50 Best Mediterranean Restaurants near Merion Station

“I grew up on homemade Middle Eastern food made daily by my parents, so I’m very picky when it comes to authenticity. I’ve tried a few places that just didn’t hit the mark—but AL SHAM in Chalfont is a straight 10/10!! They serve real Arabic bread (pita)—not tortillas disguised as pita like you find at other places—and their homemade Lebanese toum (garlic aioli) is the real deal. One bite of their falafel wrap instantly transported me to a boardwalk in Lebanon, overlooking the Mediterranean—complete with fresh bread, Lebanese pickles, and those perfect pickled turnips. The meat is 100% Halal and you can taste the quality. Flavorful, fresh, and clearly made with care. **This is the kind of spot you want to support. We’ll be back again and again—do yourself a favor and try them ASAP**“

“The food was wonderful as the service was fast. I couldn’t believe the check. Extremely reasonable for all you get. I’d definitely recommend Kanella to anyone“

“I think I probably have had just about everything on your menu, and I loved everything. I also like that Stina is not pretentious.“

“Not kidding. Our table of 4 ordered nearly everything in the menu. Each bite was delicious, balanced, nuanced, worldly, fresh, and inventive. We ordered a second dish of the carrots, and also the cukes. Dessert was outstanding. Interesting wines, including a chilled Croatian wine that paired well with every dish. Definitely returning. Soon! ❤️“

“Great food! Great service!“

“I came in this morning with my brother to get breakfast and decided to add a tiramisu to my order. The tiramisu was the best I’ve ever had! It was so delicious! The owners were so friendly & helpful!“

“Delicious food. Friendly people.“

“As a travel agent, food is important to me. I not only book for my clients, but I also make restaurant recommendations and WOW!!!!!! This place is it 😍😍😍 I took many photos last night of the food, the atmosphere felt as though I was not in Philadelphia, but far away on a perfect vacation dining at an amazing restaurant. I'm going to post my photos on my business page, people, if you want Greek food, THIS IS YOUR PLACE ☺️ Thank you for a wonderful hospitality and an amazing time my fiance and I will never forget.“

“I've been in Philly 16 years, and eaten at every major fine dining restaurant in the city, many more than once. Amada, Zahav, Budakkan, Vernick Fish, you name it. Every Stephen Starr. Every Michael Solmonov. Every Jose Garces. This is the best meal I have ever eaten in my life. The carrots, the beets, the mushroom taglioli, the tuna tartar, the beef carpaccio tartlet, the duck, the liver mousse, the steak...I could go on. Every single bite was either perfect or nearly so. Both of my daughters and my wife said the same. We talked about our top dining experiences in Tokyo, Paris, St. Petersburg, New York, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Seattle, Miami, Chicago, there have been so many, many good meals in our life. We just found one of the greatest. Thank you Emmett. We look forward to our next visit (once you fix the ramp). -Stephen“

“Excellent friendly service and some truly remarkable food. Highly recommend.“

“The menu was perfect size and covered everyone's tastes. Everyone in our group enjoyed their dishes and raved about how delicious everything was. Luis and the rest of the staff were so attentive and engaging and made our celebratory dinner special and memorable! Thank you Olea for an amazing experience.
Best, Veronica R.“

“We have been wanting to try this place for a while. Definitely worth the wait. The service. The food. Perfect. Food was great and seasoned well. I had the Branzino and a salad (can’t remember the name). About $90 for 2 ppl ( 2 entrees a salad and an appetizer). We sat outside with an amazing view. Great for date night or a night with the girls. Parking was free too.“

“Being Armenian my expectations were high. Apricot Stone far exceeded what I was expecting. Service (Ani) was excellent and all of the help was very friendly. I highly recommend it.“

“I hadn't been to Barbuzzo in about 8 years. We were headed to a show at The Met, so I made reservations for dinner. The staff, the food, the drinks, and the service were all on point. We'll definitely be back!“

“Delicious food, beautiful scenery, very friendly staff.“

“Buck a schuck oysters, double braised short rib over rigatoni, key lime pie and even got a hug from the beautiful Solidea D! Everything was exquisite. Great atmosphere. Highly recommend!“

“It’s very tasty there, we always order from them when going to center city, definitely recommend!!“

“omg one of our Doctors treated us to lunch today ..so so good ..I will now go on my own ..food was delicious“

“Food was massive - people complain about the price hike from $10 to $20 but in 2026 any food that people wait for and it's only $20 is a good deal, specially for the amount he gives.

