What a fun Greek restaurant in the city is all about! This spot is BYOY so you do not have to break your wallet if you want to throw back a few glasses of wine and also have some great specials including a special prix fixe offering of $45 for two apps, one main, and one dessert. I had this Manti dumpling with beef in it, and it was so fresh!! I did not love the yogurt mixed in with it but overall the flavor profile was spectacular and they gave me enough to have leftovers for another meal. The Lamb Kebab was very good, and the addition of the shishito pepper makes the dish pop! The baklava I surprisingly didn't love but the other item in the below picks for dessert was exceptional! This is one of those rare restaurants that I would return almost instantly even with stiff competition as South Philly has loads of restaurants to choose from. Highly Recommend and as always people SYOY!!! read more

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This place is cute inside, has good lighting, and is BYOB. The food was delicious -- they gave us a lot of pita for all the dips we got. The meat was also very yummy (the adana kebab and chicken especially) and the rice was really good and flavorful. The dessert was to die for! The kunefe was amazing and I will be coming back to eat it. They also gave us baklava on the house. It's not too expensive also and the service is pretty good. Highly recommend! read more

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My husband and I brought our family of 11 adults + 1 baby here for Mother's Day brunch on a Sunday (had made a noon reservation a week ahead of time). The staff on the phone when I made the reservation and in person were really nice! We ordered a variety of shared dishes - hummus, tabouleh, halloumi, falafel, eggplant, and more. Everyone enjoyed the food - my personal favorites were the hummus, the Cyprus potato chips, and the Shepherd's Salad. We were also comfortably sat at a large table next to the window. Overall a lovely experience and def recommend for a large group (call in advance) with different tastes & preferences! read more

Kanella - Shepherd Salad - Mediterranean Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

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If you are unsure about what you might like here try the prie fix menu and you can chose your own sort of sampling board. I've eaten here twice now and I have to say their appetizers are impeccable. That's why on this trip I chose to just go with an app! My friends got some entrees but altogether it was PLENTY of food. Really fresh, flavors, amazingly seasoned, I cannot recommend this place enough! read more

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While visiting Philadelphia, we were so lucky to find this hidden gem. My husband and I had the most amazing meal with the most amazing service. The waiters were so kind, helpful and welcoming. We went to the Mediterranean with my family earlier this year and were so happy to find this great restaurant which reminded us of an amazing trip. We started off with the hummus which was unbelievably creamy and tasty. We couldn't stop eating it. My husband loved his chicken shish kabab which was very tender and flavorful. I absolutely loved my beef manti dumblings, pepper tomato sauce, yogurt. I had never had it before but it sounded so good and it was spectacular. Everything was so flavorful. I wish we lived closer. When we're back in the area, we'll definitely be stopping by. Loved it! read more

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Great team lunch last month. We had an 11:30 reservation for 14 or 15. First time there, was very happy with my meal. The Brussel sprouts were one of my faves but everything was fresh and delicious. So much flavor! We ate family style, a lot of food served, so filling. It's byob so don't forget a bottle. It has crisp but cozy vibe and the staff are very nice. I've passed this place so many times wanting to try it. Will definitely return to try some other items, and have more Brussel sprouts. read more

I was so engrossed in conversation with old friends, I neglected to snap photos. A shame since our table was laden with plates of wonderous food. Debating about a la carte, or prix fixe -- everyone in the party must be in accord -- we went with the $45 3-course meal. With a spread of eight different appetizers, there was no physical room for anything else. (Two appetizers per person, with plenty of choices.) We shared eggplant, tomato salad, hummus, brussels sprouts, kibbe and more. Three of us ordered ground lamb kebabs. I had chicken. Both choices were wonderful, with the lamb (Adana) having a slight edge. Again, odd man out, I chose kunefe for dessert, while everyone else had baklava. Last visit Kanella's chef prepared kunefe with chocolate rather than goat cheese. This time it was cheese. Delicious, but next visit I'm going with their baklava, an excellent rendition of a favorite Mediterranean pastry. The four of us polished off two bottles of wine. (Nobody drove. Friends walked home and we took SEPTA.) Still byob, still excellent and still popular. Reservations recommended, even on week nights. read more

