Philotimo
Greek restaurant · Downtown
1100 15th St NW, Washington, DC 20005
Highlights
Upscale Greek cuisine with regional dishes and Greek-inspired cocktails
Upscale Greek cuisine with regional dishes and Greek-inspired cocktails
"Philotimo could be a really great Greek restaurant, but much like that ex you gave one too many chances, it doesn’t live up to its potential. The fancy-ish downtown spot serves beautiful, well-made cocktails, refreshing melitzanosalata, and creamy tirokafteri. But bigger plates are hit or miss, like an octopodi with great char and inconsistent seasoning. Philotimo's main dining roomphoto credit: Nina Palazzolo Similar to the food, the mood switches up on you. When you walk into the candlelit front hallway, you’ll think you’re barging in on an elaborate proposal. But the romance falls off when you hit the main dining room, where friend groups pile into cushioned booths and coworkers split pillowy spanakopita and bottles of Greek wine. It’s a jarring transition that'll take the air out of your anniversary dinner. Instead, come here for a birthday with friends and order everything to share, or plan a date night with someone you no longer have to impress, but still want to. Food Rundown photo credit: Nina Palazzolo Melizanosalata This eggplant spread is one of the best things on the menu. You could just grab a spoon and shovel the bright, relish-like dish into your mouth, but then you’d be missing out on the accompanying soft, sesame-covered bread. photo credit: Nina Palazzolo Tirokafteri Another one of our favorites is this spicy, salty feta dip. Pair it with the melitzanosalata for the ultimate start-of-dinner spread. Spanakopita These phyllo-wrapped bites are crispy and stuffed with spinach and feta cheese. They come out piping hot, and that’s how you should eat them. Risk the slight mouth burn because once they get cold and soggy, it’s over. photo credit: Nina Palazzolo Octopodi When this dish is good, the charred octopus is tender and the citrusy sauce adds a nice pop of flavor to the spinach and black eyed peas. But when it’s not so good, the salt levels make the dish taste straight out of the ocean. photo credit: Nina Palazzolo Mantia These veal-stuffed dumplings come in a brown butter sauce that smells so good the entire table will be leaning in trying to catch a whiff. But there are days when the pasta is hard enough that it feels like you’re chewing a cracker, and the flavor doesn’t match the smell." - Tristiaña Hinton
"Philotimo 2.0 is extravagant and sleek with Greek-inspired cocktails. Highlights include the tequila-based EOS cocktail, Yiayia’s Nightcap dessert cocktail, and dolmades with a Lebanese preparation style." - Nicole Schaller
"We recently checked out Philotimo and added it to our Hit List. Philotimo, the downtown Greek restaurant from Chef and restaurateur Nicholas Stefanelli (Le Clou), has reopened. The menu is now a la carte and includes veal dumplings, grilled octopus, and olive oil braised pork belly." - Omnia Saed, Tristiana Hinton
"This Greek restaurant is one of the most romantic spots we’ve ever been to, mostly thanks to the dozens of large candles lining the dimly lit front hall and bar. And with shareable small plates like the must-order melizanosalata and tirokafteri, you and your date will be swooning over each other (and the food) before the end of the bread course. But Philotimo is also a great space for a girls night out or family dinner where you can split bottles of Greek wines or order a round of craft cocktails including the Graydon Carter, which tastes like an elevated mimosa. Grab the octopodi and the mantia, which are stuffed veal dumplings served with a brown butter sauce that you’ll want to pass around the table for everyone to smell." - Tristiana Hinton, Omnia Saed
"A three-course, $65 dinner menu is waiting for you at this Greek staple during the 2024 winter Restaurant Week." - MICHELIN Guide
