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Categories: Greek, Mediterranean [Edit]
Neighborhood: Avenue of the Arts SouthMon-Thu. 11:00 a.m. - 10:00 p.m.
Fri-Sat. 11:00 a.m. - 11:00 p.m.
Sun. 11:00 a.m. - 10:00 p.m.
Returned here a few nights ago. Can I say the calamari was delicious!!! And this appetizer they had, can't recall the name but it was like spinach in a pastry crust(I think a pic of it is in the picture section)..YUMMERS
My friend had the seabass and I had the lamb shank and we went half-sies. For some reason, I expected the lamb shank to be big but it wasn't. I was deboned but the entire thing was sorta put together to be the size of a medium sized potato. I was filled though because I had eaten other things.
Dessert of course was the tasty walnut/spicy cake...YUM.
This review is based on the restaurant week menu.
Appetizers- Grilled Pikilia
Entree- Tsipoura…
Read more »
Estia appears to garner high praise and enthusiastic endorsements from many of its patrons; why, however, is not obvious to me. My wife and I (in town for a getaway weekend) came here at the recommendation of our hotel concierge. His two prior suggestions had been spot-on, but he missed the boat with this one.
Estia is pretty much like every other Greek restaurant you've ever been to. A bit more deliberately upscale, perhaps, but with the same cacaphonous and slightly chaotic ambience. There's nothing wrong with that - but there's nothing special about it either. Don't come here expecting an evening of elegant dining.
The food was - okay. I will happily acknowledge that my lamb chops were tasty and tender, that we enjoyed the hummus and bread, and the calamari appetizer was light and tender. The menu was stock Greek fare, however; the romaine and country salads were unremarkable, and the wine list was too deliberately confined to Greek vintages.
Our principal disappointment was the service. The most suitable adjective might be "perfunctory". The waitstaff seemd to be phoning it in - coming to take our order, then to take our empty plates, and finally to deliver the check. We saw far more of the fellow who refilled our water glasses (attentively) then we ever did of our actual waiter. And when the check did come, delivered by a woman whom we had not theretofore seen, she deposited it on our table without even breaking stride, in a practiced and fluid movement that reminded me of nothing so much as a body being rolled out the door of a moving car.
Look, it wasn't awful. I've had much worse experiences. (In a way I wish this had been one of them, so that I would at least have the pleasure of telling and re-telling the story.) It was just utterly, completely, uninspiring, and far short of the expectations that we'd taken into the place. If you like Greek / Mediterranean food, and are don't mind feeling a bit like you're just another of the evening's couple hundred customers, then it's fine. But if you're looking for something fresh, a new experience or a special night out, there are *lots* of better choices in town.
Excellent Mediterranean fare. Solid menu with a good albeit Greek wine list.
We had our second birthday dinner here and were delighted again. We sat in a side room with a single large table for ten, which set us aside from the loud dinner room which made for a great night of conversation and let us enjoy our meal even more.
Appetizers included a fried cheese plate (which I loved), grilled octopus (which was tender, delicious, and awesome too), squid stuffed with cheese something over greens (yummy), feta and olives, pita and hummus.
Dinners included lamb chops (marinated for 3 days with lemon and olive oil - yum), lamb shank (so tender - wow), langoustine (so sweet - so much better than lobster), and Black Bass baked in a salt crust (pretty presentation and quite delicious).
The wine list was very limited to almost entirely Greek wines, but we had three bottles of one from Nemea that had "velvety tannins" - cuz it was great and only $55.
Desserts were also very good. They were generally variations of phyllo dough, honey, nuts, and custard. Mine was a tall custardy version that was great along with a very respectable cup of cappuccino.
Our waitress was also very good. Thumbs up all around.
Way overrated. Maybe Greek just isn't my kinda food, but the fish was undercooked, squid overcooked (and no need to stuff with cheese), and baklava rich to the point of vomit-inducing. Wine was delectable, surprisingly, but that was the highlight of the night. Also our waiter was the sommelier so service was ridiculously (almost to the point of being rude) slow.
