Estia

Estia accepts 1 YourCauseCard with a $100 min. Estia is participating in the YourCauseCard fundraising program. When you buy a $5 YourCauseCard a bonus donation is made to the cause you select. Then you get to spend the full value of the cards at Estia and other participating restaurants and retailers. Raise money for Your cause, the donation is free.

Pros: Raise Money for Your Cause

Cons: Eat good food

Posted 11/03/09

It has pretty much all already been said about this fine restaurant. The food's great and occasionally verges on the exquisite, and table service was perfect, even on a very busy pre-theater Saturday night.

My one gripe is that it was pouring cats & dogs on the night we arrived and we waited, and waited, for the valet to show up and park our car, went twice into the restaurant to inquire about it only to be told by the reception folks that he was there--somewhere. Finally, after nearly 15 minutes, one of our guests already present in the restaurant left the bar and parked the car herself. This might not be such a big deal, I suppose, but one of our party in the car was a Senior using a cane-- and she was the one who made the inquiries at the desk about the missing valet! Nobody showed any particular concern for her situation. At a restaurant of this caliber, I would have expected one of the front desk people to volunteer to deal with it --hence one less star here than I would normally have given it.

Pros: You won't find grilled octopus as good as this anywhere.

Cons: Parking valet nowhere to be found on rainy Saturday night

Posted 10/17/09

Can't say enough about this jewel of a restaurant. It is unmatched as far as quality greek dining is concerned.
Love u guys

Pros: great food, gorgeous place

Posted 10/10/09

Went for a romantic dinner Saturday night and was horribly disappointed. We were put next to a rowdy, drunk table who ruined the dinner of all nearby diners, oblivous to management. There appeared to be 2 managers, but they just hung out in front of the kitchen all night, and in ear shot of this table, but did nothing.

I order the calamari app. and when I received it it was completely different from the description in the menu. I asked the waitress and she said they were 2 calamaris, and that I should have been specific. I told her I wasn't aware of that, but I wanted the other, she brought it and charged for BOTH!

My husband's $40 fish was burnt.

It took 25 minutes to get the check.

The entire time we could not have a conversation because of the obnoxious table next to us.

Horrible experience! Don't go!

Pros: nice atmosphere

Cons: servers, managers

Posted 09/30/09

So impressed! We had a very attentive server who took time to explain things on the menu if we had questions. She also overheard us saying the salads were large and asked us if we wanted to remove one of the sides from the dinner. That was considerate. I ordered the hailbut which was very tasty and melted in my mouth. Portion sizes were adequate! I also ordered the roasted potatoes based on recommendation and they were to die for! I never knew roasted potatoes so could be light and tasty. My friend ordered the 3 day marinated Lamb Chops which he kept raving about. The salads we had were both excellent, the saganaki cheese was great and the tzatziki sauce was excellent as well. We will definitely go back! It is located in downtown Philly so in the middle of all the action.

Pros: Excellent food, service, good location

Cons: couldnt hear the live music

Posted 08/29/09

My sister is getting married in the beginning of August. Because I am the maid of honor and since my parents are taking care of everything else, I have volunteered to take responsibility for finding and planning the perfect rehearsal dinner. I?ve used this as an excuse to go out to dinner at least two times a week. This weekend I went to Estia after a friend of mine said she attended a bridal shower luncheon there and said it was great. Before I was seated I requested a brief tour of the banquet room. I must say, I was so impressed; the entire design of the room gave it such an antique effect, perfect for the rehearsal diner. After my tour I sat down to eat and had a difficult time picking from all of them delicious items on the menu. My server was so helpful and helped me narrow my decision after giving me her opinion and describing the dishes. I booked my sister?s rehearsal diner this morning, and cannot wait! However, I don?t think I can wait until August to go again!

Posted 05/27/09

This is definately the best Greek food in the city. Mostly focuses on seafood. They have excellent whole greek fish done with varying sauces. You will enjoy!

Pros: seafood

Posted 03/02/09

First off, the restaurant is beautiful. The staff is always extremely friendly, and most importantly, the food is fantastic! Try the Estia Chips and also the eggplant spread. I am so impressed with the place that I'm planning a rehearsal dinner here, and the coordinator has been awesome at accomodating us. I'll post a review afterward to let you know how it went. Meanwhile, check this place out!

