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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.
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
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!
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
4 days ago
We came here for lunch and the food was delicious!! There were no leftovers because everything was good! Our waitress was so kind and we never felt rush in our meal! We sat outside and were able take in the peacefulness of the fairmount neighborhood! This is a great place to get Greek food in the area! read more
6 months ago
Wow. I've eaten at many Greek restaurants, even in Greece, but this place blew me away. My friend and I shared the mezze platter, and the charcoaled sampler. She had the soup of the day -- which she enjoyed, too. Outstanding. I'll be back the next time I'm in Philly. read more
10 months ago
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. read more
5 days ago
7 months ago
8 months ago
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! read more
3 months ago
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. read more
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. read more
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. read more
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. read more
1 year ago
10 months ago
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. read more
3 months ago
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. read more
5 months ago
6 months ago
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 read more
8 months ago
7 months ago
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 read more
I couldn't find this on the menu and it could be a creation of leftovers that work well enough together. In this case, meatball links with seasoned potatoes and buttered rice. The bread had a nice texture to it and the rice mixture was like a "Greek spaghetti". I liked this item, but I didn't feel like it was something I'd initially pick because unless it seemed super decorative with all kinds of pizazz ingredients with pictures reaming my psyche in, as I'd want to try something else in a Greek style at a Greek place probably since I'm so used to the traditional Italian style. I feel like if I paid regular price for this, I would have given this place 4 stars instead but since it was through TooGoodToGo, it was a great value. Staff is friendly here and restaurant is very casual. The entrance looks slightly divey for the area and reminds me of take out at Souvlaki in South Philly too. Does Zorba take cash only for take out as well? Looks like the calamari here is a hit. read more
1 year ago
1 year ago
PHILLY FOODIES! Zorbas Tavern Take a trip to Greece with me on my last day of vacation! So AMAZING and AUTHENTIC it should come with a stamp for my Passport! read more
In full disclosure I had read the reviews and had full faith that the food here would be great. Typically, I order some lamb dish at a Greek restaurant or Gyros. It's a good Greek staple to try. However, we were here in Philly for the Fourth of July celebration, and were on our way to the short fireworks display at the Philly Art Museum grounds, and with the evening being a hot one, and having to walk, we didn't want to eat anything heavy. Plus, we were at the disposal of footwork and Philly public transportation, so we didn't want to carry any doggy bag. This restaurant functions like a family owned restaurant and the staff was friendly and the service was spot on. The restaurant appears bigger than what it seems from the outside. For a hot day, it was well air conditioned and comfortable to eat inside. My husband and I both ordered seafood. I ordered the octopus and he ordered the shrimp. The way it was served was with the salad on the same plate as the seafood, so olive oil and red vinegar soaked some of the octopus and shrimp too. My husband isn't crazy about vinegar, so it was a tad bit of an issue. He liked still liked his shrimp, however, which was blackened and with lemon, and maybe garlic. I sampled his shrimp dish, and for me it tasted very basic. My squid came out a bit dry and rather tasteless. It was charred or blackened but I was truly disappointed. I really feel that I would give 3 stars for the seafood if anyone were to order this. I personally feel, or a gut instinct tells me that the lamb or gyros would be great here. I only believe so because we did order another Greek staple, which is the baklava for dessert, and it was delightful, the best I've had anywhere. The baklava deserved five stars. read more
Food: Got the gourmet lamb sampler for two & the cold appetizer sampler. It was a lot of food and we had leftovers. Overall, I thought the food was okay. The lamb was a little gamey for my taste but enjoyed the variety. They served free bread which was really good! Service: Quick & polite Ambiance: Enjoyed the vibes. It was a smaller restaurant and it felt homey like you were at your grandma's house. read more
My friends and I came here for a late dinner one Friday night. It was bustling with activity and they were able to accommodate our party of 8. We were told it was BYOB but discovered they just got their liquor license so we were able to order drinks if we wanted to. We decided to pay the corkage fee ($15 per bottle) just because we already had brought our wine. We got an assortment of appetizer including calamari and two appetizer samples. The various dips were tasty. The garlic dip had such a bite it was too overwhelming if you ate too much. The calamari we got was perfectly fried and crispy. I loved the seasoned batter. For entrees I got a fan favorite which is the braised lamb dish that came with these tasty potatoes and rice. I thought the lamb was cooked well and tender however lacked flavor. The rice and potatoes were just okay too. I think if I ordered something else it would have been better. I thought our appetizers were a lot better then our entree. read more
Back here for a second time. This has got to be the best restaurant in the Fairmount area. Everything I had was absolutely delicious. The space is homey; the service is great; and the prices are reasonable. Certainly one of my favorite places in Philly, Zorba's is a real gem. Kalamari - Perfectly crisp and abundant. Just as good as the last time we had them, the kalamari here is expertly done and requires no accompanying sauce to enjoy. Skordalia - Not pictured, but extremely good. Would recommend more pita with this dish as it comes with about 6 pieces, but we had extra bread which we used for dipping. The garlic dip is very strong and tasty -- instantly turns any bread into an elegant appetizer. Pork Souvlaki - I've never had skewers come out so tender and juicy. I really liked the freshly-grilled charcoal flavoring, which was light and just right. The accompanying rice, potatoes, and veggies were also tender and delicious. Would definitely order this again and recommend to anyone. Value: 5/5 Quality: 5/5 Quantity: 4/5 Service: 5/5 Atmosphere: 5/5 read more
2 years ago
Zorba's was such a lovely surprise! When you walk in it seems very small but surprisingly opens to an entire warm and welcoming dining room on the other side. The staff was very friendly. Started with luscious Greek bread served with oil & spices. Next was the Greek salad and flaming cheese. Be ready to wowed! For entrees we had the Gyro platter & roasted eggplant - both were fantastic! Finished with high octane Greek coffee - just perfect. Although it has a bar, you can opt for BUOB. Our waiter max was pleasant, helpful & attentive. The manager (maybe owner) came to each table to see how everything was - which was a nice touch. We had a lovely dinner & I highly recommend Zorba's! read more
6 months ago
1 year ago
4 years ago
p tasty but pricey (at least for my item). I'd love to come back and try other items Good service, small restaurant so make reservations read more
Came here for dinner. Very friendly waiter and cute space inside. Typical Greek dishes on menu with emphasis on lamb dishes. For appetizers I tried the fried calamari which was OK, wouldn't recommend for 17. For mains I tried the eggplant veggie dish, lamb chops and lamb braised in red wine. The lamb chops were tasty but really tiny, it was 5 tint ones that were thin and wouldn't recommend. My favorite out of everything was the lamb braised in red wine. Meat was really tender and tasty. Overall good but not great. Really enjoyed the bread with olive oil they bring out at the start. read more
Food is quite tasty. I highly recommend the cold appetizer platter. It had to be my favorite dish I had this night. You'll receive an array of dips (garlic, yogurt, eggplant, hummus, spicy pepper, and caviar). You will have to add extra pita for a larger party. The charcoaled platter was decent. The flavor was there and not lacking, but I would have to say the chicken and lamb was dry. The homemade sausage and gyro was great! The rice reminded me of an in between of rice and risotto for consistency/texture. The french fries was a surprise since they came in disc forms; they weren't that bad but I was actually hoping for typical fried. You may need to add some salt. Overall, food was great and would recommend! read more
7 months ago
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More info about Zorba's Taverna
2230 Fairmount Ave
Philadelphia, PA 19130
Fairmount, Art Museum District
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(215) 978-5990
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https://zorbastavern.com
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