The bathroom was cool though. Totally decked out and transports you to Greece. Still, if I'm talking about the bathroom decor at a restaurant in a review, you know how the food was ;)
I was lucky enough to win a gift card to Estia in a raffle and took my husband on a date this past Saturday night. I went once before for RW with girlfriends and thought this could be a fun way to take my meat and potatoes guy a little out of his element.
First- the atmosphere. Beautiful restaurant, live music.... A bit loud, though. Very romantic, but not good for a first date or an important conversation.
Second- the service. A little lacking, to be honest. We waited for everything- the courses, the bread, the drinks, plates cleared, the check.... The check was slightly more than the GC. When I offered my card to cover the balance he said he couldn't put the tip on the card. We paid cash instead, but it made for an awkward moment. Being in the industry, I also know that he could have simply put our drinks or a comperable amount on the card and the rest on the GC.
Third- the food. The food was excellent! Love the warm pita and that delicious hummus. My husband doesn't like fish or seafood, so I tried to order the lamb meatballs that they serve in the bar. They don't serve them in the restaurant. Odd, but OK, since i then got to order a seafood appetizer for myself! I tried the cheese stuffed squid (delicious) and he ordered the estia chips. The chips I've had before and are so yummy! Not overly greasy, either. He was really happy.
For entrees, I tried the Lavraki and he went with the lamb chops. We shared the whipped potatoes and grilled vegetables. Everything was perfect, simple, and amazing.
We came here based on a recommendation of one our friends, who is Greek. We were not disappointed.
We shared the octopus for appetizer. They were amazing. For $18, you were served a big plateful of grilled octopus. I could eat the entire thing by myself. For the main entree, we both had fish. I had the lavraki and my husband had the tsipoura, both which were really good.
We would definitely come back again.
Went to Estia after a show at the Kimmel Center (right across the street) and was pleased. Given the time (post-Sunday matinee), it was pretty empty, but it filled as we neared the end of our meal closer to dinnertime. The service was very professional and the food was obviously top-notch. And this is coming from someone who grew up in a Greek family! Everything was excellent and I especially recommend the stuffed grape leaves (dolmades). I didn't order any fish dishes, but other members of my party did and they said that the fish was very fresh. Next time!
The atmosphere was very eclectic and warm. I really liked that the waiters at the restaurant (at least ours and the one next to us) were GREEK. They knew exactly what they were talking about with food recommendations and actually spoke to Greek restaurant patrons in Greek! This is not to say that this is their only clientele, but it shows that it is a family-owned and operated restaurant which is always nice, especially in the city.
I had a terrible experience at Estia the first time around, and decided to go back there one more time before an orchestra concert to give it another try. I should have gone with my instinct.
My first visit, I went with 5 family members and we sat at a great long table in the middle of the restaurant. Our location proved to be detrimental, however, to a pleasant dining experience, because not only were we in the middle of the "organized chaos" of the waiters running around, but we were the main focus of the extremely pushy owner. He hung on the table, and talked us into ordering things that we did not want. He also refused to budge on a supplemental item to have on the prix-fixe menu for my vegetarian sister, and demanded that she get something else.
Our next visit, I went with three family members, and sat in a quieter corner. This time, the very same pushy owner came up to our table (much to my dismay), only to realize that he did not go to the table which he intended to go. So in the middle of offering a drink order, he stopped mid-sentence, turned, and walked over to the next table! Not a word. And to top off the indignation, we were not approached by a waiter for another ten minutes. The whole meal was slow and extremely frustrating. There is nothing to say about the food because the experience both times completely blocked everything else out.
For the prices you pay here, there are hundreds of other fabulous restaurants within blocks where you would have a much more pleasant dining experience.
***Follow up note - within 2 days of posting this review, I received an email from the GM to apologize for the experiences we had and to invite me back to try Estia again. I added another star for this customer service, as most places do not take the time to read or respond to online reviews. That is great management.***
I went to Estia for the first time last week and had an amazing meal! My mother, her best friend and I were seated promptly even though we did not have a reservation. It was nice outside, but not warm enough to sit outside, so we asked to be seated near a window. Perfect choice! We were seated in a booth with a very romantic aura (shame I was with my mom!)
The waiter came by promptly to ask for our orders, and explained everything to us in great, and much needed, detail! Our waiter was a doll!