Pros: ambiance, food, service, location

Posted 02/12/09

Excellent, I can't say anymore, very fresh food, wonderful flavors via what I can only call perfect seasoning and preparation. The presentation was excellent and the decedent deserts topped off a wonderful meal. I must also mention that the outstanding service and knowledge of the waiter only added to an already wonderful evening.

Pros: Some of the best food I have had in years

Cons: High prices will keep you from returning as often as you would like

Posted 06/13/08

I just attended a dinner party here that was held in the main dining room. The food was excellent, but the hostesses were stuck up and rather cold and although I appreciated their effort, the busboys were always appearing to do something. Other than that, it was good.

Pros: Outstanding food, parking is right next door, perfect for theater nights

Cons: Cold hostess, busboys a bit too eager

Posted 06/01/08

I have been going to Estia since they openned.And let me tell you the food is as close to original as
greek it can be. IT IS SUPERB! As i have been to Greece many times and Rome.
A lot of you people here, ARE VERY IGNORANT,you thing you are going to the china buffe !
Hey ,who the hell are you to say how the food should be presented and served when you are
clueless of what the greek cuisine is suppossed to be!
I like the comments i read from some of you that they did not like the music or it was this or that.
You don't like the prices go to burger king. Do you think you are in the philly Kessington area?
Let me enlighten your rusty thoughts here:
When you go to any international restaurant you want it to be a original it is from it's origin of it's country !
You want to be in the atmosphere of a greek restaurant!
One time I went to a mexican restaurant and they were playing blues and jazz music.
I was like what the hell is james brown going to come out the curtain and dance next?
Me and my wife who is latina we got up and left.The server said why are you leaving?
I responded: If want to hear jazz or blues i will go to a jazz club.
Get the point?

Pros: Excellent food and can't get any more original greek.

Cons: none

Posted 05/30/08

After hearing mixed reviews from friends about the food and service we decided to give it a try and judge for ourselves. I was impressed by the beauty of the restaurant. We could not have a more perfect table. It sat on a step up level in the center back overlooking the main room. My first choice of wine from the menu was not available but the server suggested an alternate which was very good. Our appetizers were very tasty and large enough to share with 2 or more. Then things turned. Although we ordered sparkling water we were served from the bottle we ordered only once and than they used tap water. We waited for quite a while before our entrees came out and one was scolding hot while my halibut was colder than room temperature. I informed my server who did take it back but to my surprise everything on the plate was exactly the way it was when I sent it back. This let me believe that it was placed in the microwave for a few seconds and actually was brought back out still cold. The dish was halibut which warms up quickly on a skillet so I do not see why that was not done. The server was than not around for what seemed like forever while my dinner continued to sit in front of me cold. When I finally spoke to a ?manager? he made me feel as though I was nobody. He said to me ?I am sorry you believe it was cold? never apologizing for the lack of service. What a disappointment.

Pros: The food was tasty when served hot

Cons: poor service, horrible manager

Posted 02/22/08

The food at Estia is WONDERFUL. It was the freshest, most delectable food I have ever eaten. The service was wonderful. The staff is very knowledgeable on the menu and helped me and my boyfriend pick out what we were going to order. The drinks had a Mediterranean spin on them, but they were exotic and yummy. The atmosphere is so romantic. It's a very classy restaurant. I have never had a meal that was this good in my entire life. We had a wonderful time. I highly recommend this place to EVERYONE. You will not be disappointed.

Pros: Everything

Cons: Nothing

Posted 01/29/08

I loved the mixed cold appetizer platter, it was perfectly seasoned and there wasn't a drop left between us. The sauteed vegetables were good and the roasted chicken was tender and flavorful. Price can be an issue so I suggest coming for the pre-fix dinner which I think is served before 5-7 p.m. for about $35.

