Dear Daphni

Our family of four recently visited Dear Daphni in Philly for a birthday celebration, and while one dish soared, the overall experience was ultimately a 3-star. Let's talk about the triumph: the pitta bread served with seven glorious dipping sauces. Honestly, this deserves its own 5-star review! It was warm, fresh, and each dip was a little burst of flavor – genuinely the best thing we ordered and easily the highlight of our meal. The service, too, was good; the staff were attentive and pleasant. Unfortunately, the rest of our experience felt like it was dragging the overall score down. The grilled meats, whether pork, chicken, or lamb, were a letdown. For the price, we expected distinct, flavorful options, but they all tasted similar and quite average. It was a puzzling lack of individuality that really missed the mark. Adding to the challenge was the restaurant's noise level. It was exceptionally loud, making it genuinely difficult for our family to have a comfortable conversation for our birthday celebration. And speaking of birthdays, while we had mentioned the occasion, there was no special acknowledgment from the restaurant, which, though not a deal-breaker, did add a small note of disappointment. So, while Dear Daphni offers some truly phenomenal pitta and good service, the average grilled meats and the overwhelmingly noisy environment mean that one excellent dish simply couldn't carry the entire dining experience.

Third visit within a few months and celebrating a birthday at Dear Daphni!!! FOOD: Excellent- we are not looking for authentic flavors, just good food and we were satisfied with all the dishes over multiple visits. Highly recommend the lamb shank and pilaf rice. The meze platter was very good as well served with warm pita. My other favorite dishes are the meatballs, calamari, and are yes. Service: Excellent - Shout out to Bobby who made our experience stood out this visit. Atmosphere: Excellent - I love the decor and the nice indoor/outdoor transition. What a beautiful space!

5 stars, such a hidden gem! I had the most amazing experience at Dear Daphni! From the moment we walked in, the service was warm, welcoming, and attentive without being overbearing. The food was absolutely incredible! fresh, flavorful, and beautifully presented. Every dish felt thoughtfully crafted. And the drinks were perfection. Creative, well-balanced cocktails that paired perfectly with the meal. You can really tell the team cares about the details. This place is a must-visit, and I can’t wait to come back! They took care of us for an engagement dinner, which was lovely. We practically ordered the whole menu and everything was amazing. Also S/O to Cynthia the server, she was the best.

We stopped by for happy hour, and while the space itself is beautifully decorated and in a great location, the overall experience left us feeling that there’s definitely room for improvement. To start, the front host wasn’t very welcoming, which set the tone a bit off. Once seated, we tried a few small plates—some of them were so salty that it really took away from the flavors. The highlight of the food was definitely the Turkish dumplings, which were delicious and well-prepared, standing out among the dishes we ordered. On the brighter side, the drinks were solid, and the bartender was both friendly and attentive, which added a nice touch to the evening. The happy hour menu had some good options, but consistency in execution and seasoning would make a big difference. Overall, considering the prime location and the gorgeous décor, the food, service, and hospitality still have room to grow. With a few improvements, this place could really live up to its potential.

The 4.1 rating is about right. This restaurant is good, but should be better. The space is beautiful, with nice outdoor seating available. The best part of the meal was the mezza served when you order entrees. All of the dips were very tasty and the pita was very good. I thought the mushroom dip was one of the best. We got the dumpling and meatball apps and both were good, but not great. I had the swordfish, which was very good. My dining partners had the lamb shank and pork dishes. They said the flavor was good, but they were somewhat overcooked and dried out. The complimentary turkish ice cream dessert, was awesome. With some improvements and consistency in the food, this place could be a great restaurant, but it's not there yet. It's definitely worth checking out for one of the best atmospheres in Philly and the mezza.

Great dining experience! The food, the service and the atmosphere are all 10/10. The best thing I’ve tried was the grilled calamari 🫠 I’m still thinking about it and I think I’ll be back for it very soon. Yes, it’s that good. The kofta was very flavorful, loved the taste but not so much the texture. I think it was a little dry for my taste. But the flavor is 10/10. The mezze plate is delightful and their drinks are delicious. Loved the honey bee and the nana.

I came during Center City Sips and it was a robust crowd at the bar and tables! The aesthetic is pretty and is an open concept! The sips menu has various options and prices were comparable to other restaurants in the area! The noise level was high and when the restaurant became busier, the service was not as attentive! I look forward to coming back for dinner to explore menu options!

