Effie’s

I am a huge fan of this place. It is great for groups especially because it’s byob, but definitely make a reservation because it’s small. They were extremely accommodating and worked well with our dietary restrictions. I don’t think anyone was disappointed by their food. It’s extremely affordable and the pasta portions are pretty large, so you could probably share a few. I loved the Makaronia and would highly recommend it. The group really enjoyed the Saganaki as an app. Great location, definitely worth trying out if you’re looking for yummy greek food and a casual place to wine and dine.

The place is really cute! The food is nice! My gf got the chicken soup and it was very tasty! We had the Greek salad which was a very nice size. They serve bread with spices for free. We also got the whole Branzino fish which we shared. It was tasty! They got us desert on the house because it was our first time at the place. Highly recommended!

Decent food. Had the braised lamb– got very little lamb and a lot of rice which was a bummer. The other entrees were good– chicken, eggplant etc
Because the weather was wild this weekend– we ate outside and it was so warm and such a cute little setting. Christmas lights everywhere, super nice. The service was good too– attentive waitress who let us know she was serving 50+ people. So must be good if so packed!

Excellent service for our large group and authentic Greek cuisine. Highly recommend the lamb and fish.

I used to live in the hood, and I will really miss this place. Their food is so fresh and the staff is super friendly. The cute long-​haired waiter offered me a shot of ouzo while I waited for takeout and the chef/​cook? gave me free tzaziki because I had to wait a little longer than anticipated.

Disappointing.
We came here a few weeks back with a big group (9 of us) for a friend’s birthday and we were so excited! Effie’s is a BYO and we thought there couldn’t be a better way to celebrate a birthday with a few bottles of wine, Greek food, and cake (we brought our own)!
However, the whole experience was just disappointing. We called several days ahead and made sure that they had our reservation and that we could bring our own cake. Everything seemed ready to go. However, when we got there, we still ended up having to wait outside for about 20 – 25 minutes. I think the wait would have been better if we could have been inside, but with our group we couldn’t all fit. It was a rainy, chilly night, so waiting outside was unpleasant.
Once they were able to seat us in the back garage area, it took about 20 more minutes for our waitress to come with water and a bottle opener (they only have one or two bottle openers, we ended up having to share with the tables around us). So the night was already off to a rough start.
We were able to order several apps to the table and though it took probably another 20 minutes, the food was pretty tasty. The pita was the most enjoyable part. It was warm and felt light and fresh. I think I ate one basket by myself.
We ordered our dinner, which took another an hour to come to the table. (I’m not sure if that was meant to be part of the experience? Maybe it is meant to be a sit back, enjoy your wine, and relax, but it just came off as slow and frustrating.) The food, again, was good, but in my mind not worth the wait or the cost…
I’m glad they let us bring our own cake, but the waitress brought the cake to the table when several of the group members went to the bathroom. Awkward and terrible timing, I felt bad for the birthday girl.
I think if I come back, I’ll try to do it with a much smaller group!

Quaint place for weeknight dinner. Service was fast and friendly. Some of the highlights of the menu were the starters ie Greek salad and octopus dish.

Had dinner with friends here, it was very nice and calm. We were outdoors enjoying the beautiful Philly weather with some delicious wine. This is a BYOB place, which is very awesome because you bring whatever it is that you’re in the mood for that night, it also saves your money on alcohol!

Previous reviews claiming «being rude to your customers is not a good business model,» hit the nail on the head. We came here upon good reviews about the food (despite complaints online about service) to check it out.
We couldn’t sit out back because they were crowded, no big deal.
We are walked to the «inside seating» (picture 6 – 8 people sitting on each other’s laps trying to hear over each other’s conversations) and left alone by the waiter.
He comes back maybe 5 minutes later to hand us glasses of water (over the people sitting next to/​on top of us) and leaves again.
Then we wait. First for five minutes. Then for 10…
Now 20.
20 minutes go by. Literally 20 clock minutes go by and nobody says a damn word to us. Not a glance. Not a hand signal. No eye contact.
So we left. And went to Mixto next door where the service and the food were fantastic.
Sorry Effie’s, but that sucked. The food sounded great though.