We were in town and were craving Turkish food and this place popped up on a quick Yelp search. It had a delicious looking menu featuring some of my favorite Turkish dishes so we had to try it out. When we arrived, the restaurant was pretty packed, and although it was fairly cold there was only seating outside. We were willing to bare the cold just to try the place out. Onto the food! We did the Taste of Kanella option which I think is a great deal. We ordered the Muhammara, the Seared Halloumi, the Adana Kebab, the Manti, the Kunefe, and Baklava. It was a delicious feast. The Seared Halloumi was pretty good, but I like when it is more fried rather than seared. The sweet notes because of the dates were really good. The Muhammara was decent, but nothing memorable. The Manti was the star of the show. The dumplings were dressed in a delicious peppery sauce and there was a little bit of yogurt but I wish there was more sauce and yogurt (I ended up requesting a little more and it really enhanced the dish). The Adana Kebab was pretty good too, with the meat being tender and fairly flavorful. The desserts were also pretty good, with the Kunefe really standing out. I've never met a piece of Baklava I didn't like so that was also fairly delicious. Overall, I am glad I tried this place out and the Taste of Kanella is a great way to try several things on the menu and if you go with others you can easily make it a family style meal. I want to give a shoutout to our waiter because even though we were the only table outside, he came out fairly often to just check on us. He was super kind and friendly too. Although it was more of a 4 star dining experience in terms of the food for me considering there are so many amazing food options in this city, I would definitely still recommend this place. read more

Kanella - Beef Manti - Mediterranean Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

This place really surprised us. We used to go to the former iteration, that was a bit more " upscale" for lack of a better term. We arrived to a friendly welcome. Service was very good & so was the food. BYOB tops of the experience! Highly recommend read more

Everything was beautifully presented and absolutely delicious. Portions are generous and flavor combinations are spot on. Nice atmosphere and attentive service. Make a reservation for a table with padded bench seating; so comfortable! Highly recommended! read more

Kanella - Halloumi cheese with nuts and apricots - Mediterranean Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

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So disappointed in this restaurant. It was lacking an almost every respect except for service. Limited drink menu made even more limited because they were out of 2 flavors of ice tea. Limited menu period. Choices were too few. Sauce on the fries appetizer looked like someone wiped it on the bowl. There was that little of it. Same with the falafel entree which was so dry and overcooked that I was desperate for more. Portions are scant. Chicken shish was overcooked and dried out as well. Maybe one of the worst Greek restaurants I've ever been to. Wont be back. read more

I found myself at all of the same restaurants recently and challenged myself to try something new and stumbled upon Kanella. I was blown away at their three course $45 prix fixe deal - two appetizers, an entree, and dessert per person - which feels like such a valuable deal in tandem with their BYOB offering. We were able to snag a 7:30 reservation on a Friday night and were seated in the dining room right away. Upon walking in, I felt at home. The ambiance was warm and inviting as everyone chatted over DIY spritzes and a spread of mezzes. They perfectly captured the cozy, neighborhood vibe. With some recommendations from our server, we began our dinner sharing our four appetizers including muhummara spread, with roasted red peppers, mutubal (eggplant) spread, crispy brussel sprouts, and a shepard's salad, similar to a traditional Greek salad. Everything came out very quickly and tasted so fresh and light - not leaving me too full for my entree. We both ordered kebabs for our entree, the chicken and ribeye, which both came with rice pilaf and vegetables. The meats were tender, juicy, and flavorful. After our entrees, we were surprised we still had room for dessert, and thank goodness we did! The star of the night was undoubtedly the Kunefe dessert which was a skilled of sweet goat cheese topped with crispy shredded filo dough and pistachios. Each bite was the perfect combination of creamy, yet crunchy. I'll be dreaming of this dessert! We were so pleased with our meal and wonderful service from the staff at Kanella! Highly recommend this spot if you're looking for quality, home cooked food without the reservation battles! Be sure to BYOB :) read more

An enjoyable experience with good food, but for some reason I didn't feel like it was super Greek. Reminded me more of general Mediterranean cuisine than feeling specifically Greek. But still, good experience. Service was quick. Ambiance was nice. The lamb was great and is highly recommended. And I loved that knefeh too. Salad was solid. Halloumi cheese was good too. Do attend read more

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Food: The meat was well seasoned, smokey, and tender. The onions were pickled and paired well with the meat. Considering the price, I felt like it was not a lot of food. Service: Quick and attentive. We brought a cake and they cut and served it for us. Ambiance: Simple decor and spacious. read more

Kanella - Mediterranean Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

I am KICKING myself for taking this long to check out Kanella. The service, the food, the price point... it is all worthy of 5 stars. On a Friday night, my friends and I decided we needed a GNO so we made a reservation at Kanella and brought our own bottles of wine. We sat inside because it's been disgustingly hot out, but they have outdoor seating, too! We opted to try the tasting menu and I am so glad we did. We were a group of 5 people total, so we got one of each meze. For our mains we did ground lamb, spanakopita, falafel, and chicken shish. For dessert we got one of everything and two kunefes.. because obviously. My meze favorites included the shepherd salad, hummus, muhammara, seared halloumi, and cyprus potato chips. The chicken shish was the best main by a long shot. The desserts were all hits, but my favorite was the kunefe. I loved this meal so much that on Saturday night I ordered takeout because I needed more of the hummus, shepherd's salad, and chicken shish. TLDR: Kanella is amazing, a BYOB, and worth every penny. Come with a group and try the tasting option so you can have one of every meze and most of the main options. read more