We visited Dear Daphni with friends and had a pretty solid experience overall. As big fans of Middle Eastern cuisine, we were excited to give it a try. We shared four skewers—salmon, beef, chicken, and lamb. The chicken easily came out on top with standout flavor, followed by the salmon. The beef and lamb were underwhelming in comparison. The meal started with many dips, which were just okay—the textures seemed a little off. On the upside, the hamachi crudo appetizer was a highlight; we actually wished we had ordered a second round. The Turkish dumplings were also a hit and definitely worth trying. For dessert, the strawberry soft serve was a surprise standout—possibly some of the best I’ve had. The chocolate ice cream, on the other hand, was just average. Where the place really shines is the cocktails. Favorites included the Marrakesh Mule, Persian Paloma, and the Espresso Turk-Tini—all bursting with unique flavors. The food was solid overall, but nothing to write home about.

I was so blown away by the beautiful interior when I stepped inside of this place. It lived up to what I saw from outside. The food itself is pretty good but pretty pricey as others have mentioned. Between 2 people who have medium appetites, you could probably get away with 1 entree and the mezze since they bring you pita. I would definitely keep this place in the happy hour rotation but would save meals for special occasions. In terms of service, our waiter was very attentive and refilled our drinks throughout dinner without us having to ask.

This place use to be a really good value. They offered mezze and a dessert when an entree was ordered. As of recently, they have stopped this option (thus my rating reflects this recent change). When I went, they had just changed this over and it wasn't updated on the website. Instead of giving me the mezze, they ended up just comping me a dessert. The mezze had 7 dips. I do admit, some of their dips are pretty amazing and it is nice that you can ask for more dip or pita. The pita is so warm and fresh when it is delivered to the table. The first time I went, I got the Tunisian lamb shank. I usually hate lamb but this lamb was very tasty. I really liked the harissa on this dish. The service here is quick and the servers are very friendly. They are also easy to talk to about what might be good on the menu to try. I also like how there was a small scoop of soft serve ice cream (they make this in house) at the end [this addition with purchase of entree was discontinued per last visit]. Overall, the food quality and tastes are pretty good. I would say this restaurant does have steep competition from Zahav and Laser Wolf. Both of which I think are better than Dear Daphni.

This was such a happy detour. We were originally planning on going to a different restaurant but loved the outdoor appeal of this place without even know what type of food it was. Everything was a hit! I'm not sure how they got the chicken to melt in your mouth but that and the flavor were divine. Broccoli in tahini was something I didn't I need and the mezze was chef kiss. Drinks were icing on the cake. I can't wait to come back.

Swung by Dear Daphni for an early Sunday Happy Hour and it did not disappoint! The Bees Knees cocktails were yummy (and strong!) and only $7. The appetizers were all pretty good but the meatball dish was so good that we ordered another one! The chicken kebab was very flavorful and tender. The salmon crudo was really refreshing and the chips they are served with were excellent. The dumplings were nice too. I would definitely come back with a larger group to try more. Service was just OK but the decor made up for it! :-)

Came in for happy hour and it's some of the best in town. The chicken kebab and dips are so good. We also tried the potatoes and halumi all good flavors. I will definitely return for dinner Finally some decent Mediterranean food in the area

We were headed somewhere else but as my friend and I walked past this place, I said. "Hey! Would you be up for checking this place out?" I've had this place in my view for a while and I'm so glad we pivoted to this lovely restaurant. First off, ambiance! So good! In the summer, outside tables for city viewing with big open picture windows so if you are inclined there is inside/outside dining all at once. I love that! We were seated outside and I'm happy to report, you can order from the happy hour menu even if you are not at the bar! We got happy hour drinks but opted for the dinner menu. My friend ordered the chicken and I got the pork belly shawarma. Holy. Moly. Delicious! Every meat was juicy, flavorful and succulent. That chicken! And that pork! One of the best meals I've had in a very long time. They also let us order drinks off of the happy hour menu, hummus and pita off of the happy hour menu and dinner off of the regular menu. The diner comes first here. I recommend this beautiful place and food 100 percent!