One of my absolute favorite spots in the city. This is a hidden gem in my opinion, not many restaurants you can go in Philly and get a «home cooked meal». The prices are very reasonable and the staff is great. Don’t expect anything fancy, just a very low key vibe and a very very good dinner. There is a great little private backyard to eat in if it’s a nice night. My favorite dishes are the spanakopita, moussaka, Effie’s chicken, Gyro, lemon chicken soup and the Greek salad is on another level.

I walked past this place a year and a half ago and fell in love with how cute the back garden looked! We finally made it here as a date night request for my 25^th birthday weekend! It’s BYOB and cash-​only so prepare for that, we almost forgot!
We came super early so we were the only ones seated at 5pm in the back garden, but we didn’t mind, it was so pretty and peaceful. It’s a very authentic place and the garden is gorgeous for a date I really love it.
They started us with warm pita with olive oil & vinegar, and we started with the spanakopita. The spanakopita was hot and tasted really fresh, dough was flaky and was crisped on one side — not oily! Everything I hoped for.
Next we shared the moussaka and the lamb gyro, both of which were unbelievable, we enjoyed every bite of it! Pretty large portions so we had leftovers to take home and I fully plan on finishing them later.
They finished our meal with a complimentary flaky dessert that was the perfect ending to our meal, I have no idea what it was called but I left pictures! Delishhh. Overall — lovely experience, very intimate and amazing authentic food! We will be back in a hurry, this time with some vino to top it all off.

The food here is not bad at all and I loved the environment and the seating outside. My only complain is the prices and also the service. We walked in and nobody greeted us for two minutes even though we were obviously standing at the door and the server didn’t agree on splitting the check and was only able to take one card. It was very inconvenient.

OK So yum! Came here for dinner on a Monday night for a celebration of sorts.
Everything was really really lovely.
We sat in a cozy table in the corner for 4, and came armed with 2 bottles of wine which were promptly opened since one of the many perks of Effies is its BYO status.
To begin, we went for the appetizer sampler (formally called Thessaloniki) which was delicious. I can’t commit to which of the dips we got were my favorite, so i happily bounced from feta dip to the hummus to the baba to the grape leaves to the olives and just smiled.
From there, we split 2 salads for the 4 of us (which are definitely big enough to share unless their you’r entrée). We got 1 Greek salad, and one of the beet salad specials. I have no decisive winner as both were phenomenal. The Greek salad came with an egg though… and as a kalamata, feta, egg fan, it took me to a happy place.
For my entrée, I went for the shrimp Santorini which is essentially shrimp over rice with a aromatic tomato based sauce. The scallion in said sauce really took it to the next level. It was amazing, and a great sized portion. I ate enough of it where I didn’t take it with me, but I very well could have.
The service was also great! Our waiter was prompt, but left us alone to enjoy ourselves at our own pace. Additionally, when he caught wind of our celebration, he brought us out rum shots which we enjoyed together along with the table beside us. Also, they gave us a desert which was a pleasant cross between a cannoli and baklava. We each got one too which was above and beyond our expectations of what comes free with dinner.
All in all Effies was fabulous! The food was delicious, the service was great, they let us bring our own wine, they didn’t rush us, and you can make a reservation. This could be my favorite restaurant at the moment.

I came in on a Saturday night with Katie B. and about 7 others. The place is definitely outdated and needs some new interior design.
We started with hummus and zuchinni chips. Both were great and very authentic. Our food was pretty quick. Unfortunately one of our friend’s meal was cold and he had to wait about 15 minutes to get it back. There was also a dish forgotten. I ordered the shrimp santorini which was just eh. Nothing was special about it and it was small portioned. For being a BYOB I think they are decently priced, especially compared to Kanella.
This is actually a great place for a group if you’re at the large table on the second floor (like we were). I thought the service was also mediocre. Our waitress came around at very sporadic times which wasn’t helpful when there was a meal cold which could have been resolved much quicker.