Pros: Food, Nice Bar and Service

Cons: Pricey

Posted 12/02/07

This might have been one of our best restaurant experiences while visiting Philadelphia except that we were quite put off by an ungracious hostess. Perhaps because we had our two children with us (who are very sophisticated diners, ages 11 and 14), we were shown to a table in the bar next to a TV completely separated from the rest of the dining room. When we asked for a different table, we were told that was not possible because it was booked. We persisted and were shown to another table in the dining room, where we noticed that at no time during the entire hour and a half we were there, was the restaurant ever filled, and there were a number of 4 tops which remained empty. What kind of message was the host staff trying to send to us? Children not welcome?
I'm not sure because I noticed another couple, elderly, experiencing the same thing. They too persisted and were given much better tables, after they took it upon themselves to select one of the many empty tables that apparently the hostess didn't deem appropriate for them. In any event, fortunately our waitress was very gracious and the fish was superbly prepared. We highly recommend the fish by the pound - we had the fagri. We ordered one whole fish for three, but I probably could have eaten the whole fish myself. Also recommend the white greek wine by the glass, don't remember the name, but it was $13/glass. The whole family agreed the food was very good, and we enjoyed the live music, but the hostess really needs to learn the meaning of the word "hospitality", because that was sorely lacking, and it certainly soured our experience . (My husband and I are a restaurant owners,and one lesson I would pass on is don't make your guests feel like they're being given the worst table in the house on purpose, - be gracious and welcoming to everyone.)

Pros: Superb fish

Cons: Hostess

Posted 08/26/07

The food was very enjoyable, and the location is perfect. The waiter was rather stuck-up and the staff in general seemed unnecessarily elitist. A little overpriced, but the decor was lovely (especially downstairs!)and I would say you should try it if you're already in the area. Otherwise there's no reason to go out of your way.

Pros: Beautiful, and a great location

Cons: Stuffy staff, pricey

Posted 07/01/07

Definitely cool to pick out your own fish, but the food was just ok. The real problems was that we were eating outside and after picking out my fish, I came back to a fly in my wine. I was given some bad attitude from the server..."I'm sorry sir, may I ask what was wrong with the wine?" "There was a fly in it." "Are you sure there was a fly in there?"

Anyway, just ok....

Pros: fresh fish

Cons: service, ambiance, price

Posted 06/08/07

If you enjoy the freshest fish around, you must go to Estia . If this is your first time, the waiter will show you all the fresh fish and explain the different types. No matter what you choose, you won't be disappointed. Some of my personal favorites are Estia Chips, Stuffed Calamari, and the Greek yogurt for desert. Soft shell crabs were a special the night we were there and they were delicious. Live Greek music entertains on the weekends. Valet parking is also available at a discount.

Pros: fish, entertainment, service

Cons: very expensive

Posted 05/08/07

great new restaurant, beautiful architectural details, fresh whole fish, accomidating, wonderful chocolate lava cakes -- delicious

Posted 04/13/07

Estia provides a wonderful dining experience; the food is excellent!! I have ordered from both the dinner and pre-theatre menus. Yes it can be expensive when ordering from the dinner menu, but one can also have a fabulous, reasonably priced meal by ordering appetizers. My personal favorites are: Spanakopita, Spread Pikilia, Romaine Salata and Kotopoulo. The atmosphere is superb and if you are lucky, you may get to hear live traditional Greek music. When you go, you should make sure you walk around the entire restaurant. I have dined at several restaurants in the area and I keep coming back to Estia. I am hooked!!

Pros: Ambience, Food, Service

Cons: NONE

Posted 04/05/07

This place was great! Beware its very expensive though. We did everything family style which was nice to get a good taste of everything. Loved the scalops saganki and the feta cheese was really good .the fish was fresh and you have to try the yougurt with honey and almonds at the end. it was the best thing ever. my father is greek and he loved this place. the waiter was sorta of annoying but if you lay your foot down he backs off. otherwise two thumbs up!

Pros: Good wine excellent food

Cons: pushy waiter

Posted 03/08/07

Delicious food. Tender octopus, perfectly cooked lamb, and yummy baklava for dessert. The waiter was great too - just attentive enough. Good cocktail list too. The only reason I would not frequent this place is because it is expensive.

Cons: a bit expensive -but good for a splurge

Posted 02/03/07

Fresh fish without any cloying sauces. Tastes great, nice and flaky. Had a dinner for 12 on a thursday.

Some drawbacks though- there's alot of sales pressure. The head waiter tried to make us purchase more and more things. Appetizers, more wine, more sides, etc.

The fish prices range from $20 - 40. There's no sides that accompany the fish. Also, they charge you per pound, but thats before they clean the fish. You usually end with 8-9 oz of clean fish.

Nice atmosphere- the decor is fabulous. Would definitely go again.