When you come to Dear Daphni, you're paying more for the ambience than anything else. Don't get me wrong, the food here is good. I just don't think it's good enough to make its price-point as high as what this place charges. My friend and I ordered Turkish Dumplings, lamb shanks, calamari, and Turkish Pilaf on the side. The calamari was definitely the star of the show since the citrusy sauce and texture were both on-point. Lamb shank, while tender and good, wasn't anything memorable. Same with the Turkish Pilaf. That ambience though. As soon as you walk in, you can't help but fall in love with the beautiful setting. I love the natural lighting through the floor-to-ceiling windows that were adorned with light curtains, and the colorful seatings added a charming and playful element to the interior of the place. Service here was adequate, but I felt a bit rushed at times since I believe they were trying to clear the tables for the incoming waves of diners looking to get a piece of that Dear Daphni dining experience. Overall, I'd recommend this place for special occasions rather than a casual dinner.

A friend & I went for happy hour, if you sit at the table for happy hour I believe they limit you to an hour. The drinks were good - I got a mule and my friend got the birds & bees cocktail. Food was fine, the shawarma stood out to me the most, and the dip of the day was made with smoked beets which was pretty good too. Overall not a bad place to go for happy hour!

Wow, the Schulson Collective has done it again! The atmosphere is buzzing (VERY LOUD at 7 on a Saturday in the summer). The design is beautiful. The servers are kind and responsive. Ours seemed a little scattered but very apologetic. She also didn't offer us dessert which seemed strange considering they were serving it. Let's chalk it up to a rough day. This bartender is skilled and all of us were impressed by the cocktails. They can do The Bee's Knees! For gluten sensitive: grill and fryer are shared with glutinous foods so there is cross-contamination for kebabs, Lebanese potatoes, and one of the mezze dips. GF items worth your time: Moroccan Meatballs, Hamachi Crudo, mezze sampler of dips (with a generous helping of hearty crackers AND crudite), Greek salad, Whole Branzino. Today the kebab sampler was 1 Chicken thigh, 1 Salmon, and 4 Lamb so we opted for more variety. Again, kebab not Celiac-friendly. I'm going back.

I came during Center City Sips and it was a robust crowd at the bar and tables! The aesthetic is pretty and is an open concept! The sips menu has various options and prices were comparable to other restaurants in the area! The noise level was high and when the restaurant became busier, the service was not as attentive! I look forward to coming back for dinner to explore menu options!

Another great Mediterranean spot in Philly! I love the classy interior and the food and drinks were great too. The espresso Turk-tini, their version of an espresso martini, was delicious and was a great mix of bold coffee and had the perfect amount of alcohol in it. The mezze was delicious--the dips had a lot of variety in flavor, from spicy, to sweet, to punchy and tangy. I enjoyed all the dips and even took some home! We also got the chicken and salmon kebabs which were cooked perfectly and very juicy. They have a great selection of sauces as well, and our waitress was super kind in helping us choose the best sauces to pair with the kebabs. Overall a great spot!

Came at 5 to sit at the bar to do a quick happy hour drink before our dinner, and our bartender was fantastic. The drinks were tasted and not watered down, and he gave us great recommendations for dinner! The atmosphere was beautiful and I loved the decor. For food, we ordered a few appetizers, then the salmon and lamb entrees. Both were delicious - I loved that they came with dips, a generous amount of fresh pita bread, and custard for dessert. Needless to say, I will be back very soon!

Stopped in to sample the restaurant while hanging out with friends nearby. We ordered the Turkish dumplings, meatballs, and broccoli. Overall, the food was just okayand unfortunately, none of the dishes came out particularly hot. The dumplings were overly salty, while the broccoli lacked seasoning and fell flat. The standout was the meatballs they had the most interesting flavor profile and felt the most thoughtfully prepared. Not sure I'd return, as nothing we ordered felt particularly noteworthy.

This was such a cute place to celebrate a friend's birthday dinner! Loved the dimmed lighting and having the booth seating. Our server was able to accommodate dietary restrictions and pointed out exact what was vegetarian/vegan from each menu item, including the mezze. The mezze plate was super tasty and loved that we had so many options to choose from! It was 100% vegetarian, and one of the dips wasn't vegan, but besides that, super accommodating for both vegans and vegetarians. We also asked for extra pita which we got. They also gave celebratory cake with sparklers which was super cute. Overall, would recommend for a celebration!

Place was crowded and loud when we came. Not a great place to have intimate discussion unless you're at the bar. The restaurant recently changed their menu. They no longer include the mezzes with their entrees. The waitress never mentioned any of this but she was already overwhelmed due to covering a lot of customers. $69 for the assorted kebab sampler is way too pricey and limited. So we ordered the mezzes and enjoyed the dips, especially the spicy red dip and the beet dip. They included 4 slices of bread and charged a $1 per slice extra. This went against the norms set by other similar Israel restaurants. The strawberry pistachio ice cream was crunchy and sweet. The chocolate banana ice cream was fantastic with its smooth chocolate flavors and hints of banana. Overall experience was basic and didn't warrant the hype or price. Zahav remains our top Philly choice.