Got a grilled chicken, veggies, falafel and noodles.
Like I said the amount was generous fed 2 people and we were full.

Now the food Chicken was good kind of dry, all had a good char from the grill. I really thought it would have more culinary touch based on what I heard about this spot but it's just smorgasbord of random ingredients and recipes he can put together. Falafel was good more towards the crispy side. Flavor was decent nothing to go crazy about. If I am looking to get fair price food for a good amount and there's a 5min wait then it's a must, but if waiting 30-45 minutes not even worth it. But the amount is generous we had left overs later on.“

“The team was hardworking and had positive attitudes the second I walked in. I just want to shout out Kelsey who was helping us with our order. She was attentive, extremely helpful, and amazing! Our interaction was brief, but she left an impact. Thank you again Kelsey!“

“Fresh, Authentic and lots of options! Try any of the seafood options.Big variety. I enjoyed the Grilled Octopus and a seafood medley of shrimp, scallops, and calamari,mmm... Very cozy atmosphere. BYOB. Attentive service. Lots of parking on side street. Great value“

“Very nice and clean cafe. Fantastic food and great price. Highly recommend“

“My colleague and I visited this small spot for lunch. The place is cozy, with only five or six tables at most. We were the first customers of the day, but the staff seemed busy preparing catering orders. We had to get their attention a couple of times, but each time the lady in the kitchen responded very kindly. Overall, it felt like an intimate neighborhood dining experience.

We ordered the lunch specials: lamb (around $17) and chicken kebabs (around $16). Each plate came with warm pita bread, hummus, a small appetizer salad, basmati rice, and grilled tomatoes. For the salad, we chose the Greek salad.

The Greek salad was a nice appetizer, and the warm pita bread was a pleasant touch. The hummus tasted house-made. It was thick, rich, and full of nutty flavor. I honestly wished I had bought extra to take home.

I didn’t try the lamb myself, but my colleague really enjoyed it. My chicken kebab was very flavorful, though I wished it had been a bit more tender. The basmati rice paired well with the grilled tomatoes and was quite tasty.

Overall, we had a very satisfying lunch and left feeling full and happy.“

“Your food is delicious and your service excellent. Thank you so much for sharing this food with the public. It is not easy to have a restaurant. Zorbas tavern is a must try place.“

“delicious samosas and beryani“

“We had an amazing dinner at Bastia, and sitting at the bar turned out to be the best decision. The food was outstanding, but what truly made the evening special was our bartender, Cosette. She was warm, attentive, knowledgeable, and made us feel genuinely taken care of from the moment we sat down. Her recommendations were excellent, and she made our entire dining experience feel personal and memorable. Great service can make all the difference, and Cosette absolutely elevated our night. We'll definitely be back, and we'll be hoping to grab a seat at her bar again. Highly recommend Bastia for both the incredible food and exceptional hospitality!“

“Very authentic Yeeroh (Pork) drove over 1hr from south Jersey and it was worth the trip !“

“Giving this CAVA 5 stars because the food was absolutely delicious. They gave the perfect amount of food and the perfect meat-to-everything ratio. Every bite had everything I ordered in it, so nothing felt uneven or missing. Usually with chipotle bowls, you get tired of it halfway through, but this was so good the entire time.

I ordered online, and by the time I drove over to pick it up, my food was already ready and waiting for me. Everything was exactly how I ordered it, fresh, and very satisfying. I would’ve uploaded a picture too, but unfortunately I ate it way too fast.“

“I've been coming here for awhile now, and I absolutely love this location!! Every time I come in, whether I order in store or mobile order ahead, my bowl is correct, fresh, and the portions are perfffff! The employees at this location are super kind to me and very chill- I love chatting with the girls here so so much after my shift when I drop by especially after my long weekend days!