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I really love this place. I enjoy the intimate, bustling dining room, the steady, efficient service and of course, the delicious food. We landed here for my daughter's 19th birthday dinner. She and her boyfriend ordered up a couple of delicious kabob platters that came with rice. My daughter ordered the ground lamb with beef (adana) and her boyfriend ordered the ribeye cap. Both platters were excellent with shishito peppers, sumac onions and harrisa. I ordered the beef manti. These are delicate little dumplings with pepper, garlic and yogurt sauce. It was delicious. However, my daughter suggested we order the spanakopita for an appetizer (it is on the menu as an entree) and that was the best decision and the star-order of the night. This was delicious. Perfectly, flaky phyllo dough filled and layered with feta and spinach and onions with a herbaceous tomato, parsley salad on the side that compliments all that phyllo -goodness. We all three were delighted with this order and I recommend this as a starter to share before you order your choice of a kabab platter or anything else on the menu. We ended with baklava that tasted so well balanced with nuts and just the right amount of honey (I often find baklava too sweet but this was just right). I definitely recommend a reservation and a dinner out at Kanella! Don't forget your bottle because it is a BYO! read more

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Delicious spanakopita. Warm pita. Delicious humus. Friendly service. I am already planning on going back next week.

3.x star generously rounded up Lamb kebab was tasty but for the price there isn't much there. Complimentary baklava. Atmosphere is good though the middle row tables can be awkward. Enjoy when they provide the water glass. read more

Kanella - Mediterranean Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

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Kanella has been on my list for too long. So glad I finally made it for a mid-holiday-season lunch! Our group of 4 took advantage of the Taste of Kanella prix fixe and were able to try all the Meze--our server* gifted us the Cyprus Potato Chips (shishito peppers, herbed yogurt, zaatar) so we could try them (and so very glad he did, as they were one of my favorite Meze!), too. Other favorite Meze offerings: Shepherd Salad (cherry tomatoes, cucumber, feta cheese, onion), which had some of the tastiest tomatoes I've had in a while, and lovely depth of flavor; Crispy Brussels Sprouts (carrot tarator, zaatar), which were well-seasoned; Beets with Yogurt (honey, arugula, walnut), which had a great balance of sweet, bitter, and nutty; Seared Halloumi (apricots, dates, walnuts), because how can one go wrong with seared cheese?! Also wanted to give a nod to the crispy chickpeas in the Hummus--loved the added texture! For my main, I chose the Falafel (ground fava and chickpea fritters, tahini) which were a good size, maybe a little drier than I was expecting, and paired well with the side salad (similar to the Shepherd Salad, but included red cabbage). And for dessert, I chose the Baklava (filo pastry, pistachios, walnuts), which was terrific--not too sweet! Will definitely return! *Terrific service--loved the guidance on ranking the Main dishes! read more

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Service terrible, falafel was way too salty. Nice atmosphere though. Would recommend kebabs over other dishes.

AMAZING SERVICE!!! Our waiter was so kind and extremely patient with us! We took awhile to order because everything on the menu sounded so good! He patiently explained the menu and gave a lot of recommendations. For Meze, we ordered (1) Muhammara: a roasted pepper dip with walnuts and pomegranate molasses - I enjoyed this dip so much!!! It had a great smokey flavor (2) Basil Ezme: a goat cheese dip with avocado, walnuts, and pistachios - This tasted like pesto with a strong goat cheese flavor. - I enjoyed this, but if you don't like goat cheese then this one probably isn't for you. For our main, my friend and I split the Adana kebab (ground lamb). It came with rice and a roasted pepper. The roasted pepper was so delicious! I would definitely come back! Our waiter even gave us dessert on the house (two baklavas!) - It was so sweet :) read more

Kanella - Adana - Mediterranean Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

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This place is literally the best greek/mediterranean restaurant in philly and it's extremely affordable with a cozy vibe! The owner is absolutely one of the most kindest individuals. I was struggling to decide between two starters and he ended up giving me both for free. The salmon kabob is everything! I've got to visit again soon! read more

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Truly a favorite place of mine! Every time I go I'm always greeted by the friendly staff. The food is 10/10! I always have to get the shepherd salad it's my favorite read more