Happy Hour Dear Daphni is gorgeous and the soft lighting gives it a warm ambiance, but I'm not thrilled by the pace or order or attitude in which the food is delivered to your seat. We usually arrive early, get a seat at the bar, order a glass of 6USD wine, whilst we consider what we're going to eat. I recommend Shawarma, Filo Saganaki, Dip of the Day, Hummus and Lebanese Potatoes. Most restaurants deliver HH food as they're cooked but Daphni's delivers them all at the same time in the small space I've occupied at the bar. The bartender's talk to each other rather than inquiring if everything is okay and you have to flag them down to get another drink.. I find this very unprofessional. Therefore, I award my dear,3 pitas.

Dear Daphni, Thanks for the memorable evening! We fully enjoyed sampling the majority of your menu, namely the Turkish Dumplings, the Mediterranean Chopped Salad, the Kebobs, the Pork Belly Shawarma, and the delicious Pilaf. Our server was not only sweet, but she knew the menu inside and out. She ensured we ordered enough for our party of 4, without overdoing it. And let's not forget your savory cocktails. Your restaurant's vibe was positive, and it was a wonderful experience all around. Thanks for having us; we will return! Love, Lor XOXO

Finally had the opportunity to try Dear Daphni this week. I went for the happy hour for the prices and ability to try more menu features. 1. The Drinks - relatively small happy hour drink menu, but the two cocktails were great and Grillo draft wine was light and on the drier side (which is my preference). 2. The service - staff was attentive, pleasant and really elevated the experience. Even during a busy happy hour time our waitress made sure to check in and make sure our food was on the way during a small delay. 3. The ambiance - fantastic! The weather just warmed up and they opened the side doors to create an inside-outside hybrid. The inside is modern and be try elevated. They also have clean, individual bathrooms. 4. The food - I have some mixed opinions here. The salmon tartare, chips, Turkish meatballs (small but decadent) were great! The kebabs and meatballs were a bit tough and nothing special, but good if you are in the mood for a heartier protein. They have decent happy hour prices so I was not expecting anything crazy, though the plates were quite small. I definitely plan to come back and try the standard menu and see if my opinion of the proteins change. All around this is a solid new happy hour, would recommend stopping by for the vibes and good happy hour prices. However, the food is not quite replacing any of my Philly happy hour favorites just yet. More like 3.5/5 but can't give a half-star!

Heard such amazing things about this place so snagged a reservation! The vibes were immaculate. Beautiful restaurant, amazing service! Our waiter was such amazing, easily connecting other tables to conversations we had with him and had great recs! We somehow ended up there for restaurant week, so win for us lol! Mezze is legitimately one of the best I have had. Rest of the food we had, kebabs, tuna, chicken and we ordered the lamb off restaurant week menu were good just nothing to write home about. The drinks were exceptional! I think the food at almyra is better but the drinks are better here. But I would most definitely stop by for mezze and drinks again anytime!

A really beautiful restaurant with great service and good value. We had a lot of vegetarians so we almost all ordered the eggplant, which is the cheapest item on the menu, but we were impressed with the amount of food that was served for the price! The mezze platter that comes with the meal had many dips, and our server was extremely attentive and refilled our naan 3 or 4 times. The eggplant itself was good but nothing incredible, but the rice that came with the mains was really great. The included soft serve was also good, and it was nice to get a sweet bite without having to pay for an added dessert. Overall I would come back here, especially for the ambiance!