We each did the prixe fixed meal for $30 and we shared a bottle of wine. While not the cheapest meal, it was definitely worth it! Their Octopodi is incredible, as was their stuffed calamari! For the dinner I had a fish that was served over baked vegetables....simply WONDERFUL! Desert was a little disappointing, but nonetheless, the meal was GREAT!
I definitely recommend going...if you can go on someone else's dime, all power to you!!!!
Two friends and I went into Estia on a whim one evening where we planned on dining outside, but then realized it was too chilly for al fresco. i'm really glad we made the decision to eat inside because this place is beautiful! The decor is really charming and romantic. The food is on a very short list of my personal favorites. I've only been here once, but I can't wait to go back!
One of my friends ordered the Estia Chips which are fried zucchini and eggplant with tzatziki and were absolutely delicious. I had the feta and olives and was in heaven. I don't know why it was so much better than any greek olives and feta cheese I've had at home or elsewhere, but it was superb. The next time I'm there I'll definitely have to try something from their mouth-watering fish selection, but on my visit I went with a "main land selection". I got the kotopoulo, which is roasted chicken served with carmelized onions, yogurt orzo and a lemon chicken thyme jus. it's been about a year since i've been there and i can still remember the taste.
usually i hate having to go down or up stairs to use the restroom, but estia is my one and only exception. this place would win my vote for best restroom in a philadelphia restaurant. it makes you not so mad about the walk downstairs in heels!
i would highly recommend estia to anyone, regardless of whether or not you're into greek food. if you eat here and don't like it, there might be something wrong with you.
I went here yesterday for a Restaurant Week lunch. They first brought out the warm bread (sourdough, I think), accompanied by this deliciously creamy hummus. I had the soup for starters (it had lamb balls and bit of a creamy broth with a lemony and dill flavor to it) - very good! Main course was the fish of the day, a sea bass over grilled vegetables. Not too fishy, but the vegetables had the consistency of being soaked in butter and water all day, very limp. I like the fish, though. Dessert was this ginger cake with walnuts with a scoop of vanilla ice cream on the side. The cake was pretty dry, which was wet a bit by this pool of what tasted like sugar water - very strange. I wouldn't recommend this dessert, but the other food was good.
Had been wanting to try Estia and finally did last night. Have to say started off on the wrong foot because they did something many restaurants do which I HATE - try to seat you in the worst table near the kitchen when half the place is empty. Waiter was actually very good, in an amusing opinionated way - was not shy about his recommendations. Definitely did not upsell. In fact he steered my wife away from a glass of wine my wife was going to order to one he felt was much better AND was less expensive. Food was good but not excellent. Seafood was fresh and well-prepared, but just somewhat uninspired and, frankly, overpriced. Might return for a pre-theatre meal if I am seeing something at the Academy but otherwise don't think I would eat here again.
This place introduced me to Greek food and because of it, I now have a high standard for Greek food all over the world. I'll been here on multiple occasions for different reasons, there was an experience of a part of 2, there was an experience of a party of 12, and there was even an experience of a party of 20+. All occurances were equally excellent.
The first time I went here, unsure as to what I should order, the dishes were recommended by the server. He was GREAT. Extremely friendly and knew his dishes inside and out.
These are the dishes I would recommend:
HOT MEZEDES:
Octopodi - Charcoal grilled octopus with red and white onions, dill, roasted peppers, capers, parsley and red wine vinaigrette
Yemista kalamarakia - Calamari stuffed with a trio of Greek cheeses, grilled served with lemon and extra virgin olive oil
Midia estia - New Zealand mussels, Metaxa, ouzo, shallots, dill, diced tomato and feta
Spread pikilia - Tzatziki, htipiti, melitzano salata served with grilled pita;
also available individually
A word or two about their fishes - they are extremely fresh and are their catch of the day. You can also say hi to your fish of choice before it gets beheaded. I recommend doing their seafood/fish tour before ordering. This will give you an idea as to which fish you might be protentially ordering. I won't order these fishes without taking a peak.
I've tried their fishes, but have never tried their other "land" dishes. However, with the large party, most of the dishes on the menu got ordered (some repeated). The final review? All the dishes served by the restaurant is excellent...!
