Effie's, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Greek Restaurant Details

Food:

For those in search of "tasty", "rustic" Greek fare, Effie and Loula Bouikidis' "homestyle" BYO in Washington Square West is a "good buy", given "generous portions" served by a "laid-back" crew; most report a "charming but worn" dining room, urging you instead to visit the "delightful" "secret garden" out back.

Food:

I am a regular to the restaurant scene and especially byobs. I don't need to be wowed by presentation, but just want good fresh food with ample portions. I went to this place because I read reviews that indicated this place was a great Greek byob. The biggest disappointment was the food. The apps were really good and portion size was very good, the quality was poor. I had the gyro plate and the meat tasted/looked processed, the green bean sides were mushy and I could almost guarantee they came out of a can. The rice was under cooked. I ordered a couple of apps and they were very good.

Food:

Best dinner I've had in a while. If you'Re looking for high end fancy this is not the place. If you'Re looking to feel like you'Re eating at someone's Greek Mother or Grandmother's hone.. THIS IS THE PLACE!!!!!!A+

Food:

Hands down the best Greek food in the city. Kanella is good, Effie's is GREAT. Everything here is amazingly fresh, from the pita bread to start, all the way to the pastry at the end.

Make sure you order the calamari, as it is the best I have ever had (light, slightly crunchy breading, but not greasy at all).

Don't believe the complaints you see about the service here, I have dined here many times and have never had an issue. It is a family run, authentic Greek restaurant with a focus on FOOD!

Food:

Good: The food was ok
Bad: Everything else. Service was very slow & server had an insulting, condescending attitude. This is a BYO and server lost a bottle of our wine that was getting chilled, took 20 minutes for her to find after entrees were served. They say they accept credit cards but when server brought the check she said the credit card machine was broken so they were 'cash only.' No where on the menu was it mentioned that a gratuity is added to the check, we were a table of 6 and 20%+ (rounded up) was added. With so many good restaurants to go to you are better off going ANYWHERE else

Food:

I went to Effie’s Greek Restaurant on 11th and Pine on a Tuesday night. I ordered the egg lemon soup to start, and my mom’s friend (who was taking me out) got the calamari. The egg lemon soup was thin and only subtly lemony. I much prefer the thick, intense avgolemono soup I get at the family-owned Greek restaurant in my hometown. Effie’s soup did have chunks of chicken, though, which was an authentic touch. Out of the dishes we ordered, the calamari was the best for what it was: soft and light, and not too crunchy or oily.

I ordered the lamb lemonato for my entrée, which was disappointing. The lamb was fatty and chewy, and when your meal is just chunks of lamb sitting in sauce on a plate, you want the meat to be good. The sauce itself was pretty oily and the flavor was nothing to write home about. My mom’s friend ate lamb souvlaki, which she enjoyed, though I didn’t try it.

My biggest beef with Effie’s wasn’t the food, though. It was freezing cold outside, and the small dining room opens to an outdoor patio. The atmosphere seems nice and quaint at first, but it gets old (and cold) when the waitress keeps coming in and out of the door to the outside…and is leaving it open. The waitress also recited the long list of specials in such a way that I could barely recall any of it—when it gets to be that long, the restaurant should have a specials menu. Twice while the waitress was away the CD that was playing started skipping. My mom’s friend had to get up to switch the track both times.

These may seem like minor complaints taken separately, but when you’re paying $11-$19 for an entrée, you want the service to be good if not flawless. I’m sure on a Friday or Saturday it’s more happening and the atmosphere is less about service. But the mark of a good restaurant is that it’s good all the time and for every customer. I didn’t get that when I went to Effie’s.

--Emma