We were so excited to try Schulson's new spot, but unfortunately I think it missed the mark and has some more growing pains to work out. Ambiance and decor are lovely, but the food just isn't on par with the rest of the collection. Cocktails were fine but nothing exciting either. The food was good, but nothing earth-shattering that I need to go get again immediately. For apps - complimentary mezze was great (and such a good idea!), just could've used a few more pieces of pita. Same with the tuna tartare starter - it was fine, just needed more chips as a vessel to eat with. Filo saganaki was tasty, but very sweet. Hamachi crudo was lovely! Unfortunately, the entrees were incredibly overpriced and not up to par either. The salmon kebabs were probably the best of the three we ordered. The filet was cooked inconsistently, some pieces were well-done while others were medium rare. The biggest disappointment was the branzino; we specifically asked if it would be deboned, fileted and if the head/tail would be removed (due to one of my friends being off-put by the head and tail), but it was not after being assured it would be just the filet. The complimentary rice pilaf was dry, tasteless and forgettable. Finally, the complimentary soft serve is a great idea, but wasn't anything exciting. Service was decent. Our waiter was nice and attentive outside the branzino debacle. There was a manager walking around who checked in often and bizarrely asked if we were getting dessert before we even had our entrees. Towards the end of our entrees (and after we ordered another round of drinks), it was clear that they were in need of tables as people with reservations were piling up at the front, and the hostess very clearly pointed at us numerous times. At that point we started feeling a little rushed despite having just ordered more. Lastly, I'll echo other comments on the bathroom. There is one communal sink with one faucet, then 3 individual stalls. My particular stall had its own sink, but no paper towels anywhere, so I had to use the communal sink anyway. Somewhat of a bizarre setup. Overall, I really hope these are just growing pains that will get ironed out! Will definitely try again, but will probably wait a bit.

After a short interaction with the host I almost chose somewhere else to go. It was an initial turn off seemed as though she maybe didn't care to service us when she sat us she even walked off with the menus in her hand walking fast it was really weird. She didn't seem to be that way with anyone else and seemed super nice to the OTHERS anyways I digress. I finally sat and just asked a kind lady on the side for a menu and a really cool up beat personality Frank greets us and makes it all better. He completely changed my mood and I love him for that. The food was actually absolutely amazing. The happy hour was so reasonably priced and great if you are trying Mediterranean food for the first time and just would like samples of stuff before you order an entree. Perfect happy hour on a SATURDAY was from 4-6 so I loved that. I'm a picture person so yelp really helped me decide what I wanted and I couldn't have gone wrong in addition to trying my friends starters. 100% will go back. Each dip I had was unique in favor and they all tasted amazing. I even had some to bring home and put it all in one to go container & they even tasted great mixed. I can't wait to try more items. I will recommend making a reservation for better seating. Bar and window seating stools were first come first serve so we decided that instead of sitting outside. Feels weird to be right by the window and people inside could be staring right at you but luckily service was fast and food was good. Mezze platter shown was $20 a la carte I'm not a big pork person but that pork shawarma was excellent. The chicken kabobs were juicy. Meatball was good and packed with flavor I was so surprised.

We went for restaurant week dinner at Dear Daphni. The decor was cute but there were a few details with kind of bother us but overall good vibes and I did not based any part of my review on slight blemishes on the decor. Mezze was actually pretty solid. I quite like the eggplants. It was slightly sweet and lovely so that was a standout to me. The other Mezze items were also good but not as memorable for me. My friends and I ordered the Paloma. I thought it was good, but not a standout. Other people in the group liked it quite a lot more than I did. Another friend ordered the Old Fashion and it was good with a nice pour. I also didn't think it was a standout out fashion but it was solid However, when the main kebabs that we got for dinner came out. I was not particularly impressed with any of them. Salmon is was not good. Chicken was the best, lamb was loose and not great.

3.5 stars? It's beautiful in there. The Paloma cocktail was beautiful and delicious. Loved the mezze. The lamb kofta entree was good. We sat at the bar and the bartenders were friendly and helpful. The eggplant entree was just ok. The entrees seemed on the pricier side for what you get (esp the eggplant) but it was nice to visit and experience.

Ambience is welcoming and cozy with a dimly lit interior. Servers were attentive and very helpful. It wasn't too crowded on a Sunday night. I'd say this is a top notch restaurant having recently opened. Everything was impeccable. Each entree or kebab is served with mezze, rice pilaf, and soft serve dessert. You get a lot of food with each dish! The spreads were extremely flavorful served with warm pita. The portions were great for 2 and there was plenty of dip left to eat with the appetizers and main course. The tabbouleh bean salad was nice. There are a lot of fish and meat options. We got the brown butter cabbage seasoned with dill and garlic. It was a little hard to cut and eat as it was served as one large piece. The toum sauce paired well with it. The tahini and chocolate fig soft serve were sensational and the perfect dessert for this delectable meal. This place is definitely worth trying for a unique culinary experience!

