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Zorba's Taverna

4.3 (627 reviews)
ModerateGreek, Mediterranean
Closed • 11:30 am - 9:45 pm

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ZORBA'S TAVERNA ATMOSPHERE

What's the vibe?
Casual
Moderate noise
Dogs allowed
Outdoor seating

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Recommended Reviews - Zorba's Taverna

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Octopus Dinner
Michael G.

Family and friends came here after a Christmas Concert at the Cathedral Basilica of Saints Peter and Paul. We had great food and conversation. My family and I were last to arrive. It took a while for the waitstaff to get drink/appetizer orders to us once placed, but I think our large party was the issue and there was only minimal staff at the bar. My Greek Island Iced Tea was meh along with the Greek Cosmopolitan my wife got. The Greek beer and wines were nice to experience. At our table, there were many different dishes. The waitress advised they were out of one item on the vegetarian menu. My dad and his wife picked out others and did you know that a true Greek salad doesn't have lettuce? Our waitress told us that and my dad said that was true when they visited Greece. So they must know what's up! My family and I shared a combo cold appetizer which was several spreads (some spicy!) on pita of which we had to order more of. Only one of the spreads did we absolutely hate. They called it caviar but it was mayo in consistency and looks. The hummus was nice, tzatziki was loved, and the garlic potato was SUPER garlic. My main dish of octopus was quite nice and I wished was a bit larger. Octopus with lettuce tomato and onion in oil. Tasty. My wife and kid had lamb shank and lamb roast. Both were delicious and tender. My friends got the cheese on fire tableside and a lot of calamari which was also well liked. Our waitress was wonderful and on top of things. She was able to split the check three ways and got well deserved tips. The restaurant itself is a little cramped as it's in a former residence, but you can get around. If you're in the mood for Greek food, I don't think you'll go wrong at Zorba's Taverna. $180 including tax and tip for three adults. Two cocktails, a beer, tea, combo appetizer, three mains, and a dessert to go.

Angel L.

Good food and good service. Reasonable prices, ordered the chicken kebab and wrap which were cooked well and seasoned nicely. The coffee was also done well

CHARCOALED SAMPLER FOR ONE
Ping R.

Zorba's is a sweet little neighborhood spot that oozes family vibes. For Fairmount, this place is pretty good where most other restaurants in this area are exceptionally-mid. The food is hearty, fills you up, and is seasoned decently. It reminds me of things my midwestern mom would cook in the kitchen by roasting, braising, or simmering away away for hours. I tend to prefer food with other flavor profiles, but this isn't a bad option if you have a guest that prefers very approachable flavors and dishes. The restaurant is in an old rowhome and compact but not too cramped. Service is nice and their take out is always packaged well which isn't always something I think about but definitely stands out!

Charcoaled Sampler for Two
Maya S.

I recommend a reservation because they get very busy!! Used to by BYOB but they have a bar now. Drinks were fine. The star is the food. I will come here over and over for the cold appetizer sampler, the dips are AMAZING. I've taken multiple people here to experience it. I recommend also sharing one of the grill samplers, it's a great amount of food and you get to try a variety of the meats. One of my favorite restaurants in the city.

Our Charcoaled Sampler for One
Dinesh A.

Zorbas outside dining was crowded but plenty of seating was available within. The waitress assigned seating and water pretty quickly. The menu was small enough to quickly review and identify the plates I was interested in. By the time the waitress approached the third time, I was ready to order. The bread they served was delicious when dipped in their olive oil mixture. Not sure what the red stuff was in the oil but it added a spicy flavor to each bite. I ordered the rice pudding to arrive immediately so I could enjoy it while waiting for the main dish. They added a spice (couldn't identify) that made the dessert pop. The Charcoaled Sampler for One came with a variety of meats. I don't usually like all the meats but it was tasty nonetheless. I especially enjoyed the potatoes that had a lemony twist to it.

Gyro

Wow, I just looked at food places across from Eastern State Penitentiary on Maps and decided to come here based on the reviews. Do. Not. Pass. This. Up. Amazing - the gyro ruined any other gyro for me forever. Pair it with the spicy feta cheese - you won't be disappointed.

Fisherman's Feast for Two
Arthur N.

If you happen to be paying a call at the Philadelphia Museum of Art and are in search of a good, reasonably priced restaurant in the immediate area, Zorba's Taverna should fill the bill quite nicely. First reviewed in July 2014, this father-son BYOB is located in the shadow of Eastern Penitentiary with a handy paid parking facility just across the street. The diminutive eatery boasts two colorful dining rooms, an open kitchen, and some very, very good Greek cuisine. When it comes to the appetizers, all the usual suspects - stuffed grape leaves, potato purée, batter-dipped fried squid, baked feta and tomatoes - are present and accounted for. The so-called Greek Salad, however, is the acid test; and it was spectacular... as was the dressing, just the right combination of vinegar, herbs, and other seasonings. More recently, however, my dining partner and I decided to share the Spring Salad, a combo of romaine lettuce, tomatoes, cucumbers, onions, olives, and feta cheese - which we actually preferred to the traditional Greek salad. But, once again, it was the addictive Greek vinaigrette dressing that stole the show. The first time around, my dining partner opted for the Shrimp Poseidon, crustaceans grilled over charcoal simply adorned with olive oil & lemon and garnished with wilted greens, tomato & cucumber. I, on the other hand, took the vegetarian route with a dish I have always enjoyed, the Imam Baldi. The presentation consists of eggplant stuffed with sautéed onions and tomatoes cooked in olive oil and topped with tomato sauce, herbs, and feta cheese. In actuality, these were our second choices... The first choice for both of us was the Fisherman's Feast for two, which just happened to be unavailable on that particular evening. However, we did finally manage to order it during our most recent visit... and it was certainly worth waiting for. This extraordinary dish contains salmon, tilapia, rainbow trout filets, and two shrimps roasted over charcoal, as well as potatoes, rice, and a delicious array of slow-roasted vegetables teamed with tomatoes, garlic, oregano, lemon, and olive oil. A feast, indeed. An absolute must for seafood lovers. Dessert-wise, Baklava is still the name of the game. I have sampled many renditions of this iconic Greek sweet ending over the years, and Zorba's version is benchmark in every respect.