So why the 4 stars? The level of service, (incrediablly good) not a five star. Yes, they're highly attentive, very knowledgable, however, it is not a 5 star rating (but this is JUST my opinion).
I highly recommend this place and I highly push/suggest that you order/try something you would not normally eat elsewhere. Worth the money, worth the experience!
Recommended by a Greek friend of mine, I came down with my girlfriend and another couple during Restaurant Week. I started out with dolmades which was the best dolmades I've ever had. They're grape leaves stuffed with a seasoned rice mixture. Afterwards we had some spanakopita which was made very different to what I'm used to. The spanakopita was in a flaky crust, but didn't seem to be filo, maybe it was but it looked different. Regardless, it was still pretty tasty. The fish I had for the entree came out to be pretty delicious and the lamb was also amazing, very tender and delicious with the yogurt sauce. For dessert we had some baklava.
The atmosphere of the restaurant was very cozy and nice. There was a man playing Greek music on a Greek "guitar like" instrument. The staff was also very helpful and friendly.
I'll probably come back. Definitely worth a stop into if you want some real Greek food.
Probably one of my favorite atmospheres of any restaurant in the city. Its quiet and dimly lit and everything down to the littlest of things is well thought out I feel.
Now I am mostly greek and have grown up eating really authentic greek food. I'm also good friends with someone who grew up on the island of crete, so when she told me it was good food I couldn't wait to get there. Everything is very authentic and absolutely delicious. The service was great, atmosphere, once again, is amazing, and I can't stress enough that the food was so darn good!
I know this sounds kind of weird- but check out the bathrooms! I always use bathrooms at restaurants because I feel like bathrooms are finishing touches to restaurants and if they don't take good care of them then my opinion definitely drops.
theyre bathrooms are absolutely beautiful. I told my boyfriend to just leave me at Estia and I'd just live there.
also make sure you check out the cool glass elevator to the left as you walk in!
The ambiance was very fancy and romantic. They definitely spent some bills on their decor. The service was kind of annoying. Our waiter was pretentious, presumptuous and kind of full of himself. The food was good -- the quality seemed high -- but it wasn't THAT good.
The Estia chips seemed like the most special thing on the menu - thin slices of zucchini and eggplant fried and crispy with a greek yogurt dipping sauce. The spanakopita was good but a bit greasy, I give it a 3 out of 5 as far as spanakopita goes.
The "horiatiki" salad is described as, "with tomatoes, cucumbers, green peppers, red onions, feta and olives dressed with a red wine vinaigrette." Be aware that's all it is -giant chunks of mostly tomatoes and a little bit of the rest of the veggies. No greens. It was awkward to eat, because the tomato chunks were so huge.
I am a huge fan of feta cheese, most specifically authentic feta cheese, imported from Greece, or just feta made with Goat's milk. They had authentic imported feta, and it was good, but not as fabulous as I had thought it would be. I thought maybe they would grill it or do something to make it just a little bit melty and special, but they just brought it out in boring slices with a little olive oil and some kind of dried herb seasoning on top. Kind of disappointing.
I got the Briam Vegetables side (baked vegetable stew) since it was recommended as a vegetarian side dish to me by the waiter. It wasn't a very exciting dish- just some stewed nightshade vegetables really -- kind of tasty but way too oily and rich for my picky taste. At least they have options though.
Honestly, I get better food at Saads (I know, not greek but have some similar menu items, esp. for veggie people). For waaaaaaaaay less. But if you want Greek food with a romantic atmosphere...try somewhere else. The atmosphere really isn't worth the big price tag for the sometimes good, sometimes mediocre food.
Last night I went to Estia for the 2nd time... My GF and I were on our way to see RENT and thought that trying out the PreTheater menu was probably the best way to go. Originally, our reservations were 5pm, but when I needed to change them to 6:15pm Estia made the change without any hesitation. *** The PreTheater menu is a 3 course meal for $30 a person. The menu is fixed, but you get a good selection of different foods.
I started off with ESTIA PIKILIA(This combination platter includes "Spanakopita" feta and spinach pies, Maryland style jumbo lump crab cakes served with a mustard aioli, and a fresh spring mix salad dressed with a balsamic vinaigrette). The portions were incredibly small, but I guess that is to be expected. The flavors were there. The jumbo lump crab cakes were a slight let down, but only because they were bite sized portions. My GF got the ROMAINE SALAD(Hearts of romaine are tossed in a creamy feta dressing and crumbled feta cheese, topped with oregano croutons and shredded Kefalograviera cheese). Kind of hard to mess that up I guess. She said that it was quite good.