Pros: Fish, wine

Cons: sales pressure, cost

Posted 12/07/06

I would venture to say this is one of the best restaurants in the city. The fish is so amazing, so tender it just crumbles in your mouth, plus the selection is huge! Definitely would recommend this restaurant to anyone.

Pros: food selection, ample seating

Posted 11/19/06

Having been to almost all of the top places to eat in Phily this has become our favorite.
The preparation is unique and terrific. Their selection of greek food and fish is super.

Pros: Greek salad and Fish specials

Posted 09/27/06

I went to Estia for restaurant week. I must say it was a very good experience. The waitress was attentive. I had the grilled octopus for appetizer which was very good and tasty and the Lavraki (sea bass) for main course which is one of their specialties.
The ambience and everything was also good. The only thing that's a bit of a drawback is the wait for your food to come out. But still overall, I recommend it

Pros: Food, Ambience

Cons: Parking

Posted 09/15/06

Being from the Allentown area I really didn't know what to expect from Estia. I was wow'd from the food and the service. I had the grilled octopus as a appetizer -- scrumptious and perfectly prepared. The swordfish loin skewer was fabulous as was my companion's sea bass skewer. The wine list was full of Middle Eastern wines I have never experienced. I highly recommend the Israeli Merlot. The dessert was a perfect ending: fruit with Greek Yogurt and cherry marmelade. If you are going to the Kimmel Center or the Merrien Theatre -- you must start your theatre experience here at Estia

Pros: service, ecclectic wine list, spectacular food

Cons: none

Posted 07/16/06

Our party of four dined at Estia after seeing Wicked. From the moment we walked through the door until stepping back onto the sidewalk, we had a fantastic experience. The food was phenomenal, with service to match. My wife and I have dined at many of Philadelphia's upscale resturants and Estia has the best fish around, bar none. The Tsipoura was very memorable, and the Lethrini was good although a tad boney. We also had Stephen M. as our server and he is impeccable. He said he had only been there for a month, but you certainly couldn't tell. He was friendly, knowledgable, and very attentive. I concur with some of the other reviewers that the prices are on the high side, but I challenge anyone to find better food and service at any price. This place rates 10/10 for me. Go and enjoy - you won't regret it.

Pros: cuisine, service, atmosphere

Cons: price

Posted 04/05/06

Wow, when we began our meal at Estia our enthusiastic and fantastic waiter, Steve M. (not to be confused with any other Steves) guided us through a truly unique culinary experience. We began with lightly fried and thinly sliced zucchini and eggplant with tangy yogurt dipping sauce. There are no words. Then each of us ordered one of the fish from their extensive selection. Simply prepared with capers, lemon and olive oil it enhanced the delicate fish flavor. The side of vegatable stew had whole chunks of garlic, eggplant, tomatoes and peppers (though a bit salty, it was DEE-LISH). The only complaint: the strawberry crepe dessert was too hard and frozen.

Pros: Service, freshness, beautiful decor

Cons: pricey desserts

Posted 03/26/06

A party of 6 of us dined at Estia a few Saturday nights ago. The atmosphere was warm and cozy but we thought overall that this place is very overpriced. We started out with a tomato and cucumber salad and warm pita bread. Then everyone at the table had either the grilled fish or grilled lamb. Dessert was a small piece of spice cake. Including 2 glasses of wine per person the bill came to $200 a couple. We all thought that was too much considering the food provided. You can get a much more formal dinner at other locations in the city for that price.

Pros: Inviting atmosphere, Tasty Food

Cons: Overpriced

Posted 03/21/06

I went with friends from out of town for lunch and we all chose from the waiter-recommended prix fixe menu selections. The portions were plenty and the food was uniformly yummy. The restaurant is huge and family friendly but there are plenty of romantic type alcoves too.

Posted 03/06/06

My boyfriend and I had our third dinner at Estia on Valentine's Day, and we were treated like special dining clients or family. We've dined at many places of different cuisines and styles, and Estia is the most enjoyable. If you are not familiar with Greek cuisine, fresh fish varieties and wine, just describe your favorite fish and wine tastes and textures... what you've had in the past and they serve to please! One might not even have to look at the menu but simply describe to a server (the owners and hosts too seem to always be around if difficult and detailed fish and wine questions come-up)what you like, and you will get something special. This large restaurant of stone and wood design feels warm and intimate. I tought that Greek restaurants like this were only in Greece and South Beachk, FL area! It's a joy to come here.