Galaktoboureko
Payal P.

This place is a staple in Fairmount. The owner/place has been around for awhile. He definitely keeps an eye on his place (he is constantly there). I ordered a greek coffee which was pretty strong (it was basically just expresso which was quite disappointing for me because I thought it would be an americano type drink). The place has friendly staff. The place also has a small amount of space inside and a lot of outside space. The restaurant is full of Greek images which was pretty cool to see. I ordered from the lunch menu and ended up getting a charcoaled chicken platter. It had an amazingly charcoaled chicken taste. There was a side of rice and mixed veggies. My favorite part of that meal besides the charcoaled chicken was the amazing tzatziki sauce that had a bit of a mustard type kick to it. For dessert, the Galaktoboureko is to die for. It had this creamy inside with a sticky top.

Charcoaled Chicken

Love Zorbas. Food is fresh & delicious. I absolutely love the charcoaled chicken platter. I have previously gotten the sampler appetizer and every dip was great. Service is fast and kind. They did not have the dessert I wanted so I asked if they would recommend the honey cake or baklava. The person on the phone said "i loveee baklava but the honey cake is my favorite." I decided to go with the honey cake and when I picked up my order I received BOTH with the charge of 1. Goes to show how great their business is. I loved everything

Our Charcoaled Sampler for Two
Rob M.

The Zorba's vibe is revelry. My family has been coming here for years to ring in the good times, from birthdays to baby showers to the simple fact that we are together. Zorbas is a mood--and the mood is feast. First of all, the food is terrific. You will want to experience as much of it as possible, so I strongly advise a family-style approach. Start with a cold app sampler (good things come in sixes, apparently) then venture on to the charcoaled samplers, which come piled with savory, smoky deliciousness. I also recommend a Saganaki detour. Each order comes with a theatrical pyrotechnic display that would rival your favorite heavy metal concert and culminates in gooey, cheesy goodness. The service is also noteworthy. The servers are friendly, attentive, and fun. It all comes together to create an environment that always feels worthy of a celebration.

Cocktail menu
Miles A.

Stopped in on a lovely day to try Zorba's, sat outside at a sidewalk table. Nice crusty bread and dipping oil are served with dinner. Sampled many of their items with the charcoal grilled platter: kebabs, gyro, lamb lollipop, sausage, marinated chicken, orzo, buttery potato, and veggies. There was a lot so I might've forgotten something! All of the meats were grilled wonderfully and were still tender and flavorful. The spice / marinades are very good and will linger long after your meal reminding you how good it was. Great portion and a good deal to share. Will be back to try some of their other menu items for sure. Thanks

Meatball Links with potatoes and buttered rice with bread

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3 months ago

Delicious authentic Greek meals. Great price, festive atmosphere, easy to park. Friendly family service!

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5 months ago

Great service and everything's delicious. You must order the cold combo with your meal.

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4 months ago

Excellent Greek food, parking across the street, and welcoming folks. Was thoroughly enjoyable. Will be back

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Ask the Community - Zorba's Taverna

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This is actually the best Greek restaurant I've ever been to. I didn't take a single photo, but…read moretrust me the food is incredible. We were a group of three and we shared a bunch of plates. We got the IOS chips, spanakopita, beef & lamb flatbread, hummus with pita, Greek salad, halloumi, and a dessert I unfortunately don't know the name of. Not a single bad dish, everything was excellent . I've had my fair share of tzatziki, and not to be dramatic but theirs is next level! Our waitress was also so sweet. She checked on us regularly even though it was a busy Saturday night, and she helped us pick our dessert. Unfortunately for me, I don't live in Philly, but I need to come back here asap.

Unfortunately updating my review. As of recent few months and with changes in management, the food…read morehas gotten worse. Quality significantly went down, significantly. Also they now stopped playing greek music....and the vibe is not the same. However this place is still rocking its desserts as long as it doesn't change them. We usually come for desserts and beer. Staff is okay, we have our two favorites from the old crew (they are super nice & work hard) But There is one person, however, that floats between this place and their sister location cross the street, and he has never been nice, although we are regulars and everyone else who is from the old crew knows us. We usually are easy, friendly, don't ask much, tip 20%, and leave fast. But this person, let me tell you....horrible attitude every single time. Usually we see him at the bar. Sad, because he may have spoiled it for us.....I hope it doesn't happen to others customers. Suggestion: come for dessert and beer & sit outside, probably your best bet. That's what we'll do from now on most likely.

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This place is cute inside, has good lighting, and is BYOB. The food was delicious -- they gave us a…read morelot 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!

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Zorba's Taverna - greek - Updated July 2026

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