Trendy fun atmosphere and our service was great despite it being open only for a week! Great salads but the concept of mezze coming with the entree isn't my favorite. I would rather order 3 good mezze instead of getting a tiny amount of 7 mediocre ones. The eggplant and beet mezze were amazing while others were grossly overstated. While the thicker and heartier pita wasn't bad, it could not compare to the fluffy pillows of nearby neighbor dizengoff. The filet entree was good not great. The hamachi crudo was over seasoned (and i promise i love seasoning!) The dessert - soft serves were a cute touch. The flavors were vanilla tahini and chocolate fig. There also was a nice lemon sorbet as an alternative. I wish there was an actual dessert menu. Overall, another decent Mediterranean place in Center City, but not the best!

I was super excited to try another one of Michael Schulsons restaurants for my friend's birthday however I was a bit disappointed in the overall food. The service, ambiance and drinks were excellent don't get me wrong but the food was a bit of a miss. It felt like a lower level Laser Wolf. All the dishes were very similar and I didn't feel it was that original. For $62 my Bronzino was not worth it whatsoever. Many of the dishes were way too salty. My favorite of the night were the prawns for both their flavors and presentation. Overall, worth it for the drinks to start the night but the food didn't impress me.

Greatly enjoyed our dinner in the beautiful space that is Dear Daphni. Terrific service and a lovely setting encourages us to return (with friends so we can try more of its offerings!). Urge you to try the Spiced Apple Gazoz (spiced apple, lime, soda), which was a perfect winter beverage. Similar to Laser Wolf, at Dear Daphni you order starters, salads, entrees, and sides, and the Mezzes come out automatically with bread, as does the soft-serve dessert. The evening's Mezzes included Smoked Beets, Eggplant, Hummus, Charred Peppers, Pistachio Mint, Taramasalata, Cucumber Salad--difficult to pick a favorite, as all were delicious. For Starters, we tried the Smoked Lamb Sausage (harissa, chili, cumin) and the Turkish Dumpling (tomato, lamb, yogurt). For Entrees, we sampled the Lamb Kofta, with sides of Turkish Pilaf (orzo, basmati) and Lebanese Potatoes (za'atar, harissa, ketchup). Everything was tasty, but we especially enjoyed the potatoes. The soft serve on offer were vanilla tahini and chocolate fig. I'd thought I'd prefer the chocolate fig, as sometimes vanilla soft serve is bland, but the tahini really gave this soft serve something special.

The food here was very good and given the price point which is still high end but significantly lower than what appears to be its main competitor, Zahav, I thought that the value was good. The location and ambiance were also really cool and trendy. My main issue with this establishment is that when I paying $15-20 per drink I expect to get my drink in a reasonable amount of time. The place was pretty full and the bar was obviously overwhelmed. Now on to the food. We started with the dumplings which were excellent! Although they came to our table a little cold. Still I highly recommend this starter. We then both got kebabs. Filet and salmon. Both of these were good but not like blow You away good. Some of the meze (little salads that come with it) were really good, especially the one with pistachio and the one with cucumbers. PRO TIP: if you really like one of these you can ask for more and they will oblige! I thought they weren't quite as good as Zahav but my wife says they are on par. The bread that comes with it also very good but again not as hot as I like it to be. When I get warm pita I want it to be like hot to the touch. The dessert was one thing I cannot say anything negative about. It was amazing. Light and not too sweet. We got the chocolate and the vanilla soft serve and loved both. The drinks - when we finally got them! We're also delicious. We had the Turktini (espresso martini) which was a 8.5/10 and then we got the margarita and the honey cocktail which were both 10/10. All in all I think this place has some growing pains to get through as it's really new but we will definitely be hitting it up again.

Great experience. Out server was very nice and super knowledgeable about the menu. All of the food was great. The mezzes are a must, you get a ton of different dips to try and they are all amazing. The decor is super cute and calming. Will definitely be back.

Had such a great meal here. Loved everything about it. It's hard for a new restaurant to compete in this city full of amazing Mediterranean spots but Dear Daphni is giving Zahav a run for its money with its unlimited mezze (which comes with entree). The pita was some of the fluffiest and freshest I've had (dangerous when a whole kebab entree is on its way). Loved the vibes of the restaurant. It was loud but not to the point you can't hear the people at your table. The decor was beautiful and sitting inside/outside (the window wall was open to the outside with tables there as well) was perfect. Not too stuffy and not too open to the elements. Service was on point with timely beverage top ups. I would definitely like to come back for more meals.