For our entrees, we both got the MOUSSAKA(A traditional Greek baked casserole layered with seasoned ground beef, sliced eggplant, potatoes and topped with a Kefalograviera based cream). It was ok... nothing to write home about, but the portion was good and the flavor was pretty robust.
The third course was fixed. We were served hefty portions of KARIDOPITA(Ground walnuts are the base for this traditional Greek cake that is finished with a Greek honey syrup and served with slices of fresh fruit). It was good... but it was really "wet". I don't know if that's how it was supposed to be, but it was good nonetheless.
The service was pretty good and the staff was very nice. Overall, the meal was about average. I wasn't blown away by any means. I've had a lot better for a lot less price.
Estia has a wonderful atmosphere and great food. The drinks are kind of expensive, but I guess that's what you get for eating in the city.
So, is this place worth a visit if you don't eat much (or any) fish? Sure!
I picked up my wife at the airport, and suggested we eat in the city before heading back to our DE home. "How about finding a little Greek place" I suggested. She whipped out her Treo and found one of the priciest places in the city right off the bat. Well done, honey!
Just kidding, I was in the mood for something upscale, anyway. So she ordered nothing but hot and cold mezedes (non-seafood related), and I got the basic kotopoulo. A good selection of Greek wines was available, and the prices for those did not seem outrageous, considering I'm used to paying $10 for a martini or an imported bottle of beer at some local joints. We will probably go back here the next time we are in town for the theatre.
Some friends and I ate here tonight to ring in the start of Philly's Restaurant Week. When I first arrived, only a few members of my party were there, so we waited at the bar - the bartender was friendly. The reservation was for six people, but there ended up being seven, but they were gracious and didn't hassle us about the number. Our waiter was friendly (I forget his name - sorry), and very efficient. They made sure that our water glasses were never empty.
I ordered the spanakopita, the moussaka and the karidopita for dessert. They started us out with bread and this DELICIOUS hummus. Keep in mind, I grew up on hummus, and went through a few years where I couldn't even stand to hear it mentioned. Tonight though, I tore that hummus up! The spanakopita was just a bunch of flaky, spinachy goodness. I tasted a bit of my friend's saganaki, and it was also very tasty. The moussaka was also good, and very filling. In fact, by the time I finished my entree, I was almost full, but being the true foodie that I am, I made sure to get my dessert. The karidopita was good, albeit a little too wet for my tastes.
Again, I am a foodie, so to enhance my culinary experience I wanted a cup of coffee with my karidopita. Our waiter was nowhere around, so I asked what appeared to be a nice blonde with a Sarah Palin-esque updo to bring me a cup of coffee. Well, if eye rolling was an Olympic sport, Miss Thing would have gotten the gold, silver and the bronze, because apparently, I as the patron should have known not to ask her for coffee. She didn't say anything out of pocket (which meant she hadn't totally lost her mind), which was good because I don't play that - especially not when I'm spending my money. Governor Palin relayed the message to our waiter, and he had one of the servers bring me the coffee.
The decor also gets an A+ from me - it was beautiful! I'm sure I'll go back to Estia. Other than my run in with Gov. Palin, I had a lovely time. In fact, despite her lack of customer service skills (maybe she's just as inexperienced as the other Gov. Palin), I'll give Estia the full 5 stars.
Great food, atmosphere and company - what else can a girl ask for?
I dropped by Estia tonight in search of better-than-average dinner while on a business trip. It was a solid experience, to say the least, from wine to apps to food. The top-notch element of the evening was the de-boned Lamb Shank, along with a light wheat pasta and tomato-based sauce. I have had this dish 20+ times and by far, this was the best. Just phenomenal. I would also give a nod to the service at the bar, where my barkeep was knowledgeable & friendly, but not over-bearing. All in all, a great experience.