The zucchini chips alone warrant this restaurant the four stars. They’re absolutely perfect! Much better than Estia’s chips, which is up the street and much more expensive. Effie’s is the quintessential neighborhood restaurant. Everyone that works there is friendly, the Effie’s chicken is delicious, and in the summer, their roasted fish dishes are fantastic. Last night, I went with a group of about 9, and unfortunately, the server forgot a dish, and one guest received cold lamb. The place itself is starting to show a little age– it could definitely use some TLC. This cash only BYOB is a consistent, good meal.

Worst meal I have had in a long time
Was sat on the 3^rd floor in a cold corner w/​a party of 20 next to us
Bathroom was dirty, food was oily
Manager was a bitch
After 15 yrs of going to Effie’s, would never go back

I ordered the Moussaka and everyone from the table had plate envy when it came out. Not only does this dish look good, it tastes good. The beef was savory, yet had a hint of cinnamon, which made it taste slightly sweet. It’s BYOB, which is great. They accept large groups, so it’s perfect if you have a large party, but it can be a little bit cramped if there is another group.
I think they do accept credit cards, but if you are in a large group everything either has to be on one card. My group decided to just bring cash because it wasn’t that clear. Call ahead to make sure if you have a large group. Everyone in the group liked Effie’s even though I knew some of them were new to Greek food, which is a huge plus.

Five Stars for the winning trifecta of food, ambience, and service!
Food… If you were considering Estia, which is popular with the prixe fixe dinner menu set, choose here instead. Much of the same food, but for 30% less price. And the food was outstanding… Perfectly fried zucchini chips, three flavors of hummus with some of the best piping hot pita I have ever tasted, and a light grilled calamari for dinner. We were also brought a complimentary dessert of phyllo dough, custard, and honey. Not sure if this is standard or not, but a pleasant surprise nonetheless!
Ambiance… Like eating in someone’s home. We were lucky enough to be seated on the patio between the front and back dining rooms on a perfect summer/​fall night.
Service… Everyone was pleasant and efficient, and the owner was a delight! She waited on us personally and infused a great deal of humor. She picked on one of my buddies for choosing the standard chicken dish, and I had some banter back-​and-​forth about them not having ginger ale. If you want to have some fun with her, ask for ginger ale!

Got a last minute reservation for a group of 7 on a summer Saturday night. We were seated in the back «carriage house». I use quotations because it honestly felt like tables were set up in a shed. However, I get that the restaurant is microscopic and they are utilizing space.
Upon arriving, we had to ask, multiple times, for some ice for our beers/​wine. We had walked 10+ blocks and our beverages were nearly boiling. After getting settled, we decided to create our own Greek «tapas» meal by ordering a bunch of specials, appetizers, side dishes, and main courses to share. We thought it was a fabulous idea as none of us were too hungry on such a hot night.
Well, the waitress was NOT a fan of us doing this. We were met with an attitude like you couldn’t believe. OK, I totally get that if a table of 7 doesn’t order a ton of stuff it is disappointing to a server. But to make that obviously known to your guests? Disgusting. Go in the kitchen and make a stank face, if you are so inclined.
There are a ton of BYOBs in the city and honestly, I don’t see myself visiting this one again. Being rude to your customers is never a good business plan.

MMMM delicious. The hummus is great! I had a lamb special that was ohh sooo tender. Octopus salad is light and fresh. Chicken pot pie was amazing as well. They even gave us free dessert that was flakey and delicious. Good service. Seating is a little crammed, but I don’t mind it.
They always will try to accommodate you and I’ve never had a bad meal here.
Always get the lamb entrée if there is one. The lamb chops or lamb entrée is amazingggg.
Also, BYO.