Came in for happy hour the other day after hearing some mixed reviews about the food. I ordered the Moroccan Meatballs and Chicken Kebab and enjoyed both appetizers. To drink I had the Birds & Bees a Gin drink with honey and lemon and also the Marrakesh Mule both being very good as well. Everything on the happy hour menu is reasonable priced about $5-$8 from 4pm-6pm Monday thru Sunday. The place has a nice little ambiance to it as well. Getting there at 4pm to secure a bar seat is recommend

Wow wow wow! We had been looking to come here - and restaurant week was the perfect excuse! We had made some late reservation for dinner. As we walked in, you're met with the attendant. It was a busy night so we got off to a rocky start when we were sat but then left unattended for about 20 minutes. No worries though - the staff more than made up for it - sending us a complimentary dish and took care of all of our questions and requests. The salatim was so good and very filling! We loved all the little dips! We ordered the cauliflower entree to share and then had the most amazing soft serve for dessert! This place is really pushing the flavors and the vibes inside are stellar. Highly recommend!

stunning new schulson restaurant with beautiful decor and good vibes! the drinks here are tasty, both the alcoholic and nonalcoholic options are unique and fun. we enjoyed our appetizers, i particularly liked the turkish dumplings which were savory and decadent. the mezzes selection was also a highlight, the eggplant dip was absolutely delicious and the pita was soft and fresh! we shared three mains, the lamb kofta and two specials (harissa chicken and dorade), but they were all honestly a little disappointing. none of the mains we ordered stood out to us, and i would not reorder any of them. i enjoyed the experience overall, but it seems to just be a worse laser wolf. the service was also disappointing. we were rushed throughout our entire dinner, it felt like they were trying to chase us out just an hour to an hour and a half in. they also did not voluntarily offer refills on the mezzes or the pita, we had to ask for extra, and none of the mezzes were packed for us in our leftovers. there are simply better mediterranean restaurants in philly. i would not come back for dinner, but i would be interested in checking out their new happy hour.

I've been to this restaurant at least four times, and it used to be one of my favorite spots in Philadelphia. Unfortunately, tonight's experience was extremely disappointing and left a bad taste--literally and figuratively. I had a reservation and was seated for dinner, only to find out that the restaurant has completely changed its core concept. The most shocking change: they now charge a very high price for the mezze, but only provide four pieces of pita--then charge $1 for each additional piece. That's not just overpriced, it's insulting. Also gone are the rice and dessert that used to be included with each entrée. None of these changes were communicated ahead of time, which feels like a bait-and-switch. To top it off, the service was subpar--unengaged and inattentive, which only made the experience worse. Sadly, after being a loyal customer, I won't be returning. It's disappointing to see a once-great place lose its way like this.

My 1st time at Dear Daphni and decided to try it out during restaurant week. I walked in and loved the decor and that it is spacious. During restaurant week you get 1 starter/ 1 entree/ mezze/ and soft serve. The mezze was delicious and filling. I enjoyed everything except the beets. The Turkish dumplings!!!! Were a stand out dish. Light, flavorful, just yummy! The salmon was seasoned perfectly and melted in my mouth. The food and ambiance were so good I walked out smiling from ear to ear ! You know I will be back.

My friends and I went on a Saturday night for a girls night out. The space itself is stunning and we were seated right away for our reservation. We started our meal with some drinks that were all delicious and reasonably priced. For appetizers, we tried the Hamachi Crudo and Turkish Dumplings. The dumplings were flavorful and something I'd definitely order again but the Hamachi Crudo was nothing special. With our appetizers we were also served Mezze and that was probably the highlight of the night. For sides, we ordered the Lamb Kofta Kebab, which was disappointing. The texture felt off, and it lacked the flavor we were expecting. Moving to our entrées, we went with Dorade and the daily specials, Harissa Chicken. The chicken was decent, but the Dorade was a major letdown! Not only did it fail to deliver on taste, but it was also ridiculously overpriced at $56. At the end of our meal we were served complimentary soft serve (delicious!!). The service was also disappointing! We waited over an hour for our chicken, yet barely 90 minutes into our meal, we felt rushed to leave. Overall, I would say the restaurant has potential and some redeeming qualities but this visit didn't quite live up to the hype. I might return to explore other menu options, hoping for a better experience with a different server.