Thank you guys for always being so awesome!“

“Amazing place, delicious food, fun atmosphere and reasonable prices“

“This is one of my favorite restaurants in the Philly area. The food is always so fresh and delicious and the service is always attentive and friendly. Any time I am in the area, I stop by and stock up on all my favorite salads, rice dishes, and other specialities. I have never been disappointed. Clean and flavorful food. What more can you ask for? Allergens are clearly listed so there is no guesswork. Highly recommend!“

“New local halal food spot located on Cottman Ave near Castor Ave by the Sunoco gas station. Reasonably priced fresh food platters with a variety of tasty choices to choose from some as low as $5! $5 is a great price for those on a budget. I got the Mac and cheese/ fried chicken combo and the sauce it comes with is so yummy! It was pretty good. Also got the fish over rice with the garlic sauce it comes with a small salad as well. Fish was lightly breaded and cooked well. I will visit this spot again for sure to try out the other menu items!“

“We didn’t get to eat at Zahav - but got the next big thing and ordered the Lamb Meal from gold belly with salatim. It was DELICIOUS!! Best lamb we have ever had, so delicious. Salads were yummy, hummus well done and could easily feed 6 adults. So. Much. Food. If you can’t make it to the restaurant- order the kit from Goldbelly and treat yourself!“

“Outstanding dining experience - cozy setting and elegant ambiance. The menu is eclectic and full of creative, gourmet dishes. I highly recommend the lamb, swordfish, and Wagyu—they were all cooked perfectly and packed with flavor. The cauliflower appetizer was also delicious, with just the right amount of spice to give it a nice kick. Everything was beautifully presented, and the quality of the food was exceptional. I'll definitely be back!“

“Everyone loved every bite! One of my favorite brunch places in and around the city. Awesome food, and attentive service! #lEtsreAlesTate“

“a very authentic delicious food,and a great generous team,I highly recommend it“

“1)wonderful food and a goodly portion.2) BYOB 3)Not cheap but reasonable for the quality and quantity of the food. Hits the Restaurant Trifecta!!!“

“We've lived in the neighborhood for 4 years and have not tried this gem until last week, what a shame! I did not expect the unique design, nice service, and delicious food. I had the moussaka, my wife had the lamb chops, and our young kids split the chicken kebab with rice. Also, the bar looks fun to have a drink at. Will definitely be back.“

“Wow, I had tried the jerk chicken over white rice with a side of mac and cheese and yams with an additional side of cabbage and my oh my from the first bite in the car to the excitement on the way home ! It smelled amazing and tasted even better! Everything was cooked perfectly, seasoned spot on.. loved the environment as well very friendly people! Will be back for sure 100/10“

“Amazing pastries and coffee! Came in for a quick bfast and enjoyed lots of new flavors.“

“I was visiting Villanova and a good friend brought me to Nova Grill. The owner was over the top nice and accommodating. His Greek Hospitality did shine. Instantly felt like a regular. The place was spotless and well set up. All cleanliness and proper measure were followed perfectly. The food was plentiful, cooked and presented well and hot ( often forgot these days). The Locaniko ( Loukaniko) was spot on in flavor. I will most definitely stop in again when in the area. Highly recommended.“

“Had lunch there after not being in area for several years. owner and server were very friendly, interactive re their menu and the style of the cuisine. Nice people. The food was tasty, attractive,“

“Zaffron Grill is one the best restaurants at the Shops at Liberty Place. I love their food, especially the Steak Kabob platter,“

“I haven’t been here yet and am looking forward to trying. After reading so many excellent reviews and the handful complaining about their interactions with staff, it seems as though the issue could be the customers’ attitudes creating a negative situation.“

“Food, price and service were good. The wasn't a lot of seating for guest, between the pick delivery guys and non-custoners off the street just hanging out seating was difficult.

But overall good food and variety 😋.“

“Delicious and always fresh!!“

“Amazing food! Can’t wait to go back!“

“We visited Pera and it is great to know that the restaurant met expectations and was consistent with the excellent review in the PHiladelphia Inquirer.“

“Excellent chicken shnitzel wraps!“

“As wonderful as I remember. A true cc gem. Get the tiramisu“