Kanella - Shepherd Salad - Mediterranean Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Was in town for a trade show and had food delivered to my hotel. The Falafel and Baklava, both pretty dang good and portions were generous also. The portions do make up for the higher cost of eating here, very worth it especially after a long day walking around. I would repeat! read more

We did the Taste of Kanella for $39 per person (2 meze, 1 main, 1 dessert). With all the meze we wanted to try it was worth it. My favorite were the Muhammara, Seared Halloumi, and Cyprus Potato Chips. The Beets with Yogurt gets an honorable mention. It was just overpowered by the other three but we enjoyed this too. Muhammara came with warm bread that we wiped the plate clean with. Seared Halloumi was unique and went really well with the sweet apricots. Cyprus Potato were crispy wedges with a nice mild yogurt and perfectly grilled shishito peppers. We both got the Ribeye Cap. Some pieces were touch. Others perfectly done with a bit of red inside. With rice pilav was really good. For dessert we got the: Kunefe (shredded filo, pistachios) - so sweet! Could not finish between the two of us. Brought the rest home. Semolina Helva (pismaniye, almonds) - enjoyed. Top was sweet but not too sweet. Bottom part was a bit bland but great mixed with the kunefe's sweetness Really enjoyed all our dishes and will definitely be back. read more

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Still so delicious. Everything on the menu is well seasoned and portioned well to the point where you're not feeling heavy or super stuffed by the end of it. read more

Kanella - Mediterranean Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Went here for dinner with a group of friends last Saturday and service was great! Food was also delicious and such a good deal for their tasting menu of 2 apps, 1 main and 1 dessert for $45 plus BYOB read more

Lovely BYOB spot in center city. The dips are delicious. I do feel the service has gone downhill in the last year but the food is still very good! read more

Came here with a big group and we did the family style tasting menu. Every appetizer was a 10/10 would recommend, but my favorites were the halloumi, fries, brussel sprouts and the tomato cucumber feta salad with some tzatziki poured on top. Everything together was even better. I am conflicted about coming back here with less than 4 people because I want my pick of alllll of the appetizers again. The entrees were generously portioned and were a great value. The ribeye is fatty which I loved and cooked perfectly. The rice is fluffy and sweet with bits of apricot. A little bit more of that tzatziki on top wow yes please. The standout for me of the meal was the kunefe. It was my first time having it and I loved that it wasn't too sweet but had great texture. It reminded me a bit of mochi with its chewy texture and the phyllo bits were a pleasurable crunch. The baklava was crispy on top and sopping with syrup on the bottom. It was not my favorite baklava ever but was a great sweet note to end the meal with. The restaurant was comfortable and clean. The service was impeccable, with explanations for each dish and everyone's meals coming out well timed. Especially with our big group and the number of wine bottles we brought, it was a feat and we really appreciated the staff. read more

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Four of us went to Kanella in the last Friday of March and sat outside. We opted for the multi course option for $45 each (every member of the party must also opt for this to choose this option). It includes 2 appetizers per person, one main, and one dessert. We chose a variety of all the offerings including as appetizers the beet salad, the eggplant dip, the fried potatoes, the village salad, and several others. They were served with a generous amount of pita bread and it was a delicious way to start the meal. Our main dishes included the lamb kebab and the spanakopita, and for dessert we chose the knafeh and the pumpkin dish. It's BYOB and we shared the wine we'd brought. The food was delicious and the portions were very generous. We had plenty to take home. Service was friendly and prompt. We would definitely go back and highly recommend. read more

Kanella Grill has been on my list for a while to try. I'm so happy I finally went because everything was so freakin' good. It's really cute on the inside with a calm atmosphere and smells amazing as soon as you walk in. Service was quick. We ordered the grilled shrimp, falafel platter, and spanakopita. Lovedddd the flavor of the shrimp, although a bit pricey for 3 (but then again shrimp is always expensive). I'm not a fan of falafel but this one took me away - I really liked it and they give so much rice, salad, pita with the meal. The spanakopita was my favorite, I loved every single bite with the flaky pastry. I'll definitely be coming back and bringing my friends to try it out! read more

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Homey neighborhood BYOB with great service. Our waiter was super cool and personable! You can tell the owners care about ensuring the diners have an enjoyable meal. The taste of Kanella is a great deal! Meze - Lentil Kofte, Hummus, Seared Halloumi, Cyprus Potatoes, and a Tzatziki (on the house which was much appreciated), and Pita. All were delicious, but the Halloumi and Cyprus Potatoes were a particular favorite. At this point we were starting to get stuffed which was scary because we were just getting started. Main- Adana Kebab (Ground lamb) and Chicken Shish were both wonderful plates, but the lamb is a must get! Desserts - Kunefe & Baklava, the Kunefe was hard to release from the pan, and the baklava was tasty read more

