
(4)Ryne S.
Best restaurant in Philadelphia...Being there three times and every time I love it more..Chef plays with flavors and condiments in a very adventure and amazing way. This little BYOB is a Philadelphia Gem. We always paid around $80-$85 per couple, which includes two appetizers, two entrees, and dessert. If you go to Amada or Zahav, you will end up paying the same and will leave the place starving. In Kanella you will leave full and satisfy. We cannot get enough of this place. Last week, we wanted to open one of the two bottles we have of 2008 Wine of the Year, Casa Lapostolle Clos Apalta, and decided there were no better place to open this bottle than Kanella. We were so right. Service is awesome, love the touch of the owner/chef always stopping by all the tables at the end of the night. Very European, once you get a table it is yours for the night. No rush, just enjoy and bring a good bottle of wine because this place is worthy.
(5)s l.
Soooo good. The dishes were light, fresh, and had really excellent mixes of flavors and textures. The fried cheese (I forget what all the dishes were called) was great, salty and a little crispy over a chopped salad that had a little mint and cilantro in it I think. The yogurt-lemon mousse was a perfect summer dessert - very lemony which I love. The waiter was nice and outside seating is always appreciated. Stop at the foodery on your way over and mix a six or bring a bottle of wine. I give it 4 stars instead of 5 b/c it was a bit pricey, but the lunch menu looked good (and cheaper).
(4)Sharon G.
Pretty good authentic fresh greek food.
(4)A. H.
I am one sad girl. My greek husband and I, his very non-greek wife, just adore Kanella. However my husband got stationed in another country [ok, it's only Texas but that's kind of like a different country to a northeasterner :-] and i am just heartbroken because Kanella is part of the reason I have grown to love Philadelphia. The food is exquisite! I've had fish, I've had chicken, I've had vegetarian dishes and they have all been so flavourful, imaginative and just so delicious. The service is wonderful! The atmosphere is so homey. Just today I walked in for lunch and there was the owner pouring me water. I've dined in many great places all around the world and I have just never seen that. He obviously cares about the what comes out of his kitchen, and the customer experience. This has honestly become my favourite restaurant in Philadelphia, and it is really with great sadness that I will bid it farewell this month. And btw I soooooo wish they would ship and sell that hummus across the country. I honestly don't know how I am going to manage without it, I am addicted! It is a must try!
(5)Liz S.
Kanella is an excellent Greek-Cypriot restaurant. I have been there multiple times with both family as well as friends and each time I continue to be impressed. The dips of the day are amazing. I don't think there are better dips at any restaurant in the city. Some of my other favorite dishes are fried halloumi, grilled sardines, grilled whole fish, shrimp saganaki, ortiki, Cyprus mixed kebab and kouneli. The desserts are definitely worth bragging about too. My favorites are almond and date tart, lemon and yogurt mousse and the assorted Cyprus pastries. Can't go wrong, great BYOB and a must-try.
(5)Sarina K.
I LOVED this place! Might just be my new favorite restaurant in Philly. The food, the service, the ambiance -- all quaint, simple, and perfect. I read some reviews about poor service but that wasn't my experience at all. The waiter was extremely helpful and thorough -- and we were a tough crowd with lots of questions. For an appetizer, we all ordered the dips, which included, among other things, the best babaganoush I've ever had. For an entree, I ordered the stuffed vegetables which was stuffed cabbage with lentils, rice, and feta. It was amazing! My fiance got the veal dish and also loved. Our two other dining companions ordered the rabbit and the special of the day - a pork dish - and they were as equally impressed as us. For dessert, we got the homemade ice cream - halavah and mint flavored. Delicious! The chef was making rounds during dinner and we had a chance to tell him what an amazing dinner we enjoyed. I will definitely be back -- very excited to try their brunch!
(5)