This is a very very nice place. Good menu, nice decor, attentive service. Comparing it to Trata in NYC, Estia comes out ahead. We visited this weekend for lunch. The fried zucchini chips are to die for with an excellent dip. Get at least one order for the table to share. I did not order the octopus but I later heard our server telling another table that it was a house specialty -maybe next visit. I had the mixed seafood souvlaki with swordfish shrimp and scallops. A great dish but the scallops were the best - exceptional. My wife had the sea bass which was just as good, maybe better. Very interesting selection of teas. Good espresso - but no lemon? Skipped dessert. A very solid 4 rating.
Now, since I am a bit of a nitpicker in terms of restaurants, I will mention a few things which kept this from a 5 rating. We were the first couple in for lunch and were seated at the window. I have no problem with that since an empty restaurant looks uninviting to passersby. However, we were seated Facing the window - which looked out on an 18 wheeler parked on Spruce Street. We should have been seated facing IN - it is a very pretty place. Next, the following customers were ALL seated in the same small area. The place is huge, they should have spread the tables out more. One last thing - they used an odd oval plate for the entree which curved up at each end. Every time I put my knife down on the plate, it would slide left, right etc. I eventually gave up and put the knife down on the tablecloth - which I think is tacky.
Hey, I would go again. Need to try more of the menu.
My friend and I went to brunch here on Sunday and had a lovely experience. We were looking to sit outside, but once we entered the restaurant and saw the beautiful décor and gigantic open windows, we were happy to take up residence at a table indoors. The restaurant was surprisingly empty for 1 p.m., but this only made for more attentive service and a fantastic table by one of the aforementioned windows, across from The Academy of Music.
Fresh crusty bread and hummus was promptly placed on our table, and a complimentary cocktail was offered with our brunch order. I asked for a bellini, praying that a classy place like Estia would get it right and use fresh peach juice instead of schnapps or some other imitation of the real thing. The bellini was dropped at my table and was perfection; so much so that my friend made the switch to a bellini for her second round.
My "avga spanakia," which I requested with egg whites, was unique and very good. It was supposed to include spinach, leeks, feta, scallions and tomato, but there was not any tomato in my dish. It was served in an iron skillet and was very hot and bubbly, which I loved. The side of sausage that I ordered never made it to the table; our server said they had run out. Not a big deal, as the omelet came with a side of pita wedges and a small dish of chive-seasoned potatoes, which was more than enough. My friend had a smoked fish platter, which she seemed pleased with as well.
I would love to make it back sometime for dinner and sit in one of the semi-private banquette/booth type areas along the wall with a small group.
The ambience, the service, the food, the wine-- all EXCELLENT. It was a bit pricey, but totally worth it t go. We sat in the upper deck, corner nook right by the window and watched the theater crew across the street setting up for some musical while we dined. It was a perfect nook with a great view of the bustling street. If you have a group of at least 5, ask for that table!
I had their lamb shanks and despite the fact that I have never ordered lamb for myself EVER, I took the chance and did. I DID NOT regret it! The server also recommended a wine to go with, and it was a perfect pairing.
For dessert, I went for the "healthy" option of getting the yogurt fondue-- umm can I say DELICIOUS? I love freshly made, real yogurt, and they make the real Greek yogurt! It was really thick and tart and delicious with the loades of fruit they give you to dip in it.
I am itching to go back-- can't wait till my next visit to the east coast just so I can eat there! I was even thinking of getting a hotel close to that restaurant next time just so I make sure to make a trip.
I was really surprised by the unprofessional wait staff at Estia, especially considering the cost and location of the restaurant. They were like a bunch of high school kids working at Olive Garden in the 'burbs. The food, however, was pretty high quality. I had the stuffed calamari for an appetizer and the swordfish as an entrée. The food was delicious and the atmosphere was okay, but the inefficiency and indifference of the two people who served us made the meal seem waaay overpriced. Given all the great restaurants in center city, this would not be my first choice.
Dinner with a few techies here the other evening was fantastic. The fixed price menu was affordable yet elegant. Delicious, fancy food.
usually when one hears "but it's so big!" the party involved takes it as a compliment. i tend to disagree in this case.
i've been to estia a few times now, both times within the course of several months. the food is good--fairly classic greek mediterranean dishes. and i never turn down food, especially seafood when it's well-prepared and fresh.
that being said, the waiters both times were a bit odd. the first one was just odd, the second one was just kinda rude and odd.
i don't know why, but it just bothers me that the place can seat 500 people or something. and i feel like i'm walking through a maze when i'm there. it loses its ambiance and flavor. the corny tvs in the downstairs that are playing videos of greece and the padlocked coat check just really don't do it for me.