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I'm glad we got a chance to stop by and try Kanella. The outdoor seating was a great spot to people watch and enjoy the weather. We started with a couple mezzes and split the kabeb. The value was good for the price and quality of the food. We enjoyed the mahamarrah the most and the bhakvala. The service was quick and waiter was friendly. read more

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Some of the most authentic Greek food I've had in America. The chef is from Cyprus and it shows. The Shepard's salad is beyond delicious. It's BYOB which is great for saving some money on alcohol. My waiter was amazing, I did not get his name but he wore glasses and had darker hair that was short and looked curly. Highly recommend this place to anyone and everyone. read more

Kanella - Shepard's salad. Closest to a traditional Greek salad. - Mediterranean Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Kanella is great - amazing service, awesome food, good vibes. Food-wise, we had the chicken shish and falafel platter for entrees, and the brussel sprouts and hummus as appetizers. The brussel sprouts in particular were outstanding, and the entrees were solid. My only critique there would be to include the cucumber/tomato Greek salad with all entrees - it came with the falafel and looked delicious, but did not come with the chicken shish. Service was also standout - everyone was kind and helpful, everything was quick and easy, and at the end of the meal they even gave us the pistachio baklava as a gift! Really exceptional service all around. I live super close to Kanella and have had it many times for takeout (always good) but going in person was even better. 5/5!!! read more

Kanella - Chicken Shish - Mediterranean Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

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I'm a big Kanella fan. It's one of my favorite byobs for dates or small groups (less than five). Their tasting menu is also banging, for only $45 and three courses including multiple appetizers. All dishes come out quick and our so fresh. We particularly love the salmon and chicken kebabs, so light but filling and tender. We also like the muhammara and the Brussels sprouts. Dishes come out super quickly, and the staff is all super personable! read more

Kanella - Muhammara and Crispy Brussels - Mediterranean Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

I was disappointed that my entree I ordered wasn't what was described on the menu. I actually specifically ordered two dishes for their yogurt mint dressing and didn't get it. My mini meatballs didn't have the jogget dressing and when I asked later he disappeared and came back later to tell me they should have taken it off the menu/reprinted an updated menu because they weren't serving the jogget sauce anymore. When I said I was bummed because that was why I selected those dishes he didn't offer an option to replace or do anything further and just shrugged. Also the grilled octopus arm was great but the salad underneath had a bunch of yellow arugula salad leaves which again is a quality issue if you're serving some old leaves underneath a small dish. It's quite obvious. Disappointed to pay $100 for everything read more

This Turkish/Greek restaurant provides a limited menu of entrees and appetizers but still manages to have something for everyone! The ribeye cap kabobs with rice really proved flavorful! My husband had the tender, ground lamb kabobs. We felt satisfied with our portions and left too full for dessert. The two waiters seemed very busy which meant slower service, but that allowed us to relax and enjoy an unrushed meal. All the artwork hung on the white plaster walls while the long brick wall remained blank. That made for a boring view for the diner facing the wall! read more

Superb neighborhood joint good for groups or individual dining for Mediterranean options. They recently changed owners but happy to say the cooking is still delicious. We got 4 apps, 4 mains and one dessert to share amongst 4 people and it was perfect. If going for a very gourmet experience can consider their tasting menu! read more

Long before we lived in Philadelphia, we began our love affair with Mediterranean food. In particular, that is Turkish food. We have dear friends from Turkey who introduced us to some of their favorite dishes many years back, and it continues to be one of our favorite cuisines. Thankfully, Philly has a number of restaurants that fit the bill on this category. Kanella is definitely one of the best restaurants when I think of my overall criteria for what makes a good experience - good ambiance, great service, and quality food. It's a cute spot, very clean, well lit (not sitting in a dark nightclub vibe which some local restaurants give off). I love that they have a nice sized menu with not needing to go all Cheesecake Factory and overdo it. They have many things that we really enjoy - their hummus is great (some of the best IMO) and the halloumi app. We love their Adana - it's tied for my favorite in town. And the kunefe - that alone would keep me coming back. So good. The service - it's some of the best if you ask me. Attentive, fast, kind - and it's clear they have a passion for what they do and put out of the kitchen. Throw in the fact that its BYOB and this makes for a great date spot, too. We will certainly keep frequenting this delicious spot. Kudos to the entire Kanella team for a job so well done! read more

Kanella - Kunefe - soooooo good - Mediterranean Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

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