I had a great meal at Dear Daphni! I went with a friend for restaurant week and although we were a bit disappointed we couldn't choose from any entree, we were surprised that we could each pick a starter, an entree, and that we got rice and mezze. We went with lamb kofta and salmon for our entrees and they were both delicious. The hamachi crudo and Turkish dumplings were so flavorful and the soft serve to end the meal was a perfect touch!

Loveeddd this new restaurant! Great service , really flavorful unique food and a fun atmosphere. Appetizers were the stars of the show- kebabs weren't anything to write home about. But the tuna tartare , sorbet and hamachi were sooooo good!

The food was fine, though not outstanding. A couple of dishes lacked flavor, and service felt a little slow. Overall, an average experience--not bad, but not memorable either.

Wonderful experience. Staff were all super friendly, and food was delicious. Flavor and dishes were great -- gorgeous space, and fun ambiance.

Came here with a few friends for Center City SIPS. The restaurant decor was beautiful. The happy hour drinks were well made and tasty and our waiter was attentive. It was busy and also loud! I think the SIPS crowd brought out a lot of people and a bit of wait for food was expected. Our food was very good. The chicken kebab was so flavorful, shawarma was also really good. The taste of the food was very memorable for me so I will be returning.

Came here for happy hour after hearing all the buzz on social media, and sorry to say that the influencers have gotten it wrong yet again. Most of the plates we ordered were not served hot, even though they were hot dishes. My guess is they make a bunch at once and just have them sitting under the heat lamp until ready to be served, which gives us as the customer a subpar experience. I was also very disappointed in the portion sizes -- only two small pieces of pita served with an entire plate of dip. We had to eventually use our forks to scoop the dip up when we ran out of other options. The two highlights for me were the staff and my Moroccan mule cocktail. Our waitress was very nice and the manager even came by a couple times to refill our drinks/clear some plates. They were certainly packed for a Friday evening, but I wouldn't suggest this spot to my friends. Maybe once they've been open for a few more months and worked out the kinks.

Beautiful atmosphere, great food, and our server Gerard was the best. It's nice to see a Turkish restaurant here in Philadelphia. The flavors were layered but simple, just how you want to experience it. The wagyu steak kabob was cooked perfectly and had just the right amount of herbs that we didn't even use the delicious sauces provided. The Mezze was fantastic. The pistachio sauce was our favorite. We also had the Bronzino which was solid. Our drinks, oud fashioned, bird and bees, and espresso turktini were lovely. The ambience is great. Love the overall vibe. I'd definitely stop in for a happy hour sometime soon.

The restaurant is beautiful. The space is clean with lots of space between tables. For our group we had plenty of space for all the dishes, which was definitely thought out with the menu. Service was attentive without being overbearing. The food was good. The highlight was probably the pork belly schwarma. The meat was very tender and the sauce was so good. The hamachi crudo appetizer was also really good. The free ice cream dessert is also a nice touch but was almost presented as an afterthought.

My friend and I visited Dear Daphni for happy hour and it did not disappoint! It has been on my list since it opened and we were excited to check it out. We sat along the window in the back of the restaurant and were able to take advantage of the really reasonable happy hour prices. I ordered two Marrakesh Mules and we shared the dip of the day and Lebanese potato chips. Our server was attentive and friendly. I loved the vibes in the restaurant and how spacious it is. Everything was delicious and we look forward to going back and trying their entrees!

This used to be the go to spot in Philly. However they changed things up and EVERYTHING is A la carte. Happy hour is still good but no more Mezze with an entree. So it's a regular old happy hour you would get anywhere. We went for dinner. While the Salmon Kabob was delish I would have liked a scoop of rice with it. Not interested in a giant bowl of rice. Mezze was pricy and absolutely no refills. Not even one! If you have more than 2 people sharing it. It's just a tease. They took away the Mediterranean tradition of sharing. It's a nice dinner. But there are nice dinners all over Philly. Doesn't stand out anymore. I get prices increase and there were abusers of the free unlimited Mezze, but there are better ways to shut that abuse down. A la carte sucks

The service was great, we got seated fairly quickly even though my friends and I went for happy hour. We ordered off the happy hour menu and overall the food was pretty good. The Moroccan Meatballs were definitely my favorite. I also really liked the chicken shawarma and the hummus with the pita bread. The Turkish dumplings were a bit disappointing. I also enjoyed the Marrakesh Mule as a drink.

The service, happy hour menu is delicious and great for share!! Drinks are creative and wonderful! Outside dining is the way to go and excited for the warm weather!