Went to Estia last night with a couple friends. We had a glass of wine and share a few appetizers... the food was delicious, the place is beautiful and the staff very nice. But when the bill came up to be over $100.00 I suddenly wondered if it was really worth it. And I'm not sure it is.
Estia is a Greek and Mediterranean restaurant near City Hall. It's across the street from the Academy of Music. Appropriately, you can hear Greek music in the background. The place has an area with frozen fish, and you can pick out the kind you want for your meal. Estia is large, with a basement dining and banquet area, and clean bathrooms. I've been here for a dinner and happy hour and was pleased each time.
Steven is an excellent server - he paid attention to our table, when we were a party of about 12. Ask for him if you go! The food there is excellent (and pricey) and don't forget to try the Greek alcoholic beverages.
For the happy hour, we were able to work with them to get appetizers - two bartenders served us - Trudy mixed many shots for us (some which were awful and others that hit the spot) and was friendly and professional. Recommended!
This restaurant was amazing. The humus tastes so good. I ordered salmon for dinner and it was delicious. The fish is very fresh. We had the shrimp appetizer and it was very tasty. I didn't enjoy the drinks. I had a lycheetini and it wasn't that great. The service was amazing, although the waiter kept suggesting delicious meals and we couldn't turn them down. After salads, appetizers drinks and our entree our bill was pretty large. Well worth it though!
I've been here twice now and Estia is 2 for 2. It's an excellent place to get a drink and a quick bite at the bar as well as have a full meal.
On our first trip, we were pressed for time and wanted just a little food to get through a play without our stomachs growling. We sat at the bar and had some mango caipirinhas and mezedes (small plates). The dolmades (grape leaves) and pikilia plate (tzatziki, htipiti, melitzano salata with grilled pita) were delicious. We knew we had to return for the full menu.
With more time on our second trip, we experienced the first-class service the restaurant offers its guests. It definitely adds to the overall value of the meal. Speaking of value, the pre-theater prix fixe menu is quite a deal at $30. The grilled pikilia (octopi, calamari and salad), fish of the day (branzino) and karidopita (Greek cake) were all perfectly prepared and timed. There are other options for the first and second courses that made it a tough choice, but it doesn't seem like there are many wrong choices to be made here. Also, though we went with the cocktails, Estia has an extensive wine list.
Estia's striking interior design is also worth noting. It's a feast for the eyes, from the bar and lounge area through the open kitchen and the fresh fish station to the multi-tiered restaurant area under the stone ceiling. There's also an attractive wine cellar and private function room downstairs.
A note about parking: Estia validates for the Bellevue lot but only for three hours. So if you're catching a show after dinner, you might try parking at Symphony House instead and get another cocktail with the cash you'd save.
After my posting the management went out of their way to resolve my issues by taking care of my dry cleaning expenses and issuing me a gift card. Has been quite an ordeal but I'm glad that they did the right thing.
This place may have gotten two more stars save for the fact that I left the restaurant wearing a… Read more »
Wonderful Mediterranean style food. The decor is very reminiscent of actually being there. While the staff is most likely straight-off-the-boat. The fish is fresh, and the Langostinos were awesome. We really enjoy this place as a family. They have good wine selections, and good food options. Make the waiter laugh a bit, and he'll be really nice and treat you like family.
the service here is top notch. our waiter was very helpful and on top of empty glasses all night. i'm not the best at these reviews because i usually like everything and don't remember any of the names. i do remember the bill being quite expensive for 4 people but that didn't deter from a night of great food.
Great food, terrible service. I went here on a business trip and ended up here after avoiding the wait at Monk's Cafe. I guess I'm not the first to complain about the service. I ordered one appetizer, but the annoyingly accented waiter brought us two with one on the way, which I promptly rejected. The desperate attempt to up-sell was quite annoying. I have to say that the ARNI PIADAKIA (lamb chops) were awesome, and the chef deserves a good rating, but the manager needs to take a step back and evaluate his staff. I would go back for the food, but would avoid the curly-haired waiter at all costs. He truly brought down the experience.