Pros: Food, Wine, Service

Posted 02/14/06

this restaurant was superb!!! this is the perfect place to go on a date or to dinner with some great friends. the lobster was the best ive ever had....the service was excellent...and if you are looking for a good piece of fish you are able to pick it out yourself from their fish market...and they do not rush you to eat and get out. its a beautiful place with candles and arched stone ceilings. they also have a great wine list!! this is a place you must try.

Pros: Wine List, Romantic, Great Seafood

Cons: Parking

Posted 02/05/06

Been to Estia a few times and was very good for the most part. As appetizers try the grilled octopus and the "Estia chips" which seem to be lightly tempuraed thinly sliced zucchini and eggplant. Try the whole fresh fish for dinner including the pompano and sinagrida. Both were grilled with olive oil, lemon, and capers, and had to be the freshest fish we ever recall having. However, the choices for lunch are more limited and the fish is not as fresh, probably left over from the previous evening as evidenced by our second trip there. For dessert we had bananas foster flambed tableside by the Maitre D' Max. The interior of the place is amazing with carved stone and a faux marketplace with fresh fish displayed. They also have a large downstairs with extensive banquet facilities and discounted parking in the garage above the restaurant.

Posted 02/02/06

Spending over $90/pp on dinner at this place is INSANE! The appetizers, served "family style," were presented WITHOUT UTENSILS! They sat on our table for 10 minutes before someone came over to inform us that they were the only appetizers on the menu that are "not family style." Our oysters arrived on one large tray; this meant fumbling across our dirty appetizer plates (which were not cleared) to grab oysters that came WITHOUT cocktail forks. I was told to use my tablespoon to put cocktail sauce on them! My entree (langostinos) was priced at $45/lb. I requested ONE pound of them and was charged $70. The tableside-preparation of the bananas foster for the entire table was amusing. It was served in ONE martini glass for 6 people to share. RIDICULOUS! When we tried to eat it, the shell was so hard it resulted in a broken glass. I am disgusted!!!

Pros: Location, Parking

Cons: Novice service, Ridiculous prices, AWFUL music

Posted 01/19/06

Finally a new restaurant in philly that doesn't dissappoint. I've read a few reviews and almost all comment on the price. Like most great restaurants in Philly, (or any city) price brings quality. Like Morimoto, and Striped Bass, Estia is a destination restaurant, expect to spend, but expect to have a great evening. I must say that the food was phenomonal. I can't say enough about the Estia chips or the octopus. I had for an entree a striped bass. I've never tasted fish so fresh and elegant. The price, while higher than average, was well within reason for the quality and service (the service was knowlegeable and consistent ). I found the Greek music to be a nice touch that really accentuated the georgous atmosphere. The Mat're de Max was a joy to talk to and prepared an absolutely delicious crepes dessert. I can't wait to go back.

Pros: Awesome food, Beautiful Atmosphere, attentive service

Cons: $$$, but worth it

Posted 01/08/06

Let me start by saying that I was thrilled to see a modern Greek restaurant open in Philly. We arrived on a Saturday night and sat at our table for 45 before somene took our drink order and disappeared. In the mean time we watched parties at surrounding tables get up and leave the restaurant. People complained that their orders were not taken after 90 minutes, some begged the manager for the check which never came. I counted 6 tables leaving before we did. It seemed that one waiter was servicing the entire restaurant. We never got our drinks, never ordered any food, and the management ignored all of our requests as if we weren't even there. The only thing that may save Estia from shutting its doors is its location. Being in the center of the theatre district, they might survive catering to the unsuspecting tourists and theatre crowd.

Pros: Location

Cons: Bad service, Bad management, Inexperienced staff

Posted 12/04/05

I was skepical about going to Estia because I wasnt too familiar with the cuisine, but my boyfriend was recomended the restaurant by his co-worker so we decided to try it out. From the grilled octopus, to the Israeli wine, to the table-side dessert service of flaming bannanas foster (the best I have ever tasted), our experience at Estia was amazing!! I will definately be back soon...

Pros: Vegatarian Options

Posted 12/04/05

I truly felt like I was in greece. The Food is incredible, the service was top notch and the cocktails are so original and tasty I had to seek out the Manager just to shake his hand. If you are ready to go to the next level of dining this is the place.

Pros: Service, atmosphere, food quality

Cons: parking

Posted 11/27/05