I went here with a friend and was satisfied with the service here. We ordered Estia chips as our appetizer which were absolutely great to munch on alongside our bread. We both got fish entrees and both were pretty good. Mine was not as flavorful as I would have liked, thus I knocked down a star. Unfortunately I don't remember the name of the dish, I feel like I got the halibut or something like that. But other than that, it was a great place to eat. It was quiet, the decor was nice, the service was kind, the place was clean, and for a dinner on a weeknight, it was great. I would definitely come here again.
Really wanted to try this place out after hearing great recommendations from friends. We lasted 5 minutes, if that. Imagine being approached by a waiter do desperate to up sell that he asks if we wanted bottled water or Schuylkill Punch. Bite me. Good bye.
It was a youngish waiter with curly hair. Watch what you say.
Went here for a college graduation dinner. I was in charge of picking the place, and had to cater to the most extreme edges of the spectrum in regards to taste. One group doesn't try new foods, the other group eats everything under the sun. Greek food it is, I suppose.
We were so happy; the try-anything group much more pleased than the other group. But all around, it was great.
To start, the dude who took charge of our meal made friends with the server and they decided on a champagne that would be best for us. It was pink, which I never had, but the server was so into our celebration that it just made it that much better. It was the perfect complement to the meal. And he didn't skimp on it....the bottles flowed and flowed before we even realized how much we had. This is a good thing.
So, we started out with the octopus, fresh calamari, cod roe, scallops, shrimp, hummus and the spanakopita. The octopus was insane. It was so fresh, and even the wary among the group tried it and loved it. They also never had calamari that wasn't fried, and they really enjoyed it. The scallop guru was pretty happy with the scallops...I was happier. I have to say, it was some of the freshest and best seafood I ever had.
The hummus was hummus. No offense. I liked it but wasn't blown away.
For dinner, I had the lamb with potatoes. My sister got the same thing and we were both really pleased. We kept making faces at each other like, Dude everyone else is missing out! When they caught on, they were intent on trying it, but we couldn't. It was superb. My favorite Greek lamb dish ever.
The "daring" group all had fish for dinner and they were totally happy. One eater claimed it was the best halibut he had in a long time.
The wary group stuck to the pasta dishes and moussaka (which they were totally afraid of) and they were pretty pleased.
It was such a great place for the celebration, and the servers totally catered to us. In fact, one of the servers actually knew the dean of the college of said graduation, and he kept telling us stories about him. We had a great time. The bill was high, but it was oh so worth it. I would recommend this place to anyone.
I like it, but they always burn the outside of the souvlaki (shish kebob), so if you don't like burned food (like me), then avoid this particular dish. I really like the fresh fish and produce that are displayed on ice. Dining room is rather HUGE - good for groups. Bar is not good for drinking, more for waiting for the rest of your party to arrive. A couple of the people that work there are a little strange, but harmless. Food is good because of the quality of the ingredients and not so much because of the quality of the preparation, which could be improved. They could also work on their reception. Appetizers are delicious - probably the best part of the menu!
Decent Greek food (I'm Greek), but definitely over-priced.
We tried the octopus, village-salad, dip sampler, vegetable chips, and a couple of fish. All the food tasted great.
The bad things about Estia is that 1) a lot of the fish was not available 2) the waiter tried to up-sell constantly
This place is hands down the best Greek place I have ever been to. The Hummus and Tatziki are amazing and so flavorful. Also, the fresh pita bread they serve with it is always hot and fresh. I have tried the 3-day marinated lamb and it is very tender and juicy, no game-y-ness at all. An the fries that come with it are awesome! well, fries aren't very Greek, but they use a super Greek sauce on the fries and fresh Parmesan and truffles. For veggies, get the wilted greens or grilled veggies, also awesome and tasty. My friends had the fresh fish and they said it was great as well. Basically this place rocks because it's authentic and uses super fresh ingredients.
the catch? well, it's a bit on the pricey side. The average person will spend $30-$50 each for a great time out. also they have a full bar, so no byob here. enjoy!
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